Hi! And this came out a whole lot later than I expected it to.

I usually plan several chapters ahead but there was a road block and this chapter was tied to it. It wouldn't do me any good to post this chapter to only take it down for adjustments on what the future chapters should look like. Unfortunately, I don't have anymore chapters available on to release steadily so please bare with me at the inconsistent releases.

Thanks for your patience and support!

March 29, 2018- Finished.
April 15, 2018- Edited.

-Line Break-

"I still don't understand why you don't go all out." Orochimaru grumbled into his dinner. "You don't need to hold back against someone like that unruly Hyuuga or that stupid mutt."

I giggled. "I don't need to, why spend all that energy all at once when I could use it somewhere else?"

"That's not what I meant."

"You worrying too much, nii-san. I'm still training on my own time so it's not like I'm not improving."

"That's not what I meant either."

The glowering eyes that bore into me before giving an exasperating breath, I easily waved my spoon before going back to my own meal. It wasn't really an uncommon occurrence for us to sit down and eat together once the day was done. The other boy liked to vent out his frustrations, decompress at the dinner table before relaxing together at the couch.

He liked to coil between the cushions, halfway bury himself as if he was burrowing in between them. Of course, he can't relax completely without a book in hand so he always had an odd book at the side table. Always stocked up in my apartment as well with something at a higher reading level than what Jiraiya can bare to stand. Usually something under the scientific topics ranging from his favourite biology topics to chemistry.

Our little study sessions together bring out the best in him, or at least what I think anyways. I've been told to discourage him from delving too deep but even if what they're implying is true, I don't think that they understand that I couldn't care less.

I wasn't really all that concerned as long as nobody undeserving got hurt. I didn't understand why they were so concerned about his expanding curiosities when everybody that's chuunin and above have done far messier. Probably far worst.

"Nii-san, I got more pillows and blankets for us, it's getting cold out so we need to warm up." I snuggled next to him. "Are you warm enough?"

"You don't need to spend your money on things like this." Orochimaru scrunched up his nose. "I have plenty at the house."

"But they're not here and I like being comfortable." I grinned widely. "It's not like I'm using the money for anything else, I'm pretty self-efficient I think. I'm only really paying the bills."

"Regardless, you could be saving your money for emergencies or such."

My arm easily hooked his and I laughed at him. "Don't worry, I have contingency plans for a lot of things so let me deal with whatever crisis that comes my way."

"I don't want to know."

The easy, chilling air made the cushions that more desirable, the way Orochimaru wrestled the blankets over us meant that he's willing to put up having his arm hostage. His resignation was almost heartfelt but I knew that it was more of taking advantage of my body heat and conducting it under the covers. It was fine though, this is one of the few moments that he lets me cuddle without throwing a small fit.

Like any other snake, they don't like being handled too often.

"I had to kill more bandits on my mission."

And now I see the reason why he was so docile at the contact.

"Oh." I grasped his hand. "Does it bother you?"

"No, but that seems to bother the others." He sunk deeper into the couch. "I don't understand why though."

I hummed softly. "It's that line of morals and empathy rearing its head, the same line that the others are having a hard time crossing. As long as you acknowledge that line is there, everyone will get over it eventually." The words came easily. "You may see just the line but everyone else sees what it represents and the consequences that can happen if crossed."

Orochimaru huffed. "That doesn't explain why Tsunade and Jiraiya are nervous around me, sensei seemed unnerved as well."

"They'll get over it, there're bigger things to worry about after all."

"Another gone, another name added."

There were so many things that were more pertinent than worrying over little things such as morals and having a conscience. The terror of watching someone go and not come back was a fear that took root and settled quite comfortably to where it hurt to have anyone other than Orochimaru. Because at least I know he'll survive in this violent world, his lack of empathy wasn't a problem compared to the fact that he has the ability to live.

And despite what others think, Orochimaru is far more human than they give him credit for. I could see a start of a revolution with his mind, a drastic step for this developing village that could put the word innovation at its greatest or pave another tragedy into Konoha's budding history.

Such is the life towards greatness.

"Does it bother you?"

"Nii-san, if I had the choice between you and some bandit, ninja, or even some other thoughtless degenerate out on the field, well, it's not a hard choice at all." I gave him an easy grin. "I'll even do it with a smile."

"And don't forget to look into the enemies eyes, give them good look before you move on to the next."

"You haven't even killed anyone yet." Orochimaru scoffed. "What do you know?"

"I know how to kill someone with my bare hands. Do you?"

-Line Break-

"Why do you hold back?"

Now I know why Orochimaru gets all huffy when he has his team bonding moments. It was like having a layer of syrup on my skin and the only method of cleaning it off available was a hand towel. This was uncomfortable.

A question like that was hard to answer, but quite honestly aside from not really wanting to cause permanent damage, I don't really respect them. Hyuuga may have gotten marginally better in handling his attitude and Hatake may have stepped aside to let me part of his team, but they never stopped their glowering or scathing, under the breath comments. No matter how silent they think they are, it's not hard to listen.

And Koharu herself was much too controlling even if it's her job to be. It made me scrunch up my nose at how conservative she is, the gender roles, techniques, and majority of what we do seemed to have standards and it was severely off putting in trying to respect her as a fellow soldier, let alone as our teacher. Why should I conform to her senbon style? Why should I use flowers to send messages?

Why should I care?

The bubbling emotions under my skin were crawling. The tension within my stretched thinner and thinner at the progressing weeks of this abrasion of a woman that was far more harmful than good. She was not a leader that she think she is, her neglect was obvious when the boys send the same glowers to her.

The sinking twitch of self-control took hold and a calming breath to expel the quiet anger that didn't quite leave me completely. My hands wanted to dig its nails into my palms and my breath nearly shuddered but I was better than this.

I was better than her.

"Utatane-sensei, what else am I good at besides taijutsu?" I mused to her. "What's my favourite dish and my favouite animal?" The confusion was prominent on all three of them. "I know lots of things, I know the various affairs between civilians and shinobi alike and I know secrets that could make or break businesses down in the markets. I also know the best places to camp as well, what game is available and what other predators that are out and about.

"Do you know what the old lady that lives near the southern most river thinks of us? Or what kind of meat the butcher down in the eastern district is selling? And scandalous doesn't even quite cover at what the civilians think when it comes to simple matters. They tend to exaggerate information to a hilarious degree, no matter how damaging it is to the person on the receiving end.

"I know a lot of things, Utatane-sensei. It must be nice to have the optimism like you have, you live in a much happier world than I do."

The jounin's lips slight puckered as her teeth visible bit the insides of her mouth and despite the action, her frown was visible. My fellow genin didn't hold back on their confusion and distaste, partially at at their lack of ability to understand at what I said but Koharu seemed to at least grasp my point.

"You can't expect us to understand if you aren't willing to share, Haruka-chan."

"And how can we succeed if our sensei isn't willing to listen?" Hatake's ears seemed to perk up. "Tell me, what do you know about us? Our problems and our strengths? I can tell you that Hatake excels in kenjutsu, more so than the ninjutsu specialist that you want him to be. I can tell you Hyuuga has an injury he's hiding, and yet you still push him into activities despite the fact that you know something is wrong." My teeth showed to freeze the smile that wanted to sneer. "And I can tell you I absolutely hate being the kunoichi you're determined that I have to be.

"I don't respect you as a mentor. We don't respect you as our mentor."

Laid out thick and painful, just like how subtle she was.

"Excuse me? I am your jounin sensei." Koharu said darkly. "I will not tolerate disrespect!"

"I'll respect you rank as you've earned it, sensei." I said easily. "But that doesn't mean you're good at teaching, I understand that as a shinobi there will be missions that I'll have a distaste for but that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of ways for me to manipulate someone, slit a throat, and disappear into thin air." My hand waved lazily. "I rather like the thought of wearing a bell."

"What?" Hyuuga looked even more perplexed.

Hatake shifted uncomfortably. "She needs one, sometimes I can't even smell her."

I beamed at the white haired boy. "Thank you, I like the thought of being in the front lines, you know? The pleasant sound of a bell would be a good change don't you think?"

"Haruka." Koharu's voice pierced. "You can get into severe trouble for insubordination."

"Hmm. I think that a little teenage rebellion is far more better out come than us genin dying because of poor instruction." The jounin looked like she was struck. "One of us might even die while painting fences because his leg injury prevented him from moving out of the way for a falling paint bucket."

"Wait, that was you?! And how do you even know that I'm hurt?!"

My eyes still focused on our jounin sensei. "But the point is, I'm not a rags-to-riches fairy tale and they're not a tragedy that has been told too many times. And you are certainly not the playwright that you think you are, so stop with this weird favouritism of me and stop telling the boys to get over their frustrations.

"You certainly don't like being told you're a poor teacher by a child, what makes you think we like a complete stranger telling us they know better?"

"Fickleness does not discriminate and neither do words and their actions."

-Line Break-

His father told him that his grandfather gave up the samurai's way of life for a shinobi's one because the family was far more important than a greedy lord's. Finding the Wolf Contract simply cemented the unspoken command that demanded loyalty to the pack and as the third generation in the family to hold and sign the contract, a lot of his senses and instincts were haywired at what happened to his team.

Torn apart and asundered, not to mention that what was left was being invaded and picked at by a couple of birds. It made him bristled in anger but he knew he couldn't do a thing.

Hatake Sakumo waited though, to pounce at the opportunity to scare the birds away or find a new territory once available.

But one of the birds wasn't scavenging for the scraps and just hummed songs when they meet up and turned out to have bigger talons and a sharper beak to match. The surprising strength that hid behind such a fragile looking build and the stabbing words made him cringe when she showed what she thought about their animosity. And it was humbling and embarrassing that it was the same little bird that actually was willing to speak against their sensei for them.

The Academy was almost as old as the village, it was one of the starting foundations that actually kept the shinobi council from falling apart. The active talks of the future led majority of the older shinobi be concerned in their children's future and it was the first things to be implemented and discussed if the village continues as the leading militarized force of the Elemental Nations. A set standard was hard to implement with many of the clans suggesting and dipping their hands into the Academy affairs.

It was a mess but it was getting better, Sakumo can't really point out the things that the chuunin instructors did that made his years stand out. The Academy as of right now just picks out the strongest of the batch and let the rest that couldn't come up to par disappear into the civilian side. Or be in the way of fire.

Nothing to cultivate and let children do what they do the best, the Wolf Summoner vaguely remembers how Haruka was prime to get kicked out. Expectations weren't met and yet Sakumo hears his father complaining about how the Academy issue will never be fixed because of her unexpected potential that the instructors over looked. That she hid away and became a ghost with the halls.

If he were to be honest, his new jounin sensei seemed like a glorified chuunin instructors from back in the Academy. Too structured and always expecting them to perform to what the papers say.

He misses his old jounin instructor.

But he can see himself working with Haruka though, she was a little bird that went about her life and let him pace and brood the few weeks they were lumped together. Their sensei's impatience was what was aggravating him and Hiroshi in the first place, Haruka was just an easier target to aim their distaste at.

Naive was the word he wanted to use, but obviously that's no the case if she could use her words as if their positions were reversed. Like the morning birds that would distract people with their songs before those people were running into poles and walls and into others. He didn't really understood half the conversation but the way the older female looked put off was kind of satisfying.

"Hey, Hiroshi."

"What?"

"Do you think that Haruka-chan is willing to meet up with us during our own training sessions?"

The Hyuuga scrunched up his face. "You want her to train with us? Why?"

"Because then it'll be us against sensei." Sakumo grinned. "That team bonding session, Haruka-chan won that battle. I want that on our side."

Because the song the bird sang turned a sharp turn that made the words twist like a genjutsu. The conversation went horribly as usual but this time instead of ambiguous words that left him ponder for days shifted into a blunt club that threatened failure to the jounin sensei. Permanent failure that nobody could try to succeed again.

A permanent imprint that still burned into his own consciousness.

The thoughtful look crossed the dark haired boy before nodding in the same conclusion. "I guess, but she doesn't really like us."

"You mean you don't like her." Sakumo snorted. "She's going to be a front liner that is a stealth specialist, a scout, a spy, an assassination. Anything that requires a quiet, close and personal confrontation and she has the ability to do just that." He looked at the Hyuuga seriously. "We both agree that we're not getting anywhere being stuck in Konoha, but I don't think Tobashi-sensei or Keiko-chan would be very happy at us if we stay genin after everything."

Hiroshi huffed and looked away. "Haruka is suspicious."

"I noticed that you were injured too, you know."

"Shut up, you're talking to that creepy girl if you're going to go through with this."

"That's fine, we meet up everyday, I have to be trying to not talk to her if I can't get a hold of her."

Hyuuga nodded. "I guess."

-Line Break-

Orochimaru raised an eyebrow seeing a ragged looking Sakumo stepping into the training ground his team was currently using. The snide comment was at the tip of his tongue but Jiraiya noticed first and bounded happily towards his friend.

"Sakumo! What are you doing here?" Jiraiya asked excitedly. "Is the rest of you team coming too?"

Sakumo just laughed nervously scratching his cheek. "Actually, I wanted to ask Orochimaru-san something."

"What?" Jiraiya scowled and sent a glower towards his teammate. "Why do you want to talk to him of people?"

"Well, I wanted to asked about Haruka-chan-"

"Why do you want to talk about Creepy-Haruka?!"

Orochimaru sneered pushing Jiraiya to the side as he walked over. "And why should I give you any kind of information on her, mutt? Your team's failing dynamics are certainly not her fault."

Sakumo winced at the hiss before putting up his hands in surrender. "I know we're not the closest of friends-"

"We're not friends at all, you arrogant mutt."

"-but I really need to to talk to Haruka-chan."

"And I'm certainly sure that Haruka and yourself aren't close enough for you to refer her as such, Hatake."

This is the first time he's encroaching on another person's territory, this is what his father probably feels when he goes to those council meetings. Awkward and uncomfortable doesn't describe how he feels under the defensive snake's gaze, he was only a year older but that year difference was enough and he was regretting not socializing with his younger peer more. Orochimaru looks like he wants to use him as that training post with the way he was gripping that kunai.

"Look, Haruka-chan is my teammate and I want to make amends with how we were acting and as her packmate I'm sure you would have a better idea on where she spends her time because I honestly can't find her after our training sessions are over." Sakumo said the last part a little too quickly.

Orochimaru just scoffed. "You severely underestimate her, did you seriously spent the entire month and a half sulking? I'm starting to believe Haruka when she says I'm too optimistic, I had thought better of you."

Tsunade finally came over rolling her eyes before pushing Orochimaru to the side. "Look, if you want to find Haruka-chan, you're just going to get better at tracking. Now that you riled up the big brother, the little sister is going to be alerted and you're just going to have to play that game of hide and seek."

"But I can't even sense her!" Sakumo looked frazzled. "I mean, I do but I can't find her and it's like her scent just gets washed away by some rain shower that I missed!"

"And you're just going to have to suffer and get back into Haruka-chan's good graces." Tsunade snorted at Sakumo's fallen expression. "If it makes you feel better, we had to the same thing in tracking her down, and we got good at it after she deemed us worthy of approaching. Honestly, I thought I could get to her before Orochi's holier-than-thou attitude could infect her."

Jiraiya made a noise at the back of his throat. "I don't know if that's a good thing or not, it's already bad enough in snake-bastard but Creepy-Haruka as herself-"

"And here I thought you've gotten over your nonsensical fear of her." Orochimaru cut him off. "You truly are pathetic."

"Who you're calling pathetic, you snake-bastard?!"

"You and the mutt, who else?"

Tsunade shook her head as they went at it again before turning back to Sakumo. "Look, Haruka-chan is like a nicer version of Orochimaru." She jerked her thumb back at the Snake Summoner that threw the kunai in his hand. "But nicer doesn't mean anything, in fact, I would rather deal with Orochimaru when he gets into one of his moods and let her deal with it than be at the end of her moods. I don't need to see what kind of a disaster that can happen when she's angered because Orochimaru avoids upsetting her."

"She's that kind of female?" Sakumo grimly remembers his father's talks with him in dealing with the more dangerous females. "Wait, but she's like ten, isn't she?"

Tsunade snorted and barked out a laugh. "Haven't you heard of early bloomers? But I'm not talking about that, Haruka-chan can be evil." She jabbed at the Hatake's chest with her finger. "She's vindictive, she holds grudges like no other, and that holier-than-thou attitude she hides behind her smiles isn't just hot air. Like our resident nerd, without his know-it-all attitude, she just seems to know a lot of things that she shouldn't know."

Sakumo thought back to the startling conversation that seemed to mute the whole team for the past week. Words that seemed to vice over the individuals that were practically lectured, even if he didn't understand why some of it was even said. He knows for sure that his kenjutsu was never spoken within the other females' ears though. How Haruka knew was a little baffling but he reasoned that it wasn't exactly a secret that his family was a former samurai clan.

It still doesn't explain how she found out he was better at wielding a sword than performing jutsus.

"I had a few years of getting to know Haruka-chan and I can tell you now that it was damn harder to get her to go out with us than it was with Orochimaru." Tsunade narrowed her eyes. "I'm doing this as a favour to her to get your team working because I don't want her to be stuck as genin when she could be with us going to the Chuunin Exams with us. Don't mess up the chance that she's given to you guys."

"Uh, sure." Sakumo shifted nervously. "So we'll have to wait it out?"

"Tell your Hyuuga friend if he insults Haruka-chan any further, I'm coming after him. It's not her fault that mission happened to you guys and it's certainly not her fault that you all were shoved together with a shitty sensei." Tsunade growled. "You're lucky that this is happening before you all celebrated your two month mark as a team."

Sakumo just nodded because he doesn't want to know what would happen after that two month mark. The not so subtle slitted gaze that glowed behind Tsunade gave him all the imagination of what could've happened. Apparently pack mentality wasn't exclusive to canines and those alike after all.

At a distance, Hiruzen prayed for Koharu while cherishing the moment as he listened in on the genins. He told Koharu of Haruka's trust issues and told her to simply ease herself in than start demanding results as she usually does, fast results was the main reason that the Hokage chose her to lead the team but teaching was a completely different ball game now than it was back when the village first established itself.

Clan disputes were settling, everyone was getting comfortable at the idea that everyone is sharing the same land under one banner that this generation of shinobi only knows. The Warring Eras still showed but it was becoming history and it was rather unfortunate that some of the older generations are still stuck in it.

Hiruzen was rather sad that it was true with his own genin team but he looks to his students and smiles at the fact that at least he can make way for the future.

He looked towards at Koharu's student and is hopeful for the future that was taking action for change.

Then remembers why Sakumo came and comes back pitying his old teammate.

-Line Break-

"You should summon me more, little viper." Kaguhime hissed displeased. "You and the little rattler have grown again since the last time I was here."

Orochimaru huffed. "I've been busy and Haruka is on another team."

"Excuses, have you been eating well? Your both thin, how can you both expect to constrict to anything if you both are so small." Kaguhime ignored Orochimaru. "My own hatchling will be bigger than both of you at the rate you're growing."

The large constrictor poked and prodded Orochimaru before doing the same with me. She was huffing before settling between the cushions where we're sitting and coiled her large body in a sort of hug. I happily curled into the large body and ensuring Orochimaru didn't try to wriggle out of this by leaning my body weight on him.

His irritated grunt did nothing to deter me.

"You're insufferable."

"I'm warm."

He rolled his eyes. "So what exactly are you going to do with your team? The mutt came by trying to find you."

"Don't worry, you can help if you want though."

"I'm content to watch the disaster you'll bring at the front door, the fact that the mutt was willing to come to me of all people is telling of your antics." Orochimaru said with a frown. "Do not try to involve me."

Kaguhime hissed amused. "But we will be delighted to hear the end results of your project, just because the little viper isn't interested in it doesn't mean he's not curious."

I giggled when Orochimaru shot a glare at the snake. "Of course, nii-san is always sharing stories of his team. Those are great inspirations on what I can do to my own."

"Nevermind those." Orochimaru huffed. "I heard that you were going on your first C-Rank."

"I am?"

"Your sensei met up with mine right after Hatake came, your recent expression of defiance is concerning apparently." He sighed. "Haruka, why are you doing this to yourself?"

I easily buried my face into his side and let a smile take over.

"We don't fight because we're mad... We're seriously bored."

"Dude, you know we're closer than family if we can stare at each other for a period of time and have a full conversation about the mysteries of the universe without words."

"...I was staring at your zit and was wondering when you were going to pop it."

"Did you know that if there was a race between a turtle and a rabbit, the turtle would win?" My hands gripped against Orochimaru's shirt. "Utatane-sensei is too much in a rush to see all the little traps that'll get her stuck along the path, and she'll drag us along and suddenly we might pay for her mistakes."

"They say that the faster you run, the faster you're done. It's nice on paper but if you alert every enemy along the way then it's by the grace of whatever up there that's keeping you alive. Slow and steady, run when ready."

I was eager of course, I looked forward to doing real missions and anticipate the blood but I would also very much stay alive as well. I would also like to ensure the survival of my not-so-bratty teammates, as people that I'll be regularly working with for my genin and chuunin years, I would like to keep a consistency that has grown on me than have too many people having inquiries about me.

Having Orochimaru like this was perfect because I know that he'll horde our moments closely for the simple reason that he did not like people. Sure his vain nature and pride demands recognition and have his ego stroked but hopefully by the end of puberty his need for that will go by.

"Don't tell me you're asleep."

"Let the little rattler have her rest, be glad that you have most of her warmth, this coming winter does not seem kind."

Orochimaru huffed. "I don't understand why she just doesn't live at the compound, it would cost her less."

"Did you offer? You know that the little rattler has wings instead of fangs, if you don't clarify what you want, she'll be cloud surfing all day."

"I shouldn't have to."

"Ah, the thing about birds is that they don't care. They certainly know what you want but with the ability to fly and watch the proceedings, they're far more content to watch." Kaguhime hissed and huffed at the same time. "It is why your broodmate is the way she is, a bird's field of view and range are phenomenal and gets trapped listening and watching us ground dwellers."

Orochimaru shifted in confusion. "That doesn't make any sense."

"Birds often don't, but be glad we got her as a hatchling. The fact that she saw something she didn't like and is acting to change it means that she won't develop that awful self-absorbed, vain attitudes majority of them has." Kaguhime complained. "You think that the flightless ones would be more humble but they just show off their feathers as if they're better than our scales!"

I silently laughed at the two, this is all I need and I'll see them through. Even if it meant crushing others beneath my foot, I'll see this life as a long one and if not, it'll definitely won't be because of some conservative kunoichi that has the emotional capacity of an amateur politician.

Honestly, what kind of a shinobi gets stunned by the words of a genin?

-Line Break-

"What song is that?" Sakumo seemed intrigued at the upbeat, slurring humming I was making.

"It's a song that makes the cats twist and jive." I walked easily to the beat.

We were on a C-Rank mission, my first C-Rank mission and it was a delivery mission and it was duller than the Academy training kunais that barely stuck into the targets. But it was my first time going out of the village and we were going into the Land of the Wave before passing on the scroll to an Uzushio diplomat that Koharu was going to discuss with leaving us to explore the foreign village.

It's so exciting!

"You seemed happy, anything good happen?"

"Nii-san is adorable when he thinks he's hiding something." I smiled widely at Sakumo.

Sakumo grimaced. "Adorable?"

"She's a bit loose in the head-" Hiroshi grunted when Sakumo elbowed him in the gut. "What? It's true!"

"Keep focus!" The boys were startled by Koharu's commanding voice. "We're on a mission, not a vacation!"

Both Hiroshi and Sakumo glowered at our sensei both sticking close to me. That got me confused before I giggled at this little rebellion I made. The look of apprehension from the jounin and the surprising defiance from the two clan kids were a nice surprise.

We haven't gotten into serious trouble by our continued defiance yet, I wonder how long it'll take for Koharu to absolutely hate us.

She obviously doesn't care for us like Orochimaru's sensei, build a foundation to where we all can stand on rather than force us to climb a mountain and expect us to reach the top from different starting points. Koharu only saw the goal and not the problem getting there, but I somehow was able to get them to climb down to my level.

"Hey, do you both want to hear the story about a race between the rabbit and the turtle?"

They're willing to learn, and I'm more than willing to teach. Maybe our dear instructor will learn something as well.

This mission turned out more fun than I realized.

-Line Break-

Hope you enjoyed and please review!