This was her first "official" assignment that she was allowed to embark on without the accompaniment of other shinobi.
Senju Kanae was walking casually, almost lazily through Heiwa no Mori, a region in Fire Country with a large radius of heavily congregated trees. She was taking her time, enjoying the quiet sounds of the hidden animals, the existent, though invisible buzzing and keening of insects, the balmy, soothing breeze of a gentle wind; the natural structure of the forest in all its tranquil quality. This atmosphere was similar to her own home, which was currently a good half day's travel away, hence why she was able to let her guard drop slightly.
After discovering this when Kanae was conducting extensive research, this particular area of Fire Country was said to house a certain plant that possessed healing properties. Her task, after she practically pleaded with her father, Senju Satoru, to let her undertake this assignment solo, was to find this specific piece of greenery and bring it back home. If she was successful in tracking it down, the benefits that could be gleaned from such an amazing find would truly be extraordinary!
...or perhaps that was Kanae's enthusiasm for all things medical related causing her optimism to shine brightly. Surely, she was really the only one who considered such things as finding shrubs used for medicinal purposes exciting. But her clan was proud of her achievements. She made revolutionary discoveries at a young age. Very early on it was determined that she possessed a latent ability with healing. One day, she instinctively knew how to heal a cut she had received when training with kunai. Her father immediately set her up with some of the best healers in the clan and from there she learned all sorts of techniques. When she began to study medicine, her instant comprehension of the material with no difficulty was mind-boggling and she was heralded as one of the best up and coming healers in her generation. As the years passed and she retained more knowledge and experience, all sorts of people from different clans came to her to receive her expertise, and everyone was dumbfounded to learn of her age. Now she was seventeen.
She was a precious commodity to the clan. There have been more than one attempts of kidnapping, so Senju Satoru forbade her to ever the leave the vicinity of their home unless she was amalgamated with other clan members or trustworthy friends.
That all changed recently, and Kanae resisted skipping with elation as she weaved her way through the forest. She informed her father that she was an adult, more than capable of protecting herself if anything went awry, that he had to let her go some day, and to allow her to prove to him how qualified she was as a kunoichi of the Senju clan. The truth was, she was sheltered. Many of her counterparts had vast amounts more fighting experience than her; many of them receiving a brush with death almost every time they left the clan estate, and her only experience was of sparring with close relatives and friends. Not that she was looking for a battle to engage in, but still...though she was a genius in the area of medicine she was limited in others. She couldn't blame her father, though. He was only trying to keep her safe, but if she wanted to reach her optimum she had to be let out.
Kanae told her father she would start with menial tasks, such as offering services to neighboring clans, but when she came across this specific article about the Nerium Oleander and all of its potential healing components she thought that it was the perfect opportunity and she requested that she set off alone to find it.
From Kanae's studies, she knew that the genera Nerium belonged to the subfamily Apocynoideae, plants with a milky sap that was highly toxic. However, through plant infusion, if the precise amount of the toxin Oleandrin could be extracted, it is theorized it can contain some major healing elements. This plant mostly grew in subtropic regions, like Heiwa no Mori. It also had beautifully colored flowers. One had to be careful when handling it. It should be done with gloves because any skin contact could result in severe dermatitis that could spread easily, like poison ivy.
It was a vibrant pink that Kanae caught out of the corner of her eye. The forest was very green, so the highly contrasting color gave her little doubt that she had found it. She knelt beside the shrub and slipped her pack off her shoulders. She rummaged around inside until she found her botany encyclopedia. She flipped through the taxonomy section until she came to the Dogbane subfamily and ran her finger along the page until she noted the page number for Nerium Oleander. When she turned to it she beamed a huge smile and let out a huff of relief.
"Ah, yes, this is it." Kanae said to herself. It really was a beautiful flower. She smiled mischievously to herself. Kind of like a kuniochi; so striking in appearance, but if handled incorrectly, could be lethal.
Kanae went into her pack again, pulled out a rubber glove and slipped it on. She reached out to the plant and gripped one pink leaf between her pointer finger and thumb when suddenly she felt something sharp touch the side of her throat.
"State your purpose." A deep, gruff voice asked from behind her.
Every cell in Kanae's body froze. She didn't risk turning around to view the stranger, but the sudden revealing of a chakra signature told her the person was a shinobi. They were skilled enough to conceal their chakra completely so Kanae couldn't sense it at all and she hadn't heard them coming near her. She closed her eyes and clenched her teeth hard. Her very first assignment out by herself and she gets caught!
The blade pressed closer. "Answer me."
Discreetly, Kanae pressed her fingers together and squeezed ever-so-lightly, then slid her fingers against one another, attempting to bring out the toxin in the flower and coat the pads of her fingers with it.
"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm picking flowers." She answered, her voice sounding both nervous and annoyed. She slowly withdrew her hand and her movement made the tension in the air palpable to obscene amounts. Killing intent.
"I'm not here to cause trouble." She tried to reassure the ninja, her heart starting to knock against her ribcage from the nin's deadly aura.
Nothing but silence from behind. The person still hadn't removed the blade from her throat. Tense, almost choking moments passed where neither moved nor spoke. Kanae identified this as the fight or flight situation that it was, but didn't want to do either.
"I'm here looking for a specific plant. I'll leave when I've found it." She tried, attempting to keep her tone light.
More heavy seconds elapsed in silence. Then finally the blade was gone. A small sound of relief escaped Kanae as she slowly stood up. As soon as she turned around her eyes widened in fear.
There was absolutely no mistaking who caught her. She could tell by his clan garb. They all wore something similar. And his appearance gave it away instantly. The black hair, pulled back into a loose ponytail at his nape, strands falling into his eyes that were dark and piercing. In the time it took Kanae to register this, which was just a second in length, the eyes morphed into a menacing crimson and the air gushed out of her lungs as she was pushed roughly against a tree, her back making contact with it painfully. She stared, both mesmerized and horrified, into the notoriously dangerous sharingan. He held the kunai to her throat again.
"A Senju, huh?" His voice was low, almost a growl, and his breath was hot against her cheek. He recognized that she, too, was a Senju just as she noted he was an Uchiha.
An Uchiha? Why did she have to run into an Uchiha of all people? Dread filled Kanae as she became fully aware of the circumstance. Her mind raced with what was going to happen now. For years, generations, the Uchiha has been the ultimate rival of her clan. Constant bloodshed, undermining, sabotage and hatred were solid proof of that. She closed her eyes and sagged her body in defeat. This was terrible luck. She stood no chance against him, even if she wasn't caught off guard and had something to defend herself with.
Something to defend herself with...
"Going to give up so easily?" He asked mockingly.
Kanae flashed her eyes open. He was just about to take hold of her hands, she could see it. Fast as lightening she made the seals for a genjutsu. The arm held out to her with the kunai against her skin loosened just slightly as he was caught in it. That was all the distraction she needed. Like a cobra, she struck her gloved hand out, making absolutely sure that she pressed her pointer finger into the man's eye. If she gave him a large enough opening he would not have let her move. She knew the sharingan possessed special skills in genjutsu and he could dispel it as soon as he sensed it.
The result was instantaneous. He instantly backed away, his kunai falling to the ground with a dull thud, and clutched his eye with both hands, screaming.
"Fucking bitch!" His body turned and twisted in agony, his fingers practically clawing at his eye. "What did you do to me?"
To immobilize him entirely, Kanae knelt on the ground and after a few more seals swiftly placed a hand on his thigh. She pulsed a current of chakra into his leg and he dropped to the ground, writhing, panting and screaming obscenities at her. She sent another shot of chakra into his arm, paralyzing everything from his shoulder to the tips of his fingers so he couldn't weave any signs.
Kanae jumped up and went to grab her pack. She gave one fleeting look to the Oleander, regretting that she would have to come back for it another day, and started to run. She made it about ten paces before she slowed and chanced a look back at her victim. Then she stopped.
Why, oh why, was she feeling sorry for him? She frowned deeply as she watched him, still holding his hands over his eye and rolling on the ground in misery. What the hell was wrong with her? He was going to kill her, or at the very least incapacitate her. Then a thought occurred to her. She pitied him because in this one chance encounter she permanently disabled his most powerful weapon. Well, at least one part of it. She wondered if a sharingan user could still function with just one eye. But she also paralyzed his leg and arm. That couldn't be fixed so easily.
Kanae wondered if anyone else was with the Uchiha. She should disappear now before she was caught by multiples, but as she looked again at the thrashing mass on the ground, uneasiness and compassion swept over her. It was ridiculous and she may pay the price for it later, but she slowly walked over to him and stopped at a good distance.
"If you let me go, do not follow me, and do not report this incident to your clan, I will heal you and correct the paralysis jutsu." Kanae told him.
Wincing and clenching his teeth together so not to scream out in pain, the Uchiha removed his trembling hands from his eye. She could see from his untouched eye that he deactivated his dojutsu, but his poisoned eye appeared as if the sharingan was still in use. There was no white visible; it was completely bloodshot. In less than an hour that eye would no longer have sight.
"What?" He hissed. His chest was heaving with pants and beads of sweat were running down the sides of his face. "You're going to heal me?"
"Yes."
He stilled long enough to glare up at her, his eyes blinking uncontrollably. "Why would you do that?"
Kanae sighed. She pulled the glove off her hand and threw it on the ground, then stepped up to him until she was just a few feet away and knelt over him.
"If you agree to my terms I will heal you." She didn't really answer his question the way he was probably expecting her to, but the truth was, she didn't completely know why she was going to heal him. Kanae hated fighting. Hated hatred. She was really just sick of it. As soon as this Uchiha recognized her as a Senju he wasted no time restraining her. The terrible fact was the thought never crossed her mind even though she was afraid. There was so much enmity between their clans that his reaction was automatic, reflexive. That realization made her infinitely sad.
"Why?" He repeated through clamped teeth.
She stared into his eyes for a long moment. "Lets just say we'll call it even since you didn't kill me."
He stared back at her with a hard expression, his injured eye twitching.
"Is there anyone else with you?" She asked.
After a long, contemplative moment he responded, "no."
If she wanted to do this, she had no choice but to believe him. "Okay. Hold still please."
Kanae pressed a healing palm to his eye and another to his arm. The arm was the first to work properly again and in her periphery she saw him make a fist then open, testing. She then placed the hand not healing his eye onto his thigh and reversed the paralysis there, then she used both her hands on the last remaining injury. This was the spot where the most damage was done and was going to require a lot of concentration and chakra. He was totally still and his one eye was locked on her. Occasionally he would wince but he made no other movements. In fact, it looked like he was attempting to calm himself down. He was breathing deeply and evenly.
Kanae was getting slightly creeped out, though. With his one eye he just kept staring at her. His gaze was sharp and cutting. It made her uneasy, so she just focused on his other eye.
The man seemed to be young, like herself. She was even tempted to call him a boy, but knew by his height that he was not. Despite the fact that he was an Uchiha and carried all of the characteristics as such, Kanae couldn't help but note how handsome he was. She almost cringed from that thought, so she thought to make conversation while she healed him.
"What's your name?" She asked conversationally.
When he didn't answer she looked into that one eye, raising an expectant brow.
"What difference does it make if I tell you my name? We're enemies." He informed her evenly.
Kanae spared rolling her eyes and shrugged nonchalantly, indicating that she didn't really care one way or another.
"But I know who you are." He said after a short pause.
"You do?"
"You're Senju Kanae-hime, daughter of Senju Satoru, the clan leader."
Kanae didn't give any kind of response, just continued to heal him, making sure to keep her facial expressions neutral.
"I know this because she's known for her healing abilities." He continued.
"So?" Kanae said skeptically. "There are a lot of healers in my clan."
"She's also rumored to be extremely beautiful."
Kanae's chakra stopped as that comment caught her off guard.
Suddenly she found herself on her back with her arms placed above her head, her wrists bound by a hand. The Uchiha was straddling her.
"The sheltered, pampered little Senju princess with a tender-heart." He said jeeringly. "Helping an enemy when she had a chance to escape. That was the most stupid thing you could have done."
Kanae closed her eyes and willed the tears to not come out, too mortified and ashamed to be looking at the Uchiha anymore. "So, are you going to kill me now?" She swallowed thickly. "If so, then please do it quickly."
"Why would I kill you?" The man asked derisively, cruelly."The Uchiha can use someone with your skills."
Kanae opened her eyes and let out a sigh of relief. "Oh good. At least then my clan will know that I'm still alive and unharmed."
The man let out a mocking chuckle. "Unharmed? I will bring you back to my home alive, but I can't be held responsible for what the others may to do you."
Kanae's eyes widened.
"They may use you in more ways than just medical-related purposes."
A rush of anger coursed through Kanae so strong and fast her reaction was compulsive. She lifted her torso as much as she could while still being pinned and put her face right into the Uchiha's so their noses were touching.
"So why don't you start here first?" She spat. Her heart started to thump wildly both from rage and surprise at her words and actions. "This is the perfect opportunity for you since I can't move."
Kanae watched him closely as his eyes turned from wicked to hard and he let out a sound of distaste. Now it was her turn to ridicule. "What's the matter? Not interested? Or just chicken?"
Using his unoccupied hand, he roughly cupped her chin and pushed until the back of her head met the ground again. He leaned in until his lips were right at hers. His breaths were hot against her mouth. The world around her halted as she mildly panicked, wondering if he was going to kiss her. Maybe he was going to take advantage of her. He was an Uchiha, after all, and there were no rules when it came to their conduct, no lines that could be crossed that could be considered immoral. The Uchiha were known for their ruthlessness and heartlessness. Kanae really regretted provoking him and she closed her eyes tightly, shuddering from trepidation from what was about to occur.
"You're pathetic." The Uchiha said before backing away. To Kanae's utter shock he released his hold on her wrists and lifted himself from her. She stared after him as he stood, stretching his formerly unusable limbs.
Kanae smirked. "Good thing you let me go." She said as she stood up, as well.
The Uchiha set his intense gaze on her. "Why is that?"
"Because if you hadn't you would have given me no incentive to finish healing you."
Kanae watched him, gratified, when for a split second his eyes widened at the realization of her words, then he glowered angrily. She purposefully didn't heal him completely.
"I only slowed down the process that would cause you permanent blindness." She told him, crossing her arms over her chest. "In a few hours time you would no longer be able to see, or use, your left eye." She used emphasis on the word "use" to illustrate that his sharingan would be inoperative in that eye.
His actions stopped and he turned to face her. Kanae noted how his entire body was tense, coiled, like a serpent about to attack. She stuck her chin out defiantly, letting him know that the status quo had once again changed in her favor.
"If you let me go, do not follow me, and do not enlighten your clan as to this encounter, I will heal your eye completely and there will no longer be a threat of blindness." She repeated her conditions.
She watched the Uchiha intently as he was in thought.
"If you heal me, then we'll be even." He amended.
Now Kanae thought about his words. He provoked first when he held a blade to her throat, then attacked her when he recognized she was a Senju. She retaliated when she poisoned his eye and paralyzed him. Then she healed him. He attacked her again when he pinned her to the ground, then he threatened to take her to his clan...among other things. Then he released her. She offered to heal him again. In terms of favors, he owed her because her nice deeds outweighed his.
"After I heal you, you'll actually still owe me, but for the sake of never seeing each other again, why don't we just call it even?"
"You tacked on two conditions to your original." He told her apathetically, as if her words made no sense to him.
"So?" She said.
"You said not to follow you and then not to report this to my clan. If they ever receive word that I had an opportunity to take the Senju princess and failed that would be considered treason. You owe me."
Kanae's jaw dropped open. "Your clan would treat you not capturing me as treason?" She asked incredulously.
The Uchiha narrowed his eyes as Kanae shook her head in disbelief. "What kind of clan does that?"
"Shut up." He ground out in warning, a flare of angry chakra suddenly rising away from him towards her.
Kanae hadn't realized the extent of the differences in their clans until this moment. If she went home and regaled everyone with how she impaired an Uchiha no one would think to reprimand her for not capturing him and taking him as a prisoner. Furthermore, if anyone heard about her healing him she would be questioned what her motives were, but that would be it. Apparently a reprimand would probably be the least of his worries if his clan knew about what happened here.
Kanae cast her eyes to the forest floor and frowned, deeply saddened by this fact. "Okay. I will just heal you. We'll both be even and no more favors. And no one will have to know what happened here." She stated quietly, hoping this would placate him. Now all she wanted to do was get the hell out of there. For all she knew, he would forego the healing for now and risk the blindness in order to bring her back to his clan. When she was there, he and his clan could come up with ways to make her heal him.
"Please just let me go." She whispered, her voice on the edge of desperation.
There was no longer any intent to kill coming from him, but the air was still tense with his indecision. She kept her eyes on his feet just in case he decided to attack. She asked him because if he was intent on taking her, there was little she could do so stop him. She was bred and trained as a healer, not a fighter. In the few situations where she came into battle, she was required to stand off to the sides and aid those who had been injured. If this Uchiha assailed on her, she knew she was insufficient in her ability to escape from him.
"Heal me first." He said lowly. She looked up to meet his gaze then immediately nodded. She walked over to him and with a glowing hand placed it over his eye. It was difficult to focus on the healing when she had to look into his eyes. They were standing a mere foot apart and it was more intimate than she would have preferred. It seemed even more personal than what happened moments ago when he practically had his lips against hers. His face was unreadable and his eyes were blank, but it still made her unnerved. Still, when she finished, he could have deceived her and take her anyway. She really hoped not.
"Ryosuki." He murmured.
"Hm?"
"Uchiha Ryosuki. That's my name."
Kanae blinked a few times in surprise. "Um...it's nice to meet you, Ryosuki-san."
She couldn't believe it when she heard him chuckle lowly, and she couldn't help but join. This was so strange.
"So, then I guess this means we're friends?" She asked, abashed, her tone also carrying a hint of sarcasm.
"Hm." Was his response. But after a long moment he said, "even."
Kanae smiled. "Right. Even."
Since he was an Uchiha, she could settle for even. That was probably the best he could offer and the best she could receive.
When she was finished she took a step closer, peering up into his eyes. "Look up please." He complied. "To the left." And he obeyed her commands until she was finished. Kanae noticed how he appeared uncomfortable, yet still on guard, at their proximity. She was only this close because she wanted to confirm that his eye was fully healed. She actually needed a ophthalmoscope to really confirm it, but since she didn't have one on hand right now she had to lean in very close and see with the naked eye.
"How does it feel?"
"Better."
"Any burning or itching sensations?"
"No."
"Can you activate your dojutsu for me?"
His eyes immediately narrowed in suspicion at the request.
Kanae was affronted. "Do you think I would risk damaging your eyes after I healed you? You know who I am and I wouldn't want you coming after me seeking vengeance."
After a moment his dark eyes turned red.
"Any changes there?" She asked, taking this opportunity to closely inspect the sharingan without trembling from fear. If she was being honest with herself, it truly was an incredible sight.
"No."
She sighed with relief. "Alright, you should be good to go. You probably have healers in your clan, right? If you feel any residual effects then-"
"If I feel any residual effects then you can sure as hell be certain I'm coming after you."
Kanae sighed impatiently. "Chill out. An injury procured by poison always leaves trace amounts and sometimes you can feel symptoms of it, though not as severe as with the initial contact. If there are any traces, they will go away completely within a few days. Until then, if you have a healer in your clan, they can take care of it for you."
He stared at her for a long moment before nodding slightly in comprehension. She took a tentative step back, hoping this was the end and they would both depart from each other.
"It was the flower, wasn't he?" Ryosuki asked.
Kanae smiled wanly. "It's poisonous."
"So you're here collecting poisonous plants to use on weaponry?" He guessed.
"Not a bad idea, but no. The particular flower that I was trying to find can make medicines that have healing properties."
"I'm assuming you just touched the plant and its toxins spread onto your fingers. You could place the toxins on a kunai." He suggested.
"Don't give me any advice because then we'll no longer be even." She teased.
A corner of Ryusuki's mouth lifted. "Of course."
They stood awkwardly for a few moments. Kanae was unsure of what to do now.
"So, um, is this Uchiha property or something?" She asked. She wanted to make note of it so as to never come here again.
"No."
For the second time, Kanae's jaw unhinged in shock. "Then why did you question why I was here and attack me?"
"Because I saw that you were a Senju." He said simply.
Kanae's brow dipped in consternation. "Oh, that's it, huh?" She asked acerbically. She folded her arms over her chest and looked away.
"And the next time I come upon you, I won't hesitate to attack again." Ryosuki said evenly.
Of course, because you're an Uchiha and that's just what they do. They attack unsuspecting Senjus indiscriminately just for the hell of it Kanae thought but definitely was not going to say out loud, not wanting to risk angering the Uchiha.
Kanae focused her attention on a nearby tree and didn't respond. She decided to wait for his move. She didn't want to turn her back to him. That might be too tempting.
"What is the name of the flower you were trying to find?" Ryosuki asked.
Kanae looked back to him. "Why do you want to know?"
The Uchiha continued to stare blankly at her. "I want to know the name of the plant that I will be bringing back to my clan."
Kanae sighed. "It's called Nerium Oleander."
"You were wearing a glove earlier. Is that the best way to handle it?"
"Yes. It's leaves and stem are highly toxic."
He nodded. "It was clever of you to use its poison on me. It was quite...debilitating."
Kanae took that as a compliment. "Thank you." She thought for a moment. "I wouldn't take the plant back with you unless you have highly skilled and knowledgeable healers who know how to properly use it."
Ryosuki, in his trademark way, stared weightily at the Senju kunoichi. "Very well. I assume you know how to appropriately use it?"
Kanae didn't answer, already knowing where this line of thought was going and what he was going to ask of her. No, not ask. Demand.
"I will give you a week's time to prepare and convert it into a usable form."
Kanae huffed indignantly. "And if I don't?"
"Let's just say if we ever cross paths again, you should make sure not to come in contact with my heavily poisoned kunai."
She narrowed her eyes at him. "You're a real jerk, do you know that?"
The Uchiha blinked several times. Kanae almost giggled. It looked like he was trying to decide whether to be amused or irritated.
"Why are you asking me to do this?" She suddenly asked.
"I'm only asking you to make the medicine. I already know that it's poisonous in plant form. If you're worried about me using the poison against your clan that is already an inevitability."
Kanae scowled at him, then a hopeful thought occurred to her. "If I make the ointment will you promise not to harm my clan?"
Again, Ryosuki blinked as if in shock, then threw his head back and laughed.
"What?" Kanae asked, aggravation seeping into her tone.
"That's an inane request."
"Why?" She asked angrily.
"Because you're Senju and I'm Uchiha. It's like you're asking the lion not to eat the lamb."
Kanae could only guess what animal Ryosuki attributed his clan to.
"What do you expect me to do?" She asked, her tone rising with exasperation. "Why would I want to further any efforts of the Uchiha that will hurt my family? I have no desire to hurt the Uchiha or you. Why can't you just let it be?"
The only sounds Kanae could hear for a long while was the chirping of birds and the gentle rustle of leaves. Ryosuki was quiet, his expression unreadable, and she wished she knew what he was thinking. It seemed he had no intent to take her, but she didn't want to agree to his request.
One meeting wasn't going to alter the mentality of an Uchiha that has been ingrained for generations. Maybe another, along with a favor completed, might help. Kanae desperately hoped her naiveté wasn't glaring in this instance.
"Okay. I'll meet you here in a week, same time and place, with the medicine."
To be continued...
A/N: Heiwa no Mori: Forest of Peace.
For those of you who are hardcore botanists, you will know that I took a lot of liberties with the Nerium Oleander. It is highly toxic, but there is no substantial evidence of it containing healing properties, and if it is used in any beneficial way than it's for things like cancer or congestive heart failure, but hasn't been proven yet. Also, if the toxin gets into the eye it doesn't cause blindness; it's just a severe irritant.