AN: Most likely, this won't be a super flowing story (as in it is a bit of a PWP?). It will probably be more like Stardust in that it is moments through time. Some chapters might flow together, one coming immediately after the other. Depends on my muse really. Maybe it will turn into a proper story (in terms of everything flowing together). Who knows? Updates will, probably, be slow as I want to write Stardust and figure out where I was going with another one of my stories first.

Thank you for reading!

The first time he laid eyes upon her, he had not known what to think. She had looked so small, covered in large dark bruises and small scrapes. Her demeanor almost seemed defeated, except for her green eyes. Eyes which held such fire, and, behind that, a quiet acceptance. These were not the frightened eyes of a noncombatant. No civilian would be calm in the face of a terrible fate that could befall them in the hands of less than noble men.

She had been found in unusual circumstances by his brother. It was during a twilight patrol of the clan's borders that she was discovered sprawled across the forest floor, surrounded by intricate seals burned into the yellowing grass. Her clothes had been torn with all identifying clan symbols destroyed beyond all recognition.

Logic told Tobirama that she was a potential threat to his clan, an unknown entity who was most likely a well-trained kunoichi spy. Yet, despite all the evidence towards this conclusion –her calloused hands, the fact that she instinctively reached for a non-existent kunai pouch, and the lack of shame in the indecent amount of skin she was displaying- he found himself hesitating in ordering her immediate interrogation. Instead, he just found himself watching her with curiosity. Perhaps he would deal with the girl himself?

Hashirama had left him to deal with girl for his heart was not hardened to deal with matters as grim and merciless as interrogation. His brother was too kind for his own good, refusing to go into the darker side of being a Shinobi unless he had no choice. Tobirama, however, had no such compunction. He had learnt early on in his childhood that the Shinobi path was one that could ill afford compassion towards the enemy for the enemy would have no mercy for him. His dead brothers were a testament towards that.

As he regarded her calmly, the girl became more restless, idly fiddling with a loose string from her clothing. Seeing as he was under the guise of an unassuming and unremarkable brown haired man, there was no way for her to identify who she was dealing with. He had taken this form in case she escaped and reported to one of their enemies or, worse, a currently neutral party. It was entirely possible that his brother had committed a faux pas and taken an unaligned clan member. Albeit that was an unlikely scenario, it would not do to have another Shinobi group interfere in the foray between the Senju and the Uchiha. Especially since a treaty or a temporary truce was becoming more and more foreseeable. A third party could upset the balance in power between the two clans and kick start the war again.

"State your name."

The pink haired girl merely narrowed her eyes at him, pressing her lips into a thin line. A clear sign of refusal to cooperate. He ignored her resistance and went to his next question.

"Where do you hail from?"

Still no response.

"What can you tell me about the seals surrounding where you were found?"

At last, the girl reacted. Her brow wrinkled and her mouth twisted into a frown.

"Wh-what seals?"

Her voice was soft, delicate even. A stark contrast to her bedraggled appearance. The Senju narrowed his eyes. Perhaps she had some memory loss? Or was she hiding something more sinister? A ploy for some greater scheme?

"You do not know of them?"

She shook her head, looking lost. A moment of tense silence passed between them before she stood up to look him in the eye. There was a look of wariness over her face as she pondered over the new information. Tobirama stood still, waiting for what would happen next. How she behaved now would determine how roughly he would treat her from now on. She was no threat, having had chakra suppressing seals placed upon her by Hashirama. She was too exhausted, too disadvantaged against him, to possibly attempt a physical assault. They both knew that. Therefore, if he was unduly ruthless, and she proved to be absolved of any sinister intentions, he would never hear the end of it afterwards. Hashirama would pester him to no end about unnecessary cruelty.

Eventually, she spoke slowly, almost hesitantly, as if she, herself, was not sure as to why she had changed her mind on her silence.

"My name is Sakura. I come from a village far from here. I… I am not sure if I can return."

He nodded patiently, folding his arms across his chest. It was in all likelihood that her village had been destroyed in the never ending conflict between clans. Smaller clans never survived long on their own, often being overrun by more powerful clans. Any surviving men and the elderly would be killed. Women would be kept as play things and for the purpose of bringing in new blood into the stronger clan. Children who were too young to know any better would be trained to value their new owners above all else, even their lives and that of their blood kin. Children old enough to be trained in the Shinobi ways often did not make it out of the initial conflict. Such was the harsh ways of war.

"You escaped?"

Her frown deepened as she raked her eyes over him, assessing him like he did to her.

"I guess I must have gotten away. I remember fighting one moment and then feeling a tugging sensation… Next thing I knew, I was in this room."

Well, he had confirmation that she was not a civilian. It seemed memory loss was not an issue with the girl either. However, a potential new threat existed, if her destroyed village was any indication. He would inform his brother as soon as he was done here. Her short explanation raised the intriguing question of how did those seals come to be if Sakura had not made them herself? He would investigate them later. If he was unable to decipher the meaning behind them, he would call on the aid of one of his allies. No seal would remain unsolved in the presence of an Uzumaki.

Trying to gauge her capabilities, he inquired,

"You are trained as a kunoichi? That is unusual."

Sakura nodded.

"Yes, I am. I was also trained to be a medic nin."

Tobirama felt his eyebrows raising on their own accord. There was no indication of dishonesty. A medical Shinobi? How rare. Perhaps, if she proved not to be a threat, his clan could utilize her abilities. They had few ninja trained in the arts of healing. Most having been killed. Of those that remained, few had any real skill in healing.

He would test her claim later. Perhaps, he would test her the next time he would come for questioning. For now, he settled on a few more personal questions about her clan, trying to paint a picture of her. Her clan's customs and beliefs would help him figure out her personality and potential motivations without forcing him to ask her directly. That would not be done just yet. He wanted to see how she reacted. If she tried to hide information that was no longer as useful as it once was. A dead clan's customs was not most people's top priority to learn about in the grand scheme of things.

Sakura was obviously hiding something as she explained little bits of her life, but he would let it slide for now. Instead, he focused on watching her face as sorrow took hold of her. The loss of her family was no lie. She was attached to her home and felt great pride in being a part of their Shinobi forces. It was not rare for women to be Shinobi in her clan. Training medics had been a prioriy there as well as maintaining peace. They had held no desire to engage in war.

She stopped talking after divulging this information, possibly feeling that was more than enough freely given information. She would want some of her own questions answered soon.

Unfortunately for her, Tobirama was not going to answer her future questions. Instead, he left without a word. His mind turning over the information from the kunoichi.

The girl was intriguing and he had no intention of letting her go just yet. No, he wanted to learn more about her. His curiosity was piqued and little would be able to stop him from satisfying it.

After all, knowledge was power.

Dispelling his henge, he went to find his brother. There was much to discuss.