Ch240- Amends(P3)
“But why, Master? I’ve already made Chuunin, I shouldn’t—!”
Ao reached down and smacked Mangetsu over the head, “Behave yourself!”
Zabuza stood between Utakata and the smug little brat, his hands behind his back wriggled with joy he couldn’t outwardly express, at least not in front of Ao and certainly not in front of the Mizukage.
The office was a controlled chaos of documents stacked inches high, clone aides whose ever scribbling pens were just as distracting as the scent of freshly brewed sencha tea. However even with that, the mission the Mizukage described to them couldn’t be anything but their sole focus.
Yagura’s expression was bored and spoke volumes of the finality of his decision. He tapped the bottom of his pen on the table and said simply, “It is for the sake of the village and only temporary…at least that was what I meant it to be until you decided to act like a child.”
His eyes narrowed on his apprentice, the disappointment radiating from his cold gaze made the little brat snap back into shape but it was too late. Zabuza fought against his twitching lip with all his might, he couldn’t smile yet.
“Your demotion will ensure you’re eligible to participate in Sunagakure’s Chuunin exams, and unlike Utakata, you’ll have no trouble slipping through the exam records as a Genin for the very fact that you weren’t promoted via exam.” The Mizukage waved his pen lazily at his apprentice, “I gave you that rank and now I see an opportunity I didn’t in this exam to evaluate if you truly deserve it or if you’re just a particularly skilled child prone to tantrum.”
Mangetsu was so flush with embarrassment Zabuza thought his hair would turn red as well. He bit his cheek and kept his rising mirth from spilling outward. The Mizukage turned his pen onto Utakata.
“Yours is more delicate. You gained your rank from Lord Third in a village held exam and there are records of your participation and success. However, that is easily undone. Ao will ensure there aren’t any queries about you and if there are, he’ll handle it discreetly.”
Discreetly. For once that word didn’t automatically mean assasination, the Mizukage’s mood and Ao’s assured energy made it seem more like bribery would be at play.
“Understood sir.” Utakata said, squinting slightly at the floorboards before adding. “What happens if—”
As if reading his mind the Mizukage went back to scribbling as he answered, “Your rank is yours to keep, Utakata. Whether you fail all three stages of the exams or not, however, it is your mission not to shame us, so I’d highly advise you put your best foot forward.” He lifted his gaze and set it upon Mangetsu who was busy chewing his lips. “The only one being disciplined now is my childish apprentice.”
Mangetsu looked like he wished the floor would open up and swallow him whole. The Mizukage sifted through his stacks of scrolls and documents, opening and shutting drawers until he found the right piece of paper to read from.
He squinted, eyes skimming through the written words before he could start reading through Zabuza thought to speak up for himself. Unlike the others he was at the bottom rung already and didn’t need a demotion to participate in the exams and these would be the first in many years he’d have the opportunity to.
No one ever wanted to team up with the Demon of the Mist, rarely for missions and certainly not something as teamwork intensive as the Chuunin Exams. He’d tried everything he knew to rank up, he had skills, the strength, the mental resilience and most of all the loyalty the village didn’t deserve from him. He’d followed the orders of Chuunin and Jounin promising to whisper recommendations to the Third Mizukage in his name and he’d even tried enlisting in less appealing departments— I&C— only to be rebuked despite his clear talent for torture.
The only thing he hadn’t tried was…
“Mizukage-sama!”
Yagura looked up from his document, eyes half-lid and dirty with eyebags. Zabuza felt his throat close up just withstanding his gaze but he reminded himself of the first time they met— after he’d beaten his apprentice in the Swordsmen tournament.
He encouraged me then and he trained me in [Water Shield] during the Daimyo’s war. The Fourth isn’t the Third. Don’t be afraid.
“Do you have something to say, Zabuza?” Yagura asked, startling him out of his preparatory state.
Zabuza nodded vigorously, ignoring the side glances from his new teammates he pushed his throat open with words long overdue. “I’ve been Genin for years since my…graduation. I haven’t been able to find myself a path to Chuunin because…because of the challenges from my graduation.”
The office was silent as he spoke, the distractions all gone as each and everyone of the Mizukage’s clones turned heads and ears to look and listen. He gulped thickly, mind racing and hoping to find the right words.
“This will be my first true opportunity to participate in an exam…I just need to know if, if after I succeed…will I remain a Genin?”
The silence that followed made Zabuza wonder if he should’ve said anything at all. A single pin could drop and he could find it in the echoes. The moment passed and the scribbles and boiling sencha returned in full just as a smile blossomed on the Mizukage’s stressed features.
“Worry not, Demon of the Mist. I see your worth and I will not impede your growth.” the Mizukage said, waving his pen at Zabuza. “In fact, I’ll be there to watch and support as a guest.”
Eyes went wide all around, even Ao seemed surprised to hear it. Mizukages historically rarely attended foreign Chuunin exams and these would be held in the far, sun-scorched land of the Hidden Sands.
“Note that my attendance hinges on each Kirigakure team's ability to pass through the exams with ease and brilliant success. If none of you manage to make it to the final stage then I will be most shamed.” He picked up the document he’d been squinting at and handed it over to Ao. “That is why your mission is to ensure at least one full Kiri team makes it to the finals, there are two other Genin teams taking the exams and it will be your team's responsibility to guide, protect and ensure they perform their best. Failing that, the burden of representing Kirigakure in the finals will rest on your shoulders. Understood?”
““Yes, Mizukage-sama!”” The entirety of the newly fashioned team 3 chorussed.
“Now then, in that dossier is a little hint towards the nature of the first exam. A little courtesy of our agents. Make use….”
The Mizukage’s words of caution and advice trailed well off in Zabuza’s mind, tossed behind the forefront of what truly mattered now.
I’m going to make Chuunin!