Ch 9
"This is the third instance of Iwa forces having attacked Konoha patrol in just as many months," ANBU Swordfish reported. "This time, it was near Taki's border."
"Hm," Tsurugi acknowledged as he read over the mission report. This is basically war, it just hasn't been officially declared yet. As ANBU Commander, Tsurugi would have to let the Sandaime know about this development as soon as possible. "Very well. You're dismissed."
Swordfish bowed as he moved to leave the office.
"One more thing," Tsurugi stopped him. "See Suikami before you take your post-mission respite."
The other nodded before exiting the commander's office.
Tch, Swordfish grumbled. The fuck am I? A dog to be called around? he thought as he walked to the locker room. After changing out of his ANBU gear, he left the secret headquarters through the window as Kuriarare Kushimaru. Of course, his mask was still in place.
For the life of him, he would never understand the need for separate identities. He was one person and anything he did was because he wanted to; he owned up to his actions and their consequences. There was no reason to hide―he is who he is.
Kushimaru left the headquarters and headed for the administrative building. It was late in the afternoon and his stomach growled. He realized he didn't have lunch yet and turned on his heel. He reasoned whatever it was that Suikami wanted to yell at him about this time could wait until after he's eaten.
He went to the market district instead of the government sector in search of his favourite food stall. In the past year and a half, Uruchi started selling gyoza and dumplings next to his grocery store. They became quite popular and Kushimaru couldn't get enough of it.
"A dozen chicken and mushroom," he ordered.
"R-right away," said the boy behind the counter without meeting his eyes.
Soon enough, his gyoza was served and Kushimaru decided to walk and eat. He had more free time nowadays, even with his occasional ANBU mission. Up until a year ago, he didn't know what to do with it. He could only train so much before it became counterproductive.
Unlike the other shinobi arts, taijutsu and kenjutsu had an upper limit. One can only use whatever forms already exist to kick the shit out of their enemies. Whereas for, say ninjutsu, as long as they figure out the hand signs, the varieties and possibilities for jutsu are endless. People spend their whole lives studying ninjutsu and genjutsu, and they still wouldn't be done. But taijutsu would only take a decade or two to learn.
That's not to say Kushimaru was weak for only using the physical shinobi art. No, he was a master and the fastest out of all the Swordsmen. But the point remains, he had a lot of free time and he couldn't spend it training. So of course the reasonable thing for Kushimaru to do was pick up sewing as a hobby.
To him, sewing fabrics with a needle was the same as sewing bodies with Nuibari; the two skills were rather complimentary. He wouldn't say he liked it, but it was training in its own way. The needle looked like a mini Nuibari after all. His efficiency in manipulating strings and wires alike was improving.
Like fighting, sewing was straightforward. If he skewered someone, they would die. If he put in the stitches, then he would make a kunai (or a sword or a mask). It didn't talk back. It didn't interrupt him or ask about his―
He stopped walking. Instead of going home, he turned around in the opposite direction. He felt an urge to fight. Usually, when he felt like this, he would look for something to beat up, namely Jinpachi.
By the time he finished his gyoza, Kushimaru found his fellow Swordsman napping at one of the public training fields. Immediately, and without a sound, he drew Nuibari and leapt at him. The other shot up awake and quickly dove out of the way.
As usual, the two started arguing and fighting.
By the time they were done with their brawl, the sun had set. Kushimaru won their match and pocketed the money he made off of Jinpachi. As he sprinted home, he remembered that he was supposed to see Suikami. Ah well, a couple more hours can't hurt, he reasoned. Deciding to visit the Chief Shinobi Commander first thing in the morning, Kushimaru went home.
-:-
"You bastard," Suikami accused. "You were supposed to be here yesterday!"
"What is it now, you scumbag?" Kushimaru asked as he stood in the other's office the next morning. "I don't remember getting any complaints."
"No, you wouldn't," Suikami shot back and sighed.
"Oi, the fuck's that supposed to mean?"
The shinobi commander chose not to answer. He closed the file he was working on and pushed his chair back. He got up from his desk and headed toward the door. "Come with me." Suikami moved past him and walked into the hallway without looking to see if he was following.
"Where the fuck are we going?" Kushimaru asked when they exited the administrative building. He got no answer to that either. Eventually, after the short walk there, Suikami led him into the public ANBU headquarters. After signing in at the front desk and getting a key, they went downstairs to the holding cells.
Kushimaru could feel her before he saw her. But her chakra felt different somehow. He failed to hold back the small hitch in his breath when they stopped in front of a cell. There were four occupants; three of them a bloodied and unconscious mess in the corner of the room and the other was facing them, healing cuts and bruises on herself.
When she turned to look at them, Kushimaru had to fight down the urge to flinch. Her eyes were different. Not in the physical sense though, they were still the same silver-almost translucent eyes, but it was the way she looked at them. Cold indifference; like they didn't matter and she had something more important worth her time.
When recognition set in, however, they turned to chilled fury. Kushimaru has never seen her look at anyone like that, least of all him. But it was gone the moment it came and was replaced with quiet acceptance.
He couldn't help but feel his heart skip a beat.
Suikami opened the barred door and Tsukisa fluidly stood up. She walked out of the cell and stopped in front of them.
"What's going on?" Kushimaru asked the other jounin.
"Nice to see you too, Sensei," she said. He pointedly ignored her and watched as Suikami locked the cell.
"Right where I left you," Tsukisa said with a dry smile.
"Enough," Suikami spoke up before he could round in on her. "She's been suspended from ANBU."
"Suspended?" Kushimaru narrowed his eyes. "On what grounds?"
"Insubordination," Tsukisa said, crossing her arms.
"What?!" he asked bewildered. "That doesn't happen. You should be dead!" When she didn't respond, he turned to Suikami. "She should be dead," he repeated, pointing at her.
"Don't look at me, that's classified need-to-know."
Kushimaru was stunned. One doesn't just doesn't get suspended from ANBU. Insubordination was second only to treason, followed by obstruction of shinobi duties. All three of which are punished by death. How was she pardoned? And why didn't he need to know? She was his student. He was ANBU too.
"That's not good enough," he turned back to Tsukisa. "What happened?"
"As he said," she tilted her head in Suikami's direction. "That's classified."
Kushimaru knew that was a load of chicken shit. Being one of the Swordsmen entitled him to more information than most shinobi in Kiri. How had he not known about this before? He didn't like the fact that his student knew more about this than he did. Nor that she was keeping it from him.
"Suikami-san," Tsukisa said when Kushimaru didn't say anything back and kept staring at her. "What's he doing here?"
"Since you didn't graduate from the academy and didn't complete the trainee program, you're still not an official shinobi." He started explaining.
"What?" Tsukisa interrupted before he could continue. "2 years, Suikami-san. This isn't fair―"
"This is on you, kid," he cut her off. "Take it up with the Mizukage if you want, but these are your circumstances." She looked away at that. To Kushimaru, she seemed oddly subdued at the mention of their leader. "This asshole's right; you should've been executed for insubordination. This is a rare case since you're still here. And you―" Suikami turned to the Swordsman "―are still her guardian. So she's your responsibility now." He started walking towards the stairs. "And I've done mine, so don't bother me."
The other two were left watching his retreating back. Only after he was gone, did Kushimaru really look at his student. She was even taller now. Definitely taller than Ameyuri and almost came up to his shoulders. She still sported the same hairstyle as before, and somehow that irritated Kushimaru. Her clothing style didn't change all that much either. She wore a dark-blue sleeveless turtleneck shirt with black cargo pants and black shinobi sandals.
Tsukisa turned to him when she felt his gaze. "Well?"
"What?"
"Are we gonna go home or are ya just going to stare all day?"
Kushimaru was slightly surprised at her. When he came out of the ANBU trainee program, he was paranoid of everyone and everything. He couldn't look at people without thinking of at least 4 different ways to kill them. He couldn't even hold social conversations the first couple of weeks, only formal ones with his superiors. Yet, Tsukisa was able to do all that. She didn't seem to have lost much in the way of personality.
When Kushimaru didn't say anything, she turned her body fully and started staring back at him.
"Curb the attitude," he said before lifting a hand to hit her on the head. Instantly, her eyes widened in alarm and she caught his wrist with a firm grip. She stared at him for a long moment before she blinked the distress away.
"Don't," she warned, tightening her grip before Kushimaru pried his wrist away. Maybe she was just good at hiding the paranoia, he supposed, finding the reaction curious.
Seeing no more reason to stand around, he turned and started walking to the stairs.
-:-
Tsukisa was mad. She was furious. How could she not be, after the person she trusted most betrayed her? After everything they've been through together for the past 2 and a half years? They fought together, protected the other and even took hits for each other! Doesn't any of that mean anything to him? She trusted him to watch her back, to literally look out for her.
She trusted him with her life.
Instead, Kushimaru turned his own back on her. And for what? Pursuing what she wanted? Wanting to heal people? How was that wrong?! It wasn't even like it was hurting him. It was quite literally the opposite! She could save his life should it come down to it. But Kushimaru threw her away like―
No.
Staying angry won't solve anything. It won't change her situation or what she has to do.
Being in ANBU was the worst thing that's happened to her, worse than dying even. But it gave her perspective. It gave her a tangible goal she could work towards, rather than her previously vague 'survive and live life' one. It showed her how broken this world truly is; how wretched and depraved it could be. How suddenly peace, safety and comfort could all be stripped away.
This world needed to change. For the better. And she's willing to risk everything to make it a reality. For all the children that suffered as she had. To ensure none would ever have to again. She would even die to mend this broken world.
As long as she can be in her own little world, she can even forget about knowing the future. She shook the thought away. How naive she'd been. How stupid to have gotten comfortable when she knew things wouldn't last. Stupid, stupid, she berated herself.
Needless to say, Tsukisa had no more reservations about 'misusing' her foreknowledge. In fact, it would form the basis for her plans. She will make the most of all her resources, even her experiences from ANBU.
As she walked behind Kushimaru to their―his―home, she went over the rough plot of Naruto again. Her memory was very hazy, but she did remember the main characters and important events. The war sets up most things for the plot, and it was already upon them. She had come up with a very basic plan after realizing her convictions.
But that was all before she chose to disobey Ao's orders and save those civilians. With the demanding conditions of her temporary pardon, she didn't have a lot of time. She needed to come up with a new plan and had to act fast and efficiently.
Tsukisa stopped in her tracks. "I'll see you later," she told Kushimaru before she shunshined towards the hospital. He would disapprove. But his disapproval didn't mean anything to her anymore.
When she reached Kirigakure General, she stopped and walked inside. This time, the patients didn't look like zombies. She walked up to the secretary at the front desk, who immediately seemed to recognize her.
"Kuriarare-san!" he exclaimed, his eyes widening. "It's been so long since you've been here! Does this mean you're coming back?!"
Tsukisa slightly winced at his volume when it garnered the attention of the nearby people. "It's been a while. And please, call me Tsukisa," she said. "But yes, I was hoping to resume my position here. Do you know where I can find Gonbee-sensei?"
She knew she shouldn't be saying such things when nothing was decided yet. But if she could get people talking about her return, and on the off-chance the Board isn't as enthusiastic to welcome her, then she could pressure them into doing so. Nothing was quite as effective as morale during war times.
"Oh that's a relief, Ku―er Tsukisa-san! We could always use someone as reliable as you!" he said. "As for Gonbee-san…" He started rummaging around the files on his desk. "He should be in room 2B."
Tsukisa held back a snort. What were the chances?
"Thank you," she said as she turned to walk away.
"Er, one moment, Tsukisa-san." He held out a visitor's pass to her. "If you don't mind."
She took it and clipped it on. "Of course not." She hated it.
She smiled at him before heading for the stairs. She knocked on the door to the previously sad filing room turned into Gonbee's office. When she heard the Come in, she entered.
He sat at his desk, which was surprisingly clear of stacked files. The room itself looked a little warmer than the last time she'd been here. He looked up from the patient file he was reading. "Tsukisa-kun," he said in slight shock. "You're back."
"Yes, I am Gonbee-sensei," she stood at attention with her hands behind her back. His eyes widened imperceptibly. "It's nice to see you again." And it really was. He was one of the few people she truly respected. "I apologize for worrying you by leaving without saying anything."
"No―th-that's not―" He sighed and stood up. "It's good to see you too." He walked over to her and held out his hand. "How are you? Where have you been?"
Tsukisa looked at his outstretched arm for a moment before meeting his eyes. "I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to say." She didn't want to lie to him and hoped this was enough. And judging by the way his eyes widened, it seemed it was. He dropped his hands and looked away.
Silence reigned for a few moments.
"...I'd like to work at the hospital again if my old position is still available."
"Y-yes, yes of course." Gonbee stood a little straighter. "No, actually. We already got new interns and they started a couple of months ago. However, I'm sure the Medical Board wouldn't mind another set of full-time hands if you're interested."
She smiled. "I am."
He nodded and walked to the file cabinets. "I can give you the application forms now. Return them as soon as possible."
"Thank you, Gonbee-sensei," she said, taking the papers he handed her.
"I am not your sensei anymore, Tsukisa-kun. But hopefully, we can be co-workers soon."
-:-
Tsukisa sat nervously in the waiting room outside the Mizukage's office. She was still in her ANBU uniform and covered with mud and blood. Her old habit of biting her lips was rearing its ugly head. She tried to think of reasons and excuses to explain her actions. Anything to avoid dying. She had things she wanted to do now, things she had to do. She can't stop here.
"Mizukage-sama will see you now," the secretary at the front of the room spoke up. She walked to the door and held it open for Tsukisa. She murmured a small thank you and entered the office.
The Sandaime Mizukage sat at his desk, looking over what she assumed was her file. Beside him stood a tall man she hadn't met before, holding a clipboard. At least four ANBU agents were posted around the room and she knew more were out of sight. This office was nothing like Konoha's as she's seen from Naruto. Just the mere presence of the Black Ops assured her of her demise. She gulped.
"Kuriarare Tsukisa," the Mizukage spoke when she stood at attention before him. "The penalty for insubordination is death. Nothing you say will change that. You are only here because you swore you had valuable information for my ears only."
She dropped down to kneel before him. "Yes, that's correct." She bit her lip.
"Out with it then. Do some good before you die." She felt all 6 pairs of eyes on her intensify.
Taking a shuddering breath, she spoke, "I'd like to make a proposition."
"You're in no position to negotiate," he replied instantly.
"Please hear me out, Mizukage-sama."
"You're in no position to make demands either."
"I beg you." She lowered her other knee and was grovelling before him.
"...Why should I?"
"It could be of mutual benefit."
"...Speak," ordered the Sandaime.
"The action that you want to punish me for is appreciated, even required in the medical field," she started.
"That doesn't excuse it on the battlefield."
"Yes, I am aware," Tsukisa said as humbly as she could. "And that is why I can be of more use to Kiri in its hospitals. I can make it better." She recited what she'd been practising. "And with sufficient time, maybe even enough to rival Konoha's."
"You dare ask for more power when you're on death row?" He released some of his killer intent. Immediately, Tsukisa found it hard to breathe. She felt dread and fear weigh heavily upon her. So much so that she couldn't think straight and her responses died on her tongue. The fear promised her death over and over. The dread showed her how weak and easily she could die; how mortal she was compared to the monster sitting before her. Her vision blurred and she started gasping for air. She was borderline hyperventilating when his killer intent abated.
She clenched her fists and took shuddering breaths as she got herself together.
"...N-not power Mizukage-sama, b-but a chance," she rasped. "With respect, you know of my c-contributions in the past. Please allow me to continue them."
"Why should I trust you? After what you've done?"
She took a deep breath. "...It's a cause I believe in." Instantly, she felt his killer intent spike. "Not that I d-didn't believe in ANBU, Mizukage-sama! I'm more...eager to help people." Rather than kill them, went unsaid.
This seemed to lessen the pressure as he replied. "Your...eagerness is not enough to acquit you of insubordination, Kuriarare. You know as well I do, that such 'promises' need collateral; something tangible."
"...I do," was all she could offer in response.
"And yet you make such a proposition?" he asked when she said nothing more.
"...I do," she bowed her head even lower so that it touched the floor. "I am always at your mercy." You can kill me anytime you wish.
"...Yes, you are." Yes, I can. The Mizukage sat up straighter and looked down at her file once more. "You are either a genius or an utter fool," he commented before he picked up a pen.
She thought over her life and all the choices she'd made. From brazenly displaying her medical knowledge without a thought to consequence, to thinking she could trust shinobi when they're trained to deceive and kill. From helping―healing―such killers to believing she could still lead a peaceful life.
"...And yet the two often lead to the same end," she said quietly.
The other looked over her form with an appraising eye. A look swept over his face that his assistant could identify as slight interest.
"...Very well," he said finally. "You have your chance. Climb the ranks at the hospital yourself; you will have no help from me in fulfilling what you have promised today. You have 2 years to surpass Konoha's quality of healthcare, and only then will your offence be pardoned." He wrote as such in her file. "Until that time, Kuriarare Tsukisa, death hangs over you."
"...Thank you," she said through tears.
-:-
A/N: It's been a while. Dare I say it, I got lost on the path of life. (dkm pls) I'll be trying to update at least once a month, so please bare with me. I also had a tough time with chapter's conversations, especially Suikami's part. He's so hard to work with.
Anyway, please leave a review if you've gotten this far! Thank you for reading