Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Reading Totems ❯ Chapter 11 ( Chapter 11 )

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 animal totems and the medicine wheel were taken from Sun Bear's Dancing the Wheel and Ted Andrews' Animal Speak.

Main Pairings: 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. I like to take my time.

 

Chapter Summary: Paige goes to the monument to speak with ravens and learn of Konoha's past. She also receives a vision in which understanding comes regarding her changing abilities. Shino makes a move on Paige! The rookie 9 and select other jounin gather in a local bar to plan.

 

***Chapter 11***

 

Paige was feeling eager to get started on her little `experiment' with ravens as she was beginning to think of it. She had once again woken up before the sunrise. For once, this fit in with her plans. A visit to Konoha's monument would be easier at this hour with less people looking at her strangely. She had learned from the ravens about a place in Konoha associated with the dead where it would be easier to talk with them. After Shino gave it some consideration, he suggested that the monument the village has for shinobi who fall in battle would be the most likely place the ravens were talking about. They had walked to the monument to check it out before Shino politely offered to walk her home.

 

Paige was feeling a bit rebellious this morning too. After finishing her morning routine and grabbing her medicine wheel bag, she walked out of her apartment unescorted for the first time. Sure everyone was helping her `get lost' so she would have some alone time, but not being able to walk out her own front door was getting on her nerves. She was definitely someone who valued the ability to choose her own actions.

 

Making her way to Konoha's monument, she encountered very few people. Paige was thankful; her hope of there being less people at this ungodly hour was correct. When she arrived at the black stone with all of the names of fallen shinobi carved into it, she took a moment to pay her respects to the dead. It wouldn't due to have the ravens talking to her, but the dead unwilling to talk to the ravens. As she paid her respects, she attempted to also explain what she hoped to accomplish—the gaining of knowledge to let her stay in the village to fulfill her greater purpose. A purpose Paige was rapidly coming to think was directly related to Konoha's future. She had no proof, but why else would she run in to Team Kakashi and be brought here?

 

After paying her respects, she then decided to do some light exercises of walking a visualized medicine wheel first. It would provide her with some ideas of how her skills in this area have progressed. Also, she would get the benefit of working with the ravens that much more quickly if she was successful. Settling onto her blanket in front of the monument, she cleansed herself through chanting instead of smudging. It made for a quicker get away if someone found her—less clean-up.

 

She took deep calming breathes afterwards as she visualized her medicine wheel and then went into light meditation and asked for any spirits willing to come and give her messages. The response was raven and somewhat more muted than when she had worked with her physical medicine wheel the day before. Remembering her latest vision with Mudjekeewis, Paige let go of more of her control and sank deeper into the meditation.

 

Paige was once more left gasping for breath; she also had tears in her eyes from the sense of loss the ravens were radiating. The monument was very strongly associated with the dead, and by extension, ravens. It was almost like the flock of ravens she experienced in her vision. She was given the impression they surrounded the clearing the monument stood in. Explaining what she desired to the ravens, she asked them to come forward and tell her what they wished. And come forward they did. One at a time ravens would come to her and tell her of the lives of the shinobi who were written on the monument. They would occasionally give her personal messages from the dead shinobi. Paige made mental notes of all of this, resolving to bring healing to those left behind with the messages if she could. She also learned of Konoha's tragedies. The Yondaime and his death by the nine-tailed fox. Orochimaru and his snake totem. The Uchiha clan. Akatsuki. These were the secrets that would sway the council. She was given one last personal message when Paige's attention was suddenly jarred from her deeper meditation by another presence by the monument. Wolf. It was Kakashi. “Hello Alpha.”

 

“Yo.” He walked over to the monument and stood next to where Paige sat. “You're here early.”

 

“So are you.”

 

He touched a name on the monument. “Have you come to pay your respects?”

 

“And talk with the ravens here.”

 

He touched another name. “Makes sense they would be here.”

 

Paige bit her lip and then spoke, “I received a message for you.”

 

Kakashi raised his one visible eyebrow at her. “Hm?”

 

Paige's unfocused gaze of connection with the spiritual looked into his eye. “The ravens told me of a wolf that comes to the stone every morning, before dawn, and stays for many hours to talk with the dead.” She paused, “That is why you are late most mornings. Isn't it.”

 

He nodded.

 

She continued with her message she was to deliver, “Obito and Rin…they are proud of how you use the gift they have given you.”

 

Kakashi was kneeling now, and staring at Paige for the first time with two eyes. One dark, the other the red of the Sharingan. “This was their gift.” With his hite-ate pushed up, she could see the scar that ran vertically over the left side of his face.

 

“You don't have to tell me.”

 

“You know already.”

 

Paige sighed, “I know some of the story, but not all of it…just enough that I understand the message I was to give to you. Sometimes they chose to reveal back stories to me.”

 

Kakashi nodded. The two returned their mutual attention back to the monument as the sun rose over Konoha.

 

Paige noted she was still connected to the spiritual, but it was different than her meditations. It was a connection that allowed her to also keep her attention in the physical. She would have to experiment with it in the clearing when she worked with Shino later.

 

Kakashi broke into her thoughts. “I hear you want to do some planning for escape routes out of the council.”

 

“Yes, I'm hoping they aren't the type to react badly, but it would make me feel better.”

 

“We have a few ideas of how to help with that. Come out with us tonight and we'll tell you.”

 

“Alright. I was planning on taking tomorrow off anyway, so I can stay out a little later than normal.”

 

He nodded at this, and they resumed their vigil at the monument. After a few more hours, Paige got up from her blanket and repacked it into her bag. “Who was supposed to come and get me this morning?”

 

“Me, actually,” he responded. They began their walk to the red bridge.

 

“Good. Then I don't have to explain myself to too many people about where I disappeared to.”

 

He gave a light chuckle, “I won't tell if you won't.”

 

Soon they arrived at their usual meeting place, but Paige was greeted by an unusual sight. Naruto and Sasuke were at the bridge. But instead of Sakura being there too, Shino was there. She didn't try too hard to fight the smile that came to her face when he looked in her direction. When she did ask about Sakura, it was explained to her that she no longer had days off from the hospital and was working the morning shift. However, the medic would be at the gathering tonight. Paige chose to consciously ignore the strange and knowing looks she received when she turned to Shino and asked, “Shall we go?”

 

He gave a nod to Paige and then turned to Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi, giving them a nod before turning to walk off.

 

Paige gave a small wave to the assembled members of Team Kakashi and hurried her steps to catch up with Shino. When they had begun their walk through the woods to their clearing, she spoke again, “I think I had a minor breakthrough this morning at the monument with the ravens.”

 

Shino glanced at her and then continued to pick his way through the forest.

 

Paige took this as a sign that he was paying attention, but also didn't want to trip over anything in front of him. “I was able to use just a visualized medicine wheel to communicate with them. Also, when Kakashi startled me, I wasn't given my normal backlash into the physical like I usually do. Actually, I think I'm still connected to the spiritual more than I usually am.” They arrived at the clearing and set up Paige's blanket as they had done the previous day. Shino again sat close to her, almost next to her. She did another little internal dance of joy, but then resumed the previous topic. “I know Mudjekeewis mentioned changes and balancing…I think this is part of it.”

 

Shino was silent for a long time before he made his comment. “You should ask. It could be dangerous to not know.”

 

Paige considered this. “Spirits have a tendency to tell you what you need to know, and not what you want to know. I'm not sure I would get an answer. I mean, why not just give me all the information before?”

 

Shino nodded, but remained quiet.

 

“Although I'm curious about what is going on with my empathy. I don't seem to be able to read people anymore. It's actually kind of frustrating.”

 

Shino raised an eyebrow at her.

 

Paige stuck her tongue out at him. “I guess I just have to deal with it like everyone else, huh.”

 

He just continued to gaze at her with his raised eyebrow.

 

She rolled her eyes, but decided to get down to business. “Alright, I'll try asking and we'll see who answers. I'll work with the physical medicine wheel to keep more focused,” she explained as she set out her supplies. “I'm also gonna make a leap of logic to say that if I get an answer, because I'm still connected to the spiritual and I'm using the physical medicine wheel, it might end up with me getting a vision. So, I'm gonna do this one lying down… to get comfortable.”

 

Shino responded to this by removing his hooded jacket for the first time since she'd met him and folded it into a small rectangle. His hair was a dark brown that stood straight up due to his hite-ate. It looked soft to the touch.

 

Paige was shocked by the sudden action, so she said the first thing that popped into her mind, “I like your hair, its pretty.”

 

“Pillow,” was his reply as he set the small bundle down.

 

“Oh,” was the only intelligent thing she spoke. She realized he was being very thoughtful, and maybe flirting with her? Paige decided to remove the handkerchief that normally covered her own hair. He had just done something for her that he hadn't done when Kiba and Hinata had visited. This meant she had to do something in return.

 

She watched as Shino's hand moved in slow motion towards her own hair and felt gentle fingers run through it. “I like your hair, too.” It was the first touch that he had initiated.

 

Paige was almost positive the color on her face matched the red of the bridge Team Kakashi met up on for trainings. Shino's touch hadn't lingered too long. He simply ran his fingers through the short, messy blonde hair that was revealed and then withdrew his hand. She was now certain he was flirting though. She stammered out her next sentences. “I'd like to…still…meet up with you…after the council business is over. I like…,” she struggled to find the words, “…this.”

 

Shino nodded, and Paige noticed the hint of a genuine smile over the top of his high collar. He then said, “We should begin.”

 

It was her turn to nod, and she then began the process of smudging for cleansing and making an offering. She then arranged herself on the blanket lying next to the medicine wheel, with Shino's folded jacket as a pillow. Shino obligingly moved to give her room, but still be close by. Paige sank into her medicine wheel journey much easier than usual and immediately found herself in another vision.

 

***

 

Mudjekeewis stood before her. “You have questions.”

 

“I wish to understand the changes in my gifts. They shift too quickly to understand on my own.”

 

“They are becoming one.”

 

Paige looked blankly at the Spirit Keeper for a moment. “That is the balance you spoke of?”

 

“In part. Your ability of emotions was always linked with the spiritual and Wakan Tanka. Your deepened trust in Wakan Tanka is making that connection different now. It will be more spiritual. You will now sense emotions with totems. The one you need will make itself known.”

 

She nodded, but asked another question in hopes of another answer. “Am I more connected even in the physical world?”

 

“It is less harmful to you that way.”

 

Sudden understanding came, “My headaches. They kept getting worse when I would sever my link with the spiritual and try to reopen it many times in a row.”

 

“Yes. It is a protection, but you must still use caution.”

 

Paige bowed her head. “I thank your for your wisdom. I have been blessed that a Spirit Keeper has seen fit to appear before me many times.”

 

The grizzly bear gave her a look. “You must understand, for your purpose to be fulfilled.”

 

***

 

She was greeted by the sight of Shino looking down at her when she reopened her eyes. “How long?”

 

“About an hour.” He moved to help her sit up again and collected his jacket. “Did you find answers?”

Paige nodded. “He said my two gifts were becoming one. And the one that I need will make itself known.” She grabbed her notebook and wrote while she talked. “It was descriptive, but still cryptic. I was again reminded of my trust in Wakan Tanka.” Sudden inspiration hit her and she spoke rapidly now, “I think I get it though. It was like when we first met…” She blushed, but continued. “I had to use a lot of empathy at first because I didn't know much about you. But now that I know you and your totems, I don't need it as much. And like Kiba and Hinata yesterday, both of my abilities were active at first because I needed to know I could trust them at more than their words, but then it was just…background. And Kakashi this morning, I knew it was him behind me because I sensed his wolf and I needed to know that to know it wasn't a danger, but when I just see him around town, it's not something I need to know every second.”

 

“Makes sense.” Shino replied.

 

“He told me my increased connection was a protection; I think this is one also. It might be similar to habituation of the other senses. It wouldn't be productive to feel your clothing constantly; it's just background noise your brain filters out after a while.” Paige concluded with a big grin. She was glad to have finally resolved her nagging concerns over her appearing/disappearing abilities and also use some of her knowledge from her more anatomical classes in school.

 

She had spent the rest of the day doing different meditation and medicine wheel exercises and found they came much easier than before. Shino never put his jacket back on for the rest of the day. And Paige decided to leave her hair uncovered. Just before sunset, he walked her to a bar, explaining that he knew about the meeting tonight and that it was actually being held in the bar, in a small private room in the back. When Paige asked about the location, Shino replied, “Less ears and eyes.”

 

They received a few looks when they walked in together—perhaps because of their now visible hair styles—but ignored them and sat down in the two seats next to each other around a rather large table. A table filled with ninjas, some Paige recognized, and other's she didn't. With a little trepidation, she noticed Gai was among the group, but if Kakashi trusted him enough to let him in on things, she would try to deal with him too.

 

Introductions were made around the table by Kakashi. “You already know my team, Hinata, Kiba, Gai, Iruka, and of course Shino.”

 

Paige nodded. Naruto and Hinata were sitting next to each other. She could now almost see the love they radiated for the other. Gai's totem of peacock made itself known to her then. It figured really. The peacock—like Gai—was a bird known for its posing, but also fierceness in its protectiveness of its nest. And Kakashi did say he was one of Konoha's best.

 

“The new faces are Yamanaka Ino, Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Choji…”

 

She took her time looking the new faces over to make sure she could match them with the correct names later, but as she did this she read their totems and noticed their unique behaviors.

 

Kakashi's voice brought her back from her readings. “…and the guy in the corner sucking on the senbon is Shiranui Genma. You can trust them all Paige.” This last statement was given with an intense look from Kakashi, trying to convey his seriousness of his faith in these people.

 

She smiled waved at everyone, “Hi!”

 

Genma gave Paige a waggle of his eyebrows and a twirl of his senbon. .

 

She chose to ignore his actions and instead got out her notebook to record the recent totems she had sensed.

 

“Want to write down my address, Gorgeous?” Genma asked.

 

“Totems…I'm writing totems, Coyote-san.” Paige replied while continuing her writing.

 

“The name is Genma.”

 

“And my name is Paige, but you're still a coyote…trickster, teacher, and enjoyer of carnal delights?”

 

Genma's mouth dropped, but by some trick of gravity the senbon remained in his mouth. He looked at Kakashi. “Man, you told her about me!”

 

Kakashi just shook his head and smirked.

 

Paige took that as a cue to continue reading for the other newcomers. “For Gai it is the peacock…” she let that trailed off figuring that explained itself. “Ino is the bee, symbol of fertility and messenger that you should enjoy the sweet things in life.”

 

“The Yamanaka's own a flower shop.”

 

Paige nodded, wrote this down in her notebook, and continued, “Shikamaru's totem is the deer, symbol of leadership and perception of what is too subtle to notice for most. That perception would come in handy for a leader of shinobi.”

 

Shikamaru looking mildly interested now, nodded, “My family also raises deer.”

 

While Paige wrote down this information, she noticed out of the corner of her eye how close Ino and Shikamaru were sitting. On a whim she wrote that down in her notebook too.

 

Shino shifted in his seat next to her. He had been reading over her shoulder.

 

Paige turned to him with a raised eyebrow asking if her last inference was correct by pointing to it with her pen.

 

He nodded.

 

Next she turned to Choji with an apologetic smile. “You, Choji, don't seem to have a totem, but that's actually something you would encounter more in the world. Konoha seems to be unique in its number of ninja with totems.”

 

Choji nodded at Paige and kept eating.

 

Paige closed her notebook and looked at Kakashi to resume with the meeting.

 

“Before we start, do you have any questions?”

 

She nodded, “A few, but I guess the biggest one is…why? Why are you all doing this for me? Some of you just met me. Some of you have known me only a week, but you share personal secrets. Some have known me for only a few days, but have let me in more than you would any one else. What do you see that I don't? What do you see in me besides a potential security risk if I leave Konoha? Just…why?” Paige was looking down in front of her with tears threatening to form and wishing she was under the table, hiding from the looks she received from her little outburst. She figured everyone could pick out which questions applied to them. She didn't expect bad news, but she couldn't help wringing her hands under the table anyway. They stopped when another hand covered her two. It was Shino's. Paige shifted one of her hands to rest on top of his, noticing the difference in the size and shape and squeezing his hand. His hand squeezed back. It was nice of him to try and comfort her. They would definitely have to sort out what they had after the council meeting.

 

“You remind us of who we are, when we have forgotten. Don't think so little of yourself.” This was from Hinata. “Your abilities with the medicine wheel have the potential to bring healing to many people where medics and doctors can't go…a person's spirit. That's something we wouldn't mind having. It's not just about security.” Hinata paused. “And Naruto promised you would be safe. He doesn't go back on his word.” He nodded as his wife said this.

 

Paige nodded. Was that her greater purpose here in Konoha? Bringing healing? It might explain why she learned about the tragedies of Konoha…to bring healing to the village. But she was just one person…could she really accomplish so much? To Hinata, Paige said, “Thank you.” She could see why Naruto would love someone like Hinata. If she was always this kind and giving, he should never let her go.

 

Gai spoke up then. “Kakashi spoke very highly of you to me. I take his words very seriously.”

 

She didn't exactly understand that. Team Kakashi carried weight with the Hokage, she knew that, but she didn't understand the why.

 

Genma put in his opinion, “What you don't seem to understand, sweetheart, is that you are currently surrounded by Konoha's elite shinobi. Kakashi and his team especially. And they wouldn't bring you in to Konoha if they saw you as nothing more that a security risk.”

 

Iruka and Naruto just gave understanding looks to Paige. She learned during that one night at Ichiraku's that they understood some of her fears and questions.

 

Paige asked one more question, but to Kakashi this time. “Not that I don't trust your judgment, but why bring in more people? Doesn't it seem like overkill?”

 

He gave her his masked smile. “The council knows that my team and I sometimes get…special consideration from the Hokage. And since she assigned you to us, we don't want it to look like we're pulling political favors for you. We're going to take a back seat during the meeting even though we'll all be there.” He turned to look at Kiba, Hinata, and Shino, “You three should tell Kurenai about this. She couldn't be here tonight, but she'd be upset if she doesn't get to have fun too.”

 

The three nodded.

 

Kakashi then turned his attention to Gai, “You can inform Rock Lee and Hyuga Neji if they return from their mission in time.”

 

Paige recognized only one of the names. She wondered a little bit about Lee since Sakura had warned her he was a bit like Gai. And she also wondered a little bit about who Hyuga Neji was.

 

He continued, “And it's not overkill. We'll be setting up transfer points throughout the village incase one team gets compromised.”

 

“So I'm going to be passed around like a hot potato if things go badly.”

 

Naruto spoke up next, “We know Ba-chan is going to have some ANBU Black Ops posted during the meeting. That's normal procedure. Got to make sure the council members stay safe while their attention is on the meeting. We also figured the ones chosen will probably be some of us here. So we'll have some advantage of you not being randomly attacked by someone overly twitchy who doesn't understand what your abilities can and can't do.”

 

Paige smiled, “Black Ops…Sneaky.”

 

He smiled back, “Yeah, but they'll be masked, so only the Hokage will know who she's assigned the duty to.” Naruto continued in a more serious tone. “Sasuke will be there as the Uchiha representative…Sakura and I will try to get in also. Sakura as Tsunade's apprentice, and me as her named successor.”

 

Paige blinked. “Named successor? You mean you…”

 

Naruto practically beamed, “Yup, I'm gonna be the next Hokage.”

 

She looked at Genma, “You're right. I had no idea who I was making friends with.”

 

He smirked, “At least he wasn't running around screaming it at the top of his lungs like when he was 12 years old.”

 

Naruto gave an indignant pout that almost did make him look 12 years old, “I wasn't that bad.”

 

Shikamaru spoke up for the second time that night, “Let's get this meeting over with.”

 

Paige gave a shrug in response and was only mildly surprised that it was Shikamaru who did most of the leading of the meeting. Hinata put in her own information on some of the codes of conduct when addressing council members. They had ordered dinner during one of the short breaks and the plates were cleared away in another one. Never were the plans mentioned when the wait-staff was present. Paige did notice that Shino had unbuttoned the top portion of his high collared shirt to eat. Sadly, she couldn't see any more of his face—it seemed the piece of fabric wanted to flop just so that she would have to climb on top of the table to get a view of anything from the nostrils down. Paige ruled that course of action out…for now.

 

She would be lying if she said she paid attention to most of what went on. A lot of the planning revolved around who the ANBU assigned to the council meeting was. From there Shikamaru proceeded to lay out plan after plan, depending on who was available and who was ANBU. Her head was spinning after a while.

 

Being over-tired had a tendency to make Paige a little giddy, childish, and act before thinking. Suddenly, she was hit with inspiration! The lovely wooden table would clear her mind if she smacked her head on it a few times. Those pesky misfiring neurons would be killed, and she would once more be able to follow the discussion around the room! Just as she was about to feel the satisfying `thud' that went with smacking your head on a hard surface…she landed on something a little cushier…and damper than a wooden tabletop. It was someone's coaster. Lifting her head up to see to whom the coaster belonged to, she absently noticed the coaster was sticking to her forehead since her vision was partially blocked. She noted the lack of noise for a moment. Paige was met with many stares and a few snickers as she tried to look around the room.

 

“Paige, you have a coaster stuck on your head,” Iruka stated.

 

“Yup. I was aiming for the table, but it got in the way.” She crossed her eyes and frowned at the coaster making it bob up and down.

 

More snickering could be heard around the table.

 

“You need sleep.” That was Sakura

 

She yawned, “Yup.”

 

Shino reached over and removed the coaster, placing it back under his drink.

 

Paige raised an eyebrow at him.

 

Shino shrugged, got up from his chair, motioned with his head to the door, and offered her his hand to help her out of her chair as well. She sighed, nodded, accepted his hand and they had just reached their exit when she heard Kiba say behind her, “She speaks Shino-ese.”

 

The walk to her apartment was pleasant, and because of her sleep deprived state, it took Paige longer than she wanted to admit to notice Shino hadn't let go of her hand. It was only when they reached the door that he let his hand slide from hers. Paige was sorry for the loss, but hoped they could spend some time together tomorrow. “I plan on taking the day off from meditation tomorrow. I think I've done as much preparing as I can without over-preparing.”

 

Shino nodded.

 

“I was thinking on spending some of the day in the library. Look up the local animals for future reference for totem readings.”

 

“Good idea.”

 

“I wouldn't mind some company…It would help me in finding the books I need.”

 

He nodded then stated, “I should get back to the meeting.”

 

“Goodnight.”

 

Shino gave another nod, then turned, and walk back into the night. Paige walked into her apartment looking forward to tomorrow.

 

***

 

Author's post-note: Anyone find where I'm going with the next few chapters? Anyone? Anyone? Council meeting in Chapter 13!

 

Just want to thank all of my reviewers again for telling me over and over that I'm doing a good job! otakutron, DragonTamer94, TheForsakenOne, tasuki001, Dwarfwarrior.Love you all!