Butterflies
"Me? I'm nobody. I'm not skilled like Uchiha-san. I am not passionate like Haruno-san. I am not smart like Nara-san. I'm not as strong as Chouji-san. I'm not as collected as Aburame-san. Or as pretty as Yamanaka-san. I'm not as confident as Inuzuka-san. If anything, I'm like Hyuuga-san, socially awkward. Oh wait, no, she's just shy. The socially awkward one is me." OC! Team 7 remix!
Chapter 31 – A New Butterfly Unchained
8-8
Running. Jump, dodge, roll, stand. Running again. Music's playing. My shinobue, 'calm lake'. Not attacking. Attacking is for later. Just moving, dodging. Pebbles. Lots of pebbles.
Breathing deep. Moving. Playing flute. Manipulating sound, continuous sound. No jutsus. Just sounds. Music. Beautiful music.
"Alright! Break!" Captain announces. The pebbles stop, the running and dodging stops, but I keep playing anyway. I like this song. "Aya." Fine. I stop playing, letting the sound waves dissipate.
"Sis, that was… AWESOME! How long did she keep it up!? Huh, huh!? TELL ME!" Nii-san demands.
"One hour, forty-five minutes."
"ALMOST TWO HOURS!" That's not what he said. "You were playing your flute for that long! And you didn't get hit once! Sis, you are the definition of awesome!"
I roll my eyes, but find myself smiling regardless.
"Calm down, Naruto. She still has a long way to go." Sasuke announces. Yeah, he's been helping to throw pebbles at me. I nod, agreeing with him, but my smile doesn't go anywhere. This is a good place to start.
"Sasuke's right. She has a long way to go. But… I think it's safe to say she's getting there." Captain says, eye-smiling. "Aya, I want you to practice this with Naruto later. Only this time, with clones attacking you. I want you to defend for as long as you can, while using only kicks. When you can keep that up for the same amount of time, we'll start including genjutsus and ninjutsus. Alright?" I nod, liking the idea.
"Good. Now, team jutsu training. I'm going to teach each of you a sensory jutsu based on what I believe will work best for you. Once you've mastered the jutsu I give you, it's your job to teach that jutsu to your teammates so that in the end, you each have three sensory jutsus to work with." Captain explains, tossing us each a scroll. "Keep in mind, that we're officially on down time. Do not let anyone other than Yoshino know that I'm actually training you. It'd look bad on my record." He teases.
Sasuke and I snort, and Nii-san just waves it off. We're more than happy to spend the day training – days off are for wimps after all! Well… wimps and hospitalised patients.
I open my scroll, finding an olfactory sensory jutsu – smell based. I read through it a few times. Ability to identify chakra signatures, strength of those identified, distance from user. This is an Inuzuka jutsu!
"Ca-"
"I've already asked Inuzuka Tsume. And besides, this is also a Hatake jutsu." He placates. "She doubts that Sasuke will be able to learn it, but she believes you and Naruto will learn it just fine, considering your heritage and your summoning contracts."
I nod, but I still wonder about that. Why would… "She knew our parents." I don't ask.
"She and your mother were always at each others throats." He says, laughing. "But, no one completely dominated otherwise impossible missions better than those two when they teamed up. So long as they didn't talk about 'dogs versus wolves' that is." He seems amused.
"I see." That almost sounds like Kiba and me, to be honest. Even if our problem is more 'date me, Aya' related.
"By the way. Her daughter, Hana, offered to show you some cool tricks. After all, there aren't a lot of… canine users that happen to double as medics in Konoha." I snort, liking how he worded that.
"I'll take her up on that." I promise. I just have to remember not to bring up 'wolves versus dogs' to not start a feud of some sort.
8-8
Later that afternoon, I corner Hina-nee and Hanabi for their training, but Saki decides she isn't getting left out. I shrug. "Come on then. If you want to play with the big kids, you'd better be ready to play by big kids rules though." I say, smiling.
"You can count on it, ya know!" She says. Well… that's new. Since when does she have a verbal tic? Whatever, she's probably just trying to be like Naru-nii.
Either way, I lead the three of them into the dojo. I ask Hina-nee to take out her shinobue, but… "Umm, I… kind of have a problem?" Hanabi says, a bit embarrassed.
"Being?"
"I have a guitar?"
"Well, go get it." I smile, wondering why that's a problem. "And ask Naru-nii to join us if you see him." I'll ask him if he can make a storage seal so she can keep it on her at all times.
"Oh… by the way… we're going to have to get you an instrument as well, sis." I say, looking to Saki.
"Can I… maybe try your flute then?" She asks shyly. I smile, motioning for her to come closer. When she's close enough, I take out my shinobue and offer it to her. "REALLY! Thanks a lot, ya know!" I giggle a little, but I kiss her brow anyway.
Hanabi and Naru-nii come back into the dojo not five minutes later. "Nii-san. Hanabi needs her own scroll so she can keep her guitar sealed in it. Think you can help her out?"
"Of course I can, 'ttebayo!" He announces.
Immediately followed by Saki's: "Naru-nii's the best, ya know!"
"Thank you." I say, smiling at them. "By the way, Nii-san. Did you want to learn sound release too?"
"Hmm? Well… it couldn't hurt, I guess." He rubs the back of his head.
"Alright." I say motioning for everyone to have a seat. "Now, the first thing you need to know about sound release is that it's picky."
"Picky?" Saki asks.
"Yes, picky. Some jutsus work really well with certain frequencies, but horribly with others. For example."
Snap!
I give them a moment to snap out of the genjutsu. Once all their eyes are focused on me again, I continue. "Genjutsus aren't too picky with the frequency of the sound you use. But,"
Snap!
I use the sound waves to create my Ball of Sound. "This jutsu falls apart easily with lower frequencies. So I have to heighten the pitch, then amplify the sound, and only then will it become stable." I explain. "If I tried to use the natural frequency of my snap, this jutsu falls apart. Understand?"
"What's 'pitch'? Is that like throwing things?" Saki asks. I should try to tone down the language I'm using, or she'll never understand what I'm getting at.
"Pitch is what a sound sounds like. So this," I hum a high note. "Is a high pitch. And this," I hum a low note. "Is a low pitch."
"Ohh! I get it now, ya know!" Saki announces happily.
"Sound is not like any other style of jutsu." I continue. "We need a something for our sound waves. Normally that's air. Sound makes the air vibrate, and our ears pick up that vibration. But sound works just as well with dirt, sand, water… anything that allows that vibration."
"What's 'vibation'?"
"Come let me show you." I say, motioning for her to come to me. I take her hand and place it on my throat. Then I start to hum loudly. She giggles a little, saying how that tickles. "Understand?"
"It's like really little movements that keep going back and forward?"
"Exactly." I nod, smiling at her. "So, what you would need to learn to do is fill that part that will make those vibrations with chakra. Then any sound made will be able to become your jutsu."
"So… with my guitar…" Hanabi asks curiously.
"I don't know how that will work. I would advise starting with just the strings, but when your chakra reserves are large enough, you might want to try filling the guitar's body with chakra as well, and see what that gets you." I say honestly. "There aren't any sound release masters here in Konoha. Everything I've learned through a book, and that book is often vague. But… there is an advantage to this. Everything I've learned to do via sound release is unique to me. That means there's no known way to counter it."
They each 'hmm', wondering about that.
"That's why I want you guys to become awesome with sound release as well. That way, I'll have people that can learn to counter my moves. Which will force me to come up with new ones." They smile proudly, knowing that I mean to make them great and nothing less than that. "So… what I want you three to focus on is making the purest notes you can. Sound release is picky. So that purer the note, the less trouble you have."
"And me?" Naru-nii asks.
"I'm skipping that part with you. I want to teach you the counter I came up with for my Siren's Call."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, but that means I'm going to need to help you to unlock sound release like today! So, we're going into the back yard and you're going to spam those clones of yours and we're going to get to work!"
8-8
I circle Sasuke, trying to find a hole in his guard. Trying to find the weak spot in his stance. I'm coming up empty-handed though! This is supposed to be taijutsu only. So, technically, I have the advantage. But, Captain decided to have me spar with him using my flute again. I don't understand why, but I'm not arguing with the man. This is something I need to master like yesterday!
"You know, this is almost unfair, Aya." Sasuke comments. "You can't use your hands, and I'm still not sure I can take you."
I glare at him, knowing that if I stop making music I automatically lose the spar – Captain's rules. I roll my eyes at him, knowing he's just trying to make me lose.
I kick at his head, testing his response. I try to balance my breathing with my body's natural response to the kicks. Thank Kami-sama I've already learned to fight to a beat through Capoeira, or this would be nearly impossible!
He ducks under my kick, tapping the back of my calf with his fist. I nod, acknowledging the point he made – if he'd hit me, my breathing would be affected and my music would stop. So I need to focus on my defence and only attack when he shows an opening. Got it.
I back off a bit, letting him come to me this time. He throws a punch aimed at my gut, but I knee it off course and snap my shin towards his face. I only tap him though, showing him the same respect he showed me.
He nods, backing off. He knows I'm still not used to fighting like this, so he's trying to help me get used to it. After all, Captain already said that after this it's Naruto-clone-brigade time… again. I try not to groan, seeing as that would mess up my music. I switch songs, seeing the annoyance from my partner. I really like playing Sakura while sparring with Sasuke – it messes with his head just enough to create an opening.
Just as he rolls his eyes, I dash to him and kick him behind the knee. After landing on his knee and bending his foot almost painfully, his head snaps to me, annoyed. I'm eye-smiling, trying not to laugh. He nods though, accepting my point; don't drop your guard.
8-8
After breakfast the next morning, the most annoying thing ever happens. Naru-nii decides he needs to take me shopping. Now, normally this is a good thing – how could shopping ever be a bad thing after all. The problem…?
"Now that you mention it, you're right, Naruto. I'll be taking you three somewhere special." Captain agreeing with anything social is never a good thing. I make sure to eat just a little extra, and I wolf down two extra packs of chocolate mousse. I don't doubt for a second that this is going to end up being more trouble than it's worth.
And… of course… I have to be right. Where does Captain lead us? Anbu Headquarters. "Are we even allowed to be here? I mean, we're not under arrest are we?" I complain, but even to me it sounds like more of a whine.
"Would you relax? We're just here to do some light shopping." Captain says, amused. I groan. Shopping? In Anbu Headquarters? What are we shopping for? Trouble?
Everyone we pass stares at us openly, each and every one of them wondering the same thing we are: what are three kids doing here?
"Oi, Weasel, it's been a while." Captain waves lazily at the man.
"Something I need to know?" The man codenamed 'weasel' asks. I feel his eyes on me especially.
"SJ9246PSTU-5."
…
What?
There's a low whistle. "What do you need?"
"The basics." Okay, someone start explaining something!
"Weapons?"
"No, they're stocked up."
"Gloves."
"That's part of the basics."
"True, but so are weapons. What kind of masks?"
"Hawk. Fox. Wolf."
"… I just hope history won't repeat itself." There's a pause. "Hawk, these are yours." Sasuke walks up, taking the items he's offered. "Fox. You're up." Naru-nii does the same. "Wolf." I'm handed my items. "I worked with your mother. Do her proud, ya hear?"
"Nn." I noise. Wondering what all of this even means. I look at the items I'm given; black clothes, a white flak jacket, a wolf mask (still completely white). Are we… joining Anbu?
8-8
Captain leads us into a room, empty other than a desk and four chairs. He sits behind the desk, telling us to take a seat. We do, but… my head's still kind of swimming in the situation to be honest. "While in this room, I will talk, you will listen. I am in charge, you are to follow orders. There will be no questions, only instructions."
"You are not joining Anbu." He says simply. "What you are doing is starting your Anbu training so that, once completed, you may be asked to join Anbu."
But… I'm only twelve. And I'm already being considered?
"The training takes anywhere from one to three years, depending on how fast you master what you're expected to. You will each be assigned a role in the team, and you will be expected to master the skills of that role without question." Captain isn't letting up in his little 'pep talk'.
"Fox, you are our trap master and tracking and stealth specialist." Fox-nii nods, happy this is playing into his strengths.
"Hawk, you are our scout and assassin." Hawk nods, but doesn't really react otherwise.
"Wolf, you are our medic and defensive specialist." I nod. My skills seem to be developing in those directions anyway.
"You will each be given a task. If you complete that task, you will be given a scroll with a skill to master. Only once you master that scroll will you be given another task. No one is allowed to know of this. And while wearing your mask, you may reveal your identity to no one. That means covering any identifiable trait, masking your natural body language and changing your speech pattern. You will bathe using special soaps and shampoos to erase your natural scent. You will use different weapons while in uniform. And you will not mistake one persona for the other. Your Anbu persona and your alter ego are two separate entities, treat them as such."
I nod, not quite believing this to be real, but understanding it nonetheless. "I will be your trainer. I will give you your tasks, and I will give you your scrolls. No Anbu operative other than me is to be obeyed. And only Hokage-sama's word weighs heavier than my own."
"Hawk. I assume you have signed your clan's contract. If you have not, you will sign it today. Starting next week, your hell will at my beck and call."
8-8
Head. Swimming. Anbu…? Anbu. Trainee, but Anbu.
I'm being considered for Anbu? Sure, I still have to go through a hellish training before I can really be asked to join, but… we're being considered!
And I have the wolf mask too! Just like mama! But… that leads to so many problems. First of all, I need to start really hitting the ball out of the park, every time I swing. That's… impossible, but I need to try anyway.
I need to keep my Anbu gear in a scroll so no one ever finds it… heh, my Anbu gear.
Aya. Focus. You need to focus. How do you create two separate personas using the same skill set and not allowing anyone to identify one based on the other? Alright, let's break this down.
Sound release is not used in Konoha, and people know I use it. So sound release goes to 'Aya'. Summoning wolves, and the jutsus surrounding that are a Namiki thing, and people will automatically make the connection. Wolf-related jutsus go to 'Aya'. That doesn't leave a whole lot, now does it. That means that my kodachis will just have to go to 'Wolf'. I'll keep my tanto for 'Aya' seeing as I can combine sound release with it.
I'll keep my earth release jutsus for 'Wolf', and I'll see if I can't learn some barrier jutsus or something for 'Wolf' as well. But it'd have to be non sound release, non Namiki hidden barrier jutsu. Maybe Captain would know one I could learn? Time will tell.
8-8
"You getting a headache from this too?" Naru-nii asks. I look to him, wondering what he means. "What Kaka-sensei talked about earlier?"
I shrug. "It'll be annoying, but I think we'll manage." I say, rubbing his upper arm soothingly. "Besides. Don't you think the future Hokage can handle this?"
He grins at that. Then he turns to Sasuke. "What about you? Think you can stay ahead for long?"
"Seeing as I'm studying much higher level jutsus of my clan, I think I'll manage." He says, smirking.
Uchiha clan jutsus? "But…"
"Not using every skill available to you while on a mission is suicide. Do not limit yourself." Sasuke explains seriously. I nod, understanding – though not really liking it. "Besides, while on missions it'll just be us. And we know."
I smile. Yeah, I like that idea.
8-8
Looking around, I can't help but smile. We're in the Akimichi restaurant, celebrating 'another successful mission' – that's what Captain told the others at least. Naturally, that means that the WHOLE PACK is here!
Chouji-kun is sitting next to me. Naru-nii is sitting next to Hina-nee. Sasuke is with Asami – both of them look uncomfortable about the implications. Ino and Nara-san – neither of them caring who they sit next to. Yoshino-sensei – who's been glaring at Captain every chance she gets, so I think she understands but hates this with a fiery passion. Hanabi, Saki and Yasu-nee are here as well. Along with Haku and Momochi-san? Not sure why he's here, but… meh.
"Ah, I thought I might find you all here." Hokage-dono announces his arrival. "Would you mind if I join you?"
"Please do." Captain announces, seating his boss between himself and Yoshino-sensei. I can only smirk at that not so subtle bullet-dodge. Still, Yasu-nee blushes a little as Captain is now sitting next to her…? Interesting, interesting.
"To what do we owe the pleasure, Hokage-sama?" Yoshino-sensei asks, her tone pleasant.
"I happen to live not too far from here? And I'm hungry?" He offers, his tone completely neutral. I don't buy it.
"Uh huh." And neither does Sensei. "You do realise that I'm going to be giving you one headache after another over this?"
"Now, now, Yoshino-chan. Whatever do you mean?" He plays innocent. Yoshino-sensei knows the rules – she can't tell anyone.
"Hey, Sensei, I was wondering if you could help me with something tomorrow?" I change the subject.
"Sure, but now I'm curious." She eyes me sternly – almost like she's warning me to stay out of the conversation.
"Well, I've been working on adapting the shadow crow jutsu so that I can make other animals out of it, maybe even alter their colour through subtle genjutsu. But I can't seem to form the thing as anything but a crow." I give it all in one go. I'd ask Captain to help me, but… no. Just no.
"Hmm… I think I know just the thing." She says, but still glares at me; don't think I didn't notice the 'convenient timing'. Busted.
The waitress comes and takes our orders, smiling extra brightly at Hokage-sama. She fades into the woodwork quickly after that. "You know what I don't get? Why is it that you guys get all the mislabelled missions? I mean, that's like the fourth one?"
"Third." Sasuke corrects.
"Yes, Hokage-sama. Why do they keep getting mislabelled missions?" Yoshino-sensei is at it again.
"Well, let's see. If a missions is labelled as a C-rank, but the interviewer of the client suspects something they can't prove…" He trails off, mostly because Yoshino-sensei is sitting next to him and looks very much like a volcano about to erupt. "But it could also just be a coincidence?" He finishes lamely.
8-8
Night found Naru-nii and I in the visitors' sitting room again. A sealing arts night. It's quite… interesting to note that both Naru-nii and I have 'beings' studying in the hidden library – he has four shadow clones, I have eight shadow crows (they take up less space).
"You're getting better, you know." Sasa-nee tells me, smiling. I look down at the VERY simple seal she has me practising. It's basically just a heartbeat counting seal, nothing special. If you place it over an artery, the seal would count the heartbeats. That's it. It doesn't tell you what the number is, and it doesn't do anything else, it just counts on into infinity.
"I am?"
"Yeah." She confirms. "So much so that I think it's time you worked on a simple tandem seal."
"A… tandem seal?"
"Uh huh. Tandem seals are seals that work together – you know, 'in tandem'?" She explains. "Since you're Naruto-kun's personal medic. I think it's best for you to mostly focus on medical seals. So I figure a vital signs scroll will work really well for you. So we're going to make the pieces so you'll always have something one hand to help you take care of the twerp for me." She winks.
"You do realise I can hear you. Right?" Naru-nii doesn't sound impressed.
"Good news, Aya. You don't have to check his hearing anytime soon." She bates him further. She likes getting on his case while he's working on a seal – and he gets back at her by being loud and obnoxious while she's reading a book.
"And even better news. I taught Kono-chan something new. I'm sure he'll be more than happy to show you." Touché, Naru-nii, touché. Asami pales slightly, unsure if she even wants to know what that might mean for her.
"Anyway." She waves is off, but still looks a bit flustered. "You already have the first seal hear down pat. So I'll just show you the tandem seal that can actually show you what this one is recording. Now, keep in mind that this is a good deal more complex, but I'll explain the parts as I go, okay?"
I nod, wondering about that. "Now, the lowest layer of the seal is the transceiver. That simply means it transmits and receives information from outside of the seal. Now, you have to keep in mind that this dot right here, is what we call a connector. It connects multiple layers of the same seal to each other, to exchange information within the seal."
Okay… "How is that different from a 'transceiver'?"
"Well, transceivers only work with information from outside the seal itself, while the connector only works with information within the seal. And on top of that, there are different parts to a connector… there's splitters, EITHER, OR, NEITHER, NOR, AND, and a few other really important symbols you need to remember while drawing a seal. Not to mention you have to stay within a certain seal scripting language."
"… huh…?" Can we go back to speaking Japanese, please? Because this makes no sense.
"Hey, I said I was going to explain it as I go, didn't I?" I blink. "Look, I've been teaching you and Naruto the Uzumaki sealing script. Which means that everything you learn from me will work well with each other, but horribly with anything anyone here in Konoha makes. They all use the Fujiwara sealing script." Yes, that makes so much sense now.
"Put it this way. Sealing scripts are like different languages. If you make a seal in one language, it can only understand seals made in the same language. Get it?"
I take a second to think about it. Yeah, that sort of makes sense. I nod.
"Good. Now, the different parts of a seal are called matrixes. These matrixes each have their own function, and each stands or fails on their own. But if every other matrix works perfectly, and just one fails, the seal won't work the way you want it to. That's because the job of that function won't get done." She really knows what she's talking about.
Why do I suddenly feel like just spending the day with Chouji-kun?
Huh? Aya! Focus, Aya!
8-8
After lunch –Captain pretty much owns our mornings these days– I decide that today's that day. The day that I bug Chouji-kun until he tells me why he won't ask me on a date.
I nod, liking my decision more than ever. "Naru-nii, I'm heading out."
"Where you off to?" He asks, working on some new wind jutsu with Sasa-nee.
"To get some answers. I've been patient enough." I answer vaguely. He understands though; the look in his eyes, the knowing smile. He understands all too well.
"May I come with you?" Haku asks. Our eyes meet briefly – she's begging wordlessly. Oh yeah, her mission and all of that crap. I nod, telling Naru-nii that I'll be back later.
We make our way to the gate, down the road, and into the busy streets of the Shinobi District. I don't really mind too much anymore. I still get really nervous in crowds and especially jittery if people are getting too close to me, but I'm feeling a bit more solid in my shoes these says… if that's a thing.
Either way, we make our way to the Clan District without a word. She's mostly just enjoying the hustle and bustle of the village, I'm enjoying the fact that no one's starting any craziness this time. And oh yeah, we still need to take Haku and Momochi-san out to a restaurant. I can't let Naru-nii forget that! The promise of one is the promise of the pack, after all.
8-8
I find myself in training ground three, located on the outskirts of the Clan District. Sarutobi-sensei is running Team Ten ragged, but seeing as they're mostly just doing a cool down, I'll just assume he's not nearly as bad as Captain.
I sit in the sunlight, patiently waiting for them to finish. It takes almost a half hour, but I don't mind too much. I've been working hard lately, so not doing anything for a while is just… divine!
When they're done, Ino waves to her sensei and rushes over, plopping onto the ground next to me. Chouji-kun and Nara-san are slow to follow, but they eventually land nearby as well. Nara-san seems especially happy to just lay in the grass and watch the clouds float by.
"So, Aya, what brings you all the way out here?" Ino asks. I blush, wondering what to say. "Ah. I see. Haku, right? Well, Haku-chan, our team usually breaks for lunch about now. And sensei always takes us out to eat. Want to go with us? I think Aya wants… a little privacy."
Haku and Chouji-kun both look to me, wondering about that. "That sounds lovely." Haku agrees, getting up. "Aya, will you be joining us shortly?" She asks.
"Nn. This shouldn't take too long." I hope. Ino, Haku and Nara-san make their way over to Sarutobi-sensei, and they agree to head over to wherever they're going to 'get a good seat', or something.
Chouji-kun swallows nervously, hearing the other's (Ino's) chatter fading into the distance. "There's something I need to talk to you about." I begin, feeling nervous myself.
He nods seriously, trying to sit comfortably but appear interested too. "Sure. What's up?"
I can feel my heart throbbing in my throat. Am I really going to go through with this? "Why haven't you asked me out yet?" Obviously I am. I fight to control my breathing – before I hyperventilate or something.
"…" He blushes deeply, looking away. He obviously didn't see this coming.
"And for that matter…" Aya, shut up. Shut up, right now! "What exactly are we?" Kami-sama! No matter how much better I'm getting at this whole 'social thing', I still suck BIG TIME!
"I… wish I had answers for you, Aya-chan." He says, still not looking at me. "But…"
"… but what?" I encourage him gently. I can't tell what's worse, the uncertainty or the nervousness that makes my lunch want to come back with a vengeance.
He sighs. "This can't work."
8-8
End Chapter 31
8-8
A/N: ... Ouch! This is... kind of a mean place to leave you. I've never pretended I'm not evil ^_^
Side note! Early in this chapter Kakashi (dog summoner) talks about 'dogs versus wolves', but Aya (wolf summoner) only talks about 'wolves vs dogs'. Subtleties, but they show the priorities of the speaker.
Until next time. *blows a kiss*