Hey all! I had a review asking if Ringo was heading to Konoha soon and it will take another few chapters but we'll get there. I can promise some canon characters in Chapter 13 though. In the meantime there is some mischief needing to be managed. Time line of this chapter fits into the wave arc in canon. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Chapter 12: The Way to Play God:

I was on the veranda of the shop dutifully sweeping the dirt off the entrance when Misaka-sensei popped in- literally.

'Sensei!' I spluttered as the dust from her shunshin stuck to the back of my throat. After my coughing fit I cried out in dismay as I realised she had also blown more dirt up onto the porch.

It had been my last chore for the day, much to my relief, as I had been peppered with odd jobs since coming back from Ginkaku mine after receiving a thorough dressing down from Shingo about the importance of communication and "how dare I disappear for three days".

Now I had to start over. I sighed.

'Back from your mission?' I asked glumly.

Misaka-sensei laughed cheerfully.

'Yup! It was a real cracker too,' she crowed smiling, 'But it's nothing compared to having a little birdy whisper to me that the team for the Chuunin Exams has requested to be reformed!'

I smiled as I heard this. Souta must have immediately gone to the council to request to be reformed as it had only been two days since we had gotten back from the mine after what ended up to be the three day misson. We had spent the last two of those days at Ginkaku mine clearing debris and catching up with what others had spent their time apart doing. Souta and Hiroto had apparently travelled to the capital and back in the time apart and had been travelling home when the earthquake had hit. Noriko and I had merely said we had been doing our own respective training during that time. Both of us had been lying of course.

'Yeah,' I replied Misaka-sensei feeling pleased, 'We sorted out our misunderstandings.'

'Good for you! The same birdy said that you also were on a mission as well with a couple of Fuuni! I leave the town for a couple of weeks and you've managed to sort yourself out,' she paused suddenly then muttered as she realised something, 'What does that say about my teaching methods if you do better when I'm not there…?'

It was my turn to laugh.

'Don't worry Misaka-sensei. It was a lot of luck that the team managed to figure something out. I also learnt my lesson on what is acceptable behaviour towards teammates.'

'Good, good,' Misaka smiled, 'I'm super proud of you kid.'

I blushed under her praise and fiddled with the broom handle.

'Thanks…' I muttered embarrassed and sought to change the subject, 'So what was your mission like- or is it the sort you can't say?'

Misaka-sensei leant back against the nearby doorframe and her smile faded into a look of contemplation.

'It was only a simple recon mission. Nothing too dangerous. I can't exactly say what it was about but something interesting did pop up,' she said conversationally, 'Apparently there is a real shakedown happening in the south.'

I peered up at her curiously.

'The south?'

'Mhmm… it's got people in a whole matter of a tizzy.'

I made an affirming hum and absently began sweeping at the porch again.

'Do you think I should take a mission down that way to see if I can get some more information for you?' I offered.

Misaka-sensei shook her head, 'No way! I don't really want you any where near… the south. There are rogue shinobi jumping all over the place that'd love to gobble a little genin such as yourself.'

I gave her a droll look an planted a fist to my cocked hip, 'I think you mean "chuunin-to-be" sensei.'

Misaka-sensei laughed.

'Whatever you say pipsqueak.'

I laughed with her and put a little more effort into sweeping off the porch.

Perhaps I'll ask sensei if she'd like to go for tea once I'm done?

'How'd ya' do it?' Misaka-sensei suddenly asked.

I was startled by her unexpected question but understood immediately what she was referring to. I shrugged.

'I apologised.'

I received a disbelieving snort.

'No seriously I truthfully apologised!' I insisted, 'A lot of why our team broke up is because of a heap of misunderstanding and prejudice- on my part especially! So, I did what was needed and apologised.'

'Unbelievable…' Misaka-sensei drawled amused, 'Not only did my surly little apprentice admit she was wrong- but damn it all if it didn't work! You should apologise more often if things go your way.'

I snorted and went to reply but another voice got in first.

'Ringo!' a growly voice called from inside the shop, 'Less talking more sweeping! If you wanted to chat then you shouldn't have disappeared for days!'

'I'm sweeping, I'm sweeping!' I called back to Shingo and turned to a now chortling sensei.

'In trouble are we? Did you… apologise?'

'Ha-ha,' I said dryly, 'You can help if you like?'

'Fat chance,' she snickered, 'See you around... Proud of you!' she called cheerfully before she disappeared in another puff of dust leaving another fat layer of dirt on the porch.

I threw down the broom in disgust and sat on the dirty porch.

If Misaka-sensei hadn't just told me something interesting I'd chase her down and make her sweep it!

I placed my elbows on my knees and my chin on my upturned hands and absently watched the people of Koike-cho move about.

South… Water Country…

I sighed.

It was finally decision time…

Now, how much did I really want to involve myself?

A couple of days later I was at Training Ground 7 where we had our first disastrous meeting. Today though we were finishing up a successful training day… despite what it seemed.

'Noriko fallback. Hiroto is going to use the low guard to get in close and honestly your close range taijutsu is not great. Not nearly enough to up to match him in any case.'

'Shut up Ringo. Like you could match him either.'

'I have a better chance though. I'll use my kunai to extend my reach and delay him while you nab him with a water bullet.'

'But Souta-sensei is always there to counter it with an earth wall…'

'Then use more bullets!'

'Tch. Like it's that easy. I don't see you contributing by the way with any jutsu…'

'Well my fire is useless against them! They're both wind users!'

'Use a genjutsu then!'

'I have nothing big enough!'

'Less gab, more action girls!' Souta called cheerfully from where he had been surreptitiously having his own powwow with Hiroto.

'Sensei you know this is highly unfair matching! You and Hiroto-kun have been partnered for years!'

'Well- I thought you and Ringo could use the teamwork!'

'We're fine!' both Noriko and I called out together and glanced at each other shocked.

We'll at least we agree on that.

'Lets get them,' I muttered, 'At least one good hit.'

'I claim Souta-sensei,' Noriko muttered back.

'I'll have Hiroto then.'

We both nodded at each other and in unison jumped back to give ourselves room.

'Suiton: Water Bullet!' Noriko called and peppered the ground where Souta and Hiroto had previously been standing.

Meanwhile, I whipped out a string of shuriken attached to some ninja wire and did my best to make it difficult for Hiroto to get in close- where he would be most effective with his taijutsu.

I pulled out one of my sealing scrolls and held it in front of me and peered around for any clue to where Souta and Hiroto had moved. A small back pressed up against my own and I saw Noriko in a defence stance when I looked from the corner of my eye.

A silver flash from behind a nearby rock stack had Noriko deflecting a kunai and in that brief moment it was followed by the quick movement of Hiroto who had taken advantage of where Noriko had left her right hand side unguarded to give an open-palmed jab to her breastbone.

I heard the air whoosh out of her and she was pushed back into me making me falter in my own guard.

Knowing that my back was now relatively open I decided to launch a pre-emptive attack by vaulting in a backwards somersault over the winded Noriko to level a spinning kick from above to Hiroto.

Hiroto was too fast though and took two leaping steps back- right in the middle of the wires.

I gave a small smile and with a burst of chakra I unsealed the scroll that I still had open in front of me.

'Hidden Scroll Technique: Great Sparkwire Fire!'

A shot of electricity escaped the scroll and sizzled up the ninja wire I had threaded across the area when I threw my shuriken.

It was stroke of genius to try store electricity in a scroll! It's also a hell of a lot more satisfying that my meagre attempts to spark it with chakra.

I began to laugh manically when I started not one but two small grassfires. I wasn't overly worried about them as there wasn't much vegetation up on the plateau that made up the training ground to make it grow out of control.

I zipped back to Noriko who severely rolled her eyes at me but we soon stood back to back again. Hiroto stood stock still in the middle of the wires and looked unsure of his next move.

'Ringo! What have we said about that technique!?' Souta's exasperated voice called from nearby. I tried to pinpoint it but it echoed oddly around the rocks.

'That it's brilliant!' I called back tauntingly and decided to weave a subtle genjutsu.

'Ringo, Souta-sensei is right. That jutsu can cause a lot of collateral damage,' Noriko chided.

'Oh shush, I knew it couldn't cause much damage up here,' I said blithely, 'Now, I've put down a small genjutsu to make the area seem more smoky than it is. Can you try and attract senpai into the thick of it?'

'I can try,' Noriko replied and began making seals with fervour, 'Suiton: Shigure!'

Water condensed around us like reverse rain and I gaped at Noriko amazed. The water droplets hovered a moment before they were slung away much like a water bullet but far smaller and in greater quantity so they covered way more area. I was a little annoyed that it cleared the smoke and put out my fires but all in all I was pretty amazed.

I let out a low whistle.

I heard a hiss of pain and Souta emerged from a nearby rock stack rubbing tiny welts that had popped up on his skin.

'Well that was pretty cool. Would be even cooler if it hadn't ruined my move but cool nonetheless,' I told Noriko.

Noriko gave me a half annoyed/half contrite look. I noticed that she was sweating a lot more heavily after her move and I guessed it was one of the more chakra consuming moves in her repertoire of jutsu.

'Creative use of a close range jutsu Noriko!' Souta complimented as he rubbed his welts, 'If I'd had been closer it couldn't have done a lot more damage. Thanks for sparing Hiroto from that by the way.'

Hiroto nodded from where he was still warily surrounded by the ninja wire.

'Thanks sensei,' Norko replied looking pleased.

'I think that is enough for today though,' Souta continued, 'We have made a heap of progress.'

I loosened my stance and smiled. It was actually nice to spar with so many people… even if they stuffed up my justu.

…I should really learn to let go…

I sighed and began to wind up the nearby ninja wire and hissing when it gave me a slight zap.

'When is the next training sensei?' Hiroto asked as he went help clean up a shuriken I threw that I had thrown. I immediately made a sound of warning but too late and he got zapped too.

'We'll try for next week. We still have yet to get approval to put us in the exams though.'

'Why is it taking so long,' Hiroto whined from when he was sucking his fingers from the zap, 'We were already a team before why cant they just let us be one again!'

I shared a glance with Noriko who then busied herself with dusting herself off.

Ah, it might be due to her... situation.

'It's up to the council's discretion Hiroto,' he simply said but I noticed him give Noriko a quick glancing look.

I think Souta knows what the delay is too.

'How late can the decision be made before it's too late to head to the exams senpai,' I asked hesitantly.

'I'm not sure,' Souta admitted, 'The exams are around 2 months away and we still need to do at least a C-rank mission as a team to qualify.'

'Why a C-rank?' Hiroto asked.

Souta sighed.

'Don't ask me Hiroto. I don't make the rules.'

I pulled the rest of the ninja wire from the trap and began coiling in to place back in my pouch.

'Senpai… is it ok if I miss next week's training?' I asked hesitantly.

Souta gave me an odd look.

'Why?'

'Well… Misaka-sensei got back today and she said there was an interesting mission for me.'

'Misaka-sensei…? Oh… your other sensei. I forgot you had one of those…' Souta muttered not looking pleased, 'Surely your other sensei can afford to let you give the chuunin exams your priority.'

I winced.

'Well… its just we're not officially a team yet… Also, I could really use the mission,' I explained hesitantly.

Souta's face shadowed and an aura of doom came upon him.

I scratched my head sheepishly.

'I'm sorry senpai.'

'No, no… I understand your point of view. We're not a team yet. You have obligations. What time will you be free next week then? We'll do our best to work with what you have,' he said supportively.

I winced again.

'Actually… this one will be out of village senpai. So, it will probably take a week or so...'

'A week!? Can I ask what type of mission it is?'

'It's fine. It's a traders contract for an escort,' I explained, 'Since my parents are traders as well I know the contacts well and I often take these missions.'

Souta still seemed troubled.

'Fine… but we're heading on a team mission once you get back,' he vowed.

'I hope you come back soon,' Hiroto said and I nodded at him and looked hopeful.

I had felt a little out of place around Hiroto since the team's initial breakup but I was working to becoming comfortable around him to try and get back the easy relationship we had in the beginning. We were getting there.

'I'll try guys,' I said to them, 'Feel free to have team trainings while I'm gone too.'

'A-a,' Souta said scratching the back of his neck, 'If you don't think you'd feel left out we'll still meet up.'

'Its fine.'

'Well, I do not approve of this extracurricular mission idea but I do understand,' Noriko piped up, 'I hope you hate it though.'

I gave her a droll look.

'Thanks Noriko.'

It seems she can't help but be a brat.

She simply sniffed back and turned her head. I didn't take as much offence as I once would have as I now knew it was Noriko-ese for 'I'll miss you and hope you miss me too.'

Still, she could have worded it better.

'Noriko,' Souta chided but I could see he honestly hoped I hated it too so I wouldn't go on more solo missions.

'I'm feeling the love guys,' I drawled.

'Hey! I was nice!' Hiroto cried out defensively.

I laughed.

'Enough now guys. We'll wrap this up as the sun is heading down. You alright to head to Koike-cho Ringo?' Souta asked politely.

I nodded still amused.

'I'm fine senpai but thanks for asking.'

He nodded and clapped his hands together.

'Alright Tani-dwellers we can head off together,' he offered, 'See you when you get back from your mission Ringo,'

'Yeah! See you later,' Hiroto chimed as he and Souta made their way down the mountain into the valley.

I turned to pick up my gear amused and absently noticed I was still missing some of my weapons I spread out to try and find any stray shuriken in pensive silence.

'Ringo!'

I startled to see Noriko giving me a frustrated look.

'I've been calling your name!' she hissed.

'Well, what's up then?' I asked her exasperated. I honestly had thought she had left with Souta and Hiroto.

Noriko opened her mouth to reply and then closed it suddenly. I could see a faint blush creep up her cheeks. I gave her an odd look.

'I'll…' she began, 'I'll do my best.'

'Huh?'

'The clan elders… my uncle… I'll do my best to change their mind,' she elaborated.

I paused in my movements to give her my full attention.

'…Why are you telling me this?' I asked confused.

She gave me a wounded look. I quickly tried to backtrack.

'Not in a mean way! I do care I promise!' I insisted flustered, 'It's just I know you'll try. You don't need to tell me.'

Noriko made a small 'o' with her mouth and she nodded her head looking pleased now.

'I wasn't telling you for any particular reason,' she said breezily, 'I was merely informing you.'

I pursed my lips but my eyes held amusement.

'Mhmm.'

Noriko gave a small smile before swiftly turning on her heel to show me her back. With a swish of her shoulder length purple hair she called out to me.

'Have fun on your mission civilian girl!'

'Have fun doing nothing clan girl!' I called back and shook my head at our less than witty mock-insults.

I pulled together the rest of my gear and headed down myself but made the turn to head into the forest rather than follow the trail to Tanigakure.

I had an appointment with my archives.

I needed to find out what exactly was happening in Mizu.

Protecting the trader's caravans brought back the early memories I had of this world. There was something inherently familiar about the creaking of the wagon upon the rutted roads, the hum of voices as idle conversation flowed between the traders and the giggle of children to excited to sit still.

'Do it again! Do it again!' came the voice of a giggling little girl.

'I don't know? Have you been good enough for me to do it again?' I asked teasingly.

'I have! I have! Promise!' she replied pleadingly.

I hummed and leaned further back against the wooden panels of the wagon I was temporarily riding in.

'Please Ringo-neesan!' she begged.

'Very well, but you have to eat all your breakfast tomorrow morning in return,' I bartered.

'Yes, Yes, Yes!' she cheered, 'Do the magic!'

I laughed and picked up an apple.

'Alright, now watch this.'

I used my pointer finger of the opposite hand and touched the top of the apple.

'You ready?' I asked.

All I received was delighted giggles back.

I smiled then let go of the apple.

The little girl gasped in awe as the apple "magically" stuck to my pointer finger. I heard another gasp of amazement and chuckled as the boy who had assured me before that magic shows were for babies gave away his position where he had been spying through the canvas of the wagon.

'Renji-nii! Come watch Ringo-neesan! She can do magic,' the little girl called to her brother as she spotted him.

'It's not magic Hana, its just ninja stuff,' the preteen denied but got closer anyway.

I snorted and decided to make the apple spin with a small circuit of chakra.

'Renji-kun is right Hana-chan. I'm using 'ninja' tricks instead of magic,' I admitted, 'But… it is a bit like magic in a way too.'

I threw the apple up in the air then let it fall in my palm. Two sets of intrigued eyes followed the movement. I smirked then substituted the apple for an orange with a puff of smoke. Those already wide eyes just about popped out of their heads.

'Wow! That's amazing!' Hana chirped enthusiastically.

'…it's pretty cool,' Renji admitted and then picked up a nearby apple himself to see if he could balance it on his finger. When it dropped he blushed then quickly put it back darting his eyes to my face to see if I noticed. I pretended I didn't.

'Renji! Don't you dare bruise those apples!' Renji and Hana's father Jin called where he was steering the wagon.

'I'm sorry Jin-ojiisan! It's my fault as I was playing with them first,' I called apologetically, 'I'm going to hop out the wagon now anyway. I need to stretch and bit and try not to get anymore of your apples bruised.'

'Well, it's not you who bruise them Ringo-chan,' Jin pointed out.

'Ah- but I was a major instigator. Too many "magic" tricks,' I replied as I finished climbing out of the wagon leaving a pouting Hana and an embarrassed Renji. I ruffled his hair just to annoy him.

Jin laughed.

'Fair enough,' he admitted, 'Thank you for entertaining them though.'

'It's no problem. I don't mind spending a bit of R&R time with people that think I'm cool,' I declared wryly.

'It's more than that Ringo-chan,' Jin smiled, 'You're good for them.'

I laughed and waved it off a little embarrassed.

'I'm not doing anything particular at all.'

'Ah you are though. You spent a fair bit of your childhood on the trade routes so you know what it was like on the road. There's no chance really to form any long-term bonds with others,' Jin stated, 'so it makes a huge difference when someone familiar regularly comes along to travel the road with you.'

I smiled wistfully as I remembered many a day spent travelling just like this with me walking aside a wagon chatting and pretending that it was all that mattered.

'Sometimes I miss the road,' I admitted.

Jin peered at me then smiled, 'Of course you do! Nothing like it!'

That started of a hearty conversation that dwindled into us reminiscing together about past trading years. It wasn't until Hana started whining in the back that she was hungry that the conversation derailed.

With Jin distracted I took to taking a more active role in assessing the area. I wasn't too worried this early on in the mission about running into trouble. It would be few days when we hit the Fire/River border that things would get a little more exciting.

Maybe a little too exciting…

I felt a little bad about taking up this mission for the sole purpose of being nosy but I wasn't excellent at letting things go.

Now that I'm here anyway I can't change my mind. The damage was done.

Misaka-sensei had been a bit irate to understate it regarding the fact that I had even accepted this contract to travel with this caravan after she specifically told me to stay out of the south. I had assured her though that it was only to the Fire border where I would meet up with their Konoha escort that would take them to the nearest trading town. "Right there and back" I had assured. She hadn't been especially convinced but I had already signed the contract so there wasn't much she could do. I assume I could look forward to a thorough dressing down once I arrived home… eventually.

Sensei is going to be so pissed when I get 'captured'…

I sighed and Jin looked over at me but I waved him off.

'Just missing Natsuko-chan,' I lied and he nodded understandingly. It was well known among the traders of my love of my sister. I wasn't sure if that was a good thing but I didn't mind if this caravan knew personal information like that. I found them all fairly trustworthy.

This caravan is one of my own after all.

I increased my pace to look in on another of the four wagons that made up the caravan and seeing the bored look on the drivers face I assumed all was well.

'When do recommend the next break?' I asked him as he was leading the procession and would decide when we would halt.

' 'nother hour…' he grunted and promptly zoned out again.

'I'll tell the others,' I replied and went to inform the other wagons.

Doing a rough estimate I figured if we kept up our current pace we'll be at the border in about three days.

More than enough time to prepare my… kidnapping.

'Nee-san! Nee-san! No!' Hana's piercing cry rang through the camp unsettling her brother who was gripping his bowl like a lifeline, tears streaking down his face as his sister cried in her sleep.

'Koi, calm her down,' Jin rasped to his wife from where he was drafting his letter with shaking hands. He swiped a rough hand over his face and breathed deeply.

'Anata, please finish the letter soon. Shingo and Meiko have to know.'

'I know love... It's just difficult to find words to tell our friend that their beloved daughter has been kidnapped after protecting our own,' he stated distraught.

'They deserve to hear it from us though dear,' his wife consoled, 'The Konoha ninja already have informed the Tani ninja that she is missing so it's not a matter of if they find out its when and how. I think it would be better if it were from us. People who care.'

'You're right Shiho, it needs to be us to tell them… I would have wanted the same in return,' Jin whispered looking towards Hana who had fallen to another fitful sleep.

She had been one of the only witnesses to the kidnapping when rogues came up from the south of the border and attacked Ringo as she had been leaving the market town where she had dropped them off to be escorted by the Fire Country ninja.

If Hana and Renji hadn't secretly followed her they wouldn't have even known she had been taken.

'How is Renji doing?' Jin asked Shiho after she had finally settled Hana.

'As well as he can I suppose,' she replied, 'he blames himself for not being stronger.'

Jin scoffed, 'What was he suppose to do against ninja? If Ringo couldn't beat them I don't think there is anything he could've done.'

'It's not the way he sees it though… All he knows is that he hid while she was taken away.'

Jin vaguely understands the shame Renji might feel but still he is beyond relieved that his children had kept themselves hidden.

'I'll talk to him,' Jin reassured his wife, 'But first… I need to finish this letter.'

Dear Shingo and Meiko,

I regret to be the one that informs you of this but I have dire news concerning Ringo…

It was in a bar in one of the port towns in Water Country that the agent designated "Hebi" heard a whisper of new information.

It came in the form of a warning for anyone affiliated with Gatou Shipping that "wages" were apparently optional for the transport mogul and to steer clear of business with him. Now it wasn't so much the content of that information that he had been interested in but the apparent source of the rumour.

On further investigation the source of the leak had come from three towns over from a busty brunette that played a mean game of go and had an "in" with the traders.

The three assigned to this mission left that night as it seemed that 'Aki' had emerged from hiding.

xo