The Yamanaka techniques weren't something that just anyone could pick up, they were sealed clan techniques which required the right mindset to manage. As it was, at the age of twelve there was only one clan technique she had down - and that was the simplest one. The Mind-Body Switch, sometimes called the Possession jutsu, allowed more than just entering an enemy's body in order to infiltrate a location. It could be used on animals as well.
With girls who possessed incredible strength, other girls who had extreme agility and coordination, immunity to poisons, and other special abilities - it felt like she was very much overwhelmed.
Which had forced her to confront exactly where she was and what she was doing. If these others hadn't shown up, she would have been there for Sasuke - the best choice of all the girls who were drawn to his cool presence and talents.
Looking at the dwarven girl who was going over the weapon that had just seemed to fit in her hand better than the others, Ino gave a little shake of her head.
I had to go to father, point out that I was being left behind by these new girls, and so he coughed up another technique. One he didn't feel I was ready for. In a way, he was so right. In another, it was something that would have simplified my life earlier.
It was, if you got past the hand-signs and mental prep and chakra requirements, just reaching out with your mind and taking in the feel of someone else's mind.
Closing her eyes, Ino "looked" quickly.
Thorra was revealed as a solid earthen presence, much like the metal she pounded out on her forge. With the dwarf - what you saw was exactly what you got. Not to say there weren't hidden depths, the dwarf's art revealed that she had a number of skills to bring to bear. On the other hand, there was no duplicity or hidden agendas. Dwarves, apparently, were very straightforward to both normal and psychic sight.
On the other hand, if I tried to force my way in there - I don't think she'd notice. Solid, almost armored. Ino blinked as she realized she'd been asked a question. "What?"
"I was asking what brought you around to Naruto's fanclub with the funny name," said Thorra.
"I found out some things," hedged Ino. "Sasuke doesn't like girls."
"Oh, nothing wrong with that," said Thorra. "I heard about elven guys like that all'a time. They prefer their fellow boyos to the ladies. Not my place to judge."
"Eh?" asked Ino. "Oh. No. No, that wasn't quite what I meant."
"Oh?" asked Thorra, pouring off a couple of mugs of something that smelled fruity. "What do ye mean then?"
"Well, I'm not really at liberty to say," said Ino. "It involves secret clan techniques."
"Oh, that mindbending stuff," said Thorra, nodding and setting one of the cups in front of Ino. "Sigh Onyx, I think they're called. One of the mithra, or was it a mi'qote, was into that."
"Yes," said Ino, blinking as she realized what the dwarf was talking about. "Trehawn Ghostflower. My father's working with her."
"Aye, so you saw the darkness festering in the laddie's soul?" asked Thorra.
"How... Where?" asked Ino.
"We get around," said Thorra. "The lad's got bad blood in him, one of the more magically gifted saw that. And did ye figure out what's with Lord Naruto?"
"I saw," said Ino, putting the cup down as soon as she determined that it was a hard cider. Which the dwarf apparently considered to be flavored-water the way she quaffed her own mug. It'd probably put me flat on my back or throwing up.
"Ah, so ye saw his burden," said Thorra. "And that didn't send you running away."
Sounds like she approves of that. "Let's just say I had to figure out what that was, but I also noticed him," said Ino. "He's very strong."
"Oh?" asked Thorra, refilling her mug.
"Not so much physically," said Ino. "I don't think I could have been that strong to endure that hatred and still come out as cheerful as he did."
"That, lass, is an entirely different kind of strength that many yer age don't appreciate until much later," said Thorra, idly swirling the contents of her mug.
"How old are you?" asked Ino, a sudden suspicion forming.
"In human years I'd be maybe mid-teenage," said Thorra with a wink. "By yer calendars though, I'd be over fifty. Dwarves aren't like dragons or elves, but we do live a mite longer than you do. At least normally."
"Well, that explains a few things," said Ino, almost under her breath.
"Mind ye, Lord Naruto used to be shunned and hated, and a child can tell when there's hate being aimed at him even if nobody says a thing," said Thorra. "Many a child, treated like that, would turn into the monster others thought he was."
"He used to wear all-orange and be loud and moronic because he got some attention that way," said Ino. "That little revelation set me back some when I realized it. Those psych texts Dad made me read started making sense after I talked with Treshawn about it."
"Oi, and here I'd heard that you were some little fashionable ninja girl with nae a mind of your own," said Thorra with a wink. "Looks like some rumors aren't entirely correct."
"Whatever," said Ino, glancing down and realizing she'd somehow drained half her mug and that would explain the warm sensation spreading from her middle. "Eh?"
Thorra watched as the girl's eyes crossed before she went down. "Oi. Now lass, you're endangering the wee bit of respect I built up for ye. Guess we can go over yer weapon tomorrow."
The private statement had been a little different. Daimyo had met with Kage and the word had been given to keep an eye on things but let them play out for now. After all, the "rescue girls from certain death" jutsu ended up straining the resources of the Fire Country in the short term. In the long term, however, it was far more variable. It could be that the Fire Country would end up profiting greatly from this, or the drain on their economy could continue.
Which was why Kiiromaru, an older member of the Inuzuka hounds, raised his muzzle and sniffed the air before putting his head back down. He was assigned to watch over Naruto Uzumaki, which wasn't a duty he felt was particularly onerous since the boy would occasionally try to do his "ramen summoning" jutsu and get something interesting. Such as those blueberry snack cakes. Quite tasty.
If the spy made a move towards Naruto, Kiiromaru would make a move. Howl and reinforcements would be on their way.
Yet it had been expained to Kiiromaru that leaving a spy could actually be beneficial. As long as the information that the Hokage wanted passed on was passed on - then such spies would be of use. When the situation changed, the spy would either be killed or would be allowed to escape by the skin of their teeth. Again, whichever brought the most benefit to the village as a whole.
Ah, and there was a spy from the fangroup. One of the dark elves if his nose didn't betray him. Of course they'd be keeping tabs on the young summoner.
He had a moment of warning when one of the ANBU came up behind him.
"Kakashi," said Kiiromaru.
"What do you suppose would happen if one of them learned of the other?" asked Kakashi, still wearing his ANBU mask.
"If she learned of the spy, she'd sneak up on him and probably stab him repeatedly," said Kiiromaru. "She's one of those dark elves - I get the feeling they're likely to seek to remove threats to Uzumaki in a silent but violent manner."
"Yes, I think they'll make good ninja too," said Kakashi.
"So, I hear you're going to be testing a genin team come the graduation," said Kiiromaru.
"They'll fail," said Kakashi.
"I don't know about that," said Kiiromaru. "I think a number of these groups understand teamwork. I also think some of them have special talents. Watch yourself if you do that Bell Test you're fond of."
"They're all Academy students who are so wet behind the ears they might drown," said Kakashi. "You're overestimating them."
"Well, it's your neck," said Kiiromaru. "But I may show up as an interested observer if Uzumaki gets any of his fanclub on his team."
Kakashi considered that. Oddly enough he could see that changing things. Maybe he ought to make sure that didn't occur. He had a perfect record to think of.
"Okay, so we've got an unusual lineup this year," said Iruka Umino.
"Truly," said Suzume, "you have a gift for understatement."
Mizuki scowled at the paperwork in front of him, looking as if he'd like nothing better than to spontaneously master Katon: Heated Gaze and burn the whole thing.
"We've got some very talented ones to consider," continued Suzume.
Mizuki upped the degree of scowl slightly.
"We could do the reverse of normal practice and have two kunoichi with a single male on the team," pointed out Iruka.
"Which doesn't address that we've got more graduating team than we have qualified jonin to head those teams," said Daikoku Funeno. "Maybe another test, with a higher bar this time?"
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(Posted Sun, 16 Sep 2012 10:02)
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