Author's Notes: More development time, and a good look at Hidden Rain. Also, only two more chapters after this until everything cuts loose, honest, and those should be good chapters too. So, stick it out, everything is slowly clicking into place.
Thanks to reviewers, and hopes for more generosity!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, or any portion thereof, and make no claims on its copyright. However, all original characters and events are my own property.
Chapter 19 – Wet Green and Brown
The Hidden village of Rain was located near the heart of the jungle, lost in a maze of vegetation and growth that served as a natural labyrinth. Those who did not live here, who did not learn the constantly changing world, found it a giant trap. Dead ends, tangling vines, massive webs, and traps without end filled this place, a nightmare of living danger. It was a world so oppressive that the Rain ninja wore their breathers not just for the amphibious world, but to draw pure air from the stagnant, water poisoned the air of the jungle, fuming with sour vapors. Deep within all this was a space where great trees hundreds of years in age and hundreds of meters tall cleared a space for the hidden village to be borne upon their boughs.
Ise walked through the stifling boundary with his head high, undaunted. He hated this verdant mess, but he did not fear it. The stagnant air did not bother him at all, for his shark's gills filtered a sweeter draught of oxygen from the water hanging there, and his scaled skin formed a slick coating to keep the water off. His eyes shifted slowly in their sockets, reading the endless mass of life like a reef, searching, scanning, and waiting for the chance to strike, marking dangers, paths and routes. This dense world was in three dimensions, and though it might be the home of the Rain ninja, the shark-blooded ninja found an intuitive balance and a freedom usually offered only by the sea.
Beside her shark-blooded companion Yi was likewise undaunted. She had already seen the dark looks from their Rain ninja guide as he watched her move with the learned lore of one at home in the jungle. She wore a bandage over her face now, made from fibers of filtering leaves to keep a steady flow of pure air to her mouth, and moved with slow fluidity, using the environment as her aid, not trying to force herself through it. This land did not intimidate her at all; instead, it was perfect ground for her powers. Everywhere the dampness hung in the air, and on the vegetation, if Yi willed she could turn the jungle into a raging conflagration in moments, she was surrounded by that which defended her.
The rain ninja squirmed on the calm gaze of the two Mist ninja. He tried to mask it, but he obviously disliked their familiarity with the land, their comfort here. It was a thing that discomforted him, and so he had pushed them forward hard in the past two days of travel. We worry you, rain ninja, Ise observed. You fear that these barriers are so ineffective. I wonder, is it simply because you fear that other enemies, like the Leaf, could adapt to this so easily, or is it because there are things you wish to hide from us? Ise regarded everything with suspicion. History made clear that Rain was Mist's colony, a realm established by Mist ninja isolated from the sea in the water soaked lakes and rivers of the jungle basin. Despite this, relations had been cool for the past twenty years long, for the rain did not approve of, some might say feared, the current Mizukage. The shark-blooded ninja had been told this, and he knew his heritage marked him well here. I am an object of hatred and fear, Ise saw the glances beneath the rain ninja's twisted masked sneers. Let them come at me with their hatred if they will, he thought. I can bear that, I am used to it, these Rain ninja are amateurs. They have no true knowledge of how to revile someone, not like those in Mist. Better they should hate me and lose all inquiry through that hatred than probe the depths of this mission.
"Where is your leader's building?" Ise asked the rain ninja who guided them. "It is not too far I hope."
"Surely you are not tired Mist ninja?" the rain ninja remarked sarcastically. "In any case it is near the center of the village. There," he pointed to a small spherical building carved into the trunk of the greatest tree of them all, deep in the middle of the hidden village."
"Good, let's go then."
"Why so anxious Hoshigake? Do you not like the jungle?"
"The jungle is nice enough," Yi answered instead of Ise. "But it is rapidly becoming dark, and I for one do not want to blunder about in this vertical village in the dark."
"Heh," contempt filled the snort. "Well then, follow quickly; it should not be long if we walk fast."
So they walked quickly, the rain ninja paused only once, at the outer screen of vines and brambles that served as a defensive net for the village. Here he quickly whispered words to a fast messenger who was sent on ahead, informing the head ninja of their arrival.
The three travelers elicited much notice as they passed through Hidden Rain. The tall, shark visage of the Hoshigake, and Yi's blue streaked red hair marked them as unusual, as did the uniforms and forehead protectors of the mist ninja. Dark stares and quiet whispers followed as they passed, all hidden carefully behind fans, sleeves, or the ubiquitous breathing devices the rain ninja bore, so that their faces were not exposed. Those dark looks beneath four lined forehead protectors could therefore be seen only in the eyes and motions of the body.
Ise took great note of this, and in the verdant and fetid jungle air he could sense something else as well. Fear, he could smell it, the undercurrent of disquiet and loathing that passed through rain ninja as they went by. What a viscous place, he thought. They keep those breathers on at all times, hiding their faces even from themselves. This is not a united village; it is a far more dangerous conglomerate.
Rain was a centrally located country, its jungle lands sandwiched between grass, stone, and sand countries, and also sharing a portion of border with the leaf. With so many powerful ninja forces on all sides, and no nearby allies, the Rain ninja were scheming and double dealing. Mist village refused to accept traitors and turncoats, but the Rain took them in abundantly, often providing them with high rank if they could offer the village new jutsus or anything else to provide it power. The Rain ninja walked a fine line of concessions, threats, and posturing to avoid war, but brush conflicts were common between them and other countries, and no one trusted them fully. What troubled tides have I brought us to? Ise wondered, questioning his decision to come to this place with far greater trepidation than ever before.
Paired guards stood before the doors to the head ninja's building, silent ninja in the ceramic masks of the ANBU, statue-like they endured a steady drip of water that poured down constantly from specially shaped gutters that ran around the whole spherical hollowing. It was impossible to enter the building without getting at least slightly wet.
Their rain guide walked through as it was nothing, the rain sliding off him as it did the ANBU, without leaving him at all wet. Ise walked forward without pause, scoffing at the miserable technique to discomfort him. Do they think a bit of water will of balance a shark? Foolish. Only Yi scowled as she passed through that slow drip, water flowing down her face and long hair. She shook as much of it free as possible the moment she was through, and Ise saw from the corner of his eye the twinge of anger there. Keep control Yi, water is not your enemy either, do not let the Rain ninja make you lose focus. He directed his hopes to her.
The room they stood in was carved from the wood of the great tree, a simple open hollow with few decorations beside rugs throw across the floor to absorb the damp. A simple chair stood in the center of the circular room, surrounded by equally simple lamps. It was only on the ceiling that anything remarkable appeared. Looking up, as a ninja reflexively did upon entering a new building; Ise could not help but emit a small gasp of surprise. It's a map! Indeed, carved into relief up the ceiling were two maps, both fully three dimensional, one of the Hidden village itself, and the other of the entire rain country. They were marvelous works of art, and also, as Ise noted immediately, extremely valuable references for planning any ninja operation in this region.
His attention on the maps, Ise only belatedly recognized the chair was occupied, and looked back to it. It was not instantly apparent; for the lamps were arranged to draw the shadows over the chair, and the occupant sat with legs drawn up and arms pulled in, so as to appear barely there at all. Ise recovered quickly, and then bowed his head immediately; looking out the corner of his eye to make certain Yi did likewise.
The occupant of that chair was a small woman, possibly shorter than Yi, with a decidedly plain countenance and a bony face. Her forehead protector hung down low, almost covering her eyes, and she wore a non-standard uniform composed of patterned indigo cloth, a specialty of the western rain country. In acknowledgement of their greeting she waved her left hand in an infinitesimal circle of welcome.
So this is Suwa Shiori, head ninja of Hidden rain, Ise thought, examining the woman. She is…hmm…secretive. Little was known about the woman, and the briefing he had received upon her as part of his education about all ninja countries was minimal. She had become the head ninja of rain only four years ago, following some internal conflict. Her policies toward Mist had been distant; she had maintained the old pacts, but done nothing more. Beyond that there were many rumored schemes and tricky dealings whispered about the woman, but nothing that could be proven. Her loyalties and her strength as a ninja were likewise unknown. I wonder what I should say, beyond the formalities, I'm no politician. Ise didn't know where to begin.
"So, two ninja from Mist," Shiori began. Her voice was sharp and disjointed, almost snappish, but her facial motions were minimal, and from the distance at which he stood Ise could not even see her mouth open and close. "Well, well, let's have it then, the whole spiel."
"Ah, yes," Ise stumbled for a moment realizing he must speak. "I chunin of the Hidden Mist Village of Ninja, Hoshigake Ise, escorting genin Manoaka Yi of the same, in accordance with the laws of the hidden villages of mist and rain, formally request the sanctuary and hospitality of the Hidden Village of Rain."
"How nice," Shiori replied almost before Ise was done speaking. Her voice was too lacking in continuity and familiarity for Ise to guess at her emotions, but that sharp disembodied voice seemed unable to sound pleased. "Well, hospitality, yes well, hospitality for two then. For how long do you intend to stay with us I wonder?"
"As winter has begun, we would like to stay until the coming of spring, so that the roads would be clear for the continuation of our journey," Ise answered.
"Well, going to Hidden Stone then," There was a sly viciousness to Shiori's words. "And what would your business there be Mist ninja, assuming you can tell me of course, well?" The tone at last became clear, clear in that Shiori would know the business of these two ninja or they would not be leaving the audience to conduct business anywhere at all.
"The business is mine, honorable head ninja," Yi answered from Ise's side, her formal tongue far more practiced and assured than his own, something he found shocking, and he had to resist the urge to stare at her. "My family has sent me to venture to stone and examine the possibilities for a binding agreement."
"Binding agreement?" Shiori threw back her head and laughed. "Such a quaint way to look at it. So they're marrying you off girl, too bad, you're far too sharp of a beauty to be someone's trophy. That'll be a cutting match I'm sure." She laughed again, and then her face froze in the middle of an exhalation. "Yet I wonder, if you seek a marriage proposal, why this timing, why are you stuck coming north so late in the season?"
Ise stumbled, for he had no answer, he had forgotten to consider this part of the ploy. He began to raise his head to bluff, knowing he would certainly arouse suspicion, but before he could speak, Yi answered.
"We were delayed in the south, first by sandstorms and then by unexpectedly heavy rains. It took much longer to travel and became colder much faster than my family had expected." Yi said her tone as perfectly aggravated and annoyed as it were the truth.
"The weather has indeed been poor," Shiori's eyes bored into the Mist ninja. "Yet, why come from the south at all, the road from the east is much more direct if stone was your destination."
Finally Ise had an answer ready, and he did not hesitate to speak. "We sought to avoid the Sound country," he spoke gruffly, developing a contrast to Yi's more elegant tone. "That area is unstable, and as I was the only escort assigned the southern route, though longer, was chosen."
Shiori nodded ever so slightly. "Plausible, very plausible, and you two do not seem to have prepared this entirely beforehand. Well, I think you are indeed Mist ninja, and you," she suddenly shot a finger out to point at Ise. "You are indeed on the Mist ninja roles as a chunin, and your Hoshigake blood is obvious enough. However, I must be certain that this is not a trick."
"Do you doubt our honesty?" Ise spat back, rightly angered, for the head ninja had no right to suspect him further with all the evidence as she had just stated.
"Not really, and normally it would not matter, but there is one little problem," She shrugged, another slight motion. "You are clearly a Hoshigake, the seals on this structure would have overcome any genjutsu you attempted to hide it. The problem is simply this: there are Hoshigake in Mist, but there is also an S-level criminal from that family, one who could be found anywhere. So, Hoshigake Ise, prove to me you are not Hoshigake Kisame."
That sentence, spoken in that sharp and accusational voice of Shiori, sent cold, murderous anger flowing through Ise's veins, and he was seized with the impulse to charge forward and end the head ninja's life right there, his left foot started to lift when he saw Yi staring at him out of the edge of his vision, a look of terror and disappointment on her face. That look, all by itself, purged much of the anger from his system, and he was able to master it from there, and stay unmoving.
Still, there was great harshness in Ise's voice when he thrust out his spear before him and shot back an accusation of his own. "Does this look like Sameheda to you?"
"Sameheda?" Shiori paused momentarily. "Oh yes, well, true, you are obviously not one of the seven swordsmen, how foolish of me to make such a mistake." So she said, but she did not apologize, and Ise was certain the accusation had been deliberate. Be glad I'm not my uncle, rain woman, or you would be dead right now, he thought angrily.
"Well, I guess that's everything," Shiori concluded. "You two will be provided quarters for your stay, and may purchase food to cook your meals or eat at the barracks with the other ninja, whichever you prefer. The village will be open to you, but I must ask that you not leave its bounds without first obtaining written permission. I cannot give you orders or have you undertake missions, but so long as you are here, if this village is attacked from the outside you will be expected to serve in its defense." She pointed to the rain ninja who had brought them in. "Keisuke, take care of the details."
"Yes mistress," the rain ninja replied, and turned to lead them out.
As Keisuke led the two mist ninja back through the doors Shiori's voice rose behind them. "Oh, I almost forgot. Mist ninja, do be careful in what plants and animals you touch while in this village. Many of them are deadly poisonous and maintained as part of the defenses. I suggest you have one of the academy students guide you around if you go wandering about."
Ise nodded, but his thoughts at that moment were poisonous. Must you trumpet your nice little excuse to have us killed if you desire it right to our backs even now? Well, you'll find it hard to sneak up on this shark.
"Come with me," the rain ninja, Keisuke, motioned. "We had best go before the last of the light fades.
Nodding, and with no choice in any case, the two mist ninja followed.
When darkness had fully enveloped the jungle the hidden village of Rain found itself with another visitor. This one, however, went not to a welcome with the head ninja, but snuck from shadow to shadow behind all prying eyes. He crawled along dark paths beneath great tree branches and down long vines, suspended in a world where no man could have hung for long for many minutes, his arms neither growing tired or feeling pain. In time, moving in this slow but unperceived fashion, he reached the outside of a small lighted building near the ground where two ninja prepared to sleep their first night in the land of their supposed allies.
Seeing without eyes Shiro looked into to that building to observe the smooth but cautious movements of Ise and Yi as they settled into the confined dwelling that would serve as their home for perhaps four months. Thinking of that period of time made the shadowy watcher uneasy in a way few things did. This place, there is danger here, but it is far off, my time is not coming soon, I am certain. It will be different, being here. In the weeks of the long chase Shiro had been constantly active, roving about and silencing those who pursued Yi, mercilessly cutting holes in their nets so that she could escape her pursuers, endlessly busy, filling the long hours of his sleepless days. He had been able to avoid contemplation of his strange state of existence that way.
Now those distractions would be gone, and only a state of idle vigilance and stealth remained. Yi was likely secure in the village, for even tough there were dangers here there was nowhere she could go and be so far away that Shiro could not swiftly arrive and intervene. I wonder, what will I do? What will it be like, to have spare time in a spare-less life? If even a life this is. Shiro saw no answers in the darkness, but he knew he would find out soon enough. Four months, a short time, and yet a very long one. I hope it is not too long Yi, time does not wait for you.
All through the night that shadow-souled sentinel remained, watching his charge sleep through his eyeless gaze.