“How’d my hair get so long?†Ranma asked his reflection in a small mirror inside the tiny shower area he had been allowed to get cleaned up in. He made a point not to think why they would have a shower next to what he guessed were interrogation rooms. Wiping away some steam from the mirror, he turned his head to the side to see that his black hair now reached down to his lower back.
“I’m going to need something to tie-- it-- back--.†He trailed off, feeling first horror then elation that the effect of the dragon whisker soup had finally worn off. “Ha! No going bald for me!†He cheered and did a small happy dance.
“Too bad someone stole it, I could have sold it to my old man for a fortune.†He lamented.
Ranma had been all too happy to oblige them on showing off his real form and had given specifics on his size so they could give him basic clothing. What they gave him was a simple pair of slightly too big white boxers, light blue capri pants, and baggy gray tshirt with a wide oval shaped neck. Not his usual style but the fit was satisfactory for them not even seeing him. They had gotten his prefered style of slipper right but they were at least two sizes too big so he would be going barefoot for the time being.
Leaving the shower area, he was suddenly blinded by a camera flash. Holding the camera was a short thin woman wearing a long white robe. Two other men wearing similar clothing were standing close with various instruments.
“They would just like to take some actual measurements.†Kurenai explained.
“Alright-- I guess.†He shrugged and let them quickly go about the task. “Why didn’t you do this when I was a girl?â€
“We did.†The camera woman answered and took a profile shot. “You were just unconscious at the time.â€
“Ah.†Ranma would make them regret it if they had done more than that.
“It’s not everyday that we get someone who changes gender.†One of the men suddenly plucked a hair from Ranma’s head.
“Maybe you could find a way to cure me.†He suggested excitedly. Chakra based techniques seemed like magic, it had to be possible.
“We’ll have to get back to you on that. It’s been difficult enough analyzing your previous sample and may need more.†The same man answered, putting the hair into a glass test tube and covering it with a cork stopper. “If anything comes up, you’ll be notified.â€
‘Wonder if there’s a Jusenkyo on this world I could go to.’ He thought as the trio departed.
“Just so you’re aware.†Kurenai broke into his musing. “You’re being trusted that this is not just some jutsu to change your appearance. I imagine normally they would have sat there and watched you change-- repeatedly.â€
“Don’t worry, you’ll see it in action enough.†He grumbled before wringing his hands together rapidly. “So how about some food?â€
“There’s a cafeteria nearby--.†Kurenai started to say before he interrupted her.
“No way, I want real food.†Ranma crossed his arms and decided to start testing their limits. “I need to make sure my taste buds still work after a week of that slop you fed me.â€
“It is a bit early but you’ve definitely earned it. I wouldn’t eat the prison food on a dare.†The black haired woman became more serious. “But first I would like to go over your cover story so you can practice with some prepared responses.â€
“What would I need a cover story for? No one knows me, I’m on a different and crazy world.†He shrugged in indifference.
“Every senior ninja knows about you now and will be briefed on how to handle the situation, but the reaction to your arrival was a little too public to simply sweep under the rug with our younger generation and the civilians.†She explained and appeared to stop waiting for him to acknowledge that he understood.
“Is it at least something that makes me look cool?†He asked. “Cause I’m not doing it unless I’m a badass.†He struggled desperately not to let a smirk appear on his face.
zx
Inuzuka Kiba elbowed his female teammate Hyuuga Hinata before pointing towards their team leader walking down the street with a much younger guy.
“Hey, who’s that with Kurenai-sensei?†He asked and crossed his arms over his pet dog Akamaru tucked within the front of his gray coat.
“I-- I don’t know.†The shy Hyuuga answered, her pale lavender eyes without pupils tracking Kurenai.
“You ever see him before, Shino?†He turned towards his other teammate, Aburame Shino. The other genin’s face was hidden behind the high collar of his jacket and his dark round sunglasses. The quiet Shino just shook his head to the negative.
“Wanna find out if he’s the reason why she stopped us from doing missions the next couple of days?†He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.
“Yes, because it will be good training.†Shino answered.
zx
Ranma paused while inhaling some utterly delicious barbecue ribs to look dubiously at Kurenai. Stripping the last of the meat from the bone, he licked his lips, and set the bone down. “So, I’m your cousin.†He summarized.
“Very distant judging by your table manners.†She added, looking shocked over the speed he was eating at. “Can you repeat the basics again?â€
He looked down at the small map she had given him with several notes written near cities. “I traveled with my father in the Land of Fire all my life.†He pointed to a large section that also contained the ninja village he was currently in. “He was killed by a-- missing-nin?†Criminal seemed like it would be simpler but he figured with this chakra being available it was necessary to make a distinction between average bad guys and the ones who could blow up buildings with a few waves of their hands.
“Go on.†She encouraged, listening intently.
“Having no other family, I contacted you and you agreed to help me start up a life here.†He finished, skipping over a great deal of boring and minute details.
“Good enough for now.†She nodded. “Study that scroll so that I can ask you more specific questions tomorrow morning.â€
“What do I get if I get a good grade on this test?†He asked absently, glancing at three young teens who entered into the restaurant. Two boys with one girl and they were all so incredibly bland and unassuming that they caught his eye immediately. ‘Are they sending kids to keep watch on me?’
“Did you notice their henge, or was it how ordinarily ordinary they look?†Kurenai asked in amusement, noticing where his eyes had wandered.
“Way too normal for you people.†He answered and casually took a sip of his glass of water.
“Hinata.†Kurenai called across the room, causing the disguised girl to flinch instantly, and look in their direction. The black haired woman didn’t say anything more, merely gestured with her index finger for the three to come over to the table. One of the boys cursed loudly and gave the indicated Hinata an angry scowl.
“Hide the map.†The red eyed woman ordered and gestured for the three to come over to them.
Ranma didn’t realize why he had to hide it until the three normal teens vanished in a puff of smoke to be replaced by more distinctive figures. One stood out immediately for his black slitted eyes, wild spiky hair, and red slashes running vertically on each cheek. Peeking out the front of his dirty gray jacket was a white puppy that was giving Ranma a dirty look. The other boy and girl seemed far less odd, except for the girl’s pupilless lavender eyes.
‘Just like that old man.’ He remembered the stern angry looking one who had been with Sarutobi.
Kurenai’s hands moving across the table to roll up the map reminded him that she had told him to hide it. The only one of the three who seemed to have picked up on the map was the one with dark round sunglasses and a collar so high that it hid most of his face. Ranma could only guess that though as the only change was an eyebrow peeking slightly up over his glasses.
“So who’s this guy?†The one with the dog asked aggressively and crossed his arms.
“This is my cousin, Saotome Ranma.†Kurenai introduced politely. “Ranma, this is my team of genin. Hyuuga Hinata.†She indicated the girl with the pupilless eyes. “Inuzuka Kiba.†The boy with the dog was next followed by the sunglasses wearing boy in a high collared green coat. “And Aburame Shino.â€
“Little ninja, huh?†Ranma leaned forward to prop his head up with his right hand in contemplation. “What are they training to be, dog catchers?†He asked casually, a plan quickly forming in his head. They had offered to give him information on chakra but he certainly didn’t trust that he would receive anything worthwhile.
“Could kick your ass.†Kiba snorted, rising up to answer Ranma’s taunt. Even his dog gave a growl in response.
“Kiba, that’s enough.†Kurenai chastised the boy, stopping the situation from escalating.
“Good dog.†Ranma whispered as softly as he could, enjoying the tightening around Kiba’s eyes. “I’m sorry, cousin. Do you think that maybe I could see how you train them? Me and my father trained together, ya know. Might make me feel more at home.†He trailed off sadly, not needing to act the part. He had been gone for nearly a week now with no way of knowing if he would ever be able to return. As sure as Ranma was that he would eventually find a way there were nagging doubts and he still had to payback Kaede for all of this.
“Does that mean you’ll be staying for some time-- because your father is no longer around?†Shino asked in a matter of fact sort of way behind his high collar and sunglasses.
“Uh-- yea.†He answered uncomfortably, immediately noticing that the girl with the strange eyes was shyly looking at him with a look bordering on pity.
“Tomorrow.†Kurenai finally said tensely. “He needs to get moved into his apartment first and each of you are going to spend the rest of the day working on your henge.†Hinata looked down while playing with her fingers nervously, Kiba groaned loudly, and Shino stood stoically as though he didn’t have any feelings on the matter. “We’ll meet tomorrow in the market of block four and I hope not to spot you so easily.â€
“Yes, sensei.†The trio bowed their heads towards the woman briefly before hurrying out of the restaurant.
“How lenient.†Ranma remarked, trying to push away the dark thoughts of home. “Was expecting you to take off a fingertip or two for failure.â€
“Fingertips are useful, plenty of other body parts you can part with without losing combat effectiveness.†Kurenai explained casually, daintily using a fork to finish the last of her food.
“Funny--.†He rolled his eyes before shouting across the room. “Hey waiter, I want to order another plate of ribs!â€