Trembling Steps - Bright Beach

I kept my eye on Isoaki for most of the week leading up to my next deployment. From the outside I was probably the perfect little 'kohai' latching onto my 'senpai'.

Translating from weeb: that meant I looked like a brat who'd latched onto their senior.

He didn't seem to mind, in fact he appeared entertained by the whole thing, and the more I saw of him, the harder it was to believe he was anything other than genuine. He spent most of his free time wandering around, talking to people and being a generally nice guy.

A lot of the local kids knew him, and I got dragged into helping him play with them a bunch. He used tree walking to help get cats out of trees and other high places, and he had me stand under to catch them should they panic and fall. He helped old men and ladies with their shopping, and had me help hold them steady as they walked.

Honestly… it was a pleasure, and I'd almost forgotten what I was trying to do halfway through the week.

It's like meeting pre-Madara Obito.

It was that thought that soured my mood. Naruto was the character who succeeded in his dream… but the series showed us many like him who failed before him. Obito was the prime example as he was one of the main villains in the series. If Isoaki was another 'Naruto'...

…that meant he was destined to fail and fall. So how was I going to help him-

What the hell am I thinking!? I've known him for a week. A week! There's no way I've gotten attached in a week.

The tragic Naruto-clone backstory was already writing itself: heroic Isoaki meets a cute girl, saves girl, and they become friends. Cue girl getting kidnapped / murdered / used-as-a-living-bomb and Isoaki dying/flipping out in revenge, depending on whether there is a third best friend character to carry on the genocide torch in his absence. Fast forward a few years and Isoaki/best-friend fights Naruto who proceeds to talk-no-jutsu them, and then they either get killed by a bigger bad guy or they sacrifice themselves in a last minute redemption arc.

It's not like Kishimoto can use a female character as anything other than a plot device anyway.

I really hope I'm not being written by Kishimoto right now…

Then I was struck by another realisation.

I thought of myself as a girl. How long has that been happening?

Like I'd said before, I wasn't particularly attached to my gender (meat mech driven by organic computer). What I did care about was that the change had slipped past me. How else was I different?

I didn't flinch or hesitate during combat anymore, even if I still pulled my punches during spars.

I trained ritualistically. Even if it wasn't much, it was much more than my past self was capable of.

I…

Realisation.

…lost my faith in people.

10 years ago I wouldn't have even entertained the idea that Isoaki could have it out for me, but now? I just spent a week keeping an eye on him out of paranoia.

How should I expect anyone to put their faith in me if I can't put my faith in them?

It was the height of hypocrisy, and a flaw in my plans. If everyone thought everyone else was against them, then no one could stand together. Someone had to give into faith for anything to happen. Just like Isoaki had.

I've spent so long wondering what he could do against me that I didn't even consider the power I had over him.

As usual, I had failed. It was foolish of me to think that I could lead a revolution against the snake. I wasn't a Liu Bei from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, a King Arthur from legend, or an Aragon from the Lord of the Rings, but…

It was time to leave again.

I was waiting at the rendezvous with Isoaki.

"We should be able to go much faster with you on your feet."

I smiled and nodded.

I still had a massive headache btw, so much so I'd actually needed a doctor to heal some of the strain my brain was taking.

"Though, it didn't seem like we did a complete cycle last time either. I know I've spent time at some outposts we didn't visit."

"So it should take longer then?"

"Yes, probably. If you're lucky, the extra stops will be before my destination."

He laughed, and I pouted.

I was totally suspicious of you! Not… that!

I knew that he knew it too… the jerk.

I heard footfalls in the distance, and turned to look.

Three approaching figures, 2 in front, 1 behind. The guy on the front to the left had his left arm wrapped in bandages, while the lady on the right had some sort of metal mask covering her mouth. It looked more like a muzzle, and a grim part of myself realised it probably functioned like one as well.

They didn't look pleased to be here.

Behind them was the old man jonin, and now that I had the chance to get a good look at him, I had to emphasise that he was old, as in third Hokage's generation old. He had a smattering of scars, mostly from cuts and burns. His fire-like orange/red eyes were dull with apathy, and his hair, dayum the hair. He had thick smooth hair that went down to his knees, and the colour in it faded from white near the roots to black at the end.

He hasn't cut it since it had colour.

More notably, no enemy had either. I had to admit, that was definitely the hardest flex I'd ever seen.

Everything on his person was worn down, his uniform, his gear, and himself. Everything except the ornaments in his hair. Thirteen rings. His hair was split and tied through the rings. Three at the base of his head, which were split further down by 8 more rings, patterned 3-2-3, and finally two rings tied at the end.

Isoaki had told me his name during the week.

Haruka Hiteien.

"Girl, take these."

He handed me a pile of scrolls.

"Store them, they're messages and orders."

I did so as Haruka continued, addressing Isoaki as well.

"These are conscripts, consider them flight risks. Usual procedure."

What usual procedures? Conscripts-?

Isoaki looked grim.

Oh…

Prisoners and unwilling subjects. So suicide squad rules: if they disobey or run, kill them.

"Let's go."

We were off.

They're too fast!

I was falling behind.

Damn it.

A burst of chakra out from my feet later, and I was caught up.

…

I fell behind again, and again I used chakra to catch up.

I was breathing heavily. I was slowing down.

…

I had used 27 of my 54 uses of the speed boost.

"Isoaki… how far off are we?"

"A third of the way to the first stop."

I nodded.

"Hitien, sir?"

"What?"

"Can we slow down?"

"No."

Fine.

28 out of 54 uses.

…

My chest and legs felt heavy. I was sure that if I did have a sense of pain that I'd feel like I was on fire.

Breath. Keep Breathing.

Pain was an indicator that something was wrong. When it came to burning muscles, that usually meant they were respiring anaerobically, or in other words needed oxygen. So I needed to breathe, and my heart needed to pump. Of course, the lungs and heart needed oxygen themselves to do so.

If I was remembering my biology correctly, the pain was a result of a buildup of lactic acid, and while I didn't remember the details, that didn't sound healthy.

Not feeling the pain, didn't mean I was immune to the issue that caused it.

50 out of 54 uses.

"Sir, I can't keep up this speed."

"Shut up, don't care."

Damn piece of-

A breath.

I popped out a soldier pill. Isae made a bunch to practice her medicine making. They weren't nearly the 3 days and 3 nights, but it was a boost.

…

We arrived.

"Girl, drop off the supplies."

Gee, I would love to.

"Sir, I need to visit the medic."

"You can do that after you drop off the supplies."

"No, I can't."

A wave of killing intent hit me, but I really didn't care.

"It wasn't a request."

I wasn't impressed.

"The answer doesn't change: I can't."

My chest heaved, and I turned to face him entirely, interrupting him before he could say anymore.

"Not won't, can't. I don't have the chakra, and won't anytime soon because I had to pop a soldier pill just to keep up with your tempo since you wouldn't slow down. I'm also quite sure that my body is probably tearing itself apart, so unless you want to drag a corpse with you the rest of the way, I'm visiting a medic. Sir."

I didn't wait for a response and went to get myself fixed up.

Low chakra and stunted chakra regeneration due to the after effects of the soldier pill. Internal bleeding on the lungs, legs, and heart, as well as muscle deterioration in all three due to the acid build up. Broken bones as well for good measure.

2 days for me to return to functioning physical condition, and another day to recover enough chakra to drop off the supplies.

I was also ordered to take a month off and visit a doctor once the round was done.

When we left to continue, it was at a slower pace.

Isoaki managed to force conversation out of our two unwilling hitchhikers. I on the other hand couldn't look their way without feeling shameful. Victims of my village.

That was probably why they chose to act when they did.

We were camped, and Isoaki had finished his watch 30 minutes ago. So he was sleeping, while Haruka and I were awake.

I was keeping my eye on our surroundings when I suddenly felt a chill on my throat, and an arm wrapped around me.

"Don't move, don't scream."

Bandage arm whispered into my ear.

"Shinobi, we're leaving."

He said to Haruka.

"No you're not."

Haruka got up, and took a step forward.

The blade at my throat drew blood.

"Not one step closer, or I kill the girl. She's important right?"

Haruka stopped, and looked on in utter disbelief.

Then he started laughing, and I could feel the bandaged man behind me shiver.

"Oh, please do! I'd have done it myself, but orders explicitly forbade it."

Despite the pleasant manner he spoke in, there was a rage burning in his eyes. The whiff sent my way when I disobeyed him was nothing like this, and I knew exactly what it was.

Haruka Hiteien of clan Hiteien. The last of clan Hiteien.

He blamed my father.

"By the way, I know you're there."

He said as he looked over his shoulder, back at the muzzled woman.

My captor saw an opening, tossed me aside to rush the old man.

The fight ended in three steps. In the first step Haruka grabbed the man's wrist, in the second he leveraged the limb to have the man slit his own throat, in the third he tossed the same knife, hitting the woman right between the eyes.

It was simple.

It was lethal.

"Shame, I hoped they'd do it."

The apathy was back, and I felt like he was looking right through me.

"I had actually been planning on killing you myself, despite the orders. The only reason I don't is because I owe Shikyou. He put an awful lot of faith in you."

He knelt down in front of me.

"I don't see it."

He went back on guard.

My eyes hadn't left the bodies.

They just wanted to be free…

I brought out a shovel.

"What are you doing girl?"

"Burying them."

Haruka scoffed.

"They did just try to kill you."

I didn't bother to turn away from my task.

"Like that matters. Anyone else would have done the same in their place."

I should have talked to them.

The grip on my shovel tightened.

Isaoki befriended them like it was nothing, again, he's a step ahead.

If I'd been smarter, they'd have been my first allies.

I had to explain to Isoaki what happened the morning after. He asked about the bodies and I took him to the graves.

Then my final doubts about him were swept away.

I'd met their deaths with resignation, but Isoaki? His fist was clenched, and I saw a fire in his eyes. It was different from Haruka's simmering rage, this fire was righteous, it was just.

Three times Liu Bei sought out the sleeping dragon, three times he proved himself worthy.

When Isoaki carried me for two weeks, he showed his kindness.

When he asked me to falsify my report, he showed me his wisdom.

Here in front of these graves, he showed me his passion.

A memory.

The soloist is in the spotlight. A music student, one set for a professional career. This performance is their final exam.

I'm not in the spotlight. I'm not in the audience. I'm in the shadows of the stage, one of six violas.

1 bar left.

I raise my instrument with my companions, and rest my bow on the string. We're approaching the climax of the song, and the orchestra is going to back them up.

It's time.

I'm focused on my own part, and we pull off a strong entrance. Then as planned, we fade to a pianissimo, and I get to hear the soloist play with us.

The harmony elevates them, the quiet makes them louder, and the rhythms blend into a smooth river of sound.

It's beautiful.

Isaoki had done his part as Liu Bei, perhaps it was time I pursued my own calling.

I wasn't Liu Bei.

I wasn't King Arthur.

I wasn't Aragon.

I wasn't Naruto.

…but perhaps, I could be his Kongming, his Ser Bedivere, or his Boromir.

Strategy Journal

New Entry - Mobs and Goons (1)

To a certain degree, quantity is a quality.

First off, what doesn't work? The Rasengan is good for one enemy, so a waste. Regular close combat is bound to end with me exhausted and overrun, same with skirmishing tactics.

…

Explosive Tags. When in doubt, blow them up. Problem… It's expensive.

…

Tsunade Strength Technique. With enough chakra I could achieve similar results to explosive tags. Problem… having enough chakra and control to pull off.

…

Traps and Smoke. The issue is that fighting several enemies at once makes the fight exponentially harder. Using traps like caltrops to limit approaches could reduce the total number of combatants at once. Using smoke and clones could completely disorient a large group. I can afford to swing blind, they wouldn't have the luxury. Again, invest in Blind-Fighting.

…

Stealth. Hit and run skirmishing requires stamina, but Hit and Run stealth is a whole 'nother skillset.

Progress on other projects:

Flashbangs. Magnesium is too reactive and unstable (there were other components needed as well, talked to chemist to figure out), liable to go off prematurely. Made some anyway, must be stored in seal and used seconds within withdrawal… still liable to hit self. Discovered flash tags exist, much safer, consider purchasing.

Anti-Eye Gas. No progress made.

Chakra Negation. No Progress Made.

Blind-Fighting. No progress made.