XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
I DO NOT OWN NARUTO IN ANY SHAPE OR CAPACITY. I ONLY OWN MY FICTITIOUS OC'S.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Glossary: Scene breaks will be denoted by a line of X's
"Speech"
'Thoughts'
"Demonic or summons speech"
'Demonic or summons thoughts'
I got a good suggestion from reviewer GaoGod. I will be rending Jutsu in Japanese, and I will post a glossary at the end of the chapter for each Jutsu and their translation to English.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
As of right now I am debating on his love interest to be, an OC that I have used several times, Ame, Tsume Inuzuka, or someone from either a younger generation or older. To be honest I have been juggling the thought of Pakura, a Kumo-nin, maybe even an Iwa-nin. Something about that sort of romance, especially between enemy sides would add a spice to the story. Right as of now the most likely candidates are either Pakura, Ame (OC), or Tsume. Though I will be introducing the love interest during the time between Genin exams and Chunin exams that doesn't mean it will be set in stone. Hell if one of you have a better Idea, and a realistic on this is not a Harem story, then shoot me a PM with the reason why. I would love to hear some of your requests, it keeps things interesting.
Ok, so just to clear three things up.
Kushina was always going to become the jinchuriki.
The injury from Hiruzen was panic induced, Hiruzen panicked and most people lose control of a few faculties during a panic attack. For Hiruzen's case it was his ability to reason and his strength, and yes my version of Hiruzen as stress and trauma induced Anxiety and Panic attacks, he is just more experienced in hiding them.
Nikos injuries have been in the working since I finished the first chapter, I just didn't know exactly who till I moved forward with the Kyuubi's reformation. Niko was ALWAYS going to be injured, originally I had it set as a training incident leading to nerve damage in his arm, then I had it set for the Chunin exams arc for him to have broken his hip leading to a form of arthritis. Now I have it put into practice of Niko having been injured, this ties in with several short and long term consequences that I have listed.
Now the main thing I need to get across is that to me, I still consider us in the Prologue arc. Once chapter 8 hits that is when I consider the story actually starting.
Remember to follow to stay up to date with updates with the story, and a review would be appreciated!
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Kushina curled tighter up on the bed she was chained to by her ankle. The first week she had tried to fight to get out, she did everything but couldn't get out, she was sealed. The second week she began to behave, she earned privileges such as walking outside the room, getting pictures of her friends, and writing letters to said friends. Minato's letters were a source of strength for her, and they talked often through the letters. The only people she saw were ANBU or the Sandaime, but his visits stopped after she bit him hard enough to tear skin. Now it was only the ANBU woman with the crow mask. She never had a bath, she was sprayed down by water jutsu, she didn't eat real food just ration bars, and only had two bottles of water per day. This was a living hell for her, the worst part? They wouldn't tell her how Niko was outside of him being in a coma and it killed her not knowing if he was alright or not.
Kushina looked up from her knees as the door swung open, there stood Jiraiya in the doorway and she began to bawl. Before the ANBU could even move Jiraiya was across the room breaking the chain with a kunai and hugging Kushina. She wrapped her body as much as she could around his and bawled so loudly it hurt her ears.
"I'm so sorry Kushina-chan, I am so so sorry. Hiruzen-sama wouldn't let me in, I wasn't allowed near you." Jiraiya's hand on the back of her head rubbed her scalp, placing an arm beneath her rear he lifted her off of the bed and began walking away. The ANBU tried to stop him but one look and that ended it. Jiraiya had become attached in a way he only was attached to one person before, he absolutely loved this little girl and her nephew. These were his kids, HIS little brother and sister, and no one will ever take them away again. With a puff of smoke Jiraiya used the Shunshin no Jutsu to move to the outside of the building. Stroking the back of Kushina's head he began to walk away from the building, not looking back because he knew Hiruzen was looking down from his window.
Kushina had her eyes closed, the light from being outside hurt them. She just tightened her grip on Jiraiya and got lost in the lull of him walking. She missed Jiraiya, and Niko, and Mikoto, and Minato, oh god Minato. How was she going to face him after what happened? Maybe Fuinjutsu lessons? Yeah, everything could be solved with a little bit of fuinjutsu.
"Hey, Kushina-chan."
"Hm?"
Jiraiya smiled softly and scratched the back of her head. "How does a sleepover with Mikoto-chan sound?" He felt Kushina nod and bury her nose back into the crook of his neck.
"Jiraiya-san."
"Hm?"
"Can, can I see Niko-kun?"
Jiraiya stopped walking, and his pulse raced. He sighed and nodded his head. "Well make that our second stop, Mikoto-chan has been visiting him everyday along with Minato-kun. First stop is the house so you can change clothes and get something to eat, you feel like skin and bone." Jiraiya felt her lay her head back down on his shoulder and he knew, this was going to be one of the hardest things he would ever do.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Mikoto sighed, laying her chin on Nikos bed again, she felt Minato place a hand on her shoulder. She knew he was trying to comfort her or be nice, but right now she was just so lost. Her best friend vanished as soon as the Kyuubi no Kitsune appeared, Niko was hospitalized in a come, and she was just so lost. Standing up she turned to leave the room. "Want anything from the vending machines?"
Minato shook his head and continued his Fuinjutsu lessons. To other people it was squiggles and lines and weird shapes, but to him, Niko, Kushina, and his sensei this was their lifeblood. Minato was making a stroke with his brush when the door opened.
"Minato-kun?"
Minato froze, he dropped his brush, ink, and his pad and stood up. Turning with wide eyes there she stood. Her hair like fire, eyes like amethyst, and her skin like porcelain. He felt the blush flood his cheeks but when he saw the tears in her eyes he walked up to her and hugged her as tight as he could. "I was so afraid I would never see you again. After Sandaime-sama hurt Niko and took you, I didn't know what to do." He felt her start to shake and felt the front of his shirt begin to moisten. She was crying, and his heart froze over with rage. You see Minato was not like Jiraiya where his rage was like a fire. His rage was calm, vicious, and would hurt the most. A fiery rage was explosive but ended quickly, but Minato's? His rage would seep into every pore acting as if a soothing balm. Then when he was good and ready, it would tear asunder everything and anything that is touched, it would eviscerate his enemies, and his enemy just became the Sandaime Hokage.
"I was so scared, and I heard Niko was hurt, and then no one would talk to me until I could send letters. I tried to write and ask questions but they would burn the letters and, and." Kushina's lip began to quiver and she buried her head into Minato's shoulder bawling her eyes out. She didn't care right now, all that mattered was that she was here. She heard a cup drop and the soft voice that spoke caused her to turn around.
"Kushina?"
Seeing Mikoto with dark rings and bags around her eyes, her unkempt hair, and her red eyes struck a chord in Kushina. She didn't even hesitate, running and basically tackling her best friend in the world to the ground the two girls began to cry. The two sat there for a good while just hugging and crying, letting all their pent up sadness go.
Jiraiya felt Minato's hand tug on his sleeve. Looking down he saw Minato's eyes and he saw something that terrified him, that cold silent rage.
"I want to become stronger, nay, the strongest. No one will ever touch her again, so I want you to stop holding back during our training. I need to get as strong as I can, for her sake and Niko's." Minato poured his heart out on his sleeve, hoping that it would be enough to sway Jiraiya.
"I can guarantee you, by the time I am done with you, no one will stand at the same peak as you. No one."
"Good." Minato closed his eyes and burned this feeling, this cold rage into his heart. For years to come this rage would be his motivator, but at the same time his undoing.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Kushina sighed again, her Sensei had let her out early again to come and visit Niko. She hadn't been on a mission in over a month if you count the time she was locked away. It had been five weeks since her becoming a jinchuriki. She had the same routine nearly every day: Wake up, breakfast, training with her team till lunch, lunch, go see Niko, leave with Jiraiya and Minato, training with both of them, dinner, home, more training, sleep. It left her with a monotony that was comforting but beginning to stagnate. She placed her hand in Niko's cold one and sighed again, she missed him, even if he was quiet, reserved, and antisocial, he was a light in her life. Her mind wandered as she thought about the hospital, there had been whispers. Apparently during the first week Niko's attending nurse had been killed in an unfortunate accident. One of the trees in the courtyard fell on her during her break. The second nurse had another unfortunate accident, she was walking on her way to work when a strong gust blew a pallet of bricks from the top of a construction site, she had been crushed and killed. The third nurse survived her accident. She had been on the way to work when she said she was beset upon by 'shadow people', what that mean no one knew. She managed to survive with a slit throat, and bruising in the shape of hands on her wrists. The fourth nurse suffered from a brain aneurysm. People had been whispering about Niko being cursed, and any nurse who had been willing to attend to him had immediately stopped in their way. Only Uchiha-sensei was unscathed, not without his fare share of accidents. He had nearly been killed three times by malfunctioning equipment, 'shadow animals with no chakra', and a falling house. It was just strange, if all of this was happening to people around Niko, why not to her, Minato, Mikoto, Jiraiya? It was just so strange.
Hearing the door open Kushina turned and saw Uchiha-sensei come through the door.
"Good evening Uzumaki-san, has he been behaving?"
Kushina nodded and sat back in her chair.
"Good, I'm just going to take down his vitals, so how's the training going?"
"Well, Jiraiya-san says that I am nearly a master in Barrier and Offensive fuinjutsu. Tachibana-sensei has been teaching me a lot of wind Ninjutsu, and to be honest they seem a little too easy. Though Futakata-kun died on a mission a couple weeks ago. I miss him, he was one of my friends." Kushina sighed and laid her head on the side of Niko's bed looking up at his face.
"How's things coming along with Minato, have you asked him out yet?" Kotaru chuckled and looked down at Niko, opening each eyelid and using his pen light to check his pupil dilation.
"Well, I was, um, I was waiting to see if Minato-kun would ask first." Kushina blushed and buried her face in the covers.
"Oh? He doesn't seem the type to me, you may have to make the first move. Believe it or not, Mikoto-chan has to make moves on Fugaku-kun for him to do anything." Kotaru loved his little Mikoto above all else, but Fugaku? He was denser than a pile of bricks when it came to emotions.
"I see, so how's Niko doing?"
"He's." Kotaru barely had time to react before Niko sat up in his bed choking. Kotaru pushed him down and shouted for help in Nikos room. Several nurses ran in and one of them escorted Kushina out of the room. Kotaru gingerly removed the feeding tube, turning Niko on his side he watched Niko throw up. Rubbing his back he made shushing noises. He sighed watching Niko fall asleep, checking his pulse he noticed an increased heart rate. This was good, Nikos body was waking up, though he could have used less puking. Kotaru left the room and saw Kushina bouncing her leg and biting on her thumbs nail.
"Kotaru-sensei! Is he?"
"Yeah, he's awake, well in a way. He fell asleep but this time it is just a nap. Give him some time to rest before he wakes up." Kotaru patted Kushina's head and smiled down to her.
"Ok Kotaru-sensei." She sat back down on her chair and crossed her arms and closed her eyes. This was good, he was awake, but not awake awake. She could wait, after a month of waiting, she could handle a few more hours.
"Kushina-chan, you ready for training?"
Kushina turned and saw Jiraiya waving his arm as he led Minato down the hallway. She stood up quickly and ran towards them hugging her arms around Jiraiya's midsection. "He woke up! Niko woke up, the doctor says he's napping right now but, Niko woke up!"
Jiraiya froze, he moved Kushina aside and ran down to Niko's room. Opening the door quietly he peered at Niko. Feeling a hand on his shoulder Jiraiya turned and saw Uchiha-sensei standing there.
"Follow me Jiraiya-sama, I'll explain."
Jiraiya nodded and waved to the kids to wait there for him. Uchiha-sensei had eventually led him to a kind of conference room and motioned for him to take a seat.
"Ok, so first things first, Niko is out of his coma. The problem still remains of the seizures, now I can prescribe some of the medicine we have been giving him but I have a recommendation for when you both leave."
"What would that be?"
"Find Yamanaka Ichijou, he grows a certain plant we use in the treatment of psychological disorders. It is a plant called Cannabis, there are different types but what I suggest you ask from him is the oil. The CBD oil has shown progress in the treatment of epileptic seizures, such as the TLS seizures that Niko has. Now, Ichijou is a good friend of mine so that should help you in getting some of the oil for a lower price. With this treatment Niko-kun should be able to manage his seizures to the point of being able to be a ninja again but Epilepsy like this doesn't vanish."
"Well what do we do?"
"To be honest with epileptic seizures there are a few things that show as warning signs. We call them aura's, but he may also show with Focal Impaired Awareness seizures. If the later shows it may be good for him to seek out a career as something other than a ninja."
"Why is that?"
"Well a Focal Impaired Awareness seizure, also known as a Complex partial seizure, can be associated with a fixed stare, impaired consciousness, fumbling with their fingers, or lip-smacking movements that last typically around a minute, but some are shorter. Some people also speak gibberish or lose their ability to speak in a sensible manner. Some people say they have problems with language, particularly if the seizures are coming from the dominant temporal lobe. Some people may have a generalized tonic-clonic jerking and this can lead to weakness after the seizure has stopped. In a shinobi any single one of these could cause certain death so I don't need to remind you how pertinent it will be to watch him. If any of these symptoms show, then immediately treat Niko with some of the CBD oil. It won't stop the seizure but it will lighten it to the point it won't be overbearing."
Jiraiya rubbed his face with his hands and nodded. "What if we don't go with the CBD oil?"
"The medicine we have been treating him with, Depakote can help with the seizures but I would advise against it if you can get the oil from Ichijou."
Jiraiya nodded and leaned back in the office chair. "Well, what about him, how long do you think he's going to be staying here?"
"Not long at all. A few days, we have been using muscle stimulation treatments during his Coma to keep his muscles from atrophying. He might have a bout of weakness and loss of appetite for the next few days but he should be fine to leave in three to five days. Does that sound ok?"
"Mm." Jiraiya stood and shook Uchiha-sensei's hand. Niko was finally awake and that is all that mattered.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Minato cracked his knuckles, focusing on one thought and one thought only. Winning this spar. HAving been asked to fight against the famous INO-SHIKA-CHO team was a privilege as someone who was not a Jonin yet. These men were famous, Inoma, the head mistress of the Yamanaka clan. Shikatama, the clan head of the Nara clan and strategic advisor to the council of elders. Chokuro, the head of the Akimichi clan, Jonin Commander, and the man who was known far and wide as the Mountain. One of these ninja by themselves were dangerous, the Yamanaka and Nara heads were listed as an A-ranked threat while Chokuro was listed as an S-class threat avoid at all costs in the bingo book. His most notable feat? He fought, bare handed with the Yonbi in the second war, and won. He took out a fully transformed Jinchuriki with decades of experience within two minutes of a taijutsu fight that shook mountains. He crushed a bijuudama in one hand without loosing so much as a hair. This man was a legend that stood with giants, and he was…. gushing about Minato's outfit?
"Oh Inoma! The colors go so well with his natural coloring! Oh dear, Minato-kun, you should wear something that would pop your eyes more than your hair have you thought about wearing makeup? You should, your eyes are just to die for. Don't you agree Inoma?"
Minato's eyebrow was twitching. He had been called out to fight these three and what he saw did not match his expectations at all. Inoma only wore breast bindings over her chest and a loose set of pants with a katana on her hip. Her hair stretched down to the back of her knees. She was gorgeous, the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, barring Kushina of course. Chokuro was stereotypically an overweight mess, but the problem was, that when he had seen the mans arms in person. His arms were bulging with muscle, not fat. This man was deceivingly strong. Shikatama however, was different. He was absolutely silent the whole time, his black eyes watching Minato's every move with scrutiny. The problem was that Shikatama had copious amounts of makeup on. As in he looked like a geisha.
"Oh shut up fatass, the kids here to fight, so let's fucking fight already sheesh."
"Well, you might look like one but you don't have to act like a Yakuza Inoma-chan."
Minato was about to interject but ver instinct he had trained told him to leap backwards. As soon as he did Inoma was there, right where he was unsheathing her sword faster than his eyes could perceive, and he would have been dead. Gritting his teeth he summoned one of his special Raijin kunai from the seal on his wrist. Following his instincts he leaped to the right, slif forward, ducked under her sword and his hand slaped her theigh.
"Oi! Uppity brat, didn't your mom ever teach you never to touch a lady in inappropriate places?"
Minato huffed, she was good. Deceivingly good, he had never seen this type of sword play. Barely raising his kunai up in time he blocked and held Inoma's katana in place.
"Good kid, really good, too bad you weren't paying attention."
Minato leapt back using Inoma's own strength to thrust him through the air and landing a few dozen meters back. He saw the black thread retreat to the Nara member, however he was not fast enough to dodge the fist that threatened to cave in his chest. Losing his vision for a split second a sickening crack was all he heard as his back hit the tree.
"Oh no, poor thing, I hope I didn't hit you too hard. I am so so sorry!"
Minato looked forward and saw the truth of the matter, Inoma was the close ranged specialist, Shikatama to the side, obviously looking for a moment to ambush and trap Minato, and not far from Shikatama was the ever present Mountain ready to crush any fly stuck in their trap.
"He did pretty good, don't you think Inoma, he did block one of your attacks."
Minato blinked, the voice, it came from Shikatama but his lips never moved. Then he saw it, the inky black thread holding Shikatama's mouth closed.
"He's pretty good, seems we will be taking Jiraiya-chan up on his offer. So tell the fucking pervert to back the fuck up from our business. He's ours for the next year."
Minato blinked and could only fear for his life.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Niko groaned, he felt like a train ha run him over, several dozen times. He opened his eyes wincing at the bright white ceiling.
"Niko-kun!"
Niko turned and saw Kushina smiling brightly, eyes filled to the brim with tears. Then he was being hugged tightly, then he remembered everything.
"Kushina-oba, what, what happened after we got you? All I remember is Minato, you, and I standing on a roof then, nothing." Niko watched her face go through a gauntlet of emotions. Ranging from rage to hurt, to joy to sadness, and back to rage again. What in the world had happened?"
"I can answer you Niko-kun." Jiraiya smiled at the sight, Kushina hugging Niko who was awake and seemed fine. "When the three of you had gotten back to the village the Kyuubi reformed. Hiruzen-sama came and tried to take Kushina-chan. You said to take you in place of her but he would have none of it. So he threw you to the side, but he forgot himself in the moment and had thrown you too hard. You impacted a wall and suffered brain damages, a broken neck, and a crushed skull plate. If not for, if not for your resilient Senju body and your strong affinity to Iryo-chakra, you would have died instantly on impact." Jiraiya saw the look of hurt and betrayal run through Nikos eyes. Hiruzen was something of a grandfather figure to the two, but after what he had done even if unknowingly, it would drive a wedge. Jiraiya just had no idea that it didn't make a wedge, it created a chasm as deep as an abyss.
"Mm." Niko buried his head into Kushina's shoulder, he was confused when it felt like he was free falling, like he had been thrown from a cliff.
Kushina was frightened when Niko stopped moving, just leaning against her. "Jiraiya-san!"
"Uchiha-sensei!" Jiraiya threw the door open and Uchiha-sensei ran into the room and saw Niko's dead stare. He dug into his lab coats pocket and retrieved a small needleless syringe with a milky solution in it. Slipping the tip of the needle back into Niko's mouth he shot the substance down Niko's throat.
"There, that should help."
"What, What happened to him!" Kushina was cradling Nio to her chest, she felt so terrified, he never blanks out!
"Kushina-chan, Niko-kun is having a seizure. It is a common form of an epileptic episode, he's just blanked out." Kotaru sighed and patted her head gently. "Honestly you holding him is a good thing for right now. Depending on its severity he could have collapsed."
Kushina nodded and looked down into Niko's eyes and noticed the brightness in his eyes lighting back up. She smiled widely and hugged him tightly.
"What, Oba? What is, how did I get here?" Niko was confused, one second he was sitting up and being hugged, the next second he is laying down in Kushina's lap.
"Good evening Niko-kun, do you remember me?"
Niko nodded and looked around. He was in the hospital, he remembered a brief talk with Kushina and Jiraiya came in and then he was laying down. "Did something happen? Why am I laying down, I was just sitting up."
Kotaru scratched the back of his head gingerly. "Well Niko-kun, you had a seizure."
"What?" Niko was confused, from what his memories told him didn't seizure involve convulsing bodies, throw up, that like?
"You had an epileptic seizure. Epileptic seizures are not like stereotypical body seizures. You simply spaced out on us, and came back after the episode was treated."
Niko felt his stomach lurch and looked down at his hands, he wanted to go home, to wrap himself up in one of Kushina's oversized shirts. To sit with his supplies and draw more Fuinjutsu, to practice with Kagami. "I can still be a ninja?"
"I would not suggest it kid. If you have an episode like that one there in the middle of a battle you would be dead. I would recommend looking outside of the Shinobi arts for your lifes career but I know you don't want that option. I talked it over with Jiraiya-sama and we have a plan. We'll talk more when you are more awake." Kotaru ruffled Niko's long hair and turned to leave.
"Wait! Kotaru-sensei!"
Kotaru turned, it was Kushina that called out to him. He smiled softly to her and nodded. "She will be ready, just drop by the house on your way home. If you both want she can stay till Niko-kun goes home, sound good?"
Kushina nodded her head vigorously and hugged Niko tightly. She laid down on the bed and just held her nephew, and she cried into the crown of his hair, this was going to be hard but she would manage, she had to.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
It took him three days to be cleared to go home and he was excited. When he got home there was a party! A warm atmosphere of the only people he truly trusted. Mina-sensei had gotten him a set of gauntlets that helped with the channeling of chakra and had plating on the palms to parry swords. She had ordered them especially with his taijutsu in mind. Jiraiya had bought him a new set of clothes since his others were a little short on him. A short sleeved, navy hoodie with navy shinobi slacks. A set of fishnet armor long sleeve shirt and pants, and a new set of reinforced blue Ninja sandals. Minato had not gotten him anything but regaled him with tales of awesome missions and his new training regime. It sounded brutal but Niko knew it would pay off, Minato would be at the peak, and that was what he knew Minato wanted. Kushina had gotten him something special, it was a necklace but the small item attached to the string he knew intimately well.
"Kushina-oba, where did you!"
"My team went to the ruins to search for Uzumaki relics. I took a side trip to Chichi-ue's home and in the ruins I found it. Ane-ue's special bell earing. It was a little squished so I had to get help fixing it. The seals still work too, I figure she would want you to have it." Kushina smiled watching his eyes fill with tears clutching the small bell to his chest. His reaction was worth the price it took to not only fix it, but the danger it posed going there. She reached out and ruffled his hair affectionately.
"Thank, thank you so much Kushina-oba! I, I don't have anything, and this is." Niko leapt forward enrapturing Kushina in a tight hug. He would never forget this, this one kindness that sat in his heart above all others. He was about to say something when the door opened revealing Kagami with a wrapped gift the size of Niko's torso.
"Kagami-sama, good of you to join us." Mina looked the aged Uchiha in the eye. She knew of his reconnaissance and she did not approve, but she couldn't stop him. After all the only two to command Ryuu, was Hinotori and the Hokage. She gave him a polite smile and heard him scoff at her.
"A pleasure Hyuuga-chan." Kagami looked over his student, Niko seemed to have lost weight. That was only natural being in a coma for a month but he didn't think it would be so visible. He strode forward and sat the large box that was under his ar on the floor.
"Kagami-sensei, it's good to see you." Niko gave his sensei a timid smile, small and telling that was what he had promised. A smile reserved only for those he trusted completely. He sat down in front of the large box and started removing the wrapping. Once clear of the paper it was a large set for Chess.
"I figured till you are back in gear to train your body, you can train your mind." Kagami smiled as he looked at Nikos eyes. Something a child shouldn't have, nostalgia, and happiness mixed into two. Like an old friend being reunited, but as far as he knew Niko had never played.
"Thank you so much sensei, this is, I mean. This means a lot to me, thank you very much." Niko smiled, Chess, the one pleasure he could remember from Joseph's life that the boy had overcome his handicap completely to play. He remembered all the moves, the set ups, strategies, and he loved it. Placing a hand over it he exhaled a sigh and chuckled. This was amazing. It couldn't get any better than this.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Niko was smiling, he had pinned Jiraiya in a corner with no way out. Jiraiya had no moves left except one, to move his king. If he did it was Checkmate, both Niko's knight and Rook in position to take his King.
"Shit Niko-kun, you're really good at this." Jiraiya sighed and raised his hands in defeat. "You got me, I can't do anything, good game."
Niko beamed at the praise, he put the pieces back in their wooden holding and placed the two cartridges back into the holes on the side of the board for storage. Niko was about to go to the kitchen to get some water when Kushina ran inside. "Welcome back Kushina-oba, do you want anything from the kitchen?"
"No, I'm fine! Mikoto-chan wants to come by and have a spar tomorrow, will that cut into your training with Mina-san?"
"Oh, no Oba-chan, that'll be fine. We're just working on Shosen again." Niko came back into the room a clear glass in his hand filled with water.
Jiraiya cleared his throat loudly getting the attention of the two. He sighed, he needed to tell them this and the sooner the better. "Um, Niko-kun, Kushina-chan, can you both come here and have a seat please? I need to talk to the two of you."
Niko followed Kushina over to the couch and the two sat next to each other. What was so important Jiraiya was flustered, wait. "Who did you knock up Jiraiya-san?"
Jiraiya's eyebrow twitched as he covered his arms. Kushina's mad cackles were not helping the situation but he reached upwards and pinched the bridge of his nose. "This is serious, and no I haven't impregnated anyone."
Niko nodded and took a loud slurp, his disbelief in Jiraiya's statement clear on his face. Kushina ackled harder.
"I'm serious, it's about THAT night."
Niko was instantly focused, and Kushina stopped laughing. Both focused on Jiraiya wholly.
"Well, where to begin. I guess the easier parts than the harder parts, eh? Ok, well as of today Niko is re-registered back into the Academy, and will take remedial courses to catch up. Knowing you though my little wonder star, you will already have known the information. Secondly, Kushina you have been offered an apprenticeship with your sensei full time since your team cleared the Chunin exams in your absence after the Incident. Finally, well, shit this is harder than I thought."
Kushina stood up and trotted over to Jiraiya hugging him tightly and plopping down in his lap. Not to be outdone she watched Niko full out run and glomp Jiraiya from behind latching onto his neck. "Just take your time Jiraiya-san, you know you have all the time in the world."
"Well, when I first took you two in I thought it was a mistake. So when I talked to Kagami-sama about coming to train Niko, I asked for his daughter to adopt you two. KAgami-sama talked sense into me and since I have tried to be a better role model for the both of you. Well, somewhere in the last few years, I find myself having to come to love both of you. Much more than a guardian, and when I saw Kushina being taken away and Nikos broken body. I, I held him in my arms, so fragile and hurt, and then I tried to kill Sensei when I saw him. It made me realize, I don't just love you two as a guardian," Jiraiya reached into his Hakama and removed a rolled piece of paper and laid it down in front of him. Pulling the tie strings he smiled softly down at the piece of paper. "I want to formally adopt the two of you. I love the both of you as if you were my own kids, I love the two of you so much it hurts. I know I'm not the best guy, but I think this would be good, for all of us. What do you two say?" Jiraiya saw Kushina's thoughtful face, how she bit her lip when she was in deep thought, or how her brows furrowed. Niko for sure was making that face where his nose squinches and his eyes nearly close.
"I think… it's a good idea." Kushina smiled softly and hugged Jiraiya tightly. He wasn't like her father, but he was a good papa in his own way. "Just don't expect me to start calling you Chichi, 'ttebane!"
Jiraiya nodded and felt Niko let go of Jiraiya's shoulders. He watched Niko with a determined look stand in front of him in between the man and the papers and cross his arms. Well shit, he was giving him the Tsunade look.
"Are you sure you are ready for this, Jiraiya-san? This isn't like us living with you and you signing a few papers every once in a while. We will be legally your children, that means PT meetings, being there for graduations, first dates, marriages, grandchildren, everything. This means family, not just us, but family." Niko was looking in Jiraiya's eye, the eyes were the windows of the soul and once Niko activated his doujutsu, the intentions and the emotions of the man were visible. He was being truthful, he was proud, and determined. Niko nodded.
"I am sure Niko-kun, I, I want this more than anything."
Niko slapped his hands against Jiraiya's cheeks and nodded hugging his face tightly. "If she won't, I'll call you Otou-san." Niko never had a father figure, sure he had his Ojii-sama, and Kagami-sensei, but no one like this. Jiraiya had taught him a lot, and had helped him through some tough things. Jiraiya wasn't his birth father, but he was the father Niko was going to choose. Niko knew, there was very few people he actually trusted with everything. Mina he trusted her goals aligned with his own for now, Kagami was fulfilling an obligation, but Mikoto, Kushina, Minato his best friend, and Jiraiya. They all loved him and he trusted them with his life.
Jiraiya hugged both of the kids tightly, his heart was fluttering and he was so excited. Tomorrow the forms would be turned in and processed, and the kids would be his kids in all ways but genetics. "I love you both, Niko-kun, Kushina-chan."
"I love you too, Jiraiya-san."
"I love you too, Otou-san."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
After Jiraiya's adoption of him and Kushina things had been great. His training had picked back up, Kagami had been pushing him harder, the new liquid medicine was working wonders, and he rarely had seizures. Mina was teaching him how to fine tune the Shosen and perform the sterilization technique, it was great. He was even surprised at his Taijutsu, he was nearly nine, only a week till his birthday and Kagami had him fight against his granddaughter. Not Mikoto but her older Chunin sister, Namako, and damn was she good. Most of the time he had been pushed back but in the end he had managed to push through and pin her. His shield caught her off guard when he literally deflected her Goukakyuu jutsu instead of dodging it. Her surprise stopped her for a long enough time for Niko to knock her to the ground and pin her with his shields edge to her throat. Kagami was proud, even though Namako held back Niko managed to take her to her knees and pin her. The best part of what Kagami said? H finally just trusted his body to attack, he didn't even think about what to do, he just, well, did it.
The Academy was good, he didn't really make any friends but on his exam day he was excited. He just needed to show an example of a ninjutsu to get the bonus points to pass with being the rookie of the year. So he did his best jutsu possible, his hand igniting an ethereal green, a practised Shosen no Jutsu. It impressed his teachers and he got it, Rookie of the Year. He chose a normal forehead protector, tying it around his forehead he waited in anticipation.
"Fly and be back tomorrow for your team selections. I am proud to have been all of your teacher and I look forward to serving with you as comrades. You are dismissed."
Niko shot up from his seat and ran out the door. The hood of his hoodie falling from his head, he burst through the doors and saw Kushina, Minato, and Jiraiya all at the gate to the Academy. With a smile he ran to join them and with a whoop whoop Jiraiya hoisted Niko onto his shoulder. This was as good as it could get!
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Alright people, so for the rest of the story I will try to cut down on the time skips unless there is nothing to fill in, like empty days between missions where nothing happens. Thus ends the first arc of our story, Childhood. I hope you all enjoyed this first arc and I hope you paid attention to the events of the last three to four chapters, every single event was significant to the story in the long and short of it. Next arc is up, named affectionately Dog Days. Till the next chapter,
~Ardent Chronicler
Jutsu Glossary:
Gokakyu no Jutsu: A technique where chakra kneaded inside the body is converted into fire and expelled from the mouth, either as a massive sphere or as a continuous flame-thrower. The released flames will engulf their target, and is capable of leaving a crater in the ground's surface. The scope of this attack is altered by controlling the volume of chakra that is mustered.
Shosen Jutsu: The Shosen is a medical ninjutsu which allows the user to speed up the body's natural healing process by sending chakra from their hands into a wound or affected body part. This allows the user to heal a patient without the need for medical equipment or surgery, making it very useful on the battlefield. It can be used to treat both external and internal injuries. It is vital to match the amount of chakra used to the severity of the affliction or injury. This requires a great amount of chakra control.
Shunshin no Jutsu: By using the Shunshin no Jutsu, a ninja can move short to long distances at an almost untraceable speed. To an observer, it appears as if the user has teleported. It is accomplished by using chakra to temporarily vitalise the body and move at extreme speeds. The amount of chakra required depends on the overall distance and elevation between the user and the intended destination.
