Chapter 11: Graduation Day
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." - Winston Churchill
Eyes flew open at the sudden realization that morning had come. Today was the long awaited day. Naruto sat up and stretched. Peering outside he could see his home and in the bright morning light he could see everything from the window. Konohagakure was a place of peace amidst war, light dancing with shadows, and a source of hope that defied despair. This was his home, and in the face of the silent hate that lined the streets below his window, he loved it dearly. Konohagakure was not just his home, but also the home of his family.
Standing up and stretching again he thought about the word. Family was still something that amazed him. After nine years of life alone the idea of having a real family had almost escaped the realm of possibility. Now, after only a couple of years living with Yurushi, the blond found the notion of being without his cousin detestable. Family just made life more fun, exciting, and bearable.
"Today," Naruto said to no one in particular as he watched the morning crowds begin their errands. "Today I will become a ninja."
Dressing and gathering his equipment, the blond began to mentally review everything that he tried to study last night. He was going to stay up and cram for the written portion of the test, but Yurushi put a stop to that. His cousin stated that sleep was necessary for him to perform well, and made sure that the youthful deviant didn't stay up too late. Stepping out of his room he could smell breakfast.
'Ramen?' Naruto thought as he paused to sniff at the air. He didn't think that he had that right, but as his olfactory kicked into overdrive his mouth began to water. 'No way! Ramen for breakfast! Yurushi said he didn't know how to make ramen!'
Rushing to the small eat-in kitchen Naruto noticed the pot on the stove. The broth and noodles were settled into a low simmer, but there was no sign of his cousin around. Grabbing an empty bowl from a cupboard Naruto filled it to the brim with his cousin's most glorious creation. Unable to wait he began sipping at the broth as he searched for chopsticks and began to compare Yurushi's ramen to that of Ichiraku's. It was an unfair comparison. Ramen Ichiraku had been blessed by Kami with the power to make perfect noodles decades before either of the Uzumaki kids had been born. Still, Yurushi wasn't a bad chef. Noodles weren't his specialty, but it was clear that the numerous trips made to their favorite ramen stand had given him a few pointers.
Chopsticks now in hand, Naruto sat at the table. After making his required pre-ramen rituals, he noticed the note left behind. It was in Yurushi's hand writing and addressed to him. 'I wonder what this is about,' Naruto wondered to himself. Considering the possible importance of the message, the whisker faced boy placed his chopsticks down and read the memo.
Naruto,
I'm sorry I couldn't see you off today, but I had to leave. I'll be out of the village on a mission for a while. Sensei said that it was a missing person's case, and he believes that we'll be back after a couple of weeks. He did say that this type of mission was touch and go. We could be gone for weeks, or days, or a month, but it was all dependent on the details of the case. When I get back then we'll celebrate you becoming a genin properly, but until then good luck. I made some ramen for you, and you know where the money for groceries is kept. Try not to burn the place down while I'm gone. Heed your Sensei, protect your comrades, and put the team's needs above your own, but take nothing at face value. I'll see you later.
Resuming his meal, Naruto was glad. His cousin believed in him. It was a total confidence that Yurushi had, and it warmed his heart to think about. There was no talk of failure, but advice to be followed after he passed the exam. Although, he decided to look up the definition to the word heed sometime later. He was kind of curious as to why he shouldn't take anything at face value. It might have to do with his cousin's constant complaints about misdirection coming from his Sensei, but he shrugged it off. He'd figure it out later; right now there was ramen. Greedily, the blond gobbled down his meal and rushed through seconds. The calm assurance that someone was supporting him soothed the soul in similar a fashion that the broth soothed hunger. He wouldn't let his cousin down.
Placing the now empty bowl in the sink to be washed later, Naruto walked out the door to go to the Academy. Passing the exam today was more than a goal, and more than the first step to achieving a dream. It was proof. Proof that he was capable, proof that he had value to the village, and proof to both himself and his naysayers that he was not doomed to be a failure. Today was the first day of a new direction to his life. This was where the self-doubt was forever laid to rest.
Walking out into the open street he took in a deep breath. People were staring, as if they knew what could happen. It no longer phased him. Their hatred, their anger, and their hushed words no longer mattered. He was not alone, and nothing they could do would make him feel that way ever again. Travelling down the street toward his destination Naruto considered that today would mark the beginning of a new era in the village as well. This was where they could no longer look down upon him, but would have look up to him. After he passed the test he'd be a genin. He'd be an honest to goodness shinobi, and that was something that nobody would be able to ignore.
Each step toward the Academy resounded in his heart. It was heralding the coming change to the village. History itself was about to be made, and he could feel the endless anticipation welling up and overflowing. Today, Uzumaki Naruto would become a shinobi of Konohagakure.
The room was empty. Patiently he waited. It would prove to be an interesting day. Mizuki had a familiarity with most of Iruka's class, and already determined just who was going to pass and who was going to fail. It wasn't that the results were rigged, but Mizuki had a firm grasp and a healthy suspicion of the capabilities for most of Iruka's students.
There were a few who would make today interesting. Those few were the ones that Mizuki was on the fence about. One of the more noteworthy ones was an Uzumaki Naruto. His curiosity concerning the boy was a mystery, and he didn't quite understand it. He thought that it could be an interest in comparing the blond blunder to his genius cousin. While Iruka had said that Naruto made vast improvements, Mizuki's real intrigue developed when he overheard Yurushi speaking quite highly of his cousin's ability.
The door slid open and his long-time friend, Umino Iruka walked in. The scar that crossed the bridge of his nose gave a distinct look and was something which spoke of hard learned experience. Mizuki remembered the story of how his fellow instructor gained the scar, and he also remembered that it was the reason Iruka had joined the Academy. Some people weren't cut out for life in the field. 'Frankly, I don't think I'm really cut out for this place,' Mizuki thought as Iruka placed a clipboard on the table directly in front of where he sat.
"This is the order we'll be following for the ninjutsu portion of the exam," Iruka declared. Mizuki scanned the list and noted where the students he most wanted to see lined up.
"Naruto's going first eh," Mizuki quipped. "You're really eager to squash his dreams aren't you?"
"Funny Mizuki," the brown haired teacher replied with flat sarcasm. "I'll have you know that I believe Naruto can graduate this year."
"Well, I hope he does," Mizuki returned honestly. He wasn't sure why he felt that way, but he was looking forward to the kid's performance nevertheless. "But I'm not going to hold my breath either."
"He's been working really hard and I think that he'll do it this year," his friend declared in wishful thought.
"I guess that depends on how well the boy can perform the Bunshin no Jutsu then," Mizuki thought out loud. "Unless, that is, he aced the written and the other performance portions of the test."
"Umm," Iruka's lack of a true reply removed that possibility. "I guess I'll go get him."
A wry smile crept to his face as he returned to waiting patiently. A blanket comparison of the two Uzumaki didn't seem to fully explain his fascination with the blond. It went deeper, an almost instinctual interest. Likely, Mizuki figured, it had to do with what lie dormant within. Perhaps, it was fear of what rested beneath the child's skin, or a fear that the boy could someday control such power. Either way, it wasn't healthy. As Naruto advanced toward a career as a ninja, his interest was only growing. This caused nothing but confusion, since he really couldn't care less about the kid, or kids in general.
'I need to leave this place. I need to escape from these walls. They're stifling, and it's driving me mad,' the long haired chūnin thought as the door slid open again. Iruka took his seat to Mizuki's right, and Naruto stood anxiously in front of his teachers. 'Four months. That's all, just four months. After this school year is finally over I'll train fulltime and take a few C-Ranked missions, just to get back into the swing of things. Then in four months I'll take the Jōnin Exams, and leave the Academy behind for good.'
"Alright Naruto," Iruka said as he cleared his throat. "You'll be performing the Bunshin no Jutsu, and if you can use the technique effectively, then you will become a ninja."
"You, um, ah, well, you just want to see the Bunshin no Jutsu?" Naruto stumbled through his question as a nervous sweat broke out on his face.
"Yes," Iruka answered. "Just the Bunshin no Jutsu, and then your test will be over."
"You, um, didn't want to see anything else?" The blond fumbled.
"No Naruto, that's all," Iruka confirmed .
"Just the plain ol' Bunshin?" Naruto asked again.
"Yes Naruto," Iruka answered his voice showing his rising agitation. "Just do the jutsu already and quit stalling for time."
'Plain ol' Bunshin? I wonder,' Mizuki thought as Naruto rehearsed his hand seals. The air became tainted with chakra as the boy built up the power necessary to use the technique, far too much power Mizuki noticed. The Bunshin no Jutsu had been Naruto's bane in his last examination, but perhaps things would be different this time. Iruka looked hopeful as Mizuki looked out of the corner of his eye. Naruto's ability to mold his chakra felt like it was more refined, and better practiced. Suddenly, a cloud of smoke erupted from where the blond was standing, signifying the use of his technique.
The smoke cleared and it revealed just what Mizuki had suspected it would. On the floor, at Naruto's side, an illusionary clone of the boy lay in a heap. It looked sickly, and utterly worthless. Naruto had failed, and everyone in the room knew it.
"Naruto," Iruka began slowly. "I want you to know that I'm proud of how well you did this year. Your improvements in class showed that you have a real desire to become an excellent shinobi. However, I cannot pass you this year."
"But, I, I," Naruto stuttered as a slight sniffle was added to his voice. "I can't let him down. I just can't!"
"Iruka," Mizuki spoke quietly to get his friend's attention. He didn't want to get Naruto's hopes up by allowing him to overhear something, but the look on the boy's face seemed to prove that he was listening eagerly. "It is his last year, and he did technically create a bunshin. Couldn't you pass him and let his Sensei fill in the gap?"
"I can't," Iruka whispered back. "As much as I would like to I just can't. If Naruto can't use such a critical skill then he'll only be a burden to both his genin team and his Sensei. The lives of his comrades or clients could rely on his ability to successfully use the Bunshin no Jutsu. Besides, that technique is the foundation by which a ninja learns variant bunshin techniques."
"Rock Lee was allowed to pass and he couldn't use jutsu at all," Mizuki whispered.
"Lee was a special case, and permissions were granted by Hokage-sama," Iruka answered pointedly. "Hokage-sama didn't give Naruto any special treatment. You know that."
"I know," Mizuki replied with a smirk. "But what if he already knew a more advanced form of the Bunshin no Jutsu? Would he be allowed to pass then?"
"Don't be absurd Mizuki," Iruka scoffed. "How would an Academy student be able to use such advanced techniques, and where could they learn-"
Iruka's sudden stop in his sentence was by no means an accident. The man had recalled something, and was considering the possibility that the boy knew a jutsu that was far beyond his classmates' abilities. While not entirely a surprise for Mizuki, considering he was working off a hunch that it was true, it would still be surprising if the kid actually knew something more advanced.
"Naruto," Iruka spoke tentatively "after speaking with Mizuki I have a question, and I'll need an honest answer before I decide what to do. Will you answer with complete honesty?"
The blond nodded fiercely, but his face simply showed that he was utterly lost. Still, there was hope, and Naruto was sure to take whatever break that would be given. The way the boy had asked if the Academy technique was the only thing Iruka wanted to see just vexed him to no end. It didn't seem as if the child was asking for clarification, but rather a reason to do something different. Mizuki felt compelled, almost forced, to flesh out the full truth. He simply had to know if there was more to the boy with the whisker marks than what his reputation had garnered.
"Do you know a different kind of bunshin jutsu?" Iruka asked with a twinge of hope present in his voice, and Naruto again nodded in the affirmative. Mizuki didn't care one way or the other, but his friend really wanted the young Uzumaki to pass. Iruka saw himself in the kid. He saw a boy who wanted to be recognized for something meaningful, a child who longed to be included, and a student who had something to prove. Mizuki wasn't certain what he thought of Naruto. Feelings were mixed at the moment. It was difficult to separate him from the attack of the Kyūbi no Yōko, but after his multiple discussions with Iruka and keeping an eye on the boy's progress it was easier to see that the blond was not a demon.
"Well, let's see it then," Iruka said relenting on his previous position of failure, likely with far more pleasure then he was letting on.
Naruto took a deep breath to calm his nerves and placed his index and middle fingers into a cross shaped seal. "No," Mizuki muttered under his breath, "it can't be."
Sharply, Naruto built up a large amount of chakra. Unlike his previous attempt, the chakra was used almost immediately, and from what Mizuki could sense it was done with the ease of a well-oiled machine. Smoke erupted from where Naruto stood again signifying he had used his technique, but things were different this time around. When the smoke cleared, not one, not two, but five body doubles stood amongst the original. All of them looked rather satisfied with their performance, but unsure of what it all meant.
"I don't believe it," Iruka half chuckled. "Naruto, do have any idea what technique you've just used?"
Naruto again, answered with a nod of the head. Rather uncharacteristic of the boy to not be shouting every time his mouth opened, but Mizuki over looked it for now. The boy had just successfully used the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu and didn't look to be phased in the least. Creating five of the solid clones was the limit of most Jōnin who have learned the technique, and this boy matched that limit in one go and seemed to be capable of more. While prolifically taught in the upper echelons of the village, the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu was labeled forbidden to prevent kids like Naruto from killing themselves while trying to learn it.
"Tell me then," Iruka ordered calmly. "What jutsu did you just use and where did you learn it?"
"Um, just a second," Naruto answered as his clones huddled around him and the blond literally debated with himself. Quite the surreal moment, but Mizuki rolled his eyes figuring that only Naruto would use his clones for something as ridiculous as thinking out loud. "Does this make me a genin?" Naruto asked as he returned to the front of his self-made crowd.
"Well, yeah, I see no reason why you wouldn't be at this point, but I need you to answer my question before I can give you your hitai-ate," Iruka mulled over his answer. There really wasn't a reason to fail him anymore.
"Alright! We did it!" The chorus of cheers rang out from the gang of blond preteens.
Mizuki glanced over Naruto's test results thus far and his grades and the boy celebrated. Quickly doing the mental math, using the Kage Bunshin performance, Mizuki determined that it seemed mathematically impossible for the boy to graduate anything less than third from the bottom of the class. That of course was entirely dependent on who passed, who failed, and the test results of all the other graduates.
"I learned the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu from Jiraiya-sensei," Naruto answered after finally being settled down by Iruka.
Mizuki was flabbergasted. The blue eyed kid dispelled his clones completely unaware of the astonishment, and acting as though being taught by a living legend was an everyday occurrence. The chūnin instructor was in a state of complete and utter shock. 'Jiraiya? The Jiraiya? Jiraiya of the Sannin, Jiraiya? Taught him? That's insane?'
"I thought as much," Iruka said as he grabbed one of the hitai-ate that had been arranged on the table. Walking over toward the ecstatic young blond Iruka kneeled down, and began to tie the cloth around the boy's head so the gleaming metal rested over his forehead. After tying the final knot he rested his hands on the boy's shoulders.
"Naruto, I am pleased to officially name you a ninja of Konohagakure no Sato," Iruka announced to the bewhiskered boy. The blond's smile threatened to split his face in half.
"I knew you could do it," Iruka added while tousling Naruto's hair. "Make me proud okay?"
"You betchya Iruka-sensei," Naruto shouted as Iruka ushered the boy out of the room.
As the door clanged shut ending the exam for the day's first student. Naruto had proven to be quite the entertaining exam. Few others would likely be as shocking. Iruka walked back over to the table and jotted down Naruto's final scores, using the Kage Bunshin results. The itch of curiosity was satisfied for the moment, and now he began thinking about what all of this meant. Rationality returned as he pondered exactly how what had just taken place was even possible. None of the likely scenarios brought any peace of mind.
"Iruka," Mizuki finally spoke up. "Doesn't it worry you that he knows the Kage Bunshin?"
Iruka stopped writing and touched his pencil's eraser to his lips in thought. "Now that you mention it, I guess it concerns me a bit. Although, Jiraiya-sama was the one to teach him, so he was well supervised. I doubt Jiraiya-sama would have taught him if he wasn't capable."
"Who taught him doesn't bother me," Mizuki answered slightly perturbed that Iruka wasn't getting it. "The fact that he can use the jutsu is what bothers me."
"I don't understand what you mean," Iruka responded. Mizuki buried his face in his palms for a moment. Iruka just didn't understand the implications here.
"It isn't possible," Mizuki began slowly. "A genin just doesn't have the chakra reserves to use a jutsu like that. Not even an Uzumaki. Yurushi was never capable of anything like that, and I know his chakra reserves were far beyond anything normal for his age. You're a sensory type you had to notice. Naruto's chakra reserves aren't just abnormal, they aren't human!"
"Quiet Mizuki!" Iruka interrupted harshly. "You know the law."
"Yes," Mizuki confirmed. It was illegal to speak openly of Naruto's connection to the Kyūbi around the younger generations, and harsh punishments were doled out to those who ignored the rule. Dozens of people had lost their livelihoods because they tried to treat the young Uzumaki poorly, and most of those people had spent years in prison. "Still, there is no way that Naruto was capable of something like that all by himself."
"Mizuki, I know what you are worried about," Iruka responded calmly as he grabbed his clipboard and walked toward the door. "Like you said, I'm a sensory type ninja, and I didn't sense anything other than Naruto's chakra just now. There isn't anything to worry about."
Mizuki raised a hand and opened his mouth to object, but he could find no objection. Iruka was right. The chakra the Naruto had been using was nothing like what he had felt simply being in the shadow of the great demon. There was nothing ominous, no threat, and no sensations of impending doom, it was just an impossibly large amount of chakra. Iruka left to fetch the next student. After glancing at the list Mizuki moaned. Nara Shikamaru was up next, and if the boy was still as lethargic as he remembered the kid to be, then he would be waiting for twenty minutes.
Deciding to do something constructive, the teacher reached into his pack and drew a journal from its contents. The well-worn cover felt comforting in his palm and he grabbed a pen. His hands worked through a few hand seals and a small burst of chakra disabled the seals that protected his journal from prying eyes. It was a childish thing for a grown man to keep a journal, and a bit unnecessary considering he possessed an eidetic memory, but it was a sentimental thing. His parents had given him the journal when he first entered the Academy, and even taught him the sealing technique to protect it.
Over the years he had filled the journal with his thoughts, accomplishments, dreams, desires, and a variety of other moments in his life. His father, to whom he had been incredibly close, died on mission sometime after Mizuki became a chūnin. It was a shock he would never get over. Even now he had moments where he instinctually thought of sharing something with his father only to remember what happened. Now the man he had idolized would never know how far he had come. His parents were big wigs in the Academy program, but after his father's death, his mother was never the same. It was a slow decline. As the years wore on she broke down and had to be institutionalized for her own safety. Through it all, it helped to write things in the journal. His parents always said that it was important to share thoughts with someone, even if it was just an empty page.
Flipping through the yellowing pages he could see several notes on his life. The untimely death of his father was highlighted extensively, as was his mother's mental fragility. The moment he first met Tsubaki was featured, and several pages on the time they had spent together cultivating a relationship. His advancement in the Academy was prominent, along with several notes of students that had impressed him. The more recent the entries the stranger things became. He noted having several strange dreams, wrote about the frustrations of feeling trapped in the Academy, mentioned a strong desire for greater power, and even had several entries concerning Naruto.
Focusing on the spattering of sentences that were devoted to the blond he began to notice something. All of the entries were about Naruto's actions, his skills, his growth or lack thereof, the children he associated with, and even the emotional reactions the boy had. The notes were brief, scattered, but held a startling consistency. They formed a sort of pattern in their content, and when he strung them all together in his head, Mizuki realized something. When brought together, his various notes on the blond wild child formed an ever evolving dossier. It was troublesome.
Finding an empty page, Mizuki grasped his pen and jotted down a brief entry. He wrote about his personal training in preparation for the Jōnin Examinations. He noted the areas that would likely need improvement and the skills that would get him noticed. Then, just when he thought he was done, he absentmindedly jotted down a summary of Naruto's examination. He habitually closed the book, and performed the jutsu to seal its contents.
The realization of all he just wrote struck at is thoughts as a hammer shaping metal. For him to write about his students in general would be understandable, to focus on one in particular could be explained. To write so extensively about a boy who wasn't even in his class was obsessive. He didn't even like Naruto. Iruka was fond of the boy, and after all their lunch-time meetings he understood why. Still, just because Iruka spoke highly of the kid didn't make the blond any less of a nuisance.
Staring blankly at the designs of the seal that graced his note book he traced the curves and dips the ink left behind. It was graceful, and flowing, as a feather carried on a breeze the lines moved. One into another the design spread across the leather bindings. He opened the book to trace the designs to the inside cover, and saw the once filled pages now empty. His father had explained that the seal doesn't keep the book closed, but hides away what was written. Remembering fondly the day he had brushed the patterns on the journal he began to study his old work. It was shoddy by the standards he would judge himself by today. He was far from an expert in fūinjutsu, but even he could see his father's guiding hand in places.
A critical eye scanned the swirls and the characters of the calligraphically altered book when he realized something interesting. He had never seen a seal design like this before. Konoha's fūinjutsu style was largely derived from the extensive writings of the Nidaime Hokage. While the Yondaime was said to be a true master on the art, Jiraiya kept most of what the late Hokage had written away from the village at large. Clearly, whatever techniques had been developed were far too powerful to leave with even the ANBU. Still, the seal on his journal was nothing like that which had been taught in Konoha.
Putting the leather bound notebook away for now, Mizuki turned to see Iruka walk through the door literally dragging an unenthused Shikamaru behind him. 'After this is over I'll see if I can speak with Hokage-sama about all of this. I'm sure he'll want to know,' Mizuki noted as he braced himself for the rest of the examination day.
It had been a calm afternoon for one Sarutobi Hiruzen. The regular meeting and tea with his old teammates was rather uneventful. It was mostly a discussion on preliminary plans for the upcoming Chūnin Exams, and an update about a few incidences at the northern border. Now he was watching the sun set over the village, and reading files on the Academy's graduating class.
The creation of new genin teams was one of his favorite duties as the Hokage. It brought nothing but joy to see such promising young students rise out of the halls of the school and step into the role of shinobi. It was the Will of Fire in action, and it warmed the soul to see such youthful passions harnessed for the good of the village. The roster for this particular graduating class was something of the who's who of the next generation. Many of the names belonged to the heads of prominent ninja clans within the village. But there was one name in particular that Hiruzen was excited to see.
Second from the bottom of his list was Uzumaki Naruto. The boy had graduated all on his own merits, and with some style according to Iruka. It was unpredicted by the elderly leader, for Naruto to be able to utilize a jōnin level skill. Even more so, was the surprise that Naruto had kept his little secret for over two years. The only ones in the village who were privy to Naruto's secret training session were himself, Yurushi, and Iruka. Perhaps Yurushi's genin team was aware of the results, since Naruto had spent several weekends training with the now veteran Team Thirteen.
Hiruzen wasn't too terribly surprised when the past two Chūnin Exams had come and gone without Hayate's recommendation to enter his team into the exam. The chance of being promoted was drastically higher if a team had spent at least a year together, but more importantly so were the chances of survival. While each exam was different, at their core they were all the same. The first two parts of the test were team oriented, one was a more subtle method of exam, and the other was a more mission styled test. The final part was always a tournament, where skills and abilities could be displayed on an individual basis. Even though Naruto's cousin had yet to partake in the Exams, something told him that Team Thirteen would be entered this time around. The village hosting always boasted the most entries and teams would often be entered just to gain experience.
The sky was burning, and its warmth was fading into night. The passing of the day caused the Hokage to turn his mind to tomorrow. Tomorrow the graduates would be registered as official ninja, and he would take requests from the jōnin serving as Sensei as to whom they would like to teach. Some decisions were out of their hands though. Nara Shikamaru, for example, had been ranked last amongst the graduates. While tradition was to place the first ranked boy, the first ranked girl, and the last ranked overall on the same team, traditions would be broken this year. The Nara clan had strong ties with the Akimichi clan and the Yamanaka clan. Any time that young members from each of those clans were in the same graduating class, they were teamed together. The clans had requested it be this way when the Academy was founded. It was a request that was honored due to the threat that three major clans wouldn't support the Academy otherwise.
If Shikamaru was even a fraction as intelligent as his father, then the boy had known that. When the child saw Naruto buckling down and trying harder to succeed in the classroom it likely gave the lazy Nara the green light to slack off more. Hiruzen imagined that Shikamaru knew what team he would be placed on no matter where he graduated, so he knew that all he had to do was pass and nothing more. The old man chuckled at the idea. Shikamaru had to be as brilliant as his father, because only a genius would work so hard at not working at all.
"Just like his father," Hiruzen said to himself as he grouped Nara Shikamaru with Yamanaka Ino and Akimichi Chōji. The Hokage hoped that his son would volunteer to take this team as his own. His son's personality should help the lazy Nara find motivation without too much pressure, the timid Akimichi find confidence, and the over the top Yamanaka calm down. It would also help Asuma to bolster a genuine sense of duty and patriotism. Ever since his son's return to Konoha, the man was jaded. A genin team could help give new life to the fervor Asuma once had.
This brought him to the last of his tentative roster. The last three names formed the not so traditional group. The rookie of the year, Uchiha Sasuke, the top kunoichi, Haruno Sakura, and last but certainly not least Uzumaki Naruto would together form a team. Their Sensei would be Hatake Kakashi, whether he wanted the job or not. Kakashi possessed the only Sharingan eye in the village, and that eye was the power of the Uchiha. Should Sasuke awaken his, then Kakashi was the only one who could properly train him. Uzumaki Naruto, on the other hand, was the only reason the former ANBU Captain even chose to teach at all. Therefore, if the blond wasn't placed on Kakashi's team then the man would quit teaching.
Haruno Sakura was the girl in the middle, so to speak. She was not part of a prominent clan, and had no family background in the world of shinobi. Still, with her scores it was easy to see that there was great amount of untapped potential. Hiruzen could only hope that there would be no major issues concerning Sasuke. The boy had been an unknown since the massacre of his family, and no one was certain how things would work out. Kakashi was to be insurance against most mishaps, but too many distractions would mean that his attentions would be unequally divided. Jiraiya would eventually return to train Naruto, but that would leave Sakura as the true victim.
Thoughts of Jiraiya reminded Hiruzen that soon he would need to speak privately with Naruto. The boy needed to know the truth. It would only be a matter of time before he learns, and he would prefer to be the one to tell him. If the boy hated anyone for what was done to him, Hiruzen would rather he be the one to bear that hatred. No matter what happened afterwards, it was his duty and his promise to tell Naruto the truth.
"Better wounds from a friend I suppose," Hiruzen reasoned to himself.
A light rap on the door brought his mind out of his musings, and he ushered the person on the other side to come in. The familiar face of Mizuki stepped through the door as it opened, and he closed it behind him.
"Hokage-sama," the Academy instructor addressed him with a bow. "I am sorry to interrupt, but I was hoping to speak with you."
"Of course Mizuki," Hiruzen answered warmly as he set his notes aside for the moment. "I can always spare a moment to one of the greatest instructors at the Academy."
"Thank you Hokage-sama," Mizuki responded with another bow. The man had a sterling reputation, and his career was equally as impressive. Hiruzen had been floored when Mizuki had approached him about teaching at the Academy, but accepted it just the same. The man had the potential to become a jōnin of some prominence, but the old leader had imagined that he just wanted to follow in his parents footsteps.
"Before you start," the shrewd old weasel inside Hiruzen caught the young man's attention. "Is there nothing I can do to convince you to stay in the Academy? I would have a hard time replacing someone like you."
"I'm afraid it is time for me to leave the teaching to Iruka, Hokage-sama," Mizuki answered.
"I was afraid of that," Sarutobi frowned. Replacing Mizuki would be difficult, but Iruka had promised that his friend and colleague was leaving on good terms. "Now, what would you like to discuss?"
"To put it bluntly," Mizuki began, "Uzumaki Naruto."
"Ah," Hiruzen could have guessed. Iruka's description of events made quite an impression on both of the instructors. Iruka was glad, but Mizuki suspicious, and for good reason on both accounts.
"I can't help but worry that his power may be a result of the," Mizuki hesitated to finish his thought.
"A result of the Kyūbi's influence on the boy?" Hiruzen asked guessing at the unfinished sentence.
"Yes Hokage-sama," Mizuki admitted.
"Where do I start?" The old Hokage sighed. "The Yondaime designed the seal that was used on the Kyūbi. The strength of the seal was derived though the innovative use of advanced Uzumaki fūinjutsu. Both Jiraiya and myself have inspected the seal, and I believe there are only two possible ways that the Kyūbi could break free or be an influential factor. It could only happen if he were in a life threatening scenario, or if he was shocked by something that was just as emotionally traumatic. This was the purpose of the law, and why I spare no mercy to those who would bring harm to the boy. So long as he is safe, then the Kyūbi cannot break free."
"If the boy needs to be safe then why allow him to be a ninja in the first place?" Mizuki's question was a valid one. He had heard it echoed by several members of the civilian council, jōnin advisors, clan heads, and every other manner of person who wanted to add their two ryō.
"The power that he contains can only be controlled by a shinobi. Only those who are extensively trained to use chakra can properly control a power like that of the Kyūbi, and it is a power that can keep the village safe against all threats. Naruto must become a shinobi to use the Kyūbi's power safely. It only helps that he wants to become one anyway."
"I see," Mizuki echoed the response of those who had also heard the answer. Like the others, the instructor began to understand exactly what Narurto really was. Loathe as he was to admit it, the blond was a weapon. Hiruzen began to return to his notes, but didn't hear the man bid farewell. Looking up again he saw the young chūnin standing, and patiently waiting for an opening to speak again.
"Was there anything else Mizuki?" the Sandiame asked the obvious question.
"If you have time Hokage-sama," Mizuki replied to which Hiruzen confirmed he had all the time the young teacher needed.
"Would you please look at this and let me know what it does," Mizuki asked withdrawing a scroll from his pocket. Opening the rolled paper its contents revealed an impressive sealing array unlike anything Hiruzen had seen before. Whatever it was, it was complicated.
"Where did you get this?" Hiruzen asked. It wasn't often that he saw something he didn't immediately understand. He was famed for his knowledge, and an understanding of every technique that was used in Konoha.
"It's a fūinjutsu that my father taught me when I was young, but I regret saying that I haven't learned much about it," the man confessed. "I was thinking about it earlier today and I realized that I didn't know exactly how it worked, so I was hoping that you could tell me."
"It isn't from Konoha I can tell you that much," Hiruzen answered while studying each character, each symbol, and each stroke of the brush left on the parchment. While he was no master of fūinjutsu like his predecessor was, he was better than most. Even so, he knew enough about the art to decipher a sealing array and determine its purpose. Fūinjutsu was like language, and even if it was the same across an entire nation, each region had its own unique dialect. "The style looks like it could stem from one of shinobi clans that hailed from the southwestern parts of Kaze no Kuni, where the desert is said to be born from the mountains."
Studying the seal produced little fruit. He simply didn't know about Sunagakure's native styles of fūinjutsu, but he was beginning to understand just how Mizuki had gained this seal. His parents hadn't always been at the Academy. They had been liaisons and representatives to Sunagakure during a period when the Sandaime Kazekage had gone missing. The crisis threatened to spill into a new global conflict. The work his parents did was the linchpin that allowed an alliance to form between Suna and Konoha. That treaty had fostered decades of peace between the two world powers. Immediately after the couple returned home, they set to work in the Academy.
"I'm afraid I have nothing more to say than that Mizuki," the Hokage admitted rolling up the scroll. "However, I will be travelling to Suna briefly to discuss the upcoming Chūnin Exams with the Kazekage. I could ask him for information on it, and offer to teach them about some of our techniques that they have gained over the years."
"Oh, there is no need to trade village secrets for something so trivial as this Hokage-sama," Mizuki implored frantically.
"Nonsense," Hiruzen replied trying to ease the instructor's worries, "you thought it important enough to bring to me so it isn't that trivial. Besides, my spies are very aware of the techniques that Suna has acquired from us and they have nothing of consequence. Should this seal be of great importance then they will simply lie to me about it, and I will know that they are lying. Even if we learn nothing about it, we learn something."
"Of course," Mizuki nodded in understanding. "Thank you Hokage-sama."
"Anytime Mizuki," Hiruzen offered as the Academy instructor bowed in respect, clearly prepared to depart. "Oh, and good luck in the Jōnin exams. I expect great things from you."
"Yes Hokage-sama. Thank you Hokage-sama," and just as respectfully as the man had entered he left. Mizuki had made quite the turn-around according to Iruka. Mizuki's long-time friend was worried that the man may try to do something drastic, but apparently the issues at hand were dealt with, and a potential crisis averted.
The Sandaime had kept tabs with Iruka throughout the year. This was mostly so that he could be up to date on Naruto's progress, but this never stopped the old rascal from prying into the teacher's personal life. Hiruzen had always liked to know the shinobi that served him in some capacity that went beyond their life as ninja. He refused to let himself see the numerous men and woman as tools. He wanted to know the people and not the weapons they could be. Each body that returned in a bag, every name that was added to the memorial stone, and the countless souls that left and never came home brought him a measure of pain. Each death struck at his heart because it was personal. Hiruzen made it a point to know his shinobi so that it would always be personal.
The pain in the eyes of those who were survived by the dead, and the memories of the men and women he took the time to know were his burden. They were his reminder; a reminder that he needed to choose better, and to lead more wisely. It was a reminder of what his job really was: To protect all of the citizens of Konohagakure. This meant protecting his own shinobi, and shielding their families from the pain of an untimely death. This was the burden of the Hokage, and here in this moment, looking at the names of future shinobi, Sarutobi Hiruzen hoped that he could do his duty just a little longer. All he needed was just a little longer.