Politics of Mice - Revelations

I was still Hei.

I was leaving the arena after my win against Kin.

"Excuse me."

I turned, and raised an eyebrow.

I didn't recognise the kid. Short blonde hair and green eyes. He was on the bigger side, a definite strong boi.

"Sup?"

He bowed.

"Please take me on as a student."

Oh god, another one.

A deadpan expression reflected my thoughts.

"Sure, just stop with the… bowing."

He straightened and nodded.

"I can do that."

"Good, meet us at…"

I was Rukia.

I was on a mission.

I'd told Beniyo and Waho that there was something I had to do today, so I was doing it on my own.

Where is she?

I looked around outside the other class I was sure Asuri had gone to.

The crowd coming out of the classroom dissipated, and I hadn't found her.

I was sure she'd be here…

Step, step, step.

Then there she was, leaving the class with dignified steps, a good 5 minutes after everyone else.

I stepped forward to speak….

Hi, I'm not sure if you remember me. My name's Rukia, could we talk for a bit?

…instead I saw her gaze pass back to me, and I squeaked like a mouse.

Her gaze lingered on me, and I instinctively pulled back.

Yup, dirt beneath her feet.

She huffed and turned to leave.

"Ah-"

A deep breath.

"Excuse me."

She stopped and turned back to face me, which I took as an invitation to continue.

"Co-could I ask you something?"

She thawed… a little bit.

"Fine, but make it quick."

"Um… Why di-did you st-stop…"

This is nerve wracking. IcouldbewrongshecouldjustbemeanIcouldjusthavebeenimaginingit-

"...being fr-friends with Beniyo and Waho?"

It was buried deep, but I saw it again. Hurt.

"They made it clear they didn't want me around. Is that all?"

That can't be it!

"Bu-but what happened?"

"I don't know, ask them."

She was lying.

I prodded my fingers.

"I… did."

A flare of anger.

"Then why are you bothering me?"

I became a statue, and ascended to a higher plane to escape.

No Ru-mika! Don't go, you have so much to live for!

"I…"

My voice trembled.

Why was I such a coward while being Rukia!?

Asuri stepped closer.

I looked down.

With her out of my sight I gathered the courage to continue.

"I wanted to hear your side…"

A finger on my chin forced our gazes to meet again.

"Really?"

Her calm exterior was paired with a piercing pair of eyes.

I managed a nod, and she let go, backing out of my personal space.

"I couldn't go easy on them when we fought, an enemy won't and they needed to be ready for that. I was admittedly ashamed of my action, so I avoided them the next few days until I was ready to explain myself at Waho's birthday celebration."

She crossed her arms with a huff.

"...where they made their own feelings perfectly clear."

She glared right through me.

"It makes sense that they'd replace me with a weakling that won't even fight."

Analysis Begin!

What do I know?

1. There are two versions of the events. Beniyo and Waho's and Asuri's.

2. Beniyo and Waho said: the two lost to Asuri hard in a fight.

3. Beniyo and Waho said: the two confronted Asuri afterwards, which is when Asuri said something mean.

4. Beniyo and Waho said: the two next saw Asuri, who acted unaware of fact 2, at Waho's birthday where they made their thoughts on fact 2 clear.

5. Asuri said: she beat the two in order to help them.

6. Asuri said: she avoided the two out of shame.

7. Asuri said: she met up with the two at Waho's party where the two made it clear they didn't want Asuri around anymore.

Subject: The Truth.

Facts (2,4), and facts (5,7) agree on the events that happened, if not the reasons.

The disagreement lies between facts 3 and 6.

Hypothesis: Both versions are correct.

Objection! Facts 3 and 6 don't agree.

Defence! What if the 'Asuri' that Beniyo and Waho met wasn't Asuri.

Objection! How would that make sense?

Take That! The transformation technique!

Objection! That is at best speculation.

That's fine by me, because-

Illogical Action Detected.

Analysis Aborted.

"I believe you!"

"So what are you going to do, stop being friends with Beniyo and Waho?"

I shook my head, and scrunched up my face with determination.

"No, I believe them too."

Asuri scoffed.

"That's ridiculous."

"It's not!"

I stepped up and shouted.

"Not if they met an imposter pretending to be you. We could-"

I stepped up and grabbed her hands.

".-We could convince them, everyone would be friends again."

She looked down at my hands for a hopeful moment.

"It's too late for that."

Then she shook free of my weak grasp, and strode away.

The bitter words cracked at my heart.

But…

My hand reached shakily after her, before falling.

…we were so close.

I had to wipe away tears again.

Being Rukia made me such a crybaby.

I was Hei.

I was also annoyed.

This is going to be irritating.

"Funida, this is Motoe who as you know I've been showing the ropes. Motoe, this is Funida who asked to join us. Now can the two of you stop glaring at each other so we can get started."

They huffed and looked away from each other.

It's been two minutes and I'm already so done with these two.

"Screw it."

That got me looks from the two of them.

"As your warmup today, I'm beating the shit out of both of you until you can get along well enough to stop me."

Motoe looked frightened.

Funida looked confused.

Looks like one of them gets it.

I raised my stick.

Let's fix that.

…

I'd note, this only worked by virtue of me confiscating Motoe's staff before we started, but work it did.

The two were now sitting in seiza poses apologetically.

They didn't actually manage to stop me, but they were begging in sync, so I'd let it pass.

I'd made sure not to hit them too hard, so they were red all over, rather than bruised and broken.

I was also really tired, not that I could show it.

"Alright, Motoe, show Funida the basics."

I tossed the two of them staves. Motoe had gotten used to this and caught it, while Funida had to fumble.

I laid down on a bench, resting my chin in my palm as I watched them. Hopefully giving off the impression I was bored rather than tired.

"Motoe, you're going too fast, you've got to slow yourself to Funida's pace."

"Yes sir."

"And don't call me sir!"

"Yes sensei!"

As things shifted…

"Funida, that's not an excuse to slack off!"

"Yes sir."

Oh god, it's spreading.

"Don't call me sir!"

"Sorry."

Good, gotta stop it before it-

Why did Motoe look pissed?

"That's 'Sorry sir!'"

An extra hard whack and Funida stumbled more than usual.

Motoe… dafuq?

I was going to be stuck with this wasn't I?

"Funida, watch your footing…"

When Funida tired out, I handed him a bottle of water and took his spot. With the ability to rotate like this there was no reason to take a dedicated break… which meant I couldn't rest anymore.

Everything about this is going to be more troublesome from now on…

Eventually the training was done and the two were talking quietly to each other as they packed up. I would guess they had some sort of history, it wasn't any of my business so I didn't pay it any mind.

There's one last thing I need to do.

With my back to the two-

Ram-Snake-Tiger.

I ran to the door, loud enough to get the two's attention.

"Hah, I thought it was you."

The two ran out to look at what I'd found.

Which was Yumika.

A clone of Yumika.

I pointed at them challengingly.

"I've beaten clan kids, I've beaten the top dog, you're next!"

Yumika cocked his head with a blank face, before smiling and nodding. Then walking off. I felt it dispel after it rounded the corner.

"Hey boss?"

I turned to Motoe.

"What?"

He seemed incredibly pleased with himself suddenly.

Shit, I didn't correct him this time…

"How strong are you?"

I laughed.

"Oh, I'm pretty damn weak."

"That's not right boss, you beat Kin! Nobody beats Kin!"

"I got lucky."

I said flatly.

If I didn't know any better, I'd thought I just revealed to Motoe that Santa wasn't real.

"That trick? It's not going to work on her again."

He nodded glumly.

Then Funida chimed in.

"What was that?"

Motoe glared.

"...sir."

Internalised sigh.

"Chakra."

I shrugged.

"I'll show you guys later."

I was Rukia.

I was powerless.

Guys please, we're friends. We're all friends.

"You think you're so much smarter huh?"

"We both know you'd have dropped out without my help."

"I'd be fine! It's not like we'll need to know the details of some pointless historical event anyway."

"Wars are still fought over 'pointless historical events' as you put them."

"Then I'll just win!"

"Fine if you don't want my help, then go!"

"You know what…"

Please stop.

"...I will… Snake lover."

"Tomato."

"Heartless!"

"Braindead!"

I couldn't find my voice.

Beniyo stomped off one way.

Waho stormed off another.

The teacher had made Waho correct Beniyo again. Just like yesterday, just like the day before, just like he'd been doing all month. I tried to play peacemaker, but as the two got more agitated, my voice became harder to find.

Rukia couldn't fix this, Yumika wouldn't have done any better.

I wish I was more like Hei…

Tears stained my illusionary jacket.

Being Rukia made me such a crybaby.

I wasn't ashamed of that this time.

I was myself.

I was at the arena.

I was pretending to be a regular clone.

…because Hei was a shadow clone.

Once again, I'd made an enemy of the ringleader of the arena. Difference being that this one had to keep up the illusion of being reasonable. The only way they were going to beat me on this battlefield was by revealing that I was Hei.

If I tried to just use a regular clone, she would match us against each other and the secret would be out. So I had to learn the shadow clone.

So tired…

Which used a lot of chakra.

Chakra was split evenly between the original and all clones. On top of that, there was a flat cost to forming the clone, half my chakra by my estimate. Which left the two of us with a quarter each.

Now based on that thought process, if she thinks I'm a clone…

"Yumika-."

I nodded and walked down.

I could vaguely hear Hei in the back.

…

I was Hei.

Yumika was an asshole.

He had no reaction to being called, and went down into the arena all 'holier than thou' without even registering that I would be his opponent.

I got down, and he offered me a hand.

"Good luck, have fun."

The smile he had was so obviously fake. It was so goddamn patronising.

I slapped the hand away, and growled at him.

"I'm going to kick your ass."

…

Even you?! You're me!

I glared at the arrogant piece of shit.

'Kick your ass', he says.

I'd been very patient trying to be friendly with these kids.

Breathe in…

I took a stance.

…and out.

…

There was a momentary glare from him, which was so satisfying. Before he breathed and went blank faced.

Ok that's just creepy.

"Begin!"

I stepped in and swung my staff down at him.

"Hyaaa!"

…

I stepped aside to avoid the weapon.

My blood boiled with his shout and the loud impact of his strike.

I stomped it out.

Stay in control.

I held off my glare.

What are you thinking? You know I can't hit you properly.

Forced to counterattack, I stepped in and swung up with an uppercut.

…

What the hell are you thinking!? You can't hit me idiot.

…and that blank face was really pissing me off.

I brought my staff down from over his arm, catching him by the elbow.

Block…

Then I stepped back out of his range with my weapon readied.

Whack!

…

There was a moment of where the world went quiet as my clone took a loud breath with his weapon raised. Then…

DEATH

My whole body froze as the attack came down.

Then instinct took over.

Being Hei had taught me something. When you build a tower, you start with the foundations. Where Hei had nothing but his block and attack, I had rushed to the end of my skill tree without putting any of it into practice. If I wanted to be better, I needed to start from the beginning, and rebuild my foundation.

Which was why I did a simple left handed overhead block.

Fun fact, why do you block with the sides of the arm? So that you only break one of the two bones in your forearm.

It hurt mildly, 'training' with Mitsutada had been worse.

I let the arm fall to my side with the staff, while I raised my right knee to kick.

…

I broke his arm. Holy shit!

He didn't even flinch, and he was still blank faced.

That's way too creepy!

"What the hell dude!"

I brought my staff to block the attack from the side, opting to slide from the impact rather than risk the newtonian force passing through the staff popping the shadow clone.

Block…

He's completely forgotten to be careful, dumbass!

I needed to end this or I was going to pop.

I readied and attacked.

Whack!

…

I knew that footwork. I knew that angle. I knew that grip.

I saw the attack line up, and while my instincts screamed…

DEATH

…I was in full control.

Catch.

My right hand was wrapped around the staff's tip that was aimed right for my head.

I turned bringing it over my shoulder, which I used as a lever to force Hei to let go.

I finished the turn with a hooked kick that Hei had to fall over to avoid.

"Alright, I give, you damn psychopath."

I smiled and offered my good hand.

"Good match."

…

He was genuinely happy.

With everything else… It felt like I was facing a cat pleased with how they gutted a mouse.

I wasn't an opponent to this guy. I was just in the way.

I took the hand.

"I'm definitely beating you next time, you goddamn crazy bitch."

…

He was insulting me to my face. Every aspect of what he said was offensive in some way or form.

The frank honesty was refreshing, and the reaction, admittedly entertaining. Most importantly, I felt respected. He acknowledged me as a threat. So I laughed.

"Looking forward to it."

…and I pulled him up.

He walked up the stairs, and I approached the doc,

"Excuse me…"

I held up my left arm.

"...could you fix this?"

She got to work.

"You know… with Mitsutada gone, I'd been hoping the excessive violence would stop. Why didn't you stop the match?"

Everyone heard me. Everyone was listening.

"You only have yourself to blame."

Clever.

This deception has literally cost me an arm at this point. It was going to be fine in a few minutes, sure, but I hoped I'd get something out of this eventually.

…

Back in my room, I released the technique.

Then Hei's memories and mine collided like eggs in a blender. Where my skull felt like those poor egg shells, and my brain like the stuff inside.

Ok, wow… Is that what fighting Hei and I is like?

I shivered.

No wonder no one likes me.

Condescending, unfeeling, and sociopathic. That was a lot of red flags I gave off.

Maybe…

Should I just let the rush run rampant and let loose the adrenaline junkie?

I didn't like that it sounded nicer than what I'd been doing up until now…

Wait, another memory?

…

I was Hei.

I'd just had my ass handed to me by Yumika and was leaving.

Who the hell is this kid?

"Excuse me."

Middle length brown hair and yellow(!?) eyes.

The kid bowed.

"I, Tastuoki of the Soragin clan, would like to ask for permission to learn from you."

"Yeah sure whatever."

He got up.

Then bowed again.

"Thank you sensei."

I can't escape this…

"Yeah, yeah, meet us at…"

"Hey, Yumika…"

"How can I help you, Isae?"

"Why are you here?"

"Well, I just finished-"

She waved her hands and shook her head.

"No, no. Here in the village, training to be a ninja."

"Do you want the honest answer or the polite one?"

"Honest."

I took a deep breath. I trusted Isae.

"...I'm scared. Orochimaru is a heartless horrible missing nin who has a hold of the country's largest population of ninja and the full faith of the daimyo. At any moment-"

I snapped my fingers.

"-me, my brother, and everyone else I care about could killed off."

She snorted.

"So you hope to be strong enough to stop him."

I shook my head.

"I hope I'll be useful enough that he'll at least think twice."

Isae recoiled at that.

"That scared huh?"

I nodded.

"So what's your long term goal?"

"At the moment?"

A nod.

"Konoha Chunin exam in 6 years."

An inquisitive look.

"That's awfully specific."

"It's going to be a big deal I promise you. Seven konoha clan heirs, two jinchuriki, the second coming of Tsunaide in the making. The future 5th kazekage and future 7th hokage. All in one exam."

I saw her deadpan expression.

Time to deploy Schrodinger's joke. I am both kidding and not until the reaction is observed!

"Kidding."

"Figured."

"In truth, I figure that I'll graduate at 12, and that the next chunin exam in Konoha, which is the closest."

All true, just not the actual reason.

"Fair enough."

Suddenly there was silence.

"What's the deal with Hei?"

"Oh, that…"

I stirred the noodles a bit.

"I needed to figure out why everyone hates me."

"...because you're a creepy, overly skilled, unfeeling, arrogant psychopath from a rich family?"

I nodded.

"I realised it looks like that yeah, but there's more to it that I can't figure out."

"What do you mean?"

I raised a finger.

"All the ninja clans hate me for some reason."

"You mean other than the-"

"Yes, other than the creepy, skilled, unfeeling, arrogant psychopath stuff."

"Sounds like some history stuff."

"I figured the same."

"Have you figured anything yet?"

"Nope, working on it."

"Have you tried the library?"

I stared.

"You haven't tried the library?"

I looked away and pouted.

"...I didn't think there was anything useful there at all."

"Hey!"

She actually seemed offended.

"It might not have any jutsu, but there is a lot of general knowledge, and more importantly for you, copies of older newspapers and older official records…"

That's… actually useful.

I put my hands together.

"Sorry, I guess there was something good with the libr-

"-and copies of Doctor Manami's work!"

Ah.

Neither Beniyo or Waho had showed up to class, and there wasn't any training as Hei today.

This gave me a good chance to check out the library.

It was fortunately empty, and I found the newspaper section Isae mentioned.

Whatever it is, this is going to have to be local.

I narrowed my search to the national news.

Let's begin…

War, the land of sound engages conflict against the land of hot water

The hell father! They're practically demilitarised.

It was a pretty pointless conflict, but the land of Hot Water hired Ninja from the Hidden Leaf and the Hidden Cloud. Being their neighbour and before the nine tailed incident, Konoha was able to provide a lot of support, crushing our forces.

This was 7 years ago, when I was barely 1.

What else is there…

War, the land of sound declares against-

Shortly after.

Great, the one neighbour didn't go well, go for the other side.

No major villages got involved, so this was much more of a draw, still draining to both sides.

As part of the peace arrangements, an area around the border became a demilitarised area, including a rich gold mine on our side.

Why did that sound familiar?

I dismissed the thought.

Probably some filler.

Sure was important to me, but I wasn't remembering it any time soon.

There was only one neighbour left, fortunately no one was stupid enough to-

War, the land of sound declares against the land of fire.

He…

He declared war on the Hidden Leaf Village.

How the hell are we alive!?

I looked over the article.

'In the wake of the nine tailed attack on the hidden leaf and the death of the fourth hokage…' oh god.

He took advantage of Naruto's birth to harass the hidden leaf village.

I read the article carefully, and others that joined it.

The hidden leaf ninja were furious that we'd taken advantage of a tragedy like that and our losses weren't just large, they were massive.

Wait…

None of the articles made any mention of the Hidden Sound Village.

It hadn't been founded yet.

I couldn't fathom what my father was thinking. Three wars with no village backing.

It can't be worse…

I looked through the rest of the papers, looking for any headlines that looked relevant.

What the-?

Tragedy in the royal palace, Lady Yumika assassinated.

What… What was this?

I looked at the publishing date.

Three days after I was born.

'What was meant to be a joyous day soon turned to horror. After giving the birth of the twin children of the daimyo, assassins snuck into Lady Yumika's chambers, slaughtering everyone inside.

The only survivor was the young lord Yorihiro.

The casualties include the daimyo's wife Yumika, all the servants in attendance, and the daimyo's unnamed daughter.'

That was me.

I had been a guy in my last life, so I'd just rolled with it when everyone called me the 'son' of the daimyo. It wouldn't make sense for me to oppose what everyone else said. It's not like I cared one way or another. As I said earlier: 'Flesh mechas piloted by organic computers'.

Biologically though, I was a female.

Which if this article was right… meant I died.

I shouldn't be here.

I shuffled through some of the papers I'd passed to, looking for any mentions of the daimyo's sons.

I found one. A week after.

It wasn't even a headline, it was a side piece.

The survival of the daimyo's sons

'A quote from the daimyo on the matter reads: 'I had received warning of the event, and while we attempted to thwart it, the message held true, only my sons would survive the incident.'

No mention of the dead daughter, me. Just two sons, like one of them wasn't a dead daughter. They even avoided the word 'attack'.

Something…

I checked the publishers and writers. The paper on the assassination is the only one to mention it, and afterwards… It's like the author and the publisher disappeared.

It stunk of…

Freak Fire engulfs newspaper publisher

…a cover up.

All the copies of their paper were discredited as their sources had burned up, and the author of that article died in the flames.

From a knife wound I imagine.

"I can't say."

Whatever it is, she knows.

Natsuhi knows.