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“How many clones?” Naruto asks, eyes brimming with excitement.
Kakashi looks around idly. “Hmmm… how about…” Their eyes land on a lone tree on the far side of the field. “That many.”
Naruto nods his head emphatically and dashes off. Tenzo watches as leaves get torn from the branches in rapid succession, until finally, the tree is completely bare. A stark contrast to the bustling forest behind it. The forest canopy flutters as a breeze spills over into the open field. The lone tree remains still, devoid of breath.
Tenzo looks away.
It will live.
They frown at their hands, realizing they’ve been clenching and unclenching their fingers. Sensations of pinpricks radiate from fingertips through forearms. They hadn’t meant to establish such a direct link.
“Ready?”
They quickly clasps their hands behind their back, turning to face Kakashi. Tenzo nods once, before settling themselves into the grass. They pulse chakra through their system, and the pinpricks subside. Kakashi gives them a quizzical look, but says nothing. Tenzo raises and braces their arm, engaging the stabilization jutsu. “Okay Naruto, whenever you’re ready.” Chakra surges as the field of Naruto clones scream in unison. “ALRIGHT!!!”
───
Tendrils of chakra thread themselves upwards into Tenzo's chakra network. Delicate, ghost-like, familiar. Tenzo breathes space into their feet. The tendrils laces themselves in further.
~ No wind from you.
They close their eyes. Yes, I am sorry.
~ No wind. Why?
A fair question. It had all happened quickly, but there was still enough time between Kakashi's order and Naruto taking the last leaf down. Enough time for Tenzo to have said something. I’m not in charge here.
~ Human. Servitude.
This aspect of human culture was always confusing to plants. Tenzo gave up on trying to explain chain of command a long time ago. Yes.
~*~ Human also Earth. Serve Earth.
They know this voice. It’s from the older part of the forest. A collective voice. Lord First used to seek counsel there. This collective is used to engaging with humans, or, two humans at least. Of course. I will speak up for you better. I apologize for not doing so before.
~*~ Good. Return leaves to roots.
When they are done, I will have them returned. If more are needed, we will disperse across multiple trees. Is that agreeable to you?
~*~ Digestible. Yes.
You have my apologies and my thanks.
~*~ Connection?
You may stay connected, yes.
The tendrils soften, maintaining a gentle tether with Tenzo's system. They breathe in, and out… two… three… four. Though the forest does not have an enforced hierarchy, the old growth certainly has a commanding presence. It used to frighten them, now its presence is simply humbling.
A knee presses gently against Tenzo's back. Their eyes snap open. The field of Narutos remains the same as before, all in various states of frustration. They glance over their shoulder. Kakashi is eyeing them over their book. “You good to keep going?” Tenzo straightens, facing forward again. “Of course.” The pressure at their back releases. “Alright then.”
───
Kakashi winces as they shake a pebble out of their sandal. This is the third one… they’ve barely walked a few meters. Successfully wriggling it loose, they carry on to the next closest flower. They bend down, gently slice the stem, and add the flower to the growing collection in their left hand. On to the next. As their hand extends, blades of grass shoot up to meet it. Instinctively, they release electricity through their fingers, disintegrating the grass as it makes contact. Their eye widens as the flower below them begins to swell in size.
Tenzo feels a sudden draw of power from their own chakra network, radiating towards three o’clock.
“Tenzo!?” Kakashi’s voice is a confused, harsh whisper.
Tenzo reels their chakra back towards themselves as they watch Kakashi scramble backwards from a growing mass of wildflowers. Connection, huh? More like distrust.
~*~ Protection.
They notice the handful of picked flowers in Kakashi's hand. Ah. I will deal with it.
~*~ Good.
The mass of plants slumps to the ground as Tenzo pulls the last of their chakra back into their body. Kakashi stares at the heap for a second longer before turning their gaze to them. Tenzo glances towards Naruto, still completely immersed in leaf splitting, good. They turn back to Kakashi.
“It wasn’t me.” Tenzo mouths.
Kakashi's eye narrows. They give the ground one a last glance before walking over to Tenzo. Kakashi squats beside them. Tenzo holds out their hand. “May I have them?” Kakashi hands them the flowers. “They were for you anyway.”
Please, show me.
~*~ Path.
“For me?”
“Mmm, I was gunna make you a flower crown.” Kakashi eyes them warily. “You were sprouting them earlier.”
“I see.”
Tenzo lays the first flower in the grass before them. The grass begins to undulate, spiriting the flower away towards its original stalk. Another flower, laid down and carried off, and then the next. As each reaches its stalk, Tenzo carefully stitches it back together. They will be weakened until the internal structure is reestablished, but strong enough to stand on their own.
Kakashi watches the last flower be carried off. “They were talking to you?”
“Yes.”
“They were upset.”
“Yes.”
“I suppose… I did have Naruto de-leaf an entire tree.”
“And then immediately started beheading flowers.”
Tenzo keeps their face neutral as Kakashi looks at them with mild shock. They manage one lonnng second before their face cracks into a smirk.
Kakashi snorts at that. “I waited a few hours.”
“How respectful of you.”
“Well, at least the worlds most renowned medical ninja was on hand.”
Tenzo grins. “Buttering me up doesn’t back you in their good graces.”
“It was worth a shot, you’re still connected, right?”
They give Kakashi a sympathetic smile. “We will be forgiven. The hurt is simply fresh, and we must act accordingly.”
“mmm… forgiveness isn't exactly my specialty…”
“Grudges aren’t theirs.”
Kakashi fiddles with the fabric crinkled around their knees. Pressing and pulling it into sharp folds.
“I can grow you some,” Tenzo glances over at them. “to make a crown with.”
Kakashi gives the fabric two harsh yanks before slapping their hands on their knees and shifting to standing. They move behind them and undo the bun haphazardly holding all of Tenzo's hair. “Can you grow them on your shoulders? I want to try a flower bun— Sakura used to do them… when her hair was longer.”
“Sure, let me know when you’re ready.”
Kakashi threads their fingers through Tenzo's curls. Gently combing through it before drawing all the hair up into a high topknot. Once locked in place, Kakashi taps Tenzo's shoulder twice. They sprout a variety of flowers for them to choose from, while remaining true to what can be found within the field.
Tenzo watches Naruto's clones dwindle as Kakashi disappears into their new task.
───
“There, all done.”
Tenzo retracts the remaining shoulder flowers back into their body. Kakashi drops a hand onto each shoulder. They look out at the dozen or so clones left.
“Alright, Naruto! That’s enough for today!” Kakashi calls.
“Aw come on! I’m so close, just a few more— WOAH!” The clones scramble towards the two of them, all chattering at once. “Nice hair Captain Yamato! // You look just like Sakura! // Except you have waaay more hair than she ever did. It fits so many more flowers! // Oh! And your wood-style! // Oh! Yeah! You could almost be… like… hmm… uh… // a forest Deity! // Yeah! Yeah! That!”
Kakashi squeezes their shoulders before stepping off to their side.
Tenzo smiles, “Thank you, Naruto.”
“Time to release the clones. We’re turning in for the night. I’ll go grab us dinner. Yamato has some further instruction for you.”
“Oh! Oh! Ramen! I want ramen! With—”
“—Yup, got it!”
Tenzo suppresses a grin as Kakashi flickers away before Naruto can ask for too many toppings.
“Alright, Naruto. Now, since we are doing an accelerated training, it also means that we have been doing accelerated damage. To both you, and our environment.” Tenzo gestures to the tree.
“Oh… Can’t you just grow it’s leaves back?”
“After I rest, yes. I should be able to regrow them in the morning, but the tree still experienced a massive shock, that I can’t change. But, even if I could completely heal it, we should still honor the ones we took.”
“Mmm, I guess that makes sense… but, how do we, uh, do that? Do you want me to like, save them, or something?” Naruto turns around to look at the empty field. “They’re scattered everywhere...”
“Yes, and that’s alright, I can sense them. I’ll collect them all for you this time, but going forward I want you to hold onto them. You can seal them in a scroll and take them out each day for training. When we complete this stage, we will bring them to the base of the tree, where they will return to the soil and nourish the root system.”
“Okay! You got it Captain!”
“Good. Now, set up camp, while I collect the leaves.”
Naruto nods, and begins searching through their camping supplies to find the fire starter kit. Tenzo walks further into the open field. They filter their chakra into the soil, looking for any chakra that resonates with the same aura as the original tree.
Will you be staying?
~*~ No. Detangle.
Thank you for communing.
~*~ Always with you.
Parting words that have turned from ominous to comforting over the years. The full fatigue hits them as the last of the forest’s chakra withdraws from their system. They kneel, unfurling a scroll across the ground in front of them. Placing a palm in the center, a pulse of chakra opens the seal. Both hands return to the ground, and the field begins to ripple. Leaves slowly brought forth, gliding atop the blades of grass. One by one they are deposited into the seals center, slipping beyond into the holding realm.
The last leaf dips through the paper. The scroll, sealed, rolled, and tied. Tenzo's eyes drop closed as they send a quiet thanks, from palms to soil. Eyes gently opening, body slowly rising, they return towards the budding campsite.