Song: Edge of the Earth (nightcore)
By: 30 Seconds to Mars
"You are looking particularly enthusiastic today, Kabuto. Care to share?"
"Oh, nothing of too much importance, my lord. I am simply going to be doing a medical examination a possible interesting new recruit of Danzo's. Nothing for you to worry about."
"Hm, is that so? Well, I trust you to report should anything interesting come up…"
The only response was a smirk.
You will sleep on this bed.
A thin, long room with numerous bunk beds lining the two sides. Enough to fit thirty people (children). At the end, a single door led to a single bathroom and a single shower.
There were no windows, only a single light for the long room.
A bunk bed, towards the middle of the room, was pointed out. There was nothing special about it, no decorations. The sheets were plain white, as was the pillow. Just like every other one.
You will wake every morning at 5:00am, you will march in an orderly fashion into the corridor and line up for your teacher to collect your class.
Outside the bunker room (I wouldn't even deign to call it a dorm), a corridor just as bland as the rest of the place was dimly lit even though not a light or torch could be seen. It stretched in two directions which both turned into two more corridors. Every now and then, a door labelled with a number could be seen. My bunker was titled 'K-44'.
This is your timetable. It is no different to any other child of your bunker, save for Saturday in which you will undergo specialised training.
Monday to Friday: Taijutsu in the mornings, spying/subterfuge midday and emotional training evenings, finishing at 9:00pm.
Saturday: Specialised training.
Sunday: History and applicable concepts.
The rest of your induction will occur tomorrow, with the rest of dormitory B-44.
Not a single inflection marred her tone, not a note of emotion. It was uncanny, in the worst way.
Do not ask questions, do not talk back, do not speak unless ordered. You are nothing. Feel nothing. This is how true peace will be accomplished; to rid mankind of its emotions a perfect world will be created. A world without pain and suffering, an efficient and flawless system of life directed by Danzo-sama. Danzo-sama paves this future; we are simply tools to be used and disposed as he sees fit. Soon, you will learn this. Accept this ideal, live this ideal.
I wanted to scream, to tell her how wrong this all was. But I didn't. I didn't, even as countless questions swarmed around my head, all unanswerable by the being in front of me.
Your name will be 737-A until you are assigned a permanent one.
I stayed silent.
Hail Danzo-sama.
It began.
DAY 1 (Friday)
"Today, we will be practicing simple kata movements, before moving onto strength and endurance training before finishing with some light sparring."
-Taijutsu training- 'light' sparring-
"Beat her while she is down. Show no mercy."
The boy trembled slightly at the sensei's gaze and turned back to me with a gulp, but his eyes, my god his eyes burned with the will to impress his teacher. What else could he do, after all?
But that didn't really help my predicament.
Maybe, had I been just as young mentally as he, I would have been the same.
But I wasn't, and so I didn't know what to do.
I sat up and covered my injured eye with my hand. I didn't move, my breath caught in my throat as I saw the tearful eyes of my opponent, fearful yet not at all apologetic.
Well excuse-me, I should have been the one scared here. Oh wait, I was.
Children at this age, I remembered from a class long ago, are generally egocentric by no fault of their own.
He lunged forward, and I closed my eyes tightly. There was a sickening crunch on my hand that was holding me up in my sitting position.
So, that's how I ended up with a black eye and broken finger. Really, what were we, five? And already the boy broke my finger just to please the teacher.
I had to admit, I went down screaming like a banshee, clutching my hand. I mean, a black eye is bearable, but not a fucking broken finger!
The teacher made a pleased sound at the boy.
Then;
"Stand up, 737-A. You will not scream or cry. Consequences of failure to comply include beatings, temporary starvation or isolation."
I stood.
I shut my mouth.
I dried my tears.
And I punched the other boy in the face, completely catching him off guard. He screamed and clutched his nose which was bleeding profusely.
No one messes with my beautiful face.
My moment of triumph only lasted as long as it took for our sensei to inform the boy that he was to meet him down in room 241 at 'twenty-hundred' for disciplinary action.
"Good tactic, 737-A. As you were."
And it continued.
"Today you will be introduced to the art of lock-picking and recognising traps, including basic fuuinjutsu traps."
-Subterfuge training- lock-picking-
"737-A, the wire you chose is correct, however a better place to hide it would be in a wig or stuck to the bottom of a shoe. Understood?"
I beat back a flush of embarrassment.
"Understood," I mumbled to the white mask looming above me.
"Remove it now."
I cringed but hurriedly reached into my pants and drab underwear (provided by Root) to remove the piece of wire.
"Today you will learn how to wield several instruments of torture along with the weakest and most painful parts of the human anatomy. You will then withstand mild verbal abuse without reaction. Finally, a small tour will guide you through the T&I department, in which you will one day aid in the extraction of information from criminals."
-Emotional training- the T&I department-
The T&I turned out to be joined to Root. There was a single door, hidden to those of the T&I department, that opened up into the office of one Ibiki Morino.
Pathetic hope welled in my chest.
If Ibiki is here, maybe he'll help us?
Ibiki Morino simply nodded to our sensei as we entered his office, not standing up from where he was seated at his desk.
"Room twenty seven," he told our sensei.
When his eyes briefly swept over us, the group of children newly recruited, grieving, tired, and scared, I saw nothing resembling sympathy. In fact, he remained as expressionless as any other Root member.
"A good haul this time," was all he murmured, before turning away.
All my hopes crashed down.
It made something blindingly clear, something terrible;
Root wasn't all so cut off from the rest of the village as I'd expected.
The hokage sanctioned this, allowed it, used the services provided for his own benefit.
How could he? How dare he?
And then our sensei ushered us from the office.
Various people that we passed, obviously employees, didn't even give us a second glance. I think I even recognised Inoichi through one of the obscure glass windows. Inside, he sat at a plain metal table across from a man that was cuffed to his chair. The man appeared to be crying.
I didn't see any more than that though, for we didn't stop to stare.
It was immaculate, the whole department. White blinded me upon walking the halls, from the gleaming tiles to the plain walls to the luminescent lights.
It would make the red stand out all the more in the cuboid room we entered.
Room 27.
In the middle, a criminal hung from a frame, his ankles and wrists holding him in place. He was blindfolded, and his torso was bared for all to see.
"I will demonstrate," our sensei began tonelessly, "the proper way to extract information."
And from his pouch he produced a single kunai.
"You may have a shower. No longer than two minutes, or their will be severe consequences."
I was much dirtier than I expected, in the literal interpretation of the word, for my short hair washed out several layers of dirt and grit, and on the top layer blood.
And beneath the dry mud caking my hair, white revealed itself.
I only knew because the metal frame of the shower blurrily reflected it back at me (for no mirrors were present), in a moment where my eyes wandered. But I couldn't stop to stare, for my two minutes were quickly coming to an end.
But still.
White. Hair.
THAT'S FUCKING AWESOME!
DAY 2 (Saturday)
"You may refer to me as Yugi-sensei. I will be teaching you to utilise a bastardised version of the 'Adamantine Attacking Chains' of the Uzumaki clan."
-Specialised training-
My sensei and I (I was having private lessons with a different teacher) stood in a large clearing outside the village where no one could see us. An underground Root passage had brought us here, and I knew that on the edge of the clearing was a secret entrance.
I dared not ask her if she was an Uzumaki, for fear of the repercussions. She didn't have red hair, rather her hair was a dark purple, the same shade as her eyes, and she wasn't wearing a mask. She seemed fairly young, maybe in her early thirties. Her hair was in a simple braid tucked into the back of her vest so it wouldn't get in the way.
"I can tell you're dying to ask. Ask away."
I blinked in confusion.
Is this a trap?
"Fine, I'll answer for you. Yes, I have Uzumaki heritage. I'm not wearing a mask because I don't want to and Danzo-sama can't fucking make me. I may work for him, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. Lastly, the chain style is called 'Circulation Chains' and we'll get into theory later. The point of you learning it is to restrain the kyuubi, and deplete its chakra therefore reducing it to a manageable size and power."
A pause in which she took a breath.
"By the way, you can ask questions and whatnot."
I stared at her blankly, deciding not to fall for the bait. If it was bait.
She seemed like a crackpot to me. Why would Danzo let her work for him with that attitude? It must be a trap.
She rolled her eyes.
"Understood, you mindless runt?"
Annoyance flared inside me, but I had the permission required. She'd made it an order, after all, therefore I couldn't be blamed later.
So, pretty much we were playing a crappy version of 'Simon Says'.
"Understood," I replied, still keeping my voice as flat as possible. I didn't want to get called out on showing emotions after all, even if the woman was basically asking for it.
Maybe this was considered another form of 'verbal abuse' training?
Day 3 (Sunday)
"Today you will begin learning basic chakra theory. A recent bingo book, general edition, will be handed out and expected to be memorised by next week. In the future you will be expected to know the recorded history of all the nations."
-History and applicable subjects-
I was dead tired, my muscles aching, low on chakra and my eyes felt dry and heavy.
To sum it up, I felt like shit. The other kids seemed to be adapting fairly fast, but not me. Definitely not. I hadn't slept a wink for the last two days.
So it really shouldn't have been a surprise when I fell asleep (or more like unconscious) at my desk. The desks were divided to only fit one person per desk (I don't know why I was surprised) so I didn't have to worry about anyone sitting next to me.
It was almost like I could imagine it being like a lecture in my old life. I suppose that's why I let my guard down.
That was my first mistake.
Thwack.
I jolted upright, my eyes shot open and I clutched the back of my head, where I had been hit with a history book, if the thick book in sensei's hand was any indication.
"737-A, you will report to room 241 at twenty-hundred for disciplinary action," Sensei stated coldly.
The other kids were already filing out of the room, the first half of the lesson obviously over.
Score for me! I'd slept for almost 6 hours!
I certainly wasn't thinking that at 8pm that night.
I didn't make the same mistake again.
DAY 4 (Monday)
Ate sludge- sorry, 'breakfast'.
Trained.
Ate muck. What do you mean? Did I say that? No, I said lunch.
Learnt how to recognise certain fuuinjutsu traps.
Got verbally abused.
Tortured a spy for information. (I do not know them, therefore they do not matter. I don't care that they're screaming, I don't care).
Ate shit- whoops, I meant dinner.
2 minute cold shower, trying not to let the water hit my back. Washed the blood off myself (but it never seemed to come off my hands).
Lay in small, thin bunk-bed on my stomach, trying not to focus on the movement of the bed caused by the kid below me.
Day 15 (FRIDAY)
Ate breakfast.
Trained.
Saw a boy get punished for giggling.
Learnt how to act like a civilian maid.
Got horribly verbally abused (with a straight face).
Tortured a captured missing-nin (with a straight face).
Was called to see Danzo.
My heart pounded in my throat. What had I possibly done to be called up by Danzo?
I swallowed as the Root member that collected me, Feretto, left me in front of the large mahogany door.
"Knock twice and enter," he ordered behind his white ferret mask before vanishing.
I paused a moment, took a deep breath, and placed my knuckles against the door.
I rapped twice, twisted the handle and walked in with my head down.
I bowed low immediately, before I'd even looked around the room, and waited.
"Stand, 737-A. Come forwards." He stood from his chair and moved around his desk as he spoke.
The voice of the man I hated most seemed to echo in the dimly lit room. The only furnishing was a single desk and chair, stacks of papers neatly arranged on the desk. A step located in the middle of the room ensured he was raised above any visitors.
I slowly raised my upper body until I was standing once more, fighting back my emotions as I fixed my gaze on his shoes. This was standard, had I met his eyes it would have been a sign that I viewed him as an equal or below me. For once, I was glad for this, otherwise he might have noticed the hatred burning in my eyes.
As I moved forwards, he stepped down the step and waited patiently as I stopped before him, but a metre away.
If only I'm strong enough to kill him now…
"Closer, 737-A."
Oh, how I hate him.
I forced back a grimace as I took another step closer, easily within arm's reach of him.
Is he going to hit me? Am I getting punished for something?
"Look up and open your mouth."
I slowly raised my eyes until I was staring up at the X on his chin, a good spot to focus on. I opened my mouth wide, confused but not daring to speak.
What the hell?
I couldn't quite manage to reign in my flinch when he put his disgusting, filthy blood-stained hand in my mouth and on my tongue.
Ew! Who does he think he is, putting his hand down my throat like that?
My tongue burned slightly and his hand pulled away within moments, luckily before I did anything in panic. Like grab his cane and hit him in the balls with it. Or bite his fingers off. Either option seemed good to me.
"You have now been gifted with the Root curse seal, meaning you may now leave the compound. You are to begin your new mission, mission 8-oh-f, in five days. You will be prepared for it within the next four days.
Your mission is to report on the status of the demon boy and become friendly with him. You have my permission to accept any invitations from him if it will benefit the mission, and you may extend your own.
This is a longstanding mission. Am I understood?"
I blinked.
Did he just say what I think he said?
Just give you permission to leave the compound as long as you meet with Naruto? Yes, yes he did.
Fuck yea.
I'd likely fall behind on my training though, but hopefully I could deal with it if it came to it.
Plus, most people in Root had their own agendas (though normally not at my skill-level) and since my whole purpose was to befriend Naruto and learn to restrain the kyuubi, I probably wouldn't have to worry too much about other missions and skills in the near future.
(Not that new recruits got hard missions where skills were actually required until they had trained or specialised enough.)
"Understood," I murmured. If Danzo realised I had avoided saying 'Danzo-sama', he didn't comment.
"I expect good results, 737-A. Dismissed."
Song: Edge of the Earth (nightcore)
By: 30 Seconds to Mars
Adventures of the Gang
Pt. 3 Cards (2)
By: Shinda Shikai
Edited by: Dragondancer81
"You better hope you don't catch his attention," the boy uttered.
Yurei shivered. Kidnappings and human trafficking weren't exactly uncommon in this area, and if that was what the blond haired boy meant…
"A steady hand," the jester man observed as Emi instinctively flicked out the cards in a graceful, seamless manner, shuffling in a matter of seconds. "It seems like you two are quite the veterans, even at such young ages."
Neither responded.
Takeshi discreetly caught Eri's attention, and using the knowledge he had of Akemi's sign language, he signed 'throw the fight'.
Eri nodded, her knee 'accidentally' bumping Emi's knee and quickly signing the message to her under the small, low table.
"So, what are your names?" the man asked casually, watching as Emi spread the cards face-down across the table in a single fluid movement.
"Emiko," Eri replied with only the slightest hesitation. "And this is Akane."
"And your cute little friends behind me?"
Yurei and Takeshi stiffened, the red-haired boy hissing lowly under his breath. The other girl remained expressionless, watching as the game began. Yurei was not happy. This whole situation was turning badbadbad really fast. It was beginning to scare him.
"We don't know them. They're nobodies."
"Get Junko just in case," Yurei hissed urgently to Takeshi.
She would know what to do. She was the leader, after all.
Takeshi nodded and quickly ran off to find her. He shouldn't take too long, after all the stall was fairly close.
"So where are your parents? Nearby?" The man continued smiling amiably, looking amused as Emi picked a card at random. They weren't sequencing it anymore, after all.
"Our father's just in there," Emi lied, pointing at an adult shop. "He should be out soon."
Yurei fidgeted anxiously.
"Get the hell out of here!" the blond boy whispered furiously. "He's playing around, that means he's interested!"
"I'm no' leaving them! And what are ya even talkin' 'bout?" Yurei whispered back, outraged.
The girl rolled her eyes upon hearing his response, and there was no reply.
Eri's hand trembled ever so slightly as she turned the last card, the one that would ensure their certain loss.
Yurei breathed out ever so slightly in relief.
"Ah damn, I knew I shouldn't have turned that," Eri's voice was high pitched, unable to quite keep the anxiety from her voice.
"Aw, what a shame. And here I was hoping you would demonstrate some of those skills you were utilising earlier… You see, I'm quite the player myself." The man's face split into a wide smile.
Yurei blinked in confusion. He was fairly sure he would have noticed if this man had come to watch at any point. He was hard to miss, after all.
"Ahah…" Emi laughed sheepishly, and hastily grabbed 45 ryo from her pouch.
"Anyway, it seems our luck ran out so here. Thanks for playing!" she shoved money towards the man, radiating impatience for him to leave.
The man pouted.
"How could I take money from poor, hungry kids like yourselves? You know, my home is always open to kiddies in need…"
"Huh?" Emi asked in confusion, withdrawing the money slowly, as if in disbelief.
Is this a trick? Is he going to take us away?
The blond boy made furious slit-throat motions behind the man, directed at Emi.
And then Junko reappeared with Takeshi at her heels, Akemi trailing behind.
"What's going on here?" she demanded immediately, coming to stand aggressively before the man, placing her hands on her hips.
The black-haired girl face-palmed.
"Oh? Are you the go-to, then?" the man asked amusedly. "You're kind of skinny for the leader, aren't you. Then again, all of you are… scrawny."
"Hey!" Emi snapped. "We're not scrawny! We're strong!"
"Shut up, Emi," Junko snapped harshly.
"Damnit!" Eri hissed.
"Emi, not Akane? And to think I placed my faith in you!" The three kids sweat-dropped when their father struck a dramatic pose. "If I can't trust innocent little kiddies anymore, who could I possibly trust?"
Tears streamed down his face.
"Er, is tha' normal?" Takeshi asked the red-haired one.
Yurei stared on impassively, Akemi coming to stand beside him.
What a freak.
"Well yea, he's just getting you to drop your guard," the boy replied dismissively. "He quite likes you guys. Anyway, you don't need to worry anymore, I don't think he's planning to take you or anything."
Junko shifted in confusion and discomfort at the crying man before them.
"Just kidding," the man said suddenly, righting himself with a grin, all traces of tears gone. "Well, no need to worry little girl; I was just leaving. Plus, I know first-hand what cunning little brats kids can be, especially red-light kids."
Junko narrowed her eyes, but remained silent.
"I might come and visit sometime, to get a real game out of you!" the man said animatedly to Eri and Emi. And then; "Koichi, Hisoka, Kichiro, we're leaving," and with that the man and the three kids disappeared.
"Wow!" Takeshi gasped excitedly. "Did ya see that? Or like, do yous not se tha'! They gone!"
All the others could do was sigh with relief.
Until Yurei noticed something on the ground, where the man had been standing.
"What's this?" he asked no one in particular, picking up the large, hardcover book. On the front a note was attached.
"It says 'enjoy, use it wisely (:'" Yurei read.
Then he tried to read the title.
'Cards... something and somethin' something," Yurei said helpfully.
Junko took the book from him.
"Cards, Connery and Chakra Strings," she read, before passing the book to Eri and Emi.
"Well, you guys will get the most use from it," she said. "Maybe you guys can read it out to the others if it's useful."
Eri and Emi squealed simultaneously, immediately stashing the book away safely.
"And here I thought there was an emergency or something," Junko said with a sigh. "Now we have to go and remake the stand!"
"They were ninja from another land, it was an emergency," Emi muttered. "He wasn't wearing the Leaf headband, in case you didn't notice. And we ain't seen him before, we know most of the people from these parts and neither he nor the kids are one of them. I bet he was a missing-nin!"
"I'mma bi' scared for Sasayaki," Yurei said quietly. "She's out there all alone with these weally weird people 'vrywhere."
"She'll be fine, Yurei! Sasayaki s'like pow, bam, nyah!" Takeshi began fighting an invisible enemy.
"Yea…" Yurei sighed. He just had that feeling that this wasn't over…
Question:
If you could reincarnate into any Naruto character, who would it be?