44 Chapter 44

"Sounds like a huge disaster."

"Right?" I asked, pausing to slurp down the noodles. "It's crazy how hard our first C-Rank mission was."

"Stop calling it that, kid. To call that mission anything less than an S-Rank would be criminal." Teuchi groaned as if he could feel our frustration.

"We made it out alive and completed the mission, we should be promoted to Jonin! Believe it!" Naruko shouted before downing her bowl with gusto.

"I agree," Satsuki admitted. "At the very least a chunin promotion should be awarded for completing such a difficult mission, Naruko and I took out a jonin."

"Lei took out two of them, how did you even manage that," Naruko asked, looking at me and I shrugged.

"Does it really surprise you, Naruko?" Hinata asked with a coy smile.

"No," Naruko grinned. "That doesn't mean I can't act like it does."

"Fair point." Teuchi nodded. "Speaking of those jonin, Ao of the Byakugan, quite the impressive takedown if I do say so myself." Teuchi nodded, and I could hear the pride in his voice.

To hear the God of Bowls himself complement my skills…I have truly ascended!

"Free bowls for all of you." Teuchi grinned, and all of us cheered. Free bowls, this day couldn't get any better!

— Later —

"Double six," I called out, and Hinata placed the domino. Yes, I recreated dominos, there was a game somewhat like it in the world, but it wasn't as cool so I made it how I remember it. Might get sued later, but it's whatever-

…I'll just pay for the rights later.

"This game isn't as fun as the others you made, Lei." Naruko frowned.

"That's because it requires brain power as much as it requires luck. You can win with a bad hand if you know how to use it." I grinned, as she stuck her tongue out at me. Calling Naruko dunce was one of the best pastimes we could all share.

"So, beyond the life-threatening Jonin, and the various kage level shinobi that showed up…how was the mission?" Hinata asked with a small smile.

"Horrible." Satsuki groaned. "Most of my time was spent healing my wounds, or healing someone else's."

"Yeah, there wasn't much for me to do." Naruko scratched the back of her head with a frown. "Lei handled most of the heavy lifting."

"As I should." I nodded.

"Well, I'm glad you're all back. I won't allow any of you to go on another mission outside of the village without me." Hinata frowned, putting her foot down.

"I…don't think it's up to you." I chuckled, earning a pinch to my cheek from my Hyuga girlfriend. A comfortable silence consumed the room. The only noise heard was the placing of our dominos.

Internally my mind was still caught up on everything that went down. More than that, I was worried about the future. The Chunin exams were two short months away and the threats of Danzo and Orochimaru were very real. I hoped Hiruzen could manage to arrest, or outright kill Danzo before things got…complicated.

"Lei, it's your turn." Satsuki snapped me out of my thoughts. I placed my domino, and almost instantly fell back into thought.

Itachi was one thing. I couldn't confirm if he was a psychopath or a secret spy for the Leaf, but either way, he is a nonfactor right now. He doesn't pose a threat to our lives at the current moment and I can worry about him later.

More than anything, Danzo needs to be dealt with.

My eyes drifted to the corners of the room. We had seals placed around and within the house, that would alert us to any intruders, but if we had ROOT after us in our village…that was a real and very terrifying thought.

Then there was the chakra pill I took. I would fall into a deep sleep that would last a few days. Would I wake up in the comfort of my home, or in an underground lair run by a psychopath looking to use my body as a farm?

"Lei it's your turn," Hinata said this time, and I played my domino, barely looking at the game. "Lei, is something wrong?"

"Yeah, you've been out of it ever since we started." Naruko sat up straighter.

"Do you need to rest?" Satsuki asked, looking ready to put away the dominos.

I looked at each of them and the concern on their features was clear.

"No, everything's alright."

They all were unconvinced. Hinata grabbed my arm tightly, her eyes waiting for an honest answer.

Naruko and Satsuki moved towards us from the other side of the table. Satsuki took the seat at my other side and Naruko skipped all subtlety and hopped onto my lap. All of them shrouded me in their warmth, a message to me, one I was familiar with.

These were the people closest to me, I could tell them anything.

I was taken aback. Never had they all shown such a level of intimacy at the same time, usually it was at separate times.

"The truth, Lei," Satsuki demanded.

I let out a deep sigh. I didn't have any personal space at the moment, but for some reason, I didn't feel as uncomfortable as I should.

"I was thinking about Orochimaru. You don't need to concern yourself with it." I explained. They didn't know about Danzo and at the moment, didn't need to. Danzo wouldn't make a move on them unless he was pushed to, and such a thing wouldn't happen until Hiruzen attempted to arrest him.

…And I would only have to worry if he failed.

"That guy." Naruko crinkled her nose in disgust. "I don't understand how he can be one of the Legendary Sannin."

"Well, his chakra was powerful. I could feel it from the town, I doubt temperament has anything to do with being a legendary shinobi." Satsuki looked at the blonde, and Naruko gave an annoyed huff.

"Still a creep."

"I'm not arguing that."

"You're worried he'll come after you?" Hinata asked, her fingers gently stroking my arm.

"No." I frowned. "I'm worried he'll come after you."

The three girls surrounding me knew I was referring to all of them, not just Hinata.

Danzo wouldn't make a risky move like sending ROOT after me while I'm in the village…I hope. Orochimaru is another story. His powerful shinobi have been exhausted by the deaths of the Sound Five and the capture of Tayuya.

That didn't stop him though. Orochimaru was a master of disguise, capable of taking over people's bodies. What's to stop him from killing a traveling merchant and using that body to enter Konoha? If he did that, there are very few people who would be able to stop him, and if he's secretive about it, he could take my girls hostage.

It was intense paranoia, I knew that. Such a thing was unlikely and even more than that, it was stupid. Orochimaru would have more to lose than to gain from such a thing.

When the lives of people I cared about were in question, I couldn't help but worry.

"Oh please, if he comes here we'll kick his butt and leave him to the rest of the Konoha shinobi, believe it!" Naruko grinned.

"Agreed," Satsuki smiled. "I didn't get to see much of him, but I can assure you, if he comes with hopes to harm anyone in Konoha, I'll show him the might of the Uchiha!"

"...The Uzumaki are stronger."

"Kiss my ass, cow tits!"

"You think you're better than me, washboard?!"

"Of course, I am, you-"

I looked at the two girls, completely dumbfounded. They were talking about beating Orochimaru as if it would be the easiest thing ever, and now they were arguing-

"-bubbly big-breasted buffoon!"

I couldn't hold it in.

I laughed.

The girls' heads snapped to me as I laughed uncontrollably. A good minute or so passed and only then did my amusement start to titter out.

I'm an idiot. A big one.

"Lei?" Hinata asked after a moment, and I looked at her with renewed vigor.

"It's nothing, don't worry. I'm fine now. Why don't we keep playing?"

Naruko hopped off my lap with a smile. "Good, let's start a new game then, I'll get the monopoly board!"

"You were gonna lose, don't try and run!" Satsuki got up, moving to stop Naruko.

"No, I just want to play something else."

Just like that, they were back at it.

"I'm glad you're better." Hinata smiled, getting up to break up the impending fight.

As Naruko and Satsuki argued, they eventually started butting heads. Hinata's Byakugan activated and a chilling chakra filled the room.

I sat back as I watched Hinata give the two girls a stern lecture, their bodies shaking in fear.

I was so worried about Orochimaru and Danzo, getting overwhelmed by their existence and the threats they posed. That was the wrong way to go about it. Paranoia in a shinobi is a necessity, but not to the extent that I forced myself to feel.

I let out a deep breath and smiled at the apologizing forms of Naruko and Satsuki. I couldn't do anything about those two bastards, but that was fine.

In the end, they'll be dead, and I'll be happy, just like I am now.