Here's chapter 15: Getting the band back together.
Good news to all those getting depressed with how Inohana just stumbles from one bad situation to the next.
Even with her off to war soon - things are now moving towards an improvement for her as the story starts moving away from the Konoha kiddie wheels. (Yes, that was the kiddie wheels part of the story)
It won't all be puppies and sunshine going forward of course, this still has a horror tag for a reason. But she's now at a level where she can start moving on her own and fight back.
There is still Orochimaru to take into account, of course, but still, it won't be all doom and gloom going forward.
Only war, blood, death and gore - friendship, loyalty, triumph and love - all the good stuff.
Enjoy!
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!
***
I stroke the dark snake tattoo curling down my forearm, lost in thought as I rest up against an ancient tree deep inside the forest of death. The night sky peeking through the canopy of the massive trees surrounding me.
I feel calmer in nature. The sounds of the forest, the feel of the air and chakra, the lack of people. Being such a good sensor and constantly improving even more under Sensei's harsh tutelage has its drawbacks.
There's nowhere in the village I can go now where I won't suddenly feel if people chakra starts… Intermingling within a few blocks of me.
Except, places devoid of people for the most part. Like the forest of death. Which also happens to be a good place to train in, even if technically I'm definitely not allowed to be in here.
It's been a long three months since I had the summoning contract of the snakes forced upon me - something I hadn't even believed possible. Something that shouldn't be possible.
Apparently the snakes approved and that was the only connection that mattered once they got my blood. I haven't even summoned one yet, stubborn pride maybe, anger at having the sanctity of my own body and soul overridden on a whim, perhaps. Or just knowing that the snakes will literally become taboo when Orochimaru-Sensei fucks off and I really don't want to be tarred with his reputation more than I already will from being one of his genin.
It's not like snakes would go against my personal style, subterfuge, genjutsu and poison went well with the snakes that weren't the size of buildings.
Not that I have the chakra to summon those anyway. But yes, smaller snakes, spies, venomous ones for assassination, for crafting poisons with. I can see the viability. It's just not what I want.
I huff as my hair flops down over my eyes as I move my head, how annoying. I lean my head back tiredly, I'm sweaty, dirty, and my everything aches. And I need a haircut, I think with slight melancholy and a familiar ache in my chest.
I've never had to worry about going and getting my hair cut in this life, at first it was servants of the clan performing the duty, family members, however distant, then it was Kushina… The silly things you think of when you've got nothing else. I thought, not ready yet to go 'home', the emptiness bothers me now more than ever.
I'll even take Kakashi coming home again…
Well, I'll take fighting Kakashi again as something to do.
He's not exactly a great conversationalist.
At least I'm growing stronger… Orochimaru is many things, a mad man (mad genius), a freak and a monster. But even above those, he is a scientist, and he's used it liberally - to turn the three of us into killing machines.
Exemplary Shinobi. Who else could make us this dangerous in less then half a year. According to sensei the three of us together would wreck some less experienced chuunin teams.
The empty home that always greets me is what's chased me into training after hours in the forest of death more than the annoying chakra signatures. That training has had its own impact on my growth as well. As exhausted as it always leaves me. I am growing stronger.
I am advancing my goals. However far away S-rank looks to be. It's an impossibly high mountain to climb.
But if Sasuke and Sakura can get up there. I can. My strength is increasing rapidly.
As can be seen in the small clearing I'm resting in, the thick trunks almost cut fully through, already healing themselves, gorging on the vast quantity of natural energy that suffuses the forest of death.
There's definitely a reason why this area hasn't been developed, and it's not to give Konoha a good place for chuunin exams. The abundance of natural energy in this place makes it dangerous to live in for humans, although it's working wonders in creating some dangerous beasts and flora.
Konoha regularly has to cull both in here every year I'd heard working in Sensei's lab.
I idly study the small storm of leaves trailing circles in the air above me, my chakra strings attached to the - to my senses - stormcloud of chakra particles belonging to me.
My stock of deathly sharp, incredibly durable leaves have been growing splendidly, Orochimaru-Sensei's training helping me refine my chakra even further, as well as expand it slightly, for as much as my small chakra pool allows, anyway.
It's resulted in me more than tripling my stockpile of lethal leaves. Cutting through a tree trunk in this forest is no small thing. A body would offer less resistance. I've yet to test how they could stand to protect me against Ninjutsu however, if that works… The potential…
Even if Orochimaru-Sensei refuses to allow me to yell out Senbonzakura when I use it. Which is totally unfair with every Shinobi running around and yelling out their fireballs.
Or screaming out the name of their assassination techniques…
I raise my arm, lazily drawing the storm of leaves back into its seal, flicking out a chakra string to add a couple dozen more leaves to the mix, I'll have to inscribe them later with seals for them to truly work, but it wouldn't hurt to begin the process of attuning them to my chakra.
Idly I flick my eyes up into the canopy, my senses picking just the hint of something familiar. I smirk inwardly, showing nothing on my face, as I reach out, feeling for each of Sensei's spies.
Within a moment my chakra strings attach to the multitude of snakes keeping an eye on me and take over their senses, somewhat like hacking a camera, they're now on a closed loop, unaware of anything unusual in the clearing.
Even in Sensei's creepy spying he's making me grow to defy it… Stupid competent creepy sensei.
"You're safe." I call out, a tension in my shoulders loosening as I lose the feeling of a multitude of predatory eyes on my person.
At least when I had Dan hanging around in spirit form, he'd left me alone in the bathroom and other choice locations. Orochimaru-Sensei's snakes never gave me a moment. It is beyond creepy to deal with, yet it's not like I can do much either, being a summoner as well now (Underneath the principal summoner), they can track me wherever I go with ease.
I swear if one pops out of my toilet one day, I will go Itachi on everyone.
"How long can you manage tonight?" Dan asks kindly, floating down from the canopy where he'd hidden, briefly laying a translucent hand on my shoulder. It was the thought that counted, his spirit form couldn't actually touch me. Unless he tried to possess me, which wasn't going to happen.
Sensing the chakra of his spiritual form is how I'd known it was time to snare my watchers. The snakes are not developed enough sensors to catch him by chakra alone.
Orochimaru-Sensei had underestimated both of ours determination to get around him.
I push my sweaty hair out of my face and readjust my headband to my forehead to cover it for now, "An hour at the most without causing suspicion, but probably safer to say forty five minutes." I say, feeling my connections to the snakes and the genjutsu I have them in. Offering a small tired smile to Dan.
Orochimaru-Sensei is a very jealous sensei, and amongst tracking me constantly, he also, I'd found out, when Dan managed to get through his net properly, prevented contact with Dan and Tsunade.
Now I have complicated feelings on Tsunade, so it's probably for the best we avoid each other for awhile, but I don't mind Dan, and we both find it very skeevy that Orochimaru-Sensei is working so hard to prevent any prolonged contact with a responsible adult.
For a given value of how responsible any ninja in Konoha could count as.
I have my suspicions now on why Kushina-shisou, as well as Minato and Kakashi - don't seem to get back to the village at all, nor apparently gotten any letters to me.
Orochimaru-Sensei is a sneaky bastard. On the plus side… His bullshit is teaching me to be quite sneaky as well.
He still sucks.
"How have you been? Truly, Inohana?" Dan says softly. Floating down to sit next to me, offering some companionship, even if not in the flesh.
I run a thumb over my tattoo, frowning, "Hard to say, most days everything blurs together now, if anything… Tired." I say, looking away from the brand I have on my body.
Dan's lips thin into a grimace, but he doesn't speak up on the tattoo. When he first snuck past Orochimaru-Sensei and spotted it, I had to talk very fast to prevent him from trying to fly off and kill my sensei.
I mean if I thought he could, I totally would have let him, but although he is recovering, he's no match for Orochimaru. Yet.
Also there's still a war going on so… We kind of need him. For now.
Growing strong enough to kill Orochimaru-Sensei is on my priority list now. Weird thing is that the creepy guy would probably do his stupid smug smirk and agree it was a laudable goal if he knew. Fucker.
"Are you still getting along with your teammates? I know… They're having… Issues." Dan says hesitantly, wanting to engage me, but not poke at any wounds. He'll learn eventually I'm nothing but wounds. He's a slow learner because of all the kindness he's somehow kept while becoming an S-rank Shinobi.
Issues, I snort. Yeah, Gai and Genma definitely were having issues, nowadays. "We get along fine, it's been a bit, "I look for the word, tired eyes staring up at the small patch of sky visible through the canopy, " Bumpy, lately, because of the whole -" I wave my arm, at a loss for words, not really wanting to get into it with Dan again.
These sessions already seemed mysteriously similar to therapy without going further into the mess of my life.
I get along with Gai and Genma just fine. We meld together well when fighting, we've all learned a lot and we're a kick-ass team now.
It's just… Orochimaru-Sensei…
When lab work moved from cataloging samples, to actually dissecting and experimenting on people… Killing prisoners…
Gai and Genma had been… Let's say, perturbed, about my casualness in dealing with it. To them, even if they could grimly understand the necessity because of the war, they didn't approve of it, and couldn't find themselves assisting in those tasks, they didn't have the stomach for it. Eventually they succeeded in getting kicked out of the lab due to Orochimaru-Sensei getting sick of their hesitance.
Yet… I stayed.
We get along fine… But there is definitely this… Line… Between us right now - that I don't know how to fix.
"It's just complicated, I don't want to get into it." I tell Dan, avoiding his compassionate gaze.
It's not like Orochimaru-Sensei would let me walk out of the lab, but I can't really explain that to the boys in a way they can understand and won't put them in danger from sensei. I also don't want to get into my various traumas, old life and new - that allows me to survive experimenting on people, without it turning my stomach.
I shouldn't be able to do all that, but I can, and they can't understand it. It makes me look… Too much like Orochimaru-Sensei.
"You're not a bad person because you work with him, Inohana, you're stronger for persevering against impossible odds, for staying you, despite his best efforts." Dan says with his signature soft smile, his face so kind, so off - for an expert killing machine.
Without Dan these past months, I don't know if I would have lost myself or not. He's been my guiding light even as Orochimaru-Sensei's darkness tries to swallow me whole.
"I know I'm strong." I say, hugging my knees, putting my chin on them, feeling tired, but so much stronger. My body works like a well oiled machine now, working, training, fighting - even if I go all day, I can still move.
I'm going to kick the shit out of Kakashi the next time I see the brat! I want to see the look on his stupid smug mask face when I rub it in the dirt.
…But likely I'll just be stuck in the lab with Sensei instead of doing anything cool like that…
"I just don't know if I'm strong enough." I whisper out. My biggest fear in all this. That I'll turn out like Orochimaru-Sensei. That it's inevitable, that there's too many similarities.
Because I can see them. Oh, we're definitely very different people, but I have that darkness inside me too. The thirst for power. The wish to just tear through anything for my goal.
"You are!" Dan says with absolute shining conviction, making me raise my head to meet his eyes, "You are a good person, Inohana, despite everything that has been done to attempt to break or bend your spirit. You refuse. Don't ever put yourself down, even in your own mind. You've come so far, and it's because of you. Not any of us."
I feel a slight flush to my cheeks. "That is ridiculously corny." I say, trying to hide my pleased but embarrassed smile.
Kami, what a Naruto thing to say. Just… More eloquent than that idiot.
"The truth can be a little silly. It's because the truth doesn't need only cold facts to be true. Faith is enough to set you free." Dan says half hugging me with his arm even though he can't actually touch me, "And I believe in you, Inohana." He finishes, almost inaudible, as he whispers it to me. Ridiculously genuine in his expression.
I groan loudly, letting my head slump onto my knees again, "Sooo corny, you're such a girl" I tease, cheeks tomato red now. It feels way too anime to be having these kinds of conversations!
Dan just smiles kindly, "If I was a girl, I'd want to be one like you." He fires back laughingly, always up to teasing me and lifting my mood.
The rest of the time limit before I have to release the spies - continues in this manner. Just friends, hanging out together, supporting each other.
Him talking about his fears about his relationship with Tsunade, which is still not fully right, his distrust of her that he hasn't been able to let go, poisoning a perfect reunion.
Me, sharing my fears of what I could be, what monstrous things I could do. Venting it all out, refusing to allow it to fester in the dark reaches of my soul. Shining the light on it, freeing myself of the poison.
… These therapy sessions are helping me a lot more than him, but he never seems to mind. I owe a lot to people like Kushina-shisou and Dan.
People to look up to. To emulate.
I can't fail them.
As I see him flying away through the air, a few minutes before my self imposed deadline. I feel my determination grow.
I won't let Orochimaru-Sensei beat me.
People are counting on me!
***
Next day,
"Gai! You don't need to try and kill me!" I shriek, as the budding Taijutsu master slams into my mass of leaves, that I just barely manage to form into an ad hoc shield in front of me.
Lucky for me, the seals ensuring the leaves are crazy durable manage to hold. Gai's fist is unable to punch through the thin shield.
Without it I would be fucked. Gai can wreck my shit without a problem. I'm fast. But compared to Gai? I don't have the body to be able to get on his level anytime soon.
"Genma!" I snap, breaking off small sections of the shield to send leaves spinning in the other direction, blocking the dozen senbon sent from behind me with a metallic ting noise.
Genma smirks, senbons whirling in-between his fingers, "~just training, Inohana-chan!" He says smugly.
Assholes, ganging up on me!
I toss a kunai straight for his smug face, even as I switch my shield around as I hear the drag of Gai's foot on the soil, the speedy beast appearing at my side with a spinning kick already in motion. If it hit, it would definitely shatter bone. I know from experience, sadly.
At the same time as I'm dealing with Gai, the Kunai I sent towards Genma draws a yelp out of him, as his casual deflection fails when the chakra string I had attached to it moves the Kunai and starts slashing at him, forcing him on the defensive.
You'd think he'd learn by now I always have a chakra string on everything.
At the same time, Gai yelps loudly in surprise as my senses have anticipated his attack vector and my shield arrives before his attack, splitting in half, allowing his leg somewhat through, before closing, stopping the momentum of the rest of his body as he slams into a wall of leafy steel. Making him stand awkwardly with one leg in a steel trap.
"YOSH! You have captured me! The green beast has once again faced defeat from his rival, the splendid flower of Konoha!" He shouts excitedly, hopping on one leg.
He could technically have tried to escape, but technically I could also cut his leg off… It wouldn't be more then a twitch of my chakra to turn my shield into a spinning buzzsaw instead. And Gai's leg, while thick, had nothing on the trunks of the trees mutated by massive amounts of natural chakra in the forest of death.
"So 43-27 to me then?" I say teasingly, buffing my nails casually, my shield melting away into a storm of leaves again, slowly absorbing back into my seal.
Gai sends me a blindingly white smile, giving me a thumbs up, "That's right, rival! But soon I shall grow strong enough to take the lead, or I will run around Konoha a thousand times on my knees!"
I just giggle at him, giving him a thumbs up back, it wasn't too long into our training before Gai picked up his ridiculous mantra. With all the grim things I face, it is refreshingly simple and energetic, just cheering up my day. Being his rival really isn't as annoying as Kakashi seemed to take it.
Even though I'm just his secondary rival. I wouldn't want to get in the way of his and Kakashi's forbidden love.
… I got to remember to phrase it like that when Kakashi gets back. Somewhere in public. Preferably with a camera on hand.
Gai, Genma and I might have our differences while growing stronger, setting us apart - because of sensei and his… Actions. But deep down, we definitely all work well as a team.
"How would you even run on your knees?" Genma drawls with curiosity, as he walks up to us, juggling with my kunai. Uninjured of course, as he is our weapons expert, my thread controlled kunai couldn't do much but distract him for a minute.
Today is a miracle day, our first ever, after four months of training - day off.
So of course we were training.
We might have a slight problem.
I blame Gai.
"With great effort!" Gai says enthusiastically, immediately offering us to join his challenge, and just as immediately receiving the automatic polite rejection that Genma and I have gotten so used to saying, it came out without any conscious thoughts.
No one should be running around Konoha on their knees… Freaking Gai.
"Your leaves are doing pretty well at protecting you from what they used to be." Genma says appreciatively as he hands me back my Kunai.
Without even looking I scratch out the tiny fireworks seal he scratched into the metal with a senbon and his blood on his way over. "Nice try, do better." I say, twirling the kunai with flourish. "And it could hardly get worse." I chuckle wryly, remembering all the times my attempted leaf shield had just sort of… Flopped there in the air, moving as lazily as a Nara.
I'd moved too quickly with too many leaves added too soon. The foolishness of youth.
I'm obviously much wiser now.
"So what are we focusing on for training next?" I move the conversation forward, "Genma, you want me to teach you more seals? Do we do more conditioning, hide and seek?" I fire off suggestions, bouncing on the balls of my feet.
I admit I might have a problem. But… Adrenaline junkie behavior is a perfectly normal way to deal with life in a ninja world.
Gai and Genma share a glance, both wearing matching fond grins, before they reach forward and pick me up by the arms, carrying me between the two of them.
"Now, you know this is an - end of the world, hide your children, kiss your ass cheeks goodbye situation," Genma says, a cheeky smile on his lips, "When Gai, is the one that suggested we might wanna do something fun and relaxing on our day off." He ruffles my hair, ignoring my glare and puffed out cheeks at the action, trapped as I am between them.
"Rest is also training my friends!" Gai says, at the volume of a megaphone. "We must rest our bodies and energize our minds for the best effect!"
"... What is there even to do that isn't training?" I ask, after thinking it over for a moment.
I can clearly hear the birds chirping in the trees around the training ground as both boys holding me stare at me in complete silence. I fight a blush as I realize what I sound like. Ugh, they're right…
"You are the most boring child in the history of Konoha." Genma says, lips twitching, "When Gai is training less then you, then there's a problem, Inohana."
I resent that, we both train a lot, I think mulishly. Refusing to give them the point.
"I don't have a problem." I say out loud, while trying to think of anything I do that isn't training, anything that I could fire back at them and prove them wrong, so they'd have to get down on their knees and beg for my gracious forgiveness... My greenhouse… No, that is where I grow and train my poisons and salves… Seals… Don't count…
"I have hobbies." I say petulantly, after the silence stretches out for too long and the stares from my teammates start feeling judgemental.
"YOSH! We shall follow Inohana-chan's lead and perform hobbies and friendly challenges and bond as a team!" Gai seems thrilled at the idea, almost vibrating, ready to rush off as soon as I give him a target.
"Give me a moment…" I say, trying to think of anything I do that's not training.
Genma's smirk is growing unbearably smug. And I can't even stab him to make it go away!
Stupid older boys being taller and more muscly and cheaty crap like that…
I miss being tall..
The smugness grows, even as Gai starts looking at me worriedly, massive brows furrowed.
…
I don't only do training!
I just… Need a minute.
***
"This doesn't count as a hobby." I say, staring in displeasure at the multitude of bowls of ice cream in front of me. I peer suspiciously at Genma, "How did you even get this? Everyone's on rationing…"
Shinobi got significantly more rations than a civilian, but there was ice cream for at least thirty people here!
"Oh I did this and that, went here and there." Genma says, looking way too pleased with himself. We're all sitting out on a patio with a mountain of suspiciously gathered Ice cream in front of us, it's giving me a toothache and I haven't had any yet! A suspiciously empty patio of a closed up store front. Had Genma bullied a civilian store owner?
"Informative." I snark, trying to peer inside the store.
"He means he blackmailed someone." Shizune says disapprovingly, the medic having been caught by us walking dazedly home from the hospital and forcibly conscripted into fun, Gai not giving her another option. I would have helped, but…
She's a medic. I'm allergic, if I touch her she might call up the green power of suck.
Shizune might enjoy ice cream, I don't know her that well yet to know that for sure, but I know she definitely doesn't enjoy missing out on her bed after a 16 hour shift at the hospital, in-between training and actual duties.
Labor laws aren't really a thing in Konoha. Which should be fairly obvious, I mean, a five year old assassin in training here…
With the war, even if we're nowhere near the frontlines, the hospital is always very busy. Girls like Shizune taking care of the jobs that other more experienced medic's left behind - having been sent to advanced medical units.
So yeah, she was still glaring at us as she sat at the patio with Team 9 and the mountain of ice cream.
"Ice cream eating competitions is an honored tradition between friends." Gai says, utterly serious, holding his spoon like a sword - looking ready to do battle.
I exchange a look with Shizune. Boys!
Genma twirls his own spoon lazily, "Why does it matter how we got the ice cream? Let's just enjoy watching Gai eat his weight in it and pass out."
"I'm sure whatever noble or merchant you managed to blackmail or fool to get all this, disagrees." Shizune mutters, the black bags under her eyes somewhat concerning to see.
But medical school probably sucked in any world. I certainly don't go near that hellhole they call hospital anymore after having studied to an acceptable level to get over my handicap. As a good friend I'll keep my distance and remind her she chose this.
From a distance. So she can't touch me with that evil medical ninjutsu.
"How about we bet something on it?" Genma says with a challenging look, seeing Shizune and I looking unimpressed at a pigging out challenge. It's almost like they don't get girls at all or something…
Boys. Ninja or not. They're all blind.
"I don't care." Shizune says bluntly, looking a hair's breadth away from either falling asleep or strangling someone.
I slowly scoot down the bench. "What kind of bet?" I can't help but ask.
Damn, is Tsunade infecting me?
Gai slams a hand on the table, almost managing to knock all the ice cream off, resulting in somewhat of a scramble as we all grab at it to prevent an ice cream massacre.
He grins sheepishly at us, before speaking up, "Winner gets to decide our next activity!"
Genma looks amused, I give him the stink eye, what is he plotting…?
"Sounds fine to me." He says, looking at me, raising an eyebrow questionly, dare I say… Daringly.
"Fine." I mutter. Grabbing my spoon, Shizune muttering under her breath about muscle heads and how they told her about ninja like this in orientation.
I scoot a little further away. If she snaps, I want her to go for Genma, not me.
"YOSH! Let's goooo!" Gai bellows, before practically slamming his face into the slowly melting cavalcade of ice cream spread around the table.
I squirm for a second, determinedly taking a dainty bite. Watching Shizune eat normally, and Genma making no effort to compete either.
It's a silly competition… I don't need to do anything…
No really… I don't need to win, it's just stupid.
…
I'm not proud of it.
But I almost managed to beat Gai.
Shizune fell asleep halfway through the competition. Somehow. We weren't exactly quiet.
Genma couldn't stop laughing at me.
I'm dying of ice cream overload.
And Gai gets to choose the next thing we do.
I see Genma's plan now.
Fill me with ice cream and then make me do something Gai chooses to do for fun…
Genma must die. I decide, as I groan in agony, following my two boys as they move on to the next thing.
After we drop off Shizune at home of course.
Several razor leaves at crotch level ensured Genma learned manners quickly and dropped his suggestion of leaving her somewhere funny.
I have a feeling I don't want to know anything more about what he feels is funny.
Teaching him seals had made his little pranks and traps so annoying to deal with. My own fault…
He's like Naruto without the orange, and the fox in his belly, the ramen addiction, the no discernible skills except talking and getting up from getting punched a lot.
Okay, so he wasn't a lot like Naruto. I think my brain has frozen due to ice cream overload, or all the sugar has rotted my thought process.
I hate days off. Can we go back to training?
I twitch as I sense one of Sensei's snakes in the area.
Oh, Kami… Orochimaru-Sensei is going to know about all this stupidity.
He's definitely the kind of person that if he found someone smoking (and if he cared at all) he'd make them (me) smoke a hundred packs to cure them of stupidity.
I don't want to eat a ton of ice cream!
Again…
***
A couple days later…
I leave Gai and Genma behind at our training ground, their expressions conflicted.
We gel so well, so much better than I could have imagined. I'd never thought I'd get along with Gai, of all people. Especially kid Gai. He was like an overexcited puppy.
But then comes lab time to mess it all up, every day after training. Where the boys continue to train by themselves, by personal choice.
Leaving me to go to the lab with Orochimaru-Sensei, like right now. Alone. I have a feeling Orochimaru-Sensei planned this whole thing, getting the boys to opt out of lab time as soon as possible.
It seems like something he'd do.
Our day off had been… Unexpected, but I had enjoyed myself, barring a few things.
The fun bonding just makes it more obvious how uncomfortable we all get with each other once Orochimaru-Sensei and his… Let's call them habits, get involved.
Gai and Genma just couldn't understand my situation. Not that they had all the information. But knowing I kill people… Tear them apart under Orochimaru-Sensei's instruction. It changes things.
They weren't bloodied yet. Not really.
Better I take this horror on than someone like Gai. I don't want to see him lose his irritating smile and penchant for stupid challenges.
Genma and his periodical laziness and his stupid smug humor and practical jokes… I don't want him to lose it in a dungeon digging through someone's organs.
"You haven't summoned a snake yet. Haven't even tried." Orochimaru-Sensei says neutrally as we walk towards the closest lab. One that thankfully is more science then insane serial killer with pretensions in style.
I debate for a moment on making up an excuse. But…
The effort I'd have to go through to pull something over Sensei is just not worth it for something like this.
"My chakra capacity is not enough to waste it on summoning which will not let me improve my skills at the moment." I say calmly, knowing any emotional excuse, like the fact they were forced on me, that the brand feels like a stain on my body, my soul - wouldn't fly with Sensei.
Orochimaru-Sensei lets out a hissing laugh, "Inohana, child. I've already offered to increase your chakra capacity…" His lips stretch into a smirk, his golden eyes intent on me.
I squirm as we walk, refusing to answer him. A larger capacity for chakra and a strengthened body is appealing in my quest for more power. But I doubt I'll ever be insane enough to truly contemplate going under Orochimaru-Sensei's knife. There's no way I can trust he wouldn't implant something inside me, add a seal to control me, or something equally sinister.
Orochimaru-Sensei opens his mouth, to no doubt once again go on a tirade about how my own weakness in my mentality is the only thing keeping me back - when a chakra signature closes in.
We're interrupted from further conversation as Uchiha Mikoto lands in front of us, face unusually emotive as she glares at Orochimaru-Sensei. Her pale face flushed red and her eyes blazing. Angry as she looks, her countenance is radiating triumph.
"Mikoto-san, how amusing." Orochimaru-Sensei hisses, placing a hand heavily on-top of my head, possessively patting it. I grimace as I try to avoid the slimy feel of his chakra so close to my skin.
The fact Orochimaru-Sensei knows how his chakra affects me, makes the constant pets like this even more distasteful.
"Orochimaru…" Mikoto says, and I blink in shock, hearing the absolute loathing in her tone.
Where's the cool and collected badass Uchiha kunoichi? Getting this confrontational with Orochimaru is… Out of character, I think... I briefly check for genjutsu, but find nothing amiss.
She had arrived so quickly my senses hadn't even picked up on the flavor of her chakra by the time she landed, but soon I feel another chakra coming, and within seconds Uchiha Fugaku lands next to Mikoto, face impassive as always.
Unlike Mikoto who had apparently rushed ahead, Fugaku arriving at a more sedate pace, for a ninja anyway.
"Ah, Fugaku-dono as well." Orochimaru says with an amused twist of his head, his long hair pulled forward, looking completely at ease.
I know he can use that hair for a quick defense against genjutsu due to the seals he's interwoven within the long locks, invisible to the naked eye, but probably obvious to a Sharingan. So that flip of the hair was anything but casual.
He is who he is, so he can obviously murder the two of them anyway without it, but I give props to him, even facing a weaker Shinobi, he doesn't completely let his guard down.
For a given value of weaker, because the Sharingan could do a hell of a lot of crazy shit.
"We're here to propose a shared arrangement in regards to Inohana-chan." Mikoto says coldly, her chakra feels like it's almost broiling beneath her skin, ready to lash out. "We'll be taking her for the weekends when she's not on an out of town mission."
I haven't seen Mikoto for months. I wondered…
Orochimaru-Sensei chuckles, his eyes glinting dangerously, "Oh?" He asks, sinking a lot of threats into such a simple word.
"You will not fight us on this, or take it to the Hokage." Mikoto continues, not dissuaded for a moment by the dangerous aura Orochimaru-Sensei is putting out.
Fugaku's eyes harden, as his own chakra lashes out, a warning. Stepping up the tension as the two Shinobi's auras clash.
I watch this all happening, barely able to keep my own reaction hidden. There's so much subtext here! In their chakra, their micro expressions…
Fugaku is extra protective of Mikoto… The way they're standing so close together…
"Did you guys get married!?" I blurt out, somewhat interrupting the stare down, Mikoto's eyes softening as she turns my way.
"Yes, we did Inohana, I'm sorry you couldn't be there due to… Circumstances." She says kindly, before turning towards my sensei. "Which makes me the wife of the Uchiha clan head…"
Orochimaru-Sensei raises an unimpressed eyebrow, "I fail to see how this affects me, or the child." He says dismissively. But I've been around him long enough to notice the slight tension in his chakra. Orochimaru-Sensei hadn't expected this avenue of attack.
Mikoto sneers darkly, and it's the ugliest expression I've ever seen on her face as she stares down the Snake Sannin, "Because as a condition for me agreeing to marrying Fugaku now, instead of running of and joining the war, I petitioned the Uchiha clan for the right to take on a part time student for two days a week - with their full backing."
Fugaku still hasn't spoken, but to my eyes he looks irritated to have his clan's - or his personal business, aired out like this. "Her wish was granted." The stiff man says suddenly in the silence following Mikoto's words.
Holy shit… Mikoto housewifed early… Did Itachi just get butterflied away? I think, my eyes flickering between the three adults.
Orochimaru-Sensei looks utterly calm, relaxed even, with a playful smile on his lips, but I can feel his chakra and it's absolutely murderous. "The Hokage won't allow you to pick my student for such a ridiculous request!"
Mikoto's lips curl into a deeper, more superior sneer, I can definitely see some Sasuke in her now, "You're right, he won't." She says, briefly making Orochimaru-Sensei pause, thrown for a loop at the easy agreement.
It confuses me as well, because if the Hokage won't agree, what are they even doing with this confrontation?
"This is an agreement between you and the Uchiha clan." Fugaku says coldly, grasping one of Mikoto's hands gently and squeezing, the most human I've ever seen him. "There is no need for the Hokage to be involved."
Orochimaru-Sensei chuckles, his interest piqued, I can tell. Personally, I'm a little bit thrown, that after months of not seeing her at all, Mikoto is using her marriage to get me out from under Orochimaru-Sensei's thumb - at least for part of the time.
"Pray tell, what can you offer me that would have me agree to this ridiculous farce?" Orochimaru-Sensei queries, a hungry expression on his face manifesting for but a moment - before his features smoothen.
Mikoto scoffs, her Sharingan activating, the tomoe swirling as she speaks coldly, "There is no offer for you, only an ultimatum. You've stolen that child from a friend of the Uchiha clan. You will agree with this, or the Uchiha clan will put its considerable power behind stymieing your efforts."
I barely keep from squeaking out loud. Mikoto and Kushina must be better friends then I thought, because that's going really really far for one kid. I wouldn't and it's me that's involved!
The Uchiha clan wasn't the toothless clan from canon stuck in a corner. Not quite yet. And it was still full of powerful Shinobi. They could do a lot politically to lessen Orochimaru's budget, to keep him from getting prisoners.
And that was just the minimum level of effort, that was just having meetings with other old people across the village and doing paperwork!
They could send their own people on missions that just so happen to impact Orochimaru, or hire mercenaries with their wealth - to prevent Orochimaru's projects from receiving materials, forcing him to petition the Uchiha clan for them. The Hokage would likely not step in for such a thing as everything would still be flowing through Konoha's hands, just with the Uchiha as a go between. It would mean a lot more work and effort for Orochimaru-Sensei though.
If I understood anything about the third Hokage, he would accept a situation like this, because to him, there were no drawbacks. Either way materials still flowed to Konoha, either way Orochimaru could do what needed to be done, only difference was for Orochimaru, on having to ask for it, on having to wait. On having his department and his wims be dependant on Uchiha fucking Mikoto.
They'd likely not be able to impact more then 20-30 percent of his operations, I worked down there, I had a good idea of all that was involved after a few months.
But to Orochimaru-Sensei… 20-30 percent less efficiency was anathema. He wasn't yet the soul hopping jerk who'd already gotten most of his dream and therefore scienced all willy nilly - not caring much for waste or loss.
The way his chakra is lashing out and how it feels barely restrained. Orochimaru-Sensei very much wants to kill Mikoto right now. Like the feeling permeates everything around me to such an extent I'm honestly surprised she's not bloody chunks on the ground.
"Weekends… Fine." Orochimaru-Sensei bites out, sacrificing his full control of my time - against potentially delaying all his research in a petty battle with the Uchiha.
…Mikoto has balls the size of the Hokage mountain.
From the way Orochimaru-Sensei's chakra is feeling… Uchiha Massacre might be on the table wayyy earlier.
"Since it's the weekend, we'll be leaving." Mikoto chirps, moving forward, putting a hand on my shoulder, pushing me slightly, to get me away from Orochimaru-Sensei.
"Do not slack on your training." Sensei says to me with apparent apathy, moving away without a backwards glance.
I can feel the murderous rage, and wonder if Mikoto, in saving me from Orochimaru-Sensei two days a week - just made it all worse for the other five.
Sensei does not tend to take any kind of defeat with grace. Just last week someone from the Nara clan had cracked some code that Orochimaru-Sensei had been only periodically working on when he had nothing better to do. Sensei had painted an entire room of the north lab in gore and made me clean it with a toothbrush. Because apparently it's my fault he couldn't be bothered to work on it before the Nara cracked it.
… I'll get done cleaning that room soon, although it will take longer without having the weekend to work on it, damn it!
"It's so good to see you, Inohana!" Mikoto says, kneeling down to grasp me into a hug that knocks the breath out of me, "Kushina and I were so, so worried!" Warmth spreads across my body as I get the stuffing hugged out of me.
Maybe five days of hell will be worth some of this…
I spot Fugaku looking pissed and statue-like still not having moved from his spot.
I don't… Have to spend time with Fugaku… Do I?
***
Thankfully, it seems Fugaku is as interested in spending time with me as I am with him.
That is not at all.
He quickly makes an excuse and disappears, even as Mikoto escorts me into the Uchiha clan head's house. Where she's already moved in. I guess she's been working on this whole thing for a while these past months then.
I'm a little bit numb as she gently moves me towards the kitchen table, seating me, as she hustles around the kitchen to get me a drink and a snack.
I know they end up married in canon anyway, but so far, from the time I spent with her, she'd seemed more resigned to the notion than happy. Yet she did this, to give me two days.
Why?
"Why… Why did you do this?" I ask, watching her move around the kitchen with the ease of someone having been here for a while. I understand why the ask was small, anything bigger and Orochimaru likely would have pulled the Hokage card damn the consequences of any fight. But why would she do this for me?
Mikoto, face softer than usual, gives me a steaming cup of green tea, sitting down across from me. "Because you needed the help." She says firmly, "And I was going to end up married to Fugaku anyway, so nothing's really changed, Inohana."
"From anything I've heard said about the Uchiha clan and the elders… It's not nothing." I say quietly, staring down into my tea.
Mikoto reaches forward and grasps one of my hands in hers, her calloused fingers weaving in with my own, "It was no problem, sweetie." She stresses, making me look up to meet her serious gaze. "It's the least I could do, I'm sorry it took so long…"
"Besides, I could never look Kushina in the eye again if I didn't do my best to take care of you while she's gone." Her smile this time is slightly bitter, no doubt having the same thought as me, two days a week is all she could do. But…
"... Thank you." I whisper. Not able to put into words how life changing it would be for me to get away from Orochimaru-Sensei for just two days, was. Two days a week… I might retain some form of sanity still with that.
For as small a benefit as it sounds. It's literally life altering for me. Like I can see the sun again, stuck in a hole in the ground as I've felt, slowly sinking deeper into the darkness, just to suddenly have the hole slashed open, the sun shining down on me again.
"You're very welcome." Mikoto says with a playful little smile, before her other hand dumps something on the table.
A stack of letters. A very large stack of letters.
"Kushina insisted on sending them, even if we couldn't get past Orochimaru to talk to you without starting an incident, due to his rules regarding his genin team and his training." Mikoto says softly, pushing them towards me. "Most of them are directed to me, but they all have one subject in common."
I reach forward with shaking hands,
I'm going to kill them all, Mikoto! Burn them all to cinders! Umm, if the censors are reading this I'm obviously talking about our enemies, hehe, just don't worry about it. But seriously, Mikoto, they're all going to burn for this!
…
Mikoto, make sure Ino-chan eats her vegetables, I know they're yucky but she's still small so she's gotta!
….
Mikoto, please tell me you've found a way to get her away from that snake? Is she eating okay? Does she look like she's getting enough sleep?
….
Make sure she gets ramen, since she has to eat yucky vegetables she needs real food.
….
Tell her I love her and I think of her everyday will ya! Also that's not tears on here, it's raining, that's all! Uh, can you make sure Ino-chan doesn't see this part? I don't want to waste paper by scrapping this!
…
Mikoto by my calculations I owe Ino-chan over 9000 hugs! Don't let me forget when I get back! Also, give Ino-chan 9000 hugs when you see her, alright?
I don't cry.
Anyone who says I did is a liar and will be stabbed.
***
I spend the night cuddled up with Mikoto, depriving Fugaku of his bed, I don't really feel bad about it. It is different from living with Kushina-shisou though, by a lot. The house isn't nearly as warm and lived in for one, there is an expectation to behave, just from the aesthetics around me, making me feel like telling a dirty joke might get me smited by some old Uchiha ancestors. It takes some getting used to, let alone dealing with the awkwardness of running into Fugaku in the morning, half asleep.
That man either always looks angry, or was simply born frowning and never changed.
Exiting a bathroom half awake and running into Uchiha Fugaku needing the bathroom is going on my top list of things to repress. Considering my life so far - that says something.
Maybe about my sanity. Or Uchiha Fugaku is just that… Uchiha.
Yeah. He's Uchiha to the most Uchiha level an Uchiha can Uchiha. That explains it. I'm eloquent hanging around these new digs.
… Kushina-shisou isn't even around and I'm still getting more ridiculous for every month I'm alive.
The whole thing is still better than an empty house. And Mikoto seems to delight in practicing being a mom on me. From the moment we woke up, she has been following me around, doing everything for me. I couldn't even do my own hair, she insisted on doing it for me, although I guess I'm thankful she cut my bangs. That said, I barely managed to get away with cleaning my own teeth!
This woman is a little too happy to have a child in the house, forgetting all about how self-sufficient I am in the pursuit of mommyhood. I mean I'm a genin for crying out loud, I don't need help getting dressed in the morning! Again, what happened to the kickass kunoichi?
She cooks a good breakfast though, I have to say. Although Kushina-shisou would probably be mad that she didn't do ramen. Then again she'd be mad at any time that any meal wasn't ramen.
I imagine myself telling Kushina-shisou I haven't had ramen the entire time she's been gone.
Yeah… That won't end well. For me. I'll be force-fed ramen til I burst… I think - making the decision that a tactical visit to Ichiraku's might be in order. If I have one bowl I can actually say I've had ramen while she was gone.
Yes, that's a genius plan, nothing can go wrong with it, I decide.
"What are you smiling about this morning, Ino-chan, it's a cute look, a boy, maybe?" Mikoto asks, mischievously.
Ugh, what happened to the kickass kunoichi. I think, with exasperation. It's not even been twenty four hours and that keeps popping out, but really, it's like she's undergone a personality transplant or something.
Which… Uchiha… Maybe something to ask Kushina-shisou about when she gets back, just to be safe. She'll know her friend better than me.
"I'm nowhere near puberty yet." I deadpanned at Mikoto's ridiculousness, before explaining my thoughts on Ramen and Kushina.
Mikoto smiles, covering it with her hand, eyes amused, "Shina will definitely do that." She agrees, "We'll have to leave your ramen deficiency out of your letter."
"My letter?" I ask, hope blooming inside me.
"Of course, Kushina is eagerly awaiting news, after breakfast we could spend some time to let you write whatever you want, I'll make sure she gets it." Mikoto says, patting my hand gently, "Write whatever you want, Ino-chan, she'll love it all either way."
"Thank you…" I mumble, my eyes finding my snake tattoo. I bite my lip, well, that's not going in a letter. She'll go rogue and kill Orochimaru-Sensei. Not only for the whole poaching of her apprentice part, but Shishou and seals… She would not be happy he did that. Especially as it could have had a bad reaction with the seal I already had on me.
Although Orochimaru-Sensei probably knew what he was doing… I mean… He does have a habit of just slapping seals on any random joe in the future…
Most of the time for shits and giggles.
Okay, feeling less confident now.
Mikoto, being an Uchiha and a kick-ass ninja, catches my gaze, her lips pursing, as her eyes narrow dangerously, "Yes… I heard about that from Dan… Maybe just don't tell Kushina about that just yet…"
"Dan and you have been talking?" I ask, my own eyes narrowing in accusation, "He hasn't said a word to me." What's the point of spy thriller clandestine meetings if you're going to blueball me on information Dan! I think with annoyance.
Mikoto chuckles, "Ah, well, that will be an interesting thing to talk about during your check-up." She says, mirth shining in her eyes.
…"Check-up!?" I say suspiciously, slowly scooting away from the table.
"Tsunade and Dan will be here for lunch, it was decided the hospital might not be the best location for you, because of your… Sensitivity."
"Don't phrase it like that, it makes me sound stupid." I compain. But my shoulders sag with slight relief.
I guess I'm seeing Tsunade again, but at least I'm not going into that place of torture by healing and dry as fuck books again.
At least… I'm not as alone as I thought. Kushina-shisou, Mikoto, Tsunade and Dan, they've all been working behind the scenes for me.
I guess… This is okay.
***
Monday evening, Team 9 training ground.
First day back with Orochimaru-Sensei has been… Fine actually.
It's been a normal day, criticisms flying left right and center of course, but that's just normal sensei.
What's not normal is not heading for the lab after dismissing Gai and Gemma.
So here it is, I brace myself for the displeasure falling on me for this whole shared custody debacle.
Heh, shared custody. I'm making it sound like Mikoto and Orochimaru had a child…
… That's just fucking scary, I'll need to delete that from my brain.
"We will aim to deal with your deficiency today, child." Orochimaru-Sensei says coldly, arms folded as he eyes me critically.
"Any particular deficiency, sensei?" I ask, semi-politely.
I can't become a good S-rank monster without being perfectly aware of my weaknesses, of which there are many at the moment, so I have no idea what exactly he means.
"Your summoning." Orochimaru-Sensei says, looking at me like he can't believe I'm that slow.
"I don't have the chakra for that." I say, looking at sensei warily, I had been trying to repress any thoughts on my brand, delaying this for as long as I could. I guess I couldn't anymore.
As I thought, Orochimaru-Sensei does not care for my opinion, scoffing, eyes narrowing, "Let me worry about what you can and can not do, you are to summon a snake today, child." He hisses, chakra pressing in on me, "Do not think the Uchiha means you can defy me." He adds as a warning.
With a flash of his chakra, several snakes appear from the underbrush, I eye them with apprehension, I didn't even see him do a seal or touch his own summoning seal, how did he do that?
"The snakes grow impatient with your disrespect, you will summon one today, and get over this pathetic aversion to using this tool." Orochimaru-Sensei ordered with steel in his voice.
"Yes, sensei." I say, because what else can I do?
He's not wrong with me needing to use any tool I have, but I just don't see a great utility in me being so intrinsically tied to Orochimaru by the summoning contract. It's going to bite me hard, when he defects.
"What do I need to do, sensei?" I ask instead, because in the end, he is my sensei, and there's not really any avenue for me to avoid being trained in a summoning contract I have. No matter how involuntarily I got it.
"The summoning pact is simple, you've no doubt gone over the basics in the Academy, "Sensei begins to lecture, "Blood and chakra, this ties us to the tools we summon, albeit they have intelligence, they are still your tools, it is up to the summoner to assert their control on any unruly summons, they are here at your leisure." He says, lips thinning, as his countenance turns derogatory, "Do not see them as pets or even allies as some lesser Shinobi do." He warns, giving me a harsh look promising retribution if I make such a mistake. " Your chakra, your blood, when you feel the echo of the gestalt when you begin the summoning, force your will onto it."
I listen attentively, albeit with a heavy dose of skepticism. Because this doesn't sound like canon at all. I mean, canon Orochimaru maybe could do this, true. But he certainly didn't seem to control Manda in that manner, so… Was he full of shit?
Definitely didn't seem to be the way any other summoner treated their allies.
Then again, I glance at the snakes surrounding us, the snakes did have a certain reputation. Although how much of that in canon that came simply from Orochimaru and Manda…
For all I know they were perfectly nice snakes, before getting involved with Orochimaru-Sensei.
"Force my will on the gestalt." I mutter, taking a deep breath, nodding sharply to myself, "Anything else I need to know, sensei?"
Orochimaru-Sensei send a chakra pulse at me, I flinch back at the feeling of our chakra interacting, Orochimaru-Sensei scoffing at my reaction. Which really, he's the rude one just… penetrating my chakra system randomly like that!
"A tool for you to learn with… Use 85 percent of your chakra." Orochimaru-Sensei says, eyes calculating, he sent the pulse to get a feel for my reserves, and is able to pinpoint exactly what I need for the summoning, as expected of sensei.
"Once it is summoned, it will cost 15 percent of your current chakra capacity to keep around daily." Sensei informed me.
And he wonders why I think summoning is a waste for me. That is a fair chunk of chakra to keep useless for a sentient pool noodle.
I take a deep breath, "Blood and chakra. Right. I don't need any seals right?" I confirm, before I start this process.
Orochimaru-Sensei smirks, glancing at my summoning tattoo. "Just swipe the blood down the entire seal, the connection will form, send 85 percent of your chakra and pull. When the gestalt forms, impose your control over it."
Alright… I can do this… No biggie. Just blow almost all my chakra at once… Like I'm in Naruto or something… Heh.
I bite my thumb, swiping my blood across the entirety of the tattoo in a downwards swipe. It feels like my mind expands suddenly, as I feel something other, something distant, latching onto me. I send my chakra down the connection, feeling the burn as it greedily drinks it in, only my supreme control allowing me to cut it off at exactly 85 percent, this other in the distance feeling more real in my mind.
I pull at it, feeling it accelerate towards me, feeling an alien mind poking me in curiosity, I feel intelligence and a child like wonder at something new and I falter, fumbling the next step, not imposing my will, simply welcoming it, whatever it was, forward.
In a puff of smoke something appears before me, I can feel the connection between us, akin almost to a phantom limb feeling, nothing as invasive as mind control or anything.
I look down, curled around my arm is a dark emerald coloured snake with lighter coloured diamond patterns, its head oddly round, almost cherubic looking, with big wide opal eyes, the markings around its mouth making it look like it's constantly smiling cheerfully. It flickers its tongue tasting the air, before speaking up in a hissing - but unmistakably girly voice, "A girl summoner! My sister will never believe me! No one from our clan ever gets summoned! My name's Hanako, I'm sooooo excited to meet you!" Her big soulful eyes stares into my eyes as she wriggles in excitement.
Orochimaru-Sensei's killing intent spikes suddenly, I have a feeling I'm about to get a severe lecture about proper summoning procedures and listening to direction when performing ninjutsu. Because this is definitely not the kind of snake he intended for me to summon.
Perhaps the mental control he mentioned dampens their personality?
I don't really care about any of that though.
All I can think of, staring down at this snake on my arm… Hanako… Flower child… I can just focus on one important thing.
Oh my god! She's so cuuuute!
Kyah!
***
Author's note:
Mikoto has been out of the picture because she's been fighting the Uchiha clan for permission to intervene.
Finally threatening to just run away and fight the war and piss off on the big Uchiha wedding got her a grudging minimal offer of political support. Mostly because the Uchiha and Orochimaru don't really have a good relationship. Hokage bias is a little too obvious with fave student.
It's not like Orochimaru has anything out for the Uchiha anyway or anything. This is all probably fine.
To be clear, the Uchiha clan as a whole doesn't give a damn about Inohana. It was just a minor deal allowed to get Mikoto to stop being troublesome and running off to join Kushina.
Potentially in sin.
Now I want to write an Uchiha elder interlude where Mikoto threatens just that, hah.
Even snakes can be cute.
Familiar get.
Next chapter, training wheels come off completely, time for missions, and Orochimaru don't do no C - ranks.
Next up should likely be Mischief Siriusly Managed as it's halfway done, then likely Divine and Conquer.
Cheers
JollyHippopotamus
