Retrace and Fix

Chapter 2: Naruto

Naruto POV

Naruto yawned, completely uncaring of how he looked at the moment.

There was blood everywhere on him. His hair, jumpsuit, face, hands, everywhere. Bits of skin was still missing, so the sides of his face were bare; his hands, besides the blood, were worn raw, the nails remained claws, and grime inched through his fingers.

He didn't care.

He was actually happy, because he had just saved his clan from being massacred. Though, he was still curious as to how the Uzumaki clan lost to these chums, he didn't bother, they were now alive, and he was satisfied with that.

'Probably should stop insulting Kiri, if Yagura finds out, he'd've had my head.'

Well, Yagura hasn't been born yet, so he doesn't have to worry.

*inhale* "YOU ASSHOLES!"

'Well, that felt good.'

"Now what?", he pondered aloud.

"Oh right! I was gonna go say high to my family!", he clapped and then sprinted away, leaving the scene of corpses behind without looking back.

Time skip no Jutsu

"Ooh? So this is where Mom used to live? Damn, I'm jealous."

Naruto was at the moment, hanging from a vast cliff about several meters tall, staring down at the thriving Uzushiogakure below.

It looked completely different from how he remembered it the last time he'd seen it, and that had been many many years after it's destruction.

But now?

It's beautiful.

It somehow appeared to be bigger! It all looked like a jumble of life and art stacked together! From what he could see way up here, the buildings were tall and nowhere near the neatly or orderly shinobi villages that Naruto's seen; the buildings were all sort of colorful, with water-blue and red-shaded roofs, tan-colored walls, all the different signs and greenery. There were pipes that poked out of houses and stores that flowed glittering water, white steam billowing from red painted chimneys, blue and lime-green lanterns, and the people there!

Almost all of them had red hair! One or two poked out with the common black or brown hair, but nearly all of them had red hair.

'Just like mom. . .'

There were tall large stone pillars which stood on the side of streets or supported specific structures, all of them had the Uzumaki crest carved and painted onto it, along with seals engraved in the worn stone.

Naruto's eyes traveled around the large island, noting the many docks and ships, along with the casual river which cut through the village, which was built around and above with bridges. Naruto trailed the river with his eyes, before losing sight of it thanks to several houses and such that blocked his view.

'Na, Kyuubi, should I go down there?'

'Its stupid.'

'Whatever.'

Kyuubi was no fun to talk to, Naruto decided.

Swinging from his spot, he dropped down to the water, welcoming the cold currents that pressed against his skin and soaked his clothes.

Naruto waited a moment, gathering his chakra along with Kyuubi's chakra, then felt himself change. He grew smaller, his limbs thinned and expanded, for a heartbeat staying deformed lumps of flesh, then shaping like doe; he could feel his spine extending, his ears shifting, and his nose growing, then his mouth, jaw, chin; fur started to sprout along his lithe pawed arms, growing up along the bare chilled skin, waving slightly in the swaying currents.

Finally, he looked at himself, checking he'd made sure the transformation went correctly, then started to swim upwards.

'I'm still surprised you decided to change into a fox. Won't that raise eyebrows?'

'Who'd know?'

'You'll see.'

'Whatever.'

Mito POV

Mito sighed as she stepped onto the wooden dock, breathing in the familiar air of wind and sea. A salt-scented breeze whooshed past her, flapping at the clothes she'd chosen to wear here. As she was at home, she decided to wear something less formal, and more Uzumaki. Dark blue vest, white seal-engraved arm-guards, black Shinobi pants, sandals, and her sealing scrolls secured along her dark red belt; she had kept her hair in the normal bun, along with explosive tags hanging.

Before she could relish her home-coming anymore, two small blurs ran past her, cries of excitement following them as they sped along the dock and down to the port. Sighing - this time out of irritation - she jogged after them, eyes focused on their small figures as they looked at everything in amazement.

'I guess I shouldn't be surprised. This is their first time in Uzushiogakure.'

'I'll never understand why you even put up with the brats.'

Mito ignored the demon's words, instead opting to grabbing hold of the two small children.

"Tazūki, Hanaku, for once in your life just wait!", she scolded her children.

Tazūki and Hanaku grinned sheepishly, and she just sighed again. Tazūki was the oldest by 2 years, bright red hair, as spiky as his uncle's, Tobirama, and his father's dark grey eyes. He'd decided to copy Mito in terms of Uzumaki wear, with a blue short-sleeved jacket with the Uzumaki symbol on the back, fishnet(mesh armor) shirt, grey shorts, and the basic storage scrolls poking out of his pockets.

Hanaku was about 7, and took entirely after Hashirama. Brown hair, dark eyes, and white/green clothes, with - instead of Uzumaki - the Senju clan symbol on his shirt.

"Hah, sorry Oka-san.", Hanaku apologized.

*sigh* "Come on, let's go meet up with Uzukage-sama."

"Ashina-Jiji!", Hanaku and Tazūki yelled in delight.

"You ought to have more respect for him.", Mito said in amusement.

"Hai!"

She dropped the two boys, and lead them further into the village, passing the port and allowing them to chatter and gaze at everything in awe curiosity. Even though now she was technically a Konoha kunoichi now, she couldn't help but feel pride for her former home with how unique and different it was to other Shinobi villages, and deep down, she knew she missed the living here, and that she missed her old hitai-ite.

They walked along bridges and over the tiny runnels lined into the cobble roads, past several shops and markets selling various items, while her boys continued to point and talk. As she turned a corner though, something caught her eye, something very orange.

Snapping her head in the direction she'd seen it, she stopped at the sight of a fox. An incredibly orange fox with bright blue eyes and red shape on its shoulder that looked suspiciously like an Uzumaki swirl.

It was staring right at Mito.

It was staring at her with something akin to shock and surprise, not even blinking, and Mito found that very odd.

It obviously couldn't be the demon, no, she'd seen the Kyuubi before. But, it's eyes were so human, so much like the many summons she's seen, and she had to guess this was possibly a fox summon. But then, what was it doing all the way here? Where was it's summoner?

"Oka-san?", she returned her attention back to her kids, and saw that they'd stopped their sight-seeing to stare at her in confusion.

However, before she could say anything, the fox had bounded over to them and hopped onto Tazūki's shoulder, yipping, and sudden happy curiosity in it's azure eyes.

"Its a fox!", Hanaku exclaimed.

"Oka-san, can it come with us?", Tazūki asked.

"I guess, but it's not coming with us when we need to go back to Konoha, ya know.", Mito shrugged, and continued on her way.