Chapter 112
Building Alliances: Troublesome Politics and Mysterious Disappearances
"And that's pretty much it. Orochimaru's goons attacked us a few days after I returned," Amari finished her tale.
And a few days prior to it, the kunoichi thought, we had our joint mission with the Sand at our shared border. Before that I was in the Land of Tea. I've become a seasoned traveler, crossing Nations and worlds.
Amari scratched her cheek lightly. "I feel like I've been jumping from one fire to the next since the Land of Tea. These last few weeks have been…eventful, to say the least. Also a bit troublesome."
"No kidding." Shikamaru shook his head, hand reaching up to rub the back of his neck in what seemed to be the sudden onset of secondhand exhaustion. "Sheesh. I had kinda hoped you were just pulling all our legs, 'Risu. Guess I should've known better. A space-time accident? Acclimatizing to a different world? The existence of other worlds similar and yet utterly different than ours? It's all such a drag and I'm not even the one who lived through it."
"Not all of it, Slacker."
Mimi's grin was pure evil. The gleam in her sapphire eyes was that of a sadistic older sibling who had acquired blackmail of the highest degree. Dread clutched Amari's heart and sent it plummeting into her stomach with a terrible, sloshing crash.
"While we were all frozen in time, or whatever the mind-melting explanation is, Amari was having plenty of fun. A special kind of fun. One might dare to call it…intimate."
Amari's face, previously fair-colored, was now afflicted by the steady spread of red flushing over her cheeks and down her neck. She felt warm, feverish. But it wasn't a flu or the result of an infection, unfortunately. For if it was, then the infection had spread airborne to the majority of the girls and boys currently gathered in the hospital room through Mimi's reminder and deeper insinuation of not-so-innocent intimacy.
Oh, merciful kami. Strike her down here and now. Was this how Midoriya felt when she teased him? Was this divine punishment for insinuating Class 1-A was her…her…harem? Or for the impure thoughts and deviant imagination Nemuri fostered with her guidance and advice?
Mimi wasn't through yet. She placed a hand on her hip, grinning from ear to ear, a sadistic glee twinkling in her eyes as she turned her head to look at Shikamaru.
"Your ears aren't clogged, are they, Slacker? Don't tell me you missed the monumental moment where sweet and innocent Amari played footsie and had her first kiss with that Igarashi girl. This is your cousin's first lover! You should be paying attention."
Lo- Lover?
It…it wasn't inaccurate, she supposed. She had loved Yukiko—still loved her. And Yukiko loved her back. They expressed their feelings and shared in intimate kisses, caresses and their games of footsie without being married, so that did technically make them lovers. Innocent young lovers, but lovers nonetheless. However, the implication and insinuation behind Mimi's declaration was far less innocent and far more…explicit.
Initially, the spread of her blush started out in splotches, but Mimi overachieved and unleashed a sea of red from the top of Amari's head to the bottom of her neck. Steam was practically rising off the Nara girl.
Shikamaru, who she noticed was rubbing the back of his neck in discomfort, showed signs of a light blush on his cheek. He couldn't be more uncomfortable.
Their reactions somehow made Mimi's grin even more sadistic. "Can you believe it? Amari was smooching with someone from another world. We're talking full lip to lip contact and tongue wrestling. She was able to describe that Igarashi girl's scent. Tickles, pokes, caresses, kisses. They were one step away from ripping each other's clothes off and making sweet love on Igarashi's couch."
Amari's heart stopped. Jumped repeatedly. Then stopped again.
Finally, it started to pound rapidly, reviving the girl who was certain she had experienced a heart-attack and died.
"Mi- Mimiiii!" Amari shrieked.
"Well, this conversation has taken a mature turn," Shino observed stoically.
Kiba and Naruto made choking sounds. Sasuke flattened his lips in a disapproving frown that reminded Amari of Itachi. Sakura, Ino, Tenten, Hinata, Chōji, Lee and—to Amari's surprise—Temari all blushed various shades of pink or red. Some worse than others.
At the sight of Hinata's blush and her squeak of surprise, Neji shook his head, shooting a stern glare at his teammate as he said:
"If you wish to be so vulgar, do it while others aren't present."
"Vulgar?" Mimi chuckled. "Don't be such a prude, Sir Superiority. That wasn't even close to vulgar."
"Maybe not by your standards," he scoffed. "As a Leaf shinobi and member of the Inuzuka Clan, you should show more decorum in front of guests from allied Nations."
Mimi rolled her eyes. Aoko barked. "Yeah, you said it, Aoko. He's still a stick in the mud."
Neji sniffed but said nothing else.
"Make…sweet love?" Gaara repeated the phrase, as if tasting a new type of food from a different Land for the first time and wasn't sure whether he liked it or not. "Isn't love on its own already sweet? I didn't think you could make someone love you by force."
Kankurō cleared his throat. "Uh… You can't, Gaara," he explained awkwardly. "And you shouldn't ever do that. That isn't what she meant."
"It isn't?"
"No. She meant…. Well… Hey, Temari. You're the oldest. Why don't you explain it?"
"What?" Temari's blush grew in intensity. "No way! You're the one who corrected him! You tell him!"
Gaara looked between his siblings in confusion. They both couldn't have appeared more terrified and embarrassed at the prospect of having the talk with their younger brother.
"Mimi was teasing Amaririsu by mentioning she nearly shared a mature and intimate moment with Yukiko Igarashi, Gaara," Hikari explained patiently, clinically as if it were the least embarrassing subject matter to discuss in front of strangers.
"A mature and intimate… Oh. I see." Gaara nodded, his expression returning to its neutral state. Clearly the subject matter didn't bother or disturb him either. "I've prolonged her teasing by mistaking the meaning of Mimi Inuzuka's words. My apologies."
"Although Mimi is teasing without malice, I believe 'tis nothing to be ashamed of. Intimacy is part of being in love, no?"
"Mm," Gaara hummed in agreement.
"Very true, Hikari," Atsuko dipped her beak in approval. "Consensual intimacy is never something to be ashamed of. But, as you can imagine, it is quite embarrassing for my shy and innocent companion to be at the mercy of Mimi's teasing in front of all of you. I, however, find it utterly delightful."
"Tra- traitor!" Amari cried out.
Atsuko hummed in amusement. Hikari smiled and giggled.
"So, Slacker, did you catch all that?"
"I heard, not that I wanted to," Shikamaru sighed, lowering his hand from his neck. He leveled Mimi with a flat expression.
"If you're going to say things like that, do it when you and her are alone. I don't want to hear it. Also," he looked around at the gathered group, "it wasn't our business to pry every single detail about 'Risu and Yukiko Igarashi's time together out of her. But most of you couldn't resist, could you?
"I expected it from Ino and Sakura, no offense." By the annoyed expressions taking form on Ino and Sakura's faces, they were taking all of the offense. "And for the likes of Chōji, Lee, Tenten, Hikari and Hinata it was just innocent curiosity, which isn't a problem. But the rest of you?"
He eyed everyone except Neji, Gaara, Shino, Sasuke and Kankurō in condemnation.
"Some of you, like Naruto and Kiba, I'm not surprised by the immaturity I witnessed."
"Hey!" the pair yelled in unison.
"What's that supposed to mean about us, Shikamaru?!" Ino demanded.
"You were being nosy, Ino," Shikamaru stated flatly. "As for Sakura, she's a romantic like you and 'Risu, so it wasn't surprising she wanted to hear the story."
"Oh, when you put it like that…" Sakura's expression shifted neutral.
Ino was incandescent with fury. "If we're both romantics, how does that make me the only nosy one then?!"
"You were practically steaming with jealousy that 'Risu had her first kiss before you. You're still steaming," Shikamaru pointed out casually.
"Gaahhhhh!" Ino clasped her hands on her head, threading her fingers into her blonde hair, which was worn out of her usual ponytail. "I can't believe she had such a romantic first kiss before me! This isn't over yet, Amari!" Ino jabbed a finger at her. "I refuse to lose to you when it comes to matters of love and being a kunoichi!"
Amari sighed, her skin finally close to its normal shade. Having rivals could be a real pain. She wanted to point out it wasn't a competition, and that rushing to get her first kiss just to say she had it would make it less meaningful. But it was too much trouble to argue with Ino.
It was embarrassing enough having to explain my time with Yukiko in front of everyone. She'll figure it out. Hopefully.
"And I already know what you're up to, Mimi," said her cousin.
"Who, me?" Mimi's grin hadn't fallen once. "I don't know what you're talking about, Slacker. I'm an innocent romantic."
"Uh-huh. Sure. Who surprised me the most was you, Temari."
Her cousin half-turned to face Temari, who was leaning against the wall across from the hospital beds beside Gaara.
The Suna kunoichi narrowed her eyes dangerously. "And what's that supposed to mean?"
"You asked more questions than I expected you to. I didn't think you'd be interested to hear more about 'Risu's and Yukiko's relationship, or romance as a whole, honestly. It doesn't seem like your speed."
"What are you implying, you lazy good-for-nothing?"
Temari's murderous teal eyes gave Shikamaru pause. He hummed in discomfort and looked away.
"Honestly, I'm with Shikamaru on this one, Temari," Kankurō spoke up, handing off the picture of Class 1-A, the teachers, The Big Three and Amari off to Gaara.
During her explanation of the other world, Kurenai had stopped by to check in on the two Uchiha and also to learn the reason for the massive gathering of children she sensed. Amari had broken off in her story to ask if her mother could retrieve the picture so she could show it to the group, to prove this wasn't all one strange story she concocted.
By the amused expression on her mother's face when she returned—who she hadn't been able to explain the story to as of yet—their discussion later would unquestionably leave her a blushing, smoldering mess of embarrassed goo. Indeed, her mother was certain to make that point known before she left.
"We'll discuss the other picture I saw later, little one." Kurenai's smile was devious.
"Ri- right…"
Gaara examined the picture closely. Temari eyed the picture from above, utilizing her greater height to see what all the fuss was about without ever touching the picture herself.
A few moments later, when Gaara handed it to her, she shoved it somewhat gently into Shikamaru's chest without a second glance, as not to break property that wasn't hers.
"Sheesh," Shikamaru exhaled under his breath. "No need to be so rough. It was just an observation."
"No, it was a stupid assumption. That seems to be your 'speed'."
Kankurō grinned at his sister. "Ah, don't be so hard on him, Temari. Seriously, though, it may have been a few backhanded questions, but I could tell you were pretty curious about first kisses. What's the deal?"
Temari sniffed dismissively, turning her head away. "You don't know what you're talking about. I was just pointing out how irresponsible it was for her to play around without knowing what was going on in our world."
"Sure you were," Kankurō teased.
Temari sent him an incinerating teal glare. Kankurō recoiled slightly, chuckling and smiling nervously as the slightest bead of sweat seemed to form on his face. Gaara crossed his arms over his chest. His soft expression looked to Hikari, settled on the bed beside Amari.
"Irresponsible?" The youngest Sand sibling repeated the word thoughtfully. "It may be. Perhaps love is irresponsible of us as shinobi, as soldiers who face the uncertainty of whether or not we will ever return from a mission. Because should we fall in battle, or should those we love die, there will only be heartbreak left. But to live a life without love, without connections and bonds is a life of cold solitude. It is just mere existence.
"Even should our hearts be broken, as Amaririsu's and Yukiko Igarashi's were, I believe the moments we share with the people we cherish most are worth it. Happiness. Joy. Friendship. Family. Love. Even grief, pain and loss. We should cherish these feelings, not ignore them."
His eyes narrowed slightly. "The Nomu was just an empty shell. A weapon. A monster. Its existence only brought pain to those it encountered."
"Gaara…" Temari pursed her lips.
Gaara glanced up at his sister. "There is nothing shameful about love, Temari," said the youngest Sand sibling. "If you are curious, I'm certain Amaririsu would be willing to speak to you about her experience with Yukiko Igarashi in private."
The hardened kunoichi sputtered, cheeks flushing pink. "Absolutely not!"
"But don't you—"
"We're not talking about this, Gaara! End of discussion!"
Gaara blinked, seemingly confused by his sister's embarrassed outburst.
Amari wasn't. Temari would probably compare asking her of all people for advice of any kind to having her nails ripped out one by one. She had never seen the Suna kunoichi so embarrassed before, though. Not even when she defeated her during the Invasion.
Kankurō snickered at his sister, inadvertently placing a target on himself.
"Is there something funny to you, Kankurō?!" she demanded hotly.
"Uhhhh—"
"Anyway," Shikamaru drawled lazily, "there's something on my mind I think we need to discuss before we all give Sasuke and 'Risu some space."
Her cousin's eyes turned serious as he looked at her. "'Risu, I know Itachi and Aimi's situation is complicated. I'm not really sure how I feel about them, to be honest. But even if you want to save them, that doesn't change the fact they're aligned with the Akatsuki. There's a chance they'll target the Leaf or Sand again; any one of our teams could end up facing them in combat."
"I know," she sighed.
"So, what do you want to do about it?" he asked.
Ironically, Amari asked herself the same question while working towards her encounter with the Nomu. What did she want to do about it? Did she want to lie and replace Itachi and Aimi with All Might, waiting until she was alone with Sasuke, her mother, Kakashi or her uncle to tell them the truth? Or did she bring all of her friends and comrades into the circle of trust?
In the end, she decided on the truth. They needed to know, to understand. And how could they ever understand what Itachi and Aimi were forced to bear if she continued to keep them in the dark?
It wasn't easy to bring them in. Ever since she first entered the Academy Amari had kept secrets from her peers. Slowly, though, circumstances forced her to strip away the veils of half-truths and lies to finally reveal the inescapable truths.
It diverted her story for a long while. She explained the existence of the Foundation and how their current situation came to be before returning to their arrival at the scene of the battlefield.
Now that they knew, now that they were all aware Itachi and Aimi were in a complicated situation, what did she want to do about it? Shikamaru was absolutely right. Any one of their squads could face them in battle, and they wouldn't be aiding them as they aided her against the Nomu. They would be enemies, bearing the sins of the Akatsuki's actions because of their cover, seeking to capture Naruto or Gaara at the orders of their leader.
Nothing about this situation was simple. Not for Itachi and Aimi. Not for her. Not for any of them.
What do I do? What do I say? I know what I want, but…
Amari glanced to the nearby window from beneath her strands of blue hair, out at the Village. She thought of Itachi's words when he and Aimi were first summoned.
"Remember what I told you, Haya."
Itachi's voice was so stoic. It always was. He never seemed to falter no matter how dark or how wrong things were. But in his stoic reply, she sensed distance. Detachment. He was pushing her away, pushing her towards a path he wasn't at the end of.
"This is our path. For you, for Sasuke, for Shisui, we will tread through any darkness regardless of the consequences. Do not concern yourself with our fates." He glanced back at her and Aimi, but his red eyes—barricaded by walls and genjutsu that even she struggled to see through at times—were focused on her. Imploring her to do exactly as he said: Don't think of their fates, don't try to save them. Just leave them behind.
"You know the path you must walk. For the sake of the future, for Shisui's dying wish, you cannot falter here."
But she wanted…
"I want to save them," Amari murmured, reaching up and clasping her pendent in her hand.
Itachi had tried to keep his distance when they first saved her. He had politely told her to abandon them, to banish the memories of their bond and just focus on her path. Keep walking forward. Focus on a future that didn't involve them. But then…
"When Aimi asked you to choose from the path where nothing you love is left or the path where nothing you do is right, you told her you would make your own path. After everything you've just said to us now and to Shisui before, as well as this decision you've made, allow me to ask this one question."
Before that moment, before he interrupted her rambling attempt to tell them she wasn't going to abandon them no matter what he told her, Itachi had been looking out at the city. He stared out at this strange world that wasn't their own, at the horizon of skyscrapers and paved roads beneath the blanket of a slate sky.
She wondered where his thoughts had taken him. Was it about Shisui? The past out of their reach? The uncertain future ahead of them?
Would he cut down her hopeful yearning to save them? Would he ask her what kind of selfish fool was she to think it was possible to change their path and save them when she was only a child?
Amari had said what she needed to say, even if Itachi interrupted it. But…she also wanted him to approve. Needed him to. Because if he didn't…she wouldn't know what to do.
At that moment, he finally turned away from the ledge to look at her.
"Is this the path your heart and eyes have led you to?"
Amari couldn't stop the sharp inhale of breath. Couldn't hide the shock that encompassed her entire being.
It wasn't the question she prepared for. She was prepared for disapproval, for Itachi to keep pushing her away. But he wasn't asking her to reconsider her choice. He wasn't demanding her to turn away and never look back. He was asking her if this was where her heart and eyes had led her. Was this the path she had chosen for herself? Not the path he'd chosen. Not the path he'd tried to force her on as a way to protect what he held precious.
Was this the path her heart and her eyes led her towards?
"This is the path I've chosen," Amari stated confidently, drawing her eyes away from the window back to her cousin. "As their friend, a Leaf kunoichi and the Head of the Uchiha Clan."
Ino, Sakura, Naruto, Chōji, Hinata, Tenten and Lee openly gasped at the news. She sensed the bewilderment of the others, even those who hid it best like Neji and Shino. Shikamaru hummed, digesting the new information. Mimi nodded in approval. Hikari smiled and squeezed her hand warmly.
"The…what?!" Ino gasped.
"You've become the Head of the Uchiha Clan?" Tenten asked, her eyes wide. "Is it official?"
"What about Sasuke?" Kiba asked before she could answer, looking between the two Uchiha. "Wasn't his father the last Clan Head? Shouldn't he technically be the next in line to become the Head of the Uchiha Clan?"
"No," Sasuke answered evenly. "I'm not suited to be the Head of the Uchiha Clan. Amari is. We discussed it after we woke up and came to the unanimous decision to name her the Clan Head. Lady Hokage made it official. I lost in a landslide," he added with smirk.
Amari snorted. "Because you didn't even vote for yourself."
Sasuke shrugged. "Ascending to Head of the Uchiha Clan isn't my path, it never was. You're the one leading the way towards a new future for our Clan and the Leaf; it was entrusted to you by your family and Itachi and Aimi. They entrusted my future to you. So, I'll help you build whatever future you see and stand by your side through everything. It's as simple as that."
Hearing his declaration brought a smile to Amari's lips.
"Not walking the path of an avenger anymore, huh?" Shikamaru held Sasuke's gaze. His question was rhetorical, and nuanced with unspoken words.
"No," answered Sasuke without blinking.
"Huh."
They left their unspoken conversation at that. Shikamaru's eyes returned to Amari.
"Well, I can't say I'm surprised. Congratulations, 'Risu."
"Thanks, Shika."
"Still, about Itachi and Aimi…"
"I don't expect everyone to approve," Amari said. "And I am well aware that until I'm strong enough to save them, Itachi and Aimi will be Akatsuki members causing who-knows-what kind of damage and harm to our world."
She shook her head. "I'm not asking any of you to try to save them on my behalf. And should any of you ever encounter them, I'm begging you not to even mention that you know any of this truth I've shared with you."
She looked to Naruto. Then Gaara.
"Treat them as your enemies. Defend yourselves. Do everything you can to give them cause enough to retreat, and they will. They don't want the Akatsuki to succeed, but they will do whatever they must to maintain their cover. They will walk through darkness and accept whatever judgement and consequences they must so we don't have to; that's the sacrifice they're making.
"So please, do not share this information with anyone outside of this room. Do not speak of it. Forget it, if you must. This is my burden to bear."
"Our burden," Sasuke corrected.
"Right," she nodded. It was a soft reminder, but a necessary one. I can't forget we're in this together. Trying to bear this on my own will only lead to failure.
"This is a matter of the Uchiha Clan," the kunoichi continued. "So, for all intents and purposes, Itachi and Aimi are still all of your enemies. They're still a danger to all of you, so treat them as such. Just because I want to save them doesn't mean I want to lose any of you."
She was thankful and relieved to see Gaara nod. "I understand. We will not speak a word of this to our Village, Amaririsu. You have my word."
Temari frowned. "Are you sure about this, Gaara?"
"Yes." He looked at his siblings. "I will beg you both as well to keep this information about Itachi and Aimi Uchiha to yourselves. Please. Should they personally attack our Village, we will defend our people and the Sand from them, even if we must destroy their bodies to protect what we hold precious. If they do not attack, then I will leave their fate to Amaririsu and Sasuke.
"However," he looked to Amari, "it will not be easy for the people of our world to forgive Itachi and Aimi Uchiha with what pain the Akatsuki intends to unleash onto all of us. Are you prepared to bear that burden and confront the hatred they cause for them?"
Itachi's lips upturned in a genuine smile. "Then follow it, Haya. Trust in your heart and eyes, just as Shisui told you. Carve your path; show us the future you seek to build."
"Until then, 'Tachi and I will stick together," Aimi said, smiling warmly. "We'll tread through the darkness until the day your light finally catches up to us. So blaze a trail, my little sweet. We'll be waiting for you."
"Yes," the Head of the Uchiha Clan nodded sharply. "Even if I have to apologize to every villager in every Nation. I'll tell their story once they're safely in our custody. I'll make the world see them as the heroes they are."
Gaara hummed and shut his eyes. "I see. Then Itachi and Aimi are truly fortunate to have a friend as loyal as you, Amaririsu. We will keep this secret."
"Thank you, Gaara." She smiled. "But you and Hikari are also my friends. I would do the same for any of you."
The youngest Sand sibling gave a short nod of appreciation.
"And that is why you are the Leaf's greatest treasure," Hikari said, her smile as warm as the sands of the Land of Wind's desert.
"I don't know," Kiba spoke up, frowning thoughtfully. "I mean, Itachi and Aimi hurt Kurenai-sensei badly by taking you out, Amari. I don't know if I can forgive them for that."
"You don't have to," Sasuke was the one to answer. He flicked his eyes around the entire room. "This isn't about forgiveness. As long as you understand what happened, why it happened and Amari's goal to fix it, that's all that matters."
"Don't think of it as helping Itachi and Aimi if that bothers you, Kiba," said Shino. "Think of it as helping our comrade and friend. Besides, it is likely Kurenai-sensei is aware of Amari's goal to save them. If she doesn't oppose to it, why should we? She is Amari's mother, after all."
"Yeah. I hear ya," the Inuzuka dipped his chin once. Akamaru yipped in solidarity.
"To be quite honest," Neji spoke up, "the situation isn't as complicated as we're all making it out to be. Itachi and Aimi remain dangerous enemies to the Leaf and Sand at this very moment. Presently, none of us possess the strength to battle and win against them, so avoiding them is our best option. Sasuke and Amari won't be chasing after them recklessly the moment they are free from the hospital. They are also aware Orochimaru is somewhere out there seeking to ensnare them in one of his traps."
Amari and Sasuke nodded along in agreement. He was right. Even when they were fully healed, they couldn't go rushing out the gates in a reckless and foolish attempt to bring Itachi and Aimi home.
They weren't ready. Not yet. They had to keep training. Keep preparing. Keep blazing a trail on their path towards the future.
"There's also the distinct possibility the Stone will invade to build their Shinobi Empire," Neji continued. "Frankly, Itachi and Aimi aren't our main priority. We must focus on what we can do now. Those who are medically cleared must continue training, continue taking on missions so we are prepared for the battles ahead. Those who cannot must focus on healing before following in the same steps. This is what we can do now. This is our priority. Mimi said it best: War is coming. Maybe not today. Tomorrow. In a week or in a month. But it will find us. We must be ready and united to face that threat."
"So nothing has really changed then," Lee said.
"No," Neji shook his head. "No, you're wrong, Lee. Much has already changed, and there is more change yet to come. The very world we thought we once understood is beginning to shift right before our eyes. And of those changes, there is one that unnerves me more than the Akatsuki and Orochimaru."
The Hyūga boy narrowed his eyes.
"This Foundation organization is responsible for the slaying of one of the most powerful Clans in all of the Leaf. They orchestrated the slaughter, forced Itachi and Aimi Uchiha to stain their hands forever with the blood of their clansmen and family. And yet this organization still lingers within our walls, in the very shadows of our Village. Who is to say they cannot orchestrate another? Will the Hyūga be purged next if we grow inconvenient? Or the Inuzuka? The Aburame? The Nara?"
The other's shifted in discomfort.
"We will not allow them to purge another Clan," Amari vowed. "As long as we maintain this circle of trust, as long as we stand united and forge our way towards a better future, the Foundation will not succeed in their plans. We will stop them."
"I hope you're right," Neji replied.
"Pardon the interruption."
The entire room went still. Grains of tan and black sand streamed forth, floating protectively and dangerously in the air at the sudden newcomers voice. Shikamaru and Mimi hissed curses, spinning around and stumbling back a step into defensive positions. Insects crawled from beneath Shino's sleeves. Kiba, Lee and Naruto jolted out of their beds onto their feet after sharp gasps. Sakura flung onto her feet in front of Chōji and Ino. Temari grabbed for her fan, then hissed when she realized she didn't have it. Kankurō lifted his hands up, prepared to attach chakra threads to the newcomer. Neji and Hinata activated their Byakugan.
The cat-masked Anbu agent, standing in the center of the room, didn't flinch. Sasuke snorted at their comrades. Amari rolled her eyes playfully.
"Easy, everyone," the Nara girl coaxed. "This is the man who is assigned to watching after Sasuke and I. He's trusted by the Hokage, my Uncle Shikaku, Kakashi-sensei and my mom."
"Although your reaction times were quite quick when he revealed his presence. Also incredibly amusing," Atsuko hummed.
"Sheesh," Shikamaru sighed heavily. "You could have warned us before appearing like that."
"About gave me a damn heart attack," Mimi grunted. "And got ground into dust by Gaara and Hikari from the look of it."
The cat-masked Anbu agent turned his head ever so slightly, examining the streams of tan and black sand curling back towards their respective users.
"Perhaps," he said calmly. Confidently. He returned his attention to the gathered group. "My apologies for surprising you all. However, Sasuke and Amaririsu have restricted visitation hours for normal guests, which includes their teammates and you, Shikamaru Nara. Also, their next check-in with the Hokage's assistant will be in ten minutes, so I must ask you all to leave before then."
He vanished a moment later without a trace.
"Well," Shikamaru drew out the word. "You heard the man. I don't know about all of you, but I don't want to make him ask twice. It'd probably be a huge drag."
There was a general agreement among the shinobi, and so the group began to depart. Ino wheeled Chōji out in his wheelchair first, swearing that she was going to train extra hard to catch up and surpass Amari while she was stuck on bedrest. Chōji offered a far less aggressive and far kinder goodbye.
Gaara approached and aided Hikari down from the bed after she bid a warm farewell, promising to visit again before they left; Gaara silently agreed with a nod of his head. Temari followed after her younger brother, stopping at the door briefly to throw over her shoulder:
"Try not to run off anywhere."
"Always have to get the last word in, don't you?" Shikamaru groaned.
"Very funny," Amari replied cooly.
Then waited. Patiently waiting until Temari sniffed and smirked cockily, turning away to exit in triumph over getting the last word. It was then she sprang her ambush.
"By the way, don't be afraid of your romantic feelings, Temari! You should listen to your younger brother! He's very wise! Don't be ashamed of your feelings of love!" she called loudly, even as Temari skittered away.
On purpose.
Kankurō was grinning like a cat. "You're good, Amaririsu."
"I know."
The Sand shinobi followed after his siblings with a wave over his shoulder. Lee, as was his way, was very exuberant in saying farewell, and was followed by Tenten and Neji who offered far less exuberant goodbyes.
Kiba, Akamaru, Hinata and Shino left together. The kunoichi of the group, bearing a bandage over her left eye and bandages and a brace around her right hand, hugged Amari before leaving.
Shikamaru approached next, setting the picture of Class 1-A down in her lap.
"I'll probably be around tomorrow, unless Lady Hokage finds something for me to do," he said. "I'm not sure how I feel about the whole Itachi and Aimi situation; I need to think it over more. But if you're set on saving them, I'll help anyway I can."
Amari turned in her bed and hugged her cousin. "Thank you, Shika. But don't worry about it now. Neji was right—we need to stay focused on our immediate present."
"Yeah, I know," he agreed, wrapping an arm around her. "You did good in that world, 'Risu. Doubt I would've kept it together like you did. But will you please try not to go flying through time and space again, at least not on accident? It'd be a drag without you around."
"I'll do my best," she chuckled. Then hugged him tighter. "Love you, Shika."
"Love you too, troublesome girl."
With the departure of her cousin, Mimi and Aoko left Sasuke's bed to approach hers. The Inuzuka raised her hand out for a fist bump, which Amari reciprocated.
"Take your physical therapy seriously," she said. "You both need it, especially if you don't want problems later in life."
"We know."
"Shizune doesn't allow us to half-ass it," Sasuke added.
"Heh, good. Means she'll be a good teacher for Hinata and me." Mimi turned to depart, but stopped halfway, grinning devilishly. "So, two kisses from a Princess and a whole bunch of smooching with that Igarashi girl, huh? Once again you're the envy of the entire shinobi world, Amari. How does it feel?"
"Mimi!" she groaned, face flushing.
The Inuzuka snickered, turning to walk backwards towards the door. She spread her hands out. "What? I'm just another bystander in this world jealous of your otherworldly charm. And now that you're Head of the Uchiha Clan, it's even more necessary for you to claim us all as your harem! Ha ha!"
The kunoichi groaned, dramatically falling over onto her side away from Mimi to bury her red face into her pillow.
"When I get better…" she warned
"Will you put me in your bowl? Where do I fit in, Lady Amari? Or should I call you Queen Amari?"
"Stop it."
"Mistress Amari? You've got to tell me as the Lady, Queen and Mistress of this harem."
Amari pointed her finger at the door without turning over.
"Out! Or I'll ask Mr. Anbu to throw you out!"
Mimi cackled relentlessly on her way out. A cackle which promised this wasn't the end, not by a longshot.
"Kill me now," the kunoichi groaned into her pillow.
Sakura hid a giggle behind her hand. Sasuke snorted and shook his head. Naruto was snickering at her misfortune.
"Well, we should get going too," Sakura said as she left the bed. "Once Ino is out of the hospital, we'll be training with Lady Tsunade together. Until then I want to keep working hard on learning how to control my Earth Nature chakra."
"And I've gotta get a handle on my Wind Chakra!" Naruto said. Amari groaned in despair. "Huh? Hey, what's wrong, Amari?"
Sasuke snorted again. "You're boasting about training while we're stuck in the hospital. Of course she's going to groan. She's a workaholic stuck doing nothing."
"But that just means you have to work extra hard in your physical therapy so you can train again," Naruto declared passionately. "If you work twice as hard, you'll be out of here twice as fast!"
"I don't think that's how physical therapy works," Amari said, sitting up. "But no use complaining about it. Work extra hard for us."
Naruto grinned. "You got it, Amari!"
"Yeah!" Sakura agreed.
Once everyone was gone and she and Sasuke were left alone again, Amari turned her attention to the photo, holding the frame gently in her hands. She looked upon the faces of Class 1-A, its teachers and the Big Three. And smiled.
Do your best, everyone. Let's blaze a trail together.
Through the years Shikamaru had located several discreet hills in and around the Village where he could relax and observe the clouds without noisy interruptions or responsibilities.
After 'Risu's story, and the information he'd gained regarding the Foundation and Itachi and Aimi, Shikamaru politely cut his visit with Ino and Chōji shorter than was truly polite. He was distracted, not present in the conversations or speaking much to begin with. He hadn't even complained about Ino's griping over 'Risu's luck to experience reciprocated love.
Chōji noticed his distance. Smiled at him when he said: "Shikamaru, we're okay. Go think. We'll be waiting for you here when you figure it all out."
Shikamaru appreciated his best friend's attentiveness and permission.
"Thanks, Chōji," he had thanked. "I'll see you guys later."
"Is something the matter, Shikamaru?" Ino asked as he sauntered towards the door.
"Sorry. I just need to figure some things out."
He needed to think. Needed to be alone to process it all. So he left, strolling lazily out of the hospital to the closest secluded spot he knew of. The hill's incline wasn't steep. It was short and bulbous, a small park area within the walls of the Village untouched by the Invasion. Normally silent, he could hear the faint hammering of nails in the distance here now.
It was fine. The noise didn't impede his thoughts.
Shikamaru lay beneath the shade of a single tree with his eyes shut to the world, draping his left forearm over his forehead and resting his right over his stomach. Minutes passed. His mind jumped too hastily between subject matters, as if overstimulated by the High Voltage Quirk wielded by Yukiko Igarashi.
He was surprised someone found him.
"Figured I'd find you here."
"Huh?" Shikamaru flung upright and lifted his gaze to the tree. On the tree branch above him, perched like a panther prepared to pounce on its prey, was Asuma. "Asuma-sensei? When did you get back?"
"This afternoon," answered his teacher after he jumped down. "Debriefing with the Hokage and your father took some time. Afterwards I checked in with Ino and Chōji at the hospital expecting to find you three together."
"We were. But…" Shikamaru frowned and leaned back on his elbows, tilting his head up to look up at the sky. "I had a lot on my mind after we talked to 'Risu."
"Mm." Asuma lowered himself into the grass beside Shikamaru. He crossed his right leg beneath him but kept his left leg bent at an angle, bracing his arm on top of it as he too gazed up at the sky as its bright blue shade steadily dulled and darkened with every passing hour. The expression on his face was serious.
"I heard what you all went through. I'm sorry I wasn't around to help you guys."
"Eh, it isn't your fault. It's the situation we're all in thanks to the Invasion."
Shikamaru rolled his neck slightly, then continued.
"We all know we need to train harder. This last mission taught us all hard lessons; our enemies reveled in our weaknesses and nearly killed the majority of us. Sure we won, but it wasn't a flawless victory. A lot of us walked away with new scars. 'Risu, Hinata and Sasuke would be looking for new occupations without the expertise of our medical shinobi.
"Despite the new scars and close brushes with death, though," Shikamaru continued after a beat of silence, "everyone is focused. They're more determined than ever to grow stronger. Even Ino is motivated to train, more so than she was before. It's going to be a drag, I just know it."
Asuma chuckled at that.
"There's already a united front between us and the Sand shinobi who helped out, too. We're all preparing for the future. For the possibility of war with the Stone. The Exams and Invasion shook us awake from our simple dreams of easy, peaceful shinobi careers. But some of us were still sitting in our beds, trapped in the haze between sleep and wakefulness. This last mission dumped us out of our beds mercilessly. But somehow it's not even the war that's bothering me now."
"What is bothering you then?"
"A few things." Shikamaru sighed, flopping down on his back then spreading his arms and legs out spread eagle in the grass. "During the mission, after 'Risu saved my life from Tayuya—the Sound kunoichi—our enemy tried to convince 'Risu to join Orochimaru by bringing up the massacre. 'Risu didn't fall for it; Shisui had told her the truth when you were all trapped inside that space-time bubble. That was the first time I had heard it, though."
A rogue organization right in the heart of the Leaf led by an old warmonger. The Foundation was hidden within the shadows of the Leaf. They had forced Itachi and Aimi to slay their Clan, or die right alongside them. Because the Uchiha Clan was planning a coup d'état.
"There wasn't time to think about it," Shikamaru said after a few moments of thoughtful silence. "And I didn't have all the pieces yet. 'Risu explained everything a few hours ago while telling us about the other world she traveled to."
"Other world?" Asuma repeated, turning to stare at him, eyebrows raised.
"Yeah. Basically, 'Risu's created a faulty Flying Raijin marker and it sent her to a different world. She was there for a few days while time in our world was either frozen or moving slower. Don't look at me for an explanation. I'm just telling you what she told all of us. Anyway, while she was there she ended up meeting some good people, falling in love and—"
"Shikamaru," Asuma chided.
"What? It's true. She has a picture of it. Besides, 'Risu wouldn't make up a story about an entirely different society just for the hell of it. It'd be too troublesome. And she did fall in love." Shikamaru shut his eyes. "That's actually one of the smaller things bugging me."
"…All right. I'll go see this picture later. But why does Amari falling in love bother you? Did the person treat her poorly?"
"Nah. She was good to 'Risu. Sounded like a cool girl."
"Okay. So what's the problem then?"
"Hmm." Shikamaru turned onto his side, away from his teacher. "Listening to 'Risu talk about her, watching how happy and sad she looked… It wasn't just a crush or a fling for her. She really did love Yukiko Igarashi. And Yukiko loved her just as much. But they…went their separate ways in the end."
"Didn't think you were a romantic."
"It's not that," Shikamaru shook his head. "I mean, it's tragic. But I knew how the story ended already, you know? 'Risu came home."
He reached his hand out, brushing his palm over the gentle blades of grass.
"I guess…I don't understand why they did it. 'Risu explained it as being selfish. They knew how it would end from the start, but they ignored the reality for their selfishness. They didn't want any regrets."
"And there's your answer."
"I still don't get it."
"Heh. Of course you don't," Asuma teased him. "You're using your brain instead of your heart to understand their reasons. You're looking at how it ended, not the experience as a whole."
Shikamaru turned over to look at his teacher.
"So you understand?"
"One hundred percent." Asuma looked up at the sky, smiling. Shikamaru presumed he was thinking of Kurenai. "When you fall in love, you'll understand too. Just do yourself a favor and listen to your heart, Shikamaru. Don't overthink it."
"Can't you just explain it to me?"
Asuma shook his head. "There isn't more for me to explain. Amari already explained everything you need to understand. You'll figure it out eventually."
Shikamaru grunted. Maybe I'll ask my dad or mom when I get home.
Little did he know they would give him the same unhelpful answer.
"Now, what else happened? I cut you off before."
"Oh, right."
Shikamaru went on to explain the incident with the Nomu and the eventual summoning of Itachi, Aimi and Shisui. Though surprised, Asuma digested the information in silence, waiting for his student to finally explain his dilemma.
It wasn't Itachi and Aimi choosing to walk in darkness for 'Risu and Sasuke that bothered him, or that they weren't his true enemy. Holding a grudge was too troublesome. Besides, 'Risu had chosen to save them and he meant it when he promised to help her accomplish it.
Sasuke's new path didn't fix their fractured relationship. Shikamaru still didn't really like him. Never had, to be honest. But the Uchiha hadn't rushed off to Orochimaru's side for more power or abandoned his comrades during the battles against the Sound Four. He risked his life to save the innocent lives of the Leaf Village civilians and to stop Kimimaro, nearly dying at the Sound shinobi's hands.
Regardless of his personal feelings, Sasuke had regained some of his respect and trust.
I'll hold you to your promise, Sasuke, Shikamaru thought. You swore to stand by 'Risu's side through everything. Do that and we won't have an issue.
No, his dilemma had nothing to do with the Uchiha's as individuals. It was the Foundation. The power the leader wielded, what he'd done in the past and his threat to 'Risu's life made his stomach twist.
The Nara boy was lying on his side, facing away from Asuma again when he was able to form the necessary words for his feelings.
"I'm afraid he'll force 'Risu and Sasuke onto the same path he forced Itachi and Aimi," he admitted quietly. "Or worse. And I'm worried I won't be strong enough to do anything except watch it go down."
"Mm," Asuma hummed deeply. "Good."
"Good? How is any of that good?"
"Because it means you're taking this seriously," replied his teacher.
"You now know the threats Amari and Sasuke face, within the Leaf and from beyond its walls. Before the Akatsuki Incident, we still believed Itachi alone massacred his Clan. We didn't know Aimi was alive. We didn't even really know why the massacre occurred. Our ignorance was an asset to the Foundation. Now that we know our enemy, preparations can be made to protect Amari and Sasuke.
"As for you," Asuma rose to his feet, "the only way you'll ever be strong enough to help protect them is by training." He smirked. "That means your little break is over."
Shikamaru groaned, sitting up. "Are you serious?"
"Completely. Get up. We're going to go train."
"What a pain," he muttered.
"Huh? You want me to ask Yoshino to join us. Great idea, Shikamaru," Asuma drawled cheekily. "I'll go get her now. We'll see you at the usual training ground."
"What?! Wait!" Asuma vanished. "Oh, come on!"
The following day for Amari and Sasuke started off with their new routine of physical therapy. By unanimous decision, it was horrible. Neither Uchiha showed significant signs of improvement compared to the day before. Their improvements were minuscule or nonexistent, which ignited their frustration and fueled their determination to regain mobility.
Sasuke's right shoulder lacked its previous range of motion before the injury. He equated physical therapy to excruciating and methodical torture performed by none other than Ibiki Morino, who they'd heard make Aoi scream bloody murder.
Shizune was quick to remind him Ibiki preferred to torture the mind, not the body, and that whining wasn't hastening his recovery.
Amari wasn't in better shape. Walking on her crippled right foot was impossible without assistance. Her relationship with the floor remained far too intimate.
But they kept at it. Shizune refused to let them quit, pressing them to fight no matter how meager their improvements seemed.
"Little steps add up over time," she would remind them. "I understand how frustrating it is, but if you let that frustration win then you'll never be cleared for duty."
That wasn't an option. They had to recover, and soon. The majority of their friends and comrades were already out there preparing for the battles ahead. The two Uchiha needed to do the same.
After enduring through physical therapy, Amari and Sasuke once again found themselves left to their own devices. Unlike the day before, however, the Nara was prepared this time to alleviate the mind-numbing boredom.
Sitting with her left leg crossed and her right leg hanging off the edge of her bed, she studied the shogi board settled on the bed in front of her, separating her from Sasuke, who sat on the opposite side.
At least we won't die of boredom now, she thought, moving a piece. I'll have to thank Mom again when we see her next for bringing my Storage Scroll yesterday evening. This was a real godsend.
Sasuke wasn't the greatest shogi player; he was still learning. But if she could teach him to play to distract them from the literal hours of nothing to do, then she was content to give him a slight handicap while they battled tactics.
Where her mind was really drawn to, though, were thoughts around her newest duty as the Head of the Uchiha Clan.
Ever since she dropped the news on her friends and comrades, the kunoichi's mind often traveled to the required steps to reform the Clan and ensure the mistakes of the past weren't repeated.
She thought of her conversation with Madara. How she foolishly believed because the Uchiha Clan helped found the Leaf, they were seen as allies, comrades and friends.
"From a certain perspective, you're right. Hashirama and I founded the Leaf together. However, the Uchiha have never been seen as a part of the Leaf. Not fully," she recalled his patient, honeyed explanation. "We were no more than second-class citizens. We were the strongest Clan in the whole of the Leaf. We protected our comrades with pride and honor. But no matter what we did, the Uchiha were seen through the eyes of the so-called open-minded Senju. We were feared instead of loved. We were cast out instead of brought in. We were hated because of the war that stole beloved family members and friends from both Clans."
The past wars and conflicts infected the present. The prejudices and hatred that were meant to be forgiven and forgotten were carried with those who were building the new future, and they set them into the very foundations of the Leaf instead of discarding it for the sake of the next generations.
Old wounds were still too fresh. Even if Madara and Hashirama had forgiven one another and moved on there were bound to be those who hadn't. Individuals who held onto their hatred. Individuals who could not see the benefits of peace or in uniting the Clans.
So how did she take on these challenges? How did she reform her Clan and their bond with the Leaf? After all, the Uchiha Clan wasn't innocent. They lost themselves in their hatred, unable to see beyond themselves in their self-centered and self-victimization to make rational decisions for the future of the Clan and the Leaf. It was always separate.
There was the great and mighty Uchiha Clan, then everybody else so far beneath them.
"Ah! Indeed!" Madara spread his hands out. "Yes, both sides hold the blame for our Clan's downfall. You understand far better than I imagined. Though a child you may be, you're not naïve or innocent to this world we live in. To think this matter is as simple as who is right and who is wrong is irrational.
"Many of our Clan members were short-sighted. They couldn't see beyond their current reality, or simply refused to. And the Elders weren't willing to give a single inch to any request made by our Clan. Their prejudice and fear refused to be abated, even when wise and powerful men such as your father and Kagami Uchiha inherited the Will of Fire.
"Just as I saw it, your father realized the inevitability of conflict. He couldn't reason with his own Clan when they refused to listen; they saw him as a shill to the Leaf, and you and your mother were stains to the Uchiha name."
Amari hummed deeply, screwing her lips in a frown. Both sides were wrong. Both sides were responsible for their current reality.
However, with the Uchiha Clan currently consisting of two young teenagers, two rogue shinobi and a masked man with his own plans for the world, what could even be done? Where did she start? How did she redefine the Leaf and Uchiha's bond? Could she when hardliners like the Foundation leader and the two Elders held even the slightest hint of power in the Leaf?
"It's not a matter of if you are or if you aren't, Haya," Madara entered her thoughts again. "He and the Elders perceive you as a threat, and that is enough for them to take matters into their own hands. Look at the power you already wield with the Mangekyō Sharingan. The Susanoo and the Amenominakanushi are raw power—you are raw power. And it will continue to grow as you do. They will act pleasantly to your face, but beneath those masks is fear. Fear of the power they cannot control any more than they can control natural disasters."
She hummed. Shifted on the bed. Then examined the shogi board again.
"This Foundation organization is responsible for the slaying of one of the most powerful Clans in all of the Leaf. They orchestrated the slaughter, forced Itachi and Aimi Uchiha to stain their hands forever with the blood of their clansmen and family. And yet this organization still lingers within our walls, in the very shadows of our Village. Who is to say they cannot orchestrate another? Will the Hyūga be purged next if we grow inconvenient? Or the Inuzuka? The Aburame? The Nara?"
If the Uchiha Clan started to build from the ashes, would all those she allied with become targets? Or would they be snuffed out before they could even begin rebuilding?
"What's eating you alive?" Sasuke broke the silence in a calm voice.
"Hm?" She raised her eyes from the board to meet her clan-brother's neutral expression.
"It's been your move for a few minutes now," he informed.
The kunoichi furrowed her brow and examined the board. She shut her eyes, sighing when she noticed that Sasuke had made his move already. These thoughts were distracting.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to make you wait."
"It's not a problem," he shrugged off her apology, unbothered. "So, what's on your mind? You look ready to go to war."
Amari sighed again, reaching up and rubbing the back of her neck.
"I'm thinking about the future of our Clan." He nodded, a silent ask for her to continue. "There's so much that has to be done. As it stands, even with us alive, the Uchiha Clan was essentially wiped out from the political perspective of the Leaf. Any alliances we had with other Clan's, any political sway, it's dust in the wind. We don't just have to rebuild—we're starting from scratch."
"Yeah. But isn't it better that way?" Sasuke posed the honest question. "Think about it: The last Clan Head—my father—was set on leading our Clan in a coup d'état. Assuming the main Clan Head's know the truth means they're aware the Uchiha Clan of the past was set to betray those alliances anyway. Rebuilding those alliances would just start us where the Uchiha and Senju left off. Right?"
The kunoichi pursed her lips thoughtfully.
"You're not wrong. If we started where we left off we'd end up in the same place as before. But that also means we're starting at a political disadvantage. The Uchiha Clan's reputation is tainted by its recent history. Distrust of our Clan is sewed into the very fabric that makes the Leaf Village, unfortunately. Knowledge of the potential coup d'état will deepen that distrust if we aren't careful. Distrust easily becomes resentment.
"As it stands now, we'll be looked at with suspicion. We'll be walking on eggshells. And how long will we have to be reminded in political meetings of the sins of our Clan? It'll be up to us to constantly prove that we aren't enemies of the Leaf, like it was only the Uchiha's who were at fault." She frowned. "Just the thought of it annoys me."
"Then we should treat it how the new Mizukage treats the Mist's history," Sasuke said after chewing on his thoughts for minute. "We acknowledge and accept the past failures of our Clan instead of hiding from them. And when the time comes we'll educate the children of the Clan so they understand the Curse of Hatred and the history of our Clan.
"At the same time, it's up to us to outline the Leaf's treatment of our Clan. Both sides of the story need to be heard. Our sins and theirs. Not to weigh them against each other and decide who bears the greatest sins, but to accept the past failings of both sides and move forward. That's the only way we can stand on equal ground."
"It's official. You're my advisor."
"Heh. I guess I don't have a choice in the matter, Lady Amari."
"Nope. You don't. By the way, I now declare I am the Queen of the Uchiha Clan. Let's see how the other Clan Head's like that title," she giggled.
"Lord Hiashi's head would explode," Sasuke chuckled.
"Probably true." Amari smiled, looking down at the shogi board. "I meant the advisor part, though. I was stuck before you mentioned that. But having you to bounce thoughts off of and hear your opinion really helped clear my vision. I couldn't get past the annoyance and stress of it all."
"I get it." Sasuke shook his head. "Honestly, I'm not worried about how we're perceived at the start. As long as you lead the Clan, we'll prove through our actions that we've reformed. Nothing the other Clan Head's say or do is going to stop us from moving forward.
"I'm more worried about you, to be honest. Once you start acting as the Head of the Uchiha Clan the news of your survival will spread. The Leaf, its enemies and the Foundation will all learn there's another Uchiha within its walls."
"Assuming he hasn't figured it out already," she said. "I've thought about that, too. But when the Akatsuki infiltrated the Leaf, Aimi reminded him that the Foundation wasn't untouchable, and should they cross a line, she and Itachi will act. Plus, with the circle of trust we've formed and the Crows, the Foundation leader can't just attack us directly without fatal consequences."
"Good point."
"But…"
"But?" Sasuke cocked an eyebrow.
Amari frowned. "The Foundation leader and the Elders—assuming they have a part in this—can clip our wings politically. They can prevent a complete rebirth of our Clan through means beyond murdering you and me. Or the Foundation leader can perform another heinous deed and frame us for it, branding us as rogue shinobi."
She sighed. "I hate these thoughts. But there's no limit to what he will do to gain power. Neji was right. If something is inconvenient to that warmonger he'll just eliminate it from the board. That makes building official alliances between the Uchiha Clan and the other Clans dangerous to people we would consider our allies. Or, worse, inconvenient to them."
Sasuke hummed, but said nothing. They were on a high-wire act, from her perspective, balancing precariously without a safety net beneath them as they tried to figure out how to walk delicately across this chasm that had swallowed their Clan whole.
Caution and patience was key. They couldn't recklessly rush ahead or they would succumb to the same fate.
We know there are enemies in the shadows who will try to cut our rope, she thought. We're better off knowing that now instead of learning this reality later. That means we can prepare. But how?
It always came back to that simple question. How? How did they accomplish these tasks? There wasn't a simple answer, she knew. And mistakes were bound to be made at some point or other. Nothing ever went perfectly.
The best she could do was handle the issues as they came. Otherwise she would be overwhelmed by the responsibilities and the duty entrusted to her, much like she was now.
Exhaling a deep breath, Amari directed her attention to the shogi board.
"I can't forget that we're not without allies. We already have Lady Hokage, Kakashi-sensei, the Crows, my Uncle Shikaku and my mom on our side. And we have friends in each Clan, some of whom are set to be Clan Head's in the future. Playing politics with the current climate will be the hard part. But everything else? We can manage it."
"Yeah," Sasuke agreed, nodding once.
"It's just like Kakashi-sensei said. The legacy, the fate and path of the Uchiha Clan is for us to decide. The Foundation and Madara won't obscure or destroy it as long as we stand together."
She finally moved her piece.
"It'll be complicated," Sasuke said at length. "No way around that. But we'll figure it out."
The kunoichi hummed. Then Amari dramatically slumped back against her pillows, groaning. "Ah man, I just remembered something!"
"What?"
"When I go to meet the other Clan Head's I'll have to dress up in formal attire for them. What a pain!"
Sasuke snorted, then openly chuckled at her dismay. Amari groaned more, running her hand down her face.
"Politics are such a drag."
She wondered if Mei Terumī felt the same.
The inside of the Mizukage's office was almost entirely silent, all save the repetitive and frustrated tapping of a manicured fingernail against the cherry wood desk. Mei Terumī tapped away, chewing now and then on the inside of her lip, emerald eyes consistently drawn to the report she could recite without aid.
What an utterly unpleasant way to start her day. She should have expected something of this vileness to appear at her desk eventually, especially given the history of the Mist and its rogue shinobi. The report was yet another reminder of the darkness lingering within the Land of Water, seeking to drag an already burdened and impoverished people deeper into despair.
If only she weren't needed here handling reforms and dealing with the delicate and frustrating nature of politics. She would depart her office, locate the responsible party and melt them for their depravity. Oh, how cathartic it would be.
Unfortunately, as Mizukage her responsibilities kept her from administering justice to fiends in person. She could only read the report, tap her finger, devise a plan for her subordinates to utilize and wait.
How was she to handle this? They lacked concrete Intel on the perpetrators of these crimes and their main base of operation.
Despite Natsumi's and Haku's efforts in recent days, the pair trekking through the mountains, valleys and neighboring small villages and towns of the Land of Water in search of the criminals, they hadn't gained any new ground while their enemies continued to be everywhere and nowhere at once.
They've likely bribed, threatened or blackmailed the town leaders to maintain ignorance over their movements, Mei thought, frowning.
We've been one step behind since we first learned these disappearances were occurring. We learn, we react and by the time we search the area, all the clues and trails have vanished.
How frustrating. The Mizukage wondered how long these individuals had been kidnapping men, women and children from the towns beyond Mist Village, and for what nefarious purposes they were performing these acts. Slave labor? Human trafficking? How large was this organization? Did it spread beyond the borders of the Land of Water? Was it right beneath her nose here in the Village, hidden in plain sight?
Mei's nails grated across the wood. Innocent people—her people—were being taken from their homes, from the streets for some nefarious cause, and these mysterious disappearance would continue until they dismantled the group behind it. More men, women and children would be kidnapped, forced to perform who-knows-what violating deeds for the perpetrators profit.
Fiends. Monsters. Scum.
The abrupt and rough throwing open of her office's door dragged Mei's smoldering emerald eye away from the report.
She opened her mouth to dismiss whoever the intruder was, but paused at the sight of Natsumi. She was passionately striding towards her desk while Haku politely and silently shut the door, following after the crimson-haired kunoichi with a neutral gait.
"Lady Mei, there's a new development in the disappearances," Natsumi cut straight to the point, not bothering with formality.
Haku approached the desk, bowed slightly and offered a quiet, "Lady Mizukage," by way of greeting.
Mei sighed deeply. "Have more disappeared without a trace?"
"No. Someone's reappeared. One of the missing children."
The Mizukage's finger stopped tapping. Her emerald eyes did not widen in shock, but narrowed. By Natsumi's fiery presence, this could be their one opportunity to pick up a trail and stop these crimes.
"Where?" she demanded.
"A village town just beyond Ume Pass by the name of Shinjuku."
"Shinjuku?" Mei repeated, surprised.
No less than three days ago she sent Chōjūrō and a loyal kunoichi by the name of Haruhi to hunt down and capture or kill a gang of bandits sighted by the locals of the town. The bandits had been terrorizing the roads leading in and out of Shinjuku, robbing any unfortunate soul who they happened upon.
A few of their victims had perished, unfortunately.
"Yeah. This report is coming straight from Chōjūrō. While he and Haruhi were turning over the bandits to local officials, a child ran up to them dressed in nothing but a kimono despite the snow, begging and pleading for them to help rescue their sister from some sort of imprisonment.
"The kid wasn't in good condition. Malnourished, visibly bruised and cut open. Chōjūrō and Haruhi knew about our investigation, so they took the child in and tried to mend their injuries and feed them."
"Wonderful! We'll—"
"No, it's not," Natsumi cut her off. "While they were taking care of the kid, trying to learn more information about what had happened, they were ambushed by the people behind this. Rogue Mist shinobi. Chōjūrō and Haruhi tried to escape with the kid, but they were separated in the battle. The kid ran off into the mountains. The rogues injured Haruhi then left to chase after the kid's trail.
"Considering the distance between here and Shinjuku, we could be less than an hour behind the trail if Chōjūrō sent the report quick enough. This is our chance to catch up. If that kid outsmarted his captors and escaped, they might be smart enough to evade them in the mountains."
"Then there isn't time to waste," said Mei. "Natsumi, Haku, I want you to leave immediately. Do all you can to save this child and locate these rogue shinobi's base of operations. We will not allow their crimes against our people to continue."
Natsumi nodded once.
"Of course, Lady Mizukage," Haku bowed.
The pair exited with haste in their steps. Mei turned her chair to the side, steepling her fingers in front of her lips.
We will find these individuals. We will stop them. Mei narrowed her eyes at the wall. And should it be necessary, I will melt them personally.
In the meantime, there was work to be done.
She would be waiting.
A/N: Hey everyone, I just want to inform you that going forward I'll be posting once every other week for the foreseeable future. So the next update won't be next week but the week after. I try to keep personal information out of these, but I've been struggling lately to balance work, home life and posting this story, on top of consistently writing future chapters. My backlog has shrunken significantly in recent months, and if I don't make this adjustment now I'm worried I'll catch up to where I'm currently writing and leave this story without updates for longer periods of time. I don't want the quality of the story to suffer for quantity of posting, and I don't want to leave all of you waiting for months at a time for new updates. With luck, I'll get back to a point where its once a week again, but for now this is what I need to do to get everything back on track. I'm sorry for the inconvenience.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter. I want to reassure that I haven't lost my passion for this story. I love writing it and have no intention of leaving it incomplete. As I've said in the past, barring any serious injury or terrible circumstance, I'll continue writing this story until it is finished. I just have to adjust my schedule a little right now.
A little bit of insight, The Mist Village mysterious disapppearances arc we're jumping into was an interesting challenge to write. It's a drastic shift of tone from the last arc, which was meant to be light and funny and a decompressing from the Sound Four, Kasai, Masked Man and threat of war on the horizon. We're diving into the gritty darkness of the shinobi world and the Land of Water. Hope you all enjoy it!
Thank you for reading!
Review Response to Guest: Thank you! I'm happy you were able to enjoy the last arc and how it ended. I had a lot of fun writing it; it honestly turned out a lot better than I expected it would. And I liked ending it with heartfelt goodbyes but this lingering hope of a return later on, which is highly possible. Though it'll probably be around the time of Shippuden. Thank you for the well wishes, I hope you are well as well. Hope you enjoyed the new update and hope you're able to enjoy the new arc we're going into.
Thank you for reading and for the review!