Chapter Text
Standing in-front of the memorial stone stood a silver haired girl who was more busy trying her hair into a low ponytail than actually bothering to pay attention to the name being carved on. No one really bothered to stop the girl as they were far more focused on the stone than some impudent child.
Except her mother, Hatake Itoi, who was glaring daggers towards her.
"Yaeri." She hissed while swatting her daughters hand away from her hair. "I already did your hair into beautiful braids for the occasion. Why did you take them out?"
"They're uncomfortable." Was the girls solemn reply.
Why do people even care how fashionable she looks at a funeral anyway? It's not like the dead are going to revive themselves in sheer fury over her not having the appropriate hairstyle.
Or maybe they would, Yaeri has seen weirder things happen.
Though in this case she doubts her grandmother cares all that much. Old woman sure as hell hated formality and would scream at them all if she was around to see this farce of a funeral.
Everyone knows this wasn't just natural causes even at her old age of...a million years. Realistically a gust of wind should've done her in ages ago but here they are.
Shrugging her shoulders Yaeri finally manages to tie back her hair in peace before turning on her heel to leave.
Her mother didn't try to stop her this time. It was her Sage damned brother.
"Yaeri-Chan, you shouldn't leave like that." The boy chastises while following her. "It's disrespectful to Obaa-Sama."
Not dignifying the statement with a reply Yaeri simply nodded while continuing her pace.
Sakumo smiles gently before tapping her on the shoulder. "It's alright to be upset Imouto. We all know how much Obaa-Sama favoured you."
Had it been anyone other than Sakumo saying that then Yaeri would've thought him bitter because of it. As it stands however, Sakumo really wasn't one to grow envious of others. In fact it always seemed to be the opposite.
"I didn't favour her back." Yaeri commented dryly before tapping the side of her cheek. "Obaa-Chan's kisses were the worst."
Chuckling slightly Sakumo speeds up a little to walk side by side next to her.
Annoying brat, she's really getting sick of him.
Gazing towards the falling sunset Yaeri feels the light burn into her retina before closing the lids of her eyes tightly. A beautiful sight always comes at a cost.
"You wanna know something, Onii-Chan?" Yaeri asked while reopening her eyes as a vibrant blob continued to appear as she looked around. "People like you are destined to die young."
Far too soft hearted, that's just his nature and people like him don't tend to last too long.
Their grandmother was someone who had survived the Warring States. Clearly, he didn't get his weak nature from her. It certainly wasn't their father either, that man wouldn't hesitate to drag a kunai across his children's necks should he need too.
In that case it was their mother that was to blame for his weak will. Poor woman, her good nature would be the death of him.
And Yaeri? Well, thankfully she's her fathers daughter through and through.
"One hundred and one....one hundred and two..." Yaeri murmurs as her elbow touches her knee.
Yuuhi Shinku gazed towards his teammate in barely concealed horror as he watches her do sit ups while hanging off of a tree branch. Crazy girl, at this point she's basically asking to die from exhaustion.
An elbow jammed itself into his ribs as he glares towards his Uchiha teammate. The insolent swine seemed to enjoy being the epitome of everything he despised.
"Hey, come on now man, we get an amazing view of Yaeri-Chan's six pack so cheer up." Eban cooed towards him as Shinku rolls his eyes.
"I have no interest in women." He sneered before immediately regretting it as Eban gained a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"So you like men?" Eban asked as Shinku groaned in dismay. "That's fine, I do too, we can date each other."
"Absolutely not."
He has a fiancé. Who's a girl. A pretty girl at that, one Shinku wouldn't mind marrying. Even if the marriage was arranged for political clout he can't say that it was all that bad a choice.
This is all to say that Eban's assessment of his sexuality is completely wrong.
"Even if I did like men," which he absolutely did not, "I'd have higher standards and wouldn't settle for a heathen like you."
No one else should either. Eban is basically the check list of what you don't want in a partner.
Seemingly done with that insane workout of hers the Hatake of the group jumped down while landing on her feet like a cat despite falling twenty feet from the tree branch.
Giving the two a blank look the girl scanned them over before blinking owlishly in what seemed to be thinly vailed interest.
"What you guys talking about?" Yaeri asks nonchalantly while stuffing her hands into her jackets pockets.
"Shinku likes men but won't admit it." Eban immediately declares as he physically refrains from throttling the other boy.
"That's not true and you know it."
The Uchiha cackled before blowing him a kiss.
"Oh, men." Yaeri tilts her head towards the side. "Woman are better in my opinion but men are fine as well, I'd still date one. Go out with whoever you like Shinku-San, this is a judgement free zone."
"I. Don't. Like. Men." He emphasis to get his point across to absolutely no avail. It was like taking to a wall.
Both of his teammates share a look before Eban gives him a solemn look.
"He's so deep in denial that he can't even see it." The Uchiha announces with mock pity.
It's official, he absolutely despises his teammates. Especially Eban, that goddamn bastard.
Praying to the Sage for the ground to just eat him whole Shinku let's go of the last of his self control and screams in pure fury. With teammates like these two who needs heart attacks when they are so willing to shorten his life span?
Sakumo wrapped his palm around the handle of the teapot with as much grace as their mother would use when entertaining a guest of their fathers. Honestly, he should be an etiquette teacher instead of Shinobi, it'd suit him a lot more.
Bringing the cup to her lips Yaeri smelled the tea once before lowering it back onto the table.
"Really, Onii-Chan? Poison?" She didn't expect it from him of all people. Still, he was a Ninja at the end of the day and these things were to be expected no matter how innocent he may seem.
He looked down towards his own cup, seemingly ashamed of his actions. Or of being caught.
"Father insisted I do so." Sakumo informed her with a sullen expression. "Poison resistance training."
Of course, there's no way anyone but their father could drag Sakumo into this situation. Honestly, she shouldn't be surprised.
"Then I suppose I have no choice but to drink." Raising her cup towards the boy they both allow them to clink together before taking in the liquid.
The substance burned the inside of her throat, not subtle in the slightest as it began to take effect. It wouldn't be her first choice in assassinations, that's for sure.
At least the overall taste was good, even if it absolutely burned her insides. Credit where credit is due Sakumo can make even the worst brew a delectable drink if he puts his mind to it.
Brushing through the strands of her hair with a wooden comb Yaeri continued to read her Sensei attempts to untangle the clumps of stubborn hair.
"How do you even get yourself into a situation like this in the first place Yaeri-Chan?" The woman questions as a tight frown mares her face.
Shrugging her shoulder the Hatake flips the page she was reading over.
"Eban-San said that he copied a really cool Fuuton Jutsu that helps untangle bed hair." She then rolls her eyes. "He thought I'd be the perfect candidate."
Sarutobi Biwako snorts before a small smile blooms across the stern woman's features. "Ah, of course Eban-Kun would use your hair even though his is longer."
"Right? I've lost count the amount of times clients have mistaken him as the Kunoichi of the team." Yaeri then tilts her head. "Actually, I feel insulted now, they're basically insinuating that a boy is more feminine than me."
Which is not true at all. Sure, Yaeri is more muscular than the average female but that wasn't all that uncommon among Ninja. If anything, it'd be weird if she wasn't.
It isn't her fault Uchiha men are born with dainty, womanly features. She's seen a statue of Madara once and if Yaeri is being honest he also looks like a girl even if he is on the more masculine side of the Uchiha genetic spectrum.
"Don't feel too insulted by it." Biwako soothes with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "When I first met Hiruzen I thought they were marrying me off to a woman."
Yaeri snorts. "No way."
"Yes way! You should've seen him back then, I thought he was a bit ugly for a girl and asked my Okaa-San why he looked like that. Imagine my surprise when I found out that tomboyish girl was a guy!" Biwako then abruptly cackles when the image replays in her head.
The Hatake tries to imagine it, she really does, but the image of Hiruzen Sarutobi looking like a little girl when he was younger just wasn't within her grasp.
So instead she went back to reading.
"What about him made your husband look so much like a girl?"
"Ah, probably the fact that his elder cousins had stuffed him into a pretty pink Kimono and that he was all dolled up from head to toe in makeup. I heard those kids got into big trouble after."
Humming slightly Yaeri recalls a memory of her own. "I did that to Onii-Chan once. I invited him to a tea party and made him wear our Okaa-San's Kimono before showing Obaa-Chan what I did to him."
The old woman was absolutely beside herself with laughter once she saw it. Yaeri is certain the woman hasn't laughed like that since the Warring States. Itoi had actually screamed before desperately trying to get her son out of the clothes.
Sakumo was just happy he could spend time with his sister and Yaeri was happy that she had new blackmail material.
She never did show her father though, because Sage knew he couldn't accept his children having fun.
Tapping his foot against the floorboards of the rundown building Shinku glares towards the rat that had scurried behind a crate as soon as it heard footsteps coming towards its direction.
Disgusting creature, he'll kill it once Eban's out of sight. Apparently the Uchiha actually thinks the ugly thing is cute which shouldn't be surprising considering Eban also considers himself handsome but still, he would've thought the other boy would at least have more sense then to think this abomination was worthy of such praise.
Though maybe he's giving Eban too much credit, that boy doesn't have the best taste of his dating history is anything to go by.
"Maybe we can get you a Rat Summoning contract." Yaeri contemplates as the Uchiha holds out a block of cheese towards the animal.
Shinku turned his glare towards the Hatake. "Absolutely not, we won't be indulging this obsession of his, Yaeri-San." He immediately rebuked, not allowing the idea to implement.
If he had to deal with a rat popping in and out of existence every five minutes then he'll go insane.
"Well I, for one, think that's a great idea." Eban declares resolutely. "Rats are majestic creatures and having them around me at all times sounds like paradise."
Really, Eban was such a strange person. No one but him would think this way about a rat. Or at least, Shinku hopes there's no one else who does, one rat obsessed human was enough for the world.
"I'll ask my summons if a rat contract is available."
Raising an eyebrow towards the girl, Shinku feels mildly shocked at the revelation. "You have a summons already?" He asked incredulously.
Maybe it shouldn't be surprising. Some Clan's have close ties to certain summons allowing generations to partner with them early on. Not that Shinku would know, his family was barely considered a Shinobi family after only having the bare minimum of four generations of ninja.
Five, if they included his generation.
"Yeah, a panda." Yaeri glanced down towards the sword on her hip. "My sword style was created with my summons in mind so there's that. It isn't complete yet though so don't expect me to use it anytime soon."
Huh, that made sense. Shinku once had the misfortune of seeing Yaeri practice with a sword and it looked unlike any style he's ever seen before.
"When do ya think you'll get it done?" Eban asked as the rat finally began approaching him.
"The sword style? Maybe a decade or two. It's not a style that can be created and mastered in a week or two."
Eban whistled, clearly impressed. "Wow, what is it about this style that's making it take so long to make? I would've thought five years at max."
Cupping the side of her cheek with her palm Yaeri glanced towards the cracked floor. "I'll tell you when I'm done."
"Yaeri-Chan!" He whined as the rat lay in his hands. "That's going to be ages. I might not even be alive to see it!"
"With your incompetent skills I'm sure you'll die well before it's creation as well."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Shinku. I'm really feeling the love."
Rolling his eyes Shinku turned on his heel as he prepared to leave. "Come on, let's just get this damn mission over and done with."
If he has to spend one more second with these two then he may go mad.
Wrapping her arm around the other girls waist Yaeri uses her free hand to wave towards her brother who was in the middle of beating up a poor training dummy. To his credit the boy did stop his assault immediately after spotting her.
"Ah, Imouto." Sakumo greets with a gently expression before turning towards the girl next to her. "It's nice to see you as well Inazuka-Sama."
Grinning wildly the Inazuka heiress gave her brother an approving glance before turning towards Yaeri and kissing her cheek.
"Oh Yaeri, your brothers a right sissy. I know you said he was scrawny looking but that boys a noodle." She declares with a harsh laugh that quickly turns into a snarl when Yaeri dug her nails into the other girls side. "Alright alright, no insulting your precious Onii-Chan, I get it."
She wouldn't be saying that if she saw Sakumo take down three men twice his size in under a minute.
Intaking a small breath that could be interpreted as a sigh the younger Hatake removed the pressure off of the Inazuka's side before giving her brother a tired look.
"How long have you been training for?" She murmurs, eyeing the bruised training dummies with a no small amount of pity.
"Um, about that..."
"Six hours?" At the very least knowing him.
"Yeah."
Well, so much for promising their mother to not train all the time like he so often tends to do. Itoi must be worried sick about him now.
Humming in acknowledgment of his answer Yaeri lays her head on the Inazuka's shoulder before closing her eyes.
"Babe, how long do you normally train for?" She asks the girl who was in the middle of yawn.
"Oh, like an hour or two everyday. Sometimes less if I overwork myself or my pup."
Huh, normal people's training schedules sure do sound mundane in comparison to the Hatake training regime of at least four hours everyday. No exceptions either, birthdays just mean you'll have to try and get it out of the way earlier on in the day so you can celebrate later.
It gets a little tedious after a while.
"Go home, Onii-Chan."
He gives her a long, considering look before sighing. "After you Imouto. Okaa-Chan told me she hasn't seen you in a week."
"That's different." She counters quickly. "Neither me nor Okaa-Chan like each other so what's the point? Besides, it's not as though I'm training myself into an early grave."
Unlike you.
Giving him one last look Yaeri lifts her head off of her girlfriends shoulder before waving him goodbye.
"See you in a month." She declares, carefully ignoring the Inazuka's snort.
"Do you have a mission?" He asks while tilting his head.
Yaeri shakes her head before turning her back to him. "Nah, I just don't want to see your ugly mug until then."
Closing her eyes tightly together Yaeri focuses intently towards the chakra she needed.
"You still practicing, Hatake? It's been a good couple hours since you've started." The panda stated as it bit into the bamboo stick in its hand. "This technique won't come quick anyway, you may as well take a break."
Now the panda was starting to sound like her mother. A disturbing thought considering that they are nothing alike in their natures. Her summon had once shred a fully grown ninja apart with its bare hands.
The worst her mother had done was throw a teapot against the wall when frustrated.
Not bothering to open her eyes Yaeri continues meditating. "That may be the case." She agrees easily. "But that doesn't mean I have to wait so long in between practices. Besides, it's not like I have anything better to do in my spare time."
Scoffing the panda threw her an almost pitying look. "You need a hobby, no offence summoner but you have no life outside of being a baby killer."
"Kunoichi." She corrects absentmindedly.
"Same thing."
Well, Yaeri couldn't argue against that.
Finally opening her eyes the Hatake turned towards the summons with a curious expression. "Alright, any hobby suggestions then? I'm all ears."
The panda grinned towards her. "Cannibalism. Your species is especially interesting to cook."
Ah, she should've known better than to ask her summon. The panda was more vicious than any ninja she's ever encountered.
"One that won't have me arrested."
"Oh, a boring hobby then." Tilting its head towards the side the panda bore a thoughtful look on its face. "How about drawing? You can't go wrong with that."
"I'll think about it."
Which is a polite way of saying that she never will.
Creating another Genjutsu that was quickly dispelled almost as soon as it was casted, Eban let out a small huff in annoyance at his continuous failure to properly capture the Hatake in a Genjutsu.
"How are you so good at releasing them Yaeri?" He whines as the girl reached into her pocket before placing a cigarette into her mouth.
"You suck at Genjutsu, that's how." She responds bluntly as Shinku snorted.
Rolling his eyes the Uchiha feels his stomach churn in disgust at the second hand smoke.
"Aren't you a little young for that stuff?"
"Oh please, do I even need to say it?"
No, she didn't. They all knew the saying well by now. 'Old enough to kill, old enough to do whatever you like.' Which wasn't always true but Yaeri's case no one was going to stop her.
Especially not her family who never really seemed to know where she was or what she was doing.
"Where's your Inazuka girlfriend?" Shinku asks, a little annoyed. "She stole my kunai set."
Eban nods in sympathy. Those things are expensive god damn it.
Shrugging her shoulders Yaeri removed the cigarette from her mouth as she spoke up. "Eh, we broke up, I don't know where that girl is now."
Ah, well, Eban shouldn't really be surprised. The Hatake never could keep a significant other for longer than a month after all.
"What was it this time?"
Last time it had been "stopping the date half way through to start training" which...wow, Yaeri really should be banned from dating other people.
"She didn't like how I kept disappearing every other day. Apparently it was getting 'annoying' whatever that means."
It meant exactly what the word entailed but then again Yaeri never had been one to care about her outward appearance to others. Being kind and considerate just wasn't in her vocabulary.
Actually, if she did start being taking other peoples opinions into consideration Eban will call an exorcist.
Plucking the cigarette out her hand he dropped it onto the ground before stomping it out. "We've got a mission and you know how Sensei hates smoking."
Not reacting to the now stamped out cigarette Yaeri sighs while rubbing the tips of her finger together, still feeling the phantom hold of the object.
"Shinku, can you up beat Eban up for me?" She demands in retaliation for the slight against her.
Cracking his knuckles a grim smile crossed the Yuhi's face at the suggestion. "With pleasure."
"H-hey now Shinku, we can talk this out, right-ow!"
Seeing her teammate get beat into the ground doesn't bring Yaeri any sort of vindictive pleasure, hell, she isn't even mad about the cigarette. She's just so damn tired.
And bored. She's bored of it all.
Saratobi Biwako eyed each one of her students carefully before letting a low, long-suffering sigh that can only mean that she's contemplating their deaths in the most gruesome fashion she can muster.
"Though I could demote you all back into academy students I'd rather not fill out all the paperwork that comes with doing something like that." Snapping her fingers together she re-gains their zoned out attention. "Little brats, do you know what you've done?"
"Fought a team of Iwa nin and won valiantly?" Eban asks sheepishly before a fierce glare was sent his way.
"No." Well, actually yes but that isn't the main focus. "You fought a student of the Tsuchikage who we're aright on bad terms with. Do you really think they won't use this against us?"
"Biwako-Sensei, with alder respect the Ninja have yet to leave the area." Yaeri points out while gestures towards the faint Chakra signatures.
Unconscious and horribly beaten, yes, but not dead nor escaped.
"We can kill them and hide this incident."
Shinku gaped towards her as Eban looked at her as though she suggested world domination.
Biwako, however, looked down right furious.
"That is precisely against the peace our ancestors worked so hard to provide." She snaps, looking disturbed by the idea. "Yaeri, you will undergo a psych-evaluation as soon as we get back to Konoha."
Ah, well, that's what she gets for trying to be helpful.
She shrugs absentmindedly while giving the unconscious Ninja one last look. Lucky bastards, they get to live for another day.
"Don't come complaining to me when Iwa declares a war on us after tensions rise higher because of this."
Even if the ninja did attack them first.
Yaeri likes peace, well, the weird truce that can't really be called peace. Sometimes harsh decisions are going to be needed to maintain it, especially when so many ache for war and madness to take ahold of them all again.
But still, it seems as though this is a decision more obvious to future generations who have insight into the situation then the people of now.
Nothing is as obvious as everyone likes to think it is and people who would've said she was right in her thinking would only say so after the consequences become apparent. Nobody would say she's right at the minute when they can see that their so called 'enemies' are a bunch of brats.
Oh well, hindsight will always leave people wondering about what ifs. Yaeri just thinks further than others, it's not her fault they can't see the bigger picture.
"There won't be a war." Biwako states firmly, her confidence unwavering as though she spoke nothing but the truth.
Whatever helps her sleep at night.
Kicking her feet onto the desk Yaeri yawns into her hand. Being benched is the worst. Luckily, her father sees this as a great insult to his character and is doing his best to throw her back onto the field as soon as possible.
A soft knock sounds from behind the door to her temporary Yamanaka provided psyche room.
"Come in." She commands before pausing. "But if you're that Yamanaka bastard that's issuing my psyche results beware that I'm armed and ready to kill you."
The door clicked open to reveal...not a Yamanaka, that's for certain. Yaeri vaguely recognises this man.
"Shimura-Sama." The Hatake greets with a nod, not bothering to get up from her seat. "What can I do for you?"
"Yaeri-San." He spoke up with a blank expression that could even rival her fathers.
Danzo didn't look all that annoyed at her blatant disregard for greetings and instead placed a piece of paper onto the table.
Picking it up Yaeri read the contents with mild interest before blinking.
"A permission form to join...Root?" She let the name sink into her brain before shaking her head. "What a creative name."
Konoha. Trees. Roots. Everything in this village is plant based. This is why everyone calls them tree huggers, nobody enjoys nature puns like a Konoha citizen.
"You'll be one of the first members to join the organisation." Danzo explains solemnly. "I read your psyche report and don't disagree with the assessment you put forth. Sometimes, harsh decisions need to be made that others simply aren't willing to do."
True but still, if Danzo's agreeing with her then maybe Yaeri had the wrong idea. That man isn't always the brightest.
Still, he's young and (not really) optimistic. He probably isn't as insane as he could be just yet. Certainly not enough to order an entire Clans death, that's for sure.
"What does this organisation even do?"
"It'll focus on maintaining the peace." The Shimura explains while focusing his gaze right above her head. "We will go through with the harsh decisions even Anbu won't touch because no matter what, they don't set aside their emotions for the mission even when they should."
Yaeri closes her eyes in thought. "Are you asking me to forgo my emotions to join your group? As a Kunoichi I do that regardless so there's really no point to this."
Root isn't a good idea, that much she can evaluate with this conversation. Having a bunch of nut jobs who don't care for others all under one roof is a recipe for disaster.
"Not completely." Oh? "For example I'll give you a mission. Go see to it and report the results to me. You'll see the value of this group soon."
Ah, ok, yeah, Yaeri is now intrigued.
Leaning forward the girl stares at Shimura with mild interest present in her eyes.
"What's the mission?"
The look he gave her could only be described as cold. "You along with your team will enter Tobirama-Sensei's new tests, the Chunin exams. Other nations will join and so will the Takikage's grandson."
"He's the target?" Yaeri tilts her head in thought. "Alright, I accept so long as the rewards match the mission."
"Rest assured, you will be compensated accordingly for the mission. I will personally ensure it."
Even if this does turn out to be some treasonous ploy to force her out of the village or cause a war it doesn't matter. Yaeri really doesn't care. This mission seems fun so she'll accept and there's nothing else to it.
Shimura can dance and dance around his little mind games all he likes, she isn't going to stop him. That being said if this really is something against her then...
She'll kill him.
"I can't believe they let you out of there so quickly." Eban states, his eyes shining brightly as a sharingan spins around in them. "And they let you enter the Chunin exams. That's such obvious favouritism it's unfair."
Yes well, nepotism does make the world go around. The Uchiha will learn soon, as is necessary for someone of his heritage.
"It's long overdue in any case. We should've been field promoted by now considering we've been Genin for three years already but the international Chunin exams was highly anticipated upon so it had been delayed." Shinku murmured as Eban zoned out halfway through his ramblings. "Sixteen year old Genin sounds a bit..."
Since the graduation age is fourteen with little to no exceptions even if the student was a prodigy. Being at this rank for two years isn't too bad. In fact, it's almost to be expected for the experience since Chunin are to lead missions.
Still, she can understand the frustration, had it been the Warring States each one of them would be on solo missions right about now.
"Shinku-San, how are the targets?"
"Already in my Genjutsu, they won't be able dispel it for quite a while after the beating you gave them."
Humming lightly, Yaeri hands both scrolls to her teammates.
"You both go on ahead, I have something that I want to do. I'll meet you at the tower in a couple hours."
Eban gives her a dubious look before sighing. "Well, I can't stop you. Just don't cause an international incident, 'kay?"
"I'll try."
Not all that hard but she will. It's the least she can do after taking the last of his water. Not that he knows that yet but hey, at least Yaeri is trying.
"Oh yeah, Shinku," the boy turned towards her with an annoyed expression, "make sure Eban doesn't die. Knowing him he'll probably run into a bear trap and get eaten by a rival team who's running low on food."
"Hey!" The Uchiha squawked indignantly. "I would not."
"I'll try my best but no promises. Keeping him alive with your help is hard enough but now the endeavour may be impossible." Shinku sighs in mock sadness.
"There's no way I'd die so easily! I'm strong I tell ya! Strong!"
"Maybe you could rival my pinky but you aren't any sort of challenge Eban, I'm sorry to break it to you."
Hissing curses under his breath Eban flipped them both off before storming away.
Shinku rolled his eyes before giving her one last look. "Stay safe, Yaeri."
"You too, Shinku."
There was a pause before both Ninja disappeared into the trees.
Crossing her legs Yaeri waits patiently as her summons assesses the situation at hand. Obviously, the Takikage's grandchild wouldn't come unprotected and with this being the first international Chunin exams casualties are to be expected, especially with such high tensions.
In other words, this is an exercise to release everyone's anger which is why anyone can kill anyone else so long as it is in the Forest of Death. This is a war simulation and they all know it.
"Have you found the Chakra signatures?" Yaeri asks her summon who grumbles an affirmative.
The panda opened its pure black eyes before snarling towards her. "Child, that target of yours is..."
"Stronger than me? That's fine, I can still overpower them if you help me." Yaeri is confident that a Genin wouldn't be able to beat a summon like the panda's without a summon of their own.
Which may be the case so she must remain weary.
Shaking its head the panda continued to wear a grave expression on its face. "That boy has a Kekkei Genkai. One that allows the user to meddle with a persons mind if what I'm sensing is true."
"Like a Yamanaka?"
It'd be bad either way. Anyone that can manipulate someone's mind is to always to be treat as the second most dangerous person there. The first being a medic who just doesn't know how to stay down.
"Almost, but I think it's more than that. It seems as though the boy doesn't separate his own mind but rather his comrades."
That's...
"Damn it." Yaeri tilts her head back as it thuds off of the tree. "I need a smoke."
"You're a child, you shouldn't be smoking anything."
Even a goddamn animal is judging her. How the mighty have fallen.
"Like that stopped...Hiruzen, was it? I heard his Tou-San gave him his first cigarette at like six because he wouldn't stop crying after his Kaa-San died."
There's a reason Sarutobi Sasuke isn't remembered for his stellar parenting. Neither will Hiruzen once he finally decides to have a brat of his own but that's a story for another time.
Konoha has so many responsible parents, it's just that Ninja don't make up that population often. Her father, for example, once threw Sakumo at an assassin to see how well he'd do against an enemy-nin.
Not in the, sit back and see what happens type of way, no, he literally threw his firstborn at the assassin and said have at it. How her brother survived that one was mystery.
Though Yaeri can't really say much since not a week after the same thing happened to her. What a memorable way to have a first kill.
"You're all crazy." The panda decides with a grin. "But that's fine, more insane people just gives me extra interesting opponents."
Taking in a deep breath Yaeri readies herself before getting up from the cold, wet ground. Enough dawdling, she has a Ninja to kill.
Hovering in the treetops the Hatake spots her target sitting in between two girls who seemed to be there more because they were pretty than any actual skill. But as the saying goes, never judge a book by its cover.
The bodyguards seemed to be another team with two muscular men and a woman with battle scars riddled across her face.
Damn, those can't be Genin. There's absolutely no way.
Eyeing her summon they both nod towards each other before the panda jumps down onto one the men, crushing him instantly.
While their attention was diverted Yaeri jumped for the target who was staring agape at his fallen solider.
Just before she could reach him one of the women by his side grabbed her arm and threw her into a tree.
Oh, so they could fight. Not surprising but certainly more troubling for her.
Blocking an attack from one the girls she dodges another strike from behind as the other girl leaps for her while she was distracted. Jumping up into the air Yaeri quickly kicks them both before leaping back for the target who seemed to be in the middle of using his Kekkei Genkai.
Yaeri used a kunai to stab through his heart as a garbled gasp sound out from between his lips before falling back into the tree.
Turning around she quickly stabbed into the hand that was reaching for her before using her free hand to slit the girls throat. Leaving the kunai in the girls hand she focused on her remaining kunai before leaping at the final Kunoichi who froze upon seeing her teammates dead bodies.
This final death was the easiest, no struggle until it was far too late.
Looking over to her summon Yaeri immediately notices the body of one the Ninja in its mouth. It seems like the panda was done.
"Are you enjoying your meal?" She asks nonchalantly while trying to remove her second kunai from the girls hand.
Not really expecting a reply Yaeri finally managed to remove the weapon.
Suddenly, a large fist cracked into her back as all the air from her lung's completely left her. Smacking straight into the tree in front of her she groans before quickly dodging another attack.
Her once panda summoning dug out its fist from the ground she sat on before turning to her with a snarl pressed across its features.
Only...
That was most definitely not her summons now.
Quickly manoeuvring through hand signs Yaeri dodges another fist by the skin of her teeth before finally completing the hand signs. Not a second later the panda was gone in a poof of smoke as she reverse summoned it back to its domain.
Wiping the blood that dripped from the corner of her mouth Yaeri looked over to the Kunoichi whose throat she slit before gazing back to the original target. It seems like neither died immediately which gave the boy enough time to transfer the girls mind into her panda.
Hopefully, her other summons can remove the girls mind from the panda. It'd be troublesome to look for another main summon that was as bloodthirsty as that one.
Either way it doesn't matter now, that final move was just a desperate wish of a dying boy to take down his murders. How sad, his wish hadn't been fulfilled.
"Well," she murmured while kicking the boys corpse, "it's seems like I've got a bit of a problem now."
What's the best way to frame another nation for this death? It seems like Yaeri is going to find out the answer to that very soon.
"I don't know why he had to die, no offence Shimura-Sama." The Hatake finally says after giving him her report. "It's not that I feel guilty about it but rather that I don't see the point. Death is all well and good however killing high profile individuals just because we can is incredibly foolish."
Danzo didn't move from his desk as he continued to scribble something onto what she assumed is paperwork.
"That boy, what did you learn about him?"
"I'm not answering your riddles, Shimura-Sama." She didn't accept that mission just to be given questions. "Please answer me."
Pausing half way through his writing Danzo suddenly looked up towards her. "He could transfer his allies minds into enemies, correct?"
"Well yes but I don't see how that has anything to do with his death."
If they killed everyone with a slightly powerful Kekkei Genkai then they'd be back in the Warring States. Surely, Danzo must know this.
"He is limited by his Chakra reserves, like so many others with Kekkei Genkai's." He continues, seemingly determined to ignore her. "That boy was to be the Nanabi's Jinchuriki. What do you think would happen then?"
Ah, well, someone with that power gaining a seemingly infinite amount of Chakra was troubling. Even so they gave a literal Uzumaki the Kyubi so she doesn't see how this is as troubling as that.
"The only other candidate was a civilian child. The Nanabi apparently insisted that it couldn't be anyone other than those two."
Oh, that actually made more sense then.
In a village were many people are bound to have Kekkei Genkai there is a high possibility that they could've just gave it to someone else with a Kekkei Genkai but if it's the Nanabi whose notorious for getting along with their Jinchuriki then...
They'd obviously comply with the beasts request if only so they could utilise their full strength.
"Are you going to kill the civilian too?" If he did then the Nanabi may not comply with their Jinchuriki after that.
"We'll see." He replied, expertly ignoring her question.
Now if that isn't a polite way of saying 'mind your own business' then she doesn't know what is.
"Your Root still isn't all that different from your Sensei's Anbu." Yaeri just can't see the point behind this. Anyone else could've done the job with as little hesitation if they were from that group.
Realistically, Root is just an extension from Anbu that holds no other purpose then repressing emotions more than the other group.
"Of course they'd be similar." Danzo confirms with a nod. "But that's not all. Do you truly believe everyone in this village would lay down their lives for it?"
"Certainly not everyone but I assume many would considering the peace we've got is highly favoured above war." Her father wouldn't but Sakumo definitely would.
As always, father and son are both polar opposites.
"Yes, but it won't stay that way unless we maintain it." He slides a paper across the table as Yaeri picks it up to read. "That boy wanted war. A Jinchuriki, a being with unrivalled power, wanted war. If people like that are left to live then we can't, in good conscience, say that we have gave it our all to maintain peace."
And...well, she sees his point. That boys death may have just prevented many more.
Sliding the paper back onto the table Yaeri gives Danzo an analysing look. "So can you do it, Shimura-Sama? Can you always be able to tell who should and shouldn't die just because of speculation?"
His lips purse together forming a thin line. "No. No I cannot. But tell me this Yaeri-San, if I don't do it then who will? I won't wait for the death of our own just because of something like speculation."
Because in the end no one will listen until it's too late. It is why there must be someone to make the hard decisions no one else wants to do.
Letting out a small scoff Yaeri shakes her head. "Honestly, Shimura-Sama? I agree with what you say but I can't put my faith in your leadership. The path you walk on is a dark one and I still posses far too much humanity to follow it."
Root is an organisation destined to bite off more than they can chew. Danzo can delude himself into believing that it won't happen but someone playing judge, jury and executioner holds too much power that will eventually go to their heads and cause his inevitable downfall.
So yes, Anbu won't always go after speculation because they know that it's not right. It'll lead to an eventual revolt, no matter how much loyalty they hold. Peace is only peace when innocents aren't dying after all.
But ninja specifically designed for this wouldn't hold such reservations. Killing a couple people to maintain peace is just a fact of life.
"Then we are in disagreement." Danzo doesn't look displeased but he certainly doesn't seem happy about it either. "My invitation will always be open."
"And my help will sometimes be in service to you." She closes her eyes. "Truly, I do think your words hold merit but I won't fully commit to this idea. A couple missions that you wouldn't trust to others is fine to ask of me."
"I'll keep that in mind." Before she could turn to leave the Shimura spoke up one last time. "And Yaeri-San?"
"Yes, Shimura-Sama?"
"Congratulations on your promotion."
Her green vest suddenly felt much heavier than before as she gave him a nod of gratitude. "Thank you, Shimura-Sama."
And with that the door shut close with a soft click.
"Did you hear? Uchiha Madara returned to Konoha last night! Apparently the Shodai Hokage is facing him as we speak!"
"Bah! That darn Uchiha! Our Hokage will show him whose boss!"
"Aye, who do ya think you are?! Madara-Sama may be a traitor but as a Uchiha he's far more capable than that Senju!"
"Lies! Hashirama-Sama will certainly triumph against that traitor! And who do think you are anyway to be siding with that man? I bet you're conspiring with him!"
"Why you little--"
Yaeri blinked at the random Senju and Uchiha who had begun fighting in the middle of the bar. Well, it seems like no matter the era both Clan's have no reservations when it comes to beating each other bloody.
Looking over towards the bartender she passed him some cash. "For the damages." Yaeri explains as the man nods.
Because Sage knew neither Senju nor Uchiha will be conscious enough to pay for the damages once all is said and done. From the kindness of her heart she'll take over on the responsibility before blackmailing the money back out of the two.
"It's old news." The man stated while cleaning the glass in his hand. "The battle between the two has already come to a conclusion."
Her eyes sharpen. "Oh?"
"Yes, and it seems as though Uchiha Madara has fallen." He declares with a firm expression.
Ah, that absolute certainty. Yaeri wonders what face he'd make if he knew the truth. The truth being that Madara wasn't dead.
That he was coming for all of their heads, a fact that wouldn't change no matter how much time passes.
That in the end, they'll all be too weak to stop him if it wasn't for the whims of a Goddesses son. And whether that son was the Sage or Zetsu...well, who's to truly say?