Chapter Forty-Five
The exam site for jonin-sensei and academy teachers was closely guarded and in an unassuming concrete building just outside the main barrier protecting the village. The building hadn't changed at all in fourteen years. Kushina had come here for her final test after the war. At that time, Kurenai had been her apprentice, and she had been forced to face-off against Asuma Sarutobi. The event had been nerve-wracking then, probably not helped by the fact that Kushina might have been pregnant with Naruto at the time – her first bout of morning sickness was a few weeks later. Like you should have been surprised? Between comforting Minato then celebrating the war's end and his promotion, you could have had triplets you did it so much! As worried as she was, she cracked a minor smile at the memory of that wild whirlwind of events.
As she walked hand in hand with Konohamaru to the entrance of the building, Kushina wondered if she was holding his hand to reassure him or if he was holding her hand to reassure her. She wore her black and green mission gear, and Konohamaru wore an olive green uniform with his signature navy blue scarf. As they approached, she reflected on how things had come back to here. Originally, she had planned on going through maternity leave and changing her shinobi status to that of a reservist. She could have taught part-time at the academy or privately trained with a registered apprentice until Naruto was old enough for her to go back to active duty status. A young Kurenai had even volunteered to join Team Habanero as soon as Kushina came back. Then Obito attacked us. The best laid-plans and all that crap!
So many hopes and dreams had been shattered that night. While she remained close to her former apprentice, Kurenai, the memory of the sweet little boy that was Obito turnining murderous villain caused thin fingers of sweat tickled down her sides from her armpits as she looked at her current apprentice. Konohamaru looked every bit as confident as Obito had looked the last time she'd seen him as the bright, future Hokage. It wasn't your fault; war does horrible things to people. We still don't know what happened to him after the war, either! Deciding she couldn't wait, Kushina pulled her apprentice into a motherly hug, "Konohamaru," she choked, "thank you!"
"For what, Sensei?" he eyed her curiously.
"For believing in me," Kushina fought back tears; now was hardly the time. Konohamaru was the first person in over a decade to come to her for help. The first had been an impossibly younger Kurenai. What a difference time makes. Like Hinata, Kurenai had been shy and overflowing with self-doubt prior to training with Kushina. Like Naruto, Konohamaru was full of potential but without focus until Kushina began treating him like a second son. You've left your mark on both of them, for the better. So, stop kidding yourself that you can't do good; you already have!
"Umm.. okay, boss," he scratched the back of his head in confusion as she released him. "I think you might have it a bit backwards, though."
"Do I?" she eyed him thoughtfully
"Yes," he nodded, "Mrs. Uzumaki, it has been an honor to train with you," he started to choke with tears, "and I want you to know, no matter what happens today, I'll always gladly call you my sensei!"
Kushina hugged Naruto's little brother, much as she'd hugged Naruto. A heavy, guilty weight sank in her stomach for lamenting in her postpartum depression that she'd become worthless because of her pregnancy and the crippling injuries that followed. Your boy brought you a fine couple of apprentices, and now is time for this apprentice to prove that scared first-time mother wrong! "All right, enough chick-flick moments," she pinched his cheek playfully, "We got this, ya know!"
"Believe it!" Konohamaru flashed his biggest smile and a thumbs up.
The building's doors opened, and Asuma Sarutobi stepped out, "Lady Kushina, Konohamaru, please enter when you're ready." Konohamaru's uncle gave no smile nor indication of recognition of his nephew. Judging by his tapping foot and the clear nicotine patch on his arm, he was trying to quit smoking again. It looked like his nicotine addiction was winning out.
"Konohamaru," she whispered as they walked into the circular chamber, "promise me you won't take up smoking, no matter what your grandpa and uncle have done."
"Totally, big-time turn-off for the ladies!" He replied. Girl crazy at age eight; he's going to be trouble when he's Naruto's age. Kushina smirked slightly at Asuma's twitching eyebrow as he shot a side-glare at his nephew.
"Kushina Uzumaki," Lord Sarutobi sat with six other judges at the far end of the circular room, just as he had almost fourteen years ago, "it seems that fate has brought you back to the proving ground. As you know, the final test of any jonin-sensei is a test of that sensei's apprentice." He paused to stare at Konohamaru, "Grandson, you do realize this test will determine your sensei's fate going forward, and you will be facing a strong genin-level opponent. Do you have any doubt of your abilities or the teaching of your sensei?" The question itself was part of the test. If your apprentice doubted the level of preparation, the test was off without exception for at least three months of remedial training.
"None," the boy shook his head, "I am ready to face whatever challenge awaits." Konohamaru grinned, almost arrogantly.
"Enter the ring, then," his grandfather ordered.
Konohamaru wordlessly untied his blue scarf and handed it to Kushina. Kushina held her breath as the boy walked to the center of the ring painted on the floor. From behind Lord Sarutobi, a familiar figure approached – Tenten of Team Might Guy. She wore her usual mission gear, but she was thankfully devoid of weapons; otherwise, this would be an execution. Even still, it was hardly a fair fight – she was taller, faster, and older than Konohamaru. She's practically a chunin for crying out loud! She has twice his reach! Kushina gripped her flowing red hair, preparing to tear it out.
"Konohamaru, Tenten, remember this match goes until submission or knock out. No lethal force permitted, no elemental release techniques, and no weapons. Is that understood?" Lord Sarutobi boomed. Both nodded. "Bow to each other," they did, "FIGHT!"
Konohamaru did the wise thing first, and leapt back out of the limit of Tenten's range as she swept a roundhouse kick to where his body had been a second earlier. Tenten neither grinned nor scowled to Konohamaru; her flat expression conveyed that he was just another target in need of elimination. Clearly nothing personal, but why did Lord Sarutobi put him against someone who thoroughly outclasses him!
Tenten again rushed him, feigning a kick before popping off two hand strikes at Konohamaru. While he blocked with expert form, his face contorted with discomfort as each strike stung his arms like a viper. Tenten reversed, sweeping out the boy's ankles. Roll with it!
Konohamaru tucked and rolled in a reverse somersault away from the girl's follow up strike. Kushina's stomach acid churned as she could only stand and watch Konohamaru get taken apart. "Konohamaru! You can't win by staying defensive; you have to get in a hit!" she shouted. Way to go, genius! He knows that, and you know that. Even Tenten knows that! Except, he can't hope to get past her reach in a head on strike…
She saw the hand seal forming, realizing he wasn't oblivious to his situation. Far from it, the young shinobi knew he couldn't win a stand-up fight. While neither side was allowed to use elemental release, basic transformation and substitutions techniques were not forbidden. Oh, you naughty boy, you! Kushina felt a grin return as she recognized the seal he was performing.
"Transformation Jutsu! Sexy Man Technique!" Konohamaru vanished in a burst of smoke. Replacing him was an idealized version of Neji, sans his outfit. "Hey Babe, going my way?" the clone posed provocatively at Tenten as a fountain of blood spilled from her nose.
Try as she might to contain herself, Kushina burst out in hysterical laughter as Asuma, Lord Sarutobi, and the other male occupants of the chamber recoiled in shock and the female inhabitants let their jaws hit the floor. So distracted was everyone that only Kushina saw Konohamaru leap out from the smoke at an oblique angle and kick out Tenten's right leg from behind.
As Tenten toppled backwards into the ground with a resounding THUD, Konohamaru placed a spear-hand strike at the base of her throat, "YIELD!" he shouted. Even if she wasn't dazed, by the time she could move, he could deal a painful blow to her throat. Tenten weighed her options and nodded her head in surrender.
To no surprise, most of the other observers, Asuma included, stood wide-eyed at this turn of events – no one had expected him to overcome such long odds. Lord Sarutobi simply sat, looking content with only the faintest of grins. "That is enough!" he boomed. Both Konohamaru and Tenten recovered to the standing position, bowing to each other before bowing to Lord Sarutobi. "You both are dismissed," Lord Sarutobi turned his attention back to Kushina, "Mrs. Uzumaki, please approach."
Kushina walked into the ring, offering the slightest of nods to Konohamaru as they passed one another. You did good, kiddo! As she reached the center, she bowed to the former Hokage, "Lord Third."
"Kushina, the board will review your performance and that of your apprentice. You are dismissed until further notice." He stood up and bowed.
Some things never change. She bowed in return and turned to leave. She'd have to cool her heels for at least another two weeks now – just in time for Naruto's birthday.
"Sensei! We did it!" Konohamaru bounced excitedly as they exited the building.
"Konohamaru, the results are not final until the board rules," she reminded him, trying to sound like an uptight sensei as they walked through the cool October morning. However, his skeptical grin was infectious, "Okay!" she burst out in laughter, "You kicked ass!" she slapped him a high five, "Seriously, I thought Tenten had you outmatched for sure!"
"She's a great fighter, but the first rule of winning a fight is not playing by rules that favor the enemy! And you know who taught me that?"
"Who?"
"You did!" he winked, "So what now? It's barely 1000; you want to start training?"
Kushina checked her watch and confirmed the time. "Actually, you've earn yourself a special treat: a day off."
"Ohhh…" Konohamaru sounded disappointed. Like Naruto, he was almost a workaholic for training.
"And a trip to the sweets shop for Mochi, a special reward for exceptional performance!" Kushina beamed.
"OH WOW! Thanks, Sensei!" Konohamaru exclaimed.
"And while we enjoy, we have a secret mission or two we need to talk about," her lips curled mischievously.
"Oh really?" his eyes popped wide open.
"Yup, top secret, A-ranked by special order of the Hokage!"
The bath house known as the Smiling Geisha was the premiere ladies-only spa in the hot springs district. Any service needed: manicure, pedicure, facial, massage, and more was available here. Akemi Hyūga had answered the spur of the moment invite from Kushina along with Hinata, Kurenai, and Shizune – Tsunade's attendant and companion. They had enjoyed a light luncheon followed by a heavenly massage, and now they were soaking neck deep in the mineral springs.
"So, Kushina," Kurenai let the water come up to the top of her neck, "to what do we owe this honor?"
"A lady can't invite her friends for an impromptu spa visit without an ulterior motive?" Kushina replied.
"I take it that means the final exam went well?" Akemi sprawled out in the water. She hadn't done anything this decadent in way too long, not since before the New Year's disaster.
"Hmm… you might say that," Kushina winked, "but, I did have a serious reason for calling everyone here today."
"Do tell," Shizune smiled, keeping herself covered, much as Hinata was. The dark-haired girl was not shy as Hinata, but she seemed every bit as body conscious. Odd considering how over the top her master can be.
"Well, as you all know, Naruto's birthday is just around the corner."
"Oh yes," Akemi rubbed her chin in anticipation, "What special occasion does the young hero of the Leaf have in mind?" Naruto's party was always an event to remember, even if it was much smaller scale than any clan occasion.
"I'm afraid that's the problem I called all of you here to discuss," she explained, "He doesn't intend to celebrate at all."
"He what?!" Akemi's jaw dropped to the warm water, as did Hinata and Shizune's.
"I was hoping I might find some insight and bounce a few ideas off everyone here."
"Kushina, he's going to be thirteen! There's no way we're letting him get away without some kind of recognition!" Akemi protested. Having held Naruto on the day of his birth, having served as the bridge between Kushina and him for transferring Kyuubi, and having watched his grow up along side Hianta; Akemi in some ways already considered him a son. In a few years, he will be.
"Before we force anything on him, I want to make sure we aren't poking a hornet's nest," Kushina crossed her arms. "Shizune, you did his post-exam medical check, did he say anything to you?"
"He was damn quiet," she explained, "like a little turtle hiding in his shell."
"Hinata," Akemi spoke, "surely you must know something. He is your boyfriend, after all!"
"H-how did you know?" Hinata hugged herself as she bobbed up and down wide-eyed. "Kushina, you didn't tell her, did you?!"
"It's not exactly a secret, hon," Akemi replied with a light smile, "You two seemed quite the item leading up to Part II of the exams." Akemi felt her smile fade, "Did something happen between you two?"
"No, it's not that," Hinata sighed, staring down in the water.
"What is it then, Hinata?" Kushina asked, "Ever since coming back from that test, he's been training from sunrise to sundown, and I've seen my husband more in the past few nights than I've seen of Naruto in the past three weeks!" Akemi could read the frustration on Kushina; not knowing what was wrong and feeling unable to fix it.
"Kushina," Hinata's pale amethyst eyes searched as if she was looking past the group, "he… he's scared!"
Akemi tilted her head in surprise, "Scared of what, Hinata?"
"H-he… he," she stammered, "feels overwhelmed, like keeping us alive was his full and sole responsibility."
"So, he has the weight of the world on his shoulders," Shizune said.
Hinata nodded, "I can feel his disappointment, like he should have gotten all of us out of the test unscathed."
"Hinata," Kushina said, "he got everyone out alive, I'm more than proud of him for that."
"I know that, but he worries with everything going on that he'll finally make a mistake and have to bury one of us. He keeps worrying that he can't measure up to you or Lord Minato."
"That's crazy," Akemi spoke, "Kushina, you've been nothing but supportive of him."
"Nevertheless, his father and I have put him in a ridiculous position for a genin, as you all well know." A grim silence hung in the air. Akemi had at least a vague idea of what her daughter and the other genin were now intimately involved in, and she hated the thought that they were pawns in a high stakes game for the fate of the village.
"There's more," Hinata sighed, "he's so worried about losing me in the field, he-he is starting to withdraw from me."
Akemi watched Kushina chew her lip, "I think my husband and I need to have a long chat with our son, but we also will need your help," Kushina said, regaining her focus.
"My help?" Hinata said.
"Yes, Hinata," Akemi said, "I think I know what Kushina has in mind. And it's going to take special planning on the part of everyone here."
Author's notes:
Hey everyone, thank you always for reading, and I hope you're enjoying. This chapter sadly was shorted out of necessity. I have nasty neck and shoulder injury and my ability to write was severely limited this week. I promise that everything that got cut from this week will be in next week's chapter. Thank you for your patience.
Also, as some of you may guess, this story will be reaching its end soon. True to Part I of the Naruto series, volume I of this story will end not long after part III of the Chunin Exam arc ends. I probably still have a few months to go yet. I'll probably take a short hiatus before launching volume II on October 10, 2020. I hope you all have enjoyed thus far and will continue to enjoy until this arc ends and the next one begins.
Ever grateful to you all,
Adam