RE: The Way of Shadows, The Way of Shinobi
A.N. - Not much changed only slightly here and there. Corrected the ramen stand owner's name. Took out weasel and instead said he had a crane mask. I have no idea what his ANBU mask really was so if anyone else knows what it was, I'd appreciate it. I'm also going on the assumption that only Minato and Sarutobi knew about Kushina's jinchuuriki status seeing as they both were Hokage's and well, because Kushina's relationship with Minato of course.
"Talking"
'Thinking'
Chapter Three: Naruto Makes a Friend
It had been about a year since Shiro-sensei became his teacher and guardian. In that time Naruto had come to the conclusion that his sensei was a sadist. The man would put him through hell every day and whenever he complained, Shiro-sensei would just cheerily smile at him and reply, "There are worse things than death." or "Dying is easy, living is hard." The one that seemed to be his favorite was, "You'd be amazed at what one can live through."
Naruto personally thought the man enjoyed torturing him. He had the oddest regiment too. That first month or so was very boring for Naruto as well as frustrating. His sensei had him doing exercises when he wanted to learn how to fight and do cool jutsu! But no, he was stuck doing lame everyday exercises like sit ups, crunches, pushups, stretches, chin ups, squats, and more than anything else; running!
Shiro-sensei would start their day by making sure they ate a healthy balanced breakfast. They would then do their stretches and Naruto was given his exercise quota. If he met the given sets, he was rewarded with information about his mother and sometimes treated to ramen. If he failed by not even trying, he was denied ramen and any information about his parents. Something that was totally unfair in the boy's opinion.
The first time he failed to meet Shiro-sensei's quota then complained about it, the man had just looked at him. Naruto could have sworn he saw disappointment in those eyes before they shut and he smiled at him. "Then you are dismissed."
"Huh?" Naruto looked at him suspiciously. What did he mean by dismissed?
"Go; run along, but no ramen for a month."
"Wha! You can't do that!"
"Can and did. See you at dinner." Shiro-sensei then sunshined away.
The blond blinked, confused and yet wondering if that was all that would befall him. Thinking quickly, a devious grin spread across his face. Chuckling, he went to Ichiraku and ordered his usual amount of bowls. If he was banned from ramen for a month, might as well get as much as he could now. What Shiro-sensei didn't know wouldn't hurt Naruto.
As he slurped the noodles Teuchi commented, "We haven't seen you in a while, Naruto-kun. We were beginning to worry."
"I got a sensei!" The boy proudly declared with a puffed out chest before he deflated and his petulant pout formed on his face and he quickly gobbled up the remainder of the bowl he'd been devouring. "He hasn't taught me anything though! No jutsu or any cool moves. All I get are lousy exercises!"
As Naruto lifted the bowl to slurp up the last of the broth, he missed the look in the man's eyes. Teuchi understood what Naruto had not. Well, it was up to the boy to see if he would understand what his sensei was trying to teach him.
"Enjoying your last meal?"
Naruto squawked seeing his sensei seated next to him with that cheerful expression. That never boded well for him. Last time the man had worn that look was when he told Naruto that he wanted him to learn to be able to do the splits. That had been painful! Shiro canted his head then pointed behind the blond. "I hope you enjoyed it. You might want to start running now though."
"W-what are you going to do?" Naruto asked curiously. Shiro-sensei had never laid a harmful hand on him or was quick to anger like other adults if Naruto did something wrong.
"Oh, not me, Naruto-kun. Them."
The blond turned to see a small number of Chuunin headed his way. Turning wide fear filled eyes to his sensei he asked, "What'd I do? I didn't do anything!"
"Exactly. However, they think you did."
Naruto was confused, that was until his sensei performed a hand seal and POOF an exact copy of Naruto was sitting across from him, but smiling like Shiro-sensei. Another POOF and Shiro-sensei was sitting across from him again. Crying out, the boy took off to try and put as much distance between him and the angry Chuunin as he could. He didn't want to be caught by the angry adults. Why would his sensei do this to him? The man had set him up, henging to look like Naruto and doing things to upset the older shinobi of the village. If they caught him, no doubt he'd have to serve the punishment since Shiro-sensei wouldn't tell them that it had actually been him rather than Naruto.
"That was rather cruel," Teuchi commented after his regular customer had run off. The man shrugged unrepentantly and finished off Naruto's ramen.
"It will drive home the message. Naruto is the type to learn best under pressure." Smiling too happy with the whole situation, Shiro paid the tab and went to go see how his charge was faring against the mob.
Luckily, Naruto was able to hide; he was quite good at that. Unknown to the Uzumaki, his sensei was following him. Whenever the blond was able to give the Chuunin the slip, Shiro would henge into his student and lead them to the boy's hiding place. Naruto would then have no option but to find another place to try and escape their wrath. Eventually, most of the Chuunin gave up and by the time Naruto was tired and caught, the mob was only down to a few individuals determined to see the boy punished.
When Naruto was dragged before the Hokage, he learned exactly what his sensei had done in his form. While Shiro-sensei was in his form, he had toilet papered the academy, threw stink bombs in the library, effectively shutting it down for the day, and exploding paint bombs in the Hokage Tower!
His punishment was to clean up the messes 'he'd' made. Worse than the lecture the old man gave him was the disappointed look directed at him. Anger, the blond could deal with, but it was the disappointment that hurt.
For a week afterward Naruto's day started the same with breakfast and stretches, but afterward Shiro-sensei would lead him to either the academy or Hokage Tower to clean up the mess. While Naruto angrily scrubbed paint from the Hokage's walls he'd occasionally throw a glare at his sensei who just stood reading a scroll. Not even looking up from the scroll he'd state, "You missed a spot."
Naruto just growled and continued scrubbing. When they got home the blond's legs and arms ached. His sensei rubbed some ointment on them then sent him to bed. For the remainder of his punishment, Shiro-sensei refused to tell him anything about his mother and didn't really say anything else either. He would just get Naruto up, fed him, and had him do his warm up exercises. Worse was though Naruto liked the color orange, he would never wear an entire jumpsuit of all orange! Yet that was what Shiro-sensei's punishment for him was. He had to wear the jumpsuits he could clearly be seen a mile away! Naruto believed it to be a form of embarrassment.
"Shiro-sensei?" Naruto hesitantly asked at breakfast when he had finally finished cleaning up after the pranks he hadn't committed. The man looked over at him at his submissive behavior. "Are you still angry with me?"
"Honestly? I was never angry at you, Naruto-kun. I was disappointed."
Naruto hung his head at that. He'd rather be yelled at than on the receiving end of a disapproving look from those he cared about.
"I had thought you understood what it meant to be Hokage. Do you no longer desire that position?"
The blond's head snapped up, blue eyes flashing with determination and defiance. "I will be Hokage. Believe it!"
"Your words say you do, but your actions say you don't."
"Whaddaya mean?"
"I know what you are capable of Naruto-kun. I gave you a certain number of sets to do. You weren't even trying. I said you couldn't have ramen for a month. You immediately went and purchased ramen. If you cannot follow my orders and commands, I will not waste my time with you. Those that do not wish to be taught cannot be taught."
"But-"
"Did you stop to think I gave you those commands for a reason?"
Naruto frowned. "What's wrong with ramen?"
Shiro sighed and faced the boy full on, setting his scroll aside. "Nothing is wrong with ramen. I enjoy it as well, but not for every meal of every day. That is unhealthy for your growing and developing body. You need to eat more balanced meals for your body to become strong and healthy."
The man knew that Naruto hadn't been starved or given less than the other orphans but that didn't mean that they were getting as much as they needed for that many children. He knew that the orphans weren't given much thought when the food arrived and it was divided up but at least they were in Konoha. If they had been in an orphanage or clan-less in another village most of the children would have either starved or become very harsh and have a bitter outlook on life.
"As for your boring exercises, it is to strengthen your body as well as increase your stamina." Due to the Kyuubi the boy would have better stamina then most if not everyone in the village combined, but if Naruto didn't exercise it... Shiro didn't want the boy to rely solely on it for his survival and abilities. Naruto could be a strong shinobi even without the Kyuubi if only he could be taught and the boy would grasp it.
After that, Naruto didn't complain about his sensei's order anymore although he did still ask questions and was encouraged to do so. One of the things Shiro-sensei made sure he understood was that if he received an order and if something didn't seem right about it, to question it. To determine for himself whether or not to follow the order. That had confused the boy at first because hadn't the ANBU told him that he had to do what he said? He didn't realize yet that while the man wanted him to follow the commands and instructions he was given, he didn't want Naruto to be a mindless shinobi who never questioned them if it seemed off.
So of course the first thing the blond asked was why his sensei ordered him to wear orange when he'd be seen in such a bright color. Shiro-sensei surprised him by smiling and Naruto learned to associate that particular smile as when his sensei was teasing him.
"But orange is such a good color on you, Naruto-kun."
Naruto scowled, crossing his arms and his sensei laughed at him!
"Your stealth techniques while adequate, needs practice. When your enemy can't see you hiding while wearing that, then you'll know you are a shinobi."
The blond soon began to learn jujutsu (Judo) katas along with his normal exercises. Shiro-sensei told Naruto he needed to learn how to fall without hurting himself first. Naruto thought it just gave the man an excuse to toss him about.
And finally, his sensei took him to a training ground and began to teach him about the different terrains and how to hide and use it to his advantage. "A shinobi must be in tune with his surroundings at all times. A shinobi can use anything in his environment to his advantage if he knows how to look."
Naruto soaked up everything and made sure he learned everything his sensei was trying to teach him. Shiro-sensei had decided it was time to start training the blond in weapons. First was basic kunai and shuriken practice. The practice dummy they used was a different one than Naruto had learned to strike vital points on using taijutsu. Some targeted areas were the same such as under the arm and throat, and others were different.
Shiro-sensei's hand was on Naruto's showing the boy how to grip the weapon and instead of throwing it at the dummy, Naruto was shocked when his sensei spun, the kunai flying from his hand. Blue eyes widened when an ANBU dropped from the tree into a crouch before them.
"Message from Hokage-sama."
Shiro-sensei frowned taking the missive the ANBU held out. After scanning it he nodded at the ANBU who then disappeared. Turning to Naruto Shiro told him, "Continue with your normal routine. I'll be going on a mission for a bit." At Naruto's look, his expression softened. "I'll be alright, Naruto-kun. If you have any problems let Hokage-sama know at once."
Sighing, Naruto did as he was told, not even getting to say goodbye to his sensei or wish him luck. He continued his shuriken and kunai practice, determined to be better by the time his sensei came home.
Leaving Naruto alone to practice his aim and get used to the feel and weight of the shuriken and kunai, Shiro sunshined to the Hokage Tower. He hoped that the boy remembered what he taught him about feeling the weight and balance of his weapons. Slipping on his ANBU mask he entered through the window and nodded at the Sandaime. "You wished to see me, Hokage-sama?"
"You will be going along with Kuma's(1) cell as their Iryo-nin(2)." Sarutobi was curious to see what the man's reaction to that would be.
"An Iryo-nin?"
In order to convince the Sandaime to allow him to raise and mentor Naruto, Shiro had to agree to take ANBU missions. Missions that the Hokage didn't want to risk any of his other shinobi. Shiro was ranked as an S class shinobi in his own timeline, but to go on a mission as an Iryo-nin? Didn't each cell have an Iryo-nin? Oh, right. The basic four man cell was only altered to include a Iryo-nin after Tsunade came back to the village and just before the war really picked up.
The other four member of the cell entered and even though the masks hid their faces, he could tell they were curious and wary of him. It was in the way that their chakra flickered for the barest second. It was only from years of both training and experience that kept Shiro from staring at the youngest and shortest of their group. Shiro let his eyes linger on Tsuru no longer than he had on the others. Tora was a kunoichi who wore her hair in a slight bob. Kuma was to be their captain and had trained many ANBU. When his eyes met those of the last person through the door, it was all the time traveler could do from hyperventilating in shock. His mouth went dry as he gazed at Ookami.
"Kitsune will be working with you on this assignment as an Iryo-nin and shadow."
Shiro could feel the others' unease, knowing it came from the fox mask as well as the color of it. Anything representing or resembling a fox was a sore spot for the village. The wound was still raw for a lot of people. It had only been six years since the Kyuubi's attack on Konoha for supposedly no reason other than blind rage and the village was in its way.
Kuma was the one who voiced what all the others wanted to. "Hokage-sama, do we really need someone from ROOT along?"
ROOT, Danzou's own personal pet project. Emotionless puppets who followed and obeyed Danzo's orders to a T. Shiro was neither. He hated the man on a deep personal level. The only thing that had kept him from killing Danzou this past year was the satisfaction of what he planned for the warmonger. In fact, if things unfolded the same this time as in his timeline, Shiro would make sure Danzou did not get his hands on an Uchiha sharingan let alone a whole armful of them.
When Danzou died, the Godaime had tried to integrate the ROOT with the normal ANBU which didn't work well for a while. The Hokage has used the ROOT as a strike force. ROOT knew the odds of surviving missions and the importance of seeing it through to the end no matter the cost. They had actually been the front line when everything started to go to hell in a hand basket.
His Hokage tried to dissuade Shiro from joining ROOT, but once they saw he was adamant and wouldn't change his mind, they stopped. That was why he volunteered to be the guinea pig so to speak, when the Kages came up with the idea of sending someone back. That and Lee had convinced him. Plus, he had the largest Chakra supply which would even his odds in surviving the trip. It also made him a logical choice.
"I do not work for Danzou," the time traveler stated letting some of the hatred he felt for the man seep into his voice. He had not realized however that he was sending a great amount of blood lust until the Sandaime sharply rebuked him. "Shiro!"
"I apologize, Hokage-sama." He regained control of himself and saw the ANBU visibly relax. Tsuru was looking at him intently which Shiro decided to ignore.
"Kitsune works for me," Sarutobi told them and Shiro had to forcefully keep himself from bristling.
No, he did not work for the Sandaime. Shiro worked to ensure peace and prosperity to Konoha and its people. For the future generations to grow up in peace not war. To keep his future from happening as it did. He was working towards the goal that maybe someday, someday, shinobi were no longer needed or created. The man sadly had come to realize that the Sandaime was not his Hokage. His Hokage was in a future that would hopefully be different.
"So he's a spy to watch Danzou?" Tora guessed. "Why the fox mask? Does Danzou hate you that much?"
The fox mask hadn't been used since the attack on the village. In fact, it had been destroyed. When Shiro entered ANBU, he had requested the mask and code name. Shiro had felt proud to wear the symbol that had once been a stigma. He had chosen to pay homage to the fox and try to lift the negative emotions and thoughts associated with the fox.
"I chose this mask specifically."
Sarutobi cleared his throat bringing attention back to him. He began their briefing, their mission was to assassinate a discontented faction that had been threatening Konohagakure's Daimyo and wanted him disposed. It was also a mission to test Tsuru's mettle. To see if Tsuru had what was needed to become ANBU captain. Tsuru was to be in charge of their mission unless Kuma deemed it necessary to step in and retake command.
When they were through with mission, Shiro planned on having a LONG talk with the Hokage. He didn't have anything against Tsuru or his youth, far from it. Shiro himself had been sent on B and A rank missions when he was about Tsuru's age. Had even been defacto leader of his cell before.
No, what the man had a problem with was how Konoha and essentially the Hokage, was treating the youth. He knew the pressures they were putting on the young ANBU, as well as the pressures his clan was forcing upon him. It wasn't right and it did not set well with Shiro at all. Neither the Uchiha clan nor Konoha knew what it was doing to Tsuru or the repercussions that were to come because of it.
Naruto continued his daily routine every day. Shiro-sensei had taught him how to prepare and make food. He said it was an important requirement if he wanted to make it far as a shinobi. He needed to know how to make his own food to survive and not rely on others' cooking. If he was in enemy territory it was possible for him to be served poisoned food if one suspected him as an enemy shinobi. That also led to him being taught the basics for different poisons and antidotes.
While he was out on his daily run he ended it by the park. His sensei had told him he wanted him to talk to a different child his age every week. Now, Naruto was anything but shy, but he was afraid of rejection. Scanning the park he saw a dark haired boy sitting on the swings all by himself. He wasn't swinging, just sitting and staring at the other children playing about the park. Walking over, Naruto took the seat next to him.
The boy glanced over at him and Naruto smiled. "Hi! I'm Uzumaki Naruto. What's your name?"
Sasuke stared at the brightly colored boy who sat on the swing next to him grinning like an idiot. The kid's parents let him go outside like that? He wanted to ignore the boy. He wasn't feeling particularly happy or cheerful since his Nii-san had to go out on a mission leaving him alone. Maybe if the boy knew he was an Uchiha he would leave him alone, so he answered the blond. "Uchiha Sasuke."
The blond didn't seem to recognize the importance of the Uchiha clan name. He just continued to grin happily. "Nice to meetcha. How come you're not playing with the other kids?"
"Why aren't you?" Sasuke retorted back.
Naruto shrugged. "'Cause I saw you first and you look kinda sad."
"I am not!" Sasuke denied. Uchihas weren't supposed to show emotion to anyone outside the clan.
"It's okay, I'm kinda sad too. My sensei went on a mission yesterday."
Sasuke's obsidian eyes stared into the blond's sapphire ones and found the boy felt the same as he did about his Aniki. So the boy did what he normally wouldn't as he admitted, "My nii-san is on a mission too."
The two boys began to slowly swing as they talked. When Sasuke found that Naruto was practicing throwing shuriken and kunai, he asked if he could train with him. His Aniki was always busy and didn't play with him much anymore or help him with his throwing. The blond instead of denying him, grinned agreeing. The two ran to Shiro and Naruto's training ground. They practiced until it was time for a late lunch and the blond brought Sasuke back to his place. After he washed up he went to get lunch prepared for them. Sasuke looked around in confusion.
The place wasn't exactly small but it was much smaller than Sasuke's house in the Uchiha compound. As he looked around he didn't see any pictures, or any kind of knick-knacks like his mother and father had. What the boy didn't know was that the home was very much a shinobi house. Most didn't have anything lying around that could give away anything about them or could be used at hand against them. Of course that didn't stop some shinobi from bringing home souvenirs or collecting things. Sasuke did find the dojo and the weapons on the walls. Going back to the kitchen he watched as the blond poured water into the rice pot.
"Where's your parents?" he asked curiously.
Naruto didn't freeze as he would have before Shiro-sensei came into his life nor did he explode in anger. Before his sensei began to tell him about his parents, he didn't know anything about them. He had been about ready to give up asking about them. He still didn't know a lot about his father, but that was okay. He would know eventually, Shiro-sensei promised. And Shiro-sensei never went back on a promise.
"They died protecting the village from the Kyuubi," Naruto replied getting onto a stool to reach for the seaweed wraps for the rice. Setting it on the counter he clambered down and went to the fridge for the fish and vegetables. They weren't his favorite but he had promised to eat as Shiro-sensei had instructed him. The blond didn't want to be doomed to living his life as a short midget.
"They were really awesome shinobi. Mom had red hair and was very fiery," Naruto smiled. "Whatever that means. Want pickled plum?"
Sasuke shook his head and the blond went to the chopping board and began prepping the ingredients. They weren't as neat and fine as Shiro-sensei made them, but he thought he did rather okay if he did say so himself. "I lived in the orphanage until Shiro-sensei took me in. He knew about my parents and he tells me about them. Like mom."
"And your dad?"
Naruto finished with the vegetables and moved over to the stove and began to fry the eggs. "He was a strong shinobi who died sacrificing everything for this village. Shiro-sensei says I look a lot like him."
When everything was ready, Sasuke after watching the blond, helped roll the rice balls. They ate then Sasuke had to go home. The two continued to meet to practice throwing shuriken and kunai then eat lunch. Waving goodbye to the Uchiha after they had established their pattern, Naruto wondered if this meant that they were friends.
Meanings -
1 - Kuma = Bear
2 - Iryo-nin = Medical ninja
3 - Tsuru = Crane
4 - Tora = Tiger
5 - Ookami = Wolf
Edited January 7th, 2012
