Child of the Moon

Jonin Discussions Continued

"So what makes him such a great interrogator?" Kurenai asked.

"His understanding of the human mind is phenomenal," Tsukiko said. "He knows exactly how to make you spill everything, where to poke to make you squirm. The guy can read a person without them saying anything."

"Thing is," Asuma joined in. "He's so good at his job, he doesn't use physical torture."

"He doesn't need to," Tsukiko chuckled. "You do that for him. He plays tricks, riddles and wordplay, messes up your head to the point that you start torturing yourself."

"Even after all that, you're still confident your team will be fine?" Kurenai asked Tsukiko.

"Thing is, Aki has complete faith in Aiyanna," Tsukiko said. "You've had her on your team for a bit, so you should know her pretty well by now."

"Yes," Kurenai chuckled. "She and Kiba bonded surprisingly quickly. Akamaru was a huge factor in that, but the two of them really worked well together, and she became fiercely loyal to each of my students after only a week with them."

"That's who she is," Tsukiko said. "If she judges you as worthy to remember your name, then she's already decided that she will put her life on the line for you. So, no matter what someone says, if she's told 'sacrifice your team to save yourself' she won't do it."

"But you said that her faith in Aiyanna is what's going to keep her from being caught out by Ibiki's mind tricks," Asuma pointed out.

"Aiyanna is brilliant," Tsukiko admitted. "Sharp mind, and basically a genius. I wouldn't class her as a Nara Clan level intellect, but she's no slouch."

"So she'd naturally be confident that whatever is thrown at her, she can handle," Kakashi concluded. "What about Nanami?"

"Nanami has always had to rely on others in various things," Tsukiko said. "Comes with her disability."

"True, but she can still hold her own," Asuma said. "I've witnessed her seamlessly integrate herself into a plan made up on the spot, and she puts her complete trust in her teammates."

"Again, you see the point," Tsukiko said. "My team trusts each other implicitly. Whatever Ibiki has in store for one, the others will make up for. If his tactics target Nanami's blindness, or Aki's hotheadedness, or even Aiyanna's pride, the others will be there to catch each other."

Kurenai smiled. "Some of that certainly brushed off onto my squad," she said. "While Aki was with us, she was never weirded out by Shino's bugs, Kiba's brashness, or even Hinata's shyness. She adapted, and I think she helped them adapt too."

"You're welcome."

"While Nanami was on our squad, my team quickly learned not to judge by appearances," Asuma added with a grin.

"Again, you're welcome."

"And Naruto had you," Kakashi thought absently.

"Um, you're welcome?"

Kakashi blinked, and Tsukiko realised he hadn't meant for her to hear that, and so awkwardness ensued.

Asuma and Kurenai were naturally clueless.