When Thursday arrived, Seina had already reached an agreement with the painter for a modest price. She had also taken the canvas and paints home to give them a literal magical touch. During her rune mastery studies, she had learned about enchanted portraits, so she had a solid idea of what she needed to make her plan work. Sasuke and Naruto were blissfully unaware of her activities, preoccupied with their training as only three days remained before they departed for Suna. Kakashi, however, observed her discreetly over his book, his curiosity evident, especially when she spent long hours locked in her study with a mischievous grin on her face.
"What are you up to, or do I have to wait a long time to find out?" he asked, intrigued by her secrecy.
"You'll have to wait. Did you know I discussed this with the Hokage? If it works… I have no idea what'll happen," she laughed, trying to picture the outcome, "but I know Tsunade-sama will want a few of these."
"Hmm…" he looked at her with calculating eyes. "Alright, I won't ask."
Once she had finished modifying the materials, she delivered them to Masaharu so he could begin painting the portrait. The plan was to depict Mikoto exactly as she appeared in one of Sasuke's best photographs, but with a meadow in Konoha as the background. She didn't want the painting forever set in the living room of the Uchiha house where Mikoto was killed, even though many photos were taken in that space.
That night, as Sasuke and Naruto discussed their recent lessons from their respective senseis, Seina realized Mikoto would be incomplete, as none of the people she planned to consult for the gift knew Mikoto as a mother. Late at night, lying in bed, she found herself unable to sleep. Something gnawed at her, and she realized there was a way to remedy it. She could at least try.
"...Damn it."
She bolted upright and went to her study. Everyone else was asleep—or so she assumed, with doors and windows shut—so no one disturbed her. After closing the door, she scanned the study, contemplating what she had that could help her with what she had in mind, and walked to her cabinet of stones and minerals.
For nearly an hour, she deliberated and tested rune sequences until she finally settled on the right one.
"Dear Itachi,
On the 23rd, it's Sasuke's birthday. I know what I want to give him, but I need your help. You haven't responded to any of my letters, as I expected, but I ask you to do this one thing to help me with Sasuke's gift.
All you need to do is place the enclosed stone against your forehead. Then close your eyes and think of your mother. Remember what she was like: her voice, how she expressed herself, how she smiled, the way she moved her hands, what she said when she comforted you, how she scolded you, her most repeated phrases… Everything you can recall about her. Once you're done, send the stone back to me with my pigeon.
I hope that one day Sasuke can show you what I'm creating for him. If you decide to help me, I'll be immensely grateful.
Seina."
She summoned her pigeon, tied the letter along with a small padded black pouch containing the stone, and let it fly off as fast as possible. If she wanted the stone to reach Itachi and be returned in time, she had to act quickly. Only then did she allow herself to sleep.
"Do you have everything?" she asked on Saturday, the day before her brothers' departure.
"Yes," Sasuke replied, rolling his eyes. "We've been ready for days."
Seina pouted at his response. What did Sasuke expect? They were on the brink of achieving their dream!
"I think you've got a mission, Seina," Kakashi said, gesturing toward Tsunade-sama's summoning scroll perched on the window.
"What!?" Naruto shouted, dropping what he was doing and rushing downstairs. "We won't get to say goodbye before we leave!"
"Seems that way," she sighed, taking the note. "Tsunade-sama's calling me to her office. If I don't see you before you go, good luck."
"Thanks, Seina."
She left for Tsunade-sama's office. When she arrived, her mentor greeted her with an eager smile.
"You're finally here!"
"I just got the note," Seina replied, avoiding an eye-roll. "Do I have a mission?"
"Yes, but you'll start tomorrow morning," Tsunade answered, her excitement barely concealed.
"Tomorrow?" Seina asked, puzzled, before realization dawned. "Is it… a mission to Suna?"
"Yes. You'll be part of my escort for the chunin exams."
Seina's face lit up with a wide grin. Tsunade was giving her the opportunity to go to Suna with her team, just like she had done with Kakashi during his jonin exam. She should have guessed.
"You'll escort me alongside Ensui, Raido, and Yamato."
"Thank you so much, Tsunade-sama."
"I wasn't going to let my apprentice miss her team's matches."
"Permission to leave?"
"Hold on, Seina," the Hokage said, rising from her chair. "You'll need this."
She tossed a package to Seina, who caught it mid-air. Seina stared at it, puzzled. At Tsunade's urging, she opened the package with a kunai and froze upon seeing the grey fabric inside.
"But this is…"
"The uniform of my escort," Tsunade replied. "Don't you remember the Third's bodyguards?"
"But I'm not anbu."
"Not yet."
Seina's heart skipped a beat at those words. She hadn't considered joining the anbu for years, maybe ever. Then, as if on cue, someone knocked on the door. Tsunade gestured for her to open it. She already knew who was on the other side. When she saw the dragon-shaped mask and white cloak, she immediately recognized the anbu commander.
"Tsunade-sama."
"Commander Ryu. I was just discussing the escort mission with Seina."
Of course… Seina stared at her mentor in exasperation. If this hadn't been pre-planned, she'd swallow a kunai. The commander ignored her amusement, waiting for Tsunade to continue. Tsunade rolled her eyes at his stoicism.
"I've already given her the package. If you'd like to say anything…"
"Seina, I believe you're a strong candidate for anbu," he said, looking her straight in the eyes. "Not just because of your unique powers but also your other qualities as a ninja. If you accept, you'll immediately join anbu and be assigned as Tsunade-sama's bodyguard to Sunagakure."
"And what about my work at the hospital, my other missions…?"
"We'll stagger your missions to maintain your cover as a jonin and medical ninja. Additionally, due to your age and responsibilities in the village, you'll have fewer missions compared to other recruits."
"I imagine I can't tell Naruto or Sasuke anything," she frowned, realizing the implication. "What about Kakashi?"
"Kakashi, though semi-retired, remains anbu and your mentor."
Semi-retired? She avoided showing her surprise when she heard it. Did that mean... Kakashi still occasionally took missions for the anbu? She blinked again, realizing that this meant she could, although not recommended, tell him about her promotion.
"And what should I do... if I accept?"
"If you accept, you will be given a mask, and tonight at midnight, you will be inducted into the anbu before all the others. You will receive your tattoo and your new weapon."
"...Alright. I accept."
"Perfect," said Tsunade-sama, cutting into the conversation. "Tonight, ten minutes before midnight, come here. I will personally escort you to the anbu headquarters."
Seina nodded and left using the Hiraishin. She couldn't believe it. When she arrived home, Naruto and Sasuke weren't there, but Kakashi was, washing the dishes with a distracted expression. He saw her appear in the doorway, the package under her arm, and froze mid-motion. His gaze lingered on her with a slightly sad yet accepting expression.
"I knew this moment would come. Did they tell you why now?"
"To escort Tsunade-sama this Sunday."
"I see," he said, smiling melancholically as he put the pieces together. "A good excuse as any, I suppose."
"Will you be there?"
"Tonight?" she nodded. "Of course."
"I didn't imagine that's what she would talk about when I went to her office."
"Neither did I, but I honestly expected this day to come sooner or later. What an anbu needs most is a good head on their shoulders, more than only power, and you have both. Not to mention, you've proven your abilities time and again before Commander Ryu."
Seina opened the package, pulling out the uniform. She saw the black pants, the black thigh kunai pouch, the grey vest, the black jersey, the long black gloves, the silver arm guards, and the signature black tunic that reached her knees.
"What am I supposed to do with my pouch?" she muttered, realizing it wouldn't fit over the tunic.
"You'll have to modify it somehow," Kakashi suppressed a laugh at her horrified expression.
She spent some time pondering what to do with it before finally deciding to shrink it slightly and strap it around her leg like a thigh bag. She altered its appearance a bit, changing the colour to grey so it wouldn't be recognizable.
"Tomorrow, Yugao-sensei gave me the day off to relax, she says. She told me not to train, or she'll cut off my pinkies with her katana," Naruto grumbled.
Everyone else laughed at him. Under Yugao's firm and calculated command, Naruto seemed to be learning to hold his tongue and use his inner voice more often. Perhaps because Yugao had fewer reservations than Kakashi about reprimanding him with a punch or a piercing glare.
Seina bid her brothers goodnight, watching them fight to keep their eyelids open. She passed the time cleaning up the dishes with Kakashi's help, who seemed to be waiting for the moment they were alone in silence. When they heard the sound of the doors upstairs closing, he placed the last plate in its place with a sigh.
"Go get dressed. I'll wait here."
She went upstairs, excitement growing. Although her induction into anbu hadn't been planned, it wasn't something she disliked. Normal missions often seemed painfully dull to her. Not to mention that as anbu, she could use her abilities more freely without her enemies recognizing her behind the mask.
She quickly dressed in her new uniform, noting how comfortable it was. She didn't forget her new ninja bra and the metallic mesh that covered her torso beneath the black anbu jersey. The vest was heavier than it appeared—heavier even than the jonin vest. Touching it, she felt the metallic plate inside meant to protect her torso, the most vital part of her body besides her head. She donned the boots, thigh kunai pouch, and strapped on her modified utility pouch before making it vanish with a spell. Once she returned home, she would start customizing all her gear with runes and enchantments.
Lastly, she tied her hair into a high ponytail, braided it, and secured it in a high bun. She needed another spell on her head to prevent a migraine from the tightness. She put on the tunic, leaving it open, before disappearing from her room and reappearing in the living room. There, Kakashi already awaited her, fully dressed in his anbu uniform, even wearing his dog mask.
He nodded at her after examining her from head to toe, with a trace of melancholy she perceived through her passive Legilimency, always active.
"You look incredible."
"Thanks, I suppose."
"One day, our enemies will tremble at the thought of you."
She nodded again. Although it didn't seem like it, that was a compliment—a ninja compliment. They left the house in complete silence. She pulled on the tunic and raised its loose hood as they stepped out of the Fidelus' range. They ascended to the rooftops without detection. She was surprised to see that instead of heading to the anbu headquarters, Kakashi escorted her to the Hokage's office, which was completely dark. He entered through a hidden passage she hadn't known existed.
"I knew I'd see you tonight, Inu," greeted the Hokage, accompanied by her anbu guard and the commander behind her, standing against the wall like a phantom. Then she looked at Seina. "I have something for you."
Tsunade produced a black wooden box and a black scabbard with an anbu ninjato. She opened the box, the metallic click echoing, revealing a white porcelain mask, with black and red details, resting on a blood-red cushioned pad. Seina suppressed a laugh when she realized it was a fox mask.
It was more oval than Kakashi's, with a more stylized lower jaw resembling a fox's head. It had a pair of medium ears on top, painted red on the inside, with red outlines surrounding the eyeholes. There was a black dot on the protrusion representing the nose and two black whisker-like marks edged with red on the cheeks. Even the black lips, outlined in red, bore an uncanny resemblance to Kurama's.
She picked up the mask and secured it to her face with a spell rather than expending chakra. Until she voluntarily removed it, no one would be able to take it off or break it, thanks to an unbreakable charm. She resolved to enhance it with more enchantments later to improve comfort and protection. She felt strange without her ninja headband on her neck. Avoiding looking at herself, she fastened the ninjato to her side, completing her attire in front of the Hokage and her new anbu comrades.
"Let's go. They're waiting for us."
They followed the Hokage through seemingly endless underground passages. When they surfaced, they were inside the anbu headquarters. The maze-like tunnels had been so convoluted that she couldn't tell where in the village they were—a deliberate design.
When they arrived at an open courtyard, seemingly in the middle of nowhere, she realized they must be on the outskirts of the village, still within Konoha's walls. There, the other anbu recruits—those available at least—stood in single-file rows. She stopped beside Kakashi as the Hokage halted.
"Anbu of Konoha, I present to you our newest recruit. Kitsune."
"The tattoo artist is ready," informed one of them, wearing a lion mask.
"Let them in."
The tattoo artist was, in fact, another anbu, although seemingly retired. He wore a half-white mask to protect his identity and a black yukata. Carrying a small case with all the necessary tools, he had her stand still for the 20 minutes it took to tattoo the anbu seal on her left arm, using the traditional Japanese tattooing method: needles tied to wooden sticks and homemade ink.
"I see you now as one of us," said Commander Ryu.
The others gave a slight bow before vanishing. That was the sole anbu ritual. She knew, as Kakashi had mentioned months ago, that its only purpose was to introduce the new member to the others. It ensured no infiltrators could join and that they would recognize her when she was on missions or using the village's secret passageways.
She also understood that some of them had already figured out her identity, whether because she had arrived with the Hokage and Kakashi, through her faint scent—masked further by her spells—or by her blonde hair revealed when she removed her tunic for the tattooing. There was nothing to be done about it. They wouldn't betray her, so it didn't bother her much. It hardly mattered if these people knew she was now part of anbu.
Once left alone with the commander, the Hokage's escort, Kakashi, and herself, her master turned to smile in her direction.
"Your first anbu mission begins tomorrow. I'll leave the details of the mission to Commander Ryu."
The Hokage disappeared with her escort. The commander spent a moment eyeing Kakashi, who blended into the wall without a word, then turned his gaze to her. He spoke for a while about his expectations, what the mission would entail, and where they would meet. She felt relieved to hear that after their return, they would have a longer discussion about what being anbu meant and what to expect.
The commander departed in a flash of speed, leaving the two of them alone. She extended her hand toward Kakashi, and when he took it, she used the Hiraishin to teleport them to the front yard of her home. She quickly went to remove her uniform, just in case, and intended to go to bed. Or so she thought. A tapping on her window made her turn in surprise. Pulling back the curtains, her heart leaped to see it was her pigeon. It didn't carry a letter but had a small sack.
She quickly retrieved the contents—a mineral that shimmered inside with a bluish glow reminiscent of a pensieve. Itachi had listened! She had to sit down on the bed to keep from falling. If this wasn't further proof that Itachi cared for his brother, she didn't know what would suffice. Though he hadn't responded to any of their letters, either hers or Sasuke's, he had sent a gift to his brother. Incredible.
She stored everything in her nightstand and prepared to sleep. Just as she was drifting off, a thought struck her. Why hadn't Tsunade-sama sent her on a mission to Suna, as she had with Kakashi during his Jonin exams? That would have allowed her to see everything without needing to join anbu just to escort the Hokage and witness the matches. Then, her master's words came back to her.
"A convenient excuse, like any other."
She realized he was right. He had caught on immediately. The escort mission was just an excuse.
They had used Sasuke and Naruto against her, but why? Had they simply proposed joining anbu, she likely would have agreed without needing... encouragement, emotional blackmail even, involving Sasuke and Naruto's match. For some reason, her thoughts drifted to Remus. The position offered to Remus at Hogwarts, something any decent person would have extended to an innocent 11-year-old child, had been enough to make him feel indebted to Dumbledore until his death. On many occasions, Remus had been the headmaster's puppet, even when it didn't serve her, Sirius, or even himself.
"Do you think it's possible...?" she asked Kurama.
"That they're manipulating you to bind you tighter to Konoha?" he replied, summarizing her chaotic thoughts. "You live in a ninja village. Manipulation is commonplace."
"But from Tsunade-sama?"
"That old woman is still the Hokage. Above all else, she is the Hokage. And you are her Jinchuriki with special powers."
"A weapon."
"Exactly. A weapon even more dangerous than an ordinary Jinchuriki. You're a diamond in the rough amidst this rabble of mediocre ninjas, and many people are starting to realize it... It might simply be that she's protecting you, giving you support in anbu to distance you from other people, like that decrepit old man they call Danzo," Kurama spoke seriously from within her. "There will come a time when you will outshine everyone, and I think the old lady knows it. What do you think would happen if you were powerful enough to destroy Konoha and, at the same time, not loyal to the village?"
"You think they see me as a potential danger to Konoha."
"And you are, aren't you? You told Kakashi yourself that you'd do anything for your family. Your family, not the village. You're like me, which is why I like you—because you'd piss all over Konoha without a second thought to protect yours, just like I would. And that makes a lot of people nervous."
"You know, Kurama? No matter the reason, I didn't like being manipulated tonight..." she hissed with malice. "Maybe I should start working on that Plan B as soon as possible. In the meantime, I'll keep my head down and play dumb for as long as necessary..."
She heard Kurama's sinister laughter in her mind, silently agreeing with her.