"— in the end. That's all I can remember."
The roaring of the waterfall was the only sound for a long while. Miho focused on the feeling of the water on her hands, cooling them from the heat of their wringing. Nervous energy thrummed through her as she waited for Chōmei's response. And she knew, the tailed beast's response would determine the future. Her hands were shaking just a bit, making the water quaver with ripples as she balanced her palm over it.
"They wish to revive the God Tree." Chōmei rumbled. After a few moments, Miho lifted her eyes to the great moth. There was obvious fear there. Miho was surprised that they weren't hiding such emotions. "They do not know what they are dealing with. If that happens, it will be the end of the world. Not the peaceful sleep that they want." The moth's many eyes turned to Miho. Even without a face that could express emotion, Miho could sense their trepidation. "Not just the end of humanity. The end of all things."
"Yes. In the original timeline, it was stopped. By Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi-sensei. By the Allied Forces. By the tailed beasts. There was massive loss of life. While you are given your form again…Fū and so many others die in the process. If it weren't for Naruto…"
"This 'Naruto' is the child of prophecy. The one who will bring me and my siblings together."
"He is."
Chōmei's wings fluttered. Miho watched before pulling in a breath.
"He will prove it to you. I don't expect you to take my word for it. Naruto is good. He's good." Lowering her eyes to her hands again, Miho cupped them under the water and drew it up, watching the light from the seal glitter on the surface. "If they get all of the tailed beasts, they will succeed in their plan. Everything will cascade out of control. The least we can do is try our best to protect you and the others. If we can stop them before that happens, then maybe…no one will have to suffer the same way to original timeline did."
"My brother…Isobu…The three-tails…you said that his host is being controlled?"
"By Uchiha Obito or Uchiha Madara. I'm honestly not sure which and I'm not sure it matters."
"My siblings are in danger. Some, I know, have already been taken. Kokuō... We must tread carefully. Very carefully. Isobu, while not ignorant, is kind. If he could tell his host anything to save him, he would. If his host lives, it would be easy for this Uchiha Obito to learn of our survival and knowledge. The latter is most dangerous!"
The very thought was terrifying.
Shifting a bit, Chōmei peered down at Miho. Sensing a shift, Miho pushed herself up out of the water. Her feet were shoulder-width apart and she lifted her eyes to Chōmei's. She didn't waver under the tailed beast's stare. Miho knew she couldn't falter. Not now.
"I do not know this Uzumaki Naruto yet. If he is as you say he is, then he well may be the child of prophecy. I cannot yet trust him." Miho began to open her mouth to respond. "I will however… trust you."
Miho's eyes went wide. In that moment, for the first time before the gigantic tailed beat, Miho felt small. Tiny. To feel small is not in an Akimichi's nature. There was only one other time when she felt this insignificant. Standing before the Hokage as she took a knee. Now, it was not a God of Shinobi she stood before, it was a physical manifestation of chakra. One of the most powerful beings in existence. She felt a bit breathless at the realization. Anxiety gnawed at her stomach and the back of her neck.
"You are charged with treason against Konoha."
"I will trust you, Akimichi Miho."
"I—Me?"
Chōmei's wings fluttered and spread wide as they reared up to their full height. Miho looked up, heading tilting as far back she could manage. The wings began to beat wildly, the hum growing louder than the waterfall. Miho watched, stunned. "I can see now that you were our luck. The Konoha shinobi would have never saved Fū and I if it were not for you. Your presence is lucky. You asked my name. You have been honest regarding your knowledge. I will trust you. I will speak to Fū, Bear Cub Miho. We will remain in Konoha until the threat of the Akatsuki is passed."
Relief struck Miho so strongly that she staggered, a breath leaving her that she didn't realize she'd been holding. "I—"
Trust had always been something asked of her. Trust her leaders. Trust her father. Trust her teammates and friends. Trust was something that she'd seen the consequences of. Misplaced trust had devastating consequence. Miho lifted her chin, locking eyes with the tailed beat. She tried to put as much strength as possible into her voice. To reassure them that she wouldn't waver.
"I won't betray that trust, Chōmei. I give you my word."
I'm not gonna run away and I never go back on my word, that is my nindō! My ninja way.
"I believe you, Miho." A strange dust like mist began to rise from the water. Miho turned to see the seal glowing a brighter green as it hummed. She felt the dust brush against the skin of her cheeks and her arms. "Thank you, Miho, for what you have done for me and my Good Fortune Fū." Miho blinked hard once, unable to focus her eyes. "We will talk again soon."
Another blink and the cavern disappeared. The world became silent, and Miho floated in nothingness.
Three long beeps. Blaring. Loud.
The sound struck her breathless.
It'd been so long since she'd heard them. The sirens.
Her body twisted with each blast.
—National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for— Tornado emergency for western Konohagakure and—
Above the clouds, the moon was red. Red like blood. Red with three circles and tomoe around it. The light came through the clouds, brighter than anything she'd ever seen. Brighter than the sun. It swung under and through the clouds, like it was chasing her car over the wet pavement. She was in a car, driving along the main road that lead to Konoha. The light pushed through the trees.
It's lonely out in space…
There was an overturned cart in the road. She slammed on the breaks. She recognized the symbol on the wheels. Akimichi Produce. There was no way a civilian Akimichi could outrun this. Unbuckling, Miho looked over her shoulder to see the light approaching. It was rushing down the mountainside and over the trees like a pyroclastic flow, drawing everything into dreams as it moved. It would arrive to Konoha soon.
The tops of the trees began to quiver and shake, blowing this way and that.
Miho shifted, turning toward the approaching light.
Listen to the winds blow, watch the…
She felt something at her back. She felt the chaotic energy rising up, shifting and tossing. Dark clouds were rising up. Miho looked upward, toward the sky above her head. Clouds— gray, black, purple, blue, green— a tempest circled over her head. Tenpenchii. Looking back toward the approaching light, Miho could hear screams of terror, hurt, pain as the light consumed them.
"You couldn't do anything. Useless."
Fū. No. Yamanaka Fū. Gold eyes, not orange ones.
No.
"Miho?"
Miho blinked and the white light was gone. Her eyes were closed. The dark roiling clouds of chakra were gone. Pulling in a gasp, Miho sat upright, jerking her head around. Just the hum of the air conditioning and stale air and— Sensing someone behind her, Miho turned and drew a kunai. Shizune held up both hands and stepped back, eyes wide.
"I'm sorry to have startled you. Are you alright?"
Miho looked around the room until her eyes fell on Fū's face. She forced her breathing to calm. One breath. Two. The rushing of water and wind was still echoing in her ears. Like the ambient noise of the seal was etched into her brain. "Y-Yeah. I'm fine. I'm okay."
"Are you sure? You looked—" Shizune's voice was concerned, worried as she tried to look into Miho's eyes. Miho actively avoided Shizune's eyes, staring down at the kunai in her hand before putting it back into the holster on her hip. "I was trying to wake you for a minute."
"I haven't been sleeping well. It was a really deep nap."
A thrill of disbelief roared through her stomach at the lie. She just lied to the Hokage's assistant. To Shizune, who was a loyal Konoha kunoichi. Pulling in a breath, Miho tried to steady herself. Telling Shizune that she'd been speaking to the Seven Tails wasn't a good idea. She needed to be more strategic about this. She needed to be careful. She needed to be careful telling anyone about Chōmei. There were so many ways it could go wrong.
Telling the wrong person could be disastrous.
"Well, I'm glad you were able to get some rest."
Shizune moved to the other side of the bed, moving through taking vitals. Blood pressure, heartrate… Miho felt her eyes glaze over as she stood there watching.
The nightmare had to be because of the feeling she'd had standing in front of Chōmei. That feeling of impending doom. Teetering on the edge of chaos. It'd been months since she'd had any visions like that.
Chōmei would convince Fū to stay.
Chōmei trusted her.
"Are you sure you're alright?"
Miho's eyes focused again. "I'm okay. I think I'll head out. It's…later than I thought. I didn't mean to fall asleep." It was nearly four in the afternoon and she still needed to talk to Shinrin. Drawing herself up, Miho reached for Fū's hand again. She knew now that at least Chōmei could hear her. Hopefully, she would convey everything to Fū once she was able. "Now that I have access, I'll come back. Maybe I can bring you some things so you're more comfortable?" Miho glanced to Shizune who nodded. The woman's lips turned up a bit in a small smile. "I'll be back soon."
When she stepped out into the hallway, Miho felt some of the nervous energy leave her pull her knees down. As if she were wading through quick sand. She stumbled to the wall and sagged, bracing herself there for a moment while she gathered her breath.
She spoke to a tailed beast. Told them everything.
Her free hand sank into her hip pocket, drawing out a bag of chocolate chocolate chip cookies. She popped one into her mouth and let it sit on her tongue for a moment. Miho shut her eyes, trying to focus on the flavor. Then, she focused on chewing. As soon as she swallowed, she drew in a breath and pushed off the wall. Her steps were steady as she left the hall.
There was still more to be done.
Troublesome woman.
She was easy to read if you knew the signs. Her eyes were on the road in front of her and she was eating a chocolate chocolate chip cookie. Miho never walked with her eyes down. Her confidence and pride kept her chin up and level with the ground at almost all times. Not to mention, it was pointless to stare down at her feet. She couldn't see them. Very rarely did she eat something that didn't have protein powder or vitamins added. Those cookies didn't. That's why her brother never ate them.
Something was wrong.
Shikamaru sighed, pushing his hands into his pockets as he watched her cross from the hospital. Normally, she would have noticed him and approached.
He walked next to her for a moment. She didn't seem to notice his presence. Rolling his eyes, he spoke up. "Something up?"
Miho startled, head swinging around as she stopped. She put a hand to her chest. "Shikamaru, what—"
"You weren't paying any attention."
She let out a breath, tension easing out of her as she glanced around. "Nothing gets past you." She seemed to realize where she was, already a block and a half away from the hospital. He barely withheld a snort at her surprised expression. Like an open book. "Just had an interesting couple of hours is all." Her head jerked in the direction she'd been walking and they began to walk again. This time, she kept her head up.
Shikamaru vaguely wondered if it was worth approaching her. Miho tended to keep things close to her chest now. He knew why.
"Have you seen Chōji today?"
Shikamaru shrugged and shook his head. "Just got back from a short escort mission. It was a drag. I'm meeting him for dinner."
"I had lunch with him and Mama at the estate." That got his attention. She hadn't visited the Akimichi estate since Elder Torifu died. He was sure she'd been avoiding it for a few more reasons than that, but she'd kept somewhat communicating with Chōji so Shikamaru had let it go. "I'm taking over the Akimichi kitchens and food banks. Chōji gave me the go-ahead."
He stopped, turning to look at her as he grabbed her arm.
The kitchens and food banks were positioned all over Fire, not just within the village. The kitchens were for those who couldn't cook for themselves. The food banks were storage facilities where those less fortunate could get supplies with low or no cost. With the current Akimichi situation, they needed positive public opinion to fortify themselves against the village council and further retribution.
Could it be that she was…stepping into clan politics?
Shikamaru resisted the urge to ask.
"We need to be out there. Even more than we are now. We need to be synonymous with help." He saw her hands twist on the hem of her sleeve. So, she was using philanthropy as a political tool. Shikamaru lifted a brow. For the first time, Shikamaru wondered if she could be a player rather than a pawn. Something had changed. "If it makes me a bad person, using people like that, then so be it. Chōji won't have to grapple with that. I will."
She was doing this to keep Chōji from the moral repercussions of using the less fortunate? Huffing a laugh, Shikamaru shrugged and started walking again. "It makes you a real person, not a bad one." He noticed that she'd matured back in Suna, but this was an unexpected turn. Miho never was the type to play games. "What's your plan?"
"Exactly what you think it is. Be everywhere. You need food? Help? You're starving? You think 'Akimichi.' We're a noble clan. It's very easy for us to become synonymous with institutions. Often, those systems of power aren't helping. They're finding ways to benefit from tragedy. The people know this. So, we need to make sure that they know that's not us. That we're there to help."
Shikamaru considered her intent. If it worked, which it likely would, then her goal would be to establish more connections outside of Konoha. Such a move could be risky. If done alone. "I am sure the Nara Clan would like to contribute to such generous projects." Her head jerked around and her eyes met his. It was quite a declaration, to quietly make clear the allegiance between the Akimichi and the Nara.
He had no doubt that the Yamanaka would do the same.
A small, reassured smile broke on Miho's face until her eyes closed with the upward push of her cheeks. Snorting at the bit of sentimental shine once her eyes opened again, he tucked his hands into his pockets and started moving again. Walking was a drag, but at least it was in the direction of his estate. A few times, her mouth opened like she was going to say something, but she immediately snapped her mouth shut again.
She was weighing whether or not to trust him.
Trust didn't come easily to Miho anymore. Not since her imprisonment and torture at the hands of Danzō and the stolen Yamanaka. He counted himself as one of the people she trusted most, behind Ino and Genma-sensei. Whatever she wanted to say was difficult for her to put into words. And likely even more difficult to trust in him.
"So, what happened with Kankurō in Suna?"
She said it with such ease that Shikamaru wondered for a moment if he heard her correctly. Instead of giving her what she wanted, which was likely surprise, Shikamaru looked up at the sky and released a sigh. This couldn't have been what she was thinking about.
"Women are so troublesome."
Miho chuckled, not disagreeing that she was being troublesome. Purposefully. He could hear her opening a chip bag as he continued to keep his eyes on the sky. Clouds didn't have to deal with this.
"I told him that there was a long list of people ready to destroy him if he hurt you. If he was serious, he needed to know. I would figure out a way to kill him and not start a war. We're not blind."
"There's nothing to be blind to. Nothing's even happening. We've mutually decided that now is not the time."
"And you have a reason for that." Shikamaru pointed out. "You know what's ahead. What's his reason?" A choked, startled noise came from her direction and Shikamaru looked over to find her struggling to swallow a chip. He reached over and hit her back. Chōji often did the same when he was caught off-guard. "Okay, okay. Geez. I didn't even think he'd bring it up to you. It just needed to be clear."
Somehow, Shikamaru couldn't shake the feeling that she was trying to distract him.
Miho had never brought this up before. Not in the two months since the chūnin exam. That either meant that she finally felt settled enough to ask…or she was hiding something. Something she didn't want him to know or notice.
"You warned him because he hasn't asked me out yet?"
"What a drag. No. I warned him because he can't cook."
That brought Miho to a complete stop in the middle of the road. "Say what?"
"Temari and the Kazekage do all the cooking in that household. Kankurō can't or doesn't cook." Shikamaru turned to watch her eyes, looking for any sign of deception or any of her tells. "If he's smart and he really wants you, then he'll learn to cook. If he doesn't, then there's an answer. You know that though. So, why are you really asking me about my warning?"
She rolled up onto the balls of her feet just slightly, eyes drawing away to look at the bustling farmer's market down the road. As if he didn't know her tells. As if he hadn't seen her lie for years. Scoffing, Shikamaru watched conflict flicker across her face. She was weighing her options. Her weight shifted again. She was chewing the inside of her cheek.
Akimichi Miho was about to lie.
What a drag.
"It surprised me when you confronted him. Been curious ever since." She turned and grinned at him. Her tone turned coy and teasing. "I thought it might've been because you have a crush on me."
Shikamaru bit down his kneejerk scoff and retort. That was the strategy she was going with? Trying to throw him off-kilter with a joke? She really did take after her teacher. Whatever she was hiding, it was likely something serious. She wasn't really one to play coy. And, despite her profession and her knowledge, she also wasn't one to outright lie. "What happened at the hospital?"
She turned and met his eyes. The performance faded away. The joking smile melted from her face and her eyes hardened. There she was. The real Miho.
"Nothing gets past you, Shikamaru."
Shikamaru just kept his eyes locked to hers. She trusted few as strongly as she trusted him. He knew that. He knew it went deeper than the 'favorite character' joke that they always shared, since he'd learned of her knowledge. He'd never leaned into that joke the same way Ino and Chōji had, but some part of him always wanted to live up to it. She didn't only trust his intellect and judgement. She trusted him with precious things. Namely, Chōji.
She trusted him with Chōji.
Maybe that was why she was hesitant.
Because the last people she trusted wholly… He didn't get it so well when he was younger. Chōji was hurting. Hurting himself. Miho had Ino and her team and Naruto and Lee. Chōji had him and Ino and Asuma-sensei. He, too, had lost someone he trusted implicitly, his own father. So, Chōji was his top priority back then. As he got older, Shikamaru understood the rift between the two and watched them both struggling to repair it. Miho told people she trusted, and it got her tortured. Chōji told someone he trusted, and it got his sister tortured and put his family in danger. The repercussions were far-reaching.
It was all so troublesome.
Miho heaved in a breath and Shikamaru raised a hand, stopping her.
"Don't. Don't make up a lie. Either you're gonna tell me or you're not gonna tell me, but don't lie."
"Ah…" Conflict flickered over her face before her shoulders rounded. "Aoba-sensei is still unconscious. He's alive. I, uh, finally got Genma-sensei to agree to leave." Shikamaru watched as her feet remained planted and her gaze didn't waver. The truth. Something told him there was more. So, instead of engaging that as she'd clearly wanted, he just waited. Her jaw clenched. It was a small tell, but a tell nonetheless. "He looked gaunt. He hasn't been eating."
Shifting her weight, her eyes flickered away.
"Got somewhere you need to be then?" His tone was nonchalant and he kept it that way. Anything else would set her on the defensive.
"I need to summon Shinrin. I need to talk to her. And I need to get home in time to cook hot pot tonight." Seeming to see her exit, she angled her body away, closing herself off from him. "Actually, it's already past four. I need to go. I hope you're able to get some rest. Enjoy dinner with Chōji." Not waiting for him to respond, she walked away.
And Shikamaru was left watching as she passed by her favorite takoyaki stall without a single desperate glance. His eyes narrowed.
"Troublesome woman."
Her fingers trailed along the beads of her yukata sleeve. Intricate patterns danced across the fabric, delicate beadwork that was paired with complicated stitches. The beads were glass and bone and quills. Rolling the beads between the pads of her fingers, Miho looked out at the deserted training field. It was the field that she and Lee often used, settled in a nest of trees on all sides. She could remember Lee kicking at the stump on the far side of the field until he collapsed. She remembered laying in the grass nearby, exhausted, after the Uchiha Massacre. Over by the oldest oak at the treeline, Neji had sent her to the hospital. She'd been thinking about how pretty his hair was. That felt like so long ago. All of it felt like so long ago.
Or maybe not so long ago, really.
Remembering how blatantly she'd lied to Shizune and Shikamaru sent a chill down her spine. Lying to Shizune was one thing. Lying to Shikamaru was another.
She knew he knew.
He was too smart, too perceptive not to realize that something was off. Miho had beat a quick getaway after omitting that she'd spoken to the Seven Tails. She wasn't completely sure why she decided to keep it from him. Then, it was startling to realize that she didn't have any plans to tell anyone of Chōmei. Not at the moment, anyway. Her stomach roiled at the thought.
She'd think on it more later. She had other pressing matters.
Snorting, Miho rolled her eyes and pushed away from the tree she was leaning against, shoving the bag of chips back into her pocket and wiping the crumbs on her pant leg.
Biting her thumb, she set her hand down on the grass and pushed her chakra into the motion. The draw on her chakra was not like it was in the past. It didn't feel quite so draining anymore. "Ninja Art: Summoning Jutsu!" Brown smoke erupted and Miho didn't bother to avoid Shinrin's clutching paws as she was pulled into a hug.
"Oh, my Lady Miho! My Father told me what happened! He told me that you were fighting the Snakes! I was so concerned, Lady Miho! Are you alright?" Feeling a bit guilty for taking so long to summon Shinrin, Miho nodded into her fur before burying her face further into its softness. Shinrin's voice became softer, likely sensing that there was something amiss. "Lady Miho…"
"I need to go to the Hall of the Okuda."
"You—"
Stepping back, Miho realized she now stood to Shinrin's chest. She wasn't a child anymore. It was with that realization that Miho took another step back and pressed her hand against the oak she had been leaning against. The privacy seal spread out to envelop Shinrin as she settled back onto her haunches, gold eyes wide and surprised.
Miho couldn't blame Shinrin for her obvious shock. During her year at Center Mountain, she'd learned of the Okuda. Learned many of their techniques. Learned some of their history, lore, and ways. Some of their stories. Still, she kept up a barrier. She kept the Okuda separate from herself, like an embellishment on person rather than...who she was.
As if embracing too much of the Okuda would make her less of an Akimichi, when she was already questioning her ties to her clan. Thinking like that now was…dangerous.
"Lord Ki told me, while I was at Center Mountain, that he could take me to the Hall of the Okuda. That, there, I could learn the rest of their techniques. That there, I could become the storm. He said that when I was ready, I could take up the rest of their legacy." Miho straightened, meeting Shinrin's eyes. "I'm ready."
"Why?"
Smiling a bit, Miho expected the concern in Shinrin's voice. Shinrin had always cared for her in a way that the other bears hadn't. She was a Bear, but to Shinrin…to Shinrin, Miho was a reminder of what could've been. If her mother and father hadn't died, Shinrin would have watched her grow up. Shinrin gave her own chakra so that Miho could live. Miho owed her honesty and truth. Stepping forward, Miho rested a hand on the bear's forepaw.
"A war is coming. My friends and family will be in the middle of it. And Orochimaru will be after me. I need to be able to fight at a level that, right now, feels next to impossible. I need to…be more powerful than what I am now. Right now, I can control parts of the storm. I need to become it. And I need to earn this power in a way that doesn't put pressure on the people around me."
Genma-sensei didn't need that pressure. Not with Aoba-sensei and his team recovering.
"I have learned what I can from the Akimichi. I have mastered the staff and the naginata. In order to keep growing, to protect everyone I love and myself..."
Heaving in a breath, Miho nodded. She felt sure of this.
Out of everything that was happening, Miho felt confident in this alone. This was the right decision.
"I need to do this."
Okuda. Akimichi.
She was both.
If she took up the Okuda legacy and was able to protect her friends and family…then did it really matter what her clan name was?
"Shinrin, I need to do this." Miho straightened, standing the way that Master Torifu taught her. Stable. Sure. Confident. Steady. "I need to go to the Hall of the Okuda. I need to take up the Okuda legacy."
A/N:
Thank you so much for your patience and I hope you enjoyed it! Thank you for your reviews, favorites, and follows!