A strange new life

5.1 – Search for…

I didn’t have time to write anything when I approached the jounin commander. Nara Shikaku addressed me and the other two gathered shinobis as soon as I got closer.

“You’re here, please follow me.” Shikaku turned around, moved off the terrace and inside the tower. With a quick glance and nod towards me, Kakashi followed. Yamato did the same. With no choice, and my curiosity picked, I followed the jounin commander as well.

We went down, thankfully not underground, but into an absolute mess of a room a few floors away from the top floor. There was a huge map hung on the wall, scrolls and papers littered everywhere. The room was large, with desks scattered around, serious faced ninja reading, writing or in one’s case looking inside a small aquarium? Wild. We crossed the place, going to a door on the other side. It opened to a smaller office, still filled to the brim with paper, scrolls and a few personal details: two picture frames on the desk, a dark haired woman and a young Shikamaru. Even with all the chaos, the room had a feeling of organization to it. It was chaotic, but controlled.

Shikaku went behind the desk, sat down, his gaze briefly going to the pictures before he picked up a sheet of parchment. “Please, have a seat.”

I noticed Kakashi and Yamato didn’t sit. I didn’t either. I popped my board. “Thank you sir, but I’ll stand.” I wasn’t sure about the formality of things, but I was sure there was no harm in calling the jounin commander sir.

The man nodded, still reading the paper. “It’s abrupt, but we’re sending you on a mission.” Shikaku said without preamble. I tilted my head, not sure where this was going. “We found critical intel that can lead us to one of Orochimaru’s labs, and given your past record with him and your abilities,” Shikaku looked from the paper to Yamato, “the jounin leading this mission requested your assistance.”

Yamato nodded when I looked at him. Kakashi-sensei put his hand on my shoulder, gave it a comforting squeeze.

“It’s a dangerous mission, and given the recent developments, we lack the manpower to send a full search party.” Shikaku took another paper, read from it as well. “We are sending a jounin,” he nodded to Yamato again, “And three chunin to investigate this lead. Your objective is to acquire as much information on Orochimaru’s as possible, as well disable or capture any high importance target you may find. Any questions?”

It was dumb, and I already knew what was happening here, but an inner squealing fangirl-sama demanded I ask the question. It all made so much sense now. I wrote. “I’m not a chunin?”

Shikaku nodded, like he had expected it. “In the absence of an appointed Hokage, the jounin commander may give a field promotion when necessary.” He put the paper down. “Your performance on the chunin exam was exemplary, and you passed Inoichi’s test about keeping village secrets.”

I knew it! That whole situation smelled so bad it could only be a test! Damn I was glad I didn’t cave because Inoichi scared the crap out of me. I gave a mental fist pump, all the while my inner Fan-Girl danced and jumped and laughed.

“Your detailed reports of the situation, and crucial information gathering, the decision to save strength in the match to be at peak shape for a possible attack was noted. You have the recommendations of three jounin, and the Hokage’s endorsement.” The man stopped, looked away. Returned his gaze to me. “Sarutobi Hiruzen’s last request before he passed away.”

I blinked, blinked a few more times, sand got in my eyes, somehow. All the euphoria of the promotion died. My throat felt heavy and full. I was glad that no one expected me to speak. I felt even worse about not managing to save the old man. I nodded. Thought a bit, wrote another question. “Who are the other two chunin?”

“Hayase and Sai.”

I tilted my head. The first name meant nothing to me. I had no idea who Hayase was, but the second one on the other hand. Wasn’t it a bit too early for Sai to appear? I remember he was only introduced on shippuden. He was three years early. I cut that line of thought. This wasn’t a tv show. I gave Shikaku another nod.

The jounin commander continued his debrief. “You’ll leave tomorrow at dawn. You have the rest of the day to make your preparations. This is a secret A-rank mission, and you’re not allowed to share this information with any of your friends or teammates. The mission is expected to take up to three months, so prepare accordingly.”

I opened my mouth, closed it shut again. Damn, I needed to talk with Sasuke, and Ino, and Secretary-chan, and Naruto. With all the confusion, and rush for the exams, I never had the time to talk with Sasuke about the attack on the forest. But orders where orders. I would entrust Naruto to deliver stuff for my friends for me. I wrote on my board. “Understood.”

“That’s all,” Shikaku said, picking up another paper. “Congratulations on your promotion, and I apologize for the lack of ceremony. The situation didn’t allow for it.”

I gave a slight bow to the jounin commander.

After that, we left the office, crossed the busy intelligence hall? Gallery? Floor? I had no idea what to call it. Climbed down the stairs. For once, Secretary-chan wasn’t in the reception. It was another ninja who I had never seen before. I waved to the man, he nodded back.

Outside, Yamato was the first to speak. “I still have things I need to prepare. Meet me here tomorrow at dawn, Hinata-san.” The man nodded to me. He shared a glance with Kakashi, flickered away.

I turned to sensei, thinking how I could ask the question in my mind. Decided being direct was the best choice. I popped my board again, erased the previous words, wrote more. “Sensei, now tell me what is really going on.” I showed Kakashi the message.

Cool lazy ninja chuckled, gave me one of his crescent eye smiles. “I told them you wouldn’t be fooled.” Kakashi looked about. “Follow me, let’s get something to eat and talk somewhere private.”

I followed sensei into Konoha’s highway. We crossed the administrative district into the commercial area. Dropped down in front of an out of the way alley. Kakashi knocked at one door that had no markings or any indications what was inside. A young woman opened it. She was elegant, but still serious. “Please, come in sir.” She said, nodded.

I held back my question. What was this place? Was Kakashi-sensei taking me somewhere illegal? We entered a darkened bar-esque room. It wasn’t a bar, more like a private diner? I don’t know. I have never seen a place like this. There were several booths, most separated by walls with curtains at the front to prevent others from looking in.

“We’ll take one of the back rooms.” Kakashi-sensei said. The woman nodded, led us inside, past the booths and to a room at the back of the place. We entered what looked a lot like a private dining area. Weird.

“Should I take your orders now, or come back later?” The woman bowed.

Kakashi-sensei looked at me. I shrugged. I didn’t know the place. “Bring us two servings of the house special.”

With one last bow, the woman left, leaving me alone with Kakashi. He sat down, gestured for me to follow. I did as requested.

Kakashi, like me, didn’t seem to like beating around the bush. “Some of the Elders in the council want you interrogated for any information regarding Orochimaru. And with Lord Third dead, there’s no one to stop them.”

That made some sense. I knew the council of elders didn’t like me. I blamed Danzo for that. Even after all these years. I wrote. “Is the mission busy work to keep me away?”

Kakashi-sensei shook his head. “It’s a real, time-sensitive mission. But it also serves to take you away from the village until a new Hokage can be appointed.”

“Will the new Hokage look favorably on my situation?”

“That’s our hope.” Kakashi admitted eying the food. His tone didn’t give me a lot of confidence, but I knew the next Hokage would be Tsunade, and she was also cool, and pretty, and possessing a very distinct pair of characters.

“Who is being considered for the position?” I asked back.

Before Kakashi could answer, we were interrupted. The woman returned with food, another attendant, a young man dressed in formal ceremony clothing brought the drinks. The food was something like a hot pot. I saw a few ingredients I recognized there: Hard boiled eggs, dipped into an inviting brown broth. Daikon radish, konjac and an assortment of small balls that, going by the smell, were most likely some type of fish cake. There were, of course, more ingredients. Small pieces of potato, thin sliced cabbage and even noodles. It wasn’t a ramen, at least not in the sense I was used to, but it smelled so good.

The servers bowed after delivering the food, and Kakashi finally answered my question.

“You don’t need to worry about that, my cute chunin.” Sensei said, patted my head. 

I did blush a bit this time. Thank god the lighting was dim and my rosy cheeks wouldn’t show. It was nice being called a chunin, even if I think the promotion was fishy. “Do I need to wear that awful flak jacket now that I’m a chunin?” I asked sensei to disguise my embarrassment.

Full ARC name: Search for the Snake Hideout.

Alternative ARC name: The Honey Badger Contract.