Chapter Text
'Stop there, and let me correct it
I wanna live a life from a new perspective
You come along because I love your face
And I'll admire your expensive taste'
Admittedly Nana got second hand embarrassment thinking back to her time in middle school when she would do the Naruto run while milling about the playground with her friends. Yet years later into adulthood when the video game Naruto: Warring Era - Burning Leaf was announced she preordered the game the moment she could.
To start the game the player had to choose from the future preexisting Konoha clans and create a character. After which the player is dropped into the Land of Fire before the founding of any ninja villages.
In a sense Naruto: Warring Era - Burning Leaf was a free roaming open world, quest and commission's from Npcs driven story. Where there is the fun of battling enemies and fighting with ninjutsu, but the main focus eventually involves the player's clan joining Konoha.
Nana would best describe the game, as Animal Crossing, Stardew Valley, and Ghost of Tsushima put through a blender then given a Naruto themed coat of paint. In other words she was hooked.
Although one creative choice that baffled her was the lack of Izuna Uchiha's existence. Nana might have rationalized this as there simply not being enough canon material to flesh out a cannon fodder plot device character, but it was a choice that was a little annoying for her.
Nana shook her head. Actually no the devs were being lazy and cutting corners. Izuna was the only thing missing because the developers didn't want to do the effort to put him into the game.
Seeing an Izuna shaped hole to fill that was why Nana decided to play as a female Uchiha named Izuna.
In the game, her character had the same appearance as her canonical counterpart. Long black spikey hair, tied back in a low ponytail, and her eyes a pair of dark onyx eyes. Given the nature of her lanky but tall build and sharp features, she was a bit on the androgynous side.
Her attire consisted of traditional high collar Uchiha robes, and fingerless gloves underneath the topcoat layer of her clan uniform. For the defence stat boosts she dawned plated armour.
While Nana's primary weapon was as cliche as could be, a katana. The secondary was the more interesting part. A gunbai, because what Uchiha didn't fan the flames of war and battle.
Red eye shadow also attributed to her overall look.
Her current inventory consisted of a set of shurikens, a stack of explosive tags, a set of kunai, ration bars, a medical kit, and a canteen of water. Items key to her survival during missions outside the village.
Strolling around the village of Konohagakure was a relaxing experience, and one Nana had grown fond of. The village's architecture, and the surrounding mountainous forest were beautiful.
The cherry blossom trees were planted by Nana herself in an effort to give the village a sense of life. Hence petals fluttered around her as she walked along the cobblestone streets of the village, was a sight to behold. It was part of the village customization feature that allowed her to add more life to her virtual settlement.
Her home itself was located in the Uchiha district, and was the typical style of architecture for the time period. Which meant sliding shoji doors, tatami mats, and paper lamps.
Increasing friendship with different characters was another part of the game play loop. Nana could spend the majority of her time interacting with the people of Konoha and engaging in dialogue with them. That's how immersed she was.
Nana had already gifted Madara some inarizushi to boost their friendship points. Out of all companions she probably had the highest friendship level with the infamous man. There was the option to engage in small talk so Nana would pester him like only a younger sibling does.
She had also given Hashirama and Mito some tea as an engagement gift. One of the side quests that Nana had still yet to complete was the Senju-Uzumaki alliance wedding ceremony .
A companion notification popped up. MISSION: Assist Tobirama with his research and develop a deeper understanding.
The objective was a new addition that Nana was excited for. Sometimes random companion missions would be added for different characters to deepen the player's relationship with them.
This was the first time this particular companion objective was available for Nana.
It took Nana many attempts to go from an antagonistic relationship with the white haired Senju to barely amicable. Regardless there was something finicky with the NPC because he still insisted on accompanying her on missions despite their friendship level.
A prickly pear is how Nana would best describe Tobirama.
Arriving at the Senju compound she was greeted by the two clan guards stationed at the entrance gave the programmed response. "Uchiha-san, Lord Tobirama is waiting for you."
Nana would have gave a polite nod had her character been capable of such a gesture. 'I'm sure he is.' She thought offhandedly as she stepped foot onto Senju ground.
The walk to the main household was pleasant enough. The Senju family lived in a manor that was situated at the back of the compound. The path she took to get to the manor was a dirt path, lined with shrubbery and flowers.
The Senju head's home had a mini garden that was well tended to. Must be Hashirama's work.
There was only one place Tobirama could be, that being the Senju clan archives. Which was essentially just a library in the home, that Nana entered once she wove through hallways.
Tobirama was easy to spot, his white hair was a dead give away. His back was turned towards her, and his nose was buried in a scroll.
The library was filled to the brim with scrolls, tomes, and books. Shelves upon shelves had a collection of literature that was organized by subject.
Apart from the shelves, there was a table that had a pile of scrolls and a inkwell for calligraphy. A writing desk and a lamp was also present.
Nana could picture him hunched over the table, with ink staining his hands and a furrowed brow. The sight of a focused Tobirama was a cute image, especially considering he was in a casual yukata.
Not that Nana would ever admit to thinking so.
"Hmph... Uchiha-san, I presume your presence here means you're accepting my offer?" Tobirama had said without even glancing her way.
Nana didn't bother to ask how he knew she was here, besides lore reasons, sensor type ninja in the game were pretty good at detecting the players.
"Obviously." Was the answer Nana choose to go with, which was the truth.
"I require ample space to unseal this unique scroll I found and I would prefer Anija or anyone else to not interrupt us. If you would be so kind, as to lead me somewhere quieter, then I would be most grateful." Tobirama's tone was as formal as it could get.
As expected a quest pop up appeared. MISSION: Guide Tobirama to a secluded training ground.
Nana was quick to accept the quest. "Follow me, I know just the place."
With Tobirama in tow Nana left the Senju household and headed for the Naka River. She figured she'd take him to a clearing near the stream.
There were plenty of trees in the area, and the ground was covered in a healthy amount of grass.
"This should suffice, now allow me a moment to unseal this scroll." Tobirama fiddled with the object in his hands.
"Do not disturb me until I am finished. It should not take me long." He stated as he laid down the scroll. It was a fairly large scroll that looked quite thick. The parchment was yellowed and the edges were worn down.
Nana's best guess was it was some kind of kenjutsu scroll given the nature of its appearance similar to the one Hashirama utilized often.
A cutscene played Tobirama placed his hands on the scroll and started to unseal it. However, his eyes widened and he shouted "get back!"
Nana's vision grew dark. She was no longer in the privacy of her own bedroom, she was now inside a forest. The last thing she could recall was hearing a voice, a familiar one, one that sounded like a certain Senju.
"Izuna ..!? "
"What even?" Nana muttered under her breath, before she could even realize what happened. There was a weight on top of her body.
Then she blinked, and her vision cleared. She realized she was face to face with a pair of ruby red eyes. 'Holy fuck.' Was the only thought going through her mind.
It was then her brain registered the feeling of a hard, firm, warm body pinning her own. Her legs were tangled with his.
A scowl was etched into Tobirama's handsome face. "I told you to move out of the way. So I had to intervene!" He blurted out. Pink started to dust his cheeks.
Nana swallowed a lump in her throat.'This has to be a dream. This is a very realistic, but very much not real dream.'
Her brain had a moment of clarity, and the reality of the situation was finally dawning on her. "This isn't a dream, is it?"
Tobirama gave her a perplexed look, the kind of look a person gives when they aren't sure if the person they're talking to is joking or not. "No."
"Fuck."
"Quite." He agreed. Tobirama's expression remained neutral. "It appears that the scroll was capable of transporting whoever uses it to a location unknown."
Nana felt a sense of dread. She had a bad feeling about the implications of his words.
Tobirama seemed to sense her distress and said, "Fear not, we'll figure out a way to return to Konoha. Though in the meantime..."
His red eyes glanced downward. Nana followed his gaze and realized their situation.
It was then she was painfully aware that she could feel the heat radiating from his skin. She could feel the firm press of his biceps against her curves and his yukata had fallen open just enough to show the smooth pale skin.
If the flush that coloured her cheeks was any indication, her face was probably crimson. "I see your point, still you're one heavy ass bastard." The words fell from her lips, unbidden.
She mentally slapped her hand over her mouth, shocked at the lack of self-control. It was as if it was Izuna speaking rather than Nana.
Tobirama looked affronted, the tips of his ears turned red. "You're one to talk. I may be heavy but I can assure you it's all muscle." He retorted with a wounded hint of pride.
Nana was too embarrassed to notice his tone, or how his blush spread. 'God, this is not happening.' She thought. "Can you get off of me now?"
The minimal flush that had once adorned his face was a vibrant red. Tobirama nodded stiffly. "A-apologies." He murmured, as he untangled his limbs from hers.
Nana's heart was hammering in her chest. Oh man she was to old for this isekai bullshit. Then a head pounding headache assaulted her. Nana cursed as she clutched her forehead.
Two life times worth of memories swirled in her mind. They were all muddled, like an ocean. A floodgate had opened. She was Tanaka Nana but she was also Uchiha Izuna. Everything was jumbled, and overwhelming.
The headache slowly faded away, but Nana's mind was still reeling. She was having an existential crisis, a full blown one.
Izuna had lived through endless war, seen her siblings besides Madara die in combat. Yet Nana had never known such strife, such sorrow, the monotony of a boring 9-5 job was the only hardship she endured.
When Izuna looked at Tobirama a cocktail of emotions bubbled up inside of her. Distain that he was a Senju who had slain her kin, admiration that he was a worthy rival, respect that he was a genius, and fondness for their shaky complicated relationship.
Meanwhile Nana's opinion of Tobirama was vastly different. In fact he was one of her favourite fictional characters, a bishounen husbando that gave her a hit of dopamine every time she saw fan art of him.
Her feelings were a mixture of both.
The urge to cry was strong. This was all too much. Nana was an ordinary woman who had just graduated college, and was living off instant noodles. Izuna though was a jaded trained killer, with a laundry list of trauma.
It was confusing and she didn't like it.
She looked down at her hands, the hands of Izuna. They were calloused, rough, and battle hardened. Nana in the body of Izuna had taken on some of the habits of Izuna's, like a tendency to be slow to anger but a firecracker of a temper.
"Shit." Tobirama hissed. "You don't seem like you're well." He had a worried look in his eye.
"My head is killing me.." Nana groaned as the pounding grew worse. She felt like someone had hit her with a brick.
Tobirama's eyes scanned her form, his face scrunched up with concern.
"Just let me rest for a bit." She said, she was tired and her body was exhausted. The stress of her new circumstances was taking a toll.
"I can help you.." He murmured, "if you'll let me."
"Fine." Nana didn't know why she agreed, perhaps it was the fact her headache was unbearable, but she gave a nod of confirmation.
Tobirama gently pulled her into his lap, his hands cradling her head.
Her building frustration finally gave way. "Damn you Senju bastard, this is all your fault!" The Izuna part of Nana wanted to reprimand him further, but Nana was just too exhausted to bother.
Tobirama's eyes glinted with amusement. "Are you uncomfortable with a Senju's touch? That's rather ironic, all things considered." He huffed. "I'm going to alleviate the pain." His chakra flared and his hands glowed green.
Nana sighed in relief as the pounding ebbed. She was too tired to feel anything other than the pull of sleep.
Tobirama's brows furrowed as his hands hovered over her head, healing the pain. The look in his eyes was soft, a far cry from the usual stoic expression.
The only thing Nana knew was that eventually she would have to wake up and face her new reality.
