fifteen.
Aburame Torune had disappeared. An adopted heir to one of the best tracking clans in Fire had walked out of Konoha and disappeared without a trace—no scent, no trace of chakra, no note, just Gone. Two months of tightened security and a joint effort between the Police and the Tracking division led to nothing. The Aburame clan pulled further away from the public eye, and the Uchiha were criticized for their failure.
That was all the public knew.
Torune was inducted straight into Danzo-sama’s personal guard. Ikaru nodded to him in the halls and didn’t shiver when his kikaichu leaked bloodlust into the ambient chakra field. She didn’t like him very much.
This would all be much easier if the Matrons had their own way of contacting Danzo-sama when they found someone, but that was probably traceable. Instead, messengers like Ikaru had to go out to the orphanages funded by Danzo-sama and gather reports themselves. She would make rounds around the continent and check on orphanages and houses at least once a year for possible recruits. Apparently, the person who had this role before her was more competent at their job. At least, that's what she was told.
“Your predecessor had a better sense of humor than you.” Said the blonde woman, taking a measured sip of her tea and keeping eye contact over the rim of the cup. “That whole unseen bit your group likes to do is not actually necessary. We can talk to each other.”
Ikaru stayed silent, wondering when she would get the actual report. It had been a couple of minutes already, not long but other Matrons were usually more prompt than that. Hisako-san must be desperate for news from the Foundation.
“We will be working together after all, Ei.” Hisako’s eyes were trying to find Ikaru’s in the blackness of the mask openings, and Ikaru took a small amount of satisfaction that she never made direct eye contact. Matron Hisako of Konohagakure’s Orphanage was not as patient as she remembered. Or as terrifying.
“It can pay to have allies outside your own circle, I hope you remember that in the coming years.”
Bold.
“Hisako-san.” Ikaru intoned, not even needing the tonal diffuser of the mask to sound blank, “Danzo-sama sends advice. He recommends that you pull your hand back before you overreach your bounds.”
“Oh?” She said, her neutral expression remaining unchanged. However, her chakra wasn’t hidden well enough and it showed her anxiety. “I see, tell your master that I will take his message to heart.”
Ikaru twitched slightly at that word, master. A muscle in her arm tensed. The Matron must have caught it and satisfaction bloomed into her chakra. In the minutes the woman spent on one sided small-talk she had been needling at Ikaru, trying to get some sort of reaction. Ikaru hadn’t responded to the calling of the name ‘Ei’, because that was not her designation.
Seemingly satisfied with ruffling the masked girl, Hisako-san said she hadn’t found any children with promise as of yet. Ikaru hid in a chameleon jutsu and left, distracted.
Underneath her mask, her forehead wrinkled. She couldn’t explain it but something was just wrong with that word. Master?That was a harsh word. Hisako-san was the one who taught E- Ikaru how important your words were, why did she use such a word? It was inaccurate for one and offensive. Master was the descriptor of an unkind iron fist, not like Danzo-sama at all.
Danzo-sama was stern but he was concerned with the protection of Konoha, and he was kind to take worthless no-ones from all over and turn them into protectors. Without Danzo-sama she would be-
Ikaru looked at the village, brightly lit windows glowing in the evening shadow. Warm-colored roofs fade into the cool colors of the night, and the sense of trees welcoming their citizens home.
She paused. She would be a genin, on track to become a desk-nin, taking care of a little boy. Ei was a small and poor orphan, charged with caring for an unloved weapon.
Orange chakra came into focus in the distance, and she had a traitorous thought.
Would that have been so bad? A quiet life.
She shook her head harshly, maybe rattling her brain would make the thought leave. Her seal pulsed in a warning. No. She was chosen for this life.
Her run came to a stop at the base of a large tree outside the main center of the village. The trunk of the Hashirama tree was at least four times the width of her waist. Her senses showed no one watching, Ikaru put a small amount of chakra into her finger and tapped a knot on the tree. A seal disguised in the tree bark glowed lightly in her senses, checking for the small trace of Danzo-sama’s chakra in her seal. It admitted her and she passed into the tree and exited in a tunnel. The path was pitch black, but the fuinjustu at regular intervals along the earth walls lit her way.
She stayed in base long enough to grab some travel supplies, and unsubtly tell everyone in the armory Hisako was trying to get back into Danzo-sama’s inner circle. Whether that was true or not, wasn’t her problem.
Ikaru went to three orphanages in Fire country, one in Grass, gave a package to someone trying to infiltrate the Grass Daimyo’s harem, stopped at a children’s home, made note of an insurgent group in Whirlpool, made it back to base to report, wash, rinse, repeat.
Make note of potential recruits in Anbu, deliver message to councilmen this, deliver message to council that. Stalk prodigies. Send a message to Tsuchinoe. Spar. Report traces Orochimaru’s chakra signature, eliminate the curse-mark bearer, escort Orochimaru’s new liaison Kabuto to base, and deliver messages. Train. Mission. Wash, rinse, repeat.
In this way, time passed quickly. A schedule of sorts formed. Missions kept her busy and the little time she had in between her tasks was spent on training to become better. Somehow along the way, running across the country to deliver a letter from a nobleman to a missing-nin had become a menial task. Ikaru tried not to dwell on it.
“And you are sure he can keep up?”
“He’ll have to.” The Matron said scornfully. “It’s not that far anyway.” It wasn’t far for Ikaru, who was almost twelve years old and chunnin level.
Ikaru looked doubtfully at the solemn boy. She didn’t think she could run all the way to Konoha from Kizaki-ko when she was six years old. Supposedly, this woman trained her charges before sending them to the foundation. It sort of made sense, it was certainly possible in a small out-of-the-way children’s home in a bustling tourist city.
“I’m not carrying you.” She told the boy. He was skinny and pale, and his dark hair fell into his face. He’d fit right in with the Uchiha if he didn’t have such a prominent earth chakra. A small pack was tied around his waist, the slight glow in her senses suggesting a large store of chakra-infused ink inside.
“That is unnecessary.” He said. He stared into her mask without flinching. He seemed a little nervous, but there was no fear in his chakra. Good sized reserves, but a little worrying considering how young he was. Ikaru didn’t think she knew the word ‘Unnessecary’ when she was four, much able to less say it.
He managed to make it almost two-thirds of the trip without stopping. Impressed despite herself, she stopped just before the forests around Konoha’s walls to let him collect himself. He was panting but he didn’t curl up on himself, instead taking small sips of water and steady breaths. She had thought his paleness was from his nerves, but he was pale even with the flush from the nonstop two-day run. Ikaru had definitely gone easy on him and didn’t run as fast as she could have, but he made an impressive showing nonetheless.
Once he caught his breath, she slapped a tag on his arm. He went limp, the knockout seal activating and keeping him in a calm, dreamless sleep. Ikaru shuffled him onto her back, her shoulders weren’t wide enough to just throw him over her shoulder, and took the rest of the journey in a series of shunshin jumps. It would have only taken an hour or so to get there on foot, but she wasn’t supposed to let the trainees see the entrances. She dropped him on the floor of one of the cabins hidden away in the forest. Then, feeling a little bad for him, rolled out a dusty futon and laid him on it.
She reported his arrival, then went to her own room to quietly lose her mind. The mask was shed immediately, tossed onto a desk, and forgotten. Ikaru crawled onto her bed, watching the door for anyone who might bring a message with her hands tangled into her hair. Her breath was even and she was dry-eyed, but she felt fragile.
Ikaru’s job was only to take messages back and forth between the instructors and the Matrons, she was not supposed to escort anyone. But there was no point in calling someone else to do it when she was perfectly capable.
Ikaru had just delivered someone else to the foundation. That boy didn’t even have a designation. That Matron called her recruits by numbers. There were only eight kids there.
He was not afraid, he wasn’t confused. He seemed to know exactly where he was going.
Her own introduction to the Foundation was… not that.
Was that what it was like to be chosen? Is that how Danzo-sama chose his shinobi?
The way he said it was like Ei had been personally handpicked from the dirt, but from what she had seen the trainees were just abducted. This child was good at sealing, no one would miss him, so he was trained up and dropped into the program.
Her nails dug into her scalp and she drew her legs closer to her core. She breathed in steadily and exhaled the same way. She was fine. Ikaru had things to do.
Today was one of the rare occasions that she actually had nothing to do. She bought a new set of civilian clothes to replace the ones she grew out of, brought a new ribbon for her hair, and pretended to be Tasumi, a simple civilian girl.
A paper bag crinkled at her side as she walked through the daytime Shinobi market. It hit her legs as she walked with the gait of a civilian.
Why am I doing this?
She passed an old man manning a small charcoal grill. Her gaze lingered just a bit too long on the rustic senbei, and the old man smiled at her. His face was wrinkled from sun and smiles, it beckoned her to come close and buy a bag of fresh crackers. The expression faltered at her blank look, she hastily fixed a more appropriate smile on her mouth and walked away.
Why?
She paused at a booth, pretending to examine the colorful cords in earnest. Colored ninja wires wound around her wrists disguised as a bracelet flashed in her eyes as she reached forward to finger the bright blue cord in front of her.
“Do you like this one?” A dark-haired girl leaned slightly over the booth's counter, “It’s a lovely sky color isn’t it? This color would look very pretty with your brown hair. These too!” Her bright face was genuine, and her chakra was light as she lightly touched the shining blue cords next to the one Ikaru had picked up. The girl spoke with a graceful and quiet tone, though the shining quality of her meager civilian chakra showed how content she was.
“Yes,” Ikaru said quietly. They were a pretty color. She didn’t have a need for pretty things in a long time. The beetle pattern on the girl’s haori sleeve, which she thought was a turtle pattern, caught her eye. “Is this Aburame silk?” She asked, finally looking up.
“It is. I hope that wouldn’t bother you.”
“It won’t. Just curious.” Ikaru bought the sky-blue cords that caught her eye at first, then bought the dark green cord as well. She stood still as she let the girl tie them around her wrist. The naturally dyed silk had a slight sheen to it, reminding her of beetle wings.
Why am I doing this? She thought tiredly. She had no mission today, so there was no consequence to letting her feet wander. Ikaru should have just taken another mission. Something far away so she could just run and not think. Going into the village wasn’t peaceful like she thought it would be, it just was confusing. Her thoughts went on the back burner, and the ambient chakra filled her mind instead.
Loud-happy-Sorrow-greed-Bright-blue-Embers-anger-Mischeif-grief-contentment. She felt small in the ambience. When she saw the village like this, zoomed out to see the everyone but not looking close, Konoha looked like one big forest. Sensations and thoughts passed in a flicker, the raw edges of her mind calmed by the lack of individuality. She was just a small part of Konoha, her feelings didn’t mean anything in the grand scheme.
“I haven’t seen you in a while! Welcome back!”
She started, looking up from her sandals.
“Suprised? I don’t forget a customer’s face.” Teuchi was smiling, tapping the side of his head. “I’ve got a good memory, you have to be smart to work in these sorts of areas. Same order as last time?”
Ikaru blinked. Then a hasty smile fixed itself on her face. “Not hungry.” She said lamely. She wasn’t doing a good job of acting like a happy normal civilian.
“You could just hang around,” He said, gesturing to the tall bar stools. “Got plenty of kids around here who just want to be in a familiar place.”
She stared at him silently for a second, smile still in place. “Sure!” she chirped, just a bit late.
Why was she doing this? What was the point of this? Why do I pretend to be normal and go back to the mission right after? If I wanted to stalk Naruto I could, why do I hurt myself like this?
Now seated, she looked out into the street with the same smile. Teuchi-san and Ayame didn’t talk to her, but Ayame set a glass of water by her. She pulled a book from the paper bag, a short story she bought just for the cover, and placed it on the counter.
Do I just like spending money? I don’t really need to dress up.
Streets became a little more crowded as lunch hour began. A dirty genin team walked past, bemused sensei not far behind them. The kunoichi of the team had a buzz in her chakra. Aware that her smile had become somewhat fixed, she kept staring out as if she never saw, willing her eyes to pass over the group without recognition.
Do I even like seeing Naruto? I knew him for only a year, and he was only a baby. I’ve known Kinoe-senpai longer than that and I don’t feel like crying when I see him.
Kinoe wasn’t even in the village right now.
Maybe I just want the nostalgia. Chasing the feelings I used to have.
Ikaru couldn’t even pretend that she was empty. She knew she wasn’t emotionless. The training to get rid of confusing emotions clearly didn’t work on her, and she didn’t know why she was still part of the Foundation. Surely, Danzo-sama must know that she wasn’t a perfect shinobi. She just couldn’t force her chakra into the mold of a perfect shinobi, that’s why she was still a messenger after all this time.
The seal was supposed to make her a better shinobi and suppress all those confusing emotions, but here she was, thinking about feelings. Maybe that was it. Danzo-sama just kept her around to have a sensor on hand, and she didn’t need to be perfect.
She wanted to laugh. Was that the grand purpose she was chosen for?
One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight.
Hell yeah.
That’s enough for Ichiraku’s weekend discount! Naruto threw his fists in the air in a silent cheer, silent because his downstairs neighbors would complain if he was loud, his hard-earned ryo clenched in his hands. He was just gonna see if he could catch something from the Naka like usually did when he ran out of money, but he found an extra three ryo in the park today.
The one extra ryo was stashed with the rest of his rent money in the froggy pouch under the sink, the other seven in his pocket. The cheerful jingle as he bounced down the stairs made him grin.
He made his way down the three flights of stairs, jumping off the last three and landing super stealthy- just like a real ninja.
He whistled a cheerful tune as he walked downtown with hands clasped behind his head, ignoring the gossipy ladies who pulled their kids away from him and taking a back alley to avoid the crowds around all the izakayas downtown.
He checked just one more time, making sure he actually did have enough. One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven. Naruto rushed the rest of the way to his favorite stall.
“Teuchi-ji! I’m back!” The curtains almost brushed the top of his hair as he ran under them, saying Hi to Ayame-nee as he skidded to a stop in the dirt. His cheerful shout scared a girl reading at the counter. “Oh, uh- sorry ’nee-san.” He apologized quickly.
“No, it's fine.” She muttered without looking at him. “You’re forgiven.”
Naruto brushed off the incident and climbed onto a stool. “Tonkatsu Miso!” He smacked his handful of coins on the counter proudly, “Extra Chashu Please!” A second later a slip of paper joined the meager pile of coins, a coupon.
Not expired this time! He checked. Twice.
He swung his legs back and forth on the stool while he waited for his meal. He could hardly wait! Friday discount, plus a coupon, plus lunch rush prices meant… an Extra Extra Large bowl! The ryo covered the extra toppings.
The girl two seats down from him was reading her book still, she didn’t look like she had ordered any food. She looked kinda familiar actually - Naruto leaned slightly closer down the counter, squinting at the girl.
“Do I know you? You look super familiar ‘ttbayo.”
“I’ve been here before, I paid for you once.” The girl said. She folded her book closed and turned to him. The girl looked a bit like Ayame-nee, with brown hair and eyes and a round face. Her hair was a darker brown though.
Naruto tilted his head to the side as he considered her. She remained still. She kinda looked like-
“Here you go Naruto.” Ayame-nee carefully set down a steaming bowl bigger than his head of heavenly goodness in front of him. “Enjoy!”
Naruto’s thought was forgotten as he broke a pair of chopsticks with a grateful shout, “Itadakimasu!”
He ate the first bowl quickly, laser-focused on his meal. When he had slurped the dregs from the bowl, he finally remembered his unfinished thought. The bowl in his hands was set down carefully, and he swiveled around in his stool to face the girl.
“I’m Uzumaki Naruto, what’s your name?” He asked bluntly. The girl’s face twitched slightly, but he didn’t notice. “I’m pretty sure I used to know you. You’re like, super familiar.”
What.
It actually shocked her enough that she froze, then had to fix her face into a confused expression to cover the stillness of her face. Luckily, Naruto’s masked shadows didn’t seem to be paying any attention. If she were tasked with observing the Jinchurriki she wouldn’t have let such a strange remark slide.
Familiar?
Familiar???
“My name is Tatsumi. I don’t think we’ve met before?” She said, sounding even and perfectly normal. She didn’t come to Ichiraku that often did she? Ikaru only came every - four months? She did the mental math quickly, the last time she was here was five months ago. Was paying for his dinner really that memorable?
Was it that out of place for a stranger to make up the extra for a little kid? What kind of life had this boy been living?! In his five years, had not a single person paid for his meal? Confusion and rage alike were mounting. The boy hummed in thought and tilted his head to the other side. How could anyone see that face and compare it to the Nine-tailed beast? She was there! It didn’t look like that!
“This might sound kinda weird but- I think there's a picture of you in my apartment.”
“What.” The response was instinctual and sounded too harsh. Naruto flinched back, his expression stuttering. The gentle ambiance of the stall quieted slightly, but she didn’t care. The Anbu on duty still wasn’t paying full attention, they were’t even in close vicinity.
“Uh well, there's this picture. Um, a couple actually. The girl in there looks- um- a bit like you…” He trailed off, quieting under her gaze.
Ikaru blinked. Picture? She was under the impression that Hisako-san would have erased her presence completely. Why were the photographs not removed? “I apologize, I was just confused.”
Ikaru’s hand twitched forward as if she lean closer as well. She stopped herself. What was the point? Anbu would definitely notice if she engaged, what if they reported it?
“You don’t gotta be sorry, it was a pretty weird thing to say.” He scratched at his cheek, gaze turned down. “I won’t bother you anymore.” He was turning to leave.
Ikaru’s panicked slightly. “Wait.”
Her thoughts raced. What was the worst that could happen? Danzo-sama finds out she was indulging in nostalgia and she has to redo training. Would the Yamanaka wipe her mind? Would he even care? Anbu reports that the Jinchurriki had a singular positive interaction? She was in civilian clothes, her chakra levels suppressed down to the level of a child, and she didn’t look like a threat.
Even if this interaction made its way back to Danzo-sama, she could spin it as scouting. Recruitment. Which was her job. Yeah.
“I’m not offended, Uzumaki-kun.” She said quickly. “I have a very common face, maybe you were thinking of someone else. I apologize if I reacted strangely.” Ikaru let an apologetic smile break the stern shell on her face as she scooted one seat down to sit closer. “The merchant guild I am traveling with comes to Konoha often, we will probably see each other here again. Maybe once we meet a couple more times you will recongnize me.”
Naruto’s face was an open book, a mix of relief and wariness. “You aren’t mad?” He asked cautiously.
“It was a simple mistake.” She brightened her expression like she just got a new idea, “Let’s start fresh! My name is Tatsumi, what is your name?” She pointed to herself, then to him in turn.
Naruto blinked once, then a wide grin quickly appeared on his face. “Uzumaki Naruto, dattebayo!”
“Nice to meet you, Uzumaki-kun. Would you like to be friends?” She held a hand out to the boy, matching his grin with one of her own. It felt strange to smile so widely, to feel her face stretched and her eyes crinkle. It felt good.
His chakra read with hesitation, afraid that it would all be a trick, but he took the offered hand and shook it vigorously. “Yeah! Call me Naruto though!” She didn’t mention the misty eyes and neither did he. Ikaru closed the distance and sat right next to him, telling Naruto all about her trading guild and the supposed places she’d traveled.
Both of them left the stall together, Ikaru tied the green cord around his wrist as a promise she would see him next time her merchant's guild was in Konoha. Already, she was planning her normal messenger route to make room for an off day in three months. She would also make a point to show up on routes leading to Konoha and follow tea merchant's groups. Her loose civilian identity “Tatsumi” was an accountants assistant with a contract to a tea guild, she would make that cover more iron-clad by following the group out and placing a light genjustu on the accountant to give them a memory of an assistant who liked to wander.