Chapter 6: Shenanigans Part II

Chapter 6: Shenanigans Part II

A week passed with Tayuya, Sui, and I stuck in the hospital with nothing to do. There were veteran ANBU who stood guard outside of our room door so sneaking out wasn’t an option. Tayuya had tried, and that was why I saw her strapped and muzzled to the bed. She was only freed for the absolute necessities. On the other hand, Sui could freely leave the room and come back since she had Hyūga backing. Not to mention she was the most respectful one out of the three of us. While I was confined to walking around the boring hospital room where I rarely got visitors, and Sasuke wasn’t one of them.

“I have a thing or two to say to that bastard for not even caring enough to visit! I mean, even Ino took the time to visit me!”

“Mmmmmm.”

“I know right? Sasuke’s a piece of work.”

“I can assure you that is not what Tayuya is saying.” Sui said, playing her next piece.

We sat next to Tayuya’s hospital bed playing Shogi since she couldn’t move. Her eyes seemed to light up, and she stopped fidgeting in her bed whenever we played it. I doubt she had ever played the game with how she appeared to marvel at it.

“Oh, then what is she saying?” I said, promoting my knight.

Sui opened her mouth.

“And you can’t say trash.”

She stopped and thought for a moment before capturing my knight with her silver general. “She’s saying ‘stop distracting me from the game.’”

“Mmhm. Mmhm.”

“What game?” I moved my dragon to I4 and “Checkmate.”

Sui bowed her head in defeat, declaring that she lost. “That’s why I said to stop distracting me.”

“Oh… You meant you.” I scratched my chin as I laughed nervously.

“What does that make the score now?”

“You sure? I was barely keeping track.” I saw a glint in her eye and decided I should probably start talking. “Today it was thirty to five, my way.”

“So about a sixteen percent chance at victory… I’m improving at least.” Sui didn’t look sad. In fact, she seemed pretty proud of herself. It had been a while since we last played against one another, so I doubt she had been practicing.

“Yeah, if you work on your drops during the midgame, you’ll easily be on par with the Nara clan.” I watched her eye sparkle from that compliment as I started cleaning up the board. It was getting late, and I was tired of playing. When are we going to get out of here?

“Ahahaha, so you learned from Shogi. Maybe you could teach my son a thing or two since you’re both rooks.” The Third Hokage appeared in the room. I assumed he was watching us play the whole time.

“I consider myself a dragon more so than a rook, to be honest, Third Hokage.”

“Didn’t I tell my students to call me by my name?” He said, stroking his grey goatee.

Our faces lit up except for Tayuya’s, who didn’t seem to care about the Hokage’s appearance. Since the incident, we never had the chance to speak the Third Hokage, so we thought he was deciding on our punishment. I thought it was going to be us getting a new sensei.

During the week, we were only questioned about the events that happened. Sui and I agreed not to rat out Tayuya. It was hard for me to convince Sui at first since she was having a jealousy streak, but it worked after begging on my hands and knees. Now, why would I do that for Tayuya? Well… It was like playing Shogi.

“Is Tayuya included in that?” I looked back at her, and Tayuya’s eyes narrowed. While Sui… I chose not to pay attention to the bloodlust I felt behind me.

“That depends. Why did you lie to the ANBU investigators about Tayuya’s involvement? She single-handedly tried to kill three shinobi and her own team. Not only that, but she was the one who broke my explicit order to not engage with enemy ninja.”

I looked at Sui, who was equally surprised. Which meant she didn’t tell him. Were we being watched the whole time? Then I remembered that Danzō told Tayuya not to lie to the Third Hokage. Damn it. Did I do all that begging for nothing? I wonder if I can take back those promises…

The Third raised his hand. “It does not matter how I found out the truth. Just know, you two committed a grave crime for someone whom you’ve known for less than twenty-four hours. Now explain yourselves.”

“This one’s on you.” Sui whispered in my ear and went to finish cleaning up the board game.

“It looks like you’re the ringleader. Yuki. Uchiha.” The way he said my name made me shudder in fear.

Damn it, how am I supposed to stay confident when you say my name like that. I took a deep breath and looked around the room. There was no one else except for the people I trusted and Tayuya. “Third Hoka— I mean Hiruzen-sensei, is anyone listening in on us?”

The Third Hokage raised an eyebrow and then sighed. He did a couple of hand signs, and I felt the space change. We were still in the room, but it felt different. I no longer heard Sui moving the pieces or Tayuya’s grumbling. Did he block out the sound for us?

“You should be able to speak freely now.”

“Thank you, Hiruzen-sensei.” I raised three of my fingers. “The first reason is selfish. I want the strength Tayuya provides. She far surpasses a Genin, and I’m sure she might even be a Jōnin-level ninja in terms of skill. So having her as a part of my team will make my goal of hunting down Itachi an easier one.”

“Hmmm. Sasuke said the same thing to Kakashi, except he doesn’t seem to need allies. Why is that?”

“That’s my second reason. Sasuke thinks he can do everything alone, that he will have enough power to achieve his desires alone. I want to forge a different path, one where I don’t grow cold to those around me. If I can work with someone as strong as Tayuya, then maybe I can show him he doesn’t have to be alone.”

“So, you want to lighten the path for Sasuke, yet your own path is still muddled in darkness.”

Is it though? I mean, having a goal that others can take part in sounds a lot brighter than doing it alone.

The Third Hokage still looked unfazed by my reasons. I took another deep breath and hoped this last one worked. But first, I had to check on something. I turned to Sui and tapped her shoulder. She stared at me and said something I couldn’t hear. I mouthed out the words. ‘Can you hear me?’

She shook her head. ‘No.’

“What, don’t trust my Jutsu?”

“Just making sure.” I turned away from Sui and made sure she couldn’t read my lips. “My third reason and to what I believe is my most important one. To where I would easily tell any amount lies no matter the consequences for…”

I watched the Third nod his head as if I was about to say something profound, but who would I be if I did that. I wouldn’t be me, that’s for sure.

“Have you seen her? I mean, I know she’s like one to two years older than me but come on. Do all girls get glow-ups overtime? Because If that’s the case, I can’t wait to see Sui’s. Long red hair, tan skin, a well-toned body. Not to mention she even has some curves. Beauty and Strength. If she didn’t have a mouth that could chew you out in seconds, she’d definitely be a 10/10…” I said, taking a breath from my rant. Only to remember something extremely important.

“Please don’t tell Sui I said that. I still like her ok. I’m still getting used to this whole exclusive thing, so—” I stopped talking because there was blood everywhere.

“Ahahaha.” The Third Hokage was laughing even though blood streamed out of his nose.

Sui ran around panicking until she found tissues to plug them up.

“Then it is decided.” The Third Hokage said, recovering from whatever that was. “I can’t get in the way of a boy and his taste in women. Now can I?”

I started to laugh with him because I had no idea what to say. I didn’t expect my ogling to work, but it did. Then something even more unexpected happened. Hiruzen-sensei placed his hand on my shoulder, leveling his face with mine, and nodded. “You remind me so much of my pupil Jiraiya. He too was interested in women during his training.”

“D–don’t tell me you gave him relationship advice?” Icha Icha is a trash product, and you should feel ashamed for helping create that monstrosity, Old man!

“No never. If I had, that man wouldn’t still be single off writing romance novels. I‘m married with two sons and a grandson. Why do you think I’m known as the God of Shinobi?”

“…” I didn’t know what to say except. “Teach me all that you know Hiruzen-sensei!”

“All in do time, but first let’s get you three to the office.” He held his hands together. “Release.” And like that, I could hear again. Hiruzen-sensei clapped his hands, and a team of ANBU came in, freed Tayuya, but kept her muzzle on. Then they vanished back to the shadows hidden from view.

“Tayuya Uzumaki, it has been decided that you will not be expelled from the Village.”

“I told you she’d be expelled.” I whispered to Sui, who glared at me.

“What the hell did you say to cause him to bleed?”

“Ha-ha.” I started scratching my head, thinking of a good excuse. “It seemed the edginess of my words were just too sharp for him.”

“You better not be lying to me.”

“Me, lie? When have I ever— I’ll shut up now.”

With just one eye in view, she could somehow kill me when most couldn’t do that with two. I was seriously treading on thin ice. But then again, that was what made it fun.

“From now on, you are forbidden from using your summoning arts, and should you go against anything that was said tonight, not even I will be able to let you go without serious consequences. I will not make the same mistake again. Got it.”

Tayuya couldn’t say a word, but she nodded and bowed her head.

“Good. Now as for your new living arrangement.”

“Living arrangement?” Sui and I said in unison. Tayuya was trying to answer by taking off the muzzle, but it seemed she couldn’t take it off due to the seals on it.

“Why yes, living arrangements. Tayuya doesn’t have a place to stay, and our vacant housing would be the Uchiha residence but—” Hiruzen-sensei nodded towards me. Then I heard Sui let out a sigh of relief. Was he looking at her? “I think it would be better if you moved into the Hokage residence since it would solve many problems.”

“You’re that scared I’ll do something?” I whispered to Sui.

“Yes, I am. But not for the reason you’re thinking of. Tayuya will most likely kill you the moment you make a move on her, and if you somehow survived, I’d have to finish the job. So just be grateful you won’t have to die now.” Sui said that with a smile and such certainty it scared me. She spoke as if she had foreseen the future.

“Wow, you really have little faith in me.” I said, hiding my fear.

“You haven’t given me a reason not to.” She crossed her arms and started ignoring me.

“With that done, follow me to your new home, Team 9.” The Third Hokage said casually, walking out of the room with us close behind.