Let's start this from the beginning

Chūnin Exams

IX

"Both opponents have yielded. This match is a draw!"

Itachi blinked while trying to make sense of what was going on. When he heard his opponent surrender at the same time as he did, he thought he might have heard something wrong. After all, his sight was already blurry and full of black spots from exhaustion, who was to say that his hearing wasn't compromised as well? Maybe his brain was just starting to imagine things. After such a fight, it wouldn't be a big surprise if he had a concussion in addition to his other injuries.

It didn't make any sense. She was obviously affected by the sudden loss of her power and exhausted from the fight, he could see that even in his current condition, but he didn't doubt that she was in notable better condition than him. If the fight continued, she would win hands down.

Fortunately, she seemed to notice his confusion even though he didn't say anything. He didn't think he would have been able to voice his questions loud enough to be heard over the crowd, so that was very convenient.

"Continuing the fight when you're half-dead on your feet would be boring," she said with a small smile. "Consider this a sign of my appreciation for such a good fight and also a 'thank you' for helping me avoiding an international incident. Next time, you will not be so lucky."

Itachi chuckled lightly while he was gently aided to his feet by an arriving medic, ignoring the dull pain in his ribs that this action caused. He would try to avoid this 'next time' if he could. No need to press his luck.

"Remember, you owe me another fight," her voice echoed from behind him, just when his vision started to get black. "I'm looking forward to it."

"Come one, smile a bit! You don't want to look like a grumpy old man in the photo, do you?"

Itachi was already smiling, but he reluctantly widened it a bit more. He wasn't the type to widely grin, never had been, and that wouldn't change now. But if it made his teammates and mother happy, he could bring himself to do so.

Nonetheless, it was a relief when the flash finally appeared.

"Alright," his mother said while she waved the film she held in her hand before turning it around for them to see. "I think it turned out great, don't you agree?"

The picture showed him lying in bed with Anko and Yukio on either side of him where they have squeezed themselves on the edge, proudly holding their new flak jackets into the camera while the Hokage and Tanaka-sensei stood to each side of it with small smiles on their faces.

Yes, he could already see his mother framing that picture and putting it into their living room right next to their family portrait. His father would doubtlessly approve.

Sasuke would surely swoon over it as well, so at least there was that to look forward to.

"Damn right!" Anko exclaimed while she jumped up from his bed, her fist thrown into the air. "It was about time that we were promoted after we worked out asses off for so long!"

"Language," his mother chided, though she didn't bother to hide her smile.

Even now, he could still see some worry on her face. Not surprising if you considered the beating he had taken especially towards the end of the fight, but it made him still feel uncomfortable. In the end, his worst injury had been his shoulder. Other than that, he had only bruises and mild sprains. Nothing that the medic-nins couldn't heal. As it was now, he had been told to rest a few days and not to do any training for a week or two to give his body time to recover but was otherwise completely fine.

She wasn't the only one who wasn't as cheerful as it might appear at first sight, for Yukio seemed somewhat down as well. The difference was that he couldn't hide it as well as Itachi's mother.

"Come on, Yukio," Anko said, having noticed it as well. "No need to look all gloomy like that. We're Chūnin now! Be a bit happier!"

"Do we really deserve it, though?" he said with a downward smile. "I mean, you and Itachi did great, but I got whipped off the map like a petty little annoyance, without any trouble at all. I didn't really-"

"Ah, shut up. No one of us could beat her, you had just bad luck that you fought her in your first match."

"Itachi got a draw, though."

"Only because she decided to forfeit out of some sense of honour," he said. "I was in much worse condition. Had we continued, I would have lost without question."

"Your teammates are correct," the Sandaime spoke up. "Yugito Nii wasn't an enemy any of you could have hoped to defeat, yet all of you -yes, that includes you as well- did a great job in trying to do so anyway. Not just that, you also demonstrated important abilities every shinobi needs to have: Anko showed her willingness to lay down her life to support her comrades and Itachi demonstrated the ability to understand that there are times where fighting to the bitter end is not the right decision, for example." He put a hand on the boy's shoulder. "You didn't fight to win but to give your team as much insight into the capabilities of an enemy as possible. You saw the greater picture and acted according to that without hesitation." Taking a step back, he smiled at the three of them. "All of you have proven yourself worthy of being called shinobi of Konohagakure. You deserve these vests and all the responsibilities that come with them, never doubt that."

"I guess so," Yukio murmured, still sounding unsure but appearing to feel a bit better than before.

"Well then," the old man continued. "I have one last meeting with the other Kage before we can leave tomorrow. Are you feeling up to it yet, Itachi?"

"Yes, Hokage-sama." As long as they didn't run the entire way back but took their time, he should easily be able to manage the journey.

"Wonderful. Then I will leave you all to celebrate your victory now. I'm sure your sensei and Mikoto will make sure that you don't overdo it."

"If you have anything to say, say it. Just stop glaring at me from behind like that all the time, it's getting on my nerves."

"Well, maybe I wouldn't be glaring at you if you hadn't just thrown away a sure victory like that!"

"Really? Your bad mood has nothing to do with the fact that you lost in the first round, then?"

The way the head of her teammate -former teammate, she reminded herself. The exams are over now- became red as she became even angrier was all the more amusing when combined with the ugly snarl that was on her face.

Yugito thought the other girl must be really angry if she was accusing her that openly. Usually, she limited herself to snide comments and muttered insults, fearing the consequences of actually offending her. A stupid sentiment for she certainly wouldn't hurt another person from her village even if she could get offended by the words of a person she didn't care for at all. Not that Kuina knew that, of course, and Yugito didn't plan to tell her any time soon. Watching her like this was way too amusing.

"Why you-"

"That's enough, from both of you." The other girl's mouth snapped shut at the words of the Raikage while she instinctively straightened up under his gaze. "The show you provided was sufficient. There is no doubt in anyone's mind about who was the strongest participant and real victor of the tournament." His eyes locked with hers. "It was easy enough to twist your action in the minds of the present feudal lords as something positive. You had already won and your opponent was beaten, hitting him again would have been dishonorable. While not a sentiment that would hold much worth with any shinobi worth their salt, those civilians ate it easily enough. Still, Yugito, would you mind sharing what really moved you to forfeit the match?"

She swallowed. When he hadn't asked for her reasoning immediately after the match or when they left the village, she had assumed that conversation would wait until they arrived home. Obviously, she had been wrong.

"I really didn't want to beat him into the ground when he was already in such a condition-" she began, only to be interrupted by the other girl.

"Since when are you capable of feeling pity?"

"-after he gave me such a great fight."

The Raikage stayed silent for a moment before he replied. "Is that all?"

She straightened up when she heard the disapproval in his voice. "No," she added as calmly as she could. "It was also to pay him back for his help."

"For what?"

"While I didn't lose control, it was a close thing. Without his intervention, I might have run amok during the fight, which would have had horrible political consequences." She then explained what happened in her inner world at the end of her fight.

He stayed silent for a long time, making her fear the worst, but when he replied, his voice was calm. "I will let it slide this time," he said. "But I expect that there will be no repeat of such a thing, is that clear?"

"Yes, Raikage-sama!"

"We will also move up our timetable. Once we return, you will immediately depart with my brother to finally learn how to completely control your Tailed Beast's chakra. We can't afford to let something like this happen again. Next time, there might not be a convenient Uchiha brat close enough to save you."

"Yes, Raikage-sama!"

"Why aren't you sleeping?"

Yukio flinched at the sudden intrusion but didn't turn around when Anko sat down next to him. "I'm just not tired, I guess..."

She hummed. "So instead you're doing... what exactly? Keeping watch in case Hokage-sama's ANBU guards miss something?"

"Hey, you never know," he said with a quiet laugh. "You will not find it ridiculous when I save you from being killed in your sleep because you mindlessly trusted others to protect you."

"If that ever happens, I will apologize for ever doubting you."

After that, they stayed silent for several minutes, simply enjoying the peaceful atmosphere of the sleeping forest around them. It was a starless night with even the moon hidden behind clouds, making the distant campfire the only source of light. However, as far as they were away from it at the moment, it could just as well be non-existent.

"Do you want to tell me what's really keeping you awake?"

He was honestly surprised that she had waited as long as she did before she asked him. While Anko could be patient when she needed to, she preferred to simply dash ahead and worry about the consequences of her actions later.

"Will you do me the same favour if I do?"

"Maybe."

That was probably the best he could hope for, he thought with a chuckle. "I think... I think I might be a little depressed."

When Anko answered, her voice was gentler than he had ever heard it before. "Because you lost your first fight during the tournament."

It was a statement, not a question.

"Yes."

He was glad she didn't press him to continue, giving him the time to think of the right words.

It had been clear from the beginning that he would lose that fight and he hadn't lied to himself that it would be any different. He had known that it would happen and made his peace with it. Now, in hindsight, he thought that might have been a mistake. After all, if you went into battle convinced you would lose, there was no chance of it ending any other way. Even if your enemy was inferior to you, you would still get defeated because your mind was already set on that outcome. In short, you were your own worst enemy.

"You didn't fight to win but to give your team as much insight into the capabilities of an enemy as possible. You saw the greater picture and acted according to that without hesitation."

That was what the Sandaime had said. It was the truth, sure, but it didn't make him feel much better. Yes, he had sacrificed himself in an (failed) attempt to give his teammates some information about their enemy, but so what? This wasn't a real battlefield, so even if his plan had worked as intended, his 'sacrifice' wouldn't have been for anything important. He wouldn't have saved his friend's lives, wouldn't have gained important information that would protect his home, wouldn't have done anything impressive at all.

Yukio knew the true purpose of those exams, of course, so it could be argued that he would have aided his teammates in representing Konoha, but he just didn't feel it that way!

"It's just... I thought I could do more than that, you know?" he finally said. "It's not just that I have lost, but also the manner of how I lost! I know I'm not a genius or even overly talented, not like you or Itachi, but to see the difference between her and myself... it's crushing."

He felt similar every time he trained with Itachi and saw how advanced the other boy was even though he was barely half his age. But at least they were teammates, friends. Training with him, as much as the difference in strength bothered him at times, at least benefited him and made him stronger as well. His last loss, however, only taught him how great the distance to the top truly was.

"I understand."

His first instinct was to disagree, to remind her how talented she was compared to someone like him, but he kept his mouth shut when he recognized the emotions in her voice. That must be the first time I have ever heard her sound so downcast.

"I knew I would lose the same way you knew it as well. She and I... we were on completely different levels, that much was clear from the beginning. I entered the arena hoping to do as much harm to her as I could to help Itachi and maybe get her to show some of her aces." She chuckled. "But you know what? When she actually stood in front of me, when I could look into her eyes and saw the absolute confidence of victory in them, I wanted to win. I really, really wanted to win."

He snorted before he could stop herself.

"What's so funny about that?" She sounded defensive now, maybe even a little bit hurt.

"Nothing, nothing, it's just, well," He scratched the back of his head. "Only a few minutes ago, I thought how it was a mistake that I went into the fight without any real intention of actually winning, only planning to make her show her strength as much as possible before I get knocked out. I guess I find it fitting that you wouldn't make the same mistake."

Now it was her turn to snort. "And see what a fat lot of good it did for me."

"That's not the point, though," he said. "You went into battle with the intention to win while I went into it with the intention to lose. If that doesn't show the difference between the two of us, then I don't know either."

Yukio wasn't truly surprised by that. Anko had always been the most energetic person he had ever met, never backing down from a challenge or giving up when she came face to face with insurmountable odds. Even if her words said otherwise, she always rushed into battle with the full intention to win.

There were another few minutes of silence before Anko spoke up once again. "So, what are you going to do when we are back in Konoha?"

He sighed. "I'm not sure yet. I guess I will take it slow for a while, maybe sign up for guard duty until I found an answer."

His parents, for all that they were fully supportive of his chosen career path, would be happy if he were to take it slow for a bit. They never said it to his face, but he had heard them talk when they thought he was either not there or asleep. Like many other civilians, they looked up to the shinobi as long as they didn't have loved ones who were one. If they did, they would suddenly remember all the dangers associated with that profession and wish for their friends and loved ones to not be a part of that "vile field of work".

Instead of saying that, however, he turned the question back at her. "What about you? The Anko I know wouldn't just accept her loss like that and then don't do anything about it."

That brought a genuine laugh out of her. "I have an idea, but I'm not sure about it yet. It would be kind of a big step and I would need Hokage-sama's permission before even attempting it..."

He waited for her to elaborate further but didn't press for more when she didn't. Still, he wondered what it could possibly be that she thought about when she needed the permission of the Sandaime for it. To warrant something like that, it was either very, very dangerous or very, very forbidden. Possibly even both.

It was also typically Anko. He could still remember how she pressed Orochimaru to teach her his snake techniques, no matter how often she was told off by him. Even the threat of being eaten alive by the snakes if they found her to be an unworthy summoner didn't slow her down as much as a single second, quite the opposite actually. If there was one constant thing in the world, then it was that Anko loved dangerous things and wanted them for her own if somehow possible.

"Well, just tell me if I can help you in any way. That's what a team is there for, isn't it?"

Talking with her had definitively helped him get some of the weight off his chest, so doing the same for her was the least he could do.

The smile she gave him wasn't her usual big and feral one, but it was nonetheless bright. "Of course, you will be the first I tell if I go through with it."

Konoha was generally considered to be the strongest of the Five Great Nations, he knew that. And honestly, he couldn't really deny that there was some truth to it. They had come out on top of every war since the creation of the village system, after all.

Rasa was also familiar with their staggering and ever so annoying trend of producing unnatural talented shinobi.

That being said, this had been the first time that he had actually come face to face with one such prodigious child while they were still young. It was one thing to know what people like Kakashi Hatake or Orochimaru were able to do at a young age, but it was something else entirely to see a seven years old go toe to toe with a Jinchūriki. Yes, he still lost in the end, no matter that the 'official' result was a draw, but to even get that far...

It wasn't just him, but his teammates as well. While the boy was at best slightly above average, the girl showed impressive skills as well. Not on the same level as the Uchiha, but still very impressive.

For all that he hated to admit it, Konoha's youth was superior to Suna's. Not only had they still not recovered from the last war, but they also suffered a drought recently that killed a great number of people. It was not a long drought, meaning the number of deaths were manageable, but it was a blow nonetheless. And then there was Sasori's defection...

It seemed it would be wise to strengthen his ties with Konoha. There were already peace negotiations going on, but until now, he hadn't wanted to develop too close relationships with any village because that could antagonize others. That would change now.

Better to have one close and reliable ally than several unreliable.

Damn Konoha and their stupid wonder children!

It became more and more frustrating the more Oonoki thought about it. Before the exams, he had thought things were proceeding great; his village was rebuilding and regaining its strength unexpectedly fast, there were several very promising youths that would become strong shinobi one day, and the relationship with most of his neighbours was good. And that wasn't even the end of it!

Konoha, his village's greatest and most hated enemy, suffered one blow after another. First, their Yondaime died -hah, serves that bastard right!- during the attack of the Nine-Tails which also killed a good number of the village. Then, Orochimaru, one of their strongest shinobi, defected, which meant that there was only one of the Sannin left to worry about. It was as if Kami decided that Konoha had too much luck over the last few decades and finally stepped in to change that.

As things turned out, that wasn't the case, for there was already a new prodigy, and an Uchiha as well. That damn clan was annoying enough as it was, but now they had another wonder child aside of Shisui no Shunshin! How was it fair that they got another one?

Pah, he thought. Whatever. He's still young, so there will be more than enough opportunities for him to die. And even if not, well, child prodigies tend to burn out quickly enough most of the time.

Even if you had to apply a little push now and then to let it happen.

Well, at least the boy shut that damn Raikage up. Bringing a Jinchūriki that can't even control its powers to the Chūnin Exams, really, I have no idea what went through his head...