Summary:
Some people don't ask questions because they want to hear answers; they ask questions because they want to hear questions. What are you? [AU] [Hinted SasuHina] [Non-Chronological Linked Drabbles]
General Disclaimer For The Entire Story:
I don't own Naruto. If I did, I would've done a reprint of Part I with cleaned-up art, and I would've filled in the glaring plot holes evident in some chapters. Oh, and the cover picture isn't mine, either. Should I change it? (Does anybody actually read this disclaimer?)
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(clearly, tora has spawned a whole new division of mental trauma through the generations)
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[Age 12]
It was acknowledged among many ninja that in each peacetime year, three new Genin teams would pass into officialization, out of the minimum of nine 'testing' possible Genin teams formed out of that year's graduating candidates.
More teams can be formed, depending the varying levels of suitable Genin prospects, but ultimately only 1/3 would pass, and having more than nine 'testing' teams a year was considered rare, especially in the population scarcity after the last War and the October 10th attack.
Numbers were recuperating, slowly.
However, while the civilians' numbers were flourishing in the seemingly serene aftermath of the aforementioned two events, a ninja's life has always been statistically short and stimulated, unless they decided to become part of the Genin Corps or 'paperwork ninja' or simply a career Genin/Chuunin.
Those who reached Tokubetsu Jounin, or regular Jounin, were the ones powerful and skilled enough to not be satisfied with a dull desk-job. They want glory, or to protect, or to truly do something for their village, and if they were good enough, they'd live long enough to see the results of their work. Clan ninja, especially, could count on both being sent on more important missions and having a higher life expectancy.
Thus, active ninjas have historically had far fewer children than your typical civilian, marrying young or not marrying at all, siring/birthing out maybe one healthy infant, perhaps two or more if they were lucky and in a stable situation, then either semi-retiring to raise the child/children, leaving the child/children at an orphanage, giving the child/children to someone they trust, living without knowledge of their progeny's existence, or even dying shortly after the child/children's birth (which leaves either the orphanage or possibly someone named in a will).
The point was, newly-officialized Team 8 was now waiting somewhat patiently in a bar for the two other passed teams to come, as they whittled away the time with banal chatter and inane questions and silly bets.
(Great bonding, anyway, which was why Kurenai had suggested they head over to the meeting place as soon as they'd completed her test.)
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"Why is the place called 'Dead Tiger-Cat'?"
"Ah... you'll find out soon enough."
"It cannot be referring to the establishment itself. Why? Because it is illegal to keep a tiger, much less kill one, considering how rare they are, and how severe their protection laws are. Perhaps the title is referring to a breed of cat that resembles a tiger, but the notion of killing one remains illogical without us being given more information. Possibly the proprietor is mourning a tiger or a cat they were once familiar with."
"However, Aburame-san, the establishment has been open for more than twenty years, which is rather excessive for mourning a pet. The name might be meant as a metaphor, or a reference to a proverb, or a tale of some sort."
"That is only when you assume that it is a pet. I do concede that twenty years of mourning is indeed rather excessive in most cases. I also admit I have not heard a proverb including a dead tiger or a dead cat, although that theory bears worthy thought."
"You both made very good arguments, Shino and Hinata. I'm afraid that your teammate is being quite 'left in the dust', so to speak."
"I am not! ... I think."
"Ar ar!"
"Thanks, buddy!"
"Anyway, if you're all so curious, I'll make it an impromptu mission. Find out the reason for the bar's name, and tell me when we meet overmorrow."
"Overmorrow?"
"The day after tomorrow."
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"Who are we waitin' on, anyway? We should be training! Or going on missions! Or... something shinobi-ish!"
"..."
"..."
"That was not a wise move. Why? Two members of our squad are kunoichi, and thus, not shinobi. Your statement can therefore be taken as an insult."
"I- I didn't mean it like that! You're all totally super strong! And not girly! And all ninja-ish!"
"... *sigh, roll eyes* ..."
"...?"
"I believe this is what is called, 'digging a larger hole'."
"Help me out here, Shino!"
"And how would you propose that I accomplish that objective?"
"I dunno, say something smart and make it better!"
"Grr ar ar rowr!"
"See, Akamaru agrees!"
"I doubt that that is truly what he was saying. Why? He is now chewing on your pant-leg."
"I'm sorry, but if your ninken is going to be a disturbance and start damaging property, we will have to ask you to leave. We have an agreement with the Inuzuka Clan Head."
"I understand your worries, Waiter-san, and rest assured, I will be controlling my students tighter from now on."
"Thank you, kunoichi-san. It is always nice to see a responsible Jounin-sensei. In fact, the founder of this bar is a retired ninja, did you know?"
"Oh? How interesting. Well, thank you for that fact. Are our adjacent tables still reserved?"
"Yes, of course. You paid upfront and made the reservations a week ago, and it is our policy to wait three hours for reserved tables, and then refund the money if they remain empty and we are in need of more space. Are you sure you would not like to order anything?"
"No; we will order later."
"Alright. Good-day, ninjas-san."
"And that is how you properly address a mixed group of kunoichi and shinobi, Kiba."
"Sorry, Kurenai-sensei."
"...?"
"Sorry, Hinata."
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"Who do you think gonna's pass as well?"
"It should be fairly obvious, Inuzuka-san."
"Hinata's correct, in terms of politics. Would you like to explain why, Shino?"
"We are Team 8. Team 7 and Team 10 will also pass. Why? They contain all the Clan children in our graduating year. Therefore, it would be social suicide to not pass them, especially as they are also the heir- and heiress-apparent."
"But what about, um, what was her name... ah! What about Sakura? She's a civvie."
"Technically, Inuzuka-san, Haruno-san is the offspring of two career Chuunin. However, they have since retired and taken up civilian practices, so she was raised as a civilian. It is unlikely that she is even aware of her parents' former occupations, as they dropped out relatively quickly."
"Retired ninja are still listed in the reserve corps, right?"
"Yes, they are. As for Haruno, there were no more Clan children who graduated, and since she had the highest scores of the others, she was included to round off the numbers."
"Naruto's not Clan, though."
"He is. The Uzumaki Clan was the ruling Clan of Uzushiogakure, a sister-village to Konohagakure, that was destroyed in the last war. Senju Hashirama married Uzumaki Mito, who was renown for her impressive chakra chains. They were known for their seals mastery, dense chakra, rejuvenation, large reserves, short tempers, boundless energy, and their signature red hair. The last Uzumaki in Konoha-"
"Sorry to cut you off, Hinata, but any further than that is prohibited by law. Where did you learn so much about the Uzumaki?"
"I read."
"I can hear the deadpan in you, Hinata. Where did you get the books?"
"I am prohibited by Clan law, Kurenai-sensei."
"... Um, Shino, is she snarking, or what?"
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"Alright, celebratory drinks for everyone! Traditional rite of passage, kiddos."
"Asuma-"
"Chill, Kurenai. It's just some light sake. Super-light, I swear on my hotness."
"Only you think you're hot, Asuma."
"Not true; if I wasn't mistaken, didn't you use to have a crush on him, Kurenai?"
"Kakashi-"
"You had a crush on me? I knew it! Hey-hey-hey, no need to start casting genjutsu now. Did I ever tell you how gorgeous you look when you're mad? An avenging angel, really. Smokin', I tell you."
"Flattery-"
"-will get you everywhere in the ninja life."
"Stop interrupting, Kakashi!"
"Oh? I wasn't aware that I was interrupting something. Carry on, then, you two. I have some A-rank pay riding on when you guys get over your massive UST and begin riding each other."
"There are children here."
"No, there are Genin. As in, ninja. As in, old enough to kill (speaking of which, when are you two planning on getting your Genin blooded?), old enough to drink, old enough to hear about sex. Not old enough to fuck, though, since we really do not need any more teenage pregnancies or rumors of pedophilia in Konoha."
"Rumors of pedophilia?"
"Orochimaru. My old man complains sometimes about him when he's really hit the bottle halfway through his paperwork."
"Er... Are you really allowed to tell us that?"
"Don't be so uptight, Kurenai. Enjoy it. You're a Jounin! Didn't you just pass the test a couple months ago? Have a drink, have two drinks, get drunk and make-out with Asuma!"
"What. Like. What. What did you say. Just now. You said something. What."
"I'm not against it..."
Hinata faintly smiled at the Jounins' conversation, Kurenai flustered, Asuma shameless, Kakashi blithe.
She sipped her drink.
Searing down her throat, warm and thick and a tang of a coppery trace among the musk.
(Is this what blood tastes like, in the heat of a kill?)
At her sides were people talking, laughing, sharing, unaffected Naruto downing jugs of sake like they were water, most of the Genin watching him with awe or disgust, careful Shino stealthily pouring his sake into Kiba's, careless Kiba amusedly letting Akamaru lick up some from an extra bowl, lightweight Sasuke already tipsy and giggling halfway through his sakazuki, avid Sakura and enthusiastic Ino staring wide-eyed at Sasuke, foodie Choji ordering some dishes to go with his sake, uninterested Shikamaru napping with his head laid onto the table.
Her eyes scanned the golden-lit cheerful-ambiance bar.
It felt nice.
These are my new comrades.
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Fluffy team-bonding.
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-Review. Please. I spent an hour reloading and editing drabbles, I need at least five reviews.-
