Chapter Nineteen: Dead Flowers for the Torn Apart
Obito took a deep breath as he began climbing the steps to the Senju Clan compound. He had already completed one stint at the border, and been cycled back. The Hokage had taken that time to put him to work and train him, and that meant drilling him on the ins and outs of running one of the great Hidden Villages.
That meant getting his usual rounds in before he was swamped in paperwork and buried in theoretical exercises and math problems.
The place had been in a steady decline in the last decade and a half, marching in step with the steady decrease of Senju still counted among the living. Casualties, attrition, and some cases of sheer bad luck had been brutal on their numbers, and most of the compound had been closed off without the people necessary to handle the upkeep, or even make much use of the property in the first place.
That said, it had recently been spruced up, with much of the overgrown plants and weeds having been whittled to more manageable boundaries, including an old training ring, which was where Obito found Yuji aggressively swinging away with a bokken at the space in front of him.
The likely target of his imaginations was obvious, and he saw no need to draw attention to it, so he greeted him like he would normally, loudly announcing his presence well out of swing range.
"I see you're settling in well enough."
Yuji jumped a little, but straightened up and turned to bow. "Obito-san. I didn't know you were back in the village yet."
"Hey, none of the bowing stuff. Not for me. But I've been back in for a few days, actually. And I didn't know you were taking up kenjutsu. A recent change, I take it?"
"Tsunade-sama asked if we had any hobbies, and when we couldn't come up with an answer, she suggested we find some."
"And you chose kendo?"
Yuji looked at his feet. "I never want to be weak and helpless again."
"Well, if you're interested, I know a few people who are reasonably skilled with assorted blades. Can't let you get stagnant or sloppy, can we?"
A ghost of a smile graced Yuji's lips, which Obito mirrored.
"I'd like that, but I'm not sure how long I'm going to be in the village."
Obito raised an eyebrow. "Really? Someone putting you to work already?"
"Can't say much, but Tsunade-sama wants you in for tea when you have a moment."
"Well. No time like the present, I suppose."
Canvas tarps covering the furniture as someone had been clearing off several layers of dust from virtually every surface.
"Hello to the house?" Obito ventured inside
Rather than with words, he was greeted by the pitter-patter of little feet as a red-fringed missile came barreling towards him. Obito neatly scooped the girl up and held her aloft, much to the toddler's delighted giggling.
"Tayuya! How's my adorable goddaughter doing?" he asked, before settling the girl in the crook of his arm
"'Bito-ojichan!" Tayuya babbled, patting pudgy little baby hands against his scars.
Tsunade wasn't far behind, dressed comfortably for a day of lounging. "I though I heard you come in. I swear, I let her go and then she's off to the races. So what brings you in today?"
"I heard you wanted to talk to me. Figured I'd get that done before I consign myself to the offices."
"Right. Let's find a place to sit down."
The kitchen was more or less cleaned up and serviceable, if only just recently so. The smell of a fresh coat of paint and staining was still prevalent, even with open windows letting the air freely flow through. A plate of sandwiches was centered on the table, a few missing from the stack. Obito idly took one when it was offered.
Once seated, Tsunade situated Tayuya on her lap. "I've been hiring genin to help clean up this place. Kind of sad that I let it get so bad in the first place, but I figured it'd be best to get the kitchen and dining areas done first."
"It looks pretty good."
"Please. It still looks like trash right now. It's infuriating how I let it fall apart like this. There haven't been enough of us for some time for it to matter this much."
"Well, you'll just have to host a party here once it meets your standards again. Before that… "
"Right. I'm going on a sabbatical. I think I'm overdue for one."
"Really? Just like that?"
"I meant to go on one long before this, but…" Tsunade bumped her daughter up and down on her knee. "Some plans change."
"And the hospital just let you go?"
"They have enough qualified personnel to handle in my absence. Rin alone covers plenty of gaps that would otherwise have gone unfilled."
Obito's eye narrowed. "And the real reason?"
"Unofficially, I'm going to be paying visit to some old acquaintances and prospective allies to gauge their perspective on any coming conflict, and how much assistance they'd be willing and able to provide."
"I see. Who all is going with you?"
"Tayuya, of course, and Yuji volunteered his services escorting us through the countryside. A couple of distant cousins. And Shizune isn't likely to leave my side until her apprenticeship is done."
A sandwich stopped halfway to Obito's mouth. "Really? Just the six or seven of you? With all that's happening on the border…"
"Don't worry, we're not going to be completely helpless." Tsunade offered a smile. "It might take a couple of years, but I'm planning on being back eventually."
"…I'm going to miss her next birthday."
Tsunade stood and walked over to Obito, letting him hold Tayuya. The little girl settled on uneasy feet in his grip, smiling brightly when she felt secure.
"If we're ever in the same town," he said, looking up from I'll be sure to pay you a visit."
[NRE]
Obito finished reviewing yet another stack of documents, only resisting a sigh on account of the consistency of the task and how long he had been at it.
"Any troubles?" his interim desk partner asked.
"No, Hikari-san."
Hikari Hyuuga, the current Lady of her clan, had served extensively in the Hokage's office as an accountant and administrator, skills that had seen her to Chuunin and had made her an attractive bride for Hiashi. Beyond her looks, that is.
The woman had long hair of a deep, dark purple that reminded Obito of some of his cousins, and a fair complexion of a woman who spent most of her waking hours in an office of some kind. She evidently kept up with training, though, even after her marriage and having a child.
Today, she was his schoolmaster in the art of managing financial bureaucracy.
"It's been a long day," said Hikari. "How about we take a break?"
A box of cinnamon rolls that had been brought for the morning shift, and a few had been set aside for his and Hikari's purposes. The reasons for which became apparent when Obito took a bite.
"These are good," he said, then swallowed the remainder of the bite "Where did you get these?"
"I made them myself," she answered, daintily taking a nibble at her own. "I bake as a hobby."
Obito raised an eyebrow. "I can't imagine that's gone over well."
If the Hyuuga were anywhere remotely as hidebound as the Uchiha, there had likely been conniptions over the matter. It had taken a substantial amount of complaining before Mikoto had pulled herself away from the active ranks, and in the end, the war had taken priority and two children before she had relented.
Hikari inclined her head, acknowledging his point. "The Elders don't particularly approve of their Lady undertaking such plebeian tasks when we have the Branch Houses to see to our needs; they don't even like it when I make tea. Still, it's not like Hiashi complains about it, and it's a good way for me to keep my hands busy while my mind turns over whatever problems I'm having to ponder." She set her plate down, then tented her fingers on her lap. "So what is it that's on your mind?"
"What do you mean?" Obito asked back.
"You're pretty good at bottling things in, Obito-kun, but you're a terrible liar. You've been tense since you've returned, and likely before that."
Obito grimaced and ground his teeth together. "Not…problems, exactly. Or not the kind you're thinking of."
"Is it about the situation on the border or something closer to home? Does any of it concern Anko-chan? Or is it another of your friends that has your focus?"
"A mixture of those things, I guess." Obito rested his hand on the back of his hand. "It's one thing to know I have the help I need to fix something, and even most of the resources are there. But how do I figure out how to best make use of them? And how do I do it without making things worse?"
"This is when I would normally start baking." Hikari raised her plate. "You have to accept the decisions you make and follow through. Hesitation will only hold you back when it means the most."
"But how? How do I even do that?"
"You already have." Upon seeing Obito's expression, she added, "When haven't you jumped at the chance to help your friends? How many times have you offered a shoulder or hand in someone's time of need?"
"You make it sound so easy."
Hikari laughed lightly. "I'm sure all of your heroes and mentors have thought the same thing more than a handful of times throughout there lives and careers. It's simply building a matter of confidence in your own judgment. Once you have that down, others will follow suit."
"And when I can't help but be a little unsure of myself?"
Raising the last bite of her cinnamon roll, Hikari said, "Sounds like you need your own form of meditation."
[NRE]
The bell rang overhead as Obito stepped through the front door of the Yamanaka Flower shop, taking an appraising eye on the setup.
"Good afternoon, Obito-san," said Norio, rising from a chair set behind the counter.
Obito nodded, and replied, "Norio-san. A pleasure as always."
"Visiting Naoki-chan?"
"If it isn't too much trouble."
"She should be in the gardens with Ai. Her education is coming along quite rapidly, it's rather astounding."
"I wouldn't want to interrupt a lesson. Did she say why she wanted to study.
"Well, she did want to learn how her powers worked." Stepping around the counter, Norio led Obito into the back. "Provided my kid brother isn't bothering her, I expect to have more than caught up on floral knowledge within the year."
The two men leaned just past the doorframe leading into the greenhouse. A bevy of floral scents mingled together in the air.
Souske Yamanaka was currently flanking Ai, opposite of Naoki as they poured over some literature on medicinal plants and their care. At ten, he was closer to Itachi, Hana, and Ayame's age than that of his brother.
A holdover from the previous mode of thought for shinobi, Obito reflected. Children produced en masse to die en masse, spouses chosen either out of convenience or by what genes would make for better fighters down the line. Even with that kind of thinking fading out, there were still exceptionally large families where one easily slipped through the cracks unnoticed.
Multiple wars coupled with the rigors and dangers of their line of work, even in relative peace time hadn't dissuaded obscenely large family units
Souske was more fortunate than most. More than a few times, Obito had fallen through the cracks of the clan, though some of that could be attributed to the Uchiha's mentality towards what they saw as "promising" among their youth.
"Does he…?" Obito wondered aloud.
"Oh, he's smitten," Norio answered, a wry grin on his face. "She's not even paying attention to him right now, though, so I'm not going to put any pressure on them."
Obito grunted, and said, "Still, we should probably keep an eye on the both of them as they get older."
Pulling away from greenhouse, Norio asked, "do you have any other business?"
"Do you have any arrangements to accompany a tea ceremony?" Obito asked back.
"Hm…I don't think we have anything already prepared, but I'll see what we can put together."
"If you don't mind my asking, how's Yamato doing?"
"Oh, he's around. Staying out of trouble." I hope.
Despite what Kakashi assured him, Obito was certain that ANBU was a universally troublesome lot. It was just a matter of what degree of trouble they got themselves into, and how deep.
[NRE]
In the underground compound that made up ANBU's headquarters, many masked agents moved quickly to and fro. A well-oiled machine in motion, running in silence. Even in the heart of their foremost sanctuary, unmasking was generally not done, but by now, most agents were well-acquainted with one another, by scent, sound, and by chakra signature.
Yamato's, or Tortoise's own mask sat securely against his face as he made his way from the barracks to the office
Well under the sunlit grounds of the village proper, Tortoise afforded himself the relative privacy of his captain's office, removing his mask once the door was shut. Dog, having already done so himself, minutely nodded his head and turned back to the mission scroll he had in hand. Approval, or so Tortoise had begun to learn.
He was ill-at-ease with reading emotions, and Dog was practiced at concealing them. A test from the silver-haired Jōnin, most likely. Kakashi had taken him under his wing upon his induction to ANBU, and that saw him carry on variations of the same lessons Obito had set him, Naoki, and Yuji on for "socializing".
On that subject, since they were alone, Tortoise asked, "Why did he suggest 'Yamato' when choosing my name?"
Dog looked up at Tortoise, and then back at the scroll, before setting it aside to focus on him. "Yamato was the name of our sensei's father. I think it's Obito's way of building a connection with you. He was adopted, too."
"But you're not sure."
"I'm genius, not a mind-reader. And some things about his method of thinking still eludes me. It might be that he's not entirely sure, acting out on feelings and impulses. You might have to ask him yourself someday."
Knuckles rapping against the door in tandem with a faint pulsing of chakra saw both agents return their masks to their faces. Once they were both secured, Dog pulsed back out, beckoning entry to the agent outside.
Cat, Owl, and Mouse all filed in, shutting the door behind them, and without preamble, Dog went into the mission briefing.
"Orochimaru remains a person of interest. While his central base of operations has yet to be located, we have actionable intelligence on a sighting out in the woodlands near the border with River Country
The tunnels that wove beneath Konohagakure, allowing ANBU to come in and out with little attention drawn to their agents, following closely behind his squad leader, Dog, with Cat, Owl, and Mouse all forming a loose formation around them.
Ninjutsu specialist, kenjutsu specialist and assassin, sensor and genjutsu specialist, medic and poison specialist. The main focus of their team was interdiction, sneaking behind enemy lines and disrupting operations before they have a chance to materialize, preferably before they see the light of day.
So what business did they have on a scouting run?
[NRE]
A large tree, twisted and ancient, stood out from the dense forest. Far larger, and broader than anything that could occur naturally. By the weathering outside, it was decades old, at the youngest. Possibly something left by the Shodai at some point, but never noted, save for as a landmark by hunters or lumberjacks.
Without turning, Dog signed, "Owl, you're with me. Cat, Tortoise, you go in from the south entrance. Be ready to cut off escape or pursue fleeing subjects. Mouse, you have overwatch."
All of them answered with a single pulse, discrete pulse of chakra, and then raced off to their designated waypoints.
Tortoise landed at the mouth of a cave. Or perhaps a tunnel was more apt? The path was broad and open, smooth as tree bark could be expected. It would have needed to be grown in such a way, and over a long time to come across so naturally. A lack of footprints or wear on any surface was perplexing.
The Kenjutsu expert settled beside him, making her own observations.
"Light further inside," she signed.
A sudden rush out in the woods prompted them to hide inside the mouth of the tunnel, clinging to the walls and shadows to avoid detection. Pressed against the timber, Tortoise almost let himself be subsumed into the wood, diffusing whatever presence he emitted as he pressed just a little further in.
Dog and Owl reappeared at the entrance.
"Dead end," Dog signed. "Any success?"
"False alarm. No sign of activity. Request permission to advance to interior?"
"Granted. Take point. We'll follow."
Cat and Tortoise advanced at a crawling pace, Dog and Owl waiting half a minute before doing the same. In short order, they came to an anomaly.
Candlelight.
The four of them shared a look, all thinking some variation of the same question: what good were candles without someone to take the path?
Weapons were drawn, and the four of them pressed further inside, keeping close together until they came to a split in the path.
Cat glanced back to Dog, making a tilting wave of her hand. Split up to cover more ground or stick together and risk being ambushed separately?
Whips of smoke trailed in from the side passages, from the openings in the ceiling, even from the pores in the ground. The thick miasma filled the room in short order, and all attempts to avoid breathing it in failed as it smothered against them, and then filled their lungs.
Suffocation soon followed, and Tortoise's vision faded as he tumbled bonelessly to the ground.
A/N: Finishing that was like a trip to the dentist without the benefit of anesthesia. But it's done, and I can move this project, and others, along.
We'll be taking a brief step away from Obito's POV in favor of Yamato's, more or less adapting Shippuden eipsode 352 and 353. Naturally, we've already tread into another divergence in the plot.
I am aware that there are two characters named "Hikari" but I can guarantee they will never meet or share a scene, so chances of confusing Hikari Hyūga with Hikari the Train Engineer are nil.
Changes:
- Some more expansion of the Yamanaka clan.
- Yamato isn't working for ROOT for this mission, which is an officially issued ANBU operation.
- The above means Team Ro gets deployed instead of just two agents by different bosses.
Coming Up:
- Smoke and mirrors
- Team Ro catches smoke.
- Dangers involving smoke inhalation
- *Insert bad smoke humor here*
I'll stop now.
Questions? Concerns? Speculation? Even if it's because sleep deprivation saw me forget to complete or connect a thought, let me know in a PM or review. Constructive criticism is always appreciated.
Until next time!
Winterman, out.