I stopped at the memorial stone on my way to the council meeting. Ten minutes later, I dragged Kakashi through the door, the latter shouting in protest. Raising my voice over the Copy Nin, I apologized for our lateness.
"Sorry, I knew Kakashi would be… delayed. Not wanting this meeting to be overlong, I thought I'd drag, I mean bring, Kakashi along." Half the council chuckled under their breath.
Looking around the room, I was reminded of the Five Kage Summit. Every council member sat at a long table shaped like a horseshoe. There were fifteen seats on the official council, twelve ninjas and three civilians. Hiruzen and Danzo sat inside the horseshoe, neither had a vote, they were there to witness. Each ninja clan head was backed by a clan council member. The civilians each had their spouse or child with them. Releasing Kakashi, I took my own seat.
Just as the clans were separated into upper and lower levels, as was the council. The founding clans of Konoha- the Senju, Uchiha, and Namikaze- sat in the center, directly across from the Hokage. They were in the best position to listen and be heard by the other clans. The Senju seat was empty, leaving me sitting besides Tori with a chair in between us. Sitting down at my seat, I smiled to her. She waved back, smiling before turning to talk to Tsume, who sat to her left.
I did a head count, recognizing the ninja on the council. At the north end, my far right, sat a civilian. He was followed by the empty Kurama seat. Then there was Akimichi Chouza, sitting besides Yamanaka Inoichi. Kakashi sat in between Inoichi and Hiashi, who was seated at my right. After me was the empty Senju chair before the Uchiha space, occupied by Tori. Inuzuka Tsume was at Tori's left, followed by Nara Shikaku. Sarutobi Asuma was besides Shikaku, Aburame Shibito at his left. Two civilians sat in the next two chairs, conversing with the shinobi easily.
Hiruzen called for silence and nodded at me to begin.
"Before I explain my thoughts to this council, I'm afraid that you must listen through a little back story. Today, my genin team came back from what was assigned as a C-rank mission. It turned A-rank when we encountered Momochi Zabuza, also known as the Demon of the Bloody Mist, who was hired to assassinate the man that Team Seven was guarding. Recognizing my mask as the Kiiroi Kitsune, he stopped his assault before it started. I took the time to talk to him and convince him into leaving Tazuna, the man we were hired to protect, alone. He agreed and stayed with us for the duration of the mission. I called this mission because I'd like to petition the council for Konoha citizenship for both Zabuza and his student Haku."
"Why do you feel so obligated to help a man that, as you just said, threatened your mission? Wouldn't it be better to send him back to Kiri and let their council deal with him?" Chouza asked. Kakashi shook his head.
"I'm familiar with both Zabuza's and his student's backgrounds. You are all aware of the Bloodline Purges that took place in the Hidden Mist. Zabuza was declared a missing-nin because he didn't believe in killing people because of their lineage. Haku, his student, was a victim of those purges. Her mother was of the Yuki clan, if I'm not mistaken, with the kekkai genkai ability to use ice techniques. When Haku's father learned of their abilities, he murdered Haku's mother. He would've kill Haku as well if her bloodline limit had activated and saved her even though the self-defense took her father's life. She was found by Zabuza and he took her in and trained her."
"That may answer Chouza's second question but it fails to satisfy the first. Why should we help someone who has been our enemy in the past?" Tsume said, reminding me of why I hated politics. Every word came back to haunt you.
"This man was never our enemy. The life of a missing-nin is hard, you find work where you can get it; you don't ask questions. If something goes wrong, the world looks at you with contempt and derision because you are a broken tool, as far as they care. Let me answer your question with one of my own, Tsume. If you see a dog with a broken leg, would you shut the door in it's face? Send it back to the one that hurt it?"
"The Demon of the Bloody Mist is hardly an injured dog," Tsume laughed darkly.
"Is he? Have you ever wondered where your next meal is coming from? Worried if the hunter-nin are going to find your camp? That type of anxiety is crippling and, unlike a broken bone, it doesn't always mend with time."
"You are getting off topic, Naruto," Shikaku said, leaning back in his chair. "Tsume and Chouza bring up a good point, even if they aren't the clearest delivering it. What makes you so sure that we can trust this man? He's turned on one village, what makes Konoha so different for him?" I thought about my reply, not wanting to throw Tsume a bone.
"I've lived for a year outside of Konoha's walls. Outside of protection, all rules and regulations thrown out the window. I've seen and done things that would terrify a third of this council. By all definitions, I should've been declared a missing-nin. What makes you so sure you can trust me? I've been as impartial as I can to the various nations, what makes this council think they deserve the same treatment?"
"You're a Konoha nin!" Tsume shouted. I shrugged.
"Why am I a Konoha nin? Why does the council believe I deserve to wear this Hitai-ate?" There was no reply. "What makes this council believe that I'm so different from these two ninja? More importantly, why does this council believe that they're so different from these two ninja?" I finished quietly, leaning forward so I could see everyone.
"You sound attached to the two," Shikaku noted. "Have you met them before this mission?"
"Yes," I answered truthfully. "Araiguma and I had just left Cloud when two dozen Kumo nin ambushed us, believing that we were trying to kidnap their two tailed jinchuuriki, Nii Yugito and B-sama. We fought and Araiguma was badly wounded. I knocked out the rest of their ninjas with a chakra pulse, a skill I learned while traveling, and went to heal Araiguma when I heard Haku laughing in the trees. She and Zabuza came out and we talked. After learning who I was- Kiiroi Kitsune- he offered to train me in kenjutsu. I agreed and he taught me for six weeks. We left the two in Grass."
"So you want to help an old friend?" Tori asked.
"Yes and no. Konoha has been weakening over the past few years. Don't deny it, Danzo. You've watched your precious ROOT getting killed. My request is that you allow Haku and Zabuza to join Konoha's ranks. Monitor them if you want, let them start slow to test their loyalty, but let them eventually come back. They are both highly skilled, an attribute Kakashi can vouch for."
Kakashi nodded when most of the council looked his way. Asuma lit another cigarette.
"If their so highly skilled, what makes you think they won't turn on us and cripple us more?" he said, examining one of his chakra blades in the light.
"The fact that Haku is one of the people I count as my friends and the fact that Zabuza knows my kenjutsu beats his. He won't challenge Konoha even if he remains a missing-nin, as long as I'm allied with you. Also, he wouldn't turn down a chance for Haku to have a reasonably normal life, something she's never had. Don't misinterpret me, threaten Haku and I will join him as he hunts you down."
"You seem confident threatening the council," Danzo said, narrowing his eyes. I was about to say something in reply when Aburame Shibito answered for me.
"Naruto is a twelve year old jounin, Danzo-sama. I'm inclined to believe he's strong enough to back his words. He also seems a good judge of character. If he thinks Zabuza will seek retribution, he probably will," Shino's father said in a monotone. I nodded and looked around the council.
"I'm well aware of who is opposed to this request. I'd like to bring out one more point before we vote."
"What is it now?" Hiashi sighed. I smiled, knowing that he wasn't going to go against my vote in the long run.
"As sole inheritor of the Namikaze clan, I have access to my clan's financial records. I'm not going to say names, but I will say that a number of the people of this council, and the clans they watch over, have built up substantial debts to my clan. I'd probably be inclined to lessen or forget the debts of those who keep an open mind," I said watching Tsume, Chouza, and one of the civilians fume. I noticed that Inoichi looked a little nervous but Tori shrugged, not caring about the debts of the dead. She smiled at me and nodded. I smiled in return, knowing that I had her vote. "Are we ready for a vote?"
Each member battled against their judgment until each nodded. I nodded at the civilian in the north end.
"Shrina, no," he shook his head slowly.
"Akimichi, no," Chouza said adamantly. I shrugged.
"Yamanaka, yes."
"Hatake, yes."
"Hyuuga, yes."
"Namikaze, of course."
"Uchiha, yes."
"Inuzuka… yes," Tsume growled, glaring at me.
"Nara, yes."
"Sarutobi, no."
"Aburame, yes."
"Takou, no."
"Onoi, yes."
Danzo counted up the votes and grimaced angrily before nodding to the Hokage, who smiled briefly.
"Request for Konoha citizenship for Momochi Zabuza and Yuki Haku granted by Konoha's Council of Clans. Dis-"
"Not quite, Hokage-sama," I said apologetically. The council glared at me, not wanting to spend more time in this room.
"What is it, Naruto?" he asked patiently. I smirked, recognizing the expression: relief at delaying the inevitable: paperwork.
"I'd like to announce two things to the council before we break. The first is that my identity is no longer a matter of secrecy. Tell anyone you want, the more the merrier. The second is news of my engagement. Her father and I have already decided to wait until after she is promoted to chuunin," I announced. Most of the council looked a little shocked, watching a twelve year old jounin say he's engaged.
"Who are you marrying and when can I tell her congratulations?" Tori asked, the first to recover. Hiashi, much to my relief, took pity.
"He's marrying my eldest daughter, Hyuuga Hinata. Have you told her yet, Naruto?" he asked, turning to me.
"Did I mention I've been in Wave for the past two weeks? And that I just got back today? And then had to come here?" I asked, the questions somewhat rhetorical and somewhat sarcastic.
"So? I want to congratulate her!" Tori shouted. I winced before remembering that she didn't get to have her white wedding, her children's father acting as my spy. "Ooh, do you think she'll let me help plan her wedding?" she went on. After a while I began to tone her out.
"Hey, Tori? Where are Fugaku and Tera?" I asked, noticing the lack of twins. Tori nodded, her eyes lighting up.
"They're with Hinata! Let's go! You need to propose!" she shouted, dragging me by the wrist. I briefly wondered if all kunoichi suffered from dual personalities.