The Butterfly Effect

"My pack? You make it sound like I'm some kind of leader. I am not a leader. I merely know what I value in this world, and to keep it safe I will weather any hurricane, hunt you down, and kill you. Questions?" Continuation of 'Butterflies'. Character death, Anbu operations, gratuitous violence and some adult situations. May change to M rating.

(re)Intro

8-8


"I don't CARE what you have to say about it, Shark!" I shout, annoyed. I glare at him, warning him one last time. I've spent the last TWO YEARS putting up with his shit. I'll happily tell Terumi-san that he died in his sleep. Heart attack. Some rare disease we've never heard of. I'll come up with something!

"Wolf." I turn to Koala, sighing.

"Look. You shit-for-brains will be going home soon. I get you're antsy, I get you're excited. And I get you want to show off to all your little friends. But you are still running on my time. You still answer to me. If you forget that, then let me warn you, I still haven't found a volunteer for an autopsy." I grin beneath my mask, enjoying that they're squirming in their seats. They've learned that I don't play favourites. Not to Sand, not to Mist, not to Leaf. Everyone plays by the same rules: mine.

"If any of you think for just a second that because you learned some fancy new tricks here makes you invincible. Let me remind not one of you has ever lain a finger on me during a spar. And I am not the strongest out there. You're all still wet behind the ears little shits. All of you. I suggest you remember that. Because if you were to face Sasori of the Red Sands? If you were to face Hoshigaki Kisame? If you were to face Orochimaru or Uchiha Itachi? Not even I can claim to hold my own against them. And these are people you might be ordered to hunt down. Do you understand?"

They start squirming again. They hate it when I make too many hard points like this.

"Now, before we start today's lecture, let me remind you of one last thing. The final exams are in two weeks. This is important for a lot of reasons. The primary reason is that you will be taking these exams in front of the Hokage, Mizukage and Kazekage. As well as the Anbu Commanders of all three villages. You will be representing your village, but most of all… you represent me. That means, if you screw up…"

I leave the threat hanging, but the dark, ominous tone and the obvious killing intent? They know I'd be… mildly annoyed if they make me look bad.

"Wolf-sensei, what Rank will we be tested for?" Cobra asks. I never understood why Sand would name all their Anbu after de… desert dwelling animals. Of course.

"You will be tested to see what Mecical Rank you are. Not for a specific one. That's why the tests will take five days. But don't worry, I won't be there for any of it." I say, grinning. I'll have five days, no classes, no students, no stupid idiocy getting on my nerves!

Heaven! Paradise! And after that? Two months of downtime. Much deserved downtime.

"In other words, you will each be tested to the extremes of your training. Mentally, physically. I'd say emotionally, but…" I shrug. Anbu Operatives aren't encouraged to have emotions, but are extensively taught how to selfheal emotional scars. Anbu isn't kind, and Anbu missions will mess you up. "You're the first ever to try something like this. They will want to make sure you've been trained well. Show them that. Or else."

I grin at the collection of painfully swallowing Anbu trainees.

8-8


We make it back to the den just in time for dinner. Yasu-nee tells us to wash our hands – all of us. So, as ordered, we make out way into the downstairs bathroom – a recent addition. I take off my Wolf mask, staring at the woman in the mirror. I briefly wonder about her. Her red glasses – they're new, but lucky me, my eyesight hasn't gotten worse since the last check-up. Her vertical scar on her left eye. Her brown-yellow eyes. Her long, black hair, which was recently cut so it only reaches my backside now and falls neatly to form a half circle when I let it hang loose.

My Anbu uniform is spotless, as always. My mask shimmers and glistens to show it hasn't seen combat in a while. And I'm grateful. My white flak jacket shows off the fact that I'm an Anbu Captain, but the jacket is relatively new – even though I've been a Captain since I was thirteen, I was still (somewhat) growing. I'm not exactly a lot taller, but I have obvious breasts now – A-cups, but they're there! And they're almost a B-cup around my time of the month! Why that always happens… I'm not sure I want to know. Water retention? Sucking down too much chocolate? I dunno. I don't want to know.

Anyway!

After I wash my hands, Koala follows. She's sixteen, like me. I dry my hands while she takes of her painted mask. She'd recently completed her traineeship, along with the others. Ryuuzetsu doesn't look in the mirror at all. She doesn't study the ripple pattern in her grey eyes. She doesn't seem to notice the silky texture of her silver, tiered hair – the majority of which reaches her lower back, but a few locks are just long enough to cover her face. Her grey flak jacket shows she's now an Operative, her Hatake crest between her shoulder blades shows how proud she is of her adopted heritage – even her Anbu uniform needs to bear the symbol, who cares if it identifies her. Lucky her, she has C-cup breasts. And is a head and a half taller than me. I'm such a midget.

I briefly study her chokutou, and the matching tantos. I still remember how goofy happy she was when she got them. And I love the design! The same shade of green as a standard flak jacket, but with a white strip spiralling from the grip down to the tip – with no hilt. For some reason, she wanted the tip of the chokutou's sheath to be able to twist off. I'm still not sure what that's about, but it's her weapon.

Next up is Rabbit – Namiki Hitomi, born Hyuuga Hitomi, and she still looks it, too. She's now twenty-one. White, pupilless eyes. Unmarked forehead – thanks to Jiraiya, which happens to be the only thing I'm ever likely to thank him for. Long black hair, reaching her mid-thigh. She's been in Anbu longer than I have, and apparently Miwako was her trainer – not something I knew until very recently. Whatever. I'm just glad she's with us. Her uniform is the standard Anbu Operative uniform, just like Tsu – which is what I call Ryuuzetsu. And Tomi –which is what I call Hitomi, long names are too long– also has a custom weapon (FINALY).

Hers isn't something I've ever worked with. It's a standard, single-edge long sword, but with a broad blunt side. The sword is attached to a chain, about a metre long, and the other end of that chain is attached to a mallet. No, seriously. A mallet. A wooden mallet. Sengo Tenten designed and crafted the weapon herself and asked Tomi to test it for her. Tomi took a liking to it and begged to keep it indefinitely. Tenten was more than happy to oblige at the time – telling us that she designed it off of stories of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist. Apparently, Momochi Zabuza recognized the style of weapon, so he took it upon himself to help train Tomi in how to wield it like it's an extension of herself.

I can't –and won't– pretend I understand how Tomi fell in love with such an unwieldy weapon. But she's good with it, so I don't complain.

Next up, and right behind her mate, is Panda – Namiki Kin, born Tsuchi Kin. She and Tomi recently took their relationship to the next level and they begged me to let Kin take our last name – the closest thing they have to getting married. I don't mind in the least.

Kin is seventeen, just a few centimetres shorter than Tomi, but with the same length and texture and colour hair. Sometimes I wonder if they try to look so much alike just to mess with people. Her painted mask is stuffed into her grey flak jacket. She only has a single chokutou though, but she likes it. She had on custom chokutou made, but we haven't gone to collect it yet.

Next up is Crane –Namiki Keito, born Saromi Yoshitoshi– our samurai. He's… unique in our hunting pack. He seems to like fitting in with us, so he he's been growing out his black, coarse and puffy hair, which he keeps in a puffy, high ponytail. His black eyes seem intense most of the time, but I've been noticing recently how they soften when he looks to Tsu; something I tease her about endlessly. They haven't made anything official, but… there's hope. He still carries his katana and wakizashi, both bone white, like a samurai should – strapped to his left hip. His twin tantos, also bone white, are strapped to his forearms. Blood blades, all four of them. I don't know much about that, blood blades. I just know that blood of the intended user is infused with the blades while they are being forged. This –supposedly– does something to the blade. I don't know what, and it's none of my business.

With my group now ready for the meal, we head back into the family sitting room and make ourselves comfortable.

8-8


Meals in the Namiki clan compound are… abuzz with life. My team is sitting to the table, waiting for Yasu-nee to come in with the food. But… it's the collection of pups that stands out.

Hatake Yasu, who recently (three months ago is recent) celebrated her two and a half year wedding anniversary with Kakashi, is now four months pregnant with their second child. The first, Hatake Miou, is turning two tomorrow. She's… her father's daughter. Silver hair, grey eyes, face exactly like Kashi-nii, and already in the habit of wearing the traditional shirts with a face mask attached. Something that Tsu has taken to herself. They claim it's a Hatake thing, so I don't get involved.

Mom –Nara Yoshino, don't ask, long story– gave birth to a baby girl not three months later, Nara Takara, who is a clone of mom. And like her name implies –'Takara' means 'treasure'– she's mom's little treasure. Takara and Miou are thick as thieves too, always causing mischief wherever they go. Not that the other pups are much better. They're really close with a third, but I can't seem to find her just yet.

Hoshie –my biological little sister, and a mini clone of me, other than the glasses and the scar– and Sakiko –my adopted little sister, with red hair, jade eyes, and acting every bit the Namiki Hoshie is– are both eight now. They are like oil and water. They fight about everything, from who's stronger, to who's smarter, to who's better at this or that. But woe betide any that picks on the other.

They're busy showing Kenshin –my now five year old biological little brother, who also seems to look way too much like me, if you ask me– little tricks to identify people with his now heightened sense of smell. His Namiki heritage is kicking in early, just as Hoshie's did. His sense of smell is through the roof, so acute, and his hearing is sharpening a little more each day. He closes in on himself a lot, especially with sudden, loud noises.

Setsuko, my two year and four month old biological little sister –who Miwako was pregnant with when she mysteriously popped back into my life– is shouting something I can't hear from upstairs. Ah, that's where Miou and Takara's shadow is. Something about Itsuki, the youngest Namiki at just barely six months, chasing after her and how she doesn't like it. I hear Miwako chastising her, saying how Itsuki is only trying to play with her, but Setsuko isn't having it. My bet is that she's upset that she's not playing with her best friends. Miwako sighs explosively, before suggesting they head downstairs, dinner should be ready soon. That's more Setsuko's speed, so she readily agrees. Satuma –Miwako's husband, and technically my biological father– picks up one, she picks up the other, and the four of them come downstairs to join us.

I sniff the air, wondering where Katsuo –my adopted little brother– and Yuzuki –who's biologically an Uchiha, but almost no one knows that– are. They're in the kitchen helping Yasu-nee (who, by the way, is my adopted older sister… long story).

Momochi Zabuza, Momochi Maki (born Yamanaka, and very much looks it) and Momochi Aito, their first –and so far only– child. He's one, and I really can't figure out who he looks like more. Blue eyes, platinum blond hair, like his mother, but he… he looks like his father, without the mask. He's already walking and gurgling about this and that, obviously trying to talk, but not quite there yet. Maki is pregnant again – two months along, so she hasn't said anything yet, but I can smell it on her.

Yuki Haku and her adoptive little brother Aomaru are very much what I've come to define as Yukis. Gorgeous, always smiling, always sunny and cheerful, long black hair that they keep in a little bun on the crown of their head, and two locks framing their face. I honestly wouldn't be able to tell you that Aomaru –who we mostly call Ao-chan– is a boy half the time… No, he's not a boy half the time, but half the time I wouldn't be able to tell his is. He cross dresses a lot, which doesn't really help much; being able to tell, or wondering if he really is a boy. He's… unique.

Sometimes I wonder if Kamizuki Hiro –Ao-chan's boyfriend– knows Ao-chan's a boy. I know he knows. Intellectually if nothing else. But… if it wasn't for the testosterone I smell on Ao-chan, I seriously wouldn't know.

Anyway!

So, the Katakes are here, Kashi-nii is sitting to the table. The Yukis are here – even though the Momochis carry a different name, they are of the Yuki clan. Where are the-

"Mom, I swear to Kami-sama, one of these days I'm going to slap the taste out of that woman's mouth!" That would be Uzumaki Karin. The Uzumakis are almost here.

Our four compounds are interconnected. The Yuki and Namiki compounds are on one side of the street, while the Uzumaki and Hatake compounds are on the other side of the street. Jiraiya connected the four via underground corridors –and a large room we use for Four Clans general meetings– so we never have to let them in. Seeing as the security systems are air tight, we'd have to let them in, or they won't be getting in.

Soon, the loudest of the bunch arrive. I literally hear them coming each and every time. The Uzumaki clan are not the… subtlest group of people you'll ever meet. Luckily, they're still three Uzumakis short – Naruto, Mirdori and Haruki, who are expected to return to Konoha any day now. The means that only Karin, her mother Akari and Asami are the only Uzumakis here. Not that Asami actually revealed her heritage yet, but… anyway. With them are Fuu, originally from Waterfall and the jinchuuriki –or container– of the Seven-tails, Hyuugas Hinata and Hanabi. I still don't count Kou and Natsu as part of the pack, they are merely here to mind the Hyuuga sisters, nothing more. And I often wonder why Hyuuga Hiashi agreed to letting them stay with us an extra year? I really don't know. At all.

Officially, the Hatake compound is still being used as an Anbu hospital and rehabilitation centre, but we currently don't have any patients. That means that Inuzuka Hana, who usually practically lives there, is at home with her fiancé Tokara. The Anbu medics that are usually here around the clock aren't here either. So the Hatake compound is… quiet. Something that isn't usually the case.

Daddy –Nara Shikaku– and Shikamaru –who I call Shika-nii– are sitting down to either side of mom, and just in time for the four Namiki's who were just upstairs to join us. Both Setsuko and Itsuki look very much the Namiki, only with tame hair like mine. Satsuma has light blue hair and I really can't tell you what colour his eyes are – I don't bother to look long enough to check. Miwako, however is obviously a Namiki. Brown-yellow eyes, tall, and a wild look about her with her short and spiky hair. Technically she's my biological mother… but what do you expect when you abandon your child at age five? A warm 'welcome home, mama'? I think not.

Mitarashi Anko –my godmother, who isn't much better than Miwako when it comes to being there for me– is here as well. Along with Tenzo, Uzuki Yuugao, and four other out of uniform Operatives. It's usually singles with no family to speak of that are always here. They alternate though, seeing as they can't be here if they're out on a mission, or on guard duty for-

The doorbell rings. "I'll get it." I say, already heading to the front gate. As expected, Senju-san, Katou-san and three shadows. I sniff to confirm who they are – Namiashi Raidou, Shiranui Genma and Tatami Iwashi, the Hokage elite bodyguards. All familiar faces, really. "No Haruno-san today?"

"She's celebrating her mother's birthday with her family." Senju-san explains. I nod, figuring as much. She's usually joined at the hip with her mentor, so there had to be a reason she isn't here. I open the gate, welcoming them into our den, and telling the shadows to take off their masks.

8-8


After dinner, I decide I deserve some 'me time'. So I retreat to the dojo and line up my weapons so that I can go through some katas to help unwind after another stressful day. I… carry a lot of weapons on me these days.

A lot.

I have twin wakizashis, pink sheaths and grip, no hilt, both decorated with violet butterflies, and bubblegum pink chakra conducting blades. I have twin reverse-edged kodachis, black sheaths, no hilt, and chakra conducting silvery blades. I have a double-edged tanto, pink sheath and grip, no hilt, and chakra conducting silvery blade. I have about fifty customised mini windmill shuriken with seals decorating them – tracking and suppression seals. I also have twin tessen that I had custom made about a year ago – the length of my forearm, made from the wood of a cherry tree and fifteen ribs. One has a sunset backdrop and a cheery tree with butterflies on it. The other has a starry backdrop with a silvery full moon and the same cherry tree –if with its fall leaves– and three wolves howling at the moon. And last, but not least, is a bone white flute; a hiyashi styled shinobue, which plays mostly high notes and is associated with festivals.

Wow. Just wow.

I carry a lot of weapons on me. And these aren't even close to all the weapons I own, just the ones I carry on me. I have a weapons cache in my bedroom filled with other weapons I don't use.

I start with my wakizashis, as I tend to. I start my dance, my kata, dual wielding them. I flow through the motions with a practiced ease. My muscles relax more and more the longer I dance. These are the longest weapons I use, so I'm a bit slow with them. But, I try to offer them the grace these beauties deserve.

Switching to my kodachis, I no longer dance, I tear through the motions. Quick, ruthless, and beautiful.

Then come my tessens. Though just as long as my kodachis, I treat them nothing alike. I dance with my war fans. Sometimes with the fans closed, using them as batons. Sometimes with the fans wide open like a geisha would wield them. I love tessen katas, they soothe me.

After that comes my shinobue. I'd learned to fight with my flute like I do with all my weapons. And though I also combine my flute with sound release jutsus, I can also reinforce the flute itself with earth release chakra and use it as a baton to break people and things. I'd developed a unique taijutsu style for it, which I've been teaching the pups. Which has become the Namiki's tertiary style.

Then my tanto. Since it's a single blade, the kata I flow through includes the sheath and a lot of batoujutsu – moves that start with the blade sheathed, then a lightning fast strike. I also incorporate a few Iaido moves into it, which Keito taught me. Iaido is literally a single slash the goes from sheathed blade, to a single attack, a flick to remove the blood and gore from the blade, and immediately resheathe the blade for the next attack. They are… lightning fast, faster than any move I've yet learned. And they are deadly in the right hands.

Last, but not least are my mini windmill shuriken. I only wield four at once, and I had to develop this kata myself so that I could teach the pups how to wield what has been dubbed 'Namiki shuriken'. Over the last two years, and with a lot of trial and error, I've slowly developed a taijutsu style that incorporates these shurikens for all they're worth. A lot of throws are included, and timed to recapture them as they boomerang back to me. It's far from graceful, but Kami-damn, it's effective. So far, only Hoshie and Sakiko have been taught this style, but they are GOOD at it. Even though they can only wield two Namiki shuriken at once, they are… brutally efficient with them. I've been wondering if this should become a quaternary (literally meaning forth, but it has a very different ring to it) taijutsu style for the Namiki clan. I'm still undecided though.

With my weapon katas out of the way, I stow them. My wakizashis are strapped on my back, vertically, with the grips peeking over my left shoulder. My kodachis are strapped to my gloves for easy access. My tessens are strapped to my outer thighs. My tanto is strapped horizontally on my lower back, and just below it is a large scroll; a summoning scroll that allows me to summon Uchiha Sasuke, Uzumaki Naruto-nii and Sarutobi Asami-nee. My shinobue is stuffed into my jacket, into the groove of my mask for safe keeping. And the shurikens are sealed into the seals on my gloves, other than ten of them, which are kept in my leg pouch for easy access. I also have standard kunai and shurikens in there. I carry two hip pouches. One contains three scrolls with storage seals, one with food, water and chocolate, all essential for my survival. One with medical knick-knacks. And the last with my extras; spare kunai, shurikens, extra weapons, changes of clothes, spare glasses, extra shinobi sandals, three tents (that I never use), futons, pillows and linens, that sort of thing. The other hip pouch is empty, and I like it that way. I'll find a use for it eventually, I'm sure. In fact, I'm not against getting another leg pouch. But for now? It's fine. I enjoy having my white pouches that match so well with my Anbu flak jacket.

Then… them comes my last three katas.

Muay Thai, the primary Namiki taijutsu style. It's a hard, external style, meaning that it meets force with force and is designed to break bones and do damage to your opponents. It's… crude, but efficient. The basic mindset behind the style is: if you're my opponent, you're going to hurt. It's direct, to the point, and it never lets you question if we're trying to hurt you, we really are. A lot of the moves focus on attacking joints to make sure the opponent cannot run or attack.

Capoeira, the secondary Namiki taijutsu style. Also a hard, external style, but far more graceful and elegant. It's basically dance-fighting. There are a lot more rounded movements, a lot more parrying and counterattacks.

And last comes the Konoha Medic style. All Konoha medics are taught this style. It incorporates a lot of parrying, sweeping arm shops that work well with the Chakra Scalpel, and avoiding attacks. A master of this style should never allow themselves to be hit by an opponent, simple as that.

Satisfied with my hour and a half workout, I turn to my audience – the Namiki pups. I smirk at them. "Stalking me again, I see." I tease.

Katsuo's short brown hair sways as he nervously shifts his weight. "We're… supposed to go to bed now." He says, not meeting my gaze. Ten years old, the eldest of the pups, but he's always so careful with his words. His brown eyes shine with a nervousness to show he's trying not to make things worse.

"Hugs?" I open my arms wide, and they glomp me. Katsuo, Sakiko, Hoshie, Kenshin, Satsuko and Itsuki (who's in Katsuo's arms) all engulf me in a group hug. "Kenshin, take Itsuki and Satsuko upstairs with you. I need the elder three." Kenshin nods, scooping our youngest brother from Katsuo's embrace, and guiding our youngest sister along.

"… Is… something wrong, Aya-nee?" Hoshie asks.

"No. I want to talk to you about something Umino-sensei brought to my attention." I say, but wait for the younger three to make it to the stairs. "Miwako, you might as well come in. I know you're there. And Satsuma, you should tuck the pups in. Kenshin shouldn't have to deal with both of them alone."

The door to the dojo slides open again, revealing Miwako. She doesn't look in the least embarrassed that she was eavesdropping.

"I've been informed that you three are eligible for early graduation. Senju-san says it's up to me if you're allowed to or not. And… Yuzuki-chan… Crap this includes her as w… Does everyone in this house enjoy stalking me?" I complain, smelling Yuzuki outside the door – on the porch.

The porch door slides open, revealing Yuzuki. She's still wearing her shades to hide her eyes, in case she has to activate her Sharingan. She offers an apologetic and worried little smile as she slides the door closed behind her. Honestly, she's so similar to Sasuke that I never once questioned she's an Uchiha – even though I met her while she was using her Sharingan to see if I would hurt her. She was an emotional and mental mess back then.

"As I was saying." No point in dwelling. "Senju-san wants to know if you four are up for early graduation. You're already outperforming fresh genins, you've learned the theory of the academy, and even Umino-sensei admits you're mostly wasting your time in the academy. I will hear your thoughts on this in two days. So on Saturday. Think about what you want, think about the pros and cons. You will have to convince me if you want to graduate early. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Aya-nee." They answer as one.

"Good." I wordlessly ask Yuzuki for my hug, before sending all of them off to bed. I motion for Miwako to stay behind though.

"Something up?" She asks, knowing I don't do casual chats with her or Satsuma.

"You're pregnant again." I tell her plainly.

"I'm aware." She says.

"Good. I'll pick up the supplements you'll need in the morning. Have Satsuma monitor you regularly. You're thirty-eight, and though you are healthy, that offers complications I'd rather be overly cautious with."

"He's already scanning me every third day." She explains.

"Good." I nod. As far as I'm concerned, the conversation is over, but I still try to be at least polite. If only just. "Congratulations."

"Thank you, baby." She says, smiling brightly. I don't react. She counts that as a victory, seeing as I usually chew her out for calling me that. "I… I think you're doing an amazing job, training the pups."

I roll my eyes. I'm tempted to point out that her husband is helping. Even Miwako herself is helping, if only with Uzumaki Script Sealing, seeing as she seems to enjoy being pregnant and is therefore banned from chakra usage. "It takes a pack to raise a pup." Is all I say.

"Can…" She begins nervously. "Can I have a hug?" I sigh. "Please?"

I walk up to her, hug her briefly and-

She holds onto me, not tightly, but… snugly. She kisses my brow, then the crown of my head. I hear her idly smelling my hair. I hear her heartbeat, strong and steady. That steady rhythm grows stronger as she pulls me deeper into her embrace, as she lodges my head between her breasts. Yes, I'm that much shorter than her.

I sigh, unsure how to feel. I want to enjoy this hug – I always love hugs. I also want to be a bitch and chew her out for abandoning me for half my life, while she was out there chasing after her husband. I never forgave her for it. I don't think I ever will.

8-8

End (re)Intro

8-8


A/N: Setokaiva suggested I call this 'The Butterfly Effect' in stead of 'Butterfly Hurricane'. I like the idea, honestly. Because of reasons you might hear in the Bonus content at the end of this story ^_^ Yes, I'm evil. I know.

For those looking forward to the Spin-offs, don't worry. I'm still working on them. They will still be completed. However, this hit me harder than Butterflies: Orange and Pink, and some of the ideas from that Spin-off will be worked into this story.