Book Three: Home with New Eyes
Chapter One: The Facility
Tenten leaped into the air, opening her Fuijutsu scroll at the same time. "Alright, one more time! Rising Twin Dragons!"
The scroll was activated, and a lot of kunai shot out, only to clattered haphazardly all over the ground. Tenten landed in disappointment. "Aw!
"Come on! I thought for sure I had it this time!"
"What exactly are you trying to do?" asked Lee, who had been watching.
"Oh, this?" asked Tenten as she began picking up her kunai. "I'm trying to set up my scrolls so when I unleash them, it'll throw huge amounts of kunai and stuff out in a flurry."
"Then what precisely is your problem?" asked Rock Lee.
"Well, Fuijutsu scrolls are normally just used for transportation," said Tenten. "So they just teleport stuff out without any momentum.
"What I want to do is open the scrolls in such a way that it unleashes them in a flurry.
"But that takes fiddling with the seal, and I have to seal every blade individually. So, needless to say, every time I practice this, it takes a long time."
"Could you not experiment with individual seals for each weapon?" asked Lee.
Tenten sighed. "Yeah, I did that.
"But it doesn't just have to shoot out alone. It has to shoot out in a way, so it doesn't screw with the other aspects." She opened a Fuijutsu scroll and got them both cups of water.
"I fear I am not well qualified to advise you, Tenten," said Lee, drinking it.
"Yeah, I know. Where has Neji been anyway?" asked Tenten.
"Oh, he has been practicing down by the lake over there for some time," said Lee, motioning. "I gather Itachi-sensei has been giving him advice."
It had been a few days into their return journey, and Itachi had them stop now and then for training. Usually, it was incredibly intense, but sometimes the training was more subtle. Now was one such time.
"Great, let's clean this up, then head down," said Tenten. "We have to be sure not to miss any blades; these things are valuable." She finished her water.
"Yes, you are right, Tenten. Waste not!" said Rock Lee.
Lee finished his water as well.
From there, they headed toward the water. Coming out of the trees, Tenten waved to Neji, where he was standing on the water. "So, Neji, how-" She stopped as she saw him begin spinning on the water. As he did, chakra began to emit from around him, only for him to plunge right it. "What is that you're doing?"
"A technique the Hyuga Clan never teaches to any but those judged worthy by the Main Clan," said Itachi.
"Then how does Neji know it?" asked Tenten.
"He has been observing them in action for some time. He is attempting to learn the basic principles," said Itachi.
"What's it called?" asked Tenten.
"Kaiten," said Itachi as Neji tried again. "A Hyuga spins and emits chakra from every one of their chakra points, creating a vortex of chakra. Anything that strikes it is reflected back with greater force. With proper training, one can deflect virtually anything."
"Let me guess, it's secretly weak to a couple of spikes of wood?" asked Tenten.
"Don't be absurd, Tenten," said Neji, getting out off the water. "The Kaiten specializes against missile weapons. There are reports of users deflecting entire volleys of projectiles. The very idea of a user who is well-practiced at it being killed by spikes of wood is ludicrous. It could only happen in the delusional fantasy of an idiot who knew nothing about the technique."
"Perhaps they had heard secondhand that a Hyuga was killed by an arrow. One that pierced a weak point in the technique," said Lee. "And from there, they assumed that the Kaiten was a melee defense."
"Well... that is an awfully specific example, Lee, but yes," said Neji.
"Great, yeah, sure, whatever," said Tenten. She was not particularly interested in examining that possible chain of events. "Now, let's never mention it again and move on to something within the realms of possibility."
"This is all theoretical in any case," said Neji, trying again. "The truth is that I know only the general principles of the technique. I gained what I learned by observing the Main Clan training. I have been trying to imitate their technique; however, progress has been slow."
"Why are you doing it on the water, though?" asked Tenten.
"Kaiten is more effective the more efficient your chakra control is," said Neji. "If I am able to do it on the water, then it will be that much more powerful. Although, I believe I will have to train on solid ground for a time.
"This method does not seem to be bearing fruit."
"That would be wise," said Itachi. "Sometimes, the best way to deal with a difficult problem is to cut one's losses. Withdraw and come at it from a different angle, or seek a less ambitious means of attack."
"Then why did you suggest I learn it on the water?" asked Neji.
"So that I could cite that specific moral lesson," said Itachi. "Although if you had succeeded at it, that would have been good too. I was not well enough versed in Hyuga techniques to make a judgment. But I see something of myself in you."
"You think you have it bad," said Tenten. "Do you have any idea how much time I've had to spend replacing my blades?"
"You have to put them all back by hand, don't you?" asked Neji. "It must take a great deal of effort to practice them. Are you certain that is an efficient use for your time?"
"Well, what else am I going to do?" asked Tenten. "Fuijtsu is my whole skill. I gotta weaponize it somehow.
"What are you practicing, Lee?" asked Tenten.
Rock Lee remained silent. Looking up, Tenten realized he was gone.
"Lee?" asked Tenten.
"I have been practicing moving unseen so as to take others off guard," said Lee, now behind her.
Tenten whirled around in surprise. "How did you do that?!"
"I have become quite adept," said Lee.
"Why stealth?" asked Tenten, looking to Itachi.
"Lee has a major disadvantage," said Itachi. "He is unable to use genjutsu or ninjutsu, and therefore he must account for this in his build. Focusing on him as a pure taijutsu specialist might have advantages. However, there are limits to how far one can advance in one skill in a given amount of time.
"And a pure taijutsu build would leave him vulnerable to indirect methods of attack.
"Thus, I have decided that Lee's best option would be to take his enemy off guard. To strike quickly and without warning, and incapacitate them before they can see him."
"That doesn't seem like the sort of tactics a ninja should use, Itachi-sensei," said Tenten.
Neji blinked. "...Tenten, do you know what a ninja is?"
"Do you?" asked Tenten flatly.
"Technically speaking, you are both correct," said Itachi. "The original incarnation of ninjas was a stealthy warrior—one who specialized in misdirection and stealth. After the Sage of the Six Paths, however, many new jutsu were devised. They rendered such tactics less common.
"Hashirama and Madara notoriously refused to use stealth.
"However, it still has great value and many devotees in the ANBU.
"But enough of this. Rest, and we'll move on later."
And rest they did.
The next day they headed out through the trees. Tenten only kept an eye out because that was what you were supposed to do. Now that Itachi was on their side, so to speak, it was a lot more entertaining walking through the woods. All three of them felt like they'd accomplished something great by getting the bells.
"...Wow, traveling without any paranoia is nice, isn't it?" asked Tenten to fill the silence.
"I must confess, having sensei not be manipulating events is preferable," said Neji.
"You should stay alert regardless," said Itachi. "Even the most talented of ninja make mistakes. It is good to act as a team, but each member of that team must be able to stand on their own. Otherwise, their comrades will become a crutch.
"It is only when a group is strong both individually and together with that true power can be achieved."
"...Still, we are taking an indirect route back to the village, sensei," noted Neji.
They were? Tenten hadn't noticed.
"I feel that moving through the wilds will be helpful," said Itachi. "There is also something I want to show you three."
"What is it?" asked Lee.
"A ruin, of sorts," said Itachi.
And he'd say no more than that as he led the three of them through the woods.
Eventually, they came to it, a staircase in a small clearing made of stone. It led down to a pair of broken and rotted doors, and Itachi stood before it. "Here."
Itachi said nothing else as he led the three of them down over the threshold. Using a flashlight, they made their way down a long tunnel. Periodically they would see doors leading one way or the other into empty rooms. Tables of stone lay cleared, and moss was growing on the walls. A musty smell combined with the drip of water to give an eerie feel to it all.
"This place is really overgrown," said Tenten. "It doesn't look like anybody has been here for a long time."
"No one has," said Itachi. "This outpost was not built because of strategic necessity but to remain secret. When the secrets within became public, it was abandoned."
"What secrets were those?" asked Neji.
"...You don't have to tell us if you'll have to kill us later," said Tenten quickly.
"Don't worry, most of them have been forgotten," said Itachi in amusement. "This place was once an outpost used by Orochimaru for research."
"Orochimaru... he was Iruka-sensei's old teacher?" remembered Tenten.
"Yes. Orochimaru only taught three students," said Itachi. "Largely because he had been pressured to do so. Iruka Umino.
"Might Guy.
"And Anko Mitarashi.
"At one time, he was considered the greatest Shinobi in the Leaf. Unfortunately, he became antisocial and reclusive. With the authorization of the Leaf, e delved into forbidden secrets. He was seeking the keys to immortality.
"Eventually, he went too far and was forced to flee."
"What... what did he do here?" asked Tenten.
"Look in there," said Itachi, motioning to a doorway.
Within, Tenten saw many shattered tanks, overgrown by moss. The metal machines at the base were long since rusted. "Are those... tanks?"
"Was he experimenting on fish?" asked Lee.
"On people," said Itachi. "There was an experiment to infuse the cells of Hashirama into children. The hope was to restore Wood Style to the Leaf.
"There were many subjects.
"Only one of them survived."
"And what... what was in here?" asked Tenten, pointing to a different room.
"In that room, the experiments were less inhumane," said Itachi. "The purpose was to see if children could be created without the need of a mother or father."
"Why?" asked Neji. "What could the Leaf gain from such a thing?"
"The Hyuga Clan is very powerful, Neji, and a great asset," said Itachi. "Imagine, however, if the Hyuuga Clan were to be wiped out so only you remained. Even if you had many children, all of them would only be half Hyuga. No matter what marriages were arranged, the Byakugan would become a lost art in a few generations.
"But, what if a child could be created from the DNA of a being with a Kekkei Genkai?"
"They could resurrect fallen clans," said Neji. "But I cannot see Hiashi ever allowing such a thing. Our bloodlines are our main advantage. Any faction that created new Hyuga could do so continually without any hope of control. I cannot see anyone trusting Orochimaru with such a thing."
"This all seems... unnatural, sensei," said Lee. "Why would the Leaf allow such a thing?"
"It had never been within the realm of possibility. Not before Orochimaru suggested it," said Itachi. "And at the time, we had suffered grievous losses in the wars. Desperation breeds immorality.
"And they did not.
"However, there was an alternative method suggested. One could create artificial humans without the need to give them powers. One would need only remap their genome to be especially receptive to a given bloodline. A being could be engineered whose genes were largely recessive.
"In so doing, any children created would be almost entirely of a given bloodline."
"Why are we here?" asked Tenten, weirded out by all this. "Is this program active?"
Itachi shook his head. "No.
"The program was shut down alongside the wood style."
"Then why are you telling us this?" asked Neji.
"I wanted you to grasp the darker side of the Leaf Village," said Itachi. "What you have seen until now is that which basks in the sun. At the same time, the roots of the tree lie buried in darkness. Many things have and are still being done by the Leaf that you would consider immoral, perhaps even evil.
"You may never see these things being done, take any part in them, or hear of them. But, by working with the Leaf, you are part of it.
"Are you willing to continue as a ninja, knowing even this?"
"Yep," said Tenten, glad that was all it was. She almost laughed.
"I have no other choice. I would be shamed before my family if I left now," said Neji.
"Yes, I um... it would seem very unyouthful to give up so suddenly," said Lee. "This information is most troubling, but I do not intend to back out. If the Leaf has some aspects that are unyouthful then I shall change them by my good example!"
"Tenten, you agreed very quickly," noted Itachi.
"I actually don't really care about Orochimaru's experiments all that much," admitted Tenten. "I became a ninja because I wanted to be respected for doing glorious work. The Leaf is my employer, and it hasn't done anything to make me want to ditch it.
"Besides, I like my job.
"And what exactly are my alternatives? That psychopath Yagura? The Raikage? The hasbeen Tsuchikage? Or the sociopaths of the Sand?
"Not very good job insurance with any of them."
"You have a very practical mind, Tenten," noted Itachi. "It may be too practical."
"What do you want from me?" asked Tenten. "I just spent years training for this; I'm not backing out of it because Orochimaru did a bad thing years ago.
"Especially not after getting through those genjutsu tricks of yours."
"Well then, I'm pleased you're so resolved about this," said Itachi. "Let's return to the Village."
And walk on they did, leaving behind the facility. Still, Tenten had the feeling there was another meaning behind their visit. She couldn't for the life of her put her finger on what it was, though.
"What was that all about?" asked Tenten finally in a spare moment.
"Sensei is testing our resolve," said Lee, though Tenten suspected he was only guessing. "He is forcing us to confront uncomfortable aspects of the world. I would guess we may demonstrate true youthful spirit. Just as we must train ourselves to improve our bodies, our minds must remain sharp."
"Honestly, I think this is just Itachi Uchiha's idea of tourism," muttered Neji.
"Hmm, well yes," said Itachi where he had been without them knowing. "Tourism is a form of leisure activity where one learns more about regional cultures. So I believe this does constitute it."
"Fine, but next time can we go somewhere with a snack bar?" asked Tenten.
"I'll think about it," said Itachi.
A few days later, they got back to the Leaf Village.