Chapter 83
New Guardians: Another Step Forward
Haku,
You weren't too forward, don't worry. I truly appreciate everything you wrote, even if you did make me blush, you troublesome boy. But you're right. We don't know if this letter or the next will be our last words ever written to one another. Sometimes it's easy to forget how dangerous the life of a shinobi is, and how abruptly it can end.
You, our bond, these words, I hold them all so close to my heart, Haku. I cherish these quiet little moments we share together, where nothing else going on matters except putting the feelings in our hearts down on these pages. It's like we're ice skating again, gliding peacefully from word to word, no longer burdened by the paths we walk or the pain we carry.
Thank you for this. Truly. And stop thinking you owe me a debt. I already absolved you of that. Your kindness, our bond, they are a special gift I'm fortunate to have.
If I'm unique then you are a precious, crystallized gem in this rough world.
Kami, she was blushing so badly just reading that line again.
You have a gentle spirit and a kind heart. You're generous and compassionate. Patient and open-minded. You showed us empathy and regret when we were enemies, and forgiveness and concern when we became allies.
I admire you. You're an inspiration to me, because this world has given you every reason to kill your heart. It's given you every reason to become a coarse and cold person. Yet you don't. You held onto your heart through the darkest of times, all but refusing to give it over to the darkness that permeated around you, even when it hurt. Especially when it hurt.
That makes you unique too.
Sorry if I'm being too forward. But you started it, troublesome boy.
Good to know Kakashi-sensei's response was well-received. I don't know what he said or what Lady Mizukage sent originally—wasn't my business to pry into. But I admit I was a little worried how the first letters would go. At least things seem to be going smoothly.
If you didn't find it so amusing I'd probably feel bad for the Old Man and this Ao guy. Although, I hope she doesn't mishear me whenever we meet. That'd be a drag.
You don't need to thank me for my trust. You earned it. And like I said before, Lady Mei sounds like a remarkable woman. Even Atsuko thinks so, and if that's not a glowing review then I don't know what is. I look forward to meeting her in the future.
Hopefully a near future, but she could be patient. Peace wasn't something to rush. Haste could waste this shining opportunity to create a powerful shinobi alliance unlike anything the shinobi world had seen before. Three Great Nations united against the future threats of the world, threats such as the Akatsuki and the masked man, even Orochimaru.
Hold onto those good memories you have, she continued to read. I've learned how precious they can be the hard way. Even though they can hurt, losing them completely is far more painful, trust me.
I have no doubt Zabuza's training was tough, definitely with how out of our league you were when we met. And his attitude spoke for itself in our meeting, that's for sure. But it's nice to know there were moments when he did show he cared. I hope he still shows it otherwise I'll have to kick his butt when we meet again just to prove I can.
I'll show him how much I've grown in strength! And then there will be no doubt I'll be a woman someday!
She refused to forgive him for that. One day soon she'd make him eat those words! Telling her she'd never grow to be a woman. Hmph! No, he wouldn't eat those words. They'd have to be fed to him through a straw after she finished with him.
Although, the letter continued more bashfully, I still haven't hit my growth spurt. I'm starting to notice everyone growing by centimeters; even Naruto has grown a little. He's almost my height now. Am I doomed to be short forever, Haku? Shisui said my parents weren't tiny, but what if one of my ancestors were? What if I've inherited the shortness gene?
I don't want to be short forever…
He was going to laugh at that, she was sure of it.
I'm sorry to hear about the state of Mist Village. Peace through force and tyranny should never be considered a righteous path. But even though it's tough now, as long as Lady Mei doesn't give up and continues to push towards her goal, the Mist will one day no longer be burdened by its past. I know it.
It probably sounds stupid, but tell her I believe she can succeed and not to give up. No matter how tough the road gets. Nothing worth doing is easy.
Hmm. If Zabuza is suspecting those people of betrayal, I bet he's probably right. He knows how to read a situation and people well, when he's not underestimating a team of Genin that is. Hehe! Tell him that next time he tries to tease you!
Be careful, though. I trust in your abilities and that of Zabuza, so when they do show their true colors I know you'll have no issue eliminating them. But still, be careful. Watch for shadows within the shadows. For my sake.
When talks finally open between our Nations, I have no doubt Lady Mei will do well in showing the differences between herself and her predecessor. She trusts her instincts and yet also listens fully to what the inheritors of Mist Village have to say instead of listening only to the elderly who hold tradition above progress.
I mean no offense if I have caused any. Honestly, that comment is really targeted at my own Village. Specifically the Hyūga Clan. I've seen enough of the pain their traditions cause the next generation of shinobi among their Clan to hate everything their Elders have held onto.
It's so wrong, Haku.
So wrong, and one of these days, likely sooner than she realized, she'd be in that compound surrounded by those old men.
At least you and Zabuza are adjusting well. And at least there is a mutual respect between him and Lady Mei even when they disagree. Mutual respect goes a long way between allies.
Your description of Lady Mei's power and the fear any enemy fool enough to face her makes perfect sense. I get it. And when we meet I'll probably sense that power too.
By the way, Kaito totally isn't forgiving me. I asked and he slapped me with his wing again, the troublesome bird. And Atsuko wants him to earn arrogance? Sheesh, wouldn't humility be better? Or respect? I need to have a talk with her.
He'd probably find that funny too. Admittedly, she did too, even if Kaito's wing slaps were a total drag.
Telling me Atsuko had a few curious questions has only made me even more suspicious of what she asked. Why are all the birds in my life so troublesome?
Thank you for your condolences. It may not ease the burden, but I still appreciate it. When we see each other again I'll gladly tell you all about my cousin, though you may want to be prepared for a long rambling on my behalf.
Thank you for telling Lady Mei about the Akatsuki. We have to be prepared for these shinobi; this organization is extremely dangerous, and I'm worried the disunity of the shinobi world will be our ultimate undoing. Don't take chances with them.
I'm trying my best not to make Sandayū and his samurai a burden I carry. Princess Koyuki asked me, as you have, not to make him another burden I carry. She wants me to remember him with joy. I'm trying. I haven't forgotten his joy, or his smile and love for the Princess and his Land. I'll always remember that. But I also remember those final moments of his when I do. His tears. The hurt he suffered. And my heart breaks.
I know you're right. I know he made his choice and there may be others who do the same. I guess…I guess the best I can do is become better and stronger to stop it next time. I don't think I'll ever forget it, though. Not anytime soon at least. Maybe someday in the future. Maybe when I find my peace.
I don't think Kōri could change. I think she chose her path of darkness long ago. Or maybe it was chosen for her. I don't know. And maybe it's better I don't know her circumstances. The only regret I feel is that there wasn't any other way it could end.
Even had we captured them, the Land of Snow didn't have the proper facilities to house those powerful shinobi, which means one day they would have escaped to cause others more pain.
After our battle, when I created my nindo, I believed I would be always be able to spare life, that I could find the light in my enemies and make them embrace it. Looking back, I was still naïve. I'll always try to find the light in others, that's just who I am. But I see now that there will be people I fight who I can't save. People who are too evil. People like us who I'll want to spare, but I'll have to kill to protect and preserve what I hold dear.
I wish it were different. I wish this world was different. Do you think we can change it? I hope we can.
I'll always listen to anything you say, too. You don't need to shoulder anything alone anymore. I'll always reach out to help, even if it's only a little.
I suppose I'll try not to be troublesome, but it's a bit difficult. I'm a troublesome girl after all. Apparently it's hereditary.
I'll stay strong and keep moving forward just because you asked so nicely.
Thank you, Haku. Thank you for always listening. Thank you for your kindness and patience. Thank you for this bond we have.
Amari
Amari nodded to herself and prepared the letter for delivery. It would be some time still before she could send it; Kakashi still hadn't returned from his mission. At least her reply was ready, though.
She couldn't deny how her heart skipped around cheerfully, proud of her for courageously writing some of her affectionate thoughts down.
Shisui would be proud, she thought fondly. And probably tease me until I burned hotter than the sun.
The thought of him snickering at her expense coaxed a giggle out of the girl.
I miss you.
"Amari! Could you get the door? Shikamaru is here," her mother called from down the hall.
"Okay!" she called back, sensing his presence when she sought it out.
Being a Sensory Type certainly had its perks.
Amari uncrossed her legs and hopped off her bed, her two sizes too large fuchsia top flowing as she quickly moved to place the letter on her desk before heading down the stairs to the door. Light knocks tapped on the door as she crossed the floor.
Another set of knocks, a little louder, followed barely a second later.
"Patience, troublesome boy! Aren't you meant to be the lazy one?" she called cheekily while unlocking the door. Swinging the door open, she found Shikamaru in the midst of rolling his eyes, dressed in his ninja gear. "Hey Shika."
"Hey 'Risu. And I am the lazy one. You're the troublesome workaholic."
"It's hereditary," she quipped.
"Should've known," he sighed. "Great. Here I was hoping it was just a phase."
"You're doomed to be stuck with me pushing you to work harder forever." She gave him a closed eyed smile. "Get used to it."
Shikamaru snorted. "Not like I have a choice. My mom would kill me if I started slacking off now."
"Aunt Yoshino wouldn't kill you, Shika. She'd train you into the ground. It's different."
"Sounds the same to me."
Amari giggled and ushered her cousin in with a gesture. "Looks like you're going on a mission, but do you have time to come in?"
"I'm not really sure if it is a mission, but better to be prepared. You'll need to get changed too," he said, stepping into the Yūhi household. At the sight of her raised eyebrow, he continued. "We've been summoned by the Hokage. Not sure for what yet, but I'm sure it'll be a drag."
The kunoichi frowned. "Well, there goes my afternoon training."
"You didn't train this morning?"
"No, I did. I wanted to train a little more to make up for my day of relaxation yesterday."
Shikamaru rolled his eyes. "Only you 'Risu. Only you."
She poked his forehead. "You love how troublesome I am. I'll go get changed. Be right back."
Amari retreated back up the stairs to her room to change into her ninja gear. Once finally dressed in her purple tank top, single sleeved mesh undershirt, forehead protector and equipped with her ninja pouch and tool box, Amari pulled her bandana over her left eye and descended the stairs to join Shikamaru.
Her mother stood with him, dressed in her shinobi gear as well but still barefoot like her daughter.
"Sounds like you've been training hard," her mother said to Shikamaru.
Her cousin rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah. It's been a real drag, but goofing off and taking it easy isn't an option anymore. Not all the time, at least. With those Akatsuki guys out there and Orochimaru we've all got to step our games up. Otherwise they'll win."
Kurenai nodded. "I agree."
"That makes three of us," Amari said as she joined them. She pursed her lips in a pout. "Are you heading out on another mission already, Mom? You only got back last night."
Two fingers prodded her forehead, paired with a warm smile. "Team Eight have been assigned an important mission. We'll be setting off in the late afternoon, so I'll be around for a while longer. From the look of it, though, you'll be leaving on a joint mission with Shikamaru. Do your best, little one."
"I will." She latched onto her mother, hugging her tightly and receiving a warm embrace in return. "Love you."
"And I love you."
Amari released her bear-like hold and moved to the door to put her black sandals on. Shikamaru offered a short wave. "Later, Kurenai-sensei."
"Take care you two."
"We will."
With a final farewell and wave, the two Nara's left the Yūhi household behind for the Hokage Tower at a relatively brisk walk. Brisk by Shikamaru's standards, anyway. The Leaf was as active as ever. Noises of construction were still dominant; the hammering of nails and sawing of wood as homes or businesses were rebuilt, the odd yell of orders from a foreman, it'd all become normal background noise to the populace.
Debris clean-up efforts were on-going in certain districts, mostly those where entire blocks were flattened by the summoning snakes. Search and rescue operations were over; she heard the living and dead had all been accounted for. However the visible presence of shinobi in the recovery sites, as well as throughout the entire Village, on the walls and in their gaps of defenses, remained at an all-time high.
There were times Amari sensed the members of Anbu hidden amongst the shadows. Until their situation was settled, and the curfew was lifted, this was their new norm—daily repairs and heavy shinobi presence. She wondered how the civilians felt. As a shinobi it was part of her duty as well to be alert, even when on a walk to a mission.
Did they ever feel boxed in? Did the curfew bother them? The kunoichi never sensed animosity from her Villagers. They tended to regard all the shinobi they encountered, herself included, with deep respect and admiration. Still, she wondered if their military presence felt overwhelming.
Is it really all that different than before? We were a military presence before the Invasion, she reminded herself as she crossed through a market with Shikamaru. Our interactions with our people haven't changed. We protect them. We treat them well and respectfully. We don't yell and scream at them. We don't act as tyrants or thugs. We don't impose fear onto them. Yes, things have changed; there is a curfew and increased visible shinobi presence. But our bond with our people hasn't changed. If anything, it's grown stronger.
The sound of a rubber ball bouncing along the street caught her ear. Looking over, she noticed a group of children, a collection of three boys and two girls, passing the ball between them. On one such pass, the ball bounced up and over one of the shorter boys, who tripped clumsily on his own feet as he tried to race backwards and catch it.
The ball bounced over to the Nara's. Shikamaru, with only the slightest glance at the bouncing object, caught the ball with lazy flair and waited for the boy who fell over to stand again.
"Hey kid, here." He lobbed the ball to the boy. The boy caught it in his arms. "Make sure you guys aren't kicking the ball too hard. It's not a fun game when someone has to fetch it."
"Sorry!" the boy responsible for the kick apologized.
Shikamaru waved them off and they continued on their way.
Before long they were climbing the stairs of Hokage Tower, past fellow shinobi busy with work of their own. She noticed a few members of the Medical Corps, distinguishable by their beige uniforms, among the regular forces shinobi they passed.
Upon reaching the outside of the office, the doors of which were currently shut, they were met by a familiar face.
"Mimi? You're here too?" Shikamaru asked.
The Inuzuka grinned at the pair. "Let me guess, the Old Hag summoned you two as well?"
"Yep. Wonder if we're impromptu sensei's again," Amari wondered out loud.
Shikamaru sighed. "Man, I hope not. That was a drag the first time."
"I don't know. I found it kind of relaxing once I got my hands on the Goofball and Konohamaru," Mimi said, cracking her knuckles. "Worked out a lot of stress. Maybe they need a reminder to never do that again." Aoko growled lowly. "He better pray we don't. If we ever catch him 'researching' Tenten, I'll make sure every breath he takes is agonizing."
"Can we stop talking about this please?" Amari asked hastily, nearly blushing at the memory. It was a futile fight. Heat rushed up her neck and to her cheeks.
The Nara boy snorted. "Heh, those idiots," he shook his head. "All right, is Lady Hokage in a meeting or something?"
"Yeah," Mimi nodded. "We're probably early. Or the meeting dragged on longer than she expected."
"Guess we have no choice but to wait then."
The wait wasn't long. Amari filled the time catching up with Mimi about the mission to the Land of Tea, making her fellow kunoichi cackle when she informed her of Aoi's fate.
"So, he's pretty much in a living hell," she finished. "We all heard him scream when he woke up. And I saw the sadistic sparkle in Mr. Ibiki's eyes. No way Aoi has gotten off easy for what he did."
"I wish I could have seen Aoi's face when he woke up to see that scarred face glaring down at him," Mimi grinned. She jabbed Amari's arm lightly. "Told you you'd kick ass."
"Hm," Shikamaru hummed. He crossed his arms over his chest as he leaned against the wall. "You know, something isn't sitting right the more I think about it."
"What do you mean, Shika? About my mission?"
He shook his head. "Nah, you performed at the high level I expect from you." The unexpected compliment left her blushing shyly. "Hey, Mimi, have you and your team been sent out without Guy-sensei lately? Somewhere between C- and A-ranked. And were you put in charge too?"
"Yeah," Mimi nodded. "Before we were teamed up for the Academy my team had a B-rank turned A-rank. Why? What are you thinking, Slacker?"
"After Lady Tsunade's inauguration, while 'Risu was in the Land of Snow, I had a similar circumstance. I led Ino and Chōji on a C-rank mission that became a troublesome B-rank; probably close enough to being an A-rank, given what we were up against. You led your team. 'Risu led hers."
Amari furrowed her brow, seeing the pattern invisible to her eyes before. "You think we're being tested?"
"Why else would we all be here today?" he returned with a shrug. "In isolated incidents it's just the situation of the Leaf. Our Sensei's are busy with tougher missions, so it makes sense that we're chosen to lead our teams. You two are the top shinobi of our generation."
"My ego may have just swelled," Mimi jested.
"Careful. A big head won't fit through the doorway," he replied without missing a beat.
"Oh, the Slacker has some bite!"
"When he feels motivated enough," Amari teased.
"Anyway," Shikamaru rolled his eyes in amusement, "whether I like it or not, I'm a tactician. When we look at it from a strictly tactical standpoint, we're the obvious picks to lead our teams in the absence of our Sensei's. However," he narrowed his eyes, "something seems real fishy about this all happening around the same time."
Aoko barked. Sapphire eyes flicked to the door. "Someone's coming."
"Guess we're about to find out," Shikamaru said, reluctantly pushing off the wall.
The kunoichis nodded in agreement.
The Hokage's assistant, Shizune, opened the door and ushered the trio in with a smile. Nothing fishy about her, or the pet pig that followed her around. But as they moved to stand at attention a few strides away from the Hokage's desk, their suspicions flourished.
Lady Tsunade wasn't alone. To the right of her were Izumo and Kotetsu, with Shizune and the pig soon joining their group. On Tsunade's left were Genma, Anko and Ibiki—three of the four proctors from the Exams. Hayate would have been there, Amari assumed, had he not perished during the Invasion.
Definitely something fishy about this.
"Ah, welcome," Tsunade greeted the trio. "I know you're all probably wondering why I summoned you here today, so I'll cut right to the chase." The Hokage interlaced her fingers and set them on her lap. "Due to the Invasion of the Leaf, the final rounds of the Exams were suspended and left unfinished. Of the three of you here, only Mimi progressed to the next round."
Worth it, the Nara's thought in unison for separate reasons.
"And there is a minority opinion that none of the students should pass this time around, and that includes Mimi. However."
Tsunade reached into a nearby rectangular box—smaller in height than a shoe box but about the same length—from which she deftly lifted and equipped an ink brush, dipping the brush end into the container of ink within.
"I hear that the Third Hokage had nothing but the highest praise for all three of your performances. It seems he meant to recommend you for Chūnin."
The three Genin came to the same conclusion at the exact same time.
Oh. Oh, Amari thought, astonished.
The Hokage began to write on the open scroll in front of her. "In fact, all those who observed your performances and all of your proctors felt the same as the Third Hokage. I, however, wanted to see for myself what you three were capable of when tested as leaders—a sort of trial run, you see."
"Now I get it," Shikamaru sighed beneath his breath.
"In the end, you each passed my tests." The Hokage finished her brushes dance, returned it to its storage then interlaced her fingers again, resting her elbows on the table as she met their eyes directly. She smiled at the group. "So, from this day forth, I hope you three continue to strive to reach a level of excellence worthy of that headband. Congratulations! As of this moment you three stand as Chūnin."
Amari almost didn't believe it, despite hearing it directly from the Hokage herself. It caught her off guard; a glance at Shikamaru and Mimi revealed they, too, were slightly off-kilter by the suddenness of it all. It'd been months since the Exams. Since then they'd dealt with the Akatsuki, dealt with the recovery efforts and gone on other missions. A promotion hadn't even crossed their minds.
Well, I wasn't expecting this to happen today, the Nara girl mused lightly.
The Hokage stood from her desk, pulling three smaller Chūnin flak jackets from underneath her desk for them to be gifted with. Ibiki presented Shikamaru with his, Anko presented hers to Mimi and Genma to Amari.
"Good work, kiddo," he praised, ruffling her hair. "Your parents would be proud of you."
She bowed her head. "Thank you, Genma-sensei."
"Keep in mind the qualities of a leader. You may be Chūnin now, but you three still have a long way to go to prove yourselves," Ibiki reminded roughly.
"Ah, go easy on them, Ibiki," Anko said, grinning like a fiendish cat at the man. "Let the squirts celebrate a little! You're the one who gave them a glowing review after all."
"Fine," he replied flatly.
The big, scary and scarred leader of Torture and Interrogation had a soft heart all along. Who knew?
Amari tried the new jacket on, but quickly realized quite the concerning and embarrassing problem.
"Uh, do you have a size smaller? This is really big on me."
And heavy for a piece of clothing, likely from the materials used to protect the wearer from blades and explosions. She could handle that. Not the size difference. If her fuchsia top was two sizes too big, this jacket was at least three. The kunoichi could tuck her arms inside with a jug of ice cream and still have room to spare.
Realizing the attention of the room was on her, and how goofy she looked—like a tiny child trying on their parent's clothes—Amari began to shrink on herself, eyes falling and cheeks tinting pink.
The only person to show her an ounce of sympathy to her plight was Shizune, who looked at her with sympathy and understanding. Everyone else didn't bother to hide their amused smirks or grins. No one, not even her loyal cousin. Not even the Hokage could hide the quirk of her lips.
"Th- There is a smaller size, right?"
"That's our smallest size, actually," Tsunade informed.
Amari's shoulders, body and head sank in despair. Dark clouds formed over her head, from which bolts of violent lightning cracked as rain poured on top of her.
Stupid growth spurt. Why did she have to be small?
Mimi, Aoko and Anko shared in vigorous cackles at her expense. They were practically falling on top of each other, the big jerks.
Genma offered an amused but comforting pat on the head. "You'll grow into it one day," he tried to sound reassuring. It was hard to believe his sincerity when she could hear the stupid grin on his face.
"Shika…am I going to be small forever?"
"You'll hit a growth spurt one day, 'Risu."
"I'm thirteen."
"You're a late bloomer."
"What if I never become a woman?"
That question possibly killed Anko, Mimi and Aoko. They were still laughing, of course. Faces red, sucking in oxygen and grabbing at their sides, they looked alive and sounded alive by all means. But she was pretty sure they were dead. Or soon would be from laughter.
It only deepened her despair.
"What even made you think that?"
"A mean Old Man said I was pretty tiny for my age. Said I should be worried I won't become a woman," she explained in a despair consumed mumble.
"Ignore the idiot." She'd love to hear him say that to Zabuza Momochi and not quake in his sandals. "Height doesn't dictate if you're a woman or not. Besides, that jacket would only get in the way of your tantō. For your battle style it's not worth it."
She nodded in defeat. "Thanks, Shika."
"Anytime. Come on, I'm sure the Hokage has work to do, and I'm sure our parents and teams would like to know we got promoted."
"Oh man!" Anko exhaled, grinning from ear to ear. "Thanks for the laugh, Shortcake. I think we all needed that."
"My pleasure," she mumbled, chin still tucked to her chest.
A rough hand ruffled her hair. "Ah, you're worrying too much. I mean, you don't think Lady Tsunade was born looking like that, do you?" The Snake Mistress leaned into the dark clouds with a merciless curl to her lips. "Rumors are she had a flatter chest than you."
Something splintered. Amari did not know what it was, nor did she want to know, far too afraid and exceptionally mortified by the shameless woman whispering such salacious details in her ear.
Anko continued, unafraid of the Hokage hissing threats to her from behind a blush while planning a certain Toad Sage's death beneath her breath.
"Your mom and I didn't have huge busts when we were your age either, you know."
It was at that moment the shameless woman decided, with one arm wrapped around Amari's neck and her busty chest mere centimeters from brushing against the young kunoichi's face—through the mesh of which she could see Anko's dark-colored bra and contained cleavage in brain-melting detail—to grope her own chest as evidence to her next point.
"Now I can barely contain my chest and Kurenai's more woman than any man can handle!"
Oh kami, she was dying. Slowly. Sadistically. Exquisitely. But she wouldn't die alone. Shikamaru and Mimi were fated to die with her. And so were Izumo, Kotetsu and Genma. They would all die here together.
A small consolation, she supposed.
"Anko, don't forget you're talking to children," Ibiki chided lightly, smirking sadistically at the various shades of embarrassment the trio portrayed.
It wasn't their fault Anko wore a mesh bodysuit that left nothing to the imagination!
"They're teenagers, Ibiki. Inoichi would need to purge his own mind if he had a look in their heads," she grinned, lightly tapping Amari's temple.
"Have your fun then. I have other business to attend to." Ibiki bowed to the Hokage before departing.
The raindrops of her pseudo-rainstorm were evaporating on impact with her burning face. It'd be merciful if someone ended her misery now, however…
"Chin up, Shortcake! You'll grow into your chest sooner or later!" Anko clapped her on the shoulder.
Somehow her shameless words were encouraging. But Amari was pretty sure she was past the halfway mark on her journey to rejoin her family and Ryu. Was this how she would die? Not in battle against some insanely powerful opponent, but via Anko's unabashed talk about her meager, adolescent chest size?
What a tragic defeat for Amaririsu Yūhi.
"Uh, anyway," Mimi cleared her throat awkwardly and, after lightly nudging Anko away, wrapped an arm around the younger kunoichi hiding inside her jacket. "Let's go you two. Before this gets more awkward," she added under her breath.
"Way ahead of you." Shikamaru turned on his heel and didn't bother to dismiss himself properly. That troublesome proctor, talking so brazenly about woman subjects and groping herself in front of so many men and him of all people. What a drag!
Amari couldn't function properly. She barely registered Mimi guiding her out of the room as her head and body attempted to tuck and hide in the overly large jacket like a turtle.
The whole way they felt Anko's grin on their backs.
At that moment, a strange premonition came over Amari, one that warned her that this wouldn't be the last time Anko's sense of humor nearly killed her. And that frightened her more than the Akatsuki and Orochimaru combined.
Once the door shut behind them, Shikamaru and Mimi sighed in relief.
"Let's never speak about that again," her cousin said.
"I second that," Mimi agreed. Incoherent mumbles was all Amari could form. "I'll take that as agreement."
"Hmm. Based on the flustered state of my newly promoted student, I'd guess Anko is up to her usual antics again."
The trio collectively looked to their right at the cool voice, and the silver-haired man it belonged to.
"Oh, hey Kakashi-sensei," Shikamaru greeted.
Kakashi raised a hand up in greeting. "Hey. So, Anko?"
"Yeah," two of the three sighed. The third could only nod rapidly.
"Do I want to kno—"
"No!" all three interrupted as quickly as they could, Amari all but squeaking out her answer.
Kakashi nodded at the flustered trio. "Okay."
He knew better. With Anko involved, his worst fears were only a paltry comparison to what she could cook up.
"Anyway, congratulations!" He eye smiled at them. "You each displayed your talents as shinobi and as leaders during and after the Exams. On one hand I suppose the promotion doesn't change anything. You three already stood as the leaders of your generation. Together you've inspired your peers and helped guide them through the Exams, the Invasion and the days since."
Kakashi opened his eye. "But, on the other hand, this promotion changes a lot for you three. You're no longer rookie Genin. You now hold a greater responsibility to your comrades and the Leaf when you are on missions. And the road you are on only gets tougher from here on out. Are you ready for that?"
The trio sobered from their embarrassment.
"We have to be," Shikamaru answered. "Like you said, Kakashi-sensei, we all hold a greater responsibility on our shoulders as Chūnin. Our only choices are to step up or step aside, and I doubt these troublesome girls will step aside. Guess that means I'll have to step up too."
"Can't get cocky or lazy now. Hard work is the only way we're ever going to be ready for the future. But hard work is Team Guy's specialty, right Aoko?"
Aoko barked in agreement.
"Doesn't matter how tough the road is going to get. I won't let down the people who entrusted their lives and the future to me," Amari said.
Kakashi nodded and smiled at them. "Good answers. All I have left to say is I'm proud of each of your growth. The Will of Fire burns brightly in all three of you, and it is that fire that will illuminate the path towards the future and inspire your peers to walk beside you. Keep it up."
"We will," Shikamaru said.
"Good. Amari and I need to speak privately for a moment, so you two go celebrate while you can. No doubt you'll be busy sooner than you think."
"Yeah, promotions mean more work. What a pain. Later, 'Risu."
"See you around, Amari."
"See you guys later," she bid her farewell.
"You know, it's kind of hilarious that you got promoted, Slacker," Mimi spoke as she and Shikamaru walked away. "After all that hard work you did to not get promoted, you still ended up a Chūnin."
"Don't remind me," he sighed. "Man, why couldn't she just promote you and 'Risu? Why did I have to get lumped into this too? It's all such a pain."
Kakashi chuckled. "His heart isn't as invested in his complaints anymore."
"He'll blame me for that, I'm sure," Amari giggled.
"You do have an influence on him, and your peers." His voice became serious again. "Whether you realize it or not, your hard work and dedication have served as inspiration to Team Seven, Eight and Ten, as well as Team Guy. They're working harder than ever to follow the example you set.
"Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke all look to you as inspiration in some way. And they aren't alone. Shikamaru's motivation, Hinata's grit, Ino's new focus, Zabuza's change of heart, Princess Koyuki's courage, the bond you formed with Haku, Hikari and Mimi; your actions and your spirit touch all those you encounter. It's a special gift of yours.
"You've grown by leaps and bounds since we found you in that forest, as a shinobi and as a person. I'm proud of you."
She blushed and smiled shyly, eyes lowering as her heart skipped a few beats. To hear those words from her mentor, the man she saw as a father figure, stripped away the kunoichi in her and left only the little girl behind.
"Thank you, Kakashi-sensei."
"You don't need to thank me. You earned it."
Amari shook her head. "No, I do. I've only grown so much because I've had people like you to help pick me up when I fell down. After the Akatsuki's infiltration, the Land of Snow and Sandayū…you had legitimate reasons to question my judgement, my abilities and my emotional state. But you encouraged me. You believed in me."
She bowed low. "Thank you, Kakashi-sensei, for always being there to guide me when I lose my way."
His gentle gloved hand patted her head. "You're welcome, Amari. And thank you."
"For what?" she asked as she came up from her bow.
He eye smiled at her. "One day I'll tell you."
"Troublesome adult," she said with a smile. The smile fell. "Will I still be a member of Team Seven?"
"Eventually you'll be leading your own team. Don't worry. Lady Tsunade may have promoted you three, but she's a cautious woman. You three won't be sent on A-rank missions with shinobi you aren't familiar with. In all likelihood, she'll keep you leading your teams or you'll lead teams of your peers on missions."
"Oh, that makes sense."
"Speaking of missions, Team Seven will be deploying to the border with the Sand tomorrow. I'll be there to help, but I want you to use this mission to gain more experience as a leader. All right?"
Amari nodded. "Okay. Oh, I have a letter for you."
"You mean this letter?" he asked, pulling out the Mizukage stamped letter from his pouch. "Atsuko met me when I returned. I'll read it as soon as I'm done debriefing from my last mission. Did Haku offer any hints on how the first was received?"
"He said she was very pleased."
"Phew," he sighed. "Hehe, I was almost worried there."
"Only almost?" she teased.
"Of course," he replied cooly.
Amari rolled her eye. "I'm going to head home and hang this jacket up. It's only going to get in the way of my tantō anyways."
Leaving the Hokage Tower behind her, Amari returned home, where she found her mother already waiting for her, a knowing smile on her lips.
The blue-haired girl mustered up a harmless glare. "You knew."
"I had a hunch when Shikamaru arrived," she replied with her smile still in place. Kneeling down, Kurenai wrapped her arms around Amari in a warm embrace. "I am so proud of you, little one. You keep growing up right before my eyes."
Amari returned the embrace, nuzzling her mother. "I'll always be your little one, though."
Her mother's body trembled with a short laugh. "True." Lips pressed against her temple before her mother relinquished her hold and stood up. "Before I leave, how about we go out for celebratory ice cream?"
"Yes!" she cheered, pumping a fist. "I'll go get changed!"
In a blink Amari vanished up the stairs and into her room.
"No Body Flickering in the house, little one!" her mother scolded through a laugh.
"Sorry!" she called back.
But could she be blamed for her excitement? This was celebratory ice cream they were talking about! The treat of the heavens!
She quickly hung her flak jacket up in her closet, removed her ninja tools and returned down the stairs with a skip in her step. Her mother watched her with love and amusement before ushering the excited girl out of the house to the Leaf's best ice cream shop—a prestigious and well-earned title in Amari's opinion.
Every bite of the sweet and enchanting cold treat was savored by the Nara. Each cold bite renewing the smile on her face as she and her mother spoke of everything and nothing—missions, her promotion, the delicate art of picking ones cup of ice cream, love, being a late-bloomer, books they were reading, her interaction with Anko…
Kurenai pinched the bridge of her nose and shut her eyes. "Anko," she chided the air.
Amari, all but hiding her red face in her bowl of ice cream, grimaced. "Why did she do that when my face was… And there were men around! She almost killed me! Dead. There. Right in the Hokage office!" she squeaked in a whisper.
Her mother laughed lightly. She groaned and slammed her forehead against the counter.
"Mommmm! You're laughing at my death!" she whined.
A finger poked her side, making her squeak. Then another, coaxing a squeak then a giggle out of her. Forgetting her spoon and bowl, Amari turned in her chair and tried to snatch her mother's hand. The Jōnin proved too quick and masterful, breaking through her defenses, capturing her daughter's hands and poking her relentlessly until she was a giggling mess begging for a truce.
Kurenai took the offer and poked her in the forehead. "You sound very alive to me, little one."
"I sure felt like I was dying."
"You'll be fine." Taking a bite of her ice cream, her mother savored the sweet before continuing. "It may be hard for you to notice, but you are growing, little one. For instance, you don't have to stand on your toes to reach the cabinets anymore."
"I…don't?"
She swore she had. Or did. But when she thought about it…
"Tell me again why you went shopping for new clothes recently?"
"Because my old clothes…were too tight and short on me. I thought I accidentally shrank them in the dryer."
"Because you're certain you'll be short forever?" her mother teased. "You won't be. Trust me, I've been in your position before. Puberty started for you while I was only your guardian; it could last another two to three years for you."
Amari scooped a spoonful of ice cream. "Puberty is troublesome," she said with her spoon in her mouth.
"Certain aspects of it are, yes."
"…Her words were strangely encouraging."
Kurenai chuckled. "Anko would say that it's a part of her charm."
"Charm is…a word for it." The smile and look her mother gave her left her red. "Wh- what?"
"You're growing up too fast."
"Wai- wait! That's not what I meant!"
"Mmhm."
"Mom!" she whined.
"It's nothing to be embarrassed by, little one."
"But that isn't what I meant!"
"Mmhm. Your ice cream is melting."
"…Troublesome adult."
Kurenai looked quite satisfied with herself, smiling and laughing at her flustered daughter.
Still, although embarrassing, the good-natured teasing was enjoyable. It felt like forever since they last were able to sit down and spend time together as mother and daughter. Amari scooted her chair closer to her mom just to be as physically close as possible, hoping to bridge the divide created by the consistent missions separating them. But the action was altogether unneeded. Appreciated, yes, but not necessary.
Just being together was enough to bridge the divide.
Still, these little moments were theirs to savor. Like heavenly ice cream, no matter how large or small her scoop was, she promised to appreciate every moment of it.
The light chime of the bell hanging at the door drew the attention of Kurenai and Amari away from their ice cream to the new arrival. Amari beamed at the man. "Uncle Shikaku, I didn't know you had a sweet tooth," she greeted.
Her uncle smirked, stuffing his hands back into his pockets as he strolled causally over to the group. "No one has a sweet tooth as big as you do, 'Risu. That's like expecting someone to love ramen more than Naruto."
"Hehehe!" she giggled.
"Greetings, Kurenai. Forgive my intrusion. I know you two have both been in and out of the Village consistently as of late."
"There's nothing to apologize for, Shikaku," her mother assured. "Take a seat. There's plenty of room here for another."
"Thank you, but I unfortunately don't have a lot of time to spare." He met Amari's eye briefly. "Has Kakashi filled you in on your mission yet?"
Amari, who had been excitedly kicking her legs back and forth, halted all movement for a neutral expression. "No. He said we'd talk about it later."
"Hm. He likely didn't want to hold you up too long so you and Kurenai could spend time together," Shikaku considered. "I'll leave him to tell you the news then. Stay sharp on that mission, 'Risu."
"I always do."
"Anyway," her uncle continued, stepping closer to her, "I have a gift for you, in honor of your promotion to Chūnin."
From his pocket he pulled out a small jewelry box and opened it with a flick of his thumb to reveal two silver hoop earrings. "Normally, when the next generation heads of the Nara, Yamanaka and Akimichi Clans reach Chūnin, a member of the Sarutobi Clan will present them with special earrings and have them take an oath. It's an old tradition, and the earrings show the recipients are considered adults among the Clan."
"But isn't Shika the next Clan Head?" Amari asked, confused and honored equally.
"Yes. Don't worry," he chuckled, "you don't need to swear any oaths. Your fate isn't strictly bound to the Nara Clan. Yoshino and I want you to walk your own path, 'Risu. I know that would be your mother's and father's wish.
"These earrings have a special meaning beyond our traditions. It is a gift passed down from a mother to a daughter."
Amari's eye widened. "Mama left these for me?"
"Yes. I'm not asking you to replace the earrings Kurenai gave you. Those, too, are a gift from a loving mother to her daughter and should not be discarded."
"I- I would never!"
"Good," Shikaku nodded. He took one of her hands into his, opened it and placed the earring box into it, shutting her hand gently over the gift. "Wear these with pride, little shadow, so that she may walk with you on this path you are on."
Amari hopped out of her chair and hugged her arms around her uncle's torso. "I will. Thank you."
"You are welcome, little shadow. Take care on your next mission, 'Risu. You too, Kurenai."
"I will," Kurenai said, smiling warmly at the uncle and niece.
Her uncle patted her head. "And don't forget to visit Yoshino when you can, otherwise she'll come find you. Trust me, you don't want that," he chuckled.
Amari giggled and nodded into his chest. "I know. I know. Just don't tell her I said that."
"Your secret is safe with me."
Shikaku left soon after. The last words she heard as he exited were some mutterings about the troublesome work he had to go complete.
After finishing up their ice cream, Kurenai and Amari left the ice cream shop and took what little time her mother had left to get her ears pierced with her new earrings, having them positioned behind her original hoops.
Her mother left afterwards to meet with Team Eight for their mission.
Left alone, Amari decided she had one very important person to visit before she was swept up by training, missions or other matters. She first stopped by the Yamanaka Flower Shop to grab some amaryllis flowers then returned to Ryu's grave, replacing her old, dried and dead flowers with the new ones.
"Hey Ryu," she greeted him as she sat down. "I have some big updates to tell you, Shisui and my parents about."
Explaining their mission to the Land of Tea and her new promotion took her some time, but she was happy to give her friend and family a positive update for once. And as she sat there, speaking in quiet and peaceful tones, she could feel his and her family's pride for her new promotion.
Eventually she left the gravestone behind to meet with her team. They gathered at the bridge with the red Torii's. After more congratulations, and a little whining from Naruto when he learned Shikamaru was promoted despite forfeiting, Kakashi debriefed them on the mission they'd be undertaking tomorrow.
The mission would take them to their shared border with the Sand, where they and a team sent by their allies would join together to eliminate a bandit base made up of rogue shinobi. Chūnin or higher were their expected threat, so nothing out of the ordinary for Team Seven.
"This mission," Kakashi continued, looking between his four students, "is important to both of our Villages, beyond disbanding this group of rogue shinobi on our shared border. As you all know, the Sand offered an unconditional surrender to the Leaf after the Invasion and formally apologized for the attack. But it will take more than that for the bond of trust between our Villages to reform."
"So, this mission is the Sand's and the Leaf's first step towards fully renewing the trust they severed," Amari stated. "That's why this mission is an A-rank rather than a B-rank. The danger of our enemies may pose should make us cautious, but it's the political side of it that raised the ranking to such importance." She hummed. "This is why Uncle Shikaku told me to stay sharp."
"This new bond of trust with the Sand is still too fresh to be concrete," Sasuke continued off of her. "If the mission fails, the alliance may fail too."
"And the other Nations may see our Villages as too weak, spurring another attack on the Leaf or even the Sand," Sakura said. "It's just as important for us to renew our bond with the Sand as it is to show a united front on our border to deter the Stone or Cloud from pushing boundaries."
"Man, this mission is a lot more complicated than I thought it'd be," said Naruto. "I thought we were just taking down a bunch of rogue ninjas, but this is some serious stuff. We can't afford to let this mission fail."
"Exactly," Kakashi nodded. "It's of the utmost importance we succeed. That's why I want you all in top form tomorrow. We'll be leaving early tomorrow, and depending on how smoothly this mission goes we'll be gone for at least a week, so make your preparations tonight."
"Got it," they replied.
After their eventual dismissal, Amari returned home that evening to prepare her gear for the mission tomorrow and then to pick up where she last left off in her fūinjutsu training.
Today she had taken another step forward on her path.
Tomorrow would be her first mission as a Chūnin.
She hoped to earn her place as a guardian of the Leaf.
Review Response to Guest: The Hokage is aware of the letters being sent, and though you are right that Ibiki couldn't forbid her or have much of a say in it because of that, he wasn't in the loop on the letters, so that was the first time he was encountering it. It's a very small circle who know. He's also a cautious man. Considering the Mist's history, his reaction and caution is warranted. And, as we saw, he's willing to give Amari a chance to prove herself.
Naruto using the Nine-tails chakra would've been funny. It's possible later on, when he and Kurama are on better terms, that the Nine-tails will be able to join in their training sessions.
The secret test was putting Amari, Shikamaru and Mimi in separate situations where they had to lead tough missions without backup from their superiors. They had to prove themselves as competent leaders and earn their promotion.
Yep. Shikamaru got promoted, too.
Thank you for the review!