===Chapter 13: Diplomacy===
Five days passed in relative trepidation. More recently, the ninja population rose noticeably, and it wasn't a local contribution. Headbands of various emblems poured through the gates, some like they owned the place, and others like the worst couldn't come to pass soon enough.
I counted seven different symbols, and not all of the big contenders. By the congregation at their accommodations however, I'd certainly missed a few. It was a rowdy bunch. Some didn't take well to being confined to a 'room' with anyone else. And some matches bled enough hostility, you could swap it with a wall of thorny brambles six feet high and not spot the difference right away.
I felt a corner of my soul rocked to sleep one night for one arrival in particular. The outfit looked imported from another dimension, but I'd recognized that self assured persona anywhere. To that end, I got a kick out of that when the group of cloud ninja arrived.
They weren't the first to voice concern about bearing a scratched headplate to the exams, and her team bore three in all, some sans an original symbol. A copy of the application request from a daimyo, and well enough used and verified passports, not even the Hokage could have turned them down.
It wasn't just the genin, and foreign nin either. The snake's apprentice stood ground against slander the likes of treachery and had all but a formal interrogation headed her way. There was a hair trigger between demanding information about the legendary traitor, and saving face in front of just about every village known to the continent.
It didn't take to staying under wraps, and rumors spread like wildfire.
I've already admitted it to myself, but this feels more akin to the personalized festive version than the chain of checks she'd live through here. The chunin exam hadn't been an in for spys and subterfuge for a number of years now.
~Cough~ Scuse me while I give this tree a noogie.
Naruto came to terms with my presence, and was back to 'business as usual' as far as I could tell. Of course, he's kept nipping at my heels about the deal with his parents. There's more to it than what I gave him, but he's got to understand what he's already got first.
The total of twelve chunin hopefuls from cloud was tremendous, nigh unprecedented. If that wasn't a flex and a half, someone was lax at their mission desk. I have a personal notion that this chunin exam has been marked as an excuse for clouds to throw their weight around. Their treaty with the leaf had been generous, and after their gambit with the head ninja came to a sputtering close, I imagine someone wanted to make up for lost pressure.
...I think Danzo would enjoy this.
*He knew*
Iruka shuffled back, beads of sweat pouring over his brow as he barreled forward with a long suffered cry. Ever since that day it had been like this, and he couldn't shake the demon that hounded him.
"How can you live like this?! Are you (dodge) sure you're even (weave) human?" Huff, huff, putter, groan.
Naruto wasn't exactly breathing easy either. For all his small size, his gift still had to haul his body across fair lengths to even catch up with the genin. It was the hardest he ever worked for a game of tag, and he couldn't get enough of it.
Iruka was using every maneuver he could think of. To his growing dissatisfaction, 'drop from the canopy and double back' was rapidly becoming his most used method, and not because it was cheap to get back up to speed.
Then again, he was incrementally less certain that it was 'tree walking' that Naruto was using. The blond would soar and catapult up to him like a monkey. Going from two counts to hot on his trail in half the time it took Iruka to complete a stretch.
Where did he get the energy to even attempt something like that? It was like he was running around with a bungee cord strapped to the blond, and it egged him on as much as it frustrated him.
Iruka wasn't the fastest, or most coordinated kid in his year, but seeing the three year old Naruto Uzumaki pulling off a clip that left him somewhat challenged vexed him.
Their game came to an end soon enough though. Naruto would keep going until the sun went down, but even his inexhaustible energy couldn't keep his body from telling him to dial it down.
The moment he gave pause on a limb, Iruka knew it was time to call it.
Naruto wined when he saw the boy double back, "Wah, already?" Even as his belly trembled and his breath shifted the focus in his eyes.
Iruka smiled as he braced the boy, and guided them both to the ground, "You lasted three minutes longer than yesterday ya know?"
"Really?!" Naruto brightened, even as wear pacified his features.
Iruka nodded sagely. In retrospect, he couldn't actually tell how much it had changed, but Naruto had definitely been conditioning himself to this kind of thing. Barely reaching his stomach… 'This is ridiculous!' He smiled, "C'mon. I know you're starving after all that."
Naruto sharpened like a tack, "Ramen?"
Iruka rubbed the back of his head, "Sure. Although, I'm only treating you if you wait after each bowl. I can barely keep up. Even with the C-rank the other day, if you get carried away, there will be no more ramen trips."
Naruto withdrew momentarily, as though plotting the days ahead. With a nervous smile he glanced up and blasted a massive grin, "Thanks so much, Iruka! I won't, I promise."
Nervous excitement gleamed in the child's eyes, and Iruka felt confident that, at the very least, Naruto sympathized with where he was coming from. It would take more than ramen to keep the blond maniac going, although he was fairly hopeful the boy would eat something more wholesome at home afterwards.
The bustle around the village as vendors set out their best showing for the foreign guests. To the relief of those gathered, it was a new, albeit restricted opportunity to wander about the village. The pressure in the lodging had gotten a bit hairy, but it wasn't always that a village would enable that kind of legroom. For such a large showing, it was rare, but Konoha had the security on hand to rustle a fair share of infighting. Better than a mass brawl waiting for a spark.
The shinobi of clouds and waterfalls in particular seemed to be at each other's throats for want of a strong showing. On the other end of the spectrum, The two teams from mist looked to be the runts of the litter. It seemed a little bit early to be consolidating heavy hitters. Things must have gone really sideways if that was their showing.
The two boys were unaffected to all of this. Weaving their way through the commotion like it was any other day. Iruka didn't show it on his face, but the two gave a wide berth to the foreign shinobi.
Arriving at the stand, Iruka placed their orders. Soon enough, they were served and Iruka took a moment to examine the blond's reaction. To his dismay, the boy thumbed through his meal with an almost religious pace. Whereas he knew the boy could all but vaporize it's contents in the span of an introduction.
Well, here's hoping the boy had some room for conversation, "So. You've been working extra hard lately. Any particular reason?"
Naruto paused in his zeal to ask, "Do I need a reason? I have to work hard to keep up with you. It's fun and I don't know anyone else who can move like that."
"You're telling me." Iruka shifted in his seat, "I'd figure you were some kind of prodigy. What kid your age knows how to walk up a tree?"
Naruto swallowed a mouthful before coughing. Barely breaking stride, he asked, "Well, not everyone does, but I've seen this one kid who's really fast." Naruto tilted his head, "I wouldn't say walking, although he doesn't run as fast…"
'He doesn't have a clue after all.' Iruka stirred his bowl and spooled a cluster, "I guess you are a pretty good climber. How do you keep your footing, going that fast?"
Naruto bristled, a rose tinge forming at the edge of his whiskers, "I uhh… I just get into it, ya know?"
The vision of a branch beneath Naruto's feet. Iruka furrowed his brow, "You just stick the landing, and dive head first?" Something was off about how he moved… "It's pretty dangerous if you mess up. Are you sure you'll be okay?"
Naruto smiled and nodded, "I'm sure, believe it. I had trouble getting into the right angles at first, but I'm getting the hang of it." Cupping his bowl he added, "Soon, I'll be faster than you!"
With the bowl consuming his field of view, Naruto didn't notice Iruka's shocked disbelief. 'His weight shifted, he pivoted… His sandals only just brushed the wood then?' He shook his head. Getting a good look at the boy's movements was tricky on the run. But then again, he never really hit his full tilt. The urgency and confidence just wasn't there.
He recalled the fibers clearly. He'd passed over that tree a few times to lose the blond. That was probably the first or second time Naruto had managed to do the same.
Suddenly, Iruka's eyes widened, his eyes unfocused. 'That's why it was so strange!' He didn't imagine it. Naruto had righted himself midair, before alighting on that tree. He'd been so surprised that he actually poured some speed into maintaining the distance.
Refocusing on Naruto, Iruka wondered, 'How was he able to do that? Did he grab something I missed?' The thump of heavy footfalls had sounded just over his shoulders. Looking back, Iruka banished the impression of an ambush, but then Naruto was hovering just a few feet behind. Falling back again when they landed, and Iruka took that moment to weave around the next crown.
It was fresh in his mind. Seeing the tyke wobble on the branch, he'd called and ended the session. Had Naruto somehow caught himself from leaping ahead?
Next time the two went out, he would be watching more carefully. That however brought to mind something else the Genin wanted to bring up, "Right. Naruto, I almost forgot to tell you. I'm gonna be busy this week. If all goes well for me, I might not see you much until the end of the month."
As the blond sombered, Iruka place a firm hand on his back, "I know, it'll be rough. Now… don't get your hopes up, but I'll get us tickets to the match at the end." Rubbing the back of his head, "If it goes really well, You'll get to see me fight for real."
Naruto's narrowed his gaze, his eyes widened in almost the same heartbeat as he gaze to the ninja, "You mean it? You're… you're not gonna be away from the village?" He couldn't quite shake the confusion in his voice.
Iruka smiled and shrugged, "It's a special test. After graduation, If we're doing well, us ninja can try for a promotion. It's really hard though, and most people don't pass unless we go at it every year." Rubbing the back of his head, "Then again, this year there's a lot of competition. I probably won't get far if things get messy."
Naruto pouted, "C'mon Iruka, you're as strong as anybody! I'm sure if you try your hardest, you'll pass the whole thing, and no one could stop you!"
Iruka was taken aback, "Oh yeah, you really think so?" Scratching his temple. At last he shrugged and huffed in resignation, "I guess I should really give it my all then?"
Naruto bobbed his head stubbornly, "Just you wait. Soon enough, you'll be the best kind of ninja ever!"
"Purge acid!"
The needle thin stream crashed into the tree, a burst of yellowing flame thrashing about until the trunk was jetting white. The stream cut, and the hole spread wider once exposed to the air.
My stomach burbled in protest, but fortunately I'd prepared enough to last to the next meal. It wasn't a technique I could use freely. Not unless I was curating my chakra with surgical precision. For now, it was easier to instigate the reaction mechanically, and that meant fasting for a bit.
My head reeled. That said, I needed to get accustomed to the drain. What better excuse than to counteract a jinx?
Chunks flew. A few hours later, there was a sizable mound piling up, and a few irritated parasites tracking their food down from my hair.
It was getting late, I felt gross, and yet the finishing blow was still a good twenty or so swings away. I look to the heavens and pray the cooking part will be easier.
Another crack of the axe head
The chunin exams are gonna be starting any day now. It feels monumental, and yet, the pending cataclysmic failure was never a part of the exam itself. I keep feeling my instinct check for some wretched interloper, and angle to grind, and… I guess to an extent, some serious jealous anticipation.
I miss being part of the action, and while I'd while I take this over the shoddy staggered crap of yesteryear, I'll take any excuse to get some work done in the field.
I rolled back and watched the smoke mingle with the expanse of speckled stars, Anything, that is, except sabotage those that live here. Distressingly, routing sabotage is half the fun, but it doesn't suit the campfire story I'd know how to tell. Personification of vilification. My arch nemesis, and yet trying to drag that into or out of this world is promoting a stick in the mud.
For now, I guess I'm stuck waiting for how these power players decide the next move. I may be the first responder, but that doesn't mean I can dictate all the changes the timeline will pan out, when they occur, and the ramifications they instill as a result. My specialty is getting there, making something of the situation, and relieving enough space to form a path forward.
That kid, Naruto, in his own time has opened my eyes to the situation. Even without any sense of direction, all of the pieces forming the world are still here. It's not about finding them. It's about making a place for them to take a stance.
To that end, I'll leave this round to you, Uzumaki.
As one stone is tossed into the river, The ripples begin rising and compounding amidst the churning tides. This one rises among the others, a wreath of turmoil that resounds and out-stands the current, lingering to curve the river as it flows.
===Notice===
Oct/31/20 Entering temporary hiatus. I'm switching a few cogs around IRL, and that tends to have less than constructive effects on my writing. I'll be back once the setup cooperates with the story flow again, but that can take anywhere from a few days to a month, depending on how I operate with the next setup.
Hiatus Update: Good news. It's not going to be a multi-week break. I've got a few devices making their way into the pipeline. The next opening scene is going to have a large number of moving parts, something I tend to notice is better worth the wait for stability's sake.
Bad news. I can't start until later tonight or tomorrow. It's voting week, and as meager as my civil exposure is, I am way less confident in the system this time around. To hell with us all if we don't get to the heart of this political tailspin. Benching for another last minute uproar? I'd sooner take up the metaphysical fistfight with the virus.