No I don't own Naruto. There are days I question if he's fully house trained.
Chapter Twenty Six: Darkness of the Sea
Taking another sip of her sake, Tsunade mulled over what she had just heard. The bartender had been a little on the chatty side, and seemed utterly focused on the space below her neck. She would probably have taught him some manners, if not for the interesting story he had shared at no additional cost. Despite her stature, the blonde was still a Kunoichi, and understood that a little light flirting could get you more information than a pile of money. Nevertheless, the information was less than pleasant. Who could be leading raids on the Sea Countries gold convoys?
As if mirroring her concerns, Shizune whispered over her own drink. "Tsunade-sama, who do you think could attack those ships? They were in the middle of the ocean, no other ships were in sight, and each claims the attack was done by a monster of some sort. This could be a move by another village to destabilize the country and could drag the Land of Fire into an unwanted war. Perhaps we should contact Jiraiya-sama for a mission to investigate?" Draining her cup, the Hokage reached for another. This was a perfect example of someone outsmarting themselves.
"We can't Shizune. Not only would it reveal our position, but Jiraiya does not have that sort of authority. A little miss-ranking like the incident in Neck Country is one thing, but he'd never get away with sending an appropriate force here without declaring it an A-rank. Since he doesn't have the authority to do that for another couple of months, it could be used as grounds to remove him or forcefully recall us under emergency provisions. Honestly, I would prefer slipping out of the borders before getting involved, but I don't think that's going to happen. We might just have to investigate ourselves. Besides, based upon the other rumors, I might be the only available ninja capable of dealing with whoever is in charge." Ignoring her apprentice's disapproving look, Tsunade continued to sip her drink.
Pouring herself another as well, Shizune scratched Tonton's head. "Are you sure about this Tsunade-sama? I admit that a few people going missing are something to be concerned about, but it is hardly a smoking exploding tag. There could be any number of reasons beside's your former teammate's involvement. Even if someone is using them for experiments, there are other unscrupulous medical or scientific researchers out there." However, to the legendary medic's ears, Shizune's arguments sounded hollow.
"Shizune, as distasteful as it is, you know that Orochimaru has ties to this country. I might like the atmosphere and the bars, but I will never forget that this is where we recovered Anko after he abandoned her. In addition, many of the missing people are small children, and that bastard has a thing for starting young. I don't know why the snake would be stupid enough to restart his operations here, but I for one think that it is a strong possibility that he could be involved." That, and there was a sinking sensation in her stomach like she had just won the lottery. The young brunette could harp on and off about superstition, but this incident stunk of Orochimaru, and she refused to be caught flat-footed.
Before their debate could pick up, another figure approached their table. She was thin, with a light blue civilian dress and dirty red hair. Her face was neither beautiful nor ugly, just an average sort of cuteness. However, the woman's gait gave her away after five steps. Sighing, Tsunade pinched her nose. "Aren't you supposed to be shadowing the happy couple right about now?"
Looking around, the woman made a quick hand seal. With a poof of smoke, Hana stood before them in all her feral glory. "I've got my partners looking out for them. However, something happened so I thought I should report in a quickly as possible." Frowning at the concerned tone in the woman's voice, Tsunade had her take a seat. Better to find out what was up without any distractions, such as sore legs or inquisitive civilians.
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Grumbling, Ino hurried towards Anko-sensei's apartment, address loosely griped in her hand. She had been supposed to meet with the woman that morning to go over basic seduction techniques, but the Snake summoner had never shown. It was not unusual for her to miss a practice, given her position and rank, but this was the first time she had neglected to inform Ino beforehand. Honestly, the blonde thought that she got a kick surprising her with summoned snakes spitting up message scrolls at the oddest times. Therefore, she had found Asuma-sensei and gotten the woman's address. She had normal team training in less than an hour, but she wanted to make sure that Anko-sensei was alright.
Looking at the state of the apartment building, Ino suppressed a frown. As a Special Jonin and assistant interrogator, the elder Kunoichi should be making a lot more money than a simple Genin. Yet her apartment was barely two steps above Naruto's in terms of quality. That was really all Anko could afford, even with her better salary? If that was the case, how was she going to move out of her parent's house for real?
Shaking her head, Ino quickly headed towards the designated room number. Knocking quickly, she made a point of backing away to the side. If Anko-sensei was simply sleeping of a hangover or something, it would not be a good idea to get in her direct range. "Sensei? Are you alright in there?" For one long moment, she thought that maybe the older woman was on a mission after all. Then, with the scrapes of locks and chains, the entrance cracked open. The resulting picture was almost enough to make Ino gasp in shock.
Anko-sensei looked horrible! There were bags under her eyes, her face was thick with sweat, and she appeared to be having trouble breathing. The young Genin had never seen her mentor in such a state, and that included her drinking game night with Kurenai-sensei! "Anko-sensei, what happened to you? When you didn't show up for training, I thought you might be out on a mission. But you look like you've been poisoned! Who did this to you?"
Grimacing, the Special Jonin waved off her concerns. "Nah, it's nothing like that. I'm just feeling a little under the weather today. Sorry about missing practice, kid. I'll try to make it up to you once I feel better." Seeing how the normally spry Kunoichi was gripping the door handle for dear life, Ino was less than impressed. Someone as tough as Anko-sensei should not be this weakened by a simple cold. Something bad must have happened.
Gathering her courage, Ino reached for the woman's arm. "You need to get looked at, Sensei! Let me help get you to the hospital and they can check you over." The next minute was a blur for the blonde. One minute she was reaching for Anko-sensei's arm. The next minute, she was flying into the railing in front of her apartment's door.
Looking up in shock, she saw an expression on the other Kunoichi's face she had never expected. The woman was completely and utterly enraged. Then, like a switch being flipped, the anger was gone, replaced by an uncomfortable grimace. "Don't worry about me, kid. I'm fine without going to the medics. I'll just tough it out for a few days and everything will be fine. Now why don't you go bug Asuma for a bit? I need to lie down." Without waiting for a response, Anko closed the door, leaving Ino a mess of confused emotions.
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Given the nature of their mission, it was rather foolish to allow the younger members out of sight for too long. However, Hana knew that both kids needed the time alone not only to relax, but also to further understand what could be between them. Therefore, she had not questioned it when Tsunade released the two Chunin to their own devices with the simplest of warnings. Her faith was paid back in full with Tsunade's later orders to trail them to provide backup and gather intelligence on their relationship. Naruto might have grown as a tracker and Hinata's doujutsu had very few flaws, but the Inuzuka had been around for a while. Thus, she knew just how to remain undetected by the relatively green ninja.
Both of her superiors had been initially amused by the report. Honestly, it had been rather sweet. There were not a lot of guys willing to take a girl shopping for fun, which either meant that Naruto was a particularly good catch, or just did not know any better. Honestly, Hinata practically had a blank canvass to work with in terms of training her boyfriend. She was lucky the kid was so much younger, or Hana would have made a play for him herself! Judging from Shizune's reaction to the death of the orange clothes, she would probably have some company.
However, no one was laughing at the described of the confrontation. It was nice that he was a good guy and all, but using raw killing intent on civilians was not a great way to stay under the radar. They were just lucky that he had not bothered with any jutsu. "After the crowd dispersed, I made some light inquiries. According to the local rumor mill, this Isaribi is an orphan. Most of the orphans in Sea Country go to work as fishermen or scrap divers at a fairly young age. Until a few months ago, she was just another hard working young girl making ends meet. But then she went missing on a fishing expedition. A few of her customers tried to find her without any luck. Then about four months later she returned with half her body in bandages. Now everyone thinks she made some sort of deal with the kidnappers, and won't trust her with anything."
Frowning, Tsunade bit her lip. "That is odd. If she was someone's experiment, there's no reason to release her back into the general population unless she had been converted to their side. On the other hand, it could simply be anything from someone's idea of a game to another chance to collect data. If that's the case, our presence could very well be compromised." Taking another sip from her cup, the blonde met her gaze. "Did you notice anyone unusual observing the attack, or anything off about the girl herself?"
Snorting, the Chunin looked off to the side in irritation. "Sorry Tsunade-sama, but there were too many people to notice any possible observers. The girl herself reeked of fish and saltwater, but there were some odd chemical traces I've never dealt with before. Other than the fact her injuries did not seem to be slowing her down or anything, there was not much to go on. Why, do you have any ideas about what we're dealing with?"
Sighing, the Sannin poured her a drink. "The pattern matches something that Orochimaru was involved with around here a few years ago. It is possible that this is simply one of his games or associates. Either way, it would probably be a good idea to track this Isaribi down tomorrow and have a look at her, if for no other reason than medical curiosity. But if she is one of the snake's failed experiments, then she might have valuable information that we could use to deal with him."
Although she thought the plan a little brutal, Hana did not have any major objections. Either the child was a true victim and needed help, or she was a spy that was working for an enemy of Konoha. Information was vital for a ninja, and who was she to question such an efficient plan? Before any further debate could begin, the love birds walked through the door. Smirking, the Inuzuka prepared for some fun. Teasing kids about their crushes was always a laugh!
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Sarutobi Asuma could hardly be called a genius when it came to women, a fact that his fellow Jonin and friend Kurenai would be happy to point out to any interested party. But even he knew that something was wrong when the normally energetic Ino started kicking her teammates around like soccer balls. Of course, Chouji could take the damage without any issue while Shikamaru probably did not want to cause any trouble by stopping her. That did not mean that he could simply allow the young Kunoichi to wail on her comrades without cause. After all, both were a little young to start peaking and other such perversions. "Alright, that's enough for today. Shikamaru, you and Chouji get us a table at the grill. Me and Ino have to have a little talk."
Looking at the irritated blonde, the Sensei took a deep and smoke filled breath. He hated confrontations, but Team Ten lived by its teamwork and synergy. So he was better off finding out what had gotten her pissed off without a lot of beating around the bush. "Alright Ino, what the hell is going on? I know that your boys can be a little annoying, but that's no reason to nearly kill them. I don't even think that Shikamaru had a chance to call you troublesome before we started, and that says something."
Looking away, the young Genin's body language screamed frustration and misery. "I went to check on Anko-sensei, and she looked horrible! If I didn't know her, I would have thought someone had poisoned her dango or something. But when I tried to take her to the Hospital, she nearly threw me off her landing and told me to get lost." Sniffing, Ino forced her eyes shut, but he still saw a little bit of moisture. "I just thought that she trusted me enough to help her. All I wanted to do was check on her, but she wouldn't let me!"
Sighing, Asuma debated what to tell her without giving too much away. He only knew of some of the Snake Woman's habits through his acquaintance with Kurenai. He had been out of the village around the time when most of the shit hit the fan for the Special Jonin. While things had improved, what rumors that still floated around indicated a lifestyle similar to the Uzumaki-brat. Anko just tended to fight back more. However, from what he understood, she sometimes got into these moods where the only safe thing was to run. Obviously, Ino had caught her on one of those days, but he could not explain that without more information or violating the trust of a colleague. Perhaps some general advice would be enough to let this die down a bit?
Taking another deep breath of tobacco, Asuma smiled. "You know Ino that level of trust never comes easily for any ninja. Once you get to Jonin level, you'll usually have seen and done so many things that just talking about the weather will become challenging. So if Anko is feeling a little moody, just give her some space and let her open up to you in her own time." Scratching the back of his head, the ninja let some of his sheepishness shine through. "Honestly though, I think you two work very well together. She's made you much stronger than I ever could have managed on my own, and I am proud of your growth." There were just some things that a guy could not show a Kunoichi, no matter how experienced they were.
Brightening under his praise, Ino looked up with new fire in her eyes. "Thanks Asuma-sensei! If Anko-sensei needs time, then I'll give her all she wants! Now let's go eat! I'm not going to drive off vandals on an empty stomach!" Chuckling at her bravado, the Jonin led her towards town and a giant plate of barbeque.
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Staring at the closed door, Tsunade gathered her strength. When they had chosen rooms at the Inn, she had decided to place Naruto alone in the middle. Not only would this provide some level of modesty, but the energetic blonde would be in an ideal position to both reinforce and be reinforced if an enemy attacked. Between Hinata's Byakugan and Hana's nose, the entire group felt fairly secure. However, if the average ninja looked underneath the underneath, they would see that she wanted the boy to have some privacy. Months on the road had taught her much about his moods, and she was more than ready for what was coming. That did not make it any less heartbreaking at times. Knocking, the medic entered before locking the door behind her.
If a pervert like Jiraiya had heard about Naruto's excursions into her tent during their journey, she was sure that the resulting fantasy would fill three of his stupid novels. The simple reality was much less glamorous. Naruto had refused to allow his pain to get him down. His inner strength and determination to prove himself had made the blonde both an inspiration and among the most driven person she had ever met. Once the memory and intelligence suppression seals were discovered and countered, not much changed on the surface. Despite his rapidly growing competence and ingenuity, Naruto was still that happy and enthusiastic ninja wanting to be Hokage. But as time passed and his ability to understand his emotions grew, something unexpected happened. Naruto began to have dreams.
Years of suppressed memories were easy for the blonde to ignore when busy with a problem or training. But Naruto's unconscious mind began to feed on his darker experiences, causing horrible nightmares and skittishness. Once she had discovered the problem, Tsunade was unsure about what to do. While the world's best medic, healing the mind was not one of her gifts. In the end, all the Kunoichi could do was offer comfort whenever one of his fits seemed ready to erupt. Hinata, Shizune and more recently Hana were always willing to chat during the day. But whenever the nightmares came, she was the one he turned to. It was the closest to maternal activity she had indulged in since Nawaki died.
Seeing Naruto curled into a ball, Tsunade sighed. No matter how much it hurt, Naruto still refused to cry anymore. From what little she had gathered, it appeared that he had given up the practice at a rather young age. He could get angry, understand how things had been horrible for him, yet crying seemed beyond him. Part of her was glad that he had not changed that much. Another part wished he could find the skill, if only to end this torment. Sitting next to young ninja, she carefully rubbed his scalp. It was the best way she knew to make him relax, and had to be done carefully unless she wanted the boy to lash out. "What's bothering you tonight, Naruto? It was pretty clear that you wanted to kill someone over dinner. Please, let me help you?" This could not be forced, coerced or shamed. The young Chunin needed to realize it was time to talk or nothing would happen.
At first, Naruto refused to be swayed. Luckily experience had taught Tsunade patience, so she simply sat, massaging his scalp. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the younger blonde relaxed and started talking. "When that girl got called a freak, I was so angry. I think that if I had concentrated little more, those jerks would have had heart attacks. But then I would have been the monster, and I never want that. But when I offered her help and she rejected it, I had this thought. What if someone had offered me a hand up earlier after something like that? Would I have accepted it, or would I have thought it was a trick? Then I didn't know what to do except leave to make sure Hinata-chan was safe." With each broken statement, he slowly quieted before dozing off, leaving Tsunade with the simple task of tucking him in.
Looking down at the young face, troubled even in sleep, Tsunade began to fight tears of her own. Here, in the security and safety of some tiny Inn, she allowed herself to feel a fraction of her own self-hatred for his suffering. Some nights the talks would be longer, other nights they would be shorter, but each moment showcased just how far Naruto had come, and how much more was left to go. If she could have simply grown up past her own pain and helped him, how much of this torture could have been avoided? Or would she have allowed others to blind her to his pain, and simply moved on. How both Minato and Kushina must be rolling in their graves!
Each time he opened up, a new story or trial would be revealed. Reading between the lines, it was clear that he simply did not see himself as intelligent. He struggled where others thrived, and every effort was so much more than it should have been. He had to find answers without guidance, other than the scraps he could gather from Sarutobi-sensei, struggling with his artificially induced brain damage. Yet no one read the signs of his suffering or loneliness, or if they did they simply did not care. The only thing to be thankful of was the relatively violence free upbringing. The number of attacks was a statistical anomaly, with the worst period being when that stupid ANBU led him into ambushes involving rotten produce and other such traps.
Petting his hair one more time, Tsunade was relived as the pained expression was replaced by a peaceful slumber. Bending over, she kissed him on the forehead. "Rest up kid; we've got a long day ahead of us." Quickly checking the security tags they had set in the room's corners, Tsunade left, closing the door behind her. Already dreaming about the day's non-date with Hinata-chan, Naruto did not stir a bit.
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Hearing a pounding on the door, Anko gripped her skull in agony. Ever since her abandonment by her former Sensei, the young interrogator had occasional bouts of pain and nausea. Most of the symptoms were no worse than a particularly bad night of drinking. Unfortunately, there were times where the experience was nearly blinding in their intensity. After a careful examination by several experts including the Sandaime, it had all been traced back to her curse mark. Like everything else horrible in her current life, Orochimaru was the cause.
The seal and its effects were well documented now, but when she had first returned to Konoha no one had any idea what the damn thing was. She had been held by the ANBU for months before they had managed to properly map the effects, and by then it was far too late. Like a damned parasite, the Curse Seal wormed its way into her chakra pathways, only kept at bay through her own hatred of Orochimaru. After the studies were complete, the assorted medics had determined that attempting a suppression seal on an advanced version of the technique would most likely seal and destroy her own chakra, so she was left without any easy way to fix the problem. The Uchiha brat had no idea how lucky he had been thanks to Kakashi's quick actions.
Again, only the Sandaime had been willing to help her. When sealing techniques failed, he utilized a complex ninjutsu that rendered the major elements of the seal's construction inactive. While far from perfect, it had allowed Anko to return to active service, only to discover she had to work twice as hard to get anywhere. If not for the support she had gotten from certain close friends, she would have probably gone missing ninja years ago. As it was, she had been forced to become larger than life just to get any respect. Only fear of her sadism kept some of the grunts in line. Luckily, with the recent invasion and her actions during it, no one really thought she was a sleeper agent anymore. No, now she just had the image of the scary snake slut to live up to, which could be fun but was honestly more trouble than it was worth.
However no matter how far she came, there were still times where the seal would react beyond her ability to control. Anytime that she was honestly content or happy, or became distracted for even an instant, the seal would attack to remind her of her place. Between the upswings in her recent treatment from colleagues to the fun she was having corrupting Ino-chan, Anko had let her guard down. This pain was just another reminder of her reality and solitude. In all honesty, it would probably be best to cut down on time with the kid, especially after hurting her so badly earlier. She had no choice but to face this pain alone, unless someone else got caught up in her mess. Snorting, she forced herself to get to the door. The Interrogator had to wonder if this is what Uzumaki felt when Mizuki spilled the beans. How could he reveal his burden without hurting his friends?
Opening the door, Anko blinked in shock. There, covered in sweat and dirt was the little blonde fresh from training. However, it was the giant bottle of sake and take out carrier of dango that caught her attention. Fixing the Genin with a glare, the elder Kunoichi rose to her full height. "What the heck are you doing here kid? I thought I would find you later when I felt better?" Mostly, she had just wanted to avoid the medics. They always declared her unfit for duty when she came in like this, and if she was not running mission and killing things she would go crazy thinking about the past.
Meeting her glare defiantly, Ino held her purchases like a shield. "You might be too stubborn to go to the hospital, but I know you need to eat something. It's not what I should make you eat, but it's probably the only food you'll take. So I'm here to insure you get something down, even if it's only to numb the pain. After all, I owe you bigtime, and I'm not allowing you to die when I have so much more to learn! After all, if a comrade can't help you out, who can?"
Seeing the girl who she had lashed out at hours ago try to help, Anko could not help but chuckle. She had nearly gutted Kurenai for less during one of her moods, but doing that against Ino would not really be fair now would it? Besides, Kurenai usually tried to make her drink tea. "All right kid, you can come in and keep the grumpy adult company. But spill any of that sake and I won't miss this time." Nodding, the blonde entered the apartment without a sign of fear, leaving a bemused Anko standing in the entrance.
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Slipping out of the Inn, Naruto carefully checked around for tails before leaving in the early morning dawn. He had not missed the glances Baa-chan and Shizune-nee-chan had thrown one another after hearing about the poor girl getting attacked yesterday, and he would not put it pass them to investigate today. However, something told him that approaching her by himself would be more effective than ganging up on her all at once. Not really in the mood to argue his decision, the young Chunin decided to take matters into his own hands. After all, if there was one thing he had learned growing up, it was that it was easier to ask forgiveness than permission. Well, easier as in no one ever forgave him, but at least they could find his antics funny. Asking permission just earned him detentions and other indignities.
While he was not the best detective, Naruto did know something about being a pariah. The signs were all there, from the punks attitudes in general to the fact that everyone refused to help her in the first place. It was as if the locals thought she deserved it but did not have the guts to attack themselves. However, there were always people willing to deal with anyone for the right price or reason. After all, if not for an absurd love of ramen, he doubted the Ichiraku's would have wanted to have anything to do with him. Therefore, all Naruto needed to do was ask around the fish markets darkest and dankest locations. He had a name, Isaribi, and a general address within twenty minutes.
Apparently, Isaribi had a hut down by the ocean about a mile outside of town. None of her customers knew much about what had happened, and he got the impression they were happier off not knowing. Honestly, their attitude made the Chunin pissed as hell. Even when they were a little annoyed with a late ramen tab, Ayame and her old man at least seemed concerned about his health. Nevertheless, it was a fairly quick trip for a ninja, and given the relative solitude figuring out the location was a piece of cake. It did not hurt that the front of the dwelling was tagged with fresh graffiti, demanding that the monster girl give back the villages missing residents. The sight was almost enough to make him growl.
Hearing some splashing, Naruto passed the defaced hut only to be brought up short. Isaribi was facing the ocean, wearing some sort of swimming outfit. Noticing the basket of large and exotic fish, Naruto was almost distracted from watching the girl rewrap bandages around her arm. The distance was too great to see the damage clearly, but there was some sort of discoloration. However, given how much of her body was covered in wrappings, he was surprised that it seemed to be so limited. Well, that, and the fact that she had numerous fish without any sign of a pole or net.
Deciding that staring at the girl would only become creepy if continued, Naruto cleared his throat. "Hi there! Good morning!" The odd girl nearly jumped, but tightened the last wrapping before he could get a proper look at the exposed flesh. Some part of his psyche could not help but sigh at the lost opportunity. Ignoring his hormones, Naruto decided it was time to put his best foot forward. There was a girl who needed help, and everybody knew that the best ninja's always helped out the maidens in distress! With the company he kept, he was beginning to get out of practice!
Walking over to the tense girl, Naruto tried out one of his best grins. At the very least, it was usually enough to make others smile in return, even if they tried to hide it afterwards. "I was hoping to talk with you the other day, but we got interrupted. Do you need any help with that?" Glancing at him like some sort of bug, Isaribi simply grabbed her basket silently. Ignoring his presence, she walked forward towards the disfigured hut. Narrowing his eyes, Naruto was quick to follow. He had spent years working to get the acknowledgement of an entire village of angry bigots trying to ignore his existence. There was no way that a single injured girl was going to get away with it!
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Watching her Kunoichi sensei take another shot of sake, Ino nervously sipped her tea. Beyond insuring that the woman was alright, she had not planned beyond getting through the front door. It was not the most intelligent thing she had ever done, but the blonde was nothing if not strong willed. At least with the proof on the bottle Anko was not feeling that much pain. The quality of the drink took nearly a whole day's pay, but she could not sit back idle while her mentor wallowed in misery. In fact, she looked nearly ten times better than that morning. It was a cold comfort to her wallet, but everyone had to make sacrifices every now and then. Hers was to raid Naruto's ramen stash once again.
Pouring herself another drink, Anko snorted with an amused grin. "You know kid; I've always held that a person that's old enough to kill in cold blood can take a drink or two. Why don't you come over and take a pull? I promise I won't bite all that much." Blushing at the innuendo, Ino made no move from her place on the couch. There was no way she was getting into a drinking contest with this woman. She was not suicidal!
Apparently, her silent fidgeting was hilarious because the Special Jonin suddenly burst out laughing. It was only the threat to the bottle that kept her from tipping over. "Poor little Ino-chan! You can fight off enemy ninja or tell your family to screw themselves, but you're scared of a little drink with a washed up old gal like me. Live a little girl or you'll wish you had done more before it was all over." Blinking at the sudden depressed tone, the young Genin realized that this was more than a bad cold. Anko-sensei was hurting, and that would just not do at all! She had come here to make the Special Jonin happy, not send her into a drunken spiral of bad memories!
Looking at the older woman, Ino began to realize that this could be her in ten years. Anko-sensei was strong, tricky, and seductive to the point of sultriness. She could charm and kill with equal passion, all for the goal of completing her mission. Yet here, alone in a crappy apartment, the Snake Kunoichi seemed so alone. She owed the woman too much to allow that to continue. Gathering her courage, she moved closer to the drunken interrogator. "I don't think I've said it enough Anko-sensei, but I want to thank you. Without your help, I would never have become as strong as I am today. I don't know what is bothering you, and I know that I have a reputation of a gossip, but if you need to talk I'm always willing to keep you secrets." Smirking, the blonde tempted death and patted her Sensei's shoulder. "Of course, I only do that for my friends, so you should feel privileged."
At first, there did not seem to be any sort of reaction. Anko's face was blank as she stared at her sake cup. Then, the elder Kunoichi met her gaze with the intensity of a laser. "You know kid; I originally just took you on as a distraction. Things have been quiet lately, but when I heard about what happened to Uzumaki, I was ready to gut some civilians. I needed to clear my head and you needed a minder to keep you out of the worst of trouble. I never thought that I would actually get attached." Taking another drink, Anko glared at the empty cup. "I can't help but wonder if you'd still look up to me if you knew some of the things I've done."
Suppressing a snort, Ino sighed. "Anko-sensei, we're Kunoichi. I might not have gotten the best grades, but I knew that our profession is before graduation. I don't think that tales of seduction or poisonings are going to keep me from admiring you. If you're trying to get rid of me, try a little harder." Apparently, the older woman took that as a challenge. Rearing back, she launched her cup at terminal velocity right by her head, shattering into a dozen pieces.
Taking a deep breath, Anko visibly tried to gather herself. "You think I care about some stupid seduction or assassination mission? Kid, I was doing that crap when I was younger than you! No, there are just some things that you don't ignore." Leaning back, the elder Kunoichi sighed. "Some things leave their mark, and can never be forgotten." Remembering Asuma-sensei's comments, Ino slowly nodded. There were just some things she did not understand yet. However, she was ready to learn.
Biting her lip, Ino decided to jump head first. "Alright, Asuma-sensei warned me that there might be some things that you couldn't or wouldn't tell me. But if you change your mind, I'll be here. Now let me go grab you another cup." Heading toward the kitchen, the blonde was stopped in her tracks by a giggle. Turning towards her Sensei, Ino was shocked by the woman's lack of control. Anko was rolling on the ground laughing her head off.
"You took relationship advice from Asuma? Are you nuts kid? He and Kurenai have been tiptoeing around each other for nearly two years, and you think he can help you figure out how to deal with a woman? You're more hopeless than I thought!" Apparently, her expression must have clued the Special Jonin off that a line was crossed, because all the laughter stopped. "Alright brat, if you're desperate enough to listen to smoke stack, then I'd better start talking. Otherwise, you're going to pick up all sorts of bad habits." Smiling in victory, Ino sat for a long chat.
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Following the odd girl, Naruto was getting frustrated. He had been trying to get a rise out of Isaribi for nearly an hour now, and nothing seemed to be working! Either she would glare at him, or ignore his efforts completely. That did not mean he was giving up though! When she went to fetch fresh water, he was there to carry an extra bucket. When she went to start cooking, he was there to gather driftwood for the fire. However, it seemed that attempting to clean off the graffiti was the final straw. Observing him grab some water and cloths, Isaribi finally broke the silent treatment. "You should just leave it up. Every time that I take it down, the village kids just get more creative. It's better if you just don't bother."
Snorting, the blonde refused to stop his preparations. "So why should you let them have the satisfaction? It's your home, and they don't have the right to mess it up." Fixing her with a glare, he grabbed the bucket. "Besides, if you leave it up, you're just agreeing with them. No one should think that about themselves, and I refuse to sit back and allow that to happen."
Standing, Isaribi came over with a determined look in her eyes. Much to his shock, she knocked the supplies out of his hands with more strength than he had thought possible for a civilian. "What do you think you know about me? If you found this place, than you had to ask about me in town. Don't you know I'm dangerous? Apparently, I helped vanish dozens of villagers to feed them to spirits! What about that tells you that I'm not a monster? For all you know, I could spirit you away for even getting this close! Why don't you go back to your girlfriend and leave me alone!" The previously quiet, mysterious girl was replaced with a shouting and frustrated child, lashing out at anything around her. It was a feeling he knew oh so well.
Invading her private space, Naruto forced Isaribi to meet his gaze. "If you really did that, I bet you would have lashed out at them. Either you would have warned them off with threats to capture their children or tried to defend yourself in the market. You're a lot stronger than you let on. Instead you endure it, thinking that some part of you deserves it, and refuse to stoop to their level. That's what makes me think that you're not a monster."
Snorting, Isaribi looked away. "What do you know about it? Ever since I got back, people I trusted treat me like I'm diseased or a freak! None of my old friends will talk with me or acknowledge I exist! I saw you yesterday! You were on a date with a cute girl, walking without a care in the world! How could we have anything in common?"
Naruto had learned a lot on his journey. In fact, there were days he was terrified by his sudden rate of growth, now that someone actually cared about how far he could go. But there was one lesson that he had never needed. Even when he was all alone, the blonde had learned a lot about how to read people, mostly to protect himself from enemies. He might not understand every reaction, but there was one thing that he knew. He saw the loneliness and pain in Isaribi's eyes, and could not let it stand. So, as was his habit, he reached out to offer support.
"I know just what it's like to be labeled a freak. Only, I was called one for most of my life." Seeing her freeze at the statement, Naruto continued with a steady voice, ignoring his beating heart. "I didn't get friends or comrades until much later, but growing up no one wanted to know me or acknowledge me. You might have bandages to hide your marks, but I never even had a chance to do that." Knowing that she was paying close attention, Naruto gestured to his cheeks. "But I found people and fought every day, and now I have tons of people who care for me as much as I care for them. I know it's really hard, but if I can do it, I'm sure you could as well."
Seeing her anger begin to crumble, he decided to go for broke. "Right now I'm studying medical techniques, and my Sensei is really good. I bet that if you came with me, she could try to fix you right up. What do you say? Will you trust us to help heal you?" Naruto knew that this was the key moment where things could change. A person, no matter how much pain they were in, could only take help if they accepted it. If Isaribi came with him, Baa-chan could look her over and find out what had happened. She might have no trouble moving, but those bandages were covering up something. If they discovered the truth, then maybe she would not be alone anymore!
Unfortunately, the choice was taken from her hands. Both were shocked by a sudden explosion from the ocean. Before Naruto could react, two tentacle-like appendages wrapped around Isaribi, dragging her towards the water. At the same time, his ninja senses picked up a disturbance behind him. Turning, lashed out in instinct, only to look into the shocked face of an unknown ninja. Watching the man collapse in pain, Naruto quickly turned towards the ocean, but both Isaribi and her attacker were gone.
-----
Walking back to Naruto's place, Ino reflected on her talk with Anko-sensei. It had been a little disjointed near the end there, but she had learned a surprisingly large amount of information about the woman. While touched at this sign of trust, she had to admit, if only in the safety of her own mind, that the data was somewhat disturbing. There were days that the only way she maintained her faith in the village was thinking about how much of a statistical anomaly Naruto's situation was. Discovering the depth of how Anko had been treated disillusioned her of that quickly enough.
She had heard some rumors about the elder Kunoichi, and knew that she was somehow linked to Orochimaru. The summoned snakes were a bit of a giveaway. But she had never really stopped to consider what that had meant for the woman. Anko was always so confident and strong that it was easy to forget that she had been recovered barely out of her teens. Before the Sannin's defection, he had been one of the most beloved and favored ninja of the village. As his apprentice, she was seen as a rising prodigy, and one of the key stones of the future ninja generations. But once she returned, all the respect and love had turned to hatred and distrust. Ino was unsure what she would have done in such a situation, but a killing spree was not out of the question.
But the worst part was the nature of her betrayal. Anko had not come out and said too much, but it was easy to see she had idolized the man. He was her beloved Sensei, and she was willing to do anything the psycho had asked of her. The details were somewhat sketchy, but Ino decided that she did not need to know everything. The Snake Kunoichi had been used, and then taken along during the defection. According to the woman, there had never even been a question of following her mentor. Orochimaru had her loyalty, and thought nothing of using it. That had nearly led to her destruction.
Sakura had told her about the Cursed Seal during one of her bad days. She described how Sasuke had revealed in the resulting power, bringing out the darkest parts of his nature. Ino herself had seen the results in the Forrest of Death, and had worked very hard to ignore those memories. But to discover that Anko had been the sole survivor of the original development test was a shock. It was like a brand, constantly reminding the woman of her bad choices and past mistakes. Having the thing respond to her happy moods by inducing pain and misery was just that much worse.
At least things had gotten better after the invasion. If there was ever a time to activate a sleeper agent it was then, so most of the interested parties did not think she was suddenly going to start killing everybody in the name of her old Sensei. However, that did not keep some of the populace from lashing out at her in some misguided attempt to find closure about Orochimaru's crimes. The difficulty finding a decent apartment was just one example the civilian population indulged in for fun. Despite a little intimidation, Anko managed to rise above it most of the time. In fact, if she had not been distracted by training Ino, Anko might have lost it when Naruto's story came out.
Realizing that the elder Kunoichi was in pain partially because she had been enjoying their time together, Ino refused to leave her alone. They stayed up talking until Anko had kicked her out to get some sleep. They had apparently decided on a special training exercise at five in the morning. Ino did not remember suggesting the insane time slot, but the look in Anko's eyes encouraged her to smile while running. Honestly, she thought the psycho had been cackling as she rushed down the street.
However, alone on the pathway home, Ino could not help but think about what it must have been like. To have someone you loved and trusted without reservation abandon you like a failed experiment sounded horrible. Just imagine what would have happened if Sasuke had asked her to abandon the village? Could she have ended up as poorly off as Anko-sensei? Shivering at the thought, the blonde quietly checked the traps before entering the apartment. Getting ready for bed, she decided to put it out of her mind. Any love that stripped you of identity and will was not a love she wanted any part of.
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Author's Notes
Yay, it's ready!
I am so sorry for another unpleasant delay, but RL sucked the power from my mind this month. There is always a lot of drama around Valentine's Day, and enough was dumped in my lap to suck the fun out of my brain. Not to mention another writing idea that will be premiering soon. Sorry, but I could not hold it back anymore -_-;;;
Now then, thank you all so much for your reviews. While there was no specific question that I do not plan on answering soon within the story, the general acceptance of Neji s comedy routine was very gratifying. I honestly don t see myself as a comedy writer, so whenever I attempt it the experience is rather hit or miss.
This chapter had a little more angst than normal, but I wanted the characters to grow more as people. To clarify though, Anko will NOT be joining the team at this time. I made that choice when Hana joined in the last adventure. The larger the groups the harder it is too hide, so with most of the Elemental Countries after their skins, I m keeping this a rather exclusive party. Isaribi will play a part, but probably not the one you expect.
Oh, and to clarify, Naruto does NOT think that he and Hinata have had a date yet! This was simply a practice run, and he refuses to acknowledge it as anything more. After all, an awesome Kunoichi like Hinata-chan deserves more than a shopping trip and some cheap take-out! She was happy with it, but does not know how to express it when he is all distracted by the incident at the end there. Better luck next time!
Oh, and the pun actually had to do with the rough translation of Hyuga being "towards the sun". I was trying to emphasize the fact that both Hinata and Neji had central parts to play within the chapter. Although, with Hinata roughly meaning "Sunny Place", I guess that works too.
Now, let us go to the next chapter! Growing up is rather hard to do, especially when you want to fight the establishment! Rescues and clashes with authority are coming up next time! Stay Tuned!
