Shinobi One-Half

Chapter 8

Making the Cut

Disclaimer: I don’t own this series or any other series. I am just floating an idea. I am making no money, nor plan to, off this venture. If you think of suing me over this, then grow up.

Nabiki hissed as she dodged a strike aimed at her kidneys, wishing she wasn’t feeling so winded at the moment. She knew she had to get better, stronger, faster, and deadlier in the face of what threats this world would send her way.

Her mind wandered, commenting to itself that a few months ago, such a situation would never be able to be imagined for it. She had never considered getting lost across time and space with the pigtailed chaos magnet.

Oh sure, kidnapping was a possibility. Some kidnappers didn’t wait for you to finish saying your last name before the duct tape was around your mouth—last name first being the tradition in Japan. So it was just as likely some thug would assume any female with the last name Tendo was someone Ranma would come rescue.

Oh, it hadn’t happened, but there was a bet going on that either her or Kasumi would be kidnapped in Akane’s place before the engaged duo were out of high school.

She never considered a simple moneymaking scheme blowing up so badly in her face. Detailed plans that didn’t rely on corny disguises, fights, or magical talismans?

That simply wasn’t the styles of the fiancées or rivals.

And yet one of them had somehow gotten access to a shrine with a buried secret chamber and set up explosives to bring it down around their heads. Part of her wondered if they knew about what had been sealed down there—knew and believed—or simply thought it was a convenient place to dispose of the bodies.

The normal answer to that would be no, they wouldn’t have known or cared. But underestimating someone was why she was here now.

Not that it mattered now. For the moment, she needed to focus on surviving this world. And only then would she worry about what she’d do to the asshole who tried to kill them.

“Oomph!” she gasped as her opponent caught her in the stomach, forcing the painfully forcing the air out of her lungs.

“You were distracted again,” said Sarutobi, before vanishing in a puff of smoke.

She had been at Training Grounds Five since the early afternoon, her progress enough in the Art of Ninjutsu that the former Hokage was testing her with a Kage Bunshin of his own in a Taijutsu drill. The objective hadn’t been to defeat the clone, only disperse it, which could be achieved with one good hit. It was a simple test to see how well she had progressed both in her studies of the general fighting style of Konoha—at least what was taught in the Academy—and what Ranma had been teaching her.

And despite what she had hoped, even with a Raiju inside her, she had her ass handed to her. “I know,” she gasped, oxygen finally entering her lungs as she felt Gobi refill her with energy and healing chakra. The Raiju itself had withheld its power to force her to develop and win on her own.

The sound of footsteps approaching her told her that the elderly former Hokage was walking towards her.

“Distractions in battle are never a good thing,” he said, making no move to help her up.

“I got to ask Ranma how he does it,” she spat, glad to see that saliva was clear and without blood.

“Some ninja are able to slip into such a mindset,” he mused. “In a battle, nothing will phase them.

“However, it more often than not carries the price that outside of the battle, they might react with excessive force to the slightest of provocations.”

She nodded, remembering some televisions shows documenting such in soldiers and high-level police officers. Nabiki definitely didn’t want to become like that.

“Not my plan,” she wheezed. Her breath was slowly coming back to her, making her regret not continuing with some of her father’s basic lessons. Sure, Akane couldn’t hit the broad side of a ramen restaurant, but she still had some stamina.

Nabiki however, was discovering what her life as the so-called ‘Ice Queen’ of Furinkan had left her with. Even after working with Ranma and Sarutobi, she felt like she had the lung capacity of a first year brass student in a band.

Sarutobi nodded as he dispelled the Kage Bunshin. “I think that’ll be enough for today. Continue with the exercise I gave you and we’ll test you again tomorrow.”

She weakly nodded, trying to suppress a pang of anger that was rising up in her. Nabiki knew she couldn’t expect instant results. But she still felt as if she was no closer to being a force than when she had first arrived.

The former Hokage sighed, noticing what was she had not said. He had seen it too often for his liking, even among the newest of Genin to the newest entries into the Academy. She was upset that she wasn’t advancing as much as she would have liked. “You did well today, Ms. Tendo. I may be old, but I’m still quite the fighter. To be honest, you should not sell yourself short because you failed to disperse my clone.”

Her eyes slowly focused on his as she forced herself to stand. “I know that,” she grumbled.

“Do you?” he asked.

“Knowing and accepting are two different things,” she finished.

Sarutobi nodded. In his opinion, she was still scarred by the incident of her kidnapping, traumatized and attempting to move on. The girl was throwing herself into her training, attempting to become strong enough to never have to fear again.

But such paths never ended well. When was there enough strength? When do you apply it?

What do you do when it fails?

“You should talk to someone about this,” he murmured, lighting his pipe with a small application of chakra. “It is eating you up from the inside.”

“I am talking to someone,” she growled out.

“Tell me, is this someone the best to handle human issues?” he asked, knowing that the likeliest entity Nabiki would confess to would be the one she could hide nothing from.

The Raiju inside of her.

Eyes narrowed, Nabiki fought hard to control her anger, fought to prevent herself from lashing out at the old man.

“The human has made a point,” Gobi replied in her thoughts. “Though we have seen many humans in our lives, we are not the best in understanding humanity as a whole or even in part.

“It may be better to seek … alternative methods to combat this issue.”

I don’t like talking to shrinks, Nabiki mentally hissed.

“You also do not wish to be seen as weak. But does your current mindset not suggest such? Do you wish to allow this … darkness to consume you?”

Releasing an angry sigh, she let the tension flow from her body. “And just who would I have to speak to?” she asked calmly.

“Believe it or not, Ms. Tendo, we do have people that excel at this sort of thing.”

She fought hard not to twitch, hoping this wasn’t going to end up with some nut that would pass in Nerima as a student practitioner of Psychologist Martial Arts.

Ranma popped his back as he walked out to the back patio of his new home. After what seemed like hours, he was finally done painting the remaining rooms. All that was left was to let them dry before they started moving things into the rooms.

“Man, glad I never had to do this sort of stuff at the Tendo Dojo,” he murmured, cracking several joints. “But at least I didn’t get covered in that crap.”

Releasing a deep sigh of relief, he continued forward, eventually stopping ten meters from the patio. “Okay, you can come out now. Ain’t like I didn’t know you were there. Really appreciate ya didn’t come inside and wreck anything.”

A figure stepped out from behind a nearby tree, eyes focused in rage towards Ranma, body slightly disfigured from a massive battle of some sorts, as it slowly raised its right hand towards the boy.

“It … was … you…,” hissed Jiraiya, his breath coming in deep pants.

“Me?” asked Ranma in faux sincerity. “I didn’t do anything.”

Jiraiya continued to glare at the teen. “You expect me to believe all the hell I just went through had nothing to do with you.”

Ranma just snorted, pointing behind him to several Genin who were exiting the house. They had been assigned to help him paint the place—their Jounin sensei was missing, having been one of the victims of … whatever it was that had been living around the property until Anko slaughtered them. “They’ve been here all day helping me.”

“Tell me something, brat,” said Jiraiya, standing as straight as his battered form would allow, “how many redheads do you think are in Konoha?”

Ranma just blinked. “I don’t see what that has to do with anything,” he said, pointing behind him. “Hell, one of the newbie-nin here has red hair.”

“So does your girl form,” Jiraiya added. “Guess how many redheaded women are in this village with the skills to find me, point me out to the other ladies, and delay any possible escape until I took a few good hits.”

Ranma just shrugged.

“One more thing, brat,” Jiraiya hissed. “A pair of glasses and tying your hair into a ponytail does not make for the perfect disguise.”

Ranma’s eyes just twitched. “And how exactly did I pull this off?” he asked, trying to show no signs of worry.

“I taught you Kage Bunshin yesterday.”

“… Oh,” Ranma murmured. “Well … if you didn’t want me using it, ya shouldn’t have taught it to me!”

“I didn’t teach it to you to interrupt my research!” bellowed Jiraiya.

“You’re just pissed I stopped you from getting away with peeping on those girls!” yelled Ranma.

“EEEEEEEH!” cried one of the Genin kunoichi behind Ranma. “He’s … he’s a PERVERT!”

“Ah, so what?” asked a slow male Genin beside her. “All he does is peep on girls. What’s wrong with that?”

WHAM!

“Okay, that he deserved,” said Ranma as the kunoichi removed her first from where she had slammed the slow Genin male into the ground.

“Who’s the old pervert, anyway?” asked the lone standing Genin male.

Jiraiya blinked. “Who am I? Who am I?” he trailed off, screaming.

“Now you’ve done it,” sighed Ranma.

“Thank you for asking!” yelled Jiraiya, whipping his hair around. “I am the Myouboku Mountain’s Monk of the Toad Spirits, also known as the Toad Hermit! The legendary Toad Sage of the Sannin of the Hidden Leaf! The writer known around the world! I am … JIRAIYA!” he finished, posing.

The only sound that permeated the backyard was of a cricket chirping.

“… Never heard of you,” said the boy.

“Now I know he’s a pervert,” grumbled the kunoichi.

“I am no mere pervert, little girl!”

“Yeah, yeah,” waved off Ranma, “you’re a super pervert. Can you try to not mentally scar people under the age of fifteen on my property?”

“Kids today,” grumbled Jiraiya, “no respect to their elders.”

“Well if all my elders weren’t huge screaming perverts, I might show some respect,” sneered Ranma, before he turned back to the Genin. “Well, that’s it for today. Why don’t you three head back to the Tower and either get another assignment or ask for a technique to help keep ya from ending up like your Sensei.”

Both boys winced, crossing their legs.

“Why? What happened to him?” asked the kunoichi. “No one will tell me!”

The males all stayed silent, even as they dragged the kunoichi away.

Taking a deep breath, Ranma turned back to the Sannin. “Weren’t you supposed to be here hours ago to train me?”

“I left you with a scroll,” Jiraiya waved off.

“You left me with a blank scroll,” growled Ranma.

“Well, you still got something done today.”

“It was either paint with them or get a mission,” glared Ranma. “And I can’t get one of those until I pass some proficiency exam to ensure I’m at least at Genin-Level.

“And they said someone wasn’t filing any reports about my progress,” he finished.

“Ahhh,” murmured Jiraiya, remembering what he had been supposed to do that, having been reminded by his own Sensei, his student, and his student’s lover who wielded a mean frying pan. “Well then, I guess I better go do that now,” he said, his earlier anger fading under Ranma’s glare.

“I think you mean ‘we’,” stated Ranma. “Unless of course you want me to send out a few more Kage Bunshin to ensure you don’t make any unscheduled detours.”

The Sage winced at those words. “Fine, let’s go get you certified. I assume of course you know the three basic jutsu.”

Ranma snorted at that. “Ya saw me master them after I finally figured out that chakra/chi issue.”

Jiraiya nodded as they moved towards the entrance of the compound, stepping aside of the few remaining Genin teams assigned to finish the landscaping chores. “One day, you’ll have to explain that to me. This chi stuff seems like it might be pretty useful to know.”

“Yeah, maybe,” smirked Ranma. He was happy to have something to hold over the self-proclaimed super pervert’s head to make him actually teach something useful. As it stood, he had no doubt that the elder ninja would take the first available opportunity to ditch his tutoring for ‘research’. Man, I hope I don’t become that easily distracted when I get that old.

Hell, I just hope growing old don’t make you a pervert. All the really old guys I know are all perverts.

As the duo walked towards the Tower, they remained silent for a good bit of the trip.

“You shouldn’t be rushing into this.”

“Hmm?” asked Ranma, trying to ignore the occasional tail they picked up. Looks like Minato and Itsuki were right. Man, it’s like these guys aren’t even trying.

“The life of a ninja,” said Jiraiya, facing forward. “Kami knows I’ve seen brats younger than you rushing into this life, thinking it would be all action and glory.”

Ranma just snorted. “Please; all glory ever got me was some other nut trying to take me down.” Hell, he hardly got any fights after Saffron. But then, all of his rivals had been there, so maybe that had something to do with it.

Ah, who cares. Ain’t like anyone could ever make heads or tails out of those nuts, I’m just shocked I ain’t had Kiima show up demanding something.

He shuddered at the possibility of the Phoenix tribe having similar laws like the Amazons. Ranma had barely slept a wink for a week after he defeated Herb, always scared he would turn a corner or wake up and end up coming face-to-face with a new Musk bride.

“It isn’t an easy decision,” the Sage continued, somewhat mollified by Saotome’s shiver. “It will be rough, difficult, and in the end there will be no doubt that at some point, you will have to take someone’s life.”

Ranma nodded, though the Sannin noted how Ranma was nervously clenching his hands into fists as they walked. “Done it before.”

“But can you do it again?” asked Jiraiya.

“… Won’t know until I have ta,” Ranma mumbled, shoving his hands in his pockets, turning his head away from the Sannin.

“Dangerous path to take,” commented Jiraiya.

“Ain’t like I plan to go out there and slaughter everyone.”

“Didn’t say you’d have to.”

“Good, cause if I gotta be a ninja, it ain’t gonna be my way. My way is about me not killing unless I gotta.”

Jiraiya nodded. “Just so you know, if it comes to it, hesitation can mean the difference between your team going home or the enemy.”

“I know that.”

“Just making sure,” Jiraiya said. “So … is everything else fine?” he asked.

“If you’re asking if I’m gonna freak out like on the field, not sure yet,” Ranma said.

“Kid, we don’t send people out who can’t hack it,” Jiraiya offered quietly. Well, that wasn’t exactly true. They didn’t send them out on anything higher than a D-rank or low C unless they felt they could handle it. Anything higher was just a recipe for disaster when the person would crack, getting themselves and usually a few others killed, assuming they didn’t end up captured or running off to become Missing Nin.

But Saotome didn’t need to hear that at the moment. As much as it would easy to blame the delay on Jiraiya’s own research, it was more of a delay tactic, a way to give the boy time to work out a few things. Even if he was approved of for Genin-missions, the fact that his … Nekoken was still not under his own control. And added to that the power of a Raiju and you had an entity more dangerous and unpredictable than any Bijuu.

“I can hack it,” glared Ranma.

“Really?” asked Jiraiya. “And if they use a particular genjutsu on you again, or even a Summons like what it showed you? Could you still be a use to the Village then?”

Ranma continued to glare, refusing to back down from this. Sure, Rokubi was helping him deal with the cat—as hard as it was since the thing always tried to rush towards Ranma in the mental landscape. But he still didn’t feel too confident about facing one of the furballs of fury anytime soon, not until he could talk to Rokubi in his head at least. “I ain’t a threat ta my friends.”

“… We’ll see, brat; we’ll see,” said Jiraiya, as the two carried on.

Anko strode into the Hokage Tower, ignoring the all-too-often glare being sent her way, ignoring the pseudo-whispered comment calling her derogatory names as she had made her way there.

Technically, she was still supposed to be on restricted leave pending a full inquiry into her involvement in Orochimaru’s betrayal and her rescue from Sea Country.

She didn’t buy that anymore than anyone else did. Anko knew she had been interrogated by ANBU—both in the village and when she was on her way to the village. Her former sensei was a traitorous bastard, but he made sure she learned her stuff. Standard ANBU rules and procedures would dictate such.

The fact she didn’t remember it was inconsequential. In fact, given some of the extraction methods they used—at least the ones she was aware of—it was probably for the best that she didn’t recall them.

I have enough bad memories without adding to them.

Shaking her head, she continued on. The Fourth had called for her, which was good as it got her off the Restricted List without the need of approval by the advising council. Her former sensei’s defection did more than just ruin many lives, it ruined hers as well. The stigma attached to his name would ensure no matter what, there would always be a weight on her actions. She could achieve the fame of the First, but it would never be enough. Hell, she’d be lucky to make it to Special Jounin, never mind beyond that. Forget about ever becoming a Jounin Sensei.

It doesn’t matter though. I’m not going to become strong for assholes like them.

I’ll become strong if for nothing else than to bring that traitor’s head back to the village and put on a pike in front of their offices.

Steeling her resolve, she marched into the Tower, making her way to the Hokage’s office. She had no doubt that several ANBU were already watching her, ready to slaughter her quickly if it looked like she was a threat to the village leader.

Coming to his door, she raised her hand, preparing to knock, when doubt crept back into her mind. Was he really going to bypass the Advisors and return her to duty somehow? Maybe it was something…

Growling slightly at feeling so weak, she knocked forcefully on the door. Second-guessing herself now was not going to do her any good.

“Come in, Anko!” she heard.

Nodding, she opened the door, stopping at the sight before her. Sure, she had expected to see the Fourth busy at work. All the times she had visited the Third, it seemed like there was always a pile of paperwork surrounding the desk.

Minato Namikaze was doing the paperwork, as expected.

He was doing it from three different seats as a fourth one stood by the door, smiling.

“W-what?” she asked.

“What?” he asked. “You think a Hokage could deal with all this and not have clones helping him?” Minato asked with a smile, sipping a steamy cup of tea.

“You … you can do that?”

“Well, the First preferred using Moku Bunshin no Jutsu.” He motioned to the others working quickly with the paperwork. “I’m using Kage Bunshin.”

“How come the Third never used them?”

“Maybe he did,” shrugged Minato. “He wouldn’t be much of a ninja if you saw all of his tricks.”

She just nodded, filing the information away for later. I wonder what clones you actually can use to get away with that…

“Anyway,” waved off Minato, sitting down his tea, “I need to discuss something with you?”

“What things?” she asked, forcing any nervousness down.

“Well, I’m presented with an interesting set of problems,” he said, motioning to a pair of empty chairs. After she took a seat, he continued. “As you are no doubt aware, there are those on the Council and in my own Advisors who think you are too dangerous to be allowed to run unchecked.”

She snorted at that.

“Yeah, they didn’t exactly hide their feelings,” he snorted in reply. “And there is the group that feels that while you may not be desiring the path of your former Sensei, you may still be unknowingly under his sway.”

She looked off to the side at that. “Did they find anything?”

“Aside from that Cursed Mark on your back shoulder, no,” he said. “Then again, with him, could we ever be sure we got it all?”

She slowly shook her head.

“I’ve given what we’ve found out about it so far to Ero-Sennin. With any luck, he can do something about it, in case his former teammate left something behind.”

“… Thank you,” she said.

Nodding, he continued. “And like Sarutobi, there are some who feel you should be allowed to return to our ranks without any stigma. After all, you left here believing you were a Konoha Chuunin, why should you return any differently?”

She shook her head at that. “Like you said, we don’t know what he might have left in me.” Her right hand trembled a bit, her body wanting to send it clutching her heart. She didn’t know for sure what had happened on that island. All she knew was that she had been abandoned by Orochimaru.

And he didn’t leave anything without leaving a few surprises behind for those that found it.

Minato paused a bit, before slowly nodding. “I agree with you there. And even if the old man had wanted you back immediately, I hope he would have assigned someone to watch you.

“The fact you have the awareness of mind to suggest such yourself tells me I made the right decision.” Nodding, he grabbed a file one of the Kage Bunshin handed him, before opening it. “So that leaves me in a bit of a dilemma.

“A majority is requesting that even if I allow you for active duty, I commit you to the ANBU Torture and Interrogation Force under Ibiki,” he said. “It would allow a redundancy they are requesting, to watch you.”

Anko slowly nodded. In fact, that option hadn’t sounded half bad. She could learn a lot and apply what ‘acceptable’ techniques her old Sensei had taught her. With any luck, she could still assist in bringing that bastard to justice.

“But I have something else in mind for another way to assist you.”

“Oh?” she asked, confusion evident.

“Oh, you’ll still be apprenticed to Ibiki,” he waved off. “I would be a fool not to utilize your talents in that area. But I wish to add something else.”

“Oh?” she asked, her danger senses her warning of something.

“How would you feel about … Team Anko?”

“You have got to be kidding me?” complained Nabiki.

Minato shook his head, his smile never diminishing.

“Can’t I request imprisonment?” whined Anko.

Minato shook his head.

“…” Ranma just snorted. “She’s in charge, ain’t she?” he said, motioning with his head towards Anko.

Minato nodded.

“… You do realize I’m going to kill the Old Letch now,” said Ranma grimly.

“If you can.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” demanded Anko.

Ranma just arched his eyebrow at her. “And why is she in charge?” he asked.

“Simple,” replied Minato. “She’s a Chuunin, you two are now Genin. As such, she’ll be your team leader until such time you either surpass her in rank, skills, and knowledge of this world or the team breaks up.”

Ranma just growled lightly. He had to admit, it made a lot of sense. Hell, he didn’t even study any of the maps yet.

Didn’t mean he had to like following someone else’s orders.

“Every team is a three-person team,” Minato continued. “In the Academy, no team is sent out in teams alone or in teams of two as they start out, even when assigned D-rank missions. This is to ensure that those starting out can get a solid handle on what is required of them: teamwork, how their teammates work, and so on, while providing a safe learning environment.

“The truth is that even though those missions may seem like a waste, they are somewhat of a starter to prepare you.”

Anko sank to her knees. “You mean … because I’m stuck with them … I have to do D-Rank!” cried Anko.

“Wait, I remember reading about those,” murmured Nabiki. “The reward for a D-rank mission is between five thousand and fifty thousand Ryō.”

“How much is that?” asked Ranma.

Nabiki shrugged. Best I can figure, one Ryō equals about ten Yen.”

Ranma nodded. “Not bad money,” he mused.

“And how did you figure that out?” asked Sarutobi.

Nabiki let off her usual smirk. “The same way the governments do it: how much bread, milk, and so forth can I buy with so much money.”

“Anyway,” said Minato, “the main benefit for the moment is that it’ll allow you to continue training under your teachers with Anko’s assistance.”

“What training?” snorted Ranma, causing the two Hokages to focus a glare on Jiraiya.

“Fine,” glared Minato. “Anko will report back to me on any training sessions you two have. I expect to see marked improvement.”

Jiraiya gulped, before nodding. While he could probably slide a few things by Ranma about his training, Anko would be experienced enough to catch it.

Sighing, Minato returned to his papers before him. “Anko, meet up with them tomorrow at eight and bring them here. We’ll assign them a single D-rank for the day. After lunch, you guys can return to your training. With any luck, we can move you up to C-rank missions before the end of the month.”

Anko wanted to cry. The current month was barely three days old. She’d have to go without harming enemies for almost a whole month unless someone attacked them on a D-rank mission. And how often would a person be attacked babysitting? Pulling weeds? Walking dogs?

They wouldn’t—unless they were very stupid and misread their orders.

It was apparent enough to Ranma, as he patted her on the shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. Ya wanna hurt the super pervert if he ain’t teaching me right?”

“What?” yelled Jiraiya.

“Well, that might give you some more motivation to take his training seriously,” offered Sarutobi.

“Sarutobi-Sensei, how could you betray me like that?”

The former Hokage just shrugged. “Consider it an assist to your normally tireless work ethic.”

Anko paused, looking at the letch. It … would be good training to prepare her to hunt another Sannin.

“Well, we are all in agreement,” said Minato. “But I will review when Anko decides to … assist Jiraiya to ensure it was well deserved.”

“I swear, no respect,” grumbled Jiraiya.

“Until then, you guys have the rest of the day off to do whatever you want or need. Just be here tomorrow at eight for a mission assignment.

“But before you go,” he ended, motioning to the other two adults in the room.

Looking put upon, Jiraiya reached into his coat.

“I swear, if that is anything related to porn, I’m gonna have to hurt you,” said Ranma, delivering a glare.

“Fine then,” Smirked Jiraiya, as Sarutobi pulled out an object from his robes.

“Ero-Sennin,” growled out Minato.

“Fine,” sighed Jiraiya, pulling out something similar.

“These are your hitai-ate,” stated Minato. “Congratulations; you both are now officially Genin of the Hidden Leaf Village.”

The duo stared down into their hands, the headbands being tossed into them, with wonder.

Ranma looked upon it with pride. Sure, Anything Goes didn’t believe in colored belts to mark your progress, but what he held was of a similar meaning. It meant his skills had grown enough to be a defender of this world. It meant he had cleared the first hurdle to learning more techniques, to growing stronger, to protecting those he cherished.

Nabiki’s realizations were a little colder. She viewed the symbol as proof she was on her way to protecting herself in this harsh world that held no fear of the Ice Queen of Furinkan High. It was proof she was on her way to never having to worry about punks like that Missing Nin. For her, it meant that for once, she might feel safe enough not to climb into Ranma’s bed.

I can hope.

“We would have given you those up front, but we wanted to see how well you took things,” said Minato.

“Took things?” asked Ranma

“Were you mentally able to handle the initial riggers of becoming fresh Genin,” replied Minato. “Now then, you guys can head out now. Dismissed.”

As the prepared to leave, Ranma turned to his tutor. “Next time you lie to me and hand me a scroll that ain’t a technique to learn, I’ll do more than sic angry women on ya,” he finished with a dark glare that sent a shiver down Jiraiya’s spine.

“He can do it, too,” offered Nabiki. “He’s dealt with a pervert way worse than you for almost a year.”

“Can I help?” asked Anko as they exited the room to Minato and Sarutobi’s growing laughter.

“These things are weird,” muttered Ranma, fingering the hitai-ate Jiraiya had handed him and Nabiki as they left the Hokage Tower.

“How so?” asked Nabiki, hers inside her pocket.

“Well, I ain’t ever seen anything like this,” he said. “I mean, could you imagine Konatsu wearing something like this around Nerima?

Nabiki snorted. “Saotome, I’ve seen him purchasing some of the outfits he wears to work at Ucchan’s.”

“Yeah, but that’s his cover,” replied Ranma. “He ain’t ever been announcing he was a kunoichi.”

“He? Kunoichi?” asked Anko from beside them.

Ranma nodded. “Guy was born to a ninja clan, a once-a-century kunoichi genius, even though he’s a guy. Step family did a number on him, making him believe totally he was a girl.”

“Eww,” muttered Anko.

“He’s also one of the few people to give Ranma a run for his money in a fight,” Nabiki added with a smirk.

“Was not,” argued Ranma. “I was holding back when he ate that Toushintan!”

“Sure you were,” waved off Nabiki.

“I was too!” yelled Ranma. “Sure he was trying to kill me with everything he had, but I wasn’t going to fight him like that!”

Nabiki just giggled lightly.

Sighing at another fight lost, Ranma turned to Anko. “So, what are these D-rank missions?” he asked.

Anko just shrugged. “Low-level missions with almost zero chance of being hurt. Mostly the missions are just chores for people who can’t do them themselves; babysitting, lawn care, farming, trash collecting, that sort of stuff.”

“Odd amount to pay for all that,” stated Ranma.

“Well, the village pays some of it if they believe it will help entice a client to use us for more services. But usually the clients foot the whole bill, especially for anything C-rank and above, and the village still takes a cut of some of that payment.”

“How much of a cut?” asked Nabiki.

“Depends,” shrugged Anko. “For the bare minimum cost of a D-rank, which costs five thousand Ryō, you might get a thousand after everything is said and done.”

“So split five ways,” murmured Nabiki. “It is divided evenly between the village, Jounin Sensei, and the three team members.”

Anko nodded. “Unless the Jounin finds that some team members did less, did poor work, or no work at all. However, if everyone does their share? Yeah, even split.”

“A bit more since we don’t have a Jounin Sensei,” Nabiki reasoned.

“Not unless you think you’re tutors will demand some payment.”

Ranma snorted at that, knowing exactly what sort of payment his tutor would demand. He had no intention of modeling for the letch.

“So, what now?” asked Nabiki. The free time was nice, but part of her was worried about what to do with it.

“Well, that paint should be dry by now,” Ranma offered. “We can head back, move the furniture around, and try to get settled tonight.”

“Joy,” muttered Nabiki. Unlike Ranma, her chakra coils hadn’t developed enough for her to use anything but the basics taught in the Academy. Even with Gobi working her magic, the coils could only develop so quickly without fear of causing damage to them.

Ranma on the other hand had high levels to begin with, thanks to his massive training in chi manipulation. Sure, he could throw it around in Nerima, but there he had limited focus, thus had to make them more powerful to compensate. Converting that energy to chakra was easy enough, his coils growing to match what his chi needed, even if they didn’t mix the energy properly to form chakra.

Whatever his level was, it was enough that he now did a lot of his housework via Kage Bunshin. For him, moving into the rooms would be easy.

At least I’m not still sore from my morning training, she mused. “Hey, Saotome?”

“What?” he asked, not liking the look on her face.

“Care to let me borrow a few Kage Bunshin to help move my stuff?” she asked, her voice so sweet it was almost dripping with sugar.

Ranma just twitched. “Ya just want them to do all the work.”

“No I don’t!” she pleaded. “I just have some furniture that’ll be too heavy for me!”

“… Fine,” sighed Ranma. “But the minute you start asking them to move those clothes we got or that cartoon crap of ‘a little to the right’, they’re dispersing.”

“Deal!” Nabiki exclaimed with an honest smile. Having her own bed would be nice. Nevertheless, she sure as hell didn’t want to move the thing—mattress and frame—by herself.

“See,” commented Gobi, “you resisted taking advantage of the situation. You should feel proud.”

Nabiki paused in her steps. Had she just … not taken full advantage of a situation?

“You okay, Nabs?” asked Ranma.

“Yeah,” she muttered, rubbing her forehead, quickly joining his side. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t expected some changes in her personality, not after all the things she had endured these last few weeks. But the ability to get what she wanted … it had been one of her core drives.

I … I just didn’t want to take too much advantage of Ranma at the moment. Yeah… I’m lulling him into a false sense of security so I can get that Master Bedroom for myself.

“Oh sure; next you’ll be blaming all the changes on me.”

You’re the one in my head.

“A Raiju simply does not ‘force’ an ally to do what we desire.”

You also said no Raiju had bonded as we have.

“I can no more force you to change than you could force a sparrow to swim in the deep ocean. It simply isn’t done.”

Then why am I changing? I mean, I expect a little after all of … this, she thought, her mind forcing down the images she suffered under the ninja who kidnapped her. But to change so much…

“I have found that humans will adapt to any sudden changes in their environment. This world would certainly count as that.

“Face it, my Host,” the Raiju commented in a jovial tone, “all of the changes you are making to yourself are of your own volition.”

Nabiki let out of huff of air. That certainly hadn’t been the answer she had expected … or wanted.

“Are you sure this is wise?” asked Jiraiya. Like him, Sarutobi had remained behind, knowing that the Sannin wanted a word with all those involved.

“Which part?” asked Minato.

“All of it.” Taking a cleansing breath, the Toad Sage focused on his student. “The Council won’t like you sticking them with Anko. Nothing against the girl, but the old fogies will throw a fit that the duo they invested so much into is relegated to working under her.”

“Anko has my full confidence and even that of Ibiki,” Minato replied. “She has no hidden mental commands, no hidden loyalties. Hell, I think she wants to kill Orochimaru more than a few of the families he experimented with. Aside from that cursed mark, she is one hundred percent loyal to this village, a fact I cannot make on a few of those men who would complain.

“As such, I see no reason to err on the side of extreme paranoia and ban her use for this village, perhaps creating the very conflict they imagine to exist,” he finished. “Bad enough we’ll be spending years tracking down that ass and eliminating any networks or sources he left behind; I will not create new ones.”

Jiraiya continued to stare at his former apprentice, ignoring the wince of Sarutobi, before a small smile formed on his face. “Good to see the hat didn’t destroy your common sense.”

Minato chuckled for a moment. “Nah, I just don’t like seeing good people get screwed over. Next complaint.”

“Are you sure those two are ready for missions, period?” asked the Sage.

“Nabiki is at the moment a low Genin in all terms,” offered Sarutobi, lighting his pipe. “Unless you misjudged Ranma’s own abilities?”

“That’s not it at all,” Jiraiya said. “Ranma himself has given me no indications that he has contacted his Raiju, at least to the level Nabiki has. From what I do know, such should be true without the fear created by the Nekoken.”

Minato nodded. “A fear like that won’t go away in such a short of time as a month. And according to him, this is something he’ll have to work out on his own.

“But as you mentioned, we can’t coddle them forever, and the others will demand some sign that their investment was and will be worth it. We can only delay it so much.”

“I see,” murmured Jiraiya. “And the fact Anko is on the team leading him will get them more focused on her than them.”

“Partially,” said Minato. “To be honest, I think Ranma’s the type of person who could get her out of her funk. Anko’s the type of person who will help force them to both get better. And in the end, the missions will allow us to test them for C-rank missions later on they’ll have to eventually take.”

“And Nabiki?”

“I’m hoping she’s the type that keeps them from killing each other.”

The trio stood before Minato and the few Chuunins who were assisting him in handing out the missions for the day. They had already passed the Genin teams that had been formerly assigned to helping secure and repair the Saotome-Tendo compound, on their way out for another day of D-rank missions.

“So, what’re we doing?” asked Ranma, adjusting the hitai-ate he had been given yesterday by Jiraiya.

“Please don’t be babysitting,” whispered Anko, praying slightly. “Anything but those whiny brats!”

Nabiki stared at her team leader in confusion. What could be so bad about babysitting?

“Actually, the plan today is also a test of Ranma’s training in dealing with his … issues.”

“Huh?” asked Ranma. “I ain’t got no issues.”

“We’ll see,” said the smirking blond. “Your first mission is an old favorite of this village. In fact, sadly, every Genin team has to perform this mission at one time or another.”

Anko paled. “No… No! Anything but that!”

“I’m afraid so,” said Minato, holding out the paper. “Your mission … is to find the missing pet cat of the Fire Lord’s wife.”