Story Title: LEARNING CURVE

Series: The Way of Shadows, The Way of Shinobi (1/3)

Warnings: Mentions of child neglect? Usage of sennin because I like it better than actually saying hermit.

"Speech"

'Thought'

Chapter Two: Observations and Decisions

Unless he wanted to try his hand at gardening, there wasn't much else to do or fix on the small property Shiro was given to occupy him. The man was beginning to feel restless again so much so that part of him was itching to be put back into active status. There was only so much reading or training one could do alone. Deciding to go for a walk, he mused about his upcoming meeting with the Sandaime. As far as Shiro knew nothing had been done at all regarding the information he brought back with him. It irked the man and he didn't want to have come all this way, risked his life, abandoned not only friends and comrades, but his family only for history to repeat. He could have died months ago fighting upon the battlefield, but at least he would have been doing something even if it had been futile. If nothing changed soon he would act on his own as he'd intended from the start. He'd never been one for diplomacy preferring his actions to speak for him.

One of the things he was sure that would come up during his meeting with the Sandaime would be his placement. There was only so long one could be 'on leave' before he would have to present himself to the Hokage to return under the man's service. Depending on what his assignment was and when he left the village, Shiro might have to test the Sandaime with his actions. Leaving the village to pursue his vendetta might cause himself to be labeled as a missing nin. Something he was very willing to bear if it meant he could eliminate the future threats before they reared their heads.

Pausing at a fruit stall he eyed the produce but his attention was diverted when there was an abrupt change in atmosphere around him. The expressions and body language shifted and became very telling. Having a hunch but wanting to confirm it, Shiro followed the gazes to a small blond haired child. The angry and even at times hostile expressions weren't as full of hate as they would later be, but they were still pretty potent. The tiny child couldn't possibly comprehend the villagers behavior just yet but was beginning to get a taste of just how cruel and ignorant humans could be. The confusion and hurt by the rejection was easy to read upon his untrained face and body language. Naruto had yet to craft and don his mask for when the resigned understanding that he was the only recipient of the village's hate. It would be soon, because despite what most believed children weren't as stupid and oblivious as they think. Children were like sponges who soaked up everything around them even if they had no idea exactly what they were absorbing at the time. It was a mistake to dismiss a child's presence, more so in a ninja village. Though that was something that skilled Genin capitalized on when on missions.

As if indifferent Shiro's gaze swept the market streets and the surrounding rooftops. He was searching for the jinchūriki's watchdog. If nothing else he was sure to have a hidden ANBU guard keeping tabs on the child. Likely they were ordered to only interfere if they absolutely had to and not allow their charge nor anyone else to know of their presence. Allowing his gaze to sweep past the hidden guard, Shiro called attention back to himself from the vendor when inquired about paying for his fruit. Slowly he unobtrusively followed the Uzumaki then continued past the ramen stand when the boy was called inside. The owner caused the child's expression to go from suspicion to hopeful and finally morphed to cautious happiness as he was spoken to warmly, no differently than any other customer.

During the walk to his home and putting the groceries away an idea began to take shape and solidify. Changing the past to try and avert the war or at least lesson the casualties and take out certain players had been part of Shiro's order when sent to the past. Picking up the village's pariah or interacting with him hadn't been on his agenda nor had the thought crossed his mind until just a moment ago. The traveler was here now though and it wouldn't hurt to begin the change with one of the major players. What would the Uzumaki be like if he had a grounding in the shinobi basics every clan child received before attending the academy? Those of civilian or clanless families picked them up as they attended the academy alongside their peers. Perhaps without the inferiority complex he overcompensated with which always lent itself to self-sabotage, Shiro wondered how the boy would turn out. While the man didn't want to change Naruto's personality or the core of what made Naruto, Naruto, he could perhaps hone and divert the child's chaos into a more productive direction...'Why not?' he thought.

For the next few days it could be said that he stalked the jinchūriki which he was sure caused more than a few raised eyebrows and suspicions to rise, but Shiro didn't care. The man was making sure he was able to bring enough evidence to the Hokage to convince him towards Shiro's way of thinking. It wouldn't be simple nor easy but if he had wanted that kind of life he would never had become a shinobi. Tailing the Uzumaki was a two-fold advantage. The first, he could clearly see what he hadn't been able to the first time. The second, Sarutobi was sure to get the reports and would make sure their meeting wouldn't be postponed. An added bonus was watching Naruto start to become twitchy constantly looking over his shoulder trying to catch whomever was spying on him. It was amusing to watch the mulish look cross the boy's face eyes narrowing until they were practically shut then spinning around to point and shout at either empty air or surprised passerby, "I know you're there! Come out!" When nothing would happen but people giving the boy looks and a wide berth as they passed, Naruto's eye would twitch before he would storm away.

"If you keep that up, you'll make the poor boy paranoid."

"A little paranoia is good for you," Shiro replied. It would also help improve the boy's already innate skill of being able to tell when he was being targeted. Because it wasn't honed or encouraged to develop, it had stagnated a bit. It was only utilized when the child was planning and committing his pranks.

Shiro glanced over at the Yamanaka crouched by his side watching as the Uzumaki was gazing at everyone and everything about him suspiciously. The traveler curiously noted that the man's expression while staring at the jinchūriki was not one of hatred nor even of anger. There was amusement mixed with exasperation strangely enough.

"Not to this extent." Yamanaka sighed out. When Shiro made no comment back, he sighed and stated the reason for his presence. "The Hokage wishes to see you now."

Keeping the triumphant smirk and feelings to himself, Shiro instead allowed a small huff of a muffled laugh. Naruto's antics had a woman yelling at him for his accusations which in turn caused the small boy to yell back before giving a shout and running when it looked as if the woman were going to invade the boy's space with an outraged, "What did you say!" trailing him.

The two men made their way across the rooftops before dropping down to the balcony outside the window to the Hokage's office. It was there they went different ways now that it was ensured that the Sandaime's message had been delivered along with Shiro. The window was open so the traveler invited himself inside not surprised to see Sarutobi smoking his ever present pipe as he looked over paperwork. The office appeared to be empty aside from the two of them. Shutting the window behind him, he faced the old man whose sole focus was now on the traveler.

"What's your interest in Naruto?" It was a valid question. During their first and last meeting, the jinchūriki wasn't brought up at all.

"Who is his current caretaker?" Shiro asked in return as if he hadn't followed the boy to the outskirts of Konoha where the orphanage was located. The child was allowed too much freedom for a three year old. While observing him, the man had noticed that the matrons of the orphanage paid little heed to the small child. Part of it was likely due to the caretakers at the orphanage not having enough adults to look after all the civilian and clanless children without property whom had lost parents and guardians during the Kyūbi attack. It didn't help that the blond was energy personified. Later, the lack of attention and care would come because of whom the boy was rather than just his personality. The children would start to emulate the adults with their behavior and ways of thinking. The boy's invisible watchers never interfered as in their eyes, their chard wasn't being harmed at all.

While Academy student Naruto might have lived alone in an apartment, directly received his stipend and been expected to take care of himself and survive on it, three years old was a bit much to ask and expect that kind of responsibility. At the orphanage the boy didn't have to worry about buying his food and clothing, doing the laundry, things of that nature. He could see someone teaching the boy how to be toilet trained as soon as possible wanting to be rid of the chore of having to change diapers. The same went for teaching him how to feed himself. The sooner the children in their care could 'fend for themselves' the easier it was less time and energy they had to expend on them unless they caused trouble. Everything else the boy had taught himself by watching and copying what he'd seen, or trying to puzzle it out himself. In that regard the Uzumaki wasn't given enough credit.

"I'm sure you've been able to ascertain that all on your own or we wouldn't be having this conversation."

Sarutobi watched the traveler with a penetrating gaze over interlaced fingers. It went unsaid that the Hokage had his ANBU watching the Uzumaki whenever he stepped foot outside the orphanage. He was aware of the slight snubbing the village was performing upon the child despite the old man's desires and his feelings towards his village and its citizens. He'd had his suspicions about who let it slip which particular orphan became the holder of the Kyūbi. Thankfully there had only been a handful of incidents which forced the Sandaime's hand to show how serious he was about his mandate being upheld. That didn't mean that they found ways around it which was why the Uzumaki wouldn't be free of his ANBU guards until he entered the Academy. Depending on how he did, he might not lose them until he became a Genin.

Alongside his ANBU, Sarutobi would check in on the jinchūriki via his crystal ball occasionally to ensure the boy's well being. It was how he knew that Naruto was being looked after even if in the barest essence of the phrase. That was why he knew what the other man was hinting at even if he didn't agree with him.

Shiro nodded in agreement of knowing already from his time observing the toddler. It was because of his time watching the boy that he'd seen that the Uzumaki didn't have a consistent caretaker. While it might have been partially to keep him from forming a bond with his carer, it was also damaging the boy's views on how to form relationships. Partially to avoid an inaccurate accusation of favoritism. The most likely though was by keeping a rotation of various caretakers it would avoid anyone from thinking on acting on any negative thoughts by gaining the Uzumaki's trust before acting.

"I'm also aware that you plan on pulling him from the orphanage and placing him in his own apartment in a few years." By then the villages hostility would have increased towards the jinchūriki and Naruto wouldn't have any idea why only having vague guesses and ideas -all of which were incorrect- that would help fuel the boy's drive to stand out. If he was going to be glared at, he might as well do something to earn their ire.

The Sandaime's expression was one that invited the other to continue. Shiro stared at the old man scrutinizing him. He seemed a contradiction. Inside and outside of Konoha the man was renowned for obtaining the name God of Shinobi; a title that wasn't just given out. While he was potentially the strongest ninja and Hokage to come out of Konohagakure, he was also the second 'softest'. It was that very softness that Danzō's organization existed. The men were two sides of the same coin.

The traveler had yet to pin point who was to blame for Naruto's generation lacking key historical knowledge of their village nor why no one had even known their resident prankster was from a well known clan. Konoha might not have believed the boy was an Uzumaki by blood anymore than those outside Hi no Kuni due to the clan being notorious for their red hair. It wouldn't be until Naruto had been in a fight and proven the Uzumaki clan's large stamina pools that anyone would begin to entertain the belief in the blond's claim. The Uzumaki name protected and shielded the jinchūriki from his father's enemies who couldn't see past the name and the blond's antics. Having his father's coloring protected him from anyone who would target the boy trying to eliminate the threat of an Uzumaki.

"Does that include an instructor to teach him to read and write? Or are you leaving that to the Academy instructors?"

If the boy entered the Academy at five with the Sandaime's approval the youngest he could enter, he would already be at a disadvantage when it came to reading and writing. Already those children his age were learning hiragana and katakana from their parents, especially those that came from a clan. Not being considered a prodigy or of exceptional talent, the Uzumaki would be overlooked and not expected to progress as quickly as his classmates which would hold true. It would take until he was twelve to graduate under an extenuating circumstance.

"It has been done before." Sarutobi replied. Those coming from the orphanage weren't always the best readers and had problems with writing more than those from a civilian family who wished to try to become a ninja. That was why the academy had classes to accommodated those types of children.

Shiro snorted. "You'll set a precedent without even trying." With everyone else already knowing the beginnings, the boy's frustration, and the teachers believing that the Uzumaki was stupid for not grasping the material as quickly as the others. It would cause chinks to the boy's self-esteem and adding to his need to prove himself and be acknowledged. The only instructor that had cared if he passed or failed and had put in effort to teach Naruto had been Iruka.

Before the Hokage could ask the man to clarify, Shiro stated, "You know I speak the truth."

"Your alternative is to teach the boy yourself?" Sarutobi watched the other man's face to observe even the minutest movement and was curious to the brief wry amusement that crossed it.

"It hadn't been part of my plans. Uzumaki hadn't crossed my thoughts at all until I saw how the villagers responded to him in the market. It will only get worse as more people learn of his being a jinchūriki." Pausing, Shiro returned the other's scrutiny as he inquired, "You realize with the boy's parentage being a secret and with what was leaked, most believe he is the fox in human form rather than it's container?"

The old man let out a weary sigh. He had indeed planned on getting the boy an apartment to give him a place that was his own where he could take refuge from the rest of the village. The orphanage wouldn't be safe for Naruto for much longer. With the secret out but with the villagers knowing the decree would be enforced, Sarutobi had hope for the future generation. That was until the information he'd gotten from the man across from him. While they hadn't spoken of Naruto directly as they had been more focused on discussing the war Shiro had come from; there had been a note in the scroll that the traveler had handed over. According to the brief scrawled note it stated that Naruto had forgiven the old man for keeping the secrets he had in regard's to the boy's status. He wasn't sure if Shiro was aware of that information.

"What would you teach him if I decided to put the boy under your tutelage?"

"What he should have been taught before entering the Academy unprepared." There was a pause and the expression on the man's face was as if he expected Hiruzen to contest his next words. "That includes his Uzumaki heritage."

"He knows he's an Uzumaki."

"Does he? Does he know it wasn't arbitrary? He learns he was named after the character in the Gama-Sennin's book. It wasn't until he was practically an adult that he learned the Uzumaki had been an actual clan. Does the Academy even teach about the ties between Uzushiogakure and Konohagakure? Or do they skip over that the Shodai's wife had been an Uzumaki?"

Shame could do a lot of things. It had been shame coupled with guilt from their inability to help defend their ally that had most Konoha shinobi wanting to forget their failure. Uzushio and it's clan had been all but destroyed. It didn't do to dwell on past mistakes. Shame and guilt were also the main reason Naruto was subjected to so much anger from the older generation over the Kyūbi attack. They had to have a focus for their blame.

"Some information is just too dangerous for him right now."

"At this point in time I agree. He doesn't need to know that his father was a Kage. Any information I tell him wouldn't be anything he couldn't find out in the library or look into for himself."

"Hmmm." Sarutobi studied Shiro but then sighed again as he picked up a file that had been sitting on his desk. "I will take everything under consideration while you are on your mission."

Despite not having gotten the answer he desired, he could count it a victory at all that the man hadn't shot him down completely. Taking the offered file, Shiro couldn't deny that he was grateful for this opportunity. He needed to get away from the village and do what he was good at. Flipping the folder open he smiled. "Let's get wild."

-To Be Continued-

Hiragana and katakana - phonetic and more of an alphabet rather than a word or meaning like kanji. It's usually taught to children starting at around 3 years old depending on the parents.

Gama-Sennin: Toad Hermit

Reviewer: Nunnington – I have no idea what you were trying to say except maybe nice story? If so, thank you.