"The real question of life after death isn't whether or not it exists, but even if it does what problem this really solves." ~Ludwig Wittgenstein
The Cloudless Sky
Placing Blame, Going Forward
.4
It was Racoon who stood by the door and Owl who stood behind the Hokage for the unfortunate meeting on treason. It was Racoon who watched her friends back that day. Watched as their pent up aggressions and hurt feeling came into light. Years of mistrust and mistreatment finally being out in the open. It was Racoon who watched the face of a leader whom she did not trust morph with sadness and sorrow over the situation at hand.
A situation he had not tried to stop.
A situation he did not know how to truly fix. How did one's home regain the trust of its people back? How do you move forward after obvious failure? They had now arrived at a place where the roads were not marked and going forward from here was a path never thought of before.
How were they supposed to go forward from here? How was she supposed to go forward? A question she'd asked herself a million times in the last several years.
Racoon watches as the scene unfolds, hidden behind a genjutsu her friends could probably see through it they'd wanted. Concealed only for the benefit of illusion and the two elders in the room. She eyed them both warily, they should not have been here. But yet there they stood.
She couldn't be certain of either of their intentions. So for that she treated them as unknown variables. Variables that could not be fully relied on. Variables that just kept fuelling the flame. Adding more tension to this already tense situation.
"Racoon." He looks right at her, looks through her, his intention for once understandable. She nodded her masked face before lifting the genjutsu surrounding her body. No one moves, but the shadows around her. It snakes out grabbing both Fugaku, his wife, and the elders. She is in control now, if only for a moment. If only to make a point.
But it's not her point to make and she does not agree with their implications.
You have no power here.
"I think that perhaps everyone should take a moment to collect themselves. While I understand that there is tension I would like to resolve this matter without any violence." His words are pointed towards the elders who had been calling for blood. He gives her a curt nod and her shadow lets them all go.
Racoon blends back into the background. This was the part she hated. The watching, unable to do anything other than accept her orders. Yet at the same time that's why ANBU had appealed to her so much.
The detachment from everything and everyone else. It worked until it didn't. And when it stopped working everything around her fell apart.
So for now she just watched.
Waiting until she was needed again.
"So what are you going to do with them?!" Koharu demands, her whole demeanor slowly changing. This was a woman who had believed strongly in justice. In the old ways. Racoon watches as the Hokage takes a moment to regard the question. Looking over the files before him, the couple standing in front of him, and his own to advisors.
Then he looks past everyone to look at her, a silent signal and Racoon vanishes from the room. They had a plan, a plan that had to be executed carefully in order not to worsen the situation. A plan she had made, the best possible solution for the only outcome that either of them believed acceptable.
All she wanted now was the better tomorrow that Minato had promised. Peace. There could be no peace if the village didn't remain whole.
"Fugaku and Mikoto, you are both aware that Nara Shimari is back in the village." His question serves purpose. Fugaku decides by the tone of it. Mikoto is the one who nods. But neither say anything on the matter.
Unsure of what purpose this line of questioning serves. Hiruzen turns his attention to both of the elders present. "You both know of Shikaku's younger sister, correct?" They give nods of agreement.
"She is a trusted asset of the village, if a little too emotional. But yes we know of her." Koharu agrees with the sentiment of her partner. Homura speaks his recollection carefully. The Sandaime takes the statement into consideration. But it's only for show.
"I'm sorry but what does the Nara girl have to do with this?" Koharu asks after Hiruzen takes too long to answer their original question. He ignores her for a second looking directly at the Uchiha head and his wife.
"As you both know Shimari is currently the only fuinjutsu specialist in the village on the same level as both the late Yondaime and Uzumaki Kushina. Since the two of you have taken over the care of their child I believe it would only be right if he was taught their art surrounded by people who had been their friends. Nara Shimari has offered to teach him and to serve as a parole officer for your clan." A timely knock on the door causes him to pause. Offering a short enter.
Shimari who's shadow had never actually left the room enters in her everyday attire. "You summoned me Lord Hokage?" She's already heard everything, including what the elders thought of her.
Emotional.
An interesting sentiment. One she could understand but not one that she believed held any true value. Emotions contrary to what most believed would save your life and the lives of your comrades more often than it would hinder and hurt you in the field.
"Ah, just in time Shimari. I was just telling everyone what I wanted to do so we can move forward from this matter. Are you still agreeable to what we discussed, and perhaps you wouldn't mind taking over the explanation of how this will work?" She refrained from rolling her eyes but did nod. This was a power trip he was enjoying too much. One that she had no desire to play into.
He could have his fun. It made no difference to her.
"Of course Lord Hokage. I will come to retrieve Uzumaki Naruto for fuinjutsu lessons twice a week, once a week I will stop by to collect any homework I've given him and to help with any if he has questions. During this time I will also be doing an observation assignment of your home. I will make note of the behavior of clan members as I come and go with Naruto. The Uchiha clan will be observed for a total of ninety days, during this time if any further aggression or talks of aggressive behavior towards the village occur I will report it as an act against the village. As absolute treason. If the ninety days pass and nothing of the sorts happens we will reduce the number of ANBU set to guard the clan and lift the guards following the both of you." Shimari stops to take a breath, so the Hokage takes over.
"For now there will not be any form of public sentencing, and I believe that having to be watched for ninety days is punishment enough for now. Because someone came forward and confessed, and also because I as your Hokage had not been available to hear your grievances in the past. I am deeply regretful that it came to this point and in the future I would like this office to be a place of hearing. All we can do now is go forward from this point, and do our best so we never have any instances like this one again. As long as these terms are agreeable to the both of you. Uzumaki Naruto will remain in the care of his godmother." He finishes. Both elders go to protest but he holds a hand out to them. Efficiently silencing them for the time.
Shimari had to fight to keep the smug look off her face, she really didn't like them. Besides they both still had their own demons that needed to be addressed. Which was why they were ultimately here. Until they had a solution for the other situation ANBU was currently handling, the elders could not be trusted.
"I'm confused, as long as we let her come and teach the Uzumaki boy fuinjutsu and display good behavior nothing happens." Fugaku finally speaks. Shimari nods.
"Yes. I am asking you to let go of your grievances so we can move forward. Let us solve these problems together in the future. That's it, no other conditions." He confirms and it only seems to confuse them further.
"But why?"
Shimari sighed. Wishing they would just accept this ultimatum and move on. "Complete transparency. Why do you think only the two of you are here? Why this isn't a public hearing? There is enough evidence to sink your entire clan for a planned coup d'etat but yet here we all are peacefully. Privately discussing the transgressions of your clan. Because going forward until all matters are fully resolved there will be complete transparency between this office and you."
"Well said Shimari. These are the terms I am setting in hopes to resolve this matter entirely, you will continue to care for Uzumaki Naruto out of a show of good faith, and Shimari will monitor your clan closely. Do you accept these terms Fugaku-san." Shimari holds her breath waiting anxiously for the answer from her friends. Even though they haven't been given any other choice but to comply with these terms. Even though there really isn't a question to be answered.
The Uchiha had been backed into a corner and they had no other way to get out than to agree with whatever terms had been laid before them. Of all the ways this could have been handled strict surveillance was the most kind. It was the best case scenario, the only scenario where any dignity the Uchiha held could be preserved before the eyes of everyone else.
Surely Fugaku would see that any other road forward would only lead to public disgrace.
"We will comply with these terms."
...
She could have collapsed in exhaustion the moment she stepped foot back in her ANBU office. Instead she paces the small cubical, thoughts racing, mind in turmoil. One problem solved, handled for the time being but they still had others to deal with. Still had Shimaru and the ROOT problem to solve.
Shimaru was unfortunately for him a dead man walking, and with his age a sudden heart attack would surprise no one at all. It wasa what they were going to do about ROOT, what they were going to do with everything ROOT had done and were still doing. The amount of documents and tainted correspondence she had to comb through to see just how much blood ROOT had accumulated was headache inducing. There was no rest for the wicked and no choice but for her to keep on going.
The damage that one man had caused. It made her sick to think about. Shimari decided not to think about it now, all she could do was to go forward and try her best to undo the damage done.
It could have been so simple, easy. Just move on, go forward. She wanted it to be. But nothing in life was ever that easy. Not for a shinobi.
Never for her.
The scroll in her hand that she'd been reading falls from her grasp as she reads the last line. The words are not nearly as important as the date and the handwriting itself. It's the implication of it that brings her staggering to her knees.
Uchiha Obito was alive…. and he was the one responsible for the Kyuubi attack six years ago. But not only that, because while it was a harrowing realization in itself. It wasn't even the main problem. Shimura has sanctioned the attack. He'd left the back door open with the help of none-other than the rogue Orochimaru.
"Fuck." Shimari cursed.
Her simple wishes just became more complicated than she'd anticipated. What an absolute drag.
XOXOX
And the plot thickens…. Dun dund dun. Lol. I hope that you all enjoyed this chapter!
Sincerely,
La'Rae