To everyone that told me I shouldn't quit I really appreciate it. Sometimes I can be really sensitive to the opinions of others a few bad apples eventually convinced me that the story was bad and I should just give up. Honestly I don't think I ever really intended to stop but I honestly wanted to for a short period of time, hopefully those who seem to despise this fic for whatever reason will just stop reading instead of commenting or PM'ing me hateful things. I really appreciate all your support guys.
Last chapter showed me I really like writing in the third person so I'll be doing that from now on hope you guys like it.
This chapter will also feature a special guest I'm sure you all know but didn't expect to show up in the story. They'll be a part of our main cast from this point on so expect to see more of them.
New connections
Hokages office: The day after
Jiriya had just finished speaking with Hiruzen who just as he thought sounded delighted at the prospect of helping a group of young street urchins.
"These kids would have to be provided with adequate supervision though." The Hokage said stating his one requirement for granting his students request.
"I've actually taken that thought into consideration as well but who in the leaf who isn't busy is tough enough to supervise a gang of kids who grew up on the streets?" Jiriya asked hoping his sensei would have a candidate in mind.
"I was actually hoping you had an idea...no doubt it'll need to be someone firm, but I think the kids could get much benefit from a gentle touch as well." Hiruzen said pulling on his chin hair thoughtfully.
"Maybe we could put some flyers up ove-"
Jiriya's sentence was cut short when a certain blonde haired kunochi came bursting into the office.
"Darn right shameful how your med nin seem to be less competent than the civilian doctors at that hospital." Tsunade huffed.
"Have that Nubutaka guy add medical ninjustu to the academy extra curricular course list as well." The sannin said crossing her arms and stretching out lazily on the couch Hiruzen kept to the right wall in his office.
Jiriya and Sarutobi both shared a look before turning back to Tsunade who'd just finished stretching and was now looking at them curiously.
"What? Is there something on my face or something?" She asked raising an eyebrow.
"Hey hime, remember how when we were younger you said you always wanted to work with kids right?" Jiriya asked growing kind of nervous as he had no idea how the short tempered woman would react to his next question.
"Yeaah..." Tsunade replied narrowing her eyes at the question not liking where this conversation seemed to be headed.
"Well yesterday I went with Naruto to meet the only group of kids he could actually claim to be friends with and turns out their urchins."
Tsunade nodded her eyes telling the man to go on.
"Three of the kids wanna become shinobi which would've inevitably split their gang up sooner than usual whether they knew it or not. I told the leader I'd help find them all some placeplace to stay and see if sensei could find a way to get the enrolled in the academy this late in the year."
"Sensei's agreed to both fund housing for them and pull some strings to have them enrolled in the academy, but they'll need some adult supervision in their new home of course. Someone who's tough enough to keep them in line but jind hearted enough to get them to open up and respect them."
Tsunade nodded and sat up on the couch. "I know the perfect candidate for you guys." She said startling them both.
"Who would that be?" Hiruzen asked hoping her suggestion would prove to be a good one as he really had no desire to see the woman destroy one of his walls again which was a possibility considering the woman didn't like kids too much and they'd been about to ask her to look after an entire handful of them.
"Shizune my step niece. Not only is she great with kids but she loves being around them and doesn't have much to do during the day besides helping out around the hospital."
Jiriya and the Hokage thought about her suggestion and figured anyone who'd practically been raised by Tsunade definitely had to be capable of handling a couple of kids.
Sarutobi and Jiriya both shared a nod.
"Well whenever you're able to please bring her in so we may discuss this matter and see if she agrees." Hiruzen said developing a small smile.
He'd been attempting his best to improve the situations in the slums of Konoha but there was only so little progress that could be made in the span of a few years. Especially considering the entire village was nearing a state of poverty not too long after the costly repairs after nin tails attack.
"I'll go get her now she's just at the hospital. Be sure to tell that Nubutaka guy my suggestion for med nin academy courses, I hear he's in the process of doing wonderful things for the academy." Tsunade saidgetting up and walking towards the door.
"Will do." Hiruzen said making a mental note to do just that.
Jiriya waited a moment till they were sure Tsunade was gone.
"So what's the deal with Kumo?" He asked feeling like he hadn't gotten enough information from the man about their actions of late.
"The Raikage is still upset I pushed the meeting date back of course but since their little stunt and demands for Hiashi Hyuga their other threats have stopped unsurprisingly."
"What other threats?" Jiriya questioned.
"Right after word of Minato's death spread across the nations Kumo started demanding we pay them restitution for all the hidden cloud shinobi lost in the war as well as other equally outlandish demands such as the head of Fugaku Uchiha who we all know killed a far amount of Kumo and Iwa shinobi in both wars."
"If not for the councils persistent efforts at keeping the Uchiha's good deads out of the public eye the man would be seen as something of a war hero which I'm sure Kumo thinks he is to us."
"They called him a war criminal saying he'd slaughtered innocence groups of their shinobi who'd already surrendered after realizing they'd lost but the Raikage seemingly falled to realize with these demands that alls fair in love and war and there were instances of this happening on both sides."
Jiriya nodded following the man.
"It wasn't only Fugaku who they wanted excuted either, making outlandish claims against the majority of the ninja who'd gain the most notoriety outside of our village such as the entire Ino Shika Cho, Tsumi Inuzuka, torture and interrogation specialist Moroni Ibiki, and various others."
"Merly attempting to have us execute some of our most valuable shinobi as a way to weaken the village. Same as they were doing by requesting outlandish amounts of ryo be paid for every Kumo shinobi who died in the war period, not just Kumo shinobi who'd died at the hands of a Konoha shinobi."
Jiriya nodded knowing there was more as he hadn't even went into the Hyuga incident yet.
"Of course every demand when rejected was followed with the threat of another war but I held steadfast unwilling to allow Kumo to bully us into a weaker position where they'd then undoubtedly declare war on the leaf feeling as if it'd be much easier for them to win."
"Eventually though after many tense letter exchanges between me and the Raikage and both our village councils Kumo offered to send a diplomat here to have peace negotiations with the village."
"Of course me and most of the council jumped at the opportunity to finally have our greatest enemy become and ally. Honestly my gut feeling was telling me it was wrong, especially considering both Danzo and Fugaku warned us against it before hand and the two usually never agee on anything but when they do it usually always turns out to be the eight decision. I still foolishly accepted Kumo's offer which I saw as our last option go avoid a war."
"The so called diplomat though was a shinobi sent to accomplish one of two possible missions. One being to kidnap the Hyuga hieres and bring her back to Kumo where they'd use her to start producing their own bearers of the Byakugan, and the second was to die at the hands of one of the Hyuga so that Kumo could shout fowl play and demand the Hyuga be delivered to them for public execution inside their village which we all know they have no intent to follow through with."
"It just happened to be even more bad luck that Hiashi of all people happened to stop the shinobi. He said the man didn't even make an attempt to defend himself as if he'd knowingly been sent on a suicide mission, which of course pulls all the pieces together. Kumo only ever sent the man with the intention to obtain the Byakugan."
Jiriya nodded in agreement with his sensei's statement.
"So how come you pushed the meeting date back by a few months?" Jiriya asked.
"Kumo thinks that no matter what they'll walk out of this with a living Byakugan weilder they can use to recreate the bloodline for their own village but they've got another thing coming. I figure what better way to repay them for their troubles then by making them wait for nothing." Hiruzen said with a slight smirk forming on his face.
"Oh sensei you diabolical villain." Jiriya smirked loving the man's train of thought.
Hyuga compound
"So you Neji how has your mission been coming along with the Monogahi?" An elder asked the boy as he stood in tne gardens gazing straight forward not really looking at the elders but more so looking through them.
"They seem to all trust me, I've had the pleasure of attending the clans dinner on multiple occasions but as far as catching the eye of any Monogahi girls around my age I've been unsuccessful as the only girls in the clan around my age are Imari and Inoha who're both Shimura in name." Neji replied as evenly as he appeared.
In all honesty he hated the elders and nearly every member of the Hyuga main branch who always acted superior to the others besides his uncle who lately seemed to be treating his father as if they were brothers again.
"This is unfortunate." Another elder said not having expected a lack of children Neji's age.
"Be sure not to make the Hyuga appear to be weak or inferior to the Uchiha while you're there branch member or there will be consequences." An elder threatened causing Neji to scowl inwardly as he nodded and kept his face passive.
"Well then you are dismissed." The first elder said waving a hand.
Neji bowed stiffly as he was expected to before taking his leave.
"What's with these stupid main clan and branch clan titles. In the end we're all the same aren't we, or is fate just so cold some are born into better positions than others for no reason other than convenience?" The Hyuga thought to himself.
Monogahi clan training field
Hamura lay on a scorched portion of the field sweating and trying to regain his breath as he smiled triumphantly at his brother who stood over him with his arms crossed.
"I gotta admit that was quite the justu."
Hamura's smile turned into a wide grin at the complement.
"Thanks, Amaris and the Uchiha elders helped me to perfect it."
"Does anyone know it's finished?" The man asked looking at his brother curiously.
"Nope I actually was just able to perfect it in the heat of the moment. I don't even know if I'll be able to use it again outside of a spare because it's too risky to use it in a real battle."
"Are you going to show the Uchiha elders your finished developing the technique?"
"Naaah, they've already got their own version. I think I'll just practice it in moments like these when Shisui and Itachi are attending meetings with their clan."
"You wanna keep it a secret?" Nubutaka asked raising an eyebrow.
"Yea...guys gotta have some tricks up his sleeve ya know." The boy replied sitting up with a grin.
"Hm..I guess you're right. Good point little brother." Nubutaka said returning the grin.
Hamura stood and began forming the handsigns for the justu again before his brother interrupted him.
"So since your sensei gave you the day off since Itachi and Shisui are busy what exactly do you have planned for today?" Nubutaka asked probably already knowing the answer.
"Nothing really I was gonna just practice this justu some more and wait till later to join your daily sparing session with Inoha and Imari." Hamura answered wondering why he'd asked.
"After our morning spare I was gonna take the girls to go see this kid named Naruto with me. He's gonna be starting his shinobi training with me in a year when he turns five, and I was wondering if you might wanna come with us?"
"Sure, as long as you help me train using this justu a bit more I'd love to." Hamura said with a smirk causing Nubutaka to grin a bit.
"It's not like I'm asking you a favor I was just wondering, but sure I'll help you. Try not to get yourself hurt." Nubutaka said mostly joking as he pulled out a kunai and slipped into a battle stance.
There was always a danger to using those types of justu but the clan head had faith that his little brother would be able to master it in no time.
Shimura clan compond
Imari yawned rubbing her eyes trying to shake the sleep out of her system as she made her way to the kitchen.
Kami knew she wasn't a morning person and even after showering brushing her teeth and putting her clothes on she still felt like going back to bed.
She stepped into the kitchen unsurprised to see Inoha there eating breakfast as she'd always had no trouble rising in the morning but she found herself stopping in her tracks when she noticed Anko sitting across the table from Inoha enjoying breakfast in the compond for the first time ever.
"Nee-Chan?" Imari said questioningly drawing their attention as they momentarily paused and looked up from their meals.
"Hey Imari." Anko said waving at the girl with a casual smile. "Dad told me take the day off today for whatever reason." She informed figuring it probably had something to do with the snake guy talking to her yesterday as it seemed he wasn't a part of NEE.
"That's great Anko Chan! Do you have any plans for the day?" Imari asked as her eyes lit up.
"Nope but I figured you guys will be leaving to train with Nubutaka soon and after that you're going to go see that Naruto kid so I'll just go with you."
Imari's eyes lit up more as Inoha grinned at her sister sharing her excitement.
"I can't believe it, we get to spend another day around onee chan!" Imari gushed causing Anko to chuckle.
"You should finish your breakfast so we don't get there late, Inoha made you some too." Anko said pointing to a plate on the other side of the table.
Imari smiled warmly at her twin sister grateful for the gesture. Although they had plenty of household servents capable of looking after their needs Inoha preferred not only to cook for them both but she always did their laundry for them herself sewed and repaired their clothes when they were in need of it and even washed their dishes when she had the time.
Needless to say the servants loved the girl but they also seemed to be fond of Imari and even Anko who was hardly ever woke when she was home. Imari just chalked it up to actually having someone to serve other than their father who likely never spoke to the house hands if he wasn't giving them a command.
Imari dug into her breakfast not wanting to finish too far behind her sister less she be the reason they'd be showing up late to their cousins training field.
Somewhere in the land of lightning
Enu surveyed the immediate area and commanded half his hive to spread out around the area in a thirty meter radius. Yukushia stood not far off to the side with her hand against a tree as Gai observed both sensory/tracker nin wondering what exactly the Monogahi woman was doing with the tree.
"Did they pass through here?" A man with short blonde hair and sky blue eyes without pupils asked.
"Indeed they did and my beetles tell me they'll be back." Enu said to the man just as Yukushia gave her thanks to the tree she'd been gathering information from.
"The tree says the shinobi patrols usually pass through here within thirty minutes of each other patrolling the area around civilian village to the south in squads of three." She said to the groups squad leader.
"Well then judging by the tracks in the dirt a few yards from here they've been gone for about twenty minutes already and they'll be making their way back here any second. Find a good hiding position and wait for my signal, remember we aren't here on a kill mission it's capture and interrogation so we need the targets alive and capable of speech."
The team all nodded as guy leapt into a large bush on the side of the road with Enu following his lead and jumping into a bush on the other side. Yukushia formed a couple a hand seals and easily sunk into the ground while Inojin Yamanaka leapt into the tree with the most cover that had a good view of the road.
The team didn't have to wait long as five minutes later Inoji saw a group of three shinobi running down the road. He waited until they were close enough that he knew they'd be discovered by their sensor and he acted quickly holding hid hands together and forming a circle, then casting a genjustu exclusive to his clan that messed with the abilities of sensory nin in a way that was so subtle few of them hardly ever noticed.
Satisfied that his comrades wouldn't be discovered now he leapt out of the tree and stood in front of the three men.
"What the-" The sensory nin in the back said looking more startled than his comrades.
Inojin expected as much considering he was a sensory nin and he was used to seeing his opponents coming before they showed up.
"The hell are you doing in our turf Konoha scum!?!?" The leader barked drawing a sword.
"I'll be the one asking the questions here." Inojin said spitting the tooth pick from his mouth giving the signal.
"Like hell you wi-" The man's words died in his throat as out of nowhere a large army of beetles swarmed him and began draining his chakra.
The sensor found himself knocked out by a strong blow from Might Gai who moved so swiftly he'd gotten to the man before his teammate even had the time to scream from being attacked by the beetles.
Yukushia grabbed onto the leaders legs and pulled him into the ground leaving only his head exposed.
"Okay we're gonna make this brief." Inojin said pulling out and lightning a cigarette.
"Is Kumo planning to ambush the Hokage and his escorts in the meeting set to take place two months from now?"
The man scowled at the blonde man just as his teammates yelling cesed and he fell unconscious from large chakra consumption.
"How the hell would I know? You think the Raikage just goes around blaberring about his plans to anyone in the village?!?!" The man growled gazing at the man with muderous intent.
"Besides even if I did know I wouldn't tell you leafy losers jack sh-"
Inojin cut the man off with a hard kick the the side of the face.
"I really don't appreciate how everyone who's ever had a problem with our village loves talking down on us when in fact we're the only great village that hasn't lost a single war. Be sure to watch your mouth from now on." Inojin said nodding to Yukushia.
She walked towards the man and injected him in the neck with a clear substance.
She then walked back to her original spot and formed a single hand sign causing the earth to tighten around the man causing him to scream in pain for a few moments till she stopped.
Inojin stooped down and grabbed the shinobi by his hair forcing his head up so he could look him in the eyes.
"Feel like cooperating with us now?" He asked blowing a little bit of smoke from the cigarette in the man's face.
The Kumo captain scowled and spit at Inojin hitting him in the side of his face.
Inojin continued to look at the man lifting a hand to wipe the spit from his cheek before letting go of the guys head and nodding again to Yukushia.
This time the man's screams were truly agonizing and the kunochi began to feel bad about what she was doing. Not as bad as the man clad in green spandex however who felt this was more of a mission you'd assign to anbu rather than tracker nin and front line fighters although Inojin was an interrogations expert.
The man's torture lasted longer this time each minute going by gruesomely slow as instead of just squeezing the man with the earth Yukushia was using it to make serveral tiny spikes which slowly continued deeper and deeper inside the man's body.
Inojin signaled for her to stop when the man momentarily stopped screaming and started coughing blood. Yukushia didn't allow the relief she felt to show on her face looking to Gai and noticing the iritated scowl the man displayed.
Inojin picked up the man's head and spit on the right side of his face probably getting some kind of messed up payback taking one more drag off his cigarette before pulling it from his mouth and putting it out slowly against the man's neck.
The captured Kumo nin just grunted in pain at this as the pain he'd just felt was possibly nearly nothing in comparison to this feeling.
"Are you willing to cooperate now?" Inojin asked hoping he would be as he didn't really like having people tortured and he couldn't mind sweep the guy as they had no idea how many Kumo nin they'd have to go through till they got their information and he needed to preserve his chakra.
"I swear I don't know anything, if the Raikage is planning something a nobody shinobi like me with no real status would have no way of knowing." The man said in a weak voice finally caving.
"That's bullshit, you Kumo shinobi are awefully prideful and arrogant just like your Raikage. I'm sure he told someone close to him and that someone told someone else and word got around through the grape vine so tell me what you know or next time I'll have my subordinate over there stop taking it easy on you."
"Or better yet I'll have that Aburama over there get his beetles to slowly devour you from the inside out."
"I swear I don't know anything about any plans! I-"
"If you don't know anything then who does? I know you know something." Inojin said slowly losing patience.
"I swear I don't know anything, I really do-"
"Enu, help me make this guy talk." Inojin said looking at the Aburame who nodded and began approaching as his beetles swarmed around him.
"Wait wait! Odachi on village gate duty during the morning hours! He's close to the shinobi who guard the village council he probably knows something!"
"Describe him for me." The Yamanaka commanded.
The man proceeded to give Inojin a description of the man he'd mentioned and afterwards placed his hand over the man's forehead knocking him unconscious and staying there for a moment before walking towards the other Kumo shinobi and placing a hand on their heads as well.
"When they wake up they'll think they were taken down by a group of rogue nin from Iwa. Unfortunately though kidnapping a gate guard is well beyond the scope of what we're capable of and we were given specific orders not to get to close the the hidden cloud village. We'll have to head back to Konoha and report this to the Hokage."
The group nodded their complaince and followed as Inojin turned and began sprinting down the road back towards the land of fire.
Somewhere else in the land of lightning
The anbu gave the silent signal and his subordinates all quickly moved into the small village incapacitating the few shinobi guards they had protecting the unsuspecting village at the moment.
They weren't told to kill anyone or burn the village which would've been the same as an open war declaration on the land but what they were told to do was deliver a message to the Raikage and his council who obviously still thought Konoha to be weak.
Move along the border of the land of lightning attack it's less well defended civilian villages and make sure no one had the time to set off the alarm as a way to let Kumo know the leaf village was still just as strong as ever.
As Inu knocked out another inexperienced shinobi patrolmen he wondered what'd exactly gotten into the third that had convinced him to make such a brazen move.
*Flashback* -Hokages office-
"Uhhm...sir?" Kakashi said looking up from the scroll containing all the data pertaining to the mission.
"I figured you'd be pretty skeptical about this mission as a village doing something of this sort has never been seen before outside of war but it's not a declaration of war as most would think."
"It's just a warning to Kumo that not only are we unafraid of war but we're also more than prepared for it if it should come to that which hopefully it doesn't. No doubt the Raikage and his council will feel slighted when they find we have no intention to give them Hiashi Hyuga as a sacrifice to avoid conflict. This is a silent threat I'm sure they'll get the meaning of and also a form of payback for all the threats from them that went unanswered that no doubt gave them room to assume they're in a position of power which they can use to bully the village into accepting their outlandish demands."
"Since it's a civilian village word will also travel about what happened and the rest of the shinobi world will remember the hidden leaf village is not one to be trifled with."
Kakashi could only nod and bow as he left the man's office with every intent to fulfill the orders he'd been given.
*Present day*
So far out of the three villages on the list they'd already hit two incapacitating many border patrol shinobi just to make their way this deep into lightning country and knocking out all the villages usual patrols as well.
Kakashi was surprised it was this easy but then again when u had a genius like Shikaku supplying all your tactical and logistics planning and information things usually went better than one would expect.
Uchiha compond
"Ya know Itachi, I think I'd actually prefer D rank missions to clan meetings. It's just a few hours of the elders and the men with status arguing with each other over the usual nonsense." Shisui said as the two walked towards the gates of their compond.
Itachi didn't comment on Shisui's statement but he did pause for a moment cutting his eye at a corner before continuing walking at the same pace.
Shisui noticed and turned to look at the corner wondering what'd intrigued him enough to stop when he saw the reason peeking at them from behind a wall.
"Hey Itachi do you know that girl?" Shisui asked noticing she was starting at his little cousin.
"No." Itachi answered immediately with the same calm as always.
The girl suddenly stepped out from behind the wall and approached the two with a frown.
"Oh crap that doesn't look good." Shisui thought as Itachi took notice but continued walking at the same pace without even turning to acknowledge the Uchiha girl.
She ran in front of them and stopped right in front of Itachi frowning at him like he'd done something to upset her.
Itachi stood there calm as usual with the same neutral expression as always causing Shisui to wonder if his cousin had some kind of permanent genjustu over his face. The way the girl was glaring daggers at the boy was making Shisui pretty nervous and he wasn't even involved.
"Nice to hear you deny ever knowing me now that you're a ninja Itachi, I thought we were best friends!" The girl huffed as her rueful look changed into an angry one and she looked at the boy as if she was both hurt and upset.
"What? Itachi has a friend besides me and Hamura, and it's a girl?!?!" Shisui thought thinking he may have been dreaming for a second.
"Now isn't the time Izumi." The hier answered back casually causing the girl to frown some more.
"Oh so you do actually know me then? Must have heard you wrong jerk face!"
"No way." Shisui thought not knowing what to think.
Itachi sighed. "It's not that I was denying to know you for any reason other than I didn't feel like explaining myself to Shisui at the moment as I knew he would've been sure and is now sure to ask me a million questions." Itachi said glancing at Shisui.
"Oh you're damn right you have some explaining to do cousin of mine!" Shisui thought as he failed to fight a grin.
"Well you could have just said he's a friend of mine, that hurt you know!" The girl said still clearly upset.
Shisui noticed unshead tears in the corner of her eyes and wondered just who she was to Itachi.
"I would have if you'd have greeted us instead of hiding behind that wall. I didn't think it'd cause you so much distress." Itachi said still casual about the entire situation.
"I am not distressed!!!" The girl fervently denied.
Itachi reached up and brushed a finger under the corner of her eye pulling it back to show a tear drop she'd been holding in.
Shisui's jaw dropped having never actually seen Itachi interact with someone who wasn't Sasuke in that way.
The girls face turned red in both anger at being found out and embarrassment at being seen through so easily.
"Okay Mr know it all yes I'm upset but best friends don't act like they don't know each other! I thought you were different from everyone else." She said growing more sad then upset at the end.
"I'm sorry Izumi I honestly only did it because I'd rather not play answer the endless questions with my cousin but if it means that much I won't do it again." Itachi offered.
"Really?" She said looking back up with a hopeful stare.
Itachi nodded.
"Promise?" The girl asked holding out her pinky finger.
"Promise." Itachi said grasping the finger with his.
"No way!!! Itachi apologizing to someone for anything other than formal purposes?? Itachi making a pinky promise with a girl to never do something again because it upset her??? Itachi understanding another person's feelings?!?!" It was all too much for Shisui who thought he might faint at any moment.
The girl smiled and Shisui saw his cousins face develop a small smile of it's own.
"OH...MY...KAMI!!!"
Hokages office
"Yes I think they've completed enough missions to be allowed on a C rank." The Hokage said answering the jounins question.
"Great I know Shisui and Hamura will be extatic about it." Shikono said rubbing a hand through his hair absentmindedly.
"How are the boys coming along anyway?" Hiruzen asked curious.
"Little brats seem to be way too advanced for the generation they come from. Itachi and Shisui's Taijustu skills are pretty impeccable for them to only be fresh genin definitely high genin level if not low chunin while Hamura is just behind them. All of them exceel and learn new ninjustu easily Hamura and Shisui showing more talent with ninjustu than a some of chunin I've seen. Hamura seems capable of learning any ninjustu I throw his way and Itachi is nearly on their level but he has a much greater talent for genjustu which he prefers to rely on, Shisui's genjustu skills are at the level you'd expect of an Uchiha his age if not slightly greater but that kid has talent with the flicker I've never seen before."
"Care to elaborate?" Hiruzen asked raising an eyebrow.
"He seems to be able to control exactly where he'll appear and he's getting faster with the technique everyday."
"That sounds rather impressive."
"Oh it's more impressive than it seems. Oddly enough though Itachi doesn't like the substitution justu?"
"He is aware that justu is practically a necessity for ninja in all walks of life correct?"
"He is but he says he doesn't like the simplicity of the justu, how one substitutes with the closest log in the area and leaves the enemy completely aware of the situation. He says it'd be better if one could substitute with a flash bang or a smoke bomb or something to disorient the enemy but he knows those are short of the mass required to preform a substitution so he's looking for something else to use."
Hiruzen nodded.
"Many a ninja have tried but in the end logs seem to be the most efficient matieral to preform a kamawari with."
"I've explained the same thing but he refuses to use the technique till he finds a way to use it that will better suite him."
"Have to admire the boys determination." Hiruzen smiled.
"Indeed you do." Shikono smirked.
"Lastly Hamura keeps complaining about not being a sensory nin so I thought I'd ask you to have someone good with that train him."
Hiruzen raised an eyebrow again.
"Isn't his brother a sensory ninja?"
"He is but he seems bent on learning the skill from someone else."
Hiruzen laughed lightly at the comment.
"Very well I'll see who's available to train the boy."
"Anything else you'd like to ask of me while you're here?" Hiruzen asked.
"More downtime." Shikono said with a smirk causing the Hokage to laugh good naturedly.
A random Konoha Inn
A knock sounded on the door causing Hatsue to wake from her nightmarish dreams.
She looked at the door warily already having an idea who was on the other side as few others could find her so easily.
She looked at the window and contemplated making a run for it but lost all her heart along with her chance when a pool of shadow came in from the crack of the door and rose from the floor morphing into the form of her sensei.
For a moment all was silent as the two just gazed at each other. Nubutaka trying to read her and see what was wrong, why did she appear so damaged, was the light really gone from her eyes or was he just seeing things.
Hatsue trying to formulate a plan as she attempted to hide all the things she felt from her sensei, did he already know and was he disappointed, or was he reading her right now attempting to discover all the things he didn't know.
"Hatsue.."
She didn't wait for him to finish she quickly flung a kunai in his direction so fast he'd hardly had the time to avoid it.
Before he'd gotten his barrings straight a second later she was already out the window.
"What the hell was that?" Nubutaka thought shocked his Hatsue would do something like that not even noticing the intimate way he'd just thought of her as he quickly leapt from the window in hot pursuit.
She was already on the roof tops but luckily for him he was much faster than the woman and was gaining on her easily.
"Hatsue what are you doing! Stop and talk to me!" He yelled quickly pulling out a kunai and jumping through a web of ninja wire she'd lain slicing through the one's directly in front of him.
"Just leave me alone you're not even the real you you're a shadow clone!" The woman yelled throwing some more kunai inside the walls of the buildings around the ones they were running on.
"How does she know I'm a shadow clone?" The clone thought bewildered as he knew Hatsue wasn't a sensory ninja.
"Why can't you talk to me!?" The clone asked slicing through the other wire traps she was laying to slow him down.
The girl stopped and turned around and the clone smiled thinking he may have gotten through to her till she pulled a bundle of ninja wire from her pouch and started wrapping it around her fingers.
"What are you doing Tsue?" Nubutaka's clone asked sounding hurt.
Hatsue's face saddened even more for a moment till she lifted her arm and the chakra wires all rushed forward in a speedy barrage cutting the roaf as they went.
Nubutaka leapt from the building intent on landing on the next when she waved her other hand an another set of wires followed.
"What the hell, I've never seen anybody use ninja wire like this before." The clone thought seeing no openings in the deadly tangle of wires that were approaching him.
"Yin style: Shadow shroud teleportation!" The clone thought disappearing and reppearing behind where Hatsue had just been standing.
There was no sign of the girl besides a severely damaged roof and a large bundle of ninja wire she'd left behind.
The clone reached out with it's senses but still couldn't find any trace of the girl.
He picked up the wires she'd had wrapped around her hand and wrapped them around his left forearm to his wrist.
"I never did like the idea of you training under Danzo Tsue, now it's pretty obvious I failed you." The clone thought looking at the wires snd balling his fist.
"If I were to dispell it just bum the original me out especially since we can't find you. If I stick around till his day is nearly over at least it won't be ruined he'll just think I'm with you right now." The clone said holding in his anger and sadness.
"I won't rob the original from having a little talk with Danzo either, I'll just wait and see if I can find you again and if not then I'll go tell the real me." The clone thought doing just that keeping his senses open as he went to go find someone to repair the roof.
Monogahi clan gardens
"Ah, there you are Amaris. I'm surprised you haven't taken a mission the past three days I didn't expect to find you here."
The woman turned and looked at the clan librarian with with a far off look in her eye.
"I suppose I should get back in the field or at least go train with one of the others least my skills get rusty."
"You've always been such an active kunochi. Any reason in particular you've taken the last few days off, you aren't getting sick are you?" The elderly librarian asked.
"No it's nothing like that Sayako sama. Two days ago I was waiting for yesterday to come which is why I didn't go on a mission then, yesterday I spent my time hanging out with a really good friend and today...I guess yesterday was just so special I wanted to hold on to it a bit longer before going back into the field." The girl said looking far off again.
Sayako chuckled.
"Well try not to fall in love too fast young one."
Amaris turned around ready to deny the woman's claim but figured there was no point as there was no doubt the great white wolf had unintentionally lured her deep into it's den upon their first meeting, and now she wasn't only it's willing guest but also a prisoner with no desire to escape.
Amaris smiled at the woman causing her to grin and they smiled and looked out over the flowerbeds together.
"The Yamanaka are really impressive when it comes to gardening wouldn't you agree?"
"Sometimes it makes me wonder if they've got some hidden passive form of nature style or something." Amaris joked.
"Indeed child, the flowers seem to honestly delight under their touch."
Amaris remember how she'd felt delightful walking with Kakashi and Naruto, a part of her wished that day never had to come to an end.
"I have that scroll you seek and I had Odeki examine the seals, he can definitely seal your friends sharingan till he needs to activate it."
Amaris turned to the woman as her eyes light up. She'd forgotten she'd even ask them to look into that for her.
"Thank you so much Sayako I'd forgotten all about that!" Amaris said smiling brightly.
"Don't mention it, just be sure to stop by the library with your friend the next chance you get so me and Odeki can get to work."
"Right! I'll be sure to bring him the next time he gets a day off." The woman said unable to contain her smile.
"Kakashi is gonna love this!"
Konoha slum
"Do you really think that guy will come back Jusino?" A boy with light brown skin and dark brown hair a shade or two darker than his eyes asked.
"I'm sure he will, he had a look in his eyes that was really honest and sincere. Plus he's Naruto's godfather and we all know Naruto's a good kid he wouldn't let him forget."
The boy nodded believing in his leaders words. "So what do you think living on the pretty side of the village will be like?"
"Well we'll be able to make friends for one considering the kids there probably aren't competing with each other for survival." Jusino said developing a smirk.
"When I think about it the foods probably gotta taste better, no adults frowning at you all the time because they know you steal to get by...honestly sounds like a paradise."
"You said it." The boy remarked looking at the other members of their gang who were all rough housing playfully besides Lily who sat to the side out of the way watching them with a smile.
"Hopefully we can get some treatment for Lily too, she may not ever say it but I know she hates the fact that she can't steal things or play around like everyone else. She'd always ask me was she being a burden on the group and sometimes she'd try to run away at night."
"No way man not Lily?"
"Seriously Amar, you know I'm a light sleeper so I'd always wake up when she left and convince her to come back. At first it was only because I took her in as a member of our group and it's my responsibility to keep us all safe but after a while she really grew on me and the thought of her being out there on her own started to seem terrifying."
Amar nodded knowing what he meant. Lily was really small and frail, she could barely peel an orange by herself and it was a wonder how she'd survived on the streets by herself till Jusino found her.
"Hey guy!" Naruto's voice sounded from the entrance to their hideout and soon the blonde boy came into view with another blonde but this one a woman standing behind him.
She surveyed the group curiously her eyes resting longer on a few of them then the others she'd just glanced at.
"This is my aunt but I just like to call her Baa chan. Fair warning though she doesn't like that name and she can be scary sometimes."
"Okay kids my name is Tsunade, you'll address me as Lady Tsunade or face punishment. I'll be bringing you all to your new home since Jiriya is in a meeting with the Hokage right now."
"Pack up all the things of value or importance that you may have here and lets go." Tsunade ordered unsurprised when they all just looked at each other questioningly.
"Of course all they have is each other and the close on their backs."
"Well then kiddos come on it's time to go." Tsunade said watching the kids all take one last look at their home and begin suffling out of the entrance.
There were three kids who stayed and looked at the hideout a bit longer than the others.
The oldest boy who Tsunade figured to be the leader was tall wiry and looked pretty fast, he had biege and brown hair with hazel eyes that held an intelligence you wouldn't expect from an Urchin.
The other one was a light shade of brown with brown hair that was nearly black and dark brown eyes that nearly matched his hair, he had a surprising amount of muscle for a kid who probably didn't eat much likely from always getting into street fights and being the most active of the group.
The third was a small girl with pale white skin and long blonde hair that was nearly white and odd silver eyes. Something about the girl seemed interesting to Tsunade but she wrote it off as nothing important.
After another moment the boys nodded to each other and the girl crawled on the tall ones back looking like she hardly weighed a thing.
They stopped momentarily in front of the exit Tsunade stood beside and the muscular one nodded and continued walking while the tall one still stood there.
"Thanks." He said as the girl on his back nodded and they continued on there way.
"Don't mention it kid." Tsunade said casually walking behind them into the alley and doing a head count so she could be positive she wouldn't lose a single one of them on their trip outside of these slums.
Hokages Office
"And you're sure you have no problem with this?" Sarutobi asked the dark haired girl.
"I'm positive! Me and Ton Ton here really adore being around kids and I've been kind of bored since coming back to Konoha, no offense Hokage sama!"
"None taken." Hiruzen said with a smile.
"I'm a pretty decent medic but I never really felt the hospital was were I belong. It'd be much more fufiling to be tasked with the education and care of a group of unfortunate kids from the slums, I'd consider it an honor actually." The woman said with a smile as her pig oinked in agreement.
"When then sensei I think that settles that wouldn't you agree?" Jiriya said from the Hokages couch with a grin.
"Yes I think Shizune here would be the perfect caretaker. Would you be so kind as to sign your consent here?" Hiruzen said handing her some kind of caretakers agreement.
Shizune quickly skimmed through the paper and signed it with a cheery smile handing it back to the Hokage who stamped it and handed it back.
"Excellent, every three months you will have to come to my office to renew your agreement and I will give you enough funds to purchase clothes food and essentials for you and the kids over a three month period. If you'd like more funds then I make readily available all you have to do is ask."
"Thank you Hokage sama!" Shizune said excepting the large envelope and standing to bow respectfully.
"Actually I think it's me and Jiriya that owe you our thanks. Tsunade is on her way to the home we selected for you and the children as we speak and it has already been furnished although you're free to redecorate in anyway that you please. Be sure to come to me if there are any problems and complications."
"Hai! Hokage sama."
Monogahi training field
"Water style: Rushing Water Gezure!" Neji shouted causing the earth to rupture and shoot a large stream of water into the air.
The Hyuga was quickly running through the hand signs for his next justu as his opponent looked on in surprise.
"Water style: Water pin missles!" He said causing the droplets of water in the air to shoot towards the Monogahi boy at an alarming speed.
"Earth style: Solid dome justu!" Hamura yelled not liking his odds of dodging the shower of water missles.
A dome of earth rose around the boy protecting him from the attack but still shattering the dome in certain places.
Neji was panting a little heavily by the end of his attack but refused to take a break. With his Byakugan he saw Hamura tunneling into the ground from inside the dome and making his way towards him.
"Earth style: Mobile core!" Neji said stomping the ground and causing a large chunk in front of him with Hamura inside it to sink deep into the earth.
Afterwards he collapsed on his knees as his Byakugan deactivated and he started panting even heavier than before.
Nubutaka came to stand beside him and he stomped causing the ground to rise back to where it'd been formerly before croaching down to place a hand on Neji's back as he took in the boys angry expression.
"Are you okay Neji?"
The Hyuga didn't say anything for a moment he just stared forward clearly upset before shrugging the man's hand off and standing up.
"I'm fine." He said walking towards one of the tree's around the compond intent on resting himself.
Nubutaka crossed his arms and looked at Neji reproachfully.
"Oh really...the Neji I know would never exhausted himself in a battle by using two chakra costly justu that don't even belong to his affinity." The man commented wondering if he was angry because of something that'd happened at his compond.
Water style was Neji's favorite affinity because of it's flexibility and strength against all other elements besides wind and lightning but he had an affinity for air and earth. The two water style justu especially the water gezure were pretty taxing and so was the mobile core. Neji usually used justu that weren't so consuming like the water bullet.
"I'm really impressed you learned those justu but how you used them was very foolish, Hamura is stronger than you and your reserves still need to expand pass where they are for you to use them effectiently."
"Just remember you can always talk to me whenever something's bothering you." Nubutaka said before placing his hand on the ground.
He stood back up and stomped and a few seconds later Hamura popped out of the earth looking sick.
"You know you would have run out of oxygen sooner than normal while you were that deep underground right?" Nubutaka asked looking at his little brother.
"Screw oxygen I think I'm gonna be sick." The boy said rolling around on the ground.
"I would've made shadow clones to get me out if you weren't there anyway but having the ground drop so suddenly and then rise while you're inside it is not fun at all." Hamura said standing up and holding his stomach.
He walked towards the tree where Neji was sitting and sat not too far away holding out his fist to Neji who looked at it questioningly.
"That was pretty ingenious of you my stomach's a mess right now but you're apparently too low on chakra to continue so we'll call that one a tie." Hamura said smiling at the boy.
Neji looked at the boy in surprise before he smirked and bumped fist with him cheering up a bit at his statement.
The two sat against the tree for a while discussing the justu they were focused on learning at the moment when Imari and Inoha arrived along with Itachi and Shisui and to Hamura and Nubutaka's surprise Anko and some girl they had never seen before who was making an attempt at going unnoticed by hiding behind Itachi.
"Well isn't this a surprise, I was beginning to think you two would never show up." Nubutaka said looking at his cousins.
"I know Itachi and Shisui are just getting here because of their meeting but what's the reason you girls are showing up so late for the first time ever?" He questioned.
Imari and Inoha both looked at each other then at their sister who was averting her eyes as the area around her nose was painted with a red blush.
"Nee Chan wanted to stop and try some dango after we walked pass a stand that was selling it...she ended up eating all the dangos." Inoha said looking slightly embarrassed for her sister who hadn't denied the statement.
Nubutaka was silent for a moment wondering how he should reply to that statement when his little brother burst into a fit of later beside Neji on the other side of the training field.
I don't believe it! Miss dango paste was so busy eating dango she made the twins late for training, ahahaha!" The boy said rolling over laughing unable to get enough as Anko's blush grew a little and she frowned.
"Hey old man it's not like I've ever had them before, I couldn't help it! Don't think I didn't notice you sitting against the tree holding on to your stomach like some kind of sick puppy when we first showed up!!!"
"What are you too much of a wuss to keep up with training or did you just throw your back out or something!?" Anko yelled causing Hamura to cease his fit of laughing and frown at the girl developing a tick mark.
"I am not an old man, I just got a bit nauseous during a spare that's all! At least I don't go around making others late cause I'm too busy stuffing my face!" Hamura said hoping to his feet letting go of his stomach and going on the defensive.
Anko smirked slyly seeing she'd gotten a rise out of him and started walking forward as she continued.
"At least I don't get my butt kicked and make excuses for it like some little kid! I bet you're always saying your stomach hurts when it's time to train or spare with someone!" Anko said stopping in front of Hamura.
"Am not!" He yelled leaning closer to intimidate the girl.
"Are too!" She replied still smirking as she leaned in unintimidated and amused by the boys action.
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
"Am not!"
Are too!"
"Am NOT!"
"Are TOO!"
The two yelled going back and forth till their foreheads were touching and they were pushing against each other in a battle of wills niether seemed willing to lose.
The other kids present besides Itachi who was just smiling chuckled at their antics as Nubutaka sighed.
"Alright you two settle down." He said separating the duo as Anko smirked victoriously and Hamura folding his arms feeling like he'd lost.
"So Itachi, Shisui, who's your new friend?" Nubutaka said referring to Izumi who was trying her best not to hide behind Itachi again.
"That's just Itachi's girlfriend." Shisui said unable to help himself.
Izumi gasped and grew redder than a tomato but much to everyone's shock Itachi developed a slight blush and didn't reply just because he felt like denying the untrue claim would only cause him more troubles and teasing. So he just frowned at Shisui who rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
Girlfriend...Itachi? No way." Hamura thought disbelievingly.
Nubutaka and the rest of the group besides Anko who didn't know Itachi well thought the same.
Izumi just grew shyer and more self conscious as she realized he hadn't even denied his cousins statement. She subtly inched her way slightly behind Itachi again and started looking down as she traced circles in the dirt with her feet.
"Well that's pretty surprising." Nubutaka thought pretty much as mind blown as the rest.
"Is Itachi actually blushing?" Hamura thought upon looking at his friend.
"No way.."
Itachi sighed as he grabbed Izumi's hand and pulled on it gently till she came to stand beside him.
"This is second year shinobi trainie Izumi Uchiha. She asked me and Shisui if she could come along and train with us today as it could help her catch up easier in her shinobi studies."
Nubutaka smiled and the rest of the group smiled as everyone greeted Izumi only causing her blush to deepen more not being used to this kind of attention along with being known among these people as Itachi's girlfriend.
After the introductions were through Nubutaka paired them off with their sparing partners as they'd be doing one of one today rather than team matches.
Anko vs Izumi
Hamura Vs Shisui
Inoha Vs Neji
Imari Vs Itachi
The first match up would be Izumi and Anko as the two were the least advanced out of the group and their match would likely be shorter than the others.
They made their way to the middle of the training field and stood a short distance from each other as the others stood off to the side. The rules were simple for this spar, no fatal strikes, no ninjustu besides clones and the flicker, weapons were permitted.
He signaled the start of the battle and Izumi rushed Anko who'd taken up a taijustu stance Nubutaka recognized to one of the many used by anbu.
Izumi got within striking distance and made a very open strike practically telegraphing her target. As Anko moved to counter Izumi quickly ducked under her attack and moved into a kick which Anko thanks to her superior speed and experience was easily able to dodge.
Anko moved to sweep the girls legs from under her while she was in mid strike but Izumi quickly used her momentum to flip in the air landing on her hands and doing another flip to land on her feet.
She rushed the girl again as Anko took up the same stance and grabbed her arm this time. She attempted to use the girls momentum to throw her but apparently Izumi was very acrobatic and she twisted in the air in a way that made her slip out of Anko's grasp.
"Okay time to get serious." The purple haired girl thought switching her stance and rushing the girl before she'd had the chance to get her bearings.
Izumi reacted quickly twirling in a leap over Anko's strike and making two swings at her in quick succession with her hands. Anko ducked under the attack but was caught by surprise by the girls twirling foot which planted itself in her chest and pushed her back a bit.
She regained her footing and smirked grateful to finally be fighting someone other than 122 as she could definitely learn something from this girls more flexible way of fighting.
Izumi grinned happy Anko was enjoying herself as she was too since usually when she trained with Itachi he always had to go easy on her which she really didn't like too much, and all the other Uchiha avoided her like the plague same as the kids at the academy.
The next few minutes consisted of Anko pressuring Izumi and keeping her on the defensive as she picked up on the girls style but it didn't seem to be making much of a difference as she seemed to be adjusting to whatever changes her opponent made.
Nubutaka couldn't help but notice her style wasn't the typical Uchiha destroyer style.
Thanks to the sharingan the destroyer fist had earned world renown as perhaps the deadliest taijustu style to ever come out of Konoha right next to the gentle fist.
It was essentially an all attack style giving the enemy hardly any time to fight back as the weak points in their defense were constantly pressured, users of the style didn't dodge attacks at all they countered them as to keep pushing the attack and wearing on their opponents defense.
Thanks to the absence of the sharingan anyone outside of the Uchiha who attempted to replicate or modify the style found it to be more trouble than it was worth as their eyes could never quite utilities the countering aspect which was what made the style so deadly.
The only people who were actually successful in this endeavor as far as Nubutaka knew where Kakashi Hatake who possessed a sharingan and Might Gai who was possibly the greatest taijustu master the elemental nation's had ever seen.
When watching Izumi it was quite obvious the style she used was different. She avoided all attacks and usually only attacked right after dodging a strike which Nubutaka thought was weird since countering and creating an opening would prove to be more efficient than waiting for them.
Even Uchiha that had yet to awaken their sharingan we're taught the basics of the destroyer fist.
She appeared to be tiring out quicker than Anko who was using the anbu woodpecker style which consisted of fast precision strikes and evading attacks for defense.
Anko moved in on Izumi again once again getting up close to the girl jabbing at her with her right which Izumi quickly spun away from and turned bringing her foot up which Anko quickly duck under and moved in closer.
Izumi quickly avoided two more jabs before leaping over the girl bringing her foot down towards her opponents head which was dodged, as soon as Izumi landed she spun low and attempting to sweep Anko's legs out from under her again.
Anko dodged the sweep as well and made another set of jabs at Izumi who avoided all of them and spun attempting to kick the girl again but having her leg grabbed.
Before she could do anything though Izumi quickly pushed off the ground surprising Anko and wrapping both her legs around the konichi's neck pulling her to the ground and grabbing and pulling on her arm to hold her in place.
She began applying pressure on the girls neck till she heard Anko declare her the victor.
Izumi stood up smiling brightly very proud of herself till she noticed Anko's rather down trodden mood and fustrated expression.
"Sorry I didn't mean to-"
"Don't apologise for defeating me block head you won fair and square you should be proud...I swear I don't know what's up with you clan folk and being so nice." Anko said sounding annoyed but Izumi noticed her facial expression softened and she developed a small smile.
"Oh..s-sorry..about that I thought you might be upset with me for a moment." Izumi said smiling not realizing she'd apologized again causing Anko to sigh.
"I was upset at myself for losing, not you and you just apologized again sheesh...you remind me of my sisters." Anko said glancing at Imari and Inoha who grinned.
Izumi grinned hoping that that meant the two could become good friends as besides Itachi she didn't really have many people who she could call friends besides three kids at the academy who'd stopped hanging around her when Itachi graduated early and she rose above the level of all the other academy students as a result of training to keep up with the Uchiha hier.
"I think you did really good Anko Chan maybe you'll beat me next time!" Izumi said smiling at the girl who returned it.
"Thanks I'm sure I will eventually considering my dad's trying to cram three years worth of academy training into me over a short time period, but you did great too I'm glad I could fight you." Anko said bowing formally.
"Likewise." Izumi said doing the same.
Nubutaka and the others smiled happy the two were easily getting along after their short battle.
"Alright, Hamura and Shisui you two are up next." Nubutaka said causing the boys to grin and rush to take Izumi and Anko's places.
Nubutaka signaled that they may begin and the two just stared at each other for a few moments wondering how the other would start.
Shisui decided to take the initiative and pulled out the bone swords he received from Imari from a leather holder big enough for both of them on his back.
"No fair, I don't have any weapons that big!" Hamura said pulling out two kunai.
"You snooze you lose buddy." Shisui said with a smirk.
"Too bad I still plan on winning." Hamura smirked back at the Uchiha.
"You won our last spar so there's no way I'm letting you get the jump on me in this one." Shisui said disappearing from sight.
Hamura knowing what the obvious route of attack would be turned around and parried Shisui's strike.
Shisui began slashing at Hamura with wild but precise strikes keeping him on the defensive as he attempted to get a feel for his new blades.
"How did Shisui get so good with swords!?" Hamura thought unable to counter or even gain some distance as Shisui wasn't even giving him a second of respite.
Shisui spun the sword he had in his left hand so he was holding it in a backwards grip jabbing at Hamura with them both.
The Monogahi saw his opportunity and quickly ducked under the blades and flashed stepped to gain some distance.
As soon as he reappeared much to his dismay Shisui was upon him again slashing and flipping around him in an impressive display of agility and acrobatics even throwing in an occasional twirl here and there as Hamura realized he'd gotten so good by taking bits and pieces from Imari's style and emulating it with how he would usually use a kunai.
He twisted the sword in his left into a reverse grip again and began using the arm to deliver power strikes that threatened to knock the kunai out of Hamura's hands while using the other to just keep the pressure on as he could use that one at a faster pace than with the other.
Suddenly Shisui was gone and right back in front of Hamura again in the next instant kicking him in the stomach and sending him sailing a short distance away. The Uchiha quickly leapt into the air knowing Hamura would recover soon an throwing both his blades after the boy where he suspected he would land.
Shisui smirked as he realized he'd been right on the money as both the blades landed square in the ground next to a stunned and shocked Hamura.
"I've never seen Shisui defeat Hamura so easily before, I think he might have been made to be a kenjustu user... either that or Hamura was just completely caught off guard and severely out classed." Itachi said impressed with Shisui's preformance.
He'd weilded those blades as if they were nothing new to him in no time at all.
Nubutaka nodded also surprised with Shisui's preformance seeing a natural talent for kenjustu in him.
"Woah..." Inoha said shocked at how easily her cousin was just beaten.
Imari could only stand there and blush lightly as she admired the way Shisui had easily used the swords like he'd had them forever.
"Izumi and Anko who didn't know Shisui much came to the conclusion he'd be a very powerful shinobi some day with the skills he'd just shown not only with the bone swords but with the flicker when he disappeared and later reappeared in the same spot not even two seconds later.
Neji was really impressed as he made a mental note to increase his skill with kunai as he'd definitely need more the next time he was paired up against Shisui Uchiha.
Shisui walked over towards Hamura who had just sat up but was still mentally realing from his easy defeat at the hands of his friend.
"You okay bro?" Shisui said offering a hand which Hamura took standing up and matching Shisui's smile with a grin.
"Man that was awesome! I can't believe you beat me so easily we've gotta go for another battle again soon, I gotta get me a better weapon than these kunai! Something that can really compete!" Hamura said looking excited for his friend.
Shisui laughed good naturedly.
"I don't know man these swords are pretty awesome, it'll be hard to find anything like these!" Shisui said taking the blades from the ground and looking at them with admiration.
Imari's blush only deepened as Anko took notice and just realized Shisui was using some of her sisters bone swords.
"Hmm." Anko thought deciding she'd ask Imari about that later.
"Great battle Shisui, nice job not getting sliced up Hamura." Nubutaka joked causing his little brother to frown as they made their way back towards the others.
"Not funny jerk! I'll do better next time." Hamura said pointing to his brother then Shisui with a confident smirk.
When they got back to the others Shisui was still grinning at the blades he hadn't put away yet as if he was growing more attached to them by the second and Imari was trying not to stare too hard as she could feel the blush on her face.
"Alright next up, Inoha Vs Neji." Nubutaka called.
The two exchanged a glance and made their way to the middle of the usual spot.
"You may begin." Nubutaka said giving the okay to start.
Neji rushed in immediately intent on finishing the battle quickly.
Inoha stood where she was bent her legs slightly and held one hand in line with her head and the other on level with her chest towards her side.
Neji admired the unwavering courage in the girls eyes as he knew there was no way she could possibly defeat him in a nearly pure taijustu battle.
He got within striking range and launched a palm strike towards her, she lifted her right hand catching his and jumping to knee him in the face but Neji was to quick and he raised his other hand blocking the knee with his arm at the last second.
She quickly twisted in the air and swung her other leg towards his guard pushing him a good distance away as he marveled at the force she put into that attack.
"How did she spin in the air so quickly?" Neji thought to himself as she seemed to be floating for a moment before turning and kicking him faster than he'd ever seen her move.
She got back into her stance this time crouching low this time with one hand above her head and one towards the ground.
Neji charged the girl again wondering if she could replicate the move.
He brought his left palm forward which she quickly blocked with her right hand countering with a swing of her left. Neji quickly swiped her hand aside and threw another palm jab shocked his chakra enhanced strikes didn't seem to be affecting her at all.
He picked up his speed and began blitzing her but much to his surprise she always either punched or kicked his attacks to the side and attempted catching him with the same type of spinning kick she'd caught him of guard with a second ago.
He decided to change his target and started going after the chakra points in her shoulders rather than attempting to disable her arms and hands which didn't seem to be working for some reason.
He threw a palm jab towards the girls wrist and just as he thought she took the bait using her left hand to block the attack because that was the hand she preferred for defense.
Neji quickly threw another palm jab towards her left shoulder quicker than he figured her right hand would be able to react but she simply leapt over top of the attack and started delivering a surprising flurry of punches and kicks when she landed putting him on the defensive.
Neji frowned refusing to believe this girl who'd had so lousiest taijustu he'd ever seen up until now had gotten this good over night.
He decided to use nearly his full speed and began launching two palm strikes and jabs per second putting Inoha back on the defensive as his continued increase in speed seemed to easily take her off guard and impressed the observers.
For a moment she faltered in her defense and Neji smirked in his mind knowing that the battle was his as there was no way to defend herself from his next attack. His strike moved rapidly through her lapse in defense towards her left shoulder and he knew that it would hit true.
He was taken off guard when instead of his palm strike hitting her left shoulder and rendering it useless for the remainder of their duel it came into contact with her knee.
Apparently she raised it at the last second using it to block and just holding it there as Neji applied more pressure in attempted to push her off balance.
He frowned as she began grinning slyly still standing on one leg as he continued to apply more pressure to her leg in an attempt to make her fall.
"How did you get so good all of a sudden why aren't my palm strikes affecting you?" The Hyuga demanded irritated the girl had some how improved her taijustu by leaps and bounds.
She contemplated whether she should tell him or not and figured why not it couldn't do much harm.
"I put a thin layer of crystal over my hands that extend to the end of my forearms and my feet that extend towards my knee which I use a crystal release technique to manipulate."
"Honestly I'm hardly even moving my hands and legs right now, I'm just moving the crystal which makes my body move faster than it usually could and much more durable where the crystal covers of course. I've been working on this technique since I found out I had crystal release, that's why my taijustu skills always sucked." Inoha grinned proud of herself.
"So how did you get so good with it so quickly?" Neji asked now understanding why he couldn't close the chakra points in her hands and lower legs.
"Cousin Nubu has a similar technique he uses to applify his speed and reaction time by a crazy amount with ninja wire. I actually took the inspiration for this technique from his version I think he only ever used in his battle with Uncle Yoshikawa and also from how my sister can increase her speed and strength by changing the mass of the bones in her body."
"Up until now in all my taijustu battle's I was just attempting to get a hang of the movements and timing. I already have a good understanding of the Patient Crane style which I can really only use efficiently when I'm using this technique. Nubutaka sama just informed me after our private spar yesterday I was ready to apply everything I've been working on and Imari stayed up with me late last night so I could practice with her first."
Neji nodded and looked at her hands noticing they did short of reflect the sun's light. If her layer of crystal was really so thin maybe if he applied enough chakra he could crack it or send his chakra through it, that or he'd have to disable her arms and legs to win which was proving harder than he would've liked so far.
"I must admit that your technique is quite impressive but don't think it gives you an advantage." Neji said jumping a short distance away and re-entering his stance.
Inoha smiled and did the same.
For a moment the two stood there feeling each other out till Neji rushed forward quickly closing the distance and Inoha did the same.
They continued trading blows and Neji's face showed a slight trace of irritation as he decided to go all out hoping he wouldn't hurt the girl too bad.
Inoha was surprised as his speed increased a third time and the Hyuga started easily throwing three strikes per second clearly having no intention to allow this battle to drag on.
He began to overwhelm the girls defense and finally landed two strikes to the girls shoulders disabling the chakra flow in her arms leaving her nearly defenseless as she could no longer move her arms or control the crystals on them.
Neji countined to pressure the girl as she stubbornly attempted to fight him using only her legs.
She attempted launching a high kick to his face which he easily ducked under and used his leg to sweep her other leg out from under her.
She fell on her back and Neji swung a palm strike at her face stopping just inches away from a startled Inoha.
He pulled his hand back and looked at the girl gaining a new found respect as he used a few palm jabs to reopen her chakra points allowing her to move her arms again.
He offered her a hand and she looked at him in surprise not expecting the Hyuga to be so generous when she was clearly irritating him during their battle and he'd already seem upset about something before hand.
She smiled grateful and took his hand allowing him to pull her to her feet.
"That was great Neji sama! I didn't expect you to be so fast it was like I was fighting two people at once towards the end we should definitely do that again sometime!" Inoha said as her eyes lit up.
"Your palm strikes really hurt though." She said with a grinning at the Hyuga.
Neji let go of her hand and laughed lightly at her light hearted and cheery demeanor even after a defeat and nodded agreeing that it sounded like fun. They both bowed respectfully to the other and made their way back towards the others.
"Hey you didn't bow to me after our spare Shisui baka!" Hamura yelled at his teammate.
"What!? You didn't bow either now that I think about it jerk!" Shisui replied sounding just as outraged as his friend.
"Everyone knows that the winner has to bow first as a show of good sportsmen ship stupid!" Hamura yelled getting in the face of his teammate.
"Noo it's the other way around idiot the losers supposed to bow first as a show of good sportsmen ship!" Shisui shouted as him and Hamura started pushing against the other with their foreheads as Anko and Hamura had done earlier.
Nubutaka sighed as everyone else chuckled at the two teammates.
"You're both actually supposed to bow at the the same time when the duel is over like Neji and Inoha did." Anko commented causing the boys to turn and stare at her with fire in the background.
"You want some of this too fireball!" They both yelled in unison turning their fury towards the chuckling purplet who took a second to realize the boy she didn't know had used Hamura's nickname for her.
"You told your teammates about me?" Anko asked looking at Hamura curiously.
Him and Shisui stopped frowning and the flames died down as he rubbed his head sheepishly for a moment feeling awkward at having that addressed.
Shisui grinned evilly seeing a chance to tease his now nervous friend.
"Oh yeah you were definitely his favorite part about that day. Said it started off bad then got even worse leading up until he meant you and was driven crazy by your attitude, but when you two started eating together at the compond later he found out you were pretty cool and was even kinda sad to see you go." Shisui said with a smirk causing Hamura to shoot him a murderous glare.
"Even told us you were probably the coolest girl he'd ever meant. You know fires his favorite element he really has a thing for it. That's probably why he decided to call you fire ball, am I right Hamura?" Shisui said elbowing his friend in the ribs playfully and wriggling his eyebrows suggestively.
The flames of rage reappeared in the background behind Hamura as he tackled his buddy to the ground and they began fighting each other in a messy tussle as Shisui mostly laughed at the boys anger and tried to dodge punches.
Anko started to chuckle with everyone else but she blushed a bit at that last part figuring he'd seen her as more of an annoyance for some reason.
Out of the entire group Itachi was the only one who hadn't laughed he was too busy making a mental note to one day get back at Shisui for the distress he was causing his teammates when it came to the females they considered to be their friends.
"Okay you two come on, break it up we've still got one more spar to do." Nubutaka said still smiling at the way Shisui had teased his brother as he separated the two.
Shisui was grinning slyly at Hamura who had a look on his face that said I'll get you back for this one day.
"Okay Itachi, Imari. You two are up." The clan head said still chuckling on the inside at Shisui's teasing antics. No doubt he was sure to give his teammates hell in the future when the boys became old enough to truly start seeking and wanting for a romantic relationship.
For some reason he felt like Shisui was the type who wouldn't know romance if it flickered behind him and knocked him over the head.
"Good luck with that one little cousin." He thought glancing at Imari as her and Itachi came to stand across from each other in the middle of the field.
Imari created two new bone swords as she given Shisui the pair she'd normally used.
Itachi drew a single kunai and stood at the ready.
Imari twirled her swords and got into her usual stance knowing she'd have to try her hardest if she was to have any chance at beating Itachi.
Nubutaka signaled the start of the match and Izumi wasted no time rushing her opponent.
Itachi pulled two more kunai from his pouch and threw them at the girl.
She slashed them out of the way rather than dodging as Itachi figured she would but had hoped against.
She made a vertical slash at him as soon as she got within range which he quickly blocked with his kunai.
She decided to go all out from the start as she began slashing wildly leaving Itachi no time to counter as he had to constantly defend himself.
She gracefully leapt over him spinning as she did with her blades out striking at Itachi from above as he saw the attack had managed to chip his kunai.
She landed on the other side and made another vertical slash which Itachi evaded quickly spinning around and making another vertical strike which Itachi had to block as she'd gotten closer.
She spun again this time hitting his kunai three times in rapid succession breaking the blade off from the handle.
Itachi flickered away to gain some distance and quickly pulled out another kunai knocking her blade which she'd threw after him into the air she was quickly upon him right afterwards, wielding her remaining blade with both hands making stronger but slightly less accurate strikes than before as she was used to duel wielding.
She flipped backwards kicking her other sword which was falling to the ground towards Itachi creating a bone dagger and rushing straight back in behind the sword which Itachi had redirected using a kunai.
They engaged in a kenjustu battle again as Itachi noted this girls sword skills seemed to far exceed his skills with a kunai which wasn't all that surprising considering his strength were ninjustu and genjustu and all she really ever seemed to work on was her kenjustu.
Good thing he'd already prepared for that posibility.
He flickered away again and threw a number of kunai at the girl which were all quickly knocked to the side as she attempted to close the distance between them once again.
Itachi pulled out two kunai this time warding off the girls assualt to the best of his abilities occasionally backing up and hurling more towards her all of which she blocked.
Eventually he'd run through all his kunai besides the one he had in his hand and she paused in her assault wondering why it seemed so easy.
Even if Itachi's kenjustu skills with a kunai weren't so great he was excellent when it came to hand to hand combat and shurieken techniques, and he hadn't even used a single clone or the sharingan yet.
"What are you playing at?" Imari asked warily.
"Whatever do you mean?" Itachi asked feinging ignorance.
"You know what, even if my kenjustu skills are better than yours if you activated the sharingan you would stand a better chance and if you did you wouldn't even need to use a kunai because you could totally stomp me in taijustu if you wanted to." Izumi said knowing he was plotting something.
"I don't think it would be as easy for me as you say but that being said I have been planning something this entire time." Itachi remarked throwing his last kunai to towards the girls right which she quickly knocked away.
Izumi felt it when she'd moved her sword, felt it cutting through something and knew she'd messed up. She'd set off the Uchiha's trap for him just as he'd planned.
Before she could move a sizable tangle of dull ninja wire closed in on the girl locking her in place as she looked around the battlefield and saw he'd been throwing his kunai at her in a very precise manner anticipating where they'd end up after she blocked them.
"I did create a clone using no hand seals by the way, the ground is hollow in certain places thanks to some of the earth style techniques that get used in this field so I created him underneath the ground we stand on. When you knocked away one of my kunai that went into the woods I had him substitute with it as was planned."
Itachi said as the clone flickered from it's hiding spot in the tree's beside them holding a tangle of ninja wire connected to kunai she'd knocked into the forest.
"The clone was to surve as insurance should the original plan fail and it was also detrimental in the wire trap considering where in an open field next to the forest instead of inside it and I needed some way to manipulate the wires so the trap would work." Itachi said as him as his clone started cutting the wires as it was readily clear he'd just won.
"Good thinking there, seems like something Bubu sama would do." Imari said referring to her cousin.
"Thanks, you were pretty good yourself." Itachi complemented as he finished untying her and they both bowed respectfully before making there way back to the others.
"Good work today kiddos, we'll take a little break and do team spares later today."
"Alright!" Shisui said grateful Nubutaka wasn't busy today and he'd get another chance to test his bone swords before their little sparing group dispersed.
Nubutaka wondered what was taking his clone so long to find Hatsue.
She probably thought it was the real him and the clone was spending the day with her, if something bad had happened the clone would've dispersed and he'd of known by now so it couldn't be important.
Still he wondered why she hadn't been showing up at the compond on the weekends lately but figured she was tired and they'd talk about it later.
"So before we start the evening sessions you guys wanna go find my new student?" Nubutaka asked smiling at the group thinking of the look the kid would probably adopt at seeing all these people come to visit him.
Underground NEE facility
Orochimaru paused in his work feeling a familiar presence entire the room.
He was growing tired of the man's constant interruptions but as he'd said before sometimes sacrifices in the name of research were necessary.
It still impressed him that besides his voice he'd never heard the man making a sound of any kind unless it was deliberate.
He walked with complete silence as was common for most experienced shinobi but not only that the man entired and exited the room with it's metal doors without the slightest hint of a sound.
Usually the only indicator of the man's presence when he stepped into the room was the cold feeling that'd suddenly sweep through the air that Orochimaru was sure even lesser shinobi were at least slightly aware of.
He had to give it to the man his title did suite him well as he was a ninja constantly moving within the shadows and hardly left any trace or indication of his presence wherever it was he went.
"Danzo..." Orochimaru said not in the mood for pleasantries or games seeing as he was so close to finishing his work.
Soon he would be able to go back to pursuing his original plans and this little experiment of theirs would only prove to assist him further in achieving his goals.
Danzo didn't reply for a moment he simply continued to stare at the man's back as was usual for the man when he had something important to address.
"It has come to my attention you approached a certain young purple haired kunochi in training yesterday and asked her if she would consider becoming your apprentice."
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow turning slightly to eye the man.
"Perhaps...why ever are you inquiring into something so trivial, surely you can spare me one untrained NEE agent for my services." The Snake said knowing the girls status wasn't so simple.
"I don't consider you approaching someone inside of my facility and undermining my authority by requesting they train under you to be a trivial matter." Danzo said as his eye narrowed slightly.
"Your services are already being paid in full as we both know you'll benefit from the success of this just as much as I to suggest I owe you anything is to try my patience more so than you already seem fond of doing."
The snake man smirked going back to the man he had cut open on the opperating table.
"And for me to offer your daughter an apprenticeship under the greatest of the sannin is an honor only a fool would refuse."
Danzo's eye narrowed further as he frowned at the man's back.
"How do you know of such things?" Danzo said in a threatening tone contemplating just killing the snake.
"I had my beloved Kabuto tail her after she left the facility of course and we were both quite surprised to find she headed straight to the Shimura clan compond. So dear my Shimura San...do tell me the story behind the girl."
"An adopted street urchin you perhaps saw some kind of talent in, a distance cousin of some sort who you've been keeping a secret, or perhaps a real daughter you've been attempting to keep hidden from the rest of Konoha until she reached a certain age?"
"Honestly the possibility of a man like you having a biological daughter is quite surprising as I'm almost certain you've never known the love or the comfort of a woman."
"Shame really seeing as the wind style chakra nature the Shimura's were known for is quite rare throughout all the lands and I doubt you intent to produce offspring if your body still possess that capability at this age that is." Orochimaru said smirk growing wider as he turned to look fully at Danzo.
"Though if you'd like I'd be more than willing to run some test and provide you with assistance in the matter. In exchange I'd only ask that upon the birth of your firstborn child they be handed over to me as I've always need of more wind style users in my ranks, you'll be free to keep the rest though." Orochimaru said going back to his work sounding as if he'd like to chuckle at his own comment.
Danzo considered cutting the man's arm off for his crude comments but decided against it as he was still needed in the man's plan.
"Who the girl is to me is of no concern to you, but if you'd like to offer her training I think we may be able to come to an agreement of sorts to have her train under you." Danzo said knowing an opportunity when he saw one.
Not only was Orochimaru one of the most powerful ninja the village ever produced but it was possible he'd be the perfect shinobi instructor for young Anko as the girl occasionally showed all the characteristics of a snake, characteristics Orochimaru himself displayed and used greatly to his advantage.
"Ohh..." Orochimaru crooned turning back around not expecting that sort of answer in the slightest.
"What kind of agreement did you have in mind?" He asked the man trying to keep his smile casual as the prospect of training the talented young kunochi hopeful seemed to really appeal to him.
"You will takeover the girls training rejimen in place of NEE opperative 122 and in name she will be your apprentice but you are to remember the girl belongs to me."
"Why would I agree to train the girl under these conditions? She would be my first apprentice after all and I don't see a point in teaching someone all of my skills and justu just to have them pay loyalty to someone else."
"Simple...you desire true immortality but as a way to ensure your steady survival as you are you require strong vessels, which is why you're secretly working on that hidden village of yours in the land of rice patties. The girl would serve as a potential vessel for you should you need her, one already fully trained to utilize most of your skills and abilities making her one of your greatest living assets."
Orochimaru started chuckling menacely at the man's statement wondering if he knew how crazy he sounded right now.
"So you'd be willing to offer her to me in the case that I should ever need a new vessel if I agree to training her?" The snake inquired grinning widley.
"Of course not, but with you being the man you are I'm sure you'd consider yourself capable of retrieving her at anytime." Danzo said reproachfully.
"Good point." Orochimaru said thinking it over.
"Very well Danzo, I shall begin supervising the girls training regimen and in my down time I shall take it upon myself to train her personally." The snake said grinning and removing a bloody glove to shake hands with the man.
Danzo looked at the hand wondering why everyone preferred to shake on agreements when that was the easiest way to get oneself a kunai to the back.
Warily he took the man's hand and shook on it ending the gesture of mutual agreement quickly.
He began to leave the room when Orochimaru asked him to wait for a moment and take a look at something he had inside a jar in the far left corner of the room.
Danzo walked towards the jar watchful for deception of any kind as he always was when he saw something inside the jar that surprised and greatly pleased him both at the same time.
"So you've finally done it then?" He asked hoping this meant he would soon have the ultimate scapegoat he'd long been looking for.
"Indeed I did and I'll now be able to replicate the process on any specimen your men should bring me."
"Now we just need three more bodies and a cloning tank where I can replicate the cells of Hashirama senju and you shall have the arm you so desire. If you don't mind me asking where did you learn of the Izanagi anyway?" Orochimaru asked as he hadn't even known of the justu before the man explained his reason for wanting the arm.
"One of the many things Lord Tobirama informed me to be careful of when concerning the Uchiha." The man answered gazing inside the jar with the two sharingan in it.
"Ahh, I wonder what other secrets the eyes of the Uchiha are hiding." Orochimaru said wondering if the sharingan assimilated into the Monogahi bloodline had the same capabilities as the original.
"The samples you've provided me are more than enough to replicate the sharingan in three more vessels but I'd appreciate it if you'd provide me the chance to extract some spinal fluid from the twins in exchange for my services."
"Once your new arm is complete I will return to my lab in the land of rice patties for a time but I will be back after a short while to continue young Anko's training." Orochimaru said going as he poured a drop of clear liquid onto the heart of the poor man on the opperating table.
"And why is it you're seeking after the twins spinal fluid when in your own words the blood of the Monogahi holds every gene of the clan you could have ever hoped for?"
Orochimaru grinned knowing Danzo would question him on this.
"While the clans genetics do run stronger in their blood than can be found in most, the spinal fluid is still one of the purest sources of DNA that can be found inside of the human body. While you know I seek the sharingan having two sharingan which aren't attuned to my body would only serve as a hindrance."
"I seek a body that can use the eyes of the Uchiha for all their worth and not only that, but having a Monogahi body will just put me one step closer to discovering the secrets of ninjustu, the way they assimilate the genes of others as easily as one may learn a new justu is simply an ostounding matter I must do my best to understand and make use of." The snake said with a grin planning on just kidnapping the twins if the man should refuse his request.
"When you put it like that perhaps we can come to a compromise concerning that." Danzo said as the snakes statement gave him and idea beyond that which he'd already had in mind.
"If one can do better than what's already intended, why not do better." The man thought before explaining what he'd neen in return if he was to get the snake the spinal fluid he wanted.
Orochimaru began chuckling wildly at the man's plan. Danzo was no doubt an ambitious man if anything but he agreed finding the terms more than acceptable, interesting to implement even. It'd be a pleasure to see exactly what would come out of it he was sure.
Konoha residential district
Tsunade opened the door and ushered the kids in finding Shizune waiting for them near the front door as soon as they'd stepped inside.
"Hello kiddos, my name is Shizune and I'll be your caretaker from here on! I'm really excited for the chance to get to know you all and I hope you'll want to get to know me too. If you guys have any questions or anything feel free to ask!" Shizune said developing a cheery persona Tsunade had never seen from her before.
"Maybe this'll be better for her than I thought."
The kids had all gathered around the woman asking her a number of questions all of them mainly revolving around why she was holding a pig.
Shizune seemed happy to answer their questions as she asked all of them their names and ages before taking them on a tour of the house and asking them if they would like to go shopping with her later.
The kids all seemed to brighten considerably more at the prospect of going clothes and food shopping with their kid new caretaker and Shizune brightened more in response.
Tsunade figured she'd stay with the woman for a while before heading back to the hospital to make sure her and the kids got comfortably settled in.
Hokages Office
"Who's the letter from old man?" Jiriya said in response to Hiruzen opening a letter from a messenger hawk.
"One of our shinobi squads tasked with gathering Intel on the Raikages plan for our meeting in a few months."
Jiriya sighed wondering it what his sensei had sent those squads into enemy territory for was a good idea nevermind the anbu squads who were currently laying seige to civilian villages for no reason other than just to show they could.
"I still gotta say sensei I don't know if what you're doing is a good idea. I understand gathering Intel as well as delivering a message that's been long overdue but Kumo isn't really the type to just take what we're doing laying down once we've been found out."
Hiruzen smirked knowing what Jiriya meant but having already had a plan that'd prevent Kumo from retaliation ahead of time.
"Which is exactly why I've had skilled Yamanaka inserted into every anbu and intelligence squad. Most shinobi who wake up will have the recollection of being attacked by Iwa nin and it'll only be the civilians who'll be able to recall the anbu who attacked their village weren't from rock country and we all know most civilians can't identify the differences in anbu of different nation's."
"The only true indication of the raids actually being launched by our village will be the words of retired shinobi among the civilian population, as well as the standard Konoha kunai left behind as evidence. With a bunch of conjecture and confusion on the matter it'd be most unwise for the Raikage to start a war when the country actually suffered no loses due to the raids."
"His soundest choice of action will be to address the matter with me during our meeting a few months from now. Knowing the shakey ground Kumo and Iwa have been on ever since the third great ninja war he wouldn't bother to question the Tsuchikage on the matter as there's no amount of trust between the two."
"The villages can only ally themselves when it comes to standing against us but otherwise their bitter enemies due to the skirmishes that took place between them in the war. If there's one thing our enemies know about the leadership of Konoha it's that we've never felt the need to lie about anything, something I'm sure they hold against us as a shinobi and a shinobi village with no need of deception is a powerful one indeed." Hiruzen finished looking to Jiriya waiting on his thoughts.
"When you put it that way that plan of yours does sound pretty solid." The sannin commented rather impressed with his sensei.
"The Hokage hats made you something of a genius when it comes to these sorts of things huh?" Jiriya said smiling at his teacher who chuckled at the complement.
"Although I'd love to take sole credit for the plan it was Shikaku and Danzo who came together to suggest such a thing and actually convinced me to go through with it. The Hokage hat has just made me an old man sooner than I would have liked to be." Hiruzen said smiling at his own comment.
"Please sensei, you were practically an old man before me and Tsunade left the village, don't blame the hat." Jiriya smirked at his teacher.
Hiruzen smiled fondly at his old memories then looked thoughtfully to the hat that sat in the corner of his desk.
"I suppose you're right but I think it time I made another attempt at naming a successor."
"Oh boy..." Jiriya thought knowing this conversation would come eventually.
"That being said I think you'd make an excellent Hokage now that you're back in the village and decided upon staying this time."
Jiriya sighed knowing that was coming.
"Sorry sensei but if we're being truthful I could never handle the Hokage hat, it requires discipline and a work ethic I just don't possess in all honesty."
Hiruzen smirked knowing that'd likely be the man's response.
"Oh I'm more than aware of that, which is why I was going to ask Tsunade be appointed fifth Hokage and you take the title of sixth."
Jiriya did a double take wondering if he'd just heard him right replaying the words in his head to come to the realization he did.
"Surely you aren't saying you mean to appoint two Hokages to serve in office at once?" He questioned the man tilting his head slightly.
"Oh but I do it is exactly as you said, you lack the discipline and work ethic to handle all of the paperwork while holding on to your sanity. I thought maybe an assistant could be appointed to you who could help you along those lines but occasionally you'd still have trouble just fitting into the role you'd be made to serve."
"Tsunade has all the discipline and work ethic needed to deal with the endless paperwork and long hours of the job while lacking the finesse along with the people skills it calls for that you have in spades."
"Your strengths would greatly compensate for the weaknesses you both possess and when I think about it the two of you serving in this office together with Danzo and Shikaku behind you would likely make for a better Hokage than myself after you've had a bit of time to adjust to the role."
Jiriya was shocked at what his sensei was saying.
"But there's never been two Kage at once in the history of any of the great villages, is that even possible?"
Hiruzen smiled at the question expecting that as well.
"The hidden leaf is the village that established the entire system the world lives by today. Who could possibly tell us we can't have two Kage at once?"
"Besides sometimes both of you can be a bit extreme in your views on certain matters and I think you'll do good to balance each other out."
Jiriya thought it over for a moment before sighing again wondering if the Hokage hat was just driving his sensei crazy or putting him in a rush to find a worthy successor.
"I don't know sensei I'll have to think about it."
Hiruzen smiled glad he hadn't at least been turned down by either of his students as Tsunade had took a bit more convincing but she'd said the same thing.
"I'm glad you'll take the thought into consideration but I should warn you my time to pass the hat to someone else draws nearer and nearer I can't serve as Hokage forever as admittedly my skills are only a shadow of what they used to be."
"The only other options I find for the job are Danzo who we both know can't really be taken into consideration for an option and Fugaku Uchiha who I don't have many problems with but I don't think the village would respond kindly to an Uchiha Kage."
"Not so soon after the rumors about the clan are just beginning to die down and admittedly the man is a bit to hardened to be a Hokage, he reminds me of Lord Tobirama in that sense but the second also loved everyone in this village as if they were members of his own family. Fugaku loves the village but all of it's citizens might just be another story entirely."
Jiriya nodded understanding where his master was coming from.
"So while I'm mulling over this decision you so ruthlessly dumped on me I might as well go prepare for that meeting with Taki in a few days." Jiriya said standing up and stretching his arms.
"I suppose so, will you be taking young Naruto along with you?" The Hokage asked knowing the boy hardly left Jiriya's sis since he'd returned to the village.
The toad sage seemed to think it over in his head for a bit before nodding a resounding no.
"If it's a trap of some kind I'd rather the kid didn't get caught up in it so I'll ask Tsunade if she can watch him for me till I get back." Jiriya said making his way to the door to the office.
"Be sure to tell him of your departure before you go or he may just be heart broken feeling as if you've abandoned him." Hiruzen said as he attached a new sheet of paper to the messenger hawk and summonded another one to send it to one of his anbu units.
"Of course old man I'm not heartless." Jiriya said waving over his back as he exited the office.
Hiruzen smiled and turned in his chair to look at the visuals of his teachers on the Hokage monument.
"Things are finally seeming to go Konoha's way again sensei's. I do hope the village is on the right path."
I wanted to make this chapter longer but I didn't want to keep you guys waiting considering my last update was me saying I gave up on the story once again I apologise about that. I took something from another fic I read and placed it in this chapter when it comes to kunai having characteristics that allowed shinobi to discern what village their from. I don't remember what fic I read that in but if I do I will give the person full credit as I'd never intentionally plagiarize the work of another writer.
Izumi was the special character if you didn't notice. I never really intended to include her in this fic but when the Imari/Shisui ship hit me out of nowhere after their sparing match in the last chapter I figured I couldn't just leave Itachi hanging seeing as you have Hamura/Anko and now Shisui x Imari.
She'll be a part of our usual story cast now and I've been trying to bring in more canon characters.
If you guys have any characters you'd like to see this early into the story I'd be happy to try to find a place in it for them just let me know. I've been trying to find more canon characters that'll be relavent this early into the story and that was more inspiration for me to bring Izumi in so I'm open you your suggestions.
Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter.
Fun fact #7
Genin in my fic are probably chunin level in the real Naruto verse, I mean did u see the great ninja war? The only thing those guys were good for is dying and come on let's be honest. The only thing any character that wasn't on the main line up was good for was showing off some kind of special ability, explaining something, advancing the storyline or dying. You'll find all shinobi in my fic even the fodder actually deserve the title shinobi.
