Senju Compound

While running down the main road I decided not to stop at the market distinct, I would save it for last. I wanted to explore the more boring and obscure places within the compound before coming back. When I made it past the market I three paths I could take. I can keep straight and head back in the direction of home, obviously, that one is out. Or I could go left or right, two directions I haven't been to yet. So, I don't know where they are. I didn't know which way to go so I used the best way I knew possible.

"Any mini miny moe, catch a tiger by the toe…"

Let's just say that I ended up going left. And boy was I disappointed. Turns out the left was just where the different branches of the clan lived. And while I was first excited to see if I could find some children my age to play with, I realized that most of the homes within the compound were gated and walled. And there weren't many people on the streets, a few adults who bowed to me as I walked by, but no one around my age to hang out with.

At first, I was confused about how they knew it was me, but then I walked past some glass and realized why. My appearance was very unique within the clan, seeing as I'm the only one with dual-colored hair. That explains how they all knew who I am.

Now, you might ask, why would I -a person who has been transmigrated- want to play with kids? Well, the answer is pretty simple, I want to enjoy my new childhood while I still can. I don't remember much of anything about my last life, but I had a strong feeling that I didn't have much of a childhood.

Nor do I think I will have one for very much longer in this life. Therefore, I want to at least experience some fun while I am still a kid. And what better way to be a kid than to hang out with other kids?

Plus, I am still a kid at heart. I might be a bit more mature than others, but I am still a nine-year-old child. I can't change that and I don't wanna. Plus being around adults all the time while in a child's body would feel weird. And I just know that they would either be weirded out by me or wouldn't res

ect any of my opinions.

Anyways, I've gotten tired of walking around the family district, as I've named it, and decided to ask one of the adults if they could point me in the direction where I can find people my age. After a few minutes, I found a middle age woman (though with how Senju age, she was more than likely in her seventies) with a dark blue kimono holding a basket of flowers in her arms. She has a bright smile on her face and was getting ready to bow to me until I interrupted her.

"Umm, aunty. Could you tell me where the other kids are? My brothers are gone and I want to find someone to play with." I ask with bright eyes and a childish voice.

I could see the woman visibly melt when she heard my question. Probably feeling pity for me or something.

"Ah~" She cooed "I'm sorry young Itama, but you chose the wrong direction. You need to turn around and keep straight until you see the training grounds. That's where most children stay."

I nod my head and smile big "Thank you Aunty" I wave as I run back down the road. It seems as if my 'any miny moe' failed me. But it'll work for sure the next time.

I quickly make my way out of the family district and down the road leading to the training grounds. This way was mostly woods that were cut in half by the walking path. Every hundred or so feet I would see an opening that lead to one of the training grounds but each time I peaked in there were adults training and if there were kids they were also training with other adults. I didn't want to interrupt them. I knew how I would feel if my training with sensei was interrupted and I didn't want to be that annoying. So I kept running.

After around ten minutes I had already passed by at least twelve or so training grounds and most of them were the same thing as before. I was starting to get annoyed and disheartened by not finding anyone to hang out with. From what I can see there are only two training grounds left before the path ends. So I quickly make my way into the first one that is on the left-hand side.

I peak down the path and see two children fighting. I get excited and was ready to walk up the path to greet them but just as I was about to step out I heard someone from the side speak.

"Datama, your attacks are too predictable, you need to be more creative!" A deeper feminine voice called out from the side.

When I heard that I sighed to myself before slowly backing away and heading toward the next training ground. Unfortunately, this one didn't leave anything to the imagination as two adults were practicing their shurikenjutsu rather competitively. I watched for a few seconds and then left not wanting to get caught peeping.

It would be a lie to say that I wasn't sad about not meeting anyone. I was very sad, I wanted to get to meet some new people around my age. The main reason was to have someone to play with, but I also had an alternative reason too. I wanted to build my force within the Senju compound. I'm not trying to take the patriarch position or anything, but I do want to have a group of followers of my own.

I'm not like my second brother, I'm not very comfortable being in the shadow of Hashi for my whole life. In my case, I wouldn't even be second fiddle like Tobi is gonna be. I would be Third Fiddle. So, I need my own group of people to do things with.

I would still help Hashi in his dreams, as it was something necessary for this world to progress, but I also want to do things for myself. And while I know I will be strong in the future, I don't have an objective in mind yet. I do realize that whatever my grand ambitions are, I won't be able to achieve them alone.

Which is why I need talented Senju around me that will help me with my goals for the future. I don't plan to just recruit Senju either, the Uzumaki, Hyuga, Sarutobi, and even some clans not based in the Land of Fire are on the list too.

But none of this matters if I can't find people to hang out with.

"Maybe, next time," I say under my breath as I drag my feet back down the path.

But just as I was about to move I heard a faint shout that seemed to come from a childish voice. At first, I thought it was the two kids in the second to last training ground, but when I heard it again I realized it was behind me. I knew it couldn't be the two adults in the last training ground so I was very confused.

I walked back to the last training ground, paused, and waited to see if I could hear it again.

"Ha" I heard a faint voice say.

I then realized that the sounds were coming from past the trees at the end of the path. I didn't know what to do, but I felt some hope. So I decided to check it out.

I jumped onto one of the tree branches and make my deeper into the forest. I followed the shouts that got louder the deeper I went, and after maybe a few hundred feet I found myself looking at a large opening. Larger than any of the other training grounds so far. With two children, a boy and girl, (seemingly around my age) sparring against one another.

On the opposite end of me, six more children lay down in the grass and watched them. I couldn't see much detail about them, but I did see a few red-haired individuals among them.

Not bothering with them anymore, focused back on the two children sparring. I was very interested in what was happening since it was the first time I'd seen ninjutsu in this world. My mother hadn't used it in front of me yet. While my sensei was a taijutsu specialist, so there hasn't been much of a chance for me to see much of it.