The first week of May arrived almost unexpectedly. Tsunade-sama relieved her from four days of hospital duty so she could also train in the mornings. Seina spent every other afternoon at the dojo practicing her taijutsu. Mondays, she trained with the other genin, Tuesdays with the anbu, Wednesdays with the Hokage, and Thursdays and Fridays with Kakashi-sensei if he was available. Her weekends were spent taking practice exams, so her entire week was packed with activities.
Karin, whom they saw once a week, promised to teach her the basics of adamantine chains whenever she wanted. Seina, whose curiosity about such a skill was piqued, took her up on the offer but asked to postpone it until after the exam.
"I'd rather keep that skill as an ace up my sleeve, so I wouldn't use it in the exams," she confessed. "Right now, I have too many other things to review."
"No problem!" Karin replied with an exasperated smile. "It's not like I'm going anywhere."
Seina, Naruto, and Karin laughed at her sarcastic joke. With help from Inoichi and the department of psychic evaluation, Karin had started to manage her mood swings and treat her depression. In fact, each time they saw her, she seemed like a new person.
"Having a safe place to live makes all the difference," she admitted when Naruto mentioned it. "I was always worried about something before. Now I can breathe easily. And on top of that, I've found more Uzumaki family!"
Seina continued training, also being flooded with questions from Kakashi-sensei. She spent over an hour immersed in the books and scrolls she had... borrowed in search of information about the promotion exams in Kirigakure. It was actually Shino who got her the information she was looking for, since it seemed the exams were rarely held there.
"So Kirigakure…" Shikamaru said to her on the first Monday in May. "What do you think of the place?"
"They say it's one of the toughest!" Ino exclaimed, looking worried.
"Shut up, Ino! You'll freak her out!" Kiba scolded, as Akamaru barked a couple of times, jumping onto her lap. "Right, Akamaru?"
"It could definitely be worse… I'm trying to find information about the place in the library, but there's not much useful information."
"Wasn't Kakashi-sensei looking for someone who had taken the exam there?"
"Yeah, but he's pretty busy too."
"I know someone who took the exam there," Shino said suddenly. "My uncle, actually. If you want, I could ask him to meet with you to share some information."
"Really?" she said, visibly less worried. "Thank you, Shino!"
The meeting took place about six days later, on Sunday. Thanks to Shino, Seina had arranged to meet in a teahouse near the Aburame clan, away from the bustle of the village centre. The streets, quieter here, were lined with several parks, and in the distance, surrounding the Aburame clan, stretched a swath of forest. Shino's uncle was tall, fair-skinned, with short, curly hair kept in check by a ninja band on his forehead. He wore the same dark glasses, though his jacket was a dark grey, nearly black. He carried a crossbody bag on his back, undoubtedly filled with insects different from his kikaichu, like Muta with his shokaichu worms. Her enchanted hearing confirmed it from afar.
"Seina-san? Shino has spoken of you often," he greeted her in a serious voice. She stood to greet him, and then they both sat at a table. "He mentioned you need information about the exam grounds for the exams in Kirigakure."
"That's right. I've tried gathering all the information I can, but I'd like to hear it first-hand from someone who's participated in those exams."
"As expected," Shiro nodded. "The physical test area is called the Bloody Swamps. It's a vast expanse of land, one-third solid ground and two-thirds immense swamps filled with all kinds of aquatic creatures. The climate is cold and humid, with fog lingering for most of the day. The forest is so dense that it hardly lets any light through, but you'll find shrubs and fruit trees."
Seina nodded as she took in the Aburame's description. She'd have to review edible plants more thoroughly to avoid poisoning herself. They'd taught her that at the academy, but it was always good to study the plants specific to Kirigakure. She also planned to look up information on the fauna.
"What would be your advice?"
"Avoid the swamp at all costs, unless it's absolutely necessary to go in. I used my insects to find a hiding spot in the forested area, even though I had the bad luck of starting my exam at an entrance that led to the swamp."
They talked for quite a while. Shiro was thorough in his descriptions and didn't mind offering helpful tips, even when she hadn't asked about certain things. According to Shiro, the area had a few gates spread evenly around the perimeter. Unlike the Forest of Death in Konoha, which had over 50 gates, the Bloody Swamp had only about ten. This meant she'd enter the area with more people.
That was good and bad. For one, it meant she'd be able to find an opponent sooner and hunt them down. On the other hand, it also exposed her to more people. She was sure she'd be one of the youngest participants, so some might see her as an easy target and come after her. Still, if she planned it well, she could finish the test quickly. The problem was that they wouldn't be allowed to leave for the entire five days of the exam, whether or not they'd finished their part.
"Once you've completed that part in the swamp, you'll have to choose a mission from the two scrolls you've obtained. Because of this, people will try to conserve energy in the swamp, hiding as long as necessary once they have both scrolls."
Which meant that if she lost her scroll, it would be twice as hard to get two new ones, because, naturally, her rivals would be holed up with their prize. She thanked Shiro and headed home, stopping first at the bookstore for the books she needed.
Later, she shared everything she'd learned with her team, who, conveniently, were all at the house.
"What will be your strategy?" her teacher asked, sitting across from her at dinner.
"I'll try to get a scroll on the first day. As soon as possible, actually, to avoid any traps that could pose a problem," she explained, as her siblings and Kakashi-sensei listened intently. "After that, I'll build myself a shelter in the forest and use my summons to search for food from my hiding place."
"I imagine you'll avoid the swamp at all costs."
"Exactly! According to what Shino's uncle told you, it sounds like a nightmare!"
She nodded.
"The fact that I can't bring my pouch is annoying, but at least I can bring it for the mission afterward."
"You don't need to bring it," Kakashi-sensei said. "With all your powers, you can create any kind of weapon you need and set up an impenetrable shelter. Your biggest challenge will be grabbing a scroll from an enemy in time."
The next day, the last Monday before the exam, Ino and the other genin decided to skip training to spend the day having fun around the village. They started the morning at the hot springs. Since it was Monday and early, there was hardly anyone there but them. Seina undressed while listening to her friends talk about Hinata's new hobby, knitting.
"It's harder than it looks," Hinata said in her usual calm, soft voice, a bit more animated than usual, "but my goal is to learn to knit something bigger for Christmas gifts."
"I'm sure you can do it, Hina," said Tenten. "I'm completely incapable of creating anything with my hands."
"And you're the weapons expert!"
"Don't remind me. My mom always laughs at me when she sees me cooking."
"I don't get why cooking is so hard for you," Seina shook her head. "You just have to follow written instructions."
"You can't talk!" Tenten pointed at her. "Your opinion doesn't count, Miss 'It's Like I've Been Cooking for Fifty Years'!"
Seina burst out laughing in her face. If only they knew… She saw Ino nod enthusiastically at Tenten's words, while Hinata seemed to be biting her lip to hold back a laugh. Surprisingly, Hinata was an excellent cook despite being the heir to one of the most powerful clans in the Land of Fire. If her house weren't under the Fidelus Charm, she would have offered to help them learn to cook.
"By the way, how's it going with Sakura on the team?" Seina asked Ino.
"Ugh. It's… fine. We've had to train a lot to integrate her into the team. Honestly, Sakura is as cerebral as Shikamaru, even though she's not a genius, but the problem is she hardly trained at all while working in the village. Right now, my team is a bit of a mess," Ino sighed. "If I hadn't been training with you all these weeks, I'd be worried, because neither Sakura nor I are experts in hand-to-hand combat."
"You still have time," Hinata reminded her. "The exams are in a month."
"Besides, the survival part is only five days. The three of you can handle it."
"Please, let's get back to the topic of knitting," Ino begged, dunking her head under the water. "I don't want to talk about exams or training."
Seina and Tenten laughed, while Hinata smiled reassuringly at her. Seina thought of Karin and mentally noted to invite her on their next outing so she could start meeting people her age. Too bad she worked in the mornings, or she would have gone to find her so she could join them.
"By the way…" Tenten began slyly. "Why don't we talk about something else?"
"Like what?" Seina asked warily, seeing the mischievous look on Tenten's face.
"Do you like anyone?"
Hinata turned as red as a tomato in less than a second, while Ino burst out laughing. Seina held back a sigh. The stormy teenage years she'd tried to avoid had arrived. Hormones, crushes, jealousy, envy… Ugh. Who liked being a teenager?
"No need to ask Hinata," Ino said. Hinata, who had just regained her usual pale tone, turned crimson again. "Do you still like Naruto?"
Hinata looked at her with a horrified expression, but Seina had known for years. Anyone with half a brain could see it. Her friend seemed to realize Seina wasn't surprised and looked even more horrified.
"Relax, Hinata. It's none of my business who Naruto is with unless it's dangerous for him," she assured her calmly.
"So, do you like him or not?"
"Y-y-yes," she whispered very softly. Seina lifted her chin to meet her gaze. "But I know he doesn't see me that way."
"Naruto isn't interested in those things yet," she replied. "It's nothing personal. That birdbrain only thinks about training and ranking up."
"Seina's right. Just give him time."
"And you, Tenten?" Ino asked, making the rounds. "I've never seen you interested in anyone."
"Well, I saw a cute guy at the dojo," she smiled, twirling a damp lock of hair flirtatiously, "but last time we just exchanged glances. No big deal. Maybe I'll make a move next time I see him."
"Well, I've moved on from Sasuke. Now I'm looking for someone more… available."
Seina had to hold back a laugh at Ino's words; she was only 12. Anyone listening from afar would think she was a forty-year-old divorcée with a couple of kids. Then, suddenly, all eyes turned to her.
"Your turn, Seina."
"I like older guys," she replied with a mischievous smile.
Hinata and Ino choked at her response, while Tenten burst out in loud laughter. Hinata seemed to give up on blushing, while Ino, once she recovered, leaned dangerously close to interrogate her, face gleaming with excitement over the information she'd shared. Ah, the gossip…
"But, do you actually like someone!?"
"Saa… who knows."
She said nothing else, but they all, even Hinata, took those words as a confirmation. The moment they left the hot springs, Ino approached her team with the look of someone on a life-or-death mission.
"You guys! Do you know who Seina likes?" she questioned them.
"What? What are you talking about, Ino?" Naruto asked, squinting at her.
"You're her team; you must have some idea of which older guy she likes."
All eyes turned to her as she silently laughed beside Tenten and Hinata. Naruto turned red with indignation at Ino's words, as if she couldn't like anyone.
"I think she's messing with you, Ino," Chouji said, seeing her laugh.
They started debating whether she liked someone, or not, and whether he was older, or not. The only ones who looked at her thoughtfully were Neji and Shikamaru. Sasuke avoided being dragged into the conversation while Naruto and Ino argued over how, if she did like someone, she would have told her brother. According to Naruto, since she hadn't said anything, that meant she didn't like anyone. She recomposed herself with a smile, seeing how she'd fooled them all.
"All I said was that I prefer someone older," she commented. "Not that I actually liked anyone…"
Those words were enough to calm everyone down. Apparently, no one thought it strange that she preferred someone more… mature. Ino pouted, realizing she may have been tricked. The only one who looked at her with a slightly amused expression was Sasuke. Undoubtedly, he knew she wasn't being completely honest and that she did, in fact, like someone.
They headed towards a restaurant to eat together. With some luck, they found a table in a large outdoor patio where everyone, including Akamaru, could fit. Poor civilians. A ninja dog was the least of their worries. If they knew Shino was full of bugs…
"Why that question?" Kiba asked with interest. "What were you all talking about?"
"Logically, they must have been talking about... boys," Shino said in his usual, calm but slightly nervous voice.
"Girl stuff," Ino replied, tossing her hair brazenly. "You wouldn't get it."
"Are you calling us idiots?" Neji asked, sounding exasperated.
"Besides, I think someone here might have a certain… interest in someone else, right?" she said with a huge grin, glancing at Shikamaru.
He shot her a look that was half exasperated, half sharp, as the others realized she was referring to him. They began bombarding him with questions, but with so many voices at once, it was impossible for him to keep up and respond.
"Seina-nee! What are you talking about?"
"About Temari. I noticed a certain chemistry between you two. And, by the way, she asked about you when I was in Suna a few weeks ago."
"A certain what?" Naruto whispered to Sasuke. Sasuke looked him up and down, exasperated, and gave him a slap on the head, rolling his eyes. "Ow!"
Meanwhile, Shikamaru blushed a little, so everyone took her words as pure fact. They ate, laughing and talking about all sorts of things. Seina noticed how much they were all growing up. It was obvious. Their worries and thoughts were becoming more mature. She was amused to realize that, despite going through adolescence herself, she felt like an observer half the time—which meant she would have a front-row seat to all the future blunders and slip-ups. Ah, the joy of blackmail…
That night, when Naruto told Kakashi-sensei all about the day's events, his teacher raised an eyebrow at her, clearly suppressing a smile. When Sasuke and Naruto went to bed, leaving just the two of them, he gave her a mischievous smile.
"So, you like older guys…"
"Did I lie?" she laughed. "The last thing I want is for Ino to get it in her head to pair me up with any of them. Can you imagine me with Lee?"
Kakashi-sensei stifled an automatic laugh, coughing.
"So, what? Are you paving the way?" he asked. "Honestly, I can't picture you with Lee, or with Kiba, or any of them. They're not bad boys, but..."
"But they're boys," she cut in, looking at him with a seductive gaze, "and I want a man."
She bit her lip to keep from laughing as she saw him swallow hard, his pupils dilating as he took her in and listened to her words. Feeling more mischievous than seductive, she got up slowly, with measured steps, and kissed him on the cheek, torturing him just a little more.
"Good night, Kakashi-sensei."
She went up the stairs, holding back another laugh. She realized he had stopped breathing when she heard him take a deep breath as she ascended. She shut the door behind her, thinking about the strange day she'd had.
The next day resumed her last week of training as usual. Instead of training her all morning, the four anbu members helped her consolidate what Kakashi-sensei had specifically taught her for the exam: attacking from the shadows, hiding, and waiting patiently.
"That's practically what we do in anbu, you know?" Seichi told her.
"Plus, with your powers, it's your best strategy."
Ensui and Yugao nodded.
"Sometimes it's better not to draw attention with ninjutsu and to stick to evasive tactics. It's rarely an advantage to go into direct combat."
The last to offer her advice was Lady Tsunade, on the final Wednesday before the exam.
"I know plenty of people must have swamped you with strategies and last-minute training. All I'm going to say is trust in your abilities and keep a cool head. Your goal isn't to rank up but to survive, even if you don't advance. You can always try again next year—as long as you're alive," she said with a firm tone. "That means if you feel you can't go on, hiding until the test ends is your best option."
"I understand."
"That said, I know you won't need to hide, so I'll just wish you luck with the missions you get in the scroll," Lady Tsunade smiled, then added with a strange gleam in her eyes, "I'll be betting on you."
Seina snorted a laugh at the last remark. It had been a good speech… up until the very end.
The last three days before heading to Kirigakure dragged on forever. Her team came and went from the village, doing short missions, while she, having decided to relax and do absolutely nothing to stay fresh for the exams, found herself with absolutely nothing to do. That was the problem. Bored, she went out into the village on Friday at noon and ran into Karin, who was returning from work at the flower shop.
"Seina!" she called from across the street. "I thought you were going to Kirigakure."
"Yes, tomorrow. I'm killing time while trying to relax."
Karin let out a sarcastic laugh, seeing that she wasn't relaxed at all. She wasn't nervous, but she was so full of energy she couldn't sit at home staring at the wall. Damn, she felt like Naruto.
"Why don't I invite you for tea at my place?"
And so, Seina went with Karin to her house. It was only the second time they had been alone together, the first time being her visit to Karin's cell.
"You know, sometimes I think about Orochimaru," Karin spoke suddenly, looking at the coffee table in front of the couch. "When I find myself thinking about him, I feel like you do right now: I can't sit still. I have to do something to avoid thinking about him. At least you don't suffer from my sudden mood swings."
"Did he hurt you?" she asked for the first time. Orochimaru was a taboo topic they never addressed directly, but she needed to know.
"No. He just took some blood a few times, but he didn't hurt me like… like he did the others. That's why sometimes I feel guilty about being here, as if nothing happened, because he didn't really treat me badly. At the same time, I know he's not a good person. Just because he didn't harm me doesn't mean he hasn't hurt a lot of people."
"You're right."
"I've been realizing that thanks to Inoichi, and to Anko."
"Anko? Anko from the interrogation department?"
"Yes. She often comes to see me during my visits to the psych evaluation department. She was one of Orochimaru's first victims when she worked for him. Having someone who has been through the same thing as me—even worse, actually—made me rethink a lot of things. If Anko can move forward after everything he did to her, then so can I."
Seina saw the determined look on Karin's face and knew in that moment that she would be okay. They had saved her distant cousin in time, so Karin would no longer become just another puppet of Orochimaru. Still, she would keep an eye on her. Just in case.