I'm so sorry for the late update. Varsity has been a pain in the back side. I'm not going to be able to update frequently though. Well then, let's get to it, then!
Disclaimer: Naruto is under no obligation to be my property in any shape or form. OC characters stem from mostly Haikyuu!! as you'll see the familiarity with the names.
With that being said, I hope I don't disappoint.
"Finally!" - human speech
"I thought he was gone" - human thought
"The squirt is back" - Bijū / summoning speech
"Time to shine! " - Bijū / summoning though
Chapter 1: Well Deserved Ascension
Konohagakure, the village hidden in the leaves. It could be debated that the name of the village sounds like someone just picked up a leaf and felt like there was significance in naming a whole settlement after one. Technically speaking, that's what happened when Uchiha Madara, after several fights with Senjū Hashirama and a defeat that altered the course of history as the precursor to the unification of clans that form a village, took a dried out leaf and mentioned "Konohagakure no Sato" to his friend when mentioning a name for the village. After a short debate about who would name the village better, it was expected. It is self explanatory. A plethora of forests cover the entire village, and is on easily sustainable land.
It is now more than seventy five years into its existence and it has seen it all: three wars against its four great counterparts and four Shinobi have been privileged to be called shadows that protect the village. First Hokage, Senjū Hashirama, second Hokage, Senjū Tobirama, third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen and the fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, who was no longer in the world due to the end result of a skirmish among him, an Uchiha claiming to be Madara and the Kyuubi no Kitsune that wrecked havoc after being released into the village.
So far, it has been four years since the attack happened and the village was graced by a mysterious but dignified visitor at the main entrance of the village, the Aun gate.
Black, short sleek hair with a fringe hanging above what appears to be blue eyes. Wearing a black slim fit civilian suit with semi- casual brown loafers, the guest approaches the guards of the village along with several others who are willing to enter the village for whatever purpose.
"State your name and purpose for your visit, please" requested Hagane Kotetsu.
"Uzuki Tobio, a representative of the Daimyo of the land of Water's office. I requested an audience with the Hokage a few months before this point. I hope these papers confirm that fact" said the now named Tobio as he presented his passport and written letter from the Hokage with permission to meet.
"Everything is in order. Welcome to Konoha. Enjoy your day today, good sir" said Kamizuki Izumo.
Tobio bowed to the guards and waited for the ANBU to escort him to the Hokage Tower.
Hokage Tower
Frail, old and wrinkled. If one did not have knowledge of Sarutobi Hiruzen, then such a description would be assumed. At this point, the re-instated third Hokage has the "underneath" to hide his true abilities as one of the most skilled and powerful ninja in the Elemental Nations. Widely known as the Professor and also coined (exaggeratingly, he thinks) Shinobi no Kami (God of Shinobi), he is one of the most knowledgeable people in the world in the Shinobi Arts.
"Until I find a way to make this paperwork disappear, it looks like I'll stay with this bane of existence" Hiruzen sighed as mountains of paperwork accumulated in stacks inside his office, a burden he could not help but carry.
The Kyuubi attack that happened four years ago surely took a lot out of him and the rest of the village. Even though they still had strength in spades, it took them painstaking lengths to reclaim it, seeing as how they lost their most powerful Shinobi to date. Well, a village is as strong as its anchor and at least Hiruzen could still protect the village he watched his sensei build from the ground up. The good old days.
His thoughts were cut short when one ANBU Black Ops captain - Inu, suddenly flickered near the Hokage. With a messenger scroll.
Hiruzen read it and uttered the word, "Enter".
Almost immediately, a guy in a silver civilian suit entered the office.
"Good day, Hokage-sama. I do hope that you are feeling good as of now. The Daimyo sends his greetings, despite Kirigakure being involved in a civil war. " greeted Tobio.
"Good day, Uzuki-dono. Please take a seat. " directed Hiruzen while he took in his guest's suddenly posh appearance. He then commanded his ANBU guards to leave and he performed a sealing technique to prevent further eavesdropping (if any).
"Well, I trust that you still have my successor's children protected, right?" asked Hiruzen.
"Well, of course! They are my favourite nephews after all. Although, they're technically my grandnephews. If you remember clearly, they are my brother's grandchildren" mentioned Tobio in a jovial manner before being serious.
"I just came to tell you that I'll be returning them to the village next year, as per our agreement. A fair warning to put here on the table, though. Despite their young age, they're powerful. At least, for their age and according to the standards my people set. There should be no problem regarding their safety. All I ask is that you provide additional protection and surveillance, because they'll be in multiple punches, no matter how careful they could get, after all. They're four-year old beasts but four-year-olds nonetheless." Tobio stated and warned.
It would appear that Hiruzen had a very strong sense of what was being mentioned to him would bring a change in the village. What change? Who knew? He didn't. At least, not in that moment.
"I'll take your word for it. By the way, you look way too young to be seven years my senior. I know you said there's a secret to it and you showed me how, but it still doesn't make sense. Well, at least, if a less knowledgeable person looks at it from their perspective" said Hiruzen, introducing a new topic for the conversation.
The seemingly young man sitting in front of Hiruzen was approaching sixty-five on December 22, just one month before the next meeting and it used to bother Hiruzen that this person could look like he was twenty five. To cut an argument of him using genjutsu to hide his actual age, he showed him that it was his natural appearance. Nevertheless, it still piqued his interest. He could already imagine one other person gaining "some" interest, (some being used very loosely in this context)
"Well, as far as I am concerned, looking underneath the underneath can be very disappointing. What you see is what you get. I believe that you'll be shocked with the kids' abilities to analyze exactly why that's the case. Speaking of which, I think they'll be able to update you on that gift I gave you for your re-coronation into the position." said Tobio in amusement.
"Well, as much as I want to talk about the children and their development, as you put it, I have to make sure that this paperwork disappears from my sight. Legally" said Hiruzen before his guest prepared to leave.
"Well, I guess I should leave it to you, then. By the way, is it okay if I could ask for one Uzuki Yugao to come accompany me back to Mizu no Kuni? I could use a conversation with my fellow "clansmen"." asked Tobio before standing up and approaching the door.
"Certainly. Neko!" he said after releasing the seal he used earlier
Suddenly, an ANBU kunoichi with long, violet hair flickered to stand near the guest.
"Hello, ANBU-san. Or should I say... musume?"
The ANBU kunoichi took her mask off (with permission granted from the Hokage) to reveal an oval-shaped face with a healthy toned complexion regardless of the mask worn every day and night. Dark grey eyes met blue ones, and with a slight twitch of her red lips...
"Tou-chan!!" she hugged her father in the most heart-warming scene the Hokage was graced with. The joy of having a family that cares for you simply knows no equal, no matter if you are related or not. This signified what every Hokage is put in their position as lines of defense to protect: the unification of clans and individuals into one big family.
Even though he lost most of his immediate family, including Biwako, his wife, during the Kyuubi attack, things had to stay this way, for the sake of the village along with its future.
Seeing how Hiruzen was reminiscing, Tobio decided that was his cue to leave.
"Until we meet again, Hokage-sama." said Tobio before exiting with Yugao.
"Until then, Uzuki-dono." said Hiruzen.
Aun Gate
"Well, at least you're coming back with me to the islands this time. It's been a long time. Your nephews miss you." said Tobio as he gave Izumo and Kotetsu papers for Yugao's journey.
"It's only been four months since I last saw them. Smart crybabies. At least, I got to say goodbye to Hayate-kun before I left... " said Yugao. She whispered that last part to herself, hoping no one heard her.
"Hayate-kun, huh? I guess I found another dummy to slice up to bits. I mean, she's only sixteen!" Tobio thought. At the thought of his daughter being taken away, he got angry, even if it was for a minute. He could not help but be overprotective.
"Hayate aside, it's time you finish their basic kenjutsu kata for the Uzumaki style. They'll need it" he admonished.
With a furious blush on her face, Yugao looked down and mumbled some incoherent phrases before saying
"Well, then... the tides of Uzu have turned"
To be continued
Finally, the first chapter! Forgive me for the absence of fight scenes as I'm still trying to laying the groundwork for the story to gain some wind. As for the reviews, one was really impatient with my slow start and I couldn't help but intervene.As far as the story goes, it's a very long process for it to get to where I need it to be, even though it's technically complete. I will need a beta reader as time goes on to avoid any grammatical and plotline issues. Later!
