Chapter Text

Danzo sipped his sake with practiced grace. A poise won from studying under one hokage and serving directly under the one that followed. Years of etiquette turned a once rough and unsightly boy into the wizened war hawk he was today. At his side were the people he trusted most in the world, people who he nearly died for and have done the same for him more times than he bothered to count. Hiruzen and Koharu.

They talked about a number of things, the weather, their grandchildren (in the case of Hiruzen and Koharu), and the future.

Frankly, Danzo was surprised Hiruzen was speaking to him at all considering the Uchiha incident occurred only seven weeks prior.

Even so, the rules were: No politics, no paperwork, and no shinobi business allowed. They allowed themselves this respite once a month and they’ve kept this tradition for decades now. At this point it’s a bit of an open secret within the walls of the Hokage Tower, and nothing short of war shall keep them, or anyone from disrupting this routine.

Gods help the poor fools that have tried.

Hiruzen was in the middle of gushing about his grandson, Konohamaru, when a crash erupted from the academy building next door.

The warm easiness of the conversation, of their comradery, froze in an instant. They listened for several beats. No sounds of panic filling the streets, no follow up explosions, no killing intent or foreign chakra signatures. Hiruzen breathed a sigh of relief. Some child (probably Naruto) must’ve set off a paper bomb in an attempt to show off to the other students. Hiruzen was about to start talking again when Koharu, the only one bold enough to risk destroying the peace they’ve earned, looked out the window and promptly choked on her drink.

Danzo and Hiruzen acted near simultaneously. Danzo was the first to look as his back wasn’t to the window. Hiruzen whirled his seat around and laid eyes on what had happened.

Now, Danzo wasn’t a botanist by any means, but he knew a thing or two about trees. The first thing: trees don’t typically grow at a forty-five degree angle; second, Sakura trees don’t bloom in the dead of winter; and third, (which is the most important part, mind you) trees don’t grow through reinforced concrete. At least not with enough force to blow a hole straight through it.

It took Danzo a quarter of a second to understand what this meant, and the last three quarters were spent mentally jumping with joy and dancing at what this could mean for the village.

“Danzo…” Koharu warned. Danzo wanted to be confused, because he was sure he’d held his face very well, but she’d known him since he was an actual child, so he wasn’t surprised when she saw straight through him.

He allowed himself to glare at her like a petulant child. What? This was the one hour a month where he could take his mask off, excuse him for indulging himself.

“You will not lay a finger on that child.” Hiruzen said. He didn’t even have the grace to give Danzo the benefit of the doubt. Times like these made Danzo miss the children they used to be. That’s what happens when you kidnap children to build an army of perfect soldiers.

They could all hear the chunin pounding his way through the hall, and in any other circumstance would be inexcusable, but he figured that was the closest they’d get to a knock, so Danzo let it slide.

Just like that their masks were secured tightly in place.

The chunin burst through the door moments later.

“Excuse me, Hokage-sama-!” At least the boy knew his manners.

“I know. Who was it?” Hiruzen ordered an answer and despite how much Danzo wanted the hat, (yes he was still salty about it,) he didn’t dislike seeing his old friend like this.

This seemed to take the wind out of the chunin’s sails somewhat, but he persisted.

“Sakura Senju, sir!” Ah, the heir.

If Hiruzen wasn’t acting as the Hokage, he might’ve chuckled given the humor inherent within this situation. Danzo could tell by the look in his old friend’s eye.

“Tell the ANBU commander I want Tora at my desk, immediately. After that, notify the Senju head and tell her to come to my office within the hour. Dismissed.”

“Sir!” The chunin closed the door behind himself and was no doubt dashing through the building, looking for the closest window. I say no doubt, because Danzo couldn’t hear him.

…

Tenzo, had he been less trained, would have been shitting bricks. Not only was he instructed to meet with the Hokage under short notice (he was in the middle of a shower for Ninigi’s sake!), but the weight of expectations thrown upon him were ridiculous. They boiled down to: “Train the Senju heir to use woodstyle in the event that the seal on the Jinchuriki should fail.” In a task that enormous, failure was not an option. Also, seeing Danzo, even if it was years after his…education with root, still scared the living daylights out of him.

And then the Senju clan head showed up.

…

When Senju Mebuki stepped through the door, Tenzo thought the air had been stripped from his lungs. Stark white hair drew a jagged line down her back, dark eyes that made the snow outside seem warm and inviting, and a scar, though slightly faded with time, drew a diagonal line from beneath her chin, down her neck, and beneath her yukata.

Tenzo swallowed thickly. He realized belatedly that she was in formal dress. He supposed this was a special occasion. Maybe he should’ve worn something other than the standard ANBU gear.

She bowed at a respectable angle. “Hokage-sama.”

“Good afternoon, Mebuki,” Hiruzen smiled and Tenzo was somewhat put at ease. “I trust you’ve heard the news.”

“Yes, Hokage-sama. We will begin training Sakura to use her new abilities as soon as possible,” Just like that, Tenzo was tense again. He really didn’t want to be here for this conversation.

Judging by the strange look she gave him, she noticed. He thought he’d been hiding it pretty well. Tenzo missed his mask. He nodded respectfully to the clan head, and she turned her gaze back to the Hokage.

“That’s great news! I’m sure you must be proud.”

Ah, buttering her up to mitigate the fall out.

“I am. Very much so, my only regret is that it had occurred while she was away at the academy.” There was genuine pride in her voice, that much Tenzo could tell.

“I’m glad to hear it,” The Hokage smiled again. Tenzo was beginning to fear that smile. Nothing that followed was ever good, he decided. “Though, I am concerned by how well you will be able to train Sakura-chan.” Mebuki’s smile froze and Tenzo was sure that he would have to stop her before she committed treason. The Hokage seemed to notice this as well. “That’s not to say that I find your clan lacking as far as anything other than experienced wood style users. Am I correct in assuming that there are no others in your clan that can perform wood style?”

For a moment, Tenzo did not see an old man, but the man responsible for ending two wars against the combined efforts of the other great nations. This look was probing, calculated, and honestly Tenzo was glad the Hokage hadn’t looked at him like that.

There was a pause. Tenzo risked a glance at the clan head... Oh she was pissed. He couldn’t tell by her features, for all intents and purposes she looked calm and collected, but the sheer anger and indignation radiating off of her in waves unsettled Tenzo deeply.
It makes sense, the Hokage knowingly poked a sore spot for the clan. He also knew just how fiercely clans tended to feel about their pride. Clan heads especially.

“You would be correct, Hokage-sama.” Her voice was tight.

“That’s unfortunate,” Tenzo could see the veins on her neck bulge and he prayed she didn’t have an aneurism. “But a solvable problem. You see, Tenzo-kun here is able to use wood style quite effectively.”

Her look turned to him and Tenzo wondered how far he’d get if he leaped out of the nearest window.

“Show her, Tenzo-kun.” The Hokage smiled encouragingly.

The Hokage was a sadist, Tenzo decided. Nonetheless, he did as was bid.

The familiar sensation of his chakra flowing into his raised hand, like warm water flowing over his skin and solidifying into a wooden mallet, rushed through him.

Anger (thankfully) gave way to fascination in Mebuki.

“Hokage-sama, is he…” Mebuki trailed off, but the question was clear. If he was a Senju, then the Hokage would technically be participating in bloodline theft. Tenzo, distantly glad that he was in fact not a Senju, paled at the idea of a civil war.

“No. He was a victim of Orochimaru’s experimentation. I trust you can understand why you were not informed of his abilities prior to this meeting.”

Mebuki stiffened at Orochimaru, which is an understandable reaction. The memories of his time with Orochimaru, while hazy, were unpleasant to say the least.

“Are there any others?” Tenzo was pretty sure that question was meant for the Hokage, but she was gazing at him as though he were a lost garment that she’d long since forgotten about. Tenzo tried not to squirm under her scrutiny. He’s held intense gazes before, but they were either trying to kill him or judge his worth. Nothing like this.

Danzo’s face screwed up in irritation.

“Have you forgotten your place?” And just like that Tenzo was no longer the object of Mebuki’s attention.

“Excuse me?” Mebuki’s tone was as frosty as her glare.

“You may be the head of a clan, but to think that makes you entitled to any information that the Hokage declared classified is…”

“Classified or not, this pertains to my clan’s bloodline ability. I didn’t ask for their identities, only if anymore people like him existed.” Mebuki shot back. “...with all due respect, elder, if the Hokage doesn’t see it fit to relinquish that information to me, then that would be the Hokage’s decision.” Not yours.

Though the Hokage was unreadable, he raised a hand. Silence swallowed the room. The Hokage seemed to look mournful. “Tenzo-kun here is the only one that managed to survive the experiments.” He locked gazes with Mebuki for a moment, he was not the first to look away. He cleared his throat. “Back to the matter at hand, Tenzo-kun will be Sakura’s tutor concerning woodstyle. The rest of her training will be left to your discretion, Mebuki-kun.” The Hokage smiled jovially. “Is that agreeable to you both?” The Hokage asked, but Tenzo knew it was only for the sake of optics.

…

Mebuki was on her way to the hospital after her meeting with the Hokage. She was relieved, if a little miffed. She fully expected the Hokage to try and take Sakura from her once she laid eyes on Danzo. Could you blame her? Danzo’s… proclivities aren’t exactly a secret among clan heads. And Sakra was the first to show the ability to use the Shodaime’s kekkei genkai. She would’ve went to war for Sakura. Consequences be damned.

Mebuki bounded over buildings, the crisp air doing nothing to calm the worry pooling in her stomach.

Now she has to check on Sakura again, just in case Danzo tried something. That’s the only reason. Last she’d checked, Sakura was suffering acute chakra exhaustion. Nothing life threatening in a shinobi, but Sakura was eight. That’s the only reason Mebuki didn’t check Sakura out of the hospital yet.

Mebuki considered saying screw the formalities and enter through Sakura’s window, but she decided against it. She shouldn’t draw any unnecessary attention to Sakura. She had no doubt that the news would spread before the day was out, but better safe than sorry. Also, she couldn’t exactly be the clan head and get scolded by medical staff.

Mebuki landed at the doors of the hospital. She took a breath, she couldn’t just rush through the halls. Mebuki missed Kizashi.

She ignored all of the stares, and nodded to the shinobi at the desk. He knew who she was. Mebuki breezed down the halls and up the stairs with hard earned grace. She walked quickly, she was still in a hurry to see her daughter, but slowly enough to appear calm. No matter how worried she was, she was a clan head at the end of the day.
She arrived at Sakura’s room and opened the door. She almost forgot that she stationed someone from the clan to watch over Sakura.

Kuriboh, a tokubetsu jonin. He clapped the book he’d been drawing in shut and cleared the bark colored locks from his face, then stood at attention. “Mebuki-sama,” He said.

“How is she?”

“Stable. They gave her a diluted soldier pill to help with chakra replinishment. They say all she needs is rest and plenty of fluids. She should be back on her feet by tomorrow,” Kuriboh recited and pushed his glasses further up the bridge of his nose.

Mebuki breathed a sigh of relief and closed the door behind her. She walked over to Sakura, sleeping on the bed. Mebuki brushed the hair from Sakura’s face and let the knowledge that she’d be alright loosen some of the tension in her shoulders.

She turned back to Kuriboh to find him awkwardly looking out the window. She smiled a little to herself and stepped closer to Kuriboh.

“You were drawing again?” She asked, but it was less of a question and more an invitation.

The question took Kuriboh by surprise, it was obvious by the way his eyes widened and he sat straighter.

“Yes, Mebuki-sama,” Kuriboh opened the book and flipped the pages until he landed on his latest project. The profile of a snarling dragon with its fangs bared and what looks like a mane flared up. It was good. For a moment she was a girl again, back in the compound and sitting on the back of an even younger Kuriboh, flipping through his sketchbook.

She grinned at the memory. She reached out and ruffled his hair a bit more roughly than necessary.

“Mebuki~” Kuriboh whined. And as if remembering his manners added: “sama,” very quickly. He swiped her hand away, more out of reflex than annoyance.

Mebuki ignored the slip. “It’s good,” she said.

“Thanks,” he huffed, clearly annoyed. “Can I go now?”

Mebuki made a show of considering the idea. Looking off and tapping her chin, she even hummed. “I don’t think so,” She said and Kuriboh pouted.

“I need you to watch over Sakura a bit longer, at least until she’s cleared to come home with us.”

Kuriboh sighed dramatically and slumped in his chair. “Okay,” he said, resigned to his fate as a babysitter for the next twelve hours.

“Thanks.”

Chapter Text

The Tie That Binds (1)

Sakura woke to a crook in her neck and a painfully dry throat. She winced as she sat up, Sakura was no stranger to sore limbs, but this was a new kind of soreness. It was like her veins were sore.

“Sakura-hime,” Kuriboh called. “You’re awake. How’re you feeling?”

“Thirsty,” Sakura croaked. “And sore.”

Kuriboh laughed. “Of course you are, you’ve been asleep for a day already,” Kuriboh snapped his sketchbook closed and rose from his seat. “I’ll tell the nurses you’re awake and to bring some water, sound good?”

Sakura nodded and Kuribo started toward the door, but stopped at Sakura’s bed and ruffled her hair.

“I’m glad you’re feeling better,” Kuriboh smiled.

Guilt stabbed Sakura, but she managed to smile back. Kuriboh left and Sakura looked down at her hands. She remembered it- that feeling. Like something slotting neatly into place. Sakura balled her hands into fists, she wanted to feel that again, whatever it was.

Sakura thought back to the previous day, she hadn’t done anything out of the ordinary. She had breakfast, went to the academy-

Like an icepick to the brain, Sakura remembered. She clutched her head and bit back a scream.

…

“And Sakura is with Naruto,” Iruka-sensei scribbled something on his ever present clipboard. Sakura couldn’t think of a time when Iruka-sensei wasn’t holding it. Sakura-turned to look at the blond boy looking back. She wondered if she looked as curious as he did.

Kaa-sama said to be nice to him, she says our clan owes him that much. She never elaborated whenever Sakura asked, so Sakura figured it must be classified ninja-business or something.

She smiled at him and was delighted to see him smile back.

If he smiled, then he can’t be all bad. Sakura thought.

So the class began to shuffle seats to sit beside their new partners and Sakura waved Naruto over.

“Hi, Naruto-kun, I’m Sakura,” she greeted.

“And I’m Naruto- wait you said that already-” Naruto looked away and blushed sheepishly and Sakura laughed “-Uh, anyway nice to meet you?” Naruto grinned.

“Yeah,” Sakura smiled and headed for the door as the class was filing out to the training ground. Naruto trailed closely behind until they reached the hallway, then he sped up to walk beside her.

“Say, are you always this polite, Naruto-kun?”

Naruto sighed dramatically and slumped his shoulders, letting his arms swing as he walked. “It’s all Jiji’s fault.”

“Jiji?”

Naruto straightened up and started walking backwards so he could face Sakura as they walked. “Yeah, Jiji said I’m supposed to be polite around important people, but it feels weird, like I’m not me, y’know?”

Sakura chuckled, she could relate. “Well, you don’t have to be so polite around me, Naruto-kun,” she declared.

“Thanks, Sakura-chan!” Naruto beamed.

Sakura couldn’t put a name to the light feeling in her chest, but she had an idea of where it came from. “Not, Sakura-hime?”

Naruto looked puzzled and tilted his head to the side like a puppy. “You said not to be polite?”

“I know, but it feels weird,” Sakura crossed her arms and tilted her head.

“Then, should I call you Sakura-hime?”

Sakura tilted her head the other way and frowned. Then she sighed and let her arms drop to the sides. “Nah, I like Sakura-chan better,” she said.

Naruto smiled and turned on the ball of his foot- “then Sakura-chan it is” -and fell into step beside Sakura.

Before either of them knew it, they were outside, in the training ground. It was spacious enough to comfortably house thirty rambunctious students with a line of scarred trees with targets tacked hanging from nails driven into the trunks. The trees reached high above the wall that enclosed the academy

Iruka-sensei kicked a tree and watched the leaves fall.

“Every pair, grab a leaf, we’re playing pass the leaf today. The winning team gets five bonus points on the next pop quiz,” Iruka-sensei announced.

Kiba whooped a cheer. “Hear that Akamaru, we’re gonna get five extra points!”

Akamaru yipped in response.

“In your dreams, dog-breath, me and Sakura-chan are gonna get those points!” Naruto barked.

“You’d be lucky to get the leaf to stick without sweat, dirt-neck!” Kiba shot back.

Sakura tried to stifle a laugh, but Naruto’s betrayed look only made it worse.

“Shut up, you-”

Iruka-sensei clapped his hands. “Settle down you three-” Iruka-sensei ignored Sakura’s cry of ‘what did I do?!’ “-actions speak louder than words, Kiba, Naruto, so prove yourselves by winning.”

Both boys shared a determined look and Sakura was still confused about how she factored into all of this. Regardless, everyone did as was bid and settled into their respective places.

Sakura held the leaf in one hand and made the rat seal with the other. It took a few moments, but she could feel her chakra holding onto the leaf. She held her palm with the leaf toward Naruto.

Naruto gingerly placed his palm on top of hers and made a half-rat seal with the other hand. His face scrunched up in focus.

Sakura wondered why Naruto was trying so hard. The exercise wasn’t particularly difficult, at least Sakura didn’t think so, but as she looked around, she noticed a lot of kids were struggling.

“I think- I think I got it, Sakura-chan,” Naruto said as Sakura’s palm started to sweat.

Sakura pulled back her chakra and her hand. The leaf stayed.

Naruto leaped to his feet and cheered. “It stuck and I’m not even sweating, take that dog-boy!” Naruto stuck his hand out in Kiba's direction.

“What, do you want a cookie or something?” Kiba grunted, clearly struggling to stick his chakra to the leaf. “You still can’t beat me.”

“You-” The leaf fluttered off of Naruto’s hand in the wind. “-crap!” Naruto snapped his hands out to catch the elusive leaf. Once he caught the leaf, Naruto sighed in relief.

“Hey Naruto, I think I have an idea,” Sakura said.

Naruto turned curious eyes on Sakura. “What’s up, Sakura-chan?”

Sakura patted the spot across from her and Naruto took the invitation for what it was and plopped down. “I think it might help you stick to the leaf easier if you know what it feels like,” Sakura explained. Sakura took Naruto’s hand in hers and placed his palm on top of hers. She made a half-rat seal with her free hand and let her chakra flow and cover the surface of their hands. Naruto squirmed a bit, and Sakura understood, her chakra felt like mud squishing between their hands.

“Now try to pull away,” she said.

Naruto pulled, but the skin on his hand stretched, like he was glued to her.

“Woah, Sakura-chan, we’re really stuck!” Wonder flashed across Naruto’s face and sparkled in his bright blue eyes.

Sakura smiled and pulled her chakra back and Naruto’s hand went flying upward. “Now you try. You’ll want to cover my whole hand with chakra, I’ll tell you if you should use more or less,” Sakura instructed.

Naruto nodded seriously, his eyes never straying from Sakura’s open palm. He placed one hand on hers and used the other to form a half-rat seal. His chakra felt different, light and cool in a way Sakura hadn’t expected. Like a breeze between their fingertips. Something within Sakura wondered what would happen if she connected her chakra with Naruto’s.

Sakura made the half-rat seal and let her chakra reach out and lick Naruto’s palm. In that brief moment the world fell away and all that remained was her and Naruto. For the briefest of moments, she felt like she was in both his body and hers at the same time, and she knew he felt the same. Confusion, fear, curiosity, excitement, Sakura wasn’t sure where Sakura stopped and Naruto began. Then something clicked.

The world began to spin. Their hearts raced in synch. Darkness enveloped them.

They stood in silence, (when did they get up?) neither daring to draw breath as the world regained some color. Dingy green walls, lit by dull orange flames. Their feet were wet and as they looked down they realized that they were ankle deep in an opaque liquid. The room smelled of wet animal and cinnamon.

“Ninshu?”

They could feel the thing’s voice in their bones. Something ancient and powerful had just spoken. Hearing it was like hearing a thunderclap for the first time, the shock, the bone deep rumble, and the lingering fear.

The pair looked up to find a giant blood red eye staring back. As one they stepped away and realized that they were in a cage. On the other side of the gigantic silver bars was a giant fox. Tails swished curiously behind it as it looked at them like they were a ghost.

They tore their hands from one another simultaneously, and the connection was severed.

Sakura blinked and felt empty. Beside her was a tree that definitely wasn’t there before, growing straight through the wall of the training ground. Iruka-sensei flashed over to her and everything went black.
…

Sakura curled up on her hospital bed, what was that? Any of that? Was the fox real? It couldn’t have been a dream, it felt too real. Was the fox inside of her or Naruto? And where did that tree come from? And that feeling, what was it? It has to have a name. Is it Ninshu?

“Sakura-hime?”

Sakura opened her eyes, having just realized she shut them in the first place. The headache fell from a sharp to dull throbbing. She looked up and Ku-kun was looking down at her, eyebrows bunched in concern. Beside him was a nurse, who also looked concerned.

“Headache,” Sakura said, throat still painfully dry.

The nurse nodded in understanding and offered Sakura a glass of water, which Sakura took gratefully. “You might be a bit dehydrated, make sure you drink all of this before you leave. You should be experiencing some soreness, so I suggest not using your chakra for a few days or until it goes away.”

The nurse then turned to Ku-kun and said: “Luckily her chakra coils weren’t damaged, there shouldn’t be any long-lasting effects this time, but try to make sure she doesn’t overdo it again. Chakra coils are delicate, especially at her age. Once she finishes her water, she’ll be free to go.”

Ku-kun bowed at a respectful angle and thanked her. The nurse smiled in turn and left them with a farewell.

Once the door closed Sakura asked Kuriboh: “Ku-kun, have you heard of ninshu?”

Ku-kun’s eyes brightened the way they usually did when presented with something new. “Can’t say that I have, Sakura-hime. Is it something you learned in class?”

Sakura winced and looked away, “not exactly.” She wasn’t sure why she got the feeling she was saying more than she should, like she’d get in trouble for talking about it. This was Ku-kun, he knew everything, surely he could explain what happened.

So Sakura told Kuriboh about yesterday. Ku-kun brought his hand to rest on his stubbly chin and stood in silence. Sakura was used to this by now, he often got like this whenever Sakura asked him something difficult, but he always came out with the right answer.

Ku-kun literally snapped out of his trance and said: “I have a theory.” Sakura leaned in to hear what it might be, but Ku-kun sighed and crossed his arms. “But I think we should tell Mebuki-sama first,” Sakura pouted. “Don’t be like that, it’ll be quick. I promise.” Ku-kun flashed a smile and ruffled Sakura’s hair.

…

Tenzo headed out to the Senju compound and expected to arrive half an hour early. Mostly to get it over with and also for fear of how Mebuki will react if he’s late. They didn’t exactly meet on the best terms and he’s sure that his mere presence is a sting to her pride. And considering what he’s heard about her and her wrath, (rumor has it she beat the Senju elders half to death after they pissed her off) Tenzo wanted none of that.

That wasn’t to say he’s not confident in his skills, he was an ANBU agent, it’s just there’s no real way to win in a fight with a clan head. And besides they’ll be seeing a lot of each other, so it’s best to start off as well as possible.

It was with this line of thought in mind that Tenzo arrived at the gates of the Senju compound.

“Ice,” said one of the guards.

The other looked to be struggling, eyes screwed shut and a hand scratching at his head. “Se-se-centipede!” He said triumphantly.

“Den,” The first guard replied, stone-faced until he realized his mistake.

“Ha! I win-” and it wasn’t until then that Tenzo realized that they were playing Shiritori.

“Ner,” the first guard cut the second one off, a smirk on his lips.

“Huh?”

“Dinner.”

The second guard jabbed an accusatory finger at the first guard. “Haruhiro, you cheater!”

“I am not a cheater, you are just impatient,”

Tenzo got the feeling he should cut in before the argument continued any further, so he cleared his throat.

“What do you want?” The second one snapped.

Tenzo blinked. He should’ve expected that.

“What he means is, state your business,” The first guard- Haruhiro -covered for his companion coolly and seamlessly.

The second guard muttered something under his breath which earned a glare from the first one. The second one rolled his eyes and turned his attention to Tenzo with a look of “get on with it already.”

Tenzo tried not to sigh. Instead he told them the purpose of his visit and didn’t miss the panicked looks the guards shot each other.

“You’re early,” The first guard said.

“Like, really early,” The second guard emphasized.

Tenzo raised an eyebrow, was he too early? He’d hoped not.

“I hope that’s not an issue,” Tenzo really hoped it wasn’t. It’s not like he couldn’t entertain himself for half an hour, but he didn’t want to leave and come back. He already didn’t want to be there.

“It, uh- I’m gonna-” the second guard fumbled with his words and Tenzo was about to tell him it was alright and that he could come back later, but Haruhiro, the first guard, cut him off.

“I’ll notify Mebuki-sama, but she might be busy,” Haruhiro body-flickered away, leaving the second guard to curse at thin air.

…

"No, more to the left," Mebuki directed her younger cousins in adjusting the banner. "What part of 'left' sounded like 'up' to you?"

"Y'know Mebuki-sama, I think you'd be great at this, better than me at least. Why don't we trade places?" Yoko suggested with a beatific smile on her tanned face.

“You fuck one Yamanaka and suddenly you think you’re a master manipulator,” a boy with black and white hair, Toya, muttered to himself on the otherside of the banner.

The girl turned her smile onto him. “How’s Ami?” Mebuki got the feeling that Yoko had been holding onto that one for a while.

Toya’s dark eyes bugged out of his head for a moment before he collected himself and sneered. “Oh, so we've got jokes now?”

“Now, that was just uncalled for,” one of the elders, Michiki-sama, said into her cup of tea.

“It really was,” Mebuki muttered. She loved family gatherings.

“No, because if he didn’t want me in his business, then he should’ve stayed the fuck out of mine.”

Mebuki's eyebrows shot up to her hairline. The clan head in her wants to remind Yoko who she's talking to, but the gossip in Mebuki wants to watch the show go on.

“No, It’s cool, it was funny right? Just like how it’s funny that she’s picking up my sloppy seconds-”
Before anyone could react to this new piece of information, Haruhiro had to make his grand entrance.

The door slid open and crashed to a stop. Haruhiro stood there, arm thrown wide and halfway through the door when he announced: “Mebuki-sama, we have a situation.”

“Clearly,” she said, dumbstruck.

“The tutor is here early,” he elaborated.

Fuck.

It was just getting good too.

Then she looked at the state of the room, everyone stopped moving. All eyes were on her. The sake and cake hadn’t arrived, the room was mostly decorated, most tables set and more than half of the streamers were in place. How far along were the cooks? Where are the musicians?

“I need a status update from the kitchen and musicians. Yoko, Toya, the banner’s fine, get me an eta on the food and entertainment and meet me in the usual meeting room.” The pair nodded, pinned the banner with kunai and sped out of the open door. “Michiki-sama, when did Aka-chan leave for the cake?”

“About twenty minutes ago,” Michiki-sama replied. “She should be showing up any minute now.”

“Good, if the sake isn’t here in the next five minutes, remind me to smack Shoji,” Mebuki sighed, now onto the main problem. “I’m gonna go meet the tutor-”

“In your pajamas?” Haruhiro asked.

Mebuki looked down to see herself in blue fuzzy pajamas. Fuck.

“Ok, new plan. I’m gonna change, tell the tutor I’m in a meeting and sit him in the waiting room. I’ll send someone when I’m ready for him. Michiki-sama, you’re in charge while I’m out, get this place ready in the next twenty minutes. Let’s move!”

When Mebuki left, the room was buzzing with action.