Ch.3 a nobles duty
Tegumi Uzumaki thought himself a smart man, he knew that to keep the stability of an eight trigrams seal it was best to layer it with a five element seal and finish it with a tampering seal to prevent untrained hands from interfering with it. Given the time and ink, he knew how to make a stable storage dimension that could be lived in for centuries. Give him a problem and he could make a seal to solve it, he spent his life learning how to do that from the best. Just don't ask him to handle paperwork!
It had been nearly a month since his master left to seek the aid of the new Hokage, and put Tegumi in charge of the island's affairs. He knew that he was to be the next head of the Uzumaki clan head and daimyo, after Ashina-sama's only son died years ago. Yet even with the special training Ashina-sama gave him, he still struggled to manage the mountain of paperwork that flooded in day after day. How a man of Ashina-sama's advanced age managed to clear the large desk daily and still have time to spend on ceremonies and other such duties was beyond him. Even with the aid of two guards turned secretaries he struggled to find time to eat, and found even less time to sleep. Even using chakra to keep himself alert, he found himself almost dozing off more than once. The worst part though, was that he missed Suzuri's first days at school!
It wasn't until he was sorting through the new day's pile of requests that he found a chance for reprieve, the academy had asked that some chunin or higher to come talk with the students about the importance of 'proper mission pack readiness'. He and his guards were all jounin, and while they talked to the older students he would get to catch up with his son!
XxX
It had been a while since Suzuri was excited for school, after the first three weeks he remembered why he despised it in his old life. There was so much useless note taking, and even more useless home work! Sure it was simple, and easy but there was just so much of it. He usually spent most of his class time just lazily doodling in his notebook. The teacher would call on him often thinking he wasn't paying attention to the lesson, which he wasn't, but the lessons were so simple that all he had to do was a glance at the board and he could give the correct answers.
Today's lesson however, was nothing so Elementary. Today they were being taught by active Shinobi on how to properly prepare a pack, and how to prepare for the unexpected. Of course he knew that as the youngest class they would be given less questions as this was more for the older kids who were closer to graduating, but it would still be a learning experience! More importantly he was curious to see if the active ninja would be showing off some jutsu, he had heard from his oka-san that the ninjas they usually get to do this enjoy a little bit of showboating.
After more than six years in a world of ninja, and explosive jutsu, and all he had managed to see was a small fire his otou-san made when he messed up an array on a seal. It was about time he saw something cool!
Grabbing his backpack and Bento he waved goodbye to his oka-san, and made his way to the academy. He was half way there when he met up with Kakoi. The two had quickly become best friends after the first day of the classes. The two of them just had good attitudes for one another, one curious the other knowledgeable. Between Suzuri's brains and Kakoi's endless questions they rarely ran out of things to talk about.
"So Suzuri, what do you think is essential for a field pack?" Kakoi asked, speaking in his usual quick paced voice.
"Going off what I've seen in my otou-san's pack I'd say a weeks worth of field rations, two sets of clothes, a bed roll, a first-aid kit with bandages, a tool maintenance kit, some blank seal paper, and a lot of ink."Suzuri rattled off what he remembered being inside of his otou-san's mission bag that was normally kept by the door.
"My otou-san's bag was pretty much the same, but instead of extra ink and paper he has a second first-aid kit and extra bandages. Apparently he was on a mission one time when his team came across an injured ally who lost their pack, and needed to be patched up." Kakoi started retelling the story behind his otou-san's caution.
Then later when he was closing in on his mission target he hurt his leg! After helping his ally he didn't have enough to help himself. He said that he had to retreat and ask a teammate for their bandages, but because his teammate stopped to help patch him up the target escaped. Then they had to track them down a second time, anyway he said that's why he always carries a spare set now." By the time kakoi had finished his story the two boys had arrived at the academy.
"Hey you two, excited to see the guest ninja today? I wonder who it will be!" Murari greeted them at the gate of the academy. Though he was not as close to her as he was to Kakoi, she was a strong third leg of their group. While the two boys would easily get off track talking about and start talking about this or that, she would get them to focus on the assignment in front of them. When the other kids asked why she stuck around them Murari easily responded with 'because they're interesting'. That and because Suzuri often shared his candy with her, but she couldn't help it his oka-san made really good sweets!
"Alright everyone come inside, it's about time to start class!" The teacher of the first year class, Kashikoi, called out to the kids in the school yard. He was a slim built man. with short spiky blond hair, and deep blue eyes that were covered by cheap rectangular reading glasses. He was a very lenient teacher, and from what Suzuri could gather while they could pass for siblings Kashikoi and Kakoi were actually cousins.
As the students filed into their classroom, and sat down, dark clouds loomed on the horizon. Blowing in from the mainland, they moved slowly across the sky.
XxX
On the mainland of The land of Fire, in the village hidden in the leaves, Ashina Uzumaki sat across from the third hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi. The two were quiet as an anbu with a cat mask served tea. This was the fourteenth day that Ashina visited the Hokage in his office, and silently waited to see if a decision to help or not was made.
Ashina did not mind waiting for the most part; he had spent the past two weeks staying at the Senju compound with his widowed daughter,her children and their children. It was cathartic to catch up with his family. The last time he had visited was for Tobirama's funeral.
He had spoken with Hiruzen when he first arrived and made his request for assistance with the shipping lanes publicly, however unlike his predecessors Hiruzen was not a Senju. Thus Ashina could not depend on clan ties for a swift reaction, or response. Instead, he now waited for the request to be made to the fire daimyo.
"Uzumaki-sama I do apologize for the wait. I am happy to say we have now received permission from our daimyo to assist Uzushiogakure with securing the shipping lanes. I will deploy one of my students who is familiar with the area to help resolve this matter. If there is anything else you need help with please feel free to ask him." Hiruzen sat in his chair putting some tobacco in his pipe, and lighting it with practiced movements.
"Although politics, and bureaucracy may get in the way of me helping personally, I will never forget how much you have helped both the Village and myself." Hiruzen reported to the elderly clan head with an apologetic smile.
As a student and friend of the previous two Senju clan heads, Sarutobi genuinely felt bad for making the his deceased sensei's father-in-law wait on procedure, and ceremony, but his advisors (mainly Danzo) correctly pointed out that Uzushiogakure, while allied with the Senju Clan specifically. Did not have a proper alliance with the land of Fire.
Without a proper Alliance, the fire daimyo, could accuse Konoha of acting outside of his interests. Leaving an opening for his court to give less support to the village, and while Konoha was recovering well, from the great ninja Wars, as the Hokage he must put the security of his village above all else.
"Uzushiogakure is grateful for your support Hokage-dono, I understand your position. That said, with this business done I must return to my home. Though it does pain me to say farewell to my daughter and grandchildren, I am worried about Tegumi. That boy might be a prodigy when it comes to fuuinjutsu, but unless the paper has a seal array on it…well let's just say I fear the state of my desk." Thinking of his apprentice's main shortcoming brought both a chuckle, and a shiver to the elderly Uzumaki. Tegumi may have been a wonderful Apprentice, but had a long way to go before he was a wonderful heir.
'Oh how I miss you my son. If only you lived to see the world become what it is now, oh little Sukoni' Ashina, like so many of his generation, carried the grief of burying a child. His son had died in the first great ninja war. He had lost so many good friends and family to those foolish wars. Ashina at times cursed the longevity gifted to him and all of Uzumaki descent, though never for long.
With his only other child, Mito, married into the Senju clan. Tegumi, his brother's grandson, was left to fill the role of clan heir. With only a fraction of the training necessary to fill the role, Ashina still performed most of the duties of clan head and leader of Uzushiogakure. Tegumi, oh kami bless his heart, put his all into the political and noble training. Yet, even after all his efforts Tegumi struggled with it all.
Shaking himself from his musings, Ashina gave a courteous bow and left the Hokage Tower. He made his way to the Senju clan district where he gathered his things and bid his daughter, grandchildren, and great grandchildren a heartfelt farewell.
With the sentimentals taken care of Ashina made his was to the front gate flanked by two personal guards. Not that they would be of much help if they were attacked by someone strong enough to be a threat to him, but appearances are important.
Waiting for them was a tall man, with long white hair, and red paint. Who turned and gave a deep bow when approached.
"Uzumaki-sama, this one is known as Jiraiya, toad sage of the sannin, student of the lord Hokage." The tall man, Jiraiya, introduced himself.
"Oh come off it boy, we are not in court, and I remember who you are! Still writing that drivel you call literature?" Ashina called back, to the younger man.
"Drivel!?!? I seem to recall a certain person reading that drivel beginning to end!"Jiraiya exclaimed in mock anger.
"Bwahahaha, it does this old man good to see you again Jiraiya. Have you been well?" Indeed Ashina remembered Jiraiya, the boy Hiruzen sent to him for training. Despite the growth spurt and the longer hair there was no mistaking Jiraiya.
XxX
Elsewhere, in a place shrouded in clouds.
"So you're telling me that old Ashina is away from home?"
"Yes, he and his guards were seen in Konoha yesterday."
"Perfect...now who here feels like crushing an island!"
XxX
Alrighty that's chapter 3. I was originally going to only focus on Uzushio but my brother said it would be better to show what was taking Ashina so long. Then one thing led to another and bam! We get a chapter's worth of old man lol. also looking over it i may have put a bit to much emphasis on Tegumi sucking at paper work... oh well we'll see if that matters in the long run or not later
Anyway, if you see any grammar mistakes please tell me I'll try and fix it.
Emerald Bandit