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Chapter Text

It won't be much longer on earth,

It will end just in few seconds more... To be away... From his firstborn? Away from his daughter he and his wife created? His wife- Eyes imidientaly searched for the familiar shape next to him.

He sighed out deeply, his face swollen up with tears - just like his wife, that with last drops of strenght crawled over to the child.

Amidst all of the smoke, craters around and still flarred chakra above themselfs. 

Her long, vibrant red hair didn't move even an inch, while she adjusted the hold of crying girl in her arms. Leftovers of golden chains around her body helped her sit just for a mere second -more straight, more properly. Brushing away each centimeter of cold earth. Just to be as close as possible to the child.

Tears rolled down her cheeks, her young face- and oh so tired face. Pain was pouring down those eyes, love, guilt and...After few seconds - a determination. Voices, screams - suddenly all new sounds appeared in his ears - name of jutsus he couldn't really understand and different chakra signatures that trained brain forgot how to tell apart.Young Hokage watched as his wife pushed (with choked sob) another pair of chains. He wanted to move to stop her, to say something smart about taking care of herself after birth... Anything to keep her mind out of casting any technique- to forbid it. After... After the thing that happened... Yet technique he used before, did not allow any movement. All his muscles and life force were standing on thin line before shooting down.

One wrong move, too harsh and he would crumble under few breaths.

So he watched

What was the thing his wife is doing?...

Soft and shaky whispers came over to his ear. And above that smoke in his vision- little warm light appeared. Shining over small body of his daughter. She was so loud in those cries of hers - he was so proud it make his heart twist in half. Healthy, confused and cold but healthy - alive... At least he could see her.

"Na..ru...to..." That was one of his last words, and it made him sob, and feel overwhelming sick feeling im mouth. He will leave this world in few seconds and he can only watch what is happening to his wife and daughter.

Young woman, even in horrible state she was in- still managed to do her thing. She did what she intended to. Not even that blurry vision of hers couln't stop her brain from engraving the action that was happening in front of her. Black ink seal appeared on small chest of little Naruto, creating some sort of spiral in bigger image. Not to mention those swirls and cloud looking lines. Under few more seconds, the thing was completed. Her sweaty hand touched over her daughters head... Wife of Hokage could feel a warm liquid poured down her lips.

"Uzumaki Naruto, you..."She took a deep breath, and squeezed her hand over the child head. Allowing pure blood to mess on little baby red strands of hair."You're next... You're next...My daughter...Just like me... Just... Like I was..." Another deep breath, trying to ease the tension in muscles to move more freerly. She looked over at her husband and child. Tears rolling down like waterfalls, as she brought up the small - now calm - body of little Naruto. Newborn girl quickly calmed down, under warmth of mothers embrace without even knowing that blond haired Hokage was brought up close too.

Thoose two kissed each other, just small silent testament of love that allowed them to be stron just for more seconds- while next ones were just for the child.

Chains helped him lean down, and kiss his daughter whiskered cheek. Chains guided him back. Symbol and protection of long living clan, of one of the strongest clans back in the day was now in small body of his daughter along with the force he was trying to tame.

The force that broke free, killed so many, became a national danger nearly- if he wouldn't step up to Death doors.

The burden his wife wore from young years of life - was inside little bundle of their joy.

How could he do this? How did she allowed him to do it?...

He knew the consequences, his wife lived with them - he... He was a failure as father.

Not even a day of being the one, and already messing up.

He had faith, and still does, that what he had done- what he did to his daughter will at least benefit her. That village - the one he loved with all his heart and mind - will accept his and his wife sacrifice.

Now, he cannot change it anymore- the burden will with on along with little Naruto. His wife, with last shaky sob, began to slowly lean down to earth. He came right with her.

 The last thing he could do now is at least be with those two.

Him on the left, his wife on the right. Between them a little girl with red strands of hair and whiskered cheeks.

"I'm... sorry"

They nearly said in unison, trying to hold back their guilt- 'Love, love before guilt-' they keept repeating in their clouded minds. They understood each other without words, and slowly he - Yellow Flash of Konoha allowed himself to accept the fact he did and was doing now. Leaving his daughter and wife...

'At least in capable hands.' He thought, as too familiar chakra appeared in his senses. The one he couldn't forget even by amnesia. Twinkles of lightning, and just right behind them - an old and weary signature rushed to their place.

"Li...ive...ong... Li...fe..."

"Ha...appy... One.."

"My..Po...Poppy..."His wife whispered, affection pouring down form her gentle movements and shiwshing trails of chains over the trio. A flower came to his mind, Poppy?... His daughter... Smile appeared on his face as he looked at the two women of his life.

They were the most breathtaking Poppy's of his life. He took his wife hand into his own. Pain shooting trought him like earthquake tears apart countries. Without thinking much, about pain, about tears in his tired eyes Yellow Flash repeated movements over little head of his child. Silently, not crying out in pain or guilt.

"Love... Loo..ve... You... Little Poppy..."

"Be... trong... We... Are... ith... You... Always."

With one last loving look to each other. They watched as each one losed their twinkle in eyes. That spark of life was going off and as much as it hurt to see it... At least their daughter was not looking at this horrible scene. Of losing their life will talk whole Villages, if not countries. But about the love for thier living child? Only they will remember it.

Remember, in now another life. In the silent and comfortable dunes of silence and peace... Where there is nothing other than the loved ones.

Because now, only the little girl cried out loudly, and so pitifully as if she understood the weight of situation.

She, for now - was alone in the whole, wide world.

Chapter Text

"Whatever god was above us, they left this village for sure."

Came choked statament from one of ANBU guards. Dark clothes, silver plates over chest, back and knees. Wooden mask at their faces was now on earth. Showing the thousand yard stare and the horrible look of the young human mental state.

Third Hokage did said a thing, not while he respectfully placed white robe over Yellow Flash face. He who had seen the wars and leaded people in and out of those states - was now at loss of words. What of God of Shinobi was he - that even this beast... That he couldn't stop this beast?

Earth seemed now like old bread - crumbling so easilly under slight movement of the chakra beast. Chakra so thick it created a body with tails - shaping that being into creature for human eyes. Teeth so large they could break heads of Hokage in one mere move, body so big it was a miracle that this.... this thing stayed in protective barrier of Uzumaki chains. Every single one of  ITs roars became ear threatening, sensitive shinobi cried out in pain- rolling down on dirt and mud from overwhelming sensations. Those that were awere of their own chakra and others- seemed to be frozen in place Their brains couldn't comprehend that there can be or there even is a possibility of seeing this - THIS - with their own eyes, feel it with nearly all their own being... Just to be swiped out of life force with one single swish of ITs tail - or one of those things.

Numbers of killed people, of destroyed places, homes, sanctuaries for innocent didn't mater, for that being of chakra - So orange in color it became nearly red- like the blood IT created, blood rivers in civilans districts, craters of bood and lost limbs. Teared away from humans, and also human remains in them - heads, legs, whole families... It mattered nothing to IT, as that large creature that seemed like Fox of Nine Tails created few tousands more of destructions around. It's fur near claws seemed in color more like marron- dirt and blood clinged to it's body. Screams. begging of mercy and shouted jutsus were like moves of wind. Maybe IT heared those, (being with that large ears for sure could hear them...) maybe not - mercy was for sure not in IT's interest. The large body moved so quickly for something so large, making earth shake- and throw trained bodies off to ground - killing another innocent people or shinnobis. It could jump so fast, so hard land... Dirt and dust shoot towards trees of Nara Forest. Leftovers of houses and other unidentified things shoot to the sky when the large tails dropped down to the earth. It was all mess - blood dirt, dirt blood- human flesh there and there... Purge, of their own people... Butchers work of demon that didn't have even the initiative to move from the village grounds. Everything could vanish under IT's hands or legs - for whatever reason behind it, that demon stayed inside the village grounds. It didn't even unleashed it's true power- and he knew it, those were just mere angry moves, meant to shoot away noisy humans away - and find IT's true prey.

And when IT did find them-...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

..?

??

Hiruzen Sarutobi, The Third Hokage of Konoha... Forgot what happened after that.

Emotions, he shook his head to reality, emotions of seeing this... Murder...

...

He had to bit back on his cheek from inside of his mouth.

He couldn't help them, he couldn't stop them neither. He for once in his lifetime, couldn't possibly be in two places at the time - that required so much chakra at one move. He couldn't, because he wasn't capable to, and that that was alright. He wasn't strong enough, he won't ever be after this...

God Of Shinobi didn't have the ability to stop it. 

...

...

With this pathetic feeling he'll need to live with the rest of his life.  Just looking at not moving bodies was enough to send a horror shiver trough his trained spine. Third Hokage seen many deaths, but this one... This many deaths in one night were enough for him to safely and loudly mourn poor souls. That happened to be on the way of this beast. It was...  The redheaded Uzumaki woman and wife of Fourth Hokage was laying there - unmoving, still.

Still 

Still

And won't move forever, just like her husband.

Yellow Flash - always quick always on the move... Always the blurr that appeared at least once in the village streets.

And that blurr won't appear again.

It's unreal,

It will forever feel like it.

Not only to him but for white haired teenager...

Third Hokage, whiped the sweat away from his face.

...

For now he can only see what happened to the village. 

He needs to look away from this, just even for a moment.

Of Konohagakure no Sato - there wasn't much left to see, nor repair.

Strong clans were the most capable of trying to stop mass destruction around their homes or important places in village. Where people ran away to hide, to run away with lives to protect, that prayed and begged this whole catasthropy to end. Those cries went not unnoticed by people, by Council, by clan heads that helped shinnobis. They were listening to other side of this... Destruction. Hospitals, remaining safe houses or other sanctuaries... Lots of those that protected them won't be even able to heal afer this chakra exhaustion... So many will be injured, so many are dead... so many hurt, so many mad, scared, panicked and lost... 

What to do now? How to protect them now from harshnes of the upcoming winter and unwelcoming weather? Where to go with all those injured, killed and alive? So many that are hurt, that are frantically scared of even moving an inch outside? 

How did this even happened?

Was this his fault?

Or the other people?.

His head will kill him in upcoming weeks.  That was the only thing he was sure of.

Everything around him seemed to take on more color, more deeper- darker one. Trees from brown, became marron. Leaves in autumn colors, taken more interest in dark tones - like a grey and black swirls over the sky. Sky, that started to cry. Large drops of water shooted down on earth. Heavens stressed about destructions of this small part of earth seemed to mourn everyone dead. Every animal, plant, houses and architecture of village First Hokage created. 

Only one soul sounded alive - too alive for death surrounding her small, fragile body.

Third Hokage shoot up, right from his position along with other ANBU.

Alive? Newborn? 

Her?

Their daughter?- Despite everything?

Honestly, even they saw- they knew her heritage- the whole thing happening... None belived it will turn out to their side.

Now, another Jinchuuriki of Nine Tails Fox was here with them.

Hiruzen, crouched down, right above the child's head. Near place - where leftover of Uzumaki chains seemed to fly away right with soul of redheaded woman.

"She's alive" 

Someone said, but none was really sure if it was Third Hokage - or that white haired ANBU teenager, who shaked like leaf.

Everyone was so shocked, they didn't even notice him running away.

Coward?

Him? No.

No. Not that loyal Inu.

"Medic- right now!"

And once again - the world seemed to move on from he loss of preciuous souls of the village. Taking the course over now lively few hours old Naruto Uzumaki. Cries of the child  were so loudly for their poor frightened ears - it seemed like they were in cave that everyone listened to. Of course they were shinobi who experience a fucking chakra beast attack - and lived trought it... But the evil never sleeps. Especially for Ninja Villages - ones like Konohagakure no Sato. Too many shinobis would like to hear the horrible news, too many would want the bodies of their own...

Those people who now fussed over crying girl in their arms- those shinobis were allowed only few minutes of weakness.

The world doesn't wait,

And does not makes exepctions

will never do. 

There isn't any form of mercy, they could expect- with rouge ninjas, shinobis from other villages that waited - yearned for the moment of weakness that Konoha would expect. 

And he - Hiruzen Sarutobi needed to step up to expectations of his people again. 

Tired, old man had to step up for the place of Hokage. Was he too old for this job again? Maybe, but age doesn't matter for people in war times. It needs to be done like this, and he must do it with all his might- once again. 

There will be too much visits, too much attempts on village - on councills... on the graves... 

Finally those cries of poor orphaned girl stopped, once he took her in his old wrinkled arms. Just like he previously did with his own children. She  calmed down, probably too tired to continue her weeps for lost family - if her brain even understood the concept. He sighed deeply, once again... Once again he was too tired for this job. 

Yet he had to, he needed to. 

Others helded and hold higher traumatic experiences than he did. 

The least he can do is help them get trought it.

"Hokage-sama..."Came over uncertain voice of newly appeared woman ANBU guard.

He calculated quickly- his cleanest coat was now being placed on earth, while the sleeping girl in hospital towels and materials was wrapped up in that warm coat. With help of another ANBU guard he corrected that setting, and turned forward to the woman.

"Sent a word to every alive person of Council of Konoha, that there will be a meeting- right this moment- right here."

That woman nodded, and quickly vanished into darkness.

First thing first, what will they say to people about this whole mess - and about the child?

Lively discussion was the most gentle expression of how the meeting turned out in this crater. Quick made tent allowing most important persons to move at their own comfort, and three circles of ANBU- one around the tent, second just right when the branches started and the third-  even author doesn't know where they came from nor where they were. Only skilled shinnobis could blink their eyes and point where they could be.

Not even sure statament ow their own force, was this really their force?? 

Quick and certain noise of breaking wood in half made them all twitch. So loud... Too loud for their poor ears...

"SHE!?" Shouted woman-like voice, creating somewhat a new tension in all of this eerie silence. "She shouldn't even be alive after such thing! Who did this?! What about-"

"Utatane-san" Male voice, made all hairs over ANBU spine stand. They knew him too well, that voice, that tension, that... Just whatever demon this man was or was carrying after his soul made them feel as that heat dissapeared. Chakra of Nine Tails still was in air, somewhat like orange mist over- everywhere it went, it created such hottnes, such boiling feeling... But now, one of ANBU with mask of rabbit looked over dark brown tent with uncertain eyes. He didn't understood how only mere word from Shimura Danzo brought this much cold into the air. In insanity of this statament- he missed thait boiling wamrth over this eerie coldness...

"Hiruzen will surely tell us, what happened- right? We would love to be up to date with everything." 

Lord Third, only repeated his actions few times. Sighing, leaning back- sitting more straight, untill that whiskered cheeks went still in another short time nap time.

"As I said, to you all, Our Yellow Flash sacrificed himself in one of the most forbbidden and deathly jutsu.  Our previous Jinchuuriki- Kushina Uzumaki-" He hated how at the mere name of "Jinchuuriki" all of their faces and even himself shifted in seats. Clearly itching to kill that mosquito with fastet way possible. A burden to everything and everyone... He knew, he remebered even older "Cage for the beast"... Feeling small body shift under  blankets, he continued that part of explaining. "Stopped that demon from doing further harm. Adamantine chains of Uzumaki clan protected... Leftovers of Konoha and allowed Fourth Hokage to seal that... Being... Into Naruto, for protection of the village."

He couldn't even choke out 'they sacrificed her, for this village - not only themselfs for this whole thing'

Naruto wriggled in her sleep, pushing off the warm chakra blanket with strong kicks of small legs from her little body. Sarutobi, like a machine corrected hold of the baby, and imidientally put up that hard to find cover. In such desperate times, few ANBU guards managed to find winter chakra blanket. That somehow, just for few moments were a disguise of mothers warmth. Which the child didn't know how to respond to it at all. Poor little soul seemed so confused and nearly sick of everything around... Her skin didn't turn any other color  that too pink for another few more hours.

Everyone seemed to understand those words that went unsaid, and accepting the old ancient language they took to communicate.

There were only  loud answers they needed to say out loud.

"Village is our top priority - send word to clan heads, Hokage-sama, Konoha needs their materials-" Started the third male voice, without any hint or twist of fear.

"No" Sarutobi quickly shoot him a glare, tearing into his sentence "Village - people of Konoha will demand explanation, faster than food ot shelter, they need answers, and we need to provide them"

"Then provide them with dead child and dead beast!"

"Homura Mitokado, silence." Cold tone shoot trought thick atmosphere, even  Danzo shifted in his seat position. "The child won't die - I cannot allow it, and won't do it for your emotional whim-"

"My emotional whim?! Hiruzen- look around!"Mitokado- being an older man he is and tired one to that, stood up. Large white material of wide sleeves shoot up as he gesticulated before other members. "It's massacre, of Konoha of everyone- this child won't even hold that demon for long before it breaks from her insides!"

"Silence Mitokado!" This time it was voice of Shimura Danzo who like everyone around, began to sniff something; For him an opportunity.  "Listen to Lord Third, keep thinking with clear head for everyone..."

"If I-"

"Homura Mitokado! Shut up." Utatane stated, brushing grey hair from her sweated and full of wrinkles- forehead. "For that child is the problem we need to explain now... And work with it, as it grows up... For Village best interest is out top priorioty...." She shoot a glance over  Third Hokage form. 

"What do you propose then? People, despite everything we would do - will talk, will treat us in different way, and will stop believing in everything you taught them... What about Jinchuuriki?"

"It's easy Utatane Koharu" Danzo stood up and walked forward to  one of walls of tent, looking over large map of Konoha "We need to create someone for ths child."

"We? Create?"

"Danzo means, hiding the fact that Naruto is still a newborn- we will create a persona for her. Backstory only few of clanheads will be able to know. She will stay under my clans protection as one of children found in woods from prostitute Uzumaki..."

"Uzumaki prostitute?" Mitokado shifted in his seat when that words came out of his mouth. It was like saying 'Mito-sama was a whore' who could even word out such bizzare argument?

Who would belive it?

And that silent question seemed to unite three members of Council. 

Even ANBU outside nodded to each other at that. Everyone one knew Uzumaki were either dead as whole - or those who did survived are everywhe but not in 'Free Friday Night' places.

Third Hokage only nodded, understanding their concerns.

"What else? She has that red hair as blood is, much more - any trained person will see or feel how much chakra this child has. There is no other possibilty that she is not an Uzumaki. 

"Previous Jinchuuriki... How long was she at home?"Utatane sighed deeply, leaning back in her chair. Something needs to be made up, at least so village won't go on rampage or more panic.

"Probably four last months of pregnancy..."

"Let's say... Someone appears in Konoha, another cousin Uzumaki to the Jinchuuriki. She is pregnant and due November or December..."

Danzo taking the lead added his part on the story, coming closer to the table with documents.

"There were chains everywhere, we can say it were from two different people. Meaning before the attack, or let it be even today - this one was born - while child of Hokage pair is dead." Small child wriggled under such words, or realization that this warmth of cloth is not her mother 

Mitokado, looked from one member to another one, clearly keeping something for himself, trying not to spat back with venom on this situation.

"Body won't be a problem, not in this time" Third Hokage nodded, as much as it disgusted him to think of burials of unnamed people, shinobis. They would need a real body. Chakra won't be a problem, imitation jutsu will come on handy on that one.

"Disgusting"

"Disgusting is your mindset to not think about other matter than killing Innocent child!"

"Demon!" Whined Homura before it was Third Hokage who literaly broke the wooden table im half. Creating large lightning like opening.

"You better stay silent, if you even have brain" Utatane, had enough of this bickering, their situation is already horrible and now it needs to turn out like this?...

"I won't repeat myself, Silence or your head Mitokado-san." Danzo tried to back himself of snort, Hiruzen never really suprised him with threats,  but this one? Point one to the score of three.

"Who will take care of documents?" Shimura Danzo asked. Slowly sitting down, just right above his  thick documents for ANBU. Probably blank paper waiting for his orders - he already had in mind what.

"As Hokage, me - thus creations of unnamed mother for Naruto is on me."Something happened to that tension, slowly leaving the tent yet everyone had it in their throats.

"Whiskers, what about them?"

"Cat scratches, or rubble or some kind of wooden baby basket that fallen on her head." He indeed was fast. Someone thought thinking how quick it was for Danzo to lie, and create them.

"Name for mot-"

"Yuzuna or Yuwari Uzumaki"

"Date of bir-"

"11 may"

"Paren-"

"Father dead by stoning for lack of information on Uzumaki whereabouts, mother dead and eaten of chakra like the father, thus they are branch members. Mother had few sisters, and one of them was our Jinchuuriki. Different father, same mother. Father was a glass art maker, mother tended to fields, but they had some ninja training."

Hiruzen wasn't so suprised, not by this quick thinking of Danzo anyway. He just leaned back, and began to rock whining newborn back to sleep.

"Kami-sama... The last thing we need to say is back up story to explain where is the beast." 

"Tell thm you killed it" Utatane stated, looking straight into the eyes of Third Hokage.

"What?" He nearly choked on it's breath.

"Tell them... That... Monstrosity is in Glass Tree.". She added just after the silence. "The thing Jinchuuriki had in her home. We will collect some chakra and put it inside that to imitate that demon is there..."  With that she stood up and walked over to water basket, quickly splashing her face with some few harsh moves. She wasn't taking it really much like everyone else around. Which was understandable.

"Rabbit, Pigeon" Two male ANBU appeared right next to pale Hokage of Konoha. "To the Uzumaki residence, take the others and only look for the thing described here."

They vanished even more quicker, than appeared.

"If she starts even one cry, I'm sending for medic nin, Hiruzen we need to think for village she can wait in Hospital- leftovers of it but still..."

Sarutobi knew he despised kids, and yet he had again to say he was right. Village won't wait, and if anything- nurse will help her better than him.

"Bird" Woman like figure dropped down from the wooden furniture. "Take this child to hospitall wing for newborns if asked questions say she's Uzumaki, but not 'ours'." 

The woman nodded, and left the tent, rushing towards white blankets and flags that were layed down nearly everywhere where ruins of Hospital were. Little Naruto, only wriggled more, clearly unpleasnt with feeling of lack of mothers milk and warmth. Yet she needed to wait, much to the demands of her body.

Whole meeting went for 20 long minutes, 20 minutes that decided her life in quick and demanding voices. The other part didn't matter.

Only that 20 minutes,  when they decided od her life for now

Chapter Text

Their job wasn't so pointless as it seemed before.

Just two hours before, they were assigned to this mission with protection of dead bodies. Special seals over their quick made funeral clothes twinkled under moonlight beams. They didn't know if it was from their lack of sleep or somehing else. But they sweared they moved,  seals swirrled, characters  written in ink became larger and smaller - depending on what place moonlight shined over them. All of that pointed out during protection and battle with rouge ninjas. It was only a matter of time to pull down their masks and allow them to choke on thick chakra that still emitated from god knows where.

Fifteen today, and tomorrow?

  Yellow Flash really had a knack to pull bad people, and have a problem with them. Just the same as his partner - that Uzumaki woman. Shinobis rushed forward on her body like animals- teeth bared, ready to sink in that cold and stiff body. Thankfully that white haired boy was with them. As much as that untrained and untaimed wolf brat was  annoying them... Today they decided to stay silent. Instead watching as heads and blood flies everywhere, if some poor ass were just an inch too close to the body of his teacher and his wife.

It was hard to see at first glance.

It was a secret, and his team deducted it in very quick way... Wolf kid grunting something about that family, about revenge over sensei, and the wife.

 That wolf shithead seemed like killing machine- on his way to tear open anyone who just as much breatehed wrongly. Pure, open - blank stare with eyes of soul lost in madness. Scary as fuck even for trained ones... And yet, he sat with them, looking down on red liquid pouring down from their hands. 

"Hokage-sama, sent words that bodies need to be transported to place we shall show you." One of female voice stated, tiredly- without even an inch of emotion. When the figure dropped down on earth to look properly over dead  beloved people.

"Where to?"

"To Kyoko-san place. To dress them properly for last  journey" 

Few of them looked over whit haired boy. That still crouched down, betweend covered heads. Ready to attack on command. 

"Then we shall go there.  Head straight to them and tell - we are goind out with preparations..."

"And for all that's holy, seize that brat before he kills us." To prevent unnecesarry blood flow, two of more skilled shinobis took down tired copy nin with single hard hit of metal branch. Despite his already growing fame - none can or will outsmart human need for rest, sleep or hunger. Even wolf or dog senses - as much as other abilities can weaken to the point of misdirection, miscalculations as well as wrong actions or lack of awarness.

Everyone is just a simple human, at the end of the day. 

"What was that for?" Woman asked, pointing at now fainted teenager.

The rest only sighed, taking the ropes over skilled jonin hands, gripping them hard in confusing ways tying his fingers to not move them even an inch.

"Trust us, he needed that one."

It was scary, why she looked like water.

She was so... Small no but... So light, too light to her actuall weight. Proper amount for children, between two and three kilograms... Yet if you would hold her, that little girl could gone trough your fingers - if the hold wouldn't be proper. No sings of any physical harm, no twists in her state just coldness and... The complete mess of chakra, too hot while small one was so cold at the same time. Her body still had that flush pink color of new skin- only much brighter. and sharp smell of death clinging to her whenever they went.

"Wash her for all that's above! Just- Just something!" Begged one of male chunnins, looking at small child. But none seemed to even know what they meant. Wash away? Like with what? Magical stick to bring her light life or just ease the smell? It was horrible, it was making them nearly puke as they  held her too long.  She wasn't an ugly newborn, but the smell of that thick as fuck death chakra. Like rotting meat of half eaten rats in woods. It wouldn't be washed off untill that chakra itself calmed down. Worry spread trough whole medic squad, that now tried to comfort sobbing little child. While also covering little Uzumaki from too carefull Uchiha Mikoto.

None was stupid enough to belive too complex story of that red haired newborn. It was clear as day who this child was. That was sure for them, and life long friend of Uzumaki Jinchuuriki.  And why small chakra light covered her body.

They were medics - medical ninjas that knew chakra like it was just a bare need - like  how food is going in your stomach, not imbeciles.

That's why they stayed quiet, under watchfull eyes of ANBU from Hokage that circled on everyway they go with small Uzumaki. 

Thankfully, only vaccinations were left, few, not harmfull but the need to stay and watch her was a must-do on the list. None seemed up to the idea of not sleeping today- after such problems in one single day, they were not sure there will be a tomorrow....

Oh well, it could've been worse.

Despite what everyone might think, for some people - this wasn't the end of the world. But a new beggening or just the same story told once again.

Be not mistaken, none refers that something like attack of beast -made from chakra - on whole village ever happened before.

No 

No

People suffered trought many shits, one deeper one a bit more nearly under surfaces.  Pain was the same.... Laments, prayers to ancestors and hell knows what else. That came like war once again, but for short moment of  time. In their heads it seemed like paintings repeating itself in their heads.

Why painting? Why that one, why not pictures?

Author does know, do you?

There is a thing that can enlight people mind, painitngs is more symbolic, it shows that someone took their time to engrave the view of something into the canvas. Important meaning worthy of remembering in this special way. Yet does massacres need to be painted so lively? So specifically? Shouldn't people forget of what was bad and move on?

Some matters won't move from the mind,  no matter how or when they happen

They will stay there, for the rest of the life.

None listened then, none will listen now, people won't change. Sometime they do, but today isn't for that .

Life doesn't stop, neither does world. But thats' good.

It means there is a chance for better life, whatever that means.

We cannot stop and mourn, or the life would just go trough our hands, and the only good thing will be... Well how can I know?

We need to move on nothenless, what's of life to only stay? There is nothing interesting nor worth in still. Unless we are talking about staying with family or friends. But that's isn't stillnes.

What am I thinking about?

Noriko shook her head,  she wasn't a person for deep thinking it didn't pay bills good. Nor maybe being a whore near village gates. Yet even courtesans needed documents. She didn't have that nor the money for it.

Yet now... Who will blame poor girl to steal anything that came to her hands?

If someday she would think about deep things, she  usually gave time to matters like family and their whereabouts.

She was from good home, three siblings who loved eachother good parents and good financial stability. There was no harrasment that could drive her to hypersexuall need, nor sudden problems with health, death of parents... Because everyone was living, even after the attack. She wasn't from pathological field, nor problematic one - No gods forbid that.

Everything was good, yet she wanted different life. Something was too... too.. Yes too what? What moved her into this field, when the reality was she could've been put into good position or marriage if there was a need? Aburame branch part kid was her friend. If family could've talked and put quite few money - she would not need to even work in shop with materials. What moved a normal girl to this state? Unwanted pregnancy? No, her first time was on the streets with client...

So how? 

This was just a decision and it happened... Just like it.

"Once again, and once again... Is this my mind telling me to go back to morally right life?" Her words did not went unnoticed. 

"Kiko, go to work, or for Kami-sama sake get some dick into your mouth and shut up." Grey haired woman came slowly near her. Silently judging the state of building in front of them 

You're wondering where we are? 

Demolished part of village- Konohas Red light District.

Noriko went silent, her eyes somewhere else - did not even shiver as wrinkled hand hit her shoulder. 

What great lady of Jade Blossoms was doing in front of her newest- now ruined- central building? And why did she touched her hand? Much more how does she know her "everyday" name?

"Kiko, I won't repeat myself  for third time."

"What?"

Loud slap over her cheek. Long deep brown haired moved with the wind as she - shock!- left alone few broken pieces of special and pricey vases.

"You're a whore on the streets, your choice, your life but my vases are my vases. No decent whore would even  as much as touch them." Great Lady uttered, quickly taking a large sip of sake, and gracefully going forward, looking under left overs of doors, windows, and walls.

"Besides, don't make it look like life is to blame for your situation, I had better girls than pathetic one like you."

Noriko nodded, shame going all over her face as Great Lady went forward. Not from her words but that nice looking rest parts of that vase. Even bits could be pricey... People who worked on such beauties were nearly legends... There, outside of the gater  at night many people came over. To taste the women of village, even pay the right amount for their demands. Yet men are men, sometimes there is a problem that can hurt very much... Price for "forest" girls - as the courtesans from inside called them- were an uniqe thing. Not too much, but not too low either.  People paid them in anything they had valuable - clothes, materials, jewellery and furniture. Vases were one of those "payments" as well. Those women who were on this buisness taught here you could even say practically a bits of vase or some ornamets - and still have the  ebtter price. Some fanatics, some collectors - if you could talk nicely, you would get a good cash. From stories of such valuable vases were ones made by glass. Better if those were from Uzumaki special hands. They could be dead, they could be even on the moon- for all she cared about.  

Yet the price from stolen, to broken, and even only drawing of concepts were valuable, it was...

Perfetcion.

She dreamed about meeting the living one, like that jinchuuriki of village but more maybe in available way. To have one even create do special thing... It was a wet dream for collectors and even lowley maidens as herself.  After this explosion or God knows what - it will be even more worthy than normal. If she could at least buy one...

Well, if Uzumaki still are walking on this earth. As far as she knows - they (she and her two sisters in this road) just dig a grave for one of the Swirl clan. 

Together, with Fio and Ume - they burried that woman whose hair went from white, to vibrant red one. She stated something about horrible number of 9.

What she had in mind, they will never know. 

They just found her under rubble, pleading for someone to help get away. That she will pay... So they did, but it was too late. As they took her out, her open clothes were soaked and dripping of blood. The grease so bad it looked like mud, if she didn't saw a c section alive - she would assume that's what happen if not rubble. She died on their eyes, pity filled them and so, with few prayers, quick made grave and wood statue.

About that beast attack... Yea, it happened, but whores are busy nowadays too. People only love three things, good woman to sleep with, alcohol maybe drugs  before puffs of smoke.  Humans and especially men, need someone to help them with stress loss... No matter the times or actions happening- they still need to do their job.

Noriko took a deep breath in, looked over her shoulder last time and nodded her head.

'Yuzuna Uzumaki' was quite sloppy thing, she could do better at engraving things- but it served its purpouse. And with hope she left the place, that someone might find her and give her a proper burial.