Chaos herself's note:

Hello again!

Glad you're still with me. :) In this chapter you should be ready for a farewell and a heartily welcome, and certainly for some preparation. Because, as you know, war is coming! ;)
Enjoy and have fun reading.

Chaos

...

Chapter 14: Flowers Bloom and Flowers Wilt

On her way to the blacksmith Touka overheard the civillians' chatter. The upcoming election was the topic of the day. Tobirama had officially introduced the plan, and everyone had jumped at the idea. Apparently there were many people afraid of an Uchiha reign, and even more people looking up to Hashirama-sama and rooting for him. So far it seemed as though their work would pay off. Hopefully. But they would see soon.

The warrior's senses were attuned to her surroundings generally; she assumed spies stealthed in every shadow and assailants lurked behind every corner. Watching her, waiting for an opening. But Touka wouldn't give them any. She was ready to fight, ready to kill and die for her cause, ready to face whatever the enemy might throw at her.

The Hyuuga sisters had found three spies during their mission, and together with Aconeito and Irakusa the two new recruits had eliminated the threats hands down. But if they were this successful on their first day of operation, there would be more enemies hidden among the crowd, Touka was sure.

As she walked the streets of Konohagakure the Kunoichi watched every face she met with caution; she was suspicious of their smiles and polite greetings, questioned their benevolence and innocence instinctively. They might be sent by the enemy or corrupted by them, bribed into obedience; spies, traitors.

Even the blacksmith, who greeted her by her first name and gave her a regular customer discount, might not be who he appeared. Still Touka grinned and chatted with him as if nothing was the matter. She would not give away her mistrust and therefore make the other person wary of her.

So she inspected the fine blades the man had on offer, always ready to chuck them at anyone who dared to ambush her as she noted on the sharpness, balance and angle of sharpening. Blunt. But it was still sufficient to kill a foe with. She would have a lot to do until they were as sharp as she liked them to be, though.

"I take all of these," she decided and placed an arm full of Kunai, Shuriken, Senbon, Yari, Wakizashi and Tantou on the counter.

"You seem to have grand plans, Touka-san. War is coming, right?" the blacksmith laughed, delighted, as she paid him. He stemmed his big fists on his hip. "Thank you and come again."

"Always, Shoutaro-san, always," she smiled back at him, winked and grabbed her acquisitions. She knew, he didn't believe in another war. But at least he would help her be ready when it came.

As the warrior marched back to her lair, she quietly dared anyone to come at her and have her test her new weapons. Nobody tied though. She was almost disappointed.


Bara and Sumire proved themselves quite efficient. As they had grown up and trained together, they had great teamwork. So Touka was quite pleased when they brought the heads of a group of five traitors, who they had exposed and eliminated.

This was the most progress in such a short amount of time they had made ever since their squad was founded.

But it was not enough. The squad commander was convinced, if there was one organised traitor group, there would be others. And they had to be caught before the election or else they might sabotage it.

Once Hashirama-sama's position as official leader of the village would be secured, everything would be easier, Touka assumed. Then everyone had to show their true colours as they voted - and their squad would finally know who sided with the Uchiha and who stood by the Senju; they would know who to watch closely and who they could consider their ally for now.

However, allies were few these days. And one of them was about to sally. Touka had prepared Jigitarisu to the best of her abilities, so the girl would be able to live in a desert region and fend for herself as she was on her own. Together they had devised a cover story for her that would also ensure her viability in a foreign village. She would still be an orphan, a street artist, harmless. Jigitarisu's weapons of choice would be poison and wire if she ever had to defend herself or found opportunities to get rid of Konohagakure's enemies inconspicuously.

On the evening before the youngest Kunoichi of their squad's leave Inoko, Rinshi and Kanoko thew a little farewell party for Chiyo; Touka humoured them and led the way. Chiyo was currently 'saying goodbye' to the plants in Touka's greenhouse when the teenage girls and their squad commander surprised her and moved her to tears; in the end Chiyo was a kid after all. But even while she cried, she smiled, happy to have found friends here: "Thank you." She hugged each of them once, even Touka.

Later they sat together in Touka's chalet, drank tea and rememberd their time together as a team. Chiyo showed her comrades the equipment she and Touka had crafted for her life in Suna: a puppet theatre. So the girl did her very first puppet show to thank her three friends and mentor. Chiyo enacted the story of their squad with her puppets. She was a good story teller, but had a pitch dark humour. At the end of the show all of the puppets had been killed. The three clan girls were quite shocked.

"Just kidding," Chiyo chuckled. Touka crossed her arms and smiled to herself. She didn't have to worry about Jigitarisu, she figured. And she would have a very capable spy in Suna.


But as soon as Jigitarisu was gone, Touka needed to find a replacement here in Konoha. As she generally intended to place Bara in a team with Tsubaki and Aconeito, Sumire was free to act on her own. So Touka summoned Sumire secretly to her quarters. The initial test and missions had convinced the wary warrior that she could put her cautious trust in Raiko Hyuuga.

"I feel most honoured to be of your service, Irakusa-taichou," Sumire bowed deeply before her, then she received Tobirama's Hiraishin seal, as he was present at this most clandestine meeting as well. Touka had insisted, for he should know who was part of her circle, too. The same applied to Sanzashi and Tsubaki, the other members of her team within the team.


A few days later the whole squad - minus Mokuren, whose identity was still a mystery to all of the Kunoichi present, except Touka - met at their favourite Kissaten for tea.

"Ladies," Touka called for attention as she approached the table of chatting women and grinned, as crafty as a cartload of monkeys. "May I introduce the newest addition to our regular 'coffee klatsch' meeting?" She stepped to the side and put the Kunoichi behind her into focus.

Demurely the woman bowed and shyly smiled at them. "Pleased to meet you all. I'm Kasumi Uchiha," she murmured and blushed, clearly embarrassed to see the other clan ladies exchange meaningful glances.

Sanzashi raised a brow at Touka, but said nothing. Her daughter and her friends whispered. But Youko Inuzuka was the first to break the ice and waved at Kasumi: "Over here, Kasumi-san. You can sit next to me."

"Thank you," Kasumi nodded eagerly and hurried to Youko's side, happy to join the group.

Touka nodded at her approvingly, then sat between Kadohime Nara and Hotaru Aburame. "For now she's cleared. But I want you to keep her under surveillance. If she tries something funny, don't hesitate to kill her and her brat," she whispered into Hotaru's ear and the Aburame heiress nodded. Then she shot Kadohime a reassuring glance. "Well, then," Touka raised her voice for everyone of their group to hear, "Let's order some tea and welcome our new member heartily!"

The Kunoichi applauded, and once everyone had their cups filled the merry chatter began. Kasumi was well recceived and soon she started to open up and engaged in the conversation like she had always been part of their group.

'Yuri' would be a good addition to their cause as she could provide insight into the Uchiha district and findings regarding Madara's schemes, Touka had concluded. And because she was eager to work under Mito at the hospital, they had now another healer up their sleeves, who could fill in the gap Jigitarisu left behind regarding her knowledge about poisons. Her lily-mask was already out of the oven and ready to be worn.

For now Touka gave Kasumi the benefit of the doubt after the thorough acid test, but she still didn't trust the Uchiha, even though she seemed genuinely loyal to the Senju. Which was why she set Tsubaki at Kasumi's heels. Then again, she mistrusted almost everyone these days.

Her clandestine circle consisted of only four Kunoichi, of which one was on a faraway journey from which she was likely never to return. Alas, even towards these four people Touka felt slightly wary. Was there even someone, anyone at all, she could truly trust beside Tobirama and herself?

The lilac was overgrowing her chalet, and she watered it day by day, poured her doubts onto it, and the fragrant flower thanked her by blooming splendidly.