Hinata slowly slid the door to her father’s office closed, letting out a light breath of air. She had been lucky to that point that her father hadn’t noticed his books were missing.
She was also very lucky that she’d been able to get through any of them. But they did make her dreams very interesting.
Oddly, this increased her sensitivity to being near the two objects of her affection.
Sighing as the pressure was off in returning nearly half of her father’s collection, she started to make her way back to her room. It had taken a while, but she was beginning to grasp what she believed to be Ranma’s methods to obtaining techniques from the … literature. It wasn’t so much the story and plot as the action scenes. She studied those with focus instead of the drama that unfolded. While seeing what the gallant samurai did to the rescued lady was interesting—and often the stuff she had happen to her in her naughty dreams and occasional day dreams in class—it was what led up to that, that she was really interested in.
So she wrote those sections down, her room now testament to how many empty scrolls she had filled with excerpts from the book, scenes of action she would need to study, to try and decode how the character was able to pull those moves off.
Ranma did, so she would too.
Her progress however was stopped by a small precession of Branch Family members, carrying a makeshift gurney with the injured Hyuuga Head on it. “F-father, what happened?” she asked.
Hiashi’s one uncovered eye opened, his head slowly turning to focus it on his daughter.
Now, while some may consider Hiashi Hyuuga to be a right bastard, one had to also recall that he had much in the way of pride. And while the Branch Members who had escorted him to the demonstration were sworn to secrecy on promise of their Cursed Seals being activated, it was not something he could do to his daughter.
Bastard, yes; stupid, no. “The boy Saotome is a very … cunning individual, Hinata; beware of him.”
Finished, he motioned for the precession to continue towards his room, where he hoped to rest and recover.
Hinata could only gape. Her father … had been defeated by Ranma?
Eyes wide in excitement, Hinata darted back to her room. If this was the hidden power of Icha Icha, then she would devote herself to it even further.
I wonder if Ranma-kun or Naruto-kun will rescue me tonight like the main character did in the Third Special?
All work and no play makes life dull for a ninja.
“I have to say, Sensei, I’m impressed,” muttered Jiraiya, as a medic-nin—one who was working as best as he could for several autographs on his personal copies of the Icha Icha series—worked to repair the broken bones, sprains, and contusions from the angry assault of the kunoichi. “Just like in the book; completely removed without damaging the person or items using Fūton.”
“I told you as much,” said the Third Hokage, staring out the window.
“Oh, I know,” said Jiraiya with a smirk. “So did No-chan, her letter got to me just before yours did.”
“She is a woman of many talents,” admitted Sarutobi. “One of which seems to be placing her child in situations that get him in trouble.”
“Part of Genma’s style,” said Jiraiya, leaning back slightly. “That’s why the two got along so well. I’m definitely glad to see that the boy's looks took after his mother.”
As soon as the medic-nin finished what he could, Jiraiya autographed the books and sent the happy man away, his smile fading only slightly when two ANBU appeared outside the room and secured the door.
“How’s Naruto?” he asked, turning back towards his former teacher.
“Learning well,” said Sarutobi. “Nodoka has intervened and added to his training. Ranma’s even shared a scroll about tree and water-walking, which has helped immensely with his chakra control. I believe he’ll actually pass the exam this time.”
“Good,” said Jiraiya. “Maybe I’ll leave some scrolls with Nodoka to give to him before I head out . As much as I’d like to stay longer, I can’t afford to. Orochimaru’s been making some moves lately, moves I need to track.”
“Anything I need to know?”
The Sannin shrugged. “Right now just rumors, rumors attached to Oto, Suna, and Ame. There is also some talk about Bijuu, but I’ll need to talk to a few people to have a better idea of what is going on.”
“I see… How long?”
“A few months,” said Jiraiya. “With luck, I should be back during the Chuunin Exam,” he replied.
“Good,” said Sarutobi. “The Exam is always an important event for the village hosting it. I’m sad to say it would fit my former pupil’s pattern to attack then if he so wishes.”
“I know,” said Jiraiya, his voice without emotion. “You want me to try and find Tsunade and drag her back here for backup? If Orochimaru is scouting for help, you may need a good medic.”
“She’ll come back when she’s ready,” said the Hokage after several minutes. “The village doesn’t hold anything for her now; forcing her back can only poison what love she might have remaining for Konoha.
“For now, I’ll ensure you have some peace, though your fans might not allow that.”
“No need,” said the smiling Sannin. “I’ve got a place to stay already.”
“What?” Nabiki deadpanned.
Ranma nodded sadly, her red hair drooping over her eyes. “Mom had me prepare the guest room for … him,” she growled, as she stared at her ramen.
“And this is … bad?” asked Yakumo.
Ranma nodded. “This is the guy who wrote those pervy books my Mom makes me study. If he’s there until he recovers…” she trailed off, shuddering. She turned slightly towards Nabiki. “Any chance your Mom will let me stay there for a few days? Not like I can turn into a guy or anything at the moment, so I can’t do anything perverted.”
“Can’t?” wondered Yakumo aloud.
Nabiki had the girl lean towards Ranma so she could explain without broadcasting it. “Ranma’s having her period,” Nabiki said, trying to be sympathetic to the cursed male’s plight. It was yet another bad thing that seemed to befall him in this world.
“You mean…”
“Yep,” nodded Ranma.
“But you’re…”
“Uh-huh,” nodded Ranma again. “On the bright side, at least this didn't happen during the Genin Exam.”
Yakumo sat up in her chair, staring at the wall in shock. “I haven’t even had my first one yet.”
“Oh, don’t worry,” said Ayame, refilling Ranma’s bowl as she always did during ‘that time’—girls had to stick together through it after all and she remembered what it was like when she was at that age. “You’re around that age when it first starts. Ranma’s just a … early bloomer.”
Nabiki rolled her eyes. Early my ass, most of the girls in class aren’t as top-heavy as Saotome.
Hell, if I remember the anime and manga correctly, a lot of them will never be as top-heavy as Saotome. “Sorry Ranma, but you’re Mom already told my Mom you’re grounded.”
“Huh?” squeaked the pigtailed girl. “I didn’t do anything!”
“Well, you did get her idol injured,” offered Yakumo, before she went back to her ramen, Ranma’s fierce glare forcing her silent. I hope I’m not that moody when I start having periods.
“Probably so I can’t … go on a training trip,” muttered Ranma sadly. It seemed her mother had already cut off her escape routes. How could this be worse?
“Hey Ranma!” yelled Naruto, dashing into the ramen bar. “Your Mom just said I could stay a few days! She’s gonna teach me some cool stuff and get this old ninja to teach me too! Isn’t that awesome!”
SNAP!
“Let me get you some new sticks,” offered Ayame. Normally, she would have sent her father to get some, but he’d been scared of Ranma ever since the incident last year when he had told a similarly locked Saotome that ‘ladies got half off that day’.
She didn’t do anything to the elder man. But the glare and the killing intent pouring off her had taken five years off his life and turned his hair grey in seconds. No way in hell was he risking that again.
“It’ll be okay, Saotome,” offered Nabiki, patting the redhead’s back gently. “Things will work out, you’ll see.”
“That’s right,” said Yakumo. “I mean, something good is bound to happen to you!”
“GET YOUR ASS OUT HERE, SAOTOME!” came a familiar boy’s cry. “YOU’LL PAY FOR WHAT YOU DID TO MY SISTER!”
Ranma’s face turned into a twisted evil smile. “Nabiki, is that Kiba?”
The middle Tendo nodded her head quickly. She for one didn’t like where this was going.
“Good,” muttered Ranma as she stood up and began to crack her knuckles. “Time to take out the dog.”
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(Posted Tue, 27 Jan 2009 11:27)
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