Hey guys! Here is a bit more of the Tani-team interactions and some information foundations. We are finally nearing canon and I promise we'll see some action soon.
In response to a review I received I understand completely how the single quotation marks may confuse American readers but it's a cultural thing. In Australia instead of double quotation marks for speech we most commonly use single and are taught that way. It's a reflection of my upbringing in the Australian education system. For that reviewer thank you for such a polite explanation and I thought about changing my style but I'm afraid if I break the habit and use double quotations I will use them in my university assignments and get pulled up for them.
So for all the readers who learnt the American style I'm exceptionally sorry for the confusion.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Chapter 6: The Training Camp: Depart
T-link3 Missive Scroll 288-5:
T-link3 to Red1
Route Outline:
Gold Village: Access Approved
[Stay: 2 Weeks]
Green Village: Access Approved
[Stay: 1.5 Weeks]
Orange Village: Access Approved
[Stay: 2 Weeks]
Grey Village: Access Denied
[Stay: 1 Day]
Blue Village: Access Denied
[Stay: 2 Days]
Silver Village: Access Approved
[Stay: Current- Est. 2 Weeks]
Gold Route: Obstructed
[Travel: 4 Weeks]
Green Route: Clear
[Travel: 1 Week]
Orange Route: Clear
[Travel: 2 Weeks]
Grey Route: Blocked
[Travel: 5 Days]
Blue Route: Obstructed
[Travel: 2.5 Weeks]
Silver Route: Obstructed
[Travel: 1 Week]
Marketplace Status: Stable
-Three products turnovers (Green, Orange, Silver Villages).
-Marginal profit gain.
Personal Status: Standby in Silver Village
Gold4 via T-link3 to Red1
Village status: Red
Observations:
-Sound delegates in village accommodation
-Rise in thievery in store.
-Rise in housing costs
Marketplace Status: Unstable.
-Villager's preference on low-cost, long-life food products.
-Low profit margin in produce market.
Personal Status: In Standby.
Orange2 via T-link3 to Red1
Village status: Yellow
Observations:
-Increased street activity.
-Village security awareness increasing.
-Village meeting focus on paper quality- ninja representative absent.
Marketplace Status: Stable
-Opportunity for expansion in beef and wheat products.
Personal Status: In Standby.
Orange5 via Orange2 via T-link3 to Red1
Village status: Yellow
Observations:
-Preparations underway for upcoming chuunin exams.
-Higher ranking ninja being recalled.
-Communication link difficult.
Trade Status: Stable
-Undertaking work on stadium level 3.
-Red1 tunnels: Accessed.
Personal Status: Under Observation Level 2
Grey2 via T-link3 to Red1
Village status: No data
Observations:
-Increased ninja hostility to civilians.
-Unable to breach village.
-Rendezvoused with nearest T-link
Marketplace Status: No data
Personal Status: Mobile
Blue3 via T-link3 to Red1
Village status: No data
Observations:
-Native's suspicious of foreigners.
-Unable to breach hidden village.
-Civil unrest: Two native shinobi fights observed.
-Took in one injured shinobi: condition stable.
Marketplace Status: Unstable
-Village to village trade only.
-Produce replenished by T-link1 and T-link3
Personal Status: In Standby
It was an eventful night after Souta walked me home as Shingo was keyed up about something that Meiko was giving me significant eyes about what I could only assume was that the Koike-cho gossip chain was working full throttle and my 'date' was now public knowledge.
I would have paid more attention to this but Shingo unknowingly gave me a codeword that informed me that some of my traders had entered the village. I ate my dinner quickly and went into the shop area to find a small collection of missive scrolls hidden inside a peach crate.
I stealthily snuck out of the house once the family had settled into bed, entered the genjustu forest and headed to the entrance of one my tunnel systems that would eventually lead to my hideout.
I then proceeded to spend the night in the privacy of my main cavern mapping out the tour of one of my largest trade routes and time stamping each location. I compared this to my intricate map of the elemental countries that held the approximate dates of key happenings that would be taking place within the next few years and promptly gave myself a headache.
Searching for meaningful information is like looking for a tree in a forest. There is not just one to be found.
As I was not coming to any momentous conclusion to my data I activated my Sharingan as a failsafe to process the individual missive scrolls that T-link3 transported.
Of all the individual missives that I had received it was Blue3's that concerned me the most. I wasn't overly worried that they had taken in an injured shinobi, despite being slightly inconvenient, but it was the information that the unrest was seemingly coming to a head that was the source of my trepidation. I would have to make sure to dispatch some merchants on my smaller trade routes to update me on the situation. It seems that finally a decision would have to be made about how much I would involve myself with Mist's issues. The problem was that I still had no idea whether being involved at all would be a good idea.
Everything else in the individual missives showed things were progressing well. I was particularly pleased that Orange5 in Konoha had been given work on the stadium and I hoped that he would have the chance to expand the Uchiha tunnels I had ordered him to find despite still being under light guard watch by the Konoha-nin as he was a retired shinobi.
I was able to deconstruct the entire missive scroll that night to my weary pleasure and finished by flagging each scroll with a coloured tag and placing them in their proper place on my carved shelves.
It was with heavy eyes I trudged home and even mustered the energy to give a pleased smile at the sunrise as it peeked purple and pink over the treetops.
It seemed that even in the most difficult of times there is always something that can make you smile.
'You're up early?' Meiko started as I poured myself a cup of tea. I soundlessly pulled another cup out and poured her one too.
'Ninja,' I grunted as if it explained everything. It didn't.
She game me a sceptical look but took the peace offering of tea and I went back to attempting to stay awake. I had gotten home far to late to bother going to sleep and resigned to a day of monotone grunts and lethargy.
I spent most of the morning sipping tea and pandering to Natsuko who had been going through a teahouse phase where she would try to perform a tea ceremony. I was thankful, as the tea ceremony was a scream free zone.
I was in the middle of showing Natsuko a trick on remain in seiza without numbing your entire legs when I caught the deep tones of my new sensei- no- sempai.
He better not be telling my parents about yesterday…
'Wringo!' Natsuko shrieked in my ear as she noticed my lagging attention. I fought my own natural response to yelp as I had honed in on the conversation in the next room and wasn't prepared for that level of noise in my proximity. Really with Natsuko with me I should have known better.
'Natsu-chan Neesan's ears are sensitive please don't shout in them' I said pained while giving them a rub. When Natsuko put her little hands up to help rub my ears as an apology I was hard pressed not to shower her in kisses. I wondered how many Uchiha kids started off this cute? I bet Sasuke was a little sweetheart. I felt a moment's pity I wasn't there to see him grow up. My musing was interrupted my Meiko.
'Ringo! A boy saying he is your sensei is here!' she cheerfully called from the storefront. She emerged a moment later to grab my arm excitedly and whisper in my ear, 'This one is about your age!'
I rolled my eyes skyward in exasperation. Did she have no idea that Souta could probably hear everything that is being said? She lived with a ninja for goodness sakes!
Actually, she probably just doesn't care.
'Mother, calm down. Sempai is probably only here to give me my training schedule.'
I was rewarded with a fit of giggles from her.
'Sempai already!'
'…I'll go out and meet him,' I decided that removing myself from the situation was my best option as I had not nearly enough sleep to understand the thought processes of Meiko. Sempai after all is a perfectly appropriate term to call my senior and mentor.
I dumped Natsuko on Meiko and left them giggling together in the living room while I went to the storefront. I rolled my eyes as I caught the heavy stare Shingo was giving Souta.
'Ringo… who is this?' Shingo asked grouchily.
'Otou-san, I'm sure Souta-sempai has already told you. He is my teacher for the upcoming exams.'
'He's far too young to be anyones teacher. It's a con!'
Pinching the bridge of my nose I attempted to alleviate the approaching headache.
'Good morning sempai. What brings you here today?' I asked Souta choosing to ignore Shingo as I had Meiko. They were far too much work at the moment.
'Aa, well actually I am here to talk to you.'
'About what,' Shingo butted in.
'Probably shinobi business Tou-san,' I reasoned.
'Ohoho! Does that mean you'll need to speak alone?' Shingo asked leadingly. I frowned at the insinuation.
'Well… ideally?' Souta hesitantly answered apparently not entirely sure how to go about negotiating conversations with my adoptive father.
'I knew it! You just want her alone! What exactly are your intentions for my daughter? Are you trying to date her!?'
'Otou-san!'' I admonished. Souta had this pained look on his face like he wished he were anywhere else. I can imagine he was new to the whole protective father gig. It was unfortunately all too common in my life to have Shingo chuck a hissy fit over boys. I had no idea what his issue was.
'-are you staying for morning tea Souta-san?' Meiko cheerfully asked walking into the room apparently not having heard the conversation and hadn't noticed the rising tension in the room.
'Oh! Tea isn't necessary. I was just about to go,' Souta exclaimed attempting to make a break for it.
'Good rid-'
'-I'll make you a cup,' Meiko insisted selectively ignoring the hesitation on Souta's part and and outright hostility on Shingo's.
There was a brief pause when Meiko left the room. Souta dithered a bit before following Meiko.
'Sorry for intruding,' he muttered. I waited until it was likely he was out of earshot before I shot a displeased glare at Shingo.
'Tou-san, you are being rude to my sensei.' I admonished quietly.
'Well, you went on a date with him!' he furiously whispered.
'No not with him,' I assured him exasperated, 'I'm going to go make sure Okaa-san hasn't drowned him in tea yet'
My words somehow didn't seem to bring Shingo comfort as I heard him shout behind me.
'Then who did you go on a date with!?'
We were drinking the bitter green tea that we received from traders from Iwa and I was amused at the connotations of it. Clearly Shingo was not looking to impress Souta one iota.
'So say again what makes you come looking for our daughter?' Meiko asked Souta curiously.
'Aa. We actually have a mission.'
I perked up a bit. It would be the first mission we would have as a team. I was keen to see how my skills matched up with the others in my situation. I was worried I was maybe a little too confident in my abilities, because as I as far as I knew was an exemplary genin but I had only flickers of the Konoha genin's lives as a comparison.
Shingo 'harrumph'ed from his position at the end of the small table. I pinched the bridge of my nose again trying to relieve the pressure building up there. Shingo was being a terrible role model for Natsuko who thankfully had passed out on a lounge not that long ago.
'Tou-san. It is my job to go on missions,' I reasoned.
'Gallivanting around the countryside with your other teacher was bearable but this…' Shingo trailed off and degenerated into "old man grumbling" as Meiko put it.
'Ignore your father Ringo-chan. We're behind you all the way,' Meiko encouraged and passed me a cup of the bitter green tea. It was fortunate that I actually liked the taste.
We shared a few more pleasantries with Meiko and Shingo and I saw eventually saw Souta finally start to relax.
Next time he comes I hope Natsuko is awake so he can meet her.
'You're very charming Souta-san. What family did you say you came from?' Meiko asked coyly.
'Ah…' Souta hesitated on the answer. While not a taboo question it was well known in shinobi circles that if the person didn't give a family name you weren't suppose to ask. I could only assume Souta being from a clan was struggling to explain this to a civilian while still being polite. I thought it best to save him the trouble.
'Okaa-san, some ninja choose not to say their last names to protect their families.'
'Oh. I'm sorry Souta-san. I had no idea! How very protective of you though,' Meiko seemed captivated at the notion, 'to forsake your family name to guard it. How charming! I suppose it works both ways too. Nothing makes you stronger than when you have someone to protect ne?'
'Meiko stop harassing the boy!' Shingo grumbled.
Somehow it seemed that Souta had weaselled his way during his visit into my adoptive fathers good graces.
'Anata. I was only commenting on a very admirable quality that our daughter's teacher seems to have.'
'You're making the kid uncomfortable that's what you're doing.'
Sensing another argument I decided that its best we wrapped this entire visit up.
'Otou-san- Okaa-san- Souta has to head off now. He needs to see my other teammates to tell them we have a mission.'
'Oh yes, yes. We shouldn't keep you from your job Souta-san. But please come back any time you want,' Meiko invited pleasantly.
Souta gave his goodbyes to my parents and even received a semi-polite farewell from Shingo. I caught Souta at the door before he left.
'What sort of mission are we going on anyway?' I asked making sure my parents were out of earshot.
'It's not a mission per se in the sense of fulfilling a contract. We're heading to the Suna border in the interests of team harmony. We'll be going on a training camp.'
'Oh, I suppose that's a good idea. When do we leave?' I asked curiously.
'This afternoon.'
'Today?' I was horrified. In no way was I ready to go anywhere today.
'Yes, today,' was the firm reply.
With sleep tugging at my insides and trying to drag down my eyelids my answer was clear.
'I refuse.'
'Ok, I'll see you this afternoon then.'
Souta replaced his shoes, checked his thigh pack and before he left gave me a smug grin all the while I was staring disbelievingly at him.
Did he just out-stubborn me?
There may have been a side of Souta that I was beginning to figure out.
If it wasn't for the fact that we weren't likely to get through the Konoha exams without at least a little knowledge of each others fighting styles I would have been more adamant in my refusal to spend three days in the company of Noriko and not turned up and gotten some sorely needed sleep.
Also, I don't really want to get another speech from sempai about responsibility.
My patience was tried from the get go though when I was given a haughty look from the person who sent Noriko off. I assumed that the yukata wearing, purple haired man was in fact her sensei and uncle.
'It's a disgrace that it comes down to this,' a disdainful look at me in my half-civilian/half-shinobi garb followed this statement. It was clear that 'this' was in fact me.
Wow… Rude.
I looked down at my outfit. Maybe I should lean away from the civilian loose t-shirts and stretchy pants but at least I was wearing shin guards and my chainmail shirt with the sleeves. You couldn't say I wasn't safety conscious despite my preference for comfy clothes.
It could have also been the racoon eyes I achieved from sleep deprivation as well. Regrettably, I didn't have the capacity to narrow down exactly what they disapproved about me right at that moment.
It could easily just be all of me though.
'I completely agree Uncle.'
'Hnn… Noriko, I do expect you to rise above the circumstances though or there will be ramifications. Do not let my expectations of you have been misplaced.'
'Yes, Uncle.'
Getting snubbed for being a civilian aside I was feeling a little sorry for Noriko. It seemed her Uncle was a bit of a hard ass. I couldn't bring myself to care after beginning our journey though as Noriko was clearly not 'rising above the circumstances'.
'It's demeaning to walk around like civilians. I mean it is very considerate of you Souta-sensei to cater to our less… privileged teammate but I do think that there is a distinct difference between being kind and being indulgent. If one can not use chakra to move like a shinobi then how could they possibly hope to become promoted?'
Hiroto linked his arm with me as soon as he saw me tense. I glared at him a little in restraining me but he simply smiled. Where Noriko was standing on the other side of him I could see her face scrunch up. As for Souta, he was just looking at the three of us awkwardly.
'Ah… Noriko-san. That isn't very respectful to your teammate. My intention was not to cater to the three of you but hoped you would at least take the time while we travelled to learn more about each other.'
'Oh! Souta! Why didn't you say something before?'
'…Hiroto it would be nice if you were a bit more respectful too.'
'Fine Souta-sempai.'
'Sensei please Hiroto.'
'Oi… You let Ringo call you sempai why not your actual student?'
'… That's different. Ringo is older than you.'
'You just think she's cute and that's why she gets away with it. Pervert'
'Hey! That's not true. It's just weird to be called sensei by her. If anything the way you hang on her you have a little crush going yourself.' Souta blustered.
Hiroto just burst out into laughter.
'If you say so sensei. Also I do find Ringo heaps adorable but that's because she pouts so cutely when she's mad- but its not a crush.'
At this point I was beyond exasperated.
'Kami help us… Stop it both of you. You're both idiots.'
'Now who is being disrespectful! Don't talk to your teammates that way!' Noriko fumed.
'Mou… Enough. What a bunch of brats... Lets just tree-hop in silence till I say stop. Point formation from now on with Hiroto taking point, Noriko right and Ringo you keep left. I'll take the rear.'
'Maa… you just want to watch us all from behind don't you sensei…'
'Well yes? That is the point of rear guard.'
I face palmed in exasperation.
'…what a pervert. To say that with a straight face.'
'Hiroto… shut up.'
