That it may be like unto his glorious body
Randomfandomwoman
Summary:
Spring is a time of growth.
Of planted seeds given rain and sun and time to sprout.
Two years is an age, when you are thirteen. Two years is but a blink, when you are older than twenty.
From toddler to sannin, everyone has growing to do, one last season left before the thunder of summer storms herald the final battle.
(This won't make much sense unless you've read the previous stories, but basically an Isekai'd Uchiha makes it past the Uchiha massacre.
The two year time skip of canon was one of unseen tragedies. Mari's will be one of blessings gifted and lessons learned, of children stepping towards the path of adulthood and elders on the garden bed of healing, of a den well tended, and well loved.
The world keeps spinning after all, what else is there to but live?)
Notes:
strolls in about a year late with a starbucks in hand: sup.
Surprise, I am alive! Thank you to everyone who commented, and every one who has stuck around to see this story end. We'll see how much I can get done before my job kicks back up again, but alas, such is life haha. For those binging, here's a good stopping point. Get some water, eat some food, go to sleep if you have to get up early in the morning.
Without further ado, here is part four, right on time.
Chapter 1: Numinous
Chapter Text
It was the end the moment Uchiha Mari met a too hungry kid in a ramen shop. It was the end of my anger and the end of my grandmother and the end of the traditional shinobi lifestyle. Of course, I'd like to think that without her my kit would've befriended me just fine, but I don't things would've truly changed, not for generations upon generations, as so few would've seen the rot, the corruption. Perhaps it's a bit an oxymoron, but Uchiha Mari taught Uzumaki Naruto how to be ruthlessly kind, and without her I doubt the Lord Seventh would've seen the injustice of the nobles and the daimyos and said no more. It was the end when a child I orphaned offered forgiveness to a monster, and a most glorious beginning.
Opening paragraph from chapter six: Daughter of Indra, son of Ashura of Kaguya Arata's A Conversation with a Bijuu, part nine: the history of civilization witnessed by Otsutsuki Kurama.
Ghosts didn't exist.
Kurama had been around for over nine hundred years, and he had seen little evidence of the spirits Naruto feared, or even the lost souls Mari so wholeheartedly believed in.
Ghosts didn't exist, and yet here one stood, steady hands curling around his kit's. Naruto's eyes were wide, their shared shock and surprise rippling out at their feet, as if an unfelt earthquake tore through the mindscape.
The Lord Forth looked dangerous as he met Kurama's gaze, bright blue eyes practically burning, and he was surprised to find just how much the shade matched with Naruto's. Sage, they were almost carbon copies, for all Naruto had his mother's face. He had forgotten that, and a thousand different emotions filled his chest at the sight of a man long dead.
There was hope, that he might see his own father again. There was jealousy, because of course Naruto got to have this. There was guilt, both for the thought and because he had robbed his kit of this person, who would have loved him so thoroughly. There was rage, at his jailer, at a genius who never saw the underneath. There was pity, because Kurama had only been the weapon, and in truth the Lord Fourth had been killed by his own student, by debts inherited from generations past, and none of that was his fault. There was surprise, and awe, and respect, because humans never stopped, did they?
They kept reaching for the sky, even on bloody feet.
What have you done," Minato demanded, and Naruto opened his mouth, no doubt about to spill an impressive amount of righteous fury.
"Kit," Kurama warned before he could, feeling, exhausted. He'd once had so many things he wanted to say to this man. Now though, now they all felt pointless, petty. "We don't know how long he's going to be here, so let's not waste time arguing."
Minato looked shocked, the man frowning in confusion when Naruto launched himself upon his person, his kit babbling about life and his progress and a truly impressive slew of nicknames for his precious people, and Sage, his kit was going to grow old one day, and Kurama was going to go on and on and-
He jolted when something bounced against his nose, and he stared uncomprehendingly at the sandle that lay before him. Naruto stuck his tongue out, down one shoe, smile like the dawn over the ocean. "Hey, no spirals. It's a happy day, I got to see my dad and we get to break your cage and Mari gets to be right about ghosts."
"That's not a ghost," Kurama protested automatically at the misconception.
"Oh?" Naruto asked with a raised brow, the very image of his mother, "What is it then?"
"A chakra imprint," he guessed, "obviously."
His kit gave an offended cry. "Hey, you just made that up, didn't you?"
"I did not!"
"You did too!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
"Ah, excuse me," Minato interrupted, "but what is happening here?"
Naruto turned to his father, expression a mirror to Mari's, eyes like they held the weight of the world behind them. "I took a cycle of violence and I ended it."
The Lord Fourth glanced at Kurama, the fucker. "Look, Naruto,"
"I know what he did," his kit said, and sage this child. "I know dad, but we hurt him, we've been hurting for a long time."
"I don't know what he's told you but-"
"He didn't need to tell me anything! He was skinny and scared and angry when we met. He was in a cage, and had to feel grateful there weren't chains digging into his skin like they had been for the past two decades. I'd kill my captors too, in that situation, wouldn't you?"
Minato faltered, once against glancing towards Kurama. "Kid, I…"
"You didn't know," Naruto soothed at his father's guilt, "that doesn't make it right, it doesn't make it okay, but you didn't put him there, and everyone you trusted told you a lie. It's not your fault."
"The kit is right you know," Kurama rumbled, earning both of their attention. "You did what you thought was right. It wasn't your fault your elders handed over a rotten system, even if you could've looked at more closely. To be fair, you had a lot going on at the time."
A war he could not stop and kingdom he could not fix and three kids who all seemed fated to die.
Forgiveness felt foreign on Kurama's tongue, but freeing, all the same.
Minato stared at him. "What."
Naruto snicked at his father's face. "Don't look so surprised, Mari got him to therapy."
The Lord Fourth turned to his son. "What?"
Hm. Better derail that line of conversation. "Do you know how much time do you have? If it's limited, we shouldn't waste it."
Minato narrowed his eyes. "I can be here for as long as I want. "
Kurama stared down this legend, this infant. "It's going to hurt, to hear about the promises your nation failed to honor, particularly in regards to you and yours."
"Like you care," the man scoffed, and so Kurama laid his head on the ground, grass dabbled with artificial sunlight. They were eye to eye, as he rested his jaw on his paws.
"I don't," he admitted, "but your spawn has wormed his way into my heart, and the Uchiha hatchling might be disappointed in me, if I don't at least be civil."
Naruto frowned, confusion in his brow. "Isn't Mari a kitten?"
He shifted his gaze to his kit. "Nothing about that women is a cat."
"Yeah that's fair," the kid said with a shrug, earning a look from his father.
Kurama didn't blame him. Mari had hidden herself so well there were days when even she forgot she was born of fire and claws and teeth, unremarkable until the day she crawled from Izanami's cave, maw bloody with fate's decree.
"Let me know when you're done," he said, moving to stand, bones cracking as he stretched. The shadow of his tails fell over the father and the son, like a mountain rising from the sea. "I'm going to take a nap."
Naruto turned to look at him, want shining in those bright blue eyes. "But you guys didn't even-"
"Kit," Kurama interrupted gently, softly. "This is still someone I hurt, and someone who hurt me. I can be civil, but don't ask me for more than I can give. He is here, and I glad of it for you, even if I wish I never have to look upon him again. And Minato, if I feel even an ounce of sadness from my vessel, ghost or no ghost I'm going to eat you."
And at that he left, the sound of Naruto's aha following him up the massive oak Mari had crafted for him. The wood felt good beneath his paws, and he settled onto a massive limb, sunlight like a blanket on his fur. The leaves rustled slightly, the occasional breeze creeping in to keep him cool, and he dozed to the light lullaby of murmured conversations, broken only by the occasional shout of excitement.
Today was a good day, despite everything.
He woke up to the Lord Forth standing before him, yellow hair bright under Mari's seal crafted sky.
"I don't think I could make something like this," the man admitted, genuine respect in his voice.
"Self taught are like that," he rumbled fondly, "no respect for what should be impossible."
It wasn't until after that Kurama realized that the man wasn't talking about the environmental seals. He probably could've done the same, given time. No, what he was implying was far sadder, and far more honest.
It was a humbling thing, to see someone so forgiving in the face of tragedy.
Minato looked at tree, at the green leaves and almost ripe persimmons. Kurama didn't tell him they could be eaten. He didn't tell him about the way their flowers bloomed or how he could change the fruit of this mighty tree whenever he wanted. He didn't tell him about the rain that came when he wanted or the soft rumble of storms that appeared only when he wished.
Kurama didn't tell him this was his safe haven, and that in a way Minato had given it to him.
The Lord Forth drew his attention away from the tree, meeting Kurama's eyes with a gaze like freshly forged steel. "I'm sorry."
Kurama hummed, shifting to see where the kit had gone. Ah, Jiraiya had woken him up, the two talking about chakra theory. He returned his attention to the Lord Forth, who seemed to be waiting for his reply.
Funny, how only a few years could so change his opinion about a person.
"Was it a good conversation?" He asked, and furied grief flashed across Minato's face.
"My first father figure fucked off leaving my son to deal with a decade of abuse from those who should've protected him, at the insistence of my second."
True. Still. "Could've been worse."
Minato narrowed his eyes. "Don't."
"It's an odd thing you know," Kurama mused, resting his chin against his paw, "being grateful a terrible situation still has a rock bottom left undug."
"That isn't a comfort to me."
"I didn't want it to be. If you want comfort, wait around for Uchiha Mari."
The man narrowed his eyes, suspicion clear in his posture. "And what's her part in this?"
A small chuckle escaped him. "Finally looking for the underneath I see, what makes you think I'll give it to you?"
The Lord Fourth clenched his jaw. "What do you want?"
Kurama raised a brow. "That's not a very clever thing to say, particularly since you have nothing to give."
"Kitsune," Minato snarled, except Kurama refused to rise to the bait.
"My name is Kurama, and I am a sapient being who owes you nothing."
The man flinched. "I just-"
"I meant what I said back there," he interrupted before there could be either an unwanted apology or some self flagellation shinobi were so fond of. "You hurt me tremendously, and I the same to you, but neither of us were entirely at fault for the whole thing. There are generations to blame, even if we must bear the burden of our own misinformed choices. Your son was hurt for many years, that much is true, but he is as safe as one can be in the shinobi world, and knows he was loved from the moment of his conception. He was loved then and he is loved now, not just by me. Naruto is the best parts of you and your wife, and his own self as well, something better and brighter, born out of pain and hurt and terrible choices. That is more than a lot of children get, you and I included."
Minato listened, all the presence of a Kage.
A true tragedy, that this man didn't get to lead his nation into better days.
"Did you tell them, about that night I mean. The Lord Fifth should know."
"Mari knows." Mari had known long before he had told her the true details, which was something he'd ask her about one day, or perhaps if he was patient enough she'd tell him herself. "The kit doesn't, not yet. But she's told Kakashi, and he's told Shikaku, and Inoichi. They've probably informed Tsunade by now, but I'm not sure."
Naruto's father narrowed his eyes. "You're hiding something."
Ugh. Geniuses. "It will hurt, to know. I dislike you, but not that much."
Minato raised a brow, bitterness dripping from his face. "Mercy, from you?"
Kurama stared at him. The Ninja before him was twenty four. He was younger than Kakashi was now. He was barely older than Mari, youth stark against his features, and all he could feel was pity at a man who had died long before his time.
"You are so very young you know," he mused sadly, watching as the Lord fourth sputtered, half offended and half confused.
"What, it, you, we might be like children to a tailed-beast, but by human standards I'm an-"
"An adult," Kurama finished, like humans didn't have a track record of putting weapons into hands of little ones far too small and called them grown. "Yes I am aware, but I have seen decades come and go, centuries pass like the cycles of the moon. I will live until entropy claims the world, as far as I know. For all your brilliance, for all your creativity, you are but a firefly one random night in the middle of a summer season. You do not need to know a hurt just because you want it to punish yourself."
It was Minato's turn to stare this time, gears turning in bright blue eyes. "Did this Uchiha Mari teach you that."
"She did. You'd have liked her, and she would've had an easier time of it, with you at the helm."
"That rather sounds like a compliment."
He hummed. "You were many things Namikaze Minato, but you never turned your gaze from the reality of the world you lived in. You did not stand for those in darkness claiming to work for the light. Your predecessor can not say the same, to his shame."
"Do you hate him?" Minato asked, before adding. "The Lord Third, I mean. Do you hate him?"
"Once, perhaps, but the quote someone smarter than both of us, hate is exhausting. I pity him, because in a different world, with different options, he might've been a very good man."
Naruto's father put a hand to his head, hiding his expression. "How does not he not hate me. How can he not hate the village, after everything they did to him."
"Because the kit's better than the both of us, and even if no one had come to his aid, he'd still be this kind, I think. He's got too big a heart, which is a good thing, no matter what the old guard says. Naruto doesn't and never will blame anyone whose best wasn't good enough. You tried. Even if you failed, the fact you tried, the fact you cared, that means more to him than the success."
Minato wiped away unshed tears. "You really are different."
There were things Kurama wanted to say. Things like I used to be more like this before humans started to attack me for no reason, or perhaps I would've come around far sooner if I hadn't been violated by your founders, or even I would not be this person without the choices you made, and for all I do not forgive them, I am so grateful for them, for I do not I would've changed at all, if not for your kit's refusal to keep the cycle going.
"I appreciate the trust," Kurama said instead, because this man was trusting him. Trusting to keep Naruto safe, to protect him against those too strong for anyone else to handle. It was not something he would've done for Mito, or for Kushina, but for their kit? For the fishcake?
For the child of his heart Kurama would move mountains, and honestly, what was a few more decades compared to centuries on his horizon.
"Will he be okay?" Naruto's father asked, and Kurama resisted the urge to bomb his nose against the man in sympathy.
"Yeah Minato, he's going to be the best."
"Thank you Kurama, for looking out for him, for everything you didn't have to do. If you see my wife, tell her I'm sorry, and that I love her."
And then he was gone, like he had never even been there. Kurama stared, a soft wind ruffling through his fur, before a snort escaped his lips. He shifted further down the branch, where the sun shined a little brighter, and watched Naruto mess with his godfather.
Geniuses, always had to have the last word.
Chapter 2: Hiraeth
Chapter Text
Sai was perhaps the favorite of Uchiha's many, many students. She never said so, but it was the quietest member of that first team that Mari continued to spent time with, even when her other students went far and wide. Perhaps it was because she saw herself in him; doing what he had to do to survive, even when that condemned others to death. Perhaps it was because he was clan-less, a duckling free of the burden of a family name, untethered to the duty of passing traditions, of a hope they did not become poison down the road. Whatever the reason, Sai was hers, and out of all her adopted children, Sai took the causes of the Den and carried them the furtherest and widest. He traveled, and traveled, maps filled out as he took the story of Uchiha Mari across the once unexplored sea, the first to walk upon unknown continents, spreading the promise of good faith and trade along his way. Shimura Danzo would've hated what his last graduate would become, but this is no great loss, for he became everything Uchiha Mari promised he'd be.
Section lifted from Kazahana Sora's Kitten's by the Koi Pond; Uchiha's Mari's fosterlings and how they changed society, chapter sixteen: Amaterasu's Artist
Sai was the first to arrive at the gate.
He paused, fulling expecting to see Team Guy. But there wasn't anyone here yet, and a flicker of unease passed through his chest before he suppressed it.
They still had fifteen minutes, and Sai was early, plus it was entirely possible another team had seen fit to make Team Guy late. That was the current bit of the Konoha fifteen, though even after a few months he still didn't understand the joke.
Sai put one of Naruto's notice-me-not seals on the bench closest to the gate, so that no one would talk to him. He pulled out his sketch book, graphite pencil slowly forming the picture of a sparrow. Sai liked birds. Liked the challenge of feathers and shifting positions and wings casting long shadows.
There was still no one here, so Sai doubled checked his watch. Now he was only ten minutes early, with not a single other person in sight.
Odd.
He went back to his sketch book, only to freeze at the sight of the Hokage entering his peripheral vision. Danzo would've beaten him for his lack of awareness, and he ignored the flicker of worry that bubbled in his chest at the sight of her scowl.
Walking beside her was his sensei, who was wearing an unconcerned expression. To Mari's right was the traitor Yamato-sensei. The wood-release join had his head in his hands, despair almost visible in his posture. He didn't have any of his students with him, and Sai didn't want to think about what that meant.
"Very well," Tsunade sighed, an odd mix of tension and hope in her face, "but if it goes poorly, I expect you to deal with it."
"Will do Hokage-sama," Mari replied with a bow, and Sai blinked. It was the most respectful he had ever seen his teacher towards the leader of their village. "I'll keep you updated on their progress."
The Hokage grunted, and walked away towards the entrance desk.
"Really Mari?" Yamato-sensei sighed, looking… Scary. It wasn't an expression Sai liked, not one bit.
His Sensei whorled on the man, expression equally… intense. "You will never, ever, have to interact with him. Ever. That is a promise Tenzo, from one whose power came from a monster to another. You and Anko are allowed to hate him for the rest of your life, if you wish, and I will support you in that. I will, but every monster was once a child, and if I can bring this one back into the fold, then I'd like to."
Yamato's face was like a porcelain mask. "And if he doesn't."
"Then after he's taught Sasuke everything he knows, and after the summer storm passes, I'll kill him myself, while you and Anko watch." Mari swore, like killing a Sannin would be easy thing. Like killing that Sannin would easy. "Or join in. Up to the both you, and whatever sound ninja want to join in, if he's been an ass to them as well. Which, he has. Tsk. Shit. I need to talk to Anko."
"You do," Yamato agreed, then added with a hint of curiosity, "and the Akatsuki?"
Sai knew his sensei was involved in politics. He knew she played a very dangerous game, taking in the cast off and exiles of the other nations, but she couldn't seriously be attempting to court the very same people who'd help kill her clan.
Mari raised a brow, half a playful expression, half a challenge, the kind offered to gods upon the top of mountains. "Turn about is fair play, don't you think?"
"You deserve your genin," Yamato stated blunt, and Sai tried not to flinch. People kept saying that, like his sensei had earned the bottom of the barrel, had deserved the best Danzo had created, only to leave them to rot.
He still wasn't sure who the punishment was for, them or her.
"Rude," Mari bantered back, like she always did at the comment, "fair though. Look, I'm going to try. If I fail then I fail, but at least I can say I offered my hand."
"That's how you get a kuni to the ribs," the Jonin replied, a counter Sai had said before, a counter Danzo had said before. Mari just smiled, the kind she wore when telling one of her ridiculous stories.
"That is a risk yes, but I'd rather be wrong thinking the best of someone than be wrong thinking the worst. Wouldn't you?"
Yamato sighed, looking towards the sky. "You are very hard to argue against."
"You brought up good points."
"Now you're just trying to make me feel better."
"You brought up good points," Mari repeated softly, ferociously. Sai looked away, the love she bore for his fellow root agent like an itch under his skin.
There was a moment of silence. "He'd hate it, if we offered kindness."
Mari laughed. "Yeah I imagine Danzo would. He'd grind his teeth, give a sneer. Even when it worked. Especially if it worked, the ass."
"I seriously don't understand how you managed to have tea with him every week," Yamato complained, a sentiment Sai echoed, though he'd never ask. "Ugh. Fine. But I reserve the right to tell you I told you so if this goes to shit."
"The leap of faith is appreciated, cousin." Mari then tilted her head, looking eastward. "Ah. I was wondering why he was late. You might need to head to training ground 13. It looks like Green Fu and Lee are going at it again."
"I hate you," the Jonin complained as he leapt up to the roof, mock offense on his face, "you've saddled me with Guy!"
"Kakashi said the same thing!" Mari yelled back, a grin tugging at her lips. She waited a moment before turning to looking right at Sai, who felt his blood curdle under his teacher's gaze. "Now, where are your teammates?"
Damn it Naruto. Sai took a breath, peeling off the seal with shaky fingers. He remembered the last time someone had been caught spying on Danzo. Mari wasn't him, but he had no doubt her tongue would be as sharp as any cane.
"I didn't mean to overhear," he said, looking down. It was a poor excuse, Mari's feet moving slowly but surely in his direction.
"Sai," she called softly, kneeling down with her fingers on his sketch book. She had never destroyed his art before, but he had never been caught spying before either. "Sai look at me, really look me, like that. I'm not mad at you. I was being playful, and I didn't think about how you'd interpret that. I'm sorry, do you understand?"
"No," he answered, "I should've announced myself."
"I knew you were there," she reminded, and only then does he wonder. She smiles at him, fingers tracing the seal Sai had used. "I helped the fishcake make that seal, I know how it works. He got the story from me after all. Have you heard it yet?"
He glanced at the seal. It was of a box with police written across it, a figure standing before it with a key in hand as both the box and the key emitted light, shielding the figure from discernment.
A ridiculous story. A time traveling figure called not a general or a victor but a doctor, a healer. They traveled to see, to help, and only every once in a while, to hurt.
There were layers, in that story.
Mari's stories always had layers, each one waiting to be found.
Sai was ever so terrible at finding them.
"I do."
There was sadness in her eyes. There was always sadness in her eyes. Why? Was he truly so terrible?
"That's good. Maybe you could help me draw them, one day. I'm a rather terrible artist." Sai frowned at his sensei. He had seen her seals, he knew very well she had a deft hand.
"You are a passable artist," he reminded, and she laughed like he had something funny. People did that, and still he didn't understand.
"High praise," she replied, except it wasn't, "and sure, I can draw, but drawing and art are very different things. Take the bird in your sketch book. I could draw a bird, sure, I could even detail it down the downy feathers, but I do not have your gift for capturing the moment, the emotion."
"I do not have emotions."
"So you say, but at the very least you can inspire them. I look at this bird and I see longing, I see shadows cast wide and a storm on the horizon, and I feel grief, because this bird is attempting to recreate something that will never be again."
Sai looked away. "You are reaching. It is just a bird."
"To you, but that's the funny thing about art. We never know how it's going to be interpreted. We see what we see, and we feel what we feel, oftentimes in ways the artist never intended, or even noticed."
There was a place for a nest, in his sketch. There was a branch in its beak. He stared at it, and felt nothing.
"Sai?"
"I don't want to talk about this." The Sai of before would've never told such a thing to a superior, but Mari was serious about respecting boundaries. She always knew when he ignored his, and make such awful faces when he did so.
"Very well," she agreed, "are you excited for the exams?"
"No. I am chunin level already and my teamwork is passable. I do not understand why we are going."
Mari tilted her head. "Hm. Let's think about it then. Why don't we start with me, what reasons might I have for wanting to go, and using you as cover?"
Sai thought about. "There's Fu. Green Fu. I am not unaware of the risks to her person, and those after her. Then there are those with bloodlines coming with us. Even discounting your own history, it wouldn't be the first time outsiders have tried to take our bloodlines, and you can be very threatening, when you want to be."
"All good reasons," she agreed, like she wasn't a tiger hidden in the grass, or a dragon crouched before a mountain pass.
He narrowed his eyes her. "There will also be high ranking shinobi there from other hidden villages, and you want to commit treason."
Danzo had hated his sharp tongue. Mari loved it, delight shinning her eyes as she grinned, teeth like the promise of a mountain lion, or a wolf. "It's not treason if I've got my Kage's permission, but yes, I'm going to plant some seeds. And to support Garra, now that he's Lord Fifth. Now let's think about you, why do I want you to go?"
Sai thought about it. "You don't want us to win, so it's not about showing Konoha superiority. We are gong to see how real teams work together?"
"You are a real team Sai, but yes, I want you to watch the other Konoha nin. Take some time to see how they view teamwork, and then while we're there, compare it to the rest of the elemental nations. There's likely to be one or two outliers, but in general the best shinobi are the ones who know how to work with other people."
He could hear the unspoken reprimand. "And I am failing in that department."
Her face twisted before smoothing out. "You're learning very well, all things considered. You're one of the best painters I know and your kanji are damn near perfect and there is no one I know more willing to help the village than yourself. I'm not asking you to be someone else Sai, just to see the value in having friends."
"Friends are a weakness," he retorted, "they bring nothing but loss."
"Well of course they do." Mari took his head in her hands, palms warm and callused. "Loss is the nature of love Sai. It's one of the very conditions of existence. To become spring means accepting the promise of winter, to become presence means accepting the possibility of absence. Even the mountains yield to the rain, given time, but that doesn't mean they aren't beautiful in autumn storms."
Sai thought of Shin. Thought of the book still unfinished in his pack and of his team he did not fit in with and a mentor who would not have cared if he lived or died.
It took him a few minutes to find his voice. "I disagree."
"Which is your right Sai. You don't have to agree with me. Ever. I know this hasn't been easy, and I know we haven't had as much time to talk recently. That's my fault. I'll be better about setting aside more time."
"Why? I am already a good enough weapon. I don't understand why I am being wasted, why we are being sidelined? You are wasting productive energy that could be spent else where."
Mari twitched again, once again pulling in her teeth. She was never sharp with him, and he didn't understand why he wanted her to be.
"If I were to ask you to teach a class on your ink jutsu, do you think you could?" Sai didn't understand the question. He was not meant to be a teacher. "A weapon isn't useful if it can't be recreated, or used in tandem with others. And more to the point people aren't weapons Sai, we never have been."
"Tools then."
"No."
"You are being purposefully insipid."
"Some lessons are like that," Mari replied as she pulled her hands away. "We can be soldiers, yes. Warriors, of course. Protectors, always. But we are not inanimate objects, and we do ourselves a disservice when we try to be. You wouldn't call a brush a blade, would you?"
Sai didn't have a retort for that.
Sai didn't have words, not understanding why torture was easier to withstand than his sensei's soft chakra filtering through the air.
"Ah, Mari-neesan! How are you?" A voice called, and they both turn in its direction. Yamanaka Ino was walking up in a confident swagger, with Akimichi Choji and Aburame Shino walking in her shadow, the two boys talking softly behind her.
"Think on it," Mari told him as she stood. "You've got time."
At least she didn't tell him to talk to Kanon. Sai hated talking to Anbu therapist he was currently assigned to. Mari was trying to find him a new one, but with everyone swamped it was difficult.
He watched her talk with Ino, something about flower combinations, both in terms of poisons and in code. From what he gathered it was a bit like hiragana, where certain flowers when added together shifted the meaning.
Fascinating, if only for non verbal communication.
Asuma-sensei came in a few minutes after, the man freezing almost comically at the sight of Ino and Mari chatting. They both smile at him, and Ino cackled at the face her sensei made, sounding all too pleased with her self.
She was bright, Ino, and he could not help but sketch the curve of her smile onto an empty page.
Shin would've liked her.
Sai was staring at his sketch book when Team Guy and Team Yamato finally arrive, three minutes late, to the dismay of Lee and Guy. They were missing Karin, and Sai wasn't sure if he was grateful or disgruntled.
She somehow managed to make chunin, alongside Nara Shikamaru, Hyuga Hinata, and all of Team Seven.
It was blatant favoritism, if you asked him.
Shin would've laughed, and told him to live a little.
Traveling to the Suna Exam's took about a week of travel, the party moving neither fast nor slow. Waiting for them at the gates was the newly instated Garra of the sand. Sai wasn't sure if that was stupid or smart, considering everything. But Mari was delighted to see him, even if she kept everything above board.
His sensei wasn't here to see one of her kittens after all.
She was here to cement a Kage.
They get placed at a hotel close to the exam site. Their teacher was in it for exactly two minutes. Long enough to claim a bed, do a sweep for spyware, and look out the window just in time to see someone she knew named Baki, whom she greeted enthusiastically.
"Be good," she told them halfway out the window, because apparently this Baki didn't want to talk to her. "And don't do anything I wouldn't do."
Sai glanced at his team, but neither Fu nor Torune seemed particularly bothered by the almost malicious glee their sensei was exuding when she leapt from the hotel, despite the Hokage telling them to stay put.
Cousins? Fu signed in Root hand signs.
Affirmative. Torune signed back, before he paused, heading tilted at Sai. Coming?
They never stop asking, even if Sai always said no.
He didn't understand why, other than they were copying Mari.
Affirmative. Sensei had told them to be a team, and teams did things together, apparently.
Fu and Torune glanced at each other before heading out the door. Sai followed, footsteps softly in their shadows, and he didn't understand why he felt so out of place. He had said yes. He was going with his team.
Maybe he was just broken.
"Cousin!" Ino greeted, expression bright as the sun on fresh snow, "and friends! Welcome, we're just about to start plotting. Shika isn't here, so I've taken charge."
Sai took in the rest of the genin. "Where are the rest of the Jonin-senseis?"
"Yamato-sensei saw Mari leap out a window and went to go do damage control," Suigetsu answered with a shrug.
"Guy-sensei is pretending to run around in punishment while scooping out the contingent from Kumo," Tenten answered at the same time.
"And Asuma-sensei went to go meet with one of his contacts from the Suna Daimyo that we're not suppose to know about," Choji added cheerfully.
"What," multiple people ask at once, Sai included.
"We should focus," Shino said. "Why? Because we do not have long before the exams."
"Shino is right," green Fu added, "we can all talk shop about the crazy things our sensei's are doing later. Now, does anyone need water? I've heard rumors of a survival training test."
Every single genin, Sai included, pulled out a seal. They were mostly identical. Two women sweeping water from flowers, the Kanji for storage in the middle.
"Ah Uzumakis," Kiba sighed from the corner, "Gotta love em."
Ino put hers away first. "Right, so. Any no-goes or aim fors?"
"Kumo," Neji muttered darkly. Sai considered the genin's history. Mari might be sniffing around the cloud ninja, but not everyone was so forgiving.
"Fair and valid my dude," green Fu agreed, "like last time anyone from Taki is off limits. Kiri as well, but I don't think there's any Mist nin, is there?"
"Not this time," Suigetsu said, "Fighting is getting bad."
"Mari think's it's getting close to the conclusion. She and dad have been talking about it," Ino added, and Suigetsu seemingly steeled himself at the answer.
"Hm. Gotta win this then."
"Sure," Tenten agreed, "anyone got any complaints about that?"
Sai raised his hand. "Isn't the point of the exam is to win?"
Kiba snorted. "Naw, the point is to chunin readiness. Throwing your chance at winning a stupid battle royal so your teammates and comrades can look better shows that. Also the final stages are just so rich nobles can watch state sanctioned gladiator fights."
"I think we can save the politics suck for a later date," Orange Fu said, and Sai eyed him. That was ever so vaguely treasonous. "Taki is out, Kumo is in. Anything else?"
"Are we still hunting down Kusa for their most unyouthful treatment of our comrade?" Lee asked, which, had that happened the last exam?
"I think that's on hold after the civil war," Suigetsu answered. "Lotta nin got killed, or discreetly put on trial for bloodline crimes. So. You know."
Are you doing ok? Ino asked in Konoha sign, blue eyes sharp in their focus.
Fine. He replied.
"Uh, what about Suna?" Choji wondered. "I know Mari-nee likes them, but like, this is their home turf."
Ino didn't look away. You seem a little overwhelmed.
I'm fine, he snapped, and the Yamanaka adopted a face that was far too similar to his sensei's when Nara Roka was having a bad day.
Okay.
"We shouldn't be too overwhelming," Neji stated. "This is also to make them look good."
"Half and half, we also don't want it to look like we're throwing the towel on purpose," Ino added. "Also anyone from Taki who can make it. Unless you somehow make a super cool friend in the exams and then we can adjust from there."
"Why did you look at us when you said that?" Torune asked, and Shino hummed in amusement.
"You're team seven now. Why? Because with the previous iteration all chunin they need someone new to take the title. With it comes the curse."
Sai raised his hand again, ignoring the superstition. "Isn't this treason, to conspire to help our enemies?"
"Naw," said Kiba, who then did not elaborate. Sai took in the way the rest of the genin were looking at him, and decided to pick his battles.
"I see."
"Yosh!" Shouted Lee, a brilliant sunrise appearing like a halo behind him, and what. "Let us show our might! We shall prove to all that we are the bestest and nicest and the strongest. Come! We should leave now so we will be early!"
Sai attempt Kai. He froze, staring at Lee in horror. "Kai isn't working."
Neji leaned over, a look of exhaustion on his face. "It never does."
What did that even mean, Lee couldn't use Chakra externally, how was he doing that? Neji patted his shoulder, and Sai did not feel better for it.
"Right," Orange fu sighed, "let's go then. Ready?"
Sai gave a nod, even if he didn't feel ready. His feelings didn't matter.
Shin would disagree, but he was years dead now.
It was odd, he used to be so good about not thinking about what his brother would've wanted.
The other Fu turned to look at him as they walk down the hallway. There was something in her gaze. Sai didn't have the words for it. It was soft, but not weak. Emotional, but not overwhelming. It was kind, without any sense of pity, unlike a great deal of others.
"We got your back," she promised, expression almost a carbon copy of Uchiha Mari's, right down the way her eyes glittered dangerously. He gave a nod, tongue heavy in his mouth as the script he normally followed had long been tossed out.
He was so easily drawn into the fold after that.
Which wasn't to say they had been cold before, everyone had been perfectly nice, but it was like Fu's words had set a challenge amount them. Kiba and Shino asked him to decided which topic was better before going back to bickering while Tenten and green Fu asked him what weapon he thought was better. Suigetsu and Lee and Neji debated heavily about taijutstu verses ninjutsu verses kinjutsu, all three of them using his experience as if it were the end to the debate.
Ino was focused on his team, asking about Mari-sensei and how they were doing considering everything the past few months and what they were looking forward to, if any dreams seemed within reach.
Sai watched them talk, and didn't understand.
They were Root, same as him, so why did they find it so easy to move forward? Why did it seem like they had found their footing with a simple breath.
Why did they get to be brothers, when Sai was the one forced to kill his.
It was a thought that haunte him all the way to Suna command center.
He had expected a written exam. Most Chunin tests had one. But it seemed this time Suna was deviating from the norm.
Sai was lead into a room with two mirrors on either side. It was a trapizod shaped configuration, with a Suna Jonin standing in the middle. He could see both of his teammates on either side, but attempts at commutation via hand signs failed, which meant neither could see him.
"Who is your weakest link," the Jonin asked, "and of the three members of your team, which two should move forward.
"Sai," Fu said instantly, "he doesn't work with us. Torune and I have been partners for years, we should be the ones to go on ahead."
"Sai," Torune replied, "he doesn't want to be on our squad anyway. Why? Because he sees us as beneath him, and such a nin doesn't make a good partner. Fu and I will see this through."
The answers hurt.
Even if they were lies, even if Sai knew them to be truths, his teammates would never say such things aloud. Mari had infected them faster than Shin had died beneath his blade.
No, this was a test.
To see how well he knew his teammates perhaps, or just to see how well he'd handle betrayal.
Joke was on them though. Danzo had carved Sai inside out a long time ago. There was nothing to do but swallow his hurt, and make sure the better fighters of his team made it further.
"Sai," he answered, ignoring the lump in his throat. "I am just an added clog in a well oiled machine. Torune and Fu are more likely to pass without me. They should move on to the next stage."
The Jonin nodded, and began to write something down. Sai watched him for one minute and thirteen seconds, the man growing more and more surprised the longer time passes.
"Konoha-nin," he crumbled, "crazy lot, down to the genin. Team Mari, pass. All three of you head to the eastern gate to collect your supplies."
Sai stared at him, before numbly walking out.
He was greeted by the side of his teammates, once again on either side.
"So," Fu started, " Genjutsu making us think the others were betraying us?
"It was poorly researched," Torune agreed, moving towards his friend. "Why? Because we follow the rule of ohana, and that means no one gets left behind, or forgotten."
The two falter then, as they look at each other, and then at Sai. He planted a smile on his face, as fake as the name Danzo gave him.
"Mari is a good teacher. I knew it wasn't you from the moment my "teammates" opened their mouths. You'd never say that kind of thing out loud."
They look at each other again, and Torune, being the closest, reached out first.
"Sai, we are a very good team, Fu and I, but only with you can we thrive, can we be Team Mari. Why? Because you add a balance we did not require under Danzo."
He frowned. "You a perfect partners. Danzo made you to be."
"Well, yes," Fu agreed, "but with you we can cover our backs, we can retreat, we can even go on the offensive without having to worry about leaving the other exposed. With you we can survive. It's why I said you and Torune should continue, because you'd help him get away better than I could."
Sai stared. They could not be serious.
"I said the same," Torune added. "Why? Because you and Fu would more mobile than I. This clearly surprises you. It should not. To quote our sensei, you're one of ours, there's no escaping now."
"That's toxic," he reminded, and Fu laughed, placing his arm around Sai's shoulder.
"Don't take it so literally Sai," he mused as they started walking down the hallway. "It's an expression."
They walk down the corridor, and Sai wondered briefly if he had been poisoned. His chest was tight, a bundle of something in his lungs.
It wasn't fair.
It wasn't fair. Shin was the one who deserved to live. To have brothers like this, to have a team that valued him so. Shin deserved people who'd fight for him, who'd love him, faults in all.
It wasn't fair that all Shin got for family was someone who killed him.
Mari didn't comment on his tears. She just sighed his name like it was a precious thing, and held him close. She was warm, heart beating so very loudly in her chest, like a battle drum.
Nothing in life was, according to Danzo, and perhaps that was true. Nothing about this fair, but one day, somehow, Sai was going to make it so.
Chapter 3: Morii
Chapter Text
Out of all the kids ands adults that came through my door, I think Yamato, or Tenzo as he sometimes liked to be called, was the most endearing. It was the doubt, his fear about stepping where he didn't belong, even if he so desperately wanted to. He worried about it, that Root had broken something in him. A universal fear, though with Yamato it was an unfounded one. All one ever had to do was look at the Den, or his interactions with the other Root survivors, to see he had as big a heart as any of them. Teaching him he didn't have to be of value in order be worthy of existence or friendship was a hell of thing, but so very worth it, in the end. They were all worth it, even if they caused me to go grey early.
Excerpt from the personal journals of Yamanaka Haruka, volume four.
Mari was on the warpath from the moment she saw Baki.
Yamato felt for the Suna nin, he truly did. The man had made a valiant attempt at escape without drawing too much attention, but ever since Tobirama had corrected Mari's sensing she had been impossible to shake.
Kami the fact he could think that with a straight face was insane. His life had turned insane.
Kakashi owed him so much Sake for this.
(Somewhere in Otogakure, Kakashi sneezed. He shifted a little closer to the wall. Kabuto was hiding in this area, the little shit. Mari would find it funny, if she were here. Kabuto hiding from Kakashi who was hiding from Orochimaru who was hiding from Sasuke who was hiding from Itachi who was hiding from Kisame.
Kisame was hiding from nobody, not even the old war hag Mari had made them house. Where she had found that elder Yamanaka he had no idea, but he really, really, wished she hadn't.)
Luckily for Baki, Asuma had the worst sense of timing.
They both stopped in their tracks as the Sarutobi exited a brothel disguised as a hotel. Baki also stopped, and Yamato signed go in ninja hand sign. The man gave a grateful nod as he continued to book it, and Yamato turned to focus on their comrade.
Mari had narrowed her eyes at Asuma, chakra shifting in the air as the rest of the Suna populace slowly began to back away.
Hm. That was kind of sad. Konoha citizens at this point had no fear, and fights between shinobi were more entertainment than a danger.
He could do without the betting on his love life though.
"This isn't what it looks like," Asuma finally sputters, and they both raise a singular judgmental eyebrow at that. That was just sad, even for the Sarutobi.
"Really," Mari drawled doubtfully, "because it looks looks like you just met a contact from a noble court and attempted to poorly disguise it as a meet up with an escort which would never hold to scrutiny because everyone from here to Snow Country knows you are hopelessly in love with Kurenai."
Asuma stared for a moment, two. "Do you think Kurenai knows?"
Yamato slapped his hand to his forehead.
"We'll circle back to that," Mari said with a hint of amusement in her tone, subtly activating one of her red herring seals. "Did your contact have anything interesting to say? I assume it's fairly urgent, since you decided to meet with them now, instead of later."
"Ah right. Yes. It's from the grape vine but apparently there's a Suna nin who has the ability to extract tailed beasts, and the rumor is he really, really, doesn't like the new Kazekage. With security being so spread out, if there was ever an opportunity to attack now is the time, before Garra gets more settled into office."
Well shit. He glanced at Mari, but the Uchiha just hummed, seemingly unconcerned with the knowledge. "Hm. We should probably tell someone about that."
Oh no. Yamato knew that tone. "Absolutely not."
"Yes," Asuma agreed slowly, too slowly. "We should."
"Or," Mari tested, gracefully dodging away from Yamato.
"Uchiha Mari we will not continue this train of thought," he threatened, wondering what he had done to deserve this.
"Or?" Asuma asked, the traitor.
"Or we could, you know, not have our chunin exam disrupted by a malcontent. It would be such a shame to bother the likely very busy Kazekage with this, especially since this is such a critical time of showing unity and support, don't you think?"
"We are not thinking," Yamato hissed, "we are going straight to the Hokage, and let the powers that be deal with it."
Asuma raised a cigarette to his lips. "What's in it for me?"
"Asuma."
Mari reached out, snatching the cig before Sarutobi could light it. "I can rig it so Ino at the very least gets chunin, because we both know if she's a genin for any longer she's going to break into T&I to alter her records, and then we'd both have to deal with that. Plus there's no greater stress reliever than beating someone up for being an asshole, be it verbal or physical, and something tells me this is going to get physical."
"Yeah sure let's do it."
"Asuma!"
It ended up getting physical.
-
Guy looked at them critically when they walked into the Jonin-sensei center for the exams.
"Did you have a fight without me?" he quietly cried.
Yamato wasn't sure how he knew, considering that Mari's henge seals were a damn near perfect disguise, unless you knew what you were looking for.
"Guy, we love you, but you aren't exactly," Asuma paused, thinking of how to phrase his thought in the most polite way possible. "Stealthy."
"I could if I wanted to be," Guy hissed, "this is an affront, a betrayal."
It was a betrayal alright. Yamato poked his gut again. It was weird not to see the wound, or even feel it. Hakui-sensei was going to kill them when they got back, and Yamato would have no mercy letting the med-nin know Mari was the one who decided they didn't need medical attention.
"Hey," Mari's voice drew his attention, "how was the Kumo contingent?"
Sage not again. Guy put a hand to his chin. "Competitive as always, and your predictions on who would be coming as representatives were spot on."
Mari hummed. "Anyone need any talking to?"
Guy glanced at the Kumo contingent. "While I would say no, I am reminded that lust for power and hunger for prestige are impurities that can dull even the sharpest weapon."
Guy, Guy why.
"Let's go remind them then, I'd hate for them to lose any weapons to impurities."
Guy gave a Yosh, offering his arm to Mari, which she took with a small laugh.
Yamato watched them walk away, praying to whatever gods might be listening that they didn't get into another fight.
The last unsanctioned S-class one was enough.
"I have to go with her, don't I," he complained to Asuma, who pulled out another cigarette.
"I think the Hokage would give a pass for not wanting Kumo to know we've got a wood release user right here," Asuma replied, frowning when Yamato concentrated on the cig, turning the plants into a mess of green and bark. "Hey."
"Mari has given you patches, I know she has. Smoke is bad for your lungs."
"I'm a Sarutobi, we're smoke resistant."
"And giving second hand smoke to the people who aren't is okay because?"
"Oh look, Mari's talking to someone who looks very high up in the Kumo chain of command."
"I hate you," he muttered, and Asuma rolled his eyes.
"No you don't. Go, I'll lay off the cigs, promise."
Yamato sighed. "This is the worst day of my life."
Asuma eyed him. "Is it?"
Yamato thought of the jar and trying to kill Kakashi and honestly everything with Danzo and Orochimaru. "No."
By the time Yamato walked over the Kumo nin were the politest he had ever see them be, both from first hand and second hand accounts. They lived in the mountains though, so maybe they were just better at noticing when there was a predator around. Mari could fool most people with her I'm just a sweet young thing, but every once in a while someone saw the orange in the trees, and knew.
When she was certain no one would be doing anything stupid Mari went to go check up on her Genin. Yamato let her, knowing if things went poorly, the root seedlings wouldn't want anyone else to see.
Yamato felt no need to leave.
Suigetsu and Fu had self-esteem for days, and Kiba was. Well Kiba was very much his mother reborn.
Tsunade eyed him when he finally went back to the Konoha contingent.
"Are you, Asuma, and Mari injured?" She asked, how had she, wait, sensor, right. He twitched, thinking of what to say.
"Yes," he said, giving a little bit of Chakra to the disguise seal, the laughing tanuki and giggling fox practically mocking him from the palm of his hand. "We are still in fighting shape, if need be."
"Not what I asked," Tsunade sighed, then. "Do I even want to know?"
Yamato grimaced. "Not yet."
"Fucking problem children," Tsunade muttered, which was entirely unfair. Mari was a problem child. Yamato had never done anything wrong in his life, ever. "Come on sprout, I'm doing the rounds. We've only got so long before the genin cause trouble that require my attention."
He would protest this, but considering his genin, Yamato wisely kept his mouth shut.
At least they left Karin at home. There was only so much damage she could do there before her mother stopped her.
Yamato wasn't entirely sure Mari slipped back into the command, but oh did he notice when she started talking to the newly minted Tsubukage. Kusagakure had used a council system before their civil war, though what exactly that civil war had been about was still somewhat up in the air.
Well, to most people. He had the sinking suspicion Mari knew damn well what it was about.
Tsunade sighed, having finally noticed Mari's relocation. "This is why I assigned you to damage control."
You try it then, he didn't snap. "Yes Hokage-sama."
"Ah," Mari greeted when they walked over, looking far too happy to see them. "Muku-sama, Ryuzetsu-san, this is the Lord Fifth, Senju Tsunade. Tsunade-sama, this is the Lord First of Kusagakure, Muku of the green storm. I'm not sure if you've ever had the pleasure of meeting."
"Greetings Lord Fifth," the Tsubukage half bowed, and Yamada truly took him in. The ninja was young, early twenties, if he had to guess. He had dark black hair and tanned skin with sharp dark grey eyes. "I was hoping to talk to you actually. Can we?"
Tsunade gave a hum, moving slightly away from the three of them. Mari watched them go the same way a cat watched its human place a cup preciously on the counter. The young woman with pale blond hair and almost purple eyes snorted, and Yamato frowned as he turned his attention to the Kusa nin.
He'd seen this person before, from somewhere.
"So how's the new book coming along? I've heard the sequel is going to be interesting," Mari asked, a thread of humor in her voice, like she was sharing a private joke with the other ninja.
"Pretty good actually," Ryuzetsu answered back, "You sent good notes along. My publisher is growing slightly suspicious though, just so you know."
"Meh we'd have to bring him in eventually, so tell him if you want. Or not, if you find it funny. Here's the plans for the last one in the trilogy, if you want it." Mari replied as she pulled an entire manuscript out of her pocket.
Yamato stared.
Where had she found the time?
Wait, no. Kakashi had taught her how to use a shadow clone, that was how.
Ryuzetsu took the papers, and suddenly Yamato remembered very viciously where he knew her from.
"Mari," he asked slowly, "Please tell me the writer you hosted a few months back wasn't an anbu agent for the grass flowers side of the civil war."
"I didn't host an anbu agent for the grass flowers side of the civil war a few months back," Mari chirped like a lying lier who lied. She turned to Ryuzetsu. "How's Mui? Still obsessed with the box?"
The Kusa nen twitched, like that meant something. Was it code or were they talking about an actual box. "My father in law is still obsessed with the box, yes."
Mari gave an annoyed grimace. "You'd think one near miss would be enough. Oh well, could be worse."
"Agreed, could be worse," Ryuzetsu said slowly, glancing at Yamato like she wasn't sure how much he knew, and also as someone who was very well aware that whatever had happened, very much was going to be worse, had Mari not intervened.
Yamato knew a lot of people like that, these days.
Before Yamato could ask Mari what the fuck she had done, the two Kages meandered back.
"Mari-san," Muku greeted with a charismatic smile, "it is truly an honor to meet you at last. Thank you for the introduction, and for all of your wise words."
They really, really needed to have Mari start telling people when she meddled. And seriously, where was she finding the time.
"Well it's always nice to see what beautiful things spring brings," Mari returned, which was for sure code for something, considering the way the two ninja twitched. Or they had met Guy. He'd shudder too, but he had built up an immunity, thanks to over exposure. "I'm sure your people are very grateful you've surprised every expectation. "
Muku hummed, like he was reminded why you don't jump don't into a bear pit when there's a bear inside. He then turned to Tsunade. "Hokage-Sama, please, let the Uzumaki know if there is anything else my people can do as restitution. If there is nothing else, I think we will take our leave."
"I will," Tsuande said, face a polite political mask.
His Hokage watched the Kusa nin walked away, before slowly turning to Mari.
The eldest Uchiha smiled, posture entirely cat like.
"Mari?"
"Yes Hokage-sama?
"When we get back, you and I are going to have a conversation about farming."
They continued on the rounds. There weren't any ninja from Kirigakure, which Yamato had… feelings about. The lack of anyone from Otogakura, on the other hand, was something he was oh so grateful for.
He wasn't sure how Mari had managed that, but he was sure it'd come back around, one way or another.
Tsunade had just decided she had done enough politicking for the day when a representative from Ame showed up. And not just any old ninja either, no walking in the door was Konan, bright blue hair done up in a perfect bun.
Mari went from an almost arrogant sprawl near on the monitors to tenser than a nocked arrow.
Garra was the first to move.
He approached the kunoichi without an ounce of fear, the two of them talking softly, to the concern of the kid's siblings.
"Mari," Yamato prompted, when his cousin remained frozen at the screen.
"I didn't think she'd show," Mari said slowly, fingers subtly tracing the symbol for rotting reeds.
Ah. Zetsu was what she was really worried about, and considering their injuries, that was fair concern. "Do you want to leave?"
"No, no I'm alright. I just, I should've been more conservative, earlier, but we should be ok. We're ok."
Yamato gave a hum. "Well, if it makes you feel any better, between the green beast, the combat medic of the Sannin, and two tailed beasts, I think we're covered if anyone decided to start something."
Garra turned to look at the Hokage, who sighed, and started walking over. The room watched the three of them talk, not knowing why there was tension, just that there was. Yamato noted how Kumo and Iwa seemed particularly interested.
Hm. He'd have to sic Mari on them again, once things calmed down.
"I don't know what you even worried about," he jabbed, knowing that banter always made Mari feel better. "It's not like it's a sannin with the two strongest kages of their times at his beck and call with no chance of reinforcements."
Mari turned at him, annoyance wrinkling her nose. "I had a plan for that."
"Was the plan to die?" He asked doubtfully, earning a disgruntled sound that was ever so cat like.
"Why am I friends with you again?"
"It's a question for the ages. Madara must be rolling in his grave."
Mari snorted. "Gods I sure hope he is."
Tsunade then gestured for them to head over, looking at ease, for all Yamato knew otherwise. "Come on, you've got damage to do."
His sister in all but blood rolled her eyes, getting more and more settled with every step she took. "It's called building bridges, tenzo-chan."
He raised a brow. "Then why am I on damage control?"
"Did she actually use those words?" Mari cried, only somewhat playing at offense. It was easy to forget, sometimes, just how young she really was. The corpse-thief didn't often have moments of insecurity, but then, that's why they were there, to help her through them.
"Hokage-sama, My lords," he greeted, Mari echoing his words.
It was odd, normally he'd be anxious about this sort of thing, but what he had said to Mari was true. Between Guy and Tsunade and the rest of them, they'd be ok.
Yamato and Asuma and probably Mari wouldn't be, but alas, that was a problem for future Yamato.
"This is Senju Yamato and Mari Uchiha," Tsunade introduced, and Yamato felt a burst of warmth at the name.
Tsunade had asked him if he had wanted it, when they had first met. He knew then she had wanted him to say yes, had wanted even a hint of family. But she had given him a choice, and after a few weeks of thinking it over Yamato had said yes.
Konan's eyes sharpened, entirely focused on Mari. "You killed him. Danzo."
"I did," Mari replied. She seemed smaller, in this moment. "Do I need to be worried about itachi?"
"No," Konan replied, "his contract termination was perfectly acceptable."
"I'm glad to hear it," the Uchiha replied, and then a hint of mischief entered her eyes. "And hey, if you ever want to watch it, just let me know."
There was a moment of silence, because sage wept Mari.
Konan gave a hum of consideration. "I believe we can come to an agreement."
How was this his life? How had this become his life?
Kami he missed anbu.
"Oh, before I forget, I've got letters for Uzumaki Nagato," Mari said as she dug through her various pockets, completey ignoring the looks everyone was giving her. Of course she had letters for the leader of the Akatsuki. "They're from Uzumaki karin, Naruto, and Akari respectively. He's welcome to visit the den at any time by the way."
Now that Yamato could believe. The den, after all, was warded to hell and back. It would take a god to get through them.
… Sage Yamato prayed he didn't just jinx them.
"Can he?" Konan asked dubiously, and Tsunade sighed, no doubt cursing her great uncle for the thousandth time.
"Unfortunately, thanks to the Lord Second, Konoha's bylaws are very clear."
Mari grinned at her Hokage's suffering. "Gotta love your great uncle. Paperwork truly does make the world go round."
"Besides," Garra added, entirely deadpan, "you wouldn't the worst she's invited over. How many swordsmen do you have at the moment."
Yamato resisted the urge to slap a hand to his face. The answer was too many, even if only a few of them were actually registered.
"We both know it's only two," mari lied like a lier with an adoption problem.
The Kazekage hummed doubtfully. Good. He was learning. He then turned to Konan. "Come, I will show you where you can watch your genin."
Konan followed, and the three of them watched her go.
"Mari," Tsunade asked, "did you really just happen have those letters on hand?"
"I've carried Nagato's ever since I discovered he existed, and everyone in the den carries a generic 'hey glad you're alive please come to Konoha where it's safe' with them these days."
Tsunade then turned to Yamato, who sighed, and pulled his own copy of said letter. He also had ones for most Kiri clans, a few Iwa clans, certain Kumo ninjas, and any of the Jinchuriki.
The Hokage gave a considering hum, glancing once at Konan. "Anything in those seeds I should know about?"
"No need to risk the bridge. Ant's don't like to reminded of the boot."
Yamato twitched, refusing to glance at any insects in the room. It was very creepy to know just how many summons Mari had access to. Particularly things that should not be summons.
"We'll talk about that later," Tsunade replied, "For now we have something much more important to discuss. Who do you think is going to win, I've got bets to place."
Oh Kami no, not this again.
Yamato took in Mari's team, all them beat to the nines. They hadn't made it the third and final stage, and judging from the fact there wasn't a single genin who wasn't from either Konoha or Suna, Yamato knew who to blame.
Well, technically since Karin, Shikamaru, and anyone from team seven wasn't there, the real person to blame was Ino.
The Yamanaka heiress seemed to notice his attention, turning to wave at the Konoha contingent from the contestant stands. Yamanaka Fu waved back, the action earning a grin from Mari, no doubt brimming with pride at well her kittens had preformed.
He looked skyward. This was going to be a long day.
First match was between a Suna genin named Yome and Kiba. It was a good fight. Akamaru and his human partner had gotten so much better since the last exams, moving with a grace near unparalleled. It ended when Yome got a kuni under Akamaru's neck and Kiba folded immediately at the threat.
Slightly suspicious, but unsurprising.
Next up was Tenten against someone named Yukata.
Yamato glanced at the other Genin. Neji was siting next to Guy, though he had an annoyed expression on his face when he noticed Yamato watching. "Don't ask."
Sai leaned over to whisper in Yamato's ear. "He is annoyed because Lee used the eight gates during their fight. Neji forfeited so he could yell at him. By all rights the Hyuga would've won."
Ah. "Your sensei is going to kill Guy if Lee ends up in the hospital again."
Sai eye smiled at him. "You'd think so yes."
Hm. Now that was also suspicious. What were the genin planning?
Tenten won her match, as did Ino, handily defeating the single Ame genin. Choji lost to Garra's protege, as did Shino to a Suna genin who acted and fought distressingly similar to Lee.
Speaking of Lee, he and Green Fu had been matched up. It was a fight that had started off strong right until Lee had activated the Gates, causing Fu to forfeit before yelling at him. Neji made a disgruntled sound, and Guy sweat dropped when Mari turned to look at him.
"We're having a talk when we get back," she promised, right as the two Suna nin went at it, with the victor being someone named Sen.
Last to go was Suigetsu, facing off against a genin named Shishio. It became apparent they were a bad match up. Shishio was better served in a support position, as evidenced by how effortlessly Yamato's student won the fight.
There was a small break, and Yamato caught Mari's gaze.
This seems a little too even, he signed in root sign language, don't you think?
I've spawned Mini-me's it seems, she replied, the real question is are they going to let Suna win, or are they going to take the hat?
A question indeed. What are the odds it's just a coincidence the only genin who moved forward to this stage are the ones who are vocal in their support of Garra?
Oh absolutely zero.
They were joined by Choji and Shino, the aburame moving to sit next to his cousin while Choji moved to sit next to orange Fu.
The second round of matches of started with Ino and Matsui. After a long game of cat and mouse, Ino pretended to miss with her family's jutsu, a move that fooled everyone but Asuma, Mari, himself, and probably Guy.
Tsunade still didn't understand this was a hell generation, and was treating them like normal genin.
Tenten lost to the Suna Lee. That was an actual win on Shira's part, and Yamato despaired for the state of the arena in the match that was to come. Lee and Shira were going to go nuts.
Lee easily won his match with the Suna genin, same as Suigetsu. They were good, the kids from sand, and with a different match up might have gone far.
They'd make to chunin easily next exam, if they didn't this one.
The third round of matches started with Lee verses Shira. They were both Chunin level in terms of Taijutsu, if not Tokubetsu Jonin. The Suna nin all seemed surprised at the level of strength, even if the Konoha contingent wasn't.
Mari had long beat into them the value of different kids of strengths.
Lee seemed particularly happy at the amount of cheering he got, both from his fellow genin and the jonin who had come with. He was sure there was a very dramatic and heartfelt conversation happening below in the pit.
The air rippled with Chakra, waves of power distorting the air, and Lee opened about three gates before Mari stood and shouted, "Rock Lee don't you fucking dare."
Lee tripped at the sudden killing intent, allowing Shira an opportunity to get him in a choke hold, though the green glad genin didn't surrender. "But Mari-Nee, he is like me! We will show our strength and the power of our desire to be shinobi without Chakra! I will fight him with all my might!"
"Not with the gates you won't!" Mari yelled back, "Life or death only! Your body is still growing damn it!"
"Such passion for my safety!" Lee cried, bending his body to kick Shira in the face. The fight was on again, and Mari was back to glaring at Guy, who was looking anywhere else.
Ino leaned over to whisper something to Mari just as Shira cracked the earth, Lee burning up one the shield seals Mari had helped create. Why it was a person in a pointy hat shooting a force field with the kanji of reaction on it, Mari would never explain, just giggle, and promise it'd all make sense one day.
Shira ended up wining, by an inch. Yamato and Guy turned to look at Mari, who sighed, and looked at Ino, who adopted a who me? expression.
It was mostly believable, with both genin promising a rematch at their full strength.
Yamato hoped to be no where near the country when that happened.
Next up was Suigetsu verses Matsui. They were both weapon users, and it was very quickly apparent both giving this fight their full attention.
He felt a stab of loss. Suigetsu was giving his all, serious in a way Yamato hadn't seen in a long time. He was beautiful, the way he moved with a blade, and it was such a shame there was no one from his country to see him fight, even if Yamato was grateful at the continued fighting.
It was a terrible thing to be thankful for, but Yamato would take whatever time he had left with his student, no matter the cost.
Mari watched with the same bittersweet gaze, a smile tugging on her lips when Suigetsu pulled out a very familiar seal, the hammer visible even from here. Yamato sighed as his student hid away his longsword, wondered what weapon Mari had gotten him. Some Uchiha relic perhaps, or one of the tanto's she was-
Or she had fucking given his student a modified Shibuki.
Guy made a small sound as Suigetsu let off an almost maniacal cackle, explosion seals spilling out like ribbons. They had added an actual blade to the Kiri relic, half of a sawfish blade, and ok, who let his student add the modification that turned the spikes into a chain saw.
He did not need that.
No one needed that.
"When did you give him that," Yamato complained, once again when she found the time. "Wait, did Kakashi know?"
"He gave the lessons for the modified saw blade, but no. Figured it'd be a fun surprise." Mari paused then, amused energy fading as she turned and noticed Guy, who was sitting so very still in his seat. "He's real good with it. I asked him if he wanted something new, but he didn't. Not just because of his brother, but because he wanted to take something old, something bloodied, and give a history its next user could be proud of."
Guy gave a hum, a serious expression on his face as he turned to Mari. "How many?"
"Swords I actually have in my possession, three. In terms of I know where they are and approve of who's got them, it's six, and about to be seven."
The other Jonin-sensei grunted, eyes sharp as they turned back to the match. "Very well then."
Mari grimaced, and Yamato very much wished he wasn't between them. There was a lot of history, between the seven swordsmen of the mist and Maito clan. Even the Genin were silent. "Sorry. Next time I'll give you a warning. I didn't think about it."
Guy huffed, turning back towards Mari. "I am not as weak as that."
"Didn't say you were," she rebutted softly. "It's about being professional Guy. We've got a good friendship, and friends look out for each other."
Yamato sighed as Guy wept, a sunset in the background as he exclaimed about the beauty of spring and the lasting bonds of camaraderie.
Sai leaned over, eyes wide. "Why doesn't kai work with them?"
"Because the Universe hates us," he explained, earning a twitch from the root seedling.
"That is superstitious nonsense."
He gave a hum of doubt, looking at Guy. "Yes, you'd think so, wouldn't you?"
They get lunch, letting the last two finalists have a breather.
"Any more surprises for us," Yamato asked as they got back into their seats, and Mari grinned.
"Maybe just one more, depends on Suigetsu," she told him, settling back like a cat on a lap, the sun casting highlights in black hair.
He rolled his eyes, meeting the purple gaze of his student in the stadium below. He was fourteen now, fifteen in a couple months. He was so young. He already acted like he was in his twenties.
Yamato gave him a nod, and his student grinned, shark teeth proudly on display.
Honestly, Kiri ninja.
Suigetsu was good at taijutsu. Not as good as Shira, and not good as Lee, but he held his own. They danced and danced, up until the Suna nin snarled at him to stop taking pity on him, and to fight.
The kid look at up him once more. Yamato sighed, and pulled a gesture out of Guy's book. The thumbs up shook a laugh out of his student, but the grin stayed as he pulled out his brother's blade, and so the dance began again.
This time though Suigetsu did a serious of hand signs both far too familiar and entirely foreign.
He sucked in his breath at the otters that sprang from Suigetsu's blood, the predators the same size as Inuzuka war dog. He turned to look at Mari, because really?
Though he supposed it was to be expected, considering what she did with team seven.
"I didn't realized you disliked Kiri's Lord Second that much," he drawled as Suigetsu used the otters to box Shira in.
His cousin huffed, expression thoughtful as she gazed down at their pup. "He isn't an echo, Suigetsu. He isn't a watered down copy of his brother and he isn't an afterthought of a once powerful clan. He's something new, something better, rising to meet the old. Also could you imagine the man's face?"
Yamato eyed Mari. "He's dead. We know he's dead, right?"
"He's definitely a corpse," Mari agreed, "And he'll stay that way. You know. Probably."
He couldn't help the groan the escaped his throat. "Mari, beloved cousin of mine?"
"Yes Tenzo-chan?"
"If you've just jinxed us, I'm going to murder you."
She laughed, the sound lost as the crowd roared. Shira had yielded, his student holding his brother's sword high in the air, white hair stained red with blood.
Suigetsu was covered in bruises, and probably on the edge of Chakra exhaustion, but even so he looked entirely triumphant.
He looked like a swordsman.
It's only bittersweet for the pair of them.