Land of Tea… Ouza Island... Nakayama Estates... Late Afternoon…
Ki's body was exhausted. She panted like a dog on a hot summer's day. Her muscles burned with the intensity of a hot iron. She swayed in the cooling afternoon wind like a tree about to fall to the woodsman axe. Her mind felt like she was in a daze. Her thoughts gurgled in her mind, set on remembering the past not suffering from the present. Who knew running around a dilapidated moldy estate would be so exhausting?
She had been running around it for hours of course. Not that she had any choice in the matter. Any time she stopped, she found herself subjected to various snippy little comments and mockery underlined various obtuse threats by that fucking bitch of a woman, Mido-fucking-ri.
'Oh, taking a break? I knew you couldn't handle it. Just like you couldn't punch little old me.'' Midori's face opened with a mocking smile, her hand brushing Ki's sweaty hair. 'For someone who's my enemy you do that an awful lot of breaks.'
Or...
'Giving up already? I wonder how your father feels knowing his daughter gives up at the drop of a hat. Shouldn't be that surprised really, I did find you nothing more than cutpurse living in the ruins of her betters. I wonder whether I should give you lunch? Naw... you haven't earned it yet.' As Midori ate in front of them, her stomach rumbling and her eyes jealous of the meal that laid before Midori.
Or…
'That's a nice view. Are you taking it in? Good... ' klangs of kunai hitting around her, Midori smirking above on the stable's roof. Her fingers twirling a kunai in her hand. 'What? I'm also enjoying the view as well! Right in my crosshairs." The padding of her feet with the ring of kunai missing all around her, the terror in her heart.
Ki, kept going regardless. A large part of her kept going just to spite this ninjasshole. Flub her expectations of failure on her. A smaller part of her wanted to believe the promise of the Midori fucker. Her bringing justice to her father's killers. The mere thought, the fantasy tugged at the dark urges in her heart. Another part was pretty sure that the photos the plant-fucker gave her probably had the right headbands, the symbol of snail shell being most prominent in her memory, just not the right person. Undoubtedly, her memories of her father's death had… decayed.
What she could recall was that an argument broke out between her father and a large ninja with the biggest blackest eyebrows she ever saw. Next thing she knew, her father was lying on the pavement, bleeding out. His throat was cut by kunai while a white haired ninja tried to drown her in the port's harbor. She only managed to escape by biting his hand and then ducking into the putrid water. She remembered how she held her breath for so long that the world grew darker and swam into a sewage pipe that was dumping the port's human waste into the harbor. She could still remember the smell and oily grease in the water, and her gasps of air in that stinking sewer.
Snapping back to the present, she saw that Midori was inspecting the other two. One of them was a tall, pale kid with spiky hot pink hair and red hot embers for eyes wearing black cloth shorts with a cyan padded long sleeve shirt. He was currently prone in the dirt after suffering from a kick to the sternum. He hadn't moved in the last hour. The other one, an ebony skinned youth with extensive white hair sculpted into intricate geometric patterns on his head was currently prone on top of the pink haired one. Ki had decided to start calling them idiot 1 and idiot 2 for simplicity's sake.
Her 'teammates' obviously hadn't done so well either, considering both of them were collapsed in the dirt and covered in bruises. She had only caught glimpses of their own training. Lots of sparring with Midori-poopeater mixed with climbing around the estate and throwing kunai. If she could take one triumph here, it was that she remained standing while these dirty ninja night-pee drinkers slept. It boosted her pride a bit more than she wanted to admit.
Her mind snapped back to reality as she felt Midori hand on her chin. A glare formed and Ki knitted her brows together as Midori merely nodded. "You've done below average. Yet, not as abysmal as these two wet tissue papers of ninja." Midori said, lightly kicking both in their prone positions.
The sounds of moans and groans escaped from those two as if on queue. Midoridiot said, "Considering the sorry state of you two are in why don't you stay the night, Ki could use the company." She said, gesturing to Ki. Before a puff of smoke and she was gone.
Ki, sighed. Of course, she would leave her with this gang of idiots to take care of. Well, unfortunately for her, she wasn't going to have stinking ninja in her termite infested moldy sagging mansion, now was she?
She left them groaning and mewling on the ground. She washed herself up on the porcelain washing bowl she scavenged from the ruins of the estates. She then changed into a simple red linen dress from a large pile of dusty clothes she discovered. Ki started up the hearth, cooking a simple fare of rice, peeled sweet potatoes and descaled sardines for supper. Before long she saw them crawling in on all fours.
For ninja, they were comical. Covered in bruises, torn clothing and staring intently at the food, they looked more like shipwrecked sailors than killers of babes and the defenceless. ".. Food…" They both chorused as if they were an undead horde moaning for brains.
Ki, popped a sweet potato carving into mouth theatrically. "Nuh-uh" she said, swatting away their hands from the food. "I made it for myself. Not for you chit heads."
The pink haired one stared at her, before mewling "We're so hungry!"
Ki, shrugged. "Not my problem. Don't you ninja have parents? Go ask them for food." She pointed the way they came in.
Pink haired sighed, collapsing onto the ground. "Too far away."
Ki rolled her eyes as she gobbled down a grilled sardine. "Again, not my problem. Maybe if you didn't piss off Midoridiot, she could have carried you home."
The ebony one collapsed to the ground as well, his face planted on the rotten wooden floor boards. "What… can… we… do… for… food?"
Ki giggled despite herself, maybe she could train these idiots to her bidding. Most boys and men can be easily cajoled through food. Especially when they were starving. "Hmm.. perhaps, I could put more rice, and sweet potatoes on, maybe even some fish. If you would help me with some other chores?"
"No… energy," idiot 2 said.
"No… chakra," idiot 1 said.
Ki pondered for a moment, she really could use someone to do some dusting around here and maybe laundry that pile of clothes. "Well, perhaps when you have energy you could help me make this place… livable."
For the time being, Ki had decided that escape was out of the question. She didn't have the first clue where she was, where the closest port was, or whether Midoridiot had other watchers, waiting for her to escape. The best plan for now was to follow her orders, grow stronger and wait for an opportunity to escape. Though the revenge promise was tickling that urge, she admitted to herself.
Idiot 1 looked around at the sagging and moldy remains of a once grandiose mansion, before tentatively saying. "... you live here?"
Ki, putting another pot of rice on the hearth answered. "Yeah, ever since your sensei kidnapped and brought me here, it's been me, the mice and termites keeping company."
Idiot 2 made a face of disgust, as he popped a few potato carvings into his mouth. "Why are you living in this ruin? We got plenty of space in the village!"
Ki raised an eyebrow. Village? Oh right, most ninja live in hidden villages. I guess that's where they came from. "Dunno, just that Midoridiot claims that if I leave these walls, she'll put my head on a spike."
The two winced at that as they scooped rice into bowls and the potatoes down their gullets. More than once, she had smacked their hands away from the food she herself reserved for herself. They ate and cooked in silence. Their stomachs and tummies dominating the conversation. When they were full, they leaned back on mildew floorboards and drank the evening air.
Idiot 1 ruined it by asking a question. "So, uhmm... sorry, for asking this but ummm… I didn't catch err... what's your name?"
Ki sighed, pushing herself from the floor, she rested her elbows on her knees and she stared at the pink hair idiot for a second before answering. "Ki."
Idiot 1 pushed his pink hair back, a questioning look growing on his face. "Just Ki? Or…"
Ki answered quickly and resolutely, "Just Ki."
Idiot 1 nodded to himself, "My name is Daiki, Yuduru Daiki. Our other team mate is Toki Rin." Daikidiot pointing to his sleeping teammate like Ki wouldn't understand who else he was talking about.
When she didn't immediately respond to whatever unspoken question that was left unasked, this Daiki stumbled a bit. "So, uhmm... " he said, scratching the back of his head nervously. "Where are you from?"
Ki stifled a snort and a wicked smile crossed her face, "Where I'm from? I'm from my mother's cunt, that's where! Where else would I come from? Huh?! Think I came from a pot or something, like whatever shit that Midoridiot fed you?" She watched him as he became very still, trying to process what she just said. Before long, a very long string of unintelligible syllables escaped from his mouth, as he blubbered and turned as red as a tomato at her comment.
He eventually grew quiet, his face still crimson before he said, "I didn't mean to insult you, I was just curious since you're; well you."
Ki laid back down, her eyes staring up the sagging floor panels and beams above. "Translation, I'm not a ninja and that makes you suspicious about me. Accurate?"
"Err… I wouldn't say that, just that you know…" Daikidiot said, scratching his back, "I just don't know anything about you, that's all."
Ki, blew air through her mouth deciding what to do about this idiot. Before deciding she had enough dealing with them, Midoridiot, and all these stinking ninja for one day. Standing up, she straightened her dress and rounded on him. "Then know this ninja. I hate your kind. Your kind murdered my father, and stranded me in this godless wasteland. Anything beyond that is immateriel." She walked down the hallway, before turning her head. "You can sleep here tonight. And only tonight. Anything more, and I'll have to expect you to perform chores like cleaning the house or doing laundry as repayment for my sufferance. That's all, good night ninjasses."
Land of Fire... Konohagakure... Uchiha Compound... Midnight…
Sakura tinkered away into the night, her mind churning with new theories that she jotted down into her notes. The little room that the Uchiha had given her, was covered in various diagrams and notes. Ranging from chakra theory to theoretical physics to the biological chemistry of pure chakra interactions. Borrowed, bought and a few stolen books were spread messily about. Most of them being what few publicly available, available to an academy student that is, texts she could get her hands on. Not an easy feat. Still, with a little gushing flattery, help from her grandfather's monolithic influence and her betrothed connections, she had assembled a library of sorts in her room.
'Betrothed', the thought broke her out of her current examinations of yin and yang chakra interactions in the maelstrom and typhoon formations. Putting down her notes and gazing up at the little oil lamp that gave her enough light to work, but not enough to wake the rest of the clan. Her clan. The thought was absurd. Absolute absurdity on the highest forms of science given to the various races of folk. A malediction against everything she thought she could do, would do when she graduated the academy.
Instead, her parents and her expanded family had traded her to the diminished Uchiha like a brooding hound to their most promising bachelor. Uchiha Sasuke. The name made her sick. Once upon a time she herself found him attractive. A boy with cool black eyes and byronic demeanor that made her want to approach him and open him up to her. Oh how the sage and the ancestors cruelly had answered her prayers!
He was definitely not what she was expecting. Cold, formal, perfectionist to the highest zenith. Emotionless, except for his ever growing anger at his family and the village at large. With a vindictive streak a league wide which was easily triggerable by the most insignificant of actions or comments. Worst of all, he treated her like she was property, to be demeaned and insulted with everything he did not want to do and to be set aside in the pursuit of training. And he did! From before sunrise to even now he trained. The adjacent room containing their shared living space, empty as the two futons laid out by the servants left untouched by either of them.
Next time he sets you aside or silences you, you should let me take control. I'll punt him across the head so fast that his head will be bouncing on the cobblestones outside! Her inner spirit spat out. Her mirror image sitting crossed legged above a bookcase, sharpening her nails on a kunai. An angry visage that peered out was the opposite of the calm and friendly demeanor she cultivated amongst her peers. She was Sakura's genkai kekkei.
With a long suffering sigh that escaped her lips, Sakura turned to her inner spirit. "And then when he recovers, he'll kill me and dump my body down a well, like his last betrothed." Sakura retorted.
Her spirit snorted. Maybe if you would do some exercise besides burying yourself in esoteric texts and legal documents. Then you could beat that little shit in the head and dominate him for a change. I'm getting sick of him walking all over you!
Sakura made a show of putting away her notes, and cleaning up her little room as best as she could. Before looking back at her spirit with a calm even handed look. "Better to find a loophole or a flaw in the marriage contract that my family forced me into. Trying to get out of it by killing him isn't an option. He isn't first in the class for nothing. Besides I know you think this betrothal was a shit idea."
In the aftermath of the Uchiha civil war and the rise of godaime Hokage, Orchimaru-sama, major shakes up had occurred within the village. With the biggest being the new Uchiha triumvirate headed by the patriarch Kagami, her mother-in-law Mikoto and the police chief Kagen, had begun opening the clan to more outside marriages. Officially it was about integrating more closely with Konohagakure to prevent future incidents from occurring. Unofficially, the Uchiha were gobbling up every genkai kekkei they could get their greasy mitts on to fill up their depleted numbers. Which is where her family came in.
The Harunos were a fairly recent shinobi family to come of age. As her great grandmother was one of the first students to graduate from Konohagakure's military academy. Her family were sworn in turn to the noble clan, Yamanakas. Biggest reason being that thanks to their near perfect chakra control and having a conscious inner spirit, they were practically immune to any known mindrending or mind manipulation techniques. In view of her family's unique talents, the Yamanakas, who had some of the best mind ripping techniques in the world, were keen on making sure that in case Konohagakure ever erupted into civil war, they wouldn't face the Harunos on the battlefield. Thus, making the Haruno family forever known for being support nins, librarians, academy sensei, doctors or as extremely accomplished hunter-nins like her grandfather and uncle.
Unfortunately when her parents were offered the second most attractive bachelor in the village, right after Namikaze Naruto. Who could resist? They didn't even consult her opinion before they loaded her up and delivered her to an immense shinobi wedding ceremony right in the middle of the Uchiha district. All the major clans, politicos and foreign dignitaries were invited. She was all the while, none the wiser!
That didn't last long. Remembering feeling shocked as she was pushed forward into the shrine, her kimono fluttering in the wind and her mind going into analytical mode. Documenting every second of every detail that crossed her mind. From the faces of the important figures, noble clan heads to noble heirs and heiresses, to the acid stains on Godaime white robes, to Nakimaze Naruto's stupid smile. It was all unbearable. Even her betrothed was drugged out of his mind, the smell of aniseed and alcohol on his breath unmistakable.
Coming back to the present, Sakura had given some thanks to her ancestors. Unlike in the warring clan period and the collapse of imperial authority, the consummation of the marriage wouldn't happen for another four years, at least. Plenty of time to wiggle out of it.
Her spirit decided this was time to interrupt her reminscensing. True, I suppose. Doesn't mean I like your current life goals. The science division? Really? Why be that sort of trail-blazer instead of being the first Haruno to go all nukenin. Show the Uchiha, mom and dad that you've got more self worth than a sex slave!
Sakura harrumphed, as one would expect with her inner self, always going insane with anger and crudity. "I think that's a terrible idea. I wouldn't last a day."
Her inner self sneered at her. Damn right! That's why you got stop training with that stupid bow, and try to learn something more powerful. Or useful for a change. Only reason why you're high up in the class rankings is because of our genkai kekkei, and your smarts.
Sakura winced at that. She knew the only reason that she was that high ranked was her acing practically every test that was put in front of her. Even her skills in kyudo, genjutsu and medical ninjutsu were average at best. The physical practicums had shown her as much. She couldn't even throw a shuriken or kunai straight.
Her inner self, stopped sharpening her nails and looked longingly at Sakura. If you prefer not to practice your skills…
"No." Sakura's voice rang out, loud and sharp. "No, I'm not going to let you control my body."
Her inner self rolled her eyes. It would be only for a couple hours. While your mind goes daydream or ponder whatever crap you read in those damnable manuals and dry texts, I'll make your body strong. You know this to be true.
"Not going to happen." Sakura said, in an unnaturally resolute tone.
Her inner self leaned back on top of the bookshelf, her eyes narrowing into arrow slits. I don't know why you're always so against it. Ota-san and Oka-san both let their inner selves time. Why not allow little old me in? It is our body afterall.
Sakura shook her head vigorously. "It is my body. Not yours. You're just... just… sentient chakra."
Her inner self leaned back her head and guffawed. A hideously evil laugh echoed through the room. Or Sakura thought, more accurately the laughter echoed through my head. I'm not a sentient chakra monster. That's our crush's demon. I simply don't have enough chakra yet become like his bijuu. But in time that may, perhaps, be possible.
Sakura sincerely doubted that her inner self could gather and harness enough power to become a tailed beast. But the hairs on her neck stood up, all the same to her remark.
Sakura stood up, and padded toward her double. Looking up towards her, Sakura said. "Grandfather already told me…"
Her inner self cut her off. Grandfather told us a piece of the truth. I doubt I'm a self aware spirit. There is something else. For a believer in science, I thought by now you should have thrown that mystical mumbo jumbo about spirits and chakra out the door. We should both share a brain after all. Orchimaru's and Tsunade's scientific advancements says as much. Or are you doubting your childhood icon?
Sakura chewed on her lip. She took a deep breath and refocused. Analyzing who she was, the symptoms, the effects and deducing from there. "Or maybe I'm simply insane. You may be a simple psychological figment of my imagination born from a congenital condition that has been passed down the family line for all these decades."
Her inner self smiled at her comment. Now that's what I like to hear! Well, for that answer, no actually. Still you sound like the scientist-ninja, staking out hypotheses and testing them out. Little problem with your theory is that I defend you every time Ino-pig so much as scratches your mind.
Sakura looked away from her double to her messy and disorganized room, her voice taking on a distinct monotone. "That's simple. Strong personalities or those with incredible chakra control have been known to resist mind walks in the past. Those able to harness the power of their dreams and unconsciousness to attack those that invade or lead them through endless intricate mazes unable to escape. Or being able to disrupt the chakra of the invader through non-rhythmic chakra pulses. You may be a mere combination to that, on top of familial psychosis."
Sakura felt her inner self hug her. Her inner's face was nuzzling against her own. Feeling of actual touch freezing her up. Still doesn't explain how I can touch you. Feel you. Have sensations. How we both share the same pain, feelings, thoughts, and memories? Makes you wonder doesn't it? Whether you're simply insane or you're full of more shit than a mule with a tanto up its ass.
Sakura deigned not to look at her inner self, instead pointedly at the wall. "Intense psychosis or genjutsu have been shown in the past…"
"Who are you talking to?" A voice called out behind her. Turning she saw it was her betrothed. Sasuke, clad in a mud and blood splattered blue shirt and white shorts peered at her with cold unblinking eyes.
"Sasuke-san" She turned around breathlessly. "I…"
She wilted under his withering, unblinking gaze. She hated him. Yet, she also wanted him to love her, or if not love then respect her. Sakura took a deep breath and steeled herself. "My apologies Sasuke-san, from time to time I engage in conversation with my genkai kekkei. I can see how that may be disconcerting."
She saw Sasuke do the barest of nods. Her inner self formed itself behind Sasuke-san, a kunai in its hands as it conducted a mock execution by pulling the imaginary kunai across his neck. Of course, none of that occurred in reality. It was disconcerting to see a dream of a kunai scrape across the neck. Only to leave no wound behind.
"Haha-ue, didn't mention that." Sasuke coldly replied.
Sakura nervously tittered, "Uh, umm... yeah where did you think my pink hair was from?"
Sasuke shrugged. "I thought you dyed it." Boys can be so thick headed wouldn't you agree? Her other herself said, making stabbing motions with her kunai toward Sasuke's head.
Sakura nervously looked around, unsure how to reply to her betrothed ignorance on the subject matter. "Yeah, no. My family is known for being impervious…"
She was cut off by him yawning and his comments. "Whatever, it's not important. I'll ask Haha-ue in the morning about whatever your family does or does not."
Sakura was being silenced, again. "Well, I…"
"I said, it's not important." Sasuke said, his eyes now glinting with a sharingan. "Enough about this, I'm tired. I'll be in the bath, attend to me when you change into your nightwear." And then he was gone in a blink of an eye.
Sakura wanted to cry. She had been regulated to a servant, to property. And as much as the thought that thrilled her of spurning his request burned in her heart, self preservation won out as she began changing into nightwear and pulling out Sasuke's own. She would find a way out of this marriage; even if she had go all nukenin like her other self wanted.
Land of Tea... Ochagakure... Chamei Clan Head House... Early Morning…
"The blade monk should be here within a fortnight, I've been assured." Her uncle said, before sipping his tea at length. They were both sitting enjoying freshly brewed sage tea in her uncle's splendid domicile. Technically speaking it was the clan's house. However, after leading their clan for the past six decades it had become in all intents and purposes his house.
Unlike the Yuduru's concrete bunkers and the Toki's mainlander emulated compounds, the Chamei instead built directly into the sides of the lava tunnel. Sheer rock carved, smoothed and polished were evidenced all around them. Buffered by elaborate carpets and rugs on the floors and white plaster trim over the dark volcanic rock walls, the home had a cosy modernistic feel to it on a casual glance.
Midori nodded, before offering a comment of her own. "And how much did they want?" Blades monks would never accept monetary payment for work. It would always be other forms of payment, be that expanding their knowledge in a particular field or a favor down the road.
Her uncle finished sipping his tea before talking to her, "Nothing. A child able to negate chakra is in itself a curiosity for them. The grandmaster of their order said as much."
Midori sipped her tea. "Was that wise, uncle? I thought we were going to keep the child under wraps for now."
Her uncle waved her off, "Enticing a blade monk is like summoning a spirit. A mutual exchange must occur." Junpei-sama finished his tea. "The monks have promised to keep this secret in exchange for unfettered access to the child, for training and research reasons."
Midori pondered this for a second, before nodding. "I assume I'm to cooperate with whatever training the monk has planned."
Junpei-sama nodded. "In regards to the child, yes. For your other students, you shall still have complete discretion over their training. How is that going by the way?"
Midori looked away for a second before locking eyes back with her uncle. "Weak. The Toki and Yuduru both fucked up prime shinobi material. You know what I've been saying for years about us instituting a shinobi academy here."
Ochagakure was the smallest of the minor villages, no more than 250 shinobi belonged to the village as a whole. Of which most came from the three major clans, with less than a fifth coming from a gaggle of shinobi families. Most of which were exiles from other villages, be they from the destroyed Uzushiogakure or Otogakure. Though some like the Ueda and Enomoto were merely newly formed Shinobi families fleeing political violence in the ever unstable Sunagakure.
And so it was because of the small size and varied make up of Ochagakure, training of new Shinobi were often entrusted to each clan or family to see fit. This led in Midori's opinion to vast peaks and valleys of aptitude, experience and training amongst each new generation. With only the most promising shinobi and kunoichi being trained comparably to their mainland contemporaries. Making Ochagakure weaker than it could afford.
Junpei-sama nodded, his head bowed in thought. "Perhaps. However, you forget that political intransigence from other members of the village isn't the sole reason preventing its founding. We simply don't have the cash flow to run it."
Midori rolled her eyes. "Perhaps if we raised the village's stake in those lucrative tea ceremonies, we might be able to formulate at least a basic training program. My new students sorely lack even the most basic knowledge and techniques that even the most badly trained Iwa or Kiri genin knows by heart."
Her uncle grunted. "Maybe when you're head of the clan, you can somehow persuade the greedy Toki and the insane Yuduru to institute that policy. Enough this for now, I have a mission you and your team will need to prepare in about two months time."
Midori crossed her arms. A mission in two months, she doubted even in that time she could get the demon-witch child obedient to her commands. She tentatively said, "That seems particularly rushed, uncle. Are you sure that my team is fit for this?"
Junpei-sama shrugged, "Honestly? No. However, we might not have much of the choice in this matter. Events are cascading out of control and your squad is the only one expendable enough to use."
Midori nodded. Geopolitical considerations were often as much based on careful consideration and opportunistic serendipity as the blunders and failures of one's own side. "I assume Kiri's purge of the Water court has stirred the other daimyos to act?"
Junpei-sama shook his head. "Actually, no. Either they aren't aware that the Water court has fallen or have decided that trying to intervene in the Kiri civil war isn't in their interests. No, what I want to talk about is the developing situation in the Land of Waves."
Developing situation, what developing situation? Midori thought. As far as she knew the Land of Waves was a quiet few isles containing about two dozen impoverished fishing communities led by an upjumped bandit king claiming to be daimyo that broke away from the Land of Fire during the 3rd Great Shinobi War.
Midori straightened in her seat and pursed his lips, carefully. "As far as I'm aware the Land of Waves is barely recognized by any other state given it's… formation. What interests do we have there?"
Junpei-sama massaged the back of his shoulder before beginning. "We ourselves don't have any interests in the Land of Waves, but Gato does."
A sneer formed on Midori's face. It would always come back to that thing. "I thought we've agreed never to take contracts from that backstabbing indemnifying idiotic toad of a man."
Junpei-sama smiled, "Ah you misunderstand me. We are only taking this job because we intend to disrupt his current plans. Now be silent for a moment." Her uncle took out a map of the Land of Waves and its surrounding environs. Laying it out on the table for her to see.
"The Land of Waves is a strategically, economically and politically irrelevant backwater. A reason why the past Fire daimyos haven't been interested in reclaiming their breakaway province. That is changing." Her uncle said, before taking out a manila folder containing a photograph of Gato and various sheets of information relating to the Gato Corporation.
"The Gato corporation is principally a shipping company with ties throughout the southern seas. Though not as much of a titan of industry as they used to be because of their missteps in failing to pay certain shinobi contracts and bad business gambles, they still control a good twenty-two percent share of the shipping contracts in the area." Her uncle informed her.
She herself had been burned in the past by Gato's cheapskate ways. He was notorious about finagling himself out paying contracts citing missteps or failures to follow the contract to the letter, leaving many hidden villages high and dry. Him hiring a cohort of high skilled Ame shinobi, had allowed him to survive the last dozen or so assassination attempts on his life.
"To make up for those losses, the Gato Corporation has monopolized outside trade to the islands, allowing them exclusive export rights to the Land of Wave's salted cod, whale blubber and oil products as they see fit. They've also hiked up import duties. Making many necessities out of reach to most. Thus, most of the islanders now are in some form of debt peonage to them." Her uncle said, laying out the appropriate reports and information on the table for Midori to read.
"There's been a few different reactions to this situation. A particularly well known-business leader, called Tazuna no last name, has gathered enough loans and support from the few independent businesses still resisting Gato's monopolizing influence. In order to break Gato's monopoly, he's begun building a bridge here." Her uncle's finger tapping on a strait on the map. "At kawanami strait, the closest point between the Land of Waves and the Land of Fire. An ideal location for a mainland connection. Unfortunately, that also sits directly in front of Gato's main trade route to the south."
Jumpei-sama hunched over, his elbows on the tables as he brought more photographs onto the table. "Gato, and his corporation became quite aware of this soon enough. In order to stop the bridge, they've tried everything from sending gangs of bandits and ronin to harass the bridge workers and villages that support Tazuna to threatening the daimyo himself about regime change and unpaid debts."
Her uncle leaned back taking out even more reports and photos from another manila folder, "The Land of Waves daimyo isn't amused by this in the least as he's had to use his own samurai to fight back against these invasions of ruffians. Despite this, the daimyo is still very much reliant on the Gato's kickbacks to him and his samurai to directly oppose Gato. So, the daimyo has cunningly decided to begin reintegration with the Land of Fire."
"Already, representatives of both the Land of Fire and the Land of Waves are currently meeting to discuss how reintegration would proceed. Most of these meetings are about onerous outstanding legal and property issues. One point of information we've discovered is that the Land of Waves is going to install about six to seven Konoha genin squads as a temporary garrison and policing detail to protect against Gato's provocations." Her uncle tented his fingers, looking at her in askance. "You probably see where this is going."
Midori raised an eyebrow. "I would assume the bridge itself is not part of that garrison detail?" Her uncle nodded, "And that this bridge builder, this Tazuna, has asked for protection from us?"
"From us? No, not yet. However, he has been trying to get support from every other hidden village in disguise of a simple escort and protection detail. Unfortunately for him, the other hidden villages have neither been blind nor deaf to what's been occurring, and simply raised rates outside of what he could afford to pay. I believe it's a matter of time before he grows desperate enough to seek us." Junpei-sama glanced away, his eyes lingering on a final third folder before looking back at Midori.
"Gato, has not taken this lightly. Unable to source manpower from Kono, Suna or Kiri because of his previous unpaid contracts and from Ame due current commitments elsewhere. Gato has reached out to Mei and her resistance organization for shinobi to blow the bridge. We are still unsure at this stage what ninja are being sent, except to assume it to be their heavy hitters. Mei has at least three of the seven swordsmen under her command and the loyalty of the remaining bloodline clans." Junpei-sama said, laying out a red folder, with reports and photographs about Kirigakure's civil war.
"We also believe Gato himself will show up at some point without his Ame nin protectors. That is where you and your team will come in. Should this Tazuna show up, we'll take his offer on face value and have your team escort him back to the Land of Waves. Where you'll wait for Gato to show his face. Your mission will be to assassinate him and whatever family members he brings with him. More than a few of his competitors and his bastard sons have been interested in his demise for some time now. Getting rid of him will net a windfall comparable to three dozen S ranked missions." Her uncle finished.
Midori closed her eyes for a moment, going through what would be necessary in order to accomplish what her uncle had relayed to her. She would need to train the demon-witch child enough to cooperate to her demands and duties, while also training up her combat abilities to sufficient level. On top of the gargantuan task of repairing the two nins that Toki and Yuduru almost irreparably messed up. As well as tolerating whatever training eccentricities the blade monk would have regarding the demon-witch child.
Midori formulated her answer carefully to not offend her uncle's sensibilities, "Uncle, while I'm fully committed and ready to implement that plan, I feel that squandering the demon-witch child in this would…"
"Show our hand too soon? Yes, Midori I've thought about that in detail. The child needs to be tested first before we depend on it to defend against a jinchuuriki. A perfect test of that will be against whatever bloodline user Gato hires." Junpei-sama said in the way of an explanation.
Midori straightened in her seat, reaching out to drink the last of her now cold tea, "Uncle. I'm more concerned about Konoha's reaction to this."
Junpei-sama flicked his hand, trying to banish the thought from the discussion. "I'm unsure about what their plans are currently, but I doubt a bunch of newly graduated genin and their inexperienced jonin should pose any threat to you or your team."
Midori shrugged. "I'm not concerned about their threat assessments, I'm concerned about them becoming aware of the child."
Junpei-sama tilted his head back, before exclaiming. "Ahh yes... right, the child's father." Her uncle scratched the side of his head, before grabbing the last manila folder that was unopened. "Finding out about which was easier than I thought as the incident was published in several major Land of Wind newspapers that we had on hand."
Her uncle took handed her several newspaper snippets with titles ranging from 'Konoha ninja murder foreign merchant in broad daylight' too 'Konoha fanatics garroted an innocent explorer from the southern continent'. "What I was able to glean from the news reports confirms what we've suspected. Konoha has known about these people for years. Orchestrating a campaign to ensure they don't become aware of us or doesn't upset the current system."
Midori narrowed her eyes reading over the second-hand sensationalized news reports. "So, your plan is to thumb your nose as you prance our greatest possible weapon in front of them, for what? A double bluff? A demonstration of our capabilities? To attract clients?"
Jumpei-sama snorted, "No. An opportunity for the child. As a reward for successfully carrying out the mission, the child gets to kill one of the Konoha genin there. That should be able to keep her satisfied and paliable for a time. "
Midori considered it, "Plausible, though what should occur if the child fails, but lives in any way?"
Her uncle smirked. "Then you shall sell her up the river to Konoha as much gold as you can get her for, she's too dangerous as a failure than a success."