Shisui's POV (Outer Forest of Uchiha District - Hidden Leaf Village)
Two men clashed in the forest, and the serene environment around them was disturbed. The fast-paced and hard-hitting combat was a stark contrast to the lazy forest around them. Using purely taijutsu and chakra control, they fought through the forest. Traversing the trees from all angles, all the while trading blurring blows. The two were incredibly fast, nimble, and creative. The blows were traded back and forth in blistering combinations. The impacts and grunts of effort echoed throughout the trees. They both looked very similar; black hair, blazing Sharingans, and simple dark athletic Uchiha wear made them look identical, almost like brothers. The only difference is hairstyle, age, and height. One was the heir to the Uchiha. One of the very few new age Uchiha, Sasuke Uchiha. Locked in combat with him was his sensei and longtime family friend Shisui Uchiha. A member of the old guard of the Uchiha, and one of the few remaining after their fall.
Shisui kicks Sasuke's ribs, sending him sliding back with a curse. The young men used the opportunity to fire off kunai at a ludicrous speed. But Shisui's body flickered around them with ease. He had seen Itachi use that trick too many times to be caught by a slower version. Jabbing at Sasuke's jaw in the next instant. The younger man caught the blow and attempted to sweep Shisui's legs. But the older man simply hopped over the blow and landed an elbow on Sasuke's shoulder as he landed. Sasuke dropped to his knees but rose with a kunai thrust, forcing Shisui back. As Shisui flew back. Sasuke flew through hand signs and said, "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!" A boulder-sized fireball flew towards the man, seemingly helpless in the air.
But the man merely used his namesake technique to dodge this. Appearing behind Sasuke with a kunai. "Good strategy, but keep your opponent's arsenal in mind," Shisui said teasingly. Sasuke merely hummed at this. Stomping away, seemingly displeased with his performance. "What's wrong?"
"I need to be stronger—much stronger—to clear my family's name," Sasuke replied simply.
"Oh, and how will you do that?" Shisui asked, his tone light and airy.
"I will rise through the ranks, making a reputation as I do. I think either Hokage or Anbu Captain should allow me the influence needed to investigate the Uchiha Rebellion." Sasuke elaborated. His stance spoke of someone relaxed. But his tone held the sincerity of the words. Shisui hated that it set him on edge, but this was territory even his family ought to not dare tread…
"That's quite the goal. And I'm going to guess you don't want to hear this. But as someone involved, I can tell you without a doubt our clan did plan that rebellion. And they paid a steep price for it…", Shisui said. "I don't intend to dissuade you; but investigating something like this can only stir up trouble. I merely warn you."
"Hmm, I can appreciate that, I suppose." Sasuke offered. "But I know my father wouldn't have done what he did for a meager reason. I intend to find out what that reason was. How did the Leaf find out and determine who was guilty? Where did the guilty go? The established story is a mystery. No details are being released even after all these years. Even more confusing is how they took down the amount of Uchiha they did without any significant resistance. We were the strongest clan in the village; we would've been quite the threat. But somehow, they snuffed them out with ease. It's all suspicious, eerily so. So, make no mistake, I am close to you and my mother. But if I find out you two are part of some greater conspiracy, I will hold you and anyone else accountable. I will learn the truth, and redeem the Uchiha name in the process."
"Well, it seems that was a threat. Gotta admit that stings coming from my student. Be wary, though," Shisui said, his Sharingans becoming odd. It almost looked like shurikens in his eyes. "Don't become traitorous yourself. Just like you, I may love you. But I will stand firm on my own beliefs." The tense atmosphere dissipated a bit. The two walked back to the other teammates. Friends and allies for now. But both were painfully prepared for that to change. Shisui just prayed that he wouldn't force his hands… Itachi would never forgive him if it did.
The two of them began a silent trek back to the Uchiha district. In truth, Shisui did not even call these grounds his home anymore, nor did Yuno or her own parents. However, Sasuke and, by proxy, his mother had always been insistent on staying on their own grounds, their legacy, they'd call it. But personally, Shisui felt no pride in looking at the mostly abandoned homes and shops. These people had reaped what they sowed. Despite Sasuke's doubts, Shisui knew the fall of the Uchiha was deserved.
It wouldn't be right if he doubted their fate, for it had been him and a couple of others who had helped it reach the Uchiha. Despite Fugaku's assumptions, there had been some Uchiha within their ranks more loyal to the Leaf than the Clan. So when the time came, Shisui and others had made their choice.
Shisui was forced to face the grim result of such when he trained Sasuke here. Seeing the empty, almost ghostly streets of the Uchiha painted the picture of a ghost town, his own ghost town…
Sasuke, however, marched through it all proudly. For not a single moment did his student appear troubled or haunted as he did; the young man simply refused to. In fact he was certain Sasuke only saw the future glory of his old home. Though Shisui was certain if he learned the full truth, there would be hell to pay.
Already, Sasuke suspected them both, especially Shisui, who was openly critical of the Uchiha. Even Mikoto, his own mother, was not spared the suspicion, and due to this, Sasuke kept them both at a distance. He was even annoyed to discover Shisui had arranged to become his Jounin sensei.
But Shisui would guide Sasuke forward, slowly exposing the truth to him, making him see things as they all did, and recognize the necessity of the fall of the Uchiha.
And pray Sasuke didn't cause an uproar in the meantime.
Luckily, the two were interrupted by the loud arrival of two more Uchiha. They were waiting outside of a single large home. The only one with lit lights, a non dusty exterior, and an interior that still looked homely. Mikoto Sasuke's mother, and Yuno, Shisui's niece. The two were waiting for them for a small family dinner. Shisui and the other remaining Uchiha were some village pariahs, and even though they had established their innocence, the group was tight-knit. Yuno served as the glue for the group.
Sasuke, suspicious and defensive of the Uchiha in equal measure, kept his distance from them, however. Only Shisui and Yuno were treated respectfully by the young man. Shisui only because Sasuke had used him and respected his strength. This meant he was willing to be professional, even if he disliked the man he needed a teacher. Yuno, however, was a unique case.
Somehow, the personable young woman had grown close to the icy Sasuke, the same man who scorned even his mother despite his sharp tongue, somewhat unsocial behavior, and temperament. Yuno had become something of a sister figure to Sasuke.
It had helped that when they were younger, Sasuke had been slightly less hostile, and Yuno was desperate to connect with what little family she had left. The two had spent the better part of years with Yuno attempting to create a bond and Sasuke doing his best to ignore it. However, she had preserved and achieved her goal. Sasuke now openly enjoyed her company, tolerated her "nonsense," as he would put it, and even gave in to her whims for the most part.
It was only her presence that made Sasuke stay. He always came to the meals when she was present, and if he ever did miss Shisui, he was certain Yuno would simply go get him. So Sasuke suffered a crushing hug from his mother, which he'd typically never allow, and answered Yuno's fast-fired question as the two became four, heading inside the building.
The former head home of the Uchiha Clan was decorated just as it had been back in the day. The walls bore the colors and insignia of the Uchiha, as well as loads of flags, trophies of conquest, and tons and tons of pictures of members and moments of the Uchiha. Despite the diminished state of the clan, the home and spirit were fiercely kept alive by the survivors. Mikoto and Yuno's mother worked in tandem to keep the head home and streets of their district pristine.
As they sat at the large dining table, Mikoto and Shisui stepped into the kitchen to help Bikuse bring out the large meal. Bikuse was a hardy former merchant. She had married a Chunin male Uchiha and had given birth to Yuno. Due to her civilian background and Yuno's age, the two of them had escaped the consequences of the Uchiha's actions.
Shisui and Mikoto picked up several platters containing different entrees, helping a thankful Bikuse set up the table and prepare a meal for the Uchiha. As they sat, Shisui politely inquire about Bikuse's day. The woman had always been close to him, and he liked to keep an eye on her.
Yuno and Mikoto were grilling Sasuke about his team. Normally, dragging conversation out of Sasuke was a mute point; the young man was stubborn and unlikely to fold. But with Mikoto's endless persistence and Sasuke's soft spot for Yuno, the two easily dragged a decent conversation out.
Bikuse excused herself for a moment to use the restroom, and Shisui used the moment to smile happily to himself. Shisui often doubted what he had done and supported. But his homeland being safe and at least this much family being together was often enough to convince him it had been for the best. Perhaps one day, the truth would come out, but Shisui would enjoy it until then.
Tenten's POV (Nara Head Residence - Hidden Leaf Village)
Tenten was sure none of the other Genin teams could be as dysfunctional as hers. A lazy, blunt, genius, and heir to the Nara clan. A Root royalist determined to win him over, and Tenten was somewhere in between the two.
Of course, it only made sense; out of all the teams, this was the only one Danzo had managed to gain influence over. He had deigned to have ties to several more shinobi but had been somewhat limited. However, he was pleased with the potential to earn the mind of a Nara.
The Root was technically a former branch of Anbu. It was founded and run by one of the Leaf Elders, Danzo Shimura. The man was a legend in the Leaf, the former teammate and rival of the current Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi. The branch was entirely loyal to the man himself and with no moral consideration for their actions. Such a creation eventually had to be countered by the Hokage, the man officially disbanding them.
But the Roots were not so easy to remove. Danzo had merely hidden them in the shadows, pretending to go along, intending for them to use the opportunity to build influence within the village, the Genin being their newest method.
Tenten and Sai were used to slowly win over the new generation to the Root ideals. Danzo has determined the best way to do this is to gain the support of Shikamaru. Of course, as a spy, Tenten would not further this goal, instead intending to do the opposite and turn Sai a traitor as well.
Tenten was used to the odd and lonely position. She had been in the Root ever since she was a young child. Just as Sai had been, she had been slowly broken into their ideals and lifestyle. However, unlike Sai, she had been given an out.
It had been fortunate indeed that the Hokage was as wise as they said. Even after Danzo's supposed disbanding of the Root, he had been suspicious. The man had managed to stumble upon Danzo's most recent ploy.
Danzo had been careful, but Hiruzen had managed to track Sai and Tenten's adaptation to the man. After subtle investigations, Hiruzen had met with Tenten and offered her a job.
Tenten, as a member of the Root, would be his mole. She would offer news, betray ideals, and, most importantly, collect evidence to eventually disband the Root and make Danzo suffer for his crimes.
So Tenten was left on a delicate balance; she had to constantly betray Shikamaru. She was a normal Leaf Genin worthy of trust and companionship while tricking Sai into thinking she was still loyal to the Root while "helping him" turn Shikamaru. Her life was too damn complicated…
However, the team's final biggest problem with Tenten was Shikamaru himself. The man, as rumored, had a sharp mind, and it seemed to miss very little. Tenten was pretty certain Nara already was somewhat suspicious of her and Sai. He seemed unsure of them, and it was clear he found them somewhat strange (Sai was to blame there). He seemed unwilling to bridge the gap.
After a tough training day with Asuma, the group was dismissed. However, Sai heard an opportunity before them and, given their shared mission, leaped on it.
The three had traveled back to the main village together. Shikamaru leading the group, marching forward slowly as if approaching death, and Sai and Tenten following him shortly behind. It was lucky they were all going the same way, giving the two the excuse to attempt to bridge the gap between the team.
"Can't wait to go home and relax for the day," Shikamaru told the two. "I thought Asuma was pretty relaxed, but he can be a real slave driver when he wants to be."
"Hmm, that is true; Chimney was shockingly a diligent teacher today." Sai agreed with a nod.
"Chimney?" Tenten said with honest incredulousness. "This nickname thing of yours has got to go. Besides what happened to Smokey Bear, Chimney seems like the same thing?"
"Because he's always smoking…" Shikamaru said with a shake of his head. "It basically is, guess you're aiming for one word?"
"Indeed, I'm quite proud of it. I'm also working on the nicknames for the two of you," Sai promised. "I was thinking, however, you intend to merely go home, so why don't the three of us do this "hanging out" I've heard so much about?"
"Eh…" Shikamaru hesitated with a look of genuine concern. "I don't know how necessary that is…"
"Nonsense!" Tenten chimed in with mock joy. It was, however, enjoyable to disturb Nara's lazy streak. No grown man should be so… whatever the hell he was. It can't be a good thing that the most socially adjusted of the group was still a Root member. "Asuma has been haggling with us to become closer as a team and stop being "awkward young adults." Besides, didn't you say your family was looking to meet us?" Sai shared an open smile with her, but Tenten knew this was for the best. Shikamaru could become a faithful ally if they did grow closer as a team. She was confident it would break Sai's conditioning, as Hokage had done for her.
Shikamaru clearly did not want to; in fact, he even opened his mouth as if to decline. But the man simply sighed instead as his shoulders slumped. "I suppose you have a point. She'll be insufferable if it doesn't happen soon. But if you're crashing my place, the two of you are going by our household rules." He said with a small smile; he even seemed excited.