Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Baseline
In order to successfully progress monitor something like an intervention, it is important to first measure how the target is functioning before the intervention is applied. This way there is something the end results can be compared to. With baseline data, the success of an intervention can be seen through numerical representation. It is also necessary if the intervention calls for an aimline. It is best to collect three to five baseline data points to establish consistency prior to starting an intervention.
Staring at my recently chakra-healed hand, I walked the familiar path home without having to think about it; ignoring the weird looks people were sending me. I think it's the headband. Genin aren't typically seen in the red district. It's funny really. Two or maybe three years ago, an asshole civilian slapped me for disturbing his business and I got taken from my sister as consequence. Now as a genin, my new... Ibiki and my coworkers, for lack of better words, broke two of my fingers for a test and that was completely acceptable.
Sighing, I lowered my hand as I came to the corner. Out of habit, I paused and checked Anzu's window. No light. So, I kept going; into the building and up the stairs. Though it wasn't all bad. I had to admit to myself as I moved out of the way as one of Anzu's neighbors escorted a 'guest' out. This wouldn't be possible otherwise. Starting in front of Anzu's door, I didn't bother to knock as I let myself in. There had been no light, so there was no point. "Hey sis", I announced my presence and greeted her at the same time.
Anzu's head snapped in my direction as soon as she had heard the door open; a tube of lip gloss half raised to her lips. "Rion?" She started to say in surprise. After I had committed to a goal (just like Shibi had asked me to), it had been difficult to make frequent visits. Not that it stopped me entirely. But it made it come to a point where sudden drop-ins were no longer expectant.
When Anzu's eyes zeroed in on my new accessory, she dropped the lip gloss and left her surprise behind. Two steps were all it took for Anzu to reach me. Practically squealing, she pulled me into a hug. Something that only happens when I see her. Shino and Shibi weren't the tactile sorts. Not that I would have permitted such affection from them. Honestly, my patience for physical contact barely tolerated Anzu's affections. "That headband looks so cute on you!"
"This headband is my license my kill", I said; trying not to sound too pleased. "There's nothing cute about it".
Used to my snark, Anzu pulled away as she started firing off questions. "What's your jonin sensei like? Who's on your team? Do you think you'll be able to get along with everyone? Have you gone on any missions yet?"
Looking at Anzu's eager expression and the pride dancing in her eyes made me want to tell her everything. From being the only one in my graduating class to be selected for an apprenticeship, to meeting Anko and Ibiki, to passing their final exam. Though, I'm planning on leaving out the part about the broken fingers. However, there was something I wanted to tell Anzu first. Something that was a long time coming. "Can we talk about this later?" I tried to not let it bug me when Anzu's expression was killed and replaced by a disappointed frown. "There isn't much time before nightfall, and we have a lot we need to do before then".
As one of the few who knew me very well, Anzu was immediately suspicious. "What would that be?" She asked carefully; her tone reminded me of all those times I tried to make up excuses about sleeping over instead of going back to Shibi's house.
Having planned out this moment in my head for years, I almost screwed it up when I pulled an item out of my pocket; nearly dropping it when I tried to present it to Anzu as quickly as I could. Staring into the palm of my hand, Anzu blinked twice before accepting it. "What's this for?" She asked; holding up a plain and silver-colored key between her thumb and index finger.
"It's moving day", I said nonchalantly. Although, on the inside, I was vibrating.
Anzu repeated my words to herself silently; her lips moving. When they sunk in, she gripped the key in her whole hand. "Rion, you didn't". Anzu's words by themselves may have sounded disapproving. But when paired with her tone, which was full of optimism, Anzu's 'you didn't' was more like what someone says when they get a birthday gift that was too expensive.
"I signed a lease and put down a deposit about an hour ago". My voice came out like all of this was no big deal. Despite the fact that I had been a nervous wreck when I had gone over the paperwork with my new landlord; reading every inch of the fine print.
"Where did you get the money?" Anzu asked as she clutched onto the key in her hand like that was the only thing that was holding her together.
Shrugging like it wasn't a big deal, I answered, "I asked for an advance". That was one benefit that Anko had failed to mention when she had been telling me how great T&I was. Most genin starting out got paid per mission. But since I got assigned to a department straight off the back, I was going to be earning a set amount hourly based on my work schedule. Thus making advancements in pay possible.
Anzu turned her eyebrows inward; forming wrinkles in her forehead. "You're twelve. You shouldn't be allowed to rent an apartment by yourself".
Pointing at my headband, I waited for Anzu to look at it. "Ninja, remember. I can do anything a grown-up can do except buy alcohol and X-rated entertainment".
Looking back at the key, Anzu nodded her acceptance of my answer. As everything started to become real, the excitement was returned to her face and then some. "Oh, Rion!" Anzu squealed for a second time; wrapping her arms around me in another hug. "I'm so proud of you. You did it. You really did it".
My left shoulder was starting to feel wet. Was Anzu crying? "Yeah, yeah", I said, feeling a little uncomfortable as I patted my sister on the back. "So, are you going to pack or what?"
Something I had said must have contained the magic word because Anzu moved fast. Suddenly holding me by my shoulders at arm's length, she blinked owlishly as she studied my face. "Me? You want me to pack?"
"Yeah". What was she struggling to understand?
"You want me to live with you?" Anzu sought clarification.
Well, if I have to spell it out…. "Yes!"
There was a minor shake of her head. "That wasn't part of the plan", Anzu insisted.
Running through every swear word I knew in my head, I forced myself to take a deep breath. Anzu in disbelief wasn't how I had pictured this moment occurring. "That was always a part of the plan". Good god, woman! Did she really think that after Shibi stepped up, I became a ninja just for kicks?
Anzu shook her head. This time the motion was large enough that it caused her hair to swish. Seeing that this was getting us nowhere, I moved further into the room and started examining its contents. Nothing had really changed since the last time I had visited. Or really… since I had moved out. "Most of this crap is junk so we can probably just leave it here". I said as to not allow Anzu the chance to argue. "But since I just spent most of our money on the first and last months rent, it'll be a while before we can replace everything. So, you should at least bring your clothes and probably the bedding and the futon". Otherwise, we'd be sleeping on the floor until I got paid again.
Turning back around, I was faced with a silently weeping Anzu. Now she was clutching the key I had given her with both of her hands and holding it against her chest. "I can't just leave this place", Anzu stated; trying to of anything that could stop this from happening.
"Why not? You never signed a lease", I pointed out. "Just like how Daichi can kick you out whenever he wants, you can leave whenever you want".
"My clients won't be able to find me".
Was she serious? "Good", I snorted. But at Anzu's still unconvinced face, I elaborated. "You're quitting your job". If it could even be called a job.
"But-but-but", Anzu stuttered; trying to think of any reason why this arrangement wouldn't work.
Of course, since I was the person that had done all the work, there wasn't any. I'm good at dotting my I's and crossing my T's, thank you very much. So, to move Anzu along, I tapped my finger on my wrist even though I wasn't wearing a watch for the gesture to make sense. "Daylight, remember. We're on a time crunch".
Taking another look at the key in her hands, Anzu sniffled. "Alright", she caved. As if I would have accepted anything else.
Whatever weird emotions, Anzu had to sort through in order to jump ship, they were gone by the time we reached our new home. Standing in the doorframe of the threshold to an apartment that was costing me five hundred Ryo a month, I watched as Anzu flitted from one part of the place to the next. She stared out the window the kitchen sink rested under. "We should get curtains", She stated without turning away from the window. "Blue or red… no, no. Purple". Her attention got pulled to the fridge. It was a lucky break that the apartment came with appliances. Anzu placed her hand flat against the fridge door before she turned her head and beamed. "We've never had a full kitchen before". Yeah, shame neither one of us knew how to cook. Spinning on her heels, Anzu took a few steps to the center of the space; where the kitchen area met the living area. She gestured with her arms; holding them slightly away from her body. As if to say she couldn't believe all of this. If I didn't have the paperwork proving we lived here, I wouldn't have been able to either. "All this, and a bedroom, and a bathroom", Anzu listed off. If she could read and understood units of measurement, she'd probably be telling me the square feet. But her eyes were good. She could see the difference in size.
"Yeah", I agreed; leaning my weight against the doorframe. "It'll be nice not having to share a bathroom with the whole hall". Especially because not all of Daichi's residents were… hygienically considerate. My eyes felt heavy. Despite enjoying and relishing in this moment, the day was catching up to me. My body was craving sleeping. And after my introduction to the T&I department, I feel like I've earned it.
At the reminder that we know had our own personal facilities, Anzu announced, "I'm going to watch the toilet flush again," before she darted off to do just that.
Giving myself permission to smile, I closed my eyes and promised myself that once Anzu finished, I'd see if she'd be okay with me turning in and continuing this celebration tomorrow. Though it would have to wait until after I got off work. Work… felt weird to say after I had spent so much time as a student. Ibiki had been clear. I was to report at 0700 hours or he'd let Anko hunt me down and leave me to her mercy. Not that I was left with the impression that Ibiki could keep Anko from doing what she wanted. And unfortunately, what she seemed to want was to turn me into her minion. At least people seemed to respect her. Or Ibiki respected her and Shinobu feared her. I wouldn't mind if people respected and feared me. I'd be willing to learn from Anko if she could teach me how to get people to do that.
"Why are you here?" A loud voice called from behind me.
Opening my eyes, I lazily turned around so my other side was leaning against the door frame; taking in the sight of a blond and blue-eyed monster. He lived here too? I guess that explains why this apartment is only five hundred Ryo a month. "Oh, hey Naruto", I said as if this was an everyday occurrence. He was carrying a plastic bag. The kind you get from convenience stores. The bag was so overstuffed with cups of instant ramen that the plastic had stretched to the point that it looked thin and endanger of tearing. "What's with all the ramen?" I asked before Naruto could demand an answer.
My distraction worked as Naruto's attention got redirected to the bag he was holding. Though only momentarily. Naruto eyed the contents of the bag he was holding. I stood still, patiently waiting for Naruto to tell me all about his dinner plans. As had been the trend of most of my interactions with Naruto, he could never pass up a chance to talk about himself. Not that that was a significant characteristic. Most people are like that.
"Don't change the subject!" Naruto demanded; much to my surprise. Okay, I guess today's the exception. Or he was finally catching on to my deflection technique.
Shrugging, I moved my head to gesture to the apartment behind me. "I live here now".
"No, you don't", Naruto felt the need to disagree for… whatever reason.
"Got the key this afternoon". I continued; impressing upon the blond that I was being truthful. "After passing the final-final exam, I suddenly could afford this place".
Latching on to the part of my statement that I thought he would, Naruto took off. "You had to pass a test too? Mine's tomorrow. Our Sensei, this gray-haired weirdo who wears a mask and reads a lot, said it's going to be a survival test. He said we shouldn't eat breakfast tomorrow or we'll be sick! That's why I got all this ramen", Naruto paused for breath as he moved the bag he was holding for indication. "I'm going to eat lots tonight so I won't be hungry in the morning".
I snorted. "That's stupid". I meant that not eating breakfast was stupid. But without elaboration, it was also interpretable that I thought Naruto's plan was stupid. Although, both did hold a certain amount of stupidity.
One guess which way Naruto took my comment. "What about your test then?" Naruto asked haughtily. "How did you pass?"
If I was being honest with myself, I had been waiting for someone to ask me that question. Sighing, I messed up the hair on top of my head; using the action to draw Naruto in. "I passed, but…" I blew some air out of my mouth. "But the test was absolute torture". Naruto paled slightly and that encouraged me to keep going. "They were trying to get me to play by their rules. But the only way I was able to pass was by having rules of my own".
Naruto nodded as if my answer made sense. Which I doubt because it barely made sense to me. Before Naruto could answer, Anzu came back into the picture.
"Rion, we have to buy bubble bath! I've always wanted to try it and now that we have a- Oh, hello", Anzu changed course when she realized I had been talking to someone. "Rion, who's this?"
That was Anzu's way of telling me not to be polite. Rolling my eyes, I tried not to be bothered by how interested Naruto looked as he studied my sister. "Sis, this is Naruto. We went to school together. Naruto, this is my sister, Anzu".
"Oh, you're one of Rion's friends", Anzu reacted excitedly again. Seems like I really should've gotten her out of the red district more if meeting the village pariah was cause for this much… enthusiasm. "I never get to meet any of her friends". Anzu beamed at Naruto as she came to stand behind my shoulder in the doorway; blinding Naruto with her smile.
"You know, just because we were classmates doesn't mean we're friends", I pointed out; looking over my shoulder at my sister to do so.
"But you chose to move next door to him. So, you'd have to be friendly, right?" Anzu countered; her voice dipping slightly in intonation as a warning.
Alright. I get it. Use manners. But before I could counter Anzu's counterargument (respectfully, of course), Naruto broke in.; scratching the whisker marks on his left cheek. "I didn't know you and Shino had a big sister".
And with that a reminder of unpleasant past events, Anzu's smile dimmed. The thought of Anzu and Shibi being daughter and father was just… bleh. "No", I corrected. "Anzu and Shino aren't related". At Naruto's blank stare, I decided to spell it out. "Shino and I have the same…. Dad. Anzu and me have the same mom. You see?"
Naruto nodded slowly. But his following question proved his gesture to be false. "Wait, you only need one parent to be sisters?"
The question and the genuine-sounding wondering in Naruto's voice had me backtracking a couple of thoughts as I blinked multiple times. From behind me, I could hear Anzu laughing nervously. Yeah, Naruto's inquiry, while innocent on his part, isn't something he should be asking…. Most people. "Ask Iruka-Sensei", I told the blond as I stopped leaning against the doorframe. "Because that's something you really should know". I explained; stepping back with Anzu following suit, and reaching for the door.
Naruto was still scratching his face in a confused demeanor as I started to close the door. "Bye", Anzu called out before I could close it completely. "It was nice to meet you, Naruto. You should join us for dinner sometime". The door clicked shut and habit had me bolting the deadlock. "He seems nice", Anzu said when I turned to face her.
Sighing, I moved past her; heading towards the bedroom with every intention of setting up the futon and turning off the lights. "Well, he's just next door if you want to make friends".
