Koujiko looked down in surprise at the tiny Uchiha child clinging to her leg, face set determinedly.

"You don't have to go!"

"What?" She asked.

"Hikaku-nii said you're a sensei not a soldier so you don't gotta go fight! I don't want the demon to get you!"

Koujiko's face melted into a smile and she stooped to rub the child's back. "Ok first of all, i dont think we're gonna have to fight Tobirama, or any of the other Senju. They've just been talking."

The child squints, expression intensely doubtful. "And second of all you're secretly an awesome ninja and can fight off the Senju when they spring their trap?" the child demanded, eyes lighting up with excitement at the thought.

Koujiko laughed. "Ok well I'd really rather not have to fight them, no, but Izuna-san can fight Tobirama and he and Madara-san will both be there, so I think I'm pretty safe."

The child frowned and started, "but- " then they stopped and glanced around themselves, continuing in a lower voice "but that's who almost killed Izuna-sama, isn't it?"

Koujiko bent even further, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial tone. "Yeah, but it was with a new technique, and now Izuna's all better and knows his trick so he can't catch him by surprise again, and Tobirama is smart enough to know that." She ruffled the child's hair. "Thank you for thinking of me, but it will be just fine."

The child looked up at her and then to the gate, and Koujiko could as good as see the ghosts in the child's eyes. "You promise?" she asked, voice hollow.

Koujiko wondered how many other people this child had seen go out those gates with broken promises to come back safe, and her smile turned sad. "I promise that I will do whatever I can to make sure we all come back safe, ok?"

She frowned, clearly dissatisfied, but nodded and released her hold. "'Kay."