Chapter 39

I was angry.

But that wasn't anything new I suppose. A lot of how this country run upset me immensely. But I suppose that wasn't what made me so angry, no what made me angry was how little I could personally do to change it.

Every day I went there, every assignment of cleaning that showed me just how cruel and messed up this place could be was just another reason why I wanted to lash out at this country, at this system that allowed for this to happen. But again, there wasn't anything I could do about it, or at least anything that would make much of an impact. I was a single shinobi, I wasn't even a particularly powerful one. I could call forth powers or creatures that could stop through this system or change it. I didn't even have enough people on my side that could make a reasonable dent before being quickly and silently crushed by the government here. I wasn't helpless, but I might as well have been and it boiled me on the inside to know it was so.

Even the information I had, the knowledge that things would change didn't make it any better, because that didn't matter to the people it was happening too now. It didn't matter to those who had to scrape by in dark villages because the families had disowned them, or those who had to resort to thievery that may have led to them being captured. It didn't matter to anybody who made a wrong step and was imprisoned because of it. Because between then and when actual change will come they will suffer and die and it'll mean literally nothing.

But then doesn't most death.

I sat down quiet in my apartment as Kiriko spoke about her own courses as I pretended to read a book. Our team hadn't disbanded in our absence, but because I was gone Kiriko took an option to attend a basic course in medical jutsu during that period. It was an option for all support company who did well enough in the lessons about medicine they had during the final six months of shinobi training. I had asked her about it once or twice, but I probably already knew the answer. She like me hated to feel like she was useless. Nevermind that she was far from it.

In my previous life I played a lot of roleplaying games, usually ones where you were in a group, and honestly the person I was right now wasn't the type of character I'd usually play. In video games I was always the healer, the bard, the person good at crafting things. Basically a person who while they couldn't really solo was always needed and valued by other groups and players as nice to have around. That probably summed up my last life in a nutshell, I liked people, groups and being needed by them. Honestly Kiriko fit into that hole so well that in another world she probably wouldn't be in a situation like this. In my world she probably would hardly ever know strife or pain like she was destined to see here.

Well maybe.

If this world existed, another world might be even worse. Even in my world where I'd been lucky enough to be born in a first world country I knew someone was born in what was a much worse area everyday and died there alone and in fear.

I let out a sigh as my thoughts petered out. I was dwelling, I didn't want too but it didn't change how I felt. But I could hide it, at least for now. I looked up to see dark eyes looking at me. Her mouth was open and I found out what had happened.

"Ume were you listening?"

Yep, busted.

"I was reading, you know I have trouble multitasking."

Kiriko didn't buy it but didn't push. It had been about two weeks since my assignment had ended, so that time was pretty much just spent trying to catch up. It was harder than it probably should have been but I couldn't hold conversations for long the way I was currently. I was okay at hiding my emotions, but not great enough that prolong conversation wouldn't leak some of it into it. Benjiro, Gonmaru and Fujiko had been doing missions as normal, but got another C-Rank mission that they went on recently. Apparently they did well on it, because they were all well commended for stopping what had been an small uprising. From the looks on their faces though, I doubted they thought so. Chojuro, Mitsuki and Manami didn't get any C-Ranks but they were doing well in the mass battles, which helped because we were seeing Suigetsu less and less as he was being put out on more C rank missions.

It was disconcerting that I hadn't seen him in so long, even when I was on the assignment and couldn't attend training I saw my siblings and Chojuro because we all lived in the same set of military apartments and they'd come and visit. Though I didn't speak much to them when they did, I knew they were doing well. Suigetsu was a mystery at the moment, and I didn't need any more of those.

I put my book down when Kiriko announced it was time to go. We had been killing time before it was time for us to arrive at our meeting point. There was no point in staying outside longer than necessary, we were reaching the beginning of summer now that spring had passed and being outside for very long was only going to get more unpleasant as the days passed. While naturally summers in Kiri weren't the hottest in the kingdoms, I doubt we could be matched by sheer humidity. It was that thick humidity that sort of just clung to you when you were outside, and it was only going to get worse as the season went on. Still we all went to the meeting place designated which was actually just outside the Kishi compound, and we weren't the only one.

Team three (Chojuro, Mitsuki and Minami), and Team Four (Benjiro, Fujiko and Gonmaru) were there as well with their sensei's (Team four sensei was a female jonin named Hanako). We were all on time and Kansen nodded and led us into the Kishi compound. I walked with my team and whispered to Hiroshi.
"Do you know what this is about?"

He nodded but didn't say anything.

That was curious, was he not allowed to speak about it. Hiroshi had been mostly separate as well. According to Kiriko he had been receiving special tutoring in ninjutsu during the last three months.

We were brought through the compound to the main building. It was a large building, but not a very grand one. The Kishi were known for having a very minimalist style to their compounds, and this was no different. We were led through several doors into an office while large was crowded as every available space was filled if not with bookshelves lined with books, then with file cabinets. It was all neat and tidy, not a hint of dust and sitting at the desk looking through papers was an older man, late thirties if I had to guess. He had dark hair that was pulled back into a very tight bun that showed a severe widows pick. The same dark intelligent eyes of the Kishi and a rounded nose with sharp jawline that matched. I paused a step, I knew one other person with similar features and he was standing next to me.

Sitting in this huge office, I could be mistaken but it was likely that this was Hiroshi's father. Kishi Hiroto, the head of the Kishi family.

He didn't seem to notice us immediately but a younger woman came from a door that was hidden behind several bookshelves from our angle so it sort of looked like he came from nowhere and whispered something to him. He then looked up at us and smiled.

I didn't like it.

"Good morning genin, I see you found yourself here right on time. It is good that you are being taught properly."

He stood, wearing a simple but fine robe made in Kishi colors before walking around the desk.

"I am Kishi Hiroto."
He did a short incline of his head. We all responded with a much lower bow. It was customary.

"I have requested you all here to offer you a mission. This mission is unlike any you would be offered otherwise but with recent events we have managed to get its approval and wish for your cooperation to make a good showing for our village."

There was a pause none of us spoke out. Probably because we were all equally confused. Except of course for Hiroshi, who stood there silent. Hiroto didn't take it as an insult and continued.

"The mission I'm speaking of is in regards to the next chunin examination. Now this will be a very special one. Your three teams with the inclusion of Hozuki Suigetsu will be who we will choose our representatives for this year's chunin exam, in Kumogakure."

If we were confused before, we were stunned now.