Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Reading Totems ❯ Chapter 5 ( Chapter 5 )

Author's Notes: Shino entrance countdown: Shino will appear in 3 more chapters!

The promised cookie!

 

Title: Reading Totems

By: GrizzlyTeddyBear

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, and this makes me sad. I do own Paige Stone, my OC! All information regarding totem animals was taken from Dancing the Wheel by Sun Bear and Animal Speak by Ted Andrews.

Main Pairings: Eventual ShinoxOC, NaruxHina, SasuxSaku

Rating: M for mentioned adult themes

Warning: AU, Post-series start time. Rookie 9 is 23-24 years old. Fic mentions pagan religions, if you can't handle it, don't read! Also is OC-centric. Hold your pants, all will be revealed as the story progresses. And yes, Shino does appear, but not for a few chapters.

 

Chapter Summary: Meeting the Hokage and totem readings for the sannin.

 

***Chapter 5***

 

The next day Kakashi halted the group with the declaration to Paige, “We're about a mile away from the gates of Konoha. I'm gonna let you down now so you can stretch with Sakura and walk under your own power.”

 

Paige smiled at the thoughtfulness of it. She wouldn't be forced to perform strange positions in front of strange people. Even though Sakura was a medic and probably didn't mind, Paige definitely did. She was of the opinion you shouldn't scare the locals more than is necessary. “I appreciate it, but let me have one last bit of fun before you let me down.”

 

Kakashi turned his head to try and look at her with that darned raised eyebrow of his.

 

“Don't look at me like that. Just keep hold of my legs.” And with that, Paige let go with her arms and slowly bent over backwards. She was now dangling upside down from Kakashi's back while he held on to her legs. Paige giggled madly now.

 

“How old are you?” Kakashi joked.

 

“Twenty-four going on seven. A very good age,” was her reply. “Ok, now slowly let my legs slide from your grip.”

 

Kakashi obliged her again.

 

Paige was now standing on her hands, but quickly lost her balance with a groan as her muscle cramps made themselves known from staying in that piggyback ride position for way too long and for too many days in a row. She grinned and giggled again. “Ok, fun time over. Sakura, stretch me!”

 

After the stretches and the now required lesbian comments from Naruto, the group set out again, but this time with feet on the ground. Paige was a little surprised to see a pack on Kakashi's back now. It appeared Naruto and Sasuke were repacking while she was being stretched back into shape.

 

“Should I carry something, too?” she asked.

 

“Nope!” was Naruto's reply. “Just enjoy looking around the village when we get there.”

 

Paige got to enjoying the scenery right away. After a short while, she could tell the trees were parting up ahead. Slowly a wall came into view with a large gate on it. To either side of the gate were towers, presumably for guards. Their pace slowed as they approached the gate. Sakura, Sasuke, and Naruto hung back with Paige while Kakashi went a few feet ahead to speak with the guard. Not being able to hear exactly what was going on, Paige attempted to see if she could sense something of the conversation. Curiosity. Placation. “Is everything OK?” she asked. She was a little nervous about the glances and feelings the ninja on guard duty was giving her. It must look a little odd to wear Sakura's clothes when she wasn't a ninja. The thought of being around a lot of people she wasn't sure how would react to her abilities also worried her. Why did she think it was a good idea to play a prank on the Hokage again?

 

“Nothing Kakashi can't handle. The guard can tell you're civilian since you don't have a lot of chakra—no threat there.” Naruto grinned. The group started forward again at an unseen signal from Kakashi and the guard. When they passed through the gates, they let Paige stop and take a look around at Konoha. Naruto broke the silence first, “Welcome to our home. Let's go find Ba-chan!” Strangely it was Naruto who now took the lead of the group. Paige looked at Kakashi questioningly, but it was Sasuke who answered.

 

“The Hokage and Naruto have an interesting relationship. He can get away with calling her Ba-chan when no one else would dare.”

 

“What does Ba-chan mean?”

 

“Old Lady.”

 

“Oh. Is she old?” Paige ventured.

 

“Yes, but goes through great lengths to conceal it.” Sasuke was silent after that. It looked like sharing time was over. Paige contented herself to taking in her surroundings. It was an odd mixture of old and new, but she decided she could get used to it.

 

The group walked in companionable silence towards what Paige was notified was called Hokage Tower. It was aptly named since that was where the Hokage conducted her business for the village. When they reached their destination Kakashi took the lead of the group once more to negotiate getting Paige past closed doors. He knocked and, after a short while, the door opened to reveal a man.

 

“Kakashi, you're back early. I heard your mission was two-weeks long. It's been only one.” This statement was said with surprise.

 

Kakashi shrugged at the statements.

 

Paige almost fell over with the force of the orange blur barreling past her. “Iruka-sensei!” The now named Iruka-sensei blinked as he realized he had a Naruto attached to him.

 

Paige made a mental note about the use of `sensei.' She recognized the Japanese honorific for teachers. While she didn't know much of the language, she used to have some otaku who were into anime and used the honorifics in class. She then groaned. Use of family names first, Ba-chan. How stupid of her to not notice before! She just hoped what she could piece together from brief conversations a few years ago wouldn't come out wrong if she had to get fancy and use the honorifics herself.

 

“Good to see you too, Naruto!” Iruka laughed. Eventually Naruto detached himself. “I see you have someone new with you too.”

 

“Iruka-sensei, meet Paige Stone. Paige Stone, meet Iruka-sensei,” Naruto winked at her. It looked like their prank wasn't going to be blown yet. “She has a meeting with the Hokage. She ran into us on the mission and would like to stay in Konoha now.”

 

“Pleased to meet you Iruka-san.” Paige added a small nod of the head to test the reaction to her formality and file the information for later. She might have to play politics. She hated it, but she was pretty good at it. The basic idea was test things out in safe environments with safe people and keep the information until later. Paige noticed Kakashi noticing the change in attitude. He was smart; he probably knew what she was doing.

 

Iruka laughed nervously, “Just call me Iruka.” He turned to Naruto, “I was just heading out from giving the Hokage some reports on the academy students. I'll see you around for ramen sometime, Naruto. Have a good day Paige-san.”

 

“Please call me Paige. If I don't get to be formal, neither do you,” she smiled. He seemed like a nice man. Dolphins. That totem was a good sign for Iruka too. Naruto trusted him, she trusted Naruto, she was pretty sure she could stretch logic and trust Iruka.

 

Iruka nodded his assent then waved as he vacated the door and walked away. “He knows about the fox demon. Iruka-sensei is good to trust if you can't find one of us.” Naruto stated as they walked through the door.

 

“Thanks for the information.” Paige smiled at Naruto. She went back to looking around as they wound down hallways, through doorways, around corners, and up stairways. “Dolphins,” she stated as they were walking down a hallway that didn't have anyone else occupying it. “Iruka has dolphins as his totem. Playfully spirited, they teach enjoyment of life in the moment. They can be altruistic and self sacrificing too. They're aligned with sound, breath, and water, powerful forces that give life and vitality.”

 

Naruto nodded at the new information Paige volunteered. “His name means `sea dolphin' so it's not too much of a surprise. And you're right, he is altruistic. He saved me once from someone who didn't understand me. People want to destroy what they don't understand. He gave me new life that night,” Paige turned her head; she and Naruto shared a look. She recognized what he was alluding to. Naruto knew the pain of being an outcast because of his fox spirit.

 

The group came to a halt in front of yet another set of closed doors, but this time, no one knocked just yet. “Stay out here until we get you to come in. We have to debrief and not everything is something to be said in front of civilians,” Kakashi stated. Paige nodded and made her way to a set of chairs to make the wait a little more comfortable. His eye creased, and Paige thought she could make out the outline of a smile under his mask. “Show time!”

 

Naruto then burst through the doors without knocking, but with a loud shout of “Ba-chan! We're home!” The rest of Team Kakashi gave a collective sigh and followed Naruto.

 

The doors shut before Paige could hear the reply. It was a little surprising, but she reasoned sound-proofing the Hokage's office was probably a security thing. She sighed, not knowing how long she had to wait. She recognized the clothing of the people walking past her. They wore similar outfits to Team Kakashi. More ninjas. The Hokage was the leader of a village full of ninjas. She was probably a ninja. Paige felt a little nervous again. She decided on doing more light meditation to pass the time and calm her nerves. Nervousness could be misread as weakness. Paige knew she could not look weak in front of the Hokage if she wanted to have a good outcome to the meeting.

 

She guessed about a half an hour passed before she felt a light tap on her shoulder. She opened her eyes to see Sakura smiling at her. “The stage is set. I'm bringing you in to discuss the medical end of things.”

 

Paige nodded. “Just let things happen. I'll see what I can sense, and wait for the right opportunity to spring everything.”

 

“She'll ask you how you can contribute to the village. That will probably be the best opportunity. You're abilities are amazing and could really benefit in a variety of ways. Let's get this over with though.”

 

Paige nodded again, stood up from her seat, and followed Sakura through those sound-proof doors. She was greet by a visibly reassuring smile from Naruto, a soft smirk from Sasuke, and what appeared to be a sympathetic eye from Kakashi. Paige turned towards the other occupants in the room. There were actually two of them.

 

She had a hard time believing that the Hokage sitting behind the desk in front of her was old like Sasuke had told her. `Great lengths to conceal her age indeed,' Paige thought to herself. She looked like she was in her thirties! Her blonde hair was held back from her face in two pig-tails. The other occupant definitely was more comfortable with his age. The older gentleman standing off in the corner to the right of the Hokage had white unruly hair pulled into a single pony-tail and had some odd red markings near his eyes.

 

Paige bowed as Sakura made the formal introductions. “Tsunade-shishou, Jiraiya-sama, please meet Paige Stone. Paige Stone please meet our Fifth Hokage, Tsunade-sama. And this is one of the legendary Sannin, Jiraiya.”

 

Paige continued to bow as she did some quick thinking. Sannin was probably a ninja rank, and well the word `legendary' spoke for itself. The suffix `-sama' was required for everyone it looked like. “It is an honor, Hokage-sama, Jiraiya-sama. I thank you for this opportunity.” She straightened when Sakura took the conversation over again, listing her injuries and treatment. She listened with half an ear, while she took in her surroundings, including the people.

 

Paige reached inside of her mind to poke at that box again. Maybe the offering and meditation helped some, although she couldn't really help reading Iruka before. She still had work to do to figure out her new limits. Opening the box a fraction, she closed her eyes, and then reopened her eyes after a moment. Refocusing on what was occurring around her, she met the gaze of Jiraiya. He was gazing at her critically. Did he know? Attraction. Appreciation. Lust. Paige suppressed a shudder. Nope, just being an old lecher. It was sort of good. It meant their surprise was still intact. She inwardly grinned; maybe she could get the old man to back off as part of the surprise? She then mentally smacked herself again. The Ero-sennin Naruto mentioned was Jiraiya. This presented the question, to use, or not to use the nickname. Paige decided to stop over thinking and just let things happen, like she tried to tell Sakura before.

 

The Hokage addressed her, “You've been through a lot. And the entire team speaks highly of you for some reason. Kakashi has declared you `interesting.' What benefit can you, as a civilian, be to the village if you stay?”

 

Paige wanted to use build-up. She bowed again before speaking, “Many, Hokage-sama. One of which is my formal training as a therapist with a specialty with inpatient psychiatric patients and schizophrenia.” Paige rose from her bow with a half exasperated expression on her face. She was having hard time containing her anticipation. “But before I continue, could you tell the Frog Lecher in the corner to stop lusting after me? It's distracting. His emotions are rather loud.” She heard snickers and a giggle behind her. The Hokage raised an eyebrow at Paige. Paige pressed on with the surprise, “Although your frogs seem a little dry. You're affiliated with the wind, so your frogs could also be toads.” Letting her eyes go unfocused she relaxed and opened the box in her mind again. “Toads, definitely toads.” Paige then turned to face a grinning Naruto with a grin of her own. “Toads and wind are with you too, Naruto. Did you acquire them from the Lecher?”

 

Naruto nodded, “Yeah, Ero-sennin taught me wind jutsu and gave me his toads to summon.”

 

Paige nodded back and turned back to face the Hokage and Jiraiya, both of whom now sported the raised eyebrow. Jiraiya looked vaguely impressed, and vaguely insulted. With her eyes still unfocused, she grinned now and continued reading his totems. “Toads are actually surprisingly sexual creatures—most notable of this is their vocalizations for calling mates to them. You continue to chase and woo the ladies, don't you?” She waved at him. “No, don't answer; I don't want the mental image.” She began again, “Toads are also related to frogs. Frogs living in the water represent the need for an ever changing environment. You're a bit of a wanderer, liking new places, and probably the new women that go with them. But you're also affiliated with air, symbol of constant creativity and surprise. You have…interesting…hobbies.”

 

Naruto couldn't hold in his laughter anymore. “And his hobbies have to do with sex too. He rights those orange books Kakashi loves so much.”

 

Paige rolled her eyes, “Figures. Is anything you do unrelated to sex?” Paige couldn't resist joking with Naruto more, “So, does Hinata know anything else Jiraiya-sama taught you?”

 

Naruto blushed at this.

 

The Hokage seemed to recover at this last question. “I see you've made friends with Naruto.” She then turned her gaze towards Naruto, “Kid, did you give her this information?”

 

Naruto grinned, “Nope, and she knows about the nine-tailed fox too.”

 

Tsunade regarded Paige with curiosity, “How? What else do you know?”

 

Paige opted to answer the second question first. “Earthworms are your totem. Symbol of physical health, regeneration, and rejuvenation. For rejuvenation…You've had a great pain in your past that you were able to overcome. It felt as though a part of you were missing, until you moved on. With physical health, I'm guessing you're a medic like Sakura. You're powerful, like the earthworm you can recreate the whole from only a fraction.” Paige saw another totem come to her. “Waboose walks with you. The White Buffalo of physical healing, leadership, wisdom, and rebirth.” Paige turned to Sakura. “She gave you Waboose, her knowledge in healing…-shishou is another title for teacher?”

 

Sakura nodded. “She summons slugs.”

 

Paige refocused her gaze on the Hokage. “They're sort of close to earthworms, I guess.”

 

Tsunade gazed at Paige for several tense moments. “How?” She repeated.

 

“I am empathic. I can feel other people's emotions. I can also read totem animals—animal spirits.” Paige decided a bow was in order. She was beginning to feel intimidated again.

 

Tsunade sighed, “Get up, and start the debriefing from the beginning, with no blanks this time.”

 

So Paige, with Team Kakashi told the Hokage every detail of how they met, including her vision of how she got to Fire Country. Silence at the end was deafening to Paige. She could only sense a great deal of concentration from the Hokage, so that didn't provide her with any insight.

 

Sasuke stepped forward.

 

“You have something to share, Uchiha Sasuke?” questioned Tsunade.

 

“I have observed her abilities with my Sharingan on several occasions. They are completely natural, using no jutsu, kekkei genkai, or other ninja technique. She has also been accurate in all of her readings that I have witnessed. She named totem animals for the entire team, each accurately representing the member. She has had no prior knowledge of you other than your names.”

 

Sakura stepped forward next, “She has civilian levels of chakra. We witnessed her communicating with some of the spirits she chooses to honor and if anything, she exchanges chakra with them instead of just giving hers up—no discernable change in levels.”

 

It appeared it was Kakashi's turn now, “She was speaking truthfully when she told us of where she was from. It's not on any map. She says she was lead here by a vision of her own totem animal, and she was also not lying when she explained this. Sasuke observed all of this with his Sharingan.”

 

Naruto grinned while stepping forward, “Come on Ba-chan. She followed us home! Can we keep her? She has no where else to go!”

 

Tsunade listened in silence as she presumably processed all of this information. Some of the information a little more believable than others, but those parts were delivered by Sasuke and Kakashi. Paige felt they were trying to present her in the best way possible. Tsunade sighed and rubbed her fingers over the bridge of her nose, “I need a drink, badly. Good thing Shizune is working at the hospital right now. And you, Paige Stone, will have to face the council; they get input on civilian matters. You're a walking security risk and a liability.”

 

“I know.” Paige figured there was no use in denying the obvious. “I don't suppose reassurances of a personal code of ethics and my tendencies towards over-protectiveness count for much.”

 

“A little, but all of Team Kakashi vouching for you counts more. The council must also be informed of possible security risks. If your abilities check out with them, I think you could be valuable, but we have procedures.”

 

Paige nodded, and then thought of something. “I have a question and a few requests if I may?”

 

It was Tsunade's turn to nod at her to continue.

 

“I'd like a physical. Preferably by Sakura if possible. I trust her, and well, it'd give you some proof of my lack of physical abilities. I was also being treated for some conditions before I came here, I'd like to continue those treatments. And glasses—need my glasses.”

 

“That can be arranged. It goes with our quarantine procedures. Sakura can walk you to the hospital after we're done here. And the other things?”

 

“Some general information on the council would be nice. And how long could you put off such a meeting?” Paige gambled with sharing this part, but figured honesty was usually a good policy. “Since coming here, my abilities have changed. I'm not quite in control of who I read and when. I need to meditate and practice to test my new limits.”

 

“Honesty is appreciated.” Tsunade glanced at Naruto, considering her next statement. “I can give you no more than a week to prepare. Anything longer would be suspicious on my end. And the council is made up of the village elders as well as the heads of clans of the village and the jounin. It'll be a tough crowd, but that's all the information I'm giving you.”

 

“What information will they be given on me?” Paige wanted to know if she was going to be at a disadvantage or advantage. Information was crucial.

 

“The basic statistics from your physical. No confidential information will be revealed though. Also the names of your abilities as you described them to me. I think giving them anything more would put you at a disadvantage. I want a level playing field.” Tsunade was writing this information down as she finished addressing Paige.

 

“You're…interesting,” Jiraiya told Paige. This time his look was more assessment and less undressing-you-with-my-eyes. “You keep a cool head, and gather information well.”

 

Paige shrugged, “It comes from working with actively psychotic schizophrenics.” Turning to Sakura, since Tsunade was busy, she asked, “You have them here?”

 

“They're kept in a locked unit in the hospital…you worked with them? It must have been difficult with your abilities.” Sakura looked at her with sympathy and some respect.

 

“At first…It was either adapt or be overrun with rampant and confusing emotions. And that doesn't include the therapy. With schizophrenics you have to constantly assess and react to the situations as they happen. I've even had a few knives pulled on me. I got really good at talking people down. I still think they're great people though. It was nice to help them in anyway I could.”

 

Jiraiya nodded to Paige, but asked the question to Tsunade, “You're the medical expert, does that sound about right?”

 

“Yeah, it does. Schizophrenia is definitely something that will keep you on your toes.” Tsunade then rose from her desk to give Paige a piece of paper and a small pouch. “The pouch is money to get you through the week, until the council meeting and their decision is made. And that is your address for however long your stay may be. Because of the security clearance issues, you will have a jounin escort with you at all times. I've arranged it to be Kakashi or another member of his current team. They've seen you're abilities and should best know how to keep you out of trouble for a week.”

 

Kakashi nodded with a smile at Paige when she glanced at him. “Procedures,” was all he said.

 

Tsunade turned to Sakura, “Take her for that physical and let me know when she gains medical clearance.”

 

And with that, Paige Stone and Team Kakashi were dismissed.

 

***

 

AN: dun dun dun…What information will be revealed during Paige's physical??

Review!!