Solar Eclipse *Rewrite*

Chapter 1

In situations like this, most people would wonder 'how did I get here?' Looking for some village, kilometers away from home? Well... It's a long story, one that might end a little differently than you'd expect.

Her name is Gin Mizu, Koinu, and she was a long way from home. Could she even call it that anymore? Home? Her home was now overrun by troops, enemy troops. Troops that she and her siblings had narrowly escaped. It was puzzling to think that two minutes was all it took for the whole course of someone's life to change.

You'll return. You can reclaim what is yours.

But how, she pondered. She was only seven. Seven and lost in the woods, heading to a village she had only heard of in stories. No, her father would never lie to her. If anything were to happen on the isles, and she needed to seek refuge, Kohona was where she was assigned to go. The wind blew a little harder, but the heavy numbness in her chest was worse than the cold. Was it really all gone? Was her father really dead?

You know the answer to that one, pup. Your father is dead.

"For an immortal being, you know no word of comfort."

Words can only take one so far. And you need to know that.

The child sighed. "I just lost my dad, my clan, and maybe my whole culture. Can I be allowed to grieve?"

The voice remained silent for the rest of their walk. The closer she got to the gates, the more scents and chakra signatures she could pick up. At the gate, she sensed two signatures. Chunins, male from the feel of it. They were moving around, clearly preparing to rotate shifts or something along those lines. She broke into a run. "Wait! Let me in, please!" She stumbled to a stop inches away from them.

One of them looked at her, his face stoic under the bandages that covered parts of his face. "State your business. Who are you?"

"Gin Mizu." Her surname raised their attention. "My father was an acquaintance of the fourth. Can I come in? I have nowhere else to go."

They looked at each other, having a silent debate with their eyes. "Come in." The other one waved her over, nodding at her to follow him.
The compacted dirt crunched and groaned under their feet. It was the only noise heard beside the idle chatter of the village as they headed towards a giant tower. A tower she could only guess was their headquarters and where the hokage was.

Do you have the scroll?

She patted her side, unzipping the leg pouch that was there. The scroll was starting to yellow but would have to do. It had been sealed with her family's crest, an overlapping sun, and moon. Her heart sank looking at it. They entered the tower, her chunin escort greeted coworkers as they passed by each other. One in particular smelled appealing to her. He was average height, with a scar stretching over the bridge of his nose, touching both of his cheeks. His brown eyes seemed to twinkle when he mentioned ramen. Her stomach growled, turning the two men's attention to her. "Who are you," he asked in a soft tone. It was clear that this guy had some experience with kids. Maybe he was a father or a teacher.

"Gin Mizu." The chunin responded. "She never gave her name, just her surname. She was wandering around the gate, asking to be let in." 

He nodded, kneeling down to her level. "It's very nice to meet you. I'm Umino, Iruka. I hope to see you again."

She nodded, waving shyly as he walked away.

After a few more steps the chunin asked, "you're a quiet one, aren't you?" She gave him no response.

They stood in front of a door, which he knocked on. "Lord Third?"

A raspy, almost grandfatherly voice let them in. Sitting at the desk, in the typical hokage's attire was an old man. His hair was white, although most were covered. His face was sagging with wrinkles, and covered in dark spots. Between his lips was a pipe. "What is it this time?"