Chapter One: The First Meeting

All she wanted was for him to acknowledge that she was there. To know how she felt about him. That's all she wanted, and yet she knew that it was a desire that she had to keep to herself. For he loved another and she was the type of person who didn't get in the way or would try to sabotage what could possibly be a blooming relationship. Her medium length red hair was pulled back by her Hidden Leaf headband and her eyes shinned like polished Emeralds. She was among the few of her clan, the Uzumaki clan, who were living in the Hidden Leaf.

"Tsukiya, these are your teammates. Rei Hatake and Ruby Akiyama, and this will be your Sensei. I think the two of you will get along very well."

Tsukiya was introduced for the first time to her new teammates. Since graduating from the Ninja Academy Tsukiya had been away from the village, not having the chance to meet her team. The young Uzumaki girl looked at the other Konoha genin kunoichi. One having long dark brown, almost black hair and blue eyes. Her Hidden Leaf forehead protector tied around her forehead, and her eyes held a mysterious look in them. The other had medium length ash-brown hair that parted to the left. Her forehead protector was wrapped around her neck like a collar. Then Tsukiya looked up at her new Sensei. She was slender, but feminine build, had fair skin, violet eyes and her hair was a flowing bright tomato red, just like hers. Her smile was warm and comforting.

"Hello Tsukiya, I'm so happy to meet a fellow Uzumaki Clan member. Let us all get along and become great friends." The older female Uzumaki held out her hand to greet Tsukiya.

"It's nice to meet you too, but, who are you?"

"Oh! I didn't introduce myself. How silly of me. My name is Kushina Uzumaki, and these two here are Rei Hatake and Ruby Akiyama. I hope the three of you will get along well together. Now, if you three will follow me, we have a training session with another team.

"Again Sensei?! I'm sick of training with Team Minato." Rei suddenly complained.

"Are you saying that because you actually don't want to train with them or because you're sick of losing to Kakashi?" Ruby teased the irritated Hatake with a cheeky smile.

"Shut up Ruby. Once, just once I would like to kick his ass at something."

Tsukiya watched her two new teammates as they friendly argued and teased each other. She had missed out on making friends with these two. She wanted what seemed like a close friendship, like that of Rei and Ruby.

"Hey, Tsukiya! What are you doing back there? Come on, your part of Team Kushina too!" Ruby looked back to see Tsukiya still standing in frozen stance. Seeing the smiling faces of Ruby and Kushina and the small grin from Rei, Tsukiya felt this over whelming rush of warmth. A warmth she hadn't felt since her parents were with her.

"Coming!" Tsukiya looked up to the one who brought her and introduced her to her new team. She gave a nod of approval to go ahead, and with a smile took off running to catch up with her new-found friends.

At the training ground the team Rei had mentioned that she was sick of training with were waiting for Team Kushina to arrive. Minato Namikaze, Kakshi Hatake, Rin Nohara and Obito Uchiha.

"Their late." Kakashi tone was flat as he spoke. He had to deal with his teammate, Obito, for being late all the time, now he was waiting for other people as well.

"They're meeting up with a new member of their team today Kakshi. She's been away from the village. She wasn't here at graduation like the rest of us." Rin Nohara said in her usual sweet voice.

"Away? Why was she away?" Obito asked as he jumped down from the tree he was sitting in.

"Who cares. All that matters is that they're late and it's a pain."

"Well, it's nice to see that your attitude hasn't changed. You're just as horrible as the last time we saw you, Kakashi."

Team Minato turned to see Team Kushina making their way towards them with an addition to their team. Obito and Rin were right away interested in the new coming while Kakshi was still butt-hurt about them being late and didn't seem to care one bit about the new addition to Team Kushina.

"Sorry we're late but I had to meet up with our new addition to our team." Kushina embraced Minato in a hug and he kissed her on the check. "Why don't you introduce yourself to everyone else."

Tsukiya timidly stepped forward and looked at the four new faces that stood before her. She played with her red hair in nervousness and she kept biting the inside of her cheek.

"M-my name is Tsukiya Uzumaki, it's very nice to meet all of you. Please let's get along."

"Hello, I'm Rin Nohara. It's nice to meet you Tsukiya, I hope we can be friands." Ri held out her hand to greet Tsukiya.

"And I'm Obito Uchiha! I'm going to be the next Hokage."

Tsukiya was surprised by Obito's sudden greeting but couldn't help but smile and let out a small giggle as well. Causing the young Uchiha to slightly blush. But there was still one that had yet to introduce himself to her. If Tsukiya heard Rei right, his name was Kakashi, but she wanted to hear it from him. Tsukiya looked pass Rin and Obito and locked eyes with the masked youth that kept his distance. They stayed eye locked for a couple of minutes until Kakashi suddenly let out a deep sigh in defeat.

"Kakashi Hatake. Nice to meet you."

Tsukiya smiled in triumph. She got the seemingly distant ninja to introduce himself.

"Well now that my team introduced themselves I guess it's my turn. Minato Namikaze. It's nice to meet you Tsukiya, and now that everyone is here and have made their introductions it's time to get down to training."

Many let out a loud groan of disapproval while some looked determined. As for Tsukiya, she was just happy to be part of a team and accepted into her new home and family.