Chapter 55
That night the jonin were in deep discussion for a strategy session based on the information gathered from the first round. The rest of us were left to our own devices so I planned some activities for us until Hiroshi and I were called.
We went into Chigetsu's room and were set around the table. Most the jonin looked solemn while Chigetsu sat with his hands folded.
"It's good to see you two, you both performed well. Though it was unfortunate that the rest of the genin had more mixed. But that's to be expected considering your deficiencies."
I didn't like the way he said that.
"That's not fair. Chojuro and Manami just got bad matches and Mitsuki was cornered so she took her opponent with her. If it was in the field it would have been the right thing to do."
"This isn't the field, it's a display of our abilities and strengths. Though Manami is an acceptable loss and even Mitsuki, Chojuro was just seen as weak even though he represents a martial clan."
Chigetsu continued but he didn't seem displeased at the result. Probably because it meant that Chojuro couldn't get to the semifinals and face Suigetsu.
"Anyway, we are not here to discuss the past, we are here to discuss what is to happen tomorrow."
He pulled out the renewed bracket shown in the betting book. I looked over if for a few moments. Suigetsu was the favorite from Kiri to win which wasn't a surprise since he was fighting Kiriko. What was a surprise was the setup for my bracket. I was actually favored to beat Hiroshi in the next match. Chigetsu placed a finger on that and frowned.
"This, this right here is a problem."
I looked at the book with Hiroshi who was looking on trying to find the mistake. We both knew going in that if we got past the first two rounds we'd have to fight.
"What's the problem they sho…"
"He wants me to forfeit."
I cut him off and the words made his head fly up surprised. Good for him for not even considering that possibility I suppose. Chigetsu shook his head.
"Not forfeit, that would look too convenient. However I think it would be in our best interest to insure the best candidate advances, don't you?"
Hiroshi and I stared at him and the other jonin. They were silent throughout this whole affair. Hiroshi looked shocked, I don't know what my expression said but I was less surprised and more resigned. While I had expected something like this happening, I had pinned my hopes that it wouldn't. That was a mistake on my part, the chunin exams weren't just about strength, it was about politics.
"So what, you want me to lose on purpose, but put on a show."
I looked at the jonin.
"Oh, and not tell the others because you don't want to affect morale is that it. Did you say the same to Kiriko, or do you not even factor her as a threat to Suigetsu."
"We plan on speaking to her as well. Suigetsu has the best odds of winning and we need the show of strength."
Kansen spoke up this time, his voice low. Hiroshi was speechless.
I looked at the three of them and shrugged my shoulders.
"Fine, whatever, I'll be your sacrificial lamb. Just don't blame me if this goes to hell later."
My anger seethed in the back of my mind but I didn't lash out, it wouldn't have been constructive. Instead, I turned around and left the bubble of the jutsu to muffle our voices and headed back to my room. Was I disappointed, yes. But I couldn't do anything about it, didn't really feel like doing anything about it. They didn't want to advertise me, that was fine. They could pick their own champion and deal with the consequences.
About two hours later, there was a knock on my door. I didn't open it immediately.
"Who's there?"
"Hiroshi."
He responded.
"I want to talk."
I leaned on the doorframe and rolled my eyes. I was still mad but had cooled down some. I didn't want to talk.
"Go away, I'm busy."
There was a pause on the other side of the door.
"Please, we really need to talk."
"I'm sure you're talked out with the others. I really don't have time for this. Go away."
I then turned and started to walk away before his voice came again.
"I brought candy floss."
The voice was a bit higher on the last few words. I paused, thought about my next course of action for about three seconds before I walked over and opened the door.
Low and behold, he had acquired probably from a vender a puffy stick of cotton candy that was bigger than his head. I opened the door wider and he walked in with it. When the door closed I grabbed a puff of the sweet sticky stuff and popped it into my mouth.
"How'd you know to get this stuff?"
"Kiriko told me that you alw…"
It was at that point that Hiroshi got a full view of the room Kiriko and me shared. Kiriko herself was seated at the table and beds that was covered with every available space with scrolls. Manami was in the kitchen juggling ingredients while Gonmaru was cutting vegetables. Mitsuki just walked in from the bathroom carrying a list and going over several scrolls while Suigetsu sat at the table drinking a fruity concoction.
"What in the world have you guys been doing?"
He moved to Kiriko first and watched her transcribe ink onto blank paper.
"Are those sealing scrolls?"
"Yep, if Mitsuki's right, we're going to need a lot of them. Me and Manami take turns copying them."
Kiriko smiled looking up. She was wearing her old clothing which was good because she was otherwise covered in ink.
Mitsuki turned to Hiroshi.
"We still need a few more, you're welcome to help if you like."
"I, what? What do you need these for, also are you guys cooking?"
Manami came out of the kitchen fiddling with a large jar.
"We're making jam! Also, a puree that Ume said is hard to make without one of those thingies."
She pointed at the now dirty and used food processor on the counter.
"Apparently Ume made some last night, it was what those sandwiches we had for lunch were made of."
Hiroshi turned and looked at me dumbstruck.
"You made those? I thought those were bought at a store. That brown sauce, I never tasted something so.."
"Peanut butter."
I walked past him and grabbed one of the jars off the counter.
"It's called peanut butter, and yes it's pretty good. I got a recipe for it out of a book. But because I got the book here it required a food processor so when Manami asked about it I told her if she wanted we could make some for her to bring home."
Gonmaru turned his head and pitched in.
"I'm making sauce too, how's this look."
I went over to the cutting board and looked at the garlic.
"Good, you minced it well."
Walking over to the stove I checked the tomatoes stewing on it.
"Go ahead and toss that in here. Once it cools we'll roll out the dough. Before that though we need to shred some cheese."
I opened the fridge and pulled out the large block of cheese.
"There's a shredder in one of the drawers."
I tossed Gonmaru the cheese and he caught it. Fantastic things about ninja, you can toss things across enclosed spaces and they'll freaking catch it.
Hiroshi looked at me then turned to Suigetsu.
"Are you a part of any of this?"
"Nah, I'm just here for the smoothies. Though Ume did promise to make me more if I bought a blender to bring back with us."
Suigetsu smiled as I walked out of the kitchen before reaching over and plucking some cotton candy from the large puff in my hand.
"A blender? Is that one of these machines? How in the world would you even use one Ume, you don't have electricity."
Hiroshi spoke up and I put a hand on my hip.
"Batteries, lots of batteries."
I leaned on the counter and started to bite into my cotton candy.
Hiroshi looked around.
"But those are expensive, how do you even.."
I made a handsign for private conversation. He walked close enough and did the air bubble jutsu.
I looked at him and said.
"I may have a way to recharge batteries without using a jutsu or a lightning rod. One that can be used anywhere with a minor installation. It's only a theory right now, but I've looked at some of the machines and I think I can make it happen."
He looked at me for a few moments and scrunched his face.
"Ho, how is that possible, and if it is, it could, good lord."
He looked at the others.
"Do they know?"
"Kiriko knows, but I don't trust the others not to let it slip. Mitsuki and I have been buying spent batteries in bulk. They're cheaper than regular batteries. Chojuro is currently out gathering information about some of the components."
"Chojuro,"
He looked around the entire room.
"Is this where you have all been all day? I thought you were going to see the festival."
I shrugged my shoulder.
"When Kiriko and I opted out to rest up for tomorrow, the rest followed suit. We're much less likely to have something happen if we all stick together after all. Chojuro went out already because he's already knocked out of the tournament it's not likely anybody will attack him to put him out of the running. But anyway, that's not what you came here to talk about right."
Hiroshi looked at me for a few moments before starting.
"I, well yes. No, I didn't mean to talk about this. But good lord, how did you pull all this together so quickly. Look at all this stuff."
"Most of it I bought with Mitsuki, the Mizushima gave her a stiffen to get a certain amount of supplies to bring back to Kiri, however, they overestimated the rate of inflation by a lot so she had a lot of leftover money."
I leaned on the counter.
"What, you're doing this on the Mizushima's dime? Are you insane?"
Hiroshi looked at the supplies and the paper.
"Hey, they sent us here to get whatever we could to open up trade possibilities. Making something new to export from something we can import is a great way to do that. If I can get the recipes down, I think I can add some regional specialties to the Land of Water, as well as crops to add to our farming to make it."
Hiroshi stared at me as I munched on my cotton candy processing that before he came back around.
"Okay, okay. So whatever you're doing with everyone else, that's a side matter. We need to talk about the match. I just, I don't."
"Do you want me to stage it or fight you for real?"
I cut through to the center of the matter and he looked like he was thinking.
"I don't want you to stage it, I don't want you to throw it. I want too, I want…"
He trailed off and looked down.
"I want to earn it, really earn it. I don't want it to be given to me like, like everything else in my life. It, it'll mean more if I do."
I nodded to him.
"So you wouldn't mind if I say, break your wrists."
I looked at him seriously,
"Or if I pinned you and held you in a hold until I knocked you out. You have to realize what fighting me for real is Hiroshi. I don't hold back, not against ninja, I can't."
"I know,"
He let out a breath.
"I don't want you too. I want this to be real, I won't be able to survive if I can't win in a situation like that. I know it'll hurt, but it's supposed too. This isn't supposed to be, well as easy as it has been for me."
I reached out and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Nothing that's happened has made this easy, not for any of us. You may have had a leg up but we all have our advantages."
He breathed out a sigh.
"I suppose so, but really, don't hold back, try to win, I don't care what they say. We're supposed to show the crowd our best, any less wouldn't be worth."
I smiled at him as I licked some of the sugar off my fingers. I had just planned on throwing the match cause I honestly didn't have much desire to become a chunin. Advancement in this world didn't mean much in my mind and I just wasn't ambitious enough to go for it on my own. But if he wanted a fight, if he wanted me to go all out so he could really try and earn that spot in the tournament. I would.
"Alright, I won't hold back. But just remember. You were warned."
