Chapter 31: Life goes on (Part IV)

Tsunade had avoided Riku for a couple months after their fateful night and morning. Not because she didn’t want to see him or spend time with him but because she needed time to think. She was honest and open about it to Riku who understood and reiterated that it changed nothing for him between the two of them. He didn’t expect a romantic relationship because it wouldn’t work. While master and apprentice hitching themselves together wasn’t rare, the age gap between Tsunade and Riku was important (not like he minded) but she was also the Hokage and had an image to maintain. He simply told her to take all the time she needed and that he’d be there whatever she needed of him. She had thought long and hard, took her time and came to the conclusion that in the end it didn’t matter. She had had fun, and nothing really changed between them at all. She was fine with it. She still dressed inappropriately in the morning for breakfast (though her mind was way more teasing than before), they cuddled when she was feeling lonely and fucked when she was really frustrated, stressed or horny. The latter had only happened once so far.

What changed for Riku was his outlook on life. He had loved Karin (still did) and she didn’t love him back. The world didn’t stop spinning or ended as a result and just kept going. So Riku did too. Now that he had gotten his first taste of sex well, he wasn’t stopping anytime soon. The first to fall had been Shizune, during one of their massage sessions. She had always believed that he wanted Karin to be his first and never pushed him since he was younger but when he learned that he had a one night stand (not naming Tsunade) he confessed that he had been stupid to think like he did when he was a shinobi and the average lifespan of one was thirty at best. She understood and didn’t even try to dissuade him. No, she simply unzipped his pants as he was massaging her back while standing in front of her and gave him his very first blowjob. She had been impressed by his size but more importantly by his resilience and refractory power. Despite just finishing a night shift, Shizune powered through the tiredness and fatigue for a very good morning spent in bed getting railed to oblivion and couldn’t wait for the next time.

While seeing the redhead had been difficult at first, with time it became easier. Bit by bit he distanced himself and spent more time with either Yugao or Hinata when they were free and in the village. The latter preferably when Ino wasn’t present. That didn’t mean his friendship with Karin was on the decline towards an end, it just meant that while not as tight as before it was less so. Or at least on his part. Karin was so busy that he doubted she noticed. So was he in truth but he paid attention because he was the one that got his heart broken.

His training picked up greatly and he was now starting the master water, leaving only fire after it. More importantly, his Iryoken had finally become viable in combat. Now when he used it he could accelerate greatly the cellular division on the point of impact as long as the part that hit was connected to its target. Since he couldn’t keep in contact because it was a hit and not a grapple, it didn’t have any direct effect but many repeated hits would work. Another possibility he had was to simply turn the cells cancerous but their division’s speed was normal. He was still struggling to combine the two together to truly make the Iryoken a force to reckon with. Alas, the composition of his medical chakra for each option was very different and made it both complex and difficult.

The fuinjutsu had made leaps and bonds ever since he had successfully completed what he called the BOTIB for ‘Bigger On The Inside Box’. He had given one to Hiruzen, one to Tsunade and one to Anbu’s team Ro. From there he had learned much about space-time and began designing a reverse summoning tag that served as an anchor point for someone making the correct hand seals sequence. They would be teleported right on the seal no matter where they were and as long they had the chakra. Naturally, the farther away from the anchor tag the more chakra would be needed.

Regarding the time aspect he had good progress but not in the direction he wanted. So far he was able to slow the time in a barrier a little bit. It was good and gave him some experience with time manipulation but he wanted to accelerate it so it was not that great in the big picture.

“Did something happen?”

It was Hinata that asked him the question while taking a break for her lightning manipulation training. She had asked for help from Riku who she knew had mastered it, not knowing anyone who had that affinity. Kurenai would have searched someone for her but that would have been known by her clan one way or another. Riku on the other hand was a safer option.

“In what regards?” he asked, tilting his head to the side after removing his head from the book he was reading.

“I don’t know. I just noticed that… well, you smile more often but at the same time you’re not as intimately friendly as before?” she pondered for a moment trying to find the correct words to the feeling she had.

“Intimately friendly? Like… No, I don’t have a comparison. What do you mean?”

“Like I said, I don’t really know. You’re friendly, yes but… less involved?”

“Hinata. I’m literally in the neck of the woods to help you practice in secret your lightning nature. How am I not involved?” he answered flatly.

“Not with me, which I’m glad about but with others it’s rather flagrant now that I think about it.”

“How so?”

“You’re not enduring Ino being… well, Ino, anymore and just barely cares what she does. You don’t rebuff her or turn her down and you’re not so invested in Karin.”

“I guess I grew up from the small kid that deep down inside wanted the affection of someone.” he replied with a shrug, going back to his reading.

“Perhaps but I don’t think that’s the main reason.”

Raising his head again, Riku looked at her silently for a moment. Trying to find out why she was so noisy all of the sudden but he remembered that it was Hinata.

‘It’s probably out of care and worry’ he thought, chastising himself for ever thinking that Hinata had ulterior motives. Still that didn’t mean he would spill the beans. “If I bribe you with cinnamon rolls, will you let it go?”

“You can try but you will surely be disappointed.” she replied with a soft giggle.

“Not even trying to swindle me out of them?”

“No. I just have to ask and you’d give me some. That’s the kind of friend you are.” she replied with conviction and a disarming smile that made him stare at her for a second.

“I swear if Naruto is too dumb to ask you out I’m stealing myself a moon princess and I won’t give her back. Ever.”

She giggled louder and smacked his shoulder for being an idiot.

“Come on, don’t avoid the subject. Is it really that bad?”

Riku sighed in surrender. ‘It’s not like Hinata would share what she’s told in confidence.’ Deciding to give in he spoke up. “Months ago… I asked Karin out.”

“Oh.” was the only sound she let out at the revelation she just heard. Karin had said nothing to her about it and neither to Ino or the blonde would have told her and would have been depressed. “It didn’t go well, I gather?” She ventured in an ignorant manner but she knew that Karin had dated some guy some months back. He didn't last long however.

“She said that she was too busy to entertain a romantic relationship at the moment so it wasn’t that bad of a rejection and honestly I rather took it well. What I didn’t take well was seeing her kissing some guy and walking hand in hand with him a week later.”

“Ooooh!” That, Hinata hadn’t known. ‘Karin that was… not nice.’

“That had hurt. A lot. ”

“I can imagine.” the bluenette tried to show support. Her heart really went to him.

“I wasn’t expecting her to accept my feelings but at least to be honest with me. We were best friends! Or at least I thought we were. Anyway, I got myself pissed drunk as a result and I mean really pissed drunk, more than on my birthday when I’m challenging sensei.”

‘Ouch, must not have been a pretty sight. Poor Riku’.

“Next thing I knew I woke up naked in a room I didn’t know, next to a woman I didn't know either and who was just as naked as I was.”

“Y-you mean…?!”

“Yep. I found my clothes scattered around the room, dressed up and left. After thinking about it for days I came to the conclusion that… It didn’t matter. Not really. Who got my V-card and who didn’t. Pointless. As a shinobi we could die at any moment during any mission because of simple stray kunai. So now, I just… don’t bother with really heavy stuff regarding people? Except with you and Yugao. The two of you, I don’t know how but you make it impossible to not involve ourselves and not care. Must be the purple or the blue in the hair.” he finished telling his tale with a jape to hide the hurt he still felt regarding Karin.

“Anko-sensei has purple hair, too.” she replied in a teasing manner, making him groan. “I’m… sorry about what Karin did, she shouldn’t have and… Perhaps you’re right about your point of view. I do find it very sad however.”

“It is. But at least… Nevermind. Back to making lightning jump. Hop Hop!” he said, clapping his hand indicating that the conversation was over and so was her break.

Riku’s mind wandered to Hinata’s last words. He agreed, truly, that it was very sad. There wasn’t much love involved and it was purely physical. But then again, he had never really known what love was in the first place. Tsunade loved him but in a strange way, the same way he loved her. They couldn’t put a label on it but it wasn’t romantic love, that was for certain. The same with Shizune it wasn’t love either. He wasn’t sure that either of them would risk everything for him.

A cute ‘owie’ from Hinata dragged him away from his thoughts. Closing his book he approached her and began to heal her burnt hands. Why she had chosen the most hurtful affinity to patrice after mastering her own (fire) he didn’t know.

“Why lightning? You had three others to choose from, that wouldn’t have hurt you should you fail the exercise.”

“To strengthen the Juken. I hope that by adding lightning affinity to my strikes I would be able to hit the nerves or burn the tenketsu making my enemy unable to fight.”

“Hmm. Smart.” he said, still focused on the healing of her hands.

“You think so?”

“Of course. No matter how powerful an opponent, without functioning nerves they’re defenseless. Any other nature affinity wouldn’t enhance the Juken as much either. I find it very similar to my Iryoken. More than the regular Juken but then again I loosely based the Iryoken from the Juken.”

“I wish I could heal people with the Juken the way you do with your Iryoken.”

“Well… I could teach you but it’s a family jutsu so I’ll have to make you my wife first.” he joked, raising his eyes from her hands and looking into hers. Their faces were really close and for a moment, Riku thought about kissing her. He didn’t. He knew it wasn’t right. Hinata was the one true friend he had left and she was madly in love with Naruto. Kissing her would just make things awkward and shatter their friendship. Furthermore, while he liked Hinata a lot (reaching third place on his list right after Tsunade and Yugao) she was way too kind and supportive to do that to her. She would feel awful and in turn he would feel awful.

‘Just because my love life ended up not being a fairy tale means that I should spoil hers.’

“Ino would kill me if I did that.” she giggled at his silliness.

“We will take her as our mistress then.”

“ ‘Our’ ?”

“Of course! What’s mine would be yours and what’s yours would be mine. So your Ino would become mine too.”

“Interesting. Do you plan to add anyone else in that…’marriage of ours’, darling?” she inquired, playing along with him.

“Anyone we would both agree on, love.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Quite a marriage we would have, don’t you think?” he said sarcastically.

“So impersonal. Not much love between us with all the love we give to others.”

“Yeah. A recipe for disaster. Can you imagine if children are in the mix? Poor kids.”

“Ooh. already thinking of children when we haven’t got our honeymoon yet?”

“Careful Hinata. I’m really going to steal myself a moon princess at this rate.” he warned without any heat and released her healed hands.

“One word from me and you’d bring me back home.”

“Alas! Must I suffer to be rejected by all the beautiful women in the world?” he dramatically said, putting the back of his hand on his forehead and feigning heartbreak and despair. That made her laugh.

The nice playful atmosphere ended when a little bird landed on Riku’s shoulder.

“I guess this is it for a while.”

“Be careful.”

“You be careful, who’s going to heal your hands with me away?”

“I’ll manage.”

“Sure.” he replied, not believing her one bit.

Giving her a hug, he then shushined away from the forest to the Village. In no time he arrived at the Hokage Tower and inside his sensei’s office.

“You’re late.” said Tsunade.

“Late? I made my way here as soon as I received the bird.” he replied with an eyebrow raised.

“I thought you were at the manor.” she answered with a frown but let it go. “Nevermind. I have an urgent mission for you. The Land of This called us for help. They received information that their neighbour the Land of That had hired a mercenary group to conquer their country and assimilate it.”

“Mercenaries? Isn’t that the job for a chunin team?” he asked, confused.

“Usually, yes. However the mercenary group in question is composed of S-ranks missing-nin and S-rank alone.”

“S-rank missing-nin banding together? That’s new. Missing-nin of such strength usually work alone or in rare cases with subordinates less powerful than they are. Isn't it more of a job for Anbu?”

“Yes, however I need someone that I can absolutely trust leading the mission.”

“...If I ask why, do I get an answer?”

“I need the mercenaries alive. All of them. Anbu is more attune to spying and assassinating.”

“...Okay.”

“Okay? Just like that?”

“Yes. You’re the Hokage, sensei. If you want me to go fetch S-rank nuke-nins, I’ll fetch S-rank nuke-nin. Who’s coming with me?”

“Hatake Kakashi and Yugao.”

“No offense sensei, but both of them are former Anbu. Not really specialized in capture.”

“No, but they’re the strongest on hand and that I trust too for the job. Their chances of survival are greater.”

“So the capture is really up to me then.”

“Yes.”

“Too bad. My team from the mission in the Lands of woods was perfect.”

“They’re not strong enough for that kind of opponents”

“I know but I’m not there yet either. Far from it.”

“True but your skills in fuinjutsu alone could help you narrow the gap.”

“Do we know anything else about the mission?”

“The attack is supposed to happen in four days.”

“Barely any time to get there and take a lay of the land. Alright. My teammates?”

“Exceptionally they are fitted with Special Anbu gear so they are there.”

“Ah! Well, I guess, I’ll wait for them at the Western Gate.”

“I’ll share the word.”

Riku bowed to her and left her office but not without some parting words from her.

“Riku, your life is more important than the mission. If you can’t capture, kill them.”

“Understood, sensei.”

With everything worth saying being said, he exited the office, closing the door behind him and made his way to the Western Gate. He didn’t have to wait long for his partners to show up.

“Mah~ So you’re the third member. Hokage-sama is sure as hell bent on the mission’s success.” Kakashi said as a greeting.

“Kakashi-san, Yugao-chan.” he greeted them and Yugao simply smiled at him.

“Finally in the big leagues, hmm?” she teased.

“That’s not my first mission as a jonin though I do admit it’s the first one where my skills will probably be pushed to the limit. I’ll try to not drag you down.”

“That’s a very pessimistic view of yourself.” Kakashi said with an eye smile.

“He’s just being polite, Taicho. He’d probably give you a run for your money now.”

“Probably.” Riku confirmed. He wasn’t sure of his victory but a spar wouldn’t go as much in favor for Kakashi as it did during his Jonin promotion. “Was Anbu generous or cheap with the gear?”

“I am afraid that’s a strictly need to know basis.”

“They were short on vambraces and Type-S, Type-B1 and Type-B2. Type-”

“Yugao!”

“Yes, Taicho?”

“He doesn’t have the clearance to-”

“Actually I do.” Riku interrupted, shocking Kakashi.

“I doubt Hokage-sama would have given you the clearance even if you’re her apprentice.”

“She would not and she didn’t, Taicho. It was Sandaime-sama who did it when he was still wearing the hat.”

“But… He was a genin at the time! Why would-”

“You don’t have the clearance to know that, Kakashi-san.”

“That’s true.”

Kakashi felt like his world was upside down. He didn’t have the clearance to know? He has been the best Anbu captain and was currently the best jonin in the village and yet he didn’t have the clearance for it? That was inconceivable.

“Only sensei, Sandaime-sama, Yugao-chan and Boar have the clearance. Maybe the elders and the Anbu commander?” he asked, turning to his purple haired friend who nodded. “Fortunately for you, I’m the only one with the clearance to speak about it for the simple reason that all the new toys Anbu have? I created it.” Riku said as he picked his BoS from his back pouch and signaled them to follow him to the side of the Gate in a narrow alley between the village Wall and a house.

Kakashi looked questioningly at Yugao who nodded in reassurance and followed Riku. He unsealed a closet big enough for someone to go through its door and positioned it against the house’s wall, which was in the shadow. He then opened the door, and invited his teammates to go inside. Yugao, while used and confused at what Riku was doing, trusted him and went inside. Kakashi was more reserved and approached slowly. His jaw went way down to the ground when he saw his former subordinate inside what looked like a big room with plenty of Anbu gear.

“How is that possible?” he said, eyeing the door for a moment then getting inside the closet, Riku following him.

“Space-time fuinjutsu.”

“That’s more than pretty advanced. I’m sure Jiraiya-sama is incapable of that.”

“I would think that’s the case. He’s way more knowledgeable and skilled at actual sealing, in the literal sense, with a bit of barriers on the side. Space-time fuinjutsu is a whole other branch. Very different. Yugao-chan, did you find what you needed?”

“Yes. Taicho, catch.” she said and threw two vambraces with sealed carved in the underside.

“What do the seals do?”

“Simple storage seals. Mainly used for shurifuins. It’s up to you to decide what you want to fill them with and in what order.” Riku answered the cyclops who replaced his normal vambraces with the new ones he got.

“What's beyond the door?” the former Neko wondered aloud, catching the two men’s attention.

“Living quarters, bathroom included. Kitchen is behind this one.” he pointed out to another door but behind him this time.

“You got a whole small base inside a closet… I've seen many improbable things in my life but this… Takes the cake.” commented Kakashi. “Anbu will have a field day with those.”

“They already do. Team Ro and Alpha at least. It isn't perfect, there is still some work to be done, like an infirmary to be added and also a time dilation effect but it’s getting there.”

““Time dilation effect?”” the former Anbu asked in clear confusion.

“The objective is one second outside is a week in here at the very least. That way an injured person comes in and comes out healthy on the spot for those outside. I’m still working on that part.”

The looks they gave him were priceless. They quickly recovered and armed themselves properly, Kakashi started asking questions.

“Alright I know about Type-X and Type-F but the others? I suppose type S is for smoke?”

“Type-S is for Smoke, yes. Type-B1 is Barrier One. It creates a small defensive barrier at the point of impact. Useful for protecting yourself by throwing it at your feet or protecting a comrade. Can stop shurikens, kunais and C-rank jutsu. Protect from explosions too if they’re not too big. Finally Type-B2 creates a bigger barrier but an offensive one. Everything locked inside can’t get out and you can add tags to it. It’s mainly for capture. The downside is that you need four of them around your target to make it work and needs a three hand seals sequence. Dog, Ox, Dragon. ”

“I’ll remember that.”

“What about those ones?” Yugo asked from a corner with a shurifuin in hands.

“Prototypes. Depending on the seal on them it’s supposed to change your chakra into one of the five natures.”

“So people not knowing a nature would be able to use it with that seal.” Kakashi stated and Riku nodded. “The versatility of a seal like that… Very clever.”

“Thank you.”

“What about those ones? Types-SM?” inquired Yugao.

“Suddenly, I find this type to be my favorite.”

“Perverted jape aside, SM is for Slow Motion.”

“... Please tell me it does what I think the name implies?”

“It creates a small barrier where the time inside is slowed down. It’s a work in progress too. I have not much control on how much time is slowed. Yet. One second could last two or could last an hour. That’s about how far I got with that.”

Kakashi observed Riku for a second and wondered how he could have been so stupid years ago. The sandaime had tried to tell him. Him, Kurenai and Asuma. They heard but didn’t listen. And now his team was scattered in the wind with only Sakura training with him when she’s not in the hospital for her medic-nin training.

Taking a deep breath, Kakashi began to fill the seals on his vambraces with Shurifuins.