Hello there!

Like the title of this chapter suggests, we've reached another turning point. And there's only three chapters left after this one.
So have fun reading.

Chaos

...

Chapter 19: Turn Over a New Leaf

"The problem is we have next to no idea what's going on in Lightning Country," Sanzashi concluded the assessment of the current events. All of them were gathered for a strategic meeting at the hidden headquarters of their organisation and looked at the map Sanzashi was pointing at.

"We need to place spies in Kumogakure to glean information effecively so we can assess possible threats from there. We can use one of the offers to tie knots and forge alliances as coverage," the Nara matriarch continued. "However, we don't have enough capacity to do that; most of our members are bound by their clans and can't go on infiltration missions that might last months, even years. Our families can't spare us for more than a few days, we can't afford to lead a triple life and found new families while we already have one at home."

Touka listened as she was in deep thought. She had to face the truth, she had to fulfill her duty as Kunoichi and she had to let go of and forsake her fatuous dreams and hopes. Her life would never become what she wished it to be. "I'll go," she said, sounding almost bored.

Suddenly all eyes were on her, shocked and puzzled. Sanzashi sucked in a breath. "Irakusa-taichou, you're the commander of this squad. You're the last person to be able to go," she argued.

"Fiddlesticks," Touka deadpanned, her eyes bleak and yet determined. "I'm a member just like each of you. For months this organisation has not been run by me alone but by a whole team - including you, Sanzashi. Moreover, I'm most suited for this mission. I have no husband, I have no kids, I have no parents - nobody will miss me or find it suspicious if I leave for an indefinite amount of time. Besides, we can't send one of the fresh recruits. But I can fend for myself, I always have. So I'll go."

For a while a heavy silence ensued.

"But Irakusa-taichou. When you're not there, who shall we turn to then if all else fails?" Kinsenka asked, but her mother answered: "We'll dedicate this organisation to the Hokage, and he'll be the one to decide from now on. He'll make it all official and integrate us into the system. He has already decided to name our organisation 'Ansatsu Senjutsu Tokushu Butai' or ANBU in short."

Touka nodded affirmative. "So it is decided. This will be my last decision as Irakusa-taichou then: I'll take that mission and become our spy in Kumogakure from now on. Kingyosou and Tsubaki will be my contacts." She stood. "And don't bother to hold a farewell party or something like that. The more inconspicuous my departure becomes the likelier is the success of my mission."

Still, after the meeting many of them came up to Touka to exchange a few parting words, shake hands and wish her well. Inoko, Kanoko and Rinshi hugged her even. "Don't say nobody is going to miss you here. We will," Inoko sobbed.

"Come back safely," Kanoko whispered and Rinshi didn't want to let go for the longest time.

Kingyosou followed Touka in silence as she returned to her chalet to prepare for her mission. She walked about her quarters and packed for a life in Kumo, and he helped her. She took some time to undo the Hiraishin seal around her navel, but she succeeded. Then she let down her hair and put on one of her late mother's Yukatas, which she had been keeping as a keepsake for all these years. She chose the light blue one with the beautiful peach blossom embroidery and matching obi.

Danzo fetched her favourite Chakra blade, the one she had forged with Madara, and held it out to her. "I understand that you must go for the good of Konohagakure," he solemnly said, "There is no one else who can do it, right?"

Touka cautiously took the blade, considered it and felt her Chakra hum inside it. For a moment she closed her eyes and concentrated as if to imprint into her mind how it felt to hold it. "Right," she stated, opened her eyes with new determination, gathered her long tresses in her free hand and cut them with a single swish of her blade. Then she handed her special blade back to Danzo. "Keep this for me. The maiden named Momoka won't need any weapons."

Danzo accepted the blade and bowed. "I will," he promised, "and I will continue your work to the best of my abilities."

Touka nodded absentmindedly as she tied a bouquet of rosemary and sweet pea, and after a heavy sigh she added a dahlia and a myrtle. Her heart cleched, but her fate was already decided. "Bring this to the Hokage. You will report to him about my mission," she instructed Kingyosou and as she closed the doors to her little lair and walked towards the village gates to leave her life behind, he hurried to the Hokage palace.


A few hours later 'Momoka' was already far on her way to Kumogakure, when Tobirama-sama entered his office to find Kingyosou with the flowers. She never knew how alarmed he was to see the very same flowers Touka had placed on Madara's body and Hashirama's tomb and how he despaired when he couldn't activate the Hiraishin seal and transport to where she was now. And she never heard him bellow as he shook the flowers in his hand: "What in Rikudou Sennin's name does this mean? Stop her! Find Touka and bring her back."

Neither did she see Danzo smile to himself as he bowed before Tobirama-sama and promised to search for Touka, knowing that she had shed her life and identity as the warrior Touka Senju and become the civillian florist Momoka - knowing that she, Momoka, had accepted a proposal the late Hashirama had prompted as a sign of truce between the two countries. Mito had attempted to wed Touka off several times, but it had taken Tobirama-sama's refusal until Touka had finally changed her mind for good.

Every step on her way felt leaden, but she didn't stop and didn't dare to look back, fearing she would lose her resolve. But then she reminded herself that this was also a kind of war; and never had she backed down from war, so she wouldn't start today. Yet this war was different from everything she knew; no steel in her hands, no armour to guard her, and (probably) no bloodshed. This was the war Mokuren had spoken of: silk and soft words and meaningful glances. She wouldn't be a politician, but she would be in the right place at the right time, armed with the weapons of a normal woman only.


In the meantime, and unbeknownst to her, Tobirama had sought Mito to ask her about Touka's last message. And Mito clasped a hand over her mouth as Tobirama showed her even more flowers.

"Oh, God. What have you done?" Mito exclaimed as she examined the flowers and read the countless messages Touka had sent him over the years. He had pressed and dried them to conserve them - all of them.

Regret clenched Mito's heart as she finally, finally understood her accomplice, her comrade, her friend. Her whole heart lay now open before Mito's unbelieving eyes. If she had known beforehand, she wouldn't have pushed all these marriage candidates towards Touka's doorstep but told her dear friend that happiness did exist and she could have held it in her grasp, and she would have hit Tobirama if he had brought Touka one more lemon instead of oranges or bouquets of jonquils and red roses and red tulips. Or at least wild parsnip.

"You idiot," she chid Tobirama between sobs and hit him with the dahlia and the myrtle on the arm, "you blind idiot. Why didn't you ask me earlier? She loved you so much. But now she's gone to marry another man."

He etiolated, pain plainly visible on his usually so stern face. "No, this can't be possible."

"Why, go stop her, hold her, tell her...tell her whatever you want to tell her, but stop her!" Mito exclaimed.

"I can't!" Tobirama burried his face in his hands, his voice laced with despair. "My Hiraishin seal doesn't work. I can't reach her, and I don't know what to do, Mito!"


Far away in the Lightning Country Momoka placed a sweet smile on her face as she was introduced to the man she should marry to better the relationships between Konoha and Kumo. "Pleased to meet you, and thank you for having me. My name is Momoka," she breathed as she bowed demurely before the Raikage, her future husband and his brother.

"The pleasure is all mine, right, Ginkaku?" the man grinned and nudged his brother, who smirked back: "Right, Kinkaku. Didn't know they have these kind of beauties in the Fire Country."

"I'm definitely a lucky man," Kinkaku agreed with a nod and eyed Momoka from head to toe. Neither of them seemed to have twigged who she really was. The Raikage himself held the ceremony then and there, and she was glad they didn't make a lot of hoopla about it as she would rather get it done and over with sooner than later.

"Welcome to Kumogakure then, Momoka," the Raikage finished and clapped a big hand on Momoka's shoulder. She bowed again before she followed the KinGin-brothers to their home. Little did she know they possessed the five Treasured Tools of the Rikudou Sennin and would use them against her...