Trembling Steps - Truth and Fiction

18 months later and I had discovered that it was suspiciously easy to get things going. I found people, convinced them to not do something stupid (with violence if necesary), and hooked them up with Isoaki.

I don't know if it was luck or skill, but no one caught onto what we were doing. The closest thing had been some gloriously unfortunate rumours about Isoaki.

…

I handed him two piles of letters. One was the rebellion, the other…

"Yumika, this is your fault."

"Hey, there's nothing wrong with people having caught on. Honestly, I envy you, you have nothing to lose! It sounds freeing."

Read as: It's better they think you're a playboy than a traitor. If anything, it's proof that we can't talk about this outloud.

I heard the tell tale signs of Haruka coming to give me shit for wasting time.

"Welp, gotta go."

Haruka kept the same work pace as before, so I never got the chance to talk Isoaki properly. It was a shame because I really wanted to have a bit more input into how things went. I had to make do with a bit of written advice which boiled down to: 'Orochimaru is the main problem, you need to wait for an opportunity to work around him'.

"Alright Kanshi, one last time."

"Sure thing."

I had managed to figure out why I couldn't pull off the rubber ball stage of the rasengan: I literally didn't have enough chakra.

Now this is where you ask: 'Yumika, what does that have to do with Kanshi?'
You see, it's quite simple: The Shiin clan is from a filler arc, meaning their abilities are broken. The relevant factor here being their chakra boosting technique.

The technique boosted the power of my chakra by a multiple of 10, which meant I only needed around a 1/10th of my total chakra, instead of literally all of it… which would kill me.

The music hit my ears. I couldn't feel my chakra, but I had faith in Kanshi.

Compress, spin, and contain.

I opened my eyes, seeing a glowing blue orb of swirling energies.

I was overcome by the most malignant mischievous smile.

"Wanna see me test it out?"

This was the first success, and Kanshi seemed doubtful, even if he was still supportive of my efforts.

I got up and looked at the training dummy that was setup in the room.

Dragon ball fans had the Kamehameha…

I set my footing, and pulled my hand back.

…but for me it was always the-

"Rasengan!"

I stepped forward slamming my hand into the dummy, completely unable to resist the urge to shout out the name of the technique.

I could feel the wave of force recoil back towards me, just before a boom resounded through the chamber ripping the dummy out of the ground it was nailed down to and into the back wall. The second boom upon impact created a crater in said wall and highlighted the trench that the dummy had ripped through the ground.

The music stopped and we were both left speechless.

That was… exhilarating.

Something about having been responsible for… that, made the little chemicals in my brain go 'Hell yeah!'

"Yumika… we have to tell Father."

"No!"

All the good vibes fled in an instant at the suggestion.

"This is amazing, he has to know-"

"No, you don't understand, he can't know!"

"Why?"

Kanshi didn't raise his voice, he never raised his voice.

You trust him Yumika, tell him the truth.

"That technique. It…"

I took a calming breath, and resolved myself to continue.

"It is one of the fourth hokage's secret techniques. Only two other living people know it: Kakashi of the Sharingan, and Jiraiya the toad sage. Minato… is the reason Orochimaru didn't become hokage."

Kanshi nodded.

"Makes sense."

Just like that huh?

No questions, no doubt.

You're too good for this world, Kanshi.

"Thank you."

"We still need to explain how this happened."

"How what happened?"

We both froze, and robotically turned to the doorway where Yuharu stood, taking in the scenery. Then, like the children we were, we opted to flee the scene rather than explain ourselves.

If I had been any less relieved, I would have been suspicious of the fact that Yuharu never questioned us on what happened. Instead I had to deal with the repair bill that she had dumped on me.

That's a lot of ryo.

Thankfully, I didn't pay Natsuhi too much for rent, and my own expenses as a ninja weren't high compared to the pay I received.

Speaking of work…

I met up with Haruka, he acknowledged my presence, and we left for the mission.

We'd gotten… comfortable with each other. I didn't like him, and he didn't like me. In fact I was still sure he took every opportunity to 'accidentally let me die' that he came across.

It was with the smaller things that the begrudging familiarity shone through. He didn't need to tell me to hurry up anymore, and I didn't need to tell him when he was pressing too hard. We didn't need to talk about where we were heading next, or why we were suddenly taking a detour.

"Hi, I'm Yumika, a simple messenger. I'm hoping to try myself at the hidden leaf chunin exam in 3 years, but for now, do you need any mail delivered?"

…

"Isoaki, more mail."

"Thanks, hey what do-"

"Sorry, I gotta go."

…

"Yes, I don't understand your pain. Yes, I'm wearing this headband. No, that doesn't make you any less stupid."

…that attempt took a bit longer than normal.

…

He is supposed to be your sensei, you might as well try asking for help.

"Hey, Haruka-sensei, could you teach me something?"

"No."

I wasn't surprised, or even offended.

"I haaaaate him."

"Yes, Yumika, we know."

"I mean seriously, if I got paid a ryo for every time he told me 'shut up, don't care' I'd be rich!"

"You mentioned as much."

"I mean what's his deal anyway!?"

"He did lose his whole family in a war your father started."

I glared at Kanshi half heartedly.

I'm trying to vent here! You're not supposed to be reasonable.

I sighed, and I fell out of the mood to continue.

"I know, I know… it's still annoying."

We were eating breakfast.

"Now that you're done, could you pass the salt."

"Sure, here you go."

"Thank you."

He sprinkled a bit on his plate, and I picked up my tea to take a sip.

"What do you think about marriage?"

Splutter, choke, cough.

"What!?"

Kanshi seemed unperturbed.

"Marriage. Your father is the daimyo, and you could very well end up in an arranged marriage soon."

The colour drained from me entirely.

"Ah, you hadn't thought about it."

Marriage…

Whether you considered this setting pseudo-feudal or Japanese, both cultures practised arranged marriage. How had I missed that!?

It's going to be someone as young or younger than me too! That's way too messed up.

I grabbed Kanshi's hands in a panic.

"You gotta help me out of this!"

"We can talk to Father once he returns."

…

"Hmm, yes, I see how that could be a problem."

"There has to be something I can do right?"

Shikyou stroked his chin inquisitively.

"Well, there is a simple solution, if you can find someone willing."

I perked up.

"Really?"

He nodded.

"Yes, if you find someone else who is willing to avoid marriage until later, you could enter a betrothal with them. Perhaps one that would become relevant in theory when you were 20. Either of you could break it off at any time before then, so it would simply be a shield to protect you two from other proposals in the meantime."

I deflated.

"There's no way I could find someone like that."

Kanshi coughed.

"Yumika, if this truly bothers you, perhaps I could be of assistance?"

"Really? It would mean giving up any chance at young love, and the implication that you're with me of all people."

"That doesn't sound too bad."

You're really not making sense.

He coughed again.

"I mean to say that as the heir to the Shiin clan, my first responsibility is to become a strong ninja. My pursuit of the lady of my dreams can certainly wait until later."

I tackled him with a hug.

"Thank you."

Once again, I was glad I could rely on this boy.

Why does Shikyou look so pleased with himself?

Ok, the hard part.

I needed to tell my father.

I entered the hall and knelt down before him.

"Father."

I kept my eyes on the floor so that I wouldn't see him flinch at the feminine pitch of my voice.

"Yumika, it is not often you seek my audience. This must be important."

I shouldn't need to.

I didn't let my thoughts show.

"There is a matter I need to report, and an issue that requires your decision, but… I would be prudent to do so in private."

A moment of silence.

"Everyone," He addressed the room. "out."

After a couple of minutes it was just us and the ninja guards hidden in the shadows.

"So, what is it?"

His tone stayed neutral, official, as always.

"I have met someone, and…"

Do or die. Now or never.

"...I would like your blessing."

His shadow loomed over me. I had been so deep in my own thoughts that I hadn't heard him approach.

"Really?"

The single word was strained.

He has no power over you, don't be frightened!

The thought was for naught. I nodded nervously, with the sound of my heart ringing in my ears.

A pair of hands grasped me by the shoulders and brought me to my feet, and I was consequently forced to see his face.

He was looking right at me.

He was smiling.

"Yumika, I'm so happy for you. Yes, yes, a hundred times yes! Of course you have my blessing."

I was pulled into a warm hug, my mind running in circles.

This wasn't the daimyo who believed his daughter to be dead.

This was the man who laughed proudly when I spoke my first man who wrote thousands of letters to me. The man who I quietly believed had to exist. The man who was my father.

"You never made mention of anyone when you wrote back, were you keeping this from me or is it someone new?"

My heart was dancing and I got enough wits about me to be embarrassed at the clear tease.

"Father!"

What's going on?

It was like he was a completely different person than I was used to seeing. Had the 'good news' really meant that much to him?

He loosened his grip and stepped back with another content laugh which buzzed in my chest like energetic fireflies. Whatever this was, I couldn't have been happier.

"Sorry, sorry. You've always been sensible and mature for your age, so I trust that if you've found someone, you mean it seriously, even if it is a few years earlier than expected." He stroked his chin with a mischievous smirk. "I imagine I will have much more trouble when Yorihiro starts thinking about that kind of thing."

Yeah… definitely.

My brother was prone to impulsive decisions.

"I see you agree, but enough about your brother. Please, anything you have to say about your special friend, I'd love to hear all about them."

This is the part where I lie.

"I can't really say much father, we're both ninjas with important positions. If word got out, we would both have twice as many enemies."

I saw my father nod along, understanding, but obviously still eager to hear something.

I can stretch the truth… a little at least.

"They're a good friend. I would trust them with my life, but they always seem to be giving me two times as much faith back. They listen to what I have to say, care about how I feel, and have quite a way with words."

The way my father shone with the extra information made the little extra lie all the worth it.

"I look forward to the day you feel safe enough to let us meet."

"Yeah… on that note, we both want to focus on being ninja first, so we agreed on 9 years from now."

"So sensible…" Katsusyou Nogawa shook his head in mock exasperation. "Then again, I was much the same in my youth. Focused on learning to run the nation before your mother swept in. Fortunately for you, it sounds like your friend is far more patient."

His joyful tone was tainted with a solemn nostalgia.

"The day I got married was the happiest day of my life. You know, she used to get this kind look in her eyes before she'd explain why I needed to rethink my decisions…"

It was almost like the words physically hurt him, but he took the effort to speak them nonetheless.

He reached out and cupped my cheek.

"I can tell you have that same kindness, if not brighter. Not only that, there's so much of her I see in you. Yumika, my d-"

He froze.

No, finish. What were you going to say!?

Then his eyes glazed over and his expression dropped.

"No… this is a dream."

It was like a sword through my heart, and with it the fireflies in my chest died a cold death.

"No, father! This is real!"

I reached up to grab his hand, but he pulled away and stepped back.

"My daughter is dead."

No, no, no, no, no!

"I'm right here!"

Don't take this away from me!

He turned his back to me and made his way back towards his throne.

"Father, please!"

I stepped forward, and was met with two of the sound ninja guards.

I don't have time for this.

"Out of my way!"

I stepped forward to shove past them, but two more showed up behind me, restraining me by the arms.

"Let me go! Father!"

My plea got no response. My father was gone, only the daimyo remained.

Give me back my father!

They dragged me out to a small clearing in a nearby forest, dumping me on the ground by a rock next to the river that passed by. At some point, the sun had fallen and the dark horsemen had dragged the blanket of stars across the sky.

I felt hollow. Like my feelings had been condensed into oil and burnt away.

The two who carried me tied me up with rope, before one of them stepped away to stand watch with two more guys, while the other crouched down in front of me.

"That was a dangerous thing you were doing there."

I registered the comment, but couldn't find the strength to muster an answer.

"We can't have strangers coming too close to the daimyo now can we?"

"He's my father." I protested, weakly.

My interrogator waved a finger dismissively.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. I think he was quite clear that he didn't have a daughter. You should have been happy to live as his son. But if you're still going to claim you're his daughter, then we'll have to go ahead and make that conform to the truth now, won't we?"

One of the others handed him a Kunai.

"As he said, his daughter was dead."

I wasn't intimidated, I didn't feel much of anything, which only seemed to amuse him further.

"Well, we both know that's not quite true. That's the neat thing about genjutsu though: I can make reality whatever I want it to be. Whatever lord Orochimaru needs-"

"Girl, you're late. We were supposed to have left by now."

Haruka appeared right next to me, within the encirclement.

He took in the scenery, while I absentmindedly recalled that we were set to leave tomorrow.

"What's going on here?"

"Nothing to be concerned about, we're just correcting an error." said the lead guard.

Haruka crossed his arms unamused.

"...and what error is that supposed to be?"

"Ah, well you see, according to the daimyo, his daughter is dead. So if you don't mind, we're going to make sure-"

Haruka grabbed him by the throat.

"Daimyo's order, huh?" For the second time, I saw him smile. "Excellent."

Crack.

The ninja in his grip went limp.

"You damn traitor!"

My sensei rolled his shoulders.

"Last I checked, I didn't report to the daimyo, but you see, standing orders are to protect your subordinates."

He pulled out his kunai, and I felt him slap something onto my back.

"Not that I care, but it's an excellent excuse to see you all buried."

He rushed at the three fearlessly.

One of them jumped back while the two others engaged.

Haruka feinted a jump right, then juked left. In the same motion, 3 ninja became 2.

"Get clear! Fire release: Fireball jutsu!"

The sound ninja who'd backed away warned before the ball of fire engulfed the area I'd seen Haruka fighting.

The fire cleared, and 2 ninja became 1. Then Haruka dropped the body of the ninja he'd used as a shield.

"Friendly fire. Naughty."

The panicked sound ninja started going through the hand signs for a jutsu.

"Trying again? Cute."

Haruka started going through hand signs of his own.

Ox. Monkey. Hare. Rat. Boar. Bird. Ox. Horse. Bird. Rat. Tiger. Dog. Tiger. Snake. Ox. Ram. Snake. Boar. Ram. Rat. Monkey. Bird. Dragon. Bird. Ox. Horse. Ram. Tiger. Snake. Rat. Monkey. Hare. Boar. Dragon. Ram. Rat. Ox. Monkey. Bird. Rat. Boar. Bird.

8 times as many hand signs as the sound ninja's fireball, but Haruka was still just barely half a second slower to finish.

"Fire release: fireball jutsu!"

The ball of fire formed and approached us.

"Pathetic, let me show you a real jutsu. Water Release: Water Dragon Jutsu."

The river shot up behind me and ate the fireball whole, before shoving the man through a boulder.

I felt someone appear behind me, and a cold blade on my throat. A fifth sound ninja.

"Don't move or I'll-"

"Oh, stuff it."

He formed the snake sign.

I felt heat on my back and heard the explosion go off behind me.

"Directional explosive tag, Hiteien clan specialty."

Haruka knelt down in front of me, an uncharacteristic concern in his eyes.

"Hey, are you alright?"

I looked up at him, and something on my face must have prompted a reaction from him.

"C'mon, let's get you home."

I barely registered it when he picked me up, or when I arrived in the room I rented from Natsuhi.

Strategy Journal

New Entry - Rock Lee (3)

Okay, this time for sure, there has got to be something I can try to take advantage of with this boy.

…

…

…

New Entry - Shino Aburame (1)

The Aburame make use of swarms of insects with unique properties. Good for scouting and can devour chakra (High Danger: I can't feel my chakra so I wouldn't notice). Not sure if it is canon or fanon that some variants can devour flesh.

Shino himself was also good at taijutsu. I don't remember the details, but I remember it surprising me when I saw it. Also smart and ruthless. (Orochimaru's theme plays during his preliminary match). I should still be able to win one on one.

Just taking out Shino won't help, because the swarm will still be active. So priority is eliminating/countering the swarm.

Whatever control uniqueness the insects have probably prevents artificial repellent or incense from being effective.

Frogs? It might be a bit much to carry a cage of frogs with me everywhere I go. I can't store living creatures. Maybe an idea if I know I'm going to face one. (Like in a chunin exam battle)

Alternatively… Note: Look into finding and training a pet Lizard. A gecko or something. (Won't be able to stop a swarm, but may catch sneaky little buggers.)

Acidic/poison gas. Chlorine gas is a solution that has been used to kill insects en masse. Though it would be overkill and may backfire. Invest in gas masks, they have them in the hidden rain (Like hell I'll go there myself, look for imports). Investigate this further.

Side Note: Check if milder insect killing substances exist.

Warning: The Aburame are commonly sentries, scouts, and ambushers. If encountered in the wild, assume insects are already attacking or in a position to attack.

Line Break

Progress on other Projects:

Chakra Negation. Can do a whole arm now. (Still hurts like a —.)

Blind-fighting. I can fight half-way decently blind now. Continue practising and keep looking for an instructor.

Stealth Skirmishing. Trained stealthy disengages. Look to improve with experience. Project Closed.

Poison/Venom. There are a lot of poisons/venoms that people will sell. Stuck with mainly paralytics, exhaustion inducing, and weakening substances.

Purchased 3 doses of a lethal poison. I… don't know how I feel about that.