Hello! The big reveal!

Sorry I didn't post this earlier, there was a scene in the next chapter that I was writing out that I wanted to finish before posting this. I wasn't sure if it would've been affected by it so I withheld just in case I needed to alter something.

Another thing! I have an account on AO3 now! Same username and I'm slowly posting my old stories on there, but they should be remastered and have most of its grammar/spellings fixed! So if the content is a little different, it's okay, I'm the one fixing it and not some other person.

Thank you! I appreciate all of you!

August 25, 2019- Finished.
September 10, 2019- Edited.

-Line Break-

The journey home was thankfully uneventful. Even giving the report to a very suspicious Hokage that was eyeing Haruka rightfully was painless. Sakumo even happily ignored the very showy slip of the paper towards the Hokage by her with an equally dubious metaphor about rats and prisoners back in Kusa.

The only thing that mattered was that the genin, now newly promoted chuunin, were safe and that he was able to rewind safely behind his clan walls about just what he learned. Something sinister was grabbing hold of Konoha's roots and it was rather terrifying in the grand scheme of things. What was revealed in the most questionable of places just so that there was assurance the wrong people wouldn't be aware of that conversation.

Life was never boring around the little birdy. Even now with years and years from her blast radius, she hasn't changed one bit. With her wings and already too big talons getting larger, he suppose her ability to target stronger prey was a given. Though, he wished that she'd keep her crow-like tendencies at a minimum. Collecting every shiny thing, nursing grudges, and the wake of feathers that she leaves behind after a sudden death, it's only some type of saving grace was that she doesn't like to flock with other crows.

He should be glad that he strictly prowls on the land, the sky is a whole new territory that he can only look up to.

"How was the exams, dear?"

"Nai, if you can, don't ever go on a mission with Haru-chan." Sakumo buried his face into the curve of his soon-to-be-wife's neck. "There's a reason why she got out of Iwa without a scratch and I forgot just how evil she can be."

"...I'm afraid to ask."

"She managed to get the Chuunin Exams canceled and nobody knows it was her!" Sakumo whined. "And still, still, everything turned out fine somehow."

"Er, isn't that a good thing? Wait, what do you mean she canceled the exams?"

"Don't ever go shopping with her either." Sakumo complained. "It's like watching someone get stabbed and seeing the kunai get twisted around while still in the flesh!"

Nai patted him on the back in pity as she giggled to herself. "You know, Tsunade-chan has been bringing me to have dinner at Orochimaru-san's place a few more times after you left. They had to warn me about this happening."

Sakumo whined. "Don't let them mislead you, they're already desensitized."

Nai laughed before sauntering back into the kitchen. "Come on now, the food's getting cold." She smiled easily.

To sum up that night, it was fantastic. A nice hot meal and the night ended with a lot of frustrations being let go in the form of very enthusiastic sex. He wasn't going to let the night go to waste because of a couple of hang ups. He was better than that.

Though, at the back of his mind, the necessary precautions that were already in place would need to be fortified. The ominous feeling of what was revealed back in Kusa couldn't be taken be taken lightly. He's already sniffed out a couple of pests lingering a little longer than necessary.

For now, he can only play the waiting game while he gathers and sits on resources.

-Line Break-

Today I was wearing a nice pink kimono top to keep away the odd morning chill. The skies were clear but it was the first sign of a storm coming soon. I was out getting the groceries now to beat the weather before it hits. There was still a couple of hours to spare and it was nice to see what fresh goodies were out on the stalls before other shoppers snatches them up.

I even got a pretty looking shawl, the merchant was generous enough to offer a discount without the usual hassle of a bargain. There was a strange look of fear though, a glimmer of being recognized and I wonder which one of my reputations he looked at me with. Either way, be it one or both, the shawl was almost golden with pink sakura flowers fluttering at the ends to match and it was a good start of the day.

"I'm surprised you know how to use actual currency."

A giggle escaped me and my smile widened seeing Hiroshi walking up. He looked less stressed than back at the patrol check point, he was also still geared up and most likely getting back on shift with how fresh he was looking. Hiroshi may be uptight now, but he was still one of the more loose Hyuuga member in his clan.

"Hiro-kun, good morning! Are you prepared for the storm?"

A single eye twitched. "Literally or metaphorically?"

I pouted. "You're no fun."

"Fuyuchi..."

"We were genin teammates, you can still call me by my name, you know?"

The Hyuuga merely raised an eyebrow in impatience and I huffed before smiling. The unsaid, snarky comment of me not having a name back then was left unsaid. Little things like that always tells me that he was at least a little fond of me.

I liked that, the little spitfire of a Hyuuga from before was still afloat under his clan's politics. It makes me wonder if his temporary placeholder as the heir was given up willingly. Anybody with clear senses would immediately see how much of a trap job being at the top of the political chain was. His mission history was full of long gaps of long term missions. He must've have some sort of home-away-from-home type of thing going on.

He was definitely not living in the clan compound that's for sure.

"If it doesn't come in the evening, it'll be a downpour tomorrow." I finally said. "Make sure you bring an umbrella or a rain coat. And talcum powder."

Hiroshi just stared before walking off. I suppressed a snort before going off in my own way. The man was still an uptight Hyuuga by the end of the day.

It always made me wonder how I've not encountered anymore Hyuuga members until recently. One would think his immediate family would be more involved in his training back when we were genin. Though, Sakumo and Hiroshi were already in an established team before I came in.

But now that Hiroshi did mention it, I should cycle some of the money back into the economy. But what to do and what to buy?

"Fuyuchi-san!" I looked up to see a familiar streak of yellow. "Good morning!"

"Good morning, Mina-chan." I waved as the new chuunin came to a stop in front of me. "I see that your new duties are treating you well."

Minato grimaced. "I'm still running errands but I'm positive that it'll pass soon enough."

I tucked some stray hairs behind my ear. "I usually deal with hazing by making my squad leaders jobs more difficult." I said bemused. "You should try and throw one of them in jail."

"Err..."

"Of course, you'll have to be smart about it, but public altercations usually are the best way to make a point."

"Uhh, I don't think you should be supporting sabotage within the ranks, Fuyuchi-san."

I shrugged. "Think of it as training, if you can usurp someone out of the job, then they clearly didn't have the skills to keep it. And if nobody is stopping you, well, then that just means they didn't deserve it." I thought about my own encounter. "Who knows, you might even get a raise like I did."

"..."

That turned a lot of heads apparently and I hid a giggle behind a sleeve. "Don't worry too much, Mina-chan, but if you are going to be running around all day, get an umbrella. I hate to see you get sick."

His blue eyes strayed up before slowing nodding. "I have one in my apartment, I'll be sure to have it on me."

I looked up at the still clear blue sky myself. "Looks are deceiving, Mina-chan. It's a beautiful morning, but that doesn't mean it'll be a beautiful day." I looked back down. "Be it the sky or sea, look for the birds. They know more about storms than any other living thing here."

With that thought, I walked off wondering what to do with the on coming weeks. There was still the Shrikes to deal with, the prototype for the converter seals were done so it was a matter of testing them to adjust output at a safe rate. And then there was little Hoshi to worry about but nothing too immediate seeing as the fledgling just now learned how to fly properly.

It was slightly exciting, the concept of teaching a little storm bird to twist chakra. Not just normal chakra but nature chakra that comes instinctively to all summons to a degree. I had limited understanding on what it is other than the fact that it is a volatile, outside source of chakra that needed fine tuned control on the user's part because of the consequences being rather brutal. Orochimaru looked rather annoyed when explaining this to me.

Another worry was filling time within the village. There was very little that I could do, maybe find a new hobby. I can't see myself being projected to do any other missions for a while. My set of skills were used sparsely and despite being young, it did good for the newer chuunins, jounin-senseis, and those that really needed the money to take majority of missions during peacetime. No big missions that needed to be done, at least no one is asking when it's calm and quiet.

I didn't have a secondary job like Orochimaru did, and it didn't sit well for me to not do anything productive.

I hummed at that thought.

-Line Break-

"I'm surprised you asked for me."

"I needed advice, I don't know what to do with my time."

Daisuke blinked in a slight daze before nodding. "Okay, what do you generally like? Outside of shinobi activities, I mean."

I shrugged. "I don't know, everything I do is majority out of spite."

"...Anything that doesn't involve hurting others?"

"I'm pretty good at making coins."

"Like, as in, counterfeiting?" Daisuke looked alarmed.

"Why would I do that? I already have a lot of money." I said unhelpfully. "It was part of a sealing project. I got lazy with it. It was something I started doing it because there was just too much loose jewelry getting tangled up everywhere."

"For somebody that doesn't know what to do with their time, there is sure a lot of background activity to unravel from that." The Yamanaka sighed. "First, what does jewelry have to do with coins?"

"Melting the gold and silver into coins is much more efficient than having everything a mess." I told him. "I use seals to condense the metals into ingots before using another to shape it."

"Ah, yes, I've heard about your sealing capabilities, though I'm surprised you didn't register it under your file."

"I'm not too good with seals like Jiraiya-chan, a lot of what I do is just a lot of guess work after I got the basics down. Making an alteration here and there isn't too hard."

"Haruka-chan, your seal work, no matter how improvised each one is, is actually more impressive than you think. It's because of your improvisations that make you one of the better fuuin users in the village."

I shrugged. "It's not hard, I can't hear my own seals but seals like Jiraiya-chan's are easy to mimic and twist. The old scrolls help too, they sound like a parent slowly sounding out words for their child to follow along."

There was a pause before Daisuke spoke up. "Have you ever thought bout expanding your skills?"

"I don't have the patience, technicalities and such don't hold my attention for long. I'll admit seals have been very useful in my life but I don't see myself drawing up complex seals like the Uzumaki clans did when the basic formulas were all I needed along with a little bit of creativity."

Seals were like math. The building blocks that come from solid whole numbers with easy to use symbols to manipulate the outcomes. And, sure, there were other equations that can help arrive to an answer faster, but less numbers only meant more symbols and even letters to add to the equation. More unnecessary words and lines to try and tie together.

Useful they both are, but I don't have the drive to learn more. What I know probably served me better than majority of the seals masters out there because just how simple and basic mine are. No need for an indefinite prep time to employ my seals and they were simple to create.

Just like the tiny coloured divots on dice, my seals could be applied to many things. And if need be, they were simple to alter just like loading dice.

"Right." The Yamanaka frowned a little. "It's a shame but we'll move on. Have you ever thought about doing stuff with your, er, treasures? From your coins, it sounds like your could get into jewelry making seeing you have the supplies."

My thoughts paused and considered it. "Maybe, I could do that, I could easily do what I did with the coins. It would definitely be an interesting way to kill someone." I said imagining some scenarios. "'Noble dies from electrocution, but the cause is unknown.' And just a little after receiving a gift of a fancy jewelry set that goes off when the entire set is worn." I hummed mildly entertained at the idea. "I could totally figure some like that out."

"Please don't test something like that with someone in the village."

"I won't kill anybody, it's not too hard to replace words like 'electrocution' with something harmless. And besides, I'm more interested in selling the pieces of jewelry to different merchants and see which vain noble would buy them all." I curved a smile to the Yamanaka's rapidly paling face. "I like the thought of my works worth dying over."

"Haruka-chan, no."

"But don't you think it would make for an interesting story?" I silently laughed at Daisuke. "People dying left and right for wearing such jewelry and before you know it, years has passed and the locals pass their knowledge of such curse that the gods themselves cast. Stories of punishing the vain, tales of a demon playing tricks for human souls. Yes, I would like to be a part of something like that."

"Goddammit, why do you do this to me?" Daisuke ran a hand through his hair. "You came here asking for advice!"

Laughter escaped me and hid the tail end of it behind my sleeve. "I'm only joking, partially anyways. It's a good idea but leaving that kind of evidence behind is bothersome but not impossible to retrieve." I shrugged. "It probably be simpler to keep making protective seals and keys. My own magical charmed bracelets and enchanted necklaces."

Daisuke nodded almost immediately. "Yes! Yes." He cleared his throat in slight embarrassment. "Seals?" He looked at me hopefully.

"Like a reusable privacy seal or silencing seal for testing, and I'll move up the ladder as I go." I indulged him. "Jewelry are small after all, I can imagine that being why seals masters never implemented such things either. Not enough real estate to fit everything they need."

But it's not too hard to find precision tools anymore like it was a couple of decades ago. I could take one of Orochimaru's old unused dissection tools and modify them for fine details to carve into metal and the right-sized gem or stone can hide the seal once embedded. Bracelets would be trickier, and so would earrings, but watches were a thing and I don't think Orochimaru would be opposed to having replicas of his beloved earrings for just in case.

This little trip turned out far more enlightening than I thought it would.

A loud knock on the door sounded before someone invited themselves in. A part of me was rather annoyed while another part was curious. I was even more surprised to see Nara Mesui peek in his head first before strolling in. His back was slouched and expression irritated liked he was unpleasantly surprised upon seeing us, which wasn't unusual, but something was off about him.

"I wasn't aware of a session today."

Daisuke waved him off. "Haruka-chan just wanted to talk, nothing serious."

Mesui sighed. "We've really got to move these talks outside of this building then. One of the new recruits saw you both and they're gossiping again."

I tilted my head trying to probe out this offset feeling. I couldn't feel anything different, but it was like listening to a very worn instrument. It doesn't hit its notes as well as it used to but never noticed by the player and the listeners who has been listening for years and years.

"They're always gossiping, and it's not like our usual guys won't straighten them out about this."

"Still, why can't we move these things to the hospital at least?"

"I rather think it's because Hokage-sama wants my psyche evaluations to be closely monitored." I said easily. "I come here so that it wouldn't cause too much of a stir, less of a hassle and it saves me dragging one or both of you with me to somewhere else. I thought it was rather obvious."

Daisuke's eyes sharpened a tad bit while keeping a friendly air and I watched intently. But the moment he turned his head my way, I couldn't find any recognition. No wary eyes or subtle tensing shoulders, his lips didn't still for the scant second at the first observation when we meet. It was a ritual that lasted with the blink of an eye, but it was something I took amusement in knowing the Nara took my history in full review in his mind.

I liked that kind of cautious respect. The same kind of respect one has for a wild animal, always watching for when I'll pounce, but staying his hand knowing I wasn't interested in picking a fight. It made me feel a little bit more powerful knowing that a Nara like Mesui held me in high regard. Everybody else that still held rose-tinted glasses on their faces deserved to be ignorant, but Mesui was different in that way.

"It's wasting the time we could be interrogating someone in here."

This wasn't Mesui, who is this? Where was my Nara?

I hummed at my thoughts before feeling brave. "Say, Nara-san? When do fox's get married?"

"I'd imagine in the spring, why?"

"Because foxes are tricky creatures." I smiled at him. "Spring may be pretty, but it can be just as deceiving. Winter may be over but the predators are starving."

And nothing screams prey like that moment of hesitation that Mesui would never dare give.

-Line Break-

Haruka had very few people that she truly like. Ironically though, they all had a level of integrity and loyalty that she would never give to the Hokage if it weren't for the fact that he was her boss. Though it does work in her favour seeing as all those few individuals had a level of power that can easily destabilize many different foundations with just the right push.

If she was ever put in a position of power, to command squads or lead meetings of political happenings, nobody would argue that she would be a good leader for all the wrong reasons. It was only some sort of saving grace that she doesn't want to be in one, preferring the freedom to choose her battles and pick her treasures than have her very little patience be put to the test.

Somehow, Orochimaru thinks, that it was a form of good luck in where there was never a time when Haruka's patience had to be push that far. It would've ended in a carnage if she was ever left alone in a room full of nobility just to talk.

But he digresses back to his original thoughts, Haruka had very few people that she would truly call her own. All which are and were powerful in their own right and yet Danzou had a knack in targeting the right people to get under her skin. Even now, as he watched the trees from the wooden porch, lightning permeated like a storm holding off its rain and thunder. It impressed him in how Danzou could anger his sister so, it impressed him that Danzou wasn't a smear on the wall by now.

"Why is she mad? There was lightning crackling through her hair!"

"The rat did away another one of her favourite people." Orochimaru shifted his shoulders to let his usual feathered companions settle better. "I'm waiting for her temper to calm before I console her."

"Well, at least she scared dinner out into the open." Shin chirped. "I haven't had a lizard in a while."

"I caught a vole!"

Orochimaru rolled his eyes. "Please remember to consume your meals, I don't really care for insects being impaled on the rose bushes but the ones with more flesh attracts flies and maggots."

"But the maggots are the best part!"

They both cackled seeing his pointed gaze. "You're both juvenile."

A loud crack of thunder shot through the rather clear blue sky. No doubt all of Konoha would've heard it but an easy excuse of training will explain any curious probes. Send them towards Haruka if they want to volunteer in help calming her.

Anger still didn't suit her, but it was good that she was letting it out.

"I wonder if little Hoshi will be able to do that?"

"He's already shocked almost everyone by now, I wouldn't be surprised."

The idle twittering and the lack of concern of the current situation was normal, Orochimaru feels he should've been more offended if it weren't for the fact that Haruka made him used to the behavior. To sympathize the moment before moving on to the next step, encourage progression of any kind to at least make the anger and grief useful in a way.

So he knows her anger will pass soon enough, it will pass and she'll adjust her plans accordingly.

Because now Danzou revealed just how he was going to undermined them, threw the ball as low as he could to hope they didn't notice. And maybe it could've worked, replacing someone who regularly worked with Haruka in such a close way but still distant enough to where real personal relations would be discouraged due to security reasons. Nara Mesui was in the optimal position in obtaining information rather effortlessly without raising suspicion.

Only, Haruka found the Nara fascinating to a degree. Orochimaru was pretty sure she even had a small infatuation with the man, a pubescent crush that lasted for a very brief time but it was long enough for her to keep watching the Nara. The way she gets attached to people didn't have a pattern, but Orochimaru supposes when the only person that she frequently socializes with and have friendly reception back being the Hatake, it wasn't too far fetch that Mesui wasn't a character Haruka would be too close to.

But regardless of Danzou's failure to gather information and hide his spy, he has to give credit where its due. If it was anyone else, it would've worked splendidly seeing as even the Nara's best Yamanaka friend was fooled with little suspicion. It makes him wonder if the man forgot that Haruka was a sensor. One that was very in tuned as well.

"Nii-san!" There was a streak of blue before Haruka came within his view. "I'm hungry."

"I'd imagine." Orochimaru gestured to the distance to where she was. "You used quite a bit of chakra."

She huffed and growled as she paced back and forth before falling on the grass to stew while sitting down. She held herself defiant, as if the object of her ire was here to see.

"First Rabbit, then he's doing his god damn best to get to you, and now I don't even know if Mesui-san is even alive!" She gave another angry huff. "Why can't I just kill him now?"

"Because it would defeat the purpose of what we're working towards." Orochimaru said wryly. "The world would definitely be a better place, but the fire that comes after is what we're preparing for."

The ugly snarl that came out of her surprised him. Her composure completely lost before settling to sulk with dark thoughts. A rather petulant display, but her anger being slowly let go to be replaced with other less than legal thinking.

"Daisuke-san probably reported this to the Hokage by now." Haruka muttered. "He definitely told the Naras and his clan leader."

Orochimaru nodded. "And the Akimichis will be informed as well with their relations, in one fell swoop, Danzou's gamble only managed to fail and severely discredit himself."

"But it won't be enough." Haruka looked up with a fierce expression. "Their clans are small and know better to spread information like this. The Rat King's mistake wasn't even public."

The Snake Summoner shook his head. "But it's enough for now, you're being impatient again."

She bristle and her hair looked like it even ruffled before settling down. "I hate him."

"Put your mind to use then." Orochimaru said easily. "You do best with smaller, short term plans but I know for sure your long term ones prevail just as well."

"Iwa didn't require this much subtlety, and I planned as I go, I can't do that here." Her eyes twitched in agitation. "At least I got to kill people there."

"You broke into Kusa's infamous prison." He countered. "Successfully started a prison riot and had the Chuunin Exams canceled. In a span of a couple of short weeks, might I add? What exactly were you thinking initially when you decided to conduct a prison break?"

"I was curi- no, I knew what was in there, but I didn't know everything in there. I would've even left it intact if it was just a prison that experimented on its inmates."

"But you found the girl instead."

"I found the girl." Haruka nodded. "And then I wanted to show her the sky, that only she could see it if she really wanted to."

Orochimaru blinked feeling the mood drop to a stale one. Even her expression smoothed out to one of indifference as she thought back to the event. It wasn't solemn, but it didn't reflect the quiet satisfaction that she had when she first told him.

"What exactly happened, Haruka? It seems you haven't told me everything."

"That little girl, she turned into a completely different person when she killed the scientist that experimented on her." She said evenly. "I gave her a kunai and let her go into the office the scientist was supposedly in. She was like a hamster until the blood splattered and her bones started to grow out from her fingers. They looked like claws and her song changed to something of madness.

"And after she stood there all covered in blood, she looked at me like she wanted to kill me too. But then, then others started to show up, both civilian and shinobi. They weren't prepared for a little girl in a rage in a rather narrow hallway."

That... was rather disturbing to hear. And he can easily imagine it too. He's seen what certain experiments can do to a human, he knows what certain diseases and illnesses could do to people's minds. And genetic manipulation of that level, while successful to a degree, was too volatile and dangerous.

And that's what Danzou wanted out of him, to revitalize Shodai's genes to pass on to the next generations without any regards to the consequences.

"I see why you've been lacking to say anything about the incident."

"I managed to blow up a portion of one of the walls before the prisoners tried to break the rest of the way through with their brute strength. One died to give the others a chance at freedom by using an Earth Jutsu. But by then, the little girl died. I have no idea why she died, but she did made it outside to see the sky."

"You're worried."

"Nii-san, he wants you to make little monsters out of children. Our esteemed Hokage-sama isn't doing anything about it despite all the hints I try to push. My favourite people are being targeted by the Rat King and I can't kill him yet!" She snapped. "I'm not worried, I want to start a fire and see if I can get a civil war on the side."

Orochimaru easily let her tone slide. "You're angry then, but you're not the only one here upset." She made a defiant noise before rolling to her side facing her back to him and he rolled his eyes at that. "Why does this little girl upset you?"

This time, Haruka was oddly silent. He was a little alarmed, but stayed quiet waiting for an answer. It wasn't something she wouldn't answer, it would be interesting to hear. It would be another moment of a particular wisdom he'll probably think on.

"Why do you believe in reincarnation?" She asked actually startling him. "I believe it. I believe it because I don't think I'm supposed to exist."

"What?" Orochimaru's attention was snapped up. "Haruka, what?"

His mind reeled sharply and all of the previous issues were now wiped from his current thoughts. Her words stuck like his snakes' and left the sting of the bite, quick and decisive that left the victim anxious of the result.

"Waking up in this world, I thought to myself, 'Ah! I finally died, didn't I?' There wasn't a day that passed me by when I wasn't thinking about it. What my life was before, everyone that I would never see again, and how I died. At least, not until a little snake stopped me for a talk." Her tone became slightly lighter. "And then the world became a little more real.

"I decided then and there that even if all this was a dream, I wanted everything to feel real again. I loved every second of it too, but I still love you the most."

His heart was hammering, blood rushed through his ears. And whether it was excitement or frustration that made his hands shake, it didn't stop him from approaching her. Kneeling down and reaching out, what else could he do?

"And the girl that you sympathize so much with?"

"I died in a hospital, but at least I know I what the sky looked like."

Hearing that quirked his lips upwards despite the dreadful feelings. "Your prerogative was always freedom, being movement or choice, you value it too much."

"I love it, but I love you more for letting me have it."

For the longest time, the mysteries that surrounded her were the greatest puzzles that he's ever came across. He's long acknowledged that her knowledge was dubious at best and blatantly suspicious as a norm but easily filed away at the dark corners of his mind as she never brought misfortune back with her. The trouble she searches for was akin to the rabbits she liked to hunt. But this secret was something else entirely, like a foggy window that he told himself was just an unpolished mirror.

A secret that wasn't really a secret because there were no secrets between them. Facts were scattered around for each other to find and a silent acceptance was the only response they needed from each other. Dribbles of ink and the few words that she would speak were always prominent, but it was his choice to distort his own truths.

Orochimaru didn't dwell on death, it brought out the worst in him and it was a failing that he carefully avoided. But Haruka seemed to be walking with it this entire time in order to move on with life.

"Do you love this life more than the other?"

She easily rolled on her back to face him. Tears were pricking and falling from her eyes but the happy smile that she adorned easily alleviated any concerns. She reached out for him and Orochimaru complied with no resistance. She eagerly snuggled into him while they both laid in the grass.

"I can do a lot of things I wasn't able to before, I was strong first before I grew weaker. I accomplished the very few things I could, but in the end I still hated myself for being weak."

Weak was never a word that was associated with Haruka. Too proud, too cunning, and too deceitful to be ever considered as such. Always ahead, thinking of traps to set and the chaos it would bring. And if all else fails, she still has her sword, and her fists if her sword breaks.

"I can see why you do the things you do, but do you love this life?"

"How can't I? Especially when I get my chance for revenge."

Orochimaru raised an eyebrow. "Revenge against what?"

"Life, of course."

"And how exactly does one get revenge on life?"

"By living well."

Because nothing else would infuriate an opponent than showing off how much happier you were than the other. Haruka excels in that particular practice.

"And Danzou is in the way of that."

"Certainly not a mission commissioned to me. At least, not on paper anyways."

As hypocritical as she was, Orochimaru didn't say anything seeing as Haruka never judged others for doing or thinking the same. She certainly wouldn't stop others from enjoying themselves as she did, as long as it didn't affect her in any way. Though again, there seems to be someone ready to challenge that.

Orochimaru quietly sighed. "Do you think mother and father are happy?"

A smile finally cracked through. "I don't think they'll object you wanting to live a little longer. No good parent would wish the opposite."

That drew out a huff from him before returning the smile. "Oh? I hope you don't see yourself as a parent."

"Of course not!" She laughed. "Don't be silly."

"Then do try your best to not let anything upset you again."

Haruka laughed even harder. "You just admitted to being silly!"

In the background, he could hear the birds and even Kaguhime laughing at him. This familial feeling that should never be taken away again was finally settling comfortably, as if things were finally falling into place again.

They don't have enough of these heart to hearts, always dancing around the topics because it's always assumed that the other knows at least the most important things of what they were going through. Not the most healthiest ways of communications, but seeing as both of them being rather good at ferreting out information, it was simply a matter of trust and responsibility to see if the other can handle the problem. There were no problems with that, at least until now.

Although there was no visible signs of it, there was a storm coming. It was like watching the ocean swell slowly, taking away the tide inch by inch with each day that passes by. It was a subtle thing that nobody would notice, Orochimaru would never notice it if it weren't for the fact that he's watching it brew from the eye of the storm.

That storm swirled violently but it was condensed and quiet. And even if Haruka herself has calmed somewhat, it was clearer than any perfect blue sky to anyone that looked into her eyes that there was a gleam of something terrible will come.

"I would like to reiterate to you to let me know when you're going to do something drastic, Haruka." Orochimaru said resigned and amused. "We'll also need to let the others know as well."

Haruka hummed. "When do you think Jiraiya-chan will come back?"

"I don't know." Orochiamru raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"If he comes back a little more than a year, I think that's when we'll start a riot."

"A riot? Nevermind, save it for later. But what if he doesn't come back?"

"We'll still start a riot. And Jiraiya-chan might be late, but that only means we'll have more time."

"And why exactly are we waiting for the fool?"

"Why not?" Haruka's smile was almost vicious. "It'll be like a surprise party, a party that he's going to have to find himself. And the guests he'll bring along will have as much fun as he will if not more."

Orochimaru silently snorted. Haruka just said that she's terrible at long term planning but she's already envisioning the future. There wasn't any actual solid means of getting there, but the fact that she has a goal in mind was all she needed to claw her way there.

He nodded along. "And if we do leave, we'll need a place to think about."

"We have the world at our disposal, nii-san. Be it a castle in the sky or a kingdom in the ocean, wherever we go, there's going to be something new to discover and treasures to find."

And that was nice. Of all their worldly problems and complex issues that needed solving, it was so easy to see such a flowery dream come to fruition compared to all the other goals in mind. It supplemented everything he wanted to do with the addition of the anticipation of fulfillment. Fulfillment of seeing what life had to show and offer to him and perhaps have a more enjoyable time.

Ah, perhaps by the end of this, there would be no other option but to leave. Orochimaru is already looking forward to it hoping nothing was going to tie them down.

"I have to ask. Do you love me more?"

Laughter spilled from Haruka once more before she settled quickly. "You can't compare that distant life to yourself. He was my world then, you are my world now. The only difference I could tell you is that I'd like to keep you a lot longer than I was able to with him."

Orochimaru hummed. "Your worlds are rather small."

"You think so? I can't say I've noticed."

It was a little unfair to ask, but it was a little thing that wouldn't break their stride. Something to get out of the way too let the more complex problems be more clearer. Though he wishes that these little moments were more in abundance but he suppose that they were working for those right now.

"We're all frogs in our own wells, but I suppose only you would jump back in after seeing the ocean."

"I liked to think that the ocean was my well, and I found an actual well to settle in."

"Of course."

-Line Break-

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