A/N: This chapter's finally out! Hope you enjoy it. Please leave a review if the urge strikes, they really do motivate me to update faster.
Special thank you to Saru Wolfe, a wonderful author and friend on this site, for reviewing and keeping me sane, and Fliscent Firetail, for being the kick in the butt that made me finish this chapter. :p
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Ibiki eyed the group, eyes narrowed, one by one.
"All right, punks," he began, his face completely stern, but his tone somewhat teasing. "Time for you all to get to know each other a little better. All of you have ninjutsu that'll scare the pants off anyone, but I'll let you all find that out from each other during training. I'll do my best to introduce your skills with the limited time we have."
He looked over at the closest person to him, and introduced each member of the new team as he went down the line.
"First off: Yamanaka Ino, Chuunin Medic-nin. Specializes in Infiltration and Intelligence. Don't let her sweet smile fool you, she can easily attack without you seeing it coming. She has an affinity for mind control, and only half of the time it's because she's using her ninjutsu. She holds the ability to switch her consciousness to the body of a targeted individual and control their mind and movements, or force people to uncontrollably attack whoever is surrounding them. With her ability to communicate telepathically, she'll be central in our ability to transmit messages amongst each other without compromising the information.
"Mikazuki Hotaru, Chuunin. Specializes in Genjutsu and Intelligence. She's got a mix of Konohagakure and Kumogakure in her, a dangerous combo. She's unique in that instead of being born with only one parent's ninjutsu abilities, she holds a blend of abilities from both villages that has essentially created a new ninjutsu, which you'll have the privilege of experiencing one unlucky day. And that's not even counting her skills of hypnosis and manifesting delusions. They're the stuff of nightmares. She's not afraid to use them, so don't cross her.
"Ensho Ken, Chuunin. Specializes in Infiltration and Intelligence. Get used to crossing him, he angers easily. He can manipulate the speed at which chakra flows to hijack it, rendering you unable to use it at such an accelerated velocity. You'll find your movements controlled at his mercy if you're lucky; otherwise, he might choose to steadily burn your organs from the inside out due to the intense heat generated. He can also manipulate his own chakra to create pockets of unstable, fast-moving chakra that he can detonate at will; in other words, he likes seeing things go 'boom.'
"Inuzuka Kiba, Tokubetsu Jounin, specializing in Tracking and Capture with his ninken Akamaru. He's the highest ranked out of all of you, and for good reason; he made it there by tracking down numerous wanted fugitives and other targeted individuals with his mother, Inuzuka Tsume, while being Chuunin. He works in tandem in battle with Akamaru using attacks that combine their abilities for double the power and twice the pain. If you try to hide, he and Akamaru will surely find you using their amplified senses and speed, and then you'll have the fun of experiencing what it's like to have your body shredded and mauled.
"Inuzuka Hana, Chuunin veterinary Medic-nin, also specializing in Tracking and Capture with her ninken, the Haimaru Sankyodai. Being an Inuzuka, she also has sharp, superhuman senses that can perceive what the typical human cannot, and combined with the ninken senses of the Haimaru, that makes them vicious to encounter. With a sharp mind and extensive knowledge of animals and their welfare, she runs her own hospital, so she is sure to keep all of you beasts in line too. Like Kiba and Akamaru, she works in tandem with the Haimaru, but this time, you've got three sets of teeth and three times the claws to deal with." There was a flicker on his lips before it returned to a serious straight line when he spoke the next line. "She fancies herself my personal antagonist."
"What? That's not true!" Hana's retort was automatic.
"See how good she is at it?"
Hana rolled her eyes as the others snickered.
With a lift of his hand, Ibiki silenced the minor disruption. It seemed as though Ino, Hotaru, and Ken were well accustomed to doing this.
"And me? Morino Ibiki, the nightmare you have after too many shots of whisky. You all are familiar with me already, but not in this format. You'll get used to this ugly mug and you'll despise it. I specialize in making you miserable, because I've lived through enough to make me this fucked up. I know what I'm doing, and expect the best out of those who work with me. If you think you can fool me, or lie to me, please do. I do love a good laugh," he said. "But while we aren't here to be friends, I will be your team leader. I will have your back. I will make sure you stay on target and up to par. And I expect the same from all of you in return.
"Which leads me to my first point: from now on, you can refer to me by my first name. Inside those gray, molding walls of the Intelligence Division you know so well, you use the honorific. Out here in combat, on this team, we're essentially equals. One mistake and we all die the same. I call myself team leader only because I'm your best chance of survival. If I die, I expect every single person on this team to be able to handle the role of leader. If any of this sounds unsavory to you, I don't very much care. No one made you become shinobi, so you're expected to hold that responsibility without question. You're free to leave now, and I will find a replacement for you." He paused for moment, testing them to see if anyone would leave. No one moved.
He turned to the blonde next to him. "However, Yamanaka, you are to remain addressing me as 'sensei,' and nothing less. As an apprentice, you are my subordinate in all situations. Get used to it."
Ino's face momentarily gave away a look of fury and annoyance, but she quickly seemed to repress it. Good, thought Ibiki. Some day though, you'll have learn to completely repress yourself. She'd have to figure that out on her own.
"Considering we have a rare opportunity to practice first as a team before we embark on our first mission, it's imperative that you all take this seriously," he announced. "You will have lives on your shoulders, and not only including yours and your teammates'. You will be the reason the subjects under your protection live or die. You must never forget that. I will debrief you on the exact details of the first mission only when each of you reach the standards I expect out of you. Each one of you was chosen because I know you have the skills to complete what you need to do; however, I can be disappointed. It's up to you to not let that happen." He peered at them. "So, shall we get started?"
The group nodded.
Ibiki had paired each person off with another member of the team for twenty-minute spars, chosen randomly by pulling colored tokens out of a bag. Kiba and Akamaru fought Ken (a loud, explosive battle wrought with trash-talk), Hana and the Haimaru with Hotaru (a fast-paced game of wits), Ino with Ibiki (a hot-head getting her revenge against her tough sensei).
After such a grueling practice, Hana stood to the side to do her after-work stretches. She'd need them if we wanted to minimize the soreness of her muscles tomorrow. The others on the team had skill, that was for sure.
"Inuzuka Hana."
Hana turned at her mentioned name to find Hotaru next to her, looking at her inquisitively as she continued stretching. "Good fight."
"Thanks, you too," Hana replied, smiling a bit. The battle with Hotaru had been fun, although slightly terrifying. Hotaru had a fondness for using her Kumo-inherited lightning technique to momentarily paralyze her opponent before she came in close for a physical strike. Hotaru underestimated Hana's speed, though, and only managed to succeed with this strategy two times in the twenty minute battle. The pulse of electricity was not pleasant by any means, and Hana knew it was not the full extent of what she could do. Interestingly, Hana had been expecting her to use her genjutsu, but that was probably energy the younger girl saved for a real battle.
"I remember you, from the headquarters," she added. "You looked like you were angry."
"I was."
"Ibiki has that effect on people," she nodded. "I'm glad you decided to join the team."
"Thank you," Hana replied sincerely. Hotaru seemed to be a nice person. "I saw how you used that Lightning Release technique out in practice today. Pretty impressive. I don't usually get to see it as we don't get people from Kumo down in Konoha often."
"Thanks. It's because it's too hot down here. Or so my father tells me, he's the one actually from Kumo. He says that's how he knew my mother was worth moving to Konoha for, because he would miss her more than the cool mountains."
Hana smiled. "That's nice."
"They still seem to like each other, too," Hotaru joked.
They continued stretching in silence for a moment, and Hana noticed Hotaru seemed to keep watching her in interest. Hana thought that perhaps Hotaru was expecting to keep the conversation going.
"Do you like working in the Intelligence Division?" Hana implored.
"Hmm," thought Hotaru. "I like it, but I thought when I made it into the Intelligence Division, it'd be full of adventure and danger and all that stuff. But I've mostly been assigned to desk jobs. I'm the youngest one here, at fifteen, so that just makes it harder to get respect. If you're not a senior member, you aren't assigned to the missions, unless they're really pressed for people. I've got to work up to that level," she explained. "Ibiki's known for giving newbies a chance, but he can drop you just as quick, too. This team could be my chance. Ken's hoping for it, too. He hates the secretary jobs more than I do. I think we've got the skill, but it doesn't mean much without experience." She sighed.
"Well, if it means anything to hear it from me, I think you have what it takes to get where you want to go."
She beamed. "Really? Of course it means a lot from you! You seem so sure of yourself and confident. I should be more like you," she gushed. Hana immediately wanted to say how she actually wasn't so sure of herself, but Hotaru continued. "Ibiki is difficult, but I don't think he's that bad. He's fair. Ino complains about him a lot because he's hardest on her, which is true. But she wants to be Tokujou in Interrogation and Intelligence, so she has to expect it." Hana nodded, as Hotaru studied her face. "Kiba is your brother, right? You two look alike," she said.
Hana chuckled. "Yeah, everyone says that. He's a scruffy little fireball."
"What are you talking about, Lightning Butt?" a man's voice cut into their conversation. They looked over to find Ken had walked up to them. "I'm surprised you haven't scared Hana off yet."
"Ken! Glad you joined in. I was just telling her you're actually a nice guy, even though you act like an asshole. It just takes time to break through the facade and reach the gentle, delicate boy inside who just wants to be loved."
He cursed under his breath before he spoke louder. "Screw you, Hotaru. I can tell when you're lying." His tone didn't seem to be quite as abrasive with Hotaru, though, even though his words were.
"That's totally what I said," Hotaru said before turning back to Hana. "Anyways, I was just thinking...I could use you as inspiration in one of my stories."
"Me in a story?" Hana was flattered. "Do you write? I love reading."
"Oh, they're not written," Ken snorted. "That's what she calls it when she's talking about her genjutsu."
"I could write them down," Hotaru retorted. She then looked contemplative. "I like reading too, but it's much better to see them acted out. I know it's good when I see how much they let their guards down."
Hana assumed Hotaru was talking about those who got caught in her genjutsu traps. Just what, exactly, did this girl put them through? Hotaru turned her attention back to Hana.
"You'd work well in a fantasy genjutsu. You have a very sexy, wild woman look to you. Like you lived in the forest raised by wolves, but also have a human side. I like the dogs. And your tattoos. They add a little something extra to you," said Hotaru, as she continued examining the other woman matter-of-factly. "I could definitely make a character out of you."
"Oh um…well thank you."
"You're welcome."
Hotaru remained staring at Hana, as if she were taking in mental notes about every detail about her. Hotaru was strange, but she had a straightforward air to her, as if traditional codes of how society expected people to act didn't apply in her world. If a thought crossed her mind, she'd share it. Usually it was the Inuzukas who would be caught in awkward social situations with other people, due to their brashness and forwardness, so it was actually refreshing to meet someone who could actually be even more open. Though the staring was making Hana uneasy. Hotaru turned her attention to Kiba, who had just sauntered up with Ino.
"Hi, Kiba. You also have a nice look. The charming smile with the fangs slightly poking out, the tousled hair…yup, fantasy genjutsu as well," she nodded. Kiba touched his hair self-consciously at the mention of it. Hotaru seemed to be finished with her stretches and grabbed her bag, apparently ready to leave.
"Well, nice talking to you," Hana said before the other girl could leave, rubbing the back of her neck.
"Yeah, it really was. See you later, guys!" she replied with a big smile, waving genially to all of them before walking away.
"What did I just walk into?" asked Kiba.
Hana shrugged before turning to Ino and Ken. "Is she always like that?"
Ino nodded. "Oh yeah. But you get used to it after a while."
"Yeah, because you're not her partner at work. You don't have to listen to all her new perverted ideas day in and day out," groaned Ken, shaking his head as he picked up his satchel. "I'm out too, see you all later."
Once he was far enough away out of earshot, Hana turned back to Ino. "Just for the record, when she says fantasy genjutsu, I'm guessing she's not talking about fantasy with magic and unicorns, is she?"
Ino laughed. "Not at all," the blonde admitted. "Her definition of the word is pretty flexible…it can range from mild distraction to uh…the more graphically sexual kind. In a genjustu, especially a good one, subjects can lose all sense of reality and time, so they can easily be manipulated, including falling in love—or lust—with a character that doesn't exist. Working in Intelligence means you have to get answers out of people any way you can, and people tend to say a lot when they think it's a lover they're talking to. Makes fantasy genjutsu highly effective." When Ino saw the worried looks on both Hana and Kiba, she added quickly, "Don't worry though, her characters will look nothing like you, I swear. I know this because I've seen my version. She definitely has an…overactive imagination. But it's what makes her so good at what she does."
"I'll take your word for it," said Hana.
Kiba seemed to be accepting the information a bit more willingly. "So you're saying she thinks I'm a hottie who can bring legions down to their knees, swooning? Can't say I disagree with her." He wiggled his eyebrows.
Hana made a face at Kiba's cheesy comment. Did he really think that was going to work on a girl? She'd have to talk to him later about that.
Ino pursed her lips. "Hmph. Don't get a big head, Inuzuka."
"So does that mean you agree with me, Yamanaka?"
"Not even a little bit!"
The three began to leave, Kiba and Ino continuing their flirtatious banter as Hana accepted she'd have to be the third wheel on this walk home, when a deep voice suddenly called out.
"Inuzuka Hana!"
Hana turned around to face Ibiki. "Who said you could leave yet?" he smirked. "We've still got training to do."
Hana raised an eyebrow as Kiba and Ino exchanged sympathetic looks with her before turning to leave quickly, hoping they too wouldn't have to stay longer.
"Training?"
"Taijutsu. Are you surprised? It's your weak spot."
She bit her tongue. "I'm aware of that."
"Then we'll train. No time limit. We fight until there's a winner."
Hana dropped her satchel. "Well then, what's the delay?"
Kiba tried his best to look at Ino out of the corner of his eye, so she wouldn't notice. She was definitely one of the prettiest women he'd ever known, another being his previous sensei Kurenai. He knew Ino always had some crush on Uchiha Sasuke—tch, what did that blowhard have that he didn't to make practically every girl swoon over him?—because for years, she never shut up about it. But she didn't seem to be to concerned with Sasuke now, right? And he was pretty sure she wasn't dating anyone.
"Sooo," he began. Casually, of course, not too forced. "Interesting practice today, wasn't it?"
"Yeah, you could call it that," Ino groaned. "Ibiki drives me nuts."
"My sister would agree with you," Kiba laughed. "But I actually kind of like the guy."
"Hmph. Sounds like Hana has more sense than you do."
"Well if you hate him so much, why are you his apprentice?"
Her previously annoyed face now had a hint of guilt. "Because obnoxious as he is, I know he's the best at what he does." She sighed. "I need to suck it up until I can finally get promoted. He's just so damn hard to please."
Kiba sighed confidently. "Ino, Ino," he clucked his tongue. "You've just got to know how to work him. Ibiki and I already joke around like old pals. See, we men understand each other. It's not your fault though, women just miss out on that unspoken bond."
"Oh, wow, is that what it is?"
Kiba missed her sarcasm. "Yep. Simple as that."
"Hmm, so if I just took a look into your mind, I'd be able to understand this 'unspoken man bond'?"
"Mhmm. Wait, what?"
Ino suddenly grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him in close. He hoped she couldn't feel his rapid heart rate under her hand. Damn it…why can't you be more calm? he scolded himself.
"What are you doing?" he said nervously.
"There's a saying in my Clan…it says that you can see the mind of a person through the pupils in their eyes," she murmured, a smile on her lips. "You see, fear dilates the pupil making it easier to peek inside. Then again, physical attraction does the same thing." Her other hand stroked his cheek softly until suddenly, turned his face to side with a firm grip, holding his eyes close to hers. "And your pupils are wide as saucers right now."
She peered into them even closer, and Kiba didn't know if he should be turned on or scared shitless. Ino finally broke, snorting in laughter. "Nope! Looks like no brain in there!" she cackled as she released his face.
She kept laughing as she walked away with a small wave, leaving him to lamely watch her retreating back (and she had such a nice backside). "See you later, Kiba." She didn't wait for his response.
Akamaru whined, which brought Kiba back to reality out of his blank stare. Akamaru knew what it meant to see his owner in that state.
"I know, buddy," he said to his canine companion. "She's perfect. And I'm gonna get that girl to fall in love with me."
Hana fell on her rump unglamorously as the force of the final blow knocked her off her feet. Ibiki's shadow loomed over her, providing a reprieve from the sun that blared harshly on them as it prepared to set in the hot afternoon.
"I win." His words were less refreshing.
"Yeah, I can see that," Hana answered, miffed, as she stood to brush the dirt off her clothes. When she had gotten most of it off, she wiped the sweat off her forehead, feeling the slow trickle of it on her face when she had bent down. The dirt from her fingers wiped across her face along with the action. Nothing would be better than a shower right now, she groaned.
She looked up to find Ibiki writing. "You've been at that all practice. What is it that you write down incessantly in that scroll of yours?"
He glanced at her through the tops of his eyes, before looking back to continue writing. "Notes, Inuzuka, which aren't privy to your nosiness. Though I can tell you the parts I have in here about how and where you need improvement."
She knew he was right, but it still stung a bit to hear it aloud. It really had been a long time since she'd trained at this strenuous of a degree, especially in taijutsu. She had spent the past five years of her life concentrated primarily in the animal hospital. That was her domain. But after years of cultivating her role as a top veterinarian (which had been far from easy work), she had reached a level of comfort. It was time for another challenge. Another step forward.
One of the Haimaru, Yami, walked up to the large man and sat down upright, looking up expectantly. Yami seemed to have taken a liking to him, for some reason. Ibiki noticed, and answered the dog's signal with a pet and scratch around the ears, to Yami's delight. Traitor, Hana thought. At least Eichi and Inbi are keeping their distance. Hana didn't understand Yami's actions; usually her hounds only liked those she liked. But Yami always had been the troublemaker.
She focused her attention on Ibiki. He was so critical and demanding. An off-and-on perfectionist whose specifications seemed to be ever-changing, rules to a game only he knew. He had been relentless in his attempts to get her onto his team, but ever since then he'd said nothing but criticisms to her. She wasn't one who needed or wanted constant praise, but now she wondered why he wanted her here in the first place, and what he could possibly be writing so much about. A fucking novel, it looked like. There had to be a reason why he wanted her on the team, right? He couldn't be changing his mind now, and losing faith in her. She wondered why that bothered her.
"Why did you choose mostly Chuunin for your team?"
The question had popped into her mind during their practice earlier, and now seemed the time to ask it. He looked back at her, ignoring Yami's whine to be pet again.
"I suppose you think it couldn't just be coincidence."
"I think you don't do anything without there being a thought-out reason behind it."
He smirked. "You do live up to your name. Sniffing out any information you can." He leaned back on the fence before he spoke again. "I prefer Chuunin. By the time shinobi reach Jounin rank, many get too comfortable and arrogant. They think they know everything. Chuunin are still teachable. They tend to have smaller egos, are less sensitive to scrutiny, and more receptive to advice."
"So you're keen on having the ability to mold ninja to your liking."
"You could say that," he said, nodding. "You could also say I like catching people off guard. When Jounin hear a person is Chuunin rank, they already are making assumptions about their skill level, and how they must automatically be better fighters since they are a higher rank. It's typically a safe assumption to make, considering the rigorous training it takes to become a Jounin. However, I fancy making safe assumptions dangerous, and there are few things more satisfying than seeing someone who assumes he knows everything proven wrong." His lip curled up at the thought. "It lets us have the upper hand. My Chuunin are a class all on their own—elite Chuunin is my unofficial title. Though I wouldn't get in anyone's way if their goal is to get promoted, so long as they've truly exemplified the skills they need. By the time if or when they do decide to become Jounin, they are well past prepared."
Hana admitted this was quite the useful tactic. "I have to say there is sense to all your madness."
"So you're impressed by my logic."
"Ok, don't let one compliment get to your head," she countered. "Of all the things said about you, I never heard from anyone you were going to be this full of yourself."
"Really?" he said, his interest piqued. "What did you hear?"
Hana thought back on all the rumors she'd been told by people she'd asked, some it that sounded realistic, some absolutely ridiculous. "Well, most people said that you were sadistic and detached, and take pleasure in other people's pain. That's why you're captain of the Torture and Interrogation Division," she began thoughtfully. "Then there were others who said some more interesting things. You wear all those clothes to hide scars that cover every inch of your body. You wear dark colors to blend in with the shadows, waiting for your next victim. You eat raw meat every morning because you love the taste of blood that much. You also love scaring kids until they cry."
"You have very honest sources."
"There's a lot out there about you, you're quite the famous guy."
"I'm flattered you asked so many people about me."
"Yeah, and all the good that did me. Didn't find out a single useful thing about you," she sighed. "Besides, if you had any raw meat on you, the dogs would've eaten your stash by now." She picked up her satchel and whistled to her Haimaru triplets. They bounded up to her, ready to head home after the long day. "Anything else for today?" she asked before leaving.
"No, that'll be all. Next time, however, I expect you to come with more fervor in your fight if you want to stay on this team."
With that, he left her with a wave of his hand over his head as he walked away in the opposite direction. Of course he would leave her with such a comment as that.
She fumed at the challenge. Now she wouldn't be able to rest unless she beat him.
Onbin sat silently, seemingly in a daze, as he stared up at the two large men before him.
"What'd you do to him?" said Inoichi, as he eyed the stupefied state of the prisoner in front of him. "Sometimes you forget when they're civilians, don't you? They don't have the same tolerance to jutsu as we do."
"Eh, I haven't done much to him," Ibiki replied. "Just a few mind probes, all of which gained no information of consequence, though I now know more about his sad life than I ever wished to. He's just weaker than the typical man. Most of his career being a criminal was made not through force, but through cunning and trickery. He had no use for strength." Perhaps it was a lot for someone who wasn't a ninja to go through, but Onbin should've thought of that before messing with the likes of shinobi. There was no mercy for someone who may be putting the village in danger for selfish gain. Inoichi was right though, his squad would have to go easier on Onbin from now on, since they needed information from him more than ever.
Inoichi shook his head, but had a smile on his face. "Unfortunate for him, neh?" Inoichi pulled up a chair in front of the prisoner, who stared back at him with a dumb grin on his face. Mind probes tended to put its subjects in a state of confound, like a drug-induced euphoria, especially if they weren't used to effects of chakra on the body. "I wonder though, why a criminal civilian would give up his usual ways to become so useless? Seems like he was doing well enough for himself before getting involved in all of this."
After a few moments in silence as Inoichi probed Onbin's mind. It was skill so second-nature to Yamanaka that he seemed to be involved in his own thoughts rather than concentrated on the task itself. Ibiki noticed the elder man sneak a few glances at Ibiki before finally asking, "So how's the apprenticeship going with my daughter?"
He knew the question would come up with Inoichi. It always did. He also knew that despite Inoichi's nonchalant delivery, the question could be a trap if he didn't answer carefully. Inoichi was so protective of Ino—too much so, Ibiki thought. He'd stopped just short of completely spoiling the girl, but somehow in his raising her he'd managed to get some things right (Inoichi and his wife loved their daughter immensely, and made no secret of it, so she did benefit from that affection). Ino actually had a lot of potential. She was a natural when it came to controlling her ninjutsu. She struggled now with her ability to probe minds, but that was understandable, as it was one of the most challenging ninjutsu to master. He was already impressed with how far she'd come. With more practice and experience, he knew she'd one day become a fierce kunoichi skilled enough to head the Yamanaka Clan, like her father.
As for Inoichi's question, the honest answer would be that Ino was nowhere near promotion yet, and that she had a lot of room for maturing. That Inoichi had given him a lot of work to do quelling and unraveling her demanding nature, quick temper, and need for the instant gratification she'd grown accustomed to (he presumed Inoichi gave in often). This was not a field for the impatient.
His answer, of course, was a lot less brutal. "Ino is steadily moving forward. Her talent in controlling chakra and implementing ninjutsu is clear. It is important that she keep working hard to master her jutsu, and I expect many good things from her in the future should she stick to this path," said Ibiki. He noticed Inoichi seemed satisfied with the response.
"Oh, yes, of course. She must keep working hard and keep her priorities straight," the elder man replied. "I'll make sure of it." A surprised look suddenly came onto his face as he focused back on the prisoner. "Oh! So that's what you mean, a barrier in his mind. Didn't think you meant it so literally."
"What do you see?"
"A locked box, would you believe that? Whoever made this trap sure isn't too creative," Inoichi joked. "I got to the part in Onbin's memory when he's about to open a door to meet someone, but instead of a person on the other side, it's just that box. I can't go any further."
"Guess it shows up differently to different people. I got a never-ending wall, just bricks that led in all directions into blackness. But why would it show up for both of us? I feared at first the secrets of my jutsu had been compromised, but could it be possible for yours to be as well? It's highly unlikely that the perpetrator knows enough about both our ninjutsu to tailor a barrier for both of us."
"No, the Yamanaka secrets are safe and sound. No one's even gotten close to them in over a hundred years. My guess is it's someone who also has the ability to enter minds. We could look at the known users in Konoha for leads, but really it could be anybody who's had the training, unfortunately. There's nothing that documents that. Whoever it is already knows the basics, so he wouldn't need to know secrets of any specific user's technique, right? It would be visible to anyone who has this ability," pondered Inoichi. "Well, that we know of anyhow, this skill is always evolving. We're only getting older, Ibiki. Who knows what younger generations are coming up with?"
Ibiki chuckled. Yamanaka was always trying to insert humor into the conversation, but Ibiki could hardly allow the man to joke about getting older. Inoichi was one of those lucky men who seemed to improve his looks with age. Being ten years Ibiki's senior, at forty-two, any wrinkles Inoichi had (which were few to begin with) added to a visage of wisdom that made him look fresh and active, rather than exhausted and worn.
Ibiki often wondered how he did it, since he wasn't as charmed to be aging quite as well as the Yamanaka. Ibiki had long ago dismissed the thought that he'd someday have the normal life of a satisfied old man, comfortably married in a cottage in the countryside. It seemed however that Inoichi had not given that up. How the man could so naturally and smoothly portray an air of ease, and somehow have enough time to marry a woman he loved, raise a daughter, and own and manage a successful florist business, had always fascinated Ibiki. He knew enough about the toll spending years in the Intelligence Division had on a person. No one did a job in this department and came out unscathed. Inoichi, with his home laced in flowers and a winsome wife and daughter, surrounded himself with a wealth of beauty, a safe haven to escape the ugliness that haunted him outside its doors.
"So where are we? Back to square one?" asked Inoichi.
Ibiki furrowed his brow. "Unfortunately, we may be even further back than square one."
"I'll keep my senses alert," Inoichi replied. "There isn't much we can do at the moment, with so little to go on. We may have overlooked this until now, but we're on to him, whoever it is. We'll find a lead if we keep researching. We're the best; we always do."
"Thank you, Inoichi. Although I appreciate your help, we should keep most of these findings as strictly secretive as possible. We cannot completely discount that there is an informant somewhere, and we must be extremely cautious. I'm hoping our unit is solid, but if the information is originating internally—"
The elder man nodded. "I understand. I know what to do. I don't take your trust in me lightly," Inoichi replied. "Keep me posted if you find out anything new. Take care, neh?"
"You as well."
The next day, work was winding down and Hana was itching to resume training to improve her taijutsu skills. They'd had the day off today from practice with Ibiki, so now she stood in the large backyard field at the Inuzuka compound, an area that they often used for training. She let the Haimaru Brothers have the day off as well, but there was no way she was going to let herself rest. Tomorrow after practice, she'd face Ibiki again for another round of battle, so she'd have to be prepared.
She was still angry at herself for allowing her skills to decay to the point where she was behind others years younger than her. She had gone home that evening after losing, her muscles well past tired. Even through the pain and exhaustion, it had taken everything in her to not continue training. Ibiki's words had hit her harder than any physical blow endured in the sparring, and they continued to eat at her.
She sharpened her kunai roughly, as they had dulled during the sparring, the clank of metal on metal echoing into the afternoon air.
There was a distinct whistle above her, and Hana looked up to see Kiba and Akamaru looking at her. "Starting training without me, Sis?" he teased.
"You're welcome to join me," she offered. "I'm doing weapons training today."
"Deal," he agreed. "Been wanting to practice ambush attacks. How about Akamaru and I do that? Should give you practice dodging and throwing weapons." He knew why she was so adamant about training even on their day off, since she had told him about battling Ibiki the night before.
"Sounds good to me." It was a perfect plan.
Kiba and Akamaru then jumped from tree to tree scattered throughout the field, until they disappeared into the dense forest that surrounded the field. It was silent. Hana closed her eyes, using her senses to closely listen for their impending attack. For a while there was only the sound of leaves rustling in the wind.
Then there was a whooshing noise and the sound of a razor cutting through air. Hana opened her eyes and dodged the weapon in time. She had no time to rest however, as an onslaught of shuriken were launched in her direction. She would catch glimpses of Kiba and Akamaru through the trees, both throwing the sharp weapons at her as she threw her own. They kept this up for a while, alternating between moments of respite and fast attacks. Hana for the most part did a good job of avoiding the attacks, save for a few scratches from some that managed to graze her skin.
At last Kiba decided to catch his sister off guard by jumping down in an instant, holding his kunai against hers. It was a reflexive action by Hana, and it took more of her strength than she expected to hold him back. She didn't remember him being this strong; it must've been a long time since they last sparred like this.
Kiba pulled back with a smile, sheathing his blade. "Ok, ok. Battle over."
"When'd you become so strong?" Hana laughed. "I still remember the annoying little brother trying to take stuff from my room. All I had to do was flick you in the forehead and you'd start crying."
He smirked, his tall frame standing over her. "How's it feel being the little one, now? Revenge is sweet, heh heh."
"Ohh, you're so going to regret that!" She grabbed his ear and twisted it.
"Ow ow ow!" he squealed. "Why are you always injuring me when I'm around you?"
"'Cause you don't know when to shut up."
He shot her a look.
"Here, give me your kunai. I'll sharpen it," Hana chuckled. She gathered their used weapons in a pile, and began sharpening them before speaking. "So, time to spill it."
"Spill what?"
"About you and Ino. And don't you dare pretend that you don't like her. You make it so damn obvious."
"I do?" was his automatic response, before quickly recanting it. "I mean, yeah, I do. I've got to show her my interest. Court her, charm her, the whole shebang."
"Well, some sisterly advice? Don't wiggle your eyebrows next time you're trying to flirt with a girl."
Kiba let out an exaggerated, pompous laugh. "Who do you think you're dealing with, Hana? I know what I'm doing," he said, flashing a charming smile. "I bet Ino's already falling for me."
"Yeah, well, don't get too haughty. You're starting to sound much too arrogant," she replied to her younger brother. "Second, I don't doubt you can get any girl you want. But you won't acting like an idiot. I'm not going to help you either, if you end up falling flat on your face."
"Tch, thanks for the support, Hana," he retorted, but Hana knew Kiba through and through, just like he did her, and she knew that behind her brother's puffed up front and big talk was a sincere desire to experience love on a deeper level. He loved to flirt with girls, but Hana hadn't seen him get quite so excited over them as he did for Ino.
She sighed. Teenage love was messy indeed. Hana would have to keep an eye out for Kiba, Ino had already spun a spell on him. I hope you know what you're in for, Kiba. My guess is that she's not going to be quite so simple as you think.
"I knew your taijutsu skills were going to be a little rusty, but I thought you'd be a little harder to fight."
What did he just say?
"Did that make you angry? Channel that rage. You've gone soft dealing with puppies, haven't you?"
Her fist met his face hard.
Ibiki adjusted his throbbing jaw. "That's more like it."
"Are you trying to piss me off?"
"Not trying. Succeeding."
Hana tried to punch him again, but this time he dodged.
"You like messing with my head. I think Kakashi was right when he told me you were a sadist," she said in between breaths.
"So that's who told you that? If I'm what he calls a sadist, he's got no idea what one is."
Ibiki swung a strike on her right, knocking her painfully in the ribs.
"Fuck!" she cursed out. "I think he knows exactly what he's talking about. He's a respected shinobi, and much more popular than you are. With a better reputation, too. You know how many fans Kakashi's got. Can you even come close to competing?"
"Not in the least. But I have Inuzuka Hana as my number one fan, so that trumps anyone Hatake's got."
"You're mistaking disdain for love."
This time she tossed a punch again towards his head, but he blocked it, grabbing her punching arm and twisting it behind her back. He held control of both her arms now, making it difficult to escape the powerful grasp, especially since she faced away from him. When he spoke, he was right by her ear.
"There is a fine line between them, isn't there?"
She ignored the tingle she felt throughout her body. "Not in the least."
She pulled down hard to escape using some chakra to offset his strength, the energy of the burst causing her fingernails to leave cuts on the skin of his forearms. The pain he felt allowed her to twist back around so she faced him, and they continued sparring.
There was a series of dodges, hits, and stabs, as they moved in tandem. The banter had ceased, due to their growing exhaustion. The heat was permeating and was only getting more intense with the exertion. Finally, Hana dodged a strike on her left, but Ibiki seemed to have anticipated her move. In her moment of distraction, he swung his leg around and knocked her off her feet. She hit the ground forcefully as she reflexively swung her hands out behind her to brace her fall. He stood over her, shuriken readied in hand to show how, in a real battle, she would have been dealt a fatal blow.
"I win," he said simply, in that smug, vexing manner of his.
Damn it! She cursed herself, breathing hard and shallow.
"You were better this time."
Hana stood up, brushing off the dirt and loss. It was becoming too familiar of action. "I don't need the consolation."
"None intended. Just stating a fact."
Hana felt a stinging on her forearm, and sucked in air through her teeth as she realized she had a gash from the impact of hitting the ground.
"Looks rough," Ibiki commented. Injuries like this were common in a good training match.
"Yeah, but it's nothing really. Just gotta fix it up once I get home. I may be a veterinarian, but I still have some skills to heal humans."
"You left your mark, as well," he replied, examining his torn sleeves and the cuts on his arms underneath. "Can't fight an Inuzuka without paying a price."
Well, at least she could be proud that she hadn't gone down without a fight. "Mind if I look at it?" He gave his assent and she examined the lesions. "Geez. They're actually deeper than I thought they were."
"I can see you're pleased with the damage."
"I won't deny it," she joked. "But it doesn't seem fair that I can go home and heal my wound and not yours."
Ibiki watched her as she rolled up his sleeves enough to uncover the wounds completely. "Hm, now I feel sorry for pissing you off."
"No, you don't."
She did a few hand seals and the glow of chakra hovered over his forearms as she steadily healed them one by one. "There, good as new," she said.
"Until next battle, anyway."
"That's right."
That night, Hana once again stood outside practicing her technique, as she recalled the battle with Ibiki earlier in the day. She was tired of sparring and training continuously, but she had to catch up somehow. She could feel her frustration brewing. It made her limbs fidgety and her muscles tense. Her Haimaru Sankyodai busied themselves trudging around restlessly, also attuned to her anxiety, ready for a command to do something.
She stared at the dummy in front, a sad-looking burlap sack stuffed with hay into a loose human form and fastened to a wooden plank. She was getting a better picture of Ibiki's style of fighting, but she still wasn't able to catch him off guard. He was making her obsessive. She had to be swifter, more unpredictable. Lunging at the dummy, she made a mental note of her movements. Over, shuffle to the side, duck, hit. Her hand lightly touched the side of the dummy's head as she completed her mock attack. Good, she thought, but not great. It was still too conventional.
"Hana," said a woman's voice behind. "You really tryin' to wreck that sack with that soft smack? You'll have better results sweet talkin' to it."
"I'm trying to get the technique down, Mom," replied Hana as she glanced back quickly before focusing back on the motionless dummy. "Not use force."
Tsume chuckled. "That's not a very Inuzuka thing to say. Come on, sit down. I gotta talk to you. Can't you see your Sankyodai are all twitchy like that? Means you gotta breathe."
Hana let out a sigh. Tsume was right. She needed to take a break, even if she wasn't truly able to relax.
She sat down next to her mother on the ground, and they sat for a moment in silence, soaking in the peaceful night.
"I've always loved the smell of the air at night in the summer," Tsume began. "It's not sweet like flowers in spring. It's earthy, like soil and grass. The smell of things alive, neither young or old. Just alive."
Hana breathed in deeply, letting the scent fill her senses. It was refreshing, and familiar. Safe. She began to feel her nerves settle down a bit.
Tsume continued. "Hana, I came out here because I feel like I need to tell you something. I don't say it much, but I'm proud of you. You always work so hard, and I don't think I've really given you the credit for it. I bet you're thinking now I'm the one sniffing the laughing gas, eh?" She laughed. "Nah, that's not true. I really mean it. I'm proud of you. I was watchin' you and Kiba sparring the other day, just having fun and helping each other out, and I thought, 'You know what? I've got really good kids.' There's not a thing I would change with you two, even if you've both driven me crazy through the years."
Hana was intrigued. It was true that her mother wasn't the type to spill her inner thoughts, so this was rather a special occurrence. She wondered why her mother was choosing now to tell her this, but she suspected there must've been more on Tsume's mind than she was revealing. It was best to just listen, and not to question it.
"I don't need you to do anything else than what you've already been doing. You've always bee dedicated, smart…now you're in charge of your own hospital and working towards being a better kunoichi. I don't have to worry about you. It's a different time now, and lemme tell you, it's changed a lot. When I was your age, it was difficult. There was a strong expectations of how to live. Back then, women were expected to get married, before we got 'too old.' That was success, regardless if you wanted it. I always thought it was bullshit, and went wild. I don't even want to tell you kids the shit I did. And yet, even after all that rebellion, I still ended up falling into what I'd been taught.
"It's amazing how deep that social pressure gets to you even years later. I got sick of being told the insults, that I wasn't a real woman. I vowed I wouldn't be like my mother, pressuring my daughter to find a man, like it's the only goal in life. I think I've put more pressure on you than Kiba, since I figure you bein' a woman you'd have to go through the same things I did. I got married, and the good that did me. Just glad I have you two kids out of it," she laughed heartily. "They told me everything was for my own good. But fuck it, there's no taming any of us."
Hana chuckled along with her. She liked that thought. There was something relieving about it. She recalled the time not too long ago when she'd told Ibiki in a huff that she wasn't at all like Tsume. It had been a lie. There was a lot she'd say when someone was pissing her off, but there wasn't much that differed between her and the elder woman.
"So that's what I wanted to tell you. I'm not going to force you to act a certain way to please others, especially not for a man who wouldn't appreciate you for who you are. Do what makes you happy. That's all I want," Tsume said. "I'll get off your back. For the most part."
"Thanks, Mom," Hana smiled. It made sense now, why Tsume wanted to speak with her. This was her mother's way of telling her she loved her, of apologizing for perceived past wrongs. "Anyways, I've got plenty of handsome men who appreciate me right here. Isn't that right, boys?" Hana said as she playfully and gruffly pet the Haimaru. They, of course, happily agreed as they leapt about, emitting loving growls.
"Yeah, they're cute enough, but you sure you spend your life with men so smelly?"
"Well, last date I had was another bust. Meh," Hana sighed. "I don't even care about marriage, I just want to know what it's like to go on a date with someone with a brain. I'm starting to think I'm never going to find somebody."
"Ha! You say that now, Hana. Well, it's gonna happen. It'll sneak up on ya like a parasite and catch you in an ambush. We've got a knack for fallin' for the ones who'll give us the most headaches and heartaches, just you watch."
Tsume's eyes suddenly brightened, and a feral grin stretched her lips. "The good part is, if anyone gets on your nerves, you've got these." She extended her claws. "Tapping into that anger is the key to our abilities. Pure action, no thoughts. No second-guessin' yourself. It's funny, I gotta be telling you to stop thinking too much while Kiba's gotta use his damn brain more." She chuckled to herself. "Anyways, you don't always get to have the last say in life, or beat up who you want to, but in battle, heh, there are no rules."
She got on all fours and charged forward, fast as lightning. The dummy was left as nothing but a torn and tattered burlap stump, its limbs hanging precariously, its severed head lying helpless a few feet away.
"This is how Inuzukas deal with stress," said Tsume, the vicious grin still on her face, as she retracted her claws. "May not be the healthiest way, but it sure as hell feels good."
Hana had already known that proficiency in their Inuzuka abilities lied in their ability to release emotion without restraint, but somehow hearing her mother repeat it seemed to make something click within her. She supposed she was holding back. Why? What from? She didn't quite know. There could've been a thousand reasons why, all of which she'd have to figure out in a moment of clarity sometime in the future, when she wasn't so wrapped up in stress.
But now, she thought of her father, his cowardly ways. Of Ibiki and his unsparing criticism, expecting more out of her than she'd given. Of her losing each battle with him. Of feeling disappointed in herself, a quest of perfection always a bit out of reach. The anger and frustration boiling until it overflowed. She could feel her heart pumping in the build-up of tension, and she extended her claws, positioned herself to charge, and let herself go. She felt so light in motion as she felt the wind whoosh past her, the satisfying rip of fibers digging into her claws, the pleasure of could faintly hear a howling of excitement—her mother, she presumed—but it seemed far away. What was left of the body now was now completely shredded apart into an unrecognizable shapeless mass.
And it felt damn good.
This was it.
Hana could hear his breathing had quickened, and become more shallow. With that pacing of respiration, there was no way he could be gaining enough oxygen to replenish the energy he'd lost. She was on the attack and he was on the defense. They'd switched from hand to hand combat to kunai a while back, as they grew more frustrated with each other. Their weapons clinged and clanged as they fought, a flurry of motion as they blocked each other's attacks faultlessly.
The realization dawned on her that she had a real chance of winning this time. They'd been dueling for quite a long time now; Hana had no idea exactly how long it'd been, but she knew it was much longer than their previous two contests. He was starting to get tired, and she felt she still had fight left in her. It was as if her talk with Tsume had rejuvenated reserves of stamina Hana didn't know she had. She'd have to pay even closer attention to each movement he made, because at any moment Ibiki could make a mistake and she'd need that split second to take advantage of it.
In their sparring, they had unintentionally moved from the open field to in between two storage sheds, where the hallway was cramped and not ideal for such a heated fight. She used her enhanced senses, combined with the observations she'd garnered about his fighting style from their previous duels (he favored his right side, and had an affinity for attacking from atop as his height prevented him from staying too low to the ground), to predict his next movement, and was ready to deflect his strike from above. She dodged the blow by rolling on the ground out of the way, and, jumping back onto all fours, ran towards the wall behind her. She used a burst of chakra to ricochet herself against it and back at him. The force and speed of the blast she used and narrow quarters caused Ibiki to not have enough time to dodge, and she flew square into him, knocking him hard into the wall behind him. The severe hit knocked the wind out of him, and he bent down as he began wheezing as he tried to catch his breath. When he had gained some semblance of air back in his lungs, he leaned back up, only to find a kunai right in front of his face.
She had him now. Adrenaline remained pumping throughout her system, and she still felt the rush of an exhilarating battle in her surging pulse. Hana lowered the kunai so it instead rested against his neck, as she used her other arm to push his back flush against the wall. One move and his neck would cut into that impeccably sharp blade. She wasn't done with this brawl yet, not by a long shot. Now it was time for a little revenge. He'd had his fun with his various tactics prodding her for a reaction, just to see what emotion would pop out of her next. Now, it was her turn to make him squirm.
She leaned in close against him, their bodies' contours lined up just nearly touching, her arm resting on his collarbone, her lips mere inches from his.
"I win," she muttered, using his line against him, her voice low and deep and tempered from being also out of breath. She could feel his muscles suddenly tense up at her proximity, her aggressive grip, her alluring tone. Only their shallow breaths made any sound. He stood still, held down in that precarious position, no characteristic smart comment or biting critique. He hadn't expected this. So it seems you can be caught off guard, after all, Hana gloated. She could mess with minds too.
With one last look she released him, and sheathed her kunai. She could see him instantly relax after she let go, a collective exhalation of his muscles after they had been pulled taut for the prolonged amount of time. His breathing began to even out, and his eyes blinked themselves out of a daze.
She began walking out of the buildings' enclosure, so she could return to the open air of the training grounds. Before she rounded past the edge of the hallway, she turned back to look over her shoulder, smirking, the man she had teased still leaning against the wall.
"So what's next, Morino? Does this mean I call the shots now?"
He seemed to have regained himself. "Why, yes. You are now the new captain of the Torture and Interrogation Squad. Congratulations."
"Wow, you really know how to make a girl feel special. I suppose that now makes you Lead Veterinarian at the animal hospital, hm?"
"I expected no less from you. I'm no easy fight, but I'm not an expert in taijutsu," he said. "The question is, can you beat me a second time or was this a lucky shot?"
Hana raised her eyebrow. "Hey, you know this wasn't luck. I practically slaved over the past week getting myself up to par to defeat you." And maybe now you'll get out of my head.
"Yes, you won fair and square, Hana. Your form was on point, and your energy was much more intensified. You took advantage of the chances you saw and my weaknesses. That is what makes a win. I apologize if there isn't much of a prize for it."
"Beating you was a prize in itself," she replied. "But if I were to get something for finally winning, there is one question I want you to answer for me, and I want you to give me the real, honest answer to it. How about that?"
He seemed intrigued. "All right. What's your question?"
"Why did you want me on this team?" Hana began. "I know I specialize in Tracking and Capture, but Kiba already satisfies your need to have a tracking expert. And he's a Jounin, so he's got the taijutsu skills down pat already. But you made it essentially impossible for me to say no to you. So why do you need me?"
"First of all, I happen to disagree with your declaration that I only need one tracker. My experience has always been you can never have too many trackers. However, since I must be completely honest, you are correct; that was not the only reason why I insisted on having you on this team." He paused for a moment in thought. "But if I tell you that reason, it may compromise your ability to perform your duty at the highest level."
"I'm not quite sure what you mean by that, but if I'm really the person you think I am, then there's nothing you could tell me that would 'compromise my ability,'" she reasoned. "If it does, then there's no need for me to be here, is there?"
He examined her for a while before finally speaking. "This is the reason."
"Huh?"
"This." He waved a circular motion with his index finger in the air, as if to indicate the surrounding area. "What you're doing right now."
"Giving you a hard time?"
"That's one way to put it," he said, amused. "It's you questioning me. Constantly challenging me. In fact, I can't stand it. It's annoying, like a mosquito that bites over and over without reprieve. But my annoyance doesn't mean anything. As a captain, I have to maintain a level head. Having people surrounding me who always agree with me, or are too afraid to speak out against me, will only lead to poor decisions that have not been properly examined from all angles. That's where you come in. You notice details. You question them. You disagree with me. You won't let me rest unless your need for answers is fulfilled. You don't trust me because of my title, you want reasons why. Those are the characteristics I need most on this team."
Hana was speechless. She had not been expecting him to say something 10like that. Well, what had she been expecting, then? Nothing so far from this man seemed to turn out how she "expected."
"Well, then," she managed to say. "I will…make sure to keep questioning you and doubting you. Not a problem."
"Don't ever forget that duty," he said, a sense of warning in his words. "Everyone else on this team has a motive to kiss my ass, even if the hate me behind my back. Ken and Hotaru work in the Intelligence Department, so they report to me. So does Ino, and she's trying to get my vote to promote her. I helped get Kiba promoted, so he's too grateful to me. You're the only one who's got nothing to gain, so it's up to you maintain the balance."
Hana sighed. "I don't think I'll ever really understand the chaos that goes on in your mind."
"If you did, I'd worry for your sake."
"I would too. By the way, if I'm a mosquito, then what does that make you?"
"I, Hana, am a big, fat tick. When I bite, I don't let go," he smirked. "Look at that, we're both blood-sucking insects. It's as if we're meant to be."
A/N: El fin. For now, anyway. The gang will go on their first mission next chapter, so there will be a lot of action. Next chapter will be more from Ibiki's POV too, since this one was very Hana-centric. Please leave a review! And thank you for reading~