Cherry Blossoms and Chakra Strings: A Cause for Concern

A Cause for Concern

The Hokage's office was packed to the brim with Iwabi's colleagues, each of them eagerly awaiting the man’s address. The  man himself leaned against the back wall, trying to remain inconspicuous amidst the sea of flak jackets. He wasn't particularly fond of these gatherings; too many high-ranking shinobi in one room usually spelled trouble, or at the very least, a headache.

Shisui stood next to him, looking entirely too relaxed for someone about to be addressed by the leader of the village. The Uchiha was busy inspecting his fingernails, feigning boredom.

“So,” Iwabi started, keeping his voice low so it wouldn't carry over the murmur of the room. “What are you doing here? I thought you didn't have a genin team to look after.”

Shisui glanced up from his nails, a lazy grin spreading across his face. “Just looking to see which munchkins I’ll have to torment this year.”

Iwabi raised an eyebrow, turning to face him fully. “You’re going to be an examiner?”

“Lord Third asked, and I said yes,” Shisui replied with a nonchalant shrug. “Should be fun to scare the brats a bit. Keep them on their toes.” He shifted his gaze toward Iwabi, his dark eyes glinting with mischief. “I take it I can expect to see your team in the ring?”

“You’ll have to find out,” Iwabi replied smoothly, refusing to give the Uchiha the satisfaction of a direct answer. His fingers twitched, already aching for a cigarette. 

Shisui snorted, shaking his head. “Fine, keep your secrets. But just know that if I see them, I’m totally gonna give them a little.”

“You’re more than welcome to try,” Iwabi said, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Though I doubt you'll get much of a reaction out of them. They’ve already dealt with some pretty scary stuff, after all.”

More jonin filed into the office, the spacious room rapidly shrinking until it was crammed wall-to-wall with elite shinobi. The chatter died down as the atmosphere shifted, the weight of the occasion pressing down on them. A hush fell over the room as the Hokage cleared his throat, the sound commanding immediate attention.

“Thank you all for coming,” Hiruzen Sarutobi said, his voice carrying easily to the back of the room. He took a long drag from his pipe, exhaling a cloud of smoke that drifted over the piles of paperwork on his desk. “As you know, it is once again Konoha’s turn to host the Chunin Exams.”

He paused, his eyes sweeping over the gathered jonin, assessing them. “This year, however, is special. For the first time that I can remember, all five great villages have submitted their attendance to the exams. Even Kiri, who have only just finished their civil war, have agreed to attend.”

He let the room absorb his words, pausing for a long moment as the implications settled in like stones in water. The silence was heavy, broken only by the rustle of fabric as shifted weight. Finally, he continued, “Of course, this means that the Daimyos of all those nations will be present as well. And that means it would be in the village’s best interests to put on a good show during the exams.”

The Hokage’s eyes narrowed slightly, an expression of disapproval painting his face as he he glanced toward the window. “Of course,” he added on, “that doesn’t mean just for the genin.”

On the windowsill, Kakashi gave the man a small salute, his visible eye crinkled shut in an eye-smile. “Sorry I’m running late, Lord Third,” he said, sounding entirely unrepentant. “A black cat crossed my path. I had to take the long way around to avoid it.”

A ripple of groans and rolled eyes swept through the room at the blatant excuse. Iwabi just shook his head, resisting the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose. Only Kakashi would get away with something like that in a meeting this important.

“Hmph, indeed,” the Hokage said, clearly resigned to the Copy Ninja’s eccentricities. “Now that we are all here, we need to finalize the roster. Since you’ve arrived, Kakashi, I assume you’ll be putting your team forward?”

Kakashi gave a lazy shrug from his perch. “You know me, Hokage-sama. I try to give them what they want. And my little brats are really excited. They’ve been begging for a chance to show off.”

Murmurs of surprise erupted around Iwabi, which was understandable. Team 7 had just been formed earlier this year. Putting them up for the Chunin Exams so early was either confidence, or arrogance.

The Hokage nodded slowly, scratching his chin. “Very well. Team 7 is accepted. I trust you have prepared them adequately?”

“I think they’ll manage,” Kakashi drawled lazily. “Besides, if I didn't put them up, I half expect Naruto to try and sneak in by himself. He'd probably manage to drag Sasuke into it, and then Ami would follow behind like a little lost duckling. Probably safer to just let them in the legal way."

Iwabi stepped forward from his place against the wall, the movement drawing the Hokage’s attention. “I’ll be putting forward Team 3 for attendance as well, Lord Third.”

His words garnered a bit of whispering from the other jonin, the sound of rustling fabric and hushed surprise spreading through the crowded room like a ripple. Sarutobi’s eyes landed on him, interest gleaming in the old man’s gaze.

“Team 3,” the Hokage repeated thoughtfully, puffing on his pipe. “I seem to recall they had a few issues on their recent mission. Are you sure they're able?”

“The mission was tough but they all came out of it alive,” Iwabi stated, crossing his arms over his chest. “They adapted, survived, and came out stronger for it. I'm positive that they're ready for the exams.”

Sarutobi eyed him, the smoke from his pipe curling around his head in a haze. After a moment of intense scrutiny, he smiled. “Then I see no reason to deny them,” the Third decided, dipping his brush into ink and scribbling a note on his scroll. “Team 3 is accepted. With the way they're turning out, it's going to be a good show this year.”

Iwabi gave a short, sharp bow. “Thank you, Lord Third.”

He retreated back into the crush of bodies, slipping into the space he had vacated earlier. Around him, other jonin began to step forward, volunteering their squads. The air in the room grew thick with a mix of bravado and tension as names were called out and added to the list.

Shisui shifted his weight, crossing his arms over his chest as he watched the proceedings. “Man, I guess my old team really has it cut out for them this year,” he murmured, his gaze fixed on the Hokage’s desk.

“I can imagine,” Iwabi said, keeping his voice low. “Having the Daimyos here is bad enough, but with this many foreign ninja showing up too, it's gonna be really easy to get some wires crossed. We'll definitely need her help.”

Shisui turned to him, the playful glint in his eyes vanishing instantly. His face turned grave, his expression uncharacteristically serious. “Have you not heard?”

Iwabi frowned, confusion knitting his brow. “Heard what?”

Shisui stepped in closer, invading Iwabi’s personal space. He dropped his voice to a barely audible whisper, shielding his mouth with his hand as if sharing a dark secret.

“I have it on good authority that Suna is planning on sending their Jinchuriki for the exams” Shisui said, making Iwabi's eyes widen, “Not only that... so are Taki and Kumo. Remember that six tail host is around your kids' ages, and so is the seventh. ”

Iwabi felt the blood drain from his face. Three Jinchuriki in one place? If even one of them lost control, or if someone was stupid enough to try and kidnap one, 'disaster' would be an understatement!

“I met the Six-Tails’ host,” Iwabi murmured, the memory of that day in Rice Country flashing through his mind. “Or at least, I’m pretty sure I did.”

Shisui stared at him, disbelief written clearly across his face. “When was this?”

“Couple of months ago. On the way back from that mission in the Land of Rice,” Iwabi replied, his voice grim. “She ambushed my squad on our way back to the border.”

Shisui stared at him, his eyes widening slightly. “Given that you’re all still standing here, I’m going to guess she was just playing around?”

“There's no doubt in my mind,” Iwabi said, nodding slowly. “She’s some sort of battle maniac, said she did the whole thing just for fun. If she’s the one showing up, I can’t imagine Kumo would let her off the leash without some kind of handler.”

He trailed off, his mind racing. Kumo had three jinchuriki in total: Two, Six, and Eight. And with the girl as unstable as she clearly was, what were the chances they'd send her alone? 

Suddenly, Iwabi felt a cold knot of doubt form in his stomach. At least three Jinchuriki, all five great villages, and political tension thick enough to choke a grown man to death. He looked at the Hokage, who was currently nodding as another sensei volunteered their team, and wondered if the old man fully grasped the powder keg that his village had become.

Maybe I should have waited for the next one, he thought, rubbing the back of his neck with a worried frown. He suddenly wasn't too sure about these exams.

Shisui seemed to sense his spiraling mood and clapped a heavy hand onto his shoulder, snapping him out of it. “Don’t worry yourself to death, Iwabi,” the Uchiha said, his easy-going grin sliding back into place, though his eyes remained sharp. “If your kids survived an ambush from a Jinchuriki for funsies, I think they can handle a couple more. Besides, old uncle Shisui will be there to keep an eye on them!”

Iwabi eyed the man, one brow raising over orange eyes, “That isn't as reassuring as you think it is.”

“Oi!”

By the time the meeting adjourned, the sun was already high in the sky, casting long, sharp shadows across the village. Iwabi had remained quiet for the rest of the briefing, his mind still turning over the revelations brought tonight. Shisui’s reassurance had helped, but only barely. The image of that grinning girl from the Land of Rice was burned into his retinas, kept crossing his mind.

One thing was for sure, no matter what happened this years exam was going to be one to remember 

~~~

Sakura’s hand burned, but for the first time in a while, it wasn't the only part of her that was screaming out in fatigue.

Pink hair fell past her pale face as she attached herself upside down to the Cliff's overhang using nothing but her chakra. One hand was held behind her back while her other, the damaged one, was held in front of her, glowing threads extending from her fingertips to the object of her concentration.

Floating in front of her face was a complex wooden puzzle box, the sort designed to test patience and dexterity. Her threats worked over it like a spider’s legs, finding hidden seams and compartments that most people wouldn't manage to locate with their fingers and eyes.

With a flex of her will and a curl of chakra through the seals etched onto her fingertips, she manipulated the invisible threads connected to the mechanism inside the box.

Click

The final piece of the puzzle slid into place, and a satisfied smirk tugged at Sakura’s lips as the box popped open, revealing the small, colorful geode hidden inside. She caught the jagged stone before it fell to the ground, watching the faint blue glow of her chakra reflect off the crystal surface.

That was the twelfth time she'd managed it, and this time took her ten minutes less than the first. While some of it was just memory, it was still a sign that her dexterity had improved a lot in the past couple weeks.

She gently placed the stone back into its wooden housing and closed the box with a soft snap.. Letting out a long breath that misted in the cool air, Sakura wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her wrist and chanced a glance around her.

Far below, Tsu was standing atop the surface of the small pond at the center of the training grounds. The Inuzuka was practicing her chakra streaming, her sword held aloft and glowing as she swung it through the air with small grunts of exertion. The glow surrounding her blade barely wavered with each slash, but it was still far from perfect.

Further out, near the tree line, Hikari was a blur of motion. The training ground rang with the periodic crack of lightning as the Hyuga ran through ninjutsu drills. They darted around faster than Sakura could ever manage, waving hand signs at a blistering pace and only pausing to release their jutsu. The stumps around them were blistered black and some of them were smoking, a testimate to how long they'd been at this.

Sakura cut the flow to the soles of her feet and fell from the cliff, her calves and spine grateful for the break. She landed with a soft thud in the grass below, her legs absorbing the impact easily despite the exhaustion humming through her muscles, and made her way over to a fallen log near the edge of the clearing to sit down heavily, pulling a canteen from her pouch.

She took a long drink, the water cool and refreshing as it replenished her. As she drank, she put the puzzle box on the ground in front of her and sent her threads to work, clicking through towards the solution almost as fast as she could have with her hands along At this rate, she'd be back to using Teashi at full strength before the other villages even arrived for the tournament.

She was just clicking the final latch shut when the sound of leaves crunching under heavy sandals reached her ears. A furry shape launched itself from the undergrowth, landing solidly in her lap with a happy yip.

“Hey, Tadao,” Sakura greeted, scratching the ninkin behind the ears as he made himself comfortable.

Tsu dropped down from the branches above a moment later, landing in a crouch before straightening up and wiping sweat from her brow. She walked over and flopped onto the log beside Sakura, looking out at where Hikari was still obliterating the tree line.

“Hey,” Tsu greeted, leaning back on her hands and stretching her legs out. “How’re things coming along with the hand?”

Sakura looked down at her hand, flexing the fingers.

 “Pretty good,” she said, watching Tadao wriggle deeper into her lap, nose twitching. “It barely ever hurts anymore, and I’ve pretty much gotten the hang of using the seal. It’s not quite the same as having my full range of motion back, but it’s definitely better than it was in Wave.”

She didn’t mention the nightmares, or the way she sometimes woke up in a cold sweat convinced her fingers had withered away into useless husks. Though her hand was well on the way to recovery, she had a feeling that would take a bit longer to fix.

Tsu nodded, leaning back against the log with a contented sigh. “You’ll be back up to one hundred percent in no time.”

Sakura smirked, finishing off her water and capping the canteen. “Why stop there? Personally, I’m aiming for one-twenty.”

Tsu let out a short, barking laugh and punched her lightly on the shoulder. "That's what I'm talking about. Hey! Speaking of which! You grabbed that sword from that Kiri guy, right? Been able to figure out how to use it yet?”

Sakura blinked, setting her canteen down in the grass. She reached into her storage scroll, unsealing the blade in a puff of smoke. The weapon was light and foreign in her hand, the cloth wrapping rough against her palms.

“I’ve messed around with it some,” she admitted, running a thumb along the flat of the blade. “But it’s a very technical weapon. I already have my hands full trying to work with Teashi, not to mention designing my next puppet. I just haven't had the time to really dedicate to it.”

Sakura a felt bad about letting such a lethal weapon rot in her storage seal, but picking up a weapon like this and learning how to use it wasn't exactly easy. She had a bit of a baseline to work with – she'd used wires enough to learn how they work in most instances – but the sword part was a complete enigma to her. She'd be starting from scratch.

Tsu hummed thoughtfully, her eyes trailing over the sharp edge of the blade before she stood up, dusting off her pants. “Well, you can’t just carry around a legendary sword and not know how to use it. That’s just asking for trouble.”

Tsu headed out into the center of the clearing and gestured for Sakura to follow. Sakura blinked, looking down at the ninkin in her lap. Tadao simply sneezed and hopped down, trotting over to sit in the shade of a nearby tree.

“What?” Sakura called out, confused as she watched her teammate take up a position a few yards away.

“Come on! I’m gonna teach you how to use that thing,” Tsu said, drawing her odachi in a smooth motion. She held the blade loosely at her side, looking completely at ease, and Sakura stared at her. She looked down at the sword in her hand, then back at Tsu's massive blade.

“I'm not sure that our swords work the same, Tsu. Is there really anything you can teach me?”

“It’s still a sword, Sakura” Tsu called back, pointing the tip of her massive blade at her teammate. “Sharp edges, pointy end, all that good stuff. I can’t teach you how to throw it around and do all that wire shit, but I can show you some basic forms that pretty much all swords use.”

As Sakura mentally concedes her point, Tsu settled into a stance, her knees bent and her weight distributed evenly. “Now get up. Come on, it’ll be a good workout too.”

Sakura looked back at Tadao. The dog was already curled up in the shade, one eye open to watch them, looking entirely uninterested in moving. She could almost hear the dog telling her to just get it over with.

"Alright," Sakura sighed, pushing herself off the log. She clutched the hilt of the Kiri blade, the handle still feeling unfamiliar under her palm and she adjusted her grip, trying to find a comfortable hold. "But don't blame me if I accidentally cut you or something."

Tsu grinned, her canines flashing in the sunlight. "Trust me, that ain't gonna be a problem. Now get that blade up. And stop slouching!”