On My Mind

Family dinners were always something Izumi had enjoyed, especially breakfast. There was something exciting and so special about the way the three Yamanakas sat down together to enjoy their first meal of the day, sharing laughter and delight.

"'Zumi, sweets, how is the training with Kakashi going?" asked Miho, chin gently placed on the back of her hand while she looked at her daughter with a curious glint in her blue eyes.

"It's okay, but a little harsh sometimes since he kicks my butt regularly. That doesn't mean that I'm not improving, because I am!" She grinned at her parents, voice dripping with glee. "I even blocked several of his hits and kicks successfully. It was really really cool until he then kicked my butt, as usual. I don't mind, I will improve and get better. We've only trained a dozen of times or so, I still have a chance. But I'm pretty sure I have bruises everywhere now," Izumi scowled for a moment before she smiled again. "but do be a good kunoichi means to endure, right? That's what the elders always say."

Fuji intervened at the mention of the elders. "Not exactly, don't listen to their every word. They are old and often speak nonesense."

Izumi furrowed her brows in confusion. "But they are the elders, aren't they like, all-knowing?"

"Being old does not make you wise or all-knowing. They are more all-complaining if anything." Miho held back a scoff, schooling her frustration at the elders.

"Miho," Fuji wore a slightly stern expression, looking at his wife pointedly. "The elders may be frustrating, yes, but we still have to treat them with some sort of respect, don't forget that, my flower." His gaze softened once his green eyes met her blue ones.

"I know, sadly." She was dejected, frowning a little. The elders were difficult to get along with since they stuck their noses into everyones business, only to then intervene, complain and attempt to get their way. Miho despised them for that. They were the sames ones after all who got in the way of Miho and Yua's ownership of the Yamanaka flower shop, arguing that two women from outside clans should not lead the clan's business. Both Fuji and Inoichi had protested the claim and also won, though not without great difficulty. "Let's switch the topic, shall we?" she offered.

Fuji nodded at his wife. "'Zumi," he then began, looking at his daughter seriously, "today I will begin to teach you the Mind Body Switch Technique, the Mind Transfer Jutsu."

"But Fuji, don't you think it is too early?" Miho's worried gaze left the figure of her daughter and wandered over to Fuji, making eye contact with her husband. "I mean, she is still so young and..." she trailed off, frowning.

"I know she's young, my flower. But Izumi will attend the academy soon, if not now, when will she learn? And, let's not forget that you already taught her a mud trick of yours."

Miho bit her lip in her thought before she let out a sigh, "I know."

"Don't worry, mom. I'm ready! I handled what you taught me so I can handle what dad will teach me."

Izumi deliberately chose to ignore the time she accidentally underestimated her usage of Mud Release and created too much for the flowers in their backyard, effectively drowning them in mud. To make matters even worse: soon afterwards her creation hardened, even creating little graves for the destroyed lives. That incident almost marked the end of her not-even-started botanist career. Not her best moment.

The Yamanaka mind techniques on the other hand were more delicate and not as destructive, outwardly at least. It was likely that they would be a better fit for Izumi, although a trick up her sleeve such as Mud Release was never a bad idea.

Miho reached out to pat her daughter's head. "I know you are, sweets. I know you are."

Fuji smiled at his wife and Miho smiled back, although a little grimly.

━━━━

"The Mind Transer Jutsu is one of our clan's techniques, as you know. You could even call it our signature technique."

Fuji and Izumi stood on a empty training ground within the clan compound opposite of each other while the older brunette explained the jutsu he was teaching.

"It's the technique mostly associated with our clan, right?"

"When the user casts their technique, they take control of their target." Izumi's eyes grew wide, fascinated by her father's explanation. "Although, there are three things you have to remember," Fuji's gaze turned strict, looking as his daughter pointedly, "One, the user converts their consciousness to spiritual energy which is then sent at the target. Since it moves slowly and in a straight line, the target can be missed. For your consciousness to return to your body, it takes a few minutes."

"I will be defenceless then?"

"Exactly. That explains why most Yamanaka work better in teams, like with the Akimichi or Nara clan. It is also why we are long-distance fighters. Two, the let's say the user hits their target and evades their mind, what happens with the user's body then?"

"It is defenceless since the consciousness left."

Fuji hummed. "Indeed. This is why, again, it is best to use in a team or when you are absolutely sure that your body will be safe for the time being."

Izumi nodded.

"And lastly, when the user has invaded the mind of the target and the user's body is safe, the jutsu isn't successful yet. There are two things you have to be careful about now. First, if the target has a strong enough will or the user is running low on chakra, the target can resist the jutsu. Then the user is forced from the mind of the target."

A gasp left Izumi's lips at that. She should have expected it, really, but it was a surprising fact nevertheless.

"Let's say that doesn't happen, okay? The user is successful and the target can't resist, but then comes the last problem: any damage dealt to the possessed body is also done to the user. It is without a doubt the greatest risk of this jutsu, so you have to keep especially that in mind.

"Like a mirror?"

"Exactly like one," Fuji looked proudly at his daughter, a smile tugging at his lips. "Again, that is why there is the InoShikaCho, to avoid these issues. The Akimichi member of the team keeps the enemy at a distance, and the Nara either restrains them or manipulates the Yamanaka's body. It's a long tradition of trust between our three clans and the Sarutobi clan. Though not all members of each clan are born for the formation."

Izumi couldn't help but frown at that. She was made aware of her fate at a young age and already knew that no matter what feats she would reach whoever she would later be paired up with and herself would never be their generation's InoShikaCho. Her name did not soothe the issue either, as the 'Ino' part was missing.

"The youngest potential candidates are you, Choza's nephew and Shikaku's niece. However, since you aren't the future clan head's children, the elders will get their pants in a twist. But if you ask me, IzuSenChi also has quite the nice ring to it, albeit a little unique." Fuji chuckled at that, trying to loosen the tension building up.

"Would that stop us from ever learning the techniques?"

"No and don't let it stop any of you three. Don't forget, Izumi, you three have one important advantage over Inoichi, Shikaku and Choza's future children: you can choose your fates. Neither of you three were born with the fitting names for the formation, so you don't have to form it. It's optional for you. For them, it won't be."

"I guess..." Izumi's shoulders slumped and she looked a little defeated.

"See the positive, munchkin. You can't just go through life just thinking about the things that went wrong. Just because you aren't InoShikaCho, doesn't make you any less special." Fuji reached out towards his daughter to ruffle her hair, making the girl giggle. "It makes you even more special, you can be the next you instead of the next Ino. Remember that and create your own footsteps."

Izumi nodded. "I will."

"That doesn't sound determined enough to me." He teased, continuing to ruffle his daughter's hair as the amount of her laughter only increased.

"Okay, okay!" She almost squealed. "I see the positive, I see it."

"Good, always keep seeing it. Always."

"Always."

Fuji pretended to think about his next sentence, teasingly placing his finger on his chin. "Now, to enforce the positive you will try the jutsu."

His daughter was determined to try it, to do it and to make her father proud. She grinned and took several steps back to put some distance between the two, unintentionally creating more of a challenge for herself.

"Remember, it has a range of about ten meters, at least in my experience." Although I know you can surpass me, he thought.

"Oh!" She gasped and took a step forward to compensate for the distance she had created, before getting into a comfortable position. "Now I'll try."

Izumi felt a little unsure of herself while she went over in her mind about what her father had told her. She shook her head and evaded the negative thoughts to focus on the positive ones instead. The hand signs vividly flashed in thoughts so she translated them into actions. Her fingers slid against each other delicately, hands moving with precision in order to not mess up. Once she was ready, her feet planted themselves on the ground and Izumi began to aim for her target, her father.

"Ninja Art: Mind Transfer Jutsu!"

The sensation which followed was foreign to Izumi. She was aware of the steps that would follow: her consciousness would leave her body (leaving it to slump over, ouch), then it would enter the mind of her father, only to evade it and then leave yet again to return to her own body. Nevertheless, the feeling caught her by surprise and had she been able to suck in a breath, the brunette would have. When her consciousness left the comfort of her body, it swiftly moved through the space between herself and her target in a straight line before it collided with the body of her father, entering his mindspace.

It was a mesmerising place, breathtakingly so. The first thing which caught her cerulean gaze were the mahogany-coloured bookshelves lining the walls, impossibly so huge that they towered above her frame. Even more impressive was the fact that every bookshelf caught in her eyes was filled with books. Some had red covers, some yellow, others a leathery-brown and many had no cover at all, not one was like the other. The amount of knowledge that presented itself to her, which she found in her father's mind was incredible or so she thought. Within his mind, everything appeared endless, even the ceiling. When Izumi tilted her head upwards she was met with the sight of a twinkling night sky, stars so vivid and bright that they provided all the light in the mindspace. Beautiful.

Behind her was a looming presence, so dark it quickly became threatening. Like a large shadow the figure, it was stood, the consciousness of her father to fight off Izumi's. Evading the mind of a Yamanaka was no easy feat, resistance of the individual was expected. It was something Izumi was now confronted with. No description could make the feeling which crawled down her spine justice. Menacing, threatening and all their synonyms were words to describe the consciousness. One that intended to ward and scare off intruders.

Izumi gulped. She felt so small and feeble all of a sudden next to the consciousness of her father, to his show of power. I want to surpass him, want to have a bigger presence, she realized. It was her goal, an ambition she could follow. She could do this. The brunette grinned at the consciousness.

The consciousness shaped into the figure let out a chuckle. "Not so easy." Her father's voice echoed within his own mind, the figure extending a fuzzy arm towards Izumi. In an instant, the arm slashed out towards her to get in a hit.

Izumi was determined to not lose immediately and jumped back, landing on her feet but not without wobbling a little. She eagerly flashed him two thumbs up.

In response, the figure extended yet another arm towards her, repeating the previous action. Yet again, he was unsuccessful. The arm merely brushed the sleeve of Izumi's top but did not manage to grasp it. A little curse was heard though not from Izumi.

She enabled what Kakashi had taught her, taijutsu tricks to try to land a hit on the figure. Her dominant foot was planted firmly on the ground and she used it to push herself forwards, gaining momentum. With huge steps forward Izumi sprinted at the figure before she used her dominant foot yet again to push herself upwards to reach the middle of the figure. Kakashi had told her to focus chakra into her fist, had trained the techniques during the few times they had met up, so she tried it. Chakra moved into her fist, unstable but there before her fist collided with the body of the figure, sending it back and making it shrink soon afterwards. Not a win, but a success nevertheless.

"Yes!" she yelled out in glee, pumping her fist up into the air while she jumped up, celebrating her first success. Though it did not last long as her consciousness was evicted from her father's mind rather quickly.

As soon as her consciousness re-entered her slumped-over body, a loud thud echoed from beside Izumi. Her head turned to the source of the noise so quickly that it looked as though she would snap it. Where her father once stood now he kneeled over, hand placed on his left knee to maintain somewhat stability.

"Dad, are- are you okay?"

"Just fine, just fine."

It was obvious that he wasn't. Her father was not fine at all, to Izumi that was clear.

"But-"

"Munchkin, I'm fine." Fuji waved his hand in dismissal while he attempted to send his daughter a grin, but failed.

She scowled at him, at his blatant repeated lie. Lie. Lie. Lie. She pushed back the tears. "You aren't."

"I am, it's fine, don't worry." Fuji reached out towards his daughter with the same attempted grin gracing his pain-contorted features. Just before his large hand could settle on his daughter's cheek to bring her some comfort, to reassure her, to prove his point, but the girl pushed it away.

"No you aren't, stop pretending that you are!" yelled Izumi, squeezing her eyes shut in frustration. She hated how her father always pretended to be fine so she wouldn't know. She hated how he would push himself to his limits so they could spend time together. But mostly she hated how he couldn't admit when he wasn't fine. It was okay for him to show weakness, to not be fine. But according to himself, Yamanaka Fuji was always fine. Tears pooled in Izumi's cerulean eyes. "Just stop. Tell me when you aren't. Please don't lie to me, tou-san, please." Her voice cracked at the last word and a lone tear made its way down her cheeks. "I hate it when you do it." She whispered.

Fuji was at a loss for words.

"I'm sorry," he mumbled, gaze focused on the gentle grip his daughter's hands had on his shirt.

She took a deep breath, calming herself. "Just- just let me help you."

Fuji let out a sigh. His hand moved to rub at his eye, rubbing the bleariness away. "Alright, munchkin. Then help me."

"I'll always help you." she told him firmly, sending him a stern stare.

"I know."

"Good, now, give me your hand, I'll help you up." The older Yamanaka extended his hand towards his daughter and immediately her fingers enveloped his, careful to not squeeze the stump that was once his ring finger. Then she intertwined her other hand with his other.

"Ready?"

He nodded and Izumi pulled him upwards. Fuji used the momentum his daughter created to heave himself to his feet, legs trembling.

"Careful," murmured Izumi, helping the man lean against her much smaller frame to give him the support he needed.

The two remained in the position for a moment, catching their breaths. Izumi's chest heaved up and down with every breath, the pressure she felt becoming rather obvious and Fuji's left leg kept trembling, though the sensation became less thanks to his daughter's support.

"Next time I'll have to ask Inoichi to train you." he said jokingly, letting out a chuckle.

"I like training with you," admitted Izumi, sending her father a small smile. "Training with him won't be like with you. Just... promise me you will also train with me."

Fuji's pain-contorted features softened. "Of course, munchkin. I would never pass up the opportunity." He took a deep breath before continuing. "But Inoichi will train you well and I want the best for you. I'll ask him, okay? I'm sure he won't mind helping his niece out a little."

She smiled again, this time at the thought of her uncle. "I like Inoichi-oji."

When the blonde-haired man came over with his kind wife Yamanaka Yua, it was always a delight. Not only was the man intelligent as his brother Fuji was, but also had a great sense of humour (though in Izumi's opinion he was not as funny as her father). The time the child-less pair spent with her left her heart bursting and a smile on her face from the joy she was experiencing.

Fuji let out a loud laugh. "He likes you too. There were moments your mother I were scared that he and Yua would claim you as their own."

She giggled at the thought. "There is no place like home though."

"You're right, Izumi," He smiled at his daughter, a genuine smile, one not covering a pain-contorted expression. „There is no place like home."

"Let's go home then, d." She glanced up at him, at his smile and her heart felt warmer as her worries began disappearing. He was okay, he would always be.

"Yes, let's go home."