A/N1:
Wow! over 100 follows!
I can't tell you all how much that number means to an author, especially me since it means I'm doing something right. This, like the previous and maybe the following chapters is going to be a slow one. Just bear with it as these are necessary as at this point canon is now merely a suggestion. As mentioned, Naruto is not the grinning idiot, well, he is but, not the idiot we know and love. Naruto here has already been an adult and leader of men. Think of this story as a sort of time travel but the travelers have no knowledge of their worlds future, only a fear of what could be and a desire to avenge not only the deaths of parents, but the deaths and damage done to his village, mother's village and deaths of his fathers warriors and charges.
There are three major changes to canon that I'm going to tackle in this update, more about those points at the end notes. Thank you again so very much for the favorites and follows. And as always, your comments are the reward I get for my efforts. So keep reviewing, they keep me off the streets looking for reviews in the wrong places.
Tip Of The Spear
Chapter Nine
The day after Naruto's official introduction was a busy one. There were screenings of Genin that for one reason or another had something in their background pop up as a red flag. The one in front of the Genin Commander was one example. As he sat in his chair the grey haired teen nervously fidgeted under his new leaders blue gaze. Naruto for his part had been looking at the young man's personnel files.
"Yakushi Kabuto, it says here you were rescued from ROOT during Lord Sarutobi's purge of that subversive group. It says here that you quote, are not to be assigned missions outside the village walls, unquote. Care to tell me why?"
Kabuto looked at his lap before answering, hoping that his answer would be accepted, "My mother and her husband, my father now I guess, requested that I not be given missions outside the walls because of my anxiety. I was abused, both mentally and physically, they called it training, then had that seal placed on me. I have moments where I'm fearful that ROOT is going to capture me if I leave the gates."
"I see," Naruto replied as he looked at the other boy, "Coupled with your mother and possibly your father's fears they asked that you work where they could be close to you. Am I right?"
"More than you know Uzumaki-sama," the boy replied softly, "but, I want you to know that should I be assigned a mission beyond the wall I will follow my orders and take the mission."
Naruto sat in thought for a bit. Reading the files again he saw that the boy was a medic with Jonin level knowledge. His control of chakra was as good or better than Tsunade and Sakura which meant his high ranking as a mednin was justified. He was also trained in infiltration and espionage, at that a giant red flag with an alarm bell now popped up. 'So, a spy. I'll have to look into this further before I can trust him. Might as well start now.' As he returned to looking his subordinate he began to formulate his words.
"Yakushi-san,your file says that you've taken the exam at least seven times. Care to tell me why you never pass, considering your abilities?"
"Of c..course, I'm usually assigned to a team that is experienced enough to take the exam but for whatever reason are short a member. I will participate in the first two events as they are team orientated, however, the last phase is single combat so I withdraw."
"And why would you do that? Your knowledge and skills are right now high Chunin to low Jonin. Why would you throw away a chance to advance in your career?"
"Because I never wanted to be a ninja," hissed Kabuto as he shot up from his chair, "My mother was training me to be a medic, someone that saves lives not take them, before that crippled bastard took me from her!"
"I see," Naruto replied calmly, "Please sit, I'm sorry if this is painful to you but, I need to know where you stand in the over all picture. Would you like a drink? Tea, water, something stronger to help you relax?"
"No, no thank you Lord Uzumaki," came the answer, "I...I'm sorry for my outburst."
"Don't be, that helps me to understand your actions in refusing to advance to Chunin," Naruto replied trying to reassure the older teen, "I see that your seal was deactivated after your rescue but nothing further was mentioned. Were you debriefed by T&I, or at least reviewed by one of the Yamanaka?"
"No, I was never debriefed or mind walked. I waited for them to call me but they never did. After awhile I just didn't pay any thought as to why."
Naruto sat in silent thought, the quiet unnerving to the young Yakushi. After a few minutes he startled the medic as he spoke up, "Before we can continue Yakushi-san, we need to get those two things out of the way. You are not and have never been under suspicion but we do need to tie up those loose ends."
Sitting in his chair Kabuto released a sigh, he knew it was only a matter of time before this was going to happen and in a way he was glad, "I understand. So when do we do this?"
"Right now, I set it up after reading your file the first time. Should anything be revealed to be detrimental to you please be honest with your answers. Now, let's get over to the interview room."
Kabuto nodded and followed his leader to the stated room. Inside they found Anko Miterashi and Inoichi Yamanaka waiting. As he looked around the room he noticed a very comfortable reclining chair in the middle. Anko gently took the teens hand and led him to the chair. As he sat down Naruto flared his chakra and activated several seals embedded in the chair itself. Some of them were restraint seals, the rest chakra restriction, meant to take ones chakra to a civilian level. While Kabuto could move his head neck and arms the rest of his body would be as if it were disconnected the seal blocking the brains signals to the voluntary nerves and muscles.
Looking at the teen Naruto spoke softly to him, "Kabuto-san, I need to look at the seal on your tongue, could you please open your mouth?"
The grey haired lad did as he was asked and Naruto sent a pulse of chakra into the mentioned seal. As the seal glowed Naruto smiled, "Just as I thought, this was not deactivated, just put into a sleep mode. Someone has plans for this, Kabuto, I'm sorry but this is going to hurt a bit but it has to be done," Naruto said sadly. He really did hate causing pain to people if he didn't have to as he knew what it was like to be hurt for no reason at all.
Pulling out a quill chakra infused ink the blonde began tracing over the ROOT seal. As he did he added his own script, script that would be undetectable once activated, that would subvert the original seal. Once done it would allow the subject the ability to maintain their free will, something the original would not do. Once done drawing Naruto flared his chakra once more. Kabuto tensed up as pain shot through his mouth and tongue, panting he looked up at his leader and dropped his head as mournful cry escaped his lips,
"Oh no, no, no, no. Lord Uzumaki, I'm so sorry for what I've done."
Naruto frowned as he looked at the remorseful teen, "What did you do? What was done Kabuto?"
The teen just sobbed in reply shaking his head. The grief he felt could be seen on his face as the tears flowed unhindered. Naruto looked to his T&I members, Inoichi was impassive and Anko was licking her kunai in anticipation of 'interrogating' a traitor. Pointing at Inoichi the blonde made a gesture and the man activated his clans more benign jutsus. Anko just stood by with a frown on her face, while she not only respected her leader she also loved him like a little brother. And like all big sisters she sometimes thought her brother was wrong in his treatment of his people. This was one of those times, Kabuto was clearly guilty of some form of treason, it was just a matter of finding out what it was and how severe. She had no doubt that Inoichi would get the job done but as far as she was concerned the little shit needed to feel some amount of pain. Naruto didn't see it that way, hence Inoichi doing a mind walk.
As the minutes dragged into the first hour Inoichi began to stir. Sitting up he faced Naruto and began to speak, "The boy was turned into a sleeper, that's why he was not debriefed or mind walked. Before you ask, it was Orochimaru, the snake, it seems, is very interested in a certain bloodline. Young Kabuto here was instructed to monitor the development of said bloodline."
"And what bloodline is it?" Naruto asked, his face in another frown.
"The Uchiha's sharingan, more specifically Sasuke's. It seemed that the bastard tried to acquire Itachi's but the traitor came close to killing him. This would be his revenge on the guy since for some reason he still, on some level, loves his little brother."
"Anything else or is this the extent of Kabuto's crimes?"
"Nothing else, the boy just passed minor information about Sasuke to the snake. I looked everywhere in the kids mind, he's clean but for that. Naruto, Kabuto wants to take his life, I had to talk him out of it but he's ashamed that he was manipulated as he was. Even though it 's not his fault he feels as if he killed your father himself and not the fox due to his connection to the snake."
"Wake him, I know it's a risk but I need to talk to him myself."
"You'll take responsibility if your talk backfires?"
"I take responsibility, now wake him please."
As Inoichi attended to his task Naruto was writing in a moderate sized scroll. As the teen woke up Naruto was finishing up. Walking up to the now awake but crying teen Naruto handed him a cup of water and set the scroll in front of him. Draining the cup Kabuto looked at the scroll, afraid of what it said inside. Naruto just motioned for him to open it. As he did Kabuto's eyes grew as wide as his glasses not believing what he was reading.
As if reading his mind Naruto spoke up, "What you did was beyond your control. Nothing of value to the enemy was given and that scroll is just what it says it is, a full pardon."
"Why?" Kabuto asked a bit confused, "Even if I am innocent, I'm guilty of treason by my actions, unbidden as they were."
"You also present us an opportunity Kabuto, a very rare opportunity. No one knows that we know you are a sleeper agent, this interview is routine and unless you're a seal master or close to being one, your seal would not draw attention since it was for all intents and purposes, 'turned off'. I want you to continue as you were doing, knowingly or not, only you will have complete control of yourself. I want, I need you to be our inside man. Think of it as a double cross to those bastards that did this to you," Naruto told the boy as a grim smile played on his lips.
"A double cross, against that shit that did this to me," Kabuto said to himself as Naruto nodded, "I can get my own against him and ruin anything he's been planning?"
"That and more," Naruto told the teen with a feral grin, "You and I are going to fuck...his... shit up. First thing is that you'll be training under my grandfather Jiraiya, who, as you may or may not know, is our spy master. The ROOT seal will operate as it has but it will not kill you. It will still cause pain but that element has to be there so as to not draw suspicion understand?"
"Yes, I remember that being used on me a few times when the snake was displeased. You said it can't kill me now, what happens if he tries?"
"Simple, you'll be reversed summoned to the fox realm and given haven there until we can get you home. You will stay in the village and continue your duties at the hospital, sound good?"
"As long as I can pay that bastard back and not worry my mother, that's all I ask Naruto-sama."
"You'll do well Kabuto-san, my grandfather will be in touch. Anko will see you out, report back to your duties."
With that Naruto left the room with Inoichi close behind, "Maintain a close watch in him round the clock if you will."
Inoichi looked at the boy and scratched his chin, "You think the snake will attempt to contact him this soon after the last report?"
"Of course, but I'm not after Kabuto, no, I"m after who makes contact with him. That seal will keep him honest anyway."
"What do you mean 'keep him honest'?" Inoichi asked.
Naruto gave his best foxy grin, "Simple, as you saw I 'rewired' it so to speak. Any act of betrayal, even so much as leaving the village without permission will result in extreme pain. Kabuto doesn't realize it yet but he's going to really be a double agent, whether he want's to or not."
"I see, well, for what it's worth I did a complete going over of his mind. Naruto, he's clean and he's as loyal to Konoha as we are, you sure about that seal?"
Naruto nodded his head, seals were something that was literally in his blood. He spent his other life studying all he could and learning from uncle Tetsuo, the foxes seal master, the last nine or ten months had no less than ten shadow clones studying under Jiraiya with the Uzumaki clan's seals course. With his fast mind and clones Naruto was a seals master craftsman . He had devoured the entire three year course. He had too, to claim the title of clan head of the Uzumaki, Naruto, by all rights, should have been a seals master craftsman by age eight. His grand parents and Regent had petitioned a waiver for him from the Fire Lord citing his training trip. Now he had surpassed any and all in the village including Kakashi and his grandfather.
"I'm sure enough about it, besides, that was not a real ROOT seal. It was a bastardized version the snake created. I just 'improved' it a bit. Kabuto my not be entirely innocent but, from what we've seen of him he is, as you say, loyal to the village. Inoichi-san, I plan to not only crush that snake but Danzo and anyone else that has harmed or plans to harm the village and make the other nations think twice about crossing the village or our country."
Inoichi shivered at the coldness in Naruto's voice. No child should sound that way but Naruto and to an extent his wife Sakura were the exceptions. Sighing the man spoke to his future leader, "While I was in his mind I saw lots of things, that boy was twisted over time. And it wasn't only Orochimaru, Danzo is the one that did the most damage. The snake just put the finishing touches on Kabuto's mind, the final twists so to say. For some reason the damage was countered by the boy's subconscious, it's like he has a super ego that knows right from wrong and it does all it can to keep the boy on the right path. He's willing to put his life on the line for Konoha and understands the risks."
Naruto nodded his head in agreement, "I understand Yamanaka-san, have him in counseling twice a week. Tell him it's part of his debrief due to the length of time that has passed since his rescue. The rest of the time will be split between his medical duties and spy training with my grandfather. Worse comes to worse and he is a deep agent I'll make sure the seal will activate. I never said exactly where it would send him in the fox realm, lets just say if it does happen he'll be the guest of honor for that day's dinner."
The next day Sakura paid visits to the Aida tailor shop and Suzuhara shoe makers. She was well received in both stores having not only placed them under the protection of her clan's merchant guild but also helped set up apprenticeship programs for both businesses in the form of orphans and other unsponsorable children simultaneously learning a trade and providing much needed labor for the stores. Already both proprietors had more than enough help for the next few years, with plans to sponsor the establishment of a few stores owned by the most promising students in other settlements and towns in Fire Country.
Sakura smiled as she had lunch with Hikari and Rei, the wives of the store owners and the actual power behind their husbands. Even Naruto would admit that without Sakura he's just a man with big plans, with Sakura however, he's able to turn those plans into reality. Now the three women are enjoying the early afternoon catching up with Sakura opening the questioning,
"So, Hikari-san, I see you and Toji have been busy. How far along are you?"
Turning bright red the girl looked into her lap, "A..about three months, it was a surprise really."
"Oh? How so?" asked the young medic.
"Well, we had been trying after we got married but nothing," the young mother to be answered. As she talked she would toss her pigtails gently from side to side, "Anyway, we talked to a doctor and her said that I was unable to have children. Toji was crushed but...this is embarrassing but, knowing we couldn't have children meant that the sex was whenever we wanted and as many times we wanted," finished Hikari with a smile on her lips.
"I know the feeling as I was told the same thing," stated Rei shocking the other girls, "Kensuke is so surprising and creative. Our time is enjoyable but I do wish that I can give him a child."
Sakura looked at the other two girls, they were about two years older than her at fifteen or sixteen. Being just shy of fourteen herself Sakura felt a little sad, she and Naruto agreed to wait until she was physically able to accommodate her husband, Naruto's heart and mouth weren't the only things big about him.
"Who are you seeing Hikari, while your pregnant?" Sakura asked.
"No one, doctors cost money where we come from and although we're doing well we can't waste the money," came the answer and one Sakura didn't want to hear. Pulling a green note book from a pocket Sakura began writing something in it and then handed one slip to Hikari and the other to Rei,
"Medical care in the village is free to all citizens and before you object, Naruto did the paperwork for your citizenship the day after your husbands joined the guild," Sakura began to explain, "Now they pay monthly dues to that guild and part of those dues are set aside to provide a better level of medical care than the general public."
Looking at both girls Sakura continued, "I want you both to see that doctor I've named on those slips. Shizune-nee is my sister in law more or less, and is Lady Tsunade's apprentice as am I, but she's much better in family medicine. She practically rebuilt the family practice, pediatric and OB/Gyn departments of the main hospital. Hikari, I want you to go since you're pregnant and Rei, because of what you were told about not being able to bear children okay?"
The two girls smiled at what Sakura told them, the news that they would have good medical care without worry. The next bit of news was more welcome though, the new Genin pool was in need of clothes and footwear. Their family stores were the ones that had the skills and production capacity to pull off the short timetable that was dictated. Sakura spent a good ten minutes apologizing for the short notice. Both girls waved it off, if they couldn't produce under pressure they had no business taking contracts as large as this. The girls were very happy though, their families stood to make in two weeks what they would normally make in half a year, this one order would put them in a secure position for the first time in years.
They spent the rest of the meal making small talk and teasing Hikari about the baby. Soon the pleasant interlude was over and Sakura excused herself. She and Naruto had a meeting with the only active Genin team from the year before, team nine, better known as Team Loudm...err...Team Gai. Both her and her husband knew of the team that was lead by a most enthusiastic and eccentric Jonin sensei named Mito Gai. While Gai was loud he was also serious and cautious regarding his students, having kept them out of the Chunin exams during their first year so they could gain the experience needed to not only pass but form the bonds needed for strong teamwork. Hurrying over the rooftops Sakura made it to Naruto's office just before Team Nine arrived.
Taking her spot behind and to the left of her husband Sakura watched as Team Gai entered the office. While the young couple had met Gai just after they returned thanks to Kakashi they had not yet had the pleasure of meeting his students. From what they gathered the team really didn't know them either as they were on a mission near the border at the time of Naruto's official introduction as the Hokage in Waiting. Now as they watched the three students file in after their teacher.
The first that they saw was a boy with long black hair and pupil-less eyes wearing the clothing unique to the Hyuga clan. Sakura noticed the look of superiority on the kid's face, smug and certain of himself. As he looked in the direction of the couple behind the room's desk he had the look as if he had already dismissed them as inconsequential. Falling onto her memory Sakura remembered that this was Hyuga Neji, son of the head of the branch family and rumored to be a prodigy as good or better than Sasuke's missing brother, Itachi.
Following Neji came a girl with a slight figure and dark hair in twin buns on the sides of her head which gave her a cute panda like appearance. Tenten, no family name as she was an orphan. While she had no family name per se, she was not without a family being adopted at the age of five by one of the weapon smiths in the village. Naruto remembered the girl from that time in his past as she was the only child in the orphanage that played with him and spent any amount of time making his day a little brighter. Sakura remembered her husband speaking fondly of the girl, she had been his first friend but that ended when she left that accursed place. As of now she was a mid to long range fighter that was well on her way to being Konoha's next weapon mistress.
As Tenten walked into the office her breath caught as she saw who was behind the desk. Her friend Naruto had returned, not only that but the girl he was always with was at his side. As she looked at her old friend he flashed his fox like grin and winked at her. All she could do was blush and smile back, Naruto was her oldest friend but after she was adopted it was hard to visit him. Then, when she found out he had been kicked out of the orphanage she begged her new parents to look for him. She had found him after a day of looking, in what her parents called the 'red light' district. She thought it had a funny name since she never did see one red light the whole time they were there. Her family got worried over the young boy and his pink haired companion. While they knew who and what he was, they did their best to honor Minato's wishes and did all they could to help the boy and girl out. When they left Tenten was crushed but now, her first best friend was back.
As Naruto teased his friend Sakura was looking over the last member of Team Nine, and cringing. He looked like a mini-me clone of Gai, with the exception of his round eyes the boy could pass as the man's son. Not only did he look like his teacher, he dressed like him too, the green spandex jump suit and orange leg and arm warmers screamed not only fashion crime but Sakura swore that she heard an early 1980's hair band playing when the boy walked into the room. That was bad enough, however the unnamed Genin locked eyes with the pinkette and before she could blink he was kneeling at her feet with her hand in his.
"Please tell me your name and say that you'll be mine oh lovely flower and I will forever cherish you and protect you with my life!" yelled the green clad teen.
Sakura recoiled, snatching her hand from his grasp, "How about no? I'm taken or did you not see the ring?"
Undeterred the boy stood and bowed, "I'm Rock Lee, the Beast Of Konoha. Tell me the name of this rapscallion that I may beat him in combat and win your heart!"
Grinning her own foxy smile Sakura sat in her husband's lap, as she hugged him to her she replied, "My husband," she smirked as Lee's face fell at that word, "Naruto Uzumaki-Namekazi, the Hokage in Waiting. I'm sure you've heard of him."
As Lee stood there trying to apologize Tenten stalked over to him and drug him back to their team hitting him in the back of the head as they went, "Idiot! Thank you so very much for embarrassing us in front of our leader Lee. Do you even know how to be professional?"
"I don't think the idiot can even spell the word much less understand it," remarked the Hyuga of the team, "But yes Lee, by all means let me also thank you for making us all look like ill mannered thugs."
Naruto looked on as Sakura kissed his cheek and left his lap. He didn't mind men and boys looking at his lover, it was touching without permission where the line was drawn Sasuke, Kiba and Choji the exceptions. Shikamaru viewed such actions as troublesome, Shino was too respectful and the rest of their male classmates were just plain scared shitless of the blonde teen.
Lee he noted not only grabbed Sakura's hand but kissed it too, in a formal setting or when introductions were being given it was fine, but the green moron just ran up to her. Not only that, he challenged Naruto to a fight over her heart and hand. That, the Genin Commander decided, was something that had to be addressed and addressed in a way Lee would never forget.
Still sitting at his desk Naruto spoke up, "Tell me Lee-San, do you always accost the wives or girlfriends of your clients or other leaders?"
"N...no sir, I don't," came the subdued reply.
"Do you make it a habit to challenge said ladies husband or significant other to duel for her heart?"
"No sir, I never have."
"THEN WHY THE FUCK WOULD YOU DO IT HERE?!" came the shout before Naruto was able to compose himself, "What's the matter? Have you never laid eyes on a female before or are you just an idiot with no idea how to act in mixed company?"
Lee flinched with each verbal punch Naruto gave him as he fought the tears that threatened to run down his face. It wasn't his fault that he had a thing for girls with pink or light red hair, it was something that caught his attention. Now he had really messed up, he had asked the wife of his leader for her hand and said leader was pissed off beyond reason, well time to make it up to him Lee thought.
"Uzumaki-sama, I'm very sorry for my actions. To prove how sorry I am I will run fifty laps around the village on my hands, and if I fail that I will climb the Hokage mountain ten times with a boulder on my back. And if I fail..."
"Shut the fuck up you moron," Naruto growled, "Not only are those unrealistic goals but draw unwanted and unflattering attention. What are you? A Ninja or a circus clown? Because all you need is the red nose and makeup. I can get you a job in Tanzuka town in the carnival."
By now Gai was becoming upset with how his student was being treated. True, he had it coming but Naruto was getting downright mean now and his words were hurting his protege, "Naruto-san, I'm sure my student has learned the error of his way, name calling is not only hurtful but beneath you."
Looking at the Jonin in the room Naruto spoke to him, "Gai, I respect your loyalty to your troops, I really do. However, Lee-San is more of a joke than a Shinobi. Before you argue let me speak," seeing the man nod his head Naruto continued, "Before we called your team in here Sakura and I asked around and then observed how your team trains and handles missions. While Neji-san is stiff when he deals with his team mates, clients and the public in general he is quiet and professional. Same with Tenten, unless she speaks or moves you don't realize she's in the same room."
"Now we come to your prized student," Naruto continued, "I've read his records from the academy, I'm impressed that he was able to pass with out being able to use chakra for anything but the most basic exercises. I've seen his use of taijutsu and I would not be lying if I said he'd give me or Sakura a run for our money," at this Gai was becoming proud of his student until Naruto pressed on.
"Unfortunately, that and his dedication to training are his only good points. His shortcomings are he's loud, shouting everything that pops into his head or yelling some shit about youth. Calling a move of technique is good in the academy, it helps a student remember the signs and helps concentrate their chakra, in the field it can get you dead. There is no reason to yell, let alone whisper the name of a move in combat if you've mastered it. All you do is give your enemy a chance to counter what you're planning on doing. That's one reason, the next is that he has no idea of self control, his actions in this office for example. If he has skills that offset his behavior I would be willing to overlook today's events. But he has no unique skill or talent does he?"
"No sir, he doesn't," admitted Gai as his team stood slack jawed at the man's admission, "And I accept the fact that I have failed him in training. I saw a lot of myself in him and didn't work on the basics of stealth and control of emotions as well as self control as I should have."
"I see, well the first thing about correcting a problem is identifying it," Naruto replied in a calmer voice but still looking at Lee, "That said, Team Nine is to be placed on the inactive list for remedial and advanced training alongside the Genin Pool."
"Suspended?" gasped Tenten who turned bright red as she realized she had spoken out of turn.
"Think of it as a paid working vacation, my idiot of a husband speaks before he thinks sometimes," Sakura said with a gentle smile, "You will all be paid a stipend equivalent to five D rank missions per day Monday through Friday, the same as the rest of the Genin Pool. You will also be paid for a long term C rank during the training period."
Neji's eyes narrowed at the mention of the C rank mission, "What do you mean 'long term C rank mission? I thought you said we were pulled from active service for 'training'."
Naruto looked the pale eyed ninja dead on, "Despite your teammate's shortcomings, your team has experience in missions up to S rank with a 100% completion rate. In fact it says here," at that Naruto picked up the team folder, "that more than a few clients with repeat business specifically asked for you four. That right there says a lot to me and Sakura."
Gai beamed at the the teens words as the boy continued on, "As you know there are other Genin teams that are more established but for the most part they're far older and at this stage of the game very few if any will progress to Chunin in the next couple of exam cycles. You four however, have what I've been looking for, seniority, good team work and experience in the world outside the walls of this village and borders of this country."
"You four also share one other thing that with the exception of Sakura and I the others have not yet come to grips with. We've all taken a human life, it matters not if it was in self defense, protecting your teammates or fulfilling a mission, we've killed and seen death already. The others have not and hopefully will not until we six and their senseis deem them ready."
"Your C rank mission is to provide guidance to your juniors, share your experiences and lead by example. I have twenty-one individuals that begin advanced training on Monday, we need to turn out seven teams with three Genin and one Jonin-sensei at the end of one year's time. Your team Gai-sensie, will be the ones that will show the single players what a team does and how it works. That means that you three," Naruto now looked at the Genin in the room, are to be student instructors and teachers aids in addition to your duties as students. Do you, Team Gai, accept this mission?"
The pause was long as the three Genin of Team Gai let what they had heard sink in. Naruto and Sakura watched them think, Lee had a large grin on his face as he would be given a chance to pass down what he had learned from his teacher to other students of his own. Neji was the embodiment of stoic but Naruto could see traces of a smirk as he thought about giving these baby Genin a large ice cold dose of reality. Tenten was smiling, she had a chance to beat some of the stupid out of the fan girls and actually make them passable Kunoichi not simpering fan girls that drooled over Naruto, the Uchiha heir or Neji.
As one the three turned to their teacher letting their faces explain their decision. Gai threw out a thumbs up as he struck his 'good guy' pose, "We will be honored to accept this mission Naruto-sama."
"Good, now there are a few things you should know about this phase of training. One, all students and teachers will be wearing uniforms. Senseis will wear standard Jonin blacks, with boots obtained from the Suzuhara shoe shop. The first set are free, my office is paying for the initial issue of yours and the Genin's footwear and clothing. The Genin will also get their boot's from Suzuhara-sans store, their clothing will be issued from the Aida Tailors. These are the addresses, see that you pick up your issue."
Turning to the Genin Naruto continued, "Everyone will be required to wear what they are issued, the exception to the rule is the Aburame clan. Shino is allowed his overcoat as it provides protection to his bugs and his shades since Sakura deemed it a medical necessity due to his eyes being light sensitive. However he must wear his greens like everyone else. Second, all male students will have their hair cut to a basic standard, the ladies have more discretion as to their hair length but Sakura will be with you to lend guidance."
The team were silent just looking at the Tokobetsu Genin in front of them, Sakura's hair was collar length, Tenten could deal with that if she had to. It was the boys that were shaking. Naruto wore his hair cut in a Marine style 'high and tight', the sides of his head shaved to all the way to a patch of longer hair on the top of his head. Lee whimpered as he rubbed his bowl cut as Neji just thought about losing is long dark hair. Not that it mattered, having hair as long as his was more hassle than it was worth, the change was welcome.
At this point Sakura spoke up, "Tenten, the hair cut isn't as bad as it sounds, and the boys will be able to grow theirs out in a few months. The most important thing is that you all have to get a full medical work up in the morning. It is now part of your job to have an annual physical, this is your base line, the rest will be done on or before your birthday. Do you understand?"
Seeing the teens nod their heads Naruto took over, "Good, unless you have anymore questions Team Gai is dismissed. By the way, I recommend Asoka's for your hair, he's agreed to give a discount on active Shinobi seeing as he's a retired Jonin. He also has the guidelines for both men and women's hair cuts. His staff works fast too, ask for the works. It's a lot of things but it's discounted to what you'd pay for a regular cut if you were a civilian. Thank you for coming and see you all soon, room 101 at the academy."
With that the blonde turned to the paperwork on his desk as Sakura walked to her office. No discussion was needed, the law had been laid with Lee's development and their mission laid out. Gai's team was needed more than they knew, Naruto had one year, twelve months, to put the finishing touches on his baby Genin and turn them into a unit much like his beloved SEAL Teams that he had served in the other world. This group would be special, different, they had proved to be able to work in a large coordinated operation during the graduation mission. With what Naruto was going to teach them, they would be the perfect instruments of vengeance of his mother and father. Orochimaru and Danzo would never see it coming, not with the information that Kabuto was going to be feeding them.
/\/\/\/\/
Over the next few days the Uzumaki-Namekazi couple were very busy getting everything ready for the coming week. This afternoon however he had a special place to be, his meeting with this person was going to be painful but it had to be done. Otherwise the training sessions would suffer and his authority compromised from the start, that just cannot happen. Walking to training ground seven he spotted his target, unmoving and just standing with his hand against a large stone monument. The memorial stone, it's purpose was to list those who had died in the service of the village and while there were a great many the merely amounted to the losses suffered in one battle the US had WWII. It was Naruto's self appointed task to get Kakashi past his perpetual mourning of his lost teammates.
Walking up to the man and stopping several feet away out courtesy Naruto stood in silence for a few minutes before giving a polite cough. Without turning around Kakashi spoke up, "Did you come to pay your respects to the dead also Hokage-sama?"
At that Naruto gave a small laugh, "I'm not wearing the hat yet Kakashi, I have a lot to prove before even I think I'm worthy. But, yes, I'm here to do that and...to talk to you."
"Talk? To me...I see. So you going to tell me to stop coming? To stop wallowing in my grief like the others little brother?"
"Not exactly, your team is family, a family that is closer than blood. Family that understands you, how you tick, how you fight and they're the one's that take your secrets to the grave. I would never ask, tell or order you to stop visiting this hallowed place, to stop visiting your family."
Kakashi said nothing but listened, he knew that Naruto had more to say and he wanted to hear what it was. Maybe the boy would say something that would release him from his guilt and he could actually move on.
"I read your files, something that I've done with all my ninja. The one that scares me is not yours, not Anko-chans and not even Ayame Ichiraku's. No, it's actually Mito Gai, if ever there was a genuine insane Jonin of this village it would have to be him," Naruto added with a laugh.
"Your file however worries me, unless it's an emergency or someone has threatened your little orange friend there, you're chronically late for everything and starting next week I can't have that. You show up late with a lame excuse about getting lost on the road to life will destroy any authority and respect I've earned with the new Genin. Do you understand that it will wreck the entire training program if I allow you to do that constantly without fear of punishment?"
"I do, but Obito, he was like that and I want to try to keep that memory of his alive for as long as I can. Naruto, I'm a horrible teacher, I've never passed a team in all the time I've been a sensei, why would you want a failure like me around those kids anyway?"
Because you're not a failure, you look at that stone and see the names of Obito, Rin and my mother and father. That's all you can see because you've never got them, the hurt of them leaving you out of your system. Look I want to show you a few things from my old world, mine and Sakura's home. Let's sit in the shade okay?"
Kakashi nodded and followed the boy he had time and again tried to adopt but was blocked by the traitor Danzo and the old council. Sitting next to his little brother, that's what he had been told he was by both Minato and Kushina, he watched as the teen pulled out a device called a tablet.
As he powered it up Naruto began to speak again, "Konoha isn't the only country or town or village that has memorials, here, look at this," a picture flashed to life. It was a long black wall sunk into the ground. It face covered with names leafed in gold. "This is the memorial for, what was, until I began fighting, the longest undeclared war in the country's history, 56,000 killed. I forget how many were listed as missing in action. It was a great waste of life, fought not for the protection of my adopted home but for misguided political reasons. Simply put, my leaders didn't like what the other guy was saying and doing things, so we backed a leader that was, in my opinion, a bigger and more corrupt thug than the other guy. It was a tragedy the didn't have to happen."
Kakashi glanced at the picture and saw men far older than him leaning into the wall trying and failing to hold back the tears while others were talking to what looked like family. Most likely by the way some were pointing to the wall telling how their best friend had died. The scene changed as there now was a few shots of flowers, letters, old pictures and gifts at the foot of the wall. The last pic was of a elderly woman rubbing a piece of charcoal against a piece of paper that had been carefully placed over a single name.
"That name was her boyfriend, they were like me and Sakura, childhood sweethearts, she carried his son while he went and fought. Back then it was frowned upon to be an unmarried mother, but her family and friends supported her and her son. When her lover was killed she devoted her life to her son. She never found anyone else, the day I shot this picture was the day she said she decided to start living again. Her son went into the Marine Corps like his father and survived a thirty year career and more than a few combat tours."
"This next one," a picture of a dead volcano filled with crosses filled the screen, "is a cemetery filled with the dead of one theater of that world's second world war. More died than are buried here but they were buried in other locations, left rotting in forgotten jungles or just dumped into the sea. The men and their families that lived through this were dying off at a few hundred a day when we were there. I suspect that there are precious few of them now, I pray they finally find their peace."
"Last one, I promise," another field of crosses this time on a clifftop. Sitting in front of each cross was a flag with red and white stripes and a blue upper corner filled with white stars. Poppies had been placed on each cross as well, "This is where the American dead were laid to rest following the invasion of this country to seize it from a very strong and evil enemy. The flags are placed by those crosses every May 30th and November 11th, days to honor the dead and the living. These are just the ones from the first battles of liberation, there are more further inland and not all are from this one war."
"What do you mean Naruto? Not from just this one war?"
"Sadly, the same enemy had invaded this country a little over twenty years prior. This time however, they were successful if only for a while and took over the entire continent save for one remaining island country and a couple that stayed neutral. See, this is the second time my country, America, had to come to this regions rescue. You call the three wars fought here as Shinobi World Wars but they were fought only in this continent. The world wars, two of them, in my old world were fought on a global scale. There are seven continents there and battle was fought from six of them. Here, thousands were killed and it's a tragedy. Over there millions died and after that second horrible war was fought? Nobody learned the lesson and seventy years after the end of the second war I and Sakura were fighting another one."
"Kakashi, you need to put things in perspective, yes it's a shame that you lost so many but think about folks that lost more. There was a ship in my Navy that's named 'The O'Sullivans'. During that second world war five brothers wanted to serve their country, together. The Navy was the only service that granted them that one wish and they were all placed on the same ship. It was sunk sometime later taking all five brothers to their deaths. Kakashi, in one action their mother lost all her sons but she didn't let it break her, the same as the others that had great losses in their families. It's time to start living again, all I ask is that you show up on time and be ready to do what is asked of you. Can you do that for me...father?"
Kakashi was silent, why had Naruto called him father? It's not like he read... "You read my file, it had everything in it didn't it?"
"Yes, your missions, commendations, evaluations and...all the times you applied to adopt me. I took the liberty of resubmitting that last application you made."
"Why? After the last time I gave up. I'm not worthy to fill your father's shoes. I gave up on you Naruto. Besides, you're considered and adult now you don't need me as a father now."
"That's where you're wrong, you gave up on yourself not on me or Sakura. I know that my father wanted you to be my godfather but that too was denied by the council. Not only am I not too old to be adopted but mine and Sakura-chan's future children will need a cool grandfather. Ero-jijii is my grandfather, my kids will need their own. Besides, Sakura-chan wants you in the family as well and you don't want to make her sad do you father?"
Kakashi laughed, leave it to Naruto to brighten up his day, "No son, I suppose not. Naruto, I promise that I'll be on time from now on. You're right, looking at those pictures and hearing those stories has made me realize that this world has been lucky that we've not destroyed ourselves. Time to make my team proud of me."
As they walked back to the village Naruto wasn't under any illusions that Kakashi would change overnight. That wasn't the goal, the goal was that Kakashi begin to live for himself again. Wallowing in self pity is never good and for Naruto to accomplish what he wanted he needed strong warriors. Kakashi and Gai were two of the strongest but Kakashi needed the kick in the ass to get moving again. His acceptance of Kakashi wanting to adopt him was two fold. It most importantly gave Kakashi the chance to carry out Minato and Kushina's wishes, Naruto figured out that's what was killing the man the most. Second, while he and Sakura were raised by Kurama and his clan, they were told to call them auntie or uncle. Kurama was very much a father figure to them but the guilt the daemon felt for killing his host and her mate, plus the pain he had brought on the boy stopped any chance of allowing himself the honor of being called father or dad.
It was Kurama that suggested that Naruto let himself be adopted by the broken Jonin. It would help Kakashi heal and give Naruto and Sakura an anchor point and moral reference in this world. Kami knew that Sakura needed a father figure in her life. Kurama did what he could but he was never comfortable with a girls problems even after being sealed in two of them. If nothing else it was two of the most traumatizing events in his long life. No, Kakashi would be good for both of them and Kurama had noticed as well as the teens that Shizune was attracted to the masked ninja. So a little push down the road would fill the position of mother very nicely for the two of them. As they walked into the village Naruto sported his foxy grin, one more box checked off.
/\/\/\/\/
Eventually Monday rolled around and Naruto and Sakura in their cammies were walking up and down the formation of Genin assembled on one of the academy's training fields followed by Iruka and Team Gai. As the walked past they would stop at a person and make some kind of comment. At the moment they were standing in front of Sasuke who was trying not to kill the first friends he had made in years.
Grinning his grin Naruto of course started it off by running the back of his hand alongside of the former emo's head, "Ah, yes, very sexy. See Sakura-chan I told you he'd look more butch in this cut. I bet in another world you'd be drooling and chasing his ass all over the village."
"I don't know babe, you remember that guy Mad Dog when we were on the boat. He got a cut like that and was soon caught out of the closet. Hey Ami, what do you think? Is he acting more manly since he got his hair cut or is he...you know," Sakura called out while making a rocking motion with her hand flattened out.
"Oh Kami Sakura, he's like an animal in bed now, definitely more manly," Ami called out, revealing a secret her boyfriend was trying to keep under wraps.
Sasuke for his part just glared at his tormentors, before replying, "Remind me why I'm friends with you two again because right now I can't think of a good reason."
"Because you need us that's why. Besides, now we know how much of a stud you really are thanks to Ami," Sakura answered before walking off.
Several spaces down was Ino who was looking very uncomfortable. She was in the same clothing as everyone else, olive green fatigue shirt and pants, black web belt over which a field green pistol belt was worn. Her hair had been shortened to shoulder length and then pulled into a bun. Over her platinum blonde hair sat the most ugly hat she had ever seen, the same green as her clothes that had eight corners on the top and a bill that shadowed her eyes. To make matters worse she and the others had been made to stand at attention during this whole humiliating experience.
Now to top things off Sakura was standing before her wearing her own little grin, "Well Ino, I must say, the clothes make the man, what do you think dear?"
Naruto just shook his head, "Ino, what you're wearing is far better than what Sakura and I had to wear during our initial training. Besides, your ass doesn't look all that big in those things."
"Uzumaki, I...fucking...hate...you!" was all the poor girl could get out.
Naruto just smiled and led his entourage to the podium set up in front of the formation. Stepping up to the mic he turned it on and began speaking, "Pa..rade...REST! Good morning. Welcome to Advanced Genin Training, Class 01 , and thanks for volunteering and showing up awake and on time," at that there were some grumbles and nervous laughter, "I know that traditionally you all would have been assigned to teams and taken the final test. One, that relied on arbitrary and subjective results. One that also would have eliminated a good sixty-six percent of you from that years hopefuls, so it's a good thing I decided to trash that tradition, don't you think?"
"Let me first introduce myself and my staff as there are a few recycled Genin that have been offered a second chance due to injuries and other circumstances while out in the field. I am Naruto Uzumaki-Namekazi, Fifth Hokage in waiting, Tokobetsu Genin and Genin Commander. I am also your senior instructor."
"Beside me is my wife, Sakura Haruno Uzumaki-Namekazi, Tokobetsu Genin, Combat Medic, Medical Instructor and Class Medic. Ladies, she will be your worst nightmare as she has been instructed to check your weights weekly to prevent you from going on these stupid diets you followed while in the academy. Any unexplained weight loss and you get a warning, second occurrence is an automatic drop from the program and the possibility of being rolled back to the academy for a final second chance."
"Sakura is going to find and train those suited for medical training. Ideally everyone here will have basic medical training under their belt by graduation, however, I and Sakura want to have a fully qualified medic for each four man squad sent on missions, her job is to teach you all she knows. Your job is to learn all she knows, yeah?"
"Beside her is Tokobetsu Jonin Sensei Iruka Umino, your primary classroom instructor. His job is the same as he had last year, keeping you all in line. The difference is this, you are no longer academy students, you are now Genin Recruits and considered adults. You will be treated as such and are expected to act as such. Any disrespect to an instructor, failure to follow an order or instruction or failure to report to a class or other matter will result in a Captain's Mast and awarding of a non-judicial punishment. These terms will be explained in a class this week."
"Iruka-sensei's word carries the same weight as if I or Sakura had said it. The same goes for the rest of the training cadre, Team Gai. The following are Apprentice Genin Rock Lee, Neji Hyuga and Tenten. They are my eyes and ears during physical training and team building. This team is the only one from last years class that are still actively taking missions. As such they are now your Student Advisers, listen to them when they speak, they have more experience that anyone of you baby Genin. If you have a problem that you feel you can't come to me or the other staff, talk to them, they've been in your shoes and will help you out. If they can't then they will find you the help you need."
"Now, I know you expect to get assigned missions to earn your pay since the rule is no missions, no pay. Well, that has been changed as well. Every two weeks on the first and the fifteenth days of the month you will be given the pay equivalent of five D rank missions per day for five days, fifty D rank per pay check. These missions will not count toward your overall total as they are only a base line for your pay. You will be given an A rank credit upon graduation from this class."
"I want to comment on your uniform issue, what you were issued is what you will be wearing, with the exception of the Aburame clan heir and those that follow, no clan based clothing is allowed. Shino is the exception because of the insects he hosts needs a dark environment to thrive hence his continued use of his overcoat. He does as you notice have his issue in place and as such in compliance with regulations."
"There is to be no clan marking placed on your clothing, there is a reason for this. You are Recruit Genin, babies that need to crawl before you can walk. You are all to be treated and expect to be treated the same as your neighbor, there are no prodigy students, no...Rookie or Kunoichi of The Year, no Dead Lasts. Everyone of you are the same, Recruits, baby Genin. We are taking you to your most basic level, we will break your bad habits and attitudes and then when you can't be broken down any further, you will be built up to your full potential. At the end of the class year you will be more than Genin, you will be almost Chunin level, you will be Konoha's tip of the spear. This year is going to test you beyond what you think you can take, but you will push through because your classmates and teachers will not let you fail. I am proud to be one of those that teach you and I swear on my honor I will not let you fail. Sakura if you please."
"Class 01...ATTEN...SHUN! You have ten minutes to use the head and grab some water before you report to room one-o-one. DISSMISSED!"
With that the class and teachers made their way to the academy itself and the beginning of a very intense year.
A/N:
Sorry for the long time between chapters, this, like the last one was hard to get the ideas in my mind to the keyboard. In fact this is the fifth or sixth rewrite of this, it's actual file name is Ch9B. I had three major places that I just kept doing over and over until I felt I had things right.
Kabuto's interview and Naruto's plans for him, the introduction of Team Gai and Naruto's show and tell.
Kabuto first, as I said up front canon is out the window, this is not going to be crack fiction but a retelling of the story influenced not only by the early fan fictions with the benefit of now knowing the whole story and who is who. Now Kabuto is an opportunity to severely impact Orochimaru's plans on destroying the Leaf. The Snake is going to be the big bad guy in this story with Danzo his willing partner. Kabuto for all intents and purposes is an innocent, an unknowing sleeper agent, and after he learns that he's still being used by traitors, is willing to do what he must to get his revenge.
Team Gai was really hard to do, in most of the earlier drafts Neji was much like canon Sasuke with out the brooding. In fact he was so abrasive that he insulted Naruto and Sakura right from the start and got himself placed under house arrest and his team under indefinite suspension instead of being part of the training cadre Naruto wanted. After much debate I decided to focus on Rock Lee instead and delay any conflict between Neji and his leaders for later in the story. His 'fate rules my life' attitude has yet to be shown and I'm not in a hurry to tackle it for the time being.
Lee was the one I wanted to deal with at the start, when you take everything into account, he is a Ninja from the Bruce Lee/Jackie Chan school of acting. He's just a guy that works very hard for his skills and aside from very basic chakra techniques, he will improve over time but he will always be hampered by his small amount of chakra reserves and coils. I don't dislike him, I really don't, I just dislike the way he comes across. His infatuation with Sakura is one example and I tried to transfer their first meeting from the exams to the present in this chapter. I also didn't like how he's basically a clone or mini-me of his sensei instead of being his own person. Just as in canon Kakashi neglects his student's development, Gai is just as guilty in encouraging Lee to act just like him, following in your teachers footsteps is fine and expected. Dressing like him, having the same haircut and making ridiculous challenges that get more and more un-achivable than the last is just plain stupid and a bit creepy.
By hitting on Sakura and pissing Naruto off Gai is forced to look at Lee's shortcomings in a serious light. The fact that Gai can respond in a calm voice with out the stupid penances in case he fails shows a hidden maturity and stepping up and acknowledging his mistakes in his students training shows that he's the leader Naruto needs to get closer to his goals. (And no, I'm not telling what those goals are) Team Gai will have a big impact on the baby Genin over time as you will see.
Now, the big one, Kakashi. Kakashi has a problem, he's out lived his team and his surrogate family. Call it survivors guilt, PTSD, or manic depression, what ever he has keeps him trapped in a vicious circle. He's a very successful Ninja, anyone in the village and more than a few of his enemies can see that, only in his own mind he's a failure. He views himself as the 'trash' that abandons his comrades which is far from the truth. His biggest failure in this story that he perceives in himself is that he was never able to adopt Naruto and at the same time take Sakura under his protection. That, Naruto realizes is the key to Kakashi's freeing himself from his guilt. The pictures and stories of The Vietnam Memorial, Punch Bowl Cemetery, Normandy and Flanders Fields were to inspire the man. To let him see that he could go on living and still honor his friends. So while this chapter has a bit of a history lesson in it, I make no apologies for that and my opinion on a wasteful conflict that I spent my childhood watching on TV because that's where my father, friends brothers and sons were. All but one came home, and the one that didn't lay underwater as an MIA for more than 40 years.
This story is about an upcoming war and the things that a young leader has to do to ensure his country's survival. Naruto is going to do every underhanded and above board thing he can to prepare for war, from turning his enemy's spy into his own like the British XX program to allowing a broken man adopt him as he had always wanted so Konoha now has an elite Jonin that has the desire to come home after a battle. He and Sakura are doing what they need to do to keep their village from becoming like Whirlpool had become. Next chapter will see more of the Rookie Nine as they train and fight, while Choji gets a wake up call and we find out Sakura spent a little too much time assigned to Marine boot camp.