Chapter 12: Old Friends And First Real Mission
"Hey," the one with the braid points out casually, "Is that who I think it is?"
"What?" The one with the windswept hair shakes his head back and forth unbelievingly, "Like hell it is. She hasn't been around up till now. Why would she be now?"
The one in the middle sighs, "Why don't we go ask her personally? We never know until we try". There is only one set of triplets that I know that have such fast paced conversations with one another whether one is listening or not...Then again, I only know one set of triplets.
"Saiai? Churitsu? Nikun? Is that you three?" I question as I make my way to their frames that tower over me by a good number of inches. I make my way towards them, meeting the middle triplet half way through the distance between us. "What happened to your eyes?"
"So it is our lovely little Cross!" Saiai speaks up, mismatched eyes widening in glee. I gasp as he suddenly rushes me, pulling me into a hug and holding me tight. "We've missed you, love," he whispers into my ear in a tone I've never heard him make. Love? What?
I'm released, only to be picked up by the one known as Nikun, his arms finding their way around my frame and picking up into a bear hug, laughter coolly coming from his throat, "We really did miss you. It's been too long. But that's okay, we'll wait forever if we have to". I'm so lost right now.
I find myself in a third hug, this one picking me up and spinning me around a few times before putting me down and hugging me tight. Churitsu releases me and sighs out, "I suppose we should answer the question you've already asked. And any of the others you have". As one, he and his brothers make the familiar sign for Kage Bushin no Jutsu. In a small burst of chakra, there are perfect copies of themselves standing, and they continue on their way to the Hokage tower. While the other three motion for me to follow them. I do so...sorta. With Nikun and Saiai on either of my sides and Churitsu behind me, we walk through the village in a triangle formation until we're in the very same training ground where I performed for my friends on my seventeenth birthday. It's not until then that they begin to talk again.
"As you know," Saiai takes the lead, "From when we slightly explained things to you before you left, we're from a clan that was made through the mating of a dragon and a human...Well...Humans. Thus making us part dragon. The blood's a little bit diluted, but not as much as you may think. None the less, we go by simple rules".
"Don't kill kin, even if they're enemies," Churitsu cuts in, "Do yourself and your family proud, whatever the cost. Finally, find a mate and assure their happiness even at the cost of your own, and even if it means throw away rules one and two. When a Tsu comes of marrying age- that is, eighteen years old- they begin to look for the man or woman that their heart pulls them towards the most. A Tsu's heart isn't like a human's. It doesn't stutter and flutter for anyone the mind makes them think they like. No. The heart of a Tsu already knows what it's looking for- who it's looking for really- and will only flutter for that person".
Nikun takes his turn, "When we met you eight years ago, our hearts started to flutter; we knew that you were the one we were meant to dedicate our lives to. When we asked you to marry us, we meant it. Now. When a Tsu finds their mate, a change happens in their bodies. We don't know why; no one save the dragons do. And even though they're our clan's summons, they won't tell us why. But then again we don't push. After all, they are kin and they have a right to their own secrets".
"Anyways," Saisai presses to Nikun, "The change is simple, and painful yet fast. Minor changes that make us more durable as to make us able to follow the third rule- the most important one. Skin becomes scales, but the scales are so fine we still look like we have normal skin- however it's hard as dragon scales. Bones become more dense and harder to break as well. Our eyes change, giving us slightly better sight and ability to see through genjutsu. But that's all the change does to us. So, that's what happened to our eyes. We found you, our mate, and we changed a bit".
I listen closely to what the boys- no, the men- have to say. And I blink dumbly. That's...That's weirder than what I've got going on. The mating of a human and a dragon summons. That's just...No. "So that's it?" I get three nods. "So what happens now? Do you propose to me again or...What?"
"We do everything in our power that will assure your happiness and your safety. If you don't choose us, fine. Just so long as you're happy and safe," Churitsu states simply.
"If you do decide to say yes to our proposal- which still stands of course, it always will- then not only will we be ecstatic, but we'll also do everything in our power to make you as mentioned," Nikun follows up.
"One more question," I offer. Damn, this clan stuff is way more complicated than the Uchihas made it seem. Or maybe it's just the Tsus that make it complicated? "How is it that all three of you are happy with the fact that the other two like me as well?".
There's silence and then, "We were meant to be born as one child while we were still in our mother's womb. Our name was going to be Kanzen. But for whatever reason, our embryo split into thirds, and we became triplets. She named us Saiai, Churitsu and Nikun as a result, our mother. We grew up doing everything together; it never bothered us. The only thing that bothered us was when we were mistaken for one another even when our eyes told someone which one of us was which. Therefore, of course we're not bothered by having to share you. We encourage it, in fact". Saiai is the one to explain all this, completely sure of himself in his words.
I only have one for all this: Damn. And then, "So let me get this straight. You lot are part dragon; in some weird way someone had sex with their own summons and was impregnated- or it was the other way around. For whatever reason, this caused you to be pulled to a single person that you're raised to believe that is meant to become your husband or wife- depending on what gender you are- from simply feeling your heart doing something? Not only that, but you have no issues with sharing even someone you apparently love?"
"That's right," the three answer as one, with timing and tone so perfect it sounds like a single person is talking. That's just weird.
I blink dumbly, "Well...I can't say I'm not just as weird," I don't tell them why, "So...Alrighty then". I shrug. "But I should probably get going. Kakashi's making dinner and I'm sure it's almost done by now. And I'm sure you guys want to go ahead and get home to see your family and have some food yourselves". That said, I turn to leave the place, when there are two hands on my shoulders, and Churitsu stands before me.
"We've been waiting for so long...Play for us?" Churitsu requests lightly tilting his head ever so slightly. "We're not here for very long; we'll be going on another mission come tomorrow. S-ranked".
My eyes widen. S-rank? Just the three of them? "Just the three of you?"
"No," Nikun and Saiai state from both my sides, "Itachi is coming too; he's the Captain. But it's still S-ranked and we'd like to hear you play".
Okay, that synchronized shit is still weird. "Itachi too?" I tilt my head. Just the four of them...On an S-ranked mission. I purse my lips before sighing, and pulling the scroll from one of my pouches. I always carry it around; it may come in handy. Blood is smeared onto the open scroll and soon enough before me is the piano I've always played. I sigh as I take a seat in the bench, and my fingers swiftly begin to dance over the keys of the instrument. I rock into each note that is made, eyes closed and a small smile on my face as I do so. I can't help but to hum along in a way that of course has no words. 'My World' has always been one of the few songs that I play due to the fact that I feel it's only meant for times like these. When someone- or someones- is going somewhere dangerous. I don't know the story in the song, but I don't mind to be honest. By the time I'm done, I stand, and I stop sustaining the fact that the piano is there.
"Beautiful," I hear one voice only to see three jaws moving.
I smile and take a playful bow, "Come back in one piece, okay?" I tell them.
Saiai sends me a playful salute as he nods, "Don't worry, we've got this. It's only a month long mission; nothing super long".
Churitsu nods once, "We'll pick up one another's slack. We always do".
Finally, Nikun gives a playful bow himself, "Just promise us that you'll play for us again when we come back, and nothing will stop us from surviving".
I roll my eyes. I'm not that good of a pianist. Honestly. I can't do fast paced songs or anything like that, just slow ones. "I promise," I tell him. The nod before each of them pulls a mask from their shuriken pouches; Saiai's cheetah, Churitsu's tiger, and Nikun's lion mask respectively. I watch as they take off and into the trees, and I continue to watch until they're completely out of sight- a good four or five miles away. It's not until then that I spread my wings and push off for flight. Good luck you three, Itachi. I'll see you in a month.
I sigh as I lean against the wall of the Hokage's office, bored beyond all reason. Why? Why am I bored beyond all reason? Because, I forgot just how tedious stupid 'missions' for Genin were. Walking dogs, pulling weeds, planting flowers, cleaning up trash, baby sitting, painting a house. All are called 'missions' that are simply chores that pay money and chores that no one else- not even those with such professions as a farmer or simple baby sitter- wants to take care of themselves. They're supposed to build the bond between team mates as well as help their over all life skills should they need them at some point. They're supposed to also help with learning team work. But you know what I've found out about this team that I'm apart of leading along with Kakashi? Naruto sucks at pulling weeds, too worried about beating Sasuke in just about everything to actually try to find out which are plants and which are not. Planting flowers is something he sees as digging a hole and putting as many plants in that one hole at the same time. Picking up trash? He doesn't get the fact that the bag will rip if you stuff it too full. He's horrid with kids, let's just leave it at that. Painting a house? More like painting himself and throwing globs of color at the house. Dog walking? He doesn't understand that a bigger dog means stronger, and that it will drag you around if you don't plant your feet or aren't strong enough. Of course, I can't blame him for being unable to do half the stuff Sasuke and Sakura could. Being a girl and the way she seems to have been raised, of course she knows which are plants and which aren't. Sasuke seems to understand his limitation even in the simplest of things, having gotten himself a more so medium sized dog while Sakura got herself an ankle biter.
But I'm not standing here bored out of my mind because Naruto can't do simple things such as walking dogs or pulling weeds. No no. I'm here because we're waiting for the Daimyo's wife to get here and pick up the little thing we've gone so far as to catch for her. The little thing being the scorn of all shinobi of Konoha, a creature whose ancestors gave trouble to even Sarutobi and his team. This little ball of furry scorn is none other than the cat Tora. She's in a cage now, but before then poor Naruto was the one to catch her and get his face torn up. And I was put in charge of bandaging him up. While I'm all good and fine with doing that, Sasuke has been in an oddly fowl mood ever since.
"No! I want a real mission!" A certain breaks me out of my thoughts. I guess Tora was already taken? "No walking dogs, or chasing cats, or pulling weeds! But a mission where we can save a princess or free a kingdom!" He knows too much about fairy tales.
Iruka, whom helps Hokage-sama with appointing Genin missions, glares at the blond obviously unhappy with such behavior, "Listen up! You lot are the lowest of the low, fresh out of the Academy, just beginners! If Hokage-sama wants to give you D-ranked missions for a year you grin and bear it. He decides what ranked missions you do. Not you!"
I raise a hand from my spot, "Actually...Kakashi and I are both Jonin so we can pretty much handle anything that goes wrong on a simple C-ranked mission". I just want something to do damn it!
"You're not helping!" Iruka shouts at me, seemingly still in rant mode. This is quickly exited as I glare at him through golden eyes, obviously and clearly not amused by him yelling at me. I hate being yelled at.
Hokage-sama speaks up from behind his desk, "I understand you're excited that you're not a shinobi, but you must understand that you're only just beginning your career. As a Genin, you are ranked the lowest Shinobi after graduating from the Academy. Therefore you get the lowest ranked missions. D-rank, to be more specific. While there are times where a Genin will be approved to do a C-ranked mission, those ranked missions are the lowest in that category. Missions are ranked by their pay grade as well as the level of danger that is predicted to occur during the time frame of that mission. D-ranked and low C-ranked missions go to Genin as mentioned. Chunin earn the ability to go on C-ranked and low B-ranked missions. Those that are Jonin, such as Kakashi and Cross, have the right to go on B-ranked missions and low to medium A-ranked missions. Finally Anbu who are the elite of the elite go on the hardest missions, high A-ranked and S-ranked".
"So, the other day I had miso ramen with a new kind of seasoning," Naruto explains to the other four of us as we huddle around him to listen, "So I figure that if the beef ramen has the new seasoning too, I'll try that next".
"Are you even listening to me?!" Hokage-sama grounds out, obviously slightly annoyed.
We turn our attention to the old man, wide eyed while Kakashi offers a sheepish eye smile and rubs the back of his head, "Sorry about that".
I blink and tilt my head to the old man, "Who knew ramen could be so interesting?" At Sarutobi's side, Iruka blanches and face palms. What? I'm serious.
A sigh from the old man is heard before he pulls a scroll from the pile to his right. He opens and reads it for a moment before handing Kakashi the scroll itself. "If you lot believe that you're ready for a C-ranked mission, very well". Much to Iruka's displeasure. "Your mission is to escort a bridge builder back to his home safely," this time Naruto's disappointed. He wanted to escort a princess. "Send him in!" As the door opens, our attention turns to the man in the doorway. "This is your client," Hiruzen introduces. "Tazuna-san, this team will be escorting you home and watching over you until you finish your bridge as requested".
The man is dressed like a normal civilian, with a sleeveless dark tunic and simple shorts on his frame, he's an older man. His beard is on the shorter side but fully grown out and gray to show his advanced age, as well as to match his graying hair. Over his shoulders is a white towel, and on his back is a traveling pack. His complexion is tanner than my or Kakashi's skin, but no where near as brown as Iruka's. In front of dark eyes is a pair of glasses, and in his hand is a sake bottle which he carries loosely. Someone came here at least a bit buzzed? Ugh. "What? This trio of scrappy brats?" He looks towards the kiddies, "They're barely old enough to walk! And what about that stupid short one with the dumb look on his face? I don't think I can trust him at all".
"Hahahaha!" Naruto laughs out unknowingly, "Who's the stupid short one?" It's now that he decides to look around, only to find that while he's shorter than Sakura, she's shorter than Sasuke, making him the shortest one out of the three of them, and over all. When he realizes this, he becomes enraged, and lunges for the old man. Luckily, Kakashi is there to save the day, "Let me go Kakashi-sensei! I'll tear him to shreds!"
"We don't attack the client, Naruto," Kakashi chastises simply, not at all amused by the boy.
"Like hell we don't! I'll show him short and stupid looking!" Naruto continues to fight.
I sigh, rubbing my temples lightly before walking to stand next to the boy, and I take the scruff of his orange jacket from Kakashi's hold, relieving him of the boy. "Naruto," I state just as calmly as Kakashi had, "Don't you want to make more money so you can have ramen to eat?"
This stops the boy, and he looks back to find me in Kakashi's place. He blinks dumbly before looking from me, to the old man, then to me, then to the old man. Me, old man, me, old man...Me. That's when he finally slumps into forced calmness. "I want money for ramen," he grumbles.
I smile to him, "That a boy".
"Wait," the old man speaks up as he leans against the door, "Is this woman coming with us too?" His eyes roam over my form just as any man without manners would. Still, I give him a nod all the same. A smile spreads across his face, "This could be an enjoyable trip. I'm Tazuna the bridge builder. I'll be putting my life in your lovely hands". He offers me a hand to shake, meeting my gaze almost flirtatiously.
A shiver runs down my spine. I hate when men do this. Still, I offer him a smile of my own and shake his hand firmly, "I'm Cross, a Jonin of Konoha".
"Jonin huh?" His eyes shamelessly roam, "With your body shape, I'm not surprised that you made it this far".
Is he implying that I got to where I am through looks? My golden eyes become dark and the hand still in his squeezes hard, "Yes," I tell him with a light lash of my tail, "I've worked very hard to get to this position," I squeeze again, and he flinches lightly. The look in his eyes shows me that he realizes that in his alcoholic stupor, he said the wrong thing to the wrong woman.
Kakashi now decides to speak up one more time, "Alright everyone. Meet at the gate tomorrow morning at seven. We'll head off to our destination then. Make sure you pack well, and eat breakfast before we leave".