Hello fellow reader(s). Here is the update as promise, it is never easy updating on the count of the crisis, and I'm continue working and all. Still wanted to make sure you stay safe from the virus, and hopefully the spread would stop somewhere around summertime. Okay, enjoy this update.
ju-hkjv: Oh yeah, they intended to be one step ahead before the humans found out and use it as their defense.
Flower Shop…
Ino was straightening the empty flowerpots and watering the daises and daffodils, she looked over at her mother who is at the register being busy handling the customers who have been buying the 'Blue' flowers that's been recently popular. Though she is still rather concern about her mother as she's been behaving strangely,
Psst!
Ino heard something and looked around,
Psst!
"Ino," she heard someone whispered her name, as she turned and spotted her dad, who is hiding out of her mother's sight,
"Otōsan," she said, before the signal her to come over, she placed the watering can down and stepped out of the shop, she then saw her father hidden at the corner, she approached him,
"Otōsan, why are you hiding? You could just come in and-" Ino said until her father cut her off,
"I cannot," Inoichi said,
"Why?" she asked,
"I can't risk her seeing me," he said,
"Okāsan?" Ino said.
"There is something wrong with her, I don't know what it is, but she's not acting like herself," he said while looking concerned,
"What did she do?" she asked,
"Back at home she made me a dish of sashimi and tried to make drink this homemade tea her friend gave her," Inoichi explained,
"Sashimi?! But didn't she swear to never make that after that 'incident' last year?" Ino asked,
"I thought the same thing, but that's not the only thing, have you noticed how different her eyes are when you look at her?" he asked her, Ino looked away for a moment when he asked,
"I have… they looked so pale and… she looked a lot less like herself, it's making me worry," she said, looking a little distressed, Inoichi gave her a hug for comfort.
"Sweetie, the last thing I wanted is for you to worry, which is why I need you to keep a close eye on your mother. Maybe find something that could explain what's been going on," he said before he released her,
"Well, we are invited to attend a get-together at Sakura's place today at noon," she said,
"That's around the same time I have to attend a get-together at the Hokage Manor. But listen, in something happens, or if your mother hurt herself at anyway, you tell me right away okay?" he instructed his daughter,
"Hai," Ino responded before her father left the area, and then soon after she returned back to the shop.
Inukuka resident…
Tsume came downstairs to gather some supplies and some the dog treats before she leaves for training, until she saw her daughter in a kitchen making some tea,
"Morning Hana, getting yourself ready for work at the vet?" she asked,
"Not today, had to take a day off after what happened yesterday," Hana said,
"Something happened yesterday?" Tsume asked,
"Yes actually, it's very unusual…" Hana said as she begins…
(Yesterday at the Vet…
Hana just finished cleaning the kennel until she heard someone came in, she went to the front and saw Lady Hokage and Shizune,
"Hello Lady Hokage and Ms. Shizune, what brings you here?" Hana smiled,
"Hello to you too Ms. Inuzuka," Shizune greeted her,
"We wanted to invite you and your mother for an important get-together with the other Jounins and Chunins," Tsunade said,
"Oh… well, I'll let my mom know, and maybe we'll try to be there," Hana said. Then Shizune pulled out a small bag from her pocket and handed it to Hana,
"We also like to give you this, a special homemade herb of tea to show our appreciation to your service," she said, but before Hana could even take it,
Growl! Ruff-ruff! Bark! Bark!
Hana's canines, the Three Haimaru Brothers appeared right in front of her, snarling and growling at both Tsunade and Shizune, sensing a demonic energy from them; they both appeared unfazed by their reaction.
"What are you guys doing? That is not how we greet our Hokage," Hana said while restraining them,
"I'm so sorry about that, they never acted like this before," she said to them,
"No apologies needed, we were just passing by is all," Tsunade said before Shizune finally gave Hana the herbs and started heading to the door,
"But we do hope we meet you and your mother there tomorrow," Shizune said before she and Tsunade left the vet.)
"That is unusual," Tsume stated,
"And that's not all, after they left I asked them why they acted that way, they ramble on some stuff like, 'That is not our Hokage,' 'There is evil coming from both of them,' 'Don't drink the tea,' that sort," Hana explained,
"That special homemade tea they gave you?" Tsume asked,
"Yea, I was curious about and thought of giving it a try," Hana said as she poured herself a cup of tea.
"Would you like some?" she asked as she handed her the cup, Tsume took it looked at it, noticing how blue it is, she sniffed around as it is nothing like she never smelled before,
"What kind of tea is this?" she asked,
"No clue, but I'm about to find out," Hana said after she poured herself a cup, and then she took a sip of it, and savored the taste before swallowing it,
"The flavor is new, though it's hard to describe the aftertaste," she said before she took another sip, and then Tsume herself took a sip herself, unaware of Kuromaru being nearby as he slowly begins to snarled by that demonic energy that's about to happen.
Hyuga Resident…
Hiashi appeared to the dining room where he approach to the table and saw his plate made, egg cuisine, and tea, when he sat down, he looked at his tea and noticed it's not his usual tea, and that the color if it is blue,
"What's this?" he asked his servant who is nearby,
"A special made tea, my Lord," the servant said,
"I don't want it, take it back," he ordered him,
"My apologize my Lord, it was a request from your wife to bring it to you," the servant bowed to him,
"Hanako made this?" Hiashi asked, which he finds it unusual for his wife to make him something and not give it to him directly herself (Also, mind the 'name' since nobody knows Hinata's and Hanabi's mother's name in the anime.)
"She wanted to bring it to you herself, but she had to get some preparation set for an event she and your daughter are attending to," the servant explained, Hiashi thought for a moment, as he never did doubt his wife on something like this, he sighed,
"…Alright, I'll give it a try, but if I don't like it you take it back and make me my usual tea," Hiashi said before he picked up the cup,
"Hai," the servant replied,
Hiashi took a sip of it, and savored the taste of it before swallowing,
"I have never tasted anything with such peculiar aftertaste," he replied, unaware that the servant has paled eyes and making a smirk on his face.
Village…
Kiba and Arkamaru are walking past the markets, on their way to meet up their comrades and sensei, but to their surprise they spotted Kurenai, as she is talking to Anko, which seems a little odd to them since they mostly see her with Asuma, he approached them,
"Hey Kurenai-sensei and Anko-sensei," Kiba greeted them, they both turned to them with their paled colored eyes and emotionless expression,
"Hello Mr. Inuzuka," they both greeted him, which did make Kiba crooked his eyebrows by their strange behavior,
"We were just on our way to meet up with the others for training," he said,
"I'm afraid there won't be any training for today, we are on our way to assist with Lady Hokage on this get-together we're having today," Kurenai said to him, unaware to him that she is under Ibate's control.
"Oh, well… that's disappointing," Kiba said, Anko smiled,
"You should head back home with your family, maybe have yourself a cup of homemade tea," she said, Arkamaru, however, sensed a demonic energy from Kurenai and Anko…
Growl! Bark! Bark-bark! Bark!
Arkamaru snarled at them, Kurenai and Anko appeared unfazed by him, Kiba restrained him, calming him down,
"Arkamaru! That's not how you greet sensei, what's gotten into you?" Kiba said to him,
"Ruff-ruff! Ruff!" Arkamaru communicate with him,
"'Not sensei! Evil!' Now you're just being ridiculous, of course that is sensei, there's nothing evil about her," Kiba stated. Kurenai and Anko glanced at each other for a moment, before they looked back at Kiba,
"I'm so sorry about that sensei, he never usually behaves that way," he said to them,
"No apologies need, we're about to be on our way to attend an important event with Lady Hokage, but it was good seeing you Mr. Inuzuka," Kurenai said before she looked down at Arkamaru,
"You too Arkamaru," she said to him, and Arkamaru snarled at her again, as she and Anko leave,
"Arkamaru!" Kiba said trying to restrain him again.
Nara's resident…
Shikamaru had himself ready as he went downstairs to the dining room, he stopped as he spotted two plates of his and his father's favorite dish at table, Okhotsk atka mackerel with kelp,
"What the…" he said as he looked confused,
"Good morning son," Shikamaru heard his mom as she appeared from the kitchen carrying a tray with two cups of tea,
"Good morning mom, what's this about?" Shikamaru asked,
"Whatever do you mean?" Yoshino asked as she placed the teas on the table,
"You don't… usually cook this type of dish around breakfast time," Shikamaru said as he does find it odd.
"I just wanted to make a special meal for two of my special boys. Speaking of special…" Yoshino approached her son and gently placed her hand on his cheek,
"You and your father must try this special homemade tea Mrs. Haruno gave me, it is such a delight," she said to him, Shikamaru stared at her eyes as he noticed how paled her eyes are, and her behavior is rather off,
"Mom are you okay?" he asked, Yoshino smiled,
"Never better," she asked. Then Shikaku appeared,
"Good morning," he greeted his wife and son before he noticed the meal set on the table,
"What's all this about?" he asked the same question Shikamaru asked, Yoshino approached her husband,
"A special meal I made for you and our beloved son," she said before she bestowed a kiss upon him, much to his surprise,
"And speaking of surprise, you both must try that special homemade tea my friend gave me, it is such a delight," Yoshino said with a smile, Shikaku glanced at his wife and also noticed how pale her eyes are and her behavior far from normal.
"… Sure, I'll keep that in mind. Will you be joining us?" he asked her,
"No unfortunately, I have to attend a get-together with some friends of mine. But while I'm gone, you two enjoy this lovely meal I made for you both," she said before she turned to her son and bestowed a kiss on his forehead much to his surprise,
"Don't forget to try the tea," she said to them,
"Sure mom," Shikamaru said,
"Yes dear," Shikaku said before Yoshino left the dining and then soon left the household. After she left, Shikaku and Shikumaru turned to each other,
"What's wrong with your mother?" Shikaku asked,
"I don't know, I asked her if she's okay and she replied, 'never better'. Also, I thought she sore she'll never make our favorite meals ever that 'incident' last year," Shikamaru said,
"I thought so too, and since when she even talked like that?" he asked,
"The hell should I know, you married her," Shikamaru stated.
Knock-knock-knock!
They heard a knock on the door,
"Shikaku! You there?"
They heard Choza's voice as they heard to the door, Shikaku opened it and saw him and his son with him,
"Hey, what bring you both here?" he asked them,
"Something is wrong with Kimchi," Choza stated as he's freaking out (Again, mind the name, I don't know Choji's mother's name either.)
"Is she okay?" Shikamaru asked,
"Physically she is, but her behavior isn't," Choza said,
"This morning, she cooked us all our favorite foods and tried to make us drink this homemade tea,"
"But doesn't she always cook for you guys," Shikamaru looked confused,
"Not when it includes barbecue sauce! Which she did swore to never add that after last years 'incident'. We had to sneak out before she even realized we were gone, it really freaked me out I couldn't even eat," Choji said, right before he pulled out a bag of chips and starts munching on them.
"Quick question, when you looked into her eyes, do they look pale to you?" Shikaku asked,
"... Yes, they were, which is most unnatural besides her strange behavior," Choza answered,
"Well you're not the only ones," Shikaku said before he discovers a small flowerpot with some blue flowers on it on the porch,
"Son, did you brought those flowers to your mom?" he asked Shikamaru,
"No, I thought you did," Shikamaru said,
"I haven't, and even if I did, she would prefer a bouquet instead of a pot," Shikaku stated,
"You know, I have that same flowerpot back in my home, but neither me nor Choji knew where it came from," Choza said, which leads them all wondering what is happening.
Hyuga resident…
Hinata made her way through the halls to the dining room, where her father, sister, and cousin are there waiting for her.
"I-I'm sorry for being late," Hinata said,
"No apologies needed, have a seat," Hiashi said, and then Hinata sat down close to him, as she is across from Neji, who finally recovered from the flu, and Hanabi right next to her,
"I've been informed that you and your mother are attending a get-together today," Hiashi said,
"Hai," Hinata replied while not looking at him, waiting for another one of his stern lectures he always gives her.
"Excellent," he smiled, Hinata's eyes grew wide in shock, along with Hanabi's and Neji's by his response,
"I'm sure you both will have a good time with your friends," he said before he opened his eyes revealing his paled pearled eyes, he turned to his nephew,
"And Neji, it brings me much joy to know how well you recovered from that flu," he said,
"… Thank you," Neji replied while feeling discomfort, then Hiashi turned to his youngest daughter,
"And Hanabi sweetie, I know we were supposed to be training today, but I thought of cancelling it and instead go to the park together, we can even get ice-cream," he said,
"Uh…" Hanabi is lose in her words. And then one of the servants appeared from the door,
"My Lord, pardon my intrusion, but Lady Hokage has arrived and wish to speak with you," the servant said,
"Ah yes, I'll be right there," Hiashi got up and approach both his daughters and gave them a hug,
"That will be all for today, I treasure you both," he said before he released them and then he approached Neji to pat him on the shoulder, and then he left the room leaving behind the young Hyuga's shocked and speechless. What he just did and said is completely out of character and is something he would never say or do, the girls are usually afraid of their father, but what he did just now was even more terrifying,
"Onēsan, what's wrong with father? Is he sick?" Hanabi asked,
"I-I… don't know," Hinata said as she's still in shock.
To be continued…
Hope you like it even though it too longer than I thought, so please review and I'll do my best to update more. Thank you and stay safe.