Chapter Three

Dissension

Naruto hobbled down the merchant district of Konohagakure no Sato with no real destination in mind. He has been in the rehabilitation stage of his recovery for about a month and a half now, and making astounding progress.

Normally amputees need anywhere from six to eight months for full prosthetic use, even with chakra support. However, the young Namikaze has gotten near full use in less then two.

Recovering from his condition hasn't been the only progress the crippled boy has made though. Large amounts of bed rest opened the gateway to his new favorite past time: reading. Books and scrolls to Naruto, supplemented the greatest power a person can have: knowledge. Having information your enemy doesn't will put you at an extreme advantage.

His advancements in academics, and his thirst for knowledge even brought him praise with Seiji. The iryo-nin commented saying that, 'he would be a genius if he ever became a shinobi.'

However, even with the announcement of the Fourth Great Shinobi War, the jury was still out on him becoming a ninja. Seiji had mentioned that his integration into the shinobi forces was possible, given that Sunagakure has had notable ninja with physical disabilities.

In response, the crippled boy requested information regarding Suna shinobi, which the iryo-nin obliged. Being the crippled, bastard son of a kage had its perks, even if the former occurred through unsavory means.

The bespectacled man fought him a bit though, saying he should return home to finish up his rehabilitation. Naruto declined however, he would go back home when his father came to get him. As childish as he thought it was, he wanted Minato to come to him, not the other way around.

Naruto's ears twitched, as he heard two whispering civilians on his right, "It's a shame Hokage-sama's first born won't become a ninja, we could use another genius in the war."

The blonde gritted his teeth as he passed them by. How did they know he couldn't become a shinobi? 'To think you have the answers through mere assumptions is arrogance, and arrogance leads to death.' A quote derived from the Nidaime Hokage himself.

Clenching his fist, Naruto decided right there that he would show the village that he could become a shinobi. And he knew just the person to ask.


Minato Namikaze rubbed his burning eyes with a sigh. He had just adjourned a council meeting that was filled with more theoretical nonsense than any actual progress.

The war so far wasn't in their favor. Konoha was viewed as the strongest of all the five villages, and for all intents and purposes, it was. However, the Kyubi attack took many of their shinobi's lives, as well as dampering the economy. Less shinobi to carry out missions, and reconstruction did that.

The Yodaime Hokage welcomed this reprieve though, as short as it will be. A sudden knock on his office door brought on another sigh,' And there it is,' thought Minato. "You may enter."

His assistant entered with a frown marring her face, "I apologize Hokage-sama, but your son Naruto is here to see you."

'Naruto? Shouldn't he be in the hospital?' He scratched his chin, before looking at the young woman, "Kimiko, send him in please." Bowing, the assistant shut the door. 'Naruto...I wonder how you have been doing.'

After a short wait, his assistant opened the door for his son, who shuffled in with a crutch under his arm. Minato noted that his prosthetic was covered by white medical rapping. Kimiko grabbed a nearby chair, and helped the young Namikaze into it. His son's expression turned dark from the act, he noticed.

"That will be all Kimiko, and thank you." After another bow, the two were left alone. Father and son.

After a short silence the elder spoke, "How does it feel, your leg I mean," he said, the last part hurried.

"I knew what you were referring to father, and it feels better than it was. The phantom pain is the worst part of it," the boy was polite, but held a certain edge in his voice.

"I'm glad you are feeling better, I had many friends who have lost a piece of themselves. They were much slower when it came to rehabilitation, I'm proud of you," Minato smiled at his son, but a frown nearly formed at Naruto's apathetic gaze.

"Father, I request admission into the shinobi forces. I know that I'm a cripple, but I'm willing to push myself to my limits and beyond to prove myself. I have trained my chakra control to a degree that Seiji-san said was that of a medical genin. I have pushed myself to read up on everything that is taught at the academy. Please father," he then clumsily got onto the ground in spite of his leg, and bowed.

Silence permeated the room after Naruto's request, and the young blonde didn't dare lift his head.

"No."

Naruto's eyes widened, as he slowly lifted his head to match his father's gaze. Minato looked conflicted as he held his son's gaze. "But why? I can do this, just please give me a chan-"

"I said no Naruto. I'm sorry for having to say this, but I just cannot send you to your death." The elder blonde nearly grimaced at his son's pained expression. He looked so broken.

"Bu-but father, there have been accounts of some Suna shinobi who became powerful despite their condition," Naruto was desperate at this point, and he was trying as hard as he could not to cry. Didn't his father see how much he needed this? How much he needed him?

"Damn it Naruto," Minato said, his stress catching up to him, "those shinobi you are talking about were already ninja before they became crippled. Not only that, but Suna has far more efficient methods at using prosthesis, because of their puppetry."

The young blonde went silent, before snarling, "Is it because I'm your bastard?"

Caught by surprise, the elder Namikaze nearly recoiled,"What?" His son's hands were shaking with unbridled rage, as his long, shaggy hair shadowed his eyes.

"I'm your bastard right? You had me with my mother almost seven years ago during the last war. I'm sure that was a black mark on your perfect record, a Hokage to be, who slept with an Iwagakure shinobi!"

For the first time since he became the leader of Konoha, the Hokage was left speechless.

After a short silence, Minato spoke,"Naruto, you were not a victim of circumstance, this I can promise. You were not an accident, your mother was-she was a friend. A good person who was a victim of war."

Naruto's anger was palpable, and he was ready to explode on his father again. But, a crazy thought entered his head. It was ludicrous, but if his father kept up his neglect, and this war kept going then it was possible.

The young Namikaze's anger dispersed, "Okay father you win."

The elder blonde's eyebrows rose, as his son continued, "If I cannot become a shinboi, can you at least indulge me on my other dream?"

"Other dream?" Naruto nearly grinned in response, "I wish to become a puppeteer, to better control my limb. I understand that it is a hijutsu, so we have little information on the topic. However, I would like as much information as we have on the subject, as well as a workshop. Nothing big, but something efficient."

The Yodaime Hokage's eyes softened, 'He has been through so much pain, both psychological and physical. And yet, he still pushes himself to be the best he can be. I haven't been there for him when I should have, it's that simple.'

"Okay Naruto," He said with a smile, "I can spare a genin team to turn the old house we had before my rein as Hokage, into some sort of workshop for you."

Naruto's smile could have lit up the room, "Thank you father, I will not disappoint you!"

'It's the least I can do for you, my son.'


After an anxious week, Naruto moved into his new home for the foreseeable future. This is where he will start on his conquest for greatness. This is where he will become a ninja in all but name.

The blonde started on the many books and scrolls on puppetry given to him. As expected, the information was vague at best, but it was enough for him to get an idea. Reverse engineering a hijutsu from accounts and scrolls was going to be nearly impossible. However, he was prepared to spend years in is father's old home, isolated from the rest of reality if need be.

From what he gathered, puppetry is broken down into three main branches: poison use, fuinjutsu, and construction. Poison is a vital part of using puppets in battle, because of their nature. Puppets themselves are usually not very durable. However, they make up for that with agility, and using poison to take down the enemy with naught but a scrape. He knew poison use was a branch of medical techniques, so he would be spending quite a bit of time talking with Seiji.

Fuinjutsu in this case, is used to store your puppets for maximum efficiency. A memory struck him during his studies on fuinjutsu. He remembered how his father used seals to strengthen the molecular bonds in objects. He demonstrated this in the past, with the very seals that kept Naruto's new home strong. The blonde hypothesized that he could strengthen his puppets in the future with this method.

And last, but not least, construction. Construction is the foundation for all puppet techniques. Every great puppeteer started with the construction of his or her first puppet. This was the most vague part in deciphering Suna's hijutsu though. How did they make their puppets? What was the best method for creating the most efficient puppet possible? Naruto thought on this subject for hours, but soon realized that there would be plenty of trial and error in the future.

He needed patience; every great shinobi started with the basics. The Shodaime did not build Konoha in a single day after all.


And here is chapter three of Remembrance! My imagination played a big role in this one, because the words just didn't flow like I wanted them to. Now, here are some counter arguments I thought of to combat hypothetical arguments I made. (I hope that made sense.)

1. Naruto is far too intelligent for a seven year old!

Well, if this was real life I would agree with you. However, in the Naruto universe, child geniuses grow on trees. The most extreme example of this is Itachi Uchiha. Hiruzen Sarutobi even said that Itachi thought like a kage when he was a GENIN! Hell, Kakashi made genin at FIVE, and chunin at six, freaking SIX!

2. Minato's neglect is unrealistic!

Between his duties as Hokage, the war, Naruto's rehabilitation and trying to see his wife and newborn son, I think it's realistic.

3. Minato consummating with another woman, (an Iwa one at that) would never happen!

All will be explained in time; however, look at it this way. Minato was between sixteen and seventeen during that time, and was still discovering things about himself, as well as the world.

Glossary

1. Iryo-nin: Medical Ninja

2. Yodaime Hokage: Fourth Fire Shadow

3. Hijutsu: Secret Technique

4. Fuinjutsu: Sealing Technique