Here's chapter 13: Team 9 Assemble!

Graduation is finally here, some 13 chapters and 100k plus words in. Yeah this story is going to be pretty big in the end with how it's going.

Dan's reaction arrives, his blinders are coming off, nothing like seeing the girl you love use a little girl with no thought to her well being. Makes a guy see things differently, eh?

The story should be picking up speed now, war and team training etc moving things along faster. Or so I'm hoping, I'm terrible at speeding things along.

Coming up next amongst my stories should be Mischief Siriusly Managed.

As usual I do not own, make money off, 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 next few days after everything happened were… Weird.

Although I always hated the invasion of privacy of having Dan following me around everywhere - I couldn't help but notice that he was conspicuously absent now. I hadn't seen him around, neither in Orochimaru's lab, nor the fight between Kushina-shishou and Tsunade.

( Which by the way? What the fuck!)

I don't even want to think further on that cluster fuck, my mind again inveritably drawn to Dan's absence instead, feeling uncomfortable with it. I have been relaxing at Kushina-shishou's place, under her strict orders to relax - something she enforces with cruel glee, not so much as allowing me to bathe on my own, no cooking, cleaning - or anything to strain my foot at all, even though it's pretty much fully healed and recovered now. The sheer boredom that faces me whenever Kushina-shishou isn't around to chatter my ears off - is what makes me feel Dan's absence so keenly. Or at least what keeps drawing my thoughts to it, at the same time as I avoid identifying what I'm feeling. Choosing to not think about it too deeply.

Where is he? Is a thought I've returned to often. Not worried, per say. More like… Wondering. Did he know about what had transpired lately? Was he avoiding me? Or was he simply following Tsunade around now, waiting for me to come heal him - if I am even able…

Had all his words of support been nothing but a ploy to make me more amenable to helping him? The timing is just so… Suspect. He's barely left my side for awhile now, before this failed survival exercise and what came after. For him to play into his ghost state by literally disappearing at this time, of all times. I have a hard time not feeling paranoid about things with that timing. Everyone else - except Kushina-shishou, and her best friend as well as her boyfriend, have turned out to be out to screw me.

Orochimaru, my father, my academy sensei… Tsunade!

I growl lowly in my throat, forcibly turning my mind away from a line of thought again. I don't want to examine my feelings about Tsunade right now, the hurt is too recent.

"Fuck this!" I curse, looking around me furtively to make sure Kushina-shishou isn't actually here and heard that. My chakra sense reaches out and confirms I'm alone. Well… Except for the ANBU team hanging around in the yard. They don't really count though.

I release myself from the cocoon of blankets I'm wrapped in on the couch, settling into a seiza position instead, wearing only a light shirt and a pair of shorts, it allows me to inspect my foot quickly without anything in the way. I take a deep breath, holding my right wrist with my left hand, concentrating, the action helping me concentrate more fully - healing chakra not being my forte, even after all the practice and reading on the subject I've done over the last few months.

Slowly my right hand lights up green, as sweat gathers on my forehead, my eyes intently on my hand, my chakra sense focused inwards with pinpoint accuracy, feeling my tenketsu - the way the chakra forms and pools out. The exercise necessary to help me access medical chakra through insane control - to get over the lack of physical chakra in me - needed to fully flare it into being.

It's with some frustration that I finally manage to set my hand onto my foot - I'm still too slow, too unskilled in medical jutsu. The diagnostic medical jutsu probing through the limb - confirming what I already know, I'm healed enough to continue training and for returning to the last stretch of the Academy. Some soreness and weakness still remains from the saturation of medical chakra needed to rejuvenate my crushed foot due to the intense healing by Tsunade. The more such chakra used - the weaker the muscles would be, as chakra could not fully replace everything.

Not unless you were slinging around the kind of insane medical jutsu used by the likes of Tsunade through her seal and equally - Orochimaru's forbidden jutsus. But those were extreme outliers that could hardly be matched by anyone but the very top one percent of Shinobi. And most of those couldn't match in any way the absolute regeneration those two were capable of for themselves.

I jump off the couch, pulling on my hair in distress, I'm back at Tsunade again! I don't want to think about it. I don't want to have to deal with it. I've dealt with enough. My mind won't leave me alone!

I eye the kitchen thoughtfully, Kushina-shishou isn't here to lose her crap if I go near all the sharp implements and the very dangerous job of cooking something.(Completely ridiculous since she's fine with me going near kunai!) Or perhaps I'll bake something, how hard could it be? Comfort food definitely heals all wounds. Or is that chocolate? I'll just do both!

It can't be that hard to figure out how to bake something nice for the both of us, right? Sure I haven't really used Asian ingredients before, but eggs and flour were the same, so no problem.

I send another thoughtful look at the pantry, pursing my lips.

Cupcakes shouldn't be that hard? Right?

***

Kushina touched down on her street, letting out a tired breath. Arguing with the old man was getting more and more tiring nowadays. For both of them, it appeared - she no longer got to just walk in anymore, she had to wait for an open slot now. Stubborn, stupid, old man!

She'd thought she had a good relationship with the Hokage. But apparently she meant nothing compared to the Sannin. She was being completely stonewalled now - her every argument falling on deaf ears.

Her fists clenched so hard her nails started to dig into her palms as she took another deep breath, before she consciously relaxed her hands, marching forward. She didn't want to bring this unpleasant energy home to Inohana. She didn't need to feel the brunt of Kushina's frustrations. She wouldn't be able to keep her away from returning to the Academy much longer. She needed all the time to relax that Kushina could give her before she'd be forced to grow up even more, joining the war.

The graduation was too close now, Kushina now, more than ever, regretted Inohana's quick ascent through her ninja training. With everything that had happened, she wanted to pull her back, let her enjoy some sort of childhood. Reality didn't agree with her, however. Her own fault to boot, hadn't she eagerly pushed Inohana further, ecstatic at her skill and work ethic, at her potential.

And now she'd have to see her go out in a war because of it. She couldn't help the darker thoughts that invaded her mind more often lately, that stupid fox managing to make himself known more often due to her own unstable moods.

As she walked up to her house, she did her best in letting her frustrations bleed out of her, giving herself a quick shake, not unlike a dog shaking water off themselves, she pasted a smile on her face, clearing off the worry lines that had begun to crease her face. Having the right attitude was half the battle, right?

In a burst of motion, she exploded forward, almost breaking down her own door as she jumped in with a flourish, "Inohana-chan~" She sang, before she pulled to a stop, jaw dropping. Her heart was soaring at what she could see, but she was very surprised at walking in on something so domestic.

Inohana turned her way with a guilty and harried expression on her face, her hair was half covered in flour, the other half sticking to her face with some sort of syrup, she had a touch of some sort of batter on her nose and cheek and the kitchen was absolutely filled with dirty pans, bowls and utensils. Kushina's eyes were drawn to her usually pristine kitchen counters and the sticky hand prints, the dustings of flour and half formed lumps of - she wasn't sure what - that decorated the space.

She was pretty sure her old mechanical mixer was actually completely mangled, (explaining most of the mess everywhere) which was an achievement in itself, as Kushina had never managed to break it, and she wasn't known for her dainty hands.

Her mood no longer needed to be faked, she was feeling incredibly warm and happy as she strode forward with a pep in her step, lips twitching, delighting in the resigned air around her cute little apprentice. "So…" She began, her voice quivering as she tried to keep laughter down.

"Don't!" Inohana groaned despondently. Dragging a hand down her face, which only succeeded in adding more batter to her face.

Kushina covered her mouth with a hand, biting down on her lip, but unable to completely hide her giggle. She was so cute, right now! "Lost a fight?" She managed to squeak out, coming around the kitchen counter.

"All of your equipment doesn't work the same way I'm used to." Inohana said defensively, a light blush dusting her cheeks.

"Aww…" Kushina cooed, "It's okay, you can make any mess you want if it's going to be this cute!"

"Shishou…" Cue the furthering of the blush and the weak glare that made her look like a cute little kitten, offended to be petted, all fluffed up and adorable.

Kushina finally reached her apprentice and, uncaring of the mess, she grasped her in her arms and pulled her in for a hug, giggling. "I guess we found something you're not good at, neh?"

Inohana puffed out her cheeks, looking up at her from where she was being crushed into Kushina's stomach, "I can bake just fine, your stuff and your oven just works wrong…"

"Suuure, dattebane!" Kushina cooed, ruffling Inohana's hair, making the flour dust up. She wrinkled her nose, trying not to sneeze, "I thought I said no cooking, little miss overachiever?"

"Baking is not cooking." Inohana said with a tiny little self satisfied smirk. Splitting hairs, the girl always ready to gain an advantage, it was unbearably cute how she thought Kushina would agree with that distinction.

Kushina laughed warmly, squeezing Inohana closer, uncaring of the mess it made of her outfit, her mood revitalized by the amusing and cute situation. "Not sure I can call this mess, baking, my little stormcloud…"

Inohana looked up at her curiously, "Stormcloud?" She asked, something indecipherable in her gaze.

Kushina touched her cheek gently, cleaning off some batter, "Yup, you're my little stormcloud, dattebane!" She confirmed, the nickname felt right. At least… Until one day she'd be able to convince Inohana to accept another term of endearment.

"Now, what are we going to do about his mess? Hmm?" Kushina asked with a silly grin, violet eyes taking in the absolute disaster around them.

"You told me I couldn't do any cleaning." Inohana was quick to blurt out, looking up at her innocently.

Kushina couldn't help but laugh, pulling on Inohana's hair chidingly, "Nice try."

"How can I take your orders seriously if you rescind them so quickly?"

"Probably because if you don't do what I say I'll tickle you until you pee yourself and then make you do it, dattebane." Kushina said with a teasing smirk, leaning down to give Inohana a big smooch on her forehead. Ignoring the girls grumbling, she took her hand in hers, squeezing it gently, "Thanks for being so cute, little stormcloud, it made my day."

Inohana sighed, trying to hide a pleased smile, "Fine, Shishou."

"Maybe don't bake again without an adult nearby…" Kushina couldn't quite keep the laughter from escaping her, as she again looked around her at the absolute chaos that must have overtaken her small kitchen.

"Shishou!"

At that point Kakashi walked in, the youth barely seen around the house lately, spending all his time training when he wasn't performing low ranking in village missions. He looked bedraggled and exhausted, as he always did lately. Kushina knew the kid took it personally that he had failed to protect Inohana and her team, that he was working harder than ever because of it. Kushina hadn't exactly helped in reassuring him there, with her outburst. One she regretted more every day as Kakashi avoided them both now.

Kakashi stopped, staring hard at them both, before giving them an absolutely disgusted look, slipping away to his room.

Kushina and Inohana barely lasted until he was out of sight before breaking down in giggles.

She knew she needed to get the kid to open up, and this wouldn't help, but the look on his face, dattebane!

The mirth didn't settle down for hours, the cleaning playful and companionable instead of a chore.

It felt nice. Homey.

She hoped she'd have these kinds of days again.

***

Except for embarrassing myself at my surprising ineptitude at trying to bake by instinct, instead of an actual recipe - the rest of the week went by fairly normally.

I returned to the Academy, finding that Genma and Shizune both suddenly wanted to sit next to me. Friendly banter was new to me in this life, but not entirely disagreeable - better than dealing with sensei who was grumpier than ever. The fact Gai soon joined them was less agreeable. He's just so loud. And since I kind of lived with Kakashi, he was insufferable, asking about his rival constantly. How were they rivals already? Did that really start this early? Did I do something?

At the end of the day's lessons I wave goodbye to my… I guess friends, or are they acquaintances? Whatever, I wave goodbye to them - on my way to my favorite training ground. The week of Academy lessons were over, not that they had anything to teach me any longer. I want to get a decent workout in. My convalescence has been one of the longest periods without proper training I've had since I started onto the path of becoming a kunoichi.

I arrive at my training ground fairly fast, having taken to the rooftops half-way there, the chuunin patrolling the interior used enough to me by now - that I'm no longer stopped if I travel too long over the roofs of Konoha. It also helps that Kushina has taught me some secret hand seals I definitely shouldn't know yet, that let any curious Shinobi know I was fine to continue on.

I start a gentle stretching routine as soon as I arrive, testing out if I get any twinges from my foot, moving harder and faster when I feel nothing hurting. Soon after, I feel a light presence approaching with my chakra sense. I turn, surprised, ending my routine as I stand, facing the forest, arms crossed. Waiting. Only one presence has this barely there chakra signature to them…

Soon enough Dan floats into sight. I keep standing there, looking at him, unimpressed with his disappearing act during the only time I could have actually used his perspective. Trying not to examine the tangle of emotions churning in my gut. If I draw on them, perhaps I can make this all work out in my favor.

He comes up right in front of me, stopping just a couple feet in front of me, sinking into the ground with most of his lower body so that he can face me at eye level. Creepy.

He looks miserable, and I feel some of my animosity bleeding away. I sigh, blowing a lock of my hair out of my face with a tired huff when Dan just hangs there, looking pathetic.

"I'm so, so, sorry, Inohana." Dan finally says, eyes downcast. Can ghosts age? He looks like he's aged a decade over the last week.

I purse my lips, watching him, "What are you sorry for, exactly?" I ask. With everything lately, I want perfect clarity, no ambiguity. A tall order in the shinobi world, I know. But also, I need to know where his head is at, so that I can tailor my reaction better.

Dan winces, sad eyes meeting mine, "Everything. Orochimaru… I was wrong, Everything is so wrong! Tsunade… I-I can't excuse her, she shouldn't have…"

I sigh exasperatedly, "You fool, how is any of that your fault? You can't even talk to these people!" I huff again, showcasing my irritation with him, glaring at him, "What you should be apologizing for - is abandoning me after all this happened, giving me no explanation for what was going on!"

Dan gapes at me, looking absolutely thrown.

I don't stop, my voice rising in volume, growing shrill as I let it all out, "You might be annoying and a complete pain in the ass voyeur… But I have been counting on your advice! And when I needed you the most! You just…Leave! No explanation, no word on where you went, nothing!" I'm hurt… But even though I loathe the necessity of it… I'm also playing it up to manipulate Dan. Tsunade hasn't exactly proven reliable, but if I can pull Dan completely to my side… I get two S rank ninja for the price of one.

As dirty as it makes me feel to use very real feelings to twist someone's loyalty towards me, I'm training to be a Kunoichi, emotional manipulation is like the first thing we learn in class.

Dan splutters, waving his hands frantically, "H-hey, I thought I should give you space, it's because of me all this is happening in the first place!"

"Don't be stupid! You don't control Tsunade! You definitely don't control Orochimaru! What the hell do you think you could do about all that, huh?" I yell, stomping my foot, wishing the ass wasn't incorporeal so I could smack him for that load of bullshit. And also knowing that the more emotional I get, the more he'll react to it and he'll feel bad for being the cause, or so I hope.

Dan winces, rubbing the back of his head, "I'm sorry… I guess I didn't think of it like that, I just wanted to give you space, Inohana, to not remind you of them."

I shake my head, snorting, "Like I could forget anyway." I mutter angrily. I expected Orochimaru, but Tsunade…

Tsunade hurt. I don't have to fake it, it did hurt to find out she handed me to Orochimaru and fought Kushina-shishou. I thought she liked me. Just shows I'm just as good at falling for emotional manipulation… Of course Tsunade made me like her, she needs me to work my magic on her fiance…

"I… I can't agree with what she did…" Dan says quietly, looking tired. "I understand her, kami, do I understand where she's coming from, why she's so desperate…" Dan meets my eyes, a pleading look in them, "I didn't think she could do something like this. You're five!"

Only reason I'm even trying this manipulation game on a Jounin, is that fact. I'm five, and even Dan, who follows me around - vastly underestimates me because of it.

"Betrayal hurts more than anything else…" I say almost so low it's inaudible. My eyes are distant. Seeing memories of before flashing by, even my father's knife couldn't compare to the betrayal of those you loved. Or the pain of losing someone you loved due to betrayal… How it could break you so completely…

"It's not Konoha. It shouldn't be Konoha." Dan says, some anger shining through the despondency.

I laugh, slow and harsh, shaking my head. My lips twisting into a dark frown, "This isn't even touching the surface of what Orochimaru and others do..." I debate for a second about revealing more of Konoha's dirty secrets…

Ultimately I decide not to, Dan is very loyal, all I'll do is send him on a quest against Root or something stupid and suicidal like that. I don't want him dead, I want him having my back as sort of a guarantee against Orochimaru and Root. Because with Dan, inevitably comes Tsunade. Even Orochimaru won't fuck around with those two standing against him together - same with Root, or so I'm betting.

Dan clenches his ghostly fists, a low hiss escaping him, "I trusted him… I trusted Konoha… I promised you it would be fine. That he could be trusted."

I chuckle darkly, tossing my slightly sweaty hair over my shoulder, "For what it's worth, I never took that promise seriously, I always thought Orochimaru would do something like this." I spit on the ground, a sour taste in my mouth as I think of the other guilty party. "Tsunade…" I trail off. I'd expected better, more fool meAt least it allows me to draw Dan in…

It still makes me feel queasy though, is it due to any weakness? Just a year ago I wouldn't even have thought twice about using someone. Have I changed for the better? Or worse?

Dan slumps his shoulders, "I love her, kami, do I love her, Inohana… I can't give up on her. I can't… But… I can't agree with her either. I'm…" He sighs, looking at her earnestly, "I'm on your side." He finishes plainly.

Exactly the kind of promise I want. Although too early, and too easy.

"I can't trust that." I say immediately, shaking my head, I have to play hard to get after all, really sell it all. Tsunade had already shown what love could drive her to do, Dan might be no different in the end, that was a risk. He'd already abandoned me, the second things with Tsunade got difficult. I hadn't expected that to hurt, but examining it now, it burns inside me. It also makes it even more necessary to tie him to me.

Dan gives me a small sad smile, "I know. But for whatever it's worth, I am."

"Words." I say dismissively, waving away his protest, "It is!" I insist, glaring at him with a half lidded stare, "Orochimaru and Tsunade can't do what they do without permission… Are you going to fight the Hokage over me?"

Dan pauses, looking conflicted. He's a man who was, previous to his 'injury', vying for the Hokage seat, you can't do that and choose one girl over the village.

I smile, all teeth, "Like I said…" Just words… I can't beat out Konoha in his loyalty, I know that… But…

"I can't go against Konoha as a whole…" Dan admits, looking pained to acknowledge his limitations in whatever he's trying to promise me. "I'll do my best to protect you, even from Tsunade if I have to. I can't promise everything, I wish I could, but I can try my best." He promises, looking resolute and earnest.

His earnest face is just pissing me off, even if it means my tactic is working, "You're mad! What the fuck do you think you can do?" What is it with people thinking they can protect me? "It's obvious already it won't work!" Number one rule in emotional manipulation, don't fake emotions, use real ones. I think, watching my words and their impact. And I'm truly pissed about the cascading level of bullshit events that keep happening to me, so anger is not hard to project.

"Language!" He says almost on automatic, sheepishly looking away when I simply stare at him deadpanned.

"Whether from my father… Orochimaru… The war… You can't protect me, Shishou can't protect me. I'm on my own, stop trying your half assed promises and words of comfort, it just pisses me off!" I growl, starting to pace on the spot. As much as I have grown to love Kushina-shishou, events have continued to prove that I'm on my own, that only growing stronger will help me. Isn't that why I'm here manipulating the situation, instead of just talking things through? How much is faked? And how much of this am I honestly feeling?

"Inohana… Don't let recent events take you down the wrong path, whether we can all help you as much as we want, as much as you need, you deserve happiness too, don't give up on it." Dan says, trying to grab my hand, before aborting the motion, "You're getting stronger already because of the bonds you're making!"

I glare at him, pacing furiously, not sure what to believe, my life keeps going from one extreme to the next - was I right to try and remove bonds as I had from the beginning? Could I even untangle from Shishou if I wanted to? I'm finally making friends at the Academy, will that just weaken me? How the hell have I gone from trying to manipulate Dan to having an existential crisis? I just can't keep anything simple, can I?

Weak… My father's voice whispers with delight in my ear and I shiver. I shove any thoughts of my father into a box and lock it deep inside, I can't deal with this right now…

"Inohana!" Dan floats closer, almost face to face, a chagrined look on his face, "I screwed up, I shouldn't have left, I didn't realize how that would make you feel abandoned. But please don't let Orochimaru win, this is exactly how he would want you to think."

I frown, annoyed that my thoughts were showing clearly enough on my face that Dan could pick through it, combined with my earlier words. Jounin or not, I didn't want to be so easily read, not in the middle of trying to play him. "I don't know what to think!" I whisper, wrapping myself in my own arms.

I hadn't even realized I was counting on Dan's support until suddenly he was gone. How I looked up to Tsunade, until suddenly she was betraying Shishou and me. I'm tired of being hurt. This is why I wanted to be a cold, unfeeling kunoichi, just powerful, standing alone and not able to be hurt by anyone.

Not able to suffer, like I once had in my old life. Losing everyone. Left alone and broken. Better to be alone from the beginning, I couldn't lose anyone then.

"Don't think, just feel." Dan places his hand almost against my heart, his hand hovering an inch away. "Just feel." He repeats. "You know what you really want. Deep inside. Don't think about it. Just feel it."

I exhale shakily, just turning inwards, examining my own emotions. I'm a mess. I've been avoiding everything this past week. Just luxuriating in Kushina-shishou's presence. I try to imagine it, not talking to Shishou anymore, just focusing on missions, just like Kakashi, just the mission matters, just growing stronger. I shake my head angrily, feeling a tear escape, kami damn it, I've only known her for a short amount of time. Grow up! I'm an old woman at heart, I don't need a mom! I'm old enough to be a kami damned grandmother!

Just imagining her face if I leave… Kami, it hurts. My family had been everything once upon a time…

I keep being hurt, physically, emotionally, mentally, I was already broken, how much could I take. My mind fixates on Kushina-shishou dying against the Ninetails and I feel literally sick to my stomach. No… I'm kidding myself. I'm falling back on old habits, habits reinforced by my father's ways, I'm trying to avoid more pain by pushing everyone away. I need to be better, I can't delude myself like this anymore. Kushina is my mom, I love her. I can't… I can't lose her!

This bond at least… I have to keep. For my sanity if nothing else.

I open my eyes, staring straight into Dan's eyes, "You're right… Please just… Don't leave me without a word anymore." He's actually helped me work though my own fucked up emotions… While I'm using him… This world is all kinds of fucked up… I'm all kinds of fucked up…

I need to be me, not who I think I need to be. Not the me who failed and broke in my old life. Just me. I understand now. But there's only so much I can take of everyone hurting me. I need to be me… But I can't do it alone. I need Shishou… At least her. As long as I have her… Use everyone else, but just… She'll be my soul, what keeps me going.

"I'm sorry, Inohana, I'll do better. Just don't let them win, don't let them dictate who you should be or drag you down with them, I'll work on Tsunade, if I ever get the chance again, but don't give up. Your bonds are what makes you stronger, it's what makes you fight, even when you feel you can't fight anymore." Dan says seriously, a relieved look in his eyes.

"You'll have to work a lot, then. She's kind of a bitch." I mutter, trying to get away from the emotional talk, feeling uncomfortable now. Dan isn't really who I imagined having a heart to heart with. Not a real one. I'd intended to manipulate him with an emotional talk, but not like this, not actually truly meaning it.

Dan sighs, looking skyward, "Yeah… I don't even know where to begin… I don't trust her anymore." His voice almost breaks as he reveals that.

"And you're the one arguing for bonds," I joke, somewhat pathetically, feeling a bit wrung out, all the thoughts I've been avoiding this entire week all coming out during one conversation, tiring me out. I can't even pull this kind of situation off - ending up truly feeling everything beyond what I'd wanted to use to draw Dan in. Everytime I think I'm on the right track of a Kunoichi - I fail at the finish line.

Dan smiles crookedly, "They're still what makes for the strongest shinobi, whether Tsunade and I will work again… It's still the right approach to try."

"Try, huh…" I say tiredly, "I can do that…" Just try…

"I'll help you, I'll be there, I promise." Dan swears.

I don't answer him, I look skyward, letting the wind be the only sound in the training ground. I feel somewhat looser, for all that I also feel exhausted. At least it seems that even with me being all over the place with my feelings, I succeeded in my attempt. Success by failure, huh?

I've been going back and forth this entire time, ever since I met Kushina-shishou really.

Perhaps finally making a choice would help me.

It couldn't hurt more, could it?

***

The next little while is actually about as pleasant of a time as I've ever had since being reborn.

Kushina-shishou coddles me to a ridiculous degree, but it means we're spending a lot of time together, which I don't mind. My sealing skills increase exponentially due to all the time we spend together.

Dan is now quietly expounding to me on all his skills whenever I have a quiet moment. Even if it's not something I can practice, the wisdom of an experienced Jounin, explaining traps, tricks and ways to behave or act in different situations, is a boon in itself.

The Academy is running smoothly down the home stretch, even as I continue to be shocked by the fact Genma and Shizune seem to… Like me. Even when I get snarky they just snark back now, it's really weird but not disagreeable, I guess.

Dan had informed me Gaku-sensei is a subordinate of Orochimaru and had been involved in the whole survival exercise - so our relationship didn't exactly warm up. If he had any other directions from snake face, he never acted any differently than he had the entire semester. He is still a jerk, and I continue to rub his face in the fact he can't make me falter in class - pissing him off to no end.

If Dan hadn't told me, I would have never believed it. This angry, bullheaded Inuzuka working for Orochimaru? Didn't quite fit, but I couldn't see any reason why Dan would lie.

Speaking of the old snake face himself, he and Tsunade both are the reason for me having a fairly good time lately - neither have shown their faces at all. I'd expected Tsunade to badger me to go to the hospital and check out Dan, but so far, nothing. Not even any notes sent to translate between her and Dan. Although perhaps she knows that Dan isn't impressed with her and is giving both of us time. Can't forget that the Sannin are bonafide geniuses in their fields, and experienced Shinobi - Tsunade is obviously not stupid, for all the stupid shit she just pulled, in my opinion.

Either way, I enjoy my respite.

And it all leads me here…

The graduation exam.

The written test is not really much different from the one I had to take for my advanced placement - I breeze through it easily enough. And if I finish an hour ahead of anyone else, and amuse myself by giving select classmates some vivid hallucinations for a few seconds at a time by attaching a chakra string to their chakra network… Well… Gaku-sensei can't prove shit.

The difference in trying to affect the chakra system of almost genin - compared to when I'd tried to Genjutsu Mikoto - is night and day. My own chakra seems more well developed then my classmates even if my pool of chakra is lower. That quality to my chakra allows me to easily produce a few seconds of illusions.

The exasperated glare Shizune sends me however, puts a stopper to my fun before too long. She can use medical jutsu, I don't want to piss her off too much, or she'll find an excuse to heal me.

Once the time is up, we're all trotted out behind the Academy, the rest of our exam not only being graded by the sensei, but also by a smattering of Shinobi there to watch the proceedings. Also including family members of several students - as long as they're Shinobi of Chuunin or up - no one below those security clearances can watch. The family members of students would obviously not get a vote.

Having a last name starting with a T, I'm at the end of the line, which also gives me a good vantage point to watch the approach of everyone before me taking the obstacle course that's our first test. Unfair advantage, maybe. But that's one thing separating Shinobi from whiny civilians. We recognize unfair advantages exist - and instead of trying to equal them out, creating unrealistic expectations. We roll with it, hence why even now, Academy students get hit in the face by the reality of it. The one taking the obstacle course first will markedly do worse then the one taking it last, simply through more knowledge.

Although I suspect the grading is done on a different scale depending on where in the line you're starting out from. Getting us used to unfairness and failing us because of it are two different things. They still need their cannon fodder after all…

I crane my neck, frowning as I can't see Kushina-shishou. That's odd…

She'd made such a big deal about being here for this, she'd even made an embarrassing banner she planned to hold up, no matter how much I had tried to beg. All my attempts of setting it on fire had sadly failed.

I turn my eyes to where the first student is taking on the obstacle course, dozens of silent Shinobi observing from the side.

Kushina-shishou is just held up, I'm sure it's nothing…

I can't quite settle the heavy feeling in my gut. That something is yet again making things complicated.

***

"Can I go in yet, dattebane?" Kushina asked sharply, yet again. Pacing up and down the hallway outside the Hokage's office, trying to keep a rein on her irritation, the secretary didn't deserve her ire. The timing was horrible, but she couldn't disregard a summons from the Hokage.

The secretary ignored her question, as any of her previous questions had been ignored for the past thirty minutes. Kushina couldn't help but feel suspicious at the wait, and the timing of this summon. She was summoned, so what was the wait for? And during the Academy graduation exam of all times? The Hokage knew her cute little apprentice was graduating today.

With how often Kushina had been in there lately, trying to push for things her way, it was impossible for him to not know.

"You can go in, Jounin Uzumaki."

Kushina wondered at that briefly, she'd seen no sign of communication or a chakra pulse to denote it in a more subtle way. Yet the secretary knew to let her in at this moment of time exactly. Kushina made the seals, she'd know if the Hokage had used them to inform his secretary. So she had been made to wait for this time - on purpose. No one had left the office, so there wasn't a meeting running late…

She straightened her back and marched in, not sparing a second glance at the secretary, they used to have such a nice working relationship - before the old man suddenly started messing with her life and that of her apprentice. Things changed quickly.

"Hokage-Sama." She said respectfully, coming to a stop in front of his desk, standing at attention, it had been that kind of summon after all. Her eyes slid to the side, "Danzo-Sama…" She muttered, hiding her displeasure behind a facade of polite professionalism. ( It had taken Mikoto years to make her learn boring polite stuff like that.)

Nothing good could come from any kind of meeting that involved that old mummy.

"Uzumaki," Danzo said clippedly, leaning forward slightly, watching her with his one eye, dispassionately. "Iwa has deployed a Jinchuuriki at the front." He said without preamble, still retaining his stern monotone, "This escalation requires a response."

Kushina felt like a lead weight had plummeted into her stomach, "What are my orders, Hokage-Sama." She asked resignedly. Pointedly looking at her Hokage, not at the Warhawk, who had no authority here. Or at least, he shouldn't.

The irony of her badgering the Hokage for an out of the village mission for so long and now getting one when she desperately did not want one.

The Hokage sighed, rolling a scroll with a red band in-between his hands, "You are to join the Iwa front, for now. More as a deterrent than anything else, Kushina-chan. You'll specifically be seen arriving, we want Iwa to know you're there."

At least that's something… She thought, deterrent is better than the other option. "My apprentice… She's taking the graduation exam right now, dattebane…" She asked softly, not quite asking, but hoping still.

"You'll be leaving immediately." Danzo cut in brusquely, before the Hokage could speak. Danzo tapped his cane on the floor sharply, "If Iwa's Jinchuuriki engages our forces, destroy him." He ordered, like he was placing an order for a basket of apples at the market, not asking for the destruction of an S-rank threat backed by a Bijuu.

Kushina turned her eyes towards her Hokage, until he said the word, no orders were given as far as she was concerned.

Sarutobi looked at her with soft compassionate eyes, but he still handed her the scroll, making no move to counter Danzo's words, not even the usual platitudes to soften the blow. Kushina felt like screaming as she grabbed a hold of it. This whole mission, the timing. It said more than clearly enough - that her petition to be Inohana's Jounin-sensei had been rejected.

Perhaps, if she hurried, she could still catch the end of the exam. Watch her little stormcloud beat the snot out of the competition and rise to the top. Enough time to let her know she'd be leaving, that she couldn't be her Sensei. That she couldn't protect her, again!

Hopefully her back-up argument with the Hokage, of placing Inohana on a team with Minato and Kakashi and some other random genin would happen. At least Minato she could trust.

"One of my men is waiting outside to escort you to grab your gear and join the relief platoon going to the front, you'll be leaving immediately." Danzo said mildly, his one eye seemingly reading her every thought before she even finished them.

Kushina slumped slightly, hands tightening around the mission scroll. Her eyes sliding to her Hokage again. Silently asking him for just one damn minute. Please!

"Make speed, Kushina-chan." The Hokage said quietly, dismissing her, not meeting her eyes. Rejecting any chance of her speaking with Inohana.

She had orders, she had no choice. She nodded firmly, before turning around and marching back out of the office. She controlled her breathing, keeping her temper down. She couldn't afford to explode again. She smiled tightly at the blank faced Shinobi awaiting her outside the office. Her escort…

She'd been right. The timing was suspect. She wondered if Iwa even had a Jinchuuriki at the front. Or if her sudden presence would ensure it - as they reciprocate. The war would escalate either way. No one had deployed a Jinchuuriki seriously yet.

The biggest question bothering her was, if this was what she thought it was… Why exactly did she need to be out of the way right now?

Just due to the Jounin-sensei rejection, or something more.

Her hands were tied, wartime was not the time to gainsay your Hokage, if there ever was such a time... She briefly thought of creating a kage bunshin to talk to Inohana. But just as quickly discarded it. She could not be seen disobeying orders, even just bending them. Not now.

She'd leave a note. Explaining things.

And telling her little Ino to be careful.

This could all be nothing. The mission could be entirely true.

Her gut told her otherwise. But Kushina held onto hope.

She had to hope.

She had to.

***

It's my turn, still no Kushina-shishou. I put it out of my mind, I can't think of anything but my objective now.

The whistle blows, I'm off at full speed immediately, easily getting past the first few hurdles by simply pumping the chakra in my legs and leaping over them.

I make it to the tightrope, using chakra to climb up to the top faster, speeding across the rope, eyes and ears peeled. There! I don't bother trying to dodge - something that's troubled many of my fellow classmates - instead I simply pull out a kunai of my own, deflecting the shuriken thrown my way, making it to the end of the tightrope, jumping off, still deflecting the shuriken which keep coming at me, tossed by the Chuunin instructors.

I land in a crouch on the ground, rolling away from a spread of shuriken, they're barely sharpened, so at worst it would give a small bite, but I don't intend to lose any points by failing to defend myself properly.

I make my way to the rotating dummies tightly packed together on the trail ahead of me, each dummy having three thick arms protruding - each dummy tightly interspersed with the next one and giving a minimal amount of room for me to avoid the arms as they rotate and swing.

I slide under the first arm, use chakra in my arms to flip myself over the next two coming at low and middle height, twist my body sideways to avoid the shuriken, which are still coming. Assholes you didn't do that for anyone else! I think, with some annoyance.

I duck under the two arms coming for my head, grab one arm in passing, use it as leverage to flip over the next two incoming ones, roll forward and slide under the lowest arm, baseball style, and I'm out, just barely knocking away a shuriken with the metal plate on my fingerless glove as it came for my face. Fuck you too Gaku-sensei!

Before they can increase their barrage, I'm already springing forward, zigzagging to make a less predictable target, skipping the rope leading up the wall that my less skilled classmates had used, just sticking to it with chakra, sprinting up and over it, easily avoiding the panels pushing out to destabilize any climber.

Next is the ring of fire, it's not really a ring, but there's plenty of fire and it's almost like a tunnel - so I'm calling it ring of fire. Hidden seals are all around the walls of the narrow man-made temporary tunnel I find myself approaching - spewing a short burst of fire periodically, although more often, the closer you are to the seal. Unfortunately I'm not allowed to just go over it, so I narrow my eyes, waiting for the first spout of flame, tilting my head slightly, just avoiding the shuriken passing by, having caught wind of it at the last moment through the noise it made. Without looking I give the finger to Gaku-sensei. I hear laughter in the distance, my fellow classmates appreciating my actions.

As soon as the first blast of fire is set off by my tentative approach, I'm running, body down low, trying to outrun the worst of the fire, worst case I'll get some zinged eyebrows, the flame isn't crazy hot, nor is it long lasting. I have just enough speed to beat out the bursts of flame trying to catch up to me, before the mechanisms in the seals change tactics and deploy ahead of me at regular intervals. Forcing me into acrobatics at full speed to avoid them. Flying out of the tunnel at full speed shortly thereafter, my eyebrows still there.

The test is mainly for speed, flexibility and stamina, yet it's also made for the average student. My tiny size helps me traverse the dummies faster and easier than any before me, likewise with the fire. The rest of the obstacle course prove to be no match either. Kushina-shishou has given me harder workout routines than this. And she used actual sharp weapons too.

I push past the finish line, breathing a bit heavily from all the acrobatics and sprinting I'd just done. But I'd beaten the best time by minutes. Gai being the second best, and although having the speed to blaze through most of the course, he'd lost points to hits from both the dummies and from a couple of Shuriken, which had set his time back.

Shizune not surprisingly did only okay, she's not bad, but definitely not made for a mad sprint through enemy fire yet.

I calm my breathing as I stand and watch the rest of my classmates finish. Genma did the best out of the other guys, but still nowhere near Gai or myself.

I wonder if war time is the reason the test is more comprehensive than canon? Or perhaps the full test had never been shown to save space. Then again, Naruto seemed like the kind of idiot that would have absolutely fucked up every part of this test, except for powering through on stubborness and stamina - so if he only failed due to the Bunshin jutsu, perhaps they didn't continue with these tests in peace time.

A glance at the small crowd still has no Kushina-shishou and I resign myself to the fact she must have been called away on a mission. I doubt anything else could keep her away. She seemed more excited than me for these tests. Although she's been slightly melancholy over the last couple days too. Continuously telling me I'm not allowed to grow up.

Personally I'm looking forward to getting older and not being picked up and carried everywhere like a doll.

The Ninjutsu portion is laughably easy. There isn't a single student who fails in performing the basic three. There's an option for those that want it to showcase any other jutsu or Genjutsu they might know. I hang back, eyes narrowed at the proctors. Any further jutsu usage serves no purpose as far as testing goes, I doubt anyone's going to unseat me as rookie of the year because of it. I stay back and don't offer anything else, I'm half convinced this part is to test who's dumb enough to show off their whole arsenal for absolutely zero benefit.

Considering all those I consider canon characters also hang back. I feel validated in my belief. Shizune could easily show off her medical skills for example. Yet none of them do. It's the loud mouthed lower end of the class that eagerly steps up and shows off a few frankly pathetic jutsu that have literally no use on a battlefield, the proctors watching silently without making comments, just scratching things down on their clipboards.

Soon enough we move to the last test of the day. Taijutsu. A randomized (Hah, as if!) board shows each student a bracket, a tournament style Taijutsu competition being the way we'll show off our skills to the proctors and the Shinobi watching.

It's like taking a walk in the park, my matches barely making me work up a sweat, until finally I face Genma in the semi-finals, Shizune having been knocked out by Genma in the quarters.

I'm not exactly an expert in Taijutsu, but I have a keen mind for tactics, I know every weak point of the human body and I'm ruthless enough to take advantage, and my small size works for me. It throws my opponent off while I'm used at fighting precisely his size.

The match is fairly quick. Which places me in the final. Against Maito Gai.

"YOSH! Let us have a fair fight in the spirit of CAMARADERIE!" Gai gives me a thumbs up, smiling widely as he practically vibrates on the spot.

I smile, trying to hide my irritation, "Yes. Let's have a good match, Gai-san."

Gai bows to me, tears starting to stream down his eyes, "I am being acknowledged by my eternal rival's best friend! I shall not LOSE!" He roars, eyes almost showing flames as he stares at me with determination.

"Kakashi and I are not -" Is as far as I manage in absolute disgust before the Proctor starts the match and I have to fall back from a fist barreling towards my face.

I'm immediately on the defensive, I'm tiny and hard to hit, but Gai isn't much older, or bigger than me. And he's fast.

I wince as I'm forced to throw up a block, taking a hit across my forearm, And he hits hard as a truck!

I'd sparred a few times with Gai at the Academy, but I'd never fought at full strength, having no interest in a competition of strength with Maito Gai, and he'd been able to tell and never did either. Apparently the graduation exam changed those parameters.

I take a hit to the shoulder, and let myself fall, snaring Gai's leg as I do, trying to twist his knee with me, but I quickly abandon the motion, rolling away, letting his let go, as he moved to strike at my femur, and he'd probably manage to break it as strong as he hit and with my vulnerable position.

As I spring back up from my roll he's immediately on me, and I'm back to dodging by millimeters and tanking the hits I can't dodge, I'm sure my arms are going to be purple soon…

This isn't working. I'm fast, I'm flexible, I'm slippery. And it all doesn't matter against a Taijutsu focused Gai, who manages to just about match my speed, but hits ten times harder than I can. Whatever strikes I manage at weak spots fail to do any significant damage, due to the speed I have to strike at, sacrificing any real hitting power.

If I continue this, I'll lose.

Between one strike and the next, I slither into his chakra system with a chakra string. Technically against sparring rules. But they didn't give any rules for this tournament, and well, ninja!

For every moment that passes I alter his perception through Genjutsu, his strikes start missing me as he thinks I'm an inch more to his right there, that my foot is sliding back an inch here. His style leaving more openings as I force him to open up more, his strikes going wider and wider without him being aware, to him it's like I'm simply speeding up, dodging him better.

I might not have his strength, but after enough hits to his throat and skull when he leaves himself open, he finally goes down.

I'm soaked in sweat from head to toe, my hair is stuck to my face, I can barely breathe and I'm sure I'm half purple now.

But I did it. I won. I exchange a quick smile with Ghost-Dan, now in sight, having watched me from a distance so as to not distract me during the tests.

And yeah, I cheated I suppose. But that's literally the definition of a ninja. As far as I'm concerned, I won the right way.

A slug fest isn't the ninja way. Or shouldn't be, anyway. Not to anyone with any sense.

As it's a Friday, we're all shortly thereafter sent off, given our headbands without much ceremony and requested to be back on Monday for team assignments. Not surprisingly, even if a few students had absolutely sucked at the obstacle course - everyone passes. It's war. They need their new future Jounin just as much as they need the fresh bodies to just throw in the tresher. At least I should be part of the first group, not the second. Should. I'm not counting on anything in this world.

I place my headband around my neck, if nothing else it puts some metal between my soft bits and anything sharp.

I make my way home, finding no sign of Kushina-shishou still. I take what feels like the best and similarly the worst, shower ever. Getting rid of the sweat and dirt feels absolutely divine, but my everything aches and using my arms to wash hurts. Kami damn you Gai. You're still tiny, why the fuck do you hit like a truck!

Once I'm dressed again, I look through the house, puzzled. I find that Kushina-shishou's mission gear is gone, which I had already figured she'd been called on a mission, so it isn't surprising.

I am surprised by something else though... I would have expected a note or something. She leaves notes when she goes grocery shopping, yet a mission during my graduation exam, there's nothing?

That's a bit weird. Eventually I let it go however, cooking myself some noodles and chicken for dinner, heading to bed early for once.

I can take care of myself, I'll find out what's going on when she gets back anyway.

And she is getting back.

I refuse to entertain the thought of anything else.

***

I find the most likely reason for why Kushina-shishou might be gone, first thing in the morning. I'm sitting in the kitchen slowly eating breakfast, trying to pretend I can use my arms, when a recognizable chakra approaches the house. I eye my breakfast, sighing. What now?

I make it to the door about the same time she makes it, opening it just as she's about to knock. I stare up at Tsunade, unimpressed.

Dan hovering behind me, having followed me to the door, curious. He makes a wounded noise. Like he's not sure what to even say. Perhaps for the best he can't talk to her right now… If I can figure out what a coincidence this is, no doubt Dan can and he's not happy about it. He can join the club…

"Tsunade-Sama…" I say, managing a polite if disinterested greeting. I frown at her, "So, managed to get Kushina-shishou sent away?" I ask, resigned to whatever fate has in store for me today. Kami, I'm going to turn into Neji soon if fate keeps screwing with me…

Tsunade crosses her arms under her bust, "The Hokage had a mission for her, or so I'm told."

I notice that she didn't technically deny it. Not that I can do anything, I'm a genin now, if she has orders for me… "I suppose you just happen to have orders for me, now that I've graduated?" I ask tiredly.

"It's time to try and help Dan." Tsunade confirms, trying for a soft approach, kneeling down, looking me in the eyes, her amber eyes soft and warm. "It's an order," She confirms, showing the edge of a scroll poking out of her cleavage, "But Inohana, I'd really like it if you just help, because it's the right thing to do, because you can."

"What are you doing, Tsuna…" Dan whispers, looking crushed.

I put on a fake smile, "Of course I'll help, Dan deserves it." I allow the hug, the Slug Sannin drawing me in, thanking me with teary eyes.

I'm angry still, hurt. But a Sannin isn't someone I can just discard because they upset my feelings. I need to keep things cordial at the very least. Ideally get her to truly be in my corner.

And besides, I don't have a choice, do I? So why make things more difficult for myself? Spite? A Kunoichi can't afford to let her life be ruled by that.

"I'll try my best." I promise both Tsunade and Dan. And I mean it.

Waking Dan up while he's still feeling so protective of me would be ideal, before he's had more time to internalize a defense for his love and waved away any of her actions.

Tsunade picks me up, taking to the rooftops, heading towards the hospital. I ignore the burning in my gut, the wish to just stab her, for daring to pick me up like she's Kushina-shishou. But I bury it, this feeling. I'll use it, I'll nurture it, and one day there will be a reckoning, but until then… I'll be a helpful little ally.

My day doesn't get much better, because when we arrive at the hospital room where Dan is kept, walking past the seals that hide the presence from me - I feel and see Orochimaru in the room.

"Orochimaru-Sama." I greet him stiltedly. Well aware that this little meeting wouldn't happen easily if Kushina-shishou was still here, Hokage's orders or not.

"Inohana, how nice of you to volunteer your services." Orochimaru mocks me, a smirk on his pale face.

I draw blood, my nails impacting my palms that harshly as I clench my fists, attempting to not lose it, because he did not just make a joke out of all this. Out of my Shishou being sent to war just so they could have this healing attempt that much sooner. Worst of all, I know the bastard can likely smell the blood, his smirk widening as he looks me over. Finally I manage an answer, "Well… Someone's got to finish the job you can't do, Orochimaru-Sama…" Alright, that's about as polite as I'm going to get, let's do this before I get murdered.

I step towards the bed, as Tsunade follows me, I catch both her and Dan giving the snake Sannin a reproving look, the monster not even affected, his golden eyes fixated on me, a cruel smirk on his face.

I sit on the chair next to the bed, taking a deep breath. Tsunade standing next to me, her hand joining with that of the patient. "I can check… But I'm not sure I can do anything." I say, aware that I'm alone in the room with two predators, and I need to manage expectations.

"Anything you can do, Inohana… Do it." Tsunade says softly. Her thumb stroking Dan's hand.

Dan himself groans, moving to hover over his own body, "Don't listen to either of them, Inohana! If anything at all goes wrong, get out, don't risk your chakra or your mind, that's an order!" He turns his face towards Tsunade's, his ghostly hand lowering down to where she's holding his flesh hand. "What's happened to you, Tsuna…" He asks, "You'd never risk a young girl like this…"

I take a deep breath, closing my eyes, allowing my chakra sense to flourish, quickly focusing it on Dan's body to avoid the wretched feeling of Orochimaru's chakra. Soon enough the room and the people in it disappear completely from my awareness, my chakra strings making contact with Dan's network.

I repeat the process of my successful attempt, letting myself flow along the chakra, becoming almost assimilated, just another part of his chakra. Slowly moving my way up to the chakra network in his brain.

It could be hours, it could be seconds, I don't know. But I do find something inside his brain's pathways. Something I could hardly miss after all the tutoring Kushina-shishou has been giving me. It's a seal. The chakra is different from Dan's, but strangely familiar. The seal is - just from a feel - restricting his body and chakra, not allowing the completion of Dan returning. Although I'm not sure how exactly it separated him in the first place… Maybe that was a different seal? This doesn't seem like it would be capable of that…

It would take someone knowing a lot of his ability to restrict him so perfectly though… I think, floating along past the seal in the pathways, over and over. Studying it. I can feel the chakra in it. Logic says I should now end this, I should stop. Tell Tsunade what I've found.

That's the sensible thing to do.

It also means more sessions, more time under the thumb of Orochimaru.

No thanks.

I strain myself, detaching a part of the chakra that's so calmly floating along Dan's network, and I slide it into the seal, immediately doing the same there, matching its frequency so to speak. Becoming nothing more than another part of the chakra that makes up the seal. I feel like my muscles are snapping or something similar, this is definitely not pain free. My mind is straining under the pressure of doing two deep dives at the same time, when I've just learned how to do one…

I soldier on, stubbornly feeling out the seal. It feels like a Konoha seal… Is this… Root? Why would he? Because he was a Hokage candidate? Knock out two candidates in one go? Maybe I'm jumping to conclusions... Either way, I'm concentrating on the wrong thing.

The seal can only be undone by the chakra signature of the person who placed it.

Luckily, right now I am the chakra of the person that placed it.

It takes some effort, but I slowly poke at the strands of chakra, release, release, I'm the same, I'm the owner of the chakra, release.

I start feeling like I'm slipping away. Losing control. I can't, not yet. Not now!

Just then, the chakra making up the seal unravels, the seal washing away in the flood of chakra naturally moving through the pathways. I lose all sight or even thought of what I am doing, everything going black.

***

"She's bleeding again…" Orochimaru pointed out casually, leaning against the wall, looking bored with the proceedings.

Tsunade cursed, dabbing at the blood dribbling out of the girl's ears, she couldn't heal her, not with her reaction to healing, that might ruin everything right now. She couldn't snap her out of this either for the same reasons. Had she pushed too far, too early?

It had seemed so necessary an hour ago…. Now… Seeing the young girl bleeding, her heart rate going crazy, her blank unseeing eyes. Tsunade wasn't so sure anymore.

"Something is happening!" Orochimaru moved away from the wall suddenly, fascinated, "I can feel a change in the chakra…"

Inohana fell off the chair like a puppet with its strings cut, Tsunade managing to grab her just in time. Even as distracted as she was.

Because Dan was opening his eyes! "Dan!" She cried, rushing to the bed, forgetting all about the girl in the moment. Just leaning her back in the chair so she wouldn't fall again.

Orochimaru sauntered past her, towards the girl, picking her up, examining her as Tsunade grasped Dan's hand in hers, his fingers moved against hers, he was back! She'd done it! Tsunade owed her everything! Dan was back!

"I'll just go, leave you two lovebirds to it." Orochimaru hissed sibilantly. Looking intrigued as he stared down at the little girl in his arms. Amused at the way her chakra recoiled whenever he'd reach out towards her with his own. Such amazingly responsive chakra…

"Don't!" A weak voice came from the bed, Dan struggling to sit up in the bed, "Don't you go anywhere with her!" He managed to get out, sinking back into the bed, feeling weak as a kitten, glaring at the Snake Sannin with vitriol.

"Orochimaru!" Tsunade snapped, turning around, immediately listening to her fiance, and looking ready to insist.

Orochimaru sighed, looking very put upon. "Very well. I can run some tests on her later." He put her back down on the chair. Raising an eyebrow in surprise as he noticed her opening her eyes.

"I did it…" Inohana managed to whisper out, looking at Dan with a tiny smirk on her face, exhaustion evident as she sagged back into the chair.

"You did, you did it…" Dan said softly, eyes fond, "First thing I'll do is go to the Hokage and request to be your Jounin-sensei, I'll need a bit of time, but you're young yet." Dan promised, a gentle smile blooming, making him look younger still.

Tsunade couldn't stop the tears flowing down her cheeks as she leaned over and hugged Dan gently, "I'll help! The old man can't say no to both of us!" She cried, holding Dan's head to her bust. Her chakra spiking wildly with emotion.

Dan held Inohana's eyes, trying to emote his feelings through just eye contact. Thank you.

Inohana would have responded. But she passed out instead, having used up whatever energy she had.

All three adults stared down at her with different reactions. Tsunade wanted to heal her, but was not quite able to make herself move away from holding her fiance.

Dan tried to not grimace, as much as he loved Tsunade, he still hadn't even begun to deal with his complicated feelings on the matter. He watched Inohana with real worry, she'd done everything for him. It was time he returned the favor. And Tsunade would be helping, or he'd not recognize the woman he fell in love with anymore.

Orochimaru had the simplest thought of all those present.

Mine

***

I'm feeling slightly upbeat as I sit in the Academy and await the team selection. Despite my shitty weekend. Not waking up until Sunday night was one hell of a hangover to deal with. At least I hadn't done any lasting damage to myself. And I've been healed by Tsunade while unconscious - which is the best time to be healed.

Dan might need some time to get back in proper shape, but I am young enough of a genin that they wouldn't want me in the war yet anyway, surely. Hopefully. So maybe they'll allow Dan as the sensei of my team, he seemed pretty sure of himself, anyway. And he has Tsunade backing him now…

I listen as Gaku-sensei drones on about teams and teamwork, eventually getting to the important parts. The actual teams. I don't bother to care about memorizing the other teams, the majority will likely be dead in a few years at most.

My ears perk up as I hear my name. Gaku-sensei asking me to pay attention with his normal growly voice.

"Team 9. Maito Gai, Tsubuki Inohana, Shiranui Genma." Genma and Gai both cheer loudly, Gai manages to be especially loud, students wincing all around us as he declares our team as the team of YOUTH!

I close my eyes in despair, Genma isn't so bad, but seriously I'm on a team with Gai! I took Ebisu's spot! At least I have Genma, I might actually consider going missing-nin if I had both Gai and Ebisu on my team.

Well… At least Akimichi Chouza, the canon leader of team Gai isn't such a bad pick as a sensei, if Dan didn't get in first…

"Jounin leader, Orochimaru of the Sannin."

……

Fuck you world, fuck you very VERY much!

***

Authors note:

So there we have it, Team 9 is formed, and under their new lovely sensei, that's going to change some career trajectories - if they live through the war.

Probably most of you saw that sensei coming after the last chapter.

Inohana has kind of been back and forth on should I, shouldn't I, on the whole aspect of the shinobi life, being the ruthless kunoichi, or one with bonds. For now, she's made a choice to try, she's got many years ahead of her, this won't be the only time she questions her path forward, although it will be awhile until she faces a crossroads again.

It's obviously not healthy that she's fixating so much on Kushina as her one constant life line. But healthy isn't exactly a word that describes most Shinobi's mental state anyway - so she'll fit right in!

Dan, while a Jounin vying for Hokage, is still somewhat of an idealist. What Tsunade did, doesn't sit well with him. At all. He's serious about having Inohana's back going forward. As always Konoha comes first though…

And no, the Hokage isn't ruled by Danzo or something like that - but when he needs to be the villain he feels perfectly comfortable letting Danzo play the part instead. And this is still the time period where Orochimaru is his darling favorite student - so of course he listened to his students request.

I feel bad for continuing to write things that will deeply upset Kushina. I love writing her as basically ninja mom - and I keep fucking her every attempt to settle things down for Inohana.

Literally no one is happy right now at the end of this chapter, except Orochimaru and Tsunade, I suppose.

Oh and Genma and Gai, but those poor souls have no idea what they're getting into.

You thought Spandex Gai was bad? Imagine that same character - but add thick, phallus like snakes sliding out from under the spandex and Orochimaru's tongue techniques wielded by Gai, shouting about Youth while being able to swallow a whole sword.

And now that I have given everyone nightmares, including myself, that's it for this chapter, see you next time!

Cheers

JollyHippopotamus