Change is Inevitable

By Leslina

Chapter One

Disclaimer: Naruto and all related enterprises © Kishimoto Masashi, the Shueisha Publishing Co., Studio Pierrot, etc.

Written prior to the release of the Naruto Hiden Tou no Sho Official Character Data Book.Sequel to There's A Sucker Born Every Minute.

Uchiha Kuzuki belongs to me.

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"It was about damn time! Jeez…" "Congratulations Iruka-kun! I knew you could do it."

"Th-Thank you…"

"So what's your first assignment? They finally gonna let you pass the village gates?"

"Yeah! Remember our first mission as Chunin Kuzuki? We went to the country of Lightning. The mountains there are so beautiful and the shrines!"

"Tch…" Kuzuki grunted, rolling his eyes.

Iruka scratched at his nape. "Uh… actually… I've been assigned to organize the student records at the academy."

Shizune and Kuzuki stared wide-eyed; twin sweat drops on either of their brows.

"Well…" the Uchiha shrugged. "Somebody's gotta do it."

"That's right! You'll do a fine job Iruka-kun. You're very organized."

"Th-Thanks Shizune-ch—"

"Hey, Shizune, don't you have class soon?"

"Ahii! You're right Kuzuki-kun! And tomorrow is my toxicology final. I've gotta go. Congratulations again Iruka-kun, and good luck with your assignment. See you later, Iruka, Kuzuki." The medic-nin waved cheerfully before disappearing in a cloud of smoke.

"Tch, you're so obvious Umino. Too bad she's equally oblivious."

"What are you talking about?" Iruka grumbled feigning ignorance and annoyed at being interrupted at a critical moment by his teammate.

"Please, you're not that dense. You have a crush on her. Always have."

"I do not!"

"Whatever. Look, not to burst your bubble or anything, but you do know that she and Tsunade-sensei are attached to the hip."

"So?" Iruka shrugged. "Shizune's dream is to become a great medic ninja like Tsunade-sensei. The only way for her to accomplish her goal is to learn from Tsunade-sensei."

Kuzuki crossed his arms over his chest and sighed, his head moving from side to side. "That's not it. Rumor has it Tsunade-sensei means to leave the village and this time for real. Now that we've advanced in ranking and are working on our individual shinobi paths there's nothing to keep her in Konoha. And wherever Tsunade-sensei goes..."

"Shizune will follow." Iruka finished dejectedly.

"Yeah."

Kuzuki spared Iruka a sympathetic smile and padded the novice Chunin on the shoulder. "She is cute, yeah? A damn shame…"

Iruka and Kuzuki shared withered looks and then burst into laughter.

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"Shizune, you're late." Tsunade growled flipping blond bangs from her eyes as she idly searched a drawer behind her desk.

"I'm sorry Tsunade-sama. I was meeting with Kuzuki-kun and Iruka-kun," the girl said breathlessly. "Iruka-kun made Chunin!"

"About time, what's it three years now?" Tsunade grunted, revealing a slender necked flask that rounded at the bottom and a small square cup.

"TSUNADE-SAMA!" The apprentice medic-ninja shrieked. "It's not even mid-day!"

"It's only tea," the older woman murmured around a mouthful of cool liquor.

"Tsunade-sama!"

"Alright alright, don't get your panties in a wad…" Hazel eyes darkened voice distant. "It's just that its been that kind of morning."

Shizune's brow furrowed behind her fringe of dark bangs wondering what could have triggered this melancholic episode. Even Sandaime-sama remarked on Tsunade-sama's cheerfulness lately.

Relations amongst the neighboring countries and Hidden Villages were relatively peaceful since the Kyuubi attack. Had a new patient been brought to the hospital bearing wounds her phobia prevented from treating?

She worried her bottom lip so long it swelled beneath her teeth; until her eyes caught site of the calendar directly behind Tsunade and her small teeth released their hold on their tender burden to open in a silent O of surprise.

Shit.

Shizune mentally smacked herself. Caught up in her earlier excitement, she'd all but forgotten…

Uncle.

"I'm sorry Tsunade-sama… I forgo—" Tsunade waved a dismissive hand.

"I know you hardly knew him… still…" Her voice was uncharacteristically soft. "When you're around it's as if he's still here. You both have such a calming presence."

"Tsunade-sama."

Idiot. Shizune swore at herself. How could she forget such an important anniversary; her own uncle!

"Tsunade-sama, I—" Another dismissive wave from the older woman silenced her.

"Just… go for now Shizune."

"But what about class, tomorrow's final—"

"Next week, after the Jounin trials. Please. And take Ton-Ton with you."

"Y-yes, Tsunade-sama." Shizune reached for the slumbering pig on Tsunade's desk, chanced one last regretful look at the woeful woman resting her head on the desk and left.

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"Please forgive me, Uncle." Shizune pressed her palms together and bowed before the stone monument. She uttered a silent prayer for her uncle and parents and then straightened, hoisting Ton-Ton in her arms again before jogging off into the woods.

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Shizune spent the rest of the day at the training grounds near the western gate honing her original technique for the following week's Jounin selection exam. On a nearby stump, Ton-Ton occasionally watched—when she wasn't dozing.

The current cycle of trials were being held in Konoha and there was the added pressure of impressing the home crowd. Medical training could wait.

Kuzuki had made Jounin the year before when the trials were held at the Hidden Village of Rock. Not only were his ninjutsu and taijutsu notable, but the original genjutsu technique he demonstrated—a highly sophisticated improvement on the illusion trick they'd used to outsmart Tsunade years earlier as Genin—impressed the judges. He was a shoe in for Jounin.

Because of the extensive medical training required of her, Tsunade put off registering Shizune for the Jounin exams until now. Three years as a Chunin level ninja coupled with medical training, the now 16 year old apprentice was more than ready to tackle the rigorous trials and display an original jutsu or a variation of an existing one.

Although not always a requirement in the selection process, it certainly carried weight in the judge's eyes.

It was very likely Iruka would not exceed his current ranking though that by no means was a reflection on his ability as a capable and worthy ninja. Iruka possessed his own unique strengths that were just as crucial to the village's survival. Each and every shinobi, from the smallest and youngest hopeful to the oldest and highest ranking held the common responsibility of protecting the village and its people.

Shizune ran and jumped around a formation of boulders and manifested eight identical self-replicas or kage bunshin (see end notes). These she attacked with full fury as she unveiled the first of three potentially lethal techniques she developed over the past three years.

The first was Haristuba, short needles laced with puffer fish poison she spat from her mouth. Of course the kage bunshin would only disappear in a cloud of smoke and not fall paralyzed to the ground as would a human or animal, but they served their purpose all the same—target practice.

Three of the eight shadow replicas remained and these she finished off with her second attack—Haridoku. Shizune drew back the long sleeve of her uniform shirt producing an arm strap loaded with needles tipped with the same puffer fish poison as the haritsuba needles she spat from her mouth. The remaining kage bunshin disappeared and the medic ninja apprentice landed on her feet between two large boulders.

She panted lightly, faint dots matting her brow. Of the two techniques, the Haristuba affected her chakra flow the most; her cells furiously regenerating as quickly as the toxin destroyed them.

The first time Shizune had deliberately ingested the poison was almost her last; unable to reach the antidote in time, the kunoichi instantly collapsed paralyzed, and would have died if not for Tsunade's intervention.

Shizune was in the Konoha hospital for several weeks, her body slowly recovering from the poison, but the end result was what she had hoped—with careful precision and manipulation of her chakra flow her body began to build a tolerance to the venom—this small window would allow her just enough time to regenerate her body's cells.

But such a necromantic jutsu was not without a price. To complete the process she would have to ingest the venom over time, reducing her life force in the process.

Tsunade was livid.

Not only had she almost died that first time, the Sannin had berated her bed ridden apprentice, and would miss out on a month's worth of medical training, but the girl played with jutsu that bordered on forbidden.

"Not bad," a deep lackadaisical voice interrupted her reverie, "though you'd save more needles if you improved your aim. What happens when your supply runs out? Will you be able to compensate with other techniques? How's your taijutsu?"

"Ahii!" Shizune whirled around startled by the critical interloper, "Just who the hell do you think you are sneaking up on people like that?!"

The intruder, a fellow Leaf-nin, Shizune assessed by his forehead protector and uniform, chewed on something much too long to be a toothpick and then deadpanned, "I'm a ninja."

Shizune blushed at her own silliness. Of course he would sneak up on her. It was the nature of their profession after all.

She expelled a deep sigh and calmed her frazzled nerves. "I'm sorry," she apologized and bowed her head. "You're right."

The young man blinked imperceptibly. What a strange girl, he thought to himself. She was acting almost… rational.

"I'm sorry I startled you," he said in apology. "I shouldn't have interrupted your training. I was surprised to see another senbon user. They're pretty old school these days," a corner of his mouth quirked faintly, it was difficult to read his expression with that thing in his mouth.

"Oh?" Shizune blinked glancing at the gleaming points on the grass. Bending down to pick one up she said, "I think they're rather practical. Needles are an ideal weapon really. They're small and light weight and you can pack several hundred at a time. Not to mention they're virtually undetectable. Hey…" She nodded curiously at the item dangling from the corner of his mouth. It reminded Shizune of Sarutobi Asuma smoking a cigarette. "You're a needle user too?" She asked.

The other Leaf-nin nodded. "Yup. The name's Shiranui. Shiranui Genma. The senbon is my specialty." He grinned around the long thin object he chewed like a blade of grass.

Shizune searched for the name through the mental shinobi catalogue she made a point to memorize. Shiranui. Shiranui. Ah! That's right. Shiranui Genma. Special Jounin. She recalled seeing the name on the instructor roster. He wasn't that much older than herself either; maybe a year or two? Shizune was mildly impressed. "Pleased to meet you." She bowed courteously. "I'm—"

"I know who you are." Genma's grin widened around the dangerously deceptive projectile in his mouth. "You're the cute puppy who's always following that scary woman around."

"WHAT?!" The medic apprentice exploded, her face set in a deep blush. "Y-You shouldn't talk about Tsunade-sama that way! She's one of the most powerful ninja in the village! You—"

Genma couldn't help the rumble of laughter. She really was a cutie. "I'm sorry," he apologized, though his brown eyes gleamed. "It's just that every time I've seen you around the village you're with her."

"Well, I'm her apprentice." Shizune mumbled petulantly.

Genma nodded. "So you're a medic nin." He voiced what he already knew. "You must be good, to train with a Sannin."

Shizune's cheeks flushed, embarrassed by the compliment. "Not really…" she denied modestly. "It's just that being a medical ninja has always been my dream… and Tsunade-sama is the best…"

Genma nodded again. "Right, if you want to be the best, then learn from the best."

Shizune smiled. "Yeah."

"So…" she started, sheepishly, "my aim needs work?"

"A little," he said, but not unkindly. "Is that your technique for the Jounin trials?" Genma probed.

Shizune cocked a brow. "I saw your name on the register." He explained. "I'm an examiner for the Chunin trials; I was just leaving my post when I heard they were short on guards for the upcoming Jounin examination, so I volunteered. I thought I'd come here to loosen up a bit before that gig." He winked a brown eye at her, and flashed a rakish grin.

Shizune's brows knitted. Why was he grinning like that? Did he know something she didn't? Kuzuki had versed her well on the Jounin trials.

"I see." She accepted. "Yes. Haritsuba is one of my techniques. I have three actually. Haritsuba, Haridoku and Biransei no Jutsu—"

This time Genma blinked and stared as she recited her jutsu. "They all involve poison?" he remarked. "For a medic ninja… that's kinda scary," he chuckled scratching his neck.

Shizune's expression withered a little, but she smiled. "I suppose. But I believe a good medical ninja should also be a good apothecary as well. They go hand in hand after all."

"Makes sense."

A long moment passed before either spoke again. Genma seemed content to just stand there silently. Shizune, unsure what to say next, linked her hands behind her back and averted his penetrating gaze. From a short distance Ton-Ton watched them with mild interest.

"Is that a summoning animal?" Genma asked finally breaking the silence. He pointed the senbon in his mouth at the reclining pig some feet away.

"Hm? Oh, Ton-Ton." Shizune smiled. "Actually, I gave her to Tsunade-sama as a present when our team passed the Genin trial." Her smile faded a little, her expression pinched with worry. "I keep an eye on her when Tsunade-sama is… preoccupied."

Genma cocked a curious brow but did not probe further. Instead, he regarded her silently, smiling when she looked away. There were other questions he thought to ask, but in that moment, settled on just one.

"Want me to help you train?"

Shizune didn't understand why, but his offering made her heart flutter. Perhaps there was more she could learn from training with Shiranui Genma that Kuzuki may have overlooked? She looked up to meet Genma's intent gaze. Her eyes glowing with anticipation—her answer—an excited smile and an enthusiastic, "Yeah."

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Tsunade staggered from her office in Konoha Hospital, eyes blood-shot, her perfectly kept hair disheveled around her face. Two days. Two days she waited for her dutiful student to return only to fall asleep at her desk waiting until her concern gave way to anger.

Drunk, Tsunade was almost passive, so wrapped up in her melancholy. Sober, she was frightening.

"Where is that brat?" She muttered out loud as, now fully alert, she stalked through the hospital corridors. Hospital personnel knew better than to ask the woman what was wrong, wheeling patients safely away from the angry kunoichi's path.

"Really. Slacking off like this. Is this some kind of teenage rebellion thing? Jeez…"

No, this wasn't like her gentle and responsible charge. At first Tsunade thought the girl might still be upset. After all, it was Tsunade who asked her to leave. Still, Shizune seldom indulged these moods of her master's and would return to cheer her up with a tray of tea and dango.

She never came.

There was no insistent wrap at her door. No gentle, comforting, jovial smile. No tea and dango.

So either the teenager was indulging in an uncharacteristic—albeit normal—lapse of adolescent indignation or had been kidnapped by a mad squad of Cloud assassins.

For her sake, it better had been the latter…

"Hey, Tsunade-chan! Just the person I wanted to—"

"I'm busy old man."

"—see." Sarutobi Sandaime, Konoha no Sato's third Hokage, smiled with gentle patience at his former student. "Tsunade-chan, you hurt my feelings," he said with mock woe. "Is something wrong? Perhaps I can be of help?" His eyes held a knowing twinkle behind their gray depths.

The blond expelled and exasperated sigh; it was just like Sarutobi Sensei to have such convenient timing.

"I'm looking for Shizune, you wouldn't happen to know where I could find her?" Tsunade crossed her arms over her imposing bosom; waiting for the old man's likely round-about response.

"Hm." Sandaime murmured gravely. "Shizune's, not with you? That's not like her."

Tsunade arched an impatient—ya don't say—brow.

"But I assure you she's quite alright."

Tsunade's other brow joined the first. Enlighten me.

"She's been training over by the old stomping grounds," explained Sarutobi. "I have to say, your student is quite impressive Tsunade-chan. I was hoping you and I could go for a walk and watch for a little while, hm?"

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Although this is a technique Naruto learned and really made his own after acquiring the Scroll of Seals (Naruto, Volume 1, Chapter 1), I am applying my creative license and making it a standard skill for all Jounin class ninja.