Chapter 52
“Tell me, is the new year always such a big deal in Konoha, or are you putting on a show for us foreigners?” Suisho asked as they mounted the last step onto the plateau of the temple grounds.
“I don't normally attend, to be honest,” said Kakashi.
He glanced behind them to make sure Ishitaro and Subayai were still there. They hadn't wandered off, though Ishitaro scanned the crowd for Ino. Subayai had procured mochi from somewhere, though Kakashi couldn't remember seeing any merchants on the way up. All three of them had dressed up in warm woolen kimonos, and the vivid red-purple of Suisho's clothes kept attracting his eye. Part of him wished he had dressed better, but he knew it would have been a hassle. He wondered, too, that Tsunade had assigned him in particular to this. While he realized he could be more tactful than many of his colleagues, he had never thought of himself as a diplomat.
“Well, then, I feel honored to have you guiding us,” Suisho said, grinning. “I'm afraid I will have to impose upon you a little, though. We tend to keep things simple in Iwa, and I don't know the local customs.”
“I'll do my best to show you.”
“I put myself in your hands,” she said, looking at him from underneath her lashes.
Behind them, he thought he could see Subayai rolling her eyes. The crowds ahead of them shifted, and the offering area came into view. They watched as a visitor rang the bell. Suisho glanced at Kakashi.
“This is where you offer a prayer. First,” he said, spelling it out as another person went through the ritual, “you make an offering of money. Then you ring the bell, clap, and pray.”
“What sort of things do you wish for?” Suisho asked.
“Any number of things. Students wish for good grades, I think, and love wishes are also popular. Though I think most of the ninja population wish for continued safety.”
She nodded, thoughtful. “Makes sense.”
Before long, their turn came. Kakashi went first, going through the motions. He paused when it came time to pray, unable to think of anything that could possibly be granted. He realized he was taking too long, and went with the first thing that came to mind.
Please keep this girl safe, he thought, and moved along to wait as the Iwa team took their turns.
“What did you wish for?” he asked Suisho as she joined him to watch Ishitaro.
“Oh, it's not one of those things you have to keep secret?” she asked, smiling. “I wished for peace.”
“Do you want to be out of a job?” he asked, half joking.
She shook her head. “Missions will still come. Merchants to protect, the occasional assassination and the like, but no more warring between the villages. If people from different villages have to fight...” She shrugged. “It's business, not a blood feud.”
“And then you won't have to be a diplomat anymore, and you can go home?” he asked.
She laughed. “Peace is work. We'll always need diplomats.”
He chuckled. “Maybe you're right.”
Ishitaro and Subayai joined them, arguing about their own prayers.
“I already know what you asked for,” Subayai said, making a face. “The gods can't make it work for you, you have to ask her out yourself.”
Ishitaro's ears turned red. “Well what did you want, then?”
It was Subayai's turn to blush. She mumbled something under her breath. Suisho smiled.
“You're fine just the way you are,” she assured her teammate. “Whether or not you grow any taller.”
“You only say that because your reach is better than mine,” Subayai groused.
“Oh, look, we can get fortunes,” Kakashi said, directing them toward a small kiosk ahead, sensing the stormclouds building in Subayai. He showed them how to offer money and get the papers, and read over his own. It spoke of a minor blessing in love. He fought the urge to roll his eyes, knowing it would be sacrilegious.
“What did you get?” he asked the others.
Subayai's face only darkened further, and she crumpled her fortune. Ishitaro's ears glowed red, and he mumbled something about a half-blessing. Suisho, however, beamed at him.
“Oh, just a bit of good advice,” she said.
“If you got a bad one,” he said, glancing at Subayai, “you can tie it to a pine tree to try and mitigate it.”
“...reach,” Subayai mumbled.
“I'm sorry, what was that?”
“I can't reach the tree,” she said, face turning red as she pointed to where several others tied their own prayers.
Ishitaro snatched the strip of paper from her hand and walked over, tying it and his own to a branch without reading her fortune. She nodded her thanks as he came back.
“How about we go get some food?” Kakashi asked, steering them away from the area.
Ishitaro and Subayai walked ahead, talking about what they wanted to eat, while Suisho hung back to speak to Kakashi.
“Sorry about that,” she said. “Maybe they took it a little too seriously.”
He shook his head. “It's fine. What was your good advice?”
“Hm? Oh, this?” she said, wiggling her paper fortune. “Patience is rewarded.”
“And what do you think you need to be patient about?”
A sly grin crossed her lips. “I'm sure you'll find out eventually.”
---
“Are you ready to go up to the temple?” Sakura asked, smiling. “I'll be your guide for toda-”
“No,” Reikoku said, looking past her.
“Excuse me?” she asked, her smile faltering.
“Come on, Rei, just let the lovely lady do her job,” Uwaki said, putting a hand to his forehead.
“I said no. Our guide is over there.”
She walked past Sakura to where Iruka and Naruto stood in line at the bottom of the steps. In greeting, she looped her arm around Iruka's. He jumped in surprise.
“Oh, it's you,” he said, though he didn't relax. “Hello.”
“Yo! Rei!” Naruto said, grinning.
“Happy new year,” Reikoku said, offering a small bow without letting go of Iruka's arm. “I'm going to have to impose on you today to guide us.”
“Really, I can show you around,” Sakura said, stepping closer. “Tsunade-sama approved it and everything.”
“But I want him,” Reikoku said, nodding to Iruka.
“Rei, let's just go with Sakura-san, you're being rude-” Uwaki began.
“I. Want. Him,” Reikoku said, her smile dissolving. “Sakura-san can have the day to herself to spend as she wishes.”
Iruka glanced at Sakura as her shoulders slumped. I'm sorry, he mouthed from behind Reikoku. Sakura shrugged, resigned.
“As long as someone is with you, I suppose... I suppose it's fine,” she said.
“Of course it is,” Reikoku said, smiling again.
Sakura waved goodbye to Naruto and disappeared into the crowd. The line shifted, and to his surprise, Reikoku let go of Iruka's arm, abandoning him to her teammates as she snagged Naruto and led him ahead a few feet. Naruto glanced down at their linked arms.
“What's up?” he asked.
“Sorry to be so rude,” she said brightly, “but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to ask you more about Iruka.”
Naruto relaxed visibly, and grinned at her. “Sure. What do you want to know?”
“Everything, but I think we can start with favorite foods, life story, things like that.”
“Why do you want to know so much about him, anyway?”
“I told you, silly,” Reikoku said, giving his arm an affectionate squeeze. “I want him!”
His eyes widened. “But isn't he a lot older than you?”
She shrugged. “Nine years is not insurmountable. He's handsome, kind, and talented, and I miiiight have a bit of a thing for men with scars.”
“If you like scars, why didn't you go for Ibiki Morino?”
“That fellow with the bandana? Don't get me wrong, he's pretty hot, but by the time I saw him, I already had my heart set on Iruka.” She glanced sidelong at Naruto. “Why? Are you saying you don't approve of me?”
He frowned, thinking for a moment. “No, I guess you're all right. I mean, you seem pretty serious about Iruka-sensei. Just don't hurt him, okay?”
“I won't unless he asks me to,” she said, smiling wickedly, though Naruto just looked confused.
---
Sakura glanced back one last time at Naruto and the others as she melted into the crowd. She knew better than to take it personally. That girl from the Snow was notoriously single minded. She glanced around, wondering if she should try to find Ino or someone else to visit, or if she should just go home.
“Sakura-san!”
At the sound of her name, she glanced around. A hand raised over the crowd waved at her, pushing forward. Lee soon emerged from the press, followed by his teammates and Gai-sensei. She was a little surprised to see them in kimonos, though of course Lee and Gai wore bright green. Still, she had to admit it was refreshing to see them out of uniform.
“Ossu, Sakura-san,” Lee said, grinning at her.
“Hello,” she said, bracing herself for the inevitable entreaty for a date.
“I had thought you were guiding the Yukigakure visitors,” he said.
“Ah, about that... Reikoku spotted Iruka and... requested a change of guides.”
Lee shook his head. “I would have been quite happy to be guided by you. Still, if you are free, would you like to join us? We are all going to make wishes for the new year!”
“Sure, I guess so,” she said, feeling a little off balance.
They filed into the line slowly edging up the steps. Lee and Sakura led the group, and she half listened to Tenten chatting with the others behind them.
“Do you know what you're going to wish for?” Sakura asked.
“Of course! As I do every year, I will wish to train even harder to become a great shinobi!”
“Of course,” she agreed, smiling a little.
“What about you, Sakura-san?”
I'll wish for Sasuke to come home, the same as I've been doing since I was thirteen, she thought to herself.
“Oh, you know, probably something like that,” she said out loud. “Do you usually draw fortunes?”
He nodded. “Though I tend to draw worst luck, it only motivates me to work harder!”
“You never let things get you down, do you?” she asked, looking at him. “I'm a little jealous.”
He shook his head. “I have, at times, been very discouraged, but I am lucky enough to have Gai-sensei, who always knows how to help me. Have you been feeling out of sorts?”
“I'm all right,” she said, not meeting his eyes. “I've just had a few too many missions not work out lately.”
“I have faith in you, Sakura-san. You walk a difficult path, but I know you can face it.”
“Thanks,” she said, managing a small smile. I don't know if I agree, she thought.
---
“Kankuro's not with you?” Shikamaru asked, striding up beside Temari.
She glanced at him. “No, I'm here by myself. We drew lots for who would come back early.”
“And you lost.”
She made a noncommittal noise. “You know, I've been here for New Years before, and it wasn't nearly so big a deal then.”
He shrugged. “I think we're trying to impress you. Is it working?”
“I'll let you know once I've tasted the temple food.”
They made it to the top of the steps, the temple grounds spread out before them. In the distance, a bell began to ring, slow and methodical tones rolling out over the crowd.
“Midnight,” noted Shikamaru.
“Happy new year,” Temari said, raising her eyebrows. “Where's the sweet sake?”
“What, you're not going to wait until after you've prayed? Are you even old enough to drink?”
“I'm old enough to drink whatever I like, kid,” she said, smirking.
Shikamaru rolled his eyes. “Come on, we're holding up the line.”
They shifted ahead, and Temari's gaze wandered over the crowds. Not far ahead, she spotted Shino leading the contingent from Kumogakure.
“I've never seen a group look so uncomfortable,” she said, the amusement evident in her voice. Shikamaru grunted in agreement. “Their leader, Ayumi or something? She's up for jounin, too, isn't she? I wouldn't have guessed.
Shikamaru shrugged. “I don't think she has a lot of confidence, but she's pretty good in a fight.”
“Oh?”
“We were both on duty guarding civilians during Madara's attack. I got to see some of her moves, before we realized that fire was the way to go. I mean, they didn't work, but she was no slouch.”
“Aww. Did you make a friend during the fight?”
He shrugged again. “She seemed troublesome.”
“Never stopped you before.”
“And meddlesome.”
Temari laughed, but stopped abruptly. “Ah, look, it's finally our turn.”
---
“...and then you pray,” Mori said, gesturing to the offering box ahead of them as a woman in a blue kimono did just as he illustrated. “Do you have any questions?”
Choujuro shook his head. Mori looked to Izumi, but she gave no response. He moved his head slightly, hoping to avoid the glare off of the glass disks in her mask, and perhaps catch a glimpse of her eyes, but no such luck. The woman in blue finished her devotions, and Izumi stepped up, following his instructions perfectly, as far as he could tell. She stepped aside and waited as Mori and Choujuro followed suit.
“Would you like to draw fortunes?” he asked.
Izumi's head moved in an almost imperceptable nod. He smiled at her encouragingly.
“Do you like fortune telling?” he asked.
Izumi leveled a hand and tilted it back and forth. So-so, Mori guessed. He led the duo toward the kiosk ahead. Several civilian teenagers had gathered around it, showing one another their fortunes as they whispered and giggled. They made way for the shinobi, though they paid little mind. Mori read his own fortune, a half-blessing with no real detail to it, and shrugged.
“How did you do?” he asked the others.
Choujuro looked crestfallen, answering his question. Izumi said nothing, but pointed further on the path where others were tying their papers to the nearby pine trees.
“Oh, they say that if you tie a bad fortune to a pine, it will wait there instead of following you.”
Izumi nodded and slipped the paper from Choujuro's unresisting hands. She waded into the crowd of people, taller than most of them, and tied the fortune. As she leaned back down, she spotted one of the teenagers from earlier, shorter than the rest of her friends, struggling to reach a branch. Izumi took the fortune from the girl as well, and tied it up. The girl froze, gazing up at the kunoichi, a blush spreading across her face.
“Th-thank you!” the girl nearly yelled, before fleeing to join her friends. Once she had rejoined the group, she looked back over her shoulder at Izumi and gave a sheepish little wave.
Mori smiled and joined Izumi, Choujuro in tow.
“That was kind of you,” he said. “I think you have a fan now.”
Izumi gave no response.
---
A little more than a week into January, the chuunin exams began. Genin from the various villages gathered, wandering the village and annoying the civilians on their way to the academy. Naruto entered the old familiar halls, flanked by a pair of genin whose names he couldn't seem to keep straight. As he surveyed the crowd, he realized there weren't many rookies, for which he was privately glad. He felt less old and out of place that way. As they turned a corner, he spotted a pair of familiar faces and had to suppress a grin. Tenten and Shino stood on either side of the classroom door, genin crowded nervously around them.
“I'm telling you, it's not worth your time,” Tenten said, spreading her hands in a shrug. “Most of you,” she eyed the crowd, “Actually, scratch that, probably all of you, are bound to fail. It's a lot harder than you're expecting. Hell, the first time I took the test, our proctor was the head torturer. He had a lot of fun that day.”
The genin were muttering amongst themselves. Naruto could hear a common refrain, several variations on the theme of 'Should we give up?' He caught Tenten's eye and winked, and watched her try to hide a laugh as a cough.
One of the genin emerged as the bravest. She stepped forward and glared at Tenten.
“I don't believe you,” she said, though her voice quavered a little. “You're just here to weed out the weaklings! Come on, guys, we don't have to listen to this.”
She put her hand on the door. Shino moved almost imperceptibly. Insects swarmed out of his jacket and onto the door, crawling over the girl's hand. Naruto watched a shiver visibly go up and down the length of her spine.
“It's probably just a genjutsu,” one of her teammates said.
“I can feel their legs,” the girl whispered.
The rest of the crowd took a step back. The girl took a deep breath and slammed the door open, rushing through. Once her teammates had followed, Shino reached over and closed the door, letting more of the insects scramble over him. The remaining genin whispered among themselves, trying to build up their nerve.
Deciding that he'd given them enough time to scare the genin, Naruto waded through the crowd. He grinned at Shino and Tenten, and opened the door, stepping aside to hold it open for his team. After giving himself just a second to enjoy the looks on the genin's faces, he went inside and closed it.
---
Choujuro glanced up at the clock on the wall of the restaurant. The written portion of the exam should be winding down soon, and he had finished his food. He glanced at Izumi. Her food was gone, even if he hadn't seen her eat it.
“We should probably go soon, Izumi-san. They may want our help.”
She nodded, silent as ever, and they stood, leaving the restaurant. Outside, he took a moment to get his bearings, and they headed on. After a block or so, however, he heard a burbling sound, like water in a clogged sink. He stopped and looked around for the source.
As soon as his back was turned, he sensed a presence. In one motion, he turned and drew his sword, catching the incoming blade on Hiramekarei. Behind the other sword, a pale-haired young man grinned at him, bearing sharply pointed teeth.