Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or places in the Narutoverse, just the OC's I create.

My first memory was of walking. I wasn't the one walking, I was being carried by my mother, on her back. We were walking next to my father's wagon in the caravan he owned. Not that I knew that much. I just knew that Father had a wagon and sometimes I would get to ride in it when it was too hot to walk any more, or when Mother was tired. My father was a merchant and we would travel between the coast of the Land of Wind to our home in Sunagakure. We would go to different ports, different cities, and once we event went to a different country. That was a long trip. As far back as I could remember, we would be surrounded by sand and always walking.

For small amounts of time, between the trips, we would be in a city, in a house with permanent walls. We would sleep in beds that had soft sheets, I would take a bath, which I never liked, and wash all the sand off me. When we would be in these different cities, I would have to wear different clothes. When I was very little, I could just wear my walking clothes, but as I got older, I needed to wear a robe, because that is what girls do. At least that is what my mother always told me. Not that I would complain to her, because I didn't complain, that is not what we did in the Land of Wind.

When I was about two and a half, we entered a city that was surrounded by huge rock walls. There was a small path, wide enough for all the wagons to fit through, but not wide enough for two wagons to pass each other, through the rock walls. Along the walls were people, like the people Father would hire to guard our caravan sometimes. They stopped us before we got to the rock wall, Mother made me sit in the wagon on her lap while Father spoke to the people. Mother called them shinobi and said that they are trained in weapons and jutsu to be able to protect the people of Sunagakure and anyone else who pays for the privilege. At the end of the wall, I saw lots of buildings. Most were short, no more than three stories high. They were all the color of sand. At the end of the road we were on, was a very tall building, it stood much higher than anything around it. One the side was the word "Kage" in red.

"Mother? What is that big building?" I asked, pointing to the tall building at the end of the road.

"That is where the Kazekage works. It is called the kage building," she answered.

"Who is the Kazekage?" I asked.

"The kazekage is the protector of Sunagakure. The kazekage is the leader of the shinobi in the Land of Wind. He rules over all of Suna like the daimyō rules over us," Father answered.

I nodded, Father talked a lot about the different rulers of the world. I remember him saying that he moved to Suna to be protected by the kazekage. At the time I never realized just what the protection of the kazekage meant, sadly I now know.

"Mother, what are we going to buy here?" I asked, because why else would we be in a city?

Father and Mother both laughed, "Tsukio," Father smiled at me, "This is Suna, this is home. We are home to sell what we have bought in other places."

I felt the warmth of happiness flow through my veins. Father smiled at me! Then his words registered, "Home? Not the caravan?"

Mother shook her head, "Home, it is like the hotels we have stayed at, but permanent. We will be here for a while, until we need to go and get more wares."

I looked closely at Mother, her voice sounded funny. Like it did when she found me after she said I was lost, but I wasn't lost because I knew exactly where I was, Mother was the one who moved, not me! Mother was smiling so big I could see her teeth, so I smiled too. When Mother was happy, everyone was happy.

The wagons continued moving down the road, past the Kage tower, into a very busy part of the city. Father stopped the wagons in front of a store, I could see someone who looked like Father inside.

"Hello!" the man that looked like Father cried out when he saw Father at the door. "You are back Masahi! Just in time, we were running low on some things."

Father gave the man a hug, "Isamu, it is good to see you. I trust everything was just fine here?
"Of course nii-san, although it will be good to have you back."

Mother got down from the wagon and held her hands up, "Come Tsukio, it is time to meet Isamu-oji."

I grin, I know that name! He is Father's little brother and Father talks about him a lot. Father told me a story about when uncle got his hand stuck in one of grandmother's favorite vases and they almost had to break the vase to get his hand out. Father said that Grandmother was very unhappy about it, but Father and Mother laughed at the story, so it must have been a good ending.

Mother and I go stand next to Father, I hide behind Mother and bury my head in her robe. I am not normally shy, but this is a person that Father and Mother talk about often and I want him to like me.

"Tsukio, you remember me talking about my little brother, Isamu, right?" Father asked.

I nod my head, peeking out from behind Mother.

Isamu smiles and kneels down in front of me, "This can't be little Tsukio! When you left she was this big," he held his hand out about two feet apart, "Did you get a different child to pretend to be little Tsukio?"

I lift my chin and stare at my uncle. "I am not little! I am this big!" I hold my hand out at my head height as I correct Uncle Isamu.

Isamu laughs, "I can see that you are a big girl now, Tsukio. Did you want some water or tea before you head home?"

I look up at Mother, wide eyed. I know the rule, no taking food or drink from anyone unless Mother or Father says it is okay. I smile when Mother nods, "Water pease." I say, frowning I think about what I just said before trying again, "May I 'ave some water, pease?" I grin and look up to see Father and Mother grinning back at me.

Uncle stood up and we followed him as he walked into the store. Some men came from the back of the store and started to help unload the wagons. Mother took me to a table and we sat down while Uncle got some glasses of water for Mother and me. Then I watched as Uncle and Father supervised the unloading and storing of the wares from the wagon.

I watched as crates and barrels were unloaded and brought into the back and I drank my water. This water was different from the water I was used to, for one thing, this water was cold. Like the water we would get from the oasis at night. I played with the small beads of water that formed on the side of my cup. It took forever, or at least long enough for me to finish my water and the water on the sides of my cup to not be there, before Father and Uncle were finished. Mother gave me a couple crackers from her pocket and I happily ate them. Then Mother put me on her lap and let me rest my head against her shoulder. I knew what this meant, Mother was trying to put me to sleep! I didn't want to go to sleep, I would miss something if I did. So, I kept my eyes very wide, so they couldn't close.

Blink

Father and Uncle were drinking some water inside the store.

Blink

Father and Uncle were gone, but Mother was rocking back and forth and humming something.

Blink

Father and Uncle were back! They were talking about something and pointing to something on the table between them. I tried to turn my head to see what they were pointing at, but my head was so heavy.

Blink

Mother was moving, I struggled to open my eyes, when that didn't work I made a noise.

"Sshh, Tsukio, just rest. We are home now," Mother told me. I nod and sink into the soft pillow under my head.

I wake up to the sound of people talking. I recognize Mother, Father and I think that last voice is Uncle Isamu. I looked around the room, it had a single small window, the bed I was laying on and a dresser in the middle of the wall on the other side of the room. It was smaller than some of the hotel rooms Mother and I shared, but it was not huge. Just right for me. The curtain covering the window was moving slightly in the breeze. Sitting up I feel a weight fall off my chest and I look, it is my stuffed bunny, I always sleep with her.

I stand up, the floor is cold on my feet. I look for my shawl to keep the sun and sand off my face, it is sitting at the end of the bed. I slip it on, Mother always tells me to keep my shawl on.

"The Kazekage has made new taxes concerning the selling of our wares. Things that are listed under luxury items will have a higher tax than goods listed as necessities. I have the lists, you should familiarize yourself with these goods. My wife has been creating a color coded labeling system to help us and our customers to recognize what goods fall into which categories."

"Why the change?" Father asks.

"We think it has something to do with a famine, or at least a smaller than average crop. Some of the food vendors have been complaining about the lack of farmers selling their crop. This way food will stay reasonably priced, while other luxury items will be able to make up the cost difference." Uncle replied.

"That is good planning then. People will not starve, but also merchants will not complain too much about the loss of revenue if we have to import more food at higher costs," Father said thoughtfully.

I walk down the stairs to the room where my parents are. With my bunny in one hand and rubbing my eyes with the other, I am sure I made a cute picture. Mother stood up and brought me to the table and gave me a plate of food. The adults continued to talk about the changes that have happened since we left. After I was done, Mother had me wash my hands and face and sent me to my room to unpack my clothes.

That was the first day of what I like to think of as my home time.

My life was divided into home time and sand time. My Uncle Isamu and Father would trade off who would lead the caravan and who would watch the store. I can't say which I loved more.

When we were at home, I would help Mother and Father in the store. I helped to fold cloth that was cut, help to find matching buttons and thread. It was all a big game for me. At home I took water baths at least once every three days. I wouldn't have to wear my shawl all the time, but I would have to wear a robe while I was in the store. At home I could play with other children in the village. As I got older at home I would continually practice my numbers and letters, moving into reading and mathematics. Mother told me I was a very smart with numbers and letters.

During my sand time I could just wear my pants, shirt and shawl. I had Mother and Father to myself, for the most part. I could run and play along the length of the caravan. Father would play counting games with me while Mother would play word games with me. When we would stop for the night I was able to listen to the other people driving the wagons tell stories about different caravan trips. My favorite stories were the ones told by the shinobi that Father would hire. The older ones would tell funny stories of missions gone wrong, the younger ones would tell about stories at the Academy. After I went to bed, the older ones would tell stories about a war, the stories would be about bravery and living to see another fight.

Sometimes the shinobi would teach me things, the most fun was learning how to run on the sand. I couldn't run up the sand dunes like they could, but one shinobi said it was because my legs were too short. I continued to practice every chance I got, I was going to run up the sand dunes like the shinobi. One shinobi taught me how to balance stuff on my fingers. It was very difficult and very tiring. It took the whole trip before I could balance a piece of scrap wood on my finger to the count of one hundred. After that, I had to learn how to balance the same piece of wood on my finger while I was walking. One of the younger shinobi showed me her shuriken and told me when I was older she would teach me how to throw it, but for now, I had to practice hitting a target with a rock. Hitting a target was more difficult than I thought it would be. Then I got to practice throwing rocks and sticks between the wagon wheel spokes while we were walking. One shinobi had me hold a piece of scrap paper on my forehead while I helped Mother prepare dinner.

At first all of this was very hard, but as I practiced, I was able to get better and better. I would practice some of these skills while I was at home. The sand running was difficult, but at least at home I had an abundance of small papers, rocks and other things that allowed me to practice throwing, catching, and balancing.

Time continued to march forward. The constant motion between home and sand.

A very sad day happened when I was at home. Mother was at home making dinner while Father was closing the store. I was outside with some of the neighbor kids, we were playing a game of tag. A man wearing a shinobi outfit walked up to my house and knocked on the door. His head scarf was very white, that was strange because most head scarves are tan or off white. The man handed Mother a scroll and turned around and walked away.

"Tsukio, run and go get your father," she called out.

I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, Mother had her 'a sand storm is approaching, and we need to move fast' voice. It seemed to take forever but I finally burst through the front door of our store.

Father looked up from his books, "Tsukio? What are you doing here?" He sounded worried.

"Mother," I took a few breaths, trying to catch my breath from my sprint, "Mother said to get you."

Father looked confused, "Did she say why?"

I shook my head, still breathing heavily, "A shinobi came, and Mother said to come an' get you." I repeated.

Father nodded, he tucked the books into their proper places and together we walked out of the store. Father stopped to lock the front the door before walking down the road in huge steps. I ran to keep up with him. I stumbled on a rock and Father reached down and picked me up and put me on his back. I laid my head down on his strong back, everything was going to be just fine, Father would take care of it.

Father put me down outside the house and told me to go and play with my friends some more. I was happy, with Father home, dinner would be soon, and I could play with my friends until it was time to eat. My happiness was cut short by the wail that came from my house. Running to the house, I open the door, to see my father kneeling on the ground holding onto Mother's robe, his shoulders shook as he sobbed into her robes. I rushed over to hug Father. I look up and see Mother has tears on her face, so I try to put my arms around both. After a while, Father's sobs slow and his arms come up to hug me back.

"Mother? Father? Wha' wong?" I ask.

Father took a shaky breath, "Uncle Isamu..." He broke off.

"Uncle Isamu is buying and selling ou' wares outside Suna, to brin' more wares to sell in Suna." I reply helpfully. I knew about Uncle, when he was home, we were in the sand, since we were home, he was in the sand.

Father shook his head, his eyes filling with water once again, my eyebrows come together in a frown as I start to bite my lower lip. "Tsukio, Uncle was killed," Father's voice was flat, like when he was reading a long list of numbers.

I tilt my head to the side to look at Father better, I knew what killed was, the shinobi that guard our caravan talk about friends that were killed. One of the younger shinobi told me that killed meant that you died, and you were never coming back, but that was okay because you died in service of Suna. The shinobi always looked hopeful when they talked about their friends, Father didn't look hopeful, he looked, broken.

"Killed means not coming back?" I asked looking up at Mother

Mother nodded, "Yes, Tsukio, Uncle Isamu is not coming back."

I give Father another hug. Mother finally gets Father to get up from the floor and she takes him to their room. "Stay here, Tsukio-chan, I will be right back."

I nod and go to the corner where I have a set of wooden blocks and play quietly. I hear Father crying some more and Mother's soothing voice. After a while, I didn't hear anything coming from their room. Then I heard the soft rustle of Mother's robe as she walked back into the room.

"Are you hungry?" Mother asks softly.

I nod, my tummy making a loud noise.

Mother smiles and holds her hand out, "Well let's feed the wolf in your belly then."

Time took on a different meaning then. Instead of home and sand, it became with Father and without Father. Mother and I stayed at home to take care of the store while Father went out to buy and sell outside the Village. We wore black robes, I kept tripping on mine, even when Mother shortened the robe. I wasn't allowed to play with the neighbors anymore when Father was home. When Father was home, we would go to the cemetery, Mother explained that was where people who died were laid to rest. Laid to rest is like a long sleep. Before we would go to the cemetery, we would go to one of the flower shops and get some white flowers to put into the little cup on Uncles grave.

One day when Father was home, Mother and Father sat me down after dinner.

"Tsukio, would you like a little brother or sister?" Mother asked.

I think about it, I could have someone to play with while Mother was at the store and I nod, "Can I choose a brother?" I decided a brother would be more fun, my friends have sisters and brothers and the ones with sisters complain the most.

Mother laughed, "I don't think you get to choose, you see the baby is in Mother's stomach and in a few months will arrive."

"Why so long?"

"It takes a long time to make a baby," Father explains.

I nod, because if it takes days to make Father a new robe, then it must take longer to make a baby. Although why Mother would want to make a baby when there are plenty of babies around I don't understand. You only had to walk around the neighborhood to hear them screaming and crying.

Father was gone more after Mother made her announcement. Mother said it was so that he could be home when the new baby arrived. Mother taught me more and more about how to do the books at the store, how to make meals and how to clean up the house and the store.

Then one day we were celebrating my fourth birthday. I got a new book of stories from Grandmother, a new ball from one of the neighbors, lots of blank parchment, scrolls, brushes, ink, pencils and pens from other people. Mother gave me a new robe, this one was brown, along with a new set of clothes, this one was a pair of wide legged pants, in a light brown, tan color, the top was sleeveless in a darker brown with a pink belt around the waist. A light enough outfit to wear under my robe without being too hot but also covering enough that I could take off my robe without upsetting people by the skin showing. I was excited about the pants because when I wore them, it looked like I was wearing a skirt. I must be old enough to wear skirts and dresses like Mother does all the time.

Mother was always talking about modesty or how to keep yourself clothed. Which is why I had so many shawls of different lengths and so many different robes. Although everyone in Suna wore robes, mostly in browns and blacks, so maybe that was just a Suna thing. When we used to travel, I wore my hood up to keep the sun from burning my skin, and to keep the sand out of my mouth. Later I would learn that light skin was prized among the Land of Wind, and to ensure I would be able to get a wealthy husband, Mother kept my skin as light as possible.

After my birthday, Father left again and didn't come back until we celebrated the New Year. The New Year festival was fun and bright. Father and Mother took me out to try the foods, play the games and to watch the people in their best clothes walk around. I got to stay up late that night to watch the fireworks bursting over the sand. The colors were so bright and wonderful. I loved watching the bright reds and blues light up the sky from the safety of our roof. I must have fallen asleep at some point because the next morning I woke up to Mother shaking my shoulder.

"Tsukio, get up, your Father is leaving this morning and you need to say good bye."

I slowly sit up and get out of bed. The room is dark, which means Father will not be staying for breakfast before he leaves. I pull on one of my older robes before I walk out of my room, Mother helped me put my arms in and together we walked down the stairs to greet Father. Father was standing there with a small frown on his face that changed to a bright smile when he saw me.

"Tsukio, I know you will be a good girl while I am gone. I want you to help your mother as much as you can."

I nod, Father tells me this every time he leaves, "Yes, Father."

"I should be back before the baby is born, however if I am not, I need you to go to the grocery store and tell the owner that the baby is born. I have left instructions with him."

I nod, the grocery store owner is our neighbor and sometimes I get to play with his youngest son, who is my age. "Yes Father."

"You are four, which means you are old enough to remember my instructions."

"Yes Father, I will not forget."

Father bent down, and I gave him a big hug, he gave me a kiss on the top of my head and I smiled. Taking a deep breath through my nose, making sure to remember the comforting smells that make up the scent known as Father, I let go and take a step back. I slowly walk backwards out of the living room to give Mother and Father a moment to say their good byes, this usually involves kissing and hugs, and Mother doesn't like to do that stuff in front of me, so I walk away, and everyone is happy. I am very happy because it means that I don't have to see Father walk out of the door.

Time marched forward, Father came home before the end of the month. Father brought me a new book from someplace called Konoha, I had to look it up on a map in the store, it is in the Land of Fire. I hadn't been there before, at least not that I remember. Father brought the new baby a stuffed teddy bear, like my bunny. Together Mother and I had gotten the new baby's room set up. The new baby had a special bed called a crib on one wall. I picked out the yellow bears that decorated the curtains and pillows on the rocking chair. Father set the new teddy bear in the crib and he smiled.

Shortly after Father came home, Mother had to go to the hospital. I was told that the baby was coming soon, and I had to stay with Grandmother. Grandmother's house was boring, but she did let me play with my friends for as long as I wanted to. We were talking about the new baby and since most of us were four, we would be starting school soon. When one of my friends started to tell us what his older brother said school was about, I decided that I didn't want to go to school. It sounded too much like what I was doing already, reading, math, and history.

Mother came home today with the new baby!

"I have a little brother!" I tell everyone who comes into the store. "His name is Takashi."

Father smiles at me as people congratulate us.

The baby is loud, he likes to cry all the time. Mother is too tired to play with me and I am having to help more at home. I have gotten good at making rice and stirring soups I have also gotten good at putting food in the oven. At the store I help Father with the bookkeeping, and to keep the store clean.

My favorite part of the day was after Takashi had been feed and before he went back to sleep. It was at this point that I was able to hold my brother. Mother would make dinner or take a quick shower or get some food chopped and ready for me or Father to combine to make another meal. I would talk to my little brother, I would tell him about all the travels in the sand, tell him stories that were shared around the fires, tell him stories about the people who visited the store. I would just talk to my little brother. His large brown eyes would stare at me and sometimes he would smile.

As he got older, we would continue this little ritual of ours, where I would tell him stories while Mother would be busy.

A few weeks after Takashi was born, Father had to go out again. Mother watched over the store, while I stayed at home to watch Takashi, with the help of Grandmother. Mother would come home a couple times during the day to feed Takashi, but if he was very hungry and Mother wasn't there, I was able to give him a bottle.

While Father was gone, Mother sat me down to tell me that I was going to start school in a couple weeks. She wanted me to come with her to pick out my school supplies. I got to pick out some new parchment and new ink. The brushes I received for my birthday were still brand new, so I passed on new brushes. Mother found a dark pink ribbon and made a pretty hair bow to wear with my braids.

Too quickly I started my first day of school. I knew most of the people in my class, I had grown up with most of them, and their parents ran the stores around my father's store. I later learned that the civilians were all housed in the same area to make protection easier, or to maintain control. The teacher was funny, but she was nice. We sang a counting song and a song to help with our letters. I got to play on the swings during recess. Mother packed me a yummy lunch and I was able to eat with my friends. After lunch we listened to a story about a woman in the moon who came to Earth. After the story, we painted a picture of our family. I made sure to have Takashi in Mother's arms.

After school let out, I walked home, just like Mother told me too, with my friends. One by one, they would go to their houses and the rest of us would wave and call to them we would see them tomorrow. At home I put my school stuff away and changed into my older clothes. I then started to make rice and lit the fire under the stew, so it would be ready when Mother came home.

Days continued, the same thing happening, making the days blur together. Then one day shinobi showed up at our school. The teacher told us that the shinobi were here to observe, and we would be given some tests.

"Don't worry about it if you can't perform the tasks required. These tests are not for a grade, they are just to see if you can do some things," the teacher reassured us.

I was still worried though. "I hope I pass these tests, Father will be very upset if I fail any test," I whisper to Kimiko.

"Me too," she whispered back.

"Okay class, line up and head to the playground," the teacher called out. We all stood in line and followed the teacher to the playground.

"Wow," I gasp, the playground had become a huge sand field. There were even little sand dunes. A light touch with my hand showed the sand was not the packed sand of Suna, but the loose kind like in the desert.

"Now class, try to walk across the sand," Teacher said.

I looked around, most of my classmates were frowning and very confused. I watched as the bravest of us took a small step onto the sand, I watched as he took three steps before his foot sunk in up to his knee. Having seen nothing bad happen the rest of the class moved up to the sand and tried to walk on it.

I held my hand out to my friend, "Let's go together," I whisper. Holding her hand, we slowly took a single step towards the sand field. My friend was able to take two steps before she sunk down. I tried to hold onto her hand, but I was midway into my third step and I felt the sand move beneath my feet, remembering what the caravan shinobi said to me, I focused on my feet and took another step in the opposite direction of the moving sand. When my foot contacted the sand, that sand started to move too. I bit my lower lip as I studied the sand in front of me, the sand was shifting for about two more steps. I focus on my feet and take a leap over the shifting sand, once I my feet hit the sand I run up to the closest sand dune.

"Very good," the teacher calls out when half the class was on a sand dune and the other half was knee deep in the sand. "Now back to the classroom."

We all lined up and trekked back to the classroom, where as we walked into the classroom we are given pieces of parchment, we are told to put the parchment on our forehead and hold it there without using our hands. This test goes by quickly, as we don't have to keep the parchment on our heads for long.

The next tests were more balancing things on different body parts. The final test was a race around the school's perimeter.

"Mother!" I call as soon as I walk into the store. "I'm back."

Mother walked out with Takashi in her arms and a smile on her face, "Tsukio, how was your day?"

"Today we had some shinobi watching us take some tests. They were weird test, Mother, but I did my best just like you and Father always tell me too."

Mother's face grew pale and her smile faded, she looked upset.

"I'm sorry Mother, I will try harder next time," I rush my words through my cold lips, I disappointed Mother, I could feel the disappointment rush through my body, as I hung my head.

"No, Tsukio, I am not upset at you, not at all. I am just a little worried that the test was too hard for you," Mother's face was all pinched tight, but some color was back in her face.

Takashi started to fuss, and I held out my arms, "I'll take him, Mother."

Mother nodded, "That will be good, take your brother home and I will be home in a couple hours."

I smile brightly, "Yes, Mother." I walk out into the hot air, the hot season is coming fast this year, Grandmother said so. As I walk home, I start to tell Takashi all about the shinobi and the tests that my class had to do. Most were hard, and I was tired, but I know I didn't disappoint Mother, so it was a good thing.

Our house was cool when I walked in, the darkness keeping the insides nice and cold, which was great when the hot season started. Only the living room and the upstairs had windows, this was to keep the sand outside and it was easier to protect the house from sand storms if there were not a lot of windows. I set Takashi on the floor of the living room on a blanket and set my school backpack next to the door with my sandals. I then take the broom and sweep the first floor to remove any sand that may have come in.

Mother came home, and we had dinner, I took a bath that night and fell asleep very quickly.

The next morning before we had even finished breakfast, a shinobi came to the door. Mother gasped as he handed her a scroll. I remember what happened the last time a shinobi brought a scroll to the door and I walk over to Mother and wrap my arms around her.

She pats my arm and opens the scroll, "It's okay Tsukio, it isn't about Father."

"It isn't? Then what did the shinobi have to give you?"

Mother smiles at me, but it isn't a happy smile, "You remember the tests you took yesterday at school?"

I nod, the tests were yesterday, not last year.

"They were tests to see if the children of Suna could become shinobi."

I gasp, feeling excitement lick my insides. "Did I pass?" I ask, unconsciously holding Mother tighter.

Mother smiled at me, but there were tears in her eyes, "You did, sweetheart."

I could feel the grin that was so wide it hurt my cheeks, I jumped up and down, "I passed! I can become a shinobi! YES!" I ran back to Mother and gave her a big hug.

Mother leaned down and gave me a hug, I felt wetness on my check from where her face pressed mine. "Mother?"

Mother smiled, "I'm proud of you Tsukio. Grandmother will watch Takashi while we go shopping for supplies for your new school. You won't go to school today. You will start at the Academy after the weekend."

This was officially the best day ever! I get to spend time with Mother, all by myself! We walked to the other side of the village, this was where the shinobi lived, where the shops that catered to the needs of shinobis were located. We got some kunai, shuriken, the oils, stones and everything I would need to take care of them. We walked into a clothing store, Mother knew the person in charge. They talked for a little bit, talking about fabrics and styles, and I wondered around. There were lots of clothes that looked like it was made of netting, but when I touched it, it was stiff.

"It is called mesh armor," a voice said next to me.

I jump a little, I was too engrossed in my own head to notice them walk up to me. I turn to see a girl with chin length brown hair, she was wearing a blue shirt that hung off one shoulder and had a white sleeveless shirt showing, she had a black short skirt on and long black stockings and sandals. She was smiling, so I smiled back.

"Are you a shinobi?" I ask quietly, so Mother doesn't scold me for asking personal questions.

"I am training to be one," the girl replied.

I straightened my spine and smiled, "I start training on Monday!" I glance to see if Mother heard me, "Mother is helping me get what I need."

The girl nodded, "You will need different clothes for sure. Robes will just get in the way. You should also get some mesh armor, to get used to the feel of it on your skin. A shirt and shorts if you will be wearing a skirt," she took a hold of the edge of her skirt and lifted it slightly, revealing the black mesh shorts underneath.

I nod enthusiastically.

"Tsukio, come here," Mother called.

I waved to the girl shinobi before rushing over to Mother and the shop keeper.

"Go behind the curtain and take your robes off, child," the shop keeper instructed. I look at Mother who nods her permission.

Going behind the curtain, I find a medium sized room, smaller than the front room, but large enough for a bench, a stool and a small raised area in the center of the room. I took my robe off and hung it up on the small hook near the bench. After a minute of standing there, I peek out from behind the curtain.

The shop keeper spotted me and waved her hand, "Come here child, let's see what you are wearing and what we can do to modify it to be clothing fit for a shinobi."

The shop keeper was very happy, and her happiness infected the whole shop.

"Hmm," the shop keeper said as she looked me up and down. I was wearing a sleeveless tunic in tan and dark brown wide legged pants. I had a dark pink sash around my waist that I previously had around the waist of my robe. "The top is fine, you will need to add some deeper side seams for better movement. The pants will need to tighten and possibly shorten. The belt can stay, it will be useful for storage, you will need to get a set of shinobi sandals though, brown or black I think," the shop keeper was talking to Mother as she walked around me. "Does she always keep her hair in braids?"

"Yes," Mother replied.

"That's good, it is much easier to wrap around your head to keep out of the way." The shop keeper walked over to the section of mesh armor and pulled out a sleeveless shirt and then she walked over to another section and pulled out a pair of shorts, a pair of long pants and a pair of short pants gathered at the bottom. "Go back and try these pants on. Put the mesh under your current shirt," the shop keeper handed me the pants and the shirt.

A quick glance around the shop showed the shinobi girl standing near Mother, she caught me looking at her and smiled. I smiled back and walked back behind the curtain to the other room. The mesh shirt was stiffer than I was used too, but it wasn't scratchy, and I could still move in it. I put the shorts on and frowned, I hadn't worn shorts often, only on the hottest days, and only when I was inside. Mother walked in and frowned with me.

"The cloth used is a special cloth, designed to help deflect slow projectiles and to help deflect slashes. If you want to make her clothes for her I can get you a good deal on the cloth, however I will happily continue to make her clothes if you want," the shop keeper said from behind Mother. "Not shorts then," the shop keeper said noting the frown on both mine and Mother's faces. She followed Mother into the room. "Try on the next pair of pants."

I nod and turn my back to the two women and step out of the shorts and hold up the long pants. I step into them and pull them on. They are much tighter than I was used to, more like the leggings I had to wear on the rare occasions it was cold. The pants were very tight, almost like a second skin which I didn't like and when I moved I found that they were stiff, much stiffer than the mesh armor. I turn around and shifted from leg to leg, uncomfortable with them. Mother tugged on the bottom of my shirt as if to magically make it longer.

"Not those either then," the shop keeper didn't seem upset at all. "Try on the last pair."

I look over at Mother who nods again. As quickly as I could I removed the pants and took a deep breath. I picked up the last set of pants, gave them a little shake and found that they moved more like my regular pants. I slipped them on, they were looser than the pants, but much tighter than my wide legged pants. They stopped just under my knees, although with the elastic hemming the bottom of the legs, I could easily pull them up above my knees. I was able to move around in them like my normal pants.

The shop keeper smiled, "I think those are the pants."

Mother nodded as she ran her hand over the cloth along my legs. "Do you think you could make it slightly fuller around the hip and thigh area?"

"Of course," the shop keeper said pulling out a measuring tape, "Jump on the platform and let me get your measurements."

I stand on the platform and hold still as she takes all my measurements, then she quickly wrote down the measurements.

"I can make three full sets of clothes by next week, if you take these pants and the mesh shirt, your total is," she paused for a moment, "forty thousand ryō."

Mother nodded, "I can pay half now and half when I collect the clothes."

The shop keeper nodded, "Very good, very good."

"Tsukio, go take off those pants and the mesh shirt and put on your clothes."

"Yes Mother," I reply. I quickly follow Mother's instructions.

We take our packages home and I take my new supplies to my room.

"Make sure you put all of those weapons away, so your brother can't reach them," Mother calls out from the foot of the stairs.

AN: It occured to me that there isn't much written about Suna. So I decided to give it a shot for NaNoWriMo in 2018. Here is the fruit of that month. For those who have read my other work, you know this is a Gaara/OC fic. Well this is going to be a very long and very slow burn. As you can see, Tsukio has some growing up to do before she can be a fitting match for our favorite Kazekage.