Where to start? This chapter was… odd for me to write because it required a lot of background work that needs to be explained. 1st, I don't like OCs. I really don't. So rather than use them to fill this story I grabbed characters from everywhere else and filled them in. Mostly fighting games and anime. However this is a Naruto story, these characters were adapted to fit the Naruto (and bits of Exalted) world. While I tried to keep as close to their canon backgrounds the history of some characters was changed or altered to fit the Naruto world and when possible characters added to Konoha's roster where put within existing clans. Other characters experienced minor changes to the personalities (largely do to the fact that many characters are from a modern setting where killing is the great sin of martial arts, while in the Naruto world views on it tend to run from not caring at all to finding it a necessary evil)
Most characters, in my mind at least, fit into the pegs rather nicely but there is one issue I feel you should be warned about ahead of time- The Uchiha clan and the Senju. Lots of characters got dumped into the Uchiha clan and most of them conveniently died during the massacre. However the roster of living Uchiha is slightly changed.
Uchiha Itachi- age 18- S-Rank Missing-Nin, Akatsuki
Uchiha Kasumi- Age 17- A- Rank Missing Nin, whereabouts unknown (off on her quest to avenge her brother)
Ayane (unacknowledged bastard child, currently no Sharingan) - Age 15, currently serving in Anbu (desires to kill both Kasumi and Itachi, blames Kasumi for Sasuke defecting)
Uchiha Sasuke – Age 12, C-rank Missing-Nin, Oto (desires to kill Itachi)
The Senju also actually have a clan now.
Honestly it probably won't matter… most of these characters will be too awesome to actually spend much time around Sakura and will thus be relegated to the background anyway. I just felt that fair warning should be given.
Disclaimer: Borrowed characters are currently from: Ranma ½, Kenichi Histories Mightiest Disciple, Dead or Alive, Street Fighter, and probably others later. I don't own any of them.
This chapter also gives rise to character stats which are seen at the bottom and explained there. I'm not fond of the Data Entry Books so I opted for something else. Like I said, big chapter for me…
Chapter 03: New Beginnings
"Victory often rests on the correct shinobi being in the correct place at the right time. Even the mightiest ninja is worthless if absent from battle."- Senju Tobirama
The Room of Profound Darkness was located deep in the dark, buried in the lowest depths of the Hokage Tower. Most Anbu and veteran ninja had at least heard of the room and when they thought no one was listening gossip flew about its purpose. No one had officially acknowledged the room's existence. No one ever admitted to being inside. Hatake Kakashi, having served as a Jonin for almost 14 years was often badgered for information by his Jonin colleagues and former Anbu peers. He'd never admitted having any knowledge of the room. To anyone. Ever. Not his self proclaimed Eternal Rival. Not his students. Not a determined and half naked Kurenai. Not even his half sister on the warpath. No one. He wasn't alone in his reluctance, anyone who had access or knowledge of the room held it close.
The room itself would have been hard to describe even if one had a desire to speak of it. The walls where bathed in shadow and seemed to devour any source of light that drifted close. Still for all the drama, history, and dark legends that surrounded the room (and they were legion) today's focus was on the occupants of the room. A gathering of the very highest level of Konoha's command structure. The Hokage's advisors, for all their status and prestige, were not welcome here. Danzo and Hiashi Hyuuga and all their village council drama were absent. No lurking representative from the Fire Daimyo hid in the corners. This was a gathering of the real movers and shakers of Konoha and Hatake Kakashi would have traded his Sharingan eye to have not been included in their number, even as a place filler.
To understand this gathering you have to understand Konoha's history, and the First Great Shinobi War. The first war happened when the villages were still new, some hadn't even formed yet. While it may have been the first war between villages it was fought in the style of the pre village wars, just written large. Teams were composed almost entirely of members from the same clans. It was horribly ineffective and drove wedges between the clans in the Konoha as the various clans accused others of shirking or seeking the best stations for themselves.
In an effort to eliminate the problem the First Hokage split the clan forces into mixed teams, and removed clan heads from the chain of command, instead forming his teams into ten companies, each nearly 1,000 strong. After the war, the Second Hokage refined the system, new companies were added and others dissolved but the system designed to force the various clans to work together remained in place over half a century later. Today's gathering consisted of the company captains, the Hokage's direct subordinates. In the faint light of the room their forms were all but totally obscured, and each left a fearsome silhouette.
"Can we get started?" Inuzuka Tsume, Jonin Captain of the 7th Company and the so called 'Mistress of the Hunt' grumbled from her position towards the back of the room.
"Hmph," Tsunade snorted "we may as well. Shikaku." The 5th fire shadow was easily the most visible member of the room, the white in her formal robes seeming to draw almost every bit of color in the room; everyone easily saw her hand gesture toward the Jonin Commander of the second company.
"We've all seen the reports," The Elder Nara said in a bland tone, "so I'll skip most of the details. We have two real problems. Casualties from the Invasion, and deployments. We lost three Jonin Captains who need replaced; and six hundred chunin, almost all of them from the second and third companies. We're going to have to pull chunin from other companies to fill the gaps."
"That could be difficult." Hyuuga Akisame, a famed philosophical gentle fist master, said in a neutral tone. There were two types of companies, deployed companies and specialist companies. Specialist companies were composed of ninja who had particular skill sets. The 1st Company was composed entirely of Anbu. The 2nd Company contained all the little odd positions around Konoha, the logistics shinobi, cryptanalysis and Cryptography specialists, academy teachers, mission assignment, armory, sorcerers, etc. The 7th Company was filled with Reconnaissance types and sensors. The 9th Company had all the shinobi assigned to long term Espionage. The 10th, which Kakashi was representing, was composed entirely of Genin teams. The 12th, currently being represented by Shizune, was the Medical company.
The deployed companies existed to serve as buffers during the war, and to provide stable bases across the country. Akisame's company, the 4th, was based in a city called Lord's Crossing, and covered missions across the northern part of the country. The 5th Company was based in Fire Countries capital, to "support" the Fire Daimyo and cover the western part of the country. The 6th Company was located far away in the southeast and largely covered naval requests. The 3rd Company was often considered the dream placement for a shinobi, located in Konoha itself it tended to cover the east and was responsible for guarding Konoha itself. If the ranks of the third were to be restocked, most of the shinobi would have to come from other 'deployed' companies, none of which could really afford to lose the manpower.
"What about genin?" The voice that emerged was a woman's, young beautiful, it was a voice that promised pleasures unending, and Kakashi knew he'd be thinking of it when next he read from his book. Still it also freaked him out a little. The Anbu Commander, silver mask faintly visible even in the room's perpetual gloom, was a figure that was as androgynous as they come. From the hood, gloved hands, heavy coat, stance, build, you just weren't sure. Even more dubious was the voice which drastically changed each time the masked figure spoke. "Do we have any we could promote to fill the ranks." It was a man's voice this time, booming and friendly, with an accent from the land of Iron.
"A few," Kakashi said. "From talking to the team leaders I could only promote twenty or so at best. We do have a few chunin still attached to their old genin teams that could be moved. I hate to break up teams but it happens eventually anyway."
"We don't really need to get the 3rd back to full strength, just fill it out to passable for now." Shikaku said quickly cutting anyone else off from speaking. "If you give me the twenty genin, we can get by with another 300 or so chunin from elsewhere. That should give our new captain a core to work around for a bit."
"If you don't take the chunin, I'm not comfortable giving you the genin who haven't made grade yet." Kakashi said. He could feel everyone's eyes settle on him. Tsume broke the tension with a roaring laugh.
"Ha! He got you. Just break your kid off his team Nara, from what my boy said he did all right on his last mission without the girl anyhow." The elder Nara said nothing, but was saved by Jiraiya, legendary sannin and Jonin captain of the 9th.
"Before we talk about genin," The Toad Sage said, "what about the reserve? We've got a lot of retirees we could muster. Or missing-nins? I know at least a handful of runaway genin and chunin that could be brought back into the fold. Morino Idate, the Ibuki girl… we have options at least before we start hurling genin into the line."
"I think it's premature to discuss manpower without consulting whoever is going to be leading the 3rd Company, we should settle on a replacement before dealing with the rank and file." Senju Maya, by far the youngest of them and Jonin Captain of the 5th, said.
Every member of the meeting was a loyal dedicated shinobi of Konoha. Each thought they knew what the best solution was and pushed for it unrelentingly. The results, unsurprisingly, took forever to reach and left no one happy. The meeting took all night, broke for breakfast and quick negotiations behind closed doors, resumed with all parties refreshed with caffeine or sake, continued through lunch and finished with Kakashi feeling like he'd refought the third great shinobi war.
The final agreed upon conclusions were, in no particular order: Hatake Kakashi was not going to be promoted to Jonin Captain of the 10th company. Parts of the shinobi reserve (consisting of elderly shinobi, those retired for medical reasons, and members of clans who had gotten shinobi training but chose to pursue safer lines of work) would be mobilized and chosen by a lottery. Missing-nin genin and chunin would be hunted down and drafted back into the village or killed. The upcoming class of academy students would be graduated immediately to bolster the village's current forces. 500 total chunin would be transferred from the 1st, 4th, 5th, and 6th companies to return the 3rd to fighting strength. Jonin, special jonin, and a few hastily promoted chunin currently serving in the 2nd, 7th, and 12th would be assigned to mentor the mass of new genin. Nara Shikamaru could stay with Team 10. Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane would be restored to active service and assigned "as far away from me as possible" the Hokage had demanded. Uzumaki Naruto would be transferred to the 9th company. Uzuki Yugao would be promoted to Jonin Captain of the 3rd company. All current genin teams and their instructors would be transferred evenly between the 4th, 5th, and 6th to make up for the loss of chunin personnel. Shizune would be promoted to Jonin Captain of the 12th. A review of imprisoned shinobi would be taken to see if any could be rehabilitated into service. 10th Company would be temporarily disbanded for three years then re-established. 1st company was to begin retaliatory assaults on village of sound forces. Hatake Kakashi was immediately removed from Team 7 and placed in the 3rd Company to assist with the new formation. Team 10, unlike every other existing genin team, would be transferred to the 3rd company. It was also unanimously voted vending machines be added to the bottom floor of the Hokage Tower.
When she had been in the Academy Haruno Sakura was something of an optimist. Life had been pretty good to her. Well other than the schizophrenia and her oversized forehead. Four months in the field and two weeks on her own had taught her better. So when she reported in for a mission and was told that she'd been called to a special meeting at the academy that afternoon, she had absolutely no positive feelings whatsoever. Her neutral disposition dropped to outright negative feelings when she realized how crowded the academy was.
"Shit, there must be over a hundred genin and academy students here!" Inner Sakura complained. "We're never going to find a seat." The academy classroom was filed to the brim. The seats were taken; people were leaning against desks, the wall, a pair of older genin had opened the windows and perched on the ledge. A few had given up on finding a spot and were milling about in the hallway. Sakura never the most intimidating person wasn't about to shove her way into the crowd to make space for herself so she resorted to an old fall back. She stood on her tip toes and looked for someone she knew.
Team 8 was huddled together down in front, surrounded by students and genin. Neji was out in the hall, too dignified to fight for a seat. He'd also probably be able to lip read the speaker anyway. Well… they did know each other… they'd never actually talked directly or anything. But she had stood around his vicinity sometimes… and he had watched her fight Ino to a draw once…
"Yeah, I've got 500 ryo that says he couldn't pick you out of a lineup." Inner Sakura said. Giving a sigh Sakura ended up standing at the far back of the room. She couldn't see the front at all.
"Hello everyone! If you could all quiet down we'll get started." Sakura recognized Iruka and imagined he was smiling and looking for his former students in the milling mass. She wasn't sure since she couldn't see him from the far, far, back of the room, behind a row of taller genin. But, sometimes, she liked to pretend that someone was happy to see her.
"All right," Iruka said, "I know you're all surprised to be here and no one told most of you what was happening, so I'll be filling you in. We've suffered what non-ninja call a corporate restructuring. If you're in this room you're being transferred to one of the deployed companies." Bedlam and anarchy had a field day with the assembled genin. There was much yelling, shouts of dismay, denials, references about Iruka's lineage and how many dogs must be in it. Needless to say it took a lot of shouting to calm down the masses.
"Calm down! I'm not happy about this either!" Iruka shouted. "You've been sorted by team. So I'll read off the active teams now and let you all know where you're being sent. If you currently aren't on an active team, either because of the invasion or because you just got an early graduation just wait. We'll get all of you sorted as soon as we can. When you get home pack whatever you can't live without because you may not be back in Konoha for a few years. Team #1, you're going to…" Sakura mostly tuned Iruka out while she thought about this strange new direction her life was taking. She wasn't from a prominent clan or even a minor clan with generations of service. The odds had always been that she'd be shipped to one of the other bases. It wasn't that big a deal, and it would get her away from her parents! She'd have her own place. She'd be far, far, far away from Konoha's labyrinth sewer system.
Think of it, the capital city, the nobility, the grandeur! She'd be guarding important nobles, and protecting priceless national treasures and sites. Yeah Sakura could see herself in fancy kimonos, dining in fabulous restaurants, the possibilities were endless. Even better, if she heard right, team 8 would be going there. She wasn't really close to anyone on the team, but they had been classmates. They even knew her name, and talked to her sometimes!
Team 10 was off to Lord's Crossing, and it made Sakura think about serving in the place. It was supposed to be one of the biggest trading cities in the world, almost every merchant caravan going from east to west or north to south passed through it. A real nail biter; dangerous missions and front line duty if another war broke out but a chance to shop and live in one of the most lavish cities in the world. Team 10 would do pretty well up there, she decided, they were a really combat heavy team.
Greyfalls, her third option, was far less attractive then the first two. It was located in the far south east, the least populated part of Fire Country. It was also a port, and after the mission to Wave Country Sakura was done with ships, islands, and bridges. No her first choice of duty stations was defiantly the capital.
"Okay, that's all the active teams. For those of you without a team listen for your name. Team 83, Yoroi Akadō, Haruno Sakura, and Ami. You're assigned to the 6th Company in Greyfalls. Team 91..."
"Son of a bitch."
I wanted this chapter to be longer but I also wanted to post tonight. I compromised. If there's any typos or grammer mistakes please tell me. I don't have a Beta so I'm doing what I can but mistakes happen. Also- this character sheet is taken from Exalted, and I'll break it down bit by bit next chapter. (rule of thumb- 1= Academy student level, 2= Genin Level, 3= chunin, 4= Special Jonin, 5=Jonin/ the exception is willpower which runs 1-10. Most ninja are in the 6-8 range in regards to willpower)
Name: Sakura Haruno
Age: 12
Element: Water
Equipment: Standard
Taijutsu Style: Academy
Physical: Strength 3, Dexterity 2, Stamina 1
Social: Charisma 2, Manipulation 2, Appearance 2
Mental: Perception 2, Intelligence 3, Wits 2
Abilities:
Warrior: Archery, Martial Arts 2, Melee, Resistance, Thrown 2
Commander: Integrity, Performance 1, Presence, Survival 1, War 2
Support: Craft, Investigation 1, Lore 3, Medicine, Occult 1
Assassin: Athletics 1, Awareness 1, Dodge 1, Larceny 2, Stealth 2
Spy: Bureaucracy 2, Linguistics 1, Ride, Sail, Socialize 1
Chakra: 2
Willpower: 5
Bloodline Bonus: 0
Chakra Reserves: 7
Chakra Pool: 18
Virtues: Compassion 3, Conviction 2, Temperance 2, Valor 2
