Warring Times

|C:1|TJA|Part:2| The Lake Village

"Block left, right, center, hold your stance!" Sakumo barked at Kazuko, who was obviously having trouble keeping up with the man. He aimed a punch towards her shoulder, planting his feet in the fresh grass. He was half aware of Junko leaning on one of the many cherry blossom trees in the training area they were at.

Kazuko growled, bringing up her left arm and pushing her chakra into it in order to sustain her stance when Sakumo hit her. That's gonna bruise, she thought vaguely, wincing. The strength of the punch pushed her back a few feet. What scared her the most, was that she knew he was holding back.

She jumped up, bringing a kunai out of her pocket, which was made out of vines that scratched her right leg constantly, leaving it sore. She aimed two of the kunai, quickly doing math(her best subject) in her head. The trajectory should have it in the air over there, she threw the first kunai, then the second. Then, she pulled out a third and jumped into the air, throwing it in the way of the other two, which caused them to change directions and start soaring at Sakumi in fast speeds. He easily blocked them, much to her dismay.

She panted, dirt smudging her pale face and mud clumped into her pastel blue hair, which was back in a pony-tail. "That's good aim you got there, kid." Sakumo complemented, but then appeared in front of her silently. "But, your Taijutsu could use some work." He punched her in the stomach, causing her to go flying back against a tree. Her back hit the bark, causing a sharp pain to echo throughout her back. A whimper escaped her lips, clenching her eyes shut.

Kazuko didn't have much time to rest though, as Sakumo was the devil in disguise when it came to training. She jumped up, wincing at the pain coming from her back and then running to the opposite side of the training ground. The tree she previously occupied was cut down and she could just barely see a blur. Her eyes widened, and she cringed just thinking about the pain she would have felt had she not moved.

She stretched out her senses when she hadn't seen him for a few seconds, quickly dunking and turning at the same time when she felt him behind her. She brought her arm up in defense, knowing she'd stand no chance if she went on the offensive. But, she didn't really stand a chance anyway.

"There you go." Sakumo praised, dropping his stance and allowing her to breathe. "Not bad at all. I'd say you could beat a genin that was about a month into training, not bad for a seven year-old." He ruffled her hair, chuckling slightly. He gave her a close eyed smile, but frowned when he saw her less-than-happy face. "What's wrong?" He asked.

Kazuko looked down at the green grass, the cogs in her head turning. "I have to be stronger to achieve my dream, Sakumo-san. It's the only way." She told him, glancing at Junko subtly and watching as the younger girl made flower crowns with cherry blossoms. She stringed them together delicately, smiling gently.

"What is your dream, Kazuko-kun?" The Hatake asked, a curious look adorning his features as he watched her. He was used to seven year-olds having big dreams, but not used to them looking so serious. It was almost as if the weight of the world was dropped upon Kazuko's shoulders, or at least, that's what you would think with one glance at her.

Her eyebrows were furrowed together, she was biting her lip in concentration, and her eyes gleamed with determination, regret, and sadness. The world has truly been cruel to her, hasn't it? He found himself thinking. Although, it's been cruel to everyone as of late.

Kazuko looked up, a blue flame settling in her eyes that could deter even the strongest of ocean waters. "I'm going to stop all the fighting, Sakumo-san. I'm going to stop fighting peacefully." Her voice was so firm, so sure, that one would think that even a Kage would believe her.

Sakumo's eyes widened in shock slightly. He had heard the signature I'm going to be Hokage! Or I'll be the greatest ninja in the world, and everyone will fear me! But world peace wasn't a dream you heard very much, out of young children at least. Kazuko sure knew how to pull the rug out from up under him, he decided. His shock turned into approval, as he nodded at the girl. "It's a naive dream." He said bluntly, watching as she narrowed her eyes at him, "But its admirable. And where there's a will, there's a way, right?"

Kazuko smiled softly, nodding. "Will you continue training me, Sakumo-san?" She asked hopefully, her hands clasped together in front of her as she rocked up on her tip toes. The way he was fighting... he was more than just a 'good ninja.' He was amazing. If she was truly serious, she needed a master who could teach her.

"We'll see... but, for now, sure..." He looked around, his hands on his hips as he thought. He looked down at her, and to her torn and dirty clothes. "We should head into town, get you something besides rags to wear, eh?" He asked.

Kazuko looked down, blushing. She nodded, then tilted her head curiously. "Sakumo-san... Where is the nearest village?" She asked.

"It's called the Lake Village, and its only about a half hour from here. It's a merchant and farming town." He answered, looking in the direction west. He nodded to himself, glancing at Junko. "Go get Junko-chan ready. I'll pack."

"Yes, Sakumo-san." Kazuko nodded.

She jogged over to her sister, squatting down in front of her. Her sister was sitting Indian style, her small hands weaving together cherry blossoms around a vine. She looked up at her sister and giggled, causing Kazuko to chuckle. "What is it, Imouto?" She asked.

"I was envisioning you wearing this." Junko lifted the pink flower crown slowly, setting it atop her sister's head. The pink clashed with pastel blue. "If you cleaned up, you would look really nice with this on." She stated, nodding her head, a serious look on her face.

Kazuko laughed lightly, not bothering to take off the flower crown. She poked her sister's shoulder teasingly. "You're not the cleanest yourself, you know." She said, looking at her sister's brown shirt, which had previously been white. Junko pouted adorably. "Come on, Imouto. We're going to a village."

Junko stopped, looking back at her sister with a petrified look on her face. "Will there be- will there be f-fighti...?" She shook, tears welling up in her eyes. She imagined the piles of dead bodies. Her brother's, her father's, her uncles, aunts-

"No, Junko, I promise!" Kazuko said, her voice unwavering. She pulled her sister in close, closing her eyes. "You won't see any of that any more. I'll make sure of it." She whispered soothingly, calming Junko down. "This is a good village. I promise."

Junko nodded, whipping her eyes and standing slowly. "C'mon girls!" Sakumo's familiar voice called. Kazuko looked at Junko, reassuring her with her eyes. She took her sister's hand and they started walking.

The group easily made it through to the village. There were no ninjas, as it was a merchant and farming town. The only ninjas there were retired, so they didn't have to worry about that.

However, when they made it into the village, they saw something that was unexpected in a civilian town.