ACGOMN: Well, my readers I have completed all the stories that I needed to complete with a few one shots in between. Now I thought of this while in my Law class before summer. My sister really liked the idea, so I'm guessing you people will like it too. This is sort of a different change of writing for me. This is going to be Drama/Angst with a bit of Humor, because I can't help myself. I'm also going to be trying line breaks. This is primarily kunoichi centric as in the title states. Naruto would you say the disclaimer please?
Naruto: WHY THE HELL AREN'T I IN THE STORY DAMNIT!
ACGOMN: Please Naruto, I think the girls of the Naruto series deserve a story centered around them. Don't you think that?
Naruto: I know, but I don't even appear in the story!
ACGOMN: Listen I have one chapter planned out so far, so I don't know if you'll show up.
Naruto: Fine I'll say the disclaimer. A Crazy Girl Of Many Names does NOT own in anyway, shape or form the series of Naruto or any of its characters. She also does NOT own anything that does NOT belong to her. Naruto and its characters belong to Mashi Kishimoto-sensei!
ACGOMN: On with the story!
The Difficult Truths of Being a Kunoichi
By:
A Crazy Girl Of Many Names
Chapter 1
The Lives of the Kunoichi
A marriage is a legally binding contract between a man and a woman (Unless of course you live in a place that approves of same-sex marriages). Yes, marriage is a contract, get over it. Usually it is arranged, but sometimes it is purely out of love. In fact, very few countries let you marry for love. However, the rest of the world arranged marriages are frequent. Sometimes marriages in the ninja villages could prevent a war.
Clans, such as the Hyuugas, usually marry their children to someone of another village. It not only strengthens the bond between clans, but the village as well. Since the married couple are from two different villages, the clan heads usually decide where they stay. Say for example, Hinata is the heiress to become the next head. She would be married off to the second son of a clan, so that clan had a an heir still. The man would take the Hyuuga name and live with Hinata in the compound. But if aren't in the heir or heiress, you wind up marrying a close relative or a distant one.
For kunoichi not in a clan, but born of parents not a ninja like Sakura or an orphan like Tenten they would be sent to either stop a war or end the political strain between the two villages. Usually in this case, it would a loss for one country because then the other one gains another warrior.
In other clans such as the Yamanaka were they need to protect the clan techniques, they usually inter-marry within the family. Normally these types of clan have different branches in different villages. So say if Ino needed to get married to stop a war, she would marry a distant relative. Even though incest is frowned upon by the council for a village, like everything else in the world, this helps protect secrets.
An kunoichi who was related to a power political leader such as Temari is related to the Kazekage Gaara. This type is used more frequent. So if she had to marry someone it be either a relative of the leader or the leader himself.
The Kunoichi Special Mission is when the kunoichi passes two tests similar to the Chuunin and Jounin exams and when called upon to go on these missions. The only other requirement that the kunoichi must be a Jounin or ANBU like Anko, Shizune, Kurenai, or Yugao. Nowadays these mission are used less and less. Usually the mission is an A rank or S rank and require them to not back out. Always a solo mission, it evolves assassinations. Usually a village is hired to kill a certain male person off. The kunoichi must seduce the man then kill him. If they don't kill the guy on time, he might overtake the kunoichi (since kunoichi or physically weaker then men in some cases) and rape her. That is one of the main reasons why these are less frequent. In fact, under the short period of time that the Yondaime Hokage was in office before the Kyuubi attack, he refused to let any of the kunoichi to take these missions.
Haruno Sakura is now a seventeen year old Konoha Chuunin medic nin. She is the apprentice of the Godaime Hokage Tsunade, who is one of the Sennin. Sakura also trained under Hatake Kakashi, who is the Copy Cat ninja. Her teammates were Uchiha Sasuke, the last Uchiha, and Uzumaki Naruto, the Kyuubi container and the aspiring Hokage. Also for some time a ninja named Sai was her teammate and also was under Yamato, an ANBU who was there to help control Naruto and his demon. It's a fine Saturday morning and she is currently with her close friends Hyuuga Hinata, Yamanaka Ino, and Yukito Tenten training because they are all entering the Jounin exams that are coming to Konoha in two months.
Yukito Tenten is a eighteen year old Konoha Chuunin weapons specialist. She trained under Maito Gai, the best taijutsu user in Konoha. Her teammates were Hyuuga Neji, the prodigy of the Hyuuga clan and Rock Lee, the second best taijutsu user in Konoha. She is the weapons master of Konoha and uses fire jutsu with her weapons. Her trainer now is Mitarashi Anko. Like Sakura, Tenten aspires to become a Jounin like her teammate Neji.
Yamanaka Ino is a seventeen year old Konoha Chuunin who is the second best interrogator in Konoha. She trained under her father first, Yamanaka Inoichi. Her genin team was lead by Sarutobi Asuma, one of the sons of the Sandaime Hokage and one of the best Jounin in Konoha. Her teammates are Nara Shikamaru, who is the smartest person in Konoha with an IQ of over 200 and Akimichi Chouji who is a gentle giant but a formidable opponent. Ino then trained under Morino Ibiki to become one of Konoha's interrogators.
Hyuuga Hinata is the heiress of the Hyuuga clan and is also a Konoha Chuunin. Her genin sensei was Yuuhi Kurenai, who is the best genjutsu specialist in Konoha. Her teammates were Aburmane Shino, who is the heir to his clan and one of the best bug users in Konoha and Inuzuka Kiba (and Akamaru too) one of the best ninken users from his family. Hinata currently is training under her father, Hyuuga Hiashi so that when Hinata turns 21 that she will be able to take over the Hyuuga clan as head. Hinata is the third best Byakugan user from the Hyuuga clan with her father being first and Neji being second.
Currently, the girls were having mock Jounin exam one on one battles. Sakura was fighting Hinata and Tenten was fighting Ino. They were very intense on training when someone popped into the clearing.
"Hello, ladies," said Sai, the previous replacement of Sasuke on Team 7. Sai is now an ANBU that protects the Hokage and is similar to an assistant. (He stopped working for Root a while ago during the Grass Country mission).
"Hey, Sai what's up," asked Tenten.
"Uh, let's see. Hokage-sama would like to see Sakura-san and Tenten-san in her office. And I was told to tell Hinata-san to go home to speak with her father and Miss Beautiful to go see her father as well," said Sai, "I have to go now."
The girls exchanged looks and separated in their own ways. Sakura and Tenten headed toward the Hokage Tower, while Hinata headed over to the Hyuuga compound and Ino headed to her flower shop. All four were wondering what they were needed for.
It was the same day in Suna around noon. The Godaime Kazekage Gaara was sitting in his office waiting for his elder sister and brother to show up. Gaara was least pleased at what he was about to do to his family that was so carefully places back together after Naruto beat some sense into him. Gaara sighed and rubbed his eyes, which usually helps when he knows a headache was coming.
"Gaara, what's matter," asked Temari, worried for her little brother. Kankurou looked at his younger brother and knew something was wrong.
"Both of you need to sit down," sighed Gaara. And they complied.
Anko, Kurenai and Yugao were sitting in the Jounin lounge in the Hokage Tower eating some lunch when Shizune walked in. Shizune looked at the other females, with a weird look.
"Hey Shizune, what's wrong," asked Anko.
"After Tsunade-sama talks to Sakura and Tenten she wants the four of us in her office," said Shizune. And they all knew what that meant.
In the Hyuuga Compound in the Main House, Hyuuga Hiashi sat at his desk patiently awaiting for his eldest daughter to arrive. Hanabi and Neji sat in two of the chairs waiting for Hinata as well. Hanabi was training with Konohamaru, Moegi and Udon. Neji was training with Shino, who became one of Neji's good friends and rivals. It's more of a rivalry though since Shino's bugs are extremely hard to detect even with the Byakugan and Neji's wants to get better. Hinata entered the room and bowed before sitting.
"Ah, since we are all here," said Hiashi, "As you three know I picked Hinata to be the heir in a mere few years. Now, there is something I have not mentioned. Hinata has to be wed on her 18th birthday in order become head."
"Hiashi-sama but how does this concern Hanabi-sama and I," asked Neji.
"I was getting to that. Hanabi instead of placing you in the Branch family, I'm going to make you the new head of the Hyuuga council when you turn 16. Neji you will also be in the council to help your cousins, once Hinata becomes head that is."
"Hiashi-sama the rules state that a Branch family member cannot be in the council," said Neji.
"I'm well aware of the rule Neji," said Hiashi, with a stern voice. "That's why you won't become a council member until Hinata becomes head."
"What does that have to do with anything," said Neji trailing off his question.
"I'm going to get rid of the Main and Branch families and no more separation of the family," said Hinata.
"I suppose by that time Naruto would be only a few tests away from being Hokage," said Neji, somewhat smiling. "But Hinata-sama you don't mind having an arranged marriage."
"I thought I would when I was younger. I always knew that my marriage would be arranged, but as long as I can change the family some more," said Hinata. Even if at one point I thought I would marry Naruto-kun because I thought I loved him. I don't, not like Sakura-chan does anyway.
"You will be meeting you betrothed tomorrow night at dinner," said Hiashi, "All three of you are dismissed."
Back in Suna, Gaara was preparing on how he was to say this to them. Gaara racked his brain to figure out a way to say this, no matter how hard it is.
"Gaara whatever you need to say, say it," said Kankurou.
"It not any secret that Iwagakure no Sato (Earth Country) is ready to declare war on Konoha and Suna, because of a certain incident concerning one Inuzuka on border patrol accidentally killing one of Iwa ninjas and Kankurou on our border patrol," began Gaara.
"Hey I apologized for that and so did Kiba," complained Kankurou.
"Well it seems that something happened again with Konoha, most likely the ANBU did something perhaps," said Gaara, "And to stop the war, Iwa has asked for one bride from Suna and one from Konoha, a specific kunoichi."
"Who's the kunoichi from Konoha," asked Temari.
"I'll don't know," said Gaara, closing his eyes then opening them again, "But the kunoichi to wed the second son of Iwa's Kage is you Temari. He chose you."
"WHAT," screamed Kankurou, "DIDN'T YOU GET HIM TO RECONSIDER?"
"Don't you think I tried," said Gaara, "But Iwa's Kage is dead set on having Temari wed the second son."
"Why not the first son," asked Temari.
"The first son is already married," said Gaara, "Temari, I can't do anything unless we want to start another war."
"We can't," said Temari, "We are just recovering from Orochimaru's attack and Akatsuki's attack, we can afford another war right now! We need more time to recuperate, just like Konoha needs to and that's was Iwa knows. I have no choice, I'll marry the bastard's son."
"Alright, you'll be leaving on Monday," sighed Gaara.
"Understood," said Temari.
"You are both dismissed," said Gaara. Kankurou left the room a bit angry and Temari was silent as she walked out. Once they were gone, Gaara told the guards not to bother him for a few minutes. Gaara sat in his seat staring outside at the desert, sighing. Temari will soon be gone.
At the Yamanaka flower shop, back in Konoha, Ino was having a fit. Now one would think that a nearly eighteen year old girl would stop the temper tantrums, but she, at this moment, has every right to be throwing a fit. Ino was not happy, obviously. But she has never been this anger before in her life, not when Sakura threw their friendship away, not when Shikamaru broke her heart to pine away for Temari, and not when Sai told her that he didn't think that she was beautiful (But of course his opinion about that in a few months time).
"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU DID THIS TO ME," yelled Ino, that probably all of Konoha heard her.
"Now, sweetie," started Inoichi, sweat dropping.
"I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS," cried Ino. "I wanted to get married for love."
"But the strain between Kumo and Konoha relations have been declining lately and they requested that someone from Konoha be married to someone from Kumo," said Inoichi, "We have a branch of the Yamanaka clan in Kumo and we thought it would be best."
"I have no choice right," said Ino, calming down.
"Unfortunately," said her father.
"I'll do it, if it'll help Konoha," said Ino, storming off to her room, mumbling incoherent things. When she reached her room, she collapsed on her bed and cried, something she didn't do since she became a kunoichi.
Sakura and Tenten stood waiting outside Tsunade's office. Sakura and Tenten wondered what was going on. Shizune beckoned them to go inside. The two kunoichi noticed that Anko, Kurenai, and Yugao were there too.
"Tsunade-sama what's to see you two first," said Shizune and the two went in very confused.
"Shizune, what's going on," asked Anko. Shizune looked at her friend and jsut shook her head.
Inside of the office, Sakura and Tenten stood in front of the Godaime with curious eyes. Tsunade looked like she has seen better days and this wasn't one of them. Tsunade told them to sit down, they might need to.
"Tsunade-shishou what's this about," asked Sakura.
"As you know, Iwa isn't on good terms with Konoha or Suna," said Tsunade, "They, meaning the Kage has requested that Konoha send a bride for the youngest son and Suna send one for the second son, seeing as how the oldest son is married already."
"Is one of us the bride," asked Sakura.
"The kage picked out of all the eligible kunoichi you Sakura," said Tsunade.
"What," said Sakura.
"Sakura, let me tell you. Someone from Suna will be there," said Tsunade.
"Do you know who it is," asked Sakura.
"I think the Iwakage picked Temari, but I'm not really sure," said Tsunade.
"Um, Tsunade-sama why am I here then," asked Tenten, trying not to be rude.
"Ah, yes. Tenten, Kiri and Konoha are not seeing things eye to eye in the fishing market," said Tsunade, "Fish is one of are most eaten foods and to gain more access to more sea water they want a kunoichi to marry the Mizukage, who isn't a old fart just to let you know. He is the new one."
"I see," said Tenten.
"We don't have a choice," said Sakura.
"No you don't. Sakura you have until Monday to get things together and say any goodbyes," said Tsunade, "Tenten you have until Tuesday to do the same. Dismissed." Sakura left running home to her parents, while Tenten slowly walked to her lonely apartment.
Anko, Shizune, Yugao, and Kurenai walked into the office when Tenten and Sakura left. The stood before the Godaime and waited for what she had to say.
"First off Yugao your team have fully recovered and you need to meet them first thing in the morning," said Tsunade, telling Yugao to leave. "As for you three, we have a trio of rouge ninja that need to be taken are of in one of the southern Fire country towns." Tsunade handed them a folder of information. "I presume that you know what to do."
"Yes," chorused the three adult kunoichi.
"Good, dismissed," said Tsunade.
End of Chapter.
ACGOMN: First I want to say this is NOT the boy saves the girl from the arranged marriage. This is going to be serious and a look into the things that Kunoichi have to do that male shinobi don't have to do. Next chapter:
The girls leaving their village says goodbye to their most precious people.