The Coming Days

I do not own Naruto or any other Stuff I make references to

The following months and summer vacation the future rookie nine would meet at Ryuu's estate to train not just in shinobi arts but magic as well. Eiji had come to the conclusion that all of Ryuu's peers should have their mana pathways opened up, and trained to specialize in at least one type of magic. It was during these lessons that the group was introduced to the time compression training, which Ryuu had utilized in his years before coming to Konoha. But unlike the 'hyperbolic time chamber' where Eiji got the idea from originally, the time compression chamber only ages you a day. This is because it speeds up the bodies' regeneration time to the point of healing great wounds near instantaneously. Which of course, also allowed Eiji and Lady Natsumi to train the kids into the ground.

Of course Eiji also decided to take his three apprentices off-world on field trips over the summer break.

It was while on one of these trips that Sauske discovered he was a Fire elemental (Eiji was not amused to discover the little Human Torches ability.)

Now as the summer vacation came to an end Eiji, Ryuu, and Sauske (who was often at their house now.) were preparing for the outdoor dinner that was to be in the Japanese style open-air cabana that was by the massive Mediterranean style pool designed to look like a manmade lake. The pool itself was tiled with beautiful mosaics of Uzumaki swirls in in reds, oranges and yellows against deep blue background that were visible in the crystal clear salt water with a small island temple in the middle of it. The Temple was actually used in kenjutsu lessons for the Eiji's apprentices.(In other words, the pool is huge) The only other people that were present at the time were Shino who was seated on an outdoor contemporary lounge chair reading a book of famous plays that Ryuu had lent him, Kiba who was swimming in the pool with Sauske, and Kiba's mom, Tsume Inuzuka was currently manning the grill. Eiji had asked if the Inuzuka matriarch would come over and help with the barbecue, because in truth, he had never been that good at it. All the other times he had let Natsumi do the grilling, and she along with Anko were currently at another part of the Estate teaching Ino, Sakura, and Hinata how to do a Tea Ceremony. Speaking of tea Ceremonys'….

"Oi, Uzumaki! Where did you say the pinket the blond and the Hyuga were at?" Tsume asked as Eiji walked over to where she was working on the ribs.

"They're learning the art of the Tea Ceremony from Anko and Natsumi. I am going to have Ryuu learn soon enough as well, as it was once a part of the curriculum in Uzushiogakure."

"Really, why?" Kiba asked as he swam over to where his mom and Eiji were talking.

"Well pup, all Uzumaki's have Naturally High Chakra reserves and nearly limitless Stamina, however this also makes us hyper and less patient than most, so Learning the Tea Ceremony helps to teach us patients."

"Huh, well if that's the case maybe I should have my son learn as well."

"MOM NO!"

"No whining brat!"

"Awwww…"

"And you mister *turns to Eiji, who is reaching for one of the smaller ribs* ..can keep your sticky paws away until these are done!" *SWAT!* Tsume said smacking Eijis hands with a pair of metal tongs.

"Ouch! Damn woman, that hurt!"

"Grooowwwllll…"

"Okay, okay I get. No touchy, Jeez.." Said the Sorcerer holding up his hands in surrender.

"Where IS Ryuu anyway?" asked Sauske, who swam up beside Kiba.

"I have a shadow clone teaching him Violin lessons at the moment."Eiji responded before he filched. "On second thought, he's heading down to the pool as we speak."

"What, did the clone expire?" asked Tsume

"More like he stabbed it with the violin bow after getting frustrated."

Tsume and the rest chuckled at the revelation. They had come to the understanding that while extremely cunning, creative, imaginative, innovative and ambitious, Ryuu(Naruto to friends) was some-what lacking where patients was concerned.

It was later that afternoon when most of the clan heads were gathered around the main (adult) table, with the kids at another table nearby and even though only the clan heads were present there were a few kids that were invited mainly because Naruto had befriended them. Or because he felt that they would be important later on. These were Tenten, Neji, Lee and Sakura.

Eiji got ready to make a few announcements.

"My friends, I am pleased that all of you could make it this evening, as I am very aware of the very busy lives you lead, but this is not just a small summer party as the Hokage himself has asked that I share the following information with you. Other than Ryuu, and Sauske only the Hokage is aware of what I'm about to disclose with it being an S-class secret.

"Sauske if you would…" at that Sauske got up from the other small table and made his way over to a Japanese sliding door panel and slowly slid the door open to reveal…

Everyone stopped and stared their eyes wide as saucers in shock as the door opened fully. Hiashi dropped the wine class he had in his hand.

And the only words that came were…. "Mikoto, is that you?"

xXoOoXx

A few minutes later everyone was bombarding both Eiji and Mikoto with questions. It all ended with Ryuu standing on top of the kids table taping a carbonated grape juice filled wine glass with a fork over his head. Slowly he got everyone's' attention, at least until the glass he was taping shattered pouring the carbonated drink on his head. The resulting chuckles made him pout as he spelled himself clean and vanished the broken glass.

"I brought her back with my Rinnegan, and it was only after sacrificing a bunch of assassins that I had captured who had been sent to kill me to the Shinigami. I won't do it again; it took a lot of energy and had a lot of risk involved."

"But Ryuu-kun I thought you didn't need sacrifices to use the reviving powers of your Rinnengan." Hinata asked.

Ryuu sighed and ran his fingers through his hair and turned slightly to her. "That is true in most cases were the body hasn't been dead long, but when the body is so badly detir-*he noticed everyone getting kinda green* ya know what? Never mind. I don't think we need the details before we eat and this is supposed to be a happy occasion."

"That's right, and besides it would be a shame to let all the hard work Tsume and I went to go to waste!"

For most of the meal it was a bit awkward with no one speaking but it was obvious that many of the adults wanted to talk.

Ryuu sighed looking over at the other table, "What's with them anyways? Everyone was just fine until Sasuke's mom showed up."

"I think they are a little shocked about it, I know I am." Neji commented.

"Yeah well it's making me irritated." Ryuu replied

Hinata looked around at the food and thought of something to get her friends mind off the adults. "Um, Ryuu, I noticed that a good deal of the food tonight other than the BBQ is fish. Why is that?"

Ryuu was brought out of his grousing and brightened at Hianta's question.

"Yeah why is that Dude?" Asked Kiba asked before chomping down on a mouthful of stake.

Ryuu sweatdropped at this before answering "Well, these are actually traditional dishes from Uzu, Most people tend to think that the Uzumaki's longivity was owed only to their bodies powerful life force and super immune systems but there are other factors such as the diet of localy caught fish and the dishes they were used in."

Sakura looked thoughtful at that. "You know, That actually makes a lot of sense. Were there any other contributing factors Ryuu?"

Ryuu shrugged "Not sure though Ada once told me that the Waters around Uzu gave off a great deal of Natural energy and were filled with life."

Sasuke smirked at this. "So you're telling us that it was something in the water?"

Ryuu smiled while scratching his head sheepishly "Yeah, I guess so…"

Eiji coughed to get everyone's attention. "Shikamaru, could you go and get the Hogage? It's time for that announcement." The younger Nara nodded and walked over to a Shadow and disappeared into it causing a few gasps.

"I take it that was a magical ability?" The older Nara inquired

"Indeed Shikaku, imagine how pleased I was when I discovered his capacity for 'Shade Magic', he just used Shadowarp to teleport to the Hokages Tower, What's more is that while your clans techniques can only be used for so long before you exhaust your chakra levels, some magika abilities like 'Shade Magic' are intelligence based, In other words.."

Inoichi finished, "…In other words, he can use those abilities for a long time without ever tiring. That's quite something."

"Impressive." Hiashi remarked

"Oh that's only the beginning of what I've been teaching them."Eiji said with a wry smile as he took a sip of his wine.

As everyone started to loosen up and begin to talk, Shikamaru returned through the shadows with the Hokage holding his hand.

"I'm here, you may begin Eiji."

Eiji bowed slightly and turned to address everyone. "You all may have noticed this already but the standards at the academy are slipping slightly, therefor this summer marks a change in the academy and it curriculum. With the Hokage's permission and blessing I've begun to renovate the academy. This however means that the students there now will be staying an extra two years."

This got many objections from the kids table

"SILENCE!" Eiji said magnifying his voice to shut the kids up.

"You did not let me finish, because this also means that there will be a change in how teams are formed, Teams will alternate their three genins on a two week basis to better ensure teamwork and familiarize each other with your abilities and strengths. This will start with the final years of the Acadamy. In other words, from now on the final years of the Academy will be spent doing D-rank missions so that when you graduate you can go immediately on your first C-rank Missions."

There were a lot whooping noises from the kids table while the adults exchanged looks with each other.

"There are other changes as well aren't there?" Shikaku surmised

Eiji nodded smiling, "Yes, there are. There will be 'new' electives that the kids can choose from, here are the lists." Eiji said handing out pamphlets using magic.

They all took them and read the following:

Tacticians of tomorrow: Uses board Games like Go, Shogi, and Chess to teach Tactics

Young Integrators club: Teaches knowledge of human Psyche as well as phobias and how to exploit them.

Jr. Mednins: teaches about the human body and different poisons and cures

Acting and Roles: Teaches speaking, acting, and the skills needed to fool an enemy

Eiji spoke again getting everyone's attention." There are some things that are yet to be added to that I'll be sending that to you later."

Eiji turned to the Hokage "Now sir, would you like to join us?"

"Ever since you gave me that advice on using clones I've had plenty of free time, so yes, that would nice." The third Hokage answered smiling while taking the offered seat.

The rest of the night was spent eating and enjoying each other's company with only a little bit of the time discussing the future of the village.

(Later That night)

"ARGGGAAAA!"

Mikoto looked up from the book she was reading in the library to Eiji whose head shot up from his work desk with a haunted look on his face.

"Was that Sasuke?!"

Then Naruto burst in in his Pj's

"Ada, come quick!"

The elder Uzumaki stood from his seat and made his way to the door while calling over his shoulder. "Not again! Come lady Mikoto, I will need you with me, it will help."

Eiji and Ryuu ran through the hall with Mikoto to the Sasuke's room.( Sasuke had taken to staying as a permanent resident at the Uzumaki estate.)

Eiji opened the door to find Sasuke in the middle of a Night terror again.

They had a hard time waking him up, and eventually Eiji went into the young Uchiha's mind to rouse him. When they got him to wake up and calm down Eiji started ranting

"That makes the third time this year! I swear, when I get my hands on your eldest Mikoto, I'm going to take him over my leg and tan his little white Uchiha hide!"

"That's if, I don't Shinra Tensei him to the moon first, he went a little overboard with his charade don't you think Sasuke?" Ryuu/Naruto mumbled.

Sauske looked up from where his mother held him at the two Uzumaki's, the image of a red tribal flame wheel against a gold background his New 'Immortal' Mangekyou Sharingan spinning wildly, "No I'll get him you guys. I forgive him, but first I get pay back for the mental scars."

"I thought you guys should know that Sasuke' s Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan (or "Immortal Mangekyou Sharingan" as he's renamed it) was force Activated with Magic and therefore is a Magical mutation. His Favorite ability is Holy Amaterasu -Which produces white Flames instead of the normal Black."