A tile broke underfoot with a loud crack. His knee jarred.
Ahead, Orochimaru made a great leap.
Shrew copied, assuming the Sannin was dodging something. He collided with something invisible midair and screamed. Boar dropped off pursuit to catch Shrew before he could fall.
Hound didn't allow himself to falter. Rabbit and Jackal were still with him.
He pushed harder, muscles screaming to get him, to stop him. Orochimaru had to be stopped. He had tried to kill the Hokage. He had brought ruin to Konoha. He had defiled the dead. He had to be stopped.
He was gaining.
Orochimaru changed course, avoiding the north-east main district area. Or heading towards the mountainous training areas?
He was gaining.
Even Orochimaru's monstrous chakra reserves could be drained. Was that why he was not attacking?
He hadn't managed to desecrate Minato-sensei's corpse. He would have planned to have enough chakra for that. Orochimaru was a genius. Another man might have run out of chakra by mistake. But Orochimaru?
Hound didn't trust it. He caught Rabbit's eye and made a signal. He pulled out wire. Jackal made the feint- He went for Orochimaru's back with shuriken. Rabbit caught the other end of the wire and ripped off the weight. Orochimaru dodged the shuriken to the left. Rabbit was using her shunshin and she was there, she went past his point and Orochimaru's own speed should have had him cutting himself open on the wire.
He hit it, but skin didn't break open. Hound's gloves shrieked as metal bit through wire but he didn't let go because he needed to be touching it to send electricity down the wire. Rabbit shunshin'd again, trying to catch Orochimaru, to wrap around.
The Sannin fell into the ground. Earth jutsu. He wasn't out of chakra, then.
Hound dropped the wire. He shuddered chakra through his veins, forcing it to change from the lightning to earth nature and dove in after.
Orochimaru leapt out of hiding, back into the air. He'd rather fight above ground. Had he been hoping for a chance to do something unseen? Had he managed it.
The Sannin's mouth was red and wide, and his body undulated far too much as he avoided Jackal's sword. His shoulders moved before his lungs did- a deep breath, a-
Hound barked, a sound that Jackal reacted to on instinct and leapt away before the sword came out of Orochimaru's throat.
"Kusunagi," Orochimaru hissed. "Come, then, if you want to play."
They circled him. Hound took the lead position and when he was behind Orochimaru it was Rabbit who went in for the strike first. She went high, Hound low, Jackal for the liver. Orochimaru met Rabbit's blade with Kusunagi and Jackal's with a shuriken in his left, and he danced away from Hound's blade with a kick that connected and broke a tooth. But Hound had scored a blow, a gash up the back of Orochimaru's calf and nearly into the delicate tendons behind the knee.
Hound's head shot back and he loosened his body to use the momentum instead of holding firm and incurring damage. Jackal was twisting his blade past the kunai and into the deadwood that Orochimaru substituted with.
Where.
The snake burst out of a tree trunk, twisting and snarling for Hound. He bared his teeth in reply. His sword was ready to take off the snake's head, the only way to put a snake down was to-
Hound flinched. The genjutsu shuddered off. He dodged instead of attacking. He pulsed his chakra violently to shred the chakra hanging in the air.
Boar stopped attacking Hound- when had he arrived. Boar let his sword drop. Rabbit went careening past, unable to halt her jutsu but managing to change her trajectory to keep from running her comrade through.
Jackal was on the ground, still.
Orochimaru was gone.
Kakashi came back. Of course he did. He'd failed. That was much more Kakashi's style than Hound's. He swallowed, hard, and summoned his pack. Boar hefted up Jackal and took him for medical treatment. Rabbit followed Kakashi without comment, ready to track Orochimaru down even if it was just the two of them. But there was nothing- he'd shed his skin and scent.
They went back to the city center with cold and empty hands. Everywhere he looked, fallen buildings, spattered blood, abandoned weapons, bodies of summons and attackers and defenders. He walked past a man pretending to be a corpse and Rabbit hauled the enemy off to custody.
The arena was a bloodbath. It was dripping down the stairs. He could hear it under the quiet conversations of restoring order.
"Kakashi-san." Gai clasped his arm. "I have news."
Dully, he met Gai's eyes. They were serious. "Your students are well," Gai said, and Kakashi remembered he had students. Right. He'd sent them after Sasuke and Sasuke had gone after the Ichibi and the Ichibi had been captured by Uzumaki-san and stolen by Orochimaru.
"Uzumaki." He cleared his throat. "Didn't damage the genin when she attacked the Ichibi jinchuuriki?"
Gai shook his head. "I do not believe any of your students, save Uchiha-kun, even encountered young Gaara-san. No body has been found yet. There is a curiosity- she entrusted her students to me. They remained under my team's eye, until they were summoned to the Tower."
That was… either she did not care about the Kiri genin in the slightest, or she was allied with Konohagakure, then. He didn't feel an emotional response, but he noted it. The Sandaime had been more correct, then. She wanted Konoha's good grace.
"My Rival." Gai hadn't let go of Kakashi's arm. He held it a little tighter. His voice was rough. "There is… something else. Something important that you should know."
He waited. He couldn't muster the effort to prompt Gai.
Gai cleared his throat. "After Orochimaru left, the Nidaime and Ichidaime fell."
That made sense.
"The-" Gai paused. "The being that Uzumaki-san summoned spoke. Presumably. Uzumaki-san reacted as though there was a voice she could hear." He hesitated. "Under what appeared to be orders, she opened the Fourth's coffin." His hand shook. "She touched the Yondaime, Kakashi. She touched him. And he woke."
Kakashi jerked away from the horror of that.
Gai was still holding his stare. "He is with the Sandaime now, under close supervision." He took a deep breath. "His mind appears to be his own. He… He has asked for you."
~~~
"But they're bleeding." The older woman indicated the biohazard trash can before picking up her clipboard.
Aiko leveled her with a hard look that was probably actually fairly creepy. She ignored the trash can. Instead, she folded the hand towel and stuck it in her pocket, ignoring the outraged look that action earned her. "It happens. And they're done bleeding for now, anyway."
Apparently the medic had seen far worse, because she was unimpressed. "Can you deactivate them?" the woman tried. "Your entrance documents indicate you have black eyes, so I can only assume you can use your eyes in a less stressful way."
She chose not to hear that, because she wasn't interested in responding to it.
"She is not mistaken," Sanbi spat. "It is damaging. Your arrogance is astounding. If I would choose to rescind my generous chakra gift, you would die."
'Are you going to?' Aiko asked. She couldn't work up the energy to make the question a challenge.
He was silent.
'I didn't think so.' She had a headache she ached to rub away, but the pain beneath her eyes was gone. Had been gone since the death god had used her to revive…. Had put that stress on her body.
Sanbi didn't make a sound, but there was a quality to his silence now that indicated he had come to the same conclusion she had.
She swallowed. There wasn't time to deal with that. This wasn't a place to be more vulnerable than she already was.
"Don't stress your leg," the medic decided, grudgingly. "Keep your weight off of it for a week, or you'll delay your recovery and risk undoing the work I did today. You'll need a physical therapy regimen, but I don't imagine you plan to continue your treatment in Konohagakure?"
"Not likely," Aiko said shortly. She took the proffered crutch and tried to stand. Mm, not fun, and not dignified. Lovely. But… she cast a guilty look back at the medical ninja filling out paperwork with a hard set to her mouth. "Thank you," she said, without looking back. "for your time and care. I'll keep your advice in mind."
The older woman was silent for a moment. "I'll have the relevant information sent to the general hospital in Kirigakure."
'Good fucking luck. I seriously doubt they've prioritized emergency generator power to non-essential functions like the fax machine.'
Sanbi snorted, but it really wasn't funny at all.
Inoichi was waiting outside the hospital door, because of course he was.
"Puppies," Aiko said shortly. She glanced down to watch the crutch's placement, trying to find a rhythm. At least the rubber-tipped aid was quiet on the tile floor.
He gave her a perturbed look. "Your students have been located in good health, but they must go through some questioning before we can release them into your custody. I regret to say that it might take some time to compile a timeline on their actions and conduct interviews on the events of the day."
'They do have the right to secure foreigners involved in combat in their city. They can't do much to a foreign head of state without litigation, but the rank and file don't have that kind of protection.'
"A power play?" Sanbi questioned. "Retaliation for the Konoha ninja who you have in custody?"
Probably. But they would also genuinely take the opportunity to try to gather information about the new state of affairs in Kirigakure, and genin were easy targets. If three genin who had spent an extended amount of time in close contact with the new, unknown Mizukage fell in their lap? Yes. Konoha was not going to pass on their right to keep them in custody for a time.
"I still need to see them."
"Of course." Inoichi sounded businesslike. "It will have to come after your meeting with Hokage-sama, I'm afraid."
She gave in and rubbed at her temple. She should have stopped walking, because she lost her rhythm with the crutch and put way too much weight on the bad hip. Two hairline fractures- it wasn't exactly debilitating, but the Nidaime had a good kick.
'He was actually pretty cool. 9/10, dreamiest Hokage to date.'
"Oh?" Sanbi asked, sounding as if he was just indulging her. "Why is that statement so deliberately open?"
'Tsunade is still out there somewhere,' Aiko pointed out. 'She might never become Hokage if dad takes the job back, but you can't forget her. She's there. Somewhere. And she's so crush-worthy. You'll see.'
There was a shocked silence in response, which was the kind of thought that really made her wonder about how insane her life had become. It used to be that a lack of conversation was normal in her head.
"Dad." Sanbi said. "Dad?" His voice raised in question. "You cannot possibly mean."
'I do mean.'
He took a moment to consider this. "Your life is very odd."
It was hard to disagree with that. She couldn't even work up indignation. She mostly felt resigned to it.
And on that topic, she needed to figure out a working strategy for Minato, and now. And that was kinda hard to do without knowing what he would know about her and how that would affect his response to her. Three options came to mind-
Option one- He was the Minato from this timeline, and he had miraculously identified her despite having only seen her on the day of her birth.
This theory was interesting, if only because it would prove that she had been born, but that somehow no one knew about her or what had happened to her. Except that would require him to have still somehow encountered another version of her in Rouran, because she didn't know what other encounter he could have been referencing when he'd accused her of treating him unfairly.
So this premise would be contingent on a timeline existing where she had been born, disappeared from public Konoha in unknown circumstances, and then still had a time-traveling incident that would have allowed him to meet her as a teenager and have a disagreement. And was either dead now or in an undisclosed location, being very quiet and pretending she did not exist.
"Unlikely," Sanbi agreed. "Your demonstrated skills are not heavily weighted towards quietly sitting out of sight. Assuming that we use the premise that you are not mad and have actually originated in another timeline, it seems most likely that you are the only version of yourself in this world."
'I'm fairly attached to that premise.'
Option two- He was the Minato from her timeline, and he remembered her only from the context of their meeting in Rouran, as well as who she was in relation to him.
"Your life is strange," Sanbi repeated sullenly. "What is Rouran? Were you of a comparable age, such that his instant recognition would be likely?"
She'd been … fifteen? He'd probably make that connection, yeah. But if that was how he recognized her, it was odd that he hadn't expressed the slightest surprise at her eyes. That was why she was leaning towards…
Option three- He was the Minato from her timeline, he must still remember their encounter in Rouran, but he also had knowledge of her beyond that. Because at this point, she was not ruling out the possibility that he would have been able to somehow watch over her life from death.
'It's possible that he was either overwhelmed and genuinely didn't notice the Rinnegan, or that he concealed any reaction,' Aiko admitted in the interest of fairness. 'But…'
"This final theory would introduce the most uncertainty." Sanbi hummed. "You have no way of supposing what knowledge he might have of your motivations and history, or how sympathetic he may be."
'The scenario that makes my life hardest is probably the right one. So he's probably been watching me from the afterlife, but, like, only at the times that I make the worst decisions. Because fuck me, that's why.'
Sanbi didn't disagree, which was as good as agreeing, really.
Inoichi cleared his throat. She tore her attention back to the outside world enough to realize that he was giving her a hard look, and that they were standing outside the correct meeting room.
"You forgot to let him lead you," Sanbi guessed.
'At this point, I don't give a shit.' She ignored the byplay and slid the door open. Ugh, she was the first one there. She hobbled to a chair and sat as gracefully as possible. The crutch clacked when she leaned it against the table. She eyed it resentfully.
"It will make your life easier," Sanbi said, in an entirely reasonable tone. "It will take me several hours to repair the damage to your leg, unless you stop using my energy for your eyes. In the meantime, it is good for you to use this tool."
'I'm going to use it for evil,' she thought back impulsively. And then she considered the idea. Huh. There was potential, there.
Sanbi seemed more baffled than anything. He chose not to offer a response.
"Can I offer you a drink while you wait?" Inoichi asked.
Aiko grimaced through the pounding of her head. "Coffee, please, if there is a god."
He raised his eyebrows. "I'll see what can be done." He leaned out the door, and must have signaled someone. She tuned out of whatever conversation was going on.
It turned out that the breakroom coffee machine was a casualty of the invasion, because Orochimaru was the actual fucking worst. But someone managed to procure a cup of truly vile instant coffee. It was brought in a white mug with designs of fish and black cats. She suspected that it had been stolen off someone's desk. She finished it in approximately two minutes and watched it be taken away sorrowfully.
The next person to come by was the Hokage's actual assistant, a bit ruffled, but carrying an actual tea set. She set it down and whisked out the door as Minato and the Sandaime entered.
From their faces, she might not have known that this was anything more interesting than a meeting with accounting.
"Let's make this quick." Aiko wrapped her hands around her tea. Her fingertips were numb. "I've got cake to order, and you just can't get anything after 4. Isn't that outrageous? How am I supposed to feed my family if I can't get cake after working normal office hours?"
She received a long-suffering look in response from her dad, but no one took the bait of the distraction. Which was fair, but it was also true that bakeries had shit hours of operation.
Minato sat down across from her, which was clearly closer than the Sandaime would have liked. The acting Hokage remained standing, arms crossed.
"Aiko-san," Minato tried. His nose wrinkled, as though he didn't like the way the honorific tasted. "It seems fairly clear that you and your team offered your assistance to Konohagakure today, so the first order is to extend my official thanks."
"Yours," Aiko said, which was rude but she was feeling cranky. She looked at the Sandaime. "Not the Hokage's?"
Minato's mouth opened and then he looked befuddled. Perhaps he'd forgotten the awkward situation.
The old man gave a wry smile, as if he couldn't quite help it. "Until such a time as Minato-san crumbles into dust or reveals himself to be a tool of Orochimaru, you may assume he speaks with the weight of our shared office."
Okay, then. If that worry was on the table, then Kakashi hadn't killed Orochimaru. Not that she'd expected he would. He needed to get stronger here to be able to keep up with the type of shit that was coming.
"I take it that Orochimaru got away, then?" Aiko snorted. "It'd be hard to imagine how Orochimaru could be controlling Minato-san, unless he's playing a really long game." She paused. "One I would almost have to be in on. Do you think there's a chance that we're cooperating?"
'Fat chance. Neither of us would have engineered a conflict that embarrassing.'
The Sandaime's expression didn't say anything in particular.
She gave a humorless laugh. "I suppose it's plausible enough, if you assume he would be willing to endure the humiliations of deliberately failing in his invasion, and of turning tail to run from a fight. I'd also have to be dedicated enough to this ploy to let the Nidaime take something dear to me." Her expression flattened.
Minato didn't look confused, which was a good sign that he had been briefed already on what had happened before his resurrection. Well. Of course he had.
"A pity." The Sandaime gave her a friendly smile that she didn't believe in the slightest. "It's conceivable that in the case of such a plot, you might have contrived with Orochimaru in order to retain possession of the Ichibi."
The Sanbi made a horrific scraping sound that might have been his version of a chuckle.
She didn't know what the Sandaime would make of the smile on her lips, but there was no point in hiding it. She leaned forward and lowered her tone. "I assure you, that's not the case." She shrugged with one shoulder. "I have a novel idea." Her voice was dry. "How about I help you bring your rogue to justice. That should demonstrate that I have no desire to take advantage of your weakened state."
"Wholly selfless," the Sandaime agreed in just as dry a tone. "After all, why would anyone think you had a cause to turn on Orochimaru?"
Aside from the very public and scary marching orders from the god of death, yeah, yeah.
Minato coughed, and drew her attention back to him. He looked sheepish. "Well, I can see how it would benefit both of our interests to form a task force to apprehend Orochimaru, and I thank you for opening the process. But Sunagakure is, of course, interested in reacquiring the Ichibi. It is difficult to promise that anything recovered from Orochimaru might be able to go with Kirigakure."
'Can't help but notice you didn't actually say you had intention of getting the Ichibi back to Suna. Subtle.'
She gave him an unimpressed look. "Oh wow, it's almost like it would help my public image to disclaim any right to the contents of the scroll that was stolen from me."
"It would remove the tinge of implication that your actions were out of self-interest," the Sandaime said, as if he'd just thought of it.
"You can't expect me to agree to that." Aiko crossed her arms. "I've already told you that the contents of that scroll are of great value to me, and it was, as I said, very publicly witnessed that it was stolen from my possession. What claim could Konoha have?"
"Uzumaki." Sanbi sounded pained. "They will destroy you once your treachery is discovered."
"This isn't about Konohagakure," Sandaime said, reasonably. "But come now, the contents of that scroll are valuable to more interested parties." He paused. "For obvious and varied reasons."
'Maybe,' she allowed. 'But until then, what else can I do? Tell them I've got Gaara? I need to buy time.'
"My interest in that scroll is purely sentimental," Aiko said primly. "I can't speak for anyone else and what base concerns might motivate them to chase it."
It was highly selective enough to be entirely accurate, but also sound like she was accusing them of being power-hungry. There was an awkward silence.
"I'm certain we will all laugh about this one day," Sanbi sighed.
"I think that terms of our cooperation might be resolved at a later date." The Sandaime's tone was final. "We will also have discussion regarding the other issues at hand facing our countries' relations. Congratulations must be extended, Mizukage-sama. And I am interested to hear how the amusing coincidence of your presence in Konoha came about." He gave her a thin smile. "But for now, I think we are finished. You will be taken to meet your students, although I regret to inform you that they must remain for a time. From there, I have prepared an escort to take you back to your country, as a courtesy. I have no intention of rudeness, of course, but you may observe that Konohagakure is in no state to host such a prestigious guest." His body language indicated the discussion was over.
"I'd hate to inconvenience you," she answered just as coldly. Aiko managed a smile and let go of the tea. She hadn't drank anything. "Let's agree to a discussion at a later date. I can return at any time- a week?"
"Surely that is not enough time for you to deal with affairs at home." He raised a hand, and four ANBU entered the room. One of them turned his mask towards her expectantly. "It must be very difficult to go such a time without being in your office. Kirigakure will need your presence."
"Oh, we're fine." She used the crutch to lever her weight up, which made her feel approximately one million years old and cranky about it. "You'll be amused, I'm sure, to know that I have technology that makes the trip less onerous." Aiko glanced at Minato. "Free information, because we are such good friends." And because he would definitely know about her hiraishin, even in the most conservative estimate of his knowledge.
"The 18th will be fine," Minato cut them off. "I would like to address the issue of Orochimaru as soon as possible. Please have your proposal of resources prepared when you return."
"The 17th," Aiko disagreed. She gave her dad a thin smile. "Konohagakure's policy is that foreigner military personnel may be held in custody for 8 days without criminal charges, so I will save you the inconvenience of providing separate housing for my changes and I for that day."
"That would be the 18th," Minato disagreed with a smile.
"I left them in custody of a jounin in good standing of Konohagakure before noon," Aiko said, just as pleasantly. "It remains Accounting policy that six or more business hours is counted as a day, does it not?"
Minato's face twitched. "We'll confirm that and get back to you."
"Maito Gai," Aiko provided, as though he'd asked what jounin she'd trusted. "You're welcome." She followed the ANBU out. "It's been a pleasure."
"The pleasure was mine, I'm certain. Have a safe trip home." His tone was bland irritation, but she thought she caught a flash of amusement in his eyes. He was probably looking forward to a more private conversation as much as she was.
She resisted the impulse to stick her tongue out as a parting gesture. The ANBU ringed her in a diamond as they began walking, so it would have been impossible to keep at least one of them from seeing it.
"Thank you."
'I didn't do that because you'd want me to,' Aiko thought defensively. 'I make mature decisions on my own, you know.'
"Like surprise adoptions?" Sanbi asked archly.
She grimaced. 'I've almost gotten away with that. And I've wrangled a meeting with the Hokage- a Hokage who might be even more amiable to working with me than I could have hoped, assuming dad doesn't drop dead in the next week. I haven't done that badly.'
"None of your children died, even a little," Sanbi agreed. "And there are many witnesses to your actions today. Actions that might, from Konohagakure's perspective, even be considered heroic." His tone was grudging approval. "Once they have compiled reports and ascertained what you have done today, you are likely to receive the aid you have hoped for."
'Wildcard,' she rejected glumly. 'Sunagakure- will Konoha try to placate them, or take a hard line? Helping Gaara desert has probably changed their likelihood of aggression. They'll be demoralized.'
Sanbi took a moment to consider that one. "I would think that they would be less aggressive, with one of their most powerful shinobi missing."
'Yes.' She frowned. 'That's the problem. They're more likely to beg, and have an even better argument that they were tricked and that this fiasco didn't benefit them. Some elements in Konoha will want to kidnap the Ichibi, but my dad and the Sandaime are more likely to think about returning the balance of power to the predictable stasis, as well as ensuring a better relationship with the nation at their longest border. There's no need to fear Sunagakure, so it's more likely that they'll take pity.'
"Pity which we deserve."
Her nose wrinkled.
Pity wasn't it, exactly. She had other irons on the fire- diplomatic relations with Nadeshiko and Iron that were keeping them afloat while Kirigakure patched up the holes in the hull.
"Your metaphors need work."
'Your face needs work.'
"It's true," Sanbi agreed placidly. "I am not known for my beauty."
Well. Now she felt kinda bad.
She shrugged away from responding to that, which made putting the crutch down awkward. Actually- "Can we slow down?" Aiko balanced on her good foot long enough to jab at the ANBU on her right with her crutch. She was actually a step in front of him, so it was basically like a clothesline at shin-height.
ANBU Hawk dodged masterfully, which in this case meant flinging his left leg over in a goosestep and hopping mightily on his right. Good job, Hawk.
"Uzumaki." Sanbi seemed too weary to continue scolding her.
She dismissed it. 'They already know I'm an asshole.'
"I mean," she continued, "Unless one of you hunks wants to carry me. That would also be okay." She made an experimental jab at the ANBU directly in front of her, a sideswipe at her ankles. Gecko, maybe? Gecko got her right leg out of the way, but she didn't manage to move fast enough to keep Aiko from bringing the crutch to smack against her left leg.
"I'm an invalid," Aiko continued. She'd stopped using the crutch to walk completely- she was just hopping on her good leg. When they stopped walking, she cheerfully raised the crutch up over her head and cast a speculative eye over her escort. The three ANBU she could see tensed.
No one made a move to gallantly pick Aiko up.
She gave a disgusted sigh. "I'm a delicate flower. Wilting."
"You have been keeping pace," Tiger observed in a monotone from behind. Probably because he thought he was safe. "Perhaps you might make it the remainder of the trip unassisted, though you are weary."
Aiko rolled her eyes. "I'm silently enduring because I'm that kind of person. But actually, I'm suffering because of your callous actions." She used her body weight to spin around and jab at Tiger- who was suddenly four feet further back. "Nice shunshin," she commented. "No residual movement in your hair or anything. Very neat." She lunged forward unexpectedly and nearly pinned his left foot. It was hard to tell with his mask, but she thought that he was making eye contact. "But your reaction speed needs work."
Someone said, "Oh, god," very quietly. It was a familiar voice that she wasn't interested in hearing.
Aiko glanced up- "Oh." Her nose wrinkled. "It's you." She straightened her back with a quiet dignity.
Genma gave the scene a slow, pointed once-over as she retracted her crutch.
Hawk ducked his head.
Genma's lip curled up in obvious amusement. He made a "zipping my mouth" motion and walked past.
Aiko felt her eyes narrow, because she really hated that guy. She tripped him with her crutch at the last moment.
There was a horrified silence.
She leaned on her crutch as he got back to his feet- gracefully, he actually did get back up well. "Oh dear," she lied very badly. When she jabbed at him, he ducked away in time. "Oops, I'm so clumsy." He caught the crutch as she swung at him from the side. Their eyes met. He looked slightly confounded but as if he was enjoying himself. Aiko smiled back at him and prepared to rip the crutch away and bring it down on his head.
That was the point at which ANBU Gecko wheeled around and swept Aiko off her feet. Surprised, she let go and her hands clasped around the other woman's neck. "Thank you," Aiko said, as imperiously as she could manage. "I was struggling."
"So we saw." Horse took the crutch from Genma. There might have been something smug in his posture at seeing Genma brought down a peg. "You endured well, but perhaps for expediency's sake…"
"Carry on," Tiger said, toneless.
Aiko stretched against the arm pressing into her back, which, wow, she didn't have to see it to know that was all muscle. "Your biceps are amazing," she told Gecko. She extended her toes into a graceful point. "I feel like a princess."
Gecko didn't comment, which was fair enough.
The going was, indeed, a lot faster when she wasn't walking. Aiko was perfectly happy to take a minute to rest, after the hellish day she'd had. The ache in her hip was a little more manageable at this angle. She began to flag a bit- the adrenaline was cutting out. Aiko was aware enough to peer up when she heard a door open.
'It would be for the best if the genin don't realize I'm significantly impaired.'
She sat up. Gecko took the cue and let Aiko down. When she reached out, someone pressed the crutch back into Aiko's hand.
Horse led the way, but when Aiko stepped through the door with Gecko on her heels, Keisuke leapt to his feet so fast that he banged into the table. The other two remained seated, but they were tense as hell.
"Easy," Aiko said mildly. She managed a smile. "How did you like the examinations?"
Yuusaku looked like he was struggling for words, getting them stuck on his split lip.
Ryuusei didn't look up from the tabletop. "I'm not looking forward to retaking it next year."
She snorted. "Let's hope that Gai-san has something nice to say about your performance, then. Perhaps you've earned a field promotion."
Her last student finally lifted his head. There was dried blood along Ryuusei's hairline, and ugly purple swelling around his left eye, a clearly broken nose, and a gash that ran nearly down to his jawline from his brow. The bruising pattern… that came from multiple blows.
Aiko didn't feel the cold settle in her stomach and ache its way up to her heart. She was only aware of the numbing anger as a fact assessed.
She watched strained muscles move at Ryuusei swallowed. His voice struggled out of his throat rough and thin. "I doubt it, sensei."
Her fingers weren't white around the crutch handle, because that was the counterproductive reaction of blind fury. She was holding it like a sword- firm grip, a strong but flexible wrist, and sinews ready all the way to her strong back muscles. "Is whoever did that dead?"
Keisuke glanced at his teammate and then away just as quickly. "No." He sat down.
"They're going to be," Yuusaku promised.
"Good," Aiko said, keeping her tone as light as she could. "Maybe that'll be what I promote you for." She lifted her chin and made eye contact with her students one-by-one. "I'm afraid you'll have to stay as guests in Konoha for seven more days, as they attempt to reconstruct what happened. I'll be back on the 17th and take you all home. Do you understand?"
"Of course," Keisuke said, as Yuusaku murmured a yes. Ryuusei remained silent.
"I'll be back," Aiko repeated. She gave the ANBU a dismissive glance, signaling to everyone in the room that she found them toothless. "As we are in a state of peace, Konohagakure will be very friendly. I know Keisuke, at least, will remember your rights." She tilted her head, because that might not be explicit enough to be comforting. "I'm not asking you to endure anything. Konoha will be the perfect hosts, or I'll be back a lot sooner than the 17th."
"Masterfully subtle. The threat was nearly stated."
Tiger straightened. He was probably at least slightly concerned about her sudden upshot in hostility.
She looked at him from under her eyelashes, lids low and disinterested over the Rinnegan. Then she turned her attention back to her students. There was a whole fucking country under her protection, and Minato should know her well enough not to be fucking with what was hers. He had no excuses for mistaking the lengths to which she would go, if he knew half as much as she thought he did.
'These kids are mine. If Konoha tries to strong arm me with them, it won't be me bleeding out.'
Yuusaku met her ringed stare, more trusting than the others. He looked like he might believe her promise to drop everything and cut a bloody hole through Konoha to get them out- but he did, didn't he? He was the only one who had thought to call her for help in the exams.
Sanbi didn't answer. She didn't care.
'But Konoha is not going to let them keep their equipment- they won't have seals to contact me.'
So she held out her hand, palm up, and made deliberate eye contact with her boldest student. It took a moment for Yuusaku to reach out. She clasped his hand and felt some of the hardness on her face gentle.
"You can count on us." Yuusaku's voice came out lower than usual.