Our camping trip started out well enough. A grey-haired Nara met us outside the clan's compound and gave an abridged tour of the premises. We didn't see much of their district proper, but the little we did was enough to impress. Training, R&D, strategy, and a surprising amount of industry was produced here.
Delicate or sophisticated tools were mainly under the purview of the Nara. Think of radios, televisions, microscopes, and most medical tools. The actual number produced and used was extremely low. It wasn't a problem of knowledge but one of resources. Basic materials were plentiful in this world. Rare earth metals, golds, glass, and even copper were rare. It led to a paradoxically advanced culture that could never be entirely divorced from the old world.
There's a restaurant close to my home whose interior is lit only by the sun or candlelight. No gas or electric stoves, and all the ingredients must be freshly brought in that morning. They don't even have a refrigerator. The meat they do store has to be salted and dried. Yet every time I eat there, the owner brags about how his daughter has a great job as a tv mechanic.
Most places have electricity, and I've yet to go somewhere without indoor plumbing. But places like the restaurant aren't rare enough to be surprising. I doubt things would significantly change even if the world were peaceful. There just aren't enough materials to go around. It's a minor miracle that things have advanced this far.
Our guide kept us on the district's outskirts, away from anything interesting besides the Nara's narration of what was deeper in. We continued listening for about twenty minutes until we stopped in a small meadow on the forest's edge. The deer had already been moved to the other half, and we were instructed not to cross the river to where they had been placed.
Even the outside of the woods looked fairytale-like. This wasn't meant as a survival trip but instead a practical demonstration of what we might need to do in the field. Shigaki-sensei and the old Nara weren't about to let us go crazy in there. They filed us into two marching lines like good little child soldiers. Stopping every so often for a lesson on what was safe to eat, what could be used as medicine, and the best places to hide if injured or overwhelmed.
Most of our lessons in the academy deal with death or destruction, but they tend to be hidden underneath flowery words and good intentions. The Will of Fire was the best bit of propaganda Konoha had ever produced. You can use it to justify making monsters out of children and committing horrific acts daily. The reality of what ninja were was much easier to swallow when attached to a sweet dream.
Don't take this as a criticism. I'm impressed by how good the villages have gotten at population control in such a short time. These people really believe in what they're fighting for. It doesn't mean that every genin in the village would gladly die for the village. But most of them would jump in front of a sword for someone else.
I was rooting for any system that encouraged others to take the bullet for me. The survivors of such things aren't even looked down for it. Do you think a single person the White Fang saved will ever be ostracized for being protected? Saviors have less support than the saved in this world.
Few people refused to drink the kool-aid. Those that did were branded as traitors of the worst kind in every village. Missing-nin held a universal contempt in this world. Defectors are hated but can still gain some sort of life in the village they turned to. The ones who leave the system entirely are treated like dogs waiting to be put down.
Neither option is very appealing to me. I was content to just remain a loyal hound to Konoha. Strength was rewarded with freedom here. The strongest people in the village are given everything you can imagine: power, influence, money, and almost total immunity from reproach. Once I reached that level, all I had to do was run a mission every once in a while and wear a headband. Being a rogue agent wouldn't suit my tastes. I liked hot springs, hot meals, and desserts. Do you think the Akatsuki get a lot of chances to eat tempura in an Akimichi restaurant?
Not to mention all the training and resources I'd miss out on. My goal was to become the Goddess of Shinobi. It's hard enough to get there with all the chances Konoha gives me, let alone on the run. I also had an opportunity to shift the future in my favor if I remained a leaf-nin. I'll keep doing my duty and taking orders until I'm the one giving them.
That said, I was still surprised by how military the lesson was. There was no prettying up what we were out there to learn. At the very beginning, Shigaki-sensei said these were things we would need to know during a war. He even gave a story connected to each plant, hiding spot, or potential trap.
That was until we reached a point in the woods he determined to be a good campsite. His first act was opening up a storage scroll and handing out shovels to his little 'campers.' He told the entire class to start digging a pit latrine and not to stop until he was satisfied. The first time I heard him laugh was at the expression of a poor girl who asked him what they were for.
I didn't join in with Shizune and Kurenai's complaints. I was too busy watching my next target and trying to devise a way to make him feel indebted to me. Graduation was only in a month, and it had caused a shift in my priorities. I was going to be a genin much sooner than I had anticipated. It was time to make at least one more connection before it was too late.
Setting up the camp itself was menial, bordering on tedious work, which wouldn't be a problem if we had been allowed to go at it with a decent pace. Sensei and the Nara had other plans. There was no splitting up of duties whatsoever. The entire class would have a hand in each task, and the Nara would explain in exact detail what was being done and why. I get why we need to know these things. War could break out any time, and you needed a baseline of competence. But couldn't we assume that even academy students understood why we had patrols and guard shifts?
We were judged harshly on the quality of our work. Multiple tents had to be torn down and started over once finished because of a minor flaw or inefficiency in their construction. These weren't run-of-the-mill camping tents either. We were setting up barracks-style tents used to hold multiple squads. I ensured that our group performed flawlessly the first time on each task. I could count on Shizune and Kurenai to pull their weight. The two boys that had been unceremoniously placed with us required a more… firm hand.
We were being watched, after all. Neither Sensei nor the Nara were trying to hide the mental notes they were taking. It wasn't anything new for those of us that paid attention. From the moment you become an academy student, eyes watch and evaluate your every step. Sometimes other teachers or shinobi would come to class as 'assistants.' It didn't take a genius to realize they were there to help report on students' growth and abilities.
That's why I was surprised at the nervousness building in me. I couldn't remember the last time my confidence was called into question like this. Something about being outside of the classroom made things seem more real. The academy was important, but it didn't matter in the end. No one would care who was first place in the class ten years from now. All that mattered was what you did in the real world.
The cool morning air passed slowly until it was replaced by the summer heat, much like how a war camp had replaced the clearing. It was spartan but very functional for being made by children in under six hours. Much cleaner than its inhabitants too. The only ones not covered in dirt and sweat were our chaperons and the kids I'd caught slacking off more than once.
Fools. Just because you aren't reprimanded doesn't mean there aren't any consequences. Jonin get the full report when deciding who to take as a team. I couldn't help the smile on my face whenever I would spot one of them. Seeing my competition shoot themselves in the foot was always rewarding.
"Come here girl," The Nara spoke with a voice much rougher than I expected. He sounded like a rocky hillside in the shape of an older man. I wasn't the first person he had called out once the sun had begun to set. A few others had been given words and sent on their way. I saw no reason not to do the same.
"What do you need sir."
His face was remarkably clear for a man his age. There wasn't a lot of shinobi alive past sixty. Those that were tended to have well-maintained bodies but faces withered and scarred beyond their years. His was much the opposite. He didn't have trouble moving around, yet his body seemed frail. The hand that scratched his beard was scarred beyond reasonableness, and the other wasn't much better. They were made of more scar tissue than normal skin. It didn't stop them from being quick and agile. Each task he performed as an example was perfect.
It was hard to believe that opening up an odd-looking fruit from a tree could be graceful, but I'd seen him manage it multiple times that morning. The contrast between his and his face was night and day. Time had neglected to rob the vibrancy of youth from him. If it weren't for the stark gray hair and light wrinkles, his face could pass as a man in his twenties.
It wasn't a particularly handsome one. But it was very kind and open. The kind that compelled someone to trust in someone, confide in them. It reminded me of my mother and how loving she was. I felt like everything would be alright if I could get him on my side. The rightness of the moment had enveloped me almost like a blanket. The only problem was a single discordant note that… that I…
Instincts I didn't know I had yanked something inside me that broke the spell I was under. The sweetness of clarity once more permeated my senses, and I couldn't stop myself from glaring. He had put me under a genjutsu without warning. Probably when he first called me over or when I had been examining him.
His face was much the same but without the ethereal compulsion. The smile he gave once I broke out of the spell didn't do much to improve things. The teeth that remained were cracked and ugly, adding another aspect of strangeness to an unnaturally young face.
At least his voice stayed the same when he spoke, "Odd for one so young to be so distrustful. I find such—rambunctiousness to be more than it's worth these days," he licked his lips and looked out at the students, "Paranoia and an active mind are good tools for a shinobi. See to it that neither of them gets you killed, Ikeda-san."
My sharp intake of breath returned the smile to his face. It makes sense that he would know all of the class ahead of time. That didn't make my name coming out of his mouth any less creepy.
"Is there anything else you need Nara-san?"
"No, no. You've done better than can be expected. My reward isn't for you Ikeda-san. Perhaps I can convince that sourpuss over there to give you a reward." He inclined his head toward Sensei, who was busy berating two children over being unable to start a fire. In his defense, we've only gone over the basics of it about a hundred times.
The Nara waved off anything else I had to say and sent me back towards camp. I watched him call over the next person as inconspicuously as I could. Try as I might, I couldn't tell if anyone else had been put under a genjutsu. I stopped trying after he sent another ugly smile my way.
The entire camp was in good spirits regardless of the work. It was much like a regular summer camp, aside from the survival lessons and creepy older men. Now that I think about it, doesn't that make it even more like a regular summer camp? The militaristic undertones pervading the whole experience set it apart for an outsider like me. But for the children? They were getting to spend a day in the woods with their friends and still learning how to become ninjas. Most couldn't ask for anything more.
Even the clan kids seemed more relaxed out in nature. Funnily enough, the one dealing with it the worst was an Akimichi kid. One of the edible plants we had eaten earlier hadn't fully agreed with his stomach. At least the latrine was getting put to good use.
I had put good mental money on one of the Uchiha or Hyuga being the biggest sourpuss. They were all frustratingly happy about spending time outdoors. It did make a certain amount of sense. They were all skilled enough that a lot of effort had been put into training. People willing to put that much of themselves into something as rough as ninja training wouldn't be afraid to get their hands dirty, literally in this case. Having it be in nature and away from the expectations of their elders had to bring some relief.
There was one big problem that the class was starting to realize. Shizune was the first in our group to notice it. Shigaki-sensei had checked our supplies in the morning before we went into the woods. Some of our supplies were given back, others were packed into a storage seal, and all of our food was placed in a single pack for safe keeping.
I'll give you one guess on which pack got left behind. Luckily sensei was… generous enough to give us field rations for lunch. He didn't address the missing food until evening was already upon us, and everyone was starting to feel hungry. I was impressed by how callous he was about telling preteens they wouldn't be eating dinner without catching it themselves.
"You have three hours to return. Anything you catch must be unharmed and brought into camp. We will all go over how to prepare an animal while minimizing the chances of the enemy finding you because of it. Squirrels and rabbits are the most plentiful animals in these woods. I'd suggest getting one of them, but anything you can catch is allowed." A loud cough from the Nara had Sensei closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. I could almost see him counting back from ten.
"You may catch any animal except for deer. Anyone who can't get food from the woods can practice being hungry for a weekend. Now hurry along. You've already wasted ten minutes of your time."
My classmates resembled ants in a thunderstorm with how quickly they scattered from the camp. Some went alone, others in teams. I decided our little group should split off and go on their own. Ostensibly to prevent us from scaring off all the prey, in truth, my target had gone off alone and I couldn't think of a better time to make my move.
I flicked Kurenai when she asked if we would share if only one of us caught food and hugged Shizune for good luck. Time to catch a couple of rabbits.
It reflected well on the Nara that their woods still sounded alive even when filled with a horde of children. Even the stealthiest academy students tended to be loud enough to disturb nature, much less a class of almost 30.
I wasn't sure how long it would last when weapons and traps were strewn out across our little piece of the jungle. It was what made me decide to focus on speed. Better to bet on my abilities than work on placing a few snares out of the dozens that would be built in the next couple of hours.
It wasn't long before I came across a few rabbit markings, and the hunt really started. I deactivated all my weight seals and dashed off in quick pursuit. The quicker I could finish here, the faster I could emotionally manipulate a child.
On another note, I can confirm that leaping from tree to tree at high speeds is as dangerous as it is cool. It had been so long since I'd pushed my body as fast as it could go. The excitement had me forgoing stealth for laughter. I fear that this world has corrupted me from the innocent flower I once was into an adrenaline junkie. Shame that becoming a ninja was the only option I had instead of minor shoplifting like a proper lady.
Brute force or at least brute speed proved to be the correct decision only a few minutes into my tracking. I was in luck that there were two of them together. I felt less lucky when I realized it was bunny mating season. At least I knew which one I'd be giving away now.
I doubted either registered my presence before they were snatched up with one hand. On my other hand I had poison waiting to put dinner and the gift to sleep. It wasn't the easiest way to knock animals out, but it was an excellent way to test out my newest poison in the field. I could've flooded their systems with chakra. Conceptually similar to the gentle fist but far more unrefined and only applicable to simple animals.
Dumping chakra into animals like rabbits caused them to slip into a coma-like state. It wasn't permanent. The animal would go on living without any problems once the foreign chakra left its system. My working theory was that it had to do with either yin chakra or natural energy. Every living thing has chakra, but the smaller and less intelligent an animal was, the more susceptible it was to this technique. I didn't know if that was due to humans having far more yin chakra and it overwhelming their brains or due to animals being more in tune with nature and the clash between natural energy and human chakra causing a reaction.
It could be both of them or neither. I doubted I'd ever get the chance to find out unless I became sage. Though I'd hope I would have better things to do with my time than experiment with rabbits when I reached that level.
I stretched out my legs with a long sigh. I'd wasted enough time waiting for these things to pass out. Next time I want to knock something unconscious I'll use a senbon instead of fumes.
Step one of the plan was complete. Time to start on step two—scaring woodland creatures away from a kid without getting caught. Because that's my ninja way.
Sarutobi Asuma's day had gone downhill quickly. The morning had started fine. Mom had cooked his favorite breakfast and even walked him to class. He knew some kids were embarrassed by their parents, but he never understood why. He loved his mother. She was kind, caring, and always there when he needed her. She was everything the third Hokage wasn't.
His father wasn't there that morning. Even when he was, Hiruzen might as well of been somewhere else. His father spoke more about other people's children than his own son. It killed Asuma to hear his father talk with pride in his voice at those he wished were his actual children instead of the disappointment he was stuck with.
The third had never said it directly, but Asuma wasn't an idiot. You talk to and about people you love. You ignore those you don't. The young boy tried his best not to think about it. It did nothing but destroy his mood and confidence when he couldn't help himself. The only good part was that the pain was finally beginning to dull. You can only scrape at someone's heart so many times until it callouses over.
His friends made things even better after his mom dropped him off. It's hard to focus on the bad when Ebisu and Genma constantly make him laugh. Sensei was even less of an ass today. Offering to carry their food and some of his supplies. He realized now that Sensei was being a gigantic ass, but at the time it was pretty cool. Things only started getting bad after he talked to the Nara.
A thirty-second conversation had shattered the good mood he'd built all day. Who the hell does that old think he is talking about father and him like that? He hated it here. The pressure to become someone he wasn't was immense. He felt like he was nothing but dough for everyone else. Squeezed and kneaded to fit whatever shapes were conjured up for him.
Then Sensei had to leave their food behind and force the class to hunt or go hungry. The excuse to be alone was the only thing that kept him from shouting in frustration. Though his patience wasn't going to last much longer. He'd been in these damn woods for two hours with no sign of anything. It felt like the spirits themselves were herding prey away from him.
The frustration boiled away in him until it spilled over into deep nothingness. He was just done. He was hungry, hot, thirsty, and covered in dirt from having to redo the tent so many times. The forest echoed a loud smack as he banged his head against a tree. Asuma couldn't tell you why he did it. He just knew it made him feel a little better.
A hauntingly sweet laugh whispered across his back, bringing goosebumps over his body. Training took over and he whipped in the direction it came from, ready to fight—until he saw Ikeda Rinko walking towards him and chuckling.
A wave of embarrassment rolled through him, but he tried to ignore the heat on his face. Rinko was tall for her age but still shorter than most of the class. He might think she was cute if he didn't know the girl. Especially with the pretty laugh he just heard. As it was, Rinko kind of scared him. She was nice enough in class, but during spars… better not to dwell on such things. He wasn't worried about her hurting him or something crazy like that. He just knew that she didn't like him.
"Hello Ikeda-san."
"Sorry Sarutobi-san. I didn't mean to laugh. I just wasn't expecting the rabbits to prove so… frustrating for you.
Asuma's teeth ground together for a moment before the anger died out of him once more. She was right. It's shameful for a shinobi to let setbacks bring them down. That didn't mean he enjoyed hearing. He just wanted to be left alone, especially when Rinko already had two rabbits.
"If there's nothing else, I need to get back to hunting. There isn't much time left for me." He turned and started to walk in a random direction. Only making it a few steps before Rinko called out.
"You don't have enough time. I've been looking for a third rabbit everywhere. I think the others have caught the rest or scared them off."
"So I should just give up and be hungry?"
Asuma knew he was being rude but didn't care. That Indignation converted to confusion when she threw one of her rabbits at him. Dumbfounded at the odd projectile, he almost dropped it once it reached his arms.
"Problem solved then. Let's get back to camp before we miss the time limit."
Confusion rooted him in place and tied his tongue into knots. Rinko raised an eyebrow and leaned back onto one foot. The heat that had finally dissipated from his face came back in full force. This was why he didn't like talking with other people. Everyone expected something different from him, and he never managed to keep up.
"I know we aren't exactly friends Sarutobi. But I can assure you that the rabbit isn't poisonous."
"I-I know. But you don't. You ahh…"
"What?"
"You don't like me, so why are you helping me?"
It was Rinko's turn to adopt a confused look on her face. Head cocked and eyebrows furrowed, she reminded him of one of his mother's weird Hina dolls. The face had been painted wrong, and the neck had been mishappened, giving it an unending tilt and open mouth. Rinko managed to recover faster than the doll ever has.
"Why on earth would you think that?"
"You broke my nose twice. You were also grinning both times." Asuma's deadpan voice brought a reversal to their fortunes. Rinko turned a bright shade of pink and nervously started scratching her nose in response. An awkward chuckle came out before she responded.
"Hehehe… Sorry. I don't mean to be like that. It's just how I was taught. If I didn't fight like that they… Parents you know?"
A sad smile covered up the heat in her words. It seemed Rinko had decided today was the day to keep Asuma off-balance. His first instinct was she was lying. It wouldn't be the first time someone used him because of his last name. Rinko though… he had heard the same anger and desperation enough to believe in it. When he imagined her speaking to her parents with the same voice all that appeared was the third Hokage ignoring his son. How many times had he watched his reflection and seen that expression?
Asuma didn't feel any comfort from knowing someone else was dealing with it. There wasn't a secret kinship between them. Every child with shinobi parents suffered under the weight of expectations. If that were all it took, he'd be friends with almost every kid in the academy.
We aren't the same flittered in and out of his mind. Understanding at least filtered in with it. She would never understand what it was like to live in the shadow of a god. But he could understand living in the shadow of someone who demanded more than you had. It didn't explain smiling during spars, but then again girls are weird.
"Yeah. I think I know what you mean."
"It's my mother for me. You?"
"Father."
Asuma felt more comfortable in silence than he had for quite a while. He wouldn't call her a friend. All his friends came from talking about their dreams of being shinobi and connecting over shared interests. Rinko and Kurenai beat the shit out of each other, and now they're stuck at the hip. He'd be fine never befriending a girl if that's what it would take.
The walk back to camp was pleasant. Rinko hummed melodies he'd never heard, and they spent most of the time complaining about Sensei. The dichotomy between this Rinko and the one in class still spun his head in confusion. He didn't let it bother him too much. Asuma was smart enough to accept good things when they came his way.
They stopped before camp came into site on an unspoken agreement. Rinko, ever the forward one, was the first to speak. She reached her free hand toward Asuma and said, "How about we start over? My name's Ikeda Rinko. Nice to meetcha."
Her grin was enough to make it impossible to refuse even if he wanted to. It surprised him how nervous she was when they shook hands. It was surprisingly clammy. "Sarutobi Asuma. Nice to meet you. Please stop breaking my nose."
The snort from her was enough to bring a grin to the boy's face. A terrible thought struck him once she turned away to walk into camp. 'Is our next spar going to look like her's and Kurenai's?'
Do I really grin while I fight that much? I know that Shizune and Kurenai talk about it a lot. But we're friends, so being happy around your friends makes sense. Right?
I'm just going to sidestep that issue and focus on what matters. Step two of ingratiating myself with the rich and powerful was complete. There was a minor setback due to my own… enthusiasm in class. These kids need to get over themselves. How childish do you have to be to get annoyed at getting hurt in a spar?
I'll finish working my magic on Asuma tomorrow. Step three takes quite a few hours to work its way through your system after all.
I took my rightful place between Shizune and Kurenai just before Shigaki-sensei began a wave of indoctrination. Most kids found rabbits or squirrels, but the Akimichi kid somehow managed to tie up the most enormous raccoon I have ever seen. Most importantly, all of the animals were still alive. Unconscious, tied up, or struggling away in someone's hands.
The lesson started normally. He explained how an enemy could track you via hunting and the importance of staying undetected. We discussed masking the smell with chakra, fire, and standard ninja tools. Sensei did his best to dig the village's hooks in us once he started demonstrating.
First, he killed his own rabbit and demonstrated one of the techniques. It was clinical and almost unassuming. You would almost call his movements gentle if he hadn't just snapped a rabbit's neck in front of a crowd of children. I was impressed by how casual he made it seem. You might not think it necessary, but treating death as nothing special helped to normalize for kids who would one day deal in it.
Sensei was much more devious with this than I had expected. We weren't allowed to start at the same time. Instead, he went to each of us one by one. He had us tell the class how we caught our prey. Then he praised us for it and congratulated our growth. Tying our skills into what we would do in our future careers as shinobi. He doubled down on the praise after having us snap the neck of the animal we had caught.
I wasn't sure how to classify what was being done. Is it psychological warfare if it's good for you? The vast majority of these kids would be killers in the future. Some of them would be shifted into other classes, but few of the people who were placed in Shigaki-sensei's class completely dropped out of the academy. Almost everyone out here would have to kill or be killed at some point. Making it easier on them seemed like the right thing to do.
A sliver of morality from another life twisted a light grip on me. Maybe it would be more accurate to call it a sliver of understanding. I could see what the village was trying to do with this lesson. A teacher who never gives praise begins pouring it on you during what should be a tough moment for a typical preteen. It gives you a sense of pride in your skills and makes the killing seem like a good thing, especially once he ties it into the will of fire and your future as a shinobi.
Doctors hook newborns up to a drip-feed of propaganda in Konoha from the moment they're born. As a rule, Konoha ninja believe in the will of fire. The few that don't bring it up openly.
These kids barely have a chance to view their own killings as evil. Not after tying it to a fun trip with their friends. Not after praising them in front of their peers for it. And especially not after telling them that it's required to uphold the will of fire.
For crying out loud it was affecting me, and I know what he's doing. It feels good to have your skills acknowledged by someone who would be hard-pressed to enjoy the sunshine. It was amazing how well Konoha was at producing loyal shinobi. It felt like someone had built the culture from the bottom-up to make people capable of killing.
Don't let me act like these kids were ready to start slitting throats. Some of them were, but most would freeze up if they were put on the spot. What mattered was that they could get over it. And once these kids started killing, chances are they wouldn't stop.
Most shinobi can handle the killing. Those that can't end up dying off quickly, making it more likely for the upcoming shinobi to handle it. Peer pressure works kids. If all your friends were shoving people off a bridge, chances are you will too.
I was conflicted about how I'd handle my first one. Catching the rabbits was fun, as were any chances I had to hone my skills. Beating up these kids have been the happiest time in my life, for either of them. Sad from a certain perspective but freeing from mine. I don't know what it said about me that a violent meritocracy was my idea of a good time. You'd forgive me if I didn't spend much time reflecting on the philosophy of it all.
I didn't think I was a psychopath. Killing the rabbit didn't bring me any joy. It didn't eat me up on the inside either.
The enjoyment I got came from how fun the hunt was and the warmth that filled me as Shigaki-sensei praised me. I wasn't even the only person who smiled at his words. Most of the class found comfort in them. The killing didn't excite me. My vice was the struggle before death. A good thing for a shinobi, no?
Kurenai was a bit disturbed until Shigaki-sensei talked to her. A grim intensity settled over her, and she seemed to accept the necessity of it. I still noted the weakness in the back of my mind. In a decade she would be hardened against such doubts. I'd have to keep an eye on her in the field until then.
Shizune was one of the most affected in the class. I couldn't tell whether the response was due to trauma or temperament. Fighting and hurting others didn't give her any trouble. She was hesitant in a fight due to confidence, not a moral code. Death was another issue entirely. Even vaguely mentioning it set her on edge. Never enough to derail her, but enough to be noticeable.
I thought the poor girl was going to puke after her rabbit started twitching. Sensei was able to keep her from going that far, but she was still green in the gills long after dinner. I felt a little bad about how great of a time I was having. The best part was almost choking on my meal after Asuma complained about his rabbit tasting weird.
After dinner, Kurenai left to chat with the class while I stayed behind with Shizune. She'd retreated into our tent without a word. I followed soon after, and the only evidence she was there was a child-sized lump under a blanket. It's normal for most kids to pout after a pet dies. It was probably similar after killing and eating it themselves.
I made no attempt to hide my presence or intentions. Casually grabbing something to sit on by the quiet girl. The routine of sitting in silence and waiting for Shizune to meet me halfway was well established. Tonight's quiet was louder than her usual shyness. A failure, real or otherwise, in such a vital part of being a shinobi would always hit Shizune hard.
A lot of kids in the academy had a romantic view of what it meant to be a shinobi and the training involved. They didn't take things seriously. It was just a fun game for them. Clan children and older kids tended to take things a bit more seriously. Being so close to the previous war also helped cut down on some of it.
Not many wasted time to the level of Sakura or Naruto, but they damn sure existed. The village did an excellent job at getting them to stay even after the illusion of shinobi life crashed against reality. The ones that couldn't handle it tended to be weeded out early enough to not cause problems.
Shizune took things deadly seriously. Dan's death left scars on her psyche that hardened into a deep drive to succeed. Unfortunately, they also left her a nervous wreck in some social situations and paranoid of death. It wasn't even that a fear of death was terrible for a shinobi, the opposite really. The problem was that you had to accept that death was part of the job.
During wartime, a typical class could be expected to be reduced by more than half before they retired. Part of that was caused by mental or physical injury, but most of it was due to death. Shinobi combat tended to leave you dead or capable of retreating mostly intact. A good ninja would never give up an advantage on a wounded enemy unless they had to. Sometimes teammates or allies could intervene in time and bring them back home. Funnily enough… well funny probably isn't the word to say, but anyways, shinobi who retire due to loss of limb or other physical problems come more from poison or infection after a minor injury than it happening during a fight.
There aren't many Tsunade's out there in the field. There's a reason why one of the first things they teach medics is how to do a field amputation. Konoha uses it liberally when supplies are low. A brutal policy that has dropped the death rate far from what it was in the warring clans period.
The fact that shinobi nations could continue producing ninjas fast enough to replace them was a miracle. Or it would be if the rampant propaganda, pseudo-conscription, and benefits weren't so plain to see.
The will of fire and the shinobi lifestyle permeate every inch of the village's culture. Lullabies, myths, folklore, bedtime stories, festivals, and holidays all revolve around shinobi. The greatest ninja in the village might as well be living legends. Nearly every day, the average civilian will see or hear something designed to reinforce the will of fire or romanticize the superhuman mercenaries that live among them.
Orphans are assaulted by the rampant propaganda more than any group. They aren't forced into becoming a ninja, some will go into trades or farming, but they are heavily encouraged to at least try out the academy. A lot wash out in the first couple of years. But dozens of skilled shinobi come from orphanages every year. The number of them that go through the grinder is just too significant for it not to happen.
Not to mention how profitable it is for you and your family to be shinobi. Kids can make much more than a living wage even if they never go beyond genin. You get cheaper housing, tax breaks, good loans, and you can start a business with barely any hassle. Parents get a small monthly stipend to cover expenses for kids in the academy. The family of those who died in the line of duty get money each month and maintain the same privileges for ten years. The devious part is that the benefits get extended if another family member joins the academy and becomes a genin. A small thing that encourages the continuance of shinobi families for practical reasons if nothing else.
My thoughts swam back to the girl hiding away from the world. I think Shizune would be in the academy even if she had to pay to be there instead of the other way around. It was ironic how Dan's death had the opposite effect on her and Tsunade. Shizune was fighting for her Uncle's dream to come to life. Tsunade was running from the nightmare he'd left behind.
The lump started wiggling around, and a butterfly with puffy eyes came out of its cocoon. She didn't make a move other than stare at me. Whatever she was searching for couldn't be found, so she made the roof her next target. Her expression was blank; it might have been enough to fool me if the tear tracks had already faded. As it was, pride or shame kept her from addressing the rabbit in the room.
I leaned back and closed my eyes, listening to the muffled noise of students talking and laughing outside. The merriment going on seemed to widen the gulf between us. We stayed there as observers to other people's joy for minutes before she finally spoke, "You don't have to stay here. It's not like I'm going anywhere."
"Meh… A bit too much excitement for me out there. I'd rather stay here with my best friend."
A snort came from her, but it sounded more self-deprecating than agreeing. Another noise followed that would be hard pressed to classify as a mumble and she rolled away after making it.
"What did you say Shizune?"
A lull in the outside noise copied the quiet of the tent before she finally whispered, "Maybe you shouldn't be."
"Huh?"
"Maybe you shouldn't be my friend."
Being pushy has once again caused problems for me. I'll have to maneuver myself out of this minefield carefully. I wracked my brain for the correct reply, comforting enough to steer her out of dark thoughts and firm enough to show her how serious I was. In less time than the beating of a hummingbird's wing, I formulated the perfect speech. With unwavering resolve, I answered back.
"Huh?"
"You don't have to pretend that you want to be here. I'm not so weak that I need your pity."
"I'm not—Shizune I don't pity you. You're my best friend. I need you."
"Need me? You haven't needed a single since you walked into the academy. Two years younger, and you are already more of a ninja than I'll ever be… Tsunade was right. Weak people shouldn't be shinobi. I'll either die or get someone killed." Angry tears flowed down a sneering face, and her soft voice filled the room like smoke.
The sight of i5 filled me with a flash of anger. Self-pity was the best way to piss me off. My words flashed like a whipcrack, "You should stop playing ninja and quit like the coward you are then."
She was in my face screaming before I had registered the blanket moving, "I can't even kill a rabbit correctly! How am I supposed to do anything if this is all it takes to make me useless?"
"I don't know coward, why don't you try—" A slap rang out through the tent loud enough that it seemed to echo in the night air. The sting was bad, but the shock of it lasted longer. Shizune was mortified enough to forget she was angry. By the time she opened her mouth to speak, it was too late. I had already tackled her before the words could come out.
We rolled around the tent like animals. We were scratching, clawing, and ripping out hair. Shizune had the gall to bite me at some point! You spit in someone's eye one time and they just lose all reason. It felt like we spent hours in there tearing into each other. Our scrap ended as suddenly as it began.
I was in the middle of trying to pay her back for the slap when she got her legs in the right spot to launch me across the room. We were both exhausted and covered in sweat, the distance between us turning into a chasm neither was willing to cross while we were still fighting to catch our breath.
I felt like I had a broken nose and enough hair yanked out that I'd need to see a stylist. Shizune was squinting out of both eyes, one due to swelling and the other because of the spit. I grinned at the little red line of blood coming from her mouth. I liked coming out on top regardless of how a fight started.
"You look like shit."
She looked me up and down and raised an eyebrow. It got me started on a laugh that turned into painful coughs. "Don't make me laugh. I think you bruised a rib with that stupid kick."
Shizune was more masochistic than I thought. The sight of me wincing while I coughed caused her to start laughing as well. Glad that my pain could lighten the mood. I'd rather just light a candle and talk about our feelings. Was Tsunade already affecting how Shizune handled things or was she always like this? I'm not disappointed, just surprised. Fighting to relieve stress seemed like more of a Kurenai thing to do.
Introspection reminded me that I had been the one to start the confrontation. Shizune was being a downer, but she was also a young kid with the world on her shoulders. Thoughts of me being primarily at fault for the fight flitted around in my head for a moment before I banished them away. There's such a thing as too much self-reflection after all.
She seemed to be dealing with that problem with how antsy she was. I'd love to make her squirm a bit more in any other situation. Today I felt gracious enough to take advantage—I mean take pity on her.
"Sit down over here already. That is if you promise not to grab anymore hair."
Her nod couldn't come soon enough, and in a moment I was sitting across from a red-faced and anxious girl. I grabbed one of her hands and asked, "You okay?"
"Yes. Well no but not… I feel like you cracked my eye socket. But I'm feeling better about everything else. It's frustrating to work so hard and still fall behind on something as simple as this. Tsunade didn't become one of the Sanin from being scared of a rabbit."
"I get it. I know it's not the same. But I get it," Our knees bumped together as I kept talking, "Are you still planning on kicking me out of the best friend position?"
A sweet voice and small smile answered, "Not yet. I still need someone to test out my new medical supplies. Kurenai is too squirmy to rely on."
I admit it was tasteless to laugh, but teasing Kurenai is one of my weak spots. She seemed ready to forgive and forget this night quickly. I wasn't quite willing to let go of the situation, "Shizune… I don't understand what the problem was. What are you so worried about."
Whatever anxiety that bled out of her came back in full force. She was stiff as a board until a sigh forced its way out. She curled into herself in a vain attempt to delay speaking. I refused to reach out to her. Before the fight I might've. At this point, I was sweaty and hurting all around. Shizune would get mercy when she answered the question and not a moment before.
So we sat there in the dark again. The outside noise had settled into something less than a soft murmur. I could hear the wind whispering through the weeds more easily than the children talking outside. I looked over at the girl next to me once more. She seemed smaller in here, away from the firelight. Sometimes I forget how young we all are. Shizune and Kurenai are so mature that it can make a girl forget who the adult in the room should be.
Their bouts of immaturity were rare enough that I found each one surprising. I was surrounded by future mass murderers and coldblooded killers, yet they were just children. The ease in which they fell into the routine only made it easier to forget. The strength she still managed to carry in her voice made me feel even more guilty.
"I don't want to be left behind ever again. But I just can't stop myself from thinking about Dan. I know it's stupid for ki-killing the rabbit to remind me of it. If I had been the first to go I think I could've done it just fine. But then everyone else had to start getting emotional-and some of the rabbits just wouldn't stop twitching… I wasn't even picturing Dan dying at the end. All I could think of was myself twitching and dying in some hole while everyone else left me behind."
The words came bursting out of the dam she'd built up. Dark brown eyes looked up at me and choked out, "I'm scared."
I was slower to move than I should've been. I liked Shizune. She was a sweet girl with big dreams. It would be enough for me just to comfort her. Some shriveled-up piece of my conscience kept reminding me that she was just a scared kid in a world that wouldn't hesitate to swallow her whole. My mother's voice was much louder.
No matter how big, no matter how small, take every advantage.
Gently I wrapped myself around her. She followed suit and soon was resting her head against my chest. Stillness overtook me for a moment before my mother's voice pushed me on again. Somehow I kept my voice from shaking as I asked, "Do you trust me?" The lack of hesitance in her nod damned me more.
"Then all you have to do is keep trusting me. No matter what happens, no matter what anyone says, all you need to do is stay by my side. When you're afraid, I'll be there. When you're unsure, I'll be there. When you need me most, I'll be there. And I swear I'll do more than just keep you safe. One day you'll be strong enough that no one could ever touch you."
My breath caught in my chest after I finished, and I feared I had come on too strong. Shizune's face was half cloaked in the dark and half pressed against my chest. Her breath had hitched before going on like nothing had ever happened. I couldn't force myself to speak again and remained silent in the grave I'd dug.
Salvation came in a shaky nod and mumbled okay. Thank God it was dark in the tent. My relief was so great she might have been able to see it running out my ears.
We spoke for a time after. Discussing what we can do to grow stronger and how we would stay together if we got separated on genin teams. Neither of us managed to stay up much longer. It had been a long day before we started fighting. Not even Kurenai's stomping around could wake us from the peaceful slumber.
Morning came quickly, but questions over our appearances were never raised. We came to class bruised and scraped up enough that no one seemed surprised something had happened during the trip. Though I swear Asuma mouthed 'girls' to one of his friends. I didn't feel guilty about what would happen to him before that. Now I was looking forward to it.
Poison is all about timing. Knowing what to employ and when separates the users from the masters. Any idiot can rub poison on a weapon and call it quits. It takes an artist to get the most out of their supplies, especially in the world of ninja. Poisoning a shinobi and a civilian are two very different acts. Chakra changes the equation entirely.
I could kill a random blacksmith in under five minutes with a poison that would only slow down a genin, and even then not for long. It was hard to make one deadly enough kill and in large enough quantities for it to be impactful. The little that was made decayed quickly unless you had good enough seals. Suna was the only nation that managed to have poison as one of its primary weapons. They did it out of a combination of necessity and dumb luck. That desert was the only place in the world that had tons of incredibly dangerous and naturally occurring poison. Those idiots just happened to found a village right on top of it.
There were a number of advantages to being in a rare field. I was resistant to most things I wasn't immune to. And by this point, I was immune to many terrible things. Even better is how few shinobi are prepared for a poison specialist from Konoha. For how paranoid our profession is, we sure are susceptible to stereotyping. Konoha shinobi are fire users mixed with kekkei genkai, Kumo ones were jealous lightning using bastards, Kiri were—well I think you get the idea.
Asuma was currently suffering from the effects of low-level poison. The first one Hin ever showed me as a matter of fact. She called it the prankster's poison. Very easy to get over and startlingly easy to gain immunity from. After today there was a good chance it would never work on the boy again. Fortunately for me, he didn't have any resistance. He was clammy, nauseous, and felt like he was about to use the bathroom in his pants.
My timing remained impeccable. We were already walking out of the forest when things started going downhill for him. After a quick talk with Sensei, he snuck out of the group and made his way deeper into the woods.
I was patient in catching my prey. Making a note of where he went off toward was the only indication I gave that anything had happened. I spoke with Kurenai and Shizune until we made it back to the Nara compound. It was only then that I began slinking my way up to Sensei.
"Do you mind if I go back to check on Sarutobi-san? I think he cooked his rabbit wrong… and I'm pretty sure he can't find his way back."
A suffering sigh that came from dealing with children escaped from the man. With closed eyes and clenched teeth Sensei forced out, "Just get him and get out of the compound."
I grinned and nodded before he could change his mind. Sensei's voice reached my ear again before I could start skipping away, "5 p.m. at the academy training grounds today. Come alone." A backward wave was my only reaction to the oddly cryptic instruction.
"Kurenai will you grab the stuff Sensei took from us yesterday? Shizune and I have to get Asuma and I don't want him to throw our stuff away if we're late." We started heading back towards the woods a moment later.
It didn't take long to stumble upon the right place. The noises would've guided our way to Asuma even if I didn't keep track of where he ran off to. I'll spare you the details. Just know things were very… gross.
"You dead over there Asuma-san?" I called out to no avail. A particularly pitiful groan prompted me to walk up to him. Thankfully he was leaning up against a tree, pants on, but suffering still.
"I think you're having an allergic reaction to something. Did you eat any of the plants the Nara showed us yesterday?" He gave a sweaty nod and I continued, "Eat this and sit down. Some of the flowers here are good for… stomach problems and allergies."
He had swallowed and slumped down before I even finished explaining. A motion of my hand had Shizune releasing her mother hen instincts. I'd asked her to let me handle things at first. The struggle of holding back for the minute or two we had been here nearly caused the girl to vibrate next to me.
Asuma was pretty lucky if you thought about it. Any person could have waltzed up and decided to poison the kid. At least I was willing to help him afterward. The prankster's poison would be neutralized quickly after taking the antidote. Incidentally enough, drinking the antidote would also make it seem like an allergic reaction. Even if say… a med-nin scanned him over to see what was wrong.
"You should be good enough to walk by now. Me and Shizune will take you home—Don't start shaking your head at me. You look like shit Asuma-san. I'm not letting you out of my sight until you get home."
The resigned look on his face was all the confirmation I needed.
The Sarutobi lived in a surprisingly quaint part of the village. What buildings there were very nice, but there weren't nearly as many as I had expected in a clan compound. The lack of guards was also a bit disturbing. The two chunin at the front barely gave us a second glance, and I didn't spot any afterward.
The wealthy family vibes started to kick in once we entered the most prominent building in the district to drop him off. Three stories tall and wide enough to make it seem imposing. We entered into a long hallway that split off multiple times. The insides were immaculate, filled with artwork and relics from eras I couldn't name and places that no longer existed. It felt more like a museum than someone's home.
Two servants appeared before we could get halfway down the hall. They split us up immediately after giving them the story. Asuma was whisked away while Shizune and I were taken into a small meeting room. Think classic Japanese, sit on the ground and someone pours you tea kind of thing.
Ten minutes passed before someone came to speak with us. An older woman entered the room without any fanfare. She wasn't scowling at us, but I feared breathing too loud would correct the inconsistency. Mid to late 40s with brown hair and dark eyes, she placed a tea set on the table and started pouring before a word had been spoken.
Shizune was nervous, but that told me about as much as saying the sun had risen this morning. Nothing had seen threatening so I was willing to let things play out. I followed their lead on drinking and handling the tea. Mother had gone over it a couple of times when I was younger. But I was a bit rusty at drinking with others due to the whole orphan thing.
Glasses clinking and sips of tea were the only sounds in the room for a time. The woman was content to let us stew in quiet while she studied us. I had to give Shizune a quick pinch under the table to keep her from talking, but other than that the time passed pleasantly enough.
After finishing her glass she spoke, "Thank you for taking care of my son. He's spoken of you two before today but never with such glowing praise. Though men tend to only think with their stomachs. Whether it be in sickness or in health." A wry smile and much softer eyes gazed at us before continuing, "It was very kind of you both to look after him. Is there anything I can do to repay you?"
Oh my goodness, yes you can. Time to jump on this before the sweet girl next to me can throw away the chance. Better to be overly forward and get shot down than never have a shot. "Shizune wants to be a med-nin Sarutobi-sama. We would be very grateful for any advice you can give her."
She poured herself another glass and took the time to think my request over. Shizune found enough spine to sit tall and proud while the woman looked her up and down without saying anything. I was less proud when I caught her slumping from relief as the sharp-eyed woman turned towards me.
"And what of you? Am I to believe that only one of you wants something?"
"I wouldn't want to be rude Sarutobi-sama. I do not believe I have the temperament to be a med-nin and it would be wrong to ask more of you."
"Ah yes. A girl who helped a boy out of the kindness of her own heart and tried to give the reward to her friend. You do sound very unsuited for healing my dear." The biting tone was punctuated by her fingers tapping on the table. I found it odd how little it affected my nerves. Dealing with a catty old lady had nothing on almost letting Shizune out of my grasp. Still, she would need to be answered.
"Med-nin are some of the most important people in Konoha, I know that… I just don't think I could handle waiting in the rear. I want to be out there on the front fighting with my own two hands."
A snort escaped her at my words, but she didn't shoot me down immediately. It was my turn to be judged. Her eyes roamed around, examining me from every angle before coming to rest on my own. There was weight behind her gaze, but I refused to let it pull me under. A sigh fell from her lips as she looked away.
"What is your name girl?"
"Ikeda Rinko."
She leaned back and closed her eyes in a staunch reversal from the commanding air she'd held since entering the room. "I understand now Ikeda-san," the somber tone felt wrong coming from the woman I'd barely known.
She stood without warning and told us to remain there. Shizune exploded the moment the door closed behind her.
"OH MY GOD THAT WAS BIWAKO-SAMA! Rinko can you believe it? She's one of the greatest medical ninja in history! AND YOU ASKED HER TO TUTOR ME! AND SHE SAID YES!"
"I know. I know. Please just stop shaking me around. We still need to look halfway respectful when she gets back."
"Of course. I can do respectful. Very respectful. Respectfully even."
We were screwed. Hero-worship and stress had brought Shizune down to rock bottom. Any lower and she'd be neck and neck with Kurenai. I was lucky Biwako was taking so long to get back to us. I had barely gotten Shizune to act halfway normal when the door opened, and a scroll was thrown at each of us.
"I'll speak to Tsunade and make sure she doesn't mind. Either way, I expect you to memorize that by next week. You will return here at noon and we'll decide what to do next."
Shizune's head nearly popped off with how quickly she was nodding. I was working on opening my scroll when Biwako wrapped my knuckles and admonished me, "Show the contents of that to Shigaki-san after you finish speaking with him today. Do not return until he agrees that you've mastered everything in it."
Biwako let out a startlingly pretty laugh at our expressions. It was a nice glimpse into the loving woman she was to the people she cared for. The flare of jealousy that rose in me was a surprise but short-lived. It was hard to have negative thoughts when a day had gone beyond perfectly.
Biwako's kindness gave out after we kept thanking her. She didn't send us home with a spanking, but I could tell frivolity wasn't something she enjoyed. The two of us ran out of the building in excitement, only stopping long enough to give Asuma our well wishes.
The sun shined brighter than ever as we walked out of the compound. Though Shizune's tight hug and radiant smile managed to outdo even it.
AN: Whew. This chapter was a doozy and a half to write. The idea of splitting it in half kept coming up in my head but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I wanted to keep up the momentum and start gearing us toward the next phase of the story.
I'm pretty sure I've said this before, but I absolutely love writing Rinko. She's the easiest part of every scene.
I'll cut off some worries at the pass now. Rinko is going to grow and develop as a character. Not everything will change, and not everything that does change will be for the better.
I can't wait to write some future scenes and see the reactions to the foreshadowing I've laid down so far.
As always, please leave a review (I'm sorry for all the authors I got annoyed at for asking in the past, I get it now.)
This has been one of the more stream-of-consciousness AN's I've ever posted, I hope it wasn't too rambly.