Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
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Chapter Two:
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At first glance, you would never think the small boy in the hospital bed had been fatally injured less than forty eight hours previously. There was no complex medical equipment or arcane regenerative sealing arrays present and if Hiruzen had not been informed otherwise, he could easily have assumed that Naruto was sleeping peacefully. If he drew back the sheet covering the boy's torso and extremities, he would find no scars, just unmarred flesh and, if the report was accurate, a carapace-like exoskeleton of chakra conductive iron coating more than two thirds of Naruto's body.
The medical report crumpled in his clenched fist as he recalled its contents –
"…according to academy sanctioned physical examination, carried out by onsite nurse on October 7th, subject Uzumaki Naruto measured 116 cm in height and weighed 28.7 kilograms…"
That was barely three weeks ago, right before Naruto's tenth, and nearly his last, birthday.
"…diagnostic array suggests approximately 25 to 30% of subject's biomass consumed by foreign chakra influence…"
So much of the little boy burned away by the vile creature imprisoned within the Yondaime's seal.
"...subject's current weight measured at 77.2 kilograms…"
Perhaps as much as fifty seven kilograms of chakra conductive iron fused with so little flesh. If his memory served, the current market value of the rare metal was hovering a bit over a thousand ryo per gram. Hiruzen felt nauseous as he considered just how many people, even citizens of his beloved village, would be blinded by greed if this information became public. As if Naruto's life had not been difficult enough to date and didn't promise to be full of even more adversity in the days to come?
"Old Man…Hokage…you kinda…look…like crap…" rasped the unmistakable voice of Naruto, startling Hiruzen from his inner thoughts with a jolt of adrenaline and fierce joy. The coma technique had been counteracted at Hiruzen's command, but only over the hearty objection of the duty medic. The medic ninja on duty finally settled on a compromise, refusing to leave the room until the Hokage inked a powerful paralysis seal and applied it to Naruto's forehead. No one truly expected the boy to regain consciousness so quickly after such a traumatic experience, despite his literally inhuman constitution.
Hiruzen allowed himself to chuckle at Naruto's disregard for propriety. So few in the village would dare speak to their Hokage in such a manner and those certainly didn't have any affection for him. Spirits momentarily lifted, he spoke, "I imagine I do, Naruto. The past two days have been most trying for these old bones. Nothing I can't handle," Hiruzen assured the bedridden child, forcing his voice to sound more cheerful than he felt. "You don't look so great yourself. How are you feeling?"
"Thirsty." Hiruzen was in motion as the word passed Naruto's cracked lips. He held the straw in place for the boy and forced him to take small sips until the cup was drained. "Thanks, Old Man."
"Think nothing of it, my boy."
"A-Am I paralyzed, Old Man?" Naruto asked after a short span of silence. "I can't move at all."
"No, no, nothing so horrible as that, Naruto. You are simply under the effects of a paralysis seal. It's just a minor precaution to prevent you from accidentally exacerbating your injuries."
"Oh, that makes sense. If I was really paralyzed, I doubt that my, well, everything would be hurting so bad." Naruto's eye crossed and he asked, "Now that I can't move, my nose is starting to itch!"
Never one to turn away a villager in need, Hiruzen reached across the bed and helped Naruto with his problem. "Do you remember how you came to be in the hospital, Naruto? You were found in a most curious location."
"Yeah, I think so." Hiruzen was well acquainted with Naruto's shifty expression by now, having had more experience than most with his mischievous young friend.
"Do not fear, Naruto, you are not in trouble, I assure you."
"Well, if you promise." Hiruzen nodded encouragingly. "I was gonna use this awesome paint tag I've been saving since summer to get back at this assh-er-mean old dude. I bet he would have flipped out when he showed up and found that ugly old statue turned orange." Naruto grinned widely, baring his teeth and squinting his eyes tightly. Ah, Hiruzen had last seen that expression a week ago when he'd just barely avoided sitting on a comically large tack Naruto managed to slip onto the chair in office. "Something didn't work right, though, 'cause I think the tag blew up. That sure explains why I'm laid up here in the hospital. I must have used too much chakra to set the tag."
Hiruzen made a mental note to look into who had decided to illegally supply high grade demolitions seals to a minor ; there was no such thing as a 'paint tag' after all, and ANBU had determined definitively that the explosion had indeed been caused by an explosive tag, a rather large one. "The explosion certainly contributed to your extended stay in the hospital, Naruto, though whatever damage it inflicted on you has already been healed."
Confused by that response, Naruto asked, "If they've already got me fixed up, how come I'm stuck in this bed, Old Man?"
How does one explain to a young boy that he may be crippled for life, never mind that his budding career as a ninja could be over before it ever truly began? Finally, after an uncomfortably long silence, Hiruzen answered, "Naruto, I want you to understand that you are a very special boy, unique even. Two days ago you survived an injury that would have killed anyone else."
Naruto's frightened 'gulp' was clearly audible. "If that crappy paint tag blowing up didn't hurt me so bad, what happened?"
"The explosion collapsed the roof of a long forgotten bunker situated directly beneath the park you were attempting to vandalize, Naruto."
Hunkering down in the uncomfortable hospital chair, Hiruzen settled in and began to explain Naruto's new circumstances in greater detail, hoping the news would not break the boy's spirit.
xxxx
"Hokage-sama, you summoned me?" The special jounin standing stiffly before his desk in the Hokage's office presented himself.
"Ebisu, please have a seat," Hiruzen said, gesturing to a nearby chair.
"Thank you, sir." Kunugi Ebisu was a skilled ninja, of that there was no doubt, but his expertise was not as a frontline combatant, infiltration specialist, or assassin. Instead, he was an exceptionally intelligent young man known for his great knowledge and the proficiency with which he passed it on to other ninjas.
Glancing over the opened folder before him, Hiruzen addressed his ninja, "Ebisu, I must admit that I have had your background vetted quite thoroughly. Few ninja instructors receive such glowing praise and every individual you have tutored in the past ten years, when independently interviewed, report that your efforts greatly benefitted their progress in the ninja arts. I am most impressed." Hiruzen would never call attention to it, for fear of mortifying the stoic ninja, but the slight embarrassed flush that rose to Ebisu's cheeks was amusing.
"I am flattered, sir." If anything, Ebisu seemed to be trying to sit up even straighter.
Hiruzen nodded then continued. "My original intent was to eventually offer you a position as a private tutor to my grandson Konohamaru. I dislike showing such favoritism, but there are appearances that must be maintained, as I am sure you are aware. While I would like to keep that option open for a later date, I have a new proposition to make for you. I assume by now that you have heard news of the injury suffered by the jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi, Uzumaki Naruto?"
Ebisu frowned very slightly, but he didn't display the open contempt most Konoha civilians and many of Hiruzen's ninjas held for Naruto. "I have heard a number of conflicting rumors on the matter, sir. Some of the tales are more difficult to believe than others. Most, however, do agree that the boy was injured so severely that only through the intervention of the demon was he able to survive."
"They are not wrong on that account." Hiruzen went on to briefly explain Naruto's condition and the concerns held by the supervising medics overseeing his treatment.
"I would like to propose a long term mission for you to train Naruto to overcome his recent injuries and the disability stemming from them, Ebisu, with myself as the client hiring a ninja of Konoha, not as your military commander. As a voluntary mission, you may choose not to accept it and there will be no negative consequences for you. In fact, no one outside of this room shall ever hear of it if you desire. This would be considered an ongoing B-Rank mission, subject to pay on a bi-weekly basis. Every six months completed during a period of up to three years will accrue the equivalent of an A-Rank mission. At the end of the three year period, if Naruto is able to join the ninja forces alongside his peers currently in the academy, I will include bonus pay equivalent to an S-Rank mission, though I will not be able to mark that as an actual S-Rank in your dossier." The terms were incredibly generous, Hiruzen knew, but he could afford it and he felt he owed Minato at least this much.
By the time Hiruzen had completed his offer, Ebisu's dark eyes were wide and his posture had lost its stiffness, too surprised to maintain. A successfully completed three year long B-Rank mission and six A-Ranks would be a true boon to his career, especially considering that the client for the missions would be the Sandaime Hokage himself. Then there was the financial windfall the missions, especially the potential S-Rank bonus pay, represented. It was an opportunity that could not be denied. "Hokage-sama, I cannot turn down such an offer. It would be an honor to help Uzumaki Naruto overcome his recent adversities."
"I'm so glad you agree, Ebisu. I can't tell you what a relief it is to me to know that Naruto will be in such skilled hands. I have no doubts that you will be able to turn him into a most excellent ninja. You will find no one more determined to succeed than Naruto." Ha, this lightens my heart and my bank account, Hiruzen thought with a smile. "He wants to be Hokage, you know? I could pass from this life a content soul if I live to see Naruto take up this blasted hat."
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Hospitals sucked, Naruto had decided. He'd been in the hospital for various reasons over the years, but never for more than an hour or two. At least he'd only been conscious for the last few hours. Naruto seriously thought he'd go crazy if he just had to lay here for days on end, unable to leave the uncomfortable bed; his nose had never itched so bad as it did now, when the only relief he could get was to ask someone to scratch it for him. After the Old Man left, he'd bugged a nurse until she'd scratched it. That wasn't an option now, however, at least not until there was a shift change. One innocent little question – how come he hadn't had to pee since he woke up? – and that led to talk of catheters, what they did, where they went, and how the nurse he was questioning had inserted his. Without a mirror he couldn't be sure, but Naruto figured he'd probably looked like a tomato, one about to explode from sheer embarrassment.
Naruto knew that Old Man Hokage was crazy smart. You don't get nicknames like the Professor – how awesome do you have to make being called a teacher sound so badass? – or the freaking God of Ninja by being stupid. This one time, though, Naruto doubted the old guy's brains. Did he really think a stupid little accident was going to stop Uzumaki Naruto from being a ninja? Not just a ninja, but the best damned ninja who ever lived? On his way to greatness, he'd make sure to stop and take the Hokage hat for himself, too, just to prove the Old Man wrong!
First things first, though. Ninja'ing had to wait until he could take a piss on his own. And scratch his stupid nose!
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"Hokage-sama, sir," Ebisu said, a copy of Naruto's medical file tucked under one arm and a significantly larger one, the boy's academy records, 90% of which consisted of disciplinary reports, held in the other, "if through the course of my new student's development it becomes necessary to inform him of his status as a jinchuuriki, how shall I handle the matter?"
Hiruzen sighed, expecting the question before it was asked. He'd already played a game of verbal cat and mouse with Naruto earlier in the day when the boy's curiosity led to the asking of many, many questions. It was not difficult to refocus Naruto's attention away from a path that ended with a revelation about the Kyuubi; it just left him feeling guilty and tired. "I originally planned to tell Naruto when he became a genin. Now, I will leave that to your discretion, Ebisu. If you truly feel that lack of this knowledge is hindering Naruto's development, inform me and I shall be the one to reveal the truth to him. He deserves to hear it from me since I'm the one responsible for his ignorance."
Ebisu nodded and stood. "By your leave, Hokage-sama, I would like to meet my new student now."
"You're dismissed."
xxxx
Naruto had just finished counting the ceiling tiles - for the thirty second time! – and was about to move on to trying to make the paralysis seal stuck to his forehead burst into flame with only the power of his mind when two short, sharp knocks on his door interrupted his misery. That was kinda odd. He couldn't imagine who would bother to knock. The doctors and nurses sure didn't care about his privacy if the use of catheters was a standard practice around here and the Old Man would know better than to think we would need to knock. Maybe Teuchi and Ayame Ichiraku had learned he was sick and were coming to visit?
"Uh, come in?"
The man who entered the room was a stranger to Naruto. Tall and wiry, wearing a jounin flak jacket and dark sunglasses, he didn't look very intimidating. Ninja didn't have to look scary to be awesome, though, so Naruto cut him some slack there. Naruto couldn't help but recognize that well worn red folder the stranger carried. He'd seen it often enough when a teacher wrote him up for some joke or other. Please, gods, don't let this man be the bringer of homework, Naruto thought despondently.
The stranger cleared his throat with a cough before speaking. "Hello, Uzumaki Naruto, my name is Kunugi Ebisu and I am a special jounin instructor. I have been selected by Hokage-sama to be your personal tutor in the ninja arts."
Holy shit! The Old Man had given him his very own jounin tutor! First things first…
"Hi! Will you scratch my nose?"
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A/N: I'd forgotten how much fun it could be to write. Comments and criticism appreciated.
Published: 5/29/2012
