Key -

'Thoughts'

"Speech"

"Tailed Beast / Bjuu Speech"

'Tailed Beast / Bjuu Thoughts'

::

Life in early Konoha wasn't half bad, in fact - while I was embarrassed to admit it - I was quickly warming myself up to the idea of living here, finding myself shamelessly comfortable.

I detested travelling, the mere thought of leaving the comfort of my small town let a bitter taste in my mouth. In fact I didn't like most things that involved something new, whether it be travelling or otherwise. Which made it that much more surprising that I adapted to life in Konoha so quickly.

Maybe it was because I was already so familiar with it.

But then technically, I wasn't living here. I still was confined within the hospital walls - moved from intensive care to the long term ward, or whatever they called it.

Since my mini-tour around the village, I hadn't seen Tsunade at all, neither her obnoxious friend Jiraiya - who I didn't like so much anymore.

That made a certain Uzumaki's visit that much more surprising.

"Can I help you?" I was quickly adapting to using formal speech as second nature.

The woman who had - in my experience - rudely entered without knocking nor permission, simply took my breath away. I do mean that literally, as she was truly breathtaking.

'Red hair.'

The first thing I saw was red hair, and lots of it. Soft, silky, shiny, beautiful red hair.

I couldn't help but touch my own hair; ratty, long and a dull orange - such a disappointing ginger. But the woman before me, was the ultimate ginger.

Red hair tied up into two neat buns, framing her heart-shaped face. Her features were soft, drastically in comparison to my rather sharp ones. Small button nose. Thin, pink lips. Sharp - surprisingly so - dark eyes, the only thing feature that matched mine.

But this woman had reddish brown eyes, a rusted metal colour - while I had pure black eyes, two bottomless pits.

This Uzumaki - which I knew straight away - wore such elegant clothing. Tight-fitted, dark blue kimono, hugging her body not for flattery but rather mobility. If it were to please, then the leg pant would be tighter.

I had already identified the beauty to be Mito Uzumaki, who was the last person I expected to see.

"You must be Ivory-chan?" Her voice was so silky, like water gushing down a river.

No wonder Hashirama fell in love with her, she oozed a perfect combination of sexy, confidence, and badassery.

"Yes, and you are?" I replied as politely as I could.

To say I was intimidated would be an understatement, but it wasn't because of fear or anything like that. It was simply because she was - as gentlemanly as could put it - fuckin' smokin'.

"Mito Uzumaki, I believe you met my husband, the Hokage?" The shade she threw wasn't subtle at all.

But then again, I don't think it was supposed to be.

"I am familiar with him, we only met briefly." I mused, "is this his way of contacting me?"

My jab wasn't so subtle either.

No one actually knows what Mito Uzumaki is like. By that I mean the fans. Throughout the Naruto series, Mito is a character briefly touched on.

She's mentioned a hand full of times but that was it. Only known as "the first hokage's wife" or "the first nine-tails jinchuuriki" or even "that Uzumaki chick." She was a complete unexplored character, as we never actually got to see her on screen. Not even in the flashbacks.

So when I sat before her, I realised she was an empty slate, one I had to craft myself. From what it seemed, Mito Uzumaki was a woman of great intelligence.

She had to be, she was the first to seal Kurama.

Mito was smart, definitely. Cunning, maybe even manipulative. Most importantly she was sharp - which contrary to popular belief isn't a trait all smart people possess.

It was common to come across a smart human being who wasn't sharp in the slightest.

"Yes and no." Normally people would insert a pleasant smile here, but Mito's face remained impassive.

I gripped the sheets slightly as she practically glided over to me, walking with the grace expected for the Hokage's wife.

"It has come to my husband's attention that you wish to begin a future in the Ninja arts." Mito informed me, taking a seat on my bed, not making a single sound.

'Well now I know where Tsunade has been.' I mused, 'seems she really did tell Hashirama'.

"Yes, I am interested in it."

"Any experience?" A mere head shake was enough for her.

"Come." Mito rose to her feet. "I will see what you can do."

I found no need to comment, simply rising to my feet and silently following behind the Uzumaki.

::

"Sit."

I did as I as told, lightly thumping against the ground. Mito landed with far more grace, again making no sound as she tucked her kimono under her legs.

"We'll start simple. Summon some chakra."

I gave no reply, clasping my fingers into the sign Tsunade had shown be weeks earlier, and concentrated hard.

Having chakra was something new I had to get used to. It was so bizarre, constantly feeling it, pulsing through you veins. Not only inside you, but around as well. Everyone and everything had chakra. Strangely enough, everyone's felt vaguely different, but I suppose that's how sensors find people.

Chakra - my chakra - felt like a large boulder, sitting in the bottom of my stomach, weighing me down. It didn't hurt, but it wasn't pleasant either. I quickly got used to it. The weirdest thing was that I couldn't feel it until Tsunade had me utilise it.

I suppose I just awakened it or whatever.

"Good." Mito's praise didn't sound at all authentic.

Summoning chakra became far easier after the first time.

"Now, do you know how to mould it?"

My blank face was an obvious reply.

Mito had a surprising amount of patience. "It is rather simple, grasp your chakra and compact it, as if it were wet sand."

'Wet sand? Wouldn't play dough be a better example?'

It took me a few moments to realise they probably didn't have play dough.

Just as Mito said, moulding chakra was rather easy.

"You're a fast learner." She dully informed me. "But I expect no less from someone of your age."

'Was that an insult?' I gawked. 'I...I think it was..'

'Wow...I just got burned by Mito Uzumaki'

The thought left me sour.

"Now to see what nature type you are." I watched as Mito seemed to pull a small slip of paper from nowhere, holding it out for me to take.

"Focus your chakra into the paper."

Following her instructions, I did just that. I couldn't help the way my eyes widened a smidgen as the paper crinkled before splitting in half.

"Wind and Lightning affinity, primarily Lightning." Mito mused, taking the paper from my grasp and crushing it. "Impressive."

Fuck yeah it was! The thought of wielding a fist of lightning and another of wind caused my stomach to flip.

'I'm frickin' amazing!'

"Don't get ahead of yourself." Mito no doubt recognised the power-hungry look. "Not all can utilise their nature."

I felt positively offended, did she have that little faith?

Mito was silent for a moment, thinking. Before she asked, "using chakra, stick a leaf to your forehead."

'Isn't this the same thing Kakashi had Naruto do?'

I did so without protest. It took a few tries but after awhile I did it, finding it rather easy.

Mito nibbled on her lip, seemingly in deep thought. "Have you had any chakra training before?"

"No." I insured her, shrugging to add effect. "Never knew what it was till I came here."

Lying through my teeth was a talent I greatly prided myself in.

"If you were to begin a career as a ninja, what area would you focus in?"

The question left me stumped, what would I focus in? Maybe swords, they were pretty cool.

"Kenjutsu perhaps?" I offered, "always interested me."

"Would you ever consider Fuuinjutsu or Medical Ninjutsu?" Mito asked.

"Not medical ninjutsu." I shook my head. Definitely not. "But i've never really thought about Fuuinjutsu."

It was more the creative side of being a ninja, one that would actually benefit me most.

"Consider it." Was all Mito decided to say, standing with such speed it was almost impossibly to have her grace.

I simply watched as Mito Uzumaki turned to leave, suddenly halting.

"Oh, and one more thing." She hastily added.

A smile, near invisible smile curled up. "You don't have to be so polite, I know it is not in your nature."

And with that the Uzumaki left.

'Oh, she's good'

By saying that she was basically confessing - rather smugly - that she knew I was lying the entire time, and could easily see through them.

I liked her, without a doubt.

Mito Uzumaki was one badass bitch.

::

"What do you think?"

Mito looked over to her husband, frowning. "Impressive, not enough to be a spy...but too much for an average civilian."

"I see." Hashirama rolled onto his back, feeling the cold satin sheets against his naked skin.

"Strengths?" He let out a yawn, tiredly rubbing his eyes.

"Chakra control," Mito snuggled up to her husband, "possibility in ninjutsu and kenjutsu."

"Weaknesses?"

"Unknown at this point."

Hashirama yawned once more, wrapping a strong arm around Mito's dainty waist, pulling her close with one swift tug. He turned onto his side, making it so his face was looking directly at her. She did the same.

"Do you trust her?"

Mito shrugged. "Too early to say. She is however, a good liar."

"I almost didn't see through them," she mused. "But they're there."

Hashirama tightened his hold around Mito, burying his head into her neck.

"What are you going to do about her?"

"I'll have Tobirama test her," he grunted. "If she checks out, we'll train her."

"You're really going to?" Mito placed a hand to her husband's cheek. "Is that wise?"

Hashirama lifted his head, meeting Mito's gaze. "if it's a mistake, i'll have her taken care of."

"How scary." Mito hushed in mock humour, teasing him with a suggestive smirk. The infamous wood-user stole a kiss from his beautiful wife, grinning. "Aren't I?"

Mito promptly shoved him. "Idiot," she smirked in amusement.

The couple lapsed into silence, with Hashirama pulling Mito close once more, re-burying his head in the crook of her neck.

"Hashirama?"

"Hm."

"If Tobirama approves her, I have a request."

Hashirama didn't reply, awaiting his wife's. "Allow my to teach her the art of Fuuinjutsu."

He looked up at her, frowning. "Are you sure?"

"Positive." Mito nodded. "She has potential, a lot of it."

Hashirama was silent for a moment, staring into his wife's beautiful rusty-metal coloured eyes. Noticing every detail on her face, from the freckle under her eye to the illumination of her cheekbones under the moonlight.

"Ok." He spoke after a few minutes. "If that is what you want."

Mito smiled, placing a hand to Hashirama's cheek before capturing his lips in hers. It was simple kiss, soft and sweet. As they broke apart, he resettled himself against her neck as she positioned her chin atop his head.

They soon drifted off.

::