Here is chapter 5: Tsubuki
Warning: Some mentions of bad stuff and torture, nothing too graphic. Just dad being the best dad ever again. Lovely man.
Also lots of cute Kushina fluff to make up for it. And Minato investigating the Tsubuki.
Hope you enjoy! Review and let me know.
As usual I do not own, make money off, or in any way have a right to the characters of Naruto or its world. I'm just a lowly fanfiction writer.
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"So what did you do wrong, Dattebane?" Kushina-sensei asks, dangling me from one ankle, upside down, soaking wet, with one of her chakra chains.
I spit out some of my own hair, the soaking wet strands having almost been swallowed when Kushina-sensei put me through the lake on spin cycle. My shirt is almost falling off me, and I have to twist my head sideways to look up at sensei's amused face and glare at her.
"No mistakes were made." I declare stubbornly.
She raises an eyebrow, her lips quirking. "Oh, really?" She starts swaying me back and forth, dangling me like a caught fish, "You still sure about that, Dattebane?" She asks playfully.
"The only thing that went wrong is the execution. I had a justified mission!" I exclaim, remaining stubborn. "You can't torture it out of me!"
Kushina-sensei lifts me up higher with her chain, so that I'm dangling face to face. Although upside down in my case. Her eyes are full of mirth, and her lips keep twitching. So she can't be mad really. Besides, I totally had a mission too.
"Give in Inohana-chan! I'm an expert at making people talk, Dattebane." Kushina-sensei ruins her threat by breaking out in giggles.
I huff, blowing some hair away from my face, wiggling my nose. "I can't take you seriously as an interrogator if you giggle, sensei!" I protest.
She gets an unholy gleam in her violet eyes. She wiggles her fingers and my eyes widen. "Nuh-uh!" I say, shaking my head. Her grin widens. "Sensei…No!" I demand. She starts giggling again as she slowly lowers me down. Exposing my stomach. "Please, no!" I shriek as her fingers reach out, and my sensei begins tickling me furiously, making me sputter and swing on the chain, soon howling with laughter, begging her to stop.
I'm mentally 50 years old and I'm almost peeing my pants due to my childish sensei bringing me down to her level. My cold aloof personality I developed in my clan compound, melting away the more time I spend with Kushina-sensei. She is just literal sunshine and I find myself struggling to not act my body's age around her.
"I give! I give! Sensei, PLEASE!" I howl.
I'm lifted up to her face again, my face red, tear tracks running into my hairline from laughing so hard I cried. "Mercy!" I beg. Knowing when I'm beaten. Defeated by a ticklish belly.
"Tell me who told you to try and sabotage my ramen?" Kushina-sensei chuckles, her eyes shining with mirth, her chakra dancing wildly in her coils, she's just radiating warmth and happiness. More than anything the sheer joy she gets just from being with me, training me. Leaves me in awe sometimes.
"It was an Uchiha mission." I say, giving in. Under torture and duress I have no choice but to give up my accomplice.
"Mikoto-chan, how could you?" Kushina-sensei giggles, dangling me around so I can see the pretty Uchiha who's relaxing by the lake, a book in her hand.
"Easily. The girl will literally do anything for the offer of training." Mikoto deadpans. She smirks at me, "By the way, you failed, so no genjutsu for you."
"I think I deserve partial credit." I argue, sighing as Kushina-sensei walks over to her best friend, still carrying me along like something she just fished out of the lake, which, fair. She did.
"How so? Failure is failure." Mikoto says, not even looking up from her book as I'm playfully dangled in front of her by my sensei.
I don't think Mikoto would appreciate me comparing her failure is failure philosophy to my father's. So I go another avenue.
"I resisted torture for you!" I gasp, mock outraged.
She rolls her eyes, the book not hiding her amused smirk. "Yes, the dreaded tickle, how can you ever forgive me?" She drawls, stretching out where she lays, like a cat.
"Stupid body." I mutter grouchily. I point at the amused Uchiha. "You set me up! I was never going to be able to mess with Kushina-sensei's ramen!" I realize in a moment of absolute clarity.
Mikoto nods, "~ninja~" she sings along with Kushina-sensei - who joins in, laughing at me after.
"You guys suck so hard." I cross my arms, pouting only a little bit.
"Mikoto don't you dare!" Kushina-sensei's shout interrupts the Uchiha just as she was going to say something with a devilish smirk on her face. She chuckles, going back to her book. "So innocent still, Kushina." She teases.
We're interrupted as a ninja shunshins onto the training field. Kushina and Mikoto both turning his way, eyes intent.
"Uzumaki-san, you've been requested for identification of a seal." He says placidly. Not even a hint that seeing a dangling child by chakra chain was anything unusual.
Then again… It is Kushina-sensei.
Kushina-sensei huffs, sliding a glance to Mikoto who rolls her eyes again. "I'll watch the girl, don't worry, I'll make sure she goes potty and gets her walk." She waves a hand airily, telling her friend to go on.
"Sensei, what she bounty on killing an Uchiha?" I ask, eye twitching.
"Sorry, sensei has work to do. She can't hear youuuu!" Kushina-sensei disappears with the male ninja. Thankfully her chakra chain disappearing will have me drop right on Mikoto, in all my soaking wet glory.
Or so I thought. Face planting on the ground. Eating dirt. I roll over and give her a dirty look.
"Jounin, kid." She tells me, eyes still on her book, she's now laying two feet away on the grass.
"Ugh, I can't wait until I'm kickass like that." I grouse. Just laying on the ground, letting the late summer heat help dry me out.
"You shouldn't rush, be a little kid awhile, for Kushina's sake if nothing else." Mikoto says, a note of sadness in her voice.
"Why for sensei?" I ask, grabbing a clump of dirt with my right hand, just letting it sift through my fingers.
"She's gotten ridiculously attached to you, and don't kid yourself, you have to her as well. It's kind of sickeningly sweet." Mikoto says, looking at me with a soft expression on her face.
"It's hard to not like sensei." I mutter, it was really messing with my head, how much I idolized her right away. And how I can't stop. What happened to becoming a cold and powerful ruthless kunoichi?
"That's true. But I mean she's never attached to someone as quick as you. You two are more alike than you think. And I don't think she'll take it well… Seeing you fighting at a young age." Mikoto says carefully.
"I'm not the only kid, graduation age is younger than ever." I say irritably. Not sure where this is coming from. She hadn't said anything before, and sensei has never brought up an issue when I constantly claim I'll pass in a year.
"Yes, but you're the only one that is hers." Mikoto says with a wry grin, shrugging her shoulders, "I'm not going to tell you what to do, kid. I'm just looking out for Kushina. And right now, you're tugging on her heartstrings something fierce."
"I can't control it, it just happened." I say uncomfortable.
Mikoto sighs, sending me a soft wistful smile. "Kid, I'm not saying it's a bad thing. I haven't seen 'Shina so happy in years." She pauses, lost in thought, before bringing her compassionate eyes back to mine. "Just don't die on her, okay?"
"... If you train me in genjutsu I'd be less likely to die." I immediately jump on the opportunity.
Mikoto tosses her book at me, "You're incorrigible, just like her, kami!"
I catch it looking inside, and then giggle. "Does sensei know you read naughty books?"
Mikoto scoffs, "You can't use it against me, kid. Who did you think got me hooked on them?"
I blush, tossing the book back. "Sensei is a pervert? Blackmail opportunity!"
Mikoto chuckles, "After today's experience, are you really going to mess with her again?"
I think it over, remembering the spin cycle. "Maybe next week." I chuckle weakly.
"Hey, kid, don't take anything I've said harshly. You're good for each other. " Mikoto murmurs. I nod sleepily. The fresh breeze and summer heat makes me doze off soon after.
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Kushina arrives back at the training ground after wasting an hour she'll never get back. It was a kami be damned storage seal. Sure it was Kumo made instead of Konoha so there were some slight differences, but they didn't need a sealmaster to figure that out.
She finds Mikoto and Inohana both laying on the grass, Mikoto still reading her book, but Inohana is completely out, her little face so peaceful and free when she's asleep.
"How long has she been asleep?" She asks Mikoto quietly.
"Since ten minutes after you left, you're working the kid hard lately." Mikoto says, giving her an unreadable look.
Kushina sighs, plopping down next to her best friend. "I can't help it," She admits. "She's so determined and hard working and whenever I give her something, she'll work to death until she's got it down." She huffs, "I just can't say no to her."
"I just don't want to see you hurt." Mikoto says quietly. Closing her book with a snap, "You know what she's going to have to face if she graduates early, as she plans to."
"I'll protect her, Dattebane." Kushina says firmly. Fists clenching, she'd never give up her precious people.
"I wish it was that easy, 'Shina…"
"I'll make it be, Dattebane!"
"You're both saps, ugh, it's like being around two sugar cubes in human form, I'm getting cavities."
"You luuuvvveee us!"
"Kushina, you get any closer you're getting a katon to the face."
Kushina continued teasing her friend. As long as she had Mikoto, Minato and Inohana, everything would work out just fine.
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A few weeks later I was called into my father's office. An unusual occurrence lately. I hadn't seen much of him, something that had greatly pleased me. It was bound to happen I suppose. I was not looking forward to it.
I arrive at the appointed time, frowning as I'm not the only one called. That was even more unusual. My father has been acting… Odd. The few times I've seen him around the compound.
Two older men and one elderly woman stand at attention in front of my father's desk. My father calmly watches them, hands intertwined under his chin. A polite cold smile on his face. I know my father however, I can feel the rage crackling under the surface.
I already want to leave. Nothing good can come from this.
I recognize the adults in the room somewhat from seeing them around. They are some of the elders of the clan, the ones who deal mostly with handling the foreign trade side, legalities, taxes and negotiations with nobility and merchants alike. I frown further in distaste as I come to stand next to them in front of the desk. This better not be part of trying to teach me the business. I have no intention on taking over from my father. As far as I'm concerned. The whole clan can burn down as soon as I reach Jounin. I'll damn well help if necessary.
"As you can see, my prodigious daughter has arrived." My father starts coldly. The small smile still on his face. His eyes however are murderous. "Please continue to order me around on how she should be raised. She should hear your opinion, no?"
"Ichimaru-sama, we did not order you, just expressed concern." The white haired, heavy set man on the left says with a wobbly chin. His entire demeanor is that of a wet blanket.
"Are you saying I misspoke? Well, Kaname?" Father asks genially, smile widening.
The female elder, a bespeckled thin woman, still holding some regal beauty from her youth, with some black still in her gray hair, hurries to intervene. "Of course not Ichimaru-kun, no one suggests such a thing. Kaname-kun simply expressed himself wrong in his worry."
Father tilts his head, glasses flashing as he angles it perfectly against the sun coming through the window of his office. He chuckles softly, menacingly. "Are you making excuses for Kaname now, mother?"
My eyes widen, I have a grandmother? How the hell did I not know that? Why has this never come up before!?
My apparent grandmother sighs wearily, "Of course not, Kaname-kun can speak for himself. I am just stressing that we are not enemies." She tries a softer approach.
I'm 4, almost 5, and I could have told her that was a waste of time.
"Well, my mother seems to believe you're capable of speaking for yourself, Kaname?" My father circles back to the now heavily sweating man.
"I apologize for anything I have said to offend you Ichimaru-sama." Kaname sputters out, not seeing any other way but capitulation.
These were the people negotiating the trades that made us a fortune? I scoff quietly, my Father sending me an amused look, with a hint of warning. So whatever this theater is, he wants me to just observe for now. I have a very bad feeling about all this. Surely he isn't going to kill them? Not even Konoha can ignore another death in such a prominent clan, civilian or not. Have my mental manipulations finally driven him mad?
"And you, Sato? Any pearls of wisdom from you? Or more apologies like Kaname?" My father says mockingly.
Sato, the third elder present, and the youngest, still having his full head of brown hair, and a neat beard, seems unruffled. "Ichimaru-sama, I think there's been enough games now." He says calmly. Kaname blanches at his side, and my grandmother gives him a warning look, her hands twitching as if she has to abort reaching out and stopping the other elder.
"I haven't even started playing, Sato…" Father almost purrs in vicious delight.
"The girl can not be a ninja." Sato declares to my father. And I admire his balls. I've honestly never seen anyone speak like this to my father. Even his mother has had this apprehensive cautious respect for him so far. Or let's be honest and call it what it is. Fear.
"Oh? You've decided that, have you?" My Father's eyes roaming across all three of them. "Do speak up. Let me hear it. Let me see all three of you defy me." He says, eyes cruel.
I have a sinking feeling in my gut. He wouldn't would he? But no. I know my Father. He would. And I don't dare mess with his mind in front of the clan elders, if he suddenly completely reversed course, that would be even worse for me. They might suspect me. Might report me.
"Well. I mean, we've talked about it. I suppose. It's really for the best. You know. That she doesn't become one." Kaname says, dabbing his forehead with a handkerchief. Nervous eyes going over his elder companions.
"You know the clan rules, they exist for a reason. Please be reasonable." My grandmother pleads softly. The way her hands are shaking tells me she knows it's pointless. Which really begs the question. Why do they want me to quit so badly? They fear my Father, yet they are here anyway. Why?
Kami, what is this nonsense? My clan is making less and less sense!
"Interesting." My Father hums. "You finally do defy me to my face. That is good. I have grown tired of you doing it behind my back!" He finishes explosively, while slamming a fist down on the table, standing up, fury drifting off him in waves of intent. Kaname and my grandmother both flinch back, while Sato curls his lip in disgust. He has balls at least.
"It was for the good of the clan." Sato says coldly. "You used to understand that." He rebukes harshly, taking a step towards my father, but my grandmother reaches out and grabs his arm, forcing him still with a touch.
"Please, at least send the girl away." My grandmother asks tiredly. Kaname looks ready to faint. Albeit he has for the entire time I've been in the room.
My Father laughs, harsh and with a touch of insanity. "The girl, you call her the girl. Your granddaughter, the one you tried to hire mercenaries to kill."
My eyes widen. What? Seriously, what is going on? Why does becoming a ninja create such strife, why is it such a big deal? So much of an issue, that my clan tries to hire someone to kill me?
"You put a stop to that anyway, I hardly see why you're complaining." Sato says with a sneer. "You've made your point clear, well listen to ours. She will not be made a ninja!"
"Daughter."
I gulp, "Yes, Father?" I speak up warily.
" They have taught you about torture and how to deliver pain, yes?" He asks pleasantly.
"Ichimaru! She's just a little girl!" My grandmother cries out, Kaname appearing to be a second away from passing out, while Sato continues to stare at my Father with disgust.
"That wasn't an issue when you ordered her dead? I hardly see how it is one now, mother." Father replies nastily.
"I haven't… Actually… Been taught how to torture someone." I speak up. Could I? Yes I have the ability, and I know how to inflict pain. But if I haven't been taught, I hold some faint hope he'll decide to let me leave. Like I'm that lucky…
"Good." He says, pleased. "I'll get to teach you, it will be father and daughter bonding."
"Ichimaru! Please!" My grandmother begs.
"Do use your abilities to restrain them, dear. This will get messy. Don't be too enthusiastic either for your first time. We do still need them alive, just… With the correct respect for authority." My father explains calmly, starting to unbutton his shirt.
Kaname tries to run, I don't even move as I use my chakra strings to hold him, slithering into his system to knock him out.
My father shakes his head, "Rookie mistake, dear. Always keep them awake and watching. It makes them that more teachable, when they've seen those taught before them."
I feel sick. I am heavily debating just risking everything. If I take control of my father's mind and stop this. My secret is practically out. And what's to stop these elders from continuing to try and kill me to stop my career. If I use my Genjutsu to control my father, and the elders. I risk myself as well. The elders deal with ninja, the escorts for the caravans, the guards of daimyo's. The more people whose brain I've messed up. The more strings lead back to me.
I need my father to still have control of the clan. I am going to fight in a war. I will have to do something like this eventually. It sounds like excuses to my mind. But I force myself to look into my father's eyes. And I nod. "Yes, father." I answer him quietly. What other option do I have?
Sato sneers, "You'll never break me!"
Father laughs, an honest cheerful laugh, "Everyone breaks, Sato." He says with a devilish smirk. I can feel the excitement and arousal wafting off him. I feel dead inside. I chose this. I'm choosing my own future over these people. This is on me . I am a monster. Again I've chosen this. Again… I can't be redeemed… I'm sorry, sensei…
As my father calls me to his side. My grandmother looks at me with fear, "You are your father's daughter." She spits at me.
I don't make any effort to clean my face off.
As I stand quietly next to my father as he gets to work. And later, as I assist him. I can't help but feel that I'll never hear a worse insult then what my grandmother spat at me.
Or a truer one.
My father ends up correct in the end. Everyone breaks.
The question is, did I break? Or was I already broken.
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A few weeks later
"Inohana-chan, stop dragging your feet, Dattebane!" Kushina-sensei whines at me from up ahead on the street.
"Yes, sensei." I say resignedly.
Uchiha Mikoto standing next to Kushina chuckles, "She's just been a ray of sunshine lately." She says to sensei. Who frowns down at me but doesn't speak. I can see the worried furrow in her brow and questioning eyes. As usual lately, I completely ignore it. Just trod along sullenly.
Both Mikoto and sensei are wearing simple loose Shinobi wear, neither bothering with their vest. Kushina-sensei in dark green while Mikoto looks very Uchiha in black and red. Today is the dreaded shopping day. Decided thusly because of how withdrawn I have become apparently.
If I had the care or feelings right now to clue them in, I'd have told them that I hate shopping. But right now my inner turmoil couldn't even work up the care to fight it. I have done the right thing… Right? For my future, my plan? Right?
I flinch as I picture my grandmother's grim face as I cut her eye out. My father's sick idea of a price paid, to be allowed to continue free, to continue serving the clan. The price Kaname and Sato had paid, less obvious to others, but haunts my nightmares equally, with more disgust. You'll make no future pests in my clan, he had cackled as I cut away. I shiver, feeling my chakra recoil inside me.
"Inohana-chan…" Kushina-sensei says worriedly, squatting in front of me. Her violet eyes searching mine. I flinch back. Picturing Kushina-sensei with just the one eye. Almost vomiting. That's not me, I needed to! I needed to!
"Ino-chan!" Kushina grabs me by my shoulders, I stare at her, she's never shortened my name before. "Please, if there's something wrong. I can help, Dattebane!" She pleads. Eyes worried and sad.
I feel a hand ruffling my hair, I look up and see Mikoto, a sad smile on her face. "Life's rough, huh, kid?" She asks, "Lean on us adults a little, okay?"
I refuse to cry. I absolutely refuse to. My lip wobbles and I bite the traitor. I look into Kushina-sensei's eyes. "I… Can't talk about it. But… Thanks. For caring."
"Of course, Dattebane!" Kushina-sensei says, and gives me a quick kiss on the forehead. Holding me tight. "Let's do some shopping, neh?"
I don't miss the worried look the two adult kunoichi exchange. It's a wonder my home life hasn't been looked into more seriously. Hopefully I could become a ninja without anything else happening. And then just not bother with the clan, just seal my greenhouse so only I can enter and never enter the clan compound otherwise.
I put on a smile, "Yeah, let's go, I need weapons!"
Mikoto chuckles as Kushina-sensei admonishes me, "No ones giving you weapons, pipsqueak." She teases.
"Then what's the point?" I pout, making an effort to look more lively.
"Clothes, Dattebane!" Kushina-sensei groans, "What did you think shopping was, are you even a girl?" She ruffles my hair to show she's only teasing.
"Maybe a hat." I say sourly, glaring at her, "So you'll all stop messing up my hair!"
"Denied." Mikoto says calmly, an amused smile on her lips. "Your hair is so silky and smooth, and you're so tiny, it's at perfect height to mess with." She continues, smile widening. "No hats."
"Mikoto-chan is right, no hats." Kushina-sensei agrees, lips twitching as I try and fix my hair, giving them both the stink eye.
"Why do I even need to get clothes, I'm practically 5, I'll just get something else in a year or two." I grouse.
"Nu-uh, that's not how it works." Kushina-sensei says adamantly. "You find something that will work well with your style of fighting, that offers protection, flexibility and whatever else you might need." She looks down at me with a wink, "Like because your little greenhouse hobby, you might want something that's got extra pockets, or is extra water absolvent, Dattebane."
Mikoto jumps in, "Most ninja, with help of their parents, pick something by the time they will start the academy that will last them until the end of puberty at least."
"That sounds dumb." I say skeptically. "Why would I do that?"
Mikoto chuckles, hiding it behind her hand in that demure way she does, I make a face, I just know she's laughing at me.
Kushina rolls her eyes at her friend and takes up the rest of the explanation. "It's so you'll train constantly in the same kind of gear, so that even while growing up, with your body going through changes, you'll be comfortable in your gear, and able to train and fight in it without any issues."
"Seconds count in a fight," Mikoto says seriously, "You don't want a snag in your new clothes, or weapons in a pocket or pouch in a new position where it isn't automatic for you to reach it."
"Alright… I have to shop for clothes. I got it. I bow down to the wisdom of my elders." I say flatly, "If it takes longer than two hours I will just fight naked for my career."
Mikoto's chakra flares briefly in amusement and Kushina-sensei sends her an absolute don't you dare look - her face red.
"Like sensei, like student." Mikoto says with a smirk, amusement dancing in her eyes.
"Mikoto-chan…" Kushina says, shaking a fist at her friend warningly, violet eyes sparking.
"Oh, come on, you can't tee it up like that and then not tell me that story!" I ask, hands together in a plea, widening my eyes, looking back and forth from an amused Mikoto and an exasperated, blushing Kushina-sensei.
"Yes, Kushina-chan tell her the story~" Mikoto teases.
I think only the fact that the lightened mood had me engaging for the first time in weeks manages to convince Kushina-sensei. Who sends Mikoto a look promising future retribution, before launching into the story.
"It's really not that big of a story, Dattebane!" She starts, "I was on a mission as a Chuunin when I was fifteen. Nothing big, just a simple courier mission to hot water country."
I pay rapt attention as we walk, Kushina-sensei speaking at a lower tone as we enter more populated streets. "So anyway, I finished the mission easily, Dattebane. But on the way back I found this nice secluded hot spring. And I thought it would be like a total waste, to go to hot water country and not bathe in a hot spring."
Mikoto is smirking, as Kushina-sensei gets redder, coming to the climax of the story. Kushina-sensei clears her throat awkwardly, "Well, while I had a dip, somewhere nearby some Konoha Shinobi on another mission had been attacked by a team of Iwa Chuunin.
"My team and my mission." Mikoto adds, smirk widening. "It was a memorable one."
Kushina-sensei sends her an irritated look, but continues the story. "I recognized the coded flaring of chakra as Konoha Shinobi asking for assistance and could hear the battle, so I kind of didn't think of what I was doing as I rushed right in. My chakra chains swinging." She says begrudgingly.
I giggle as I think of what the shinobi must have thought as Kushina-sensei rushed onto the scene completely naked, chakra chains attacking everything in sight.
"Hyuuga Ryu still can't look you in the eyes," Mikoto says, tilting her head, eyes alight with delight. *You'd think with their eyes, he'd be used to seeing a lot of pu-"
"Mikoto!" Kushina-sensei interrupts her shrilly. I roll my eyes, like that's even a bad word. We all got one.
"Don't forget the ~best part~" Mikoto trills. Eyes shiny with almost tearful amusement.
"I kicked their asses! Dattebane!" Kushina says mulishly.
Mikoto shakes her head, raven colored locks shifting silkily in the wind. "That's not the best part." She admonishes her best friend.
Kushina shakes her head stubbornly. "It definitely is, Dattebane!"
I look towards Mikoto, giggles threatening to tear out of my throat, "What's the best part?" I ask eagerly. Kushina-sensei letting out a betrayed "Inohana-chan!?"
Mikoto chuckles, "The best part. Was that a month after the survivors escaped the battle. The new Iwa bingo book had her description in it. A B-rank threat." She smirks at the blushing and annoyed Kushina. "Funnily enough, they weren't able to describe her face completely, or remember her chakra chains, I guess they weren't paying too much attention to that. But someone on that team has a fantastic memory of other details. And a full description of her body, to the tiniest details including freckles and moles were described. Now she already has a nickname and profile in the bingo book, the red hot Habanero." Mikoto smirks, wide and fully as Kushina-sensei refuses to look at her. "Her Iwa bingo book alter ego is also called red hot, but it's definitely not followed by habanero!"
I can't help but laugh, giggling as I press my hands to my mouth, trying to imagine Kushina-sensei's mortification when the bingo book came out. "I'll keep your secret Kushina-sensei!" I squeak out between giggles. "Your nudist ways are safe!"
"Brat." Kushina-sensei says, but it's with a smile, her eyes soft and warm as she watches me giggle. Mikoto sends her a superior look that I just catch, Kushina giving her a wry quirk of the lips.
There's silence for a minute, then, "Does Minato-san know about this? Or own an Iwa bingo book?" I ask innocently.
"You have no leverage there, kid." Mikoto says with a shake of her head as Kushina-sensei sticks her tongue out at me, not phased by the silly threat. "Minato-san already intimately knows every freckle on her."
Kushina-sensei chokes on her spit. "Mikoto-chan don't tell her that!"
Mikoto just smiles prettily at her best friend. Kushina-sensei blushing beet red, but eventually just laughing, shaking her head wryly. She slows down her steps until I catch up and then wraps my head into her side using her arm, "It's good to see you laugh again, Inohana-chan." She snorts softly, "Even if it's at your silly old sensei."
"You're not old or silly. You're amazing." I refute. I sigh and sink into her embrace, as always the warmth of her, and her familiar scent succeeds in calming me down. It's been a hard couple weeks.
"Hmm? Is that so, Dattebane." She murmurs. "Then I'm glad I got to be your amazing sensei."
"Seriously Kushina-chan, I can literally feel my womb getting with child, just watching these sugary sweet moments." Mikoto drawls, gesturing to us, suddenly stopped in the middle of the road, just holding onto each other. "Also, we're here. Get out of the street." She quips.
"You're just jealous!" Kushina says maturely, stepping up closer to the Shinobi apparel store, dragging me with her on account of me being attached to her side.
"A little bit." Mikoto admits wryly. "I've always wanted a daughter."
"You can borrow mine, save yourself having to… Ugh, I can't even imagine it, not with Fugu-face." Kushina-sensei makes a disgusted face.
"He's actually quite sweet when we're alone." Mikoto says placidly. Her slightly pained face does denote her not entirely being happy with the situation. She probably has no choice. Uchiha I think derisively. Make a Jounin kunoichi into a housewife, when they have a clan full of aunts and uncles to babysit.
Did she just say what I think she did!? My mind grinds to a halt as I just realized what sensei had said. It was probably just a slip of the tongue I reason. No one gets that attached in just around ten months. Ignoring the part where I can't imagine life without sensei, that's different. Somehow.
"Ino-chan, come on, we're here." Kushina-sensei bops me on the nose with a finger, smiling kindly at me. "Let's get you all dressed up, my treat, Dattebane!"
"I'm literally rich, sensei!" I protest weakly. Being dragged by the arm into a large almost department store sized Shinobi apparel store. Clothes and armor as far as the eye can see.
"And I'm literally older and bigger then you, so I will happily bully you into accepting my love and anything I can buy for you, Dattebane!" She says cheerfully.
"It's been almost a year, you should have learned to give up on arguing with, 'Shina." Mikoto tells me with a little wink.
I pout, "But you argue with her and have known her for forever!" I argue.
"Yes, but I actually win." She says smugly, before disappearing amongst the clothes.
"Uchiha!" I groan. A hand settles on my head, Kushina-sensei speaking up, "Now you know my pain, Dattebane!" Then I'm literally dragged away by my arm as the Uzumaki hurricane rips through the store, picking up any clothing item available and forcing me into it. Mikoto arriving periodically to threaten to burn what Kushina has given me, and to dump another whole bunch to try on instead.
This. This is why I ordered my clothes off Amazon! The internet needs to travel across universes, this is actually the worst. I feel like a dress up doll, dully looking in the changing room mirror as I'm dressed up in a multitude of ninja style clothing. At one point I'm offered a jumpsuit not unlike Naruto's and I sweetly threaten to burn down the store, Kushina-sensei wisely puts it on the no way pile. Mikoto then proves she's my favorite Uchiha when she walks by, picks the offending item up, and literally tosses it to the clearance bins by the entrance. I knew the Uchiha were good for something. Apparently it was style. Explains why Sasuke was so gay in the later parts of the show. Well that and Orochimaru. Although… Sasuke was constantly obsessed … about Itachi, Naruto, Orochimaru, then picked up a group of guys to travel with, with one girl wanting to jump his bones that he ignored. Alright, gay Sasuke is definitely canon.
In the end I have my outfit. A dark green Haori top, with in-built lightweight mesh, extra long sleeves to hide my hands. Useful since so far, most of my skills require no hand seals. Good for keeping enemies guessing.
Underneath the Haori top I have another dark green shirt, specifically sown as to accommodate light armor plates. Although I skip the actual armor for now.
Leafy green tights cover me from waist to ankle, dark green bandages making sure it's tight and snug against my ankles. Over that I have another leafy green combat skirt, mostly mesh underneath a thin upper canvas layer. All items are more expensive as they're treated to repel water.
This… is going to be very expensive to replace every year. Especially once I hit puberty.
It's a good thing I'm rich.
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Minato sighs wearily as he taps his fingers on the metal table. Inoichi has finally been able to get back to him, and has asked him to meet him at Torture and interrogation headquarters. Where for some reason a very cheerful Chuunin had deposited him in one of the interrogation rooms. He shakes his head, there is something very off putting about someone being so cheerful when working in this place.
Between his own constant missions, and Inoichi being stretched thin between his own team missions and work at intelligence and Torture and interrogation division, this has taken a lot longer than Minato had wished. Especially as Kushina kept him informed of more concerning signs popping up consistently during her students training.
Still, to take half a year to finally be free at the same time was odd. If it was a ninja family he was investigating he would have thought someone was conspiring against them, but it was just civilians. His gut told him something was going on.
He looks up as Yamanaka Inoichi enters carrying a file folder. His friend looks tired, dark bags under his eyes and his hair disheveled. The upcoming war must have intelligence working triple time. "Inoichi, you look like crap." He greets him warmly.
Inoichi tosses the folder on the table, sinking down into the chair opposite his with a tired sigh, shaking his head ruefully. "Soon so will you, there will be enough to go around for all of us." They both sit in silence for a minute, the upcoming war occupying both their minds.
Inoichi clears his throat, opening the folder, "So, you wanted to know about the Tsubuki clan?"
Minato nods sharply, "Especially the clan head."
"Any particular reason?" Inoichi asks mildly, but Minato isn't fooled, his friend is good at his job partly because he's an incredible gossip and always looks to ferret out more information. Even in chatting with friends.
"I'll tell you afterwards, I don't want to color your opinion." Minato leans forward seriously, "I'd really rather be wrong about my suspicions."
Inoichi nods, flipping through the folder, pageantry really, Minato would eat his kunai if the man didn't have the whole thing memorized the day Minato asked for the information.
"Well, the Tsubuki clan is a little bit special, all things considered. They operate on a more strict and obsessive basis then most civilian merchants." Inoichi taps the folder meaningfully, "It's why we keep a closer eye on them then any other civilian clan."
Minato narrows his eyes. So the Tsubuki was periodically surveilled then. "Why?" He asks, what makes this specific clan special?
"The Tsubuki clan were already successful merchants back when Konoha was founded. They didn't join right away, and by the time they joined they had shrunk." Inoichi sighs, "The clan split into five. The largest and dominant part settled in Konoha."
Minato raised an eyebrow, "They really joined every major Shinobi village? And got away with it?" He asks skeptically. That sounds impossible now, let alone when the warring states era had just ended.
Inoichi nods seriously, "It's why we keep a close eye on them, not only for infiltration, but to ensure they follow procedures."
"And what are their procedures?" Minato asks, curious despite everything. This was a part of history he had no idea about.
"All their trade is accomplished only by their own members, if a caravan from Iwa is to end up here, or in Suna, as an example. Then the Iwa contingent of the Tsubuki would pay taxes, gather up the caravan, etc, in Iwa. Then transport it halfway. Where they'd be met with the corresponding clan members from the target village, who'd pay in full the Iwa clan, before taking the caravan the rest of the way and selling the goods at the destination. No Tsubuki from another village ever enters another Shinobi village." Inoichi explains.
"Sounds convoluted, although I suppose it means the various Kage allow this." Minato thinks out loud. "Due to positions in all Shinobi villages, they no doubt have a pole position to pick up trade goods from their home country, and then can sell it where it will make the most profit all over the elemental nations due to their other clan holdings across the major shinobi villages."
Inoichi nods, letting out a tired sigh, "And it makes them very wealthy, and ripe as targets for infiltration or coercion from enemy ninja, if they didn't have their own way around it."
"How does any Kage allow their caravans in at all?" Minato asks, having a hard time wrapping his head around it. Money couldn't be the only reason for such a security risk. "Any competent enemy is going to hit them when the caravans meet up and replace one of the clan members."
"That's where the procedures come in that they signed when they joined up. As a matter of course every Tsubuki clan member has to live by these rules." Inoichi picks up a paper from the folder and reads it out loud, "No Tsubuki may ever lay with, or marry anyone that has Shinobi blood in the past two generations. No Tsubuki may ever become a ninja. No Tsubuki may ever use chakra, receive chakra healing, or deal with chakra infused items. Should a Tsubuki have a child with a Shinobi, it is to be … terminated immediately." Inoichi grimaces as he reads out the final part. Child killing sitting ill even with assassins, and a civilian clan has it as a matter of fact policy.
Minato narrows his eyes, "So they are practically impossible to infiltrate or coerce, as any chakra usage at all would be found out on entry, no infiltrator is going to be able to mimic the paltry coils of a Tsubuki civilian for long. So it's an acceptable risk for the Kage, with how much resources they bring in, and heavy taxes no doubt." Especially as they all are under surveillance just in case anyway, and if anyone has a Shinobi so skilled at hiding their presence as to rival the second tsuchikage, they wouldn't waste them on a civilian clan..
Inoichi inclines his head slightly, a frown growing on his face, "That is correct, essentially. And that's why it's such a break from procedure with what they're doing right now…"
"Inohana-chan." Minato mutters, leaning back, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. Now why would a clan that goes to great effort to never have a Shinobi, suddenly desire one?
"Quite." Inoichi mutters. He straightens up, running a hand through his hair, "No one in intelligence can make any sense of why they're doing this, and why the Hokage accepted. The Sandaime isn't sharing his reasoning." Inoichi gives a wry smile, one that Minato shares. Very rarely did they get an explanation for something when a decision came down from the Sandaime.
"This is going to create trouble with the entire clan, other villages included." Minato surmised. "Their neutrality is in jeopardy if Inohana-chan becomes a Shinobi."
Inoichi splays his hands out in a there you go gesture. "It doesn't make any sense. If we weren't already practically in a war, this could start one. The other sects of the Tsubuki clan will have to respond, or lose the trust of their Kage."
Maybe not if she was just a genin, most villages will probably never even hear of her. Minato thought. But it sets a precedent. And if she makes Chuunin or Jounin. That neutrality is gone.
Minato shakes his head slowly, "If what you're saying is all true, and I don't doubt it is." He adds at Inoichi's mock hurt look. "Then whatever reason Ichimaru-san has for pushing his daughter to be a Shinobi must be a monumental one."
Inoichi looks like he's sucked on a lemon as he grimaces and picks up one last page. "Ah, yes. The clan head and most powerful Tsubuki, controlling the whole clan, even if silently in case of the other villages clan holdings."
"You're sure he has that much say even abroad?" Minato asks, sure that the other villages would look for and discourage any such central control.
Inoichi nods seriously, "Of that we're absolutely sure. They hide it extremely well, and it's never more than loose general commands via multiple proxies. But he definitely gives the orders."
"And what of Ichimaru-san? What kind of man is he?" Minato asks coldly, coming to the question he wanted to know the most. Although the rest of the information had been eye opening in regards to little Inohana and whatever her father is using her for.
"He's a psychopath, a murderer and a rapist." Inoichi states bluntly. A distasteful look passing over his face. "Nothing we can prove conclusively of course, but his psychological profile postulates as much, and he's gone through a lot of young girls as servants, several who have never been found again."
He sighs, rubbing his forehead, "And he keeps losing the odd employee now and then to very mysterious circumstances. And no one ever talks. His clan is terrified of him."
Minato closes his eyes. I'm so sorry Kushina, I wanted to be able to give you good news. He opens them again, eyes ice cold. "Any suspicion of him… With young children?"
Inoichi hesitates, hand halfway to the folder. "Not that I know of… Is this why you requested the information?" There was killing intent in the air. Minato wasn't sure if it was him or Inoichi or both. Inoichi wasn't stupid, he'd immediately know who he was asking for.
"There haven't been any reports… You've noticed something?" Inoichi asks, simmering anger under the surface.
Minato nods, then hesitates. "It's not certainty, " He cautions, "Kushina has noticed her father treats her extremely callously, and that the girl seems to dislike him and avoid him as much as possible." Minato's voice grows chilly as he continues, "What really concerned us was when she made comments referencing sexual knowledge and fled when asked how she knew. She's extremely intelligent. If she had simply read about it she would have said so." He sighs, "She also periodically has black moods for weeks after having spent time at home. Like something happened."
She was currently in one, and it was driving his Kushina insane, trying to find a way to protect the girl and cheer her up at the same time.
Inoichi runs a hand down his face, looking defeated. "It's light on evidence, " He admits, "You have a good gut instinct, Minato. If you felt something off, then it probably is. She could have possibly been a witness to her father abusing one of the young women as well."
"I really hoped you'd tell me I'm ridiculous and this is all nonsense when I came to see you." Minato sighs heavily, slumping in his chair.
"Nothing is certain, unfortunately we can't do anything either way."
Minato straightens up, eyes looking into Inoichi's apologetic ones. "What there is should be enough for an investigation!" He says sharply.
"The Hokage has ordered everyone to stand down from the Tsubuki clan. 'Due to the new situation' he doesn't want to rock the boat with this new development." Inoichi informs him and Minato wants to rip his hair out. It feels like everything is just working against him lately.
The door opens without a knock first and the overly cheerful Chuunin that had showed him in waves at them both frantically. "Minato-san, you have a summons for a mission, I hear it's going to be all the way to frost country for you!" He chirps with a wide grin.
Minato groans as she slumps into his chair. So much for talking to Kushina. I can't drop this on her and then just leave. It will hold until I'm back. It will have to.
＊＊＊
Authors Notes:
The plot thickens, so does the mystery. Whatever could be going on?
Guess you'll have to read more to find out one day.
As always review, ask questions, I'll try and answer if it's not anything too spoiler-ish.
Let me know what's good, what's bad and what's ugly.
Cheers
JollyHippopotamus