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myaekingheart · 3 years

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119. The Choushoku Club

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"...And these children that you spit on as they try to change their worlds are immune to your consultations. They're quite aware of what they're going through..." -David Bowie

Rei toyed with the fraying end of her blanket as she stared up at the ceiling, watching the moonlight shadows dance overhead. She had made peace with her promotion once and for all but unfortunately that peace was short-lived. All too soon, Rei was struck with a harrowing realization: this was only the first step in a very long adaptational process. The impending doom of step two left her restless and caught in a cold sweat she couldn’t shake. Come sunrise, she would have to face the subordinates she had mistakenly failed.

Rei wasn’t sure if she could stand the confrontation. True, she would have Yugao and Toshio steadfastly by her side but the guilt of her transgressions was all her own. No one could take on the weight of that but her.

In retrospect, Rei was incredibly embarrassed by the way she had acted. Where was her sense of decorum? Her honor and dignity? She had behaved like a whiny child, not like a captain of the ANBU. At this rate, she didn’t even deserve the title but that was another matter entirely. Still, she hated to think of the way she had been perceived by the people she was meant to lead. If they ultimately decided to abandon her, she would accept it. After everything she had put them through, it wasn’t at all a surprising possibility. They deserved better. If only she had faith in her ability to be better.

Toshio nudged her hand as he shifted on the bed, smacking his lips and licking her fingertips—a reminder to refocus. He looked back at her with his big brown eyes full of hope and promise and encouragement. “You’re right” Rei sighed, rubbing his silky ear between her thumb and forefinger. Now was not the time to dwell on the negatives. Rei could not afford any more setbacks. She needed to muster an unwavering confidence in her ability, even if it was just a façade. She needed to do what was required of her, what was necessary for the safety and success of these young recruits. Their opinions of her were secondary. Rei rested a gentle hand on Toshio’s back, right between his shoulder blades, as she closed her eyes and heaved a sigh. Heaven help me.

As Rei stood in the locker room, propping her leg up on the bench to fasten her shoes, Kakashi’s mantra echoed in her brain. Those who abandon their comrades are worse than scum. A shiver ran down her spine—was she scum? She felt so. But by that criteria, so was the rest of her team. They didn’t give a single shit about one another and that was a problem. Unfortunately, it was up to Rei to remedy their apathy. Kakashi had expended so much energy into drilling the importance of teamwork into his students and now Rei needed to follow in his footsteps. She would have to take her fiancé’s words and meld them in her own hands, find a way to translate them to a new audience. Temawork above all else.

“Are you nervous?” a voice then called from around the corner. Rei’s head snapped up to find Yugao approaching.

Was she nervous? What kind of question was that? Of course she was nervous. Rei swallowed back her sarcasm and replied a nonchalant “I guess.”

Yugao chewed her lower lip, toying with the gauntlet strapped to her forearm. “You know…I’m glad you decided to stay” she said. “I’m sorry about the other day, too. I was really hard on you and I shouldn’t have been.”

Rei shook her head, trying to keep her composure. “No, really, it’s okay” she assured softly. She stuffed her civilian clothes into her locker and slammed the door shut. “I was being a selfish piece of shit. I honestly deserved everything that was said to me.” She sensed a second pair of eyes on her back and quickly scanned the locker room, paranoid, but couldn’t find the source. It was probably nothing. Her anxiety was just playing tricks on her. It was fine. Forcing a nervous laugh, Rei raked her fingers through her long bangs and added, “Besides, I’m sure nothing you said will ever be as bad as what everyone else is going to say to me after the briefing.”

Yugao pursed her lips with a minute nod. She knew all too well what they were up against. After all, Rei had failed them. She had told them all to go home, that they weren’t good enough. Yugao doubted any of them would really be happy about the situation even if Rei was trying to fix things. Not after everything she had put them through. Not after the mess she had made. But still, Yugao tried to have faith. “Just think” she said, forcing an optimistic smile, “After today, the worst part will be over. It will all be smooth sailing from here.”

Or this could be the beginning of a nightmare, Rei thought to herself but she shoved those thoughts out of her mind as quickly as they came. Sucking in a deep breath, Rei fastened her gauntlets and adjusted her vest. “I sure hope you’re right” she sighed.

From the other side of the row of lockers, a young, eavesdropping recruit smiled softly. Perhaps forgiveness was worthwhile after all. Perhaps this wasn’t going to be so bad. She gently shut her locker and stalled for a moment before stepping out into the light, pondering the potential of her future with optimistic amethyst eyes.

Following their morning briefing, Yugao corralled everyone around a table near the back of the room. Their faces were filled with panic, uncertainty, and displeasure as they eyed Rei like a poisonous insect—the kind highly recommended to be killed on sight. Nothing she said seemed to mean a damn thing.

“And what makes you think that we’ll all come crawling back to you?” Kikkake asked sourly. “Obviously you don’t give a fuck about us. Not really. So who you are doing this for? Yourself? Your ego?”

Sukui pursed his lips and shook his head. “Really, why would we want to be on a team with a captain who has so little faith in us?” he asked. “That doesn’t make any sense.”

“Listen, I know” Rei replied, raising her hands in surrender. “I fucked up. I know I made a mistake. I never should’ve screwed you guys over. Just believe me when I say that this is for the best. I want to help you guys. You’ll never find a better captain than me. Honest.”

Kikkake rolled his eyes, displeased. “Then that speaks more for the shit show that is the black ops than on your capability to change” he spat. “Do you really expect us to believe that you are the best the ANBU has to offer?”

Rei clenched her jaw, trying to remain focused and composed. If she was going to keep this position, it was clear she was going to need to fight tooth and nail for their approval. “Okay, I’ll admit, I may not be the best of the best” she started, and Kikkake scoffed in satisfaction. “But I promise, I am the best captain for you. You’re in good hands. I’m not going to let you guys fail.”

Hitsuji chewed his lower lip, wrapping his arms tight across his chest as if in attempt to make himself smaller. “B-but you’ve already failed us once” he added, quiet and anxious. “Statistically speaking, based on projected permutations, the possibility of—”

“Okay, okay, I get it!” Rei interrupted, raising a hand. Hitsuji shrunk even deeper into himself, a part of him hating himself for ever speaking up in the first place. “I know you don’t have a ton of faith in me. I’ve said I’m sorry. I’ve promised I’ll change. That’s all that anyone can ask of me.”

Arai pursed her lips, surveying her comrades stony faces and lack of faith. Rei seemed so small and pathetic like this, begging for forgiveness. There was a desperation in her eyes, something sad and pathetic and hungry. Kikkake rolled his eyes and the fear of irreparable failure burrowed even deeper into the pit of Rei’s chest. She searched the bald man’s face for even the tiniest ounce of sympathy but found none. Sukui leaned back against the wall, arms crossed and knee bent, appearing incredibly disinterested and perhaps even burdened by having to be there in the first place. After a long moment of silence, Arai stepped forward.

“Well, I think we should give her a second chance” she announced confidently.

“You what?!” Kikkake exclaimed. There was no way she could be serious.

Arai whipped around, glaring at him as she stalked forward and grabbed him by the collar of his vest. “You heard me” she snarled. “I think we should give Captain Rei another chance.”

Hitsuji’s eyes widened in panic, stammering, “B-but the statistics say—”

“Oh, fuck your statistics!” Arai shouted. “How about trying some goddamn empathy for once? Captain Rei is no different than the rest of us. She’s only human. She makes mistakes, too. If she’s willing to show us a little fucking humility, don’t you think we ought to do the same for her?” The question was far too immediate for Hitsuji’s fragile demeanor. He opened his mouth, choked on his words, then dropped his eyes to the ground in defeat.

“If you ask me” Kikkake started, swatting Arai’s grip off of his vest, “I think the black ops should show no mercy. From what I’ve seen so far, everyone’s a damn pussy. I’m surprised they even let some dumb kid lead a team in the first place!”

“Hey!” Rei interjected. “I’m twenty-six! Does this even look like the chest of a kid to you?” Here, she motioned to her breasts—despite the flattening effect of her tactical vest, it was clear by the stretch of the fabric that she was well-endowed.

Kikkake opened his mouth to rebuke but Sukui raised an index finger over his lips. “I wouldn’t answer that if I were you” he interjected and for once, Kikkake had to admit that he was right.

“Still” Kikkake glared. “Our lives are on the line. How do we know she’s not going to lead us to our deaths? I bet she wouldn’t even cry. If anything, she’d be happy to get rid of us!”

This was, surpisingly, the accusation that sent Arai over the edge. “You son of a bitch” she growled, abruptly drawing Kikkake into a headlock. “I’ll show you no mercy! Maybe you should’ve been sent home after all, huh? Maybe the black ops should show no mercy to you!”

“Alright, settle down!” Yugao implored. She lunged forward, ready to physically break the pair up. Toshio followed close behind, growling and baring his teeth. He would not hesitant to step in and help manage the altercation. “Now is not the time for in-fighting” Yugao reminded them.

“She’s right” Rei replied. She glared at the two combatants—a threat. “The first step to being successful in the black ops is working together as a team. Flexibility, resiliency, adaptation. Which means that we all need to find a way to get along. So far, you’re all failing miserably.”

“Not my fault” Kikkake muttered as Arai released him. He rolled the tension out of his neck, making note of his comrade’s iron grip.

“So how do you expect us to all start liking each other, exactly?” Sukui asked. He glanced to the others and felt his faith wavering. Kikkake was a brute, Arai was insufferable, and Hitsuji was absolutely spineless. They were doomed. It was almost even comical. Restraining light laughter then, Sukui added, “What do you expect us to do? Sit around in a circle and sing kumbaya or something?” The mere thought of it was absolutely ridiculous.

A sly smile touched Rei’s face and suddenly Sukui was filled with instant regret. “Actually, that’s exactly what I want us all to do” she affirmed. “We are going to spend the entirety of today getting to know one another.”

A collective groan swept across the room, shoulders slack and eyes rolling into the backs of heads. “It’s just like the first day of school all over again!” Hitsuji complained.

“Oh, come on!” Rei enthused, leaping forward and wrapping everyone in a vigorous group hug. The smile on her face was equal parts eager and dangerous, a sign that perhaps she was getting far more fun out of this torture than she should’ve. “This will be fun! I promise. Just be grateful that you all got a cool captain.”

If there was one thing that everyone else could agree on, it was that “cool” was the last word they would’ve used to describe this. As Rei and Yugao led everyone outside, Kikakke muttered sourly, “Yeah, if only we had gotten a sane captain.” Before he could even finish his sentence, Arai reached over and slapped him hard on the arm.

Luckily, it was a beautifully clear spring day. The air was warm and sweet, the grass soft, and in the distance echoed the sounds of children screaming with laughter. Yugao glanced to Rei, searching her face for a hint of the pain of what she had given up. Surely the wounds were still raw. Rei, however, had blocked out the sound completely. She refused to let herself think about it.

Once they had reached the large training field near the ANBU headquarters, Rei instructed everyone to sit in a big circle with her and Toshio at the very head. She surveyed the group as they took their seats and something small and unexpected tugged at her heart. Really, they made for a nice picture. Seeing them now, she saw not the chaos and helplessness from earlier in the week but rather youth and potential. She forced herself to remember this moment, to imbed the image into her memory. This was officially the start of something promising.

“So forgive my idiocy” Sukui started, “But what, exactly, is this supposed to do for us again?”

Yugao took a seat beside Rei and Toshio as she replied, “The best way to better establish teamwork is by getting to know one another. How are we supposed to work together if we’re all practically strangers?”

“We managed in Ishoku just fine” Kikkake muttered.

“Yeah, and that was fine for Ishoku” Rei countered, “But out here, it’s eat or be eaten. No mercy, remember? You can’t just get by on the skin of your teeth anymore. You need to actually put the effort in and part of that means familiarizing yourself with your comrades.”

“So you just want us to go around our big dumb circle and talk about ourselves then. Right?” Kikkake groaned. Rei nodded.

At her affirmation, Hitsuji immediately spiralled into yet another swirl of panic. He didn’t know how to do this sort of thing—talk about himself and socialize. Part of the reason he had joined the black ops in the first place was because he thought it would mean avoiding exactly that. Unfortunately, he was sorely mistaken. The importance of teamwork made perfect sense to him now, but he felt like an idiot for never considering it sooner. But if he had to do this—and he did—he needed a plan. Hitsuji awkwardly raised his hand like he was back in the academy all over again, asking, “What are we supposed to say?”

Rei shrugged. “I mean, the usual, I guess” she replied. “Things you like, things you hate, dreams for the future, hobbies. All of that good shit.”

Arai nodded slowly before commenting, “Why don’t you go first, boss? Set an example and show us how it’s supposed to be done.”

Rei blinked. Were they really so stupid that they didn’t know how to introduce themselves? She eyed Arai skeptically but found nothing but ingenuity, which unfortunately only made Rei that much more suspicious. What was she trying to pull here? Rei knew letting herself be vulnerable in front of her the other day was a bad choice, but what else could she do? The only option was to level with her, even if that put her at a disadvantage now. She hated to think of what kinds of things this girl was plotting with the information she had been given. But then again, she had been so defensive and supportive the entire morning. The shift was strange to say the least.

“Alright” Rei sucked in a deep breath, raked her fingers back through her bangs. “My name is Rei Natsuki, codename Aisuru, and I’ve been in the ANBU for about six years. Things I like and things I hate? Not important. Hobbies? Too many to count. Dreams for the future? Not really any of your business.”

It’s no wonder she and Kakashi get along so well, Yugao thought to herself. She remembered the day she joined Kakashi’s team so many years ago, his introduction ringing much the same. In Rei’s tone, however, there was a certain sharpness. A bitter defense dripped from that last sentence, especially. Clearly Yugao was correct in assuming that the sting of her abandoned motherhood was still fresh and painful. Her heart hurt for her. Rei had truly given up so much.

Before anyone else had the chance to comment or criticize, Yugao stepped up to the plate. “I’m Yugao Uzuki, codename Kasha, and I’ve been in the ANBU for about twelve years. I like cats and watching the moon, my favorite food is tsukimi dango, and my dream for the future is just peace and happiness.”

Yugao’s response was so pure and thoughtful, it seemed to wash away any reservations that Rei’s response, in contrast, may have forged. Her willingness to be open and optimistic among the others put the whole group at ease and filled the new recruits with an inexplicable sense of light and security. It was almost as if Yugao was a kindergarten teacher currying favor to her new, anxious little students. Much like the moon itself, she had a way of making others feel safe and seen in the dark.

To her right, Kikkake cracked his knuckles and opened his mouth to speak. After all, it was his turn, wasn’t it? Before he could make a sound, however, Toshio barked a happy interruption. Kikkake paused, staring dumbfounded at the dog, before meeting Rei’s unapologetic gaze.

“The dog goes first” she grinned.

It took a long moment for Kikkake to comprehend what she was saying. “Y-you mean..you’re telling me I’m getting stonewalled by a dog?!” he finally shouted. He glanced to the others in hopes that they would find this just as ridiculous as he did but alas, they seemed perfectly unaffected. Digging the heels of his hands into his eye sockets, Kikkake complained, “Come on! Where’s the manger?!”

Toshio, offended by the uproar, growled in Kikkake’s direction. Rei rested a tender hand upon his back to calm him, serving a reminder that “He is a member of this team, too, you know.”

Arai couldn’t help but smirk at all the chaos. Nothing amused her more than watching Kikkake lose his mind. And to think, this time it wasn’t even her fault. She and Sukui exchanged amused glances, finding a common interest, before Hitsuji leaned in and whispered, “What does a manger have to do with anything?” The other two shrugged, clueless.

Overhearing the confusion, a little light sparked in the pit of Rei’s chest. It was so rare that she was able to use her literary knowledge in a context like this. Leaning forward, she answered, “The Dog in the Manger. It’s an old fable.”

“But what does that have to do with anything?” Sukui asked back. It was clear by the look on his face that he was not a big reader. Unless, of course, it was Icha Icha, that is.

“It’s allegorical” Rei began. “As the story goes, there’s a dog lying in a manger who refuses to let a horse take what he’s not even using. The interpretation was loose but, I mean, hey, A for effort.” The others shrugged and nodded. Who were they to judge? They didn’t even know the story to begin with.

Kikkake was beginning to lose his cool. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize this was the book club” he complained. “Can we get a move on already? We’re wasting time!” Toshio barked yet again, perhaps the only thing he and Kikkake could agree on, and Rei urged the dog to begin his own little introduction.

Leaping to his feet, Toshio barked and spun in circles, chasing his tail and bowing playfully. He was adorable, there was no doubt about that, but it was also strange to think that he was trying to communicate something to them at all. Once he had finished and sat back down beside his master, the recruits all looked to one another in amused confusion.

“So, Captain Rei, um…care to translate?” Sukui asked.

Rei pursed her lips and nodded slowly, turning to Toshio who in turn gave an approving little bark. After all, what was the point of introducing himself at all if the others couldn’t understand him? It wasn’t his fault they never learned to speak dog. “Alright, so basically” Rei sighed, “he said his name is Toshio and he likes long walks, big sticks, and licking people’s feet. And that if anyone so much as dares to cross his master, he will rip your gut open and play tug-of-war with your intestines.” What was once playful confusion had now transformed into uncomfortable horror as everyone slowly turned their gaze yet again to the dog. Toshio, in contrast, seemed perfectly content—if not even amused. He barked in concurrence as he rolled onto his back, begging for belly rubs, his big spotted tongue lopping out of the side of his mouth. There was no way a dog this goofy could ever be so threatening.

“And we’re really supposed to believe he said all that?” Kikkake asked, unconvinced. At the slightest insinuation, Toshio went rigid and bared his teeth, proving that he was perhaps serious after all.

“I believe him” Hitsuji whispered. He sniffled as he wiped his running nose with the back of his hand. Utterly bothered, Kikkake swatted him away and tried to compose himself.

“Alright, fine, whatever” the bald man groaned. “Now let me fucking speak.” Arai rolled her eyes, leaning back boredly as she half-listened to his spiel. “Kikkake. 25. I like my space and I dislike people who invade my space. And I really dislike people who can’t keep their damn head on straight.” Here, he glanced to the others and frowned.

Hitsuji, feeling personally attacked, drew his knees up to his chest in an attempt to make himself as small as humanly possible. Rei’s eyes landed on him, a soft smile touching her lips. She felt sorry for him, really. He was probably the least fit for the black ops out of all of them but there had to be something that made him worthy of being here. Sympathetic, Rei motioned toward him. “Your turn.”

“Ah, oh god, okay” Hitsuji started. He shifted, trying to make himself seem more confident than he obviously was. “M-my name is Hitsuji Akado b-but I prefer the codename Chishiki. I’m 22 years old and I like math and science. My father is an accountant and I have a twin sister named Hiretsuna. A-and I’m also…t-terrified of dogs.” Toshio’s eyes darted to the poor boy and Hitsuji clutched his hands to his chest, eyes wide and heart racing. After a moment, he gasped and sneezed into the crook of his elbow, adding groggily, “I’m also highly allergic.”

Rei frowned as she scratched under Toshio’s chin. “Well, I can’t really do anything about the allergies” she replied, “But I guarantee Toshio would never hurt anyone in his pack. You’re in good hands.” In reply, Toshio gave a quick bark before rubbing his back enthusiastically against the ground. A cloud of hair flew up around him as he went.

Hitsuji wasn’t sure how comforting he found this, but he at least appreciated the effort. Before they continued onto the next introduction, however, Yugao paused and asked, “Wait a second, what did you say your sister’s name was again?”

Nodding, Hitsuji replied, “Hiretsuna. She, uh…she works at the hospital.”

A look of understanding crossed Rei’s face as a wide grin touched her lips. “I thought her name sounded familiar!” she exclaimed. “Brown hair, blue eyes, works reception, right?”

Hitsuji nodded. “That would be her.”

Rei chuckled softly, shaking her head in disbelief. “Damn, I never would’ve guessed” she said. “I mean, you’re twins, yeah, but you’re both so…different.” Hiretsuna was truly a sweet girl—after all, she was always so kind to Sekkachi on her frequent doctor’s visits—but her head was undoubtedly full of hot air.

Chuckling anxiously, Hitsuji replied, “She got the beauty, and I got the brains.”

Yugao shifted in her spot to get more comfortable as she replied, “Well, I’m sure your brains will come in handy on our team.” Hitsuji’s cheeks immediately burned red as he dropped his gaze and tried to remain composed. It was clear to Yugao that he was definitely going to be the type that benefits greatly from positive reinforcement. He needed the reassurance that he was not only welcome here but that he belonged here. That he was capable and a valuable asset to the team. Hitsuji’s gratefulness was almost palpable.

Yugao then slowly turned her gaze to Sukui, who had since laid down in the grass and was staring up at the wispy clouds overhead. It was as if he was in a daze, lost in his own daydreams. Rei waited only a moment longer before clearing her throat. “Yo, pretty boy. It’s your turn” she jested.

Blinking, Sukui’s stupor faded and he immediately bolted upright. His eyes seemed brighter than ever before. “Finally!” he exclaimed, running a hand through his hair before winking and shooting his index finger in Rei’s direction. “I am Sukui Yukio, codename Kishi! 22 years old, Leo, blood type AB. I like beautiful women and making others happy, and I dislike brutes and pushovers—” here, he glared to Kikkake and Hitsuji respectively. “My hobbies are serenading prospective dates and reading Icha Icha novels! Which, by the way, have I ever mentioned that people tell me I am the spitting image of—”

“Keihaku Goman. Yes, we are aware” Rei interrupted. The memory of her bizarre little one-off date with the man sent shivers down her spine. If she was lucky, she would never have to hear the name Keihaku Goman ever again.

Hitsuji withdrew even further into himself, muttering, “I-I’m not a pushover”—more to himself than anything else—before he was interrupted by yet another sneeze.

Kikkake, rolling his eyes, replied, “Yes you are.”

“As if you’re not some bald-headed brute” Arai joked, reaching around to poke Kikkake teasingly in the shoulder. Kikkake gritted his teeth, prepared to counterattack, but it was Arai’s turn to speak now and she wasn’t going to let anyone infringe on her moment. She locked eyes with Rei from across the circle and in those amethyst eyes, there was something different—something almost reassuring and uplifting. Before Rei could analyze it further, however, Kikkake attempted to rebuke but Arai slapped her hand over his mouth with a sly, satisfied grin. The strange softness in her gaze had vanished as quickly as it came. “The name’s Arai Kawakubo, but you can call me Dokyou. I’m 23 and I like boxing and sewing, even if I suck balls at it. I have an older sister and my grandma owns a clothing shop in the village. I dislike assholes and I especially dislike people who don’t know when to shut the fuck up.” Here, she grinned at Kikkake, sickeningly sweet. Another sharp jab at his unpleasant personality. Clenching his fists was all he could do to keep from pummeling her into the ground. She removed her hand from his mouth once she was finished, sitting up straight and proud.

Kikkake wiped his mouth on the back of his hand in an attempt to rid himself of her as he groaned, “Why are you the way that you are?” Arai tilted her head as she looked at him, urging him to elaborate. “What is it? Do you get off on throwing people under the bus?”

“You know” Sukui said with a flourish of his hand, “Brutal honesty is actually quite attractive in a woman!” Here, he arched a brow and smirked to further enforce his point.

Arai shot him a sharp glare, muttering under her breath, “Shut up, sweetie, this isn’t your fight” before locking eyes with Kikkake. “And why do you always have to get so offended by every little thing? Hmm?” she countered. “Why is every comment somehow a personal attack on you? Are you really that oversensitive, Mr. Big Shot?”

“First it’s my head, now it’s my self esteem” Kikkake muttered through clenched teeth. “Are there no boundaries to what you will pick apart?”

The conflict had meanwhile clearly triggered yet another wave of panic in poor Hitsuji. “P-please…stop fighting” he whimpered, recoiling. The probability of people breaking out weapons was surely at least 64% and if kunai were going to fly, he did not want to be in the proposed line of fire.

Tensions were mounting and Rei knew that if she did not do something soon, things were bound to spiral out of control. She glanced to Yugao in concern for a moment and was met with a single nod of approval. They both knew what must be done. If these kids were ever going to behave themselves, they needed discipline. The only one worthy of administering it was Rei.

Sucking in a deep breath, Rei rose to her feet and stepped into the center of the circle. Toshio finally rolled upright, watching with focused intent. This was about to get good. Bracing himself for the chaos, Hitsuji swallowed hard as he studied her every move. With fists clenched, Rei closed her eyes and focused all of her chakra. She envisioned kneading it like dough, forming it into a condensed ball with mass and weight. She felt the lump rising higher into the back of her throat. Then, snapping her eyes open, she launched a massive bullet of chakra-infused water straight into the fray. The bubble exploded on impact, soaking Arai, Kikkake, and Sukui in the process. They all fell silent as Rei grinned down at them in condescension.

“Ugh, absolutely disgusting!” Sukui whined, shaking the water from his clothes. “Why did I have to get hit? I had nothing to do with this!”

Rei shrugged, joking, “If you can’t handle the water, stay out of the pool.”

Arai shook her choppy hair dry like a dog, smoothing her short bangs back with a comical grin. “So you’re a water style user then, huh?” she asked, pleased with this new discovery.

“Primarily, but being a part of the ANBU also means you need to hone in on other chakra natures, too” Rei rose an informative finger in the air as she turned on her heel. “And it’s also important to know the chakra natures and other strengths of everyone on your team so that we can coordinate our attacks perfectly. There is no room for error.”

Scooting nearer, Hitsuji made a quiet little hand sign before a jolt of wind whipped against Arai, Kikkake, and Sukui, drying them instantly. Taken aback, Arai whipped around to face him but where he expected to find malice, he was instead met with an impressed smile. Hitsuji blushed and dropped his eyes, murmuring, “Sometimes it’s helpful.”

“I’ll say” Arai smirked, slapping him proudly on the back. Leaning across the circle, she then looked to Kikkake and mused, “Let me guess: you’re an earth style user, aren’t you?”

Unfortunately, Kikakke could not hide his initial surprise. His wide eyes and gaping mouth, much like a dead fish, were enough to sate Arai’s destructive cravings for the rest of the day. After the shock had worn off, he furrowed his brows and crossed his arms like a whiny child. “Yeah, and what of it?” he asked.

Shrugging, Arai leaned back on her elbows and replied, “It’s easy to tell. You’re stubborn as a rock but sensitive as soil. One thing goes wrong and you’re killing every plant in the area.”

That was actually a very clever way to put things—accurate but easy to understand. Rei had to admit, she was impressed. Skills like that were far more advanced than that of any regular rookie. “Where’d you learn to interpret chakra natures like that?” she asked, leaning forward in intrigue.

The only one Rei had ever known to have any semblance of knowledge on the subject was Grandma Teiko. Tucked away in one of her old books was a chart, the paper soft and print fading from years of use. On it was both the wheel of basic chakra natures as well as the way in which each chakra nature can combine to create new elemental subsidiaries. At the very bottom was a detailed list of telltale traits for each user—indeliable information for espionage, no doubt. In the middle of the night, when her life had begun falling apart, Rei would carefully tug that page out of Grandma Teiko’s book and read the description for lightning style users over and over again until the words became foreign and numb. To this day, she still had the excerpt memorized: Sharp and focused, hard to read. Concentrated, cold, unyielding, unpredictable. She thought of Kakashi and a shiver raced down her spine. She had refused to believe the accuracy of such a statement. There was no way that any of that was true of Kakashi, or at least not the Kakashi that she knew. Over time, she would come to discover the unfortunate ounce of truth within that analysis but where lightning was seemingly apathetic and condensed—a manifestation of concentrated, aimless rage—it was also unexpectedly nourishing and protective. It lit fires from long distances, sudden and prophetic, and could strike down enemies in one fatal blow. A shock of anger, yes, but also orgasmic, unhindered joy.

Arai sucked her teeth, digging her toe into the dirt. “My grandma used to have this book that talked about chakra nature and the personality” she explained and in the back of Rei’s mind was a ring of familiarity. “I don’t know where she got it form or where it went, but I used to look at it a lot when I was a little kid. I liked trying to figure out which of my friends had what chakra natures. The psychoanalysis of it was kind of fun.”

A jolt of something struck Rei in the chest, overwhelming and bizarre. Like a punch to the soul, separating her from her body. The tattoo on her forearm stung. In the back of her mind, a voice told her kindred spirit. None of it made any sense, though. It was stupid. She gripped at a patch of Toshio’s thick fur to anchor her, sucking in a sharp breath. Before she could spiral further, Sukui excitedly interjected and recentered the focus.

“Ooh, try me!” he shouted, raising a hand. “What chakra nature do you think I have?”

Cocking a brow, Arai leaned back as she stared at him. “Water” she said bluntly. “You’re bubbly, charismatic, and fluid. You have a nice voice and can be a little, um…much.”

Sukui’s eyes widened, looking to the others in delight. “Oh, she’s good!” he exclaimed. He then turn his attention to Yugao, exclaiming, “Try her next!”

Arai furrowed her brows in concentration. “She’s harder to pinpoint” she muttered. “I don’t really see her as much of an elemental user to begin with, but more of a yin/yang release type. Based on her clear connection to the moon, however, and her sensory abilities, I’d say she’s naturally a water type but hones more of her skills into other forms of ninjutsu and swordplay.”

A small, satisfied grin touched Yugao’s lips. “You’re very perceptive” she replied. Arai’s analysis was surprisingly approximate. Her identification abilities would certainly come in handy in the future. “So what about you?” she then asked, motioning toward the blonde across the circle. “We know everyone else’s chakra natures now but yours.”

Just as Arai went to open her mouth, Rei spoke for her. “Lightning” she said bluntly. She still clung to that tuft of Toshio’s hair. Her mossy eyes remained locked on the ground, her jaw tense. “My guess is lightning.”

Yugao blinked, turning to her captain. “How do you know?”

“Arai is sharp, quick, tactile. Every blow is concentrated and aimless” Rei explained. She knew lightning style all too well—as she should. She saw the same fire, the same cold and unyielding determination, in Arai’s eyes as she had in Kakashi when she first joined the ANBU. Her rage was chaotic, specific, strong.

Dumbfounded, Yugao turned to Arai to find that she was just as taken aback as the rest of them were. “Well?” Yugao asked slowly, quietly. “Was she right?”

Arai fought an incredulous little laugh as she leaned her forearms onto her folded knees and nodded slowly. “Yeah” she said. “Yeah, she was.”

A long stretch of silence encumbered the group then, uneasy and strange. There was a sense of anxiety in Rei’s eyes now and Yugao knew this mustn’t be a good sign. Don’t give out on me, she begged in the back of her mind. Not this time. Not now. We made a commitment, remember? Do not give up.

Rei tried to regain her composure but her mind kept sticking on one nagging point of contention: where did Arai’s grandmother get that book? Was it something that all the elders of Konoha had? An ancient relic from a bygone educational era? Perhaps. Or perhaps Grandma Teiko simply acquired hers from a former shinobi—Kaminoki did acquire a fair amount of used books for resale each year. They were always tossed aside on a rickety corner shelf and sold for a hefty discounted price. Rei’s father never could find the strength to ask full-price for books with broken spines and dogeared pages, books with life and history. Either way, it was not important. So what if they had the exact same book with the exact same diagram in it? None of it mattered. Rei forced the thoughts squarely out of her mind. This was exactly the kind of distraction she did not want to let ruin her today.

“Well” Yugao smiled to the group. “Now that we all know each other’s chakra natures, we can better strengthen our teamwork and make sure our attacks are especially strong.”

“Wait a second, Lieutenant Yugao” Sukui interrupted. “Now, I’m not fond of correcting a lady” he continued, and Arai rolled her eyes and fake-gagged, “but I’m afraid you’re not entirely correct!”

“Oh?” Yugao asked, arching a brow. Rei’s gaze snapped up from the ground, searching Sukui’s face for panic or pain. The prospect of something being wrong only further amped up her anxiety.

Nodding, Sukui replied, “We don’t know everyone’s chakra nature yet!”

Rei’s eyes widened as she surveyed the circle, trying to figure out who they had missed. She recited each verdict in her head as she went: water for Yugao, earth for Kikkake, Hitsuji is wind, Sukui water, and lighting for Arai. “Who did we leave out?” she asked.

A wide, childish grin touched Sukui’s face as he tried to restrain his laughter. “The dog!” he exclaimed, falling back and letting himself succumb to the pleasure of his own joke.

Toshio leapt to his feet and barked happily, spinning in circles. The idea was so ridiculous, Rei couldn’t help but crack a smile herself. All of the anxiety that had built up inside of her began to vanish.

Tapping her chin, Arai smirked and mused, “I’d say he’s a water-style user. I mean, have you seen the slobber on that tongue? Disgusting!” She said this with no malevolence toward the dog, however. Rather, she fought an amused giggle as Toshio jumped toward her and swiped his spotted tongue right across her face, drenching her in spit. She cringed, though clearly stil in good spirits, and wiped the residue away with the back of her hand as she affirmed, “Yep, absolutely disgusting.”

Patting her thigh, Rei beckoned her loyal mutt back to her side and chuckled, “Why do you think him and I work so well together?”

“You have a good point” Yugao jested. She, too, reached over to scratch Toshio affectionately behind the ear. It was nice to see that he was finally taking to the group.

A small, shy smile touched Hitsuji’s lips as he watched the interaction unfold. “I guess he isn’t so bad” he mused quietly. Though big and clunky, perhaps Rei was right about Toshio: perhaps he truly wouldn’t hurt anyone within his pack—or in this case, their black ops team. Hitsuji wanted to believe that the dog’s affectionate side was reinforcement that they were all in good hands; he wanted to believe that there was nothing to worry about. It would still take him some time to warm up to Toshio completely, but the thought that he was not very bad at all was at least a step in the right direction.

In response, Toshio grinned and barked once more, though kept his distance as if he could sense Hitsuji’s anxiety. And really, he could. He knew the poor boy was terrified and despite Toshio being slightly, instinctively pleased with that, he also knew that he needed to try to make this boy comfortable among him. Rei’s success depended on it and he was not about to hinder the progression of her career. She deserved nothing but good things and if he could help move that along then by god, he was going to.

By sundown, Rei’s anxiety had drastically depleted. Their little kumbaya circle had done some good, it seemed, after all. What was once a group of disinterested misfits had soon transformed into a team of hope and growing camaraderie. There was still more work to be done but a solid foundation had been laid. They all knew each other a little better now, saw each other a little more clearly and had a greater appreciation and understanding for those they would have to call friends.

And really, the breakthrough was necessary. Rei had quickly discovered that she was not the only one at fault. She was not the only one seeing this team how she wanted to see them, in the simplest terms and the most convenient definitions. She never cared to know them and they never cared to know one another. If sitting in a circle under the bright spring sun was what it took to break down each of their walls, then so be it. The results were worth all of the drudgery.

Upon returning home, Rei haphazardly peeled a little mikan from their humble fruit bowl—tossing a wedge to Toshio as a consolation prize—before humming along to the clank of dirty dishes in the sink. The setting sunlight filled the room with a warm, hazy glow, catching on the surface of the soap suds in a translucent rainbow. For the first time in a long time, everything was light and peace. Maybe this was where she was meant to be, after all.

By the time Rei was elbows-deep in soap and halfway through the dishes, Toshio leapt to his feet and began barking and leaping wildly. The key turned in the lock and the front door creaked open. Kakashi. A jolt of excitement struck Rei at the sight of him and she immediately rushed to pull him into a strong embrace. She couldn’t care less if she soaked his vest.

“Oh?” he chuckled, setting his supplies on the table as he wrapped an arm around her waist. “What’s all of this about? Did you have a bad day?”

“No” Rei shook her head. “I just missed you.” The smile tugging at her lips was oddly suspicious but if she was happy, then who was Kakashi to judge? If anything, her joy was a relief after the overwhelming anxiety of the past few weeks.

“So how did things go today?” he asked, brushing the bangs back out of her face. “How were the new recruits?”

“Actually…” Rei started, “It wasn’t that bad.” The more she thought about it, the more Rei realized that perhaps she even enjoyed their chaotic company. They made her feel young again. They reminded her of a simpler time, back before the black ops had made her distant and serious. A time in which she was not plagued by fear, uncertainty, and the numbing pain of difficult choices. Kakashi, delighted to hear that things were going well, cupped her cheek and kissed her forehead tenderly. A small smile touched Rei’s lips as she added softly, “You know, I think they’re really starting to grow on me.”

#rei natsuki #kakashi hatake #kakashi x oc #the scarecrow and the bell #naruto #naruto oc #fanfiction

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