Chapter 56: The Trial ends
'Inner thoughts'
°Mind Link°
A/N: I'm sorry for the long silence. College has just started again and I felt overwhelmed having to adjust to a new schedule that I haven't been able to write much. I will make sure that in the future no chapter takes more than two months to update. Sorry again.
3rd POV
Taking their respective seats the older Samurai let out a heavy sigh. "I must apologize for having troubled you all in this way… but I must step down as your neutral voice." Taken by surprise those that had relaxed their postures stood up straight wondering what had brought him to do this so late into the meeting. "I must confess that I know her as well." He told those present.
"Mifune-dono. Why didn't you say anything before?" The Mizukage asked just as surprised as everyone in the room. For him to know the one being punished would put into question the fairness of the decision he had settled on.
Knowing that as well he began by clearing up when exactly he remembered. "I didn't recognize her until I took a closer look at this," he held up the white sword he was asked to look after, "just outside this room. Not even when I heard her speak with one of my men did I recognize her." Glancing at his right-hand man he had a feeling that he had known.
"It was the same for me." His scarred right-hand man confirmed having known before that when he caught a glance at her eyes.
"Wait," Tsunade asked, puzzled by this. Due to the distance between the Land of Fire and the Land of Iron, there would have been few chances for them to meet. It was then that she remembered an escorting mission to this very land listed in her file. "How did you meet her exactly? Because the way you are talking about her… it sounds like you've known quite well."
Placing the blade down before him he clasped his hands in front of him. "You are correct in that assumption. Years ago… Sometime around the Third Hokage's passing, they were found by the mountainsides south of here near some wreckage. Showing signs of life they were taken to our infirmary and treated. Having woken up with no memory or a place to belong we took him… no, her in." He carefully explained the events as he knew them that led to their first meeting.
"I thought that women weren't allowed to be Samurai or reside here?" Kakashi pointed out.
"Yes, our techniques have traditionally only been taught to men. Though that is an old tradition that would benefit from changing. If my memory serves me right she has become quite skilled with the blade as I witnessed on the battlefield." Nodding he remembered quite clearly spotting her mismatched hair from time to time. From her quick movements and nimbleness to the way she appeared to have made her blade an extension of herself. 'Though her speed seemed to have been hindered as she covered for her companion when they fought.' He praised her, proud of her development with the skills she had learned from them. "I saw those two-run ahead of anybody showing more bravery and ferocity than my own men when faced against that tree. Even before the first Hokage could give his encouraging words." Realizing what he had been saying he cleared his throat as the praises he had were stuffed back down. 'If my students were to hear me they would believe I have grown softer with age.'
Continuing for his master, Urakaku, Mifune's other right-hand man, continued for him. "Yes, that is true the growth of a former pupil's skills is one to be proud of Mifune-dono."
"Ahem." Okisuke cleared his throat, "Excuse us," he apologized, returning them to the original question, "before a physical examination could be done she had woken up with amnesia. Adding to that she had misremembered her name as Yukio." Saying that name and Kazekage couldn't help but feel partially responsible for that misunderstanding. The mention of that name brought back to him his older siblings' misunderstandings that day at the teashop. A misunderstanding that he had regretted following, making the same mistake as the samurai. The worst part of it was that he remembered the hallowed look in her eyes every time they called her he.
"Due to those events, we had mistakenly thought of her as a boy," Okisuke told the room. "Even though I had overseen most of her training alongside her companions I failed to notice anything. And they had also failed to see anything as well."
Mifune nodded at this. "Correct. Although she was new she had little trouble adjusting. She was reserved and got along well with her wingmates. So after a while, there was no need to pay them special attention. She blended in well into her group."
'Blending in well.' That word quietly echoed at the back of their minds as they remembered clearly what she had specialized in before. 'Infiltration…' To do so even without even trying to, showed a natural knack for fading into the background. A skill that partially explained why they had all left her at the back of their minds for so long.
Urakaku nodded, remembering something as well. "Opinion of her seemed to be a positive one. They never caused trouble and helped around. I do remember distinctly that she seemed to enjoy training at least compared to the rest of her companions of the same age. That attitude seemed to motivate her wingmates to try harder. However, that enthusiasm didn't equate to skill so aside from her attitude she didn't stand out much. She went unnoticed for the remaining time she was within our care."
"..." Hearing this Kakashi remembered how she was when she practiced. He noticed that playfulness at times but she refrained from showing much of it when the Third Hokage was there. "I guess she was like that once."
"Well, it is said that our personality is a culmination of our memories." The Mizukage hummed in thought. "So when she forgot her memories she reverted to a time when she wasn't tied down to any trauma." Looking over at the Sixth Hokage with a small smile on her lips she rested her chin on her hand. "She went back to being a child even though she was a teen and a chūnin."
"Correct," Mifune agreed. "In hindsight, she was exactly as you concluded. Just as a child would follow their mother I often caught her following around that same samurai I mentioned earlier." Remembering something important he brought it up. "On a different topic when her gender was revealed we sent her towards Konoha due to a symbol that was on a white rock among her belongings. An object she was very attached to. That symbol was the same one that the young man with red hair has on his haori and the same one the shinobi of Konoha bear on their jackets."
"Are you talking about the white circle with a spiral?" The Raikage wondered why they would wear a symbol belonging to Konoha.
As he asked that question the Third Tsuchikage glanced away an action caught by the youngest Kage across from him. "Third Tsuchikage you seem to know the answer to this." He spoke knowing the answer to this well. He had after all heard her speak the answer to that.
"Well, Third Tsuchikage?" A turned to the man next to him waiting for his answer. "Sixth Hokage, that is your village's symbol so why is someone not from your village wearing it?"
"That is not Konoha's symbol." The Third Tsuchikage answered. "The spiral for the maelstroms surrounding that island nation and the red for Konoha's will of fire. The Uzumaki clan's emblem dyed red is a symbol of Konoha's and Uzushiogakure's friendship. To think someone would be so bold to wear it openly." As he explained he spoke with a hint of disdain towards the young woman's clan.
"That would make sense." Mifune agreed. "That symbol pointed to two locations." Letting out a sigh he shook his head. "Back to the topic, we held this break for… it is clear that I am not suited to be your neutral voice in this matter. As such I will have to pass this role to the Fifth Mizukage."
"Me?"
"Yes, out of the other Kage in the room you have had no past affiliation with her. Neither good nor bad. You are better suited for this than I am at the moment. As such please look over the punishment once more and correct it wherever you see my faults."
"I see. Hm…" Thinking carefully she looked over her thoughts and what she had heard. Although the young woman had been telling the truth she had a feeling there was more that she was hiding. 'Aside from her small group, she doesn't seem to want to mention anyone else who could get into trouble. Maybe through association?' Hearing and seeing how she took on all of the blame an opinion began to form as to the kind of person she was. One that began to form as the meeting went on and she heard the red-haired woman speak.
Trying to make an impartial judgment was difficult especially when an impression of the person in question began to form. No matter how much one tries to push back one's own opinions their actions speak for themselves. A truly impartial judgment couldn't have been given. Something Yukino had placed her bets on.
From her experiences that Yukino recounted, to the way the older Samurai spoke one thought came to the Mizukage's mind. 'What a pitiful girl.' In her mind, she was an unlucky girl who went through tragedy after tragedy. Stripped of those close to her and of her dignity her crimes were nothing more in her eyes than an attempt at finding some control in her life. 'Her actions even spurred on the copycats who followed when she stopped.'
"I want to scrap the twenty-year punishment we came up with." Waiting for her explanation she provided it. "If the Uzumaki clan's fūinjutsu is as impressive as the Tsuchikage claims then the seal should suffice. When I thought it over I realized that there was a flaw with the original punishment." Clasping her hands before her, she explained. "Even with Konoha having supervision over her there is no guarantee that her actions can be monitored at all times. She briefly mentioned for you to look for surveillance records under her name. Which could mean that at one point she was under Anbu's watch. Even so, they didn't see anything, or else she would have been caught long ago. There is a chance that she may return to do what she was doing before without anyone noticing once again. Beating its purpose."
"That seal we saw can be used to eliminate that possibility." Gaara pointed out.
"Hmph. I highly doubt it."
Agreeing with the Tsuchikage the older woman gave a single nod in his direction. "That seal she brought up… having made it herself I doubt there would be any records of it. If the original punishment is chosen I doubt she will hand it over. Even if torture was used to get the information out of her it wouldn't work. Tsunade-sama, how confident are you that she was telling the truth about being one of his experiments?"
Asked this, Tsunade pressed her lips together remembering her old friends chuckling at the mention of that girl. "Yes, I'm certain she was."
"Then torture won't work. If pushed anymore she may completely break and her use will go with it… beating the purpose of the original punishment." Letting out a sigh she rubbed her temple. "I propose that the punishment be reduced by seven years. As for her place of containment… it will be that town her friends spoke of. Since they are so keen on keeping it secret it must be a rather isolated place or else we would have some word of heard of it." Placing her hand back down she looked up at the room. "She will be cut off from the rest of the world once more just as she was during her coma. If they wish to remain hidden they will lose out on the progress we have all made together. 13 years is a lot to miss out on… Without conflict, her skills in a fight and infiltration may be dulled but at least when the time is up she won't be able to return to what she was doing without getting caught. What do you all think?"
"..."
The room was quiet as they weighed their choice. "Won't her medical ninjutsu be affected as well?" They heard a hushed voice say from behind the fire curtain.
"Not necessarily." She looked over at the curtain and the young blonde woman sitting behind it. "Ryota was it? He mentioned before how his mother was the only healer in his settlement and considering Yukino Uzumaki's role during the war I suspect that she will help as their medic. It seems unlikely for her to forget that skill."
"And the information she burnt? Is she not going to work to make up for the information lost?"
"..." Shaking her head, she answered the Tsuchikage's question. "No. Doing any work for us would not be logical. The time it takes for our requests to reach her and the information to return to us would take too long. Doing this would also require an intermediary who could expose their location. Something they most likely don't want." Letting out a quiet exhale she remembered something. "Kazekage… your council mentioned her involvement in restoring lost texts, didn't she?"
"She did so from memory." He answered having an inkling as to where she was going with the bit of information he gave.
"Hm… then as long as she took a look at those lost texts there is a chance of getting them back."
Realizing this, the Tsuchikage's attention was piqued as well as the Raikage's. "If they wish to remain in seclusion for that long her town will be left behind by the time she is free…"
"What are you insinuating?" Mei asked.
"She seems to care about that town to the extent of putting her own life on the line. If she wishes for the best for her village we can use the information she knows to bargain for what she wants in the future." Chuckling, he agreed to the Mizukage's idea. "If everyone agrees to your idea then I volunteer to bear that seal."
"Tsuchikage we both know neither you nor I can take that on." A told him, reminding him of something important. "The Hokage asked about this and we both know we are too old. Not to mention that we will not remain Kage for long."
"I wish to volunteer as well," Mifune said. Catching those in the room by surprise. "I cannot say I know the value of these texts you all speak of but I do know that if I had not sent her away that day she would not have had the opportunity to steal them."
"Mifune-dono no one is blaming you." Kakashi sighed. "To do this was of her own choice. A choice she is accepting the consequences for."
"I still wish to atone for a former pupil's behavior. She was unaware of who she was when she left. Had she not remembered she would not have been able to follow such a path."
"That might be true… but I think that she would thank you for sending her away."
Looking at the door they saw a man with long red hair standing at the edge of the entrance. Hidden from view from the majority of the room he peeked into the room.
"How long have you been there!" The Raikage asked, standing from his seat.
"I swear I just heard what he said just now." Ryota waved his hands trying to fix the situation caused by a misunderstanding. "The fifteen minutes ran out and I came to ask for five more minutes." Hearing his explanation every eye looked over at the clock realizing that the time had run out long ago. "Either way as you were saying had you not sent her away when you did we would have never met. I… I don't think that is something she regrets."
"She was on her way to Konoha with a map, you mentioned living in a settlement. I presume it was rather recluse to hide the remainder of your clan? So how did you meet her?" Mifune asked, having a feeling that their encounter might have brought back her memories. If so then sending her away was what brought back those memories.
"Ah… How should I say this… There are still some in other nations who are aware of our clan and know our potential use." Glancing to his side he pinched and tugged slightly at his side bangs. "While crossing through the Land of Grass she got lost and ran into two shinobi from Kusagakure. When they saw her red hair they knew what she was." Letting go he looked over at the sword laying in front of Mifune. "So when they failed to get her to follow them willingly they chased after her, cornering her at a cliff." Sighing he gestured at the sword. "She then threw herself off that cliff into the ravine below while holding tightly onto that. I ended up fishing her out more downstream as she held tightly onto her belongings."
"Jumped off a cliff," Kakashi said, surprised at the guts the thirteen-year-old had.
"It wouldn't be the first time," Ryota mumbled. "Anyways when she woke up she seemed to have regained her memories. I guess another hit to the head did the trick." He winced only imagining what she could have hit her head with.
"Mizukage-sama, we agreed to use the seal, correct?" Gaara wanted to clarify something before asking something.
"We haven't decided have we?" Without having to ask she looked at the room receiving a simple nod in return. "We are. Was there something you wanted to say?"
"Is it alright for me to bear the seal?" He turned to Ryota.
"You're asking for my opinion?" Looking around the room and the potential candidates he gestured at the Mizukage. "Wouldn't the Mizukage be a good choice as well? She's young." When the words left his mouth he noticed the change in atmosphere as he caught the small blush on the woman's face. "Ah! But wasn't Mifune-dono asking about the seal before?" He quickly changed the subject. "I'm sure she's grateful for that day so she wouldn't want you to wear the seal. Though if I'm being honest she's the type to be relieved at dying at the hands of someone she knows." He sighed, rubbing his neck. "She's really devoted to our town... even though it isn't much, at least it's peaceful. But what I'm saying is we wouldn't want you to be the one to take her from us. That and you're really… old." Saying that he groaned as it became clear who the better choice was. "I guess going by that… the Kazekage would be the best choice. I have a feeling you won't be stepping down from your role of Kazekage anytime soon." Stating the obvious the other Kage knew that to be true as they already had planned on who they wanted to pass on their roles to. So they neither objected nor agreed, hoping that he would bring up a more convincing argument. "Not to mention that famed impenetrable shield of yours means that you will live quite long and without harm."
"I see." The Mizukage hummed, finding the reason she hoped he would bring up.
"Kazekage it seems you are the most suited for this." The Tsuchikage smirked looking over at the young Kazekage.
Letting out a quiet sigh the Mizukage looked at the other Kage knowing that there would be no objection so she looked back at the young man with red hair who kept glancing at the white sword. "Ryota-san, can you bring her back?" She asked since her guard was elsewhere doing something for her.
?: Did the meeting really go like that?
Yukino: That's the image I got from it. I had to fill in some of the gaps. They talked for so long that I could only get bits and pieces of the meeting before I had to hide every time a samurai entered the room. If I'm being honest, they seemed to hate me.
?: You weren't an easy case to deal with, you know. Sigh. You took countless techniques both stolen and gifted under your village's nose. You had everyone fooled for so long…
Yukino: If it weren't for Sasuke and the Akatsuki I would have stood out more. I was really lucky with that.
?: That's true. But you not only stole from your land but also in others. If the daimyo had caught wind, it would have severely damaged the trust we had built knowing that we let you live.
Yukino: Which is why I said that I destroyed them so they couldn't blame the other for stealing it for their own gain. I took on the blame, remember? I confessed to doing it for my own selfish beliefs.
?: Your guardian was right, you are too self-sacrificial. That side of you made the decision hard, you know. Your aid during the war… your contributions to poison remedies and plant breeding both in Suna and Kumo. Now I hear Ame was a part of it as well… You seemed to offer every village help other than your own.
Yukino: …You should already know the answer as to why.
?: Ha. You can really hold a grudge.
15+ minutes ago…
Yukino's POV
Getting the chance for another break I led my friends elsewhere to talk to them privately about something I should have said during the first break. "There was a lounge nearby, can we go there?" I asked Ryota who pushed me.
"Mm." Knowing the way he led us there.
On the way there I could hear the sound of shifting clothes behind us. Having done infiltration before there were certain things we had wired ourselves to be on the lookout for. One such thing was what things made what sounds. Things such as each other's breathing, footsteps, and even the types of sounds our clothes made as we sneaked sound. All so we wouldn't harm each other by accident or scare each other while sneaking around in the dark.
From the way the clothes sounded, I could tell it couldn't have come from us. Not by the material it was made out of. Grazing a finger over the flap of the shirt I could recognize the texture of wool that it was made out of. Coming from a land that always rains it made sense why it would be made out of this material. Not to mention that since I wasn't moving much, the sound I heard wasn't mine. Without needing to look at my friends' clothes I already knew that theirs was made out of a combination of silk and wool at this time of year as it has been since before I left.
Without a doubt, the other sound we could hear didn't match any of ours. 'We're being followed.' I could feel that all three of us were thinking that as we pretended not to notice the sound of pure cotton clothes behind us.
Arriving at the lounge I asked something to keep the farce, something I knew wouldn't reveal much. "I'm too weak to return home like this. I was thinking of finding a place to rest and recover." Forming fists I pumped them once while wearing a smile. "Once I'm all better I'll return home… then again they did say I was going to return to Konoha." I sighed knowing that there was that other possibility. 'It's a good thing Shikamaru didn't come or who knows how far my plan would have gotten. On second thought I probably wouldn't have gone past the first break.'
"..." Hearing silence instead of a response I looked behind me, catching a shared look between the two.
Clearing his throat Ryota fumbled with his hands as he moved in front of me avoiding my eyes. A sight that reminded me of another person who often acted the same way. "Uhm…Emi and I were talking earlier about whether or not we should mention this… and well you should know before we forget and you find out on your own…" Clearing his throat he let out a slow exhale. "A year into your sleep Emi and I started dating." Saying it in a single breath he quickly looked away scratching his cheek out of embarrassment. Not from the confession but being so shy about what he said.
If I was drinking something I would have choked on it but since I wasn't I was gaping like a fish as I looked between him and Emi. It was as I was doing this did I notice the matching rings they wore. A gold ring with a ruby on it on Ryota and a silver one with an emerald on Emi.
Realizing this I held my head as many signs that I overlooked hit me at once. The sudden closeness between the two, the secretive talks, and the more than friendly looks I caught from time to time. Among those signs was a thought making every other thought come to a stop. "Wait… you didn't help her out of her shell for that did you?" I glared at Ryota questioning his motives for a moment.
"What? No!" He looked offended that the thought even crossed my mind.
"I was the one who asked him out," Emi confessed proudly. A small smile graced her lips as she glanced at him from the corner of her eyes. From him to the rings she played around with the metal band around her ring finger happily. "But you got back at me when you asked me to be your wife." Placing a hand on her cheek she hid her slightly flushed face.
"Well, I couldn't let you take all the steps alone." A bit embarrassed, Ryota turned away once more to hide his blush at the small admission.
"Eh… sorry for doubting you." That was all I could say as a smirk spread across my face. All thoughts faded as I heard this huge confession. The only thing keeping me conscious at the present moment was Ryota's red ears. "Emi, did his brain blank out when you asked him out?"
"He did." She nodded. "He even thought he had dreamt it for a whole week." She shook her head at the memory. "It took a while to get an answer from him… he was shocked when I told him it wasn't a dream."
"A-ah you didn't have to tell her that!" Covering his face he faced the wall trying to merge into it and disappear. "Ahh…" Chuckling at the scene I felt pity for him but at the same time, I couldn't deny that I wanted to be there and see it when it happened. That thought made my mind process what she had said earlier and when it did I felt my heart squeeze tightly, almost as if Sakura had reached in me and clutched it herself. "Congratulations on your marriage. Both of you." I inhaled slowly trying to not show the pain my heart was feeling. 'After three years of course life would continue moving forward… still… I didn't think life would move on this quickly.'
Perking from his wall Ryota's head turned to me, "Oh, we didn't marry yet."
"What?"
With a smile, Emi nodded, holding the small chuckle inside of herself. "We wanted you to be there and see it for yourself instead of through pictures."
Both of them stared at me with the same soft expression when she said that. Their looks swelled emotions within me as my trembling lips were the first give away of what I felt. Noticing this I raised my hands to my mouth to hide it. "Th-thank you." Holding in my tears I looked up knowing that this wasn't the place to cry. "Ah…" I groaned, blinking rapidly while my two friends chuckled at the sight.
Unable to push back the tears I wiped my eyes leaving a wet trail along my bare arms. As I did that I felt a tug in my mind. °Even if Konoha plans on keeping you at least now there is a way for you to visit us without revealing your eyes.° Ryota told me through our connection as he audibly laughed at me for our little eavesdroppers.
°Huh, really how?° I asked as I continued wiping at my eyes.
Walking to my side Emi softly patted my back as she explained. °When you left the shrine began a project to find a way to help the Wolf and Koi get back to the island in case of emergencies.°
Walking over to my other side Ryota kept a smile on his face as he joined Emi with the patting. °They took some inspiration from the Flying Raijin technique that the Fourth Hokage performed during the war.°
°Ah right they wanted our memories of what happened for the records.° Clutching my chest I forced myself to cough.
"Ah, are you alright?" Emi asked, placing her hand flat on my back to check.
°I'm fine.° I told both of them. °If we stay quiet for too long they will begin suspecting something.° Wiping my mouth I looked up at Emi and with a croaky voice, I spoke to her. "Once this is over…" Coughing for real I tried to stifle it leading to tears gathering in my eyes once more as my attempts failed. "I… I think I really do need that rest." I laughed weakly as my coughing continued.
"Take it easy." Ryota sighed as he placed a hand on my back as well. "You could barely speak a few days ago." With his other hand, he grasped the hand on top of my lap. In one careful motion, he slipped a small pouch into my hand helping me tuck it under my hat so those spying on us wouldn't see. "I'm going to ask for a couple of more minutes so take it easy." Letting go he gave a small wave and left the room as he normally would.
Seeing his retreating figure in the hall behind us I stared at his back. It was the same as years ago yet different at the same time. It was a feeling I knew well. It was one of a changed person, one once knew.
Without noticing I had smiled at that sight. A smile his fiancee caught. "You know…" She said quietly. Catching my attention I looked at her. "You were right about his family being a bit tense." Laughing awkwardly she hummed happily. "But they're really nice to me. Though I have to say I agree with you both. His brother can be quite overbearing."
"Tell me about it. I swear his voice has this sleeping effect to it. No matter how long I try to listen to him, my brain just wants to shut down."
"Hm. That same man was the one you wanted to marry earlier."
"Ha. Not by choice." Saying that a silence fell between us, one we felt comfortable with and found no need to fill with audible words.
Sitting there I listened to her brief explanation of what Ryota spoke of a minute ago. °The shrine and elders collaborated to make it. I remember when they brought it up to me for approval. I guessed you would have approved so I did.° She guessed correctly. 'Has she been thinking of me every time she made a decision?' I asked myself. Knowing this place wasn't safe to ask, I played with my bangs giving her the idea to fix my ponytail but not before continuing. °Since the Flying Raijin was connected no matter who used it they made a new transportation technique with the idea of a sealing scroll in mind and it worked perfectly. The only problem was that the scroll was too bulky.° Remembering the issue she tugged at my hair biting the hair tie as she pulled my hair back. °If it was stolen and used by someone else it would defeat its purpose so they decided to apply it to an object like the Fourth did to his special kunai. Unfortunately, there were quite a lot of failures since nothing we had could hold the technique they created for long.° Tying my hair back softer than expected she hummed. °Ryota was pulled into the project as a result of someone suggesting the use of memory marble so he could explain how they were made. From what I heard they used the chakra from the leyline that gathers in that space under the shrine to make this condensed marble of chakra. At least that is what I got from hearing Ryota explain it. Well, whatever they did, it worked. When it was placed in the middle of the scroll the technique was applied to the marble without breaking.°
°That's nice. So… how does it work?°
°Very simple. You just need to think of where you're headed, as long as it's been marked, before crushing it. When the marble is crushed it releases the transportation formula.°
°What places have been marked so far?°
°The Koi and Wolf base, the base of the shrine, the temple ruins outside Konoha…° Saying that she gave a mental image of a map of the places they could go. °The only problem is that it takes a lot of effort to make the marbles so there is a limited supply.°
Understanding that I touched the small pouch Ryota had given me, prodding the small pouch I felt three bumps inside. Just in case, I bent forward, took my hand out from under my hat while holding the small pouch, and slipped it inside my clothes. Tucking it between my bosom before slipping my hand out and touching my loose bangs. I did it all as smoothly as I could only moving my wrist for each action. "Thanks… So… how is your relationship with Ryota? I hope he's behaving." I asked, speaking verbally once more.
"He is, he can't even flirt without burning up and turning into a melting mess."
"Really?" Raising an eyebrow I remembered the lessons the women at the bars taught us. "He was good at that. Very confident and brazen. Honestly, no matter how much I tried I could never match up to him. Even the hostesses agreed." Letting out a heavy sigh I perked my head back up as I became curious about something. "So… how was your first kiss?"
"Ah, that was a couple of months into our relationship." She remembered. "It happened during the autumn festival. He was being too considerate so I made the first move."
'Hah… I am beginning to see a pattern here.' I held in my sigh when I heard this. "That's cute." Is what I told her.
"He is." She agreed to something I didn't say. "But even though he gained the confidence to ask to marry, he is still too careful around me." She let out another heavy sigh. Keeping my eyes on her I wondered if we should really be saying anything more with our little eavesdroppers still nearby. Or should we say more to make them embarrassed enough to leave? I was inclined to go through with the latter option.
"It's already been a year since we've been engaged but he is still holding back. I wish he could be a bit more selfish." She let out another sigh. hearing this I could feel the thoughts she held inside spilling out as she didn't hold back anymore. "I was the one to make the first move as well even now he is still too shy to talk about that night."
"A-ah, I don't need to know that," I told her, trying to remind her that we weren't the only ones privy to this conversation. 'It's one thing for me to know but the other two?'
"No, you should know. I know about your times as well."
Immediately my head snapped in her direction and I pulled her close. "How much did you see?" I whispered.
"All four nights." She told me without hesitation.
Trying to think back to when she could have seen my memories I could only think of one where she had full permission to my body. 'The germination seal.' It was then that it sunk in that she saw my memories of what I did those nights she spoke up. 'I acted so shamelessly too. I can't believe she saw that side of me.'
Covering my face I leaned forward as she spoke of herself. "It happened three weeks ago and he hasn't said much about it." Letting out another sigh she looked at me. "How did you two even go on to have that second night together?"
Feeling a bit shy about that I wanted to get the thought of both of my friends having sex out of my mind first. But alas one of them was asking for advice. "Just… just sit him down and tell him this."
"I know… but I don't think I have the confidence to do it as you did."
'She really did see everything.' I admitted to myself knowing that that side to me was now known to one of my closest allies. "Well, I say just go for it. You two are engaged, you need to have that talk eventually." I sighed, not believing that they couldn't talk about it. 'We've been through a war and this is what they are afraid of?'
3rd POV
Saying her piece, Yukino turned her eyes to the hall expecting Ryota to return. When he didn't, both women turned to each other. They knew that they had talked for quite some time so for him to fail to return with such a simple mission worried them.
"I'm feeling better now… we should return." Giving a nod Emi took her back picking up her pace.
As they approached the room they could faintly hear parts of the conversation leaking from the room ahead. Focusing on that they could hear the mention of the Kazekage but before they could hear anything more the sounds of footsteps muffled what they could hear. Realizing that the steps were getting closer they looked up. When they did, they saw Ryota.
"Oh, what are you two doing here?"
"You took too long." Both women sighed, relieved that they were wrong.
"Sorry about that," rubbing the back of his neck he pointed into the room behind him. "Anyways, come inside they're asking for you."
"Of course they are."
Going back inside she looked at the room and spared them from explaining. "I heard the seal being mentioned. So assume you're choosing to use it?" Giving each person a quick glance she knew she was right. "Alright… then Kazekage… I give you my life."
"Then we will place the first part of the seal here as for the second one–" As the Mizukage was speaking of the arrangement she was cut off.
"No," Yukino stopped her before she could even request it. "It is my seal. I will place it, both the first and final parts. I know the potential this has in the wrong hands so I rather die being the only one that knows." Stating that there was no budging her from that matter.
"Then you expect us to trust you?"
"If it's my word then yes."
When she said that Kankurō had already slipped into the room and whispered something in Gaara's ear. "I see. At the moment can you even place the seal?" He asked.
"It's rude to eavesdrop on a lady's private conversation." Yukino huffed understanding now why she had heard the sound of cotton clothes. Reluctantly she gave her response finding no point in hiding it now that it was out. "To answer your question, yes. I used everything I had to activate the seal, considering my present state…" she muttered the last part.
At the doorway, the Mizukage glanced over at Chōjūrō who gave a nod, confirming what the Kazekage's guard had relayed.
With something in his mind the Kazekage reluctantly gave in to the idea of them being tied together. "If that's the case then may I watch over her until she regains her strength?" He asked the woman beside him seeking her permission.
"You two will be bound by the seal so it is the best decision." Looking at her peers they also seemed to agree with this. "Once she recovers you can ensure that it is placed."
Meanwhile, Yukino looked back at her friends hoping for their objection but they agreed to the idea. 'I just woke up. I wanted to be with them more…' Holding her tongue she gave in knowing that she would have all the time she wanted once the seal was placed on her. "Before we end this, may I ask the time limit you wish to place–?"
Before she could receive her answer she felt her body lurch forward. Watching the room as it overturned, her hands quickly went from her hat to the armrest, gripping onto it with such force that her knuckles turned white.
"Yukino!" Both Ryota and Emi yelled the moment they saw the woman slump over.
"Is she sick?" Tsunade was the first to ask as she got a clear view of the woman's pale state from her position. Although wrong, Yukino could feel bile accumulating in her mouth.
Ryota pushing away the weapons lying on the floor cleared the floor to kneel on to get a better look. Lifting her bangs slightly he noted her heavy breathing and her shut eyes as she tried to regain her composure. Looking back up he explained. "Her body is still weak since she's been asleep for so long. I thought we went over this already." He turned to look back wondering what they didn't understand. Placing his hands on her lap he gave a couple of encouraging pats as Emi did the same. 'I know you'll want to push through.'
"I-I'm fine." They heard her say as her shaky arms slowly pushed her back up into her sitting position. Forcing a smile on her face her eyes were closed in an attempt to hide the fact that she couldn't keep her eyes open for much longer. Carefully she leaned against her seat and let go of the armrest holding her hands tightly instead. Her body was at its limit and all it desired was the taste of sleep. But her mind wouldn't let it. 'I need to be strong. If I show them this now in the future they will look at me the same way.' She kept telling herself, 'I need to be strong,' over and over.
As she gathered the strength to smile through the pain the Mizukage covered her mouth as she stared at her. 'To come here even in that state… I see so this is the extent you would go to keep a promise.'
"I'm sorry for that. It was just a dizzy spell." Yukino tried to play down what was happening. "Once this ends I will head to Sunagakure as you have decided."
"Before we end this we will go over what we have decided." With no objection to that, the Mizukage restated their final decision.
・・・
Concluding the meeting she was free to go and gather her things. Quickly Ryota left the room while Emi stayed behind to ask for the sword back. Something which she accomplished easily and soon caught up with her companions.
The moment that Yukino left the room and took the bend into the hall her body relaxed and she hunched over slightly.
"I… I don't think I can open my eyes anymore…" Letting out a yawn at the end as she relayed to Ryota and Emi her current condition.
"Do you feel anything else?" Emi whispered, bending over to be the only one who heard.
"No… just… tired…" Going silent her breathing slowed down and her body gave in. Standing back up Emi got a hold of her placing the woman's head on her chest and getting a good hold of her shoulder keeping her firmly in her seat.
"Is she really ok?"
Flinching both Ryota and Emi looked behind them at the Sixth Hokage.
"Yeah, a lot happened today," Ryota told him as he stood in front of the two women. "Is there something you want?"
"We will be leaving soon towards Konoha. We have a pregnant woman in our group so we will move at a slower pace than the rest."
"So you want to guide us before we split off to go to Sunagakure." Emi caught on. "Is that what you're trying to say?"
"Correct. Some of the other Kage still don't trust you three. Samurai will likely guide you to Sunagakure once she wakes up."
"But that's a waste of time." Ryota sighed knowing that Yukino would agree. Days spent in sleep could have been spent on the road. If not that to portal quickly if it were just them. Looking over at Emi they both reached the same conclusion. "Fine but just because your group has the best medic-nin there is." He told him making up a reasonable lie on the spot.
Yukino: Now that I've retold you the events of that day, do you realize what I did?
?: Don't tell me…
Yukino: Emi was worrying for the worst that could happen but here's the thing. Emi never grew up in a shinobi village so she never learned what happens to shinobi who commit certain crimes.
*Her lips form a sly smile as she looks at her guest*
Yukino: I knew that I would be forced to work under the supervision of the Hokage, considering that I came from Konoha. I also knew that it would last for a couple of years to make up for all those scrolls and texts I supposedly burned. However… Now that you know my position and how important it is to this village, you know I couldn't have that. So I just had to change the view of the neutral party and those who would give judgment.
*Quietly apologizes for it before continuing*
Yukino: When Ryota told me that the Tsuchikage chose to attend I knew that he would be harsher in whatever punishments he came up with. So I brought up my clan's massacre to make his choice questionable in the eyes of the neutral party. If the punishment appeared too harsh it would be to silence a survivor of the victims he created. That and also Iwagakure lost many good shinobi during that attack; he might have had some friends among that group as well. So he might still feel a bit bitter towards our clan. Something that was easily concluded since he had lived for so long. A fact that everyone was well aware of that ultimately helped set that timeline of events. But just in case that didn't work I purposefully taunted him to rile him up to make him make whatever punishment he had in mind harsher than it needed to be so it wouldn't be taken seriously.
Then there was the Mizukage. She has been trying to distance Kirigakure from its name as the blood mist village so bringing up such an awful past would only reinforce that idea. Especially since it happened before the reign of the Fourth Mizukage. The Mizukage known for starting that reign. This past would have struck the guilt she held. But before that, I told her a bit about myself to make her pity me. I didn't expect Mifune to remember but her being chosen to take his place worked out perfectly for me.
Then the Fifth Hokage, tasking Kabuto with delivering that cure I knew she would grow curious as to how I came to know someone connected to Orochimaru. So I was prepared for her to bring up my connection to her old friend. This is why I was mentally prepared, to an extent, to bring up the torture I went through.
Then there's Kakashi, the Sixth Hokage… He was once the one who I practiced the new jutsu I learned with permission of the Third and it's also because of that that I knew he had the most questions. Remember how I visited the Land of Iron during the Five Kage Summit? Well… I didn't leave right away, not when my foxes noticed something interesting happening in an inn not so far away. When I headed there I looked into the past and came to learn the secret Tobi had told them. A secret Kakashi, Yamato, and Naruto promised to hide. Then after the war, I came to learn that Tobi was Kakashi's former teammate. It was just perfect for me. I knew that if I could tie Obito Uchiha to my past he would avoid the subject all to not bring up Konoha's involvement. I felt bad about it but I knew I had to bring up the Uchiha massacre. Remember how I made no mention of Itachi that night?
?: Now that you mention it… Why didn't you?
Yukino: Easy, you already know the answer to that. I never saw him that night. Kakashi must have caught on and realized that for me to hear the next morning of a friend's involvement would have sparked something in me to look into it deeper. And if he did conclude that then he was right and in addition to that, he must have also concluded that the massacre was the catalyst behind my decision to leave Konoha. If not that, what else could it be? I was a witness of that night and a sensor. If they had asked me more about that night it would have meant bringing up questions Konoha could not afford to answer. To give the order to kill one of your own and pin the blame on someone else? How do you think the civilians residing within Konoha would feel towards those in charge? Aside from that my appearance at the time resembled that of the wife of his sensei. That might have distracted him to some extent and manipulated his final decision but I highly doubt that and I can't really say. The next time I get close to him I'll check his memories to see if I'm right. Though I doubt I will be able to get close enough to touch him.
As for the Raikage I brought up my past connections and the debt I owed. Showing how although I was still a part of another village I purposely withheld information. Something which I would have gotten into serious trouble with if I was caught. He is a man that deeply cares for his people and village so I appealed to the same thing and placed my bets on that.
As for Gaara… I wasn't sure how he would react. I thought I could at one point but not anymore. During the meeting, he barely reacted or even showed how he felt. So the only thing I could do was tell the truth and hope for the best.
With everything I said I received the outcome I wanted. Isolation and peace. Those present that judged me that day must have thought they were trapping me in some small isolated village away from the development and growth that the rest of the world was experiencing. Thinking that would be punishment enough. How do I know that? Your expression when you arrived told me just that. Surprised that we aren't living in small huts hidden in some deep corner of the forest? You would have been right at one point in time but that was before I arrived.
But back to the summit. I tried my best to make sure Mifune-dono didn't remember me. He was the neutral party after all and the one who would deliver a final fair verdict. For him to remember would mean that getting what I wanted would be at the hands of another. He was too righteous to continue as the neutral voice if he knew I was once his student. Lucky for me the Mizukage was chosen to take his place and she willfully took the treat I took so long to prepare.
?: Who are you?
Yukino: I've been telling you. I'm Yukino. I've been lying my whole life, you know. Some that you share with me. Lies that we can never be forgiven for. Compared to me you're too kind to have been keeping this lie but you rejected the idea of me making you forget. It would have been so much easier for me to carry this lie alone but you chose to know and stay by their side hiding it from them for thirteen years. It must have been eating at you every time I sent over those pictures.
?: How did you–?
Yukino: You're forgetting who you're talking to. I've been lying to Naruto and Sasuke ever since they forgot. Still, for the lie we've been keeping… it would have been better if I was the only one to remember.
?: I still agreed to it. I knew what I was doing the day I chose to help you.
Yukino: If we weren't friends…
?: Hm?
Yukino: Maybe I would have made you completely forget everything. It would have been for the best. Even so, mistakes can be corrected. By the way, when the truth comes out… let me take all of the blame he will feel betrayed if you knew… Oh, the cookies ran out. I don't think I have anymore so I'm going to make some. Ryota, take over for me.
Outside
As they gathered outside the duo finished up their tasks. Sealing away Yukino's weapons and chair in a scroll Emi looked over as Ryota managed to get Yukino, who wore his haori, on his back. Giggling, she watched as he moved carefully while bent over while the other woman slept soundly on his back. Reaching for the rolled-up sash he tossed it over his shoulder and slowly reached for it with his other hand.
When he got a hold of it he let out a sigh. "Isn't there a basket we can carry her in?" He asked, trembling as he feared dropping her if he bent too forward by accident. "Or a kago?"
Standing up, Emi shook her head replying to his question. "If we used a kago she might fall off the moment she's tipped to the side. Anyways I don't think there is a basket large enough to put her in." Reaching for the sash she helped secure her to his back. Tying the knot tightly she patted his shoulder telling him it was alright to stand.
Slowly he stood up and sighed with relief as he didn't feel the sleeping woman fall off. "Here," Emi said, adding the final touch by placing the hat back on the sleeping woman's head. Though not on her head exactly as only the veil covered her face while the hat itself rested on her back.
"Thank you. We're not forgetting anything are we?" Ryota asked. Looking around the room he noticed the scroll Emi had stuffed in her sleeves as well as his and Yukino's swords tied to her side.
"No, we have everything."
"Then I guess it's time to leave. Hup!"
・・・
Making their way outside Ryota looked around spotting the Hokage's group as well as the other Kage who were going to see them off. Steadily walking over to them he made the one-handed seals for the transformation technique changing his hair from its usual red to a midnight black like Emi's. As he did this Emi lagged behind carefully looking over the Kage present for anything suspicious. After today she had a feeling that there was more to the punishment than they had let on. In her opinion, her friend was let off too easily. Remembering the clan heads' reactions when they received their techniques back she could tell how priceless it was to them. So why wouldn't it be to the people here?
As she looked she caught the Mizukage's look towards Ryota that could be defined as something other than professional. Feeling something within her tick she walked over almost gliding to his side by how elegantly she did it. When she reached him she slyly held his hand. "Are you cold? Your arms are exposed." She said it more shyly than she had anticipated feeling a bit ridiculous for acting in such a way.
Caught by surprise he looked down, seeing her soft green eyes first and then the small pout. Without realizing he let out a small squeaking noise. With one hand holding the sleeping woman and the other currently being held by his fiancee he could only lower his face feeling his face heat up. "I-it's not that cold, I'm fine." Laughing nervously his ears reddened. 'Why! Why can't I just be confident like that! I should be the one making her flustered…' Weeping internally he couldn't stop his racing heart, knowing that he did his best to keep the transformation he placed. Lest the panic of his heart, break the illusion he had set.
As he troubled himself over the response, Emi glanced over at the Mizukage from the corner of her eyes catching the disappointed sigh she let out.
"Another man was taken…" The Mizukage sighed under her breath. "Mizukage-sama?" Chōjūrō asked, standing just behind her as he heard those words.
On the other side of the group, the former Kumogakure kunoichi bid farewell to the Kumo nin. "We'll be leaving now." The Hokage told the other Kage present. Looking over at the Kazekage he glanced behind him at the now black-haired man before looking back at the young man before him. "I'll send a messenger bird when we part ways. Their group should arrive a few days after the messenger bird."
"I will remember that."
"Then… later!" Waving goodbye he headed towards the former Hokage who questioned Ryota alongside her student. On his way there he passed by the reserved green-eyed kunoichi.
"Before we leave we would like to apologize for taking your time. We know that your lives as Kage are busy. Still… she wanted to do this." Sighing, she looked back at Yukino who slept like a rock on Ryota's back. Unmoving, almost unresponsive as the world around them didn't exist or didn't matter. It seemed… peaceful. Snapping out of it she shook her head clearing her head of such thoughts. "Still… you want her abilities. If possible in the future if you need her. I'm certain she will lend her help in whatever crisis appears." Saying that last part she remembered the reason why her friend gave up three years of her life to get crucial information. 'I wonder what she found out. But we can't tell them if we do then they'll know everything that she's been doing.'
"What makes you think she will do something like that?" The Mizukage wondered, wanting to know what her closest companion thought.
"Unlike other troubling shinobi," She said thinking of Orochimaru, "she still has a heart. If it's to protect our town she will help just like she did during the war."
"Emi, we're heading out!" Ryota called to her, waving his free arm to get her attention.
Seeing this she unknowingly smiled. Upon feeling the muscles in her face she returned her face to its neutral state and turned to the remaining Kage, bowing her head slightly as a formality. "Goodbye. Thank you for your time." Turning away, she followed the Hokage's group for the slow journey ahead.
On the road for many days, they took the roads instead of the trees. Encountering a few hiccups that weren't that hard to overcome. Finding inns with no vacancies, why not camp out? Food running low, why not gather them from the surrounding nature?
Then there came human interruptions. In their journey, they were interrupted by the occasional unfortunate soul who thought they were easy pickings. And the presumed vulnerable women in the group dealt with them with ease. All to protect the men who protected the two most vulnerable people in their current group, not to mention the current Hokage.
"Are you both alright?" Emi breathlessly asked. Tucking her black hair behind her ear, she held her hand out towards Ryota who had slipped off into the side of the road with the sleeping woman still on his back.
"Yeah…" He said in awe as the sunlight hit her at an angle showing him a sight that a photographer would envy. Accepting her hand he closed his eyes feeling grateful for the bandits who caused him to trip as they lay beaten on the road.
Land of Fire: An Inn near the border
Thus they finally reached the Land of Fire. Finding an inn with available space, they agreed to stay for the night in one of the three rooms they got at a discounted price due to the Hokage's presence.
Emi and Ryota taking a room for themselves settled down with their still sleeping friend once the futon had been placed down. Looking at each other they didn't have to voice their worry. For them, this has been the longest she has slept.
"She'll wake up soon, we just have to be patient," Ryota whispered.
"I know." Standing up Emi left the room to scout out the surroundings for any possible dangers who might be after either Hokage or their friend if news of her identity were somehow leaked. Unlike the Kage, some of the people they've stolen from could be out for revenge. People who had enough resources to pay such people to do it for them.
Closing the door behind her, Ryota was left to look after their friend. Letting out a sigh he stood up leaving through the window to check something. A minute after he had left the door across from theirs opened and Tsunade stepped out. Instead of heading down to join her student for lunch she walked towards the room across from hers and reached for the door.
Before she could even touch the door she stopped. "Are you sure pointing your blade at me is a safe bet?" She turned her head glaring at the red-haired man pointing his sword at her back.
"Yes, I do bet on it because from what I hear your luck is terrible. The chances of someone hearing us and walking in on us are low if that's the case." Lowering his blade he allowed her to turn around knowing that if a fight broke out between the two not only would the inn be annihilated getting their incapacitated friend mixed up but he doubted that he would come out of it alive. "You know what… just stop it already." Letting out a sigh he was tired of the medic trying to burst into their room to see her. He had done this routine multiple times during their journey each time he somehow managed to convince her to step down. Unknown to him, Emi had also done the same routine during the times that he scouted the area or went to town for food and other things. Both who were becoming increasingly tired of her insistence.
He understood her worry but he knew he couldn't let her or anyone else get close. If that were to happen and she sensed it in her sleep she would encase herself in ice to protect herself as she had once recounted to him. Something he knew couldn't let happen. And if he wanted this game to stop he needed to explain a bit of the situation. "This may sound weird considering what she has gone through but she has a delicate body." As he explained he carefully walked to the door taking her place before it. "If she goes through more than what her body can handle then she ends up like this." He opened the door ajar to show her the sleeping woman inside. "The hospital never knew this because she wasn't pushed to such a state while under their watch. Anyways it only takes a few days but she will wake up." Placing his hands together he tiredly begged. "So please just stop. Even in her sleep, she is sensitive to her surroundings. Any presence other than ours may distress her."
"Hn…"
Looking up he looked back inside the room at seeing his friend curling up in her sleep, trembling and whimpering from some nightmare or memory. Maybe both. Feeling a sudden chill he left the door and quickly sat by her side. "I'm still here." He told her as he held her hand and pulled her body close to his. Hearing her breathing still, he laid down beside her still holding her close, and let out a yawn. This wasn't the first time she had done this. During the night when these dreams perturbed their friend, he or Emi would take turns but when the other couldn't wake up from exhaustion he would do this. Even while away she still kept running the office with the few moments of privacy that they had. Thus he saw no need to bother her and let her sleep. "It's fine." He whispered to his friend.
While he comforted his friend and mentor, the former Hokage, forgotten by the man, watched from the door and resigned to any further attempts. Quietly she slid the door shut giving them the privacy they wanted.
Land of Fire: A Quaint Inn
Deeper into the Land of Fire they had finally reached familiar territory and people. Recognized by the inn owner, Ryota jumped to the discount offer in exchange for a few repairs. Thus he currently found himself fixing the roof. Hammering in the nail to fix the loose board he looked up and caught a familiar shadow in the woods. Nearly dropping the hammer out of surprise he looked back down and kept hammering pretending he had seen nothing even though his heart would tell a different story.
When he did he felt the sudden silent presence of the fox as they took a seat beside him. °How did it go?° Kamen asked, making sure none heard them. Without deterring from his work Ryota calmly explained everything that went down at the meeting a few days ago. After hearing all this the brown-haired man who belonged to the foxes calmly took out a clean piece of paper and began to write. Smoothly the brush wrote down his message in elegant writing. When he was down he carefully folded it, writing down for who he intended it to go to. °I have two tasks for you. One, give this to those two brothers, and two give them this message for me…°
Saying what he needed to say Ryota tucked the letter into his clothes before removing a board from the roof. Sensing something else he looked up and looked down catching the eyes of the Sixth Hokage. The white-haired man closed his eyes and gave a small wave to the young man above who fixed the roof alone.
The other, sending a hesitant wave, returned to his work, lowering his head enough to cover his eyes. Glancing to his side he saw that the brown-haired man was gone as quietly as he had arrived.
・・・
In the early morning the next day, Ryota sat in the room staring at himself in the mirror while dressed in a plain bathrobe. As he tried focusing on applying the eyeliner to his face he kept remembering the message the Sixth Hokage had given them last night. 'From here you will be heading to Sunagakure.' Although he didn't say anything else they already suspected that he had sent a message back to Konoha the moment they left the Land of Iron. Considering how fast those birds flew it would have arrived a couple of days ago and another would have been sent to Sunagakure to alert them of their arrival. 'If they know then a team from Konoha might arrive soon and escort us the rest of the way…' He worried knowing that the moment the Hokage and his group left they would leave as well. The timing of it all unnerved him so much so that his hand trembled, unable to remain stable, smudging his work in an inky black mess.
Poking his eye he hissed, covering his crying eye from the pain. He needed to get this right. If a team from Konoha did arrive they would need to slip by them to save time. Using a transformation would work but any skilled shinobi could tell when one was using it. To disguise himself would be for the best. He had even concocted his own hair dye from the materials he had brought in their previous stops.
Preparing since the moment they left the Land of Iron he knew that shinobi would not be the only problem. If a man were to be seen carrying an unconscious woman they would surely be seen as suspicious. That he knew but considering how his friend had yet to wake up even after a whole week he knew that if they continued to move and were stopped in her current condition she would be taken away and sent to a hospital. Although not familiar with the type of tests done at a hospital he knew that anyone curious enough would discover something from her. 'No matter what I have to keep her secret. The secret that not even the rest of the island knows.' Looking at the mirror his eyes reflected his determined red eyes. 'As far as everyone knows she is the only direct living descendant of Hoshi Uzumaki the noble ruler of our land ages ago and nothing more. Not even Nori and Kichi-san are aware. As for the genetic tests she's been taking, Misa-san has been the only one viewing the results and teaching Emi to read them. As far as anyone is concerned, those blood tests are to check up on her chakra condition.' Lowering his face he wiped away the mess he had made to try again. As he did he heard the familiar sound of the duvet moving. Surprised and confused he wondered how he made that noise.
"Where am I?" A croaky voice asked behind him. Slowly sitting up from the futon the groggy woman looked at the room blinking slowly, trying to place her surroundings.
Dropping the things he had, Ryota quickly shuffled over to her. Intending to just inform her of things that had happened in her sleep. However the moment he got close, his arms wrapped around her instead.
"Haha… this scene feels familiar." Reciprocating the hug she softly patted his back. "Was I out that long?"
"A whole week." He replied letting go and returning to the mirror to clean up the mess he made.
"Damn. It's a good thing the island isn't aware." Sighing she smoothened the duvet.
°They know°
°What? How°
°It's fine, we told them. Right now all they know is that you woke up and need time to recuperate. You will have to explain to them in detail what happened at the meeting. Word spreads fast anyways there was no way you would have been able to keep this secret.°
Knowing that was true she let out a quiet chuckle turning to her side looking at him once it had subsided. °Are there any changes back home that I should know about?°
°Eh… just as the mainland changed a lot our home has begun to change as well but not as drastically.° He answered as he put away the makeup he was using. °I don't know the intricacies of it so you should ask Kichi-san or Nori.° Although he was right, the answer left Yukino feeling unsatisfied as there were still many questions she had about their village in her absence. °Though there is one thing I did notice...° Ryota remembered quickly catching her attention. °The peaceful life seems to have created a spark in creativity. I remember having to protect the merchandise on the Silver Maiden.° He mentioned the name of one of the two trading ships they had. °They seemed so interesting… Like stories in the books, the vibrant colorful textiles, clothes, clear and intricate jewelry, and such.°
°Protect the merchandise? Isn't that the task I gave to the Anbu?°
°Oh yeah…° Turning around he smiled, giving her the news that had slipped his mind among the different events that had transpired just as she woke up. °I joined the Wolf branch. I guess I just became so used to it that I just forgot.° Hearing this Yukino hummed, remembering his dream years ago to become a member in their ranks. 'He looks so happy about it too…'
Knock! Knock!
The sudden knocking at the door startled the pair as they were caught off guard. Panicking Ryota quickly got up to pack his things before remembering the situation they were in. "Come in." He said upon recognizing the one on the side of the sliding door.
The moment those words left Ryota's mouth there was a small silence before the door slid open revealing the masked white-haired shinobi on the other side. "Oh? You're finally awake." Eyes widening slightly he stared at the red-haired woman he had become accustomed to seeing on the other's back.
"Kakashi? Haha, I must have been more tired than I thought." Laughing sheepishly she hunched slightly pulling the duvet closer to her body.
Laughing weakly in response he let out a chuckle. "You were, if you had slept anymore Tsunade-sama would have had to force her way inside." Glancing to the side he eyed Ryota, one of the two behind the efforts to stop the medic from entering their quarters the whole trip.
As he left the white-haired shinobi noticed the young green-eyed woman coming towards the room having just finished her routine rounds. Something he believed she shouldn't do and bother herself with considering that they had a skilled sensor with them. "How was it?" He asked, understanding that there was no convincing her to cease her cautious behavior.
"I caught another. They seemed low ranking so they were easy to deal with. Nothing but a petty thief." She explained. "You are too lax. I'm aware that you are strong but even so, you lost your best weapon." Looking directly at his left eye he knew what she insinuated. "Either way, is there something you want? I believe the last time you spoke to me was to stop me from doing my rounds."
"Ah, that's right. Yukino woke up." He gave her the news.
Watching her closely he watched as her body tensed up momentarily before relaxing. "I see." Ending their conversation there she walked past him and entered the room without another word.
Yukino's POV
Still on the futon, Ryota recounted the previous Hokage's insistence to see me while I was asleep. As he did he sat behind me and grabbed my hair. °Aren't you going to ask me what I saw?° I asked him upon realizing that our connection was still in effect.
°No, right now they're keeping an eye on us. Who knows who may be listening in.° Moving his hand down he began to brush it starting from the edges. °Also, if you wanted their help you would have mentioned it at the meeting.°
°If I was to tell them I would have to tell them about my eyes. Maybe in the future… but right now give me some time and I'll write a report with everything that I saw and concluded for the shrine.°
°Don't push yourself, we still don't know how much your body has been affected by your stasis.°
Hearing the door sliding open I did my best to not look back, putting on an expression as if I were tired and out of it. "Yukino?"
Recognizing Emi's silvery voice I quickly turned my head back. "Ah, sorry I didn't expect to be down for so long." I smiled happily to see her just as I had when I fell asleep. Though looking closer I could notice the bags under her eyes. Glancing behind me I noticed the same on Ryota. 'Had they been watching me this whole time? I didn't do anything while I was asleep did I?' Keeping my thoughts privately I felt a soft tingle.
°Yukino. Tell us about that seal.°
'Ah… it must have been bugging her.' Letting out a quiet sigh I looked back at the door making sure no one was spying on us. °I've been working on it ever since I interrupted the meeting between the Kage before the war.° Looking at Emi I could see that was not what she wanted to know about the seal. °The one I used a while ago was different from the one I intend to use.° Noticing their peak in interest I continued. °In that one I sealed up a wind release technique within it. So the moment that it activates it would cut the statue. That was the only change I made to that technique…° Looking back at the door I continued. °As for the real one it would seal up all of the air in my lungs and suffocate me.°
°You know that doesn't make anything better right?° Ryota sighed seemingly relieved. But from his eyes, I could tell that he still wasn't used to the way I did things.
°Sorry but It's because of that that there is a chance of survival. But don't worry I won't do anything to activate it and endanger our village.°
"Hah…" Emi sighed. "You should have told us all about the meeting before." Standing up she brushed her clothes. "Anyways you've been asleep for a long time so you must be hungry. Ryota keep her awake. I will bring up a meal."
Leaving, I looked over at Ryota. Giving a shrug he told me what we would be doing next. "We will part ways with the Hokage's group today. But… what I want to know is how do you feel staying in Sunagakure again?" He smiled, curious about the struggle I would be going through. From the look in his eyes, I could tell that this was the punishment he wanted for me for being rude to them during the summit.
"You couldn't be any more obvious." I chuckled. "I don't think I will be calm with those two brothers there. I can't imagine how Temari will be once she hears about this." I sighed knowing that her temper will be something I will have to find a way to quell.
"Oh right, you don't know do you? She moved to Konoha after marrying Shikamaru."
"What?"
・
A/N: Once again sorry for taking so long. When my school breaks arrive the chapters would come out sooner but right now I don't think I will be able to write much. Luckily I still have that file with chapter pieces and concepts I've been writing for some time. Most of those include parts of upcoming chapters so I don't feel that the delay will be much.
