The Little Senju (Little Senju Series Book One): A Naruto Fanfiction

The Little Senju and the Talk

Izumi's POV

"Izumi, when are you going to talk to me again?" Naruto questioned as I silently sat in the corner with my knees folded against my chest and my cheeks puffed out in annoyance, "If it's about the necklace, then I can give it to you when I win the bet."

So confident! I scowled as a vein poked out on my forehead, "I don't want the dang necklace." I sighed unfolding my arms as I rose to my feet and walked toward the door of the inn we were staying at for the time being, "You remember Pervert-Chan saying there was only two like it,right?" I turned to face my blond teammate as I pulled out the necklace that had been hidden beneath my t-shirt the entire time, "I have the other one." even in the low light of the night you could see the resemblance between the two necklaces. Unlike the one that Tsunade currently possessed mine had a fluorescent green stone with a round black bead on either side. Aside from that the two were identical, "I wouldn't care about the necklace if I didn't know about the memories that it carries, so please reconsider it for me... As much as I hate to admit it I still care for that woman. She is my aunt after all..." I opened the door, "I'm going to go see Shizune, so think on that while I'm gone."

Naruto's POV

Izumi had just left when there came a knock at the door, "Izumi, you don't have to knock... Just come in." I folded my hands behind my head and walked over to let her inside. The knocking continued, "Okay, okay!" I groaned as I walked over and the knob slowly turned and she started to let herself inside, "I'm coming already..."

A face appeared in the doorway just as I was about to open it. Shizune not Izumi. The two had to have just missed each other.

"I know it's awfully late." Shizune said with a certain amount of urgency flooding her tone, "But, I really need to talk to you."

I let out a small sigh, "I want to get a good night's sleep because I'm going to start training first thing in the morning..."

"That's just it!" the dark-haired woman interrupted her face turning down slightly as she spoke, "Before you get into this there is something you must know about the necklace!"

"What is it about the necklace now?!?" I inquired crossing my arms and giving her an inquisitive stare.

. . .

"Huh, I couldn't care less about that crazy old bat!"

"Don't say that!" Shizune shouted stunning me into silence, "She's not the type of person you think she is! You don't know anything about her!!!" her face softened as she took a deep breath, "Please forgive me. I didn't mean to shout." a moment of silence passed over us before Shizune started talking once more, "Lady Tsunade wasn't always like that. She used to be so kind, dedicated to the village, but she's changed... " her tone was now gentle and worrisome, "But ever since that day..."

"Huh, what day's that?"

"The day she lost all she had." What's that supposed to mean? "Dreams, hopes, everything... She had nothing left after that. Except the necklace and all of its memories."

"What memories?" I questioned, "Izumi said something about that too..."

It seemed as though she didn't hear me or chose not to address what I'd just said, "Please, understand that necklace is more precious than life for her. It's not simply a piece of jewelry to be gambled away in some silly bet."

"Look, a bet's a bet." I argued, "Anyway, it was her idea, not mine." I gave a small gesture with my hands.

"You'll be sorry." Shizune raised her voice again, "You think it's something you'll be able to wear like a trophy. This is not just any necklace! It won't accept anyone else wearing it. Only on Lady Tsunade does it remain safe. When anyone else puts it on... They die." I gulped. They die...?

Izumi's POV

What if she's in there too...? I hesitated slightly as I stood in front of the door my hand hovering just in front of its smooth, wooden surface, "Okay." I said to myself as I prepared to knock, "It's no big deal... I'll just ask for Shizune..." just as I was about to do as I said the hard material of the door connected with my face causing a thin trail of blood to leak from my nose, "Ouch..." I mumbled as my hand immediately covered my bloody nose and I felt the warm liquid drip onto my palm.

"Izu?" Tsunade asked seeing my wounded form as I leaned against the wall trying to get the bleeding to stop, "What're you doing here?"

"I just came to ask Shizune something, but it appears that she's not here." I avoided her glance as I turned to return to my own room, "I'll be leaving then." a hand came to rest on my shoulder halting my movement. I let out a silent sigh as I turned around to address the older blonde woman, "What is it?" my eyes betrayed my true emotions of gladness that she even dared to stop me. Perhaps the woman cared for me a bit after all. I forced the feelings of gladness from my eyes returning them to a cold, uncaring stare as I looked into her brown hues searching for something that not even I could identify, "I have nothing to say to you." I brushed her hand away, but didn't dare walk away almost fearing what was to happen if I did, "You promised you would be there if something happened to them, but after they passed on I heard nothing of you... You didn't even know that they died..." my lip trembled as I recounted those horrible days following my parents' deaths, "Do you know what it's like to experience those things all by yourself? But, that doesn't matter anymore... All that matters is that you return to the village to heal Uchiha and Kakashi Sensei. You becoming hokage or the rest is none of my concern. Good night."

She clutched the necklace lose around her neck as I finished my speech, but didn't speak as though reflecting on her life and her own choices as though saying 'How did i get here?'

I frowned turning my face towards the floor. What's with me...? Being so selfish and condescending... "The necklace.... Why did you bet with it? Is it because he reminds you of Uncle Nowaki?" she stared at me almost disbelieving my words, "It's true that I never met him, but I heard so much from Father that it almost feels like I did. About wanting to be Hokage... Never going back on his word... and just that personality of his." Our eyes finally met and I could feel the tears starting to well up in the corners of my eyes, "I learned from him and everyone else that being Hokage... It's not a fool's game."

Naruto's POV

"So, you see Naruto that was the day. It changed her... She's been in torment ever since." Shizune concluded trying her hardest to convince me, "It seemed for a brief moment that things were going to get better for her through her niece, Izumi. The two were extremely close and Lady Tsunade went as far as spoiling Izumi when she was little, but then out of the blue Izumi's parents cutoff all contact with Lady Tsunade... It's clear that even Izumi doesn't know why; she doesn't even seem to know that such an event occurred. The only people who know the truth are probably Lade Tsunade and Izumi's late parents, so please reconsider." she pleaded me, "Where are you going?" Shizune inquired as I walked past her.

"Out. I need to start training."