Reckoning Arc: Orders are Orders
"You'll be participating in the next chunin exam."
Orochimaru had never pressured her before, so him telling her that she would be participating without any consultation threw Yuina off. It was even weirded because she was only just reintegrating into regular training again and the next chunin exam was months away.
And why did the conversation require privacy? Private enough that her home wasn't deemed secure enough. Kakashi wasn't happy that the rest of their training was canceled, but understood.
"And if I want to forgo it again?"
"You won't have that right. Not this time. I'm granting you the time to decide how you follow through. Though, if you rather go in blind, you can."
He couldn't say something like that and not give details. He made it sound like he wasn't the one demanding she take the damned exam. That there was something more to it.
Yuina leaned back against the wall. She had been waiting for bad luck to catch up to her again. It merely presented itself in a way she didn't expect. "Details."
Orochimaru smirked as if he knew she would hear him out. A fair assessment. "The next exam is being hosted by Iwagakure."
For years, Iwa and Konoha had been hostile neighbours of sorts, but even the 'unoccupied no man's land' that totally had plenty of occupation wasn't enough of a barrier between the two nations. She had clung to the idea that they could remain hostile neighbours, but the evidence was growing to point otherwise, and that was with her limited insight. If she only knew a bit, she wondered what information those higher up had.
"Things have always been tense, but lately it's become more complicated."
Yuina wondered how much each side contributed to that. It wasn't just those two nations. Everyone contributed, and there were opportunists on every side. She doubted military states would let those opportunities slide. Though, by that logic, they haven't been letting it slide so far. A shiver traveled up her spine.
"The exam offers the opportunity to enter their village. They may say the exams are a sign of trust, but one doesn't host such an event without precautions in place."
No, it was all the more reason to keep an extra set of eyes on them, meaning if they wanted something done, it had to be with the ability to do it in full view. Add in that someone had recently taught her how to do so like a magician and suddenly everything felt meticulously planned. Contingency, huh? Even so, she was still a genin. There was only so much they could expect from her. A cog in a machine then. She still didn't know whose idea it was. "Are you coming?" It could go either way. His notoriety could attract extra attention, but…
"No. The fewer connections made the better. We have a network in Iwa, but the opportunities to pass along information have become less frequent." He crossed his arms.
"So, it doesn't matter how it's achieved as long as it is?" Yuina was fine following orders, but she hated the thought of being a puppet to a puppeteer who wouldn't even show themself.
"That's still to be determined. It won't be decided until after tomorrow's Council meeting." Straight from the top, then. "During or after, an ANBU will be ordered to collect you to discuss."
They couldn't be spending that much time discussing this. She looked at Orochimaru in disbelief. "It hasn't been proposed yet." Yet Orochimaru knew. Not unless this was some huge prank which would be very uncharacteristic of him. The Hokage then? But he could make unilateral decisions. Perhaps there was a delicate factor that needed to be consulted first?
Orochimaru could know if someone approached him to ensure she could complete the task.
But then why was Orochimaru warning her? An order was an order. Did he dislike the arrangement? Did he want to give her more time to prepare? The next chunin exam wasn't until December. There was enough time that an extra day didn't mean much.
The answer Yuina landed on was Orochimaru was allowing her to prepare her reaction for tomorrow's proceedings – assuming the idea wasn't scrapped or fake. She didn't know if that would be enough time to do anything, but at the bare minimum she appreciated not being blindsided.
"Thank you," she said.
"I know nothing about this."
Her chest fluttered. He probably wasn't meant to tell her.
Yuina had a lot to think about that night.
The next day, it was like Orochimaru said. She was with a squirrel when a masked ninja approached her. She had never spoken to an ANBU before, but their masks were iconic.
Yuina was guided to the Hokage's Tower. In the room sat four people. She was familiar with the Hokage, but she hadn't ever met the other three. They must have been Mitokado Homura, Shimura Danzo, and Utatane Koharu considering Orochimaru claimed it would be discussed at a council meeting. Yuina had head about them in passing. They were well known elders and advisors of the village.
It was uncomfortable to know that someone in this room, or someone closely affiliated with them, cherry picked her for their goals. Even without the subtext, it was intimidating being around four powerful shinobi.
She bowed and greeted them as politely as she could. Her posture was tight, rigidly so.
"Thanks for coming," said the Third as if she could have rejected them. As if. "Everything from here on is considered confidential."
She motioned that she understood, but otherwise stood tall and kept calm.
They described the secret mission in more detail, but without explaining the reasoning behind it.
Yuina needed to offer something of equal or greater value. For that to happen, they needed to be confident of her skills and knowledge. "Is this because of the threat of war?" she said in an even tone to deny any observations they may try to interpret. She almost couldn't believe herself. Look at her opening a dialogue to rebel. In front of the Hokage no less.
"Where did you get that idea from?" Yuina couldn't believe Koharu had to ask. It was incredibly annoying. She had to be asked when they had the audacity to give her a mission that would land her dead at the hint of suspicion.
"It's not subtle." Yuina would only accept greenhorns missing the signs. Konoha kept a close eye on their resources, with extra attention to the resources furthest from the borders. They watched over key strongholds and important information and economical towns. Theft was on the rise. Shinobi were crossing borders. Even the wildfire may have been a result of tensions. "Would you trust me with this task if you thought I was that careless?"
They were the ones who approved her early graduation. It was too late for them to claim she was inept now.
"However, if I may?"
Koharu crossed her arms, Homura adjusted his glasses, Danzo narrowed his eyes, and the Hokage voiced his allowance for her to continue.
"I can grant the opportunities needed for communication, but what if I made use of the opportunity to expose our strength and create division among internal support?" Yuina hated the propaganda that came from her mouth. It was worth it simply to derail that someone's plans. She wanted more power. While it wasn't the smartest at her current level, it was only the chunin exams. A vital display of strength, but it wasn't the demographic crucial when weighing the chance of war – unless she could find a way to rile things up a little.
"That's not the primary goal," said Homura.
"What if I can do both?" She stared back with an unwavering gaze.
"I would question the validity of the statement." Homura stared back with eyes as intense as hers.
"Can you?" the Third Hokage's eyebrow lifted as he interlocked his fingers and tested his chin on them.
"I've been honing stealth throughout this life of mine, but I do know how to cause a commotion." It may have to involve crossing lines, but she knew where her priorities laid, even if it meant making uncomfortable choices. "Even more than Kakashi did. Big enough to draw eyes to me. Big enough to be a distraction." Yuina was careful with what she promised. They were big words to big influential people, yet nothing she said was beyond the realm of impossibility. She had time to figure out the exact details later – if accepted.
Danzo interjected. "And you'll connect with the agents how if all attention is on you."
"The same way I can tell you a fight is breaking out in Toriko District as we speak. The police are currently handling it. Or that Choji's genin team has just reached the southern gates, returning from their first C-rank mission. Or if you prefer…" Yuina showed a Ryo coin before vanishing it before their eyes. "The more attention on one target gives more leeway for other pieces to move." Two methods best utilized together.
"You would need to be known throughout the entire village, not only from a few proctors," Danzo pushed back while making a mental note to check the validity of her claims.
"Then it's a good thing being hosted means there's plenty chances for interaction." Yuina thought she sounded conceited, but it was the only way she could think of gaining their attention. They didn't need to know her methodologies weren't foolproof or her plans were incomplete. "I do know how to use group psychology and behavioral science for gains. With Orochimaru-sensei as an added distraction, I can set the stage." There was no need to keep him away. Having an ally with her was a bonus, and she wanted to make a statement that they couldn't get around Orochimaru to get to her. Yuina much preferred it when she considered Orochimaru a wall, shielding her from everyone else.
It didn't matter if Orochimaru didn't care to go, or that this ordeal wasn't what Orochimaru meant when he gave her time to prepare.
The Hokage lifted a hand and stood up. "Have a detailed plan ready for briefing by the end of the month."
The other three voiced their dissatisfaction, which the Hokage countered. Normally, she wasn't one for unilateral decisions, but for once it played in her favour, so who was she to complain?
"I'll re-evaluate in a month. If it's not satisfactory, we'll revert to the original plan." The Hokage took a seat at his desk which signaled everyone else to leave.
Yuina felt elated. She may still have become a piece to fulfill their wants, but it felt exhilarating to derail expectations. Speaking back may have been terrifying, but no harm came from it, emboldening her further.
Orochimaru must have agreed, because he chuckled when she debriefed him. She realized that meant she broke confidentiality already, but he had already known. As long as he didn't tell his sensei, she was covered. It was their secret.