The Flower in the Snow

Posting date is 3/12/10.

I don't own Naruto or any of the familiar characters, who belong to Masashi Kishimoto, but I do own Rangiku and Hana.

I'm not making profit from this, either, so tough luck, all you lawyers.

The summons poll:

Yeah… um, new rules on say you can't have reader interaction for voting unless it's on your homepage, so I'm cancelling it: I've also made the decisions myself now, and that includes the key ones.

While this affects the ones you could have voted for, the ones from the previous vote stay, so the really popular choices should be seen if that person gets a summoning contract.

There, I've said it. I'm also hoping to get something out of the fickle bitch that is inspiration for Teenager for the Week, too. I'm also thinking about maybe running a sequel (or even a prequel) to this fic if it gets a good enough response by the end, though that's a while off yet.

Right, since you're aware of that now, let's begin...

OOO

The Flower in the Snow: Chapter 10: Determination

The Uchiha compound; Sasuke's house:

"Hold on a moment. I'll get your Dango."

It's good to have someone here who likes it. Mom used to love it, but Itachi and I never really did understand the obsession she had with it… Until Itachi found Pocky, anyways… I wonder what I'll get obsessed with…

Sasuke was currently in the process of making some tea, when he noticed he had company.

"Yo."

"Kakashi-Sensei? Why are you here?"

"What, can't a Sensei visit his students once in a while? Besides, I have something to tell Hana and Naruto, and you may as well know as well."

"How did you know we were all here?"

"Anko."

"Right… How much did she say?"

"Not much. She was too drunk to make much sense. The basics were that you ran into an old friend of hers who now works for some shadowy organisation, and she told you to poke around in the Uchiha vaults for the information you wanted on him."

"That about sums it up. When I asked the guy directly who he was, he just called himself 'someone who's a friend in dark times'. What do you think he meant by that?"

"I have no idea, but I think Anko might. She was too drunk to mention anything other than what I've given you and something about radiance moving, which doesn't make much sense by itself…"

"Sasuke, are you okay? Oh… Kakashi-Sensei, hi."

"Hi Hana. How are you?"

"I'm okay, but I'm worried a little about Naruto… He's found your particular section, Sasuke, but he can't reach it. He's pretty angry about it."

"I'd better go then, and calm the idiot down."

"Um, sure, but don't play too rough… Chuunin exams and all…"

"I know. I'll bring him back here in one piece, but his condition overall will depend on how angry he is, and how I have to calm him down. Hopefully knowing he's kept his half of the deal will calm him down some."

"Tell him I want to see you three in here for a team meeting. That should calm him down a bit."

"Right. I'll be back soon."

Kagayaki HQ:

"IDIOT!" 'Ichi' yelled at 'Juu-Ichi'. 'Juu-Ichi' was, likewise, currently engaging his attitude.

"What? They aren't going to tell anyone who shouldn't know. Sasuke is too secretive, Hana is too guarded, Anko and Kakashi know when to shut up, and Naruto is currently too withdrawn to care. The only person they're likely to discuss this with other than each other is Sarutobi. It'd be nice if she would keep quiet about my identity, though… Sasuke's not ready to know about me just yet. I'm relieved he didn't recognise Keigai, though… That could have been awkward."

"Boy, if this reaches the Hokage, then it'll be known by Orochimaru! He has a damned SPY in there, for Heaven's sake! If you've blown our cover, then so help me I will…"

"Do nothing. If it comes to it, I will clean up the mess. Satisfied now you've had your temper tantrum and got me to agree to cleaning up after myself?"

"No. your actions have lead to the potential discovery of the Kagayaki by Orochimaru. If my fears become reality, then he will try to lure or manipulate us."

"Then I will deal with him if it comes to that."

"Fine, your decision. Now, I want you to find and rat out the spy. IMMEDIATELY. Do it carefully, and make sure the right people find him."

"Understood."

"…And boy…"

"What?"

"I have decided. Take 'Juu-Kyuu' with you, and brief her on the way. We can't afford for you to fail."

"Two members, huh? Fine. I'll join forces with her, then." 'Juu-Kyuu' commented on his response.

"You've lowered your standards."

"I can't afford to be fussy right now. I've lost enough time on this damn assignment already. Ugh, I hate playing with subterfuge… Let's go." 'Ichi' decided to add some motivation.

"'Juu-Ichi'."

"What now? You're delaying me."

"If you fail, I will confiscate 'Shitsunen'." 'Juu-Ichi''s eyes narrowed dangerously.

"You. Wouldn't. DARE."

"Oh, I would, child. Now, go and show us you still deserve the title 'Juu-Ichi'. Preferably BEFORE I get angry again."

"Fine… Prick…" The silhouettes of 'Juu-Ichi' and 'Juu-Kyuu' raced off in the direction of Konoha.

"Well, since you know a bit about me, and I know almost nothing about you aside from fighting skills, how about some info?"

"What do you want to know?"

"Alright, let's go with a standard introduction."

"You first."

"Fine. My name is 'Juu-Ichi'. I like training, swords, and who remains of my family. I dislike pointless or annoying questions, people who try to take my weapons away, and people with sticks up their asses. My dream… No, my ambition is to make the world a safer place for everyone who wishes to live peacefully, myself included."

"You fight because you want to live peacefully?"

"Later on in life, I'd like to live the simple life, you know? Retire, find someone, and settle down…"

"And if someone gets in the way of that dream?"

"..."

"You mentioned swords. What else can you use?"

"Mostly just the standard ninja weapons, but I can at least recognise most tools. I hear you use Senbon needles…"

"Yes." 'Juu-Ichi' stopped on a branch. 'Juu-Kyuu' stopped by him. "Why have we stopped?"

"Because we're not discussing any of this closer to Konoha than here, unless we're in a secure area where no-one else can hear us."

"I see."

"So, how about your introduction now?"

"I simply follow 'Kyuu'. There's not much else to me."

"A tool, huh?"

"Yes. You know 'Kyuu' very well, I'm told."

"We spar a lot. He likes fighting someone who can turn the tables on him."

"I see."

"What happens if 'Kyuu' decides to leave?"

"I will follow him, even in death."

"That's a sad thing. Most people would simply adopt his wishes and move on, to make his dreams happen, even if not by his hand."

"What?"

"I'm not discrediting your ways, but I will say that I disagree with some of them. How you react to that is up to you."

"I see."

"Well, can I at least know something about my partner?"

"Why know something about someone who is little better than dead?"

"Because death is not a barrier to reason, and I'm curious. The elusive 'Juu-Kyuu' is thought to be the most secretive of all of the Kagayaki, and the one that keeps the most secrets of any."

"Being observant is merely a part of my training."

"And an integral part of my training is to work with all available allies as effectively as possible. To do that, some element of familiarisation is needed."

"I see. And, if I may ask, where were you trained, and by who?"

"I want to hear more about you first. So far, I've done most of the biographical talking."

"Very well then. My name is…"

The Uchiha compound; Sasuke's kitchen:

"Okay, now we're all here, I can get to the point: Anko doesn't think you're quite ready to take the exams. The system this year in particular will be more gruelling, less hospitable, and frankly more lethal than most other Chuunin exams held in Konoha. It's designed to prey on the strong and the weak easily in equal share, with particular emphasis on one goal: removing any and all ninja it can. The truth is that… Well, you three might die during these exams, and Anko cares too much about you for that. If you guys want to talk about it, I figured we might as well meet each other about it." Hana's head turned downward.

"After I was trained in Snow Country, and on the way back… I thought about a lot of things… I wondered at some topics, while I skimmed over others… Trying to find answers for myself… And I came up empty-handed in the end…" Kakashi looked down.

I know what's coming now… It looks like Team 7 will be waiting a few months to take the next exams…

"But… I did find out one thing… one thing which made up for all of the answers I couldn't find…" Kakashi looked up, a look of surprise visible. "I found out… That if you give up, wait or even hesitate, you'll never know… You'll never know what you could have done, and it'll plague you for a long time… The kind of regret that stems from inaction… So… That's why…" Hana looked up at them, her face determined. "That's why, regardless of your choices, I'll be going! I'll enter this thing, I'll give it everything I've got, and I'll come out of the other end a stronger person, because in the end, THAT'S WHO I AM, DAMNIT!" She was smirking like Anko in a Dango factory with a banner over her head saying 'VICTORY IS MINE BITCHES!', while holding out a fist like Naruto would. Sasuke smirked.

"Hn. Make that two members of Team 7. I'm not about to throw in the towel just yet; I still need to see how far I've come as a ninja, and this is a good chance to do that." Kakashi looked at His last chance of pulling Team 7 out of the Chuunin exams: Naruto.

"If I can't pass this exam…" Hana's grin turned in to a frown. "I can't get to Hokage! AND I'M NOT GOING TO LET SOME STUPID TESTS GET IN MY WAY! BELIEVE IT!" His familiar grin finally showed itself again, and his fist stuck out like he'd just hit something with it. Hana's grin returned in full force. "BRING IT ON!"

Well… Your confidence has surpassed mine now, and that's half the battle. The rest is all up to you. We'll see who sticks by their words tomorrow.

Sarutobi's Library:

"Well Anko, there you have it. They are not going to give up; they are determined to pass, and their performance in the exam is highly anticipated."

"But… I…"

"It's okay. Their confidence is surprising, and they'll need it. Their abilities are above the level of normal Genin by a considerable margin, and their teamwork is, despite surface appearances, coming together very quickly. Hana is opening up to her team-mates, and that will help her a lot in the long run. Naruto is almost ready to become a Chuunin: he has a grounding in operational planning that people 2 to 3 times his age can lack, and understands just how important teamwork is. Sasuke is a powerful ninja with mastery over many fire techniques and has decent qualities as both a leader and a team spokesperson." When Anko said nothing, Sarutobi looked over to her. "Anko?"

"It… They just remind me of… Him. He… he never…"

"I understand only too well. I lost many friends of my own through my Chuunin exams, but this group of Genin this year: the 'Rookie Nine'… They are a powerful group. Every last one of them has ingenuity and strengths that are surprising to say the least. And, Gai's team is also entering. They will doubtlessly be on the lookout for their younger comrades. There is not as much danger as you might think."

"Listen… There's someone I met today who you should know about." Sarutobi leaned forward in his chair.

"I'm listening. Tell me, what did you talk about with this person?"

"He called himself 'Juu-Ichi of the Kagayaki'. He said that Kagayaki was mobilising, and that the curse mark would start hurting again soon, so we should be ready for 'Him'."

"Orochimaru is coming back to Konoha? For the Chuunin exams… He must be…"

"After Sasuke."

"Right… Did this 'Juu-Ichi' say anything else we can use?"

"He asked me not to mention who he really was… But I can't shake the feeling it would be bad if I didn't tell you. He… Wields the 'Keigai' blade." Sarutobi's eyes widened.

"No… Not him…"

OOO

Short chapter, cliffie, and possibly a fortnight's wait until the next chapter… If you say I'm mean for it, I won't blame you one bit. Sadly, that empathy doesn't make much difference in the face of university, so it looks like any updates before the 19th will be pretty spontaneous. Sorry, everyone.

On a brighter note, I now know exactly where I'm going with most of this story, and let me tell you, what's happening now is just a small fraction of the changes that will occur: some more obvious than others. The timeline will change DRASTICALLY, and any sequels will replace Shippuuden's timeline almost completely. This fanfic's beginning arc is almost at an end, and the action will begin within the next five chapters. Hopefully, I should get some time to finish and post the new chapters quickly, and I'll try to focus on it when I can. I get my Christmas break in about 2 weeks, so if not before then definitely something then. Promise.