Back in Kiri, Naruto was with his new team adjusting to his new life. First thing both girls agreed that Naruto needed to wear something else. He was reluctant, since that orange-and-black jumpsuit, along with the green gemstone necklace, were the only things from his old lifestyle he had left. So he compromised that even though he wouldn't destroy his original clothing, he would wear something else in public and just keep his old clothes stowed away as a memento.
Right now Naruto was in a clothing store changing room with several things he picked out while Kasumi and Shiori waited. Kasumi smiled at her older student. "I'm glad you're learning to connect to people again Shiori-san."
The young girl sighed. "It's no big deal."
"Still, I'm glad." Kasumi repeated. "After all, how can you hope to achieve your dream if you never learn to be part of a team again?"
Shiori's shoulders slumped. "I... I always figured Hikaru-kun and I would do it together. When he... was killed, I..." She turned to look at her sensei, one tear in her left eye. "I was actually ready to give up on it."
Kasumi tilted her head in confusion. "Then why did you stay a kunoichi?"
Shiori shrugged. "I didn't have any other ideas. Besides, I didn't want to lose you too sensei."
The older woman put her arm around her student's shoulders. "I just hope you can strive to fulfill your goal still. I'd love to see you get what you want. Maybe Hikaru-kun can't help you anymore, but maybe, Naruto-kun can."
Shiori chuckled. "Don't hold your breath on that one sensei."
"Um... how does this look?" Naruto nervously asked as he approached both girls.
The two looked at him and were a little impressed. Naruto was wearing a grey T-shirt with a single black stripe going horizontally just under his pecs, a pair of loose-fit dark grey slacks with two pockets on each leg to hold things in, brown boots, red gloves with a blue Kiri symbol on the back of both hands, and black elbow pads.
"Not bad Naruto-kun." Kasumi said to her new student. "The colors should be good for blending in with the environment here and many other dark places but the ensemble itself is also socially acceptable and comfortable."
Shiori just nodded. But she added more when Kasumi and Naruto gave her expectant looks. "Looks better than before, honestly who wears orange?"
"Hey what's wrong with orange?" Naruto complained.
"So many things I'll have to send you a list later." She joked.
"Alright, we'll get that and a spare set for now. When you get mission pay you'll have to get some more your own." Kasumi told the young boy, as she was the one who was paying for this shopping trip since the Mizukage wouldn't. "After this we'll get you some practice weapons and real weapons, and something for dinner."
"Are there any good ramen shops here?" Naruto asked.
"Yeah, I know one." Shiori added. "I eat there all the time."
"Tomorrow we're going to find out what else you like to eat. But for today, we'll settle for a quick tour of the village." Kasumi stated as she led them to the register. Sadly she had to pay for this herself since the Mizukage said this wasn't her responsibility. Kasumi could handle it, but still the fact that Mei was willing to enlist his services but not provide him with much for the job bothered her. It felt rather unfair.
They walked out of the store after the purchase with Naruto holding the bags. "Wasn't that a bit expensive Kasumi-sensei?" He asked.
"Yeah, but it's okay. I'm not the wealthiest woman in Land of Water, but I'm not the poorest either." She told him to soothe his worries.
"Where do you get your money from? Your ninja job?" Naruto asked.
"Some of it, but not all. A good chunk of my income comes from my clan's treasury."
Naruto arched an eyebrow. "Your clan?" He said it like he was hearing the concept of a clan for the first time, which for all basic purposes he was.
"Yeah, it's my family and extended relatives. My clan is actually one of several in Kiri."
"Is everyone here part of a clan?" The blonde asked, then turned to face Shiori. "Are you part of one?"
"Not really. Mine almost counts, but we don't have the numbers to qualify for clan status."
"Clan status?" Naruto asked.
"Allow me to explain how clans work in a ninja village Naruto-kun." Kasumi said as she took a seat on a bench, her two students following suit. "This may apply to all other villages, maybe with some slight variations for some, but what I'm going to tell you is the ground rules for what makes a clan qualify as a clan here in Kirigakure."
"Now, a clan is defined as a large family of shinobi that have a set fighting style unique to themselves that can be passed down from one generation to the next, by either genetic or learned means. They must remain loyal to the village and serve it, as well as train all capable members into being working shinobi. Not to say that every member must become one, but all that can should at least try unless there's a medical or psychological reason why they shouldn't."
Kasumi stopped to take out a water bottle she had strapped to her hip and took a long sip. Naruto noticed she drank like she was almost dying of thirst and this wasn't the first time he saw it happen. He also noticed she didn't have to refill it yet but surely she didn't have more than a liter inside it. He was about to ask her about it, but she stopped drinking and continued her lesson before he could.
"Now there are three mandatory requirements for what allows a clan to qualify as one. Any clan that does is given several benefits from the village. These benefits include but are not limited to reserved land for their property and training purposes, a large treasury of money to support themselves in hard times and occasional spending needs, and a way to get an audience with the Mizukage when needed. Although that last one still requires the Mizukage to have spare time on her own end. And of course with these benefits come responsibilities. These include but are not limited to total loyalty to Kiri and only Kiri, securing the village's safety, providing a service for it, and the occasional sacrifice from the clan treasury during hard economic times in the village."
She paused briefly in case Naruto had a question to ask. When he stayed silent, she continued. "The first requirement a clan must meet is the most important one, the possession of a unique fighting style. Many fighting styles and jutsu for ninja use are public domain and can be learned and used by anyone. But some fighting styles and jutsus are the exclusive property of a family that make it their own and won't share it with others. It may sound selfish, but it gives them an advantage on the battleground by having their movements be hard to read and it gives their children extra training before they become genin. Also sometimes it's a genetic thing and the reason they keep it to themselves is because no one else can use it."
"Do you have your own style?" Naruto asked.
Kasumi nodded. "Of course, but I'll tell you more about it later. Now, as I was saying, the fighting style can be any type, but it must be able to be passed from parent to children to the child's children and so on. Use for one generation is not good enough. It can be passed down genetically, making it a kekkei genkai, or taught to the child by the parent, making it a clan specialty. Kiri has a preference for the second type."
"The second requirement is service to the village, like I said earlier." The jounin continued. "Naturally, loyalty to the village is a must, but there's more to it than that. Members of a clan need a source of income to keep their treasury from drying out so they need jobs to give them money. But not everyone can have missions all the time or the village would be defenseless. So they solve that problem by having jobs within the village too. Some clans own businesses, some run errands for the village like patrols and trade runs, and some put their ninja skills to use for public services, like medic nins. My clan, the Midorigami, make money by owning the public baths and hot springs here people like to go to. FYI, tell them you're my student and you'll get a discount there."
"Thanks." Naruto said.
Kasumi shifted in her spot to get a bit more comfortable. "The third and final requirement is a suitable number of clan members all baring the clan name. Clans by definition are large, with more than one family making them up. Generally the minimum number of members is thirty, with more than one generation of family members being alive and active. Sometimes exceptions are made, like when a clan suffers a great tragedy that lowers their numbers. Larger numbers are better because it reduces the risk of inbreeding or needing to acquire new blood which could possibly compromise the next generation's skills and security. Such risks are small but still better not taken."
"That last one's the reason my family doesn't count." Shiori added, gaining Naruto's attention. "We have our own fighting style and business, but few numbers."
"Why?" Naruto asked, but regretted it when he saw the pained look on her face.
"I'd rather not say."
"Anyway..." Kasumi added, regaining the blonde's focus and avoiding any potential problems between her students. "That's how clans work here in Kiri and to a point in other villages. Not every shinobi comes from a clan, but that doesn't mean they're inferior in any way. So even though you don't come from a clan Naruto-kun, at least that we know of, you'll still be capable of learning to be a great shinobi if you put all your heart into it."
Naruto just had a thought spring up. "Is it possible I am part of a clan and they're trying to find me?"
"Yes it's possible, but not definite. Your family could be anyone, but for now you'll have to make due without. Sorry." Naruto sadly nodded. "But at least you'll have a name to use, and us for company. Maybe more when you meet the other genin."
"What name will you be using?" Shiori asked.
"The Mizukage assigned me the surname Umitora." He answered. "Umi because I was found at sea and tora because I was wearing orange and black, kinda like a tiger."
"I guess that's fitting." The redhead replied. "Anyone still hungry? I'd really like some ramen."
"Me too." Naruto added.
Kasumi smiled. 'Something tells me these two will get along just fine.'
Mei was in her office with Ao discussing something rather important. "So what did you find Ao-san?"
The cycloptic jounin pulled a scroll out of his pocket and tossed it to the redheaded Mizukage.
Mei caught the scroll with her right and opened it up. The scroll itself was a collection of bits and pieces of information that all intertwined with each other. A birth certificate; the surname blacked out, police reports, a personal message from the Third Hokage of Konoha, and a several statements from a few ninjas. Mei noticed that several words and phrases had been highlighted and circled such as 'demon spawn' or 'Fox'. The Mizukage set the scroll down on her desk and looked at Ao who stood as quite and still as a statue.
"Care to explain all of this Ao-san?" She asked and gestured for him to speak.
Ao nodded. "Yes, Ma'am, thru one of my sources I was able to get the information that you see before you. I know it is not complete straightforward ntel, however once I went through all of it I was able to deduce which of the Tailed Beasts Naruto-san is."
Mei leaned forward a bit. "And…"
Ao licked his lips and said point blank. "The Kyuubi."
Mei's thin brow arched, she did not say a word as she leaned back into her chair. "The Kyuubi is dead Ao-San. The Forth Hokage Namikaze Minato killed it thirteen years ago and he died as well, taking that beast to hell with him."
There was no village in the entire ninja world that had not heard the story of how the great Yellow Flash had battled and killed the feared Kyuubi, the most powerful and evil of the Tailed Beasts. A disaster of that scale is pretty hard to cover up.
Ao shook his head. "Forgive me my lady but I must disagree with you. The Fourth Hokage did not kill the Kyuubi. He apparently sealed the beast inside the body of a new born child, Naruto-san. This boy, who apparently does go by the name Naruto, originated from Konoha apparently."
Mei, who rarely showed any surprise, had her eyes actually widen slightly. "You mean to tell me that the host for the most powerful and deadly of the Tailed Beasts is in our possession?"
Ao nodded "Yes my lady." He could not contain the eagerness in his voice.
The Fifth Mizukage, sat back in her chair, and tapped her fingers against each other. "Well this is an interesting turn of events. Now how to proceed?"
Ao answered right away. "I think the first thing we should do is have Naruto-san placed in special training programs, ones that will test his mental and physical strength and mold him into the perfect weapon for-"
"Be quite Ao." Mei said, her voice having a deadly silk-like tone to it. The aforementioned shinobi immediately fell silent as Mei continued to talk. "This matter cannot be approached in the way you describe. It was done before with Yagura-sama and all that lead to were years of dictatorship, the destruction of nearly every kekkei genkai of our village, many of our shinobi turning into missing nin, and an overall weakening of Kiri. No, no this matter shall be handled with a more delicate and less militaristic way."
"How so Madame?"
"I had been hoping to not really take a stance with this boy, to avoid any controversy of playing favorites with my ninjas. However, Naruto could be our village's future, and we won't want to risk Konoha trying to reclaim him will we? Hmmm..." A moment of thinking and Mei came up with a solution.
Kasumi, Shiori, and Naruto sat on the stools of Shiori's favorite restaurant, which she claimed made the best ramen in the entire village. The proprietor of the ramen shop was Matsuoka Yuki, a middle-aged portly women with greying brown hair and a kind and friendly smile to her customers.
"Ah my best patrons, good to see you both." She said happily, as she finished washing several bowls.
Kasumi smiled. "Our usual Matsuoka-san."
"Coming right up, a bowl of chicken ramen and one shrimp." She then just seemed to notice Naruto. "Ahh and what will you have?" She asked.
"Three bowls of beef ramen." Naruto said suddenly, the words feeling natural and familiar to him.
Kasumi looked at the boy, wondering how he could eat that much. "Be careful Naruto, this dinner could bankrupt me."
"There is no need to worry about that." A new male voice said. All three turned around to see Ao standing there, his hands behind his back, and his usual frown present.
"Ao-san! What are you doing here?" Kasumi asked.
"I am here at the request of the Mizukage, she has rethought her previous decision and decided that it was wrong for her to make you provide sole financial aid for Naruto-san until he completes his first mission." From his breast pocket he produces a check and hands it to Naruto. "This is from the Lady Mei, so you may have the ability to purchase all of the items that you require." He paused to turn towards Kasumi. "You may subtract the amount from that check as compensation for your spending." Then he turned back to Naruto. "Also, Mizukage-sama has found you a suitable apartment, you may move in tonight." He hands Naruto a paper with the address and key tapped to it."
Ao then nodded to the three of them and walked away, disappearing into the crowd.
Kasumi, Shiori, and Naruto just stared at each other for a moment. But Shiori broke the silence. "Go on Naruto, read how much the check's for. Maybe there is enough to pay for all of dinner."
Naruto looked at the check and his mouth dropped when he saw the number. "It's… it's for…"
Kasumi and Shiori looked at it and together both teacher and student, their eye's wide with shock, said together "500,000 Ryō?" That was the equivalent of pay for completing an A-Ranked mission.
"I guess, dinner is on me?"
Mei sat in her office, a bottle of sake sitting on her table as she was looking over old records for any information on the Kyuubi that she did not already know. However all villages records on any tailed beast that was not their own was limited.
According to the information Ao had acquired, Naruto came from Konoha but the village did not appear to want him. Ao's spy had dug deep, and revealed Konoha regarded the boy little better than a mangy animal that needed to be tamed or put down. He was listed at genin rank with some usable skills and strong enough to defeat chuunin exam candidates but not perceptive enough to gain the rank himself. Part of the report said he at times was rumored to have access to the Kyuubi's power, but how much was inconclusive.
There was an old report on an encounter between the Sanbi; the Three-Tailed Turtle and Kyuubi. According the record the Sanbi had attempted to increase its domain by flooding the forests near the coastlines, where the Kyuubi had been dwelling. The Fox and the Turtle then battled each other for the territory, and the Kyuubi had defeated the Sanbi with great ease, causing the Sanbi to flee back into the ocean and swim out to sea where it later made its home amongst Kiri's islands.
Beyond that she had nothing else although she doubted she would any further information, besides she had a good feeling that Naruto would be far better then that of Yagura.
Mei remembered the tyranny of Yagura well. During his reign Kiri had become known as the Village of the Bloody Mist. Turmoil and fear ran rampant through the streets, the Academy was more of a blood soaked training ground than a school where students were forced to kill each other in one on one combat to the death. Later on anyone possession a kekkei genkai was put to death. Mei was lucky to survive but the rest of her family was slaughtered. And no one dared to challenge Yagura.
It was not until three years ago did that all change. Mei with the support of Kiri's military lead a successful coup against the government along with the aid of Kiri's only other Tailed Beast, the Rokubi; the Six-Tailed Slug.
Mei remembered the Rokubi's host well. Utakata had been charming, a bit stoic but he had a nice carefree attitude, especially with his bubbles. Oh she would have loved to have gone out on a date with him, but he had been so solitude and quiet. He always vanished before she could ask. And then he simply disappeared on a mission, and never returned to Kiri.
But she still fantasized about him on lonely nights, his tall thin frame that hid those muscles. His youthful pale white face and those light golden eyes that seemed to almost glow through the mist. And he had such nice dark brown hair that reaches the base of his neck with bangs that covered the left side of his face.
Mei felt her face turn red and her body hot at the memory. She let out a sigh of pleasure as she felt her hand begin to drift down.
Suddenly the door opened and Ao stepped him, holding a file folder. "Madame I was wondering what you wanted me to do with-"
Ao just narrowly dodge the bottle of sake that smashed against the wall. "GET OUT!" Mei yelled with murderous force.
The cycloptic ninja shut the door quickly, sweating bullets and his one good eye wide with terror, thinking he had just dodged death.