Key -

'Thoughts'

"Speech"

::

After a day or two — they seemed to pass in blurs. I almost read through half the books, drinking in as much info as I could get my hands on. I was beginning to notice the differences between this world and the world presented on the pages.

They were in fact speaking Japanese. It never occurred to me earlier as I was a little preoccupied with the whole "world jumping" thing. Same voices I knew but different words. Maybe I translated it? Did that make my words Japanese? They did seem to understand me.

Then again, everything was written in english so I had no idea what was what.

What I did know, is that these history books have their earliest date set to Hashirama's grandfather. Meaning everything from the peace treaty of the Senju and Uchiha to the creation of the Hidden Village had yet to be added.

It all worked out in my favour, though, considering I knew everything from that point onwards — more than any history textbook could tell you. I had a brief understanding on Kaguya's time. These books and my previous knowledge allowed me to tell the difference between fiction and reality.

The thing I picked up on was these backward laws. Apparently, after years of Hashirama, Tobirama and Hiruzen — finally leading to Naruto's time — meant that many things were cut. Clan laws were dimmed, beaten out of the obnoxious arses who still believed they should stand as "one" and not "together".

There were heaps of rules that frankly just sucked. From interbreeding, to horrific amounts of sexism and domestic abuse, times seem better in Hiruzen's reign.

But are they really? Sure women are allowed to fight and not just act as housewives — even though some of that still remained — and the whole government system improved a bit. Yet the violent did not cease, it only grew.

The Warring States period was seen as a horrific time. In both history and anime. It was seen as this treacherous even in history that killed thousands. And while there was no doubt it was fucked — what with the death of thousands of men and children — it was no different to Minato or Tsunade's time.

If only it grew worse! Originally battles between a hand full of pissed off families — now fought between the entire world! Nations slaughtered each others! Millions died! Children still fought, prodigies like Kakashi and the Sannin are born every new generation and are forced to fight in wars — far worse than what their ancestors faced.

The Warring States was led by prejudice. The ninja wars were for power.

It didn't make the Warring any better but the Warring didn't diminished the ninja wars' overall fuck-ery. 

Even that Nawaki kid! Twelve years old with a bright future and a loving family who died far too young for another man's war! Obito is another. He died and was reborn a monster who led a war, all because of war — without the 3rd Ninja War Rin would never have died!

And it only seemed to get worse! The 4th Ninja War was absolutely insane! The entire world against one man! And they still got tosses about like children!

You could argue that there was world peace but how long would that really last?

It was understandably why so many ninja defect. It's hard fighting for a village that doesn't seem to care for their people — ignoring the bigger picture. They don't care if their decisions hurt others. Take Nagato for example, his village and family suffered immensely because they lived between two nations gutless fighting.

It was almost humours how both history and fiction spoke of how terrifying and enormous these wars were yet they never once talk about what they were fighting about!

Humans have always struck the wrong cord with me. Leaving a bad taste in my mouth. But, there was nothing to do. History was set in stone and I didn't want to go ripping holes in the space time continuum.

Well not yet.

::

"Brother."

Hashirama shifted a little in his seat, looking over at his brother with his eyebrows raised.

"The Ivory child," He told him, "Can we trust her? She could be a spy for all we know."

Hashirama shrugged. "Has she given us a reason not to?"

"Nawaki said she fell from the skies. We have no reason to believe the word of a three year-old but Tsunade insists it to be true."

"And if it is?"

Tobirama frowned. "Then this Ivory Kaguya is lying about who she is, it's painfully obvious, her story is full of holes. Whether it be about her name or home, she is definitely lying." He rolled his shoulder a bit to relief the tension. "Most we know is that she is of the north and found unconscious on the village's border...with a steel ball inside her heart."

Hashirama sighed. Hands folded one over the another with his chin rested down. "Any word on what it is?"

His brother shook his head. "It appears to be nothing but a bit of steel...how it got there in the first place is what the medic's are stumped on."

Hashirama frowned. "It wasn't there by force?" He looked up.

"That is what we first believed." Tobirama told him. "However there is no wound and no sign of medical ninjutsu to heal it over. She shouldn't even be breathing. A quick brain scan discovered the activated pain sensors to which she doesn't react to."

Hashirama slouched back into his chair, staring silently at the Hokage hat sitting innocently on the desk before him. "We shall leave it for now until there is more information."

Tobirama nodded as his brother continued.

"Make sure she is settled in. However, be wary...have her watched."

"Of course, Lord Hokage."

::

"Training?"

I sat up just a bit, eyes narrowing at the younger blonde.

Tsunade Senju grinned a smile only a child could muster. "Ya-hah! I'm gonna be a ninja! Just like grandfather!"

I couldn't help but smile. The innocent happiness that seemed to radiate off the child brought upon a sense of comfort.

I was surprised when the young Senju came to visit me, I was even more surprised when she began talking a million miles per hour. I always like the fiery Hokage and it seemed she hadn't quite lost her childhood nativity that was no where present in fiction.

But I knew in the upcoming wars — with the deaths of Nawaki and Dan — that the happiness would be around for much longer.

"Aren't you too young?" I nibbled on my lower lip, a nervous habit. "And isn't today Wednesday? Shouldn't you be in class?"

"Class?" Tsunade repeated loudly. "What class?"

'Shit'

Of course! There is no academy yet because Hashirama is still alive! I keep forgetting.

"Don't worry about it." I shook my head. "Its nothing."

She curled her lower lip, pouting, but otherwise didn't comment on it. She leant back just a bit.

"Wanna come watch?" She asked, her smile back.

"Are...Are you sure?"

'Was not expecting that'

"Yep!" She nodded. "You look up for it? Lets go!"

I nodded, eager to get the heck out of her. Throwing off the white sheets and feeling the cold air hit my skin, I leaped up. Dressed in a hospital gown — which was more like a sundress than anything else — I felt my toes curl against the cold tiles.

It took awhile to stretch out my muscles but I was soon back to normal. With a nod, I found myself walking behind the grinning Senju.

::

"Water Release: Jet Rivers!"

I jumped a little at the water. It shot from her finger tips, shooting up into the sky like beam, and like a whip it lashed out, cutting down a few trees. I've seen a thousand of techniques before but witnessing it in real life was something indescribable.

'...Fuck' I stared up at the tower of water, watching it vanished in seconds.

I gave her the thumbs up. "Impressive." That was an understatement.

It was beyond that. I would have never thought Tsunade was so skilled so young. I shared the popular opinion that she was a hard-working kind of gal. It never once occurred to me that she could have been a natural born prodigy in which things came, well, naturally.

She was like Orochimaru or Sasuke — heck, even Kakashi! Still, I always pictured her to be more like...Sakura. She even said so once herself — but it seems she never gave herself any credit.

"Thanks!" Tsunade smiled proudly. "What about you?"

I couldn't hide my shock. "Me?" I almost snorted. "I can't."

Tsunade grinned, waltzing over. "Don't worry about it." She told me. "I'll help."

I wanted to smirk at the smug victory but knew I couldn't. Wanting to be a kick arse ninja was my pipe dream ever since coming and if I was going to learn from a six year-old — I honestly wasn't complaining.

She sat down in front of me, legs crossed and hands folded into a seal. "Now, gather some chakra into your hands. It works best when you sit like this."

I mimicked her actions, listening intently as she continued. "Can you feel the warmth at the bottom of your stomach?" I nodded. "Good, that's your chakra. Grasp it, pull it up, gathering it in a ball and push it out."

I did. Her instructions weren't particularly clear for someone who knew nothing about ninjutsu but I understood it enough. It didn't really matter to me that it was a six year-old teaching a fifteen year-old. I just focused on my charka.

After a dozen time I managed to grab my chakra, and after a dozen more I was able to channel it. Once i'd gotten the hand of it, chakra was fairly easy to control.

Then again Kakashi did say it came natural to females.

"Nice." Tsunade grinned, most likely having sensed my completion. "You've got a real talent for it. How come you never thought of becoming a ninja?"

"I never really though about it.." Those were my honest words. These aren't — "I lived on the road. Everywhere I went I saw Samurai... no ninja."

Tsunade nodded. Smiling a pearl white smile. "Well, if you want. I can talk to grandfather?"

'BINGO!'

I couldn't hide my smirk this time. Wearing it wide and proud. Unbeknownst to Tsunade she had done exactly what I wanted her to.

It never occurred to me that I was manipulating a six year-old — no my pride wouldn't let me.

"Really?" I smiled. "Thank you, Tsunade!"

She grinned. "You're welcome." In a shuffle she was back on her feet. "Come on then, i'll show you around!"

She held out her hand from me to take. I stared at it a little longer than needed, finally taking it and allowing her to pull me up. I didn't even notice the small smile curling up on my lips.