Birds of a Feather
Two days later twenty students gathered anxiously to hear the results of the exams. Twenty five should have made it but several participants had taken it upon themselves to thin the competition. Only thirteen of the original forty had survived along with seven of the missin-nin.
How many friends did we lose in that test? People we have known since Oto became the Hidden Village of Sound...six years gone in a matter of days and for what? Is this truly what you wanted, Orochimaru, when we made our deal?
"Move your ass, Naota!"
Casting a glare at Tokagero I settled next to a part time friend in the front row - Yukamura Akira, age 14, stealth specialist. He, like all of us, wore a somber mask over the emotions boiling within be it nervousness, fear, excitement, or any of a thousand possibilities.
The Lizard leaned over me ignoring my rather indignant protests "How'd you do, Akira?"
"It went well, Tokagero-san." he flashed a quick, uneasy smile "I heard the two of you had to take out missing-nin?"
He made it sound a question but little else had been discussed by the gossips at the Academy for the past two days. How little Naota and beastly Tokagero defeated a pair of missing-nins. The fact that neither of us bore any wounds besides bruising only made it worse. But the gossips spoke of only two missing-nin dying and only seven are here now.
Thrusting my friend none too gently into a seat of his own I spoke the question currently occupying my thoughts "Who defeated the third one?"
"I did, Kikurame."
One row above and behind the three of us stands my eternal headache - Isawa Mako, age 14, ninjutsu expert and heir to the God of Wood bloodline. A five foot two inch, one hundred and ten pound headache with hair like flame. Noble born and hailed as a genius ever since she arrived in Oto two years past she has done little but aggravate me.
"Is that the best you can do, Kikurame?"
"Try harder."
"You will not grow stronger with that lout as your partner."
Despite her weird attempts at belittling me, or coach me, it's hard not to respect and - from a distance - admire the highborn girl.
"Does that not makes sense, Kikurame? I am the most skillful of this lot, in all the areas needed for the life of a shinobi." a throaty purr permeated her words as it always did. Add that to her recently aquired curved endowments and it became clear why so many boys dreamt of her.
Not that I'm likely to tell her that.
"Do you list your ego as a deadly weapon or your rhetoric?" She's good but it's best if she doesn't know it.
Her lips twitched - in anger or amusement I can't say - as I am the only one who talks to her this way. All of the other boys just sit with a drooling, vacuos stare ...much like Tokagero and Akira are doing right now.
"All one has to do is prove their worth in battle. Then I will treat them as an equal." she turned her back to us as she climbed to her seat at the back before saying one final thing "As you already have."
Nakano-sensei kept me from asking any one of the questions on my mind as I stared hard at the Isawa Clan heiress. Mako has always been strange.
"Yukamura Akira, team fourteen."
Tension ran from him like water, his ordeal over.
"Ichihara Jin, team fifteen."
The maniacal genjutsu master hardly seemed to hear Nakano-sensei focusing wholely on the scroll in his hands.
"Tokagero, team thirteen."
A grin threatened to tear the newly crowned shinobi's head in half as he basked in the glory.
"Daite Reiko, team fifteen."
Reiko - the only girl amongst the surviving missing-nin - blushed as if shy. An illusion of course. There are no shy missing-nin.
"Genda Eri & Genda Mana, team fourteen."
Identical twins...I'll have to watch those girls carefully. Some shinobi I'd be if I can't tell them apart.
"Isawa Mako, team thirteen."
Displeasure practically oozed from our resident genius. Mako hates her little fanclub and Tokagero is fanboy number one.
"Tokagi Sotan, team fifteen."
The swordsman nodded stiffly, trying far too hard to seem older.
"Kikurame Naota, team thirteen."
I let out a breathe I didn't know I had been holding. Why did he have to call my name last?
Eleven disgruntled students filed past glaring daggers. Not that any of the newly crowned genin cared or payed them any mind.
Nakano-sensei continued in their abscence "Tomorrow you will be registered and assigned to your new sensei. I know you will make me proud. Especially a few of you."
His eyes settled on Mako and I. Prized students we may be but all that did was make him drive us harder.
"It has been a pleasure to teach you all. Welcome to the life of a shinobi."
En masse the former students left the classroom for the last time, a new spring in their steps. Only a few left in anything resembling a subdued manner. One of the few was waiting for me in the hallway.
Seafoam, was all that came to mind as her eyes locked onto mine. Her eyes are like seafoam.
Mako studied me, ignoring the exuberant Tokagero by my side.
"Tomorrow then, Kikurame, we will see if your skill is advanced enough to stand beside my own."
What in the hells does that mean?
Tokagero started to butt in but I raised one hand forestalling his comment. There is more going on here than we know.
"We'll see, Mako."
The Isawa heiress nodded and departed before any more could be said. My friend watched her sway out of the school, oblivious to my presence or anything else for that matter.
Of course I watched too but I am much more discrete about it.
"That is one odd girl." Nakano-sensei spoke from behind us.
No arguments here.
"Why does she do that, sensei?"
Our former sensei stepped up next to us, saffron robe swishing softly against the wooden floor. We were both watching him
"I honestly do not know, Naota." an odd expression surged across his face as he spoke "But I do know this - she is running from something and you are part of it."
Tokagero and I exchanged looks before leaving to get something to eat. He complained the entire way about her not treating him that way. Baka.
How do I play a part in her story? Why does she test me and only me? And why does her opinion matter to me?
We will see, Isawa Mako.
An excerpt from the journal of Kikurame Naota:
Mother, what would you think of your darling boy if you could see me now?
Ten generations of Kikurame lie enterred in the soil of our lands. Ten generations of healers who devoted their lives to the preservation of others. Ten generations of work thrown away in the blink of an eye. What prayers can I offer? To whom would I pray? The one I slew, the family I betrayed, or the village I sold to that snake Orochimaru?
How did it all go so wrong? You, Father, and the rest of the Clan slain leaving me behind to bury the dead. Oto Village has become a den of snakes under his guidance. My hands turned from healing to killing by my own choice.
And that is truly the hellish thing. Oto Village...Dosu's death...all of these are my own choice. Have I turned my back on what it means to be a Kikurame? Did I do wrong in accepting Orochimaru's offer to rebuild Oto? Should I even study the ninpo?
How many lives could I be saving? How many children would still go home to their families? How many parents would not weep over the grave of a child?
Instead I killed a boy no more a man than I with the very techniques designed to save them.
I'm sorry, Dosu. I was just following orders.
Training Field 17
The note said to meet at field 17 at 7 in the morning. So here I am, against my better judgement, with the sun barely gleaming above the treetops.
And there's no one here.
Oaks bordered the glade, shielding it from the world outside. A thousand points of dew glittered on the lush grass spread like a blanket of emerald over the soil. Twelve target stands stood mutely throughout the area, sentinels guarding over the Second Age of Oto Village.
Seven years ago the girls of the village would sing as the picked flowers here. Most likely Mother and I would have joined in. Before the massacre. Before Orochimaru remade it in his image.
"You hail from this village, do you not? The sole original inhabitant?" Isawa Mako stood several yards behind me watching intently with that unfathomable expression.
"Yes. The Kikurame Clan used to rule Oto."
"Why does it not rule now?"
I turned on her not sure in which way she meant this. Did she not know of the attack or...
"You are of age to lead your people." Her voice clear and powerful held no mockery.
Running one hand through thick cerulean hair I spoke softly "Because I made a choice. For good or ill I made a choice that we all must live with."
Her eyes steeled for a moment but she let the issue go.
My turn to ask questions then.
"Where did you come from, Mako? Why here?"
She stood frozen a minute as if debating but the jury apparently ruled in my favor "My Clan hails from the Hidden Village of Grass. My father sought a power to ally himself with. Someone who would see that the slights paid to him were never repeated. The Snake Sennin welcomed us with a serpent's smile."
What has your father done for you to speak of him with such contempt?
"That decision changed my destiny. Forced it down a path I would rather not tread." her words trembled.
Why are you afraid, Mako?
"What destiny awaits you? What dreams may come for you?"
I cocked my head to the side studying her. Never before had I heard her speak like this.
"I don't believe in destiny, Mako, but I will tell you what I choose to do. I will do everything in my power to protect Oto Village from the tragedy of choices made. To make sure it's people are not forced down dark paths."
"Spoken like a true lord, Naota." something new shone in her eyes ...respect? admiration?
All creation came to a halt as we stared at each other. Not a bird sang nor a wind blew. Two noble born shinobi both turned from the path once set before them. Each needing to speak but neither knowing the proper words.
"Hey guys!"
And then it passed.
"Where's the sensei?" Tokagero asked trotting towards us with his usual ground eating pace.
Mako turned away at his approach as likely to speak openly now as the shark for which she's named.
Tokagero...you have the worst timing.
"His question is a valid one, Kikurame." her breath should have been visible so cold was her tone.
So I'm not Naota when he's around?
The blithely ignorant swordsman smiled brightly "Let Naota stay in case the sensei shows while you and I search the woods - together."
The Isawa heir cast a glacial scowl his way halting the next before it ever left his mouth.
"Smooth, fanboy. Next time I'll bring a prybar to remove your foot from your mouth" I paused an image forming "or her foot from your lower parts."
Growling he walked away but I swear Mako smiled if only for a second.
"Arukoto naikoto!"
The croaking cry caught our attention immediately. Mako and I focused on the source, an uncommonly large crow perched atop a target. Our teammate dismissed it immediately but he has never been what one could call overly gifted.
"Arukoto naikoto!"
The crow moved not at all save to issue it's odd cry..
"Do you find this as strange as I do, Kikurame?""
I nodded and we mirrored each other. Both of us performing the same jutsu. Tokagero, unfortunately, saw none of this.
He called back to where we stood "Why the hell are you still watching that damned bird?"
"Because they listen to their instincts, genin."
From our vantage point Mako and I saw the person behind Tokagero quite clearly. Not that much could be seen. An ichiban hat combined with a cloak of crow feathers obscured everything except for the eyes - burning saffron slits watching from beneath the hat's rim.
The Mako in the clearing spoke first "State your name."
"Akamatsu Ryo. Jounin Sound-nin." a woman's voice - like silk on silk - issued from the veiled shinobi "Instructor of team thirteen."
Relaxing, I awaited the inevitable.
1, 2, 3...
"About damn time you got here!"
My friend is very predictable and very dumb. This could be good.
"You must be Tokagero." the calm condescending manner spoke volumes of about her feelings for him "Very loud and very confident. Overly confident for a shinobi who did not even see his own teammates take cover."
He turned to where we seemed to be, face wrinkling in confusion.
"They used Split Body Genjutsu." her words triggered a moment of revelation in the young man's mind.
That's right. We hid for a reason.
Mako shook her head despairingly. What can I say? He really isn't the brightest of shinobi.
Ryo delivered a knife edge strike to the back of his neck, driving him to his knees nearly a dozen feet from where he had stood. Her eyes widened ever so slightly when he rose on shaky legs and turned towards her. The grin on his face was most eloquent.
It will take more than that to stop the Lizard.
"This is the first trial -" she pointedly glanced at our hiding place to include Mako and I "the three of you attack will all your skills at the ready. The goal is to draw my blood."
Three genin against a jounin? Doesn't sound good but if all we have to do is draw her blood perhaps we can pull this off. If we work together.
Tokagero drew Sorrow forth with a hiss and gripped it with both hands settling into the first form of the Dragon's Tongue fighting style, Leopard In The Tree - knees bent and leaning forward Sorrow held upright. Mako leapt from the tree a kunai clutched in each hand her clone disappearing. Banishing my double I dropped down next to Mako though I made no hostile action.
Sorrow dropped then surged across in an arcing slash meant to decapitate Ryo. A pair of kunai led the Isawa heiress' charge into battle as she went into an advanced, but generic, taijutsu set. Sensei dodged every attack as if the entire fight had been choreagraphed.
A strong rapid series of thrusts missed her cleanly by scant inches every time. Mako's attacks never got within an inch of her body. Sorrow went up and over in a powerful overhand chop that buried itself in the soil. Our resident genius darted forward only to trip over a protuding foot sending her into a controlled roll.
How is she doing this? I thought from my place at the sidelines.
Focusing on her movements something odd stood out - at spaced intervals she hesitated as if something was supposed to happen. As if someone should be attacking from a third angle.
Why is she dodging an offensive not present? Unless she has reason to believe there should be another.
And then I felt it. Almost imperceptible in the beginning it had grown in strength with every passing moment. Call it instinct or desire but it urged attack as if it was part of me.
Genjutsu. She used a hypnotic technique when she looked us in the eyes!
"Mako! Tokagero! Retreat! We can't beat her like this."
Reluctantly they complied hopping back to my position, sides heaving. Ryo watched me an unfamiliar expression those yellow crow eyes. No one moved on either side all eyes on me.
"She used a hypnotic suggestion on us when she told us the lesson. A trick of her eyes combined with the fact that her hands are hidden beneath the cloak." I held my hands before my chest not yet forming seals "She wanted us to attack without any plan."
Mako nodded a gleam of respect in her eyes "Have you formulated a plan then?"
"Yes."
"I hope it's a damn good one, bwana." Tokagero tossed in from the other side.
"Just play along. You'll know what to do."
Ryo charged as my hands began flashing a series of seals familiar to every shinobi - Split Body Genjutsu. Mako and Tokagero intercepted her trying to buy me the time I needed. Finishing three other Naotas appeared. Three of the four Naotas present then performed another basic jutsu - Doppelganger.
Now she faced two Mako's, two Tokagero's, and two Naota's.
Let's see how good you are, Akamatsu Ryo. Let's see if you can find the real me.
The two teams swarmed her. Makos one and two slipped into nearly identical knife fighting routines with their kunais gleaming. Two sword swinging Tokageros launched into a flurry of thrusts and slashes known as Cat On Hot Sand in his style as twin Naotas launched into a basic kata of the Path of Diamond taijutsu. She blocked or dodged them all but not as easily as before.
A swift side kick took out a Naota clone as she dipped beneath a savage sword slash. Continuing the motion she drove a hard right hand into the real Tokagero's stomach driving him halfway across the field. Twisting she skimmed past Mako's kunais removing them from her grasp with a twist of her cloak. Catching the last Tokagero's arm she flung him up and over before turning her attention to the real Naota.
Or so she thought.
As I arced behind her back I dropped the jutsu and became Naota where Tokagero number two had been. Spitting a needle into the back of her neck I rolled with the impact and ended in a crouch.
Ryo stood there frozen.
"We got you, teach'." Tokagero taunted from the ground a shit eating grin plastered across his face.
It passed when Ryo disapeared in a cloud of smoke.
"Split Body?" I whispered never having seen a clone that solid.
"No. Shadow Clone." we all whirled to see Ryo standing atop the target where the crow had previously perched "You have done very well. So far. Shall we see what you can do when I get serious?"
We all assumed a fighting stance.
If she's going to beat us at least we'll go down fighting.
Author's Note: I must truly apologize about the length of time between updates but I am working eleven hour days right now as well as working on my novel. Hopefully you can all forgive me. Incidentally my Gaara fic Primal should be receiving a new chapter in the next day or so.