Stranger.

"Yuki sama, please wake up."

Feeling slightly annoyed for waking her up from her peaceful slumber, Yuki stretched her back, yawning.

"You look tired, Yuki sama! Haven't you had adequate sleep last night?" Hemiko asked, seeming concerned.

Hemiko was a lovely person. A civilian who's parents had died during war when she was very young.To give her a means to life, the late Uchiha Lady—Uchiha Anko had taken her under her protection as a maid. 

Yuki considered her a close friend. She was very sweet and resourceful. She knew that Hemiko was working as her personal maid in the main house not just because it's her job, but it was also her way of showing thanks to her late mother for trusting her.

"I'm fine Hemiko chan, I was reading scrolls late night." 

"Well then, your bath is ready, let me help you."

After getting ready for the day, she headed towards the front hall.

'How in the world am I supposed to face Madara nii? '

As she waited for her father and brothers to arrive,her mind kept replaying the incident with Madara the previous night. 

Once they entered, she greeted them, then took her regular seat beside Izuna, all the while keeping her gaze down to avoid meeting Madara's gaze.

After a while, once she gathered enough courage to overcome her embarrassment, she peeked up at him, and was somewhat irritated to find him indifferent and fairly relaxed.

'Why am I feeling so awkward then? Am I overreacting? '

Suddenly he looked up, and their eyes met.

'Oh no! '

He swiftly gazed away.

. 

. 

. 

Her cheeks burned red as a weird tingling bloomed in her belly.

"Yuki? Are you alright? Your face looks quite red?" Izuna inquired.

" I'm fine Nii-san! It's just t-the spices!"  

'I must have looked so stupid right now. '

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-One hour later-

She swiftly jumped through the trees, making her way to the riverside. The banks of the river had many rare herbs, and she needed to collect them.

Usually, Yuki changed into more comfortable clothing before running off to gather herbs, but going to the riverside was not allowed ever since  Madara was caught with a Senju boy. So she had to take off as soon as everyone was out of sight without being seen, the rest of the things she knew Hemiko could handle.

─∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗─

Yuki loved the riverside. It was beautiful with crystal clear river water and lots of rare herbs. The atmosphere had a certain charm to it and felt tranquil.

Once she  gathered all the herbs she required, Yuki decided to lay down for a bit. After making sure the area was clear of intruders, she took of her Yukata and rested her back against the soft grass.

'Ah! So relaxing.'

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.

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*Pluck*

But her peace was soon interrupted by an unpleasant splashing sound. She instantly sat up, clenching her dress and started kneading chakra.

A boy, roughly the same age as her eldest brother was skipping stones by the riverside. 

Yuki eyed him suspiciously. Looking at the way he threw the stones and his physique, it seemed like he was a Shinobi.

'I'm so glad I still have my petticoat on!'

He then looked at her and smiled, "Hi!" 

'A cheerful one, huh?'

"You are noisy." She shot back. He felt strangely harmless. 

"Hmm, I didn't mean to disturb you, I was just passing by the river and thought I could skip some stones here." He replied. 

"That's such a boring way to pass time." Yuki commented, looking at how lame it looked.

"What were you doing here?"He asked, eyeing her as she wore her attire.

Once done fixing her clothing, she walked towards him and picked up a stone, "Just collecting some herbs." then threw the stone in a single swift motion. It gracefully made its way to the other side.

"Well, that's a surprise! You don't look like a Kunoichi." he smiled.

"And you don't talk like a Shinobi."

"Hahaha! I don't, huh?" He started laughing so loud...he looked kind of stupid.

He was tall and loud and acts childish.

"So, do you come here often?" she inquired, expecting no for an answer.

"Not really, just sometimes. It's beautiful here and so peaceful."

Then he looked at her and asked, "How old are you? and why are you alone?"

Yuki was taught to never reveal her full name to any stranger, but age didn't seem like a risk, "15. I sneaked out of my place,"

"That's not a safe thing to do! especially for a girl like you." He replied, worried.

'And who are you to tell me that?'  She thought bitterly.

"Hey, so what if I'm a girl? I'm not weak." She felt annoyed for being treated like a child, that too by a complete stranger.

He looked at her apologetically and replied, "I'm not implying you are weak, It's just...you don't look like a common girl and it's not safe to be alone in these woods."

'Damn this Yukata!'

"Well, then I should head back now. Nice to meet you, Mister." Yuki didn't know his name, and neither did she desired to.

"Nice to meet you too, Miss."He smiled.

'He sure smiles a lot.'

She took off in a hurry without looking back. 

─∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗─

Hashirama could sense a peculiar slight chakra around, but wasn't sure if it was dangerous.

It surprised him to find someone sleeping on the ground. The last thing he'd expected to encounter here by the riverside was a girl, that too sleeping in her petticoat.

His eyes spotted a basket full of herbs by her side.

'Seems like she's a medic.'

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.

. 

He felt it's not the best scenario to approach her. So he strode towards the riverside and picked up a stone.

Gazing at the restless water, he aimed the stone to the other side. The action bringing back some innocent childhood memories.

' I wonder if Madara ever visits this place?'

Feeling a sharp gaze drilling holes into his back, he turned around. The girl was up.

She tightly grabbed onto her Yukata, her eyes fixed on him, alert. 

'Hmm, that looks like an expensive enough cloth material for a commoner.'

She was surely beautiful. It was evident she belongs to a prosperous family. But it's rare to find girls like her all alone out here in the forest.

She shifted uncomfortably,frowning.

He realized the girl must have found his gaze creepy, "Hi" he beamed, assuming maybe she would feel less uncomfortable if he greeted her.

"You are noisy." she responded with a frustrated tone.

'Guess... my smiling didn't work after all.'

Hashirama apologized for meddling and explained what he was doing as politely as he could, but the girl still looked pissed off.

She walked towards him, readjusting her dress.

"What are you doing here?" he asked while she picked up a stone from the floor. 

"Just collecting some herbs." she replied, then threw the stone swiftly, and it made it to the other side.

A soft smile graced his lips. He didn't expect her to be a trained Kunoichi. She looked way too ladylike.

"Well, that's a surprise! You don't look like a Kunoichi." He remarked, excited. He noticed she had beautiful striking eyes and was about to compliment her when she cut him off.

"And you don't talk like a Shinobi."

'Ouch! she has a sharp tongue for sure.' She kind of reminded him of Madara for a moment.

They chatted for some time. Hashirama was tempted to ask her name and if she would come here again, but she abruptly decided to bid farewell and took off in a hurry.

He felt disappointed,thinking he might have intimidated her.

Deciding not to delve too much into it, Hashirama turned around to head off to his clan. Just when he was about to take off he noticed,

'She forgot her basket!'

He followed her chakra trace, but after some time he could sense another chakra. It was very faint and felt like it was well masked.

Sensing danger he picked up his speed, to get to her before the other person could.

─∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗─

About five minutes later, she sensed an unknown chakra. 'Someone is following me!'

Yuki increased her speed, all the while trying to detect the chakra's location, but it disappeared the moment she attempted to trace it. 

Soon, she felt something pulling her right foot, and the next thing she noticed is a shuriken aimed at her forehead. Yuki barely dodged it and jumped to the side.

From the corner of her eyes she noticed a man. Before she could even turn her neck—she landed face down onto the ground, the thread on her right foot dragging her towards the Shinobi.

'What the hell is this thread made of?' When her attempts to cut free failed, she quickly performed the hand seals and sent a current wave through the thread. He released the thread, proceeding to perform earth release Jutsu.

'He's skilled!'

Yuki dodged the boulders.

Taking the opening and using the environment to her advantage, she back flipped onto the boulder, preparing chakra for Fireball jutsu.

She shouldn't have underestimated his speed. Because just when she was about to perform the seal, she got kicked so violently that she was thrown across the ground. She skidded and tumbled along the ground, uncontrolled, and was stopped by one of the boulder ten feet or so from the man. A groan escaped her lips as the pain from the attack started setting in.

'He's fast! '

But she didn't have time to give in to the pain and quickly performed hand signs for Fireball Jutsu.

'Huh?'

Yuki looked up, terrified—realizing her chakra is almost finished.

'Its the thread!'

The man grinned, noticing the fear in her eyes and crouched to build momentum, planting both hands on the ground—preparing to throw himself towards her, his arms glowing dangerously with coated chakra. 

When he was about to reach her, Yuki watched a figure appear out of nowhere in front of her, and in less than a split second blocked the shinobi, swiftly landing a punch so strong that the ninja was sent flying back into one of the boulder.

The impact caused the entire boulder to crumble and crash onto the man. 

Her vision blurred and the last thing Yuki saw was the older boy she'd met earlier by the riverside.

─∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗─

Notes:

Comments and kudos are much appreciated.

Thank you ❤️