Hello there Everyone!
Here's to a new chapter!
(Suikari Resort: Corridors)
Naruto walked towards the meeting place as Ginko and Kuro appeared behind him.
Kagebo's summons would be waiting outside the room, and he had the authority to order the killing of Terumi Mei and her entourage if the situation so demanded. Jiji had made it clear that this leak in the Gato case needed to be plugged immediately.
The fact that he had to spend more money to keep things calm in the Wave wasn't doing him any favors either. For a country so poor, the quantum of bribery was very high.
...
(Upper Dining area)
Mei played with her drink as she saw the young boy take a seat in front of her.
Seriously?
This kid!?
It was this kid that had Zabuza on the tenterhooks? He wasn't even old enough to have a stubble.
…but appearances could be deceiving. She knew that much from having faced Yagura – he looked like a skinny dwarf on first glance…but was powerful enough to level entire villages by himself.
"A pleasure to meet an illustrious young man like yourself," she spoke in the most honeyed voice she had developed in her 'side-vocation', she unfurled her scarf slightly and let it slide gently off her shoulders, "I hope this meeting turns out well…"
She could see his emotionless façade melt away slightly as his roving eye lightly fixed on her cleavage.
…she would win this one quite easily it seemed.
…
Naruto pinched himself slightly on the leg to pull his focus back onto the important stuff, his mind had been haywire since that stupid kiss.
…but he had to admit it, whoever created Terumi Mei certainly knew their stuff. The woman was like a copy of his 'Sexy Technique' in real life, if only slightly better, it was like…
…and just like that his heart rate calmed down, his focus sharpened and he felt more in control of his actions.
His trick was working, he wouldn't let himself succumb to the Kunoichi Arts…
Believe It!
…
Mei looked on as the boy's pupils dilated and he seemed to focus back on her face, it was as if the hormonal teenager that had appeared for the briefest of moments was a mere figment of her imagination.
"I wish the same Terumi-san," the boy spoke, "Quite a bit of unnecessary trouble has already been caused by your comrade's actions."
"…Indeed," Terumi narrowed her eyes slightly, this wasn't going as easy as she had figured a few moments ago, "If you must know, I have suitably admonished him and explained the consequences of his actions-"
"-I lost," the boy banged his cup on the table, "1.1 million Ryou in paying back his stupid bribe, and another 7 million across the board to calm down everything after the file on that shrimp disappeared from the Police's office. That is without counting the concessions, favors and threats I had to hand out to the now 'independent and free' media snooping around in the suburbs of Wave to get a whiff of what was going on."
"…I see," Mei spoke, internally berating herself on underestimating the possibly damaging outcomes of Zabuza's actions. She had come prepared to sign a deal with the 4 million Zabuza had set aside for this, and try to get a hard bargain on that if possible.
"I want," the boy took a deep breath, "10 million for this stupid fiasco. Zabuza's actions have caused enough damage as it is."
…but it wasn't going to be enough.
…
Naruto took a deep breath as he pulled figures out of the air and acted as pissed as he could – like when Kiba had spilled his ramen.
The entire operation had been done in little over 5 million, but in order to drive a hard bargain he needed to make the other side bleed first.
Afterall that was what Jiji taught him.
…
Mei narrowed her eyes slightly at the brief display of anger on the boy's part.
"Surely the costs of something like that in the Wave couldn't be that expensive," she reasoned, her voice perfectly calm, "It is a small county afterall, and does not even have its own shinobi to defend itself."
"Indeed," the boy spoke as he picked up his cup and took a sip of tea, "But did you figure just why that country is like that?"
"…It is a small and weak Nation," Mei spoke, "Not just that even-"
"-It's located just in the middle of the Jakku strait," the boy spoke, "The entire trade of the western continent done through the sea has to go either through Genkai or Nanashibari – the very reason Gato was able to increase his wealth so quickly by gaining exclusive port rights. The nobility was rolling in his money since years…and it was not cheap to get them to shut up."
Mei bit the inside of her cheek at the retort, she had been aware about Wave's strategic location, but had hoped that it could be ridden over by its poverty.
"I would say you are being very unreasonable Uzumaki-san," she spoke with an edge to her voice, "10 million is far too much for something like this."
"Look," the boy spoke, for the first time sighing as he looked at the food, "I'll be a bit honest with you - I answer to higher powers…and they are pretty pissed with me already for letting Zabuza get away in the Wave Mission. If this deal goes anything under 10 million, then I'm afraid that it will mean war between our factions."
"Letting Zabuza go?" Mei raised an eyebrow at the boy's audacious statement. Sure Zabuza wasn't that great at politics, but he was the previous head of the Kiri-hunter unit and one of the Seven swordsmen of the Mist. He was known for killing his entire graduation class when he was even younger than this kid.
Did this boy seriously think he could have taken down someone like that?
Mei silently began to flare her chakra and radiate a bit of Killer Intent in an effort to drive home her point. She was about to cut into the kid's statement before she felt a twinge of malicious chakra invade the room.
…
"Letting Zabuza go?"
Naruto knew very well that he would have to put the best foot forward whenever he faced Terumi in this meeting.
In shinobi terms it meant a show of strength, and Naruto was aware that in terms of strength alone he would come off as weak. He would need years of training before he could face a woman who was challenging one of the Five Great Kage. He accepted that fact as a simple dose of reality.
…but that didn't mean that he didn't have a trick up his sleeve – the tenant that had been shoved inside his stomach had to useful somehow.
The chakra of the Nine-tails was tricky to handle. Jiji had explained the basics of the seal to him a few times - as to how the seal would draw from his chakra to keep the beast at bay, as to how it allowed the chakra of the fox to slowly seep into his body to bolster his own reserves and thus set-off the drain the seal would put on him. Naruto had even seen it in action on the rare occasion he wandered into his mindscape with Fuu-sensei or Jiji – he could feel his chakra move through the bars of the cage, and down in the water he could see slivers of red coming outside and disappearing into the flow. He had tried to draw on the red slivers and gotten a strange feeling around his stomach, but that was it.
In order to use the chakra of the nine-tails in a fight, it would require him to loosen the seal slightly by pulling on greater amounts of the Fox's chakra – something that could happen even unconsciously in a fight if he was emotionally charged. Jiji had forbidden him from trying to use it actively until his body had been strengthened enough to handle the strain, after which he would be taught just as his mom had been. Until then he was to just familiarize himself with the workings of the seal and the 'feeling' of the chakra of the fox. Drawing too much on the chakra that seeped out was forbidden as well, as it would offset the delicate balance attuned by the seal – his own chakra would be continuously eaten up by the seal, and without the chakra of the beast to compensate for the loss he could wind up with a bad case of chakra exhaustion.
Worst case scenario – the seal would weaken as a result of this, and while it wouldn't be enough for the Fox to break free all that excess demonic chakra that would be pumped into his body as a result would cause a lot of damage. His mother's reports indicated that the 'chakra cloak' created as a result of drawing on that power prematurely would burn off his skin entirely, his coils wouldn't be able to function for many days, he could lose a measure of his motor skills for some time with temporary neuron damage and the resulting exhaustion would have him strapped to a bed for weeks. All that was without mentioning the more permanent damage it would do to the seal everytime that happened.
…definitely something that he did not want. So Naruto just stuck to the rules and trained as he was told to. Jiji said he would be taught to use it eventually anyways – he just had to wait.
But for this meeting, Naruto planned something for a show. It was nothing risky enough to upset the seal, and yet could be used to a great advantage as a show of strength. Sure, it would mean revealing his status as a Jinchuriki to a foreigner; but given how much of an open secret it was in the village anyways people around the world were bound to know about it sooner or later.
Since the past few hours Naruto had kept getting a 'feel' of the demonic chakra while slowly setting apart a small portion of it to be used in a small burst.
It was by no means enough for a fight, at best it would last for half a second.
…but from the reaction he got, the brief display had served its purpose.
Afterall, this area had been chosen as a meeting place because of its isolation – this dining area was isolated enough from the rest of the resort that brief chakra flares wouldn't draw any attention.
…
Mei felt her insides freeze up for the briefest of moments as the boy started leaking chakra that was clearly not human. Her first instinct had been to pump chakra irregularly through her tenketsu to dissipate the Genjutsu – but her instinct told it that it clearly wasn't an illusion.
"Chojuro," she spoke as she lightly tucked at her bodyguard's sleeve, he had sprung into action with his sword the moment Uzumaki had 'let loose.' His drastic action however was stopped immediately by a black-haired woman who matched him equally with her blade and held him off. Their other escorts in the meanwhile stayed behind their respective superiors, weapons on the ready.
Discreetly, she heard a ruffling outside the window – as if a bird flew away.
"Chojuro," she spoke with authority, "Stand Down."
Chojuro reluctantly allowed his grip on the sword to loosen and moved back behind his position, out of the corner of her vision she could see Haku giving him a tap on the shoulder to straighten up.
Soon enough the boy's escorts too melded back into the shadows.
This boy…was like Yagura.
A Jinchuriki – a monster of nearly limitless power.
No wonder he was playing at International Politics at his age…or that he had Jounin-level underlings.
…her bargaining position just got worse. One more shadowy enemy could be handled, another monster could not.
…
Haku observed the meeting from the shadows as his leader and Naruto Uzumaki hammered over the details of payout for Zabuza-sama's actions.
Indeed, Naruto Uzumaki was a special individual. From Terumi-sama's words it had been clear to Haku that Zabuza-sama had messed up pretty badly this time.
But the payout sought by Naruto Uzumaki was ludicrous – mostly because it was something they could loathe to afford.
Ever since their arrival in room, Haku had expected the negotiations to proceed smoothly – they would return the amount of bribe-money Naruto Uzumaki and sent back. At the most they could give a little concession and give upto 3 million over the bribe – but that was it.
The resistance could not afford to lose anymore money – paying the money Uzumaki Naruto demanded now would set them back by months.
"…I believe some things could be better discussed in privacy," Terumi-sama spoke, her voice taut with tension after the malicious chakra swirled in the room, "Could we continue this discussion privately Uzumaki-san?"
"I believe that this location is private enough," the blonde spoke nonchalantly, "But if you insist then I believe we could relieve one each of our escorts. If not then we shall have to put and end to this meeting."
"Chojuro," Terumi-sama motioned as Haku saw his partner for this mission reluctantly leave the room. Across the table Naruto Uzumaki raised his left hand and a hulking figure escaped the room through the window.
"Is this private enough?" Naruto asked as Terumi-sama nodded.
"I shall make you an offer then Uzumaki-san," Terumi-sama spoke, her voice a mere whisper compared to her earlier wordings, "We shall pay you 3 million to cover your monetary loss at present, the remaining amount shall be paid to you over a period of 24 months not counting the interest."
"…and why must I take such an offer?" Naruto raised his eyebrows, "You offer no guarantee or surety to ensure repayment. The interest alone on this is worth enough to buy entire estates."
"…one S-Rank mission," Terumi-sama spoke, her voice flat as she returned to her persona of a leader, "In return for you approving this arrangement I shall offer you an unconditional S-Rank mission to be accomplished by my Shinobi."
…
'This is it,' A voice inside Naruto spoke as he looked at the woman across the table.
If he took up Terumi Mei's offer then he would get more than the required money back, and additionally get something he was sure Jiji would appreciate. Now it was to him to drive a harder bargain and get a bigger piece of the pie.
This was it!
…was it really?
Another round of calmness hit Naruto and his mind became clearer.
He had already made the other side bleed, there was no reason to make it worse.
Afterall it went against his training, by going ahead and making Terumi Mei bend even more he would only create more chaos in the system and possibly gain a new enemy for the village – not something he was taught to do.
"I vow not to thrust any duty below the dignity of a shinobi," Naruto spoke, he sipped on a bit of tea to satiate his dry throat and spoke again, "How about you answer some of my questions and we come up with something that helps us both?"
Naruto noted a brief look of confusion on Terumi Mei's face before it was wiped off with practiced ease. Her shoulders stiffened and she raised her head.
"What do you want to know?" She asked.
"The boy that left," Naruto pointed to the door, "Is he the one of the Seven Swordsmen that supports you?"
"…Yes," Terumi-san spoke after a short pause.
This was better, he was getting the information he needed.
"I presume that Zabuza is with you as well," Naruto spoke as he gestured to Haku, "That gives you the support of two of the Seven Swordsmen, is that true?"
"It is true," Terumi-san spoke, Naruto could feel her chakra flow receding slightly - an indication that she was getting relaxed.
After the other side had been bled, he needed to make them feel secure enough to make his risky proposals.
"Do you therefore have a clear majority in terms of the number of swordsmen supporting you?" Naruto asked.
"…I do," Mei spoke, Naruto could see her eyes narrow as he contemplated his next question.
"Why did Zabuza want to declare Gato dead?" Naruto asked, completely changing the topic.
"…because he is an idiot," Terumi-san spoke, Naruto could feel her hesitating before she continued, "He was attempting to curry a favor with a local lord for our cause, but failed to take note of the risk it put everyone in."
"I see," Naruto spoke as he took a small pause and played a bit with his soup, it was exactly as Jiji had written in his note.
Having a simple majority in the Seven Swordsmen didn't mean that Terumi Mei could declare herself as the Godaime and usurp Yagura's reign.
It wasn't that easy.
For starters, Jiji had stated that Zabuza's failed coup meant that the Mizukage was legally entitled to put him in the Bingo Book, the Hunter-Nin of the Mist would attack him despite his status as one of the Seven Swordsmen – which would prevent him from casting his vote.
Secondly, Jiji had stated that the institution of the Seven Swordsmen was known by the blades they wielded. In its initial years, the Shodaime Mizukage had ordered 7 custom-made blades from the Artisan Village for his soldiers – the Seven Swordsmen. Having one of these 7 blades gave the Swordsmen their legitimacy – something this 'Chojuro' seemed to lack. He had been inducted as a member of the Seven, but did not possess one of the weapons which were so closely associated with the institution. So even this was a bit iffy.
In this event, what Terumi Mei needed to execute an immediate coup was the support of the nobility in Water Country, that could tilt the scales in her favor and she could lay claim to the Seat of the Godaime Mizukage without spilling a drop of blood.
'This was probably what motivated Zabuza,' Naruto thought as he took a small bite of the sushi roll, 'He probably tried to gain favor of someone influential by helping him/her take over some of Gato's assets in Water Country. His confidence was bolstered by the fact that he knew that Gato was not coming back.'
For getting the support of the nobility, Terumi-san would either have to buy it with copious amounts of money, earn it by doing them favors or blackmail them ruthlessly to go against the Mizukage.
The first option was out of the window, given the fact that she couldn't even fork over 10 million right now it was unlikely that she would have the kind of money to buy the support she required. The other 2 possibilities were good, but highly risky given the fact that executing favors for the nobility would require her to put her fighters out in the open, and that in the event of blackmailing, the Nobility could fall back on the Mizukage – who would gain even more moral ground to put them down. Additionally, even getting enough information to blackmail them was not going to be easy.
The only other option that was left would be to grovel, something that would make her a mere puppet of the nobility even if she usurped Yagura's reign. Something that every faction in the hidden mist would oppose tooth and nail.
That was exactly where Naruto needed to hit.
"Are you open to a proposal?" Naruto asked as he looked up at Terumi-san.
"It depends on the terms you are willing to offer," Terumi-san spoke.
"…I will get you the support you require to challenge Yagura's reign," Naruto spoke, he took a folder and pushed it in front of Terumi-san, "But in return you will pay me 3 million Ryou for now and the Godaime Mizukage has to make this decree final; in addition to the promised S-Rank ofcourse."
Terumi-san raised an eyebrow as she took the folder and opened it.
…
"…make this decree final," Naruto Uzumaki spoke as he pushed a single sheet of paper in front of her.
Curious as to what the young boy desired Mei picked it up and read it over, the paper stipulated 4 simple conditions, but Mei was not sure as to whether she could agree.
1. The Hidden Mist shall forsake any and all assassination missions within Fire Country.
The Hidden Mist was known for many things, but Kiri-nin specialized in Assassination above all else. Such assignments provided the village with a major chunk of their income, and Mei was unsure as to whether she could concede to such a demand and give up all the assignments in the prosperous Land of Fire. She drummed her fingers on the table as she thought.
'At the worst,' Mei thought, 'I'd be a slightly poorer Mizukage. We still have all the other countries, and with the Civil War gone trade will increase. I won't lose any of my comrades here or within the village.'
She could agree with this, the Kiri-nin would find other sources of revenue.
2. Gato and his affairs shall not be interfered with in any manner by you or anyone associated with you or the Hidden Mist.
She didn't need to be told twice.
3. The Godaime Mizukage shall provide reparations to the Hidden Leaf for the damage done by Zabuza Momochi to the Chunin Team in Wave Country.
That could be done…the boy was surprisingly insightful.
4. The claims of the Hidden Mist on the ruins of Uzushiogakure shall be formally dropped.
It wasn't like there was anything they could get from those jagged rocks anyways, anything of value had already been taken away decades ago. The location itself could be said to be strategic given that it was closer to fire country, but the treacherous waters and inhospitable terrain made it increasingly difficult for patrol units to reach the location. It had been informally abandoned by the since years by the Hidden Mist, and reducing the understanding to paper was plausible.
5. The Godaime Mizukage will, after his/her reign is stabilized, initiate a process to form a military alliance with the Hidden Leaf.
…that was a real surprise. The boy negotiated like the Devil, but did he really desire an alliance or expect a groveling Mist to kneel at his feet?
"…I have no desire for any formality or powerplay with the last condition," the boy spoke as of reading her mind, "I want our villages to form an actual alliance, something that benefits both the powers and reduces bloodshed."
Mei raised an eyebrow at his statement, did he really expect her to believe him?
….it wouldn't really matter anyways, once she was the Mizukage herself she could see what was to be done.
She had to negotiate what was important first.
"Zabuza's skirmish with those Chunin," she spoke, "I'll approve the reparations if the Leaf does not put a bounty on his head over that."
"It can be arranged," the boy spoke, "I'll have the matter kept in abeyance until you can make formal arrangements with the Hokage. I will make necessary arrangements so that there won't be a bounty on Zabuza's head for now."
"Then I find your proposal acceptable," Mei spoke, inwardly she allowed herself a little smile. While she had lost some of the money, the need for keeping cash reserves would greatly diminish if Naruto Uzumaki could provide her the support she required to overthrow Yagura's reign.
She would just have to trust her shinobi to pull through on whatever the boy would make them do.
"Good," the boy spoke as he rose from his seat, "Give me 4 months to finalize everything, messages will be relayed through Zabuza's contact directly to Isekai."
"Acceptable," Mei rose from her seat as well, "Then we shall take your leave."
The boy bowed slightly and she mimicked his actions, the negotiations were over.
Just before leaving, she saw Haku stop for a moment to talk with the boy.
...
"You proposed an alliance," Haku spoke as he looked at Naruto Uzumaki, "What made you propose that?"
Naruto looked him in the eye for a moment before he put a hand inside his pocket, Haku momentarily tensed expecting him to draw a weapon but was surprised to see a book instead. Wordlessly it was handed over to him.
"I've been reading this since sometime," Naruto Uzumaki spoke, "It's a long shot, but I'd like to see the world described in this book. An alliance could perhaps be a step in that direction."
Haku inspected the book for traps, confirming there were none he read the title before he went back to Terumi-sama's room.
'Tales of a Gutsy Ninja,' Haku thought, 'What an odd name for a book.'
...
Naruto walked back to his room, once outside he gestured to Ginko to deactivate Kagebo's hit squad on Terumi.
The alliance bit was his own, but he was sure that Jiji wouldn't really mind it.
Reading the book was a novel experience, the roadside seller had sold him an entire bunch of copies for next to nothing - and the only reason Naruto bought the book at Genkai was because his name matched that of the protagonist.
The language was easy, and Naruto had been hooked after reading the first 3 chapters. It was the tale of a young boy in a fictional world who wanted to be a ninja. He wasn't really talented or as intelligent as the other people out there, but he had a will of iron and never gave up.
That was something which did catch Naruto's attention, he had read the book and it had been a novel experience, Naruto was able to actually relate to the hero of the book - but there was one major difference.
Just like him, the Naruto in the book was looked down upon by everyone, but he would still keep working his hardest to prove them wrong. Eventually he would become strong on his own, finding his strength through the endless hardwork he put in.
But unlike the book, Naruto here had the supervision and help of Danzo Jiji.
Overall, Naruto liked the world the hero saw in his old age - a world where the ninja of the 3 villages of the Grandino continent lived in mutual peace - that was actually something he felt actually resonated with him.
A world of peace, Jiji taught him that it was nearly impossible in this world - where old grudges ran deep and blood feuds were sworn on children before they were even born.
But maybe, if he became strong and gained enough political support to back him up them perhaps he could form some kind of alliance - even if it was in the distant future. The present deal with Terumi Mei would go a long way in ensuring that skirmishes between their villages reduced.
With one single signature, the Godaime Mizukage would save hundreds of lives - of both the Hidden Mist and the Hidden Leaf.
It would be good to have that kind of power someday.
...
Naruto sighed as he boarded the ferry back to Fire Country, the negotiations had proceeded smoothly once he had acted as per Jiji's instructions.
That old man was quite the genius, figuring out stuff when he had never met Zabuza of Terumi Mei in person - but Jiji's note included every instruction and narrated every scenario he could face in almost eerie detail.
What he had to ask for, how much the other side would be willing to give and what he was allowed to do in order to ensure the mission was a success.
Pulling the trick with Kyuubi's chakra was going to get him a nice scolding though, it was listed as 'permissible' in the note but he knew that it was supposed to be a last resort and not part of the original plan.
Alone on the deck he took a deep breath and looked at the open sea, now he had to focus on 2 things - getting Gato's house in order and somehow using the resources he had to secure support for Terumi Mei within water country.
Naruto groaned at the sheer enormity of the tasks before him.
He hoped that his team got a few easy D-ranks for the next few weeks, Jiji did not like delays.
...
Naruto trotted along to the bridge that had unofficially become the meeting place of team 7. He had made it back to fire country yesterday evening and was forced to run back to the village at a breackneck pace as his 'official' mission with farming was supposed to end.
Once inside, he was forced to stand for over an hour before Jiji looked up from his table and told him to report. The debriefing had lasted for 2 whole hours, and in the dead of the night he had hoped to sleep it off and turn up for today's meeting even more late than Kakashi sensei.
'Ginko shall see to your training tomorrow morning,' - those words had then shattered his dreams. He left a clone at night who had literally pushed him down the stairs in an effort to awaken him.
Worse of all, Ginko-sensei did not pull his punches at all.
At the bridge he saw the form of his other teammates, Sasuke was as usual sulking around a corner and Sakura was trying her best to engage him in some kind of conversation. He would have greeted them but tired as he was he sat on the ground, leaned against a pole and dozed off.
As far as Naruto was concerned, Kakashi-sensei could take his time today. For the first time since the formation of team 7, Naruto wished for his teacher to be late.
...
Sasuke was trying his best to ignore his pink-haired teammate as he saw his other teammate arrive at the meeting spot.
He sincerely hoped that the dobe would try and talk to the girl...and therefore take some heat off him. But unfortunately that scenario never came true. Instead of trying to talk to the pink-haired girl the idiot opted to doze off the moment he got near them.
For the first time in his life, Sasuke felt jealous of the dobe.
...
Kakashi arrived on the scene, three hours late from the designated time.
In the meanwhile, Naruto had awoken from his extended nap and washed his face in the nearby stream.
He never thought that he would find this habit of his teacher so endearing.
"Alright," he turned as Kakashi called out to them, "We'll get a simple mission for the morning and then do a few exercises. Let's get going."
'I hope we don't have to catch Tora again,' Naruto thought as they walked to the Hokage Tower, 'Now that I think about it, the Daimyo's wife comes by a bit too much if that mission's listed twice a month.'
Something was weird about that for sure.
The day went well, they cleaned a park - without clones ofcourse, and ten Kakashi made them do a few team-building exercises and they were free by lunch.
Naruto, for once, decided not to immediately head home. He was already being bombarded constantly with the memories of clones who were working on all the documents they had seized from Gato. They were already running a few days behind schedule thanks to Zabuza's misadventure, but Naruto needed a little time to cool off.
He created a single shadow clone and dispersed it, the command to cease working for a few hours was thus conveyed to all the other clones.
Naruto then took to the rooftops and tried to find a quiet place to relax and meditate a bit. He needed to arrange the plethora of memories floating around in his brain, so some peace and quiet would be appreciated.
Absentmindedly he worked his way towards the outer parts of the Village, he remembered an area where he often used to hide a few years ago and changed his course. Once there he climbed onto the thickest branch he could find and delved into his mind.
...
Naruto continued to meditate for sometime before he felt another presence enter the vicinity, he opened his eyes and quietly eyed the newcomer.
What was Shino doing here?
Chucking stealth, Naruto went ahead with his usual loud approach - afterall he was just meeting someone from his old class.
"Heya Shino!" He proclaimed his presence loudly, "What'cha doing!?"
"Naruto-san," Shino spoke as he turned, "I was looking for insect species, however a sample just evaded my attention."
"Oh," Now he was feeling bad about shouting, "Sorry about that."
"Not a cause to worry," Shino spoke, "The insects in this area are fairly common, it would only take some time for me to capture another set."
"Alright," Naruto let out a breath he had been holding, "You searching for them for any cool technique?"
"Not particularly," Shino spoke adjusting his glasses, "I require newer samples in order to prevent excessive interbreeding within my own hive."
"Uh-huh," Naruto spoke scratching his head, thankfully he had read enough to know what interbreeding meant, "But aren't your insects like...special? Is it okay to get regular insects for 'em?"
"They are," Shino spoke, "They are the pride of the Aburame clan, however each of us is charged with out own hive. Considering the lifespan of each individual member and the resultant interbreeding, it is advisable to inculcate a few outsiders from time to time."
"Oh," Naruto spoke, thankfully Jiji's training meant he actually understood what Shino was saying, "You go out looking for 'em too? Like out of the Village and stuff?"
"Sometimes," Shino spoke, "However such moments are rare. They would be present more often once I exceed in rank."
"Hmmm," Naruto rubbed his chin, he still felt a bit guilty about scaring away the insects Shino was looking for, "You know I got a few from out last mission. Think they could help you out?"
"You do?" Shino asked, "From where?"
"My team went to Wave Country," Naruto spoke, "Some of them were in my bag and I kept them in a jar cause they looked kinda shiny."
"They could be useful," Shino spoke, "But I would have to study the specimens first before arriving at any conclusion."
"Alright, does tomorrow around this time work for you?" Naruto asked, "I'll be here with 'em."
"I do not have any prior appointments," Shino spoke, "If it is of convenience to you as well, we shall meet tomorrow evening at this location."
"Sure pal," Naruto spoke and jumped up to a branch, "See ya!"
It felt nice to run into someone he knew, Shino wasn't one to pick on him in class and even helped him in group activities when Iruka-sensei said.
In the least, he was better company than his own team.
...
"Man, I'm full," Naruto thought aloud as he patted his belly after dinner, his current schedule was driving him nuts and the pleasant taste of Miso he got in Genkai on the way back was a small consolation for going through the grind.
He looked over at the kitchen as the clones cleaned up, there were a few leftovers.
Idly he made a clone to pack up the leftovers and asked the clone to give them to someone in need.
He wasn't in the least thinking of Kagome, but the clone took the food there nonetheless.
...
The next day was a mundane one for Naruto, he got up, trained, left clones to do more paperwork and then set off to nap with his team until Kakashi-sensei decided to show up.
After lunch though he went back to his house and got the jar, he gave it to Shino as promised and raced back for his evening training.
...
Shino eyed the jar Naruto Uzumaki had given him with great curiosity as he opened the lid and let a sample specimen crawl onto his left palm.
He had never seen this species before, perhaps it was endemic to Wave Country?
The insect stayed on his palm for a few moments before flying off. Shino promptly caught it in a gentle grip and put it back inside the jar.
He needed to study this species before he could inculcate themselves in his hive.
...
The next two weeks passed like a blur for Naruto, between having splitting headaches from the information overload to his poor brain, he had to deal with his relentless teammates-cum-teachers under Jiji who were pushing him in training.
Thank god Kakashi-sensei was late on most days, or he would have gone mad from lack of sleep.
But thankfully his mission of compiling everything was proceeding well. Akemi had been working Kuroki-clan's law firm to the ground, and after today it would be them who would be having sleepless nights.
His work of arranging everything and getting an overview was over, he was going to slow down a little and let his team work out the modalities now.
Now to report to Jiji.
...
"...so we have an index of everything we got from Gato's estate," Naruto spoke, "We are yet to open the artifacts scroll, but that's a much simpler task compared to the formal arrangement of Gato's business."
(Silence)
"...you may have been wondering why I am pushing you this hard in the past few weeks." Jiji finally spoke after what seemed to be an eternity.
"Yeah, kinda," Naruto knew better than to lie, "I mean sure you said it was going to be tough when we started, and I was ready to work hard. But things have been kinda too much lately...I mean I don't mind working hard but-"
"-I understand," Jiji spoke as he raised his hand, a signal that Naruto must stop talking, "However, there is a reason even to madness. Do you know why I am consistently pushing you this hard?"
"...maybe cause I need it?" Naruto spoke, for once unsure, "I mean I know I'm not smart like Sakura, I'm not prodigious like Sasuke or Kakashi-sensei or have any clan-techniques like other people. So if I have to beat these people I have to work twice as hard as they do."
"Your reasoning is not incorrect," Danzo spoke, "But it is only a small part of why I push you so much, you have your own talents to match those you speak of and can very well match up against them in other ways. Anything else you can think of?"
"...I got nothing," Naruto sighed, "Maybe I got you mad?"
(Silence)
"Sit," Jiji spoke as he gestured the boy to the chair in front of him, for the first time since his induction Naruto was given the permission to sit in the office.
Jiji pulled out 2 saucers and a jug from his drawer, he put the saucers on the table and filled them with what seemed to be Sake.
Silently, Naruto accepted the gesture and picked up the saucer, he wasn't a newbie to alcohol now but knew that a setup like this meant something big.
Both drank a small sip, and then Jiji started talking.
"When I inducted you," Jiji spoke, "You were meant to be a soldier, someone who would serve the village to the maximum of his ability. I trained you the best I could, and the results were becoming apparent - you showed signs of being an excellent soldier in the making."
There was a small pause as they took another sip.
"But in the mission in Wave Country," Jiji spoke, "Your actions reflected that the simple training programme you were put through enriched you in ways I had not imagined. You led the mission, the subsequent takeover of Gato's business and the negotiations with Terumi Mei in an admirable manner. I would never have expected such an impressive performance even from veteran Jounins. You performed exceptionally well."
Naruto took another sip from the saucer, the burning sensation of alcohol temporarily numbed from the praise he was getting.
"...It showed that you possessed the qualities of a leader, someone who can rally his troops and achieve victory even in the most adverse circumstances. Someone who could be worthy enough to one day lead this village to the pinnacle of its glory."
Naruto nearly choked on the next sip, praise from Jiji was rare on any given day.
Was he in a dream?
"...and it also made me realize that I could finally contemplate my own retirement."
Wait...WHAT!?
"As you know," Danzo spoke, "Age makes people weaker, and in my case I have already pushed this old body far beyond its capacity. I have since been longing for someone with young blood in his or her veins to take over these duties so that I could embrace my imminent death in peace-"
"-YOU'RE NOT GONNA DIE!" Naruto roared as he jumped from his seat, his chakra flared violently as he clenched his fists. Anyone who wanted to get to Jiji would have to do so over his corpse!
"-and how would you ensure that?" Jiji spoke, his voice just as calm as before, "You may become the strongest shinobi on the continent, have the best doctors and medics work around the clock but still death will be imminent. It can come in any form at any time, and as humans we are powerless to stop it."
Naruto just sat down, completely floored by how easily Jiji said he was going to die one day.
...if that happened, Naruto didn't know what he would do.
"But we still have the power to live after death," Jiji spoke, "And the power to live even after death, is through the teachings you leave for your successors- your way of shinobi. Your mother was someone who I once thought would take my teachings to the next generation, but her unfortunate death left me with little choice but to continue holding on to everything by myself."
What?
"With you however," Jiji spoke, "I once again see potential, the potential of which I spoke of is one of the reasons you are being pushed so hard. Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze, I want to make you my apprentice and teach you everything I know. After my death you shall be the commander of ROOT, and I shall leave no stone unturned to see to it that you become the Hokage after that."
Naruto felt his body go numb.
For years, he had been criticized, picked on, called out, discriminated against and always told that he was doing something wrong. Despite working his hardest he barely passed classes in the academy, and was always told that he would never be better than his peers.
...but to believe that Jiji saw something like this in him, it was overwhelming.
"I-" Naruto wanted to speak, but his throat felt dry.
But wait a sec - NAMIKAZE!?
...
Danzo watched with pleasure at the boy's shell shocked reaction upon being told of his positives, and the role Danzo expected him to play in the future.
In the short time he had known the boy, there were 2 things that the boy appreciated above all else - honesty and acknowledgement.
So that was exactly what Danzo would give him.
"NAMIKAZE!?"
The reaction was a bit delayed than he had predicted, but perhaps the alcohol was dulling the boy's senses.
"Yes," Danzo spoke, "I believe it is time you knew of your father as well."
The boy's face was a convulsion of confusion, excitement, anger and curiosity.
Danzo could not have asked for a better audience.
...
"Minato Namikaze," Jiji spoke, "Better known as the Yellow Flash of the Leaf as per his Bingo book entry, or the Fourth Hokage as per the title conferred upon him by the villagers - he was the man that married your mother..."
Naruto felt all his senses go numb as words continued to flow from Jiji's lips, but he was in no state to listen or process anything that was being said.
The man responsible for stuffing the stupid fox in his gut and leaving him an orphan on the day he was born...was his own father?
Naruto didn't know what to feel, he was confused as dark thoughts continued to swirl inside his head.
"Naruto," a firm hand placed on his shoulder brought him out of the stream of thought his mind had concocted, "Let us go up, it seems as though you could use some fresh air."
Naruto silently followed Jiji up to his house and on the veranda facing the pond.
"It must be hard for you to accept," Jiji spoke, "The fact that the man who sealed the beast inside your belly, who sentenced to to this life...is your father."
"...did you know him?" Naruto asked after sometime.
"Not on a personal level," Jiji spoke, "But I knew of him as a soldier in his younger years, as a commander in his youth and to a limited extent as your mother's partner. My interaction with him was rather limited, but I knew of him to be an exceptionally talented Shinobi and someone your mother chose as her partner. If it soothes you to know, she loved him and said that he was happy with the news of your birth."
"So...he loved me?" Naruto finally managed to speak.
"I would believe so," Jiji spoke, "Deciding to have a child was a major decision. From the last time I spoke to Kushina, I know that they wished to welcome you to this world as your parents."
Naruto remained silent, he absorbed Jiji's words and tried to process the information that had just been revealed to him.
The fourth Hokage, the Hero that saved the village from the nine tailed fox, the one that sentenced him to this cursed existence as the Fox's jail - was the person he would have called father had the Fox never broken free.
Honestly, he felt like punching the guy in the gut. Couldn't someone capable of wiping out entire squadrons of shinobi in a few seconds figure out a better way to deal with the Fox than seal it in his own son?
Naruto continued to remain silent as Surume-sensei emerged from the darkness and refilled their saucers. He took small sips and continued to try and tried to use his training to process the informational overload that was screwing up his brain.
'Take deep breaths,' he mentally commanded himself, 'focus on the natural rhythm of the breath. Classify your thoughts and emotions, refocus on the breath and let everything go.'
After what seemed like an eternity he put down his saucer.
"I will leave you to your thoughts," Jiji spoke as he walked back to the base, "You are excused from morning training tomorrow. Seek Fuu's assistance if you find it too overwhelming, and if required you are free to contact me as well."
"Goodnight Jiji," Naruto spoke absentmindedly, as the greeting was returned Naruto turned to see that the old man had already vanished.
He turned up and looked at the moonlit sky.
What kind of a life would he have lived had the Fox never broken free? Would he be in the loving care of his parents? Would people worship him as the son of the Fourth Hokage? Would everyone at the academy swoon on him instead of Sasuke? Would...
Naruto shook his head as his training kicked in, he took in a few deep breaths and eyed his forehead protector.
No matter what, he would have still been a Leaf Shinobi.
'What has happened cannot be changed,' Naruto thought as he looked at his reflection in the metal, 'I don't know what kind of a life I would have had, but staying in an imaginary world isn't going to help.'
What he could do was get closure on knowing who his parents were, and the fact that they loved him and desired to raise him as their son.
What he could do, was honor their legacy in protecting the village.
What he could do, was live in the present and train the hardest he could. He was going to be stronger than both his parents, he was going to train under Jiji and lead the village into a future wherein none would be cursed to the fate he had been.
He was Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze, and he was going to leave his mark on the world as one of the best Hokage.
Now comfortable, and slightly tipsy thanks to the Sake he drunk Naruto made his way upstairs and collapsed onto his bed.
But one thought continued to swirl in his mind before he let slumber consume him.
Did Kakashi-sensei know?
...
(Next Day)
"I will train you until until you are bleeding from head to toe," Danzo spoke as he eyed his would-be charge, "You will be made to work until you pass out, you shall read until your eyes hurt and obey my word without question. Tell me Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze, are you ready for this?"
The boy stayed silent for a bit before he took a deep breath, the saucer on his table was emptied before he got up from his seat and smirked.
"Do your worst Jiji," the boy spoke with a smirk, "I am Naruto Uzumaki-Namikaze and I'm not going back on my word - Believe it!"
Just so long as he performed as per his expectations, Danzo would tolerate his catchphrase and volume. Afterall the same privilege was extended to Kushina.
Hope this finds you all in good spirits, and no, this fic is not dead.
To anyone who's curious or nosy - I've been going through some personal stuff in my life and switching jobs. I can't guarantee when the next chapter will be out but it'll certainly be faster than last time.
Stay safe.
PS Please leave a review if you liked this, or even if you didn't, it helps either way.