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Genesis of a Legend

Chapter 3: New Faces

Staring at the door of the classroom that she was assigned to, Nemu raised a hand and rapped on the door briefly before waiting patiently for a response. When the door opened, it was the face of a Chunin with a scar going across his nose that greeted her.

"Can I help you?" the man asked, his tone polite.

Without a word, the young girl presented a folded form to the man and handed it to him. She observed him unfold and read it over, waiting silently for him to finish. Once he did, he stepped aside and allowed her to enter the classroom before having her stand to face the students.

"Class, this is Nemu Kurotsuchi. She's a new student who will be joining you from now on." He turned to her and asked, "Would you like to introduce yourself?"

Nemu gave him an odd look at that. Didn't he just do that for her? Instead of answering verbally, she simply shook her head and stood quietly. This made Iruka sweatdrop and cough into his fist awkwardly.

"Um… Alright then. For now, you can sit next to…"

The man dragged out the word as he looked for an open seat, finding one next to a certain whiskered child.

"Naruto. He's the redhead up in the top row sitting alone," he finished.

Nemu turned her gaze to the redhead she had been tasked to get close to. So far, this assignment was going fairly well. She gave Iruka a nod before heading up to the bench solely occupied by the Uzumaki, taking a seat beside him.

As Iruka resumed his lesson for the day, she saw Naruto lean over to her from the corner of her eye. "Nice to meet you," he greeted in a whisper. "I'm Naruto. I hope we can get along."

She blinked once in slight surprise. This was going better than well.

Giving a subtle nod, she whispered back, "I hope so as well, Uzumaki-san."

The smile he gave her brought a strange feeling to her chest. She didn't know what it was, but it came with an odd warmth that was both foreign yet strangely comforting. As if the warmth wished to embrace her like she would a coat in the rain.

Unknown to her, her lips twitched faintly as she sat beside the Uzumaki boy and focused on the lesson.

It was after classes at the Academy, and Tenten was seen standing alone in the practice field behind her father's shop. The targets and training dummies were all riddled with puncture marks, lacerations, and even some scorch markings from past training. Her father also used this area to test new weapons or commissions requested by fellow ninja.

Held in her hands was Senbonzakura, and her stance was reminiscent of the samurai of Iron Country. Taking a breath, she started to go through some basic stances, swinging at an imaginary opponent for a few moments before she relaxed her stance and sheathed the sword.

After a moment, she frowned and hummed to herself. "That didn't feel like it flowed right…"

"Agreed. Your body moved much to stiffly, and your hold on me was a bit too tight to go through the changes in grip," she heard the voice of Senbonzakura speak up in the back of her mind.

"You can tell that as a sword?"

"It is in this form that I get the best feel for how you wield me. I can sense the grip you have, the movement of your limbs as you swing me, and the impact of whatever strikes my blade. You must relax your body, remove the tension coiling up within you. That tension makes your movements stiff and can have a detrimental effect on your stances and muscles."

"Remove my tension…" Tenten repeated thoughtfully as she withdrew the sword from the sheath once more.

Taking a deep breath, she didn't hold a stance and focused on the feeling of her muscles coiling. Having practiced with weaponry for years, she was used to the feeling and worked on easing up on it.

With eyes closed, she went through her earlier forms, feeling her body move through them instead of focusing on something that wasn't there. And by the time she finished, she felt less restrained; as if her body had room to breathe.

"Do you see now?" Senbonzakura asked her. "Remove the tension, focus on the feeling, and you will find your body flowing. Like blossoms upon the breeze, you must go with the flow instead of fighting it. Become the blossom, and let the wind guide you to the end; to your victory."

Tenten nodded with a smile. "Become the blossom…"

"Now then, call upon my name."

Holding the weapon before her with the blade upright and perfectly splitting her face down the middle, Tenten gathered her chakra and declared, "Scatter, Senbonzakura."

That afternoon, the training dummies and practice targets gained countless new cuts and tears.

Meanwhile, Naruto was seen walking out of the Academy with Nemu. "I tell you, those classes are super boring. All Iruka-sensei does is drone on and on, and I have trouble staying awake through it all…"

Nemu nodded once in understanding. "Would you like to observe the notes I have taken?" she offered.

"Huh?" he questioned, sounding surprised. "You'd…let me look at them?"

She was confused at his expression, but nodded once more, nonetheless. Reaching into her pack, she procured her notebook and offered it to him.

Hesitantly, he took it from her before leading her to a nearby bench so they could sit down. Opening her notebook, he was surprised at the detail her notes as he read them.

"Whoa… You're super thorough, Nemu. And I can understand this way better than whenever I try listening to Iruka."

Nemu nodded again and sat quietly as she observed Naruto look over her notes and paraphrase them into his own notebook. While her notetaking was detailed and held extra information, his was short and direct; getting to the point and occasionally adding the extras. It showed that the redhead sitting next to her was very straightforward in his thinking, choosing to get to the root of a problem as immediate as possible so as not to be distracted.

That kind of thinking was fine, but it also could lead to missing crucial details during a mission. For example, he could be tracking an enemy spy and follow their most obvious trail, being led astray from the true path that could've been subtly hidden. If Naruto was the Jinchūriki of the village, he would need to be aware of the unknown and spot the unseen.

As a certain Jonin would say, he would need to look underneath the underneath.

Naruto finished and handed her back her notebook with a grateful smile. "Thanks, Nemu! You're a lifesaver, ttebayo!"

"I doubt not having notes would be life-threatening," Nemu shot down calmly, earning a chuckle from the Uzumaki boy.

"You're weird," he commented a bit rudely. "But I like you. Wanna go get some ramen with me?"

Having looked over Naruto's file the evening prior to today, Nemu knew that he had a deep appreciation for the meal offered to her; specifically, for the kind served at the small eatery owned by the Ichiraku family. According to the report she read from the Psyche Squad, Naruto had an emotional attachment to that family, and he took people close to him there for a meal.

So, with that in mind, she nodded in agreement. "Yes, I would, Uzumaki-san."

"Hey."

"Yes…?"

"There's no need to be so formal. I mean, we're friends now. Right?"

Never before had an assignment gone so smoothly for her. "Of course, Naruto-san."

"Eh, it's a start, I guess," he relented with a smile before gently grasping her hand and leading her onward.

Unknown to her, Nemu had a faint smile upon her face; one that was almost invisible to the world.

Sitting upon one of the stools at Ichiraku Ramen was a woman with beautiful black hair and gentle blue eyes.

She was dressed in a black kimono with a white obi sash and white socks held within straw sandals. Over her kimono, she wore a white coat with black diamondlike markings on the bottom while her silky black hair was tied in a braid in front of hair, reaching down just past her waist and tied even with her waistline. Leaning against the counter beside her stool was a sheathed katana with a long cord connecting from the top of the sheath to near the bottom.

She had a pleased smile on her face as she finished drinking the remaining broth of her dish, setting the bowl gently down upon the countertop. "Thank you for the meal, Ichiraku-san."

"It was my pleasure, Unohana-san," the ramen chef replied as he took her empty bowl. "It's been some time since you last visited. How have your travels been?"

"Fruitful, thanks to my training. Wherever I have visited, I have dealt with any possible bandits or rogues and cured whoever was sick or injured. The life of a medic is one of a never-ending effort to help those in need. And the life of the sword is one of duty and battle."

Chuckling, Teuchi commented, "You always spoke like that during your other visits. Hard to believe I was your senpai so long ago."

She smiled softly and replied, "You talk as if you're much older than you truly are, Ichiraku-san. I can't have you thinking in such a manner, for it implies that I, myself, am also elderly."

"Ah, of course. You'll have to forgive me for that, then."

"And you are forgiven, senpai."

The two shared a small laugh at that before the flaps to the stand were opened. Entering was a familiar redhead gently pulling along a girl his age with green eyes, black hair, and a kimono similar to Unohana's.

"Hey, Pops! Can we get two large bowls of miso ramen, please?" Naruto greeted before giving his order. After a brief pause, he sheepishly turned to his guest and asked, "You don't mind miso, do you? Sorry if that's not what you wanted."

"Miso is fine, Naruto-san," Nemu replied, earning a slightly exaggerated look of relief.

"Good. I was worried for a bit. Didn't want to just order for you without being sure."

Nemu nodded in understanding, again smiling without realizing it. She then joined her companion at the stools before noticing the woman sitting on Naruto's other side.

Her green eyes widened minutely at the sight of her. 'Retsu Unohana, student of the medical arts who studied under Lady Tsunade before she left the village with Shizune Kato. Reported to be skilled with both medical ninjutsu and kenjutsu and rumored to have studied under the samurai of Iron Country. Last reported to be traveling throughout Fire Country and visiting the minor villages under the authority of the Daimyo.'

As if sensing Nemu's stare, Unohana turned to her and smiled politely. "Yes?"

Realizing that she had stared for too long, she bowed in her seat and said, "I apologize for staring. I just recognized you and was caught off guard."

"Huh? You know who she is, Nemu?" Naruto asked, turning to look at Unohana.

Upon looking at her face, the woman spotted the faintest of blushes on his cheeks and smiled softly at him. 'Looks like he's a bit smitten. A bit young, but still flattering all the same.'

"This woman is Retsu Unohana. She's a Jonin of the village, Naruto-san, known as a renowned medical ninja and swordswoman," Nemu explained.

"Swordswoman?" Naruto repeated before spotting the sheathed weapon. "Oh, cool! Y'know, I'm hoping to learn you to use swords too. I'm learning from Higurashi-sensei."

"Higurashi? Do you mean Tenken, Naruto-san?" Unohana asked.

"Yep! I work for him at his shop during my free time, and he's starting to teach me about weapon maintenance. Soon, he'll teach me how to forge my own weapons, which is great because I just uh…"

He cut himself off before he said too much, having been caught up in trying to impress the beautiful Jonin. His gift was still a secret, and he didn't want anyone to know until the time was right.

"I…just can't wait to learn!" he finished, grinning in hopes of hiding the slight nervousness at getting caught.

'Hmm… A half-truth,' Retsu noted mentally. 'He is excited to learn, but there's something more. Something he wants to keep under wraps. Whatever it is, it's not my business; but I can see a genuine desire to learn in his eyes. Perhaps I could…'

Her musings were cut off by Teuchi returning with Naruto and Nemu's ramen, the two students thanking the man for the food before they started eating. Naruto, per the norm, ate in record time while Nemu ate at a more sedate pace; though one could still see that she was enjoying the meal.

Once finished, Naruto happily drank the broth before almost slamming the empty bowl on the counter. "Delicious as always, Pops!" he declared, earning a hearty laugh from the chef.

"Glad to hear it, my boy!"

The two shared a grin as Nemu finished her own broth and set the bowl down normally. "It was flavorful, Ichiraku-san. Thank you for the meal."

"Of course," he replied before taking their empty bowls.

"Hey Pops, where's Ayame-nee?" Naruto asked.

"She's taking her test for her cooking class. I can't give it to her because I'd be accused of bias, so she needs to get tested by another chef that's certified to teach."

"Oh, nice. Think she'll pass?"

"Hah! Who do you think she is, Naruto? My daughter will pass that test with high marks! You'll see!" he boasted before heading into the back to wash the dishes.

"Uzumaki-san?" Retsu spoke up, having spotted a chance. "You said you plan to learn kenjutsu, yes?"

"Yep! I'm going to become one of the village's greatest swordsmen, ttebayo!"

Hearing his verbal tic caused Retsu's eyes to widen briefly, and her mind replaced Naruto's grinning face with that of an old friend who had passed years ago. Looking closer, she saw her face perfectly meld back into Naruto's and realized that her old friend was his mother. Thinking on it, it should've been obvious given his last name, his vibrant red mane, and his status as the Jinchūriki; a position once held by her friend and known by only a few people.

Smiling softly, she mused, 'He has your attitude, Kushina-chan…' Taking a moment to break out of her memories, she continued, "How would you like some private lessons when I have time?"

The offer threw Naruto off, not expecting it at all. "Really…?"

"Of course. I see potential in you, and an eagerness to learn. Two important things to look for in a student. Would you be interested?"

"I… Thank… Absolutely!" the redheaded boy finally got out, over the moon about her offer. "I'll be the best student you've ever had, sensei! That's a promise, ttebayo!"

The woman giggled softly at his verbal tic, prompting an embarrassed blush from him. However, she paused for a moment, noting the white stuffed fox toy resting perfectly upon his head. It was thanks to her years as a kunoichi and studying under the greatest medical ninja that allowed Unohana to catch the tiniest of things about a person.

And for the life of her, she swore she saw some intelligence in the beady eyes of that toy. Not only that, but she also felt the tiniest sliver of chakra resting inside of it, chakra with an almost identical feel to that of the young Uzumaki sitting beside her.

'Curious…' she mused, mentally noting to ask Naruto about it in the future. "I'll be in the village for roughly a few weeks. When will you be free to begin your training?"

"Well, I still have classes, and I work for the Boss every other day; today being a day off for me," Naruto explained while Nemu watched silently with well-hidden interest.

Lord Danzo had spoke of the potential Naruto held on multiple occasions, and now that potential would be nurtured by someone as renowned as Retsu Unohana. Danzo would be pleased to hear of this.

"So, you'll be busy tomorrow. Very well, then we'll begin your lessons the day after tomorrow after the Academy lets out. Will that be fine for you?"

"That sounds great, sensei! I'll be there!"

"I'll meet you outside of Higurashi-san's workshop. From there, I'll take you to where I'll begin your training," Unohana explained as she left payment for her ramen on the counter. Grabbing her weapon, she had it resting over her shoulder via the cord before she bid, "I'll see you in a couple days, Uzumaki-kun."

Giving her an eager salute that she giggled at, he replied, "Yes, sensei!"

Waving farewell, the woman left the ramen stand and made her way to the Hokage Tower. She needed to speak with Sarutobi, and there were certain words that would need to be discussed.

"That woman suspects something, Naruto-kun," Yuki spoke to him that evening as he prepared for bed.

"Unohana-sensei?" he asked for clarification.

"Yes. She stared at me for a few moments, and I think she could sense that I'm sentient. Don't be surprised if she asks you about me during your lessons."

"What do I say?"

"That's up to you, Naruto-kun. If you wish to tell her, or wish to keep quiet, then that is your choice. And no matter what you decide, I will support you."

He smiled gratefully to her and rubbed the top of her head. "Thanks, Yuki-chan…"

"There's no need to thank me for this, Naruto-kun. You're my friend, and someone I cherish. I will never stop supporting you and being there for you."

Fighting tears, he pulled his friend into a hug before laying down. That night, he fell asleep with her in his arms.

"So, Uzumaki is to receive instruction from Unohana-san," Danzo mused aloud after hearing Nemu's report.

"Yes, sir. I observed what looked to be recognition in her eyes on a few occasions she was looking to Naruto-san. I believe it goes beyond simply recognizing him as the Jinchūriki."

"Unohana-san and Uzumaki's mother were close to one another and to Mikoto Uchiha when they were younger. The three of them received training from Tsunade and became a formidable trio of the village. If memory serves, they were known as the Siren Sisters."

"I'll look into it, sir. I find myself…interested in learning more about them."

"Search the library for anything on them if you wish. In the meantime, I must commend you on your work so far. Based on your work, you've already established a positive rapport with Uzumaki."

"Yes, sir. However, most of it was initiated by Naruto-san. He offered his hand in friendship and offered to take me to Ichiraku Ramen. My actions were minimal, simply speaking and treating Naruto-san as a normal person."

"And that, right there, is the reason he so readily accepted you," Danzo explained. "You've seen his psyche evaluation reports, yes?" At her nod, he continued, "Then you know that he is socially dependent. He craves to be acknowledged by others, and simply treating him as a person is enough for him. The villagers, who are foolishly blinded by the thought of him being the Kyuubi incarnate, either treat him with fear and disdain or ignore his presence altogether."

To his interest, Nemu had the faintest of frowns on her face. "That…doesn't make sense. Why would they fear that Naruto-san is the Kyuubi when he acts nothing like the Bijuu, sir?"

"I cannot speak for the villagers, for they are like sheep and their shepherd is the grief and fear from the night the Kyuubi attacked the village."

"So, it is like that saying," Nemu concluded. "A person is smart, but people are foolish."

"Precisely. Keep close to Uzumaki, and give this to him," Danzo ordered before handing her the scroll on fūinjutsu that Orochimaru had given to him beforehand.

Taking it, Nemu bowed to the man before she left for the library of the ROOT base.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat at his desk with his oldest rival sitting in a chair across from him, both men having a calm expression on their faces. Danzo had been asked to come to his office for a talk, and the Hokage decided to nip something in the bud.

"How long did you think your observations of Naruto would go unnoticed?" he questioned, cutting to the chase.

"I never once believed that they would escape your notice," Danzo answered, not bothering to deny his actions. It would only be a waste of his and Hiruzen's time. "The boy needed to be monitored, and my scouts have reported some peculiar information regarding his potential."

"I don't want to push him into something so soon, Danzo. He is just a boy, and he deserves to have some semblance of a normal life before his duties as the Jinchūriki are thrust upon him."

"You've truly lost your edge if you honestly believe that Uzumaki would ever have any sort of normality in his life. That boy is the legacy of two of the Leaf's greatest ninja, and he has been given the greatest of responsibilities on the night he was born. From the moment Namikaze placed the Kyuubi into him, Uzumaki was forever destined to a life of service as the Jinchūriki of the Hidden Leaf."

"I owe it to both his parents and to him," Sarutobi pressed. "I won't have him rushing into anything he's too young to handle."

"So, then you'll tell him not to study under Unohana-san?" Danzo challenged calmly. "To stop discovering the secrets of his own chakra? To cease breaking the boundaries his already shattered?"

"I've already spoken with Retsu," the Hokage replied, looking faintly uncomfortable. "She was…adamant about teaching him."

"And can you blame her? She and Lady Kushina were quite close, after all. Is it that much of a surprise to know she'd look after her child?"

"Regardless, what did you mean with your other challenges? What has Naruto done regarding chakra?"

"I'm surprised your own ninja haven't reported to you on it. After all, Uzumaki has performed what can only be described as a miracle of chakra. And he's done so not only once, but twice so far."

Raising a brow, the Hokage inquired, "What could he have done that would fall under such a claim?"

Danzo allowed himself to smirk and rose to his feet. "Have a pleasant day, Hiruzen," he bid almost tauntingly as he departed from his rival's office. He wouldn't just tell the man everything. He was the Hokage.

He could figure it out for himself.

"How's training with Senbonzakura going?" Naruto asked Tenten as the duo made their way to the Academy.

"Going pretty well, actually. He's been helping me fine tune my stances and I'm starting to practice with the release of his power," she replied. "Any new ideas for swords lately?"

"Not yet, but I met this girl yesterday and I think she can be a friend. I took her to Ichiraku yesterday after she was nice enough to share her notes with me. Her name's Nemu Kurotsuchi."

"New student?"

"Yep, just joined the class yesterday. We also met this really pretty lady at the ramen stand, and Nemu told me that her name was Retsu Unohana."

Tenten stopped walking with wide eyes at the name drop. "THE Retsu Unohana?! The Healing Blade of the Leaf?!"

"First off: that's a cool name for her. Second: I only met her yesterday and never heard about her until Nemu told me who she was," Naruto explained.

"Retsu Unohana is one of the Siren Sisters of the Leaf. She was teamed up with the Carrion Princess, Mikoto Uchiha, and the Red Hot-Blooded Habanero, Kushina Uzumaki. The three of them studied together under Lady Tsunade, the Slug Sannin!"

"You've mentioned that Tsunade lady multiple times, so I guess those three women were all pretty badass. But I've never heard of them before, let alone that one of them was an Uzumaki…"

"Yeah, Kushina Uzumaki. She died the night the Kyuubi attacked the village, but she was famous for her beautiful red hair, her fūinjutsu mastery, and her presence on the battlefield. She was both respected and feared by her enemies, and she was known as one of the most beautiful kunoichi of the Hidden Leaf."

Naruto's tone became wistful as he commented, "She sounds incredible…"

Noticing this, Tenten thought to herself for a moment before an idea struck her. "Hey, I have some old Bingo Books back home. I'm pretty sure that Lady Kushina's picture is in a couple of them. I can let you borrow them if you want?"

He perked up at that, nodding once with a smile. "I'd like that. Maybe I can get some answers if I saw what she looked like…"

"Answers?" Tenten repeated as the duo resumed walking to the Academy.

He nodded with a thoughtful hum. "I never knew my parents… And I know it's silly to do so, but I'm thinking that this Kushina lady…might be my mom."

Tenten looked both surprised and interested at his response. "Well…it's not like it wouldn't make sense. She was one of the only Uzumaki living in the village, and she died on the night the Kyuubi attacked, which you've told me was your birthday. So, she could be your mom…"

"I think I'll know for sure after I see her picture. I can't explain it, but part of me really believes that seeing her face is all I'll need to know for sure…"

"They say that parents will always recognize their children," Yuki spoke up. "Perhaps the reverse is also true?"

"I hope so…" Naruto whispered, prompting Tenten to put her arm across his shoulders and pull him close for a brief sidelong hug.

"Keep your head up, Naru. You'll know when you see her," she assured him.

Leaning into her, Naruto gave a hum in agreement as the duo reached the Academy. Giving her a smile as they separated, Naruto headed to his classroom and took his usual spot, having noticed that Nemu was already there and waiting for him.

"Morning, Nemu!" he greeted with a grin, earning a polite nod from her.

"Naruto-san," she greeted calmly. "Are you ready for today's lesson?"

"I think so. Hey, would it be alright if I borrowed your notes again? I'll take my own, but I'd like to compare them after classes let out."

"That will be fine, Naruto-san."

"Thanks, Nemu!"

She shook her head, confusing him for a moment before he blushed at the near invisible smile on her face. "I've read that friends help one another. You refer to me as your friend, and I want you to be the same for me."

'Wow… It's REALLY small, but her smile is pretty…' he thought before mentally smacking himself back into focus. Smiling back at her, he replied, "Yeah… I'd like that, Nemu-chan."

As he turned to face the front of the class, he missed the faintest of blushes on her cheeks. That warmth from yesterday had returned, and it felt even better than before.

"Here they are!" Tenten exclaimed, pulling out the old Bingo Books while Naruto sat on the floor of her room with Yuki in his lap. Sitting across from him, she set the books down and allowed him to grab one and flip through it. "I forget which ones had her information, but I know she's in at least a couple."

"Shouldn't take too long to find her, then," Naruto commented, having set down the first one and picked up the next. There were six to look through, and he only had to search under the names beginning with "U".

It wasn't until the fourth book that he finally found it; the info page of one Kushina Uzumaki, complete with a picture of her Jonin identification photo. All it took was a single glance at the photo for Naruto to immediately agree with Tenten's earlier assessment of the woman; she was extraordinarily beautiful.

She was dressed in the standard Jonin uniform, but her hair was a deep red and looked silky smooth as it was tied in a high ponytail with some strands framing her lovely face. Her eyes were a deep violet and, while depicted with a serious visage, were incredibly expressive. They spoke of her determination, something that the Hokage told Naruto that he had in spades.

But one thing was for certain as he gazed upon her image. He knew in his heart, beyond any shred of doubt, that she was the one.

"Mom…" he whispered out as joyful tears rolled down his whiskered cheeks.

And there ya go!

Hope you all enjoyed this update and the introduction of the lovely Retsu Unohana!

Naruto and Nemu have already started developing their bond, and Naruto's unconsciously began breaking through Nemu's emotionless exterior. In time, she will become her own person, and she will be all the better for it!

Tenten has also started her practice with Senbonzakura! How skilled will she become in the years to come? Stay tuned to find out!

Until next time!

Stay safe, healthy, and positive!

Dreaming of the Future,

pain17ification