"Decision making is the specific executive task."
Peter F. Drucker
Chapter 1: Life altering Decisions
Part 3 – Acceptance
The Sandaime Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, looked out the window overlooking his village as he waited for his old teammates to arrive. In his hand lay the two missives Pakkun had brought him. His mind was awhirl with different thoughts, and he knew he had to be focused for this meeting. What would you do? He thought, looking up at the Yondaime's face.
"Sarutobi? What has happened? You rarely call us unless something troubling has occurred."
He turned and looked at his old teammates, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura. Although they had, over the years, disagreed with him on many things regarding how the village should be run, they had also understood when not to fight him. But with the missives he just received, their advice could help settle his mind. So easy to make the wrong choice here.
"I received a missive today from Kakashi about his mission in Wave," he waited as they looked at him, "Perhaps we should sit for this."
The two elders looked at each other and then sat down across from their old teammate, knowing that this was going to be an interesting conversation. Their old friend rarely asked for advice, and only when he was faced with a decision he could not trust himself to make.
"First it appears that we were given false information and the mission went from the C-rank I assigned to his team, to a B-rank, and finally A-rank. It appears that the mission is ending soon, with no casualties and few injuries. But many problems have arisen that decisions must be made on, that could possibly lead to benefiting the village. Or it could bring harm."
"Hatake's team? Did we not place the Uchiha and Uzumaki on that team?" Homura stated softly.
"Ah, it was our belief that Kakashi could keep an eye on young Sasuke, as his psych profile has been worrisome. Kakashi and his strong beliefs in teamwork would hopefully encourage ties to the team and the village. Also, as Uchiha tend to be either combat or assassin specialists and we wish him to be 'grounded', we figured placing him with the Uzumaki boy would make a good combat team. I believe we chose Haruno Sakura as the third, because we felt if she focused on her training instead of chasing after boys she would make a good Genjutsu or Medical-nin support for the two of them," Utatane responded.
Sarutobi nodded his head; contrary to popular belief the idea of putting the 'dead last' with the class 'rookie' had been abandoned long ago. In actuality the Hokage and his old teammates knew that Naruto had been hampered in the academy. After seeing how Naruto had learned Kage Bunshin in only a few hours with no aid, they had also begun to suspect that he was more a kinesthetic learner. It was their belief that the boy would make large jumps in abilities once he began missions, rather than choosing to hold him back, and giving him the time to learn what the academy had not been teaching the boy. Since both his parents had been combat specialists, and they knew the boy's loyalty was to the village, it seemed a good mix for the two to be placed on the same team.
And if either found themselves desiring to leave the village, Kakashi would be there to handle it, Sarutobi thought sadly.
"So what has happened that needs our attention?" Homura asked.
Taking another breath from his pipe, Sarutobi continued. "I will start by explaining what Kakashi has told me of the mission. A few days travel outside the village on the way to Wave, they were attacked by the Demon Brothers- Mist chuunin. That is when they realized the mission was higher ranked. Based on the team's decision they continued on," he smiled at the two in front of him, "I will let you read the full report when Kakashi finally turns it in, but it seems an impassioned plea from Naruto and agreement from Sasuke encouraged Kakashi to continue on. After arriving at Waves, they were then met by a jounin missing-nin, Momochi Zabuza, also known as the Demon of the Mist."
He stopped at the sound of both elders taking a deep breath in. Rarely was a new genin team put in a situation where they would be fighting against a missing-nin, let alone a high A-class one such as Zabuza. Waiting for their nods, he continued on.
"Kakashi engaged Zabuza, and was caught. It appears that Naruto and Sasuke worked together to exact a plan Naruto thought up, which allowed Kakashi his freedom and continued the fight. The battle was stopped by a hunter-nin, who later turned out to be Zabuza's accomplice. The following week was spent training, so that they would be better equipped for dealing with Zabuza. It is at that last battle that the problems began. It seems Zabuza's accomplice is a survivor of the bloodline purges that occurred in Water country, a Hyouton user. Sometime during the battle, he managed to trap the boys in a Hyouton technique called Demonic Ice Mirrors. These Ice Mirrors appear to form a dome, in which the Hyouton user can transport between mirrors attacking those inside. The mirrors, he claims, are chakra resistant and cannot be shattered by brute strength or jutsu. The Uchiha was knocked unconscious by use of senbon, placed in a death like state.
"Kakashi states that at this point, Naruto became enraged, and the Seal cracked, or so he believes. Based on what we know of the seal from Yondaime's notes, what probably happened is the boy resonated with Kyuubi for the first time and Kyuubi supplied massive chakra. It was enough to scare Kakashi and destroy the ice dome. Both Zabuza and Kakashi ended their battle when a scream rent the air, which froze both of them. They both ran to the shattered ice dome, only to find the Uchiha unconscious, Uzumaki having a panic attack, and the Hyouton user hysterical on the ground. Kakashi checked on the Uchiha, but gave wide berth to Naruto, as he wasn't sure what had happened, or if Kyuubi was still influencing him. At that time, Zabuza's 'boss'- Gatou of the Gatou Shipping Corp- appeared to betray him. Kakashi and Zabuza worked together to eliminate the threat, and then took everyone back to the client's home."
Homura and Utatane were silent and thinking as they listened, a multitude of questions were in their minds to ask, but they knew Sarutobi would not have called them for this alone.
"After he awoke, the Hyouton user, known as Haku, spent all his time caring for young Uzumaki. He seemed most concerned with him, and Kakashi states, 'protective as if he was watching his own little brother' and Zabuza seemed interested in young Naruto as well, although from Kakashi's point of view, he thinks it is because of young Haku's interest only."
"What is it Sarutobi? Nothing you have told us would cause you to summon us," Homura asked.
Sarutobi looked at his two old teammates, and wondered how they would take the next statement. He himself upon reading Zabuza's request had been quite shocked himself. Requests like these were rare nowadays.
"The Demon of the Mist has requested that he and his apprentice Haku be allowed to come to Konohagakure to discuss joining our village." He sat back and watched the two closely.
"How was the missive from Zabuza worded?" Homura asked thinking quickly.
"Zabuza is smart and he speaks of desiring to live in a peaceful village that does not have a Kage that is more a threat to the village then war itself. He alludes that he knows who or what Naruto is, and offers a trade of information for entry, as his young charge is now bound to Naruto. He also states that young Haku is Jonin level, but has avoided having being identified in any bingo book."
The old Hokage held out the missive Zabuza had written, as well as Kakashi's report- which Homaru took to read, leaving it tilted to allow Utatane to skim it as well.
"Am I reading this right?" Homaru asked, almost shocked, "Information on the new village that has appeared in Rice that is actively recruiting missing-nin? Information on Orochimaru? A promise to provide the protection we cannot for Naruto?" Homaru looked up at Sarutobi, and then to Utatane. "This is an unusual and novel approach to joining a village. What does Kakashi think?"
"Kakashi supports that we meet with Zabuza. He writes that, although he doesn't know what those Hyouton mirrors did, there is some form of a chakra bond between young Haku and Naruto," he answered. "Also, he feels that they do not mean harm to the village, and from what he saw of the bond and the way the two nin treat Naruto, he was very surprised that they didn't just try to steal him away."
Silence reigned in the room.
"That is definitely unexpected. It appears that young Naruto takes more after his mother then his father in making ties in unexpected places." Utatane said with a small smile, remembering a red-headed Kunoichi who tended to get under people's skin.
"Kakashi's summon Pakkun is waiting for our response," Sarutobi stated, "He also mentioned that he liked the smell of the two nin and that the Hyouton user's chakra appeared to be calming the Kyuubi. We must now decide what course of action would be best."
All three were silent as they gathered their thoughts about what could be behind this, and whether it was worth the risk of allowing not just an A-rank missing-nin entry into the village, but access to the young Jinchuuriki. Sarutobi, waited for the two to gather their thoughts and speak them. They would provide him with varied outlooks, which hopefully would point him to making the correct choice.
"Zabuza became missing nin when he took part in the rebellion that took place a few years ago, correct? It would be helpful if we could have more accurate information on Mist. Although they send out teams to Chuunin Exams, they haven't chosen to host one in awhile. And although we know they are still active and strong, we have very little information about the current Mizukage, let alone the village itself for the past thirteen years. We have never really been able to gain spies into the village, but since the War with Iwa it has been even worse. I have never liked the idea that they are such an unknown," Koharu started off.
"Information on this village in Rice and Orochimaru would be worth a lot as well. A village that is recruiting missing-nin is always a concern. During the wars it was quite common, but now in such peaceful times…" Homaru's voice drifted off. "And you know I never understood why you let Orochimaru leave like that. We have had very little news on him since he disappeared from the group Jiraiya has been watching."
"Mentioning that, we know that this group, Akatsuki, work's in pairs according to Jiraiya's latest information. Young Itachi has joined them and is paired to a swordsman of the mist himself, Hoshigaki Kisame, I believe. It might be helpful to gain information on another Akatsuki member," Sarutobi mentioned.
"Also, since Mist has destroyed most of their bloodlines, salvaging the Hyouton one to be a part of Konoha would be a plus. Since the Senjuu clan has not produced a Mokuton user in several generations, and we do not know if Tenzou will pass it on, it would be interesting to bring a new elemental bloodline to Konoha. One that perhaps has stabilized, unlike Mokuton. Perhaps this is why the summons said the bond is soothing Kyuubi's chakra?" Koharu stated looking out the window at the Shodai Hokage's face.
"And there you bring up the key point. Kyuubi." Homaru placed the missive on the table in front of him. "How do we feel about their interest in young Uzumaki, and why is it that they are offering to protect the boy. As far as I know we have headed off most attacks and no new ones have occurred in years."
"Well there was that Chuunin-sensei," Koharu muttered.
Sarutobi put his pipe aside, "Homura, don't be foolish. Yes, we have kept the boy free from most physical harm, except occasional attacks from the villagers around the anniversary of the Kyuubi attack, but not safe." He glared at his old teammate. "That boy has suffered severe emotional damage, and even you have admitted that we have the largest case of civil disobedience ever heard of. How many times have we had to increase his allowance due to his inability to afford clothes and food? How many shinobi stores that we have fined for giving him bad equipment or refusing service?"
"He is right," Koharu stated. "The boy is running around like a happy idiot, but anyone who looks closely can see it is a mask. And it will eventually crumble. I fear what will happen when the smile goes away. If he has begun to resonate with the beast, he needs stability, and for all that Hatake is a good leader he is not exactly what I would call a good choice for emotional support. He is an even bigger basket case then the Uchiha. The boy only has Sarutobi and that Chuunin Umino, neither of whom can give the boy the time and effort he needs," she looked out the window briefly, "All I think when I see that smile, is that when his father stopped smiling, destruction followed. It scares me. I know we planned to call Jiraiya back to take the boy from the village for a bit, but perhaps if this boy Haku is caring for him and soothing the beast within, we should allow them access."
"You believe someone called the Demon of the Mist and a shinobi trained by him are the best people to be helping him?" Homaru stated in shock.
"Who better then a man who is called demon to help someone who is accused of being one?" Koharu retorted. "Hatake reports that Zabuza was interested because of his own student. A child that survived a blood purging because of the fear of what they could do is similar to what Uzumaki is going through. The report stated Uchiha wasn't killed but incapacitated, and he uses senbon- that sounds like he isn't a killer. Perhaps we should bring them here and watch. It can't be any worse then what has been done so far, which is nothing."
"So you are for it?" Sarutobi asked.
"Ah, but with restrictions of course. Keep them in the village watched by ANBU until we feel sure, which if they do stay around Uzumaki will allow us to keep an eye on him as well. That has been harder to do since he became an active Shinobi," Koharu snorted, "Perhaps the Demon of the Mist can get him out of that orange outfit. I tell you the man who sold them to him as shinobi-wear should be executed."
All three shared a smile. When they had seen that someone had sold the boy orange clothes for shinobi-wear, all three had tried in subtle ways to get him out of the clothes. But Naruto had held tight to them, perhaps because he was harder to ignore in them.
"Homura?" Sarutobi asked him. Koharu seemed on the side of bringing them in, but he was curious about Homura.
"I am not sure if this is right, but the benefits seem worth at least inviting him to discuss. Let's have them come; I will feel more comfortable about adding my vote towards this once I have seen them. We should at least agree that if they stay, Ibiki handles him as his 'watcher'. That is a man whom nothing slides past."
All three nodded. If Zabuza of the Mist was going to be living in Konoha, he would need to be watched and have several interviews. Who better than head of T&I to handle it, especially when you have one like Ibiki who specializes in psychological torture rather than physical torture to gain information. To torture someone mentally, you had to be able to read them better than the average shinobi.
Looking at the two, Sarutobi smiled, and then stood up to write a response to Kakashi and two nūke-nins.
"Then I leave the two of you to prepare for the groups return, I would guess in about a week, two at most. I want the two of you to sit in on the meeting. I trust that you two will ask the right questions, allowing me to watch. Once we all feel comfortable we can then negotiate, or refuse," he turned back around to leave the room, "I will speak with you once we receive word they are near the village, I want us to meet with Zabuza once he is here, and perhaps we can catch him off guard more easily."
The two nodded, as he walked away.
Sarutobi walked into his office, and saw Pakkun resting comfortably; he remembered the words the summons had said, Blood, water and change, like Kushina-chan.
He looked at Minato's face on the wall, "Minato, perhaps your son has found a protector, which we could not be?"
{RoD}
Homaru looked at his fellow Elder, and then spoke, "For once I am going to say, Danzo should not be advised of this until we have made a choice. I can tell you now he would be for this, to gain information and a teacher for the boy. Kami knows he is still perturbed that the boy could not be in his care."
Koharu nodded, "Agreed; besides I am beginning to agree with Sarutobi that Danzo is becoming dangerous. I feel secure in using him during wars, and tense times, but when trying to maintain the peaceful balance that has been built…" she stared at the wall in front of her, "perhaps it is time to start watching him ourselves."
Homaru nodded and stood to leave the room. A small part of him feared though that trouble was up ahead, and Danzo was always one to grab power in troubled times. It was getting the power away, when he was no longer needed, that was the problem. But Danzo was a useful, if dangerous, tool for the village.
{RoD}
Pakkun ran through the woods outside Tazuna's house, he could smell Kakashi was inside, and from the smell of it, dinner being cooked. As he neared the home, he could hear people moving around inside and outside the house and he saw Kakashi reading by an open window. He jumped through, and landed right next to his summoner. Seeing Kakashi look up from his book to him, he dropped the message tube down.
"Return message from Hokage," he muttered.
"That was fast, Pakkun," Kakashi stated, taking the tube. He read the note from the Hokage and then took the second in hand. "What feel did you get while you were in Konoha?"
Pakkun looked out the window, "As I have said before, Konoha is off and has been since your sensei died. But I smelled hope on the Hokage when he read the missive. I think the boy being alone has bothered him."
Kakashi winced, his summons have never understood why he had distanced himself from the boy.
"Thanks Pakkun. I won't need you for anything else. You can head out."
Pakkun snorted and then poofed away, "Change is coming Kakashi, better watch or it will slip by you again," the pug's words echoed in the silence.
{RoD}
Zabuza read the note in his hand again.
Momochi Zabuza,
I invite you and your companion to Konohagakure
To discuss your interest in joining our village
This letter and seal will allow you safe passage through
Fire and Konoha, with Hatake Kakashi and team as escort
As long as you and your companion cause no problems
You will be safe, and if an agreement cannot be made
This will serve as your pass for safe leave away from the village.
The Sandaime Hokage,
Sarutobi Hiruzen
"Well, for better or worse, Haku, we are heading to the Village Hidden in the Leaves," Zabuza stated aloud.
"Hai, Zabuza," Haku answered silently from the doorway.
Haku entered, silent and patient. He knew Zabuza would tell him his thoughts when he was ready. Both had been shocked and wary at how easy it had been to convince Kakashi to allow them to send the missive. Over the past few days, Haku had stayed close to Naruto, and Zabuza had remained nearby, a silent observer, watching and noting the actions of one small, loud boy. Hatake had watched silently from afar, but had seemed to pay them almost no attention. They had also noticed that the sensei of this genin team seemed to have little interest in any of his students. Yet, he was aware of everything they did. Almost as if he was not their sensei, as much as their watch dog.
What had seemed to be a preference for the Uchiha after the incident on the bridge, had turned out to be just a concern for his injuries. Once the boy had awoken, he had shown him as little acknowledgement as he had shown the girl or Naruto. It bothered Zabuza, that after a few months, that Hatake and his team where as uncomfortable with each other as they had gleaned from Naruto. It seemed that the team had done very little in building their teamwork as was common on genin teams. Only constant D-ranks, team training that usually was limited to just sparing between the Uchiha and Naruto, and getting used to each of their styles. Very little else. The team's dynamic seemed very off as well.
Since the Uchiha had been cleared to move around, they had noticed that he was quiet, moody, and ignored almost everyone who spoke to him. He glared often at Zabuza and Haku, and the only one who appeared to get a response out of the boy was Naruto, who constantly seemed to drag the Uchiha into an argument of sorts. It was a rivalry, yet one that both seemed to be anxious to keep. But the girl Sakura, seemed oblivious to the two boy's interaction. She constantly jumped in to defend the Uchiha, who did not appear to need or want her assistance. She constantly berated Naruto, and he seemed to accept it, and in fact worshiped the girl.
It was a twisted love triangle, Uzumaki in love with Haruno and desperate for her attention. Haruno, who was almost obsessively in love with the Uchiha, who in turn seemed to despise the girl for her attention? And the Uchiha, he desired no one, yet he noticed Uzumaki. All the while, Hatake Kakashi was watching as if he had his own personal romance book playing out in front of him for his amusement.
Haku himself, after seeing the team healed and together, had to wonder what Konoha had been thinking to place these four together. He had stayed silent, only bringing attention when he felt that the girl was going too far. He would also attempt to separate Naruto from them so that he could get the boy to open up. A part of him wondered what type of village Konoha was, and with Zabuza's encouragement, tried to draw Naruto out for information.
Strangely, for a boy who seemed to never stop talking, he said very little. Haku was quite surprised to learn everything and yet nothing about Konoha, and for all that Naruto ran around boasting of his skills and plans for the future. The boy spoke nothing about himself. Haku felt like he was pulling teeth in attempts to get even the slightest information from Naruto.
He lived alone.
His favorite color was orange.
He had an obsession with Ramen.
The village was happy.
Ichiraku's was the best Ramen stand.
The trees were large and the best view of the village…was from the Hokage monument.
The boy provided useless information with little real knowledge; not a single explanation behind the statements he made. It's actually a useful ability, Zabuza had mentioned when Haku had been explaining how so little information was being acquired. His need to hide anything about himself is something that will aid him as a shinobi if he learns to use it.
"Hatake said we would be leaving in a few days," Zabuza finally stated. He turned to look at Haku, "You still wish to do this? Once we go there is no backing down."
Haku looked Zabuza in the eye, "Hai, I wish to stay with him, and I know you see it too."
Zabuza nodded, just as he was about to speak again, Naruto ran into the room.
"Haku, dinner is-" Naruto stopped as he noticed the tension in the room. "Did I interrupt something?"
Haku and Zabuza watched as he stood awkwardly before them one hand behind his head scratching at his neck, eyes squinting at the two nuke-nin. The boy took the pose any time that he was unsure of himself.
"Iie, gaki, I was just telling Haku that your Hokage has invited us to Konoha," Zabuza watched as the boy froze and looked at him. For a second hope, fear and several other emotions moved through Naruto's eyes, before they squinted shut.
"Really?" He shouted loudly, his face forming a wide grin. The boy shifted his face to look from side to side, expressing his confusion. "You guys are coming with us to Konoha?"
"Ah, but we can talk about this later, let's go eat. The food is quite good, isn't…" Haku said pulling Naruto from the room, leaving Zabuza behind to follow.
As he listened to them head downstairs, Zabuza look down at the note again. I hope this is the right thing to do. That boy is worse off than Haku was when I found him. Why do I keep getting myself into messes like this? Zabuza sighed, and moved to follow the boys downstairs.
{RoD}
"Zabuza," Kakashi spoke to catch the nin's attention.
Zabuza was once again sitting in the tree, watching the water in the moonlight, his large sword balanced in front of him.
"Hatake," the voice came without the nin moving from his spot.
"Do you realize what you are getting yourself into?"
Zabuza turned his head, and looked at the other Jonin, who was looking at him with a closed expression.
"More then you realize," he replied after awhile.
Kakashi turned to look out at the water, and wondered what was coming up ahead. Change is coming Kakashi. Pakkun's words echoed in his head.
Edited by Beta: Treyvoni Fox 4/30/2009
Edited by seraluanma 10/19/2010