Chapter VII: Two Friends

The First Hokage was sitting at his desk staring out at the village just enjoying the brief drop in duties, 'maybe ill take a walk around the village and just talk to people when this conversation is over'. He thought to himself as he heard his brothers quick sharp boot steps clack down the hallway towered his office. "(sigh*) as stone faced and business like as ever eh Otouto (meaning 'little brother' in Japanese). "how many time have I asked you not to call me that Hashirama , I find it annoying beyond all belief" Tobirama said as he took a seat on the left hand side of the office, directly in his brothers line of site from where he was lounging behind his desk.

"Haha to say nothing of our brothers, Itama and Kawarama would have hated it even more so than you. It is honestly part of the reason I keep doing it, to remind myself of them" Hashirama ended in a much softer tone of reverence. "Tobirama glanced at the village outside as he spoke to console his brother, "they would have been proud of the success and progress we have made thus far Hashirama, don't ever doubt yourself on that." The Hokage looked up seemingly in a much cheerier mood, grinning widely "and so you are correct again Otouto, and now I have another mission for you" He said with a sparkle in his eye.

"I thought the one we just completed was supposed to be the last one for my team, or is this mission just for myself?" Tobirama gave his smiling brother a suspicious glance as he pushed the papers forward, as Tobirama reaching for them he added "this better not be a waste of my time." As he picked them up and read them his eyes narrowed "these test scores, this is from a student at the academy? "actually we graduated him yesterday…at the age of six." Tobirama's head spun as his eyes went from narrow to wide in shock in a second. "Six!" He exclaimed as he looked back at the results. They were perfect results, off the charts on all counts, "I see, you want me to train this young boy."

He settled back into his chair as his quick mind processed the information. Actually it is another full team not just one student. He is a bit of a people person to say the least, in fact I have high hope of him becoming hokage eventually, but I doubt I will be around for that, that will be your decision as the eventual second Hokage. "stop with the dramatics' Hashirama, I swear you should be on stage with how good you are at it." "well do you accept then?" Hashirama finally cutting to the chase.

Tobirama let out a sigh as he folded the papers and picked up the rest of his file before heading to the door. "heh you always give me the interesting ones don't you." "I know it's the only way to keep you preoccupied and from getting dull throughout the years." Hashirama stated with a laugh as he watched his brother head towered the academy to research them. 'Hiruzen Sarutobi' hm, I expect great things from you' and with another chuckle to himself he grabbed his hat and headed out for a walk 'maybe I'll stop and get some ramen for lunch' he mumbled to himself as he shut his office door behind him.

A week later:

Rook was helping Sanntaru back to the Uchiha compound when Tobirama dropped in on them. "so how do you feel Sanntaru?" he asked as he joined them. "I'm doing fine sensei, it doesn't hurt anymore and the doctors say I can resume full active duty if I wish within the month," she stated as she stroked the eye patch that was now firmly affixed to where her left eye once was. "that's good to hear, many shinobi have lost eye's and other appendages over the years and still risen to become some of the most powerful of ninja, I feel you shall overcome this as well Sanntaru. As for my official purpose in coming here I am proud to say that you all have successfully completed your training under me.

The Hokage has assigned me to train another squad already and the both of you plus Kenta are hereby out from under my immediate command. You have all done well and I have put in a request for your promotion to jonnin Sanntaru, as well as Kenta. As for you Rook I have submitted the request for you to be promoted to Tokubetsu Jonnin, specialty in the field of combat. Your still too hot headed to be an effective leader Rook but your skills in combat are too large to leave you at chunnin.

If you ever feel ready I am sure the Hokage would put you in charge of advanced combat training programs for those ninja who wish to increase their ability in that field and some day eventually you may become a full jonnin and teach a squad of your own. But for now, as long as everyone knows your only suited for combat then things should go more smoothly on missions. In the meantime the Hokage has given you and Kenta a mission. Just a simple B rank escort mission, we believe that ninja from the hidden stone may attack a delegate from the land of fire who is mediating a peace conference between the land of earth and the hidden grass village so be on your guard but it shouldn't be too difficult. Meet at the Hokage's office at sunrise. Tobirama said as he turned to leave. "wait sensei," Sanntaru asked to stop him and continued as he turned around. "why am I not being assigned to this mission? I may not be back to one hundred percent but I can handle this."

"I'm sorry Sanntaru but you're not cleared by the doctor, until then you'll have to sit this mission out." And with that Tobirama disappeared in a puff of smoke. "… Sanntaru, Tobirama is right, in your condition you couldn't keep up." Rook said in a small voice. Suddenly her arm shot out and she caught him with a right cross straight to the face. "you think I would slow you down Rook, or is it you just want all the fun to yourself?" she glared kunai at him. "no no that's not what I meant" Rook laughed shakily as he crouched into a kneeling position, wiping blood off his face from the split lip she gave him. "then tell me what you did mean, the only other thing I can think of is you are trying to protect me because you think I'm handicapped now and you think it is your fault."

Rook lowered his head knowing she was right on all counts. "I'm sorry, I know it's not my fault but I still feel responsible for it." Rook slammed prone on the ground as Sanntaru hit him in the back of his bowed head this time. "you really are a dumbass aren't you, it was my decision to back up Tobirama sensei and my fault for getting caught on top of which it was the Raikage we were up against, anyone besides sensei didn't stand a chance." "heh your right as always Sanntaru" Rook said as he got up "let me make it up to you". Sanntaru looked down in surprise.

Even rarer than him apologizing he had never once offered to make any mistake up to anyone he just learned from it and moved on, "you don't have to do that Rook, its fine as long as you know you couldn't have done anything, then I'm not mad anymore." She said even as hope made her heart trip a little, she thought now that she had lost an eye that Rook wouldn't find her attractive, but he crushed her fears as he raised his hand and brushed it gently over her eye patch as he spoke. "nope not a chance, I don't do this often as I'm sure you know, but let me take you out to eat, maybe go to the festival all my treat." Her heart skipped again, "you don't have too Rook I can pay my own way dumbass" she finished that last part so out of breath from her heart racing that even he noticed it, causing a blush to form across her face as she looked away with her one good eye.

His hand tugged gently at her eye patch and her head jerked around in surprise. "I'm sorry, I just don't like it hiding your face like that." Rook stated though he kept his hand to her face. She reluctantly brought her hand up to his forcing him to continue taking it off. He stood there his hand dropped to his side holding the piece of leather and cord in his hand. Sanntaru couldn't look him in the eye's until he suddenly pulled her chin up and took a step forward leaning into the most passionate kiss either had ever had. Finally pulling away Rook spoke, "I am sorry for the way I thought earlier and just want you to know I still think you're the most hot headed and beautiful girl I've ever seen. And if you are willing to put up with me and my violent unpredictable tendencies I would be honored to start a relationship with you Sanntaru Uchiha." "Rook you big dumbass, no need to sound so formal" she stated as a tear escaped her eye and she launched herself at him knocking him back to the ground and continuing the kiss where it left off.

After talking about their entire life and goals and dreams, likes and dislikes over dinner they continued talking about possibilities for their future as they walked through the village just to walk. Without warning Rook stopped and spun low in a crouch, pulling his kunai as he went. Sanntaru followed his lead mimicking his movement as well, pulling her whip and accessing her sharingan standing back to back with him. "who is there" Rook challenged.

The only sound they heard was the one nearly silent sound of something moving away from them in the tree's, too far away for them to catch up. "'tck' I know that presence, it's been tailing me since before our mission to the hidden cloud." Who do you think it could be" Sanntaru asked as they headed for the Uchiha clan compound. "no idea but It'll have to wait to find out till after this mission, until then stay safe and recover. We'll hunt whoever it is down after I get back". And with a lingering good bye kiss he left her at her house and headed home to get some sleep before the mission tomorrow.

Kenta and Rook walked with each other as they headed to the meeting point with the dignitary from the land of fire's capitol. "so I've heard you and Sanntaru went to dinner last night." Kenta said with a sly grin. "what of it?" Rook said as he kept his eyes trained in front of him. "well it just seems to me that you two are getting pretty comfortable with each other, think it's going to turn into anything serious Rook?" "I would say that's none of your damn business Kenta. Your being pretty nosy today, what's gotten into you."

Rook said finally giving Kenta a sideways glance, evaluating his expression. Kenta's face was a mix of emotion. anger, regret, shame and…hope all swirling around in his eyes unanswered. Rook and Kenta remained silent all the way to the meeting place. They met up with the dignitary and proceeded to escort him to the neutral hidden rain village where the meeting was to take place. The mission brief had said that a faction of ninja from the land of stone opposed the meeting because it would mean the end of the lucrative protection contracts they were receiving from businesses passing through the hidden grass. But three days into the trip and nothing had happened outside of the occasional highway bandits. On the night of the fourth day they had stopped and pitched their tents, and Rook sat at the fire at the edge of the camp acting as watch when Kenta approached. "everything seems to be peaceful, and we will reach the hidden rain tomorrow a little after mid day."

Kenta stated as he sat down opposite of Rook. "yeah" was all Rook could think of to say, they had known each other for almost nine years now five of which had been on the same team. And yet he still didn't know anything about the man sitting across from him, he knew as much as everyone else about the hyuuga clan as much as was public knowledge and maybe some finer points just from being around him but they had never really gotten to know each other.

There was no rivalry that usually happened between the two boys on a team, and had never really talked or hung out outside of what was necessary for mission's. "I'm sorry about the sudden question game I gave you our first day of the mission Rook, it's not what you think it was." Kenta spoke breaking into Rooks thought process, catching him completely off guard. "well all I could figure was you were bitter because you had feelings for Sanntaru as well, I didn't want that to interfere with our mission so I let the matter drop." Rook said as he offered Kenta a bowl of potato soup he had been cooking over the fire during the course of the conversation.

Kenta smiled as he accepted it "no its nothing like that, I honestly believe it is a good match and I'm happy for the two of you. It's the situation…I envy the two of you for being able to choose your partner. For as long as our history is recorded the hyuuga clan has been ruled by destiny. The main branch and the side branch. And while the main branch is looked at as pampered and arrogant by the lesser family, putting the matter of the curse seal aside…" Kenta stopped as Rook gave a quick glance.

"curse seal?" Rook spoke in an even voice though his eyes disproved. "I'm sorry I felt like it was ok to tell you but I forgot that I should explain it in detail first. You see the side branch has been in service to the main branch for some time now and their main duty is to protect the main branch by whatever means necessary. So to keep them from revolting they are branded with the symbol for a caged bird curse seal at a young age that any of the main family can access at anytime to keep them in line.

Believe me Rook I don't in anyway think what is done is the right thing but its not my place to change generations of procedure I will leave that for another generation. And before you ask why not me please understand at this point in time it would cause an internal civil war that I don't believe I have the patients or the kindness to win. Worse case, I would kill a family member or be banished by the rest of my clan. Times may change and someone with those quality's may arise, but it is not me or this generation." Rook sat there keeping his mouth shut while processing this as Kenta continued where he left off. "now putting that matter aside I still feel that the branch family may actually have more freedom, just in a different aspect than we do. They may bow to us but we are held captive to ceremony and traditions of our ancestors

. We can't just do as we please in public, even less than the side branch on top of which we are held to higher standards as well as higher punishments for breaking them. But what I feel to be the worst is we aren't allowed to choose who we marry. Prearranged wedding are common in the leaf villages higher circles, and it is something I cannot stand. I believe in love, and I believe it can happen with anyone Rook, however to become the clan head, to take on that mantle I must relinquish my most prized belief. And that is why I envy you and Sanntaru. I have always watched you Rook, doing as you pleased always ignoring Tobirama sensei if it suited you and doing things your own way not stopping for anyone and I've thought of that as true freedom.

To be honest I have wanted to find common ground with you to kindle a friendship since the academy, mostly so I could be closer and live vicariously through your eyes to taste freedom, but also because I believed you to be the type of person to always be there and willing to go to hell and back if you ever did find a true friend." Rook sat in silence for but a moment before his face lit up in a huge grin and said "all you had to do was ask." And with that he reached out his fist "I have heard in the hidden cloud village they express friendship by bumping their fists together".

Kenta let himself smile back and raised his own fist to hit Rooks. "I've never had a friend before as I'm sure you've noticed, while you Kenta have always been popular with everyone, you could have been friends with anyone or even everyone. But you noticed the same thing I did didn't you. They were only cosmetic, they weren't the kind to have your back to the bitter end if necessary. But that all ends now from now on were best friends. No matter the distance no matter then time spent away its you and me and Sanntaru together not jut as a team anymore, but as best friends. " and as the night progressed they talked till the fire died out before finally turning to bed for the night.

They were in sight of the hidden rain village just after mid day when they attacked, two squads of hidden stone village chunnin came out of the forest on either side of the path. Rook and Kenta stood back to back with the delegate in between the Kenta yelled for Rook to go as he started up his eight trigrams: palm rotation blocking the first round of kunai that reached them. Rook took off creating seven shadow clones and distributing his chakra evenly between them. Giving them all enough power to be able to hold their own against one of these ninja.

They worked in conjunction plowing through the enemy when Rook noticed a third squad circling through the forest and immediately fell back to Kenta and the dignitary. As one of the ninja flew from the tree's to test their defense, Kenta doubled over and Rook rolled shoulder to shoulder over him planting a kick directly into the man's face. Landing from his attack Rook's hands weaved as he created the hand signs signaling Blood style Jutsu: Red Rain and with that the blood that had been drawn from several of the initial ninja who attacked flew up into the air.

Mixing his chakra in with the blood Rook created an acid like substance from the blood that retained the red color and texture of its original state falling from the sky it ate through the trees and into the ninja in the woods burning through them in a second. Kenta's muffled cry was the only warning Rook had as the jonnin lead of the mission came out from the ground and caught them by surprise. Handing the delegate to one of his subordinates the jonnin posed the question, "so which one will you save, Your team mate or the purpose of your mission?"

"Rook glared at the man as he asked the obvious question. "why didn't you just kill him when you had the initial ability to, why make me choose when it puts your own mission in jeopardy?" "because I believe every ninja has be put through this situation, to know what they are really made of. And I honestly don't believe we will fail our mission either choice you make." And as he said it Rook realized he was more than likely right they were set up to where he had equal chance to get either but the surrounding ninja were defiantly arrayed in position to capture or kill both him and the dignitary should he choose that path. Seeing his options limited as it was Rook dashed to the dignitary creating a shadow clone to run for Kenta. As he passed the jonnin in charge as soon as he was out of his sight behind him he spun.

The jonnin was laughing, thinking Rook had gone for the dignitary and so was taken by surprise as Rook's wind enhanced chakra blade caught him in his back barely missing his heart thanks to his quick reflexes. Kenta immediately spun hitting him with Eight trigram: one hundred twenty eight palms. Blocking his chakra points, and removing him from the fight. But in the five seconds it took to do all of this…it was too late. Rook looked over and saw the remaining ninja retreating, the body of the dignitary lying in a pool of blood the expression of resignation still on his face and Rook hung his head in shame.

"it's my fault", Kenta said as the two began their journey to return the body to the capitol of the land of fire, Having informed the hidden rain village of the assassination. "You're wrong Kenta its mine, I as a hidden leaf shinobi know that the mission always comes first even at the cost of a team members life. However I didn't compromise the mission for a team members life. I compromised it for my best friends life, and I have no regrets, I would do it again in an instant and don't ever believe it wasn't worth it." Rook said as they escorted the carriage on ward. During the journey home though Rook began to wonder why he wasn't able to protect both of them, if he just had more power, experience and training he might be able to keep situations like that from happening.

He had almost given up on the idea of learning about the sage path for a peaceful average life with Sanntaru but after this he knew if he couldn't protect someone on a mission how could he hope to protect Sanntaru from a similar situation in the future. Or the village for that matter should war come again, no as soon as this mission was complete he would talk to Tobirama and take himself off active duty, spend some time with Sanntaru then contact that sage man for the advanced training. It would take years he knew but he would come back to check on things periodically and when he returned, if he was satisfied with the results he would pick back up the mantel of shinobi and protect the village once again.