Chapter Two
Atonal Beat
Laughter and shouts of joy came from all around Kakashi. He walked through the dusty streets of Konohagakure with his hands shoved into his shallow pockets, one eye staring forward with almost no attribute of thought; however, that was the complete opposite of the remaining Hatake member. He was still wondering how the Chūnin exams were going to remain faithful to their proper duty: to promote those most worthy. For all members of a Shinobi Village, young and old, the Chūnin selection exams were a hallmark of tradition and respect. Although Jōnin being a higher rank than Chūnin they all respected the newly promoted Shinobi, simply because it was such narrow selection that only the most motivated and highest potential Ninja could make it through. Some villages brought back no Chūnin at all while others have been known to complete the exams with perfection and a hundred percent success rate. Kakashi simply couldn't fathom it happening any other way; not simply due to being a part of the higher echelon of the Shinobi world, but simply because he had little faith in the fairness of allowing Team Captains to remain in the shadows during the Exams.
"Kakashi-sama!" The familiar voice of Iruka came from behind the blank staring figure of Kakashi. He slowly looked over his shoulder and nodded to Iruka before turning his entire body to face the Academy Instructor. "I think we must have a word." Sweat began to form at Iruka's brow, his expression seemed one of urgency and slightly tainted with anger.
"Here is a as good a place as any?" Kakashi said under his mask. His expression still blank.
"Very well," Iruka stepped within arms reach of the superior Shinobi and spoke softer as for those who may be around in the mid-day would not over hear. "I was informed that you are allowing your team to participate in the upcoming Chūnin exam." Kakashi nodded, already expecting the next few words to come. "In all my respect for you, Kakashi-sama, I must interject and say your Shinobi, my own past students, are not ready for the exam."
"I respect what you have to say, Iruka." Kakashi didn't hesitate for a moment for his next words, "but your feelings are benign in respect to my decisions." Iruka was taken aback with the direct words from Kakashi, "They are no longer your students and are now my Shinobi – meant for battle. I became Jōnin around the same age as those attending this years exams, w-"
"Naruto isn't like you!" Iruka trembled as he yelled at Kakashi, but he held his composure; his passion. "First you remain on a mission that turned awry and threatened not only the very lives of your Shinobi, but also yourself-"
"Iruka-kun!" Kakashi shouted through his mask, his brow now turned inward, "Have you forgotten what it is like to constantly go on missions? How the objectives are no longer just words on a document, but something for you and your team to strive, hope, and even live for?" Kakashi's expression turned into a happier expression, a smile forming under his dark blue mask. "Their lives will always be in danger. It would be best to teach them a thing or two about pain. Crushing them not only physically, but mentally will be fun."
"What?" Iruka's fist tightened. "Are you-"
"A joke," Kakashi's expression returned back to a blank sheet, "I understand your feelings, Iruka." A gust wind seemed to separate the two; lifting up dirt and dust from the street. "But stay out of this, Iruka. If you are a true sensei to your old students, you will prepare them – not baby them. If you attempt to sway my Team or any other Genin team, you will answer to me." Kakashi paused, allowing the junior Shinobi to soak in his words, "Personally."
Iruka's sweat finally began subsiding and his heartbeat seemed to come down for a full sprint, "You're right Kakashi-sama." He let out a chuckle, "Besides, Naruto is the only student who would really listen to me, but even if I tried to persuade him otherwise of the upcoming exam, he wouldn't hear it."
Kakashi smiled and nodded, "Naruto... He is an interesting Genin. Reminds me of-" Kakashi shut the memory from his mind, "Now Iruka, I hope you are more at ease, but I must be going."
"Where are you headed?"
Kakashi turned his back to him, "I have things to do, go motivate your students, Iruka."
Years earlier -
"Your son..." the voice paused for a moment. The room was seemingly void of anything but two wooden boxes which two men sat upon. The sun set's purple and orange hymns came through the pane glass window providing very little light to the room, "We believe he has a Kekkei Tōta."
"What is that?" The other man's face turned to worry.
"To be honest, we are not even too sure exactly. We know that it is a deep bloodline trait, however instead of it having a generic way about itself... It seems that his form of it is much more configured. As if his body has been made to adapt to several mutations at once." The man looked down, he wasn't sure what to say. The father began to perspire.
"Is that why he is sensitive?"
"His audio-sensativity?" The man rubbed his chin, "It certainly could be related. I am sorry I cannot be of any help, Lord Nanari."
He shook his head, "No apologies, old friend. You have done more than enough."
"Sir," The man stood up and walked to one wall thinking, "We can ask perhaps Konohagakure's Shinobi take on your son, perhaps they can-"
Nanari stood up quickly, shouting: "He is my only son!"
"Adopt-"
"Watch your words, Jinri! He may not be of my blood, but he completes the my family. Even the people of Yugakure seem to cherish him." He looked away, his stare flashing to his reflection in the haze of sunset in the window, "Besides, I was given strict orders to keep Nanari in Yugakure, outside of Shinobi villages. Ensooka is to never know what that world is; to feel the weight of a Kunai."
Present -
Yugakure still had some of the touches of a Shinobi village. Many of the old sites were still the original Pagodas used generations ago. The large archway had Yugakure (湯隠れの里) engraved into the wooden sign and below the markings it read: Dreams of the Future scribed upon it. The city was fundamentally set up so that all the buildings and houses faced the sun-set horizon and the large cliffs that faced their neighbors the Takuniha (Land of Rice Fields). Since the village had turned more into a tourist attraction and settled itself as more of a civilian government, vice the Shinobi way, the village had grown into a city and established miles and miles of land that stretched all over. To the north was the snowy beaches, to the east they had massive forests that would meet arid desert lands where much of the natural hot springs are. To the south the forests continue and seem to never end. Yugakure, the new site for the Chūnin exams.
The land was ran by three lords that acted as all branches of government and detailed the laws based on their own votes. One of the lords a Lord Haden Nanari, in charge mostly of the commerce and taxes of the city. He had been in power since the start of Yugakure's major transformations over twenty years ago and was perhaps the most beloved Lord. This was namely due to his decision making which not only progressed the town into a metropolis, but also lowered the dramatic unemployment rate due to the once small village being based on Shinobi doctrines. His estate was also the largest, at the top of waves of rock formations that was at the edge of the city, there the figure of a man who had not been to the city for over a decade peered towards the mansion, the sun dying into the horizon, Jiraiya waited till the moon had usurped the sun to make his move.
He flawlessly crossed onto the grounds without alerting any of the guards, Jiraiya's large scroll seemed to not even hinder the most minute to the largest of movements. He came to the balcony door which had several locks prepared on it. Jiraiya placed his palm to each lock and pressed the shape manipulated Chakra with such precision and finesse, each lock shook for but a moment and soon each were unlocked. At that moment Jiraiya's movements were untraceable as he moved through the house with utter speed until he was in what looked like a servant's personal dining room, the candles flickered to life and the aged Nanari was still asleep, sat up in a chair, obviously dragged from his bed and placed in the seat with speed only a superior Shinobi could have. "Haden, wake up," Jiraiya blasted a small tuft of air outwards against the face of the old man.
Nanari shifted and let out a low groan as he slowly came to. Jiraiya sat across from him, a stern look seemed permanently etched into his countenance. Haden struggled to open his eyes, but as he finally allowed them to come into focus his heart seemed to skipped a beat as he let out a shallow gasp, "Jiraiya-san?"
"Why am I hearing that your son is going to the Chūnin exams?" Jiraiya's tone was grave and without any empathy.
Nanari was still trying to wake up as he readjusted his posture in the seat. "Some tea, Jiraiya-san?" He let out a soft chuckle.
"Answer me, Haden."
He shrugged his shoulders, blinking rapidly, "Ensooka has no interest in anything but the discovery of his abilities." He looked back into the bold eyes of Jiraiya, "I am his father, what am I supposed to do? He can't interact with the world I try to give him."
Jiraiya shook his head, "Give him another world then. But do not make the mistake of bringing him to the Shinobi world. I chose you because you are a part of a world that doesn't need Shinobi. You and your wife could not bare your own child so I repaid an old debt to an old friend with Ensooka."
"And trust me, Lord Jiraiya, we are more than grateful for what you did for us, but I do not control the way the world grows, I can only attempt to push it in some sort of favorable direction. Right now, even with the economy of the civilian trust, the Shinobi old economical sway is still more powerful. We have to take some advantage of being once a Shin-"
"No!" Jiraiya shouted, but regained his composure right after. He could see Haden was gripping the arms of his seat, "You are not required to take advantage of anything. I am telling you right now, if you not only allow the Chūnin exams to take place here, but also allow Ensooka to become involved." He paused, fathoming the idea, "I cannot imagine what would happen. Things other than your city is motion. If you continue down this path it is inevitable they will collide."
Haden licked his dry lips, "I am no fool, Jiraiya. You know of something that I would have to guess not many of anyone know about. If it is so important, why don't you force things out of motion? Wouldn't it be easier to threaten me with brute force? Or to even kidnap the child?"
Jiraiya felt sick at the thought, "And I am no fool, Hiden. I have morals. Beliefs. These things, if crossed, make me no better than the worst that have existed in the past. I can only inform and do my best to handle the forces that unleash afterward. I will endure the pain. I'll take all the hits. But when I am gone, who else will take my place?" Jiraiya stood up, "I have heard that your son has a Kekkei Tōta?" he chuckled, thinking back, "I can sense from here that he has no control of it or his emotions."
"I am not changing my mind, Jiraiya. This is happening. The world is growing. The civilian world cannot keep ignoring the Shinobi world and vice versa."
"You have six days to change your mind. Think long and hard." And with that Jiraiya was gone, the candles out, and Haden still half asleep sitting stiff in his
