Summary: The one where Wendy ends up reborn in the Elemental Nations and becomes a shinobi out of necessity and joins Team 7. How will her presence change fate? OP!BAMF!Wendy

Warning: There may be some bashing, on Sakura, Ino, a lot of girls in general, magic and chakra shenanigans. Disregards everything after Tartaros, and no I am NOT a fan of NaLu. I am not a fan of Lucy. Period.

Also, OP!Magic AND Chakra!Wendy, AU Canon Divergence and whatever, manipulation of plot timeline and other stuff. And complete bs too.

WARNING! WARNING! READ! READ!:

WENDY WILL BE SERIOUSLY OP! IF YOU DON'T LIKE THAT PLEASE DON'T READ! AGAIN OP!WENDY, LIKE SERIOUSLY, OP!

"EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED." ─ Hatake Kakashi

-xXx-

Wendy didn't regret her decision at all.

She didn't regret moving in front of an attack that had been aimed at those that she had considered her brothers. She didn't regret saving them, and maybe the thought was bit tall. They were Dragon Slayers after all, and some of the most powerful mages in Fiore. She may have acted preemptively and maybe they could have reacted in time but still.

She didn't regret her decision.

Wendy was sad that her actions would… upset her brothers. There was no doubt about that. She cared dearly about them, all of them, and she had no doubt about their love for her either. She hated that she wouldn't be able to be there for them anymore, to be able to fight alongside them, to reach new heights with them unlike ever before, to heal their wounds and comfort them when they were weary.

She was going to die young, not even fifteen years old yet but still. She saved them. And that was all that mattered to her.

A smile formed on her face as she lay on the hard ground, blue hair scattered around her like a halo. Her eyes stared at the sky blearily as darkness creeped near the edges of her vision. She couldn't feel her torso anymore but she knew that she was bleeding out heavily. She couldn't muster up any more magic. Her senses were rapidly leaving her but faintly, she could hear the sound of enraged screaming, a sound of pure desperation and rage.

A figure moved beside her, hands moving across her torso and there was a sense of pressure. She focused as hard she could, trying to comprehend what was happening.

"… Wendy, you need to hold on! Listen ─ me Wendy!"

"Don't giv─ yet Wendy!"

"Wendy!"

"God damn it, brat, don't you dare─"

Gajeel was above her, she realized. His long black hair was like a veil of darkness and there was a look of helplessness in his ruby red eyes that she's seen on a handful of occasions before and she felt a pang of guilt. She didn't want them to feel that way. She did it because she wanted to, because she loved them.

The others were swiftly gathering around her, each with a look of sadness. Natsu, Gajeel, Laxus, Sting, Rogue, and Cobra. Her brothers. Her family of choice.

"Wendy!" Natsu choked out, tears gathering in his olive-green eyes. His hand gently cradled hers like it was the most delicate of glass. "Don't go… please, Wendy! I can't lose you. Not you too."

She gathered what strength she had left. She couldn't leave them like this. "D-Don't─" She rasped out. "Don't be sad please." She said, a smile forming on her face despite the agonizing pain. "I did it because I-I love you all… so please, don't be sad…" She said, her voice fading into a whisper but she knew that they all heard her perfectly. "Don't stop following your d-dreams. Become the best that y-you can be and know that I'll be f-fine. I'll a-always be there with you all."

Tears were running down their faces, even the hardiest of them all. They surrounded her like a shield against the chaos of the world, protecting her even in her last moments. It made her smile widen and she wanted to cry but not out of fear, but out of contentment.

Her free hand was gathered as well, held just as delicately as the other by Sting. Rogue pushed away the hair from her face, his hand trembling all the while.

"Wendy…" He said, voice hoarse. "Don't worry. We'll always hold you dear in our hearts." He said because as much as he hated to admit it, help would arrive too late and none of them knew anything about healing magic. It was too late to even burn her wound closed. She'd bled out too much already and the wound was too deep.

"We love you Wendy." Natsu said, head bowed as tears flowed freely. "Don't f-forget that!" His torso shook with the force of his emotions and he wanted to destroy everything in sight. But he couldn't. That wasn't what Wendy would want him to do.

Wendy didn't have the strength to keep her eyes opened anymore, her vision was darkening. She could faintly hear the sounds of their increasing desperation, begging her not to go despite her words. It's okay, she thought. I'll always be watching over you all.

Her vision went dark, her breath stuttered and so did her heart. Wendy took one last breath, and then, everything stopped.

"WENDY!"

-xXx-

It was weird, Wendy decided. She wasn't sure what death was supposed to be like. She'd thought that she'd lose all awareness but instead she felt like she was wide awake, surrounded by darkness and warmth. There was no sign of life and she was alone.

It made for a very lonely place and there was no sense of time. She couldn't call out to anyone and all she had were her thoughts for company. She had a sense of being but she had a hunch that she was formless, as weird as it was. It was alarming but then again, Wendy was pretty sure that she had died.

For all she knew, what she was experiencing might have been normal.

As she stayed in the darkness, her thoughts always strayed to her brothers. She thought about them more than she did more her guildmates and she didn't even feel guilty about it. They meant more to her, as much as it sounded harsh. They were her family, so like her.

She had spent a long time alone, had been abandoned by Jellal despite his best intentions, had been broken when she found out that her guild ─ Cait Shelter (?) ─ was nothing more than an illusion. She had found Fairy Tail and it had helped yes, but what had helped her the most was finding Natsu and Gajeel, and then later on Laxus and the others. They had smelt like home and felt like it too. Instinct drove them together but what had really cemented it was the aftermath of Tenroujima and the Grand Magic Games. She had gained the family that she had always dreamed of having.

They had all become strong together. She had become strong, stronger than she'd ever thought possible. She had battled against a dragon and won! She had unlocked her Second Origin and had even gained her Dragon Force, and it had been amazing.

She'd finally forgotten and forgiven the pain that Grandine had caused her for leaving. She hadn't wanted to, but when she had left, Wendy had felt angry, betrayed, and most of all saddened. When she had found Cait Sith, she thought that she had found her solace as well. But when the incident with Nirvana happened and her guild had turned out to be an illusion, those feelings had returned with vengeance, but this time, her sadness overwhelmed her.

Fairy Tail had helped her overcome these emotions, specifically with the help of it's Dragon Slayers that had later became her world. She would have loved to have spent more time with them, to have risen to the sky and above with them and achieved the unachieveable.

Still, it had been good run while it lasted.

Wendy had slipped into unawareness not long after. She'd gone into a dreamlike state and her thoughts had been blissfully blank but that all changed as well when her world of warmth and darkness had become something blindingly bright and brutally cold.

She had cried in alarm, not understanding what was happening. What was more startling however was the fact that she finally gained a faint sense of her body, a body that she'd been unaware of for so long in her darkness. She couldn't move however. When she tried, her body wouldn't obey her and that only amplified her feeling of confusion.

What is going on?! Wendy thought, giving a cry when she felt something engulf her. Her cries slowed when she felt a warmth battling against the cold but still, her heart was pounding fast in her chest as she tried to gain some sense of comprehension as to what was happening. Her vision was blurry and her hearing was muffled, but they cleared up a few moments later. It would have been deeply unsettling as a Dragon Slayer with senses far surpassing those of others, to have been reduced to something so ─ so different and limited.

There were people, she realized. And they were so much bigger than her, like the giants that Team Natsu had found frozen. They wore white and clothing that one might suspect doctors wore, or at least those that worked in hospitals. The walls were a pale color and she took in what she could see ─ as she had little control of her body and couldn't even turn her head much ─ she vaguely realized that she was in a hospital.

But what did that mean for her? Why was she in a hospital? Wasn't she supposed to be dead? She was sure that her wounds had been fatal.

A person towered over her, almost intimidatingly so but she beat back her fear. She wasn't a scared little girl anymore that needed others to defend her. She could hold her own now, was powerful enough to surpass those even older than her.

"What's her name?" He said, eyeing the wiggling baby with vague interest.

"Uh," A voice called out. "I think it's Asuka-chan."

"No last name?"

"No… We weren't able to identify the mother."

"Identify?"

"Asuka-chan is an orphan. Her mother died in childbirth and there's no sign of the father. We weren't able to find any relatives either."

"That's…"

"Tragic, isn't it?"

There was a sigh. "Yeah. I guess she'll have to go to an orphanage then."

"Yeah. Hopefully she gets adopted but I mean, it's a long shot. Did you see her eyes?"

"Who didn't? They look like his."

"You don't think─"

"It couldn't be... I mean, just the thought is ridiculous. Her eyes aren't the right shade either. They're more gold than yellow."

Wendy didn't understand what was happening to her but then it dawned on her. The white room, the towering people, the warmth and sharp coldness… She easily put it all together, but the idea was so farfetched!

Was rebirth possible? Was it because of magic? It could be possible considering that with magic, the possibilities were limitless. Maybe it wasn't so farfetched as she thought, after all, there was magic that manipulated even time itself ─ the Lost Magic, Arc of Time ─ although it did come at a steep cost. But that meant that she was a baby again. It also brought a plethora of other questions such as when and where had she been reborn. Was she even in Fiore anymore? Or even Earthland?

A nagging feeling told her no but the only thing she could do to get any real answers was wait. She didn't like it but she had no choice. At least one thing was certain, she was happy that she had saved her brothers, even at the cost of herself.

She was sad that she had no parents, no family to her name. She was apparently now Asuka, reminiscent of Bisca's and Alzack's daughter. It felt weird having a new name, but she would have to get used to it as well to the idea that she was a baby once again.

What happened after was a haze, a haze that seemed to last for a long time. She vaguely remembered being moved, of being fed something that tasted odd to her tongue, of being passed around to different arms. She slept most of the time and she stayed unnervingly quiet, still stuck in shock and disbelief.

Her behavior was odd to her caretakers, that is to the head of the orphanage that now housed her. It was an orphanage that was overpopulated, mostly due to the fact that many children had been left with no families due to the Nine Tails. It was sad truth and reality. Still, they were lucky that they received the appropriate funding. There weren't many caretakers in the orphanage but there were just enough to take care of the children, all varying ages. To them, Asuka was an oddity that wasn't going to be tolerated.

Wendy eventually grew up to the point where she could control her movements. As soon as she could walk she did. When she was alone she practiced walking until her movements were smooth as well as talking. She carefully enunciated her words ─ the language was so different from her own but she learned with determination ─ and she read what little books she had. She made sure to act her age around others, appearing to be nothing else but a child that was somewhat more intelligent than average.

Wendy wanted to fit in but she gave up on that the moment that she realized that as much as she tried, they all steered clear of her though there were of those that made their displeasure very much known. She stopped trying to fit in, realizing that it wasn't worth it to change herself. Her brothers wouldn't have approved and neither did she.

It was hell, to put it bluntly.

Wendy ─ Asuka didn't understand why they treated her the way they did. The older children would call her mean names, taunting her blue colored hair and golden eyes, something that she didn't expect to have. They also reminded her of the fact that she had no last name, told her that no one really wanted her. The younger children also took note of the older children and they followed suit, throwing childish taunts but hurtful just the same.

Her attempts to make friends were rebuffed, sometimes violently. After many failed attempts, Asuka stopped trying. It saddened her deeply and it only accented the loneliness that she felt. It hurt to be treated the way she was.

It appalled her really, the stark difference between where she now resided and Magnolia. The people were cruel, nothing like the kindness of the people of Magnolia. Asuka was sure that her treatment was known to the caretakers and when she had asked that something be done, the answer that was given shocked her and it hurt.

Asuka had approached the headmistress, hesitant but at the same time determined to get answers.

"Rei-san." Asuka greeted, voice small but strong. She was young, no older than three but she was largely independent, mostly out of necessity. "May I have a moment of your time?"

Rei was young, barely into her mid-twenties. She had dark-brown hair pulled into a severe bin, young and had a shapely figure. She would have been beautiful had it not been for the stern frown that she had on her face. She usually wore casual yutakas and simple sandals.

At first, Asuka had thought that the woman was incapable of smiling but she was proven wrong when she spied an encounter between the headmistress and another orphan. She had been kneeling in front of him, soothing his crying with gentle sounds and touches. She had given him a reassuring smile, seeming in that instant like the motherly figure that Asuka had greatly desired. It seemed that after that, there wasn't a moment where Asuka didn't see encounters such as those. It was then that she realized, that yes, Rei was a maternal woman, but it was only her that she singled out. Each encounter with Rei, despite Asuka's politeness was greeted with a severe frown and hostility.

"Don't" Rei said, eyes turning to glare at Asuka's small figure, a figure dressed in what could labeled as nothing more than rags, "call me that. Address me as Rei-sama and nothing else. Am I understood?" She said, her voice cold and cutting.

Asuka nodded, hesitant and confused. Her palms were lined with cold sweat and there was a feeling of dread rising in her. Her nose was twitching slightly and it was then that she realized that it was because of the prominent scent of something sour, something that she idly identified as anger as well the bitter scent of fear.

S-She's afraid? Wendy thought. But why? I don't… I don't understand… "Y-Yest, Rei-sama." Asuka took a moment to gather her bearings. "I just… I just was wondering if you could help me. The others are bothering me─"

"Bothering you?" Rei cut in, hands moving to her hips and looming over Asuka like a dark shadow. "My, what a shame."

Asuka's hands clenched but she continued despite the growing ringing in her ears. "They're bullying me!" She said bluntly and to the point, wanting to end it as soon as possible. "They keep calling me names, taunting me! They always mess with my things too, steal my food, and they try to hurt me sometimes! I keep telling them to stop but they won't. Please Rei-sama if you could just have a word with the─"

"Enough!" She interrupted, her voice thunderous and eyes glinting with anger. Her lips were pulled into a sneer.

Asuka's dread morphed into resignation and despair as she took a small step back. "R-Rei-sama, I just─"

"No." Rei hissed between clenched teeth. "No. You don't get that privilege. You, my dear, are an abomination. You have the same eyes as that man. I don't care what the other's say, you are and will always be just that, an abomination!" She said, inching forward as Asuka stepped back. "You don't get to complain. You don't deserve to. I've hated you the moment that you've stepped foot in this orphanage and I would give anything to be rid of you but alas," She frowned, "I cannot. Not now anyway. You will listen to me and listen well, girl." She pointed a sharp nailed finger in Asuka's direction. "I won't hear another word in my direction ─ not one ─ so long as you live under my roof! Am. I. Clear?"

Asuka merely nodded shakily but before she could do more, there was a burning sensation and she was thrown back with a cry. She placed a hand on her cheek, feeling the radiating heat as well as the rising bruise. She could hardly believe it.

Rei showed no remorse, hand still hovering in the air. "Yes what!?"

"Yes R-Rei-sama!" Asuka answered hastily.

Rei turned away from her and without a second look back said, "Get away from me."

Asuka didn't hesitate to comply and she ran to her room that was solely occupied by herself. She closed the door behind her and it wasn't a moment later that tears began to run down her face. She hiccuped, her breath hitched and then she was sobbing, shaking with the force of it.

She hated the orphanage. Hated it. She would have taken the illusion of Cait Shelter over this.

Stop it Wendy! She thought, trying to calm herself. Crying isn't going to solve anything. So what if there are a few bad apples? Not everyone is the same! Just get through this… just until you can go on your own.

"I'll get stronger, stronger than I've ever been before." She swore to herself, wiping the tears off herself. "I'm better than this!"

She made a promise to herself that she wouldn't be weak, that she wouldn't let the hatred of others get her down. She couldn't let it. To do so would mean that they'd won and she was never going to stoop down as low as them either. That would have been just as bad.

Since that day, she spent her time secluded. She stayed in her room, reading all that she could get her hands on. She began to strengthen herself by starting her training exercises. Asuka wanted to get strong as soon as possible but she'd do so quietly. She didn't want anyone else to know. Not yet.

Each day, starting from morning, she slowly went through katas and worked on her strength, stamina, and speed however she could. She dedicated hours to her practice. At first it was hard. There were days that she didn't want to continue but she'd remember the promise that she'd made and the memory of her brothers and friends spurred her on. She had been a Fairy Tail mage, one of the greatest as well and Dragon Slayer as well. There was no way she was going to let herself go.

She wanted to get started on her magic as well, trying get a feel of it. Dragon Slayer Magic tool a lot of focus and dedication and starting early would help. Asuka did so by meditating daily as well and she did so for hours as well.

What she had found… well, it had astounded her. She could feel her magic. It had the same familiar warmth of magic as ever but it was different… No longer was she gaining magic externally but it seemed that she was creating it. She'd barely just then noticed that it wasn't magic in the air that she'd been feeling but something else. A closer look and she'd noticed the differences. It was darker than her pale colored Sky Dragon Magic. Not to mention, she could feel that same sensation in her. And then she really sensed it.

It was like a separate reservoir of magic, almost just as large. It was running through her like blood in her veins and it was amazing.

She spent weeks familiarizing herself with the two sources of power.

It wasn't until later on that she had gained some information. Since she started her training, her stealth had increased and she regularly ghosted the hallways at night. She'd overheard a conversation held between some of the other orphans.

"Are you going to become a shinobi, Daisuke?"

"Shinobi? Don't you need what's it called, chakra?"

"Yeah. It's uh ─ the mixing of spiritual and physical energies, or something like that at least."

"I mean I kind of want to."

"You should! We can be the strongest shinobi ever!"

"Hey… yeah! You're right. We can be the strongest and become Hokage!"

"I think I'd have a better chance at that Hideyoshi."

There was a scoff. "You know who doesn't have a chance? That blond demon."

"Oh yeah! He keeps saying he's going to become Hokage."

"Like that's ever going to happen."

"And that girl too, that blue haired one."

"I don't think she'd even graduate from the Academy!"

There was the sound of laughter and Asuka left before she could hear more. It left her angry but she'd taken a deep breath and calmed herself. They weren't worth it.

Briefly, she'd wondered who was the blond-haired demon that they were talking about. Still, later she'd thought about the words and she had been immensely relieved that she had managed to keep her magic. She would have been devastated if she didn't have it.

The time seemed to pass on by quickly. She'd spent her fourth birthday alone and she'd idly wondered how everyone back home was doing. She'd finally found out that she wasn't in Earthland, but in the Elemental Nations. It was a completely different world apparently, almost reminiscent to Edolas but the world wasn't linked to Earthland like Edolas. That's what she assumed anyway. She doubted that there was a way to return.

It would be for the best. She didn't know how much time had passed and her returning would just open old wounds.

A little after her fifth birthday ─ October 11 ─ Askua began leaving the orphanage. She was sure that the caretakers had noticed but none of them made of move to stop her. She was both glad and saddened by the fact but then her excitement at exploring overwhelmed her.

The village was big. The orphanage was right in the middle of it, it seemed, surrounded by a little patch of land that served as a playground for the children. There were people walking up and down the street, dressed in a manner that reminded her of Hosenka. What was more, her eyes had immediately caught onto the people jumping and running atop rooftops with amazing agility and speed. No one even seemed to mind or notice, which suggested that it was normal.

The different smells in the air enticed her, and the colors and the sheer difference of everything made her head spin. From the buildings to the people, the village of Konohagakure was starkly unlike anything she's ever seen. The mountain with carved with the faces of those whom she assumed were important people was amazing as well.

It was… Asuka didn't have words for it really.

This is amazing! She'd thought, trying to take in everything that there was to see. But I need to find out more… Maybe at a library? But where would that be?

Briefly Asuka wondered why no one even gave a glance so much her way. She'd thought that a little girl wandering alone would have attracted attention but it seemed like that was not the case. As she took a glance around, however, she noticed the abundance of children that were running to and from places without a care. She'd guessed that maybe the village was secure enough to do so. Or maybe that was just normal as well?

She'd stood in the middle of the road for a moment, unsure of what to do.

"Maybe I should ask someone?" She'd murmured to herself.

There were many people that were dressed similarly, wearing dark green vests ─ perhaps the uniform utilized? ─ and Asuka assumed that perhaps they were the equivalent to mages.

Maybe they're the shinobi that the others were talking about? Asuka kept walking, taking in the sights and sounds until she realized that she'd unconsciously followed a savory scent that led her to a stand that was partially obscured. Her mouth watered at the prospect of food but she shook the thought away. She was on a mission, and regardless, she had no money to pay.

Mournfully, she moved away from the stand. As she glanced around she finally decided to ask someone for directions.

She approached a man leaning against a wall who was talking to a friend. She stopped a few feet away from them and they noticed her soon enough. "Excuse me?" She said, hands clenched behind her back.

"What can I do for you, little lady?" He said with a small smile.

It made her want to smile because the man before her just proved her right. There were just as many good people as there were bad. Not everyone was like the cruel headmistress.

"I was wondering if you could t-tell me where the library is please?" She asked.

The man raised an eyebrow, both at her question and manner of speaking. He didn't say anything though and merely nodded. "Ah. You'll want to go that direction," he pointed, "and then you go…" He carefully explained the directions, repeating them once again to make sure that she got it.

Asuka smiled and she bowed a bit to the other in gratefulness. "Thank you!"

The man laughed slightly. "It's no problem kid."

Asuka bowed once again and she turned, happily skipping down the road to the library and carefully following the directions given to her. She easily arrived to an impressive building and she took a moment to take it all in before she entered.

There were people milling around, most of them wearing the green vest as well as the headband that depicted the symbol of the leaf, another characteristic she thought to be of what identified a shinobi.

"Can I help you miss?" A voice said.

Asuka turned to find a young man, wearing both the headband and green vest. He had dark brown hair and kind grey eyes.

"A-Ah yes!" Asuka answered. "I was wondering if you can show me the history books?"

"History?" He said, taken aback. "Why would you want to read about that?"

Asuka gave the man a smile. "I find it interesting shinobi-san."

The man waved a hand. "Ah, none of that. The name's Souma." He turned and motioned for her to follow and lead her to a section. "This section is opened to the public. You have to be a shinobi and be a certain rank to get access to certain material though."

Asuka nodded and gave Souma a bright smile. "Thank you, Souma-san!"

The man nodded and he left, "Make sure to put them back where you found them!"

Asuka placed her attention to the books and she noticed that there were also lines of scrolls. She was glad that she had studied the language as much as she did. She wouldn't have been able to understand much otherwise. The written language was different from the figures that Earthland used.

"Might as well get started…" Asuka muttered to herself.

And so she did.

She grabbed piles and piles of books, each on varying topics. She read about the history of the Fire Nation, about the founding of Konoha, Chakra and even legends and stories that were found in the Elemental Nations.

'Chakra is the melding of spiritual and physical energies. It is the power that is used to fuel a variety of shinobi arts, more prominently in ninjustsu, genjutsu and taijutsu. Chakra itself is neutral but people gain certain affinities regarding ninjutsu. There are five elemental affinities: Wind, Water, Earth, Lightning and Fire. Chakra is regulated through the Chakra Pathway System, similar to the cardiovascular system.'

The more that Wendy read, the more she was amazed. Chakra sounded great but she was curious to find out how magic would have competed against it. It seemed that chakra was more flexible than magic, seeing as mages usually learn one type, but still, she believed that magic wasn't to be underestimated.

'Some individuals have greater amounts of chakra. This may sound beneficial, but the key is to having efficient chakra control. By having a greater amount of chakra control, the wielder will be able to use it to its maximum potential and not waste it, regardless of the size of chakra reserves. People with large amounts of chakra have the tendency to have worse control, as such it is important to practice as much as possible. Exercises such as meditation, water walking, tree walking and the leaf concentration exercise (see page 80-100 for exercise details) will help in building chakra control.'

Her reading on chakra led to an entirely different branch of topics but she resisted the urge. She needed to find out more about where she lived.

'Konohagakure (Village Hidden in the Leaf) was founded by the Senju and Uchiha Clans, specifically, Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara, whom used their positions as Clan Leaders to end the war between the two clans.

Konoha is run by a leader called the Kage, and in the Hi no Kuni, called the Hokage (Fire Shadow). Each Hidden village has a Kage, usually, they are the strongest shinobi in the village. Strength does not define a Kage however, and it is important that they show the ability to lead, care for the village itself and show considerable skill such as tactics and more.

Konoha also has a council, called the Konoha Go-Ikeban (Tree Leaf Honored Opinion Watch) It advises the Hokage on decisions and important matters, but ultimately, the power lies with the Hokage. Usually, Council Members have decades worth of experience as well as knowledge.'

'Shinobi are the main militant power in the Elemental Nation, majorly to Hidden Village's that also act on the Daimiyo's behalf. Most shinobi come from Hidden Villages. Whomever holds potential to become shinobi can, but it is also known that people from Clans become shinobi easier due to the increased amount of resources available to them, such as training and information

Shinobi also have a sort of hierarchy in which they are ranked. Lower level ninja defer to those of higher rank. Such ranking includes Genin (Junior Ninja). They are the lowest ranking shinobi. Usually, they do low level missions, which is generally manual labor. There are occasions, however, when higher level shinobi are unavailable that genin have to be sent due to necessity. This was mostly seen in the Shinobi Wars.

Next is Chunin, (Middle Ninja) They are ninja that have achieved a level of maturity, as well as abilities that consist of leadership and tactical prowess. Chunnin typically get sent on C and B Ranked Missions. They may also go on higher level missions but they are led by a higher-level shinobi such as Jounin or even ANBU.

Tokubetsu Jonin (Special High Ninja) are shinobi who specialize in a certain skill, rather than have all around Jonin level abilities.

Jonin (High Ninja) are shinobi that have high experience and are highly skilled. They go on higher-level missions that typically involve a critical amount of danger, such as A or S-Rank missions. It is not unusual for a Jonin to go on missions alone, as they have the skills necessary to do so.

Kage (Shadow) is a rank and title reserved for the leader of a Hidden Village. They oversee the village, have authority over all shinobi, and see to the safety of the people. They are usually also acknowledged as the village's strongest shinobi.

Teams are also very important. In Konoha, teamwork is emphasized. Usually they are three-man cells led by a more experienced shinobi. Genin are put into these teams and are led by Jonin. Typically, when Genin achieve a higher rank the team is dissolved but there are instances where a shinobi can apply for a Partnership. A partnership between shinobi is permanent. With a partnership, the shinobi will get sent to missions with those that they created it with, only. A partnership is extremely rare, but usually are done by teams that display great bonds, teamwork, and skill.'

The more she read the more Asuka was astounded. The ranking of missions was exactly the same as those in Earthland. Low level missions were ranked as D and C, intermediate ranked B, and high ranked mission's A or S. She was sure that there were also SS- Ranked missions as well as that those ranks also applied to shinobi in terms of skill, power and danger.

She read for a long time. It was interesting to her but the more she read the more she saw the difference of culture and morals. She became aware one stark difference between Earthland and the Elemental Nations, and that was the fact they killed, fought with the intent to kill.

She could see the necessity though, as much as it troubled her. The Elemental Nations has gone through wars and struggles and hasn't truly known the peace that Fiore has achieved. They are cloaked in shadows, waiting for the knife to strike at them.

A shinobi must be prepared for blood to be spilt. There is no other way. They do so because how else will they protect their village? Their loved ones? It put a sour taste in her mouth but Asuka resolved to investigate further until she properly formed an opinion. She didn't know the exact reasons after all, the things they went through, and the way that they lived.

She could find out firsthand now though. She was reborn into this world and she was now a part of it.

She closed the book with a sigh and moved on to other things. She explored the various legends as well as what little information there were of Clans. Clans had reminded her of a family of mages that specialized in specific brand of magic. It was weird but fascinating at the same time.

Her favorite legend that she read so far was that of the beginning of chakra, of the Rikudo Sennin, as well as that of the Princess of the Moon.

It wasn't until later that she realized that hours had passed. She had hastily put away the books in their proper places. She didn't put them all away however as she walked to the front desk with arms laden with books. She had to place the books on the floor however, as she was nowhere near tall enough to carry the books.

Many shinobi glanced at her, most in amusement and curiosity but they dismissed her not long after.

"You checking those out, kid?" A voice said, and Asuka turned to find a shinobi behind her. Either, Chunin or Jonin she wasn't sure. But he had a kind look in his eye and Asuka sensed nor smelled any ill intent from the dirty blond-haired shinobi.

"Yes, shinobi-san." She said, a smile forming on her lips as she pulled her blue hair away from her face.

"Masaru?" A voice said and both turned to see Souma walking their way.

"Hey Souma, still stuck in the library huh?" Masaru smirked, an amused glint in his light blue eyes. "I thought you would have moved on to something better Souma."

Souma rolled his eyes. "I like working here Masaru. Kami, the kid has more sense than you do." He muttered as he leant down to pick up the books that were on the floor. 'Legend of the Moon', 'Traveler of the Sky', 'Elemental Nations and its Hidden Villages' and 'Chakra and You'. "You planning on becoming a shinobi kid?"

Asuka glanced at the man, hands twisting nervously together. "Maybe. I-I'm not sure yet. That's why I came to the library… to see if I could decide."

Masaru raised an eyebrow as he leant down and swooped the tiny girl ─ really, she's the smallest thing he's ever seen ─ up, disregarding her squeak of surprise and placing her gently atop the desk. "Don't be un a rush kid. Being a shinobi is serious business."

Asuka stared at him with wide golden eyes, "Why did you become a shinobi then Masaru-san? Could you tell me?" She waved a hand wildly, "I mean, you don't have to answer!"

Masaru and Souma exchanged a glance of surprise.

A smile formed on Masaru's face. "Ah… That's simple. I did it because I wanted to protect my family and friends, as well as the village. But I think this book will help you somewhat." He handed her a book from his own stack.

Asuka takes it curiously. "The Will of Fire?"

Souma agave a huff of laughter, crossing his arms across his chest. "It's what the village believes in, the majority of shinobi anyway. It's the idea that the key to peace is love. Basically, the entire village is like a family and every shinobi with the Will of Fire loves, cherishes, believes and fights to protect the village. It's sort of symbolic of the hopes and dreams of the previous generation that are passed on to the next… You get me?" It just occurred then, that a kid might not be able to understand a word that he said. Children don't tend to think so deeply until later on but something told him that she'd understand.

Asuka's eyes brightened. Was this the answer that she was looking for? Would this help her? "I- Yes! Thank you, Souma-san!"

Souma smiled, this time something more genuine and soft. "And would you look at that. She has more manners than you do Masaru!" He walked behind the desk and gathered up the books, beginning the process of checking them out for the little girl.

Masaru rubbed the girl's hair good naturedly with a mutter of, "Brat."

Souma handed them to Asuka whom took them with a bit of a struggle. They were a heavy for her, something that galled her slightly but she knew it was just something that she'd have to fix with more training. She needed something more intensive.

"Here you go kid. You're a smart cookie, I'm sure I don't need to tell you to return them when you're done right?"

Asuka shook her head. "Of course not, Souma-san. I'll return them!"

"You need help carrying them kid?" Masaru asked as he handed his own books over to check out. 'Poison's and you!' was written in bright cheery letters. Kami, shinobi were weird lot.

Asuka hesitated but she knew that she'd struggle carrying them on her own. She was a long way from the orphanage and she didn't want to damage the books by dropping them. At the same time, however, she didn't really want Masaru to see where she lived, to see the hatred in their eyes and decided that he hated her now too.

Don't think like that Wendy! She thought, That's illogical. You don't know him well enough to think that. "I- I, okay, Masaru-san. Thank you." Give him a chance Wen─ Asuka.

"No problem, kid." Masaru took the books in hand, his as well as Asuka's, and promptly lifted Asuka to his shoulders with a grin as he listened to her sound of surprise. "Come on then, kid. Just tell me where you live and we'll get there in no time. See ya' later Souma."

Souma gave a laugh as he waved his goodbye. "Don't drop the kid Masaru!"

"Let's go then." Masaru nodded. "Make sure to hold on tight, okay? Don't want you falling." Tiny hands promply gripped at his blond hair, gently but firmly. "Where do you live, kid? Wait, tell me your name. I can't keep calling you kid."

"Uh, my name is Asuka, Masaru-san." Wendy answered and she looked up curiously as she sensed someone approaching.

"What the fuck?"

Masaru frowned. "Watch your language around the kid, Aoba."

"Did you kidnap her?" Aoba asked. He had dark colored hair, wore his headband slightly slanted, had standard green vest, and dark sunglasses that obscured his eyes.

"What?" Masaru said incredulously. "Of course not! I'm just helping her get home."

"Did she get lost?"

"No, Aoba." Masaru sighed and Asuka gave a giggle, noticing the long-suffering tone that she's heard dozen's times before. "Anyway, what was your name kid?"

"Asuka." She answered. "I live in Rei-sama's orphanage."

Masaru's step faltered slightly and Asuka waited for his response. She was immensely relieved a moment later at his answer.

"Ah." Masaru muttered. "Okay, then I'll get you there in no time Asuka-chan." He turned to his other companion. "You can come with or get lost Aoba. I don't really care either way." He bounded off with a leap of chakra to the rooftops, smiling slightly at Asuka's joyous laughter.

"Why are you so mean Masa-chan." Aoba cried, quickly dodging the kunai thrown his way.

"Ass." Masaru muttered.

"Jerk." Aoba replied, a smirk tugging on his face as he followed close behind.

True to Masaru's word, they arrived quickly.

As Asuka stared at the tall gated orphanage, it seemed to loom over her. It almost intimidated her but the knowledge that there was good to be found in this world comforted her. She knew that she'd struggle, that was a given, but Asuka would overcome any and all obstacles that came her way. She'd become strong, so much so that she'd be known just as she had been in Earthland and like her brothers. She'd make them proud and make friends of her own that she'd be glad to call family, just like Fairy Tail.

Masaru gently put Asuka down. "Here you go Asuka-chan. You be careful okay?" He said as out of the corner of his eye he saw the head caretaker, Rei, bounding down the steps and towards them with a smile on her face. Masaru pasted a smile on his face, one that didn't reach his eyes as he greeted the woman. "Ah, good afternoon Rei-san."

Aoba tensed slightly behind him but relaxed a moment later, slouching in an easy going way.

"Shinobi-san! My how can I help you?" She said, her tone carefully neutral, and she glanced towards Asuka with a stern look. "Was she bothering you? I must apologize then. I can assure you that Asuka-chan wil be appropriately punished then." She said hurriedly, hands placed on her hips.

Masaru shook his head. "That won't be necessary Rei-san. Asuka-chan was very well behaved. I merely gave her some assistance in coming home." Masaru smiled tersely at the woman and leaned down to be at eyelevel with Asuka. "I'll see you later okay, Asuka-chan?" He said.

Asuka nodded, eyebrows furrowed as she glanced between the three adults. "Yes, Masaru-san. It was a pleasure meeting you. You as well Aoba-san." She said.

Aoba smiled. "Something tells me this won't be the last time I see you squirt. You take care in the meantime, okay?"

Asuka nodded as she retreated behind the gates, Rei waiting with a plastic smile on her face. "Goodbye!" She said happily, not even caring for Rei's presence.

They waved back before they disappeared in a show of speed.

Asuka hurriedly went into the orphanage, Rei following behind her in a more sedate pace. She went straight to her room and slammed the door closed. She placed her books gently into a little hiding spot that she'd found under the floorboards that was filled with other possessions. She heard the sounds of approaching footsteps and placed back the floorboards just in time for the door to slam back open with great force, so much so that the door bounced back and the sound caused Asuka to flinch in surprise, despite having heard her.

"You!" Rei hissed, hair askew from its usual neat bun. "You brought those shinobi to my doorstep? What did you do to them vermin?" Rei walked forward and as fast as a viper, locked her hand around Asuka's throat. She lifted her up as if she weighed nothing and ignored her desperate gasps of pain and panic. "Oh, I just know this will be the last time that I can put my hands on you, you brat, thanks to that little adventure you had there but mark my words. There are other ways to keep you in check." She said ever so softly, disregarding the hand that was clawing at her own.

After a few moments, which seemed to last for an eternity to Asuka, Rei threw her down to the floor harshly. Asuka took in desperate gulps of air, tasting foul to her tongue in that moment. She laid a shaking hand to her throat and despite her shock, she looked up towards Rei.

Asuka didn't cry. She calmed her breathing and she stood despite the burning in her throat. She glared at the headmistress. "Get out." She rasped, her throat hurting with each word but she ignored it.

"What did you say?" Rei replied, moving a hand up in the air as if to strike her.

"Get. Out." Asuka repeated, moving forward and glaring with anger towards the woman. She clenched her hands at her sides, fury coursing through her veins. To think that this woman was in charge of children was preposterous. Or maybe the woman was capable of taking care of children. It was just her that she had a problem with. And for the life of her, Asuka couldn't recall what it was that she did to anger the woman. It was unfair and she hated, hated that hated because she wasn't one to keep grudges but this… it tested her, immensely.

Rei's eyes narrowed and she made to strike her but─

But Asuka was faster.

Asuka held Rei's hand in her grip, tightening ever so slowly to painful proportions. "I said get out!" She yelled, pushing her away, so much so she went out the door and hit the hallway door with a thump. "Don't come in here. Don't bother me. Don't even so much as look at me woman because you will regret it!" Asuka hissed, chakra and magic alike spiking and making the air feel choking and heavier.

Rei stared at her with wide eyes, uncomprehending.

"Am. I. Clear?" Asuka threw back Rei's words, repeating each with a dark promise.

Rei saw a demon before her, with eyes that glowed brightly and bore into her soul. She saw the image of eyes staring at her from the shadows, a towering form that loomed over her, and ferocious growls that echoed in her ears. She swallowed heavily, sweat forming on her forehead, and the fear in the back of her throat tasted bitter. She shook her head in acknowledgement before standing up shakily and hurriedly leaving without a look back.

Asuka closed the door with a solid 'click', turning and leaning on it a moment later. She closed her eyes tightly and she took a deep breath. She was changing just by living in this world and she knew that there would be times where she couldn't be the kind person that she knew she was.

That… or maybe Gajeel and Laxus rubbed had instilled their tempers in her.

Still, she understood that this world wasn't as kind as hers. It was necessary to adapt and she knew that her brothers wouldn't have begrudged her for it. If they had been with her, she knew that they would change as well. They'd do anything that was necessary to keep each other safe and damn those that stood in their way and what they protected.

They were dragons given human form. They held slitted eyes, fangs capable of tearing flesh as well as claws, could draw powerful breaths, could eat the element themselves, held immense strength that could shatter the earth, held a ridiculous amount of stamina that would let them fight on where others would have fallen, and even held skin that was nigh impenetrable and could be covered in scales that was even more powerful.

"Forget about it Wendy." She murmured to herself, hands flexing slightly and the sharp end of her claws briefly skimming across her skin. "You have more important things to be concerned about."

She moved to the center of the room and she sat down. She breathed slowly and evenly, concentrating on the feel of her chakra and magic. "I need─" She said lowly, "I need to get stronger." She felt her magic, so familiar and comforting. Her chakra pulsed like a steady heartbeat, unique to her in its difference. "To be faster. To endure."

The air seemed to shift around her, picking up stray dust. A ring of wind began to swirl around her sitting form, small and ever shifting.

"For my loved ones." For her brothers. For Fairy Tail. For her future friends and comrades. For her new home.

Her two power sources were separated but Wendy was sure that if she wanted to, she might be able to mix them. Before that, however, she needed more information. For now, she'd try to get to know her chakra.

It was bizarre to have two sources of power but incredibly helpful. She knew that with this, she'd reach new heights. She was going to become one of the most powerful shinobi in the world, no matter what. It was her dream, to be acknowledge as strong and someone worthy of respect.

That night led the start of her training, very intensive training.

She had a regimen of daily exercise that she conducted in her room. It was designed to build up her muscle mass, strengthen her muscles including her core, as well as begin to increase her stamina. She also wanted to build up her speed and she did so by running in the forest, out of sight from inquiring eyes, including shinobi.

She wanted to do more, but at the moment she was limited. When she enrolled in the Academy, Asuka would be sure to buy weights. It would be very useful and beneficial as they would help increase speed, stamina, strength and endurance. Not to mention, it had the added bonus of being very discreet.

She was also implementing the chakra exercises that she had read about. At first, it was hard but Asuka was nothing but determined. The first time she did the Leaf Concentration Exercise, she failed. Spectacularly.

The leaf in her hand had, bluntly, been ripped to shreds. She had stared confused at the pieces before trying again with another leaf. She tried to put less of her chakra, which was a bit hard. Her chakra felt like a waterfall that was trying to be funneled through a small point but she applied her own magic control methods, and found it a bit easier. It would still be necessary to put a massive amount of practice but Asuka was certainly willing to put the effort.

This time, the leaf stuck to her face but quivered weakly on her face. She tried to use less chakra and it stuck more but even then, it was tentative. Many tries later, the leaf stuck to her firmly. Still, she wanted nothing but sharp precision so she stuck multiple leaves all over her bodies. She understood that generally, only a small portion of shinobi used all of the tenketsu and she wanted to be a part of that. She tried meditating throughout the process, trying to practice her control unconsciously so it would become second instinct, almost akin to the automatic regulating of chakra when a shinobi mastered water walking and tree walking.

That was what she did as well. She practiced in her own room, uninterrupted. She had sent the minimal the minimal amount of chakra in her feet, preferring to slip than to unintentionally destroy her room. It was easier to do than the leaf exercise, she found, but she didn't let her success get to her.

Water walking took a lot of effort. She had gone into the woods, which, she found was very peculiar. The plant life was tall and there was a ridiculous amount of deadly fauna. The few animals that she encountered were unusually big and ferocious, smelling like the scent of blood. She had sensed the peculiar energy that strongly permeated the forest and a brief thought brought the image of the Shodaime. It made sense then. The First Hokage must have made the forest with his Mokuton, and the chakra that was left behind increased the vitality and strength of those that dwelled within it.

She found a river once she wandered inwards, and she had taken a brief moment to appreciate the sight. The air tasted wonderful and beauty of nature astounded her. The trees in Konoha were so tall and green, towering over those of Earthland as well as others in the Elemental Nations she was sure.

She had walked towards the river, expecting to get dropped into the cold waters more than once. She had sent chakra into her feet in an even thin film before placing a foot on the surface of the water. She knew that the ability to walk on water and on surfaces was common and a necessity but it still amazed her. Asuka has never seen anything like it in Earthland.

The resistance that she was met with surprised her and she had tentatively placed the other feet in. She let out a breath of relief and took a few unsteady steps. Not a moment later, she plunged into the river with a shriek. Asuka easily resurfaced a moment later with a sigh. She went back to the river bank and tried again, and again, and again.

She increased her duration each time but she also went through different motions to get used to the idea of fighting atop of water. It was hard, especially considering that the flow of water was inconsistent and she had to regulate the amount of chakra accordingly. If she could master her chakra control in her feet, which was the most difficult, then everything else would be easy.

It wasn't until later that she found out that she was in the Forest of Death. She didn't really care however. In fact, her visits increased. Asuka figured that if she could survive the 'treachery' of the 'Forest of Death' then she could take on anything the Academy threw towards her, at least until she could find something more challenging.

Each day was the same. She was ignored by the inhabitants of the orphanage, though they still whispered behind her back and gave her looks of fear and disgust. She was left to fend for herself, which she could do, but it still troubled her somewhat that Rei would allow a child ─ despite how unusual as she was ─ be left to their fate. She went through her daily regimen of exercises, which increased her flexibility, agility, strength, stamina, speed, and endurance.

She also tried to visit the library at least once a week. Each time, Souma greeted her with a smile and an amused look in his eyes. He helped her with whatever she needed, never once asking questions regardless of what book she checkout which ranged from fairy tales, legends, to chakra and nature transformation and even introductory medical texts. Sometimes, she even encountered Masaru.

"Another weird combination?" Souma remarked as he eyed her selection.

Asuka pouted. "It's not weird! They're interesting."

"Legends of the Past." A voice read and Asuka looked behind to see Masaru staring down at her with a puzzled look. Another shinobi wasn't far behind, this one someone she didn't recognize. She'd long memorized the names of those that she commonly saw on her way to the library, like the shopkeepers and stall owners that she passed as well. "The Founding Clans? Uzushio, Konoha's Sister Village. The Tale of Forest Spirits!?" He read, increasingly incredulous. "What the hell?"

With each title read, Asuka's face got increasingly red before she frowned. "Mou~ Don't judge me Masaru-san! They're interesting to me." She said.

Souma laughed lowly. "Leave her alone Masaru. At least she reads for fun and doesn't treat it like the worst chore in the world, which is more than I can say for you." He mocked, smirking at the offended face Masaru threw at him.

"Shut up Souma." He said before turning back towards Asuka. "Why do you have so many books anyway? Don't you go out and play or something?" He asked.

Asuka fidgeted, looking away from their gaze. "I spend a lot of time alone, Masaru-san. The other kids don't like me much but I don't mind." She said truthfully. She didn't want friends that judged others by the words of others, that didn't follow their own opinions and held such unwarranted hatred in their hearts. "Besides, I got the books to occupy me for my birthday."

Souma and Masaru both stared at her blankly, trying to register the words in their minds.

"Yeah, no." Masaru said, throwing Asuka's books into his bag without a care. He hefted Asuka up to his shoulders without a word, ignoring her yelp of surprise. He turned and began to walk out the library. "Let's go Souma! Leave the desk." He said, his voice leaving no room argument.

The encouragement wasn't needed as Souma was already following closely behind. "Take over for me Ayaka! Thanks!" He didn't pay attention to the sputtered replies nor the sounds of confusion. He casually meandered near Masaru, who had placed Asuka over his shoulders.

The two men exchanged glances, nodding a moment later.

"Akimichi?"

"Akimichi."

"Let's go Kiyo-chan!" Masaru said as he leaped towards the rooftop.

"Masaru-san!" Asuka said, hands gripping at Masaru even as a smile formed on her face.

They went from rooftop to rooftop until they arrived to their destination. A sign read Akimichi but Asuka was mostly focused on the intense savory scents that came from the restaurant. Her mouth watered and her stomach gurgled with hunger. She's never smelled anything so good in her life. She shook the thought away.

"What are we doing here Masaru-san?" She asked.

Masaru gave a small huff of laughter. "It's your birthday right kid?" He said as he walked in. "Like hell are you spending your it alone."

Souma nodded as they sat down in a spare booth. "I can't believe the other brats don't like you. You're a smart brat."

Masaru placed Asuka next to him, gently and absently patting her head. So cute!~ He thought. "They're just jealous. Don't listen to them Asuka-chan." He said. "Have you decided if you wanted to join the Academy?" He asked curiously.

Souma turned his attention to the blue haired little girl. He saw her regularly, at least once a week and somehow, during that time Asuka endeared herself to him. Damn his soft heart but he couldn't say no to her. Since the first time they met, Souma had been curious about her. She had been so small when they'd met, so fragile that Souma was half afraid she'd be blown away with a gust of the wind but there was a determination and strength in her gaze that had stopped him, that had made him wonder. She was smart too and damn if she wasn't a budding genius. He knew that he'd do anything to protect her and by the look in Masaru's eyes, he would too.

Asuka tore her gaze away from the menu and blinked. "Ah, that." She murmured. "Yes, I've decided to enroll in the Academy once I turn eight." She answered, a small smile forming on her face. "I joined because I wanted to become stronger… for many reasons and I figured that I could start with the Academy."

"I figured." Souma said, a smile on his face as well. He reached into his own pocket and took out a scroll. He placed it atop the table, unrolling it and revealing a sealing array.

Asuka looked on curiously, wondering what he was doing when she spied Masaru doing the same and unrolling his own scroll. A sealing scroll? She wondered.

Simultaneously, they placed their hands atop the array. There was a small cloud of smoke before it dissipated. A small pile of books was revealed as well as what looked like a pouch, akin to those that shinobi commonly wore, as well as a box.

"Happy Birthday then, Asuka-chan." Souma said, pushing the pile of books towards Asuka.

Masaru did the same with the pouch and box. "Happy Birthday!" He said cheerfully.

Asuka stared imcomprehensively but before she knew it, tears were brimming in her eyes. She gave a watery smile. She had been fully prepared to spend her birthday alone but it seemed like fate had other plans. "I-I ─" Asuka stuttered, tears winding down her face. "Thank you so much!" She said, standing in the booth and giving Masaru a tight hug before leaping across the table and doing the same to Souma.

The two-shinobi smiled in satisfaction and contentment.

"We're at Akimichi's kid, order whatever you want! Everything's good!" Masaru said.

They stayed there for a long time. They ate the most delicious food that Asuka has ever tasted and they were waited on by the kindest waiter that she's ever met. She figured that they were the famously talented cooks, the Akimichi. The trio talked and talked about anything and everything. They laughed, they had fun and Asuka knew that they were the first of her precious people. She knew that she'd help them in any way that she could.

They left a few hours later. Souma and Masaru personally escorted her home and left with heartfelt goodbyes, reminding her to not let the words and actions of others get to her.

"Remember," Souma said, leaning down to be at eye level with Asuka, "they don't matter, Asuka-chan. You just worry about yourself, you hear?" He said.

"Sou-chan's right." Masaru said, disregarding the other's glare, "Besides, none of those brats have half the talent that you have. I know that you're going to be one hell of a shinobi kid." He gave Asuka a smile.

Asuka gave both a heartfelt smile. "Thank you…" She said, voice brimming with emotion. "Thank you so much!"

For the week afterwards, Asuka was so happy that she completely forgot about the gross behavior of the others inhabitants in orphanage. She had been surprised at the gifts that she had been given but they had been incredibly useful. Souma had given her books on chakra control, nature transformation and elements, introductory as well as slightly advanced medical texts, as well as ─ surprisingly ─ fuinjutsu.

The books helped immensely. It had given her tips that she found, while simple, were incredibly useful. Her chakra control skyrocketed and she could water walk and tree walk without a thought now. She read about the different affinities that a shinobi could have and she already found out what they were. Wedged in between the pages of the book was the paper that allowed one to see their affinity.

Asuka had carefully fed her chakra to the paper and had been immensely surprised when it wrinkled and then became damp. She had been expecting the paper to split in two but when she thought about it, it made sense. Her chakra was independent of her magic ─ her Sky Dragon Slayer Magic ─ so it wasn't unusual that her affinity was water and lightning.

Masaru had given her a set of kunai and shuriken as well as a holster colored black. She hadn't wasted anytime to begin practicing with them. The first few times had been hard but she had seen enough shinobi with them to have some semblance of an idea on how to utilize them. If she had learned anything form Erza though, was to treat any weapon as an extension of yourself. Training with weapons had given Asuka the idea of perhaps trying to specialize with one but with what weapon, she was still unsure. She needed to research more, as well as to try to find a taijustsu style that would work with her Dragon Slaying Magic.

Regarding the medical texts, she had read it through thoroughly first. She took healing seriously and she could see that what she was studying was a lot more in depth. It was complicated, a bit daunting ─ especially considering that she may have the someone else's life in the palm of her hands ─ but it wasn't something she was willing to pass by. If it would help her loved ones then she would definitely do her best to perfect it. There weren't any techniques in the book but that was fine. There was more to learn first. It was only a matter of time, and then, she'd begin.

Her marks had been slightly off and each time she had thrown either a kunai or shuriken they hit slightly off center. She was close but it would take her more practice. She developed callouses and she had gained a few cuts and scrapes from handling weapons but they healed easily enough.

The most significant thing that happened however was when she moved out of the orphanage. Rei had heeded her word and kept her distance but it seemed that she wouldn't let her anger fade as long as she resided there. She found other ways to make her life hell. There was never enough food left over for Asuka, as it seemed that she always missed breakfast, dinner, and lunch by a margin. The pantries were also empty each time she checked, and she checked even during odd hours. Asuka was forced to go hungry more than a few times. Asuka had to go find other means for food, some which involved hunting in the Forest of Death. There was never any hot water left over for her, was never given decent clothes, could never find shoes that fit her.

It was one thing after another and Asuka finally decided that enough was enough.

Asuka had donned the best clothing that she had and went into the Hokage Tower. She had politely requested to see the Hokage. The secretary had looked at her incredulously and she was sure that she would have been turned down, if it hadn't been for a very familiar shinobi passing by.

"Hey, you're that kid that always Masaru and Kenta are always around!" Aoba said, pointing a rude finger towards Asuka.

Not far behind were other two shinobi. One held a scarred face and was looking towards Asuka curiously. Another was a woman, she had long black hair and deep read eyes, reminding Asuka of the famed Uchiha Clan that she had heard and read about. They were missing the commas that the Uchiha held but Asuka decided that both the woman's and the Sharingan's were hauntingly beautiful.

"Ah, Aoba-san." Asuka greeted, eyes wide in surprise.

"What are you doing here?" He said, lowering his hand when the woman pushed it down.

"I needed to talk to Hokage-sama." Asuka answered. "I wanted to talk to him about… a personal matter." She said, slightly hesitating. She wasn't sure of she wanted anyone else to know about her unusual situation. She was slightly afraid to see how others would react but she knew that she'd move past it. It was best to forget that it ever happened. Besides, that would give power to Rei's actions, give her the satisfaction of seeing her affected and there was no way that Asuka would allow that.

"Right…" Aoba said, rubbing at the back of his head. "Right. This is my friend, Yuhi Kurenai. Kurenai, Asuka-chan."

Kurenai smiled at the little girl slightly. "It's nice to meet you Asuka-chan."

Asuka smiled, nodding. "Likewise." She said. She rubbed at the floor with a foot before a determined look filtered over her face. "Ano, would you two be able to help me?"

Aoba and Kurenai exchanged a glance.

A few moments later, Asuka was standing before the most powerful man in the village. The Sandaime Hokage was an elderly man that had a kind demeanor but it didn't hide the strength and keen intelligence in the man's eyes, nor the aura of strength that he imposed. His warm brown eyes were staring right at her.

He reminded her very much of Master Makarov. A man like him, she knew, was worthy of respect, if only just because he was the Hokage.

"Hokage-sama." She greeted, bowing to the leader of Konoha.

"Ah." The Hokage placed his hands atop the desk. "You are Asuka-chan, yes? My shinobi tell me you wanted to speak to me."

Asuka nodded, eyes trained on the floor. "Yes… I know that you must be busy, being the Hokage, s-so I will try not to take too much of your time."

The Hokage laughed lowly. "Nonsense, child. I could use a distraction every now and then." He stared at the multiple piles of paperwork. "The paperwork always seems to breed." He muttered before turning his attention back to the little girl. She was small, a little slip of a thing with long dark blue hair and eyes that brought a pang of regret. Her eyes reminded him those of his own student but Asuka's were different. They were darker, more golden than yellow. He shook the thought away. "How can I help you child?"

Asuka smiled, sensing the genuine intent in the man. "I-I," She took a deep breath, taking a moment to compose herself. "I wanted to ask, if I could be granted my own home. As well as a stipend, at least until I enroll in the Academy and become a shinobi."

Sarutobi frowned. "You wish to have a home?"

Asuka nodded, eyes lowering somewhat. "Yes… I live in the orphanage you see." She didn't miss the slight reaction that he gave. "However, I know that my chances of getting adopted are slim. My presence in the orphanage seems to cause… discontent."

Sarutobi's eyes narrowed, his frown becoming heavy. He's heard that before, in a child just as young as Asuka, except he held golden hair and the brightest blue eyes. Discontent could mean a lot of things, could imply a lot of things that he hoped weren't true.

"It would solve a lot of problems if I lived on my own, Hokage-sama. I would bother no one Hokage-sama." She finished.

There was silence in the office for a moment.

"What kind of discontent Asuka-chan?" He said, voice stern. "I'd appreciate it if you would spare me no details."

Asuka said nothing for a moment. She was before the Hokage, the being that commanded the entire military power of Konoha. She didn't think that she could deny him but at the same time, she felt that she could trust the man. Her instinct told her she could, and Asuka wasn't the type to ignore them.

So she did. She explained the hateful behavior of the inhabitants of the orphanage, especially Rei's. She told of her experience and time there. Told of him of the shoe box room, her clothing that was little more than rags, of the sparse food that was left for her, the cold that permeated and so much more. She told him of the unwarranted anger, the bullying. Everything.

It didn't seem like much but Asuka was sure that had she mentally been as old as she looked, if she had been nothing but a little girl, this could have been really devastating.

Sarutobi remained silent after she finished. He had his eyes closed and his hands were interlocked before him. He breathed in and out calmly and looked ever composed. He opened his eyes a moment later.

"Granted."

-XxX-

REMEMBER, WENDY IS GOING TO BE OP (OVER POWERED) AF.