Uzumaki Minori and Uzumaki Mito stared at the bump on the bed. Miko wasn't the type to sleep in. She was the kind of person who would be awake the moment the sun could seen in the horizon.

They were concerned. Well.. that was until the blanket started moving and it slowly sat up. The body covered by the white blanket making it appear as if the blanket was sentient.

"Miko?" Mito voiced out.

"Yes?" A groan came from under the blanket.

"Do you know what's the time now?" she asked, choosing her words carefully.

"Uh- no? But I assume it must be past 8 by how the sun is glaring down at me through the curtains that you sadistically opened." She grumbled as she forced her feet into her sandals.

"Miko-" her mother addressed her, "You missed class today."

"Wait- what time is it?" She whipped her head to look at the two.

"Past 8 given by how the sun's glaring down at you through the curtains that I sadistically opened-" Mito said only to put her hands up in mock defeat when she saw her glare, "Your words, not mine."

"What happened?" Their mother went closer and asked her as she fixed her bed.

"My menstruation started today."

"What?" "Why do-"

"So, 11 years old huh..." Their mother commented as she led the two towards the dining table.

"It's your first time so here's an advice from someone who knows better — it doesn't get better." Mito stated as they took a seat.

"Thank you. That helps a lot, oh great Mito-sama." She dryly commented.

After the plates were laid out, she realized something. There was only 3.

"Where's father?"

"There's a clan meeting right now. We are to make a decision on where we stand for this upcoming war." Her mother answered.

"Isn't it going to be the same stance anyways? Why the need.."

"You don't know, Miko. Sometimes, things might change." Mito answered as she took a bite of her breakfast.

"Of course." She responded, "Why aren't you there though, sister? I thought you had to be present during the clan meetings as the heir."

A sigh escaped her lips, "It's more important stuff that I am apparently not in need for."

She stabbed her plate once, "But I heard that father's planning on having an arranged marriage for me, Mother. Is this true?"

"I can't answer that Mito. I think you should take it up with your father himself." Her mother answered, her eyes telling a whole different story.

And that was the day, she realized her time with her sister wouldn't be as long as she thought it would.

Her father came home late that day. And Mito spent the day with her, she knew she was trying to spend as much time with her before she inevitably has to leave but it still didn't change the bitter taste in her mouth at the thought of her leaving.

Maybe if she didn't have such good memories of her sister, it would hurt less when she ignored her.

"Sis, at least change your expression before he reaches here."she coaxed.

"I can't, Miko. I don't want to believe that they would so easily give me away."

"I don't think it would have been that easy though, you know."she fixed Mito's hair, "The question is, 'Do you not want to?' If so, I'm pretty sure father will listen to you if you tell him!"

"I wish it was that easy."Mito grumbled. "And it's not that it is against my wishes, I would gladly give my life for the benefit of the clan."

"Then what is it?"

"I don't like the fact that they have been ignoring the topic for such a long time. If they wish to send me away to get married to a man who I am pretty sure I don't even know-"

"I think you know Senju-sama though.."

"Not the point, Miko." Mito reprimanded, "Where was I? So yeah.. send me away to a man I don't even know, then at least they should have the decency to inform me or at least tell me about it before the last minute."

The figure of Uzumaki Fumihito could be seen from the door, "I mean, if I'm getting married anyways, I want it to go according to how I want. And not be a rush. You only get married once in this day and age.."

She added as an after thought, "Well, unless something happens anyways."

Uzumaki Fumihiko was a wrinkled old man who would come have lessons at their house in the early morning but since, today was an important clan meeting everything was postponed a few minutes later than they would usually be.

He always had a stern expression on his face and was as tall as  the door at the entrance of the house.

"Chakra is not visible to the unaided eyes unless it is produced in mass amounts."he spoke as her mother came inside their room to provide him a cup of tea as refreshment.

"Oh, Mito. Your father wishes to speak to you." She announced waiting for her by the door.

"Shit." Mito cursed as she stood up from her place, bowing to their teacher as she followed her mother out.

Guess it's finally happening now.

"What was that all about?" He asked.

"Apparently, she's getting married." Miko answered nonchalantly. It was common knowledge that the future  Senju clan head would be marrying the Uzumaki heiress — well, not the heiress anymore but still — and that this would be officially announced soon enough.

"I guess it's time, huh.." Fumiko commented with a sigh, "It feels unnatural how time passes so fast."

"Is it normal, sensei? For marriages to be arranged in such a way..?" she questioned as she stared up at him.

"Yes, it is normal. Although, most believed that it might not have happened. Now, Mito won't be the heiress anymore."

"Why?"

"Marrying the Senju clan head. And,  even if it was the sibling of a clan head or son.. she wouldn't be able to continue her duties as the heiress. And the title will go on to Arashi-"

"My cousin."

"Yes, your cousin."

"But why him? And not me?" She asked.

"Of course, it will be you for now. But you can never be too sure that it will be for long. Mito is how many years old?"

"Thirteen."

"And you are?"

"Eleven."

"See, not much of a difference. After Mito, it will be your turn. As it has been for ages before."

"I don't think that's fair."

"Maybe you don't. But nothing is fair in the life that we live. And that is also another important life lesson that I, as a teacher, would like you to remember. 'Just like your sister, you must be willing to give your life for the clan. It is your duty as a shinobi of the Uzumaki clan.' "

That was the day she learned her purpose in life. But maybe she shouldn't have..

"Fumihiko-sensei, why do we as clan, focus more on Fuinjutsu than something like ninjutsu or genjutsu or-?" She asked one day when it was just her and Fumihiko yet again.

Mito had been getting busier with preparations.. Preparations . . because they were to go visit the Senju Clan soon.

"To answer your question, our clan has been practicing Fuinjutsu since the start. It's more or less a tradition at this point. We, the Uzumaki clan are famed for our skills in Fuinjutsu, and that is mainly because we've stuck with it for ages. We've learned the strengths and the weaknesses, we've paid more attention to it. And along with that, we have never needed to fight with ninjutsu – not that we can't. But it's merely just that we choose not to."

"Why?"

"Our clan has an age old alliance with the Senju. And thus, we've always had an alliance with them that is yet to be disturbed. We support them with our knowledge in fuinjutsu. For example, by setting up seals to protect them. And they in turn, support us by not letting harm come to us during wars."

"So, is Fuinjutsu not something that you can use to attack with?"

"Not necessarily. Of course, it depends on you and how you wish to use it. Fuinjutsu is powerful and what's even more great is that it is a vast and unexplored realm. And if used by someone who is well-learned in it.. it is much more dangerous and powerful that you can imagine."

He continued, "And that is also why I have been teaching you and your sister fuinjutsu. So, there is no trouble for the both of you and if you ever get caught up with anything, you won't be troubled."

"Fumihiko-san, you've been called in to attend the clan meeting." Her mother appeared by the doorway again.

And Fumihiko left as well, but not before sparing her a glance.

She bowed to him as he left and sat alone on top of her bed as she stared at her sister's bed.