Chapter 3 Chūnin Exams Part 1
"Life was good. Everything was going right. It was almost scaring him because usually when things were going this well it was the calm before the storm hit." Michelle Sutton
The three days travel back was almost a reprieve for Shikako.
Almost.
The newest additions to her soulmark collection weighed heavily on her mind. Not for what they mean, the Gold-Orange-Green and Silver-Gold speak well enough on their own regarding the rouge-nin: ditto for the polished steel inscription of 'Kurama'. What really bothers her is what people might think.
What inferences would they draw from the fact that she has the names of two highly ranked missing ninja written in chakra stain on her arm? Thankfully, this was less of a problem for the Kyuubi, at least, as no one else really knew his name.
And hope of just skating by without notice was fast running out. There was only about A BILLION PERCENT likelihood of requiring medical attention in the approaching Chūnin exam as the teammate of the 'last loyal Uchiha.'
It was something she had looked into a little during her sealing studies, and anchoring certain types of illusion had been mentioned on one of the low-level introduction to sealing texts Shikako had read. Surely she could jerry-rig something to cover the pigmentation of the marks, if nothing else. Maybe she could experiment with Henge and the sealing elements of 'preserve' from the object holding seals, and the chakra stabilisation mechanism from the exploding ones. It might work… as long as Shikako didn't mind the possibility (probability) of accidental self-immolation…
… Or maybe she'd have some luck with the more advanced books being a Genin entitled her to read.
Still, it was a relief to be headed home.
For all that Shikako's worst enemies were undeterred by those tall wooden doors, some resided behind them even now, she still felt a rush of safety pass over her at the sight of them.
'Childhood indoctrination at its finest.'
It was interesting and boring in largely equal measure to see how post-mission debrief worked for missions gone wrong – Shikako memorised the procedure, certain that she would experience it again.
After inviting her team to come for dinner, Shikako ambled off in the direction of home; with Kakashi-sensei tagging along for his somewhat ominous sounding 'word' with her father.
She didn't even feel remotely guilty about eavesdropping on the conversation whilst giving half-hearted advice on shogi tactics to her brother; just so she had a sort-of alibi.
When Dad came back in, Shikako excused herself to help Mum with dinner; she had invited three people without warning, so it was only fair.
When Mum asked about the mission, Shikako cheerfully recounted a tale that wass both absolutely true and so devoid of content as to be almost unrecognisable. And then of course Naruto had to open his big mouth… Shikako would never hear the end of this, if the looks her family were shooting was any kind of indication.
Other than that it was a great night, the openness that Naruto radiated infected everyone; and even Kakashi-sensei made an appearance.
After everyone left The Talk began, which was about as fun as expected – but the fact that she hadn't actually lied at any point did get her brownie points.
The next day was a good one, Shikako got up early (despite the acute nausea she felt at doing so unprompted) and went to the Genin section of the shinobi library, as well as the Nara equivalent. Looking into both seals and disguises, she found some actually potentially workable solutions; which was an immense relief. Shikako had really not been looking forwards to death-by-accidental-self-immolation.
Then she did mind-numbing paperwork (not so much fun) before Mum came and offered extra training; and being the kind and loving sister she is, of course she would volunteer her big brother for extra training with Mum.
Serves him right for abandoning her last night.
After delivering her finished paperwork to Iruka-sensei, Shikako drops by on Sakura.
She still feels very guilty about forcing the other girl out of active service, but Sakura seemed to have taken to healing with aplomb. Shikako had never realised just how brave, and determined, and clever Sakura was. It almost seemed like being away from Naruto's adoration and Sasuke's scorn was a net benefit to her-
Shikako stopped the thought there, before she started to make excuses for herself. She had stolen her 'marks place in the world, and set back the other girls goals by months at least.
Gently Shikako caressed the Orange of Sakura's mark, tracing the curve of it snug behind her right ear. It was such an easy mark to cover, already mostly hidden under the 'Helix' and 'Scapha' of her outer ear. The longer side sections of her fringe that framed her face hid the 'mark without effort, deliberately tucked behind her ears or not.
Shikako felt like the scum of the earth as she offered encouragement and aid to her friend, but she had to do what she could to mitigate the effects of her intrusion.
Leaving Sakura to her studies, Shikako went home, did her chores, and the settled in to do the real work.
The new sealing books were helpful, and since Shikako'd mostly finished her comparative analysis of the different styles, she could mostly figure out what seals did just by looking at them.
She was still no closer to actually building new seals though; there was probably a reason why people learned seals from Masters rather than books.
Frustrated and disheartened by the general lack of sealing progress, she turned to the somewhat battered and snappily named 'Advanced Disguise Techniques, Theory and Practice: 2nd Edition'.
Shikako leafed through the book with an evaluative eye, skimming for buzzwords and helpful diagrams after identifying sections of potential interest.
Then she paused, with an expression of polite confusion, because surely not, and reread that trick of light.
Incredulous, Shikako rereading again the third passage of the chapter entitled 'Hiding Scars, Birthmarks and Tattoos' to confirm that it really was there. Just after the author lambasts anyone purposefully tattooing recognisable markings onto their body, is a seal. It made sense in a way, she allowed numbly, 'Advanced Disguise Techniques' would have advanced seals, while 'Sealing: An Elementary Guide' had only basic seals. How is this universe so ridiculous?
It's not perfect, she'd have to put a seal over every 'mark (of which there are THIRTEEN, but at least she was officially 'not a recluse' now – so, win?) and it wouldn't cover the different chakras, but it might just work. Shikako looked closely at the array (and the rather distressingly explicit warnings, really – who wrote this book?). High initial chakra cost, but once finished it would become a closed system: therefore harder to detect or disrupt. In its standard form it lasted approximately a week, but that can be altered by calibrating the 'endurance' section of the array, as long as you compensate with chakra levels.
Wait – did she really read something about covering hickies? Yes. She really had.
'Who wrote this book?'
Nobody, apparently; but its chief editor was one Jōnin Uchiha Mikoto, with special mention to one Uzumaki Kushina. Publication dated just over 13 years ago.
Shikako stared down at the unexpected treasure on her lap, and carefully began dedicating it to memory. Tomorrow she'd show it to her boys.
It was physically painful to pull herself away from the book when the time came to collect Shika, and the only way it was made bearable was the knowledge of his immanent suffering: karma for leaving her to the tender mercies of their mother the night before.
Gate crashing Team 10's 'training shogi' was nice, and meeting Asuma for the first time was good too, but the real joy came when brother dearest realised what was waiting for him at home.
The training was exhausting beyond measure and, despite doing better than Shika, Shikako still felt like she wasn't trying hard enough.
That night before she went to bed, Shikako made sure that all the seals in 'Advanced Disguise Techniques, Theory and Practice: 2nd Edition' were perfectly copied out, with all relevant information attached; then shoved the book in a scroll, and put that with the other 'gift' scrolls in her gear for tomorrow.
Almost as soon as she made it to the training grounds, Shikako was invited to the first truly open combat in their team's history. It was fantastic, and really, all the better for their underestimating and ignoring her. They wouldn't soon forget how she had demolished them, Shikako thought smugly – feeling more proud of herself than when she'd mastered Kakashi-sensei's lightning jutsu.
It was only after some discussion about the flight that Shikako remembered her surprise.
She was already half-way through her 'You won't believe what I found at the library yesterday' speech, with the scroll in hand when she realised that she had no possible way of knowing that Kushina was Naruto's mother. Sheer inertia kept her going until the book was unsealed, and then she suddenly didn't know what to say.
Tucking the empty scroll away only bought her moment, and then she was just standing awkwardly with the book half raised like an offering – or a shield.
Babbling happened then.
So much of it that Shikako herself wasn't really sure of what was said in the jumble.
"It's that, I just saw the names. Your mother Sasuke, and then – 13 years. And I though. And then Uzumaki. It just made sense, to be friends. But I didn't make sure, and I'm sorry. And if it isn't her, and I get your hopes up" here Shikako's mind turned to government cover-ups, and what if there's no proof? Will Naruto hate her? "I'm so sorry… I should'a just-just" on the verge of tears now, Shikako looked imploringly to her teammates.
They stared back utterly petrified.
Burning with shame, Shikako lowered the book. Then movement: Sasuke reached out a hand hesitantly to silently request the tome. She handed it over with shaking hand, then pulled her now unoccupied arms in to her chest protectively.
Sasuke examined the cover with obvious trepidation, then flicked it open. There was a soft, indrawn breath when he found his mother's name. Naruto, who had edged behind Sasuke at some point, was reading over the other boys shoulder; and when he found Uzumaki Kushina's name, he let out a soft sound of pain and wonder.
The silence was too much, and just as Shikako was about to utilise newest technique (this was clearly the reason it had been invented in the first place) to escape, when Naruto darted forward and crushed her in a terrifying, chakra enhanced hug.
"it's okay," she heard him say from a distance "even if it not – she's not. It's. Thank you. Thank you so much."
The next thing she knew, she was sitting with the book open on her lap, her boys either side reading together; bantering softly over her.
"…has to be your mother dobe, no one else would say something like that in an academic text"
"Hey! Your Mum wrote this too! And it's not like she isn't right"
"I'm just skimming now – looking for the 'Dattebayo'"
"Saaaasssssukkkkeeeeee" Naruto whined playfully.
"You should look at what she says in 'The Illusion of Gender' chapter" Shikako finally said, entering the conversation for the first time, in a quiet shaky voice that tried for humour.
Obediently, Sasuke turned to the requested chapter, and a moment later choked.
"If she's not your mother" Sasuke informed Naruto blandly "It's because she's your sister"
Naruto collapsed against her, shuddering and choking on laughter – or tears.
That's how Kakashi found them when he turned up late.
Awkward and halting, he confirmed the identity of Naruto's mother, and neatly sidestepped the issue of the Fourth Hokage by adding, "I can't say who your father is, I didn't know her so well," the continuation of which was presumably '-as I knew her husband, whom I was apprenticed to age five', and since by law he 'can't' disclose Naruto's full parentage, he was being totally honest. Kakashi-sensei dodged truth like it was an art form; his 'underneath the underneath' never once required him to outright lie.
Then, because apparently the 'feels' weren't over yet, Shikako presented her team with their photos.
It was over eventually though, thank god, and the universe righted itself once more with Kakashi-sensei gleefully informing them of the impending flood of D-ranks.
Well… it was sort-of over, Sasuke gently pushed The Book into Naruto's stomach with a flippant "look after this for me, will you?"
Shikako offered no excuse when she bought the book off the library the next morning; just twice what it was worth (priceless, but they didn't know that) and a solemn stare.
The next week of missions felt strangely like a holiday; summer camp or something. They weeded gardens, and walked dogs, and trained and bantered. And if the Genin of Team 7 became the most unlikely set of infiltration experts on the continent, well, they certainly didn't mention it to anyone.
Eventually though, Naruto did ask the Hokage about his mother. All their combined efforts could only dig up the minimum amount of information on her: Name, Rank, Refugee Status, Years of Service, and finally, Birth and Death Date.
It would be a long time before Shikako saw something as painful as the blank despair on Naruto's face when he saw his mother's date of death.
The Professor, however proved himself to be as smooth an operator as Kakashi-sensei. He said that Kushina "Died fighting to defeat the Kyuubi" that she'd loved Naruto fiercely, and had indeed been friends with 'Young Mikoto'.
Naruto looked somewhat conflicted after that, and Shikako wondered if he was thinking about the implications that story had on his Jinchuuriki status.
Thankfully that expression faded when the Hokage continued.
"Your mother was a very powerful Kunoichi, and her records are sealed as a matter of village security... and she never officially contributed to any texts beside the one you already have… but" Here the old man paused, as if for dramatic effect and then, in true art-attack 'here's one a prepared earlier' style, pulled a thick, bound tome out from under his desk.
It sat innocently on the desk for a moment, with only two distinguishing marks on the worn brown leather of its surface. Uzushiogakure's spiral swirl, and a seal so tightly compressed, all that was left was a single kanji: Blood.
"I was told that it contains the history and teachings of the Uzumaki Clan, and that your mother gave it to my successor for safekeeping in the Hokage library." Here the Hokage's eyes softened, and he seemed to shrink somehow, truly becoming a tired old man for just a moment before he straightened out again. "Though it cannot be read by non-Uzumaki, its worth as a relic from the Hidden Whirlpool Village is incalculable." From the look on Naruto's face, the Hokage didn't need to extol the worth of this particular relic "Your mother brought carried this treasure with her own hands to our village, is it is only fitting that it find its true home with you. It may be safer here, in this tower: but safety is not its purpose." The Sandaime Hokage pushed the book closer to Naruto across the desk and smiled "It is a great honour to present you with this part of your heritage"
Naruto cradled the book with delicate care and didn't even try to speak, instead he just smiled; like he held the sun captive inside his skull.
As they left, Naruto's Oji-san called out to say that he'd always be welcome to drop by, that the old man would answer what questions he could.
It was just as well that they'd already completed the Legendary Tora Mission; they certainly wouldn't be getting anymore work done that day. The three Genin curled together under name of Naruto's mother on the KIA monument, and Kakashi-sensei knelt beside them. They had offered Naruto privacy for opening the book, and been rewarded with a look of total incomprehension. It simply would never have occurred to Naruto that he might want to keep something like this to himself.
Just a single drop of blood, and the protective illusion disappeared as ink blossomed outwards with the deactivation of the seal.
It wasn't just a book.
Naruto was forced to quickly readjust his hold on the book to keep the sheaves of loose paper from escaping. Careful notes, and diagrams and… a hand drawn map: wistfully titled 'Before the War' of a village that no longer existed. With shaking fingers Naruto traced the characters: each judiciously dated document contained some precious fragment of the woman (then girl) who had written them. Lullabies, recipes, the best routes between common destinations: the things that time would steal from the survivor of a destroyed world.
Most were tucked just beneath the cover, but some were wedged more firmly into other sections – likely a commentary, or additional content of some kind, regarding those particular sections.
When Naruto raised an arm to scrub his eyes, Shikako and Sasuke hands automatically reached out to steady the book.
From the corner of her eyes, Shikako noticed that Kakashi-sensei looked… conflicted. Very carefully, she didn't react to the thoughts that flashed through her head.
Sensei and the Hokage would have talked about the Genin's discoveries. And likely they'd agreed on giving Naruto that book; but Sarutobi Hiruzen would have no reason to know about these additional materials. The book had probably never been 'given to the Hokage's library for safekeeping', but had simply been moved there, as a natural consequence of its owner being the wife of said 'successor'. There was a lot of potential in those notes for secrets to be brought to light.
And so Kakashi was conflicted.
Curling around her teammate even more protectively, Shikako was resolved. If Kakashi wanted to take this barest taste of family away from Naruto, he'd have to fight her for it. It wouldn't necessarily be much of a fight for him, but the other two would likely follow her example; so at least they'd be a nuisance at least – for all that he'd deserve more.
Kakashi coughed lightly, his choice obviously made, and said "Maa Maa, looks like you've got a lot to learn there, doesn't it"
Shikako felt a warm smile grow on her lips to match the warmth that came from sensei's name on her ribs.
"Sure do, but we'll learn it all, Dattebayo!" Exclaimed Naruto; sunshine bright and certain, despite the wateriness in his eyes and voice.
And he'd said 'we'. Kind, sharing Naruto.
"Ne ne Shikako." Naruto pulled her from her thoughts "You know sealing right?" he asked, looking up from the contents page.
Shikako looked down and saw that chapters 3 through 5 all had the word 'Seal' in their headings. In the distance, a choir of angels picked up… well not really – but still!
Looking into the blonds face, Shikako felt an answering grin form. As one, their eyes found Sasuke; who was still for a moment, then hunched up slightly before sighing in mock-morose assent. Clearly he realised that was a non-negotiable team study that would be taken in addition to everything else they were already doing. What they all really needed was a Time Turner.
Kakashi-sensei shuddered at the edge of her vision, edging both further away and closer in a way that perfectly described his feelings towards his Genin all learning the Art of Sealing. Shikako had the feeling that Kakashi would be present and on time to every sealing session: even if he had to hide in a bush, or something, to preserve his image.
A day later Team 7 were presented with the second (or first, really – hopefully first at least) C Rank mission. Somehow, Shikako didn't have particularly high hopes for their 'find and receive' mission going well; Naruto on the other hand seemed thrilled.
He seemed even more enamoured of the Sandaime than usual, whereas Shikako's regard had only cooled further. 'That book belongs to Naruto, why didn't he get it the first time?' She thought with a kind of distant resentment. She's pondered a time or two, why she hadn't been marked with her leaders' name. Eventually she came to the conclusion that she just wasn't emotionally invested in him. To Shikako, he was already a dead old man; albeit one was the architect (however unwitting) of much of the suffering faced by the two boys she'd adopted as her own.
Shikako was pleasantly surprised by how little went wrong during the mission. The sticky chakra thing would have probably been a bigger issue for the Other Team 7; she can just imagine the stink the boys much have kicked up over being glued together 'holding hands'.
The banter between the boys was good natured (Shikako would remember the 'because you have nothing to add' one forever) and apparently Naruto had gone to the Hokage last night to learn the story behind the 'special mention' in 'Advanced Disguise Techniques, Theory and Practice'.
Apparently, Mikoto had been severely injured on the warfront (an unspecified injury that required months of rehabilitation) and had been assigned the position of Chief Editor of Internal Shinobi Publications for the last months of the war – an effort to keep her occupied with something useful while her comrades remained on the front. The Kunoichi Uchiha had apparently taken exception to the Elders suggestion that she become a housewife while her friends and comrades died in Konoha's defence. Kushina's own brief return to the village coincided with the 2nd edition rehash of the stated text, and to cheer up her dear friend, the Seals Mistress offered her services as Co-Editor and comedic relief. The first print of it was actually well over a year after it had been finished: Uchiha Mikoto had been an exceptionally committed and prolific Chief Editor, and had created quite the backlogged surplus of updated educational texts.
When they got back to the village, Sasuke was still caught up in his quiet introspection. Catching his eye, Shikako smiled gently at him. He smiled back. A tiny, soft, confused thing; but open and honest in a way it never had been before.
'He needed that,' she realised as they made their way through the gates. '…to connect to his family away from that disastrous night. To really see his mother as a living person in her own right, rather than another murdered victim to remember: to avenge.' Maybe it would hurt more now, after realising that she was a solider once to. That she had also experienced injury, and helplessness. Shikako bet it was worth it though – to read words from her that he'd never seen before. She wondered if, in the safety of Sasuke's own mind, the voice that read those words rang with an echo of his mothers'.
Shikako felt a little thrown herself. She's never thought of the people of this world as, well people really. Even now, she thought of them in general terms as 'characters' unless she had a specific attachment to them.
What did she think of Mikoto 'the person'?
'Clever,' she decided 'dedicated, loyal. Good Jōnin-sensei material' Shikako deflated, suddenly very tired as the actual human cost of Danzo's meddling really hit her for the first time.
So much death already, and so much more yet to come… and for what?
Revenge?
Hubris?
Peace?
Shikako would admit to being somewhat disheartened by the time she made it home.
She tried her best, over the next four days to conceal the worst of it. Being around her family and her team helped a lot. Especially with the boys being stuck together (with sensei's additional 'teamwork drill' torture sessions), it was like having a 3-day front-row ticket to 'Live at the Apollo'. Shikako stuck close by them during 'sociable' hours, claiming solidarity. Not one of them believed her, but no one complained.
And she trained; obsessively.
That reality-check (the irony) had given her a kind of… grim resolve to get stronger.
Shikako also tried out the Sealing Art: Hidden Marks technique. Calibrated to a month, and painstakingly painted left-handed onto her right wrist, over the names of Haku and Zabuza. When no obviously life threatening repercussions ensued, Shikako sealed another.
She might even develop ambidexterity from this, which would be useful.
It was on that fourth day though, that time seemed to move forwards again.
'Yet another D-rank fearlessly completed by the brave and loyal Konoha ninja', she thought dryly, 'truly the exciting life of a Genin knows no bounds'
Shikako felt a small flutter of interest at the Jōnin hawk summons as Kakashi-sensei bailed with a non-excuse, but dropped it easily enough.
The remaining three-quarters of Team 7 were making their way to the training fields when… well, they were pursued by a very square rock.
Sasuke and Shikako both turned their eyes to Naruto; instinctively knowing where to assign blame.
Flushing brilliantly, and huffing Naruto marched towards the – ah, stone.
"A square rock with two eye holes like that doesn't exist" Naruto informed them sternly, taking disguises much more seriously these days. "It's so obvious!"
"I should have expected that from my rival!" the box announced before exploding in an impressive cloud of smoke and flying debris. "Hey! You used too much gunpowder!"
As the smoke cleared it revealed three vaguely familiar coughing children.
"We are-" they shouted. "Moegi!" "Udon!" "Konohamaru!" "And together the three of us make: the Konohamaru Corps!"
"I thought, it'd be you," Naruto said, completely unimpressed. "Why do the three of you have goggles on?"
"We copied the old you," Konohamaru explained laughing.
It was beyond sweet to watch Naruto and his little flock interact, especially the demands that he 'play ninja' with them.
Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Ninja playing ninja," he scoffed, but there was something like agony hidden under the surface of cool disdain. "I'm going to the training fields. Meet me there if you're coming." He walked on.
Shikako stood still for a moment, torn, but when Naruto tried to use her to renege on his promises; she was suddenly struck by inspiration.
"Play ninja, huh?" She smirked, feeling more like herself than she had in days. "I've got just the perfect idea…"
Oh it was a delightfully wicked idea. Shikako felt giddy just thinking about it. "Here's what we're going to do…"
The training fields were quiet when we got there. Sasuke was practicing his kata alone in the middle of the clearing. It was probably a relief to be able to do so, after spending three days 'shackled to a moron' as he's so elegantly put it.
"Target aquired?" Shikako asked the three pseudo-formally, who nodded in response.
"Sasuke is going to kill us," Naruto said, awe in his voice; but a sly, side-eyed grin on his face.
"Shush you. Remember the plan?"
They nodded again.
"Okay, Konohamaru. On your mark!"
Shikako crept into position, ninja children were taught tactics though games; and this would be a fun-er - important! important tactical lesson.
"Now!" Konohamaru leapt out of the bushes, deploying a colourful smoke bomb. Sasuke blinked in bafflement as he was pelted with paper shuriken. He'd dodged automatically, hands twitching towards his kunai pouch before he paused, and registered what was going on. Sasuke really had no clue how to respond to kids attacking with fake weaponry.
'Diversion tactic successful'' Shikako leapt and landed lightly behind him, arms wrapping around him mimicking a bear hug, when it was In fact, merely just a hug.
"Got you" she sing-songed and the kids cheered.
"What the-" Sasuke stared, looking at Shikako with wide, almost frightened eyes.
"Play along," She whispered in his ear, and watched Naruto get dragged out of the bushes: he looked even more stunned than Sasuke, like he couldn't quite believe she's pulled it off.
Then Shikako 'lost grip' on Sasuke, and gasped dramatically "Oh no! He got loose! Run!"
And then Sasuke was playing too; Shikako hoped that it eased whatever memory it was that had haunted him earlier.
They careened down the streets back into town, the laughing and shrieking the whole way (except Sasuke, who was silent as a stalking cat). Shikako realised too late that they were going to hit someone.
It was just unlucky that that someone happened to be Kankurou; because of course it was.
Oh look, his sister was there too… aaaaannnd, yep. Three for three, Shikako tried to keep a measure of levity in her thoughts as Gaara's chakra pinged her senses in the trees; it didn't work.
Kankurou snarled something Shikako didn't quite register, and grabbed Konohamaru by his scarf. Temari berated her brother, but she was obviously hyped up herself – 'and why wouldn't she be' Shikako wondered sardonically. She was only deep in enemy territory, with one brother attracting negative attention, and the other held in the sway of a bloodthirsty charka demon and might decide to kill them at any moment.
It was harder to keep a cool head then she was expecting, but Shikako guessed that was the price for actually caring about people. Looking into Gaara's cold, dead eyes, Shikako couldn't find it in herself to regret that. The two Sand and Leaf nin parted ways without bloodshed or weapons drawn, so Shikako was willing to count that as a victory.
Somehow, for all his progress, Shikako was still completely unsurprised to find that an 8-year-old knew more about rank progression than Naruto did.
And with that glaring sign of things to come, Shikako that night began preparations. There was so much at risk going into this exam, and Shikako knew that she would have to press her every advantage to maximise their potential survivability.
Her greatest advantage by far was foresight (assuming her knowledge from Before was still accurate) so Shikako just needed to figure out a way to use It.
'And discreetly too' she added, thinking how very unwise it would be to walk into Konoha's library and check out all the books on The Forest of Death.
Unobtrusively perusing the Nara archives on the other hand…