I'm sorry for the long time between chapters! My chronic illness has decided to act up and I've barely been able to get through work. I hope to update again soon! Thank you all so much for the support and reviews!
We were attacked randomly in Yugakure as soon as we dropped off the client. We made it out of that situation with all of us alive, there was only one agent this time. Had it been a scout? If she had been a scout, Danzo would be angry when we returned and she didn't.
She managed to injure Reiji badly. Thankfully he was only cut, not stabbed like Minoru. We were able to stop the bleeding and give him the blood replenishing pills Kakashi made me get. I would have to thank him for that later. Even though Reiji wanted to kill him for how disgusting they were.
They came in handy again when we were greeted by two root agents at the border of fire. Sensei was injured in the fight, but he was able to kill one of the agents. The other one, though, was left to me. I felt numb as I pulled my sword from its sheath. I knew Ryūjin was dangerous. That the person on the other side would die if I worked with Ryūjin as I was supposed to.
It was one thing to know those things.
But it would never prepare me for what it felt like in that moment. It wouldn't prepare me for seeing the light leave someone's eyes. To know that I was the reason that light went out.
All because Shimura Danzo craves power.
I fumed the entire way back to the village. I'm sure Jiji was able to feel my discontent as soon as it happened. If he wasn't able to then, I'm sure he was able to feel my rage when sensei had to lie to Reiji about the Root agents. Saying they were an unknown assassin organization going after certain clans. Reiji deserved to know who hurt him. Who attacked him. He deserves to know who killed Minoru.
But Reiji also deserves to live.
And I'll do everything I can to make sure he and sensei aren't attacked by Root again.
Walking to Jiji's office was the last thing I wanted to do. All I wanted right now was to curl back up next to Reiji in his hospital bed. To hide from the world. This is the second time I've left the hospital in the two weeks we've been back in the village. The first had been for Minoru's funeral.
The sun is already setting, the warm hues common in fire country don't comfort me. The bright red brings memories of our last mission to the front of my mind over and over again.
"Kiku-chan," sensei says gently. I feel his hand on my shoulder as I look around us. I feel the eyes of every jonin and anbu in the room, but they make sure to turn their heads as I look at them. I hadn't even realized we made it to the Hokage tower.
Joben-oji, Jiji's secretary, doesn't look away or hide his pity. I don't know which I hate more.
I turn my attention to the ground, guided only by sensei's hand on my shoulder as he leads me through the doors of Jiji's office. I'd never wanted to stop my sensing ability until we lost Minoru. As soon as we returned to the village, I shut down. My sensing ability shut down with me for the most part.
"Kiku-hime," Jiji sighs. He sounds so much older than he actually is. "I'm so sorry."
"I know," I say. I can't say it's okay. I can't say I forgive him. As much as I love Jiji, he messed up. He should have known anything touched by the village elders is dangerous. He should have known that they would come after me at some point.
It should have been me, not Minoru.
"Kiku," Jiji says firmly. I blink hard before my vision focuses and I look up at him. His wrinkles seem deeper than ever. He just seems heavy. "You need to open up your sensory network again."
"No," I shake my head.
"Kiku-chan, I'm not asking you."
"I don't need it, Jiji. We won't be leaving the village again until Reiji feels better and we train with someone new on the team."
"That won't be happening, Kiku," Jiji says.
"What?" I turn to ask sensei instead of the old man.
"Listen, Kiku-chan," sensei squeezes my shoulder, but it doesn't reassure me.
"You and Reiji have been promoted to the rank of chunin," Jiji says. I freeze, all I can hear is roaring in my ears. "Reiji will remain in the village to recover and then to train under Oda-sensei."
"You can't separate us, Jiji," I finally say, desperate. I feel my sensing ability flare back to life as the room around me starts to turn. I can't focus on anything except for the bracelet around my wrist. I feel Reiji's chakra hum much like his kikai's while sensei's flares from his typical calm.
I feel a pang in my chest when I can't feel Minoru's chakra.
"Kikuko," sensei says as he shakes my shoulders.
"S-sensei d-don't leave me behind," I manage to stutter out.
"Oh, Kiku," he sighs. I feel my head hit his chest, my eyes closed tightly. "You're going to go somewhere safe to train and when you're ready you'll come home and we'll be together again."
"W-where am I going?"
"I don't know, Hokage-sama will talk about that with you privately."
"Sensei-"
"I know you're scared, Kiku," he whispers. "But we'll write to each other every week at minimum. We'll keep each other updated even though we can't know where you are."
"I don't want to go," I whisper into his chest. I hate how small my voice sounds.
"I know you don't want to go, I don't want you to go, either."
"Does Reiji know?"
"His parents are telling him now." I wipe my eyes angrily and pull away from sensei.
"You're making me leave as soon as possible aren't you?" I glare at Jiji, he lowers his gaze from my own to his desk.
"The sooner you leave, the safer you will be." I freeze at his answer. It's not just the sooner I leave the safer I'll be.
As soon as I leave my team will be safe from Root. Especially if they think there's been a break in the team.
"I won't get to say goodbye to Reiji will I?"
"I'm sorry, Kikuko," Jiji says.
"And Naruto?"
"Kakashi is informing him now."
"It would've been nice to have a warning, Jiji."
"I know, but it's for your safety." I force myself to not roll my eyes at his answer. Sensei gets my attention, a sad smile on his face. He holds his arm behind his back until he pulls it around, handing me my chunin vest. I take it from him, feeling numb.
"I already packed your bag for you, Kiku-chan," Sensei says, pulling my attention away from the vest and my anger at Jiji. "I know you keep your most important things with you."
"But my-"
"Tenzo helped me to make sure I got all of the important things you don't bring with you on missions as well," sensei says, some amusement finally comes back into his eyes. "All of your stuffed animals are safe in a scroll." I feel my cheeks heat up but ignore his teasing. "The Naras also made sure I packed you plenty of food and a few other things."
"A few other things," I deadpan as sensei grabs my backpack from behind Jiji's desk. "A few things for Yoshino means a month's worth of things."
"You can never be too prepared, Kiku-hime," Jiji says, his eyes twinkling. I huff at both of them and take the bag from sensei. I grab the first storage scroll I can and stuff the jacket into it. That's the last thing I want to see, let alone wear.
"It's almost time for you to leave," Jiji says, pulling my attention back to him. "We need to talk alone before you leave." Sensei needs to leave so I can run away.
"Remember what I said, write to me once a week, minimum," sensei says as he pulls me into a hug. I relish in the warmth and cling to his sweatshirt. "I'm so proud of you, Kiku-chan."
"I'm gonna miss you," I sniffle into him.
"I know, I'm going to miss you, too."
"Tell Reiji I'm sorry," my voice cracks.
"I will," sensei says gently. I try to put as much of my love for my team into the bracelet on my wrist. I feel Reiji's immediate answer, followed by sensei and relax into his hug for one more brief moment.
And then, I pull away. I take a deep breath and squeeze sensei's hand before he leaves the room. I watch his back until he shuts the doors behind him. As soon as they shut, I feel the silencing seals activate. I slip my backpack over my shoulders and adjust it before turning around to look at the old man.
"Please don't tell me you're sending me off to Jiraiya-oji." Jiji chuckles as he shakes his head.
"No, no. I wouldn't do that to you, Kiku-chan." But you would send me away from home instead of dealing with Danzo and Root yourself. "You will be going to the place we discussed about before."
"Before?" I ask, looking at him in confusion. But Jiji remains silent. And then I realize it. "Really?"
"Really," Jiji says as he holds a scroll out for me. I reach out and grab the scroll. "It's the quickest route there that isn't a dead giveaway of where you're going."
"You're going to visit with me when you retire, old man."
"Hm, I doubt we will both be able to leave the village at the same time if that is the case," Jiji says, a knowing look in his eye.
"Don't even go there 'ttbane!" Jiji cracks a small smile as he stands from his desk. He walks around and pulls me into a tight hug, his robes swallow me more than they have in recent months.
"You are to eat more regularly when you are away, Kikuko."
"Yes, Jiji," I sigh. He snorts as he pulls away.
"I'm sorry I've failed you like this," he says.
"Just don't fail Naruto like this, too." Jiji pauses before nodding his head.
"I expect regular reports-"
"Keyed only to your chakra signature, I know." Jiji gives me a fond look before he turns back around to sit behind his desk. Once he's seated again, he gives me his serious Hokage face.
"You are to go to the location in that scroll until you are called back by me or my chosen successor."
"So if it's not Jiraiya-oji or Tsunade I need to run?"
"Yes," Jiji says.
"Any idea as to where I should run to?"
"Not Kiri."
"No shit, Jiji." He gives me a pointed look but doesn't try to scold me.
"If you make any allies in your time away, it would be best for you to look to them. Only my chosen successors will know your whereabouts, and should something happen, Jiraiya has agreed to come up with a cover."
"AKA my inevitable training death?" Jiji doesn't answer. "What if I try to stay there and rebuild?"
"I will be cheering you on if I am able to in the Pure Lands," Jiji sighs as he looks out the window. The sun has completely set, the village is shrouded in darkness. "Be careful out there, Kikuko-hime."
"I will Jiji. I've gotta learn more than you to teach Konohamaru anyways," I wink at the old man as I walk by him towards the window.
"You won't use the door?"
"Jiji, that's the last thing I should do when I'm trying to run away 'ttbane!" He laughs, catching me before I can hop out. I'm pulled into a brief, warm hug before I feel myself falling out of the window.
I knew Kakashi had to learn that from somewhere.
I made it all the way to the border of fire country before I ran into a Root agent. It was only one, Danzo must have them at the border to take advantage of any possible war opportunities. They definitely tried to capitalize on the situation, though.
I was exhausted, wanting to get out of fire country as fast as I could. The plan was to skip into Yugakure, the last place they would think I would want to go. Which is true. The memories of the events of our last trip continued to keep me up despite my growing exhaustion.
I'd finally managed to fall asleep when the seal flared. It woke me up just as a tanto was almost embedded in my chest. I shunshined behind the agent, hitting them in the back with a knockout seal.
But it was a Tora seal.
The man quickly turned around, almost cutting my right arm as I instinctively stabbed with my left. The kunai in my hand was embedded in his chest, his body slumped as I moved away slowly. I didn't sleep again that night. Instead, I grabbed the mask of the root agent and tucked it in a secured storage scroll before I continued to run.
I hadn't slept in three days when I finally made it back to fire country. The route led me through Yugakure for a bit before circling back into fire along the beaches. And it was along the beach that I found a single dock with three small boats attached to it.
Each boat had the symbol of Uzushiogakure painted on them.
Each of the boats were wooden, they only had two benches inside of them along with two oars. Along the back of the boats is a seal, but the arrays are too difficult for me to understand. Jiji said I was a fuinjutsu prodigy in Konoha. But I would still be a beginner in Uzushiogakure.
Just the sight of the seal on the back of the boat makes me realize that I'm not ready. How could I break an Uzushiogakure fuinjutsu master's barrier seal if I can't even understand the seal on the back of the boat? I shake my head. I don't really have a choice. Sure, I could find Jiraiya-oji, but he'd just force me to come back here anyways.
This is my responsibility.
I'm the last princess of Uzushiogakure.
Hiroto-oji trusted me. Jiji believes that I can do this.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath.
And then, I step into the boat.
The early morning sun bares down on me as I shrug my backpack off and put it at my feet. I grab one of the oars before reaching over and untying the rope from the dock. As I sit down, I immediately feel lost. I pull out the mission scroll for the millionth time and look to make sure I'm going to go in the right direction.
I stare at the map, it shouldn't be too long of a trip. Especially since it's early in the morning, the winds will be smaller and the waves will be calmer. The closer it gets to afternoon, the more dangerous the journey will become. I put the scroll back in the side pocket of my bag before grabbing the oars with each of my hands.
I rotate the oars like Hiroto-oji taught me to during one of my after academy visits to his shop. Soon I'm gliding through the water, searching for the tiny island that used to house the docks for visitors to Uzushiogakure. It must be the island that I left to cross the bridge to Uzushiogakure.
The reminder of the vision causes my heart to beat faster. I can practically feel it in my throat as I continue my steady strokes. What would I find when I got to Uzushiogakure? Would there be anything left? Would it be like my visions?
A large wave crashing against my small boat jolts me out of my thoughts. The dark waves appear suddenly. They crash against the sides of the tiny boat, soaking me in the process. I'm suddenly grateful for Kakashi insisting I get a waterproof pack before my first C-rank.
Water crashes against my face as I fight to stay on course. I continue for what feels like hours, my arms feel numb from the amount of effort to push against the waves and the freezing water that crashes over me. But then I see docks, a tiny island. I feel tears fall down my face between the waves that crash against me.
As soon as my first sob breaks free, the waves cease to crash. They still. The last few feet to the docks are the most calm. It's quiet. Too quiet. I think of the music I heard in my vision which only adds more fuels to my sobs. I struggle to catch my breath as I manage to pull the boat into the dock. I carefully tie the boat up to the dock with the rope that's circled around the post.
I grab my bag as I try to take steady breaths and throw it on my back before I stand. I carefully step up on the bench, holding the post connected to the dock as I pull myself up. Once my feet are on the wooden platform, I struggle to move forward.
I know I won't hear the screams like I had in my last vision. Everyone was long gone by now. But their screams echo in my head as I force myself to step forward once, twice, and soon I'm crossing the bridge like I crossed it in my vision.
Although this time, it's different.
As soon as I reach the sandy beach at the other end of the bridge, I can't step forward. A bright blue dome materializes in front of me, coating the entire island and blocking me from entering it. I feel my shoulders slump. Days without sleep, years of training in fuinjutsu.
And there's nothing I can do to get in.
I struggle to control my breathing and almost turn away, but through my blurry vision, I can see a shadow come from outside of the trees. I stare at it before it disappears for a second.
But then it's back with another, larger shadow.
And then, something steps out from the tree line.