Chapter Text
Disclaimer: I do now own Naruto
1
Gai and Anzu liked to play happy families. It’s why Gai purchased a three-bedroom house despite being a family of two. It’s why one bedroom had its door decorated with my name in sparkly katakana characters. Something Anzu and Gai had proudly shown me the first time I visited. However, it still didn’t stop me from sleeping in my apartment most nights.
But it was convenient. I kept spare clothes in that room; making life easier when Gai dragged me home after a mission or when Anzu requested my presence. I think Tenten borrowed my pajamas once after being injured during training causing Gai to force her to stay over. There were weapons of mine scattered around their house. Most Gai knew about. And all were tucked away in caches so Anzu couldn’t accidentally stumble upon them. Was this paranoid behavior? Yes, but it was better to be prepared and I still had less than Gai.
It was weird. This slice-of-life, mundane bliss vibe that formed around Gai’s and Anzu’s house. Most dinners were spent at their table. I had my own table setting. So did Lee. And Kakashi. And Naruto. Though I’ve never seen Kakashi use his and Naruto hadn’t had the chance. I didn’t hate it as much as I imagined; comparing boxed lunches with Gai while on shared missions, standing next to Anzu in her wedding photos, or chipping in with the household chores when I visited. Though Gai loudly proclaiming himself as my older brother was a step too far.
“What’s next?” Anzu asked; sweety strands of hair sticking to her skin due to her proximity to the stove.
“Um…” I tried to find my place in the cookbook we were slowly working through. “Did you thinly slice the beef?”
“Yes”.
“Then… dust it lightly with salt and pepper and add it to the pan once the oil is hot enough”.
Anzu fell silent; focused on her hands and keeping watch on the oil in her wok. Her cooking skills have improved these last two years. She rarely served raw meat. Her rice was always edible and the seasoning was no longer overpowering. Though undercooked potatoes continued to reoccur.
Using a finger to keep my place in the book, I leaned back in my chair and stared at her back. Four sides. Two mains. Anzu was meal-prepping for the week. It was a task she favored but… “We’ve been cooking for a while. Do you want me to take over?”
She didn’t turn away from the stove, her hand coming to rub her lower back. “We’re almost done. What’s next?”
Quickly, I skimmed the book. “Thinly slice the bell pepper and bamboo shoots. Add it to the pan once the beef has browned”. Then my eyes returned to her back. In this kitchen, a window above the sink overlooked the backyard. Anzu had decorated it with green curtains to match Gai’s aesthetic. This kitchen had more counter space than the one in my apartment. More storage too. There was enough for any kitchen gadget Anzu wanted to play with and room for a China cabinet. “It’s just… should you be standing this much?”
My words must have amused her because Anzu looked over her shoulder and tilted her head back so I could see her smile. The action caused her hair to swish behind her. She had decided to go blonde this month. “Shizune-Sensei said exercise was important for expectant mothers. What’s next?”
As Anzu returned her focus to the stove, I sighed and glanced over the recipe once more. “Add the sauce we made in step one, stir until everything is evenly coated, let simmer, and that’s it”. Nodding her head, Anzu did just that; stirring and adding sauce at the same time. I managed to hold my tongue long enough for Anzu to turn off the stove and remove the wok from direct heat. “You’ve never been this pregnant before. What if you’re overdoing it?”
Turning around, Anzu leaned against the kitchen counter. One hand cradled her belly while the other rubbed the top. She had just started to show as she approached the end of her second trimester. “You sound just like Gai”, Anzu mused. A soft, adoring smile graced her face. “But Shizune-Sensei says I’m doing everything I need to. Eating the right foods. Getting enough sleep. And taking vitamins. Real vitamins”.
I closed the cookbook. There was no need to ask what she meant by real vitamins. We had both been there and felt their effects in different ways. I was a chakra-adaptive survivor while Anzu… She caressed her belly gently with tender attention. “I get to keep this one”. Her voice grew quiet. As if talking around sleeping people. “There will be no fear about keeping her stomach full. Or clean clothes on her back. And she’ll be able to grow up to be whatever she wants”.
Yes. Things were different from back then. My fingers drummed on the cookbook’s cover. I needed to remember that. “She?” I asked; steering the conversation into safer waters.
It worked. Anzu perked right up; smile broadening as she turned back to the stove to start dividing the food into their respective containers. “I just have a feeling”, she said at a normal volume. “Mom always had girls. I think I’ll be the same”.
“What does Gai think?”
Moving the wok to the sink, Anzu appeared to glow. “He said he’ll love them no matter what we get”. Letting the water run, Anzu giggled to herself. “At night. Before we fall asleep, he’s been singing to the baby. But it’s always off key”.
Anzu’s happiness was contagious. I found my shoulders loosening up as she joined me at the table and dropped heavily into the chair across from mine. “You know”, I tapped the book cover with one of my fingers. “I could teach you how to read. Then you wouldn’t have to wait for me every time you want to try a new recipe”.
Anzu shook her head; still smiling. “Maybe one day. But I like using this time to talk”. Folding her hands to rest on top of her belly, Anzu fixed me with a look. “So, when are you going to invite Shin and Sai over for dinner? We haven’t seen them in a while. And I know Lee wants to spar with Shin again”.
I glanced out the window. The late morning sun was bright enough that we didn’t need to use any lights. “I’ll mention it. But they’re busy. Koharu is still having nightmares and the boys haven’t been helping with the housework as much as they should”.
“Hmm”, Anzu hummed as she thought. “Maybe we should go to them. I don’t mind cooking and Gai could help with the boys. Raising four children is too much for teenagers”.
Snorting, I played with the corner of the book. How many times have we had this conversation? “You did”.
Shaking her head, Anzu disagreed. “I had one kid. And she behaved more like a grumpy cat than a little girl”. Anzu’s words were paired with a joking quirk on her lips.
I returned her expression in kind. “Ouch. That was uncalled for”.
For us, being called into the Hokage’s office was bad news. The last time was for a simple C-ranked delivery mission that ended in homicide. The time before that, Tsunade wanted to yell at us. Something to do with a game of chase, Sai’s ink creations, and paper bombs. Heh. The ink had gotten everywhere. In some spots, it was like clouds of ink rained down on the villagers. Ibiki hadn’t been pleased. Especially when learning Anko had encouraged it.
This time, the reason for our summons was a mystery. Outside Tsunade’s office, standing between Shin and Sai, I tried to come up with some grievances. But I was drawing a blank. The last couple of weeks, Ibiki kept us busy in T&I. And when we weren’t working on cases, Anko had us running the gauntlet for training. So, there hadn’t been time for… for…
Narrowing my eyes, I stole glances at Shin and Sai in turn. “Do you think this is about the bathhouse incident?”
Shin blinked while Sai shook his head. “Why?” Shin questioned. “We paid our fees and took a bath. There’s nothing to complain about”.
“Except for the part where you and Sai scared off the other customers and nearly started a fight”.
Tilting his head to the side, Sai looked at me from the corner of his eyes. He meant to be curious, but it came off as a challenge. “Were we not supposed to engage in small talk?”
“No, small talk is fine”. Rolling my eyes, I focused on the doors leading to the Hokage’s office. “But there are some topics you should avoid when undressed”.
A frown marred Sai’s face as he too stared at the doors; leaving Shin to take up his cause. “And what about the man who tried to punch Sai? I couldn’t let that happen”.
“Yeah, okay. But holding on to his wrist and refusing to let go only made the situation worse”. We stood in silence for several seconds. The boys were completely still while I fidgeted impatiently. Brawls in a ninja village generally didn’t call for intervention. Only if there were civilian casualties or substantial property damage. Even then, getting called to the Hokage’s office was extreme. But Sai and Shin weren’t like other shinobi.
Living in Konoha-supplied housing marked them as people of interest. Anbu still observed them from time to time. And the seals on their tongues meant Shin and Sai couldn’t tell us or warn us about everything that had gone down in Root. Meaning Tsunade had to take a professional interest because if things went South with these two, she’d have to answer for it.
“Maybe we should ask Ibiki-Sensei to explain it again”, Shin said a moment later; peering over my head in Sai’s direction.
The corner of my lips twitched as the door creaked open. “Yeah. You should do that”.
Shizune poked her head out; a smile on her face. A genuine smile. Not one of those painted expressions Shin or Sai tended to invent. “Lady Tsunade is ready for you now”.
Tsunade had more than just Shizune in her office. Ibiki was present also; standing with his arms crossed and scowling as we filed in. “Oh”. Sai blinked when he saw Ibiki before rolling his head my way. “Maybe this is about the bathhouse. Good for you, Rion. You might be right about something”.
… To this day, I couldn’t determine if Sai was condescending on purpose or if he couldn’t hear it. Snorting, I flicked some loose hairs out of my face and kept a trained eye on the twitching muscle behind Ibiki’s left eyelid. “Please. I’m right about everything”. From my other side, Shin started to cough.
“Bathhouse?” Tsunade questioned; eyeing us suspiciously. “Ibiki, what are they talking about?”
“A matter that has already been handled, Lady Tsunade”, Ibiki replied while scowling at the lot of us. It was a clear, silent demand to straighten up. Too bad it didn’t work. Nonverbal expectations went over Sai and Shin’s heads. While I just didn’t care.
As Shizune puttered about; refilling Tsunade’s tea cup, Tsunade sighed before letting it go. A skill she learned during her time as Hokage. “In a month Konoha will be co-hosting the chunin exams with Suna”, Tsunade folded her hands and tried to use her expression to impress upon us how significant this was. But then she remembered who she was talking to. “This will be the first international exam since the invasion. So, every village participating will be trying to demonstrate their strength and gather intel”.
Shin perked up. Intel was one of our buzz words and that was how Ibiki had taught him to respond. “Is T&I proctoring again?” Naturally, in the last two years we’ve spent together, I’ve told Shin and Sai about how Danzo’s perfect soldier plans were discovered. Which entailed mentioning Kabuto. Which led to describing the exams.
“No”, Ibiki interjected. “T&I cannot be involved other than interviewing the foreign entrants who will be entering our village. It would be unfair otherwise since I’ve recommended team eleven as participants”.
“No! Why?” I immediately complained; feeling like Ibiki had stabbed me in the back. And this was after I felt lucky that I managed to skip the exams the first time around.
Meanwhile, Sai bowed; a stiff movement that came off as begrudging. “Thank you for the honor, Ibiki-Sensei”.
At the same time, Shin wondered, “Do you think I’m ready?” Though he had to pause halfway through to cough into his hands.
Two of us were promptly ignored. “Team eleven is more than ready”, Tsunade said as she picked up a file to look through. “Through the span of two years, team eleven has completed over 150 D-ranked and C-ranked missions. Some without the presence of a Jonin commander. And that’s including the unplanned B-rank from last month”. Heh, yeah. Ibiki hadn’t been happy about that one.
“Sai. Shin. While you’ve used these last two years to work on application, you entered team eleven with skillsets more suited to the higher ranks”, Tsunade kept going. Pausing only to take a breath and swing her gaze my way. “Rion-”
“No”, I complained again; earning a stony stare from my beloved teacher.
“Rion has completed more B-ranked and A-ranked missions than any other genin her age”.
“And who’s fault is that?” I interrupted; succeeding in making Tsunade’s temple view throb. But, I mean, that’s what happens when you have one ninja you keep pushing onto other teams. My mission count was high because I got pulled in all directions. I hoped it would stop when Sai and Shin were declared ready for abroad work. But Ibiki continued to offer me up as a substitute to any team who needed it. Something about wanting me to maintain the ability to work with different people. Though, honestly, I think some days Ibiki just wanted a break.
“On top of that”, Tsunade’s tone dropped an octave as she narrowed her eyes specifically at me. “All three of you, as T&I agents, have specialized in a shinobi field. Something ninja typically do not do until they make chunin. Team eleven is already doing the work of chunin. Meaning… you’re ready”. Those last two words felt like a threat.
Shin’s coughing was growing worse. Water started collecting in the corner of his eyes due to the strain. Reaching out, I patted his back in between his shoulder blades. “So, sorry. But on behalf of team eleven, I’ll have to refuse. We’re not at 100% and I refuse to sacrifice a teammate’s well-being”.
The same frown from before was back on Sai’s face and if there was anyone who ever wanted to lob something at my head it was Tsunade. “Brat. As if I’m giving you a choice”. As soon as she said that, Shin, wonderful Shin, let out a particularly vicious and loud hacking cough. Causing Tsunade to sigh in irritation as Shizune hurried over; bringing a drink of water with her. “That said, Shin will not be participating in the exams. His health has taken a turn and treatment will have to resume”.
The fact that Sai currently resembled an empty void was the only reason I knew he was concerned. Leaving Shin to be fussed over by Shizune, I watched Tsunade warily. She set the file down, cast a searching glance at Ibiki, and said, “Team eleven will need to find a third”.
Okay. My mind raced. The solution to this was easy. We’d promise to find someone. Then I wouldn’t bother while Sai scared away all potential options. Come time for the exams, we could say we tried and move on with our lives. Easy. Nothing to stress about.
As if sensing what I was planning, Tsunade offered a grim little smile. “I already have a third teammate lined up”.
Please don’t say Sakura. Please don’t say Sakura. Please don’t say Sakura.
“An upcoming village reached out and asked to participate in the exams. They wish to use the exams to debut their village and announce that they are accepting missions”.
So… my mantra died off. Not Sakura. My initial pleading slowly started to be replaced with distrust. A new and upcoming village? How did that relate to a substitute teammate? I tried exchanging worried glances with Shin and Sai. But Shin was too busy working through some breathing exercises while Sai… didn’t have the sense to care.
Now, Tsunade was showing some teeth. Her smile grew alongside my dread. “Unfortunately, this village does not have any genin”.
“How can they participate if they don’t have any genin?” I asked the obvious question. Meanwhile, Ibiki slowly started inching towards Shin. Shin, who needed to lean some of his weight on Shizune. If Tsunade wasn’t currently speaking to us, Sai would have already been at Shin’s side.
Other than the flickering stare of concern for Shin, Tsunade seemed overly pleased I had asked. “The village’s founder and leader was never formally ranked”.
No! Something jolted inside of me.
“So, he wondered if he would be allowed to participate as a way to legitimize his holdings and form relationships with the other hidden villages”.
No!
“After discussing it with the Kazekage, I agreed to allow him entry. He arrived in the village this morning so he could train with team eleven before the exams. That should be enough time. Since Rion has worked with him before”. Then, as if he timed it, Shin stopped coughing the moment there was a knock on Tsunade’s office doors. His timing was so good, that I’d accuse Shin of faking if it wasn’t for his wheezing breath.
At Tsunade’s admittance, the door swung open and a tall, elegant figure slipped inside. His hair was the same length with the front bits framing big sparkling brown eyes. The same deceptive tranquil smile graced his face as he approached. Instinctually, I stepped back; accidentally causing Sai to take a protective step in Shin’s direction.
But at least his days of wearing a pink kimono were over. In its place was a pair of black pants that matched the sash keeping his blue top in place. However, what really held my attention was the headband tied around his forehead. Proudly displaying a singular rolling wave.
… People say there is a consequence for every action. I hoped this consequence would have stayed in the Land of Waves.