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CHAPTER 2: TEMPORARY TEAMMATES
From days, it turned to weeks and then months, now it's been three years since Arashi became a Chūnin, and partnered with Tengai. Within these three years, a lot had happened, from picking up solo missions, the brutal training by Renga, to bonding with Tengai, it was an unending trail of activities. Yet he knew it was worth it.
His missions had been successful—even though they were all based on scouting, tracking and patrols, his skills as an Inuzuka were appreciated. He became a well known amongst his peers, his clan as well as the office of the Hokage.
On this faithful day, Arashi finds himself in the office of the Hokage. The air was thick with tension, the kind that clung to walls like damp moss.
Arashi stood rigidly in his standard uniform—his flak jacket, sleeves folded, fingerless gloves, shinobi pants, sandals and his signature hanafuda earrings and seated behind a desk before him was the Sandaime Hokage—Hiruzen Sarutobi.
This was the first time he had a direct contact with the Sandaime and he could not deny that the aura coming from him even while seated and calm was frightening—it almost seemed solid. This was the strongest shinobi in the village. He had heard about the legendary works of the past Hokages and how much stronger they were—yet the supposed weakest amonsgt the three gave him such heavy presence. It may frighten other Chūnins in his level or below but for him, this aura didn't weaken his will rather it became a set goal.
'i'll be as strong as him, I swear it'
Still, he couldn't forget that being in this office did not always come with good omen for most, especially him with such unique background. He had been prepared to be on the watchlist of the high rank officers but he never espected it to have reached this high.
"You're being assigned to a temporary squad" Hiruzen started, breaking the silence between them. The smoke from his pipe drifted slowly in the air, his eyes locked on Arashi waiting for a crack in his expression. Luckily, Arashi stood unwavered. A subtle nod from Hiruzen, admitting he had the firm will of a shinobi. He continued " A high-stake tracking mission. This time, you'll be working with Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaro"
Arashi's stomach twisted, those three?, the favored trio—Hokage's favored trio. Although he has had few interactions with the Senju prodigy, Tsunade, he could admit that they can be called friends, she was an energetic lady, he found it pleasing. As for the other two—the eccentric and wild toad, Jiraiya, he was loud, too loud even for an Inuzuka like him and the enigmatic snake eyed Orochimaro, shrouded in mystery, he spoke few words but yet his eyes spoke loud of ambitions. Nevertheless, these three had proven themselves worthy to be their generation's powerful geniuses. If nothing goes wrong, they would be jonins in no time.
Now they were to team up this time. It could be said how much of a high stake the mission was if those three alone couldn't handle it alone. It may as well be a high mortality rate mission. Even at that, He knew this was beyond just a risky mission— something beyond his level that he was sure his clan was aware of even if not involved.
"Why me?" Arashi finally spoke up.
A small smile crept onto his face as Hiruzen heard him, impressive, unlike other Chūnins who would feel over joyed to be in the same room with his students, this one had thought of what it meant to be in that room, as expected of Renga and Sayo's child. His eyes softened and his voice laced with a fatherly care
"As you know, the world is becoming restless...again...we are stretched thin this period. Your reports...it shows an impeccable set of skills. I believe it will come in handy in this mission. I trust you won't disappoint" .
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That evening, the father-son duo, engrossed in playing shōgi under the starlight, their focus steady on the board, none had said a word ever since they began. Only the sounds of pieces being moved was heard. Both Kurogane and Tengai—almost as large as Kurogane, lay lazily beside their partners.
Few moves later, Renga makes a counterattack move against Arashi, creating a stalemate between the two.
"What is the Inuzuka clan known for?" Renga asks, his focus not leaving the board
"Raw strength and animalistic instincts" Replied Arashi, he moves a piece on the board.
Click.
Clang.
"Hmm... what are we known for?" Renga questioned again.
Arashi pauses mid move, his hand stopped just above his chosen piece, head raised to find his father still focused on the board. Confusion written on his face.
"..."
Click. Renga makes a move. And then—
"When birds seek shelter, it may be instinct — but it is also calculated.
When wolves hunt, it may be instinct — but it is strategic.
When foxes hide behind prey, it may be instinct — but it is deliberate..." Renga pauses, his eyes brimming with intense ferocity yet displays an unbridled intelligence in them finally meets Arashi's.
"...The Inuzuka may be wild and animalistic, as you say — but never mistake our ferocity for foolishness.
Our instincts are sharpened by experience. Our bodies move with purpose, and our minds remain sharp.
What makes a beast truly dangerous… is its intelligence.
Never forget that."
The wild aura mixed with bloodlust could not be hidden when he spoke, even Kurogane couldn't help but amplify with his growling switching from a docile grandfather to a beast laying in wait. Arashi and Tengai couldn't help but feel awed by Renga and Kurogane's auras. Their blood boiled to exhibit every ounce of intellectual brutality inherited these past few years under their trainers.
Reigning in their might with Kurogane wearing back his lazy attitude, Renga continues "knowing you, you must already have a conclusion about the reason behind the mission...as long as I am here, you can go wild. The clan won't support you fully, but they will never hold you back. You still have the blood of Inuzuka flowing in you. Wear your blood with pride—mine and your mother's. You owe no one explanation. When as a beast been bothered by what they tagged him? Hiruzen may want to keep an eye but that will just be it. You have great potential, don't suppress it because of stupid old fogs in their high seats"
Like an heavy load dropped from him, Arashi let's out a long sigh. It had been a burden to him, now he had to be with others in a team, in a mission that may lead to death traps, would he still be as low key as he was on his trivial solo missions. He didn't want his indecisiveness to be a reason the mission had failed yet he was also wary of how it will feel being an Inuzuka with the skills of an Uzumaki. Would it shame the Inuzuka or the Uzumaki?
Now that he heard this, why should he be ashamed of his heritage? Why should he worry about the faces of the clans? Why should he worry whether the village's leaders saw him as an pawn? Why should it matter? He flourished in techniques both as an Inuzuka and Uzumaki. Why abandon one for the other. Rather he would make use of them all. Merge them in fact.
He had done his best making everyone believe he excelled more in the Inuzuka techniques than Uzumaki, especially now that his mother's clan have been going through internal crisis—rumors had spread.
Now he would do his best to be both.He loved his father, he loved his mother. Only what they thought of him mattered, he would carry both of their bloods with pride and showcase them however he wanted.
No more holding back. Never again.
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The next day, the squad gathered at the village gate. Tsunade, her arms crossed, her amber eyes stared intently at Arashi trying to fix the puzzle around him—he looked and felt different. They had interacted many times, then he looked withdrawn, tamed, a nature too domesticated for who he is ordinarily.
She had always found it intriguing, an Inuzuka who wasn't an Inuzuka. Even the hot blooded trait from his mother's side was no where to be found, something she was surprised about. She, whose Uzumaki blood had been thinned out by one generation could still feel the potency of their trait in her, yet the one directly birthed by an Uzumaki could hide so well. Most times she would laugh and tease him for it but now, he felt different, like a loose animal finally free from a cage. Something must have happened.
Orochimaro, on the other hand, barely acknowledged him. The pale, snake-like shinobi stood apart, his golden eyes glinting with something. His cold shoulder was palpable, if it was before Arashi would have felt uncomfortable, but now, he found it amusing.
Jiraiya, was the loudest naturally, " Been a while, red Inuzuka!" He said, grinning wildly as he sized Arashi up as well as his large pet "Hope you both can keep up. Cause we don't have time to babysit. At least he looks tough" he teases.
"Since we are all here, I believe it's time to move out." Orochimaro cuts in, "Our intel says a group of rogue Shinobi from iwagakure were spotted near the border. They must be involved in something —could be vital, it remains unknown. We've been assigned to maintain surveillance. If feasible, engage the party with the intent to terminate." Looking towards Arashi, "any questions?" Arashi maintains eye contact with him, his face showing no weakness before giving a nod of approval.
"Then we move out."
The team nodded.
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The mission began smoothly, though the team dynamics were a mess from the start with Arashi and Tengai being the new link to their trio. Jiraiya took point, moving steadily while tossing quips at Tsunade that she ignored with practiced ease. She was stationed at the left flank. Orochimaru, at the right flank, moved like a shadow, silent and unnervingly precise, his eyes roaming through the forest like he expected something to happen while Arashi and Tengai trailed behind, hyper-aware of their surroundings as well as the group's rhythm.
Arashi knew his inclusion in this squad wasn't just about his skills—it was a political move. The elders wanted to gauge his loyalty, his potential, and whether he was a variable that could be used by them. Fortunately, Tsunade seemed indifferent to the games, but Orochimaru's calculating stares and Jiraiya's dismissive jabs told Arashi they weren't as impartial—even though it was for a different reason as the higher-ups.
As they trekked deeper into the forest, Tsunade fell into step beside him. "You're quiet," she said, worried for him and the mission. "Something on your mind, Arashi-kun?"
"Just focused," Arashi replied, keeping his eyes on the path ahead. He wasn't about to spill his thoughts to a Senju, no matter how fair she seemed.
She raised an eyebrow but didn't press. "hmm...just keep your head in the game. Let's take this beyond the regular missions we always talked about. If you sense or smell anything—even in doubt, speak up. We need you"
Although it was rare to see her serious when they were together, Arashi nodded, yet his mind was still racing. He wanted to know really why he was explicitly chosen if the higher-ups thought he was necessary for this, it meant one of the two: His and Tengai's unparalleled sensory skills or his knowledge on fuinjutsus passed down from his mother. And his gut feeling was leaning more towards latter—His maternal clan's forbidden techniques were the only reason he was here, and that knowledge made him both vital and expendable.
He hoped he was wrong, he felt it was too early but he wouldn't mind showing them his abilities anymore. Only strength mattered now.
.
..
...
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