Was he just lying to her or was there truth behind those words? Rubin could've easily hid the fact that he okayed whatever happened at that castle, but instead he's opted for honesty, and told all of them the truth despite how they'd react.

  "Tsubaki," Rubin said, "please stay behind, I'd like to talk to you about something."

  "The Mock Exams?" She asked, "I already told the Akinoyo clan they wouldn't have to worry about me. You don't have to either, so kindly fuck off."

  "It's more than that. Please lend me your ear, I believe you'll find what I have to say intriguing if nothing else."

  "Tch," Tsubaki sat down across from Rubin's desk, "this better be good."

  With a deep sigh Ebisu gently grabbed Hilt in one hand, and Ayano in the other. "Let's go you two. This isn't our business."

  Ayano wrangled free, and looked Rubin in the eyes.

  "I want to stay," She declared.

  "Ayano..." Ebisu began.

  "It's alright," Tsubaki said, "let her stay. After all, I bet she's trying to find out just what kind of person her new master is - am I right?"

  And to that Ayano nodded with a determined face.

  "If it's alright with you Tsubaki then I'll allow it. Ebisu, Hilt, please wait outside for Ayano. I'll send her along shortly."

  The two boys started to exit the room.

  "Seriously man, you owe me dinner for that kick." Ebisu said.

  "Sure, whatever just tell-"

  "For the next three weeks."

  "Wha-?"

  "I need to be compensated for each rib you could've broken."

  The two continued to bicker as they left the office, closing the door behind them.

  Ayano couldn't help but to silently giggle while listening in on the conversation. Back in Marshwood she rarely had a chance to laugh as every day was all work and no play. This was very different, and new to her. In an odd turn of events she started to enjoy her day, and looked forward to spending time with Hilt, and hopefully Ebisu as well.

  'Will I see more of them if I fight in the Mock Exams?' She wondered.

  "First Tsubaki, why did you run away from home?" Rubin asked.

  "That's a stupid question. You know how the clan treats me, I'm better off dead to them."

  "The Mizukage prevented your extermination so you could grow up to be a shinobi - you do know that don't you?"

  "If you were given the choice to go through years of torture, and abuse for the rest of your life or to never exist at all which would you choose?"

  Tsubaki let the question hang for a moment.

  "I don't owe the Mizukage anything."

  "If you fight in the Mock Exams, and become a shinobi here in Amegakure I will protect you from the Akinoyo. You won't need to run away, and start a new life."

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  "Why would I trust the man who just let 200 people die?"

  Rubin didn’t have an answer for that. Tsubaki let that question hang too before moving on.

  "My sister-"

  "Will also participate in the Mock Exams. Surely handling one Akinoyo will be much easier than dealing with the entire clan like you're used to?"

  "Tch, the Akinoyo won't approve of my participation."

  "The clan heads get a say in who represents their clan, but they are not the ones who make the final call. That is my responsibility as Lead Jonin."

  Tsubaki crossed her arms, and avoided his gaze. Her voice grew quieter, and more nervous.

  "You know what I am... What can I do, don't you?"

  'What she can do...' Ayano thought. 'Does she have some kind of hidden ability?'

  "I believe that you will learn to control it, and to master it."

  "B-But the collectors..."

  "Haven't made an appearance in over a thousand years."

  Tsubaki took a deep breath, and thought in silence for the longest time.

  'This must be a huge deal for her. From the sound of it she put a lot of thought into leaving Amegakure, but something brought her back. So we're both slaves to our past.'

  "Alright, fine. I'll participate in your little exam, and become a shinobi here in Ame. You better have a place for me to stay afterwards because I don't plan on living on the streets, and I'm not going back to the Akinoyo."

  "Of course," Rubin said with a smile

  'She has a whole plan and everything. If I fight in the Mock Exams, and Rubin does free me, what will I do afterwards?'

  "Then I guess I better say goodbye to Sora later," Tsubaki said.

  'Sora, who was that?'

  "You mentioned him earlier. He got caught up in what happened at Kusakyu Castle... How did that happen?"

  "That's not my story to tell. I'm going to stop by and see him later; I suggest you do the same."

  "Let's go Ayano," The girl stood up, and pushed her chair in.

  "Ayano, please be back before dark for the ritual." Rubin instructed.

  "Right," She replied.

  'I almost forgot, the transfer of ownership ritual. As of right now I still belong to Cayan.'

  The two left jonin HQ to find Hilt, and Ebisu outside on the street bickering about something new.

  "I'm just saying there's value in expressing your feelings without lashing out like a starving frog on a hot summer day without a lily pad to sit on."

  "That's… oddly specific." Tsubaki said as they approached the two.

  "Be quiet." Hilt remarked.

  "Heyyyyy let's go hang out for a while guys. Today's been super stressful so we should go blow off some steam." Ebisu said ignoring him.

  "I'm not your friend. Don't act like I am." Tsubaki said.

  "Oh, then what are you doing here Miss Tsubaki hmm?"

  "Sora probably isn't awake yet so I'm killing time with you until then - that's all."

  "Given everything he's been through I doubt he'll wake up before tomorrow. Besides, I wanted to ask you something." Hilt said, looking at Tsubaki.

  "When we were down there you used medical ninjutsu to stop the bleeding didn't you? Why did he need to go to a hospital in the first place then?"

  "I don't owe you an explanation."

  "Is it because you don't trust in your own ability?"

  "Says the person who failed to cast their special lightning jutsu not once, but twice. Figure out how to use your own jutsu before speculating about someone else's."

  "She's got ya there Hilt." Ebisu said grinning.

  Hilt clenched his fists in frustration again.

  "Shut up Ebisu."

  The group started to walk through Amegakure. Everyone was going about their business as if 200 people hadn't just lost their lives behind Kusakyu Castle. If you lived in Kusakyu territory it was possible you already knew what was coming or since your family was under the protection of the Kusakyu you didn't particularly care. Either way both Hilt, and Tsubaki felt a sense of emotional whiplash considering that fact. The group weren't heading anywhere in particular, but they soon came across a small empty park.

  "Ooooh Monkey bars! Let's go Rain Gang!"

  Without waiting for a response Ebisu ran straight into the park, and climbed up the monkey bars, and hung upside down.

  "I-I think I want to do that." Ayano heard herself say. She found herself looking to Tsubaki, and Hilt for permission.

  “What, you want to act like a child too?” Tsubaki said groaning. “Well, go on then I don’t care.”

  And so Ayano did just that. She followed Ebisu into the park, and hanged upside down on the monkey bars just like was.

  "You're wearing a dress you know." Tsubaki said.

  While Ayano got comfortable Tsubaki adjusted the girls dress for her tucking it in-between her legs so it wouldn't drop down.

  "So are you guys excited for the exams? How many of us are there gonna be?" Ebisu asked.

  "There's going to be more of you guys?" Ayano asked, smiling.

  Ayano had meant to keep that to herself, but she couldn't help but let her excitement show. She was intrigued with Hilts lightning ability, the strange pot around Tsubaki’s waist, and even Ebisu was a mystery case. She wanted to meet more exciting people if she could.