"Alright, alright. Let's do this," I whispered as I bounced from one foot to the other, shaking out my hands like Obito before a practice bout. "Here we go." I stepped out of the alley, spied the sign proclaiming 'Ramen Ichiraku' and immediately spun back around.

"Come on, Mira!" I raked my hands through my hair, my fingers catching on knots still glued together by Miyako's and Kotone's sloppy kisses. I had used a visit to them as an excuse to get away from Rin and Obito, who'd left to begin their second round of training. After the two had dropped me off, my sisters pounced on me. In the ensuing tussle, I looked to Teru who knew me well enough to recognize the look in my eyes. He'd shifted his weight, glancing at the ninken within earshot, and said the simple phrase that kept me from running back to Rin: 'You are a wolf, Mira.'

I am a wolf. I am a wolf. I am a wolf! I smacked my cheeks, took a deep breath, and strode out of the alley. I didn't breathe – didn't blink – until I slid onto the stool, heart hammering. Alright, done with step one. Now keep your voice nice and steady and just ask them a few questions. Get them to explain. You're a wolf. Force them to explain. You're a wolf! Force them to explain!

I lifted my chin, a conviction I'd nearly forgotten flowing through me. "You are a wolf!"

My expression froze as I internally cussed myself to Takamagahara and back, as Teuchi stopped peeling the vegetable and raised a brow at me. "Uh, hello there, Mira. Want to hear our specials today?"

I swallowed as I leaned forward, hoping the counter would hide my shaking hands. It was at times like this that I truly wished for the return of my ability to mold musubi, but outside of barging into the Hokage's office, accusing him of being Sarutahiko, and risking my whole relationship with the shinobi, there was nothing else I could do. My only comforts were that for some reason, Inari didn't want me to be their vessel and, outside of the jutsu, there was nothing more they could do me. Nothing serious at least. Or so that's what I told myself.

With that in the back of my racing mind, I plodded out the line I'd rehearsed to the point that any trace of lingering fear – or anger – was gone: "You said you'd help me."

"Oh?" He crossed his arms, a perfect look of concern melting over his features. "What seems to be the trouble, Mira? Anything bothering you?"

Meaning any kamigami? I attempted a subtle peek over my shoulder. The street was empty, but that didn't mean much in Konoha. A soft cooing caught my attention, and I turned to Ayame who wagged her chubby, little finger at me – an innocent movement if she were a babe, a warning from a kami.

I gritted my teeth but kept my expression steady as I flicked a casual hand at the empty seats next to me. "Expecting anyone else?"

"You don't have to worry about any interruptions. Business is usually slow around this time of day even with all the new faces traveling in for the Exams."

'And not just human ones,' Ayame added. 'Watch yourself, Mira.'

"What about the shamisen player?" I pressed, my fists tightening beneath the counter. I wasn't about to have this conversation overheard. Inari needed to handle the shinobi.

"Hm." Teuchi wiped his hands on a rag, a frown weighing his lips. Whatever internal conversation he was having – whatever ability to communicate the three had between them – I had to assume the worst: I had three minds working in coordination against me. "He'd only drop by if he's in the mood, and no one can predict that."

My gaze dulled. The trickster kami clearly liked his games. With the shinobi watching, our conversation would be so stunted it'd be pointless. Neither could I jump over the counter and throttle them until they told me the truth like a true wolf would've done. Though I guess it works both ways, I thought, shoving my hair behind my ears.

"How about I fix you up with some ramen? I usually find that helps people talk about their problems, and I'd like your advice on which one should be the special for the Chūnin Exams. The first option is a sweet both spiced with my homemade seasoning, and the second one is-"

'Has the rokurokubi done something else?' Ayame asked, overlaying her voice over Teuchi's. 'Or have you found a lead on Sarutahiko?'

My toes curled as her words pranced along the raw wound of my mind. Her voice was soft, lilting even, but it hit my senses like metal scraping stone.

"Mira?"

I blinked at the ramen-maker.

His mouth was set, but I could almost swear there was a shadow of concern there. "Which one do you want to try first?"

I sat up straighter, elbows digging into the wood as I glanced at Ayame. The babe raised an encouraging eyebrow, and I pieced together the game they were playing. "The second one," I said, answering Ayame's question under the guise of Teuchi's.

The ramen-maker smiled. "Coming right up!" He slipped out several small tasting bowls and gave them a quick inspection.

'Does it hurt you when I speak?' Ayame asked, her voice softening into a whisper

It did, but I kept my expression neutral. That is, the best version of 'neutral' I could when it felt like someone was scratching the scabs off burn wounds.

'Strange. You should be used to mind-speak having lived amongst the kamigami, let alone being a vessel. When did this start happening?' Understanding bloomed in her eyes. 'Was this why you were in the hospital for so long?"

I stuck my tongue at her. Any onlooking shinobi would think I was being playful, but Ayame wrinkled her nose.

Still, her words had me shifting in my seat. I hadn't put much thought into this as she made it seem warranted. My best guess had it somehow tied to my loss of musubi, but all I knew is that this was ruined along with everything else Izanagi had destroyed. And on my long list of things to figure out, it ranked near the bottom. Right next to flossing and Kakashi's attitude.

A delicious smell tugged at my attention, and I turned just in time for a bowl to be set in front of me. My mouth was already watering. I eyed the swirling broth, already reaching for the bowl before logic clicked in. The soup looked innocent enough, but I couldn't take any chances. Didn't he say his ramen got people to talk? What if he placed some jutsu on it? Hell, he could've even poisoned it. Still, things couldn't look off to the shinobi.

I eyed Teuchi's proud smile and lifted the shallow bowl. I gritted my teeth, and with a pained heart I tipped it against clenched lips.

Teuchi leaned forward. "Well?"

I wiped my mouth with the back of my sleeve. "A bit salty," I lied.

He nodded to himself. "I figured the spring water might've had too many minerals. Let's try the spiced pork option. I think that'll have a smoother taste to it once I add in some final touches." He began fiddling around with another of the pots, adding a flick of more spice here, a dash of salt there. "How have you been feeling lately? Just your ankle bothering you?"

I knew what they were doing, what Teuchi was really asking. I kept myself from fidgeting under Ayame's fixed gaze and considered that perhaps I should actually look into my issue with mind-speak. In any case, I wasn't going to give them any idea that I couldn't sense musubi either. I didn't know what they could do with that information, how they could twist something that objectively made me useless to their advantage, but I wasn't planning on finding out.

Besides, when did this become me being interrogated? I had questions of my own.

I lifted my chin, willing my spine into steel as I did my best impression of Minato. "It's not that," I said, plodding out the words I'd hoped would pass any non-kami scrutiny. "I'm just frustrated. I've done all this research on Sarutahiko, asked all my questions, and I realize I'm just chasing shadows."

My gaze flicked between him and Ayame. Kakashi had told Rin once that she needed to pay more attention to the eyes – the pupils, specifically – during their practice games of 'Find the Lie'. So, I watched the kami for a tell. Like that'd help. All I remember is "dilated" pupils - which apparently meant "wide", as Kakashi irritatedly explained to Obito - says that you're onto something because the 'subject' is stressed.

Teuchi's mask didn't even flicker as he set down the next bowl in front of me. It was Ayame who quirked her lips, wrinkled her brow, and said, 'You think the kage is Sarutahiko?'

I translated a 'Well?' into a hard look at her then gave the second broth another fake sip.

Teuchi straightened up, wiping his hands on a cloth. A small frown weighed his lips, but this time I knew it wasn't about the ramen. "There's an old proverb I heard once," he said. "The truth in shadows lies in the light casting them."

I pursed my lips then shook my head. "What's that? Another Will of Fire saying?"

Teuchi laughed. "With how many Konohan sayings there are, I wouldn't be surprised, but no. It's supposed to mean that maybe you're looking in the wrong place." He took the first bowl from me with a soft, wistful smile. "But what do I know?"

A lot more than you're letting on, I thought but kept the accusation from my expression. I didn't believe for one second that they knew nothing about Sarutahiko like they claimed.

'Come on, Mira, you should already know the answer to this,' Ayame said, her voice in that same light-footed whisper. 'Couldn't you already sense it? And I mean think about it. How could he be Sarutahiko? People still pass around stories of when he was a genin. His whole life is documented here, birth records included.'

I gave her a pointed look.

She squirmed in her estimation of a shrug. 'Kamigami slip through the cracks. We're refugees just like you, remember?'

As I turned their words over in my mind, the familiar pangs of disappointment started prodding my gut. I knew my evidence had been nothing more substantial than a nickname, but that had been the only solid lead I'd had in months of papercuts and dead ends.

Teuchi smiled at me – a warm, understanding thing. "As a rule, I don't like giving handouts. A person has to work for what they want. Earn it."

I tilted my head, sizing him up, remembering Kakashi's other advice to Rin: sometimes it was best to go for the throat of the matter. "So why help me?"

He shrugged. "In bleak times like these, us refugees have to help each other out. Besides, I've been looking for something too. The perfect recipe. It's taken me years to get this far, and it'll probably take me another few years yet. In the meantime-" He nodded at the bowl in front of me. "There's always more ramen."

The corner of my lips twitched as I stared at the amber broth, but his words weren't enough to blunt my suspicion. Even if his words sounded genuine, something smelled off, and some instinct pawed at me that Inari wouldn't be helping me if it didn't mean helping himself. Though at this rate I need all the help I can get. Swallowing my sigh, I faked another sip, made a face, and gave a motion too exaggerated to be talking about the broth. "Anything else you think I should try then?"

Ayame giggled. 'You're getting the hang of this.'

"Of the ramen, you should try the roasted version next." He started preparing the next tasting. "As for your research, it's like I already said. Maybe you should try looking at it from a different angle. Though I suppose the rest of the saying did go, 'But the stronger the light, the longer the shadow.'"

The shadow again? I had no idea what he was referring to, but I caught the split-second narrowing of his pupils. I didn't know what that meant, but I got the sense that he was sharing some joke with himself. Which he probably was, unless Ari or Ayame had said something. I bit down the urge to snap at them for their riddles and shoved that mystery aside to piece out later. It was time for me to leave. With my questions asked and riddles for answers, there was no reason to stay.

And that reason tripled when Teuchi sucked in a breath but covered himself with a quick, "Sorry, burnt my finger on the pot." But I saw the look of surprise – of realization – in his eyes. And in Ayame's.

I jumped from my chair, spitting out, "Thanks, but I'm not hungry anymore." Or that's what I would have done if every muscle hadn't locked into place. I raged against every fiber, my mind railing against its fleshy cage, as I sat there, staring at Teuchi like some obedient dog. I struggled against every muscle but found Inari's jutsu fixing me back to my seat.

'Hello, dear miko,' Ari's voice trailed in my mind. 'Giving you a bit of a headache, are we?'

I paled. Even with mind-speak, only the most powerful of kamigami could connect minds across a distance more than a dozen yards, let alone when out of the other's sight. And the fact that Ari was only just chiming in now didn't bode well.

'You know, I was flattered by your reaction when we first revealed ourselves as Inari, but I suppose I should've known something was off. Now between that, the little issue with mind-speak, and your inability to sense the Hokage's distinctly human musubi…' His voice trailed off, slick with a curving smile I didn't need to see to sense.

If I'd had any control over my body in that moment, I would've punched Teuchi in the face and thrown the steaming bowl at Ayame's before sprinting away in a panic. With the situation as it was, I could only just sit there as Teuchi placed another broth in front of me and said, "Have any plans to watch the Exams, Mira?"

I braced myself. With Inari, changes of topic didn't bode well. My mouth loosened up enough to all me an, "I don't know," before tightening again.

Teuchi hid his own kami-satisfaction behind a light, wistful smile. "Oh, you're in for a treat. Never thought people could do those things. Had to try my own hand at jutsu after, though I'm not sure how successful I was."

My lips thinned into a smile. I certainly did.

He began to expound upon the wonders of the Exams, the incredible feats of the shinobi, the streets lined with food stalls, the fireworks that marked the highlight of the celebration. My head occasionally bobbed up and down, nodding along like a puppet on a string.

All of it was to give us cover for the shinobi as Ari said, 'Do you know how mind-speaking works, miko? I think the shinobi call it the 'Deeper Psyche' or something like that. Fancy way of calling what's as easy as breathing for us, but you should know being a vessel and all.

'Apparently, it was this connection those Yamanaka studied until their clan developed their neat little jutsu so they could break minds.' An anger flickered there, but so did a note of appreciation. 'But it all depends on one thing. The use of what shinobi would call spiritual chakra. And if you can't handle the barest amounts it takes us to communicate with you then that can only mean-'

No. No. No. No.

'You can't channel any musubi,' Ayame said, the shock hollowing out her voice.

No! No! No! The foulest curses ripped through my racing mind. I bashed at my cage, flashing between rage and fear as I tried to figure out a way out of this as the thought 'I shouldn't have come here' kept blaring in the background. But all the while my heart my heart incongruously plodded along, each beat steadier than the last, as the jutsu kept me from a noticeable panic.

'I can't believe it! A vessel who can't channel musubi!' Ari barely got the words out before his hoarse laugh clanged around my skull.

'I've never heard of this happening to a vessel,' said Ayame. She was watching me with her large, bright eyes, an expression there too like sympathy to be trusted. 'Did Izanagi do this? Why would Izanagi do this?'

I could only bare mental teeth at her.

'I don't know,' Ari said. I could almost see him wiping a tear from his eye. 'Whether Izanagi was trying to kill her or just took it too far, I'm not surprised. Fits his personality either way. The real miracle is that she somehow survived.'

'If the stories are true, that was Kikuri. Spent her final breaths healing Mira, saving her.'

Flickers of memory rose from the back of my mind, rising like the mist I remembered that night. The one where I had only scrabbled back to blurry consciousness after I'd broken free from Izanagi's hold and the world had turned scarlet. The one where I was crawling to the fading light of my mother, and all around that mist seeped out of her, holding me, caressing me. And healing me?

'And what if that's not all she did?' Ari said. 'A convenient time to do a seal, no?'

My thoughts froze.

'It'd make sense,' Ayame added, her brow furrowed as she sucked on her knuckle. 'It'd have kept Izanagi from possessing her again. For a little while at least.'

A thousand questions pressed against the edges of my mind, all aimed at Inari and his ridiculous riddles. The way they were talking – it sounded as if they thought my mother was behind….

'Well if that's the case, then it should be pretty simple. What one amatsukami does, another can undo. So, little miko,' Ari said, his voice slick with that curving smile, 'how would you like to get your musubi back?'

"What?" I hadn't even noticed they'd loosened my jaw again. The word just came tumbling out along with the rush of feelings, of confusions, and unsaid questions.

Teuchi blinked at me, mid-sentence. "I was talking about the daimyo's procession into Konoha, and to make sure to leave it early enough to get good seats for the Exams."

"No, I mean how can-" My jaw locked again, but I didn't care. How could they give me back any ability over musubi? And why hadn't the shinobi been able to? Unless the shinobi didn't want me to have any control over it. I wouldn't blame them. Did I even want control over musubi back? These last few months I'd adjusted the best I could, ignored it where I could, but I felt like I was missing a limb or a piece of my soul. But if I suddenly gained it back… Wouldn't the shinobi notice? Would Izanagi notice?

But I couldn't even begin thinking that way. That was if Inari could do anything about it, and all the kami had done so far was trick me with riddles and half-truths. The real question was why would Inari want to give me back any ability over musubi, or at least pretend to? If I've learned anything from the shinobi, it was that everything had a price – even if it was hidden. At least, that's Shinobi Rule Whatever-Whatever that Kakashi kept mentioning.

"Speaking of which," Teuchi cut across, "that reminds me. Mira, how would you like a job? A small one of course. More like an errand, but it'll have to do with the Exams."

I was still reeling - and my jaw still locked - so I could only stare with wide eyes.

"I'd really appreciate if you could help," he said, wiping his hands on a rag. "With this war I can't contract a genin team to do it for me, but it's simple enough. I'd be happy to pay you of course."

I clicked two and two together. Do this for me, and I'll give you back your musubi. But I doubted it'd be anything simple.

'We need your help, Mira,' Ayame said. 'Just like you need ours. You're living on borrowed time right now. Kikuri probably thought you'd have found Sarutahiko by now or that maybe the shinobi could've helped you, but the seal won't be able to hold back Izanagi forever. We can teach you what you need to know.'

I eyed Ayame then Teuchi, who dusted me with that same wistful smile. But I knew who I trusted, and when my jaw loosened, I gave them my answer: "No."

"That's too bad." He tilted his head, his brow furrowed. "You're sure?"

I'm sure my mother knew what she was doing. I took in a measured breath, the faint clicking of the prayer beads matching each rise and fall of my chest. It was a trap, or some part of it had to be. I could smell it as easily as the smoke in the woods. And if I could just move, I'd already be halfway down the street back to Rin's.

I was wringing Inari's reputation through every curse - human and kami - I could remember when Ari drawled, 'What a pity. And here we thought you'd want to keep your friends safe.'

My blood ran cold. I eyed the back of my white knuckles, the babe, then the ramen-maker, my question clear but unspoken: Is that a threat?

'Ari,' Ayame warned, her lips pursed in a dark glower.

'I know. I know.' I could almost see Ari waving a hand. 'To clarify, we don't want to do anything, little miko. We just know someone who does.'

Ayame fixed me with those wide eyes. 'But if you help us, Mira, we can stop them.'

Wait. Uneasiness uncoiled from my gut and snaked its way through me, its tongue flicking as it chased after my realization like it would a mouse. Why are they being so direct? It's a weird way to set a trap after all they've pulled. Or are they- I looked closer at Ayame's eyes, seeing that her pupils were wider than I'd ever seen them. Stressed? Why would they be stressed? Unless-

I blinked. Unless they're serious. The cold worked its way into ice in my veins as I considered what this actually meant then, what could make even an amatsukami worry. The fear that had been winding its way through me struck, sinking its fangs deep in my chest. Rin. Obito.

And whether it was a show of that trust or just a recognition that I wouldn't make a scene, I felt the jutsu drop around me. Blood rushed through my joints as if they'd been held too tight, and that strange feeling of static skittered along my nerves. My first full breath had me dizzy as my body skittered through the emotions of panic, surprise, fear as if in an effort to catch up.

I paled as I sat – rather, fell – back into my seat. I eyed Teuchi. "And why can't you do it?"

I should've expected the answer. Teuchi dotted his smile with a shrug. "Just won't have the time. It'll be too busy in the days leading up to the Exams to do it properly."

I gritted my teeth. At this rate, I didn't doubt that wasn't part of the answer, but I knew something else had to be at play here. Some part of it had to be a trick, though I wasn't sure what but at this point it didn't matter.

'Not to mention this whole 'lack of musubi' thing works out perfectly,' Ari added. 'They won't even see you coming.'

And there it was.

Teuchi set another bowl of broth in front of me, that smile not having changed once this whole conversation. "So, Mira, what do you say?"

I placed a hand on the counter, biting my cheek to steady myself as I picked up the bowl and looked at Teuchi. "What exactly did you have in mind?"

Hi returning readers! Wow, it's been a bit of time hasn't it? Thanks for all your patience as I balanced out writing this chapter against life, work, and my work on some original stories whose ideas keep pestering me to write them down. I hope you enjoyed the chapter (though it was shorter) and the play on words with kage/shadow as well as the kickoff of a more serious Shinto-involved Konoha and Mira's role in it. When I first started writing this section, I had no idea how I going to properly do it, but I'm happy with the result!

As always, feel free to leave any of your thoughts or reactions in a review! I love reading them, and they really are the best form of motivation. These past months I kept circling back to this story because of the notifications I got, so to those readers who time out of their day – rivereagles999, Trapdere, This Muse, SilentTimeWatcher, coolalexia12, and ReploidCat - thank you! You all are absolute rockstars for showing your support!

And of course, I want to thank my fantastic beta, Blacklight007, who has been a real champ in helping me get back on the wagon with this story.

GODLESS – OCs & TERMS

KAMIGAMI

Characters

1) Izanagi: 'male' deity of creation

2) Izanami: 'female' deity of creation

3) Mother/Kikuri/Ōkami : amastukami of mediation that takes the shape of a wolf [DECEASED]

4) Inari: exiled amatsukami in the form of three persons – Ayame, Teuchi, and Ari

5) Sarutahiko: the "Earthly Prince" [STATUS UNKNOWN]

Terms

a) Yomi: Underworld

b) Takamagahara: Heavenly/Celestial Realm

Levels of Kami

1) Kotoamatsukami (Originals)

2) Izanagi & Izanami (Creators)

3) Amatsukami (Heavenly)

4) Kunitsukami (Earthly)

5) Yokai