Transposed
Out on the front line, don't worry I'll be fine—
The story is just beginning
I say goodbye to my weakness,
So long to the regrets,
And now I know that I'm alive.
It's good to be home.
Our protagonist appreciates a gradual return to the usual day-to-day. Sort of. A little? Who am I kidding.
All he has to worry about for the next month is training with his Sensei and the opponents he might face, right?
This is ridiculous.
It's no wonder shinobi live short lives— this level of constant stress would do anyone in.
For the first time in what feels like months, though in reality it's been less than a week, I wake in my own bed. The ceiling is familiar: white, with a small, thin crack in the upper right corner of the room.
Comforting.
Naruto is sleeping in the guest bedroom— his room, really. Not sure why I call it the guest bedroom anymore. If I close my eyes and focus I can sense the slow, steady beat of his heart. I ease out of bed, releasing an undignified yawn, stretching my arms upwards, spine curving as I lean back. "Hn.." I mentally scan through my schedule for the morning while changing out of my pajamas and into something more comfortable for exercise. Calisthenics. A long run through the winding streets of the compound, to check on the status of the renovations. Yoga. Shower. Breakfast. Meeting with the team at seven... Sensei will probably arrive around nine.
I wonder how Kakashi-sensei will handle training for the three of us. I muse as I begin my run. Long runs are the best for thinking and planning, I've found. I don't really want to plan out my approach for each likely opponent in the finals... or think about what will follow after. Thus, I focus on the training regime for this month.
Shino and I, of course, can't be trained at the same time, for obvious reasons. And Ino has the month off, more or less, since she hasn't made it into the finals. I'll have to tease her about having so much free time, just to ensure she trains. On the other hand, Shino and Ino could always turn to their respective clans for support... and, well, I have the Uchiha archives to fall back on, if nothing else. We could, theoretically, rotate training days. Continuous individual instruction would guarantee better results, however. Still, I don't think Sensei will train only one of us and let the other two flounder.
He always has a reason for doing something. Underneath the underneath.
I realize I'm actually beginning to respect Hatake Kakashi the person— not just as a sensei and shinobi. Even if I know he's made some abysmal decisions in the past, and could have made more abysmal decisions, if things were different...
If I was different.
I wave that thought away, and focus on maintaining my pace as I run, thinking of exactly how I will justify to sensei the fact I should learn something as dangerous as the Chidori. Does he know Gaara is an unstable jinchuuriki? I could sense the malicious chakra of a Bijuu emanating from him during the second exam— Kakashi, no doubt, had as well.
I groan, slowing as I reach the end of my run, rubbing at my temples. A slower walk, then Yoga. Enough fretting over things I can't change. The rest of my morning follows a typical routine. Yoga— with my mind filled with the cool serenity of meditation. A quick shower, after ensuring Naruto is at least awake. Breakfast with my favorite annoyance— something more hearty and traditional than the usual fruit and cereal. No instant ramen for every meal in this house, I think, gloating about my victory over Naruto's addiction.
Soon enough, I'm meeting Shino and Ino at the usual training ground. "Morning." I join them, perching on the third, and only open, training post.
Shino nods in response and Ino smiles brightly, "Good morning, Sasuke-kun! Shino and I were thinking... I can run some recon on the other competitors for you two during this month."
I consider her idea for a few moments, before nodding in agreement. "Sure. As long as you can promise you do not, under any circumstances, approach the Suna team."
Her expression is quizzical, "How come?"
Shino answers for me. "They're dangerous. That redhead, especially. Why? He oozes killing intent almost constantly. My allies are wary of him, as well— his chakra is abnormal. The ones I sent to observe the team were... terminated almost immediately."
Nodding in agreement, I add, "They're siblings— the Yondaime Kazekage's children. Think of the implications of being caught spying on them. The political fallout would be unpleasant, to say the least. Then consider that they've probably been targeted by assassins since they were little. How much training do you think they've received as a result? Even without considering Sabaku no Gaara; his siblings are a shinobi that aspires to be a member of Suna's infamous Puppet Brigade, and a kuniochi specializing in one of those giant war fans? None of the three should be underestimated."
Ino sighs, and nods in acquiescence, "Right. Okay. I see your point. The difficultly of spying on them, plus the low likelihood of success... The value of the information doesn't outweigh the risk, let alone the possible consequences of being caught. I'll stick to gathering information on them secondhand."
The voice of our sensei disrupts our little pow-wow. "Excellent! I see my cute little students are hard at work, as usual. Good morning." Jumpy, all three of us move into defensive positions.
Sensei, you're a bastard.
"Good morning, Kakashi-sensei," the three of us murmur together. I ease my grip on the kunai that had appeared into my hand as if by magic, sliding it back into its holster.
Sensei has taken to sneaking up on us— we're usually more prepared, given his chronic tardiness. He's not late today. Strange. It's not really excusable for us to be so inattentive, considering the high number of foreigners, both civilian and shinobi, that will be flooding the village in the coming month.
"Although your attention to your surroundings will have to improve." Sensei shrugs casually, body language conveying a very 'what can you do' sort of attitude towards our newly revealed shortcoming. "Maa.. We'll work on it after the exams are over."
An awkward silence. Sensei clears his throat, and dives right in, "Right. Excellent job in the exams so far, you three. Shino and Sasuke, congratulations on progressing to the finals. Our task for this morning is individual critiques and after-action reports. Afterwards, we'll discuss how the rest of this month is going to go. First, Ino. You had a particularly bad matchup in the preliminaries; it happens. Good performance overall, considering your skill level, and the familiarity your opponent had with your clan techniques. I suggest you consider diversifying your skill set in the near future, and work towards keeping your temper on a better leash. Yes, Nara Shikamaru knows you better than most, and thus has an easier time pushing your buttons, however..."
The meeting proceeds as expected from there: a little praise, a lot of constructive criticism. We discuss suggestions for improving our current techniques, possible alternative strategies... Even though he's been our teacher for nearly half a year, I'm still constantly surprised just how good a sensei Hatake Kakashi has proven to be.
I suppose I was a bit biased. It galls me a little, to think that vague foreknowledge from another life has colored my opinions of people I've never met to such an extent.
Once we're done with after-action reports, we chat more casually through lunch; Ino has brought all four of us bento that she'd prepared.
We learn that Shino already arranged for one-on-one training with his clan— he, too, anticipated the problems sensei would have arranging individual instruction for all three of us. Ino, on the other hand, will be balancing time spent training with her clan and some tutoring with Mitarashi Anko, the examiner for the second exam. Her look of horror at this proclamation, and the fact that one Haruno Sakura would most likely be joining her in the latter training sessions, is priceless. And me? I'll be Kakashi-sensei's responsibility— we'll be camping in a relatively remote training ground for the whole month.
Kakashi gives us the rest of the afternoon off, mentioning he'd be by the Uchiha compound to pick me up this evening. Shino, Ino and I spend the rest of the day relaxing together, and part with the promise to be stronger when we're reunited.
Sensei and I spend half the night weaving around the outskirts of Konoha, arriving in a small clearing near the center of an abandoned-looking training ground around three in the morning. How we managed to spend this much time traveling just to arrive at what should be at most two hour's travel at an exceptionally slow pace, I have no clue. I would have thought the training ground abandoned altogether, had I not felt the barrier we passed though when entering the boundaries of the training ground.
"It'll hide our chakra signatures, even if we practice chakra intensive techniques. The barrier you felt can do so even for someone with a Kage's chakra levels," Kakashi explains as we begin to set up camp. "Few people are aware of this area, and the barrier— although obvious if you pass through it, is invisible to anyone without a byakugan or sharingan. And it was set up by Jiraiya of the Sannin after Orochimaru defected, so he should have limited knowledge of it."
So we're isolated here because of the snake, after all.
"Hn. Shall we discuss strategy and build a training regime at least partially around that?" Sensei looks amused, "Why Sasuke, have you been using the infamous precognitive abilities of the sharingan on your poor sensei?"
A derogatory snort, "You know it's capable of nothing of the sort... At least, to my knowledge." I would be exploring the limits of the mangekyou to seek out any curious abilities beyond those I already know of, if it didn't carry such serious repercussions for my health. "I merely inferred it using the data you provided in the past, Sensei," I deadpan.
My answer is a rather infuriating facsimile of a smile— a curved eye. "Oh? Well, alright."
Remember, Sasuke, despite his careless attitude, Hatake Kakashi is dangerous. And your mentor. You don't want to prank him. There would be unpleasant consequences.
I release my breath in a slow, deliberate sigh, and.. "Hn."
Besides, Sasuke. You're not that petty. Really.
Sometimes I have to remind myself I have to act like an adult.
A few minutes of silence, and Sensei glances up, away from the area he's preparing for a campfire. This is to be a more permanent camp, so I'm setting up a pair of relatively sturdy canvas tents. We, or rather, Kakashi-sensei will even be placing a rudimentary fuuinjutsu barrier— an alarm around the periphery of the clearing.
"Sasuke. Tell me what you know about your opponents." I smile wryly, "Sabaku no Temari is the eldest child and the only daughter of the Yondaime Kazekage. She specializes in fuuton jutsu, using her giant war fan as a conduit. It is likely she can wield smaller fans as well, probably tessen, which would allow for better control in exchange for decreased amplifying power. She, like her younger brother Kankuro, is completely terrified of their youngest sibling, Gaara."
I gather my thoughts, pausing for breath, "One-on-one, I would say I'm a challenging opponent for her, due to her elemental type and specialization. Offhand, my strategy would include agility to avoid her attacks and katon jutsu to counter them— though the latter would lead to some impressive explosions. If I choose to make the first move... Genjutsu or katon jutsu as a distraction. The overall intention would be moving in close and attacking with taijutsu mixed with medical techniques— not poison; Suna is infamous for poison users, and her brother is a puppeteer."
I think that's really all I can say on the matter...
"Oh, and Temari-san enjoys sweets and has a rather wicked sense of humor, if you're curious."
Sensei is giving me a look. The sort that says I really should have notified someone I'd spent a day playing tourist with Sabaku no Temari. "I see... Continue."
Glancing over to Kakashi-sensei and giving him a beatific smile in response, "Assuming Temari-san doesn't manage to carry out her promise to 'grind me into dust' during our match, I would most likely face Shino next. No offense to Inuzuka Kiba and Akamaru, but unless they get phenomenally lucky, Shino will crush them in the first match."
I step away from the tents, having unrolled my sleeping bag and set my supplies in the tent. "If they do get lucky and somehow manage to defeat him— manipulating his emotions, stink and smoke bombs, and genjutsu. Then ninjutsu and weapons; I'd prefer to keep my distance. As for Shino... maybe lightning chakra to disable his kikaichu. If I can manage to channel lightning throughout my body without electrocuting myself. Maybe something I can electrocute from a distance... Genjutsu would be a loss— most of the ones I use we developed together, and his allies aren't affected by illusions anyway."
Sensei is probably still listening, though he's busy setting up the fuuinjutsu barrier. I hope?
I sigh, fingers combing through my bangs as I head towards the area he's set aside for a campfire. I'd have to gather some wood before evening; plenty of time, considering it's not even early morning. "Shikamaru and Naruto? There are too many variables. No clue who would win. If I face Shikamaru, I'd go with genjutsu followed by ninjutsu and taijutsu for a more direct approach. I sincerely doubt I can outthink him. With Naruto? Genjutsu is his weakness. With regards to taijutsu, I have higher agility and speed, he has better strength. The key is avoiding a war of attrition, or a ninjutsu-dominated fight, as he can definitely outlast me."
I turn, heading into the woods, my voice loud enough to be heard back in the clearing. "That said— it's unlikely I will face Shikamaru at all. Either Naruto will defeat him or Sabaku no Gaara will."
Sensei gives a huff-like snort in amusement, "You say that as if Hyuuga Neji's loss is a foregone conclusion."
Expression deadpan; although Sensei certainly can't see that as I'm a few feet into the surrounding woods, gathering small and mid-sized branches and scouting for a good source of dry wood for our campfire. Voice flat and unimpressed, I retort, "Well, Sensei. Hyuuga Neji is a taijutsu specialist facing what is most probably a ninjutsu specialist with a very large chakra pool. By the way... That reminds me. Do you have any suggestions for disabling what appears to be an exceptionally unstable jinchuuriki without killing him and causing a massive political clusterfuck with an allied village?"
Kakashi chokes— I suppose even Hatake Kakashi can be surprised. "What?!" I wonder if he's surprised I know, or surprised by the fact that Gaara is a jinchuuriki? I doubt it's the latter.
Locating a dead tree, cracked in half by lightning, or perhaps a raiton jutsu gone awry, I strip several large branches from it using a kunai, idly noting that I'll need to set that one aside for sharpening this evening. "He's the Kazekage's son. A boy whose siblings are completely terrified of him. Unsurprising— he probably threatens to kill them on a regular basis, for relatively minor infractions. One that looks like the last time he slept was years ago and leaks killing intent like it's going out of style. A person with chakra that is decidedly unsettling, to say the least, and much like for my otouto, Shino's allies are hesitant around him as a result." The fact that Naruto is the Kyuubi jinchuuriki hangs, unspoken, between us. "Taken together, I feel that the most likely conclusion is that Sabaku no Gaara is a jinchuuriki. Which brings to mind— exactly why did Suna enter him in the exams if he's unstable?"
Hope I'm not laying it on too thick.
I stride back towards the clearing, "I suppose if Neji somehow manages to defeat both Gaara and Naruto, I would go with a direct approach from long distance— ninjutsu, wires, kunai. Repeating the trick I used with Hinata is risky. He's likely more skilled than her as well, being a year older and having graduated at the top of his class."
Entering the clearing, I set aside the pile of wood I've gathered. It would be enough for tonight, certainly. Perhaps even tomorrow night. I'll be adding to this wood pile constantly throughout the next month, most likely. "So. An overall summary of my knowledge of my likely opponents in the finals..."
Kakashi-sensei has finished placing the aforementioned barrier, and set up his own sleeping area. The man is leaning against a tree, almost directly across from me, his usual Icha Icha in hand. The ever-present reading material is a stark contrast to his body language. He's giving me an uncomfortably probing stare, as if trying to peel away my masks. "... An above-average analysis, as expected. I noticed it before; you actually enjoy manipulating people, don't you, Sasuke?"
Where did that come from? I can feel my cheeks burning. May as well tell the truth. Kakashi-sensei is trustworthy— or seems to be, so far. "Well, a little." More than a little. "Everyone always has preconceived notions about me. Who I should be because of my family name, or my bloodline, or... well. I don't like being classified, being put into a little box with a label."
I'm the last Uchiha, so I must be a genius shinobi.
My family was murdered, so I must be focused on revenge.
I'm polite and distant, so I must be introverted and socially inept. Or a psychopath, given my family history.
That last assumption really pisses me off.
"So, yes. I enjoy manipulating people. I enjoy playing to the public's preconceptions. Let them believe that I am the masks I wear until it's convenient." For me. Or for them to see someone else. "The people that matter to me know better anyway." I'm practically yelling at the end of my explanation, due to my frustration.
Realizing, suddenly, that I'm shouting at perhaps one of three adults that I actually trust to have my best interests at heart, I flush again, muttering a quiet apology. "Sorry."
An awkward cough.
Trying to reign in my emotions, I change the topic, "Sensei, what can you tell me about the arena the finals will be set in? Do we have access beforehand?"
Sensei definitely looks amused, "Not too different from the one you fought in for the preliminaries. Earth floor, cement walls layered with fuuin to protect the audience and minimize collateral damage. A larger area to fight in, with a slightly more diverse environment. It typically contains a few trees, maybe a few mid-sized boulders for cover, but nothing more than that. Occasionally they include a pond if Kiri genin are in the finals— to avoid looking too biased. Of course, they include the pond if one of our genin has a known specialization in suiton jutsu."
I roll my eyes. Typical shinobi politics.
"Oh, and no. Access is limited to the shinobi responsible for setting up the arena and safeguarding the civilians that will be present."
Our conversation turns to training from there. Of course, sometimes getting information from sensei is like pulling blood from a stone.
I adjust to my new routine quickly enough. Endurance and speed drills alternate days with taijutsu training that has a focus on speed, fluid motion, and finesse. The amount of time I spend training with the raiton element skyrockets; Sensei has decided to teach me Chidori after all. Of course, day-to-day, my schedule varies drastically. Sometimes I have night evasion training with Kakashi or his summons as my pursuers. Sometimes, I am the one pursuing them, using my Eyes of the Raijuu. I get enough sleep and downtime to function— just barely.
Day and night blur together.
It's evening— and not one with night training planned. Thank the Kami. I'm completely exhausted; sensei has been running me into the ground for the past two weeks. I sometimes forget that he is one of the most skilled shinobi in Konoha— and most likely a former ANBU captain. This experience... definitely strengthens that idea.
The results of my training are showing, of course. I might be dead on my feet half the time, but I think I'm nearly fifty percent faster and more agile than I was at the end of the second exam. My skills with lightning chakra have improved substantially. I can use Eyes of the Raijuu with my eyes open, at barely a moment's pause— soon enough I'll have that mastered, and we'll move on to expanding my range with the technique.
Why would any version of me want to leave Konoha? I muse idly, Kakashi is a fantastic instructor... when motivated.
It probably helps that I'm motivated, too. He pushes me, hard. I push myself even harder, knowing what could be coming.I've never been more thankful for knowing medical techniques. Although I can't use them to heal my sore muscles, I can at least alleviate the worst of the pain.
Tonight I'm lying listlessly, well within our camp's established borders, about three feet from the campfire where Kakashi-sensei is seated.
I can sense his heartbeat.
It's honestly more difficult to have the Eyes of the Raijuu off than on now.
Dangerous, because I suspect that sixth sense can still overwhelm me in a crowd. I'll have to test it once we return to the village proper.
It's sensei's turn to prepare meals this week, and my turn to track them down, so to speak. Rabbit stew with an odd collection of wild vegetables is a veritable delicacy when compared to MREs.
It's late. A moonless night. The sky is unfathomably dark, peppered with pinpricks of light. Beautiful. Terrifying, in its incomprehensible vastness. I sigh, lifting an arm to cover my eyes. Two more weeks of training. So much remains uncertain...
Will Naruto still meet Jiraiya and badger training out of the Toad Sannin, even though he's being trained by Asuma-sensei?
If not, Naruto's life would change from what I could predict, perhaps irrevocably.
So much will be hanging in the balance.
If not Naruto and Gamabunta— who will manage to defeat Gaara, and how? Could I use the mangekyou to manipulate the Ichibi? Could Kakashi-sensei?
I know, of course, that my own talent lies primarily in genjutsu, with ninjutsu as a close second due to my passion for medical techniques and thus strict control over my chakra— would my eyes' abilities reflect that?
Hell, could anyone besides Uchiha Madara even hypnotize a Bijuu?
Thoughts are scrambling through my mind like demented squirrels.
If we make it through the invasion intact, what then? How much has my encounter with Orochimaru changed things? And the actions I took afterwards? Will the Sandaime live? Should he, for the good of the village?
And somewhere, at the back of my mind, I admit... After the invasion, Itachi won't be far behind. That fact terrifies me most of all.
Can I face him? That man I both hate and love as a brother. No, that's not right... I hate what he chose to do. Can I face him, knowing what he did was for the survival of the village—for my survival. Without— without reacting rashly. I'm going to have to focus on... on remembering Itachi as the person he is than the person he pretends to be.
Damn it.
It's too quiet without Ino and Shino. And Ino can't get in contact with me with any intel, either. I wonder if she's seen Shino? I have both too much and not enough time to think. I miss them. My teammates... We haven't been apart for over a day since we became a unit. I miss them like I would miss one of my arms— not that I'd ever admit it without being under massive amounts of duress.
And Naruto.
Someone to tease. To train with. To teach, and learn from at the same time. To comfort and protect.
Ugh. I really have become a sap. I think that last thought with a small, honest smile, and sit up, glancing to sensei. He's watching me, what seems like amusement glimmering in his one visible eye. "Done with your afternoon nap?"
I snort slightly, my expression smoothing into cool neutrality. "Two things wrong with that statement, sensei. It's not afternoon, and you knew I was awake."
Sensei assumes an innocent expression, "So touchy, Sasuke-kun. It was only a turn of the phrase."
I roll my eyes, rising to join him beside the fire. "So sorry, sensei. Did you say something? My mind was lost on the path of life." It's fun, teasing Kakashi-sensei like this. He's not annoyed, as far as I can tell, and it helps me see him as more than a just an authority figure. A teammate that I can trust. One with a rather annoying and often perverse sense of humor, though neither of those should surprise anyone.
"Maa.. You're such a good student, Sasuke-kun."
I smirk and retort, "Don't get your hopes up, sensei. I'm not about to start wearing a mask and styling my hair look like I had a close encounter with a raiton jutsu. I don't plan on having or need an eternal rival, either." The pair of us shudders in sync. No hugging. Ever.
He offers me a portion of the rabbit stew. The other two rabbits I trapped have been set aside for sensei's canine partners. Fair— considering they not only help keep watch for us but have assisted in my training, as well.
"Thank you." I take the food gratefully and have to resist tearing into it like a wild animal. Even then, I eat my meal far quicker than is strictly polite.
After dinner, I'm sent to bed— allowed the comfort of sleep is probably more accurate given how the past two weeks have gone. I fall asleep almost immediately after climbing into the tent. Too tired even to dream, I hope.
There's a small part of Sasuke that remains a sensitive, kindhearted child. This, Hatake Kakashi thinks, is probably what kept that boy sane, despite Itachi's best efforts. He stirs the rabbit stew, pausing to add another dash of salt.
He continues musing on this as he prepares dinner. And though he is thinking several things at once— fine tuning training schedules for both himself and Sasuke, contemplating what Obito, Rin, and Minato-sensei would say if they could see him now— the majority of his attention remains on the subject of Sasuke himself.
A large part of that boy is deeply traumatized by what his brother has done. Another, he suspects, worships Uchiha Itachi nevertheless.
What will happen if we are confronted with Uchiha Itachi while on a mission? Does the boy himself even know what he would do in such a situation? Is he focused on revenge or... on learning the truth, as he stated during team introductions?
Kakashi worries that Sasuke's heart is all that keeps the last Uchiha from becoming a psychopath bent on revenge. And yet... and yet, all shinobi eventually learn to lock away their hearts for the sake of the mission. At the very least— temporarily. Uchiha Sasuke is already learning this. What will happen then, when he succeeds in locking that part of himself away?
He's been working hard. Kakashi quietly admits to himself. Harder than I would expect from a chuunin recently inducted into ANBU, let alone a rookie genin. If I hadn't spent so much time observing Team Seven, I would think this promotion means everything to him.
There is no question that Uchiha Sasuke is determined. His relentless drive to improve himself makes it abundantly clear. Driven— but by what?
The boy is building a skillset that will have him fast-tracked into the ANBU forces. Even with how badly the experience with Itachi had burned them, there was no way they would let someone like Uchiha Sasuke slip through their fingers. Sasuke will become a frightening assassin. And he could definitely be promoted during this exam— the strategic mindset, leadership ability— the boy would become a fantastic shinobi. Perhaps even someone that could rival the Sannin or even the Hokage.
Eventually.
If his mind doesn't shatter first.
Would the stress of ANBU break him? Bathing in blood for the sake of the village? The unspeakable things that Black Ops require? But Sasuke still has loyal friends he could depend on. His teammates. Sensei's son. He's not as isolated as Itachi had been.
Perhaps not, Kakashi decides, eyeing the relaxing boy, watching the different expressions flit over his face as he thinks.
An idealist would assume he's driven to become stronger to protect his friends... A pessimist, that he's focused on revenge to the exclusion of all else. The former is more likely, considering what I've observed so far. Pack mentality— I would expect it more from an Inuzuka than an Uchiha. The latter are almost always loners, making few if any strong connections outside their clan. Obito was a black sheep. Then again, Sasuke no longer has the clan to rely on... Much like Obito had not, due to his atypical personality. Perhaps that is the reason. It is certainly the reason he clings to those bonds of friendship so tightly, even if the boy denies it.
The food is done. Sasuke is sitting up, as if he can sense this intuitively, looking a little like a sleep-muddled puppy; adorable as heck, in other words.
"Done with your afternoon nap?"
The boy remembers where he is, serene smile replaced by a neutral mask. "Two things wrong with that statement, sensei. It's not afternoon, and you knew I was awake."
Cheeky little brat, Kakashi thinks fondly, as they banter back and forth. Sasuke makes his way towards the campfire, and he scoops out a portion of the stew for his student, offering the bowl to him.
The days slip by slowly, and at the same time impossibly fast.
Finally, it's the morning of the finals. My things are packed and sealed away— besides what I believe I'll need for my fights, and the invasion afterwards. Sensei actually asked if I was expecting to be maimed and continue fighting anyway after he saw the amount of medical supplies I have sealed away.
Hopefully not.
It took some effort, a devious plan, and some concessions on my part, but I've 'talked' sensei out of being too 'fashionably late' today. I'd love to claim it was by using logic or by sheer force of personality... I bribed his ninken with food— they have quite a gift for using puppy eyes— and still had to agree to carry out a relatively dramatic entrance. Hatake Kakashi would have been a particularly eccentric director of a theatre troupe in another life, I think.
Then again, all shinobi are actors out of necessity.
Still, here we are, perched on the arena roof, having arrived three hours early. Sensei is pretending to pout at me, but arriving this early was entirely his decision. ANBU pass near us occasionally on their patrols; I swear I've heard one or two snicker at the sight we make. Still, better ridiculously early than disqualified entirely for being late, right?
I glance over at sensei, having decided the at least try to maintain a conversation, if only to keep distracted. "Hn."
Sensei gives an eye-smile, "Oh, you're not having fun? Maybe next time you'll keep your sneaky ideas away from my ninken?"
I've built a relatively friendly rapport with Kakashi's canine allies; it's one of the reasons getting them to help convince Kakashi to see sense was possible. "Hn... I'll think about it." Interacting with them, seeing the bond they have with Kakashi, makes me consider acquiring a summoning contract. Given my interests— I'd be better off with allies that specialize in heavy combat or stealth, preferably both. Unfortunately, acquiring the snake contract would be... unlikely, to say the least.
I definitely know of three summon clans suited for heavy combat. Toads— a solid 'no'. Naruto will most likely find himself apprenticed to Jiraiya and inherit that contract. Slugs— another impossibility, considering Tsunade was Senju Tsunade, and unlikely to take me as an apprentice. The only other one I could recall offhand was the salamanders. Is Hanzou even dead yet? Probably. Regardless, that contract would probably be lost or destroyed with his death.
Damn. I sigh, directing my gaze back down at the arena. It was like sensei described: a few sparse trees, but barely any cover besides that.
I suppose I could wait until I encountered a shinobi that uses summons on a mission..? Unlikely they would want to form an alliance with me after killing their summoner, however. How did the Sannin acquire their summons, then?
"Kakashi-sensei, why don't more shinobi have summons? How does one obtain a summoning contract, anyway?"
"I suppose I'll have to answer just to keep you from stealing away my summons? Hm... It varies. There are contracts such as the one I have with my ninken, in which the shinobi forms ties with a small group or individual belonging to a summoning clan. Many of those are due to old family alliances."
I nod— the Uchiha Clan had a pact with the nekomata, although the alliance had frayed to near nothing after Konoha was founded. Some sort of bad blood with Madara, maybe? Itachi, on the other hand, had his own contract with ravens and crows.
"To gain the alliance of a whole family or clan requires the approval of the clan boss or leader... That's only likely to happen if a ninja has an exceptionally strong affinity for the summons clan in question. Finally, most shinobi don't try to gain a contract because gaining a new contract is dangerous. Using the Kuchiyose no Jutsu without a contract, a ninja would be reverse-summoned to the realm of the summons he or she has the strongest affinity for. What if it's underwater? Or the air is toxic to humans? Or the locals don't agree to form a contract? Risky."
Lips curling into a wry grin, I reply, "I'd like to try after the finals are over. Think it would be possible to get leave for further training that soon after the exams?"
My response is an eye smile, "Why Sasuke, your poor teammates might think you're trying to cut ties with them entirely!"
I continue grinning unrepentantly, "Nah, Shino and Ino know me better than that."
Sensei inclines his head in agreement, "... If you gain the promotion, certainly. Consider it extra incentive."
"I see. Thank you for the information, sensei... I do believe they're about to start." Both of us direct our gazes downwards to the arena floor, where the other competitors have gathered. Thankfully, the technique that amplifies the proctor's voice is strong enough that we can hear him speak, despite our location. It's the same proctor as during the preliminaries, surprisingly enough. He makes a note of my absence and calls the first match: Inuzuka Kiba versus Aburame Shino.
Kiba, Akamaru, and Shino remain on the arena floor, while the rest of the competitors—barring me, of course, retreat to a balcony area to watch the fight.
Shino watches his opponent quietly, a small smile hidden behind his high collar. He listens to Kiba boast about his easy victory with only half an ear— something about Kiba being stronger than ever and there being no way the quiet boy could defeat him and Akamaru.
His own allies are already scattering over the ground, larger numbers of hiding in the occasional small pothole and in shadowed areas, spreading his scent throughout the arena. A small proportion have been directed to settle on the fluffy white dog— he'd had the opportunity to start releasing his kikaichu as soon as he'd arrived in the arena, and he'd tagged both of his opponents with a female insect while the contestants had gathered to listen to the proctor.
"You have developed a detrimental habit, Inuzuka Kiba." Shino makes eye contact, first with Kiba, who is blinking— in his opinion rather stupidly, and then with Akamaru. It is unlikely that either opponent is aware of it, since the Aburame is wearing his customary sunglasses.
At the same time, he discreetly runs through a few hand signs, hands hidden in the sleeves of his voluminous coat. Genjutsu— time will tell if it will affect the canine, although tests during his month of training seem to indicate it should. "Which one? You talk too much. Why? I am uncertain at this time."
Possibly stalling, possibly stupid. Shino himself is certainly stalling, egging his opponent on while his allies move to position on the field.
"You don't want me to talk?! You shut up, too!" The brash genin retorts, then turns to his partner, "Akamaru, let's teach him a lesson about making fun of us!" Kiba tosses a small chakra pill to his partner, who turns red upon eating it. Using Beast Human Clone, the two assume identical forms— human, if rather feral looking, and both grinning toothily.
"Oh? I am unsurprised by this approach... Although I would not recommend it. Why?" Shino drawls slowly, pulling on all his knowledge and experience of exactly how snarky his best friend would be in such a situation. "Double the idiot. You would be better off mimicking Akamaru, and not the other way around."
He knows, of course, which is which; it's of no matter, as the traps are already in place. It's a shame Sasuke will not be fooled so easily as these two may. Shino muses, watching as both Kiba scowl at him with identical faces.
"Grrr— Shut up! I'm not stupid!" The two feral boys throw themselves into a jutsu, a Gatsuuga— two vicious-looking cyclones headed rapidly at Shino.
Five feet away.
Half a foot.
Contact!
The boy dissolves into a mass of insects, which coat both Kibas, the one on the left shifts back into a fluffy white and brown puppy with a pained yelp. "Akamaru! Are you okay? Ow!" Biting kikaichu. "Ow! What the hell!"
Shino smirks from his cover within the canopy of a nearby tree. Sparse foliage, but enough to keep him out of sight, especially with the mild genjutsu he'd used, before he switched with an insect clone. Especially considering his two opponents would be distracted trying to get the biting kikaichu off; hopefully too distracted to notice the loss of chakra from the rest of his allies.
"Ugh! Fine! Like I wouldn't prepare at all... Take this, then!" The Inuzuka brandishes a can of bug spray, creating a cloud of foul-smelling miasma around both himself and Akamaru. Shino scowls— while kikaichu are bred to be resistant to all common and many uncommon insect repellants, he may still lose some allies to this menace. A series of small pulses of chakra signals a retreat for those kikaichu still on the pair and able to move.
Still, the damage has been done.
Shino watches his opponents with satisfaction. The little puppy is panting with exhaustion, front paws covering his nose in distaste at the smell of the insecticide. Kiba, while lower on chakra than before, seems relatively unscathed.
Shino is aggravated, watching Kiba carelessly step on a few of the incapacitated kikaichu littering the ground around him and Akamaru. One does not annoy an Aburame lightly. A pulse of chakra, and half a dozen copies of Shino form, a few hand signs, and the insect clones are interspersed with regular bunshin, all moving together. A rather familiar tactic; he wonders if Kiba will see through it. Kiba, being himself, dives right into the fight, eager to defend his canine partner.
"Brash." One of the Shino comments, dodging out of the way of a clawed swipe.
"Stupid, really." A second Shino agrees. A wild kick passes through the clone beside him, and it dissolves, revealed as a normal bunshin.
"Did you expect anything else?" The Shino clones continue the easygoing banter, most of them dodging, occasionally attacking back— naturally, with over twelve-to-one odds, even with his greater strength and specialization in taijutsu, Kiba is struggling. The insecticide he used hindered his sense of smell, and the scent of Shino is so similar to his insects that he can't identify the real one anyway.
The feral boy howls in frustration, "Keep still, you bastards! And stop talking as if I'm not here!" A ripple of earth causes Kiba to trip, and the nearest insect clone takes advantage of the distraction, conking the incensed boy on the side of the head and knocking him out. A weakened Akamaru is already being held by the scruff by a different clone.
The proctor announces Aburame Shino as the victor; the crowd cheers in approval. Whether it's approval of a fight well-fought or relief the fight is over? Who knows. Shino pauses to release his insect clones— they dissolve into piles of kikaichu that rapidly retreat back into their living hive. Kiba and Akamaru are taken away by the med-nins, and Shino retreats back to the viewing area, just as the proctor calls out the names of the next.
"Second Match: Uchiha Sasuke versus Sabaku no Temari!"
I appear in the arena via shunshin, hand lifting in a casual wave. Although my expression is deadpan, my voice is cheerful. "Hn. Apologies for my tardiness, proctor-san..." I bow my head politely, explaining, "I got lost on the road of life." I can't believe I agreed to this.
I can hear Ino yelling that I've been contaminated with sensei's nonsense... I hope she makes him hurt. A vicious-looking, toothy grin. At the very least, she will make his ears bleed.
"Good morning, Temari-san. Are you ready?"
She eyes me cautiously from across the arena, brandishing her war fan. I suppose I have changed a bit over the last month. My hair, having grown to a rather unwieldy length over the past several months, is pulled back into a single braid. I suppose there is probably some degree of family resemblance. I try not to dwell on that thought. It's doubtful anyone I'll fight today has ever encountered that man— no. Itachi, my older brother.
I wonder if he's watching this fight? Bothersome thoughts. Focus on the now, Sasuke.
Temari, of course, is the same as before. She grins back, green eyes glinting, fan at the ready. "Good morning, Sasuke-san. Don't worry. My promise to absolutely destroy you in this fight still holds. Buy me mochi ice cream afterwards, if you're still alive."
Did— did she just demand a date and threaten my life in the same breath?! Kunoichi.
In a more melodramatic reality, there would no doubt be a handful of leaves traversing the space between us, blown there by a sudden inexplicable breeze, just as our eyes met from across the arena. Here? The proctor announces the start of the match.
Time to dance.
Mwaha! As you see, plenty of plotting, thinking, and talking... I wanted my dear readers to have an idea of the strategies Sasuke was designing. (We'll see soon if any of that planning will pan out.)
What did you think about the shifts in POV?
The conversation on the roof and idea of summons was impromptu. I suppose if anyone guesses the summons clan that Sasuke will eventually ally himself with, I'll give them an enthusiastic congrats? Nah... I'll write oneshot with a prompt of the reader's choice to the first person to correctly identify the summons Sasuke will gain, just for fun. Bonus awesome points if you can guess some of my reasoning.
Right! Expect the other three matches and the start of the invasion in the next installment... Next year!
And yes, that cliffhanger does make me evil, I agree. Happy reading, and thank you all for the reviews!
And, naturally, welcome to all of the new readers that have decided to favorite and follow!
Happy New Year!
Edited— January 22, 2017. Nothing excessive. Thanks to the anonymous reader that pointed out the ration/ration typo. (Stupid autocorrect.) April 19. 2018. Gown/grown typo fixed— Thank you JaguarVakarian.