Reckoning Arc: Falling Sand

Clan leaders were invited to a meeting with the Konoha Council shortly after the second Jonin meeting. Sakumo couldn't discuss most things, but he could share some details considering it was just the three of them as far as clan affairs went. One such news was the Third's intent to pass the hat along.

"He wants to retire?" Wasn't the Hokage only like fifty? He had a desk job that didn't require him going out and about for missions, the position offered an unsurmountable amount of power in Konoha, and pension plans didn't exist. Fifty for a ninja was considered old, so maybe he had enough money saved up so he could go relax somewhere, but could someone who chased such a prominent position of power be happy stepping away from it all?

The Hokage did look older than he was. Maybe the stress really had gotten to him.

"He isn't going to drop the position immediately, but he will begin putting thought about his successor. There's never been a smooth transition before, so this is unfamiliar territory," explained Sakumo.

"Are you going to retire too?" Kakashi's eyes pleaded and they could see he was on edge.

Sakumo's eyes widened as Kakashi was fearful of his answer. He placed a hand on his head in reassurance.

"No." Kakashi relaxed to the answer.

Yuina tried to imagine Konoha under another Hokage. She wondered whether it would even make a difference. She wondered what the standards were, besides being strong, then remembered that the position had been passed to a brother then a student. A relative then? A student? Her face blanched as she remembered exactly who his students were.

Tsunade who left the village. There was Jiraiya. She really hoped it wouldn't be him after hearing some sexist remarks. Not at her, thankfully. It was the one time she could recall being happy being perceived as a child, but it still made her uncomfortable. Then there was Orochimaru. She didn't want to know how her relationship with him would change if he became Hokage. Worse, Orochimaru didn't have family, and she was his only student. If he became Hokage what would become of her future? Power was nice, but she had no investment in the village.

As far as the Hokage's family went, Asuma was still in the academy. Did he have other family members? Sarutobi. Sarutobi. She couldn't connect the name to anyone else. That didn't mean there wasn't anyone else. Surely someone had to have an extended family, but it also wasn't a good sign that she couldn't name anyone. People should know who the Hokage was. She highly doubted people would accept a nobody as their leader. That's how assassinations occur.

Kakashi left to get some extra training before his training with Minato once it was clear there was no other news.

Sakumo placed a hand on her forehead. "Are you having a bad day?"

"No." It wasn't a great day, but her health was steadily improving. She could even do long distance running again, even if it made her a little nauseous. "Just thinking."

"You don't need to stress yourself."

"Do you have anyone you want to endorse?" Was that how these things worked?

Sakumo went quiet as he thought about it. He was pensive before he replied, "I've never given it any thought." That was a long pause for a bunch of nothing. Yuina couldn't blame him. It was as he said – unprecedented. Thinking about the scenarios where the Hokage died probably wasn't a welcomed thought either even if it made the most sense logistically.

Yuina internally sighed. It wasn't like her thoughts mattered. She had no influence on the decision.

She shook her head. "You know, Kakashi might not like it at first, but you can retire whenever you want. Everyone deserves a break to relax and enjoy life."

"I meant what I said. I don't plan on retiring."

Soon or ever? It was moments like this that showed Yuina that Sakumo's stubbornness glowed as brightly as Kakashi's.

Yuina gave Sakumo a side hug. "I'm headed out."

Yuina met up with the woman again. The one claiming to be called Shiganina. Their meeting place was always somewhere different, but always isolated from everyone else. It felt wrong like they were hiding. Despite all the help, Yuina still half-expecting to be attacked.

She had tracked Orochimaru to ask. It wasn't his idea, but not much was said on the matter. He didn't dissuade her, which confused her more. She couldn't understand how he would want her to train with someone who implied he was the one to request her aid. Did he know her, or didn't he? Clarity would have solved all her internal conflicts.

She was more annoyed by whoever organized this though. She didn't know if it was Shiganina or someone else entirely. Yuina disliked the shrouded secrecy. Especially since someone felt the need to butt in on what kind of training she needed. Whoever it was, it was none of their business! There were plenty of reasons secrets were kept. They shouldn't exist for personal training.

"My offer to do some healing still stands."

"Will you tell me your actual name?"

Shiganina smiled at her. It was amazing how much a look could exude so much warmth, and no, it wasn't from the sun.

"It would help if I understood why we're doing this." It would help her motivation and effort because she didn't have much of a reason to care.

"It's good to have contingency plans."

Yuina leaned back against the wall. She asked last time, but… "And this has nothing to do with me almost dying? Because what I need is more physical power, not more ways to blend in."

Shiganina walked over to the small plant on the windowsill and caressed one of the leaves. She ignored Yuina's question to ask her own. "What lifestyle do you think is better for espionage? Sedentary or nomadic?"

Yuina gave in a little, accepting that she wasn't going to be able to control the flow of their conversation. Shiganina had the upper hand. "They both have their uses, though if you're asking if I had to choose one over the other with no context, then nomadic. There may be some knowledge harder to obtain in such a way, but they have high success rates because of the ease one can get in and out. Performers. Vendors. Travelers. Spiritual Figures." Even if she could trust every ninja in Konoha, she still wouldn't be able to fully relax because of it. Even a place completely closed off would have spies, but having an open flow of people allowed for people to set up a strong intel network. "Granted, the most intimate information is usually from someone who can fully integrate themselves, but a bit of knowledge and connections along with some sleight of hand can help bridge the gap."

Shiganina hummed. Yuina really couldn't read her. Fitting for the topic.

"Yes, they both are needed."

Yuina didn't voice her opinion further, but the best scenario would be having no need to spy at all. She understood suspicion and the power information held, but suspicion bred more suspicion. It would only take one spy being discovered to set someone off. That being said, people could spin their own nationalistic stories without a trigger and probably get away with it too, considering the feudalism components of society. People were still getting away with on in 21st century Earth, so doing the same in the Elemental Nations would be child's play.

Shiganina turned back to face Yuina. "Long term espionage is delicate and fragile, especially considering we can't depend on jutsu the same way. It's unlikely to apply to you though, so let's focus on short-term espionage."

Yuina thought about transformations and clones. They wouldn't last in a long-term situation, meaning it was a wasted position on a well-known person. Some ninja around the village may be familiarized with her, but she doubted she was on any foreign-nin's radar. She wouldn't complain. She didn't like the sound of being a long-term spy anyhow.

It left an interesting question, though. Shadow Clones were unique and dangerous as they were a double to sorts that could even copy an imprint consciousness. It benefitted her occasionally, but it left Yuina wondering how that worked. The mind was a genuine mystery to her and had zero knowledge of how something like that could even come to be. It was even more amazing people could perform the jutsu without the intricate knowledge of how. If the mind could be imprinted on a clone, she wondered if the same could be done to other things, like animals. Pseudo life and real life may be different, but Yuina considered it something worthwhile of investigation.

Shiganina gave easy to follow explanations, which were followed by exercises.

It was annoying how good of a teacher she was.

The last bit of sand from the hourglass fell and Yuina thought the lessons were over until Shiganina flipped it over to reset the time. "Again."

The falling sand counted down.