Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ The Reflection of Oneself ❯ Reluctance ( Chapter 22 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

The Reflection of Oneself

Chapter 22: Reluctance

Loyalty.

We give our allegiance to people for many different reasons, whether it is for power or love or security. Loyalty to one's family and friends, when those who are considered family are cared for deeply, is a power so great that nothing can stand in its way.

But if such an unspeakable betrayal is undertaken, however, and that trust is broken, there are some who would stop at nothing to see the betrayer brought to justice in the most painful ways possible. Some loose themselves after they have achieved they're retributions while others do not, but one thing is for certain; once your trust has been broken, it is ever so hard to give it again.

Two Weeks Later:

Obito yawned, running a hand through his messy raven hair, ignoring the simple fact that he didn't have breathe since he was dead. The ghostly teen rolled over onto his stomach, looking past Nawaki, who was leaning against the wall and staring up at the room's only living occupant.

“You know, they could have at least given you a cell with a window.”

Nanikato arched a single golden brow before rolling his eyes.

“Sure... and all wardens want to give their prisoners such luxuries.”

“But you're not really a prisoner,” Nawaki pointed out.

“Oh, of course not,” was the sarcastic reply. “All I have to do is forget about Sasuke-sensei and Tayuya-oneesama, affiliate myself with their future executioners and condemn thousands of innocent people to a painful death just because they live in a village commanded by a psychotic madman.”

The blonde crossed his arms and harrumphed. “I won't allow myself to be used.”

Nawaki and Obito shared an exasperated glance.

It had been nearly two weeks since the ghost-seer Nanikato's arrival and subsequent incarceration in Konohagakure. His two new companions, Hayashi Nawaki and Uchiha Obito, had stayed at his side since his outburst in the defense of the innocents of Oto's population. Although they couldn't say anything about the matter to the Hokage, being dead and all, they could only watch as the older man kept returning to offer their new friend the same deal.

First of all, they wanted information - information that they could use to win the war. Even though they could take it by force whenever they liked, they were adamant about waiting for the blonde to give it to them of his own accord. Nanikato really didn't care, even when Nawaki had explained that woman he had attacked, one Yamanaka Ino, was a brilliant interrogator - one who specialized in using jutsus to get inside people's minds.

Nanikato had simply said he would feed her to his alter ego if she tried.

That left both boys at the point of wanting to burst from frustration. As soon as that doomed encounter had ended, Obito quickly began assessing what he had learned about the meeting. And while the Yamanaka's actions might have seemed to an outsider as unprofessional, he and everyone that had witnessed the event knew otherwise. Nanikato had pushed the right buttons and Ino had pushed the rights ones back. Loss of a loved one could make you do stupid things, especially when was their honor you were trying to protect. He couldn't fault either of them for that, but he knew that the younger blonde would never forgive her for those terrible accusations she had made on the Oto's entire populace.

It was after hearing about people like ghostly lady Tanabata-hime that Nanikato talked so fondly about that had given Obito and Nawaki a reason to try to help their friend protect his home village from the real villains. If Orochimaru and Kabuto could be replaced with better leaders, then perhaps Otogakure could be Konoha's ally one day.

And perhaps Nanikato would have been more willing to give them what they wanted if they hadn't crossed the line.

“Why don't you try to negotiate?” Obito asked, pushing up his goggles so that they rested on the top of his head so his could rub his at his left eye, the one he had given to Kakashi before he had died. How he had it back as a ghost was beyond him. “I know you don't want to join that genin team Shikamaru is talking about, but it would give you a few advantages and opportunities.”

He smirked as he watched Nanikato's interest perk up and blonde boy turn towards him, his blue eyes containing an inquiring light.

“And those would be?”

“Well, you'd be free of this cage and in a position where you could challenge the council on the terms of Sasuke and Tayuya execution. We can help you find all the dirt you need to make a legitimate case and if I'm right, then everything you need will be what those old bastards Homura and Koharu are trying to take to their graves with them.”

A small smile, the first real smile in quite a long while, stretched across Nanikato's lips. Obito had made a good point. He could be free and he wouldn't be betraying the only family he had.

“Okay then,” he said. “You win. Now how do I do about getting the Hokage here?”

“A disturbance of some kind would work. But what can we do that'll attract lots of attention?”

“I don't know, but I'm not relying on nature chakra. No way.”

That was when Nawaki began to laugh wickedly, which of course grabbed both the blonde and the brunette's attention, causing shivers to run down their spines.

“I have an idea,” the amber-eyed boy smirked. “It's a perfectly foolproof way for us to use the nature chakra and not suffer the side effects. All you have to do is channel it into Obito and I - ectoplasm is the best conductor for that kind of energy. When a ghost is charged like a battery with nature chakra, they become much like little children on an extreme sugar high!”

Obito's eyes took on a dreamy glimmer. “Ahhhhh… the joys of a destructive sugar high! I partook in my first sugar high during the first mission I ever had with Minato-sensei, Kakashi-teme and Rin-chan. Arashi-sensei, who had no idea that my clan were not big fans of sugar, or that I had been forbidden to eat anything with large quantities of it, bought our team some kind of western drink called a `Slushy'. Kami, those things were like 90 percent sugar! And the cups he bought us were extra-large! Having never consumed a quantity that large in my whole life, I was wired for nearly a week! You should have seen all the mayhem I caused in the Uchiha compound during those glorious seven days - I had relatives medicating themselves by the time I was done!”

“Exactly!” Nawaki agreed. “Lend us nature's most addictive sugar and we will temporarily become every shinobi's worst nightmare - poltergeists!”

Unable to help himself, Nanikato burst out laughing.

“Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! Why didn't I think of that?”

“Thank you, thank you!” the younger looking blonde began bowing theatrically and blowing kisses at his imaginary fans.

Still laughing, the three boys joined hands to form a circle. Taking a deep breath, the only living member of their unholy trinity opened himself completely and let the chakra rush through him. Channeled through his hands, the wild energy flowed from him and into the two other boys, infusing the ghostly pair with enough power to ignite them like raging wildfires.

The reaction was instantaneous.

An explosion ripped through the cell and tore though the seals on the door as if they were made of tissue paper. The discharge sent all three boys flying, causing Nanikato to go smashing though the bathroom door whilst Nawaki and Obito went through opposite walls.

Getting shakily to his knees, Nanikato glance down and noticed that the explosion of energy had also disengaged the seals keeping the chakra-cuffs fastened around his wrists. If he hadn't have had the wind knocked out of him, he would have made a brake for it. But all he could do was crawl out of his cell wheezing painfully as he peeked through slitted eyes as the fun really began.

To say that two friends were like little children on a sugar high would have been a grotesque understatement. The idea alone had triggered a chain reaction that caused the paint on the walls to start peeling, the furniture to start floating, pipes to start clanging and anyone unfortunate enough to be walking down this particular cellblock to be knocked off their feet.

The chaos this stunt caused had everyone within a hundred yard vicinity running around like chickens with their heads cut off.

Nanikato smirked.

“I have such cool friends.”

-.ooOoo.-

Two Hours Later:

As soon as the commotion had died down, Nanikato found himself along with Nawaki and Obito, although they couldn't be seen, sitting alone in the Hokage's office laughing like Mad Hatters. Their little experiment had gone off without a hitch, causing such ruckus and riot that it would be remembered for years to come. During the wait, Obito was having the vast pleasure of going into lengthy detail about how he rendered a kunoichi topless and watched as she went on a rampage, beating the living shit out of any male stupid enough to gawk at her assets.

When the door finally opened, the three boys turned to find not one, but three Hokage staring at the blonde - who was having trouble forcing himself to keep a strait face.

Shikamaru gazed at the boy before him and seriously began to ponder exactly how different the kid was from Naruto. Thoughts along the same line were passing through Jiraiya and Tsunade's minds as well, since no such calamity had happened in Konoha since after Naruto had died. Today there was an evident change in those cold blue eyes, something mischievous and not so guilty.

The younger man finally took his seat, the two sannin flanking him either side. He was about to speak when the blonde beat him to the point and raised a hand, two fingers upright.

“I'll join that team on two conditions. 1) I don't participate in missions that go against my moral code or do anything to betray my precious people and 2), you have to let me visit sensei and onee-sama whenever I want. Give me those two, and you'll have your deal.”

The Nara raised a brow questioningly. “And what makes you think I'd consider such a thing after what you did? I should be punishing you right now.”

“No actually, you should be punishing the instigators - I'm only guilty by association.”

“Is that so?” Tsunade demanded, giving the boy a mother's patented `evil eye'. “Then who might these instigators be?”

Nanikato, how was unfazed by her withering stare, only smirked. “I can show you.” and the air around him suddenly dropped a few degrees and strangely enough, they could almost sense fear coming from it. If only they could hear pitiful begging a certain blonde ghost was currently making…

“And how are you going to do that?”

“Like this!”

The blonde raised his hand to reveal wrists not bound by chakra cuffs. Smirking at the looks of shock that crossed their faces, they were unable to as he quickly bit his thumb and began flying though a series of seals not unlike those for summoning. Jiraiya and Tsunade were only halfway towards Nanikato when he slammed his palm down hard upon the floor.

“Kuchiyose: Setsuzoku no Seirei!”

A strong whirlwind whipped up around the smirking blonde with the now twinkling blue eyes. Dust, which had collected quite thickly during Shikamaru's short reign as Hokage, began to swirl around as if caught in the midst of a hurricane. It was the orbs of ghost fire that stopped the two sannin in their tracks, having read about them in the mission report. But there were five flames rather then three this time. The three they recognized from the report were the color of honeyed amber, frosty blue and misty green. The new pair of flames were dazzling white and bloody red.

Nanikato reached out towards them and as soon as his fingertips brushed against the cool flames, the air around him burst outwards again and flames took the shape of two boys - one grinning happily at being `alive' again, and the other sobbing miserably at the thought of being `killed' again.

Tsunade stared rather comically (with bugged-out eyes and an unhinged jaw) at her little brother, whom she hadn't seen since his death over forty years ago, who was still twelve years old.

“How could you?” Nawaki howled, weeping rivers as he throw himself into a laughing Obito's arms and held on for dear life. When the blonde woman took a shaky step forward, her blonde brother began wailing. “She's going to kill me!”

Obito dropped the younger boy on his ass.

“If you think I'm going to save you, think again. I've seen how hard that woman hits!”

He moved to Nanikato's side, only to be followed by the gaki on his knees with clasped hands and huge watery eyes. “Help me Obi-kun Shinobi! You're my only hope!”

The Uchiha choked.

“Urusai! What did I tell you about the Star Wars jokes?!”

Nawaki stuck out his tongue. “You're only mad because Minato-san said you and Kakashi reminded him of Obi-Wan and Darth Vader!”

Obito launched himself younger boy, the Sharingan flaring in only his right eye as Nawaki leapt backwards and away.

“I am soo much better then the mask-wearing cycloptic bastard, you wiseass gaki!”

“Yeah, sure! Tell me something I haven't heard a zillion times!”

“You know Nawaki…” the two boys paused and looked at Nanikato, how a devious smirk on his whiskered face. “For someone who was so concerned about dying again moments ago, you sure forgot about it quick.”

Amber eyes widened in the remembrance of momentarily forgotten fear, but by then it too late. His worst nightmare had silently stalked up behind him while he teased Obito and before he could get out of arm's reach, he let out a squawk of terror as Tsunade snared the back of his shirt, whirled him around and dragged him into a smothering hug.

Nanikato, Obito, Shikamaru and Jiraiya watched as Nawaki's face began turning blue from asphyxiation as Tsunade sobbed, hugging him like he was some kind of long-lost favorite teddy bear. The four males shared a brief sympathetic glance (although Jiraiya was wishing he was the one with his face lost in an older woman's breasts) as they watched the `tearful' family reunion with the same thought on their minds.

Death by hug was such an undignified death for a ninja…

-.ooOoo.-

Two days had passed and it was a beautiful, early autumn morning, the final vestiges of the past summer keeping the crispness from the air and the warmth in the breeze. But it wouldn't be long before the Autumn Goddess, Tatsuta-hime, would arrive to stain the leaves her majestic golden hue. And it would remain that way until her sister, Yuki-Onna, the Winter Goddess, brought the cold and stole the colors away.

For Inuzuka Toboe, today was actually one of those few days she was going to the academy of her own accord, or as close to her own accord as possible.

“I can't believe I'm actually doing this!” she muttered and kicked irritably at an innocent rock, playing with the end of her braided hair.

Yukimaru, who had been snoozing on her shoulder, huffed tiredly.

`Oh, get over it already.'

She grabbed his muzzle and gave it a shake. “Button your chops, pooch.”

The black furred pup pulled away with an indignant grunt.

`So violent!'

Toboe only rolled his eyes and that was how the pair continued down the winding streets that separated the Inuzuka compound from the shinobi academy. Yesterday, she had been received a shock that she normally didn't get. During dinner last night, not only had Kiba-ojisan asked her to do attend class today, but Tsume-obaasama as well. And when an order was given by the alpha and her heir, you had to listen. So it really didn't matter how much Toboe loathed and detested going to the academy - where she was accosted by fanboys begging for dates at every turn - she had to go. As she wallowed in her apparent misery, it didn't even cross the silver haired girl's mind that something was out of the ordinary about today, because never before had Kiba-ojisan and Tsume-obaasama ordered her to go to school if she didn't want too.

She let out a grief-stricken sigh as she finally reached her dreaded destination, her only enjoyment coming from the looks of astonishment she was receiving from the other academy senseis. Approaching the door to her classroom, Toboe chanted silently by telling herself that she would be all right and that today was going to be different.

Reaching for the door, she slid it open and stepped into the classroom.

And like always, the first thing she heard were a chorus of “Toboe-chan! Will you please go out with me?!”

She groaned.

`Never get your hopes up girl…' she chidedcynically, scratching Yukimaru behind the ear.

The moment some stupid fanboy approached, the puppy became more awake and enthusiastic, growling at the entourage with his hackles raised. Taking her cue and saying the same thing she said every time they asked, she replied with a big fat.

“No.”

Which was met by a “Please! I'll do anything!”

She raised an eyebrow.

“You mean you'd actually go drown yourself for me?” she asked innocently, putting a hand over heart in mock shock. Then her voice became astringent. “Oh, I'm so flattered.”

Still not taking the hint that she didn't want to have anything to do with them, the boys persisted.

“But why? You're so pretty!”

`Yeah… and this is what I get for coming from good breeding stock…'

Toboe, however, sneered. “Sure and you're about as pleasant as vaginal discharge.”

All the girls within earshot squealed, gagging at the sheer grossness of her lewd comment. The boys, however, stood with perplexed expressions, not knowing what she had meant. Then again, what twelve-year-old boy would know something that when it was reserved for girls that were experiencing or soon to be experiencing puberty?

“Nani?”

“What a naïve bunch of baka.”

Toboe turned towards the voice and was surprised to find a boy (who looked oddly familiar for some reason even though she had never seen him before in her life) sitting a half a dozen seats away. It took her a few moments to get over the peculiar shock of seeing a male her age her age not participating in the routine slobber-and-beg sessions. There were only two boys in the whole class that were uninterested in girls on a whole and they were the overachieving snob Hyuuga Kazaan and the four-eyed nerd Tenjin.

This particular specimen, however, was very much unlike all the other boys and she almost couldn't count Kozue as a boy. He had wild hair, a blonde so bright it resembled sunbeams - the opposite of her own silvery tresses. His eyes were a blue unlike she had ever seen before - ones that seemed to change in colour from the purest azure, to the deepest of lapis. His cheeks sported a trio of whisker like birthmarks that gave him a strangely feral appearance, not to mention that the sneer he was giving her unwanted groupies showed that his eyeteeth were slightly pointed.

Getting to his feet, the strange new boy leaned over and began whispering something into midst of the aforementioned groupies. There was a brief moment of shocked silence in which the collections of faces turned a sickly shade of pea green and many sets of eyes widening to comical sizes as the information the blonde just given them did wonders on their stomachs. Toboe couldn't help but smirk when she realized what he was doing - he was enlightening the poor fools!

“That's sick!” one boy suddenly yelped. “Its not like I go around telling people you smell like a wet dog in heat!”

The words were out of his mouth before he even realized what he had just said. The whole room had turned deathly silent as the mortification sunk in. dark eyes glimmering with repressed bloodlust, Toboe pointed at the offender and shouted, “Get him Yukimaru!”

`With pleasure!' Yukimaru barked wickedly and leapt off her shoulder, causing the boy to shriek loudly with unadulterated fear.

Not wanting to join in on the punishment, the fanboys dispersed quickly back to their own seats. And with a rather pleased expression, Toboe took the seat next to the blonde stranger and watched as her faithful companion chased the screaming fool around the classroom with his sharp teeth bared viciously.

“So,” she asked. “How did you know?”

The new boy grinned toothily. “Onee-sama has a sick sense of humor.”

“I'd say that you do too.”

“What can I say? I learnt from the best.”

The conversation ended there, leaving Toboe enough time to look up as the door opened again and for Kozue to enter the classroom.

Like when she had arrived, there was a chorus of girly squeals as he was attacked by his fangirls. It took the crimson-eyed, girly-featured brunette a few moments to exact himself from the throng and when he saw her, his eyes widened. It wasn't just the fact that she was here at all that had shocked him; it was because she had arrived before him! Then he noticed Yukimaru and the screamer, to whom he nodded his sympathies and took a seat beside her.

The entertainment, as she and small handful of fellow classmates called it, was put to an unfortunately end when Moegi-sensei arrived. The gingery haired woman took in the scene before her then stared pointedly at Toboe, silently asking her to spare the dumb idiot's life. But before she call Yukimaru off, however, the puppy sunk his sharp little fangs into the boy's behind and tore a strip out of his shorts. A pained yowl followed as kid clasped his wounded rump, as well as a pained whimper from Yukimaru who was furiously rubbing his tongue with his front paws in order to banish would had to be an unpleasant taste.

“Yukimaru!” she cried, jumping over the desk and rushing to her puppy's side. “His foulness didn't poison you, did it?”

Yukimaru let out a mournful howl.

`I'm going to die! Someone - get the disinfectant!'

Employing one of Kozue's commonly used tactics, Toboe put on the waterworks and allowed her eyes to brim with tears. “He's going to die! Please let me save Yukimaru, Moegi-sensei!”

Moegi only sighed and tugged at one of her pointed ponytails.

“Toboe-chan, please go back to your seat.”

“But - ”

“Now! I have an announcement to make!”

The Inuzuka squeaked uncharacteristically and pulled her puppy close, scrambling away from the adult.

“Ohayou gozaimasu, minna-san.” the woman said pleasantly as soon as Toboe was back in her seat. “Today we will be reviewing your taijutsu skills, as your Genin Exams will be here soon.”

Excited whispers filled the classroom.

“Speaking of the Genin Exams, I'm sure that all of you have noticed that we have a new face among us.”

The class turned as one towards the blonde stranger sitting next to Toboe (all of them wondering how the hell a boy that wasn't Kozue could get away with it and still be alive), who stared back at them unwaveringly as though he could see right through them.

“Nanikato-kun here is already genin, joining us after having received his training from outside the village. Due to the fact that he achieved his rank and is currently without a team, two students from this class have been selected to undergo an early graduation. Now - ”

Toboe perked and nearly crushed Yukimaru, who whimpered, in her iron grip as she found herself unable to hide her growing excitement. She would do almost anything - even go out on a date with one her fanboys at the chance of being one of the two picked to receive the coveted `get-out-of-jail-free-card'. Barely listening to her sensei, the silver haired girl practically salivated at the thought of being one of the chosen.

She had to be! She was at the top of the class, after all!

“ - and those two lucky students are Sarutobi Kozue and Inuzuka Toboe.”

“YATTA!!”

As quick as a lightning bolt, Toboe threw inhibition to the wind and allowed her rowdy Inuzuka half to take control of her normally aloof self. Right now she was currently on her desk doing a victory dance and punching her fist in to the air, gloating up a storm while making a series of rude gestures at her sobbing fanboys.

“MWAHAHA!! SO LONG, SUCKERS!!”

Moegi-sensei smiled amusedly.

“Remember Toboe-chan, you have to pass the exam - ”

The Inuzuka deflated slightly, but kept that defiant puff up look.

“ - and meet you sensei first.”

The door to the classroom suddenly slid open and all eyes turned in its direction, eager to learn which of Konoha's jounins had been chosen to lead this new genin team. As the mysterious jounin stepped into the classroom, there was a collective gasp from almost everyone present.

Sarutobi Kozue's mouth dropped open.

“You're our sensei!?”

- Flashback: Yesterday Morning -

Training was the most essential part of a shinobi's life; it meant either keeping yourself at the top your battle prowess or being dead. Almost all lazy ninja, except the few cases like the Nanadaime Hokage, got themselves killed.

For this particular ninja, training was everything. It was a best friend. It was a distraction from everyday life. It was an invigorating dance. It was an excuse to escape complicated matters best left alone and it was a reason to reclaim the rank that had been lost after the attack and hospitalization.

Such were the `joys' of being a shinobi.

With a grunt of pain, said shinobi continued to assault the battered training post that was a current means of releasing unwanted emotions upon. The wood was begging to crack, sending splintery shards into bloodied hands. But the pain was ignored for the sake of continuation.

Halfway through the next set of kata, the ninja paused, sensing an approaching chakra signature. Looking up, eyes narrowed at the sight of the Hokage's favorite summon beast. It was a large, white stag with an impressive set of antlers and deep brown gaze that held an intelligence only seen in summons. As the majestic creature came to finish its journey, it nodded its head respectfully.

The ninja frowned. “What is your business here Ojika-san?”

The stag smiled, revealing blunt herbivore's teeth. “Shikamaru-sama requires your presence in his office immediately, Arekuruu Kijo.”

A twitch of disdain. It was the name the ninja had been bestowed with during the Battle of Tonkyou. It had been a bloody battle where many had lost they're lives. People had hailed the `Arekuruu Kijo' the hero of that… unfortunate fracas.

But there had been no heroes. There had only been death on that blood-spattered and body strewn battlefield. The memories alone could make the bile in one's gorge burn.

“And for what reason?”

“You will have to discover that for yourself, now won't you?”

The ninja silently cursed the four-legged beast as it smirked and then vanished in a small burst of smoke. Muttering darkly about annoying mammals, the ninja proceeded to clean up the bloody splinter covered hands before teleporting across the village.

Appearing in the hall outside the Hokage's office and waiting for the ANBU guards to give consent on entering, the ninja tapped an impatient foot. As soon as they nodded, the door was opened and the ninja walked into the austere space, taking in the simple setting of the room that was very different from when Tsunade-sama and Jiraiya-sama held office. At the other end of the room, sitting at the desk pushing the pieces of a Shogi set around the board, was Nara Shikamaru.

“You wished to see me, Hokage-sama?”

The young man looked up and Shikamaru smiled lazily, motioning for the ninja to come closer with the scroll that was in his hand. Now standing directly before the desk, the Hokage nodded.

He grinned. “I have a special mission for you.”

The ninja raised an eyebrow.

“A mission? Of what kind?”

Still grinning, the Hokage handed the scroll he was holding over.

Taking it in hand, the ninja unfurled the scroll and began to read, then reread it second them and then a third - not believing what was written on the paper was real.

“You want meto teach?”

“Yes.”

“I refuse!”

The brunette simply smiled and shook his head. “Unfortunately, this is a mission you cannot refuse. Although you will be training a team as their jounin sensei, this is mission is S-rank.”

“S-rank? Why so high?”

“One of the members of your future team is a boy from Oto. Orochimaru planned on using him as a weapon against the village, one that would have worked if not for the espionage team we sent. The boy has been here for two weeks and had only now agreed cooperate with us. Your key role in this mission is watch over him - to make sure he doesn't try to escape or to keep him out of the Council's sights. It will also give us someone with the expertise to measure his potential as either an ally or an enemy.”

He passed a folder forward this time. Taking the folder, the ninja began to read and was shocked by what it contained. What was described within seemed too incredible to be true. It briefly depicted the tale of a young teen, the apprentice of Uchiha Sasuke of all people, and one who was the outcome of extensive prototype experimentation. He was the clone of a boy that had died almost thirteen years ago.

`I was at his funeral too…' the ninja thought, shivering almost unnoticeably while gazing at the pictures of two boys; Uzumaki Naruto, and his clone, Kyuuzano Nanikato - they were almost identical in every way.

Looking up, a question passed unexpectedly over dry lips.

“Is this is for real?”

The Hokage nodded. “Of course.”

Another frown.

“Why was I chosen?”

“You were chosen after great deliberation. Your skills and temperament, when taking the skills and temperaments of your would-be students into consideration, was an ideal match. There were other, more seasoned individuals that were considered for the role, but they are needed elsewhere and you are still recovering. Teaching this new genin squad will allow you to give your body the time to heal more gently rather then how you've being forcing it. If we can gain the boy's trust, then it could mean that we could win the war before it even restarts.”

The ninja growled.

“Very well.”

The Hokage smiled and held a shadow of smugness that was just itching to be punched off.

“Thank you Hanabi.”

- End Flashback -

Standing just within the threshold of the classroom, was a clearly unimpressed Hyuuga Hanabi.

Everything about this young woman screamed “deadly beauty”, cautioning anyone wise enough to stay clear and anyone foolish enough that they'd be walking away with a very painful reminder if they managed to walk away at all.

She stood in at 5'7