Scarlet Justice [Naruto AU]

[FortePlus]

Scarlet Justice: Full Blossom – ep. 56
"Dailies"
---

I still feel a bit uncomfortable about taking time off, which is coming about because of my earlier anxieties. Work has always been a good way to keep my mind off of certain things, but I realize that it's also a bit unhealthy. Facing my issues has been for the best, and with help from my friends and family, I've been doing very well.

And so, while still on my so-called vacation, I've decided to visit my lovely goddaughter.

"She missed her auntie," Kurenai says as she takes a seat next to me. Asuma is busy getting ready for work and Kurenai will be running her own errands shortly since I'll be here. Mirai does indeed seem happy to see me, smiling and wiggling her arms as I rock her gently.

"I'm very happy to see her myself. I think I needed this more than I realized," I say.

"You really should take as long as you need to recover. The world might not stand still in a real sense, but so much of this can wait. It wouldn't be good if anything happened to you."

"That's true."

"You're a really strong girl, but sometimes we can't just work through everything that gives us trouble. You know what I mean?"

"I do. I would be foolish not to listen to you, Kurenai. You have far more experience in these things than I do, and your advice has always been valuable. Thank you for looking after me," I say with sincerity.

"Nothing to it, especially after everything you've done for us."

Asuma enters the room and gives me a quick salute. "Well, I'm off for a day or two. Try not to miss me too much while I'm gone. Glad you're doing okay, Lili. Make sure to stay away from as much work as you can, alright?"

"Quite a task you've saddled me with," I say. He chuckles and pats my head. Mirai gets a kiss on her forehead and Kurenai a firm kiss on the lips.

"You girls be good."

"Yeah," Kurenai says. "Be careful out there."

"Always. I'll send you a message once we get settled in at base."

They share another kiss before Asuma takes off for good. Kurenai watches him go wistfully.
"Asuma knows what he's doing," I say to her.

"Always does. Just doesn't stop me from worrying."

"Have you noticed anything? Strange omens and the like?"

She shakes her head. "Nothing like that. I'm just nervous with all the stuff happening. Those killings, the mummified bodies or whatever it was. Did you find anything out about that?"

"I did, and it should be a source of relief to you. The two members of Akatsuki responsible for such things should be licking their wounds at this moment, and are far on the other end of the continent by now."

"That is relieving to hear. I guess Lord Hokage knows all about it by now, eh."

"He should. My report was quite detailed, due to the time I spent on it."

"I guess that I should have made peace with the fact that shinobi life is dangerous, but...I dunno. It's different when you have someone you love, and being a parent on top of that," she says as she looks at Mirai. "But your humanity isn't something so easily tossed away, or put on a shelf for your convenience. Preaching to the choir, of course."

"Mm."

"A long time ago now, back when the village was under attack by the Nine Tails, my dad was keeping a bunch of us kids from jumping into the fight. I didn't understand what he meant about me being a woman at the time. The whole point of us becoming shinobi was to defend the village from everything that threatened it, right? It took a while for me to get it, but I eventually did. Your family is your family. Dangerous work doesn't mean you just detach yourself from the consequences. Mirai would be just fine if anything happened to us, but it would still hurt just not being there. That's what it feels like, at least. Maybe it doesn't make sense."

"Even beyond life, you would still feel regret. It's nothing terribly hard to understand. Momma has said as much."

Kurenai nods. "That's good to know, that those kinds of thoughts are something relatable. I'm gonna get going now, so that I can finish up before Mirai gets too fussy. Everything is where it always is, in case you need anything."

"Understood. Take care of whatever you need to, Kurenai."

"Yeah." She stands up and kisses me on the forehead. "Thanks again, Lili."

"Anything for my cool big sister."

"Hm." She smiles and picks up her purse, then puts on her shoes at the front door before leaving. Mirai wiggles a bit in my arms, and I hold her a bit closer to me so that she can feel calmer.

"A better future for everyone. That's the reason behind your name, you know," I say to her. "So how do we get there? What will it take?"

I find myself thinking of the people I encountered on my recent trip. Fuu and Choumei, who were treated as nothing but tools for as long as they had been in the Hidden Waterfall. Kai and Ishako, who lived through a traumatizing period in history and did what they had to do in order to survive. They emerged as broken, twisted people who only cared about their own desires and happiness. Yugito and Matatabi, who went through terrible experiences and continue to endure today, hoping for change yet preparing for the possible disasters that would come their way. And even Sozen, who was scarred and broken himself because of his family and their existence as shinobi. He put all of his hope into one person, and when she disappeared, everything fell apart for him.

What is the future?

I realize after some reflection that all of these feelings, the ones that all of these people have, contain meaning. Not just the ones I consider my friends and allies, but those I carry hatred for, my enemies, the ones who stand in my way. It goes a little further than just acknowledging their humanity this time. Could the future...be shaped by those dreams as well? Obito must be striving for something himself, isn't it the case? What does Pain want? What is Danzo after, truly?

What did Orochimaru fight for, in its entirety? Why does Kisame work for Akatsuki, or Deidara? Sasori had a dream himself, to see what colours would paint the world upon my ascent. Should I not acknowledge that desire, not just in passing, but in full? To protect the world and its possibilities means to accept the dreams of those I subjugate. Not just to crush them and throw them away, like Hashirama did, or like Madara wanted to.

"Was it not that...when the Uchiha lost their own dream, they became aimless? And that anger and suffering continued to build as they were oppressed by the village. Did Madara see that much?" I muse. "Was that part of what drove him towards that betrayal?"

Mirai waves her arms to get my attention, and I resume rocking her gently.

"How do I protect you best, little one? How do I open a path to the future for you and your family?"

"Ba."

"Your eyes will be sharp as well, like your grandfather's. I can tell already," I say with a smile. "Still, the work of seeing into the future will belong to me alone. At the promised time, I will become the world's pillar until the work to make a glorious new future is done. All of us together, working as one. Peace can't be built or maintained on the whims of one being, no matter how powerful. But strength is essential to pave the way, and to protect what we've created from destruction. Something my aniki understands very well."

"Aba."

"You understand, of course. I'm glad you do. Remember that you can come to me for anything that you need. And speaking of what you need, I suppose that you're getting peckish. Well, time for a bit of formula."

After making sure that Mirai is secure, I stand up and take us to the kitchen.

"Luckily for your parents, you're at the normal level of maintenance. Rose was certainly a handful at your age. She demanded the best at all times...then again, Mama did make some good milk. So I can't blame her too much, can I...mm."

I shrug and reach into the cupboard for the formula.

---

"I was certain that...Lady Hanabi was here a few minutes ago."

The attendant with me looks around the area. I wanted to see how Hina was doing today, but she is out taking care of some important business. Hanabi was apparently around earlier, but I think I know what's happened.

"She probably knows that I've arrived by now," I say to the young woman, before she can activate her Byakugan. "It's alright, I can wait here for her to show herself."

"If that is your wish, Lady Kobayashi. What else will you need of me?"

"Nothing at this moment, so you're free to go. Thank you for your help."

"Of course." She bows deeply before leaving. I walk through the nearby courtyard and towards one of the trees, turning my back to it. There's a small rustling of leaves that I can hear.

"Good approach..."

I step to one side and pluck Hanabi out of the air as she approaches from my front, holding her up by the back of her robes.

"You've been keeping up with your exercises," I say to her.

"Of course. I don't want to disappoint either of my big sisters, you know. And today's a special day!"

"Is it now?"

"Mm-hm. Today's the day I finally land a good hit on you, Lili-nee. And then I'll get those snuggles I've been waiting for all this time!"

"I see. Then you're free to try your best again on this day."

I release her and she bounces off a short distance before turning and bowing to me. I bow back, and she takes her stance. Her Byakugan activates in the next moment, and then I watch her body tighten a bit before she takes off.

A bit faster than I remembered. She really has been doing well for herself, and I'm very happy to see it.

I move away and dodge her first few strikes cleanly, putting my hands behind my back and letting her dictate the speed as she pleases. Her fingers are extended to get as much reach as she can, arms moving in short, quick arcs so that she can attack and recover with the least delay. She keeps her feet on the ground as she moves, focused on trying to touch any part of my body that she can.

"Getting tough!"

Her speed increases, and with the help of the Byakugan she can move and attack from behind herself before facing me again. All of the angles are considered, and I feel for her steps on the ground before moving in the correct direction. Hanabi is a bit younger and less experienced, so I can get away with this better than I could with Hina. But she's approaching that level fairly quickly as she is. I hop over her head and to her front as she attacks, making her change direction to chase me and start a new sequence.

"Faster!" she demands.

"Alright." I bring one hand from behind my back and hold it in front of me. "Show me what you have."

"Got it!"

Hanabi focuses her chakra and accelerates, going even faster than before. It's a lot of energy she's burning, but this speed is enough to keep up with people twice her age at the least. She's determined. We both know what the outcome will be, but nothing like that has ever mattered. She wants to reach high, towards this peak. Even if she never does get to the summit, the journey is what makes her happy, what completes her. And in the end, it will make her beautiful and strong. Just like Hina.

I parry her first strike and it's heavy, her weight thrown behind it. Her body leaves the ground and she whirls to strike again, rebounding off my block and towards the ground again to sweep at my legs. I quickly step out of the way and she tumbles before jumping backwards and turning to throw another solid strike.

"Nothing yet! I can still go!" she yells.

Hanabi presses further, going into the air and throwing as many strikes as she can at me. I avoid every one of her pokes as she continues attacking on her way down, knocking her hands away a small distance each time and keeping them away from my body. She stops for a moment and takes a deep breath in before going into a body flicker, aiming at my head in one pass. She misses as I swing to the side, and she jams her feet into the ground to slow her sliding before shooting back the other way. I bend over and let her sail over my head completely. She slides and takes one more deep breath in before starting again from behind me.

"I think..."

I turn and grab her by the arms as she comes in, leaving her dangling and helpless.

"That's all for today. We don't want you too exhausted, my love." I smile and kiss her on the nose. She smiles back while catching her breath, shutting off her Byakugan.

"Unreal stuff...I don't think I'm ever catching up to you. You're so awesome, Lili-nee."

"Thank you. And you have been improving splendidly yourself. I'm very proud of you, and I know that Hina is too."

"She tells me that as much as she can. I have the best big sisters, hehe."

I move my hands to her waist, and bring her in close for her long desired hug.

"You did well enough that we can ignore the results for today. Here's the snuggle you wanted."

"Soft~. So good."

"Hmhm. You're really too much sometimes, you know." I take us over to one of the nearby trees, and slide down with my back against it. Hanabi has a proper seat in my lap now, and lets out a happy sigh. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see some of the other Hyuuga girls sneaking off back to their previous duties. It's good that we could entertain them as well, I suppose.

"Do you feel better, Lili-nee?"

"I do. Exercise is always good to clear the mind, and I always love having fun with you."

"Me too. Onee-sama told me a bit about what happened. After everything that happened with your dad, it must have been rough."

"It was, a fair bit."

"At least you're okay now." Hanabi pulls my arms a bit tighter around her. "Is it okay if I ask a question, Lili-nee?"

"Of course you may, anything you like. I always have time for you, Hanabi."

"Thank you. It might be something difficult to answer."

"That should be okay, too. Go ahead, love."

"Okay. So, I know that you're going to be the strongest and most awesome Hokage ever one day. And that means you'll be able to do anything you want, because you'll be really really powerful. But sometimes when people get that strong, they lose track of things. Like what they wanted to do in the first place, or keeping up with their friends and their family."

"I see what you're trying to get at. Hanzo of the Salamander fell into the same issue."

"Yeah. I heard about him from Daddy. He was super strong and made everyone scared for a while. And he gave the turbo perv, drunk grandma, and creepy pedo their special title of the Three Shinobi. Because they survived a fight with him."

"Yes, that's correct. He ended up retreating to a more defensive position overall, choosing to remain satisfied with the power and infamy that he had obtained in life. Because of that, he seems to have dulled and lost that legendary strength he once had. He might have met his demise already, and nobody has known it yet."

"Wow. Well at least I know you won't end up like that, Lili-nee. To get to my question, then...more than being Hokage and taking over the world one day, what do you want to do with all the awesome power you're going to get?"

"Hmm...an interesting question, and one that I have kept in mind for a long while. What I would like is something special."

"Really? What is it?" Hanabi asks eagerly.

"My desire is to become an angel, and transcend the limitations of mortals entirely."

"An angel. Um, do you want to be...immortal? Like that creep Orochimaru?"

"Nothing like him. Orochimaru greatly desired knowledge and just as greatly feared death. His twisted experiments and greed for jutsu of all kinds manifested out of such desires. I do not fear death as he did, but I am also not foolish enough to tempt its arrival. Immortality of the flesh is a confused goal."

"Of the flesh?"

"Yes. The true path is to ascend beyond the need for a body entirely, while still enacting change and guiding humanity. This is my final dream, should the stars properly align in the future. We can achieve this through the power of chakra, I believe."

"Wow wow...so you want to be an angel that watches over everyone into the future. Won't you get tired?"

"Nothing like that. With no need for an earthly shell, I will be freed of the limitations and restrictions of mortal souls. In this way, the mind can be freed, and so can the soul. Truly harmonious thought will allow one to reach complete understanding of all concepts. Or, to put it simply, I want to be around so that whenever my descendants have any questions, I can answer them faithfully. Large and small."

"That sounds like a lot, Lili-nee. Maybe more than my brain can hold. I can't imagine looking that far ahead, and trying to manage a world that doesn't exist yet. But that's your dream for the future. It sounds super cool, even if I don't get all of it yet."

"One day you will. There's no need to rush at all," I say as I pat her head.

"Yeah. I'll remember that."

"Do you have a special dream, Hanabi?" I ask.

"Nothing big yet, aside from being as cool and strong as you. Oh, and getting the same kind of smoking hot body, of course."

"Of course. As I've said before, take your time. When I first entered the village, I was close to your age. The things that I speak of now would have never left my mouth back then. At most, I just wanted to be useful to the people I loved."

"And now you've got old dummies like the Raikage shaking in their dumb old boots. You did great, Lili-nee. And you're going to do even greater things from now on."

"With your help, of course."

"Yep! You just call on your reliable little sis Hanabi, and any job you think of will get done in a flash!"

"Well said. I appreciate our partnership, and always will." I squeeze her against me, and can feel her purring gently with happiness.

---

Hanabi and I reluctantly part ways a few hours later. I needed that experience more than I realized, just playing with her and talking, with nothing else to worry about. Even though I'm not nearly as old as Hiruzen, I can understand now how energizing it is to be with people younger than you, and to absorb their enthusiasm. I hope that I can continue doing that faithfully in the future, for everyone that I end up coming across.

I feel tempted to catch up on some work, but Hanabi did echo the same sentiments as Kurenai. I really should take it easy for a while longer. Maybe there's something else I can do that isn't work for the village...I can figure it out later. I feel hungry.

My feet take me to a familiar place, and I part the shop banner with one hand before sitting on the empty stool ahead. A man who looks like a carpenter acknowledges me from a space over, and I wave and nod back.

"Did you pay for that already?" I ask.

"Oh, not yet."

"I'll pick that up, along with whatever else you would like to have."

"Really? Well, I appreciate that," he says with a laugh. "I'm only having one more bowl on your dime, so don't worry too much. But thanks a lot, I appreciate it."

"You should see the kid she regularly foots the bill for," Teuchi says as he returns from the back of the shop. "Been a while, Lili."

"It has been, sensei. Are we well?"

"In as good a shape as I could be. Guessing you've been busy lately."

"The usual clandestine things, yes. It hasn't been terribly long since I've returned, and most everyone is committed to keeping me off my feet."

"As they should be. You need a vacation, a long one."

"I promise to consider it once this dreadful business is over and done with."

He nods and adjusts his hat. "All I ask. What's your order for today?"

"Today's special should be fine. I don't feel particularly choosy at the moment. One bowl to start, please."

"On the way."

"Thank you as always, sensei." I sigh and close my eyes, listening to the stove top sizzle.

 

[FortePlus]

Scarlet Justice: Full Blossom – ep. 57
"Distance"
---

"I'll get that for us, Lili."

I go back to my reading as Fio picks up the phone from near the bed. Still nothing at work that I need to get back to immediately, so I can take my time coming back to a regular schedule. The ladies at the office will let me know when that is, as they're still going through the information I gathered for them earlier. Some pieces have been left out on my end for extra deniability, since we can't have everyone trying to make moves just yet.

"Um, Lili? The lady downstairs says that someone's come to see you. It's, uh...Sasuke. What should I tell her?"

Sasuke. I suppose he's come around looking for more information than he's been given lately. Stubborn brat, but when isn't he.

"Give me a few minutes to get down there," I say to Fio.

"Alright. Hello? Yeah, she says she's coming down. Yeah..."

I put a bookmark between the pages of my novel, and stand up from the chair to stretch my body out a bit. Since it will probably be a while dealing with him, I should put on some actual clothing. A plain shirt and some running pants will do, along with one of the light jackets I have in the closet. Fio stands up to meet me at the door.

"Probably gonna be a while, eh."

"More than likely with this boy," I say as I make sure I have my essentials on me. "Did you want me to pick up something on the way back?"

"Nah, I'm fine. I wanted to have some of the stew they've been cooking downstairs lately. Last time it was awesome."

"See what you can do about getting us a big batch for ourselves. We do have a microwave in here, after all."

"Yeah, true. I'll make us an order for lunch. See you in a bit?"

"I'll try not to be too long. I was enjoying my reading just now." I strap on my sandals and then give Fio a kiss. "I'm off. Hopefully I'm in a good mood by the time I come back."

"Me too. See ya."

Fio closes the door behind me, and I head down to the hotel lobby. Sasuke is clearly visible in his customized black jacket and pants, arms folded and brooding in his usual manner. Some of the women folk are checking him out, as part of the still inexplicable amount of attention he gets simply for being an Uchiha.

Eventually, I could see what made people so awestruck by Itachi. This one? I don't know if I will ever figure it out.

"I can already tell that what you want to talk about isn't appropriate for this kind of setting," I say to him. "Come, we'll find another space, one that I can easily monitor for us."

"Can't you just find a room here?"

"No. Between the annoyances from certain factions and the further annoyances you bring with you, it's not wise to do such a thing. If you don't want your trip to be a complete waste of time, follow me."

He gives in after a few more seconds of pondering and follows me out of the hotel. We walk next to each other in silence and I eventually bring us to a stop in an open public area, near a closed shop with two mobile food stands further away. There's a man sleeping on the flat bench nearby, and I gently shake him awake. He's a civilian and looks like he has seen better days.

"My apologies, but we need this space to conduct some official business," I say to him gently.

"Hrm, yeah. Alright. You're the, ah...crimson gal that helped save the town a long while ago. That was some good work you did," he says as he starts to get up. "Oof. Don't worry about me, I just needed a spot to rest my creaky bones and all."

"Do you have a place to stay?"

"Yep, yep, yep. Not the most fantastic place, but it does the job. Just had myself a bit too much to drink last night, is all."

"I see. Well, this isn't much...but I hope your fortunes turn around properly," I say as I place a small bundle of ryo into his hand. "Be well, and I appreciate your cooperation."

"Oh, no thanks needed. I'll buy myself something nicer to wear later," he says with a chuckle. "You two take care with your shinobi business. I'll get this back to you one day."

"If you insist," I say with a smile. "Consider it interest free, in that case. Please take care."

He whistles while shuffling off. Sasuke shakes his head.

"Weird drunks and everything. Though it was good of you to check if he was a spy listening in."

"It's possible to do many things at once," I say to him. "Treating people with compassion is something that even I can do, so I make a habit of it."

"And the money?"

"I like giving people an extra bit of encouragement to get by. Nothing complicated."

"Hmph."

I flip some of my hair back over my shoulder, and take a seat on the empty bench, facing Sasuke. "Shall we get to why you wanted to see me? I assume it's important, but I won't be terribly upset if it isn't."

"I want you to let me in on what's been going on lately. Lots of things between Hyuuga and ROOT, and then your sudden trip out of the village."

"Much of that information is on a need to know basis," I say while crossing my legs. "If the old man and your brother haven't fed you anything, then it's nothing you need to know. Very simple, I think."

"Listen. You can't keep leaving me out of the loop like this. I know that Danzo is bad news, so I think you should keep me informed on what he's doing. That way, we can put a stop to whatever he's plotting. That man destroyed the Uchiha Clan and caused Itachi to make a terrible decision for the sake of this village. It's an issue for me too."

"And he did all of that by undermining your Hokage and manipulating your older brother. Two individuals who are far beyond you, in both power and intellect. There is a reason you've been kept out of the loop, so to speak. Attempting to try and stick your nose into this business will not work out at all, and you need to understand that."

"So I'm just supposed to keep fumbling around in the dark?" he asks.

"You don't have to fumble. The choice is there to be still."

"Lilith."

"Focus on the path ahead, and worry about the problems that are directly in front of you. Everyone else will deal with the rest. When you need to be involved, you will be involved. Is that not what you were promised?" I ask.

"Maybe it was. But I also don't like the idea of an outsider dictating what happens with the future of the Uchiha. Not unless they're the Hokage himself."

"That's unfortunate. With that matter closed, I assume you have further inquiry of me?"

He clearly wants to press further, but thinks better of it and lets out a frustrated breath instead.

"Fine. There was something else I wanted to talk to you about anyways. Something important."

"What is it?"

"You and Naruto. I don't know what your entire deal is even now, and I'm not sure I like it."

"I would appreciate it if you explained further."

"There's not much I have to explain to you. I don't want to see him pushed around by anyone in this village, especially those near the top of the hierarchy like you."

A younger version of myself would have put Sasuke in his place by now, but I understand what it is he's trying to do. It is a crude way of doing things, and it is sincere. He worries for his sworn brother.

"Everything I do for him is out of love. As it has been, and as it is now. It will always be so," I say as I look into the distance. "He is precious to me, and I would do anything to protect him from harm. Nothing I do is meant to cause him pain. I don't try to manipulate him for political or social gain, and there is no covert motive to any of my actions. I love Naruto deeply, more than anyone else...save for perhaps the parents that gave him life in the first place."

"I see."

"Do you...I have to wonder. I don't think you could truly understand my feelings for that boy. The world's flimsy labels have no room to fit our relationship. Some would try for friend, others for sister, still others for mother. But it's not like that, and never will be. The love I have for him is deeper than any of that."

"And what about your ambition? You know that he wants to bring the world closer together, and find a way to end conflict, just as his master, Lord Jiraiya wants to do. It might be a foolish enough dream, but it's something that he can see through with his determination," Sasuke says. "What will you do if your dreams aren't the same?"

"I will put him down, without a second or third thought." I turn my head to look at Sasuke. "It's something he knows by now. My desire is for a world that surpasses the limitations of the one we currently live in. We respect each other enough to understand where our paths diverge. I love him enough to be truthful with him. I love him enough to make my choices with conviction, and without regret."

"A world beyond? I don't know what delusions you have, but they're no better than some dream world of perpetual peace."

"So you would ascend towards that summit and challenge me as well, Sasuke Uchiha?"

"This village was built on sacrifices of all kinds, especially that of the Uchiha Clan. Itachi carries the weight of that sacrifice on his shoulders every single day. He's given up more than one person should have. So I won't let that become nothing just because of a bunch of foolish people who don't know better."

"And what is it that I don't understand, according to you?" I ask.

"The true meaning of Hokage is in the name. Those who take up the name lead from within the darkness, and accept it as part of their mission. Just in the same way that Itachi did."

"Itachi made a harsh decision because of the flawed nature of the world itself. That you think it's something to be admired and emulated shows that you lack understanding of his goals."

"And what would you know about my brother?" Sasuke asks, angrily. "What would you know about Uchiha and the struggles of the clan? Just because you have some sort of fondness for him doesn't mean you have any greater understanding than I do. The world can't be held together with dreams and ideals."

"I don't intend to do either. It's as I said," I reply calmly. "I have a vision for this world that I will see through, and if it means going through those who would call themselves my allies or loved ones, I would do so. I don't see it as anything other than a plain thing to understand, now that I've laid it out for you...and I told Jiraiya the very same thing years ago."

"..."

"I personally think it's unfair of you, Sasuke."

"Unfair? What is?" he asks, confused.

"To be so openly distrustful of me," I say with a hand over my heart. "To doubt my feelings for people that I love very much, on top of that. Have you forgotten that it was Naruto's wish that brought you home, and that it was Itachi's wish that gave you the truth, and restored a bond that by all accounts should have been lost to time? You speak those names, Naruto and Itachi, so easily. But your eyes look upon me with such disdain, as if I took something away from you."

He tries to hide the frustrated look on his face. It would be a good time to take advantage, but...the old pains are not as vivid as they used to be. He is growing, trying to find himself in his own ways. Still a boy, at least for now.

And maybe...always beneath me, in many ways. I think I can be content with that, as we live our separate lives.

"I wonder what it is you're trying to say, Lilith. That you own me? That I'm supposed to be crawling on my hands and knees because you brought me back to the village?"

"Some of that would be nice. But I have no expectations of you, nor do I maintain a hold on you. Your interpretation of this is incorrect. All you need to know is that if you get in my way, I will put you down just like everyone else. It might end with you losing your life, it might not. That all depends on how the next few years play out. But when everything is over, you will have the truth that you desire so much. For now, please leave things to the adults."

"What is it that you're after?"

"You probably know by now. A world beyond Hashirama's aimless dream. The dream that forced your brother to make a horrific decision as a child...the dream that gave rise to Madara's madness, and Danzo's current power. A dream that was once beautiful, until it was the only thing occupying the thoughts of those dreamers. So it is."

"Hashirama's aimless dream," he mumbles.

"In the same way that those who live solely in the light are cowards, so too are those who choose to hide in perpetual shadow, leaving the world to suffer while they stumble onto ineffective solutions, one after the other. But that should be something left for later, when you've absorbed more knowledge. Was there anything else? You've made your vows to protect Naruto and the village itself from my inevitable tyranny, appreciated if misguided. Both he and the Leaf will be safe, whether you believe in me or otherwise."

"..."

"I do understand your feelings. He's someone you love very much, and you don't think that you would be able to convince him of my villainy in time before the worst happens." I shrug. "Unfortunate, but I won't apologize for stepping up where you and everyone else wouldn't."

"Is that all you can do? Talk trash because you think you're invincible?" he asks.

"I don't need to be invincible, just better than everyone else. Something that I am approaching as the days go by." I run a hand through my hair and let it fall over my shoulder again. "Perhaps if you think that strength will be the defining factor, you should hurry off to catch up on your training. Just remember what I've told you, Sasuke. Whatever you need to know, you will know. All you have to do is stay out of trouble, and look after Naruto."

He glares at me a bit before shaking his head. "Whatever. I have somewhere to be, so that's all we have to talk about."

"I see. Good morning then, Sasuke."

Sasuke grunts before leaving my sight. I sigh and get up, intending to go back to the hotel.

"There's one more thing, actually," he says from behind me.

"Is that so. And what might you want to ask?" I reply without turning.

"Naruto is different. Not a normal person..."

"Are you referring to the power of the tailed beast inside of him? I know about that already."

"How long?"

"Since we were at the Academy together. He told me himself. I knew about that power, and accepted him. It didn't change my feelings towards him, and never will. Is that enough for you to understand? I know what that power looks like, what it feels like. I know what I have to do in order to stop it, and can do so with my own hands. I accept all of him, as ugly and destructive as it can be...in the same way that he accepted every part of me."

"..."

Sasuke says nothing else before walking away. I look over my shoulder to see him heading down the street, hands in his pockets.

"It really doesn't matter what you think, or how much you distrust me. I was there for him first. You're still just a petulant child, Sasuke. Still an annoyance."

I let out a breath and start on my way back.

"But there is something to knowing that you've changed, and want to do better by yourself and those you love. It doesn't have to be perfect...this is good enough. I wish you well, Sasuke Uchiha. At least, until that final conflict that you so desire."

---

"I'm surprised you decided to talk with him, Boss."

"It would sound shocking, I suppose. But I have been working on keeping my emotions in check, as much as I reasonably can, at least."

I throw the baseball and it makes a solid sound in Shino's glove. He tosses it back and I get the same clear sound in my glove.

After a good lunch with Fio and finally getting to finish my novel, I decided to go out for a walk and see if Shino was home. Being able to do this with him is more than good enough...I've always valued the calm I feel around him more than any sort of comforting speech or lecture that could be delivered.

"Have you recovered properly from the earlier incident?" he asks.

"I think I should be fine now. It was as Fio said to me...a continuous set of awful effects, piling one on top of the other. I don't think I will have that sort of experience ever again. At worst, anger at seeing the Sharingan used against me once more. Really a wretched pair of eyes in my opinion."

"With exceptions."

"You're right, though it's cheeky of you to mention it."

"Just making sure everything is covered, Boss."

"Mm." I toss the ball back to him, and he catches it before tossing it back. We go for a few dozen rounds in silence, with just the breeze and the distant sound of chimes from Shino's front door between us.

"Do you mind if I ask a question, Boss?" Shino asks after a long while.

"I don't mind. What did you want to know?"

"I wondered, between things like dealing with Sasuke and the rest of the village, if you worry about how much the things you do are understood by others."

"I think it might make a few things easier, but I have no interest in making those kinds of transactions. I can live with being misunderstood in more than a few of my goals, as long as they are met. There is something to cooperation, and having people around you to do necessary things. But I suppose you meant something on a larger scale than that?"

"Possibly a village, or a country," he says.

"Those who come into conflict with us will be removed, and it is a simple decision to make. I don't anticipate anything complicated. Friend, enemy...all transient boundaries when it comes to revolution. If it means violence, then it means violence. That is how the world ends up working nowadays."

"I see."

"There is nothing wrong with feeling emotion once the time comes. But...to love someone means removing the hesitation from your heart, and showing them who you say you are. To turn back at the last moment would not only be dishonest, but unfairly discarding their dreams as well."

"Interesting. Boss, would you say that...the world you seek to create has room for those called villains as well?" Shino asks.

"As a matter of course, my friend."

"Hm. It makes more sense, then. Thank you for answering my question, Boss."

I smile. "Of course. Whenever you have need of me, just ask."

"Understood. We're having some casual football tomorrow, and the other guys would be interested in seeing you again. They really admire your midfield play."

"That sounds fine enough. Low intensity exercise...hm. Actually, I wanted to ask about goings-on since I left the village a few weeks ago." I throw the ball towards Shino again. "I know that I have the usual reports to read, but there's still nothing like hearing it from you, Shino."

"Thanks, Boss." He takes a moment to clear his throat before tossing the ball back to me. "The week directly after your departure had a large amount of movement, but much of it was insubstantial. We did however gain new insight into enemy patterns and reporting schemes."

 

[FortePlus]

Scarlet Justice: Full Blossom – ep. 58
"Sustain"
---

"I mean, at this rate...if the price of fertilizer keeps going up, we'll have to give a hard look to our inventory."

Today is a calm and sunny day in the Leaf. So naturally, Ino has insisted that we have one of our day dates together...and to be fair, it has been overdue because of all the commotion going on lately. She picked out our matching dresses with light blue and white stripes, which I bought for us a month or two ago after seeing them in a shop window. The shop patio is thankfully light on customers today, so we have some extra room to ourselves while doing our talking and people watching.

"It's not going to be a big problem for us, our suppliers are really loyal and not interested in doing super big business with everyone. Might put a dent in everyone else's pockets, though," she says while stirring her tea. "And then when you consider the pull that Uncle Choza and them have on the market..."

"I suppose things can get out of hand quite quickly," I say before puffing a bit of air over my teacup.

"They sure can. Dad says that we have a bunch of controls ready for that sort of thing, but it's always a hassle dealing with the national government."

"It sounds tiresome already."

"Heh. Don't you worry. Between me and Hina, you won't have too much of that stuff to deal with. We want as much room as possible for you to be the boss lady that you were meant to be." She sighs. "On that note, I'm still totally stumped on what to call our cute little group. I came up with some names, but they don't have enough oomph behind them, you know?"

"It's fine, Ino. I know that you'll figure something out."

"You sure?"

"I'm sure, darling. I entrusted you with something this important, didn't I?"

"You did, yeah. I'll keep working on it."

"And you don't have to rush. It's like you said, we want to have something with impact once the time comes."

"Got it. How's your whole thing going, in the meantime?"

"Steady progress. The building part for the main areas are almost done with, and we have much of the business structure in place so that it should be ready to go once the time comes," I explain. "Things can always change, of course, but I believe we should be well equipped to handle whatever storms might come our way."

"That sounds great!"

"On that note...do you happen to know a girl by the name of Tamayo Kasuri?"

"Hmm...doesn't ring a bell, though maybe it's that I forgot," Ino says. "Something happen?"

"Nothing recent. Do you remember the exams all that time ago?"

"Like it was yesterday. Seriously, what a ride that was...going from sharing space in your head to fighting creepy bad guys in the forest, and then getting knocked out by Sasuke to cap it off. Oh, and the whole invasion thing happened, but we took care of that pretty quickly. It was fun watching Sakura lose to Lee, though. Made it all worth it," she says before snickering.

"You would say something like that."

"Smug bitch got what she deserved. You agree with me."

"Besides the point."

"Heh. So you were saying about this Tamayo girl..."

"Yes. That trash I killed in the forest, along with his worthless friends...that was her older brother. He was desperate to become a chuunin in order to support her treatments, but ended up crossing me. I swallowed him up without remorse."

"You told me about that, I definitely remember. And I saw it on one of my trips through your head-space, briefly. Does she know what you did?"

"I didn't tell her the last time we talked." I pause to sip from my teacup. "It wasn't that I was afraid of her anger, or worried about it in any sense. I didn't want to cause her any more pain, and some of it was leaving her a good, if flawed memory of her brother. Explaining what he did to me to cause that reaction would have broken her heart. Maybe even killed her, with how sick she was at the time."

"Wow. That's pretty sad..."

"The world is normally like that, bitter as it is to say."

"It's what life as a shinobi is, yeah. I think it was good of you to keep the details to yourself, even if someone else would see it as deceitful. Honesty is a nice thing, but it's not always the best solution. Or even a good one. That's hard for people to understand. Do you know how Tamayo is doing now?"

"She's in good health now. The treatments were more than her family could properly afford, not even with some extreme methods of saving. That's why her brother was so insistent of entering the exams and earning a higher rank."

"More missions at better rates means more money," Ino says with a nod. "Makes sense. But he clearly wasn't ready."

"Which is what he was told many times before. But...things happen for their own reasons. I ended up paying for the various procedures and such that she needed from my own pockets. She sent a letter while I was away, and it was forwarded to me. I did send one of my own back congratulating her, and she reminded me of what I mentioned a while ago, that I would make her one of my secretaries one day."

"Really. She wants to be an office lady?"

"Loves the aesthetic and pace. I think I should put her to work for Magnolia House when I can."

"That sounds like a great idea. I bet she'll turn out to be a superstar, like Tamaki and Imari are. I still can't believe you just up and found those two in your spare time off."

"Well, a bit of luck helped."

"Oh, come off it. You've got an amazing eye for talent. Like we can see here," she says while gesturing to herself.

"Well, I can't deny that much. But you're hard to miss."

"And easy enough for you to bully. Which is another thing I find very interesting, and will talk to you about a bit later. I've got something special waiting for you at home."

"Ooh, a gift. I love those."

"Yep. Let's take the slow way back." We finish our tea and leave our payments with a little extra on top. Ino takes my hand and we start our walk through the Leaf together, enjoying the crisp air and beautiful weather.

"Ah, this is great," she says happily.

"Do I get some hints on my gift?" I ask with a smile.

"Hmm. Well, it's...delicious. Sweet and savoury, refreshing, and very smooth. A real treat for the senses."

"Mm. Doesn't really narrow things down."

"You think?"

"Mm-hm. And of course, there's someone nearby who fits all of those qualities herself," I say as I look at her. She sighs and rolls her eyes.

"You remember I have a girlfriend, don't you?"

"Hard to forget. I'll save some of you for her, too."

She laughs. "You really haven't lost a step. Sounds like you're all better after that scare of yours."

"Much better. It's all thanks to my beautiful, loving girlfriends like you. I can't thank you enough for thinking of me so much, and so often. It's one thing to be strong, you know...but sometimes, you need help to overcome whatever the world throws at you."

"You know something, Lili? You've been dealing with a whole lot of things that just...break people apart on the first pass," Ino says. "To not just survive, but keep putting yourself back together...it's really special to see, each time it happens. To me, sometimes it seems like you're not even from this planet. I wouldn't be surprised if we find out later that you're part alien or something!"

"Wouldn't that be interesting to see, hmhm. But I'm sure that I'm just human, at least for now."

"Definitely not just human at this point. That's a little too much low-balling for me. But seriously, you've done really well for yourself, and I'm glad that you can come to us and cry on our shoulders when you need to. People get insular about that sort of thing, and it comes with the culture. Being able to get out and ahead of that is something special, too. I'm learning a lot about myself because of it."

"Is that so?"

"Sure am. And I know that you'll be here for me if I need anything, like you have been before. I appreciate that, all of it."

"I know you do, Ino. And thank you for being here for me."

She gives me a quick kiss on the lips and squeezes my hand.

"You just say the word, and I'm at your side. Anything for my bestie, remember."

"I won't forget."

"Good."

We finally reach the Yamanaka home, with its beautifully arranged flower beds that form barriers and pathways along the front entrance. The patterns change from season to season based on the agreed preference of the family, and between them it doesn't take long to arrange and plant their creations.

"I'm home!" Ino calls out.

We take off our heels and get into the slippers left at the front entrance. Ino leads us into the spacious kitchen, which is silent aside from us.

"Hm. No Daddy, no Mommy, no Rika. Guess it's just us today. Alright, you have a seat out front while I get us that special treat I was talking about earlier."

"Don't keep me waiting too long."

"No promises~." She gives me a wink and I shake my head before going out to the front patio. One of the longer, softer looking chairs calls to me, and I take a seat in it. The faint scent of flowers reaches me, and I feel greatly relaxed after breathing some of it in. I really should make sure that my new home has enough space for the flowers I want...and maybe I should look into some sturdier perennials, like Joshua and Cadence decided on for their garden.

"And here we are. Presenting my super awesome – and Rika-approved – milkiest of milky milkshakes! Now with a delicious helping of strawberry!"

Ino presents me with the silver tray where two large glasses sit. Generous helpings of whipped cream sit on the top, with appropriately big straws stuck through them and spoons on the other side just in case. A very common amateur mistake is to provide straws that are far too thin for their work.

I nod my thanks and take one of the glasses, while Ino takes the other and sets the tray down on a nearby table before sitting down. We smile and tap our glasses together in a toast, before taking our first sips through our straws.

"This is wonderful," I say with amazement. "I really haven't had anything like this before, Ino."

"Hoped you'd like it. I used plenty of your favourite in there, and it turned out super good!"

"Not too many people use fortified milk in their recipes, yes. The taste can be different depending on the brand, and this one is the same that Hina and I like."

"Made sure to track it down with Rika's help. I'm really glad you like it, you deserve a nice treat like this after all of your hard work these past few months."

I take another sip and let out a satisfied breath. "It's very, very delicious. I appreciate this very much, Ino. Thank you."

"You're very welcome, as always. Do you mind if I ask you something, Lili? About the stuff you recently went through...it's been on my mind since earlier today. If you don't want to talk about it, it's okay."

"That's more than fine, Ino. Ask whatever you like, and I will do my best to answer you faithfully. If it does become uncomfortable, I will let you know," I assure her.

"Thank you. So...dealing with all of this stuff, like with that Sozen guy and how he made you relive all of those horrible, scary experiences...it made me think of all the other things that you went through. You remember the first day of class, your first day, I meant."

"I came in on time, hoping to make a good first impression," I say while leaning back in the chair. "Just to be met with pranks and mockery. It really hurt."

"And then on top of that, everyone isolating you...me included. I treated you like garbage, even if it wasn't by saying or doing anything directly. Even with all of that, you carried on and passed everyone else in every way." She pauses and swirls her straw around in her glass. "You ended sparring Sasuke, only to get that terrible result at the very end, after you won and proved yourself to all of us."

"I did. It's something that I can't ever forget."

"I guess what I'm trying to get at is...I really want to, like, understand where it all comes from. How you do everything that you do, finding it in yourself to reach out and forgive all of the people that hurt you, that did all of those things that most of us wouldn't be able to forgive. It must have hurt to face Sasuke like that, to have Sakura in front of you, to just...I don't know. To even reach out to your father after he kept trying to throw you away."

It's a question I've asked myself before. How does one hold everything together in those situations? Why forgive those who harmed you? But I ended up realizing that those weren't the right questions to ask, nor were they the correct ways to look at things. There is no cold logic that I can hold to, especially when incidents like with Sozen are so sudden. Even so, I understand. I have a grasp on what it is I do, and why I do these things.

"There are different ways to look at these things, Ino. I would correct you and say that it's not really a matter of forgiveness. Not even a matter of acceptance. And with all of that comes the understanding that none of this becomes a concrete rule or agreement that I hold myself or others to. I don't treat everyone with the same respect, or every situation with the same gravitas. It all comes down to what I feel will sit best with me in the end."

"I see. That makes sense. So you're not stuck to...a particular code, I guess?"

"That is a good way of putting it." I sip more of my milkshake before continuing. "Another one of the things that I know now is...there are both inside and outside influences at work. To confront the challenges in front of me, like that of Sasuke, I needed help and guidance from those that I loved dearly. Your wish, and Naruto's wish. Those helped very much. And of course, on the other hand, I have wishes of my own."

"What are they?"

"That even if I should hate someone, for their wrongs towards me and others...I think that there are some things that shouldn't be torn away from them unilaterally. I think that Sozen is trash, and that he should have died in the middle of that lonely forest for what he did to Aiko. But the pain of losing family, of having loved ones ripped away, that resonated with me greatly. I think that family is important, and I don't want to decide the fate of someone's bonds unless my hand is forced."

"I get all of that now. There's one more thing that...I'm trying to get at. I just need to find the right words."

"Take your time, love. I don't mind waiting."

"I know, I'm just impatient over here, too," she says with a smile. I watch as she sips at her milkshake while thinking, then go back to my own for a bit. This is terribly delicious, I'm already craving more of it and I haven't even finished the glass I'm holding.

"Do you have the recipe for this written down?" I ask.

"Not yet, but I can do that for you soon."

"These would make a great dessert for our group meetings when we can make them happen regularly."

"Oh, that's such a good idea." She gasps and pats my shoulder excitedly. "We need to have a signature dish. Something that we can eat like, whenever the mood hits us."

"We can leave it to Hina," I say.

"No objections here. I'll give her a call later. What I do have ready is our jackets, but I can't show them to you guys just yet. They are just the most fabulous thing, and we will look like the bossiest bitches when we go out together in them."

"I love to hear it."

"Right? Okay, so I finally have my question lined up for you. You have such an amazing capacity to just, find yourself and realize what the important things are, even when someone's pushed all of your buttons and then some. So how do you, or really, how does anyone get into that space?"

"That I have an answer for as well. It's all about your restraint, or rather how you view restraint."

"Go on."

"When I first awakened in order to protect Hina and everyone else on my first mission, I had a worry about how I would handle my darker side, as I called it at that point. How I would manage the feelings and bloodlust inside of my head. Midori-nee spoke to me in the desert, and I came to an understanding about it. Instead of worrying about how I would control it, or how it would control me...I accepted that darkness as part of myself. It wasn't some split personality or evil essence. It was who I had become, and by accepting it, I no longer had to worry about being consumed. The principle is the same, and it's what makes me polarizing to some, and strange to others. The idea of holding back emotion, good or bad, isn't something that I do."

"Was it like that when you chased after Sasuke?" she asks.

"Exactly like that. I let out everything that was in my heart, the anger, the pain and suffering, for everything that he had done up to that point. Hurting me, making Naruto cry from sadness, causing you to nearly lose your life...and almost killing Hina was the last straw. I felt like I was about to lose control, so I let everything out...and because of that, I could see past myself, and reach out towards the wish that was inside of me. I could find myself, and when things got truly desperate, take hold of the strength from heaven that I was ready to be blessed with."

"Oh. So letting go like that...allowed you to see the truth." Ino rubs at her cheek and nods. "Instead of being...clouded by emotions, and weighed down by everything, you could see through to the heart of the matter. Being true to yourself. Right?"

"Yes, that's it."

"And that's not something that people are just able to do, especially in this world we live in. In fact as shinobi, we're taught to keep a lot of things down, or to partition our lives so that our feelings don't get in the way whenever we have to do serious things."

"The things that make me such a ruthless person at times, the things that make me confident, and loving, and vindictive...those are woven together. A great deal of things that don't exist separately on their own. They all come together with me, and for that reason, I have control over which parts see the most light. Perhaps you could say that for me, hatred and benevolence can exist in the same space. It was so with Sozen. I hate him even now, but it was that hatred that made me see him for the person he was, a failure of a man who was so desperate to do better that he came to me. He suffered briefly for his sins, too briefly, but...he also proved himself worthy of my blessing."

"You're thinking that if it were anyone else, they would have given in too quickly."

"Far too quickly."

"I think you have a point. Personally, I would have walked away and just...left it at that," Ino says. "I'm not nearly that strong. And other people would have their opinions, too. Most of them would say that you went too far, but after everything...I don't think I could agree with that. Especially since you figured out the right thing to do in the end."

"I see. It was a difficult decision to make, but thinking of Aiko helped."

"For people you love, and a better world. It's how you can make those tough decisions. I think I get it now, and I understand that maybe it's a plane that I can't reach. You'd say that it's not one I would want to reach."

"I would," I say while looking at her. "The places I've gone to are ones that are too dark and too harsh for most living beings. I say that with certainty, and the knowledge that a good deal of my humanity is falling away from me as the days pass. I will always be with you, and I will always be able to connect from heart to heart with you all. None of that will change. But...one day I'll have to go to the other side properly, and I won't come back to this one. That's how it has to be."

"As long as it's not lonely over there."

I laugh. "At least you're not too worried for me."

"Hey, as long as we can be catty bitches together until my bones turn to dust, I've got nothing to worry about. Just being able to change the world with you will be a dream come true, Lili. I know you won't leave me or anyone else behind, and that's all I really need to know. It's enough."

"I'm really glad that you're here with me, Ino. I love you very much."

"I love you too, Lili. I'm really blessed to be your friend," she says with a bright smile. "Just to check one more time, you don't have anything planned after this, right?"

"Still following those strict orders."

"Good. In that case, I have something else for us to do. Be right back." Ino hands me her half empty glass. "Have the rest of mine."

"Thank you." I finish off the last part of my glass and set it down before slowly starting on hers. Milkshakes were already a guilty pleasure of mine, and this is going to make it even worse. Minor complaints, of course.

Ino returns quickly, with a small cassette player in one hand, a cassette tape in the other, and that familiar, devilish smile of hers that I adore so much.

"We're moving up in the world. Now we've got technology in place to capture the juiciest gossip around, and willing collaborators. Your girl Futaba volunteered herself the other day."

"Seems she's picking up more than a few things from Shino. Good for her."

"You love to see it. Apparently some very interesting things have been said about us recently, and this is the proof. Let's have ourselves a listen~."

She slides next to me and puts the tape in before pressing play, putting the player on her lap.

There really is nothing like spending quality time with friends, is there.

 

[OCEC0101]

Ah shit, ran out of stuff to read again.

Opinions: though the occasional heapings of praise can get a bit grating to read through, overal I've enjoyed the fic. The protagonist is interesting, if a bit chuuni at times (though I do not mind this). Unlike most really long fics, there is usually something interesting happening that moves the plot forward.

 

[FortePlus]

Ah shit, ran out of stuff to read again.

Opinions: though the occasional heapings of praise can get a bit grating to read through, overal I've enjoyed the fic. The protagonist is interesting, if a bit chuuni at times (though I do not mind this). Unlike most really long fics, there is usually something interesting happening that moves the plot forward.

Click to shrink...

That's cool. I appreciate the feedback and will think on it some. The overall structure is indeed made so that neither of us get bored or tired of it, which looks to be working pretty well. Really glad you enjoyed it enough to read through, and I hope you like what's coming up next now that you've caught up.

Appreciate the support a lot.

 

[FortePlus]

Scarlet Justice: Full Blossom – ep. 59
"Targets"
---

"Yes, thank you for that. I appreciate that you called me after you realised what had happened. There should be no issues if you take your time fixing the problem, since there are going to be children and other young people in that space constantly."

I lie back in bed and twirl the phone cord around my finger. Still not back to work yet, but there have been some things happening with Magnolia House that I thought would be best taken care of personally. A small mixup with some material for the interior of the orphanage was discovered recently, but we're sorting that before any extensive work has been completed. It might push things back about two or three weeks, but that much is not an issue at this point. Time could be saved in other areas.

"Take as long as you need to get those things right, and there won't be any changes to our arrangement if you're worried about that. Yes. That's fine," I assure them. "The home office should be able to work with the information that you've given them. Did you need suggestions on next steps, or can you proceed from where you are now? Alright. Give the office another call and inquire about what you should do next to remedy things. The budget is still quite flexible at this point, so you should be fine as long as you don't go overboard. Right, I understand. Again, thank you for your call, it's much appreciated. Sometimes things happen that are out of our control, and there is no shame in admitting to that. Alright, please take care for now. You'll be informed of any changes through the usual channels. Thank you. Goodbye."

I hang up and set the phone back in its place.

"Always on the go. Tempting to get back into that sort of pace…but maybe I should take the opportunity to slow down again. When exactly did I get so damn anxious anyways," I mutter while lying back in bed. "Feels like sometimes I don't consider tomorrow at all, and that shouldn't be my personality."

I think about myself as Hokage, with plates and bowls stacked onto her desk, loose paper and cups of coffee occupying the empty spaces. A few senbon holding up my hair, all kinds of work in front of me as I struggle to keep myself awake.

It makes me shudder just imagining it. I can't become that kind of woman. I refuse to.

"I do a good enough job indulging myself, but…I wonder if I need more than that. Midori-nee did say that when I got a bit older, she would show me how to make use of those medicinal herbs she and Luna-nee like so much. Is that the secret? Could be. Hm."

Not exactly sure when Fio will be back, and Hina is probably busy. Those are the two I wanted to see most right now. Ino is doing her own thing with her boys…then again, I don't know if there's anyone I want to bother in the first place. I might be in the mood for some snacks and manga later. Right now, I should do something a little more physical.

"Hitting some targets sounds like it will do the trick."

As is natural in shinobi villages, there are at least a dozen or so weapons ranges for anyone from the amateur to the elite to try their hand at hitting stationary targets with weapons. Most are public and staffed by a few members of the military, a few meanwhile have the same culture and atmosphere of social clubs, requiring memberships and payments for upkeep of said memberships. Members of these clubs are viewed as eccentrics for obvious reasons.

I choose to mingle with the so-called common folk, which include civilians. There are many insights that can be found over a few hours of watching the people around you, and indeed my own skill in handling shinobi tools improved from my observation of my elders and superiors. It might not be the same these days, but there's nothing wrong with having another look. That, and I could be a good example to look to, as those before me were.

The traditional way of doing these things is to practice alone within village spaces, with handcrafted or generic targets, or none at all outside of the imagination. A recent push, within the last decade or so, created more standardized public facilities in order to provide proper instruction for youth, and adequate supervision. The facilities also attracted civilian folk, by far the bulk of the village, for various reasons. The two biggest ones being self-defence and hobby work. Both are welcomed and encouraged, especially since, again, there is plenty of supervision available including the inevitable first aid for accidents.

"Here we are."

I check in and find a designated space for myself, which for this place is a long pathway that has a tree near the end of it and a metal wall directly behind that. The area is open so that people can see each other and walk back and forth behind the throwing lines, and every so often there is a pause so that any stray or discarded weapons can be retrieved from the field. Some shinobi grumble about the required precautions, which include guards, gloves, and eye protection, but they're usually scolded by the staff, who are correct to do such. There's nothing stopping them from throwing their own weapons in some private place. After putting on my protective equipment and making sure that everything is secure, I grab a shuriken from the provided pouch and ready it to throw. Simple motions for today will do.

"Maybe low speed…and higher revolution this time."

I start from a low position and send the shuriken towards its wooden target with an upward flick of my wrist. The speed is where I want it, and the rotations are high. This allows the weapon to move with ease through the air. It hits the round target squarely in the very middle and sticks there.

"Only makes sense that you would have such a pretty release. And so casually, too."

I turn my head to see someone waving at me. Those cute hair buns of hers are hard to miss…

"Pleasant morning to you, Tenten. I must admit, I'm a bit surprised to see you around here," I say to her. I push my goggles down to my neck and give her a hug.

"I was going to say that to you. Thought you would usually be practising alone and everything."

"It's usually the case, or with my comrades somewhere else. But I come to places like these because of the convenience. Today I was just feeling restless, and didn't want to do anything too intensive."

She nods. "I know what you mean, that's why I come out here. Just a more relaxed vibe and everything. So is this where you usually come?"

"I visit different places around the village."

"Ah, I see. That's probably why we didn't cross paths earlier. I'm usually here and the other place close by. I actually gave thought to joining one of those fancier clubs, but someone who was in them said that they weren't all that serious about the whole thing. Mostly just standing around and showing off." She waves a hand in front of her face. "Not for me at all. I like to be active and then chill out when everything is done."

"I don't think that would interest me, either. It sounds entirely too snobby and boring. Same reason that I don't have anything to do with the women's groups."

"Oh, wow. That explains a lot, then…" She nods and gestures towards the pathway. "You mind if we share? It'd be nice to chat a bit, and I really want to see more of that perfect form of yours, hehe."

"I don't mind at all. A chat would be nice."

"Awesome."

We pull on our goggles and make sure there's room enough for us both to throw. Once everything is settled, we get back to our casual throwing. I know a fair bit about how skilled Tenten is when it comes to shinobi tool use. She's incredibly accurate and knows each tool in her kit inside and out. How to toss them in each situation, their applications, care and maintenance, and so on. Her only peer might be Suketsune's older brother Okichi, who is a savant in this subject. I meant to meet him the last time, but he was apparently extremely busy with some project or other. I wonder what it could be. Hm. Probably something extravagant, which makes me even more curious to see it in person.

She has a smooth, effortless way of throwing her shuriken, as if it were something that she was born doing. Clearly she has talent, but one can always tell where pure ability ends and elevated skill starts.

"You talk about my form, but you make these things look effortless on your part," I say to her.

"Thanks. I've been working on this for a while now. I didn't think I had anything I could do when I started out, but it turned out that I had a gift for throwing things around accurately. After that I ended up leaning into the whole deal, and Guy-sensei helped a whole lot with my confidence."

"Despite appearances, he is an excellent teacher."

"Appearances?" she asks.

"One might assume that someone with such a horrific fashion sense would also have diminished educational abilities, but it is the opposite in this case. As for the rest of him, the haircut and eyebrows are…bold choices, let's say. But endearing after a while."

I hear her chuckle a bit at that. "You know what? I can't say you're wrong about any of that. Awful choice in outfits, but a great teacher and leader. I love him a lot, as weird as he can get."

"How are things with your boyfriend?"

"Oh, they're fine…we're together, but not like…together like that. You know?"

"Mm. I understand what you mean."

"Yeah. Neji is doing okay, keeping up with his training, stuff like that. Gives me a lot of encouragement when I need it and when I think I don't, but I really do. I admired him for a long time, just didn't think I would catch his attention at all. So at first it was a bit overwhelming. Then I got a surprise when Hinata started helping me out. More than that, giving me a sense of…protection, I would say. That's it. I felt a bit safer around her, and it helped with the relationship and everything."

"She really is wonderful, isn't she?"

"She is. Don't know what I would do without her. Heh, the list of great kunoichi in this village keeps getting longer by the day. Aside from you and Hinata, there's Erika, and Ino, and Sakura is making big waves. What I've seen of Hanabi tells me that she's going to be great, too."

"Do you feel bad about it?" I ask as I pause my throwing. The attendant ahead takes a few moments to stare at all of the shuriken that have landed dead center, before replacing the wooden boards and scooping up all of the weapons on the floor below. There's a brief chime signalling that the lanes are clear again, and we resume.

"Nah, nothing like that. Healthy competition is good. Though I dunno if we could call it a competition at this point. Maybe a tournament for second place." She looks over to me, and I give her a wink.

"I always appreciate a bit of praise."

"So I've heard. Lady Tsunade was my biggest inspiration growing up. I totally wanted to be a great kunoichi like she was. Knowing that she has a few interesting habits hasn't changed that one bit. But I knew pretty early on that I probably wasn't going to be a medic like she was. A few parts lack of confidence in my dexterity, and a few more parts lack of confidence in my ability to hold down my lunch over an operating table."

"That's more than understandable. Those things are not for the faint of heart…even Tsunade had trouble with certain aspects for a while."

"She had a whole thing where she talked about it, it was a conference about a year ago. Back when you were out training. Hemophobia, it was."

"Oh, she spoke about that publicly?"

"Yeah. She said that it would be better for everyone if she was honest about her struggles…all it did was make her more amazing in my eyes. Back in the day, I ended up realizing my limits once I made it onto a team with Neji and Lee. It was really different…I couldn't keep up with Lee who could have two hours of sleep and still bounce off the walls, or get the details down like Neji, who puts about the same effort into his training as Lee does, in a different way. I wasn't like them at all, or so I thought."

"Mm-hm. That's usually how it goes at first. Boys have an infectious sort of energy to them, and it always gets to you eventually."

"That's true." Tenten fixes her grip a bit and tries to copy my throwing motion from earlier. "Huh. That's an interesting type of flight."

"A little different. I wanted to see if I could add more break without completely compromising the movement speed."

"Right up against the edge, yeah. That's neat." She throws another shuriken and nods before going back to what she was doing before. "Hm, so yeah. Next to those two, I felt pretty ordinary. Maybe a little bit inadequate at times."

"It's fair to feel that way when you're around people so talented."

"Yeah. That's what Guy-sensei kept telling me. He really helped me out, listened when I needed him to, and…I didn't feel left out at all. Even if I couldn't do all the things that they could. Because of that, I could figure out who I was and go to work on all of things that I was good at. So now we're all a little obsessive over our crafts in our own ways," she says with a laugh. "I make sure to put my work in and head home when everything's done. Nothing extra unless I really think I need it."

"And you've clearly seen results from that," I say.

"I think I'm pretty decent these days, yeah. I'm not special like some other people, but I know that I'm special enough. I can be a great kunoichi like Lady Tsunade if I just keep working hard, and take care of myself. It might sound lacking in ambition, but…I dunno. I think it works for me."

"I think something like that is just fine. More than fine, in fact." I stop to give Tenten my attention. "The world needs people like you."

"That's really flattering to hear," she says as she looks back at me.

"I'm glad you think so…but it's a little more than that. It's something that I have been thinking about, and truly believe in. You and I both understand what it means to want to be great, to reach towards a summit, whether or not you get there in a good time. And for some who call themselves elites, it might be hard to understand those who live comparatively ordinary lives. But those people are needed, not just for their utility, but for the strength they provide to the rest of us, and the support they provide to the world."

"You mean to say…it's something like, ordinary people being the backbone of society?"

"A little deeper than that. Everyone has their place in this world, and a proper pace at which they move. Allowing people to realize their potential in their own ways, like you did, will help others grow properly. Some people are ordinary, and some are special, and a few more are more special than that, and so on. In these changing times, what happens all too often is that talents like yours end up buried, because your worth is always measured by how close you come to the myths and legends of this world. It's unfair, and without proper support, it makes otherwise talented people give up and fade away. Just because you're not as special as someone else doesn't make you useless. More than that, those who are blessed with a talent, no matter how small, should be able to nurture it properly."

"I see. So…letting ordinary people be ordinary, I guess. And then giving everyone with their own special talents a chance to shine in their own ways, if they want to. And then all of the superstars like you doing your own thing. Am I right?"

"Even further than that. I want those of us who have gained our wings to help other people gain theirs, and to learn how to live life from those without," I say. "Those who work hard to gain new levels of skill have a lot to teach us, especially those who make their way through the world with their ability alone at first."

"Wow. Okay, so it's even more than I thought. You want to create…a world where everyone can help everyone, even if they're not equals in every way," Tenten says with realization.

"Yes. That's what I wanted to get across."

She pauses in thought for a few moments before facing the target and tossing a shuriken at it. It lands dead center as always, finding space in the crowded eye along with every other shuriken that we've thrown recently.

"I've never really heard something like that before," she says. "I never even thought about it that much. A place where everyone has the chance to become more than they could think at first."

"There should be room for everyone, and people like you most of all."

"People like me? That's way too much coming from you," she says with a smile. "I mean, I know I'm pretty good at what I do…"

"The discipline to know your limitations, and the confidence to find your way forward. It's the kind of thing we need in a brave new world, and I don't think we would get too far without it. It takes an unrivaled brilliance to create a new path through history, but no single great man or woman can create a better world on their own. It will take all of us, with all of the strength that we can offer. And that will start with giving everyone the chance to realize their potential, in their own time. That is what I truly believe."

"Hehe. Neji likes to describe you at times as profound, and it sounded like a pretty impressive way of talking about you."

"And have you changed your mind about that?" I ask.

"Yep. I would say it's definitely not impressive enough. On top of that…you've really made me feel great about how far I've come since I first picked up one of these shuriken. So thanks, Lili. I appreciate it, and that you could share those lofty dreams of yours with me."

"You're quite welcome, Tenten. I'm very glad I came out today," I say with a smile. "After this, I should show you a nice little shop that serves some delightful fried chicken and noodles. It's close by."

"Nice. I was thinking about grabbing something to eat. I humbly accept your invitation, Miss Kobayashi."

"Wonderful." The chime sounds again, and we wait as the attendants clear the targets and area of thrown weapons. "While we're here, I want you to show me that interesting redirection technique I got a glimpse of the other day."

"Oh, you saw that one. Hehehe…that was a neat trick I've been working on for a while. Degree of difficulty is a bit high, but the reward is more than worth it. Here. You want to start with a slightly loose grip, side arm so that you can go for it on the run easily enough. Now what ups the difficulty is the kind of touch you need, and the fact that we're gonna be using senbon."

"Ooh. Always a classic for the trickier techniques," I say.

"Oh yeah. You want to get real feathery for this. The timing is the first thing, and it's not what you're used to, exactly…"

 

[Cron]

Not bad.. not bad

 

[FortePlus]

Scarlet Justice: Full Blossom – ep. 60
"Routines"
---

"Ah, Lili. It has a been a long while for both of us."

"Surely, oyaji. I missed seeing your face."

As soon as Imari finishes securing the room for us, Hiruzen and I give each other a long awaited hug.

"Everything is fine," I say to him. "There were plenty of people watching over me as soon as I set foot in the village."

"It warms my heart to hear. Do remember that if you have need for more time to yourself, I will approve it with no questions asked."

"Thank you," I say as we slowly separate. "I will keep it in mind, but for now things should be back to normal. I think I'm ready to move forward at full speed, finally."

"Very good. Have yourself a seat wherever you like, as usual. Imari has made us tea."

"It smells lovely," I say as I take my favourite seat on the edge of his desk, right next to his chair. He settles in and taps his pipe on the top of his desk before smoke starts to come from it. A few light puffs as he leans back in his chair and flips through the pages of his notebook.

"Much in the way of data, impeccably done as usual. It always makes me wonder what I would do without you."

"Well, who can say. Thank you for your compliments, as always. I always save my best work for my favourite senior citizen."

"Of course," he says with a chuckle. "Hm, let's see…your trip to the Hidden Waterfall was successful, and you gained a great deal of information that we should be able to put to use. You said that the young lady you met would be on her way to Wind Country by now, yes?"

"Yes, that's correct," I say as I pick up my tea. "If I get anything from Gaara, that will be relayed to you at the earliest convenience through the alternate channels. But I've made sure to cover my trail well enough, so…"

"Mm. And of course, those strange youths from Akatsuki. Checking in with our assets in the Mist was something that I considered and eventually did earlier in the week. We should be hearing from them soon…if nothing comes up, then I can talk to our agents about preparing a safe zone for when you choose to visit the village."

"Would you consider sending Erika in my place, if something does come up?" I ask.

"I will keep it in mind," he says as he picks up a pen. A few notes are scribbled in before he nods and sets the pen down again. "Hopefully the other nations take this threat more seriously than the others. I don't believe there will be any significant movement on Akatsuki for a while yet, even with the high profile kidnappings and various attempts at subterfuge."

"Have we received anything from the Cloud yet?"

"Nothing. It seems they are still calculating what steps to take after the return of Yugito Nii. Even so…A isn't the type of person to sit idly by in crisis like this. He is almost certainly up to something."

"And we can't make any sudden moves, lest Oonoki do something unpredictable…"

"Intelligence in the Hidden Rock says that they are still engaged in a search for their jinchuuriki. After reading your report, that makes me a bit anxious." Hiruzen pauses and drinks some of his tea, while I do the same. "Ah, delicious. But yes, I do not like the idea of any rogue organization having the power of even one tailed beast at their disposal, no matter what state it might be in. Our rescue of Gaara was too close a call, I believe. Even with the appropriate warnings from Jiraiya, the Sand was still caught off guard by the power and speed of those Akatsuki members. That Deidara fellow still lives, yes?"

"Unfortunately," I say. "He possesses capabilities that allow him to perform precise assassinations and demolition of key structures, as well as enough power to devastate an entire village in a single blow. Obito is still hard to pin down, so we don't know if he would so easily come to the Leaf in order to ravage it like that. But the chance is still there. Fortunately for us, something like that should consume a large amount of his resources, and we would know just how to disable that sort of attack."

"Indeed. We do not have shinobi that could instantaneously create such a massive and sturdy defence like Gaara did, but our knowledge at this juncture allows us a crucial advantage. I just wish that the other villages weren't as stingy with their intelligence, even if I know perfectly well why that is. We are concealing things on our part as well."

"You're thinking it might be seen as hypocritical."

"Just a small bit. But that is life in this world of shinobi." He takes a few more puffs on his pipe, sending smoke into the air. "The other things…a possibility of a significant asset returning to the Sand. Sozen, then."

"Did you know him well, oyaji?"

"He was a quiet child, kindhearted and polite. Very little like the other Uchiha with how he carried himself. But then, I did notice those types within that clan, being so rare. Kagami Uchiha, and Shisui who came after him, so on and so forth. I didn't think he had survived after his desertion, but he made a life for himself, it seems." He waves a hand lightly to relieve my worries. "The additional details aren't something I will ask for. Things can safely be left as they are for now."

"Understood."

"What do you seek to do at this point, Lili?" he asks as he closes the notebook. "There is much that you have uncovered, and while I have given direction to our armed forces with your recent intelligence in mind, I can sense that there is still more to be taken care of."

"There are still things left to reveal. I'm not entirely sure if it would come out properly, if I talk about them now. I think the most important thing is trying to decipher what this Pain person wants, and if they really hold the power that I think they do."

"The Rinnegan, yes. Certainly, it's a power that is transcendent, and would shake the world if it were to reappear in this age. A title such as God of Shinobi would pale next to it, I fear. But if does exist, then it raises the larger question of why it would be hidden away until now. Surely someone with power like that could conquer the world overnight."

"Do you really think it could be that devastating?"

"I was born early enough to not only see the strength that Lord Hashirama possessed, but to experience it myself as one of his apprentices. That power was such that it could change the very shape of the landscape we gaze upon, and in his final battle with Madara Uchiha, it quite literally did. The Rinnegan is the most powerful, most complete eye that the Sage of Six Paths used to shape this world, a power that would outstrip that of Hashirama and Madara combined, many times over. No force in this world, not even put together, would be able to overcome it. That is my belief."

"It does sound frightening, when you put it that way. Still…"

He frowns. "Lili. I think it would be foolish to dismiss that sort of power, even for you."

"I've said worse in the past, as you've heard with your own ears." He sighs and shakes his head. "If it's the progenitor to ocular powers such as the Sharingan and Byakugan, then it clearly has its limitations on the mortal plane. Awesome as they might be, they are simply another pair of eyes. A genetic mutation that is just as vulnerable to being plucked out and crushed as all the rest."

"Mm. More than a little arrogant on your part."

"Is that all? Then I will take it as a compliment. The potential power of the Rinnegan is something that I will consider greatly, but will not fear. And I would have no reverence for the sort of coward that would hold that sort of power to their chest and hide it away from the world, as it sits crumbling." I look over to Hiruzen. "You can agree with me on that much, surely."

"It would be upsetting to know."

"Yes. Rest assured, confidence need not lead to hubris."

"I have to wonder about that."

"Wonder away, as you do."

He shakes his head again and pats my leg gently. "You are a dynamic and exciting child, Lili. Perhaps too exciting for some of us in their advanced age."

"What has Naruto been doing lately?" I ask before sipping my tea.

"He has been out on missions with Team Kakashi lately, as it should be. They've been coming along well, actually. Kakashi and Yamato will take turns leading the team out into the field, and from what I have observed and read, their teamwork is improving. Of course, they are all individually brilliant in their own ways. Sasuke has been taking on higher ranked missions by himself, Sakura is making a name for herself within the medical corps, and Naruto is improving rapidly. He was quite excited to show me that new jutsu he developed with you and your cohorts."

"And what did you think of it?"

"Very interesting," he says with a hearty chuckle. "The Rasengan was a unique sort of jutsu on its own, and this just adds to it. It certainly would make his father proud to see."

"It would. I think it would make anyone proud, to see how far he's managed to come. On the subject of his parents…I can only assume that you haven't told him the truth yet."

"I have not. I admittedly was hoping that I could leave that to Jiraiya, as his godfather…it's something that has gone by for so long that I don't think I have the proper way to reveal it to him. He certainly is old enough by now to know, but I have my fears about what it could do to him. Especially in these times," Hiruzen says sadly. "One of many mistakes I've made since returning to this post."

"It's easy enough to understand that you were trying to protect him," I say.

"Perhaps so. But if I could do it over again, I might have changed my approach in more than a few ways. Do you mean to reveal the truth to him, Lili?"

"I've given it plenty of thought. It might be the best thing to do, but I probably should consider what Jiraiya wants, at least a little bit. I will have to see about that. On the same note, I wanted to obtain another block of time for myself and Naruto. The technique you saw has another potential form to it that we promised to work on together."

"I see. That can easily be arranged for both of you."

"Thank you. And regarding the operations of Akatsuki, I do have something that I want to execute soon. Do you remember the information we have on that Zetsu fellow?"

"I do, yes. Elusive and with the potential to be most anywhere at any time. A great boon for Akatsuki, and a troublesome foe for the rest of us," Hiruzen says.

"At some point soon, I want to get rid of him. It will greatly diminish that organization's capabilities, and allow Itachi more freedom to move than he has now. Enough of his time is spent conducting operations to keep this Zetsu off of his trail, and even he doesn't know the true nature of that person's abilities. Whatever the case, we should focus on removing him from the picture. Do we have resources to allocate for more information gathering in this regard?"

"Hm. I will look into it, and perhaps I can dedicate a few of the ANBU towards further investigation."

"I can live satisfied with that. Oh, and has there been any new information on the Three Tails?"

"Nothing of import, which might be fortunate in its own way."

"You might be right about that." I sigh. "It's bothersome that we can't do too much yet...everything is still so far apart that it would be foolish to set out and try to disrupt the world's order like this."

"Indeed. But you are getting much closer to the goal than before. Remember to take pride in all that you've accomplished so far, Lili."

"I'll remember. I've spent the past few weeks doing that much, and being helped along. And of course, when the time comes...I'll let you know everything that's been on my mind. All of the things that I don't feel quite ready to talk about yet."

"I will be here waiting," Hiruzen says with a smile. "We each have our own work to do, even as we travel in the same direction. You will have my support, no matter what you choose to do next."

"And no matter what outrageous things I say, I will always be grateful for that. Thank you for bearing with me, oyaji."

---

"Something we needed to discuss in person, then."

"From what I was told, you were close enough to the village that I could call for you like this. If I have interrupted anything of importance, you should tell me now."

It's currently later afternoon, after my meeting with Hiruzen. We spent some more time chatting about less serious matters, including a point of discussion that I was curious to hear about. It will certainly be of use for the plan I have in mind, but confirming things in real time will help.

I shrug my shoulders to make sure that my cloak is settled properly, then lean against the tree behind me. Itachi is wearing his own cloak along with one of the straw hats he so favoured while in Akatsuki, with the tassels hanging down to obscure the wearer's face a bit. I think I'll get a few of those for myself. Or maybe I should just get the individual components and make them myself, for more customization. That sounds good. An uncomplicated little project for home.

"As communicated earlier, I've taken care of anything necessary to the smooth operation of our other plans," Itachi says. "Hopefully that is satisfactory enough."

"It might be."

"I see. Perhaps I have earned that much in the way of scrutiny for you."

"There we are. You're learning, finally."

"Hm. It might say some unflattering things about you, if you think about it a little."

"Tch. The old man called me exciting and dynamic earlier. He has his ways of being polite while telling me how much of a brat I am, but it figures that sort of precision would come with experience."

"Indeed."

"I did have a reason to call for you directly like this," I say to him. "Firstly, what do you know about my reputation as a woman in the outside world? The Leaf is currently figured out, obviously, which leaves other villages and nations to consider. Temari and the others aren't loudmouths, so I don't worry about them any."

"All things considered, you are known as both a dangerous and attractive woman in the wider world," he answers. "Naturally, the male populace is open about courting you. With the caveat being that you are an elite kunoichi working for a village that is, in most cases, opposed to theirs in some fashion. As far as your preferences, that information has not spread too far, and in many cases is dismissed as misinformation."

"I see. So the Leaf would catch on faster since I live here, but everywhere else...alright."

"I assume this is tied to the next set of moves that you want to make," Itachi says.

"Yes. While we still have the helpful cover of me being an ostensibly heterosexual woman with a desire to pass her clearly superior genetics onto many future children...we will make use of it effectively, in order to bait some of our enemies. Hm, but there is something else I need to know. Kaitaikojo and Ishako...do you know anything about their status?"

"Based on the information you provided me about their activities...it seems they haven't been moving about too much in the past while."

"I don't think I've hurt them all that badly, so maybe they're regrouping for a serious attack somewhere else. Or worse, they're already hunting another target. With their abilities, I don't know how much longer it will be before they strike again. Obito can easily lean on Kai because of how strong and durable he is. Anyways, this tactic doesn't need to be one hundred percent effective. It just needs to shake things up enough to make that Zetsu move."

"What is your plan, if I might ask?"

"Simply put, I want you to leave out a few crumbs that will lead Zetsu to investigate a relationship. That is to say, a secret one between us."

"Hm."

"The cover story will involve a bout of insecurity, and worry about my status as a woman. This can be used to obscure the clashing flows of information that will come as Zetsu digs deeper. Kai and Ishako are both aware that I am a so-called deviant who enjoys the company of women rather than men, but if we create a curious enough narrative, Zetsu will have no choice but to investigate the matter properly."

"I see. So you want us to pretend to be in a relationship," he says.

"We don't even have to go that far before the final act, it can be mostly hearsay for our purposes. The first part of it will be getting Zetsu interested and focusing on regular searches for you. Once that happens, then the next step is to allow him to paint his own picture of events, which will lead to him concluding that it has something to do with me. And then, finally, when you think you have pulled him in close enough, we'll set up a proper date for our final performance. By that time, it will be too late to escape, and we'll put an end to that menace for good. Obito's power will be greatly severed as a result."

"A bold plan," Itachi says, nodding. "But I think it will be effective. So my goal is to first draw suspicion towards myself regarding a future heir, then suggest your involvement in the matter. And finally, a physical confrontation to put an end to everything at a planned location."

"Correct. You're free to move at the speed that you feel comfortable with. Then again, I might be getting ahead of myself. Is this plan alright with you?"

"It should be fine."

"I know how agreeable you are already."

"You do. But this really is fine, Lili. I understand your reasoning and truly believe that this can solve a great deal of our current issues. If I am allowed to control the pace of this operation, I would like to put significant time into it for the greatest chance of success."

"I couldn't deny someone of your skill that opportunity. I'll provide you any resources or information that you need. It goes without saying that you shouldn't get too creative...though I'm more than fine with a little bit extra added to my reputation."

"I will keep that in mind. Thank you, Lili."

"And thank you for accommodating me so faithfully," I say with a smile. "Once this is done with, we'll have a favourite dish of yours to celebrate."

"That sounds nice. How has Sasuke been lately, if I may ask?"

"His usual self. Continuing to grow, being an annoyance from time to time, going to and fro with his teammates, so on, so on. Nothing out of the ordinary."

"That is good to know. You dealt a blow to Danzo recently, I heard."

"Aye. It set quite a few things in motion. I erased one of his lapdogs, an empty and plastic child named Sai. There was a tragedy in that. He did have potential beyond being a shinobi."

"If things with Danzo come to a head, what plans do you have for ROOT?" he asks.

I think on that a bit. "Hm. Well, without the ability to filter the zealots from the merely brainwashed...it might come down to us erasing them as soon as we can. Did you have another suggestion?"

"Unfortunately, nothing is coming to mind at this time. While it will result in a notable loss of manpower for the Hidden Leaf, it seems to be something that is unavoidable. Members of the Foundation escaping or left to their own devices in the name of mercy might bring the Leaf to an even worse end. The thought comes to mind of former members being reassigned, but even then..."

"I've considered that as well. Without the brand on their tongues, they would be physically free. But likely not mentally, and it only takes one psychopath running around to cause chaos again," I say. "Putting them all away looks like the only sensible thing to do. But then, we have to cross that bridge first."

"Yes."

"As usual, I will let you know when the old man gives me permission to face him head on. I have a few contingencies ready, dramatic as you would find them."

"And you won't reveal what they are."

"No."

He nods. "I wouldn't expect anything else."

"We can talk about new information by way of letter, at least until one of us sends for the other again. Thank you for coming to see me so quickly."

"Of course. That much is easily done for you."

"I appreciate that. Take care as always, and tell Anko-nee that I said hello."

"Understood. Goodbye for now, Lili."

His form disperses into a number of crows, which take off through the trees.

"Make use of every opportunity...right. And attack from various angles as needed. All part of the process. Still something that most aren't bold enough to try, but that's precisely why it will be successful."

I push myself from the tree behind me and roll my neck back and forth a few times.

"Alright. Time to go home. I have a few more things to plan, after a nice snack." I lick my lips. "Those ribs with the honey glaze from last time...yes, that sounds good. The shop I'm thinking of should be open today."

One last scan to make sure of everything, and then I take off towards the Leaf.

 

[fanficmaniac]

any chance of lilli getting the kiba blades as a weapon, they would suit her perfectly, plus they enhance lightning jutsu if I remember and they are super sharp

 

[w34v3r]

Bah, swords are a taijutsu enhancer, not ninjutsu. Not only do you have to work around the damned handles but if you want to use them offensively then you have to cast around the blade.

 

[FortePlus]

any chance of lilli getting the kiba blades as a weapon, they would suit her perfectly, plus they enhance lightning jutsu if I remember and they are super sharp

Click to shrink...

If she got her hands on them there would be a dramatic boost in capabilities on paper. The swords greatly reduce all technique costs and can generate attacks on their own, as well as apparently generating lightning and absorbing it from the sky when present. This effectively allows her to fight without limit if she's focusing on lightning arts. They can also be controlled remotely which adds a whole lot of extra possibilities and dimensions of attacking.

The chance is slim to none that she comes upon them, they're at the bottom of some river or ravine in River Country iirc so they would be hard to find even if it was something she was aware of at this point.

As for being perfect, they would be fantastic to offset the energy costs in any battle, but there's questions like how much concentration they need and whether or not they need to be actively used for the benefits they provide. As weapons, they don't mesh all that well with what is currently her personal combat style either, being much bigger than Murakumo as one point. And as far as jutsu variety, that might take a hit in the environment created. I haven't watched the Boruto anime to see what the girl (Raiga's daughter or something) does with them but I know she gets worked by Salad/Sarada somehow. idk.

Tbh I sort of remember Kiba is a thing but haven't dwelled on it or its abilities much all, so this is interesting to think about.

 

[w34v3r]

The big weakness of the kiba blades is the fact that people keep dual wielding them.

Used as a single blade in one hand the tactical flexibility and general effectiveness would skyrocket.

 

[FortePlus]

Scarlet Justice: Full Blossom – ep. 61
"New Horizon"
[Discovery, Part 1]
---

Today is the day. Naruto and I are going to create our combination technique.

Yesterday saw the end of one B-Rank mission that I finished on my own, just to make sure I was back to my normal speed. I suppose something of that rank wouldn't count as practice for most, but it was uncomplicated. With that done and some spare money in my pocket as a result, we can get to work for at least a few days uninterrupted.

"I gotta check in with Gramps today," Fio says as I leave the bathroom. "I just got a letter! It's from the Sheep Boss!"

"They finally made contact with you. That's good. Did you need me to come with you? I have my own plans, but I can always adjust for your sake."

"Thanks, but I think it'll be okay on my end. Luna said she was gonna come with me to make sure things go well."

"In that case, you'll be in the best hands. But you knew that already, hmhm."

"Sure did. I hope things go well and they take me on. Thinking about having to shop around for summons sounds weird, eh. I guess most of us go without, though."

"There are some rules that one needs to follow," I say as I find a comb and sit down on my bed. "Depending on the group you fall into, there could be ceremonies and other demands. Truly ruthless individuals like Manda demanded sacrifices from their summoners each time they were called to our world."

"Yeesh. Wonder what sheep would want as a sacrifice, anyways. Hay, I guess."

"I don't think you have to worry about that. Midori-nee is very open about her contempt for certain cultural practices if they prove to be harmful. Very open, in fact. She's expressed her grievances directly to other parties, more than once. But I suppose you can do that when you're that much stronger than anyone else."

"Words to live by."

"Indeed."

"I'm gonna get going, then. Good luck on your training thing with Naruto!"

"Thank you, love. You know just how to reach me, as always."

"Yep." Fio gives me a kiss. "Love you lots, Lili. Be safe."

"I'll do my best. Just make sure to do the same for me."

"Promise!"

She heads out and closes the door behind her, while I start combing my hair properly. Speaking of messages, I wonder how much Suigetsu knows about recent events. He shouldn't be too far apart in age from those psychopaths, I think. It seems to have slipped everyone's minds. I'll try and get in a meeting with him, or at the least have Fio or Karin ask him a few questions on my behalf. Always something new to do, it seems.

"That can be sorted out later, thankfully. This time is going to be dedicated to my precious friend."

I have the remaining breakfast left out for me with a cup of tea, then get myself dressed and check over my bag one more time. Everything should be in place...never hurts to have some spare clothing and supplies, even if we won't be doing too much. With everything solidified on both of our ends, this shouldn't take nearly as long as the training for the new Rasengan did. I just hope it works, because it will open up a great deal of things for all of us later.

"Ready to go. Time to meet up with Naruto."

I lock in the straps on my backpack and leave the hotel. A quick skip across the rooftops towards the main gate, where I see a familiar head of hair before I land.

"Good morning, my love. We're here early."

"Sure are!" Naruto says with a bright smile. "Made sure I went to sleep early, too. I didn't want to miss this for anything."

"Lovely to hear." I kiss him on the cheek. "Well, shall we? I'll give you a detailed explanation on what we're going to do once we arrive at our destination."

"Sounds good to me. Let's go."

We pass the guards at the entrance and then take off through the forest ahead. The place I've selected isn't too far from the village, much like our last training session. There's no need for extra help and we will be easily found if there is an emergency. Hiruzen said that the other villages were caught off guard at the intentionally leaked reports of my trip outside of the village, which validates our security practices. Now all we have to do is continue to refine them.

Then again, there's nothing to worry about when it comes to the safety of the Leaf. We're spoiled for talented shinobi and battle frenzied individuals of all kinds, which includes my exceptional friend here.

"I'll handle all of our meals for the next while. No sense in going back and forth to the village unless we have to, and we don't want to give away our project without reason," I say as we come to a stop. An oval-shaped section surrounded by many trees, relatively flat with short grass on the ground.

"Alright, it's finally time!" Naruto says as he drops his bag on the ground. "So can we start now? Can we?"

"In a moment. Let's go over what we have so far," I say as I put my bag beside his. "You learned the Rasengan from Jiraiya. After that, you helped me to learn it, and then together with everyone else you completed a new Rasengan."

"Yeah, and then we made it into the Rasenshuriken."

"Yes, that." It's still so...never mind. "A technique that takes the highest level of shape transformation, and combines it with nature transformation in order to create something truly powerful. We will be dealing with the normal wind type Rasengan for now, since it's generally more stable."

"Right, right. Okay, so what does all of that mean?"

"We're getting to that in good time. Do you remember our talk about advanced natures?"

"Those kekkai things? You and Hinata said that people who had special bloodlines could turn two types of element chakra into one new type that's even stronger than normal."

"Kekkei genkai, darling. Otherwise, you are correct. Normally, it's beyond the scope of most human beings to combine elements on their own in that manner without the benefit of an existing bloodline limit. There are methods, however. For example, someone skilled enough with one of the three great doujutsu could be able to measure out the correct amounts of chakra that would go into creating an advanced chakra nature."

"So...you mean like the Sharingan? Sasuke and Kakashi-sensei could do something like that, you think?"

"With the right amount of skill and opportunity, yes. But there are methods other than that, difficult as they might be."

"Alright, alright. So...what does this advanced nature stuff have to do with us, and what we're doing?" he asks.

I sigh and shake my head. "You really can be adorable sometimes."

"Eh?"

"Naruto...we are going to create another Rasengan together, with an advanced element of our own."

"We're gonna do that?!" he says with his eyes wide. "But I don't have that special blood thing, and you said you don't either!"

"I'm going to explain how we will arrive there simply," I say to him. I snap my fingers on one hand and have an orb of water appear above it. "I have control of three different elements at this point in time. One of them is as you see here, water. My command of this element is sharp, as it is one of the two that I was born most responsive to. Do you remember what happens when water and wind are perfectly combined?"

"Those make ice together. Like Haku did, right?"

"Yes, that's exactly right. Wind Release and Water Release together create Ice Release. As for how we can do that, I have a secret technique of my own. That, and a little magic that only comes with the power of love."

"Really..."

"Mm-hm." I have the orb of water spin itself into droplets, disappearing from above my fingers. "The secret technique is one I make frequent use of, called Crimson Depths. A technique that I learned from Midori-nee back when I first started out as a shinobi, originally known as Jacobson's Eye. As a skilled sensor type, I can detect chakra levels and changes in such, as well as identify different types of techniques once I recognize them. In other words, I can use my ability to sense the correct ratio and speed we need in order to complete our special technique."

"That sounds awesome! So you can do stuff on the same level as Kakashi-sensei can, basically?"

"In a different way, yes. It takes a little more effort and concentration, though."

"Hmm, I see now. Well, I think so." He nods. "You said something else...about love."

"I did. The biggest reason that we'll be able to accomplish this is because of the bond we have with each other," I say. "When two people trust each other, they're able to do wonderful things. They can surpass the limits that we normally have, make new discoveries, and solve all kinds of problems that seem insurmountable. To connect with each other, using the power of chakra...I think that will allow us to do something that one would normally need a bloodline limit for."

"Whoa..."

"I know that you've been waiting a long while, so let's get started with the first step."

"Got it! Ready when you are!"

"Okay." We move away from our bags and towards the middle of our clearing. "Go from memory and start with Wind Release: Rasengan for me."

"Yup!" Naruto forms two clones and quickly creates the spiralling sphere before having them disperse. The technique is stable and looks even more refined than before. He's definitely been practising regularly.

"Now, let's start with a simple question. How did you form your technique just now?"

"Oh. Um...well, after doing it so many times and all that practice, I just kind of know how much of everything I need to put in."

"A fine answer, love. That is the principle that we will lean on in order to make everything run smoothly." I hold out my hand and form a Rasengan above my palm. "Remember that you taught this to me. All of it was for this future moment."

"Oh..."

"There are a great number of ways to try and reach the goal, just as it was with the Rasengan. You found your method, and I found mine. Creating a new one together presents many more options, but I've already narrowed it down for us based on our strengths. Naturally, we will need to provide both wind and water chakra from both sides. Then comes the Rasengan itself, which you will be in charge of forming and maintaining. My other job will be to find the correct ratio of chakra to mix into yours, so that we can create our advanced nature and properly infuse it into the Rasengan."

"Sounds complicated," he says with a frown.

It does, a little bit. I wonder...ah, I know.

"Depending on how you choose to do this...I would be like the first copy of you when you make your wind Rasengan," I explain. He thinks about it for a bit before understanding.

"Oh! I get it now. So you'd be like the one shaping the chakra, then."

"Yes, that would be it."

"So my job would be to...um..." He has his Rasengan dissipate, and I do the same while he scratches his head. "Maybe..."

"Are you alright?" I ask.

"Yeah, I'm just nervous. I don't want to screw this up any, you know?"

I step forward and take his hand in mine.

"You won't. We're going to make something special, together. I'll be with you every step of the way, and nothing you do will ever disappoint me. I want you to know that. No matter what the outcome, I will always love you. And I'll be proud of you forever."

"Lili...thank you." I feel him squeeze my hand back. "You're right, I shouldn't be so nervous with you around. Let's do this."

"Yes, let's. I'll simplify things for us both. Tell me if you agree."

"Okay."

"In the three man setup you use, your Shadow Clones operate as effectively two extra hands. One to shape the chakra that you emit for the Rasengan, and the other to mix in the wind chakra for the change in nature. With me so far?"

"Yeah, I'm with you."

"Good. We're going to be a bit ambitious and have you forego clones for now, unless we think we desperately need them. Your job is to emit the chakra as you know how to do, and add wind chakra from the top. My job will be to shape the chakra that you emit from your hand, and add water chakra from the top while feeling out the correct ratio to mix the two elements together. We will each have our own share of work to do, balanced towards our strengths."

"I get it, yeah. So you're gonna shape the chakra I put out...but then, how're you gonna add in water chakra with both of your hands going like that?"

"I'll only need the one. Let's test it out, so that you can get a good feel of what's going on. Take your normal stance and put out the amount of chakra you would for the Rasengan."

He nods and holds his right hand out. I put my left underneath his, and bring the chakra into the shape that I remember as it rotates. His chakra feels heavier than mine...more dense, and very vibrant in its own way. The unfamiliarity isn't too much of an obstacle, and I quickly adjust to create the Rasengan's shell. It floats freely above his palm as we look at it together.

"No way. You really did that, in like a second!" he says with awe.

"Nothing to it, really. I have to admit, I was expecting a bit more difficulty on my end...but it's worked out very well for us. Did you feel any discomfort, Naruto?"

"None at all. This is amazing. It looks the same as any Rasengan that I would make, but you made this."

"We made it," I correct him.

"Yeah, you're right. We made it, together. This is so cool. So you think we can do the next step?"

"One more test to confirm something. I want us to do the same thing, only this time...I'm going to feed some of my chakra into the Rasengan. That is to say, I'll pass it on to you so that you can create the base of the technique, and then I'll shape it."

"Okay. Never done something like that before, but I trust you a whole lot. I'm ready."

"Good. Here we are..."

I press my hand underneath his, and start to flow my chakra upwards. As he starts to create the basis for the Rasengan, I can feel my chakra and his mixing together. And all of a sudden, I can...see things.

More than that. I can feel them.

Pieces of memories. The past that Naruto always told me about, but...for real in my sight, and against my skin. Melancholy, loneliness, jealousy...so many different, swirling things. Somehow, I know what this is, like I've been here before, even though I haven't...

The Rasengan comes to life in Naruto's palm, and I see him look at me with the same realization.

"Was...that supposed to happen?" he asks, confused.

My mind goes back to when I first presented Fio with her bracelet, so that we could remain connected to each other no matter what happened. The faint, unknown feeling from that time was a shadow of what I felt just now. Connecting to each other, looking into someone else's heart in a very real sense. That's what it was all along.

"I think it was," I say quietly. "I think it...always was, somehow."

"Always was? What do you mean?"

I look at my left hand.

"I think that...seeing into the hearts of others was one of the original functions of chakra. I think that maybe chakra was meant to do more than create and destroy. It might have been meant to connect people to each other, directly."

"You really think so?"

"It must be the truth. You saw into my heart too, didn't you? Just...a little bit?"

Naruto has the Rasengan disappear while he turns to me.

"I felt how alone you were."

"It was the same for me. Just bits and pieces, but I could feel the emotions you had, back then. What made you happy, and sad. I didn't expect that to happen, but it did."

"..." Naruto looks down at his right hand and nods. "I think I've felt stuff like this before."

"Where?" I ask.

"It's not really the same, but...when Sasuke and I fight sometimes, and it gets a bit intense, we can sort of feel what the other person's thinking. You know? Not like I can read his mind or he can read mine, but I know how he's feeling, just without knowing the words..."

"Somehow, I think I can understand that."

"Really, huh. How come it doesn't happen all the time? Like when Sakura helps with my chakra, or stuff like that? Isn't this something that everyone goes through?"

"No. It's not."

"How come?"

"It's the emotion behind it. Chakra as it is must be different from what it used to be, in some way. But aside from that...Naruto, you and Sasuke care for each other deeply. More deeply than maybe either of you understand at this moment, but you realize it all the same. And of course, we love each other very much, more than most in this world would."

"Can't disagree with that. So you think it's love?"

"It's the bond between us, as people. In battle, it might manifest in a clash between two rivals. And in intimate settings like this, it happens when we mix our energies together closely. Something like this isn't common, even when combining techniques. It takes love, and it takes trust, and it takes emotion. Most of all, it takes harmony. One that you can reach Sasuke with when you fight, and the type that you can reach when you're next to me like this." I rub his shoulder gently. "There are a lot of unintended implications to take away from this. The connections that people have through chakra aren't what defines their relationships, and connections in this world aren't what society makes them out to be. But...I also think that as shinobi, people who are compatible in multiple dimensions will be able to connect like this in an easier manner."

He looks to the sky, thinking.

"Lili? Do you think that maybe...if we could connect the whole world like this, that people would understand each other? That there would finally be peace?"

"I don't think so, Naruto. I think that it could be a start...but it will take far more than that to bring the world together."

"I see. I was hoping for a different answer."

"That's only fair. Maybe you're right, and I'm the one that's wrong. We will have to see what the future holds."

"Yeah." He smiles and pats me on the back. "Wanna finish our thing now? I'm super ready."

"I am too. Let's get back to it. Do you remember what our assignments were?"

"Yeah. I'm gonna supply the regular and wind chakra, and you're gonna shape it and supply the water chakra."

"Good. Then we're ready to start. Same routine as before."

"Yup."

I place my left hand gently under his right again, and flow my chakra into it. At the same time, I can feel his chakra against my hand. The same feelings as before start to reach me, but it's nothing that I'm bothered by now. Without needing to think, my body moves in time with his. Our free hands hover over the forming Rasengan and push the elemental chakra into it. A swirling force of wind and water starts to form.

Without a word between us, we progress. Naruto does what he does best, and I follow his lead, adding my water chakra in until I can feel the faintest of changes...the sharp, cool sensation that I was hoping for. His eye catches mine, and he immediately increases the amount of wind chakra coming from his hand, allowing me to continue mixing things together. The air feels colder now. Those memories are even more vivid than before as our chakras continue to mix, and I can see more of Naruto's life. Not just the sad times, but the small triumphs that he took pride in. As young as he was, he was still determined to do things on his own. Hiruzen must have thought it right to give him that freedom, even if some would call it cruel that he didn't immediately devote more time and energy to his successor's child. I can see the moments where he gained understanding, and came to love those who tried their best to guide him, like Iruka.

I can see that moment with Sasuke, where they came across each other and immediately put on tough looks. But that unmistakable feeling...the relief that even if they were just rivals, just boys who constantly fought and mocked each other in public...

...in the end, they had something more meaningful and valuable than most anything else. More than a friendship. A true connection.

---

"You've been through a lot, Lili. Way more than I could understand."

I look at Naruto as he floats across from me, in the middle of this vast white space.

"I didn't have anyone growing up. So...in a lot of ways, I didn't know what it was like to lose people. Like you did, and like Sasuke did. Or like Kakashi-sensei did. It's a lot to take...it must have hurt so much when your mom died. Even if I felt some of what you felt...I dunno. It's like I understand, but I don't at the same time, fully. Is this what you meant?"

"I did. We can see into each other's hearts, but there is never a guarantee of acceptance, or understanding. It's possible that people might not get the full scope of what another person's pain means to them. Connecting to another person is not...an easy thing."

"It's not..."

"But you're not wrong to try," I say. "You've inspired me as well, Naruto. No matter what happens, I will find my own path to changing this world. It might divert from yours, from everyone's...but I know what I have to do. As long as I can move forward, nothing will stop me."

I give him my brightest smile.

"To be Hokage means to lead the village, and the world. To endure, as shinobi are born to do. And to never give up on my dreams, just like you taught me. Looking into your beautiful heart has given me even more courage. I promise to bring us happiness."

"I'm glad that I could do that for you, Lili. I'm pretty determined, too! Maybe one day, I'll find a way to end all the fighting in this world with Pervy Sage, and then you can live life the way you want to."

"If you make it that far, then I can accept that. Thank you for thinking of me, Naruto. I love you, forever and always."

"I love you too, Lili. I'm so glad that you're my best friend in the world."

---

The sheer cold that reaches my skin brings me back to the spinning sphere, as the water going around it starts to shimmer and sparkle. And then, the colour bursts out in my senses, changing the miniature vortex of wind and water into something brand new.

Ice.

A rapidly spinning, frozen Rasengan with icy blades around its middle. Frost is thrown outwards, sparkling in the light like powdered diamond. An incredibly beautiful sight.

"I really can't believe we did it, and in one go..."

"It's the power of love, as I mentioned before," I say as I stare at the new Rasengan with admiration.

"I'm holding it, I'm looking at it...but I still can't believe it's real. This is wild." He shakes his head slowly. "We made a Rasengan out of ice. And without those special bloodline things."

"Want to test it out?"

"Hell yeah! Alright...that tree looks good." He gets himself ready and holds the Rasengan behind him. "All set."

"Go," I say.

He takes off and measures his distance, before thrusting forward with the Rasengan and slamming it into the tree ahead. It grinds into the trunk before a curious thing starts to happen...the sparkling dust increases in volume, spreading outwards before the trunk starts to rapidly freeze. Naruto hops back as the Rasengan detonates, sending a wave of frost outwards and cracks spreading like spiderwebs along the length of the tree trunk.

A moment later, with the cracks continuing to spread, the tree breaks apart into varying pieces of ice.

"O...kay. That was even wilder than I thought. It...uh, it froze the tree."

"That's the power of an advanced chakra nature," I say as I walk over to inspect the impact site. Even the grass in the immediate area is frozen over thanks to the detonation.

"Yeah, no kidding. Guessing I'll need gloves if we want to use this one again," he says while shaking out his hand. "And it's lucky that we didn't try it with the Rasenshuriken, then. Great call."

"Thank you kindly."

"One hell of a jutsu." He lets out a breath and looks out proudly at his handiwork. It's only fair that he feel that way. From dead last in his class at the academy, to surpassing the Fourth by infusing two different natures into his signature technique, the Rasengan. He's come a very long way, and I'm extremely proud of him.

"Indeed," I say in agreement.

"I guess we might wanna practice it a few more times. But no Rasenshuriken yet, eh?"

"No. Not until we figure out how to get rid of that terrible blow-back it has. Hina loves me dearly, but she'll still have my head on a platter if you go back to the village with an arm frozen solid."

"Sheesh."

"She does not play games when it comes to you," I say.

"Definitely."

"We can probably have another try later on, or tomorrow preferably. I'll make us something to eat for now, and then we can talk about my recent adventures."

"Yeah, yeah. You were out of the village for a while, on a secret mission. So you can tell me about this one?"

"I can give you plenty of details. All of the secret material is safely dealt with."

"Awesome! And of course, there's one more thing we need to take care of."

"What might that be?" I ask.

"The name of our super cool new jutsu, duh! I know you, Lili. You wouldn't forget something so important, especially as the Chunni Princess of the Leaf."

"The...what? Are you spreading that name around?"

"Hey, don't blame me for anything like that. You're the one calling yourself stuff like Crimson Nightmare and all that."

"Listen, there's a certain aesthetic that needs to be considered. Chunni Princess, how uncouth!" I complain playfully, folding my arms.

"Complain about that later! What's the name you got for us?"

I close my eyes, pretending to think for a bit. Unfortunately, I have to admit that Naruto has me pretty well pegged down...I've been thinking about potential names for the jutsu ever since I planned our trip out here. One stuck with me the entire time.

"Hmph." I open one eye and give him a haughty look. "The name of our most glorious technique...Ice Release: Diamond Dust Rasengan."

"Dude. That...sounds super cool," he says with approval. "But you're gonna have to explain to me what diamond dust is."

"Diamond dust is another way to refer to a gathering of ice crystals."

"'Cos they sparkle like diamonds...ohh. I get it! Wow, you come up with the craziest stuff sometimes, Lili. It's awesome!"

I smile. "Thank you, love. I appreciate that you trusted me with something like that."

"Yeah, I just wanted to get Pervy Sage off my back. He keeps chirping at me about calling my cool new jutsu the Rasenshuriken." A broken clock really is right twice a day, it seems. "It's not lame, is it?"

"It's...inspired. That much can be said about it," I say as I start to go through my bag.

"So that's good, right?"

"Some have a different appreciation for these things, so it's best not to dwell on them too much."

"Sounds suspicious, but I'll let it go for now." He flops back onto the grass. "Diamond Dust Rasengan. Heh, awesome. Hey, what does fire and wind make? And fire and lightning? Is there a thing for those?"

"We didn't go over everything the last time, in order to keep our focus on the project in front of us. But we're blessed with time now, so I can go over some of the advanced natures with you once I'm done cooking."

"Okay! Tell me where you want your fire pit, and I'll start digging right away!"

"A few feet ahead of where you are now will be good," I say without turning. "And dig it properly, love. No Rasengans."

"Aw, man. Alright, alright...listen, Kakashi-sensei appreciates how fast I do it on missions."

"And is it him who does the cooking when you're out? Or do you pile that work onto Sakura?" I ask as I inspect my frying pan. A predictable silence follows. "I think that when we get back, you should apologize to her for the trouble you caused. Before it's too late to do so."

"...right. Yes, ma'am. Digging now."

"Hmhm. Good boy."

 

[FortePlus]

Scarlet Justice: Full Blossom – ep. 62
"Love and Faith"
[Discovery, Part 2]
---

It's hard to sleep tonight.

After spending a few hours talking with Naruto about my recent adventures – save for the incident with Sozen – we did some light training, ate dinner, and then went off to bed. Only a few hours passed between closing my eyes and opening them again. I don't think I'll be getting any more rest.

There are far too many thoughts going through my head.

Everything has changed due to what happened a few hours ago. I had a plan, I had an idea of what I was going to do and how I was going to do it. I was sure of my path. And now...I'm more sure of it than I ever was. Things happen in life, and plans can change at any time. But all of this has only served to drive me forward.

I felt what Naruto did in the past, for a few moments. I could hear him asking himself, over and over, what he could do to be recognized. What it was he did or said to be so disliked by the people of this village and their children. Why he could only get so close to the few kind people he met...why there was a strange, hollow space inside of his heart.

I knew it must have hurt badly, and now I know a bit more about that pain, intimately. He's come through it all so brilliantly, but there is still a dangerous path to walk down. He will need even more strength, and these revelations will give it to him, one way or another. There's a chance that he could be furious with me for withholding this information, and with everyone else. But I believe in him and who he is, and I believe that he'll understand my reasons, even as much as they might hurt. I wouldn't want to ever lose someone so precious, but I refuse to be selfish and keep this away from him any longer. That's not what friends do. It's not what people who love each other do.

No matter what the outcome might be, no matter how painful and messy it might be, I am going to give Naruto the truth that he deserves.

"It's decided. This is no time to turn back, so we won't."

My dream is to ascend past the dreams of this world, and break the chains that bind it in place. Breaking away from the tradition that adults have imposed upon us will be a great way to start.

---

"Can't believe you made all this stuff yourself."

Naruto looks curiously at the wooden spoon in his hand after finishing breakfast. I do the usual cleanup and toss any burnable items into the fire pit.

"I tend to make a few at a time while idling, whether at home or on missions. A sharp knife and some chakra can do wonders."

"Yeah. I mean they look a bit rough, but in a classy sort of way. You know?"

"I understand what you mean."

"And they're pretty good for the environment too, which is neat. Maybe I'll try carving my own stuff when I have the time. Pervy Sage likes his fancy forks and spoons and whatever so he won't appreciate them any, but I can use 'em for myself." He flicks the spoon into the fire. "So, guess it's time for more training before we go back. We can try our new Rasengan again today."

"I think...it would be better if we held off on that for now," I say while sitting beside him. "Last night, I had trouble sleeping. Some thoughts were coming to mind, and..."

"Sounds kind of serious. Everything okay, Lili?" he asks with concern.

"I do feel a bit melancholy at the moment, but it's something that I will overcome soon. I know that I have to at this point. Naruto...what I have to tell you is very important. It's about you, and your origins most of all."

"Origins?"

"Yes. The circumstances surrounding your birth. You see...a bit after you told me about the tailed beast that you host inside of your body, I discovered a great deal of things about your history, and the people who were connected to you in the past. There were many things kept secret by order of Lord Hokage, and I didn't want to breach them for that and other reasons. Some of them were that you a bit too young, and far too immature at the time. You wouldn't have handled any of it well."

I smile and place my hand on his cheek gently.

"But now, you've grown into a handsome and brilliant young man. Someone who has matured in mind and body, and is someone to be very proud of. Sixteen years is long enough. You should have the truth of who you are, and what you mean to those who love you dearly."

"Lili..."

"I'm going to do my best for you. All of this information is for you, and you alone."

He nods. "Alright. Whatever it is, I'm ready. I know I am."

I nod back and settle my hands in my lap.

"We will start with a necessary history lesson. To the east of Fire Country, there is an island. It has been abandoned for several decades now, with its shinobi village destroyed and all civilization brought to ruin. This place was called Whirlpool Country, with its shinobi village called the Village Hidden in Whirling Tides. Or, the Hidden Whirlpool for short."

"Whoa. How come it's abandoned?"

"It was attacked and destroyed out of a great fear. The inhabitants of the country were known for having very long lives, easily surpassing a hundred years old and able to move as if they were half that age, maybe even less. They were also experts in sealing arts. One clan was known for its exceedingly strong chakra and vitality, and also had the world's strongest and most effective sealing techniques. This clan was called the Uzumaki Clan."

"Eh? You mean my family?"

"Yes. The Uzumaki are distant blood relatives to the Senju, and so they formed a very strong bond in the past. Because of this, men and women of the Uzumaki would emigrate to the newly stabilized Fire Country and its shinobi village, the Hidden Leaf. One of these was Mito Uzumaki, who would go on to become the wife of Hashirama Senju, the first Hokage."

"Wow!"

"Do you remember Auntie Tsuna's lineage?"

"Yeah. Granny Tsunade is the First Hokage's granddaughter. She even got to see him when he was alive. Wait...so that makes Great Granny Mito Granny Tsunade's grandma!"

"That's right. And that's not the only thing that Mito was known for."

"Really? What else was there?"

"When Madara challenged Hashirama at what would be known as the Valley of the End, he brought the Nine-Tails with him, using the power of his Sharingan. Hashirama used the special power of his Wood Release to stop the Nine-Tails and win the battle. But deciding that he could not release the Nine-Tails into the wild again, he and Mito decided on something. Using her supreme skill in sealing arts, and the strength of her chakra as an Uzumaki...Mito sealed the fox inside of herself, suppressing its power by using her body as a container."

"Oh...that's..."

"Yes. Lady Mito Uzumaki was the first jinchuuriki in the modern era. The first host of the Nine-Tails."

Naruto's brow furrows. "Right. But...she died a long time ago and stuff, right? So how did that grumpy fox get from her to me?"

"We're on our way to that answer."

"Got it. Please go on, Lili."

"Thank you. At this time, the Hidden Whirlpool was still in existence. Mito was aging, and as long as her life was, it wouldn't last forever. She was weakening, between the ravages of time, and the grief she must have felt all of those years from losing her husband. Leaf used its strong ties and some material persuasion to have a new vessel sent over. This was a young woman with the same kind of brilliant red hair as Mito once had, a famous trait of the Uzumaki."

"Huh. And my hair's a lot brighter than that."

"For a certain reason, which we will get to soon."

"Alright."

"This young woman's name was Kushina Uzumaki, a girl who you must have guessed was from the same clan as Mito."

"So she got brought to the Leaf...but only to be the next container for the Nine-Tails," Naruto says sadly. "Did she know?"

"She knew. And she was terrified at first, from what I can understand. But Mito calmed her, and cared for her deeply. They formed a strong bond before Mito passed on, and by that time, Kushina was ready to take on that terrible burden. She became the second jinchuuriki in Leaf's history, and the second host of the Nine-Tails."

"Why didn't they find someone else who was older? Why a little girl?" Naruto asks. "It doesn't make any sense."

"It makes a lot of sense once you think about it," I say. "Younger vessels last a lot longer, and give the village more years of control before they have to search for someone new. The Leaf's jinchuuriki have historically been used for deterrence and nothing else, with the power of the tailed beast chained tightly to them. Some hosts are bred to be used as weapons to gain an advantage, such as Gaara. He was bonded with Shukaku before he took his first breaths in this world."

"Before he was born?!"

"Yes. The varying strengths of the tailed beasts create different situations in each shinobi village, and those are further affected by the history of the surrounding area. The tribes that now make up the Hidden Sand had control of Shukaku long before the organized shinobi system came to be."

"Oh, wow. So...Kushina had to come to the Leaf as a kid, only to be..."

"She hadn't resigned herself to just that. Her dream was to become Hokage one day as well."

"Wow, really?" He grins. "Sounds a lot like someone you know!"

"Indeed."

"But I guess she's the one that died when the Nine-Tails got out of her. How did it happen? And how did I get caught up in all of this? Was it because I was an Uzumaki, like she was?"

"Your heritage made you a perfect candidate...but Kushina would never want this sort of life for you if she could help it. The Nine-Tails was forcefully taken out of her on that night sixteen years ago. When Mito had her many children with Hashirama, there was a discovery regarding the seal. During pregnancy, the seal holding the tailed beast would weaken slightly, as some of the energy used to maintain it would be directed to the growing child instead. It meant that at childbirth, the seal would be at its absolute weakest."

"So having a baby would be the perfect time for the bad guys to strike."

"Yes, that's right. Childbirth was therefore held in secret locations, with experts present to help with delivery and sealing. The Fourth Hokage was present with Kushina when she gave birth to her son."

"The Fourth was there, huh."

"He was. Kushina had fallen in love with him many years ago, after he rescued her from the Hidden Cloud's kidnapping attempt."

"Man, always those guys."

"One of their specialties, it seems."

"Oh, so the baby was theirs together. What happened to him? Did...he die when the fox got out? I mean the son of the Fourth Hokage and Kushina Uzumaki has to be a really cool and strong guy if he's around, you know? The village would totally be head over heels for him, and you'd have to compete with him to be Hokage, Lili! Though you'd probably win still, hehe. Still, losing both of your parents would be rough." He sighs. "Like Iruka-sensei did on the same day. I dunno if I'd be able to handle it."

"Naruto-"

"So what happened to him?" he asks eagerly. "Is he wandering the world or something? How come Pervy Sage and Grandpa Third don't talk about him? Is he on a secret mission? Why did I get chosen instead of him to be a jar for the dumb fox?"

"Naruto..."

He stops talking and gives me a worried look. "Lili? Are you okay?"

I shake my head, trying to stop the tears from coming down. "Not really. I thought I would be more composed for this moment, but...I don't know what it is."

"If-"

"This is for your sake, so I have to do this. Naruto...you..." I take a breath in. "You were chosen at the last moment in a most dire emergency. And the reason you were there, in that place, at that time...was because the child that Kushina gave birth to on that night was...you."

His eyes slowly widen.

"Kushina Uzumaki was your mother. And your father was Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage of the Hidden Leaf."

"Mom...and Dad? I was..."

He pauses and starts to get up, then walks off a short distance. I wonder if he'll run off somewhere to gather himself...it would only be fair with what he must be experiencing right now. It's possible that my best wasn't good enough, and he's boiling over with anger.

"Lili? Could you...come here for a bit?"

I hear his voice, quiet and exhausted. Without hesitation I reach his side, and resist the urge to wipe at the tears coming down his face. He reaches for my hand, and I reach back to take it, feeling how much...less his usual warmth is. Grief and anger and confusion...more than most people could take. But I knew that even if he hated me, he had to know the truth.

"You were so worried for me. That's why...you couldn't sleep last night. Because of this," he mumbles.

"Yes."

"I'm just thinking about everything that happened. All the things that I could have had, the life that I probably should have lived. I know everyone must have had their reasons. But it still...hurts."

"You're not wrong to feel that way. If you need to be angry, if you need to let everything out, I'll stand here and-"

"I don't want it to be you. You don't deserve that," he interrupts. "You love me more than anyone else, and you took this chance to tell me what I needed to know. I can't...be angry at you, even if it's just to vent. I don't want to hurt you, Lili."

"I know. I just..."

"I...want you to help me understand. All of this." He wipes at his tears with his sleeve. "It's like...it wasn't supposed to be this way, but it was. And my life changed before I knew what it was."

"Take your time," I say gently. "Please. No matter how long I have to wait, I will wait for you. And I'll answer every question you have. I promise."

"You don't need to go that far. You've always been there for me when I needed you...but maybe you're right, and I should just wait a bit. I'll go for a walk to try and clear my head, maybe..."

"I'll keep watch here," I say.

"Thanks."

"Be careful. Come back as soon as you can."

"Yeah."

He's trying to process everything, and there's just...so much pain that I can see in his eyes. It's taking so much to let him go, with all of the worry coursing through me. I don't want anything to happen to him, or...

"..."

I just know that there's more to tell him, and more to deal with. All I can do is try to move forward with him, and maybe ease some of that pain in his heart.

Since I don't know when he'll be back, maybe getting an early start on lunch will be a good distraction. Or dinner. Perhaps both. I need to start a fire first. I need...

---

Lunch has been packed away by now, and will likely serve as breakfast tomorrow. Dinner is being kept warm over the fire as I wait for Naruto to return.

He's well within the range of my tracking, but it doesn't make me worry less. If anything, I'm too far...no, I shouldn't think like that. He's not like I was. He's...different. Stronger, in a lot of ways. I just can't help thinking those things.

Finally, I can sense him coming back. He moves slowly through the trees, and after a few minutes comes into sight. His hands are in his pockets, and he looks a bit better than earlier. Not quite the same spark as before, but I would be a monster to think less of him for that.

"Welcome back," I say. "Dinner is ready for us...did you feel up to eating?"

"I'm pretty hungry after all that walking...yeah, that sounds good. You waited all this time for me?"

I nod.

"You're really amazing, you know. Thanks, Lili. I really appreciate that...we can continue talking about stuff from earlier once we're done eating. I'm up to it now, promise."

"Okay. I'll get everything for us, so you sit there."

I make sure that the food is not too hot, and that he has enough to drink, and that he's comfortable where he is the entire time. I quietly fuss over him, and wonderful soul that he is, he lets me do so today. Even while all of those thoughts are swirling around in his head, he thinks of me. It's really so sweet that I don't know what to do with myself...

"All finished. That was great as always, Lili. Thanks!"

"You're welcome. I always do my best for you, Naruto."

"Hard to miss. Um...is it okay if we talk now? I mean after...oh, you were eating while looking after me. Guess I forgot you can do it all, eh?"

"Sometimes. Thank you for that, and I'm ready whenever you are."

"Okay." I set all of our bowls and utensils aside, then sit next to Naruto in front of the fire. The stars are slowly starting to come out in the evening sky, and we stare at it a while in silence.

"I...spent a lot of time thinking, about what could have been."

"That's more than understandable, given what I told you earlier."

"Yeah. My dad was one of the greatest and strongest shinobi in history. And my mom was the host of the Nine-Tails before me, not to mention awesome in her own way from what you told me. Both of my parents were elites and stuff...so even if they passed, my life should have been a lot better. I should have been treated better by everyone, and gotten more opportunities, and...so much stuff, I guess. It was starting to make me angry, thinking about what I could have had and how I got treated and..."

"I know. It's okay. I know that I can't ever understand-"

"No, no. That's not what I was trying to get across. Sorry if it seems like I'm guilting you, Lili. I just...yeah. But then I remembered some stuff you taught me. About connecting dots and all that."

"I'm glad you did," I say with a smile.

"It helped a lot. I started to think things through, and got an understanding. People just...didn't know who I was, other than the kid who was a jar for a spooky monster that ruined their village. So, I guess...I dunno what exactly to ask as a question here."

"That's fine. The reason I wanted to tell you myself is that I'm the best person in the world to help you through this crisis," I say confidently. "Other than your parents communicating from the other side, of course."

"Heh. It would be pretty cool if they could." He puts a hand over his stomach. "They could help me get this grumpy idiot to cooperate, or something like that."

"Perhaps so. I'll help your understanding by explaining the things that I know. Please don't hesitate to interrupt me if there's something you can't grasp. You've been through a lot today already, my love."

"Okay. I'll remember that."

I kiss him on the cheek. "Good. Let's start from where you left off. Your identity within the village. Your name is Naruto Uzumaki. Do you remember what I've said about names in the past?"

"Um...that names have power. Is that right?"

"Yes. A name can be the difference between life and death. Not just on the battlefield, but off of it. The reason your family name is Uzumaki...is because of your father."

"You said earlier that the Uzumaki got wiped out because people were scared of their power."

"That is correct. It was after Kushina made her way to the Leaf. The surviving inhabitants of the Whirlpool Country, mostly Uzumaki, scattered towards different places. Most went towards the mainland, others towards the islands such as Water Country, and still others sailed away to the world beyond this continent. Those that remained would change or hide their names and identities, and unless their protection could be assured, refrained from using their special powers. This diaspora led to people like Karin being found in the Hidden Grass, as one example."

"I get it, I think. So the Uzumaki were still dangerous or valuable to people, but not as dangerous since they were so broken up."

"Exactly. And nobody would think much of an Uzumaki in the Hidden Leaf, especially a blonde one. They could easily assume that your blood was too thin to be of use, and thus would not risk high profile kidnappings or the like in order to get at you. Remember that Hinata is a pure-blooded Hyuuga who is also the daughter of the Hyuuga Head, and Kushina had her brilliant red hair, signifying the purity of her lineage as an Uzumaki. It made them immediately valuable targets for enemy nations."

"Oh, yeah. That makes a lot of sense."

"Now, there was a secondary reason, and it was as a deflection so that nobody would dig too deeply into your true identity. Your father was known as the Yellow Flash, a most terrifying shinobi who could appear anywhere at any time he pleased. I think you understand where this goes."

He gulps and nods. "Yeah. They'd try to kill me as fast as they could."

"Correct."

"How come Pervy Sage couldn't take care of me? Do you know why?"

"It was for many of the same reasons. Jiraiya is infamous as one of the Three Shinobi, and on top of that was doing work as a spy for the benefit of the village. He was tracking down Orochimaru, and on top of that was Minato's jounin-instructor back when he was starting out."

"Oh, and they might get ideas from that. And travelling around with a kid wouldn't be the best move, either."

"No. Though there is the argument that he could have settled down in the village properly and looked after you, as he was meant to do as your godfather. It's one that I would have made, certainly. But after the Nine-Tails' attack on the village, there was a lot of work to be done in order to secure its safety. With Minato and Kushina gone, the Leaf had lost a great deal of military power in a single night. As the Fourth Hokage, your father would have had all of that in mind when he sealed the fox into you."

"Hm."

"He would have thought that the only way to keep the village safe in the future was to seal half of the Nine-Tails into you."

He blinks. "Half? What do you mean?"

"I suppose Jiraiya didn't tell you even that. That much is understandable, I think. You currently possess one half of the power of the Nine-Tailed Fox, Naruto. It was placed into you using the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, a technique that sacrifices the souls of both the user and its target to the Shinigami."

"Dad knew something like that?!"

"I surmise that he learned it, along with a great deal of sealing arts, from Kushina. The old man has told me many stories about how talented he was, and given that he created the Rasengan and improved upon the Flying Thunder God art, I can certainly believe it. His handiwork is a part of you now. But yes, the fox was normally too much to handle for anyone, so strong seals were used by Mito and Kushina in order to seal him away completely. But Minato had different plans for you, aside from his realization that the chakra might have been too much for a child all at once. He split the chakra, and sealed half of it away with his soul in the stomach of the Shinigami. The other half went to you, which I believe is the Yang half."

"The part that gives energy, right?"

"Yes, Yang gives breath to people and structures. With that part sealed into you, he used his last moments to create the Eight Trigrams Seal, which is two Four Symbols Seals together, and placed it on your belly to contain the fox."

"Wow. So that's all, then."

"Not all of it. There's more, my love. I want you to understand that your father did what he did as a last resort, but not simply as that. He loved you dearly, and believed in you with all of his heart."

"Believed in me? What do you mean, Lili?"

"Guide me forward this time. The Nine-Tails...does he speak to you?"

"Yeah, he's a big grumpy baby who talks about hatred and stuff all the time. It's nice that I can finally make him pay rent for taking up space inside of me." Naruto sticks out his tongue.

"I see, I see. And have you ever seen him, face to face?"

"Yeah. Sometimes I can go down to a sort of...basement thing. It's usually flooded with water, up to your ankles. And when you go forward, there's a big cage with bars and stuff. And a sheet of paper in the middle that says seal on it. The dumb fox is behind the cage and can't get out unless I take off the paper and open the door somehow. I think. When I get really angry and lose control, there's more water, and it takes me up until I'm floating. I know that if I wanted to, I could go through the bars...but if I did that, he'd take control of my body, or something nasty."

"Do you remember how your seal is constructed?" I ask.

"Yeah. It's two half circles over each other, and then there's a swirly symbol, kinda like the ones on the backs of the jackets people wear. I have it too. How come people in the Leaf have those?"

"To symbolize their strong ties with the Hidden Whirlpool, and as a memorial of sorts now that they're gone. The Leaf and Whirlpool have always been close."

"That makes sense. Anyways, why did you want to know all that, Lili?"

"To show you something simple. Do you realize the state of your seal?"

"State? I mean it's there, and I can talk to the fox and stuff, and borrow his chakra..."

"Yes, but you remember what it looks like. I want you to figure it out on your own."

"Uh...it's two half circles. So they have gaps at the sides. I don't..." He pauses before realization hits him. "You're saying that it should be a whole circle, to keep the fox locked down. And since Dad was a super great seal user like Mom, he...did that on purpose."

"That's it," I say. "Keep going."

"He did it on purpose...he let the fox chakra get out a little bit on the sides, so that I could use it? I think?"

"You're close. Think about your favourite hot chocolate. How does it work?"

"Oh! You mix the chocolate and the milk together...and then they become something better! So Dad wanted the fox chakra to mix with mine. He, um...wanted me to take control? Wanted me to get used to it...yeah, wanted me to get used to using it, so that it didn't hurt me."

He looks over at me.

"He wanted me to master the fox's power."

"To protect the village, and the world. There was a certain man who managed to get information regarding your birth, and infiltrated the room where your mother lay. He kidnapped your mother, released the Nine-Tails from her body, and used it to attack the village. Kushina, due to her strong chakra, did not pass on right away, and must have wanted to take the Nine-Tails with her into death."

"The tailed beasts can die...right, you mentioned that yesterday."

"Temporarily. And that was the problem Minato must have seen. The Nine-Tails would appear again, and be used to attack the Leaf once more, or any other village. The Leaf would be utterly weakened, and subject to attack by its enemies. He did what he had to do as a shinobi, as the Hokage...but his belief in you was more than just business. He saw you as the key to saving the world itself, and placed a burden onto you."

"Dad believed in me that much. As a baby, heh. And you think Mom would have disagreed, eh?"

"Certainly. But your father was a very charismatic man. It's where you get it from," I say with a smile.

"Haha, totally!" He looks down at his hands before closing them. "I get it now. All of this stuff happening...maybe that's how things were meant to be. I wish that I still had parents, that I had a better life...but I understand who I am, and how I got this far. I know now that I wasn't just some random kid thrown away, but that I had two awesome parents that loved me, and gave their lives for my sake."

"I wish I could tell you exactly how they died...but it was the Nine-Tails that gave them mortal wounds. To the end, his hatred burned bright for those he considered his jailers."

"Yeah. That...makes sense, I think. I don't know what I'm going to do about that yet, but...I'll figure it all out. Just like I did before."

"I know you will. There are some other things I want to tell you, but I think they can wait a bit longer. You've been through enough, my love. I'm so proud of you, and thank you for listening to me. For trusting me like this."

He looks at me with a bit of contemplation.

"What is it?" I ask.

"I think...Mom made a wish before she passed on."

I blink. "A wish?"

"Yeah. That a girl just like her would show up next to me." He grins. "Someone just as cool and pretty as she was, you know?"

I quickly stand up. "I-I-I'm going to fetch some water for us, excuse me."

"Hey, isn't the stream in the other direction? Lili?"

I move into the trees and put my hands over my beating heart. I can't let him see me like this. Idiot, stupid, blockhead. What was that all about?!

"You're really an idiot...s-seriously, you can't just say things like that to another girl. Go to Hina with all of that nonsense...stupid. I'll definitely bully you later for this."

Though maybe it's a good sign that...he can still make me feel this way. Even as annoyed as I am, I can't stop smiling.

I really do love him, more than words could ever express.

 

[FortePlus]

working hard.

e: upgraded it for the culture.

 

[FortePlus]

Scarlet Justice: Full Blossom – ep. 63
"Seams"
[Discovery, Part 3]
---

There are more than enough stories to tell.

I made sure to write several things down in case I forgot, but it wasn't necessary. I recite every story that I heard from Hiruzen, from Kakashi and even Itachi. The old legends gathered up from every corner of the village, the little anecdotes about Kushina that might have been lost to time otherwise. I gathered everything up into my head, and kept it there for the moment where I would tell Naruto everything. The day came much sooner than expected, but it came. And thankfully, I was ready for it.

He hangs on my every word, eager to learn about his parents, about the history that was kept from him in order to ensure his safety. After all of that, anyone would want to know what his feelings really were.

"I get it, really. I mean, it really sucked...but after you explained everything to me, I understood what was going on and everything. Gramps was just trying to help me, and I probably would have let things go to my head if I knew, all the stuff about people wanting to kill me aside. I mean, you see how Konohamaru gets on sometimes." We lie in the grass together on this warm afternoon, letting the breeze wind past us. This quiet little area has been perfect for relaxation, more than I realized at first.

"Yes, that's true."

"We're a lot alike. Of course, I don't tell him that. He's learning the Rasengan, too. Coming along pretty well!"

"You're teaching him?" I ask.

"Yeah, he kept bothering me about it, so I decided why not. It's a pretty good jutsu for anyone to learn, you know?"

"It might be the case. If every shinobi could gain the control and discipline to make even a small one, it would provide a sizable boost to their abilities. Of course, since they can't casually conjure Shadow Clones out of thin air, they would have to do it manually with one hand."

"That's true." Naruto pats his stomach. "Guess it's thanks to this guy here."

"Not entirely. With Kushina as an Uzumaki, and Minato born with a large chakra capacity of his own, you were almost guaranteed to have the level of chakra needed in order to house one half of the Nine-Tails. With your chakra blending together, it's simply an increase in available chakra and a widening of your already large supply."

"Oh."

"You already have more chakra than most people as you are, what's boosted is the recovery speed and potency. And given how reckless you are, having a second battery of sorts is a great boon."

"Reckless, eh."

"You waste chakra like nobles waste food."

"Okay, that's way too far."

"Is it? Jiraiya's certainly done wonders for you, but you still have a ways to go before you can match up to someone like me."

"Yeah, well...I wasn't born as talented as you or Dad." He crosses his arms in thought. "But I can't really complain about that, can I. I'll figure things out for myself. So you think Pervy Sage will teach me about that Sage thing?"

"The Sage Techniques. I suppose he will in time, when he thinks you're ready. As much as I don't like dealing with him, I can trust his judgement when it comes to these things. He cares about you, and wouldn't want to let your parents down."

"Yeah, that's true. So I can tell him about what I found out?"

"If you choose, love."

"Okay! He'll be...oh." He frowns and looks at me. "Did...you tell him you were doing this before we left?"

"No. I hinted at it to the old man, but this decision was entirely mine."

"You're not going to get in trouble?"

"I don't care if I do."

"You totally should, Lili," he says, looking over to me with worry. "What if you get put in jail or something, and have to share a toilet with other girls? And, and eat bad, lumpy food!"

I laugh lightly. "I appreciate your concern, but I think I would get a stern talking to at worst. I doubt that anything serious will happen. Don't worry, I took many things into account when I decided to do this. Even so...I'd suffer any amount of lumpy porridge for you, Naruto."

"Lili..." He sniffles and wipes away his tears. "You're such a good friend."

"You know, things like this make you that much easier to bully."

"You never stop with that."

"I've told you many times before. It's an art."

"Yeah, yeah." He puts his hands behind his head. "Anyways, what else are you holding back from me?"

"The true identity of the masked man and some things about your tenant. That's all."

"And you're not gonna tell me about either."

"The latter should be fine, the former I'm holding in my pocket because it will lead you to doing something reckless. More reckless than usual, I mean. You'll know about it when you need to." This much is better than lying to him, certainly.

"And you're not worried that I'll ask around?"

"No. Everyone in our circle who knows about this is authorized to tell you what they think you need to know, whenever they so choose. I've already taken these things into account, as usual."

"Guess we'll see about that."

"It's for your own safety, as much as you might not want to hear it again. When the promised time arrives, you'll know everything you need to know. I'll tell you about the Nine-Tails soon, as I said."

"Alright. I think I can live with it, for now."

"Thank you. Did we have anything that we wanted to take care of before heading back?"

"Nothing that I can think of. We did pretty good!"

"We did, indeed." I sigh and look up into the clouds. "I want to stay a bit longer. I've said this to myself before, but I understand why Shikamaru likes doing this so often. Still a slacker, but..."

"Yeah, that's true. It's nice just getting to hang out like this. Just can't do it forever."

"Mm-hm."

We take a few more hours to relax before packing up in the evening. The trip back to the village is made without incident, and I give Naruto a long hug before we part ways. There's nothing else to be done from here.

"Let's see what the future brings. At that point, I'll know just how to deal with you, Kurama. I know you've been listening all of this time."

If Naruto could help me overcome the darkness in my heart, then the two of us together can make another miracle happen. I'm sure of it.

---

"Good work, everyone. Another successful outing."

The three of us as Team Kobayashi return home, victorious yet again. It's been a week of missions, four of them to be exact. Two A-Ranks and two B-Ranks to finish things off, the last being yesterday. We walk the home stretch towards the Leaf Village entrance.

"It's rare that we see any trouble these days," Shino says to Hina. "It makes sense, seeing as we are an elite unit."

"Well, the missions don't often get too much harder than these, clandestine types aside. And we have the advantage of identifying targets from a good distance thanks to our unique abilities," she replies.

"Perhaps we should request that our missions are exclusively of a higher rank from now on."

"I wonder about that. Lili, what do you think?"

"If that's the case, we're doing A and S-Ranks," I say while looking over my shoulder. "Might as well save everyone some time."

"I think that Shino was worried about us being stuck doing busywork, so to speak."

"Busywork. I never liked that term for what we end up doing," I grumble. "Every assignment has meaning, even if it doesn't seem like it to most people. The small things need doing with how the economy works, and it will remain that way until some kind of major change happens."

"I suppose I should get out of the habit of using that turn of phrase," Hina says.

"It would be a good idea. Plenty of danger in reinforcing the roles assigned to us by the hierarchy. Though I'm sure Lord Hokage and his predecessors meant this distribution of jobs for the greater good, this sort of stratification is frequently abused by elder statesmen and direct superiors."

"I hadn't thought about it that way, not that deeply at least. I suppose being assigned lower ranked missions as punishment degrades their status in the view of shinobi, and gives them the perception of being lesser in value. That of course informs the attitudes of the smaller clients...I think I see now."

"Did you figure something out?" Shino asks her.

"Yes! I truly did learn something today from our conversation," Hina says happily. "It's as Kurenai said to us many times before, there is no shame in making a mistake or being wrong. What matters is how we choose to respond."

"You're right. Perhaps I should have a discussion with Father on the ossification of shinobi attitudes and the like."

"Maybe you should also have him seek more funding for insect research," I suggest. "Oyaji wants to expand some of the budget in that direction from what I've been hearing."

"That's a good idea, Boss. I'll bring it up later."

"Glad I could help."

As we near the front gate, there are a few shinobi lined up in front of it. I have to wonder if they're waiting for us in particular.

"That looks unusual," Hina says. "Do you have any idea what's happening, Lili?"

"I have a hunch. Follow whatever orders they give us, and we'll deal with everything as it comes."

"Understood."

"Got it, Boss."

The shinobi move so that they're directly in front of us as we approach, so that answers the first set of questions. We stop a safe distance across from each other.

"Colonel Lilith Kobayashi, your presence has been requested by the Lord Jiraiya and Lord Hokage. We ask that you come with us immediately," one says curtly.

"Fine. Give me a moment." I turn to Hina and Shino. "Some predictable business has come up, so there's nothing to worry about. I'll talk to you about it later on."

"It has to do with Naruto, doesn't it?" Hina asks.

"Exactly that."

"Well, since there's nothing too serious...try to use a lighter hand this time, at least."

"I'll try."

"That's good enough, I suppose." She kisses me on the cheek. "I'll be at home the rest of the day after a quick stop, so call me when you can. Shino, let's go and see our sensei before we go home and rest."

"Alright. I'll see you later, Boss."

"Take care, you two." The shinobi quickly step aside for Hina and Shino, then get back into formation to face me. "Are we on edge today? Mysterious, if so."

"We would prefer it if you were cooperative, Colonel Kobayashi," the leader says.

"You would, yes." I flip some of my hair backwards with one hand. "But it would have been far more polite if you didn't treat me like a criminal who was going to flee at the sight of you."

"We're here on orders, ma'am. To ensure that you arrived as promptly as possible." His tone is a bit apologetic, so at least he knows his place. Good enough for me.

"Understood. Please lead the way." My escort nods and turns to take off, with me following and the rest of the entourage trailing. I could be a nuisance and ask more pointed questions, but I figure these fellows are under enough pressure as it is. We head to the Hokage's Office and towards his working space, where the doors are already open.

Jiraiya is waiting next to Hiruzen's desk, with the man himself preparing his pipe. Tamaki is gathering up papers on the other side and giving Jiraiya a very piercing look.

"Lord Hokage, I will be taking care of some very important business outside of the office for a while. Imari will also be busy, but available if you have any urgent matters to be attended to."

"Understood. I will see you later, Tamaki."

She bows and starts on her way. The door closes behind us, and I set down my backpack in front of the desk.

"Let's not make this too difficult, alright?" Jiraiya says gruffly. "I've got the other senior citizens on standby if you decide that you don't want to be cooperative."

"You should have brought them here, in order to save yourself some time. One of my favourite pastimes is causing you additional grief," I say as I lean back on the desk and look at him.

"I would appreciate it if you both calmed somewhat, and allowed us to get to the main subject of this meeting," Hiruzen says after lighting his pipe. Smoke rises into the air as he takes a few quick puffs. "Jiraiya, you said this was a very serious matter and rushed here from a prior engagement. Lili, you have just come back from a series of missions. Both of you must be tired, and want to get things over with as quickly as possible."

"You're right about that much," Jiraiya says. "This emergency meeting is regarding Naruto."

"Has something happened?"

"Yeah, something really big. Something that could have resulted in catastrophe if even one thing went wrong. From the recent conversations we've been having, it seems that Naruto has been informed about his parentage. Somehow," he says pointedly.

"I see. This early, then?"

"This...huh? Sensei, what are you saying? Did you-"

"I did give Lili tacit approval when she discussed this with me the other day, but I wasn't expecting her to go through with it so soon. So this was during the training for the unique Rasengan, yes? How did that go, by the way?"

"It went splendidly," I say. "Everything came together better and faster than I could have hoped. It was that interaction between us that inspired me to move forward with my intentions. I apologize if I caught you off guard, sir."

"It's not a problem...I would be wrong to scold you for following your instincts, as things can change very quickly and easily in this world of ours. Judging from Naruto's health recently, it seems that there have been no ill effects arising from these revelations."

"Sensei-"

"Jiraiya, let me handle this for now. I'm getting to your part. Lili, please stand and face me."

"Yes, sir." I leave the desk and turn, putting my hands behind my back respectfully.

"I do not have any plans to punish you for what happened, so you should be able to relax on that front. However, for your sake and Jiraiya's, I will go over some of the potential grievances that are in front of us. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Lord Hokage. I took many of these things into account before making my decision, but I understand. I'm ready to listen to everything you and Lord Jiraiya may have for me."

"Thank you. As we in this room know, Naruto is a spirited and energetic child. Changes in his life can cause a great amount of turbulence as a result. Our intentions, while they might seem a bit oppressive at first, were to protect Naruto from both physical and emotional harm from a great deal of angles. That stability becomes even more important considering that he has the Nine-Tails sealed into his body, and the seal used by his father, Minato, was constructed in a way that allowed some of the tailed beast's influence to reach him."

"The Nine-Tails is more than just some passive beast that waits for opportunity to arrive," Jiraiya says. "It also attempts to create those opportunities for itself. If Naruto had been bonded to his tailed beast in the same way that Gaara was, the results of emotional turmoil could visit destruction on the village and the world at any time."

"Our aim was to reveal this information at a time not too much later than this," Hiruzen follows. "Once he had reached adulthood, perhaps. It is information that belongs to him, and would be revealed eventually. But only at a point when we were sure that he could truly control the power of the Nine-Tails inside of him."

"I was thinking at the point that he fully mastered the power of his tailed beast, which we know is possible. Yagura Karatachi of the Mist could do it, and we've heard that Killer Bee and Yugito Nii of the Cloud have around that level of control themselves. The Nine-Tails is that much stronger, of course, so it'll take some extra work."

"One of the persistent worries regarding your reveal of this information, at least on Jiraiya's side, is the effectiveness of contingencies. While we do not wish to look at Naruto as anything less than human, the fact remains that he has a potentially world-ruining power inside of his body, and extreme emotion would be one of the fastest ways to destroy the integrity of the Eight Trigrams Seal."

"Do you mean to ask if I had any means of stopping a full release of the Nine-Tails power, sir?" I ask.

"That, and the worst possibility."

"I understand why these questions are being asked. To start, if all of the other options were exhausted...I would be able to kill Naruto, without hesitation. Loving him as much as I do, I know that the last thing he would want was a ruined world. To have his blood on my hands would cause a deep, inescapable pain...but the alternative would be to allow him to destroy the home that he so loved and wanted to protect, and all of the people in it."

"And you think you could bring yourself to do something like that?" Jiraiya asks. He's being his ornery self, but I know that the question is sincere. He's been in that place himself.

"Yes, sir. I know that I could. I also have a means of steadying...rather, freezing my heart if it should start to waver. The trauma would never be erased, it never could be...but I could hold myself together long enough to do what needed to be done."

He nods, seeming satisfied with that answer.

"Before having to come to that grim task, would you also have the means to seal him away?" Hiruzen asks me.

"Yes. I have come to an understanding of the seal structure, and have put together a few sealing arts for rapid deployment in case of emergency. I also have developed large scale anti-tailed beast measures, and am currently in the process of developing more powerful arts in that vein."

He nods, looking impressed.

"Anti-tailed beast measures? And what might those be?" Jiraiya asks with a brow raised.

"Those are classified for the time being, sir."

He grumbles. "Listen-"

"Jiraiya, it's fine. We won't compel Lili to speak of any secret techniques she has in development. For now, at least. I must admit that I am curious to learn about them at some point."

"Alright, alright. At least tell us how you would stop Naruto before he gets going."

"Do you recall removing a seal from Naruto during the Chuunin Exams?" I ask Jiraiya.

"Yeah, the Five Elements Seal that Orochimaru jammed onto him while they were in the forest."

"Yes. I made use of it once already, during our training session for Wind Release: Rasengan."

"So your plan is to get that seal onto him, using the odd pattern over the even one of the Four Symbols Seals to disrupt the flow of chakra between himself and the Nine Tails. Hmph. I guess that's a decent plan. But how do you plan to-"

"Clone arts would work very well, either as a restraint or a distraction."

"So you know Shadow Clone too, huh."

"Is that satisfactory, Jiraiya?" Hiruzen asks.

He mumbles something and rubs the back of his neck. "For now, I guess. I still don't like that she decided on this unilaterally, and not just because anything could have happened with the Nine-Tails. If the story landed the wrong way, even if it didn't make him flip out...it could have ruined his entire worldview. I don't think I have to explain how important that is for someone who has to live their life as a jinchuuriki."

"I understand," I say.

"We don't mean to come across as harsh or scolding," Hiruzen says. "We simply wanted to express our concerns to you, in order to give you a better picture of the scope of things." And to let Jiraiya vent off some of the steam in his head, but that much doesn't need to be said out loud. None of this is hard to accept.

"I understand your feelings, sir. And that of Lord Jiraiya as well. I simply have my own path to follow. I want to protect him, in many ways. I won't be moved from my goal."

"We understand that as well, Lili. Whenever you can, you should make an attempt to coordinate events of this nature with Jiraiya, so that you can remain on the same page in the future. Otherwise, you are entirely correct to point out that you have your own ways of caring for Naruto. You have provided him the love and support that neither of us could in our capacities, and you should know that it will always be appreciated."

"What Sensei said," Jiraiya replies.

"Thank you both, for your support and acknowledgement." I bow deeply for both of them.

"Was there anything else, Jiraiya?" Hiruzen asks.

"Nothing that needed to be covered now. I think we're fine, now that Lilith here understands our concerns like you said. I'll deal with your war buddies, Sensei. We don't want them walking around with holes in their throats after a bad encounter."

I roll my eyes a bit at him, and he shakes his head.

"Alright. Then if everything is well, this meeting is adjourned. Jiraiya...please keep your distance from Tamaki next time, for both of our sakes."

"What's that mean?"

"It means that Lord Hokage ends up on the other side of a long and harsh lecture whenever you overstep your boundaries, sir," I answer.

"I'm gonna go before I decide that I'll give you a piece of my mind."

"It'll need to be more than a piece, if you want to get anywhere. Lord Hokage, good morning."

"Good morning, Lady Kobayashi." He gives me a smile and I smile back before picking up my bag. Jiraiya politely holds the door open and I nod to him before walking through.

"Listen. There's one more thing you need to know before you take off."

I look over my shoulder at him. "What might it be?"

Jiraiya reaches into his vest and pulls out a book, then holds it out towards me. "You might recall that I've been writing for a while. This is...I guess what you would call a foundational book for a few of my students, that I wrote a long time ago. Didn't sell very well, which was a bummer."

"You recovered well enough from it," I say as I turn to take it from him. The title is...The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi. A mouthful, certainly. Jiraiya's first book...I suppose he wants me to figure out a few things from it, then?

"Minato and Kushina both enjoyed it. I wondered if it was too low-brow for you, but only for a moment. If you could have fun with the stuff I write now, it shouldn't be beneath your sensibilities."

"You would be correct."

"Yeah. Minato thought it was so good that...he named the kid after the book's main character. I really just made it up on a dime one day, and didn't think it would resonate that much. But Minato...he was a really gutsy guy. Just like I was, a long time ago. But I'm probably holding you up, so I'll take off towards one of my other jobs. I'll see you around, Lilith."

"Yes. Thank you for this, and I'll give it a read tonight before bed."

He gives me a casual thumbs' up. "All I could ask for."

I put the book into my sweater pocket and watch him go down the hall briefly.

"Maybe not completely eye to eye...now, or ever. But I can place value on the trust that you have in me, however small."

Perhaps when the time comes to bring this world to an end, I might even be able to show him mercy. It's possible. Who can say, truly.

"I should head home. I'm hungry and I need to see my Fio."

I make sure my pack is secure, and then make my way out into the village. Time for a well deserved break.

 

[FortePlus]

Scarlet Justice: Full Blossom – ep. 64
"Supero Omnia"
---

I've been reading Jiraiya's book during my time off.

And unfortunately, it's very easy to see why it didn't sell much.

The book is a lot like Icha Icha in that it's a thinly veiled autobiography. The three main characters, Naruto, Tsuyu, and Renge, are very clearly representations of Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru. Maybe Tsunade's export is better hidden since her chest is supposedly flat in the book, but otherwise the similarities jump off the page right away.

Another unfortunate thing is that, from what I've learned of Minato Namikaze, he would be the type to get so easily sucked in by this type of junk. No wonder he named his son after the character in the book. Jiraiya was clearly staring at food when he came up with the name. Not that I hate it or anything, it's just...annoying to think about, those origins. Well, I'm already over it.

I can tell from the language and flourishes that this was written quite a while ago. Maybe twenty or thirty years before my birth, back when Jiraiya was a young man himself. There's an unmissable reference to the crowning of the Three Shinobi by Salamander Hanzo. More than that, I can see Jiraiya's navigation of what felt like an uneasy world at the time. How he felt about his comrades, his village, and the ones surrounding his on all sides. The location names are very simple, with little imagination to them, but they get things across quickly enough.

The Naruto in the book is a lot like my Naruto. It makes sense why Jiraiya would look after him so closely, they're very much alike in far too many ways. Renge contains a lot of traits that resemble Orochimaru and Sasuke, who nearly followed his path years ago. Maybe a Sasuke who can wander the world freely might gain something from it. There's a filter over Renge that isn't present in Sasuke...a thought that he was bigger than the village and everyone in it. Sasuke is much more composed than that, and self-aware. Hm. Never thought I would say something like that. Tsuyu is...a wish. Or a dream, perhaps. She reminds me more of Sakura than Tsunade, though she ends up as neither, as she eventually forgets about her crush on the missing-nin Renge, and returns Naruto's feelings. I suppose back then there was some hope for Jiraiya in that regard, but that's long gone by now.

Lots of small details, things from Jiraiya's life that made it onto the page. Write what you know is the advice people like to give, isn't it? I suppose it's not terrible advice, but you need a steady hand to weave those sorts of things into a story.

The one thing that stands out the most is Naruto's attitude, his view on life in the book. Never give up. Over, and over, and over again. A tenacity that allows him to rise from the dirt as many times as he can will himself to. It was that determination that gave Jiraiya the strength to walk down his own path, and my Naruto realized the same truth in his journey. The kind of spirit needed to break the cycle of darkness that covers the world.

"Give up...on making me give up."

Words to heat the soul? Right...

"..."

The book comes with a happy ending, of sorts. The epilogue is titled 'Someday, Surely'. A promise that peace will come as long as we keep walking the path, and never give up on our dreams. It's what will unite the world.

An ending without a closing. Maybe that's right. Maybe it's fair.

It's not something I care for.

Hope is a beautiful thing that will lead us into the future, and has given me a great amount of strength. Hope is a necessity. And hope is something that we cannot lean on if we want to advance beyond what we are now. Are we simply supposed to fight the good fight, struggling against the darkness of the world while simply hoping that enough people will come to understand the merits of peace? Conditions and circumstances change people. Asking people to believe in things and outcomes that they can't even see is a hard thing to ask, and might even be unfair to ask in the first place. Poverty, violence, abuse, trauma...so many things that add to human suffering and alter how people think.

And then there are those who cannot be convinced at all, and must be removed without hesitation.

The world is slow to change, and even a single misstep on the long road to a peaceful world will reset everything back to the beginning. How long are we going to ask people to persevere? What about when they lose their family, their friends, their lovers? What about when they watch countless people die, helpless to do anything but watch? There is no instant solution to the suffering that exists in the world, and sometimes bad things happen to good people for reasons that are beyond our understanding. But we can do more than simply hope and believe. We can do more than that, if we have the resolve to.

Is that too much to ask?

"..."

Reading this book has given me a lot of clarity. And it has further convinced me that my chosen path is the right one. There is one curious thing, though. The book's dedication is to someone named Nagato. Was this person part of the reason this novel came to be? Perhaps they influenced the Naruto in the novel as well.

I really wonder what that person is like, and what they might be doing now.

---

Today I want to get some more work done on a new technique I've been planning out. There has been enough progress made, but I have a feeling that there will be a significant breakthrough this time.

On my way to the training field, I spot Jiraiya in the street and make my way over to him. It's a good enough time to return his book.

"Oh, fancy meeting you here." He waves to a trio of giggling women as they leave. In the middle of his patented research, I suppose. Whatever.

"I thought this was a good time to return your novel to you. Fio read it as well," I say as I reach into my pocket for it.

"You can keep it, actually. I've got a bunch of them lying around still, so it's no big loss."

"I see."

"So, what's the verdict?"

"A good enough first effort, but flat as far as I was concerned. Fio liked it a lot more than I did."

"Flat, huh." He sighs. "Well, I guess that review could have been a lot worse."

"Yes, you're right about that. It was nothing terrible and it did have its charming parts. But it didn't reach very far into me. I'm sure that if you released it again in this era, there would be more of an appetite for it among the masses."

"You think so, huh."

"With your vast resources, setting something up to that effect should be trivial."

"That's funny coming from the kid who's extorting me."

"Your pocketbook is hardly seeing a scratch as a result of our partnership," I say to him. "But I suppose if you want to have your balls ripped from your body instead, then I can-"

"Cut it out."

"Then you should stop being ungrateful for once. I have things to do, so until the next time."

"You read the book, but you also understood it, didn't you?"

I stop and turn back towards him.

"I see a lot of hope in Naruto. Just as I did in Nagato. He gave me the push I needed to finish writing," he says.

"That's why you dedicated it to him."

He nods.

"Where is Nagato now? Who was he to you?"

"An old student of mine. As for where he is right now...I wouldn't know. He could be alive somewhere, but I doubt it. Really good kid, with a lot of talent. His memory is part of why I can keep going."

"And you don't think that this is proof?"

"Proof? Of what, exactly?"

"That maybe hard work and belief are enough to preserve the world, but not save it. That maybe Naruto had the right kind of heart, but Renge had the right kind of drive," I say to Jiraiya. "That maybe you need more than guts to make a real difference."

"..."

"It's entirely possible that this world is beyond salvation. At least...this version of it. Shinobi aren't the only forces that shift the world's movement. They're not even the most powerful, even as they carry the ability to raze forests in a single breath."

"Lilith...what you're saying is dangerous. Renge didn't have a good point."

"As you wrote him. As you understood the one standing across from you. But you tell me, Jiraiya...did you have the courage to inherit the dreams of those you called enemies? Could you absorb their essence, even for a moment? Did Naruto do that with Renge? Or did he just hope they could reach an understanding as brothers?"

"..."

"I wonder if you could ever understand such a thing. It wouldn't help you sell any more books, because it's something too advanced for most people to even grasp. But something like that colours your view of the world. Maybe you should try it sometime." I flip some of my hair over my shoulder. "Your lack of understanding leads you to see one narrow path for me. A descent into darkness and monstrous tyranny. That much is fine...you'll learn your place soon enough."

"I at least expected you to empathize with the story."

"I do, Jiraiya. I know those feelings. I put myself in those places, those positions in time and space. I felt those things, and I understood them. That is what I meant by absorbing the essence of those who stand opposed to me. And it's because I felt those things, because I know and understand those things, that I reject your view of the world. If knowing the feelings of another only to still turn away from them makes me a villain, then let it be so. After all, it's far more than you or anyone else could do."

"You're talking about things you don't understand. Again. Just get out of here," he says dismissively. "I appreciate that you gave the book a read. Hopefully you give it another flip through so that you can get those dumb ideas out of your head. No matter how much strength you gain, you're just going to end up like him in the end."

"Who do you mean? Orochimaru? Renge? Perhaps Hanzo?" I ask.

"Lilith..."

"The old man has realized how far my strength reaches, and has given me his blessing. It's all I need to make something of this existence as a shinobi."

"And what if all of that gets pulled away from you?" he asks forcefully. "What then, Lilith?"

"Then terror won't even begin to describe what comes next." I start to walk past him. "The next time you find yourself at a shrine, you should thank the kami profusely for your good fortune in having me as an ally."

"Goodbye, Lilith."

I leave Jiraiya and go through my memories briefly. Her chakra signature should be...there.

"Alright, let's see if she's in a talkative mood today."

The training field can wait a bit longer, since I want to get at this information while it's still fresh.

My favourite alcoholic is easily found at one of her regular bars, taking her time off to indulge in the Leaf's finest wares. Or something to that effect. Thankfully she's in a good enough mood today, complaining about fool patients and meddling by the hospital administration, so on and so forth. I get myself a non-alcoholic beverage and cover her existing tab while settling in for her illuminating rants.

"Somehow it could have been a worse week. I'm already over it." She knocks back a mug of beer and signals for another.

"I did have something to ask you, if you were in the mood. It's regarding our gentleman friend, Jiraiya."

"Gentleman. Good one."

"One must keep their sense of humour sharp in these trying times. Have you read his first attempt at a novel, by chance?"

"Yeah. Boring as hell. I know it was supposed to be based off of stuff we already experienced, but I didn't really care for it. It's sitting on one of my shelves somewhere. What, did he give you a copy?"

"In order to help bridge the gap towards our ideologies, yes. This was after I had a meeting regarding Naruto."

"You told the kid about his parents. Sounds like he took it well, so good for him. Kushina and Minato were good people from what I knew. Total weirdos, but given what they had to put up with all the time and the skills they had, you're allowed a half dozen quirks like that if you want. Sounds a lot like you, in fact."

"That's a little much."

"Is it?"

"Yes. But I'm going to take the compliment anyways," I say with a flip of my hair.

"You're getting better about this praise thing. I was thinking that I might have to knock some sense into you about being overly modest. Jiraiya, huh...hm."

"He also dedicated the book to a former student, named Nagato. Did you know that person?"

"Nagato? Never met them. You're gonna have to give me a moment to flip through my memories, unless you have something else to put me on the trail faster." She takes the new mug of beer and starts to sip from it.

"This Nagato was likely present at the time that Jiraiya was writing his novel. Perhaps that narrows things down?"

"Mm." She nods. "Yeah, that makes sense. Jiraiya peeled off from us a little after our big campaign against Hanzo, near the Hidden Rain. We were heading back on foot through the country when a couple of kids started following us around. We gave them some food and expected them to buzz off, but they didn't. They wanted something else."

"Revenge?" I ask.

"Training. The scamps wanted to learn ninjutsu. All of them were orphans. Jiraiya acts tough but he's real soft on the inside, and it must have been some guilt over the war or something that convinced him to stay and train those kids. He was out there for about three years, maybe four if I'm remembering things right."

"He never talked to you about it?"

"Never got the chance. After I lost Dan during the tail end of the war, I skipped town with Shizune and started drinking and gambling my life away. We never got to chat too much about that time, but I'm guessing that those kids, whoever they were, are six feet under by now. It was real rough where they were, you know?"

"Yes, I see. So this Nagato person might not be alive in this time."

"Real shame. It seems like he really cared about those kids if he was with them for so long. Funny that Orochimaru just wanted to put them out of their misery then and there. Guy never had an eye for talent, not really. Jiraiya, though? Hell of a teacher. No clue how he does it, but he does it. That Minato kid is all the proof you need, what with him becoming the Fourth and all."

"That much is undeniable, as boorish as he is," I say.

"Yeah. Though you might not want to get too spicy with him too quickly. You're a real firestorm in a cup, but strength has its limits."

"You're thinking of your grandfather."

"And granduncle Tobirama. Both of 'em got offed before the first shinobi war could end. Aside from that, politics is a real bitch. You'd know that better than anyone after the Wonder Boy retrieval mission."

"Yes. Though I do have something in mind when I bare my fangs at Jiraiya like this, so you don't have to worry about me going overboard just yet."

"Yeah? Well, I won't doubt you then." She finishes the rest of her beer and taps the counter for another. The bartender gives me a glance, and I nod to assure him things are fine money wise. Tsunade for her part doesn't look to be feeling any effects yet.

"Humour me a bit more?" I ask.

"Sure. What's up?"

"Do you recall anything about those orphans? Like for instance, which one of them was the Nagato mentioned in the book?"

"Couldn't tell you. Nagato isn't a strictly gendered name, is it...could have been any of them, but most likely one of the two boys. There was a loud mouthed kid with orange hair, reminded me a lot of Jiraiya at the time. Took on being the leader of the group. Then there was some frail looking kid with red hair that covered the front of his face, I think. Quiet little guy, wouldn't be surprised if he were the one to die off first."

"A little bit harsh, no?"

"Yeah. That's life sometimes." Tsunade receives her newly filled mug and sips from it. "Ah, yeah. That's the stuff. The last member of their little group was a girl, guessing she was the team mom of sorts. Short blue hair and liked making origami. Made us something out of those hardtack wrappers. Too bad she was stuck in that hellhole, she'd have a good job by now."

"Blue hair...origami." It couldn't be the case, could it? "Tsunade...do you know a woman by the name of Konan?"

"Konan? Never heard of her. Why?"

"When Sasuke took one of his lively jaunts into Tanzaku Quarter a few years ago, I came upon her speaking to Kisame Hoshigaki. This woman is a member of Akatsuki and assists the group's leader, Pain, with all manner of machinations."

"Hm, I see."

"What I'm saying is that she matches the description you gave me. Someone who makes use of a jutsu that allows her to create and control paper constructs, and has short blue hair herself. I highly doubt that this is a coincidence."

"Okay, that's a pretty big discovery. So...you're saying that this Konan woman is likely to be the same little girl that Jiraiya trained all of that time ago?"

"It would line up with everything we've discussed. Someone who was a child during the second great war would be...mid thirties or early forties at the latest," I say. "Maybe Jiraiya was quiet about it because he wanted to meet with her first, and discern her reasons for joining Akatsuki. He lied about not knowing her when I asked before."

"Sounds just like him. I don't have any advice on what to do...personally, I'm gonna leave him to it. Even if it is annoying, he probably has his reasons for wanting to look for her himself."

"I suppose so."

"What are you gonna do?" she asks me.

"What, indeed. I'm most likely to take your advice, even as this development bothers me. Jiraiya is a bleeding heart, but he is also an elite shinobi. I'm not going to disparage his skill for infiltration and espionage, and if anything does go wrong, I'll silently back him up."

"That's a good plan."

"Wanting answers and closure is only natural, especially for someone like him. I'd tell him to get over himself, but I don't mind him wallowing in his own misery for a while longer."

"Still salty about him pawing your butt, huh."

I give Tsunade a look. "You know, for someone so skilled at delicate operations, you lack awareness at very odd times."

"What?"

"I'm saying that the woman who nearly murdered her teammate over a glimpse of her bare flesh, glorious as it must have been, should not be making comments on the alleged elevation of my sodium levels."

"I was a young and impulsive maiden. Give me a break."

"Past tense, then? With your habits now, it's hard to tell."

"Shut up."

"Yes, of course. I will leave you to start a new tab, since the old one will be cleared upon my departure."

"I appreciate that. Glad I could help tickle your brain a bit, kiddo."

"Thank you as always for your help. I'll see you soon, Tsunade." I step down from the bar stool and shake out my hair.

"Yeah, see you. Don't do anything too reckless."

"No promises."

She chuckles and raises her mug to me before emptying it. Alright. Now I can really start training today.

---

Jutsu creation is both complicated and involved. In theory, there is an infinite number of possibilities when it comes to techniques that can be created with chakra. In practice, it is much different. There are numerous things to consider, starting from chakra consumption and continuing through to technique speed, effectiveness, duration, area of effect, and many other things. Countless projects have been shelved, for reasons like being nonviable, or simply that the technique creator has become incapacitated or killed. Sometimes people just forget what they were doing. Sometimes there's a falling out with collaborators. Some things get lost or mixed up in translation.

Anything and everything can go wrong.

One of the easier things to do, as a result, is to take inspiration from existing techniques. Derivative? Perhaps. Effective? It's proven to be the case, time and time again. True geniuses who can think in three dimensional space can create new and exciting arts, like Tobirama Senju did in days of old. Others with slightly less intellect imitate the shapes seen in artistic endeavours, lore, or nature. This seems to be what Hashirama Senju did best. Concepts can be taken from one place to another, as seen in the translation of Rasengan to Chidori – two techniques that share the common thread of raw, overwhelming power to devastate opponents in a single blow. Kakashi used his elite skill in nature transformation, while Minato focused on an incredible amount of shape transformation.

Combining offensive techniques and concepts is an easier thing to do when it comes to creation or modification. With defensive techniques, it's more difficult. And supplementary techniques rarely get this treatment, with modifications in activation happening at best. Today, I will be focusing on supplementary arts. Speed, awareness, and reaction are my strongest areas, more than any jutsu I might have. Mobius is my beloved signature technique, but my goal is and always has been to reach a level beyond any reliance on it. Naruto and Jiraiya can centre their styles around the Rasengan, Kakashi and Sasuke around the Chidori, Tsunade and Sakura around their chakra enhanced strength when they get involved in any battle. Hina and Shino fall into even deeper extremes, with Hina's output revolving around her bloodline limit and fighting style, and Shino's around his clan's secret arts.

I have to get beyond that sphere, somehow. And so, this strange experiment is what I've come up with over the past year.

"Here we are. Nice and quiet."

I set down my bag and go into my routine. Stretching and meditation, then breathing exercises to make sure my chakra is circulating well. I surge lightning chakra through my limbs and direct it back and forth to make sure I have good control, which I always do. A few more minutes of visualization, and then it's time to begin.

Step one is to activate my tracking technique in full.

"Crimson Depths, activate."

Crimson Depths, the evolution of the technique that Midori taught to me long ago. Indomitable Special Tracking Technique: The Eye of Jacobson. Or, Jacobson's Eye for convenience. Crimson Depths improves upon Jacobson's Eye by increasing the technique range, strengthening the connections made with smell and taste information, and adding increased pain tolerance while turning my bloodlust into strong focus. As I use the technique, it grows more powerful. And indeed, to this point I have gained greatly improved senses and the ability to track targets at short ranges without having the technique running at full power. Though it's trivial to turn it on and off in an instant by now.

This technique relies on my senses of smell and taste, both picked up by the tongue and mouth. It allows me to 'smell' by tasting the air.

Step two involves activating my other sensing technique. I must remain still for it to be truly effective.

This technique is called Negative Vibration. It works by using my chakra to help feel for vibrations through different mediums, like air, water, and earth. Objects can then be deciphered through the feedback I get. It's immediate and gives me an extra sight that is invaluable in situations where stealth is required. That said, if there is a lot of movement or a great amount of bodies in an area, it takes more effort to distinguish one target from another. It asks for great skill and refinement from the user as it is, but once mastered, it can allow me or any group that I'm with to get ahead of the opposition. One way to improve the technique is to decrease the amount of time it takes for vibrations to return and be properly deciphered.

So now in addition to smell and taste to track targets, I can discern many other features about them, such as height, weight, and build from the vibrations I read.

"Next step."

Step three involves enhancing the two techniques while they are active, Crimson Depths and Negative Vibration. This is achieved using one of my favoured techniques, one recommended to me by Kakashi.

"Lightning Release Chakra Mode, Third Stage. Full Boost, activate."

Full Boost is the ascendant level of power that I need for this experiment. The other levels work well enough for enhancement, but this is what I need for a significant boost and change in technique properties. Holding this form results in several things happening.

Crimson Depths is enhanced. All of the information that I receive from it arrives much faster than before, and the first time I did this it was hard to handle. Negative Vibration is also enhanced. The details that flow in from the vibrations become complete at a much faster pace, and I can learn about things like the speed, size, and weight of nearby birds flying through the air rapidly. The images come in clearly even as one flies behind me through the sky.

Here is the first obstacle. Volume. There is so much information coming through to make sense of, and at times it leaves me to focus on one thing while letting everything else fall to the wayside. Because of the usual routines I go through, I'm only ever using one technique at a time, especially enhanced. I favour Crimson Depths because I can easily and reflexively use it while on the move, whether in the air, water, or perhaps even below ground when those situations arise. I don't have to worry about too much traffic, or weather conditions, or anything like that. I can therefore handle it better when enhanced. Two sensor type techniques at once is different, and it's a lot. It feels like my brain can't keep up entirely.

But then, I have a great solution to all of that.

Crimson Depths has a child technique that was forcibly developed in the midst of my trauma. The technique called Void Heart. What it does is completely calm my mind, allowing me to focus to a greater extent than most humans could hope to do. I don't feel emotion. I don't feel much of anything, and it makes me...machine-like, in a way. I can see everything with the greatest clarity, and it improves everything I do. I can be as precise as I want, I can figure out exactly how much chakra I have, how much I use on techniques and how much I need to use on techniques. I can focus on my tasks and shut out any possible distractions for a time. Of course, I don't remain sealed away forever...Void Heart keeps pain and distractions from reaching me, but it does not destroy them. Instead, everything sits just out of reach until the 'barrier' disappears with the termination of Void Heart. And everything, every stray thought, every anxiety, every feeling, floods right back into me without mercy. The more work I'm doing or stress I'm under before Void Heart is turned on, the worse it is amplified later.

I suppose to put it into words that Auntie Tsuna would use: it fucks me up something fierce. I don't use it much out of low stress environments for that reason.

"Void Heart...activate."

But it fits in perfectly for something like this. Now I can parse all of the information I'm getting quickly and efficiently. It's all very easy...like I can see the entire world around me, in vivid colour. Things that I shouldn't normally be seeing, much like the Hyuuga and their abnormal eyesight with the Byakugan. I can see in a complete circle with or without my eyes opened. But with them opened...

Needless to say, it's an incredible development. Which leads me directly into the next problem. Void Heart allows me to figure out very quickly what works and what doesn't, and the details of said failure.

"Ugh...!"

Which is why I knew that this backlash was coming. I fall back onto the grass and hold my head with one hand.

I wouldn't be shocked if there was steam flowing from my ears. My head is burning hot. And I feel like my energy has been sucked up through a straw. I'm...just a bit drowsy now.

"Always unpleasant..."

This recent test run has revealed the totality of the problem, now that I've managed to get the techniques flowing together. One, two, three, four jutsu stacked on top of each other simultaneously. I tried looking into the activation order, and this one seems like the best option. First Crimson Depths, then Negative Vibration on top of it. Full Boost to push all of my senses to a higher level, then Void Heart to bundle everything together. But the chakra consumption that comes from activating them all at once is incredibly heavy. I think even Naruto, as boundless as his energy is, would have a problem with something like this.

"Okay, so...what do I do about this problem?"

A proper jutsu has all of its components working at the same time. The Rasengan has several different steps that I practised in real time, and they all come together into one form. All of the techniques I've used play nice enough with each other. The tracking techniques cover different spots, the chakra mode boosts my perception and processing speed, the mental sealing makes every stream of information quickly and easily digestible. Maybe my second sight? I don't know if that would make a difference at all. Probably not.

No, the issues are...the weight of multiple techniques at once, and the energy consumption that comes with them. I can't reliably use other techniques like this.

"A different source. It would have to be much stronger. If I can induce more energy to come from the atmosphere...stepping down one or two levels with the chakra mode means that things aren't the same. I don't get the right balance like that."

Out of all of the components...three are the most important. I can get by without the chakra mode, I think. But I really want that perception boost so that my body can make use of the information that I receive. It's just that it pushes the energy requirements for everything up so high that...

"Stabilization?"

That came to mind just now. Why? The other day I was...yes, I was alluding something to Naruto. I've done this before, I think. Reinforcement. A potentially infinite supply of power on top of it.

"Are you well enough to try again, body of mine?" I rub my bare stomach and do a quick check. One more time should be alright. And then no matter what the outcome, I have to get something to eat before resting.

Okay, start again. My tongue reaches out to taste the air, and I can feel the signatures of the living things around me as I concentrate. Remaining perfectly still, I gain clarity of their shapes and movements as the vibrations reach me. This time, I was definitely overthinking things. The answer was inside of me all along...remaining still for one technique is a boon for another. Chakra mode, on. The red shroud bursts into being around me, and everything is steady.

There's a fork for this next step. No, dammit. I wasn't thinking correctly. I haven't been thinking correctly for a while. Stupid, stupid, stupid on my part.

"Start over, Lili," I mumble to myself. All of the jutsu are deactivated at my will, and I take a breath in before gathering the necessary energy. Remaining perfectly still, I let the energies of nature flow into my mortal shell, empowering me beyond all normal limits. My body is being filled with strength and serenity at the same time...I can feel the breath that comes from the Earth itself. The fatigue and lingering drowsiness from my last few attempts disappears immediately.

I really was being foolish earlier. This is the right way to go about it.

"Start with the proper base, then mix everything into it. That makes a lot more sense than anything else. Let's start from the top."

The power of my tracking technique almost seems redundant while in Sage Mode, but what I'm after more than anything is the activation of my senses. Next, detection by way of vibration. I can feel everything in such a brilliant way compared to before. For most people, these enhancements might be enough. But I think I'm onto something here, something incredible.

"Chakra Mode...about here?"

I push the output to about what it was before, and the red aura appears around me with glittering gold trails of light coming from it. A pretty little effect that I noticed a while ago. I really like it. As predicted, all of the information coming into my head has increased in speed and density. It's not as much of a blur as it was in my normal state, but it's still a bit tricky to parse, especially compared to the usual enhanced senses that come standard with Sage Mode. So now comes the last step, which as it is starts the energy consumption that usually leads to my ruin.

But this...will be drawing from a greater power. The power of nature itself.

"Here we go."

I focus and flow senjutsu chakra towards my head, then start my final routines.

"Void Heart...activate."

A click sounds in my head, and everything is...immediate. It's all together now.

Everything is one.

My perception of the world has changed completely. A rabbit hops into my vision, and I can see it move in ways that I could never have done before. Images, shadows, numbers and letters arranged in strange yet perfect ways to tell me exactly what is happening, what has happened...and what will happen.

I really can't believe it. But I have to try.

I start towards the spot exactly four meters, fifty six centimetres ahead of me, where the percentage chance continues to increase as the rabbit hops on, away from my position. I stretch my hand out, and the future is confirmed in my sight as the rabbit follows the meandering trail of white light set out for it, and aligns with its shadow in my palm, returning in a wide arc as it assumes it will avoid me.

And I gently catch it.

The child is frozen in my hands, utterly confused by my appearance. I let them go, watching with fascination as my strange new vision tells me they will exit to the right. And they do, along the path of white light, at the speed that I predicted. Or...the speed that I knew was coming.

I really can't believe this. This power...it's not just predicting what will happen. It's far more than that. I...

While I'm in this form, for just a few minutes...I can see the future itself.

"Wow..."

As long as I keep still, I can gather energy and potentially keep this up forever. Right now, though...it's still a test run, and it seems like it cuts my time in Sage Mode by half if I'm constantly moving about. I slowly relax and bring myself out of the new power, then Sage Mode altogether.

"That was...I don't know what that was."

I take a seat on the grass before lying backwards, looking up at the clear blue sky.

"A new frontier. Once I master that kind of power, then...but it's not quite ready yet. I have to keep working on it. But I can really see into the future like this. So exciting..."

It was all so clear. All of the information from my senses, coming together in perfect unison and enhanced by the lightning chakra boosting my central nervous system. Then it was all brought together by a tool of supreme optimization, powered by the purest and most potent supply of energy available which also replenishes itself in the right conditions. If I focus, then maybe I can also optimize the speed and efficiency with which I gather senjutsu chakra in the first place...

"It's a lot...so much to explore." I giggle. "Working on this will be so much fun!"

Ah, and the most important thing. What will I call this new breakthrough in supplementary shinobi technique? It has to be something fantastic, something fanciful. I have a reputation to maintain, after all...

---

"So it's called...Zonal Extreme Regulation and Optimization System."

"Yes."

After a long enough day, I return to my hotel room and have dinner with Fio. We take a bath together before getting into our night clothes, and finally the time comes for me to reveal my new discovery. I stand up in my nightgown while Fio sits on the bed in her pyjamas and gives me all of her attention, as she always does.

There's just something about these moments, where she looks so eager to listen to whatever silly things I go on forever about. They always make me happy in a way that I cherish, but can't explain too well. But maybe explaining it doesn't matter.

"Sounds fancy. And pretty cool. So you take the first letter of each thing. Z...E...R...O. Zero! It's called the ZERO System. You know, there's definitely a cool factor whenever you use your old language to describe things." She gives me a thumbs up. "Sick, yo~!"

I flash a peace sign at her. "Stylish~, desu."

"Hehe. So, you used a bunch of different jutsu to make a new one. Is that something most people can do?"

"It's a matter of good fortune," I say. "I ended up with a great deal of supplementary techniques that didn't have much overlap and didn't immediately interfere with each other. There are a lot of techniques that steal energy and focus from each other. These ones just increased how much energy I consumed at once, which made it possible to work out a solution."

"I see. And your Sage Mode was the key."

"It was. I already needed to stand still in order to properly use my technique that sensed for vibrations, so I would have a head start in gathering natural energy to create senjutsu chakra. That enhanced energy provides two important benefits, which are physical enhancements to reduce the strain on my body, and an abundant energy source to power the technique itself."

"The whole jutsu sounds complicated, so help me understand it again. You...pump up all of your senses with the sensing techniques and the chakra mode. So you can see things better, and hear them better, you can pick up people by smell and get a sense of what they're like by taste, and then feel where they are all the time with the vibrations in the air. And then you can sense a bunch of other stuff because of Sage Mode."

"You're getting it."

She nods. "Okay. So you got all that information coming in, super super fast because the chakra mode is boosting your brain a bit, too."

"Mm-hm."

"So the next thing you gotta do is...use the power of darkness so that your mind is freed from mortal limitations. That's how you say it, right?"

"Yes, that's correct," I say proudly.

"And then that means that all of the info comes in easier, so that you can understand everything at once. The problem before was that it used way too much chakra at once, so when you use Sage Mode, you've got more juice and less strain."

"Perfect."

"But how does it work exactly?"

"I remembered alluding to Naruto at one point that he could try to stabilize his enhanced version of Wind Release: Rasengan-"

"The Rasenshuriken!"

"Yes...that. What you said."

She laughs at that. "You're so silly sometimes, Lili. It's not that bad."

"It's awful. Tragic."

"I think it's cute. But let's continue with what you were saying."

"Right. By forming and shaping the technique with senjutsu chakra instead of just normal chakra, not only would it become more powerful, but more stable. Natural energy when added to techniques enhances and stabilizes them, improving the quality and overall integrity. So I used the improved versions of all the techniques that would form the core of this new one, then enhanced Void Heart at the end, and it all clicked together at once."

"Hm, okay. I still don't get exactly how everything works together, though."

"I think I know what you're getting at, so this will be a deeper dive. What the Zero System does is multiple things at the speed of light, to facilitate both combat analysis and tactical suggestions. All of the information goes directly to my mind, and multiple possible responses are created. As you might guess, this can be truly overwhelming for any person, and Void Heart rushes to manage that strain. However, this also increases the amount of energy that is consumed at one time, and leads to everything shorting out and causing backlash. While in Sage Mode, however, Void Heart gains another executive function. Instead of simply feeding information into my body, it also processes information in the other direction."

"Oh...oh! So you mean that your body and your brain are talking to each other. But that's how it usually works, isn't it? I guess this is like, supercharged or something different."

"Normally there's communication from one side to the other with the brain dictating many things, but not a complete exchange of information like this. It creates a loop, and so between these two streams of information...I can get visions of what I am about to do, with the results, before I perform them."

Fio's eyes widen. "No way. So you can see the future?!"

"Nothing is fixed, and all determinations are based on my physical and mental state at the time. It means that, more than anything that is happening outside of my body, it is my power and will that affects the predictions and their outcomes. For example, if I am injured but still determined to make it through, then the Zero System will do everything it can to show me the path forward. If I want to fight, I will be able to analyze the best ways to fight. If I want to escape, then I will be shown the escape routes with the highest amount of success."

"Does it take you towards them, like automatically?"

"No. That has to be something that I do myself, at least for now. I can easily take a different or visibly incorrect path, and though I will have many warnings in front of me, Zero System will constantly adjust to give me the best chances of success once I enter that situation. Conversely, if I am perfectly healthy in body, but convinced in mind that I cannot succeed, then all of the results in front of my eyes will reflect failure. This can be a problem if I, for whatever reason, were to end up in a fragile mental state. With all of that said, Void Heart operates on a level that should eliminate that risk, or at the least reduce it, for as long as the technique is active."

"Hm. You think you can use it without your dark power?"

"It's possible in a different configuration, and it might even result in stronger gains since my mind would not be so heavily regulated...the boost from Sage Mode could be enough to offset the issues with processing so much information at once. But it also exposes me to being dragged into a dark spiral if things should go wrong."

"Got it. That makes sense," Fio says.

"This looks to be the best possible version of the technique, and something that I will continue to work on until I think it's ready to use on the battlefield. It should have applications in regular work, too."

"You could be the ultimate general! What if you got, like, some people from the Yamanaka to scout ahead in the field, and then beam stuff directly to your brain while you had Zero System on?"

"Oh...that's really good. That would be fantastic."

"Right? You'd know what the bad guys are doing before they did! You could choose to fight, or just sneak past them and steal stuff if you want. Or maybe knock them all out and capture them before they know what's happening."

"Not just deterrence, but a means of eliminating conflicts altogether. That is brilliant, Fio."

"Hehe. I have my moments," she says with a smile.

"There is an incredible amount of possibility here. It's too bad that the technique is so complicated. It might be unique to me."

"Yeah, true. But that could be good enough, right? One day we won't have a need for so much fancy stuff to fight with."

"That much is true," I say with a nod.

"You did amazing work today, Lili! I'm super proud of you, congratulations!" she says while clapping.

I bow my head and hold the edges of my gown, then curtsy for her. "Thank you, love. I appreciate your praise very much."

"You're welcome. Now it's time for my super genius girlfriend to come to bed, and rest after all her hard work."

"And give you snuggles."

"And give me snuggles!"

"As you wish." I slide into bed, and Fio puts her arms around me while burying her face in my chest. "We're eager tonight, hmhm."

"Yeah...my favourite place in the whole world..." And with that, she's already asleep.

"And I'm always happy to have you here," I say as I hug her.

Today I managed to get to a special place. Seeing into the future, with my own eyes. Each step forward was meant to be, and always was.

"I don't think...this is enough. As arrogant as it would sound to anyone else. To look into time itself is only...the first step."

I close my eyes, with that thought in my head, and Fio's warmth against my body. Yes, I've come a very long way. There's still some distance to go, but I know one thing now, more than ever.

I will get to my destination, and the whole world is going to bear witness to that moment.

 

[FortePlus]

Scarlet Justice: Full Blossom - ep. 65
"River Crossings"
[Rocks and Rain, Part 1]
---

"Is that good?" Hina asks me.

"That's fine, yes. I can see everything that I need to now."

Today is an informal meeting at our usual place, the Twenty-Third training field. I wanted to show off my new technique to everyone, in order to keep them in the loop. And to show off a bit, of course. I think that much is fine.

Since I haven't been able to observe my appearance in my new form, I asked Hina to bring along a decent sized mirror. The usual differences in Sage Mode are simple enough, with a purple colouring around my eyes and extending a bit outwards. In the same way as Midori, my eyes become snake-like and go from amber to red. Baa-sama finds it curious and amusing since most practitioners have their eyes change to yellow instead. I suppose that's just how things go, and is another indication of how special we are compared to everyone else. We are her best and most favourite students after all, hmhm. The small portion of energy coming from my body turns into golden sparkles, and gives the same kind of sheen to my hair. It's a dazzling sort of transformation.

Under the influence of ZERO System, however, things change a bit. My eyes become a bright blue, and the space inside of the violet markings around my eyes is filled with small lines that branch strictly at right angles and glow with white light. Looking closely, I can also see that there are glowing, rotating white rings inside of my eyes as well.

"Very interesting," I say to myself.

"Was this what you expected?" Hina asks.

"Not at all. I'm actually enjoying all of the new and visually arresting aspects that this form brings."

"So you said that this Zero System allows you to see the future, Boss?" Shino asks.

"Yes, that is the final outcome. Destiny is decided by the actions that the user takes, but the ability to see the opponent's next actions and counter each of them perfectly is possible. If the window to possibility is closed, then you will see it shut in front of you. But as long as you have the drive and ability, you can easily open another before the enemy can perceive it."

"That sounds like a seriously powerful jutsu, and just about unstoppable," Kurenai says with surprise. She really can't believe that such a thing could exist, which is part of why we're out here in the first place. I don't need the System to predict that she's going to want a demonstration of its power. "So what possible catch could there be to it?"

"First, the types of jutsu needed to construct it. They're unique as of now, and demand a lot of any individual user. You need a good affinity with the lightning element, experience as a sensor type, and a level of chakra control that is very narrowly distributed, even among elites. On top of that, you will need a large chakra pool both for access to the crucial element, and to ensure that you don't kill yourself in your various attempts."

"Hm."

"Second, the crucial element mentioned, which is Sage Mode. There is another possible method to complete this jutsu, but it's also very dangerous as I am now."

"What would that be?" Hina asks.

I point to the sky. "Energy from the sky itself. A lightning strike."

"I see," Shino says. "Elemental techniques generated from chakra are of a different strength and composition compared to naturally generated ones. To match the power and heat of a wildfire, for example, requires more chakra than most shinobi have available. Of course, I don't think many would recommend directing lightning bolts onto one's self in order to achieve a boost in power. Why? If an answer is necessitated for that sort of question, then I fear for all of us on this plane of existence."

"I would hope we weren't indulging that kind of behaviour, especially without proper supervision," Hina says while looking at me warily. She really is a nag at times. "You haven't tried something like that, have you?"

"No. It's merely a theory."

"Ah. So it means you haven't tried it just yet. How reassuring to know."

"Continuing from where we left off," I say quickly, "Sage Mode is the crucial component for the completed technique. Without it, there is a lack of stability and energy to draw from, which leads to burnout before the technique can properly take shape."

"So Sage Mode is the key, and even if you have the chakra reserves to make it that far," Kurenai says, "there's no guarantee that you'll learn, let alone master the Sage Arts like that. Am I right?"

"You are correct, sensei."

"There's more, I'm guessing."

"Yes. Even after successfully creating the technique and gaining some stability, there are still more drawbacks as of now. The third immediate issue is energy consumption. As an initial start up cost, Zero System demands at least half of my available senjutsu chakra once I enter Sage Mode. This, as you might guess, cuts my base Sage Mode time in half from the start. This is not much of an issue against the average opponent, as the raw increases provided by Sage Mode would allow me to flatten anyone with just basic taijutsu, but you might guess that I'm not liable to waste time getting into Sage Mode for mere grunts in the first place. Simply put, my signature enhanced art can be fired a grand total of three times normally while I am transformed. Under the influence of Zero System, firing it just once would likely bring me right out of my transformation altogether while standing still, and would do so with certainty if I'm moving about."

"So as it is now, you can't really take advantage of Sage Mode while using the Zero System. Especially since you're going to be using it against peer fighters, and for that you'll need every bit of energy you can get," Kurenai concludes.

"Yes, that's right."

"So it's a complicated jutsu to build, needs you to be exceptional both physically and mentally, needs an esoteric art as opposed to something that might kill you, and once you get through all of that, it's an insane energy hog. I can see why you think it's not ready. It's still a hell of an accomplishment though...not many people can make jutsu, even out of others, and I've never seen or heard or something like this. It's like...I guess if a god shoved the Sharingan into their skull, or something. Which is why I've gotta test it out. You're okay for a run, I hope."

"Oh, I was waiting for you to ask."

She gives me a smirk. "Of course you were. Let's see if you can pick out the future after all, then. We have two witnesses with pretty good observational skills themselves." She points towards the nearby tree line. "Try and figure out where I'm gonna take off to, while I have a bit of a head-start. Turn around for me."

"Sensing another body is one thing, but predicting where they will go...I wonder if that is even possible," Shino says.

"Only one way to find out," Hina says. She activates her Byakugan and nods to me. "All ready when you are."

"Going full speed to the trees," Kurenai announces. I can feel her building up chakra as she stands with her back to me. There are many things I can feel, and my brain is quickly and easily processing them. I just need a bit more information to isolate where my big sister is going to end up. Bouncing between seventy and seventy-four percent far left, based on her body language and tendencies. The slight shift in weight that I can feel on her right foot is bumping things up a bit more.

"Kurenai-sensei?" Hina asks.

"Ready."

"Lili?"

"Ready," I say.

"One second gap. On your marks..."

I relax as Kurenai's body tenses behind me.

"Go!"

She takes off. Direction left, and...

"Go!"

I turn and instantly scan the area in front of me, analyzing Kurenai's movement and the terrain ahead. All projections locked, and her path is outlined in a trail of white light, terminating at the exact distance my brain calculated for me. There. No doubts.

I body flicker past her with my enhanced reflexes and end up three yards in front of her, before she can even register anything has happened. She slows to a stop, eyes widening as she can finally perceive my presence right inside of her landing spot.

"You're freaking kidding me!" she yells.

I give her a wink and she stares at me, mouth agape.

"Well. That was...otherworldly," Shino says.

"The word I would use is...terrifying. With all the praise I could append to that," Hina says with a hand over her heart. "I praise the heavens continually for placing Lili on our side. My goodness."

"Proof enough?" I ask as I safely shut down the transformation. "It'll take a bit before I can do that again, but..."

Kurenai shakes her head and pats me on the shoulder. She's equal parts amazed and frazzled, from what I can tell. A normal reaction to this sort of thing. "You don't need to say anything else. That was more than enough. I'm gonna get a drink and try to work through what the hell happened just now...whatever that was."

"Fair enough. Thank you for coming out, sensei."

"It's never a problem. Especially since Asuma's having the time of his life looking after Mirai. That, or she's watching him and Shikamaru go at it with their shogi again. Those boys can never get enough of it."

"Indeed."

I see someone land a safe distance from us. It's Erika, with her usual unhurried self...and with a subtle bit of seriousness that our friendship has allowed me to pick up at a glance.

"Members of Team Kobayashi, I give you my greetings. I hope that I am not interrupting anything of importance at this time."

"Not at all, we were just finishing up a demonstration," Hina says. "We wish you a pleasant day as well, Erika. Did you have news to relay today?"

"Yes, and unfortunately it is news most grave. Your clearances allow me to relay it in full to all of you."

"What is it?" Kurenai asks as we stand in an arc in front of Erika.

"News has come down from our network of foreign agents, most notably those in the area of the Hidden Rock. Operatives Brown Bear and Red Wolf gave us the most detailed information, and that has been confirmed along multiple channels."

Those two, then. It's good that they've remained safe all of this time. I really should go and see that family again, once I get the chance.

"Is it another incident like the last?" I ask Erika.

"No. But it is just as devastating, especially when it comes to the safety of the shinobi world. And other reasons besides. The reports are that two bodies were found in abandoned caves a good distance from each other, but not prohibitively far from the Hidden Rock itself. One body to the northwest, which was that of the Four-Tails' jinchuuriki, Roshi. And one to the east, which was that of the Five-Tails' jinchuuriki, Han. Both were found without vitals, and every attempt was made to revive them. They were officially marked as deceased yesterday, and the news will be announced officially in a day or two."

Hina gasps and puts her hands over her mouth.

"That can't be for real. Both of them? Akatsuki got them both?" Kurenai asks in a shocked tone. "Trouble doesn't even start to describe it..."

"It seems so. Not only that, but the reports also indicate that the bodies were discarded and left in place for several days...the caves did well in helping to preserve the bodies, at the least."

"It seems like incredibly bad news for the Hidden Rock," Shino says. "They might be inclined to do something desperate, more so than before. The reasons being...now that they definitively cannot trust Akatsuki to assist in their military matters, and have lost both of their most powerful deterrents, who can they depend on?"

"It's even worse than that," I say quietly. "Fio..."

"Han was Fio's old master," Erika says. "She's always spoken fondly of him..."

"I...should tell her the news. I suppose that's why you came to us first, then."

"It was, yes."

"Thank you, Erika. I...we really appreciate that. I suppose we'll go our separate ways, then..."

"Did you need my assistance?" she asks.

"I think it will be best if I do this myself. Thank you again...things should be okay from here."

"Do not hesitate to call on me," Erika says.

"And the same goes for me," Hina adds.

"All of us," Kurenai says. Shino nods in agreement.

"Thank you, all of you. I'll let you know if anything takes a bad turn. Bye for now."

All of us share hugs before I leave the training field, and head towards Fio's location. She's at one of the common grounds, and her team has already dispersed for the day in different directions. It seems to be better like this.

"Fio?"

"Lili, hey! You just missed the team, I'm sure they would have loved to see you again. Everyone's got their own stuff to do, looks like. And tomorrow's an off day, so I don't blame them for cleaning up some errands before having a good rest." Fio closes up her drawstring bag and beams at me. "So, you finished showing off your fancy new jutsu to the gang, then? How'd it go?"

"They were suitably astonished by it."

"Sounds about right. Looks nifty, too. I like how you got the whole sci-fi look going on, it's killer."

"That's one way to look at it. Um, Fio...Erika came by just now, with some serious news," I say softly. "And it relates to you."

"Oh. Is...there something wrong with me that they picked up? Or some inter-village stuff because I went all ghost that time ago?"

I shake my head. "None of that. It's about the Hidden Rock. They found two bodies recently, those of their jinchuuriki. Fio...I'm so very sorry. Your sensei had his tailed beast extracted by Akatsuki. He's passed on."

"Sensei...?"

The realization hits her slowly, and tears start to come from her eyes. She wraps her arms around herself and tilts her head downwards.

"Han-sensei. He's...really gone. I never wanted to hear that it happened."

"I'm sorry, Fio."

"It's so unfair. For him...to die alone. Like that. I...just because of who he was. For a choice that he never got to make. Hunted down, and beaten, and...I can't imagine it."

"Fio..."

"I wanted to see him again. To...see how much I kept growing. He was so relieved to see that I made it out, and I...I just..."

"I know. I know..."

"It hurts, Lili. Please..."

I take hold of her and we go to the grass together. Her head rests on my chest as she sobs quietly, clinging to me like nothing else matters. It might be the case right now. I can imagine the sorrow she's going through, and I know that simply being here means a lot.

Someone she loved has disappeared from the world.

Maybe it's enough for some that they might be able to reunite on another plane, and in another time. But the pain of losing a loved one on this plane is something real, and never to be dismissed. Everything is processed differently by every person. It was so when I lost my loved ones.

"As long as you need, Fio. Let it all out," I whisper. I feel her nod a bit before holding me tighter.

Akatsuki...was it those two psychopaths who were responsible? Or maybe Pain and that Konan woman handled things themselves. It could have been Kisame, who is a singular terror in the form of a man. I don't think it matters. Obito is gaining strength, and we can't let him get away with it.

But for now, grieving comes first.

---

Fio is given time off to recover, as the old man insisted upon once he got the official reports. The true impact on the Hidden Rock is something we won't know of just yet, but there are unconfirmed rumblings here and there.

The pain doesn't keep her from moving about, and I go out to run and train with her as needed. We spend the next week together, revisiting her memories with her sensei. I learn a lot about Han. How stubborn and blunt he was, while being observant and caring as much as possible. He always saw himself in Fio. They came across each other a handful of times while I was away with Midori and Luna training, and he was apparently very intrigued by Fio's new equipment.

Han was very strong and skilled, to the point of infamy. He was more than a match for most enemies. He also spent time investigating various regions to see if he could get any leads on Fio while she was missing. When they met for the first time after her reappearance, he kept all of the new information on his student to himself, saying that he didn't hear anything, and if he did, it wasn't any of his business. He seemed like quite the character, and I'm sad that I didn't get to meet him in person. And his companion...they must be suffering now, wherever they are within Akatsuki's web of lairs.

A knock at our room door interrupts breakfast, but I know who this is already.

"Rika's here," I say.

"Neat. I'll get it," Fio says. It's been ten days since the news of Han's death, and while she's still sad, she's a sight better than before. We'll have to see about doing a small service for her sake, just to provide some extra peace.

"Greetings to my beloved friends."

"Morning, Rika. We've got some breakfast on if you want some."

"I would be satisfied with a bit of tea, if that is fine."

"Sure is. Come on in and make yourself comfy, we've got plenty of the hot stuff. Aside from those already present, of course."

"I see we've regained some of our spirits. It's heartening to see," she says as she walks in.

"You know I've got the best wife in this world or any other, so it's a given that I'd bounce back this fast! Anyways, I can guess you've got something interesting for us today since you came in person."

"I did. Good morning, Lady Kobayashi."

"Good morning, my love." I tilt my head upwards to peck her on the lips. "Are we well today?"

"Very well. Ino took me to see the symphony last night, and it was delightful. I enjoyed all of the sights and sounds. There was a guest violinist at this function, a young woman from the Hidden Mist by the name of Shiori Ishikawa. I could tell that she was a shinobi at first glance, which makes her mastery of the musical arts even more impressive."

"Mm. I haven't been to the symphony in a while," I say. "I hated it when my father made us go to put on airs, but Momma always found the quirkiest shows for us on our secret trips together, and I loved those."

"We should go one of these days," Fio says. "Oh! Even better, let's make it a date thing for our classy ladies' group."

"That's an impressive idea," I say with a nod.

"I will relay this to Ino as soon as possible," Erika says as she sits down and pours herself tea. "In the meantime, I have news that is relevant to you."

"Go ahead," Fio says.

"Beyond simply acknowledging the tragedies that have befallen them, the Hidden Rock is preparing to have a state funeral for their fallen jinchuuriki. They will not be particularly large in size, but they will be used as a platform for various speeches by members of the military, including the Third Tsuchikage, Oonoki of the Twin Scales. You're familiar with him already, Fio."

"Sure am. Stubborn old man, but all that caution kept him around this long. Can't say it worked out too badly for him."

"Are you suggesting that we could attend the funeral?" I ask Erika.

She sips her tea and nods. "I can guarantee it, if you give me the word. Our friends will be in attendance, and able to provide us with tips and protection."

"I was thinking of visiting them the other day, you know. If it's possible, we should make a mission of it. Arrive early, gather intelligence, and then pay our respects to Han before leaving. Would that work?"

"Great minds do think alike," Erika says with a smile. "I will suggest this itinerary to Lord Hokage, and then we can leave tomorrow morning at the latest." She goes to finish the rest of her tea.

"Fio? What do you think of this, darling?"

"I'm ready when you two are. There's no way that I'd pass up an opportunity to say goodbye to Sensei in person," she says with determination. "I'll follow your orders to the letter and then some."

"The three of us, midnight latest," I say to Erika.

"Then I will see you ladies at eleven tonight." She stands and kisses us both on the cheeks. "Ino unfortunately has some clan business to deal with in the next few days...but I'll mention this to her before reporting to Lord Hokage. When it comes to her father, she can be quite persuasive."

"Indeed. Then we'll see you both soon."

"See you, Rika. And thanks so much for this!"

"I am always ready to serve. Thank you for the tea, and good day." She bows before heading out.

"Guess everything's going like it's supposed to," Fio says. "I get to see my Sensei off. I wish it wasn't this way, but at least...it's something."

"It is."

"I was just thinking...what happened to your old man?"

I shrug. "I mentioned offhand at some point to Mama that he loved freedom and the ocean waters."

Fio grimaces with understanding. "Sheesh. One last shot for the road, eh. Wouldn't blame either of you for it."

I sip at my tea. "Personally, I think it's poetic. To be met with tragedy like his dear, sweet wife...and to have his ashes scattered to the four winds forever more, just like hers were. All that remains in this world of him is the blood he has given to me and Rose. But let's not dwell on such things, yes? We'll finish breakfast and relax before deciding what to pack."

"Aye. Travelling light as always."

"Yes. And knowing those three over in Earth Country, they might have clothes ready for us by the time we get there..."

---

The remaining hours of the day are spent resting as planned, which in my case also involves clearing up outstanding paperwork, making sure my contingencies are up to date, and informing the relevant parties that I will be out of town. Again.

I didn't anticipate spending so much time outside of the village, but since my home is still being built, it works out in a way.

Fio and I pack lightly enough for a few nights, clean up our hotel room, and then head out into the night.

"You're going back home again, albeit undercover," I say as we walk to the main gate. "Well. More undercover than the last time, I would say."

"Yeah. Though I might not even have to change my hair any, nobody recognized me the last time."

"You've got a profile as a member of the Leaf now, remember."

"Oh, yeah. Guess I'll try out platinum blonde when we get to the village. I think that's a neat colour."

"Will you be alright?"

"I should be fine. My parents aren't around, so I don't have to worry about that. And I don't have too many strong memories of the old town. It's been about five years since I disappeared, I guess? And the recent years have been the most important. It is what it is." She shrugs. "I'll give you a squeeze or two if I get anxious. You've helped a whole lot already, Lili."

"As long as you're okay, Fio."

"Yep. I'm probably not gonna be too interested in touring, or whatever. But if my mind changes, I'll tell you."

"All I could ask."

Erika and Ino are waiting ahead of us, five minutes ahead of the first meeting time.

"I see we've managed to escape the clutches of clan responsibility," I say to Ino. We exchange cheek kisses in our usual manner.

"Daddy absolutely hates getting in the way of my progress as a shinobi, which is essential to my preparation in becoming the future head of the Yamanaka Clan," she says dramatically. "How shameful would it be for a member of a prestigious Hidden Leaf clan to refuse an important mission due to considerably less important matters such as inter-clan politics? Especially if the mission was one that involved high ranking shinobi, such as Major Erika Kotowari, the Chrome Panther, and Colonel Lilith Kobayashi, known far and wide as the Scarlet Viper."

"As you can see, she is in an excitable mood due to her sudden addition to our party," Erika says.

"I get to go on a road trip with my besties! Who wouldn't be excited? Oh, and of course I didn't forget about the reason we're all here." Ino gives Fio a tight hug. "You look a lot better today. I hope you're feeling it, too."

"I sure am, Ino. Thanks so much. I'll be okay with all of you around, I know it."

"Good."

"If we're all ready," Erika says. "I will take the lead again, unless there are any objections to that end. Lili will be my second."

"No objections," we say in unison.

"Then off we go. A direct route to the Hidden Rock, as planned. At the border with Grass Country, we will assume our initial disguises and enter through the common routes towards the hidden village. Details will be finalized upon our approach. Let us begin."

"Yes, ma'am."

And with that, we start on another journey. Fio will get to say goodbye to her teacher...and I will get to hear, and see, which direction the shinobi world is heading next.

"You know…I was working on a fancy title to show off like everyone else, and was having a bit of trouble coming up with something good. But thinking about Sensei gave me something great," Fio says as we clear the gate. "The last time we talked…he said that I was like a phoenix rising from the ashes. Something in that resonated with me…I've already said that my fists could split the skies in two, so it only makes sense that I'd have the strength to soar through them, too. Fists made of metal, and a body and spirit that won't crumble, no matter what."

"Then give us your glorious title, Miss Asagao," I say with a smile.

"Lend me your ears, everyone," she says as we stop together. "The magnificent student of the strongest woman on Earth, the Slug Princess Tsunade Senju. Apprentice to the famed master of Boil Release, Han of Unparalleled Strength. The woman chosen by the daughter of heaven, breaker of chains, the all consuming Crimson Nightmare herself, to be her wife until the end of time and beyond."

She thumps a fist over her heart, steam rising from her body as she beams bright enough to rival the stars in the night sky.

"Calamity of Steam, and Divider of the Skies, the Hidden Leaf's Iron Phoenix! My name is Fionne Asagao!"

Oh, indeed.

My Fio is going to be just fine.

 

[FortePlus]

Year three. Slower, but still a good pace. Hope to hit that one barrier soon.

Thanks for the support and everything so far, continuing to read, commentary, reactions and etc. Hopefully everyone who is still around is enjoying the story and same goes for if you're just joining in. It's pretty long but I'm not trying to drag anything out so.

Any questions or comments can be asked whenever you feel like it and I'll try to answer properly. If you're a guest or just hanging around that's fine too. I just like writing and want to finish this story most of all. We're not that far from some more major events, so look forward to those.

Blessings to everyone reading. See you around.

 

[FortePlus]

Scarlet Justice: Full Blossom - ep. 66
"Moonlit Paths"
[Rocks and Rain, Part 2]
---

"Yeah. I asked Shikamaru earlier about it, and he said that it couldn't work that way...but I was thinking he missed something."

"He is correct in that you cannot chain these seals in the manner that you would like to. Which means that we have to start from somewhere else with the construction."

We've made good time over the last few days. Tonight features calm weather and clear night skies, which made it perfect to take a full rest and recover before moving on. Ino was very eager to cook for us, and made a delicious dinner that everyone is now letting settle before we go off to bed. Erika and I are going to split the night watch, and we'll all be up at dawn to continue our journey.

Currently, Ino and Erika are discussing a sealing technique that they began work on a few days ago. It made me think about the possibility that I might have missed something in my own studies.

"Hey, Lili. Busy?"

"Not enough to keep you away," I say to Fio as I read. "What did you need?"

"Just some together time, if that's okay."

"More than okay. Come." I lie on my back near the fire, and let Fio put her head on my stomach. My free hand gently rubs at her head as soon as she's comfortable. "Good?"

"Great. Thank you."

"You're welcome. Anything you need, Fio."

"Yeah. Not that I don't like spending time with you, I'm just a little needier than usual. I guess."

"That's only fair, considering what's happened."

"That's true. So, what're you reading?"

"Seal notation. Some examples of past work and theory. Nothing too dense, I suppose. The more detailed books are in the library and archives."

"Studying?"

"In a way, yes. Keeping these things in memory helps."

"That makes a lot of sense. What type of sealing stuff is it? The ones you put into the scrolls?"

"There's not much of a difference in theory and notation, but the execution requirements are different. You can have prepared scrolls to seal away techniques or objects, and you can scribe them on the spot either by hand or with chakra. Applying seals to objects or people manually is more difficult and requires a high level of chakra control. This can also be split into the application of prepared seals which construct themselves automatically from a central point, or seals with multiple stages where the base is applied to the target, and then carefully constructed using various handseals."

"Hm."

"You know that techniques can be activated from seals written onto scrolls. It's much the same in concept."

"Yeah. It's way more convenient to make the techniques yourself though. You can make them as big or as small as you want."

"Exactly."

"So you made an entirely new cascade for it," I hear Ino say to Erika. "That's what you meant. I wonder why he didn't think of it."

"It usually doesn't occur to those who don't have the relevant expertise," Erika replies. "Genius without information only goes so far, not to take away from the brilliance that Shikamaru does display often."

"You're right. Putting all of those next to each other works really well, in a way that I can see pretty clearly. Do you think there's room to expand on it, maybe?"

"You have plenty of room as is. It will be fine."

"Got it. I'll talk with Dad about everything once we get back. Are you two really gonna be okay splitting the watch?"

"We will be fine, I assure you. Both you and Fio should rest as much as possible."

"Alright. Then I guess I'll head off to bed. Night, girls."

"Lili, Fio. Did you need a while longer?" Erika asks us.

"Yeah, a few more minutes if it's okay?" Fio asks.

"Take your time, though I might insist you go to sleep at a later point."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Lili, I will be doing a perimeter check before first watch. No more than ten minutes."

"Understood. I'll keep watch here."

She nods before starting her walk through the trees.

"Mm, I just wanna hang out a bit longer before she gets back," Fio says.

"Not a problem," I say as I set down my book.

This is usually the best time for idle thoughts, for worrying, contemplating the universe and its indifference...and so the list continues in our imaginations. None of those are interesting to go through today.

Fio rests quietly under my touch, and I look upwards to perceive the stars that are in the night sky. It's peaceful in a way that I wouldn't have considered some time ago. Looks like I'm getting better at this thing called relaxation and such. And I suppose that spending so much time balancing on sharp rocks helped. A little.

Hm. I should call Midori later.

"I'm gonna turn in," Fio says. She lifts her head from me and yawns.

"Okay. I'll join you as soon as Erika comes back."

"Yeah. Can we share your sleeping bag tonight?"

"Of course."

"Cool," she says with a smile. "See you soon, then."

I poke at the fire pit and add a few more pieces of wood to it for management. Erika quietly comes through the trees again as I stand up.

"All yours."

She nods. "Thank you. See you in a few hours, Lili."

"Yes. Pleasant night, Erika."

I head to my tent and shed my extra clothing before joining Fio in my sleeping bag. She clings to me as I close my eyes, and quickly fall asleep.

---

I cook breakfast near the end of my watch, letting the scent of food wake everyone up. We eat, pack up our things, and then continue towards the northwestern border with Grass Country by way of Tenchi Bridge.

Things go normally enough. We're identified by those from the Hidden Grass and start to go through the country as we typically would. As for what we might be doing next, it's really none of their business, and there are no attempts made to pry. Erika suggests that we skip going through the village, and we all agree. That leaves us to move at a good speed through the topmost section of the country – the part with the shortest distance to Earth Country. A day's travel sounds like a good gain to me.

Slipping past the Hidden Rock patrols is as easy as it was the last time. They were lacking in manpower before, and are surely reeling after what happened with Akatsuki earlier on. It would be quite a shock if those two groups were still working together, but not out of the realm of possibility, unfortunately. We spend another night in the wilderness, Ino commandeering a local capable of flight and surveying the area while Erika and I scan the earth for any movement. With nobody in any sort of range to cause us issue, we set up camp.

"Alright, ready."

We will be doing a small experiment before bed, at Ino's request. The newly awakened ZERO System has drawn curiosity from some members of the group, and even if it won't see any notable use in the field yet, it's still good to try out every now and then. I focus and create the technique, and Erika looks after Ino's body as she performs the switch.

"All systems normal," I say to her. "Begin at any time."

"Got it." Ino holds her fingers on one hand up in front of her, before pointing them towards me. "Mind Transmission!"

I let her spirit shove mine aside for a little while, while she explores everything that she can. A short time later, I'm back in control of my body. The System hums along and responds as soon as its master returns, giving me access to the complete view of my surroundings again.

"Was that good enough?" I ask Ino as she recovers.

"More than fine. Um...yeah. That was wild. It was a good thing that Lili didn't go anywhere, because she was keeping that whole thing together with her subconscious and everything."

"So that was it. The subconscious," I say. "I had forgotten about that aspect of it..."

"Yeah. But the amount of information and feedback I was getting was absolutely insane. Being able to keep track of it all, and interpret it, and calculate all of my responses before I even made them...I wouldn't know how to properly describe it. But it's not just numbers getting crunched, I could see shadows of everything."

"Shadows?" Erika asks.

"Yeah, yeah. Like...whenever you shifted your weight, Rika. Or if Fio moved her feet a bit. I could see, like, images of all the places and positions you guys could be, all at once. And if I focused on something, I could understand its state, and what to do next, and...okay, so when I was looking at the fire just now, I could figure out that with the amount of fuel, the burn rate, wind speed and direction, and weather, all of that combined, that it would go out by itself in fifty one minutes and thirty eight seconds."

"The exact same trend I can read," I say. "Fascinating. I suppose with objects and natural phenomenon, or things that could fall into that category, there isn't much in the way of variation in predictions. Against perceived obstacles, the confidence intervals provide unique sets of data to the System's users and affect each outcome as it is generated. Hm. What did you see Fio's leftward tendency as, Ino?"

"At rest it was...about fifty six?"

"Fifty three for me. That confirms a whole lot."

"So from what you have explained," Erika starts, "the path to the future shown is heavily affected by the user's knowledge, ability, and confidence. The System therefore confers a great deal of advantage to those who can harness their memories in order to help with identification of techniques and movements."

I nod and return to normal. "That is correct."

"Truly fascinating. I imagine most would enjoy having a technique like this in their arsenal, but of course it is highly complex and requires esoteric abilities not easily discovered or attained."

"It's probably easier to get yourself a Sharingan, like Kakashi did," Ino says. "They connect pretty well to the existing optic nerve system and use chakra to handle the enhanced visual data streams that result...and with that unique construction comes the issue of genetic compatibility. That's to say that they're built by and for Uchiha. If you modify yourself, I'm sure you can get around it..."

"Pretty creepy, though," Fio says.

"Say that twice. I'm sure that psycho Orochimaru experimented on some poor guy or gal to see if they could get some approximation of an Uchiha body. Obviously it didn't go too well for him, since he was obsessed with getting his hands on Sasuke right till the end."

"Sasuke was his second option, of course," Erika says. Ino raises a brow slightly. "I suppose that was in the classified information we didn't get to."

"Must have been. The creeper went after Itachi first?"

"Lost a hand for his troubles," I say casually before sitting next to Fio. "It was at that brief moment in time when he and Itachi were both in Akatsuki. Sasori held a rather strong grudge against Orochimaru, to the point of thanking me personally for erasing him. I only opened up the path to his demise, as you know...but it would be rude not to accept some praise for my work."

"Hey, you won't hear me giving anyone a story different from what they heard earlier."

"What's your bandit kill count up to now?" Fio asks.

"The new record is six hundred and sixty six, with one kunai in hand, according to Fuu."

She lets out a low whistle. "That's what I call demonic."

"Apparently in the Cloud it's a mere ninety."

"Ah, so they're finally recognizing your talent over there," Ino says with a smile. "Dad said the last guy they gave any respect around there was the Fourth, and that's because he left piles of bodies in his wake each time he showed up. The older generation used to talk a lot about how different the world would be if he were still with us. According to Uncle Shikaku, though, it took a bunch of war feats and being Hokage for him to get that level of respect all around."

"Indeed. You've made a similar sort of impression in peace time," Erika says to me. "Which you should be quite proud of, considering."

"It's good to hear. If the heavens permit it, I will strike even more fear into the hearts of my allies and enemies alike."

"Then I will continue to petition the Supreme God for your success."

"Much appreciated, as always. You can do that before going off to sleep, since I have first watch as scheduled."

"Of course. The usual perimeter walk beforehand?"

"By all means."

She nods and heads off through the forest, quiet as always.

"Since our wives are gonna be up and down again tonight, you can snuggle with me, Fio," Ino says.

"Awesome."

"Try not to charm her too much. I'll want her back in the morning," I quip.

"Promise~. Let's get ourselves ready for bed, Fio."

"Yeah." Fio gives me a kiss. "Night, Lili."

"Good night, Fio."

They disappear into Ino's tent, and I wait for Erika to come back.

"Any requests for breakfast?" she asks upon return.

"Nothing in particular. I'll be looking forward to what you come up with."

"Understood. I will see you soon, then."

"Have a good rest."

She ducks into my small tent, and I add a few pieces of wood to the fire.

"That should add...another half hour, at that rate of burn. I suppose we can see if those estimates pan out, hmhm."

---

I use my free time to experiment more with the fire before switching with Erika. My sleep is peaceful and I awake to the delicious scent of our morning meal. One more quick cleanup, and we move ahead towards our last stop, on the outskirts of the Hidden Rock. A modest home set safely at the foot of a mountain pass.

Erika knocks politely, and we wait for the door to open.

"Good afternoon."

"Good afternoon," Erika replies.

"What can I help you with, ma'am?" The young girl from last time, known to us as Pink Sparrow, has grown a fair bit since the last time we met. A white blouse and dark skirt, with her now longer violet hair going down to her back. As usual, she has her poisoned weapons hidden and ready for intruders.

"We came to deliver an order made by your father recently."

"More tea, probably. That makes sense. What kind, by the way?"

"It seems he has made an enthusiastic purchase of mint tea."

"He can't get enough of the stuff." She smiles and bows for us. "Welcome back. I was hoping I could see you all again."

"Likewise," Erika says. "Though the circumstances are a bit sombre, unfortunately."

"I heard a bit about it. Miss Asagao, isn't it?"

"Yeah," Fio says. "Nice to meet you."

"The pleasure is mine, ma'am. I'm really sorry for your loss, and I hope you feel better soon."

"Thanks so much. I appreciate that."

"Mom and Dad are looking after some stuff in the study, but of course they know you're here by now. Come on in, and I insist on a warm cup of tea while you wait."

"Far be it from us to refuse such a gentle hostess," I say.

We go to the open living area, where a teapot and empty cups rest on the table. Each of us gets poured a warm cup by our hostess.

"Would anyone like anything extra before I leave?" Sparrow asks. We all shake our heads. "Alright. I'll be back in a bit with Mom and Dad."

She leaves, and we all have a few sips of tea. Very good.

"Sounds like she's way more involved than last time," Ino says. "That's good to know."

"It seems that she's embraced life as a kunoichi in full since the last time we met," Erika says. "I suspect that she will be travelling with us, and assisting in our upcoming mission objectives."

"Another set of hands never hurts," I say. "By now, she's about the age where we started...and with a lot more knowledge in comparison. In my case, at least."

"I never did think about it much, but it is crazy how far ahead you got without having all the stuff that the three of us started with. Rika had her dad to look up to, I had mine, Fio got an early start..." Ino trails off.

"Makes you wonder what things would be like in that case," Fio says.

"She'd have the whole village dancing for her, that's what it would be like. And we'd be averaging a cat fight per day the moment we got into the Academy."

"A 'rivals to lovers' story? I like the sound of that," I say.

"You would. Sakura and I would be fighting over you instead of Sasuke."

A lot of things would change. Naruto and I would be friends faster, and I could form a proper relationship with Itachi, before everything with the Uchiha changed...all of history as we know it would have changed completely. Hm. But how different would I be? Would I even still like girls?

"..."

Silly question. I think that's a constant across time and space. I can't imagine myself being straight. Maybe bisexual, if anything. There are some fine men I wouldn't mind courting.

"Plotting again, aren't we?" Ino asks, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Hmhm~. Always, darling."

"Looks like we have our returning guests at last. Welcome back, girls."

"Yes, welcome back. You've all grown beautifully."

We stand and exchange bows with our remaining hosts, who look about the same as when we left them. The rugged and muscular Brown Bear, with his wild mane of brown hair and neatly trimmed beard. And next to him is his wife and partner Red Wolf, looking as fit as ever with long and well-cared for hair of her own. Actually, she's changed it a bit...it's a nice peach colour now. Interesting.

"Yeah, I was just about to say so myself," Bear says as he takes a seat in front of the table. Wolf sits next to him, and Sparrow goes around to make sure they have their tea in front of them. "Our newest guest is the Miss Asagao we were informed of, right?"

"Yes, sir."

"Well, if you would accept our condolences on your loss. It's hard to lose someone you knew, even from far away." Bear puts his head down respectfully, and Wolf follows suit.

"Thank you very much. I appreciate that. And yeah, the news hit pretty hard...I was hoping to meet him again one day, and talk about a few things that I learned on my journey."

"How did you first meet Han?" Wolf asks. "I would assume out in the wilderness, but he was loathe to wander outside of Earth Country, for reasons we never found out."

"Oh, I assumed you knew. With you being the spy guys and all."

Bear nods. "Mm, I see. No, we were just given need to know information for the most part."

"Then it means Lord Hokage wanted to leave it to our discretion," Erika concludes. "Fio, we are authorized to tell our hosts whatever we might please, as long as it does not compromise the mission."

"Okay. So, the reason I knew Han was because he was my sensei from a long time ago. Back when I was in the Hidden Rock." Fio puffs out rings of steam. "It's 'coz I was born with Boil Release. I used to go by Mutou."

"Oh, my. So you were the little apprentice that..." Wolf puts a hand over her mouth.

"I can't believe it," Bear says. "So you survived all of that?"

"Orochimaru kidnapped me. Did a bunch of...pretty unpleasant things to my body. But I made it, yeah. And that's how I ended up meeting Lili. We're gal pals now! Real good roomies, like the old folks say!"

"Roommates, huh." Bear chuckles. "That takes me back."

"It certainly does. Congratulations," Wolf says with a smile.

"Thanks!"

"Well, it explains why you've been off the radar so far. I'm sure that the Tsuchikage has his suspicions hearing about your work for the Leaf, but with your origin story being pretty air tight, I don't think he could do anything if he tried without risking an international incident or two. Still, we'll be cautious while travelling in the Rock," Bear says. "The mission will be simple enough, and the objectives are loose. It's why we were able to clear Sparrow so easily."

"This will be my first major mission," she says proudly. "I've been training on smaller targets and doing some info gathering while at school. Pretty excited to see what I can pick up."

"Happy to have you onboard," Ino says. "And we'll be at your side if you need anything."

"Between you four and Mom and Dad, I don't think I could be safer."

"There'll be a couple of high ranking shinobi at the service," Bear continues. "Not too many, of course. Just the ones who could stomach paying any sort of respects to jinchuuriki. The top brass is torn up, but as you might guess, it's not because two men lost their lives."

"The direction of Rock's shift in power will be dramatic," Wolf says. "But we don't have a solid lead on what they might be planning. We want to gather up as much information as possible before sending it over to the Leaf, where we can have our brightest minds try to make the best predictions possible. The lords of the Ino-Shika-Cho coalition have formed a situation room in order to process our incoming observations."

"We can work on notation once we get back," I say. "You have three of the finest functionaries in the Leaf ready to go."

"And I'm not too great at writing super neat and fast, but I can get you whatever you need!" Fio says.

"We're already thankful for your help, so we really appreciate what you'll be doing for us next," Bear says with a respectful nod. "This will help keep us at the forefront, and with the way that the other villages are positioned, we really need to be ahead of them."

"What could the Rock do that would cause major trouble at this stage?" Ino asks. "Their options have got to be limited, and it would make a lot more sense to relax and let the other nations come to them. It's not like Leaf is going to run over the mountains and invade them. They're not that paranoid, I hope."

"Aside from the possibility of unwelcome alliances...there's the option of supplementing their forces with the fine citizens of Hidden Stone. Which would be a mess in itself. But what's worse is the possibility of them deciding that they don't have too much more to lose."

"Launching an invasion themselves," Erika concludes. "They have a long standing enmity with Sand, and though they have suffered this recent devastation, they still have enough resources and elites to spare for a major attack in any direction they choose. The Seven-Tails' jinchuuriki has left the Waterfall due to maltreatment, leaving them vulnerable to attack from superior forces. Leaf may choose to back them, but we know where that will lead."

"Proxy wars of all kinds," I say. I stand by my decision to help Fuu leave, but that was because I didn't anticipate Rock fumbling everything this badly.

"A new world war?" Ino asks. "Somehow, I keep forgetting that it only takes that much..."

"We tend to forget those sorts of things until they're as visible as they are now, save for those who spend all of their waking moments focused on the subject," Wolf says. "But we also don't get events as close together as these often."

"Then we should do what we can to keep the worst from happening," Sparrow says. "Everyone has a part to play, right?"

"That's right!" Fio says. "Some of us are good at punching stuff, and some of us are good at being sneaky. And some of us are good at both of those things. But we all need each other to make fantastic things happen."

"We should have about two days before the official event," Wolf says to us. "Since your timing was so good, we can call ahead and have everything we need prepared properly. We can cover the finer details on our way into the village, but for the most part we will be split into different groups. All of us will be at the gathering to listen to the Tsuchikage's speech, and from there we can move. We'll leave Miss Asagao and Miss Kobayashi to pay their respects. With the usual routes cleared up for a short time, Miss Kotowari and I will slip into the more sensitive areas of the village to see what we can gather up. Bear will use his persona to directly mingle with some of the village higher-ups, and the last pairing will be Sparrow and Miss Yamanaka for their own intelligence gathering in a different area."

"I think I have something ready to use for that," Ino says.

"Great. I'll follow your lead then," Sparrow says to her.

"As said, we will go over the details at a later time. For now, please make yourselves comfortable and have a look at the guest room any time you like. We unfortunately only have so much space, so one or two of you will have to rest in this room."

"I could always give up my room," Sparrow says.

"We couldn't do that to you," Fio replies to her.

"Told you," Bear says with a smile. "These kids are way too polite, they'll fight you right back into your own bed."

Erika and I look at each other before nodding.

"Our princesses will be sharing the guest room," I say. "Erika and I will settle for some good blankets and pillows here."

"Agreed. We should have no trouble making that small sacrifice."

"You're all paired up? Really?" Sparrow asks with surprise. "I can't believe it, two sets of girls with girls...never saw it before. Is it okay if I ask like, how you got together? What it's like?"

"We can answer any questions you have," I say. "But perhaps we should wait until after dinner, which is sure to be a delicious treat in your dear mother's hands."

"Well, of course you would know the way to a woman's heart," Wolf says with a small laugh. "I'll go ahead and get started with that extra bit of motivation."

"I've got some drier stuff from the other day," Bear says to Erika. "Did you want a look while we waited?"

"Certainly. We are blessed with time, after all."

"Miss Fio? If it's not too much, could you tell me about the things that you and Master Han did in the past?" Sparrow asks.

"Better than tell you, I can show you some of it! It's still light out, so that's good...let's step outside a bit. I don't want the house to turn into a fog bank, haha!"

"So you have the same bloodline limit as he did?"

"Yeah! It skipped a generation in my first family, and that's why he took a big interest in me at first..."

Ino scoots over and drops her head into my lap.

"I wonder when I gave you permission to do that," I say.

"You didn't, because I don't need it."

"Mm. You're lucky I'm so benevolent." I rub her head gently.

"Luck has nothing to do with it. I'm taking advantage. And I like your lap because it's warm and soft."

"A timeless sensation, yes?"

"Heh. One way to put it..."

The journey is done, and our objectives have been set. For now, the major work has been put away. Tomorrow is a new day, and then after that, we will be making our way to the Hidden Rock. Not just for a last goodbye to Han and Roshi, but to gather clues in order to decipher the shinobi world's new beginning.

All we can really do from here is continue to move forward, and petition heaven for the best outcome.

 

[FortePlus]

Scarlet Justice: Full Blossom - ep. 67
"Concrete Instants"
[Rocks and Rain, Part 3]
---

Over the next two days, we review our mission objectives as a group and make the small preparations needed for our journey into the Hidden Rock. Bear and Wolf split the task of completing our funeral clothing, simple black robes that have a small number of hidden loops and pockets to carry what we might need. They had prepared before our arrival and only needed our measurements.

After that, we finalize what we will be doing once we get into the village. There are a few people in the area who will be travelling to the funeral, as they had a positive view of the two jinchuuriki. Our group will be going along with one of the local farmers, who has a horse and open carriage. Today should pose no trouble in terms of weather. Once we've had a light breakfast and confirmed everything one last time, we get into our sandals, change our hair colour as needed, and then put on our straw hats before heading outside.

Bear, Wolf, and Sparrow have their civilian names to use later on. The rest of us go to our scheme for this particular mission.

"If we use code names too dissimilar from the list, it might cause issues when it comes to recording," Erika explains to Ino. She's decided to go with black hair for this mission, while Ino has chosen a light pink.

"We couldn't have done better than fancy rocks?" she whines. "Seriously, it makes us come off like...you know."

"Like what?" Fio asks. She's picked out the platinum blonde she wanted earlier.

"Like the pole dancers at night clubs," I say. I've decided on a chestnut brown today, like Luna. "They all love to use names like Ruby and Diamond and the like. Fine enough names for the most part if you want to be anonymous, but...well, imagine having the name Ruby as a child in the city."

"Oof. Yeah, kids can be vicious. I get what you mean now. But hey, it's only temporary for us. Sounds alright...oh, I guess I can be...hmm. Emerald, or something?"

"That name is approved," Erika says.

"Awesome. You guys can call me Emmy if you want!"

"You're having way too much fun with this," Ino says. She sighs and waves her hand at us. "Pick one and get it over with."

Erika nods. "Aquamarine it is. We will use Aqua as a shorthand."

"I really wish you wouldn't."

I shrug. "Ruby works for me. Appropriately spicy."

"Excellent. I will be using the code name Alexandrite. You may call me Alex as you feel comfortable."

"Then I guess that's all, unless our peerless leader Alex has something else to add," Ino says.

"Nothing else. Thank you for your input, Aqua."

Ino gives her an exasperated look.

"Is this how you guys are on missions together?" Sparrow asks. "It sounds like fun."

"Totally is," Fio says to her. "The most fun group of gals you could ask for."

"That includes the parts where we snipe at each other, by the way. Quality entertainment at any hour," I add.

"Don't listen to her. She's always stirring up some kind of trouble when we least expect it," Ino says.

"Oh, behave yourself. I'm just keeping you on your toes, like all good girlfriends do."

"And you're the last person who should be telling anyone to behave themselves, skirt-chaser."

"Now, now. No need to be so hostile over a simple name change, Aqua."

"The worst. That's you."

"That should be our ride coming up," Bear says as he looks into the distance. "Time to get ready, ladies."

"I'll deal with you later," Ino says jokingly.

"Mm. I'll be looking forward to it, darling."

We greet our local farmer as they arrive, and get into the carriage with their family and some others from the area. They're dressed in their own dark colours, some with lighter tones and differing states of wear on them. It reminds me of when I would visit the rice farmers with Mama long ago, and we were able to see a bit of how they lived.

"I admit to not thinking much of him at first," one of the women says to Wolf. "All of the stories made him seem terrifying, and that suit of armour didn't help."

"But you changed your mind after that?"

"Oh, yes. There was a boy that got himself lost some time ago, and Han found him and brought back to his parents. He wasn't treated very kindly for those efforts, but apparently he took no offence and left. It made me think that surely, a person like that who would have been so tormented by their existence would lash out or something...but he didn't. It made me wonder if everything I had heard was incorrect. Of course, you would have realized that faster than I did, Miss Amamiya. Being so connected to village affairs and all."

"I do my best to stay informed, yes."

"And these girls also want to pay their respects, then? I haven't seen you before, are you from out of town?"

"Yes, ma'am," Fio says. "We live out in the country, and heard the news about Lord Han there and all. He came out and helped when some bandits were fixin' to rob us of our money and dignity one day. It would have been a right awful thing if we forgot that, especially since he made sure to walk us home."

"Weren't just strong, but awful kind, too," I say with a nod. "Though I had myself a feeling with how those bigger fellows get along. They's about the kindest boys you could meet out in the world, real darlings and cute as anything."

"Ain't you tried to get him to flinch, sis?"

"I reckon I woulda done more than just try if he weren't behind that steel wall of his!"

"All us here wanted to make sure he got sent off proper. Maybe it was just the one time, but once is more than enough. I sure hope that Tsuchikage ain't skimped on the good flowers," Fio says.

"Figure I'll be able to tell at a glance," Ino says. "I ain't done all that flower watchin' for nothing, y'all."

"She ain't lying. I reckon she could sniff out one of them, er, facsimiles from a mile out."

The woman nods with understanding. "I see. The more I learn about him, the more impressed I get. It really is terrible what happened to him, then...and to the other gentleman...oh, I forgot his name again."

"His name was Roshi," Sparrow says.

"Roshi, yes. My apologies. I never did see him in my lifetime, an elusive fellow. I hope he's found peace as well..."

"We ain't been so tuned in to the big city affairs," Erika starts, "so we was wondering if the old Tsuchikage wasn't rarin' to salt the earth or sommat because of what went on recently."

"Well, this is just my gathering of whispers around the area...but there might be a series of negotiations or meetings happening soon with the other villages, according to what some of the local politicians are saying. They've spent a fair bit of time assuring us that we won't need to prepare for war."

"I figure that's to put a stop to any bank or food runs before they can get started," Bear says casually.

"Ain't that a bitter way of looking at it?" Fio asks.

"We ain't fed hungry mouths with optimism just yet," I reply.

"Hm. Might be the truth, but I don't like it much."

"I'm sure there will be plenty of talking on the subject once the funeral is over," Wolf says. "One just needs to know where to listen."

We reach the village not too long afterwards, and get off near the village entrance. The farmer goes off to find a place to leave their steed and carriage while we follow the lines of people in dark clothing towards our destination.

"Back again," Fio says quietly.

This is my first time in the village. It shares similarities with the Hidden Cloud, namely the many bridges that connect buildings and different parts of the village. Homes, businesses, and other important structures are built into the surrounding rock, either on top of plateaus or into the sides of slopes. Ramps and staircases have been carved out, windows are designed to capture the most amount of daylight and regulate temperature as needed. The tallest building in the village, naturally, is reserved for the Tsuchikage. The roof is shaped like a cone, and has the kanji for Earth displayed prominently on the outside.

As it is now, the village is very difficult to assault directly, something that I remember its shinobi are very proud of. It's surrounded by tall spires of rock, and all of the important structures are in the air, unlike in the Leaf or Sand. They don't have as many personnel but they're all decently strong, enough to repel most direct attacks. But they clearly didn't have enough, which is why they hired Akatsuki to supplement their forces. And the other side, which I nearly forgot: deniability. Akatsuki is a separate organization, which means that the Hidden Rock could use them to hide any of their plots from the other villages.

"Security is focused today," Erika says from behind me. "As expected, they are wary of infiltrators entering freely."

"That one's about to get nabbed," Ino says quietly. I can see who she's talking about, someone in a slightly worn robe that looks a size too big for their body. There's nothing obvious to most people, even other shinobi. But they probably made a wrong move near the entrance, or they could be a return visitor that didn't approach with consistency. Either way, they're approached from the front silently and moved off to the side before anyone in the crowd can take notice.

"Wonder how much we have to worry," Fio mumbles.

"Not much," I assure her. "We're guests of the Amamiya family and we have more than a few witnesses from earlier. Easy work in terms of deniability. You'll be more than fine, love."

"I trust you guys, always have."

"Things like this are exhausting at times, I do understand. Sometimes you would rather it come to blows instead of frying your nerves in suspense."

She chuckles lightly. "You really know how to empathize with people, Miss Ruby."

"Mm. Had to work at it a bit."

"That's a shock. You, having to work on social skills."

"If it's that shocking, it means that I've come a much longer way than I thought. Are you really alright, though?"

"Just fine, really. My old home is pretty far from here, so we don't have to worry about that, or anything. And obviously, my parents aren't around...well, maybe that could change. They had a pretty good relationship with Master Han, so...yeah, I did forget about that. Not likely that we'll bump into them. If anything does happen, I won't be too worried or stressed out."

"We'll keep an eye out either way."

"Yeah."

The amount of people walking around in funeral attire seems to be because of the occasion more than anything else, since the crowd is thinning the further we go into the village. A long set of stairs takes us up to the public square where the ceremony is to take place. A few bundles of flowers sit on a table, where framed photos of Han and Roshi sit. Slightly off to the side of each are urns which contain their ashes, unless they're symbolic or something similar. But it doesn't seem to be the case.

From the murmuring I'm picking up, there are enough people who are here just because. If we didn't need the cover they provided, it would be more of an irritant. Several visible shinobi are out in force, wearing the standard Rock uniform. Red outfits that some have changed to have one sleeve, and brown combat jackets over them. Using the lower level of my tracking, I can also sense that there are several lurking in the shadows, which is a matter of course. All of us will be moving about at the end of the Tsuchikage's speech, which is the time when everyone will be transitioning from their high alert phase and into something closer to the normal level of vigilance. It's a short and restrictive window to operate in, but it also yields the most opportunity. If there's anyone I can count on to exploit that kind of time frame, it's Erika. The rest of us will be doing comparatively safer activities in the meantime. An overnight stay isn't out of the question...we will have to see.

"The old man always did like taking his time. He runs the place, anyways," Fio says.

"Hopefully it's not too much longer," Ino says. "He's gonna be running off one of those speeches, and those get pretty boring after a while no matter how exciting they start off."

Several large men carry chiselled stones to the middle of the area, in front of the waiting crowd. They are stacked one on top of the other to create what looks like a podium. Then we can see someone flanked by several shinobi, and various officials trailing behind them. The smaller, floating figure in front is the man of the hour.

"They seem not to be taking any chances," Erika says from beside me. "A scent of desperation, to be sure."

"Mm."

Standing on the platform of smooth, polished stone is the man who has led the Hidden Rock for many decades, and could easily do so for many decades to come. He of 'Both Scales', the proclaimed great arbiter, Oonoki, the Third Tsuchikage of the Hidden Rock. The only known living wielder of an advanced power called a Bloodline Selection, beyond even a Bloodline Limit, which manifests as Dust Release: the combination of earth, wind, and fire.

"..."

He is small, especially compared to me. Maybe one and one third meters. His nose is large and red, and has strange bumps on the front of it. Bald at the top with white hair at the bottom, most of it tied back into a topknot. A moustache that is long on both sides, and forms sharp right angles coming down from his upper lip. There's the beard coming from his chin as well, neatly formed into a triangle shape. His eyebrows are heavy and thick. A green coat with yellow trim and a small red cape around his shoulders forms his outfit, which has similarities with the outfits worn by the other higher ranking officials of the village.

I wonder what would happen if I killed this man.

"Thank you all for coming," Oonoki says. "We of the village are heartened to see that so many have come to pay their respects to these two fine, brave members of our village. Those who carried a terrible burden on behalf of us all, and were tragically struck down by a ruthless enemy. We can tell you that their courage has already saved countless lives, and provided us with most valuable information that we will use to ensure the safety of this village, our precious home..."

I could do it. I know I could. I don't need to listen to his speech, the others can do that for me. This is something I should think about and address.

It wouldn't be very hard.

Killing the Tsuchikage would cripple the Hidden Rock immediately. They're not likely to have anyone good enough to take on the aspects of the job that this old man surely fusses over daily. He has a granddaughter, I believe. Would she be ready at this time? I doubt it. I could kill him and slip away easily enough. Leave this place behind. If it came down to it, the village that I gave so much for. The world would change, instantly. It might mean one less hidden village. It might mean chaos, a delay on Akatsuki's plans. If they tried to take advantage, we would know. We could strike them down with impunity for daring to interfere. The flow of time would change, the world's order.

How many things to consider? A clone. A decoy. I can see something at the edge of my vision, and it's probably the case. Or somewhere to substitute. Forming a clone of my own would solve that. None of these people would be able to react if I decided to strike now. None of them would be able to stop me if I just pulled my chakra together in that single second and blew this old man's heart out while he was speaking. I can see him falling backwards while his bodyguards scramble to find me. Or the blood flying from his throat as I cut through him while ignoring his decoy. Spaces and possibilities and outcomes, all dancing in my vision. Every one of them attainable, without even needing the height of my powers.

There's so much that I can do. It would be so...easy.

I can see all of the angles. I can visualize the scenarios and play them in my head, one, five, ten of them. Method, escape, routine. I know it all. I see it all.

"...the time they spent out of the village was of great importance as well. They used that time to master the power of the tailed beasts that they had been given from a young age, and..."

I can understand now.

Seeing this so often would torment anyone, wouldn't it? Especially those who craved peace so badly, an end to the violence that seemed so endless.

I can feel what my beloved aniki felt, during those times of struggle in the village. Decisions made for the greater good of a home, of an entire world. How do you sort them through? How do you deal with such pain, and ensure that these intrusive thoughts don't take over you?

Control. It's thick and cold, mixed in with my blood. The only truly useful gift from that man, who I once called my father. Itachi was born sensitive to the world, unable to use even that hardened shinobi shell to escape the feelings that welled up inside of him so often.

Kill this man in front of me? Why would I proceed without asking why?

There is nothing there. Killing him, especially here, serves me no purpose.

I seek a better world. To destroy a single man at this juncture would only ensure that this world's death spiral was fatal. An endless circle of violence, started at the drop of a hat. All because I believed that I knew better, that I could alter the fate of the world by repeating actions it has seen before. Blood for blood, sword for sword, vengeance and hatred forevermore. That is all I would accomplish.

In order to truly change the world, I must go beyond killing the children of men. I must grind their stubborn spirits and stupid ideals into dust.

But it's not all practicality. I can't hurt my friends and family. My allies who carefully prepared for my arrival, and have their own lives to live. It would be easy for most to be selfish. I'm not above such things...but my greed takes on forms that mortals struggle to comprehend.

That said, I have gained a new understanding of the world, and of myself. I think of Itachi again.

This power...my power. It's really...frightening. I don't know if this is what the people around me mean when they talk about how scary I can be. It's something else. Holding pieces of the world in your hands. All of this just makes my plans clearer. What I want makes...a lot more sense. And it really has to be me that does it all. Because someone else with this kind of strength...

"..."

Madara...Obito. Perhaps even that man, Pain. Were they driven to madness by this same vision? Or was it simply their greed that brought their ideals so low...I can't say for sure. I will find out soon enough.

"...with Akatsuki. Their betrayal cuts deep, and will not go unpunished. Rest assured, they will pay for their despicable actions. But we must also consider the other villages, and how they have chosen to respond to this ever increasing menace. They will have to answer for their part in this recent tragedy, and for their conduct with regards to their shinobi forces across the continent. The sacrifices of these two men, two of our proud village's bravest and strongest, will not be in vain. I promise you on the name of Tsuchikage that it will be so. Your presence is deeply appreciated in this dark hour, and will not be forgotten soon. Please take a few moments to pray for the souls of Roshi and Han."

I bow my head and say a short prayer for them both.

"You are all free to pay your respects to our fallen heroes, once I and my fellow village officials have done so. Thank you once more for your patience and support."

The Tsuchikage leaves his platform and goes towards the memorial, followed by the various parts of village leadership. Some of the crowd has already started to disperse, as expected. Erika taps me on the shoulder before leaving silently with Wolf. Bear is already chatting up a few people while we wait.

"I wanted to wait for the crowd to thin about a bit," Fio says to me. "Is that okay?"

"More than fine, love. We can wait as long as you need."

"Guess that means we're going ahead of you. See you girls later," Ino says. "Miss Amamiya, shall we?"

"Yep. See you, ladies," Sparrow says with a wave. She joins Ino in the queue, while Fio and I sit next to each other on a nearby rock.

"You alright, Lili? Seems like you've got stuff on your mind."

"I was thinking about...problem solving, so to speak. Maybe a bit stressful in its own way, but I'm fine. Itachi probably went through a lot of the same things, watching world leaders from up close."

"Not sure I get it entirely, but I won't worry too much if you say it's fine." She looks towards the memorial as Oonoki and his entourage start to leave. I can sense that the ANBU watchers are thinning as well. Bodes well for us. "Wonder if they're going to build something permanent for those guys. Probably not. A lot of the shinobi weren't all that fond of Master Han."

"It's the same almost everywhere for jinchuuriki, it seems."

"Yeah. Which sucks. At least people were kind of looking out for Naruto, but...I dunno. I never liked how he and Roshi were treated."

"Did you get to meet with Roshi?" I ask.

"Once. He was a pretty nice guy, a bit guarded but that didn't last too long once he saw me talking with Master Han and all. It wasn't any surprise that he and the old man fought so often, they were the same type of guy. Real hardheaded and stubborn, never wanting to admit they were wrong about anything. But I liked him." She tilts her head to get a better look at the queue. "People aren't spending too much time up there, so the line's getting small pretty quick. Let's head up now."

"Alright."

We go to the back of the line, and nobody ends up behind us. It seems that we'll have all the time we need.

Finally, our turn comes. Fio takes a flower from inside of her sleeve and lays it on the table in front of the photo of Han. She clasps her hands in prayer and goes silent for a while, before taking my hand in hers and squeezing it.

"Sensei...it's me. Fio. I don't have too much to say that I haven't already, but making it here to see you, one last time...was really important to me. I'm glad I could make it, and I hope it makes you happy, too. You've given me so much, and I don't want to waste any of it. Courage, strength, discipline and self-care. You taught me a lot of things in the short time we spent together. And to know that you were thinking of me, searching for me while I was in danger...I don't have anything other to say than thank you. All I can do now is become the best woman that I can be, to honour your memory properly. I love you, and I'll miss you. One day, we'll see each other again. But until then...this is goodbye. Rest peacefully, sensei."

"Master Han, I wish you a peaceful transition. The end of your suffering in this world has come, and we will carry your memory with us on the journey to a better world. Thank you for everything you've given Fio, and for everything that you made her. Rest well in the plane beyond ours."

We bow together towards Han's image.

"Roshi, I hope you find your peace as well," Fio says. "We won't forget you either..."

"You will be avenged, and kept in our hearts. Our justice will be yours. May you rest in peace," I say.

We bow towards his image before leaving.

"I feel like I got out everything that I needed to. I feel lighter," Fio says to me. "Thanks for being here, Lili. It means everything."

"It's the very least I could do for my beloved wife." I give her a kiss. "This meant a lot to you, and I wanted to do everything that I could."

"You did, hon. Thanks so much."

I look over my shoulder and notice someone trying to observe us subtly, but failing. This old man should make for an easy target...one of the officials I saw earlier. Good enough, then.

"I have something I want to take care of now," I say.

"Got it. I'll hang out with Papa Bear, then. Don't stay out too late, eh?"

"No promises. See you in a bit."

I rub her back gently before turning and adjusting my hat. He's doing a bad job of pretending that he doesn't notice me moving towards him, which confirms my suspicions. Then again, I am just a bit irresistible, hmhm.

"Well, excuse me there. I noticed you was up there with the Tsuchikage and all, earlier?" I ask while putting on my accent. "Couldn't help but notice ya." Not terrible looking, but not very interesting either. Married? No, seems like he's engaged instead. I wouldn't want to pull him away from his fiancee, of course.

"Is that so?"

"Mm, yep. You look like you used to be out in the field as one of them shinobi. Was I close, mister?"

"On the mark," he says with a chuckle. "I retired a few years ago...it's mostly administrative work for me now."

"Ain't that a peach? Well, I was just strolling up to say thank you for all of your hard work and service. I's out in the countryside with my sisters and them, and we just came out to visit y'all in order to pay our respects to Lord Han and all'at."

"You were acquainted with the jin-I mean, Han?"

"Yessir. Saved our lovely behinds a while ago from some nasty bandit fellows, while we was coming back from some shoppin'. Even walked us right home, gentleman that he was."

"I see."

"He probably kept that'un to himself, quiet fellow that he was," I say with a giggle. "That one was a day I couldn't ever forget, you know. But enough about me and my adventures, yeah? I was always the most curious when it comes to big city life like this, so...I was out ponderin', what does administrative work and all'at mean, exactly?"

"I-"

"Of course, I wasn't plannin' on talking your ear off for free," I say with a smile. "I've been wantin' to buy one of you distinguished fellows a good drink for a while now." I can see him eyeing me up a bit. Looks like I have him, then. "You look like you need something after a long day like this. O-oh, that's if I'm not doing anything untoward!"

"Untoward?" he asks, confused.

I nod and point towards his hand. "I bet you got a real purdy wife waitin' at home for you, and I don't wanna cause any tension or nothing..."

"Oh, no. We're not married quite yet, but I do love her very much. And she is gorgeous," he says. "But you're new to the village, and curious. I should be the one offering you a drink."

"Me? Oh, don't worry about any of that. I ain't much for the stuff, gets me wobbly way too quick," I say with a flip of my hand. "I do like fizzy things, though. Always sneakin' out to the shop and gettin' myself a bottle of soda as a secret treat. Those things can get a gal crazy hooked!"

"One of my favourite bars is nearby, and they'll be happy to fix you a non-alcoholic beverage as you wish."

"Okay, okay...but at least let me get you somethin' while we're there. There's this drink my big sis makes back home, and it'll set your taste buds alight like a big ol' campfire! You interested?"

The subtle little breath he does tells a story all on its own. Another attempt to dissuade any unwholesome thoughts, and then he smiles and nods.

"Alright, you have yourself a deal. But I'll be buying."

I pout at him. "Gosh, you men are so stubborn. I'm fixin' to treat you right, but I'll let you have your way this time..."

---

"Heh. The turnout for those bums was pretty pathetic, eh."

"Mm-hm."

It's about two or so hours later, and the idiot is done for. Has been since the first drink, in fact. I could drop my country girl persona without him noticing. The drink I "recommended" was something that Luna likes to make for Midori, a rather strong concoction that goes over well on cool, quiet evenings. The bartender didn't need much instruction in making it, and it easily hit my companion like a locomotive. So naturally, I encouraged him to order a few more. I would handle the bill, of course – just as we agreed on earlier.

This one isn't all that high up, so there are things that he doesn't know about. But I'm getting enough detail on things within this village, the opinions on their two jinchuuriki, and some of the next steps that are being planned out. Seeing as Erika and Wolf are out gathering the bulk of the information we need, I don't stress about what I'm collecting now.

"If they'd stayed in the village like the pet animals they're supposed to be...they wouldn't have gotten their monsters sucked out of them," he babbles on. I'm already sick of him, but I figured on that as soon as we got here. Putting up with this much at this point is trivial. I already had to listen to others spewing garbage about Fuu.

"You think so, huh."

"Yeah...both idiot monsters. Tch. Always running around and making more work for us. Pricks."

"What kind of work?"

"Details sent out and other crap," he says with a weak wave of his hand. "Had to send out ANBU to get their location...so that we knew what general area they were in. Could always find the steam can after a while...but the monkey man was always a damn hassle..."

"That's fair. It must have been very stressful for you lot," I say sarcastically.

"It was bullshit. Too bad they died, but good riddance. Only problem is that those psychopaths from Cloud might get ideas. Maybe...team up with those Leaf assholes. Fucking village...some hotshot bitch from there is causing trouble."

"Maybe I've heard of her."

"Scarlet...snake, or something? Bah." He hiccups a few times. "I seen her pictures. Guys want a go at her, and they're not quiet about it...I'm married, so I don't care about that too much...she is pretty hot, though...eh..."

"Your wife has found a good one." Deep within his alcoholic haze, he thinks of her. So I can be sincere about that much, even if he's fucking trash otherwise.

"You think so...that's nice of you to say. I should see how she's doing."

"I suppose we could arrange that." I finish off my sparkling wine and clear my throat. "Oh Mister Barkeep, sir? You reckon you can do me a good turn?"

"Ma'am. Did you need something?" the bald man asks.

"Yessir. This gentleman here is awful drunk by now, as you can probably see with those peepers of yours, and I was wonderin' if you had a way to get him home safely. If ya don't, I'm a real strong gal! Lookin' like nothing heavier than a wet sack of potatoes to me."

"Appreciated, ma'am. But you're in luck, I already have arrangements in place for this gentleman, as he is one of our regulars. And the drink you suggested, I tried it myself. Certainly has a kick to it."

"Big sis ain't a fan of anything that won't kick her teeth out these days, I tell you what. Polar opposites, she and me. Well, bless you for this. I didn't want to take off without making sure this one here was safe. I got some dollars burning hot in my cute lil' wallet, so let me just pay off our bill before I get to gettin'."

I hand the total payment to the bartender, and then an extra tip while patting his hand.

"Fine job you did today, so that's all for you. Don't go spending it all in one place, y'hear?"

"I'll be sure to remember that, ma'am. Be well."

"I reckon I will. And you take care too, Mister Administrator. Make sure you hug your old lady nice and tight when you get into bed tonight, y'hear?"

"Y-yeah..."

I pat him on the shoulder before leaving. From what I can sense...yes, it seems that everyone is moving towards our rendezvous point. Shouldn't be long before we get to leave the village and go back to the house.

"And it's a good thing, too. I'm already tired of this stupid, lifeless village...and its stupid, lifeless people. Maybe that's why those three choose to live where they do..."

I shake my head and put on my straw hat again. Time to see what we're dealing with next.

 

[FortePlus]

Scarlet Justice: Full Blossom - ep. 68
"Sunless Bridge"
[Rocks and Rain, Part 4]
---

We round up the entire group within twenty minutes and start out of the village. By now it's late afternoon.

No issues come up, and the brief inspections by Hidden Rock shinobi as we leave are of little consequence. We talk about a few things with the other passengers during our trip, nothing with each other about the mission just yet. Our friendly farmer drops us off near home, and we say our farewells before everyone else takes off. Erika and Bear do a quick sweep of the surroundings, and we get the all clear to head inside.

An official mission success.

"Did you need help with dinner?" Bear asks his wife.

"I did some preparations earlier, but I would love some help if you could," Wolf says. "Pumpkin, would you get the ladies some tea while they wait? Dad and I will be fine on our own in the kitchen. We'll talk about all of the things we found after dinner."

"Okay, Mom."

"The notation stuff is where I left it out in the room," Bear says to her.

"Got it, Dad."

The rest of us file into the living area and take our seats around the table. Our sandals and straw hats come off, and we let down our hair while returning it to our natural colours.

"What a day. Nothing difficult, but just a bit exhausting," Ino says. "Had to be the air over there."

"Little bit thinner because of the elevation," Fio says. "Good for training, though. Cloud's even higher up."

"Yeah, I'm definitely fine with my air being a little thicker from now on."

"Anything juicy on your end?"

"Mostly village gossip, since we're not from here we'll have to sort through what's actually relevant. Sparrow there is a real pro, she picked up on my cues without missing a beat. I went with my whole interest in flowers gimmick, which isn't really a gimmick I guess, and we got some nice bites. You know how women can chat away about anything."

"Yeah, for sure. What about you, Rika?"

"Our window was small, but the amount of protection in front of us was even thinner than anticipated," she says. "They seemed to be very concerned with the split between regular village defence, security detail for the Tsuchikage and his entourage, and counterintelligence against any upcoming attacks from organizations like Akatsuki. It meant that the amount of time we could spend on searching for material was dramatically expanded, and thus we were able to gather significant amounts of relevant information. Or, to put it briefly...what we have is very juicy indeed."

"Ooh. Can't wait to hear about it."

"What about you, Lili?" Ino asks.

"Some old idiot in admin was eyeing me up earlier, so I picked on him a bit," I say casually while fanning myself. "Got him drunk and he started singing like a choir boy, dumb thoughts and all."

"He didn't go all pervert on you, did he?"

"Nothing like that, no. Had some integrity, he's currently engaged and serious enough about it. Complete moron, though. If Fio heard him talking, she would have put his head through the bar."

"Like that, huh. I like to think that I can control my temper better these days, but...you probably aren't wrong," she mutters.

"I won't repeat much of what he said about Roshi and Han verbatim. It will probably have to go on the written reports, unfortunately. But I gathered some important things that will more than likely line up with what everyone else has found. So it wasn't a waste of time."

"Here we are," Sparrow says as she returns. "Your tea, and all of the stuff you'll need to take notes." She sets down our tea from the tray in one hand, and gives us each a notepad and a pen to write with next. We each go to work shortly after, the only noises between us being the sounds of pens scratching across paper and cups being set down every few minutes.

"Dinner will be a little while longer," I hear Wolf say to us. "Are you girls okay?"

"We're fine," we say in unison.

"Alright. We'll bring everything out to you when it's ready." We all go back to our writing. There's nothing too difficult that I had to look after while I was in the village, so I make detailed notes on what I remember about my surroundings. Some of the building layouts, the interior of the bar I was at, observations about how the roads are spaced and their construction, so on and so forth. I wonder what it would be like to have a photographic memory, or something close to that. Probably unpleasant if you end up remembering so much that's in front of you. There might be something to the fact that one's memories are distorted, if only subtly, by changes in time and space.

Tonight's dinner is crispy beef with green onions, sticky rice, and steamed sweet peppers. Very delicious. Afterwards we have some taiyaki as dessert, one of Sparrow's favourites, and some more tea to settle our stomachs.

And now we get to business, as promised.

"I guess we'll start first," Ino says. She and Sparrow picked up a fair bit of talk at street level, most of it regarding local affairs that will be useful to our hosts more than anyone else. Topics that came up were anxieties over a possible war effort, the general apathy over the deaths of both jinchuuriki, economic impacts as a result of the news, and the possibility of a military ramp up even if war didn't come about. The locals have also noted an increase in visible shinobi presence and more talk about recruiting. There's a slight bit of confusion among the populace regarding the search for a new host, or the preparation for such. People seem to be under the impression that the tailed beasts will be found and brought back eventually. That seems to fit, since nobody knows exactly what the goal is in capturing them in the first place, even among the intelligence types.

"That's some good info," Bear says. "You did a great job with the limited time you had."

"You should be very proud of your daughter," Ino says with a smile. "This was her first time out, and she was really good."

"That's our girl. Couldn't be prouder."

Sparrow blushes. "Thanks, Dad. I always do my best for you and Mom, and you've been the best teachers in the world."

"You're welcome, kiddo. Guess I'll share what I picked up next."

Bear has a front as a local businessman, and has made himself known among some of the higher ups. Most of his talk was regarding the changing economic situation in the village and surrounding area. A marginal tax increase is coming up, bothersome for the working class but nothing for the business populace to worry about. That said, there also might be a slight increase in mission pricing for shinobi hires, which might send business towards loosely regulated or below board individuals and organizations. Akatsuki is of course unwelcome in the area and their middlemen will be found and rooted out, after being scanned for whatever information they might have. Some of the captains of industry are patiently waiting for announcements on military activity, others are already assured that they will have new streams of revenue coming no matter what happens next.

"They're definitely gearing up for something, I just couldn't tell you exactly what based on what I heard earlier," he says.

"I didn't get much while I was milling around," Fio says. "Same kind of small talk as everyone else."

"It's more than fine," I say. "I can go next, as I figured out some interesting things from my companion's ramblings."

Roshi and Han were usually being monitored by the black ops contingent of the military, and thus their general locations were known to the relevant parties. Those routine searches increased in size, scope, and urgency when they couldn't be found for a while, and the strain on personnel would have been notable if not for the use of Akatsuki mercenaries to fill less important roles. That, as we know, turned out to be a big reason why Akatsuki could slip in and grab both hosts under everyone's noses. For the drain on resources and other prejudicial reasons, the two men weren't well liked by the upper echelons of the village. Their real use was for deterrence, and as far as everyone was concerned they were still loyal enough to the village to defend it from any attack.

Next steps are naturally being kept mostly to the chests of higher ranking officials. But it seems that there might be something happening with regards to diplomacy, such as contact with the Hidden Grass and possibly the Hidden Stone as we predicted earlier. There's also something vague referring to the Waterfall, though I doubt things will go too far since they've just forged new ties with the Leaf.

"They're also worried about me, now that they're in a more desperate situation than before. I doubt they have any confirmation that I was the one behind the disappearance of their elites a few months ago, but I wouldn't put it past them to assume that it was the case."

"Yeah, they've got you on their radar day and night," Bear says. "As far as they're concerned, you're the second coming of the Yellow Flash. That's part of why they're so spooked after losing both of their biggest problem solvers. The power of a tailed beast isn't something that someone can just get rid of, but even their most elite soldiers are just human."

"Plainly mortal in comparison to you," Wolf says. "Not that they would admit it, but...the regular forces already understand what they're up against."

I nod. "Mm. Pleasing to hear."

She nods. "That's a fair response. We can go over the information that Miss Kotowari and I obtained next. It's exciting in more than a few ways, as you'll soon learn."

Everything came out of the prior preparations that Wolf made on her trips into the village. They carefully infiltrated as many rooms and offices as they could within the brief downtime they had. Erika, with comparatively less to lose, spent some extra time sneaking through a still drowsy administrative building and found herself yet to be destroyed copies of important documents. Both fresh and urgent.

The first major thing is what Oonoki wants: a meeting between the five great shinobi powers regarding this recent turn of events. An emergency Five Kage Summit.

"That...doesn't seem wise to me," Ino says. "Why would he want to call a summit over this? Doesn't that mean exposing what happened in detail? I'm pretty sure that if we know about the village's whole deal with Akatsuki, those guys in Cloud would too."

"It's a calculated risk," Erika says. "He knows that he would have to reveal what happened and his dealings with Akatsuki, who have been performing more and more brazen acts as time wears on. However, his intention is to put pressure on the other villages, both for the fact that they have powerful missing-nin in Akatsuki's membership, and for their perceived inaction regarding Akatsuki's menace across the shinobi world. One village in particular will be the target of Oonoki's bullying."

"The Hidden Mist," I conclude. "They've been quiet a long while, and there are unfounded rumours that they are the origin of Akatsuki itself. We also don't know what's become of their remaining host, and they haven't provided much in the way of information."

"They are likely to be dealing with internal reforms currently."

"The Rock will obviously try to target Leaf, because Itachi is a known member of Akatsuki," I continue. "We can't exactly go out and tell them otherwise. And there are other things to consider, as some of us know."

"The only ones who seem to have any leverage in this situation are Cloud," Bear says. "They've done some underhanded things, sure, but in this case they've been really aggressive against Akatsuki's influence, and don't currently have any missing-nin who are working in Akatsuki's upper ranks. Every other major village does, and a few minor ones did too. Kakuzu from the Waterfall, and Hidan from Hot Water. It was a few years ago that they went missing, and the abrupt nature of it means that they're more than likely dead by now. It would be surprising to find out otherwise."

"The most likely thing to happen at the meeting, if it takes place in the near future," Wolf starts, "is that Oonoki and the Hidden Rock will place emphasis on their recent misfortunes and suggest that they might be dissuaded from doing something drastic with the cooperation of the other hidden villages. They are currently surrounded on all sides by great powers who now have advantages that they do not."

"Their conflict with the Sand is well known," I say. "Gaara is both their jinchuuriki and the Kazekage. He is also one of the strongest beings in this world, as he demonstrated before. Their most hated enemy is in a better place than they are, and they're buffered by one small, irrelevant country which can be flipped with enough assurances and resources. Leaf is on good terms with the nations that Hidden Grass and Hidden Waterfall are in, which presents another danger for them. And if Cloud decides to attack from across the sea, as they are capable of doing in large numbers, then there is nothing they can truly do to retaliate, save for Oonoki going out and risking himself in battle."

"So the plan is to get everyone's attention on the Mist," Fio says. "You mentioned the Akatsuki thing, but there's gotta be more than that going on, right?"

"I speculate that the Rock will make use of the Cloud's indignation to apply extra pressure, on Mist and the other nations," Erika says. "Beneath that, there will likely be diplomatic relations meant to gather support and present a treaty or something similar at the meeting, something that shows solidarity between the minor and major shinobi powers."

"In other words, there could be a whole bunch of guilt tripping going on because of the recent stuff that's happened," Ino says. "And then everything will spring off of that. The Mist probably doesn't have too much of a defence, seeing as they're known for how many missing-nin come out of their country, but the facts are that Akatsuki has a pretty diverse coalition going on."

"That's not going to do much to quell Cloud's anger," Bear points out. "They're pretty mad about almost losing one of their jinchuuriki a while back, and as mentioned before, like to get pretty aggressive when it comes to threats against their national security. To make matters worse, we don't have that much quality intel on Mist right now, so we don't know what they're going to do or how they'll react. They could just roll over, or they could bare their fangs at any threats."

"We have Lord Hokage though, don't we?" Sparrow asks. "I mean...he's supposed to be a great negotiator and stuff, right? We can't be that close to war..."

"It's very bitter to say, but even Lord Hokage would have his hands tied at this juncture," Wolf says. "He is very good at keeping the world balanced, and advocates strongly for peace, but there are limits to what one man can do. Short of making promises too tremendous to keep, there are too many moving parts to say that he could stop the worst from happening. The Hidden Rock wants guarantees, no matter how unreasonable they might be, and so might the other nations involved."

"It's a very difficult situation," I say. "All we can do in the meantime is see how everything plays out, and react to it accordingly. We'll also have to see what exactly is going on in the Mist, so that we can work on a counter to any situation where they're being pressured. We're not exactly allies now, but every little bit helps. What were the other discoveries made today?"

"Things along the same lines as discussed earlier," Erika says to us. "There is work being conducted on a security alliance between the Rock and Waterfall, as there are worries that Leaf or Cloud might get to them first. This would present an obvious problem in terms of border defence. The Hidden Rain is another discussed target for negotiations, though it is less of a priority since nobody has been able to make any meaningful contact with the village head or any of the officials directly. All of the contact in the past decade or so has been done through messengers. There are many rumours that Hanzo has been removed from power, none substantiated. No details on who might have taken over in his stead."

"Hm. It still remains a possibility, of course."

"So once this summit happens, we won't have a lot of time before we need to make an awful choice or two," Ino says. "Is there anything that we can actually do?"

"It depends on how much time we have," I say. "In theory, the summit can be called at any time. In practice, the Rock is going to want to gather all of the information and support that they need before making the call. Once we send this information off, it will be just us in the Leaf and in the Rock that will know exactly what the stakes are. The other three villages might be able to guess, but they won't know what we know. It means that we can manipulate to some degree how this will go. The first and most obvious thing that we can do to put a stop to all of this is eliminate Akatsuki. With that immediate threat gone, it means that there isn't such a need for aggressive posturing and the weight of any conflicts goes squarely onto the Rock if they attempt to instigate them. We could also do something as dramatic as restoring the power balance."

"How would we do that?"

"The Three-Tails is currently free in the eastern sea. Capturing it, or giving the village means to do such, would calm any immediate anxieties and head off any reckless acts."

"Yeah. Or it could give them another tool to wage war with. You're right about it being dramatic, and I don't think anyone would agree to something like that."

"We wouldn't exactly ask permission. It would serve another purpose of putting the Rock in Leaf's perpetual debt, which sounds nice enough. But it's not something I would like to happen, even if I've suggested it. These things are better left to people with more authority than we have."

"Of course, we don't have to get too desperate just yet," Bear says. "Things usually take more than a day or two to be decided, and the Kage Summit could just be the first of many meetings between the larger hidden villages. There's no doubt that places like Frost and Hot Water would want to be involved, as they're in between two rival nations themselves. They'll want to make their own appeals, even if they don't have a seat at the table."

"And as said by our Sparrow, Lord Hokage is an expert diplomat," Wolf follows. "He should be able to keep things in order for a while, as we work to take Akatsuki off the board for good. He can't stop everything bad from happening, but I believe that he can prevent the worst and give us enough time to solve the problems in front of us. Though I do understand everyone's feelings...as optimistic as we can be, the reality is that it will not take much for this continent to end up in conflict once again."

"Best thing we can do is keep our heads up," Fio says. "We're not done for yet, so what we need to do is work as hard as we can on fixing this mess, even if we're not the reason for it."

"I think it's best if we finish taking notes and chill out for a while," Ino says. "At least, I think so. It's been a long day, and there's a lot to think about..."

"I don't think we should do that."

Sparrow stands up.

"We can do all of our writing and worrying about gloomy stuff later. Miss Fio is right, it's not the end of the world, so we shouldn't dwell on it and make ourselves sick. I'm gonna go upstairs and find a board game for us to play, and we're gonna take our minds off work for a little while."

"Heh. Wonder where she got that from," Bear says as she runs upstairs.

"A mystery, to be sure," Wolf says with a smile. "But she does have a point. We can't spend too much time immersed in the misery of this world of ours. The sun will rise again tomorrow, and we will have another opportunity to take care of the problems that stand in our way. Worrying too much is as irresponsible as not worrying at all." She gets to her feet and takes away the empty tea pot. "We'll need something warm to drink while we're here. I'll be right back."

"The whole world need not be on our shoulders," Erika says. "Even if we are to be the vanguards of revolution. It is good to be reminded of that fact."

"..."

I watch as Sparrow comes back down and excitedly puts her box on the table.

"The culmination of this effort is...that we are the last ones to place our shoulders beneath that weight," I say.

"A beautiful vision."

"One to be made reality in due time." I stretch my arms. "Well, now it's time to figure out how quickly I can win this type of game in front of us."

"I'll warn you now, I'm really good at this one," Sparrow says with a smile. "So don't get mad when I beat you!"

"Famous last words," Ino says.

"Hmhm. I've never shied away from a good challenge. As the saying goes, you may bring it on, Miss Sparrow."

---

Playing a few rounds does help take the tension off of everyone, and we chat a bit more before deciding to get ready for bed. Erika and I stay up for another hour and write extra notes by the light of the oil lamp nearby.

The next morning, we have a good breakfast and start on our all-day task of finishing and organizing our notes in full, to create a report that will go directly to the Hidden Leaf. We double check everything and ask each other questions regarding what we could have missed, remove redundant information, and create a timeline alongside what we have. A few new relevant things come up as a result. Midday is a mandated break on orders from Sparrow, and so we young ladies get together to jump rope. After that is lunch, more work, and then dinner. Our work is completed shortly afterwards, and we watch a local baseball game on television together to wind down. Apparently, the differing atmosphere in the region allows the ball to travel further through the air when hit, which adds a new layer of excitement. Then it's off to bed again, where our little group obliges Fio's request for our last night here.

The four of us fit onto that bed, somehow. We all go to sleep holding onto Fio, who was as happy as anything.

---

"It was nice having you out here. We'll have some space ready the next time you're heading this way."

Once we've finished with breakfast, we secure our copies of the mission report and get ready to head back home. Everything will be sent ahead of us by bird from the nearest outpost, directly to the village.

"We appreciate that," I say to Bear as we stand at the front door. "Hopefully the next time we see each other, it's not in a time of turmoil again."

"Heh. I hope so, too. But this is the life we signed up for, right?"

"It is, surely. But I would rather it not be a lifetime contract."

"Everything will be okay," Sparrow says. "I believe in you guys. You helped out Mom and Dad before, and now this time, too. We'll do what we can from this side to help make a better world."

"As long as you don't do anything too reckless," Ino says, patting her head. "That's our job. And by our job, I mean Lili's."

"Facing the world's terrors is something that I am uniquely equipped for. It sounds a bit solitary, but I know that I'm never truly alone."

"As long as you all come back safe. And you're going to invite me to both of your weddings! I've only been to one before, so one where it's all girls should be pretty exciting."

"We'll send you a fancy invite!" Fio says. "It'll be a great party for everyone."

"You were wonderful hosts, as always," Erika says with a bow. "We will keep in contact through the usual channels, with some extra updates as requested."

"Thank you," Wolf says. "The three of us will be thinking of you, and praying for your success. Take care of yourselves, and remember to enjoy life as often as you can."

"You can count on it," Ino says. "Okay! Group hug for the road!"

We come together for a big hug, and then separate a bit so that we can hug our hosts one by one again.

"Bye! Remember to be safe!"

Sparrow waves happily at us before we clear the entrance. And with that, we're on the road again. Home is just a few days away.

"We've relied on order for so long to keep this world together," Ino says as we walk through the mountain pass. "It's taken things like this for me to realize that order and justice aren't the same thing. Maybe changing the world really does mean giving up on everything we knew before. All of the tradition, the things that so many of our ancestors fought for and died to preserve."

"It must be scary to think about," Fio says to her.

"Do you think so? I mean..."

"I'm saying it because I know what it's like, yeah. It's hard to start over, and to give up on everything you had before. Sometimes you don't have a choice, and that might be the easier situation. You don't really have to worry about choosing wrong. It's when you're fighting for it that things change."

"I see..."

"Having second thoughts is not a betrayal," I say to Ino. "There's nothing wrong with considering the situations in front of you. To be courageous isn't about living without fear or doubt."

"Yeah. That all makes sense."

"It's good that you have those feelings, Ino. To remember what's at stake, and to listen to what your heart is telling you...all of that will be important when it comes time to connect with the people of this world."

"Lili..."

"There are few of the tethers that remain," Erika says. "I intend to immerse myself in shadow as well. Those of you who stand by us are invaluable, for your moments of clarity and love."

"You will not be shamed if you do turn back," I say. "But I know you won't, Ino. Because you showed me the space inside of your heart. I trust you with my life, as you trust me with mine. So no matter what happens, or how you might feel, I will always love you."

She closes her eyes and nods. "Thank you, Lili. I won't forget this moment. I love you, too."

"The many wings of this divine child will carry you aloft, even when your strength has faded. Unflinching courage, and unwavering focus. Those are among the beautiful things that will become our justice."

Without a second or third thought, I'll clear the way for all of us. I already know what the future that I'm fighting for looks like.

All that's left to do is to ensure that we get there safely, together.

 

[w34v3r]

Oh... She thinks this is a cultivation story. That's why she talks like that.

 

[FortePlus]

Scarlet Justice: Full Blossom - ep. 69
"Wise Guys"
[Calamitous Ascent, Part 1]
---

We get home without any problems. A few light kisses goodbye before we leave as pairs. Fio and I check in at the hotel front desk, then head upstairs. Throw our bags on the floor, drop into our bed together.

It's not the end of our work, but we should be able to get a few hours of rest before starting again.

Right?

This is what Tsunade would call a 'sucker's bet'. And if anyone knows a thing or two about suckers, it's her.

"Goddammit, it's only been five minutes!" Fio groans as the phone starts to ring.

"You stay in bed and rest. This is my work from here on," I say. I breathe out and roll my neck a few times. Alright, time to get this done with. "Phone, please."

Fio picks up the receiver and hands it to me.

"Lilith Kobayashi speaking."

"Miss Kobayashi, a call from the office of Lord Hokage for you."

"Send it through, please."

"Yes, ma'am. One moment."

The call switches over quickly. "This is Special Aide Imari Hyuuga, calling on behalf of Lord Hokage. Do I have Major Kobayashi on the line?"

"You do."

"Great. We have two items. As soon as this call ends, I will be sending Captain Morino from Intelligence to escort you over to the facility. You have an incoming call from one of our agents that will require enhanced privacy measures."

"Understood."

"Once your call is completed, you will report to a secure room within the Hokage's Office for a private meeting with Lord Hokage and two other guests. This is urgent and so we will request that you finish your prior business as quickly as possible."

"Of course. Is there anything else, Special Aide Hyuuga?"

"Nothing at the moment. Will there be any issues in completing these tasks, Major Kobayashi?"

"None at all. I am ready to take on the scheduled tasks."

"All understood. Commencing operations. Good morning, ma'am."

"Good morning." I hand the phone over to Fio and reach for my comb.

"Out and about so soon," she mutters. "Annoying as hell."

"Annoying and necessary. Just another day as a kunoichi, isn't it." I finish combing and make sure all of my personal items are in place. Today will be a day of light travel, so I don't want to leave anything important out.

"Just don't work too hard. We came back from a long mission and stuff, remember..."

"I'll look after myself. Eating a proper lunch will be a priority, and the old man might have something prepared for our meeting. We'll see. Itachi is going to be there, which means he must have caught wind of the news somehow. But that's just how he is."

"Tell him I said hi."

"I will. Remember what I said, your job is to rest for now." I lean over and give her a kiss.

"Yeah. I'll call Hina if I need anything, but I should be okay for now. Love you, Lili."

"I love you, darling. See you soon."

The phone rings again, and Fio hands it over to me. "Lilith Kobayashi speaking."

"Miss Kobayashi, a Captain Morino is at the front desk for you."

"Tell him I will be there in a moment. Thank you."

"Yes, ma'am." I hand the phone off to Fio again, and then head out. Ibiki is at the front desk waiting, and gives me a nod before we start out of the hotel together. As soon as we clear the entrance, we take off across the rooftops at speed towards Intelligence. The two soldiers at the side door salute us and open it up quickly. We cross the lobby with long strides, Ibiki snaps his fingers and points towards the elevator. The woman behind the counter pulls on a drawer and quickly punches numbers into a small keypad, then turns a key. She makes a series of hand signals for us both, to which we respond with our own before she nods and points towards the elevator again. She salutes and we acknowledge her before heading to the elevator, two floors up. We stop outside of the now secured room, and Ibiki flips through keys on the ring in his hand before using two to open both locks on the door.

A chair with a soft seat and back, one flat table, and a telephone.

Ibiki goes to the other side of the room and picks up a headset that was hanging on the wall. He gives me a thumbs up and I take my seat in the chair.

Then we wait.

"..."

Five minutes pass quickly enough. Things start to feel a bit slower as we approach ten minutes, but the silence is broken abruptly as the phone starts to ring. I pick up the receiver and press the flashing red button on the front.

"Kobayashi here."

"Good morning, Major Kobayashi, ma'am. Captain Anko Mitarashi reporting in. New discovery made with regards to Akatsuki operations." She sounds different from her usual self, but that's because of the structure of this call, and the techniques she's been using to keep her identity hidden.

"Go ahead."

"With the recent shift in activity in the western region and the results of the tailed beast campaign, I have gathered intelligence that tells me there will be concentrated activity within Water Country. Large scale operations will be set to start no earlier than one week from now and no later than four. My suspicion is that they will be sending at the least one of their permanent pairings, Kaitaikojo and Ishako Shigisei."

"Intimacy with the immediate area. Not good. Targets?"

"Understanding is that their primary target will be the host of the Six-Tails, known as Utakata. He has not been seen in or near the Hidden Mist for over a year. Requesting status report on the Three-Tails, ma'am."

"Status normal. No disturbances in chakra pattern or general movement detected by tracking centre. Visual observation is all green as well."

"Ma'am. The limited information I have obtained says that the organization's aim at this time does not yet involve capture of the Three-Tails. While upper ranked personnel are moving towards the east, there is currently an aggressive push to sell discounted routine services to those in the western region, as a result of the Hidden Rock's sudden loss in military power."

That much was expected. Still unpleasant to hear.

"Many elements of the organization are still disconnected from the leadership, and I was only able to obtain this information by way of a leak from one of the middlemen who formerly worked for Sasori. It seems that they were selling this information to others, as I discovered from their former broker that their operations met a permanent end several nights ago."

"Any breaches?" I ask.

"None. We've established secure lines of communication and I'm still at enough of a distance that the greater leadership pays us no mind. There are a few other moles and information brokers working for other villages that I've managed to pull onto my side in the past while. Unfortunately, I'm not able to tell if the information they've gathered has been of any use."

"It doesn't seem to be the case at current," I say. "Any other items?"

"None, ma'am. The rumblings within administration have remained so, and the aims of the inner circle are still mysterious and impenetrable. Obito as Madara is not known to anyone here, or in similar circles from other facilities, and Konan interacts with the other arms of Akatsuki at a distance, if at all. There is no mention of Pain, other than as the unknown Akatsuki Leader."

"Obtaining this heads' up has more than enough value on its own. I would ask for more details, but there are things afoot."

"Ma'am."

"A few days ago, we infiltrated the Hidden Rock for the purposes of attending a funeral service, first and foremost."

"Someone you knew?"

"One of the jinchuuriki killed by Akatsuki was Han, Fio's old teacher."

"I see. Is she well?"

"Yes, she is well by now. Information obtained from our visit has revealed that the Tsuchikage is planning to call an emergency Five Kage Summit if he cannot get his way within the next few weeks."

"And your next meeting must be with Lord Hokage. Understood. I will keep this information with me and make appropriate inquiries. Any new details that I find will be relayed by way of our normal ground network. Regional patterns are being observed closely by admin due to recent events, which means many things will line up properly."

"Good."

"I've taken everything down, and I've just about reached my limit for now, ma'am. My apologies for not being able to do more."

"You have done outstanding work as is, Captain. I appreciate all of your efforts. Please continue with your best efforts to remain safe while on your mission."

"Yes, ma'am. Mitarashi, signing off."

I hang up the phone, and the red light goes off.

"All good," Ibiki says as he takes off his headset. "No interference."

"Good. Then I'm off to see the old man...I hope the rest of his hair hasn't started falling out from stress."

"That old fence sitter is cooking up a firestorm, then. Tch...Rock was always a bunch of underhanded bastards."

"They're bad at playing nice, even for shinobi," I say. "It would be impressive if it weren't so infuriating at the same time. Hopefully we can avoid the worst. Is there anything else I need to take care of here?"

"Nothing. I'll lock up, you get yourself going."

"Thank you. See you soon, Ibiki."

He salutes with one hand, and I exit the room. There should be a set of stairs near the elevator...there, perfect. I enter the stairwell and drop down the two floors to my destination, then quickly cross the lobby to the main entrance and head out. I speed over to the Academy complex and then settle into a fast walk as I near the Hokage's Office. That reminds me, I really should talk to Tomo at some point soon. Perhaps surprise her with a treat or two...her work has really been invaluable lately.

I sense for Imari's chakra and find her outside of what must be the designated room.

"Far too busy already," I say to her. We kiss each other on the cheeks in greeting.

"Say that twice. Breakfast is inside courtesy of Tamaki, I know you came in just a while ago and couldn't have had time to make something for yourself. It's all for you, the other gentlemen should be fine for now."

"You're both beyond me sometimes. We wouldn't be anywhere without you two."

"And we wouldn't be anywhere without you, Lili. Go on and eat, the others are being corralled as we speak."

I nod and head inside the room before she closes the door. Just as promised, a large breakfast made just for me sits on the nearby table, along with a pot of tea. It should be enough to quell this rumbling tummy of mine for a while...

"Then they can go fuck themselves sideways, this is important. We don't have time for all of this stupid whining."

Tamaki's lovely voice comes through as the door opens slightly, several minutes later. Breakfast went down easily, and hot tea is just what the doctor ordered to finish it off.

"How much can you move?" Hiruzen asks.

"All of it. Every single bit, and they can bitch at us all they want, we run the fucking show around here. We're going to act like it. This is high stakes."

"I have to agree with senpai, Lord Hokage. Once we have your word, we will move heaven and earth as often as you ask it of us."

"Understood. I will give you authorization to act in my stead as needed. A pen so that I can sign...there."

"It's all us from here," Tamaki says. "I'm going to inform the village council of what they need to be doing next, then." She pokes her head into the room. "Lili, did you find the food okay?"

"Very good. I do love your cooking, Tamaki. Thank you for this."

She winks. "Nothing to it. You take care, sweetie. Lord Hokage, Imari...I'll be back soon. Let me know when you're finished."

"Until then, Tamaki."

"Yes, senpai."

"Looks like I'm not too late here," a new voice says. I recognize that as Shikaku, which is good. The Leaf's fastest mind will be a great help in figuring out what to do next. And the last is...

"Apologies for my timing."

"You're on schedule," Imari says to Itachi. Clad in his usual cloak and mask, he steps in after the Hokage and Shikaku. They're followed by Imari, who closes the door behind her and seals it with her jutsu. Her Byakugan come to life as she takes a seat next to the door. "There is a passage at the back wall which leads to a washroom as needed. Otherwise, this room is secured against any threats. You may begin when ready, lady and gentlemen. Oh, and if anyone would like tea poured, I can do that for you as well."

"Should be okay for now," Shikaku says.

"I believe I will be fine as well, Miss Hyuuga."

"I am fine as well, Imari. Thank you. Lili, my apologies for having you here so early after an already long trip. Shinobi are built to endure, but a good rest is coveted by all who work in this world."

"A wise and thoughtful saying, my lord. Thank you for your concern, but I should be fine for the next while, and focused enough to participate with vigour in this important meeting."

"Understood. So...the reason we are meeting at this moment in time," Hiruzen continues. "The recent mission to the Hidden Rock revealed that, in response to losing both of their jinchuuriki, they plan to call a Five Kage Summit in the near future."

"That sounds...incredibly bad," Shikaku says.

"It is one way to put it. Do we have much in the way of time?" Itachi asks.

"It is hard to say. I plan to have a meeting with Oonoki, in order to figure out what exactly he wants. He is not likely to know that his secret has been revealed, and so we should be able to make some progress," Hiruzen says. "If not, then...we will need to prepare for a summit, where disaster is an inevitability. The Raikage has become increasingly irritated with the surge in Akatsuki mercenaries. I know that he is far from a reckless man, which means we might have to endure a great deal of things coming from the Cloud in the coming months if things do go wrong."

"I see. The complete elimination of Akatsuki is currently beyond our scope," Itachi says. "We have yet to find Pain's base of operations, as one thing. I know that Jiraiya has been looking into that recently."

"We must make contact with our personnel in the smaller nations surrounding us, in order to discern the true nature of this situation. Making any moves too suddenly could trigger a reaction from someone else other than the Rock. We also need to infiltrate the Hidden Mist as soon as possible."

"There's no doubt that their continued silence has put a lot of people on edge, especially since this rash of kidnappings started," Shikaku says. "The Three-Tails is still roaming around the eastern sea, but who knows how long that will last...and given Akatsuki's ability to handle tailed beasts in the first place, it means the creature is still in great danger."

"We have extra reason to be nearby soon," I say. "New information came in earlier from Anko. The vampire siblings are set to move into the area, starting one week from now at earliest. Their primary target will be the host of the Six-Tails, Utakata."

"Perhaps in addition to our scouting, we should collaborate with the Hidden Mist in order to locate their host," Itachi suggests. "The worst they could do is say no, especially in this crisis."

"That much is true. Hm." Hiruzen rubs his chin in thought. "I don't think I have the time to schedule a meeting with the Mizukage, unfortunately. And given the current situation, having a visible meeting with the Mist might end up triggering a grievance with the Rock. Shikaku, any suggestions?"

"Trying to think of something myself. It's not going to work with those two, especially Jiraiya. Tsunade isn't going to want to leave the village for that reason. It leaves some of our clan heads, but I don't know who has prior engagements."

"I would want you to take your time regarding this matter. Getting back to us within the week will be fine."

"Yes, sir."

"Itachi, I understand that you are monitoring the movements of certain Akatsuki members, which is becoming quite crucial. My hope is that this information assists you in your day to day endeavours," Hiruzen says.

"Very much so. We are making significant strides towards the elimination of a specific asset. It seems that Zetsu has taken the bait, so to speak. We can only hope that the timelines don't run into each other."

"It's good to know that we're making progress on that end," I say. "It won't take them out of the game entirely, but we can slow them to a crawl once we can eliminate that kind of surveillance. I'm assuming that from this talk, I will be heading into Water Country soon?"

"We will make preparations to that end," Hiruzen says. "And prevent any interruptions from taking place, of course. Stopping Akatsuki from capturing any more tailed beasts is our priority, so I will be assigning this mission to you and your team. I believe they should be enough of a match against those formidable youths you spoke of earlier."

"I hope that it's the case. They're far from invincible, but they're also hard to keep down. And I know that they haven't shown all that they have to offer yet, which is worrying in a few ways. We will do our best to slow them down at the least."

"Doing that much would help greatly. I believe that is all for now, we can share further details with each other by way of the normal channels once we receive them. Does anyone else have anything to share?"

"Has Jiraiya obtained any new information during his search?" I ask.

"I have not heard back from him regarding that yet."

"Konan was quite distant from the core group even while I was present in Akatsuki," Itachi says. She would communicate using her paper clones and with origami messages, and was rarely present in person. That said, she did not have nearly as much to do as she does at the moment. If Jiraiya can uncover parts of her routine, we might be able to catch her unaware."

"The members of Akatsuki mark their headbands," Shikaku says. "Have you seen any part of hers?"

"No. Not hers, Pain's, or Zetsu's. They've taken measures to keep their origins hidden, and it seems to be for good reason." He pauses. "Perhaps Jiraiya's penchant for more adventurous undertakings might provide revelations, in ways that I would be unable to."

"You have a way of being too polite at times," I say to him.

"It might be so."

"I suppose if things get too desperate, we might have to hope for that much," Hiruzen says wryly. "Let us worry about what we can observe for now. Our personnel will need to be arranged discreetly in the next while, and the upper levels of the village informed of where we stand at the moment. Since it is still early, I will make an attempt to speak with the Tsuchikage by way of video call, or by way of secure telephone call if that fails. Regardless of result, we will be speaking by the end of this week in order to set up our desired meeting. Lili, I will have the upcoming missions for your team reassigned and your mission load suspended until the meeting is confirmed. I will need to consult with Shikaku regarding the need for your presence."

"You're planning to have her next to you?" Shikaku asks. "I don't think there's anyone better in terms of protection, but you must know..."

"It's been a long time since Oonoki and I met face to face. All I want is to ensure that he doesn't get the wrong impression of me."

Shikaku chuckles lightly. "Understood, sir. We'll check in when the time comes, but I don't think it should be a problem with what you intend."

"I plan to send Team Kobayashi on their mission to locate and protect the Six-Tails' host after that, as soon as possible. We will be in communication with the Hidden Mist and increasing the frequency of our monitoring in the eastern sea."

"We can assign a few extra personnel to that mission, and ask if there are any volunteers for overtime work," Shikaku says.

"Good. Then we should be set for now. Thank you all for coming on such short notice. I wish you all good fortune and safety in the next while. We are all finished, Imari. Thank you for your diligent work."

"It's my pleasure to serve, Lord Hokage." She bows her head and turns off her Byakugan. "I'll be off to inform senpai that we've finished. Be well, everyone."

Itachi puts on his mask and makes a few subtle hand signs at his side. I sign back and he leaves silently ahead of everyone else. Shikaku shakes my hand firmly before leaving, and Hiruzen pats my shoulder gently.

"Be sure to go home and rest as soon as you can. I suppose you have a few more engagements before then."

I smile. "Always astute, aren't we. It's why we have a chance to save this world in the first place."

I feel him pat my head before slipping off. A correct assumption that my day isn't done yet, as Itachi wants to meet me in one of our more secure places. I leave the Academy complex and focus to use my tracking technique, reaching across the village to find Itachi's signature.

"There, huh."

Seems as good a place as any. No real traffic around that area, and it seems to be just civilians running back and forth for exercise. Northwestern part of the village, near a small stream if I remember correctly. I go into a casual jog and use the streets to get to my destination, keeping a slightly lower profile just in case someone is getting too curious. I haven't seen or heard too much from ROOT lately, which is both good and suspicious. I'll have to talk to Nami about that over the next few days. Better yet, I'll go and visit the girls at Edelweiss personally. Some sweets should make them happy.

I reach our meeting spot and take a seat on the nearby tree stump, next to the stream of water. Itachi appears a few moments later and sits beside me. His hand rubs my head gently.

"Are you alright?" he asks.

"Well enough. I plan to take the old man's advice, and will be getting some rest after this is done with. I don't have anything else planned for today."

"Good. This should be short, since I only wanted to provide you an update."

"I see. Then, I wanted to ask you something before that."

"What is it?"

"Oh, before that. Fio says hello."

"Please convey my greetings to her as well. Is she doing well after your earlier trip?"

"Much better. I think she's truly at peace with her sensei's passing now, and is healing splendidly."

"I'm glad to hear it. You had something you wanted to ask, earlier."

"I did. I have some suspicions regarding Akatsuki...what do you know about the Hidden Rain Village?"

"Hm. The population there trends towards a lower age from what I understand, because of the many battles between great powers that devastated the area. There have historically been a very high number of war refugees, making up the majority of the village's population. Information leaving the village is scarce, as you know. Nobody is able to enter without being under strict surveillance and subject to a number of security checks. Any routes through the village are tightly planned and scheduled so that no person wanders off a designated path and sees something that they are meant not to. This is what I've gathered from the stories of the handful of diplomats that have been able to visit within the past decade."

"The past decade," I say with surprise. "That sounds quite abnormal, even if there is a civil war happening."

"Yes. As for other types of entry...that is a complete unknown. No infiltrator has ever reported back from the Hidden Rain to my knowledge."

"It sounds dire in some ways...I was hesitant to say something before, but this level of danger probably warrants it now. Itachi...please don't act on this just yet, since it's only speculation. I don't want anything happening to you."

"I understand. What do you have for me?"

"Jiraiya had some students a long time ago, during one of the wars that ravaged this continent. A team of three that reminded him of the one he was on, near the Hidden Rain long ago."

"This was around when the Sannin earned their title."

"Yes. He must have felt some responsibility for them, as they were orphans. So he trained them for a few years before returning home. According to my talk with Tsunade, I believe that Konan was one of his students from that time. It's very much possible..."

"That her home village is that of the Hidden Rain," Itachi finishes. "I see. And with her proximity to Pain...though that might be a stretch. If Konan is from that area, she might have been scouted by Pain to join his cause. An orphan with a long past as a mercenary would be appealing to an organization such as Akatsuki. The possibility that she could be from the same place as Pain does remain, but given his ability to conference over long distances, he could be anywhere. It would also mean that Hanzo had been defeated, if Pain was using the Rain as a home base."

"Another possibility is that Hanzo is using Pain to deliver his justice," I say.

"That also could be the case. Pain could just as easily be a messenger himself...perhaps Obito is playing that angle as well, and controlling them both. But if Jiraiya did indeed meet Konan as a child, then it wouldn't be likely that she was from anywhere but the surrounding area. Being from the Rain might make the most sense. I won't forget your request, Lili...the Hidden Rain will be off limits for now, at least until I can gather more information for you."

"Nothing too drastic. Remember that Zetsu is still snooping around...he would find out and report to Pain or Konan. A full scale hunt for you might begin in earnest, and we couldn't protect you properly if the other villages are turned against you in that manner."

"You've thought very far ahead, imouto."

"It's nothing much. Staying vigilant when it comes to you only makes sense, since you're so reckless."

"Indeed."

"We should get to your report before we spend the rest of the day annoying each other. Not that I would mind."

He makes an amused sound beneath his mask. "Very well. You will be pleased to know that we've made significant progress with our plans for Zetsu. He is taking extra measures to monitor my movements, under the assumption that I now have a mistress. He is also diverting resources and personnel into confirming the rumours about you. Soon enough, he will be able to put the two things together."

"This has happened much faster than I dared to hope," I say.

"I did obtain some help from your friends."

"Did you. I suppose that Miss Kotowari was one of them?"

"She did not ask many questions, which is normal for her. But her help in providing additional avenues for the distribution of relevant material resulted in a significant time savings, so to speak."

"Mm. It only makes sense that you go to a woman if you want expertise on gossip."

"Indeed."

"It means that we can move soon...would the time after I return from Water Country be too much pressure?"

"Not at all. I can keep Zetsu at bay until then, at the least. That will also keep me from doing things that are too risky, like infiltrating certain villages."

"You're too cheeky for your own good."

"I might have to agree. If I catch wind of Lord Jiraiya, I will also do some light monitoring to help ensure his safety. Should I stop him if he decides on something reckless as well?"

"No...it's not that I don't care about his well being, but he's a determined sort. And with his own important things to look into. Whatever is going on between him and Konan should be left as such," I say.

"Understood. I have nothing else, so it's time for you to go home."

"I really mean it. Don't do anything stupid."

"I promise, Lili. I have things that I still need to do in this world...people to look after, and promises left to keep."

"I see. Then...be safe."

"Yes."

I turn my head, and Itachi is already gone.

"..."

He meant something else by that. Not just Sasuke, then...I wonder.

"Whatever the case, I'll make sure that you can see it all through. I have to go to that place, anyways. If only to see what Mifune did..."

Okay. Time to get some rest in, and then we move forward again. We have a lot on our plates to clear.

 

[FortePlus]

Scarlet Justice: Full Blossom - ep. 70
"Smart Fellows"
[Calamitous Ascent, Part 2]
---

"You know, I appreciate a good meal, especially on someone else's dime. Just makes me wonder if it'll be worth what's coming next."

A small, out of the way little establishment that specializes in food harvested from the seas. Suigetsu is his curious self today, throwing on a dark sport jacket over his usual attire as an attempt at dressing up. It's rather adorable of him, and I appreciate it for what it is. We're currently on a lunch date.

It's been about a week since the emergency meeting. The Tsuchikage agreed to a meeting with the Hokage after a few days of rambling and complaining, and currently the relevant parties are waiting on a final confirmation from the Hidden Rock. The meeting places will be chosen from Tanzaku Quarter and Mikawa Valley in Fire Country, and Silver Vine Village in Grass Country. Once the meeting place is confirmed, there will be a wait while preparations are completed in both villages with the respective Kage. That should be a week or two, which is enough time for us to go on our mission to Water Country, ensure the safety of Utakata, and then return home. If things don't go to plan on our side, everyone else will carry on without us.

Hopefully it doesn't come to that, but one can't be assured of anything in this life.

"I have to wonder what you mean by that," I say to him. Cursed with a need for style as always, my outfit for today consists of a pink blouse topped off with a silk scarf, and a neat blue pencil skirt. It has a slit on one side so that I can show off my lovingly crafted legs, of course.

"I mean that every guy within the village walls is gonna want to put my head through glass once they find out I was eating lunch with you. Because unfortunately for me, people think your whole lesbian thing is just a rumour or a phase or whatever. Those idiots think they have a shot at you."

"Mm. Unfortunate sounds like the correct word."

"So when are you gonna jump out of the closet?"

"Not soon enough to save you from the worst."

He sighs and shakes his head. "Yeah, yeah. Well, I was just messing around anyways. It'd be a jerk move to make anyone come out to the world before they were ready. I'll survive whatever beating is coming for me."

"You carry on too much. Karin and Fio will protect you. Jugo too, when he's around."

"Two of those I don't doubt. Karin? Tch. She'll charge those guys money for a free swing at me."

"The love you have for each other is so precious," I say with a smile.

"You sound way too much like Chief," he says before sipping water through a straw. There's plenty of it at the table, per my request. Wouldn't do to have the poor boy dry out. "Or maybe I have it the wrong way. She sounds way too much like you."

"I am quite the influence, yes."

"Did you influence her into going crazy for girls, too?"

"I think that's a story she can tell for herself."

"Fair enough." He drains his glass and sticks the straw into another. "So, let's get to those ulterior motives of yours before the food shows up. Bet you've got a real nasty mission lined up for me, or something like that."

"I realize that you gave some information to Intelligence earlier, and so I wanted to follow up on that. Intimate meetings can help bring out details that normally are glossed over or missed in more formal talks, as I've found out over the years."

"More relaxed and stuff," he says with a nod. "I get it. So I guess we're talking some more about those two psychos, eh. Well, if you can manage to off them, it'd be doing the whole world a favour. I'm more than willing to help out, especially after this fine dining experience. Hell, even the water tastes fancy here."

"Glad you're enjoying it so far."

"The Shigisei siblings, eh. Kaitaikojo and Ishako...little brother and big sister. Couldn't tell at a glance, but there's a lot you can't tell about them just from looking. Got yourself acquainted with their brand of fighting, I bet."

"Many surprises to be found."

"Yeah, never a dull moment with them. Ah...guess we'll start with big old Kai. The muscle of the operation, if you couldn't tell. Guy's always been big for his age, or any age if you think about it some."

"It seems to be so."

"I was around him and his sis for a while before getting scooped up by Orochimaru and everything. Really humiliating...I wanted my shot at him, but you guys in the Leaf put him into the dirt first. Tough, but I'll live with that. Getting back to Kai's whole deal, he's crazy big, crazy strong, and crazy durable. Guy used to take kunai to the chest and have them bounce off like they were rubber balls. Pulled up trees with his bare hands and used them to smack away unlucky bastards like they were flies. Even has a mastery of the elements without knowing a single damn jutsu."

"You're going to have to explain that to me in detail. Our food is coming."

"Really? I don't see anyone."

"Thirty seconds or so."

The food does arrive on schedule, exquisitely cooked and seasoned fish, paired together with special sauces and an assortment of cooked vegetables. The waiter delivers me a glass of sparkling lemonade and leaves once I give him the okay.

"Yeah, you're definitely spooky sometimes," he says.

"Just a simple matter of observation, darling."

"You think so, huh. I wouldn't call it so simple, but you do you."

"Hm. I suppose it is easy to forget sometimes."

"Heh. So back to what I was saying," as he readies his utensils, "Kai is an elemental master without use of elements. You want Wind Release? Have him take a deep breath and then blow out for a hurricane. Water Release? A big drink of water first if you're on land, and if you're out over the water he can make a few tidal waves with a swing of that hunk of metal he calls a sword. Earth Release? Watch him dig his hands into the ground and hold it together with a bit of chakra before throwing it at you. Doesn't matter what type ground it is. Dirt, stone, asphalt, concrete. He'll grab himself a chunk of whatever. Fire Release? Watch him rub his hands together real fast and then heat something up like that sword of his. Instant flaming death. And Lightning Release is a bit trickier, but only because you gotta get the right materials on that oversized body of his first for the static effect. But he can make himself into an instant lightning rod too, between his height, reach, and again, that big dumb slab of metal he carries around."

"Illuminating," I say flatly. "And patently absurd."

"That's Kai for you." Suigetsu starts on his fish and nods. "Man, that's good. I feel like I got golden blood going through my veins after one bite."

"Has anyone ever told you that you lay it on a bit too thick sometimes?" I tease.

"Story of my life. But this really is good stuff. I appreciate this, Snake Lady."

"Think little of it. Luxuries like these should be experienced by everyone."

"I hear that."

Suigetsu and I finish our meals quietly, with him going through plenty of water in the meantime. I have our waiter bring out a few more jugs upon his return.

"The guy's personality is...nonexistent, I'd say," Suigetsu continues. "Real quiet, never once heard him speak. Ishako does all the talking and translating for him, though there's obvious stuff he points out so that she doesn't have to. He follows her around like a puppy. But the guy's not dumb or anything, something you probably figured out already."

"I did, yes. He knows how to handle himself and is more than just a simple brute. The way he can anticipate movements, and act in time with his sister...those are things that take a fair amount of intelligence and understanding of the flow of battle. He uses more than his size and bulk to intimidate in addition to all of that. I'm sure he could break the wills of most mortals just by staring at them."

"Yeah. When he gets intense, it's enough to make you want to turn tail and run, if you don't wet yourself first. Guy barely reacts to anything that isn't killing or his big sister. And when he's really in the groove, it's scary as hell. Guy's enjoying himself a little too much while fighting and hacking off limbs. Couldn't mistake him for a human being at that point."

"I see."

"With him and Ishako, you get the feeling that they're way too close, even for a brother and sister pair. They must have gone through a whole lot, what with the whole Bloody Mist thing and being orphans, but it's always rubbed me the wrong way."

I nod and slice apart some of my fish on the plate. "That only makes sense. They're fucking."

He chokes on his water. "W-what?! You're messing with me. You gotta be."

"Not at all. They confirmed it after I spent some time taunting them. But then, she gave herself away earlier when she was telling me and my partner her life's story."

"Man...that's way over the line. Not to mention...ah, forget it. I'll give myself a headache trying to figure out how any of that stuff would work..." He drains his glass from top to bottom before refilling it. "I guess it explains a lot, though."

"It's not an exploitative relationship, at least not in the ways that we would think. They genuinely love and care for each other, twisted as their relationship is. She's extremely jealous of any woman that comes into sight, and he protects her at every turn. I don't doubt any of the affection they have for each other," I say.

"Still incest, though...kinda gross."

I sip at my lemonade. "It's disturbing for many reasons, but...not all of the ones that I agree with. I think I should leave it at that for now."

"Yeah, I probably wouldn't get it. You elite types are wired different from my experience."

"Tell me about Ishako next."

"Ishako, right. She's a gal on the smaller side, not as tough as Kai...but man can she take a hit and keep going. I've watched her get into slug-fests with women twice her size, and she'd be standing over them all bloodied up and stuff at the end. Obviously she does all the talking for them and can figure out whatever it is that Kai means when he waves his hands or swords around or something. Somehow. Hella smart, definitely a genius type. She can figure out enemy jutsu and how they're gonna attack and defend with a little bit of studying."

"I saw that first hand," I say.

"Figured. Got a talent for Water Release and acts as support most of the time. Basically Kai's control tower. Long range sniping with arrows, that's usually how she gets around in a big fight. She gets him into position and they pick their moments to attack together. Don't even have to say a word, they read other on the fly and make everything work. Almost, I guess. Judging by the fact that I'm having lunch with you right now."

"A fine observation."

He smirks. "I have my moments."

"She has medical expertise as well, I assume?"

"Yeah, always patching up her little bro after a fight, no matter what. I remember it looking like he didn't have a scratch on him one time, and she was still floating around him, healing random spots with her medic jutsu. Really doted on him like crazy. Though from that bomb you dropped earlier, it makes a lot of sense why she'd go that far."

"Hm."

"Something else, though...I dunno if I was just imagining it, but when she's in a fight, she kinda slows down sometimes to get a good look at things."

"She seemed like she was exerting herself a bit."

"Yeah, that's the best way to describe it."

I nod. "She must have kept that mask up enough around you, because she's a genuine sadist. Her favourite pastime, aside from the obvious, is to watch her little brother slaughter opponents. She gets off on it."

"Here I am telling you about them, and I'm the one learning a bunch of stuff that I really, really didn't need to know." He sighs. "So she's like you, then?"

"No. I need to have my hands around my victim's throat in order to enjoy it," I say firmly. "And wanton slaughter is not part of my routine, nor will it ever be. Please do not make the mistake of confusing me for savages like them."

"Sheesh, my bad. I mean it, I wouldn't want to be compared to those weirdos myself. The word of artisans, right?"

"That's right. You would understand, prodigious at the art of murder as you are."

He raises a brow. "Did some studying on me?"

"I would be curious about my Fio's teammates," I say with a smile. "The other second coming of Zabuza the Demon, and younger brother of Mangetsu Hozuki, a genius and member of the Seven Swordsmen himself."

"Yeah. Big bro got himself into the group and figured out how to use every one of those swords well. Even Samehada acknowledged him the first time, which isn't something anyone heard of while it already had a master. The only reason we could survive out in the Mist was because we were chasing that dream. I was jealous when he got his invitation, but motivated as hell. Then...idiot went out and got himself killed, somehow. Overextended, brutal missions one after the other. I didn't want to join after that. My dream now is to collect all of the swords, and create a new Seven Swordsmen. I'll be the leader, of course."

"What would you do as a group?" I ask.

He shrugs. "The usual stuff. Being swordsmen and cutting all sorts of things. We'd make money and hang out in a cool lair. Like a cave or something. Fancy robes, and of course some cool chairs and a table we can plot at."

"Truly a man's romance," I say.

"You laugh now, but soon enough you'll be asking to see the inside of our secret hideout. I'll give you a special pass, of course. You and Fio, since you're both nice and stuff."

"What about Karin?"

"Nah."

"For me, then?"

"...I'll give it some thought. Talk it over with the crew when we get together." He rubs at his nose. "No promises."

"So how far are you into your quest? I assume that you'll want to battle Kisame for possession of his blade, Samehada."

"Yep. But believe it or not, I got one down already," he says with his sharp, toothy grin. "Went down to Wave the other day and got the greatest haul. Zabuza's sever-sword, called the Executioner's Blade!"

"It was still there?" I say with surprise.

"Yeah. You shouldn't be too shocked, the damn thing weighs so much that normies can't move it. Weighs more than me...gotta be at least sixty kilos."

Zabuza was truly monstrous...if he could swing that kind of sword around regularly, it meant that he could toss me like a baseball with one hand. Frightening to think about. And Kai is magnitudes of order stronger than that...

"Yeah, it's wild. Though Kai could definitely wave it around like a kitchen knife, that's how strong the guy is. But I got my hands on the thing. Only six more to go."

"It weighs more than you or me," I say. "So how would you use it in battle?"

"Hozuki secret sauce." Suigetsu takes an arm out of his jacket sleeve, then flexes. The arm alone becomes massive, bulging with muscles. "Water Release: Great Water Arm."

"Simple and effective."

"All about it. Uses our clan jutsu to move water around, so we can do stuff like this. Gives me the crazy strength needed to swing around that heavy sword properly, and do some real damage out on the battlefield."

"And of course, you can liquefy your body. Orochimaru took advantage of that to capture you. Overwhelmed your body, and then trapped you somewhere you couldn't escape from."

"I'm not even gonna ask how you figured it out to that degree. But you got it in one."

"And I suppose that I'm your natural enemy." I give him a smug look. "One more reason to stay in line, hm?"

He grumbles at that. "Come on, Snake Lady. I'm not gonna go out and betray you guys all of a sudden. Fio's really cool, and I'm getting attached to Jugo, the big lug. And Karin is...Karin. I guess."

"Good to hear. Just keep me in mind whenever you have to make big decisions."

"Yeah, yeah. Don't worry about it. The Leaf is the place to be, even if it gets way too hot in the summer...wish I had cash like you do, I'd have some central air put up right away."

"Oh, that sounds like a good idea. You find someone reputable, and I'll cover the bill for you," I say.

"Oi-"

"Don't you think of refusing. It's not going to help anyone if you melt in the middle of the day."

"You're worse than Karin."

"A compliment if I ever heard one."

He shakes his head. "I'll talk to Chief about it later, fair?"

"Fair. Anything else that comes to mind regarding our favourite rogue couple?"

"Nothing much. Ishako's super smart, fast, and crafty...and Kai's just a big brick that smashes everything he comes across. Obviously if you focus your fire on Ishako, they'll figure it out real quick and switch gears. Plus, Kai has that freaky sword."

"Yes, the blood sword. Please tell me more about it, as much as you can. It's an existential threat, even for me."

"The thing's called Sessho-seki. Legend says that it's sentient, but I wouldn't know if that's the case. Sure hope not. Some guy I don't even remember had it before Kai...it was forged in the blood of thousands of victims, and gained demonic powers. Lets him control blood to some degree, never figured out how much."

"It absorbs the blood from victims and the surrounding area," I say.

"Yep. One good stab and...lights out," he says with a grimace. "Like drinking out of a juice box. Scary as hell. I wouldn't be safe, either. All the blood that it sucks up can be used for different kinds of attacks. Kai's a simple guy, so he likes to use giant blades of blood that can rip through anything."

"Ishako can use the blade as well."

His eyes widen. "No kidding...that's a real shock."

"Why?"

"The rumours about it say that it chooses its master, so acknowledging someone else aside from Kai is a big change. But maybe that makes sense since they're so...close." He gags a bit. "Otherwise, I know that if anyone else tries to handle Sessho-seki, it skewers their hand and flies right back to Kai."

"Very useful information," I say with sincerity. "I suppose stealing it is out of the question."

"Yeah, sucks. Thing's remote controlled."

"It means that the only way to truly stop him is to kill him," I conclude. "Not an impossible task, but certainly difficult with Ishako on guard."

"Good luck with that. I'll probably have to stay clear...if I know Ishako, she's probably got everything down about me off of the few missions we did together."

I think for a moment. Kai has to have some small weakness that we can exploit. Taijutsu, no. Ninjutsu, has to be specialized. Leaves the last thing. "How well does he handle genjutsu?"

"No clue. Never saw him hit with one, and Ishako always made sure that he wasn't in range of any genjutsu users before any fighting started. Why, you thinking of using that as a strategy?"

"I only have a few simple misdirection arts at my disposal for now...but there are others that I can think of who have much more prowess in that area. It might be worth a shot," I say.

"Make sure you bring someone good at dodging. Between those arrows and totally not Wind Release techniques flying around, it's not gonna be a fun time trying to land a genjutsu on those two."

There's an interesting decision to make now. Do we try to match Kai blow for blow while keeping Ishako busy? Or do we try to remove Kai from the picture first with a special strategy? It could mean the difference between life and death, more so than usual.

"Lots to think about. But all of your help is greatly appreciated, Suigetsu. It should help with stopping those two, and keeping this world safe."

"Well, I'll be rooting for you. Can't collect swords if the world's all nonexistent, after all. Also...I might be interested in what your swords guy has for sale. Where's he located, again?"

"Hot Water Country."

"Might drop by while I'm out there. See what he's got for myself..."

"Did we want dessert before hitting the road, so to speak?" I ask.

"If you're springing for it, no sense in turning it down."

"Excellent. We have a small dessert menu for convenience here," I say as I hand it to him. "Pick whatever you like."

"Hey, they've got some jelly desserts on the menu. Nice...and I can get some extra toppings."

Kai and Ishako going towards the eastern sea...but not after the Three Tails, Isobu. Why is that? Why would Obito bypass a supposedly easier target to have them go after an experienced host? It can't be a simple matter of strength.

Whatever the case, I have to stop them. Seven tailed beasts, six jinchuuriki...and none of them ready for the surprises that Akatsuki will bring with them. Pain in a hidden location, and Obito mysteriously silent. So much going on...

"But we'll get through it. One step at a time."

I know I'm missing something, but I don't know what it is. I'll have to sleep on it, and put the worry out of my mind for now.

"Oshiruko sounds good today. Haven't had it in a while," I say to myself.

---

"Between looking after Mirai, and all of the other stuff coming up...I was thinking about having this conversation with you at some point."

Kurenai is out today, taking Mirai for a walk in her favourite wooden basket. I wanted to share my thoughts with her about the upcoming mission, and I did have my worries about her joining the campaign against Kai and Ishako, even if we weren't meaning to clash with them intentionally. It's nothing to do with her capability at all, but...

"I hope you know what I mean with..."

"I do, I really do. Asuma and I were talking about it, and he says the old man was giving it some extra thought, too. I haven't talked to Hinata and Shino yet, but I can only assume they're thinking along the same lines. The village is organizing a bunch of platoons to keep Akatsuki in check, and since Asuma will be on call for that, we can swap places from time to time. That way, Mirai will be okay. Shikamaru and his gang are going to be busy too, or else we'd leave her with them for a bit. And of course, you're always on the go these days."

"Yes, very much so."

"Yeah. So...if I can stay closer to home, it would mean a lot. With all that said, if you think you need me no matter what, I'm there for you. I can put aside all those other plans and vet a babysitter or two for Mirai. Easily done."

"I understand." I think on it for a moment. "But...it doesn't make sense to put so much pressure on you like that, especially for what is a guess at this point. That boy could easily have so much willpower that genjutsu isn't effective. Or worse, he could have some subconscious talent for reflecting it. Anything is possible with him."

"You'd think that the Mist would do anything and everything in their power to keep someone like that from skipping town," Kurenai says. "A real one man army from what you've been telling me."

"Indeed. I think Shino and Hina should be enough for us to hold our own against them. The last thing we want to do is get into a long fight over the water with Mist natives."

"You're sure you won't need me?" she asks. "I mean it, I'll drop whatever I can for you guys."

"If we need a fourth, I have a list of alternates. But we should be fine, and I mean that. You have to do what you think is best for your family. None of us will think less of you for it, or resent you. And if you come across anyone who does-"

"Lili, no."

"If you let them get away with it, they'll only get bolder," I warn. "Fear is a great tool for correction."

"Stop." She chops me on the head gently. "I can handle myself fine, and we don't need you making people wet themselves right now. The old man needs functioning bodies, even if they're dumb ones."

"Yes, ma'am."

"You three let me know when you're heading out, at least. I'm gonna give Shino and Hinata a call later to give them a heads' up, and see what they think of it. Have a feeling they'll agree with you, but always better safe than sorry. We'll see you later, alright? Try to stay out of trouble."

"Mm."

"I'll comfort myself by interpreting that as a yes." She kisses me on the forehead. "Make sure you get enough sleep."

"Yes, nee-san. Bye, Mirai."

"Au."

I watch them go while turning over some things in my mind. There are a few people that I can think of already, but I don't want to make the group too big. We still have to see what the Hokage is going to settle on in terms of personnel.

"I can still make something happen. I just need the right amount of time...and some luck in who the Hokage chooses to send out in the next few weeks."

Well, time to head home. Kurenai is annoying about it, but she's right about my lack of sleep lately. I should fix that...but ignoring the papers on my desk will be difficult. I don't want to leave them too late.

"..."

Just one report before bed tonight. One is fine.