A Shard Among Leaves: Old Ties, New Assignment (Patreon)

[Old Ties, New Assignment]

“—And with so many villages deciding to send teams, we need to be careful about where we place them. Remember, Konoha’s security comes above all else, Hiruzen.”

​Hiruzen heaved the sigh of the endlessly weary, watching from under the brim of his hat as his teammate droned on. Homura had been going on for the better part of fifteen minutes now, and he hadn’t said anything new in the last five.

​“And don’t forget about Kusa,” the man continued. “With their delegation being as large as they claim, I would strongly advise placing them under strict watch. That isn’t even considering what Kiri might get up to.”

​“For Kiri to send ninja to an exam so soon is a cause for concern.” Koharu agreed. The woman was standing to Hiruzen’s right, frowning heavily. “Even Ame only sent two teams, but they’re sending three? What could they possibly gain?”

​“A show of strength, perhaps,” Hiruzen offered. “The civil war took its toll and everyone knows it. They can’t afford to look weak or they risk losing even more if another village catches wind.”

​Homura scoffed. “Bah! That new Mizukage should focus more on internal affairs rather than outward displays of strength. I hope we don’t have another Raikage on our hands. Muscle-headed fools.”

​Hiruzen nodded, and turned to Danzo who was lingering to his left. “Have your agents gathered any news on things in Kiri?”

​Danzo’s good eye shifted to look at him, narrowing slightly. “Unfortunately not. My Root cannot penetrate the fog they’ve put around their operations without causing... an incident.”

​Without breaking the rules I set for you, you mean, Hiruzen thought, staring into his old friend’s eye. Danzo’s schemes had done more than enough harm to other nations already. Hiruzen had no intention of allowing him to take advantage of their situation. Now that they were new management, it was possible Kiri and Konoha might finally see eye to eye.

​“A shame. I’ll have Commander Bear send agents as well to keep an ear out for any sudden shifts in political temperature.” Hiruzen said, before shifting topics. “Now, back onto the topic at hand.”

​“I still think it’s a mistake to have Morino of all people proctor the first exam,” Koharu said. “We’d be lucky to have one or two teams pass if we let that man have free reign to do as he pleases.”

​“It would make the second stage easier, that’s for certain.” Homura rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

​“I’ve already told Ibiki to gauge himself when it comes to the Genin,” Hiruzen said. “We should have nothing to worry about.”

​“What about the second stage of the test?” Homura asked, and Hiruzen’s mood visibly soured. He sighed.

​“We’re having... difficulties when it comes to the second stage of the exams.”

​Koharu frowned. “As I understood it, it was to be held in the Forest of Death. Has something changed?

​Hiruzen twitched visibly, and Danzo’s eye narrowed.

​“The Aburame girl has done something, hasn’t she?”

​Hiruzen wondered if it was a bad thing that Danzo had managed to guess that just based on his reaction. He was fairly certain it was.

​Koharu let out a sigh. “Her again? Honestly, Hiruzen, you need to get her under control. She’s undermining village security.”

​Unfortunately, Koharu had no idea how utterly wrong that statement was. When it came to village security, Hirari had quite possible made the most contributions since the creation of the Konoha Barrier Corps. If she’d done it in a more conventional way, he might have even sung her praises in that regard.

​No, Hirari Aburame was not undermining Konoha’s security. She was simply undermining him, and he couldn’t even punish her for it.

​Hiruzen shuddered as he remembered the amount of paperwork that girl brought back with her from Wave. How she turned a simple mission into a hostile takeover of a multinational shipping company, he wasn’t entirely sure.

​At the time, he had very much wished she wasn’t wearing that scarf just so he could get his hands around her neck for causing him so much extra work. It had taken him four days to get through it all.

​Hiruzen cast a contemptful glance upon his teammates. As his advisors, they didn’t have to deal with the headache that came with managing a menagerie of eccentric ninja. All they had to do was sit back, watch him suffer, and complain that he wasn’t doing a good enough job.

​If only they could get a taste of what he had to deal with. If only the whole world could suffer the same headache, then at least... wait.

​A thought occurred to him just then, the spark of an idea formed out of the fires of petty vindictiveness and a mind that had been driven to the brink of madness by stress.

​Slowly, Sarutobi Hiruzen began to laugh. The sound came without warning, and quickly grew to fill the office as his friends stared at him like he’d gone mad.

​Perhaps he had, because there could be no other reason that the idea of making others suffer his pain could bring him so much joy.

​The smell of sugar and spice tickled Hirari’s nose as she stepped into a cozy pastry shop nestled on the edge of Konoha’s market district. The woman behind the counter stared at the young kunoichi as she cast her eyes about, quickly locking onto a pair of figures near the back of the shop and making her way toward them.

​Two young women were chatting animatedly as  she neared the table. The one facing her, a brunette with fang markings on her cheeks, looked up as she approached, a bright smile crossing her face. “Oh, look who’s here. Hey Hirari, glad you could make it!”

​“Hello, Hana. Suzume.” Hirari gave a nod to the second girl who turned to face her as she drew near. “You have been waiting?”

​“Not that long. I know you picked the time and place, but we had a feeling you’d show up right on time so we got here a little early so you wouldn’t have to wait for us.” Hana scooted herself deeper into the booth, making room for Hirari who nodded in thanks. The Aburame took a moment to remove the box from her back, setting it carefully beside the booth as she took a seat.

​“I see. Thank you. It is hard to be productive in such a public setting so I doubt I would have gotten much done waiting for you.”

​Suzume smiled. “You’re still as busy as ever, huh? Don’t you ever take a break from all of the hard work you do?”

​“I am taking a break,” Hirari said. “I am having lunch with you.”

​“Yeah, let’s be honest, this is probably the first time she’s taken any time off since she became a Chunin.” Hana leaned a hand against her cheek, smirking at Hirari. “Hell, I doubt she even gets more than a couple hours of sleep a night without us around to keep her in check.”

​“The negative effects of sleep deprivation far outweigh the net loss of productivity created by a few hours of unconsciousness. I maintain a strict schedule of no less than six hours of sleep every eighteen hours.”

​To her extreme confusion, both of her compatriots seemed amused by her completely serious response. Hana rolled her eyes, while Suzume giggled, one pale hand covering her mouth. “That’s our Hirari.”

​“Wouldn’t know nuance if it knocked her in the skull,” Hana agreed with a small smirk. “So, now that we’re all here, how have the two of you been since we last met up? Suzume, I hear that old hag finally handed over the shop, is that right?”

​Suzume’s smile grew even larger. “Yes. Hito-sama fully retired just last month and handed the title to me. I’m officially a practicing seamstress!”

​“Congratulations,” Hirari nodded at the girl’s accomplishment.  Though Suzume had once been a kunoichi and, for a short while, a member of Hirari’s own team, she had found that ninja life did not suit her and retired to a civilian life apprenticed to a family friend. Hirari knew she had some talent in sewing, and it seemed it had taken her far.

​“Thank you!” Suzume’s yellow eyes crinkled with her cheer. She turned to Hana, “What about you, Hana? Anything interesting happening with you?”

​Hana leaned back, arms behind her head. “Eh, nah. Now that I’m a Chunin, I’m getting better missions, but it’s all the same stuff. Honestly, being a ninja isn’t really what I thought it would be. Like, what’s the point of killing one guy or protecting a caravan if nothing really changes except my pockets get fatter.”

​“Most Chunin don’t get access to critical missions unless they can prove they’re capable of handling important situations. You’ve held the rank for less than a year; it’s only logical that your missions would be simple and have little lasting impact,” Hirari pointed out. Hana huffed.

​“Yeah, I know. Nobody wants to risk the newbie causing an international incident.” She looked at the ceiling. “I guess I’m just kinda frustrated. This is what I’m supposed to be doing, right? I mean, I’m up to be the next head of the Inuzuka Clan, so I’ve gotta be a kickass ninja with a ton of missions under her belt. But I just... don’t feel like it’s what I want to be doing, y’know?”

​Hirari did not. Her prime directive as a Shard was to manage other Shards and maintain the Cycle. As a ninja, it was her duty to ensure the continued security and prosperity of Konoha. She did not deviate from that duty because she saw no desire nor reason to, even if the choice was technically hers.

​“I get it,” Suzume gave Hana a sympathetic smile. “But if you don’t want to be a ninja, what do you want to do?”

​“...Don’t laugh?” Hana’s face turned a curious shade of red, indicating embarrassment. “I kinda want to be a vet. Or like, a medical nin? I’m not sure. I just want to feel like I’m actually having an impact instead of just killing people.”

​“Medical ninja are an essential part of Konoha’s forces, and in short supply. Your exceptional chakra control combined with your strong will make you a suitable candidate for such a profession.”

​For some reason, both of her former teammates laughed at her reply. “I think she’s telling you you’d do a good job,” Suzume whispered, though far too loud to obscure her words from Hirari’s ears.

​“If it’s her telling me, I guess I really should be going after it, huh?” Hana chuckled. “Mom’s gonna be pissed, but she’s got Kiba. The runt just needs a little work and he’ll be fine.”

​She turned her gaze to Hirari. “You got any big plans for the future, Hirari? You’ve been Chunin longer than me. Planning to move up to Jonin anytime soon?”

​“I’m content where I am,” Hirari answered. “The amount of work I receive as a Chunin is more than enough to sustain me for the foreseeable future. If I sought a promotion, my mission quota would increase which would leave me less time to perform my personal tasks.”

​“I doubt it would be that bad. The quota can be offset by taking higher ranked missions, which we all know would be child’s play for you.” Hana shook her head with a smirk. “Personally, I think you should shoot as high as possible. Become our Jonin Commander, and you won’t have to answer to anybody but the Hokage himself.”

​“She can lead the village into an age of peace and prosperity and pants-wetting terror,” Suzume nodded. “She’s got my vote.”

​“Konoha operates as a Military Junta so I’m not sure your vote would matter very much.” Hirari thought for a moment, then said, “Perhaps you are correct, Hana. Being Jonin Commander would allow me more discretion when it comes to Konoha’s security. Several forms and rules could be bypassed if I had that kind of clearance.”

​Hana and Suzume shared a look, both of them coming to the same conclusion. Oh no, she’s serious.

​Unfortunately, before either girl could save Konoha from its inevitable and horrifying takeover, they were interrupted by a figure suddenly appearing at the edge of the table in a swirl of leaves and shadow.

​Hana flinched at the Anbu’s sudden appearance. “Ah! What the hell!?”

​Suzume, meanwhile, had gone pale, her hands clutched against her chest. “Oh my god...”

​The Anbu paid them no mind, instead angling their mask toward Hirari who had turned to regard them a moment before they appeared. Hana glanced between them, and frowned, jabbing a finger into Hirari’s side. “Alright, what did you do?”

​Hirari pushed the hand away gently. “Nothing that I can recall.” She turned back to the Anbu. “Hokage-sama is asking for me?”

​A single nod.

​“Understood.” Stepping out of the booth, Hirari reached down and lifted her box, settling it onto her back and tightening the straps. She paused, then looked at her companions. “I apologize for cutting our meeting short, but I e been summoned.”

​Hana waved her off, brows drawn as she stared at the Anbu, while Suzume was still trying to catch her breath. Retirement from the ninja corps seemed to have taken its toll on her.

​“I-I’s fine,” Suzume stuttered. “You can make it up to us by meeting again next week.”

​Hirari nodded and stepped away with the Anbu operative. Suzume and Hana watched as she disappeared through the door, before Suzume turned to her friend. “What do you think she did?”

​Hana shrugged, sighing lightly. “Knowing her, it could be literally anything.”

​As Hirari entered the Hokage’s office, several eyes turned to meet her. She was surprised to see so many ninja already present, standing in front of Kage’s desk. They turned to look at her as she entered, seeming confused at her arrival. All except one.

​“Well look who it is!” Anko Mitarashi grinned widely, crossing  the distance between them in two long strides and slinging one arm around Hirari’s neck, much to the girl’s consternation. “Long time no see, kid! Oi, Ibiki! This is the kid I was telling you about!”

​A scarred man in a bandana and trenchcoat glanced in their direction. His eyes swept over Hirari’s frame, and Hirari felt as if he was seeing straight through her.

​He grunted, looking away. “Let her go, Anko. The kid’s uncomfortable.”

​Anko laughed, removing her arm and holding both hands up in surrender. “Right, right! You Aburame aren’t the touchy feely type, huh?”

​Hirari reached up to smooth a section of her scarf. “For good reason. It took considerable effort on my part to keep my kikaichu from reacting to your... affection. You could have been killed.”

​“Doubt it, but I’ll keep that in mind!” Anko said cheerfully as she led Hirari toward the group who had since lost interest in her as they realized Anko knew her.

​“Thank you for arriving quickly, Hirari.” Hiruzen greeted her.  “Some of my ninja could learn something from you.”

​Hirari inclined her head. “Of course, Hokage-same. If I may ask, why have you called me? Am I in trouble again?”

​Anko snickered while Hiruzen grinned behind his pipe. “Not this time, Hirari. I have an assignment for you.”

​Hirari perked up. This was irregular. “Another mission so soon?”

​“In a sense,” Hiruzen said. “First, I would like clarification on something. I’ve received some interesting reports from Training Ground Forty-Four. Word is that you’ve established quite the colony there.”

​Hirari stiffened. “Ah. Hokage-same, I would like to clarify that the first generation subjects in Colony Forty-Four were placed there over a year before your recent orders. As such, I do not believe that they fall under—”

​Hiruzen held a hand up, and she went silent. Several of the ninja in the room were staring at her in surprise. Hiruzen puffed on his pipe, smiling slightly. “Relaxed. You are not in trouble. In fact, I would like to make use of your colony for the interest of the village.”

​Hirari paused. “Hokage-same?”

​Hiruzen leaned forward, a twinkle in his eye as he gazed at his most troublesome ninja. “Hirari Aburame, you've been assigned as a proctor for the Chunin Exams.”