For the next couple of days I was keeping an eye on Zagura to see if he really did attend his classes like he promised he would, I was surprised to learn that not only did he attend both academy classes but he was also Hikari's table partner. So, I was hoping that the two of them would get along, at least well enough to be on a team together. I went to Hikari's home and talked to her about being in a team under my tutelage, she didn't care as long as I was her sensei. It was strange when she first called me her sensei, I'll probably never get used to being called Ketto-sensei for a long time. Or I'll probably pretend that I never heard her call me her sensei, that seems to be the best way to cope with it anyway. From what I remember happened between Utakata and his sensei, I wouldn't want to be anyones sensei either, but I really do want to train an unbeatable team.
I also went and visited Futto and his family to tell them about Futto's opportunity to join the team. His mother was skeptical about it, his father was the one to say that it would be an opportunity they shouldn't pass on. He even mentioned how in time Futto would be known as a student of the fifth Mizukage and history would remember it.
With both Hikari and Futto agreeing to be on the team I told them to meet me in front of the Mizukage's tower today. Neither of them know who is on the team, so it will be kind of a surprise to them. All three of them had their final graduation exam yesterday despite taking it years ahead of schedule. As Hikari's current sensei I had Rinzu test her. Chojuro tested Futto and Zagura once I talked to him after the announcement to the village the other day. I was right in assuming that the three of them would easily test out of the academies. Apparently part of the reason Zagura thought it was okay to skip his regular academy classes was because he wasn't really learning anything new and wasn't able to advance at the rate he needed to. When we start training we'll see about that.
Right now both Jiro and Mitsuru had confronted me in my office a half hour before I was supposed to meet the three newly appointed genin in front of the tower. The two of them have been busy doing behind the scenes things to ensure my protection and I was hoping that would keep them occupied enough to keep them at a distance, but I seemed to be wrong as they took turns walking me through working with a group of eight year olds.
"Listen, you can't talk to them the same way you would talk to me or Jiro." Mitsuru started. He was sitting to the right of my desk and closest to the door while Jiro was on the side of the window but his chair was pulled up really close to the edge of my desk so that he could rest his elbows on the top of it. "Hikari might be okay with those kinds of interactions and that's only because she knows a lot about you from what I told her I experienced from being on a team with you. She also compares you to Ameyuri Ringo as one of her idols and she thinks that you might share some of the same tendencies as Ameyuri considering she was one of your sensei's at one point. Those two boys are not going to know what to expect, you might scare them off if you act as you normally do."
"I know something you could do to seem friendlier." Jiro suddenly leaned across the desk and used his hands to move the position of my mouth, I was confused by his actions. I looked down to try and see his hands before trailing my gaze up his arms and stopped once I reached his smiling face. "Smile, that's what you have to do to show you're not all that scary."
"Jiro, don't touch Lady Ketto's face like that." Mitsuru glared at Jiro who didn't seem to notice, but he backed off anyway.
"Really though, give us a smile." Jiro coaxed.
I looked at Mitsuru wondering if I should do what the goofball said to do or if I should disregard him and his request. "He's right, it wouldn't hurt to smile." a look of realization crossed his face, "What does your smile even look like? I don't think I've ever seen a genuine smile from you before."
The smile on Jiro's face got even bigger if that was possible. "See, even Mitsuru wants a smile. Come on Lady Ketto, just one smile." Jiro moved closer to the edge of his seat again as if he was worried he would miss something. I know I don't smile much, but why are these two making this such a big deal?
There didn't seem to be anyway to get out of this. They both looked at me expectantly, waiting for that smile they were so curious about. I sighed before deciding to humor them. I tried not to seem exasperated when I lifted my lips and stretched my facial muscles to give them what I thought to be a genuine smile. The two of them had a light dusting of blush across their cheekbones, I thought it had something to do with my smile so I stopped. "There, are you happy?"
Mitsuru looked away as he said, "That was unexpected."
Jiro maintained eye contact with me, the little sparkle in his dark brown eyes seeming to be more prominent. "Why don't you smile more? That was cute."
"Please don't say that, I hate my smile. My teeth are too pointed and the rest of my face is too awkward, that's why I don't do it very often." I said. I cleared my throat as if that would help me change the subject to something other than my smile. "Look, I'm not going to be the kind of sensei that smiles like a protective mother to her students. This is Kirigakure and you all know that emotion like that isn't something someone can get used to easily, especially Zagura, he grew up in a household without any love and it would probably make him uncomfortable if I smiled at him like that."
"How did you know that?" Jiro asked.
"I chose them as my students, I wouldn't choose just anyone without knowing more about them beforehand." I said. I left out that I have a special interest in Zagura, Jiro and Mitsuru don't need to know that right now. They can learn about that when everyone else does. "You know, the two of you should also form squads of your own to train when you're not shadowing me."
"I've been thinking about it." Mitsuru said. Jiro was obviously shocked, I was a bit too. Mitsuru sometimes seemed as if he put up with me and Jiro because he needed to so that he could continue to move up within the village. His attitude is one of someone who has something better to do. I'll admit that he has skill, but I don't know if I could see him as a sensei to genin.
"Really?" Jiro asked. The shock on Jiro's face slowly disappeared. "Actually, I'm not shocked. You like bossing people around and thinking you're right."
"I wouldn't have said it that way." I started, the air became tense after Jiro said that and I wanted to break up the argument before it could get in full swing, the two of them are always arguing over something, sometimes it's not as heated but others it is. "Mitsuru just cares about doing things in a way that he sees as being right and there's nothing wrong with that. It would be nice to see some genin with the same discipline as him."
"Would you find me a team?" Mitsuru asked. At my questioning look he added, "Genma said that in Konohagakure the Hokage is the one that assigns all the genin into teams and gives them a sensei."
Well damn, it looks like I'll have even more work to do. Just when I think I'm making progress something else is thrown at me. "I'll review each student after their graduation exam next week." Not only are Hikari, Zagura and Futto exceptionally young to have been made genin, but they were also tested before this batch of students were able to be tested. I wanted to put together my team as soon as possible so that we could start training.
Ideas of how to start placing students on teams rushed through my mind. I'll have to compare strengths and weaknesses of all the students and put them in a group with others who will help balance out the team. The sensei's will have to either specialize or have a strong understanding of the areas in which the students have their strengths and weaknesses, though I would prefer more all around sensei's who are skilled in every area. I'll have to think more in depth of this later when it's more relevant to.
"Do you think I could be a good sensei?" Jiro looked to the ground unable to meet our gazes.
I was going to say something when Mitsuru surprised me by speaking first. "You may be goofy and annoying, but I'll admit that you have some skills."
Jiro lifted his head looking suspicious, "Are you just saying that? Or do you mean it?"
Mitsuru scoffed while crossing his arms, "If I didn't mean it, I wouldn't have said it. Just take the compliment."
Jiro had a wide smile on his face. "Well, I would like you to put together a squad for me too Lady Ketto."
"Alright, and if there's anyone else that you know who would like to train genin let me know." I said. I stood from my chair and stretched before saying, "I should go meet up with my students now.
"I suggest that you do some on land training, remember the Raikage will be arriving sometime today and you need to be easily accessible when he gets here." Mitsuru said. He also stood up with Jiro following suit. "We should also get going."
"The two of you are assigned to shadow me today?" I wondered. I couldn't detect anyone else's chakra in the distance. Lately, I've been able to memorize the chakra signatures of everyone in the Mizukage protection unit, I thought it was strange that I couldn't detect any of their chakra and then suddenly Mitsuru and Jiro were in my office, no one picked up a post so I assumed that the two of them tasked themselves as my protection for today.
"What are you talking about?" Jiro looked nervous, "The two of us were going to go and finalize preparations for the Raikage and his men today."
"Jiro, what are you doing? This is Lady Ketto we're talking about, she already knows that we're shadowing her today." Mitsuru said. "Besides, there's nothing wrong with that. She was the one to come up with the idea of a protection unit so it's not like she's going to have a problem with it."
"Then yeah, we are." Jiro mumbled.
"I'll see you later when the Raikage is here." I said. I left the two of them to take up their positions so that I could meet up with my team.
Immediately outside of the Mizukage's tower I was greeted with the sight of my newly appointed students. Hikari had her inky black hair resting on top of her head with a white piece of cloth covering the hair placed in a bun, she had two longer pieces of hair that were bound together with thin ribbon. She wore a long sleeved navy blue colored kimono that had white lining and ended at her upper thighs. She also wore tight black shorts that were as long as the kimono and mesh tights covered the rest of her thighs up until her knees where the mesh disappeared into her ninja boots. Hikari for some reason looked more mature than her eight years, it's something that I've noticed while I observed her in the academy too but now it's even more noticeable. Even the way she carries herself you can tell. Hikari was looking at her other two teammates curiously. She was wearing her new Kirigakure issued forehead protector the same way Zabuza and I do, on our foreheads but angled more to the left to give it a lopsided look.
Futto had his arms crossed as he waited. He didn't bother to look at Zagura, I'm sure he's seen enough of him during their time at the kenjutsu academy. He only seemed interested in Hikari and I wasn't able to tell if he was interested in her as being more than a teammate or if he's really that curious about her. It's probably the latter, kids hardly know what emotions such as liking someone romantically are.
Futto wore a long sleeved pinstripe shirt with a sword harness that crossed his chest in an 'x' formation, two katanas were visible with the handles of the blades settling just above either shoulder. He wore black ninja pants and close toed ninja sandals. Unlike Hikari, Futto was wearing his forehead protector correctly with his bangs falling a little bit on the metal above the Mist insignia, otherwise his white hair was just as messy as any other time I've met him. I only just noticed that Futto's eyes are green, I wasn't able to tell before because they're so dark.
When I looked at Zagura I was shocked that he was also wearing his forehead protector the way I did, and his katana he always used to insist as being his weapon of choice was nowhere to be found. Zagura was wearing all black ninja clothes like me except his clothes were styled more like uncle Yagura's were. The shirt was short sleeves but the material on the side of the shoulder and part of the biceps was mesh while his pants were also the same as Futto's and contained several pockets that will surely be useful for storing things. Zagura was the only one of the three who didn't have his body mostly covered to protect from the rain and thick mist of the village.
I didn't bring any weapons with me, like Mitsuru said I don't want to go too far away for training today. I might as well keep it relatively light today as it's our first day. I was thinking it would be a good idea for us to get to know each other. Zagura already knows exactly who Hikari and Futto are, but it doesn't look like the two know each other. Any training that we have time for can be used to do some taijutsu or working to improve something of their choice.
"Hello everyone." I greeted them. "From now on Zagura, Futto, and Hikari, you will make up a team. The first ninja squad Kiri has had in years. If you would like we can discuss team names, you will be the ones stuck with it so you can decide."
"Why don't we just call ourselves Team Ketto?" Hikari asked.
"The team that I'm currently in considers themselves Team Ketto, you'll have to think of something else." I wonder what other options we really have for team names? Team Zero? Team One? Team Alpha?
"How about we call ourselves Team Mizukage?" I was surprised that Zagura suggested anything. I was too surprised to tell them that being referred to as Team Mizukage puts a heavy burden on their shoulders. Everyone would hold them to a specific superior standard as opposed to other teams and that's a lot for a trio of eight year olds.
When Futto said, "I agree with Team Mizukage." and Hikari said, "Me too!" I realized that's probably exactly what they wanted. Who knows if they can fill everyone else's expectations or not, they don't seem to care. I'm sure they would also like any other perks that come with a reputation like the one they will have to fill being the Mizukage's students. I just wish that nothing negative comes out of this. I didn't even think if they would be targeted for simply being my students or anything else, I'll just have to train them the best way I can so that they can handle any situations that arise themselves.
I gave them a small smile, I'm sure that it's barely there but it was genuine and that has to be a good start. "Team Mizukage it is. Now let's share a bit about ourselves, what is your first and clan name and what is something you want to accomplish as a ninja? I can go first. I was born Ketto Momochi, but I was recently adopted by my uncle the fourth Mizukage Yagura Karatachi and I am now a Karatachi. My goal as a ninja is to become stronger than everyone thought possible for a kunoichi, so that I can prove to them that I can be just as good as the rest of them. I've already become Mizukage which is the greatest title Kirigakure can give to a ninja, but now my strength will be used to protect the people of this nation. Hikari, why don't you go next?"
Hikari turned her attention from me to Futto and Zagura. "My name is Hikari Yuki and my goal is to be like Lady Ketto and Ameyuri Ringo. I want to be strong like them."
"You're using the name Yuki again?" I questioned, I didn't know they would start using that name so soon after I revoked the law forbidding kekkei genkai users.
"Father says that our lives are no longer in danger of having our abilities. We should be proud to call ourselves Yuki's." Hikari smiled wide at that. It looks like Vanu is even more supportive of me being Mizukage than I originally thought. He also seems to be less concerned about the repercussions than Mitsuru would have, I wonder if he is also addressing himself as a Yuki?
"Futto you can go next." we all turned our attention to Futto as he took a step forward.
"I am Futto Ikari, my goal as a ninja is to reach a level of skill that would qualify me as a war general." now it makes sense as to why he puts up with being Zagura's partner. Futto only cares about advancing and he doesn't care how it happens. The fact that he gets along with Zagura shows his adaptability to other people.
I nodded my head and looked to Zagura who didn't look like he cared too much about his teammates, at least it didn't look like he was just going to dismiss them. "I'm Zagura, I want to be one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and I will be."
"If you want to be a swordsman of the Mist then which of the seven swords would you like to wield?" I wondered.
"Nuibari." he said.
"That explains your choice of a katana." I said. It wasn't even close to being similar to Nuibari, but I have to at least acknowledge that he tried. "It's true that Chojuro and two teams of hunter ninja recovered Nuibari and Shubuki, but I'm sorry to say that you are not suited for either blade."
Zagura narrowed his eyes at me. "How would you know that? Both blades have been missing from the village for years."
"Zagura." Hikari gasped before she pushed his arm. "Don't talk to Lady Ketto like that, do you know nothing?"
"What are you talking about? It was just a question Hikari!" Zagura now glared at her.
I thought to explain myself to break up any fight that might start. "When I was significantly younger and before most of the ninja blades went missing it was discovered that I could wield all seven blades. I was actually younger than the three of you are now at the time when I started my training with each of the swordsmen. I know everything there is to know about Nuibari, trust me when I say you don't have the sword skill required to wield that blade."
"Are you suggesting that I give up on my goal of becoming one of the seven?" Zagura asked.
"No, just get a different blade." I said. Zagura continued to stare at me curiously. "The way you move your blade and focus more on strength blows makes me think that you would do better with a bigger blade. Like maybe the Kubikiribōchō."
"That sword seems like it would weigh a lot, I don't think I'll ever be able to lift it." Zagura looked uncertain at my suggestion that he could wield one of my blades.
"That's why everyone will start off with some strength training." I said. "While you build up your strength Futto and Hikari will too. I'm not saying that the Kubikiribōchō would accept your chakra anyway, but it would be easier to train you assuming it's a perfect fit for you. Besides, strength training is always beneficial. You all talk about becoming strong, but this will make that true in a physical sense. We can go to the kenjutsu academy, they have a weight room."
Futto led the way to the academy while Zagura asked, "When do you think I could try the Kubikiribōchō?"
"Ask me again in a week." I replied. "The Raikage is visiting the village and will be arriving today, until he leaves our training sessions will be shorter. Unless you plan on doing some training on your own time?"
"I haven't decided yet." he muttered.
"Hikari, I was wondering if you were going to continue training with your father and uncle?" I asked. I already knew what Zagura would be doing in his free time and that was checking in on Razuchi to see how she's doing. I've been thinking about keeping an eye on her and monitoring her health, but that would just make me feel as if I was only waiting for her to die so I don't think I will.
"Actually they're both going to Suna to teach defense and combat strategies." she said. "Big brother Mitsu said he would train with me until they got home." I didn't know that Vanu and Maru volunteered for that. I didn't review with Ao or Akira to see who they were going to send to Suna, I trusted that they would make the best decisions. I already know that Futto's father was also going to be on a team going to Suna, but that was because I visited with his family recently and that's how I learned about that.
"Futto, what about you? Do you have any plans while your father is away?" I wondered.
"Nothing in particular. I haven't really given it much thought." he said.
We entered the kenjutsu academy and went straight to the weight room. I set Hikari up at the bench press, she admitted that she wasn't all that strong and so I only had her lift the bar while I spotted her. Zagura and Futto went straight to the deadlift and spotted each other. Zagura went first with fifty pounds of weight on each side. That was all I was able to observe when my attention went back to Hikari who started to shake with her bar. "When you start to shake and it feels like you can't do anymore that's when your muscles start to develop."
"I can try." she let out through clenched teeth. She managed to do one more lift, on the second one she made it halfway up and was stuck. I helped her put it back in place before helping her up.
The two of us worked our way around the weight room, at some point I let Hikari take a break and I found myself doing pull ups on the bars mounted to the wall with Zagura and Futto on either side of me. The two didn't seem to be giving up anytime soon, until they both suddenly fell to the mat. I did a few more pull ups before stopping too.
We all continued moving around the weight room making sure to use every machine. As a cool down I had us all balance on our hands with our feet straight up and down in the air. It was amusing to watch the three of them struggle while I was able to balance perfectly.
"What is the point of this?" Zagura demanded. Up until now he hasn't really complained about anything. Zagura fell to the ground one more time, despite his complaining he tried to get back into his handstand.
"I know we were lifting for awhile and your muscles probably feel like jelly, but if you exhaust all of your energy on a mission and you can't carry yourself home then it's a failed mission." I said. Futto was still balancing from the beginning when he first took up this position. Sweat dripped down his face and his arms shook, but he didn't complain, he didn't even waver in his stance. He was the one who seemed to have the higher level of strength and discipline compared to the other two. Hikari looked to be disciplined too, but she fell down almost as many times as Zagura did so she'll have to work on her strength too. Either way they'll all have to get stronger.
"Alright, I see your point." Zagura huffed but held himself up for longer this time.
"For the next week or two we will meet here and continue with our strength training. Depending on how fast you all improve we will start adding other things at the end of our strength training like taijutsu or kenjutsu. Hikari doesn't have a blade, but she can still focus on something else while the two of you duel."
I felt elder Shun's chakra approaching and wondered what it could be about. Has the Raikage arrived? Or has something else happened? I continued to balance on my hands, waiting for elder Shun to make an appearance. When he did, he paused in the doorway. "Lady Mizukage a ship sailing from the land of Lightning has just entered Port Royaru."
Zagura and Hikari were shocked by elder Shun's sudden appearance and fell to the floor. Hikari fell backwards while Zagura fell face first into a heap on the ground. Surprisingly enough, Futto was still holding his position.
"We can be done for today. I'll meet you at the same time tomorrow." Futto fell onto his stomach after I said that.
From his place on the ground Zagura asked, "What is the purpose of the Raikage's visit? Is it something we should worry about?" his question shocked me, I didn't think he would be the one to show any concern like that. He didn't seem all that worried about it until now when I really looked at him. It's no wonder I didn't notice, I would have acted nonchalant too. It's best to act as if you don't care then other people can't use your feelings against you. Zagura has the makings of a perfect shinobi.
"No, it's nothing to worry about." I assured him. "He's just coming to show his support during my transition to Mizukage and ever since the Kiri-Kumo war ended we've tried to be close." While that's true, I'm not sure how close we really were, I haven't been around the village enough to know if any Kumo ninja visited Kiri. I already know uncle Yagura hasn't left the village in years, other than the more recent trip to the land of Fire that is. I guess I'll figure that out when I meet them at the docks.
"Don't worry Lady Mizukage, we'll continue to train in our free time." Hikari pushed herself off the floor and stood up with a determined look on her face.
"I kind of wanted to go home." Zagura muttered. He said it quiet enough that no one else heard it. He pushed himself to his hands and knees, but that's as far as he got. "Actually, I could stay for awhile longer today. I'm not needed at home until later." Zagura is at least trying to spend time with his teammates and improve his skills. I thought he would want to rush home and check on Razuchi.
"I'll see you tomorrow then." I wove my fingers into the appropriate hand signs for the transportation jutsu and disappeared into a small flurry of black coral dust. My feet landed on the aluminum of the docks. The ship didn't come in to port, but it was sailing in. There were people hurrying around, preparing for the ship. I didn't recognize any of them and that didn't really matter.
I watched as the ship came into port, among all of the people rushing around on the ship to prepare to drop anchor I recognized two of the people waiting on board. They both looked different from the last time I met them many years ago. They both aged significantly since the last time I saw them. There were age lines on A's face and B had a blue tattoo on his face of two blue lines that curved and were angled up his face by his left eye.
There was a third man standing by the two of them who had darker blonde hair, but with a lighter skin tone. I don't remember ever seeing him before, I definitely would have remembered his black eyes. The look of seriousness that he holds is something I appreciate.
Just before the anchor was set another man joined them. He stood next to the shorter blonde man, he is fairly tall, and dark-skinned with a slightly bulbous nose, black eyes that made him look bored, and shaggy, white hair which covers his left eye. From over his shoulder I could see the hilt of a blade and judging by what they were wearing I would say they were jonin. They both wore the standard attire of Kumo ninja: a sleeveless, black shirt with a one-strap-over-one-shoulder white flak jacket, I didn't know who this was either, along with the blonde haired man I've never seen this guy before.
I waited for someone to bring out a plank of wood so that they could get off their ship. A was the first to cross over to the dock with B following him along with the short blonde man and the taller more muscular man.
A approached me without saying anything at first. He was shirtless under his white haori and didn't seem to be bothered with the chilled air of Kirigakure. There was a thin string barely visible on his neck and I assumed it was his Raikage hat and veil. The sleeves of his haori met with the ends of his large golden vambraces he had placed on his wrists. He also has a large gold belt around his waist with a boar's face engraved in the centre, black pants with torn ends, Kumo-nin shin guards, and shinobi sandals. Looking at him reminded me of some kind of champion wrestler, though I felt confident that I could take him. Or at least put up one hell of a fight if I needed too. He's known for his speed and I have plenty of that along with strength acquired from years of wielding a blade bigger than my stature should be able to handle.
He stopped in front of me with B flanking him a bit to his right and the other two behind him. The blonde was keeping a close eye on us as if he wasn't sure what was going to happen. I braced myself for some sexist comment to come from A, I didn't know how things worked in Kumogakure but I knew that not many women were ninja there either even though it is significantly more than here. Or maybe he was going to dismiss my being Mizukage because of my age. Either way, I was prepare for whatever could be said.
I maintained a neutral look on my face as he spoke, not expecting what he was about to say. "I think this is the first time we're meeting since you were sent to fight in the Kiri-Kumo war. It seems fitting that one of the strongest fighters during that time was made Mizukage." he held a large hand out, shocking me a bit. I took his hand in mine and shook it firmly. "We have much to discuss, Mizukage." He accepted my new title and acknowledged my abilities as if there wasn't ever concern about them. There wasn't even mention of my age or gender, which is what I was expecting.
We let go of each others hands, "You can call me Ketto. I'll admit that being called the Mizukage is still foreign to me, I never thought I would have been a candidate."
B stepped forward next, he had a hard look on his face which didn't seem to match what I knew about the man. I heard that he was always happy with a smile on his face and that he was always talking. I know he didn't just happen across the name Killer B, maybe he saw me as a threat? I watched as he settled next to A, at first he didn't do anything he was just looking at me, observing. I couldn't tell what he thought, normally I could make a pretty good guess by looking at their face, but B had oval shaped sunglasses covering his eyes making it harder to read his expressions. He had a white-coloured forehead protector that was tied around his forehead like a proper ninja would wear it unlike my lopsided style. Like A, he also didn't wear a shirt and instead exposed the muscles of his arms and some of his chest while wearing his village's standard one-strap-over-one-shoulder flak jacket, he has a long, red rope belt tied around his waist, wore dark gray pants, the standard Kumo hand and shin guards, shinobi sandals, and a white scarf wrapped around his neck.
I was even more surprised when B raised his fist to me for a fist bump. I hesitated slightly, but decided that if I wanted him to trust me I shouldn't give him a reason to think I'm a threat especially since they are the ones visiting my nation. They're taking a big risk coming here. What if I was worse than my uncle and I plotted to kill them? They don't know what to expect from me and I need them to know that they could trust me.
My fist connected with B's and suddenly I'm no longer on the docks. Everything around me is white, the only thing I could make out is B who still has his fist connected to mine and behind him was the eight tails I knew B hosted. "I thought so." B said, a smile spread across his face that he directed at me. "I knew there was somethin about you. I thought I knew from when we met in the past but I couldn't tell when we met on the docks, now I know for sure. You're the jinchuuriki of the three tails, you have been this whole time haven't you?"
"What are you talking -" I looked around some more and caught sight of Isobu sitting behind me. Now I can't exactly tell B that I didn't know what he was talking about. Suddenly, I feel much smaller than I am, I'm relatively tall for my age but with both tailed beasts present I feel like a bug. "Isobu, what are you doing here?"
"This is something that jinchuuriki can do Ketto, while you can communicate with me freely you can also communicate in this way with other jinchuuriki only if you are fully linked with your demon." Isobu's gravelly voice explained.
This was the first time I've seen all of him before. Normally, he tries to hide himself away in the dark of our shared environment. Here there isn't any darkness for him to conceal himself. He looked just as I imagined him looking, Isobu primarily resembles a large turtle which I already knew, but he had a crab-like shell with spikes all over his body, and three shrimp-like tails. I've never seen his tails before, for the longest time I was only able to see the glow of his one good eye and lately I've been able to see more of his face. Under Isobu's shell he has red, muscle-like tissue. He has a pair of human-like arms and hands, but no hind-legs. His face is concealed between a large forehead and lower jaw — both of which have spikes and that I have seen more recently. I've already become familiar with his eyes, they are the eyes I see on my face whenever I jump my consciousness into a water clone.
The eight tails resembled an ox and it looked like at one point it had four long horns. It also has a muscular upper-body structure, with a hunched back, arms with spiked protrusions on the elbows, and hands with opposable thumbs like that of a human. Instead of hind-legs, its lower half consists of its eight tails, which resemble the arms of an octopus. "Isobu, you're chakra feels different. It's stronger than I remember it being." the eight tails said.
"I believe you're sensing Ketto's chakra." Isobu said. "She has mass stores of her own chakra and for years she's been blending our chakra as one. It's still a work in progress, but she's getting there."
"Why can't we feel her chakra? I can only feel yours and the parts that have been changed, it's like her being doesn't have any chakra at all." the eight tails narrowed his eyes at me.
"Her family has powerful sealing fuinjutsu. Her chakra is sealed away so that no one can sense my chakra, and she also has a powerful yang release that's sealed away." Isobu sighed as if what he was going to say next pained him. "The seals are under the bandages placed on her body. She doesn't have much skin left to mark."
"How long have you been a jinchuuriki?" the eight tails asked.
"Since the day I was born fifteen years ago." I said. "I'm sorry, but what is your name?"
"My name?" he wondered.
"Yes your name, you do have one don't you?" I asked.
The eight tails looked confused for a moment and then he seemed to compose himself. "Gyūki."
"It's nice to meet you Gyūki." I gave him a small sharp toothed smile. I don't even know why I smiled, I just felt the need too.
"We should get back." B said. His fist separated from mine and he stepped away. The scene changed back to the docks, no one looked shocked or concerned and I wondered if that was normal. "It's nice to meet you Ketto." a large goofy smile spread across B's face.
"Time didn't change for them. All they know is that B fist bumped you. They don't know we met big brother Gyūki or that I am here. Only B knows." Isobu's voice echoed through my head. I never thought of him thinking of the other tailed beasts as his siblings, but I guess it makes sense with his personality. He acts as if he's a young child sometimes when I know he's hundreds if not thousands of years old.
I was still a bit confused about what just happened with B and Gyūki. It made sense that we were able to do that, I already suspected it was possible to communicate with other tailed beasts but its been awhile since I've encountered anyone else or bothered to really ask about it. Uncle Yagura wanted me to keep my identity as the three tails a secret and now B knows and he's also from a different village, one that we've had our own bloody war with. We may now be allies, yet I'm still a bit worried about that. I still don't know where I stand as the Mizukage of Kirigakure to the Raikage of Kumogakure. A seemed to have accepted my position but that doesn't mean we're on good terms.
A glanced around the area, observing the Mist people on the docks around us. I could sense him probing for their chakra, he did a good job hiding his shock at their lack of chakra. These people only work the docks, they're not ninja, there isn't a need for them to be. "You've decided to meet us without any bodyguards?" he asked.
"When I was first told of your arrival, I used the transportation jutsu to get here in time to meet you." I said. "I didn't think I would need to have bodyguards, honestly that's something I also need to get used to. I've always had people watching me before, but it was for dark intentions. It's odd for people to suddenly care about my well being. I hope you don't read into it too much, I don't know where we stand with each other and our nations. I wasn't in the village very often when Lord Fourth was still Mizukage and I'm not sure of our relations."
"We had a mutual agreement between our nations and while that may be so we've kept mostly to ourselves in the years following the war." A said. His face remained hardened as he added, "We've upheld appearance's in that time."
"What is the purpose of this visit?" Now it was my turn to be apprehensive of them. He's just admitted that our relationship between our nations was for the sake of a cease fire.
"I was hoping things would be different with a new Mizukage." he said. "Was I right in assuming that?"
I was quiet for a moment before letting out a barely audible sigh and an almost nonexistent smile. "You don't know how right your words are, we have much to talk about. Shall we go to the Mizukage's tower?"
"If you don't mind, I would like to walk through the village." A said.
"Not a problem, from what I hear our villages are the most similar out of all the five great nations." I said. I turned around and started escorting our group through the docks and into the village. A fell into step next to me with B on his other side and the other two men were behind us. Even though I was the one showing them around I didn't dare try and walk in front of A, I didn't want to offend anyone by making it seem as if I held myself in higher regard than the Raikage. "You can tell me if that's true, though I'm almost certain that we have more fog and mist."
It took us awhile to walk out of Port Royaru, which serves as a fishing district and also the headquarters of the Oceaners is also located here. Port Royaru is mostly a naval base of operations, the main Oceaner building is inside of one of the first steam ships Kirigakure ever created that was a remnant of the First Shinobi War that is now just a beached ship that was taken out of commission some time ago. There are naval bases located in ports all around the mainland and a few on some of our other islands.
It took some time before we emerged into the marketplace. Despite our cold and wet weather we still had an open marketplace located along a street surrounded by smaller towers to block from the wind. These towers consisted of apartment units for those who work in the fishing district or Oceaners who choose to live away from their home in other villages on the mainland that couldn't find lodging closer to the docks.
Passed these apartments there was open space that showed rolling hills in conjunction with the now mountainous landscape. The protrusions in the land started out soft and gentle only to transform into hard jagged edges the closer we got to Kirigakure. The land was green and lush with trees and other fauna wherever there wasn't a rock protruding from the Earth.
Once we reached Kirigakure there were more towers that had moss growing along the lower levels and trailing up the sides of the buildings. The tall and wide cylindrical building was revealed hidden among a formation of more jutted rocks. There was a wall with arches surrounding the building. Parts of the wall stretched to other areas in the village, it was highest at the tower but otherwise it's elevation dropped to look like a ramp leading to the tower. The top of the wall works as a road of sorts to those who live along the wall in towers that stretch across its length.
While I was admiring my village, I felt the chakra presence of four familiar shinobi. One was following three hundred meters from behind us, there was one on the left and right, while the fourth one was perched at the top of the hospital in front of us. All had a clear view of me, it took longer than I thought for them to find me and fall into their positions, especially when Jiro and Mitsuru knew where I was going. It must have took them longer than expected to get some backup. Jiro was the one behind us, so he must have ran after me as soon as I used the transportation jutsu. Mitsuru was the one standing on the rooftop of the hospital watching us. 'Actually, that reaction time isn't too bad.' I thought, I need to cut them a little slack, they're new to this.
"Lord Raikage, Lord B, we're being followed. They're trying to conceal they're chakra" I looked back to see it was the short blonde ninja that spoke. "There's one behind us and one to either side."
I gave him a curious look before saying, "You missed the one in front of us. I guess I could understand that you missed him because he's stationary, we're walking straight to him." he seemed to get tense while his partner made to grab his sword. A and B were more calm than these two, but I'll admit it does seem as if I could have set them up for an ambush, so I continued, "They're there for me, I was going to wait to say anything about it but it seems that to put your minds at rest I should tell you now. After my uncle disappeared he left me a letter explaining that he fell under a genjutsu many years ago and was unable to break it. Most of his actions were made by this other person, to prevent something like that from ever happening again I created the Mizukage protection unit. It's hard for me to fall under any type of genjutsu but this is more of a precaution. Also, I would like to live my life day to day without my own people trying to take my life. There are consequences for being the Demon of the Mist even in my village especially since the title has more meaning here."
"If they're your protection detail then why don't they follow you closer?" the blonde asked.
"It's probably something their head captain told them to do seeing as I don't like feeling as if I'm being suffocated by their closeness. I imagine that it also has to do with having a greater range visually and it makes them tune into their surroundings more. It tests their boundaries." I said. I gestured to the biggest building in the area, the Mizukage's tower. "Here is the Mizukage's tower, you will be staying here with me as my guests. I must warn you that there is a ninja from both the land of Fire and the land of Wind staying with me. The ninja from the land of Wind is returning to Sunagakure tonight as the given time the Suna council gave him is now up. While the ninja from Konohagakure is staying indefinitely as of right now. The two of them served as my escort back from Sunagakure shortly after I was made Mizukage, which I learned after I got back to the village."
We reached the Mizukage's tower and A turned to his subordinates behind him. "The two of you can do as you wish for now, we'll meet you later. Otherwise B and I will be discussing with Ketto."
The blonde one looked ready to object when the taller more muscular one grabbed him by his bicep and turned him away. "C and I will be patrolling the area as a precaution."
"There isn't a need, but you may do so." A turned away and continued in the tower. I thought their names were odd, A, B, and C. I wonder if they have the same meaning that I think they do. A is the raikage, B is his partner, could C be his second in command? I shook my head to clear those thoughts, why would it matter what their names mean?
Instead, I followed A and B, I almost brought them to my office to talk about everything that we needed to, but I thought it would be strange to sit at my Mizukage's desk while A sat across from me. As a split second decision I directed them into the war room, which consisted of a long table with many chairs placed down the length of it. The top of the table itself was an enlarged map of the five great nations including the many islands both marked and unmarked of the land of Water. Normally, there are pieces that we use to set on the map to distinguish each nations position on the battlefield, but those are put away as there isn't an ongoing war. This room actually hasn't been used since the Kiri-Kumo war, yet there wasn't any dust so someone must have been cleaning here periodically.
I sat down on one side of the long table while A and B sat across from me. "First things first, I've made a few changes since becoming Mizukage and one such change was that I restructured the different branches of the anbu and had some ninja re-evaluated to determine their skill. We will start ranking ninja again because it gives them a title to call their own and look forward too. Genin, chunin, and jonin will all be tested for their respective ranks. Our days of not ranking ninja are over. I believe re-evaluations are almost complete, so I don't need your help in that regard. Being that you're here I was wondering if you would like to participate or lend a helping hand for the chunin exams I've decided to hold here? I don't know how long it will take for Konoha to rebuild, but either way I'm sure there will be many genin from here trying at the exams."
"You wish to host a chunin exam here?" A asked.
"Yes, I have ideas for the last two phases of the exam but I haven't been able to think of anything for the first one yet." I said. "Also, phase three is going to be a bit more complicated because it's going to be done on a much larger scale than anything I've experienced out of ninja exams. Even greater than the old graduation exam for genin, with significantly less odds of death that is."
"What did you have in mind?" A rose an eyebrow with his question.
I gave the two of them a smirk and started explaining what I already had planned for the exams, I already sent a letter explaining this to Tsunade and so far she has agreed. The first stage of the exams is still up in the air, but the second and third are slowly coming together and she agreed that the jonin of her village who were not leading a team of students would help with the third stage.
As we talked, the two of them helped me figure out some of the finer details of the two stages I already had planned out. The input they gave me helped to refine how everything would come into play and A said he would have some of his jonin assist in the events that are to unfold.
"Being that we'll be helping to regulate this exam, I feel as if I should allow genin teams to participate as well." A stated. "It saves me the trouble of banning B from sneaking off to witness the spectacle."
B started to laugh at that. "Brother, you know there's no stopping me!"
"I have a genin team of my own too, though I don't know if they'll be ready by the time the exam comes." I confessed. "Our first day of training was earlier today, but they seem to be prodigies in their own right." I straightened my posture and took on a more serious air. "This next piece of information is a little bit more serious and it involves all of the five great nations. I've already talked to the newly appointed Hokage Tsunade Senju about this and the Suna council also knows only because this information came to light in the negotiations with the Sand when someone pointed out that the Sand had nothing to offer the Mist. Recently an organization has surfaced calling themselves the Akatsuki. We don't know a lot about them just that one of their goals is to harvest all nine tailed beasts. From the information that I know, there is a duo of men who are tasked with collecting the bounties of ninja listed in the bingo book, so it's known that they have a more long term goal even though we don't know what it could be. The duo consists of Kakazu and Hidan, their villages are unknown. I also crossed paths with another partnership who I believe are tasked with the collection of the tailed beasts. Kisame Hoshigaki from the Mist and Itachi Uchiha of the Leaf are on one such team. I'm not sure how many more teams or members they have, but I advise you to take the necessary precautions in the safety of the two tails who I believe is Yugito Nii and B as the eight tails."
"How have you come across this information?" A wondered.
"We only knew bits and pieces, but while I traveled to the land of Waves during the month between the second and third phases of the chunin exams in Konoha, I was attacked by the duo of Kakuzu and Hidan. They were after my bounty, which I've been told has doubled since my brothers death." I didn't know if I was ready to share this second piece of information with them, but B already knows and it's only a matter of time before he tells A. "Little did they know that I am also the three tails jinchuuriki. Very few know about this, B discovered this on the docks when he fist bumped me. He said that only a jinchuuriki who was in perfect sync with their tailed beast could meet on that plane. I'm telling you this because I know it's only a matter of time before B tells you himself. Throughout my life I've been told to keep this part of myself a secret and I think it's for this reason, I don't know how long my uncle knew about the Akatsuki but I do agree it's best that fewer people know."
"Yagura didn't die when he extracted the three tails from himself?" B asked.
"No, his chakra was significantly strong without the aide of Isobu, so he was able to live through the extraction." I explained. "The chakra that everyone thought was Isobu's was only residual chakra from him having been the jinchuuriki for years."
"You are safe the longer you can keep this a secret and you seem to be well protected." A started. "What about the six tails, they are also of your village are they not?"
"Utakata was my partner when I first started in the anbu, if I ever lost control over Isobu or my unstable chakra he was supposed to step in. Or at least that's why I think Kirigakure's two tailed beasts were placed on a team together. There never have been any incidences and I'm not actually sure if Utakata knew of my jinchuuriki status or not." It was something that I was curious about for awhile, but I never thought to ask him before he defected just incase if he didn't really know. "He defected from the village a couple of years ago, I actually have an ongoing mission for the hunter nin to locate him. When the time comes I'll be the one to confront him and accept him as a citizen of Kirigakure if he wishes to return. It's possible that he could have known about the genjutsu placed on the Fourth and that's why he defected. Actually, that could be the reason a lot of ninja defected from the village." This wasn't something I considered either. I didn't know until recently about my uncles situation, but it makes sense. I could feel Chojuro's chakra approaching the room, he stopped outside of my office before continuing and a knock suddenly sounded at the door. "You can come in Chojuro!" I called.
He opened the door to reveal his apologetic face. "Sorry to interrupt, but the shinobi squads that are being sent to Suna for training are going to leave soon. I thought you should know."
A and B looked to me curiously, so I said, "It was part of our negotiations. They had nothing to offer me, but it was agreed that I'm to help them become battle ready so when the Akatsuki make their move they won't be a burden to anyone." I pushed my chair away from the table and stood. "We've talked enough for today, please make yourselves at home. I'll be back."
I exited the war room before either of them could get up from their seats and joined Chojuro. Together the two of us walked back to the docks of Port Royaru. "Ketto, how was taking with the Raikage? Nothing is wrong right?"
"Nothing is wrong, he just wants our nations to be able to rely on each other." I replied. "They only have good intentions. The two bodyguards they brought with are more defensive then A and B, but then again that might be because it's their job."
"I've met them in the village, they seemed shocked that we had two academies so I showed them around." Chojuro said.
"What are their names? I didn't think to ask. One is C, I think." I was more concerned about the situation we were all placed in. I was worried that I may come off as threatening or in any way offensive that I didn't think to ask their names. I learned C's name because it was said, but we were still never introduced. I still don't know the name of the other one.
"That's right, and the tall beefy one is Darui. He was the one most interested in the kenjutsu academy. They don't have a specialized academy for blade wielders in Kumogakure." Chojuro said. "They've been the Raikage's bodyguards for a few years."
We continued to the docks to meet with Akira, Ao, and the teams that they assigned to return to Sunagakure with Baki. They each chose three complete squads consisting of three shinobi. Three squads to teach defensive strategies and maneuvers while the other three taught intelligence gathering. There was a seventh team that I selected who will be learning medical ninjutsu at the hospital in Sunagakure to teach when they get back. The team I selected will be reporting to the head of the hospital staff to ensure that new techniques are passed on and that new questions are asked to better develop our medical ninjutsu. The head of the hospital will in turn be reporting to me the progress of the team in Suna and the overall development of hospital staff after utilizing the new information. Most of our medics only became medics during the time of war, not many decide to become a medic because they wanted to, even though it is still done.
The medic that I chose to captain this team was the same one that treated Kankuro in Konohagakure. Upon seeing me all of the shinobi being sent to Sunagakure stood in line at attention, none of them saluted me and for that I am grateful. My gaze locked on the icy stares of Vanu and Maru Yuki who appeared to be assigned to the same squad. "You were all chosen because you are deemed the most skilled in your selected fields. I hope that your time spent in Sunagakure is successful and that you are able to effectively teach their forces some of our battle techniques and that you'll be able to learn while you are there, too. Your return will be judged off of the confidence of your squad captains and the head of your division. I trust them in making that decision. I will see you when you return." I gave a small wave as they started to board the ship. "Baki, can I have a word before you go?"
He waited for a few ninjas to pass by him before he walked the short distance over to me. "What did you want to tell me?"
"I was hoping you wouldn't tell Temari, Kankuro, or Gaara that I was now Mizukage. I wanted to be able to tell them myself." I said. In a way it was a lot to ask, how could you keep something like that a secret when every nation is getting news of this. "Just don't specifically mention that I'm the Mizukage. Keep it vague until I can find a way to tell them myself."
"I can try to do that. I can't make any promises." he said.
"That's fine, thank you Baki." I said. "Not just for that but for escorting me back to Kirigakure and helping while you were here. I look forward to seeing you again."
"I look forward to seeing you again too, goodbye Ketto." he held his hand out and I took hold of it in a firm grip. I gave him a small smile as I shook his hand before we separated.
I watched as they all boarded the ship and took sail leaving me, Ao, Akira, and Chojuro. I felt as if this was all in preparation for a war that may or may not happen, but then again it's best to be prepared. Even if the Akatsuki never manage to initiate their plans for tailed beasts, we will be ready. I just keep thinking about Kisame's role in all of this, a part of me knows that we'll never be able to have mangalore crab sukkra together ever again but I still wish we could. I know that I may have to be the one to kill him if we ever meet again, so that means I'll have to start training as hard as I used too. I've been long enough without proper training and now I have a team that can train with me, they can also become stronger while I continue to get stronger.
