Disclaimer: I own nothing but the general plot and OCs
Second disclaimer: I know even less about blades and sword fighting than I do about normal martial arts. Sorry about bullshit information that is bound to be written about it.
Also I find the details of Japanese etiquette confusing, so I'm playing with it loosely under the idea that Konoha is not exactly the same in how/when it applies
No editing, English as always is underlined.
I took heavy inspiration from some of Gai's speeches toward Lee for some of this.
Thank you so much for awesome reviews, as well as favs and follows! Let me know what works, or what doesn't work for you, as well as any prompts for scenes you'd like to see.
Chapter 37 - With A Little Help From My Friends
Fuuinjutsu could be summarised in two words; fucking amazing. It was like an amalgamation of something similar to coding, something similar to runes, something similar to maths, something like art, something like story telling. It was not quite any of those things. Not quite like writing a formulaic essay, or systematically designing the experiment to test a hypothesis, it wasn't like planning a layout to support a stance in a debate. It was all of those things but not any of them.
It was beautiful. And bloody difficult for anyone who hadn't spent years studying and training their mind to think in such conceptual and intellectual terms. With the exception of perhaps idiot savants. It was a perfect blend of science and art, calculation and creativity. On one hand I completely understood why it was such an esoteric shinobi art these days, and yet I also really didn't, because I understood that with time and dedication and understanding, mastery of fuuinjutsu could accomplish almost anything.
It was a motherfucking super power that anyone with enough training could use. It was more than just that.
"What the fucking hell is wrong with you people?!" I burst finally, having made my way through the first two introductory books of fuuinjutsu.
"Hm? Many things, I'm sure, but what specifically this time?" DFB calmly replied, only taking the time to glance briefly at me before turning back to his book.
"This! Fuuinjutsu! Why is this such a little known art? And I'm not just talking about how fuuinjutsu could revolutionise combat. Outside of defence and very occasionally healing from what I can tell, there is no application of fuuinjutsu that doesn't involve shinobi matters... don't people understand what they've got at their fingertips?"
"Not really. The only hidden village that ever mastered fuuinjutsu no longer exists."
"This could speed up the evolution of technology and productivity in all areas. Agriculture, crime prevention, communications, medical facilities, education, infrastructure, travel, music and media... so many things! The list goes on. It's not only universally applicable, it's also a sustainable, ethical, economically viable way of sourcing and using the energy that is abundant in this world. You have green energy in the form of natural chakra at your fingertips and none of you are making use of this at all! Liquid, organic, hazardous and solid waste management, sewage systems, water pollution, air pollution could be turned into something eco friendly using fuuinjutsu. I just... FUCK, I CAN'T STAND STUPIDITY!"
Heaving a deep, albeit frustrated, breath to calm down the blood that was rushing to my face, I turned back to DFB. He had finally lowered his book, and was staring at me with genuine surprise on his face.
"You're actually angry about this. I don't think I've ever seen you truly angry," he commented, sounding fascinated.
"I've been angry before," I snapped.
"No you've been annoyed. I've never seen this before. Why does this upset you so much?" His laser focus probably would have disturbed someone else, but it brought me a small measure of comfort that he was listening to me instead of making light of my reaction.
Breathing out, I scrubbed my hand harshly through my hair and looked away, "my old world was just as segmented as this one and the people weren't... harmonious in any sense of the word. But now that I'm here in this life I can't help but think of them as my people. I think of that entire planet as where I come from, not just the Island I lived on or the countries my family lived in.
"I think of the millions of people dying of sickness from polluted water, and the animals dying from the impact our waste and energy use had on the whole planet. I think of the ice melting, and the acid rain, and the particulates in the air and the landfill sites. All those concrete jungles. All those fumes being pumped into the atmosphere. We used coal, and then oil, and nuclear power and... none of those were sustainable and renewable. They all did so much damage in their own ways.
"This world...they have the answer to every single one of those problems while my home world is probably slowly being destroyed... and these people are using it to kill one another."
There was a long pause as DFB just looked at me thoughtfully. Just as I was starting to feel stupid for my outburst I felt his hand wrap around my ribs and drag me into his side, fingers skritching my scalp comfortingly.
"The Elemental Nations has a fraction of the people your last world did, Su-chan. Most of the Elemental Nations aren't populated at all, and well over half of the current population live in areas that have no regular shinobi force. Of the shinobi force we do have, less than a fifth have any knowledge of fuuinjutsu outside of its name, and of those who are aware of it, an even smaller portion has any training in it beyond the ability to make their own explosive tags.
"Whatever impact we're having on this planet so far hasn't been noticed or recorded. We can't produce and implement a solution to a problem we don't know exists. You are quite possibly the only person in existence in this world who has a proper understanding of these global issues and how to prevent them before they start having strong effects on living beings."
I felt cold inside at the responsibility that put on my shoulders, 'but- I - I'm not a scientist. Or a mathematician... or... or a conservationist or anything remotely along those lines. I wouldn't know where to start even if I..."
"I'm not saying it's your job to save the world Su-chan. Just point enough people in the right direction. We have scientists and mathematicians. Start small. Learn fuuinjutsu first."
"Learn fuuinjutsu. Small," I snorted wryly.
He replied by chucking a small fuuinjutsu beginners guide book in my lap. Smart arse.
I gave it some real thought though. I hadn't had any specific plan going into fuuinjutsu beyond learning it because it seemed like something that would be consistently mentally stimulating, varied and practical. I thought I'd enjoy it. But even though I'd not pondered for any length of time on what exactly I would use it for on a practical level, I had subconsciously just assumed it'd be for shinobi matters.
Now that I paused to consider it though, I didn't really want to. I wasn't just going to ignore the advantages fuuinjutsu could give me in in combat, that would be a waste, but... I realised there were so many other things I was curious about using it for.
Fuuinjutsu had so far been used primarily for attacks and defence. That was a small slice of the pie of its potential. I had an entire world's worth of inspiration to draw from, and an almost entirely unexplored art form as my canvas. I was quickly warming up to the idea.
"I hear you've been having trouble learning techniques with chakra usage, Beautiful Blossom!" Gai beamed supportively at me. A small curdle of shame that I was having to work so hard at what seemed to come naturally to so many others ate at me, but it was irrational so pushed it away. I was doing the best I knew how, and I'd promised myself years ago that I wouldn't beat myself up for any of the results that my best resulted in.
I nodded once, "DFB said you could help me?"
It was early morning, and I was still shivering slightly as the residual warmth and relaxation from bed left me thanks to the cool dawn air. I ran hotter than I had in my last body, probably thanks to the amount of exercise I did contributing toward my excellent blood flow, but I was still small and lost heat quicker than Gai.
"That's right! With Hard Work, we will ignite the Flames of your Youth once more!" He exclaimed.
"They're not dimmed," I pouted at him. Gai smiled a fond but mildly chiding thing that immediately let me know that he was about to impart Wisdom.
I'd never known anyone to match up to Gai and his ability to be so... Gai and yet say a simple sentence or two that hit straight to the heart of things.
"Tell me of your tree walking progress."
I sighed grumpily at my continued failure in that area. It had been a couple days since I'd started and I was still only two and bit metres up the tree. It was completely disheartening to be so shit at it, especially since this was a beginner technique.
"I just can't seem to grasp my chakra properly. I can do it if I've got a lot of time to prepare and go slow, but tree walking is a continuous and much more taxing application of chakra than anything else so far. I get a few slow steps up and just lose my grip on it."
"Good. Now show me," Gai's face was as implacable as it ever got, and I tentatively approached the nearest tree. With resignation, I tried to wrestle my chakra toward the bottom of my feet and hold it there in preparation for my first step onto the trunk. Achingly slowly, I inched my way up the tree, every minute shift in my body as I took steps requiring me to alter the grip my chakra had on the tree to compensate.
I didn't even get two metres up before I fell, and sat for a second looking down at the ground and shoving back the helpless embarrassment I felt at having failed again, that quickly turned into anger. Taking a breath to release it all, I relaxed my tense body and flicked a glance up at a shrewdly watching Gai, with a self demeaning half smile.
"So as you can see I'm not very good at it," I wryly commented.
"You're right. You're not very good at it." -What. Ouch. -"Because you expect failure."
My brows furrowed, "Huh?"
"You see no progress and your efforts are left pointless in this task, because before you take a single step onto the tree you have already convinced yourself that you are no good and that you will fail." And there was Wisdom.
"But that wasn't the case the first hundred times I tried! I still failed," I protested, still slightly confused. Sure that comment applied to how I felt now. But not at first. At first I had given it my all.
"Almost every shinobi fails the first hundred times they try tree walking, unless they have prodigal control, Su-chan. Perhaps you are right, and you have no talent for chakra wielding techniques that require more than the smallest amount. Perhaps you will always struggle immensely with them to only see the smallest of successes after hundreds of hours of Work. But if you don't believe that you are capable of huge success from the start, and endeavour to see that result, you will never be everything that you can be."
There was a pause as I digested his words, and I desperately wanted to accept them wholeheartedly, but there was something holding me back. Because sure they were inspirational and made sense; I had mentally given up too soon, and I was doubting myself which was causing me to fail. But a part of me wouldn't let go of the idea that I was simply bad at tree walking.
Gai, as perceptive as ever, noticed this. "I understand that you have trouble accepting this, but you truly are a prodigy, Su-chan. The improvements you have shown in the past year in all areas prove this to me. Whatever obstacles you might have faced have been overcome by Hard Work and you have forged ahead. Even in techniques you've found difficult, you have shown prodigal skill and speed in learning.
"But this is something you're finding, for the first time, you are not a genius at. That doesn't mean you are bad at it, or have failed. You should set yourself high goals, yes, but if you fall short that does not mean you should give up, Su-hime. You must persevere! Only when you persevere in the face of impossible odds will you achieve impossible goals."
I sat there silently, allowing Gai's words to chip away bit by bit at my self doubts and insecurity.
"And Su-hime," he prompted gently but seriously, causing me to lift my head and look him in the eyes, "you must stop comparing yourself to people who have not yet achieved what you are attempting in real life, and finding yourself wanting next to an image of people who don't exist."
With that the last of my self doubts washed away, as I realised that had been exactly what I was doing. Somehow Gai had picked up on the fact that as soon as I didn't learn fast enough compared to the anime depiction of Team seven, I had deemed myself as 'not good' at it, and that thought had seeped into my entire approach to learning tree walking.
"Now, stand up and start stretching. From now we're going to be doing your daily light exercise slightly differently. I'm going to teach you how to use your chakra internally to help you move faster, jump higher, hit harder, block better, and keep going for longer. This will get you more familiar with moving your chakra around inside you. We will train you until your Youth explodes!"
Oh... lovely. I was going to be low on chakra for quite some time with this added in everyday. Nevertheless, I was excited about learning how to boost my skills from really bloody amazing to obviously superhuman compared to what was possible in my last world.
"Hey, Gai?" I called softly, as I stood up.
"Yes my Beautiful Blossom?" He grinned.
"Thank you... for, you know, the pep talk. You always seem to know what to say or do to make things better," I smiled gratefully at him.
Gai was one of the few people who I could be a complete fucking sap around and not feel awkward at all about it.
"Su-hime," He sniffled tearing up, before crying out in a tearfully manly bellow as he somehow managed to reach three times the distance his arms should have been capable of to squish me to his chest, "MY GODDAUGHTER IS SO YOUTHFUL!"
Because frankly he was so much worse than I ever was.
"Volume control please, Gai," I muffled from the depths of his crushing embrace.
Tenzō stared from where he knelt a small distance in front of me. Just like he had been doing for the past awkward twelve seconds. Awkward for me at least - socially oblivious moron probably wasn't aware that he was being awkward. I was tempted to flick a small clod of dirt on his face just to make him change his expression.
Finally he designed to say something, "I've been 'asked' to teach you kenjutsu, since I have practice in a style that is more suited to your stature." How did he manage to make it perfectly clear that by 'asked' he meant 'ruthlessly manipulated' when he couldn't even hold a normal human interaction most of the time?
"However, when I considered how I should teach you, I knew I had to take into consideration your current fighting style. From what I understand, due to your clan's way you're unlikely to ever dedicate yourself to mastering any sword fighting style. That requires hours of practice every day, whereas your shinobi fighting style requires high levels of skill in a large range of techniques.
"Thus I must cater teaching you to fit in with your current fighting style so that you can incorporate it, rather than switch. Tell me what your strengths and weaknesses are in hand to hand."
"Erm, my reach is very limited due to my size, and so is my strength. I'm very flexible, and I have quick reflexes, also I have very good accuracy."
"Yes. Your fighting style is reliant on out-strategising your opponent using deception, alongside superior speed, reflexes and agility. You can take fewer hard hits than the average shinobi, and you must maintain control over the distance you have to your opponent and the space you use to fight throughout the entire time due to your short reach and slight stature. You must redirect the force of blows rather than block most of them, you must flow around and dodge attacks in order to get in close and apply your own. When you attack, it must be precise, decisive and crippling.
"A blade that lengthens your reach can only be a good thing, but anything that weighs you down and slows your speed is a detriment to you. In sword fighting, strength is incredibly important to achieving speed. At the end of the day, any sword fighter you come across with skill and experience who knows your sword fighting style is likely to beat you if they're stronger.
"The way to win is to utilise your blade as an extension of your already existing fighting style. The weight of your sword is very important and I believe you should learn eventually to wield with something shorter than you probably initially envisioned, taking into account your current size, and your predicted rate of growth. I can teach you how to fight with both hands on the blade, which will add strength and control, but eventually I believe you should learn how to wield two shorter blades simultaneously.
"Duel wielding is much more difficult to learn, but the choice of two tantos when you are slightly taller would suit the unpredictability of your fighting style. However, duel wielding is not a skill I can teach you. Additionally, while I can teach you proficiency in the style of sword that would suit you most, Kakashi-senpai would be the best person to help you integrate that fully into your combat. Unfortunately he will not be able to teach you duel wielding either. My advice is to take instruction from me until I have deemed you ready to use your sword in combat, and then take further instruction from Kakashi-senpai. After that, if you wish to continue learning with two blades, you would need to find a different master."
He finished his not at all heartening monologue, and then paused for me to ask any questions.
"Erm, which blade will I be using first then?"
"You won't. You're not ready for a blade yet. How much do you know about sword fighting, or even swords?"
"Fuck all," I blandly replied with a lazy scratch at my arm. I could see a minute twitch in his eyelid.
Ha. Subaru; 304. Tenzō; 21.
"I see. Well that will be something you also need to learn on a more theoretical level. You need to understand the blade itself. I... seriously though Subaru, nothing? You live in a shinobi village interacting entirely with shinobi, in a shinobi clan, and you've been training to be exactly that for almost a year now. You haven't learnt a single thing in all that time about sword fighting?"
I shrugged, "stick them with the pointy end?"
Tenzō gave a deep world weary sigh, and closed his eyes in momentary pain, "very well. You will be using a wooden training sword until I believe you are ready to move onto blunted metal."
He gestured to the sheathed sword he'd laid in front of him, and then picked it up and ensheathed it partially to show me the bokken.
"I made this because otherwise I would have had to specially order something for you."
"How come? Can't you just buy bokken already made?"
"Yes, but not one designed for someone so small."
He eyed me for a moment, searching my face for aggravation, but I met it with a challenging smile. Couldn't get me that easily. Tenzō may have undoubtedly been the superior shinobi, but I had survived years of being the youngest and most sensitive sibling on the receiving end of my well loved but bastard sisters.
"Thank you for your efforts then, Tenzō-oji. Where do we start?"
I wasn't even going to pretend to myself that I wasn't excited. It was a hot day, and I had finally learnt tree walking to a degree that allowed me to move onto water walking. DFB was in some sort of meeting or debriefing with the Hokage, and so Genma had offered to step up to the plate.
For all that Genma mostly treated me like an adult, and beyond a day or two of intense staring and stumbling over the word bastard around me he hadn't changed his attitude at the revelation of my gender, that didn't mean he wasn't aware of my physical age when it came to teaching me.
For this reason despite the fact that I could swim, if not that strongly in this body, he had elected to teach me water walking while standing next to me, rather than from dry land. That, and the fact that it was too hot not to take advantage of the cool water.
All this meant that Genma was going to be in swimwear.
"All right, Mini bastard, lets start with a still body of water before we move on to running water," he cheerfully stated from behind me. I spun around to see him walking toward me wearing shorts and a t shirt. With his charming grin in place, and somehow managing not to jostle his senbon, Genma dumped the towels he was carrying on the floor and removed his t shirt. Dear god, kami and the shinigami itself, that man was hot.
Purposely keeping my face blank so as not to give myself away, I stared at the shifting muscles on his back while he placed his t shirt on top of the folded towels, the definition in his arms, the trim waste, the strong forearms and as he turned around the incredibly tight abs.
Mustn't grin like an idiot. Mustn't grin like an idiot. Mustn't grin like an idiot. Oh hot damn now he was within arms reach. Mustn't touch like a creeper. No, control that hand.
"Usually I'd start you off close to land so you don't get completely submerged when you fall in, but I thought since I'll be right there with you we could go further out into the lake and I'll just pull you back on your feet when you're in the water. It will help keep us both cool," he smiled, and then knelt with his back to me, "hop on, I'll give you a lift out to the middle to save time."
I was in my dark t shirt with attached mask and a pair shorts myself, both of which still gave the impression of me being a boy to anyone who had seen me and didn't already know. But my arms and legs were exposed, and I was missing the bulk of the other layers I usually wore on my top half. Simply put, there was going to be skin contact and I was definitely going to get to feel the shifting of his back muscles as he stood up and walked.
Still unable to remove my eyes from him, and barely resisting rubbing my hands together gleefully, I took the two steps toward Genma and reached out wrap my arms around his neck.
Suddenly I was five metres away from him and something was wrapped around my waist.
"Absolutely not," came the murderous tone above me. Oh, that was DFB. Genma straightened and turned around, his eyebrow raised in wariness and confusion.
"Ah... Kakashi?" He asked.
"Put your top on and walk away, Genma," I couldn't see him but somehow I knew DFB was eye smiling in that way he did that let people know he was going to murder them viciously any second.
"You're ruining my fun, you utter asshole," I hissed, wriggling ineffectually, "if I want to stare at and get up close to some sexy piece of-" I found my mouth muffled by his hand.
"I thought you were with the Hokage..."
"You can teach Su-chan to fight while tree walking later. I'll teach her water walking," DFB ignored the implied question entirely and grunted when I elbowed him in the ribs, "which means you can leave now."
Still confused, but not willing to stake his life on getting answers, Genma just rolled his eyes and fetched his t shirt and towels.
"Leave the towels."
"They're mine."
"I said leave the towels."
"You're a bastard and I hate you," Genma turned to me, his lips tilting upward, "come find me when your Bastard father has finished with water walking for the day."
I watched him leave mournfully, and it was only when he was gone that DFB removed his hand to let me speak and put me down. I turned to him, with his stupid innocent expression and glowered.
"You ruin everything sexy."
"Thank you."
"I'll get you back tenfold. And you better pray you never find someone you like, because I will eviscerate them just to spite you." I was being dramatic and he knew it, but I was disappointed that I didn't get that piggy back ride at least.
"Also, I took pictures anyway. A sight like that should be captured on camera," I folded my arms stubbornly.
DFB's face contorted a little, but settled quickly into something more lazy as he shrugged, "maa pictures are fine I guess. Just no touching."
I snorted and turned away, "whatever. Let's just get on with this, I'm starting to sweat."
And if later on in the day I did my best to 'accidentally' rip Genma's t shirt until he removed it, well what of it?
That evening as I left the training ground where I had been learning to fight while tree walking, I slipped behind a tree and was met with the small shape I knew I would find there.
"Did you get them?" I asked.
"I managed to take five before the boss arrived," Pakkun grunted, gesturing to the camera at his feet. I didn't understand how he was able to work the camera but he had promised me he could and so I hadn't asked questions.
DFB was under the impression that I didn't know he always had at least one of the pack watching me when I was with Genma to make sure nothing 'unsuitable' happened. Idiot. While they wouldn't disobey him, they were more than willing to bend the rules for me.
"Thanks, Pakkun," I smiled, and began scratching behind his ears - that was the reason why they were inclined to do me favours, because I payed them in my super power; ear skritches.
Pakkun didn't reply, too busy drooling on the floor with satisfied sighs.
I saw the woman from before only a week after I'd noticed her staring at me. She was wearing something almost as expensive as the last time, but far more casual, and this time she had some light adornments.
She was staring at me again as I made my way from the alleys the stray cats spent their time. I stopped like before, and stared back, expecting the same reaction as last time. She stared back at me like before, doing a top to tail sweep with her impassive gaze.
I jolted internally when she began to approach me and forced myself not to take a wary step back.
Bowing wasn't unusual in Konoha but it wasn't really expected most of the time outside of formal situations and around the upper class. Even then there was a good chance I wouldn't be expected to bow due to my assumed age. So I was surprised when she did so in greeting, or at least she inclined her head.
I could get away without giving the proper response, but I chose to go along. Giving a slightly deeper bow in deference to the fact that everything so far everything indicated she belonged to an upper class wealthy clan. However it all remained informal, and I was as equally curious and cautious.
"Good morning, my name is Fukuda Norita," her voice was as cool as her expression and I had to admit that it would probably intimidate most people if the words coming out of her mouth were as cool as her tone.
"It's nice to meet you Fukuda-san, I'm Igarashi Sona. Is there something I can help you with?"
"You're very polite, I'm impressed. I've noticed you donating things to orphanage and helping animals on occasion. It's not often that I see such a gentle spirit in one so young."
Despite her complementary words, she honestly sounded like she was ticking of a checklist of things she approved of in a person.
Regardless, I allowed a blush to brighten my cheeks and demurely lowered my eyes, "a-ah, Thank you for your kind words, Fukuda-san."
Her lip briefly twitched in what might have been a smile and she nodded once, "I'm aware you're young, but I can already tell from your advanced manner of speaking and the books you read that you're smart. I run the Fukuda Tea shops, hosting tea ceremonies among other duties. I'm looking for a young apprentice, and I've notice you possess many of qualities I've been hoping for."
I was a touch overwhelmed by her speech, what with it being completely unexpected. I didn't immediately dismiss the idea though. For one being Fukuda's apprentice could teach me some of the more civilian based knowledge I would need if I was sent undercover in the future. However, it depended on what exactly she intended to teach me.
"I'm flattered Fukuda-san, and I'm honoured by the opportunity. I... I'm not sure what sort of skills I'd be learning as your apprentice if I accepted."
Another twitch of her lips, and I was almost certain that was supposed to be a smile. Regardless, her eyes remained a shark like black. Maybe she had a recent Uchiha ancestor that gave her her unnerving gaze and her inability to emote properly with her expressions.
"May I call you Igarashi-chan?"
"Of course, Fukuda-san," I gave a smile and a positive noise.
"If you're willing to come with me, I'm on my way to the nearest tea shop. I can show you around, introduce you to some of the people there, and tell you about what you could learn."
I knew which tea shops she was referring to and I was pretty sure there were other places with the name Fukuda either connected to them or owning them outright. But still, I was hesitant to go with her, being a stranger. However, we were in public and there were enough people around that if I was gone for too long, DFB shouldn't have much trouble finding me. After a moment of uncertainty, I gave a tentative nod.
Another twitch her lips, "very well. Follow me."
If she turned out to be some sort of child trafficker I was cutting those lips right off her goddamn face.
I did not expect Sonaru to suddenly become all worried about the environment but hey if that's where it wants to go sure.
Using fuuinjutsu in the future what sort of things would you like to see Sona invent/cause to be invented?
Also I've been thinking of Sonaru training her own pack (with a twist) as an inheritance further in the future. Yes or no?