Forest Bells - 1 year

I didn't switch to a nicer set of clothes for this. I suspected that Danzo wasn't one for formalities, and I didn't make the best princess anyway.

Suspiciously enough, they simply led me to him. No pat down, no restraints, no security.

What are you playing at..?

Even if I was just a genin, I could pop out and detonate a whole crate worth of tags before his agents could step in. He knows I could do it too, because it's the exact kind of tactic he'd come up with if I was one of his.

Danzo doesn't trust. So he must have some sort of guarantee…

Ah.

Shisui's eye.

If I tried anything, he could stop me himself.

So that leaves what he wants…

Finding that out was my top priority, because if I don't agree willingly, he could force me to without me even realising.

Sorry, conscience. Attempts to 'talk-no-jutsu' the manipulative leader of the hidden leaf's unofficial black ops operation will have to take second place.

I schooled my expression as I entered the room, seeing Danzo seated by one end of the table, and an empty spot across from him.

Just him.

I bowed politely.

Wait for him to address me, wait for him to let me speak. Let him stay in control.

"Greetings Nogawa, take a seat."

I nodded and took up my position, keeping my eyes on him.

He said nothing. Even when an attendant -probably a root agent- came and served us, and he started eating.

Seeing the cue for what it was, I did so as well.

A couple of minutes into the meal, he spoke up, not really stopping to look my way.

"That meal could have been poisoned."

I felt the seal on my tongue loosen its hold.

I'm expected to answer then.

"Far too many people knew I was coming here. My death is worth less to you than your Hokage's goodwill."

As usual, he had no visible reaction.

…then we were back to silence, but he let me keep my voice.

Let him stay in control.

"Lord Shimura, sir. Why did you invite me here today?"

He methodically waited a moment, taking a new piece of his plate, chewing it, and then taking the time to answer. Of course implying that I was worth less than his meal. Y'know, typical power play stuff.

"You were the one who expressed a desire to speak again."

He's not going to tell me what he wants.

I could give up the games, ask him plainly, but then I'd probably appear too weak willed or lacking in cunning to be of use.

Alright, the conditions are clear now.

I knew what I needed to do to 'win' here. I needed to impress him without stepping on his toes.

"Sir… could I be permitted to show you something?"

He waited, but then nodded.

I raised my arm slowly to make it clearly visible, channelled chakra to make my seals visible, held it a second, and then popped out an unmarked letter.

I placed it on the table.

An attendant approached, stepped aside, and read it, before handing it over to Danzo.

A twitch.

Victory.

The meal was forgotten.

"How long?"

"Two years, sir."

"Yet you have not acted."

"We don't have the firepower to deal with Orochimaru."

He leaned back, an intentional sign that he was losing interest.

"So nothing will come of it."

"We're not waiting in vain. A chance will come."

"How are you certain?"

"...because Orochimaru wouldn't be gathering an army if he didn't mean to attack someone."

I didn't smile at my second victory. He knew exactly what I meant.

Now I'll just need 20 more, and then maybe-

"You will have your opportunity to return to your home within a year."

He took a sip from his drink, and then put it down.

That-!

"In the meantime, my agents will instruct you on how to write detailed intelligence reports, as well as how to make a proper dropoff and pickup. You will tell no one. Is that understood?"

"Yes sir."

With that, the games ended and the meal continued.

Maybe now…

"Sir, may I ask another question?"

"Proceed."

Socrates, don't fail me now.

"There's an aspect of leaf shinobi culture that I can't quite manage to wrap my head around."

Naruto was a show of ideals. Naruto and Sasuke both meet antagonists who challenge their ideals. In every scenario, they won because they either evolved their ideals, or through exploiting the hypocrisy in their opposition.

Danzo had two obvious hypocrisies: One within his own behaviour, and one within his ideals.

His personal hypocrisy was his failure to live up to the ideals he proclaimed. He managed to overcome this flaw during his battle with Sasuke. Which meant his loss was caused by the flaw in his philosophy…

"It is said that the perfect shinobi is a tool, incapable of feeling. Why?"

"I understand the confusion. It is wise of you to seek my council on the matter."

Danzo put down his cutlery.

"It is with focus and reason that a shinobi is able to see clearly. Emotions distract shinobi from the greater objective and obscure that clarity."

I nodded with a confused frown.

"So… a shinobi must not feel, because they must think clearly and fulfil their objective?"

"Indeed."

"...but how is the objective decided?"

"That's why you have your superiors."

"...right, but aren't they also shinobi?"

"That's correct."

"So, they get their objective's from their superiors?"

"Indeed."

"Then who commands the Hokage?"

He paused to take another drink.

"No one, but the hokage has the experience to determine what is important to the village."

It sounds like a solid system… but that's a bootstrap paradox if I've ever seen one.

I adopted a look of sudden understanding.

"Ah… so in obeying orders, you gain the experience to eventually give orders yourself."

"Exactly."

"So how did Lord First give out his orders?"

Danzo remained silent.

…In the end Sasuke's burning hatred was stronger than Danzo's cold apathy.

If I push he's going to catch on.

"There are other elements of the hidden leaf that I find fascinating, the academy…"

We spent the rest of the meal discussing the pros and cons of various components of the village. It was frankly fascinating. I had earth and the outsiders perspective, while Danzo had a much better understanding of historical context.

"Thank you for your time, Lord Shimura. The conversation was fruitful and enlightening."

"Why do you express such an interest in the function of the hidden leaf?"

The question cut straight through the pleasantries.

"Just as you love your village, I love mine."

I smiled.

"My ambition would be to rebuild the hidden sound as a proper hidden village. For us to abandon our roots as Orochimaru's play thing. There are a lot of lessons to be learned from understanding the hidden leaf."

I bowed.

"So once again, thank you."

After a moment of silence, I made to leave-

"There are few who are willing to engage me with honest debate. Perhaps, we'll speak again."

…

Back in my prison cell I finally let myself comprehend that I'd somehow impressed Danzo.

He didn't deny me when I said he loved his village.

I smirked.

That's a third victory for me.

Things fell into a sort of routine after that.

Team Hayama would return, let me out of the prison, then leave again and dump me back.

While I was in prison, Danzo invited me over on occasion to discuss the strengths of the hidden leaf, and how it could be better. I started hitting the books and listening in on the complaints of the villagers to keep up.

All the while, I kept up my training and was taught the ROOT protocols/ciphers I needed.

Probably outdated.

I couldn't see him trusting me with actual important techniques and intel.

"Aha, I've got it!"

We looked over at Shita, curious what this was about.

He leaned close.

"Right, so I remembered something a cousin of mine mentioned once. You see his teammate's uncle once met a travelling dancer who supposedly spoke with his mind."

I gave him a blank look.

"Hey I wasn't done! I managed to find out that it wasn't some sort of bloodline. He used genjutsu, you could do it too."

That… would work.

It wasn't like I was making any progress with mastering wind transformation yet.

Yumika deployed 'Face of Determination'!

"Do you know any genjutsu?"

Seno asked.

Yumika's 'Face of Determination' has been defeated.

"That's a no then."

Ureha bounced to her feet.

"Well then it's up to us to teach you!"

Really?

"Yes really."

[…]

"What part of 'shape your chakra until it feels lighter' don't you get?!"

I held up a card aggressively: 'The feel part, I can't feel my chakra!'

"What do you mean you can't feel your chakra?! Everyone can feel their chakra!"

I crossed my arms and harrumphed silently in response.

"...that is clearly not the case."

Seno chimed in.

Shita stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"Is that why you won't spar with Seno?"

I nodded.

"I don't see how her disability relates to me, Shita."

"Your bugs?"

Seno's expression didn't shift.

"Your chakra draining bugs?"

Lightbulb.

"Oh."

Ureha calmed down enough to actually pick up on what I was saying.

"Wait, you seriously can't feel your chakra?"

I nodded, a bit less aggressively.

"Well, then I'm beat, I don't have the theory down. Seno, why don't you try."

He looked her straight in the eyes.

"I don't know any genjutsu."

Ureha blinked.

"...but we learned it in the academy, how did you pass without genjutsu?"

Seno continued to stare.

A sigh.

"Right, clan privilege."

She slapped herself on her cheeks to knock out the funk.

"Alright, Shita, you try."

"Sure, so Yumika…"

[...]

"...so that's how you form the spiritual yin chakra needed for genjutsu."

I nodded enthusiastically, having been able to follow along, then held up a card: 'what next?'

Shita shrugged.

"I don't know any genjutsu, I just know the theory."

I angrily yeeted a bunch of the yin chakra I made to learn this step at him.

"Ok, that felt weird, don't do that again."

Damnit, I was hoping that'd give me a clue.

"What are you all up to?"

Hayama asked, having just arrived.

"Um, nothing sensei."

He crossed his arms, clearly not believing it.

"Very well. Yumika, would you be willing to spar with Shita again?"

I nodded and took up a position.

I'd done this enough times that I had a pretty solid grasp of my strategy against him.

"Begin!"

Caltrops.

The Inuzaka style often led them into a four-legged stance. The caltrops were already dangerous enough to do damage through boots, and he didn't have any protection on his hands.

Unfortunately, we'd battled enough times that he knew better. Which was why he settled into the hidden leaf academy-taught style, and was on me by the time the last caltrop was scattered.

Shita stopped in front of me and launched a right handed straight punch right towards my heart, but I just managed to push it aside with my left forearm, sliding back with my back foot.

He's faster, he's stronger, but he's not comfortable with the style.

Which was why his main priority was forcing me to move away from my 'safety zone'. With his familiar style I would get absolutely destroyed.

I slid my left foot back, popped out my staff, and tried to gain some distance with an upward diagonal swing. He adjusted his charge to take it into the side of his rib in order to tank it like a champ.

Got you!

My staff seemed to phase through him, popping the transformation that made it seem longer than it was, then I jabbed him in the diaphragm before he could catch me with his left handed round swing.

He lost his breath, and fell to the ground. Which Hayama cleared with a wind technique before Shita's back was skewered by caltrops.

"That's Yumika's win."

I offered him a hand.

"Urgh, all these damn tricks. Why don't you fight fair for once?"

I cocked my head at him.

You know what? Sure, whatever.

I nodded with a smile, stored up the caltrops, then took up my position again.

"Wait, you're serious?"

I lifted up my fists, and looked over at Hayama who sighed.

"Very well, begin."

Shita was on me, he was attacking.

I brought up an arm to block, but wasn't fast enough.

I got hit in the chest.

I countered with a kick, which he ducked under before lunging at me-

-and getting stopped by Hayama.

"This match is over. Yumika, I'm taking you to the hospital."

What why?

Then I noticed that I was feeling a bit lightheaded.

Why is it hard to breathe?

I looked down and saw my chest wasn't quite the right shape.

Oh.

I blacked out.

Line Break

I survived with no more noticable lasting injuries.

Not the first time my ribs are broken, won't be the last.

The event did prompt me to maybe have a go at something from my strategy journal. So a week later, Ureha was escorting me to a blacksmith in town.

"I still think you're being ridiculous. Nobody has what you're looking for."

I shrugged, as we entered the building.

This wasn't the first smith we'd visited today, but it was the last one Ureha knew of.

It was neat, compared to the others, and a glance was enough to make out the system and where everything could be found.

There was a counter, but nobody was manning it at the moment.

Probably working.

We walked up, Ureha rang a bell, and a door leading to the back opened up to reveal a man who definitely looked the part of a smith stereotype. I also caught a glimpse of something in the back.

Is that..?

"So, what can I do for you, madam ninja?"

He said addressing Ureha. Naturally, she was the one wearing the headband.

I waved to get his attention, and handed him a card: 'Hi, my name is Yumika. I was wondering if you had any ^HEAVY DUTY^ armour for sale?'

He read the card then looked me over skeptically.

"Like the sort Samurai wear?"

I nodded.

He shook his head.

"I don't deal in that kind of gear, and I don't reckon you could handle or afford it even if I did."

Ureha put a hand on my shoulder to pull me away, and brought up another in apology.

"Understandable, sorry for your time."

I stood my ground, and brought out another card and started writing with a frown: 'what about that set in the back?'

"Urgh, I told him to keep that thing out of sight. I don't know what possessed that idiot apprentice of mine to create such an abomination."

He answered massaging the bridge of his nose.

"You should just forget about it. It's unwieldy, unsightly, and unmaneuverable."

With every word my eyes sparkled more.

Ureha seemed to be picking up on my mood.

"Yumika, no."

Yumika, yes!

I ignored her and popped out a card: 'What would it take for me to leave the store with it?'

"Listen, you wouldn't even manage to move in that thing."

New card: 'Is it tough?'

"Yes, tougher than any mundane metalwork you'll find, but-'

I brought out my previous card again with a serious expression.

"Fine, if you want it, you can have it, but I'm not giving you your money back if you can't even manage to get it out of the store."

The price tag would burn through most of what I had left over.

Worth it.

"I can't believe you're actually doing this."

I smirked over at Ureha's disbelief, as I was taken back to get the thing fitted.

I was first told to put on a leather bodysuit, for comfort apparently-

Yup, not going to bother with that in the future.

-Afterwards was the long arduous process of getting encapsulated by a series of thick, interlocking metal plates. Topped off with a pair of hefty pauldrons and helmet, I wound up looking like a grimdark fantasy character.

True to his word, these massive lumps of metal left me basically entirely immobile.

At least it carries its own weight.

So I wasn't going to be crushed.

It. Was. Perfect.

Thing is, whether by skill, some sort of natural growth, or an element of Orochimaru's genius: my storage seals had grown stronger over the last few years. So the size and weight cap had risen enough that I could probably store and unstore all the pieces on my upper body while wearing them.

It was already something I'd been doing with my shirts.

Anyone who's seen Fairy Tail could tell where I was going with this.

"See, you can't move."

I stored my shirt, stored all the upper body components of the armour, then re-equipped my shirt again.

There's a difference between 'shinobi not having modesty' and 'public indecency'.

Then I ran my outer forearm seals along the trouser components.

Smirked, and waved goodbye to the smith as I left, picking up the exasperated poison specialist on the way.

…

Shita smirked as we arrived at the training ground.

"I told you, it was a waste of…"

He noticed the skip in my step and Ureha's disbelief.

"...I stand corrected."

"How'd the library go?"

Ureha asked the two, to which Seno snorted.

"No scrolls on genjutsu."

I expected as much.

"We could ask Yume." Shita chimed in.

"Our academy genjutsu teacher, really?" Seno asked.

Shita leaned back casually.

"I hear she's still teaching, if anyone could do it, it'd be her."

"There's no way she'd be willing to teach a foreign ninja, Shita." Ureha chimed in.

He smirked.

"Then we better not bring her a foreign ninja."

The three shared a conspiratory look.

What the hell are they planning?

Seno turned to me.

"I am curious to see the armour."

I smiled.

Sure, no problem.

Then popped out the right arm of the armour.

There was immediate screaming, as I seemed to have unsealed the arm the wrong way round… which meant my arm was bent the wrong way round.

Good thing I can't feel pain, because this is going to take a lot of practice.

"...certain shinobi are too important."

"...but if they can't be replaced, then they can effectively hold themselves hostage and force things to go their way. Tsunade's out doing who knows what, Jiraiya is a notorious pervert, and I don't think I need to go into detail on Orochimaru. Unlike minor villages, the hidden leaf has the ability to hold those figures accountable."

I took a breath and continued.

"It's easy to forget, but Orochimaru was once a hero of the village. He might have still been if someone had decided to give him a slap of the wrist early on. Which leads to the other issue, that kind of corruption spreads. Someone must have noticed what he was doing, but no one said anything, probably because they benefited from his patronage in some way."

Danzo remained silent.

You know who it was don't you?

"...in fact, I'm quite sure Orochimaru probably still has a notable portion of the village in his pocket."

"Oh?"

"Was anyone other than Orochimaru outed for his work? If not, any and all conspirators are still around."

Take the issue, then explain how it could threaten the village.

It was the best way to get Danzo's attention on a matter.

So what do you do knowing that you yourself are a threat Danzo?

I'd have to wait and see.

This isn't going to work.

"Okay, so the story we're going with is that you're a cousin of mine from the northern part of the land of fire. There's this village in the area that lines up with the profile…"

…I don't look anything like you Ureha.

"Now I know what you're worried about, that's why you'll need to use a transformation…"

As Haruka's apprentice in infiltration, I could safely say that wouldn't work, especially against a genjutsu specialist.

"So, are you ready?"

Hey, they're trying, that's worth something right?

I plastered a smile and nodded.

…

"-your story is full of holes, the transformation is laughable, you tried so hard to lie that you brought attention to the details you were trying to obscure to begin with-"

The three members of team Hayama were being chewed out.

Why am I not surprised?

"-finally, you shouldn't be trying to help an enemy of the leaf. Now scram."

The three ran.

Pop, scribble: 'sorry for the trouble'.

I bowed and followed after them.

"Argh, I was sure that would work!"

Really?

He seemed offended at my visible lack of faith.

"Hey, there's no way we could have known that she'd be that good at picking apart lies."

Pop, scribble: 'Genjutsu is literally an art based on deception'.

He raised a finger to object, then realised I actually had a point.

That's when I caught sight of a poster.

Wait…

I stopped up.

…Ichino?

I stepped up to get a closer look.

It is!

Ichino was going to do a performance here in the hidden leaf.

Is there an address?

There was. I started running.

Dodge, jump, slide.

That's the place.

I dropped down in front of a door and knocked.

Do they remember me? How has the celebrity life been treating them? How-

The door opened revealing a large man who, based on the weapon by his side, seemed to be some sort of security.

"Are you lost?"

Pop, scribble: 'Is Ichino here?'

"Ichino doesn't see fans-"

"Fucking piece of shit!"

The guard made a face. I used the moment of distraction to slip past him and made my way inside.

Just follow the swearing.

I reached an open door, and looked inside.

It's them!

"Hey, I said I didn't want to be- Yumika?!"

I tackled them with a hug.

"Argh, get off me you damn brat."

…much to Ichino's chagrin, as they tried to shove me off.

I frowned up at them, and they scoffed.

"Yeah, yeah, I missed you too. Now let go."

I did so, just as the out of breath sprinting guard entered the doorway.

"Sorry, I tried to stop her-"

"It's fine."

Ichino adopted a thoughtful expression, while inspecting me.

"While this reunion is nice and all, we still have an issue on our hands."

Said a man who I just noticed was in the room as well.

Well dressed, full of himself, commandeering.

Ah, the manager.

Ichino smirked.

"I wouldn't be too sure of that."

Then they looked down at me again.

"You as good as you used to be?"

I scoffed.

I'm better.

The manager sighed in exasperation.

"I know we're desperate for a replacement since Ukino ditched us at the last minute, but there's got to be better options."

"Don't put your panties in a twist. This here-"

Ichino put a hand on my head.

"-is my only apprentice. I'm sure they're better than half the trash you've tried to pair me up with."

"You taught someone?"

"Tsk, you make it sound impossible."

He looked me over seriously.

"We don't have clothes for her, and she can't go-"

I had no idea what was happening, but if Ichino needed help… I stored my clothes and popped out a formal set, on me of course.

"Nice trick."

I grinned up at Ichino.

"...fine, you guys are on in 13 minutes."

Wait… what?

I caught the instrument Ichino tossed at me.

"If you fall behind, I'm leaving you in the dirt."

It clicked.

My grin went feral.

Oh it's on.

Ichino crossed their arms as their smirk grew.

"Oh? Now that's a new look. Who knew you had spine?"

I raised a brow at them.

"Smartass."

I shrugged.

Then we were tuned and on the darkened stage. I was given a porcelain mask to cover my face with.

Heh, can't risk me outshining their star now.

It was more than fine by me, I was used to being the support.

A voice spoke in my head.

"You're on in a minute, wait for Ichino to start."

What the f-

The lights flashed on, and just as suddenly, Ichino filled the world with music.

Better than I remember.

It was the same song they'd played the first time as well.

"Let's start this off easy."

The first phrase finished, and I joined in with a flourish.

Oh please, go wild.

Ichino upped the tempo.

"Ho? Brat's got herself a big head. Let me show you why I'm boss."

I didn't miss a beat.

You were saying?

The song went quieter.

"We've only just begun."

The next section was a call and response, and the voice in my head arrived again.

"Let Ichino take the first call, then switch after the chorus."

I fell to a drone as Ichino took charge.

Ha, it's no wonder Ukino ditched. Ichino's practically trying to bully me off the stage.

I stopped taking it and I hit back.

"That's more like it!"

Ichino took it in stride, and used my rhythm to fuel their counter.

I played the next phrase calmly to dodge, which set up for Ichino to take the lead in the chorus, and we were working together again.

"That's my win."

Just you wait!

It was my turn to call, and I started softly to try to manoeuvre Ichino where I wanted them.

Ichino tried to push, and I rolled with it hitting back hard.

Then Ichino took the rise in the music and led into the end of the song.

I caught a glimpse of Ichino looking my way.

"That was the easy round, ready for more?"

Please do, I'm having the time of my life.

…

"Hah, not bad kid!"

Actual praise from Ichino?!

"Don't be too surprised, you wouldn't believe how many fakes I've had to deal with since I started this business."

"Most of those 'fakes' as you call them are professionals. They just happen to actually have some tact."

The manager chimed in.

"More like they lack passion."

Ichino grinned down at me.

"Well, it seems the tables have turned. I gotta pay you now."

I pointed at myself confused.

I'm getting paid for this?!

"As I said, I've got a reputation now. Gotta stay respectable. So whatcha want?"

I popped out a card and started writing: 'could someone teach me the voice in the head thing.'

"Well, can they?"

Ichino turned the question to the manager.

"Hmpf, it would be no issue."

…

"Yumika, where have you be-?!"

The three saw what I was wearing, and the mask Ichino had let me keep.

Hayama, who seemed to be back now, chose then to chime in.

"You played well."

Pop: 'Thank you'.

Strategy Journal

New Entry - Rock Lee (7)

At this point this is really just a habit.

…

New Entry - Sasuke Uchiha (1)

I've talked about counters to the sharingan, but Sasuke is more than a Sharingan.

He is fast, skilled in taijutsu, shurikenjutsu, and ninjutsu.

First problem, Great Fireball jutsu. Main characters have a lot of chakra. It probably costs him less to throw fireballs, than it costs me to use chakra to get out of the blast zone ( at least). Play at deception, if possible cover up chakra usage, if not make the cost seem negligible.

His shuriken and wire technique will annihilate my archery. Higher rate of fire, greater accuracy, trick shots, the phoenix flame thing, and ninja wire bullshit. If I end up in a ranged battle against him, I WILL lose.

So that leaves taijutsu. The disorientation caused by the loss of his sharingan advantage (if those counters work) may be enough to gain me the advantage. Consider deploying the armour and just being a rock he can't hurt. (DO NOT do this if he's learned chidori.)

Progress on other projects:

Chakra Negation. Up to both knees and both arms at once!

Wind Release. I think I made a cut! Maybe half a millimetre… I probably just imagined it.

Plate mail. Actually acquired.

Genjutsu. Ichino's manager taught me a telepathy genjutsu! It only works on a single target within a few metres that I can see, but it's something! Keep working on it.