Paper and Smoke

Anko trudged reluctantly up the stairwell of the hotel, her steps heavy with hesitation. The Hokage had summoned her, and no matter how much she wanted to avoid him, he was still her boss. It had been two weeks since their argument, and she still wasn't ready to face him. And she didn't have an excuse not to. In the final days leading up to the third exam, there wasn't much she could do to help her genin. Her skills in kenjutsu were barely above novice level, and Sakura's training had already far surpassed Anko's limited expertise in earth jutsu.

As for Naruto, Jiraiya had been unusually tight-lipped about his training. All Anko knew was that Naruto had somehow convinced a Cloud jinchūriki to train him. Beyond that, Jiraiya would just brush off her questions, claiming it was all part of a surprise for the tournament. She had seen him carrying two large crates of water balloons earlier, and she could only imagine what kind of perverse scheme he was concocting this time.

Soon enough, Anko arrived at the double doors of Hiruzen's hotel room. She nodded at the two Anbu standing guard and gave them a slight wave. Neither responded, remaining as still as statues, but she liked to think that, in spirit, they acknowledged her.

Without bothering to knock, Anko swung the door open haphazardly. Inside, Hiruzen sat on the couch, pipe in mouth, dressed not in his usual Kage robes but in a formal kimono. Beside him was a young girl with red hair—Karin, Anko realized. Over the last two weeks, Naruto has expressed his frustration about not being able to meet up with his cousin, and he has never missed an opportunity to remind Anko of it.

Anko gave the girl a slight nod of acknowledgment.

She awkwardly waved back at Anko

"Hello, Anko," Hiruzen greeted.

Anko ignored the pleasantry, her expression neutral. "So, what did you summon me for?"

A flicker of disappointment crossed his face, but he quickly composed himself and got down to business. "Do you know of the ongoing discussions regarding the relocation of two young ninjas?"

"Just the basic details."

Hiruzen exhaled a puff of smoke. "Well, the main point of contention these past three weeks has been over the rightful village for these two individuals. One is Karin, and the other is Chino Chinoke.

Hiruzen continued

"Karin has requested that I make a case for her to be relocated to the Leaf and become a citizen."

Anko raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Seems like a simple enough request. Ninjas relocate from minor to major villages all the time. But from how you're phrasing it, something's complicating her request, isn't it?"

Hiruzen sighed, taking another puff from his pipe. "The leader of the Grass Village, Yasuba, has put his foot down and refuses to allow Karin to migrate. It's a bit of a headache, but the real problem is that he has the backing of that stubborn Onoki."

"So, have the talks stalled?" Anko asked.

"Yes, but our side has been slowly gaining ground. The incident involving Chino and Sasuke earlier this week bolstered the Cloud Village's argument to take her in, which, in turn, has improved our standing in the discussion."

Anko felt compelled to speak up for Sasuke, and she let down her emotional guard during the conversation for the first time. "Sasuke has grown quite close to the Chinoike girl. Do you think there's any way she could come to the Leaf as well?"

Hiruzen shook his head. "I'm afraid that's not an option. With the Uzumaki clan, we're leveraging Karin's heritage as a link to our village. The Cloud Village is using the same reasoning to relocate Chino. If we were to oppose that and try to bring Chino into the Leaf, we'd lose the Cloud's support, and the talks would likely come to a standstill. They could drag on for months, maybe even years. The tension it would create wouldn't be good for anyone involved.

Anko relented on the point. Deep down, she knew he was right.

"But if the talks continue at this rate," Hiruzen added, "Karin here will likely be a fellow Leaf shinobi by the end of the exams."

Karin beamed, bowing her head slightly. "Thank you again, sir."

"Think nothing of it," Hiruzen replied. "I owe the Uzumaki clan and Naruto more than you could imagine."

Anko crossed her arms, her tone sharp. "Well, if the talks are going so well, what do you need me for?"

Hiruzen's expression grew serious. "Yes, well, that brings us to Yasuba, the Grass Village leader. Based on his behavior during the talks and the information Karin has shared about him, I believe he has motives beyond simply not wanting to lose a promising ninja. I suspect there's more to his refusal. I've already ordered a squad of Anbu to investigate the Grass Village itself, but I need someone to tail and surveil Yasuba personally."

"What makes you so concerned about this guy?" inquired Anko

"We have reason to believe that Yasuaba is being led by someone else. Karin has told me that the amount of money the village had didn't match what they brought in through trade and missions."

"Karin was required to test the limits of her healing abilities daily. Whoever backs Yasuaba is deeply interested in Karin, and it would do us well to find out who they are."

"I get it, but I have one more question. Why me? There have to be tons of ninjas that aren't busy right now, especially ones that haven't called you a coward to your face."

"Because," Hiruzen said firmly, "I believe your skill set is among the best for this type of assignment. And secondly, no matter how you feel about me now, I still trust you, Anko."

Anko smirked. "Man, you can't keep a grudge for nothing, can you, old man? Fine, I'll do it."

"Very well, if you have any further request for information of resources, feel free to ask. I'll trust your discretion in this mission."

Anko began to walk toward the door

"Don't worry about it. I'm a pro when it comes to this stuff."

As Anko was about to open the door to leave the room and a realization hit her, she turned around

"I actually do have one request: Would you mind if I recruited just one more person for this mission?"

At the Center Spring hospital, Inoichi was trying to calm his rising anxiety over his daughter's condition, which had begun taking a toll on his health. He barely remembered to eat, and he only slept when he was forced into unconsciousness. Once he heard of the attack on team ten during the exams, Inoichi had arrived as soon as he could from the village with Shikaku and Choza in tow. he had been vehemently checking in on his only child. Shikaku and Choji both returned to the village after a few days, but Inoichi chose to stay to get an update on Ino's recovery.

Ino, despite it all, was in high spirits; if it weren't for the bandages wrapped around her head and the thick casts on her legs, you would never know she was gravely injured.

"Sweetheart, are you sure you don't need anything? Water. A snack?" Inoichi fretted, hovering at her bedside

Ino sighed, rolling her eyes, as she lowered her magazine. "No dad, I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Dad. For the tenth time, I'm sure."

A familiar voice cut through the doorway. "Torturing your daughter again, Inoichi? I thought you left your interrogation tactics in the village."

Asuma entered the room with Shikamaru and Choji trailing behind him.

Shikamaru gave a lazy wave while Choji, wrist deep in a bag of chips, greeted cheerfully.

"Hey, Mr. Yamanaka!" Choji had made a pretty impressive recovery. The injuries he received from Hidan were now just slight pains, and due to the wonders of Chakra medicine, Inoichi could only hope the same could be done for his child.

"Hey, you three, you're here for the doctor's update, I'm assuming," Inoich said, his demeanor still bright despite the bags under his eyes.

"Yep," drawled Shikamaru. "But with how we could hear her from down the hall, I'm sure she's getting back just fine."

Ino shot him a glare. "Shut up, Shika. I'm gravely injured, and you're cracking jokes?" She clutched her chest in mock offense, earning a chuckle from Asuma. Despite the guilt gnawing at him for his team's injuries, seeing their dynamic unchanged was a relief.

Their banter was interrupted by a knock.

"May I come in?" The doctor waited for permission before entering, clipboard in hand.

Inoichi straightened, tension lining his voice. "What's the update, Doctor?"

The doctor flipped through his notes. "There's good news and… complications. Miss Yamanaka's arm is healing well—we expect to remove the cast next week. Her head injury resulted in only a mild concussion, with no detected cognitive impairments."

"And her legs?" Inoichi pressed.

The doctor's expression sobered. "The bone damage is severe. We've stabilized her, but a full reconstruction would require a level of precision beyond what our current medical ninjutsu can safely achieve. Attempting it now would carry extreme risk for minimal chance of success."

Inoichi's face paled. "Are you saying my daughter won't walk again?"

"With intensive physical therapy, she may regain mobility," the doctor admitted, "but she will likely need a cane or assistance for the foreseeable future. A full recovery… is unlikely. Going forward to the next few weeks, there could be improvement with continued bone treatments with chakra, but we won't know until then."

The room fell into heavy silence.

Asuma, seeing that Inoichi was stunned, spoke up

"Do you mind we get a minute alone?

"Certainly, and again, I'm sorry I could not give better news."

The door clicked closed.

Ino had her head down. Her platinum blond hair covered her face as he gripped the sheets in front of her tightly, her knuckles turning white.

No one spoke. What could they say?

Then, just as Asuma was about to speak up

"That's such bullshit!"

Ino's head snapped up.

In her eyes, there were no tears or despair, only fire.

"You're telling me some psycho gets to decide if I walk again? No. I refuse." Her voice cracked, but her eyes burned,

"He said there's still a chance, right? That I could improve"

Inoichi sat, shocked at his daughter's resolve. He wiped tears away from his eyes.

"You're right, honey. Knowing you, you're going to be moving in no time."

Ino's fiery and hopeful response banished all the despair that crept into the room.

Ino then turned to her teammates and sensei.

Don't tell anyone yet; they all are working hard toward the tournament. I'm sure by the time it's over. A sharp grin came across her face. "I'll be running."

Kurenai sighed. She truly felt useless because she couldn't help her students. Kiba, Shino, and Hintata were all training with their clans. Kurenai looked down at the gingerly used bottle of sake in her hand. She bought the bottle on impulse, but she knew all too well that the more she drank, the worse this feeling of uselessness would get. Anko always told her that she was the saddest drunk she'd ever seen. Despite this, Kuernai took another sip.

Did they genuinely need her? Would just any other run-of-the-mill jonin get the same results she has gotten out of her kids? Her Incurites continued to flood her mind until. Kurenai felt a familiar presence behind her, allowing herself to be surprised. She felt somebody cover up her eyes with her hands.

"Guess who?" Anko said playfully

"Hey Anko, are you getting bored of running your students into the ground? So, you've come to bother me."

Anko released her, spinning around to lead against the railing beside her.

"Man, looks like we got grumpy Kurenai today."

Her eyes then spotted the bottle. "You're drinking!"

She went to yank the bottle out of Kurenai's hand, who put up no resistance.

"What's got you like this?"

"The Usual. Inadequacy. Doubt. Wondering if my students would be better off without me."

Anko rolled her eyes. "Dramatic. You know what'll fix that?"

"What?" Kurenai asked

"A super secret mission from the Hoakge himself."

Kurenai blinked as Anko went through seals. A pulse of chakra washed over her, snapping any drunkenness out of her.

"Wait, what mission?"

Anko grinned widely."Trust me, it's right up your alley."

Kurenai and Anko crouched low on the tiled rooftop of Yasuba's hotel. Kurenai had blurred their forms beneath her Demonic Illusion Dark Mist Technique, a genjutsu that muffled their chakra and rendered them invisible.

Luckily enough for them, Yasuba had left his window open, a surprising occurrence that kept them on edge. As a rule, if a mission against other ninjas started to become too easy, it was likely a trap.

Anko whispered

"I don't like this. Too convenient. It's like he's expecting someone to come through the window."

As if on cue, both of them spotted movement outside the window. The two of them braced for another ninja, but they said only a flutter of paper.

An immaculate origami bird slipped through the window and landed squarely on Yasuba's desk.

Anko and Kurenai watched anxiously at the strange communication method.

Yasuba snatched up the bird and read the message; anger flashed across his face as he immediately held out the paper to a nearby candle and let it burn.

"He's pissed" Anko muttered.

Yasuba abruptly stood up, knocking over his chair. He took no hesitation and began to stride out the window, leaping to the nearby rooftops toward the eastern part of the city.

Kurenai turned toward

"Do we follow?"

Anko nodded

Yasuab continued his advance past the city walls to the forests outside of Center Spring.

They moved silently. Kurenai's genjutsu held, bending light around them as they traveled at a safe distance away. The forest was dense, blocking out the moonlight from above. Without warning, Yasuba stopped in a small clearing.

Anko and Kurenai quickly dove down to the nearby underbrush and held their silenlty.

For the next few moments, there was nothing, and then, with a sudden shift in the air, a figure materialized from the darkness. Her cloak was black and marked with red clouds, a sigil neither Kurenai nor Anko recognized at first glance. Her face was impassive, and her violet eyes held a calculating look over Yasuaba, who was losing composure by the second.

Yasuaba swallowed. "You're early."

"And you are failing."

Yasuba's jaw tightened. " I had no control over the leaf's interference; the girl got the Hokage on her side. What am I supposed to do? Declare war."

The woman's voice was soft but carried the weight of a blade pressed against flesh. "If necessary."

Yasuba scoffed, "You overestimate my influence. The Grass is not the hidden leaf; we don't have the strength to…"

"You had one task," she interrupted, stepping forward. The air around her seemed to hum, a whisper of paper shifting beneath her cloak. "Train the Uzumaki girl. In return, we funded your village, armed your shinobi, turned a blind eye to your… extracurricular dealings."

Yasuba's fingers curled into fists. "And what would you have me do now? Storm Konoha's gates? Even if I were willing, my people wouldn't follow me into suicide."

"I would never expect a coward like you to do something so rash," Konan said coldly

"But I did expect basic intelligence, such as not putting your village's greatest financial asset in an event where it could be compromised, but it seems I've underestimated your incompetence still."

Yasuba held his tongue his desire to live was greater than his pride. "What happens now?"

"We will no longer fund your village. I only called for this meeting as a courtesy; speak not of our dealings, and poverty will be the least of your concerns, understand?"

Yasuba gave a stiff nod.

"Good, you may go."

Yasuba, without hesitation, booked it back into the trees, back toward the city.

The woman stayed in the clearing a few moments longer; she then turned around and spoke.

"The girl will continue to grow and learn, possibly more so under the watchful eye of the leaf. She is not needed now, but when she is, simple walls won't stop us from getting her." Her body then unraveled into a storm of paper swirling upward into the night.

The moment the paper form dissipated into the night, Anko let out a slow, controlled breath. "Well… that's not good."

Kurenai's fingers tightened around a kunai, her earlier drunken haze long forgotten. "She knew we were there the whole time."

"And let us live to report it." Anko's grin was sharp, but her eyes were deadly serious. "Either she's overconfident… or she wanted the Hokage to hear that threat."

Kurenai nodded. "We need to move. Now."

Anko recounted their findings. The old Hokage's pipe smoke curled in the air, his expression unreadable. Beside him, Jiraiya leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his usual levity absent.

"Red clouds and paper, couldn't be anyone else." Jiraiya's voice was low.

"Jiraiya, do you know something?" asked Hiruzen.

"Yes, but I don't have enough info right now to make a full conclusion, but there's been rumblings of a mercenary group called the Akatsuki for a few years now, who have done work with Iwa and Kiri, but I have no idea why they would want an Uzumaki girl."

Hiruzen could tell there was something more to what happened that deeply disturbed his student, but he allowed him to keep it to himself, knowing that in time, he would know the whole truth.

"Well, now that this group is after Karin, it makes it even more urgent for us to secure her in the village. Luckily, it seems this Akataksuki has no plans to move in now."

He tapped his pipe against the desk. "And with this failure, Yasuba should be far more… receptive to our terms next time we speak."

Turning to Anko and Kurenai, his stern expression softened. "Excellent work, both of you. It's days like these that remind me why promoting you to jōnin was never in question."

Anko brustled at the praise, but Kurenai indeed beamed from it.

"Thank you, sir."

Hiruzen smiled lightly

Hiruzen allowed himself a small smile. "I'm only stating the obvious." He leaned back, smoke wreathing his face. "For now, put this matter aside. Focus on your students. Ensure the Leaf's victory in this tournament."

As the two kunoichi left the room, Hiruzen looked at his student, more disturbed than he'd seen in years.

"Something's troubling you," Hiruzen observed.

Jiraiya's laugh came out rough. "Just the past being persistent, sensei." He pushed off the wall, the movement too casual. "Seems it's not done with me yet."