((This story is pure fan-fiction. The characters and locations are the sole property of Shonen Jump and the series's creator, Masashi Kishimoto. G.I. Joe is the sole property of those who created the toys, TV shows, movies, webisodes, and video games. At no time is this fiction an intent to infringe upon their rights nor properties.
Tanaka Hiroku is an OC of my own making. Based on a drawing of done by an artist named Foxxfire who made an anime rendition of Psylocke.
I am making Mabui 16 for this story. If anyone else comes into the story, I will post their age as they enter it.
"normal speech"/ flashback thought
thoughts/ flashback speech and action
[Snake Eye's sign translation/writing]
[Snake Eye's sign translation/writing during flashback]))
Snake Eyes stared through his visor at the door to the Hokage's office from where he sat. The tension in his gut not fading one iota as more time passed. His hands tightened on the arms of the chair until his knuckles ached and the wood would occasionally creak from the pressure. He bolted to his feet the moment the thick door opened and the receptionist nodded for him to enter. His head turned left and right to study the room and the position of its occupants as the door closed firmly behind him with a soft click. A tingle along his skin indicated that privacy seals had been activated. Not a good sign, he thought. Whatever is about to be said, he doesn't want getting out to the populace.
The Hokage sat behind his desk, looking weary and saddened in his garb of office. The hat tilted slightly while the eyes underneath studied the boy intently from above his interlaced fingers. To his right stood people he recognized immediately: Neko-sensei, her boyfriend Hayate Gekko, and Anko-sensei. On the old man's left stood Ramu-sensei, Yagi-sensei, and a woman he didn't recognize. For that reason alone, Snake Eyes took a few extra moments to study her from head to toe.
She stood a little taller than the Goat masked ANBU beside her and her hair was silver. Not gray like Inu-san's, but an actual silver that turned white as the light struck it. He couldn't tell for sure, but based on the high ponytail she wore, he estimated her hair was at least mid back in length, if she let it flow loosely. Her skin was deeply tanned. A smooth, even caramel except for a few wrinkles around the eyes and lips. Leading Snake Eyes to presume her family wasn't originally from Konoha. Slightly slanted dark green eyes studied him just as intently, revealing nothing. She wore the usual Jounin's black body suit under the standard green flak vest, complete with matching full body trenchcoat. With the exception of the gray patches on the shoulder boards, cuffs, and bottom hem at ankle level. She wore navy colored men's hakama pants and soft soled sandals were worn over the black tabi socks. There were no visible weapons, not that this particular fact made him relax one bit. The best weapons, after all, were the ones you never saw. He saw her lips curl into a slight smile as he gave her a polite nod of his head before he turned back to the Hokage and gave a bow from the waist.
Hiruzen didn't smile as he looked at the figure in front of his desk. "Snake Eyes. Your Guardian's Reserve unit was sent out on escort detail over a week ago. They were to meet with a courier of Kumo and their bodyguard at our border with Yu no Kuni and escort them here safely. They were ambushed en route by a large number of unknown individuals." He forestalled the now tense youth with a gesture. "Your Guardian arrived, with the Courier. They were the only survivors. Both are in the hospital as we speak but your Guardian is in a medically induced coma so all we have to go on is the testimony of Courier," his eyes narrowed as the figure didn't relax, as though he knew there was more. "I'm afraid her injuries are severe. She will be fine overall but she lost an eye. She will never be able to serve on either Active Duty or Reserves again," he said with finality and waited for the outburst to come. It never came.
Snake Eyes was furious. He knew that was bullshit. Even if her original eye was lost, they could easily transplant a different one. His Kaa-san had told him about the one she did in the field towards the end of the Third Shinobi War. Yet he kept his composure, if only just. It took all of his control not to rush out of the room and sit by his "mother's" side until she awoke. He had to be strong now. Kaa-san would be pissed if I fell apart now… he thought as he took a few minutes to solidify his self control. Once he had that, his hands flashed slowly through a series of deliberate gestures.
[Thank you Hokage-sama for informing me. With your permission? I have to get back to the Academy and find out to which team I am assigned.]
The silver haired woman stepped forward, speaking in a low, firm voice. "I didn't catch all of that, but I got the gist. That's why I'm here. My name is Tanaka Hiroku. I have requested that I take you on as my apprentice given the extensive training you've undergone. Hokage-sama has agreed under the condition that once a week you also train with the other teams so that you can broaden your experience and get used to working with others. To give you time to adjust for recent events, my initial evaluation of your skills will be in a week's time. Training Ground 19. Seven am sharp."
Snake Eyes listened and gave a single dip of his head to show he understood before he bowed and left the room, shutting the door firmly behind him. Right now, he had only one destination in mind. The Hospital and once inside, his mother's room.
Back in the office, the two remaining people talked amongst themselves once the others departed through the door en masse. All of them obviously heading to the hospital as well. Hiroku thumbed through a file. "Well, that was...anticlimactic. Which means I feel sorry for anyone that pisses him off in the coming week," she chuckled, before she got serious once more.
"Agreed," Hiruzen said calmly, before he lit his pipe and studied the woman before him. "Now then, would you clarify why it was you stepped down from your position in ISA after over fifteen years of service as its Commander? And why would you be so insistent on taking him in particular as an Apprentice? Since I remember you saying, more than once, you would never take a 'group of wet nosed brats' as a Jounin sensei. This fact made even more odd when you pulled rank on Kakashi to get him," he grinned around his pipe as he recalled the annoyed and frustrated expression visible through the ANBU Captain-turned-Jounin-Sensei's mask as he was almost literally forced to withdraw his objections and arguments.
Hiroku chuckled softly as she set the file on the Hokage's desk. "I began hearing whispers of him around the ANBU ranks about two to three years ago. A kid in black being trained to the breaking point. That he held his own against ANBU teams. The topper for me was when one of my own, Mantis to be precise, taught him Corps assassination techniques then her own bag of tricks." When the Hokage had a bit of a blank look on his face, Hiroku sighed, "She was one of my very best: patient, methodical, scrupulously detailed. If she taught him, then he is someone to be watched." At his continued stare, she added, " Let me put it like this: Uchiha Itachi didn't register on her radar but this kid did."
The aged Hokage nodded as he contemplated the weight of her words. "As usual, he somehow manages to draw the persons he needs to him. Ramu and Yagi both said they were, at first, merely curious but ended up teaching him when he simply asked...It's one of his abilities."
Unbidden, she took up the file and held it to her side. "By your leave then? I need to do some recon and get a feel for him," she said with a small bow. At his dismissal, she used a shunshin and began searching for her quarry.
((Konoha Hospital))
Mabui busied herself by reading a book as she sat in a slightly reclined position in her bed. It was a decent book, but her mind wasn't on it. Still grieving the loss of a close friend to those bastards that had attacked. Azumi had been more than her Jounin bodyguard. She had been a childhood friend and the loss pained her. She barely gave a thought to the Konoha team; they were strangers after all. Yet when she paused in her personal pain, she could recall how they had fought to protect them with a vengeance. Their teamwork had been excellent, a clear testament to one of the reasons Konoha was still considered the "Strongest Hidden Village of the Big Five." Not that it did them any good when those bastards used shrapnel bombs...she thought angrily as her mind immediately called up the images of three bodies literally torn apart by the metal shards hidden in the explosive charges.
Setting the book aside, she turned to stare out the window, thinking on what she still had to do. Retreating mentally to her professionalism until the memories went back into the darkness. It was barely past midday and she hadn't eaten. The "interview" with Konoha's top Interrogator, Morino Ibiki, had been finished an hour prior. She shivered as she now thought over how the scarred man had thoroughly, if politely, pulled out every detail she could recall. Even ones she didn't actually remember. Now I see why that man has a 12 million Ryo bounty...he's utterly ruthless and fully capable.
A commotion outside caught her attention and what she saw made a silvery eyebrow rise in curiosity. A black clad figure passed by her door, a nurse trying to calm him. It wasn't the scene that got her attention. No...it was the way the figure was covered head to toe in unrelieved black. Even the odd slitted visor was darkened. She could tell it was a male; the physique said that much. Yet his carriage was...unrelenting. As though he would simply walk through anything- or anyone- that got in his way and that was a simple fact of the universe. Slowly rising to her feet, she went to peer out the door but was stopped when a Lion masked ANBU turned to regard her silently. His question caught her off-guard as her attention remained on the still forward moving black figure. "Who was that?" she asked in a cool, business-like manner.
Raion studied the woman before him from behind his mask and his black eyebrows lifted slightly before he turned to look down the hall. Shifting his attention back to the "guest" he answered calmly, "That is Arashikage Na...Snake Eyes. Son of the Jounin that brought you to Konoha," he explained and saw her nod in comprehension. Then she posed another question.
"I assume then he is adopted? Different family names and all," she said as her guard jerked minutely. "We were both pretty torn up, but she was worse than I. Will she be okay?" she queried politely as she leaned against the open door frame.
"She is stable, that's all I can say," was the response.
"I see," she replied and she did. Konoha's medical branch deserves their reputation as the best. If that woman was already out of surgery and stable. She took the brunt of that last explosion protecting me and she still somehow managed to haul me all the way across Hi no Kuni. That takes a lot of grit...she thought with a great deal of respect. She looked forward to delivering her personal thanks to the woman that saved her life.
She turned and got back into her bed, unmindful of the gap in the back of her gown. Nor the resulting show it gave any passerby. She was sixteen and thanks to a mission not long ago, she revealed more than a simple flash of her firm backside. Even if it had resulted in her never being able to to take a mission outside Kumo again.
((Elsewhere..later in the day))
Hiroku sat going over her notes and the file as she nursed a tall bottle of now warm sake. She wanted to pinch her brow in frustration as nothing made sense. "Damn brat's giving me one massive headache," she muttered as she tried to find the one key to make this puzzle fit together.
"Tanaka-san," came a lazy voice.
She looked up to see none other than Anko herself standing there, looking at her in puzzlement. "What?" she said snappishly at the interruption.
"Jeez...Just came over to say hello. No need to snap at me," Anko retorted shortly as she looked at the paperwork spread around the silver haired woman. "Having trouble?" she asked with a slow smirk growing as she realized just what the content of those papers were.
Unable to help herself, she nodded, "Yeah. Your 'student' is a real head scratcher," she admitted and then brightened as she gestured across from her. "Care to help?"
Shrugging, Anko sat down and set a piled plate of dango in front of her before she took a skewer and munched happily. "I might be convinced…" she drawled around the skewer of sweet dumpling. And with that Anko began educating the woman about her apprentice.
((One hour later))
Hiroku walked out of the bar, her head aching as she sealed the paperwork away and looked at her notebook. Just great. He's going to be hard to evaluate without a solid team to act as opposition…hmmmmmmmm, that gives me an idea. Just hope Tora-taicho is in a good mood. she thought as she made her way to her old office at ANBU HQ.
((Meanwhile))
Snake Eyes sat at a table inside T&I going over the various files he and a liberal use of Clones had "acquired" after spending some time with his Kaa-san. Taking his mask off, he pinched the bridge of his nose lightly as thought about her. Seeing such a strong woman looking weak and helpless didn't sit well with him. He wanted to go out, find the ones that did this to her and make them pay so badly, but he knew the Hokage would never allow it. So he focused on his upcoming evaluation and decided to do a little research on his mentor. What he had discovered so far had been… surprising.
Kumo native, age 47. Graduated their Academy at age 9 during the Second Shinobi War. Chuunin at 11. Jounin at 14. Defected to Konoha at 25 after failed attempt by Kumo to kidnap...Hyuuga Hinata? Kumo tried to abduct Hinata-chan? Gonna have to look into that. He gave his head a shake and underlined the name before resuming his note taking. Konoha ANBU at 28 and Captain one year later. Took over ISA Division at 30 and stayed there. He closed the file and added it to the one from ANBU Archives and her normal Shinobi registration file. Adding a few other notes. Solid career thus far, distinguished record as far as ANBU goes...wonder why she suddenly stepped down to be my Mentor?
He looked up to see both Morino Ibiki and Nara Shikaku step into the room. He immediately rose to his feet and gave them a bow from the waist. As he did, he missed the look shared between them as the door was closed behind them.
Ibiki stared at the short cropped blond and grunted, "Heard you were here. With some very classified information in hand." He walked over and looked at the files. "Tanaka Hiroku. Haven't heard that name in a while. Why're you looking into an ANBU's records?"
Shikaku sighed and shook his head lightly before scratching the scar over his right eyebrow. "Troublesome," he muttered before he collected the files. "ANBU's having fits since you managed to sneak in and slip out undetected...yet again." His bothered tone belied by the slightest quirk of his lips. "And it's because she's the one who made Kakashi back down at team assignments. Rather harshly, I might add." Another sigh as Ibiki and Snake Eyes both looked at him evident surprise. "Just too troublesome," he said before he departed the room with the files tucked under his arm.
Ibiki shared a look with Snake Eyes and shrugged before grinning. "He's right though. You made quite an impression once your training file became available for reading," he put a gloved hand on the boy's shoulder. "I look forward to reading more of your success." He glanced with a small smile to the boy in reassurance. "Stay true to yourself and your goals. Your training will support you."
Snake Eyes nodded before he returned the smile, knowing the Interrogator gave him the only advice he could at the moment. He quickly put his notepad away and tucked his mask away before signing his farewells. A Shunshin later and he was back home, heading to the kitchen to fix himself an early dinner.
((Next morning))
Snake Eyes woke up at his usual time and sat up, his hand turning off the alarm clock with a click. Dressing in some basic training clothes complete with a loose facial wrap covering him from neck to nose, he walked through the small house and outside to the backyard. Performing some stretches, he set do doing his warm up calisthenics. Focused on keeping his form for maximum effect, he was unaware that he had an observer.
((A/N: Similar to what Snake Eyes wore in GI Joe Resolute during his training days with the Arashikage just in all gray))
Casually draped along a tree branch, Hiroku was surprised to see the boy up and about before the sun had risen. The methodical approach speaks highly of his adherence to schedule. A good sign. Now let's just see what he does...She thought with a minute nod as she got comfy.
A couple hours later, a bead of sweat ran down the back of her neck as she continued watching him workout. Basic exercise, then a bit of cardio. Then overall strength building with kettlebells and finally meditation. I have to admit, I'm impressed she thought then tilted her head, what's he doing now?
Completing his normal one hour meditation, he walked to the center of a sand pit before he strapped on a set of ankle weights. Testing the weight before deciding to add another five pounds for each leg. Next he calmly slid on four steel rings onto each arm. Taking up the first stance, the Hoi-Ma, he began performing the novice and intermediate wrist and forearm strengthening movements. Once done and he returned to the starting point, he began flowing through the stances keeping his centerline as he added the accompanied strikes and kicks. Losing himself to the moment as well as the motions themselves.
Hiroku straightened up in surprise and simply watched. Her eyes narrowed as she studied his every move. She definitely did not recognize the style but she could see the effectiveness of it. Gonna have to introduce him to resistance seals as opposed to weights or gravity seals for training. she thought as she quickly pulled out her notepad and scribbled. That's the taijutsu style he's developing? Her thoughts trailed off as she saw him finish and straighten before moving to a nearby tree where what appeared to be an odd training dummy was strapped.
Unlike the ones she was used to; with fully articulated head, neck, arms and leg joints, this one had two straight pegs coming out from a central point at shoulder height, a third jutting forward from center and what appeared to be a bent leg pole. Any thought she had concerning it disappeared as he removed the rings and weights before he began moving. Her lips parted and her eyes widened as he started up slowly only to pick up speed and power as he continued until the air filled with the sound of flesh striking wood repeatedly. She didn't dare so much as twitch a muscle as she observed this incredible display of precision, power, and versatility. Dear Kami...it's an in close taijutsu. It makes the Jyuuken seem mid range in comparison since that relies on near full limb extensions and reach as its closest range allowed. I wonder how well it would work against a Hyuuga...I'll have to see if I can find one in the ISA that'll keep his or her trap shut about it.
"So what do you think of our Snake Eyes?" came a surprising voice nearby.
Nearly startled out of her perch, Hiroku turned to stare at the masked ANBU. "I see you haven't slacked off in your stealth training, Mantis," she said dryly. "Still... you almost gave me a heart attack."
Mantis gave a soft snort in response. "Hardly."
Turning back to resume observing, she saw him using a larger ring to work through a series of motions that made no sense. "What in hell is that?"
The black haired woman, named Mantis, turned to regard the activity before returning her attention to her former taicho. "He calls it 'Chi Sao' or 'Sticking Hands.' It's a series of drills used to develop automatic reflex and sensitivity training upon physical contact with his adversary."
Hiroku whistled silently, "Damn...that's some serious drill."
Mantis nodded, "Yes. He will next work on the leg variant he calls 'Chi Gerk.' He is relentless in his strive for perfection," she added in approval.
She silver haired Jounin turned to face the insect mask. "He does this every day?" she asked quietly.
Mantis shook her head, "No. When he finished his training under all of his senseis, we all sat down and worked on a maintenance schedule for him. Yesterday, he had light training followed by meditation practice. Today is taijutsu only. Tomorrow he will perform Buki- and Ken-jutsu drills. A day of rest followed by a day of calligraphy and tactical practice. Then comes Chakra Control and Jutsu refinement with the last day being a day he reserves for his two students," she concluded.
Hiroku blinked at the thoroughness. Then the last part penetrated her mind. "He has students?!" She repeated softly in no small surprise.
Again the ANBU nodded slowly, "Yes. The weapons girl from Team Nine studies Bukijutsu under him. Presumably to further refine her skills. Then there's the Hyuuga girl from Team Eight. She created her own variant of the Jyuuken with his assistance."
"How the hell did he get Hiashi's approval for that to happen?" she wondered aloud.
"You will have to ask them," Mantis replied then added, "You didn't answer my question."
Hiroku chuckled, "He's definitely well trained. His self-discipline is impressive. This morning, and the reports, justifiably support this. Honestly, when I first read them, I thought they were exaggerated," she forestalled the other woman before she could respond, "Then I looked closely and worked out the timeline. Once Anko let it slip he's using the Kage Bunshin, it all made sense."
Mantis gave a curt nod. "We all be in attendance when you test him. Observing only," she said as she departed by melding back into the tree.
Hiroku nodded and turned to resume her observation, stumped to see him finished and walking her way. She looked down to see him standing there with his arms crossed over his chest and staring up at her with a golden eyebrow arched. Oh boy...busted by a graduate. That's embarrassing. She watched his hands carefully as he signed to her.
[Since you're here, would you care to have breakfast?]
Slipping out of the tree to the ground, she smiled and followed the youth inside where she found herself enjoying the companionably silent meal. Once she finished, she was surprised when her host rose and took both their plates and set in the sink. "Umm, thanks for the meal," she said with a polite hesitation as he retook his seat.
Snake Eyes nodded and picked up a notepad and began writing before sliding it to her.
Hiroku felt her eyebrow rising yet again even as she wondered, Does he buy those things at bulk rate or what? She read the message and chuckled, "I wanted a solid read on you after reading the training reports. While they are helpful, I don't place a lot of stock in written reports," she explained calmly, "I prefer face to face, as it were." She gestured between them, "It gives me a better sense of what occurred on an emotional level. Written reports are often too clinically written." She saw him consider this before nodding. "What will you tell me about your taijutsu style?"
Snake Eyes thought carefully before gesturing to the pad. Once it was returned he wrote for several minutes until he was finished.
She accepted the pad when he offered it and read the neat handwriting carefully:
[The Arashi Ken is a severe in-close combat style. By keeping your centerline and disrupting theirs by getting inside their guard so completely, you gain control of the interaction and the practitioner can deliver rapid precise blows.]
She slid the pad back to him and pursed her lips, "Understandable. I bet the relaxed nature of your posture is also integral?"
Snake wrote quickly and nodded.
[Yes. Balance, Structure, and Relaxation are at the core. Muscle tension reduces power and speed while it also increases fatigue. By being relaxed up to the very second of impact, the blow's speed is unimpeded and its power is increased. As well as improving one's endurance during a conflict by using less energy overall.]
Hiroku found herself whistling lowly. "I'm surprised you're telling me this much. Wouldn't this be considered a Clan Secret?"
[You are my Mentor and thusly you need to have this information. I'm not discussing the actual techniques…]
"True enough," she conceded with a grin. "Well this gives me a better insight into how I will need to test you. This will definitely be interesting," she concluded as she got to her feet. "I should be going. I need to make arrangements. See you in six days and thanks again for the meal," she said before she used a quick Shunshin.
Snake Eyes nodded and rose to go take a shower before going to see his mom again.
((Six Days Later))
Mabui walked through the Village, ignoring the figure keeping pace at her side chattering incessantly about various figures within the Village. It had taken her two days to recover from the Chakra Exhaustion and the following three for her Network to "stabilize" according to the Doctor. Once released, she got a hotel room and made a full report to the Raikage. It took only a few moments with the Hokage to finish the first part of her mission. Now she had to do the rest.
She grimaced slightly, as Yamanaka Ino, her guide, pointed out various shops and other inconsequentials to her. It had only taken perhaps a minute to realize just what this Genin was. The bane of any genuine Kunoichi's existence: a fan girl. One that apparently fixated on the last loyal Uchiha. Outside of cosmetics or fashion, he was all she discussed at any length. That or how lame her teammates were in comparison to said Uchiha. It was quite annoying, really. Having had enough, she spoke up calmly, even though she just wanted to wring the insipid blond's neck. "So tell me about this Arashikage Snake Eyes. You seem to have your thumb on the public pulse, so to speak," she prompted.
Ino puffed up at the compliment but blinked at the subject. Crossing her arms over her purple top, she brought a hand up to tap her chin thoughtfully, "There actually isn't much to tell. Which is odd to say the least. He kinda appeared outta nowhere a few weeks ago to join my class at the Academy for the graduation exam and…" her blue eyes widened as the woman next to her froze in step.
Mabui turned wide green eyes on the platinum blond beside her. "Wait. Waitwaitwait...you're telling me he's a Genin?!" she asked incredulously, "You're joking, right?"
Ino shook her head, "No joke. Nobody on the street knows a thing about him. That or they just aren't talking for some reason. He appeared, took the test, and graduated. He was there with us for like a week at most. He didn't say anything so I kinda lost interest, ya know? I mean, he's no Sasuke-kun." She almost squealed as she blushed, "He has that whole mystery thing going for him, sure. All dressed in black and silent. Kinda good with weapons and his taijutsu is weird to boot," she confided, "Even so, Sasuke-kun is way cooler than him."
Mabui nodded, hiding the interest this created in her mind. "Silent? How?"
Ino snorted, "As in not saying a single word the whole time," she waved to her mother as the duo passed the flower shop her family owned. "It was more than a little scary, ya know. It was like he stared right through you."
Mabui gestured to a small coffee shop and sat. Placing her order, she pressed the blond. "How were his skills weird?" she asked giving the girl a smile. Kami, this is too easy…don't they teach kids counter interrogation techniques?
Ino joined her and placed her own order before she answered, blissfully unaware of the grilling taking place as she showed off her knowledge of others to the foreign kunoichi that frankly made her feel inadequate physically. Given her own natural assets, that said something. "He used flat knives instead of kunai. I mean really!? How do you fight with those? A kunai would break it in one go. He used a bunch of different shuriken too." When the waitress returned with their drinks, she sipped lightly. "Heck Sasuke got 8 out of 10 targets in one pass."
"I see… so his equipment was that unusual?" Mabui murmured as she faked sipping the coffee. If I'm right, Genin or not, he should be checked out…
Ino shook her head, "Nope. He fights weird. Gets in way too close. I mean, seriously! How can you get the power to knock a guy out if you don't give yourself enough room?" she snorted indifferently. Not noticing how the woman had tensed slightly. "I can admit though, he knows how to use those swords of his. Mizuki-sensei wouldn't even go against him. We had to get him an ANBU to spar," she said in a conspiratory whisper.
Mabui felt a distinctly pleasant chill and she sipped the coffee. Definitely worth checking out now. Nothing like a dangerous man… she thought to herself. Deciding to change the subject before the girl got suspicious, she asked, "So, any other boys worth noting? Beside Sasuke, that is."
Ino peered at her curiously, "Sounds like you're in the market…" she said with a self-confirming nod, "Depends on what you find attractive...you can forget Sasuke though. He's mine!" she added with what she considered a show of forceful intent.
Mabui mentally sighed and shook her head at the weak KI sent her way. Fangirls...utterly pathetic. "Relax. I'm not interested in him," she assured the blond. Never had a thing for the broody emo type.
Ino nodded slowly. "Well, there's Kiba. Heir of the Inuzuka. Loud and a definite horndog. Thinks he's some kind of big shot. Wouldn't be so bad if he bathed regularly and stopped perving on Hinata." She tapped the table lightly, "Shikamaru's available. One of my teammates. Just he's as lazy as anyone from his Clan. Which is normal for a Nara. Rather be watching clouds than do any training or anything at all really."
Mabui nodded, already striking both off the list of potentials. Of course, she recognized the names of two of Konoha's more prominent Clans. Not into pervy dog boys and lazy bums are out…
"There's Akamichi Choji, my other teammate. Nice guy all around but should really go on a diet." she added and then added with a shiver, "Lastly, there's Shino."
Mabui tilted her head slightly in quiet encouragement.
"He's an Aburame. So you know...bugs," she clarified.
Mabui nodded very slowly and struck both off her mental list as well. Raikage would be ecstatic over any of them but MY prospects are pretty slim. She was about to take her leave with an excuse of wanting rest but she paused when she overheard a figure nearby.
"You hear? That Snake Eyes kid passed an ANBU styled test this morning!" the man said with more than a little dislike obvious in his tone.
