Disclaimer: Goats are like mushrooms if you shoot a duck, I'm scared of toasters. As in this does not belong to me.
Authors Note: Sorry for the wait! I hope it wasn't too bad. Please enjoy.
Chapter 16- Beyond the Veil
I spent the morning after our return making three lunch boxes. After leaving without saying goodbye I wanted to make it up to Sasuke. The mission report was still waiting to be written, but Sasuke was much more important. He was never clingy, but he liked knowing where I was. He sought me out as often as I did him.
Guests weren't really supposed to be on school grounds unsupervised, that's where being a ninja came in handy. Just by taking off my head band and letting down my hair I was able to blend right it. I quickly made my way over to the play ground where Sasuke's class was spending their lunch.
Naruto spotted me the moment I rounded the corner and barreled right into me. Sasuke, who Naruto had been talking to, ran up as well but paused right before me uncertain. Holding my arms open was all the prompting he needed as he hugged me as well.
In the book Sasuke had never been touchy feely and became even less so after the massacre. He never let himself grow attached to anyone; Naruto was his friend because he just wouldn't take no for an answer. It was strange to see how my presence had altered this. Instead of pushing us away, he held us closer.
He was still quiet and almost refused to interact with the other children, but he let us be with him. Was it because we were the only thing left? Was it because we were a constant in his life that was not taken by his brother?
"Hey guys, you miss me?" I ask them teasingly. Naruto boisterously replied with, "Yeah, Sasuke did too. He kept moping around-"and was cut off by Sasuke's punch in the arm.
"I did not," he protested loudly. Shaking my head at their antics I pull their lunches out of my bag.
"Here I made these for you two. I'm sorry I couldn't find you before leaving." Naruto was quick to forgive me when the food was offered but Sasuke was able to hold on a little longer.
"Do you guys want to hear what happened?" Naruto nods enthusiastically as Sasuke's irritation turns to burning curiosity. After we settled down I began to spin the most dramatic telling of our mission. Soon enough all anger at my sudden disappearance was forgotten as they listened to my story unfold.
The boys watched me with rapt attention as I spoke about the evil men who wanted to take the nice merchants hard earned wares. They enjoyed the flowery descriptions I gave of the port city and wanted to see the place for themselves.
In the end they settled on my recreating it on paper. My mission's report had never been so colorful. The lunch bell rang ending our time together before we were ready. I left them for the mission's desk with promises of seeing them tomorrow.
The look the Chunin at the desk gave me later that day when I finally handed my papers in was hilarious. I'd have to do something cooler next time, like an origami dog.
It was only after I got a good beating from Kurenai that afternoon that I well and truly felt at home. She was also interested in hearing how my first mission out of the village went. I was much more comfortable telling her the worries that came up during the mission.
"I feel like I should have felt worse; like I should personalize them. If I forget they are people wouldn't that make me a monster?" Kurenai took a moment to think before replying.
"You chose this life, right?"
"Yes, of course. Why?"
"Don't forget they did as well. These men you killed chose to live the life of a warrior, and to die the death of a warrior. If you feel like you shouldn't have killed for yourself, kill for your client. It is Tomio-san's life you were protecting, and by those standards you did an excellent job," Kurenai says somewhat awkwardly.
It was nice to know I wasn't the only person here who was completely unable to express their emotions. I wasn't feeling guilty, just confused. I needed her to show me the line between doing your job and being a monster. I knew I wasn't blood thirsty, but my lack of response kind of scared me.
By the time I got home and again recounted my mission to Yamanaka-san, I had become an expert at the telling. He congratulated me on a mission well done and set me to my paces. Over the past few years I had perfected my stances and speed with the Green Disposition.
That night Yamanaka-san began to incorporate even harder moves. They had me twisting and turning like a contortionist leaving me feeling like a pretzel. I was rather glad for the challenge the new moves posed.
The next morning our team fell back into the old routine of training, missions, free time. Naturally I spent all my free time with Sasuke. Even now, months after the massacre, I was scared he would do something stupid.
It was probably a bad idea to get him used to my presence especially since we were beginning to pick up missions, but I kept having mini-anxiety attacks when I didn't know where he was. It was reassuring to know that Naruto was with him, but honestly Naruto was more prone to doing stupid things than any kid I had ever known.
It was a week and a half after my return and I found myself waiting by the academy gate for the boys. I had made plans the day before to help them with their homework after finding out their grades were suffering due to too much time spent training. With me. Oops.
"Hey guys, you have all your stuff?" I ask as I see them approaching. Sasuke nods his head, but Naruto fidgets nervously.
"Actually Suikazura, I don't think I'm going to come with you tonight," he says looking down.
"Why?"
"He got invited out to ramen with Iruka-sensei," Sasuke replies before Naruto gets the chance. I had been wondering when that relationship would begin.
"Oh ok. That's fine, but what are you going to do about your homework?" Naruto brightens considerably at my words.
"I'll just copy from Sasuke tomorrow morning!" he says with a bright smile.
"No you won't," Sasuke replies.
"Yeah? Try and stop me!" Sasuke's eyes narrow at the challenge and is about to reply before I cut in.
"Alright, that's enough you two. Naruto, why don't you get your sensei to help you do your homework, because I'm kinda with Sasuke on this one." His face scrunches up in displeasure at the thought of homework ruining his ramen time.
"Come on Naruto, is it really fair to just copy all of Sasuke's hard work?" he sighs in defeat and nods his head.
"Fine, I'll get him to help me," Naruto says with a large pout. It immediately changes to anger when he notices Sasuke's victorious smirk.
"And you," I say, rounding on Sasuke, "will be doing it all on your own."
"What? But I thought you said you would help me!"
"I am. The life lesson you can gain from this is that not everything is laid in your lap. Some things, like a good grade, you have to work for," I tell him with a pointed look. He sighs heavily much like Naruto had moments before and nods his head.
"That aside if you really do need help just ask and I'll be glad to provide it." He looks up at my serious face and smiles, glad that I wasn't angry and would still help him.
"Ok," he agrees. And with that we wave good-bye to Naruto and make our way to the river bank.
My mind was occupied by all the new moves I was working on so I didn't immediately notice when Sasuke paused mid sentence. It was only when he gazed to my left that I felt the presence behind me.
I turned calmly to face the one who had interrupted us, determined not to show any surprise. A giggle almost escaped my lips when I saw the cow mask. I didn't realize they had a cow ANBU. It took a moment for me to realize that if they were an ANBU then whatever message he held came straight from the Hokage.
"Hagane Suikazura?" he asks as if he already knew the answer, which he did.
"Yes," I reply cautiously. His gaze does not waver from my face even once.
"Your presence is required in the Hokage's office," was his clipped reply. My brows furrow in confusion. Why would I be needed in his office? Only important missions were given there, and I was not of a high enough rank to be getting big missions. Unless…
"Why am I needed there?" I ask bluntly hoping he will indulge me and answer the question. His voice was irritated, but he replies all the same.
"Because the Hokage wishes to see you." Uh-Oh.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, otherwise known as the third Hokage, did not know what to do about the small girl in front of him. Many years ago when he had been informed by one of his trusted subordinates that there existed a child with an ability thought extinct, he had been very wary.
At first he had thought it was an unknown survivor of the experiment his 'lost' student had performed. After speaking this thought to Inoichi Yamanaka, his informant, the very idea had been eliminated. The child in question had been born over six years after the incident, making the possibility of her surviving it impossible.
Sarutobi had thought long and hard about the information he gathered from Inoichi that night. The girl was both quiet and loud, knowing when both were expected of her and acting upon it. Apparently she was almost as perceptive and aware of the people around her as some of those who worked for Inoichi.
This information had understandably put him on edge. There was a smart and perceptive child with an extinct ability living in his village. All fingers pointed toward planted spy. He wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt, but her existence itself was making that hard to do.
Sarutobi was confused and Inoichi's firm stance on her innocence had not helped. There was logic behind the Yamanaka's argument as well. How could a six year old that had been born and raised in the village, never having left it, be a spy? Not knowing what to make of the situation, Sarutobi had Inoichi continue to watch after the girl.
Not a year later he was again approached by Inoichi; this time the man was emitting worry from every pore, though he hid it well. He spoke about an incident at one of his fields and how the girl had done something unfamiliar to him and caused some plants to die.
Sarutobi had been unable to fully understand what the man was saying until Inoichi used his family Jutsu to project the memory straight into Sarutobi's mind. The scene was rather worrying. What had she been attempting that would have caused such a reaction to the ground around her?
He knew, however, that she herself probably did not know. The fear and pain on her face were enough to convince him of that. The following conversation had been an unpleasant one. Inoichi believed the girl needed proper training by the only person in the village who would ever be able to help her.
But the boy, who was the newest edition to ANBU, could not be spared right then. Not only was he much too young to be teaching, but he himself was still being taught the ways of ANBU. It was with a heavy conscience that he told Inoichi that he would have to continue as he had been.
Other than a rather amusing report of panicking teachers and overgrown training fields, everything pertaining to the girl seemed to have calmed.
When a child was moved ahead in their classes it was always approved by the Hokage. As sad as it was, children were often used as spies and those that graduated early always had keen eyes watching their every move. When it came time to move Itachi Uchiha ahead, the boy's files were brought to Sarutobi's desk for approval.
The files contained information on family, friends, grades, they were so detailed that they even included places the boy most frequented. This was not uncommon, but one of the two names under friends was. It amused Sarutobi that a quiet prodigy like Itachi had the name Suikazura Hagane on the list of friends. Sarutobi tucked the information away and moved on to more important things.
Word had, just as he expected, reached the ears of Danzo. When Inoichi informed him of the ANBU level personnel following the girl without his consent or order, he knew it was time to announce her presence to the council.
After clearly stating the girl as off limits Sarutobi had sent some ANBU to personally remove the girls followers. All calmed down for a while, though he often sent someone to check on her just in case. It was only after the girl graduated that he felt he could stop sending ANBU out to check on her.
Knowing of her relationship with Inoichi, Sarutobi had chosen Aoba Yamashiro as her sensei. Aoba was part of the intelligence division and one of the men let in on the girl's delicate situation. Sarutobi felt better about her safety with Aoba keeping a closer eye on her than Inoichi was able.
With the Uchiha massacre came a bucket of problems, but the most interesting news to reach his ears was the fact that Suikazura was a reincarnation. As a friend of Itachi's she had been brought in for standard questioning to prove she had not been part of the massacre.
Sarutobi had automatically brushed off the idea of reincarnation. He was a practical man and needed facts to back up anything before he believed it. But he was also a very curious man by nature, and couldn't stop the thoughts that what Inoichi was telling him could be true.
He very much wanted to question the girl himself, but knew he would never have the time what with dealing with the massacre's aftermath. It was with a sigh of regret that he sent Inoichi and Ibiki off to see if what the girl said held truth.
Later that evening the two men had come to him with fire in their eyes as they spoke of what Inoichi had found in her head. Inoichi again used his clan Jutsu to project the memory of what he had seen, and it was enough to leave Sarutobi speechless.
The girl had obviously been telling the truth about not only being a reincarnation, but being from another world altogether. The technology he had only gotten a glimpse of was amazing. The structure of the house she had been in during the first memory was different than most seen around here.
Sarutobi was curious over which would win in a race: the car or a ninja. He had known the hospital for what it was on sight, having spent many times in one as a patient and visitor. What really intrigued Sarutobi was the girls behavior.
He had seen her many times on the other side of the mission's desk, but in those situations she was always quiet and almost hiding behind her teammates. The only reason he knew her to be loud and boisterous was because of the reports he received from Inoichi and Aoba.
In these memories she was outspoken, even abrasive at times. It had saddened him to see her broken and crumpled body as it lay in the hospital bed with no hope of recovery. The look in Suikazura's eyes as she too saw this memory twisted his heart. It was a look of pain, longing, fear, and acceptance.
How strong must a person be to die? To die and remain sane? To die and be able to move on from the life they left behind? How strong must a person be to remember dieing and still be able to live? Not just breathing and eating, but living. Sarutobi could feel a growing respect for the girl.
It was decided that she could continue as she had; she was a good Shinobi and reincarnation was no reason to take her off duty or lock her in an asylum. Sarutobi had to admit though, that he was very curious. He wanted to know more about this other world, more about her, but he knew it had to wait.
The village would always be top priority and so he tucked the enigma that was Suikazura Hagane away for later and set out to visit the last Uchiha. The reports on the boy had been fairly accurate. Sasuke was not completely unresponsive, but the most of a reaction he got from the boy was after questioning him about the book he was clutching so closely to his chest.
"Suikazura is letting me borrow it," was the only reply Sarutobi got. He had not realized that the girl had been close to Sasuke as well. In fact the more he asked around about the girl, the more he could see her wheedling her way into the lives of others.
It was not only Sasuke and Itachi she was friends with, but the Inuzuka heirs, as well as half of the generations under her. Sarutobi learned of her budding friendship with Kurenai Yuhei, a woman overcoming the ninja ranks fast. The most surprising of the girls acquaintances had come straight from the source; Naruto.
The boy happily spoke of the girl he called friend. Naruto told him how she had invited him to join their game personally and how she always made sure that every Dead Last was included. Naruto only ever spoke of her with deep admiration.
Sarutobi often referred to the younger generation as the will of fire, but could no longer see Suikazura as part of that. She reminded him more of the breeze that fed the flames. Like the wind she danced around touching the lives of many, giving just enough of a push in the right direction before moving on to the next one.
How could one little girl, no matter how special, have gained such an influence over the future? There was no other way to describe it. She was friends with young and old; she encouraged the children and challenged those working hard like Kurenai.
Sarutobi thought the girls name fitting for, just like a weed, she was quickly rooting herself in his village. His curiosity was burning brighter than any flame, fueled by years of unanswered questions. This was how Sarutobi found himself sitting in his office with said girl.
She had never been alone with him and seemed extremely uncomfortable, constantly fiddling with her bangs trying to cover her face in a nervous gesture. Sarutobi decided to take pity on the girl and spoke first.
"Good evening, Suikazura. I hope I haven't interrupted anything important?" She looked up, an incredulous expression on her face.
"I can assure you it was nothing as important as a talk with the Hokage," she said before clamping her mouth shut as if worried he may get upset over her casual way of speaking to him. Despite what she may think, Sarutobi was actually quite amused by her response and it showed in the smile he gave her.
"You bring up a good point," he says with a light chuckle. She seemed to calm when she realized that he was un-offended. Leaning forward in his seat, Sarutobi decided to move past the pleasantries.
"I assume you know why you are here, correct?"
"Um, sorta? Is it something to do with my ability? Or is it the whole reincarnation thing? Unless it's both…" she trails off. She sounded so unsure.
"I must admit I am very curious about both. Your ability greatly resembles the Jutsu used by the first Hokage, however, the ability is supposed to be extinct. That and the fact that it is indeed something different, no matter how small that difference is, makes you what is called a First. Do you know what that is?" She seemed confused before catching on.
"Is that someone with an ability that does not come from an established clan?"
"Correct. Being a first can be dangerous. There have been more than you may think. The thing is no clan likes the idea of new bloodlines popping up under their very noses. Sadly, because of this, not many last," her eyes were wide at the meaning behind the Hokage's words. Suikazura looked away from the Hokage's eyes, clearly disturbed.
"I have, for the most part been able to keep your existence on the down low. However there are those even I cannot stop. You remember when you had been followed?" Sarutobi asked intent on giving her as much information about her situation as possible. Suikazura nodded her head to show she remembered, but kept silent content on letting the Hokage do the talking.
"A man by the name of Danzo sent his men to watch you. He used to be the leader of an organization called Root, often taking talented young children under his wing," Sarutobi began.
"Used to?" the girl asked, confused by his wording.
"The organization was disbanded," was the Hokage's reply.
"But if it was disbanded like you said, why would he have been interested in me?" The Hokage gave her a grim smile before answering.
"To the onlooker it has been disbanded, but the truth is that they are still in existence." Suikazura's eyebrows furrow in thought.
"This may seem a little off topic, but why are you telling me all this Hokage-sama? Wouldn't someone get upset that I know all of this?" The Hokage smiled at her with a mischievous glint in his eye as he replied.
"There are many who would be absolutely outraged that I was telling you all of this." The corner of the girls mouth twitched in amusement before she once again had control over her expression.
"If that is true then why are you telling me all of this?"
"I cannot always be watching you to make sure you are safe. Even your sensei is unable to be with you at all times. I do not like burdening you with the information that you are not safe even inside your village, it is the place you should be able to let your guard down. But the truth is that you may have to keep yourself safe when no one else is able, and how would you do that without knowledge of the existing threat?"
"I understand, thank you Hokage-sama," the girl says, not meeting his eyes as she gazes at her lap. Sarutobi had thought long and hard about how much information he would give her. Because she was older the chance of Danzo kidnapping her at this point were close to none, but he felt she needed to know that even if she was not in danger of being kidnapped she was still being watched. Not as closely as before, but watched all the same.
He knew that he was probably leaving her with more questions than answers, but he could not divulge any more information. He would not tell her of the type of training she would have had to go through, nor the type of missions she would have been sent on; he did not want to scare her.
He was glad that the girl was able to understand the delicacy of her situation. Sarutobi was also happy that she did not feel the need to ask more questions. It was odd that she didn't but he did not think more on it.
"There is one more thing I would like to discuss with you tonight," the Hokage said, with a glint in his eye. She looked confused for a moment before she smiled nervously in understanding.
"About my reincarnation?"
"Yes. I find it all very intriguing. You must stop me if I ask anything too personal. I'm afraid I cannot control myself when it comes to learning new things."
"Don't worry I won't get offended, I have brothers," was her reply. Sarutobi could not stop the laughter at her insinuation that she was immune to being offended because of her brothers. He had of course spoken with them on many occasions, and knew them to be a handful.
"Well then if you don't mind my asking, how old were you when you died?"
"Um, seventeen."
"And you remember everything?"
"Yes."
"Then would that make you thirty mentally?" Her eyes widen as she looks up at Sarutobi surprised.
"I didn't realize I was that old already…" he raised an eyebrow at her response and smiled when she clapped her hands over her mouth as if to take back her words.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to imply that thirty was old, especially when you must be much older- I mean, you aren't-"she paused and took a long steadying breath before lowering her head and looking at her lap.
"I am very sorry Hokage-sama, please forgive my loss of control over my tongue," she said seriously, face completely red. Sarutobi did not even hear her last apology, too caught up in his laughter.
"I am not offended. I have heard much worse, but alas we are off topic."
"Sorry," she got in one final time.
"Tell me, as a baby, were you perfectly aware?" he asked. She took a moment to think over her answer before replying.
"Yes my mind was my own. The real thing that threw me off was being in a smaller body. I couldn't see and I couldn't really move. Everything around me was so big," she spoke with a faraway look in her eyes. Sarutobi sat silently waiting for her to continue.
"It was weird. My brain had yet to develop, but there I was with things on my mind no child could understand. I knew how to talk and how to move, but my body would not listen. It was as if my whole body had been rewired. It took me years to relearn everything." Sarutobi watched her as she spoke and was slightly amazed at the change in her.
Her physical appearance was that of a thirteen year old, but he could see every year her mind had to boast through her eyes. Sarutobi had many more questions he wanted to ask her, but a glance out the window had him sending her home instead.
"As much as I wish to continue this conversation it is getting late, and your parents will be worried if you do not get home soon," he says ruefully. Suikazura blinked and looked out the window as well only then noticing how late it had gotten.
"Before you go, however, I must apologize for how long it has taken me to approach you. We should have sat down to talk like this long before now."
"That's okay, Hokage-sama. Had you spoken with me any time before now I'd have thought you were going to put me in an institute or jail or something." Sarutobi could understand her thinking she would be sent to an institute, but wanted to know why she thought she could be sent to jail.
"Jail?" she shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
"I'm paranoid by nature and after the whole thing with Itachi…" she trailed off. Sarutobi's eyes softened when he realized what had had her so worried.
"Itachi acted on his own. That was proven when you were questioned." She smiled sadly at him and nodded her head. Even after all this questioning, Sarutobi still felt like she was hiding something.
"If something bothers you, please feel free to see me about it in the future."
"Thank you," she tells him with a smile as she gets out of her seat.
"Goodnight," he says as she makes her way out of his office. A muffled 'night' came from the other side of the door. Sarutobi settled comfortably back in his chair, prepared for a long night of paper work.
Well that could have gone worse, I tell myself as I make my way out of the big red mansion. I was rather surprised when he actually told me about Root, but none of what he said was new to me.
Most of the time he had seemed more interested in the reincarnation itself, never asking about the world I came from. I was grateful he hadn't. No matter how good a liar I was, I was pretty sure he would have caught on.
It was relieving to have a blunt conversation with him. We were both able to acknowledge each other. Before I had been too scared of his reaction to bring anything up in front of him, but now that we had spoken he felt more approachable.
He no longer felt like the bad guy which made life just a little bit easier. Before I knew it, I was at home in bed fast asleep.
I feel like this was one of those chapters where nothing happened but something happened. Oh well. Hope you enjoyed, tell me what you thought.
ToeGirth,
Signing Out