Naruto: reborn as an Uzumaki

As Kenshin turned around, he noticed Amaya stepping out of the tent, a faint smirk playing on her lips. "So, young man, your name is Kenshin, huh? And that woman—she's from the Hidden Rain, isn't she? Don't worry, I wasn't eavesdropping. I just woke up and didn't want to interrupt such a... heartwarming moment." Her teasing tone was unmistakable.

Kenshin sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You're going to get me in trouble, Amaya-sama. And it's rude to eavesdrop on your own people."

Amaya chuckled softly, crossing her arms. "Relax. I'm not planning to tell anyone if that's what you're worried about. If anything, I'd prefer it if you spoke to me the way you spoke to her—casual. Like I'm just a normal woman, not some daimyo."

Kenshin shook his head with a small laugh. "You're definitely not what I imagined a daimyo to be like. But for the record, my name isn't Kenshin—it's an alias. ANBU don't have real names. We're given mission names." His tone was calm, but the lie was obvious to anyone paying close attention.

Amaya raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical, but she didn't press him further. "Alright then, Kenshin. I'll get ready."

Kenshin spoke again. "And maybe wake Hana while you're at it. We should head out soon before we run into any more shinobi from Tetsuya's faction."

"Good idea," Amaya replied. As she turned to head back inside the tent, she paused and glanced over her shoulder. "Oh, and one more thing. Can you make some warm water? All this blood on me is getting irritating."

Kenshin nodded. "Sure. I'll get it ready in a minute."

He relit the fire with a small Fireball Jutsu and pulled a large pot from his storage scroll. Gathering some of the surrounding snow, he filled the pot and used another Fireball Jutsu to quickly melt it into warm water. Once it was ready, he soaked a towel in the pot and carried it to the tent.

Standing at the entrance, he handed it to Amaya. She accepted it with a small smile, taking the pot as well. "Don't peek," she teased.

Kenshin smirked, leaning casually against the tent frame. "I think I've already seen enough," he joked, his tone light but his words pointed.

Amaya froze for a moment, her cheeks flushing as the memory of last night surfaced—her wrists bound, stripped naked, bruised, and bloodied.

But she quickly composed herself, masking her embarrassment with a playful retort. "Even so, let a woman have her privacy. Otherwise, you'll find yourself in trouble when you're in a relationship."

Kenshin chuckled, pushing off the frame. "I'm already in one, and trust me, I know that. Just make it quick—we need to leave soon." With that, he walked away, and waited before the fire.

Inside the tent, Amaya quickly shed her clothes, letting the cool air brush against her skin. She picked up the warm, wet towel Kenshin had handed her and began carefully wiping away the dried blood and grime.

Her hands moved over her body, pausing at her chest, where the once painful burns and wounds from the previous night had been fully healed. The skin was smooth again, but the memories of her torture still lingered.

All of this—her suffering, the coup—had stemmed from her desire to protect her people, yet it was her father's trusted subordinate who had betrayed her.

Amaya's gaze shifted to Hana, still curled up in a blanket, sleeping peacefully. The child looked so small, so fragile, her chest rising and falling in rhythm with her breathing.

Hana was innocent, completely unaware of the sins of her father or the suffering he had caused. Her father's greed had not only orphaned his own child but also robbed Amaya of her home.

A pang of sorrow hit Amaya as she thought about the girl's mother, who had passed away when Hana was only a year old. Hana had already lost so much in her short life.

Yet despite everything, Amaya felt no malice or anger toward the girl. Hana was blameless, a victim of circumstance like so many others.

"I'll protect you," Amaya whispered softly, more to herself than anyone else. "I'll take good care of you, no matter what."

With renewed determination, Amaya finished cleaning herself and slipped into a fresh set of clothes. She wasn't just fighting for herself anymore—Hana was her responsibility now.

No matter what challenges lay ahead, Amaya promised herself that she would give Hana the life she deserved, one filled with love, safety, and hope.

Amaya stepped out of the tent, rubbing her arms as the cold morning air nipped at her skin. She spotted Kenshin by the fire, tending to the pot of warm water he'd used earlier. "Kenshin," she called, catching his attention, "do you have anything warmer to wear? It's warm enough inside the tent, but out here, it's still the middle of winter."

Kenshin glanced over and nodded, pulling a storage scroll from his pouch. He unrolled it on the ground, performed a quick hand seal, and summoned a couple of thick cloaks. Handing them to Amaya, he smirked. "Here. These should do. I didn't plan for this exact situation, but I'm always laughably over-prepared when it comes to stuff like this. You'd be surprised how often it comes in handy."

Amaya took the cloaks, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. "I'll admit, I didn't expect this level of resourcefulness. You must have a scroll for just about everything."

"Not everything," Kenshin replied, his smirk softening. "But enough to get by. Now go wake Hana up. She needs to eat something before we head out."

Nodding, Amaya turned back toward the tent. She slipped inside and knelt beside the sleeping girl. "Hana," she said gently, brushing her hand over the child's hair. "Wake up, sweetheart."

Hana stirred, her eyes fluttering open. For a moment, she looked at Amaya in confusion. But recognition quickly dawned, and she blinked up at Amaya.

"Amaya-sama?" she murmured, her voice groggy. "Where were you all this time? Papa said you were gone. He said he'd take care of everything…"

Amaya's heart clenched at the innocent words, and she offered Hana a soft smile. "I'm here now, Hana. I'll take care of you, I promise. I'll be your new mama."

Hana's expression shifted as fragments of the previous night began to surface in her memory. Her brows furrowed, and her voice trembled as she asked, "Why? What happened to the monster? The one… the one who hurt Papa?"

Amaya froze, her mind racing. How could she tell this child the truth without breaking her already fragile heart? After a moment's thought, she placed a gentle hand on Hana's shoulder.

"The monster… it hurt your papa... very badly, he's with your mama now." she said carefully, her voice steady. "But a strong shinobi came and defeated the monster—for your papa and for you. That shinobi is waiting for you outside."

Hana's eyes widened as understanding settled in. She nodded slowly, her small hands gripping the blanket tightly. "I saw him," she whispered. "He saved me. He's the one who saved me."

Amaya smiled and hugged Hana close. "That's right, sweetheart. He's here to make sure we're safe." She pulled back and kissed the girl's forehead. "Now, let's get you ready, okay? We've got a long journey ahead."

Hana blinked up at Amaya, her face scrunched in confusion. "Where are we going?" she asked softly, still clutching the cloak wrapped around her.

Amaya knelt to meet Hana's gaze, her voice gentle yet firm. "The monster destroyed the palace, Hana. We can't stay here anymore. We're going to the Land of Fire, to my uncle. He's the daimyo there, and he'll help us take care of the bad guys that are all over our land. Once it's safe, I'll become daimyo again, and we'll rebuild everything better than before. Does that sound okay to you?"

Hana hesitated, her small hands gripping the edges of the cloak, before nodding. "Okay…" she said quietly.

Amaya smiled warmly and helped her to her feet, wrapping the cloak snugly around the child. Just as Hana started to adjust the fabric, her stomach growled loudly, breaking the moment.

Amaya chuckled softly. "Sounds like someone's hungry. Let's go have breakfast."

Leading Hana outside, Amaya was greeted by the sight of Kenshin seated by the fire, two steaming plates of curry and rice laid out on a fallen log.

The warmth of the meal wafted in the chilly air, a welcome contrast to the cold morning. Kenshin stood the moment he saw Hana, walking over to her and kneeling to meet her at eye level.

"Good morning, Hana-chan," he said softly, his voice warm even through the mask. "Did you sleep well?"

Hana nodded hesitantly, shuffling behind Amaya. "Who are you?" she asked, her voice small and uncertain as she peeked at him.

Kenshin tilted his head slightly. "I'm the one who saved you from the monster last night. Remember?" He gestured to the food. "Now, you need to eat up. We have a long journey ahead of us, and if you're quick, I'll show you something really cool."

Hana's eyes widened with curiosity, a faint smile breaking through her sadness. Though the weight of her father's loss lingered, her young mind was still grasping the reality of it.

Kenshin's heart tightened as he watched her. He knew that pain—losing a parent at a young age—far too well. After all, he himself had lost both his parents in his past life. It was a wound that would never fully heal, but maybe Hana could have a chance at a better life.

Hana's gaze drifted back to his mask. "Why do you wear that?" she asked hesitantly. "It's… scary."

Before Kenshin could respond, Amaya stepped in with a reassuring tone. "He has orders, Hana. You understand that, right? Your papa used to give orders to shinobi too."

Hana tilted her head, then nodded slowly, her small mind piecing it together. "Okay…"

Kenshin motioned for them to sit on the log, handing them their plates once they were settled. Amaya began feeding Hana, who eagerly ate the curry, her face lighting up with delight. "It's good!" Hana said between bites, finishing her meal surprisingly quickly.

As Amaya turned to her own plate, her eyes widened at the first bite. The taste was far better than she'd expected—warm, flavorful, and comforting. "This is… incredible," she murmured in surprise.

Kenshin's eyes crinkled behind his mask in a hidden smile. "I made it myself. And because it was sealed in a storage scroll, it's as fresh as the day I cooked it. Even if that was over a week ago."

Amaya looked at him, a flicker of admiration in her expression. "You're full of surprises, aren't you?"

Once they'd finished, Kenshin quickly cleaned up, leaving no trace of their presence. Afterward, he unrolled a map and studied it, his eyes scanning the terrain.

"If it were just me, I could get to the daimyo's palace by the end of the day," he said, more to himself than to them. A thought struck him, and he turned to Hana. "Do you want to see something cool?"

Hana's eyes brightened. "Yes!" she said eagerly.

Kenshin nodded and formed a hand seal, creating a shadow clone. The real Kenshin knelt to pick Hana up, activating his Wind Chakra Mode.

The swirling currents of wind chakra enveloped them, glowing faintly against the snow. Hana gasped in awe, her little hands reaching out to touch the warm, flowing energy.

"It's warm!" she exclaimed in surprise.

Kenshin smiled gently. "That's because my chakra is in it. Don't worry, you're safe with me." He took off at high speed, his Sharingan active to navigate the terrain and his movements smooth yet exhilarating.

Occasionally, he leapt high into the air, earning delighted squeals from Hana.

Meanwhile, the shadow clone turned to Amaya, who was watching with a faint trace of envy. Without a word, the clone picked her up bridal style. "Your turn, princess."

"What are you—" she started, before scolding, "You could at least ask permission first!"

The clone chuckled, his tone teasing. "Judging from the look in your eyes, I figured you wouldn't mind. But fine, I'll ask next time."

Amaya blushed, flustered by his boldness, but quickly retorted, "It's rude to pick up a lady without asking. Even if I don't mind, you should still ask."

The clone laughed softly. "Noted. Too late now, though."

Before she could protest further, they took off, the wind chakra enveloping them as well. Despite her embarrassment, Amaya couldn't deny the thrill of the speed and the warmth of the wind. She sighed and decided to enjoy the ride, though her blush lingered.

The clone suddenly propelled them into the air with a burst of wind chakra, soaring high above the snow-covered plateau.

Caught off guard, Amaya gasped and instinctively wrapped her arms tightly around the clone's neck, her eyes squeezed shut as the ground seemed to vanish beneath her.

"Relax," the clone's voice came, calm and steady. "I've got you. Open your eyes, Amaya-sama. You won't want to miss this."

His words carried a strange reassurance, and after a moment's hesitation, Amaya peeked through her lashes, slowly opening her eyes completely. What met her gaze took her breath away.

The morning sun spilled golden light across the snow-blanketed land of Grass, the pristine white reflecting the soft hues of dawn.

The plateau stretched far into the horizon, rolling hills and winding rivers glistening under a fragile layer of frost. From this vantage point—hundreds of feet in the air—the land seemed alive, shimmering with winter's fleeting beauty.

Amaya's heart swelled as she took it all in. She hadn't had a chance to see the snow this year, not since the coup had turned her life upside down.

The sight stirred memories of her parents, who had built their remote palace to immerse themselves in nature's wonders. How they would have loved this view, how she had almost lost her chance to see it again.

And yet here she was, suspended in a moment of serenity, because Kenshin had saved her. He had given her this chance, this fleeting yet precious glimpse of the home she loved so dearly.

Her grip on his neck loosened as a smile spread across her face, unbidden. The gratitude that surged within her was overwhelming.

She opened her mouth to thank him, her voice soft, but before she could speak, the clone interrupted her.

"Don't thank me," he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. His eyes glinted faintly as he glanced down at her.

"Thank your uncle—the daimyo of the Land of Fire. He stayed calm despite knowing you were in danger and asked for a covert operation instead of taking rash action. And, thank the Hokage. She trusted me completely, even when her own jonin opposed it.

"As for me," he continued, his gaze returning to the horizon, "I barely did anything. It was mostly thanks to others—my summon and… the other lady who was with me. Without them, this wouldn't have been possible."

She tilted her head, disbelief evident in her expression. "That's not true. You—"

He shook his head. "If you replaced me with someone else, the result would've been mostly the same. Anyone could've saved Hana, and apart from that, I didn't exactly contribute much. It was mostly my summon, the cat lady with the black hair."

Amaya's lips parted again to argue, but she stopped herself, sensing the sincerity in his words. She realized that, despite his strength and skill, Kenshin wasn't someone who sought credit. He truly believed that others deserved the praise.

She glanced down at the land again, her chest tightening. "Even if you don't want thanks," she murmured softly, "I'll still be grateful. Not just for saving me but for giving me this moment. Thank you."

The clone didn't reply, but the faintest of smiles touched his hidden face as he adjusted his grip, preparing for another leap. Amaya's arms stayed securely around his neck, not out of fear this time, but out of a newfound trust.

The shadow clone closed the distance quickly, finally matching pace with the real Kenshin, who was sprinting effortlessly across the snowy terrain.

Hana, nestled securely in Kenshin's arms, giggled as her small hands gripped his armor tightly. She opened her mouth wide to catch the rushing wind, laughing as her lips wobbled comically with the force of it.

"Mr. Clone's catching up!" Hana squealed, pointing excitedly.

When the clone reached them, he smirked and quipped, "Dude, that's way too fast. You should slow down a bit. You're carrying a kid."

The real Kenshin shot him a glance, his Sharingan glowing faintly. "I'm not the one who's going to poof into smoke if I stumble once. Don't worry—I'm being extremely careful."

Hana tilted her head up at him. "Let's have a race! You and Mr. Clone." she suggested enthusiastically.

Before the real Kenshin could respond, Amaya's voice rang out from the clone's arms. "Absolutely not!" she said firmly. Her arms tightened around the clone's neck as she glanced nervously at the ground far below.

"I'm not face-planting into the snow because you kids decided to turn this into a competition. We're going perfectly fine like this."

Hana pouted, her bottom lip jutting out adorably. "But a race would be fun…"

The real Kenshin chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Party pooper," he teased, looking over at Amaya with a grin hidden beneath his mask. Then, without warning, he sped up, leaving the shadow clone and Amaya behind.

The clone sighed dramatically, glancing down at Amaya. "Don't take that guy seriously," he said with a small smile. "He was just kidding."

Amaya huffed, her cheeks reddening slightly. "He better be," she muttered, but her lips quirked up in the faintest of smiles.

Despite her scolding, there was something endearing about the playful dynamic between herself, Hana and Kenshin, and she couldn't help but feel a small flicker of warmth.

The day passed swiftly, the snowy landscapes of the Land of Grass gradually giving way to the dense, towering forests of the Land of Fire.

As the late afternoon sun filtered through the canopy, casting a golden glow over the group, Kenshin gauged their progress.

"We should reach the daimyo's palace after evening," he informed Amaya and Hana, his tone calm.

The shadow clone, trailing just behind, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we'll make it by then if we keep up the pace."

At midday, Kenshin slowed to a stop, choosing a small clearing surrounded by trees for a break. He pulled out a light meal from his storage scroll: rice balls, fresh vegetables, and warm tea.

"We'll stop here for lunch," he announced. "After that, you two should rest for a while. If we set out right after eating, you'll end up nauseous."

Amaya raised an eyebrow, an amused smile tugging at her lips. "That's the first mature decision you've made all day."

Hana, however, was visibly disappointed, her face scrunching up in a pout. "But I don't want to rest! I'm not tired," she complained, crossing her arms.

Kenshin crouched down to her level, his Sharingan softening as he looked at her. "If you rest, you'll have more energy to enjoy the rest of the trip. And who knows," he added playfully, "you might see something even cooler later if you're not too tired to notice it."

Hana's pout eased, though she still looked reluctant. "Okay, I'll rest... but only a little!" she declared.

Satisfied, Kenshin excused himself, leaving the shadow clone behind to watch over them. He walked to the edge of the clearing and ate his portion of the meal away from Amaya and Hana, ensuring they wouldn't see his face.

Once he was done, he returned and deactivated the clone with a quick seal. The burst of smoke drew Hana's attention, and she giggled at the sight.

Kenshin settled down beside her, resting his arms on his knees. Amaya, having finished her meal, joined them, sitting close enough that her shoulder brushed his. Without a word, she leaned into him slightly, pulling Hana onto her lap.

"It's warmer like this," Amaya murmured, her voice soft but steady. Her words carried a quiet gratitude, though she didn't look at him as she spoke.

Kenshin didn't reply, but his presence was steady and reassuring. Hana snuggled into Amaya's arms, her eyelids drooping despite her earlier protests about resting.

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Once again, thank you everyone for your continued support and power stones. And as always, please give me your power stones and comment your opinions. They make a big difference and motivate me to write more.