In Bloom and in Battle

by Privation

After an untimely death, a woman awakens in a world she knows only from manga and anime—Naruto. Reborn as Kimiko Yuhi, the younger sister of Kurenai, she must navigate her new life in the Hidden Leaf Village, grappling with the disorientation of infancy and the reality of a ninja's world.

48. Chapter 42: Daffodil

A/N: Not sure if I posted it before, but we have a TVTropes Page. Would love to have people contribute to it!
In Bloom and In Battle (Fanfic) - TV Tropes

Chapter 42: Daffodil

"So…" Kimiko murmured, adjusting her seat. The plain white yukata draped over her small frame shifted slightly She exhaled, fingers idly tracing the yellow flower she had plucked from the vase—one of the many Neji had sent her.

Her eyes lifted toward her sister, sharp and expectant.

"Can we finally talk about Kusagakure?"

Kurenai let out a quiet sigh, setting down her tea cup with a soft clink.

They sat near the flower garden, the gentle rustling of leaves and the occasional ripple of their small pond lending a sense of serenity to their surroundings. The scent of blooming petals mixed with the faint aroma of tea, but despite the peaceful atmosphere, Kimiko felt anything but at ease.

Kurenai, however, gave her a pointed look, shaking her head slightly.

"Seriously?" she muttered. "It's been a week since you got out of the hospital. Can't you rest for a moment?"

Kimiko frowned.

Rest? She was restless.

It had been weeks since she had even touched Byakko, let alone performed a jutsu. She could feel the itch in her fingers, the growing impatience in her veins. But Shizune's orders had been clear—no overexertion, or risk permanently damaging her chakra reserves.

She crossed her arms beneath her chest, shifting slightly, letting the cool air caress her bare skin beneath the open yukata.

"I am resting," Kimiko huffed. "But I still need to know what's happening with Konoha. I'm not a genin anymore—I need to know if we're about to get deployed into another war."

Her voice was even, but there was an underlying edge to it.

Kurenai studied her for a moment before letting out a long, tired sigh.

"When you put it that way… alright, fine." She leaned back slightly, rubbing her temple. "Things are… going from bad to worse."

Kimiko's eyes narrowed.

"How bad?" she asked, absently adjusting the fabric of her yukata again, allowing more of the night's breeze to cool her skin.

Kurenai's expression darkened.

"The civil war between the insurgents and the loyalists? Officially, Kusagakure's leadership insists it's ending soon. But…" she frowned. "It's obvious it isn't."

Kimiko arched a brow. "What do you mean?"

Kurenai exhaled.

"The entire southwestern part of the Land of Grass has fallen. And there's no getting it back anytime soon."

Kimiko blinked.

"What?"

"The counterattack against the insurgents failed," Kurenai continued. "One hundred Kusa-nin dead in a single battle. And now, the rebels have taken advantage of that momentum. They've moved from the southwest and are seizing the western territories as well. Half of the country is now effectively under their control."

Kimiko stared, processing the information.

The last she had heard from Kakashi, Konoha had been maneuvering strategically to divert just enough of Kusagakure's forces from the east to allow for a counteroffensive. But if that counterattack had been so thoroughly crushed…

Something wasn't right.

"The Head Ninja was killed in the battle," Kurenai added grimly. "And his designated successor? Assassinated within a day of taking office in Kusagakure."

Kimiko's eyes sharpened.

"Was he—"

"Yes," Kurenai confirmed. "Taken out right outside the village gates."

A silence hung between them.

"We suspect some of the guards were involved," she continued, "and Ibiki's already sent a Torture and Interrogation unit to root out the collaborators. But…" she trailed off, shaking her head.

Kimiko inhaled slowly.

Collaboration. Defectors.

This war wasn't just bad—it was falling apart.

Kimiko tapped her fingers against the flower, her eyes narrowing.

"So…" she murmured. "What exactly are we doing about all of this?"

Kurenai sighed, leaning back slightly. "Well, as grim as it sounds, it's not all bad news."

Kimiko arched a brow. "That doesn't sound reassuring."

Kurenai gave her a wry smile. "With how unstable Kusagakure is getting, the Land of Grass Daimyo formally authorized us to take full command of the war effort. We're no longer just providing support—we're leading it.

She paused, stirring her tea absently. "He directly ordered the Head Ninja of Kusagakure to follow Konoha's directives to the letter ."

Kimiko blinked.

"It's that bad?" she asked, tilting her head. "He's basically letting us control his Hidden Village and fight his war for him. I can't imagine Kusagakure is happy about that."

Kurenai shrugged, picking her teacup up to sip. "Maybe they are, maybe they aren't. But it doesn't matter. They don't have a choice." She set down her cup with a quiet clink . "You know who replaced the two Head Ninja who died?"

Kimiko tilted her head further. "Who?"

Kurenai exhaled. "A Tokubetsu Jōnin from their logistics department."

Kimiko froze mid-motion, her fingers stilling over her flower.

"…What?"

"You heard me." Kurenai's voice was flat. "There's no one left to command Kusagakure's forces."

Kimiko blinked slowly, absorbing the full weight of those words.

"So you're saying… they don't even have a military leader anymore?"

"None," Kurenai confirmed. "Or at least, none they can afford to pull from the battlefield. Their chain of command is crumbling , Kimiko. The war is escalating—fast."

She exhaled, rubbing her temple. "Asuma and I were already deployed to the front lines to assist Kakashi. I've heard Ino-Shika-Chō is being sent as well."

She gave Kimiko a pointed look. "That's part of why Hayate and Anko are getting promoted. We need more Jonin to handle high-level operations back here."

Kimiko leaned forward, hands lacing together. "That bad, huh?"

Kurenai nodded. "That bad."

"Speaking of Hayate," Kurenai continued, her voice shifting slightly, "I think we need to talk about—"

Before she could finish, the shhkt of the paper door sliding open cut through the conversation.

Kimiko's gaze flickered up as a familiar presence entered.

Their mother, Kaori, stepped into the room, her expression gentle yet firm, the kind of presence that could calm storms—or stir them.

"Kurenai. Kimiko."

She smiled, her gaze shifting toward Kurenai.

"Have you spoken to Kimiko about Hayate yet?"

Kurenai let out a small chuckle, shaking her head. "I was about to, actually."

"Oh?" Kaori tilted her head. "Then allow me the honor."

Her sharp eyes settled on Kimiko.

Kimiko straightened slightly, sensing something significant in the air.

"Your sister and I have been talking," Kaori began, her voice measured, deliberate.

A pause.

"We want to honor one of your late father's wishes."

Kimiko's fingers tightened slightly around the flower stem.

"And that is?" she asked carefully.

Kaori's lips curved into a soft smile.

"We want to adopt Hayate-kun into the family—as our son."

Kimiko blinked, momentarily caught off guard.

Hayate? Her senpai? Becoming part of their family?

It wasn't unheard of—adopting adults, especially sons, was a common practice among Konoha's noble and shinobi clans, much like in her previous life's Japan. This was particularly true for clans lacking a direct heir, ensuring their lineage and traditions continued.

Typically, adoption was kept within extended families—like what she suspected Hiashi planned to do with Neji. But occasionally, an outsider with a strong relationship to the family—such as a father's disciple—could be taken in.

Still… this was unexpected.

Kimiko exhaled, twirling the yellow flower between her fingers. "Wow."

She tilted her head. "I never knew you guys were planning that. Or that Hayate-senpai was even looking for adoption."

Kurenai sighed. "He wasn't, really."

She leaned forward, resting her elbow on the table. "His parents died during the Nine-Tails attack. He's part of that generation—the one after mine and the other 's been living on his own ever since. That's why Dad insisted on looking after him when he took him as a student. It helped that he was a great disciple, despite his illness."

She gave Kimiko a meaningful look. "He still credits you, you know."

Kimiko blinked again, genuinely confused. "For what?"

Kurenai's lips curved slightly as if amused by her obliviousness. "For saving his life."

Kimiko nodded. She remembered that. One of the changes she did in this world, using what knowledge she still remembered to save him from his fate in the source material.

Right… That had been a rough night.

Kaori, who had remained quiet until now, smiled faintly, her eyes warm.

"He's a good man, isn't he?"

Her voice was soft, thoughtful.

"Respectful. Kind. And I like that lady friend of his, too—the one with the purple hair?"

Kimiko perked up slightly. "Yugao-san?"

Kaori nodded. "That's the one. I rarely see her, but when I do, she always greets me so politely. She mentioned working in the logistics department?"

Kurenai and Kimiko exchanged a glance but said nothing.

Yugao's "logistics work" was ANBU. But their mother wasn't a kunoichi, so there was no need to elaborate.

Kaori leaned back, taking another breath before glancing at her daughters.

"In any case," she continued, "this will be good for all of us."

She smiled, but there was a deeper meaning behind her words.

"As much as we love the two of you, your father always wanted our family to become a proper shinobi clan. He wanted to build something lasting—to have descendants, a legacy."

Her gaze drifted between them, her tone almost teasing. "And, well… we can't exactly do that with only two daughters."

Kimiko arched a brow. "What, so I'm supposed to go out and start seducing some poor fool to marry into the family?"

Kurenai snorted, shaking her head. "You know what Kiba called you? Terrifying. I doubt you can seduce any ninja your age without emasculating them."

Kaori chuckled. "Ah, Kiba. That boy. In any case…that would be an option… if I thought either of you had the patience for it."

She sighed dramatically. "But no, I doubt Kurenai would convince Asuma to take our surname. And Kimiko, well…"

Kimiko tilted her head, waiting.

"The thought doesn't even cross your mind, does it?" Kaori said with amusement.

Kimiko huffed, crossing her arms beneath her chest. "I have better things to think about than marriage. Now, at least. I still want to become the most powerful Kunoichi in the world."

Kaori laughed lightly. "Exactly. Which is why adopting Hayate-kun is the best way to honor your father's wishes.I would never dare try and pull you from that path"

A pause.

"Besides…" she added. "This household has been full of women since your father's passing. We need a man in the house."

Kimiko rolled her eyes, but she couldn't entirely disagree.

"Well, I approve of this. I look forward to having Hayate as our brother."

A small smirk played on her lips. "So, that means he handles clan affairs as the official head of the household? Once a ninja family has three active shinobi, they're required to appoint someone for the paperwork, after all."

Kaori nodded. "Yes, that's the plan—unless either of you have objections?"

"None," Kurenai responded immediately.

Kimiko barely suppressed an amused snort. Of course.

Kurenai was practically half a Sarutobi already, what with how obvious her relationship with Asuma was. It wasn't like she was going to be deeply involved in clan politics here forever.

Kimiko shrugged. "None for me, either."

Truth be told, she was relieved she wouldn't have to deal with clan management. She loved her family—deeply—but she had her own path to carve, her own ambitions to chase. Wasting time on the bureaucratic nightmare of managing clan affairs? No, thank you.

"Perfect, then it's settled." Kaori's expression softened into a pleased smile. "He was nervous about you finding out, Kimiko."

Kimiko arched a brow, smirking. "Oh? I can't imagine why." A light chuckle escaped her lips. "He helped me with my kenjutsu a lot. It'll be nice to have him close by whenever I want a sparring partner."

But before the conversation could continue, there was a knock at the door.

Kimiko's sensory net flared instantly, and she picked up on the visitor's presence.

She frowned. "Huh… what's Raido-san doing here?"

Kurenai stood gracefully, moving to slide the door open.

Raido stepped in, his usual composed demeanor as steady as ever. He dipped his head respectfully.

"Kaori-san. Kurenai. Kimiko-chan."

His tone was polite, but Kimiko picked up on the subtle tension beneath his words.

Kaori, ever warm, smiled in greeting. "It's good to see you, Raido-kun. Did you need something?"

Raido shook his head slightly, his scarred face unreadable. "Not personally. I'm here on behalf of the Hokage."

Kimiko blinked.

"Uh-oh." She put the flower down, eyeing him warily. "What did I do this time? I swear, I've been home all week."

Raido chuckled, though there was an edge of hesitation in his voice. "No, nothing bad… well. Technically."

Kimiko narrowed her eyes. "Technically?"

Raido rubbed the back of his neck. "It's just that… well, Tsume-san and Anko-san are at her office right now."

Kimiko's frown deepened.

She had read both of their offers—Tsume's from the Tracking Unit, Anko's from Recon & Infiltration—but she hadn't even made a decision yet, let alone scheduled interviews.

"Huh?" Kimiko tilted her head. "I'm still on leave. I haven't even had my formal interviews with either department yet. Hell, I haven't even decided if I want to join a department in Konoha at all. Besides, Chuunin are supposed to have until the next Chūnin Exams to decide on a specialization, right?"

Raido let out a low sigh, glancing toward the door for a moment before meeting her gaze again.

"Yes… but." He hesitated, rubbing his temple.

"You'll understand when you get there."

---

Kimiko could hear the shouting before she even reached the Hokage's office.

The rowdy, feral energy practically bled through the walls.

Shizune looked visibly distressed, her hands clutching her clipboard tightly as she pulled open the door for her and Raido.

The moment they stepped inside, the chaos unfolded before her eyes.

"And I'm telling you—" Tsume snarled, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. "I don't give a damn if her father promised you her right arm, Anko! That kid belongs in my unit! Her hypersensory skill is beyond generational talent—you're ruining Konoha with this nonsense, you reckless brat!"

Anko was in her face in an instant, just as loud, just as furious.

"Oh? Pulling the ' age ' card now, are we, you old hag?"

Tsume bristled, her fangs bared slightly.

Anko smirked. "You and I both know she's made for Recon and Infiltration ." She jabbed a finger toward Tsume's chest. "She's fast , she's wily — she's made to be a scout! "

"Bah! You idiotic girl!" Tsume snapped back, practically snarling now. "Have you even read her file? She's a frontline fighter with average stealth ratings in her mission reports. She's not built for your division!"

She jabbed a thumb toward herself. "The Tracking Unit is where she belongs! We need a pursuit specialist !"

Anko clapped her hands together, aggressively punctuating her words.

"Skills and jutsu can be trained !

She grinned, eyes gleaming. "What can't be trained? Surviving weeks behind enemy lines while wounded , dragging an ANBU corpse the whole damn time—and still coming back with valuable intel ."

Her smirk sharpened. "That's what sets her apart." She tilted her head mockingly. "That's why I want her."

Tsume rolled her eyes, growling low in her throat. "This is useless ! Talking to you is like talking to a damn wall—only the wall is smarter !"

Anko grinned viciously, lifting her arm. "Oh? You wanna fight about it, grandma?"

"ENOUGH!"

The room shook as Tsunade's palms slammed onto her desk, rattling scrolls and ink pots.

The sheer force of it snapped both women silent.

Tsunade's glare was murderous, her voice like thunder. "DAMN IT! You two are acting like ogres instead of setting an example for kunoichi!"

Her eyes flashed dangerously. "And you haven't even noticed…"

She jabbed a finger toward the door, her glare intensifying.

"That the girl you're both fighting over is standing right there !"

Kimiko exhaled softly, clasping her fist over an open palm before bowing her head low. "Hokage-sama. Tsume-sama. Anko-sama."

Silence.

For the first time since entering the room, all three women—the loudest kunoichi she'd ever met—stared at her, momentarily caught off guard.

She could hear both Anko and Tsume awkwardly clear their throats, while Tsunade let out an exasperated tsk .

"Seriously, you two." Tsunade crossed her arms, her gaze flicking between them. "Having a shouting match instead of a civil discussion? Aren't you embarrassed?" She smirked slightly. "You do realize Kimiko's mother is practically a princess? Seriously, when did our kunoichi become so loud and quick to resort to violence?"

A beat of silence followed.

Kimiko was fairly certain all three of them fought the urge to snort at the irony of Tsunade, of all people, complaining about people being too loud and too quick to resort to violence .

Tsunade sighed, shaking her head.

"In any case—Kimiko, seriously, stop bowing like that to me."

Kimiko straightened, lifting her head, though she kept her posture composed.

Tsunade rubbed her temple. "As you can probably tell, we've been having a… disagreement about your future in Konoha." Her eyes flickered with mild irritation. "If it were up to me, you'd have the rest of the year to decide what you want to do."

"Unfortunately, these two insist on having you make a commitment now ."

Kimiko tilted her head slightly, intrigued.

"And given how the Kusagakure situation is escalating, among other things… I'm inclined to agree. We need your decision sooner rather than later."

Kimiko blinked, her cheeks warming slightly in realization.

They were really fighting over her.

To think that a decade ago, she had feared she'd never even master Taijutsu—and now, two of Konoha's elite divisions were actively competing for her.

Tsunade gestured toward the two arguing kunoichi. "That's why I invited these two." She leaned forward slightly. "They were the most vocal about wanting you. And, honestly? Probably the most demanding out of all the departments that sent you offers."

A knowing smirk touched her lips. "And given what I know about you—you're not going to take any job that keeps you out of the action."

Kimiko grinned slightly at that.

She wasn't wrong.

"Anyway." Tsunade waved a hand dismissively. "They're here to present their cases, so…"

The moment she paused, both Tsume and Anko immediately tried to speak over each other.

Tsunade cut them off with a glare.

"Anko, you first."

Anko grinned triumphantly, sticking her tongue out at Tsume.

"Suck it, old hag."

Tsume rolled her eyes but stayed silent—for now.

Anko turned to Kimiko, her smirk widening. "Hey, Kimiko-chan, you look very pretty today."

Kimiko didn't miss a beat. "I look beautiful every day, Anko-san. But thank you. You do, too."

Tsume grumbled loudly. "Get on with it."

Anko snickered. "Right, right. Forgot Grandma needs to take her medicine soon."

Tsume's eye twitched.

Anko clapped her hands together. "Alright, listen up, Kimiko. Recon & Infiltration wants you. We don't headhunt people. "

Her smile sharpened, all amusement fading.

"The best of the best try to join us—and most fail . We're highly selective . The Fourth Hokage himself was one of us."

She flicked a glance toward Tsume, her smirk turning smug.

"None of the previous Hokage came from the Tracking Division."

Tsume bristled, but Anko didn't give her time to respond.

She leaned in slightly, her voice dripping with confidence.

"If you join us, Hayate and I will personally train you in recon and infiltration. I'll teach you everything I know."

A pause.

Anko's playful demeanor faded for a moment, replaced by genuine admiration.

"I've read your file, Kimiko." Her voice lowered slightly. "I'm more than impressed. I haven't seen a kunoichi with that much guts since…"

She grinned.

"Well, me . That's why I was so insistent on recruiting you. I want to bring you to the next level, make you a superstar kunoichi."

Anko leaned back smugly, arms crossed, clearly satisfied with her pitch.

Tsume, however, was far from impressed.

She grumbled, rolling her shoulders. "Right. If you're done —"

Anko shrugged carelessly, flashing a lazy grin. "Go ahead, Grandma. Try your best."

Tsunade sighed, rubbing her temple before gesturing for Tsume to speak.

Tsume didn't waste time.

"Kimiko, I'm going to cut straight to the chase."

Her voice was gruff, no-nonsense, and carried none of Anko's theatrics.

"No, we didn't have a Hokage come from our ranks. And no, this job isn't glamorous. It's not about playing fast and loose, or proving how much of a badass you are by surviving behind enemy lines alone."

Her wild, sharp-toothed grin faded into something stern, serious.

"But you know what our job is? The first job of any shinobi, even before the villages were founded?"

She gestured outward, as if daring anyone to answer.

"Hunting. Tracking. Locating targets."

She let the words sink in before continuing.

"Ask any ninja, from any village, and they'll tell you: this is the core of shinobi work. You want to be part of a unit that's always essential? That's always relied on? Then this is where you belong."

She paused, her sharp eyes locking onto Kimiko's.

"You'll rarely be alone in this division, Kimiko."

A brief glance at Anko, a pointed contrast.

"Because we're a team . That's what a Tracker is. We hunt together. We fight together. We rely on each other."

Her voice hardened.

"And with your hypersensory capabilities? I'd say it's practically your duty to use them for Konoha's benefit. That kind of talent doesn't come around often, kid."

She exhaled, crossing her arms.

"I read your file, too."

A brief smirk.

"And unlike Anko, I wasn't just looking at your solo achievements." She tilted her head, watching Kimiko closely.

"I already know you're capable on your own. That part didn't impress me."

She leaned forward slightly.

"You know what did ?"

Her voice dropped slightly, filled with a gruff kind of approval.

"Leadership."

She gestured vaguely, as if flipping through Kimiko's entire mission history in her mind.

"You make the calls ninety-five percent of the time, regardless of what team you're in. And they listen ." Her smirk widened slightly, showing fangs. "And the people you lead? They're not exactly easy to handle. You've got strong personalities in your teams—personalities that shouldn't mesh well. And yet, you make them work together."

She snorted lightly, shaking her head. "That tells me something, kid. You understand team dynamics. You know how to juggle different people, how to balance strengths and weaknesses. That's what a true leader does."

She straightened, giving Kimiko a long, appraising look. "And that's what we'll enhance. That's what we'll build on. Not just your tracking and pursuit skills—but your ability to lead . To command ."

A pause. Then, she grinned sharply, leaning forward slightly. " I can assure you this. When you're ready, I'll put you in charge of your own team. You'll make the calls. You'll lead the hunts. You'll be the deciding factor in whether a mission succeeds or fails."

She tilted her head, eyes gleaming.

"And I'll be mentoring you personally. Alongside my son if he proves to be capable enough— my son, who, by the way, had nothing but praise for you."

Her voice softened slightly, but only for a moment.

"So, the choice is yours, Kimiko."

She straightened fully, her posture confident, unshakable.

"Do you want to be a rockstar kunoichi , running solo, showing off how badass you are behind enemy lines?"

Another round of silence.

"Or do you want to pull your weight , use the gifts you've been given, and make a real impact for Konoha?"

The room fell into expectant silence.

Kimiko could feel all eyes on her, waiting.

Waiting for her choice.

Before Kimiko could open her mouth, Anko cut in, her voice sharp and eager.

"Nice speech. But I can still sweeten the deal."

Kimiko barely had time to process the shift before Anko leaned forward, her smirk widening.

"I'll give you a pay grade equivalent to a Chūnin five years in service."

Kimiko blinked, startled. That was…a massive salary boost.

"And," Anko continued, her voice teasing, "you'll get a personal allowance from our division's budget."

It wasn't just money—it was discretionary funding, something only high-ranking ninja usually got. It meant she could develop her own jutsu, her own weapons, maybe even pull strings for personal projects.

Tsume snorted loudly, arms crossed.

"Ha! Offering the princess' daughter more money? You're dumber than you look, Anko."

Anko scowled, but Tsume continued, unfazed.

"Even if she wasn't practically royalty, she shits A and S-rank missions every week. She's not going to bite on a pay raise."

She leaned forward slightly, her sharp grin widening.

"But alright. I'll play."

Her eyes locked onto Kimiko's, and for a brief second, there was something deeper behind the usual wild bravado.

"I'll offer you unrestricted access to the Inuzuka Clan's Training Grounds and our clan's personal tracking and pursuit instruction manuals. Including conditional access to our Jutsu Archives."

Kimiko inhaled sharply.

The Inuzuka Archives?

That was no small offer. The Inuzuka were one of Konoha's oldest clans, and while their specialty was hunting and tracking, they also had unique taijutsu, beast techniques, and battle instincts that rivaled even the Uchiha in raw combat prowess.

"Maybe even one of the unbonded ninken," Tsume added, her smirk widening.

Anko whipped her head toward her.

"W-What?! You're offering personal benefits from your own clan?! That's cheating! "

She turned to Tsunade, but the Hokage merely raised her hands, smirking slightly.

"You started it," Tsume said, barking a laugh. "Besides, we're ninja—we're literally meant to cheat."

Kimiko felt her chest tighten.

She could barely breathe.

This is insane.

The sheer weight of the offers, the prestige both of them placed on her—if she was weaker, she might have collapsed from the sheer validation of it all.

She had worked for years to be seen, to be acknowledged, the risks she took to be seen as something more than just another kunoichi. To fight against being nothing but ordinary in her previous life. And now?

Now they were fighting over her.

Like a prize.

Like a true prodigy.

Her mind raced, torn between the two options.

Recon & Infiltration spoke to the part of her that wanted to be exceptional, to carve her name into history, to be the kunoichi people whispered about in fear and awe.

The Tracking Unit spoke to her sense of responsibility, of leadership. It was the place where she could shape the future, command her own team, and ensure Konoha's enemies were hunted down and eliminated.

She felt lost.

She exhaled slowly, before raising her head, her voice softer, but firm.

"I… would like to sincerely thank both of you, truly."

She paused, glancing between the two of them.

"These offers… they feel like they should be going to someone better than me, someone more experienced. I don't—"

"You're not making a decision yet."

A new voice cut through the air like steel.

The door slammed open.

Kimiko turned, along with Tsume, Anko, and Tsunade, as Ibiki stepped in, his face as stony and unreadable as ever.

"What are you doing here, Ibiki?" Tsume demanded, eyes narrowing.

Tsunade merely raised an eyebrow, watching the situation unfold.

Ibiki let out a slow breath, shaking his head. "I can't believe I almost missed this." His voice carried a sharp edge, his usual amusement buried under something more calculating.

"I had to hear about this little bidding war secondhand? Why are they the only ones involved, Lady Hokage?"

Tsunade leaned back in her chair, watching him carefully. "You never put in a headhunting offer."

Her tone was casual, but there was a challenge beneath it.

"Besides," she continued, "you always told me that if you wanted someone in T , you'd know the moment they became a Genin. You never showed any interest in Kimiko. And besides, your division never recruits newbies —you only take from the most experienced Chuunin. People who already proven themselves for a few years."

"Ha, that's right." Ibiki stroked his chin, stepping closer. His scarred face remained unreadable. "But I'm willing to make an exception for this one."

His dark gaze landed on Kimiko, and for the first time since entering, his expression shifted into something more intrigued.

"I wanted her the moment I saw her in the Chuunin Exams."

Anko crossed her arms, rolling her eyes. "Then why the hell didn't you put in an offer?"

Ibiki ignored her.

Instead, he turned back to Tsunade, his voice level. "Hokage-sama, if I can make my pitch? I don't have anything rehearsed, but I guarantee you it's worth considering."

Tsunade sighed, rubbing her temples. "You know what? Fine. Go ahead, Ibiki."

Ibiki smirked. That was all he needed.

He turned to Kimiko.

"Kimiko."

She met his gaze evenly. "Ibiki-sama."

"Heh. Remember when I interrogated you after your encounter with Orochimaru?"

Kimiko tilted her head slightly, lips pursing. "I remember."

Ibiki grinned. "Kakashi nearly tore my head off for putting the screws on you."

"You already knew I was innocent," Kimiko said dryly. "You just enjoyed making me feel like I wasn't."

Ibiki let out a bark of laughter. "Ha! Yeah, I did."

His smirk widened, but there was something behind his eyes—something assessing, something sharp.

"Anyway, let me guess."

He jabbed a thumb at Anko.

"This one promised you high-risk, high-reward missions. Said you'd be sent into enemy territory, performing elite infiltration ops. Told you people would respect you—speak wondrously of your deeds as a scout and recon specialist."

Kimiko nodded slowly. Anko's grin faltered just a bit.

Then Ibiki pointed at Tsume.

"And this one gave you the old leadership spiel. How tracking is the oldest and most essential job for shinobi. How she'll make you into a real leader. Let you lead hunts, guide your own teams. Make you someone indispensable to Konoha."

Kimiko nodded again.

Tsume scowled. "Damn it, Ibiki—were you listening ?"

"No," he said easily. "I just know how you two think."

He folded his arms, stepping closer to Kimiko.

"And you wanna know why?"

Kimiko held his gaze, curiosity flickering behind her crimson eyes.

Ibiki lowered his voice, just enough to make the room feel smaller.

"Because it's my job."

A pause.

"I know people, Kimiko. I know what makes them twitch, what makes them flinch. I know what makes their hearts beat faster. I know what entices them, what frightens them. I know what they dream of, and what they dread most."

His tone never shifted from its measured calm, but it carried weight.

"That's what we do in T . We don't just break people—we understand them. We see people for who they truly are, down to their bones. And I've seen enough to know exactly what you are."

Kimiko felt a chill run down her spine.

Not fear.

Something else.

Ibiki smiled, slow and knowing.

"So let's talk about my offer, shall we?"

Ibiki leaned in slightly, his scarred face unreadable but his smirk sharp and knowing.

"Kimiko, you're just like me."

His voice carried no judgment, just a flat certainty—as if he was stating a fact, not making an observation.

"You know how to break a person down, piece by piece. Get them to lose their cool. Make them give things up ."

His eyes gleamed as he continued.

"They've seen your file, sure. But I've seen that—" He tapped his temple. "—and your victims ."

Kimiko's breath hitched, but she didn't react beyond that. She just watched him.

Ibiki chuckled, his grin widening.

"The Demon Brothers. Your team captured them and got them to spill critical intel —and you were what? A month, maybe two, into being a Genin?"

He let that sink in before continuing.

"Then there were the Sound-nin. Sure, two of them died, but not before you squeezed them for confirmation on their intel. And not only that—" his smirk deepened, "—but you also gave us another potential source of information. That Dosu kid. And from what I hear, you got creative with your interrogation tactics."

He paused, giving her a moment to reflect before pressing further.

"Then, the Kusa-nin."

Kimiko remained still, but she knew exactly where he was going.

"Because you took the initiative to interrogate them, you uncovered critical intelligence—information that no one else would have thought to pursue. And you didn't just sit on it. You immediately put it into action, and that led to you bringing us a fully intact Iwagakure ANBU corpse. A gold mine of intel for the village."

A slow, heavy silence settled over the room.

Then Ibiki asked, his voice deceptively light—

"You know what this tells me?"

Kimiko's lips curved slightly, more wry than smug.

"That I'm a natural interrogator?"

Ibiki barked a laugh. "Ha! As if there's such a thing."

He shook his head, grinning darkly.

"No. What it tells me is that your technique needs work. You're quick to resort to torture—whether psychological or physical—to get people to bend to your will. And sure, that'll work… at first."

His gaze hardened.

"But you'll learn soon enough that there are far more effective and efficient ways to break a person. Better ways to hurt them, trick them, make them beg to tell you what you need to know— without lifting a kunai to their skin."

The room felt colder.

Kimiko's fingers tightened slightly around the edge of her sleeve.

Ibiki's smirk returned, sharp as a knife's edge.

"What you have, Kimiko, isn't just skill. It's inclination ."

He let the word linger.

"Everyone wants to be the hero behind enemy lines, the lone kunoichi slipping through the cracks. Or they want to be the proud leader, guiding a pack, fulfilling their duty to Konoha."

He tilted his head, voice lowering just enough to make it feel more… intimate .

"But who does the ugly , thankless parts of running a village?"

He let the question hang in the air, his eyes never leaving hers.

"Who gets their hands the dirtiest ?"

Kimiko swallowed, but didn't look away.

Ibiki chuckled lowly.

"That, little girl, is what you have in spades."

He glanced briefly at Tsunade.

"Hokage-sama was right—T only takes experienced Chuunin. People who've seen the ugliest parts of this world and know that heroics are only half of what keeps a village safe. People who've done bad things and made their peace with it. Because the ones who flinch? The ones who hesitate? They break the moment they're asked to do something unforgivable ."

He turned back to Kimiko, leaning in slightly.

"But you ?"

A slow, knowing smirk spread across his face.

"You already understand that. For some forsaken reason, you've been willing to make the hard calls—the ones that would make people call you a monster —with the full understanding that it's necessary . That's rarer than even your sensory abilities."

He straightened.

"That's why I'm making an exception for you." Ibiki's voice was firm, unwavering.

"I want you in Torture and Interrogation, Kimiko. You're going to be a godly interrogator once I'm done with your training."

Kimiko shifted slightly, her weight moving from foot to foot.

Damn it.

She hated to admit it, but his words made sense.

She had always been the one to make the hard calls—the first, and often the only one willing to do what needed to be done.

She was the one who slit the Ame-nin's throat during their mission, ensuring he couldn't bring intel back to Amegakure.

She was the one who chose to interrogate the Kusa-insurgents they captured, despite the discomfort it caused her teammates.

She was the one who made the call to blast an angry mob away with a torrent of water, even if it meant hitting civilians —even if it meant killing them.

And she hadn't regretted it.

Not once.

Kimiko wasn't a hero.

She had never wanted to be one.

"...Is that your pitch?" she asked, tilting her head.

It wasn't as glamorous as Anko's.

It wasn't as fulfilling as Tsume's.

But it was something to consider.

And more than that—Kimiko doubted for a second that he had truly come unprepared.

No.

Ibiki wanted her listening.

He had timed his entrance deliberately, waited for Anko and Tsume to make their best offers so she could be overwhelmed. So she'd be more open when he finally spoke.

Classic psychological manipulation.

Kimiko felt a smirk creeping up her lips.

Damn bastard.

"Almost," Ibiki replied smoothly. "What else did these two offer you?"

Kimiko hummed.

"Well," she started, "Anko-san offered better pay and a personal fund, while Tsume-san offered me access to the Inuzuka Clan's instruction manuals and training grounds, as well as conditional access to their jutsu archives. They both offered personal tutelage."

Ibiki nodded.

"Ah," he said, thoughtful.

Then, his grin widened.

"Well, I don't have a clan archive I can throw at you, nor do I think throwing money at you will convince you."

Kimiko's eyes narrowed slightly.

He wasn't even trying to entice her with material benefits—because he already knew those things wouldn't move her.

Of course.

Ever the interrogator, Ibiki wasn't here to appeal to desire.

He was here to appeal to truth.

To the objective reality of who she was.

To the part of her that she couldn't deny.

"I can also offer you personal tutelage."

Kimiko stared at him, waiting.

Because she knew damn well that wasn't all.

Ibiki's smirk widened as he watched her reaction.

"Hah. Bastard." He let out a small chuckle, shaking his head.

He was waiting.

Letting her weigh her options, drawing her in, setting her up like one of his interrogation subjects.

"You're waiting for my offer." Ibiki grinned. "You really do have the mindset of an interrogator. Alright then—since these two offered you glory and leadership , I'll do it better ."

The room stilled.

Kimiko's breath slowed.

She knew it.

He had been holding back—waiting to strike with the deal that would eclipse both Anko and Tsume's offers.

And she was about to hear it.

Ibiki crossed his arms, voice gravelly.

"Truth be told, Kimiko—ever since I got tortured, I can't move in the field like I used to. My body's fucked. I need an enforcer . Someone who'll help me lead the force and go where I can't ."

Kimiko's fingers twitched.

Ibiki's voice lowered, steady. "So, aside from being my right-hand woman, I need someone who can handle T 's wetwork ."

A heavy silence settled over the room.

T 's wetwork. That meant disappearances. Intel retrieval from unwilling targets. And…

Interrogations that never saw a proper report.

No oversight. No clearance. Just the kind of dark, necessary work that kept Konoha safe behind the scenes.

Ibiki continued.

"Ever since Danzo-sama, in his capacity as acting Hokage, increased our budget due to the higher demand for our services, someone has been absolutely necessary to handle retrieval operations, intel liquidations. And… field interrogation , if needed."

His eyes locked onto hers.

"I think that someone should be you, Kimiko."

Her heart pounded once—a steady beat, slow and controlled.

"I'll assure you this. You'll get absolute freedom in terms of your fieldwork. You'll answer to no one but the Hokage. I won't override your decisions unless absolutely necessary. You make the calls. Next to me, you're the highest authority in the entire department."

Kimiko's pulse thrummed.

"You want high-risk missions? Anko offers you that? I guarantee you'll get them here."

Her fingers curled slightly.

"You want leadership? Tsume offers you a team? I'll give you the entire Force to lead. "

The room froze.

Anko's face twisted in realization. "Wait." Her eyes flickered with something between confusion and unease. "A Chuunin can't do that, Ibiki. It's mandated that for someone to take on leadership responsibilities in an established department, at minimum, they have to be—"

She trailed off.

And Kimiko watched as realization dawned.

On all of them.

"Ibiki, you fucking asshole ," Tsume snarled, canines bared. "You don' t mean to give this girl a—"

Ibiki only grinned wider.

"Yep. Sure do."

He turned back to Kimiko, expression unreadable.

"They're right, Kimiko. A Chuunin can't be a vice in a department."

Then he let the hammer drop.

"Which is why I'm offering you something else—"

He smirked.

"I'm offering you a promotion to Tokubetsu Jonin. And all the benefits that come with it."

Kimiko felt the weight of the offer settle over her like a crashing tide.

A Tokubetsu Jonin promotion.

For any ambitious Chuunin, there was only one real path forward—advancement.

The goal of every ninja worth their salt was to rise, to prove their skills and establish themselves as the best in their field. And for those talented enough, there were only two paths to reaching the top.

The first—the traditional route.

To be truly, indisputably distinguished in both reputation and skill.

A Cuuūnin who had demonstrated excellence in leadership, combat ability, and tactical acumen could, with enough recognition, be considered for a direct Jōnin promotion. But it was a long, painstaking process.

Years, sometimes decades of proving oneself on the battlefield, completing high-profile missions, earning the trust of clients, and showcasing an ability to lead and innovate.

Becoming a Jōnin wasn't just about raw power—it was about politics, diplomacy, and prestige. A Jōnin represented their village. No self-respecting shinobi village promoted someone purely out of favoritism.

It was a rare feat, nearly impossible for anyone without an exceptional background, lineage, or godlike talent.

And then, there was the second path.

Specialization.

A Tokubetsu Jonin was a ninja who excelled in one or two specific areas—so much so that their skill in that field was considered on par with, or superior to, a full Jōnin.

But this wasn't just a fancy title.

No one would dare claim that a regular Jōnin could match Ibiki's interrogation skills, or that a random jonin outclassed Tsume in tracking.

A Tokubetsu Jonin was a village's foremost expert in a given field.

For Tsume, it was tracking.

For Hayate and Anko, it was recon and infiltration.

For Ibiki, it was breaking people down to their core.

For the Hokage Guard Platoon, it was protection and counter-espionage.

It was both a specialist and leadership role, though with admittedly less prestige than a full Jonin.

Indeed, Some Tokubetsu Jonin became so pigeonholed into their specialty that they never advanced beyond it. A dead-end role—if being a village's premier expert could ever be considered a dead-end .

Kimiko's mind whirled.

This wasn't just a promotion—it was an acknowledgment.

A confirmation that she had already surpassed the expectations of a normal Chuunin.

That she was already seen as one of the best in her field.

That Torture and Interrogation—one of the most brutal, ruthless, and necessary departments in Konoha—was willing to place her at its head, right beside Ibiki himself.

"Wait."

Tsunade's voice cut through the tension.

Kimiko snapped her attention to the Hokage, who was frowning deeply.

"You can't just offer that, Ibiki." Tsunade's eyes were sharp. "I have to sign off on it. And so does Shikaku. A promotion to Tokubetsu Jonin isn't something you just hand out. Not to mention, someone has to be endorsed by another Jōnin before we even start that conversation."

Kimiko blinked.

That's right.

To be a jonin or a tokubetsu jonin, the Hokage and the Jonin Commander had to sign off, and before they could sign of, an established jonin had to endorse you. And she hadn't heard of anyone putting her forward for something like this.

"Already halfway done," Ibiki said casually, digging into his coat and pulling out a slip of paper which handed it to Tsunade. "I got Shikaku-san's signature right here."

Kimiko's eyes widened.

Tsunade's brow furrowed, scanning the document.

In her mind, the gears turned.

Shikaku Nara—the Jonin Commander himself—had already approved it?

That meant this wasn't just Ibiki pulling strings. This was T , the Jonin Commander, and likely even the Intelligence Division backing this decision. A highly coordinated effort to bring her into the fold.

Tsunade scowled. "And the Jonin endorsement?"

Ibiki smirked, reaching into his pocket again.

He pulled out another folded document, handing it over.

Again, Tsunade's eyes scanned the document. "Let me guess," she muttered. "Kakashi endorsed her? No—her sister? Jiraiya?"

Ibiki's grin grew wider.

"No." He leaned back, completely at ease. "It was Danzo-sama."

Another heavy silence filled the room.

Something flashed in Tsunade's face, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared. "...Alright," she sighed, rubbing her temples. "Still, I'm not giving my green light just yet, Ibiki. Why am I just now being informed that you and Danzo planned to pluck a thirteen-year-old Chuunin and promote her to Tokubetsu Jonin?"

Ibiki remained unfazed.

"As I said, I only found out about this recently. Well, not just now, but a few days ago. That was all the time I had to make my move. I had already discussed this with Danzo-sama beforehand. Honestly, after her S-rank mission in Kusagakure, I'm surprised he didn't bring it up himself."

Tsunade let out a frustrated breath, golden eyes narrowing.

"Of course, he didn't," she muttered. "I understand that she's performed interrogations before, and I admit she's shown talent in fieldwork, but… this?"

A flicker of irritation crossed Kimiko's face, but she kept her expression impassive. She understood why Anko and Tsume had concerns. But Tsunade's hesitation? That stung. How many times did she have to prove herself before people stopped treating her like a child?

Ibiki didn't hesitate.

"As I said, Hokage-sama, I need an adjutant. That wasn't just a sales pitch to Kimiko—it's the reality of our situation. With the war in Kusa escalating and tensions across the shinobi world reaching a breaking point, my department needs to be operating at peak efficiency. "

He leaned forward, bracing his hands against the desk.

"We've received increased funding. Our responsibilities have grown exponentially. And I am the only department head running my department alone . For context, It's standard practice that at minimum, a department needs to have two tokubetsu jonin running it to work at peak efficiency."

His sharp gaze flickered toward Tsume and Anko.

"Anko has had Hayate. Tsume has Tokuma."

"But me ?" He straightened. "I have no one but myself. That was fine before, but with the increasing demand for field operations, we need a second officer to handle intelligence and retrieval. A second-in-command is no longer optional —it's essential ."

Tsunade's jaw tightened.

"And you pick a thirteen-year-old girl for this?"

Kimiko had to fight the urge to roll her eyes.

Ibiki met her stare head-on.

"I have plenty of subordinates with more experience. More field hours. More training in the things I do." His voice lowered, deliberate. "But I'm absolutely sure. None of them have what Kimiko has."

"I will personally oversee her transition into the role," Ibiki continued. "I trust my instincts, Hokage-sama. No one— no one —has shown a natural inclination toward this work more than she has." He let the words settle before adding, "Give me a few months with her, and she'll be just as good as me."

He smirked slightly, then turned his gaze back to Kimiko. "Well… that's if she's actually going with my offer."

Tsume grumbled, casting Ibiki an irritated look.

"You pulled that one out of your ass," she accused. "And here I thought I finally had a damn win ."

Anko scoffed. "Bite me," she muttered, crossing her arms.

Kimiko remained silent, staring at the desk in front of her.

The answer was obvious.

She didn't care if this meant she risked being pigeonholed into this position. She had more than enough faith in her abilities to know she could rise above any role, surpass any expectations placed on her.

She was already more than just a Chuunin.

This was her next step forward.

Kimiko lifted her gaze, meeting Ibiki's stare without hesitation.

"Yes," she said firmly. "I accept."

"…Well," Tsunade exhaled, tapping the pen against the desk before giving Kimiko a small, measured look. "Looks like we don't have much choice. Congratulations, Kimiko. Seems like we've got ourselves another teenage Jonin."

She plucked the pen from its stand and, with a few decisive strokes, signed both documents, sealing her fate. "Better luck next time, ladies."

"This sucks," muttered Anko, arms crossed, frowning like a petulant child.

"Heh. Ah, well." Tsume, in contrast, grinned, reaching out and ruffling Kimiko's hair with an almost fond gesture. "At least we're walking out of here with a fellow Tokubetsu Jonin."

Kimiko blinked, momentarily stunned, before allowing a small smile to form on her lips. "Thank you, Tsume-sama."

Even as she said it, it still didn't feel real.

A year. She had been a shinobi for barely a year, and now… she was Tokubetsu Jōnin.

No, it wasn't like Itachi or Minato or even her sensei , but it was hers .

Her achievement.

She was the first Jonin of their batch.

Tsunade clapped the signed papers against the desk, gathering them into a neat pile. "Alright. I'll have Shizune handle the necessary paperwork and send everything over to you to formalize this transition. Ladies, Ibiki—if you'd excuse us?"

"Hm? I was planning on giving her a tour," Ibiki said, eyebrow raised.

"Not yet," Tsunade countered, sharp and firm. "She's still on medical leave. Do it after. Besides, I need to speak with her about something else."

Ibiki nodded, as did the rest, before making their way toward the door.

On her way out, Anko gave Kimiko a firm pat on the shoulder and a small smile.

And just like that, the office was empty except for her and Tsunade.

"So," Tsunade leaned back in her chair, a rare, small smile on her face. "Congratulations. Seriously, achieving this at your age is no small feat."

"Thank you, Hokage-sama." Kimiko responded with polite neutrality, keeping her tone measured. A small, courteous smile settled on her lips. "And I appreciate you allowing it."

"It's not like you didn't earn it," Tsunade said with a sigh. "Not after all the missions you've pulled off."

She folded her hands on her desk, her sharp amber eyes settling on Kimiko. "I have two things I want to talk to you about."

Kimiko remained silent, waiting.

"First, this involves Sakura. I understand you had a hand in helping her with the development of the improved soldier pills?"

Kimiko blinked. "If you could call giving advice 'help'… Hokage-sama, most of the work was hers."

Tsunade let out a hum of acknowledgment before nodding. "She did say you gave her the genius idea of approaching the Akimichi for advice on condensing food into pill form, which allowed her to remove the harmful stimulants from the formula. That's not exactly nothing ."

She paused, giving Kimiko a moment to absorb her words.

"In any case, the first thing I want to discuss is Sakura's role moving forward." Her gaze sharpened. "You're aware that she's been training under me?"

"Yes."

"Good. While the Medical Corps have taught her a great deal, I have no intention of training medic-nin who sit in hospitals all day." Tsunade's voice took on a firm edge. "Your last mission only reinforced something I've been arguing for years—every team should have a designated field medic. And I won't be gainsaid on this."

Kimiko's brows furrowed slightly as she listened.

"Which is why I want you to take Sakura as Team Seven's medical attaché."

Kimiko blinked. A medical attaché? Meaning Sakura would be their designated medic…

It was an oddly comforting thought—another layer of security for their team. But at the same time, it stirred something in her chest, something old, irrational. Possessiveness.

She had stolen Sakura's place in Team Seven the moment she was reincarnated here. The fact that she felt even a flicker of jealousy over this only highlighted her lingering guilt.

But Sakura had been nothing but kind to her.

"I don't see any reason to refuse, Hokage-sama. Sakura-chan has always been an asset to the village." Kimiko said after a measured pause. But her curiosity remained. "That said… why us? And why ask me?"

Tsunade studied her for a moment before answering.

"Because, whether you realize it or not, you're the de facto leader of Team Seven. Kakashi may be your sensei, but when it comes down to it, you're the one they listen to. I wasn't going to assign another member to your team without consulting you first."

That… made sense.

"And," Tsunade exhaled, "Sakura's experience as a field medic is still mediocre at best. With the war in Kusa intensifying, I don't want her heading into real combat unprepared. Your team is always at the forefront of trouble, so she'll gain the experience she needs— and she'll be with people she's already familiar with. You're the same age. You already work well together. And, frankly, your team is strong enough to guide and protect her if things go south."

Her gaze flicked over Kimiko, a knowing glint in her eyes. "Especially now that you're a Tokubetsu Jonin."

Kimiko nodded. "I have no complaints, Hokage-sama. Sakura will be a welcome addition. I'll inform Kakashi-sensei and the rest of the team when I see them. I'll make sure she feels at home."

"I'm sure you will," Tsunade said with a small smile. "I'll let her know. I imagine she'll be thrilled."

Her expression shifted, turning more serious. "Now, onto the second matter." She folded her hands on the desk. "Given the situation in Kusa and the growing inevitability of war with Iwagakure, we've decided to allocate some manpower to deal with another pressing concern—Orochimaru."

Kimiko's brows lifted slightly. Another shift.

In the anime, Tsunade had stressed that Konoha lacked the resources to hunt Orochimaru down after the invasion, given the toll the war had taken on them. But here, with the Konoha Crush being less devastating, they apparently had enough strength to commit to his elimination. And right now, Orochimaru was in the weakest position she had ever seen him—his forces crippled, his jutsu restricted, and most importantly, no Sasuke at his side.

"Given how Orochimaru operates, I've decided to send someone well-versed in intelligence operations to root him out of his boltholes and deal with him. Danzo-sama will be leading the operation."

Kimiko's lips pressed into a thin line. Ah, so that's her move. Keeping Danzo preoccupied with a major threat—ensuring he had his hands full instead of maneuvering in Konoha's political sphere. She'd be lucky if this didn't turn into an even bigger problem down the line.

"I see," Kimiko said neutrally. "Forgive me, Hokage-sama, but… how does this concern me?"

Tsunade exhaled, her gaze assessing. "Danzo handpicked the shinobi for this operation. He specifically requested you."

Kimiko blinked. Of course he did. Given how carefully she had cultivated a cordial relationship with him, she shouldn't have been surprised. Still, there was a twinge of discomfort—an odd sense of guilt. She had worked hard to keep Sasuke out of Danzo's clutches, and now here she was, voluntarily walking into them.

But there was no hesitation in her voice when she answered. "Whatever serves Konoha's interests."

Tsunade's lips twitched, as if she had expected that exact response. "Mm. Figures you'd say something like that." She leaned back in her chair. "Preparations are still underway, so the operation won't commence for another month or two. In the meantime, you'll focus on adjusting to your new position and carrying out missions as usual."

Kimiko inclined her head in acknowledgment.

"Good." Tsunade sighed, pushing herself to her feet. "Oh, before I forget—I was just about to visit Sasuke. He's at the hospital."

Kimiko's eyes sharpened slightly, but Tsunade waved a hand dismissively. "No need to worry, he's fine. Jiraiya's just examining his Curse Mark." She paused. "Would you like to come along?"

Kimiko almost forgot about that. It had been a while since she'd seen him—it would be good to check in. And, of course, brag about her promotion.

She smiled. "If you'd have me, Hokage-sama."

---

To her surprise, Sasuke's examination was under strict guard. Two ANBU Black Ops flanked the entrance, their blank masks betraying nothing as they bowed to Tsunade before wordlessly opening the door. Inside, the room was vast and nearly empty, save for a large mat at its center. Positioned at each corner were four medical-nin, their faces set in deep concentration, hands seamlessly woven into intricate seals.

At the heart of it all sat Sasuke, cross-legged, shirtless, his frame partially obscured by the carefully drawn ink formations that layered his skin. The initial seal Kakashi had placed over his Curse Mark was still visible, but now it was encased within a second, larger formation. Intricate formulaic characters sprawled from the circle at Sasuke's back, extending outward in long, precise strokes like the rays of a sun. They stretched across the mat, winding into complex spirals and arcs that merged into an elaborate mandala. The formation extended all the way to the four corners where the medical-nin stood, acting as conduits for the seal.

Within the center of the formation, directly before Sasuke, knelt Jiraiya. His fingers were forming a precise hand seal, blue chakra flaring from them in steady waves, his focus unwavering. Even as Tsunade and Kimiko entered, he did not turn to acknowledge them. Instead, he spoke with a measured calm.

"Better stand back for now. This took hours to build."

Kimiko obeyed, watching as he shifted his gaze to Sasuke.

"You ready?"

Sasuke exhaled sharply, his hands tightening into loose fists on his knees. "Ready as I'll ever be."

Jiraiya nodded, his voice turning authoritative. "Alright, you four—prepare yourselves. We begin on my mark."

His hands blurred through a rapid sequence of seals before his fingers pressed directly onto the Curse Mark, now glowing ominously beneath his touch.

"Evil Releasing Seal!"

The moment the words left Jiraiya's lips, he propelled himself backward in a smooth leap, landing beside them.

A sharp wince escaped Sasuke as his body tensed, his muscles visibly straining against the unnatural force rising within him. From the Curse Mark, a foul, malevolent chakra erupted like smoke escaping from a cracked container. It churned and twisted unnaturally, thick and heavy in the air, an eerie shade of deep violet. The chakra coiled and pulsated, forming a shapeless mass above Sasuke, tethered to his skin like an unholy leash, writhing as if resisting its own containment.

Kimiko narrowed her eyes at the writhing mass of foul chakra, its presence oppressive and suffocating. It pulsed, coiling in on itself like a living thing, unstable and brimming with something deeply unnatural. She could sense the traces of Orochimaru woven into it, but there was more—something primal, something even more insidious. It was chakra that felt ancient, tainted with an essence beyond mere corruption.

Jiraiya's eyes darkened as he observed it alongside her. "I see…" he murmured, his expression grim. "Orochimaru… just what kind of abominations have you been creating?" He exhaled heavily, shaking his head. "It's just as I feared. Alright, I've seen enough. Everyone, prepare yourselves!"

With that, his hands blurred into a rapid series of seals before he clapped them together with a resounding crack.

"Evil Sealing Method!"

At once, the chakra recoiled as if struck, then was violently siphoned back into Sasuke's curse mark, as though an unseen force were vacuuming it in. The swirling ink formations covering the mat reacted in kind, retracting in precise, controlled movements, spiraling inward and collapsing back into Sasuke's skin. His body tensed, the ink formations pressing against him as though branding his very essence. The malevolent energy struggled for a moment, resisting, before finally being swallowed whole by the curse mark.

The room, once filled with the sinister glow of the formation, was suddenly empty—bare once more, save for the lingering scent of scorched ink. Now, in place of the single-seal Kakashi had previously placed, a second, more intricate circle had appeared over Sasuke's curse mark, its symbols layered and far more complex. It smoldered faintly before cooling into dark, etched ink.

Sasuke let out a slow, shuddering breath before his body gave out, and he collapsed backward.

The medical-nin were on him in an instant, but Jiraiya waved them off with a reassuring nod. "He'll be lightheaded for a bit, but it won't last. The seal did its job." He finally turned to Tsunade and Kimiko, his expression still serious.

"Well, my hypothesis was correct," Jiraiya said gravely. "That Curse Mark… it isn't just a seal. It contains Orochimaru's chakra—in a very real, very dangerous way."

"And you can't remove it?" Asked Tsunade pointedly.

Jiraiya let out a deep sigh, shaking his head. "No, we can't remove it—not without killing Sasuke in the process. The seal is too deeply ingrained in his chakra system. It's like an inoperable tumor… if we tried to extract it, it'd kill him." He folded his arms, glancing back at Sasuke's unconscious form. "The best we can do is suppress it. I've reinforced the seal Kakashi placed on him with an additional layer. That should completely block Orochimaru's influence. He won't be able to activate the seal remotely or corrupt Sasuke's thoughts."

Tsunade hummed, arms crossed. "And what about the others?"

"I'll be applying the same seal to the rest of Orochimaru's prisoners," Jiraiya said. "No telling what kind of failsafe he left in them, but if he has even a fraction of control over his marks, I'm not taking any chances. Sealing them off should prevent him from using them as spies—or worse."

Kimiko nearly exhaled in relief. She vaguely recalled that Orochimaru's Curse Mark wasn't just a power booster—it allowed him to spy on and manipulate those he branded. It was unsettling to think of the sheer number of applications sealing techniques could have when used properly.

Jiraiya turned to her suddenly, placing a heavy hand atop her head. "Speaking of which, why'd you bring this one along, Tsunade?"

Tsunade smirked. "Sasuke's her teammate, for one. And considering she has the clearance to be here—thanks to her recent promotion to Tokubetsu Jōnin—I figured it was prudent."

Jiraiya blinked, staring at Tsunade for a moment before shifting his gaze to Kimiko, his brows rising in surprise. "Tokubetsu Jonin?" He let out a short chuckle. "And how exactly did you pull that off?"

Kimiko shrugged. "I didn't. Ibiki-san threw it in as part of his pitch to get me into T . I'm his adjutant now."

Jiraiya's expression shifted from shock to amusement before he grinned, ruffling her hair again. "Good girl. I'm proud of you. Now do me a favor and rub some of that responsible streak of yours onto Naruto."

Kimiko laughed, adjusting her hair. "I learned it from him, actually."

"Uh-huh, sure," Jiraiya drawled, unconvinced. "Anyway, you two didn't just come here to stand around and gawk. What did you want to talk about?"

Tsunade waved a hand dismissively. "We just wanted to check in on Sasuke."

"Well, actually," Kimiko interjected, eyes sharp with curiosity. "Could you explain more about the curse mark?"

Jiraiya let out a heavy sigh, rubbing the back of his head. "Alright, sure. The Curse Mark is just one part of it—it's the fūinjutsu component of what Orochimaru did. I don't know how much you know about fūinjutsu—"

"It's the ninja art that lets you put one thing inside another thing," Kimiko replied matter-of-factly.

Jiraiya gave her a flat look, before exhaling sharply through his nose. "That is… a very prosaic way of putting it," he muttered. "But yeah, in a broad sense, you're not wrong." He crossed his arms. "Fuinjutsu is essentially the art of sealing something into something else. It can be as simple as storing a kunai in a scroll, or as complex as trapping an explosive reaction inside a tag, which destabilizes and creates a detonation—thus, the paper bomb."

Kimiko nodded idly. "Or sealing a Bijuu inside a person."

"Exactly. Though that's one of the most advanced applications of fūinjutsu," Jiraiya admitted. "It's an incredibly versatile art, but its core function remains the same. This Curse Mark is an example of that—Orochimaru sealed a portion of his own chakra into Sasuke, but he didn't stop there. He used a specialized compound to create a self-replenishing reservoir of chakra within the mark itself, allowing Sasuke to tap into it as a power boost."

Kimiko took a moment to process that before voicing her thoughts. "I get that… but the chakra that leaked out of Sasuke felt different," she murmured, brows furrowing. "It was chakra, yes, and it had Orochimaru's imprint on it… but at the same time, it also felt more… natural? Like it wasn't just his or Orochimaru's—like something else was mixed in."

Jiraiya's gaze sharpened, scrutinizing her. "Different how?"

Kimiko frowned, trying to put it into words. "It's hard to explain. It felt wrong, obviously, but also… more primal? Like it was something inherently part of the world, something that belonged but had been twisted."

Jiraiya was silent for a long moment before he finally sighed, shaking his head. "Hah… so your sensory capabilities are that sharp, huh?" He glanced at Tsunade. "Guess it makes sense. The kid's got a hell of a talent for picking up on the finer details."

Kimiko merely raised a brow, waiting for an answer.

"The reason it felt different," Jiraiya finally explained, "is because it wasn't just Orochimaru's chakra. You weren't wrong when you said it felt… natural." His expression darkened slightly. "That's because it wasn't normal chakra at all. It was mixed with natural energy."

Kimiko's eyes widened slightly. "Natural energy?"

Jiraiya nodded, his tone more serious now. "Yeah. What you sensed wasn't just regular chakra—it was Senjutsu chakra."

Kimiko blinked, her mind whirring as she processed the implications. Senjutsu… From what she remembered from the anime, it was a rare and powerful technique that blended nature energy with chakra to create a superior form of energy, significantly enhancing the user's abilities. She vaguely recalled the mechanics of how Orochimaru's Curse Mark worked, but hearing Jiraiya confirm it firsthand was invaluable.

"Senjutsu chakra is a blend of natural energy—the energy that exists all around us in the environment, and the user's own chakra." Jiraiya explained. "It's usually imperceptible unless you're a Sage, like me—someone who has studied and mastered how to use Senjutsu properly." He gave her a pointed look. "Or… if you're an anomaly with a hypersensitive sensory ability like you."

He paused, his tone growing serious. "Listen up, Kimiko—if you ever start sensing a different kind of energy around you, do not, under any circumstances, try to interact with it. Nature energy is extremely dangerous if you don't know how to handle it. Meddling with it without proper training can have serious, irreversible consequences. Understood?"

Kimiko nodded sharply. "Understood."

"Good," Jiraiya muttered, relaxing slightly.

"But…" she continued.

"Oh boy, here we go," Jiraiya sighed, smirking. "More questions."

Kimiko ignored his teasing. "So, the Curse Mark is the sealing component, which stores Orochimaru's Senjutsu chakra, but you also mentioned a specialized compound? What exactly is that?"

Jiraiya's smirk widened. "Good girl. You were paying attention." He crossed his arms. "Yes, that's probably the most important part of the whole system—it's what makes the Curse Mark function beyond just being a simple storage seal."

He leaned forward slightly. "See, if Orochimaru had only sealed his own Senjutsu chakra into his victims, it would eventually run out—making the Curse Mark nothing more than a temporary power-up. But Orochimaru found a way to bypass that limitation."

Kimiko listened intently as Jiraiya continued. "The specialized compound sealed within the Curse Mark acts as a sort of vector—a converter. From our examination, it appears to have a unique ability: it passively draws nature energy from the environment without any conscious effort from the user." His expression darkened. "That's what makes it so dangerous. Once the compound gathers enough nature energy, Orochimaru's Senjutsu chakra acts as a stabilizer, converting the raw nature energy into usable Senjutsu chakra, which the recipient can then tap into at will, giving them that power up you've seen."

Kimiko's breath hitched. So that's how it worked. The Curse Mark wasn't just a battery of Senjutsu chakra—it was a self-sustaining generator. It took in nature energy, refined it, and kept the supply going indefinitely. No wonder the transformations it induced were so potent.

Kimiko's eyes gleamed with intrigue. "Fascinating," she murmured. "The complexity of his design… it's brilliant how he managed to devise something so intricate and self-sustaining."

Tsunade and Jiraiya exchanged a look.

"That enzyme," Kimiko continued. "I assume it's not something entirely synthetic?"

Jiraiya exhaled. "No, it isn't. It likely originates from something—or someone—with a natural connection to Senjutsu energy."

"Huh," Kimiko hummed thoughtfully. "Well, the person I captured—the large one with orange hair, the one accompanying Kimimaro?" She glanced at Jiraiya. "I saw him partially transform during battle. His body altered in a way that resembled the Curse Mark transformations we've seen in Sasuke and the Sound Four… but I didn't notice a visible Curse Mark on him."

Jiraiya nodded. "So you picked up on that too, huh?" He crossed his arms. "We studied him extensively after you brought him in, and… we have strong reason to believe that the enzyme used in the Curse Mark was derived from him."

Kimiko idly nodded. Of course, she already knew that. Jūgo. His Kekkei Genkai allowed him to passively absorb natural energy, but it came with a devastating drawback—it triggered uncontrollable berserker rages. Orochimaru must have found a way to refine it, extracting its power while mitigating its instability.

"He's a brilliant scientist," Kimiko repeated, her voice tinged with reluctant admiration.

Jiraiya and Tsunade both shifted uncomfortably at her words. But before they could comment, Kimiko pressed forward.

"So, removing the Curse Mark is difficult—if not impossible—because of how deeply integrated it is with the host's chakra system, correct?" Kimiko asked.

"Yes," Jiraiya confirmed.

"And, knowing Orochimaru, I assume the balance between his Senjutsu chakra and the enzyme is meticulously calibrated? That any disruption to that equilibrium could be fatal to the host?"

Jiraiya gave a slow nod. "Basically." He narrowed his eyes at her. "What are you getting at?"

Kimiko shifted on her feet. "Well… wouldn't it be theoretically safer to retain the Curse Mark while simply purging Orochimaru's influence from it?" she proposed.

Jiraiya let out a dry laugh. "Yes, and it's also theoretically possible for Tsunade to quit gambling."

"Dumbass," Tsunade snapped, smacking him lightly on the shoulder.

Kimiko, however, remained serious. "Hear me out."

Jiraiya sighed. "Alright, let's hear your hypothesis."

Kimiko took a breath. "The Curse Mark is made up of two essential components—Orochimaru's Senjutsu chakra and the enzyme. We can't remove either without destabilizing the mark and potentially killing the host. And the primary source of Orochimaru's influence comes from his chakra, correct?"

Jiraiya nodded warily.

"Then, rather than trying to extract the Curse Mark altogether, wouldn't the optimal approach be to replace Orochimaru's Senjutsu chakra with an alternative energy source? One that maintains the balance of the system without his influence."

Jiraiya arched an eyebrow. "That's smart." His expression hardened. "But also incredibly impractical."

Tsunade crossed her arms. "Look, kid, if it were that easy, don't you think Orochimaru would have accounted for it?" she pointed out.

Jiraiya elaborated. "You're assuming we can just swap out one power source for another, but the Curse Mark isn't that simple. The enzyme and Senjutsu chakra are finely calibrated—any imbalance can cause a complete system failure, possibly leading to a lethal reaction. Not to mention, the mark likely has failsafes."

He tapped his chin thoughtfully. "The Senjutsu chakra is probably measured down to an exact specification before it stabilizes. If we tamper with that equilibrium, we might disrupt the curse mark's ability to passively absorb natural energy while stabilizing it. That could cause the mark to either overload or fail entirely." He exhaled sharply. "And even if we solved that issue, we'd still have to consider whether the Curse Mark has an internal mechanism that detects Orochimaru's unique chakra signature. If it does… then the moment we try to replace it, the whole thing could unravel."

Kimiko absorbed his words, her mind racing. So the problem wasn't just in replacing the chakra—it was in ensuring the system remained intact while doing so.

"But… theoretically," she mused, "if we could measure the precise amount of chakra Orochimaru infused into the mark, we could replicate that exact volume, correct?"

Tsunade gave her a considering look. "...It would be difficult, but yes. There are medical techniques that allow for precise chakra measurements."

Kimiko's expression turned thoughtful. "And if there is a mechanism that detects Orochimaru's chakra signature, then we'd simply need to produce an energy source that mimics his Senjutsu chakra as closely as possible."

Jiraiya's eyes narrowed. "And how do you propose we do that?"

"Well," Kimiko began, keeping her tone carefully neutral. "That depends. Do we know where—or from whom—Orochimaru learned to harness Senjutsu chakra?" She already knew the answer, of course, but she didn't want to lay all her cards on the table just yet.

Jiraiya studied her for a moment before responding. "Senjutsu can only be learned in a few select places," he said at last. "I trained at Mount Myōboku, where the toads have mastered it. They taught me how to absorb and manipulate natural energy without it overwhelming me." He paused, his expression thoughtful. "Given what I've learned from Gamabunta about Manda, and from Anko's reports, the snakes have their own equivalent—Ryūchi Cave."

Bingo.

Kimiko gave a slow nod, her mind racing. "Then that's the answer, isn't it?" she said. "If Senjutsu chakra is the key to stabilizing the Curse Mark, and the imbalance is what makes it dangerous, then the solution is simple—Sasuke just needs to learn how to generate Senjutsu chakra himself by training at Ryuchi Cave."

Jiraiya let out a dry chuckle. "Oh yeah, sure. Just have him waltz into a cave full of giant, man-eating snakes to learn one of the most complicated things known to us shinobi. That'll go great."

Kimiko tilted her head. "Didn't you say the toads trained you? Wouldn't the snakes, theoretically, be able to train Sasuke?"

Jiraiya frowned. "That's not how it works, kid. The toads didn't just train me because I showed up at their doorstep. I had a strong natural affinity for Senjutsu, and even then, it took years of training. You don't just learn how to use senjutsu overnight. And the snakes? They don't train sages the same way we do. I don't know how they even do their training.."

"But it's possible, right?" Kimiko pressed, her eyes gleaming with determination. "If Sasuke puts in the effort?"

Jiraiya exhaled heavily, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yes… technically, it's possible."

"Then we should make it happen as soon as possible," Kimiko said firmly. "We should ask Anko-san for help in finding Ryūchi Cave an—"

"Why would we need her help?"

Sasuke's voice cut through the conversation as he strode toward them, fully recovered. But what caught Kimiko's attention first wasn't his words—it was his new attire.

The standard Chuunin flak jacket was gone, replaced with a sleek, dark-gray variant. Beneath it, he wore a fitted light-blue shirt, and on his forearm sat an armband emblazoned with the Uchiha crest—centered within a four-pointed star.

Kimiko blinked. "Hey," she greeted, her gaze flicking to the Second Hokage's blade, now resting on a hip-mounted sheath.

Tsunade smirked, arms crossed. "I wanted Sasuke to tell you himself."

Sasuke met Kimiko's eyes with a small but unmistakable smirk. "I joined the Konoha Police Force."

Kimiko's eyebrows shot up.

"Yup," he continued, adjusting the hilt of his blade. "What you said before made me think. If I really want to restore my clan, vengeance can't be my only goal. I have to show people what the best of us stood for." He smirked. "So, you can call me Sergeant Sasuke of the Konoha Police Force."

Kimiko felt a warm surge of pride. In this timeline, where Orochimaru had failed to lure him away, Sasuke was here—living an honorable life, walking the path he once dreamed of as a child.

A small part of her worried about the divergence from the original timeline. Would this change make him weaker? Would he fail to reach the heights of his canon counterpart? But then, she reminded herself—he had her. And she had to trust that he'd grow even stronger than before.

Kimiko crossed her arms, lips curling into a teasing grin. "Well, color me impressed. But I bet what I have to tell you is even more impressive, Sergeant."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

Kimiko leaned in smugly. "Guess who just got promoted to Tokubetsu Jonin?"

Sasuke stared at her, blinking once before letting out a low chuckle. "Well, I can't say you don't deserve it, Kimiko-chan," he said, a small, genuine smile tugging at his lips. "Congratulations. I'm proud of you."

"Thank you," Kimiko replied, her own smile warm. "But I think I'm prouder of you, Sasuke."

For a brief moment, the weight of their achievements—of how far they'd come—hung between them. Then, on instinct, Kimiko reached for his hand and gave it a firm squeeze. Sasuke squeezed back without hesitation.

"...I can't wait to see the look on Naruto's face," Sasuke admitted, smirking.

"Me neither," Kimiko grinned. "Which reminds me—let's go find him. Do you know where he is?"

"Yeah," Sasuke nodded. "You want to go now?"

"Hold on a minute, kids," Jiraiya sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Since you brought up Naruto, there's something we need to tell you two."

Kimiko and Sasuke turned their attention toward him, exchanging a brief glance before looking back at Jiraiya. The older man shifted his weight, his usual playful demeanor replaced by something more serious. Tsunade met his gaze, arms crossed.

"Look," Jiraiya exhaled. "The Hokage and I have decided that Naruto… should leave the village with me for a while."

Kimiko's breath hitched.

"For how long?" Sasuke asked, eyes narrowing.

"About three years," Jiraiya admitted.

Three years.

Kimiko stiffened. Oh. Right. This was that moment—the time for the timeskip in the anime.

"We encountered the Akatsuki already," Sasuke said. "What does this have to do with them?"

"I have reason to believe that we have about three years before they start actively going after Naruto," Jiraiya explained. "And we need to use that time to prepare him, make him stronger—strong enough to deal with threats that are even beyond Orochimaru."

Silence.

Kimiko's mind raced. In the anime, Naruto and Jiraiya left for this 'training trip,' but how much did it really help him? Would keeping him in Konoha be better this time around, given how much things had already changed?

"But, Jiraiya-sensei," Kimiko began carefully. "Do you really need to leave the village with him? Given the war in Kusa… wouldn't it be better for him to train here? With everything going on, wouldn't it make more sense to keep him in Konoha, where he has protection? Where you can train him without putting him at risk?"

"We've considered that," Tsunade interjected. "But it's a gamble. Part of his training will involve learning to control the Nine-Tails' chakra," she explained. "And if word of that gets out here, in the village—where people still have fresh scars from the attack—it could cause unnecessary tension. Or worse."

"Then find a secluded place here," Sasuke countered, stepping forward. His voice was sharp, unwavering. "Or assign me and Kimiko to guard him while he's training. You guys are crazy if you think Naruto's going to be okay with going on a sightseeing tour while Konoha is preparing for war with Iwagakure. He'll want to fight. He'll want to pull his weight."

Kimiko turned to Sasuke, watching the determination in his expression as he took another step forward.

"Besides," Sasuke continued, glancing between Jiraiya and Tsunade. "We're Naruto's teammates. If the Akatsuki are coming for him, then we need the same level of training he's going to get. Otherwise, how are we supposed to fight alongside him when the time comes?"

"You shouldn't have to," Tsunade said firmly.

But Kimiko found herself agreeing with Sasuke. Trying to shield them from what was coming was pointless. War was inevitable, and being kept in the dark wouldn't serve anyone—not them, not Konoha, and certainly not Naruto. They had to get stronger.

Sasuke more so.

Because despite how much better adjusted he was in this timeline… his heart still burned for Itachi. And Kimiko understood—it was necessary for them to meet, for Sasuke to uncover the truth of what happened. Only then would he gain the power he needed. Only then would he fulfill his role as Indra's reincarnation.

Jiraiya sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I told you we shouldn't have told them," he muttered to Tsunade before shaking his head. "...Fine, fine. You made your point."

He turned to them with a small, amused smile. "I guess I can stick around in Konoha for a few years to train you three."

Kimiko exhaled in relief, but before she could say anything, Jiraiya's expression hardened as he looked back at Tsunade.

"But," he continued, his voice serious, "under no circumstances will Naruto be allowed anywhere near the war in Kusagakure. It's too dangerous to have him in a war zone. Too many things can go wrong."

Kimiko frowned. "I can't imagine Naruto will be happy about that," she muttered. "Especially since it's looking more and more like we're about to be sent there soon."

At least after she and Danzo dealt with Otogakure—and Orochimaru.

Jiraiya sighed. "He can still go on missions here, but keeping him out of Kusa is non-negotiable," he said. "He's already strong, yeah, but we can't take that risk. His training will continue here—more intense than before, with added nine-tails training."

He crossed his arms. "And we'll need a team of ANBU on constant watch whenever I'm not around to supervise. No exceptions."

"Sounds doable enough," Tsunade said, eyeing Jiraiya. "You sure about this?"

Jiraiya exhaled. "Yeah. These kids made a great point. We need to protect Naruto, but I'll be able to teach him better here. Especially with a war brewing… and knowing how Iwa gets when they go on the offensive…" He shook his head. "Konoha's the safest place for him. The best place I can train him."

Tsunade studied him for a moment before nodding. "Alright. That's settled, then." Her lips quirked slightly. "Looks like Kimiko gets her way. Again."

Kimiko grinned, biting the tip of her tongue playfully. She really did feel spoiled sometimes—but it wasn't about that. This was the right call. Given everything she knew, this was the best way forward.

"Well," Tsunade said, stretching, "I think we've dawdled long enough. I still have a few meetings left today, and I imagine you two want to go celebrate your promotion, Kimiko."

She turned to Jiraiya. "As for you, I have something else to discuss."

"You heard the boss," Kimiko said, turning to Sasuke with a smirk. "Let's go find Naruto."

---

"Whaaa?!" Naruto gawked, eyes wide as he clutched his head in disbelief. Beside him, Hinata gasped, both hands covering her mouth.

"You mean to say… you're—" Naruto tilted his head.

"Yep," Kimiko said with a smirk. "I'm a Tokubetsu Jonin now."

"WHAAAA?!" Naruto yelled so loudly that passersby outside Ichiraku Ramen turned their heads to look inside.

"W-Wow… Kimiko-chan…" Hinata murmured, stepping forward and wrapping her arms around Kimiko in a warm hug. Kimiko returned it, draping an arm around her best friend.

"Congratulations," Hinata whispered sincerely.

"I can't believe it!" Naruto exclaimed. "You're a Jōnin already?! Wow! You're so cool! Does that mean you're just like Kakashi-sensei now?! I'm so jealous!"

"No," Kimiko said, flashing a mischievous grin. "I'm the boss of him now."

Naruto burst into laughter, Hinata giggled, and even Sasuke let out a small chuckle.

"B-But," Hinata spoke up suddenly, looking at Kimiko with determination. "W-We need to celebrate this!" she insisted. "Y-You're the first Jōnin in our batch… i-it's a big deal."

"Yeah!" Naruto shouted, pumping a fist into the air. "Ramen! It's my treat!"

"A-Actually…" Hinata hesitated, fiddling with her fingers. "I-I was thinking… o-of inviting everyone from our year. A-And anyone else who wants to come." She smiled softly. "I-I think people would want to celebrate this with you."

Kimiko hummed thoughtfully before nodding. "That makes sense." She smirked. "Oh, and perfect timing, too. The two of you will get to speak with Sakura-chan—she's gonna be our team's new medic-nin."

"Huh, Haruno Sakura?" Sasuke asked, tilting his head. "The girl with the pink hair? The one whose previous team…"

"Yep," Kimiko confirmed with a nod. "Tsunade-sama wants her to get real field experience, so she's assigning her to our team."

"Huh," Sasuke muttered. "Well, as long as she doesn't get in the way."

Kimiko rolled her eyes but didn't push further. Instead, she turned her attention to Naruto and Hinata, her gaze flicking between them. "Wait a second. What were you two doing together before we showed up?"

Naruto immediately stiffened. "Uh—w-well, you know, just, uh…"

Hinata's cheeks flamed a deep red as she quickly looked down, hands fidgeting.

Kimiko arched a brow, smirking. "Ohhh, I see how it is."

Naruto spluttered. "T-There's nothing to see! We were just—uh—talking, yeah! That's all!"

Hinata looked ready to faint.

Kimiko simply grinned, crossing her arms. "Young love, huh?"

Sasuke exhaled sharply, barely suppressing his amusement.

Naruto groaned. "Kimiko-chan, don't start!"

---

To no one's surprise, Hinata—possibly the closest thing to a highborn lady among Konoha's ninja—was an absolute master at organizing events.

Not even an hour after their conversation, she had already informed their entire batch about Kimiko's promotion—along with what felt like half the village. On top of that, she managed to inform Kimiko's family, who insisted on celebrating with her. This time, however, rather than hosting it at her family's teahouse, Hinata had secured a spacious event hall large enough to accommodate everyone.

Which was why Kimiko now found herself in a grand venue, surrounded by familiar faces. The entire Konoha Twelve was present, along with her sister's close friends like Anko, Raido, Aoba, and Asuma. To her surprise, even Choza, Inoichi, and Shikaku had made an appearance. Jiraiya was there as well, clearly not one to miss out on the festivities.

"Hey, kid," came Shikaku's lazy drawl as he approached, hands in his pockets, a smirk on his face. "I tagged along with my son—hope you don't mind."

"Never, Shikaku-sama," Kimiko said, bowing her head respectfully.

"Hah. Shikamaru was right—you really are frightening," Shikaku chuckled. "Anyway, I've made it a habit to personally greet every newly promoted Jonin and Tokubetsu Jonin before I hit them with the hard speech." His smirk widened. "But for now, enjoy yourself, kid. I'll see you around the Standby Station."

Kimiko smiled, bowing her head once more. From behind her, Jiraiya stepped forward, ruffling her hair in greeting.

"Hey," he said. "Haven't had the chance to congratulate you properly—so, congrats, kid."

"Thank you," Kimiko replied, flashing him a smile.

"Anyway, you got me thinking," Jiraiya continued. "From what I hear, you're pretty fast, right?"

"I am," Kimiko confirmed.

"Right," Jiraiya mused. "Not to talk shop at your own party, but… I still remember Minato's training regime for his speed." He paused, watching her reaction. "Would you be interested in learning it when you have time?"

Kimiko blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Then, her expression brightened.

"Of course," she said without hesitation.

"Heh, knew that would get your attention," Jiraiya smirked. "Anyway, I'm gonna go mingle with people closer to my age. You go ahead and enjoy this, kid—you've earned it." With a casual wave, he walked off, following Shikaku, Choza, and Inoichi, leaving Kimiko alone to take in the festivities.

Across the room, she spotted Ino and Shikamaru struggling to hold Choji back from devouring an entire table's worth of food. Nearby, Tenten, Shino, and Lee were deep in conversation with Karin, who had somehow managed to slip out of the Kusa embassy to join them. Kimiko didn't miss the way Karin's gaze lingered on Shino just a bit longer than the others.

Sakura, on the other hand, was being relentlessly interrogated by Sasuke—likely about her new role in their team. Meanwhile, Naruto and Hinata sat together, enduring Kiba's merciless teasing, their faces equally flushed.

Among the older crowd, Raido and Anko were locked in a serious discussion with her sister, Kurenai, and Asuma, while Aoba chatted with Hayate—who looked healthier than ever—alongside Yugao.

"Enjoying yourself?"

A familiar voice from beside her made Kimiko turn, and she immediately smiled upon seeing Neji.

"Neji," she greeted. "I am. And you?"

"I am," he replied with a polite nod. "Congratulations. Tokubetsu Jonin… first in our year and in our generation."

"Thank you," Kimiko said, her smile softening. "And for the flowers you sent, too."

Neji looked away slightly, the faintest hint of color dusting his cheeks. "...I only thought it was appropriate. You were exceptional during our mission."

"You were as well," Kimiko noted. "And I felt better knowing you were with Hinata."

"Of course," Neji said, his expression unreadable. "I can only imagine the fate that would await me if anything had happened to her while she was under my watch."

Kimiko smirked. "You'd be right to fear me," she teased. "Though I don't think 'fear' was the emotion you felt when you sent those flowers."

"You're right," Neji admitted smoothly. "No matter how poisonous or deadly… a flower is still beautiful. Perhaps even more so because of it."

Kimiko raised a brow, tilting her head slightly. "So, you think I'm beautiful, then?"

"Very," he answered without hesitation.

Her smile brightened, and a soft blush dusted her cheeks.

Before she could respond, a familiar voice called out from behind.

"Oi, Neji, Kimiko!"

Turning, she spotted Naruto waving enthusiastically, Sasuke standing beside him with his arms crossed.

"Come on, stop being all weird over there!" Naruto grinned.

Neji glanced at her, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Shall we?"

Kimiko met his gaze before nodding wordlessly, stepping forward to join their friends. As she approached, the warmth of their smiles, the easy camaraderie, the sense of belonging—it all settled deep in her chest.

She deserved this. All of it.