..Chapter Eight..
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Kei hid some distance away under a bush. She wasn't sure where her other two team members were. And right now, it would definitely help if she did. She felt a small pout coming on, but pushed it down. This was the real deal! If she didn't get one of those stupid bells she would go back to the academy. But... Rin-sensei was so... strong. Much stronger than any of them. How were they suppose to take her one on one? It didn't make sense in her little head, the purpose of this whole thing. So, she did what she always did in a tight situation. She worked the problem out. Her father might gotten upset when things didn't go his way as a child and act irrationally, but Kei only seemed to be that way. When, in truth, she knew very well this was the way it was done. She didn't know how, she just did.
They'd been split into three man teams. That was her first clue, she summarized. Second, their team leader was Jounin. And third, they'd been given this unacceptable task. No Jounin, no Chuunin even, in their right mind would expect one of them to get it individually. If you told someone outside of her little group as it stood, they'd laugh at you in the face. Plus, the woman didn't look like a Jounin. She looked like a damned ANBU. Kei had seen enough of them to know the difference. Or, was she former ANBU like Kakashi?
Still, what were they suppose to do if they couldn't get the bells individually? If they worked together and managed to get the bells, one of them would still have to return to the Academy. Was she willing to be that one? It sounded crazy. But not moving as one front sounded selfish. And, if was one thing Kei Hyuuga was not, it was selfish. She supposed, if push came to shove, she could go back to the Academy. It would be easy to pass the test again. And she might get lucky and there would be no bell test the next time around.
Or she could be stuck doing this thing over and over again for the rest of her shinobi career.
She sighed and decided working together was better than A) getting her ass kicked--again, B) sitting around under a bush in the hot sun despite the shade and, finally, C) even if she managed to hang around long enough and find an opening--she was back to A again.
So, she slowly began to slither her way around and try to find her team mates. Just where had Ryu gone anyway? Sometimes she wondered if he wasn't better at hiding his presence than her. She wanted to call his name out, but that would give her away. But, finally, she spied two heads in a bush. One was a chopstick laden mess of red and the other a spiked wad of silver steel. She slinked over next to them as they watched Rin-sensei in the clearing. Thankfully they didn't freak out over her sudden appearance.
"Hey," she whispered, "I've been thinking about this for a while. No right headed Jounin would give us this task. There has to be a hitch. And even if there isn't, we should still work together."
Rei glanced over at her, lazy eyes curious. "But what about the end? Only two of us can get the bells."
Kei nodded as they looked at her. "I know, and I've decided if one of us has to be sent back, I'll take the fall."
Ryu looked pained. "But, you've failed three times. If anyone deserves to go on, it's you, Kei-chan. I'll take the fall."
She bit her lower lip.
"No, I will." Rei was still staring out at the woman who seemed to be trying to find them with what looked like no luck.
Both members looked at her, surprised.
"But... why Rei?" Kei was overjoyed by her selflessness for the team.
She shrugged. "I don't know. It just feels like the right thing to say."
Kei pouted, having expected to hear some long drawn out speech about honor and friends. But, then she wanted to smack herself for her childishness. This was Rei after all. She'd always been short on words and reasons it seemed so far.
"Well, no matter who goes back we're all in agreement to do this together, right?" Ryu looked at them both curious.
"Right," responded Kei.
Rei nodded.
"Ok, we need to think up a plan..." All three started talking quietly
Meanwhile, Rin tried to scan the area. It seemed they hidden themselves pretty well. Good, that was a decent start all considered. At first, all three of them had tried to come at her separately and directly. Then, they tried to hide and throw weapons at her. All of which had failed. Many students had taken this test and many of them had failed. Kakashi had only ever passed one group. This would be her first year as a Jounin instructor/team leader, so, she didn't know what to expect. But, she didn't expect what came next.
Ryu came at her first from the brush in a dead on run directly at her. She smirked. Hadn't he learned anything from the last time? She watched as he pulled something from a bag behind him and tossed it in the air, and then he preformed several seals very quickly. She narrowed her eyes, but stood ready to do whatever was needed.
She heard him call out Byakugan and watched as something formed in the sky. Suddenly small metal bits seemed to come together and formed what looked like spikes. They came at her and she pulled out two kunai. Her movements were fast.
As they came at her she used the weapons to block them and send them flying, but they kept coming back. He wasn't as fast as her, but he was keeping up. How did he expect to win this way?
And then she thought she heard something moving... she kept going with her movements but felt something curling around her leg. She glanced down to see a oaken vine curling around her ankle even as she kept up her quick dodges. She began to pull it free and ripped away just before it grabbed her, jumping and leaping at she blocked Ryu's metal spears. Did the kid know wood ninjustu? No one had since the First accept Yamato. And that had been purely because of Orochimaru.
No, he was still preforming the seals for the spikes... then where? She saw it then. The young red head, Rei, was using the wood technique. Impressive. Now she had two to contend with. It was still ok.
But, before she knew what was happening, she heard a cry, "Rasengan!" And even though she knew it was coming a good second before she did, she couldn't react in time while trying to dodge bot the metal ninjutsu and the wood techniques. It hit her and she felt her body twist in the air. But, somehow she managed to land. However, when she did, she found she couldn't move. She tried again. What the hell?
She looked down at her feet and saw a long dark shadow. She followed it and her eyes connected with Rei's. She blinked several times as the two others came towards her. Her hand started to move on it own, reaching to bells hanging from her side. That same hand grabbed them and she watched as she handed them over to Kei. It was then and only then the shadow ninjutsu was released and Rei came forward.
She moved her hands several times, as if to try and see if she could really move them again. And then she looked at the smiling group. Well, this was more than impressive. Two of them them knew techniques only used by the First, the Fourth and the Sixth. The boy, Ryu, apparently knew something very close to what the Third Kazekage could do. It wasn't the same, but slightly similar. She was pleased with her team.
Apparently they'd figured out all on their own that trying to get the bells by themselves wouldn't get them anywhere. So, they taken the correct route and worked together. In doing so not only had they caught her by surprise because she hadn't expected it, but they showed her that they just as strong individually as they were in a group.
"Um, Rei-sensei..." Kei began. "I know one of us has to go back. And I want you to know I'm willing to be the one."
Ryu looked offended as he stared at the girl. "No, I told you. I would. You've failed three times, even if it was on purpose. I'm not letting you."
Rei rolled her eyes. "Both of you, quit it. You're giving me a headache. In any case, I'm going back because that's how it should be."
And then all three of them proceeded to argue about who would be the one to return to the Academy as Rin stared on more than bit surprised. She couldn't help but smile and let them go on and argue. Most of the time the teams tried to work alone, in fact, it was more likely all the time save a few acceptions to passing such in Kakashi's Team Seven. Many of them returned and made it through the second or third time. In worse cases they made it through after many more times. But, eventually they figured out.
However, she'd never before seen a team argue about who was going to back. She wanted to say it was admirable and self sacrificing, but those words were almost too corny for her. Like Kakashi, she wasn't that person anymore. Well, they were never really alike as children, but, they weren't who they use to be either as individuals.
Finally, after the argument got louder, she raised her hands. "Alright, alright." But, they weren't listening. "Enough!"
Three small sets of eyes turned to looked at her confused. As if, how dare she interrupt them as they tried to decide who really went back. When she finally had their undivided attention she addressed them in a kind voice. "Good, glad to see I'm still the leader here. Now," she grinned, "I'm happy to tell you no one is going back. You've passed with flying colors."
Ryu blinked. "Passed? All of us?"
Rin nodded and held a finger up to express her point as she explained. "The point of this task is to force you to think outside of the box. We give you the idea that you have to work separately because their are only two bells. In the beginning it's only natural for new Genin to think there is no way other than to work alone. However," She continued to grin at their confused expressions, "the true shinobi are the ones who realize that not all rules are meant to be followed. The true shinobi is not always the one who always completes his mission with perfect success. The true shinobi is the one who puts his friends before his mission."
Kei's face lit up. "'Those in the ninja world who break the rules and regulations are called trash… but… those who don't care about their companions are even worse trash.'" She quoted.
Rin blinked, genuinely taken off guard. "Where did you ever hear that from?"
She smiled. "Kakashi-sensei." She idly poked a pebble with her foot. "I don't see him often anymore. I haven't much in many years. But, that expression he told me reminded me of what you said."
She nodded. "You're very right. Well," Another smiled as she scratched the back of her head. "We don't have anything to do more today. You finished earlier than I thought. So, with that, you are free to go. However, be sure to meet me at the Hokage mission room early tomorrow to see if we have any tasks to be dealt to us."
Kei and Ryu nodded with a smile and started to head home. But as Rei started to leave Rin stopped her.
"Can I talk to you for a moment, Rei?"
The girl with lazy cool eyes turned around and looked at her, waiting, as if that was answer enough.
She placed her hands on her hips as she stared down at the red head. She wasn't sure if she should ask her, but, she'd called her back. She would have to now. If she didn't she was going to feel like a moron for bothering and then backing out. "How long have you known how to use Wood Ninjutsu?"
She smirked. "I know what you're thinking."
"Oh?" She smiled again. "Enlighten me then."
She shrugged. "You're going to say it's a technique only known to the First. You're also going to say none of his descendants could do it, his own blood. Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you. I don't have a clue myself. I just do it. I don't go around telling people... but, my team mates should know my strengths and weaknesses."
She nodded in agreement. Such things were trust issues. You had to trust your team mates to keep your secrets like you would trust yourself. "I not trying to press the issue. It's just interesting because your parents are wind and shadow users. You displayed some of that today as well."
She nodded. "It's alright. But, I don't have anything else to tell you. May I go now, sensei?"
She nodded. "Yes, thank you for you time, Rei."
She girl only nodded again and walked off.
So... she had two students with bloodline techniques. One of them had two. And Kei was just too intelligent for her own good, it seemed. Possibly even smarter than the Nara girl; but in her own way. She really wouldn't have been surprised if she had been the one to formulate the group effort. She could easily understand why they were all placed in a group together. They balanced each out perfectly.
ooo
The compound was alive with people in the early evening. And why wouldn't it be? A celebration was going on. Three of their own clan had made it past Genin today. People were talking, laughing, some were dancing or eating in other areas. The compound had even been open to certain members of the village so they could join in with their friends. In other areas people were evening sparing as a form of showing their happiness. No one had ever said the Hyuuga's weren't just a bit hard core.
Kei had run around for a while, saying hello to everyone, dancing with a few people and once or twice she joined in a spar match. It was hard to be a match for a Byakugan user, however, she'd grown up with them her whole life. It wasn't as difficult for her to get around the eye technique as it was for others.
She began to round a corner but found herself bumping into someone. She almost fell over the slightly shorter body. She managed to grab the small form and steady them though. She blinked, looking down into the strong pale white eyes of her little brother.
"Kisho..." She began.
He was almost a perfect mix between his mother and father. The long strands of his hair fell back to just past his shoulders and spiked up and back; some long pieces of it fell over his shoulders and to his chest on either side still rather erratic and spiked. It was a shade of blond, but so very light that it almost seemed white. His face was soft, like his father's and his mother's had been when they were young. His lips were not quite effeminate, but, they had a quality to them that made you wonder if they wouldn't just be begging to be kissed as an adult.
His frame was small; but, that was because he was after all still a child. He was only nine. He wasn't as tall as she had been at his age. She pushed down a smile. Few people, even her cousins, had been as tall as she had been at nine.
When he spoke, his voice was soft and kind. It was calmed and even. His wasn't cold and even like every Hyuuga, but he wasn't loud and demanding like her father either. Somehow, he'd found a balance between tranquility of presence and kindness of openness to others. "Kei-chan..." He smiled softly. "I haven't seen you yet today. I was told you made Genin finally. Are you happy?"
She'd almost never really known how to act around her little brother. She'd loved him the day he was born. She didn't remember holding him in her arms because she'd been so small; but, she did remember how happy she'd been to have a sibling and the smile on his face when he first saw her.
Kisho was her brother in every sense of the word to her. But, part of her disliked how people saw her in comparison to him. She'd never taken the ceremony for her eyes because everyone knew she didn't have them. She'd always felt like, despite loving him, that she was just a bit beneath him. Not in skills or in maturity. He always looked up to her even though he never participated in the pranks. No, she felt like she was beneath him to everyone else. When people looked at her, especially some clan members, they had that look in their eye. As if to say, 'why doesn't she have them when everyone else does?' or 'did something go wrong at her birth?'.
No, she didn't hate her little brother, she just hated what he represented around her. The reason for her constant need to prove herself. Her undying inner discord. Sometimes, she wondered, if it weren't for her loving family, would she really act out in happy pranks... or would it be something darker?
So. she put on a smile and said. "Yes, Kisho. I'm very happy. Thank you." She looked around then and then back down at him. "Shouldn't you be inside with mom?"
He shook his head. "She told me to go run off and play. Do you know where they're doing the spars at?"
She nodded and pointed in a direction. "Just beyond those two houses." She began to stop him as he started to run off and she kissed him on the forehead.
When he pulled back and looked up at her, he asked, "What was that for?"
She smiled and ruffled his hair. "Because I love you. Now, go have fun."
He grinned, looking almost like her father, and then ran off.
With that, she continued on towards her original destination. Her footsteps were light, her hands stuffed into the pockets of her tight black under shorts. Today had been a wonderful day, but, despite that she still felt a little down. It wasn't Kisho's fault. Even now when she passed members, they had a kind smile for her, but they still had that hint in their eyes. Not all of them, but some of them.
She kicked a stone as she headed towards a railingless bridge. It was small and led over a petite body of water in the compound. The water looked clear blue tonight. She allowed herself to sit down and pulled off her shoes. When she swung her feet down her toes danced across the water. She laughed softly as she watched the large koi try and nibble on her. If she had thought about it, she would have brought some food for them.
"They seem to like your company."
She almost jumped at the voice as she turned her head. She found her father's smiling face and bright blue eyes looking down at her. As a young girl she had always looked up to him. He had a kind face. He was such a strong force in her life, so uplifting. Even on her worst day he could always manage to make her grin over just about anything.
He was the Hokage and the husband of the Head for the clan. Like her, he didn't posses the Byakugan. He was an outsider. But, no one looked at him differently because of it. Everyone adored him. She'd heard countless stories of his exploits and great deeds. She'd learned how he'd helped so many people. How he'd helped unite Sand and Leaf in an unbreakable way.
To many people he was just a great man. To her he wasn't just a great man, he was her father; and she always swelled with pride when she thought about how it was an honor to be his daughter; despite not having the eyes.
"Yeah," she said as she looked down at the koi. "They do." She glanced over as he joined her, removing his boots and pulling up his pants. She watched as he dropped his feet down to play with them as well.
He gazed out at the setting sun in the distance. They were near the back of the compound. There was a great wall at the end of the hill. But, on the top of the hill was the body of water and the bridge. It was a garden in many respects, but there were few flowers.
"You seem deep in thought," he said softly.
She nodded. She could never lie to him, not her father. She placed both hands flat on the wood on either side of her and stared down into the water as her feet moved back and forth in a slow swinging fashion.
"What's on your mind?" He looked over at her, mimicking her movements.
She sighed, still not wanting to talk about it.
Her father took her silence as clue enough to start the conversation on his own. He looked out into the distance. "Do you mind if I tell you a story?"
She looked up at him. "What kind?"
He smiled again. "It about me. And some of it's about Sakura and Sasuke."
She nodded. "I don't mind." And then she went back to looking at her feet and the koi.
He seemed to get a wistful look on his face, his voice kind and even as he began. "Years and years ago before you were born, the Fourth Hokage, my father and your grandfather, risked his life and died to save the village."
"I've heard this story before..."
"Shh... it's different, I promise." He chuckled.
She pouted, but said nothing more.
"As you know, he killed the demon fox by using a special jutsu. What you don't know, is that he sealed it into the body of a child. His only child. Me."
She gasped and looked up at him. Her eyes were wide. "You, Papa?"
He nodded, and continued, never looking at her. "Yes, inside of me. The Fourth then ordered that no one ever spoke about that again. About the fox being inside of me. For a long time no one ever knew who'd grown up with me. My friends. So, they never looked at me differently. But," he seemed to frown slightly, "their parents, the adults in the village, only saw me as the fox. I was once told that the Fourth intended for me to be hero, not something for people to fear. But, few ever saw it that way."
He sighed and smiled as he looked over at her in his peripheral vision. But, after a moment he went back to staring at the setting sun. "I never knew why people looked at me that way because even I didn't know about the fox right away. I was alone, Kei. I didn't have a family. I felt isolated and uncared about. So, as a result, I pulled pranks. I got into trouble. I thought it was the quickest way to get attention."
She felt a blush rise to her cheeks and something sting at her insides as she looked away from her father. So, he knew. She didn't even have to say anything about the eyes or her brother or anyone in the clan. She supposed she should feel defensive... but, she didn't.
He continued. "When I joined my first team and became a Genin it was the happiest day of my life. I had finally proven to people that I wasn't just a nobody. I wasn't just the fox. I was my own person and I would day become Hokage so I could force others to truly acknowledge me." He glanced down at her again, but then looked back at the sun. He was glad she was listening. It wasn't often a parent got to pass wisdom to their child. Especially one so much like himself as a boy.
"Sakura and Sasuke were the first real friends I ever had; even if I didn't realize it myself in the beginning. Sasuke acted like and ass most of the time...but, he was the first one other than Iruka-sensei to see me for who I was." He chuckled. "Which, when you think about it, almost makes no sense considering we both claimed to hate each others guts all the time." He shrugged. "That was how we were. Me and him. When we went on our first mission it was a complete botch. We ended up having to fight people far more skilled than we were."
She seemed to become excited. "Really? Tell me, Papa. Tell me." She clung to his arm, looking up into his blue eyes.
He grinned down at her, but looked back at the sun as he put his arm around her shoulders. "They were named Zabuza and Haku. Both of them very skilled water ninjutsu users. Their story was very tragic. But, I'll tell you of that one another time. Now," he went on, "Sasuke was fighting Haku and had managed to get himself stuck in his bloodline technique. There were these ice mirrors all around him. Haku used them to trap him in and create illusions of himself while attacking at great speeds. And then..." he edged on with a grin.
She tugged at him. "Well? Go on, I want to know."
He chuckled and nodded. "Alright. Well, then I showed up of course. Annnnnd... yeah, stupidly pissed Sasuke off by doing the wrong thing." He laughed then. "I should of stayed on the outside, but I went inside with him to try and help."
She frowned. "Aw Papa, that's not your fault. You were only trying to help."
He nodded. "I should have known better though. Anyway, we were desperately fighting for our life. Kakashi and Sakura were busy with Zabuza. And I was getting badly beaten. At one point I could barely move having exhausted almost all of my chakra."
"What did you do?"
He blinked, "What did I do? I couldn't do anything right then. Sasuke was trying to keep me safe. He was getting closer and closer to reading Haku's movements. And then something changed for him."
"What?" She listened intently. More so even than the night he'd first told her about them.
He was quiet for a long while, trying to build the anticipation. When he did speak again though, it was in a deep and low voice as he leaned down into her. Staring her right in the eyes. "Sasuke gained his clan bloodline technique. His eyes suddenly changed and took on a red color. Within each one were black rain drops with a curl at the end. It allowed for him to read Haku's movements and gain some advantage."
Her eyes seemed to ripple. As great a man as her father was this other man, Sasuke, seemed like just as great a man. He protected her father. He fought valiantly if her father's story was any indication. He said he was a jerk, but, she would have to decide that for herself when she met him.
"And?"
He arched a brow and leaned back going to his original position with his arm around her. "And we won the battle. Everyone was fine." He smiled. "I need you to do something for me, Kei."
"Hm?" She kept her wide eyed gaze on him.
He tapped her on the nose. "You and I are the same, little one. We've both been through a hardship; thinking people disliked us because we were different. Uncle Gaara is the same. So, you're not alone and your definitely special. One day, maybe not now, but you'll see that. So, in the mean time, lay off the pranks?"
She grinned sheepishly and scratched the back of her head. "Ok, Papa."
He smiled. "Good. Now, lets go find your brother. I heard he's gotten himself into a pickle with another boy in the sparing area."
They both stood and she took his hand with the grin on her face. Some days were bad, other were ok, and some still were great. However, there were those days when everything, no matter how bad, seemed to fall right where it needed to. It was on those days she knew, despite it all, she would be ok as long as her family loved her and she had her friends.