A Kind of Magic
Disclaimer:I don't own Naruto. This story is inspired by the tales of a sweet little thief, loosely based on a novel by Megumi Tachikawa.
Author's Note:Enjoy the sweet adventures of a new thief, a phantom named, Tanuki.
Summary: Both Saint Tanuki and Kakashi discover just how many words a picture is worth.
Chapter Eleven: The Magician and the Photograph
Between balloons, streamers, and a couple flower arrangements, Midori was barely able to make her way to the other side of street toward her group of friends without stumbling too much. She offered her friends a clumsy smile when she was finally able to set all that was gathered in her arms upon the floor.
Busy villagers strode past the herd of ladies, each with their own tasks to complete. Some carried huge beams and others were in the process of setting up grand banners to announce their event.
The Leaf Village's Shinobi Appreciation Festival was to commence within the next few days, and everyone was doing their part to come together and transform Konohagakure into a village adorned with decorations. Even members of other ally villages, particularly Konoha's ally Sunagakure, traveled to help out and attend the event. It was Leaf's biggest festival and it wasn't a celebration to be missed.
The main portion of the festival would be held at the Ninja Academy's school grounds, and any profit that would be made went directly to the institution. Perhaps the most exciting, for the female inhabitants of Leaf, was the match-up game that was played.
"Now that Midori's finally joined us, I can show off the little something I've managed to acquire." Ino, grinning smugly, dipped her hand into the satchel secured at her waist to reveal the metallic sheen of a single black bell.
She dangled it proudly by the string so the tiny kanji symbols painted onto the bell could be seen by the spectators. Sai, it read. "Feast your eyes on this!"
One of the members of the group bore a befuddled expression as she examined the onyx bell closely. "I don't understand the point, I'm afraid," said Hotaru with an apologetic smile.
A look of mock annoyance flashed across Ino's features but was quickly replaced with a thoughtful expression.
"You're so dense when it comes to stuff like this," laughed Sakura. Today she had braided part of her to appear like a laurel around her head. Sakura wasn't one to focus too heavily on her hairstyles since she had chopped it from its previously length some years ago, but she felt that she would try something different and perhaps even more attention-getting.
"It's like a charm," said Midori, who understood the reason for Sakura's change of hairstyle. "If there's a shinobi you like, you get him to give you his bell charm and hang it on the Great Tree. Then it is said that when the Temple Bell sounds to announce the dance portion of the festival, he will ask to dance with you. It's an urban myth."
"—Except it's not a myth!" Ino interjected but was immediately hushed by Sakura.
"That explains all the bells I've seen hanging from the branches of the Great Tree," Hotaru murmured, looking off into the distance. She paused for a long while. She appeared to be contemplating something. When she realized her absentmindedness became somewhat of a spectacle she quickly smiled.
"Yes," Sakura said gleefully, "It means his feelings resonate with yours."
"The problem is how to get the bell in the first place," Tenten sighed. Her brown eyes side glanced in the direction of her two teammates as they lifted a support beam and carried it to the schoolyard where a stage was being built. It was only obvious which one she had hoped would give her his bell charm by the way her gaze lingered on him.
The pink clad kunoichi abruptly turned toward Hotaru. "Hotaru-chan," she begged, "Please ask Neji-sama for me!"
"I don't know," replied the Hyuuga awkwardly. "Hinata-chan has a better chance of getting him to accommodate you. She is much closer to Neji-san than I am."
While Tenten continued to encourage Hotaru to try harder to retrieve the bell, Midori's eyes wandered. They stopped on two Jounin as they walked by with more large wooden beams in the direction of the almost-finished stage.
'I wonder if Kakashi has already given his bell charm to someone,' she thought. Her lips pursed at the thought of girls like Komachi or Geiko being awarded the token to place on the Great Tree instead of her. It was hard to tell if he would give either girls the opportunity, but both were very persistent. He could very well have succumbed to their doggedness and eventually given into their relentlessness.
Her thoughts were put to rest when she overheard the conversation between Gai and Kakashi. The two were furiously running with the beams, clearly competing with each other to see who could put theirs up the fastest.
Captain Yamato then entered himself in the competition by using his Wood Release and finished the remains of the structure. Gai and Kakashi appeared dumbfounded as they dropped their beams in defeat. Then the three began to laugh heartily.
Midori rolled her eyes and returned her attention to the new topic of the conversation amongst her girlfriends. She was probably worrying too much.
"I've got to get going," Hotaru excused herself. "My Clan is setting up a target practice game for the festival and may need my help."
She gave her friends a farewell embrace and treaded across the street toward the Ninja Academy. She couldn't help but notice a member of her graduating class as she passed by the academy's chain link fence. The girl seemed rather somber, and Hotaru could never forgive herself if she were to turn the other cheek.
"Hello, Jun-san." Hotaru smiled and greeted her peer with a warm smile.
The girl returned it half-heartedly and then asked, "Have you heard of how to get a dance partner for the festival?"
The Hyuuga blushed, embarrassed that she had only just found out about the match-up game tradition. All these years of participation in the festival, and she had been so unaware of the amusing activity until today. "Oh, that. Yes, I've heard."
Jun leaned against the chain link fence as if she needed its support to keep her body up as she sighed greatly. "A friend of mine asked me to get her crush's bell for her earlier today, but when I went to talk to him Kai Aburame took our picture. I begged Aburame-san not to put it in The Foliage, but he didn't care. If my boyfriend sees the picture once it's published, he'll be very upset. It will cause nothing but trouble for us, and we're finally doing better."
Heart lurching, Hotaru immediately sympathized for Jun. Jun and her boyfriend had remained on and off since their time at the Ninja Academy. It wasn't until recently that the couple had accomplished going several months without splitting.
She also knew what a troublemaker Jhai's twin brother Kai could be. Jun had always been faithful to her boyfriend, but Kai would undoubtedly give the photo some misleading caption to make it seem otherwise. It would only lead to a swift, resolute and final break between the couple.
Arms took gentle hold of Jun in a nurturing embrace. "You poor dear," said Hotaru, "that is definite cause for concern, but I have faith that everything will be fine."
-Yamanaka Flower Shop, Afternoon-
"That guy!" cursed Midori. "He'll do anything for a story, won't he? He doesn't care if he takes things out of context and creates misunderstandings—and to do that to sweet Jun-chan!"
Hotaru nodded in agreement.
The redhead huffed, grasping at the edges of the countertop she stood behind. Kai Aburame could be so infuriating and unsympathetic to others. It was difficult to believe he was Jhai's twin at times because the two could be as different as night and day.
"I can't believe he's still so popular with the girls from our graduating class either. He's always been such a jerk." Her nose crinkled with disdain.
"I hope there's some way we can get the film roll from him," said Hotaru, placing her hand to her cheek so her head could rest upon it as she carefully thought.
"Don't worry," Midori stated, pumping her fist into the air with a surprising amount of energy. "He's got me all fired up now! Phantom Tanuki will teach him a lesson in love, and that's that you should never trifle in the affairs of young women!"
"Midori-chan, keep your voice down," warned Hotaru lightheartedly before growing more serious. "You don't have much time to act. You have to send your challenge out before Kai-san develops the photos."
"Will do, but when should I strike?" Midori asked, finally lowering her voice to a more secretive volume.
"The festival is the day after tomorrow. Every shinobi in the village will be staying late, which could become great trouble if your presence becomes known. However, everyone will also be in costume. That should be the best time for you to discreetly complete the task."
"How is that?" Midori inquired. It still sounded all too dangerous for her. She could easily escape a small group of shinobi, but if the entire village's ninjas became aware of her during the festival, they'd all come together in a collective effort to capture her. She couldn't escape dozens of shinobi, no matter how elusive her reputation had preceded her to be.
"I already know of at least four female students at the academy who are planning to dress up as Phantom Tanuki. I doubt they're the only ones who plan on doing so. They idolize you, Midori-chan. The real Phantom Tanuki shouldn't be suspicious or draw any kind of attention with all the village girls dressed as you."
"Hotaru-chan, you're a true genius," Midori grinned.
-Ninja Academy Schoolyard, the Following Morning-
Ino Yamanaka poked her head through an expansive flower arrangement, contorting her face into a very strange expression. Her tongue lolled outside her lip-gloss smile as she went cross-eyed for a moment. She couldn't hold the face she had made for too long before bursting into laughter with the two friends who watched her amusedly across from her.
"Is that the face you made when you asked Sai-san for his bell charm?" Midori joked, winking at the blonde.
"Sure did," replied Ino with a smirk. "That's my bedroom stare. No one can resist it."
"Bedroom stare?" repeated Hotaru in confusion.
Her two companions turned to stare at her in disbelief. How could their friend not piece the phrase's meaning together?
Hotaru remained completely unaware as the girls giggled furiously before her.
"You know, like a sexy look that you'd give someone in the bedroom," Ino managed to say at last although her laughter obscured much of the sentence.
Hotaru caught the meaning finally. The Hyuuga's cheeks flushed a fierce bright red as she took a few steps backward in an effort to distance herself from her teasing companions.
She took great effort in trying to compose herself again but lost her concentration when a solitary Oakblue butterfly landed upon her nose, cuing Jhai's presence as he strolled up to the group of girls.
"Typically that's a sign of good luck," Jhai informed his teammate, "but considering that I walked in on an awkward part of your conversation, it might mean something more to you ladies."
Hotaru's blush deepened excessively. The young woman looked so distraught and embarrassed she could barely find a way to respond to the comment. Ino and Midori had but all engaged themselves in a ridiculous fit of laughter, unable to hold in their amusement as they helplessly clutched their stomachs.
Managing to somewhat gain control of herself after several peals of laughter, Midori pulled herself away from the group to return to a flower arrangement she had been working on. The arrangement had given her particular difficulty for some reason. It was as if she had no inspiration to get creative and complete it.
The assortment seemed to just hang there without any livelihood or vibrancy despite the variety of the flowers she'd placed. Perhaps it had been the colors she used. Typically the hues would complement each other. Still, for some reason, it just fell flat.
Giving it one last woeful glance, Midori promised she'd return to the arrangement after a short break that would hopefully remove her artistic blockage.
"Where do you think you're going?" Ino asked in a playful tone.
The young woman turned to face her friend, surprised to see that Tenten and Sakura were also with her. All three girls had their hands behind their backs, a very clear sign of impending trickery. Their mischievous grins didn't cause for any other conclusions.
Puzzled, Midori finally realized what the girls were up to when she caught sight of a familiar looking black bow in Sakura's left hand. "A Phantom Tanuki costume? Are you serious?"
"That's right, missy!" Ino spoke the words like a warrior cry as the three girls captured Midori in their impish clutches.
Midori struggled fiercely but was no match for three strong kunoichi. She understood that her fate was sealed when she heard the ominous sound of a zipper being pulled.
"You're built just like her," Sakura grunted as she pulled long coppery hair into a ponytail and secured it with the bow she had been holding. "Slender and athletic."
"You're perfect for the part," agreed Tenten through a strained voice. The brunette had a good grip on Midori as she eased her legs into a short black skirt, reminiscent of the infamous thief's.
"Wait a minute, girls," gasped Midori, "I really have some work I need to be getting back to."
"Relax, will ya? And stop fidgeting," Ino instructed, voice stressed. It took a headlock to get Midori to fidget less, but the blonde saw to it.
"This is really silly, guys. I just want to get back to work," Midori argued, still unable to break free. But her head was stuffed into mesh tank top and black vest before she could get another word out from her mouth.
There was no use fighting. She was being overpowered and after the resounding click of a utility belt, Midori was completely aware that she was in full Tanuki attire, but a bulky version because the girls had forced it over the outfit she had already been wearing. Hints of her clothing poked out from random openings of the costume as the material choked her body from its tightness.
"You girls must be kidding. You're ruining the Phantom's image by doing that."
Midori's head broke through the flurry to eye the intruder. "What did you say?" she demanded with a scowl.
The others were so startled by Kakashi's presence that they had finally released their hold of Midori and allowed her movement once again. Now in control, Midori quickly shed the forced-on costume.
In a resourceful and desperate effort, she snatched a nearby broomstick by its handle. She shook it menacingly at Kakashi and asked in a growl, "Are you trying to say something by that, Hatake?"
"I'm not trying to say something. I successfully did say something, Niwa," he pointed out to her in a flat voice. As usual, he barely gave her any attention beyond the book his nose was constantly buried in.
"You—you—you are so rude!" Midori raised the broom high above her head and used the force her enraged state granted her to smack it down toward Kakashi. Without very much effort, Kakashi lifted his forearm to block it. He didn't even flinch.
A flash went off in the nearby distance, causing for both assailant and victim to turn their heads in its direction. They froze when they found the origin of the flash, ignoring the now broken broomstick as its pieces fell to the floor beneath them in noisy clanks.
Kai Aburame frowned as he reviewed the Polaroid photo he attained from his camera. "I was supposed to get a cute shot of Midori-chan," he sighed, "but then that scarecrow got in the way and ruined the entire picture."
"Scarecrow?" Kakashi echoed, not so pleased with the moniker although its derivation was obvious.
Midori realized the wonderful opportunity she now had to send the calling card. She busied herself within the distant leafy flower arrangement she had left behind earlier, placing her hands into the foliage and moving them this way and that to form hand signs.
Tersely, Kai flicked the Polaroid at Kakashi. Just as the Jounin's fingers moved to catch the photo between them, the picture transformed itself into a slip of paper. He recognized the note immediately.
I will come to the Shinobi Appreciation Festival to take Aburame Kai's film.
-St. Tanuki
Sakura, Ino, Tenten, and even Kai scrambled behind Kakashi to read the message from over his shoulder. The group hovered very closely, each gasping in Kakashi's ear.
"A challenge from the Phantom," Ino breathed with wild excitement.
Sakura peeled herself from her place behind Kakashi's shoulder and scanned the area with keen observance. "She must be watching us from somewhere. Should I look around for her, Kakashi-Sensei?"
"I'll take care of it myself," Kakashi assured his student. He effortlessly succeeded in holding the calling card high above the heads of the two kunoichi still attached to him as they begged for him to let them hold it, even for a moment.
"It would mean the world," Tenten implored him.
"Please don't tamper with evidence," Kakashi replied and tucked it safely within the pages of his adult novel. The Jounin excused himself promptly and disappeared before more beckoning could ensue from the girls.
Midori smiled warmly at the object she held between her fingers. The flower arrangement obscured the item from anyone else's view but her own so she could privately admire it.
"Scarecrow, huh?" Giving the image one final glance of fondness, she tucked it away in her work apron and returned her attention to the unfinished assortment before her. At last, she had found the inspiration she needed to complete the piece.
-Ninja Academy Hallway, Just Hours Later-
Someone hadn't made Kakashi this frustrated since Komachi's flagrant disregard for teamwork. Gazing down toward the chestnut-haired shinobi before him, he grimaced slightly beneath his mask. While Jhai was exceptionally good at making himself a nuisance, his twin brother was worse. At least Jhai was tolerable, but not this one. Who knew the Aburame Clan would bore such an irritating pair of troublemakers?
"I really appreciate the offer, but I'm a good enough ninja to take care of it myself. No offense, but your track record isn't so good when it comes to Saint Tanuki. I personally think that I'm better off protecting my possessions on my own," said Kai with offhanded coolness.
Although he was significantly underestimating his future opponent, Kakashi made no effort to argue with him. "Suit yourself, but I'll be around," the Jounin promised.
The Aburame clan member rolled his eyes as Kakashi continued past him. "Always wanting to be the center of attention and thinking he's some hotshot just because he graduated the academy when he was six. Big deal. I don't have time to worry about some ninja with a recycled Sharingan."
Traveling in the opposite direction, Kai contemplated just where he could successfully hide the roll of film that was in threat of being stolen. He paused outside the door of the mailroom and was hit with a sudden idea. He slipped into the mailroom and drew the key to his padlocked mailbox from his pocket.
Just as he was about to set the roll of film in his locker, he heard a clamor near the entrance. Fearful, Kai stuffed the roll of film into his waist pouch and turned toward the distraction. Three ladies approached him, all with wide smiles and sparkling eyes.
"What are you ladies up to?" He asked with a playboy smirk.
"We were wondering if we could have your bell for the festival is all," said the tallest of the girls, clearly the most assertive of the trio.
"Ladies, I'm flattered," he said, "and I'd really love to, but you see, I've only got one bell and that's not enough for all three of you."
"That's okay," they all replied in unison, "we brought you extra." Each girl dangled a bell in front of him before setting it in his locker and sealing it shut. They all placed their own padlocks on it as well, forbidding Kai from entry.
"Don't open your locker. We'll be back for the bells later." All three grinned in attempt at seductiveness, but Kai only saw a trio of very menacing girls. He would never be able to hide the roll of film now.
"Not like I have much choice," he chuckled with fake amusement. His hand ran through his hair in a gesture of frustration as he watched the ladies leave the mailroom and disappear down the hallway.
Kai growled, wondering just where he was supposed to hide the roll now. His eyes swept over the mailroom and paused on a locker which bore a gaping padlock. He went to it and read the name of the mailbox's owner.
He smirked. How interesting that it would be none other than Kakashi's mailbox. He lifted his balled fist and knocked at the locker next to it. The action caused for Kakashi's mailbox to creak open. The unsealed padlock seemed to be smiling at him as it dangled from its place.
"How careless," he gloated. He did enjoy how smoothly things were going though.
He could see that Kakashi wasn't one to check his mail. Several envelopes were crammed into the locker, each threatening to slip out. Hanging upon one of the stacks was a small silver bell, different than the bells Kakashi used during his infamous bell tests. Kai recognized it to be the bell used for the festival's match-up game immediately.
Kai afforded himself a roll of his eyes. He couldn't imagine anyone would ask Kakashi for his bell and decided that the Jounin's locker would be an even better hiding place than his own. He craftily tucked the roll of film in behind a stack of letters and rearranged it so that a scroll was on top of it.
"What are you doing?" A stern voice reached him from behind. "Isn't that Kakashi's locker?"
Without thinking, Kai whirled around, placed his hand to the padlock and locked it. He flinched at the click when he realized what his startled actions had led to.
He groaned. "Look what you made me do! Now, it's locked."
A look of sever irritation etched its way onto the ninja's face as he glared at the causation of his thoughtless movements.
"You idiot," Komachi yelled. "I wanted to get Kakashi's bell from inside there."
"What?" Kai asked, even more shocked than before.
"I really wanted to dance with Kakashi at the festival," she sighed.
Kai almost laughed. "You're joking."
Frowning, she ignored his response and said, "So what did you put in there? I thought I saw you slip something in before you locked it."
"Just something I didn't want getting stolen," he chuckled.
"What in the world?" Komachi replied, examining him with her scrutinizing eyes.
For the first time, he really looked the young woman over. She was quite tall, but her height was to be admired. Judging by her facial expression and posture, she was of the assertive sort. Most men would find it intimidating and even a turn-off, but Kai found it alluring.
"Man, I let a girl catch me off guard," he said uneasily, still laughing as he exited the mailroom.
-Ninja Academy Schoolyard, Afternoon-
She couldn't help but sneak several glances at Kakashi as they worked together to secure a banner for the festival. She pretended the luminous banner's glare was what made her avoid eye contact with him when he took notice to one of her looks. He seemed about to make a comment, but was interrupted by Komachi.
"I'm sure he was looking around to find something to put in the newspaper." The snappish tone of voice reminded Midori of the disbanded ANBU member's presence. She had almost forgotten that the blonde had made it a point to keep them company while they hung the banner, although she hadn't even bothered to offer them any assistance in setting up the sign.
"He's always sniffing for a story," the blonde quickly added when she saw neither had responded to her prior statement.
Kakashi shrugged. "There's nothing interesting in my mailbox. I have nothing to hide."
'Except your face,' thought Komachi.
Suddenly, Midori's eyes widened with realization. Kakashi's only visible eye also seemed to expand as he attained the same revelation as she.
Kai Aburame had hid the roll of film in his locker!
Both ninjas seemed to be engaged within deep thought as they crossed their arms and sighed deeply.
"What were you doing in my locker anyway?" Kakashi asked, the question had abruptly interrupted his thoughts.
"Nothing in particular," she replied. "I just wanted to borrow one of your bells for a test I was going to put on for some genin."
Midori's eyes narrowed slightly and then returned to normal so quickly that it seemed a trick of the mind that they had ever changed. There was no doubt in her mind that Komachi was lying and quite smoothly at that. Her excuse was a solid one, but could Kakashi really be that dense?
"You don't have a need to use them any time soon since Niwa failed the last test and obviously needs more training," Komachi continued, "I thought I could borrow just one."
"I suppose," Kakashi replied, taking out his adult novel to forget his surroundings.
'Oh, no! Don't give your bell charm to her!' Midori willed him to retract his offer as she gazed at him in horror.
"On second thought, never mind." For a second time, his visible dark grey eye widened in the midst of another realization.
Smiling to herself, Midori cheerfully thought, 'Could it be?'
Was it possible that Kakashi had hoped to perhaps give his bell charm to her instead?
"And why not?" The blonde demanded. Her hand went to her hip as she shifted her weight to that side.
"Well, because I've forgotten the combination to the lock," he said. He ran a hand smoothly through his silvery mane and chuckled. His eyes closed, also smiling. When they reopened, he discovered that he was no longer in either of the girls' company. "Now, where'd they run off to?"
-The Day of the Festival-
This village was their village. They loved and cherished it. Most were born and raised in Leaf and those that weren't still had a deep admiration and sense of pride for their home. If they had it their way, they would remain in Konohagakure for the rest of their lives.
To them, their village was the best among all the hidden villages. Konoha stood firmly and proud from within the Fire Country.
From every corner to every block from the center of the Village Square to the edges of the outskirts, Konoha brimmed with pride and joy. That morning, every villager seemed to beam with their patriotism.
There had been harsh times for the villagers. They had faced corruption, betrayal, enemy invasion, sieges, war and disillusionment. Countless foes had attempted to annihilate Konoha, to burn it to the ground until nothing of it remained. Some had succeeded in the destruction of the village, but something those who opposed them didn't understand was that Konoha was in the blood of its residents and that was one thing that couldn't be taken away. The Will of Fire burned too brightly in their hearts to be snuffed out.
Like brick upon brick, they were the foundation of the village. With such a solid and stable base, they were invincible together and had proved their fortitude time and time again.
There were able to overcome the trials and tribulations. They pushed forward through the hardships as a united force, only growing stronger together in the process.
The Shinobi Appreciation Festival was one of those overwhelmingly blissful times. Everyone had come together as a village, and even those from allied villages, in a collective effort to give thanks to the people who had dedicated their lives to protecting their home and fought for their freedom and peace.
Selfless sacrifices had been made by countless shinobi of Leaf. They had given their lives in the sake of it. However, their celebration that day wasn't to mourn those who had sacrificed themselves, but to glorify and give gratitude to them.
Saint Tanuki watched the village, hidden in the expansive shielding branches of the Great Tree. Her lips stretched into a pretty and wide smile at the sights she took in, spotting several of her ninja comrades and outstanding non-ninja citizens she had grown to know and love.
The Ichiraku Ramen shop owner generously granted bigger portions to his shinobi customers and gave away free meals to old Shinobi War veterans.
Hinata Hyuuga had finally managed to steal Naruto's attention away from the ramen bar and led him toward the Great Tree. Hand in hand, the two walked. Nothing could be sweeter than Hinata's blushing face as Naruto placed his orange bell charm in her hand and guided her small fingers with his to fasten it to a branch not too far from the ground.
They embraced beneath the starlight which shone through the leaves of the Great Tree.
In the distance, Choji and Shikamaru ran a barbecue stand right alongside Ino's flower stand. In between the structures was a great paper lantern with Asuma's name imprinted upon it, in honor of their recently deceased Sensei's life.
Hotaru was at Ino's side, squeezing her softly in friendship as the two passed out flowers and paper lanterns to those who wished to honor a shinobi's life.
She could see Sakura too. She and Tenten were putting their artistic abilities to work, face painting the excited faces of children who requested ANBU masks, the Leaf symbol and the symbols of prominent Konoha Clans. Some of the young girls had even asked to be painted like Saint Tanuki.
Several children danced in circles and ran with sparklers, some wearing their own versions of the Hokage's hat and others choosing costumes of other past heroes of Konoha.
Kiba was stationed at a petting zoo with his canine companion Akamaru, Neji had set up a station for kunai target practice. Shino was also present, running a ring toss booth next to Jhai's unsurprisingly shameless kissing booth while Rock Lee gently advised him against being so brazen. Jhai only threw his head back and laughed as a few nervous girls lined up before them.
The entire village sang with rejoice.
Saint Tanuki's heart was immediately warmed, and she too rejoiced and felt the overpowering sense of pride for her village. She had vowed to protect it and its people, and had thus far remained true to that promise even though she had done so through her vigilante ways. Konoha had needed a hero such as herself.
Fate-willing, she'd have it that way for life.
Nearby voices drew her attention to a cluster of familiar faces. Tenten, Sakura and Ino had taken a break from their respective stations to enjoy some dango together.
"Have you seen, Midori-chan?" asked Ino. "She was supposed to help out with the booth later."
"Now that you mention it, I haven't seen her yet at all," Tenten noted.
Sakura's lips curved into a playful grin. "Maybe she's out looking for Kakashi-Sensei to ask him for his bell."
"You think!" squealed Ino, almost dropping a paper lantern she held in her hands.
The little thief laughed to herself, amused by their conversation. A shock of silver hair caught her eyes and reminded her that she had a very important duty to fulfill that evening.
In a single magnificent leap, she jettisoned herself in the direction of her target, and left the silver-haired shinobi behind her.
Resounding cries called Kakashi's attention as he walked past throngs and throngs of villagers. He bounded in the direction of their origin: the schoolyard.
"The real Phantom is here!"
"Wow, it's her! It's the real Saint Tanuki!"
He caught sight of a slender silhouette as it glided far ahead of him. It seemed to soar underneath the moon's milky light.
He leapt to the rooftops to avoid colliding with those who were enjoying the celebration below. Once he reached the academy, he glided down to the school. Carefully, he found a gap in the crowd of people bustling on the Ninja Academy's second floor. He weaved through the mass of people and sharply turned the corner to find himself in another hallway. Judging by the cries, he was on the right path.
He continued in the same direction and took another quick turn. 'I've got you,' he thought as he abruptly entered a classroom.
"We're the Saint Tanuki Trio," three girls cried from the front of the classroom as they struck various poses. Even many of the audience members were dressed up as the Phantom.
Several faces turned to him in shock. Staring back at him were several kunoichi dressed as Saint Tanuki. The group before him melded into the same massive blur. They all seemed to look exactly like her. So much so, he could barely distinguish much difference considering he had never really gotten a careful look at the thief. She had always managed to elude him before he could examine her closely.
"Saint Tanuki is in Iruka-Sensei's classroom," a voice rang from the hallway, which prompted Kakashi into another burst as he sprinted to the corridor.
He quickly leapt over a flight of stairs, placing him on the third floor.
"She's in the library!" Another cry bellowed.
The silver-haired Jounin raced back down to the second floor.
"Tanuki is in the projection room above the auditorium!"
He halted, pivoted and raced back up a few flights of stairs, thoroughly frustrated that he just couldn't disregard the bad directions in the chance that one of them would correctly navigate him to his required destination.
"Give me a break," he grunted. Almost every kunoichi he had passed along the way was clad in some aspect of the thief's attire. "Is every girl in the Ninja Academy dressed up as her?"
There were so many of them, running this way and that. Each one caught his attention for a brief moment until he could determine if the person in question was the real Saint Tanuki or not. He was feeling miserably overwhelmed and exasperated.
Saint Tanuki relished in the amusing sight she beheld. It was rare to ever see Kakashi so wound up. She was so pleased by the maddened shinobi in her line of view that she couldn't help get in a quick jibe. "Hey, isn't that the real Saint Tanuki," she suggested, pointing in the opposite direction of her destination.
Without hesitation, Kakashi followed the instruction and disappeared down the hall.
With a triumphant smirk, Saint Tanuki murmured, "That was fun. If only I could use live decoys like that more often since he has a bad habit of seeing through my feather clones."
She managed herself a discreet entrance into the mailroom. She noted that there was several boxes with costumes scattered within the room, knowing such could be helpful in a possibly dire situation. As a shinobi and a thief, it was vital to always be alert to her surroundings.
The thief cast a kunai at the lock securing Kakashi's mailbox. The blade splintered through it. The padlock clanged to the floor as she went to retrieve the film.
"All mine now," she purred as she gave the roll a quick playful peck before securing it in the confines of her waist pouch. She was nearly ready to head out but paused to hear as an announcement blared over the intercom.
The Festival finale will begin soon! Everyone who wants to participate, please assemble in the schoolyard.
She felt bashful as a timid hand reached back into Kakashi's locker to attain a small silver bell charm.
'I know it's silly,' she thought. 'But what if the superstition comes true?'
Saint Tanuki ran a finger over the bell wistfully, debating if she should take it or not.
"Hold it right there!" The warning voice belonged to Kai Aburame. His heavy breathing suggested he had sprinted all the way to the mailroom without pausing. Because he was out of breath and feeling fatigued from his run there, she had the advantage.
A second figure emerged through the doorway, but this one wasn't nearly as winded as the first.
"There goes the element of surprise," Kakashi muttered when he noticed Kai's lack of wisdom in his rambunctious entry.
Gazing over to Kai, he then contemplated whether it was appropriate to intervene or not. Saint Tanuki always had reason for her crimes. There was no way possible that Kai Aburame had been innocent in all this. However, Kakashi still had a responsibility.
Examining the two people in the room with him as he weighed out their intentions in his mind, Kakashi made his decision.
"Give me back my film, you thief," Kai demanded as he attempted to rush the small bandit.
It was tempting to warn Kai that it was a trap he was ushering himself into, but it had been more tempting to watch the events unfold. He had made the decision to hang back after all.
Securing the bell charm around her neck like a piece of jewelry, she nimbly evaded the tackle, watching as Kai connected instead with an almost-invisible thread. As the wire was pulled by the force of Kai's tackle, it yanked a paper incantation seal, and broke it.
Costumes, animated the moment the seal had broken, began to surge from the cardboard boxes and swarmed Kai. He was immobilized by the smothering theatrical clothing.
"Kakashi, do something," he begged.
"Now you'd like my help, hm?" Kakashi said as he looked to the thief.
She was halted above the lockers, grateful for the high ceiling. Because the room was smaller than her usual arena, she had limited escaping options. Figuring the close proximity, she had to admit that this would clock in as one of her most risky encounters with Kakashi.
She gazed back at him, fearful yet still courageous as she lifted her chin in obstinacy.
"I can't see through this pink haze," Kakashi stated in an exaggerated voice of mock desperation.
Her eyes broadened for a moment. Then they relaxed and the thief smiled, catching the hint as she initiated her Pink Haze no Jutsu. This was the second time Kakashi had blatantly allowed her to escape. She wondered what his reasoning was for affording her the opportunity not just once, but a second time.
Just as Kai was about to demand an explanation from Kakashi, he was swallowed by pink smoke. The vapor slowly inched its way toward her secondary target as if she wasn't sure to allow it to shroud him as well.
"Be my guest." He gave her the permission she needed.
"Thank you," she mouthed and made her escape through a window just big enough for her to slip through comfortably and fluidly.
Kai crawled through the blanket of pink mist, gripping at Kakashi's feet. "You let her go just like that?"
"Not quite," Kakashi said and disappeared.
-Ninja Academy Rooftop-
She must have been alone by now, must have escaped them both.
The only sound she could hear was the sound of her swift steps across the rooftop of the academy. She propelled herself from the roof and to the vacant alleyway behind the school. It had been quite a distance to travel from the rooftop, but she had been successful in her endeavor.
The Great Tree was in view, but it was still too soon to celebrate her victory. Although her presence had gone undetected by the occupied villagers, she couldn't become arrogant and risk being in the open. It was best to remain discreet.
She made her way to the highest most branches of the tree, careful to not let the breathtaking view distract her for too long. Her hands gained hold of the ribbon around her neck and pulled it over her head. The bell jingled softly; almost delightful it was in her possession.
She paused to admire it for a moment before tying it at last to the tree. She recited the name painted upon the silvery bell charm's surface like a poem.
An ironic thought crossed her mind as the bell charm gleamed at her. How was it that as Midori she couldn't acquire a bell from Kakashi's bell test, but as Saint Tanuki she could obtain the prize with almost no difficulty?
Branches cracked beneath her, causing alarm. She peered below herself and saw Kai, still disoriented and clumsy from the pink haze she had unleashed, struggling to clamber to her.
"You won't get away, thief!"
"And once again, the element of surprise is lost," Kakashi said as he appeared next to him. "Why do I even bother?"
At this point, several guests of the festival had gathered beneath the tree, surrounding the enormous trunk as they stared at the spectacle above them. The onlookers dropped their jaws at the sight they beheld, amazed by Saint Tanuki's magical silhouette against the massive moon behind her. She looked like an illusion, and it entranced the spectators.
Saint Tanuki desperately thought of which escape options were left for her. Perhaps visiting the Great Tree would prove more detrimental than she had intended because she was currently trapped between Kakashi, Kai and the spectators below. She couldn't risk the chance that they may have all thought it was a show, some staged portion of the festival. Some of them may allow her to escape out of their awe and curiosity, but there were surely just as many, if not more, that would not permit her to pass either.
She had no choice but to release her kekkei genkai. Never had she been forced to exert herself like she had to in that moment, but it was necessary to ensure that the chemical would reach beyond a great distance and secure an escape route for her.
Her eyes shut, she held her breath and focused. She dulled her five senses as much as she could until she could no longer feel at all. There was just one pressure, the release of her bloodline limit. The chemical left her in heavy and overwhelming doses. She was lightheaded immediately, felt her energy being drained out of her. She experienced violent waves of nausea and then panic as she swayed, ready to fall from her perch to her death below.
Gazing toward the massive silver orb in the sky, she prayed silently it wouldn't end like this. As if answered, she straightened herself with a new vitality and vigor. Her bloodline limit, though nearly exhausted, blanketed the village and the people in it until they all fell to her illusions.
Under her spell, no one could move, not even Kakashi. To think she could magnify her power in such a desperate situation. Looking toward the pale sphere above her, she thanked the full moon, believing it was the one to save her.
She didn't have time to work out any theories though. She knew she had better work quickly if she wanted to escape. Her fingers set to work, performing many signs until two jutsus were completed: Ensemble Transformation Jutsu and Levitation Jutsu.
Kakashi's Jounin attire was soon replaced with a tattered flannel shirt and overalls. Atop his head was a wide-brimmed straw hat. Tufts of hay playfully poked out from his collar and his sleeves. He very closely resembled a scarecrow.
Kai was placed in a ridiculous looking tanuki suit. "Don't just stand there! Someone help us!"
"We're all trapped in a state of paralysis. There's no way we can be saved until she releases us at this point. It likely takes an excessive amount of chakra to maintain it so I doubt it will last long," Kakashi replied, but Kai continued to yell.
Kai's and Kakashi's forms lifted from the tree's branches slowly. The pair leisurely hovered toward the crowd of people that had gathered below until they were nestled safely on the ground.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I apologize for the interruption," said the thief. She was no longer atop the Great Tree, but back atop the roof of the Ninja Academy. She summoned a large fan made of enormous white plumes from a scroll. The fan expanded into its full breadth, covering every part of her except her head.
It was a nifty little trick she had learned from watching a Sand ninja named Temari at a previous year's Chunin exam. When the fan closed itself, she disappeared like a magician.
Once out of sight, everyone that had been subjected to her kekkei genkai was released and granted control of their functionality again.
Appearing beside the schoolyard's chain link fence, Midori discreetly slipped the roll of film, wrapped in a signed note from Saint Tanuki, within Jun-san's unzipped waist pouch. She darted away before Jun could notice the new item.
Midori giggled as she watched villagers help Kakashi back into his Jounin long sleeve and flak jacket and also help Kai out of the absurd-looking tanuki suit. The evening's heist had been a success. It was another victory for Tanuki, and no one seemed to mind. Perhaps they all understood that there was purpose behind her actions.
Kurenai sidled over to the two men and commented, "That Saint Tanuki is a master of genjutsu. She must come from a clan with a very powerful kekkei genkai. There's no other explanation."
Kakashi frowned as he pulled the last of the straw from his hair. "It seems she's escaped me again."
Leaning against the Great Tree, Midori smiled to herself. A hand floated over her shoulder, urging her to turn around.
"Midori-san, are you alone here?" It was a familiar face, but not the one she had expected or hoped for. He was only a shinobi from her graduating class that she hadn't seen in a while. They had never had anything particularly in common to be anything more than acquaintances. "How about you let me be your dance partner? I can show you some of my moves."
"No, thank you," she replied politely.
He persistently clutched her wrist. "Come on, why not?"
If she hadn't exhausted herself earlier, she would have had the strength to pull away, but she couldn't muster any. She couldn't allow herself to become roped in by this young man. She was still hopeful that Kakashi would dance with her. It was improbable that he'd take the initiative in asking her, but she had already decided she would be the one to ask him. She would make certain that the tying of his silvery bell charm had worked.
But I—"
"—Hold it."
Turning her head, she saw that it was Kakashi that had spoken. Excusing himself from his conversation with Kurenai after telling her he'd like to finish the discussion at a later time, he treaded in their direction.
Midori's heart thrummed at irregular intervals within her chest, skipping beats, racing and then skipping again.
Kakashi took hold of Midori's free hand and gently tore her out of the grip of the other shinobi, who didn't dare defy the legendary Copy Ninja.
'What's gotten into him?' she wondered as Kakashi led her through the crowd.
"Don't pull me so hard. You're being rough," she warned him, but he didn't cease leading her away until he was satisfied with the distance he had placed between them and everyone else.
"I hope you can explain that," he stipulated. His sudden irritation surprised her. He never lost his cool in front of her like that. It was completely out of character.
When she didn't respond, he continued. "You don't have a problem smacking me with a broom in the village square, but you can't muster up that fierceness to tell someone no? If you didn't want to dance with him, you should have just made it clear."
"O-okay!" Startled, she looked down to their conjoined hands.
He followed her line of vision to see that his hand was still around her wrist, but he found that he couldn't release her, only lessen his grip to a gentler one. His eyes trailed back up to her face.
She gazed back intensely, smiling softly. She no longer felt the exhaustion. Instead, she felt revitalized every moment she was in his presence.
'You really don't hate me so much, do you?' He realized, unable to keep his eyes off of her.
The live band began to play, or perhaps he had just noticed the music and how everyone around them was already dancing.
Wordlessly, he lifted her hand to his shoulder, captured her loosely by the waist and took her free hand in his. She seemed astonished by his actions, but he was just as surprised as she. For a reason with no possible explanation, she had crashed into his little world. He was unsure still whether she was a welcomed visitor or not.
Eventually, he'd have to go back to their Sensei-student relationship. Although he teased her, even flirted a little, he hadn't thought much of it. He'd only flustered her purposely because he found it amusing. This moment between them placed things up in the air, and once gravity took its toll, there was no telling where they'd land. Things could change. The way he felt could change.
He'd have to wrestle with these thoughts later though. For now, he wanted to forget he was her mentor. He only wanted to enjoy the moment they were sharing together.
'It worked.' Midori thought back to the bell as Kakashi spun her upon the moonlit floor. She felt her cheeks pull her lips into a smile.
The pair barely noticed, if even at all, the rest of the village around them. When she twirled back to him, she could think of no place she would rather be. In a way, he had captured her that evening without even realizing it.