Song of the Caged Blackbird
Abby Ebon
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Disclaimer: I do not own 'Harry Potter' or 'Naruto'; heck, I don't even own the idea behind this – it is a Challenge from Serpent in the Shadows.
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Passing From The Shadows
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When Kurenai Yuhi appeared unexpectedly – proofing in to the room, Harry hadn't thought she'd spotted him. It took her but a moment to look him in the eye, for although Yuhi was a newly made Jounin, she was a Jounin.
She winked at him, and Harry couldn't help but be intrigued by her.
Yuhi had her team follow her to the training grounds; they were just outside the city, located in a bit of forested area.
"Now, why don't we all say something about ourselves, what we like – what we don't…?" Seeing their looks, Yuhi blushed, brushing back her dark hair. "Very well, I'll start; my name is Kurenai Yuhi, I like to teach, and I dislike art, because it brings back bad memories for me." Yuhi told them, Kiba looking rather disapproving, grunted.
"I'm Kiba Inuzuka, and this lil' guy is Akamaru," the teen said, holding up a shaggy little puppy, Hinata smiled at the sight of it, "I like my sister Hana – she's a vet, and Akamaru of course. I don't like people who abuse animals." Kiba finished, there was a silence, and Shino eventually cleared his throat.
"Shino Aburame, bugs, dishonesty and lies." Kiba blinked at him, and then seemed to process it; and their attention focused on Hinata, who blushed, opened, and closed, her mouth twice, and then – looking to Harry for encouragement, spoke in a hush.
"I-I'm Hinata Hyuuga, I-I like, um, friends, and, um, d-dislike upsetting others." Yuhi smiled encouragingly at her.
"Well, now that we know a little about each other, I'd like you to meet me here tomorrow, at about noon? Is that alright with everyone?" Yuhi asked, seeing their nods, she smiled, and waved them off for home – Kiba and Shino left, and Hinata started to stir – amazed that that was all to the introductions.
"Hinata-chan, would you stay behind for a moment?" Yuhi asked her softly, and Hinata froze, nodding quickly.
"I'd like you to introduce me to your friend." Yuhi continued, Hinata paled, turning to face her teacher – her eyes flicking to where the Curse Seal told her where Harry's position was.
"F-friend?" Hinata stuttered, her eyes ducking down to the grassy floor.
"Yes, the young man who seems intent to follow you." Yuhi continued, kindly.
"O-oh, okay. Blackbird?" Hinata called softly, knowing he would appear as she ordered; even if it went against everything he had ever known.
"Hinata-sama." Harry whispered, appearing beside her, his eyes on Yuhi.
"Hello, Blackbird is it? It's nice to meet you." Yuhi told him, not paying attention to Hinata's nervous expression. Harry nodded solemnly to her.
"Now, Hinata-chan, I know of the Curse Seal, for I have worked with members of the Branch Family, and there is a, certain…feel about it; however, this young man is not of your Clan. Am I to assume he is your protector?" Yuhi asked softly, and looking slightly shamed, Hinata nodded.
"He is my friend though, ever s-since I was seven, he's been all I have." Hinata told her, defensive. Horrible thoughts were running through her head – what if Yuhi made her tell the Hokage of Harry?
She swallowed down her fears – she would not let them hurt Harry, her protector or not.
"I understand Hinata-chan. I truly do, you can not help what has been done to him, but I would like to add him to our little group, if you – and he, would agree to that?" Yuhi asked, and Hinata nodded, Harry bowing in Yuhi's direction – showing his obedience.
"Lovely, now, Blackbird, if you would speak with me?" Harry ended up doing just that, and, though Hinata was curious, she did not ask what Harry had done – she knew Harry would tell her if she needed to know.
"Hinata-sama…" Harry interrupted her thoughts, and Hinata turned to him.
"Yes, Harry?" Hinata asked, somewhat distracted with thoughts of her father's reaction to learning her instructor knew of Harry's existence.
"Your father, Hinata-sama, has instructed that you are not to return home. He has said you are not longer welcomed under his roof…I am sorry, Hinata-sama." Harry told her, meeting her eyes, hoping she would know how much he truly regretted doing this to her.
"Oh…where do you think we ought to go then?" Hinata inquired thoughtfully, her silvery eyes looked heartbroken.
"Hinata-sama, I think I may have an idea…" Harry said, for Harry had noticed that not too far away, they were being watched curiously by a boy with earrings and dark spiky hair.
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"How do you do that?" The boy asked as Harry approached him, his tone curious. He had sat up from his cloud watching, his expression betraying his interest. Harry shrugged, amused despite himself.
"I don't know." Harry answered truthfully; nervously Hinata approached, although the boy did not take much interest.
"Most interesting…" The boy murmured, looking Harry up and down, Harry didn't know it but when he tried to appear before people, he only partly succeeded, otherwise, he could be mistaken for a mirage - or ghost.
"What is your name?" Harry asked him, tilting his head; the boy yawned – yet he didn't seem tired, instead yawning seemed his way of saying he thought the questions not worth the trouble of answering. Hinata, seeing how rather laid-back the boy seemed, she found herself beside Harry, staring at the other boy, bemused by him.
"Names are so troublesome…but…I'm Shikamaru Nara, and you?" Shikamaru asked his tone light, trying – and failing, to keep his interest in Harry's ability hidden. Hinata looked at Harry, worried, for her friend rarely interacted with others, and other then Kurenai Yuhi – she did not know of anyone else he had ever spoken with.
"Blackbird…" Harry answered dully, and Shikamaru's eyes flicked between Hinata and Harry; all the while he was frowning.
"That isn't your real name…she's the Hyuuga Heiress…" Shikamaru's teeth bit into his bottom lip with thought. Harry hadn't considered the boy would figure that out so quickly, he wondered if Shikamaru would figure it out after only a night.
"There is no record in Konoha of you…." Harry simply nodded, and Hinata fiddled nervously with her shirt, she wondered if Harry would get into trouble with this boy figuring out all his – and her, secrets. Worse, in her mind, was what her father wouild do to him.
"What do you want?" Shikamaru, sighing, demanded; determining his curiosity over Harry overwhelmed his ninja sense of 'right' and 'wrong'.
"If you let us stay with you tonight, I will answer what I can of your questions." Harry promised, his eyes flicking to Hinata to make sure she allowed it; he could tell she didn't mind.
"So troublesome…" Shikamaru murmured as a complaint, yet, none the less, he led them to his house. He explained them to his mother and father by saying that they were "interesting", and were going to be spending the night, no, ifs, ands, or buts.
Though, Shikamaru's mother had ordered him to clean his (spotless) room, and the guest room, up first – later, only Harry and Hinata would know why Shikamaru complained of women being so 'troublesome'.
Only Harry's ability to disappear, so utterly intrigued him that he never questioned why they'd needed to spend the night, on the occasions that they did. Although, Shikamaru did make Harry do, and undo, his 'trick' until near dawn; all the while Hinata slept peacefully in the adjoining room.
Finally, when Harry drifted off to sleep, Shikamaru found he could not – his mind swimming with the puzzles of the mysterious 'Blackbird'. When Harry's nightmare started – Shikamaru took careful interest into his begging his Uncle and Aunt not to hurt him; of the murmurs of 'green light'.
He could not deny his curiosity when 'Blackbird' thrashed onto his stomach, his hair falling away from the back of his neck to reveal his Curse Seal, Shikamaru's eyes narrowed, recognizing it as the Curse Seals of the Hyuuga of the Branch House; his father having dealings with them...
'Blackbird', did not look, or act, like a Hyuuga; 'Blackbird' was a mystery Shikamaru intended to solve.
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The next day, Kurenai Yuhi, and her team met.
"Did everyone sleep alright?" Yuhi asked, smiling at the group. Indeed, most of her team had likely been so anxious about meeting her at noon that they did not look as if they had. Yuhi smiled, rather amused, as yawns and nods answered her.
"Very good, now, you should know that this test is to determine if, you will, in fact become ninja." Yuhi started to say, but was interrupted by Kiba. "What do you mean? Aren't we Genin?" Yuhi shook her head.
"I'm afraid you won't be for long if you do not pass this test, Kiba." Yuhi told him, narrowing her crimson eyes at the boy.
"Now, your first test – a true mission, is to find someone among us...who does not belong; who is…hidden." Yuhi told them; carefully not looking at Hinata's widened eyes."You have two hours." Yuhi finished, leaning against the tree behind her, her arms folded as she watched them look at each other, suspicious.
"Do you really think they'll figure it out?" Harry's voice drifted down to her, amused; Yuhi glanced above her, to Harry sitting in the tree watching the three.
"They might surprise you, Blackbird." Harry nodded slowly. From afar they watched as a fight broke out between Kiba and Shino over whom of the two was more suspicious looking.
"Well, obviously, I'm me, because Akamaru still likes me." Kiba told them defensively as Yuhi left them to figure it out. Hinata shifted nervously, wondering why Yuhi had kept Harry for an hour yesterday…
"That doesn't prove anything – he could be a replacement." Shino stated, his voice coming out muffled by the coat, and his eyes covered, sensitive to the light. Kiba sneered at him, holding Akamaru gently.
"Akamaru isn't a fake! You can ask my sister, she's a vet, you idiot!" Kiba growled his lip curling, and a glint of fang showing.
"Well, it obviously it isn't me." Shino told him, quite calm, and very sure of himself.
"Oh, yeah, well, prove it!" Kiba shouted, which made Hinata flinch back from them. Shino snorted and held out his hand, taking off his glove. Five bugs appeared out of his skin, and then going back into it – Kiba looked sickened.
"Oh…" Kiba muttered weakly, and Akamaru whined softly in sympathy.
"How can you prove Akamaru is real – that you are?" Shino demanded, and Kiba got a sudden idea, and setting Akamaru down, asked him to find the intruder…Akamaru barked that he couldn't smell or see any intruder.
"There, see? I'm not the fake!" Kiba crowed triumphantly. Kiba had a terrible thought, and turned to Hinata.
"Hinata, what about you… can you prove you aren't the fake?" Kiba asked, Hinata flinched back, and Shino shook his head at Kiba's idiocy.
"It's obvious she can't be, Kiba, the white eyes of the Hyuuga Clan can not be imitated by a Jutsu." Shino told them, Kiba frowned, confused. "How do you know that?" Kiba demanded, Shino kept his face carefully devoid of emotion.
"Did you not listen to Iruka? If you have a Byakuugan or Sharingan user on your team, they can't be faked, and will always know who among their teammates is a spy; it's why those two Clans are so sought after." Shino told him, stern, Kiba blushed, bowing his head.
"Sorry, Hinata …" Kiba murmured, and Hinata blushed.
"I-It's alright, Kiba…I-I don't think Y-Yuhi meant s-someone who is already among u-us…I think she means that there is someone w-we literally we can't see among us…" Hinata spoke up, so softly both boys had to strain to hear her words.
Shino looked down at Akamaru. "Or can't smell…"
"So, what does that leave?" Kiba asked them, Shino looked down at the ground – where a nest of ants were.
"I don't care if he is invisible – or you can't smell him, he has to move, I'll have me bugs swarm anyone they can't see – but can feel movement from." Shino told them, and from his hands – hundreds of locusts sprung out, and swarmed the training ground.
It didn't take long for them to find Harry.
"Well done, you three!" Yuhi exclaimed, and Hinata bit her lip, glancing to the side, ashamed she hadn't told her teammates about Harry.
"This is Blackbird, he is Hinata's protector, now, Hinata didn't know he was in on this with me, so don't get upset with her!" Yuhi scolded as she saw Kiba starting to open his mouth.
"Since you found him, which is something even Jounin has trouble with, you pass! Congratulations!" Yuhi exclaimed, happy that her new Genin had passed her little test. She let them go off to eat, keeping Hinata behind again.
"Hinata…Blackbird has told me you two have no place to stay…" Yuhi began, and Hinata surprised herself by speaking.
"I don't c-care what h-happens to me, I-I'm not going back to a place where father can hurt him!" Yuhi nodded thoughtfully, glancing between the two teenagers.
"Then, why don't you stay with me?" Yuhi asked, and Hinata nodded slowly – he eyes wide at the act of kindness.
"What about Blackbird?" Hinata asked, suddenly suspicious.
"Blackbird too…" Yuhi assured her, clearly somewhat amused. Harry saw Hinata grin, and agree to it and Harry didn't mind – as long as Hinata was happy, he didn't care where they stayed.
Though, he later admitted to the other boys when they found out he lived with Hinata and Yuhi that sharing his living space with a women and his charge had been confusing at times.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O
Over the next week, Harry found D-ranked missions (which, he was sure the absolutely lowest class of mission possible) dreadfully dull. He was just glad he didn't have to do them – just watching Hinata-sama do them was boring enough.
As Hyuuga-sama had predicted, Hinata's team consisted of Kiba and Shino, and Harry could see right-off that Kiba was going to be trouble; especially as he thought Hinata-sama 'liked' Naruto, which, she did; just not for the reasons Kiba thought.
Shino, though, he was… interesting.
Still, Harry reasoned, that as D-ranked missions took place inside the village, Hinata-sama was safe enough. It gave him the time he needed to locate Neji's team – and, once Neji's instructor, a man who seemed to pay special attention to only one of his students (leaving his other two, Neji, and a girl named Tenten, to fend for themselves in their training) – left, Harry approached.
He was surprised to find a kunai flung at him, missing his ear by a hairs breath. The kunai, when he turned to look, was buried half-way in the tree.
"Who are you?" It was a demand, and from a Hyuuga, even if it was Neji - the tone was something he couldn't help but be wary of.
"I am called Blackbird. I have a …proposition for you, Neji Hyuuga. Will you hear it?" Harry asked, keeping his distance. Tenten fingered another kunai suspiciously; she looked to her teammate, who was staring at Harry, a thoughtful frown on his face.
"I will. Make it quick." Neji ordered, keeping his eyes on Harry, otherwise the boy seemed to almost fade from sight.
"Very well..." Harry turned around, lifting the hair that fell to his shoulders, allowing them to see the Curse Seal – he had almost forgotten about the burn marks on his neck until he heard Tenten's gasp, and turned around again, in time to catch Neji's widened eyes.
"You are a Hyuuga of the Branch House?" Neji said suspiciously, raising his eyebrow doubtfully. Harry shook his head.
"No, Neji-sama, I am a…orphan." Harry trailed off, wondering if Neji would believe him. Tenten looked between them, confused.
"I wasn't aware that the Seal was used on others outside the Hyuuga Branch Family. Are there others?" Neji inquired softly, in his eyes, it had been his fate to be bound to the Main Branch Family, and it infuriated him that others were being inflicted by the Curse Seal outside the Clan.
"No, Neij-sama. Only I, Hyuuga-sama, thought me… special." Neji nodded very slowly, the puzzle of Blackbird falling into place. He would be unable to say who among the Hyuuga had placed the Curse Seal on him, or who among them he was in direct contact with.
"What is it, Blackbird, that you want?" Neji asked slowly, Harry sighed, taking the kunai out of the tree.
"To be free, Neji-sama, is that not what you want?" Harry tossed it to Tenten, who caught it, nodding her thanks.
"Blackbird," Harry had turned to go – but hearing his name from Neji's lips made him pause, "we are the same, do not place my name above yours." Harry, tilted his head back – so Neji could see his profile, and nodded.
And then, with Neji's alliance, Harry disappeared from their training area – going back to Hinata.
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Ninja (also called 'Shinobi') Ranking
Ninja Academy Student: A student at the academy learning basic techniques and about being a ninja. (All information seen above here is from; h t t p / www . narutochaos . com /)
Genin: Upon graduation from the Ninja Acadamy, the students become Genin and are put into groups of three with a Jounin as their guide. Their carry out mostly C and D rank missions. (All information seen above here is from; h t t p / www . narutochaos . com /)
Chuunin: Once a Genin passes the Chuunin Exam, they become a Chuunin and are capable of performing B rank missions and maybe some A rank missions. (All information seen above here is from; h t t p / www . narutochaos . com /)
Kage: is the leader of a village. They very rarely leave the village, let alone take missions. The Kage must be in the village to deal with anything that comes up, like a normal leader. The only time you see Kages fight is when someone or something invades the village. There are five Kage's, one for each of the major countries. Example: Yondaime fought the Kyuubi. Sarutobi fought Orochimaru. (According to Xurtan)
- Hokage "Fire Shadow"; Kage of Konohagakure. (Konoha)
- Kazekage "Wind Shadow"; Kage of Sunagakure. (Suna)
- Mizukage "Water Shadow; Kage of Kirigakure.
- Raikage "Lightning Shadow"; Kage of Kumogakure.
- Tsuchikage "Earth Shadow"; Kage of Iwagakure.
(All information seen above here is from; Wikipedia)
Jounin: How to become a Jounin from the level of Chuunin is not known, but they are the highest regular ranking a ninja can achieve and perform A rank missions. They can also lead groups of Chuunins and Genin in missions. (All information seen above here is from; h t t p / www . narutochaos . com /)
Tokubetsu Jonin: (特別上忍, Tokubetsu Jōnin?, literally "Special High Ninja" English "Special Jonin", sometimes known as Tokujō for short) are ninja who, rather than all-around Jonin training, have Jonin-level ability in a single area or skill, much like warrant officers of real-world militaries. They are elite specialists in their areas and are often assigned as subordinates to regular Jonin when their services are needed.
One example of a Tokubetsu Jonin would be Ibiki Morino. This character's unique ability to completely understand the workings of the human mind makes him a Jonin-level interrogation expert. Ebisu is another Tokubetsu Jonin that specializes as an elite teacher of young pre-Genin ninja before becoming Konohamaru's sensei in Part II. (According to Xurtan)
Hunter-nin (追い忍, Oinin?, literally "Chasing Ninja", English TV "Tracker Ninja") are a special team within each Hidden Village given the specific duty of hunting down missing-nin. They kill their target, taking the head as proof, and then completely dispose of the body by using various methods, such as cremation or the summoning of wild carrion crows to devour the corpse. This is done in order to make sure the village secrets which a ninja's body holds -- such as chakra types, herbs eaten, ninjutsu, special medicine, and kekkei genkai -- will not be revealed to outsiders. Hunter-nin are also supposed to destroy the corpse at the very spot the body is lying; it is not to be moved after it is dead. As a requirement, they must possess a thorough and intimate knowledge of human anatomy. Due to their reputation for utterly and completely obliterating the remains of their targets, they are code-named "The Undertaker Squad." Early in the series, Haku poses as a hunter-nin as a ruse to rescue the supposedly killed Zabuza Momochi. Real hunter-nin have only been alluded to, and so far have not been seen in the world of Naruto, though it is possible they actually exist as part of the ranks of ANBU; canon is unclear on the differences between the two groups. They are at least ANBU-trained, as mentioned by Kakashi during his short explanation of the group. Because of this, and the fact that they also wear animal masks, it is probable they are a subdivision of ANBU. (According to Xurtan)
ANBU : (ANBU, literally "Dark side") ANBU stands for Ansatsu Senjutsu Tokushu Butai, translated into English, it roughly means "Assassination Tactics Special Squad". The ANBU, known in the Viz translation as "Black Ops", is not a rank but a force of extremely talented shinobi of Chuunin rank or higher who are chosen for assassinations, for village protection from exceptional threats (somewhat akin to deploying SWAT units), for conducting high-risk missions into enemy countries, and for dealing with extremely strong (S-Rank) ninja. They wear animal masks to distinguish themselves from normal shinobi, as well as to conceal their identities. The ANBU carry swords; this is somewhat unique in that Naruto, although it is a ninja manga, has very few swords. The ANBU is an organization that is under the direct command of the Kage. Hatake Kakashi was a former member and Uchiha Itachi became an ANBU captain at age 13. Morino Ibiki, the proctor of the first Chūnin exam, is the head of the Konoha ANBU Torture and Interrogation Force. (All information seen above here is from; h t t p / www . narutochaos . com /)
Medic-nin (医療忍, iryō-nin?) are ninja who specialize in medical treatment especially using medical jutsu. Becoming a medic-nin requires a great level of intelligence and excellent chakra control, since medic-nin use chakra to heal injuries. Aside from their medical training, their combat training consists mainly of taijutsu skills, with emphasis placed on evading enemy attacks. This is because the death of the medic-nin could result in the death of the team. On dangerous missions, a medic-nin will usually be sent along with the team, to increase the survival rate of that team.
Tsunade, one of the Legendary Sannin, is the greatest medic-nin of Konoha. Shizune, her assistant, is also a medic-nin. Sakura Haruno, Tsunade's apprentice, is also training to become a medic-nin. Kabuto Yakushi is a medic-nin in the service of Orochimaru. Chiyo was a medic-nin, but she uses her expertise to kill rather than heal. Tsunade and Sakura also use their medical training to boost their strength, making them both formidable fighters and capable healers. Rin, in Kakashi Gaiden, was also a medic-nin. Ino Yamanaka is able to use medical jutsu, explained in the filler arcs as becoming a second apprentice of Tsunade. It is also shown in the filler arcs that those training to become medic-nins practice on fish and small animals before humans. (According to Xurtan)
Missing-nin (抜け忍, Nukenin?, literally "Missing Ninja", English TV "Rogue Ninja") are ninja who have abandoned their Hidden Village, and as such can include ninja of every rank. These ninja are considered traitors and are hunted down because of the secrets they may hold. Other Hidden Villages would be interested in purchasing this information because it could be useful in gaining an upper hand in battle or obtaining a bloodline limit unique to a village. Villages create special units of hunter-nin to take care of this problem, although it's unlikely that every missing-nin has a team of hunter-nin sent after them. Some of the missing-nin from the series are Orochimaru, Kabuto Yakushi, all Akatsuki members, and Sasuke Uchiha. (According to Xurtan)
- Sannin is not a rank in any way shape or form; it is a title. The Densetsu no Sannin (Jiraiya, Tsunade, Orochimaru) are simply known such (Translated it means Legendary Three Ninja) because of their skills. There are no other Sannin in the Naruto world. (According to Xurtan)
Mission Ranks
In addition to acting as the army for their country, the ninja village also acts as a business. Each day clients will come to the village and pay for the services of the ninja. These jobs can range from the mundane (walk the feudal lords dog), to the assassination of deadly wanted criminals. As needed the Kage or Jounin master of a Genin team can assign missions in furtherance of a duty to the country that are unpaid.
These jobs are thus divided into difficulty ranks of S, A, B, C and D and then given to ninja based on their ability. If the mission is completed successfully, the client will then pay the village. The easiest and least deadly jobs are given to the Genin, these are called "D-Rank". The D-Rank missions also help to build teamwork skills among the new Ninja Academy graduates. D-Rank are therefore non-combat with low pay. The "C-Rank" missions will be given to Chuunin and skilled Genin. These include protective escorts and missions with some chance of bodily harm. It can include capturing wild animals and mine clearing. "B-Rank" missions will be given to Special Jounin and Chuunin. These also include protective escort, gathering foreign intelligence and killing of ninja. Open battle is generally not an issue during this mission type. The next highest rank missions, "A-Rank" are given to Jounin and Special Jounin. These include vital missions between nations, escorting VIPs and maneuvers against offensive ninja forces. Thus these missions will almost always involve combat and risk of death. At the highest and most dangerous is "S-rank", given to Jounin. These missions include assassination of important persons, transporting classified documents and materials. With the extreme danger comes a very high rate of pay.
E is not a mission rank. The only thing I know of that uses it are the beginning academy jutsu; Kawarimi, Bunshin, Henge. (According to Xurtan)