Chapter Text
To say that things in the tower were awkward was an understatement.
There was food in the common area, but just normal rations. Bland garnonal like bars that taste like cardboard but has all the nutrients you need for a high caloric mission. Ayame on the other hand also stored some dried fruit and nuts because sometime you want to eat something that is real food. Neji and Lee knew Ayame had stuff like that and didn’t even bother to go eat in the common room when they could just stay in the team bedrooms that had three beds and a card table each.
What was more surprising was the other Konoha teams figured out Ayame had real food.
“Am I really that predictable?” Ayame asked as she threw Hinata and Naruto some trail mix that she packed.
“Sakura-chan was wondering if you had any other food. I just wanted to ask-DON’T STEAL MY FOOD DUCK-BUTT!” Naruto yelled, protecting his paper wrapped meal like his life depended on it.
“I wasn’t going to steal all of it, besides Ayame gave you enough to share, idiot. And I told you not to call me that!” Sasuke explained as Sakura snacked the bag from Naruto.
“S-Sakura-chan?! Nooo.” Naruto dramatically yelled as he fell to his knees.
“D-Don’t worry you can have some of mine.” Hinata said before Kiba took hers.
“No way. You are not giving you boyfriend your team’s food.”
“B-B-Boyfriend?!” Hinata cried, face turning red in a second.
“I’m surprised. I would have thought you would refused to eat my cooking on count of me trying to poison you or something.” Ayame said with a smile on her face.
“I would rather die then eat anymore of more of that dirt bars.” Kiba said with a oddly serious face.
Maybe I wouldn’t tell them I have more.
“Okay, then can I pet Akamaru?”
“GET YOUR OWN DOG, YOU DOG STEALER!”
“Hey! Do you tree huggers do anything besides yell? Some of us are trying to relax.”
Ayame was almost impressed by how quickly everyone got into a fighting position. For some it was a subtle thing, Neji putting more weight on his back foot, Ayame leaning back on the bed so she was closer to her scrolls. Others were more dramatic, like Naruto.
“We are celebrating with eatable food. Not my fault you don’t know how to have fun.”
“It’s edible, not eatable Naruto.” Sakura said, all while giving puppet boy a side eye.
“Huh, really? But you are able to eat it, so it should just be eatable.”
“Where do you guys get real food?” Kanakurō said, maybe raising a brow as well but it was impossible to tell with the makeup mask he was wearing.
“Why? Do you want some?” Ayame asked only for the other to all voice their opinions on that.
“No way. It’s one thing to give us some, but not that weirdo!”
“A-Ayame-chan...”
“Have a little faith guys, I never said I would give it to him for free. Maybe have him put on a puppet show or something. Besides, the whole point with these chunin exams is to help forge bonds with our allies, right?” Ayame said, smiling at Kanakurō.
The boy looked a little annoyed, but Ayame couldn’t tell if was just becuase of how loud they are, or because he just got called out.
“Ha! A puppet show!” Naruto exclaimed, not doubt thinking what a good prank that is.
“No. No way. I don’t need you sinky food anyways.” The boy decided, before dramatically walking out the door.
“That is one of the teammates of Gaara from Suna.” Neji said, looking deep in thought.
“Humm, do you guys want to play a game?” Ayame quickly asked, not wanting to know just what Neji was thinking.
It was bad enough that Sasuke as already drawn Gaara’s attention, she would rather keep everyone on the down low. At least when ( Or if ) Sasuke fight Gaara he will have some personal training with Kakashi. And this time around they wouldn’t have to waste time with the curse mark.
“Sure! I have some cards in my bag... somewhere...” Naruto said as he ran out of the room, presumably to get said bag.
Ayame moved her stuff around so that there would be enough room for the 9 people that were in the room. It was a little weird acting like everything was normal after what happened, but Ayame couldn’t help but feel happy. No one died, Sasuke didn’t get his curse mark, and they made it to the preliminaries. It was the best case scenario and Ayame keep waiting for the other foot to drop.
However, now there was little she could do. The preliminaries were random, and if Lee fights Gaara like in the show, then Ayame will just have to make sure Gai still steps in to keep Gaara killing Lee. Ayame has already warned Kakashi that Orochimaru was indeed in the forest, so that could cause the invitation to change, but Ayame didn’t think it will.
Besides, how else will Tsunade become hokage and heal Lee?
“I GOT IT!” Naruto announced, holding a battered deck of cards that were held together by a rubber band.
“Nice. Now, did I ever show you how to play a game called Poker ?”
The next team arrived the following morning while Ayame and Lee were still sleeping. Neji recommended they still take keep watch, and Ayame agreed. Ayame was fine being friendly with the Suna team, but that did not mean she trusted them. Also Naruto might get bored, and that is never a good thing.
“Your other friends arrived.” Neji announced, causing Lee to fall out of bed.
“You didn’t need to wake us up for that.” Ayame complained, shoving her head under the pillow.
“I think the blonde one is looking for you.” Neji said moments before Ino opened the door, hands on her hips.
“What did you do? Shikamaru said you teamed up with Sakura?” Ino said way too loudly.
“I’m asleep. No talking.”
“Ayame! I know it was your idea. Now tell me how Sasuke-kun did!” Ino demanded, this time Shikamaru and Choji appeared behind her.
“Why can’t we just go to sleep as well.”
“Not until I get some answers!”
“The sannin Orochimaru tried getting Sasuke for unknown reason, we helped their team escape. Then got the other scrolls and came here. Now will you leave my team alone until they are awake. This is my only moment of silents.” Neji said, giving Ino a Hyūga style glare.
Not as bad as an Uchiha one, but still enough to freeze you on your feet. And from Ino’s stance, it seemed to work a little too well.
“Neji-senpai-kun-sama... don’t be such an ass.” Ayame said as she took the pillow and throw it at him with out look.
He just caught it.
“Fine. I will give you an hour!” Ino said before stopping off, Shikamaru dragging his feet after her.
“Sorry for waking you.” Choji said, standing awkwardly in the doorway for a moment too long before following his friends.
“You have loud friends.”
“I know.” Ayame whined as she tried to get some more sleep.
Neji just kept the pillow.
“Finally you’re up! Now will you tell me what happened? What did the pretty boy mean by Sasuke getting attacked-” Ino said, only to stop when Ayame held a finger to her lips.
“I want to make some tea. You can come with, but we will have to talk about that later.” Ayame said.
She wasn’t sure if keeping what happened (or almost happened) a secret would do anything, but it seemed like the right thing to do. Ayame can only follow half the plot now, which means any advantage she had is considerable less now.
Not to mention Ayame doesn’t know who is watch and doesn’t wants to know what would happen if she slips up and tells Ino something she isn’t meant to know.
“That’s fine. Shikamaru also wanted to know, so I guess we could go back to get them.” Ino said with a flip of her hair.
Which looked pretty funny considering it was only her bangs since her hair was still pulled back.
“Sure. You wouldn’t have any tea leaves with you by any chance?” Ayame asked with a smile.
“What, did you forget to pack that with the mini house you have?”
“Kakashi only likes ‘real’ tea.” Ayame explained, which is fine but Ayame likes new things.
She is not someone who can do the same thing everyday, even if the only thing that is different is having rose bud tea instead of green tea.
“I have some medicinal tea if you want it that badly.”
“Ah, no thanks.” Ayame said, and she must have shown her disgust because Ino started laughing.
Only to stop when they entered the common area and the three sand siblings were staring at them.
“Do you have to do that every time? I know I’m a walking goddess, but show some restraint.” Ino said and Ayame snorted at how Kanakurō and Temari quickly looked away.
Gaara keep staring, but Ino was doing a great job of ignoring it. Ayame wants to say she was doing the same, but the tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife. Not to mention that Ayame was close enough to see what she assumed was eyeshadow, wasn’t. Like how Naruto’s whiskers were much fainter in real life then the show, Gaara’s raccoon mask looked more like extremely baggy eyes.
Ayame found a container of black tea, but no tea pot. Which means that she would have to put the leaves in the kettal, which is annoying if she also has to clean it.
Summary!!! Do not read if you don't want to be spoiled!!!
After some team and inter-team bonding, it was time for the preliminary battles. First round was Sasuke against Yoroi, who Sasuke defeated easily since he didn’t have the cure mark. Next however, was Temari vs. Shino, which Temari won but only narrowly. Then Kanakuro won against Misumi also like in canon. Sakura won her fight against Ino, surprising Ayame, but not as much as the following fight which pined Shikamaru against Choji. Shikamaru tried forfeiting, but Choji convinced him not it, and in the end Shikamaru won. Naruto won against Kiba but fought differently then in canon, and while Neji still won against Hinata, she told him (and everyone there) her plans to end the seal cage bird. During the fight between Gaara and Lee, Ayame almost lost control. The last fight was then between her and Kabuto who didn’t forfeit in the beginning, which Ayame won but was too distracted to figure out Kabuto’s plan to gage her own abilities.
Ayame was too worried that Lee might have died due to her indirect actions, and didn’t pay attention to the set up for the finals until Neji told her later at the hospital. That she was going to fight Gaara. Neji was to fight Sasuke, Naruto got the pass, and Sakura was going to fight Kanakuro. The only fight that was the same set up as in canon was between Temari and Shikamaru.
Since Neji was going to practice his clan technique, Gai promised to train Ayame during the month. Ayame then tells him of her plan to not only get her lava technique combat ready, but also to work on her beast mode. That lead to Gai getting Yamato to make sure she doesn’t lose control. By the end of the month, Ayame was able to communicate with Goku outside of meditation and perform a chakra cloak with lava.
On the day of the finals, Sasuke and Neji were scheduled to go first, but like in canon, Sasuke and Kakashi were late. Temari ended up winning like in canon, and Sakura surprised everyone by showing off that she was able to pull off something similar to Tsunade’s chakra enhancement ability to completely destroy Kanakuro’s puppets in a way that reminded Ayame of how Sakura in the show did it against Sasori. Soon after that fight, Kakashi and Sasuke showed up, and Sasuke was able to beat Neji with his chidori. Then it was Ayame’s turn.
Ayame made a show of verbally attack Gaara while dodging his attack, all while secreting planting miniature bombs that she made into his sand. It was an idea she totally stole from Deidara in the show, but proved to be just as effective. Ayame was able to break through Gaara’s sand shield by activating the bombs, but this freaked Gaara out and he partially transformed into Shukaku. Ayame activates her lava cloak, melting the sand into glass, but is unable to stop Gaara from transforming fully into Shukaku. With the plan fully completed, Orochimaru acts.
With Gaara/Shukaku’s attention solely on Ayame, she is able to lurer them outside the village, with Neji, and team 7 following in order to help. Ayame was forced into her beast cloak form, but was able to keep her wits about it. Ayame then revleats the bombs wasn’t the only seal she made, and she pulls out tags that she made based off the chakra damber that Orochimaru used on Naruto. For it to work, they would have to place it on the original seal, which Neji was able to find. They were then able to sudude Gaara, who only commented on how he can’t hear his ‘mother’ anymore.
Hiruzen still was killed and sealed Orochimaru’s arms, but Ayame’s status as a jinchuriki also was revealed due to the fighting, eventually reaching Iwa who were only aware that Roshi died, not that the four tail was sealed in another. However it would be month until they did anything about it.
With Lee in the hospital, Ayame and Neji ended up taking odd mission together or with other teams while the village repair. By chance, Ayame ran into Naruto as he was getting ready to leave with Jiraiya and get Tsunade. Worried that somehow she changed things that would make it impossible for them to convince her to come back as Hokage, Ayame demained to come along, if at the very least to convince her to come back and heal Lee. To Ayame’s surprise, Orochimaru ends up not showing up, but they do convince Tsunade to come back, though Ayame is disappointed that she had unknowingly place Tsunade on a pedestal over the years.
Ayame and Shikamaru are promoted to Chunin when Tsunade returns.
Itachi reveals that he was the only who killed the clan, though afterwards, Ayame told Sasuke her own ‘theories’ about that night. They end up asking Shikamaru how they could get prove that ‘someone’ ordered Itachi to kill the clan.
Sasuke ends up being actually kidnaped by the sound four in order to have a meeting with Orochimaru who ended up transforming bodies earlier since he did not mark Sasuke. Orochimaru then reveals that he regularly talks to Danzo, and that it would not surprise him if the elder would be behind the Uchiha massacre. Orochimaru then puts out a proposal that he would help Sasuke kill Danzo, if Sasuke promises is body to him afterwards. Before Sasuke could answer, the search party arrives with Jiraiya who fights Orochimaru off.
When they get back, Jiraiya reveals he wants Naruto and Ayame to come with him for a three year training mission. It was Tsunade’s idea for Ayame to tag along in order to give her more time to come up with some sort of treaty with Iwa. Jiraiya meanily tells Ayame that he has been looking for an another seal apprentice and that Naruto could use the help of another jinchuriki.
During the training time skip, Sasuke also tells Sakura and Kakashi about what Orochimaru told him. Kakashi then reveals as much as he physically can about Root, and makes them promise not to investigate anything alone. They tell Tsunade who blows the whole secret secret organization wide open and has Danzo executed. However he escapes by using Izanagi and becomes a missing nin along with some of his organization. The rest of root then act like sleeper agents until Danzo returns. During the Konoha/Suna chunin exams, Sasuke joins team Gai while Sakura joins team Asuma. They all get promotions.
When Naruto and Ayame return, they are shocked to hear what happened to Danzo. Ayame then makes a mistake and asks about Danzo’s eye arm, which he kept hidden even during his fight with Tsunade. Ayame first tried laughing it off, but then tells team 7 the truth. That she remembers a past life where the events of this world was just a story for kids. Sasuke is furious when he figures out that Ayame knew about Itachi and Danzo even before they met while Kakashi just leaves. Ayame was very worried that Kakashi was going to get a Yamanaka dig through her head or even get her imprisoned for treason, but he just comes back with a mission for his team. Sasuke makes a sly remark about if Ayame knows what’s going to happen on this mission too, but Kakashi make them leave before Ayame could say anything more.
Ayame seems them again when team Gai is called for backup, and this time when Sasuke demands to know what’s going to happen, Sakura slams him and tell him to get his shit together since they are on a mission. Ayame does get Goku to use his connect to the tail beasts to try fingering out exactly where Gaara is, but they still run into the Itachi and Kisame clones. Ayame and Naruto were able to undo the technique with some sealing, and disarm the seal on the cave without triggering the trap. As such, they were able to arrive before Shukaku was completely removed from Gaara.
When team 7 fights Kakuzu, he is missing a heart because the missing nin that killed Roshi was his partner before Hindan.
With Ayame, Gaara, Naruto, and Killer B all still having their tail beasts, the fourth shinobi war is much more balanced. Danzo ended up showing up with his roots agents, but when the Edo Tensei is done by Orochimaru, Hiruzen ends up killing Danzo on the command of Orochimaru.
The ten tail was too incomplete to be any use, and Naruto was able to convince Tobito to stop along with Kakashi. Black Zetsu is defeated and Kaguya is never revived.
Since Gaara ended up winning the poll at of 12/30/18, 65 votes, Ayame ended up with him. Everything else is canon with Naruto getting with Sasuke and Sakura with Haru.