Scroll 7: Meetings

Meanwhile, Haiko and Kenchi led Skiminachi up to the Hokage's office and Kenchi knocked on the door.

"Hokage-sama, I've brought the person you wanted to speak too…or I think at least one of them…he was with Uzaruki-san downstairs, so I figured he was one of 'em…" Kenchi announced politely before opening the door and moving away to allow the Cook-nin to enter.

Skiminachi entered, Trydna trailing along behind him. He nodded politely to all in the room.

"I'll start mostly with what I know about. About a month ago we had lost pursuit from the two, now combined I think, groups of ninja that had been following us. Trydna has told me that they captured some white haired ninja from your group, and they were trying to stop a pink-haired kunoichi from getting back and telling you. As she got near the borders, she passed the camp we had set up for the ones among our group that wouldn't, and shouldn't, enter the village. They saw her pursuers and intervened on her behalf. I'm pretty sure it's the only reason she's still alive. The rest, information that I am currently unaware of, he can tell you." His hands were on Trydna's shoulders.

"But he has no tongue and does not know how to write, so the only way to speak to him is to enter his mind. I'd ask that somebody else do it, but I don't think they could handle the certain…chaos that resides in his psych." He said as he looked at Tsunade. "If you're willing, all you need to do is make contact."

Tsunade paused a moment, looked at the handful of Nin in the room and then stood out of her chair to walk over to the Mute-Nin, looking at him carefully.

"You say he cannot speak; which is most interesting for a ninja, yet not unheard of. But I will listen to his story." The old Hokage smiled sincerely and placed a hand on his head, her brown eyes gazing steadily into his.

The world around Tsunade would disappear and she'd be standing in darkness, although her own form would be perfectly visible; as was the one next to her. It was a ninja that would be Trydna's build if he had no costume, but he was missing both arms and a lower jaw, and his body was covered in scars. His voice came from him, but his mouth didn't move.

"Hello Tsunade. My name is Trydna, eldest of the Shan-chay clan. Skiminachi was kind when he only said I had no tongue. It would not matter if I did, as the only two things that ground me to sanity are fighting, and a link to another person's mind. Long ago, when I was barely emerging from boy-hood, I reached a point in my…'training' where I regressed into a child-like state. It was made worse when I lost certain parts of me. It would be a good thing if I could say this was the worst thing that has ever been done to us. I have a long list of things I wish to share; but I assume you wouldn't want to stay long. What would you like to know first?"

Tsunade nodded and turned to the psychic-plane made Nin.

"First of all, what just attacked us, and why? Who are you and what brings you to my village?" Tsunade was taking this in stride as she was new to the psychic realm. "Does it pose further danger to the Village?"

"That would be the remaining nins of the Darkness and Twisted villages. Both of their leaders, mine as well, have recently disappeared and I don't think they're dead because lack of evidence. They came in pursuit of us, in hope of capturing us and through torture or other means learning what happened and possibly undoing it. I came because I am with the Wheel village. I defected from the Darkness village after a battle with Kentarou and Shozaku. Chances are; us being here only brings the danger to your village that much faster. They would have eventually expanded their reach onto this continent and attacked."

Tsunade nodded once again, thinking things through as was her forte. "So where are you going to go next?" she asked quietly, biting the nail on her thumb.

"We still haven't decided. We were going to have a meeting after the funeral, and then plan the next step. Our general idea was to travel to the various lands and warn them. We'd also ask if they'd seen anything, and try to unravel the mysterious of our village's disappearance. We might also look for a suitable home for the youngest members of the families; the children that came here last night."

"Yes, I know of those children. Is it possible that they could stay here for a year to train?" Tsunade mentioned.

"Possible. I suspect that is what BaRoKenDo, the next in age of us, wanted to happen for his little sister, Sheena. This town seems safe at least. Although, you may find that her and Gilligan are resistant to normal training methods. They are used to something a bit more…malicious…"

"No need to worry…" Tsunade grinned playfully. She thought of her own training program she put together for that Sakura Haruno girl, and knew it was brutal. "I'm sure some ninja of this village have abnormal ways of training…some of them could very well keep up with those kids…or the other way around. As for this village's support, I can only give you a three or four day's rest, before the locals get restless. I'm sure I'll be more than happy to stock your party with supplies and such. But I am asking, in return, to browse over any maps you might have, and hopefully integrate them into our own. It's a pleasure to learn new things, Trydna-san." Tsunade nodded sincerely and smiled. "Now, how does one get back to one's own world, from here?"

"That could be true of abnormality. With Sheena, the chained little girl, I say this more as a brother than informant. Don't let a male train her, or be alone with her at all if possible. I won't explain why out of respect for her, and I'm sure a smart woman of your age can guess. I'll have Shozaku help me draw up maps later and tell him of your offer and our meeting here. All you have to do is ask, Tsunade-san." and like that, she was seeing back through her own eyes. And Trydna was back to being the person in the seamless suit with arms. Skiminachi nodded.

Tsunade blinked as Trydna released her from the psychic plane and she turned to her desk, writing things down swiftly.

Skiminachi put his hand on Trydna's head for but a moment. He then reached under one of his god-knows-how-many plates of armor and pulled out a bottle of quality sake. He put it on the desk next to where Tsunade was writing and a note on it that read:

'If you're not busy later, maybe we could drink together to a brighter future. Or just drink because it's good sake.'

They then walked out of the office, Trydna clinging atop Skiminachi's back like a little kid doing the whole piggy-back thing.

XXX

Yukari was nodding as she heard the story…the 'god-damned' bunny part intrigued her greatly, but she kept her mouth shut as the story unfolded. "Who is Kentarou, is he your village leader?"

"He was…" Wydra got a little sad after that; then Gilligan spoke up.

"He disappeared six months ago. They all say he died, but I don't think so…" Sheena sat down and thought, listening to the conversation but with something on her mind.

"I see, no body, huh? That means he's still alive. If there is no evidence that he is dead, then he's got to be somewhere. I know because my sister never was found. I say she's a missing Nin, but my ANBU brother thinks differently. He'd never tell me though; something that ANBU does is keep secrets."

Yukari nodded to herself. She did miss Raikanami, but mostly it was a forgotten pain, nearly like Maso's death. She was never one to linger on death and moved on with life. "But my friend's teammate Sasuke, his brother was her fiancée, so I'm hoping he'd know – not that I would go out and talk to a missing nin, which is what the Uchiha are."

"If you want my older brother could find out from your older brother." Sheena spoke timidly.

"Hm?" Yukari was drawn out of her reverie and looked at Sheena. "Naw, that's ok…it's better to have hope then to; sometimes, know the cold truth. I speculate that she had something to do with an event that happened eight or so years ago. I want to become strong enough to find out on my own." she smiled at Sheena and then stood up. "Well, I suppose it's time for me to see what's what in the village or more specifically, to check on my clan house. Meiko-chan's always angry that I'm a chuunin and she's just a genin." Yukari started to walk towards to village.

"Okay. B-bye Yukari!" The children waved, then put their hands together and got really silent. As Yukari walked away, a rather big person moved out from around the tree he'd been waiting behind. Sheena had asked him to wait there because he was scary and Yukari seemed like a nice person. Sheena didn't want her older brother to scare off a potential friend and ally.