Part VII: Exams Pt. I
Author's note: I will also be including some Mortal Kombat, Seiko Shadows die twice, and Ghost of Tsushima characters.
Hinata awoke in a cold sweat. She had been having trouble sleeping for the past week. She was wondering what would happen if Naruto was still alive. She blushed at the mention of his name. She shook her head rapidly, the padding of her bare feet on the cold soft Tatami flooring. She arrived at a covered walkway and sat down on the raised platform. She kicked her feet as she watched the stars and looked over the beautiful capital city of the Tokudaiji Shogunate. The wind blew her hair which was pulled down. She blushed and looked back at the sky. "Naruto-kun...watch over me." She heard footsteps and looked behind her to see Daichi kneeling a few feet behind her. "The Shinobi have arrived." he lowered his head out of respect. Hinata nodded, "Have them wait till tomorrow." she yawned as she responded.
Next day
Hinata awoke with a pounding headache, {"I hope I didn't catch a cold…"} she answered that thought with a sneeze. She groaned groggily as her servants aided her in getting ready for the day to day operations. She yawned as she walked down the hallways flanked by several guards who opened the doors to the eating area. A servant approached and was blocked by the two guards. Hinata looked up from her dango and signaled for her to approach. The servant bowed and prostrated herself and Hinata gave her the go ahead to speak. "My gracious lady, Oni, has brought the team for your inspection." The servant said as she lowered her head Hinata placed her hands under the servant's head and raised it.
"You did well, now rest and recuperate." Hinata ordered, the servant smiled and bowed her head again. "Arigatōgozaimasu, Shogun-Denka." the servant said happily as Hinata dismissed her. Hinata placed her hand on her head to soothe her aching headache, she flagged down one of the samurai guards, stationed in her palace. He bowed on one knee and lowered his head as sweat dripped down his face. Hinata glanced her lavender eyes over him and giggled inwardly {"He must be new…his ascent indicates he is from a rural province."}, "Uh…excuse me? Shogun-Denka?" He gulped as he lowered his head again as Hinata looked at him. "Please get me a doctor…send word I want the very best one…but I have standards…." She narrowed her eyes and he gulped and jumped up and ran out the room. Not before shouting "I will not fail you!"
Hinata blinked once and then twice and tilted her head in confusion, as a servant arrived and bowed at the entrance of the door. "Uh my lady…" she spoke slowly, Hinata turned her attention toward her and smiled and beckoned her over. The servant arrived and stood by Hinata, who then motioned her to sit down. The servant blushed madly and slowly sat down "What is it…." Hinata mused as she poured herself and the servant a cup of tea.
The servant quickly perked up "Kaede….my name is Kaede Kaneko." Hinata nodded as she handed Kaede her cup of tea "Oh…thank you." "And where are you from Kaede?" "A small village in the Cherī prefecture." Hinata nodded "I always wanted to visit your Sakura trees because they are so beautiful." Kaede nodded "They are especially this time of year." Hinata smiled and kept that in mind as she coughed into her hand. "Now what is it you wanted?"
Kaede blinked then something in her brain snapped. "Ah yes." She rummaged through her kimono and pulled out a scroll. "A message from Otogakure." Hinata took the scroll and unfurled it slowly and read over the contents. "Hmmm" Hinata brows furrowed in slight annoyance. Kaede looked worried "is…Is something the matter?" She asked hesitantly. Hinata furled the scroll and sat it down "They're asking for an alliance and a meeting between the two leaders."
Kaede's mouth turned into an 'o' shape as she understood. Their country has always been isolationist and refused to have anything to do with the Shinobi World. She had always been taught that the shinobi are dishonorable theives and murders. She understood the situation this put Hinata in especially since she has to pass the message up to the Empress.
Hinata waved over a guard and handed him the scroll. "Send this to the Empress and call in the Daimyo's." She ordered in an authoritative tone, the Guard bowed and rushed off to complete his newfound orders. Hinata then turned to Kaede and smiled as she placed her hand on the young teenage girl's shoulders. "I have a mission for you." "M…m…m…ME?!" The girl shrieked in shock as she blushed heavily. Hinata nodded "Yes, a secret mission usually referred to the shinobi clans."
Kaede's eyes bulged out of their sockets as she listened attentively. "I want you to accompany Daichi and the three shinobi he has picked out to attend the Chūnin Selection Exams that are being held in Takigakure you will be my eyes and ears….I will send a company of Ashigaru you will be….our diplomat." Hinata said and Kaede stood up and bowed multiple times. "I will not fail you!" Hinata chuckled and patted her head. "Hold your horses there….be careful the outside world isn't like ours." Kaede nodded in understanding.
Hinata's eyes flew over Kaede and she said "But…if you're gonna be my official diplomat you will need to dress the part." As she said, a servant handed Kaede a beautiful and elegant kimono with the dual-split crest of both the imperial family and the Shogunate on the back. It had lavender flowers on the lower portion and was soft as silk. Kaede started crying and bowed her head "Thank you my lady….I always dreamed of having a nice new Kimono….my family are rice farmers and most of our clothes are hand-me-down or sewn together." Hinata took the girl into a hug and patted her back.
Imperial Palace: Roughly the same time
Mako was relaxing in the massive sakura tree garden located in the sprawling palace. She sat down on a blanket enjoying tea as attendants stood by as well as elite samurai guard and shinobi who watched afar from the battlements and trees. Mako held out her tea cup as an attendant poured her a nice cup of matcha tea. She smelled the tea breathing in its heavy scent and breathing out. She then paused and looked around as a breeze softly whipped throughout the area. "Is everything alright m'lady?" asked a female attendant as she noticed her empress looking around. Mako then turned back to her tea "Yes…I swore I heard some giggling…" Mako then shrugged her shoulders and went back to her tea.
Some of the guards went on edge upon hearing this, things grew even more complicated when a loud girlish scream echoed throughout the palace. Mako looked around when a hatamoto and a group of imperial Ashigaru moved into the arena. He bowed before Mako "M'lady there was an intruder near the Imperial onsen!" He reported as he bowed his head low, Mako blinked in confusion as to what was going on. "Why were they near the Onsen of all things?" She questioned firmly but with a hint of confusion in her voice. The hatamoto bowed again "I don't know m'lady…some of the maidens reported a middle age man, who appears to be a foregin shinobi." Mako sweatdropped and blinked as she processed everything.
"So what was that scream?" Asked the other female attendant, the high-ranking samurai turned to her and bowed and reported. "A passing patrol of onna bugeisha apparently spotted him and decided to shoot him in the rear end with a burning arrow." Mako sweatdropped even more as did her attendants. {"...Is this guy even a shinobi…"} was their collective thought as the group were escorted to a safer area, when a shinobi appeared out of nowhere. He bowed and reported "M'lady we captured the intruder….it is an older shinobi from the land of fire." Mako sighed in annoyance {"Just when it seemed like peace would be attain at last."} She turned to her other attendant "Send for a messenger….and have them send a message to Konohagakure and the Land of Fire Daimyo." The attendant bowed "It will be done m'lady." Mako then turned to the hatamoto "Escort me to the throne room and have the intruder also summon Hinata." he bowed and went off to carry out her will.
Mako then turned to the shinobi "You did well..you earned yourself some rest and food." The shinobi bowed and vanished in a puff of smoke. Mako sighed and made her way to the throne room and sat down as everyone present bowed before her. She sighed again as a random noble approached her and bowed "The intruder has been brought before you…he is behind the door." Mako nodded and made a gesture with her hand and the guards opened the door. Mako repositioned herself in the throne room as the intruder was dragged screaming through his gag. The lead samurai halted the other four dragging the intruder and he walked forward and bowed and handed an item to an attendant he also whispered something in his ear.
The Samurai bowed again and walked back to the group as the attendant turned to Mako and bowed and then whispered into her ear. "Apparently the intruder claimed he was only doing…some research for a book." the male intendent said blankly as he handed a notepad and a book to Mako. Mako blinked and looked through the notes and book as her face slowly but surely was turning bright chili pepper red. "Is everything alright m'lady?" the attendant asked as he noticed the massive blush rising through the makeup on Mako's face. She only responded by handing him the notes and book as steam escaped through her ears making the whistling sound of a steam train. "Huh?!" Everyone minus the intruder said in unison in shock, confusion and alarm.
Meanwhile Hinata's palace: Sametime
Hinata and Kaede sat across from Dachi and the three shinobi he had gathered. "These are the three shinobi I have gathered my Shogun-Denka." He reported with a bow, to which both Hinata and Kaede returned. Hinata covered her hand as she started coughing violently. Both Kaede and Dachi shared a look of concern "Are you alright my lady?" Kaede finally asked after Hinata's violent coughing fit ended. Hinata waved off their concern "I'm fine a doctor is coming to check me out." "Your body is still getting used to the rapid transformation…Plus I'm repairing your chakra network so you can use the Byakugan again." Kami explained through their mindlink.
Hinata then looked the three shinobi up and down, "So these are the three shinobi you have found?" Dachi nodded "Yes Shogun-Denka, these three are the best and strongest shinobi and kunoichi we have throughout the Land of Lavender." Hinata nodded "Very good." She then addressed the three "You three have been chosen…to participate in the upcoming Chūnin Selection Exams that are being held in Takigakure." She paused her speech to get a good look at the two male shinobi and one kunoichi. She then resumed her speech "As you know our land is very isolated and we like it that way, however..that doesn't mean we must underestimate the outside world and therefore these exams give us a chance to gather intelligence and information on the strength and potential of Hidden villages."
She then raised her hand towards Kaede, "I have chosen her to be our official diplomat and means of communication with the outside world…she will accompany you as well as a brigade of Ashigaru as security." She felt another coughing fit coming as a female servant brought drinks and snacks and medication for Hinata. Hinata took the medication and drank her tea. "I wish you the best of luck in the exams..also I would like to know your names and clans you hail from." She pointed towards the kunoichi who wore a long mino, and her hair was fashioned into a single long ponytail and a featureless mask with six eye slits and a rising sun painted on the front. The kunoichi bowed forward and spoke in a cold-emotionless aloof tone "My name is Mibōjin and I hail from the Kumo clan, in the northern Supaidābarē prefecture."
Hinata nodded, "I see…I heard that prefecture got hit hard during the Iwa-Kumo invasion." Mibōjin nodded, "It cost them greatly…." she said as she made what sounded like clicking noises Kaede upon hearing that shivered {"Creepy…"} was her thought as she drank tea. Hinata then turned to the larger male member of the trio and nodded her head in his direction. "Tremors…from the Chikyū clan located in the Kesseki prefecture, I look forward to crushing anybody who interferes with the mission in an aftershock!" His mechanical voice turned into a growl towards the end as his eyes glowed bright as she slammed his fist together creating a miniature explosion of sand. "Hinata nodded and turned toward the last member of the group. A young adult male wearing modified shinobi like samurai armor painted black with a lower Menpō type face mask that resembles an Oni or a smiling demon depending on how you look at it. He had two swords, a wakizashi and a Katana as well as a Yumi on his back. He wore a black headband around his forehead, he looked up and bowed his head "Jin Sakai..of the defunct clan Sakai of Yūrei prefecture." Hinata hmm'd in response as she placed a finger on her chin. "Your clan was whipped out by Iwagakure, correct?" Jin nodded "That is correct Shogun-Denka." Hinata nodded "You don't need to say more…however be advised Iwagkure is most likely participating in the exams….if you're gonna kill one of their own…do it within the confines of the exam." Jin's eyes widened but bowed his head.
There was a knock on the door, Hinata didn't even turn her head. "What is it?" she called from her position at the table. "A urgent message from the Empress!" came a hasted reply. Hinata's eyes widened and Dachi stood up and opened the door and a messenger came huffing and panting as he stumbled into the room. He held up a scroll as he collapsed to her knees. Hinata took the scroll and scanned through the contents and looked up in shock and mild annoyance. "An intruder broke into the Imperial palace and was spying on the female's in the palace's Onsen." Jin and Dachi just looked at each other while Kaede had a sweatdropped "Is this guy an idiot or some random drunk?" She asked, Hinata shook her head "No…supposedly he is a Konohagakure Shinobi…"
"HUH?!" Kaede shouted in confusion and shock, Hinata nodded her head "Yes…he said he was doing research on his book." Kaede's jaw fell to the floor and she fell over from the shock from what she was hearing. Hinata scowled inwardly {"It was a matter of time before Jiraiya showed up…"} Her expression then unknowingly shifted to one of confusion and shock {" I didn't actually expect him to break into the Imperial Onsen of all things…."} "Me neither…..I don't know if he is a genius idiot or an idiot…" Kami too sweatdropped even more as she saw everything that occurred. Hinata had to agree with the omnipotent deity and partner. Tremor and Mibōjin had no expression on their faces but also shared a similar thought. {"Konohagakure is all talk and a bunch of village idiots"}.
Takigakure: sametime
Shibuki sat in his office overlooking the invitation that was sent back from the Land of Lavender. He sweatdropped never expecting the military dictatorship and paranoid isolationists in charge of a country he has never heard anything about. {"I didn't expect them to actually respond….nevertheless accept."} He looked over his shoulder and came face to face with Fū he jumped back. "Gah!" He cried as he fell over and Fū started laughing as the scroll containing the invitation flew up into the air and landed on her head. "Hmmm?" She took the scroll of her head and looked through it.
"So…land of lavender is gonna participate?" She asked as Shibuki sat up and rubbed his forehead. "Yes…yes surprisingly….and please quit scaring me like that." He said/replied as he took the scroll back. "Fū…" "Hmmm?" She was now sitting on the window kicking her feet back and forth. "Stay away from the team from the Land of Lavender." Fū was now confused "But why? Is it because of all the bad things people say about them?" She asked, her face now inches away from Shibuki. He pushed her a few feet back away from his personal space and coughed into his hand. "Yes…the land of Lavender don't have one single hidden village instead shinobi live in individual shinobi villages made up of one or more clans…the country is dominated by samurai and their isolationists and proud of it, they're dangerous as we don't know what they're capable of….what jutsu, or Kekkei Genkai they possess." Fū took all of this in and gave a thumbs up. "Relax, I will be carefull" She smiled which also caused Shibuki to smile as well.
Back in the imperial portion of Kyodai city
Jiraiya sat on the floor of the throne room of the Tokudaiji Shogunate still gagged and muffled. He sighed as he somehow ended up in the land of lavender on a recon mission and decided to do research for his book. How was he supposed to know he had broken into the imperial onsen in the imperial palace? Now here he was standing in front of the empress whom he had to say was quite a looker. He looked around and didn't see an emperor. He heard the previous empire died during the third shinobi world war and his daughter Mako succeeded him. He heard the doors opening and footsteps he tried to strain his head only to be whacked in his head by one of the Ashigaru samurai's Yari.
Jiraiya managed to strain his head and noticed a young adult woman wearing a kimono who looked ironically enough like the deceased Hinata Hyūga. She was flanked by several onna bugeisha. The woman looked at him and turned away with a huff and a tone of disgust toward him. Jiraiya sweatdropped {"All I did was break into the Imperial Onsen…."} She bowed respectfully before the empress, and an attendant cleared his throat. "Presenting Shōgun Hinata Tokudaiji." Jiraiya's eyes widened {"Hinata Tokudaiji? She looks so much like Hinata Hyūga…."} The Empress bowed back and the attendant continued after a few awkward moments. "Standing before us…is a foregin shinobi who was caught near the onsen belonging to the Imperial Family of the Chrysanthemum Throne."
Jiraiya sweatdropped even further {"Oh boy…I messed up big time."} He noted how harshly the Shōgun kept glaring at him hatefully. He shrinked and finally found relief when Mako waved her hand and directed Hinata over to her. "That's enough….I know how you feel about Konohagakure but not now." Hinata sighed and nodded "Your right I apologize my empress." She whispered back and bowed low in an apology.
