The Butterfly Effect
"My pack? You make it sound like I'm some kind of leader. I am not a leader. I merely know what I value in this world, and to keep it safe I will weather any hurricane, hunt you down, and kill you. Questions?" Continuation of 'Butterflies'. Character death, Anbu operations, gratuitous violence and some adult situations. May change to M rating.
Chapter 5 – Values
8-8
"The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers." – Ralph Nader
8-8
Airi. That name just keeps looping in my head, over and over again. Her blistered and boil-covered face, the red hair that was once well cared for. Her world-weary eyes. Grey eyes. Eyes of a noble woman, a woman with honour, integrity, character. Airi. Love jasmine. Over and over and over. The name, the face, the few words she spoke, the obvious love for her children and her niece.
I've killed hundreds, perhaps thousands. I've toppled governments, taken over countries – three so far, This, Snow and Noodles. Funny stories really.
The Land of This daimyo tried to kill Chouji, Shika-nii and Asuma-san, so he could claim Ino and myself as concubines. He didn't bargain on me slaughtering all his elites –other than one, the one that broke Tsuren's ribs– and roughly half his army. The Fire daimyo annexed the Land of This into the Land of Fire.
The Land of Snow's rightful daimyo hired a Konoha team and got ambushed twice. First by the actress's rabid fans, and Zabuza-nii wasn't too pleased with that. Then by bandits. My team was sent as backup both times. The second time he told me the plan of overthrowing Snow's leaders and reinstated Kazahana as the rightful daimyo. I still think about the look on Dotou's face sometimes, when he could only see me and his entire army slaughtered at my feet.
The Land of Noodles' daimyo was stupid enough to send a marriage proposal to me, which was politely turned down. After that he sent an assassin. A half decent one too; it took Ibiki almost a week to break him. With Konoha's and the Fire daimyo's blessing, I took my team there. Their hidden village, their army, their court of nobles and their standing government. All dead in a matter of days. The Land of Noodles is now a satellite territory of the Land of Fire. I was even kind enough to send a memo to all of the Fire daimyo's 'buddies', explaining what happened there and why. Funny, no one's propositioned me since.
I've slaughtered. I never lost a wink of sleep over any of it. The lack of discomfort honestly bothers me more than killing ever has.
And now, Airi. Simply ordering her death, a mercy killing, and I can't sleep a wink. Even though I'm in Chou's arms, my head on his chest. Even though his steady, strong heartbeat is both soothing and hypnotic. Even though I'm tired from everything that's been going on. Sleep hates me.
I don't move, I don't want to. Chouji knows me well enough to know that I'm not at my best, emotionally. So he'll sleep super light in case he decides I need him for something.
Just like after that assassin from Noodles. I was the target, but he'd tried making me careless by targeting Hoshie first. He was delivered to Ibiki in pieces. I couldn't sleep that night either, because I was too busy checking that Hoshie was safe.
Hoshie probably still doesn't know anything about that. Thanks to Tsu and Keito, that is. Keito stayed with Hoshie, while Tsu dealt with the would-be assassin. By the time I got to the fight, Tsu already de-limbed him; the scary part of her kenjutsu, is the fire release she uses, so all cuts are instantly cauterized. You can't die of blood loss against her. All I had to do was apply a seal to supress all attempts to use chakra, and we wrapped him in a bow for Ibiki. Literally. A red one. With glitters. Tsu has a twisted sense of humour, but Ibiki enjoys it.
We've been… even more paranoid for our pups ever since. So much so that we bought an apartment in the Shinobi District, secured it, and turned it into a playground for the pups. Slides, ball pit, big screen TV for movie night, the works. That's where we invite friends and throw parties. That way we don't have to worry if the people invited are secure enough to invite to the den.
Kashi-nii's been suggesting we buy a plot of land outside of Konoha as well. He's been looking into it himself, saying that we can use it for training and survival exercises for the pups. All while still being in a secure environment. I'm not against it.
And that reminds me… the Fire daimyo wants me to come to a party next month. Kashi-nii, Zabuza-nii and Asami-nee have been invited as well. He says it's informal – 'informal' and 'daimyo' don't mix. And that we can bring our pups if we want.
So much for time off. The Anbu medical exams should begin in six days. I'm supposed to have two months off to celebrate the end of a long and drawn out (training) mission. One that still got little bumps here and there because I seem to be in high demand all the time. I think the only two that get requested more than me are Kashi-nii and Zabuza-nii.
I'm getting off track. Umm… what was I thinking again? Right… training ground outside of Konoha for the Four Clans. I think we should really look into that. It would be an excellent idea, and land outside of Konoha is cheap, since it's less secure. Yes. We're definitely doing that.
I also need to talk to Senju-san about Miwako and Satsuma. They've been… behaving. Always cooperating, never putting up a fight, and they've really been boosting the Namiki clan as well. Both in numbers –Miwako's love of being pregnant– and financially –Satusuma's vigilantly studying and monitoring all (plausible) long term investments for the clans– and really, I can't let something like that go unrewarded.
And Tsuren and the wolves. I… I'd really like to do something nice for them. I have no idea what. But… something.
Why can't I sleep? I want to…
8-8
The sun rises, signalling a new day. We're still in Ainokura, we still haven't sighed those papers. Whatever. The sun's up, so it's time for me to start making preparations for us to head to Sand. With their new security, there's a good chance they'll detect Kiku, even though she's sealed away. So that scroll needs to disappear.
-Sasa-nee?-
-So, you're finally sending the girl.- She sounds amused.
-What makes you think that?-
-I know you, Imouto-chan. Just like I know you haven't slept.- She sounds sure. -Do you want to talk about it?-
-No.- I really don't. I finally got… that… out of my head. Let's not go down that road again, please? -Are you alone?-
-Yeah. Still being lazy.- I can almost hear a yawn in her voice, even though it's only a mental projection. I unseal the prisoners' scroll, going over the eight sealed within. Kiku. The three bandits. And the… four I agreed to take with me.
-Listen there are eight people sealed in my scroll. The first is Kiku. The second is a bandit I want Ibiki to get his life story from. The others are safe, but I still want them kept separate from our people until I get home to deal with them personally. Alright?-
-Uh huh.- I still hear the yawn in her voice. I roll my eyes, knowing she'll remember, but it's just as likely she'll contact me in a few hours to annoy me for details anyway.
I unstrap the summoning scroll from my lower back, spreading it out in front of me. I slowly read the names, for some reason. Uchiha Sasuke. Uzumaki Naruto. Uzumaki Asami. I still remember when the Third explained the mission to me, how I was to guard the three, make sure they're safe. I sometimes wonder why people trust me a deeply as they do.
Anyway. Not the time. I do the handsigns.
Boar – Dog – Dragon – Tiger – Summoning jutsu: Gift of Return!
I poke Asami-nee's marker, seeing the prisoners' scroll disappear with a poof. "Hey, Aya." Tsu calls me, smirking. I look at her, confused. "I've got a surprise for you." She unseals a large scroll. There are only two sizes for scrolls, really. Large and regular. So why would she have a large scroll, and why would she need it?
She hands me the scroll. I unroll a section of it, wondering wh… this is a Living Prisoner Transportation Seal! It's heavily modified, but this is Asami-nee's work, I recognize her neatness and attention to the tiniest detail. I look up at her, wondering about that. A surprise? A prisoners' scroll?
Airi!
My eyes go wide with shock. It's the only explanation!
Tsu nods, smirking proudly. "You-know-who should see to your surprise. Hop to. Daylight's wasting." She says.
-Sasa-nee. I'm sending a second scroll. This one has a patient. Senju-san needs to look at her immediately. As in now!-
-Alright, alright.- I send the second scroll through for her. I then carefully roll up the summoning scroll and glomp Tsu.
"I love you, you know."
"Shh, not so loud. Chouji'll get jealous."
8-8
Seeing as we're in no position to do our usual morning workouts, I settle for making sure everyone does a kata meant to loosen their limbs and muscles. We do our usual washdowns and I hand out breakfast.
Sure, we could probably just go to a café or something, but… no. It's going on seven in the morning when I decide w-
-Imouto-chan.- Asami-nee?
-What's up?-
-Tsunade-sama's already dealing with your patient. She's pissed that something so simple went untreated for so long.- I know the feeling. -The bandit's already in T&I's care. I'll update you when there's news. Oh, and I'm about to unseal the others. Anything I should know?-
-Let's see.- I think about that. -Kiku's seal needs to be looked at. Left bicep. Brace yourself, because it will piss you off. The third and fourth seal contain the bandit's little brothers, or so he claims. The younger one smells like a girl. The last four are a group. I don't know any of their names, but the eldest will be taking care of the others. Other than that… nothing that needs saying right now. I'll update you fully when I get home.-
-… I don't like it when you talk like that.-
-I can tell you now, but it'll be a headache.-
-… I hate it when you talk like that.- She pauses. -But I'll be too curious to wait.-
-The last four are the niece and children of the patient. And they don't know if she's alive.- I explain seriously. -I'd rather they don't find out until we know for a fact what Airi's fate is. Even in Senju-san's care, I'm not sure if there's anything that can be done for her.-
-I understand.- She sounds… worried. Well, don't say I didn't warn you. -Anyone with shinobi training I need to look out for?-
-Not that I know. Oh, and the Three-tails. Kiku says his name is Isobu and that he's really nice to her. She calls Mei 'auntie'. And she likes rabbits. Might score you some easy points in letting her know she's safe.-
-Alright, thanks.- There's a long pause. I figure the conversation is done, really.
"Alright, guys. Now that everything is handled here, we just need to talk to Hiraoka-san and we can head to Sand." I explain. "We're travelling in the same formation. Ikoku, you're still in lead. Team Aya, I want you three to be extra careful this time. The desert drains you quicker than any other terrain. I also want everyone to apply sunblock from now so it has the time to be absorbed and work effectively."
I grab my miscellaneous scroll and unseal the sunblock, tossing it to Tomi. "Face, neck and hands are primary concerns. The cloaks should cover the rest." I explain, mostly for Team Aya's sake.
-They're young.- Asami-nee grabs my attention. -Even the eldest, they're… young.-
-I know.- My heart goes out to her. She's just as much a softie as I am.
-I'm going to start getting them settled in. Do you want your scroll back?-
-Yes, please.- I unstrap the summoning scroll again, unrolling it and waiting for Sasa-nee's signal.
-Ready.- I do the modified handsigns, poke her marker again, and poof! I get my scroll back. If marked by a tracking seal with Sasa-nee's blood. I quickly unseal some medical gauze and wipe the blood away, before it clots. Then I seal my prisoners' scroll away and, -Second scroll's ready.-
I do the motions again, getting Tsu's prisoners' scroll. -Thanks. Now go, we both know you want to start coddling Kiku.-
"Milady." Keito grabs my attention, offering the bottle of sunblock. I can't believe he still calls me that after all these years!
8-8
After getting the papers signed –each of them individually to prevent 'oops, I did not see that' moments– we head outside. I unseal everyone's cloaks and kasa hats, make sure Team Aya has everything set just right, and we bid our farewells. I tell Hiraoka-san to expect a team within a month to start setting things up, and we make our way through the throng of villagers here to see us off.
I briefly wonder what we've done that makes them happiest, but decide it's a pointless road to wander. They are bound by their customs, just as we am bound by ours customs.
We leave Ainokura just after nine, and we run in our formation. I update Sasa-nee as the village disappears into the distance behind us. We stop around noon, already having agreed on three hour sprints to not break Team Aya. Tsu sets up the 'bathroom tent', so we can see to our needs in privacy. I hand out lunch and two bottles of water. I also make sure to compliment Team Aya. They're holding up well.
After sealing the empty water bottles, we head out. At three we have a water and bathroom pit stop. Then we run until the sun sets – just after eight. We make sure to carry the genins this time –seeing as they are worn out– and I set the pace this time, to make better time.
With the sun kissing the horizon, I start making the seal Jiraiya showed me the first time we travelled to Sand; to keep out the undesirables. Snakes, scorpions, spiders. All kinds if nasties, and all venomous. This variation, that I've been bugging Asami-nee about, also chases away fliers – wasps, buzzards, insects, that kind of thing. I woke up one morning with a wasp on my nose. I was royally pissed!
Anyway, after that, I show Team Aya how to set up their tents properly. I go over the basics. Checking the ground for twigs, rocks, etc. I also explain that we only set up camp before dinner, and we strike camp before breakfast.
"Huh?" Sakiko doesn't get the logic.
"It's psychological. If we set up camp before dinner, we'll know it's set up before the sun sets. But it also allows us to halfway unwind for the night. That's part of the reason we never set up camp unless in a desert. We don't want that psychological effect dulling our senses." I explain. They think about it, looking around at all the tents set up in a perfect circle. I made sure to splurge on my team –both Team Aya and Team Wolf– and we got the fancy tent models. The ones with zippers and the slight 'step over' to help keep out the sand, somewhat.
They probably can't tell the difference in Team Wolf, but I can. They're less leery, less alert. Other than Tsu and Tomi, of course. And Ikoku, apparently; she really has grown since taking her own team.
"Anyway. Guys, Chouji and I are taking first shift. I want to show Team Aya the next camouflage jutsu. Tomi, Kin, you'll take second. Tsu, Keito, third. Haku, Iki, last." I explain, unsealing dinner and two bottles of water for everyone.
"Hey, Aya-nee? Why are you only teaching us camouflage jutsus?" Hoshie is the one to ask.
"Because being able to fight is good, but being able to survive is better."
8-8
We set out just after sunrise – after the usual morning ritual, of course. I find myself glowing with pride for most of the morning run. Team Aya is… amazing. Simply amazing. They know, without being told, to strike camp before breakfast. They washdown properly. And they unseal and hand out breakfast –one rations bar, two bottles of water– before I get the chance to.
I'm so proud of them. Even if it's just little things, enough dirt is still a mountain.
We stop around nine for the usual break. We stop around noon for lunch. That's when I decide. "Team Aya, you're doing amazing. Let us take it from here." They look defiant. "This is now the hottest part of the day. You three look like you're going to pass out. No arguing, we're carrying you the rest of the way."
They aren't happy about it, but they don't fight us. I set the pace again, and we really kick into overdrive. I decide we're making it to Sand tonight, no matter what. There's just a feeling in my bones telling me not making it tonight will be bad.
So much so that I don't ease up for the three o'clock break. No one fights me, knowing I have my reasons.
We make it to the gate an hour after the sun sets. We're all tired, worn down, cranky, and have to go. But I also see that everyone's glad we're here.
"Good evening, Namiki-sama. We weren't expecting you for another few days, at least." The guard strums up the usual subtle checks. We've been here often enough to be recognized on sight.
"Our business was concluded early. And… something tells me we needed to be here now." I explain seriously.
"You're instincts are spot on. We're expecting a storm tonight." The guard explains. Everyone smiles at me. I just roll my eyes. "We've already sent word to the Tower. Kankuro should be here shortly to collect you. Is there anything you need while you wait?"
"No, thank you. We're just tired from the journey." I say, smiling as best I can. Even I'm a bit worn down from an eight hour run in the desert's summer heat.
-Hey, Sasa-nee?-
-What's up?-
-We made it to Sand. Kankuro's on his way to greet us. Would you be willing to get us some groceries?-
-Sure. I'm just here reading Kiku a bedtime story. She really loves her rabbits.- I don't react, but I want to smile so badly. -Anything special?-
-Hnn? Yeah. I want some cake mixes with all the usual gimmicks that go with it. Strawberry, chocolate and vanilla. And some sake for Keito. The man loves his sake.-
-Will do. I'll contact you when I've got everything sealed and marked.-
-Thanks.- Spoiled and quite proud of it.
8-8
Kankuro shows up not ten minutes later in his diplomat's clothing. No cat suit, no war paint, but he's still wearing his large scroll, just like I wear mine.
"Welcome back, guys. Please, let's start heading to your apartment. Quickly. The storm should start up any moment." He says, a sense of caution, boarding on urgency, in his tone. We're already in a hurry, so we don't mind. We grab Team Aya and body flicker.
Once we arrive, Tomi checks that everything is secure. I study our home away from home. Unlike the Mist apartment, this is homey. A townhouse. Three storeys tall with a cosy little garden and terrace in the front and back of it. Once Tomi is satisfied, I unseal the gate and we enter. The wind is starting to pick up already, but luckily the barrier keeps out the worst of it, all we feel is a stiff breeze inside the barrier.
Tsu picks the lock and everyone pours into the building. I find myself smiling at them, shaking my head in amusement. Trained killers of the highest calibre, and acting like a bunch of children, picking on each other and calling who's first in line for the bathroom. "Are we expecting Gaara?" I ask our usual guide.
"Probably." He admits with a shrug. It wasn't discussed, it seems, but everyone knows Gaara loves spending his time with us while we're here. Especially his team – we have our own water system, so everyone can still have two soaks a day. Not something that's very common in the desert.
I nod, smiling as I study the townhouse. You wouldn't be able to tell it apart from the other houses on this street. Same height, same conical roof with the tip of the chimney just barely visible. Same sandstone colour that blends in with the rest of the village. Only, we have tinted windows to keep out the heat – we're not from here after all.
I shake my head, entering the main room. The entire ground floor is one large main room, where we have the sitting area and the kitchen. We also have two bathrooms down here – just toilets, really, but still. The walls are painted a soft lilac, the floor is covered with tatami mats. There are plants everywhere with little automatic feeders so that they won't die even if we're not here for months at a time – drip irrigation was Kin's idea, and it works well. So the house always smells inviting, warm. Homey.
There are four three-seater couches –beige coloured– set up around a low table. And I can already see Tomi and Kin in the kitchen, making a snack for anyone that's hungry. Asami still hasn't gotten back to me, but they know the drill so we'll be patient.
The others are still lined up in front of the bathrooms, but a few are coming down the stairs to the back of the kitchen, calling that one of the upstairs bathrooms are available. Two people rush, seeing who's going to make it there first.
The scent of tea being steeped soothes me a in a way nothing else can.
8-8
An hour later, everyone is lazing about the main room. We're all tired, but when I get the update that Asami has the scroll ready, no one even suggests not helping Tomi and Kin with preparing dinner. Everyone has something to cut, or chop or season. Other than me. For some reason, I'm told I need to relax?
They'll never change, will they.
The doorbell announces guests, which I assume is Gaara and his team. I make my way outside, seeing how bad the storm is for the first time. It makes it so much easier to see the barrier is up and working perfectly. Interestingly, there's a dome of sand outside the gate. I smell Gaara, Matsuri, Sari and Yukata.
Opening the gate, I invite them in and out of the storm. They look pretty amazed that they can hardly tell there's a storm going on in here. Once the gate is closed, the sand dome collapses and blows away a little at a time.
We enter the house, everyone taking off their footwear. Gaara does his rounds, greeting everyone, and listens to Hoshie, Sakiko and Yuzuki bragging about how they graduated early and that I'm their sensei. He and Kankuro don't seem surprised at all.
"So Tsunade-sama finally got you to take a team." Gaara says with a smile in his eyes.
"Yeah. At least I know it's these three." I admit, making a face. "The timing is…" I trail off.
"Yeah." Gaara knows exactly what I'm talking about. The Akatsuki.
"How long's the storm going to last?" I ask, curious.
"Usually a day or two." I nod.
"Good. Then you guys are our prisoners until the storm lets up. We're going to be a bit lazy tonight, but tomorrow, I want to hold a concert. We need to celebrate Team Aya being formed, after all!"
8-8
End Chapter 5
8-8
A/N: A bit on the short side, but this is all that needs to be put in. The next chapter is... going to start getting interesting. For those who haven't noticed, all familiar faces have already been promoted to a higher rank. I see no reason why they'd wait two years to re-enter the Chuunin Exams. That being said, that means that there are a lot of openings for teams that will make it to Sand for the Second Round. I wonder though... who will these 30 teams be? And from what villages? Hmm.