Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Bimodal Distribution
Two modes. Two distinct clusters of date. And yet, they can be seen side by side on the same graph. Still clearly two separated groups, the data clusters are cohesive and relatively reflecting the population they represent. The two different clusters often signify two different extremes. It must suck to find oneself trapped between the two.
Letting go of a sheet of paper, it fluttered onto a small stack of others. "I don't understand", I complained; leaning back in my chair and crossing my arms protectively.
Across from me, an old wooden table between us, Ibiki sighed. We'd been at it for a couple of hours. Sitting in a windowless room with poor ventilation. My home for these last few days. Or prison. Depending on how you looked at it.
"What would Danzo want with me?" I played with the splint on my broken wrist. Having been sequestered here shortly after the invasion, there hadn't been time for a med-nin to see to it. "I'm…" A bastard. Obnoxious. A smart ass. A… spiritual anomaly. "… nobody".
Ibiki shifted in his chair as the overhead light flickered. He cast a disappointed stare in my direction. "You are the daughter of one of the noble clans of Konoha. Your father is their leader. You are a genin apprenticed to the torture and interrogation department. Lord Hokage knew you by face and name. You are not nobody".
Clicking my tongue, I scowled down at the table. Lord Hokage. I missed his funeral. And Shinobu's. Since I wasn't allowed to leave this place. Anko said it rained. Fitting weather for grieving. "Still doesn't make sense", I argued. "I wasn't always those things. And these-" I waved a hand over the papers. "Makes it sound like he was interested before all that". Back when a gutter rat was my only identity.
Ibiki raised an eyebrow that nearly disappeared under his bandana. "So, you do understand".
Scoffing at his tone, I looked up. "Alright, fine. But understanding and accepting are different. Why me? My generation is full of genin from clans". And all of them were the children of clan heads too.
"You said Kabuto called you number forty-eight", Ibiki rehashed. As he's been doing since the invasion ended. "Commented that someone would enjoy you".
I sat up straight. The phrasing sent a terrifying jolt through my system. "You think Kabuto was talking about Danzo?" Staring at a dark, damp corner of the room made everything feel bleaker. "I thought he meant Orochimaru".
"Why?" Ibiki pressed. It was an interrogation technique. Say little to urge the subject to talk themselves out of anything of value.
"Because we knew Kabuto worked for Orochimaru". I drummed the fingers of my good hand on the tabletop. Orochimaru made the most sense. He infiltrated the village. Gave Kabuto his orders. Made sure Kabuto was broken out of T&I…
I shifted in my chair again. It really was the most uncomfortable thing I've ever sat in. "I told you I thought there was a traitor in Konoha". It had been the first thing I said after being brought here. "You think that traitor is Danzo".
Ibiki nodded. Sending me combing through my memories. Did Orochimaru and Danzo ever work together… I was having trouble picturing it.
"And that's why you won't let me leave", I finished with a glare. One Ibiki was unaffected by. I thought it was an overreaction. After the invasion, Aunt Tsubaki immediately found Shibi and told him. Who immediately found Ibiki and told him. And I got shuffled underground before the civilians were let out of the shelters.
"We don't know what Danzo wants with you", Ibiki explained.
I shook my head. "But isn't this treason or something?" The chair creaked as I moved. "I should be helping the village rebuild. The Hokage didn't order me to hide".
"The Hokage is dead". I flinched at Ibiki's sharp reminder. "A new Hokage has yet to be named. I am your commander. I ordered you to remain out of sight. Therefore, you have not committed treason".
Turning my eyes back to the wood grain of the table, I frowned. I didn't care about shirking responsibilities. Endless, payless D-ranks to keep the village running sounded miserable. But Anzu…
Ibiki's stern voice didn't allow me to retreat from the heavy topic before us. "Rion, I lost one man during the invasion. I will not lose my student too".
My nostrils flared. "Sorry". It was painful to say. I had been there when headquarters was breached. Shinobu had been under my feet when the warehouse collapsed. Perhaps he was still breathing when Kabuto, Chouji, and I fought. "If I made a different choice. Tried to get to him. Maybe Shinobu would be-"
"Stop", Ibiki ordered, raising a hand with the palm facing me. "Shinobi fight. Shinobi are killed. That is our reality. There's nothing you could have done".
Hearing Ibiki say it didn't make me feel better. I hadn't known Shinobu long. Only a little less than a year. Shinobu is… was a colleague. A mentor. The closest thing I had to a teammate. Well, him and Anko. He was fun to mess with. Always easily irritated. I had been playing around with the idea of freezing Shinobu's stapler into the middle of a giant ice cube and leaving it for him to find…
"I am proud of your contributions", Ibiki continued. "You've grown since the start of the chunin exams; trusted your suspicions to your superiors, followed orders, responded by action with the time came, and fought a powerful enemy until help arrived".
Yeah, great. I thought; Ibiki's praise making me uncomfortable. "Chouji and I were only in Kabuto's way because the Red District hadn't been evacuated". There wasn't a need to go into detail. Ibiki had heard my report multiple times by now.
"A matter that will be investigated", Ibiki promised. "But right now, it's not a priority",
I scoffed. The Red District is never a priority. "What is?"
Ibiki gave me a long look. Warning me I wasn't going to like this. "Those I trust are investigating Danzo in secret. Konoha needs a new Hokage and Danzo is currently campaigning for the honor".
Campaigning. What a polite way of saying coercing. "So, I'm stuck down here until there's a new Hokage?"
"No", Ibiki said before I could become too irate. "I'm sending you on a mission".
"How?" I challenged. "No one knows I'm here". Mostly. Ibiki, Anko, and Shibi knew about my hidey hole. As such, they were the only people I'd seen in days. Only Chouji and the Aburame (And probably Shikamaru since Chouji couldn't lie to him) knew I was okay. Ibiki told me I was reported as MIA. Despite that making little sense in a home invasion. Being MIA meant I was a captive, I fled, or they hadn't found a body yet. It was maddening trying to not think about what this was doing to Anzu.
Before Ibiki could respond, the door opened and two figures stepped into the room from the darkened hallway. "Looks like they started the party without us", Anko said as she moved further into the room. There was an edge in her voice that had been there since the end of the invasion. In her hands, she held a steaming cup of instant ramen and disposable chopsticks. Anko placed them in front of me as Shibi closed the door behind him.
"Apparently I'm going on a mission", I told her before digging in. Ramen and ration bars were all they've been able to smuggle me. As resources were being carefully rationed. Ramen and ration bars were keeping my stomach from eating itself. But damn it if curry didn't sound good right now.
"I heard", Anko replied as I loudly slurped up the noodles. Pork flavored. The one I liked the least. Shibi stood in the background with a travel pack resting by his feet. I could feel his eyes on me.
"Most will not support Danzo's rise to power", Ibiki continued as Anko claimed the last chair at the table. "But he is powerful with many assets in the village. If an alternative candidate is not found, there is little we can do to keep you from him. If it was Danzo whom Kabuto referred to". Even from where I sat, I could feel Shibi's nest buzzing with anger. "You will join a team leaving the village to find a better candidate".
Finishing the noodles, I stirred the chopsticks in the broth. Oh, this sounded like bad news for me. "Anzu-" I tried. I couldn't just leave her to think the worst. What if Danzo did something to her if he couldn't get to me?
"Is safer not knowing", Anko interrupted. I knew that. But still… to let Anzu believe I was gone. Possibly dead…
"If a candidate cannot be found", Ibiki went on. "You are to stay abroad. Perhaps return to the Land of Waves. And await further orders from either myself or your father".
My eyes flashed in Ibiki's direction as Shibi moved; picking up the pack by his feet. "That really is treason".
"It is", Ibiki agreed; sounding like we were agreeing on the weather.
Anko removed the cup of ramen and Shibi placed the pack where it used to sit. It wasn't my pack. The one Shibi bought for me before the Land of Waves mission. But I recognized it as one of Shino's. "Kunai, shuriken, senbon, ninja wire", Shibi listed as I refused to touch the pack in front of me. "Ration bars, first aid, and explosive tags". Shibi adjusted his glasses to pin me with a stern stare. "To be used responsibly".
Ibiki snorted and Anko snickered. Jerks.
"And-" Shibi held out his hand. One finger was extended. On his fingernail rested a single Kikaichu beetle. I didn't need to guess to know it was female.
Scowling, I caved and held out my own hand. The beetle flew to me, landed on my hand, and crawled up my arm; making a beeline for my scalp. "No promises that it doesn't end up dead".
Shibi's hands twitched as he adjusted his sleeves. Like he wanted to say more. Do more.
"If I do this", I started to say; focusing on Ibiki.
"If you do this-" Anko reacted; sounding like she'd throw me out of the village herself if she had to.
I talked over her. "If I do this, Anzu never returns to the Red District".
As if he could make that promise, Ibiki nodded. "Do you really think Gai would let her?"
The stars were out as Shibi and I left the village; avoiding patrols and passing through without being noticed. Our feet travel silently as we jump from tree branch to branch. The only sounds to be heard were the chirping of thousands of crickets and the rustling of leaves as the wind blew through them. Still, we kept a sharp ear out. Listening for anything that would mean detection. Despite wanting to hate it, leaving felt great. There was clean air to breathe and sights to see that were greater than the walls of that windowless room.
Shibi lead. I followed; feeling awkward in the borrowed clothes that adorned my back. Khaki-colored shorts, a maroon T-shirt. My arms and knees felt exposed. But it couldn't be helped. My clothes, like my travel pack, had to remain undisturbed in my apartment. Being MIA meant there was no reason for my things to be moved. Though Anko had gotten a good laugh when she saw me. "Aw, you really are my mini-me" she gushed; messing with my hair as I tried to wave her off. Needless to say, I think these are her hand-me-downs. The only things I had on me that were originally mine were my sandals and my headband.
Stopping on a tree branch about five miles out of the village, Shibi stood as still as a statue; waiting for me to join him. "We will wait here", He said once I occupied the same branch. His voice was too soft to carry any further than my ears.
"You sure?" I asked, glancing over my shoulder in the direction of the village. "We didn't go that far". And we were also just above the road. Anyone with experience would be able to find us.
Shibi nodded. His eyes fixed on a specific spot on the road below. "Yes. Why? Because this is the agreed-upon location".
Cheeks puffing up with air, I adjusted until I sat on the branch; being mindful of my splinted wrist. My legs dangled. "What does Shino think about this?"
Shibi took his time in answer; resting in the silence the way only the Aburame could. "He is concerned. Why? B-"
"Because he's my brother. I know".
More silence. "But he does not know you are leaving the village tonight. Why? Because it is safer not knowing".
Somewhere in a tree far from us, an owl hooted. It was nice to listen to. "What will happen? If I can't come back". It was an outcome I wasn't too worried about. Jiraiya would find Tsunade. Naruto would convince her to return to the village. She wouldn't hand me over to Danzo. Probably. Assuming I survived this mission. But it would still be nice to know exactly what Shibi and Ibiki expected me to do if I had to go rogue.
Shibi buried his chin beneath his coat collar. "I agree with Ibiki. Go to the Land of Waves. Why? Because you have friends there". Friends? My lip curled up at the thought. Could I call Haku a friend? That creepy bastard probably saw it that way. But it felt strange… desperate even, for Shibi to claim I had foreign friends when he hadn't been there to witness everything that went down.
Footsteps echoed from the ground below. Two pairs of them. Shibi's and my head swiveled in their direction as we listened and watched their approach. "Why did we have to leave so late?" Naruto complained. His loud and grating voice scared the crickets to silence. He yawned, mouth stretched wide as his blond head came into view. "We could've left tomorrow morning or earlier this afternoon. Then there would've been time to make it to the next village before nightfall".
"Can it, you brat", Jiraiya replied; walking a foot behind Naruto. His great white mane was the first thing I saw of him. "We're meeting up with another person. And This is the time they could be here".
"Who?" Naruto demanded to know; gesturing wildly with his arms. "Who's going to help us find the next Hokage?!"
Taking that as a signal, Shibi jumped down first. Landing in front of Naruto and Jiraiya before Naruto could pass under our tree. I joined him. Landing on my feet and straightening my legs as Naruto stumbled backward; a surprised strangled sound escaping him.
Jiraiya wasn't caught off guard. He halted as if just coming across a familiar face during a lazy stroll through the park. "Any trouble?" he asked Shibi. Meanwhile, Naruto had recovered enough to gape at me; staring unblinkingly.
It was enough to make me study the tree line instead of him. "None", Shibi replied. "We were not seen. No one followed us".
"Rion!" Naruto exploded. He stepped forward. "You're not dead!".
Sigh. "No, I'm not dead. People just need to th-" I was cut off when Naruto lunged. His arms wrapped around me; pinning my arms to my sides before I could push him off.
"That's great!" He celebrated. "I thought you were… And Shino was acting weird. Well, weird for him. And Anzu nee-chan-". It was like flicking a switch. Naruto turned off his motor mouth as soon as Anzu's name left his lips. He pushed himself away from me; an angry, disappointed frown on his face. "She hasn't stopped crying". My stomach dropped as my shoulders drooped. "She afraid for you and you're standing here completely fine. What's wrong with you?!"
Naruto's hands were balled into fists as his body tremored. It looked like he was ready to knock some sense into me. I couldn't blame him. "How much can I say?" I asked; sparing Jiraiya a look but ultimately directing my question to Shibi.
Pushing his sunglasses up the bridge of his nose, Shibi answered softly, "For the sake of the mission, you may disclose what you wish". How can he see through those things in the dark? I've always wondered.
Turning back to Naruto, appreciating how he very much wanted to knock my lights out right now, I stared him in the eyes. "A madman, maybe two, want to… I don't know, use me". Behind Naruto, Jiraiya choked. "Without the right Hoage, there's nothing stopping those men. So, I was reported MIA to make it difficult for them to find me". Well, one of them. Unknowst to everyone but me, going on this mission meant walking straight towards Orochimaru. "Anzu wasn't told because…" I had to look away. It was too hard to say. To think about it. The bitter taste of failure coated my tongue whenever it came up.
Shibi placed a hand on my shoulder. "The fewer people who know, the safer they'll be".
The frown remained on Naruto's face. However, his anger was replaced with concern. "Use you for what?" He asked; unfolding his clenched fists to scratch the side of his head. At least he was talking softer now.
"I don't know", I answered honestly.
Jiraiya copied Shibi; placing his own hand on Naruto's shoulder. "You see, Naruto. This is why it's important to find the next Hokage fast and convince her to come back with us. The village won't be safe without her".
Naruto's face did something complicated. Well, complicated for him. First, he lost his frown as his nose scrunched up in contemplation. Then Naruto's eyes grew wide as his blue pupils bore into me; jaw slightly slacked. Lastly, he snapped out of all of it. Expression firming into a serious affair, Naruto shrugged off Jiraiya's hand and gripped the straps of his travel pack tightly in both hands. "Then let's get going", he declared; marching forward and around Shibi and me. "Hurry up! The village needs this lady you keep mentioning!"
Exasperated, Jiraiya exhaled through his mouth; his hand handing in the air. Shibi removed the hand he had on my shoulder in favor of resting it heavily on top of my head. "Jiraiya-Sama?" Shibi asked without actually posing a question.
Lowering his hand, Jiraiya straightened his spine and stared squarely back at Shibi. "Don't worry about it. The brats will be safe with me". My eyes darted up and down Jiraiya as Shibi nodded in acceptance; his hand falling from my head. Naruto and I may be safe with him. But was I safe from him? "Hey, Naruto!" Jiraiya called after the blond as he walked past Shibi and me. "Don't go too far away. You don't know where we're going!"
Then it was just Shibi and I standing in the road. "Daughter", he said; turning to face me. I did the same. He stared long and hard. Trying to communicate where his words failed him.
"I know", I said; relenting. Though in doing so, I could no longer return his stare. The ground was a lot easier on the eyes. "And I won't do anything stupid. Promise".