WAVES: DAY 2
Ino had just dragged Chouji off to do something, Shikamaru hadn't cared enough to pay attention to what, when Asuma nudged him with an elbow.
"Isn't that your friend's friend?" he gestured to the side with his cigarette.
Shikamaru took his time glancing up. He straightened when he saw the unique combination of lavender hair and dark skin. The older boy met his gaze and offered him a wave from the side of the building he was leaning on.
"Asuma-sensei, may I...?"
"Yes, of course. Training is over with Ino and Chouji gone. Go ahead."
"Thanks," he muttered, already moving closer to Ishikawa Arata.
"Shikamaru-san," the boy inclined his head slightly. "This is for you." He stretched out a hand with a small slip of paper held between two fingers.
He took the paper, mindful not to touch skin, and unfolded it. Hikari's beautiful calligraphy filled the sheet.
Shika,
Gone off to Waves on a C-rank. Can you tell Ino, please? Good luck with your training and see you in a couple of weeks - or more.
Yours,
Hikari.
His fingers tightened in the paper. Hikari was absent, gone for at least two weeks.
"Thank you, Arata-san. I'll let her know."
Arata raised an eyebrow. "I don't follow."
"Ino. I'll tell her."
"Ah. The note wasn't addressed to me. I don't know anything about Yamanaka-san," he gave him a reserved smile and straightened.
"Arata-san," he called. The kyokuba-dan member eyed him curiously but no longer made to leave. Shikamaru took a deep breath. Arata had gotten permission so he could go into the kyokuba-dan and take a retaliation against Tanaka. And he had - sort of - known the boy for as long as he'd known Hikari. He knew that he was her friend/brother/partner. And he'd promised Hikari. Just because a promise was troublesome didn't mean he didn't have to keep it. "May I ask for a few truths?"
He now had his full attention. "You may."
Shikamaru was familiar enough with the kyokuba-dan to take the statement as it was meant. Arata wasn't trying to be standoffish, he was giving permission. "Hikari once told me that knowledge doesn't have a gender."
It had been at the start of the Academy, when the kunoichi classes had been announced. His friend had been baffled and then offended on his behalf. She'd asked him why he shouldn't get to learn it, too. She had gotten more and more uneasy the longer it took Shikamaru to explain it to her satisfaction. Finally, he'd told her that he'd be able to learn anything covered in the classes in his clan, if he was interested.
Shikamaru realized that he hadn't asked a question. Arata took pity on him. "That's both her truth and the kyokuba-dan's. Are you interested in that particular one, or is your question broader?"
"Broader. It's about your views on gender," Shikamaru said, awkward. Maybe Arata could help him figure it out, since he was a guy too.
Arata hummed, thoughtful. "I don't know your beliefs, so I'm afraid I'm not able to explain the differences like Hikari could. Are they similar to civilians' opinions?"
"No." Civilians thought women were weaker and belonged at home... But didn't they, shinobi, differentiate, too? The girls had kunoichi classes and were encouraged to become medics or genjutsu specialists. Kunoichi were deadly, but they usually retired or took less missions after they married. "Yes. Maybe." He hunched his shoulders, unhappy.
"Alright, give me a moment, then."
Shikamaru nodded and kept his silence as the dark-skinned boy's thoughts raced.
"What do you think is Hikari's 'girliest' skill?"
"The ribbon."
"Really?" True surprise colored his voice. "And yet most of her teachers have been men."
Shikamaru startled. He would have never had guessed that. Perhaps I should have, since I know about Tanaka Sota.
"Have you seen a full choreography?"
"No." He had seen his friend practice separate moves. She had sometimes brought her apparatus with her to his house and practiced wrist movements while they hung out. But he'd never seen a dance.
"I am not a singer," Arata started. "I do not feel like my words can do our truth justice. However, I can show you. I'll trade the favors needed to get you into our compound, because I know this important to you and her." He paused and gave him a reserved grin. "I did not choose ribbon, but we dragged each other to enough classes to be proficient at each other's disciplines. If you haven't seen her with it, you won't be disappointed. I'll show you a choreography, and then we can watch some other people training and talk."
Shikamaru's eyes widened. That was... a very generous offer and response, filled with truths he had guessed at, but never gotten confirmation.
"I would be much obliged."
Arata smiled, a wider one that reached his eyes, and gestured for them to start walking.
"So, Hikari does have to trade to get me inside," Shikamaru remarked.
"Yes, but I'm sure you'd figured that out. Do you know who the favors are for?"
Shikamaru drew a blank. Yes, his best friend had to give something to welcome him into her home, but to whom?
"It's a truth you have gained, but maybe you want to guess first? I'll give you a clue: if she wants to bring someone from the outside, what does she owe to the inside?" the older boy asked.
"I already know that she makes reparations for any offence I make while we're there. Following that train of thought, she owes everyone? The kyokuba-dan as a whole?"
"Yes," white teeth showed. "Well reasoned. She welcomes you inside and takes responsibility for your actions. But first, if a kyokuba-dan member wants to gain permission to allow someone in, they need to make sure that the inside is strong. It can be accomplished in many ways. Our preferred one is teaching some classes and passing on the moves we come up with. That way, the performers have a chance to assimilate them, improve them, and make them their own."
He could see it now. Hikari and Arata passed on a move they'd never perform, so it stayed inside the kyokuba-dan. By passing it freely or at a lower price than it was worth, they made sure it could evolve and be elaborated on.
Still... expertise was one of the most premium goods, and Hikari invited him regularly even if not often.
"Don't worry. You've made yourself less expensive," Arata told him as they passed the colorful gates.
"How, though?"
"The same way you've acquired the right to some truths," Arata said. He sounded tickled at giving him a non-answer. Was he being razzed? No, Shikamaru realized, Arata had relaxed enough to allow him more than politeness. His voice was filled with mischief, even if it was sharper than Hikari's teasing.
Still, he didn't know the answer. He hadn't done anything special, because he hadn't realized he needed to. He decided to wait, since the older boy had assumed the role of a sort of guide.
"You gave back. You gained the right to be trusted," Arata continued. Shikamaru glanced at him from the corner of his eye. He still didn't see it. "Let me put it another way. I've brought you inside and I'll let you see our training today. In exchange," his voice got more serious. Shikamaru paid attention.
"In exchange, you come with open eyes and ears and willingness to learn. You won't judge or balk at our truth, even if it is different from your own. You have always done that, and we have noticed. You have reciprocated. You have given your truths and some of your crafts to Hikari, and you have also given back to all of us. While you have been here, you've been kind to us and have volunteered to help in small ways." Shikamaru turned his head in an effort to understand. "You have spotted a couple of kids and helped one that wanted to learn to throw, even if it was daggers instead of kunai. You have brought oils and medicine to trade."
"Hikari could have done the same things. Helped kids, brought something new to trade."
"Exactly. She could have. But you chose to do them when you knew it wasn't expected of you."
That was the key, he realized. His actions had value because they weren't done out of obligation. It was probably also why Arata could tell him now, because he'd already passed the sort of test. And because Arata, he was coming to understand, was his ally. Not only the Naras', but his personally. His shoulders dropped and he put his hands in his pockets.
He would ask questions today and not be mocked.
WAVES: DAY 3
Hatake Kakashi called to a stop. Tazuna sat down heavily, tired from a day of walking. "We'll spend the night here. Naruto and Sasuke, take first watch. Naruto, use clones. Sasuke, remain hyper-vigilant. Make sure you wake me if you notice anything out of place, even if it seems minor. When your time is up or you feel too tired to be vigilant, Hikari and I will continue until morning."
Both boys nodded. His three genin started setting up their rolls and taking out some rations.
When a tired but alert Sasuke woke him up, he praised the boys for a job well done. Naruto beamed and Sasuke tried to stand straight. He dismissed them. Both stumbled to their rolls without a single insult and slumped over, already half-asleep. Kakashi went to Hikari's and shook her shoulder. The girl blinked and sat up groggily. She rubbed her eyes and stood up. When she made to assume watch position at the opposite end of their party, Kakashi got her attention. He gestured for her to join him where he sat.
"Kakashi-sensei?"
"Maa, Hikari. Let's talk while my clone keeps watch on the other side."
"Alright," she smiled at him as she lowered herself to the ground.
"So, Hikari, you didn't tell your teammates everything you know about Fire himes."
"I didn't," she agreed easily. "Neither did you."
"I think you know more than I do, though," he gave her an eye-smile.
"Possibly. Do you wish to know something specific?"
"If you're willing to share," he answered, conscious that Hikari, for a reason he still didn't understand fully, owed him truth.
"I am," she smiled back, eyes shifting from green to gold to brown and back again in the moonlight. "But I don't know how much you are aware of."
"Very little. You said himes had to be important, either as individuals or because of their family. Are you one?"
"Oh," he could tell he'd surprised her. She turned so she was facing him, trusting him and his clone to keep watch, and lowered her voice. "I thought the Hokage would have told you more than that when you became my sensei. Yes, I am. Some shinobi, like the ones who guard the Hokage, know more about my compound. It's not that it's a secret, per se, but it's not well known who actually leads the kyokuba-dan."
He gave her the courtesy of lowering his voice further, so the boys had no chance of hearing them even if they woke up. "The Daimyo's wife didn't recognize you."
"The Hokage and the Daimyo know my mother personally, but..." she paused and studied him. The seconds passed as she searched his face. He knew his mask was on, and she'd never expressed an inkling of curiosity at what laid beneath, but he felt bare. The night hid him further, but under those changing eyes, he was left exposed. He held her gaze. He'd been Anbu for more than a decade. He'd survived a place where morality, integrity, and honor had buckled under orders, greed, and cruelty. These eyes held none of that. As he watched, amber warmed, melted into liquid gold, and swirled with green and chocolate. She scooted closer, until her head almost met his shoulder.
"The truth of the Fire kyokuba-dan is ever-changing, and evolves with the storytellers themselves," her voice was honeyed and almost musical. "It is a story of stories. Inside of it dwell secrets whose worth relies on them never being told, but also their siblings and cousins. There are secrets whose value consists on who they're kept from. Their sisters define themselves by those that hold them. Their parents are the open secrets, believed to be myth and known by all. We hold truths that can topple lords and crown beggars."
She tilted her head up and to the side. He could see her face, but her gaze remained fixed on his vest. "The knowledge of the Fire kyokuba-dan spans from the flames to the embers of our Land. Or it used to." His student paused and pressed her forehead on his shoulder. He let her, not wanting to disturb her gift. "There was a truth, so ugly and revolting that the kyokuba-dan withdrew to protect itself and its potential. Still, the vileness endangered our lights. And so our singers threatened to sing the truths that would burn the reign to ashes. There were negotiations."
He very carefully put a gloved hand on the crown of her head, pressing her closer to him. "We separated from the shinobi, their truths, and their lies. Regardless, the Fire kyokuba-dan is the strongest of all Five Nations. It is considered almost a law unto itself. So yes, I am a hime, acknowledged by those who know of my existence."
There was silence, disturbed only by the rustling of the leaves. She pressed lightly against his hand. He made no effort to restrict her movement but didn't let the link break. He remembered what Genma had told him. Touch, connection, was important. Hazel eyes looked at him again. The bard was gone. In its place was his student, who chose her words carefully but gave her team truths. This was his genin, who had allowed him more than a glimpse to her home.
"What does it mean, that the kyokuba-dan's heiress is a shinobi?" He asked softly.
"My choice was controversial. I knew that when I made it. Do you remember what I told you about choosing, when we babysat?"
"Kids have the freedom to choose, so long as passion backs the decision."
"Yes. That's an unbreakable truth for the kyokuba-dan. No one has the right to interfere. Still, the same day I chose, I offered to step down. To let my choice be my own and not reflect on the kyokuba-dan. To let my partner lead."
Hatake Kakashi froze. She couldn't have been older than eight.
"Arata as an heir would be... formidable. Breathtaking." Kakashi tried to remember the lavender-haired boy, but he hadn't spoken to them at all. In fact, he had barely acknowledged them as he talked to Hikari. "But Arata must have guessed my choice, because he was ready. He stepped forward. They'd heard my truth. He asked for his to be weighted before they debated. They acquiesced. He told them that, if they accepted me renouncing my place, he would step down too." There was both pride and vulnerability in her voice.
He moved his hand down, ghosting over her braids until it settled on the nape of her neck. When she didn't tense, he breathed out. The gesture was reminiscent of a grown wolf asserting dominance and protection over a cub. He forcibly banished half-forgotten memories of warmth and a voice rumbling little cub. Instead, he pressed down so her forehead touched his shoulder again. She continued to bestow truth to him, and he understood now, a little better than before, how much it should be treasured.
"But they couldn't ignore my choice. Everyone knew it would take me away from the compound, most of the time. Arata proposed us leading together. To let the kyokuba-dan be guided by my vision and his maneuvering. Together, or not at all."
"That's a powerful declaration."
Together, or not at all. It resonated with the rules he lived by. It echoed the maxim he'd been raised by. Pack. Family. Comrades.
"Yes. It is," she agreed softly.
WAVES: DAY 4
"Naruto-san," Hikari called out. The blond shifted in his sleep, making himself comfortable. She knelt next to her teammate and reached out to gently shake his shoulder. "Naruto-san, it's time to go. You need to wake up." He smacked his lips and turned so he laid on his back. She shook him harder and made her voice firmer. "Naruto-san, wake up." She waited, but her teammate slept on. She glanced at her sensei, but he already had Sasuke up and about.
On their first night, Kakashi had woken up both boys while she freshened up at a nearby stream. On their second night, she'd taken watch with Sasuke and had woken up their sensei. She had no idea how to go about waking up Naruto. She couldn't shake him harder without fearing she'd rattle his teeth.
Hikari let herself go into a crouch. Sasuke came to stand next to her and made to nudge Naruto with his foot. She shifted so her shoulder touched his bandaged ankles. He glanced down at her, questioning. She shot him a devious smile and reached for one of the leaves on the forest floor.
"Naruto-san," she tried one last time. "Wake up." The blond didn't react. She very gently brushed the edge of the leaf on Naruto's noise. It scrunched up. She did it again, keeping it light, so it'd tickle even more. Naruto's face creased. He tried to shift away from what was chasing his sleep, but the floor didn't let him. She shot Sasuke a look, trying to tell him to be ready. Then, she drew Naruto's face from one temple to the other, passing the leaf under his nose in a delicate assault.
She stood up quickly and moved a couple of steps to the side. Sasuke followed her, hands in his pockets, as Naruto tried to bat his bother away and smacked himself in the face. She tugged on her teammate's armband so he was facing her. Naruto flailed around, trying to get himself away from his attacker and only succeeding in rolling around on the floor.
"What, what? What happened?!"
"Oh, good, you're up," Hikari said lightly as she turned.
"Hn. You're the last one to wake up," Sasuke added.
But Naruto was eyeing them, suspicious. "What are you two doing over there?"
"I was about to tell Sasuke-san that we three should modify some of our moves since we are in a different terrain."
The boy next to her shifted. "Why?"
"The trees here are smaller, but their branches start much higher than what we're used to," she pointed out.
"If I throw you, you won't reach them," Naruto noted as he came to stand next to them, forgetting his suspicions of foul play.
The trees were skinny and overall shorter than Konoha's, but even if both of her teammates, or Naruto and his clones, threw her straight up, she still wouldn't land anywhere near the branches.
"Yes. Also, we're more likely to skid across the ground, since it's so moist. And come across bodies of water. If we are going to be guarding Tazuna-san at his bridge, we won't be at the mangroves, but we'll be near water all the time."
"We can use that," Sasuke suggested.
Hikari hesitated. "We could, in theory, but... the Demon Brothers were from the Land of Water. I think they have that advantage, and at this point we can't plan to be better at it than them."
This time, the three of them walked beside Tazuna as they discussed what they could and couldn't do.
By the time they sun was at its peak, Hikari shifted uneasily. She had gotten distracted, looking at their surroundings, and had returned to a passive-aggressive battle. She huffed out a breath as she let herself lag behind so she walked beside her sensei. It was more like Naruto had taken an issue with something, Sasuke had poked fun at him, and they were now trying to out-glare one another. She hoped they didn't trip on a rock.
"Hikari," her sensei greeted.
"Kakashi-sensei," she smiled at him. "May I ask a question?"
"Sure."
"Most of the genjutsu they showed at the Academy was flashy. It overwhelmed all of your senses, which is why they told us it required so much control and attention to detail. But when you let the Demon Brothers catch you, the blood that exploded out was a genjutsu, right?"
"Yes, a minor one. I didn't make it smell like blood, and there aren't specific hand seals to make your opponents think you got shredded."
"It worked because our brains supplied the rest, didn't it? Once you believe something is true, you breathe life into it."
"I wouldn't have put it that way," her sensei said, amused. "But yes. The less senses you want to trick and the more susceptible your victim, the easier it is."
"And they don't even try to break out of it because it fits into what they think reality looks like."
Her sensei hummed.
"May I learn some? Not the big ones. I'd like to be able to do simple visual illusions. Like something glinting in the sun and catching someone's attention, or making a wound appear worse than it is."
"Have you gotten better with your ribbon?"
"Yes!" She smiled brightly at her sensei. "I can do one meter for five minutes and two for three minutes. And I think I finally got the feeling of when I'm overwhelming it and when it's steady."
"After you get it to four meters for ten minutes, I'll teach you. You'll think it easy by then."
Hikari grinned up at her teacher. "Thank you, Kakashi-sensei."
WAVES: DAY 5
"We are nearing the bridge," the rower announced.
Hikari peered in front of her, but she couldn't see beyond Naruto's back. The mist was thick and heavy around them. When the construction came into view, it was all around them.
"It's so big!" Naruto exclaimed. Hikari frowned. It was a bridge that connected an island to the Fire country. What had he been expecting?
The boatman glanced around warily before hissing at Naruto. "Shut up, kid! I told you to make no noise. Why do you think we are traveling like this, with the engine off?!"
"Tazuna-san, before we reach the shore, I want to ask you to tell us why there were chunin after you. If you don't answer, we'll consider the mission completed as soon as we reach land." Kakashi was frowning, clearly unhappy with Tazuna's silence for the last days.
The old man took his time answering. "You leave me no choice but to tell you. No, I want to tell you the truth."
Your truth. You want to tell us your truth.
"Like you said, this is beyond a simple escort mission. You know the man who wants me dead. At the very least, you've heard of him. He's one of the richest men in the world. His name is Gato."
Kakashi's eye widened. "Gato, of Gato Company? The shipping magnate? Everyone knows him."
"Who is he? Who is he?"
Hikari sighed and turned to her teammate. "Naruto-san, Gato is a tycoon." At his blank look, she added. "His company makes him the wealthiest in the import and export world. People say he's built his empire on cruelty and greed. Fire doesn't deal with him directly, because he's been known to breach contracts when it suits him. The wind also carries rumors..." she paused and let Tazuna continue. She'd gain more information by hearing how he phrased it.
"The girl is right. He is a respected businessman. However, behind his shipping front, his company does illegal smuggling and drug deals. He uses gangs and shinobi to achieve his goals. A year ago, he set his sight on the Land of Waves and took control of the shipping routes. Anyone who stood in his way disappeared. This is an island. Whomever rules the ocean commands everything: the economy, government, and our very lives. There is only one thing he fears. The bridge."
"If you knew he'd send shinobi to eliminate you, why did you hide it from us?"
"Because the Land of Waves is small and impoverished. Even our nobles couldn't pay an A or B-classed mission. If you conclude your mission as soon as we reach shore, I'll be dead before I reach my house. There will be no bridge." He paused before continuing in a forced light tone. "But don't feel bad about it. Of course, my sweet little grandson will be upset. And cry." When they still didn't say anything, he continued in a higher voice. "'Grandpa! Grandpa! I want my grandpa!' And my daughter will condemn the shinobi of the Hidden Leaf Village. She will live the rest of her life suffering, cursing and denouncing you for having abandoned her father."
Ah, there's the threat. Refuse to keep me safe, and my family will make sure word spreads. They will speak of how Konoha's shinobi refused to aid a prosperous and un-militarized nation. Ignore our plight, and your reputation will suffer for it.
"Yes, yes. Don't worry about it. In fact, forget about me and go back to your village," Tazuna finished.
Kakashi reached up and tapped his forehead protector a couple of times before turning to Tazuna with a fake eye-smile. "Maa, there is no other way. We'll keep you safe."
"Thank you!" Tazuna exclaimed, smug.
Hikari walked next to Sasuke, with Naruto in front of them. The road was flanked by trees on one side and water on the other.
"There!" Naruto shot forwards and threw a kunai towards a bush. No one moved. When nothing happened, Naruto stood up from his crouch. "It was only a rodent."
Hikari breathed out, relieved.
"Naruto, those are kunai! Very dangerous. Don't go around throwing them like that," their sensei scolded.
"Don't try to scare me, you damned midget!" Tazuna yelled.
Naruto ignored them. He peered around. "There!"
The blond threw again. Their sensei went to investigate and the three of them followed. They found a white rabbit almost impaled by the kunai. Hikari relaxed before tensing again. There weren't supposed to be rabbits in Waves. Lizards, birds, and even a crocodile who had wandered far off the mangroves and to this clearing of trees, she could understand. A snow rabbit in an island, when it wasn't even winter? No. Even if it were a pet, this kind of rabbit would be so expensive that their owner would never let it wander.
As Naruto went to coo over the animal, she tugged on Sasuke's armband and signed. Not natural. Be alert.
He nodded and went to stand near Naruto. She moved so she was next to Tazuna.
"Get down!" Their sensei's voice was the only warning.
She dove to the ground, pulling Tazuna along with her as a giant sword sliced where their heads had been and buried itself in a tree in front of them.
She glanced up as she regained her feet. Naruto and Sasuke moved to stand in front of her and the client.
A tall, muscular man stood on the sword's hilt, his back to them. He turned his face and Hikari discerned his profile. He wore bandages as a mask over the bottom half of his face. His dark eyes were narrowed and focused on their sensei.
Kakashi strode forward, keeping his attention on him. "Well, well, if it isn't Momochi Zabuza, a missing-nin from the Village Hidden by Mist." Hikari thought he was explaining for their benefit. Their sensei tugged his hitaiate to reveal his other eye. "Stay out of this fight. He's on another level," he told them.
"Kakashi of the Sharingan. I'm afraid you'll have to hand the old man over."
Kakashi ignored him. "Manji formation. Guard Tazuna and keep away. You know how to work together. Prove it."
Sasuke's back tensed as their sensei opened his eye, revealing a red iris. She stepped to Sasuke's unprotected side and pushed her shoulder into his. He glanced over quickly and nodded before they all assumed the formation, each clutching a kunai.
"Looks like I'll see the Sharingan in action. What an honor," Zabuza mocked. He turned so he faced them, still on top of his sword. It was as tall as the man himself, maybe even taller, and had a circle on one side. A decapitation sword. Hikari shivered and tightened her grip.
"Kiri-nin have strict kill-on-sight orders on you, Copy Ninja. In the bingo books, you are called the man who has copied more than a thousand jutsus," the shirtless man called out as he crouched on top of his sword.
He dislodged the sword and moved in a single, fluid movement. That sword had to be as heavy as her, and he wielded it as if it were an extension of his body. Normally, people that strong are slower. But not him. I didn't even see where he went.
"He's over there!" Naruto called out. Hikari glanced over. The missing nin was standing on top of the water. She hadn't even known that was possible. As they watched, he started to sink and water whirled around him.
"Hiding in the Mist Technique," he called out as the fog became thicker and denser, until Hikari could barely see Sasuke's black hair at her left.
"He'll come after me first," Kakashi told them. "Momochi Zabuza is an expert at the Silent Killing Technique. It's so fast you don't realize what has happened until you're dead. Even the Sharingan can't track it perfectly, which is why you can't let your guard down."
The three of them all tensed further.
"Well, if we fail, we'll only die," their sensei pointed out, lightly. Hikari wondered if he was trying to be reassuring. It kind of was. To look at the worst possible scenario and accept it as a possibility. A possibility, but not a certainty.
The mist got thicker, and Kakashi faded out of view.
"Eight points," Zabuza's raspy voice called out from somewhere in the mist.
Hikari moved her left foot so it brushed Sasuke's. I'm here, she wanted to say. We're a team, and we have each other.
"Larynx, Spine, Lungs, Liver, Jugular, Subclavian artery, Kidneys, Heart. Which one will it be?"
This is what hopelessness feels like. All consuming, like it will swallow you whole and you won't notice until its throat's walls are restricting around you. Fear, all-encompassing fear. I'm going to die here, and I didn't even get to say goodbye. Faces whirled in her mind. Her dad, interrupting a song to steal a kiss from her mom. Arata, laughing as they laid on the mat, exhausted after practice. Ino, hugging her tight. Shika, dark eyes gleaming as they locked on hers. Shika. Her best friend, her constant. Her person. She grounded herself and came back to the moment.
Naruto, Sasuke, Kakashi-sensei. Her team.
'Move,' her dad's voice whispered in her mind. 'The first step is always the hardest, sweetheart.'
She closed her eyes briefly and moved her foot again, assuring herself that, even though she couldn't see them, her team was standing by her side. She could feel Sasuke breathing out. Not alone, we are not alone. We stand together.
Chakra flooded out of their sensei's now visible figure, clearing some of the mist. "I'll protect you with my life," her sensei's voice was hard and solemn. "All of you." He turned to give them an eye-smile. "Trust me. I won't let my comrades die," he vowed.
"I wouldn't be so sure," Zabuza sneered as he came to stand between the three of them, cutting them off from their client. "It's over." He raised his sword. Faster than her eyes could track, her sensei was there, sending them flying outwards and stabbing their attacker. Hikari managed to twist so she faced the two shinobi as she crashed into the ground. The wound leaked... water?
"Sensei! Behind you!" Naruto yelled out.
The warning came too late, and Zabuza's sword sliced Kakashi in two. The clone dissolved into water. Kakashi appeared behind Zabuza, holding a kunai to his neck. "Don't move," Kakashi snarled. "Now it's over."
Hikari scrambled to her feet.
Zabuza chuckled. "I'll never be defeated by an imitator like you. Although, I have to say, it was skillfully executed. Nice try, but I'm not that easy to fool." The clone dissolved into water and the real Zabuza was now behind Kakashi. He swung the sword. Kakashi ducked under it. Its tip broke the ground. Zabuza grabbed the hilt, used it as a pivot, and kicked Kakashi. He went flying to the water. Their sensei resurfaced. Zabuza followed him, stepping on top of the water.
"Water style: Water Prison Jutsu."
A giant sphere enveloped the silver-haired jounin. Zabuza stood beside it, one hand submerged in the prison. Contact needs to be maintained, then. With his other hand, Zabuza made a Tiger hand-seal.
"I'm afraid that your little genin need to be eliminated. Water style: Water Clone Jutsu. "
Another Zabuza, sword included, formed out of the water and stepped towards them.
"Do you know what a ninja is? Only when you hover between life and death so many times that it doesn't face you anymore... only then you can be called a ninja. When your name is in the Bingo books, then you may be called a ninja. Right now, calling you ninja is ridiculous."
In an instant, Zabuza's clone was in front of Naruto and sent him flying with a kick. Naruto's hitaiate hit the ground. The clone stepped on it.
"Listen! Get the bridge-builder and run. You can't win this fight! He can only use his clone to attack you while he keeps me here, and it can't move far from the original. Run!" Their sensei ordered from within the water encasing him.
He wants us to run? No. Not until he's with us, leading the way. If we run now, we'll just die tired.
"We need to do this!" Sasuke exclaimed as he ran forward. Hikari's eyes widened, but she joined him, unwilling to leave him alone, as he sprinted for the clone. This wouldn't work. They needed a better plan.
"Naruto, a team of clones!" she ordered.
Sasuke threw a handful of shurikens. Zabuza blocked them with his sword. Sasuke leapt up. As the missing-nin followed him with his eyes, Hikari threw another handful at him. Zabuza dodged. Sasuke came down as Zabuza was forced to dodge Naruto's own. Hikari grabbed him and motioned backwards, where Naruto's clones, henged like them, awaited them. He nodded and they and their look-alikes ran in a couple of loops. She hoped Zabuza couldn't track them both.
The team made up of clones attacked. The real team leapt back and away. Her teammates flanked her as they looked at their clones. Zabuza strangled 'Sasuke' and kicked 'her'. 'Naruto' got something and threw it backwards to them. Naruto caught it. Zabuza stepped on his clone. It puffed out. From the corner of her eye, Hikari could see that Naruto held his hitaiate in his hands. He put it on. Hikari understood. It was a symbol. They were shinobi. They wouldn't back down, and they wouldn't let down their sensei.
"Put this in your Bingo book! The ninja that will become Hokage of The Village Hidden in the Leaves never backs down. My name is Uzumaki Naruto!"
"Big words for such a little boy," Zabuza chuckled.
"What are you doing? I told you to run! It was over the moment he caught me. Your mission is to protect the bridge builder!"
Hikari couldn't care less about the liar in face of her sensei. She sneered. Such a useless lie. The Land of Waves held influence because of their goods. They could have, should have, asked for help. They could have promised to pay back the mission later, with interest, once their economy recovered. Why did they wait a year to do something?
She didn't care for Tazuna. She only cared about getting the missing-nin's hand off the sphere. But Naruto turned to the old man.
"Bridge-builder?" he asked.
"Well, I guess this all happened because of me. Forget about me and go fight for your sensei."
"Perfect," Sasuke smirked. "Did you hear that?"
"Yes, dattebayo! Ready?"
No, we still need a plan. We need more time.
Zabuza chuckled. "Still playing your little game, pretending to be ninja. When I was your age, my hands were already stained by blood."
"Momochi Zabuza, the Demon of the Mist," her sensei called out. Hikari thought he was trying to keep Zabuza's attention on him. Or at least divided. "Eleven years ago, the Village Hidden in the Mist held a graduation exam."
Hikari took a small step forward and put one arm behind her. Long range attack. Pairs. Question. Taijustu wouldn't help them. Zabuza was deadly, and the sword gave him reach. They could only hope to distract him by forcing him to divide his attention between them and their sensei. And then half it again between the three of them.
"We had a graduating exam, too! What's the big deal?" Naruto protested, keeping Zabuza's eyes on him.
"Did you also have to annihilate the other students to pass? Kill your friend, who shared your dreams?" Hikari shivered and stepped back. Sasuke moved as if to put her safely behind him, weaving a hand behind his back. You. Naruto. Throw. Pause. Me. Naruto. Weapons.
"The exam changed ten years ago. A year before, a boy killed more than a hundred students without pause or hesitation," their sensei explained. Hikari was glad he kept talking, even as she worried about his oxygen supply. His voice was grounding.
Naruto stepped closer to her, forearm brushing her own. She shrugged so her shoulder was behind him, hoping Zabuza would dismiss her. She hadn't spoken to him, hadn't made a declaration, and hadn't faced him head on. She drew a simple quick line up Naruto's back. The signal they'd agreed on for a throw.
Zabuza chuckled. "It felt so... good!"
Sasuke spoke up. "Are we supposed to be impressed? That you slaughtered children?"
Naruto turned his head sideways.
"We can use the human chain!" he whisper-yelled at her.
She nodded. They hadn't gotten it down perfect. The landing was still rough, it wasn't precise, and she hadn't figured out how to throw anything in the way, but... she wasn't even sure if her sensei could breathe or if he'd run out of air. He'd kept talking, yelling at them to run, and she didn't think that sphere held a lot of oxygen to begin with.
"Can you distract him? I'll try to land on one of the trees to the side of the real Zabuza and sensei," she said, more quietly than him. She let her backpack fall to the ground.
Naruto nodded firmly. They turned to where Sasuke stood in front of them. He dipped his head once and moved forwards by himself. Hikari gritted her teeth, realizing he was going to win time for the throw, before the boys made their own move.
Naruto's eyes widened as he saw Sasuke dash forward, but he wasted no time. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
As soon as they hid her from view, her hands moved. Ram. Snake. Tiger. Her clone stood in front of Tazuna. Hikari gripped one of Naruto's clones' forearm tight with her left hand. He clasped her forearm back and took hold of another clone with his other arm. The following clones did the same.
"Here we go!" The first few files of clones and the real Naruto yelled and ran at Zabuza.
Behind them, the human chain moved in an arc. Hikari sprinted with them. The first clones gripped a tree and each other ferociously, and their arms pulled taut. Hikari turned and gripped the clone's forearm with both hands. The tail jumped, until half of the chain was off the ground. Hikari let herself be moved by the momentum, until she was completely horizontal to the ground and then diagonal, gaining impressive height. Her eyes widened as she saw Naruto's clones overwhelming Zabuza from all directions, even the top, and Sasuke on the ground.
The chain pivoted and the Naruto clone released her. She went flying above the cluster, just in time to see Zabuza throw all the clones off in one single move. The clones yelled as they moved through the air. The chain Naruto had created for her puffed out with them.
Hikari twisted and tried to grip one of the trees' branches, but her impulse was too great. She gritted her teeth and used the branch as a bar to spin off to one closer to the water. Her speed decreased slightly the more she repeated the action. She could hear Naruto yelling for Sasuke. She kept on going, trying to ignore her palms getting burned and scratched through the finger-less gloves of her shirt. From the corner of her eye, she saw something heading for the real Zabuza. Sasuke could have done that on his own. What are they really- From the corner of her eye, she could see its mirror coming. She bared her teeth, remembering one of the moves her teammates had planned.
The next time she gripped a branch, still with too much force, she clenched her hands tight and refused to let go. Instead, her body moved like a pendulum in a nearly full circle, until she crouched on top of it. She pulled on her neko-te and studied the water.
Zabuza jumped to avoid the second Fuma Shuriken, holding the first one in the hand that didn't hold the prison. "I told you already. A shuriken can't touch me!" The weapon passed him and dispelled in a puff of smoke. Naruto took its place, kunai in hand. "What!?"
"This is it, dattebayo!" Naruto threw the weapon at Zabuza, who snarled. Hikari launched herself off the tree with as much force as she could manage. The distance was great, but the clones had given her a lot of height. Zabuza took his arm off the sphere of water. As the missing-nin turned to avoid the kunai, he gave her his back. Naruto drew blood. The Demon was already aiming for Naruto, Shadow Windmill spinning wildly. She was going to be too late.
"I'll destroy you!" Zabuza roared.
But her sensei recovered faster than she'd thought possible and was there, bracing the Fuma Shuriken with the back of his glove. Her eyes widened, but she couldn't stop. Naruto splashed into the water. She landed hard, her feet on either side of Zabuza's shoulders, but careful to remain above the blade. The clash made him rock forward, and Kakashi had to brace his wrist with his other arm. She swiped at the back of the Kiri shinobi's neck, making a deep scratch, and vaulted backwards. Three to seven minutes. We just have to survive that long.
She joined Naruto on the water, spluttering as water filled her nose. She hadn't expected to break the surface mid-turn. Her palms stung fiercely as she traded water and coughed up what she'd breathed in. She put the neko-te back in the sleeve and hoped the poisoned tip wouldn't be ruined by water. Why did I never ask sensei about it?
"Team 7, excellent plan. You have really grown up, Naruto."
Naruto laughed. It was filled with nerves and relief. She swam towards him. "We knew the clones wouldn't be enough, so we used them to distract him! Of course I knew I couldn't fight Zabuza alone. That wasn't my plan at all! We needed to break the prison. We didn't know it'd destroy the water clone too. That was just a bonus!"
"Don't brag too much, Naruto," Sasuke reprimanded from the shore, but she thought he was smirking. He stood guarding Tazuna alone. Her clone had probably dispelled when she hit the water and lost concentration.
"I got distracted and lost control of the prison," Zabuza remarked.
"Don't fool yourself," their sensei replied. "You weren't distracted. They distracted you."
Six minutes.
Zabuza glared.
"Naruto-san," she whispered. "We need to get off the water. Sensei has to stay focused, and this is Zabuza's element."
He nodded.
"Slowly. As if the current were leading us out. Don't give them your back."
They watched as both shinobi leapt away from the other and started forming seals. Ox, monkey, hare, rat, boar, bird... Naruto and she drifted closer to land, careful not to get between the two ... Monkey, bird, dragon, bird, ox, horse, ram, tiger... Her hand brushed Naruto's jacket. She winced and drew it back... Rat, boar, bird...
"Water style: Water Dragon Jutsu!"
Two giant dragons formed from the river, displacing an enormous amount of water and sending them whirling. Naruto clasped a hand on her jacket so they wouldn't be separated. The beasts attacked one another. Hikari tried not to breathe as she let herself go limp, trusting Naruto. When the water somewhat stilled, the two figures were again clashing, sword against bracers. Four minutes. The fighters distanced themselves and ran in a circle. Her sensei mirrored Zabuza perfectly. She had seen countless of dances before, where one partner led and the other followed. This wasn't it at all. Kakashi was imitating the movements even as they formed. Hikari nudged Naruto as their sensei played mind-games.
"We need to move, Naruto-san."
He nodded and turned his back to her, leading the way.
"You can't beat me with cheap tricks! I'll crush you!" Both voices called out.
Zabuza stumbled, just for a second, and their sensei's voice rang out. "Water Style: Giant Vortex Jutsu."
Hikari didn't like the sound of that. She ignored the pain as she grasped the back of Naruto's jacket and twisted until her wrist was tangled in it. She only did one loop, hoping she wouldn't sprain it if the currents carried them in different directions. Naruto reached back and clasped her forearm. She took a deep breath and held it. A wave crashed into them and they went under. Hikari tried not fight and disturb Naruto's hold. The water scrambled them deep before bringing them back up. She gasped for air and kicked her legs until she could wrap them around Naruto's waist as tight as she dared. He released her forearm as her arms came around his neck. Another wave crashed into them and they went under. When they resurfaced again, Hikari was glad she'd freed up Naruto's arms even if her hands burned with sharp pain. He had somehow managed to grasp a branch and was holding on tight as the water retreated, trying to drag them back into its depths.
Zabuza wasn't so lucky, and he crashed into a tree. Two minutes. A handful of kunai pierced his torso and legs. Hikari glanced up. Her sensei crouched on top of the tree. "You're done for," he declared.
"How? Can you... see into the future?"
"Yes. This is your last battle," Kakashi drew his arm back.
The air whistled. Zabuza's throat was impaled by three senbons. Hikari drew back, startled, as a masked figure came into view.
"You were right. It was his last battle," a young voice called out calmly.
Naruto heaved and they were on the ground. Hikari let her legs fall and tried to stand on her own. She stumbled a bit but steadied.
They watched as Kakashi went over to where Zabuza had fallen and put his fingers on his throat. "No pulse," he announced and eyed the newcomer. "By your mask, I assume you're a hunting nin of the Village Hidden by the Mist."
"Impressive knowledge," the figure praised in a mild voice.
She and Naruto rejoined Sasuke and Tazuna. Hikari didn't like this. Why had the hunter not intervened sooner? They had waited until Kakashi had the missing nin cornered and then used senbons. From Asuma's explanation to Ino and her, they weren't typically used to kill - unless they were poisoned. Naruto dashed forward. Hikari stretched her arm to stop him, but clutched air.
He growled as he faced the hunter. "Who do you think you are?!" The hunter nin remained silent.
"Easy, Naruto. He's not our enemy," their sensei placated.
He's not our friend, either.
"Zabuza was huge and powerful! And this kid, who is no older than me, took him down with a move, just like that. What could he do to us?!"
That was a great point. She glanced at Sasuke and whispered. "Don't let your guard down." He nodded.
Their sensei walked over to Naruto and replied gently. "In this world, there are kids who are younger than you and yet stronger than me." He put a hand on his head and ruffled his hair.
The hunter nin appeared in a blur of leaves beside Zabuza. "I must deal with the remains. Farewell." He disappeared in a blur. Naruto ran over to the spot.
"Naruto, he's gone. Let it go. As ninjas, none of the things we face are easy or simple. Save your fury for the next enemy." Kakashi pulled his hitaiate back over his eye and turned to them. "We still haven't finished our mission. We need to get Tazuna to his home."
"I'm sorry I caused you this much trouble!" Tazuna laughed it off. Hikari wanted to sneer, but he would see her face this time.
"Let's go," Kakashi turned and led the way with Naruto next to him.
He toppled forward.
"Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto called. "Kakashi-sensei!"
Hikari sprinted, Sasuke a step behind her, and knelt next to the jounin. She looked up and met Naruto's shiny gaze. She steeled herself and put a mask on. This wasn't the time to fall apart.
"Naruto-san, get sensei on his back." She glanced at her hands before holding them out to her other teammate. "Sasuke-san, can you try to get all the bark and fabric out of the tears?"
Naruto glanced over. "I didn't know you were hurt!"
She grimaced. Sasuke took hold of her wrists and started to pick debris off, taking the rest of the gloves off and tearing her shirt up to her forearms. The water had already done most of the job of cleaning the wounds. "It's not too serious." Her shirt was meant for gymnasts, so the gloves had some padding. It wasn't meant for trees, though, and the scratches stung like crazy, but they had to focus. "My pack has a med-kit. Is anyone else injured?" They both shook their heads. Hikari breathed out, relieved. "Naruto-san, Kakashi-sensei is breathing, right?"
"Yes, dattebayo!"
Sasuke took her pack, sterilized the scratches, and started bandaging her hands.
"Move him to his side and pull his head back, so his airway is clear. Can you hear a rattle? Maybe some water got into his lungs?"
"No, it's steady."
"Alright. Good. Thank you, Sasuke-san." She moved and checked his pulse herself. It was steady and strong, like Naruto said. "I think he's stable. Any ideas as to what's wrong?"
Sasuke shook his head. "Let's get him to Tazuna's and check there. We shouldn't stay here."
She nodded and went to their packs. "Can Naruto-san and you carry him?"
They both nodded. Naruto's blue eyes were still huge. As she passed him, she bumped her shoulder into his. "You did great, Naruto-san." She turned to include Sasuke. "We did great. Now let's take care of our sensei."
She shouldered their backpacks and turned to Tazuna. "Lead the way."
Naruto and Sasuke, aided by a couple of clones, settled Kakashi on a futon. Hikari put their backpacks on the corner.
"I could check on your teacher?" Tazuna's daughter offered. Naruto moved to let her pass the room's threshold.
"Do you have medical training, Tsuname-san?" Hikari asked. Naruto paused.
"No, but..."
"Then, we'll take it from here. Thank you for your offer and the room," Hikari dismissed her. "Make sure no one leaves the house today, please."
The woman nodded and the door closed. The three of them regarded one another.
"Alright. Sasuke-san, did you notice anything unusual about Kakashi-sensei?"
He paused and thought about it. "His Sharingan is always active. Perhaps that's why he covers it."
"It's not supposed to be?"
"No. It redirects chakra to the eyes, but it shouldn't have caused this," he said, stiffly.
Hikari nodded. "I'd prefer it to be chakra exhaustion, though."
Sasuke conceded the point.
"What does that mean? The chakra thing." Naruto asked, a bit timidly. Hikari thought the term was self-explanatory... unless Naruto didn't know what chakra actually was. She knew he had skipped a lot of classes, and that even Iruka-sensei didn't seem to like him a lot but... really? And then she remembered that Naruto was an orphan. Chouji-kun, and Shika could skip because they already knew the material or would cover it with their clans, but Naruto...
"Chakra is what you use when you make clones. The more clones you make, the more you need. Chakra exhaustion would mean that Kakashi-sensei used too much energy when he created the dragon and vortex. If that's what's wrong with him, he just needs rest. Ideally, hydration too, but we don't have supplies for that." She chose not to say that, even if they'd had supplies, they didn't know how to use them.
Naruto relaxed.
Hikari went over to her pack and took the med-kit out again. "Kakashi-sensei didn't get hit by the sword. We need to tend to his hands, though. The bracers helped, but I think they're bruised and bleeding from the sheer force of the blows."
"We'll need to monitor him through the night. Make sure it's only chakra exhaustion," Sasuke added.
She nodded and hesitated. "Maybe I'm being paranoid but... don't you think the hunter nin was strange? And the fact that he arrived when it was all over?"
"He was so strong! He beat Zabuza!" Naruto exclaimed as he helped Hikari arrange the supplies. She passed some over to Sasuke, who was on the other side of the bed. They went to work, removing their sensei's bloodied gloves with careful tugs.
"No, Naruto-san. Kakashi-sensei beat Zabuza. The hunter nin finished disabling him, but our sensei did all the work. And why did he use senbons?"
"Senbons are mostly used for medicinal purposes. They rarely kill anyone unless they hit vital points. Not the neck," Sasuke informed them.
Hikari nodded. "Why not let Kakashi-sensei finish Zabuza, and then take the body?"
"Maybe he wanted to question him?" Sasuke speculated.
They all shuffled to the feet of the bed, unsettled as they looked at their unconscious sensei.
"I nicked him," Hikari offered. "Whether the hunting nin took him alive or dead, Zabuza will be paralyzed for a couple of hours. We can rest for a bit, maybe even through the night without having to worry. Do you... want us to take shifts? Sasuke-san is right. We should keep an eye on Kakashi-sensei. I could take this one, the easy one, because I'm not going to be much help with my hands bandaged up. "
She must have sounded as frustrated as she felt, because Naruto offered up. "You did good, scratching him and all."
She smiled at him. "We did good." She put her fingertips on Naruto's shoulder and reached over to the other side to do the same to Sasuke. "Your move was excellent. I could only jump on him because you managed to distract him. You two even drew blood."
Naruto grinned.
Sasuke offered her a small smirk.
They all fell silent, regarding their sensei.
As she kept watch over the small room, occasionally doing a round of the house and roof, Hikari worried. She had given her teammates a truth. They had done well and had worked together to disable the threat. But she was all too aware of another truth. They hadn't beaten Zabuza. They were alive because he'd underestimated them and focused only on their sensei.
WAVES: DAY 6
"Naruto-san, if you sleep while your clones keep watch, do you rest?"
"I haven't tried it, but I don't think I can hold them if I go to sleep. Sorry, Hikari."
"Don't be, Naruto-san. It was just a thought." She nudged her forearm with his, trying to reassure him a little. "Could you go get Sasuke-san and meet me downstairs, please? We need to talk to Tazuna-san and his family."
They all took a seat at the dinner table.
"Your house is far from the mangroves," Hikari started. "Do you have to go into town for supplies and food?"
"Yes," Tsunami answered.
"What do the mangroves have to do with it?" Naruto asked, confused.
"If Gato has been controlling Waves' shipping industry for a year, how do you think its people have survived? They likely aren't getting most of the imports, or the money that comes in from commerce."
Naruto drew back. "I don't know?"
"Waves is known for the quantity and beauty of its mangroves. Look at this house. The wood it's built with is different from Konoha's. Mangrove wood is resistant to rot and can also be used as timber, fuel, or charcoal. The mangrove forests are likely why Waves' citizens haven't starved. If they brave the wildlife, they can collect clams, shellfish, and shrimp at low tide. At high tide, they become fishing grounds. From them, Waves can make medicine, sugar, honey, and even alcohol," she nodded towards Tazuna's beer. She refocused on the woman, who seemed to do all the cooking. "How many days will your food last?"
"Not more than three days."
"We could go to the mangroves," Sasuke offered. Tazuna scoffed.
Hikari grimaced. "I'd prefer we didn't. We don't really know how to fight off crocodiles." She lifted her bandaged hands, which would take a couple of days to heal, and even then, they'd be tender. "Naruto-san and you would have to go. We'd leave the house, our client, and Kakashi-sensei without adequate protection." She addressed their hosts. "Our sensei should be up today or tomorrow. If the food can last us until the day after, we can go into town then. In the meanwhile, we'll work on setting up traps. Does anyone venture near the house? It seems pretty secluded."
"No," Tazuna answered. "No one comes calling."
She nodded and turned to Naruto. "Can you make the traps not only to catch animals but to deter anyone from coming close? Set up a perimeter?"
"Yes, Hikari!"
She turned again Tsunami. "Your kid. He was up all night yesterday. Is there anything we should know? He won't be able to wander far for at least a couple of days, since we'll set up traps." She didn't mention that she'd heard muffled sobs. That, and the ripped picture in front of her, told her he had likely lost someone not too long ago.
"What's the point?" A young voice called from the door. They all turned. A boy of around seven or eight years stood in the doorway, glaring. "What's the point of putting up traps? Gato has a whole army of thugs. He'll beat you up and then he'll kill you."
Naruto bared his teeth and opened his mouth. Hikari put a hand on his wrist. "May I?" she whispered.
He nodded. She turned to the kid. "I believe we haven't met yet. We are Team 7. And you are?" Her voice was perfectly polite. It stumped the kid, who had likely wanted a fight.
"This is Inari, my son," Tsunami offered when the silence stretched on.
Hikari nodded. "Inari-san, please take a seat." She gestured to the empty seat beside his grandfather. "We are discussing the following days, and the choices made will impact you too."
The honorific made him hesitate. Finally, the kid drew closer and sat down. He glared at them under the brim of his hat.
"As we were saying, while our sensei recuperates, we'll set up traps around your house," Hikari repeated.
He scoffed. "If you want to remain alive, you need to go back to where you came from. You don't know who you're going against."
"We don't have all the information, that's true. Your grandfather chose not to tell us until yesterday, moments before we were attacked," she acquiesced easily. The adults flinched back.
Her agreement made the kid hesitate. "You talk like a lady. Won't your family be sad when Gato kills you?" He talked about Gato with equal part disgust and overwhelming fear. It made her suspicions grow, especially as every time he mentioned the man, he brought death into the sentence.
Her teammates stiffened. Naruto clenched his fists.
"I imagine they would be, yes. You see, my family is civilian. They didn't choose to be shinobi. So, they'd mourn me, but they'd also honor my choice."
"There's no honor in dying!"
"There's honor in standing by your choices. We," she gestured to encompass the boys at her side and herself, "chose to be shinobi. Yesterday, we chose to stand by our teammates and complete the mission. Every choice has consequences. We accept ours, and you don't have the right to question them."
The kid's eyes welled up. He stood up and made his way to the door.
She projected her voice so it encompassed the room but didn't shift the volume. "You asked me a question, Inari-san. I chose to answer. You owe me the respect of listening."
The kid sniffled but turned around.
"We need to discuss your choices. The traps we'll set up won't be friendly. They are designed to protect you and your family while we regain our strength. Your grandfather hired us to accomplish this job. If you go outside of the area that Naruto-san will indicate to you, you will get caught in them. Do you understand?"
"Yes." His voice was small and thready.
"And your choice?"
"I'll stay away from the traps."
"Thank you, Inari-san, for listening. You may go if that's your wish."
Later, Sasuke caught up to her in the room they'd settled into. After a glance at their sensei, he came to sit next to her.
"You're angry at them, for not telling us about Gato sooner," he pointed out.
"I am. We could have had a better plan."
"You talked about choices. Why aren't you angry at Kakashi for letting us continue the mission?"
She gave him her full attention. "At first, Kakashi-sensei thought we were up against chunin-level ninja. I think that, as long as we worked together, we could handle those. He must have felt confident enough to let us continue. But when Tazuna told us about Gato... he forced sensei's hand. Sasuke-san, why do you think there are entire Lands without shinobi?"
"Because they are peaceful and can hire other nation's."
"Exactly. Konoha has a reputation for being the friendliest Hidden Village. Tazuna threatened that reputation. Don't you remember? He told Kakashi-sensei that Tsunami-san would denounce and curse Konoha's shinobi if he decided that the mission was over. If word got out about it... they wouldn't talk about how the client lied and a sensei chose not to risk his genin. They'd say that a team from Konoha chose not to aid what once was a prosperous Land because they couldn't pay. It would paint us as ruthless and heartless. People would start losing confidence and trust. Maybe they'd go to other Hidden Villages when they need to hire shinobi. Or maybe they'd start to think that they need a Hidden Village themselves."
She paused to make sure Sasuke was still listening and moved closer to him, so their shoulders almost brushed. "So, yes. Kakashi-sensei chose to continue. But did you notice his priorities when he realized who we were up against?" Their sensei had only gotten caught because he had to protect four people.
"Us. He bared his Sharingan immediately, and he wasted chakra and the element of surprise to reassure us."
"Yes."
Sasuke shifted his weight. His shoulder brushed hers. Hikari pretended not to notice him glancing at her from the corner of his eye. Yesterday, they'd all been scared. They still were today, waiting for their sensei to wake up. The boys were both trying not to show it, but they hadn't even argued with each other all day long. They'd let her deal with the family without saying a word. Hikari was willing to wait and listen if Sasuke felt the need to say anything.
She wasn't sure how much time passed when his voice broke the silence.
"That day, I was crying. That was my..." he broke off and started again. "I am an avenger. I need to be strong."
She shifted so their shoulders were pressed fully together. "We've come a long way from graduation. And yes, yesterday showed us that we still have a very long way to go. So, we train, and we work hard, and we get better."
He breathed out, and they sat together until Naruto called for them.