Chapter Three: Hidden Kuma Horror - Mind Trap Jutsu
The alarm went off, ringing and rattling until Yayoi grabbed the offending noisemaker and threw it across the den where it hit a tree root and bounced off to some area. She didn't go back to sleep, how could she after that racket?, but she simply lay and listened to the silence of her pseudo-house. And with Ichiro still missing and her parents dead, there was no one in her immediate family left but her. What she wouldn't give for an actual mother to care for her, for a father who had actually given a damn past trying to kill her 'traitor' brother... She supposed in his own little way, he had; but it wasn't good enough. And after the disappearances, she couldn't wait for him to come for her. If in fact he was the killer, which she wasn't so sure he was. 'Just try and take me...' she thought, grinning. 'I dare you.' The same thoughts ran through her head every morning, and every morning she wondered if her challenge would be met; just so she could kick some ass. "I think I won't get up today," she said, pulling the blanket back up. Her eyes flicked to the "bedside" calendar, just to check the messages she left herself. A second later she yelped, rolled out of her bed and dashed out of the den, transforming into her wolf appearance in an instant in order to get out the door.
The den itself was quite large, carved and dug all by hand and paw. She had done it all herself, only stopping in her human form when the blood started to flow from under her nails and her hands were blistered. But she had kept the opening quite small, just a small hole covered by the roots of the tree that had been pushed over in a great battle. She reverted back to human form once outside and brushed herself off. She enjoyed this battlefield, even though it had ruined the village for a time. It had claimed the life of her grandparents when she was young. Her mother's parents had lived with them and had been the light of her life, but when the Nine-Tailed Fox attacked the village, they had bravely fought for their village, losing their lives to protect the Hokage.
Her house was silent as she entered, and she ignored everything but the journey to her room. It had taken her days to get all the dust out, only to leave once the cleaning was done. She returned every so often for clothes, but avoided it any other time. She chose a tight blue sleeveless shirt and a short, but reasonable green skirt. She was grabbing for her red nets that she usually wore, but deciding instead on leaving them. Once dressed, she examined the outfit to make sure it wasn't too revealing. She felt uncomfortable enough in the outfit, she didn't want to have an accidental embarrassing moment. It's not like she had a mind erase jutsu! She added a long green sash, and wrapping it loosely around her waist, until she tied it in a bow in front. She slipped into her matching sleeves and leggings and stood before the looking glass. Maybe it wasn't an outfit that would earn respect, and certainly someone would throw her a nasty comment, but she didn't care. She was eighteen for crying out loud! She was fully developed, and still she looked like a child. She would never grow taller than her 153.6 centimeters, but luckily enough, she was curvy and had a reasonable bust size… and if she had clothes that made her look good, why shouldn't she wear them? If she wouldn't be treated like an adult anyway, she could at least give them a good view. All ready to go, she shoved her old hitaiate in backpack as she grabbed it from the floor by the door. Today! FINALLY! She had totally forgotten in the early morning sleepiness. She closed the door and locked it before running down the street towards the Academy.
Shinobi. The word spoke to her as it had the first day she had earned her hitaiate. The proof she was an actual ninja. A Kunoichi. A woman. It was strange, the way the recognition felt. It had been a long time since she had felt this way, and still… it was like new. Like she had just earned the right to wear the headband again. She hadn't worn it in three years, since her Father had forbidden it. He had believed if she didn't have a team, she wasn't really a ninja. But still… he never underestimated her, and that was a preferable work environment to her.
He had seen the best in her and done everything he could think of to bring it out. His methods were… unorthodox perhaps, but it was what she needed. She had learned everything he taught her, and even invented some jutsus of her own. It had been quite simple, and she had built off of the Clan Hidden Jutsu, but in the end, she had created breaks and had advanced further than thought possible. She was her Clan's prodigy, and while they were the ones who accepted her the most, the jutsu she had made had caused a general distain for her. Many members of the Clan had refused to even accept it as part of the Hidden Jutsu.
She stopped short just outside of the classroom, just staring at the closed door. Most were excited, even afraid, at the thought of this day. The day she finally got confirmation, and later she would receive a sensei and became a Genin with a team. This would be her second team and she hope to whatever was out there she didn't mess up this time. This door wasn't new to her. She had passed through it before, gotten a team and failed. This door was more than a new exciting future or path for her. It was a memory, a goal. A goal she had done unimaginable things to get to. Most ninja found this journey to be an easy goal, even the ones who struggled found becoming a Genin reasonably easy. How hard could it be to go to school, pass the test and sail through the exam?
Ah, but her team had fallen apart even before training and Ichiro and Hiroshi had been sent back to the Academy. The new genin potentials were twelve or so… They were young, yes, but strong from what she had seen. She had grown up with most of them, some of them were distant relatives from what she had heard. She had always looked young for her age, due to her short stature, but her intellect and family heritage had alienated her from the younger kids. She soon learned to keep her mouth shut and simply observe. Which is why she didn't really have friendships with them, she just hung around like a ghost. From what she had detected… there would be a lot of graduates, probably all of them would graduate in her opinion.
Her hand reached out and slid the door open. She strolled in, leaving the door open behind her. Why bother anyway? Why should the ones behind her be hindered by a closed door? Didn't they have enough people and things telling them no? Someone should say yes to their dreams. She was a yes-man, it suited her. A familiar shock of blonde hair had her attention anyway. Sitting alone like usual. She made her way towards him, not bothering to notice the stares she got. She didn't try to hide her like for the boy. "Morning Naruto!" she said cheerfully. "Mind if I sit for a while? I'll leave when class starts, or maybe when Sakura-chan comes, hm?"
The boy's pale blue met hers. "Oh, hey. Sure, I don't mind, but what about them?" he asked, motioning to the rest with a slight jerk of his head.
Yaoi made a quick handsign and disappeared, suddenly sitting on the other side of him. So she was a show-off, who cared? She was now also "friends" with The Nine-Tailed Fox Beast. Why strive for normality? "Fuck 'em. I think I'll enjoy your company Naruto-kun," she said with a bright smile.
Naruto nodded. "Well, as long as you don't mind being ridiculed…"
Yayoi sighed and fiddled with a loose strand of hair that had slipped from her updo. "What they say isn't what I worry about Naru-chan. I was assaulted the other day, but I don't hear what they say most of the time. Their opinion holds no value, they don't know me."
"Sorry… You shouldn't have to deal with that…"
Yayoi nodded and finally stood after a moment of silence. "Ah Naru-chan," she sighed, stretching and glancing towards the door that opened. Sasuke had made his appearance, and soon two very annoying females would follow suit. She didn't want to be here for that. "I must find another seat. As much as I enjoyed this, the future occupants of this area do not hold my interest. I guess we'll be seeing each other a lot more now. Maybe I'll treat you to ramen tomorrow night?"
Naruto's eyes brightened. "Sure! That'd be great! See ya later!"
Yayoi waved and turned, making her way to the other end. Her eyes locked with Sasuke's, who watched her walk towards him. "Don't move," she said quietly when he stood, looking hard at him. With a quick handsign, she activated the paralyzing genjutsu she was fond of and walked by. She canceled it after she made it to the aisle and turned back, activating a quieting jutsu. The jutsu was one she invented, and it was pretty useful, especially in this situation. The kind where something needed to be said, but there were ears about. Once it was activated, the hum the eavesdroppers were now hearing would cover their conversation… or her end anyway. "I've told you Uchiha, I have nothing to say to you," she said quietly after he got over his shock and whirled on her.
"You're back…" Sasuke said, hesitatingly.
"Yes Sasuke, I'm back," she muttered, walking on. "Now leave me alone."
"I thought we were friends!" Sasuke shouted after her. "You disappeared and now you're back! You're not just flitting around the village at night, or occasionally coming out to shop. You're really back. Are you here to get a team finally?"
Yayoi stopped, looking back at him. The jutsu would work on the sound control, but even Naruto would have heard what the boy had said. She hated that she couldn't completely silence conversations from other people's hears. It seemed even the most extensive training wouldn't completely cancel out sound. So she canceled her jutsu completely. People were staring anyway. She walked back and leaned close to his ear. "I was never your friend Sasuke," she said quietly, so only the boy would hear. She was cruel, but humiliating him in front of people who admired him was below her standards and a bad way too keep those psycho bitches away from her. She preferred crude comments and backstabbing far too much anyway. "I was simply there for Itachi. So get any notion of a friendship out of your head."
Sasuke jerked away from her, taking steps in his haste to distance himself from her. "Itachi!" he hissed. "Have you brought that monster back with you?"
At least he was quieter. "I have no clue where he is. He left me as he left you. Broken, bleeding and in a lot of pain. And if you're smart, you'll stop this stupid pursuit of yours. You're not worth my time, much less his. Just focus on being a strong ninja for some other stupid reason. I'm simply trying to get on with my life; you should get on with yours."
Sasuke glared at her, then sat, fixing his gaze on the desktop. "It's the only thing I'm living for. I don't care why he did it, but they didn't deserve to die that way. You didn't see it…"
Yayoi didn't answer, just sat at the desk behind him and ignored the Uchiha entirely. She couldn't say anything, her hands were tied. And she didn't want him to know what she had seen. In fact… she had helped and was still helping. The things she had done for Itachi's attention, and what had happened once she had gotten it had destroyed the girl she used to be. This was her last attempt at a normal life, and the future plans didn't look promising either. She sat in the back next to the class lazyass, whom was already asleep and kicked her chair back. She didn't need to listen, she'd heard it all before anyway. It'd be about fifteen minutes before the teams were read off anyway, more than enough time for a quick doze. Besides, she was stressed and her brain was overloaded. This was the most conversation she'd had in the past week, and on the scale of pleasantness, it was lacking. She could do with some of Shikamaru's conversation.
She had almost succeeded in falling back asleep when a horrible shrillish noise jerked her awake, throwing her into the desk and away from any hope of quick return to Dreamland. "Aw man… can't you two keep it down?" she moaned at the two girls that were making the racket.
Sakura and Ino ignored the girl's complaint, too wrapped in their fight. Yayoi sighed and stretched. So much for that idea. And on top of that, it looked like the commotion had woke her neighbor… "Sorry Shikamaru-kun. It looks like the Bitch Sisters will stop at nothing to annoy the fuck out of the world."
Shikamaru yawned and readjusted, glancing over at the girls. "I have no clue how they think anyone would be attracted to that…"
Yayoi laughed, glancing at the girl's. They hadn't noticed the comment, and she was thankful. Ah, and then Sakura noticed Sasuke….and she was gone faster than ramen in front of Naruto. Ino looked furious as she sat in the seat next to Shikamaru, surprising both the boy and the red-haired girl. But then Yayoi remembered where she was sitting and moaned. She looked for a seat in the front, but it looked like everyone was there. No escape… "Failed mission Yayoi," she muttered to herself, trying to block the area around her out. "Try again at a later date…"
"Hey Sakura!" Naruto said, jumping up. "Do you want to sit next to me?"
"Hey Sasuke!" Sakura said, brushing past Naruto. "Do you care if I sit next to you?"
Sasuke glanced at her, but didn't answer. She'd do what she wanted anyway. It was the same everyday.
Yayoi was contemplating leaving and saying a big fuck you to the system when a familiar voice sealed her decision.
"Are we all settled in?"
Yayoi looked up to see Iruka-sensei enter the room and walk to his desk. She groaned and held her head. So much for that… She was hoping to be asleep for this, but it looked like she'd be awake for it. It was all pretty basic.
"Alright, when I call your name, come next door to the exam room."
Yayai waited patently, and when Mizuki-sensei called her to the next room, she knew her test was going to be different. Maybe they were testing her to place her! Maybe she could skip the annoying Genin level and advance straight to Jonin, if not Chuunin, level! But the only difference was they asked her questions, how much she had trained while away, who had taught her what. When Iruka had asked for an example, she quickly explained that her father had taught her dangerous, deadly jutsu. She explained that she knew jutsu far beyond her level, hoping that would impress them enough. When they asked for an example, she stood and slowly, but methodically, started a long string of handsigns.
The three of them stood in a black room, surrounded by darkness. There was no light, save the light colors they emanated, allowing them to see each other. "Welcome… to The Box," Yayoi said quietly. "I like to come here sometimes, however, you are the first outside of my family that has seen this place. I hope it doesn't scar you for life… It tends to get a bit…much. I'll warn you now… Try not to think in here. Even the slightest memory… resonates." And she purposely let her thoughts loose, letting them see the full extent of her jutsu.
The blackness vanished, they were standing in her brightly lit dining room. She stood by them and watched. When they looked from her to the image of her, she smiled and held a finger to her lips. Their lips sealed shut, as if sewn together with invisible thread. "Oops, silly me," she said, smiling ironically. She didn't turn the memory off though, instead, she let them watch her dead father attack until he was standing over the image of the bloody twin.
She felt the fear in them well up and she sent out a thin string of chakra, wrapping it loosely around their wrists and ankles, suddenly tightening them. "I have you now. Ever heard the saying, never let down your guard in the presence of your enemy? How did you two make Chuunin?" She laughed. "How do you like the fond memories of me and Pops?" she asked, walking out to circle the frozen pair. "Have you had these memories sensei?" She looked up and locked eyes with Iruka, then sliding to Mizuki. Her eyes widened, and she grinned horribly. "Secrets, secrets!" she whispered, releasing the ties on their wrists.
She watched as the teachers' eyes slowly glazed over, watching a scene only they could see. Yayoi shook her head, listening to the mumbles of the illusioned teachers. She kept it short, breaking the jutsu a moment later when Iruka lurched from his chair, making wild grabbing motions.
Iruka was shaken, but Mizuki looked wryly impressed.
"My Clan is made up of very impressive Genjutsu users," she murmured, "and goes back further than the establishment of Konoha, though our clan didn't ally and move until many years after. No one alive, not even Kurenai-sensei, could match the Kuma Clan…" she said, crossing her arms. "I've already passed the Genin test, nine years ago. Do you seriously think I would have stopped learning?"
Iruka cleared his throat, relaxing. "Well Yayoi-chan, you've certainly shown you're qualified to be a Genin. You'll get your team at orientation. You remember, don't you?"
Yayoi stared at him, her brows crinkling together in confusion. "Are you honestly telling me that I'm to be a Genin?" she asked quietly. "I've been trained by the most powerful ninja in the village for years, and after everything, I'm still to suffer a Genin team? I should be a higher rank surely!"
"That's not how it works Yayoi-chan," Iruka explained. "If you want to be a Chuunin, wait for the Exams and take them. It has nothing to do with power, or number of jutsu. I'm sorry, really."
Yayoi glared at them. "Fine," she resigned, the scowl on her face a permanent feature now. "But I feel bad for my team." She was slightly surprised when Iruka sighed and picked up another headband and offered it to her. She already had a hitaiate… but she was too annoyed, so she took it without question and turned on her heel, stamped away angrily.
And of course she was furious! This system was so flawed! If they had any idea how strong she was, she wouldn't be a measly Genin! The two hitaiate in her backpack felt like weights, and she embraced the feeling, even though she knew they were simply illusionary chains. Memories tying her to reality. Every memory in a sense was a small weight, part of a link of events that tied her to this Earth, that defined her, made her who she was. And she was ready to test the limits, to try to tear free of the chains and move on with her life. She was sick of childhood, she wanted to be considered the adult she was. But as there was nothing she could do, she sighed and slowly accepted the fact she had more waiting to do. Glancing at the sun, she changed her route to Lord Hokage's Mansion. He had requested her presence to talk about her affairs.
There were many faces around the table when Yayoi entered and she greeted them all with a curt nod.
"Yayoi-chan…"
Yayoi turned her eyes on the Hokage, finding him easy to focus on. Or more preferable anyway.
"I'll make this short," he said, smiling kindly. "The council has decided that your verdict shall stand and all of the possessions passed down in your father's will are yours to do with what you wish."
Yayoi thanked him, and after receiving it in writing and signing a lot of papers, left. She liked quick meetings like that, it left more time for other things. In a few days she would have a new team… She sighed and decided to open the shop for a few hours. When she grew sick of the customers, she closed the store and walked home.
She walked through the rooms, examining them, remembering every scene that happened in them, watching them play out in her head. By time she got to her bedroom, she couldn't breathe and tears were filling her eyes. All she could see in the back of her mind were all the glaring looks she had been receiving her short resumed life, the disappointment, the blaming, the fear… And in own mind she knew she deserved it, but for all the wrong reasons. Not knowing what else to do, she crawled under the covers and cried herself to sleep.
