Konoha's Waking Nightmare

by JollyHippopotamus

Reborn into the Naruto world with the third war looming ahead. What's a civilian born girl to do? Become an S-rank Genjutsu mistress of course! Now if only she can survive her own family, her sensei, and Orochimaru is in the village too isn't he? who needs enemies with these allies? OC/SI, AU world.

20. Happy Birthday, now Die

Here's chapter 20: Happy Birthday, now Die.

Doesn't get many votes on Patron, but here it is! And for making you wait two months - an extra long chapter too!

A year has passed - and Inohana probably has taken a bit too many cues from some of her teachers…

Also, almost Chuunin Exam time!

For ages, with the one year timeskip:

Inohana : Seven and a half.

Genma: Twelve.

Gai: Nine, almost Ten.

Kakashi: Eight and a halfish.

As usual I do not own, or in any way have a right to the characters of Naruto or its world. I'm just a lowly fanfiction writer.

Hope you enjoy it!

＊＊＊

The breeze is soft today, rustling the leaves overhead, the sunlight filtering through the branches and casting dappled patterns on the forest floor. I sit cross-legged beneath a sturdy tree, its roots deep in the earth, grounding me as I close my eyes, letting my senses extend outward. The warmth of the sun feels like a gentle embrace, and the wind carries the faint scent of pine. For a moment, there is peace - a rare thing these days.

I focus on my breathing, slow and steady, my chakra flowing in rhythm with the world around me. The distant sounds of nature blend with the quiet hum of my own energy, creating a soothing harmony that I can lose myself in, if only for a little while. The weight of war, of duty, fades into the background, replaced by the simplicity of the moment.

And then… A presence, more than one, in the distance. A faint tug in the corner of my awareness. Not dangerous, not a threat, not at those levels. I smile faintly to myself.

"Hmpfh, guess I owe you money, Genma," I say without opening my eyes. I can feel him above me, dangling like a lazy cat from the branch of the tree I've claimed as my meditation spot.

Genma's voice reaches me, laced with amusement. "Knew someone would come eventually, they always do. Sharp as ever though, Ino-chan." He flips lazily, hanging upside down, his smirk audible in his tone. "How far away did you spot them this time? You're getting too good at this."

I crack one eye open, glancing up at him from my comfortable position. His hair flops downward in his inverted state, and I can see the casual grin tugging at his lips. "Not that far, just a few miles." I say casually. "As for me being so much better than you…" I smirk, "Skill issue."

He scoffs, swinging slightly from the branch, unimpressed by the jab. "I'd like to see you stay focused after pulling six all-nighters in a row."

From a little further away, there's a sudden burst of laughter. "YOSH! We actually win one!" Gai's voice booms, filled with his usual uncontainable energy. I hear him coming before I see him, his footsteps heavy as he charges toward us. "I shall celebrate with one thousand laps around camp!"

I can't help it. My lips twitch as I try to stifle a laugh. "You say that as if you wouldn't have done the laps even if you lost, Gai." I tease.

He flips dramatically over a nearby log, landing with the grace of a dancer before thrusting his fist into the air, striking a familiar pose. "Victory makes it all the more youthful, Inohana!"

"Hey, what's this 'we' stuff?" Genma interjects, still hanging upside down. "I was the one who guessed correctly." He jabs a thumb toward his chest, clearly not ready to share the glory.

Gai beams at him, his teeth practically sparkling in the dappled sunlight. "What's yours is mine, and what's mine is yours!" He declares, as if this were the most natural thing in the world.

I giggle, hiding my mouth behind a hand, "When one of you gets a girlfriend, I wonder what she'll think of that sentiment…"

Genma lets out an exaggerated sigh, blowing a strand of hair out of his face, ignoring my comment completely, focusing instead on Gai. "Yeah, yeah. You just want an excuse to run those laps."

I lean back against the tree, resting my chin in my hand, watching them both with barely concealed amusement. "I guess you can have this one, Genma. What is it now? Your sixteenth victory?" My voice drips with faux sweetness, a teasing smile playing on my lips.

Gai's head pops up again, this time from a handstand, which he transitions into without breaking a sweat. "Eighteenth!" He corrects, still walking on his hands with casual ease.

I raise an eyebrow, playing along. "Ah, yes. How could I forget?" My eyes glitter with mischief. "Your eighteenth victory against my three hundred and fifty-seven." I cock my head mock haughtily, "~Skill issue~."

Genma's immediate response is indignant. "Doesn't count! Genjutsu is such a cheat." He flips himself upright, landing neatly on the ground and brushing off his clothes, as though that would add weight to his argument.

My lips curl into a dangerous smile as I look over at him, feeding the slightest bit of chakra, making it shift around us. "Don't cry because you suck, Genma." A Hannya mask - distorted and terrifying - briefly imposes itself over my face, flickering in and out of his vision.

He yelps, stumbling back as the illusion catches him off guard, his arms flailing for balance. "Damn it, Inohana!" He groans, glaring at me from where he's landed, half sprawled in the grass.

I let the Genjutsu dissolve with a chuckle. "You make it too easy."

Genma mutters something under his breath, picking a few leaves out of his hair as he rights himself. "Whatever. So, how many?"

Gai, who is still balancing on one hand, suddenly goes serious, flipping onto his feet. "So unyouthful, sneaking across the border like thieves in the night."

I close my eyes again, letting my senses extend outward, feeling the subtle ripples in the air, the faint vibrations of chakra just on the edge of my awareness. The wind carries a hint of foreign energy, not strong, but distinct. My brows furrow slightly as I concentrate.

"Four of them," I murmur, my voice soft but certain. "Low Chuunin or high Genin based on their chakra reserves. Nothing impressive, but enough to be slightly cautious."

Genma scoffs, crossing his arms as he steps closer. "Definitely not Iwa then. They wouldn't waste their time with ankle-biters like that behind enemy lines. Missing-nin, maybe?"

"Or ronin," Gai adds thoughtfully, his brow furrowing in uncharacteristic seriousness. "Cowards who prey on the weak during times of war."

I rise gracefully to my feet, brushing off my hakama with a slow, deliberate movement. My lips quirk into a smile as I lock eyes with both of them. "I'll deal with them."

There's a brief flicker in the air, a shimmer as if the sunlight itself bends around me, and then my form wavers, growing indistinct.

"And I'll make sure to ask which ones they are," I sing-song, my voice teasing as it fades into the breeze.

Genma barely has time to react. "Wait, what?"

The illusion of me standing there gives him a coy smile before dissipating, even as the real me is already gone, weaving through the forest's shadows. The last thing I hear is Genma's exasperated voice echoing behind me.

"Damn it, Inohana! How long ago did you leave? Kami-damned Genjutsu!"

＊＊＊

The Land of Fire's dense foliage surrounded them like a sprawling sea of green. The four former Grass nin moved confidently through the thick underbrush, their footsteps light but steady. The recent rain left the ground damp, with the scent of moss and wet earth rising as they marched. Sunlight barely pierced through the thick canopy, creating a mix of shadow and golden light that danced with each step.

Goro, a tall, lanky ninja with a mess of scars criss-crossing his face, twirled a long, crude blade in his hands as they moved. He wore a permanent sneer, as though the very air of Konoha offended him. "I still can't believe those Iwa fools are paying us as much as they are just for some recon," He muttered, shaking his head with disdain. His voice dripped with it, as if he found the entire situation absurd.

He swung the blade experimentally, slicing through an overhanging branch. "I mean, it's not like we're the ones doing the fighting. Just sneak in, grab some intel, sneak out. Let them do the dirty work."

Behind him, Ameyane, a petite woman with short, choppy pink hair, scowled as she scanned the surroundings with wary eyes. She wasn't tall by any measure, and her hunched posture didn't help. Her sharp features were marred by an expression of permanent irritation, her nose wrinkled up as if the forest air itself stank of something foul. "Don't lose your cool, Goro," She hissed under her breath, glancing nervously around. "We're not out of the woods yet."

She shot him a dark look, her paranoia evident in the way her fingers twitched near her kunai. "The Leaf could still have patrols out here, and I don't fancy getting sliced in half by some Jonin just because you can't keep your mouth shut."

Goro snorted. "Please, if they had anything worth throwing at us, we'd have seen them by now. They're all busy getting blown up by Iwa back on the border."

"Hah, 'out of the woods', get it, 'cause we're in the woods!" Han, the giant of the group, let out a booming laugh, oblivious to the sharp looks Ameyane shot him. Han was easily the largest of the group - towering at least a head taller than Goro, and built like an ox. His face bore the dull look of someone who had taken far too many hits to the head, but what he lacked in sharp wit, he made up for with raw strength. He chuckled to himself again, clearly pleased with his own joke.

"Keep it down, moron!" Ameyane spat, her voice edged with venom. "Or you're going to alert every Konoha tree-hugger within a mile of us."

"Tch, relax," Goro grumbled, slicing another branch with a casual swing. "You're just bitter 'cause no one ever laughed at your jokes."

Ameyane's eyes flashed dangerously, but she didn't respond, keeping her focus on the surrounding woods. She wasn't wrong to be cautious, but Goro couldn't care less. He'd already made it far enough into the Land of Fire to count this job as a success in his mind. Besides, the coin they were getting from Iwa was enough to make any risk worth it.

At the front of the group, Raynare moved with purpose. She was the only one of them who had actually made Chuunin before their defection, and that fact alone seemed to give her a sense of superiority over the rest. Her long, dark hair was tied back into a high ponytail, and her expression was one of cool disdain as she navigated through the thick forest, as though even the trees of Konoha were beneath her notice.

"The Leaf aren't a threat this far back," She said over her shoulder, her voice calm but dismissive. "The real threats are at the border, busy with Iwa. We're deep enough behind the lines that even if we did run into a patrol, they'd be green Genin at best." She smirked. "If we're lucky, maybe we'll get to play with some of those pretty Leaf kunoichi."

Goro's eyes gleamed at that, his smirk widening into something far more dangerous. He swung his blade through the air with a flourish, clearly imagining something unsavory. "Oh yeah, bet I could bag a few before this mission's over. Maybe a couple of those cute little Academy students they're training up. Leaf girls have soft hands, right? Not like the hard-ass kunoichi we had in Grass."

Ameyane clicked her tongue in disgust, not bothering to hide her distaste. "You're sick, Goro. Save your fantasies for after we finish the job."

Goro ignored her, grinning as he tapped the flat of his blade against his shoulder. "Bet Konoha's women don't know what a real man's like. I'll teach 'em."

Han, completely oblivious to the shift in tone, let out another deep, rumbling laugh. "Yeah, Goro! Maybe after you 'teach 'em,' you'll finally get a woman who won't smack you around!"

Goro shot him a dirty look, though his grin didn't fade. "She'd be too busy begging for more to even think about smacking me, idiot."

Raynare rolled her eyes, pushing aside a branch as she led the group deeper into the woods. "Focus, you two. You can talk about Leaf girls after we get out of here alive and with Iwa's gold in our pockets, besides… I get first pick." She adds with a salacious smirk.

The group trudged onward, their footsteps surprisingly light for a band of rogues, though their arrogance was palpable. They weren't wrong - Konoha's forces were stretched thin at the borders, fighting tooth and nail to hold back Iwa's assault. A well-timed skirmish had allowed the missing-nin to slip past the usual patrol routes and deeper into Konoha territory. They weren't too far from their target camp now, and all they had to do was stay quiet for a bit longer.

Goro, however, seemed incapable of keeping his mouth shut. He swung his blade around idly, slicing through the low-hanging branches with each step, his mind still clearly on his earlier fantasies. "Bet when this is all over, Iwa's gonna want us for more jobs. Might as well make Konoha our playground, huh? Could live like kings off the Leaf's scraps."

Ameyane glanced at him, her brows furrowed. "You talk big, but you forget we're just as likely to get sold out by those Iwa bastards as we are to get paid."

"Hah! You worry too much," Goro waved her off, swinging his blade again. "Iwa's too busy fighting to waste time on us. And if they do, I'll slice through 'em like I'm slicing through these trees. Easy work."

Raynare snorted, not bothering to turn around. "Keep dreaming. If you're not careful, you'll end up with your head rolling on the ground before you even see them coming. Iwa's no different from Grass - they use and discard."

"I'll take my chances," Goro said, his grin widening as he swung his blade in an arc, imagining the enemies that would fall before him. "Besides, with a blade like this, I'm unstoppable. No Leaf ninja's gonna touch me."

He swung the blade again, faster this time, the edge gleaming as it cut through the air. "And if any of those Leaf kunoichi wanna try their luck - "

Goro's arm suddenly stiffened mid-swing, the blade freezing in the air. His grin faltered, confusion washing over his face as his muscles locked, his arm moving of its own accord.

"Huh?"

Goro's eyes widened as he just barely caught the glimpse of chakra strings around his arm - dozens of them, at least. He tried to break them with a flash of his own chakra, but even as he did, his arm swung around on its own and impaled Ameyane through the chest, the woman not expecting it at all, just staring at him, blood dripping out of her mouth as she let out a shocked gasp, hands weakly reaching up towards his sword.

"Chakra strings, someone's got control over my arm!" He bellowed, straining to break the grip. He'd never even heard of chakra strings being used this way. And who the hell could do a dozen at a time like this? They weren't in Suna for Kami's sake!

Unfortunately for Goro, what the other two heard and saw, was him killing their comrade, while laughing, bellowing, "Fools, I was always loyal, you traitors die now, let the leaf find your corpses!"

Both Raynare and Han jump back, unleashing kunai and shuriken, filling a shocked Goro with metal, his arm still stuck in position and having not expected his comrades to turn on him, had in fact not even seen them jump back and throw their weapons. Genjutsu… He managed to think, weakly, as he fell over, dead.

Han suddenly roared just after that and made to strike Raynare, who finally realized what was going on. "Genjutsu! Kai!" Clearing her own coils unfortunately didn't help her with the problem of Han moving against her, the brute hard to put down in normal circumstances, let alone while berserking.

"Han, it's a Genjutsu! Snap out of it!" She screamed, biting her lip when the kunai she threw failed to even break the berserker's skin. That was exactly why they'd taken him with them when defecting, his ability to tank damage, and now it was turned against her…

With an unknown Genjutsu user somewhere and Han going wild, Raynare decided it was time to cut her losses.

She ran, breaking through brush and trees, fear driving her to move faster. She screamed as shadows coalesced around her, about to swallow her, she began chanting, "Kai! KAI!" As she ran, but for everytime she dispelled a Genjutsu, two more were behind it. She felt the skin of her arm being flayed away, tears running down her eyes as she desperately dispelled another illusion, almost sobbing in relief when it turned out her arm was fine.

How was a Genjutsu expert of this caliber not at the frontline? She could still feel the pain!

As she burst through a clearing, she found herself in front of Han again, blocked in against giant trees that suddenly appeared behind her. A chill ran down her spine, as she wondered… Did I ever even leave the clearing?

"Kai!" she shouted again, flaring her chakra, and Han's image wavered before her, her face blanching as she saw that he was still there, closing in, and he was covered in explosive tags as he lumbered closer, even more sticking to him, drawn to him through what she suspected were chakra strings, even if she couldn't see them.

The explosion rocked the area, sending Raynare hurtling into a nearby tree, her body thudding against it as Han rained around her in pieces, blood and bits smashing against her, his endurance unable to handle the cumulative effect of several exploding tags.

"What the…" Raynare mumbled, her vision unfocused and her head spinning. Blood trickled from her forehead, but her focus blurred even further as a tiny figure appeared before her - a dark-haired cute child, with cold, calculating eyes. The girl smiled coldly, tilting her head in an unsettling creepy manner.

"Nighty night!" The girl said in a sing-song voice.

Raynare tried to rise, but before she could react, a seal tag shot forward, carried by a chakra string too fast to dodge, and smacked her in the forehead.

Darkness took her, the knockout tag doing its work.

＊＊＊

I stand over the three corpses and my one captive, nudging Raynare with the tip of my toe. There's something oddly satisfying about how easily that went. A year ago, I might have struggled, but now… Now it's almost routine. The genjutsu had wrapped them up nicely, and the chakra strings? Well, let's just say Suna doesn't have a monopoly on controlling limbs now.

Against someone with more chakra then me, or fine enough control, it would be hard to pull off, but with me being able to harden the chakra strings and puppet their chakra system where I touch… Anyone lesser than me, is dead on sight. No questions asked.

These ones were out of their depth, barely more than genin-level shinobi. Maybe low chuunin at best in case of Raynare. Still, a job is a job, and they walked right into my web.

Kushina-shishou's insistence on keeping us away from the front lines was frustrating eventually, even if I'd been happy at first. I missed the thrill, the immediate danger. But I can't deny it's paying off. A slower pace means time to sharpen our skills between missions, rather than running from one death trap to another. We've still faced plenty of danger, but not like before. The constant threat of death hanging over our every breath has been dialed back. Now we only have to deal with idiots like these missing-nin… Although, occasionally, we get real threats. Actual Iwa nin or competent rogue shinobi.

The war has drawn out every brand of desperate being there is. Mercenary nin everywhere, cheap labor for the villages. Even Konoha's taken to hiring a few, according to Kushina-shishou's reports. It's pragmatic, really. Why waste resources when you can have disposable assets?

I crouch down, watching Raynare's chest rise and fall in a shallow rhythm. A couple of minutes later, Gai and Genma drop into the clearing. Gai, of course, is beaming, always energetic, despite the situation. He throws a thumbs up in my direction.

"Your YOUTH has conquered all, again, Inohana-chan!" Gai declares, voice too loud for comfort.

I resist the urge to scowl. He can be quieter when he needs to be - I've seen it during our time at the front. But when we're back from the edge, he lets loose, and it's irritating sometimes. I let it go, because he's mine, and he's worth the irritation, but sometimes it still rubs me the wrong way.

Genma stands off to the side, surveying the scene with a senbon in his mouth, chewing thoughtfully. His eyes flick over the bodies, pausing on Raynare. "Huh, just scrubs, then," He mutters. "What a drag. Think she'll know anything useful?"

I snort softly, shaking my head. "Do they ever?"

Hanako, now big enough she hangs around my neck, undoes her camouflage jutsu, flicking her tongue, "Lazy." She hisses, "Could have taken them out in the first strike."

I flick her nose, giving her a look.

Genma scratches at the side of his head, clearly unimpressed with the capture. "Eh, another one for the 'volunteer' division, then," He says, voice tinged with distaste.

Gai's normally bright expression flickers, his discomfort clear. He's not a fan of what happens next, but he doesn't speak against it. Not anymore.

I, on the other hand, have grown indifferent. It's war, after all. Every headband I see that isn't from Konoha is just another reminder of how fragile our lives are. We've all been trying to kill each other for over a year, so who has time for sympathy?

"She'll be pumped for intel," I say clinically, nudging Raynare again with my boot. "If not on Iwa - because we all know how that goes - then at least she'll have some info on Kusogakure." I stand straight and dust off my sleeves. "After that… Well, you know the drill."

Genma lets out a long breath. "Yeah, volunteer division," He repeats, clearly unhappy.

It's not a pleasant thought, I know. Orochimaru-sensei's 'volunteers' are offered a grim choice - execution, or the chance to fight as the vanguard in a battle, sealed with exploding tags that ensure there's no escape. If they retreat they die - if they try to run - they die, and inevitably - if they fight anyway as told - they die - after which the exploding tags detonate and hopefully take the enemy nin with them. Predictably, they don't last long, ever.

Called the Danzo doctrine… I would have never suspected. No wonder the man is so cherished amongst the other nations.

Oh yeah… Konoha is the nice village… What a joke.

"It's war, boys. Get used to it." My voice is calm, cold even. I wish I could say otherwise, but after a year of surviving and watching my comrades die, it's hard to care about some random missing-nin. Even if Raynare's last days will be filled with nothing but pain, it's not something I can change.

I can understand why the villages are so closed off, though. After so much death and destruction, who can bother caring about anyone outside their own team or village? The people you share your meals with, bleed with, fight beside - they're the only ones who matter. Anyone else might as well be from another world.

Peace… What a ridiculous notion. The villages will not ever see another village as their equals or friends.

No matter what a Manga said with plot devices galore, scrambling people's brains and true nature to get the results they sought.

Gai and Genma still have softer hearts than I do, though, and I don't push it. It's endearing. And just because I've lost my innocence, doesn't mean they need to suffer it fully yet. I say yet, because I know it will come.

"I can carry our captive," Gai offers, his voice a little too eager.

Genma, standing next to him, nods along quickly, a little too enthusiastically for my liking. It's clear they'd rather do anything than deal with what comes next. Silly boys.

I smirk, a hint of mischief in my eyes. "You know that's just asking for trouble if another fight finds us. We'll do it the normal way."

Genma groans, shooting me an imploring look. "Do we have to?" He whines, dragging out the words.

"Yes, we do," I reply, already biting my thumb and swiping it across the summoning seal on my arm. There's a familiar burst of chakra as I channel it into the seal, and with a puff of smoke, Ko appears, the snake about the size of a person, a mottled variety of green across his scales as he slithers lazily into the clearing.

He hisses, flicking his tongue out, eyes gleaming as he takes in the sight of the unconscious ninja and the corpses. "Tiny girl, you're my favorite," Ko hisses in that odd accent he has, eyes glittering with malicious glee.

I chuckle, reaching out to scratch Ko under the chin before giving him a playful kiss on the nose. "Such a charmer, Ko," I say, grinning.

Ko slithers over to Raynare, eyeing her with interest. "Same deal as usual," I tell the snake. "You carry our prisoner in your pocket space until we get to camp and I resummon you, and in return - " I gesture to the bodies. "Enjoy your meal~."

Ko's laughter is a sharp hiss. "Best girl!" He says, heading for Raynare first, slowly ingesting her, before she disappears into the pocket dimension, safe. He then ravenously falls on the others, getting his meal as I watch without a care.

I turn to Gai and Genma, grinning mischievously. "Aren't my snakes just adorable?" I coo, patting Hanako, who slithers down my body to partake in a few choice pieces of the big one that was everywhere.

Gai, ever the more idealistic of us, looks slightly green at the display, and Genma, trying to remain composed, rubs at his eyes in clear discomfort, not looking directly at the process, even as he winces at the sound of Ko beginning to swallow his meal.

"Yeah," Genma mutters, his voice low and full of amused resignation. "Adorable. That's a word."

＊＊＊

The journey back to camp is quiet, giving me time for introspection. It's funny how much can change in a year. I remember the constant struggle, feeling like my chakra capacity was a boulder I had to push uphill with every mission. The frustration of having control and skill, but not enough chakra to make it count when it really mattered. That had been the hardest part - knowing what I was capable of but being held back by limitations I couldn't overcome.

But now… Now it's different. Ever since the surgery, my chakra has been boosted, growing steadily every month. My reserves aren't endless, but they're far from the trickle they used to be. And yet, my control hasn't slipped. Not even a little. It's still as sharp as ever, maybe even sharper. I've managed to balance that fine line between power and precision, and it feels good. More than that, it feels right.

Of course, I'm still not a front-line in your face type kunoichi, and probably won't be until I'm at least in my upper teens. My tiny stature will see to that. Even with all this new chakra, I'd be flattened in close combat if I'm not careful. But now, my genjutsu actually has some bite behind it. I can affect stronger opponents for longer periods. I don't have to retreat after every few uses, breathless and drained. I can push harder, farther. I can use my chakra strings to do more than just deliver sealless genjutsu; I can weaponize them now, too. Tug and pull at real threats.

And my Senbonzakura seal... That's been a real game-changer. It's been growing steadily alongside me, a storm of razor-sharp leaves I can summon at will. Right now, I can cover a person fully with it - shredding them to pieces if I want to. It's not quite the overwhelming attack it'll one day be, the one I'd remembered from Bleach, my Byakuya reference, but it's potent enough. For now.

We arrive at camp, exchanging the current codes and then standing still as a Hyuuga and an Aburame check us over. Standard procedure. Even after a year, I never really get used to it. I don't like standing so vulnerable while someone else peers into my body. But it passes quickly, and we're let through. I immediately feel the pull to drop off our prisoner at T . Raynare is their problem now.

I skip ahead, making a beeline for the interrogation division, Gai and Genma trailing behind me. They don't need to come for this part; it's my personal routine, after all. The guys at T have started to call me their 'little mascot'. Not a name I particularly asked for, but I don't mind. They seem to enjoy how I bring in captives - bound, humiliated, and usually delivered via a large, friendly snake, utterly traumatized. I'm told the moment those missing-nin wake up after being regurgitated or swallowed alive, they're so disoriented and horrified that getting information from them is a cakewalk.

Shoot, that's what I forgot this time, ending the knockout tag before Ko swallowed my captive. Oh well…

I hand Raynare off, her body still dazed from the knockout tag, and sign off on the paperwork. It's mechanical at this point. Too easy. When that's done, I break off from Gai and Genma, promising we'll meet up later for training. I need to stretch my chakra a little more, anyway. It's been growing, but it needs to be refined continuously.

But for now, I've got something more important to do. I move quickly through the camp, weaving past tents and shinobi, my heart light with the anticipation of seeing Kushina-shishou again. She's been in and out of our lives this past year - sometimes here, sometimes deployed elsewhere, and sometimes leaving us in Minato's capable hands. Then Dan had been our leader for a while, before Orochimaru-sensei had come back. Even Orochimaru-sensei had been… Tolerable, knowing Kushina-shishou would return soon enough.

And soon, we'd all be going home if I had counted my days right. Actual time in the village. Mandatory leave for the first time in over a year. I'm not exactly looking forward to it. Konoha is my village, sure, but it's not… It's not what I call home anymore. Not really.

But going back has a few bright points, one being getting away from the shit throwers of Iwa. Almost makes me wish for the Kumo or Kiri fronts…

I spot Kushina-shishou easily in the mess tent, her red hair standing out like a beacon in the crowd. She's animated, arguing passionately with the Akimichi chef about something. I can hear snippets of her rant as I get closer, something about ramen and war crimes, of course.

" - I'm telling you, no ramen at the front is a crime against humanity, dattebane! How can you call yourselves a proper camp without a single bowl of miso ramen!?"

I stifle a laugh, sighing fondly at her antics. "Shishou!" I call out, waving a hand.

She whips around, eyes locking on me instantly. Before I can brace myself, she launches into the air, tackling me with a flying hug. We tumble out of the mess tent, rolling across the ground as she clings to me like I've been gone for years instead of just two weeks.

"Shishou, it's only been two weeks," I say burying myself in her embrace. The familiar scent of her hair and the solid warmth of her arms around me make something inside me loosen. This is the feeling I've missed whenever we're apart - the sense of belonging, of safety, even when everything around us is chaotic.

"Don't care, dattebane! You get all the hugs whenever I see you," She declares proudly, nuzzling into my neck with playful affection. She pulls back just enough to flash me that brilliant smile, her eyes glowing with excitement. "We're going home, Ino, tomorrow. We're going home!"

I smile up at her, but there's a tug in my chest. Home. It's funny how that word feels now, isn't it? A year ago, the thought of going back to Konoha would've filled me with pure relief. I would have been desperate for it, counting the days. But now… I don't know. The idea of returning to the village feels distant, like it belongs to another version of me, a younger version.

I think about my greenhouse, the little sanctuary I had been growing before the war started. It'll be nice to see it again, to check on the plants and make sure everything is still thriving. I'll visit the market stalls and maybe even catch up with a person or two, the few who haven't been sent off to the front lines.

But the truth is, the place that feels most like home to me right now is wherever Kushina-shishou is. My boys, Gai and Genma. It's in this camp as long as they were here, this life we've carved out for ourselves in the middle of a warzone. It's strange how that happens, how you start to feel more rooted in a place of battle and uncertainty than in the village that raised you.

Although I suppose as long as Shishou and my boys come back with me, Konoha can feel like home again eventually…

"Tomorrow, huh?" I say, my voice soft as I rest my head against her shoulder, letting myself relax fully. Not something I ever really do other than near her, because even in camp, there's always a risk of an Infiltrator or saboteur ruining your day, so there is never any real time to fully relax.

Kushina-shishou pulls me tighter, as if she can sense the shift in my mood. "Yep. Finally. We've been granted a good chunk of mandatory leave, so you'll have time to rest and recover. Eat proper food. Spend time with your plants," She adds with a wink, knowing how much I've missed my greenhouse.

I chuckle lightly at that. "I'll definitely be doing that."

Kushina leans back, studying me closely. Her face softens, and for a moment, the exuberance dims just a little. "You've grown so much, Inohana," She says quietly, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "I'm proud of you, you know that? You've come so far since we started."

Her words stir something deep inside me. A mixture of pride and something else - something harder to place. This year has been hell at times. Between Orochimaru's brutal missions, the constant fighting, and the endless cycle of survival, I've had to grow. I've had to become stronger, harder. But I haven't done it alone. I've had Kushina-shishou and my team to anchor me, to keep me from losing myself in the chaos of war.

I nod, my throat tight. "I couldn't have done it without you, Shishou."

She gives me a watery smile, pulling me back into a tight hug. "We're a team, Ino-chan. Always."

For a few moments, we just sit there, holding onto each other as the noise of the camp swirls around us. It's chaotic, the sounds of soldiers moving, the clang of metal, the low hum of conversation. But none of that matters right now. All that matters is this - the warmth of Kushina's arms around me, the steady beat of her heart against mine. This is what I've come to think of as home.

Finally, she pulls back and stands, dusting herself off with a grin. "C'mon, let's go grab something to eat before they run out of decent food." She offers me a hand, helping me to my feet.

I smile and take her hand, letting her pull me up. As we walk back toward the mess tent, I feel lighter, like a weight has been lifted from my chest. I know the war isn't over. I know we'll be back out here soon enough, facing danger again. But for now, for these brief moments, we have each other. And that's enough.

As we near the tent, I glance sideways at Kushina. She's already talking animatedly again, no doubt planning what she'll do with her time off. I listen with half an ear, my mind wandering to the idea of returning to Konoha. The thought feels strange, foreign even.

Home, I think again. It's not a place. It's the people who fill it.

We step into the mess tent, the scent of hot food hitting me immediately. I'm hungry, I realize. Starving, actually. I hadn't even noticed how low my energy had gotten until now. Kushina is already at the counter, bantering with the Akimichi chef again, her voice carrying over the clatter of plates.

I linger at the entrance for a moment, watching her laugh and tease the chef about ramen, her vibrant personality lighting up the space around her. It's a strange thing, being able to feel safe in the middle of a war. But with her here, with my team nearby, I do feel safe. More than that, I feel… At peace.

I smile to myself, following her inside.

Tomorrow, we'll head back to Konoha. We'll rest, recover, and prepare for whatever comes next. But no matter where we go, no matter where we end up, this is home. Right here, in this moment.

I can be happy here.

＊＊＊

The next day, Konoha war camp.

We slip into the large mass of shinobi heading home, a wave of bodies moving as one. It's surreal, almost peaceful, the steady rhythm of footfalls and the rustling of packs the only sounds as we make our way through the forest. Our replacements arrived in the night, an entirely new group of faces stepping in to continue the fight. I can't help but feel a little guilty, leaving them to the war. But we've earned this break. And maybe it'll do more good for us in the long run to step away for a while.

Gai and Genma are practically buzzing with excitement beside me, their energy contagious. Gai can barely contain his youthful vigor, his grin almost splitting his face in half. Genma, ever the more laid-back of the two, still has that twitch of excitement in his eye, and it's hard to miss how his step is lighter. Kushina-shishou is running behind them, ruffling their hair with her usual fondness as she talks, laughing at Gai's enthusiastic plans for their time off.

I, however, am not nearly as foolish as my teammates. I keep my hair well out of fondling distance. I've worked hard to cultivate it, and while I might still look like a child compared to my more developed kunoichi peers, at least I have my hair. The carefully hidden seals and poisoned senbon woven into my locks ensure that no enemy - or overly affectionate mentor - can use it against me. At least, not for very long.

Kushina-shishou is unfortunately all too capable still.

The Jounin in charge makes the call, and we all pull our packs or storage scrolls into place, moving now at a brisk shinobi pace. We flit through the trees, a mass of bodies moving with precision and silent efficiency. The forest blurs past us in streaks of green and brown, and I fall into step next to Kushina-shishou, her chakra a warm, comforting presence that I can feel even at this speed. It's been a long time since we've been able to travel like this - no rush to battle, no desperate escape from the front lines. Just… Going home.

I glance up at her, noticing the slight smile playing at the corner of her lips as she moves. "Minato on another rotation?" I ask, keeping my tone light. I know better than to get my hopes up, but still, I hope for her sake she'll get some time with him.

Her smile grows, and she glances down at me, her eyes twinkling. "He's actually back already," She says, her voice filled with a warmth that makes me smile. "We'll get a week before he's off to the front again."

I'm genuinely happy for her. I know how much she's sacrificed for me - how much time she's spent away from him to fight for me, to protect me. Sometimes, I wonder if I'm worth all the trouble I've caused her. But looking up at her now, seeing the happiness in her eyes, I know that whatever doubts I have, Kushina-shishou doesn't share them.

"So…" I smirk, letting the teasing slip into my voice. "What you're saying is I need to make sure the silencing seals are all charged and up to date."

Her smirk is immediate, and I know I've walked into a trap. "How cute," She says, looking far too amused for my comfort. "You think we're going to limit ourselves to the bedroom, dattebane!"

She does a twirl in the air, jumping over a branch, sticking out her chest with a wink at me, "As a favor to you, we'll leave you your bedroom and the bathroom as ~sanctuary."

I roll my eyes, trying to suppress the grin pulling at my lips. Honestly, sometimes I wonder who's the adult in this relationship. But I can't deny that our teasing back and forth has lifted my spirits. It's been a long, hard year, and this brief moment of happiness, of normalcy, is like a breath of fresh air.

"Keep it up, and you'll have little Uzumakis running around everywhere," I quip, unable to resist.

Her smile softens into something more genuine, and she brushes against me as we leap across the trees. "Hmm, maybe," She teases back, her voice warm and affectionate. "Now that they'll have a cool big sister to look after them."

I can feel my face heat up at the sheer warmth in her tone, and I turn my head away, pretending to focus on the path ahead. Damn it, Kushina-shishou! Don't say stuff like that when you're practically radiating love through your chakra! I can feel it like a warm blanket smothering me, and for a moment, I'm lost in how much I adore this woman. How much I owe her.

Desperate to change the subject, I fish for something else to talk about. My usual silence has been replaced by a sudden need to fill the space with words. "So, how's the war going?" I ask, and the moment the words leave my mouth, I wince. Great subject, Inohana. Really smooth.

Kushina-shishou gives me a dry look, one eyebrow raised. "Really, Inohana?"

I shrug weakly. "I've been out of the loop for two weeks in the rear," I defend myself, though I know it's a weak excuse.

She snorts, rolling her eyes. "Ugh, fine, dattebane!" She falls silent for a moment, her expression turning more serious. Finally, she sighs. "Not so good, you know… We have the quality, but we're being pressed by too much quantity all around."

I grimace at that. It's something I've worried about, even though we're supposed to win according to the memories I have of canon. But this is real life, not a story. Butterflies can happen, and some things are already different - Dan is alive, for one. There's no guarantee things will play out the way they're supposed to.

Logically speaking, Konoha shouldn't win this war. Three villages against us, and tepid support from the last, allied to us, shouldn't be enough.

"Kiri is really being an issue right now," Kushina-shishou continues, her voice taking on an edge of anger. "They're hampering trade with their raids and kidnapping Fire residents when they make it to the mainland, bringing them back as slaves…" She shakes her head, "They're going to bring the Fire Daimyo into it if they keep pushing."

I stay silent, regretting bringing the subject up. I know how much Kiri has cost her - how much she's lost to them. The sack of Uzushio still haunts her, and while other villages were involved, Kiri was the main aggressor. The thought of them enslaving and raiding again must be infuriating for her.

"Sorry, Shishou," I say quietly, feeling bad for bringing it up.

She gives me a small, sad smile, shaking her head. "Ah, it's nothing, Inohana, sweetie." Then, with a sudden burst of energy, she pumps her fist into the air. "We'll beat them back into the sea, you'll see! We might be struggling right now, but Konoha never gives up!"

I bite back my automatic response. Saying 'fuck Konoha' in the middle of a column of Leaf shinobi probably isn't the best idea. Instead, I just give her a supportive, if weak, smile.

"Don't worry, Ino," She says again, more softly this time. "We'll be fine."

Then, of course, her smirk returns, and I know I'm not out of the woods yet. "Start worrying about how much I'll embarrass you at your birthday party instead…"

I give her a deadly look. "Shishou, no!"

She gives me that pleased, self-satisfied look that always spells trouble for me. "Shishou, yes!" She says smugly. "You have to have a birthday party. It's in the rules."

I groan, already dreading the idea. "Where are these rules?" I ask dryly, hoping to steer her away from the inevitable disaster that will be her planning a party for me.

She straightens up proudly, her speed picking up as we leap from tree to tree. "In the big book of 'because I said so!'" She proclaims.

I think she fully deserves the chakra threads I shoot out, wrapping them around her ankle and tugging just hard enough to make her slam face-first into a tree. Only possible because she had been in no way expecting it.

Really, what did she expect saying something like that?

Even if I had to break the land-speed record to Konoha to avoid death after…

Still so worth it.

＊＊＊

A few days later, I find myself trapped in the very situation I had desperately tried to avoid - my birthday party. Somehow, Kushina-shishou has managed to book an entire training ground for the occasion, which means this is no small affair. Practically everyone has been invited. I don't even know half of these people!

I mean, sure, I know of some of them, but actually knowing them? That's another story. Sitting here, staring out at the crowd, I spot the likes of Yuhi Kurenai, Sarutobi Asuma, Uchiha Obito, and Rin - who, now that I think about it, I don't even know her last name. Kakashi is also here, looking as grumpy as I feel, which I find mildly comforting.

Because fuck him.

There are also a ton of adults, many from clans, and I will reiterate this - I have no idea who the hell any of these people are.

Even Tsunade is in attendance, along with her little shadow, Shizune, though Dan is still at the frontlines. Orochimaru-sensei, thankfully, is absent as well. Small mercies, I suppose. I can only imagine the sheer mortification of having him present at this… Travesty. My team, of course, is here - Gai, Genma - and the culprits behind this whole event, Kushina-shishou and Minato. How they managed to pull this off while getting so many people who have no real reason to be here is beyond me.

I sigh, tugging at the silly party hat that's been forced onto my head, trying to maintain what little dignity I have left. Mikoto sits beside me at the head table, her presence a small reprieve from the overwhelming crowd. At least she's cool. I tell her as much as I sink into my chair, arms crossed and scowling at the world.

She titters, hiding her mouth behind her hand like she always does when she finds something amusing. "Oh dear, Inohana, who do you think organized all of this? Surely you didn't think it was Kushina?"

I narrow my eyes at her, feeling utterly betrayed. "Traitor," I hiss, but before I can muster a more scathing reply, Hanako - my ever-hungry snake summon - slides off from where she's been lounging around my neck and launches herself straight at the cake.

With gusto.

Poor cake, it never stood a chance.

"There are no traitors," Hanako says sagely between bites, "There is only cake."

I roll my eyes but can't help the small smile tugging at my lips. Mikoto chuckles softly, her eyes glittering with amusement.

Around us, the party seems to be in full swing. Kushina-shishou, in all her chaotic glory, is darting around between tables, talking to everyone and keeping the energy up. Her laughter rings out over the crowd, infectious as always, and I can tell she's in her element.

I, on the other hand, am just trying to survive this without offending anyone important. I know my sometimes acerbic personality isn't for everyone.

Every few minutes, someone I barely know comes up to me, offering congratulations or teasing me about getting older. I try my best to remain polite, but the effort is starting to wear on me. Yuhi Kurenai comes over next, a shy smile on her face as she hands me a small wrapped gift. "Happy birthday, Inohana," She says softly. "I hope you like it."

Thank you person I barely know. I want to say, but don't.

I thank her politely, offering a half-smile in return as I accept the gift. I wasn't exactly expecting presents, but I suppose it's the norm for this kind of thing. Asuma comes by next, leaning casually against the table with a lazy grin on his face.

"Can't believe the little genius gets to suffer like the rest of us." He says, smirking as he folds his arms across his chest. "Never thought I'd see the day."

I sigh. "Trust me, Sarutobi, this was not my choice."

He laughs, clapping me on the shoulder before wandering off to join Kurenai and a few others. Next comes Obito and Rin, Obito practically bouncing on his feet with excitement. Bakashi's team…

"Inohana-chan! Happy birthday!" Obito shouts, grinning like a fool. "How old are you now? Ten? Eleven?"

"Very funny, Uchiha," I say dryly. "I'm seven and a half, thank you very much." Don't be so familiar, dolt, I don't even know you…

"Seven and a half! You're practically a baby!" He teases, earning a smack from Rin, who looks horrified at his lack of tact.

"Obito!" She scolds, blushing slightly as she glances at me. "You don't just say things like that!"

I wave her off, not particularly bothered, I'd have to care about this idiot to care about what he says. "It's fine, Rin, right? I'm used to idiots like this."

Obito sticks his tongue out at Rin before turning back to me. "Anyway, we got you something!" He pulls a small package out of his pouch and hands it to me with a flourish. "It's nothing big, but I think you'll like it!"

Did this idiot just blow past me calling him an idiot?

I raise an eyebrow but take the gift, feeling the weight of it in my hands. "Thanks. I'll open it later."

He nods enthusiastically, but before I can say anything else, Kakashi appears, hovering at the edge of the table with his usual bored expression. He hasn't said much all party, and I'm sure he's trying to avoid interacting with anyone more than necessary. Still, it wouldn't be a gathering if Kakashi didn't at least throw some shade.

Especially now that he was the all mighty Chuunin, and therefore 'theoretically' superior to me.

Tsk, like acing a Konoha Chuunin Exam is even hard… Not that I want to be Chuunin this early, that just sounds like a hassle… Even if it might get me away from Orochimaru-Sensei, yet… He's almost not been bad this past year.

Before he can say something dumb, I speak up, his teammates still in front of me, "Kakashi," I say with a smirk. "You really are the kind of loser who just stands in a corner at gatherings, aren't you?" I tease, "At least your teammates have some decorum."

Rin looks absolutely mortified, Obito if anything looking excited.

His eye narrows, the glare sharp enough to cut through steel. "Are you trying to start something?" He asks, his voice a low challenge. "Because maybe this party would finally be interesting in that case."

I grin, leaning forward in my seat. "Oh, is that an offer? Come at me, bro." I say, knowing he's been at the Kumo front lately, I follow up with a come here gesture with one hand.

Gai, of course, perks up immediately at the idea of a spar, his ever-youthful enthusiasm bursting forth. "YOSH! A friendly spar is just the ticket to enhance the springtime of YOUTH!" He declares, pumping his fists into the air as if this is the most exciting thing that's ever happened.

I roll my eyes. How Gai still has this much energy, even after everything we've been through under Orochimaru-sensei, is beyond me. You'd think the constant death missions would have taken the wind out of him at least a little bit, but no. Gai just keeps going.

As if to prove my point, Gai suddenly leaps forward and punches Asuma square in the face, sending him stumbling back in surprise. "A true test of our youth!" Gai shouts triumphantly.

I can't help but let out a laugh, that is so Gai! And at least now, if I punch Kakashi in the face, I technically didn't start all of it. Thank you, Gai.

Asuma groans, rubbing his jaw. "What the hell, Gai?" He grumbles, glaring at him.

Kurenai, who's been watching from a safe distance, immediately begins weaving hand seals, clearly intending to defend her friend. But before she can complete the jutsu, Genma flicks a few senbon her way, forcing her to abort the technique and dodge.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Kushina-shishou shouts, standing up from her spot near the table. "No! This is not party behavior!"

Mikoto, having moved by now to sit next to her, smirks as she sips her tea. "You know, for shinobi, it kind of is," She says with a demure laugh.

Minato just sighs, shaking his head as he watches the chaos unfold. "Yeah, I'm not surprised." He says with resignation, watching Kakashi.

Kakashi, who's been standing idly by, suddenly lunges at me, his eyes gleaming with intent. He moves fast, but I'm faster. I don't even bother getting up from my seat; I just smile at him sweetly, extending a single hand in his direction. My chakra threads, nearly invisible in the daylight, wrap around his ankles with precision, ensnaring him before he can even touch me.

Kakashi stumbles, and to everyone's surprise - especially his - he face-plants right into the table with a loud thud.

The entire group freezes, even Gai stopping mid-fight to stare at the scene. Asuma and Kurenai both pause, shock written on their faces as they take in the sight of Kakashi sprawled across the table, his face buried in a bowl of rice.

Obito is practically suffocating; he's laughing so hard, Rin's face red as she slaps at him, to absolutely no effect.

I lean forward, propping my chin on my hand as I look down at him, my voice dripping with mock concern. "My, how clumsy, Kakashi," I purr, my lips curling into a smirk. "Do you need assistance? Maybe a seeing-eye dog for your fights?"

Obito immediately bursts into more laughter at that, clutching his sides as he howls. Rin is still busy smacking him on the shoulder, desperately trying to get him to stop. "Obito! Stop it!" She hisses, though her own lips twitch in amusement, even as she sends some worried looks towards Kakashi.

Gai's mutter of training his face by slamming it into tables is almost enough for me to break my composure and break out laughing myself.

Okay, so maybe the birthday party isn't so bad after all.

Kakashi, meanwhile, slowly peels himself off the table, his eyes blazing with fury and some embarrassment. A thin trickle of blood drips down his face from where his face has collided with the edge of a bowl, and he glares at me with a look that promises death.

"You're dead," He growls, his voice rough with barely restrained anger.

I smile sweetly at him, not at all intimidated. "Try not to hit the table this time," I suggest, still leaning casually in my seat.

We're both the geniuses that graduated the youngest ever, but I have advantages he hasn't had, amongst them now - larger chakra reserves - but most importantly.

I have versatility. Something I know he doesn't have yet. Not enough.

He'll still slaughter me in Taijutsu, but that just means I need to avoid engaging him in it.

Kakashi's eyes twitches at my words. His face still carries a trace of blood from where he smashed into the table, and I can feel his chakra simmering, just beneath the surface. He's trying hard not to lash out, but I know I've crossed the line, and honestly? I couldn't care less. I wanted this party to get interesting, and this - oh, this is exactly what I needed.

Kushina-shishou is still watching with exasperation, her hands resting on her hips as she looks from me to Kakashi like we're misbehaving children. "Inohana… Kakashi…" She starts, her voice edged with warning, but I can see that gleam in her eyes that tells me she's a little entertained at least.

Or more resigned.

See, even Uzumaki's can learn. I don't know what the hell was wrong with Naruto. Retardation didn't come from these parents.

Before she can finish her lecture, Gai - predictably - jumps in. "YOUTHFUL FRIENDS!" He shouts, his voice full of enthusiasm as he pumps his fists. "Let your flames of rivalry BURN BRIGHTLY!" He jumps up, landing between Kakashi and me, his wide grin never faltering as he throws an arm over Kakashi's shoulder. "A friendly spar is just what we need to invigorate our spirits!"

Kakashi shrugs Gai's arm off, stepping forward with a cold intensity I'm used to seeing from him. His fake nonchalance is completely gone, replaced by sharp focus. It's almost eerie, how quiet and calm he's being now. His gaze locks onto mine, and I know what's coming next.

"Enough games, Inohana," He says, his voice low. "Let's settle this, make it interesting, you against me."

My smirk only grows wider. "Interesting? What, are you actually planning to try this time, Bakashi?" I tease, leaning back in my chair, not bothering to move just yet. I want him to come to me. I want to play.

The crowd around us has shifted from mild concern to full-on entertainment mode. Even Kurenai, who was moments ago about to throw up a defensive jutsu for Asuma to protect him from Gai's enthusiasm, is watching with curious eyes. Rin is still fretting over Obito, who hasn't stopped laughing since Kakashi's mishap with the table. And Genma, standing off to the side, has that damn senbon twirling between his fingers as he watches with a bemused grin.

Kushina-shishou sighs loudly, rubbing her temples. "You kids… This is supposed to be a party, not a battlefield, Dattebane!" She grumbles, but I know her too well. She's not really mad. The corner of her mouth twitches, betraying her amusement.

Mikoto watches from the edge of the clearing, a sly smile on her face as she raises an eyebrow. "This is what happens when you throw a party for shinobi," She says with a soft chuckle. "What did you expect?"

Minato, ever the calm and collected one, just gives Kushina a resigned look. "You know she's right. You put this many ninjas in one place, something was bound to happen."

Asuma, still rubbing his jaw where Gai clocked him earlier, grins. "I'm just surprised it took this long." He adds to it, getting an annoyed look from Kurenai.

Meanwhile, Kakashi is inching closer, his hands loose but ready. "No more cheap shots, Inohana," He says, his tone light but the threat is there. "Let's see how you do when you're not sitting down and cheating, get up and fight me."

I shrug, maintaining my position in the chair. "Says the guy who face-planted into his food without me even getting up." I say sweetly.

"This is the best day of my life!" Obito manages to wheeze out.

Kakashi's eyes narrow dangerously, and without another word, he charges at me. He's fast, of course, but I'm faster at other things, I don't even bother getting out of my seat; I just smile and flick my wrist, sending out my chakra threads. They whip out toward him, nearly invisible, but he's already learned his lesson. He leaps into the air, avoiding my initial strike.

Heading straight for me, leg prepared to sweep me out of my chair.

Exactly as I expected.

Which is why I used a seal-less substitution jutsu a minute ago, and have had him talking to my Genjutsu, everyone near us caught in it.

The adults probably allow it just for amusement.

As Kakashi flips through the air, leg slamming down through my chakra construct, shattering a poor innocent chair, my chakra threads lying in wait split and fan out, ensnaring his legs again, before he can fully avoid them. With a sharp tug, I yank him back to the ground, and he lands flat on his back, just in front of the table.

Too boot, I add a Genjutsu of myself throwing myself down on him WWE style, and he flinches, arms flying up, before realizing it was a Genjutsu, twitching in annoyance at being fooled again.

The crowd gasps, a few snickers breaking out among the onlookers, and I finally stand up, from another chair, across the table, stepping over to him with a satisfied smirk. I have to enjoy it while I can. Kakashi being such a little ass, will probably be eating up everything on anti-Genjutsu he can find from now on.

"You should really pay more attention, Kakashi," I say, my voice dripping with mock sympathy. "Not everyone's gonna wait for you to finish showing off." I wink at him, "Also, what did that chair ever do to you?" I point to where I was sitting after the substitution, "I was over here, silly."

He doesn't move for a second, and for a moment, I think I've won already, embarrassed him enough. But then, before I can react, he rolls to the side, grabbing my ankle in a quick, fluid motion. I feel my balance shift and realize, too late, that he's trying to pull me down with him. His eye gleams with triumph as I stumble, but I catch myself just in time, using my chakra threads to anchor myself by flinging them out to the table and nearby trees to hold me upright.

I twist out of his grip, hopping back a few feet as he stands, brushing dirt off his clothes. "You've gotten better," He admits, his voice begrudging but genuine.

I shrug again, still smirking. "I know."

The rest of the group is watching intently now, and I can feel their eyes on us as Kakashi and I circle each other. Gai is practically vibrating with excitement, his fists clenched in anticipation. "YES! THE FLAMES OF YOUTH ARE BURNING BRIGHTLY!" He shouts, jumping up and down like a kid on sugar.

Genma, on the other hand, is still lounging against a tree, watching us with half-lidded eyes. "This is gonna be good," He mutters, the senbon still spinning lazily between his fingers. "Kakashi, if I were you, I'd just give up right now.."

Kushina-shishou, despite her earlier protests, is watching closely now, her lips curved into a proud smile. I can tell she's pleased with how much I've improved. Minato on the other hand is looking to the sky, like he can already feel how much of a headache future training sessions with team 7 will be after this.

I'd apologize, but really, Kakashi at this time is 100 percent pure dick. So I don't want to.

Maybe beating his face in will make him accept his team? I glance at Obito… Maybe not.

"You're not gonna pull any more tricks, are you?" Kakashi asks, narrowing his eyes at me.

"Of course not," I reply innocently, fluttering my eyelashes. "When have I ever played dirty?"

He doesn't answer, but the look on his face says it all. He knows better than to trust that.

Good. We're fucking Shinobi, why the hell would I stop pulling dirty tricks?

We move again, this time more cautiously. Kakashi's circling me, looking for an opening, but I'm not giving him one. My chakra strings are ready, just waiting for the moment when he makes a move. He knows I'm baiting him, but he can't help it. He hates losing.

He darts forward suddenly, faster this time, aiming low to sweep my legs out from under me. But I'm already moving, flipping over him with a burst of chakra-enhanced speed. I land lightly behind him, and before he can turn, I send out my chakra threads again, wrapping them around his arms. This time, I don't let him escape. I pull, hard, and his arms snap to his sides, trapping him in place.

Am I being a real one trick pony right now? Yes. Do I want to show all my skills to all these contemporaries and all the adults who I don't know who the fuck they are? No.

Plus whatever I don't show, Kakashi can't prepare for when his pride makes him come back and try again, and again.

I'm gonna give this kid a fucking complex, and I'm here for it.

Kakashi grunts, struggling against the bindings, but I've got him. His chakra flares as he tries to break free, but I hold firm, tightening the threads just enough to keep him from moving without actually hurting him. It takes a lot of chakra to beat out his flares, hardening my chakra strings like this isn't easy.

But it's worth it in this instance. Besides, even if I run low eventually, it's not like this is an actual battle situation, so no better time to waste chakra.

"You're getting sloppy, Bakashi," I taunt, stepping closer to him, but still keeping a wary eye for any surprises. "Maybe you're not as good as you think you are?"

He knows he'll have me beat in Taijutsu, hence why he keeps trying to rush me and put me on the backfoot, thinking it's the best way. He'd just miscalculated, thinking I couldn't stop him from doing so.

Fair fight?

Never heard of it. Sounds stupid.

He glares at me, his eyes blazing with defiance. "You think this is over?"

Minato mutters to Kushina-shishou, just barely audible to me, "This is the most I've heard him say to another kid since I got him…"

"Young love…" Kushina-shishou sighs, and both Kakashi and I stare at her in abject disgust. What the fuck, shishou!?

Eventually I tilt my head down at Kakashi again, pretending to consider his words. "Well, I did tie you up, and you haven't been able to break free yet. So yeah, I think it is."

His gaze sharpens, and for a split second, I can see the calculation in his eyes. Before I can react, he flexes his chakra again, absolutely blasting his reserves, going harder this time, and I feel the threads begin to strain under the pressure. My eyes widen, realizing too late that he's been holding back his chakra. He channels more chakra into his arms, and with a sharp twist, he breaks free, the force of his movement sending me stumbling back.

Kakashi doesn't waste a second. He's on me before I can regain my balance, his hand coming up in a blur of motion. I barely manage to block, but the impact sends a shockwave up my arm. His strength is no joke, and I can feel the weight of it in every strike.

We trade blows for a few seconds, the sound of our fists connecting echoing through the clearing. The crowd around us is silent now, watching with bated breath as we move in sync, neither of us willing to back down.

But I can feel it. He's stronger, faster, more experienced in these kinds of fights. If this keeps up, he'll win by sheer endurance alone.

So I change tactics.

As he comes in for another strike, I feint to the side, letting his fist pass by harmlessly. Then, in the same motion, I send out a burst of chakra from my palm, pushing him back just enough to give me some space. He staggers, surprised by the sudden shift, and that's when I make my move.

I don't bother going fancy with this Genjutsu, I simply attach to his chakra system with my strings, and alter his perception slightly, while pulling senbon loose from my hair, behind my back, other chakra strings loosening some of the seals hidden within my hair as well, the seals floating ready behind me, out of his sight.

As Kakashi spits out several small fireballs to limit my movements as he rushes in again, and how exactly does he do that with his mask? I get into the rhythm of dodging, while not allowing his altered perception to change anything. Yet.

As soon as we get into a rhythm however, Kakashi gets lost in the battle, pressing me hard, I push on the Genjutsu, allowing myself just a second of leeway as he punches where there's nothing, having seen me lean slightly left, as I actually lean right.

In that second, my senbon in my offhand flick forward, sinking into his neck, the knockout drug immediately getting to work.

But since there's no such kill as overkill, as his eyes bulge as he glared at me, already woozy, my seal tags fly over my shoulder, slapping him in the face, and then he's out, crumpling to the ground.

I smile at his teammates.

"When he wakes up, be nice and tell him for me that he was a better challenge a year ago…"

Really, I knew he was better than this, but he had allowed himself to put me in a box, and to not react to the obvious differences… Well…

I guess he was still kid Kakashi, full of ego and belief in his superiority compared to 'regular' Genin.

Obito just continues to laugh as he slaps his knees pointing at Kakashi.

I'm sure that will only end well for team 7.

＊＊＊

The next day, Konoha.

Stepping into my greenhouse, I immediately feel the weight of the last few days and weeks and maybe even the last year - lift off my shoulders. The smell of earth, herbs, and the sharp tang of the more dangerous plants fills my lungs, grounding me in a way that little else can. This place feels more like a sanctuary than anywhere else bar Kushina-shishou's home - far more than the compound full of people I actively avoid. I shut the door behind me, already shaking off the annoyance from yet another awkward encounter with my family.

At least my father hadn't been around… My fault anyway for foolishly not using the secret entrance. I can only blame a lowered mental capacity from being around Kakashi and Obito lately.

"Overgrowth... Great," I mutter under my breath, eyeing the thick tangle of vines in the back corner and the absolute mess in other parts of the greenhouse, specifically the most dangerous parts. It's clear that the Genin I'd hired to check on the greenhouse and maintain it, didn't dare venture into certain areas.

To be fair, I can't entirely blame them. Most of what I grow back there is lethal, and if you don't know how to handle it, you're dead before you can even realize you've made a mistake. But still, for all the D-rank mission pay I've been throwing their way, they could've at least tried to trim back some of the safer plants. I probably should have paid a C-rank, something to keep in mind for next time.

I drop my bag by the door and roll up my sleeves. It doesn't matter. I'm here now, and nothing feels better than sinking my hands into the dirt and getting to work.

Kneeling down, I dig my fingers into the soil, uncaring about the dirt streaking my knees. In the quiet of my greenhouse, the noise of the world falls away. My mind goes into a calm, meditative state as I tend to the plants, pruning where needed and coaxing those that have grown wild back into their proper places. Vines, leaves, and flowers respond to my touch, as if recognizing the careful attention I give them. Some of the plants sway slightly, almost as if they're happy to see me.

The slow rhythm of the work feels like a balm, and I let myself relax. It's been over a year since I last had the time to really care for these plants - months and months spent in battles and missions, pushing myself to the limit. In here, it's just me and my plants. I don't have to think about the war. I don't have to worry about the village or my team or whether I'll still be alive in another week. Here, I can just exist.

I work through the rows methodically, trimming leaves, cutting stems, and gathering what I'll need for my poisons. My stock has dwindled in recent months. I've been too far from home, too far from the tools and ingredients I need to keep everything in tip-top shape. The poison-soaked senbon I keep hidden in my hair were down to just basic Konoha toxins - the kind any medic-nin could fix without breaking a sweat. The next batch will be different. Something... Special. If I have to fight again soon, I'll make sure I have the advantage.

Somehow, men in particular, just love trying to pull my hair in battle. It's not ended well for them.

As I snip a few particularly delicate leaves from one of the deadliest plants in my collection, I pause. The brush of the plant's lethal leaves against my skin doesn't faze me at all. In fact, it's almost funny to think how much time I spent training for poison immunity - only for the snake contract to essentially make me invulnerable to nearly all of them. Orochimaru-sensei's deal had unexpected perks, and I wasn't complaining. But still, some of those training sessions had been a nightmare back then.

"I should probably remind Shishou not to ruffle my hair next time," I mutter to myself, smirking at the thought. Sure, the poisoned senbon in my hair haven't been lethal to her yet, but after this batch... Yeah, she'll want to be more careful.

Hours pass, but I barely notice. I work in a trance, moving from plant to plant. Each one has its needs, its quirks, and I tend to them like I always do - with the care and precision that most shinobi reserve for their weapons. To me, these plants are just as deadly as any kunai or shuriken. And they're mine.

When everything is finally pruned, trimmed, and in order, I step back, surveying the space. My greenhouse is a mix of beauty and danger. Vibrant flowers grow next to vines that could kill someone in seconds with their sap. Herbs that could purge a person's deepest toxins, sit next to leaves that could kill in an instant. It's a balance I've cultivated carefully over the years, and it's one I'm proud of.

I wipe my hands on my pants, not caring about the smudges of dirt. My work here is done for now, but I still have more to do.

Moving over to a corner partitioned off from the rest of the greenhouse, I strip down without a second thought, tossing my clothes aside as I step into the decontamination shower. The warm water sluices down over me, washing away the dirt and toxins from the plants. I feel the tension in my muscles start to ease as the steam rises, and for a brief moment, I allow myself to enjoy it. I take my time, making sure every inch of me is scrubbed clean before stepping out.

The cool air hits my skin, but I barely notice. Wrapping a towel around myself, I make my way into the small office I've set up inside the greenhouse. I plop down at the desk, still damp but too impatient to care. I reach up to my arm, swiping my chakra across the Senbonzakura seal etched into my skin. The seal hums to life, and I allow just a trickle of chakra to flow into it, releasing the tiny leaves I haven't finished working on yet.

Hundreds of razor-sharp leaves flutter out, swirling around me in a deadly little dance before they settle on the desk. Each one is as strong as steel, but they're still incomplete. They need seals - exploding seals, knockout seals, maybe even some barrier seals. I haven't decided yet how much I'll add in the end. But the tools are laid out before me, and I tie up my hair, sitting forward as I pick up the looking glass to enhance my vision.

It's delicate work, painting seals onto something as small as these leaves. But my skill has grown over the past year, thanks to the time I've spent with Kushina-shishou. She's taught me things about sealing that I never would've thought possible. Exploding tags? Easy. Knockout tags? Simple. I can do all that without even thinking. But what I really want to master is compression sealing.

I let out a frustrated grumble as I carefully paint the first seal onto a leaf. Compression sealing... Now that's where the real power lies.

Kushina-shishou can do it effortlessly. She can paint entire rooms full of seals, then shrink them down into a few tiny lines. It makes the seals impossible to read or copy unless you're a seal master, and it's one of the reasons why the Uzumaki clan was so feared. But me? I'm still miles away from that level. I can barely compress a basic seal, let alone something complex like a barrier.

Although I at least have smoke tags and some barrier tags under my belt now, pitiful for an Uzumaki, but in Konoha that makes me part of the top tier.

It's annoying. No, it's more than annoying - it's downright frustrating. I know I'm improving, but every time I see Kushina-shishou work her magic, it feels like I'm a kid playing with finger paints while she's crafting masterpieces. The Uzumaki are ridiculous. OP doesn't even begin to cover it.

I hunger for being able to do some of the things she can do, like paint seals in the air. Like sealing things using nothing but her fingers and chakra… She's honestly ridiculous.

I finish the first seal and move on to the next, carefully adjusting the leaf under the looking glass. At least I'm getting faster, I think, trying to focus on the positives.

But no matter how hard I try to push the frustration away, it lingers. I'm getting stronger, yes. My chakra reserves are growing, my control is as sharp as ever, and my jutsu are improving. But... Something about this place, about Konoha, is starting to grate on me. It's not something I've ever said out loud I think, but... I'm beginning to realize just how much I dislike this village.

Not the people I care about, not my team or Kushina-shishou. But Konoha as a whole? The way the Hokage and the village treat those of us who don't come from powerful clans? It's hard to stomach. If it weren't for Kushina-shishou and my boys, I don't think I'd even want to be here anymore. But where else would I go? The other villages are worse, after all.

I shake my head, trying to clear the thoughts away. There's no point in dwelling on it. There's nothing I can do about it, and focusing on things I can't change is a waste of time. I still have seals to paint.

I huff out a breath, returning my attention to the leaves in front of me. The lantern flickers slightly, casting shadows across the greenhouse, but I don't notice. My focus narrows to the delicate lines of the seal I'm painting, the rest of the world falling away once more.

I continue working well into the night, the single lantern glowing softly through the greenhouse.

＊＊＊

Several days later,

Blindfolded and breathless, I leap from tree branch to tree branch, feeling the rush of wind as another blunted weapon whizzes past my ear. The sound of it is sharp, too close, and I hear it clang against a rock outcropping as I twist midair, barely missing another kunai aimed at my ribs. My feet land for a split second on the thick bark of a tree before I spring off again.

"Gai! Duck!" I shout, sensing the trajectory of the next kunai headed toward him based on the feel of the clone and how it aimed its arm, my chakra sensing working overtime, picking up the tiniest details. I don't need my eyes to know he's grinning like a madman. The guy lives for this kind of training.

"YOSH!" Gai shouts, his voice full of that usual youthful exuberance. I hear the thud of his body flipping in midair as he dodges only some of the incoming projectiles. "Feel the burn of youth, comrades! The longer we push, the stronger we become!"

"Gai," I grunt, twisting to avoid another kunai aimed at my shin, "we've been doing this for three hours! How are you not even winded?" I'm not whining…

I'm not.

Genma, who is running just a few meters to my left, pants heavily, chiming in with a scoff. "Because he's a freak of nature, that's why." I can practically hear him roll his eyes, even though the blindfold covers his face. "One of these days, I'm going to tie him to a tree just to see if it's humanly possible to stop him from training."

"Challenge accepted!" Gai calls out, laughing joyfully. "A test of endurance, my friend! Whoever can stay tied to the tree longer without giving up wins!"

"Genma doesn't have the patience for that, Gai," I mutter, feeling the familiar ache in my muscles as I dodge another barrage of shuriken. "Besides, you're missing the point of tying you up."

Genma snorts. "If I win, I'll tie him to two trees."

"Can't argue with that logic," I smirk, ducking under a low branch as I dash across the pond's surface, using just enough chakra to skim the water. My feet tap against the surface, barely touching before I leap onto a nearby rock formation, only for a shuriken to come flying at me from the other direction.

We're not allowed to touch the ground for more than a second in this little exercise. Pure cruelty, really. The blindfold is just mean, Kushina-shishou…

I barely dodge the weapon as it ricochets off a nearby boulder. "Shishou's clone really isn't holding back, huh?"

"I expect no less from a woman as powerful as Kushina-sensei!" Gai declares, dodging a volley of kunai, mostly… "The test of our endurance is the ultimate challenge for the springtime of youth!"

"Maybe for you," Genma mutters, "I'm about five minutes away from finding a nice tree branch to collapse on, I won't even care if the Kunai find me."

"Don't even think about it," I warn him, pushing my chakra sense outward again, trying to anticipate the next strike from Kushina-shishou's clone. My senses spread out like a net, searching for the telltale flare of her chakra. But instead of another attack coming... Nothing.

The weapons stop.

I freeze, standing perfectly still on a tree branch. My heart skips a beat, and immediately I'm on edge. My chakra sense flares out wider, covering the entire training ground. That's when I catch it - the brief flicker of chakra smoke, the telltale sign of a shadow clone dispersing.

"Boys!" I call out, ripping off my blindfold. Genma and Gai are quick to follow, tearing theirs off as well. We land back-to-back in a triangle formation, scanning the training ground. Something is off. I can feel it, a prickling sensation crawling up my spine.

"What's going on?" Genma asks, voice low.

Before I can answer, a figure suddenly appears right in front of us, so silent and sudden that it takes everything in me not to jump. There, standing with her arms crossed, is Tsunade. The legendary slug princess looks tired, her hair a bit disheveled, but her aura of power is unmistakable. Even my chakra sense hadn't picked her up. Great.

Another Sannin who just no-sells my senses…

"Brat, brats teammates," She says simply, eyeing us. "I'm borrowing you for the day."

I blink, still catching up to the fact that Tsunade, of all people, is standing in front of us. Gai and Genma both seem shocked - Gai especially looks like he's about to start bouncing with excitement. He practically idolizes any and all powerful shinobi. Genma, on the other hand, looks like he's just realized he forgot something important and is trying to play it cool.

I tilt my head, squinting at Tsunade suspiciously. "Does Shishou know?" I ask dryly, gesturing to the spot where the shadow clone had dissolved just moments ago.

Tsunade crosses her arms, looking unimpressed. "She knows now," She says with a shrug. "Now let's go, brat, and bring your teammates."

Gai looks thrilled. "YOSH! Training with another Sannin! This is an honor, Lady Tsunade!"

Genma looks less enthusiastic but nods. "Guess we're in for it," He says, running a hand through his hair.

I, on the other hand, feel a pang of annoyance. I still haven't forgiven Tsunade for everything. But, as much as I don't want to admit it, I'm not going to turn down an opportunity for extra training from another Sannin. It's just... I'd rather be anywhere else than around her. Personal feelings don't belong in the mind of a kunoichi while at work though. I can deal.

So, I follow her without a word, and Gai and Genma do the same.

But my hopes for an intense training session die a quick death the moment we arrive at the hospital.

I narrow my eyes. "We're not training, are we?"

Tsunade gives me a sidelong glance. "No. You're fetching things for me." She doesn't even look guilty as she leads us into her office. "I've got a month's worth of paperwork to finish because I hadn't been assed to do it before and now they're bitching at me to get it done, and you're going to help me with it. You, brat," She points at me, "Will run errands around the hospital. Grab supplies, deliver messages, whatever I need."

Gai and Genma exchange confused glances, and I can already feel my chakra prickling with irritation. We're gophers? For the day? I wanted to train. But instead, I'm running around doing grunt work while Tsunade sits behind a desk.

With a sigh, I agree. Orders are orders, even when they're annoying. Maybe especially when they're annoying.

And thus begins the tedium.

I spend the next few hours running around the hospital like a glorified courier, grabbing stacks of paperwork, delivering supplies, and shuttling messages from one wing to another. The hospital is buzzing with activity, as it always is, but being surrounded by so many injured and dying people puts me on edge. My chakra sense keeps picking up the faint flares of pain and exhaustion from the patients around me, and I have to focus hard to block it out. It's overwhelming, like standing in the middle of a thunderstorm, except instead of rain, it's other people's suffering that's beating down on me.

Each time I step into Tsunade's office to deliver another report or retrieve another batch of files, I can feel the irritation bubbling beneath the surface. I shoot her an annoyed look, but she barely glances up from her desk, scribbling away on forms.

It's around the fifth trip into her office that she finally notices.

"You got something to say, brat?" She asks without looking up, her tone as dry as desert sand.

I hesitate for a moment but can't hold it back anymore. "I don't get why we're here doing this," I say bluntly. "You've got an entire hospital staff for errands. Why us?"

She sets down her pen and gestures me over. I cross the room warily, knowing better than to let my guard down around her. Tsunade looks me over, studying me with an intensity that makes me uncomfortable. Then, without a word, she raises one hand, and it begins to glow with that familiar green light - medical chakra.

Immediately, I backpedal, putting as much space between us as I can. "No way," I snap, "I'm not getting touched by that again. Last time I almost threw up my entire stomach."

She rolls her eyes. "Relax, brat. I'm not going to heal you. I'm showing you something. You're supposed to be the little genius, right? So use that brain of yours and pay attention."

I eye her warily, but my curiosity gets the better of me. Slowly, I inch closer, watching the way her chakra flares with the medical technique. It's so precise, so controlled, that I can't help but be impressed, despite my annoyance.

"This is the diagnostic jutsu," She says, her voice calm. "I'm sure you've seen it before, but here's something you don't know. Most med-nin use this at the surface level, but there are ways to push it further, to make it more sensitive. It takes more control than most people can handle. You think you can keep up?"

Her challenge stings my pride, and before I realize it, I'm stepping closer, nodding. "I can handle it."

Tsunade raises an eyebrow, smirking slightly. "We'll see."

The next few hours pass in a blur as Tsunade walks me through the ins and outs of the diagnostic jutsu. She's a surprisingly patient teacher, though she doesn't sugarcoat anything. Every time I make a mistake, she points it out with a sharp word, and I find myself grinding my teeth in frustration, but I push through. If there's one thing I'm good at, it's adapting.

I'm not interested in becoming a medic, but with Gai and Genma not interested either… Picking up a few things only makes sense.

"You're too tense," Tsunade mutters, watching as I attempt to channel medical chakra into my fingertips. "Your control's decent, perfect with normal chakra actually, but this isn't normal chakra, you're wasting too much energy switching. Precision is key. If you can't control your flow, you'll burn out before you even finish diagnosing your patient."

I take a breath, forcing myself to relax, and try again. My chakra flows smoother this time, less erratic, but it's still not as controlled as hers, switching to medical chakra is not easy, and even if I managed in the past to perform the mystical palm, I never perfected using medical chakra, I just got it good enough. Tsunade watches carefully, her eyes sharp as a hawk's, and I can feel the weight of her judgment for that particular choice.

"Better," She says after a moment, "But you're still holding back too much. You're treating it like regular chakra, but medical chakra is different. It needs to flow like water, not pulse like combat chakra."

If this is what she'd planned? Why even the gopher duties? Bringing along my team? Maybe it's my thoughts being this scattered that's messing me up?

I bite my lip, trying to adjust my flow, and focus on the faint, glowing green light at my fingertips. Slowly, I move my hand over the dummy patient's arm, a medical doll meant for students created by Tsunade, letting my chakra sink beneath the surface, just enough to sense the bone structure and muscle fibers beneath the skin. It's a delicate balance, not pushing too hard but not holding back too much either. I can feel the ebb and flow of life beneath my hand, a subtle rhythm that I have to tune into.

"You're picking up on it," Tsunade says, nodding approvingly. "Now, what do you sense?"

I focus harder, letting my chakra delve deeper into the 'patients' arm. There's a faint irregularity near the elbow, a slight swelling in the muscle tissue. It's small, but it's there.

"Minor inflammation," I say slowly. "Probably from overuse. Not severe, but it could worsen if untreated."

Tsunade gives a curt nod. "Good. Now, focus on isolating the problem. Your job as a medic isn't just to diagnose - it's to target the exact issue. Pinpoint accuracy is what separates an average med-nin from a great one."

But I don't want to become a great one…

I grit my teeth and push more chakra into my fingertips, narrowing my focus on the inflamed area. I can feel my control slipping slightly, still not used to using medical chakra this much, the flow becoming harder to maintain as I try to concentrate on a single point. But I keep going, adjusting my output until I can sense the exact location of the inflammation. It's like threading a needle with chakra - painstaking and delicate work.

Something I'm usually perfect at, but my avoidance of medical chakra in general has me performing below expectations. I can do the mystical palm yes, but I should be better then this.

"Got it," I mutter, my voice tight with concentration.

Tsunade watches me for a few more moments before giving a satisfied nod. "Not bad for a first attempt. You'll need more practice, but you've got the basics down." She straightens up, her tone shifting. "Now, let's move on to something a little more advanced."

I blink, surprised. "More advanced? I thought the diagnostic jutsu was just... That."

Tsunade smirks. "You think that's all there is? You're barely scratching the surface, kid. There are tricks to this technique that most people never even learn. You ready to level up, or are you gonna chicken out?"

I glare at her, not appreciating the challenge. And also entirely incapable of backing down. "I'm ready."

"Good. Then watch closely."

With a flick of her wrist, Tsunade reactivates the diagnostic jutsu, but this time there's something different. Her chakra pulses stronger, sharper, and the green glow around her hands intensifies. I can feel the sheer control she's wielding - far more refined than anything I have managed with the harder to control medical chakra.

"This is a refined version of the diagnostic jutsu," She explains. "Most medics use a broad approach, but if you can control your chakra to this level, you can get a more detailed scan of the patient's internal systems. You can see things no one else can. It's harder, yes, but it's worth the effort."

I watch, fascinated, as she demonstrates. Her hands hover over the patient's chest, and within seconds, she has a full read on their internal condition. She doesn't even need to speak; I can tell by her expression that she's pinpointed every minor issue without breaking a sweat, her chakra, I can feel it suffusing every part of the patient in a flash, like a scan.

I swallow, suddenly aware of how far I still have to go. Not that I want to become a medic… But… If I train a skill, I want to be good at it.

"Your turn," Tsunade says, stepping back and gesturing for me to take her place.

I hesitate for only a moment before stepping forward and activating my own diagnostic jutsu again. This time, I try to mimic what she showed me, pouring more chakra into my hands, refining it as best I can into medical chakra, trying to get a singular flash across the patient. It's harder - way harder - and I can feel my control slipping almost immediately as I try to encompass the entirety of the patient. The flow becomes unstable, flickering at the edges, but I push through, trying to maintain it.

"Too much chakra," Tsunade snaps. "Dial it back. You're overloading the system."

I grit my teeth, pulling back slightly, and focus on steadying the flow. The glow around my hands dims a little, but it becomes more controlled, more focused. Slowly, I move my hands over the patient's chest, trying to emulate the precision Tsunade showed me.

It's like trying to walk a tightrope. Every slight shift in chakra could throw off the entire scan, but I focus, blocking out everything else around me. The patient's heart rate, the movement of their lungs, the subtle tension in their muscles - all of it becomes clearer the more I focus.

After what feels like an eternity, I step back, releasing the technique. My hands drop to my sides, and I exhale heavily, feeling drained but also... Accomplished.

Tsunade raises an eyebrow, her arms crossed. "Not bad. You're clumsy, but that'll improve with practice. You're already ahead of most Genin and Chuunin just by that."

I smirk, a little pride swelling in my chest. "That's because I'm not like most Genin."

"Don't get cocky," She snaps, though there's a hint of amusement in her eyes. "You've got a long way to go."

I know that. It's obvious every time I watch her work. But for the first time, I'm starting to see how much more potential there is in the medical arts. I've always respected med-nin for their abilities, but seeing Tsunade in action is something else entirely. There's an art to it, a level of mastery that goes beyond what I imagined.

As the day drags on, I'm given a crash course in chakra scalpels. Something I've tried before but never quite mastered, at least to Tsunade's standards. It's a notoriously difficult technique, one that requires both precise control and an intimate understanding of the body's anatomy. One wrong move, and you could cause more harm than good.

Of course if I use it to attack, I don't necessarily need to know more than how to use it. Doesn't matter what I mess up, as long as I'm messing something up. That said, I'd prefer to be skilled enough to target only what I want…

Tsunade doesn't bother with baby steps. She throws me straight into the deep end, showing me the technique and then forcing me to replicate it. Over and over again, I try, each time feeling like I'm just on the edge of getting it right, only for my control to slip at the last second.

Fucking medical chakra…

"Focus!" Tsunade barks as I attempt the jutsu for the tenth time. "You're slicing too deep. This isn't a weapon, it's a surgical tool."

I disagree with that. But there's no point arguing about what I'll really use this technique for.

Taijutsu, my weakness, will be greatly improved if I can cut someone's tendons every time they get in reach of my hands.

I bite my lip, pushing more chakra into my hands precisely, and try again. This time, the scalpel forms more cleanly, the edges sharper but more controlled. I move my hand over the dummy patient, making a precise incision without actually cutting into the skin. It's a delicate balance - too much force and I'll sever tendons, organs and whatever I cross, too little and I won't even break the surface.

Tsunade watches closely, her eyes narrowed. "Better. Keep that up, and you might actually be worth something as a medic."

I roll my eyes but don't respond, too focused on maintaining the chakra scalpel. It's exhausting, but I can feel myself getting the hang of it. Slowly, steadily, I improve, each attempt a little cleaner than the last. And I'm not going to be a medic.

Is that what this is all about? She's barking up the wrong tree then… Although it could be a way for her to attempt to apologize.

By the time the sun starts to set, I'm drenched in sweat, my arms aching from the sheer effort of holding the jutsu, constantly channeling medical chakra. But I don't care. The satisfaction of progress is worth the fatigue.

Tsunade has long since left, although she kept my team working even with that. Gai and Genma, who've been off running errands and occasionally popping into the office, can tell I'm in the zone as they return, Gai reacting as he usually does.

"YOSH, Inohana-chan! Your youthful determination is an inspiration to us all!" Gai calls out, giving me one of his signature thumbs-ups as he walks back into the office, to end the day.

Genma just smirks, chewing on a senbon. "Yeah,. Just don't forget to clean out Tsunade-sama's desk while you're at it." He snarks, sounding a little annoyed that I've been training while they've been working.

I throw them both a withering look but can't help the faint smile tugging at my lips. As much as I've been irritated by the whole situation, I can't deny that I've learned a lot today.

Tsunade doesn't suck as much as I thought she did.

At least, not today.

＊＊＊

Just a few days after Minato and Team 7 leave Konoha, Orochimaru-sensei returns.

Kushina-shishou reluctantly lets him in when he comes over, looking for me.

I serve him tea, as he sits down in front of us, his eyes colder than usual. I know him well enough to tell that he is deeply unhappy about something.

"What's wrong, Sensei?" I ask, knowing it's best to just be blunt with him.

Kushina-shishou looks from him to me, then back at him, crossing her arms with a huff.

Orochimaru-sensei takes his time to answer. "Are you aware of the state of the war, child?" He begins, slowly.

I nod, now really not liking where this is going. Kushina-shishou sits up straighter, glaring at Sensei.

"As expected of my student," He says simply, running a long pale finger over the teacup. His lips turn down in disgust as he continues, "The Hokage and his advisors, in all their 'wisdom'." The word is spat out as Orochimaru-Sensei looks livid. "Have decided that Konoha will attend the Kiri Chuunin exams..."

Kushina practically explodes in chakra as she stands up, her hair floating up in nine separate tails. "The hell she is!" She roars, immediately cottoning on.

I simply sit there. Oh… I think.

Orochimaru-sensei gives Shishou a look. "Do I look like I'm happy about this? It's pure idiocy. I'm unsure who influenced Sensei to make this decision, but with the last Chuunin Exam in Konoha, he wants to display strength and daring by sending one team to Kiri's exams..."

Orochimaru-sensei's lips curl as he gestures to himself. "Apparently, I'm the Jounin most likely to survive and escape if the Mizukage decides to kill us," He points out, dry as the desert.

I note that he says he is able to escape. Not us. I'm being sent on what is likely a suicide mission, I think, still numb.

More importantly… Gai and Genma are being sent on one! What am I going to do!?

"Has he lost his mind!? He's going to trust Kiri? The bloody mist?" Kushina growls. "Their own allies don't even send representation to their Chuunin exams!"

"Apparently, they will for this one because the other villages can't be seen as more afraid than Konoha," Orochimaru-sensei says bitterly. "It's going to be..." He trails off, eyes flashing with something indecipherable.

Kushina-shishou starts pacing while glaring at Orochimaru-sensei as I just sit there, numb. "And why are you sulking then? Isn't this just what you want? Sending Inohana on mission after mission into the war? Isn't this exactly the kind of shit you're pulling?"

Orochimaru-sensei frowns. "I had belief in her. I aim to make her strong," He hisses angrily, meeting Kushina-shishou's glare head-on. "This… This is nothing but a slaughter. It's a waste. Even if they make it to the final stage, the Mizukage will NEVER allow us to win."

I still sit, numb, as they argue, hearing them like they're far away. I have belief in myself, I can make it, I have to believe that. But… Gai… Genma…

"Then why? If you, the sensei, are against this? Then why?" Kushina-shishou begs, trying to understand, her voice heartrending.

Orochimaru-sensei looks disgusted as he hisses out, "Clans..." Shaking his head, his long hair flicking back and forth. "This whole thing is a PR move, showcasing how daring and strong Konoha still is. Even beset from all sides, we are still the strongest. Sending people into the middle of Kirigakure..." He pauses for a moment. "It's because our team is the strongest Genin team in the village and might make a showing... And because they are not part of any major clan."

No doubt because of Orochimaru-Sensei as well, as he mentioned - he might actually get out alive - whereas a regular Jounin might not. Although I don't fail to realize what he's really saying.

"Expendable," I say dully.

"...Yes," Orochimaru-sensei hisses, licking his lips, his golden eyes gleaming.

"I'll kill him," Kushina-shishou says, sounding fully serious.

"No, please don't kill the Hokage." I say in a slow monotone, silently wondering if it wasn't the solution to all my problems.

Orochimaru-sensei just snorts, his behaviour is odd in this meeting, it's really weird to see sensei… Frazzled. "At this moment, I might even help, but politically... This move has support. The clans love the idea of showing Konoha as daring and strong, especially when it doesn't cost them anything if it goes sideways."

"He needs to die," Kushina-shishou repeats, her eyes hard and cold, running purely on emotions at the moment.

There's something else going on here… I'm missing something… There's no way the Hokage would go this far to alienate Kushina-shishou… Even the other steps had been mind boggling enough.

Orochimaru-sensei tilts his head, watching Kushina-shishou carefully. "He'd beat you like a fresh Genin," He says flatly. "I don't stand a chance against him, so you certainly don't."

My mind is stuck on the fact that I'm being sent to Kiri, in the middle of a war... With Kiri. Expendable, repeats in my mind.

My clan is not a Shinobi clan, and though it has some clout, it can't compare. My father... Fucker probably signed off on it gleefully…

Rip… Tear… Kill… He'd tell me, I could almost picture his voice…

No… Something is wrong here. Sensei… What's going on with him…?

Only thing I can do…

"Kushina-shishou... Stop," I say strongly. There's only one thing to do…

Kushina-shishou looks at me, fear and rage in her eyes. "Ino-chan..."

"I'm stronger now. Gai and Genma are stronger!" I growl out. "So we're going to Kiri because we're not clan brats. So what?" I bite out.

"We. Will. Not. Lose."

Orochimaru-sensei is looking at me like he's never seen me before, while Kushina-shishou looks absolutely crushed.

"Inohana..."

I glare at her, holding back my rage and hate by a hair. "We will crush them!" I declare.

And then... I think, one day, I'll show the Third Hokage exactly what I think about his casual cruelty to the people that 'don't matter' in this village.

＊＊＊

Author's Note:

So as usual, a little bit of fluff, a little bit of fun and games - and then I hit with the gut punch at the end.

Hiruzen truly believes they can make it btw. But he's an idiotic idealist even in war. Fully capable of murdering thousands, sure. But he'll still believe in people to a ridiculous degree. Also don't trust Orochimaru's words completely, he's still Orochimaru. Hiruzen Pov next chapter.

Wonder who wants this idea to go through? I'll give you 500 guesses but only the first counts.

And yes, Inohana is stronger than Kakashi at this point. Because she is incredibly versatile - while he could kick her ass in a Taijutsu encounter, she would simply never allow it to be one. This is still kid Kakashi, so not that beefed up yet in skills.

Hell, If he scheduled an actual fight with her, she'd probably just poison him the day before and consider herself the winner.

She hadn't planned on making Chuunin around same age as Kakashi, who just got Chuunin in the previous exam, and now, she might get Chuunin earlier than him. If she lives of course.

Cheers

JollyHippopotamus