The Water Country

Yuko rubbed her eyes tiredly as she strolled to the front gate to sign her name on the log and the reason for her departure. She was already up so she figured she'd do this so she didn't have to when it was time to leave. It was still dark out the sun not yet ascending, she looked around the compound taking in its empty appearance aside from a few members who were just coming back from a mission or leaving for one. Okay, so I have water, food, a few sealing scrolls, clothes, and shuriken... She nodded to herself as she headed for the northern wing of the complex, where their blacksmith was.

She was never really in the northern wing unless she needed more weapons like now, she spent most of her time near the west wing admiring the gardens and taking what little time she had to simply relax. The smithy was housed in a small but roomy complex, Yuko winced every so often hearing the echo of pounding steel, now she recalled why there was hardly anyone in the northern wing this would drive her crazy!

"Um, excuse me?" Yuko questioned as she leaned her arms against the 'windows' counter speaking over the loud pounding. The man paused halfway down with his hammer, turning to look back at Yuko grumbling something she didn't quite catch as he put the thousands degrees article of steel into water, steam flew in front of her eyes as the deep hiss of the weapon cooling slammed against her ears, the blacksmith was tall and well built around the age of forty, anyone who needed weapons came here she even seen Madara here on occasion picking up a large order of projectiles.

She wrinkled her nose at the look he gave her. He had a menacing appearance and air about him with sharp eyes and an angled chin his whole aura screamed danger. "I need three sets of kunai before the sun is up." She said digging through her pocket pulling out a few ryo. A set consisted of anywhere between twenty to thirty kunai, she wanted to be prepared for the worse since she was essentially heading into a war zone.

The man looked at the piece of paper she handed over, nodding a few times as he regarded her with a cool expression. "I can do that for you." He said moving towards a shelf to get started on the job, it would be roughly two hours before the sun was up so he had a good amount of time. Yuko looked around in the shop, her eyes widening at the collection he had, he was blacksmith yes but she never seen such a variety.

There were long swords like the Nodachi and Katana, short swords like the Kodachi and Tanto, there were an array of shuriken varying in size from the size of her hand all the way up ones that were about the size of half her body, her eyes narrowed spotting a strange Kunai, it looked like a normal one but the main blade was a few inches longer and one shorter blade curved on the side where it began. Wow... She thought resisting the urge to snatch everything in sight.

"Are you staying here until it's finished?" The man asked, Yuko was shocked not hearing any disdain or hostility in his tone like she got with the other Uchiha.

"Can I?" Yuko asked her interest piqued by the offer, and her eyes kept roaming the endless collection of weapons.

"I don't see why not just don't touch anything." He said getting back to his work, Yuko nodded dumbly finding a seat a few inches away from him folding her legs and setting her hands on her knees. She winced every so often hearing a pound and a loud clang, but it wasn't as bad as before and she couldn't complain that someone didn't mind her company.

She stood up moving over to a wall where there were swords and four pointed shuriken that varied in size, the Uchiha were excellent in shurikenjutsu though they were great in other jutsus shurikenjutsu was like the primary skill all had even from a young age. Even she had some degree of skill and versatility but she preferred to use a sword, it had a longer reach and she trained extensively in swordsmanship. Before she knew it the smithy was finished with her order, she took her focus of the array of weapons and grabbed the bag they were in.

"Thank you very much." She bowed her head in gratitude pulling out some ryo to pay for her order, she had an hour to spare and could finish packing in just a few minutes which meant that she could go over her mission details. She glanced over to the side spotting the sword he finished creating when she arrived, her eyes practically glowed as she took in the work of art. The blade still gleamed like a burning star, and had a flawless design everything was proportioned all the way up to the squared hilt.

She snapped out of her thoughts hearing a throaty chuckle. "You want the sword too?" She narrowed her eyes slightly was he serious or joking?

"No, no." Yuko said shaking her head after a moment, it wasn't hers and she came here for kunai. Taking away his piece would be like an insult, thought she loved the blade she had enough respect to know a masterpiece when she saw one and it was his. "I couldn't.. I'll be going." She took a few steps almost out of the shop but a large hand palmed her shoulder turning her around, Yuko looked with some confusion and surprise as he extended his hand out with the sword in it.

"Take it." He said, though it sounded like an order. Yuko wasn't going to disobey an order, or what she thought was an order. She nodded bowing her head in gratitude as she took the sword and its saya that it would kept in, with that she left the smithy. She carefully moved the sword through the air hearing it whistle as the gentle morning breeze blew against it, she gripped it overhand sheathing it slowly and carefully putting the saya under her obi for now.

Water, food, clothes, kunai, shuriken, a few sealing scrolls, clothes, and my sword. Yuko nodded in confirmation as she packed everything in a neat order, folding her clothes into small squares so they didn't take up as much room and began to fill her belt contents with kunai and shuriken, she ate breakfast and headed out with her sword strapped to her back and her bag slung over her shoulder. It was nice of the smithy to give me this sword.

She thought it was a bit much back then, but she just felt safer feeling the weight of the blade just on her back the hilt just a flicker away. "I'm leaving!" She yelled to a guard who simply raised his hand letting her know that he heard her, rolling her eyes Yuko walked passed the gates. The sun was slowly beginning to set now she couldn't believe how early she was awake, but she couldn't sleep last night she was too anxious. She focused some chakra into her legs about to leap into the woods when she stopped abruptly.

"Hey there, funny seeing you out here so early in the morning again."

Yuko turned around staring into Izuna's dark eyes, he stood against the gate with his arms crossed over his chest, he was wearing a black high collared shirt with matching pants, his hair was messy but was still in his customary low ponytail. Yuko gulped slightly as she couldn't take her eyes away from his, Izuna walked forward stopping a few feet away from her observing her carefully. Yuko felt her knees shaking under his intense gaze she stared at his chest instead of his eyes.

"Leaving for the mission?" He asked in a light tone, noticing Yuko's flustered appearance, he took a few steps forward she didn't move from her spot, so he stepped up until he was inches away from her.

Yuko inhaled sharply keeping her eyes on his chest since she couldn't focus on anything else, she glanced up for a moment. I wonder if his lips are soft I bet they're juicy just look at them... She blushed slightly where her train of thought began to go. Get a hold of yourself!

"Do I have something on my face?" He asked smirking ever so slightly but hearing no retort she just stared at him so he continued. "Does my presence fluster you so?" He asked again as his smirk grew but he stopped quickly noticing her hesitancy to speak. "Answer me!" He commanded, folding his arms over his chest why was she acting so nervous and strange.

"Uh- I apologize Izuna-sama. I'm heading out for my mission now. And there's nothing on your face." Such a handsome face... Yuko said in one breath wincing at the tone his voice took.

I apologize? Did I really just say that, Yuko you idiot! She opened her mouth to continue her explanation but froze when she felt his calloused yet soft fingers gently pull a strand of her hair back behind her ear. Izuna's eyes softened as he tucked it with a gentle touch pulling a few more back. Yuko swallowed the lump in her throat, for some reason... She liked this... It was affectionate..

She steadied her knees looking into his dark eyes, she hoped he couldn't her heart hammering in her chest or her burning cheeks.Just move your head up Yuko and you can... The thought came out of nowhere causing her to shudder slightly, thankfully Izuna brought her out of her stupor.

"You're so... Different." He said pausing for a moment to think of the right word to describe the red haired Kunoichi as he continued to gently pull her hair back, his lips edged with a small smile as he finished tucking her hair behind her left ear. "But I... Like you." He rubbed her cheek with his thumb, his eyes softening as he spoke. "Be careful in the Water country, blood runs like the rivers that surround the mainland.

"I will.. And I have to get going. Izuna-sama." Yuko said in a strangely quiet voice hiding the smile that wanted to burst out any second now. His touch was so gentle, so tender. It completely betrayed his reputation as Izuna Uchiha the second in command of the clan and strongest Uchiha next to Madara and sent a shiver up and down her spine. But, she was always interested with him he was always so different. "I have to be at the docks in fifty minutes and better to get there early to beat the crowds you know."

He nodded stepping back to give her space. Yuko inhaled deeply feeling her heart steady and her body relax. "Come back alive."

"Y-Yes." She almost sputtered like a child, what was that just now, she felt her heart skip a beat and then sink to her stomach. She put the feeling in the back of her mind taking off in a sprint as she smiled to herself. She began to leap from branch to branch already a good distance away from the compound, her heart was telling her that Izuna was interested, but her mind told her the complete opposite.

About an hour later... Docks

Yuko by this point but on her black cloak, putting the hood on which covered her bright hair and half of her face. It didn't take her very long to get to the docks, they were in the same village she went to just days ago near the southern wing as she deemed it for her own personal navigation. Dozens and dozens of boats crowded the harbor and marina from small fishing boats that merchants used to boats several times larger that were used for civilian transportation in and out of the Fire country.

She walked with some speed looking over her information then back at the boats on her left side. Her boat was a medium sized fishing boat that was going to one of the islands which one she didn't know, besides herself only one other person would be on the boat which was the person who owned it.

She wiped sweat from her forehead cursing that she put on her cloak so early, sighing she took the hood down relishing in the cold breeze blowing through her mane. Okay, so my boat isn't the smallest but it's not the biggest, it doesn't say where it would be located... She tapped her chin in thought as she looked over each boat looking for a pattern or certain order. The big ones are mostly here and in front of me, so that means my boat is either all the way on the end or somewhere in the middle.. She rolled up her scroll putting it back into her pocket ignoring shouts that weren't directed at her but still broke out of her train of thought.

The end it was. Yuko walked down the length of the dock slowly but surely the boats began to get smaller and less grand in a sense of appearance. She was never out of the compound except for these last few days, normally something like this wouldn't effect her; all of these people and different boats but she never seen the outside world.

So this was a spectacle taking in the withered appearance of some boats, watching the crew go about their daily duties hauling supplies and goods down box by box. That's when she realized she was far from the compound and would be out of the country soon enough, she felt a sparkle of excitement. Freedom. Living in the compound constantly being looked at like she was the devil incarnate itself, she would finally be away from all of the spite and disdain she felt for her entire life.

She hastened her steps seeing a tall and elderly man with silver hair reaching his waist and a beard of equal length staring out at the market just a few feet ahead of him. Yuko took the time to observe it as she was on her way noticing how many different kinds of food there was being sorted, some of it made her nose wrinkle and stomach turn there were a lot of unappetizing things but there were equally good things for sale, but she already ate and not wanting to vomit her breakfast she turned her eyes away from the spectacle.

She came to a stop, looking at the old slightly tan skinned and well built man. He turned his head towards her unexpectedly, his sharp eyes drinking in her visage, she flicked the sleeve of her cloak feeling self conscious. Why did everyone have to stare at her? "What do you need woman?"

Yuko frowned slightly, who did he think he was calling her woman! Damn it she had a name and it was a damn good one to and it was Yuko. She took a few calming breaths resisting the urge to punch him in the jaw and turn around, but this was a mission where she would prove herself. Either she would succeed and obtain the scroll, or most likely die. For these reasons alone she calmed herself down, smiling sweetly. "I was told I would have a boat waiting for me to head to the Water country." She raised one eyebrow for effect.

"Hmm.." The man grunted, turning on his heel and getting in his boat. "So you're the one. Get in, we should leave now to avoid any delays." He disappeared down a flight of wooden stairs. Yuko shrugged to herself carefully stepping onto the boat, looking for a place to sit but couldn't find any seat where she was currently so she walked towards the front right side finding a small chair that he likely used for fishing.

She sat down, unzipping her cloak halfway letting herself air out, what possessed her to put the cloak on so early? She didn't jump when the boat hitched before it began to move at a steady pace, she kept her chocolate eyes on the water passing beneath her, every so often her reflection rippling. Girl you are a hot mess... She thought seeing her reflection dip away a moment later, she turned around to see how far out they were slightly surprised to see the docks growing smaller and smaller.

She pulled out her scroll going over her mission. Okay, so I have to get to the mainland, find out where the Yuki clan are keeping the hyoton scroll, get the hyoton scroll, and I have to do all of this while watching my back for a lunatic every step of the way... She laughed dryly running a hand through her hair. And here I thought I over packed. She went through the pictures of who or what she would be facing, her eyes narrowed in confusion all of the photos of the person contained a strange mask with slits for eyes, she resisted the urge to laugh who in the right mind would walk around with something like that on?

She continued skimming the details, like Madara told her it was indeed in a state of turmoil and she was walking into a hornet's nest with little experience in a situation like this. She glanced around, noticing the elderly man wasn't anywhere to be seen, more strange was that this boat was moving with an oar.

She wasn't sure how much time passed until she got up to stretch out the kinks in her back and neck but it was night time and the stars were decorating the sky. She took a moment to stare at the majestic sight, how a simple thing as watching the stars wasn't possible in this era, all that mattered was strength and only strength. It was kind of depressing people didn't do these simple things, they never even thought of it.

Dad... She thought remembering her stern and strict father who showed no emotion and trained her until she couldn't move her fingers, she sighed softly supporting her back against one wall dragging her knees up to her chest. I never could understand... Showing my emotions is forbidden, but... She took a breath pushing the thoughts away.

"Mind if I ask you why you're heading to the Water country little lady?" Yuko turned to see the elderly man sitting on a chair looking out into the ocean around them. His voice didn't have a mocking quality or any insult, he was curious and somewhat worried... Maybe? He brought a cup to his mouth drinking the cold liquid as he leaned back. "It's terrible you know?" His voice got quiet. "The islands around the mainland run with blood, and the mainland is in a constant state of war and turmoil even civilians are caught in the crossfire there's no where safe to go." He looked at her with a narrowed eye stare, he took routine trips back and forth and knew of the Water country well.

Should I lie? Yuko debated for a moment staying silent. "I'll answer that if you answer me this."

"Shoot."

"How is this boat moving all on its own. Are you a Suiton user?" Yuko asked with curiosity regarding him with her full attention, she could easily activate her Sharingan and see his chakra pathway but chose against it. She didn't want to give herself away, and she wasn't the best sensor but she could feel a constant ripple coming from him, but to have such a mastery over any element was amazing...

"Very perceptive of you." The man commented his lips cracking with a smile. "Yes I am a Suiton user."

"That explains it." Yuko muttered as she frowned in thought. "I guess I'll answer now." She said taking off her cloak and setting on her lap. "I have family in the Water country and they wanted me to come visit. I know it's dangerous and all going there on my own, but hey I love my family." She didn't wince from the pain that ripped through her heart, family that was such a distant unfamiliar word to her. "We're really close." She wanted to cry.

He stayed silent observing her closely. She was certainly a strange woman, red hair that fell just beyond her little waist and bright chocolate eyes that held an innocence behind them. He seen that kind of light before, everyone had it at some point in this era the look of safety one that never experienced the horrors of war that didn't have blood on their hands. But it wouldn't remain that way, it never did sooner or later the light would fade. He didn't mention it, but he could see the pain fleeting through her eyes the way her face tensed ever so slightly and the way her eyes would gloss but she quickly hid it.

"You must be hungry." He said chugging down the rest of his drink. "I'll fix you something."

"No I'm not... And I packed my own food for the long trip so you don't have to make anything for me." Yuko said after a moment pressing her hand on her right eye wiping a tear away. "But thank you anyways..."

"Nonsense come." He said putting more authority in his tone so the woman wouldn't deny his kind offer. It was going to be a long trip and he didn't doubt she would have half of the food left that she packed, this was a much better more suitable choice to make. "I'm old anyways and don't need to eat a lot. Besides it's a long trip, conserve what you have." He said before standing up and walking back towards the staircase not turning around as if he knew Yuko would follow him. Yuko stood up carefully holding her cloak and following after his shadow, it was getting cold anyways and not digging into her supply of snacks didn't sound like a bad idea.

"Miles well.." She said to herself as she began to descend down the stairs, sniffing the air her eyes popping open with a certain glee followed by her stomach growling. She walked into what she would consider a living quarter, she wasn't sure what he had, but it wasn't hot whatever it was. She took a seat on a mat setting her bag to the side and waited patiently for him to finish or speak to her, no need to start rambling on, plus she had to control her thoughts. All she could see was Izuna fixing her hair and feel his warmth as he traced his thumb on her cheek, she didn't know what love is, but that had to be the closest feeling to it. You're so different... But I like you. Come back alive... His voice rippled though her being making her spine tingle, did he really like her? Like the like 'like' or was it just something else? Did he believe in her?

Or was he just trying to get in her head, she didn't know exactly what, but she wouldn't mind him fixing her hair again and she could go on her tiptoes and... Ugh! Yuko start thinking with your brain! She scolded herself mentally, she was a mess of emotions. Mikito-sama gave me this mission, going as far as to vouch for me and somehow convinced Madara to allow it and gave her full support but... She looked at the ceiling for a moment before turning her gaze back on the table. Just focus on this mission Yuko not Izuna's delicious and juicy lips... Damn it...! She huffed quietly, not noticing the bowl of food in front of her.

"Eat." She looked at the elderly man who was seated across already eating at a fast pace though he didn't have half as much as Yuko. She didn't respond verbally she grabbed her spoon shoving a spoonful of whatever it was in her mouth, it was a bit spicy and danced on her taste buds but wasn't unbearable and made her eyes tear up.

That woman... Madara thought with a scowl as he tore a piece of paper into thousands of pieces incinerating them with a low scale Katon jutsu. How in the hell had he allowed himself to be convinced of giving that half breed such a dangerous mission. Izuna already valuated that she wouldn't last once she had to enter combat, he should have told Mikito to shove it where the sun don't shine and send Yuko back to her home, but he didn't do that.

Izuna would give him a lecture about his anger and that he can't let personal feelings interfere with his duty as clan head. Who does she think she is trying to boss me around why I... "Enter!" He said with annoyance radiating off his aura.

Izuna entered unscathed from his small outburst. He fought back a chuckle seeing his brother with that sour expression on his face. I've never seen him get so riled up over a girl before... He cleared his throat before he began to laugh and anger Madara further. "Did the half breed depart?" Madara asked after a moment breathing out a sigh as he finished another document stacking it neatly with the others. He was a perfectionist and that meant with everything, even his paperwork was immaculate with neat and narrow handwriting.

"Yes she did." Izuna answered walking passed him and leaning against the windowsill looking over the compound.

"Hn." Madara made a noise of acknowledgement leaning back into his chair. The more he thought about it now, the more of a disaster this was going to turn out to be for him in the long run. Why didn't Izuna pull her back into the compound, damn it! "That woman has a lot of nerve trying to order me around. I should have sent her on another mission one that requires less force." Madara scowled resting his elbows on the table as he cupped his chin in one.

Trying. Izuna thought with a mental laugh. "Well, Mikito-san brings up a good point. She does have Uchiha blood flowing through her veins after all, maybe all she needs is the chance to prove herself." Izuna supplied.

"And she dies." Madara finished coldly.

"We'll just have to wait and see." Izuna said with a slight nod, not completely disagreeing with his brother. He had been in the Water country when he was younger his father deeming it as practice and to toughen him up. Needless to say Izuna witnessed a lot of death one those islands enough for six lifetimes, and that was back when he was still eight. Now it must have been hell on earth and that was no joke. "Anyways I know you didn't call me up here just to talk about little Yuko." Izuna said with a slightly wistful tone thinking of the flustered red haired girl for a moment.

"Yes you're right." Madara leveled a glare with Izuna, he certainly hoped this woman was attracting Izuna's attention. He had enough to worry about as clan head that didn't involve his brother's shenanigans with women in the clan, especially a half breed. He could hear the council already in an uproar their underwear too tight and their heads so far up their ass they don't know which way is up. "The Senju have showed movement several miles away from here, I'd look into it myself but I have other things to take care of." And by other things he meant the nauseating Hashirama, since he would most likely leading the group.

Izuna's eyes narrowed and a deep frown formed on his face as he took in that bit of information. "Senju." He spat the word with enough venom to kill a Rancor and then some. "In which direction?" Izuna asked carefully.

"To the east, it should be a small unit about ten men give or take." Madara explained further frowning slightly, they were moving awfully close to their compound. It looked like he would need to get out of this office and on the battlefield. "Kill them all, and spare one to get information and finish him after." Madara said laying the foundation for the mission, he would send back up with Izuna. There were ten men in total, believe it or not that was a lot in this era, but Izuna was his equal in every way, he was the strongest among the Uchiha next to himself. Ten pesky Senju wouldn't be too much trouble.

"I'll be back in a few minutes at the most." Izuna said in a low tone slowly leaving Madara's room anger radiating off of his aura. He would bet good money that it was the white haired prick by the name of Tobirama that was leading this team of tree huggers. Madara stared at his brother's back for a moment as he exited the room shutting the door quietly, the head of the Uchiha stood to his feet looking out of his large windows at the compound with a calm and ready stare as he watched his kinsmen go about their nightly activities. Now it begins... Hashirama.

Izuna dressed in his war attire consisting of dark armor of their era, four katanas were secured on his back and a tanto was sheathed on his lower back. He headed to the location where Madara first said they were seen. It was mainly woodland with a few fields in the distance with a river that produced many sources of food for their clan, basically it was an essential location that kept their clan supported, with more men going off to battle, more children were born and needed to be taken care of. Izuna could have sent a unit of his finest men out here to deal with the Senju but he took upon himself to take care of them and send a message. Stay away.

He was adept at sensory and could pick out the unit without a second thought, there were ten just like his brother said on the eastern border that was their territory. He couldn't hold back the snarl of anger that escaped the back of his throat they were getting gutsy more so than usual, before they wouldn't dare tread near their territory but now they were moving and fast.

Grabbing one of the hilts of his many swords he pushed chakra into his legs and feet leaving small craters in the ground as his speed more than tripled, his onyx black eyes flicking in every direction taking in the details of his surroundings as they passed by in a flash, Izuna was always observant and could pick apart even the tiniest things if he seen for a moment that's all it took. He was used to this place, this is where he used to sneak off to do his own training growing up, while his father was a good teacher, Izuna needed time alone to hone everything.

Not only were they treading on Uchiha territory they were treading on his training ground with their filthy feet, he thought back to what Souji said about the Senju being a big problem in the future. He scoffed at the notion in his mind the Senju were sub par when compared to the Uchiha it was an insult to him and all of his kinsmen, but the Subatsu... He only heard rumors about them just like the Domou clan but the way Mikito and Souji put it they were always on good terms with the Senju, well he hated them on that fact alone. Anyone who could ally themselves with those tree huggers was on his hit list.

His eyes narrowed as he caught the symbol emblazoned on their armor, he seen the curved ends with the ling going through the middle. The symbol alone was enough to make his blood boil, there were ten just as Madara said, they were older than Izuna by give or take five years judging from their stubble and facial hair.

But, their chakra was considerably weak compared to his arch nemesis Tobirama, speaking of the prick he hadn't seen him in this little pack, he was disappointed to say the least he wanted to send a message to that white haired bastard. He landed on top of a tree branch staring down at the ten men that all shot their heads up in alarm, their eyes widened as they quickly dug into their belts to pull out kunai. "You're trespassing..." Izuna said coldly but pasued swiftly, with speed that bellied the impossible he drew one katana deflecting four kunai in a row sending the tips sinking into branches.

"Shit! It's Izuna!" A man snapped glowering up at him with absolute hatred.

"Since you know me, you should know that even stepping foot here is a death sentence." Izuna sneered jumping off of the branch and landing on the ground a few feet away, he snickered as they scrambled to get ready for his attack, but they had no idea what he was going to do. "Enough talk!" He shouted suddenly pushing chakra into his legs, propelling himself forward pointing his blade forward, the Senju he connected with gurgled as blood rushed out of the wound at the center of his throat his hands instinctively went to the wound. Three more charged in while the other six retreated back going through a flash of hand seals.

Izuna tore his blade from the man's neck ducking under the slash of the shuriken aimed to cut his throat, with another flick he stabbed the blade forward pushing off to the side watching with satisfaction as he severed the man's body in two watching the blood splatter on nearby trees, he shot his head back dodging another kunai that skimmed by his cheek the Senju that threw it was upon him with his fist cocked back. Izuna slashed to the side hearing the throaty scream as a pint of blood flew in every direction soaking his dark uniform beneath his armor.

The last one came running forward with a war cry, mistake number one never charge forward without a plan, just as quickly as he disposed the first three he brought his shirt down in a vertail downward swing, slicing through his cranium all the way to the pelvis, Izuna moved quickly leaping off the ground flicking his eyes around spotting the remaining Senju their chakra alerting him.

"Suiton:Bakusui No Jutsu!" At the same time the unit of Senju inhaled deeply, spitting out a large amount of water, the water twisted defying gravity itself as it swirled at dangerous speeds. Tree bark split and chipped and branches were completely torn from the combined force of the jutsu, Izuna was already on the move flashing his hands through several seals slamming them in the seal of tiger while inhaling deeply. He should have known that those first few were a distraction for the others to execute a collaboration technique, the jutsu itself was a high level but split between them it wasn't nearly as taxing and it quickly grew in size. He was staring into a water tornado.

"Katon: Gokakyu No Jutsu!" He parted his lips, unleashing a wave of fire that quickly grew in size as it spread itself outward hungrily burning entire trees and the grassland as it headed for a crash course with the water wall. The two attacks met in an explosion that shook the entire area from its power and magnitude, the air hissed as steam was pushed out in all directions covering everything for a good ten miles in any direction even going as far up as the tree tops. Izuna smirked to himself, lunging forward and bringing the blade down slicing a man's head from his shoulders kicking the body aside and moving onto the next.

"Sharingan!" They spat venomously.

Izuna took full advantage of his enhanced vision slashing and stabbing in what appeared to be an erratic and wild manner, but the puncturing sound of his sword sinking into flesh signified this wasn't a wild attack, his movements were quick and graceful with a calculated approach. His Sharingan blazing crimson as they locked onto four more intruders.

Flashing forward he blocked one strike from a kunai, grabbing a second hilt from his back bringing it forward in a skewering motion, the man he killed fell to the ground in a loud thump as he yanked his sword out going after the other three putting one under a genjutsu at the last second leaving him in a twitching heap, he stabbed through the side of his head watching pieces of his brain fly across the floor. By the time the steam settled Izuna had already disposed of eight Senju leaving two behind who escaped by sheer luck.

"Retreat!" One spat in disdain turning around on a dime, his loud scream silenced as Izuna swiped his sword forward watching the Senju's head fly off.

"No." Izuna's voice was cold as he advanced on the last man, his crimson eyes boring into the man's soul as three tomoe rotated quickly. "No one is retreating." He blocked and dodged the erratic swings of a shuriken, he parried a thrust bringing his sword down cutting off his hand in one motion, before the man could even scream Izuna pushed a good amount of chakra into his foot slamming it into his chest feeling the bones buckle from the force and give way.

His body flew to the side rolling across the ground until it came to a stop, Izuna spat on the ground as he approached the injured man flicking the katana he first used to the side ridding it off blood. "Why are you here?" Izuna demanded punching him in the stomach taking pleasure in his pained wheezing.

"G-Go to hell!" He snarled spitting, but Izuna moved his head away at the last minute. "Rotten Uchiha!" He glared staring into Izuna's eyes, he gasped realizing his mistake but it was already too late he was captured in the genjutsu his eyes rolling behind his head as he slumped forward like dead flesh. Izuna frowned as he listened to the man spill the truth under his control. Izuna didn't just cast a genjutsu, he took it a step further manipulating the neurons that sent signals to the body such as to sleep, or to shut down.

"Tch." Izuna scoffed grabbing a kunai from his utility belt and drilling it through the man's forehead standing up with a frown. "So the Senju are on the move, I need to inform brother of this." He frowned knowing full well about his brother's dangerous temper. With his objective complete he turned around sprinting back to the compound, he'd have some men pick the bodies up and then send them back to the Senju compound.

Yuko sighed softly as she rubbed her sleepy eyes, one thing she knew didn't mix was her and boats. She didn't get seasick but sleeping was a hassle when every so often there was a wave that would slightly jar the boat, and her nightmares which were happening more often now kept her awake or she'd wake up in a cold sweat, panting for air and her hands shaking. It was terrible, death there was so much death around her and fires, she knew it was more than a nightmare it had to be memories that she long since suppressed. She was surprised when he showed her what would be her own room while she was on the trip, she thanked internally happy that she had her own space and privacy.

Little light go in the room and she wasn't sure what time of day it was, she let out a soft yawn as she moved the blankets down from her chest sitting up. She spotted her cloak hanging on a small piece of wood that acted as a hanger, her bag was situated at the side of her bed where she put it last night spare of the moment.

She was happy to go to sleep, she was up early and spent her morning and afternoon packing for this mission. "Wake up," she told herself as she began to doze off again, shaking her head she kicked her legs out from under the blankets letting them hang off the other side of the bed as she forced herself to stand.

She yawned again stretching her arms out over her head cracking the kinks out of her neck and back, with a loud aahh she dropped her arms to her side heading for the door. She knew she was still riding on the ocean, if the boat did ever stop off somewhere she wouldn't know, but that man had to take a rest sooner or later right?

He just couldn't keep this boat going twenty four hours, she sighed putting her hair up in a neat ponytail why should she care if he stopped or not of if he could keep this boat going for twenty four hours. She opened the door, looking into the room where she had sat down and ate last night. Everything was clean and spotless and one would never take this as a makeshift kitchen for lack of a better term, her guide wasn't here, she focused for a moment feeling his chakra with the same ripple as yesterday up another level.

She went back into her room changing out of her dirty clothes and putting on clean ones. Her outfit consisted of a white short sleeved top the crisscrossed at the thread by her breasts keeping it tight, blue tight shorts that went to the middle of her thighs and lastly she tied the blue sash neatly around her stomach giving it a small tug, sucking in her stomach as she finished tying it one last time. She always felt a lot better having this tight feeling around her torso, and it also helped keeping her boobs from bouncing in her line of sight and messing up her aim when it came time to train or fight.

She left her room swiftly, going up the flight of stairs that lead to the top deck of the boat. She squinted her eyes feeling the sun's rays piercing into her eyes that had yet to adjust, carefully she stepped onto the deck walking to the front of the boat keeping a hand on her forehead to keep the sun light away for now.

Her throat closed, not literally but she lost her breath, there was water surrounding her for miles upon miles upon miles there was nothing but water. It made her a fire user slightly uneasy but she couldn't take her eyes away from the glittering waves that rushed beneath her as the boat continued its course, it was one of the simple wonders she always admired like the gardens in the western wing of her compound, and the river right by the Naka Shrine where'd she go as a child to be alone.

She saw the man, who's name she had yet to get. Funny she didn't ask for it she felt it was rude, but he called her woman and she wasn't very fond of being referred as that by anyone, yet alone some old geezer. Sighing softly she rested her arms on the edge of the boat, resting her chin on her hands.

Mikito and Madara did say it could take two months, and most of that time would be spent on the trip itself, she knew from past experience that the Water country was a good hundred or more kilometers away from the Fire country it was very, very far and once you got to a certain point there was nothing but the ocean surrounding you. "You're awake." She turned at the source of the gruff voice.

"Yeah, I couldn't really sleep." Yuko said with a small shrug, she didn't want to tell him about the nightmares that began to plague her nights leaving her drenched in sweat and her heart about to leap from her chest. No that was far too personal and her pride wouldn't allow her to show such weakness openly towards another. "How much longer until we get there?" She asked after silence crept by for several minutes.

"Give or take a few more weeks or three months.." He answered with a huff. "We need to take the safe routes to avoid conflicts on the outer islands if we get caught in the middle of one of these fights it's as good as over for the both of us. We also need to avoid the routes that are plagued by Kaiju." His voice held no deception or anger, just the plain truth. Yuko stared at him for a moment contemplating what he said, was everyone so afraid of coming here? There really wasn't blood running like rivers and the mainland wasn't in turmoil where even the innocent died? She gave up, sighing quietly. "But there's one island where there are no conflicts, I'll be stopping there to get supplies and get my payment ready for when we depart back to the Fire country."

"Payment?" Yuko asked with a curious expression.

"I'm a fisherman little lady." He answered looking at her for a moment ignoring the way her eyebrows scrunched from the nickname. "You'd be surprised how much some people will pay in the Fire country to have one come out this far. Not that I can complain I get to fish while enjoying the freedom of my surroundings if only for a little while. The pay helps too."

"Un." Yuko nodded her head in understanding.

Being clan leader was a difficult task. Between paperwork, documents, and making sure all of her kinsmen were at their peak condition both physically and mentally wasn't an easy feat.

Mikito headed for her office as soon as she came back knowing there was something that needed to be signed and confirmed, read, or just thrown out; Ahiko and Gen did as they said they would and she couldn't be any happier with their efforts, even though Ahiko wanted a truce and the fighting to stop she put that aside when it came to their welfare. A knock snapped her from the document she was currently reading from the Damiyo in the Earth country. "Come in." She called from her seat.

The door opened revealing Souji and Ahiko, the youngest with a large bow clasped in her right hand and a holster on her back containing several dozen arrows. Mikito raised an eyebrow at the two as she set the document down. "Are you going out to the training grounds?"

"Yes." Ahiko nodded in confirmation adjusting the obi that kept her hakama in place. "Souji has finished briefing the others of our current situation, he's already devised several plans and the division leaders are getting ready to follow their orders." She smiled widely as she eyed Mikito with admiration, by now everyone in the compound knew of their alliance with the Uchiha.

While several were unhappy about it naturally, the majority were happy that they had such a powerful clan on their side, and more so that they agreed. Ahiko herself was a bundle of joy when she heard the news, how Mikito ever convinced Madara to agree she'd never know. "Congratulations with the alliance between our clan and the Uchiha, I knew you could work something up with them."

Mikito nodded with a small smile silently thanking her younger sister. "Well, if that's all you can go and perfect your craft Ahiko-nii." She looked back down at the document before looking back up at them again. "We'll be leaving again in two months to the Uchiha compound to see if Yuko was able to complete her task." Mikito was interested in the girl, she wasn't like most shinobi she showed when she was nervous and uncomfortable she'd blush when all the eyes settled on her hardly composing herself.

"Yuko?" Ahiko asked confused.

"A girl from the Uchiha clan." Souji answered in his calm and deep voice. "We sent her to the Water country to obtain the Hyoton scroll from the mainland."

Ahiko's eyes widened for a moment, her mouth dropped. "Water country but!?"

"She'll be fine." Mikito said smoothing out her sleeves.

Souji shrugged. "If not she'll be dead on one of those islands with or without the scroll. If we're lucky she may destroy the scroll so the Yuki clan won't be able to utilize the Hyoton generations from now."

"Always so blunt..." Ahiko said with a sigh, she didn't know Yuko but she already felt for the girl. Going to Water country was dangerous with a captial D. "Well I'm off, come on Souji." Ahiko turned on a dime exiting the room with Souji following close behind.

The Domou compound had four wings one in each cardinal direction. In the west was the medical wing where the injured were brought and the dead were buried, unlike most clans in this era when one of their kinsmen died in battle they carried the body back to the compound. In the east was what one could consider the 'city' that's where most of the shops were and where many of the members lived, in the south was their blacksmith who was always pounding away, and lastly in the north was where her office was located and where most of the activity took place besides in the west. There were hundreds, even thousands of training grounds where parents would take their children to begin their training to become a shinobi and where Souji or herself would be checking the strength of their kinsmen.

Ahiko strolled through the moist forest at a leisure pace humming a light tune to herself as Souji walked on her left side keeping hs eyes pointed forward. Every so often the younger sister would look at her bow carefully removing anything that was on, it was something that amused Souji when they were growing up anytime he or Mikito tried to take it Ahiko would throw a fit and stash it somewhere she thought they'd never find it. He himself wasn't an expert in kyujutsu but he always did have a love for archery it may not be as much as Ahiko though she was infatuated with the art and was excellent in it, far surpassing him in it.

They stopped in the center of a group of trees that spread out at an obtuse angle that stretched as far as five miles, they were much smaller trees and didn't have the dense soaked leaves like the others trees did showing just how young they were. "Okay, we'll warm up from 500 yards sound good?" He asked watching Ahiko for an answer when she nodded he ripped a target with eight rings and a dot in the middle running ahead, Ahiko covered her eyes with her hand in a gesture to keep sight of him, though she didn't have trouble with or without her hand.

"Anytime you're ready." Souji said as he jogged back standing a few feet behind his sister.

Ahiko reached behind towards her back, feeling the familiar tickling feeling of a feather at the end of her bow as she grabbed it. Five hundred yards wasn't too difficult shinobi were trained to see over long distances and things moving at high speeds. She pulled the suspender back feeling the pressure already in her forearm as she brought the bow forward closing one eye and taking a deep breath as she measured up the target carefully.

She felt light, hearing the air whoosh in front of her as her arrow distorted the very molecules, it whistled as it traveled moving faster and faster the sharp tip promising a quick death, it struck the target dead center sinking through it and into the tree for several inches. She smiled in satisfaction as she relaxed her posture lowering the bow slightly. "One thousand yards this time." She said looking at Souji with the same smile that gleamed with confidence.

"Oh cocky are we?" Souji asked smirking slightly as he watched his sister shrug, he knew she could get impatient so he ran forward putting the target one thousand yards away. He stood back watching Ahiko as she carefully pulled the arrow back with her arm rippling with muscles underneath showing her athleticism and poise, though she wasn't ripped to the bone her smooth and glowing skin housed dense tissue thanks to her father's intense training that would leave her in a puddle of sweat literally.

Okay... She steadied her stance, releasing the sling, her eyes widened with glee as she watched shoot away from her like a bolt of lightning. Souji widened his eyes slightly watching the arrow rocket forward with enough speed to puncture and push through four cows and then some, a loud crack reverberated as animals left their cover scurrying or flying away as the ground began to rumble for a few seconds.

"Ahiko you didn't happen to forget not to use your wind nature?" Souji asked as if he was ready to give her lecture.

"Oops." Ahiko covered her mouth with her hand, eyes widening as it finally hit her. "I'm sorry don't make me run twenty thousand laps around the compound!" She wailed as she whirled around looking at him with big brown eyes.

Souji chuckled shaking his head. "You don't have to don't worry." He chuckled again hearing his sister sigh audibly. "I'm impressed... One thousand yards is nothing to scoff at, you've really improved sister." He looked at the tree in the distance with shimmering pride in his eyes and posture, very few could shoot one thousand yards let alone accurately in this era kyujutsu wasn't widely practiced due to its tedious process when one could draw a sword or throw a kunai in the same amount of time.

"Thank you!" Ahiko perked up hearing the compliment sent her way. They repeated the process several times over, Souji would move the target one thousand yards away and she would fire her arrow being careful not to amplify it with her wind nature but it was so hard when she was concentrating with every fiber. To really give her a test he put up a dozen of so targets each varying from five hundred feet to one thousand feet away from them, Ahiko fired the arrows in rapid succession despite having to pull back and settle herself into a comfortable stance before firing each arrow. She smiled proudly once all of her arrows were gone every single on a bulls eye, dead center hit except for one or two but they were close to the middle.

"Alright now come at me." Souji said crouching his legs as he settled into a defensive stance.

"Taijutsu." Ahiko said offhandedly as she too settled into a stance, pushing chakra into her feet and legs she sprung forward like a snake coiled ready to strike lashing out with a fist which Souji easily blocked.

"I see, so the Senju are beginning to move." Madara said as he stared at Izuna who gave a report of the fight and everything that happened in that time span. The Senju he placed under a genjutsu was of little use but held on piece of information that was crucial. The Subatsu were in fact allies and Tobirama pushed for it every step of the way. Figures. "I take it you had no trouble."

"This is their blood not mine." Izuna commented wrinkling his nose in disgust as he looked at his black outfit. "I'm going to take a bath." Madara simply nodded in response watching Izuna leave. Looks like he was destined to meet Hashirama sooner than he expected, but again he'd expect nothing less from him. And the Subatsu... He'd test them to see if the rumors were true or just blown out of proportion.

"Get a unit ready with Hikaku and Aito, we are heading back out." Madara smirked.

"On it." Izuna slid the door open, vanishing a moment later.

Like a flash, a slow deliberate flash two and a half months came and went for Yuko as she got into a schedule while on the trip.

She'd wake up at about ten o clock and go out on the deck until the elderly man called her down for dinner. She went into her collection during the morning for breakfast and went over the mission details over and over in her head until she was sure she engraved on her brain. Then after dinner she'd go to the chair she first sat on and watch the water rush passed her while talking with the older man about random things.

Nothing in particular, she began to feel comfortable around him listening to the many stories he had to tell, a part of her was excited whenever he would tell her one how many generations had he seen grow up and die, how many things had he seen in his lifetime. She was only 16!

Yuko swallowed the lump in her throat, nervousness taking hold of the pit of her stomach and anxiety taking a firm hold of her heart. The thought dropped on her when she had two days until she got to the Water country, she was walking into a war zone she'd be surrounded by death, the smell of blood permeating the air with its lingering stench, she'd see the bodies of hundreds and thousands of shinobi, the thought made her knees shake. She was never on the battlefield once in her life and wasn't sure how to ready herself for the carnage she was entering. She told herself not to be scared that she would make it and go back to Izuna, she'd bring back the scroll and see Mikito's eyes light up with confidence.

She put on her dark cloak making sure to put the hood over her head not to attract any attention, she put her supply bag in one of her sealing scrolls so she didn't have to lug it around while she was on the run. She filled her utility belt with as much kunai and shuriken as she could putting the rest under her sash in a sealing scroll, her sword was sheathed strapped on her back ready to be drawn if the need was to arise.

She looked out at the smothering mist that surrounded her and the boat as the man brought it in, she stretched her senses out not able to pick out any chakra signatures for several miles in either direction but the smell of sulfer and blood smacked her right away. Maybe the rumors and their warning weren't all that far fetched, come on Yuko... She said mentally as she walked at a brisk pace about to leave the boat.

"Are you sure you want to go ahead?" She stopped hearing the question. "It's not too late to turn back now you can save yourself the trouble."

No I have to do this! Yuko sucked in a shaky breath turning her head halfway to regard him. "I'm sure I have to do this." She steeled herself hoping her voice didn't shake.

The man grunted. "I see, well I'll be right here waiting." He said locking eyes with her for a moment.

Yuko nodded not sure if she should thank you or keep going ahead. She decided to run ahead not feeling sentimental at the moment. She took a breath, the air was humid and moist more so than the blazing heat of the Fire country but there was a coolness to this mist or fog whatever it was that set her on edge. She turned her head every so often unable to see anything except for what was right in her line of vision as she continued her trek. "Sharingan!" She muttered, her eyes widening as the chocolate vanished replaced by blazing crimson and black tomoes.

She smiled slightly happy that she could see everything now in full clarity despite the mist growing thicker and thicker as she ventured further in, unconsciously she brought one hand to her belt grabbing a kunai firmly in it.

Yuko kept her senses stretched out to pick out any chakra signals, to much surprise or not so much she couldn't find any around her. But she didn't relax at all as she continued to sprint forward, if Izuna warned her just before she left there was a good reason behind it. In fact everyone warned her, even Madara in own cruel way, she didn't believe for a second he cared what happened to her on this mission and was most likely expecting her to die on this island.

Her eyes flicked, Sharingan a glowing red as it searched out for any shinobi nearby for a sneak attack. She wasn't sure what to expect if the shinobi hear could hide their chakra it'd make things a lot more difficult. It was quiet, too quiet she had been running for hours if she had to guess and hand't run into anything not even a dead body. Not that she was looking forward to stumbling over a corpse, but it'd take the growing trepidation away that kept pounding at her heart and twisting her stomach into a knot.

She observed her surroundings carefully as she moved with the speed and stealth of a cat, it was a wilderness for the most part probably uninhabited since the beginning of time vines twisted all over the ground and climbing up to the trees.

She avoided the vines the best she could leaping over them with a certain grace. Her senses flared, like they were on fire. "There!" She exclaimed dodging a kunai just as it dug into the ground, spotting the explosive tag. Yuko crossed her arms in front of her face more to block the dust then to guard against the blast force, she could handle it.

BOOM!

The tag exploded, the ground quaked cracking into small fissures for several inches, cracking and twisting the earth greedily as the power searched for a target smothering the area in a deep black smoke and setting flames to several trees around her. Her eyes flickered wildly searching. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight... She frowned pushing a small amount of chakra to the soles of her sandals clinging them to a tree branch squatting down in a crouch as she waited. The attack came as fast as lightning, kunai meant with a sword and the clash began.

Yuko clenched her teeth pushing forward and up exposing the attacker's torso with a snap she sent a fist forward slamming it under his rib cage cringing when she heard the throaty scream escape the man's lips as blood flew several feet in the air.

She couldn't gather her wits two more attackers were on her, the first thrusting a sword forward which Yuko dodged in an act of flexibility bending her back halfway, pushing off of the branch and leaping back already seeing the second attack coming followed by the second attacker with a kunai in hand.

Her sandals dug into the ground, her knees bent as she flashed her kunai in a half circle slitting the man's throat that was poised to drive his sword through her cranium, she turned away as he choked and gurgled clawing at his neck to stop the bleeding. The two men from before dived forward one slashing the other stabbing, Yuko twisted her body evading the slash but wasn't fast enough to dodge the kunai gritting her teeth as she felt break her skin, she ignored the pain flashing her sword forward watching the blood fly in a gushing stream, his head flying off to the side.

"Suiton: Hahonryu!" Yuko whirled to the side already flashing her hands inhaling deeply as she spotted three men already complete the jutsu, a torrent of water rushing against their palms.

"Katon: Goenkyu!" The ground around Yuko began to crack, spreading outwards like a spider web, she exhaled with all of her force sliding back from the force of the jutsu. A fireball more than twice the size of the coming of age technique shot forward incinerating the ground and slamming through dozens of trees. Her fireball clashed with three spiraling spouts of water that tore away at the ground and shook the ground for miles around, the air hissed as steam gushed in every direction forming columns that snaked around the area flashing passed Yuko. My jutsu had no effect, those waves just smothered my flames like it was a joke...

She shot forward, flicking her wrist to the side spinning in mid air to add velocity to the projectile haring the sound of flesh being ripped followed by the gurgling of struggled breathing and internal bleeding, her eyebrows narrowed as she slid to a stop watching their movements carefully. Four down four to go... She said to herself clenching the handle of her kunai tighter, her heart pounding in her ears as adrenaline surged through her veins, she could smell sulfur, see the ash left by her jutsu, and could smell the blood that splattered on the ground and several feet away from her.

"Now!" She heard one shout, that's all she needed with a another push of chakra she lunged forward, kunai pointed forward as she tore it through the loudmouth's chest, with a quick jerk she spun to the side carving the kunai entirely through his sternum tearing his left lung in two and rupturing his appendix, he dropped to the ground in a twitching heap only able to gurgle and gasp in agony as she seen a pair of crimson eyes piercing into his own. Uchiha... He thought as the life left his eyes.

Three. Yuko counted in her head turning to face the trio glowering at her with shock, looking at the bodies of their fallen comrades and the damage done around the area from their intense fight. It was going on ten minutes but it was fast paced from the beginning and Yuko had to push herself to her limit to keep up with the pace this fight was going in, she only had one thought and that was to survive.

That's when her eyes widened as she felt dozens, and dozens of chakra signatures landing behind the trio and running towards her location, thinking fast she threw a shuriken forward in a flash, the sound of flesh ripping sounded through the air, with a large amount of chakra focused into her legs she took off in a sprint that was literally blinding her black cloak billowing in the violent breeze as she flipped to the side every few seconds evading the projectiles or low scale water jutsus thrown her way.

Shit! She cursed putting on another boost glancing behind her for a moment. There's at least thirty I can't take them all at once and they're trying to close me in! She looked forward, feeling a wet substance seeping into her shorts and covering her side she knew it was her blood the wound she got was bleeding more readily as she expended more and more energy.

She kept running until she stumbled on wood thickets that were nearly impossible to navigate but thanks to her Sharingan she had little trouble twisting and bending her body to get through the small openings that left her pursuers stuck and slamming head first howling in agony as they dropped to the ground. She sighed after a few minutes that felt like an eternity and she couldn't see any traces of chakra or feel any within several miles from her current location.

Yuko slid to a stop on a branch flipping to the ground, and landing with a loud thud as she fell to one knee heaving her chest to fill it with oxygen. "I need to take care of this wound, and rest..." She said to herself as she looked around finding a small den just a few feet away, it would do for now. She carried herself over to it, letting herself drop forward once she got in wiping the sweat from her forehead, first thing was first she ripped a piece of her top off wrapping it around the wound and tying it tightly to slow the bleeding, she dug into her bag popping a few blood pills into her mouth to replace what blood she lost.

Slightly better but feeling lightheaded she crawled forward leaning her back against the dirt wall, summoning her bag from its sealing scroll and dug through it finding her canteen, without a second thought she opened it bringing it to her lips taking slow and long drinks every minute or so. She grabbed a map that showed the dynamics of her location and where she was headed.

Going by this map I'm here... On the third island closest to the mainland. And to get to the mainland I have to go in the direction I was going in for a few hundred miles before I run into a town and find the boat that is going there. Simple enough I guess. She rolled the map up sealing it back into the scroll so she didn't lose it and took this time to rest. She looked at her hands, gasping as her eyes widened in shock. Blood there was so much blood it dripped from her fist that held the kunai as if she'd die without it, which was completely true .

"I...!" She exclaimed tossing the bloodied weapon away as if it burned her looking at her hand in horror. "I lost them..." She muttered to herself feeling dizzy, her stomach churned as she emptied out her breakfast gagging as the vomit burned the roof of her mouth, she coughed hoarsely spitting out the rest of it. Calm yourself!" She screamed mentally unable to find her voice as her body began to slightly, bringing her knees up to her chest she buried her face in her knees.

She never killed anyone before in her life, sure she trained with targets, clones, and dummies but never had she took the life of another human being. Never were her hands drenched with blood that wasn't hers. Breathe just breathe... She told herself mentally inhaling sharply but vomited again, the stench unbearable she couldn't stand it any longer she put her bag back into the sealing scroll grabbed her bloody kunai and ran as fast as she could towards the town.

She didn't dwell on the shinobi she killed, she held no qualms about surviving it was her life or theirs and she wasn't planning on dying anytime soon. She was shocked at first, taking the life of another human being but she needed to complete her task, she was a kunoichi of the Uchiha clan!

The rest of the trip to the city went by in dreadful silence, Yuko stayed alert keeping her senses stretched out to check her perimeter, there was another attack she walked right into it and was short about twenty shuriken and kunai she didn't dwell on their death, it was her survival that mattered she had to live.

Her wound had stopped bleeding after a few hours the last minute medical treatment she performed doing its work, she just needed to clean it before it got infected which wouldn't be a problem when she got in the mainland there was bound to be a bah house and even better a hot spring somewhere and if not she'd just find a river and use a little medical ninjutsu that she took the time to learn when she was younger, though she wasn't the greatest admittedly. The town was surprisingly busy as if there wasn't a war going on right now, and battles weren't being fought just miles away like her own before.

Merchants gathered people around their stands hoping to capture their interest and make a sale, Yuko didn't pay the stands much attention as she made her way through the city and toward the dock section where the boat was getting to sail off. She learned that this entire area regardless of any island was covered in a thick and eerie mist, she stared out at the blankets as the boat began its trek to the mainland. Now she understood why they warned her, even Izuna gave her a warning, and he'd rarely ever talk to her before so it had to be serious. Being here firsthand now she had no doubts.

The boat arrived a little past ten at night, Yuko managed to take a small nap and wash her wound in one of the boat's bathrooms sighing in relief as the wound began to heal. She kept her eyes trained forward Sharingan deactivated by this point no longer needing it since she wasn't running through the wilderness and a swamp dodging explosions while throwing her kunai with deadly accuracy, using them only when she needed to if running was a choice she took it, if not she fought back.

She noticed several large clusters of chakra that were higher than average no doubt it was one of the many clans that were warring in the area but they paid her no mind, she wasn't sure to be thankful or insulted at the notion but took it with a grain of salt in the end t made this easier. She kept her eyes moving searching for anyone with a creepy mask but had no luck in finding her target and focused on finding a place to stay for the night to formulate a strategy.

Luckily she found a small Inn on the northern part of the city and walked inside scrunching her nose as smoke wafted in her face, flowing into her nostrils making her cough slightly. She never smoke a day in her life it never interested her, and more so it'd just hold her back she always stayed in peak condition and the luxury would only hinder her in the long run.

Yuko brought her hand up cupping it over her nose looking around the place with an observing look, it was booming with business at the moment she noticed a stair way going up and figured where she was must have been the bar. She walked swiftly ascending the stairs leisurely stopping when she seen a front desk, she noticed the elderly woman going through paperwork, she gathered herself walking forward.

"What can I help you with?" Yuko stopped, staring in surprise as the woman seemed to notice her before she got to the desk.

"A room for one." Yuko replied not missing a beat, ignoring the attitude that the woman exhibited. Rude...

The woman regarded her with a stern stare, scribbling something down on a sheet of paper and handing it to her, slapping it a few inches from Yuko's hand. "Room number is on there." She said looking away going back to her paperwork. "If you need anything else just send the word and I'll send a maid up."