The New Normal - Waves

Kin Tsuchi

Kin liked Yumika.

Kin liked her father.

Her father wanted Yumika dead.

So the question on her mind had been: 'How do I kill my friend without him dying?'

…she hadn't quite figured that one out yet.

"Have you made any progress?"

"He seems to be avoiding me."

She lied the first time.

I mean, It can't be that important…

Sure, Yumika's dad sounded pretty bad, but that wasn't Yumika, so doing anything to them didn't make much sense in her head.

In a few years she'd realise that 'asking your 8 year old child to commit an assassination' was probably not the smartest thing her father ever did.

Honestly speaking, she started being more concerned with her father figuring out she'd been lying to him than the initial task to begin with.

So she started more actively avoiding Yumika. That way she wouldn't be lying… as much. Then Yumika actually started showing up less and it stopped being a lie.

She did notice of course. Yumika was really the only other notable person in the arena, despite what her father claimed. She was sure that she was better than everyone else, but she hadn't gotten the chance to fight Yumika again after the first time.

"Watch me."

The fight against Mitsutada had planted doubts. Had Yumika been holding back against her? If so, was she the best? Yumika lost to plenty of people that she absolutely destroyed, so it was easy to dismiss.

Then she lost.

She hadn't told her father about that match. There was no way she was going to admit it herself, and her father didn't ask. He'd stopped after her winning streak became apparent. She'd already been lying about Yumika avoiding her, so it wasn't hard to add another lie on top of it.

"Eh, you can always be better."

She hated that he was right.

Her father hadn't even wondered what had prompted her increased motivation.

She wasn't going to lose again.

She was going to fight Hei again, and she was going to win.

Then Hei lost to Yumika, and that little doubt came back in full force.

She needed to fight him again. She was going to beat him and prove she was the best.

Problem.

Both of them were gone.

Yumika hadn't shown up again after that fight, and Hei wasn't around for more than a month after that.

Which led to the present moment; her holding open the door staring at the head of the Shiin clan.

"Young Kin, is your father in? I do believe he should be expecting me."

She nodded and ran in to fetch him.

She figured this was probably some sort of clan business that she'd have to sit in on, which was how she found herself sitting beside her father across from the man.

"So what brings the honourable lord Shiin here?"

Kin noted Shiin as one of the names she wasn't supposed to like.

Despite the tone directed at him, Shikyou Shiin took a calm sip from his tea.

"There is no need for such hostility, we used to work well together."

Kin's father waved dismissively.

"That means little. All the clans did, until someone laid hands on the daimyo's wife."

The cup was put down.

"Very well, if you wish to get straight to business, that's what we'll do."

The lord folded his hands together.

"It's a good thing that you bring up the late Lady Yumika, because it is their namesake which I'm here to discuss."

She recognised the name.

Is that why I haven't seen Yumika? Since they're dead? I didn't think they were a lady, Yumika was just Yumika.

'Namesake' was a bit of a big word, but she did manage to place it. With that she realised they were talking about her friend.

The statement garnered a curious look from her father.

"You wish to make a move against them? I find it hard to believe you'd ally yourselves with us in this endeavour rather than others."

"It is quite the opposite in fact."

Kin could feel the air chill.

"You see, the young trainee arranged for a meeting with me recently. It was a rather enlightening experience. Contrary to my expectations, they wished to smooth over their relations with us clans."

"Pft, a pointless act. Have you forgotten what has been done to us? Your clan was split in two."

A wave of Killing Intent swept over the two Tsuchi.

"I have not forgiven our feudal lord, nor do I ever intend to, but…"

The pressure faded.

"...I can recognise that my feud is not with harmless children."

"So just like that, they are to be left alone? Our children were not exempt from the daimyo's blind retaliation. You should have simply killed them once they were within your walls."

"That had been the plan."

"So what changed?"

"They actually cooperated. They accepted every demand and condition they could fulfil. They have cut themselves off from all support from the daimyo, present and future."

"Then why aren't they here? Surely I should be able to make demands on behalf of my clan."

"Yumika intended to. I convinced them otherwise. So what would you demand?"

Kin's father shut up. He didn't look happy.

Yumika might be a pushover, but…

Kin could recognise that Shikyou was not.

It even took her father a couple of seconds to find a response.

"Noothing, for we will not accept any compromise."

A sigh.

"Very well, I had hoped for an amicable solution, but since you are set in your decision let me word things differently."

Shikyou stood up.

"We have in our possession one of the children of the daimyo, one who bears the name the daimyo has silently used to excuse every injustice against us."

Shikyou began to pace.

"A child who despises said actions. A child who is training to be a ninja and has the potential to have friends and allies among the very clans their father hates. I intend to see the day when our feudal lord must look his child in the eyes and explain why he has brought suffering to those friends and allies."

He stopped.

"Until that day, Yumika has my protection. Any attack against her is to be considered an against one of my clan. Is that understood?"

It was with ice that her father answered.

"Clearly."

"Thank you for the tea."

It was when lord Shiin had a foot out the door that her father spoke up again.

"Do not think I am blind Shikyou. There is more to this than your moral mission."

From where she was sitting, Kin could just make out the edge of the smirk that was hidden from her father.

"Perhaps."

The door closed.

She half expected her father to explode.

Instead, he calmly started collecting the cups.

"Kin, forget the mission. Focus on your training."

"Yes father."

With that and Hei gone, no more lying.

Ha, I got away with it too.

Medic

"Lord Orochimaru, I wasn't expecting a summons."

She was kneeling in front of the legend.

He wasn't working, that should have been the first sign that something was wrong.

"I have received some interesting complaints recently."

"Lord I-"

"I believe my orders were quite clear."

She shut up.

"You were to manage the arena as an instructor. I even explained that anything else would be seen through."

"I was only trying to help-"

"-and instead you have caused nothing but problems, much like the predecessor you replaced."

She looked down at the ground to hide her mounting fear.

"Lord Shiin has investigated the matter quite thoroughly, and shared what he has discovered with the rest of the clans. I would be impressed if it weren't so troublesome. While their favour matters little to me, it is convenient."

Another piece of paper was picked up.

"Lord Shiin also expressed concern about the competence of our healers after discovering a number of, now permanent, injuries little Yumika had. I've looked over the damages. Those were well within your abilities. Explain yourself."

"It was to breed loyalty-"

"I didn't need their loyalty, I had their fear."

The hint of anger paralysed her.

"...something both you and Mitsutada seemed to have missed. The girl had been a cursed seal candidate. Should I eventually form the sound four, they might have had a place. Instead… you've left me a tool that will be lucky to have reached the abilities of a chunin."

"I- I only wished to serve…"

A pair of fingers forced their eyes to meet.

"No need to worry, I still have use for you."

He wore a deceptively kind smile.

She was enamoured and hopeful when she felt the nails dig into her skin.

As the black mark formed, her hope was drowned out by agony.

"The current iteration of the cursed seal is unfortunately quite unstable, but it requires testing nonetheless."

The snake sat down and leaned back comfortably.

"I had yet to mention your greatest mistake. The recent prison break cost us years worth of built up stock, as well as inflicting injuries to my forces and damages to my assets. The events leading up to it included the death of doctor Busujima who I had tasked with researching alternatives to activating the snake's senjutsu. On further investigation all 6 of the children involved in the incident were a part of your class. Three of which had ties to an unknown called Hei, who you failed to report about."

The medic's eyes widened, but she couldn't speak.

"From what we've gathered, Hei appeared out of nowhere and existed only within the bounds of your arena. Had you reported them instead of staying quiet about your little project, perhaps we could have found out who our little imposter is and prevented these events from happening in the first place."

I knew! I didn't report it because I knew!

"While we've put a bounty on the person, it will likely never come to light."

He's Yumika!

"Farewell."

Darkness encroached on her vision.

That damn brat. Damn her, damn her, damn-!

The medic's body stilled.

Hidden Cloud

Tastuoki, Motoe, and Funida had all moved into Funida's old family home, with Saigorou as their guardian.

"Hey brats. You'll want to see this."

Saigorou placed an open book on the table.

"Boss got a bounty!?"

Tatsuoki picked up the bingo book to get a closer look at the half page Hei occupied.

"Apparently the land of rice fields claims he's at least a D-ranked infiltrator and agitator."

"Infiltrator, sure, but agitator? What does that even mean?"

"An agitator is someone who pushes others to cause trouble."

"Uncle, Hei had nothing to do with this. That was all us."

"Well, they don't know that, and if he has a bounty that means he either disappeared or ran away when he showed up again. It's not like we can tell them that either, they'll just think he's one of ours."

The three boys shared looks, agreeing in their silent conversation.

"Uncle, when can we start at the academy?"

Hidden Leaf

Asuri, Beniyo, and Waho were currently under observation.

"I thought you said the hidden leaf was friendly!?"

"They are Beniyo, but they still have to be careful."

Beniyo ran her hands through her hair.

"I get that!"

"Then you can calm down. It's not like we're being treated poorly."

She deflated and chanced a glance at the ninja standing guard nearby.

Then she rushed over, eyes wide.

"Hey! What is that?"

Waho held off a wince, but the ninja was surprisingly calm about it.

"It's my bingo book kid."

"My name is Beniyo!"

She shook her head to get herself back on track.

"No, I mean the page before, was that Hei!?"

That got the other two to stand up and crowd the ninja.

"Woah, woah, let me check if it's so important to you guys… 'this the guy?"

"That's him."

Asuri's statement was quiet.

The colour drained from Beniyo's face.

"What about Rukia? Is Rukia in there!?"

The ninja held up the book to keep it out of the frantic girl's reach.

"Ok, calm down, and explain what's going on. How do you know this guy? Who's Rukia?"

Waho, the voice of reason, answered.

"Hei was another child like us who taught the three boys who helped us escape. From what I heard, these two had actually been intending to ask him for help, but he was unavailable. If he has a bounty now…"

The ninja nodded in understanding.

"...It's because he's being blamed for your breakout. I can bring it up and have the false accusation added to his page, but we'll still need to know what bounties are out. So who's Rukia?"

The dejected redhead answered.

"...our friend, and Hei's sister."

A shoulder pat, and a reassuring smile.

"Let me look."

The air was tense as the ninja looked through the rest of the book, before sadly, shaking his head.

Beniyo lit up.

"Yes! That's good right!?"

"Ben…"

"Waho, isn't that good?"

No one else seemed happy with the news.

Asuri took a breath.

"If she's not in the book… that means they got her."

"That's…"

Beniyo was forced to take a step back.

"...but we won, didn't we? Guys-"

Her voice cracked.

"We beat the bad guys. We got Waho. We-"

A hic.

"We all made it out."

Waho cringed.

"Not all of us."

"Asuri-"

"No Beniyo, we left Rukia behind. That's what happened, and we couldn't have done anything differently."

Beniyo fell back onto the couch.

The ninja took the courtesy to pocket their only distraction out of sight in the following silence.

It was at the volume of a pin drop that Beniyo next spoke.

"Never again…"

"Beniyo we couldn't-"

With conviction.

"Never again. I'm never leaving anyone behind ever again!"

"We won't have much of a choice, sometime the enemy is stronger and-"

Beniyo jumped to her feet.

"Then I'll be the strongest! So strong that I won't have to make that choice!"

Waho muffled a sordid laugh.

"...and how are you going to do that?"

"I don't know yet, but I'll figure it out!"

Waho couldn't hold it in anymore, and soon Asuri followed.

"Hey!"

Beniyo's indignant shout did little to abate her apparent status as a clown.

"I'm serious! I'll be the strongest Kunoichi in the world!"

"So I take it that you'll be joining the academy."

"That's right old man!"

Beniyo turned, pointing an accusatory finger at the elder that had just arrived. She couldn't figure out why her two friends suddenly started laughing louder.

"Lord Hokage!"

The ninja saluted, and Beniyo paled.