Here's chapter 16: Mind Games.
From popular request I now have an account on the site beginning with a P (Same user name) where you get early access, voting on story priority, personalized omakes etc, my stories will continue to be posted for everyone either way, srsly only contribute if you have extra spare change, the economy is shit everywhere.
As promised today's chapter starts the slide away from Konoha and training and the slice of life plus family life - towards missions and the war.
All the fun stuff.
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!
***
Having Hanako around constantly is… Interesting. Yes. Interesting is the word I'll use…
Someone that is in some ways so innocent to the world, yet also so alien to it as well. Perfectly capable of killing and subterfuge as a matter of course (snake, duh) - and seeing absolutely nothing wrong with doing so. Yet she could also act like a cute innocent child seeing Disneyland the first time - for everything.
Embarrassingly, she also has the most ridiculous propensity for saying whatever is on her mind - specifically in situations where it would force me to answer it in the most embarrassing manner, often in public.
Like when I had taken a seat near the edge of one of Konoha's many parks one late afternoon, having had no lab duty for once.. I had picked up a treat from a nearby vendor to snack on, before sitting down to enjoy the quiet surroundings and peaceful nature around me. That is when Hanako poked her head out of my sleeve, tasting the air, and ever so innocently (And unnecessarily loudly) asked, regarding a young couple cuddling on a bench nearby - why do they taste so much like each other? Why does she taste like parts of him were left behind? Are they mating?
Innocence doesn't account for such perfect timing… I am beginning to think Hanako is really a fiendish trickster underneath it all, because surely she isn't that innocent.
I'm constantly going back and forth on if she's really that innocent or if she's actually just messing with me now.
I think I blushed harder than I ever have before as the couple stared back at me, blushing heavily themselves, and with slightly scandalized looks on their faces. Civilians definitely did not like hearing how much Ninja could infer from them from even the tiniest clues, summon animal or not.
The fact I'm so young in appearance certainly doesn't help the matter, the woman had looked seconds away from coming over and covering my ears to protect me from my own summon.
I obviously fled before any of that could happen, begging Hanako to be a little more discreet in the future.
From how she couldn't understand why mating was a taboo subject in public, I doubt this will be the only time I'll be facing this exact situation. And if she is playing me… I'll see it a lot. How did I get the only non Orochimaru like snake summons? Not that I'm not thankful, because she's better than the alternative, just more… Embarrassing at times.
I'm extremely thankful that being a snake summoner has not given me the ability to taste the air in a similar manner. Because Ew. I don't need to know these kinds of facts about everyone I meet.
Especially around the Shinobi, who, as Hanako assures me, (did I ask? No!) are all mating constantly. I could have figured that out on my own, with our profession and life expectancy, it isn't exactly odd for everyone to take pleasure when they could get it. Really don't want to hear about it from a dirty little snake who must be faking that innocent air though.
If only I could get Hanako to realize that not everything about everyone needed to be shared. Or at least not immediately. In public. In front of them. Especially as using an inside voice is something she apparently saves for combat situations or training only.
She'd done the same thing when I sat down for breakfast with Mikoto once last week. Thankfully, Fugaku had still been in bed at the time… It was mortifying enough as it was.
We do not speak of that moment. In fact. I'm deleting it from my memory right now…
Moving on…
Hanako matches me pretty well, all in all. It turns out her sensing abilities are very strong, although unlike mine, which is chakra based sensing, hers is based on scent and heat primarily. Which means between us, there's almost nothing that can sneak up on us. I was pretty pleased when I found that out - Orochimaru-Sensei still manages when he feels like trying to conceal himself… But he's kind of an outlier - I'll hopefully not run into many of his caliber anytime soon...
Kami, I hope not…
In return for a more sensory focus, her venom isn't as deadly as could be counted on from most of her brethren, as she is not primarily meant for frontline combat. Just like me, she's a sneaky little shit, better for stealth or a support role, her venom paralyzing instead of outright killing. At this stage of her development it's unlikely to work quickly enough on even a Genin.
Of course, I intend to be a frontline combatant anyway, so I'm sure Hanako can get better as I grow as well, according to Orochimaru-Sensei she'll grow rapidly as I do.
…Although again he hammered me on the fact that without a large chakra pool, I'll never be able to help her grow to her fullest extent.
Asshole.
I'm scared he's actually wearing me down on the whole improvement through surgery campaign. I know I can't trust him, but at the same time, I'm growing so much stronger under his tutelage, learning so much during lab work…
I've learned enough about the human body that I could probably fake being a surgeon at this point. Or at the very least do a kick-ass autopsy…
I sigh, rubbing Hanako's head with one hand as she lays splayed out over my lap, head tilted up against the sun, enjoying her sunbathing. "You're going to get me in sooo much trouble one day, Hanako." I murmur quietly, my lips twitching as she curls her tail cutely in my lap.
"If you're in trouble, Ino-Sama, I'll bite it!" Hanako says fiercely, which is undeniably cute, the effect somewhat ruined by the way she preens under my hand.
"You're the trouble, trouble." I say, bopping her on the nose, shaking my head with an amused smile, Genma had gotten her into the habit of calling me Sama, and now she wouldn't stop.
Hanako squirms in my lap, somehow giving me puppy dog eyes, how can a snake do that!? "Did I do bad, Ino-Sama?" She says, pouting cutely at me.
I melt immediately, "Of course not sweetie, you're the best snake ever!" I reassure her, studiously ignoring the thought that this is beneath me, that I'm too old for this.
Because cute snake, it beats age anytime. Cuteness is universal!
"You two are adorable together, Ino-chan." Mikoto says, interrupting our little cuddle fest, having stepped out of the kitchen into the little garden where Hanako and I were sunning.
"I'm not supposed to be adorable." I grumble, feeling a light dusting of red spread across my cheeks.
"Of course." Mikoto answers with a patient and kind smile, only the slight twitch in the lips betraying her amusement.
Mikoto ensuring I have a break from Orochimaru-Sensei is nice, but ultimately kind of pointless in the great scheme of things. Orochimaru-Sensei has no less control of me than usual really. Sure I have two days to more or less 'relax', but Orochimaru-Sensei drives me all the harder the rest of the week because of it.
And as pleasant as time with Mikoto is, especially if Fugaku is busy somewhere, (seriously! Send him to the war and bring back Minato and Shishou!) and not being all grumpy and ruining the atmosphere for all of us - it's just a reminder of Kushina-shisou that makes me slightly depressed.
"So, I have some time, want to see if we can figure out some Genjutsu together, Ino-chan?" Mikoto says slyly, a finger to her lips.
I blink, a little taken aback, because I have been begging for Genjutsu teachings since I met her and she'd been recalcitrant on the matter.
"Yes, please!" I chirp eagerly, Hanako perking up, feeling my excitement.
I take it all back, I love weekends with Mikoto!
Nightmare illusions get!
***
Monday evening, Orochimaru's lab, Konoha outskirts.
I sigh in annoyance as Orochimaru-Sensei adds another electrode to the multitude already stuck to my face and head, my hair is going to be a gluey mess after this, I think glumly.
"Why do I have to do this too?" Hanako whines, the foot long cutie laying across my lap, electrodes across her body, but predominantly around her head, as well.
Orochimaru-Sensei chuckles, seemingly in a good mood, because he answers without any rancor, "You are connected intrinsically to Inohana-chan, little one. Far more than is usual for a summon from the snake clan, it is interesting." He finishes attaching the last electrode to my face as he continues speaking to Hanako, "And as with anything else in the world that is interesting, it requires testing and experimentation to investigate the how and why's of the phenomenon."
"He just wants to dissect us but can't, because too many people in Konoha will bash his head in if he does, so he has to do this the gentle way." I explain dryly to my innocent little snakeling.
Hanako mulls that over, rubbing her head against my leg, seemingly itchy from all the electrodes attached to her, "I'll bite you if you try and dissect us!" She hisses out smugly, rearing up to posture against the Snake Sannin. Acting as if she's ten times the size she is with impunity.
Kami, you're adorable, Hanako… I think, holding back a smile. Don't giggle, Orochimaru-Sensei will smite you, don't giggle! I chant to myself even as Hanako peers suspiciously at sensei, waiting on his acquisition to her threat.
Orochimaru-Sensei just smirks in that superior way of his, hissing out a quiet laugh as he offers Hanako his arm tantalizingly, "I am a snake summoner, child, your venom has no effect on me, you might as well be biting a rock, we are immune to practically every venom or poison in circulation due to the contract."
Well, that's a nice perk I hadn't known about…. Wait….Immune to all poisons… Motherfucker!? "Why didn't you tell me that before, sensei! I have been poisoning myself for months to work up an immunity!" I don't quite shriek, but it's close, as I realize all those days sick to my deathbed had all been in vain.
Kami, I had been training while simultaneously puking my guts out and the bastard had just watched!
Orochimaru-Sensei glances my way, mirth in his eyes as he licks his lips like he's found a particularly tasty morsel, "Why Inohana-chan, I believe you consistently turned down the opportunity to be a snake summoner…" He taunts, still with that superior smug look on his face.
I sit and steam quietly in impotence, because I did in fact do everything in my power to turn down the summoning contract, to the point that sensei just stopped asking and forced it on me.
"That's good right, Ino-Sama? It means I can bite you if you're being stupid and you won't even get paralyzed!" Hanako says sweetly, staring up at me.
"You are a brat!" I say bluntly, pushing her head down with a finger, before glaring weakly at Orochimaru-Sensei, "You could have told me about the immunity, sensei!"
Orochimaru-Sensei's smirk widened, stretching his thin lips as he moved around and inspected his equipment, "I could have." He agreed with a hissing laugh, "But you've been a very annoying apprentice, and I will not spoon feed you everything, if you will not come to me to ask for more knowledge, you shall remain unaware."
I continue glaring at him, that's not how a teacher-student relationship works at all! He just enjoys watching me suffer, the bastard! I huff, poking at one of the electrodes, dropping the matter, since it's pretty pointless to argue about anything with sensei. "How long do I have to keep these on? They're itchy." I ask, see, I can ask questions, I think snidely at him. Glaring a hole through the back of his head.
"Very itchy." Hanako agrees, "And stupid, stop doing stupid things to my Ino-Sama!" Hanako hisses, taking in my uncomfortableness and drawing all the wrong conclusions.
As I clamp a hand around her jaw to keep her from continuing to annoy sensei in the middle of him running tests on us, Orochimaru-Sensei turns around with a sigh, a raised eyebrow on his serpentine face as he looks down at Hanako.
"You know," He begins, his chakra suddenly surrounding us, pressing in threateningly, even as his voice continues to be pleasantly casual, "I don't usually have a summon quite like you around me, they're all either loyal, or fearful."
The chakra spikes briefly, his eyes narrowing on the little snake in my lap even as I curl my arms around her protectively, "You, little snake, would do well to not become too much like your master…"
Then the chakra recedes, allowing us both to breathe again, Orochimaru going back to his machines without any further thought on the matter.
I keep my hand around Hanako's jaw, knowing her well enough by now, that even if she was spooked by that performance, her go to would be either an inappropriate comment, or snapping back.
"The sooner we cooperate the sooner we're out of here." I whisper down to the snake, stroking her head gently with a thumb.
Orochimaru-Sensei chuckles darkly, still reading something off a monitor, "So you can learn…" He drawls sarcastically, turning around with a needle the thickness of my finger.
I blanch, staring incomprehensibly at the needle, "That can't be real? No needle needs to be that big!" I protest, eyeing it warily as it comes closer.
We're supposed to be testing how the electrical signals in my body and brain change during intensive Genjutsu use, specifically my chakra string version, I don't see what a giant ass needle could possibly have to do with it, I shake my head defiantly, "You're not sticking me with that, sensei…" I pause, looking up at him, aware he's not the joking kind, "Right?"
Orochimaru-Sensei smirks, trying to affect an innocent look, it doesn't really… Work for him. "It's the needle or a suppository." He hisses out in amusement, "You need a large amount of the solution quickly, if we are to get as clear a picture as possible, it can either be injected directly… Or dissolve as one big load from the suppository."
I wrinkle my face in disgust, grimacing at the thought of that, especially sensei being involved in the process at all.. . "If you can make that, you could have made it a pill to take orally too, couldn't you?" I accuse him, feeling that this is his way of getting me back for something.
I have no idea for what, I've been an angel, really.
Sensei shrugs, "I ran out of time," he lies with a straight face, offering me the needle with an amused raise to his eyebrows. "Well?"
"The needle." I say grouchily, holding onto Hanako, because my little snake might actually attack Orochimaru-Sensei when he stabs me with that thing.
Point gotten sensei… Don't annoy you…
Too much…
***
Konoha, Kushina's house.
I peer at my sealwork with a practiced gaze, looking it over for any defects or smudged lines.
It's rare for me to mess up, but it does happen, so I always double check my work. There aren't many Shinobi arts where mistakes don't get punished quickly and severely, but Fuinjutsu is definitely the art which takes severe punishment to the next level.
I'm making some simple paralyzing gas tags, seals holding in a smallish cloud of gas that I've painstakingly made myself from the flora in my greenhouse, utilizing Orochimaru-Sensei's lab to distill it and refine it until I could make it gaseous and still pack enough of a punch to affect a target immediately.
Even tags like these, which aren't necessarily complicated - could have some hilariously scary side-effects if you made them wrong. After the Uzumaki were mostly wiped out, Konoha had gone through a period where a large number of Shinobi had tried to progress in the art, too large of a number for Uzumaki Mito to supervise fully in the short amount of time she remained alive.
Their failures were documented, and through Orochimaru-Sensei I had access. The bloopers of seal making were both hilarious and terrifying, and had (as sensei no doubt intended) ensured I don't do anything but my utmost to ensure every seal is perfect.
Seal tags like those I just finished had done everything from suck Shinobi in, never to be found again, to turning them into a glass sculpture… Somehow… To folding space around just a part of them to lethal effects. So yes, I very carefully studied the tag I just finished and ensured it was perfect.
I now have a wide variety of seals for my own load out, paralysis seals, barrier seals, (although weak ones) thick glue spraying seals for captures, noxious gas seals for breaking off from scent based trackers, and of course explosive seals, plus of course the special shrapnel and explosion combo seal.
Just a small loadout. I of course, as the generous and lovely girl I am, have shared some of these seals with my teammates, although not the shrapnel and explosion mix. I don't quite trust that I'll survive the boys playing with that one.
I don't quite have the arsenal to be a kick-ass S-rank anytime soon… But with my leaf storm, my chakra strings, my seals and poisons, Hanako, and some insane physical conditioning courtesy of Orochimaru-Sensei… I could probably rip an average chuunin apart.
Not bad for my age.
"I'm booored already, are you done painting pictures yet?" Hanako grumbles, the little snake tired after her own workout and no doubt angling for some extra snacks or rubs.
In her case it's not a physical one so much as a chakra one, learning how to add chakra to her natural sensing techniques to enhance them, which exhausts her quickly, as like me, she isn't a chakra powerhouse.
"Even if I'm done, you won't get anymore snacks, you'll get fat." I tease the little snake, poking her a little.
"Ino-Sama!" Hanako protests, playfully snapping at my finger, "I'm supposed to get fat, I have to grow, you know!"
I scoff, giving her a disbelieving look, "You won't grow on snacks, that's purely sugar, if it's about growing, maybe I need to limit you to one snack a week?" I say, with a smug look on my face as I loom over my snake companion.
I'm getting good at reading her facial expressions, I'm pretty sure this one is pure horror, as she rears back and hisses loudly in displeasure, "One snack! I can't survive on one snack!" She cries out, sliding forward to butt her head against my hand, "You're joking right, Ino-Sama?"
I snicker, petting her head gently, "Oh, I guess so." I say easily, smirking at her over the top relieved sigh. "But no more interrupting, I still have to finish my work."
"Alright…" Hanako agrees reluctantly, slinking into my lap, laying down for a nap as a substitute for my attention.
I lift my arm, letting a storm of leaves coalesce around me where I'm sitting, examining the leaves with a critical eye. Drawing out only the ones not fully sealed yet is an absolute pain, but necessary, as I attach chakra strings specifically to those leaves - the ones that feel less there, and deposit them on my work table.
I grab my equipment and get ready for an evening of painstaking headache inducing work. Inscribing miniature seals on both sides of a leaf is not easy or quick work.
But it's going to be worth it one day.
Dreamily I picture a future where a storm of leaves the size of Konoha swirl around me, in a sharp as steel murder storm.
What every girl wants… I think with a dreamy sigh, before focusing, preparing for the first leaf.
The good news is that I only need to do… 79 more leaves after that one, today.
Sigh.
***
Team 9 training ground, early afternoon. Six months since the team was formed.
"Who pissed in Sensei's breakfast?" I ask, trying to control and calm down my breathing, so I don't end up hurling from overexertion. I'm laying fully splayed out on the grass, cuts and abrasions across my body, absolutely covered in sweat and dirt, and feeling like I've gone ten rounds with Uchiha Madara - right after accusing him of being a bottom to Senju Tobirama…
Genma gives me a dirty look from where he's on all fours, limbs still shaking as he gingerly moves away from the spot he'd just vomited in, " You're asking us? It's always you, Inohana, don't even!" He manages to get out, before he dry heaves, his entire body a tableau of bruises.
"I… Am perfectly innocent." I manage to breathe out, flipping Genma off. I don't remember pissing him off lately, I think about sensei, flopping my head back, glancing over at Gai, "Did you do something to piss Orochimaru-Sensei off, Gai?" I ask in-between gulps of air.
Gai, like us, is full of cuts and bruises, the green beast laying on the grass taking in deep breaths, his chest rising and falling the only sign he's alive. For once he isn't a bundle of energy, Orochimaru-Sensei had specifically targeted him to drive him towards exhaustion.
"I… do not believe so." He pants out, at a normal volume, and without any declarations.
I share a look with Genma, this is excessive, I wonder what sensei has in store for us, because he doesn't do anything without a reason.
Just then, Orochimaru-Sensei looms over us, shaking his head, his long hair falling across our vision. "You're all filthy, hardly a fitting state to meet the Hokage in." He admonishes us, drawing three blank looks in return.
"The… Hokage?" Gai asks, brow furrowed in confusion.
"You beat the crap out of us, exhausted us, to then take us to meet the Hokage!?" I exclaim, laughing slightly to myself, because of course he would. Asshole!
Genma looks at himself, then at us, seeing the ripped dirty clothing, our sweat and blood covered faces, quipping immediately, "I hope we're meeting at the Onsen…"
I laugh harder at that, picturing the whole team trooping into the Onsen to see the Hokage, Orochimaru in tow.
Sensei smirks, before he starts flying through handseals, "You are filthy." He agrees magnanimously, the nearby river flowing up and flooding us before we could prepare, absolutely drenching us from head to toe.
I sputter out water, my hair plastered to my face, "How are we any more presentable now!" I yell, Hanako popping out of my uniform, glaring at sensei, her tiny form looking absolutely pissed at the sudden soaking.
"It's only a meeting for your first mission." Orochimaru-Sensei says off-handedly, checking the position of the sun, humming in thought, "It starts in fifteen minutes, you better run." He advised with a chuckle, immediately disappearing in a swirl of leaves.
Six months to get to our first mission… Sensei is an ass!
We all curse at the news he delivers, even Gai, as we start to run, our aching limbs protesting, even at full speed, fifteen minutes might be tough the way we are right now, but we push on determinedly.
We burst into the Hokage tower mission room with only seconds to spare, falling onto our knees, or in Genma's case onto his ass, panting wildly, beyond exhausted from the amount of training we've been pushed through today and the added sprint on top of it.
"We… Made it… Sensei…" I gasp out, giving the Hokage a weak nod, "Hokage-Sama."
Sarutobi Hiruzen, the third Hokage of Konohagakure, looks like a kindly little grandfather, somehow able to hide what an absolute monster of a warrior he is under that exterior. The old man puffs on a pipe genially, sending us all a kind smile, "Ah, I appreciate the excitement and enthusiasm of youth." He says with a chuckle, eyes glinting with amusement. "Especially as our meeting isn't for another hour." This he says with mild reproach towards sensei.
The three of us all manifest a decent amount of killing intent as we all focus on sensei, who's casually leaning back against the wall, checking his nails, "I must have misremembered." He drawls, giving us all a look of smug satisfaction.
Since when did sensei become a troll? I think with sheer disbelief.
He's hard enough to read as is without messing with us like this…
***
Orochimaru-Sensei's casualness as he leads us to a separate room from the missing desk afterwards - after receiving the mission scroll from the Hokage, is not a good sign. He's doing it to brief us, I hope, but I fear otherwise… That casualness instills a certain level of caution in me, all my senses telling me that I am about to get bad news. That Orochimaru-Sensei is going to make this mission some sort of game, or test.
Likely pointed at me…
And I doubt his trolling mannerisms will extend to an official mission.
I've learned to trust my senses, so I brace myself for how this B-rank mission, our first mission - is going to be Orochimarufied. This is why he almost broke us this morning, to force us to not be at our best for this mission.
To make things harder on us, to either see us grow rapidly, or break.
Orochimaru-Sensei plays with the mission scroll with a little smirk on his face, his eyes almost mirthful as he tilts his head slightly, meeting my eyes, he knows I know, and he knows I know I can't do anything about it - and he finds it amusing, I think…
I'm too used to everything being tough in my life to feel any real dread. I've handled worse, I can handle this. Whatever it is, I square my shoulders and stare up at him defiantly, very different from my two overexcited teammates who probably don't realize what exactly it means to have B - rank instead of a C or D.
Or they're too damn tired to think things through. I'm not looking forward to this…
"Finally we can let loose, right sensei? A real mission, right? It's not a joke?" Genma asks, bouncing lightly on his feet, out of all of us, he'd taken the lack of missions the hardest. Gai and I were perfectly fine with just training day in and day out after all, while Genma was a more social creature.
Although the training today had been… A little much. How Genma still has energy all of a sudden I can't understand.
I slap my hand over Gai's mouth before he can add his own brand of exuberance to this party, the Hokage is just a room away, we don't need to be bursting the old man's eardrums.
Orochimaru-Sensei chuckles slowly, unrolling the scroll after a brief flare of his chakra takes care of the security seal. "It's a real mission, although far beneath me… " His chuckles turn more sinister as he looks down at me with a dark gleam in his eyes. "Which is why you precocious and eager students - will take care of it without me, hmm?" He casually flicks the scroll into my arms, his smirk widening, "Inohana is team leader, naturally."
I don't even look at the scroll yet, my breathing slow and even, by force. Hanako tightening slightly around my arm as she feels my heartbeat speeding up. "This is a B ranked mission, in a war…" I say slowly, sounding it out, trying to see if it makes more sense that way.
Nope, didn't work. Still sounds insane.
At least when I put it that way, Genma and Gai both look slightly more wary. Both looking towards Orochimaru-Sensei for answers.
Sensei scoffs, leaning back against the wall, his arms crossed as he gives us an unimpressed look, "You'll barely travel two days away from Konoha, at most, unless you fall way below my expectations… The war won't touch you."
While I personally agree that contact with enemy villages would be unlikely in the general vicinity of Konoha, that doesn't mean it's impossible, and I have a feeling that if we had a Hyuuga or a Yamanaka or something on the team - we'd never be given a mission like this. I read the scroll for the mission details as Gai and Genma try to tease more details out of Sensei.
Who'd naturally be following us anyway, I very much doubt he'd risk his investment dying stupidly due to some rockhead chuunins having managed to sneak close to Konoha or something.
I read the scroll, my fingers wrinkling it as I reflexively close my hands around it, as I take in the contents, a heavy feeling settling in my gut. I look up to meet Sensei's eyes, the cruel glee in them not hidden in the slightest.
Five Genin from the Genin corps had been given a mission to proceed to the frontlines with Iwa. Ostensibly to do camp drudge work, not actual fighting.
Anyone with a modicum of sense and ability to read between the lines would realize that the likelihood of not being thrown into battle was practically nil. Cannon fodder. That is what they were being sent for.
Useless Genin who'd never amount to much, just a few bodies sent to soak up a few kunai and the attention of enemy Shinobi for a few seconds to spare the actually worthy people some time.
The five hadn't shown up at the first outpost, about half a day's travel away from Konoha. With the likelihood of enemy action being negligible. (According to the mission scroll.) The Konoha Intelligence department had tossed the missing Genins apartments, and found traces of them having thrown things together in a manner that suggested they weren't planning on returning.
It was sloppy, but they were in the Genin corps for a reason. If I was ever going to run, I would burn everything down around me and have a prepared corpse on hand to imitate myself - to throw people off the scent for days, if not even longer.
Konoha have labeled the five Genin as missing nin as a matter of course, none of them were important enough to double or triple check for what's going on. Their lives are forfeit just as easy as that. Kind of shitty, that without a name, or a reputation behind you, Konoha would just assume the worst and send people to kill you…
They could have been ambushed by enemy scouts, Genin wouldn't stand much of a chance, they could have had an accident of some sort, injured members forcing them to hunker down somewhere. There are a lot of different things that could have made them late.
Although I begrudgingly allow that the Intelligence department probably knows what they were talking about, and this was a scenario regarding runaways. Or traitors and missing nin, as Konoha has labeled them. At least it isn't anyone from our class… That would have been bad, for Gai and Genma at least.
And Orochimaru-Sensei has specifically picked a mission that would pit us against Konoha Genin, I'm sure of it… I very much doubt we got this mission as a happy coincidence. A mission to kill Konoha genin - to bloody Genma and Gai, and to further bloody my own hands, and my belief in the village.
There's no way that normally this kind of hunter mission would be given to Genin, war or no war.
If I wasn't who I am, underneath it all, this would be particularly clever. Traitors or not, whoever they are, whatever they've done, they were allies only a day ago, they are children, just like us, albeit older. And I couldn't even blame them if they had in fact decided to run.
I do blame them for being so stupid about it though…
Cannon fodder had no reason to display loyalty to the village so eager to sacrifice them for nothing, so I get why they'd run. At least if they had a belief that they were accomplishing something with their sacrifice, they'd likely fight. They'd literally grown up believing that was right, that there was no greater thing than dying for the village and your friends.
Members of the Genin corp had no business on the frontline in the manner of which our escapees had no doubt suspected. Even indoctrination could only go so far in the face of pointless ignoble death. It's one thing to die to save your loved ones and your home. Quite another to be faced with dying for no other reason than to give someone more important than you - five more seconds to fire off a jutsu.
Hard to get motivated for that.
"We're to chase down five Konoha missing nin. Genin, who didn't show up at their check in at outpost 16 on their way to the Iwa frontlines." I say dully, interrupting my teammates, forcing their attention on me. "Possibly as much as one to two days ahead of us, likely less due to the speed of a regular Genin corp member with less than a year's experience being far below our capability.
Honestly, comparatively, Genin corps members were closer to civilians, then they were to a team of our caliber. Orochimaru-Sensei is very efficient at what he does.
The fact we have to chase them down when already exhausted and worn down would complicate matters, as we would have to forego sleep to make up for the fact we're already way behind them.
They're Genin, well aware we are at war though… They might think they wouldn't be pursued too heavily, and might aim to settle down quietly somewhere in Fire country. Safer than trying to get across a border, as long as they played themselves off as civilians…
If that was their play, it would make it easier for us to catch up.
Gai frowns minutely, a rarity for the boisterous boy, "Surely they could be in trouble to miss such a check in? YOSH! We will save them from the enemy!" He declares passionately, one fist held up in front of his face. "We will bring our fires of youth upon them, invigorating our allies and complete the mission as heroes!"
Genma doesn't say a word, but he looks at me, frowning, a question in his eyes.
I sigh, rubbing my forehead, "Gai… This isn't a retrieval mission. We are to kill them, and dispose of the bodies." I enunciate slowly. "They're missing nin." Inwardly I scoff, missing nin… They're scared kids…
But then, in the end. They're not mine. So what does it matter, most of everyone in the forces currently is going to die or lose someone in this war. Easier to care about what's yours only.
And I've always been that kind of person anyway, my family… My old family… I would have killed a dozen random strangers for one more day with them safe and hale.
Genma grimaces at the realization, but otherwise looks like he understands. Genin at some point are always bloodied, albeit regularly with bandits, not ninja.
Depending on the village… Some use civilians as a way to really erase any ideas of mercy from their soldiers. Looking at you, Mist! I might grouch about my situation sometimes, but at least I'm not in Mist. Fuck that place.
I never want to go there, ever. Thankfully there shouldn't be a reason to.
Gai looks like his puppy has been killed right in front of him, but the resigned look in his eyes tells me he had expected nothing less, but had hoped for more, hence the spiel. A game of wishful thinking - that if he tries hard enough then reality will conform, and the mission will be retrieval, not elimination.
Even I, who have him as a teammate, constantly underestimate his intelligence thanks to his over the top declarations, so I'm glad to see I don't have to break it down further and shatter any innocent worldviews.
We all went through the Academy, we know the risks, the sword ever hanging over our heads if we were to show any disloyalty. It's just rarely so clearly labeled or spoken of as this mission lays it out.
Miss one check in, be no one special, have no clan connection. A kill order is possibly sent out for you depending on where you're situated and how important your post is. Good luck explaining it if it's something innocuous.
Like us, hunting down these five, no matter their explanation we have a duty to do, and even if they're innocent… It doesn't change our mission. Thems the breaks.
Peace time would surely have some less stringent requirements, a chance for adjudication, but war… War did not bother with judge or jury. There were only executioners.
"Time is running away from you…" Orochimaru-Sensei hisses out pleasantly. Or pleasant for him, I suppose.
"Let's go, half an hour for you both to meet me at the east gate, pack light, we'll need to move quickly, rations for food, no tents, we won't be sleeping if we can help it." I order, immediately moving on my way afterwards to prepare my own load out.
"You seem sad, why are you sad, Ino-Sama?" Hanako murmurs, having slid up my body so her tongue could flicker against my neck.
I think over her question as I rush over rooftops, heading home to gather anything that I would need for this mission. Finally answering as I see my home in the distance.
"I'm sad, because it's all starting now, Hanako…" My eyes are hard and weary as I drop off the rooftops, darting forward on the street for the last stretch, "I can justify killing these people easily, which means I'll justify the next and the next and so on." I smile bitterly, "Like a proper Konoha Shinobi… I used to have no issue with that though, a proper little killer mentality, and I still vacillate between whether I want to be like this or not… Every choice I make though, it brings me closer to justifying anything."
I'd already come into this world thinking people weren't worth anything, killing without question or worry, until after the deed… So I'm not far off in the first place even without ninja training and conditioning…
"How many times can I do this, before I'll be like sensei?"
"You'll never be like him, you're Ino-Sama, not Orochimaru-Sama!" Hanako says loyally, and likely completely missing the point.
I give her a quick pet anyway, she doesn't need to understand my brooding and constant mental battles.
She just needs to be there. Which is more than I could ask for anyway.
"You and me, Hanako…" I say, preparing myself for becoming an honest Konoha Shinobi - killing anything on orders, just like I'd signed up for…
"You and me…" I mutter, entering my house, feeling the lack of Kushina-shisou keenly.
My face hardens.
Mission time.
***
We don't speak for the first few hours, just rushing down the road, at a decent but not stamina killing pace - we are all pretty beat after all.
It's when we arrive at the junction, half a day's travel away from Konoha (If you're slow ass Genin) that we stop. We made the trek in five hours.
Genma sighs as he stretches, "So… Now is when it gets difficult huh?"
Three roads intersected here, and we'd already easily confirmed the five Genin had followed the road thus far. They'd left enough tracks, traveling tightly packed together as they were. Not many groups of five around here nowadays.
They'd also just littered their ration bar packets on the road…
They were really bad at this.
But there were no easily seen ration wrappers right now, and this junction saw plenty of wagon traffic so their presence would have been wiped off the road.
"If they are running, they would go to the border, no?" Gai asked, looking unusually serious. The green beast seemingly unhappy with the mission still, although he thankfully didn't voice it. Sensei is still likely around after all.
Genma slid a senbon into his mouth, chewing on it even as he spoke, "These guys are too slow, no way they're going all the way to a border checkpoint, or sneaking around one."
I take a breather watching the three roads. One we can immediately rule out because it leads back to Konoha's surroundings, not going quite to the 'hidden village' but close enough to matter.
We have two choices, one that leads to the closest border, one that goes further inland into Fire Country.
"If I were a group of Genin trying to get away…" I say quietly, watching the road intently, my finger following it as I point inland. "I would hide in the population in Fire Country rather than try and pass a border in a war."
Gai nods quietly, giving me a brief flash of a smile, "Agreed." He says, keeping it at that, both Genma and I exchange worried looks.
"You're the team lead," Genma says, giving me a sardonic look, "So lead on boss."
I take a deep breath, we're far behind them, if I choose wrongly we'll be even further, but I don't think these people are brave enough to head for the border. Not even close.
What little was in their file spoke of people with a weak will and only an average body. The bottom of the barrel as far as Genin went. It was enough of a surprise that they dared to defect, or that they even got sent in the first place… Something seemed fishy about that.
Why send people this weak to a border outpost?
Genin corps members didn't usually get this kind of raw deal, she was fairly certain, although she wasn't an expert on them, having always seen them as beneath her.
Well, she has a mission either way, no matter what is behind all this. They all do. "We go further inland." I decide, giving both my teammates a serious nod, then between one second and the next, there's nothing at the Junction but wind.
***
Kokiri village, Fire Country.
Daisuke finally felt like he could relax, they were in the sweet spot, not too far away from Konoha to where they'd be getting closer to the border and risk more scrutiny… And not too close to Konoha where they'd risk someone they knew just randomly running into them on the street.
Daisuke had been the one who had convinced his friends, shown them the reality of what they were being used for, what they would be wasted for if they followed their orders to the inevitable conclusion. He didn't know where he'd gotten the sudden inspiration from, but he'd just suddenly known it needed to be done.
Kenta and Chojo had been with him 100 percent from the start, but they had been best friends since childhood anyway so it wasn't too surprising. They had even gotten on a Genin team together, until their dream died at the hands of an elitist Jounin Sensei who didn't want a bunch of no-name civilian kids - and promptly dumped them straight into the Genin corps.
Nina and Misako had needed some convincing, they'd both been in the same class as the guys and served in the corps with them, but both of them had families, a home in Konoha, even a family business in Misako's case.
Daisuke had to do some fast talking to convince them of the inevitable death they faced if they continued on to the border. They were Genin corps, they were supposed to be safe in the village, he argued. The only reason to send them out was because Konoha was losing or just wanted them dead, neither was good news for them continuing as Shinobi.
It hadn't looked to be going too well, both of them noncommittal, but then suddenly everything seemed to work out, and he just kept saying the best thing to get them onboard.
Pointing out to Nina that if her brother died she'd be on her own anyway, plus without friends to back her up now. He'd also convinced Misako that the war would soon kill her family business and the last thing they needed was another mouth to feed.
Which was weird because Genin got more food anyway, but he'd made the argument and it all just seemed to flow.
That all had convinced them, which pleased Daisuke to no end. They were all sixteen after all and had needs, and he didn't want to just make this little exile into a sausage fest. Nina was pretty cute, and she owed him now for being saved. He could get set up pretty well in this small village, maybe he'd even take Misako too. He could lend her out to the boys when he was bored and it would serve to keep them loyal. Set up like a Yakuza in here or something.
Oyabun Daisuke had a nice ring to it.
Yeah… This was way better than being the lowest scrub in Konoha, he thought with pleasure, eying the admittedly less than ideal small wooden house on the outskirts of the village, hey'd found it abandoned, the previous owners apparently died in it. Heh, civilians were so damn superstitious.
It was best to lay low for now, in case Konoha actually bothered to send someone to sniff around briefly, so the house would do for now.
They hardly mattered enough for an actual response, so give it a few days and they could take over this small village on the quiet, be the background power. It wouldn't make them rich, but they'd be comfortable, and they could do whatever they wanted to these peasants.
"Daisuke!" Nina yelled from the outside, sounding terrified.
Daisuke was going to ignore it, whatever villager or bear or whatever had wandered close, Nina could handle at least that, she was a Genin for Kami's sake!
But then he heard Kenta roar his name urgently and he rushed over to the door, hesitating at the last moment.
… Could it be a trap, he didn't hear any fighting? He surreptitiously did a kai, attempting to disrupt a potential genjutsu, but found nothing.
"For fucks sake, get out here, Daisuke!" Chojo yelled frantically, "Konoha is here!"
Daisuke froze, one hand on the doorknob. No… How…? Why? He thought, heart pounding wildly. Letting go of the doorknob like it was on fire, he shuffled to the side, peeking out the window. Seeing Kenta and Chojo standing together, with Nina and Misako just behind them, all of them holding weapons and looking worried.
Daisuke looked beyond them, and frowned in consternation, "Fucking deal with it!" He yelled, not wanting to risk going outside in case it was a trap, "It's one kid!" He encouraged them, because surely they could take one brat…
"There's no way the kid is alone!?" Kenta shouted sounding angry, "What the fuck are you doing, Daisuke?" Oh, yeah, that's why…
"Looking for the others, take the kid out while I protect your back from his teammates." Daisuke lied, sweat starting to coalesce as he paced nervously by the window, peering out, searching for the brats team, If there's a Jounin-Sensei I'm fucked… He thought, hands shaking.
Fuck, this is why he'd deserted! To get away from ever fighting another shinobi, just to sit back and enjoy life while his friends kept the people in line in their own tiny slice of the pie.
"Are you fucking kidding me!?" Chojo yelled back, shuffling his feet like he was about to rush back to the house. Wheter for protection or to strangle Daisuke he wasn't sure.
Before Daisuke could say a word, Misako hesitantly spoke up, "I mean… It's one kid, and look at him, he's bruised all over, dirty, looking exhausted, I could probably take him myself." She said, waving a hand towards the bright green and creepily smiling kid standing quietly before them, doing nothing while they argued.
Daisuke had a bad feeling about all of this, but Misako at least had hit on a good point that he could see was winning over the rest, so he jumped in to push them forward, "Have I ever steered you wrong guys? I'll keep an eye out, you take out the kid." He shouted encouragingly, while in actuality he was preparing to run.
No way was some beat up Genin out alone at that age. It would suck to continue on alone, but it would not suck worse than dying to some prepubescent brat.
Just as he was stepping out of the way of the window, Kenta and Chojo both turned around cursing loudly, looks of panic visible even from where Daisuke was standing - and to his shock, sent their kunai straight into Nina and Misako, who were wholly unprepared and took the sharp weapons straight in the chest and throat, their lifeblood spraying out in front of them as they fell without as much as a cry.
"What… W-what the fuck?" Daisuke stammered out, stepping back from the window, hearing Kenta and Chojo roar in anguish as they realized what had happened.
Fucking Genjutsu!
The tiny genin suddenly shouted out a loud "YOSH!" Before rocketing towards his two unprepared friends.
"You know… You're not a very nice person." A voice said, from right behind him!
***
I had a plan all laid out for when we caught up to the missing five. Which only went to show that any complicated plan wouldn't survive contact with the enemy. In my defense, I didn't quite expect what we'd find…
The five of them were all just… They were laying about in a cabin at the edge of Kohiri, like they didn't have anyone after them, like they were expecting this all to go away, not even two days travel away from Konoha… My plan had hinged on actual enemies. These were just… Idiots.
I put Genma in a tree overlooking the property while I infiltrated the property, leaving Gai as the obvious bait. Hard hitter that he was - he sure as hell didn't look it, being as young as he was, facing off against these teens.
I'd instructed the boys that I'd set everything off by Genjutsu, turning the team against each other, leaving them one each to take care of…
Both had looked reluctant but understanding as I laid out my reasoning. We all know Orochimaru-Sensei is around here somewhere, and he'll definitely not accept anything but the full elimination of these idiots. Gai and Genma would have to be bloodied. The least I could do… Is to make it so they didn't have to fight and kill the girls…
Is that sexist of me? I'm not sure, but I think they'd definitely feel worse killing them over the boys. Nina and Misako, their file had said. I'll take on the task to eliminate them.
Their defection hadn't made much sense, they were the only ones with connections, so I suspect it is the usual nonsense, following a boy, ugh! Giving a bad name to Kunoichi everywhere girls…
I wrap myself in a Genjutsu and enter the cabin, none of them the wiser. Gai is already moving to make himself known to the five deserters, I know, while Genma is ready as fire support.
If the others disappoint me with their lackluster survival instincts and non-existent abilities to think, or their stupidity in traversing terrain without leaving a trail a civilian child could follow - this Daisuke - makes me wonder if the Genin corps should just be disbanded if these people were the standard.
When Gai announces himself, the apparent leader of the group, seems content in letting his friends take on all the danger, while he hides in the cabin, shouting orders, making it abundantly clear he's planning to abandon the friends he likely dragged out of Konoha in the first place.
I start placing seals around him, the fool not even noticing, the quick and pathetic Kai he'd done to disperse Genjutsu not even pausing my chakra strings and the Genjutsu they are spreading.
Quickly finishing my task, marveling over just how easy it is to hide from Genin, I tug on the chakra strings I'd attached to the boys outside since the beginning, sending a Genjutsu through the attached strings, showing the boys a vision of Gai and Genma both shooting past them, landing in front of the girls, threatening horrible violence upon them.
Like clockwork, both of the boys turn around, desperately throwing weapons at the imaginary boys to protect the girls, but of course, there are no boys, and the two first members of the idiot five fall down, dead by my hands, if by proxy.
Daisuke's clear shock contrasts quite clearly from the actual anguish from the two boys who'd just killed their teammates. I've really picked a despicable one for myself haven't I?
Hanako pokes her head out, tasting the air with a hint of annoyance, hidden entirely beneath my Genjutsu, "Not even worthy prey." She hisses in disappointment.
As Gai fights the one called Kenta in melee, quickly dominating the boy, Genma is driving the one called Chojo towards the house, the boy dodging frantically and more desperately by the second, apparently the only kunai he had, were spent killing his teammates.
"You know… You're not a very nice person." I say calmly, stepping out of my Genjutsu, feeling a tension in the back of my head easing at the action. Wielding several chakra strings to place seals, while cloaked, while slipping into the minds of two Genin - it was all a bit chakra intensive for me in such a short period, especially as my chakra was at a low point, having been training until I was half dead and then sent on a mission without rest.
Daisuke blanches, and I wrinkle my nose as he voids his bladder. Really? I think disparagingly. Well at least these people won't give me nightmares… They deserve to die from sheer incompetence…
"I have some questions for you." I say, raising my arm and letting Hanako peek out, her jaw open wide, fangs visible. "It would be in your best interest to answer." I finish coldly, I don't even come up to half his size, but the teenager is trembling like a leaf before me, seeing only death.
I admit it's a tiny bit exhilarating…
A desperate cry of, "No Kenta!" Is quickly followed by the sound of several wet schlicks as a body gets pierced by many sharp things.
I nod my head slightly, the boys have completed their task, they have killed, Orochimaru-Sensei will be pleased. I still need to finish this, however, even if it's not in the mission parameters. Because something stinks… I'll talk with my boys after to see how they're handling it. I'm not that much of a bitch that I'll ignore that they'll be more upset then me.
First this, because I reiterate my belief, something stinks about all this…
Well more so than this coward. I amend in my thoughts, my lips curling in disgust.
How could this idiot even come up with this plan in the first place? Gather this crew? He is obviously not a great orator, or a good friend. For him to plan and lead the other four out of Konoha and to here - albeit badly. How had this come about?
"The seal tags around you, they all do different horrible things." I say mildly, crossing my arms, Hanako crawling up my torso to wrap around my neck, her glowing eyes never leaving Daisuke's. "You can answer my question and it will be like falling asleep after… A simple Genjutsu… Or you can try the seal tags." I brighten up considerably, mostly for effect, pointing at one right by his left foot, "Oh, that one makes one of your body parts inflate until it just goes…" I gesture vaguely, a smirk growing on my face.
"POP!" Hanako says eagerly, hissing in laughter as Daisuke jumps on the spot, letting out a terrified whimper, carefully moving his foot further away from that spot, not that he has overly much room.
I want to snuggle Hanako for that perfect timing, but it would ruin what I have going on right now, so I resist, barely. "Tell me who helped you?" I ask, sweetly, leaning forward, "Or I'll set one off, it will be a mystery to us both what will happen!"
Daisuke shakes his head wildly, eyes wide and brimming with tears, "I swear it was all us, we didn't get help!" He lies, and horrendously badly too. Interestingly enough it certainly looks like he wants to tell me, and something is stopping the action…
I sigh, shaking my head, "That's a lie, what do you think, Hanako?" I ask, "Give him another chance?" Best way to get through whatever's conditioned him? Make him too afraid to even think anymore.
Hanako giggles, pointing her head towards one of the seals, "Blow up that one, I want to see what happens." Her gleeful tone almost sets me laughing, but I master myself, just barely.
With a twitch of my chakra, a chakra string attaches to, and primes the sealing tag. Daisuke suddenly became more cooperative, waving his hands, shouting, "No, wait!"
The seal tag explods, sending a cloud of purple gas straight up, briefly covering Daisuke, who didn't take the chance to try and jump out of my seal trap, a pity, he's even more useless then I thought.
Of course, that smelly cloud was simply my seal tag to spread noxious fumes to make it harder for a tracker to pick up your scent if you set it off. Nothing dangerous at all. Just smelly.
I shake my head, Hanako making commiserating noises, following my lead like a damn boss. "Oh, my, you've managed to find the only one with a neurotoxin that will literally make your body eat itself inside out. How novel, I've never watched the progress before, please tell me every excruciating detail for posterity." I say breathlessly.
Daisuke looks absolutely horrified, but he rallies, pointing a finger accusingly at me, "You got infected too!" He doesn't even look like he believes what he's saying, his chin wobbling precariously like he's a second away from blubbering fully.
I pet Hanako demonstratively, "Snake summoner, dumbass!" raising an eyebrow at the fool, "I'm immune, why would I do something that would kill me." I say, giving him a look that clearly states, you dummy!
"I don't want to die!" Daisuke wails, falling to his knees, just barely avoiding the other tags, something he noticed only now by the way he practically stopped breathing, staring around at the tags he almost set off.
"Then tell me. You're obviously not capable of doing any of this. Who put you up to it?" I ask, steel backing my voice.
Daisuke shivers, eyes looking around wildly, "A-antidote?" He asks, pleadingly.
I roll my eyes, "If you answer everything without any lies, I'll give you the antidote." I say drolly, glad that I had asked Gai and Genma to leave me be, the last thing I needed was for the two of them to look at me even more as if I was Orochimaru reborn.
"I… I have a note!" Daisuke says desperately, fishing in his pockets, before finding it and practically throwing it at me, gasping as if in pain from the action, blood starting to leak out of his ears.
I jump back, feeling the Genjutsu on the note, letting my own tendril of chakra slip into the matrix, seeing the words on it dissolve, I know this chakra! Whatever compulsion this idiot had come under to lead him outside of Konoha, was now gone. Ugh, so he was led to do this… Why did you do this? I think in annoyance, looking down at the note, feeling myself get a migraine immediately as I read the only sentence still on there, gritting my teeth even as I execute Daisuke by a swift kunai to the neck.
Your real mission starts now - Orochimaru
It was all a fucking headgame… Again!
***
Konoha,
The village was at peace, serenity was the word of the day as the crisp air and beautiful natural surroundings of Konohagakure brightened the day of every villager.
The quiet eve-
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE'S OUT OF THE VILLAGE, DATTEBANE!"
***
Author's note:
Took a bit longer than I wanted, massive writer's block coinciding with RL interrupts, but here we are!
Inohana and her team are getting stronger, and Orochimaru is gently leading them down the slippery slope towards his viewpoint. Soon we won't be in Konoha anymore.
War beckons, where legends are made, or die violently for no particular reasons for a few feet of dirt no one really wants anyway.
Also means Kushina and Inohana reunite soon although not in Konoha apparently, the battlefield is exactly the place for a good family get together anyway, maybe they can have a meal over the bodies of their conquered enemies like a real Konoha family.
First we got to see what mission Orochimaru really has for them though.
Cheers
JollyHippopotamus
