Uzukishi, the spiral knight.
I only own the OC everything else belongs to the original writer or the current owner of the intellectual property.
"Spoken!"
'Thought!'
Title!
"Ability in use!"
"Referred ability!"
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A/N: Warnings: AU, kind of has to be if I'm adding a character; Naruko; Guardian/Teacher OC; Darker than cannon, I mean this for the early part as it was way too chipper from what I remember it as; Sasuke bashing, with minor other bashing; Gamer Naruko
Summary: Naruko always hated her birthday ever since she was kicked out of the orphanage today was her sixth and she was cornered and crying, this is when an ANBU usually saves her but not today. Today there was a strange man with three swords on his back and a very familiar spiral on his coat.
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She had to keep running, if they caught her they would beat her again. Why does this happen every year, always on her birthday how was it her fault that the Kyuubi attacked on the same day she was born. Today was always worse than the normal hate she had to cope with, the snide comments and the glares even when she was looking… but she didn't know why.
The short red-haired girl ran through an empty street as a horde of drunken men and women chased her, Naruko Uzumaki prayed that the ANBU would stop this as they usually did… but no gods were listening this day.
A second group blocked the path ahead forcing the young girl to run into an alley not noticing either that it was a dead end or that there was a man leaning against the alley wall staring at an open locket… in her panic she didn't even hear the man gasp "Kushina?!".
Only when she reaches the end of the alley and slumps against the wall sobbing in fear and anger does she realise that she isn't alone in the alley. "Please don't hurt me… please…?" She sobbed.
"Why would I do that kid? What's your name kid, you look like a childhood friend of mine." The man asked, only now did Naruko look up at the man.
He was tall, even as he squatted down to look at her she knew he was taller than most people in the Hidden Leaf; He had red hair that looked closer to blood red than her ruby, partially tamed in a messy ponytail that's end was peeking out at his lower back resting over the sheathes of three swords. What he wore was the oddest she had ever seen, and that includes the strange man with the spandex obsession, he was wearing a red armoured long-coat that looked very out of place in the warm weather of fire country; under the coast he had a black waistcoat over a chainmail shirt which itself was ever a tank top.
Looking down Naruko could see that he was wearing durable looking dark blue trousers with two ninja pouches, one on each side, with pointed black boots that looked heavily armoured.
As she looked back up she saw his eyes that looked far older than his youthful face despite the faint light in the steel grey pools that were there. The last thing she notes before answering was the calming smile and the scar from under his right ear to the bottom of the eye on the same side
"Naruko Uzumaki… Please mister they are going to hurt me." She whimpered clutching the now shocked man as the horde entered the alley.
"Step away from the Demon stranger and we won't hurt you." One of the drunk men shouted swinging a bat as he spoke. One of the others didn't feel like waiting and charged the squatting man, who span round with the girl clutched to his chest as he kicked the assailants knee shattering it before following up with a kick to the face that causes a sickening crack. Some of the drunken horde ran as the dead man fell to the ground.
"Whatever you hear, do not take you head away from my chest until I tell you it's safe… alright little one?" The man said getting a nod against his chest from the now relieved girl.
"Who the hell ae you and why are you helping that demon!" One of the woman in the crowd screeched.
"My name is Harikēn or Harken Uzumaki, known to others as the Uzukishi the last guard of the Uzukage left standing… tell me if I need to speak slower for you." The now named Harikēn growled as he drew the lower most sword which was the smallest he had but was still the same length as his arm and double edged.
"His only one man we can take him!" One of the people at the back of the horde shout as they push the people forward.
"Zanzō: chi no ame!" Harken growled as twenty clones of himself flicker into being and fell upon the horde cutting down enemies left and right as the air itself seemed to grow heavy with blood.
"Shit, his a Shinobi!" One of the men shout as they kept charging trampling their downed fellows, ignoring their pleas for help and others than were trying to run.
Ten people fell to the clones' blades before the horde realised that they were outmatched but it took another thirty before the people at the back also understood this. At this point the Uchiha Police and ANBU realised something was wrong and converged on the alley… they found fleeing civilians and a man drenched in blood shielding a young girl as all around him dead or dying bodies lay. "What happened here!?" One of the police ordered, gesturing his baton at the blood-soaked man.
"These pieces of trash thought that they could attack a child without consequence… I disabused them of this notion, with relish." Harken drawled as he wiped the blade on one of the corpses clothes.
"So you admit to murdering them." A different policeman growled as he glared at the child.
"I see that you are an idiot of a similar mien as these fools… and here I thought that this village was allied with the Uzumaki. The Senju would spit on what you have become." Harken growled as points the longsword at the police forces.
"Stop this at once!" An ANBU in a cat mask shouted as they and four others dropped down between the two groups.
"Stand aside ANBU, this doesn't concern you!" one of the black haired policeman snarled.
"I would beg to differ, he is a shinobi thus outside of your remit." Cat stated, you could feel the raised eye-brow.
"The child however isn't." The man growled "Hand her over or we will have to get physical."
"Go to hell. Zanzō: ōshitsu no ha!" Harken roared as hundreds of illusionary blades appeared on the Uchiha police officers "Last chance to back down. …No? More fun for me then." Harken stated with a grin as he charged the shocked Uchiha, more than one using their Sharingan to attempt to break out of the illusion or track how the unknown man would move.
"Uzumaki-san I believe you came here to see the Hokage?" A man at the head of a separate group said, with impeccable timing.
"Tch… Your right, looks like Riptide won't drink Uchiha blood today… Well there is always tomorrow." Harken stated with a grin as he moved towards the second group of ANBU, ignoring the glares from the Uchiha and appraising looks from the first group of ANBU.
"The Girl is coming with us!" A very foolish Uchiha shouted as he made a grab for Naruko.
"Shatter." Harken spat as the illusionary blades piercing the man shattered… and the wounds became real, needless to say the man didn't last long.
"Was that strictly necessary?" The leader of the second group of ANBU, who wore a dog mask, sighed as the Uchiha fell backwards.
"Possibly." Harken replied with a smile as the ANBU surrounded him and shunshined to the Administration building. "You feeling alright little wave?" He asked Naruko as they stabilised, only know realising that she had fallen asleep in his arms "You got a bed we can set her down on, the tyke must have been exhausted." He asked the ANBU as they walked to the Hokage's office.
"There is a couch inside." Was the curt reply.
It took another few minutes to reach the office where the secretary waved us in saying that we were expected. The office had more than just the Hokage there, within were three men one looked like the police officers only older the other who wasn't hidden by an oversized hat was a cripple and half blind aging man who was glaring at the advancing group. The Hokage shed his hat as the group advanced and locked eyes with Harken "Ah… Uzumaki-san I see that you have found young Naruko, I trust she is unharmed?"
"If not for your civilians there would be no need for that question." Harken growled as he lays Naruko on the couch and pulls a blanket of its back to cover her.
"We cannot be everywhere." The Uchiha stated.
"Came quickly enough when I started gutting her assailants though didn't you." Harken snapped, ignoring the long suffering sigh from Sarutobi.
"Gentleman, can we keep this to the point." He said as he reached for his pipe. "You came here Harken Uzumaki to retrieve your niece and return her home correct?" Sarutobi stated as he lit the pipe.
"Correct."
"We should allow this why?" The cripple, Danzo, asked.
"Because Uzu has risen again and this time we have our defences at a war footing as we no longer trust the Leaf to aid their allies." Harken stated as he placed a scroll with the Uzumaki seal on the desk in front of Sarutobi.
"Impossible she is the last Uzumaki, baring yourself. We also would have heard if people had gone back to the inaccessible island!" The Uchiha raged.
"We made the island inaccessible to all not of the clans when we knew the Leaf had abandoned their allies." Harken drawled as he locked eyes with Sarutobi. "Open the scroll and read the message Hokage." He added with a growl as his patience started to wane.
"Watch your tone boy! He is the Hokage and holds the title of 'second god of shinobi' for a reason." The Uchiha growled.
"We in Uzu remember him differently: The oath breaker; the coward; kin stealer; the snake keeper; the incompetent. I can go on but I believe you get the point. The alliance between the two villages is hanging by a thread, I came here to retrieve any Uzumaki from this cesspool and see if you are still worth our time… At the moment I can say with certainty that the Senju's will of fire has long since left the Hidden Leaf." Harken snapped.
Silence fell over the room as everyone but Sarutobi and Danzo glared at the lone Uzu swordsman in the room. Minutes passed before Sarutobi sighed and locked eyes with Harken "I cannot allow that."
"Too bad, all Uzumaki have been ordered to return home. No matter the village affiliation or duties placed upon them. You either let my niece walk out the gate or we will take her over the wall." Harken growled.
"She is our container." Danzo stated, believing that was the end of it.
"Tough. You chose poorly then as Uzu is not going to allow any more of its blood to remain here in Konoha." Harken stated, ignoring the growl from the one eyed man as he continued. "We can either: do this amicably and possibly salvage the alliance; or we can break the alliance here and we will kill all Konoha ninja and civilians that enter our territory. Your choice." At the spike of killing intent from all the people in the room Harken added the proviso "This is mostly a census however as the clan Heiress, due to being Kushina's daughter, she is required to learn the clan style/techniques and other necessities of her position. Also as the alliance requires the heir/ess apparent of the Uzumaki clan to attend the Konoha Ninja School, to foster cooperation between the villages, you only lose access to your container if you choose the second option. She will however require the Uzumaki compound here made available to here and her chosen guardians/teachers."
"Is it only Konoha that this measure is being enacted or everywhere?" Sarutobi asked, glaring now.
"Everywhere, most places have been pretty magnanimous about this as we have stated that we have no intention of removing any permanently who wish to stay… we have only had three families who wished to return to the village, out of a possible fifty." Harken informed them before raising an eyebrow.
"We will have the Uzumaki compound repaired and when Naruko returns it will be ready for her and her retinue… do you have a rough number, for our records you understand." Sarutobi stated, shooting a glare at Danzo as he looked ready to speak.
"Aside from her and myself… at least three female and four male adults of varying ages, depending on if any of our kids want to attend, the number of children is unknown." Harken stated, visibly relaxing.
"How soon can we expect her back?" Sarutobi asked, sounding saddened that the little girl he was starting to see as a surrogate grand-daughter would be leaving.
"She will return in five years to attend the ninja school." Harken stated, Naruko was 4 so she would be starting a year late but so did most clan Heirs.
"Hokage you can't be considering this!" Danzo roared, glaring at all and sundry.
"It is done, when she comes back she will need to be interrogated by the T&I Department, they will probably just mind walk her and move on." Sarutobi stated, it was standard procedure for a ninja that had been on a long term spying mission after all as well as for any suspicious civilians.
"As long as a member of the clan is with her at all times, I will voice no objections." Harken said with a raised eyebrow.
"Is there anything else?" Sarutobi asked.
"Not at this time, when Uzu has more news to relay to you they will send a messenger, who will in all likelihood not be me." Harken stated, before he moved over to check on Naruko who was starting to wake up. "Are you alright little wave?"
"It wasn't a dream… you did save me from them?" Naruko asked, as she clutched Harken's jacket like a lifeline.
"Yep, and I'm getting you out of this village. No one is going to treat you like that again." Harken stated with a smile.
"Really… No-one is going to hit me or do other stuff again." Naruko asked, the hope in her voice was heart breaking and Sarutobi looked twenty years older as the full weight of what his villagers had done to this small girl hit him.
"Never again, and if anyone tries you come and find me… they will have much bigger problems then they could ever deal with." Harken whispered, holding the girl to his chest as he turned to glare at the Uchiha "No matter who they are." He added as he directed the entirety of his Killing intent at the man.
The Uchiha's knees buckled as the KI dropped on him like wave. "I believe that will do." Sarutobi said with a chuckle, trying to relieve the tension as best he could. "I will have a group of ANBU escort you Naruko's home so that you can collect her possessions, after which they will escort her to say goodbye to her friends here. By evening you should be on your way back to Uzu." Sarutobi said sounding both serious and mournful.
"Ino-chan and Ayame-chan…" Naruko muttered sadly.
"Yamanaka Ino and Burosu (1) Ayame, they will be sad to see her go." Danzo said with a smirk.
"Yet happy that she will be among family and safe again." Harken growled.
"Will I come back here again… To see them." Naruko asked, staring at him with watery eyes.
"Not for a long time little wave, there is much you need to learn and there is your health to worry about." Harken said as he poked her in the ribs getting a giggle from the girl.
That evening
"I'll miss you Naruko…" Ino said with a sniffle as she was seeing her friend off, the other blond was one of the few girls her own age and Ino didn't like how the other girls was mean to her.
"I'll write when I can Ino-chan… I'll miss you too." Naruko said with a sniffle of her own as she hugged her fellow blond. "We'll be at the academy together when I get back though right?" She asked.
"Yeah, we'll be the best!" Ino giggled, as her father smiled at the scene.
"Come on little wave it's time to go." Harken said as he motioned to the carriage behind him.
"I know… I wish Ayame was her to see us off." She grumbled, looking back at the gate before entering the carriage to head to the port.
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Flash back for next 4 paragraphs, if you have no interest skip them, thank you for your time!
Harken is Kushina's younger brother and with her already starting to receive the training to become the heiress and container of the nine-tails she remained as such after his birth. Harken was trained to be an elite shinobi instead of a clan leader, he excelled in Genjutsu Kenjutsu and Ninjutsu as well as use of the clans chakra chains being recognised as a master in all four but didn't have the flair for high level Fuinjutsu so was at adept level for this. He didn't have any interest in medical jutsu so only has basic skills taught to all Chunin and higher shinobi.
At the time of the annihilation of Uzu, Harken was on a training mission of fifteen other members of the clan, where he was the most senior and thus commanding officer of the group, as they were killing a group of bandits in the area of Wave numbering fifty men with a few women. The team consisted of Harken, Jonin, four Chunin and ten Genin, the Uzu system are three person cells 2 Genin with one Chunin/Jonin. The mission was a success with no casualties on the Uzu side and twelve of the bandits captured to be taken to Uzu for interrogation, all 5 women and the rest men, but when they reached Uzu they found only a scant few survivors.
The village population went from 10000 to 50 in the course of a single day, of this number 35 were out of the village at the time. 10 people left the village all together afterward, lowering the population to forty. The prisoners were given the choice to either die or be integrated into the village, the men refused, the women accepted. Four years later there was a population boom raising the population to 70 Uzumaki and 200 immigrants, as the land was fertile. At this stage the highest ranking officer was Harken's teacher, Kazuma Uzumaki, who took up the position of Uzukage and deemed it was no longer tenable to claim they were a ninja village. Uzu officially changed to a trade centre and most of its water bound defences were shut down, but not destroyed.
In the following year from this change Kazuma ordered a census of the number of Uzumaki still alive and found the members of the clan living in different villages, he sent Harken to retrieve his niece from Konoha and inform them of the immediate return of the clan's heiress.
Flash back ends! Start of time skip
Public record of the duration of Naruko Uzumaki's stay within the limits of Uzu:
At the start of Naruko's stay at the village the overall population boomed reaching 3000, 200 of which were Uzumaki. The walled area of Uzu became a citadel in the centre whilst the outer area was expanded to create two areas, one a residential area the second an economic centre that was right at the water front. During this time a sealing school was established within the citadel and invitation sent to all of the major Ninja villages that the school would be open to them as long as they named the village a neutral territory that none of the villages held claim to. This was surprisingly accepted.
After the second year of Naruko's training in Uzu, the Gato Corporation attempted to buy all of the waterfront of Uzu and was firmly told no. He attempted to bribe the custom officials on the island, whilst he was smuggling men to the island but was arrested and his property seized. (Yes this does mean I won't be doing the Wave arc.)
Third year of Naruko's training she officially takes on the mantel of the Uzumaki heiress and begins to be trained by Harken in Kenjutsu and by his Wife Mizore, formerly of the Yuki clan, in the Taijutsu style of the Uzumaki clan, as well as some water based Ninjutsu. In the village there is a further population boom as refugees from the land of water migrate to Uzu, population now 5000. The area outside of the city that was devastated by the battle was reclaimed and turned into farmland to feed the rising population.
Fourth year of Naruko's training, Kazuma Uzumaki begins training Naruko in Fuinjutsu, which she takes to like a fish to water. Harken finds that Naruko would likely never have the control necessary to use either Genjutsu or medical jutsu so teaches her how to use both the regular water clones as well as his own blood clones, which was his adaption of the shadow clones his sister showed him. There is less cost for the blood clones but they lose the ability to act as independently. The village begins to build a fishing and trading fleet, as the land of water pulls its territory deeper due to the rebellion currently in effect, the farm land produces its first crop. The mountainous area to the north of the village's previous mining operation is resumed, the refugees starting the operation in hopes of striking it rich.
Final year of Naruko's training in Uzu she has: completed the Fuinjutsu training up to adept level; been deemed adequate by Harken with a pair of tanto and a longsword but that he will be going to Konoha with her as he knows she can do better, as well as learn more weapons; learnt water bullet, water whip and water/blood clones for her water jutsu; learnt various control exercises including tree, wall and water walking, creating a spark with fire element chakra and water with water element as well as the leaf cutting exercise with wind chakra; Taught a basic attack jutsu in all elements except earth mainly bullets and whip; Basic Shurikenjutsu and Senbon-jutsu; learnt all of the basics of being a clan heiress, still doesn't know the right utensil in formal occasions, as well as comparative Key stage 3 in maths and Japanese; Learned the first stage of the clan Taijutsu.
The village has reached a plateau in development as there is a healthy surplus in goods but no dramatic rise in population, population 5500 of which 232 Uzumaki… 2 are Harken's children.
Confidential file of one Harken Uzumaki during the stay of his niece Naruko Uzumaki:
Year one: 20 Kumo Agents either captured or killed as they attempt to assassinate VIP. 5 Leaf agents apprehended, all committed suicide upon capture. 10 Iwa agents killed, 11th escaped left arm behind. No attempts made by Suna.
Year two: 5 Kumo agents captured or killed, ambassador sent demanding we hand over Naruko… head sent back. 5 Leaf agents, all with blank masks, once again committed suicide upon capture. No activity from either Iwa or Suna. Kiri still embroiled in civil war, they have bigger priorities.
Year 3: No agents from Kumo, Iwa or Suna. 5 again from the Leaf with blank masks… same occurrence upon capture, suggest immediate removal of the prisoner's teeth. Lone Kiri Nukenin sent to our territory soliciting aid for the rebellion… out of my pay grade.
Year 4: All is quiet… I don't know whether to be happy or suspicious.
Year 5: 15 Leaf agents… all captured, all bar 1 alive we may finally get to the bottom of what is going on. Taking my team with me to the Leaf: Viper, Gen and Ninjutsu specialist; Dove, Medic and Taijutsu specialist additional note keep far away from the Senju if they are in the leaf as she is a… dedicated follower of her ways; addition required as wife is pregnant, Fox generalist but has a partial contract with the foxes so can be scout and tracker if I am incapacitated for any reason.
Find enclosed current skill list of operative:
Ninjutsu: 4
Taijutsu: 2
Genjutsu: 4.5
Kenjutsu: 4.5
Fuinjutsu: 2.5
Intelligence: 4
Strength: 3.5
Speed: 4
Stamina: 3, Uzu scale; 4, other village scale.
Hand Seals: 2.5
Total 34.5-35.5/50
Rank held Uzukishi/ANBU.
End of time skip
This was the year Ino had been waiting for, her childhood friend would be returning to Konoha just as she wrote she would. Ino had grown from the little girl she was when she saw Naruko off, and to her daddy's horror started to notice boys earlier than expected. She was also proud that she was starting to grow into a woman earlier than other girls too. But that didn't matter today, as today her childhood friend was to arrive at the village with her family mainly her uncle Harken and his family, with her tutors and other members of the clan. She could see the carriage and boy did the rest of the village know it.
Yamanaka Inoichi was sweating a little as he had the dubious honour of having to mind walk the Uzumaki heiress, who was also his little princesses friend… he was going to be in the dog house when he had to explain that to her. He was happy that Naruko was coming back don't get him wrong, it cut him up inside when his princess cried when the young Uzumaki left, but he was in a catch 22.
Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced at the sweating Yamanaka with open amusement, he could tell what was going through his mind at this moment, before turning back to watch the approaching carriage. He had counted the days till now, hoping that he could reconnect with the young girl that had left with her Uncle… his advisors also wanted him to try to create better ties with the new trade centre. He was just happy to see her again, and hoped that she didn't hate him.
ANBU Dog or Hatake Kakashi was not waiting for the return of his sensei's daughter… he didn't even know that she was his daughter. He was where he was most days when he wasn't on missions sitting by the memorial stone and reading one of his Icha-Icha books.
As for the Uchiha that made Naruko's life harder before she left? Well there was only one left in the village and the Uzumaki clan meant nothing to him. He was training the skills he had been taught by the academy and from scroll he found at the compound. (I will be basing him in this fic as he pissed me off royally through the near entirety of the series. To paraphrase Russell Howard "His your Dark prince, his a colossal C**t")
Haruno Sakura was wondering where her friend turned rival was, she was usually at the salon like her at this time of day… oh well it wasn't really her problem. She had heard that another girl was transferring into her class next week but that just meant that she had more competition for her Sasuke-kun's affection. (She isn't being bashed in this fic… this is based entirely of the source material for her at this age.)
For the people in carriage however the journey was met with trepidation. To Naruko this was the place of childhood trauma with very few good memories, when leave was one you know that the place bad, the only thing that put a positive spin on this would be seeing Ino again. For Harken this would be his student's first real trial, to see how she handles being thrown into a possibly hostile situation. For the rest of the clan this was a diplomatic mission and they would act accordingly, even though Mizore was more worried about her two kids and the third that was on its way.
Konoha had changed in many ways since the pair, of Harken and Naruko, had last been here, mainly in small way but with a main over shadowing way as well, but at its core it remained the same. Konoha was a civilian city that trained ninja, not a true ninja settlement. In others like Kumo and Kiri the ninja ran the show with the civilians either having to make do or leave, they were at the end of the day a military settlement after all. This civilian encroachment into Konoha had brought the worst consequence, corruption, money and influence of merchants talked in Konoha just as much as the established clans did… as you can probably tell, in what is meant to be a military settlement merchants don't care how well trained a guard is as long as they are intimidating. And that is how the civilians viewed the ninja as guards not soldiers and assassins.
With Corruption of course came politics, or rather overt politics as the clans were wheeling and dealing as was the Daimyo they just placed a screen to keep the publics eyes away, this was also the main reason why Naruko was treated so poorly, the bank manager of the main Konoha trust knew that Naruko was due to inherit a rather large inheritance… the name was blanked out by order of the Hokage but with this and the fact that she was the container of the Nine-tails the civilian council agreed that if she died they would share the profit. Needless to say they were pissed that their scapegoat/punching bag had left and was now returning in such a way that made her untouchable… they were already down two members after they lead the mob against the girl.
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We have gotten very much off track so let's return to the action shall we?
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Naruko peered out at the wall of the city she hadn't seen for five years, in truth those years had been the most exhausting but best of her life. She had family again, true Harken was a right bastard when it came to training but as soon as they were back home he turned into a kind uncle… even if he always seemed to be alert for anything and disappear at odd times. His Wife was a kind woman as well who instantly welcomed Naruko into her home, even if she insisted on teaching her how to do 'womanly' activities the spit take Harken made at that remark will be one of her funnier memories. The village itself felt warm and inviting unlike Konoha… that place was slowly but surely sucking the life out of her.
In front of the gate were two of the people Naruko was looking forward to seeing the most, even if Ayame had parted with the younger girl when she knew she was safe. Ino-chan and old man Sarutobi, despite Harken's grumblings about him he was still the first person to show her kindness. There were a few other people there but they were either the Hokage's bodyguards or the gate keepers.
As the group exited the carriage Ino charged forwards and engulfed her friend in a hug, quickly gaining one in return "I missed you Naru-chan!" Ino shouted as the two hugged.
"I missed you to, Ino-chan!" Naruko replied.
A cough from behind them interrupted the happy moment. "Hello Heiress Uzumaki." Sarutobi stated with a slight dipping of his Hokage hat.
"Hello Hokage Sarutobi." Naruko, after she had been released by Ino, said before bow respectfully.
"Harken Uzumaki, I trust that you are returning to Uzu after this?" Sarutobi asked.
"Nope, I'm staying here to keep an eye on little wave here." Harken stated with a vicious grin, as he ruffled the hair of his young ward.
"Hey!" Naruko shouted as she smoothed her hair back out.
"I take it that you are part of the guard detail then?" Sarutobi hoped, since the departure of Naruko he had Harken investigated and found the man had a reputation akin to the Demon of the Mist for ferocity.
"And one of her tutors." Harken added with a slashers grin.
"I must ask that you keep what you teach her to clan techniques then as we wouldn't want her to hurt any of the other students at the academy." Sarutobi said, giving Harken a disapproving grandfather expression.
"They are training to be shinobi! Killers and saboteurs! If they can't take a little competition then they should quit now." Harken said with a huff of distain.
"But they are still children… why not let them have what little they have left unmarked by the harsh reality to come." Sarutobi argued, sounding hollow even to himself.
Harken just sighed and looked at the man that could only be Ino's father "So you here as chaperone or for your job?"
"Both I'm afraid… And the Hokage has already heard and dismissed my reluctance over this." Inoichi replied with a self-deprecating sigh.
"Daddy! You will be nice to my friend or I'll tell mum!" Ino screeched… Harken thanked every kami there was that Naruko never developed that habit.
"Yes princess…" Inoichi groaned as he glared at the Hokage. The old man just snickered.
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(1) There is no last name mentioned for Ayame or her father so I made up probably the most unimaginative name for them of Broth as in a soup/broth.
(2)