12 • Eh, What's Up, Doc?
Quite honestly, I'm at a loss. How does one orchestrate their way into someone's good gracious? Without, you know, seeming suspicious? Especially into the good gracious of someone who doesn't — who won't — know who they truly are half the damn time? And who doesn't fucking acknowledge you when you blantently scream something at them upon seeing them?
Kabuto just won't give me the time of day and it's pissing me off. It's not like I really want to manipulate him but it's in my and everyone else's best interest if I'm the one he trusts most. Gotta stop him from becoming a super villain at the bud. Either that or just blunt murder. I doubt Oreo-pedo-snake will find someone half as good as canon Kabuto was - is -will be? Whatever.
I see the kid everyday after training and before being dropped off. He's technically the new nurse around here since the original isn't back yet from wherever the hell she's been carted off to and the current 'head nurse' is a field medic and always off on a mission or another. Though, now that I think about it, I haven't seen Nurse — the original — since my first mission. Huh.
Well fuck that old bitch, she broke more bones than she healed.
Kabuto only knows that basics however and what I'd guess is intermediate if healing had levels. He can mend bones, that's for sure and he sure as fuck doesn't break any. An upgrade really.
I've tried starting a conversation with him over medical jutsu and medicine in general. He won't respond verbally and he barely responds with nods or the like. He'll listen though and always looks interested. Especially when I change the conversation to outside the Camp.
Yes, Camp with a capital 'C'. That's what this place is at the most basic level and calling it headquarters is just too long and inaccurate. I've been to Headquarters before, in the very beginning of my...career here. HQ is where Dino resides, sitting behind his stupid desk with his stupid tea and alcohol; it's where information is held, documents, reports, and the like; its where older Masks rest and train, so Dino can keep his most loyal closer.
Camp, however, is the opposite. It's exactly what it sounds like. The younger Masks, or Masks-in-training, reside here for their education/training. No important or relevant information is held here. And there's only a single room with a desk for Dino to show up and debrief/converse with the children here. There's also the room here. This place is set up as a boot camp basically.
Now the exact location of either isn't something I know, not yet. But I'm better off than most here I suppose. I actually get to go outside. I get to remember my own fucking name, not that I'd forget either way. I also get to go to HQ, though that's more because Dino thinks I can do in village missions and for me to report on my days out.
Kabuto though, being trained on infiltration and the most competent medic, hasn't been outside the camp as often as I. I'd give it a couple more months or even another year before he's sent on an infiltration mission for Dino. Then he'd be more privileged than everyone in ROOT. If you discard the fact that he's most likely to develop self-identity issues.
I'm currently making my way to the Nurse's Office to see Kabuto having just been let out of training. I stopped having an escort just almost a month ago when I turned five. Yup. This bitch is now five, a year away from being six and starting the academy. Little Blond, Duck, and Bunny are all still four, their birthdays being in the upcoming months. Each had a small party that I attended when they officially turned four.
It's how I met Duck and Princess' mother. She's surprisingly isn't anything like either of her sons. She's polite, yeah, but she's a lot more questioning than either of them and fuck, was that just a headache. Luckily she was mostly focused on little Blond. Something about being friends with his mother if I'm remembering Canon right. She didn't like my vulgar language but didn't really try to stop me. I assume that Princess and Sushi told her everything, Fu-Chan too. And oh boy, was he unhappy to see me in his house. He seemed most confused on little Bunny. A clan thing apparently.
On Naruto's birthday, there was actually a festival for the demon cat's 'death'. Being an intellectual, I already knew that it'd be a bad idea to take Blond out to it. But Sushi, Duck, and Bunny seemed really excited and insisted we all go. It went...well. If you ignore the fact that we had to avoid angry, weeping drunks at every fucking corner and stand when we noticed their clear hostility. Thank fuck for those actual ANBU put on to guard Blond. It was pathetically easy to see them however whenever I turned back to check on the drunks we passed. At least Naruto and the other two brats had fun and were distracted enough not to notice.
Now, Hinata's birthday party was painfully formal. If it wasn't for Bunny's constant pleading to attend and little silent spats, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have even been invited. The only reason I even attended was because Dino wanted me to be on the clan's good side and that shit. That fucker made sure I had several, several formal lessons shoved down my throat in the span of two days. I'm pretty sure I'd beat a princess — hell, even the Diaymo's own fucking wife — in a test about formality. Were it not a fucking mission, I would have taken those damned tea cups and thrown them against the wall and ripped that stupid ass kimono Sasuke's mother bought me off. I was also the only one of us to attend. Naruto not attending for obvious reasons and Sasuke because he's an Uchiha. I suppose me being a civilian helped in my invitation.
I didn't meet her cousin surprisingly, though I guess that can be because Hinata's father kept a very close eye on me and would steer anyone and everyone away from talking with me. Fair, I suppose. I'm not exactly the epitome of class and it'd look bad on him to have his daughter call me a friend.
It was one frustrating year, having to take on more in-village missions and deflecting questions portraying to my health. I can't exactly do anything about the bags under my eyes, not without having access to any makeup to cover them up. It most certainly did not help that Sushi tried to escort me home more than once. Fortunately, at the time at least, Kizashi was back from whatever wayward mission he took and managed to settle the brat's concern for the time. Unfortunately, Dino decided that Kizashi could be beneficial to my education. By that I mean Dino has assigned the Patrick knockoff to teach me medical jutsu and medicine in general. Somehow my very one-sided conversations with Kabuto reached him and took it as me being interested in learning.
I'm not complaining on eventually learning medical jutsu, however, I am complaining about my teacher and his method of teaching. What better way to remember the placements of certain muscles and bones that have them cut and/or broken? At least he heals everything completely at the end. He's also surprisingly meticulous that I know how to do the same to an enemy and what to do if ever caught in such a situation - as in how to heal myself, something about not being able to effortlessly and efficiently heal others if I can't even heal myself internally first. Odd since I assumed healing oneself internally is the hard part most can't do, though, that would make his statement valid. Overall, he's surprisingly...competent. Ugh.
So now my schedule is as so:
Days One and Two are spent in Camp. Days Three I'm set free to complete missions and come back to the house for medical lessons before returning back to camp for Days One and Two. In Camp I first have lectures of all sorts of subjects, then calligraphy, then physical training which sometimes include me fighting another member or trainee. After that I see Kabuto and from there I'm either called to report to Dino or I'm escorted to the barracks to catch some six hours of sleep or less, depending on how early my trainers / Dino want me to start the next day.
Anyways, it's a Day One so I'm in Camp for the rest of today and tomorrow before I can see anyone I tolerate. Thankfully the days almost over, I just need to see the little doctor then wait to see if I have put up with Dino or if I can blissfully sleep.
I give a half-hearted knock before opening the door and scanning the room. Kabuto's in the corner like always, pouring over his books and equipment, and I'm the only other occupant in the room.
"What's up doc?" I smirk at the slight twitch and deep sigh he gives. Perhaps the most I'll get out of him. I'll get him to acknowledge me one of these days.
I make my way past the only bed in the room and sit down in the chair in the room. I'm not that injured, just some scraps here and there. I've stopped having broken bones just last week thanks to the medical lessons, I can now spot when someone is going to try and break a bone of mine and how to retaliate. Those lessons are useful no matter how much I hate the teacher.
"I went to this awesome dango shop yesterday," I begin, watching Kabuto for any sign of interest or if he's paying attention at all. Despite not responding to me, he does listen to my stories which are just made up and lies more than half the time. It's nice to know he still has some kid aspects in him.
I never thought I'd say or hell, even think this but...I'm making this kid my friend even if I have to chop my finger off!
ʕ •̀ o •́ ʔ
Who knew making a friend would be so hard? Last I checked, children just shouted at each other and bada bing bada boom, instant friendship. Well, not really. I had to beat up a few people to get the friends I have now. But I can't do that with Kabuto. The person I'd need to beat up would be Danzō! I can't beat him up! I'm five!
"What bullshit," I mumble as I roll off the bed. I'm at the barracks right now, waking up for a new day of training. The barracks are pretty basic. Large rooms filled with bunk beds with their own assigned person—er, well, number actually. I'm number eighty-six, it's my ROOT Number and Identification so obviously it's my bed number. Thankfully I get bottom bunk or else I'd be falling down five feet every morning.
Standing up, I look over to the only clock in the room. It's only four in the morning. Fun. I click my tongue in irritation at waking up so early but turn to head over to the Locker Room. It's not so much as a Locker Room as it's a shower and dressing room in one. There aren't even any lockers. They have cubbies. What is this? Preschool?
I'm not the only one in the Locker Room despite it being so early. There are others inside, mostly older Masks returning from missions or getting sent on one. Every eye turns to me as I walk in but after confirming who it is, they all look away, not a second glance back. I don't pay them any mind, quickly walking to my cubby and pulling out the fresh new black clothes inside.
After a quick shower and pulling on the new clothes, I head over to the Nurse's Office. I have maybe half an hour before I'm expected for training. Hopefully I can make some actual progress today with the kid. He's already like twelve and hasn't been sent on a mission yet but I know that won't last long. Danzō would be insane to waste his talent in espionage.
I don't bother to knock and just push the door in, looking around to see if the kid was in. He is, surprisingly. I don't share the same barracks with him — separate barracks depending on the profession a Mask Trainee, I'm in the Assassin Barracks — or training so I don't really know the boy's schedule except that he's in after all of my training. Though, what's more surprising is that he's sitting in a corner. Kabuto, for as long as I've known the kid, is never in the corners or sitting for that matter.
I resist the urge to sigh because honestly, is this seriously how I make friends? Finding them in turmoil and/or trouble and beating the problem up for them? Because this is most certainly a kid in turmoil. What the fuck.
I close the door quietly behind me and make my way over. I just kind of stand there until he looks up. It's odd, seeing him so...well, kid-like. He's always been blank and expressionless, never showing how he really feels, never really giving an inch. But it's also reassuring. It means he has a chance, that I have a chance of fixing the problem before it rises.
"Who do I need to kill?"
"Wh-What?"
Haha! A reaction! A genuine actual reaction and response! Fuck yeah! Progress! Sure, it's under bad circumstances but still, progress.
"You're obviously upset so, who do I need to kill?" He only looks confused. It almost makes me want to smirk. This kid isn't gone just yet.
However, he quickly stands up and calms his expression back to its default blank expression. I fight back the urge to groan and smack him upside the head. Now isn't the time to revert back into a puppet!
"Look, we can do this the easy way where you just answer me, or the hard way where I sit on you until you spill," I intone crossing my arms. "And I will do it, even if I'm sent to the room later."
"Thank you for your concern Haruno-san, but it really is nothing. I must be going now," he replies politely while smiling.
I punch him in the face.
"Don't you fucking dare do that again," I sneer. "Smile like that again and I can guarantee you'll be punched by everyone it's directed at, not including our current known comrades." That's the nice and diplomatic answer. Make it seem like I'm helping him in his skills of infiltration, which wouldn't be too much of a lie. I'm currently, as far as I know, the only ROOT member with the best social skills and can predict how civilians and the like would react to him. Though, I guess there's that tree guy too-
Fuck. The tree guy. Orochimaru. Kabuto. I have to be on the lookout for that guy. He was put into ANBU but got swept into ROOT because you know, Danzo is an asshole, and I can't fucking remember when Kakashi got to the kid and helped him out- Kakashi. Motherfucking Kakashi. That brat was in ROOT too at one point!
I...I don't..I really don't want to deal with this. I may be five physically but for fuck's sake I'm like in my late thirties to early forties mentally and..just..no.
Calm. Focus on the here and now, worry about all the trouble your very likely going to get in later. Right now you're a simple ROOT agent worrying about your comrade, okay? Okay.
...I should stop the small habit of talking to myself soon.
Anyways…
"I know you're being trained in the art of espionage and quite frankly, whatever instructor you may have said about that smile, it is not going to help you," I explain flatly, not telling him how his smile just really pissed me off. "It needs to be more natural, your forcing it. While not forcing it alot and keeping it small, anyone smart enough will be able to pick it up. I doubt you'll be surrounded by idiots wherever the hell you'll be sent to."
Kabuto blinks down at me slowly, processing what I just told him. He would know better than to dismiss my words. Out of everyone here, I've been outside the most as a person, not a ninja or tool. Anyone doing any sort of infiltration would be goddamn fool to not take anything up with me. And it's not just bragging. I've sat through Danzo musing aloud about introducing me to that division as a semi-instructor, though he decided to have me join once I'm a bit older. I knew what he was doing though. He was showing off how much power he has over me, gauging my reaction about having my future just chosen for me without my opinion, testing the works.
Unfortunately for him, I've been planning betrayal before I even met him. The most important thing now is to rise in the ranks quickly while simultaneously getting closer to the other members here. Though, I'd need to rise in ranks before successfully doing that. A higher standing in ROOT will let me have more information on everyone here. Information regarding when they joined to be more specific. Members joining around and even before Academy Graduation are people most loyal to Danzō while members recruited into ROOT would be much more open. Or so I theorize.
Gah, enough of that, this is the perfect opportunity to try and connect with Kabuto. Though, saying it like that makes me feel like a manipulative bitch. Bleh.
"I see," he murmurs, his head tilting just so that I can't see his eyes because the light is reflecting off them. "Thank you for the advice Haruno-san, but I really must be going now."
"Where?" I demand lightly, curiously.
"Excuse me?" I almost smirk. He really is smart, to know that I'm not asking where he's walking off to right now.
"Which village, other than Konohagakure, is your first infiltration? Where are you being sent right now?" He would have already infiltrated Konoha, being stationed here already and being in the Chunin Exams - though that was for the Snake Bastard but it still rose no suspicion so Danzō must have him already integrated into the system before Orochimaru. Gah, this guy is so hard to figure out and plan around. He's a spy for Dino but the right hand man for Oreo-hebi becoming his spy but still in cahoots with Dino and then that red head sand puppet- ugh. He'll be exceptional alright.
Is it wrong I want him on my side? Logically, it wouldn't be since he becomes a pretty powerful bad guy in the future. But. Manipulating a fucking child just so the future benefits me? Because no matter how I look at it, I am manipulating him. Him, a child that doesn't know any better. Him, someone that's always been the pawn. But...without outside interference he'll grow to become a broken and lost man following the only path he's known.
"You're rather observant. As expected of Danzō-sama's favored," he smiles and what the fuck is he talking about 'favored'? "However, I cannot disclosure such, apologies Haruno-san." And then he walks out.
I don't stop him, knowing it'd be a lost cause. Guess I'll have to try again the next I see him, whenever that may be, if ever. But what did he mean by 'favored'? I mean yeah, it's a bit suspicious how much attention I get from Dino but I wouldn't say I'm favored. Though, if I'm not wrong, I'm the youngest to have ever joined ROOT. Ignoring that Tree character since he fucking grew up in ANBU. Besides he had someone looking out for him: Kakashi. I'm on my own here.
Man, how depressing.
Either way, if my age has something to do with it (since it's a well known fact that the young are most impressionable) then it'd make a little sense. Crafting a perfect soldier from the start...but again, I wouldn't say I'm favored. Gah, why'd the kid have to leave a puzzle before he left?
Tch, I'll think about it later. I'm going to late at this point and I don't fancy a visit to the room after being away for so long.
ʕ •̀ o •́ ʔ
I haven't seen Kabuto since that day. It's been close to three weeks now. On my days 'off', I would check the hospital to see if he was perhaps stationed there as a cover. He wasn't. He isn't at Camp. He isn't at Headquarters. He isn't in Konoha. I'm not all that surprised, having expected him to be sent off soon. I just wish I made better progress with the kid. Well, at least I can say I tried.
Though ever since the brat made that comment of me being 'favored' I've noticed a few things. Like the fact that I'm being trained as a jack of all trades despite being in the Assassin Barracks. I'm still very much a mini assassin just with more skills for other situations. Assassins aren't exactly medics after all. And the other assassins in the barracks aren't taught in the inner clogs of another village's politics. What use is politics to a murderer?
Oh, and the most important point I've noticed: I'm the only one Danzo visits.
Yeah, apparently him dropping by for a visit whenever I'm in the room for more than an hour isn't normal. Which only brings up the question of why visit me in the first place? He could have had his men drag me, still bleeding, to him. The only answer I can think of is him trying to appeal to me - which further proves the 'favored' comment.
I don't want to be favored! Well, no, I do. Kinda? Ugh! I just wanted to be close and highly ranked enough to steal important information under his nose and have him tried for treason. I know achieving that will take many years, but I was hopeful to reach it by the time I graduated the academy. Being favored...well, it can only help me in achieving that goal. But won't it also harm me? I'll be doubted and deemed untrustworthy.
There's a ringing sound, like one might hear at school in the halls. The noise brings me out of my spiraling thoughts, making me look up. I'm in the barracks right now, having just returned from training - the instructor had me running the same obstacle course until our time together was up. I recognize the ringing as the signal for dinner.
Camp as a designated eating area - or as I call it, Cafeteria - opened all hours of the day. There's also a bell system to indicate when we can all eat but that's only for lunch and dinner since each group wakes at different times and starts at different times. I never actually go to the Cafeteria, always too tired to make an effort to go or having eaten enough rations to suffice. Not really healthy but I eat as much as I can on my days 'off' so it lasts until the next day.
As it is, the house isn't stocked up on rations and Sushi refuses to let me buy more so I kinda have to go to the Cafeteria.
I expected it to be quiet, filled with serious and stoic kids but it was surprisingly noisy. Not loud but just filled with low noise from various conversations taking place. I really shouldn't have been surprised, this place is filled with children after all. Maybe my side goal of gaining the trust of my ROOT comrades won't be so hard after all.
I step into the food line quietly, keeping my eyes focused on the varying foods while leaning back slightly to pick up on different conversations. Almost all of them revolve around training, not surprising since they aren't exactly permitted to go outside. There's the few odd conversations on normal kid stuff like favorite color and such, the question 'why / how are you here' is very scarce to my disappointment. Looks like I'll just have to guess who's from a clan and who's an ordinary orphan.
I step forward as the line moves, picking up a tray and silently adding to it. If I had known Dino feeds his soldiers fruits, vegetables, pasta, and meat I would have come here sooner. No wonder his men are all so fit and loyal. Hate to admit it, but Dino does somewhat take care of his people. Ugh. Doesn't make him any less of a bastard.
After piling up my tray with a little bit of everything, I step out of line to look for somewhere to sit. Most tables seemed to be occupied by people in the same barracks. I don't really know anyone, my training being isolated from everyone else most, if not all, of the time. I recognize a few kids from my barracks and the occasional group training session I get to join. Ah, who to sit with?
The silent ones near the walls or the quietly talking ones? Come off as stoic and slightly arrogant or come off as rude and arrogant? Because if Kabuto is to be believed and the tiny rumors I've heard true, then I am favored and some people don't have a good impression of me for it. Also, who knew being too exhausted for social interaction would peg me as arrogant?
Sit with the stoic and try my hand at making friends with those most socially inept or - wait a moment. The ones sitting all by their lonesome all look like they're from a clan. The ones talking seem more like ordinary orphans. Hmmm, let's think of the situation like this: who would be more hard pressed to follow me if I took over ROOT?
The orphans probably see Dino as a savior of sorts. The clan kids though…
I casually make my way over to sit with all the quiet children, offering a small soft smile to those around me as I sit down. I fight off a grimace and the sick feeling in my gut. The orphans are always pushed to the side and holy fuck, I really am a manipulative bitch. I quickly stuff food in my mouth so no one can see my smile turn bitter.
After effectively stuffing my face, I look up and observe the children around me through pink bangs. My hair has grown a bit, enough so my bangs effectively cover my eyes when pulled in front. Sushi has been trying to get me to pull them back or cut them but I've adamantly refused. Bangs have their uses dammit! He's just jealous, I swear.
Pushing the annoying memory of one Uchiha Chunin trying to get me get a haircut away, I catalog everything I know and learn about my peers as I finish off my tray. So far, I've observed three maybe-Yamanaka, four maybe-Inuzuka, one maybe-Nara, one maybe-Uchiha (surprisingly. I didn't think Danzō would actually have any under his thumb. Wait does that mean there were more than just three living Uchiha in Canon? Fuck), and one most definite Hyūga (the eyes are a give away. I'm a bit surprised though that Dino managed to get one of them, they do have almost 360 vision). I haven't spotted any maybe-Akimichi but I could guess why Danzō wouldn't want one as one of his soldiers, needing to maintain their weight could and would be a problem. I also don't see anyone that could maybe be a Aburame, then again that clan is known for the way they dress so trying to pick one from the crop of kids here would be difficult if one doesn't know their physical features - which I don't. But didn't Dino have one anyway? Someone close to the heir too, if I'm remembering right.
I should probably write all I know down so I don't forget but honestly, I'm too paranoid for that.
Hm, now to put what little social skills I have to use.
"Ah, excuse me? Are you going to eat that?"
Food makes friends, right?
ʕ •̀ o •́ ʔ
(I've actually made several friends like this so...)
HAPPY NEW YEAR - to friends old and new!