Hospital Treatment:
"Boop" I heard his familiar voice make a kind of beeping sound, onomatopoeia of a computer or electrical monitor perhaps, his head popping in and out of my room. "Can I come in?" his yellow hair flashing with a different comical expression on his face with each new entry.
The nurse had just hooked up my new drip for today, it was different from the other drips; it was very special. I smiled past her at my orange jumpsuit friend, it seemed convenient that I would get this special drip today when he arrived.
"Now only push this button when you are in severe pain" My nurse instructed; kindly handing me the button connected to my drip, supplying me with the opportunity to escape any source of pain. "Too many ninja abuse our hospital's resources" I looked at my guest and pressed the button, hard, before looking back at the nurse to smile impishly up at her frown. "It can become very addictive if used unnecessarily" She warned. My overly animated guest walked into the room "Although…" the nurse tapered off looking at Naruto. "I shall leave you to your guest" she hurried out the room as Naruto made his way to the left of my bed side.
Pressing his hands against my bed, the blankets curled around my arm in his hold, his zeal had died slightly "I didn't…" Naruto's expression was at a loss for words, looking across the length of me and my unfamiliar fragile conduct.
"Know I was so injured?" I offered with a meek smile, the medication from the drip had just started to kick in. "I was walking yesterday, I guess that little bit of exercise was a bit too soon and my body's reaction was to retaliate with a bit of delayed muscle soreness" I felt the extra bit of humour hit my lips as I broadened my smile. "Or at least that is what the medical ninja say" 'Oh yeah, this medication is defiantly kicking in'
"Hey Argies, what is that button you keep clicking?" Naruto's little face held the perfect amount of interest and curiosity, or maybe that is just the medication talking.
"It leads to my drip, in that bag is a nutrition solution" I pointed to the bigger bag hanging from a metal strut "and in that bag is wo0o… li-ke I wasss-say-ing" I pointed drunkenly "Is sleepy drug no more pain" I brushed a hand against my face, it was such a funny feeling, it was all numb "I'm sorr-e, did I say sleepy drug. I meant me no more pain drug" I tried to stop the uncontrollable laughter that I knew was coming "T'hehehe" but I couldn't crush it, instead I ended up laughing into my clumsy attempt as I fisted my hands over my mouth.
"Wait…Harrumph" Naruto folded his arms and looked away, obviously catching on and completely offended, before looking back with a quirky grin "I like you like this Argies" He grinned as I felt myself lose all control over my personality "You are much better than that other Argies"
…
This poor choice of words played in Naruto's advantage in a way he did not expect, this widening Naruto's grin even further as he realised now how he could use and manipulate drugged Argies.
"Other Argies-iszzz nothing" Argies throw his limp hand in a pointed remark "Wait!?" he put a finger against his nose as he thought again on the statement "No, I'm better than –nother Argies. I'll show you, you just haven't-haven't ssseen other Argies hehe." He giggled to himself again "I'll show you this better than Argies!" he pressed a hand down pointedly to mark his statement, but could hardly control the hand he planted which wobbled uncertainly.
"You know" Naruto quizzed as if offering a solution "How you could really show me which is the better Argies." He paused coxing the conflict in Argies medication stewed mind.
"What…" Argies drooled "I'll show you, I'll show you. I way bet-a" he lisped.
"We never finished training" Naruto looked out the window before turning back to Argies "If you were a better Argies, you would help me learn Leaf walking" He slapped a hand against Argies thigh "Train with me" Focusing his eyes with blearing intensity, cat like perfection, charming his prey into a trap.
"Bingo-Bango!" Argies lazily clicked his fingers to his exclamation "We train and I make better Argies…" The medication was slurring his speech slightly, but its effects didn't appear to be hampering his ability to get up.
"Woe there" Naruto held a hand to Argies who stood up on his bed. "What are you doing?" he asked as Argies pulled the drip from his arm with a gleeful ouch.
Argies looked down on Naruto and laughed dismissively to the supporting hand against his leg "I'm in no condition to be walking, jump on mmm_my back, you take me" Though the message was unclear Naruto offered his back and Argies jumped on. "Where do you think you are going, the door is over their" He pointed weakly "Ouch that hurt" he said to himself, inspecting the mark where his drip was.
"The window is much better" Naruto stepped up a leg onto the window sill "I've done this plenty of times; you don't want the nurses strapping you into bed" He leapt into the air with Argies securely hugged to his back.
"Weeee!" Argies said as the wind filled his ears "Nurses strapping me in, haha" he babbled "You sneaky you know that" He fell asleep for a minute while Naruto flew through the airs that held the late morning chatter of an awake Leaf Village at work. Zipping up and down, lefts and rights, flipping through the different heights, on his way to the place where they trained together before.
"Wake up Argies" Naruto affectionately slapped at Argies, he had grown to care for him ever since that one day; the sleep over at his house.
Argies lifted his chin off his own chest, blinking up to the light shining from behind Naruto's Head. Naruto's protector shining in the light, reminded Argies of a fabled Leaf Shinobi Legend of Giant Shinobi fighting Great Demon Creatures. "You aren't going to squash me are you?" His eyes grew wide as he looked up at Naruto with dread.
"Stop being so silly" Naruto's tone was firm and his fist held up a determined spirit and despite Argies senseless laughter, he did not lose face. "'A Shinobi must always take their training seriously'" Naruto quoted from an old academy ninja hand book which only made Argies burst into even further unbridled laughter.
"You know" Argies stood up from the ground swaying as he did "Even without these giggles d-ugs, I would be laughing uncon-stoppable st-ill" He wiped away at the tears formed by a laughter that would not die, but quickly righted himself when he saw the angered expression on Naruto's face. "Don't try be-ing mad so hard, you might hurt yourself" A further giggle popped free before he committed to trying his best to levy the laughter.
Naruto walked over to a scattered array of leaves he had laid out for their training, the ground was set with rows of leaves varying in different thicknesses of layering "Now I've learnt how to walk on this place" He said initiating his chakra and stepping onto the first line of leaves; the thinnest scattering. "And I can walk onto the other two" He tipped toed until he was on the third line "But any further and I hear a crunch" he said just as the leaves crackled under his feet on entering the fourth line.
"Very interesting Argies" Argies mused his words to Naruto but used his own name in Naruto's place; the medication fought back in conflict with the steely intellect that Argies always held focused. "Whereas I used my hand to manipulate a single leaf until I learnt to master it under my control, you have changed the terrain to match your level of mastery" Argies lumbered his way over to the lines of leaf lain grass, stepping a foot on the first while harnessing his chakra "To step on the first lane, I can say I am of this level of mastery, to step on the second I say the second I have mastered" He did this while managing his way to the fifth lane of thickness, each new thickness he announced his level of mastery. "Till finally I can place my soles on a line of new understanding, that I can declare that I am of a mastery of fifth and that I have grown from my previous efforts" He twirled in step with still the medication holding sway over him to a whimsical nature, but rather now he held sway over it in a nature of his own; overcoming the power it held over him with the power and mentality he held within himself.
"How did you?" Naruto sputtered, trying fruitlessly to get passed fourth to join Argies on fifth. "But… I put twigs in that layer, I don't understand, why can you walk there?" He did not need to clarify further. It was Argies who first showed them how dissimilar materials need a different measure of control; That a leaf when under a heavy intensity of chakra will shears or crumbles, but a twig under a light intensity will not support your weight and will snap, which is why now that Argies has accomplished it the feat seems unbelievable. "Argies, Come on you have got to tell me!" He finally pleaded when realising his gabbled astonishment would lead him to no sooner answer.
"Have you ever punched a wall of dirt before?" Argies spun a question which struck Naruto in the face like a sudden wind from a place you would not expect it. He looked around for his answer, not looking with sight but shifting his head around as he looked in his mind for reason. Without finding what he searched for there, he quickly took the task as questioned into a form which was mentioned. Punching the earth.
"Wait, what did you say?" Naruto's words trailed off and he blinked up at the one who posed the question, before punching the earth again as understanding was beginning to form "The ground isn't made from one material is it?" Naruto realised, still not fully understanding but now seeing sense in waiting for an answer. Now knowing that where this trail leads would ultimately be a conclusion of learning.
"It is not." Argies dipped his voice into a philosophical tone, holding his hands in chakra focus like a wise steward of knowledge "As you can tell the earth though we say it as one word, is many different things" He squatted down and pulled apart the grass; parting it from the ground. He dug in his hand and separated the soil from its self as it glided down from his now raised hand; back to the place it was taken from. "Look at what parts from my hand, it is sand yes? Soil from the earth, but it is also rocks and twigs and all sorts of dead and decaying things."
"I don't get it? What has that have to do with leaf walking Argies-san" Naruto's added Honorific was that of adornment to a little master not a friend, for while under the guildenship of his friend he felt compelled to show respect for him as a master.
Argies picked up a twig from the ground, placing it in his left hand. "The leaf is not a twig" He encircled it with his chakra as he hand glowed blue "and the twig is not a leaf" he pick up a twig with his right, simultaneously encircling it too with chakra. "But together both the leaf and twig are no long the same, they become together a new element and a new magnitude of chakra needs to be offered in order to retain them" He brought his hands together and presented them to Argies "Neither twig or leaf will disintegrate when you balance your chakra in dependency of the number of measureable indifferences"
Naruto stared into the glow around the hands of Argies and marvelled "Wow"
Argies stood up to look down on Naruto who stared up in confusion to the smirk on his fellows face. His voice grew dark with his change in character "Soon you will grow my pupil, strong in the ways of the leaf walking force Mwahahahaha!" Before his deep laughter could echo into distance, a young girl took up the void it left.
"You're in so much trouble" This girl was a strange and unusual person of charm and eccentric character. She stood there watching them, spying from a tree, before coming out into the open to confront them with an ominous yet jest like air of caution.
…
I looked passed Naruto at the girl who stood there with a cheerful smile yet serious undertone. I could see a large blue rock behind her shoulder, so large it took up all the space she had on her small back. She herself looked to be about 11 or 12 in age, something I would not have assumed if she wasn't endowed as a young lady? My breath caught me off guard as I found it leaving me in speech, punitively of the facts I could see so clearly pointing at me. "Those are some nice apples for such a short little girl" my medication still had some kicks to throw into my mouth, in a way of introductions I was stunned at my own brazened comment. I spat out my shock with a disturbed expression in comprehending what I voiced, but said nothing to rectify it, instead I held myself composed even though my eyes bulged to my surprise.
She grinned in reply to my comment and likely my reaction as well "Hmm, sounds like something I should tell Tsunada" She looked up at the sky tapping a finger to her red lips "When I drag you two back to her" Her expression once again settled on us; her eyes showing both joy and an unmistakable piecing power of will. It was strangely remarkable for a Konoichi to show such perseverance, which is what I believed that spark was in her eyes.
"You wouldn't dare!" Naruto said suddenly, not even bothering to ponder on who she might be or why she was there. He looked ready to charge her, crashing with his intent in words rather than brawl. "If you tell Tsunada I'll tell her you were spying on us" he sulked in his own defence.
"Ha, tattle tale" She jeered, placing her hands on her hips to further support against the weight on her back "Just what were you two doing anyway, hmm?" She held up a pinkie finger suggesting something I did not recognise as an understanding of any hand symbol.
Naruto's face flashed red instantly and he let a sound of frustration, which whistled like a boiled kettle, escape his gritted teeth "No we are not!" He obviously understood the apparent rude gesture of which I was oblivious to.
"Why are you here?" I tried to neutralise my face but I could not overcome the happiness muse of good medication.
"I was assigned this D rank mission to return you two to the hospital." The Crystal on the girls back did not appear to be holding her back, she was short but stocky. "I hear Tsunada is pretty anxious to get you two back Ha ha ha" She laughed with a wicked subtly "Did I say anxious, I meant prepare to lose your ability to hear, I'm certainly looking forward to it"
Naruto's ears perked and a worried surprise widened his eyes "I've got to prepare for a mission" He grinned sheepishly to me "So ergh, see you Argies" In the process of sneaking away, his body already in a running stance, I heard an unfamiliar click before Naruto fell face first onto the ground. The Sunlight on his back revealed a transparent blue crystal cuffed around his legs and arms.
"How did you do that?" I asked while Naruto squirmed around in order to spit the dirt caught in his mouth. He was in a running stance, his hands far apart, yet she was able to cuff him without moving from her spot. How did she do that?
"With my crystal" She simple answered, playfully tossing up a chunk of crystal within the one hand as she leaned against her Giant blue rock. I watched with marvelled interest as she flipped the glistening rock in her hand, she seemed relaxed and I felt perplexed. What is that weapon of hers and how is she able to use it?
"What type of crystal is that" I probed further before she lashed me too "How were you able to mould it into a restraint, does it have a memory of some sort?"
"You ask too many questions" She concluded my inquiries with a flick of her hand, I found my mouth shut. Crystal around my jaw, a new shape formed to fit my face meaning her technique wasn't singularly purposed. I tried to move my jaw, if she was able to so easily cover and mould her crystal to me maybe I could move it, I couldn't. It was ridged and firm placed, like it was fashioned for the purpose of silencing me.
"These D ranks are getting too easy" She shackled me and Naruto, dragging us by the scuff of our collars. "It's always the returns that are tedious" she complained while lugging our larger bodies, in comparison and from far it must have been quite the sight, she was like an ant carrying a leaf far bigger than her.
Another unique Ninja I have never seen before, I wonder where these Shinobi hid when I was still in the ninja academy looking for a friend?
…
"What were you thinking!" Tsunada's voice echoed into the passage way and down the corridors; their humiliation was a source of many of the patients, nursing staff, and visitors humour. Their heads turned down as Tsunada heaved her chest from left to right insuring each understood how angry she was. The medication slowly wearing off Argies caused him to suffer pain for standing for so long, but no more pain than the roaring of Tsunada or whatever punishment might fall on him if he were to find a seat before his reprimand was over. Naruto's tears offered him no comfort, his earlier objection in self-defence did his current state no good for Tsunada was unwilling to hear his back chat. Their assumption that it would be a good idea to escape the hospital for fun in the sun, now reflected in their minds how bad an idea it was. Argies was crippled further and his stay in hospital would have to be extended, Naruto who was meant to be preparing for a mission was nowhere to be found when the mission desk demanded his attendance, and now all that free spirited delight in their day turned to resentment and regret in their current stay.
In his hospital room Argies looked up from the gales of scolding to the giggles he could hear coming from the door, but it was not from behind the door through which these giggles emanated but from the girl in his room. The short girl with the big blue rock, she had said she would enjoy his reprimand but he did not expect her to be so bold as to attend this very lecture. He looked up hurt for an instant, but her affectionate laughter made him see his punishment in a new light.
Tsunada would not bother to scold him if she did not care, and if she cared it meant that she did not think of him as the enemy she described before. He felt a warmth fill him. Tsunada was scolding him like a mother, the mother Argies had never had growing up. He soon found himself half smiling, a smirk despite his discomfort of pain and his discontent in her critique.
Tsunada quickly caught sight of this glimmer of rebellion "And what are you smiling about you smug little brat!?"
…
The room instantly went silent; in pause Tsunada broke from her lecture to question me. Except for the sobs I could hear from Naruto, I couldn't hear anything at all not even the usual sound of staff passing by. In a moment of anticipation I almost expected to be interrupted before I could answer so I opened my mouth and also pause for a moment before realising that the question could be answered. "Thank you Lady Hokage for taking time to attend to me, please let me assure you that I have fully understood the seriousness of my actions." Tsunada was stumped for words so I took advantage of this fact and eased myself down to the ground; the bed seemed such a far journey "Please let me apologise on behalf of Naruto, he being a quick healer is estranged to prolonged hospital stays. Please do not take personal offence to his actions in amending what he saw as unnecessary treatment"
Tsunada took a step back shaken by my quick acceptance and levelled answer; surprised by my recovery. "I see" She submitted studying me with inquisitive eyes before heading for the door that quickly opened by aid of the rock crystal Girl who soon followed after.
"Well Naruto, where are we going next?" I jeered with a slanted grin.
"How did you do that?" He palmed the tears from his eyes to stare at me stunned even though I was on the floor after the encounter with Tsunada.
"Please Naruto, help me up, I'm in serious pain here" my arms and legs were beginning to burn deeply and their weight seemed to grow exponentially in a figurative sense because I could not lift them any longer.
"Sure" Naruto slung my arm over his shoulder and tucked his arm under myself to lift me from the ground like a child from a pram. He laid me on my bed which was already neatly tucked and made up.
I looked over from my position on the bed, my head supported by a pillow that had that sinking feeling. I don't like those pillows "Now I just need my drip with that drug… I can't move and I won't complain if you get it wrong the first couple of times" I was afraid that because of my and Naruto's actions, and my abuse of the drug, that the nursing staff would be reluctant to reattach my happy and painless drip care.
Naruto looked over to my drip, which was also cleaned and its needle replaced of my bloodied dejection of the last insertion. His worrying fingers shock hesitantly to the pointy edge "Maybe I should just call a nurse"
"Hey Naruto?" I asked as he turned for the door "You're cute when you cry" He looked at me half hurt and upset, an indifferent expression taking place of his worry; he folded his arms "It's ok to cry, don't feel bad about it" I smirked my half smile to his pout "Ever thought of inventing a cute jutsu?"
"Real ninja don't use jutsu's like that" Naruto already lost interest in his worries in search for the nursing staff, instead diving fully into my coaxing attempts yet I could not believe he would turn down the opportunity in worthless jutsu.
"What!?" I laughed in disbelief "I can't believe you would say no to that. What about your sexy jutsu, I bet you have plenty of research on the cute factor which complements the sexy part" I blushed in spite of my pain, my tongue not use to the connection of words I used and the meaning in them. "Wait!" I tried a new angle of attack "Is it that you created the sexy jutsu because your just a perv like Jiraiya Sensei" I put on the performance of surprise in my voice and action, in my mind I was a painted faced stage performer but Naruto's body language said he was about to throw away his tickets.
"You just want me to give my more of these giggle drugs so I can be less annoying to you" he pouted with offence but took my arm and gently glided the drip into my vein like an expert.
"Thank you Naruto" I teared to the added pain of needle piecing flesh "See it's ok to cry" I quivered as I reached for the button dangling from the Metal strut supporting my drip "And It's ok to use medication to escape pain, but not friends" I smiled weakly and Naruto beamed warmly to my apology.
"I won't be back for a few months, my mission is overseas in the land of tea or was it birds?" Naruto hummed in thought.
"Good luck on your mission, hopefully I will be out of hospital by then and will be able to greet you standing up" Naruto Began his way out the door to my words of farewell, he was already super late for the mission briefing.
"And rematch on the leaf walking, you better practise by time I get back because I'm going to beat you" He said from down the corridor, announcing his victory to all of a game they didn't know about.
"Ha Naruto"
…
That night I had an unusual visitor, one I was unable to escape no matter how many times I pressed my button in shock.
"Tensue!" I jumped out of bed with the fright on seeing him in the shady light, the doorways arcing open to gleam off his glasses as he passed into my room. The white uniform of a medic ninja making his concealment difficult in the pitch dark, I was only glad I was awake to see him coming in the faint light that shone throw the curtains from the moon.
"Agh my subject is awake" He leered drawling his words out in a groan of satisfaction. I inched back closer to the wall, hoping to find the panic button the Nurse told me was there. He came in closer and arched an arm over me to rest a hand against the wall, breathing down on me with a broad smile and chuckle. "Nooo do not be afraid Argies" He caught the hand I reached out for the panic button I finally found "My visit won't take long" I gulped.
"What do you want from me you… you you raven?" I hadn't realised how creepy he exactly was, but with him up this close breathing down on me. My body's perspiration dotted me with the numerous aspects to his creepiness.
He said nothing for a long moment that stretched my dread even further, he just kept breathing heavily while I was stuck immobilised by fear. After 3 heavy exhales he finally spoke "I have taken it upon myself to take you in as my student, subject" His tone was civil and devoid of his madness, but on saying his last two words the word student was sucked away with an inhaled voicing of the word subject.
I gulped again as I sunk back further from his crazed expression, his breath against my dread dripping face "S-tudent?" I stuttered in question.
He stretched his words as if they were not said by a person but rather an unfamiliar creature which saw its prey in sight. "Yes, my student" Then as sudden as a flick of a switch, his persona sparked back into stability "I have already filled in the paper work, the mission desk now knows of me as your sensei which means all your future missions will now have my counsel at your disposal" He offered a bow as if to say I am welcome, almost as if he expected me to be grateful, like what he did was for my benefit.
"You are my Sensei now?" I sat up straight within my bed, gaining authority of the situation "I don't believe this! They didn't even consult me before employing you as my sensei!" I heard my own voice ring aloud with insult throughout the room in the silence of the night "How dare they, they show no respect for my own opinion on matters that concern my life choices"
Tensue looked taken aback by my reaction, his face turning pale to my red revolt against his actions "Why would you be upset by this my pupil?" He gritted his teeth to say it, to say that I am his pupil and not his subject.
I looked at his question with shock, disgusted by the implication that I would need a sensei like him "What kind of sensei would you make, a Medic ninja assigned to a duty fit field ninja like me. Have you any skills that would see me prosper as a ninja, in the war grounds of real missions, missions not assigned to medics or follow up support shinobi!" I balled my hand into a fist until the bones in my hand cracked in emphasise of my disgruntled mood "I do not want to be assigned a mission in support of real ninja, I do not want to follow the carnage and heal the wounds of battles fought long past. If anything I want to be the ninja battle hardened and ready to face the front lines of the wars to come, and to contend my skills in match to ninja that can outmatch me. I do not wish for soft victories on assignments that see no harm come my way, but rather hand me the foreground of destruction and give me death so that I can burn away its sharp pointer and leave it blunt with my victory or defeat!"
His eyes widened in what I had said and I too felt the magnitude of my own inner desires brought to life through my words "But I… It cannot be undone, once a sensei is assigned he can never be removed" Tensue stepped back before I could revoke him entirely from existence; shunning him with rage pierced eyes "However if you would recall in the ninja guild book it mentions that although a sensei cannot be unassigned, to his or her students, an additional sensei can be allocated." I calmed slightly to Tensue's supplementation, to which he gained his opportunity to explain. "I think Argies you will find more freedom in the service under a Sensei. As your Sensei I can train you in ninja arts that are not taught outside of the Jounin, and I can aid and assign you on missions that are above the level of a Chunin. In addition, I am a medic ninja and although you find this fact distasteful" He said as I turned my face with revulsion "I can teach medic Fuuinjutsu and many of the healing arts as well as the vital points of an enemy, their weaknesses in fighting against a medic student"
Now I considered this, Tensue's points were vague and intriguing. I did not know what could be made of it and I could clearly see the negatives but perhaps if I cleared my mind of what was wrong I could see what is good. "Hmm I have considered taking you on as my Sensei, but under a few conditions"
"Ha don't be preposterous, I am the sensei and you are my student. The choice is mine and I have already decided upon it" His glasses flash in the dark, seemingly without any light at all, and a crazed grin stretched its self across his face.
This time however I would not let his creepiness frighten me, despite my poor condition to retaliate. "You are absolutely wrong Tensue, I can still poison and kill you removing you as my sensei. Your skills might be vastly superior from my own, but with those skills you understand that there are enumerable means to kill with a poison that can never be detected" I ignored his outrage and explained my conditions of acceptance "If you are to be my sensei I will only accept you if I am able to choose the team that will form our division. I say this supposing you do not have a team already assigned under you and for good reason I suspect you do not, for a squad of four only one medic is ever assigned meaning medic squads are never formed." He eyed me suspiciously but said nothing and so I continued "My second condition is that as our Sensei you will be duty bound to train us, and you will be forever vigil and diligent in this obligation for I will be watchful of this training. Punishment for any failure to comply with my conditions will result in your failure to wake up the following day" I held my gaze firm cause I could not waver in my commitment to stare out the fear I had of Tensue with the fear I hoped to burn into him.
He throw back his head and laughed dramatically "Ha you take yourself too seriously, for a ninja of age 12 you speak as if your threats are credible to that of an experienced Shinobi" He swayed his hand across the air, casting aside my conditions entirely "Come back to me when you have resolved this childish fantasy that you are in charge of me"
He turned to make way for the door and so I added "Come back to you, it wouldn't surprise me if I didn't hear of your sudden death very soon. These things are never investigated properly"
…
"Lady Hokage, he seems to be a problem for our plan" Tensue bowed with his sudden appearance within the Hokage's office, her late hours found her sleeping within her Hokage's chair.
"Tensue how did you get in here?" Tsunada's eyes squinted disapprovingly "I will have to have a word with my door guards, now who is this 'he' that has interfered with our plans"
"My lady it is the boy Argies, he refuses to take me on as his sensei" He wrung his hands wearingly knowing that the Hokage would decipher his meaning.
"Take you on! I see so he refuses you as sensei and you fear this will interfere with your supervision of the child" The Hokage cleared her throat, she had just woken up and her voice was still dry from sleep. Sipping from a cup of wine she hummed her words into being "Has he given reason why?"
"He wishes I allow him to appoint a team for himself and that I train them diligently under threat that he will… kill me" Tensue offered no more but instead waited for his Hokage's response.
"So the demon shows no fear for the threat of Authority, perhaps it is best to let him select a team for himself" The Hokage turned in her chair to face the Village of the Leaf, its night time glory shining through her window like the stars in the high sky, she thought aloud her reasoning. "A little freedom may perhaps loosen his guard and even in that, in whom he chooses as part of his team, we might discover further spies and threats to our Village"
"What would you have me do Lady Hokage?" Tensue endeavoured to know more of the Hokage's tactics in dealing with interpersonal threats within the leaf.
*Carry On Here*
The Hokage turned around in her seat to arch an eyebrow at the curious medic, seeing right through his deception question. Tsunada's own history in betrayal, like the Village, was one that no one could predict. Her dealings with Orochimaru, her former team mate, was one most hard to accept; betrayal. The human experimentations Orochimaru performed on Leaf Shinobi and young children, was hard for her to accept to be true while he was still part of her squad and the Leaf. Now as Hokage she could not let such calamities befall all who served under her. The nine tales, Sasuke, Argies and even Neji were a problem to her now, they all could betray the village and all four showed potential of being very dangerous ninja in the future.
"When people suffer lose they become twisted in their desires, and their motivation to train could be nothing more than a cover for darker intentions" The images of what she saw of Orochimaru's experiments, flashed in her mind. Young children dying, bodies cut open and additional members added, all those he took from the Leaf and twisted into his agents of wicked trial. "They became so twisted" she whispered lost in her memories. To those he had changed forever in his goal for immortality; the curse seal, the DNA manipulation, the Horrors that still lived in the Land of Fire today and yes in her Leaf Village…in her.
Which was why she had Sasuke under guard by Kakashi, even more now since the attack and death of the third Hokage; she followed in her predecessor's footsteps but promised to be far more vigilant because of the curse mark. Naruto had been taken under the wing of her team mate Jiraiya and she trusted in him to keep the demon seal in check. She arranged for Neji Hyuuga to be trained by Hiashi Hyuuga hoping that the clan's head could disciple the young ninja's hatred. Argies was the only remainder she was concerned about, without a Sensei or authority to watch over his actions she was afraid there would be have no other choice.
The Hokage raised from her seat to slam her hand down on her desk "Right! I want you to pull the ninja records of all the D rank inter-village ninja." The prominence in Tsunada's voice sounded their command, the lethargic guards outside her door jumping in alarm to the sudden authoritative tone. "I want all trace of taint rooted out from my organization, and Argie's selection will help determine who we should investigate first"
…
"It's not a ninja team without a squad of three" Argies says aloud to himself while studying the stack of ninja profiles he has lain out in front of him on his bed. With the warm wrapped blankets spread under his open legs, he scrutinizes their abilities and their mission history. "Two A ranked missions, nine B ranks, 42 C, 59 D, Hmm" He hums in thought but tosses the file aside disinterested. "I haven't even spoken to the guy but just from his picture I can tell his abrasive" Argies found his tongue loose and even though he hadn't partaken of the happy drug, he found his mood to be full of joy and spontaneous chatter.
Earlier that morning Tensue returned to foreshadow Argie's mood with dread. Yet despite the medic's history of tormenting poor Argies, the young ninja found his mood lifted by his sensei's visit. The joy that his sensei delivered was more than just an uplifted to his mood, it was in the Argie's eyes and opportunity to change his future. Entering the room, Tensue found his newly establish student practising his chakra control. Wavering in his ability as his unwelcomed sensei entered the room with a stack of folders. Realising in an instant for what they were, ninja portfolios, he smirked a pleased half smile knowing that he had won. Now with Tensue departed Argies went through the files assembling a collection of promising team mates, future friends and the possible life bonds that formed in the comradery of battle.
However!
While ghosting through the files, Argies came to a conclusion he did not expect! "I have no idea what I'm looking for" He announced and with a twitch to his chakra senses he realised he was not alone in his opened door room.
"About time you realised I was here" Shikamaru laxly pushed away from the door frame he slouched against, making his way over to stand beside Argie's bed. "You should close the door next time you decided to talk to yourself, you get better acoustic" He jeered sarcastically before folding his arms and settling a scowl on the portfolio's Argies held in either hand.
"What are you going here Shikamaru?" The warm nature in Argies voice showed his words as friendly optimism rather than pointy hostility, yet Shikamaru cut down Argies hopeful optimism with a measured reason.
"It would look suspicious if I didn't at least visit once." He voiced flatly while still staring down at the ninja files Argies had scattered on his bed. "We all lied for you, I'm guessing the Hokage and Seals department have figured that much." He picked up a portfolio and stared at it; looking disinterested yet still reading on "I kind of want them to see us as friends not conspirators don't you" Shikamaru drawled out a long leisurely exhale "I couldn't be bothered with the attention"
The smile vanished from Argies face to be replaced with a worry "Do-do you really thing they are still investigating me?" He looked out over all the ninja files in front of him before looking back up at Shikamaru. "After the Hokage has intrusted me with missions vital to our Village, like our Test from the Daimyo?" The question was offered with a gulp, as a plea rather than doubt because Argies did not need to be reminded what ninja were.
Looking Argies in the eye Shikamaru reminded him of a philosophy learnt in the ninja Academy "What ninja are is paranoid, a ninja without paranoia is dead" He tossed the file he had in his hand back down on the bed, Deceased was stamped in red over the ninja's picture. "That is why any genin in the academy who was without paranoia, never did graduate. Like all these ninja you have on your bed, inter-village ninja like you were" Shikamaru looked down at Argies with a condescending smile before losing any will to hold it; falling back into a bored neutral slouch.
Argies eyes widened in anticipation before a scowl settled to realisation "You plank! Frightening me like that, Shippuden Shikamaru" Argies gulped a final time "*Sigh* Well I'm just glad I don't have to worry about you dedicating yourself to doing anything serious like obsessive suspicion. Tsunada's trying to kill me, ha" Argies laid his head back against the resting board of his bed, relieved Shikamaru was simply toying with Argies over the idea.
"What are you doing anyway?" Shikamaru asked "Looking for more genin we will be leading in future?" He sat down in a nearby chair, facing it backwards so that he could rest his head on the backrest of the chair while staring at Argies.
"Well that's an idea, looking over all the ninja we don't recognise in the village." Argies handed a few files for Shikamaru to look over while he spoke. " We aren't very aware of who is actually here besides the genin nine and everyone who attended the Chunin exams, and besides that all the ninja who don't work the usual genin jobs like the inter-village ninja assigned low level guard duty or errand missions"
"*Augh*Is this how you spend your time here?" Shikamaru grunted disapprovingly "You know you could play a game of shogi or you know, something less troublesome"
"Well it wasn't my first thought" Argies admitted "I was actually looking over these files to find a team of my own among the unassigned Genin in the leaf. It was your inkling that sparked the idea for cataloguing all these ninja into a system we can use for our future roles as Chunin"
Shikamaru snapped his fingers bring Argies attention away from the ninja profile in front of him "I almost forgot. Asuma and my dad said since the Daimyo's test, departments have been looking for games like our Bo taoshi game. They have submitted it for approval and we should hear within a month if it will be accepted"
"Ha! That's great, maybe that can be our motivation to properly learn all these ninja's skills and names" Argies started stacking up the ninja into different piles according to attack types "It would be great to be able to invite all of them personally to our game, and even the gate guards and any off duty Chunin should be able to get in on the action" The half smile Argies was known for split a path on Shikamaru's face.
"Just wait one minute, you're not trying to get some sort of advantage over me are you." Snapping his fingers again he pointed at Argies "Getting ahead of me with some sort of plan hey, huh I like that" Shikamaru began stacking ninja files into his own personal order on Argies hospital bed before a mischievous apprehended dawned on him. "If- huh that was easy, if I got caught up in that one I would be making strategies up all day and learning their names and abilities in the process."
"Shippuden, I thought I got you." Argie's smile broadened "Well if you want to avoid losing to me again I guess you will just have to study these files anyway, because I'm not just going to use the rookie nine in my Bo taoshi team"
"Your right, you plank!" Shikamaru frowned, accepting that there was retreat from Argies attack, before his eyebrows rose in straightening his back with contemplation "We should defiantly play shogi sometime, you would make an interesting opponent"
"Funny, now for why I was looking over these profiles in the first place" Argies rubbed at his sore shoulder, the one he always had wrapped in bandages, in how hard it was for him to admit "Even though I've been handed this great opportunity to select my own team, I can't seem to decide upon anyone in particular. I need your help Shikamaru, how would you choose your team" Asking for help; this was a thing Argies found most difficult in all forms and ways, it was an act of frailty that he did not want to admit was there. That he was lacking to his Guardians was a shunned thought. That he was lesser within his peers was a imagining he could never accept. That he was missing in his own judgment of self-determination in all his doings and all his commitments, was a detested sin.
Shikamaru turned in his seat with discomfort as he thought upon the look on Argies face. Answering he said "It should be someone I have a history with, even if it was just one moment in time. Otherwise they would see me at that guy who suddenly showed up and scripted them to a team and missions they possible never wanted to risk going on" He rolled his head to the side and looked away from Argies eager edging eyes, looking instead up at the ceiling lights that blinded him to the sorrow "It would also have to have an Ino and Chouji, comrades who complement my abilities and motivate me to improve myself." While looking up into the light he thought about the things he cherished in his team "Ino's abrasive aspects are very important to me, she motivates me even when I don't want to train. Chouji's unconditional adoration, his a team mate that is always there to support me even when my strategies don't plan outright"
…
I spent the next three days researching the portfolios of ninja profiles. After Shikamaru's advice two particular ninja stood out above the rest. Hikari and another I wasn't quite sure of yet. They complemented my skills and I could see how Hikari would be a good motivator as a team mate, yet this other ninja. The ninja files detail personality traits and behavioural history for a reason; it was so that assigned ninja could be placed with teams that fit. Teams had to be created with the intention of cooperation, even for temporary teams on missions it was important for ninja to mesh well in ability and collaboration. Which was where I was currently stumped, choosing an additional member for my team that wouldn't end with disaster. Once a squad was made there was no going back and no undo option; alterations were forbidden just as sensei could not be fired but additional members and leaders could be added. I'm not sure why they have this rule, maybe it was just too much paper work, but in blindly selecting my team this rule was a good incentive to not make mistakes.
"I'll just take him around the block, no need to worry Ms" I heard a familiar and unexpected voice nearing my door from the hall way. She wasn't talking about me was she, this 'him' couldn't be me could it? I waited in anticipation for her to either pass or enter through my door way. "How're you doing Argies?" She stopped dead in her tracks in seeing me up right in my bed and she waved with a delightful smile on her face.
"Tenten?" Tenten came closer to my bed while I blinked away my confusion with distraction by stacking aside the ninja files to greet her "Tenten what a… pleasant surprise" I managed as she came in for a tight hug.
"Good to see you are well Argies" She whispered in my ear before pulling way "When I heard you were still in the hospital I couldn't resist coming for a visit" She was in an awfully cherry mood today, but a glint in her eye and in the way she stood there told me something suspicious was afoot. Her personality was quite awkward in this farce, not that she wasn't a happy person already but she defiantly wasn't a girl who would show it so openly.
"Alright?" I stretched my objection out expecting something more to happen, but it didn't. "Why do I have the unnerving feeling that something is about to jump out of somewhere and bite me?" I looked around just to be sure, looking back on Tenten just in time to receive quite a hard punch on the shoulder in reply for my distrust.
"Do all you guys have to be the same, or are you all stealing your tips from Naruto's arsenal" Tenten smile beamed even harder and it almost seemed nervous. What was this? "Come on is it that hard to believe that I would visit you" before I could confirm with a very definite 'YES' she added under her breath "besides I couldn't let Shino visit before me"
"So Shino is coming over" I frowned. Shino too?
"Well no, not really anyway" Tenten placed an arm to her elbow and a hand to her chin looking off in thought, perhaps rethinking if her visit is necessary "Someone Suggested it to him as a team building exercise since you're going to be the Chunin in charge someday, but he dusted the idea off"
"And this visit was just in case you ended up being seen as cold and detached, I kind of get that" I offered a smile in return and gestured her to a seat with a sway of my hand, anything to get rid of that false smile on her face.
"Augh agh it's not going to be that easy Argies!" Tenten said moments before planting her butt down on the seat, standing up instead with protest as a tool to beat with. "I'm going to give you a tour of my family's armoury shop, that way no one can doubt I'm kind and caring just like any other Konoichi"
"Ha, sounds like a strange kind of oxymoron. Both on Konoichi being caring and my families armoury will show you I'm Kind" My explanation was ripped free as I was de-gloved from my blankets, my questions and ninja files left behind as I was dragged from my room.
…
Turns out Tenten had everything cleared with the hospital beforehand. Seems I have a reputation in the making with Naruto being the catalyst, he already has a bad record and it was now infringing on my own with a heavy flight risk notice. Walking down the corridors and finally out of the hospital, I filled my nostrils with the outside air. I had become so acclimatized to the hospital's unnatural clean air that the smell of dirt and medicated free airs was pleasing to me.
Walking through the crowds we made our way to Tenten's family business, a huge building with the words 'Weapons and armoury of the Leaf' hanging from a large sign post. It was a redundant statement, an armoury would include weapons, but I guess there are a lot of shops in the leaf that only sell replenishment stock.
In side I saw the outlandish plated armours and gilded weapons I have never seen used in practice, ninja aren't built for enduring heavy combat like war in which the battles are usually slow and degrade movement over time. We are built for stealth and speed which means lighter armour or none, and the purpose of our armour and weapons is for silent efficient killing.
"My parents mainly make business off exocentric dealers, you know the rich kind who know nothing about ninjutsu" Tenten bumped past two customers of that very type, by the horror on their faces I think they heard "Which is why we keep the good stuff in the back for when the real clients ask to see our wears" We slid into a section of the building which had more recognisable ninja gear "Although my parents aren't ninja themselves, they know a lot about fighting style weapons and Fuuinjutsu. We have the best weaponologists in the Leaf" Tenten boasted with a confident smile but I was more interested with the part where she said Fuuinjutsu which was forbidden as far as I knew, although more and more people seemed to be practising it.
Without warning!
I was yanked aside by Tenten into a low light shaded room. She shut the door rather briskly before throwing me down to the ground effortlessly. I was so stunned that I did not know whether to retaliate or run, so I just stood there half way between both.
"Don't ever do that again!" Tenten shouted at me under a hushed breath, darting a finger out at me pointedly with her other hand rested on her hip. It was nagging style jutsu, but she looked really angry as well.
"What? What did I do!" I complained in return still partly cowering, from her words, on the flour.
"This whole mess with your training accident, Hinata had me deciphering code at 4 in the morning because of your… You!" She raised a hand to her temple to stifle her rage, but I was puzzled.
"What are you talking about?" I stood up but kept my distance.
"You're a real piece of work you know that, to make Hinata keep tabs for you on her own family and the Council" Tenten's eyebrows quivered with wrath, like a furious tick ready to burst.
"Hinata? What has Hinata got to do with this, you're not making any sense Tenten" I was getting ready for her to react violently, which is why I jumped when she simply lifted up her first and handed me something.
"Here"
"What is…" It was a letter from Hinata but, a coded message with another handwriting translating it. "Tenten you…" I trailed off as I read the message. It was a double code that I couldn't read even when deciphered, but I didn't need to.
Tenten filled me in on the content of the letter "There's gossip about you within the Leaf Council and among the great ninja clans, people are beginning to fear you're a danger to the Leaf." I stammered to interject some complaint but Tenten continued "Your guardians made a lot of people uneasy during the Chunin exams, the Forest Of Death was mentioned along with the final rounds. The Hyuuga clans have revealed what they saw during these exams and articles have been uncovered from the 3rd Hokage's personal journal on what he saw through his crystal ball technique in the Forest Of Death." Tenten folded her arms and glared at me emphatically "You have to watch what you do very carefully from now on Argies, cause it's not just your neck on the line anymore"
She was right, since they covered for me their ninja livelihood is also at threat.
"Your first priority Argies is learning how to control your Ability, think of nothing else"
…
Disclaimer:
All The characters created by the Author of Naruto belong solely to Masashi Kishimoto every other character belongs to I and those Authors that have lent me their characters.
Do not replicate or reproduce any of my works or the works of the artists that have lent me their ideas, original characters, writings.
All content is subject to copyright and may not be reproduced in any form without express written consent from the author. Naruto Belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.