T W O
ONCE REMOVED
...
KONAN'S alarm went off at dot six-thirty. More reliable than any mechanical clock, the noisy and enthusiastic grunts of her neighbour, as he completed his morning ritual of 1000 push-ups in thirty minutes, permeated through the walls of her apartment and into her brain.
Ugh, she thought blearily. Time to wake up, I'guess…
As she yawned and stretched, contemplating her day ahead, her neighbour's words of self encouragement drifted through the wooden walls of her bedroom.
You can do it, you magnificent beast!
No pain, no gain, and no gains means lots of emotional pain, lest your rival overtake you!
Youth is a fountain bubbling within you, feeding your vessels, heart and muscles with a never-fading source of strength!
And if I can't complete this training successfully, tomorrow I shall wake up twice as early and do twice as much!
God, Konan rolled her eyes. Guy was so weird. But it was an affectionate thought, because he was also one of her best friends. Groaning, she rolled out of bed and moved towards her kitchen, planning to start her kettle. Then his words finally sunk in and she paused, rapping her knuckles sharply against her bedroom wall.
"Glad to hear training's going well, Guy," she called through the thin timber, letting an edge creep into her voice. "But if you start any earlier than six-thirty, I will throttle you." After all, eighteen-year-old girls needed their sleep.
Guy was quiet for a moment.
Then, "Is that a promise?"
Despite herself, Konan laughed. Ever since he'd heard she was the next front runner for joining ANBU, Guy had been dying to spar with her. They'd both been busy with missions and hadn't had a proper chance to get into it yet.
"Are you sure you really want to fight? You'll just end up all bruised for your next challenge with Kakashi," she teased. She grabbed some clothes for the day, pausing before heading out of her room - once she moved into the kitchen area, voices transferred less clearly. "We're meeting at Ichiraku at 10am today, by the way."
A chuckle sounded in response. "And what time did you tell him?"
"Nine, of course."
...
Konan finished her morning laps around training field three in record time. She'd been out of the house by seven, and all done with her daily warm-up by eight. Guy would've been proud.
Panting to catch her breath, she leaned her back against a mighty oak, shielding her eyes against the brilliant blue sky above. The day was heating up already, and she was loving it. She grabbed her water bottle and doused her face with some, before chugging the rest. She was definitely a summer person.
That was the great thing about the Land of Fire. Apart from Lightning, they had the best weather - warm and dry for most of the year. Over her many years as a Konoha shinobi, she'd been sent to various other lands - Wind, Rain, Earth - and countless villages.
The weather in Wind was really unpredictable - it was always either blistering hot or raging with abrasive sandstorms. Earth, ironically, was too windy, infamous for hurricanes in both spring and autumn that travelled alarmingly well over the region's vast flatlands. And Rain - oh geez. That place was perpetually in downpour. Konan still couldn't decide if she found the weather romantic or depressing, but either way, she wouldn't have wanted to live in that climate year-round.
'You're lucky you were born in the Fire region then,' Tsunade had said, when Konan had once shared these weather theories with her.
Konan had hummed in agreement, although she wasn't sure if lucky was the right word.
Konan had lost her parents in the war at a very young age - so young, in fact, that she could only hazily remember them, let alone her childhood - and never without getting a disorienting headache. Supposedly, they had been a civilian family, in a small village in the rural outskirts of the Land of Fire. It was the type of nameless village that had ultimately been a tragic casualty of the constant skirmishes around Fire's borders.
Konan was sure Tsunade hadn't planned to take care of a child in her mid-twenties, let alone one she'd had no prior connection to, but the brash Sanin always insisted that adopting Konan had been one of the best decisions she'd ever made…
Konan sighed wistfully. It had been weeks since she'd seen her adoptive guardian, and she found herself missing her. Tsunade had been sent abroad to lead a team to the borders of Suna; Konoha troops stationed in the area had been hit by a nasty bout of poison from Suna's puppet masters, and only Tsunade seemed able to procure effective antidotes.
Konan blew a strand of blue hair out of her face, sliding down further so that she was now sitting, arms hugging her knees. She hoped Tsunade would be alright - she knew her team was also scheduled to pass by and actively assist the frontlines of the war effort before she actually returned home.
She'll have Dan, Konan reminded herself. Tsunade's boyfriend was gentle in every situation except the battlefield - Konan was sure he'd keep her from harm.
Besides, she knew this was the ninja way - they were all always busy, always on missions. Especially now, when the war really seemed to be kicking into high gear - the great lands could sense the end was drawing near and every Kage was hellbent on ensuring a satisfactory outcome for their village. Even Kakashi, Guy and Konan were rarely in the village at the same time anymore.
Well, no point complaining. Konan tilted her face up to the sun. It is what it is.
She stood up, squaring her shoulders.
Things could be worse.
After all, she had her own goals too. From a young age Konan had decided war wasn't for her; although her Academy teachers had frequently complimented her ninjutsu and taijutsu and basic goddamn persistence, although she excelled at learning new techniques, and although she did enjoy the art of being a ninja, her true goal lay elsewhere…
It lay in finding peace.
...
By the time Konan left the training field, she could hear the quintessential sounds of a new day that had finally woken up; younger children heading off to school and vendors setting up their stalls.
"Sharpest Kunai knives in all the land – get 'em right here!"
"Selling brand new scrolls – they're just waiting to be filled with powerful ninjutsu secrets!"
With the displacement the war had caused, more and more street stalls had been popping up – men and women who'd previously had established stores in smaller villages that had been knocked down or razed, forced into a nomadic lifestyle, selling their wares on the go.
Konan felt a small sense of kinship with these merchants, so if she did need any gear, she'd often buy from them. Today, however, all she needed was some coffee. Her favourite place was Mama Katsu's, a small café that was only two blocks from Ichiraku – she'd still be able to meet her friends in plenty of time. (Besides, with Kakashi in the mix, you could never be too late.)
A bell chimed as Konan entered the paisley blue cafe. She immediately spotted Cherry, the financially savvy owner, behind the counter. Cherry looked up, offered Konan a warm smile and went back to serving the man in front of her. The only thing Cherry appreciated more than a penny saved was regular customers.
"What can I get for you, sir?" She asked the young man.
Konan lined up, eyes skimming the blackboard overhead that displayed the menu. She frowned. Should she get a brownie too? She had quite the sweet tooth…
"Uh…" The customer ahead of her seemed equally indecisive. "Um – 'Konoha's fantastic fruit smoothie' should be fine."
"Oh. Great!" Cherry looked pleasantly surprised.
Konan sighed internally. "He doesn't mean that," she quickly cut in, scooting around the stranger and offering him a sheepish look. "He wants an iced coffee, like me. The usual." That meant with a shot of salted caramel. "Oh, and three brownies to go too, please."
Cherry looked torn between amusement and frustration. "Fine!" She threw up her hands. "But if you don't stop taking pity on these tourists, I'll never sell that disgusting fruit smoothie! The syrup will expire next month, Konan, and then it'll be a total waste of money." Glowering, she went off to gather their order. Konan placed some cash on the counter, making sure her tip was extra generous.
Her acquaintance made a weird noise.
"Excuse me?" Konan looked at him, smiling politely. He appeared to be about her age. "Didn't quite catch that."
"I – you – " He was looking at her a little weirdly. Maybe he was one of those toxic male types that didn't like his authority challenged, but he looked more shocked than anything to Konan.
"Sorry about that," Konan said in a low voice, pulling him a bit away from the counter and glancing back to make sure Cherry was out of earshot. "But I'm pretty sure the fruit syrup they put in that smoothie already expired months ago. This place is good, honest, but that's literally the one thing any villager worth their tongue knows not to order."
"N-no – that's fine. I just…" He rubbed the back of his neck, a little flustered. "Hey, wait. Did you pay for me? I can reimburse you - "
She waved a hand dismissively. "Don't worry about it. It's hard visiting a new village."
"Ready!" Cherry called, placing two drinks and a brown paper bag filled with chocolatey goodness on the counter.
"You're an angel!" Konan flashed her a brilliant grin. "Thanks, Cherry." She quickly grabbed her order, briefly nodding at the young man as she moved past him. "Enjoy your time in Konoha."
He tilted his head. "Thanks, I will. By the way –" Konan paused, almost out the door. She half turned her head towards him, raising an eyebrow enquiringly. "– Looks good." He tapped his chin, and she realised he must've been staring at her piercing earlier.
Konan considered him briefly before responding. "Right back 'atcha." She tugged her ear; she hadn't missed his small earrings either. They were a dark silver and looked metallic.
His cheeks turned a little pink and Konan chuckled, heading out. Sometimes it was too easy.
...
"I heard we're going to be working together," Kakashi said around a mouthful of brownie. Konan, Guy and Kakashi were seated at Ichiraku's, three empty ramen bowels in front of them.
Guy's eyes widened. "We are?" He gasped. "My prayers have been answered!" A bit of brownie fell from his mouth.
Kakashi snorted. "Not you." His eyes flicked to Konan. "I'm talking about the potential new ANBU member to your left."
Konan raised her eyebrows. "Oh?"
"That is even more exciting!" Guy's eyes were practically shining. "Konan, you must undoubtedly be going on an infamous ANBU test mission… An S rank mission in which the potential recruit leads a team of three through gruelling challenges, with the pressure of not only fulfilling your duty for the village hanging over your head, but also your one and only chance at becoming an ANBU member - all these boons hinging upon your success. All the while, your every move is analysed by a current ANBU member of good standing who accompanies you on the mission…"
Kakashi snorted again. "Who says boons anymore?"
"Gee, Guy." Konan frowned. "That sounds…"
"Wonderful!"
"I was going to pick a different word."
Guy laughed. "Konan, there is no greater test of strength! It's the ultimate challenge."
Konan huffed. "So you're my babysitter then, Kakashi?" Kakashi had been an ANBU member for the past few months. She scrutinised the young, currently un-masked boy, as he finished the rest of his brownie. "Surely it hasn't escaped the notice of ANBU that we're all close friends?"
Kakashi shrugged. "I can be professional."
Literal tears started streaming down Guy's face. "My youthful friends, I am so jealous of the painful journey ahead of you!"
Konan lightly smacked him on the head. "Guy, you're six months younger than me!"
"The Fourth'll probably tell you about it formally later today," Kakashi added, smirking at the two of them. He pulled his mask back up, covering his pretty face. "We're meeting up in the afternoon."
"We? You and me?"
"And the other two members," Guy guessed. Kakashi nodded.
"Who are they?" Konan enquired.
Kakashi shrugged. "I haven't been formally briefed either. This is just what I've gathered from the ANBU rumour mill."
Konan's eyes widened. "There's an ANBU rumour mill?"
Kakashi waved her aside. "You have much to learn, young one."
"Your birthday month is the same as Guy's!" Konan rolled her eyes. Internally, she wasn't sure how she felt. Happy, yes. And proud - making ANBU wasn't easy. If she was accepted, she'd be challenged thoroughly, undoubtedly growing in strength. Kakashi himself had improved tremendously since joining. Being sharply trained was definitely a step towards her overall goal. But, still…
Do I have the stomach for it?
As Guy excused himself to order some celebratory drinks, Kakashi leaned over and gave Konan's shoulder a quick squeeze.
"Don't worry - if you do decide to join ANBU, I'll have your back." She couldn't see it with his mask back in place, but his one visible eye was crinkled in a way that told her he was smiling.
Not for the first time, she marvelled at how much he had changed since Obito's death. The Kakashi that had been in her classes back at the Academy wouldn't have deigned to put friendship above the strict policies of the village.
Konan returned his smile. "Cheers, 'Kashi."
"Friends!" Guy returned with three sake glasses. "I know it's still morning, but we've heard some wonderful news. And it's not every day that all three of us are here together." He beamed. "Let us toast to us - the youthful prodigal three!"
"Prodigal three?" Kakashi questioned.
"Yes." Guy looked thrilled at being asked to explain. "You, the prodigal student of the Fourth, who in turn was trained by the honourable Jariyah." He pointed at Konan. "Lovely Konan, trained by the deadly Anko-sensei, one of the only shinobi deemed worthy of Orochimaru's tutelage." Guy puffed out his chest. "And I, a student of Dan-sensei and great admirer of Tsuande's tremendous strength!"
Konan and Kakashi exchanged looks. "Uh, not to burst your bubble," Kakashi pointed out, "But doesn't that make us the prodigal-three once removed or something?"
"Calling ourselves prodigal seems a bit arrogant, doesn't it?" Konan added.
Guy considered their words. "Aspiring prodigal three?" He suggested.
Konan and Kakashi agreed, knowing this was as good a deal as they were likely to get.
"To us, passionate ninja who hope to one day be as great as the legendary Sanin of Konoha," Guy toasted, raising his glass. The other two mimicked him.
"Che - "
" - And may the fountain of youth bubble forever in our aspiring hearts," Guy added quickly, clinking his glass with that of his friends'. "Cheers, friends!" He downed his drink, looking at the other two expectantly.
"To the fountain of youth," Konan and Kakashi echoed in flat voices, glaring at Guy and downing their own drinks with significantly less gusto.