A/N: Phew... It's been a while huh... I don't know even what to say. Life surprised me? And so did all the new series and games I got introduced to? And the new DoS OC idea I started writing as well?

I hope you do like this chapter though.

As the sea calls 17

To be honest, Kairi had not expected to get a mission like this as her first one in new rank. But every aspect of it made sense.

1. It was a solo mission. Considering Suna's losses in invasion and already small population compared to other Great Hidden Villages, it was probably long time coming. Kairi certainly had skills for soloing the mission and no longer her rank hindered her.

2. It was an intel mission. Intelligence gathering was technically Kairi's specialty, this just made it more official.

3. It was related to Orochimaru which… It was not ideal but Kairi was at the same time in the best position and most expendable.

Because…

The mission briefing was at one of the meeting rooms. As it stood, Kairi was not allowed in Kazekage's office.

"Spying on Orochimaru's movements?" Kairi was frowning. Akane, who was seated by the table, was frowning as well but not protesting.

"There is some intelligence on him moving in Hi no Kuni." Baki replied. "Considering… your situation, it's best if you are the one going."

Something in that explanation sat wrong with her. Kairi turned to look at Chiyo and Ebizo who were in the room as well. She didn't want to side-step Baki's authority but something was ringing an alarm.

"Chiyo-sama? What is going on? What is not said here?"

The old woman sighed. The entire meeting, Chiyo had seemed quite serious – almost uncharacteristically so – while not saying a word, but now she seemed almost defeated.

"It has to do with your last mission before the chuunin exams and invasion preparation."

The last mission… The one before she had been put into a team with Hara and Souseki. Kairi did not have much memory of it. It had gone FUBAR and then she'd awakened in the hospital for debrief. She'd given her report and then been assigned a team. Two boys who had good chances to advance in the exams but could ultimately be used as stepping stones in order for Kairi to get to the finals. As she had then done with Hara.

But there was more to it? And she hadn't known?

"Genin Fuukatsu Kairi left for a scouting mission at the border of Tetsu no Kuni and Hi no Kuni on the 23rd of February." Akane began. "With her were jounin and squad leader Moriharu Kazuma, chuunin Izumi Renkon, chuunin Fuyukawa Asahiro, genin Gorou and genin Umi Kokomi. On the way, jounin Moriharu was meant to assess the compatibility of genins Gorou, Umi and Fuukatsu as a team for the upcoming chuunin exams."

The bland tone her mother used was alarming and Kairi could feel something heavy forming in the pit of her stomach.

"On the way back, the squad was ambushed by still unknown shinobi near Oto no Kuni. The only survivor of this conflict was genin Fuukatsu."

Kairi was frozen.

"I… I don't remember any of that." And what's more, she hadn't realized she was missing anything. Yes, she had wondered why she had not seen any of her squad mates since then, especially when she had known of Gorou and Kokomi's interest in the upcoming exams.

"Yes." Chiyo sighed again. "On the third of March, you were brought back to village by Orochimaru himself. He had no entourage and you were under the effects of some type of puppeteering seal. It had you unresponsive to everything but what Orochimaru commanded. He had you write a report of the ambush and then recounted himself how he came across the scene of you killing your ambushers. Once the last enemy was down, he had apprehended you and brought then here."

"Here is the report." Akane gave a file to Kairi. She filled through it. It was… bland. Short and concise and on point and maybe there was trace of her own writing style there but it lacked… all life. It was more like a statistic and a recount of how Kazuma took down two opponents before a third one stabbed him from behind. How Renkon was crushed by earth jutsu. How Gorou took an attack meant for Kokomi. How Kokomi was burned alive and Asahiro electrocuted. That they were overrun by superior numbers and then…

The enemy was cut down. According to the report Kairi had used soru/shunpo extensively and cut down the enemy one by one. Be it with Kogonhi and wind jutsu, or then her hair sticks and sharpened chakra.

Kairi couldn't remember that at all.

"Later you were named the spy contact for the exams. At first, we believed Rasa-sama wanted to be rid of a potential liability." Ebizo spoke. "But the timing we know now of Orochimaru replacing him, it was most likely the Snake Sannin himself who made the appointment."

"He recognized my lineage and couldn't help but wanting me under his command some way." Kairi said bitterly. "And then dispose of me via sacrifice."

Just how petty could one man be?

"Due the fact that you had no memory of the entirety of the ambush and meeting Orochimaru, we suspect that you still have seals on you affecting those memories." Baki stated. "Which is why you have been barred from most of administrative offices though your rank would gain you an entry."

Not like Yura's memory seals but the threat of being a sleeper agent still remained.

"And now I'm going to this mission to spy on Orochimaru to see what he'll do about me in the case I'm spotted."

"It might be that he will release the seal on you." Chiyo suggested. "It might also be that he will try to kill you like previously. Or something else entirely. But in any case, you are able to send your reports with your summons before that happens."

Kairi did not like that. But even less she liked an unknown seal on her that Konoha had possibly somehow missed. Or left purposefully if certain bandaged old coot had a say.

She didn't like being paranoid about the possibility but… that couldn't be helped. Danzou and his reach wasn't to be underestimated even if the man's interest in Kairi could be overestimated. And Orochimaru gaining a personal interest in Kairi that early even if it was only in revenge purposes? Not good.

But ultimately it led to Kairi to Tanzaku-gai at a card table in disguise in order to suss out some rumours. Her hair was dyed dark brown and she was wearing contact lenses. Some contouring gave her a rounder face shape. For her outfit she had a hooded-sleeveless top, arm warmers, a half skirt and basic leggings with leg wraps and shoes. She didn't stand out much. Or rather, she stood out in a way that said: 'she's got money to gamble and skill with it'. Just eccentric enough for a civilian but not denoted enough as a shinobi. Kairi had two reasons to be in gambling dens. One was general information gathering and establishing her own network slowly as she was… pretty good with cards so it wasn't the case of being quickly thrown out because of accumulating losses. The second reason was her knowledge of canon. Tsunade was a gambler. It was that simple. Jiraiya was tracking her down through gambling houses as well due the woman's reputation as the Legendary Loser. And Orochimaru was looking for Tsunade as well. Find one and thus find the rest. Tsunade might not be recognizable aside from her reputation but Jiraiya was very noticeable. So while in Tanzaku-kai, Kairi kept her eyes and ears open… Especially for when the Tanzaku-jou was destroyed by Orochimaru's dramatic entrance.

There was a tremble beneath her feet. It wasn't a localized one from someone falling on the floor or something similar but something faint yet far reaching…

"Could it be…" Kairi frowned. She didn't move anywhere though, the game was still going, thus she just discarded a card from her hand to grab the third one of the blue ribbons, forming a yaku – hand. She laid the set down. Six points to her. "Aotan. Round end."

One of her opponents cursed. The game continued. The next round began. They were only on wisteria round. Eight more left. She could then leave. Hopefully with some spending money in her pocket.

Tanzaku-jou was indeed gone. That was an event that could be used as a benchmark for all three Sannin to be in town. But it would do no good for Kairi to approach them yet. As ironic as it sounded, it would be better to wait for the great confrontation between then that'd be in few days… Honestly, Suna did not care of Orochimaru as much as they cared to ensure that Kairi was not a passive threat to them. Suna had been a tool for Orochimaru; they were the ones that bore the weight of the failed invasion. Comparatively Oto forces had been small and specialized and Orochimaru did succeed in killing the Hokage… which was his main goal or something. Kazekage dying was more like an afterthought and stepping stone in that goal. The Snake Sannin had no further designs on Suna. And though Suna didn't know it, Akatsuki was more important threat and that was because of Gaara and Shukaku. But even that was three years away. Kairi could try warning them… but for now she had no reliable source to which she could pin-point her information to and thus justify the threat.

In short, Kairi's orders were more akin to: get rid of your seal or die. Which wasn't a very nice thought.

It was actually so unpleasant thought that she had decided to call the night and go to eat and drink something. At sixteen, Kairi was not inclined to indulge to alcohol much, given the standards of her previous life, but a few portions would be alright to get a smidge tipsy without losing total control of either her chakra or general behavior.

But as her luck would have it, just as Kairi was drinking her first glass of chuhai in the first izakaya she'd found with appropriately private yet open concept booths, some lady a few booths over loudly ordered another drink for herself. And the lady's companion addressed her as 'Tsunade-sama'.

"Is my luck really this bad? I have to run into them instantly?" Kairi despaired and pushed her drink aside. She could recognize this scene. And if she concentrated on nearby chakra signals, she could recognize the blazing sun that was Naruto and Kurama. And as the signature approached, Kairi could soon hear the boy's loud complaining about… something. Kairi couldn't make it out quite yet and couldn't risk using the wind to carry the voice better. Less chakra she used now, the better. Less attention to her, the better.

The confrontation between the two pairs went predictably. Food was ordered and the conversation began. Naruto took offence to Tsunade's… everything. The offer to become the fifth Hokage, the denial of it.

Oh, it was Shikako who was unconscious instead of Sasuke. Kairi wondered how that had happened. Itachi wasn't the type to make a mistake so… was it yet another incentive? But then he probably would've killed the girl as Naruto was to be take alive. What had Shikako even been doing Otafuku-gai? Yeah, she seemed more proactive than Sakura but… Or should Kairi take this as another possible proof that the Shikako girl was a reincarnation?

Jiraiya gave some exposition to Naruto about Tsunade's feats. And praised Minato to heavens and back. Not exactly new or top-secret information but something that Kairi quietly absorbed while continuing to eat her late dinner.

And then came the final nail to the coffin that snapped Naruto's temper: the derisive words towards all the previous Hokages and the mocking tone disparaging the position of the Hokage in general, thus disparaging Naruto's own dream to become one. The boy leaped over the table towards Tsunade but was snatched from the back of his jacket by Jiraiya.

"Oi! Lemme go!" The boy protested.

"Down! This is a pub." The man replied. Indeed, they were attracting attention from all the other patrons of the place. Kairi silently slid down in her seat to hide her… lack of reaction.

"I ain't gonna just stand here and let you insult jiji or Yondaime Hokage!" Naruto growled whilst standing on the table, Jiraiya still holding onto his jacket as a precaution. "I don't care that you're a lady! I'll slug you with all I've got!"

Tense silence followed. Kairi finished with her yakitori sticks and picked her tamagoyaki that she'd ordered as a sort of dessert, to be polished off the plate next.

The fight was taken outside. Kairi paid her food and joined the onlookers gathering in the doorway. She took her time. The fight was full swing when she finally made it. Just in time to see Naruto use the rudimentary form of the Rasengan. Tsunade responded with hitting the ground with a single finger.

There was a tremor and a loud crack. Not necessary in that order. But the road split apart and the onlookers scattered instantly back inside the izakaya. The first moves hadn't been that dangerous but if jutsu was being thrown about, everyone knew to take distance. Kairi herself slipped to a gap between buildings to eavesdrop.

"Jiraiya, was it you? Who taught him Rasengan?" Tsunade asked loudly her former teammate.

"I am hiw mentor you know… For the present…" The sennin replied.

"Hmph… The only ones who manage that jutsu are you and Yondaime-sama. Playing mighty mentor by teaching him a jutsu he had no hope of mastering? That's pretty cruel. That's how dreamy-eyed brts get started on the whole 'I'm going to become Hokage' farce!"

Cruel words once again, fuelled by bitterness to her own inadequacies and then perfectly inciting Naruto's anger. Kairi just facepalmed as the boy shouted again and the wager was set. But at least the time frame of seven days was confirmed. She'd need to keep an eye on the boy to ensure the path didn't deviate too badly. After all things could change and thus it would not be exactly seven days. In reality, it could be six instead.

The group split apart, Tsunade and Jiraiya to drink and Shizune and Naruto to find lodgings. Kairi followed the latter pair but walked past their chosen inn, towards her own rented room.

The day had gone quite decently and once Kairi was sitting on the futon after a shower and wiping off her makeup, she wrote about all the gathered extra information into a report that she then sent with Shanna back to Suna.

That done, Kairi collapsed backwards with a relieved smile. This start was good. And there'd be a bit of a respite before the showdown. She'd keep her eyes and ears open but otherwise would try to relax.

The days speeded by like on wings. Kairi toured the gambling city and caught some other tidbits of information while playing the games. (And winning. Kairi was making nice cash at appropriately slow but steady pace.) The group of four Konoha nin (current, affiliated and semi-rogue) that she kept an eye on, had a semi routine going on as well. Jiraiya gathered information on his own way and thankfully away from the places Kairi frequented. Tsunade abled about the town on her own and gambled her last money in distracted manner. Shizune was touring the town and trying to hide her nervousness. And Naruto…

Well, the boy collapsed every night after training. Kairi had scouted out his training spot right on the first day but not interfered yet. Tsunade found the boy on the second night and Kairi knew Shizune would be there on the sixth night.

So it was on the third day that Kairi decided to introduce herself to Naruto in her disguise. She was not sure how the confrontation in Wave had gone in this world, but if it went like in canon, she hoped she would not wake unpleasant déjà vu feeling in the boy in regards of Haku.

Naruto had once again collapsed. Kairi kneeled down at bit of a distance and put an origami frog before her. She pressed the butt of the frog and released it, letting it jump and land in front of the boy, booping his nose.

"Wha-!" Naruto started and sprung up into a sitting position. Kairi couldn't help but giggle at the reaction, which in turn attracted the boy's attention. "Who're you?"

"Ah, sorry…" The girl tried to stifle her giggles. "I just couldn't resist."

"…" The boy stared at her and the looked down, noticing the origami. "A frog?" He frowned, picking it up.

"Yeah, it jumps so… It was the best choice?" Kairi looked away in faux embarrassment. "You may be young but you are obviously a ninja. Ninja shouldn't be startled up close." Or at all really if you didn't have the capability to dodge. And more experienced ninja shouldn't be able to be sneaked up to in the first place.

"I guess. What are you doing here though?"

"I've seen you training here everyday and not appearing to take breaks so I was… worried? I don't know about ninja stamina and how chakra affects that but surely you need to eat a lot too?"

Right on cue, Naruto's stomach growled loudly.

"I got some skewers. And tamagoyaki. It's bar food but you'll get protein from them." Kairi held out a takeaway box she'd wrapped in a furoshiki she purchased the previous day, to keep the box a bit warmer.

Naruto accepted the offering and began to eat.

"You still didn't say who you are." The boy said between bites.

"I suppose you can call me Nanami." Kairi almost left it at plain Nami but opted not to. Likewise, Tsunami was not an option either.

"You're not a ninja then? How do you know stuff?"

"My uncles were ninja and I heard stuff from them. But since one of them died a bit before I was meant to start at the Academy, I… didn't become one." This explanation was a strange mesh of truth. Little things combined to form a new truth. Probably if her father had died before Kairi started school, her mother probably would've decided not to enrol her… Especially given Akane's own injury. Not sure though because being a shinobi was still a standard in Fuukatsu clan but there was space for non-shinobi professions as well.

"Ah, being ninja is awesome though. I get the chance to protect my precious people and learn cool jutsu."

"It does sound amazing." Kairi smiled from her crouch and then looked around. "Is this some coll jutsu as well that you are training?"

"Yes! It is really cool and super strong once I finish it! And will master it soon, dattebayo!" The boy gave a determined fist bump while biting into the last skewer.

"Ganbatte." Kairi grinned. "I'm rooting for you. Are you close with it?"

"You bet! There were three stages to learn and I'm already in the last one."

"Ooh, that is impressive. Have you been training for long?" The manga gave some indication to the time passing but considering that Jiraiya and Naruto also walked from place to place on foot, not everything was depicted accurately.

"Almost two weeks!" Then it took very little prompting to get the boy ramble about the exercises and how hard stuff was and how annoying Jiraiya was. All that Kairi could get from her archive but… it was nice. Spending time with Naruto even under a pretense. And without anyone acting as a filter to him. No Jiraiya. No Kakashi. Not even the boy's teammates. While Kairi was certain that this Naruto had a bit more tactically inclined mind, he was still the same slightly dumbass Naruto who normally would be corralled but people more perceptive than him.

Was this a way of taking advantage of the boy? Yes… Did Kairi regret it? Some maybe. But she was an opportunist as heart. And maybe when the time to reveal her identity came, Naruto would finally learn his lesson to be wary of strangers.

"I probably should let you back to your practice now." Kairi stated then, collecting the trash. "Do you want some food tomorrow? I could bring."

"Can you find ramen?" Naruto asked instantly. "I haven't tasted it since leaving Konoha."

"I'll try to find a place. Jaa ne."

"Jaa ne, Nanami-neechan!"

That night Kairi trained herself. While using the Rasengan itself would be risky the basis of the jutsu was fascinating. And Kairi already had mastered the nature transformation for wind chakra last year.

"To take inspiration from a piece of media to be similar but not too alike…" Technically Kairi had head start to Rasenshuriken as well but again, it did not interest her to steal a signature jutsu of Naruto. But the usage was reminiscent of chakram. Kairi remembered watching Warrior Princess Xena when she was young. It was quite confusing especially when she didn't see all the episodes in order and some were pretty separate from the rest of the plot line… but Xena's signature weapon was very recognizable. Both as a singular and combined form. And that imagery could be utilized for both close combat and thrown spinning attack.

Thus Kairi worked on condensing her chakra and finding a good spinning pattern to mould the shape of it. Ultimately the goal was to have the disc float a bit above her palm rather than curled against it.

Though her time was limited, she felt she was doing a good progress with it.

On the fourth day Kairi brought ramen to Naruto. It was around dinner time rather than lunch like on the previous day. She also had her own meal with her and spent time amicably chatting with him while they ate. Afterwards Naruto even demonstrated the technique to Kairi which was very helpful. He was definitely progressing with the third stage even if in his frustration, Naruto may not notice it himself. But Kairi encouraged him before leaving. She bid good bye and told him she wouldn't be in the city for a while but was sure to come see him winning his wager against 'the old hag'.

Yes, Kairi would definitely be there. And she needed to be prepared.

Only three days to go.

A/N: The end of the chapter didn't go as originally planned. I had planning keeping Kairi wholly on the background and then start with the Tanzaku-jou showdown here. Didn't happen. Am I disappointed? Not really.

Some vocabulary that got dropped in or othervise interesting stuff:

Tanzaku: They mean a type of ribbons that are tied to bamboo. The ribbon/poetry slips in Hanafuda cards are called tanzaku as well.

-gai: town I guess

-jou: castle

Aotan: "Aoi tanzaku" Blue ribbons. A hand in Koi-koi card game.

Yaku: a card hand

Izakaya: A Japanese pub where groups of friends or coworkers go to spend time and drink the night away.

Yakitori: fried chicken. I literally just googled Japanese pub food and found a list...

Tamagoyaki: fried egg. Well, that japanese omelet that is wrapped up and then chopped into slices. Can be seen on top of nigirisushi or then as wider pieces on their on.

Furoshiki: a square cloth that is usually patterned. They are used to wrap things into them, like bento or gifts. You also see those burglar caricatures carrying a large sack of stuff on their back. that is also furoshiki.

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Replies to reviews:

- thewhiteangel213:
You're welcome! I'm glad you liked the previous chapter. I hope you like the next one as well.

- Falconfighter1427:
Thank you.

- Glass Carly:
Thank you very much! I update when the mood strikes. With this one I started the chapter a month ago but only now scrunched the rest of it together.