Chapter 8: See, you and I have different beliefs.
Shikamaru: It's stupid to talk about things you're not. Be yourself, and you'll be fine.
.
Shikamaru didn't know where does his energy come from to pull actions so untypical of him.
But he was in a situation where he can't afford to make mistakes. He's in a territory where former comrades became unknown adversaries. He needs to be committed to play his role. He's the one who formulated this plan after all.
The audiences for their performance are not easy to fool. The (former) Hokage, (his father) the Jounin Commander, the (future Yondaime) blonde jounin, the presumed hidden Anbu, and Kakashi's (former) teammates, all looking at them with palpable confusion. He needs to keep them confused. He doesn't have the leisure to tremble in fear and calm his nerves.
He expected this scenario. But he hoped it will not come to this.
Troublesome.
He's still bound in snakes by his new sensei. The bruises, cuts and bites were planned not to be healed, to show how hard he fought not to get dragged. His clothes were bloodied and ruined.
Nari was still unconscious.
Good.
My time to be Shuka starts here.
"Pleasant afternoon, sensei.", his new teacher simply hissed as he greeted the Sandaime like nothing wrong was going on.
The Third Hokage stared at them and slowly sighed.
"Orochimaru.", the Sandaime nodded to acknowledge the greeting. "What did you bring here in my office? Who are these children?"
"These little ones? These are my children.", his new sensei innocently lifted him with his massive snake and calmly smiled. "I just picked them up. I reckoned it's time for them to come home with me."
Everyone stared at the Snake Sannin. No one dared to speak, letting the words sink and choosing words wisely to answer the Sannin carefully.
Shuka decided to follow up the chaos.
"WE ARE NOT YOUR CHILDREN, YOU CREEPY OLD MAN!", he angrily exclaimed, making sure he sounded like a child that got kidnapped, struggling his best to be unbound. "PUT ME DOWN!"
The Snake Sannin elongated his neck to terrorize him and glared. "A child should follow his parent's wishes. I made you. You are mine!"
"NO, YOU'RE NOT!", he growled. "WHAT PARENT HURTS THEIR OWN CHILDREN?! MY PARENTS WERE ALREADY DEAD! WE ARE NOT YOURS!"
"YOU. ARE. MINE! I will not allow you to run away from me again!"
"YOU FU-"
The Sandaime coughed out loud to pull their attention.
"What is going on, Orochimaru?! Have you kidnapped these children?!"
"YE-", Shuka tried to answer, but the Snake Sannin was quicker.
"Sensei, I am the parent of these little ones. Why would I abduct my own children?"
Shuka can see everyone bewildered by the statement. The blonde jounin's mouth slightly gaped at them, trying to make sense of what he was witnessing. The little girl attempted to release what she presumed a genjutsu.
He can't blame them. The claim was also crazy in their own terms.
The crazier, the better.
"Orochimaru.", the Sandaime tried to control the situation by keeping his voice calm when he concluded that this is a true situation. "I don't remember you having kids, nor do I remember you getting married. Who really are these children?"
"I already said who they are.", the Snake Sannin insisted while holding the unconscious blonde child closer to his chest. "They are my children.", he said fondly. "I got impatient and dragged them home. They are stalling too much time."
"WE ARE NOT YOUR CHILDREN!", Shuka glared at the slender man and shouted furiously. "We didn't want to be here! You shinobis are scum! You claim us like you claim lands! We are not your property!"
(His father) The Jounin Commander raised his eyebrow to challenge him. "Oh?"
Shuka glared at him too but the Jounin Commander just smirked at his ire.
"Children are properties of parents! You don't have the right to talk back at me, child!"
"I AM NOT YOUR CHILD! WHAT 'NO' DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?!"
"You two are both my creations.", the Sannin calmly answered. "I am your maker. Which in human terms, makes me your parent. I didn't shape you to be this stupid, Shuka."
He tried to open his mouth to argue, but the Sannin didn't let him.
"This is the Hokage of this village. He is my sensei.", the Sannin scolded him, but returned his tone to stoic and cold. "Be respectful. Call him Hokage-sama. I taught you manners. You're embarrassing me in front of these people."
"You think I care about these fuckers?!"
"Language, child, or I'll cut your tongue!"
The Sandaime cleared his throat to quickly stop the impending violence.
"Orochimaru. Return these children to their families."
"I am their family!", the Sannin acting a bit confused and scared. "You don't believe me?!"
"Orochimaru.", the Hokage warned, but he was cut off.
"You don't understand, Sensei.", the Sannin shook his head. "I created these children for me. They will stay with me here in this village."
"Oro-"
"You can enter them to the ranks as shinobi. You can use them. I trained them well. Just... don't let them go away from me."
The Sannin was going frantic and unhinged, heaving deep breaths to still himself. Shuka was amazed with his new sensei's performance, but retained his frown, anger and fear on his face.
"I didn't ask you for anything, Sensei. I gave my all to you. My time, my talent, my whole soul. Everything you asked me; I did my best to follow. This -", the snake sannin held them tighter, "-is the only thing I ask. I thought you could understand me, Sensei. You let Tsunade leave to grieve. You let Jiraiya roam to breathe. And I'm the only one here that stayed!", the man burst out that even Shuka felt the emotions behind those words. "So, let my children fill the emptiness left by my teammates. This is all I ask of you."
"We can't let some outsiders be in our village in these times.", the Jounin Commander interjected with reason. "You know we are at war, Orochimaru-sama. What if-"
"Don't you dare call them spies, Nara!"
"Nara-sama was right, Orochimaru-sama.", Kakashi finally joined the conversation. "Children are used to gather information. We can't let these dirty kids roam around and risk the safety of our village. The rule of shinobi stated-"
Shuka redirected his ire towards the silver-haired child.
"Are you deaf, shinobi-san?", Shuka mockingly laughed. "I'm not even a shinobi but you dared to call me a spy? I am a victim of scums like you that carelessly slaughter people for fun!"
Kakashi stepped forward, enraged. "We don't kill people for fun! We fight for order and peace!"
"Oh, really?", he challenged the silver-haired shinobi. "I know the likes of you. Brainwashed young to follow orders of the power-hungry leaders for the greater good of your own village! Leaders that despite having their hands bloody, spouted bullshit of their own brand of peace! The helpless civilians like me suffered from your shinobi wars! I lost my village because of you! Acting righteous doesn't make you right, hypocrite!"
"If your thoughts are like that, then you're not welcome to this village!"
"Kakashi!", the blonde jounin shouted at the silver-hair child but the Snake Sannin moved swiftly to attack.
The Third Hokage suddenly appeared between the Sannin and the silver-haired child. The temperature within the room dropped to some degrees.
"Orochimaru! That's enough!", the Sandaime reprimanded his student, but Kakashi stood his own ground and sneered.
"A shinobi must not hurt his fellow shinobi, Orochimaru-sama."
"Minato", the Third Hokage closed his eyes to contain his anger, "take your team outside."
Shuka won't let anyone exit the room without having Nari play his own role. Their performance is not yet done.
"Afraid of the truth, Hokage-sama? Your shinobi must be aware of their true nature.", he looked at the silver-haired child with so much animosity. Kakashi didn't back down and glared at him more. Shuka smirked evilly to cut deeper. "What should I expect on a smug like you to understand the struggles of a peasant when he enjoys the luxury of a powerful village? You should go now. Your parents must be waiting for their spoiled child."
"Bakakashi! This is not the time!", the little shinobi wearing blue and orange jumpsuit bear hugged the angry silver-haired child to intervene in the escalating situation. "Let's get out of here!"
"If you won't let my children stay with me, I will leave this village.", the Snake Sannin suddenly proclaimed to add more chaos.
"You can't do that, Orochimaru-sama!", the blonde jounin exclaimed at the Sannin, stopping himself from leaving. "We still need you in the village!"
"I am aware of the responsibilities of a Hokage. He will choose the village over unimportant things called relationships."
Shuka wanted to laugh at that statement because of how low the blow was. Nari chose the time to open his eyes.
"Sen... sei?", Nari rasped sleepily. Everyone stopped to look at his blonde companion. The Jounin Commander suddenly narrowed his eyes.
Oh no.
Did oyaji connected the dots that fast?
Shuka redirected his wary towards his blonde companion, using it to show his reaction to the new development of their scenario. Nari wore his usual confusion that made him question if his blonde companion was indeed acting or not.
"What's wrong, little one?", the Sannin asked gently.
"Where are we, Sensei?"
"We are in Konohagakure, Nari.", Shuka answered instead. "Does your body still hurt? I'm so sorry for letting us be captured."
The Snake Sannin sighed in exasperation. "I didn't capture you. I wanted to finally take you home."
"You-", he breathed, "You attacked us when we refused you."
"You're the only one who refused. Nari wants to go with me."
"No, he wasn't! Why are you forcing us to stay with you? Isn't experimenting with our bodies enough?!", he gritted his teeth.
"What did you do to these children, Orochimaru?, the Sandaime finally addressed the issue of experimentation. Shuka wants to roll his eyes.
"Don't be mad with my sensei, old man!", Nari defended the Sannin.
"Hokage-sama.", Kakashi corrected his blonde companion, staying in character.
"Don't be mad with my sensei, Hokage-sama!", Nari repeated his defense. "He only wants to save our lives when some shinobi hurt us! The Kiri-nins wanted us dead and no one wants to help! Sensei used his teeth to revive us!"
The blond jounin frowned. "Teeth?"
Shuka held his breath, praying that his blonde companion won't give them away if he looked at the (future Yondaime) blonde jounin.
Nari turned to the blonde jounin and blinked. "Yeah! Teeth! He bit us!"
"What do you mean he bit you?", the Jounin Commander asked gently, looking slightly disturbed at the blonde child's tale.
"Sensei got fangs! Like his snakes! Shuka even got snake scales after he was bitten!", his blonde companion innocently affirmed.
Shuka was impressed with the acting. But he's getting nervous; everything is going well.
"Put this child down, Orochimaru.", the Sandaime ordered while pointing at him. When he was released, the Sandaime tapped his head. "Show me the snake scales."
He nodded and unwrapped the bandages on his left arm. Everyone gasped. The Jounin Commander looked angry(?). Nari quickly grasped the reaction and jumped in front of the Snake Sannin, extending his arms to protect their sensei.
"Please don't be mad at my sensei! He just did what he could to save our lives. See-", Nari hugged him next, "-my cousin is still here standing and talking! I don't know what I would do if Shuka left me too..."
His blonde companion looked at them with despair and tears in his eyes. It was so convincing that the little brown-haired male shinobi seemed worried and sad.
"I'll do anything what my Sensei wanted me to do as a gratitude for his kindness.", his blonde companion added while holding his own chest.
"You didn't have to, Nari.", he held his blonde's companion shoulder firmly. "If you'll let them use you as an exchange of my life, I would rather die!"
"I don't want to lose more people I love!", his blonde companion sobbed. "You're the only one I left in this world, Shuka! I could endure anything! If sensei wants me to fight, I'll fight! If sensei wants me to be bitten, I'll give him my body parts! Just please! Don't leave me too!"
"Nari...", he choked his own tears.
His blonde companion shook his head. The Snake Sannin massaged Nari's back, calming him.
"Nari.", he began after controlling his voice. "What sensei wanted us to do is to stay with him. But he is a respected shinobi of this village. We can't stay here if we don't follow his footsteps."
"But he trained us! We can fight!"
"That's not how it works, Nari! This is a shinobi village! They can't let unknown civilians enter their ranks! Two shinobis here in this room already suspected us as spies!", he glared at the unapologetic silver-haired shinobi coldly. "Don't let this village use you as their weapon when they don't even trust you! Don't forget we lost our family because of the Second Shinobi War!"
His blonde companion aggressively wiped his tears.
"How could I forget our loved ones dying? They died so we could live!"
"Then, tell me, why would you want to participate in another shinobi war?! Haven't we suffered enough?!"
"Sensei took the time to train us as his students! I would rather fight with a home I could protect, rather than endlessly running on Kami knows where!"
"Nari, this is not a game!", Shuka shouted angrily, ripping his throat to make a point. "These people are one of the reasons why we are running! We'll not be at peace until they're tired of forming and fighting pointless wars!"
"Then I'll aim to be powerful so I could end it!"
Kakashi scoffed. "Big, empty words to feed childish dreams."
"See?! Shinobis doesn't want peace!", he used Kakashi's remark to contest the idealistic words of his blonde companion. "Wars will keep on ruining lives until the most powerful nation grabbed everything they need! They won't stop just because you want it to!"
Shuka rewrapped his bandages and bowed. He grabbed Nari and turned towards the door.
"Thank you for saving our lives, Sensei. But we're leaving."
"You will not leave this village, Shuka. You are one of my apprentices.", the Snake Sannin said coldly while he pulled him back.
"What?!"
"According to Shinobi Law, an apprentice of a jounin, sannin or kage will technically be a shinobi of a village they've pledged to. Given that they studied under a master for three years, should they refuse, they'll be imprisoned or sentenced to death."
Shuka (pretended to) widened his eyes.
"Today marks your third year."
"No way!"
"Your master is right.", the silver-haired shinobi bitterly confirmed. "Rule #78: A shinobi should pledge allegiance with the village after three years of studies, whether through Ninja Academy or apprenticeship. Ninja arts should remain from a master to a student. Failure to comply with the allegiance, a hunter-nin will be sent to capture the student and tried for imprisonment or death."
"Fuck your rules!", Shuka cursed out loud. "We'll be leaving! Come on, Nari!"
The Sandaime cleared his throat again. Shuka already forgotten about him. The Third Hokage slowly walked towards his desk and seated himself calmly.
"You will be captured once you stepped your foot past the village gates.", the Sandaime said with authority. "I won't let the apprentices of my student loiter around. Choose: die or serve this village. Your choice."
Shuka looked at everyone slowly to find some support. His blonde companion waited for him to answer. He sighed defeatedly.
"If that would be our fate, then how can you assure someone like me not to be thrown away when I lost a limb?"
"We don't do that here."
"Rule # 5-"
Shuka rolled his eyes.Kakashi is like this in the past?He wanted to laugh now.
"Alright! Whatever!", he raised his hand in frustration. "Do I have a choice?"
"You have none.", the Jounin Commander smiled. "Be at Hall #5 in three days for your exam. We'll confirm your rank from there."
"Any arguments?"
He bitterly shook his head and glared at everyone.
"Welcome to Konoha.", the Sandaime finally greets. "You may now leave my office."
.
.
"Good grief!", Nari sighed as they laid down at the basement in Orochimaru's house. "I couldn't believe it all went well, dattebayo!"
They have changed with clean clothes and are now preparing for the next (torture) training with their new sensei.
"Are you sure deers are not deceptive animals? You spouted so many lies today with the government.", their new sensei commented.
"Nahh... deers only camouflaged themselves with the environment. The rest of the animals in this room are legit liars."
"That was some good acting. I almost clapped.", Kakashi giggled over a book (is it erotica? Icha-icha is not yet published at this time). "I was so sure Nari will break character."
"I am a fox, dattebayo! I mastered the Shadow Clones for deception.", Nari pouted. "And you lied to us every day. It's impossible not to pick a thing or two."
Shuka closed his eyes to rest his mind. "Orochimaru-sensei was so crazy there. No wonder Sasuke was so unhinged. He learned from the best."
Nari and Kakashi burst out laughing. Kakashi was fanning himself with his book.
"Oh, you didn't see enough. All my students are insane and unhinged."
"It's a Team 7 brand, I guess. All generations are crazy. Thank Kami I'm on Team 10."
Orochimaru clapped his hands to signal them ready. "Get up now children, we'll begin."
Nari stretched his legs and bounced himself to stand. "You owe me ramen."
"Yeah. Yeah. You acted well. I'll buy you ramen.", he forwardly bended his one knee, kunai at a ready. Orochimaru-sensei went straight for his neck. "What a drag!"
.
.
Notes:
Aka the acting audition chapter. Who is the best liar among them?
Q: Why did Shuka plan to make an argument scene in Hokage's Office? Will it be easier if they behaved and be friendly from the start?
A: I thought suspicion on them being spies is greater if they'll be friendly right away than being them outright refusing to join Konoha. They're in the middle of the Third Shinobi War. They have to show that they don't like to be dragged there.