"You kicked over the wrong hive, mister! Like I'm just gonna sit here and look pretty until an Aburame comes to rescue me? Well that'd be a first of never! I'll just finish you off myself and save some time!"
The beekeeper ducked, narrowly missing Hotaru's frantic swings at his head with her ninja sandal.
Great mother bee! How did he put up with her?
The girl was unarmed, but that didn't seem to stop her from finding whatever she could to use as a weapon against him.
"If you keep going on like this," the beekeeper warned his feisty guest, slightly inconvenienced by her futile resistance. "There's no way we can have a civilized conversation."
"Civilized?" Hotaru demanded, finding honey rocks to throw at him next. "You kidnapped me! Were you expecting a thank you?"
"I apologize for my dramatic introduction. This honeycomb was all I could improvise for our a private conversation. That Aburame can't trace us inside this honeycomb hive jutsu," the beekeeper said. "So get comfortable, Ms. Hotaru. After all, we're on the same side."
"I find that hard to believe, seeing as you tried to kill me when I first got here!"
"An honest mistake. I could never turn my jutsu against a bee mistress. And thinking you had been abducted by that Aburame, I fought Shino to protect you...Until I realized his skill with poison antidotes and decided to keep him alive to look after you," the beekeeper said. "Allow me to introduce myself properly, Lady Hotaru. I am Kaitobachi Kamizuru. Though in this grove, I am known as Beekeeper. I beg for your forgiveness."
"How do you know my name?" Hotaru asked.
"You are our clan leader's daughter," he said. "It is why I wanted to speak to you."
"Is that why you trapped me here inside this honeycomb?"
"I was concerned about the Aburame holding you captive," he said. "Is he treating you well?"
"What do you mean? Shino isn't like that," Hotaru defended her unlikely companion. "He's different. So please, if you really are the Beekeeper here, let him go free from your jutsu. He's nothing like what you think he is."
"It seems you two have gotten close since you came here," the beekeeper observed. "How misfortunate."
"Why do you think it has to be a misfortune?" Hotaru asked, though she already knew his answer. "The only bad luck here is this never-ending fog. Are you really the one keeping us in this jutsu?"
"I have no control over the fog," the beekeeper answered. "It's Shino who keeps himself trapped here. He is free to leave any time he wants."
"What does that even mean?" Hotaru asked, confused.
"Only Shino knows what it means," the beekeeper answered. "I do not have the answer."
"Don't you have anything useful to say?" Hotaru questioned, frustrated with his circular riddles. "We waited all this time to find you, and you can't tell us anything about how to get out of here."
"You were sent here to kill him, is that correct?" the beekeeper asked. "If my Queen Bee hadn't stopped you two from fighting each other, one of you might've succeeded by now. I brought you here to ask you to abandon your mission. Reject this dark fate your father has created for our clan."
"Wait," Hotaru realized. "You're the one who summoned the Queen Bee? Why would you do something like that? You almost got us killed!"
"Because I knew neither of you would let that happen," the beekeeper said. "I've been watching you both for some time now. The way you look out for each other. Who knew that an Aburame and a Kamizuru working together would one day be a force to reckon with?"
"Are you saying...that this was all some twisted experiment of yours...to get me and Shino to be friends?" Hotaru accused him.
"Well, after all, my bamboo grove is a bee sanctuary. I wasn't going to let you two destroy it by trying to kill each other."
"But why did it take so long for you to reveal yourself to me?" Hotaru asked. "Why now, of all this time?"
"Because I could no longer hide and allow you to make the fatal mistake of telling Shino who you are," the beekeeper said. "Do not reveal your identity to Shino. The time is not right. And above all, do not tell him why you were assigned to kill him. If word gets back to the Aburame clan, it will only make things worse between our clans. Destroying everything Misakibachi worked for."
"The Misakibachi?"
"You remind me so much of her," Kaito said quietly. "Almost as if history is trying to repeat itself out of punishment against your father. But that is the tragic thing about history, you know. No matter how hard we try, we always forget what we learn."
Kaito turned to look at her again through his heavy beekeeping mask.
"So I beg you," he pleaded with her. "As the daughter of our clan leader, do not drag Daku's war into this bamboo grove. Forget your mission to kill Shino. Enough people have lost their lives in this merciless hatred between our clans."
"Why did you leave our village?" Hotaru asked him. "Why does it matter to you whether I kill Shino or not?"
"Your father was my old teammate," Kaito began his story. "Daku, Misakibachi, and I were close since our academy days."
"You were on a team with Misaki Kamizuru?" Hotaru asked in awe. "She was a legend in our village!"
"She was from the leading family. The one in power before Daku took over. Matchmaker Akira chose Daku as her soulmate. And then Daku was obsessed with only two things: becoming our clan leader and his love for Misaki.
"But his love would forever be one-sided.
"Misaki went against the matchmaking tradition, and vowed to become our clan leader herself. She swore that Daku would never become leader, if she had anything to do with it."
"Why did she want to stop my father from becoming clan leader?" Hotaru wondered.
"I asked her the same question. Going against Akirabachi's Scroll of Fated Souls has always led to something terrible happening in our clan. It should have only been considered in unavoidable situations."
"The clan still sees it as a bad omen," Hotaru agreed. "Every time a matched couple can't be together, something bad happens. It's the Kamizuru curse, they say...So if Misaki rejected her match, what price did she have to pay in the end?"
"Whatever Misaki's reasons were for not marrying Daku, she couldn't tell me. All she could say was that too many lives would be lost, if she didn't become clan leader first.
"Misaki wanted peace for our clan, but your father wanted revenge and power. She and Daku could never agree on how to live peacefully with other bug clans.
"Daku lost support in the village. The Kamizuru were tired of fighting our rivals, especially the Aburame clan. Daku's dream of becoming clan leader was at stake. But he couldn't let it go.
"The only way Daku could be clan leader was if our war with the Aburame clan continued. So Daku went on his own mission to make sure it did.
"He left the village without permission from the clan elders, and went on a killing rampage taking out key members of the Aburame clan. Sparking more hate and outrage over the unprovoked violence.
"I worried for Misaki's health. She didn't seem well when she found out about Daku's missions. Everything she had worked for to bring peace between us and the Aburame was destroyed. It took everything I had to stop her from going after Daku herself.
"And that's when I found out the truth. Misaki was secretly pregnant.
"She told me the father of her child was a heroic shinobi who had died in battle, and that I should keep her secret until she decided what to do about the child.
"The night after I discovered Misaki's secret, the Leaf Village named Daku a terrorist and declared war against the Kamizuru clan. The Aburame were sent to fight us.
"Shibi Aburame was a young leader in his clan back then, training with his father in coordinating an insect battle.
"Shinta Aburame defeated Hirotobachi Kamizuru in battle.
"And watching him die, Misaki challenged Shinta Aburame to avenge her father. I tried to stop her, knowing the weakened condition she was in. But Misaki wouldn't stand down, once she had challenged Shinta. How could she? Her father was dead, and all for nothing.
"None of it should've ever happened.
"I had no choice but to let her go. Misaki put on her father's beekeeper armor, her face hidden for battle.
"She met Shinta on the battlefield, but Shibi stepped in to fight her instead, taking his aging father's place.
"And with all the Kamizuru and Aburame watching, Misaki could not back out of her fight with Shibi. Not without shaming our clan more.
"I couldn't protect her. Misaki and Shibi were the pride of their respective clans. In their fierce battle, there was never an opening for me to jump in. I knew if I fought Shibi with her, we could defeat him together. But every time I tried to help her, Misaki threatened to kill me herself if I went up against Shibi. I couldn't understand it then, but it felt like she was trying to protect me and Shibi from killing each other as enemies.
"But I couldn't bear to watch it. She held back her full strength against Shibi. I knew she was. I figured the reason was because it wasn't just herself she defending in battle, but her unborn child. Shibi had no idea who his masked opponent was. He didn't even know she was a woman under her armor, let alone pregnant.
"And then the inevitable happened...We all watched horrified as Misaki lost her fight to Shibi Aburame.
"Carrying my dying teammate from the massacre, I ran from the battlefield to find a medical-nin to treat her. Knowing I was running out of time to save her child too.
"I couldn't save Misaki in the end...I could only save her son...Shino.
"And holding onto her last moments, Misaki confessed to me that the shinobi who defeated her was indeed the child's father.
"She met Shibi Aburame in Loran, where he, Minato Namikaze, and Choza Akimichi were sent on a mission to stop Puppet Master, Anrokuzan, from terrorizing the city.
"Misaki was taking a break from shinobi life in Loran. While enjoying her vacation studying Loran artwork, Shibi tumbled into her life (quite literally) while snatching her out of harm's way of Anrokuzan's puppets. Keeping her Kamizuru name a secret, Misaki helped Shibi and his team to evacuate the city. It was during that mission that they fell in love.
"After countless attempts by Shibi to see her again, Misaki finally agreed to it, on the condition that they see each other only in secret. Shibi never understood why she wanted it that way, but he was grateful to get her to say yes.
"But rather than face exile for falling in love with an Aburame, Misaki decided to take matters into her own hands and become clan leader herself. So that she would have the power to change our politics.
"And our hearts.
"When she died, she named me her successor, and made me promise to always do the right thing for peace. For both the Aburame and the Kamizuru clans.
"But peace was more complicated than I ever imagined after her death. Shibi never knew that he had fought and killed the mother of his child. But Misaki was still our clan leader, and she had to be avenged. Shibi would pay for his victory.
"Daku swore to destroy the Aburame clan without mercy. But I had Misaki's child to worry about first.
"He could not stay in our clan. If Daku knew he was Shibi's son, the boy wouldn't be safe in our village. He had also just turned 3 months old, which is an important time for Aburame infants to be infused with their kikaichū insects.
"I kept him hidden as long as I could, before leaving our village secretly in the middle of the night, hiding the sleeping baby in a wrap tied around my shoulder.
"I haven't stopped hating Shibi for it since.
"Misaki never deserved it. And I didn't know what I'd do when I saw Shibi again...But I took care of her son for her. Because I made Misaki a promise...And with that promise, I delivered Shino safely to his father in the Hidden Leaf."
That explains why...
Hotaru realized, thinking over her suspicions about Akirabachi's match for her and Shino.
If I really was matched with him, Shino is still, by blood, a Kamizuru. And not only that, but the son of Misakibachi, a member of the former leading family. So it's not so outrageous that he could've been picked as a match for me, even though he's an Aburame...I wonder if Akirabachi knew about this.
"Does Shino know about Misaki?" Hotaru asked. "Does he know he is Kamizuru too?"
"No one knows. Not Daku, and not Shibi," Kaito answered, shaking his head regretfully. "I never revealed Misaki's real identity to Shibi. She wanted it that way. She thought it would be too unbearable, if Shibi knew that he was the reason she was dead. That was out of mercy for him.
"But I he wouldn't find me as forgiving.
"I could not take my revenge against Shibi that night. I walked away in peace, for the sake of his son. But as a Kamizuru leader, I swore I would avenge the Aburame's attack on my village. We agreed to face each other in battle at a later time, once Shino settled into their clan and was introduced to his kikaichū.
"And when the time came, I showed Shibi no mercy, willing to die to take my revenge for Misaki.
"But when I took the upper hand in the fight and had a chance to finally kill Shibi...I couldn't do it.
"I couldn't forget the promise I made Misaki before she died.
"As much as I wanted Shibi to rot, I couldn't make an orphan out of Shino. Like his brother, Torune Aburame.
"I didn't kill Shibi that day, in honor of him just becoming a father. But I vowed we would meet again some day and finish our fight.
"And when I returned to my village, I was ambushed by Daku, who wanted my place as clan leader. Weakened from my fight with Shibi, I didn't stand a chance to defend my title.
"Daku damned me to exile...I found this bamboo grove and set up my honey farm. I wanted nothing else to do with my clan...or the world out there," Kaito said sadly. "Until now...Seeing you two work together restored hope in peace for me. Maybe there is still time to honor the promise I made Misaki. That is why I need you."
"What would you have me do?" Hotaru asked.
"There will come a time when Shino Aburame will hear everything you wish to tell him. But now is not that time," Kaito said. "It will only put him in danger if he learns what I told you. I am not sure how anyone would take him as a half-blood in their ranks, whether Aburame or Kamizuru. But I know he is not one to take a bond with anyone lightly. I see that he cares for you. Just like his father cared for Misaki. Just like Shibi would've taken on our entire clan to save her. That is what I fear. So for the same reason I couldn't tell Shibi about Misaki, Shino can never know about you. Making him an enemy of the Kamizuru will only agitate the tension between us."
"Shino wouldn't let me out of his sight in this grove. He keeps planting bugs on me," Hotaru said. "How can I continue to keep this a secret from such an observant shinobi?"
"You will do what you must do to return to our village," Kaito said. "There are rumors that your father has been illegally collecting weapons and jutsu used in the 4th Ninja War to build his forces. The Hidden Leaf especially will not take kindly to that. My son was in our village gathering intel on Daku's operations, but I've suddenly lost contact with him. I need you to find my son, Kenjibachi, and bring him back here to report to me. Can you do that for me?"
"But sir..." Hotaru hesitated. "Kenji is...dead...He was killed by Shino Aburame. That's why I was sent to hunt him down."
The beekeeper froze, heavy with anguished silence.
"My son...that's impossible," he finally breathed.
"I'm sorry," Hotaru said gently. "I saw Shino-I mean, it looked like Shino...I'm not exactly sure who Kenji's killer was anymore."
"No," Kaito said darkly. "Shino would never have anything to do with this. Shibi would never allow him to carry out such a reckless attack in our village."
"Shino doesn't seem like someone who would do this," Hotaru said. "But I know what I saw...That's the confusing part. I just don't know anymore. Nothing about Kenji's murder makes sense."
"If Shino really is responsible for Kenji's death, then I will handle the Aburame clan myself," Kaito swore. "But if he isn't, then we have work to do, Lady Hotaru. Kenji was gathering evidence of Daku's crimes to take back to the Leaf. Now that you know the truth, we need to finish his mission, so that his death will not be in vain."
"You want me to challenge our clan?" Hotaru asked in disbelief. "They will kill me if I ever go back. How can I fight my father and his followers alone?"
"We must find a way. If anyone has the power to do it, it's you. You are a daughter of the leading family. It is our will of fire, for the good of the clan," Kaitobachi said. "What belonged to Misakibachi, now belongs to you. Maybe there was a reason Shino and you met in exile. It was your mutual fate to change each other's heart...Just as it is now your duty to leave this grove and find the strength and skill to save both your clans."
"If you think I'm ever getting out of this grove, then you must know the answer to getting out," Hotaru concluded. "The key to breaking this jutsu, I mean."
"It is simple. The key to unlocking the jutsu is what we Kamizuru have never let go of," the beekeeper informed her. "Tell your Aburame friend that, and after he realizes the meaning for himself, I will have kept my promise to him."
Hotaru smiled bittersweetly, as the meaning for her gradually sank in too.
"I see," she said. "I think I understand now how to break this jutsu."