AN: I have written and rewritten this a number of times. I have a number of partial chapters for WAY in the future written up and awaiting use. A huge inspiration however was the wonderful Mimosa Evans who has created fan art of Kucho! It's my first fan art and I am ridiculously happy over it. Especially as I've rewritten and scrapped this chapter a number of times. I think my beta was starting to get annoyed at me! Poor sister..
ap3x-phantom DOT deviantart then DOT com and then /gallery/59983473/Queen
Or be lazy like I am and do a search for ap3x-phantom Deviantart Kucho. My personal favorites are Natural Queen and Kimono Kucho. I love them endlessly! I do have to say I've written a few future interludes based off a few of the works and I hope to get far enough along to share them soon.
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There was laughter.
It was the sound of children on the cusp of becoming teenagers. Lilting and barked out, rolling from one shrill peak into the next tone. The barely audible sound of stamping feet of ninja trying not to act like ninja was the only percussion to go along with the lighthearted music of innocence not yet tarnished. Kakashi paused, one foot in mid air, hands in his pockets as he just looked.
Team seven was still dressed like civilian's though a little more casually as they were on their way back. Kucho was racing along trying to tag Naruto while Sasuke would periodically rush in and try to trip Naruto or grasp Kucho and swing her around. Even the usually silent Uchiha had a smirk that was teasing it's way into a smile and his eyes were aglow as they should be. As if all the nightmares and horrors of his past were temporarily shunted aside. It was just before sunrise and the light not yet strong enough to hurt Kucho's eyes as she raced along playing. They were actually playing.
There was a sharp pain in his side and Kakashi felt misty eyed for a moment. Three of his students, two steeped in tragedy and all too old too soon could still momentarily cast it all aside to act like their age as if there was no war.
If nothing else, Mission Albatross was a success for this. Carefully Kakashi shoved up his headband to allow the sharingan to lock the sight into his memories for all time.
()()()()()()
"Oh! Kucho-chan get over here fast!" Naruto hollered and waved an arm frantically. Without a moments hesitation both of his brunette charges scampered over at full civilian speed and Kakashi meandered after. It was a pity they didn't trip but you could only downplay your reactions so far.
"What did you..o..ohhh..." Kuco's voice trailed off with something like hushed wonder as she knelt carefully besides her blonde teammate. Sasuke looked from the object of her suddenly rapt attention to the blonde menace, and then finally up at Kakashi.
Kakashi who wished he had his sharingan still uncovered because the bewildered little boy expression on Sasuke's face was beyond priceless. He needed to remember to take them on a few more civilian missions that took time because being away from everything had done wonders for the three.
"It's a butterfly." Kakashi provided helpfully in his best emotionless voice.
"An Orange butterfly dattebayo!" Naruto nodded, exceptionally pleased with his findings.
"It's an aberration.." Kucho said reverently and suddenly mismatched eyes were locked onto Kakashi with a variation of puppy dog eye jutsu that he'd never been witness to before. It took him a moment but Kakashi was still a genius, even if he liked to rot his brain with a certain infamous orange book so his mind was distracted from over thinking everything. There was clearly more to this than just the fact that Naruto had been the one to find an insect. He did not know how it worked for the Aburame but wisps of memories when he found each of his nin dogs reminded him that sometimes chakra would let you know along with instincts when you found a good match. The very fact that despite whatever pull she felt towards the small winged creature was being resisted for his permission though, and he did have all three watching him to ensure it was given; made him feel especially lenient.
"Go ahead Kucho-chan, but do try to be subtle?"
The way her face lit up was..well the funny looks she was getting from her teammate's was pretty priceless. For all they always muttered about her being uncute it seemed this was the first time they seemed to remember that Kucho despite all her practicality and love of insects was still very much a girl and yes she was going to coo over a pretty butterfly.
Kakashi watched curious if he could grasp any of the details as Aburame were more secretive than even most ninja when it came to their methods. The lack of concern that any of the three were observing was rather gratifying. Kucho's fingers splayed out, tiny webs of chakra flowing from her in a strange sticky consistency that could be sensed not seen and ever so softly, almost just below even his enhanced hearing level, she seemed to be making a humming sound that undulated in pitch and tone as if her vocal cords were layered in a way that defied biology.
Tan fingers danced, flickering and the butterfly alighted softly. The gentle oranges shifted as it did so, blooming a soft pink closer to the body and edging into almost a vibrant peacock feather blue along it's larger lower wing segment outlining the brilliant orange of the main wing. If Kakashi and the boys hadn't been watching they would have missed the ever so faint bloom to her eyes of peach before Kucho shivered in delight and cradled the butterfly to her.
"Hello..."
Nothing more was said and though the three males felt a little awkward, none of them tried to get her to move along. While they didn't understand what was happening, the emergence of a few kikaichu with her trademark variated carapaces greeting the butterfly in her hands was sign enough that it was significant. Kucho carefully settled the butterfly in the end against her ear, it nestling into her hair with a few more of the kikaichu and she looked at her teammate's with the most..content expression they had ever seen.
"Okay."
It seemed wrong to question her just then.
Of course a few hours later when the dopey smile left her face and the butterfly seemed to have just vanished, Naruto finally brought it up.
"So why did you call it an aberration?" He was quite pleased to not have stumbled over the word and Kucho nodded.
"Because it was. It wasn't supposed to be that color, it should have had darker markings and been more brown than bright orange. It's unique before it consented to join my hive and now even more so. Hopefully he will breed with some of the butterflies I've been trying to evolve and they will get that coloration, if not it will stay long lived and in symbiosis with me."
"Is that why the color changed?" Sasuke asked, actually asking about butterflies..who would have thought?
"Yes because of my chakra. It always makes them look a little different."
"Your eyes went sorta pinky." Naruto chimed in and Kucho tilted her head.
"That I have no answer for..I've never really witnessed the bonding before, we do wear glasses usually after all."
And wasn't that just fuel for thought?
"So..is this going to be part of the 'hell butterflies' I have heard you mention then, Kucho-chan?" Kakashi's tone was mild to hide his actual curiosity.
"Oh I hope so!"
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Konoha's gates never looked so welcoming. They cannot seem to get to the tower fast enough, not a one recognizable as themselves. Indeed if not for the whiskers upon Naruto's cheeks and the coloring of Kucho it is doubtful that any of the three dirty and dusty would be thought of as more than just rambunctious if slightly respectful brats. Their attire is tattered and showing the downsides to being one of only two items they wore for the trip, all are caked in sweat and dirt that never fully washes off with just the stream and harsh soap and there are mats in their hair and creases in their garments. All three are tied for the biggest mess on the top of their heads and it is almost a pity that of them all only Kucho has someone to assist her in removing the chaos the trip afflicted upon their crowns.
They do not shift though, but report before a startled Iruka and other aides to the Hokage. There is not a headband in sight, and Kucho is still keeping her eyes closed rather than pull out her glasses. Sasuke is too tired to feel noble and Naruto is even tired out.
They do not in the least resemble the three who set out a little more than a week ago for their first C rank.
Hiruzen's draws upon his pipe are tellingly long as his eyes seem to convey the sheer amusement at the sight of ninja children that were before tiny adults being so clearly..not.
Kakashi has not instructed them, again it's a test everything in the world of ninja is a test to see what they omit and how they disclose information they are not aware if it should be shared with so many present. Kakashi is not in the slightest surprised -pride may be in his body language but none could prove that- to hear them give only the most tiny of details. Not a word of what they found, what they did. Indeed it could well be an entirely different mission for all that is left out it makes for a tale of arduous pitfalls playing civilian, looking around the city, and then when told they were departing taking off like well trained goslings to the papa goose.
The children are sent off with a hand motion from their team leader who instructs them that he shall make the more detailed report and they will all do the paperwork tomorrow but first they are to go and become themselves again.
It is not quite a dash out the tower, but it is close as they leave the silver member of their team behind. A quick exchange of smiles, a promise to have lunch tomorrow and train because oh do they need to get back to training..and they separate with speed that has been withheld until then.
Sasuke does not slow down, nearly falling several times as he pushes himself to go faster and faster ricocheting off nearby walls and leaping over fences simply because he can and he's forgotten almost the sheer exultation in not holding back. He sheds clothing and gear from the door to his bathroom without a care, no one else is anywhere near the Uchiha compound after all and if he takes a number of showers and promptly curls up to sleep in his sheets no one is there to say a word.
Naruto skips the shower and heads straight for his bed. He'll need to do laundry anyways and may as well do all of it at once tomorrow. But he has not seen a mattress since the inn and that wasn't even as good as the ratty one he had in his apartment. Besides, there is a scent, a feel that permeates this as his home. He tries not to think too deeply on why it is that his home, his den is where he feels best and the raw primal satisfaction of being back in it.
Kucho finally pauses long enough to rip a seam of her destroyed yukata and ditches the shoes for just her tabi altogether, breath coming in frantic gasps as she finally feels the transition from Konoha into Aburame territory. The thousands of hives buzzing along her peripheral senses sends Kucho to her knees and her hands are grasping deep into the soft soil just inside the walls. She's hyperventilating and she knows this, was even warned of the likelihood as all her kin are but the separation from Hive and Kin and territory is something she was not focusing on and the sudden snapping of the too taut strain..
Kucho is barely aware of the many sets of hands pulling her up and passing her along gently, as if she was the curves of a dragonflies wings. She just trembles and her eyes are not focusing because they are clamped shut tight.
There is a sound, a pulsing, a thudding and chimes. Humming and buzzing that seems to create a musical orchestra all around her and through here chakra network as every touch of the different sets of helping hands sends the chakra pulses that the Aburame use to communicate more than words crackling along her nerves. They are so tiny, miniscule that she would have thought less of them before now than moving hair from her face. In the absence and repression of her chakra, lack of full and constant contact with her Kikaichu though it is dissonance and she craves it frantically.
She'd never really understood why it was Aburame were so careful around the born Queen's until now. Until she's unconsciously clinging and grasping at all around her. She knows she's secreting pheromones frantically and there's no few kikaichu that are not her hive skittering across her skin to try and let them know how she is there. Even the unbonded insects nearby are frenetically welcoming her.
The tumultuous din is however not what she needs. She needs to be grounded she needs those she already has a bond to but she needs the clamor of so many around her at the same time. Otherwise she would have been able to stay with her team, to go seek out Choji. That she has done this well and lasted this long is a striking testament to the bond she has formed with her soldier's but it just was not enough!
"Calm." It is one word, felt more than spoken and Kucho's face is tugged into a thick jacket that smells of dog and sweat and smoke and earth and..
A queen's chakra permeates everything else. It is what she needs more than anything because a Queen is to protect her hives as they protect her and for all the Aburame around her mean well and would do near anything for a Queen especially a born one, it is not enough. There's a depth of their chakra that they cannot reach and the complimentary pheromones cannot seep out and into her skin. It is subtle, a gulp of water when she needs gallons, but it is enough to slake her to the point some semblance of awareness to reassert.
"We are going to your Okaa-san now."
Unspoken the words are transmitted in Aburame chakra code through the hand splayed across her back as they do a sort of shuffle, Kucho never taking her face from his jacket. I'm here.
It blunts the edges and Kucho can think again. She stays as she is though because the sheer terror of feeling lost in the midst of such an immense hive is going to haunt her memories. She barely manages to kick off her tabi with deft fingers and stepping on her heels but passes to feel the warmth of the floor that she knows is her home..a step up into the house proper and then there's a …
All the swarms her mother holds are out.
They cover the walls and the windows, they shift along the ceiling wings and legs and chirps and cries drowning out anything beyond the room.
Gumoko's eyes meet the form of her daughter, filthy and huddled against one of the few who holds a full fleet of Queen quality Kikaichu and managed to get her there in better shape than it could have been. It was sheer misfortune that had no decent aged Queen's who could otherwise assist but the elders would not be up to the task. Gumoko knew she needed to be here, to have fortified their home so that Kucho could safely fall to pieces and then put herself back together. It was inevitable for the Queen's after a long mission and the first was always the worst. They were practical, able to shove it entirely to the back of their minds but it clawed at them like a mantis devouring the head of her mate. Inevitable.
"Thank you." Gumoko was clad just in comfortable pants and a tank top, this was one case when skin to skin contact was necessary and she would be peeling Kucho out of her yukata, knowing at least that she wore garments below it to help. It was visible in how the fabric clung as she moved. It was in her thanks, also a dismissal.
"No." Kucho looked up then, from where she was clinging still and the mismatched eyes were so full of anger and pain and loss and frustration and confusion that Gumoko well remembered her first time home after a few days away and suppression of her chakra. The fear and reorientation of the hive after the loss would never cease to haunt an Aburame..to some degree they would always experience it and Kucho was far closer to her kikaichu than most.
"You are in too many layers." Gumoko gave as an explanation, it wasn't as though Kucho could think very well right now. No, Aburame felt too much and too deeply and it was why they barricaded themselves in logic and rationale. There were theories that perhaps with the way that their insects were so tied to the world and chakra in general it made them more in touch with what they thought and felt..but none knew for certain.
Kucho paused, her eyes widening and then steel overlaid her spine and she looked up into the dark glasses above her head. There were no words, but several pulses of chakra softly passed back and forth between them.
Slowly the hand moved from her back and he inclined his head.
He needn't use the words. There was no questioning another Aburame, the very thought was foolish. If she asked, and he agreed then it was decided. Gumoko held out her arms and braced for the impact of her dusky hued child, helping to remove the waist tie and yukata giving only the faintest look at her mess of curls that would be a long time in working through matted into the style she'd originally given her. Folded jacket and glasses set by his shoes Shino then moved to sit by them. Just waiting as Gumoko held Kucho to her. His hand resting lightly upon Kucho's forearm nearest him in chakra laden reassurance she was not alone.
Then, with a shuddering breath Kucho unleashed her swarms.
Shino looked around in awe.
Gumoko's Kikaichu were like his, small and dark and nothing truly spectacular. They were Kikaichu as Aburame knew them, there were sometimes other strains but overall they were always like this. Subtle, forgettable and in that truly was the comparison to their human hosts for it was those overlooked who could make such a difference when brought together.
But Gumoko had bred Kucho as one did their prized strain.
Kucho's kikaichu, her signature strain were dazzling to the young Aburame heir. Tan on brown with glossy carapace and translucent wings they twisted and cavorted through the air like glistening streams in comparison to the dark brown and black or charcoal grays of the traditional hues. There were so many others though! Shino had no idea that Kucho was holding so many non traditional sort in her chakra channels..indeed he did not doubt that his parents knew and the other Queens, perhaps even the elders.
There were glowing dragonflies and fireflies that had no purpose other than what they simply were. He could sense that. There were numerous flightless kikaichu whose purpose he couldn't even divine crawling along their skin and seeming to taste his chakra before exploring. There were variations of butterflies!
The last he must have said aloud because all the hives there hummed in that laughter that kikaichu did and sent his nerves roiling in a ticklish sensation because there were so many queens in the combined hives. He couldn't have stopped his two Queen's and the four lesser queens from emerging if he had wanted to. The softening of Kucho's shoulder's though made him glad for that. It seemed she was taking comfort in the millions of tiny forms around the three of them, all with an underlaying of familiar chakra from their hosts.
"Butterflies.." He repeated in wonder and was rewarded by Kucho's humm of agreement.
"I've always wanted..butterflies as lethal as a scorpion, as beautiful as our kikaichu feel."
Shino understood, but he also didn't understand at the same time. It was..curious. Instead he just watched the flickering prism's along the vast scape of dark bodies. They were obviously beautiful with their wings showcasing a multitude of the rainbow but Shino rather thought her glowing dragonflies were much more suiting of the born Queen.
At some point Kucho fell asleep and Gumoko simply lifted a brow at Shino. Since he was not in contact with her, and certainly was not about to initiate such a gaffe he nodded. "Before she left we..came to an understanding."
An alliance of queens and there was that tiny pin prick of the other's chakra from hosting a beetle of the other Aburame's from that day at the academy that bore out his tale. Gumoko merely let her eyebrow drop, the matter settled. Also why Kucho was willing for Shino to stay.
"Will it always be so bad?" For her, for him, he did not know.
Gumoko did not answer. After all, she had no way of knowing the future.
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"Once again Kakashi, Welcome back. Anything else to report?" The Hokage slowly let smoke flicker past his lips as he regarded Kakashi evenly. The quick debrief had occurred earlier, with team seven being relieved without incident. Truly, seeing them had been entertaining. Watching shinobi play civilian was a personal hobby of Hiruzen, they were terrible at it. As usual he did a proper debriefing of the Jounin instructor later on, Kakashi having shown up many hours past when he was supposed to.
"Hm.." Kakashi's book was nowhere in sight, the lazily slouched posture absent. "Team Seven ran into no..complications. They took their roles and ran them through flawlessly save for a concern that the Aburame may be far more symbiotic with their kikaichu than I was previously led to believe. Lack of interaction actually caused my kunoichi some levels of distress." Kakashi let that sink in before he continued. He wouldn't play games, not with his Hokage. Those tended to backfire with things like being saddled with a bunch of genin -for all his three students showed ample promise!- and he preferred to not enact any further issues.
"The strange chakra mission albatross was to check into was revealed to be a missing nin from another village. The man has been apprehended and delivered to Ibiki personally. Rudimentary interrogation showed nothing beyond distrust for his own village and a desire to make a quick fortune selling a cobbled together form of the infamous 'nin boosting' drug that was insidious in the prior war. Incidentally the shinobi and drug were found at different times by my team without breaking their covers."
"Oh?"
Kakashi nodded, his one visible eye sharp. "They showed initiative."
Hiruzen set his pipe down to steeple his fingers in front of his face slowly. The aged Hokage looked everywhere save where it would involve eye contact. Showing initiative was a rare thing indeed, doubly so on a mission. Usual procedure would be for the genin to inform the jounin and from there manufacture a plan. That his team did not...
"Expand."
"Creating a distraction as only Naruto can, I was informed it took something of a cow and wire and lots of misdirection but no chakra..Sasuke had spied the bamboo that was out of place at a vegetable stall. He has been reading many of his father's notes and training scrolls and recognized the common civilian smuggling tactic. In the ensuing confusion the item was swiped. They did not truly open or examine until I was present."
Hiruzen blinked but did not interrupt.
"Kucho was after a nap, which I was later informed as a confession she was letting a few of her kikaichu out under the blanket as prolonged absence indeed caused her distress..one that I had originally written off as her adapting to the strenuous nature of traveling as a civilian while clamping down on their chakra output. She had gone to the local tea supply in town and recognized a strange scent and chakra signal, of which she promptly informed me. At no point did any of the three break cover, question my actions, or hesitate to inform me of everything even if they feared a reprimand. Additionally, upon the return trip none of them questioned me or tried to push the boundaries. They seem to have a natural respect for their superior officer which is refreshing and uncommon."
Hiruzen nodded again and then leaned back.
"I want you to mix them in D and C ranks in the village, I'll let the chunnin and jounin know there's a capable gennin team that needs a little extra pushing around. Report back to me after that and we'll start sending them on more C ranks outside the village."
Kakashi nodded. The 'hazing missions' as they were called were in village meant to test humility and push their buttons before they would start to escort or guard difficult civilian's. Hiruzen was certainly enthusiastic about the potential team seven had to start them on this so early. Generally it took until the first time a team failed the chunnin exams for these to come about. It also meant that in a few months when the exams were coming close, he was hoping team seven would be able to put on a good show. Not that he didn't understand, since Konoha was going to be hosting the exams it made sense to parade their last Uchiha as a show pony.
Kakashi's eye crinkled in a smile.
Oh he had no doubt when he eventually told his team they would be suggested for the exams (just a few days before of course, you didn't want them too prepared. Surprises were part of a nin's life and he would just be doing them a favor getting them used to that) that simply competing wouldn't be enough. Not for his team.
They'd be determined to win.
As a team.
It was something he could support whole heartedly.
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The next few days were full of many missions, all of which were various shades of embarrassing. There was actually one that took four hours where all three kids were sent chasing down the different stores that sold soaps to find the best 'rose scented soap' for a chunnin who couldn't remember where he had bought it for his wife and needed to replace it.
He'd remembered almost last minute it was actually a body lotion and they'd had to repeat the entire thing.
Another had them plucking grass by hand because tools apparently didn't have the traditional feel and chakra could burn the plants. Kakashi did solemnly inform them in a rare bought of seriousness that Jounin were known to be eccentric and to just go with it. While he was reading an infamous book.
Sasuke had ended up on a private D rank passing messages across town for one person as they were in a grudge match and wouldn't actually speak to someone face to face. Naruto at the same time was picking up food orders for a woman with her children. Kucho had been stuck sharpening the academy collection of dull kunai which had to be done by hand and was long overdo. Also she was stuck with Baba-Sensei as she had been known who was watching Kucho like a hawk to ensure she only used the method and tools she approved of in the way she wanted it done.
When left alone they did not complain. Honestly after the week plus long C rank out of the village they were aware Kakashi was up to something with all of this but had unanimously decided they simply did not wish to know.
When they had free time they would practice their jutsu's together. Having been forced to play civilian's had given their chakra quite the boost from the constant suppression and at last Kucho was managing the techniques she needed. The boys were both up close and center fighters whereas unless using her Queen Style Taijutsu Kucho would clearly be a long range fighter. They were all three trying to not only come up with making their combination attack work, but balancing by all becoming mid range fighters as well.
At some point, as was bound to happen, exhaustion caught up with them.
Kakashi was showing up late as usual for once not having been there early to amuse himself watching his cute students and paused. Once again, the head band went up and his sharingan went into play because the three were sprawled out without a trace of dignity or grace. Indeed it seemed they'd simply been sparring and sat down..before passing out.
He was wondering how long it would take them to reach their limits.
Well, it could wait. He did have the last chapter to finish.
()()()()()()()()()()
"Why. Are. We. Doing. This." Sasuke hissed out as he tried to ignore the fact he was as red as one of his beloved tomatoes.
"I don't knooooowwwwww ...errrrgh.." Naruto made a strange rumbling sound even as he tried to not look at the garments he was handling. He had several wads of tissues up his nose to combat the eventual nose bleed. After all they were gathering up a woman's laundry from her floor. Well, if there actually was a floor under there. At this point they had discovered several rodent skeletons, bags upon bags of take out, and had carefully moved weapons that were most likely coated in poison into a designated series of boxes.
Naruto had a makeshift set of tongs out of long barbeque chopsticks he was using to scoop up various...undergarments..and placing them in the laundry basket. Kucho was the one folding and putting away the clean laundry as it was one thing to handle the items when not actually touching them.
What was this exactly?
Go figure, apparently house keeping for jounin could be a C rank mission. That was not counting that Kakashi had first gone in to dismantle the lethal traps or else it would have been closer to B or A rank. The non lethal ones he left for 'experience'.
Sasuke had been the one disabling them all but the various locations they were in, and the items draped over them had been taking him much of the afternoon to clear space by space.
Only Kucho didn't seem phased, if anything she was having a great deal of fun dusting and even stopping to coo at a few snakes and lizards in cages that were kept all along one wall. The entire wall. It was covered in what looked like glass but likely was nothing so breakable (potentially turned into a weapon) and with large branches and lights that had the long serpents draped about lazily. Off to the side in a decent sized cage on a makeshift table made out of books and crates was the main cage Kucho kept stopping at to coo and even reach in and stroke the head of the pretty brown and striped snake.
Her gift after all for all that he lived here.
Yes they were cleaning up after Anko.
Kucho kept to herself that she had never seen the place anything but immaculate because Anko didn't trust a single thing out of place. Chaotic yes but this smacked of planned chaos specifically to harass the boys. For one she knew for a fact because Anko-sama over shared over tea all the time, that she did not own so many pairs of underwear.
Anko was fond of going 'commando' and had told Kucho when she was older she'd understand. Anything that was more than a thread style thong or tight shorts for under the skirts was recent and a plant. Also knowing Anko it was likely all stolen goods as opposed to bought but that was the kunoichi for you. Kucho found the expressions and body language of her teammate's funny enough to not say anything though.
Really it was just clothing. So what that it covered a part of the lower regions, so did the boys shirts cover the chest area which would never develop compared to hers but Anko was through her puberty already. Yet they never made faces when they came across those. She was very thankful at that moment for her clans predilection for avoiding the drama of such sensibilities. Even upon her entering adulthood she knew she would likely go about it in a far more methodical and logical fashion than those around her.
It was good to be Aburame.
"Can we not do some missions, Kakashi-sensei?!" naruto hollered outside. Because of course Kakashi was smart enough to lounge on the roof with a window open rather than risk Anko's ire.
Kakashi smirked contently knowing not a one of his students could see him.
It was also good to be the copy nin.