Chapter 17 : Being considered as real ninjas

Matsuo's encounter at King's Cross Station with a Gryffindor bully who humiliated him in front of Narcissa - his Slytherin lover - was soon forgotten as Akira and Tatsuno had the decency to not remind him this painful event. The Second Great Ninja War also did its job as it was filling their mind with horrific pictures of badly wounded ninjas.

Nobody wanted to see this but they were considered lucky because they were remaining safe in the hospital in Konoha while the others had to go on the battlefield where they risked their life. Akira and her two friends were hearing every day what was happening at the front and the condition of some of their patients foreshadowed the violence of the fighting.

Akira, Tatsuno and Matsuo were indeed reassured to not be standing in the middle of this war even if they never got to admit it loudly to not be seen as cowards. Because as far as they knew, young people from around their age were sent on D or C rank missions. They weren't really dangerous but it was still missions done during a conflict where both sides were showing absolutely no mercy to the other one.

However, Akira and the twins were aware that they were put aside temporarily and that one day or another they would have to replace the ninjas that got killed. This eventuality didn't reassure Akira as their ninja skills were decreasing with time since they couldn't train properly with their job at the hospital.

Therefore, she decided one day to set up training sessions for the three of them in an attempt to stay at an acceptable level. The only condition was to keep these trainings a secret as Akira's father wasn't fond at all on his daughter considering to take part to the war. They were thus taking place at night in Akira's house which she had been able to transform into their headquarters as her father was never setting a foot in there, preferring to live at his work place.

Akira had lowered the blinds, moved the furniture of the living room against the walls and placed a wooden plank to serve as a target for their shuriken throws. This training area had nothing to do with the outside training grounds they were using normally as it was smaller and Akira wasn't allowed to train her fire techniques at the risk of seeing her house go up in smoke. It was nevertheless enough for the three ninjas that they were with their actual skills.

Akira, Matsuo and Tatsuno thus met there every day from one until half past two in the morning as their respective family thought that they were sleeping quietly in their bed at that time. They always started with a warm-up of about thirty minutes, then trained ninjutsus that they could do indoors, taijutsu by fighting with each other and also weapon throws.

Such training in a confined space, late at night and after spending a grueling day healing seriously injured people in the hospital would never allow them to reach the level of their comrades – especially if they compared themselves to Fugaku and Minato – but it was enough to not be dead weights on the battlefield. The only issue was to keep up on a long-term basis as they were exhausted and running out of chakra. But they couldn't afford to give up as the fear of being sent into battle was still present.

This fear nevertheless turned slowly into a willingness to prove their worth in this war as they were continuously taunted by their ninja colleagues who had been on the battlefield. It wasn't pleasant to be called a coward and not be able to reply anything to that as they were effectively staying in safety in Konoha since the beginning of the conflict. And seeing horrific scenes in the operating room didn't count as being courageous as they were "used to it". It was beginning to weigh down their spirits as Akira and the twins were hearing about the missions that their comrades around their age were carrying out and which were completely within their reach with their actual ninja level.

"We could also boast if we were sent to scout in a deserted area." Tatsuno grumbled after having to heal the guy who told him this story which had earned him a too tight bandage around his hand.

"Or spying from afar." His brother added as he had heard a group of girls talking about such type of missions with enthusiasm as they didn't seem to realize that there was nothing to be excited about as people were dying in this conflict.

"It's not fair that we're confined to the hospital while those of our year have the opportunity to shine." Akira said angrily as she had heard rumours that some of these ninjas would be promoted to Jonin for their merit without having to take the exam.

It had been her dream to reach this rank to show her father what she was capable of. But as the war was raging, the exams to become Chunin and Jonin were cancelled. That was even more difficult to live for Akira as it was her birthday today on this 31st July and she had lost all hope to receive the good news of becoming soon a Jonin as a birthday present. All she got was a mixture that the twins "brew" in an attempt to imitate the potions that they bought on Diagon Alley. According to them, what they gave to Akira was able to cure all type of illness but she suspected them of having simply mixed a bit of their two potions – Wiggenweld Potion and an Elixir to Induce Euphoria - and added some herbs to it as it had a greenish colour and crushed leaves inside.

"Your father would be furious if he learnt that you denigrate our work at the hospital." Tatsuno advised her jokingly.

"Yes, he would say that "we're making a name for ourselves but in the shadows"" Matsuo added as Akira had to admit that it was effectively what her father could have said.

"Well, it's not up to him to choose the path that we've to take." Akira replied while lowering her voice to make sure no one heard her in this crowded hallway full of patients and doctors.

"A bit. He's our Director after all." Tatsuno pointed out to her.

"But we're also ninjas and this time, it's the Hokage who's our Director." Akira said as this statement gave her an idea on what to do to finally go to the battlefield like the others.

"Technically you're right but we're doctors first and then ninjas." Matsuo announced.

"We're both and we can use this to our advantage. Follow me." Akira ordered them to find a place where they could talk freely.

She took them to the morgue which was full of corpses with the conflict that was raging. It was a gruesome place but also the perfect one to not be overheard as living people were rarely coming in there. However, this choice displeased the twins as they had seen many of these people alive before they tragically died during their stay at the hospital.

"Is it really necessary to come here ? This place is making my blood run cold." Tatsuno complained while shivering.

"It's the chilling temperature that does this." Akira told him as she didn't find this room disturbing as it was necessary to put the corpses somewhere. "Anyway, I didn't bring you here for the pleasure of being in this creepy place. I just wanted to tell you that we're full-fledged ninjas and that we've the right as Genins and Chunin to seek a mission from the Hokage."

"Do you think that's still how missions are assigned in wartime ?" Matsuo wondered while leaning against the metal autopsy table before suddenly straightening up as a dead man was lying on it.

"I don't know but we might as well give it a try." Akira added as they had nothing to lose.

"I think so too but we've a problem. We're supposed to work at the hospital when the missions are assigned to a team. How are we going to get one without anyone noticing our absence ?" Tatsuno inquired as it was impossible for a doctor to take a ten minutes break without being looking for as they were all overwhelmed with work.

"We don't have to go all three at the same time. One of us is enough." Akira pointed out to them.

"So we need a volunteer. Who is it going to be ?" Matsuo asked while peering alternately at Tatsuno and Akira.

"Not me. Akira's father is going to know if one of us is missing and he's scaring me." Tatsuno replied immediately while taking a step back.

"Same here." His brother added while imitating him.

"That leaves me no choice. I'll have to go back and forth to the Academy to get a mission." Akira sighed as she knew that she would be in even more trouble than the twins if her father ever found out what she did. "But you'll have to cover for me."

"We can do that." Tatsuno told her while taking his brother by the shoulder. "Just let us know when you're leaving and we'll take care of everything."

"I intend to go right now before all the best missions are taken." Akira announced as she preferred to not postpone the fateful moment otherwise she would deflate.

"By "best", you mean "easiest", isn't it ?" Matsuo asked her worriedly as they were leaving the morgue to go back in the hallway.

The latter was crowded and that prevented Akira from adding anything other than "Be right back" before she headed for the stairs leading to the roof. Indeed, it was more discreet to leave the hospital by the roof than by the entrance door as it was a less common way to leave a building.

Akira passed the door leading to the roof and found herself under a dazzling sun which was shining in the sky with few clouds passing in front of it from time to time. Getting some fresh air was very pleasant after spending hours locked in the hospital. But she had no time to hang around as the twins couldn't hide her absence indefinitely. Therefore she quickly jumped from roof to roof without much difficulty as the houses in Konoha were close to each other.

Akira went on like that until she reached the Academy in front of which she landed. She went in and started to breathe more easily once she closed the door behind her as she was sure that she wouldn't run into her father who hated this place where his daughter had trained to become a ninja against his will.

Being in the building was one thing but now Akira had to find the room where the missions for the war were assigned. She tried the usual room but it was locked and no one answered when she tried to knock on the door.

"Matsuo was right. Missions must be assigned differently than in previous years but how am I supposed to get one ?" Akira wondered while turning on herself as she tried to spot a clue around her.

Failing to see one, she simply walked along the hallway while listening carefully and scanning the surroundings for the slightest sign of the right room. But apart from screams of an altercation that reached her from a room that she passed by, she found nothing that looked like a place where missions were attributed.

She was about to reach the stairs to go see on the other floors when the door behind which she heard the screams opened wide as someone went out into the hallway. That person was still talking in a loud and angry voice that made Akira freeze on the spot once she recognized it.

"I already told you no in the past and I didn't change my mind about it." Akira's father threw at the person he was talking to. "I won't allow people from your dubious squad to join my hospital to learn medical skills. This knowledge can be dangerous if it's used for mischief."

"You better consider my proposition carefully because it's the last time that I make you such an offer." The person in question advised him as it turned out to be Danzo who also left the room because the discussion wasn't over yet.

Forgetting that she was standing in the middle of the hallway only a few meters away from her father and Danzo, Akira slowly turned around as she was curious to discover what was going on.

Akira had rarely been around Danzo, at best she just knew his name and his appearance with his short black hair and the cross-shaped scar he had on his chin. The only novelty was a bandage over his right eye, no doubt caused by going on the battlefield as Akira had never seen it before. She didn't like this man who looked deceitful and her father had always recommended her to never approach him. It was contradictory with what he was doing himself right now but at the same time, Akira shouldn't have witnessed this altercation. Indeed, her father was surprised and then annoyed to see her here when he finally spotted her in the hallway.

"Akira ! What are you doing here ?" He asked her sharply as she unwittingly became the center of attention with Danzo also peering at her with his piercing gaze.

"Well, I was…" Akira stated while thinking at full speed about the best answer to give.

But she didn't get enough time to find one as her father interrupted her.

"I don't want to hear your excuse. Get back to the hospital right away !" He ordered her abruptly.

"No."

Akira had given that answer without thinking. Unconsciously, she was tired of the hospital where she was working hard without her efforts ever being recognized. She wanted to have the possibility to help her village by taking an easy mission which would bring glory to her and to the twins who never received any. She couldn't retreat so close to this goal but her father didn't understand her sudden refusal to comply when he had been very clear.

"What do you mean "no" ? I didn't ask you a question but rather give you an order."

"Well, I refuse to obey for once." Akira replied as she decided to push her rebellion a little further. "I came here looking for a mission that would highlight my ninja skills and I won't leave without one."

This revelation made her father livid before he turned red with anger at the thought that his daughter would soon take part in the war without his consent as he had done his best to protect her so far.

"GET HOME IMMEDIATELY ! YOU'RE GROUNDED !" He yelled at her while he was completely beside himself which was unfamiliar to him as Akira had never seen him get angry like this before.

It was so unusual that she stiffened on the spot as all protesting thoughts erased from her mind. Instead of defending her choice to be assigned a mission, she remained completely silent as he came at her level.

"I realize that I let you too much freedom but it will change. I never want to hear about ninja things again. From now on, you're only a doctor at the hospital. Is that clear ?" He advised her in a threatening tone which made Akira nod sheepishly.

"Other parents would be proud that their children have the will to defend the village and its values with their life." Danzo intervened to the greatest surprise of Akira and the greatest displeasure of her father.

"We don't have the same vision on anything so please stay away from me, my hospital and my daughter !" Akira's father snapped at him before grabbing Akira by the arm to get her out of this place.

Hello dear readers,

Akira tried her best to stand up against her father but it didn't go as smoothly as she had expected, even though it was her birthday on this 31st July. It's completely understandable that he's scared for her if she ever happened to join the battlefield but at the same time, she'll have to live her own life one day or another. By keeping her in safety in Konoha against her will, he's simply delaying the process. The world can be scary but you'll have to face it sooner or later since you live in it.

To spoil you a little about the next chapter, Akira's not going to stay peacefully at home as she was said. She'll want to prove that she's a skilled ninja with her two teammates at her side. Nothing wrong can happen to these three friends as long as they stay together like for their last summer missions. We'll see about that in the next and last chapter of this book which will be published in the middle of the month.