Dance of the pureblooded

by The Shy Scorpio

A clan thought to have been wiped from the face of the shinobi world in the warring states era reemerges and forms a pact with the leaf village, this small change in history will impact Konoha and the shinobi world in ways no one could ever guess. *Slow paced story, lots of pairings*

11. Chapter 11

I thought it'd be a short chapter but I'm always adding more lol I'm sure if I would have waited another day or so I'd of had another 4K words to milk out of this chapter but I'd rather not keep you guys waiting if I don't have to and technically the chapter is complete so here you are hope you enjoy.

New instruction

Knock knock

Hiashi frowned not bothering to open his eyes as he silently prayed whoever was at the door would go away.

He and Hizashi had been out chasing rumors all night and finally they'd been able to confirm after hearing the same thing from many people that the Senju woman had truly returned to the village.

He wasn't in the mood to wake just yet, the soft caress of the bed coupled in with the warmth of his wife were doing their best to convince the man to just let sleep embrace him once again.

Knock Knock

This time the Hyuga opened his eyes and frowned as his wife stired and sat up looking towards the source of the sound with a tired gaze that held a bit of curiosity.

She turned to Hiashi and offered him a small smile and a good morning kiss upon seeing he was awake. "Would you like me to get that dear?" Hiaku said already moving to push the covers away from herself.

Hiashi quickly sat up and grabbed her hands stopping her from continuing as his eyes said no and he offered her a smile of his own repaying her chaste kiss with a passionate one of his own pulling away to see his wife blushing a deep shade of red with more than a little lust in her eyes.

It was amazing how their union had been an arranged one but the two loved each other deeply as if they were fated to one another, even after being married for a number of years nothing about their relationship had changed and the two were still as in love as the day they'd married if not even more so.

Hiashi was about to kiss his wife again when another knock sounded causing him to turn and fix the door with a hard glare as his wife chuckled wrapped her arms around him and leaning onto his shoulder to speak into his ear.

"My my, if the clan continues calling for your attention like they've been doing lately I may just get jealous...I know the doctor said we shouldn't make love until my condition improves but I ache for you Hiashi, do see what that person wants and hurry back." His wife said with a sultry smile sending a chill up Hiashi's back as he jumped out of bed and quickly flung the door open a bit surprised to see his brother.

"Well well well...look who finally decided to wake up, I hope I didn't wake Hiaku."

"You did." Hiashi said looking at his little brother with an annoyed expression.

"Well be sure to tell her hi for me, but anyway. I figured if you were busy I could go see the Hokage and inquire with him as to the ladies where abouts."

Hiashi paused for a moment wondering why it seemed like his brother was asking his permission to help him.

"Why'd you wake me up instead of just doing that?" He asked knowing his brother had likely woke hours before him as he usually did.

The man grinned looking at Hiashi with his arms crossed.

"Branch member, remember?"

Hiashi frowned not liking the fact his brother seemed to think that made him comparable to something of a modern day slave.

He tossed the thought back and forth in his head for a moment coming to the realization that was sort of what the branch clan was.

"Hey, Hiashi." His brother said waving a hand and snapping him from his thoughts.

"So...what do you think, I know as clan head there are duties you have to attend to in the morning so I was thinking I could do half your work for you."

Hiashi smiled fondly at his brother grateful for his concern but shook his head no.

"Those duties can wait, I have something I'd like to discuss with you and I figure we could do it on our way to the Hokage tower. I'll need you to give me sometime though...maybe thirty to forty five minutes." Hiashi said with a glance back towards his wife who chuckled and shot him another one of her seductive smiles.

Hizashi noticed and began smiling slyly.

"Oh big brother you dog! I'll be waiting for you in the gardens, just be sure you have the energy left to walk with me when your finished." Hizashi teased.

"Who's the big brother here?" Hiashi joked causing his brother to chuckle before nodding at him and leaving.

Hiashi slide the door closed turning back towards his wife who looked at him like a cat that just caught a mouse.

"Are you sure you'll have the energy left for that walk Hiashi sama?" She teased grinning at the man as he made his way towards her.

"Oh I will, but I don't think you'll be walking anywhere anytime soon." The man said returning the grin and hoping dearly for no more interruptions.

Monogahi compond

Nubutaka sat on the roof of the east wing of the compound with his sword in his lap wondering if it was time to train with the blade as it'd been three years since his sword had touched the air and his skills could likely stand to be sharpened.

He'd have to leave the village for the level of training he intended as he wouldn't want to mess up one of the training fields. He might just take a A or B rank mission as he looked at his sword and just felt it had been too long. Back in Dursula the fully trained shinobi there would undergo missions to the country of whirlpool and thin the ever growing number of refugees and rogue nin that wandered the lands.

The Monogahi made it their duty to ensure no one would ever settle inside the ruins of the once great Uzusho as a favor to the Uzumaki who they owed a lot to.

Having been in Konoha for nearly two years now his sword hadn't been needed for a while and he felt like he was disappointing the blade somehow or actually neglecting it.

He felt a familiar presence behind him on the roof and turned slightly seeing it was Neji who came and sat down beside the man staring straight ahead at the woods just as he was.

"You're here early." Nubutaka said looking at the sun's position in the sky. It had to be around seven going on eight and Neji usually didn't show until nine.

"I needed to ask you something."

Nubutaka turned to face the Hyuga who had a distant look of anger and confusion in his eyes.

"Fire away."

"You're aware of the way my clan is separate into two branches aren't you?"

"Yea.." Nubutaka said looking at the boy curiously.

"Yesterday I saw one of our branch members basically being tortured for a small faliure with the caged bird seal, my uncle looked like he just might have killed the man but I want to know why." Neji said with a calm seething anger.

Nubutaka raised an eyebrow unsure of what he was asking.

"Why your uncle was mad enough to kill a member of his own clan or why the clan is divided into two branches and your half gets treated like little more than servants?" Nubutaka asked bluntly.

"Why they think it okay to treat us as they do, this isn't the first time I've seen the caged bird seal in action it's just the worst instance of it. Your clan members all seem to love and respect each other, you even treat your servants like family. Even Inoha and Imari who are now members of the Shimura clan are still considered to be Monogahi to you guys."

"The Uchiha who have a reputation of being Konoha's coldest clan don't treat their members as cruly as some of us are treated in my clan. Why are we like this and how do I change it?"

Nubutaka looked at Neji in surprise shocked the Hyuga was actually opening up to him like this before turning back towards the gathering of tree's not far from their line of sight.

"Change isn't something any one man can easily bring, you can set in motion the necessary events for change to be considered but it'd actually be up to the entire clan to accept that change or the main branch in this case I suppose."

"For starters though I'd say just prove yourself as capable as any Hyuga or even more so and when people start to notice you then make your ideals known, just know that you aren't above persecution. I'm sure there's a lot of Hyuga in the main branch who would prefer if things stayed as they are."

"And honestly I don't know what makes any clan the way they are, the Monogahi's love of life came from having over half our clan wiped out in the warring states era for all the bloodlines we stole. The Uzumaki helped us as did a lot of civilian families and that's what made us what we are today."

"Some in my clan actually believe the caged bird seal started because of a few Hyuga defectors who married into our clan without the permission of your elders back then. The caged bird seal was developed as a fear tactic to keep those Hyuga who had less status and more reason to leave in check, which I can believe but I honestly don't think it had much to do with us."

"It was likely more so because in those days the only reason people attacked the Hyuga was in an attempt to get their hands on the Byakugan. I believe the caged bird seal was developed as a way to keep the eyes of fallen soldiers from falling into enemy hands but our history books have a lot of different theories and we weren't exactly friendly with the Hyuga so none of us could say."

Neji nodded but frowned after a moment when another thought crossed his mind.

"But what if the clan never changes, if I even try to speak against the caged bird seal it's likely it'll be used against me and taken as a branch member sowing dissidence against the main branch."

Nubutaka shrugged.

"In the end Neji no one knows the result of an action they undertake before it comes. I think it'd be best to prove yourself a valuable asset to the clan first then speak with your uncle. If in the future you turn out to be the strongest Hyuga that's ever lived they'd have to acknowledge you either way right?"

"Life can be a cruel never ending dance of crushed hopes and dreams followed by dissapointment after dissapointment, we press on because realistically we don't have any other choice. If you're going to live your life live it with no regrets don't focus on the what if's. Time is the one thing you can never get back when it's gone and regrets and are something no one wants to die with. Those who fail can at least take solice in the fact they tried."

Neji didn't know how to reply to that and it hardly made him feel any better but he was grateful for the advice and he would try his best to follow it, not for his own sake but for the sake of others branded with the same seal he bore on his forehead.

"Thank you sensei."

"Don't mention it, but hey! I just thought of something though that would blow the socks off your clan if they found out about it!" Nubutaka said looking at Neji with an excited glint in his eye.

"What?" The Hyuga asked curiously causing the man's grin to widen as he was visualizing his thought hoping Neji wouldn't refuse.

"How do you feel about swords?"

"Swords?" Neji asked tilting his head looking at the man and wondering if he was drunk perhaps.

"I'm a Hyuga."

"Exactly! All Hyuga have fought and used the same style of fighting since the early warring states era, never have they given any thought into adapting or finding something new. Your gentle fist techniques are really coming along nicely for someone so young which will no doubt earn you notice in the future, buut if you were to master something else no Hyuga has ever excelled in like kenjustu while implementing the gentle fist or your Byakugan into your style it'd definitely blow the clans mind and possibly make them considered new ways of adapting the style into more than what it is."

"One change would be a big thing for a clan that's been the same since before the establishment of the village. No doubt it'd make the elders of your clan more susceptible to other changes especially if the suggestion came from someone responsible for already changing the fridged stance the clan has on it's taijustu style."

"If you could show the clan that the gentle fist along with the Byakugan can be used for more than just taijustu you'd be the first Hyuga to bring something new to the clan in generations. You'd not only open doors for them but you'd find yourself with much more respect and influence within the clan than any branch member was ever afforded."

Neji's eyes widened at what the man was saying as he began to understand exactly what he was suggesting and the possible benefits behind it.

"That's a brilliant idea!" Neji said standing and grinning uncharacteristically as he too started to visualize what the man was saying.

"How did you ever come to think of such a thing?"

"Honestly I was just picturing you as a swordsmen and it hit me." Nubutaka smirked.

"This idea of yours just might work! Can you train me?" Neji asked looking to Nubutaka and the sword in his lap curiously.

"It'd be my honor to train the worlds first Hyuga kenjustu master, but we'll need to do it in secrecy though since I don't think your clan would be very fond of the idea. Kunai are one thing but actually kenjustu is another entirely."

Neji nodded in agreement fully understanding what he was saying.

"How awesome is it Hamura is also asking me to train him in kenjustu since his battle with Shisui. I think Shisui plans to train by himself or rather with Imari" Nubutaka smirked.

"Alas if only the wiring arts were held in the same light as the noble art of the sword."

"What are you thinking about?" Neji asked noticing his sensei's thoughtful look.

"Oh nothing, I'll put in an order with our clans personal blacksmith for you but first we'll need to see what kind of sword would suit you best come on, we're going to a weapons shop." Nubutaka said creating a shadow clone and looking nearly giddy.

Neji wondered just how much the clan head had wanted him to practice kenjustu but he smiled along with him also feeling excited about the prospects.

Konoha residential district

"So you're the one that brought Naruto those octopus balls he kept talking about yesterday?" Tsunade said looking at the Uchiha woman who'd knocked on the door asking was the blonde boy home.

"Indeed that was me, the little guy insisted he pay me back but I was really just grateful to the company he provided me with." Hatsue said still not quite believing she was talking to Tsunade Senju of all people right now.

"That does sound like the kid alright." Tsunade said developing a friendly smile. "Please come in, he's probably out back rough housing with the other kids, I'll go get him for you."

Hatsue nodded nervously following the sannin she'd read about inside the large house wondering if it was an orphanage of some kind.

They arrived inside a large kitchen and there was a woman with black hair standing over a stove creating a number of good looking dishes with a content smile that turned friendly when she turned and noticed Hatsue with Tsunade.

"Hi there! It's not very often I see lady Tsunade making friends, my names Shizune it's nice to meet you." The woman said extending her hand.

Hatsue smiled taking it in her own and wondering if she should leave her last name out of the introductions.

Then again she looked like and Uchiha through and through with angular facial features, jet black hair, and obsidian eyes, not to mention the clan creast was on the back of her kimmono, more than likely this woman had already pegged her as such.

"Pleasure to meet you as well Shizune san. My name is Hatsue Uchiha but you can just call me by my first name if you don't mind."

Shizune smiled nodding her head.

"I'd prefer to actually, I figured you were an Uchiha honestly. I just gotta know what's your clans secret?"

"Secret?" Hatsue asked not knowing what she meant.

"Yea, all of your women just have such smooth hair and porcelain skin can't say I'm not jealous." Shizune said making Hatsue blush slightly

"Actually if I didn't know any better Shizune Chan I'd think you were an Uchiha too, your hair and eyes are dark just like ours, your skin is almost the same tone it's just creamier."

It was Shizune's turn to blush now having never expected to be complemented by an Uchiha.

"Oh please! I've got to condition my hair twice a week, and you really think so? I always thought I could go for a tan or something."

"Oh no trust me Shizune, I'm sure there's a lot of men out there who love your skin tone. I'm actually a bit jealous!" Hatsue said earning a small chuckle from the woman.

Tsunade rolled her eyes as the women sat in the kitchen talking about their looks or trading beauty secrets like the best of friends and walked out back finding the yard completely empty save one kid who was running back and forth frowning as he looked under a rock and then behind a tree, and the strange blonde girl named Lilly she noticed hardly ever played around with the other kids she would usually sit and watch with a look of longing on her face.

Tsunade wondered if the girl had some kind of medical condition and decided to look into it later. She told the boy who was searching for the other hiding kids to go hide and walked back to Lilly smiling at the girls look of confusion and curiosity.

"Do you want to play?"

The girl nodded her head feverantly as if there was nothing she'd like more but when the girl stood up Tsunade noticed her legs wobble for a moment before straightening.

Curious she placed a palm on the girls head sending small amounts of chakra through the girls body and back into her palm, a kind of make shift echo location she'd learned in her years as a med nin.

The chakra she'd used to scan the girls insides told her she had very weak bones which caused Tsunade to feel a bit of pity for the girl as even though she was the world's greatest med nin there was nothing she could do about that.

Well maybe there was something but it'd be extremely hard on the girl but really it was either that or stay as she was which Tsunade didn't think she would chose if given another alternative.

She decided she'd spare more consideration into those thoughts later as she came out here to get Naruto but she didn't want to interrupt the kids game.

She picked Lilly up and placed her on her back telling her to point out the places she wanted to search for the kids in and after around eight minutes all the kids had been found, some of them groaning and complaining about how it wasn't fair because Lilly hadn't covered her eyes when they went to hide but to be fair to her it was a pretty big backyard.

Tsunade told Naruto someone had come to see him and walked back to the house sitting Lilly in her former spot.

"I'll help you play again later alright." Tsunade said finding her smile brightening when the girl nodded happily.

"This kids really adorable who would ever abandon an angel like her."

She then remembered the girls condition and figured that had something to do with it frowning a bit as she walked Naruto into the kitchen to find Hatsue and Shizune both laughing with each other.

"Hatsue Nee chan!" Naruto said crashing into the Uchiha's side causing her to chuckle and stoop down to return the hug.

She separated from the boy and licked her finger slightly wiping a smudge of dirt off his face causing Naruto to groan and complain but there was a hidden smile on the boys face as he did so.

"Come on Hatsue Nee, that was gross!"

"Yea and having dirt on your face is gross too." She smiled playfully pinching the boys cheeks as he tryed to get away and the two laugh with each other.

Tsunade was surprised he seemed so familiar with the woman and smiled happy someone was giving Naruto the motherly type of affection she was never really good with.

"You came to visit me already?"

"Actually I was wondering if you'd want to go meet my sensei and some friends of mine who are around your age, if it's okay with Lady Tsunade of course."

"Heck yes I'd like to go! Can I go with Hatsue ba chan?"

"Of course Naruto, but don't forget to remember your manners."

"Thanks ba chan, I promise I won't! Come on Hatsue Nee Chan let's go!" Naruto said excitedly pulling on the Uchiha's hand.

Hatsue chuckled and told Tsunade she'd have him back before the sun fell to which Tsunade just nodded already trusting the woman Naruto had told her all about yesterday night.

Underground NEE facility

"So nice to see you again 122, can't say that I missed you but the chance to beat you senseless till you lose that smug demeanor of yours is something I can't pass on for long." Anko said with a grin as she began stretching in preparation.

"Not so fast Anko." Came a voice she hadn't heard during her training in a while.

"Danzo sama?" The girl asked raising an eyebrow.

Danzo didn't fail to miss how she only called him father when she was around Imari and Inoha and it only served to prove the girl was only constantly adding more questions atop the pile Danzo had already composed pertaining to her history, her personality, and her intelligence.

Of course he didn't care that she didn't call or see him as a father, he even found that to be preferable to Imari and Inoha who were always vying for his attention. Which he did have to admit was sometimes a great benefit.

It pleased him that at least one of his 'daughters' knew he saw them to be tools and seemed perfectly content to fulfill that role as long as it was a benefit to her.

"You will no longer be training with 122 as of today." The man said confusing Anko who frowned looking towards the NEE opperative then back to her father.

"I don't understand...I haven't been able to land a hit on him as of yet. Are you getting me a better trainer or getting ride of me already?" The girl asked sounding upset while looking indifferent as she observed Danzo very closely.

She pulled a kunai from her pocket and used it's reflection to keep herself aware of the unmoving 122 who could and would stab her in the back at any moment if Danzo commanded.

The man inwardly smiled glad to see the instinctive mistrust of people she'd shown upon first being brought to his compond was just as strong as ever. If anyone of the girls living in his compond were truly worthy to be called his daughter no doubt it would be this one.

"Calm yourself child, you have yet to outlive your usefulness to me as you've never even begun to fulfill the roles I have in waiting for you."

"Oh..." Anko said still not letting her guard down causing Danzo to visibly develop a small smirk before he continued.

"You were right in the assumption that I will be giving you a better instructor, follow me." Danzo commanded as he began walking down a nearby corridor not bothering to check and see if she had listened.

"This new instructor wouldn't happen to be-"

"No... I couldn't tell you exactly what's going on with that one either as last I heard she was on the verge of a mental break down if she hadn't already reached one."

Anko frowned at the man's statement knowing something wasn't right in the Uchiha's eyes when she'd seen her.

"We agreed that at one point I would be training under Hatsue Uchiha though didn't we?"

Danzo stopped at the girls question to spare her a hard glare wondering who she thought she was to be questioning him in such a manner. She returned the looked and somehow appeared just as emotionally void as he was but her glare however still managed to demand answers.

Danzo's eye widened a bit as he became aware of a feeling of pride welling in his chest as she stared back unwaveringly not letting her mask fall for even a second.

He didn't know just what it was about this girl, he'd never felt pride in anything besides his own village and his own skills as a shinobi, but here was this barely trained civilian born brat inspiring something that was very rare for the man...feeling.

He figured it was because she reminded him of himself and he knew that with the right training she would easily become his model of the perfect shinobi, one he could entrust with his way of darkness as well as his ideals should he meet an untimely end.

"You will find the time to train under the Uchiha in your own time." Danzo said deciding to placate the girl so she wouldn't weigh herself down with needless thoughts during her training.

Anko nodded not really liking his answer but deciding it was better than nothing and she'd focus on whatever new form of training she'd be undergoing.

"I'd still like to spare with 122 whenever possible." Anko said meaning what she said about beating him one day.

Danzo nodded figuring the girl would request something along those lines persistent as she was.

The two reached a room with a steel door Danzo opened ushering Anko inside and following in behind her.

A man or a woman stood at an opperating table doing something inside of the opened form of a man or a woman who lay on the opperating table.

Anko approached the table letting her curiousity get the better of her nearly throwing up when she actually looked at the humans insides the man with the snake eyes who she'd seen before was calmly cutting into.

He let out a low chuckle at the girl who stood rooted frozen to the spot watching the man's hands move. He created a sealess shadow clone and switched places with it moving to wash his hands and removing the gloves and mask he'd been using as he worked.

"Anko." Danzo called bringing the stunned girl back to reality.

She quickly crossed the room and came to stand in front of Danzo and Orochimaru looking between the two curiously.

"So you'll be my new instructor?" She asked looking at Orochimaru curiously.

"Actually I'll be your new sensei and you'll find the things you learn from me to be on another level entirely compared to what anyone else could teach." The snake said grinning.

"Cool, I'm ready to absorb all that it is you have to teach me...sensei." Anko said unsure what to think as besides the foreboding and the feeling of death she got from the man she had the feeling he simply wasn't to be trusted.

"We'll start by changing that gastly taijustu style of yours, I think you'd actually benefit from something a bit more flexible."

Anko could only smile at that as since her fight with Izumi she'd only been thinking the same thing as the woodpecker style although being pretty good for attack and defense was definitely not for her.

Monogahi compond

"So why exactly are you a shadow clone again?" Shisui asked wondering if he'd actually get an answer this time.

"I told you it's a secret and I can't answer that."

Hamura sighed loudly.

"Give it up Shisui he's not gonna tell us no matter how many times we ask."

"Aren't you two supposed to be undergoing a morning spare with your sensei right now?" Nubutaka's clone asked hoping to get the kids off his back.

"Yea but he wasn't at the training field, guys probably sleeping somewhere." Shisui replied waving a hand dismissively.

"How nice to see my genin think so highly of me." Came a familiar voice from behind Nubutaka's clone on the roaf.

"Crap, and here I thought we'd actually get to have some fun today." Shisui sighed.

"Save it brat, you three are going on your first C rank mission today, so I had to make sure everything was in order. Go pack for a four day trip but bring only the bare essentials we'll be protecting a merchants carvan so be sure to inform your families of our trip. Meet me at the west gate when you're finished.

Hamura and Shisui's eyes lit up as they both high fived each other and took off in a rush to get their things, Itachi calmly stood and nodded to his sensei.

"Good luck Itachi." Izumi said waving at her friend before he left.

"Thanks Izumi, good luck with your training here." Izumi nodded grateful he'd introduced her to Nubutaka and the others as there were few who could keep up with her at the academy so she hardly ever got any helpful training in.

After Itachi and his squad left Nubutaka's clone sat and talked with Izumi about her life finding her position to be much the same as Hatsue's.

Half Uchiha girl born into a clan that shunned her for something she had no control over, and apparently since her mother was and Uchiha who married outside of the clan rather than her father the judgement and scorn was even worse.

The taijustu style she used which she called the dancing cherry blossom was something she'd developed on her own since being half Uchiha there was a chance she'd never awaken the sharingan.

Apparently her grandfather had only took this as an insult and refused to train the girl any further which she didn't mind much seeing as he'd always seen her as a dissapointment before she'd ever even been given an attempt to prove herself.

It made him wonder if Hatsue had it this hard and if the two could relate to each other in that respect and how bad did others who where born half Uchiha have it.

The two sat discussing the academy for a while and what kind of skills Izumi would like to learn that the academy wouldn't offer and much to his delight one of them was ninja wiring techniques and the other was kenjustu.

The clone was fighting back a wild grin as he told Izumi he'd be honored to help her hoping she couldn't tell how giddy he was getting.

"Not only do Hamura and Neji want to learn Kenjustu but Izumi does too along with the wiring arts. New instruction for everybody! The real me is gonna be so excited when he hears about this, I'm tempted to dispell already." The clone thought wondering if Nubutaka should just become a academy instructor as he seemed to really like teaching.

"Well we've gotta make you an order for a sword too." The shadow clone said wishing he was the original so he could make a shadow clone.

He decided he'd just get her started on the basics of the wiring arts and the real Nubutaka would take it from there.

Around thirty minutes later Izumi was attempting to throw kunai with ninja wire into the right positions to set a simple trap but found the last one she threw redirected into a tree by another kunai.

"Woah Hatsue chan, that was awesome!" Came the voice of a small bubbly blonde from across the training field.

Nubutaka's clone turned it's head as did Izumi both of them looking into the crimson eyes of the Uchiha woman with surprise.

Nubutaka finding himself surprised her sharingan was complete while Izumi just stared in shock knowing this woman was a half blood like her but had not only awakened her sharingan but was also good with it.

Izumi looked at the woman with a million questions while Nubutaka's clone swallowed a lump in his throat wondering if she always looked that beautiful.

She approached the two with the blonde kid who seemed to be really interested in the kunai. She looked at Nubutaka's clone thoughtfully before turning to Izumi and giving her a shy smile she reserved for meeting new people.

"Hello Izumi, it's nice to finally see you outside of the compond, I would try to talk to you there but I refrain seeing as it'd only make the clan think less of us if we were seen together. I noticed you're training with shinobi wiring techniques so I decided to help you a bit." Hatsue said pointing to the kunai she'd redirected into a tree.

"It's best to have your support wire intersect your trap wire, it makes the entire trap much harder to escape and makes the binds tighter in the long run. I've recently started developing some different kind of wiring techniques, maybe you can help me with them sometime in exchange for my help?" Hatsue asked hoping to make friends with the girl she'd always wanted to get closer to seeing as they were both nearly in the same boat.

"I'd love to!" Izumi said as her eyes light up.

Nubutaka's clone grinned figuring the two would get along before taking notice of the blonde kid and finding himself shocked yet again.

"That's...that's Naruto." The clone thought wondering what his future student was doing with Hatsue.

The Uchiha woman was sitting by his side on the boulder he'd made so he could sit and observe Izumi as she learned before he'd even noticed she moved.

He looked down and noticed Izumi smiling at a really excited looking Naruto showing him the proper way to hold and throw a kunai.

"Good morning to you too clone sama." Hatsue said smiling at the clone who returned it with a grin.

"I apologise for the original's absence but if it's of any consolation to you I'd be happy to help make him jealous." The clone said leaning in slightly and wriggiling it's eyebrows.

Hatsue blushed lightly and laughed at the clones comment before looking at it curiously.

"Where is the original anyway?"

"He went to go help Neji with something but he should've been back by now honestly." The clone said wondering just where he'd gotten to.

"Well as long as you're here I guess it means he's okay, do you mind if I help surpervise Izumi's wiring training?"

"Not at all if you don't mind me helping Naruto practice proper kunai form while he's here. How is it you came to be aquatinted with my future student anyway?" The clone asked looking at Hatsue curiously.

"Huh?" Hatsue said looking to the blonde who was doing something with the kunai that was making Izumi laugh.

"Future student?"

Hokages office

"You summoned me Hokage sama?" Nubutaka asked entering the office with Neji and bowing respectfully.

"Indeed I did, I take it you trust this Hyuga correct?" Hiruzen questioned sparing Neji a curious glance.

"One hundred percent Hokage sama." The man said surprising Neji who thought the number one rule of shinobi conduct was trust no one.

"Good." Hiruzen said beckoning his anbu close the doors and place a privacy seal at the entrance.

"Now about the matter pertaining to Hatsue Uchiha last night, while I don't exactly agree with Danzo's plan to give the girl the experience necessary to serve as a regular shinobi team leader I do agree she'd no doubt be the best option for those girls and me and Danzo came to an agreement on the matter."

"She will be transferred from Danzo's NEE program to serve in the regular anbu black ops, undergoing our training program and being assigned a small patrol squad near our western border. She will be rotated in and out of other squads and once the twins have completed their three years at the academy she will be given the standard jounin test and if she passes she will be given command of the squad Inoha and Imari are placed on."

"Danzo will secure the vote of the elder council as well as half the civilian councils vote and me and you agreeing on the matter will be sure to sway the rest. However he did name one condition for his compliance in the matter."

Nubutaka sighed knowing it sounded too good to be true as all the possibilities of what Danzo could possibly want ran through his head.

"What does he want, all rights to and total ownership of my first born child?" Nubutaka asked mostly just joking but not entirely putting it past the man.

Hiruzen chuckled for a moment before continuing

"I'm sure if Danzo were here he'd say that's not a bad train of thought but instead he only asked that his other daughter Anko Mitarashi be placed on the same team as Hatsue Imari and Inoha."

Nubutaka raised an eyebrow.

"I thought he wanted Anko to be a NEE opperative in the future?"

Hiruzen shook his head knowing Danzo better than that.

"The only good NEE opperative is one incapable of thinking for themselves which I'm sure young Anko is still perfectly capable of, he has plans for that girl although I don't know what. In exchange for his help in ensuring Hatsue is made squad leader he ask you make a sort of program or test of some sort capable of ensuring Anko is competent enough to serve on a genin squad, one that would also convince the rest of the council to overlook her having never attended the academy before."

Nubutaka smirked understanding exactly what this was.

"I'm sorry Hokage sama but I never expected you to be one for dirty politics before."

He knew Danzo was one to cut corners, play others to his advantage and ignore protocol with no regrets, but the Hokage? Offering to help them pull one over on the councils no less.

Hiruzen smirked in return looking down and chuckling a bit before meeting the man's eye again.

"Consider it a favor for you agree to train so many of our young shinobi as well as your hand in improving the academy. I take it you'll accept correct?" Sarutobi questioned knowing the man would.

"You bet I do, that's three years to develop a one month program while you and Danzo are expected to do the hard work, I don't see why I'd refuse."

Hiruzen smiled glad he agreed as then the man would have a hand in the training of another young squad of Konoha shinobi.

"Good, now while your here I'd like to make you aware of a request Tsunade made about adding medical ninjustu to the academies curriculum."

Nubutaka looked thoughtful before his eyes light up and he smiled at the Hokage.

"That's a great idea! I don't know how I missed it."

"Excellent, I'm sure Tsunade will be glad to hear it, thank you for getting here so quickly to answer my summons and please inform Hatsue she is to come and meet me whenever she's next available."

"Hai, Hokage sama, thank you for all of your help in this matter." Nubutaka said walking towards the office window and pulling it open.

"It's nothing of a bother, consider it something I was glad to do." Hiruzen said waving the man off and going back to his paperwork.

Nubutaka grinned and leapt out of the office window.

Neji looked between the window and the Hokage wondering if he should take that route or use the stairs. Hiruzen looked up from his paperwork smiling at the boys indecision.

"You're going to follow him before he gets too far aren't you?" The hokage asked smirking towards the Hyuga.

"R-right! Hokage sama!" Neji said quickly moving to and leaping from the window as his mind replayed the events of what just happened in the office.

The Hokage and an elder council member had both agreed on undermining standard leaf protocol to pull a few strings that'd better suit their needs along with his sensei's desire.

Not only that but the Hokage just took Nubutaka for his word and decided to trust Neji because Nubutaka extended him his trust, something that still baffled the Hyuga he'd unknowingly received.

Maybe being a notable shinobi had more benefits than Neji had originally been open enough to acknowledge. If Nubutaka could have favors pulled for him and his students without asking then where did that leave him, a student of the man. No doubt the eyes of the village higher ups were already on him if they held the man responsible for his training in such esteem. He decided he would do his best not to just become the strongest Hyuga the village had ever seen, but possibly the strongest shinobi the village had ever seen.

He grinned brightly as he hit the ground and took off in a sprint seeing Nubutaka waiting for him a few roofs over.

He may not be the Hyuga clan head bit he was sure with his sensei's help he'd become a notable shinobi the likes of which Konoha had never seen. One more than capable of changing the Hyuga either from the inside as one of them or the outside as a shinobi who could get things done in secrecy.

Monogahi training field

"Hatsue Nee chan!" Two voices rang out and the Uchiha woman quickly found herself being tackled to the ground as two bundles of white hair and tears latched onto her attempting to formulate words Hatsue couldn't understand thanks to them burying their faces in her kimmono.

Hatsue smiled grateful that the twins never changed and all the more grateful for Naruto as she'd still be avoiding the girls if he hadn't talked her out of her self loathing and the soul eating guilt she felt.

After a few moments the girls allowed Hatsue to sit up but they still clung to her as if she might disappear the moment they let go

"Where have you been???" Imari said sounding and looking upset.

Hatsue honestly didn't have a way to reply for a moment as she couldn't tell them she'd been slowly falling into a depression the past two weeks over the people she'd killed.

"Well-"

"Hi I'm Naruto! Nice to meet you guys, Hatsue chan is my big sister too!" The boy said causing Hatsue to breath a sigh of relief at the blondes interruption.

"No way Hatsue chan doesn't have a brother?" Inoha said looking at the blonde with disbelief.

"Yes way, she's been taking care of me for a while while my god dad went away on some kind of a mission, right Hatsue Nee chan?" Naruto asked shooting her a wink when the girls looked at her for confirmation.

"R-right!" Hatsue said not wanting to lie to the girls but finding herself grateful for the blondes help none the less.

She looked to Naruto sending him a grateful smile as the girls started asking him questions.

Hatsue joined in on their conversation having already heard from the clone they'd been looking for the boy alongside Nubutaka for the past few days but had no luck him finding him. She stopped talking stopped upon feeling the wires around her arm start humming louder.

A few moments later Nubutaka and Neji appeared on the rooftop, the Monogahi smiling brightly as if his day was going great and couldn't get any better and Neji had the biggest smirk anyone had every seen worn by the Hyuga as if he'd just discovered the meaning of life or something nearly as important.

"I take it you guys were more than successful?" Nubutaka's clone asked raising an eyebrow at their expressions.

"You definitely hit the hammer on the nail with that one." Nubutaka replied jumping from the roof to smile brightly at Hatsue.

"Is that Naruto?" He said upon noticing a little blonde boy bearing the features of the fourth Hokage.

Nubutaka's clone dispelled causing Nubutaka to recall it's conversation with Hatsue about how Naruto had helped her to realize she was being too hard on herself based on the interaction she could see between the two in his memories they adored each other and the twins were a little jealous although they seemed to like Naruto too.

Nubutaka smiled at the boy wanting to thank him but not knowing how since his clone had already seen to it while helping him with his kunai technique.

His thoughts trailed instead to his newest student Izumi Uchiha until a certain blonde interrupted them.

"There were just two of you!" Naruto said pointing towards the spot where his clone had just been.

Nubutaka tilted his head surprised Naruto had never seen a shadow clone before.

"That's a justu created by the second Hokage that let's a person create physical copies of themself, you've never seen it before?"

"No but it sounds awesome! Can you teach me?" The blonde asked looking excited.

Nubutaka placed a hand under his chin thinking he might have found the perfect way to repay the boy if all justu got him as excited as that one, but he couldn't teach someone his age a justu so dangerous to the user he'd have to work on his chakra control first.

"Well I guess we'll be starting you're training early Naruto." Nubutaka thought grinning at the boy as he wondered what type of ninja he'd turn out to be.

Konoha main Street

Hizashi was stunned at what his brother was insinuating. Hiashi always had been a dreamer but to even recommend such a thing had to be unheard of among Hyuga clan heads.

He just stared at his brother as the two continued on their way to the Hokages office wondering if he realized the gravity of what he said.

"Why brother?" Hizashi asked unable to help his curiousity.

"Recently after our incident with Kumo I've been thinking...when we were younger we were the closest of siblings, we did everything together. As we grew older though and more involved with the matters pertaining to the clan we grew apart. You started to feel like more of a rival or someone who was below me and I'm sure you felt the same only in a different way."

"I don't wish for that to happen again and I'd rather not see it happen in the future. Hinata will one day become air to the main branch unless her younger sibling proves to be more competent, I'd rather the two not go down the same path we underwent."

"When I'm with Hiaku lately all I can think about is what if she belonged to the branch clan, it's inevitable that eventually one of my children will be branded with the caged bird seal and named head of branch clan affairs when you reach a certain age."

"I already see a thinly vieled hate in Neji's eyes when he looks upon those fortunate enough to be born into the main branch. I don't want my nephew to hate me Hizashi, I wish for the Hyuga to be a family." Hiashi said surprising his brother.

"It's no secret our clan is often regarded as the coldest clan in Konoha and no doubt it's due to our treatment of our own. A clan divided among itself can never truly prosper, the branch clan members are so busy making sure they continue to please the main branch it's all they really focus on nevermind their own hopes and dreams."

"The main branch is so focused on ensuring the branch clan stays in line it's all we ever focus on besides advancing the Hyuga's financial position and it's prestige within Konoha. The gentle fist has remained entirely the same as it's been since it's creation, as has clan policy but over the years our relations with one another have only dwindled. Most parents within the main branch don't even bother forming true bonds or relationships with the child they see as less worthy as eventually that child will become a member of the branch clan."

"I don't want to live out my entire life as clan head knowing I've done nothing about the clans most prominent issue. I'd rather my children not have to deal with or feel their relationship strained because of our traditions. I basically tortured a man last night in my anger brother. A man who by all right I should see as family, all because my status as a member of the main branch allowed me to, because that's what we're taught to do when branch clan members fail...to punish them. Our traditions are wrong brother, and I think they could stand for a little bit of change." Hiashi finished still looking straight ahead towards the Hokage tower.

Hizashi didn't know how to respond, his brother was speaking out against the practice of separating the clan into two branches. He was basically saying he wished for all within the clan to be equal and to abolish the practice of the caged bird seal. Surely such a thing was not possible, the elders wouldn't stand for such a thing.

"As much as I can agree with what you're saying brother, the elders would surely turn against you if they knew you had such thoughts."

Hiashi nodded sparing another glance at the civilians around them ensuring no one happened to be listening in.

I am aware of that brother but I think I know of two elders who may feel the same as I do, while two isn't much concerning a council of twelve it's a start. If I can convince four more people to vote to abolish the clan tradition of dividing the clan my vote could be the tie breaker, there would be no more reason for the caged bird seal and we could begin preparing relations throughout the clan." Hiashi said sounding hopeful.

"How exactly would you go about doing that?" Hizashi questioned not against what his brother was saying.

He just felt he might be treading dangerous waters seeing as some of the elders were very fond of the way things were.

"That Hizashi, is something I've been wondering since the birth of Hinata, I have no idea but I know it needs to be done."

Hizashi nodded agreeing whole heartily with what his brother was saying.

"I'm glad to hear you say that brother, I will do my best to help your dream become a reality. The path may not be clear now but I'm sure if we're patient eventually something helpful will reveal itself to us." Hizashi said smiling at the thought of a future without a large division in the clan, a future without the prospect of head splitting pain at the smallest of mistakes or transgression, a future of equality among brothers and sisters.

Hiashi nodded feeling the exact same thing.

Konoha's West gate

Shikono stood behind the carvan smoking a cigarette as he waited for his students.

He swore if they took much longer he'd be leaving to complete the mission on his own and making them pay for having to do the extra work when he got back.

Suddenly the air behind shifted and he turned to see a grinning Shisui staring at him like he'd just hit the lucky lottery ticket or something.

"You know you're gonna give somebody a heart attack like that one day kid, your flickers getting way too fast."

Shisui's grin only widened at the complement glad to hear his favorite justu just kept getting better and better.

"Is that jealousy I hear sensei?" The Uchiha teased raising a brow.

Shikono scoffed.

"You wish kid it's ten years too early for your fancy flicker to bother me any."

"Yea just you wait till ten years passes though! I'll be so good with the flicker it'll be like I'm teleporting. They'll call me...the Uchiha flash!"

Shikono's hand shot to his mouth as he started trying to hold in his laughter but failed as he began holding his ribs trying to stop himself from laughing anymore at his students silly name for himself.

Shisui frowned at the man who apparently doubted what he was saying.

"Just keep laughing it up old man, I'll show you one day!"

"I hope when you do your taste in nick names has at least improved a bit." Shikono said still chuckling as he held his ribs.

Just then Hamura and Shisui dropped into the clearing just outside the West gate looking at their sensei curiously.

"What's he laughing at?" Hamura said pointing at Shikono.

"Bastard thinks my nicknames are stupid." Shisui said sounding idignat.

"Oh..what's kind of nickname?" Hamura asked wondering how bad it had to be considering their sensei was actually laughing.

"Well I've been getting really good with the flicker lately and it's still my favorite justu so I figured I could make a name for it like the fourth Hokage did with his Flying Rajin. Get this, how do you like the name...the Uchiha flash?"

For a moment all was silent as Shikono had stopped chuckling just to hear him repeat the name and double over in laughter again. Itachi looked uncaring about the name while Hamura seemed to be trying to hold back a smirk.

Shisui frowned looking at his teammates. "Hey, you gu-"

"Bwahahaha!" Hamura burst into laughter along with their sensei as Shisui looked back and forth between the two looking absolutely indignant.

"Itachi, tell me the name isn't that bad!" Shisui said looking desperately at his fellow Uchiha.

Itachi let loose a small chuckle of his own and Shisui deflated knowing all hope was lost if even Itachi found it funny.

"Guess that names out the window." Shisui said hanging his shoulders.

"At least you can say you have terrible taste in names just like the fourth, come on though Mr Uchiha flash." Shikono said patting Shisui's shoulder with a grin. "We've got a carvan to escort."

"Hamura I want you in the front keep your eyes peeled for any enemies, send a clone out to scout ahead if you feel the need to. Shisui, Itachi, I want you two at the sides sharingan active if you think you see some suspicious movement in the tree's. I'll bring up the rear since bandits are more liable to start an ambush from that end, our destination is Suna so you can bet your ass it's gonna get pretty hot on our trip. You're shinobi so I don't wanna hear any crying or complaining about it on the way am I understood?"

"Yes sir!" The genin chimed in unison each of them more than ready to prove themselves.

"Alright, traveling at a civilians pace it'll take us two days to reach the village, two days to get back or three depending on how many stops we make. Remember what I taught you all about team work and we should be okay. Hamura, inform the carvan leaders we're ready to go, in positions everybody."

"Right the genin nodded all moving to obey their jounin sensei, pretty soon they were on the road with the village in the distance. Must have been something about the clouds but Shikono couldn't help but think that for some reason this mission would be more work than he'd originally assumed."

Konoha's West gate

Just as a young silver haired kunochi was leaving the village a slightly older silver haired anbu was making his way inside.

Amaris was aware of the anbu leaping through the trees above her but paid them no mind as this was nothing unusual for a shinobi village. Anbu never entered the village through the gates they either went over the wall or through hidden passage ways.

Her mission was a simple B ranked one, she was to go find a merchant in the land of waves who was running from some crime lord named Gato and bring him back to the leaf, she was in no hurry so walking along the road was just as well to her as leaping through the trees.

She looked up in surprise as anbu kept pooring into the village wondering just how much of the special ops force had been deployed on whatever mission they were coming from as at least twenty of them had just passed over her head.

She wondered if something big had just went down, did someone declare war on the leaf or was the leaf declaring war on someone else? Anbu rarely traveled in squads of over five members so twenty was extreme to say the least.

Kakashi was standing in a nearby tree looking at the woman's curious expression wishing he could spare a moment to talk to her but no doubt the Hokage was expecting him.

Then there was also the fact he was in his anbu uniform and anbu weren't exactly known for casually conversing with people, he'd only ever done that with Naruto and that was because between missions he hardly had anytime to do so otherwise.

Amaris suddenly looked up towards the tree he was in and Kakashi found himself thankful for the abundance of leaves.

She pulled a kunai from her pouch and hurled it in his direction. Kakashi swore under his breath and leapt towards the next tree finding she'd expected as much as she crashed into him in the air sending them both crashing towards the ground.

Kakashi's head hit the ground pretty hard causing his vision to blur, before it could clear he felt pressure on his arms and a kunai to his throat.

He could see her clearly now wearing her usual shinobi attire, her knee's were pressing down against his arms leaving him trapped and only capable of moving his legs. She had a frown of confusion and Kakashi could only lay there and admire the kunochi as he wondered how he would explain himself.

"Why were you watching m- Kakashi!" She said sounding surprised and quickly standing and freeing his arms.

Kakashi took the hand she offered and used it to pull himself to his feet rubbing his head as he did so.

"When you hit you hit hard, you know that?"

Amaris smiled at the man's complement and gingerly rubbed her fingers along his scalp apologizing and sighing in relief when she felt no tender area's.

"You did kind of sneak up on me you know. What were you doing in the tree anyway? Don't tell me you've gone all Jiriya on me or something." Amaris smirked causing Kakashi to chuckle a bit.

"I'm not that far gone yet but I'll be sure to let you know if it ever comes to that." He joked hoping it really wouldn't come to that.

"Oh..my Mask kun is on the path to becoming a closet perv. Well as long as you're perving on me I guess I wouldn't mind too much." Amaris said grinning suggestively.

"Oh really..." Kakashi said as he began to laugh a little at her comment. "Pray you don't come to regret those words later...we anbu are known to have quite the stamina if you catch my meaning." The anbu captain said smirking behind his Mask as the playful kunochi's face light up.

He raised an eyebrow she couldn't see curious when she remained silent.

"Losing your edge are we Amaris?" He teased noticing she had no come back.

"S-Shut up!" She stammered still red in the face causing Kakashi to snicker a bit more.

"Sorry I startled you though, I saw you on my way back into the village and didn't know if I should speak to you or go give my mission report."

Amaris just remembered her own mission and registered the fact he was in his anbu uniform causing something else to cross her mind.

"What was up with that big squad of anbu, are we going to war or something?"

Kakashi put a hand to his chin figuring this wasn't the best place to tell her but he did want to chat with the kunochi. They both still had work to do however and that came first.

"No we aren't going to war as far as I know but how's about I tell you over dinner or a sparing session next time we both get some free time?" Kakashi asked knowing it wasn't likely to happen anytime soon.

Amaris's eyes light up as she agreed and told him she would hold him to it. The two bid each other good bye and began heading their separate ways till Amaris remembered Kakashi's sharingan and turned around finding he was already gone.

She smiled respecting the way the man was no nonesense when it came to his duties to the village. She would simply have to tell him some other time she thought leaping into the tree's and making her way towards the edge of fire country.

Hokages office

Kakashi stepped into the Hokages office through the window noticing two Hyuga men, one he thought be be Hiashi Hyuga taking their leave.

"Inu." Hiruzen greeted.

"Lord third." Kakashi said bowing.

"I take it your mission was a success?"

"Surprisingly enough everything went off without a hitch, not a single death to account for on either side although a few Kumo shinobi may have some broken bones and slash wounds to account for."

Hiruzen only smiled at Kakashi's statement seeming completely untroubled by what he said.

"No doubt the Raikage and his council know we're behind the attacks by now. Excellent work as always, in your absence more missions requiring your attention have piled up." Hiruzen said gesturing towards a pile of scrolls on his desk labeled anbu.

Kakashi sighed, before the day was over he'd need to assign at least half these missions. Likely leaving the hardest one's for himself and the anbu's senior members.

"I'll have them delivered to your office shortly, I wouldn't mind if you choose to gain a few hours rest as you're mission kept you up and about for two days inside enemy territory."

"Rest isn't something anbu captains have the luxury of, that's what soldier pills are for but I appreciate the offer." Kakashi said signaling one of the anbu on the Hokages guard detail.

"Deliver these scrolls to my office for me."

The anbu nodded not bothering to question his captain grabbing a handful of scrolls and flickering away.

"How's the state of the village?" Kakashi asked wondering if anything special had happened in his two day absence.

"Same as when you left it I suppose, Hiashi and his brother were just here inquiring about the where abouts of Tsunade, Jiriya just left on a diplomatic mission to Taki and we were in the process of considering something of a trade deal with Ame till all contact with Hanzo mysteriously ceased.

Kakashi raised an eyebrow finding that last bit to be pretty interesting.

"Do you think something of an insurection has taken place?"

Hiruzen only shrugged looking thoughtfully out the window.

"While it's no secret Hanzo runs his country with an iron fist I doubt anyone would want to remove him from power as he's done a great job of keeping the usual small skirmishes between other villages even in piece times from taking place within his borders for a while now. Although there is more to be desired in his other aspects of leadership I find the thought of Hanzo being defeated by anyone besides a Kage to be pretty far off, while it's not impossible I still find it highly unlikely which begs the question...exactly what is going on in Ame."

"Would you like me to investigate?"

Hiruzen seemed to think it over for a moment.

"Honestly I intended to send Jiriya to see if he could reestablish contact with Hanzo since the two have a past together but if Ame has a new leader who's indeed stronger than the Salamander that information would be very important to the leaf as one can never know a persons intentions when having no information at all pertaining to the individual."

"I'll write this up a classified A rank mission, possibly S rank. You aren't to establish contact with the new leader of the rain village if it does indeed have one, you're simply to gain information pertaining to Hanzo. I'd rather not risk a valuable shinobi such as yourself and your name is listed in two of the greater villages bingo books so I want you to travel in disguise. If you learn the rain village is indeed under new leadership you are to return here immediatly, but your main priority is finding out what exactly became of Hanzo."

Kakashi's nodded and began making his way towards the office door.

"I'll be assigning my anbu to the missions that have piled up first and a temporary replacement to serve as captain in my absence, seeing as I already been briefed there's no need to come back and get the mission scroll correct?"

Hiruzen nodded. "Be careful out there Kakashi, lot's of rogue ninja in Ame would love to claim a bounty like yours with either Iwa or Kumo. Not to mention all of the unknown factors, if a powerful ninja like Hanzo just disappeared we have no idea what could await you once you cross those borders."

Kakashi nodded fully intent on completing his mission as he always did.

Konoha's East gate

Inojin and his squad finally made it back inside the village having traveled none stop at the insistence of the no nonesense Yamanaka.

Not that they really minded much, Gai wanted to hurry and get home so he could wash his hands and clear his mind of what he'd witnessed in the field. While not a stranger to anbu torture and interrogation methods being on a squad tasked with gathering information through such means was making him feel like something less than what he was.

He didn't look down on those who gathered information through such means but he simply wasn't that type of person.

As they passed over the West gate Yukushia saw her compond in the distance and simply wanted to go home and rest but she had to first report to the Hokage with her squad. She was thankful for the fact she was always looking for new uses for her plants ability to create a number of rare substances, the truth serum she'd injected into the soldier before torturing him to loosen his lips had proved somewhat effective but still needed more work.

She'd modify the plant she had producing it and give a fresh batch to the leaf villages torture and interrogation department. She shuddered upon noticing torture was the first word in that departments name.

Inojin was apparently freshly decommissioned from the department as his clan head thought it seemed to be having an adverse effect on his demeanor which she could believe after traveling with the cold Yamanaka for a few days.

She wondered just how much blood was on the man's hands, she'd only tortured a man for a number of minutes with the use of a truth serum, apparently Inojin had been in that department for years with no such help to loosen one's lips besides the pain he could inflict.

She looked at Gai unsurprised to see the man still wore a scowl and figured he wasn't fond of these types of missions either.

Enu the ever stotic and seemingly unfeeling Aburame's face was as impassive as ever, his thoughts on the mission were in no way known to the trio.

Konoha residential district

Tsunade frowned hearing another knock on the door distracting her from her sake and her magazine.

"This better not be neighbors coming to welcome us to the neighborhood." The sannin thought standing and walking towards the front of the house.

Upon opening the door much to her surprise she saw two Hyuga men looking at her with a sliver of surprise and relief.

"You guys wouldn't happen to be our neighbors would you?" She asked raising an eyebrow.

Much to her and the other Hyuga's shock the other male quickly dropped to his knees laying his head atop his palms which he lay on the ground.

"Lady Tsunade I beseech you, my wife's has recently fallen under the affliction of some rare condition that weakens the physical state of Hyuga women during pregnancy...I will give anything you ask if you agree to extend your help to my beloved Hiaku." The man said head still down in a bow.

Tsunade found herself even more surprised when the other Hyuga quickly followed the man's lead.

She wanted to frown at the two men grovelling at her feet in the doorway but obviously this was very important to them and she did swear an oath as a med nin to never turn down those in need of medical assistance, it was technically her job to save a life whenever she could even if she did consider herself to be retired.

"Where is she?" The blonde asked not wanting to waste time.

Monogahi training field

Nubutaka sat on the usual bolder watching a clone of his walk Naruto through the basics of tree walking which he seemed to be having a hard time with.

Izumi was currently sparing with both Inoha and Imari proving to be more than a match for Imari in taijustu but seeing as that was Inoha's strong point he'd told her to work on her weapon skills with a kunai which Izumi also drawfed her skill in.

He found the Uchiha girl to be very impressive compared to the average academy student, her personal taijustu style just needed a little work but he didn't doubt with a bit more training she'd be able to go against Inoha when using her crystal enhancements and possibly even Neji. He weapons skills with a kunai were pretty good also which left him to wonder how she faired in ninjustu.

Taijustu and Ninjustu were Inoha's strengths while she wasn't so good at wielding weapons, Imari was the opposite excelling at Kenjustu while her ninjustu and taijustu could stand for a bit of work, so far she'd only shown a talent for yin style.

He had Izumi sparing with them both at the same time as a way to improve her taijustu style while also having the girls focus on their weaknesses.

To the casual observer it would seem the twins were pressuring the girl but to Nubutaka she seemed to only be using them as a tool to sharpen her reflexes.

Imari took two consecutive swings with her kunai showing a decent form but Izumi effortlessly dodged them either way not even bothering to block, Imari attempted to predict the path her head would go when she dodged and leapt into the air for a spinning round house which the girl easily ducked under.

Inoha was back her face wielding her kunai in a wild fashion that reminded Nubutaka of how one would wield twin daggers slashing at the girl with fast inaccurate strikes that were meant more to just draw blood than incapacitate or truly wound.

Imari was behind her attempting to capitalize on her sisters distraction but the Uchiha girl had good instincts and was able to seemingly dodge both Imari and Inoha's attacks in the same motion.

Izumi actually only blocked or parried blows when she needed to and sometimes pointed out the occasional opening by sweeping their legs out from under their feet. Nubutaka could tell they'd both benefit greatly from a sparing partner like her as she was taking the time to not only improve herself but to improve them as well by pointing out what they could be doing better.

For a moment the twins launched a never ending flurry of attacks causing Izumi to double time to keep up.

Duck, sidestep, jump back, dodge, weave, roll, dodge, duck, sidestep, Nubutaka was surprised she could stay on the defensive for so long without having to block a single attack.

Izumi suddenly seemed to lose her footing in a manuver that was all too familiar to Nubutaka.

"Don't fall for it!" Nubutaka screamed in his head.

The twins incapable of hearing his thoughts both noticed and moved to capitalize on her slip up at the same time but just as Nubutaka thought it was a bluff and Imuzi quickly ducked grabbing Inoha's arm and using her momentum to throw her into her sister.

Nubutaka smirked impressed the girl had easily replicated the move he'd used to end his battle with Shisui Hamura and Itachi during his first spare with the Uchiha prodigies. No doubt Itachi had a hand in helping the girl get this good and if she'd come up with that move on her own all the more impressive.

Inoha stood up and looked at Imari who stood and nodded to her twin. The two reentered their stances and charged a smiling Izumi.

Inoha leapt into the air and spun taking a swipe at Izumi which she dodged, Imari came behind her sister attempting to sweep the girls legs out from under her but Izumi quickly rocked on the heels of her feet going over the sweep and landing in a hand stand.

She begun spinning in a circular motion kicking at Imari rapidly and breaking the girls guard before landing a hard kick to the side of her face.

Inoha quickly rushed towards her with her daggers but Izumi saw her coming and pushed off the ground with her hands landing on Inoha's shoulders and using her momentum to flip with the kunochi's head in between her legs throwing her a few feet away and landing on her hands flipping to land back on her feet.

"What the hell? Was she going easy on Anko or what?" Nubutaka thought in shock over those last moves.

Inoha picked herself up off the ground and Imari rubbed the side of her face.

The two reentered their stances and charged a calm looking Izumi from different directions. At the last moment Izumi ducked and pulled the two forward causing them to collide with each other.

"That taijustu style of hers is seriously going to be no joke when she perfects it." Nubutaka thought seeing it for what it was.

"She said Itachi helps her train usually...maybe I should have him take my place!" Nubutaka thought seriously impressed.

He wondered why she held back when fighting Anko and what she was holding back against the girls.

Nubutaka smiled figuring since she was this good he'd allow the two to face her at what they were really good at next time, one at a time though of course.

He turned to the other spare that was going on at the moment.

Neji was sparing with Hatsue who Nubutaka knew to be stronger than the Hyuga therefore he didn't limit Neji to using a certain set of abilities like he would usually. He told Neji to simply land a hit on the woman and he would win the match, Hatsue was limited to only using her wiring arts.

The two had been going at it for a minute yet Hatsue stood in the same spot she started in displaying just how good she'd gotten with wiring techniques.

"Wind style: Pressure gale!" Neji said exhaling a small gust of wind which picked in speed up as it traveled kicking up dust and rocks as it rocketed towards Hatsue.

She flicked her wrist and Neji saw thin ninja wires vibrating at a very high frequency splitting apart his gale and reducing it to little more than a nice breeze.

Thankfully he'd only meant it as a distraction as he'd flickered behind the woman and threw three kunai into her circle.

She moved her fingers and the kunai fell to the ground harmlessly stopped just outside her range by a tangle of ninja wire.

He leapt into the air and threw three more kunai landing on the ground and throwing four, he quickly ran through hand signs before the first set could reach their target.

"Wind style: Vacuum blast!" Neji exhaled a stream of wind causing the second set of kunai to speed up blasting towards her faster than the first which were pretty much right on top of her.

Hatsue smiled seeing what he was trying to do and rotated moving her primary wires around her in a circle knocking the kunai away harmlessly.

Neji hadn't really expected that to work against her stalwart defense considering she'd blocked his strongest wind style justu with ease.

It was good to see how she reacted though, he'd pressure her some more with long distance attacks to keep her mind focused on defending ranged attacks then he'd try something else. He began forming hand signs for a justu he'd just learned from the Monogahi library.

"Earth style: Thousand senbon strike!" The earth at his feet opening and out launched a huge barrage of thin pieces of sharpened earth that did well to earn their name sake.

Hatsue began moving her arms around rapidly as she sent chakra through the wires increasing their speed, the senbon began slamming into the ball of rapidly spinning metal wires and Hatsue's sharingan took note of one too many almost making it through but luckily for her the barrage stopped soon after and her instincts told her to turn around.

She turned just in time to see another kunai flying towards her which she easily blocked with one movement of her finger but shortly after she turned to see Neji in a full sprint at her stepping inside her circle. She reacted quickly flicking her wrist and blasting him with enough wire to push him back a bit, not wanting to hurt him too much as getting hit with thin metal wires could prove to be very painful.

Manipulating the wires with chakra strings she wrapped a small tangle around his leg and spun around in a circle throwing him into the other Neji which must have been hiding in the bushes as kunai didn't just throw themselves, her assumption proved to be correct as Neji hit something solid and she could hear the obvious poof of a clone being dispelled.

Neji stood and decided it was time for his trump cards and formed a single hand sign as a clone popped into existence beside him.

He ran towards the Uchiha again just as Nubutaka expected and Hatsue spun in a circle sending a tangle of ninja wire flying through the air towards the Hyuga and his clone.

Neji's clone cupped it's palms and Neji jumped into them pushing off as the clone launched him into the air before being dispelled by the wires crashing into it from multiple angles.

Neji pulled a kunai from his pouch in mid air and hurled it towards the Uchiha who brought a single wire up with her right arm up blocking the kunai and sending more wires racing towards him.

Neji smirked substituting with the kunai that had fallen beside her surprising Hatsue who hadn't seen that technique before.

He brought his palm forward for a jab but much to his surprise after a quick shift of her fingers a tangle of ninja wire wrapped around his arm stopping his attack only an inch from her side.

She smiled and starting rotating her hands around each other gathering a tangle of ninja wire around both her wrist and backing away flexing her fingers and releasing his arm.

"Tch." Neji remarked looking at the woman with his Byakugan active.

Her manipulation of the wires without using chakra already seemed perfect so when she used the chakra wires it was practically impossible to get through her defense.

Even now he could see her subtly unraveling the wires she'd just wrapped around her wrist in a circle around her which she'd use to repel him once he moved in to attack her like she'd done the last few times.

He wondered if his sensei was even this good and began forming another plan.

Nubutaka wondered something similar as Hatsue didn't seemed to be serious, it looked like she wanted to see how many strategies Neji could devise.

Nubutaka used ninja wiring for trapping techniques but Hatsue was literally using it to fight, how she was using it really made it seem more like art than he'd ever seen before.

"If she had the magnet style no doubt she'd be better than me already, hell she might already be." Nubutaka thought as he watched the wires react to every movement she made.

Seemingly coming to life when Hatsue controlled them, he made a mental note to ask her how she'd come up with her technique later.

Neji began forming hand seals and Nubutaka knew what would come next.

"Water style: Rushing torrent!" Neji yelled spitting a large burst of rushing water towards the Uchiha.

Hatsue smiled and held her ground forming her own set of seals. "Earth style mud wall!"

The torrent hit the wall and began going around and Hatsue did something that definitely surprised her sensei.

She breathed fire into the chakra conducting wires and began twirling around moving the wires with her and creating a flaming tornado that burned out the remaining water which had it's pressure weakened by hitting the mud wall.

The woman stopped spinning about to relocate because she couldn't see over the mud wall. Before she could though two hands rose from the ground grabbing onto her legs and surprising her but she reacted quickly already knowing the Hyuga had won the spare with that but refusing to be pulled into the earth.

She spun her arms and the wires connected to her fingers dug into the ground. She began rotating her palms around each other and the hands let her go being pulled back into the ground by the wires.

She sighed shaking her head and looking disappointed in herself but smiling none the less.

Neji rose from the ground a few moments later.

"Looks like I won that match, Uchiha san." He said with a grin Hatsue's way.

"You definitely earned it, although next time I won't be so easy on you." She smirked causing Neji to sweat at the thought.

"We'll get started on your special training soon Neji I just need to talk to Hatsue for a moment." Nubutaka said as he came to stand among the duo.

Neji nodded and began walking towards the little blonde boy clearly seeing he was putting too much chakra into his feet as he was attempting to walk up the tree.

Nubutaka smiled grateful the Hyuga had no hesitation towards helping a fellow student and turned back towards Hatsue looking at her curiously.

"How'd you get so amazing with the wiring arts?"

"I- well..I just practiced a lot when I was inside the NEE facility and applied what I learned inside the field." Hatsue said blushing slightly at the complement.

"There are actually a number of shinobi who used the wiring arts inside the NEE program and I noticed no one fights with wiring techniques. Everyone just uses them for traps but something with different techniques is something with different styles of use, so I decided to create my own."

"When Danzo saw how I was attempting to develop a new technique he had a NEE opperative teach me how to create chakra strings which let me manipulate the wires as if they were a part of my body."

"When I got good enough to control over 15 wires at a time I started focusing on causing the chakra inside them to vibrate at different frequencies so I can give my dull wires cutting power when they need it or simply keep them as they are, I only use chakra wires now so it's much easier to control and sometimes I just stream chakra through the wires to make them faster and easier to control rather than creating chakra strings around them which takes a lot more concentration."

Nubutaka grinned widely at his student, she'd far surpassed him in the wiring arts in a short time. Her ingenuity was simply amazing, surely if she taught her technique one day she'd earn herself a place inside the shinobi history books.

"You're technique is really amazing if you don't mind me saying, you're definitely better than me concerning the wiring arts now." Nubutaka said truthfully.

"That's not possible sensei! I learned everything I know from you." Hatsue said not believing his words.

"It's true, I only use wiring techniques to trap my enemies. If I'm fighting using it then I'm using wires I wrap around my arms and legs to improve my speed and reaction time with the magnet style. What you've did is revolutionary, it's something entirely new."

Hatsue looked down not knowing exactly what to say.

You'll still teach me right?" She said after a moment looking regretful.

Nubutaka looked at her oddly for a moment before nodding.

"Of course, if you have something else you'd like to learn specifically. You can still come by to help me with training or just come by to visit when you want you don't need an excuse to come see me." Nubutaka said seriously.

"We appreciate each other's company and we're officially courting right now anyway, besides it's not like I plan on letting you get away from me again Tsue chan." He finished with a smile electing a smile and a blush the Uchiha woman didn't bother to hide.

Nubutaka took a moment to admire her before grinning as another thought crossed his mind.

"Did the elders of your clan or your grandfather inquire as to our kiss yesterday?"

Hatsue's blush deepened but her smile grew as she took a second to think back on the moment fondly.

"Not as of yet but I'm sure they will eventually." She said hoping they wouldn't but knowing they would.

"You know when I first requested to learn the wiring arts from you and you agreed the clan gave me a mission to seduce you." She said laughing at the embarrassing memory.

Nubutaka raised an eyebrow and started laughing having expected as much but not expecting to hear it.

"Honestly I would call your mission a success, you definitely did seduce me in a way. I found myself infatuated with you before I ever even realized it was happening." Nubutaka smiled grabbing the Uchiha's hand.

Hatsue's blush only returned as she mentally tripped over her words unsure of how to reply to that.

"I think it's actually unfair they would send such a beautiful woman to seduce a young man such as myself, it was only inevitable I cave eventually right." He grinned loving how her face was growing hotter by the moment.

"I care for you deeply Tsue, so don't worry about what your clan says or wants to come out of us kay? We can deal with that bridge when we cross it." He said pulling her close and pressing his forehead to hers before stealing a short kiss.

"Okay, Nubutaka." She breathed attempting to calm the butterflies raging within her stomach.

"Oh yeah." Nubutaka remembered not wanting to break the mood but knowing one of his students would do so eventually if they continued to stay as they were.

"The Hokage has some important information for you."

"The Hokage?" Hatsue said tilting her head wondering what someone in such a high place could possibly want with her.

No preview for next chapter sorry only do those for the chapters I feel will be either short or boring. Next chapter may be boring somewhat ironically lol

Dialogue

Shy: So how was it?

Kasuf: You barely gave me anytime to read before asking me how it was.

Shy: You've had a whole day to read! Stop playing games with me fool!

Kasuf: Such a harsh insult for your good pale Kasuf. If you must know I found it to pretty good, but we have to address one thing though.

Shy: What's that?

Kasuf: The Uchiha...Flash?

Shy: What? I thought it would be pretty funny lol

Kasuf: No.

Al Kabir: Actually it gave me the chuckles.

Kasuf: Geez Kabir just sign up for the Mr ass kiss of the year award why don't you.

Al Kabir: I think you're just jealous my opinion holds more weight than yours.

Kasuf: In your dreams wet bag...nobody likes a yes man.

Al Kabir: I'm not a yes man I'm just not as much of a critic as some people. Points finger

Kasuf: Please, this story could use for some constructive criticism...I am the voice of reason, the choosen one who whispers words of wisdom to the unwise, the gate keeper and the keeper of gates, the true greatness...the oh so precious line between all that is sacred and all that i-

Shy/Kabir: SHUT UP KASUF!!!

Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter.