Hatsuma Senju

As we traveled to the center of the clan compound we encountered more of our clan members and like the others before they all stopped and gave a small bow to us as we walked past. This time fortunately my mother didn't try and have a conversation with them.

I don't know if it was because they were not as close family members as the ones before or if she is just more focused right now. So far she has only nodded at a few people with a plain face before continuing, most she just ignores.

I was perfectly fine with that honestly, and I was also excited to see where she was taking me. In the show, the clans themselves weren't delved into very deeply, but I know for the Senju to stand out in this era they had to have a few powerhouses in the clan.

My father can't be the only one. Most of them are probably ninjutsu specialists since it is the most popular shinobi Jutsu. But the clan of a thousand skills was bound to have a taijutsu specialist.

Once we were near the center of the compound I was surprised to see just how many people were there, it was sort of like a mini version of what Konohagakure's city center looks like. There were shops lining the streets along with people peddling their items. It was pretty amazing to see.

All of this was on the main road that connected to the main governmental building of the clan at the end of it. I could see it in the distance as we got closer and while it didn't look exactly like the Hokage Mansion, it definitely inspired it.

As we walked I even saw people from other clans, the bug-loving Aburame clan members, the chunky Akimichi clan members, the white-eyed Hyuga clan members, and most prominently the red-haired Uzumaki. Who was being rowdy and playful every time I saw them. It seems that the clan has more than a few friends in this chaotic era. It makes sense to me now why they were considered noble clans among the Konoha clans.

Anyway, we walked past the market area and made our way to the Patriarch building. Itama had never been here before because he was terrified of it, since its where his father spent the most time there.

The Patriarch building was much smaller than the Hokage Mansion being only two stories instead of the four that the Hokage Mansion will have. It has a similar structure but instead of red it is a leaf green color and doesn't have an area at the top to look out. It also doesn't second as a home for the Patriarch and their family, it is strictly meant for administrative duties.

I was excited to see what the building looked like on the inside as we approached but to my surprise, we didn't go through the doors to the compound instead, we made a sharp left turn and arrived at a much smaller house that completely stood out from the rest of the building around it. It isn't a house-shop combo like the other buildings on this road but instead was just a one-story dome house. It is made out of some white stone and has a small chimney coming out of the left side of it.

It is a small house and couldn't be more than one room big, I couldn't imagine how someone could live here.

"Umm, mom? What are we doing here?" I cautiously asked my mom.

She turned to me with a pained smile "Where here to meet your great aunt." she forced out. It clearly pained her to speak about this which worried me even more.

"W-why?"

"So she can train you," she explained her face still smiling but her eyes were shaking in fear.

"B-but you don't look very happy to have her train me?" I gulped.

"What are you saying Itama, I'm very happy to see my aunt again. As happy as I possibly can be." she smiled, but I could see her eyes shaking even more than before.

"Well, is it ok if I knock?" I ask, but I was already bringing my hand to the door. Just as it was about to connect my mother's hand caught me in a vice grip.

"Just give me a second please sweetie," she asked, but by her grip and the look in her eyes, I knew that I had no choice in the matter. Obviously, my mother had some deep trauma with this lady. She must think she is the best trainer for me if she is willing to go this far for me. I felt touched honestly. I wouldn't let her struggle go to waste. I will become just as good as my two older brothers.

My mother took a few deep breaths while I cemented my will for my future training. If my mother was anything to go by, I would need the will of Might Duy to survive.

After we had both firmed ourselves my mother let go of my hand and knocked on the door. We didn't even stand in silence for a second before the door was flung open.

"It took you long enough, Natsy, I thought you were going to leave this old lady waiting forever." I heard a honeyed voice say.

I was greeted with the sight of a well-endowed pale woman with long flowing white hair and blue eyes. She is wearing a loose blue kimono-style blouse with no sleeves, held closed by a thin, white obi that matches her pants. Her blouse is closed quite low, revealing her sizeable cleavage. She wears open-toed, strappy black sandals. She is a very beautiful woman overall, but by the way, his mother was shaking it in her sandals this woman wasn't as she seemed.

"N-nice to s-see y-you a-a-again a-aunty" my mom studdered out.

The woman just giggled at my mother's fear before turning to me and squatting down to my eye level.

"And what cutie do we have here"? she asked with her intoxicating voice. She rubbed my hair and gave me a friendly smile.

When she did so it felt like all the troubles in my world left my body, she smelt great like lilacs. It was intoxicating, I found myself unknowingly closing my eyes while she rubbed my head. The women just giggled finding me pleasing.

"T-this i-is m-my t-third son, Itama Senju. I-i w-would l-like for y-you to t-train him in T-tai-taijutsu." she barely managed to say.

By this point, my eyes were back open as my mother's stuttering had shaken me out of my stupor. I didn't know why she was scared or anything my great aunt seemed nice. But I wouldn't bother with that right now, I wanted this woman to train me, I don't know how good she is at taijutsu but I like being around her. So to sell the bit I look up at her with pleading eyes hoping she would say yes.

"He must be very special if you brought him to me," she said looking up at my mother with a serious face, causing her to flinch. But then she brought her eyes back down to me and her expression melted. Oh~, how could I say no to such a cute face." she cooed as she pulled my cheek. It hurt like hell but I was willing to deal with it for now.

"Ok, I will train him for a week, and if he does well then I will take him as my disciple-" before she could finish speaking we both felt a gust of wind go past us. I looked in the direction that I felt the wind and saw that my mother was no longer standing beside me. Instead, there were only two deep footprints left on the ground.

I looked over my shoulder to see my mother sprinting back towards our home at an insane speed. I don't even think I could run that fast at my top speed.

I look back at the woman whose hair was now in a mess, she was looking in the distance where my mother had run with a playful smile. She looked back at me and our eyes match. We both giggled a bit before I gave her a small bow.

"Greetings master," I said in a respectful tone.

"Oh~ so cute~" she cooed again causing my cheeks to get pinched again.

"Come inside, I want to see what you're capable of," She told me before moving to the side so that I could walk past her.

I nodded and walked into the small domed house.