Chapter 6: Pl(f)ucking feathers
Anbu was something different.
For once, their identity wasn't always that obvious.
Something, a seal maybe, made the voice get distorted and impossible to place it with a familiar name.
There was something empowering and peaceful about the porcelain that seemed to call on me every time I put the mask on.
Everyone sounded the same, acted the same, stripped of their status, rank and name they wore Outside in the clear air, away from the mask.
They were just the animal mask they represent and the status given to them by their leading official, who was either the Hokage himself, or more commonly another mask.
Anbu were something else. Cruel and unforgiving. An entity of their own that doesn't forget. Never forgets.
"Stop leaning on the Kawarimi in this way. It gives your intention away."
One Kawarimi used to evade a hit, only to be cut right down.
The moment I reappeared, the Anbu Hawk shoved a knee into my stomach, punching out all of the air from my lungs, showing me to the ground defenseless.
I got back up, gasping for air threw the too small breathing holes in my Bird mask, the smell of the burn cream Kaa-chan gave me making everything worse.
Hawk looked like any other Anbu, but the difference was the band stitched on his uniforms sleeve, right under his shoulder.
It identified him as a Captain, I think.
I wasn't given any details of the organization yet, but I wasn't sent here to ask stupid questions. I was here to follow, listen and learn, no questions asked.
Hawk was an efficient teacher, just like Nobu, but the Anbu didn't possess any shred of humanity. He expected nothing less but pure, all but mindless obedience.
Like Takeshi the night before, Hawk showed me just how much there was to learn, but I touched the ground less, slowly leaving the Kawarimi besides, but not entirely giving it up. Putting it aside, always in wait for an opportunity. Labeled as not usable until I found a better way to use it. A safer and more efficient way.
I tried not to get caught making the same mistakes, but it was hard, yet not entirely impossible.
Dinner time came impossibly slow, but when I was dismissed, told to return tomorrow, I didn't give a passing thought before getting the fuck away, once a medic, just another nameless Anbu Lizard, checked for any important injury.
Everything hurt, everything ached, everything felt but I was never this happy when my back laid down on the floor of aunts dining room. The scent of food was amazing and the taste was even better, even though it hurt to chew and swallow.
Then I remembered uncle will give me a lesson on Genjutsu after I finished eating and my soul wanted to cry. The lull of my bed was so sweet…
But then I got up from the table, thanked for the meal and followed uncle outside.
The back of his house was still littered in tiny, sharp toothpicks. He mumbled something about getting a Genin team to clear it up before turning his focus at me. He spoke, I listened. He demonstrated, I couldn't replicate it, because chakra… He caught me in a Genjutsu, I abused the insides of my cheek to get out. He shook his head in minor disapproval, but he did agree that was another way to get out. I remembered that I was allowed to ask questions.
"How can you identify being under Genjutsu if you can't feel chakra?" because it wasn't always about distorted perception.
"The Uchiha are known for their prowess in Genjutsu because they are well attuned with their chakra." He closed his eyes briefly, as his words didn't mean anything to me. "You will learn."
He caught me into a few more Genjutsu that shouldn't allow me to move, so I couldn't inflict myself pain to get out. But I still somehow managed to move and got out… maybe he didn't want to up the strength of the Genjutsu?
"Good. Remember that feeling." He praised, nodding in approval of my apparent success… I was too tired to know what I had done. I just wanted to go sleep… Fugaku gave me another lesson concerning the Uchiha, history I faintly remember knowing, before dismissing me. I even fainter remember getting an extra quick shower and when I just plopped down on my bed (I hopped it was the bed) I was out before my head hit the pillow.
When I woke the next morning, I cursed out loud. The tiredness from last night was gone, my energy back up as it was the morning before. I went through my morning routine, went to my parents' house, because my aunt and uncle were already out when I woke up, a note telling me to go to the house next.
Kami did the fool smell great.
It made me wonder if the way Kaa-chan and aunt cocking changed from yesterday. When I asked Kaa-chan about it, voice full of wonder, because it was food, Kaa-chan laughed sweetly at me, explained to me that that was my body needing more calories to burn into chakra.
Oh…
"The food is still so delicious." My chakra seemed to be growing. I still gave her a wide grin and a quick kiss as I was preparing to go out. She chuckled at me, ruffling my hair as I snatched a chocolate lollypop of the table and went out.
What? I was 8. Of course, there would be chocolate lollies offered to me.
I went back into the Anbu headquarters, the plastic stick half gnawed once I got there. Always returned back, no matter what abuse I was returning to.
It wasn't like there was something different in Anbu. The teaching process was still the same, but here you wanted to learn fast, needed to learn fast if you didn't want to get beaten up. The hits weren't softened like when Nobu, Takeshi or Fugaku taught me.
Today, a different Anbu taught me.
Rat wasn't any different from Hawk, but unlike Hawk, he didn't have band stitched on his sleeve. Regular Anbu, maybe.
The exercise was the same as yesterday, but unlike Hawk, Rat preferred Genjutsu over Taijutsu.
I used what uncle taught me yesterday, the information coming to me through the fog of yesterday's tiredness, blending into today's headache. Rat's Genjutsu was more… cruel than Fugaku's was. After the first Genjutsu Rat realized how it was that I got out and I was assaulted by a sense of not being able to move.
It was weird, not being able to move, knowing you could. Not able to breathe, even though you know you obviously, you can. Uncle told me I could learn to feel my chakra, but no matter how I struggled or imagined my chakra to move, I couldn't get out. But Rat didn't stop, didn't let me stop, getting more and more cruel at every shift of the surroundings and situation he effortlessly showed me into.
And I couldn't get out, so he became worse.
"Perhaps you need motivation." Rats voice softly assaulted my senses as people I knew started to appear before me. The same people I refused to acknowledge that I love.
Oh, he wouldn't dare…
My breathing hitched, heart beating like a wild animal, slamming up into my head, screaming to me to do something. Anything, so I wouldn't be forced to watch, terrified what cruel joke Rat would make me watch. It felt like a dream you know would be scary and you want to wake up, but couldn't. it was a matter of moment, you knew…
"If you don't do anything, they will get hurt." A voice said, sounding cruel.
It wasn't real, it can't be real- I told myself, any of it won't be real, because it was just a Genjutsu. I tried to block it out, but the danger was getting closer, it was already too close.
I won't get in time to save them.
The thought was horrible, as I ran and ran- not away, but toward them where they stud in the deep forest. The forest was thick, full of leaves, hard to see.
Uncle and Takeshi are with them, they will see danger, won't they? They had to!
I assured myself, but I knew it wasn't true.
Neither of them was watching, attention focused on either Mikoto or Kaa-chan. They seemed to enjoy themselves, not seemed to notice I was even missing.
Like I didn't exist.
Something hurt in my chest, but I squashed the feeling. I wanted to scream, but couldn't. I wanted to curse, but that was a waste of time. I needed to save them, I needed to protect. That was my duty toward them, right? It was my debt to pay, even if it meant being alone. I will always protect them, even if it meant never seeing them again.
Strange calmness washed over me, but I refused to give into the endless blackness. I wanted to sleep, to just… No, I thought sternly. Not yet.
The sense of dread kept me running. Made me keep going.
I will never be able to reach in time…
Something caught my foot and I fell down.
But I always get up.
I didn't this time, because wines and roots raised from the ground, wrapped itself around me, pulling me back down, to my knees. I reached toward where my family was, but wasn't allowed to because the wines tugged.
My face slammed onto the dirt ground, grains of dirt filling my nose and mouth as I breath in, my body seemed to became the ground on which the Danger walked on. Stomped. Yanked and tugged. Passed over me and sprung toward them, terrifying and horrible as it was. But it forgot to crush my spirit when it broke everything else.
I didn't cry when the Danger was about to get to them, but I begged.
Please don't. Please stop… why are you showing me this…. Please.
Please what? You are a Shinobi now- I didn't know who that was. – Get up- get up.
I got up. Yet I didn't. because the wines didn't allow me, kept me dragging deeper. Tugged.
Tugged and yanked.
I kept my head up, struggled against the wines, against my fear, desperate to breathe. The wines were easy to get rid, once I, somehow, figured they were easy to scare off, unlike the fear. How to defeat yourself, to defeat fear? If I stand useless, they will be gone.
Dead.
Such terrifying word.
Then I saw it. The Danger.
The most hideous rat I ever saw. Looming, face looking weird, squashed.
No.
Not an animal. That was a mask. Mask…
Rat. Anbu. Genjutsu.
Nothing of this was real.
They were safe.
You sick son of a bitch Rat… I hopped he heard that.
I hopped he felt it. What was it? It burned, yet it didn't.
What was it?
Something sweet and dark.
It made me feel as if I could do anything.
Everything.
I tried to push, remembering threw the haze that I should try to get out.
Out from where? Wasn't I already in?
Pushed, nothing happened.
Showed, it started to get worse.
Brushed, Kami it was coming again.
It tugged, I could feel it. Where did it go?
What was this?
A scream reached me. You sick fuck…
I couldn't get out. Never able to break out.
It was suffocating.
Too much…
I should counter… somehow. Uncle explained how Genjutsu was usually done.
Tug. Tug.
What was this?
It felt safe… it wasn't mine.
Mine? Mine what? Whose what!?
A voice called my name. I shivered, feeling nothing anymore. I was falling.
How can one shiver if he feels nothing…?
I opened my eyes. When did I closed them?
Am I hallucinating now!?
There was a rat in front of me. Its nose twitched.
It was transparent and blue.
Huh… was that chakra?
Its looks like a rat… why?
But it wasn't just a rat. It was everywhere. Everything.
Chakra that made the Genjutsu.
I tried to snatch it, but it slipped pass my fingers. It wasn't something one could get a hold off.
I tried to feel it, it Pulled on me. At the back of my mind… somewhere far.
I felt it.
"Bird."
No.
It didn't look like a bird to me. There were no feathers…
But it still flew pass me, felt it going through my fingers. Even though it missed wings…
"Bird." Louder this time. A warning.
I told you it wasn't a bird...
My fingers twitched.
It flew away. Lost.
Hoarse breathing, lungs screaming. Knees hurting when the hit the concrete floor.
Hands making a smashing noise when they slapped the same floor, keeping my face from slamming onto the hard concrete.
There were wet, fat beads of sweat everywhere on me.
"Bird. Focus." Rats voice made me look up where he was still standing.
A moment passed since I was caught in the Genjutsu. It felt a lifetime ago. I was down… needed to get up.
I got up.
"Again." His emotionless voice echoed through the Anbu training hall.
No more progress was made that day.
I remember being hollow when I got home. I don't remember getting there, but I know that my own legs got me there.
Again, laying on my back in the dining room, waiting the few moments until dinner was served, staring blankly at the ceiling.
"How was training today?" I was asked. Kaa-chan was just finishing up dinner.
"Did more exercise today. Isaki-sensei said I was getting the grip on chakra." I said with a sigh. Rat did say I made progress, before dismissing me for the day. Once Lizard cleared me off, I got the fuck away.
I was aware that everything I felt would go away in the morning and I would be back for more.
I was a sadist, I realized. Something not quite working as it should in the head.
"Sounds like lots of work." She hummed, unconcerned. Outside, some clan kids were playing with each other, their screams of delight getting lost to me. All I heard was screaming… I refrained from curling in a fetal position.
"Aa." I agreed vaguely.
A whole, full day, worth of spiders, pits full of snakes, vague sense of danger… all hollered into real time 12 hours. Rat didn't use the danger of my family again, but the thought of experiencing something like that again, made me push away anything he shot my way. He either couldn't, or didn't cast another one as strong as the first. I couldn't tell. Not that breaking out any of it was easy, but it didn't end me being pushed to my knees and hands.
I didn't beg anymore, just learned to get out… break out from the Genjutsu, but I still didn't get to feel my chakra like I did back then with the bird… I was probably hallucinating, but… the feeling felt real, fellable.
Kaa-chan put the food on the table at the exact moment Takeshi came into the house. I hauled myself up into a sitting position. We both greeted him. He greeted back.
"It good that you finished with your work earlier." Kaa-chan said gently, breaking the silence that fell as we ate. It was a comfortable one, almost making me fall asleep, but in the back of my head I knew it would cause me to face plant into my bowl of soup, so I didn't allow myself to doze off.
Did I mention the food was so good?
"Iie." Takeshi said a tad bit softly, or did I just dozed off. I sat up straighter, noting how slouched down I was. "I needed to check up on something here before I have to go back." A stack of paper laid beside him on the floor. It wasn't uncommon for him to work from home. His study was an impressive collection of neatly stacked scrolls.
"Do you need to get back right now?" Kaa-chan sounded disappointed, but she understood. Being pregnant meant being off duty. She must have been bored to death all day alone.
"They can wait a bit longer." He assured, a tone softer than he usually would use. I was dozing off again… Kaa-chan hummed softly and they chatted about something I consciously dozed by.
I couldn't sleep yet, the scroll on Genjutsu poked me uncomfortably in my back pocket. I put it there on purpose, so I wouldn't fall asleep.
"Maki." Even if they didn't talk to me, it was peaceful hearing their murmur. Like listening to a lullaby…
"Maki, focus." They were talking to me, weren't they?
"I'm awake." I slurred, opening my eyes just to see Takeshi pull his hand back. I rubbed the spot where he poked me, blinking slowly.
"Turn in earlier today. You will catch up with your study another time." It did sound as a good idea, when he put it like that.
"Cantsleepyetsir." I closed my eyes again, shoulders slumping down, along with my perfect etiquette seiza. I purposely didn't use the seiza chair, although it was usually used for meditation not dinner. A pillow would have been more appropriate and both Kaa-chan and Takeshi used it, but I didn't as it was too soft. So, when my stance lowered and butt got even closer to my toes, the scroll that slicked out from my back pocket, stuck painfully into my toes. Ninja magic and all...
My eyes shot open, eyes getting too wide- because the winesgottome and I snatched at them, catching myself as there was only the Genjutsu scroll in my hand, not Rats wines.
"I need to study." Because I don't want to ever be caught I Rats Genjutsu if I could help it. Heart beating wildly in my chest, my behavior got me odd looks.
"Are you feeling well, dear?" Kaa-chan asked me concerned. I stiffened a smile, because what else could I do?
"Hai, Kaa-chan." She looked reluctant, but the smile had to do the trick because she didn't question more.
The look Takeshi gave me told me he wasn't buying my words.
"I want to find you asleep when I return home." He left no space for arguing.
"Hai, Tou-san." I accepted easily. It's not as if I'd be able to keep my eyes open for too long anyway.
He left back to work and while Kaa-chan did the dishes, I sat by the table, propped with the hard seiza chair while reading the scroll on Genjutsu.
The wooden thing made sleeping too uncomfortable for some reason.
I didn't bother reading from the beginning, skimming to the part that interested me most that uncle didn't cover yesterday because I was too tired.
Casting
To cast a Genjutsu, the user needs to lock onto the Receiver's chakra and infuse it with its own chakra. The strength and intensity of the Genjutsu depends on the amount and intensity of the chakra used.
Sometimes a sensation of the Tug and Pull can acure during this moment, as the chakra of the Castor and Receiver clash. If the Castor doesn't guard his chakra well, the Receiver can easily overtake the intended Genjutsu and turn the Jutsu into his favor.
The intensity can be manipulated in several ways…
There was nothing about the Tug and Pull in the next paragraph. I rolled the scroll further, trying to find something more about it, but found nothing. I hummed under my breath.
"Kaa-chan?" she paused with her work, glancing behind her to look at me.
"Yes, Maki-chan?" she wiped her hands dry as she turned to face me.
"The scroll mentions the Tug and Pull while casting Genjutsu." I called up on what I wanted to know, but saw my mistake and fixed it before questions could be asked.
"Isaki-sensei thought that learning Genjutsu would help me with my chakra problem. It did and I get the Tug and Pull. What I don't understand how to Tug and Pull?" I summarized. Kaa-chan looked pleasantly surprised.
"You managed to break out from the Genjutsu, yes? Hadn't you just disrupted your chakra system then? The principle should be the same…" She explained carefully. There was nothing worse than a misguiding advice. I clicked with my tongue.
"I don't know… I just did- something." I frowned. "I felt the Tug and I think Pull too, but I couldn't… grasp it." Chakra was energy after all.
"Takeshi would know this better… Genjutsu isn't my field, but I understand your point." Abandoning her house chore, Kaa-chan took the seat opposite me.
"When I use medical Jutsu, it's easier to touch others chakra because I don't have to pinpoint a specific chakra wave. Also, I usually use Tug, coax the body to speed up the recovery. Pull isn't acceptable in Irjoninjutsu because it is the opposite of Tug, as it inflicts damage." She explained
"I feel others chakra when if brushes against mine and then I proceed accordingly." It had sense that to sense chakra, you needed chakra. But what when you can't willingly manipulate your own chakra. I voiced my thought.
"Hmm." She hummed "You can let others reach your chakra first, but that isn't always safe, especially when an enemy is involved." She warned.
"You can't will your chakra to always do what you want." It seemed ridiculous how difficult it was explaining how do you really use chakra. It had sense, because chakra was so long part of this world. Just like… mobile phones in my old. It was something one could learn to use, but it might never be as fluid as at someone who uses it his whole life.
Yes, there were hand signs, tekensu, chakra paths… I got all that, but… it seemed not to be enough. Not every time, at least.
"Then how can you manipulate your chakra when hand seals and moldings doesn't work?" I frowned. It had no sense that chakra sometimes worked and sometimes not. Chakra always is, it can't just… not be here.
"Sometimes…" Kaa-chan started carefully. "You need to let chakra guide you."
"Guide me?" It sounded like a really bad idea. Kaa-chan nodded.
"You learned the Kawarimi by molding chakra threw the hand seals. With practice, you lose the need to do that, because your body already knows what to do." She explained.
"Like muscle memory…" I trailed off. She nodded.
What memory did turn the tip of the fire ball into a dragon that went rawr?
I sure as hell didn't walked on Earth shooting Dragons about…
"Is it possible to manipulate chakra… " I signed irritably. "differently." I made a vague motion with my hand. I probably made no sense so I tried to elaborate.
"Sometimes…" I frowned. I couldn't quite say anything that involved todays training because it would raise questions… asking Hawk or Rat was off-limits too and Nobu would be back in a month. I didn't have any explanations on the dragon head part…
I could seek out Minato-sensei and ask him…
Like… not.
"Sometimes you need to give yourself time." Kaa-san said gently. "You can't force something that your body isn't ready to do. Give yourself time, Maki-chan. It is wonderful that you are starting to get the feel of chakra. That is good. The rest will come to you if you allow it to come to you, gradually." I didn't have choice but to let the topic go. I nodded.
I went to bed shortly after that. I didn't fall asleep right away, my buzzing thoughts not allowing me any rest.
Flashes from today forced themselves in front of my open eyes as I stared at the dark ceiling of my room. I remembered the empowering feeling. Was that something the Genjutsu made me feel or was it something I did?
I couldn't tell.
I remember the feeling of the Tug, vividly like it was written in bold letters in front of me and how it slipped when I tried to grab onto it… That had been Rats chakra, right? If I had Pushed my chakra onto his, I could have trapped him in a Genjutsu of my own…
How to do that?
How did I get out from the Genjutsu?
The answers seemed so obvious, but I couldn't find words to explain what I did. Somewhere in trying to formulate an answer, I fell asleep.
I didn't sleep very well that night. Nightmares of what Rat showed me plagued me. Not the rats and snake pits, but the Danger that loomed over me and over them. I noted dully how it was just a dream.
It made me to wake up, finding myself fin the still dark room. I couldn't allow myself not to sleep and before I woke myself up, I turned on my side and forced myself to close my eyes and return back where I didn't want to be found right now. I tried to push everything else away.
"Rat informed me of the progress you made yesterday." Hawk was the one who greeted me on the third day. "Good work." Emotionless praise sounded just like you might think it does.
Emotionless.
Everything made me annoyed since I opened my eyes. I noted it was because I didn't get much sleep. Whoever thought it was fine using abusive Genjutsu on an 8-year-old, needed to be shot. Something told me I would need a lot of bullets…
"Today we are going to work on hiding your chakra signature." Hawk informed me. "Whatever progress and good form you had picked on is ruined by your chakra signature. It screams."
Screaming chakra? Seriously?
I heard nothing…
He then pulled a scroll out of… whenever he stored the scroll and summoned a bucket from a storage scroll.
A bucket full of senbon.
I stiffened, not liking where this was going.
"By hiding your chakra signature, you can also hide your intention from your opponent." He then went to tie a piece of cloth around his eyes holes… it looked funny on him, but I was skeptical how this would work. The hall echoed… making me feel as if even my beating heart was having an echo.
A noise filled a room, sounding like dripping water on something metallic…
Oh…
"I will aim only where I sense your chakra. Try to hold it in." without further ado, he started throwing senbon at me.
I didn't have much space to think. I couldn't even form a curse, because if I tried the senbon would sail suspiciously near my head…
I tried to use what I learned the past two days, but nothing seemed to work… I idly noted Hawk throwing the senbon in different intervals where the number of needles was smaller and when he threw more. I didn't plan on getting comfortable on the pace he was going. He was Anbu, I wouldn't fall for such a trick.
I tried different approaches out. It always involved me being on defense, but I seemed not to be able to shut my chakra off, because no matter what I did, the senbon sailed seamlessly toward me.
I didn't fell the Tug of Hawks chakra, figuring there should be one since the Anbu was honing his chakra on me. I didn't know how to spread my chakra in hopes on snatching his.
Although I wasn't supposed to be practicing Genjutsu on him… but I needed to somehow get him off my back… Chakra sensing was about spreading your senses and feeling others as their chakra touched yours, right?
I didn't felt Hawks, chakra… so he was either using something else to track my chakra, or he did it good enough so I couldn't feel him out.
Because he was Anbu and I a Genin.
There had to be a difference in skills…
I needed to figure out how he did it…
By the time, I formed a resemblance of a plan, the ground made of concrete, was littered in fine needle-sharp metal, well, needles. It was impossible walking without stepping on some and when I caught myself walking on the needles, I shook my head at the irony that was my chakra. I didn't even notice I was doing it, just done it-
Let chakra guide me…
Hmm….
Storing an ideal for later, I went on with the plan I had on mind.
If Hawk was a Hyuga or an Uchiha, he was following my chakra with his eyes.
If he was a Hyuga, I didn't want to be any near him and if he was an Uchiha… well there was a way to deal with both in one go…
I threw a kunai at Hawk- noting how stupid it was to throw sharp thing toward a Anbu, but ignored my stupidity.
As I expected, Hawk stilled, stopped pelting me with senbon when he noted that something was going toward him. Probably knew the sound of kunai flying like the back of his hand. Especially when aimed at him. He effortlessly threw a senbon at it, disrupting its course, making the kunai fall on the concrete floor, metal chiming-
"When throwing anything at an Anbu, be prepared for immediate consequence."
This time I stilled. Not because my attack turned against me, but because I felt a senbon being held under my throat and Hawks distorted voice coming from behind. I was a hostage now… great.
So…
I switched myself with the kunai I threw, counted to one and covered my eyes.
My eyes still hurt from the pure white the flash tag made, although the mask shielded me from most of it. An activated Doujutsu…
I hopped I managed to catch Hawk off guard, holding his attention while he pointed my idiocy out. While the flash was still going on, I counted to two and tapped away from my position, thinking small, telling myself I was a ghost, wasn't here… maybe that would do the trick.
The hall was dark for a few blinks of an eyes when the flash tag finally died off. Making myself small where I stud in a non-specific spot to his right side and I waited while subtly looked at Hawk as the Anbu just stud his place he was occupying before the tag went off. He just stood there, but I kept being not there. Hawk nodded, apparently satisfied.
"That would have been more unpleasant for some." He agreed, talking about the flash. He didn't seem to be uncomfortable as if the light hurt him. The mask probably shielded him as it shielded me. "Very good done." I wasn't sure if he really meant it or just fed me bull-.
"Wrong approach."
He threw the senbon so fast, I couldn't bring my legs to move. Not thinking, I caught the senbon midair and hurled it right back to him.
Long live the stupid…
I switched myself with the flying metal just as it was going to reach him, which was fast, but not too fast for me to follow. Sparks flew as kunai gritted senbon. I used my midair body to increase the force behind my push, but Hawk was obviously still stronger than me. Preparing my chakra to counter his backlash I-
Let my chakra go, changed tactics mid step, summoned a few bunshin, switched with one as Hawk was about to punch me into oblivion and as the copies hurled toward him, assaulting his senses, I concentrated like I did yesterday while working on Genjutsu with Rat.
I didn't feel a Tug, but something tickled at the back of my mind, hairs on the back of my neck raising up. I got the fuck away, just barely catching a feel of something brush my fingertips, just a tad too far for me to grasp- even if I could. It felt creepy, reminding me of a bug crawling on top a shirt. Not quite hard, but you feel the soft pater. But this wasn't a bug, it was Chakra and I showed it off myself.
I skidded to a stop, far away from Hawk, as much the hall allowed me, but still keeping some space between me and the wall, leaving me space for maneuvering when I would need it. My plan failed, but now I knew Hawk was neither an Uchiha or Hyuga and he was trailing me with his chakra, stretching it like a web for me to catch myself onto when getting to close. He did it while keeping his chakra hidden so I won't sense him. I stated to move, circle him, not in a threatening was, but still moving in case he focused on a specific part of the hall. I couldn't tell if he was on me. When realizing that I was pacing, I stopped and stilled.
"Terrible approach." Hawk said, just barely tilting his head to side. "Different indeed." He murmured into his chin, but his voice echoed toward me. He didn't throw any senbon at me… I saw that as a good sign.
"Instead of getting far from danger, you keep it in hands reach, giving yourself the opportunity and opening to either attack or flee." Make yourself small, you're not here. A ghost…
"Not what I instructed you to do… but still reaching the goal of the exercise." It made Hawk seem look weird as he was talking like that, not looking in my direction.
It was hard believing a Anbu wasn't able to sniff me out, so I played safe. Played possum? Head low, not looking his way, body crouched low, posture nonthreatening. Chakra left alone.
"Different way of thinking. Unusual, but something that can be worked on."
And then something washed over me. A terrible feeling that wasn't me. A suffocating pressure that didn't allow me to breath. A force demanding, I drop to my knees.
No, I won't.
I refused and at that moment Hawks mask turned toward me. The moment I fought back, got back to my feet, when my chakra stirred. I stilled, waiting for the volley of senbon to begin.
"Very good." He pushed his blindfolds off. "It seemed yesterday's exercise paid off." At the mention of Rat, stirring- I let the need to act go, replicating what I did before.
Like I wasn't here.
"Excellent."
I still didn't feel anything, everything feeling the same as it always did. Still not understanding what did I exactly do… how did I do.
I let the frustration go.
Like it wasn't there.
Before leaving, Hawk made me pick up every and last senbon imbedded into the ground, wall, ceiling… I didn't remember that much being thrown, but then again, I wasn't counting them. Even with so many out, the bucket, which wasn't that big, was half filled and no matter how many senbon ended inside, it didn't fill up.
Anbu secret troll magic/Jutsu.
On the brighter side, beside me being able to suppress my chakra signature… apparently, none of the senbon hit me. Not even graze me and the soles of my ninja sandals didn't have a single hole.
I checked.
While it should make me feel, at least, proud of myself, because for once, I wasn't cheating, because it was chakra, it left me frustrated.
I felt, as if, again, I was doing something wrong.
Or, judging by what Hawk said, doing something right in a wrong way. The thought made even less sense then me suppressing my chakra.
Once getting clearance from Lizard, I turned toward the lockers. It was a longish walk to get there, since I didn't know any fancy Jutsu, but while walking pass the in-use training rooms I walked into an interesting spar.
Two Anbu, not much older than me, but old enough to have actually reached their teens, were having an interesting spar. When I say interesting, I did mean shooting Jutsu left and right and even more interestingly, their masks were blank.
Root blank.
I was pretty sure that Danzo kept his dogs in his own kennels, so seeing Root alongside Anbu was confusing.
Very confusing.
Confusing enough that I should leave, but I didn't… I couldn't tear away my eyes from it, so I stud by, neither in the hallways, nor inside. I wasn't the only one watching as here were Anbu and Root alike that watched, silently and deathly still.
"Fuuton: Gale punch!"
"Katon: Gorkakyu!"
You just don't counter fire with wind. It was a pure waste of chakra that had the potential to turn against anyone. When there wasn't a immediate explosion and it was clear the two were wrestling to see who would keel over first, the still masks started tu murmur, some "Fire", others "Wind". I raised my eyebrow.
They were betting…
Seriously?
Anbu too!?
And if that wasn't an obvious sign for me to get myself out- because Nobu said loud and clear not to, basically, sniff around, then I don't know what it was...
...well
Not that I claimed to know everything, but… my guess would be, judging by the two showing off, wind. Normally, fire beats wind, because fire would either explode in contact with wind, or get a boost from wind, but it didn't look like it this time.
The Anbu using Wind made his attack thinner, focused, enabling the other Anbu's fire to overtake the stream of wind and claim it his own.
I mean they were both Root, I have no idea why I was labeling them Anbu, but anyway…
Long story short, Wind needed to wait until Fire started to die down and simply blow it out with a big whoosh!
That was exactly what happened, although the "Whoosh" looked pretty damn impressive.
For a show.
In real life, both shinobi probably just spend half of their chakra reserve, or more. The display was useless. They were breathing hard, possible chakra burns for Fire and cuts for Wind, not paying attention to their surrounding- enemy appears. Game over.
It was probably the reason why they got no applause for their effort.
Everyone might have dropped dead and no one would move.
Creepy.
"You could have done that better, Fo, Ko." A voice said slightly behind me.
I knew this would happen.
I didn't turn around, recognizing Danzo's voice, even if this is the first time I hear it. I went deadly still, but everyone was being still so it didn't matter. I wished I wasn't here… I think that was my mistake.
Not that I was really that hard to miss, being so painfully short.
Danzo walked pass me, I suppressed a shiver, but when he stopped beside me, I stopped breathing, held my chakra, at whatever stage it was, doing my best to be a "good, ice block" Anbu. Simply put I ignored him, because I had an Anbu mask and I could get away with it.
Not that I knew any Anbu rules.
Monkey see, monkey do?
"Again. Ko watch closely and learn. I don't want you do this mistake ever again." I didn't know if Danzo looked at my way, or he stopped beside me by chance, but I was grateful to the heavens when he moved away and caned his way toward the two Root members.
Except there was no cane and his outfit was different- of course it was. He couldn't possibly look like his 30+ year older self.
Duuh.
When Fire (Fo) and Danzo clashed Jutsu, the start and beginning looked more impressive than the last clash. Danzo's Futon Jutsu had more power since it left his mouth and evaporated Fo's Fireball in a quick "whosh". There wasn't much smoke, mainly because Danzo's wind blew it all away, so everyone saw the man rush toward Fo and quickly disabled him, before the Root operative could form a sufficient counter.
That was the right way to do a fire counter against wind.
Even though Danzo cheated, because Fo already went through one Jutsu round and wasn't at his full capacity.
There were still no applause, because Anbu.
Still, it was darn impressive. It reminded me that Danzo was, still is a very capable Shinobi, possibly not quite an Elder yet, his Sub branch of Anbu, official and under his direct order and-
I should really have gone since yesterday…
"As efficient as it may look, it is a far cry from what a real Ninjutsu master can achieve. I have been witness to a sequel quite similar to this one, while the castor held of a team of Iwa Shinobi at the same time." I started to turn to leave, not interested in his war stories.
"That man's name was NAME Fuuko." I stopped dead in my tracks.
Tou-chan was a Ninjutsu specialist!? Wasn't he a herb specialist?
Against my will and even as all kind of warning started to go off in my head I turned around.
Danzo was looking straight at me. He knew who I was. Oh, he knew it very well.
"He died honorably for Konoha. He was a close friend of mine. Shivers run threw my body as I recall his last battle, which gave Konoha an advantage she needed to get out victorious." Him looking at me was so brief I would have wright it off as coincidence, but I knew it wasn't.
"Shame. His brilliance will never be allowed to thrive anew. Not as it currently is now." He shook his head in regret. While he said it to no one in particular, I could feel it being intended for me.
How dare he…
I recognized anger that bloomed within me, but I snuffled it out quicker than it took for him to take out the Katon Jutsu. I curled my fingers into a tight fist and squeezed until I felt pain, then squeezed more.
When did I further enter the hall anyway?
I started moving along with the others, not being the first to move, nor doing it too quickly, jerky. I didn't care, it didn't concern me, it meant nothing.
How dare he belittle everyone's kindness taking me in, taking their time teaching me, giving roofs under my head… He twofaced- stop, stop. Don't care, don't care, not caring.
Nope.
One foot in front the other. Walking away. Shut everything out.
"Bird."
Oh, dear Kami Danzo is speaking to me.
I had no choice but to stop walking. What should I do!? I didn't know Anbu protocol for this stuff…
"Your presence is required now, Bird." The muffled voice said, suddenly appearing beside me. I didn't know whenever it was a good thing or not that I didn't flinch at Rat suddenly appearing next to me.
Kami knew I didn't felt him appearing. I felt nothing.
Just undiluted rage I prayed was only clear to me.
"Go. Leave this to me." He said low under his breaths, for only me to hear.
I wanted to look at him, but, realized, was useless anyway, so I just started walking, wondering where did I pull this calmness while everything seemed to boil. Maybe because I knew Danzo and no one knew me. Not really.
Never will.
So, I walked away, knowing next time-
I won't.
Anbu had this unspoken rule- not that I knew of it, that their identity was always kept hidden, from other Konoha shinobi and, especially, from Konoha enemies. The locker room wasn't empty this time. It must have been an ending shift or something, so there were people inside, putting their uniforms either off or on.
Along with their humanity.
"Ooh you're the new one, aren't cha?" I was just standing at the entrance, contemplating to leave until the crowd cleared up, when a hand planted itself on my shoulder, making me involutory jump. I turned my head to side, to stare at a Snail mask. I said absolutely nothing.
Snail chuckled.
"Aw, don't worry, its fine to take off your mask in others presence." To demonstrate he took his own off.
"Hyuga- "
"Snail, tomorrow you will take over Bird's introduction." Rats voice made everyone stop whatever they were doing. Most were watching Snails and mine interaction.
I could smell gossip brewing.
"Hai!" Snail stud a little bit straighter, his, now uncovered, face serious. Unconsciously, I followed his example but found my back was already straight and tensed like a bow string. Was I in trouble?
"At ease." People started to discretely to leave the change room, giving Rat a short nod of acknowledgment.
I didn't move, feeling the Anbu's gaze on me.
"Don't worry Rat. I'll take good care of our baby Bird."
I thought all Hyuga came with a stich inserted in their ass.
Except Hinata, of course.
The comment was supposed to get a reaction out of me, I realized, as Snail gave a light pout.
"Fine, be like that." He sniffed a bit. His attempt to be an actual Hyuga would have worked had he not hung his left arm around my shoulder.
That probably looked funny because he looked to be close to 20.
It also made him look like a pedophile.
"Damn so cold." He poked me on the mask. My left eye gave an irritated twitch, not that he saw it.
"You should take an example in it." Rat said dryly. Wait, did Rat just made a joke?
I'll never understand Anbu...
The Hyuga's pale eye narrowed with mirth, as he patted me on my head. I gritted my teeth so I won't shove if his head.
"I can be serious. When I have to be." He murmured the last part under his breath.
"Don't go overboard with this one. The last one was rather useless once you finished up with him." The not so serious Hyuga said deadly serious.
Working over the words he just said, I said my hearth fall in the pit of my stomach. I tried to hold in the fear I felt. I gulped, the action hidden in my uniform.
"Ha!" He exclaimed suddenly "You twitched!"
... Jerk.
"See you tomorrow sharp at 6, little bird. Leave something for me taichoo~" he sung as he went to (finally) leave.
"Hai, Snail-sensei." I hopped I addressed him right. He chucked at me, so I guess maybe not.
Seriously 6!?
And then I was alone with Rat and I felt- well nothing. I didn't do anything wrong... Not knowing what I did do wrong made me nervous. Because Rat had the need to seek me out, so there had to be something I did wrong, right?
"You handled the situation well." Rat sighed, at the Hyuga's antics or at me I wasn't sure. Nor was I sure if I was supposed to say anything.
Thank you?
"Try not to get yourself into any trouble." There was a hint of frustration in his voice. "Go home and take the rest of the day off. Talk with someone about this if you must."
Like with who?
I wasn't even supposed to be here. Would Kaa-chan skin Nobu if she found out he arranged Anbu to take over my training while he was away on a mission? Probably.
Rip Nobu.
"There won't be need for that, Rat-san" I said controlling my voice carefully, taking a guess with the honorifics.
"Just Rat." This room had to have magic powers because Rats frustration was evident now.
"Dismissed." The tone of his voice made me to attempt to straighten up.
And then Rat seemed to just disappear- smokeless Shunshin maybe and I found myself alone.
It just now came to my attention that that had been Rat and that I thought I be furious at him, because the other day I was too tired to feel anything, but I found myself not to be.
It wasn't Rat's fault I sucked at Genjutsu. Chakra generally.
Yet I almost had the need to assault a person I apparently didn't even know...
I should ask the Hyuga how he got away with being weird, because something told me I would get slots of weird in the future...
I scratched the side of my masked face.
I still didn't know whenever it was fine for Anbu people to find out my identity or not.
I signed, while putting the Bird mask off with a soothing click.
Did the Anbu Nobu put into charge of my training even know who I was? People usually ask questions when you ask of them to train an 8year old. Especially if they are Anbu. Did it mean Nobu was Anbu too? He had to be one to know them, right? And... He did need the Hokage's permittion to get a Genin into Anbu right? Was that how Danzo found out? Did the man even...
Ugh...
My head hurt from so many questions, making me frown.
Actually, Danzo made me frown... He already had an Sharingan in his bandaged eye, right? Someday he will have Shisui's, Itachi's best friend's eye, won't he? Along with it, make Itachi kill off the clan... me included, if I manage to live that long.
Being in Anbu, official or not, didn't really gave me a great chance to survive very long…
I grimaced.
I wasn't a hero...
Speaking of Shisui... He should be born by now, right? Should I do something about it?
I scowled.
I didn't want to think about this.
So… I didn't.
I left the thoughts along with my uniform and general work in the weathered locker. Because it wasn't healthy bringing work home.
It was ridiculous how no one showed in my path while on my way out.
"Huh, are you lost, little girl?"
Scratch the above.
I turned to look at a mask less Anbu. Because he was wearing Anbu uniform and in Anbu headquarters.
Did he really think anyone could get lost in here?
Seriously?
"Finished up earlier." He looked at me in confusion.
"You did?" He asked, something akin astonishment in his voice. His fingers flew in gibberish that I assumed was Anbu sign language.
"I'm new. Don't understand what you want me to confirm to you, Anbu-san." I said hopping I won't end in a dungeon for this.
Was it too much to ask to get home?
"Who is your superior?" The Anbu was relentless.
"Hawk." I think. There was minimal movement in his eyes.
"That explains things..." He nodded to himself, murmuring under his breath.
"Sir?" I asked confused. Why did everyone mumble to themselves?
"Nobody uses the entrance to leave Anbu." He chuckled because the entrance was apparently a one-way portal to paradise " There is another way the Anbu use to leave. Come, I'll show you the way."
Once the Anbu- Ro, he introduced himself, even though there was no mask in sight, showed me where the super-secret Anbu escape exit, he disappeared. I followed the exit, wondering whenever I was lucky enough to have fallen into a trap, but felt myself sign in relief when I walked into the buddy street of Konoha.
Granted, I found myself in an unfamiliar part of said village, but it was easy finding my way orienting myself by the Hokage mountain.
Not feeling like going out of my way, I made a bee line toward the Uchiha compound. In led me to an awkward part of the compounds wall, but I didn't want to go all the way around to the gates as I could distantly see our neighbors house.
Jumping over the wall made me feel like a criminal...not that I was hiding or something. I frowned at myself as I landed onto the pretty roof.
I decided I just needed food.
Making a bee line toward the closest house, knowing there was always food around my mother and aunt.
I was shocked when finding none.
No food, no Kaa-chan, no aunt... Not necessarily in that order.
Uncle and Takeshi were at work at this time anyway. Of course, I didn't expect Kaa-chan and aunt to be home all the time, since they were pregnant and off duty.
But I would kill for some leftovers from yesterday...
There would be some, had I not eaten it all this morning…
The thought made me grimace.
Weird day.
The only logical explanation was to cook myself something... which was fine, since I watched Kaa-chan and aunt cook all the time.
But first shower. I wasn't hungry enough to put on with my own stench while I ate and cooked.
So... which house?
It wasn't polite to be in my aunt's house while no one was home, right?
I felt lost.
So used on someone being always there, that finding myself alone at home(s) left me fell confused and lost.
Ridiculous.
I took a fresh change of clothes at my aunts... and went to shower at my parents, because no cloths there fit me anymore. I needed to go shopping soon...
Once done,
Food.
I graved something deep fried... but there was no fish or meat around, because this is Konoha... Everything came from either your backyard or the market.
Outside, the chickens let out a sound of alarm.
I don't think me chowing off our chicken stock would be appreciated, because eggs and what the hell would I do with a whole chicken anyway, since the size of the fridges here are pathetic... And no force will make me go to the market now that I'm already home.
Not that I had any money anyway and looking for some in the house was way under me.
But there was bread, there was milk and eggs and breadcrumbs...
Deep fried bread it is.
A life of a chicken saved.
A rooster screamed outside in delight.
I mixed eggs and milk, added salt and a minimum amount of dried powdered ginger, something that smelled like oregano and kurkuma- because the stuff was ridiculously rare (and expensive) and quickly finished the rest up.
I went at aunts to get some cheese, because there was always cheese there and came back.
I would kill for some ketchup or tomato at least, but the first didn't exist and the later was out of season.
What's with the homicidal thoughts anyway?
I hummed under my breath while I balanced on the chair because that was the only way I could reach the stove, fried a few slices of bread, enjoying the smell of melting cheese on the hot fried bread.
I quickly cleaned up after myself because the food was too hot to eat right away anyway.
I hoped I didn't burn my fingers while washing the still hot pot, because my fingers were numb from channeling so much chakra.
I made myself some cocoa, just because I could do it and placed the food on the low table.
I ate the junk food with no regret. I deserved it.
It was how uncle found me. A mouthful stabbed on a fork (because I didn't eat like a savage) just hovering in front of my open mouth. I turned the fork around so the cheese won't drip off the bread.
"Maki." He made it sound like a question as he stared at me from the doorway. I noted how pale and huffed he looked, as if he ran the way here. Uncle doesn't run. I lowered my fork down, cheese spilling on the plate.
"Uncle." I said in a similar tone to his "Is everything alright?" I asked carefully not wanting to get to any wrong conclusions. He continued to stare at me for a few more moments, before let out a sigh.
"Yes." He said, voice normal again.
I call bull, but decided to let it go. If he didn't want to tell ne himself than I won't be able to convince him otherwise anyway.
"You have been taught how to hide your chakra?" he asked while walking toward the table.
"Isaki-sensei has showed me how to do it." I frowned, remembering Hawk throwing senbon at me.
"Did something happen during training?" He pressed, which was weird. I gave him an odd look.
"Are you sure… everything is well, uncle?" I didn't want to be seen disrespectful toward the man, but the way he acted told me that I was missing something.
"You are doing it at this very moment." There was a note of displeasure in his clipped voice. The feeling of being lost returned back.
"You can't… sense me?" I asked sceptic, because this was Uchiha Fugaku.
"No." He said, voice tight. I looked at him, not believing any of what he was saying, because how.
"Not even with the Sharingan?" He crossed his arms in front his chest, going defensive.
"Really?" I asked bewildered. He gave me a dry look, as if telling me to…
Fugaku was not amused, I tell you now. He was downright displeased.
"That's…" I frowned. He thought I was doing it on purpose. Hiding like a deviant child.
"You look disappointed." He noted, voice void of the silent accusation from before.
"I would never do this on purpose." I said offended.
Keeping tabs on chakra was a way of making sure one was safe. The police Headquarters wasn't that far from here and Fugaku probably can sense me all the way, especially with his Sharingan on.
Well could, anyway.
Which raised million other questions, like how did he know I was supposed to be home, finished for the day. Did he now Nobu was off on a mission and that Anbu were teaching me…
"Undo it now." He raised his eyebrow.
"I don't know how." Yet again I did something wrong. "I'm not even sure how I got it to be like this." I scowled at myself. If it was this bad, why didn't Hawk or Rat warned me. No wonder that Anbu… Ro, was so suspicious.
He probably thought I was a Spy….
I could have ended in so much trouble.
Walking around with your chakra completely suppressed was a big no. That just wasn't done. Not unless you had evil intentions. Luckily you weren't branded a traitor the second you did it.
It was probably the frowns I wore while going home.
When you see a 8 year old, dressed in ninja attire frown, chakra hidden, stomach rumbling in hunger, one probably doesn't ask questions if there is no need for it.
I have a feeling I'll have a permanent frown expression after frowning so much the whole day.
"Did you make this?" uncle dropping the issue so suddenly it actually came as a surprise.
It was suspicious as hell.
"That's not fish." I said dryly, imagining what he would like it to be. He gave me a curious look, because what else could it be if not fish. It certainly did look like it, especially when chopped into eatable size. Certainly, not pork.
"That's bread. Deep fried." I watched as disgust flashed threw his face, because Uchiha Fugaku disliked bread. Anything sweet generally. Bread here was made a tad bit sweeter, almost too sweet. I didn't discover the reason behind this yet.
But there was cheese too. I saw him looking it. Fugaku liked cheese, hence why there was always cheese in the fridge at his place. In fact, there was only milk, eggs and cheese in their fridge, because nothing else fit inside from the cheese.
"Hn." He grunted to himself. "I didn't know you can cook." Fugaku making small talk was... I couldn't see why should he bother.
"I have watched aunt and Kaa-chan cook many times uncle." I explained dutifully. "We were out of fish." I shrugged.
"It looks... Interesting." He tried.
"You don't like bread." My lip quivered. He won't do what I think he would, will he?
"There is cheese..." He will. I let out a low chuckle.
"It's fine uncle." I remember the last time when Takashi made his older brother eat bread.
It was hilarious to everyone else who wasn't Fugaku.
"You don't have to eat it to cheer me up."
Just thinking about it made my frustration stand down for a bit and I lowered my arms from the defensive stance.
"Hn." The Uchiha head took a piece between his finger, a sliver of disgust passing through his face, before he ate it.
I chuckled as I watched him eat his kryptonite.
"It tastes..." He frowned, a sliver of surprise. He actually liked it. I hummed.
"like fish?" I offered, my lips going wider as he went to take another bite.
"Fish." He agreed.
Thus, our first secret was born.
"Your mother and Mikoto would be horrified learning you ate junk food. " I giggled. As if he was any different.
Fish. He was eating fish.
Of course, he was.
"Best to get rid of the evidence." I agreed. He grunted in agreement.
I don't know what made canon Fugaku act that way, but my uncle was... Different. And just like that everything seemed better. It was, I was lying to myself I realized, I knew, but one tiny part of me imagined I was spending time with my cool uncle.
"There is a shortage of this... product on the market." He produced a package of those wonderful chocolate lollies I wasn't able to find nowhere in the houses.
"Don't eat off those too quickly." I pretended to ignore what he said, instead occupying myself with the goodness in my arms.
"You are the best Fugaku-jisama." I grinned widely.
The man looked pointedly away, whatever poor excuse he had died with an grunt of acknowledgment. His cheeks potentially getting a pale pinkish hue. But that might had just been the warmth of the kitchen. Fugaku smiled.
I wanted to crush whatever made that that kind smile to disappear... and here we go again, the moment of internal peace gone.
"Your mother and Mikoto should be back in a few hours." Fugaku said as he stud up from the table, closing his eyes for a moment as if regretted needing to go.
"Don't worry Jisama, I'll be fine on my own." I assured him, but he didn't look as if he believed me.
"I promise I won't set the house on fire." I said with a grin.
Uchiha loved fire jokes, no matter how bad they were.
The corner of Fugaku's lip went up.
Pyromaniacs.
"I shall hold you to that." He gave me a pointed look that I summarized as 'stay home'
"We will look into this once Takeshi and my real-self come home."
Huh? I gave him an odd look.
Then Fugaku burst into smoke... Was that a Shadow clone?
...Oh.
Well at least it wasn't a Genjutsu, I thought bitterly, then dismissed the bitter thought away.
I needed anger management...
Popping a lolly into my mouth, I dismissed going to sleep. If I had a few hours alone time, I would use it to study, since I hadn't been doing much for the few last days, beside the Anbu work.
Boy, that thought would never come up in my past life... nobody in their right mind choses studying over sleep.
There were 5 scrolls in chakra control in Takeshi's library. I was tempted to just take the last one, as it should naturally come next in my study.
What if I missed something and because of that I was where I was?
I took all five... Not looking forward in reading something I already read... I placed the box of lollies in my bedroom, then changed my mind and took the lollies out and stashed them in one unused drawer. I got rid of the box- burned it. Got rid of the evidence.
That had been amusing as hell.
Shaking my head at myself, I took one lolly with me and along with the scrolls, went downstairs to do work.
I quickly found out I absolutely detest reading something twice... It was irritating me to no end, but it was thankfully just a scroll and since there could be only so much written inside, I went through them relatively fast.
About 40 pages per scroll, but there were plenty of pictures so...
I was at the 5th scroll within the following hour.
Apparently, I have photographic memory, or something, but up until now everything that was written there was as I remember it being.
Yadda, yadda, oh look chakra, yadda blablab, look I can make things stick to me, yada, yada, can do Jutsu now, bla, tree climbing, bla, water walking, bla, hit chakra somehow.
How?
The scrolls didn't tell. According to it, I should be able to do any of it. There were plenty of logic warnings on chakra misusage though.
Lovely.
I sigh. Scrolls were a poor choice of information for a reason...
The advanced scroll did say, beside some quite useful tips I didn't know how to use, that the next step would be natural manipulation...
Good luck to anyone teaching me that.
Although irritating to no end, once finished I felt bored to death. Playing with the stick left from the first lolly in my mouth, the paper stick was already so filled with my saliva it was starting to get mushy and eew, that was the reason I preferred plastic lolly sticks... Longer something to chew on and it didn't taste like chewing on air dried pig skin...
In a whim of boredom, I went back to the library and pulled a scroll on Genjutsu. I scarcely noted it was labeled for high Chunin, low Jonin, or B rank, although C had more sense, since Chunin were involved, but anyway.
I knew that I probably shouldn't be breathing near it, but since I as sure as hell definitively won't be trying anything I read in it out, I didn't see anything wrong in some harmless brain food for the boredom I felt. The scroll was quite old and crumpled, but the kanji were legit enough.
Advanced Genjutsu casting
There was a short blank spot after the first word, but I dismissed it as a weird error. Scrolls had things like those since they were hand written and occasional mistakes weren't anything new. The scroll held a reminder of what Genjutsu was, how can it be casted and dispelled. There was a warning saying how the continuous use will cause something that I couldn't read, because the state of the scroll wasn't very great, but there were the usual dangers that came with misuse of any Jutsu.
Moving on.
The scroll mentioned about the different ways of casting Genjutsu, like, eye contact, sound, chemicals, to name some. The scroll specifically dealt with suggestive way of casting Genjutsu.
The reason the scroll caught my eye. Planting suggestions was explained to be cast differently than the usual assault on the nervous system, because the point was making the receiver accept something untrue to be real and that couldn't be done if someone realized his cerebral nervous system was messed with.
In other words, to cast a suggestive Genjutsu, direct meddling with the others chakra system needed to be avoided. As in not feel others chakra and inject yours into to mess around with the CNS.
As in, something I couldn't do anyway. Not all the times it seemed.
The instructions were written in an odd way, but I guess that had to do with how old the scroll was and the slight unusual speech pattern - the scroll was old, or course the way of speech was outdated.
It was still understandably enough to get a grasp on how it was done. It sounded really easy to me, but the scroll was meant for Jonin, so my guess was that it wasn't that easy.
Seriously, I won't be going this unsupervised. Not an idiot.
Sadly, the scroll was incredibly thin, next to it, the scrolls on chakra control were huge. But it was fine, because for once I needed to focus on what I was reading. I wasn't aware my 20+ year old mind liked challenges this much.
Sweet, sweet mind food.
I rolled the chocolate figurine in my mouth, enjoying its taste, as I idly payed attention so it survives for as long it was possible, while I mulled over the gibberish that was suggestive Genjutsu.
I don't feel responsible for any stupid expression I may or may not be doing while at it.
"Maki?"
Mulling over what chickens had to do with advanced Genjutsu, I looked up from the scroll, distantly acknowledging someone called my name.
"That my name." I murmured absent, unwilling to part with the Genjutsu chi-
Aunt and Kaa-chan were sitting at the table, cups of tea in front of them, looking at me with similar level of amusement. The tea cups were half filled.
"Oi, welcome home Kaa-chan, aunt!" I grinned widely at them, the lolly stick hanging from the corner of my mouth.
Sometimes when I was doing something I found interesting I was fully capable on ignoring anything and everything else. The 3 Uchiha and Kaa-chan were used to being ignored when finding me with a scroll in my hand.
Kind of rude of me, when I thought about it.
I wonder why wasn't I ever chided on it.
"Busy studying?" Kaa-chan hummed, only now scrolling over the scrolls on chakra control littering the table. As focused as I was, I didn't acknowledge anything else going on. Other people touching me or something close to me included.
Since chakra is still lost to me.
"I thought you went over these already?" Kaa-chan asked curiously, but without judgment. I hummed.
"I was trying to figure out where my mistake was." I clicked with my tongue, remembering what of the waste of time it was. "didn't make any difference." I shrugged dismissively. I really didn't like wasting time.
Only now did I glanced around myself, trying to see if there was anything different since the two women came. There were no bags indicating they were shopping. Then again, they could have left the stuff at aunt's.
The two were using the privilege of hawing two fridges as much as it was possibly achievable. So, maybe not shopping. They did look fresh bathed and smelled very nice.
"How was your time at the bath house?" Having a creative mind, made figuring things like this incredibly easy. Kaa-chan smiled easily, probably happy to find me home after a few days of not being able to spend much time with me.
And having my attention on the outside world.
"It felt great. I'd loved to know you'd be finished earlier, so we could have all gone together." There was a bit regret in her voice.
"It's fine Kaa-chan. I wasn't that long at home, so it would have been difficult organizing everything. I'm sure we'll be able to go together soon."
A bit of white lie harmed nobody. She ruffled my hair lovingly, a motion that was highly annoying, but I didn't have the will to push the affection away.
"You can... Read this?" Aunt had politely kept herself out of our conversation, busying herself with pouring me tea-
Thinking about it, our families were being quite informal when there was only the 5 of us.
Huh.
"Uh, shouldn't I?" I glanced at the scroll still in my hand, inspecting it for a passing moment but finding nothing special about it.
It was just an ordinarily old scroll.
"It's a bit tricky to understand, but don't worry, I know its way my level. I was bored." I shrugged, letting the scroll to roll itself up.
Something akin of surprise and something I wasn't quite to place anywhere showed itself on Mikoto's face as she stared at the anorexic scroll on my hand.
"Aunt?" I asked her curious.
Was that... Fear in her face? Surprise?
And then Aunts eyes went to me, looked at me with a similar look just like Uncle did before, a look that was void of any and all amusement and serenity she might have felt untill now.
If I learned a Jutsu for every time I feel lost in the past 8 years, I'd already be a Ninjutsu specialist...
"Why are you reading a scroll on the Sharingan?" She asked me, her voice Uchiha politely blank.
What?
Utterly lost, I rolled open the scroll where its title read in cracked, withering letters.
"Advanced Genjutsu casting" I mumbled the title outload making sure I was reading the ancient gibberish properly.
I cast aunt a lost look. Beside her Kaa-chan looked uncomfortable.
Aunt looked me straight into the eyes, but I really had no idea what was going on, no reason not to look from the Uchiha staring at me.
She slowly let out a slow chuckle. Never heard one so slow.
I followed her hand as she stretched it across the table, toward the scroll.
Was there a big ass trap she'd activate now?
I thought in wonder eying the scroll as if it was something dangerous,
but unwilling to let the so interesting thing go, as aunt's fingers tapped on something on the scrolls outer cover.
I waited for a moment expecting anything but as nothing happened I turned the scroll over.
Nothing special was written on it, but even inverted the small, tiny, all but crumbled Uchiwa symbol was clear as day.
I felt my mouth slowly opening itself, the lolly stick I have been abusing for some time fell out from my mouth.
"The spacing wasn't a wrighting error." I noted dryly, looking at my not so, yet still Aunt Mikoto as amusement starting to bloom on her face.
"It's about Advanced... Sharingan Genjutsu casting..." I mumbled to myself, sensing my cheeks heating up on embracement and inner misery.
It's a Sharingan scroll.
"I apologize for reading it, Mikoto-sama" I said agonizingly polite. I wanted to scream in frustration. " I didn't check the outer cover. Whole of it."
Because why would you do it if you simply saw the tittle of it. I let my forehead touch the table with a tad bit harder thud to make it more fellable.
"Don't worry about it." Mikoto assured me, waving away my apology dismissively, whatever worries she had leaving her body.
"You can read any scroll you want. I'm sure if you ask, no one would mind."
I rolled my head just enough to see my aunt smiling.
Good were Shinobi terrible at parenting, slowing a kid to read something potentially dangerous.
I sighed, telling myself this wasn't happening.
It's a Uchiha scroll.
I had a feeling as if something in me would die... I lowered the scroll on the table.
8 years of acting polite was more than enough. I let out a breath.
"Oh, you gotta be kidding me!" It may be a shinobi thing, but neither woman as much as blinked at my exclamation.
Mikoto's smile was politer than mothers.
"Are you telling I wasted time because this." I made a rude gesture at scroll. I scowled at myself, making a note to apologize after being done.
"Is useful for Uchiha only!" I sketched in utter frustration. I noted how both woman looked surprised at me. I didn't mind them, to frustrated at the moment to care about anything but my wasted 3 hours I could have used for anything else.
"And off course it's all half gibberish! Not because the thing is so old, but because its encrypted. But nooo, I had to waste even more time bypassing that too! And when, when its finally starting to, for once since ever, make sense, your telling me it's useless! I was just getting to an interesting part where it was telling how to bypass the CNS, because suggestive Genjutsu doesn't involve around it. But nooo, I can kiss that goodbye because Kami made me stupid enough to not read a scroll properly, but smart enough to understand something I was never meant to be able to use! I'll never figure the stupid Chakra out!" I threw my hands into the air in frustration, feeling quite better after rambling my frustration out.
Then I came back to reality.
Huffing, I wanted to make myself to disappear as I eased myself into an almost proper seiza. I closed my eyes for a moment, willing myself to calm down, because I was no kid.
"I refuse to read another scroll today. I've had enough of them." I huffed out and took another breath.
"I apologize for my rude behavior." I said dutifully, but didn't lover my hands from where they were defensibly in front my chest. Because I was still irritated and I had yet to be chided for being rude in this world.
I felt like testing the limits today. Sue me.
There was a beat of silence but I didn't look up at the two kunoichi who had been really patiently leaving me to went out.
I had been glaring at one spot specific during my rant. At the faded Uchiwa symbol on the scroll, interesting enough.
As if yelling at it would make it go away and made the scroll general population friendly.
Aunt and Kaa-chan chuckled.
…
See, what did I tell you? This world is crazy... And since I yelled at the scroll I couldn't be chided for it, since yelling at scrolls wasn't impolite.
"Is that all?" Mikoto asked, trying really hard not to laugh.
I pouted, filling my cheeks with so much air it hurt.
"You have been working really hard lately, haven't you?" Kaa-chan said fondly while getting closer to me. I shrugged, shoulders slumping a bit.
"Didn't accomplish anything useful." I frowned. Kaa-chan placed her palm on my face making me look at her. She looked as softly at me as she spoke to me.
"You don't realize how much have you accomplished." She told me. "Many Shinobi spend years just to get to the point you have gotten to in so little time. Even more don't have the skills to, no matter they try." It was impossible to not to lean into her touch, but I couldn't agree with her point.
I wasn't other people, never will be.
"It doesn't matter how good I might be, if I can't control my own chakra." My face scrunched in her palm. It was surprisingly rough, weathered. Just like my hands started to be.
"Have you tried to implement the advice I told you yesterday?"
When she pulled her hand away, I felt as if I had lost something.
But there was no point on dwelling on it, because this is a Shinobi world where I'm considered a legal adult. My childhood was finished as of 10 days ago.
Even way before that.
"It helped." I frowned "But now I'm stuck on the other side of extreme." I guess this was better than "screaming". Kaa-chan hummed.
"All you need is to give yourself time. The rest will come when it will be time."
I could see the logic behind her words because when you force something it tends not to work very well. Its best to step aside for a bit and let things flow as they must.
Or you find a way around to the problem.
Because, I was currently trained by Anbu. I will be expected to work for Anbu. Soon.
I somehow doubted Nobu was that good with the Hokage for the man to allow him use Anbu as his babysitters and it had to involve countless favors for him to get the individual Anbu to agree to help him.
Because Ninjutsu specialist or not, an individual isn't worth 4 Anbu's time. I seriously doubt it.
I simply needed to grow up.
For a second time.
The quicker I get it done with, the better for me, because,
whenever I would be asked or not, I wouldn't say "no" to joining Anbu.
Maybe under different circumstances, but not as it was now. Something told me it would be very difficult to get Hawk and Rat to teach me without theirs masks on, so I needed to take advantage on the help I needed.
Because their methods worked. I doubt Nobu could get away with what Anbu did in order to make my stubborn chakra to work.
I could see working with the Anbu to get a skill roughly set, while Nobu worked on its finesse.
Even though training wasn't Anbu's primary task, but I wouldn't look into a gifted horse mouth.
Come to think about it, there was quite a lot of people involved in my training…
"I don't have time for wasting on petty things I should have learned ages ago." I frowned at myself. It was the only conclusion I could get to.
There wasn't much they could tell on making me feel any better, because it was the truth.
They didn't.
"How about this." Mikoto started "Take some time off and go to the market with us. Rest a bit and after dinner,
Takeshi should be back at the time and you can work on the issue together."
I thought about really hard.
Since aunt was pregnant, she was banned from every activity.
Takeshi with the Sharingan can, to some extent, see my chakra and maybe would be able to see a solution to my stubborn chakra. It sounded like a legit plan.
Mistaking my silence for something else, Kaa-chan, quickly added.
"Besides, today were having a special quest over at dinner."
I craved for a distraction to keep me from being angry so my mother's words came as a lifesaver.
"Really?" we rarely have special quests at our joint dinners, so the piece of information peeped my interest. "Who?"
Mikoto and Kaa-chan looked pleased at each other, probably feeling successful they managed to get the frown of my face.
"You'll see." They refused to budge.
Come to think on it, we never get any special quests on our joint dinners.
"Are any of them going to help me with my issue?" I asked wide eyes. Kaa-chan chuckled.
They still refused to bulge. It made pout again.
I decided to be a kid for a little while, for today at least. For them, I told myself.
At first, I didn't feel like going to the market.
I wanted to learn… but I hid my unwillingness to go, because they seemed so happy that I was going with them…
When did we spend time together last time?
I think I hadn't been going to the Academy yet.
Huh.
I was a crappy kid.
Shopping with aunt and Kaa-chan was fun.
Somehow, the simple grocery shopping turned into a fully blown "shopping stuff for Maki", making the two hormonally driven women a giggling mess… I really couldn't complain because I got me cloths and whatnot. There was this cute hairclip too… but I felt bad asking them to buy it for me, since, at that point there was so much stuff we got… I made myself a goal to buy the thing for myself with the first mission pay I'd get.
Still, by the time we were heading home, I felt a strange content that made all the worries seem irrelevant.
It made me feel lazy, so I hung around, after I sorted and put away the cloth into both houses, because I was told to so.
All confusion over living in two houses officially gone.
Once that done, I dozed off while aunt and Kaa-chan prepared dinner.
I wanted to help,
I really did, but I was told I'd did enough, hence I rolled over on the ground, plucked a chocolate lolly in my mouth and enjoyed myself in their company.
Somehow, I managed to fall asleep… no idea how that happened.
xx
Im still alive :)
So, my mail got messed up and I had to make a new one. It took me some time to figure things out.
I was able to remedy the prewriten chapter i had stored, along with all ideas i had to my huge relief so - jey for me!
I do hope to get a hand of the usage of the line breaks that was suggeseted to me. Ill take a note of it while i make a new chapter.
tanithlipsky & Pika5490 : Glad you two liked it!
DarkDust27 : More family fluff (and drama) comming up :)
Thank you to everione who liked/followed/faved this story! It realy makes me feel good that people actualy like to read it. A cookie for everione 3.
Always looking forward to your reviews, thoughts, critics.
*Sneak Peak No Jutsu*
I was woken up, by someone pulling on the lolly stick, still in my mouth, clenched between my teeth, so I didn't choke myself, if I feel asleep.
Still groggy from sleep, I pried open my eyes into slits.
I was not designed to wake up.
"Get your own lolly."
Because the first thing that comes out my mouth is always utter nonsense.
My assailant giggled.
Yawning, the paper stick sticking out from its spot, I sat up, rubbing the sleep in my eyes away I was unsurprised to find myself in Kaa-chans kitchen.
"You are so cute, Datebane!"