As it turned out, Mika had the potential to handle Sage chakra physically. He was strong enough to handle the potent power of nature. The issue, sadly, was going to be how much chakra he had to apply to such a skill. He currently was a low to mid jonin in terms of skills, less so when experience was counted into things, but his chakra levels were only barely high chunin. His civilian bloodline damned him chakra growth severally and it pissed him off. Hell, he could only reverse summon himself and summon the smallest o chameleons according to Koga and Lady Moroha.
"Do not worry about your lower chakra levels, a year fighting in the Mist Civil war, healing and hurting, you will gain considerable chakra. Stress of any kind makes chakra grow. I have no doubt in my mind that you will be able to overcome your limits. My best guess... I give you two and a half, maybe three years before you are fully able to learn Sage Mode." Lady Moroha reassured him.
"That would be nice." Mika muttered. "I really could use the boost, especially with people like Yagura in Mist. You said he had the Three tailed turtle in him, that he was a perfect Jinchuurriki as you called it?"
The old Chameleon nodded. "That would be correct. Now, you have to see that Hinata girl in three hours, but you also have to safely report your absences to the Hokage so he does not summon you and feels the need to punish you for not appearing. I will send you back then resummon you at the same time each day until the Chunin exams. Fare well, dear boy. Oh and by the way, summon one of us and give them to Hinata to infiltrate the Hyuuga compound. We will help you figure out something safe to escape." And Mika trusted her, the bonds of summons was something else.
And like that, he appeared back at the Leaf, just in time too as a hawk was flying toward him, making it's needed figure eight pattern that told him of something severe.
That severe thing, as it turned out, was the death of Hayate, Yugao's lover and the previous proctor of the exams. Mika sighed, grabbing Yugao's hand. She was present, but had already been informed. Mika did not say much, but he hoped she knew that he was there for her...
At least, until he defected, but until then he would help her grieve.
After the meeting, she told him. "I will not grieve yet, it is not time. I will rejoin ANBU for a time, to help out the exams, but when it is over... I will take time to be by myself. I do appreciate your care, Mika... give your love to Hinata, my boy." She was gone then, leaving him sighing.
Hoping he would not hurt her too bad by defecting, but at the end of the day, did it really matter?
"""
"Really, the proctor was killed?" Hinata asked, mimicking his handsigns. "Water clone jutsu!" She said, and in a blast of chakra three clones burst out of the water. "That is actually easier than it should be. I should be grateful that the Waterclone is actually the easiest of the elemental clone jutsus."
Mika nodded. "You'll need that, and yes he was. Using the clones, when they are crushed by Gaara, it will make his clones mud. There are reserves of water under the arena, you can use them to your advantage. Which is why you will be learning how to draw water up. Go to the tree and and use your chakra to extract the water from it, using your chakra like threading a needle, then pulling out the long thread. With your chakra control, it should be easy. It will also make your clones stronger, which in turn will help with evasion of the village, a tool we will desperately need."
As she moved to obey, she laughed. "I never told you how much father reacted to my besting Neji? Did I?" He shook his head, so she continued. "He literally just gaped at me. They all did, the Elders, Hanabi, all of them. Several of the Branch family laughed, but in secret. Neji is not well liked among the Branch members, he acts rudely, above them. He is a prick, or was. He is so quiet now, and it hurts to see that, but I think it's an act. I told him I would undo his Mark, I think he will help us out if we ask."
Mika frowned. "Why do you think that?"
She turned, her eyes active. "Cause he is right there." She pointed toward where Neji literally just landed, looking nervous. "What do you want, Neji?"
Neji shivered, clearly remembering her wrath. "Why did you tell me you would... save me from my seal? How, how could you promise that?" He almost yelled, but somehow contained himself.
She sighed. "Can I trust you, can I really trust you Neji?"
The boy kneeled, bowing low to them both. "Please, help me to understand!"
She and Mika both kneeled. "We are going to, during the chunin exams, while all are busy, to undo the curse mark on the Branch Members. I still hold access to father's access and as an unmarked Hyuuga I can touch the scroll the seal is in. I can undo the seal, Mika will help with his medical skills. Together, we can save our clan."
Her cousin looked up, eyes wide. "That determination, it's what allowed you to grow so much... fine, it is my turn to aid your cause. I will gather our kin, the Branch Members together during the exam, and save them." He frowned. "What do you plan on doing afterward?"
She sighed. "I plan on killing our grandfather and my father, so Mika and I are going to flee to a distant land we've planned for protection. Do not ask which, we wll not tell you. As for you, the clan will need a new leader, perhaps that could be you?"
He bowed, her cousin, and she knew he agreed. "Where do we get started?"
"Start by helping me spar, I need more experience fighting a powerful Hyuuga. You let your emotions get the better of you before, it's partially how I won, but father won't... so let's work to overcome him. I will be sparring with Mika from three to seven each day, help me in part of those spars and soon we will have the power to overcome our enemies."
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
This was a joy to write.
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika.