Chapter 20: New Challenges!

Chapter 20

KARIN UZUMAKI

Karin Uzumaki was sitting in her hotel room, thinking about her future. She was very worried, for she was aware that the consequences for her were going to be dire. Her teammates were dead and Zosui-san had warned her about this. She was the expendable one, not them. Her eyes got wet as her thoughts darkened, remembering her mother's lifeless body. Is that going to be my end as well, she thought.

As much as she tried to think of any way out, she found none. There was no escaping from this. She looked out the window, the Sun had risen completely, and the day had begun in earnest. The streets were buzzing with hoards of people. She just slapped her face lightly and got up from the bed.

Shinso's team had arranged a hotel room for her last night. Today she was going to be meeting Shinso-Kun. And she felt her cheeks heat a little at the thought. He was going to show her around the village today.

She started to get ready and after some time she made her way down to the small hotel. She left the hotel, raising her hand to avoid the glare of the Sun.

"Hello, Princess!" a remarkably familiar voice startled her from the side.

"Huh," she jumped back, startled.

"Haha," And he had the nerve to laugh. She just pouted at that and gave him a small glare. After calming down. She replied to his greeting.

"Hello, Shinso-Kun, I hope you did not wait for long." she smiled at him.

"Nah, just got here a few minutes ago." He said waiving away her concern. She looked him over once more. He was dressed a lot differently than her ninja uniform. He was wearing some dark trousers with a white shirt tucked in. His hair shone a little. Compared to him she felt a little underdressed.

"So, you ready? There is a lot to see," he asked. And she nodded and then both of them began their journey to the market.

Konoha's markets were nothing like Kusa's. Kusa had a small street with a couple of stalls that it called a market. But Konoha had a separate sector in the village solely dedicated to it. They had eaten a light breakfast, on the recommendation of Shinso-Kun, and now we're looking at various articles.

They entered a shop with a decorative front. It was a cloth shop. Shinso went ahead and asked the lady at the counter.

"Can you help us pick out some articles?" And despite her various protests, Shinso Kun had been adamant.

"The exams are over and you should try and relax. And from what I know, the best way to do that for women is by shopping."

She had left the shop dressed in a light purple kimono with a reddish floral pattern. She had not been able to get the price, but she knew that it was very expensive.

As they were walking once more, she saw him sneaking small glances at her. Her face reddened a little at that.

'Perhaps I should just enjoy this. It's not like that I have much longer to live anyway' she thought.

She closed the distance between them and held his hand. He looked toward her and she gave him a bright smile. As they entered a new sector her nose picked up the various aroma wafting through the air. She took in a deep breath and started looking around.

Shinso-Kun also smiled seeing her excitement and they visited various shops, checking various fragrances.

"This is so soothing." She said as she raised the sample strip towards Shinso-Kun who took a sniff. Shinso-Kun took a sniff and gave the same reply he had given regarding every fragrance.

"It seems quite nice." She just looked at him as if he had insulted the gospel.

"You have said the same thing regarding every one of them." Then she asked him in a low voice.

"Are you bored? We can leave and visit some other places?" She asked him a bit worriedly. But he just shook his head.

"No! No! it is just that I am surprised you know so much about perfume making." He commented lightly.

"It was my mother's habit." And she stopped immediately, a pang of grief and regret going through her.

Shinso-Kun seemed to understand the reason behind her silence. As he said the next words.

"I am sorry." She just nodded at that.

"She had once told me that she used to make them in her free time, she used to make specialized fragrances for her friends but then. . ." And she stopped thinking about how much she could tell him.

"You don't have to explain anything." And he hugged her lightly. Her shaking body felt weak in her embrace and she started weeping lightly.

She regained her composure after some time, cleaning her tears. Then Shinso-Kun spoke, trying to change the subject.

"I still have not shown you, where you will be staying. I had the place cleaned up a little, so it should be ready by now."

"You do not have to do this Shinso kun, you have already done enough." She tried to stop him. But he did not listen to her as he just grabbed her hand.

"It is on the other side of the market, So we will have to walk for a bit. Come on!" And both were off once more. Wading through throngs of people just two children enjoying their life.

Both of them reached the other side of the market. It was quite close to the gate. They were standing in front of a new building. There was a small window on the side. But people were moving about, moving various things.

"This is where you will be staying." Shinso-Kun as he looked at the building.

"What is it anyway?" she asked while glancing at the building.

"Oh. I forgot to mention it. It is a restaurant. My restaurant to be more precise." Shinso Kun said and she looked towards him a bit surprised.

"But aren't you a shinobi? How will you find time to run this place?" She asked him as they started walking into the building.

"Well, I will not be running. It will be run by other people, some orphans from my orphanage." He said explaining to her. Both sat down at a small table. Though she was surprised at his words.

"You are an orphan!" she asked her voice filled with surprise. Shinso Kun smiled ruefully.

"Yes, for as long as I can remember." Shinso Kun replied quietly.

"I am sorry for bringing it up," she said feeling guilty.

"Do not be. I never knew her." He just waved her concern away.

"Hmmm. I think the kitchen is set up. Ok, so I am going to cook for you myself, and then you can tell me how it tastes." Shinso Kun said while getting up. His words registered and she found herself asking,

"You can cook!" she was a little surprised.

Shinso Kun turned and before he could reply, they were cut off by a new voice.

"Can he cook, you ask?"

0000

HIRUZEN SARUTOBI

Hiruzen Sarutobi read the report in front of him once more. This was the report from the intelligence and barrier corps. He had been livid when Orochimaru's presence had been detected in the village. He had demanded an explanation and as he read further into the report he was not like this at all.

"So, we think that he has developed a new kinjutsu to take over a person's body morphology replicating even their chakra circuits." He confirmed and the jounin commander standing attention in front of him nodded in affirmative.

Hiruzen placed the report on the table. The Jutsu was vile. What lines have you crossed Orochimaru? And once more he lamented the fate of his former student.

"What are your thoughts about Iwa's situation? They have called back all their shinobi from villages. This is a clear indication of preparation for an attack."Shikaku Nara questioned, his voice had a certain edge.

And Hiruzen closed his eyes once more. Another war, he lamented. Then his presence thickened around the room. Reminding them of the reason he had ruled the village for all this time. He was a prodigy, a veteran forged in the fire of three great conflicts.

"Issue an alert. Call on the reserves to start preparing for an attack. And have the barrier corps do complete checks of the seals." He ordered.

Shikaku nodded and then asked once more, "What about the chunin exams?"

"They will continue as per schedule." He ordered. There was no need to cancel them now. They had entered the final phase now.

"Yes, Lord Hokage," Shikaku spoke in his official tone. Then his posture loosened and he informed him of the other situation.

"I have investigated the origins of the Uzumaki as per your order. And the results are shocking, to say the least." Shikaku informed him, and Hiruzen nodded. He had expected as such.

"The girl is a pure Uzumaki, and at least, by the intelligence department, she has a close relationship with the main line. We went through the reports and there was no report from Kusa regarding any Uzumaki. Despite our alliance, they did not inform them of our asylum call."

Hiruzen was not surprised. This was a long shot. Kiri along with Iwa had blocked the path from Uzushio to Konoha. So, the few that had been able to escape had to go to other countries. Konoha had requested its allies to inform them of any refugees but which village would deprive themselves of an Uzumaki? They were not called 'The blood hairs' for nothing.

Any single of the descendants of the refugees could grow up and become an asset to their village. Like Uzumaki Karin, he thought.

"I have also gone through our alliance treaty with Kusa with a fine comb." And at this Shikaku's gained a wicked smile. Hiruzen grinned when he saw that. He had found a way.

"There is a way we can prevent her return." Shikaku affirmed his thought.

"How?" Hiruzen questioned. Though it was a long time ago, it was highly improbable that such a loophole would be left by the negotiators.

"While Konoha can not provide asylum to Karin of Kusa. They are within their rights to protect Karin Uzumaki, a civilian belonging to the Uzumaki clan, a clan which has always held a symbolic position in our council."

And Hiruzen understood the implication.

"She will have to give up being a shinobi. But a shinobi clan needs to have a shinobi as its head, and there is not an Uzumaki here in the village?" Hiruzen thought.

Shikaku Nara spoke after some time,

"There is a Uzumaki, Kushina's ...."

"No, he is not ready for such a burden. Not yet." Hiruzen cut the jounin commander off who just looked straight into his eyes.

"Then, there is another solution…."

0000

SHINSO KEN

It was fun seeing people enjoying, what would have been called junk food. Karin ate the burger I had prepared. The truth was it was not anything special, just a deep-fried chicken sandwich. Yet it was new. It was innovative.

"See. I told you, he would make a perfect househusband. He can cook, clean and he has the added bonus of being a highly skilled shinobi." Nisa-nee supplied from the side, making Karin choke on the bite of burger she had taken. I just handed Karin a glass of water as Nisa-nee thumped her back.

"Thank you," Karin said placing the glass back after taking a sip. Though her face was still red.

"Nisa-nee how many times have I told you to not startle people like this." I reprimanded her and she just stuck her tongue out at me. Sometimes she could be so childish.

"Do not pay attention to her. It seems to me that her age is finally catching up with her. See those white hair, they should tell you about her age." I said to Karin pointing at the strands of white hair in Nisa-nee's hair.

"Come here you brat, if I am so old you can run this restaurant by yourself then." And then she just huffed.

All three of us talked for quite some time. Nisa-nee regaled Karin my various tales, a lot of them exaggerated. Then she took Karin to her room on the second floor. I just began to clear the dishes. The restaurant will be open within a couple of days. I wanted to make a profit, and with all the people coming to see the Chunin exams final. It would be a perfect business opportunity. This was a place to remind me of the memories of a world I had long begun to forget.

Then Nisa came back down, alone. She took a seat at the table. After finishing my work. I joined her at the table. She kept staring at me and I just raised my brows at that.

"You must know that I am very proud of you." She suddenly said, out of nowhere.

"Thank you. But why the sudden proclamation of love? Is there something wrong?" I asked and Nisa-nee's gaze darkened and her face gained a pained expression.

"There is something I want to tell you." She said while not meeting my gaze. Could it be? I thought.

"When I first became a matron I was approached by one of the elders. About recruitment of talented orphans into a certain organization."

And I could see her contemplating her words. Each word was carefully thought out. She had even hissed in pain while delivering the last sentence. So, I decided to stop her from making a mistake and triggering that deplorable seal.

"Nisa- nee, stop," my words seem to startle her. And then our eyes met and I just nodded and her eyes widened at that.

"H-How? But the-they are so- secre--?" but I cut her off.

"I have my ways. But why are you bringing this up now?" I questioned once more.

At this, her expression changed and she had a guilty look on her face before she replied in a small voice.

"Because I have been approached. And they wanted information about you."

Alarms began ringing in my head. This was something I had dreaded ever since I opened my eyes. A lot of my decisions had been based on one single fact. I had to avoid his radar. But it seemed I had run out of time.

I leaned back in my chair as I contemplated my position. I was friends with two clan heirs. Due to my showings at the exam, I had a very public profile. And now this restaurant gave me a little bit of leeway into the civilian markets.

Was I strong enough? Was I ready? The answer was simple.

NO. Not yet. But I could be. And determination rose in my heart.

I had to be

00000

BOOM. Another chapter is done. Honestly, as I read the chapter, I felt a bit of pride at the amount of improvement I have made.

Had an epiphany about my original story this week. We will see where that goes.

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