Chapter Thirty-One: Manipulative Homecoming
Kin Tsuchi leaned against a tree beneath the shade of the eves outside the Leaf Village. Her dark hair was tied with a headband, and she was clad in camo. Her arms were crossed before her to show Zaku how much she was done.
Weeks of travel, and now they were waiting around for Dosu to get new orders.
"What do you think this is?" asked Zaku.
"How the hell should I know?" asked Kin.
At that moment, Dosu came back, clad in bandages and a cold weather jacket as always. His gauntlet was on the one hand, and he looked unhappy.
"So what's going on, Dosu?" asked Zaku.
"There's nothing going on, Zaku; the attack is canceled," said Dosu in disgust. "Or at least delayed a long time."
"Why?" asked Kin. "What did Lord Orochimaru lose his nerve?"
"Lord Orochimaru never loses his nerve," said Zaku. "Remember it."
"The Sand Village pulled out, as usual," said Dosu. "Rasa's gotten cold feet because Sarutobi has gotten back in the game. That means this is a standard Chunin Exam. We're to follow orders."
"Why can't we just attack them anyway?" asked Kin. "It's not like we need the Sand."
"These are our orders," said Dosu. "The Sand Shinobi will be there as well. And there are likely going to be people from the Cloud as well. It's too big an operation with everyone coming to make the hit."
"Fine, let's just find our contact," said Kin in disgust.
And they headed off through the forests closer toward the Leaf. As they, they eventually came to a small hillock by the roadside. There a silver-haired man named Kabuto was sitting in the sun, pretending to read. Two masked men were near him.
"Sound jutsu:" said Kabuto Yashir. "Cone of silence.
"Are you Orochimaru's agents?"
"We're all Orochimaru's agents," said Zaku.
"Of course we are," said Kabuto, offering them pictures. "Here are your targets."
Kin took it and looked over it. "Target? I thought we were pulling out?
"Who blank-eyes?" There was a picture of four kids their age, a brown-haired girl with hair buns and cute eyes. Then there was also a blank-eyed kid with a scowl and someone with a bowl cut.
Last, of all, there was Itachi Uchiha, someone Kin had wanted to be like.
One day, Kin was going to be just like him. Well, maybe with more mass murder.
"That is Neji Hyuga," said Kabuto. "The girl is a ninja named Tenten. Last of all, there is Rock Lee and Itachi.
"Orochimaru and I have a bet of sorts. You see, Orochimaru thinks that Tenten is a competent ninja using the Uchiha as cover. For my part, I think that Tenten and her group are at best average ninja who has been expertly maneuvered as tools.
"We're interested in resolving the matter."
"Am I to understand that you have derailed us from a mission of vital importance to a private whim?" asked Dosu. "We are representing the Sound Village here."
"Yeah, you're already undercover," said Zaku. "You probably know more about her than we do. Why don't you talk to her?"
"Because I am the one in charge of this operation," said Kabuto. "Not you."
"An operation that doesn't exist anymore," said Kin.
"I don't think you understand how the sound operates," said Kabuto. "We do not do things for any reason save that Orochimaru, or someone working for Orochimaru, wills it. These are your orders.
"Or are you no longer in the service of Orochimaru?"
"No, of course not," said Kin, shuddering. "We're with him."
"He has our complete loyalty," said Zaku.
"We are not questioning his authority or orders," said Dosu. "Merely trying to understand how this fits into our present situation."
"That's on a need-to-know basis," said Kabuto.
"Fine, whatever," said Kin. "Have it your way, four-eyes.
"But who's going to train us?"
"I'm sorry?" asked Kabuto, smile serene.
"We're supposed to make it through the Chunin Exams," said Kin. "There is always a one-month time period where everyone trains up.
"It's tradition.
"Everyone else in the village will have a Jonin-sensei. We won't. We were never assigned on. So what do we do if we win?"
"Lord Orochimaru has great faith in your abilities. Be creative," said Kabuto, adjusting his glasses.
Then he raced off.
"This is ridiculous," said Dosu. "Even if we make it through the first stage, everyone else will be far ahead of us."
"Lord Orochimaru probably wants us to find it on our own," said Zaku. "Self-reliance is one of the things he believes in."
"You're fooling yourself, Zaku," said Kin, going into the forest. "Fine, whatever. Let's just find this stupid Tenten girl so we can write her off."
"This is a wild goose chase," said Dosu. "Orochimaru must have a very low opinion of our abilities. Otherwise, he would have given us a trainer or a task that was more important."
"You don't know that," said Zaku.
"I think we might get cut loose if we don't step things up," said Kin. "We've gotta do something to impress him. And we've got to find a trainer or something."
Dosu halted. "One moment.
"There is someone reading ways east, out of sound range."
"Let's go then," said Kin.
The three of them darted through the trees, seeking their prey. At last, they soundlessly landed on the trees and saw her. Tenten was sitting in the shade of a tree, reading a book with a smile on her face.
For a moment, she held her position. Then she shut the book with a sigh, adjusted her hair, and moved off toward the path. Following her silently, she came out of the trees. On the path was Itachi Uchiha, walking with hands in pockets. He looked up to Tenten, and as he did, Kin took in the sunlight path leading up to the colorful gate of the village.
Kids were playing out there.
"You're late," said Tenten in irritation.
"Ninja are never late, Tenten," said Itachi. "They are simply missing in action."
Tenten walked to join him as they walked on as though they were two old friends. She put her hands behind her head. "Well, I'm pleased you decided to become un-missing before the Chunin Exams. We've had a devil of a time rebuilding the world village without you."
The world village?
As in, like, god stuff? What was going on here?
"Oh, that thing with the serpent was an unfortunate misunderstanding," said Itachi. Tenten and he walked into the village under the gaze of the townsfolk. "I was simply attempting to present an alternative path."
Dosu, Kin, and Zaku entered the village and realized there was a kind of warmth to the place. Everyone here seemed... genuine, somehow as if darkness had been pulled away. They'd never seen anything like this.
"And how is our serpent?" asked Tenten.
Was she just screwing with them now? But how? She didn't even know they were there, and they were in public? She wasn't serious, was she? Then again, her record had indicated she'd been involved in numerous major events. Banking crisis was resolved, the Uchiha Clan coup averted, all without doing anything.
"You know Orochimaru as well as I do. Not at all," said Itachi. "Rasa pulled out at the last minute because he thought it was becoming too risky. The man has no idea how to take risks. And Orochimaru has no idea how to do anything but take risks.
"All I had to do was hand out a bit of information and let them interpret it according to their flaws."
Well, either way," said Tenten. "You've been officially labeled the new universal outcast."
"Have I really?" asked Itachi, giving her a look as though he guessed her mind.
"It's really sad," laughed Tenten. "You see, we ended the Uchiha Senju Feud while you were gone. That death mission you stuck us in was some trouble. But we all got out of it stronger.
The trouble is that some people tried to substitute Naruto for me and then me for Naruto.
"Everybody got a bit confused, and now you're the only outsider."
"Am I really?" asked Itachi, faintly amused.
"It happens," said Tenten as they walked. "Itachi, I'm glad you made it in time."
"So am I, for once," mused Itachi.
And they approached a crossroads leading to the Hokage's office. Elsewhere and Kin realized people were looking the other way now. Like this was just normal, bright days and sun.
"Head on home first; I'm sure the Hokage won't mind you visiting with relatives," said Tenten.
"Excellent genjutsu work, by the way," said Itachi.
Genjutsu?
Kin quickly attempted a genjutsu release spell. She tried several more times. Dosu and Zaku did as well.
"What genjutsu?" asked Kin, looking around.
But all she saw was the world.
And everything in it. Houses are rising high with paint on them and good roofs. People were going about their business without fear of being killed. Kids are just kids, and the sun is shining with only a few clouds in the sky—no thugs or gamblers in place.
A trick.
That was actually pretty clever; obviously, they'd seen them and played them for-.
"No!" said a voice.
Kin looked up and saw Tsunade, the Legendary Sannin staring at Tenten in shock. Tenten looked up and smiled. "Hmm?"
"I refuse to believe that you are a god!" Well, she said it, not Kin.
No, no, there was no way Tenten was god. That was impossible.
"That's your decision to make, Lady Tsunade," said Tenten casually. "So, how has the healing been going?" How was she so casual with this woman? And why was Tsunade treating her like an authority figure?
"Well, I mean..." Tsunade halted. "Since you chewed me out, I've been healing people for free as much as I can. But I came back here because I wanted to pass on my arts. I mean, like a master student relationship...
"And uh..."
"Oh nice," said Tenten. "I could recommend some people later. Sakura really needs some unique skills of her own, and Ino could use some help. Also, I think Anko could use it, if only because it would help with the chakra control and help her settle down."
"Why you little-" said a woman at a bar, drawing a dagger. Even as she did, Tenten drew a kunai.
"You really shouldn't be so quick with a knife, Anko. I'm a better shot than you," said Tenten.
"I meant a master-student relationship with you! I mean, to repay you for-" began Tsunade.
"I'm not in a position to teach you anything at the moment," said Tenten. "Good work so far.
"Oh, hey, Jiraiya. They're calling you the Toad Sage these days?"
Kin looked up to see Jiraiya or someone matching his description with a white mane and red outfit. Wait, these days? She wasn't any older than Kin.
"Who are you?" asked Jiraiya in shock. "What is going on here?"
"Well, at the moment, I'm cast in the role of god," said Tenten. Cast in the role? Was she saying she wasn't or... "Now, I need you to go to a friend of mine and give him any help he needs. Itachi can explain the details; it's not a crisis yet. But if things keep going like this, we might have a few problems. He's at the Uchiha mansion, but you don't have to go up there if you feel it wouldn't be a good idea."
"Who are you?" asked Jiraiya.
"I think they can tell you," said Tenten, turning to the village. "Enjoy the Chunin Exams, everyone!"
"What is going on here?" asked Zaku. "That girl can't possibly be a god."
"How do you know?" asked Dosu. "I mean, everybody seems to get out of the way for her. And everyone except Itachi took her critiques."
Kin was in a daze, and all she could do was follow Tenten through the streets up into the Hokage office. As they entered, she found herself and the others standing in a daze of confusion outside a door. As though waiting for an appointment.
She opened the door and saw Tenten sitting on a throne behind a desk, working up her courage. Just as though she had been expected.
Was she dead?
Had something happened to-
"Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen! Forgive us, please!" said Dosu suddenly. "We were ordered to keep an eye on this girl, and we got carried away following her."
Kin turned to see the Hokage stepping forward, pipe in hand. "Oh, don't worry about it.
"I'm sure you just got a bit carried away with your orders. I'll deal with the matter."
And he brushed past them, ruffling Kin's head as he did. What?! Why was she taking this!
"So, there's a story going around that you're god," said Sarutobi.
Tenten reeled back, more hurt by his stair than Kin had ever been by kunai. She suddenly looked a lot less like a pure spirit and a lot more like a young ninja in over her head. Was the light to this place all in her head.
Or the nervous smile?
"Um, a refuge in audacity?" said Tenten.
"Tenten..." said Sarutobi. "Get out of my chair."
"Yes sir, Hokage," said Tenten, racing out. "Right away!"
And she hurried past them.
They were being manipulated!
They'd been played from the start with sunny smiles and refuge in audacity? But why? Why go to all this trouble for three genin?
"Children these days. I swear, Orochimaru was just like her at her age," said Sarutobi.
"You..." Zaku stared. "You can't be..."
"Of course, I'm not," said Sarutobi. "It's just an act.
"Kin, Dosu, Zaku, it's good to see you finally."
The door shut.
What could they say to this?
"Yeah," said Kin. "Yeah, it is."
Then she turned and saw Tenten inches away from her face. Kin flinched and stepped back. "So, would you be interested in a conspiracy to win the Chunin Exams?"
"Um, yes?" said Zaku.
"Good," said Tenten. "Be at this address, and don't be late." And she gave them a piece of paper.
Having no guidance and nothing better to do until now, they walked. Now the initial haze had passed as they walked. As they did, they saw two ninjas to one side. One had brown hair and the blank eyes of a Hyuga and the other a bowl cut.
"No, Lee, the symptoms you are describing are not a religious experience," said the Hyuga. "They are simply disoriented and incapable of interpreting their surroundings."
"Who are we speaking of?" asked Lee.
Kin tried to snap out of it.
But the problem was that there was no genjutsu around them at all. Everything here was real, so you couldn't disprove it. Someone had put them in a position of trying to break a genjutsu that wasn't.
It was created by them.
They were the genjutsu. How did that even work?
At last, they came to the address, a large building above them. There were flowers in front of it, and they stood in place. For a moment, Dosu raised a hand as if to knock, then stepped back.
But the door opened anyway, and a blonde-haired boy stood before them. "Oh, so you're the new people Tenten wanted to be involved. Nice to meet you; my name is Naruto Uzumaki. Come on in, please. We're using Ino's house for this; Sasuke doesn't spend a lot of time at home."
"We've heard of you," said Dosu.
"Some people seem to think you're a god," said Kin. "Nice manipulation." Call it for what it was and block it out.
"Eh, not yet," said Naruto, motioning them in. "Maybe on the long-term agenda if things go better than expected." They entered into a living room where a variety of people were. A boy with a topknot was before them on the seat, reading. "This is Shikamaru?"
"What a drag," said Shikamaru.
"That's his answer to everything," said Naruto, pointing to a guy in a hoodie. "There's Kiba over there."
Kiba had a dog on his head. Didn't he realize dogs always died? "And Akimaru, my dog. That's Shino; he's an Abarame." Shino also wore a hoodie.
At that moment, a hot blonde girl walked into the room, carrying a tray. "I've got the snacks, Choji."
"Oh, thanks, Ino," said Choji, a fat guy.
"And Hinata and Hanabi over here," said Ino, putting the trays down and taking off mitts. What was she, a housewife?
Hinata was a dark-haired Hyuga in a cold weather jacket. She wore a bowl-cut and looked weak. Then, near her, Hanabi had long, brown hair.
"We've just got to wait for Neji Hyuga and his team," said Shino.
"Neji is the uh... team leader?" asked Zaku.
"Yes and no," said Hinata. "Technically, Neji is outranked by most of us. However, he and his team are senior and the main architects of this meeting."
"We will be coordinating on behalf of the Hyuga Clan," said Hanabi.
"What is this?" asked Kin. "Some kind of reunion?"
Why was she here?
What had drawn her to this place?
The reason given? She could hardly remember it?
"Not at all, Kin," said a cheerful voice.
Kin whirled around and saw Tenten, Neji, and Lee coming in here.
"Tenten?" asked Dosu. Why was she so familiar?
"We're going to rig the Chunnin Exams, so only our villages win," said Tenten. "And you're going to help us do it."
Kin was losing control of the situation. She had to do something now, or she'd be nothing but a puppet. So turning to where Kiba was playing with his dog, she seized on weakness. "Your fate cannot be avoided, Kiba!
"The dog always dies!"
Kiba clutched Akimaru have him as the dog wailed in despair.
Neji shrugged. "She's got a point."
Now Kin was home.