Obligatory Disclaimer: The series Naruto is owned by Masashi Kishimoto; I only own the OCs, picture, and this story.
Chapter 19: Of Haze and Aftershocks
It wasn't long until a squad of ninja arrived on the scene. A mixture of the police force and special ops were spread across the area, the assailants having been collected and hauled off to interrogation. Kushina was talking to an Anbu nearby while a medical ninja tended to my injuries on Rio-san's porch. The cuts along my arms and legs were healed quickly, along with my sore ribs and the wound on my forehead. By some miracle, nothing was broken. The iryō-nin draped a blanket around my shoulders after he finished, giving me a prolonged stare before going to tend to the farmhands who had been injured, caught in the invaders' path.
One of them had been killed.
I absentmindedly played with the rips in my leggings. Aunt Mei wouldn't be happy with the state of them. I had little hope they could be saved and don't even get me started with the state of my yukata. The iryō-nin had managed to get the rest of the blood off my face but the splash of it on my yukata was pretty bad, though that was an understatement, and the sleeves were more like ribbons. The stain just spread and spread until it covered my entire chest and my obi. I didn't think either was salvageable but I couldn't doubt Mei's abilities.
"Junko-chan?"
There was this one time I spilled this special fertilizer from the Yamanaka shop on myself while planting flowers in a new plot that Noburu and the others had helped me build in the garden. It had smelled something fierce. I hadn't thought it would ever come out of my clothes but Aunt Mei was a miracle worker. That yukata looked better than when I first got it when she was through with it for which I was grateful. It was one of my favorites.
"Junko-chan!"
I blinked up into a familiar pair of eyes as Kushina's hands clasped onto mine.
They were warm.
"I'm sorry shishou, did you say something?" My voice was odd to my ears, the sound muddled from the ringing that had long since faded away. The woman frowned, looking over her shoulder to glare at a tall figure in a KMPF uniform behind her.
"Do you really need to do this now? Hasn't she gone through enough?" Her tone was tense and exasperated, giving my all too tiny hands another squeeze.
I hadn't realized they were so small before. There were already hard callouses on my fingers from the years of training, and if I looked close enough, I could see all the little scars that had accumulated from practicing with shuriken and kunai. There were so many of them.
A gruff voice spoke, pulling my thoughts back on track.
"She'll have to get through it if she's going to be a ninja." I looked up into an equally gruff looking face, the man's features seemingly carved from stone into a permanent frown. "Maybe she should've stayed in the academy a few more years if she can't handle it."
Kushina snapped at him, emitting a growl as her hair began to float around her. How did she get it to do that? I wish I could do that. Too bad my hair wasn't long enough.
Come on Junko, focus!
"Listen here you bastard," she hissed, getting close to the man's face who smartly took several footsteps back. "Don't you dare speak another word. How would you feel if Itachi-chan was in this situation?"
My mind locked onto the familiar name. Itachi? The name of the man fighting with Kushina clicked in my head and Fugaku Uchiha glared back at my shishou, his dark eyes burning into her.
"Leave my son out of this Uzumaki," he growled. "There is no doubt that he'll handle the situation better than this when he comes of age."
"Mikoto should've ran when she had the chance. You're a heartless bastard, dattebane!" Kushina glared, seeming ready to pounce when another body entered the fray, another dark-haired man in a KMPF uniform.
"There's a time and a place for this you two," he spoke, giving them both a look.
Fugaku reluctantly pulled back, acting as though he hadn't been ready to get into a shouting match with the redhead. Kushina on the other hand wasn't as easily pacified. The man threw his hands up in peacemaking as she turned towards him.
"Kushina-san, I know she's your student but we need whatever information she might have to strengthen our investigation."
The woman frowned, her hair lowering and scary aura receding.
"I know, but still…." She glanced at me, worry heavy on her face. I blinked, idly pulling threads from my ruined leggings and wrapping them around my small, calloused fingers.
"It won't take long, I assure you." He smiled kindly as he too looked down at me. He had a nice smile. "It's better than having ANBU interrogate her."
It seemed that was all she needed to hear as Kushina sighed, dropping her arms and taking a step back. Giving her a nod in thanks, the man stepped up to me and knelt so he was in my eyeline, pulling a notebook from one of the pockets of his vest.
"Hello, Junko-san, I'm Uchiha Kouta," he introduced himself.
"It's nice to meet you Uchiha-san," I greeted automatically, years of ingrained courtesy lessons appearing through the fog that muddled my thoughts.
This seemed to have the opposite effect it usually had, the adults all sharing a look before turning back to me. Kouta let out an uncomfortable chuckle.
"Though it could be under better circumstances."
I simply stared, waiting for him to get to the questions before my mind wandered off track again. Staring back for a moment, he quickly flipped open his notebook.
"Can you tell me what happened the moment you and your sensei arrived on the scene?"
I went through everything as methodically and detailed as I could. I told the officer about the moment we arrived at Rio-san's farm, to our break and my discovery of the line of chakra exactly thirty meters below the ground, which stretched away from the village center and towards the border. It was with cold clarity that I went through my engagement with the invading kunoichi, from how I hid the elderly woman in the pantry, to me leading the enemy outside and throwing the flare-rigged kunai into the air before being captured.
How she had trapped me with ninja wire and was ready to kill me, her hand around my neck.
How I felt the cut of her blade along my face before she was forcibly ripped away from me.
I trailed off after that point, staring down at my bloodstained yukata. It wasn't mine, of course it wasn't mine, as it had gone cold, soaking through my under shirt and sticking to the skin of my chest. I could still feel the woman's fresh blood on my face, lingering in my pores.
That had been warm too.
Kushina's voice registered when her hand came down on my head and I stared into the back of her flak vest as she blocked the Uchiha's view of me.
"That's enough." Her voice left no room for argument.
"I understand," Kouta backed off, standing up as he gave a brief glance down at his notes. "Thank you for your information Junko-san."
"You're welcome Uchiha-san."
Kushina picked me up and whisked me away from the farmlands as soon as the officers finished, leaping over the rooftops of the village center toward the compound. The trip was silent. I could feel her eyes on me as I tried to gather my hazy thoughts, floating just out of reach.
The only thing keeping everything in check was protocol.
"Don't we need to report to Hokage-sama, shishou?"
My question startled her and she faltered a bit on a railing before pushing off and landing on the street before the Hyūga compound.
"I'll take care of it Junko-chan. You...you just worry about getting cleaned up, dattebane."
"Okay shishou."
She let me down at my insistence- it wouldn't be proper to be carried- and we entered the compound. Clansmen milled about, staring and whispering as we walked to my residence. I occupied my mind with counting the steps it took to get there, fingers picking at the blanket still wrapped around my shoulders. It was hard to think of anything except the weight of the fabric and the grit of dust and soil that remained under my toes, little pieces digging into the soft skin in between each digit.
One foot.
Then the other.
Step by step, it seemed to take forever to get home.
One foot.
Then another and another, accompanied by stares and whispers.
I had counted up to two hundred and twelve steps when a source of chakra came suddenly and without warning, right in front of me.
"Junko-hime!"
I gasped aloud as worried hands brushed at my shoulders and against my cheeks, unable to move. For the briefest moment, through the mist and fog, dark, hate filled holes bore into me, until they morphed into Aunt Mei's pale eyes. Comforting and safe. She spared another moment, paling at the amount of blood hidden underneath the blanket that covered me before turning to Kushina.
"W-what happened? I thought it was supposed to be a d-rank mission!"
There was accusation in her voice and it dragged me out of the fog, if only a little. It wasn't Kushina's fault. She didn't do this to me.
"There were unforeseen circumstances." That was a weird way of putting it.
Why did I say it like that? The words I was trying to find, to try and appease her, floated away and dissolved before I could catch them.
I tried again.
"Don't worry about the blood Mei-obasan. It isn't mine."
That seemed to make it even worse. The mostly invisible wrinkles on her face became more pronounced, reminding me of Rio-san. And the crazed kunoichi and the dead farmhand.
The blood that used to be warm.
It was starting to make my skin itch.
Kushina and Mei exchanged words that I missed and before I knew it, I was gathered into someone's arms and there was a tub running.
I stood still as the familiar hands of Aunt Mei stripped me of the blanket and my soiled yukata, throwing it off to the side, probably to be disposed. I hoped she wouldn't throw away my senbon though; I still needed those. She very carefully pulled off my undershirt and mesh gear that hadn't stopped the blood from soaking through and staining my skin.
My breath hitched as I stared down at my chest, the red so pronounced on my pale skin.
It wasn't mine though, of course it wasn't mine. The iryō-nin had checked for injuries and had healed them all and I didn't get stabbed, I was sure I hadn't been stabbed because you should never let the enemy close to your vitals, so it couldn't be mine, because I did exactly what I had been taught, so the blood wasn't mine even though it was so bright, and red, and warm-
"Junko-hime." My gaze snapped to Aunt Mei's worried pale eyes and I focused. I was hyperventilating. The warmth of her hands on my face centered me. "You're alright. You have no injuries okay?"
"I'm alright, Mei-obasan," I repeated after her and took a deep breath, trying to focus on the calmness of her voice. "I have no injuries, the iryō-nin healed them all."
Her eyes creased at the corners, making her look older than she was. The gray streaks running along her temples seemed even more distinct.
"That's right. You're fine."
She scrubbed the remaining blood off my chest until the pale skin turned pink and raw before setting me in the tub filled with warm, scented water. There was silence, the woman running her fingers through my hair comfortingly, before she stood.
"I'll be right back Junko-chan." She hesitated at the door before turning away. "I need to talk to your sensei."
"Okay."
Then she was gone, just as the itch started to go away.
...
It took a moment for the numbness of my skin and the haze in my mind to melt away with the warm water and I could finally think.
That had been bad.
Extremely bad.
I had thought I'd come to terms with the whole fighting part of being a ninja, the possibility and certainty of injury and death, but experience had a way of throwing all that mental preparation into the garbage. I had been a cornered animal, cowering in fear of a much larger predator. A scenario that would happen again and again the more I went out on the field.
But I had done the right thing. I had followed protocol. I had kept Rio-san safe. But there was this nudging thought in my brain, that I should've done better, that I shouldn't have let the kunoichi get the best of me, even in this pathetically small body of mine.
The thought that I should've done better was laughable. You can't plan for stuff like this. There was no way anyone, not even the best thinkers or strategists, could've predicted that a simple farming mission would go so awry. We were taught to expect the unexpected in the academy but a d-rank transforming into a c-rank, or even b-rank was toting the line of absurdity. But Hideyoshi's reprimanding voice echoed in my mind, bouncing off the walls of my skull.
You let yourself be captured.
You let the enemy get the best of you.
What a failure.
Tremors wracked my body. I had been so scared, so terrified, but my body had continued to fight and fight, until that last moment when I thought she was going to kill me. Until that last moment when I thought I was going to die.
Until Kushina had saved me and cradled me in her arms.
But how many situations would end like that, where I would need to be saved?
I took a shuddering breath before dunking myself under the water, surrounding myself in its warmth. I couldn't have something like that happen again. There wasn't a lot I could do but I was tiny, fast, and smart. There were only two options available to me as I was; to avoid situations like that at all costs and to get stronger, so I would never have to feel that way again. So scared and helpless. Use that fear as a strength if I didn't want to die just like that farmhand had.
There was no other choice. I would not give myself another option.
But would I be able to follow through?
I broke through the surface, taking a deep breath before rising from the tub and wrapping myself in the towel Aunt Mei set out for me. I sometimes forget that I used to be a different person. In the midst of training and just living day to day, that past life would come back in little reminders; a smell, a sound, the way the sun would shine or the clouds would move in the sky. Reminders of the dull yet normal routine I would follow; school, work, sleep. Hang with friends, talk to my mom for hours as I tried to pull an essay out of my overworked mind.
Boring, yet safe. A life I would never get back.
I walked up onto my stepstool, staring into the mirror. A face that was far too young and worryingly pale stared back at me with haunted eyes. My wet hair dripped onto my face and I brushed back my fringe, noticing with muted dismay that they had been cut by the kunoichi's final attack. A freshly healed scar shone on my forehead, bright pink amongst the skin. It was thin but visible, running diagonally from my hairline and through my right eyebrow. The way it cut through my eyebrow, parting the hair there, made it look worse than it actually was.
A sign that the mission could've gone ten times worse.
But I was still alive, despite everything.
There weren't any clean clothes for me to change into so I dried myself off as thoroughly as I could and wrapped myself up before walking into the hallway. I was welcomed by the sound of shouting and quickly stumbled down the hall, chakra exhaustion heavy on my body. As I stopped in the kitchen's doorway, Aunt Mei stood tall, face flustered and voice quivering as she shook the remains of my bloodied yukata into Kushina's face. I didn't know what she had said to the Uzumaki woman but the redhead had gone pale, flinching away from the other woman in stunned silence.
I don't know how I didn't hear her before, Mei was louder than I'd ever heard her.
"I won't let you ninja or this village take another one from me!"
"Mei-obasan!" I interrupted with a yell, and both of their eyes locked onto me. Mei was breathing heavily, hair flying from her once immaculate bun. It was silent as the older Hyūga slumped into a seat at the kitchen table, turning her head away from us. The silence spread for a moment longer, then another until Kushina broke it.
"A-are you alright Junko-chan?" she asked, sparing a brief glance at the other woman and I did the same.
"I am better now, Kushina-shishou," I said, meeting her eyes. "Did you report to Hokage-sama?"
She examined me quietly before continuing, a noticeable hesitation in her voice as she spoke.
"Yes, and he's already seen the reports from ANBU." She pulled a skinny scroll and an envelope from her pouch and placed them on the table. "The Hokage would like to see you when you've recovered, and he has raised the rank of the mission to a b-rank."
A b-rank! That was ridiculous; I barely did anything. Seeing the skeptical look on my face, she gave a chuckle that was not at all pleased.
"Taking into account your engagement with the enemy, discovery of their sabotage, and protection of the client, the Sandaime decided it was only fit. 'You've done great service for Konoha and need to be rewarded as such.' Something like that."
"But still…."
All I did was get myself caught by the enemy after busting her eardrums and giving her a broken nose. I didn't think it warranted that much of an upgrade when Kushina did all the work. She shook her head and moved forward hesitantly, throwing a few more glances towards Aunt Mei, who hadn't moved an inch. She rested her hand on top of my head.
"I'm so glad you're alright Junko-chan, dattebane," she said in a shaky whisper and I gave her the strongest smile I could manage.
"I'm glad you are as well."
She paused for a moment then pulled away, a smile that didn't reach her eyes spreading across her face.
"You take all the time you need to recover, okay? I'll get in touch with you later."
It was probably for the best. I gave a nod.
"Alright shishou, see you then."
With one last pat that lingered a bit she disappeared, leaving Aunt Mei and I alone. Stepping towards the woman, I put a tentative hand on her arm, leaning against her side to look into her face which she had turned from me.
"Mei-obasan, are you alright?"
She let out a shaky sigh that rattled her entire body.
"Am I okay? You were the one carried here out of your mind, covered in blood. Even if it wasn't yours."
She ran a hand across her face and I remained quiet so she could compose herself. I had never seen her like this, could never imagine it. The sight of me earlier had shaken her badly. A child covered in blood would probably shake anyone who had a heart.
But I was okay. I would be okay. I was alive.
Once she had gathered herself, she reached for me, gently cupping my cheek.
"You don't have to continue being a ninja Junko-hime." My eyes widened at her words. As prospective heiress of the clan, to say something like that was basically speaking against the Main house's decision.
"The twins are back; you don't have to go through this anymore," she continued, running her thumb across my eyebrow and the scar there.
"You know that I can't do that Mei-obasan. The elders won't stand for it, and it's my duty-"
"Duty means nothing if you're dead!" she interjected, kneeling on the floor where I stood, gripping my shoulders tightly. "Please, don't do this to yourself."
I stared into her pleading eyes, the years of hardship showing on her face. Aunt Mei must've seen a lot throughout her years living in this village. We were living in war times now, but there had been others, the Second Shinobi War probably taking place during her childhood. She had mentioned that her father died during that time as well. She had to have seen many of her friends and family members sent off to fight, some never returning.
And in her shoes, I could understand. No one with a heart wanted to see a child fight in a war, especially one you loved. To see them bloodied and broken when they've barely experienced anything in the world, and to have them suffer despite that. Fighting a war that adults caused.
I understood but I couldn't quit or stand on the sidelines. This was something bigger than myself, bigger than even the Hyūga clan. And I couldn't just sit by when my cousins, friends, and parents were out there fighting.
I pulled myself from her grasp to bury my face in her shoulder. Her arms were warm, comforting, and safe as they wrapped around me. I sighed deeply into her collarbone, taking in the familiar scents of fresh laundry and vegetables.
"But you won't quit, will you?" Her voice came as a whisper across my ear, and I shook my head in response. We shared a few more moments in the quiet of the afternoon before she pulled away, wiping at the corners of her eyes.
"With parents like Daichi and Kimiko-san, I should've expected as much." She gave a watery smile, one that was strained and sad, giving my hands a gentle squeeze.
In those reluctantly accepting eyes, I made a promise. I would never give her a reason to look at me like that ever again.
And even if the world had other plans for me, I'd fight with my last breath.
Just as Kushina had dictated, I took the week off to recuperate. I think Mei also needed to see me alright and functional, even though I came to the table exhausted every morning because nightmares had roused me several times in the middle of the night. Sometimes, I could feel the kunoichi's hand on my neck, her blood covered face grinning down at me as she prepared to plunge her deadly blade into my skull. But I pushed through by banishing her image to a designated corner in my mind for horrors to deal with later as I tried to reassure Mei I was well.
Not the best strategy, but compartmentalization was always my strong suit.
As I thought, Aunt Mei had my bloodied yukata and mesh gear thrown into the incinerator, and it was probably for the best. Even if she had managed to get the blood out of them and fixed the sleeves, I didn't have the stomach to put them on again. She had saved the senbon and had sewed an insert into another battle-ready yukata, this one in a calmer lilac. I could tell the difference at least. But I forwent that to wearing a sunflower yellow sundress Mei had pulled from a storage room in the hallway after I finished breakfast. It was one of my mother's old dresses from her childhood. Pulling on nylon leggings that came down to my calves underneath, I wrapped my kunai hostler to my thigh and a belt with my weapon's pouches around my waist.
It was over-kill for a walk through the village but shinobi were paranoid for a reason, a quality that had increased tenfold after the events of that d-rank. It was better to be over-prepared than under, that much was sure. Brushing my hair into a high ponytail and parting my fixed bangs to cover my scar, I donned my hitai-ate and was ready to meet with the Hokage. I pulled a thin maroon cardigan from my wardrobe as I went. It was that weird time of the year where summer just wouldn't let go even though it was early autumn, resulting in chilly mornings and warm afternoons.
I stepped onto the gekan and sat down to pull on my black sandals as Mei entered from the hallway, a bag tucked underneath her arm and dressed in her medic uniform. Aunt Mei had taken a lot of time off from the hospital when she began taking care of me but since I was now a working ninja, she had decided to return, though that was before the incident. She had wanted to go back on hiatus after the fact, but I had pushed her to stick to her word, so she could help others even if she couldn't help me as I had denied her that choice.
She gave me a smile that still wasn't a hundred percent. "Are you ready to go Junko-hime?"
"Yes, obasan," I said with one of my own as she knelt to gather her own sandals.
We walked down to the hospital where we split up, the older woman promising to see me again at dinner and so I walked to the Hokage Tower on my own. Once the dust had settled on that day and a few days later, I had taken the Sandaime's scroll and the envelope and stashed them away in my nightstand drawer. His note was as much as Kushina had outlined, including how the clan's share of my increased paycheck had already been cut, still leaving me with a ridiculous sum. I mean, if you went out and risked your life you should get paid as much, but I was still of the belief that I hadn't done anything other than scream and hide.
Entering the building, I walked up to the receptionist's desk that was being manned by a chūnin who looked as though he wanted to be anywhere but here.
"Excuse me, I'm Hyūga Junko," I introduced myself, ignoring the look of surprise in his widened eyes as he caught sight of me and no doubt my headband. It wasn't as though he could see much else even with me standing on my tiptoes.
"I have a meeting with the Hokage."
He looked as though he was ready to object when something seemed to click in his head. He stared down at me for a moment longer, saying nothing, and I stared back unblinkingly until he was forced to look away.
"Go on up," he said, mumbling something else under his breath as I made my way up the stairs.
I wondered what the Sandaime wanted to talk about, especially if he had already seen the reports. Though from what I remembered, the old man was like a grandfather figure to many, like Naruto and Iruka. Maybe he cared about my well-being, though I couldn't understand why, and I didn't really believe that being the case. Maybe my clan status had something to do with it?
Taking a breath, I steeled myself and knocked lightly on the door. There was a muffled reply from behind the wood and I let myself in, chuckling slightly to myself as the Saidaime's eyes stared above me before drifting down to my height in well concealed surprise.
"Ah, Junko-chan, come in," he said and I shuffled in, closing the door behind me.
The older man stood briefly to open a window to clear the smoke from his pipe out of the room, which I appreciated, before sitting back in his seat heavily.
I bowed. "Good morning Hokage-sama."
He gave me a tired smile, making the wrinkles on his face even more distinct.
"To you as well child," he said, an expression passing quickly in his eyes before disappearing. "I've heard about your first mission as a shinobi, very intense for a starting genin and one so young."
I was sure a lot of people had heard, considering the looks I had received when walking through the village. Civilians did like to gossip, as did ninja on occasion.
"It could've gone better, sir," I replied, intertwining my fingers in front of me. "But what's done is done."
The older man looked down at me with a critical eye. "Indeed. How are you feeling?"
I blinked up at him before looking down at my clasped hands. I was better than I had been. Of course there were the nightmares, but I would get over those. Hopefully.
"I am better Hokage-sama, thank you for asking."
I didn't think he believed my words as he analyzed me with his wise gaze.
"As it appears," he said looking down at his desk briefly, pulling out what was probably the mission statement I had given to the Uchiha officers. "Still, it would be best if you undergo mental evaluation."
At his words, I couldn't help but cringe mentally for a moment. That didn't sound pleasant.
"It would definitely give your clan and shishou reassurance of your psychological state. An event like that could have devastating effects on the mental health of someone as young as yourself. It's the things we don't see that destroy us after all."
I really, really didn't want to talk about it but his words were ultimately true. Even though that didn't make it any more pleasant to think about.
I gave a smile and nodded. "If you think that's best."
Pleased by my affirmation, he returned his glance to his papers for a moment.
"Was there anything else you wanted to add to the report?"
Honestly, I didn't remember much of what I had told the officer. I didn't want to remember a lot of things that happened that day but something stuck out in my mind. Something that insane kunoichi had said in Rio-san's kitchen.
"When I had engaged the enemy in the client's home, she said something strange," I admitted, bringing up a hand to rub the side of my neck.
The Sandaime's dark eyes locked with mine, urging me to continue as he lifted a brush to write it down.
"She had complained that Konoha was gathering power, and that she and her comrades were going to free me." Even now, her words confused me. I doubt I would get a clear answer, now that she was either dead or held by ANBU. Not that I would want to be near that loon ever again. My body twitched just thinking about it.
"Is that so," he mumbled to himself, jotting something down in his notes. "Is that all?"
"Yes, sir. But I was wondering…what were they after? If I am allowed to know."
The Hokage's gaze seemed to look right through me.
"Unfortunately, the suspects are still being questioned." More like interrogated and tortured. "However, your information is invaluable to our investigation, and we should learn more soon."
I expected as much; a leader wouldn't want their subordinates to know that insurrections were occurring within the village, if their lack of insignia was any indication. Ninja were stealthy but they were also prideful; if it had been one of our enemies, I was sure they would have worn their hitai-ate proudly, though I wasn't exactly sure. It was just an assumption after all; it was possible that they were foreign ninja in deep cover, hiding their village in hopes of pitting allies against each other. I nodded, intertwining my fingers together once more.
He smiled down at me. "If that is all, you are dismissed. You probably have more important things to do than talk to an old man. Get some rest child."
I bowed again. "Thank you for your time Hokage-sama."
Heading to the door, the Sandaime stopped me before I left completely.
"I expect to see the report of your evaluation soon, Junko-chan."
Fighting a sigh, I nodded. "Yes, sir."
Soon I was back in the sun, having passed the sleepy chūnin who had lurched awake at my reappearance. I wanted to put off the evaluation but it came with the threat of not being given missions, which would halt any progress I wanted to make. Though it wasn't like I had heard from Kushina the entire week. Letting a sigh escape me, I turned on my heel and headed back to the hospital where I had left Aunt Mei.
As long as the person doing the exam wasn't a Yamanaka, it was probably okay to go, but knowing my luck and knowing their skill set, it was going to be one of them. I had nothing against them but the ability to reach into the minds of others had always disturbed me. I didn't need anyone rummaging around in my noggin; I had enough problems as it was.
I should've been paying more attention to my surroundings, then I would've noticed the familiar chakra coming worryingly fast towards me, like it always did.
But I didn't.
And when that hand touched my shoulder, one that should've been familiar, one that I knew, I reacted. Violently. As fingertips touched my shoulder, brushing against the back of my neck, sending my nerves into panic, I flickered behind the body that tried to grab me, and byakugan blazing, moved to strike.
"Junko, stop!" A voice cried out and I froze, chakra charged hand inches away from Noburu's heart.
Oh no.
My breath left me and I pulled back, a minuscule tremor running through my body. I had almost attacked Noburu. One of my best friends.
Akane and Shisui looked at me worriedly as Noburu grumbled from the ground where he had fallen.
"That's some way to greet friends you haven't seen in a while," he huffed, sitting up.
They couldn't know that I wasn't alright.
I chuckled uneasily, scratching at my neck. "Well, you know what they say, you shouldn't sneak attack a ninja."
Akane stepped forward. "Are you alright Junko-chan?"
I smiled up at the red eyed girl. "He just caught me off guard, that's all."
Understatement of the century. At that, Noburu jumped up from the ground with a large grin on his face.
"That's one for me then!" I chuckled weakly in response as my heart finally calmed down.
"If it makes you feel better." He could have all the points he wanted. Oh God, I could've killed Noburu.
Akane sighed at his antics and Shisui stepped close, dark eyes scanning my face.
"Are you really alright Junko?"
"I'm fine Shisui, really." I strained for another smile to show him, but he had that look in his eye. One that was full of doubt.
Noburu, energized by his win, nudged me.
"So what happened? We heard from Kenta that you didn't get a team?"
Akane quickly went to scold him but I waved a hand as casually as I could.
"I have my own shishou, Uzumaki Kushina," I answered. Akane's expression relaxed and a glimmer of recognition sparked in Shisui's. "She's really nice and she's a friend of my parents."
Akane clasped her hands together. "I'm happy for you, Junko-chan."
Noburu winced a bit, rubbing his bruised hipbone from where he had fallen, causing me wince internally- he was lucky to get away with just that.
"She must be teaching you some good stuff 'cause that's the fastest I've seen you."
"That was an impressive reaction time," an unfamiliar voice agreed, surprising me. I tensed, straining to stop myself from reaching for a kunai as my friends chorused the stranger's name in unison.
"Inoichi-sensei!"
The blonde head of the Yamanaka clan looked down at me, or rather through me, with eyes that seemed to know too much.
I had to get out of here.
"You must be Junko-chan," he began not unpleasantly. I felt exposed by his friendly tone. "My students talk about you a lot."
My face was starting to hurt from all the fake smiling. "I am. It's nice to meet you Inoichi-sensei."
He hummed, staring at me before turning to my friends and I could finally breathe.
"Sorry to cut the reunion short kids, but we need to get our mission."
The trio deflated and moved to stand by their sensei.
"I expect a better greeting the next time we see each other!" Noburu demanded as he began to follow the blond jōnin who had started to walk away.
"Let's plan something together soon Junko-chan!" Akane added, giving me her usual worried smile as she too turned to follow.
Shisui paused. "I hope you feel better Junko."
And soon, he turned to leave as well.
I turned around in case they looked back so they wouldn't see my smile crumble.
I wasn't alright.
Author's Notes
Posted/Edited: January 6th, 2017
Restructured and expanded some scenes, minor editing: March 12th, 2017
...
As usual, thanks to everyone who has followed and/or favorited this story. I appreciate it!
I hope the first week of the new year has been good to you all. Mine hasn't been the best but we have a whole lot more to go through and hopefully they are better than the last.
It's probably a cliché for Kushina and Fugaku to dislike each other but considering their personalities, I don't think they would get along well.
Also, the reason why I noted that the mission was upgraded to a b-rank is because the wiki states that during these missions, ninja are expected to go against enemy ninja, whereas c-ranks don't include such risks. I hope that makes sense.
Reviews:
Thanks to Zilcho, Judgement of the Arbiter, Llyrica, OTrizy, Scarla Roza, Chatwyn, Taggg, Guest, NatNicole, Tamani, starsarebright, tatewaki2000, calcu22, Amrina0237, DannyPhantom619, Rawr, Nanimok, Tsukiyomi-Hio, AxidentlGoddess, someonethatreadfanfics, MusicofMadness, way of life, OneWhoReadsTooMuch, k123, BlackDove WhiteDove, MIA, TheWick, multimaniacal, micaelaepochito, Doodly Noodly, and Mari for reviewing on the last chapter.
-Zilcho: Your commentary on chapter and arc breakdowns makes a lot of sense. I try to have the action and events of an arc contained in sequential chapters which is why another interlude won't happen until this mini arc is over.
-OTrizy asked: Is Junko going to have a 'break' due to the 'trauma' this D-rank gave her? Is Kushina going to blame herself for being too careless? ls Kushina going to tell Junko about her Furry problem?
I think this chapter answers the first question. The chapters to come will answer the second in due time, and as for the last, until they become more comfortable with each other, that reveal will come later.
-Scarla Roza: You don't sound bitchy at all, and I hope this chapter and others meet your expectations. For the pairings, a fun fact about making this story, I had originally planned for it to be a Kakashi/OC fanfic but I was too moved by Shisui's backstory so now he is the main potential love interest for Junko. There will be pairings but those won't come into effect until the cast is older.
-Taggg asked: Does this mean that Kannabi Bridge happens and will KushiMina die?
The Kannabi Bridge mission will happen but it will be different form canon. As for the fates of Kushina and Minato, you'll just have to wait and see. (Meaning that I have multiple scenarios planned out in my head in routes where they die and where they survive, and haven't written that part yet.)
-Rawr: Your comment is exactly why I like making the interlude chapters, because they not only recap for the readers but they also give me a reason to look back on prior chapters and refresh myself on the characters. And Junko definitely needed a reality check; all that planning about the future went to her head. But will it slow her down? We'll have to see.
-Nanimok: I'm glad that you and so many other readers like Junko for a variety of reasons, but as a writer it is also interesting to see people like the story and not completely fall in love with Junko, though only when it's constructive and more thought-out than 'too OP'. It pushes me to make her into a more developed character.
-someonethatreadfanfics: Junko isn't getting the sharingan as she has other interesting jutsu and kekkai genkai that can be of use to her considering her blood. The tenseigan would have to be something I worked out more to see how it works in the plot of this story but as of now I have no plans of using it.
-k123 asked: Is the chakra underground something like a leyline, or did someone purposefully put it there?
The invaders put it there, but for what reason...perhaps it will come into play later.
-micaelaepochito asked: Will there be a mutation or variation of the byakugan?
From what I have written so far, there is a scene where Junko uses the byakugan and it has a different kind of chakra sight, so that might be a type of mutation. It isn't really useful though but I might expand it in the future.
-Mari: Thinking over that other review that asked about it, I have put some thought into Junko developing the mokuton, though it'll probably be a mutated version of it if I decide to use it.
To those asking about the invaders, this won't be the last we see of them disturbing the 'peace' of Konoha, and interfering with little Junko.
Considering the update schedule for the foreseeable future, I might cut to one chapter every other week so I have more time to work on upcoming, future, and interlude chapters. It'll also give me time to work on another Naruto fanfic that I have had on my mind and other personal projects while frequently updating this one.
So don't be alarmed if chapters come later than you expect.
Next time on For a Chance at Happiness:
Chapter 20: Of Puppies and Purpose