Chapter 32.6- One Thousand Hands

Shika said the same words as the other two and the conclusion cemented itself in my head. I planned to approach Shika about it in private, but Uzume beat me to the punch.

“How the hell did you three get into anbu?” She asked with a scowl forming on her face. The scowl came easily to her, I mentally noted. It was like she had a face that as made to scowl. It wasn’t an aspersion on her looks or anything like that. She was objectively a beautigful young lady..even when she was scowling. It was just a statement to represent how quickly the scowls formed and how at home they tended to look.

“Who said anything about anbu?” Inoken refuted instantly. I sighed. He had spoken too quickly, and his eyes had darted straight to Shika right after he had spoken, like he was waiting to be backed up in the denial.

“We’re at war. I doubt any of you will be performing anbu assignments for the next few years, so don’t worry” I said, trying to assuage his fears, while Uzume just huffed.

“Kenjutsu? You three? Maybe Yamanaka alone would be believable, but Nara? No way. She’s too lazy to spend any time learning something like kenjutsu unless she gets forced into it. There’s only one part of Konoha’s military that requires knowing kenjutsu. Now answer the question” She demanded.

“It’s none of your business, Uzume.” I said, stepping in between her and Shika, who she had taken a step towards. Uzume had grown a long way from the young girl who fought first and asked questions later, but she still had a bit of temper on her.

“Like hell. I want to know why they’d take them and not-“ as she realised just where she was and what she had almost said to all our classmates, she clammed up mid-sentence.

“Good. Now, you’re the only one yet to do yours so you might as well" I said next, stepping back to give her some space. She nodded, eyes still focused on Shika.

“I have fire, lightning, and wind release mastered. I can use different techniques from all elements. My taijutsu is exceptional, and my genjutsu is the same. My bukijutsu is flawless, and I can cause massive damage with my war fan” She said as she stepped backwards. I said nothing about the skills she didn’t mention. It wasn’t my business, and I knew Shika would account for a few trump cards here and there. Uzume was already agitated enough.

Shika folded her hands and crossed her legs after Uzume spoke.

“Oi. What’s going on, here?” Inukuro demanded

“She’s thinking, jackass” Inoken replied instantly.

After I had counted to sixty twice and still heard nothing from Shika, I reached for a scroll I’d sealed away and began to read my Grandfather’s writing. I had made it a good way through when she opened her eyes and stood up.

“Okay then. I have something. Depending on where Suna have made it to in the Land of Rivers, there are three ways we can deal with this-“ I smiled as she began.

A/N: Last bit of the chappy. Next chapter should begin with a POV cut to look at something else and then we’ll come back here to see how the war begins/