She left the shed a while later, leaving her brother to fight with Sasuke, and went to shower. Kakashi-sensei was waiting for her on the couch, reading a scroll. She sat down next to him, placing the static but clean map she had finished making yesterday. The jonin leaned over, putting down the scroll as he examined the map carefully.
"It's smaller than I expected," murmured Kakashi-sensei, "although it makes sense. How much time do you need to set up your barrier?"
"About half an hour. It's not a very complex barrier. I was thinking of using one of the more central rooms. I'll enter with one of my summons and the hiraishin."
"Alright. I'll stand guard while you do your part. There's not much else I can do if we don't want to be discovered. Tsunade-sama's meeting with Danzo is in half an hour, but we can head over now," her teacher nodded.
Seina teleported to the tree near Danzo's base that she had been using, with Kakashi-sensei holding her hand. As soon as she sent her summons to the Ne headquarters, she realized she could send one of her creatures to Tsunade-sama's office to make sure Danzo was there. She quietly mentioned it to Kakashi-sensei, who nodded silently. It took a few minutes for her to find the right path and fly through the entire lobby. The door inside was closed, but it was no problem for her fly, which could slip through the gap between the door and the floor.
Under camouflage enchantments, no one noticed her artificial insect, despite a couple of people moving up and down. She had to search for an empty room, spying on some who were sleeping or meditating sitting on the floor, before finding an empty bedroom.
"I'm going in," she told Kakashi-sensei.
They both activated their bracelets before using the hiraishin. She landed silently on the floor, looking around to make sure they were alone. Her spells indicated that the nearest person was a ninja three rooms away. Kakashi-sensei stayed by the door, still, while she enlarged the room and raised a false wall behind which she planned to place the runic chamber. Even if they suspected something, they would go crazy trying to find the source of the magical barrier's power, mainly because she intended to hide it with the fidelus. She placed the previously carved stone with runes and began charging it with her magic. She noticed how the barrier slowly extended, undetectable, delicately. With her eyes closed, she realized when the barrier encompassed the entire headquarters inside it.
She raised the wall, leaving a stone with the shiki jutsu to teleport easily, and placed the fidelus. Nothing changed to the eyes of anyone. The room had returned to its original size, the wall was the same as before, and the space she had created no longer "existed." She gently touched Kakashi-sensei on the shoulder. She signalled to him what she was about to do and teleported them with the hiraishin into the secret chamber she had just built. She silenced the space.
"Now they can't find us even if they want to," she whispered, despite knowing they couldn't be heard.
"You could have infiltrated easily by yourself," murmured Kakashi-sensei.
"It's not bad to have some company," she smiled, glancing at him as she placed the map on the floor. "Now we just need to connect the stone to the map."
It took her even less time than it had to do everything else. If there was one thing she had studied with Hermione during her free time in her runes mastery, it was the Marauder's Map. Kakashi-sensei observed everything from over her shoulder, looking interested. They watched as the names of the ninjas inside the headquarters began to appear.
"Why is there one called 'Second-best?" her teacher asked.
"The map shows the names people respond to, so that person must think they are or are called 'Second-best.'"
"Huh."
That had been a huge surprise for Hermione and her. Contrary to what they had believed, the map couldn't distinguish between people with the same name and surname, as happened with Bartemius Crouch, not because it didn't differentiate between different people, but because people with those names didn't call themselves Bartemius Crouch Junior or Senior, for example. The name was tied to magic, to the soul, but it had to be accepted by its bearer as their identity name. The funny thing was that most people did accept the name their parents gave them, whether they liked it or not.
That's why the map at Hogwarts didn't show cases like the ones they were seeing here because they weren't brainwashed ninjas who had lost their identity. If they had used the map when she was 4 years old, her name wouldn't have been listed as Harriet Potter but as "Freak" or "Weirdo" because that was the name she had accepted as her own due to the Dursleys.
"We've got what we wanted. We can leave now."
"Where's Danzo?" asked Kakashi-sensei.
"Still with Tsunade-sama."
She gathered all her things, giving the room one last look, and accepted Kakashi-sensei's hand. They left a millisecond later, reappearing at home. She dispelled her summons and deactivated the bracelet. Kakashi-sensei stretched, relaxing his posture.
"This must be the easiest mission I've done this year," he admitted. "Can I see the map?"
Seina handed it to him. They both watched as people moved up and down.
"I recognize this name," said Kakashi-sensei, pointing to one of the labels. "It's Torune Aburame. For a while, they considered him for ANBU because of his poisonous kikaichu. I was wondering what had happened to him."
"Honestly, I don't understand how most ninjas in the village haven't realized it. It's like an open secret."
"An open secret of what?" asked a voice behind them. Sasuke.
"Surely something about Danzo," her other brother said, completely sweaty. "I'm going to take a shower."
They waited until everyone had showered before Kakashi-sensei explained that their mission had been a success. Still, Seina wouldn't be satisfied until she handed over the map and was done with Danzo, at least for the moment.
This happened the next day. Tsunade-sama invited her into her private office within the mansion, where Shikaku and the fully hooded ANBU commander were waiting.
"So?" asked the Hokage as soon as she sat down.
Seina smiled as she pulled the scroll from her bottomless pouch. She spread it out on the coffee table, enjoying the intrigued looks as they realized they weren't seeing anything, and activated it with a premeditated phrase.
"Show me your secrets, Pikachu," she said to the magical map, suppressing a laugh.
"Who is Pikachu?" asked the anbu commander.
"It works," Shikaku murmured, amazed. "This is incredible."
"To make the map disappear, just say 'Thank you, Pikachu,' while touching the scroll."
"Wasn't there a less ridiculous phrase than that?" the Hokage asked in exasperation.
She saw Shikaku's lip tremble for a second before he controlled it. The anbu remained completely silent, still staring intently at the names and the map of Danzo's base.
"It had to be something that no one would ever think to say," Seina defended herself.
"Sure, and that's your only reason," the jonin commander smiled, avoiding the Hokage's gaze.
Seina said nothing. It had taken her a few minutes to think of the password. She realized she could play a prank on them every time they used the map. When she imagined the Hokage or the anbu commander in a serious meeting using the password in front of others, she couldn't hold back her laughter. Besides, she wasn't lying. No one knew what a Pikachu was, which was reason enough to use it for security purposes.
"Thanks to you, we have a significant advantage, Seina," her master spoke, ignoring Shikaku. "Unless we need you personally, consider yourself relieved from this case."
"Hai."
She bowed and left with the hiraishin. She went straight home, where a pile of books awaited her for her jonin promotion exam. She left her clones to read while she entered the shed to practice some more ninjutsu. That's how Naruto and Sasuke found her hours later, surrounded by the copied scroll Kakashi-sensei had given them with all the techniques he had stolen with his Sharingan.
"Did you already give them the map?" Naruto asked. She nodded. "What's going to happen with Danzo now?"
"I have no idea. I've finished my task and been relieved of everything related to Danzo."
Sasuke frowned. He was the one who wanted to know what would finally happen to Danzo the most, since, if they were right, he was responsible for their parents' deaths. A part of Seina, however, was tired of constantly thinking about Danzo. Now that her master had the map, she was more relieved to "let it go." Unlike many people in the wizarding world, ninjas were much more competent. Maybe because they had fewer scruples and considerations. Perhaps because, though it didn't seem like it, they lived in a military dictatorship.
"By the way, where's Kakashi-sensei?" she asked.
"No idea. I think he said he had something to do in the village," Sasuke informed her.
"He's probably gone to get another one of those erotic books."
Seina smiled at her brother's words. How often did Naruto think the pervert published a new book? Either way, she had plenty to do. She had left the Hokage's requests unfinished, so she needed to catch up on the orders. That's how she spent the whole afternoon accompanied by Sasuke and Naruto, who decided to help her carve the necessary runes.
"Do you think this chair will be used against Danzo?" her brother asked, looking at the wooden chair that was nothing special.
"It'd be better to ask, dobe, if it'll even work," Sasuke rolled his eyes.
"Why wouldn't it work? Though we'll know soon enough, I imagine."
"Why don't we train together tomorrow?"
Seina shrugged. The next day was only Monday, so she had nothing planned except studying, and she knew perfectly well she'd use clones to read the heavy theory books. She still had to talk to Kakashi-sensei about the possible letter to send to Itachi, if they decided to send it, and return to the dojo to practice her taijutsu. Not to mention her ninjutsu and genjutsu experiments that had been stalled due to Danzo, the hospital, and the missions to destroy Orochimaru's bases.
She knew, through their bond, that both Sasuke and Naruto had noticed the tremendous weight lifted off her shoulders when she let go of the Root issue. Maybe that's why her brother was inviting her to train with them a day in advance. Even so, Seina wanted to do something different, so she came up with another idea.
"How about we have dinner together in the village?"
"Great!"
"But no ramen," Sasuke agreed, ignoring Naruto's horrified expression.
"That's not fair!"
"Why don't you write a note for Kakashi-sensei while I gather all this?"
It took her only a couple of minutes to tidy up her things and pack the orders, shrinking the chair so she wouldn't have to carry it around. Her brother and Sasuke were waiting at the door, arguing, as always, about which restaurant they could visit.
"I don't feel like having fish!"
"Neither do I want an all-meat barbecue, dobe!"
"Why don't we go to the Akimichi restaurant? We know the food is good, and they have a very varied menu," she said, a bit exasperated, being the voice of reason.
Naruto and Sasuke, seeing it was the best option to satisfy both egos, accepted her suggestion. It was starting to get dark, and it was a bit cold, but they took the walk leisurely. She couldn't even remember the last time they were together without doing something "productive." When they arrived at the restaurant, they had to wait a few minutes to be seated, so they stood talking about training, as usual.
"I can't wait to take the exam," Sasuke confessed. "The missions are so easy I get bored. Besides, I didn't become a ninja to play babysitter half the time."
Naruto laughed in his face while Seina stifled a giggle. She didn't know what her brother was laughing at, considering he was in the same situation. Sensing her mocking thought, Naruto turned to look at her with an exasperated expression. He didn't know exactly what she had thought, but they were so connected he could imagine it as if he had heard it.
"I really don't know why we even want to get promoted," she mused aloud. "With a genin's salary, we can live comfortably without putting our lives in danger."
"Sorry for the delay," a voice interrupted. "You can come in now."
She turned around, nodding at the waitress's cordial expression, and they followed her. They were given a table in a corner. She sat with her back to the wall, accompanied by Sasuke, who also didn't want to turn his back on the whole restaurant, while Naruto sat alone in front of them on his own bench.
"Seriously, would you like to be a genin all your life?" Naruto asked incredulously.
"And you're the one to say that, who has been promoted twice in less than a year," Sasuke rolled his eyes behind the menu.
"I'm just saying, why do we want to be jonin? I don't know. Now I'm asking myself because I never set a goal other than being the best, but..."
"Now that you're getting closer to your goal, you don't even know why you wanted to be a jonin?" Sasuke asked, glancing at her. "Or what to do after reaching your goal?"
"I could have stayed a chunin, and nothing would have happened."
"But you're too competitive. Like the dobe, oddly enough, and like me. Part of the reason we make a good team."
"Hey!" Naruto exclaimed, realizing he had been insulted indirectly.
She picked up the menu, glancing over it, when she felt someone's gaze on her forehead. She looked up and found herself staring directly into Sakura's pale green eyes. It had been a while since she had seen her, so she was surprised to notice her physical change. Her hair was now short, just touching her shoulders, and she was no longer wearing her typical red dress but a red tank top and dark shorts. Seina kept her violet eyes fixed on Sakura's, who was with Ino, until Sakura turned her face away with a surprisingly impassive expression. The funny thing was that she didn't even look at Sasuke. Maybe because Sasuke was consciously hiding his face behind the menu.
"Interesting…"
"Huh? What is?" asked Naruto, who hadn't seen anything, sitting with his back turned.
"Nothing important."
Luckily for Sasuke, Ino hadn't noticed them, and Sakura didn't mention that they were there. She watched them sit down at a distance, talking, ignoring their team. Seina finally turned her gaze back to the menu as the waiter arrived. The interaction had barely lasted a couple of minutes, but she didn't know what its purpose was. Not that it mattered to her, so she ordered her dish and closed the menu.
"I don't know how you can feel like eating sushi at this hour."
"And why do you care?"
She sighed as she heard her brother and Sasuke start another argument. They had dinner, chatting about random things. Since they were in public, they didn't discuss anything too private or serious, so the atmosphere was relaxed and easy going. When they got home hours later, Kakashi-sensei still hadn't returned, so they discarded the note they had left and went to bed a few hours later after playing a few card games.
The next day, she woke up with a smile. Since they had nothing to do and were still alone, they headed to the dojo of Guy-sensei's friend. They spent a few hours training with the various jonin who frequented the dojo. She left there sweaty from head to toe, with her limbs feeling strangely light from the effort, and noticed that the new weights were having the desired effect.
"I'm going to shower and deliver the package to the Hokage," she told them. "I won't be long."
"I'll start making lunch," her brother replied, waving her off distractedly.
She showered quickly and grabbed the package she had prepared. When she arrived at the Hokage's tower, curiously, she wasn't there. The one sitting in the leader's chair was Shizune, who gladly took the package once it was enlarged. Seina hesitated about asking what was going on but decided against it. She didn't feel like complicating her day, so she left. What she didn't expect was to run into her former patient, Tetsu, accompanied by Neji and Hinata. Just seeing his expression, she knew it wasn't a coincidence and had to stifle a groan of exasperation as she realized what was about to happen. Fortunately, they were in the park next to the Hokage tower, which was almost always empty. Apparently, no one wanted to walk too much under the building of someone who throws chairs out the window.
"Seina-sama, I just wanted to thank you for what you did," he said as soon as he started. He bowed at a 90-degree angle, making her a bit uncomfortable. "If it weren't for your help, my life would have ended."
"I'm glad I could help," she replied, touching his shoulder.
She tried to encourage him to stand up with the touch, but to her horror, not only did he not do so, but Hinata and Neji also bowed. She let out a small sigh that fortunately made them straighten up. She glanced around, but few people were watching them. Perhaps a couple of civilians looked at them curiously before continuing to walk down the street, but nothing serious, so she breathed a little easier.
"Has anyone found out…?" she asked curiously.
"No. Everyone believes I didn't lose my eyes," Tetsu said with total conviction. "They think I just went blind."
Seina relaxed. That was the best outcome of all. The Hyuga immediately noticed her concern. Hinata touched her arm, reassuring her that Tetsu was right.
"Then I'm more at ease."
"Tetsu wanted to thank you personally. We're just here to accompany him," Neji nodded with a slight smile.
"You're welcome. That's what a doctor does, right?"
Her friend's face became thoughtful upon hearing her. She seemed to want to ask something, or maybe talk alone, so she turned to Neji with a subtle expression, and he understood immediately. Tetsu and Neji walked a few meters away, leaving them alone. She felt her stomach growl with hunger and realized her team would be wondering where she was. Naruto wasn't impatient enough yet to open the link wide, but she wouldn't be surprised to hear him in her head soon.
"What's up, Hina?" she asked, sitting on a bench under a tree.
"You know, when Ino signed up for the hospital, she talked to me about signing up together."
"She mentioned something like that, yes."
"I didn't sign up with her," Hinata said in her typical soft voice, "but I wanted to."
"Why didn't you? Was it because of your father? Because of what your clan would say?"
Hinata nodded, looking down at the dirt ground.
"But I saw what you did with Tetsu. You saved his life. No. You gave it back to him."
"Hinata, if you want to sign up for the hospital, do it. You know Tsunade-sama will support you if necessary. I'd like to see what your clan does against her."
Hinata smiled slightly at the thought before becoming serious again. They sat in silence while Hinata tried to gather the strength to make a decision.
"Do you want some advice?" Seina finally said. Her friend, after all, was a 12-year-old girl who had lost her mother a long time ago.
"Sure."
"No one can live your life for you. Not your father, not your clan. I know you might think I'm saying this too easily because I don't have anyone breathing down my neck, criticizing everything I do. In part, you're right. But tell me… why can't you sign up for the hospital if that knowledge could save your teammates' lives? What's so wrong about that? Are they going to be angry because 'that's not what a Hyuga does'?"
Hinata nodded silently at her last sentence. She didn't even lift her head. Seina began to get angry, realizing that so much time away from Hinata had allowed her clan to sink their poisonous teeth back into her.
"Then let them be angry, Hina. What you need to consider is… how would YOU feel if you lost Kiba or Shino on a mission when you probably could have saved their lives by signing up for the hospital, just like you wanted? Would you ever forgive yourself? Would you feel guilty? Would you think day after day how stupid you were for not having the courage to do what your heart wanted, just because your father and your clan are so intolerant that they can't understand that more knowledge is never a bad thing, even if it's not 'what a Hyuga does'? In very few years, you'll be a fully grown adult, and you probably won't depend on your family. You'll have money to move out if you want, and no one will be able to tell you what to do. And if you sign up for the hospital and they're so stupid as to threaten you or something like that," she began, feeling her blood boil, "come to me and we'll help you. I can't offer you my house without talking to my team first, but I'm sure they wouldn't refuse to offer you a place to live away from your clan."
Hinata nodded vigorously, still with her head down. Seina took her chin, lifting her head. She saw that her white eyes were filled with tears. She wasn't sure if it was because of her support or because she had imagined her team dead, unable to heal their fatal wounds. She knew Hinata had many problems at home. The worst part was that Hinata was much gentler than one might expect from a ninja and, moreover, the heir to one of Konoha's most powerful clans. Then again, maybe Hinata was gentle because of how she was treated. It was probably a mix of both factors.
Seina, once Harriet, had suffered something similar to Hinata. Unlike her friend, however, she had developed a stronger spine and hadn't been cowed, though they had tried every means. If Vernon and Petunia had succeeded in their attempts, Harriet would have been like Hinata. Insecure, indecisive, someone easy to terrify with a look. The difference between Harriet and Hinata was that Harriet, in her previous life, had leaned more toward anger than fear. If she hadn't met her friends, if she had gone off to Hogwarts for nine months a year, Seina knew for certain that she would have killed them before reaching adulthood in one of her many fits of rage and resentment.
"Thank you, Seina. I'll think about what you said. I promise."
"And remember: if something happens or you feel in danger at home, come to me, Naruto, or Sasuke."
"Where the hell are you, nee-chan?" her brother called. Speaking of the devil.
"I'll be right there. I'm talking with Hinata," she replied, avoiding rolling her eyes at her friend. "I'm going to eat something. See you soon, Hina"
Hinata said goodbye to her, walking towards where Tetsu and Neji were waiting. Seina, completely starving, used the hiraishin to teleport home. Sasuke and Naruto were waiting for her at the table, looking exasperated and irritated.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she apologized. "Neji, Hinata, and Tetsu approached me."
"The one with the eyes?"
"Yes. He wanted to thank me and make sure no one realized he doesn't have the seal. I think Tsunade-sama made them believe he was blind but still had his eyes. And then..." she sighed. "I was talking to Hinata."
She proceeded to share the memory of the conversation with them. Both Sasuke and Naruto frowned, realizing that Hinata might be in danger at home.
"Fine by me," said Sasuke, seeing what she meant. "Hinata isn't one of my fans. She can stay here if she has problems."
"What a father!" her brother spat, his face red with anger. "How can he treat his own daughter like that?! She can stay here if she needs to, as far as I'm concerned!"
"We'll have to talk to Kakashi-sensei, but I don't think he'll refuse. Still, I hope Hinata doesn't really need to."
"Talk to me about what?" Kakashi-sensei said, suddenly appearing with a shunshin in the middle of the dining room.
"Damn it!" Naruto jumped. "Do you want to give us a heart attack?!"
Seina and Sasuke stifled a laugh at Naruto's irritated expression, his hand on his chest. Kakashi-sensei raised an eyebrow, sitting in front of her at the table, noticing that they hadn't even started eating despite how late it was.
"So?"
"It's about Hinata. Apparently, she's having problems at home. Problems that might end with her out on the street."
"You offered to let her stay with you, here," the jonin stated without needing to think about it. "What kind of problems?"
"Apparently, her clan refuses to let her study anything other than the Gentle Fist. Hinata isn't exactly the paragon of Hyuga fundamentals," she rolled her eyes. "She wants to join the hospital, but she's afraid they'll refuse or worse."
"Hyugas..." Kakashi-sensei muttered under his breath. He nudged her foot with his. "As far as I'm concerned, she can stay here if she has problems. The question is whether she'll feel comfortable living here with me around. Still, until that scenario actually presents itself, there's no point in worrying about it. Hinata might be in for a surprise."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because Tsunade-sama isn't going to let anything happen to her just for studying at the hospital."
Seina thought about it for a few seconds. It was the same thing she had told Hinata a few minutes ago. In reality, Kakashi-sensei was right. In the worst case, Hinata wouldn't end up on the street, that's for sure. Until something bad actually happened, it would be absurd to worry in advance. They started eating after preparing another plate for their teacher. He didn't explain what he had been doing, except that he had been with Tsunade-sama at her private house in the Hokage mansion. It was obvious that it had something to do with Sai, or whatever his real name was. Whatever it was, she just shrugged it off.