Shadow of the Snake - From Home to Hell

"Thank you father."

…

I let the door to my room slide closed, and waited until I was sure I was alone.

How did this happen!?

I had thought that either I would be forcefully recruited by Orochimaru or I'd successfully avoid him.

Why was Father sending me to him!? What could possibly have given him the impression that I wanted to be a…

My mind flashed to my martial arts practice, the questions I'd asked around to figure out where I was in the plot, and the bow practice.

…right, but it isn't like I've shown myself capable of doing that kind of thing…

My mind flashed to the later chases with my brother, the progress I'd made with Natsuhi's studies, and the still recent incident with my brother's friend.

…shit.

I had been banking on getting as strong as I could without Orochimaru knowing. I hadn't imagined that my own father would be the one to sign my death sentence. If I'd known it could've turned out like this I would have just asked one of the hired Sound Ninja guards to teach me!

No, no, no. Wait, it's not all for naught.

I released a calming breath.

There's a good chance I still don't have Orochimaru's attention. I can work with that. As far as he's aware, I'm just some snot-nosed brat with lofty dreams. I don't have any inherited bloodline abilities, and he probably hasn't heard of my so-called 'genius'.

Even if he was told about my strange behaviour, he'd at the very least take it with a grain of salt. When it comes to nobles, their abilities are typically blown way out of proportion.

At the absolute worst, the level of interest I could expect from Orochimaru was that he'd assign someone else to train me. I didn't remember much about the Hidden Sound village itself, but I could probably work this situation to my advantage.

I removed my gaze from the floor and considered the room.

7 years now…

For the last 7 years, this space had been almost everything I knew.

The mats, the little barred window, the paper walls, and the sliding door. I didn't wander much, but that'd been fine for me. I had never been one for wanderlust.

The futon I slept on, the low table in the middle, and the cabinet by the wall. I didn't own much, but that'd been fine for me. I only cared about things that I could use.

I knew this would happen eventually, I'd been scared of it for most of my second waking life. I'd been preparing for it, like collecting pillows to place on the train track in hopes it would stop the crash.

I hadn't prepared for it to hurt like this.

There had been times when I forgot this was the Land of Sound, times when I forgot that these people were doomed. It was natural for a weak willed and forgetful person like myself.

Those times had been nice.

No putting it off any more…

I collected a backpack and gathered what few things I'd need. A couple of sets of clothes, toiletries, and writing supplies. I'd carry the bow on its own, and the arrows would go in the quiver, which I would carry separately as well.

I could have packed more, but I reckoned the sound ninja weren't intent on helping me carry anything.

I slid open the door.

Walked through.

Hesitated.

Then closed the door behind me.

"You got everything, brat?"

I looked over at Ichino.

Nodded.

"Then get out of here, you won't be getting any goodbye hugs from me."

Not surprising really…

"Damn idiot… you forgot something."

Huh?

I stopped and turned back again to see her holding out the shamisen.

"Wouldn't want you losing your one redeeming trait, you better be at least half as good as I am by the time you get back."

I clutched the instrument, taking a moment to find the words I was looking for. Then I struck Ichino with a hug.

"Argh, get off!"

…to her obvious chagrin.

"Miss… you… too."

Then I let go and ran off towards the court. Stopping only to give an acknowledging nod to Tatara, who smiled and returned the gesture. An instinct told me that it was enough, not to overstep. Tatara was always like a shadow, and it felt like any further motion would breach the sanctity of that relationship.

I slowed to a stop again at the doorway into the court, prompted by the ongoing conversation. From the few words I could make out and the unknown voices, it was probably my father briefing my escorts.

There was a mirror right by where I stood. Set up such that my father and his courtesans could make sure they looked their best before entering the courtroom.

Looking myself over, perhaps I'd grown enough that one could guess at how I'd look when I grew older. As a setting, the Elemental Nations had a strange mix of feudal and modern elements. Given that it had taken me a while to realise for sure that this wasn't feudal Japan, it was safe to say my household adhered to a more traditional fashion sense.

I didn't fall far from the norm. My full attire made me a mini feudal Japanese lord or non-armoured samurai. The colours of my silk clothes ranged from blueish greys to blacks. I wore a pair of wooden sandals, a kimono shirt, a haori on top, a sash to keep the shirt in place, and baggy trousers in place of the more traditional skirt-like wear. The only pieces that fell outside the style was an addition of my own making, a pair of black gloves suited for archery.

It felt strange calling this stuff silk, it was plenty different from the Earth equivalent. Probably as a result of ninja fashion choices, the clothes in this world were far more durable. Thinking back, I couldn't recall any characters from the show wearing leathers.

As for me personally? I wasn't fat, but not exactly well defined either. I was slightly below average height for my age, and considering my father, I reckoned that'd stay true in my later years as well.

My head was adorned with straight onyx black hair. It wasn't particularly long, but I'd avoided cutting it, having planned to eventually braid it. For now, I had it in a pair of short ponytails. Sure, long hair was a weakness 'cause an enemy could grab it, which was why I'd eventually hide envenomed sharp bits in there… as soon as I learned how to buy/make venoms.

My thin eyebrows were the same onyx black colour and seemed to be locked in attack formation. Combined with my sharp black coloured eyes, thin lips, and small nose, my face was naturally inclined towards intimidation.

Hanging around Ichino hadn't helped in that department, I seemed to have picked up a resting frown. Then again, that might have been more a result of me over-correcting to avoid picking up Issai's overly cheerful mannerisms or Tatara's smug smirk.

A sentence punctuated with a sense of finality stirred me back into action.

It was time to go.

Breathe in…

I took my feelings, gripped them hard.

…breathe out.

…and let them go.

My father had a protocol for dealing with ninja, and Natsuhi had taken the time to teach me.

Point 1: Relations with ninja are to be purely professional. Don't offer ground, don't take ground. That means keeping conversations only on topic. Anything out of line was liable to be a land mine. Stepping out of line could mean making an enemy of a ninja, or worse, befriending one. Nothing was worse than befriending a ninja, because that meant their enemies become your enemies.

Point 2: Be sure of your own position, but make no assumptions of the ninjas own status. By the nature of their profession, shinobi are secretive and deceptive. You are as liable to deal with a wolf dressed as a sheep, as you are a sheep dressed as a wolf. So grant neither boon or bane, treat all ninja the same.

Part 3: Let the ninja dictate the start and end of any meeting. Ninja are used to dealing with sneak attacks, and may be prone to instinct. Letting them set the pace greatly reduces the chance of being skewered because they were caught off guard. That isn't to say that you let them control the time schedule. You may choose when to make yourself available, and may ask/nudge them to leave. Just don't be forceful about it.

There were a number of other minor points, but these were the ones I tried to keep in mind, because they made sense…

Consider Gato and Zabuza. When Zabuza lost to Kakashi, Gato breached point 2 and assumed Zabuza wasn't a great ninja. This led to him turning on Zabuza to avoid paying him. Gato was wrong, Gato died. Before that, Gato got mad that Zabuza failed, a breach of point 1, he let it get personal. Haku, as Zabuza's right hand man, broke Gato's arm for that.

…It made sense, but it still felt wrong. The whole system Father relies on treats ninja more like dangerous beasts than people. Nothing good ever comes from dehumanising people. The series made a point of that, a big one. People like Zabuza and Haku weren't tools. People like Gaara and Naruto weren't beasts. Ninja or not, people were people.

I knew this.

I'd grown up with the series in my first life, with that lesson etched into my soul. Empathy, forgiveness, and understanding. Jiraiya's ideal for how to fix this world.

Yet all the same, I followed my father's system.

I stepped out into the court in a slow movement that put me within the ninja's line of sight, but out of their reach.

I saw my father wait a breath for the ninja to acknowledge my presence before he gestured for me to come closer, and continued talking, probably introducing me.

Looking over the two sound ninja who would be escorting me, there were no revealing hints about them at all. They wore the village's standard uniforms. Basically they looked like black ninjas from earth with purple-ish grey long tunics on top. The musical note headband was attached to the headwear.

Where the hell do they keep their kunai?

I was sure I'd seen them wield weapons during the show. With the wisdom of one who once had access to the internet, a gateway to a staggering quantity of weird shit and fetishes, I decided it was best I didn't think about it.

The attention of the room fell upon me. Which I took to mean that the conversation was done.

I turned to my father, armed with what he understood was a neutral expression.

"Goodbye, father."

The ninja turned to leave, and I made to follow.

The silent communication worked for now, but would they understand me? Would I be able to understand them? Why hadn't I worked harder on trying to learn how to actually listen and speak properly!?

The servants had been accommodating, so I figured that it was good enough. I'd forgotten-

No, that was a lie.

It was because it was hard.

Being complacent, telling myself that I'd 'try tomorrow'? That had been easy.

The more things change, the more they stay the same…

My thoughts paused for a moment. Struck by a realisation. I was letting my mind wander, trying to distract myself from reality.

The faces of which were Natsuhi and Issai.

Guess I'll have to say goodbye to them as well- backpacks?

Analysis Begin!

What do I know?

1. Issai and Natsuhi are equipped with backpacks.

2. My father is a lord.

3. I'm heading to the Hidden Sound village.

4. I have known issues.

Subject: what?

From fact 1, the two are prepared to travel. Added as fact 1.1

From fact 1.1 and fact 3, they are accompanying me.

Analysis En-

Like Hell!

Subject: Why are they coming with me?

Hypothesis: They are escorting me to the village.

Objection! They wouldn't be able to travel safely back.

Hold it! Fact 2, my father doesn't care.

Objection overruled.

Objection! Amendment to fact 1.1, they are too well packed for just travel.

Objection sustained.

Hypothesis Overruled.

Conclusion by contradiction: They are joining me in the Hidden Sound village.

Amendment to subject: Why are they joining me in the hidden village?

From fact 4, they could be there to continue to watch over me, added as 4.1.

Objection! No ninja village would accept that.

Take That! Fact 2, my father has influence.

Objection! Clearly that's not the case or he wouldn't have to accept me joining at all!

Objection sustained.

New relevant information.

5. Orochimaru is powerful

6. Orochimaru is selfish.

Subject: Why would Orochimaru allow this?

From facts 5 and 6, Orochimaru does whatever he wants and nothing will stop him. Added as fact 7.

Contradiction found. Fact 7 and fact 3. This is not something Orochimaru wants, so why is it happening?

Hypothesis: There is in fact no contradiction.

Objection! What's that supposed to mean!?

Take That! The contradiction is based on all things being either things Orochimaru wants or doesn't want. There is a third category: indifference!

Conclusion: Allowing this costs Orochimaru nothing, and grants him a minor favour with my father.

Analysis End.

With that, I let decorum go straight to hell and tackled Natsuhi with a hug. To her obvious surprise.

"Yumika, wha-?"

"Thought… alone."

I caught the understanding look from Natsuhi, and the judgemental gazes of the ninja. They probably thought I was weak. I didn't care.

I followed Natsuhi and Issai to the cart we'd be travelling in, and we sat ourselves inside.

Maybe this wouldn't be too bad…

Then Natsuhi brought out a large pile of books. A pained smile on her face.

"We won't be able to stay with you all the time, so you'll need to be more fluent…"

She hadn't slowed down as much as normal, I'd only kept up because I was familiar with how she spoke.

That was an intimidating pile of books.

I gave her a pleading look.

Can we wait until tomorrow?

A shake of her head.

I was going to hate this.

In a surprising turn of events, I was quite happy when we arrived at the Hidden Sound 'village'. At least now Natushi couldn't force me to cram my language skills, at least not in the very immediate future.

We hadn't finished the pile. I didn't magically pick up the skills needed to hold a conversation, but it was progress. Natsuhi could speed up a little bit, and I could maybe form a complete sentence with some effort.

An unforeseen consequence was that I discovered that I could read and write, at least at a basic level. That had confused the hell out of me. What kind of idiot learned to read and write before they learned to listen and speak!? It was strange, processing words on a page without associating them to the equivalent spoken word.

I had a theory about that. I reckoned that I'd probably been associating the words with the English translations. 'Been' because I realised that my English vocabulary had been degrading. A bit of retrospection revealed that I'd started to think more via meanings and associations rather than in coherent sentences. A few of the new words had been starting to slip in as well.

There had apparently been an incident on the road, but I'd been asleep at the time, and neither Issai nor Natsuhi were keen to speak on it.

Guess I'm finally here.

It was… disappointing. The dreaded 'Hidden Sound village' I'd been worrying myself senseless over the last 7 years, wasn't a village at all. It was a glorified large underground base, which started with a stairway cut into the earth leading to a door.

Flanked by Natsuhi and Issai, our escorting nameless ninja granted us the grand tour.

Issai jumped at the chance to translate for me, but Natsuhi held him off. No more training wheels.

The Hidden Sound was admittedly a very large basement. Word may have been hard, but I had some idea of what to expect. Laboratories, prisons, offices, cafeterias, libraries, living quarters for regular people, sections squared off for the various clans that had joined entirely, areas to battle, areas to train, armouries, stockpiles, and a classroom.

The labs weren't off limits, but we were to avoid getting in the way of the scientists. Especially Lord Orochimaru.

The prisons weren't off limits, but we were to avoid getting in the way of the wardens. Especially Lord Orochinaru,

The offices weren't off limits, but we were to avoid getting in the way of the bureaucrats. Especially Lord Orochi-

I think you get it.

What was off limits was other people living quarters, unless invited. That applied double for the clan sections.

The cafeteria had food at all hours, because the ninja and scientists had a tendency to lose track of day and night cycles here in the underground. Don't be a glutton, and don't expect good food.

There wasn't anything actually useful in any of the libraries. Anything of note was kept more secure by its owners.

We were free to take from the armouries and stockpiles, as long as the one on guard managing it okayed it. This message was accompanied by a story of a ninja losing an arm because the guard had been in a poor mood, and was ticked off by the 'trivial' need for medicinal supplies.

In fact, that seemed to be a common theme. The shinobi did just about anything they wanted here. There was no law, or enforcement of such. If anything, Orochimaru seemed to actively enjoy pitting these people against each other.

I'd taken great care to make sure Natsuhi caught that fact. I didn't have faith in Issai picking up on the message, but Natsuhi could spell it out for him later.

If we were going to manage here, we needed to be at least one of three things: insignificant; strong; or important to someone strong.

The classroom had been a bit of a surprise. It made sense with the clan kids and the excessive number of kidnappings Orochimaru committed, but for some reason 'general education' wasn't the kind of thing I pictured being on the snake's agenda.

There were five classes, each based on a level of proficiency. They ran on a set schedule, and attendance was not mandatory. Nor was there anything dictating which class you should attend. They covered everything that could be expected of a regular school, but…

They taught nothing about being shinobi. In fact, there seemed to be no official ninja training at all.

That was a problem.

That was bad.

How in the world did they assemble an army capable of attacking the Hidden Leaf like this!?

The clans taught their own, obviously enough.

Everyone else though?

Favours, apprenticeships, and brute force experience.

Thinking back on it, any named sound ninja from the series fell into one of two categories: someone who used their bloodline/clan technique, or someone who had some sort of lab-created power and was a one trick pony.

I couldn't even recall any of the extras ever actually using any jutsu, other than the massive snake sumon. Most likely Orochimaru taught that one himself for the sake of the invasion.

Fortunately there was one thing. A combat oriented exercise for kids which lined up with everything else: organised spars. The adult in charge would pit the kids who showed against each other, then they'd fight, then he'd give feedback.

I was screwed.

On the bright side, they hadn't tried to separate me from Natsuhi and Issai, no more than putting us in individual rooms. Rooms which were right next to each other.

As for the rooms themselves?

Trash.

On earth this could be a prison cell. In a first-world country like Norway? A breach of human rights.

Concrete walls. A single lightbulb. A bed. A cabinet. A connecting bathroom.

Not even my student life had been as depressing.

Tomorrow I'm back in school…

I didn't bother unpacking. I could feel this place draining me already, I needed sleep if I was going to make it through the next day.

I'd been relatively hopeful when I sat down in the second furthest row in the class. Natsuhi had suggested that I try the lowest tier first and see how I did before going any higher.

I had blank papers out, and a pencil at the ready. Years of experience taking notes and doing exercises to fall back on.

When the other students piled in, I got nervous. I hadn't prepared for anyone trying to approach me.

No one did.

I didn't even register on their radar.

That was somehow worse.

Then the teacher arrived. A nondescript man who I didn't really care about.

I could do this, I was ready.

Then he started teaching.

"Last time we covered-...now remember-...can anyone-...about?"

Huh?

I wasn't ready.

I could feel my heart sink as the pencil dropped out of my hand.

I couldn't follow this. Despite how hard Natsuhi had worked on the way here. Despite how hard I had worked on the way here.

Awake. What time was it?

I brought up my phone. If I got up in 15 minutes I could catch the bus at 7:15.

I didn't want to. It was pointless. I could simply not. The thought weighed on me like a ten ton blanket.

For the first time that month, I managed to shrug off the blanket, crawl out of bed, and get dressed.

It took me 20 minutes.

I could still make the bus, if I skipped breakfast.

The traitorous thoughts came back. Don't bother, eat.

With resolve, I left the building, locking the door behind me.

I'd need to jog, but I could do that.

On the bus, I felt something.

Pride.

I'd done it, I'd be attending lectures today.

I arrived, prepared my tools: a notebook, a pen, a pencil, and a ruler.

I had the book as well.

A part of me was scared. Scared that one of the other students, or god forbid, the professor themselves would notice that the 'no-show' was present.

No one did.

It was somehow worse.

A greedy thought: it took a herculean effort to be here, please acknowledge it!

The thought was followed by guilt. These people had been doing that for the last 3 months, there was nothing special about my effort.

The professor turned on the microphone, and silence followed.

"Last time we talked about…"

I followed along , noting down the key parts of what he said.

I realised quickly.

I could hear the words, but didn't understand. I'd fallen too far behind.

I tried to persevere.

15 minutes. I stopped writing.

30 minutes. I put down the pencil.

40 minutes. I glanced at the time on my phone. 5 minutes until the break.

45 minutes. The break.

I packed my things, quietly. Noone seemed to notice.

I packed my things, quietly. Noone seemed to notice.

The bus home was much easier to catch.

I'd made sure to remember the way back to my room.

The bag was heavy, why did I bother with the books?

I kept out of sight of the ninja, one misstep and they'd kill me.

The door to my room.

The door to my room.

I slammed it shut behind me and let my bag just fall to the ground.

I slammed it shut behind me and let my bag just fall to the ground.

I dove into bed, and wrapped myself with the blanket.

I dove into bed, and wrapped myself with the blanket.

Why am I like this!?

I thought I'd gotten better.

I didn't want to be awake.

I didn't want to be here.