This chapter is dedicated to Toshiro of the Eternal Dream, a great friend and awesome idea generator.
"I think that's my victory, Shikaku," Mika said, moving his hand away from his Shogi piece.
Shikaku, a handsome scarred man with black hair, gaped at the board before him. " I can't believe that was your first time playing Shogi. No wonder Kakashi and Lord Third wanted you to get an IQ test."
Mika smirked, and his mind went back to when the first returned to the Leaf, as Kakashi gave his report to the Third Hokage.
"... and that was when we left Wave." Kakashi said to the Lord Third, who nodded.
"It is rare that any genin takes much a strong mission when they are so inexperienced, at least out of war times. You four did well. Mika your assassination of Gato and performance as a medic to the People of Wave was precisely what was needed. I am very impressed, and you will be receiving the full bounty for Gato... Mika, why are you staring at Naruto?"
Mika turned away from Naruto, who had been looking at. "Naruto was born October tenth, right?"
"Yes, why does that matter?"
"Energy cannot be destroyed and chakra is just energy. Be it blue or red."
The Third's eyes went wide, as did Kakashi's, with the Third rising. "Come with me, Mika, Kakashi. The rest of you stay here." They left the mission's office and moved into a smaller room nearby. The Third went through some handsigns before slamming his hand against the wall, creating a web of seals. "How did you figure it out?"
Mika gulped, the man's tone was pure power. He knew better than to be an ass. "I... well... the red chakra, the sudden way he defeated Haku who was leagues stronger than he was... and the power in the air. People still talk when they are drunk about the Fox. It was stewing in my brain and boom, the answer came to me. That's how my brain works, sometimes it just hits me."
There was a very long silence, and then the Third sighed. "What do you think happened?"
"The Fourth Sealed the Ninetails in Naruto... which explains why he is so hated, which is fucked up to be honest. He should be celebrated, not hated."
That made the Third smile. "That is the right answer, child... Naruto should have been a hero, but human fear and our darker nature left the boy utterly without a friend."
Mika sighed. "I don't like Naruto, but I do empathize with him for this. I will never hold it against him, but to be fair just in case I am so learning sealing. I was running out of medical books to read anyway."
Hiruzen leaned down. "Mika, I am entrusting you with a severe secret, do not test my displeasure if you fail that trust."
"I won't... I promise... now, about that sealing work, it is available for Chunin and above only..."
The man laughed. "I will not deny it to you, but you have to be a chunin. I will allow you to enter the exams if you can find a team. However, Kakashi did mention that you needed a sparring partner, I will arrange that much for you. My guard, Raido, is a skilled kenjutsu user. He will be a perfect sparring partner for you, once or twice a week. I'll have him meet up with you during your next free training day. Now... I need you to go to The Yamanaka clan compound and request an IQ test. I am rather curious as to where you fall, you are far to smart to have gone unnoticed for so long."
The moment he entered the compound, he was greeted with Inoichi and his friend Shikaku. They got him to perform a puzzling test and two written tests before playing shogi with Shikaku, who had only just explained the rules to him.
This was about two hours ago.
"Alright... I have your scores, Mika." He turned to Inoichi, who looked almost vibrating with excitement. "Your results are remarkable, almost off the charts at over two hundred! That marks you at more than high genius."
Naturally, Mika gaped at the man. " Really? I mean I am smart, my parents were smart... and my grandmas on both sides were extra smart, one spoke three languages... but this, this is ... a lot."
"It makes sense, you are a well-studied medic, figured out Naruto's secret, mastered the Mystic Palm in a month... are you sure you are not a Nara?"
Shikaku laughed. "I am sure he is no Nara, not an ounce of laziness in this kid. He is all determination."
"I do try," Mika said. "So what now?"
"Now, you go and live your life knowing you are better than most people, clanless or not."
That lifted Mika's spirits severely and left him feeling quite light all the way to the hospital, eager to get started showing off the skills he honed during Wave.
"""
"Hinata?" Mika said, seeing the Hyuuga heiress as he walked into his first patient's room. He had just been regaling Kabuto with his time at Wave, impressing the older boy, when he walked into the room. The girl before him looked even meeker than before, with a sad expression and a deep set of bruises and cuts. Mika smiled at her, summoning the Mystic Palm and moving it around her body. "What happened, Hinata?"
"We got into a fight, on a mission... a thug knocked me over, there were a lot of rocks and pebbles on the ground." Her voice shook, and tears prickled at her eyes. "I let him hurt me so easily. Father is going to be so ashamed of me..." She all but whispered that last part, but he heard it.
Immediately, Mika tensed, sensing not just shame but fear in her tone. He had always wondered about Hinata, about her homelife, what could have made her so meek? Looking at her now, his heart tensed. "Hinata... what are you doing after this?" He hated himself for not seeing the signs, he had gone through abuse himself. How did he miss this?
She blinked. "Nothing, my Team is done with our missions so we have nothing to do?" He barely heard her, she was practically whispering.
Offering a smile, he leaned in. "I need a sparring partner, and you are a badass Hyuuga with amazing Taijutsu. Maybe you could help me?"
She, to his shock, nodded slowly. "I am not that good, but I ... I guess I could help you, Mika."
"I insist you do. I have always wanted to fight with you, maybe I could teach you some medical jutsu as thanks?"
She gasped, eyes wide. "Really?" She almost yelled, slightly out of character. "I've always wanted to learn medical jutsu! I envied you when I learned you got into the Medic Program."
Mika's smile deepened. "Then why don't you meet me at the lobby in an hour, and we can go spar for a few hours..." 'And you can tell me what is making you so deeply sad and afraid, what makes you so meek...'
With excitement and peace, the girl nodded. "Okay... thank you, Mika. I feel much better."
"I'll be the one needing healing once you're done kicking my ass. " That made her giggle, solidifying her trust in him and hopefully getting her to open up when he asked her what the hell was going on.
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
This was a joy to write, I love Hinata's potential and I have so much planned for her.
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika.