Being the child of Sasuke and Sakura Uchiha came with its challenges. The overwhelming desire and push to be a prodigy like my dad, well also being expected to follow in my mother’s mastery of chakra control.
But I wasn’t just anyone. I was the first of my clan, and that just made the stakes even higher.
I was born in the period right after the war. I don’t think my mom was 17 for very long before I came along. A night of drunken passion in the cot of a hospital so I’m told. My little sister Sarada didn’t come along until 3 years later. Growing up with little more than a temporary living quarters made it so my mother and I were at the hip inseparable. I was brought into work and witnessed injuries after injuries, flipping through medical textbooks and looking at the pictures to try and entertain myself.
Children born after war were expected to pick up the pieces of life quickly.Though, even at such a small age I never cried or fussed, something she said was all from my papa’s side. I was an independent baby, eating on my own, pottying on my own, even learning to walk when my mom wasn’t watching. The independence only grew.
At night, as if to reassure herself, mom would tell stories about papa. I think it was half to keep away the loneliness, half to keep my father still present in my life.
But my favorite stories were about my uncle Itachi. Those ones were always told by papa when he’d visit. He’d say I had the same creases under the eyes as him. If I had wanted to be like anyone, I’d have wanted to be just like Uncle Itachi. How he sacrificed everything for the peace of the village, and kept papa safe from outside harm all while trying to play the villain everyone saw him as. I wished I could have met him.
But that was years ago. The dream of a little girl hoping for a fairy tale hero to whisk her away and treat her to a life of fun adventures.
Nowadays my life is filled with missions. I’m 19 currently, with a long unruly head of black hair and eye bags that could carry stones. The list of my accomplishments is truly impressive yet tiring. At the level of Jonin, it's not often I get any free time. I’m either going about hokage appointed missions or working at the hospital with my mother.
I’ve fallen in her footsteps, earring the Strength of a Hundred Seal just like her and Lady Tsunade. Mom and I spar when we can, but most of my free time is spent mentoring my sister. She struggles with her sharingan, still not able to make it past two prongs in her activation, but what she misses in visual prowess she makes up for in taijutsu and ninjutsu. We also spar and test each other's use of lightning styles. While she maintains physical control of the electricity, harnessing it in her punches, I was inspired after the 3rd raikage and manifest my electricity into my movements. Making me fast and viciously precise.
No matter what I do though, I cannot activate my mangekyou sharingan. I’ve faced many life or death situations while on missions. Though none seem to be traumatic enough to trigger it.
I can feel my eyes burn and throb all at once. In front of me is Urashiki Otsustuki, holding my sister Sarada by her hair. Her body limp and badly bruised.
Urashiki thrashes my sister’s body and my mother beside me curses. Papa and Boruto stand just a little farther away, having found Urashiki earlier and fought him only to find it was a clone. Sarada had been the one to find the real Urashiki. She’d shouted her location over her ear piece before taking him on herself.
I’d shown up first with Mama. Our house was closest to Sarada’s location, followed a few minutes later by Papa and Boruto. More ninja must be on their way, and Urashiki can feel it too. He’s stopped playing: Stopped teasing Mama and I with his words and flinging Sarada around. Now he stands with the biggest smile on his face, the shell of some sort of turtle in his other hand.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better person to find me. Your daughter makes for the perfect bargaining chip, you know Sasuke? And I know you barely have the chakra back to use your rinnegan, so you’re all truly stuck. That is, if you wish to have your daughter back.” Urashiki goaded, grinning like a madman with his arms spread wide.
The burning in my eyes is becoming almost unbearable, just asking to be released like a dam. Moisture collects in my waterline and a crimson tear rolls down my cheek. My expression was hard, fists clench so hard my knuckles creak from the pressure. Mama wasn’t much different.
Suddenly, the turtle shell in Urashiki’s hand activated. A pink sea turtle peaked out from inside and the ribbon around its shell unraveled. Light simultaneously began forming behind Urashiki, growing to the size of his body.
Urashiki wound his hand forwards to toss Sarada into the light when all hell broke loose. Papa and Mama immediately took off towards Urashiki and Sarada, but they were too slow. With my new mangekyou sharingan, I could calculate every movement with procision. There was only one way to save my sister.
I wove my hands into the corresponding hand signs for chidori, but instead of a handful of lightning, my body enveloped in it instead.
Lightning Style: Body Flicker
Urashiki threw Sarada’s body and in an instant I was there beside them both, lunging and reaching out to grasp Sarada’s wrist, swinging her towards Mama.
However, the move did not come without conciquesnces. From the momentum, my body continued to soar into the light. The last thing I heard before my vision was filled with blinding light was the sound of my parents and Boruto calling out my name.
The first thing that hit me was how nice the soft breeze felt against my skin. A warmth shone down onto my skin, warming me up nicely and keeping me from fully waking up from my nap.
Why did I fall asleep again? I don’t remember falling asleep…
In an instant I was wide awake. I shot up from my lying position and gasped, placing my hands on the grass beneath me to turn my body left and right, trying to memorize my surroundings. So far, only trees and shrubs kept me company within my line of sight.
“Oh look, the little bitch is alive.” An arrogant voice sounds from the top of the trees
If my heart rate wasn’t already hammering, the voice of the stranger definitely would have made it so.
I tumble rolled backwards onto my knee and foot and grabbed a kunia from the weapons pouch strapped to my thigh. From my position I could see nothing but the shadows of the leaves, producing a perfect advantage point.
“It would take no effort of mine to find you. Make your life easier and come out now.” I called out in a monotone voice, perfectly crafted to hide any and all emotion.
The voice snorted. “Hear that old man? Now she’s making demands of us.”
Us? That means there's at least two. Maybe more. Stay vigilant.
I activate my sharingan and throw the kunia in the direction of the voice, trying to draw the owner out. With my activated eyes, I see the faint chakra figure leap away from the kunia and onto another branch, next to another, larger, chakra signature.
My skin bristles for an unknown reason. “I know it's only the two of you. Come down or the next thing I throw will be a big ball of fire.” I threaten.
“Unwad your panties out your snatch bitch, we’re coming down.” The arrogant voice snipped, clearly not happy to be taking orders from a woman.
Two figures dropped down from the tree tops. They stood a good few yards away, partially obstructed my bushes and shrubs but their cloaks were unmistakable even in the shade of the trees. Black cloaks with crimson clouds decorating the fabric.
Akatsuki. But how? They're all long dead.
“Hey look, she’s got those weird ass eyes like Itachi.”
I narrowed my eyes at the two. One stood significantly taller, almost by half a head, and had on a head covering along with a mask covering his mouth and nose. His eyes were green as well with ruby red scaleras. The other was a silver haired man with violet eyes and a symbolic necklace hanging down the front of his chest. And a massive scythe hanging on his back.
We stayed silent for a few moments, just staring at one another. I refused to lower my guard, hand just itching to dart into my weapons pouch again and produce another kunia. After a while, the boisterous one, Hidan, sighed aggressively and lifted his hands to link them behind his head. “Aaah, we gonna take this bitch down or what Kakuzu? Jashin-sama’s been dying for a sacrifice.”
The taller man, Kakuzu, grunted and waved his hand before turning away and striding off. “She has no financial value to me. Make it quick.”
Well, out of the frying pan and into the fire.
Quickly, but not quick enough, the silver haired man drew his scythe and flung it at me. Its handle connected by a cord in Hidan’s hand.
I dodged effortlessly, seeing the attack a mile away and lept to the left, avoiding the weapon once again as he pulled it back towards himself, slicing the air next to me.
I can’t keep playing chicken with this man. I need to dispatch him quickly.
Reaching into my thigh pouch, I grabbed another kunai and held it tightly in my fist. Pooling my chakra to my feet, I take off with great force, cracking the ground beneath me slightly as I soared through the air at mach speed, managing to catch him off guard with my closeness.
The world went still as I stood in Hidan’s personal bubble with my kunai stuck in his heart. Blood ran down his chin and a look of shock marred his face. Like he didn’t know how he got into this situation. Then a wide, humorous grin split across his bloody mouth.
Chills ran up my spine and I instantly dodge right, right as the blade of his scythe snagged the fabric of my sleeve. Barely missing my skin.
Landing farther away, I watch as Hidan grabs the kunai out of his chest, his wound squirting blood and dripping down his chest.
Definite hit to the heart. He should be dead.
The silver haired man chuckled, dropping the knife to the ground in front of his feet. “About now is when people start shitting themselves.”
I narrowed my eyes, not showing my emotions. I’d fought enemies just as dangerous as Hidan. If his shtick was that he couldn’t die, then there were plenty of ways to incapacitate him.
For the next minute I supplied my growing theory that Hidan did not seem to hide from small knicks or shallow jabs. Pain seemed to be ineffective against him, despite having no healing factors. However, his ego seemed to be a major flaw in his armor.
“Grrr, stand still you fucking whore!” He growled the more I dodged and weaved past his wildly flying scythe. Shallowly cutting his skin while mine remained unmarred.
Let’s see if he truly can’t die.
WIth lightning fast reflexes, I flipped over the scythe once more as it soared at me and grabbed the handle. Hidan’s eyes barely got to widen before I was bringing the weapon across his neck, decapitating him.
All went still after the clean slice. His body stood for a second before crumpling to the ground, spraying blood all around me. I grimaced as the hair hanging by my face got caked in it.
“You freaky eyed mother fucker! You can’t kill me, Jashin-sama doesn’t allow it!” The rolling head began to spout madly. I calmly walked over to the head and reached down, grasping him by his head of hair.
“Quiet. Now either you answer my questions or I take your head with me and hide it where your partner won't ever find it.” I said calmly , deactivating my sharingan.
The head rolled his violet eyes and tsked with annoyance. “Whatever bitch.”
Hidan looked genuinely confused at the question. “You got amnesia or something? How the hell don’t you know what fucking year it is.”
I shrugged and hopped into the treetops away from his body when he started to back track. “Hey, HEY! It’s fucking 1999 you goddamn weirdo!”
My face soured slightly. I couldn’t help it. Learning you’ve gone back in time to a period much different then your own is not very reassuring.
“And where are we?” I asked, lifting Hidan up to face me.
“For the love of Jashin-sama, are you just a useless bitch? How the fuck do you not know where you are?”
I narrowed my eyes at him, done with his disrespectful language towards me. My mama’s temper was an inherited trait.
With an exaggerated sigh, Hidan spoke. “Somewhere between the Land of Sound and Land of Fire.”
I hummed, looking up into the leaf canopy. Through the leaves it was impossible to tell which way the sun was setting. I’d have to find a break in the tree line to determine what way to travel if I had any chance at getting back to my timeline.
“And which way is civilization?”
“Does it look like I have a goddamn map on me bitch?”
I rolled my eyes, my patience having run thin. With a toss, I sent Hidan’s head soaring back down to the ground where he bounced, shouting expletives to me and how he’d kill me.
Hours of running in the direction of the setting sun along with the help of my lightning style made it so by nightfall I made it to a village a few hours to Konohagakure. Along the way I may have come across some highway bandits who graciously emptied their pockets of their money. They were bad people anyways; my use for their money would be better anyways.
Still covered in dried blood, I quickly checked into a hotel. Conveniently one with a hot spring. I told myself I deserved it after having to decapitate a criminal, covering myself in his blood.
I only received a few weary glances as I strode down the halls of the hotel to my room. Honestly, I should have bought new clothes before arriving since I’ll need to burn my stained clothing. Whatever, the room came with a complimentary kimono I could just borrow for now.
A few minutes later I was walking out of the bathing area, having scrubbed my body and hair with all the luxurious soaps offered. A towel wrapped around my body, hiding my modesty as I strode my way to the hot spring area. A group of women before me giggled and talk about as they opened the door only to shriek at something. The group turned and ran past me, leaving me on edge at what I might come across. Could it be a bloody murder? Or worse, the Akatsuki members had somehow caught up to me despite my best efforts to escape without a trace.
Slowly inching my way to the doorway, the only thing that caught my attention was a man passed out from the heat. Granted, a naked man, but nothing completely out of the ordinary.
With a sigh, I strode over to the unconscious man and waded into the water to pull him out by his armpits. He was a fit man, with long limbs and a head of white spiky hair traveling well past his waist. Without much effort I laid him out on the stone flooring and walked to the stack of complimentary towels sitting a little ways away.
“Oi, old man. You alive?” I asked flatly, draping a towel across his hips to hide his nudity from anymore unsuspectings victims.
With a groan, the man started to stir before peeking his eyes open. Only to divulge into a creepy, perverted grin.
“Oh my, a supple young woman saving me from the heat. What’s your name, my raven-haired beauty?” He flirted, sitting up to cup my hand and bring it to his lips.
I yanked my hand out from his grasp and bonked him atop his head with a closed fist, my expression showing my annoyance.
“Who the hell are you calling supple you perverted old man?” I growled before getting up from next to him and walking into the hot water, ignoring his question. No pervy old man was going to scare me away from a night of relaxation.
“You hit hard little lady! My, what strength you possess in such a lithe body!” The creep laughed, rubbing the goose egg from the top of his head.
I grunted, leaning back against the wall of the hotspring and closing my eyes. “Keep it up and I'll drag you in here again and leave you to drown.” I threatened flatly.
My threat didn’t seem to dissuade him from his lecherous gaze. “My apologies ma’am, it’s just not every day you meet such a beautiful and compassionate young woman. May I just say, your black hair and black eyes make you seem a beautiful mystery, waiting to be unraveled.”
I opened my eyes and stared blankly at him. “Does this normally work on women, or are you just bad?”
That seemed to deflate the man. With a deep sigh, he grabbed the towel around his waist and tucked securely before hefting himself up onto his feet. “I’m afraid I’m losing my touch. Here I am, an elite author of one of the most prized romance series in the Land of Fire, now a lecherous old man begging for a scrap of attention.
I didn't want to make the man question his existence, I just wanted some time alone in the water!
“Uh, don't take it so hard. I’m a hard woman to whoo.” I supplied, waving my hand as I looked off to the side awkwardly.
I was starting to get a little hotter, so I pushed my bangs out of my face from habit. The action seemed to catch the attention of said man as his eyes widened before rolling and an annoyed expression crossed his face.
“No wonder my charms didn’t work on you. That drunken woman has you as her apprentice.”
Now I was truly confused. Drunken woman?
“Um, what are you talking about?”
The man flapped his arms then pointed to his forehead. “The seal! You're Tsunade’s apprentice. She must have told you all about me and that’s why you’re impervious to my charms.”
My back went ramrod straight and my jaw clenched. How did this man know about Lady Tsunade? I couldn’t possibly begin to explain the correlation I had with her without having to explain I wasn’t from this timeline.
“What? Who is Tsunade? And who the hell are you anyways?” I snapped, trying to divert his attention with my anger and away from my seal on my forehead.
“Me? I am the great Toad Sage, Jiraiya!”
Oh my god. Of course it would be Naruto’s sensei. Quick, think of something!
“Oh! I know who you are. You’re the author of Icha Icha Tactics.”
That seemed to work, as right after mentioning his beloved series he lit up like a kid on christmas. As he blabbered on and on about his book and precious research, I discreetly placed a towel on my forehead to hide the mark before closing my eyes again and relaxing back into the hotspring.
Not much happened after the soak. After Jiraiya talked himself into exhaustion, he left me to relax by myself.
The next day I shopped for new clothes, using the hotel’s kimono temporarily. By the time I made it back to my hotel room, I had a travel bag with plenty of supplies to survive for however long I would be trapped. Or to get to Konohagakure.
My new outfit consisted of a new pair of leggings, a high waisted skirt at ankle length with a slit up the side and a simple jumper. All some versions of grey so I can fall into the crowd better.
The only missing thing I really need is identification paperwork. There was no way I was ever going to be making it past the gates of Konohagakure legally. As long as i didn't come into contact with any important people like the sixth hokage or naruto I’d be good. Or Sasuke. Or Sakura. Or—
Shit, I’m gonna have to hide for the rest of my life.
Whatever the case, I’d have plenty of time to make up a story to tell on my walk to the village. Even with the older roads, I was familiar with the geography enough to know where home would be.
I was just making it out of the hotel and onto the road when a voice called out. “Oh, raven-haired beauty!”
Oh fucking great, it pervy sage again. That is what the seventh hokage used to call him, right?
“Pervy Sage, get back here!”
I guess that answers my question—Oh shit! Naruto! Fuck, I can’t hide or that would seem really suspicious.
I steeled my expression as the two made their way over to me. Both had on bulky grey bags strapped to their backs, clearly traveling for a long time. Not in the nude, Jiriaya had on green traditional style clothing with a red vest and his sannin headband on. His hair seemed even more unruly now that it was no longer wet. And Naruto was dressed in an orange and blue jumpsuit set. Eye catching and tacky all at the same time.
“Mm, Jiraiya. Nice to see you dressed for once.” I said as I turned, hefting my bag further up my back.
Naruto narrowed his eyes and looked between Jiraiya and I suspiciously. “Pervy Sage, you didn’t sleep with her, did you?”
The bluntness of the question broke my steely expression and a massive blush crossed my face.
“Well Naruto, when a man and a woman spend time alone—”
“The answer is no! I saved his naked butt from drowning after he overdid it in the hot spring!” I shouted, interrupting him before he could lie and paint an inappropriate image.
“Jiraiya, are you already bothering another woman you lecherous old fool?”
I froze instantly. I’d recognize that voice anywhere.
Taking a deep, shaky breath, steeling every fiber of my being like I was about to head into battle. I turned my body and there she was. Lady Tsunade.
“No no, not at all! Just being cordial to…” Jiraiya trailed out, panic in his eyes as he realised he never caught my name.
“Michi. It’s nice to meet you.” I responded, bowing shallowly.
Just behind Lady Tsunade was Lady Shizune. Despite Lady Tsunade not looking a day younger than when I knew her, Shizune looked far younger compared to my timeline.
“Oh that reminds me. Tsunade, do you know Michi?” Jiraiya asked.
Of course he’d remember my forehead seal. Damn.
Tsunade looked confused. “No, I don't believe I do. Why?”
Just as Jiraiya was about to answer, I interrupted. “I’d appreciate it if you kept my business to yourself, especially what you saw in the hot spring. If you must know, it was a family symbol I received from my mother.”
There. Not technically a lie.
Jiraiya opened his mouth to say something but just frowned and closed his mouth. Whatever he was going to say he was thankfully keeping it to himself.
Without anymore delay from the group that had unintentionally formed around me, I began to walk toward the exit of the village. It didn’t take long before a nosy 13 year old came to bother me however.
“Hey, how come you're going this way? You're not headed to the Leaf are ya? Cause if you are, you might as well travel with us!” The bouncy boy exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear as he linked his hands behind his head.
I cocked a brow at him. “You barely know me.”
“Yeah well, if we walk together then we’ll get to know each other! Besides, anyone that saves Pervy Sage is too good for the world.” Naruto sniffed, closing his eyes like he’d made up his mind.
I sighed, still walking now with a posy of the last people in the world I want to be around. Naruto attracts way too much attention, not to mention having two Sannin as his entourage makes the situation that much more precarious.
Not to mention now I wouldn’t be able to sneak into the village.
“As much as I would love to come with you, I don’t have any identification. They wouldn’t even let me past the gates.” I responded, not bothering to look at the boy as I trekked on.
Naruto grinned widely at me and gave a mischievous chuckle. “Well it’s a good thing we have the Fifth Hokage here to pardon you!”
All four of us jerked our heads at Naruto, giving different degrees of ‘Huh’s. I looked up and made eye contact with Lady Tsunade.
“Uh, no ma’am, that won't be necessary, really. I can figure something out.” I responded hastily, waving my hands in front of me.
She remained quiet as she stared at me with narrowed eyes before crossing her arms below her bust. “What do you have to offer?”
I tensed. Was she really considering pardoning me?
“Uh, I, well…I can perform medical ninjustu…” I trailed off slightly, rubbing the back of my neck awkwardly as I looked off to the side.
Lady Tsunade hummed, evaluating me with her eyes. “Fine. We’re always in need of competent medical ninja. When we make it to the village come with me so we can work out a working visa for your stay.”
I blinked in surprise. Never in a million years would I expect to be given such an easy solution to a problem as blaringly big as actually being let inside a village such as the leaf. Especially with its strict visitor policies.
Well, that's one problem down.
