[Chapter 45: Black Rose]

Twisted my body around, I danced in front of the tall mirror, eyes focused on my clothes. My hair was down, gently caressing my white sleeveless button-up shirt and blue circle skirt and sash. I titled my sun hat up slightly as I tapped the hotel floor with my usual white zori, letting out a small hum. I can't believe this is the closest thing to a beach episode that I'll ever get. Oh well, it's good enough.

Deeming myself worthy of going out, I stepped out of our room, closing it shut as I skipped away. Swaying to my own beat, I pondered with my notebook in my tender hands. Kyaaaah... it's gonna be a long meeting because Hiro and Shiori will be there at the same time.

No matter how many meetings we make, they just somehow never get along— well, it's mostly just Hiro getting riled up. It's hilarious, watching the boy rage at a person who's ignoring him. But I digress.

Spotting a certain dark-haired male, my lips curled up as I crept in, hands raising as I readied myself. Three... two... one!

"What are you doing, Princess?" I flinched when he called me out before I could act, turning towards me with a brow raised.

I puffed my cheeks out. "At least let me have my fun!" My arms waved around as the Hyuuga heir chuckled with his hands tucked in his pockets. The boy wore a cool teal open button-up with a white shirt underneath, along with tan trousers and his original shoes.

"I'm just glad I don't have to be alone with this guy anymore," He huffed, pointing a thumb at the adult near us.

"It's as if you have a brain smart enough to hate someone." The pointed guy commented nonchalantly.

"Shut it!"

I giggled with hands behind my back as I took in the pink-haired jonin's outfit. It wasn't as different as the one he usually wore: just a simple light purple haori with a milky white, floral yukata. "Well, everybody's here." With a smile, I interlocked my hands with their own, laughing when Hiro barked up a half-hearted retort in return. "So let's go! Don't wanna keep her waiting!"

✧

Hearing the soft chimes of a bell, I peered into the building. Right from the get-go, the subtle scent of coffee entered my nose. I hummed as we stepped in, glancing at our surroundings. The restaurant had warm colors decked out with its clean wooden chairs and tables.

She has good tastes, I noted to myself. "Ah, over here!" My eyes darted to a familiar redhead, a small hand waving at us in the back area of the place. My head turned back at Shiori and Hiro, who only glanced back before heading over.

Skipping my way downtown, I held my arms wide. "Kugui-chan!" I exclaimed with a smile, pouncing onto her for a hug. The taller woman laughed as she wrapped her hands around my waist. "It's been so long, ya cutie!"

"You've grown up, Megumi-chan!" Kugui replied in a light tone, pushing me back with a small smile of her own. She wore a simple light brown flowy dress along with purple zori. "Ah— well, it has been over a year."

I just giggled in return, adjusting my summer hat. "Who's that?" I heard Hiro asked behind me. Hm? Tilting my body, my eyes landed on another girl sleeping next to the jonin.

"Ah, I forgot!" As if she just realized that the girl she was with just dozed off, she placed a hand on her shoulder, shaking her gently. "Suzume, please wake up...!"

"Mmm..." I heard a soft, airy response back. The dark-haired girl nodded her head, straightening her back as she revealed her face. She was very cute, half-lidded blue eyes blankly staring back at Kugui's big and concerned ones. "Ah, did... did I fall asleep again...? Is it... is it time?"

The redhead heaved a sigh. I watched as the taller girl rubbed the sleepy girl's back. "Mhm, they're here." She turned back at us. "Come, sit down— I'll introduce her to you."

Seeing that it was a long, orange chair booth, we had to slide in from the other side.

"So, who is this?" I asked curiously. The redhead only blinked at the action but kept her mouth shut. "Is she like us?"

"No, no! Not at all," She responded with hands waving out. Then why...? Gesturing at her, Suzume her name was, she held a sheepish smile. "This is Suzume, my wife." I blinked, Hah? She's married?! "I just thought it would be nice for you all to meet her." She then frantically waved her hands around. "Ah, but she knows of our secret."

Ah, that's good, I noted to myself. At least we don't have to hide anything. "Nice to meet you." Suzume drowsily bobbed her head at us.

"I'm Megumi Uchiha, the local arsonist!" I introduced myself with a hand over my chest, smiling at the newcomer. Kyaaa, Kugui's lucky: she's adorable! Jabbing a finger at the others, I giggled. "This is Tsun Tsun and that's Shi-Shi!"

"Hey!" Leaning back with a hand over my mouth, I giggled as Hiro shot his heat at me with wide eyes. "Is it really that hard to have not let me do it?"

"Yep!"

The boy sighed in exasperation, facepalming. "Princess..." He held his head up with brows furrowed. "Anyways, I'm Hiro and that person over there is a dickhead." I snorted— hypocrite! The boy turned back at me. "You know, someday, I'll do the same to you."

"Are you that idiotic? Megumi is quite shameless to let that get to her." Shiori commented, earning a glare at the Hyuuga. I just tilted my head, was that supposed to be an insult?

In the corners of my eyes, Suzume leaned in closer to Kugui. "Did you understand what they said?" My ears picked up her soft voice.

The taller one placed a hand over her mouth. "No."

Oh— right: only Konoha ninja know that certain set of sign language. But I had to make the chatter stop as I noticed a chakra source heading towards us. Raising my hands, I clapped them loudly, fainting everyone's eyes on me. I titled my head. "Someone's coming— let's order and then we'll start the meeting."

Everyone obliged.

"The seal has activated," Kugui announced, removing her hand from the bottom of the table. I removed the spoon from my lips, relishing the sweet taste of my food.

"Alright," Placing my notebook down, I flipped to a page of the Shippuden arcs. "This meeting has officially begun!"

The jonin tilted her head at my book. "Yes, she is that air-headed to write it down," Shiori answered on a separate piece of paper, showing it to the women with a blank look.

I gasped, "I told you— it's just for precaution!" My cheeks puffed out as I felt the comforting pat of Hiro's hand on my back. "Anyways, we have about half a year until Naruto comes back— so let's go over the arcs." I pressed my finger on a set of texts. "First, the Gaara Retrieval arc."

"'Gaara Retrieval'...?" Kugui's wife repeated, scrunching her brows as she glanced back at her lover. "Gaara's going to get kidnapped?"

"Unfortunately," Kugui replied with a frown tugging her lips. Her back straightened as the girl darted her purple eyes at us. "But, I think I'll be about to find out approximately when it'll happen. So then the word would be sent earlier."

Really, now? Could it be because... "Which means, Gaara might not die," I added, placing a hand under my chin in thought.

Hiro turned his head at me, "Oh yeah, you did say something about a ritual," The heir's expression turned skeptical. "Who fucking thinks of a torturous thing where it sucks someone's life?"

"This author." Shi-Shi piped, tapping the pencil he had on the hard surface.

I hummed, skimming through all the bullet points I made years ago. "Mhm, but would that be the only change we make? This arc actually goes pretty good." My eyes glanced at the redhead. "Well, besides Chiyo's and Sasori's death."

Pursing her lips, her hand reached over to her wife's hand as she looked at the ground. "Yes, I... wish to save them." Both of them?

"Do you have any plans for that?" Shiori asked her with his handwriting.

Suzume's eyes seemed a bit distant but still opened her mouth. "Oh, for Sasori's part, that's easy." I rose a brow, saving an s-rank criminal is easy?

"Mkay," Deeming that we were done with that arc, I moved my finger to the next arc. "The next arc will be the reunion between team 7 and Sasuke." I tilted my head to the side in thought. "I think this is already taken care of: I mean, if what Naruto's letters say is correct." But then I blinked at the realization: Orochinchin.

I tureen backs. The pink-haired ninja, who sipped on his glass of water. "Uh— Shi-Shi...?" He darted his narrowed eyes at me. "Will you be okay with Orochimaru's death?"

"Orochimaru?" Hiro questioned, lowering his spoon down. "The hell does he have to do with him?" I promptly shushed him.

"It's fine," My mentor signed. I noticed how his facial expressions creased as they said that. "I have..." His hand motions halted for only a moment. "Accepted that this might happen. I cannot do anything about it."

Okay, so he's not fine. I exhaled through my nose, eating a piece of my dish before moving on. It sucks for him but, I'm not gonna let him get my twin. "Now, Asuma's arc... I actually have no idea."

"That's the arc with Kakuzu and Hidan, correct?" Nodding at Kugui, the woman placed a hand over her mouth in thought. "That's a very... complicated matter."

"Wait, so are the people that are sent out set in stone?" Hiro asked, staring at the notes. "Because I might be able to do something if not."

I giggled, "Look at you!" He swatted my hand before I could pet him. "Being all heroic and stuff!"

"Is that not what we all are doing?" Shiori had the urge to comment with their hands.

"What... what did they just say?" Suzume's head bobbed off, causing the female next to her to shake her shoulders. Sleepy already?

I held a finger in the air with a wide smile. "That they love me!"

"We both know that's not true."

Kugui glanced back at us, "A—anyways," She brought us back to focus. "I can think of two ways but, it only works if either of you is in the same group of Asuma."

My brows furrowed, crap! Heaving a sigh, my back slouched. "Let's not think about that then." Despite the hesitance, everyone agreed. "Now here's the difficult part: it's two arcs that kinda happens at the same time."

"Wh— why?!" The male next to me leaned in forward to check if my notes were right. "I mean, it makes sense realistically but—"

"The mangaka just really likes making things complicated," I explained in a slightly annoyed tone. "One arc has the Konoha 12 searching for Itachi while the other is Jiraiya facing off the Akatsuki leader."

"Itachi-san? Why him?" I noticed how it was Suzume that asked. Does she know of him? Well, maybe Kugui has some connections to the Akatsuki group, being related to Sasori and all.

I smiled. "Cuz they think finding him will lead to Sasuke. Anyways, I have an idea of getting the stubborn crow to live but, the real problem is..." My eyes narrowed on the thought of that certain individual. "Tobi. Because I exist, I don't know if the actions he'll take are different."

"'Tobi'?" Shiori rose a brow. "Who is that?"

I blinked. Did I not tell him that? "Also known as Obito, he's Kakashi's old Uchiha teammate that's supposed to be dead and manipulated into being a villain."

My mentor crossed his arms in thought, eyes darting to the side. "Why does everything have to do with the Uchiha... it's a bit much."

"For once, I agree with you," Hiro added on, twirling his spoon in between his fingers.

"Such a surprise, you have rational sense."

"For once I say something nice and this is how you fucking treat me?!"

I giggled, poking the Hyuuga's cheek, causing the boy to whip his head at me. "Don't be like that tsun tsun, it's ok for you to have a monkey brain."

"Oi!"

"U— um...?" We all glanced back at the other side of the table, where Kugui raised a hand sheepishly. "Can we get back on track?"

Ah, right. Clapping my hands together, I scooted back, stabbing my food for another piece. "Yeah, yeah. For the Jiraiya arc, I could body flicker but... I've never body-flickered that far and I don't know how to exactly pinpoint his location without dying." I pursued my lips in thought, what could we do? Maybe surprise the dude with confetti? Do corpses like confetti? I mean, I know they like being choked like—

"I might just trail after him." Shi-Shi offered, my head turning to the adult.

"No, that's not possible— Pein will find out." Kugui countered. But then she grew flustered. "Ah! It's not because I doubt your abilities but," Her eyes flew away. "The rain he puts in Amegakure, it can detect chakra sources."

He didn't seem fazed. "That is precisely why I am most suited for this." I couldn't help but stare in puzzlement. What do they mean? Blowing away a strand of his brightly-colored hair, the adult stretched his neck. "I am an Uzumaki."

Uzumaki? What does that... It then dawned on me. Don't they have a whole bunch of kekkei genkais? "Wait— is that why I can never feel your chakra source?" Hiro commented, light eyes narrowing for a confirmation. I blinked, I noticed that too but I just thought he was good at hiding it.

"Perhaps you are just terrible."

"Bitch, I will punch you."

I laughed at how Kugui just blinked, tearing her attention away from her dozing wife to stare at the two. "Yep, they're always like this." Despite her confusion, she just nodded. I looked around our surroundings. Despite there being no curtains, no one's staring at us... just how good are Kugui's security seals?

A snap of Shiori's fingers brought me back to track. "Oop— sorry," I twirled a lock of my hair as I flipped to the next page of my notebook. "We have the Pein Invasion arc next, taking place about a month after."

"Damn, Konoha's security sucks." I snorted, shoulder shaking at Hiro's irritated remark.

"Ah," The redhead raised a hand with a small smile. "I've already made preparations for that." She riled her shoulders as then they glanced away bashfully. "However, I couldn't bring it here without suspicion so I'll send it over tomorrow." I hummed, well, this is a civilian area. Wait, my brows furrowed, that means it's .

I shrugged it off, huh. "Ok, that leads to the Gokage summit. Well, if it happens." I directed the topic to that. "I mean, the main problem is that dude, Danzo." My mood worsens by just the thought of him— I get that he used Shisui's Sharingan (still salty about that) but, how the hell did he become Hokage? "I mean, depending on how we do in the invasion, he might not even become Hokage."

"There's also Obito that we have to deal with," Kugui then clamped a hand over her mouth. "But then again, he doesn't do much."

"Mhm, which leads us to the worst problem." Placing a finger down, I felt a drip of dread easing my chest. "The war arc."

"That's like the arc that fucks everything over if I remember what you told me." I nodded at Hiro's assertion. He ran a hand through his hair, eyes creasing in annoyance. "What the hell even goes on in it?"

I sighed. "Too much. That's why I don't think we should talk about this one right now." Everyone shot a look; well, besides Suzume, who was somehow asleep in all this. "I mean, if we do change things, the war could play out differently."

Shiori placed a hand under his chin in thought, eyes trailing towards the ground. "Indeed, good call." My lips quirked up. Awww, he complimented me! Now, why can't he do that during the tortu— I mean, training sessions? Red eyes darting back at my notebook, he glanced back at me. "So that is it, correct?"

"Besides some filler movies, pretty much." Should I say that Hinata's gonna get kidnapped and forced to marry a moon weirdo so that Hanabi can get her eyes back? I took one good look at Hiro. Hmmmmmmm...

The boy looked back at me. "What?" I whipped my head away. Nahhhhhh, we can deal with it when it comes.

Clapping my hands together, I pushed those thoughts out. "But anyways~ Now that we're done with that," Leaning towards the table, I propped my elbow down, placing my chin under my hands. "What's our team's name?"

"Team name?" Kugui questioned, a perplexed expression dining her round yet sharp facial features.

I giggled. "Yeah, yeah!" I childishly kicked my legs around under the covered table. "Don't you want to be called something cool?! Like those cool anime things!"

"Nobody is going to call us anything." I pouted at Shiori's retort.

"But it'll be fun~!" I whined, causing no reaction to the pink-haired individual.

"What would we even be called?"

I blinked. "Uh..." I didn't think this part through. "The... the banana splitters?"

"What kind of name is that?" My dear Hyuuga scrunched a brow, a hand out in confusion.

I pursued my lips. "Do you have any other suggestions?"

"I— uh, no." He stammered, posture going rigid for not expecting to be pushed like this. I huffed, why is it so hard in something so simple?

"How about 'Black Rose'?" My head turned to Suzume. Since when was she awake? I thought to myself with the tilt of my head.

"'Black Rose'...? Oh!" It seemed her lover caught on to her thought process, raising a finger. Is this something I should have learned in kunoichi class? "Despite its popular meaning of death, it can also mean rebirth and major changes."

I hummed, that fit us. "A black rose is also just a dark maroon red rose," The civilian confined to explain, a controlled airiness in her murmur. "The color itself can mean strength, passion, and excitement, which does describe Megumi-chan a lot."

I blinked, raising my head at the mention of my voice. "Huh? What does this have to do with me specifically?"

With half-lidded eyes, she cocked her head to the side. "Aren't you the leader?"

Leader?! My back shot up as I stood. "E—eh?! I'm— I'm not the leader???" I noticed how my voice cracked. Damn puberty!

"Is that so?" Shiori signed, actually having a genuine confused expression. The audacity of this bitch.

"I even believed it as well," I felt betrayed at Kugui's addition. She noticed. "Aah, well, it's just that Hiro seemed to rely on you."

I shot an accusing look at the chunin, causing the boy to straighten. Averting his light eyes at me, his body turned with a hand rubbing the back of his nape. "...You were the one that gathered us all here." Was his reasoning.

A sigh blew out of my nose. Sitting back down, I couldn't help but feel just a little warmth in my chest. Aah... so they all trust me as a leader? I gathered from their responses. "Alright then," Perking my head up, my lips curled upwards for a grin, and everyone's content smiles.

"As of this day forward, we will be known as Black Rose!"

https://www.quotev.com/quiz/13343231/Ill-Show-You-A-Real-Happy-Ending-AVOOCU