When the two Uchiha entered Naruto's office, they found the boy sitting at his desk, staring dumbfounded at a sheet of paper.
"Did something happen?" Shisui inquired, flopping down on the couch. "You look puzzled."
"I'm not sure." Naruto held up the sheet of paper. "I got a bill here. For..." His gaze slid to the breakdown. "Twelve bottles of sake, two single rooms for five nights plus pet surcharge for a pig and...three broken tables. It's issued to Senju Tsunade."
Shisui made a chocking sound. "Senju Tsunade?!"
Naruto nodded. "And here is another one. Fifteen sake bottles, two broken chairs and the fee for getting rid of pig extre…extrem -"
"Excrements," his grandfather supplied. His tone sounded strange, and his face was exceedingly blank.
"Pig excrements," Naruto finished. 'What's that, grandfather?' he added mentally, and threw a confused look at the hysterically laughing Shisui and the amused-looking Itachi, whose eyes shone bright in merriment.
"What you leave behind when you visit the lavatory," his grandfather replied blandly.
Naruto wrinkled his nose. 'Eww.'
That did not sound particularly…pleasant.
"So, who is this Senju Tsunade?" he asked the room at large.
"She is my grandniece," grandfather informed him in a dry voice. "She is a spoiled child with quite the temper. My brother, in his infinite wisdom, always used to indulge her and even took her gambling and drinking." A wry smile appeared on his face. "It seems," he gestured towards the invoice, "her habit of accumulating bills has not changed at all. But I am glad to see she is still alive, even if she seems to be gallivanting around."
"Senju Tsunade," Itachi answered over the still snickering Shisui, "is Konoha's best medic and one of the Third's students who are known as the Sannin. But she has left this village a long time ago and has not been seen ever since." He threw a pointed look at Naruto. "She is the Shodai's granddaughter."
Naruto tilted his head.
Itachi threw him an amused look and continued. "She is also known for drinking and gambling excessively. Because she always keeps losing, they call her the Legendary Sucker."
Shisui laughed even louder. "She sent you her bills! This is priceless!"
Tobirama facepalmed. Abandoning the village, drinking, gambling. These were not deeds to be proud of. He really wanted to march off and drag that unruly child back by her ears. Why did his brother's line have to be so disorderly? Her father had been just the same!
'I want to meet her someday,' Naruto told him. Tobirama's mental alarm bells rung. He had to make sure Tsunade did not end up influencing his child. At least his line needed to maintain common sense.
The child looked back at the invoices. 'But what should I do with this? Do we even have enough to pay for this?'
Tobirama refocused on the topic at hand and studied the bills over Naruto's shoulder. "Aye. We can cover that, although we do have to find a way of raising money soon. Perhaps we can open a seal store. But this is a topic for later. Now for these bills…"
Tobirama had dealt with grandniece's stunts more than once and knew exactly how to handle this. "Deduct the amount from her allowance."
Naruto nearly dropped the bills. 'Her allowance?'
Tobirama smirked. "You are the clan head now, child, and she is a member of the main family. That means she receives a regular stipend from you. It is well within your rights, to reduce or suspend it, however."
Naruto blinked. 'That's weird. She's an adult.'
His grandfather chuckled. "You will have to get used to it."
"So," Shisui, who had finally managed to calm down, suddenly interjected. "What are you going to do about those bills?"
"I hope you do not plan on paying them," Itachi commented, "It would set a bad precedent."
"It's alright." Naruto shrugged. I'll deduct it from her allowance." It sounded strange to actually say it.
Shisui roared with laughter while the younger Uchiha nodded in satisfaction. "Good. A clan head needs to take a clear stance."
Itachi walked around the desk. "Perhaps you should write her a letter."
"A letter?" Naruto looked curiously at him. "But I don't even know where she is."
"I can help you there," Itachi smiled, looking quite pleased. "And this is even related to some news I would like to share with you. I recently signed a summoning contract."
Naruto's eyes widened. "Really?!" He looked at Itachi, excitement written over his face. "Which one?!"
"I am now the holder of the crow contract."
A crow contract! That sounded cool. Naruto grinned at Itachi. "Great news! I am happy for you."
Itachi ruffled his head. "Thank you, Naruto."
"It's a pity," Shisui commented, still snickering, "I really thought it would be an ostrich. It would have been fitting."
Itachi tossed a pillow at the older Uchiha. "I suppose yours would have to be a jellyfish, then," he shot back. "They lack brains, too."
Shisui grimaced. "Outch. That hurt."
"Good," Itachi replied plainly, "now about this letter?"
Naruto sent a mental inquiry at his contemplative grandfather. The man nodded slowly. "The idea has merit. We can discuss this later."
"I'll do it later. Good idea, thanks, Itachi."
The young Uchiha nodded. "Of course, now we should discuss the reason for today's meeting."
He handed Naruto a red scroll. "This is a mission scroll written by the jounin commander. We have an appointment with him tonight. They want to see the lab we found."
Shisui snorted. "Took them long enough."
Naruto accepted the scroll and unrolled it. There was a slight shift in the air as his grandfather moved to stand behind him.
For a moment there was silence as they both read the message. Then Naruto tilted his head. "Why do we have to appear masked?"
"I believe Hokage-sama intends to keep our identities secret," Itachi replied. "Especially yours." He gave Naruto a serious look. "We don't know who else will be there tonight, and as much as I want to believe that Hokage-sama has chosen only trustworthy people, we cannot be sure that they have not been compromised."
"So stay close to us tonight," Shisui added, equally serious.
"I will," Naruto agreed easily.
"Good." Shisui rummaged in his pockets and pulled a small bag out. "I've bought these bracelets." He undid the knot, carefully placed three leather bracelets on the desk and looked at Naruto. "I thought you could figure out a way for us to communicate with each other."
"Good thinking," Tobirama commented and bent forward to inspect the metal plates fastened to the bracelets. "We do not have time for elaborate seal development, but we should be able to make it warm and pulse. A conditional heating will take care of the former, but…" He raised an eyebrow at his young student. "what components would you need for the pulsing?"
'Um…' Naruto picked up a bracelet and turned it in his hands. 'Lightning. Something that tempers it…wind, and a stabilizer.'
"And to make it work?" his grandfather prompted.
Naruto paused. What else did they need? He looked at the plate. They were trying to design a communication system. What else could…Ah, of course!
An activator! There was no point to it if they could not use it. 'Intent!'
Tobirama nodded. "Correct. Now, which basic chainer is used to connect the parts?"
"Three," Naruto replied immediately.
"Good." Tobirama smirked. "Well, now that we have clarified matters, kindly take the green book from the shelf. There you will find the seal that Hashirama and I used to communicate with each other. Page thirty-eight."
Naruto nearly dropped the bracelet. 'You had one ready all the time?!'
"Of course," Tobirama replied casually. "Or do you honestly believe I never thought of something similar?"
Naruto nearly groaned. That was so typical of his grandfather! First, he quizzed Naruto's brains out, then he presented an even simpler solution.
He had complained about it once and gotten a very matter of fact: "You need to learn." in return.
"Can you please get me the green book?" he asked Itachi, who was closest to the shelf, somewhat faintly.
Itachi shot him a slightly curious look and did as he asked.
"Thanks," Naruto smiled at him and flipped through the pages.
"What are you looking for?" Shisui inquired, as he and Itachi stepped behind him.
"A seal," Naruto answered absently, "It has to be somewhere here…now where is page thirty-eight?"
He was so busy searching that he completely missed the affectionately exasperated looks his friends were exchanging over his head.
"Found it!" he finally announced triumphantly. "Hmm…It doesn't look too difficult. But it will take some time to cut it in." He tilted his head."It would go faster if I just painted it on for tonight."
"Are there any disadvantages to this?" Itachi inquired.
Naruto shook his head. "None that would matter much this time. It's just that they're easier to destroy. Painted seals don't last very long and are usually a little weaker. They fade as the ink fades. But it's just for tonight and I'll use waterproof ink."
He felt Tobirama's hand rest on his head in silent praise. His mood brightened. He loved it when his grandfather was proud of him.
"Fascinating," Itachi replied. "I might have to start reading up on this subject," he mused quietly.
Shisui groaned. "If you read up on everything that interests you, you'll become an old man before you finally put the books down."
Itachi seemed undeterred by this objection. "I at least wish to understand the basics. It never hurts to broaden your skills."
"I'll find you something to read," Naruto promised and threw a bright grin at Itachi. He was thrilled to see his friend's interest in his own area of expertise. Itachi nodded gratefully at him.
"Your friend would certainly benefit from knowing a few seals centered around camouflage, stealth and detection. Perhaps even a barrier or two," his grandfather commented as scrutinized the young Uchiha.
'I'll suggest it later,' Naruto sent back.
Shisui sighed and stood up. "Fine, do what you want. Now, let's see if you have everything you'll need for a nighttime S-class mission."
Naruto was nervous. This was his first official assignment, and it was about something so important.
"Naruto," his grandfather put his hands on his shoulders and crouched down to meet his eyes. "You must remain clear-headed tonight. Do not lose sight of your objective and stay close to your friends. I will scout ahead and warn you should I encounter any kind of trouble. You may relay any warning I give you. Not being misidentified as a sensor is not of high priority tonight. Should you find yourself in danger, use our connection to call for me. "
"Okay." Naruto nodded seriously at him.
"Good, now request your blessing the way I taught you."
Naruto grabbed the acorn dangling from his neck. "Ancestors of old, please stay by my side. Join me in honor and lead me through plight."
He felt the acorn warm slightly, and his grandfather's palm closed around his hand. "Are you ready?"
"I am," Naruto replied firmly and donned his mask.
The tension in the room was almost palpable. The third stood in front of two Anbu units, behind him a man with a completely white mask. Somewhat beside him, Nara Shikaku was talking to a man with scars on his face.
"The operation will commence soon" the Hokage informed those present. "Everything that happens tonight is subject to the strictest secrecy. Joint command will be given to the commanders of the ANBU and the Jounin. Your guides will arrive any moment. They were the ones who discovered the laboratory, so I expect you to listen to their warnings and directions."
A sharp knock sounded on the door and the occupant's attention turned towards the three people walking inside.
The three newly arrived masks bowed as one. "Hokage-sama."
"Weasel, Owl." The Hokage's gaze fell on the young child between the two Anbu, and he paused for a second before adding: "…Hare." Then he addressed the room at large. "Shikaku will brief you on anything else. Konoha thanks you for your service."
He dissolved.
Shikaku turned towards the assembled shinobi and for a second his gaze lingered on the three children. They seemed even closer than before, and Shikaku absently wondered if something had transpired between them.
They had just bowed in such perfect synchrony that he wondered how they had managed to read the exact moment the others would move.
Especially young Naruto was a puzzle wrapped into an enigma - with a nice gift bow on top of it. His white mask looked tiny in the sea of white and crimson, and yet he blended in so seamlessly. It was baffling. Then it occurred to him that this child's mask looked almost like half of the ANBU commander's mask - and for a fraction of a second, he mused about the deeper meaning behind it. Then he laughed at himself. Shikaku did not believe in foreshadowing. What should come to pass, would happen.
Still, once this was over, he would politely inquire about the child's interest in shogi.
It would be an interesting match.
A/N Thank you very much for your nice welcome :D I am really blessed to have such wonderful readers.
That's why I have a confession to make: You remember me bragging last chapter, right? About resisting the temptation. But you know, this author went back and changed it. Hashirma is now really going You shall not pass on the Shinigami. I hope you don't want your cookies back, because I've already eaten them. *innocent whistle*
On another note: Team Heiwa's name has now been changed to Heiwa Kyoudai. This means something like Brothers of Peace. I have been advised that it sounds more dramatic. That's an argument I couldn't resist.
Third, and last: GabPas has requested a picture of Naruto's armor. You can now find it on my tumblr page: linewalkers. tumblr. com