"Problems are the price of progress. Don't bring me anything but trouble. Good news weakens me."
-Charles F. Kettering
Chapter 9
One Step Forward
Shopping, she decided, would be an adequate way to spend today. After all, with two new boarders at home- who were paying- she could be a little more wanton with the cash earned from various bets and gambling circuits she ran.
In other words- it was time to spoil herself.
As she walked through the downtown district, however, she was distracted by something.
Specifically, a series of flyers, tacked to a telephone pole. Curious- it could have money involved, after all- she took one, and read it.
As her eyes scanned the page, an amused smirk slowly worked its way across her face.
"Interesting," Nabiki murmured.
"Very interesting."
Perhaps shopping could wait...
---
Ukyo Kuonji was absolutely, positively miserable.
Now this in itself was particularly odd. Ukyo, after all, was well known to be cute, spunky, and, although tomboyish, and all around quite cheery girl. Many a customer had come to her restaurant and felt their spirits lightened by her warm smile.
Not so today.
The seldom used "We're Closed" sign was hanging from the door, at a time of day when Ucchan's Okonomiyaki was usually hitting full swing in terms of customers.
Anyone who dared knock upon the door was given a harsh "We're closed, read the sign damn it!" for their bravery.
No, it was not a good time to come to the vicinity around Ukyo Kuonji.
Of course, there is a certain person who wouldn't know who didn't know that, and, who frankly, was probably unaware he was in the vicinity of Tokyo, much less Ukyo.
"Excuse me... could you please tell me the way to-" Ryoga Hibiki began quietly, still depressed, but was promptly and violently cut off by a barrage of spatulas and an accompanying berating.
"WE'RE CLOSED! READ THE GODDAMN SIGN!"
Ryoga ducked the spatulas, blinking as he did so. "Ukyo?" he said blankly.
Ukyo looked up from her lukewarm cup of tea, her eyes dulled. "Oh. Ryoga." She said quietly. She briefly considered trying to kick him out- but remembering that Ryoga was in love with Akane made her reconsider. "Did you know about Ranma and Akane?"
Ryoga made a violent shuddering. "Don't talk about that. I'm trying to burn that horrible image from my mind," he replied tersely, fists shaking as he remembered Ranma's head in Akane's lap.
The image was banished and cursed to the fiery reaches of the netherworld.
"Come on in then. We can be miserable together," Ukyo waved her hand tiredly, motioning him inside. She didn't know him all that well, but Ryoga was someone who she knew was in the same sorts as her. Besides, he was better company than Shampoo, Mousse, or the Kuno siblings.
Ryoga considered the offer. Ukyo was a kind of friend to him- she had helped him try to win Akane over on a few occasions, and was a pretty friendly person overall.
And right now, he really needed a friend.
"Alright."
---
Sasuke's delivery, unlike Naruto's, included no fuss and definitely no ominous fortune telling. However, as he handed the ramen over to the delighted young man, he felt a sudden surge of pain from his abdominal area.
That guy... Sasuke thought angrily, refusing to make more than a wince as he left the house. Taijutsu so fast his body couldn't react?
Still... perhaps it wasn't a complete waste of time.
With a smirk, Sasuke punched the air in front of him, his entire arm becoming little more than a blur. It wasn't as fast as Ranma's own Chestnut Fist, but the actual technique itself was simple. All it required was some extra speed training to master.
Sasuke pondered his predicament. As always, he was willing to put up with anything to grow stronger- this place, filled with people who had such skilled Taijutsu, was certainly worth looking into, at least until he could return to his own world.
He doubted that Ranma would teach him any techniques willingly, so some self training was in order. And though ninjutsu was also something that this world seemed to lack, there was still one more thing to consider...
His Sharingan had matured at last. Full maturity now, meaning that the advanced genjutsu of Sharingan was open to him at last. Thankfully, Sasuke had already read through all the family scrolls on Sharingan, and memorized a few genjutsu that an Uchiha could learn even without outside training.
Absorbing and learning as much as he could, defeating Ranma and anyone else who was of some skill here, and of course, finishing the fight with Naruto. His priorities crystalized in that moment.
With a new frame of mind, Sasuke walked off, wearing a dangerous smirk.
---
"Here's some tea. They say it goes well with sympathy," Ukyo said quietly, holding two cups of steaming hot green tea, having thrown her old cup away.
"It's not fair," Ryoga mumbled, taking his cup slowly, setting it down. "I really thought... you know..."
"That Akane and Ranma hated each other?" Ukyo finished, looking into the green depths of her beverage. "Yeah."
"But that look she had..." Ryoga made a strangled growl of rage, his fists clenching and unclenching in rapid cycles. "Toward Ranma..." the venom in his voice was thick and poisonous.
Ukyo felt the sudden rise in heavy ki and she scowled, slapping Ryoga upside the head. "Don't blow up my restaurant, idiot."
Ryoga looked down sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "Oh. Sorry. It's... a bad habit." He replied quietly. "But the thought of him and her together..."
"Disgusting." Ukyo agreed, nodding her head wearily.
"Exactly." He said, nodding his head fervently. "I mean, he has the nerve to-"
"Whoa, wait." Ukyo raised her hand, staring at Ryoga with a hard expression. "You're saying this is Ranma's fault? Akane's the one who put his head in her lap, buddy."
Ryoga couldn't argue with that- no matter how much he wanted to. "... it's not fair." He said again, quiet and sullen.
"Preaching to the choir." Ukyo murmured, sipping her tea.
---
"Ah! Kagome! I-"
" Sit boy!"
Click.
"-YOU IDIOT!"
"Ouch! Miss Chidori, what did I-"
Click.
"-and now I play my Dark Magici-"
Click.
Cologne sighed, flicking the remote again, her pipe idly leaving a small trail of smoke into the air. "Anime, anime, anime..." she sighed, rolling her eyes. "Where are the soaps..."
It was a quiet day in the Cat Café. Since the lunch hour was over, the store could close up until dinner, when it would reopen to roaring sales once again.
At the moment, Shampoo was still out making another delivery, and Mousse...
Cologne frowned. Actually, she didn't know where Mousse was these days. Always going off on his own, coming back home at unreasonable hours covered in sweat and dirt, looking either frustrated or triumphant.
"Hey! Old ghoul!"
Cologne's ears perked. That sounded like...
"Old ghoul!" Ranma shouted again, stamping his foot impatiently. He had thankfully seen Shampoo leave earlier, allowing him some time to talk to the Amazon matriarch without the need for a glomping.
"Well, well, now this is a nice surprise." Cologne said, bemused as she hopped out of the back room. "What brings you here, son-in-law?"
Ranma swallowed. He hated asking for favors- but he'd be damned if he'd ask his father. Chances were the old geezer would end up teaching him some other useless technique.
"I..." Ranma swallowed again, his fists clenching. "I..."
"Yes?" Cologne asked patiently, arching her eyebrow.
Oh, he loathed this. He would never, ever forgive himself for this.
But then again, the memory of a battle against a twelve year old that was going bad stung even more than that.
The pride of being completely self-reliant.
The pride of being the best fighter in Nerima.
Choices, choices.
Swallow pride now. Beat the hell out of that Sasuke kid later.
"I need some help." Ranma said quietly.
---
Genma Saotome frowned, his hand hesitating over a piece.
"It's your move, Saotome." Soun Tendo reminded him impatiently, arms crossed as he stared at the shougi board, deep in concentration. After a moment, he realized something was wrong with his old friend. "Saotome? What is it?"
Genma looked up at the other man, a grave look on his face.
"I feel a great disturbance... as though some great ego had swelled up and protested as loud as it could ... and then suddenly faded away."
---
"We are pathetic." Ukyo declared, swirling the green tea in her hand with a somber look.
Ryoga's pride flared for a moment, but depression won out over ego, and he nodded in a subdued manner.
"Look at us. Sitting here, moping." Ukyo felt a wave of disgust wash over herself, burying the self-pity she had been entrenched in moments ago.
"What should we do?" Ryoga asked distractedly, not really caring about the answer.
"I... don't know." Ukyo looked down again, depression setting back in. It wasn't like Ranma had official chosen Akane- but the moment between them just seemed so right that she would have felt like it would be sacrilege to interfere.
Ryoga really couldn't blame Ukyo- at least she was trying to find a bright side to the situation.
"Did you ever... I mean... did you ever consider the idea of Akane and Ranma actually going through with their marriage?" Ukyo asked haltingly, eyes fixated upon her tea.
"In my nightmares." Ryoga replied darkly.
"I didn't." Ukyo admitted softly. "I... really did think I would get him. But the way she looked at him..." Ukyo knew the heartache and pain of being abandoned - inflicting something even worse upon Akane, someone she considered a friend despite the giant obstacle known as Ranma between them, was utterly abhorrent to her.
"Are you saying we should give up?" Ryoga demanded, fist slamming against the table and shaking the tea, his voice angry and scared, all at once.
Ukyo was quiet for a while. When she spoke, it was the voice of quiet resignation, like a conquered warrior admitting final defeat. "Maybe we should consider it..." Ukyo murmured, her voice slowly picking up volume, if not strength, "I, for one, do not want to suddenly find myself broken hearted and left alone."
Ryoga fought the sensibility of her words- and common sense was a foe he had triumphed against many a time.
After all, this is Ryoga Hibiki, the only man to ever start a vendetta against someone over bread.
Yet... yet today, today was not the heat of battle and he was not facing Ranma, who could drive him into a rage with only a taunt.
Logic had checkmated Ryoga.
"... me neither." Ryoga whispered.
---
"WHAT WAS THAT!"
Kodachi Kuno, only daughter of the Kuno estate, and the only person more delusional (yes, it is possible) than her brother, Tatewaki Kuno, was in a fine state of utter fury.
The family ninja (who was, quite possibly, the most inept ninja ever born), Sasuke, cowered before the female of the household. "The report is true... even Master Kuno has verified it."
Verified, in this household, translated to flying into a generally nonsensical rant about the "vile sorceror Saotome" and "black magic" and generally other such deus ex machina that Tatewaki Kuno used to explain things that his psyche could not accept.
Kodachi's first impulse was, as with many Martial Artists in Nerima, to go on a rampage.
She reconsidered when she remembered a few of her pet projects. Simply killing Akane Tendo might irritate her brother- therefore, perhaps by hook and by crook, not assassination, would Kodachi obtain her ultimate goal.
"Wait for me, Ranma darling! Soon I will wrest you from the clutches of that vile Tendo!"
---
"Thanks for listening." Ukyo said quietly, smiling slightly as she looked up at her comrade in heartache.
"You're welcome." Ryoga replied, still looking rather downcast. He stood up, pushing his chair as he did so. "I'd better get going then."
"Where?" Ukyo asked curiously. "You know, come to think of it... I don't think anyone knows where you live, Ryoga..."
Ryoga felt a cold sweat coming on. That question was not one he wanted to answer... "Uh..."
Ukyo rolled her eyes, leaning deep into her chair. "Fine, fine, keep your secrets." She muttered, slightly annoyed that he was holding something so trivial back after their heart-to-heart.
"But... well, you know..." Ukyo coughed, and smiled, her face full of grateful sincerity. "If you ever want to talk, my door's always open. We gotta stick together, don't we?"
Ryoga smiled at that.
"I guess we do."
---
"So Sasuke's eyes can predict your movements, eh?" Cologne murmured contemplatively, idly blowing a smoke ring into the air. "Well, that's an interesting development."
"His eyes... they changed." Ranma said quietly, fists clenched unconsciously. "They turned red... with three black markings in his eye."
"Never heard of such a thing." The Amazon matriarch noted, curiosity piqued. After three hundred years of life, developments such as this were of concern and great interest.
"Wait. What!" Ranma shouted, standing up from his chair and staring at the small figure before him with a demanding look. "But you know everything!"
"I know a lot, idiot." Cologne corrected, still composed as she sent more rings to drift into the atmosphere. "But techniques that let you blow fire out of your mouth without any help? Create solid clones of yourself? Eyes that can predict movement?" she made a loud snort. "That's something new altogether."
"Great. Just great. You're no help then." Ranma muttered, throwing his hands in the air in defeat. He turned to leave.
"That doesn't mean I don't know techniques which will give you an edge against those boys."
Ranma froze. This time, his pride stayed silent.
"What's the catch?" he asked suspiciously. New techniques or not, he was not going to play into Cologne's scheming.
Cologne gave a low chuckle. "No catch this time." While the thought of Ranma married to Shampoo, strengthening their bloodline made her positively ecstatic, coercing him was difficult without serious leverage. And new techniques were not nearly enough to entice him- chances were, Ranma would simply find techniques on his own.
"You couldn't possibly think I'd let my son-in-law's position as the best fighter in Nerima be usurped, did you?"
Besides... offering him some techniques was incentive for him to abandon the Anything Goes Martial Art and train with her permanently... and the way to make that arrangement permanent was marriage to Shampoo.
"You promise?" Ranma was unconvinced.
Cologne rolled her eyes, tapping her pipe against the table, letting the ashes fall away.
"On my honor as an Amazon warrior."
Ranma could understand that sort of promise, and with a reluctant look, he nodded.
Cologne smiled, a full, teething smile. "Then let's get started."
---
There was a nagging feeling pressing into him, an irritation that was most unwelcome.
Kakashi didn't like this, not at all. Yuki had used water to hide his scent, meaning that Kakashi was forced to depend on other signs- snapped twigs, traces of chakra, and other such small disturbances. The readings were less accurate and slowed the search down longer than he would have liked.
As it was, the Copy Ninja and his quarry were probably only a day at most away from Rice Field Country. If the missing nin managed to escape there, then the mission would grow much more complicated.
The fact that Yuki had abandoned the battle so early also gave Kakashi some pause.
Was the Mist missing nin afraid of him? It didn't seem likely, given the younger man's cold disposition.
Perhaps running the risk of being killed was simply not an idea Yuki was willing to face.
The possibilities were many.
Frowning, Kakashi idly rechecked his mental map of the area. The terrain around here was growing less and less wild, the animals that filled the hearts of the forest growing more and more scarce.
There was a border town up ahead, from the looks of it.
The Copy Ninja halted, pausing to examine the ground. The bent grass, the imprints on the dirt- tracks, heading straight for the town.
Kakashi didn't like this at all.
---
"HYAH!" Sakura's fist collided solidly with the pole as she expelled chakra simultaneous with the impact.
The wood shuddered and cracked, but didn't break.
Sakura pulled her fist back, wincing at the splinters that were piercing into the raw skin. Part of her wanted to surrender- the damage her fist inflicted on the wood was nothing compared to the backlash on her own hand.
She gritted her teeth.
No.
No more backing down.
"KYAH!" Sakura swung her fist out, putting her whole weight and as much chakra as she could behind the attack.
The result was progress- but painful progress.
The pole shattered into a burst of splinters- which slammed into Sakura's head, slicing into the skin, turning red, raw skin into a bloody mess.
Sakura made an involuntary scream, falling backwards, holding her hand tightly, wincing, eyes shut tight so as not to let the tears she was holding back show.
"I did it," she breathed, a short, pained gasp that sounded more defeated than triumphant.
"That you did." Tsunade's voice was pleasantly amused as she stared down at her apprentice. When her eyes caught the bleeding, raw hand that Sakura was currently holding, she clucked her tongue. "Maybe you overdid it a bit, huh?"
She moved her hand over the younger kunoichi's, and a green glow appeared. In a matter of moments, the cuts and raw, irritated skin was replaced with smooth, undamaged skin.
"Thank you." Sakura said gratefully, rubbing her hand unconsciously.
Tsunade merely gave her a grunt, silently appraising her apprentice once again. Her attacks had little force to them for now- but the technique was otherwise perfect.
The only problem now was her hands...
Which could be solved.
"Here." Tsunade said quietly, handing Sakura a pair of tight, black gloves. "I found your size in your medical records."
Sakura took the gloves slowly, giving the Hokage a questioning glance. "I don't understand, Tsunade-sama."
"In the field, we can't have a medic-nin's hands being filthy when you operate. These will help in that regard. What's more... your hands look like they could use a bit of protection." Tsunade said wryly, earning an embarrassed blush from the younger kunoichi. "Even better, these particular gloves are special- they'll help you focus your chakra, to an extent."
"Thank you, Tsunade-sama." Sakura bowed deeply, truly grateful.
Tsunade made a low grunt, waving her hand in dismissal. "Keep it up. You're making progress." With that, she turned away, leaving her apprentice to her own devices.
Sakura stared at the gloves for a moment. Slowly, hesitantly, she pulled the first one onto her hand, feeling the material crack and flex to fit her hand into a tight, snug fit.
The material continued to crack as she clenched her hand into a fist. Suddenly, in a blur, Sakura swung out against another training pole.
This one too, shattered- but Sakura barely felt it, her glove protecting her hand from the fallout of the attack.
Sakura smiled.
She liked these gloves.
---
The bad feeling only increased when Kakashi arrived in the town.
Empty street.
Bad sign.
His single open eye locked onto a few spatters of crimson on the dusty road.
Hairs began to stand on the back of his neck.
Casually, in a manner belying his trepidation, Kakashi removed his forehead protector, revealing the Sharingan slowly.
"I see your talents are not limited to combat, but tracking as well, Sharingan Kakashi." Yuki's voice rang out, coldly bemused.
Kakashi took the moment to scan the area, Sharingan sweeping over everything in sight. "I suppose you're the reason why this town is suspiciously empty." He said loudly, keeping his eyes moving.
"That I am." Yuki appeared then, walking down the street with a slow, measured stride.
An unreadable look crossed the missing nin's face.
"I killed them all."
Kakashi didn't have time to dwell on that horrifying fact at the moment, moving slowly, imperceptibly, into a crouch. "And why, exactly, did you feel the need to do that?" he asked measuredly.
Yuki's corpse-like eyes stared out at him like a statue's. "I failed to kill you, and was forced to retreat. Therefore... I killed these people instead." His voice was brutally apathetic.
Kakashi waited, opting to play the banter game for a little while longer. Psychological armament was always useful. "Why? To prove your existence? For revenge?" the Copy Ninja had heard them all before in his line of work.
Yuki's lip curled into something that might have been a smile on anyone else's face, at any other time. "Nothing so... grandiose." He said, sneering. "I kill because I can." His shoulders shrugged and his eyes seemed empty. "The Mist killed us because they feared us, because they had the power to do so. And so I do the same."
Great. I get the sociopath with the ability to control water. Kakashi frowned inwardly. His ANBU missions had dealt with these things regularly- but he hadn't been ANBU in a long while.
Yuki's eyes narrowed. "Sensatsu Suisho!"
Immediately, Kakashi leapt into the air, narrowly avoiding the rain of razor sharp ice needles that stabbed into the air where he had once been.
A barrage of shuriken was the Copy Ninja's counterattack, which whistled through the air with deadly accuracy.
Yuki avoided the attack, and in a flash his ornate dagger was in his hand. "Koori no Yaiba!" immediately, the air became noticeably cooler, as the moisture in the air froze with solid cracks around the dagger, forming a long, katana shape.
In a matter of moments, the ice sword was finished and Yuki was on the offensive.
As the blade came down, Kakashi was already pulling back, giving himself some good distance before moving into a set of seals. "Doton: Retsudotensho!" with that, he slammed his palm into the ground.
With a loud rumble, ground beneath Yuki shot upward, the earth twisting around the missing nin's body as dirt fell away. The rock closed upon the missing nin with crushing force.
There was no crunch of broken bones. Kakashi's eyes narrowed as water ran down the sides of the rock. Another water clone...
A breeze behind him caught the Copy Ninja's attention and he twisted, removing a kunai just in time to block Yuki's ice sword.
The chill from the blade still sent a sharp spike of pain through his hand and Kakashi winced, pushing the Mist missing nin backwards.
Yuki pulled backwards, and then closed the gap again, slashing quickly.
The Copy Ninja sidestepped the slicing motion, bringing his kunai to bear, aiming for the missing nin's throat.
Yuki arched his neck backwards, narrowly avoiding having his throat slit. Kakashi's eyes widened.
A second later, the Mist missing nin slammed a brutal boot kick into the Copy Ninja's torso, sending the gray haired ninja backwards, wincing.
Kakashi felt the shade of the wall behind him, frowning as Yuki came at him in a series of blurring slashes, the chill of the frozen sword washing over his body. He twisted and turned, avoiding each slash expertly, hearing the sword slice deep into the wall behind him.
The Copy Ninja crouched low, avoiding a whistling beheading slash, and then sprang forward, slamming his knee into the other shinobi's stomach.
Yuki glared as he staggered backwards, holding his stomach in one hand, and using the other to keep his blade in a ready position, to ward off Kakashi.
Kakashi flicked his hand, tossing a kunai at the Mist missing nin's head.
Yuki ducked his head, avoiding the blade easily, and sprang forward with a powerful forward thrust.
The Copy Ninja sidestepped the attack and snapped his leg out in a vicious crescent kick, slamming his foot into the side his opponent's skull with a resounding thud.
Yuki was flung backward, into the wall with a particularly nasty crunch. The Mist missing nin staggered to his feet, glaring before coming forward in a blur, slashing down, to the side, and then down again, a series of lightning flashes off of the mirror-glass ice was all one could see.
Kakashi flung himself from side to side, dodging to strikes, but the final one sliced into his shoulder, flinging a bit of frozen blood upon the ground, like glittering rubies. The wound felt bitingly cold, with only a few traces of liquid blood running down his arm.
Yuki smirked, lunging forward again.
Kakashi staggered backwards, throwing himself in reverse to avoid another series of blurring strikes. The Copy Ninja crouched low, avoiding a high sweeping slash, and counterattacked with a vicious uppercut to the chin.
The enemy shinobi staggered backwards drunkenly, glaring.
"This is the end." Kakashi said quietly, wiping his thumb against his shoulder wound, covering it in blood.
Yuki's eyes widened as Kakashi's open palm slammed into the ground.
"Kuchiyose: Doton: Tsuiga no Jutsu!"
---
Tsunade watched the five boys- men, she corrected- walking through her door, and awarded them one of the few smiles she could stand to give these days.
She looked into each of their eyes in turn.
Chouji Akamichi looked ragged and pale and far too thin. His features were oddly handsome still, but he looked sickly, like a dying man. Despite his appearance, he put up what tried to be a sunny smile.
Shikamaru glanced at his friend worriedly, never straying more than a foot away. It was as though he was afraid that Chouji would suddenly be gone in a second if he wasn't watching. Aside from the worry cloud that created the furrowed look upon the chuunin, he looked in the best shape physically.
Kiba Inuzuka simply looked happy to be out of the hospital room, but on occasion, stroked the back of Akamaru's ears idly, but persistently, as though reassuring himself that his companion was still there.
Neji Hyuuga, as always, looked stoic, like a handsomely crafted statue, his aristocratic features befitting that of his Hyuuga heritage.
Rock Lee was smiling, the most chipper of the group, but even the enthusiastic taijutsu specialist seemed rather worn down.
But there was one more missing.
Naruto.
A pained look crossed her face for a split second, before returning to a calm, placid expression.
Only Neji noticed, and he wasn't one to speak of such things.
"I'm glad to see you've all returned safely." Were her first words, sounding oddly formal- after all, she'd seen each of them multiple times, individually. "First of all..." Tsunade bit her lip tightly, before she released it, not wanting to draw blood, "Let me apologize. Even if the Leaf is currently low on resources, sending a genin team on a mission against unknown enemies from the Sound was a poor decision on my part."
Tsunade swallowed, her throat tight. "I'm sorry."
"We came out of it okay, didn't we?" Kiba protested, crossing his arms. "And I'll bet you anything Naruto's fine too- probably goofing off somewhere." The joke earned a few chuckles all around, even from Neji.
Believing in Naruto's invincible "never say die" attitude was reassuring.
Tsunade curled her lip slightly, smiling. "That you did. I think I owed you that apology, however." She coughed slightly, and folded her hands, elbows straight up on the desk, staring at them seriously. "Now, give me a full account of what happened."
They talked; Shikamaru went first, giving an overview of how this rather mismatched team came together, briefly mentioning Naruto's "promise of a lifetime" (Tsunade made note to ask Sakura about that in the future). Then Chouji spoke, who gave a full account of his battle, and then Neji who did the same, then Kiba, then Shikamaru once again, with Rock Lee capping off the discussion.
Tsunade smiled slightly, staring at each of them with a hint of pride shining in her eyes. This is why I chose to Hokage of the Leaf. To guide those who will shape our future... strong souls like these four young men.
"First of all, let me say that you have done Konoha a service above and beyond anything you ever needed to do. Furthermore..." Tsunade shuffled around her for a large folder. This particular folder was extremely important- it contained much of the knowledge they had garnered about the Hidden Sound; personnel, numbers, techniques, etc.
"Four of those Sound Nin you defeated...they were spotted around the area where Orochimaru assassinated the Sandaime Hokage. From what we can gather, they are Orochimaru's personal retinue- his favorites." Tsunade explained quietly. "And with what Shikamaru heard, we can assume that the fifth Sound ninja was probably a member of this group as well."
She smiled proudly. "You five overcame tremendous odds and have helped deliver a resounding blow to Orochimaru's forces. On behalf of the Leaf, I thank you." As the five young men responded to her words to varying degrees; Neji and Shikamaru merely nodded politely, while Lee and Kiba responded enthusiastically. Chouji, of course, was the happy medium, looking pleased but not nearly as loudly as Lee or Kiba.
"Shikamaru, Chouji, Kiba. You three are dismissed. Get some rest" Tsunade gave them a salutatory nod as they stood, before turning toward the two remaining boys. "Neji, Lee, I need you two to stay."
Both of the boys gave her odd looks, but remained where they were without a word.
After a minute or so, the doorknob turned.
"Hello, Tsunade-sama." Tenten smiled brightly, waving as she came inside, nodding her head briefly to both of her teammates. Tsunade gave her a polite nod in return.
"Now that you're assembled, I have something to discuss with you." Tsunade began, folding her hands above her desk, resting her chin atop her fingers. "Because of this recent mission, the current genin teams who are best able for a mission are Kurenai's team and your own."
"What sort of mission, Hokage-sama?" Neji asked politely, his expression meditative.
"A B-Class reconaissance mission." Tsunade replied, causing the three younger ninja to pause, absorbing her words.
"No offense, Hokage-sama, but shouldn't Kurenai-sensei's team tackle a reconaissance mission?" Tenten questioned curiously, leaning forward. "After all, their team specializes in tracking and scouting. We're a hand-to-hand combat unit."
"True enough," Tsunade acquiesced, nodding her head. "However, you three currently posses a greater level of experience and combat skill than that of Team Eight." The Godaime's expression turned grave. "Those will come in handy for your mission, which will pay as a full combat mission regardless of enemy contact."
"What's our objective?" Neji asked. If their combat skills were a major factor in being chosen for the mission, odds were that there was a chance of enemy ninja.
"Rice Field Country." Tsunade said levelly.
Tenten and Lee gasped, and even Neji's eyes widened. "But Hokage-sama! That's-" Lee protested, but the Godaime cut him off.
"Orochimaru's home base, yes, I'm aware of that. However," Tsunade paused, as if considering something, "... this knowledge is not to leave the room. As you are no doubt aware, Naruto Uzumaki, along with Sasuke Uchiha, are currently missing in action."
The members of Team Gai nodded, with Lee grimacing and Neji frowning.
"There are currently pressures within the Hidden Leaf that wish to declare both Naruto and Uchiha as missing ninja and dispatch a hunter-nin to deal with them." Tsunade admitted, her voice terse and annoyed.
It was partly true, but also part fabrication.
It was true that there were people advocating for the branding of both genin as traitors and that their deaths were absolutely necessary and needed to be dealt with immediately.
But it wasn't Sasuke that they were mainly pushing for, first off. He was off a lesser concern. Secondly, that singular hunter-nin was actually more along the lines of a team of ANBU sent to dispatch the Kyubi.
"That's too much!" Lee protested angrily, clenching his fists in rage. "Naruto would never abandon the Hidden Leaf!"
Tenten nodded her agreement. She didn't know the hyperactive blonde personally, but if he was strong and good enough to change someone like Neji for the better, there was no way he'd betray the Leaf. Sasuke perhaps, but...
Neji didn't make an outburst, save for the tightness on his lips, and the dark look that crossed his eyes. He owed Naruto Uzumaki a lot, and was not about to let the blonde be murdered by his own village.
"I'm well aware of where Naruto's loyalties lie, Lee." Tsunade said lightly, waving her hand. "As Uchiha's last known destination was the Hidden Sound, I need you three to penetrate the borders of the Hidden Sound and attempt to find some, if any, evidence that Naruto or Sasuke are within Rice Field Country. The Council needs evidence for the dispatch of a hunter nin, and I personally have an interest in where those boys have gone."
"So, it would actually be best for us to not find them in Rice Field, then." Neji gathered, raising a single, regal eyebrow.
"Correct." Tsunade paused again, weighing her next words.
"Also, from a few more friendly contacts within Rice Field, we have been able to determine the location of an abandoned fortress of Orochimaru's. Chances are he has left nothing useful, but if you are willing..."
"You'd like us to investigate." Neji finished, crossing his arms in contemplation.
Tsunade nodded. "I'm not ordering you to."
"Of course we will!" Lee said loudly, pumping his fist into the air.
"Maybe we should think about this Lee..." Tenten tugged on his arm, looking cautious. "After all, this is Orochimaru's fortress..."
"I'll let you three decide. Neji," Tsunade said, her gaze resting upon the Hyuuga, "You will be team leader for this mission. I'll entrust it to you to make the right decisions."
Neji gave her a crisp nod. "Understood."
The Hokage gazed at each of them in turn with a hard, measuring look. After a moment, her gaze softened.
"Good luck, and stay alive."
---
Kakashi panted harshly, sweat dripping from his body.
Yuki panted, equally harsh, his gaze overwhelmingly hateful, even as Kakashi's summoned ninja dogs bit into his arms and legs, pinning him in place.
"Your body has been disabled, and you can no longer use any techniques." Kakashi said breathlessly, his shoulder burning with burning coldness. "This battle is over."
Without waiting for a response, his hands moved through a set of self-created seals, before his left hand grabbed his right, directly at the wrist.
It began to glow, and the eerie sounds of birds chirping filled the air.
"Chidori!"
---
It was quiet, Sasuke thought, walking along the street, hands in his pockets, finished with his last delivery of the day.
Sasuke liked quiet. It gave him some serenity, if not peace. It let him think.
"Sasuke!"
... It meant Naruto was nowhere in the vicinity.
An orange-blonde blur jumped down from the rooftop of a nearby residence to land in front of the Uchiha. "You finished too?" Naruto asked, grinning sunnily.
A little too sunnily.
"What the Hell's up with you?" Sasuke drawled, arching his eyebrow. "You're even more annoying than normal."
Naruto laughed- again, just a little too hard. "What! Nothing's wrong!" his voice kicked an octave up for a moment, before descending back down. "Why would anything be wrong?"
Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Whatever." He muttered, continuing on his way, with the blonde keeping pace, neither one saying a word- which was disturbingly out of character for Naruto.
Finally however, Naruto broke the silence. "Do you think there's a way for us to get home?" he asked, his voice quiet and withdrawn.
It disturbed Sasuke more than he cared to admit, because Naruto was never quiet and withdrawn. It took him a moment to answer. "... it's possible." He murmured, staring straight ahead.
"Maybe we should ask someone." Naruto said dubiously.
Sasuke turned, looking at the blonde critically. "And who, exactly, should we ask?"
---
"A way to cross back over to your world, huh?" Cologne said thoughtfully, puffing on her pipe. It was amusing just how many people were coming to seek her advice today. "Now that's an interesting question."
"Do you know of a way, or don't you?" Sasuke asked rudely, arms crossed as he leaned against the wall.
"Patience. I'm old, after all." Cologne chided, breathing in and exhaling out smoke once again. "Well... there might have been one, but-"
"What is it?" Naruto asked loudly, excitedly leaning forward out of his chair.
"It was a magic mirror. It could take someone to any time and any place." Cologne explained. "In theory, it could take you back to your world."
"Alright! So all we have to do is get this magic mirror thing, and we're back home!" Naruto cheered, pumping his fist into the air exuberantly.
"Just one problem." Cologne's voice was dry and obviously bemused.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "What?" he demanded, stepping away from the wall.
Cologne chuckled. "Well, two really. Number one, it's Happosai's."
"WHAT!" Naruto shouted, eyes bulging out of his sockets as he stared at the Amazon. "That old pervert!"
"Yes." Cologne replied, nodding her head. "But there's a bigger problem than that..." she breathed out a large, gray cloud of smoke, as if to obscure the horizon.
"It's broken."
---
"I'm surprised you managed to move in time." Kakashi said evenly, pulling his hand free from Yuki's chest. "But you underestimated the speed of my Chidori. Even if you were able to move a little, my Chidori still struck your lung. You'll be dead in a matter of moments."
The Mist missing ninja fell to the ground with a soft thump, swirls of dust moved by his fall. He made soft groaning noises, but otherwise remained still.
The hole in his chest was clean- the flesh sterilized by the energy of the Chidori all around the gaping void in his torso where a lung should have been.
"Mission complete." Kakashi muttered, and shook his hand once, scattering the blood. Without another word, he turned and left, sprinting off back to Konoha.
Unnoticed, in the shadows nearby alleyway, another man moved as well.
"Well, well, well..." Kabuto murmured, pushing his glasses up his nose, smiling all the while.
"This could prove interesting."
---
"Broken!" Naruto and Sasuke demanded, nearly in unison, though neither one noticed.
Cologne nodded. "That's right."
"Well there's got to be a way to fix it, isn't there!" Naruto said loudly, his voice filled with urgent panic as he gestured widely. "I mean, don't you have magic tape or something to fix it? Or a backup magic mirror? Anything?"
Cologne tapped her pipe thoughtfully, letting the ashes fall to the floor. "Well... in the Amazon village- my village- there is a family of blacksmiths whose ancestors forged the mirror. If anyone might be able to help you, it would be them."
Naruto sighed, relieved. Sasuke did too, but it was less noticeable.
"So, where is this family?" Sasuke asked, still feeling that this was all far too easy.
The universe, of course, proved Sasuke right.
"China, of course."
---
There are times when people need to make a change, to speak out and tell the world that the status quo cannot be, that change must occur or else the stagnant road to annihilation is assured.
This is the time.
This is Hinata Hyuuga's time.
So she went to the place where her own change must occur.
After all, change must occur within the home, if nowhere else. And change within the Hyuuga Clan came from few but the Clan Head himself- Hiashi.
So she steeled her courage, gathered her resolve, and walked right up to her father's personal quarters, where her father was undoubtably meditating.
Hinata swallowed once. She opened her mouth to speak.
"Listen, Hiashi."
Her mouth snapped shut, and her mouth set itself in a worried line. People in her father's personal quarters? If it was important enough for it to be this private even from the Clan...
"We all know that this is the best time to strike. We can end this threat now." The voice was old, but filled with strong, burning conviction and urgency.
"Surely, you must see this as we do." Another, wizened voice urged. "After all, was not your own nephew defeated by him?"
Hinata bit back a gasp, lest she be exposed. Could they be talking about-
"Are you suggesting I invest myself in this venture because of some petty vendetta?" Hiashi's voice was sardonic and biting, obviously not amused by the attempts at persuasion. "Do not insult me."
"Hiashi, see reason. It is in everyone's interest that we deal with this now." The first voice interjected. "Even the Godaime cannot overturn the full weight of the Council, and the Hyuuga are the most respected voice among us."
"I will think on it." Hiashi's voice was terse and cold. "Good day."
Hinata gasped, hearing the sound of cloth rustling and footsteps toward the door. Panic settled in her system and her breath quickened-
And a hand grasped hers, pulling her aside into another hallway before she could react.
Hinata turned to meet the stoic silvery eyes of her cousin. "Neji-niisan!" she whispered, but he shushed her quickly, releasing her hand.
Two older, graying males walked on by, their faces stern and irritable. Thankfully, they looked straight ahead, seemingly content to whisper amongst themselves.
A few steps behind them, Hiashi walked, arms folded into the sleeves of his green kimono, mouth carved into a tight, contemplative frown. After a moment, he spoke. "Neji. Hinata. Come out."
Hinata blanched, blushing at the thought of being caught eavesdropping by her father, but Neji seemed unaffected, and tapped Hinata on the shoulder, urging her forward.
"Inside." Hiashi said curtly, turning away.
Hinata bowed her head and followed the command meekly, Neji walking beside her, his own head bowed respectfully.
When they were inside, Hiashi shut the door with a hard, resounding snap. "So, what brings the both of you to my door at this hour?" he asked, sitting himself down across from his niece and daughter.
"You first, Hinata-sama." Neji said quietly, stepping backwards.
Hinata turned toward him, startled. "But-", she began to protest, before resigning herself. Steeling her courage, she turned towards the Hyuuga Head.
"Father... I want you to train me again!" her voice began low, but picked up strength and volume as it went along, like a boulder that had finally gone down its hill. "I know I'm weak... but I'll try hard, I swear! I won't let you down again!"
Hiashi studied his daughter guardedly, carefully, his eyes seemingly tearing through her every defense, studying her every flaw and criticizing her every mistake.
Finally, he spoke.
"My time as Clan Head and Hanabi's training take priority." Hiashi said stiffly, sternly. "I cannot spend my time rectifying your substandard fighting ability."
Hinata bowed her head, and she shrunk into herself, eyes beginning to sting. She felt small, so very small...
"However, teaching is often the best way to find errors in one's own education." Hiashi finished, and his voice contained a touch of humor, before his head turned toward his nephew. "Neji. From now on you will have one on one training sessions with Hinata."
Neji straightened, nodding his head crisply as he stared his uncle dead in the eyes.
"Good." Hiashi nodded back. "I expect her performance to improve sharply by the Chuunin Exams at the end of the year. Do not fail me."
Hinata's throat was tight. "F-father..." she whispered, and his gaze actually softened as it rested upon her, "Thank you."
"You are my daughter. Let no one else tell you anything different." Hiashi said warmly, and smiled kindly at her- the first time he had done so in perhaps nearly a decade. After another moment, the smile fell away and he turned toward Neji. "Now, Neji. Why do you need to visit me at this hour?"
Neji straightened himself again, remembering his own purpose for needing to speak with his uncle. "Hiashi-sama. The Hokage has assigned me a mission that requires me to leave Konoha."
"Where?" Hiashi asked levelly, gazing at the young prodigy of his clan.
"Rice Field Country."
Hinata gasped.
Hiashi stiffened. "I see." He said, and nothing else.
"I will depart in the morning." Neji said quietly, and bowed deeply. "Good night, Hiashi-sama, Hinata-sama."
As he left the room, Hinata stood as well. As she moved to leave, however, she remembered the conversation she overheard.
"Father... forgive me, but what were those men talking about?" she asked shyly, gazing at her father curiously.
Hiashi made no movements and his face changed little, but still, Hinata felt that she had crossed some invisible boundary. "Never you mind, Hinata. Just the idle talk of old men." Hiashi replied flatly. "Now rest."
Hinata, knowing that she could push her father no further, acquiesced and left.
---
In a small, wooded clearing in the outskirts of Tokyo...
It looked like someone had up and grabbed a medieval armory and proceeded to dump it all out, and then toss in every chain link in the dungeon for good measure.
And standing, looking ragged and dirty and exhausted, was a lone, spectacled young man in Chinese robes.
Mousse panted harshly, falling hard onto his back, though careful not to fall on any of his weapons. He looked up at the star strewn sky, free from any light pollution.
"Just like home." He breathed, smiling a little, indulging in nostalgia.
It had been a good day.
"Tomorrow... I'm going to put all of this to the test." Mousse murmured, chest rising and falling as his breath evened out.
"Shampoo will be so happy..."
He smiled widely.
"Tomorrow... I'll get you, Ranma Saotome... this time for sure."
---
"Happosai's magic mirror?" Ranma said quietly, his voice muffled through a mouth full of food, "Yeah, I remember it." He swallowed hard, forcing down the large mass of food he had jammed in his mouth as he glanced at Naruto, who had asked him about the mirror.
Across the table, Sasuke wrinkled his nose at Ranma's eating habits. Akane showed her displeasure with an elbow to the ribs, to which Ranma glared at her right back.
Kasumi merely ate sedately, while her father, Genma, and Happosai ate voraciously. Nabiki, of course, listened in on Ranma and Naruto's conversation with interest.
"It got broken a while back and no one's really thought about it since, though." Ranma shrugged. "I guess the old freak still has it." He said, jerking his head toward the troll-like figure on the opposite end of the table, who was looking at them thoughtfully.
"The old lady said we could fix it if we went to China." Naruto said dubiously.
Ranma snorted. "Unless you've got a lot of money or can swim across an entire ocean, you don't have a chance." He remarked arrogantly. "Trust me, I know."
Naruto opened his mouth to reply.
"P-Chan!" Akane squealed, standing, looking absolutely joyous as she lunged forward, capturing a small black object in her sweeping arms.
"A pig?" Sasuke said blankly. Naruto wasn't as shocked- after all, Tsunade had a pet pig too.
The pig in question was really more of a piglet- its entire body was jet black, except for the whites of its eyes and the yellow, black spotted bandana it wore around its neck.
Sasuke frowned. He could have sworn he'd seen that bandana before...
"This is P-Chan! He's my pet pig!" Akane said proudly, holding him under his upper arm pits as she thrust him forward, right in front of Sasuke. Naruto snickered.
Ranma scowled. "Oh great, its P-Chan." He muttered, glaring at the pig with jealous venom. "I didn't hear you come in, Ryoga."
"Ryoga?" Akane said blankly, holding the small black pig against her chest. "Where?"
P-Chan made a few loud squealing noises and growled threateningly at Ranma.
Ranma scowled deeper. "What? You want to fight?" he challenged, glaring deeply at the pig.
P-Chan squealed louder.
Ranma grabbed the pig out of Akane's hands ("Hey! Ranma!") and tossed the swine into the air, once, twice, thrice. After the third, P-Chan squealed loudly and bit down, hard, on Ranma's hand.
The martial artist howled in pain, throwing the pig to the floor. As soon as P-Chan hit the floor, however, he grabbed P-Chan again, holding him at a distance. "No biting." Ranma snarled, glaring at the pig, who glared right back.
"Hey! Hey! Wait, come on! There's got to be a way to get to China!" Naruto said loudly, breaking through the tense glaring contest between Ranma and P-Chan (which, to Sasuke, was utterly ridiculous).
Ranma turned towards the blonde, rolling his eyes and scowling. "I've tried every way, already. Like I said, unless you've got enough money or can swim the ocean, you're not getting to China." He replied scathingly, but Nabiki's voice suddenly cut in.
"Actually... there is a third option." Nabiki's smile was oddly playful, and everyone felt suspicious almost immediately.
Well, almost everyone.
"Really? What!" Naruto asked eagerly.
Nabiki produced a flyer with large, boldly printed words, placing it on the center of the table as everyone leaned in to get a closer look.
She smiled, satisfied as she sat back, watching as Akane read off the words aloud while the rest of those gathered at the table followed along.
"The first ever Grand Tokyo Martial Arts Tournament. All fighting styles from all countries welcome." Akane's eyes swept over the large, emblazoned first line, before scrolling down a bit, "Grand prize includes a first class airline ticket for you and your friends to..."
Naruto's eyes widened.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed.
Ranma dropped P-Chan.
P-Chan made a loud squeal.
"China!"
Author's Notes
Techniques
Sensatsu Suisho (A Thousand Flying Water Needles Of Death)- Freezes water into the shape of sharp needles, which home in on an opponent from all directions.
Doton: Retsudotensho (Earth Release: Split Earth Turn Around Palm)- The user slams their palm into the ground to control the rocks and earth around them, manipulating the rocks to rise up and crush the opponent.
Kuchiyose: Doton: Tsuiga no Jutsu (Summoning: Earth Release: Tracking Fang Technique)- Summoning several ninja dogs from the ground to grab the opponent, immobilizing them.
Chidori (Thousand Birds)- A-level ninjutsu technique. The user grabs their wrist, and focuses chakra until it becomes visible, usually as blue lightning. It's used as a swift, powerful finishing blow that requires a great deal of speed and the Sharingan (Copy Wheel Eye) to complete. It gets its name from the chirping sound it makes when it strikes.
Okay, well, as always, something needs to be addressed. I know there's probably a few NaruHina fans in the audience, or at least some Hinata ones. So... let's be clear.
In this story, Hinata is a secondary character. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura are more prominent here.
That's not to say I don't like Hinata however, or that she's unimportant.
Hinata will get screen time. She'll have her own fight scenes and unique training and growing up. She IS going to be crucial to the bikochu mission, which is definitely a high point to this story. I'm very much planning on it, in fact.
But she is not a central character to the plot. She is not going to go off and find Naruto and live happily ever after.
Number one, I don't believe in happily ever after. Number two, that's just too damn easy. This is not a NaruHina fic. Hell, this isn't NaruAnybody. This is, first and foremost, a friendship story between Naruto and Sasuke.
By the way, this is not encouragement for any Hinata haters out there to voice their opinion on her. I don't like hating on characters, even more than I hate addressing issues.
Secondly, cross-training is another issue.
There will be training for both Naruto and Sasuke, and characters (a certain Uchiha) will be adapting techniques to suit themselves.
But I'm NOT going to have a Ranma pulling off Kage Bunshin or Ryouga using Katon jutsu. The very idea is so utterly cliche to me that it makes me ill. The Ranma ½ cast are martial artists, not ninja. They fight, they don't kill.
I'm going to show that they can be strong without jutsu, and Naruto and Sasuke will learn that too.
And at last, I've unveiled my favorite part of the story- the tournament.
