Hey everyone, it's finally here! The one thing I have been waiting on this whole time to get edited is finally done! Chapter 7 is here, which means we are basically done with the 'arc' if you will, and will be moving onto the next one! My other two fics will be slower to update as I write them only when I get an idea, this is still the main fic until it is finished! Anyways, bon voyage everyone! Here we go again!
PPPPSSSTTTTT Review people! Seriously, I love hearing from you.
Chapter 7
Hiruzen opens the door to his office early in the morning, closing it gently behind him. He takes out his pipe and looks out the window, taking in the sight of the village under the light of dawn. . As he watches the sunrise, a knock on his door sends Hiruzen glaring at the door.
Nobody should be at my door this early, Shimi-chan knows better than to not let me have at least an hour before any appointments… The door opens as Danzo walks in, his cane making near silent taps on the wooden floor. Hiruzen cringes as he turns back to the window.
"Hiruzen." Danzo's gravely voice carries from the door as he moves for the seat in front of Hiruzen's desk.
"That's Hokage-Sama or Lord Third to you, Shimura-San." Danzo doesn't move, aside from sitting down in the chair. Hiruzen finally turns around, making for his own seat.. Danzo's lone eye peers at Hiruzen passively.
"Don't play folly or claim to act more noble than myself, Hiruzen. We both had sullied our hands in the mud, so to speak." Hiruzen turns a baleful eye on Danzō.
"What is it exactly you want? You never come to my office anymore to merely trade verbal barbs with each other." A soft sigh escapes Danzō.
"Who is Uzumaki Reizen?" Danzō feels the temperature in the room drop nearly tenfold as Hiruzen whirls towards him, a steely gaze leveled at him from the corner of his eye.
"Where did you learn that name?" Hiruzen's voice holds a certain coldness. Though subtle, Danzo picks up on it, feeling fear seep into his bones.
"What does it matter if I know of the name of a shinobi?" Hiruzen signals for his anbu, four of them dropping down from the rafters of the room.
"This is your one and only warning Shimura-San. Cease and desist from this matter, or else I will have you executed on high counts of mutiny and treason. Trust me, I have the evidence for both as well. You won't last long in Konoha's courts." Danzō grips his cane more tightly. Hiruzen is gaining more power again. He's finally acting like a Hokage once again…. Fuck. This has to be because of this new shinobi he trusts…. Danzō makes to stand up, but a firm gloved hand from a purplette anbu stops him from rising. A kunai lays on his other shoulder.
"I am serious about this as well, Shimura. Do. Not. Test. Me. On. This." With that, the kunai is lifted and Danzō walks out of the room, his cane tapping lightly on the floor. He opens the door, stepping out into the dimly lit hallway, shutting the door behind himself. Hiruzen scowls, before motioning one of his anbu forward.
"Put two tails at all times on him. He is planning something. Don't get caught either."
The anbu nods, before making a hand sign for shunshin and flickering out of the room. Hiruzen goes back to his desk, picking up a piece of paperwork while taking a puff from his pipe. He glances at the paper, a petition to add sweets and deserts back into the anbu cafeteria. Hiruzen sighs, before stamping the paper with a red no.
Today is going to be a long day.
Reizen walks into the sandaime's office to see him slowly filling his pipe. He snaps his fingers, putting a little bit of chakra inside the snap and igniting his pipe. Hiruzen takes an appreciative pull from the pipe, before letting out a large cloud.
"Ah, Reizen-Kun. I am glad you are here. Tell me, how are things? We are still waiting on two others to arrive." Reizen simply nods, taking a seat on a low sofa in the corner. As he opens his mouth, in walks Itachi and a young Deidara.
Man the fact that Itachi is a woman my age and is that hot, is just so weird.
Hmph. Foolish kit. If you find the vixen mate material, then pursue her already. I don't understand what is holding you back.
I don't want to betray Hana. Plus, I used to know Itachi as a guy, so that would make me feel uncomfortable. Though her black eyes and dark long hair certainly are appealing. Reizen nods to the two of them, both looking him up and down. Itachi slowly licks her lips and winks at him, before turning her attention to Hiruzen. Reizen stands from the sofa, leaning against the far wall in the office.
"Itachi-chan, I am going to grant one of your clan's long term wishes in heed of advice from trusted people. I am going to make you one of two ambassadors between us and Iwa." While extremely difficult to surprise the Itachi Uchiha, princess of the Uchiha clan, it's not impossible. This would be one of those times. Hiruzen nods his head to Reizen standing in the corner.
"Reizen-Kun here will be the main ambassador for certain reasons he may or may not reveal to you. Deidara-chan is the current Iwa ambassador. She is also the granddaughter of their current Tsuchikage, Onoki." Itachi nods her head mutely, her silky hair swaying with the motion.
Deidara looks the Uchiha heiress up and down, before giving an approving nod.
"You're very pretty you know. You must have hundreds of suitors lining up for you." Itachi whirls on the young Deidara, who nods her head sagely as if she is completely sure in her statement. Itachi's cheeks turn a slight shade of red, stealing a quick glance to Reizen, before regaining her composure.
"Why thank you, but you are incorrect. I do not have many suitors due to my role as Uchiha Heiress, though I do appreciate your comment." Hiruzen coughs into his hand, gaining the attention of the two once again. He hands out a folder to Itachi.
"In that folder is the current standings on Konoha, as well as my instructions. You two may discuss freely what you will, though I do assume you both will report to myself and Onoki respectively. Itachi-Chan, make sure you coordinate with Reizen-Kun here as well. Though I am afraid I may steal him from you from time to time." Itachi minutely nods her head, before exiting the room with young Deidara in tow. Hiruzen glances over to Reizen, before motioning for his anbu to leave.
I don't like that look in Reizen's eye at all. Last time he had that look, he told me about my death.
"What is it?" No nonsense it is then.
"Have the Uchiha seemed restless lately?" Now Hiruzen quirks an eyebrow up at this. He was ready for anything, but this threw him off guard completely.
"Not to my knowledge. The Uchiha seem complacent enough with the Police Force, though they have been seemingly a little distant as of late from the village. They always have been loners to some extent." Reizen breaks out into a string of curses, startling the ever living hell out of Hiruzen, who is now sweating bullets.
"In my timeline, the Uchiha ended up getting slaughtered by Itachi, who is a guy in my timeline mind you, because the village was pushing them away due to the Kyuubi attack, as well as some ministrations from Danzo and Tobi."
"Tobi?" Reizen raises an eyebrow, before turning his head.
"Obito Uchiha, former teammate of Kakashi. He ends up as a puppet for Madara, as well as Zetsu and to a later extent, Kaguya."
"Kaguya, as in the progenitor of chakra? The one who wanted to eat the chakra tree?" Reizen nods, his red tresses swinging over his face with the motion. Hiruzen just stares blankly.
"Regardless, the Uchiha slaughter left only Sasuke, Itachi's kid brother alive and thirsty for revenge. If possible, having the Uchiha help in the war would've been beneficial. Besides, not letting Orochimaru gain access to the Sharingan will be helpful as well. Also, you need to remove Danzō completely." Hiruzen's face turns grave, taking a puff from his pipe.
"The Uchiha get slaughtered? Why? Who would even order such a thing?" Reizen just stares at Hiruzen with a heavy sigh, before Hiruzen's mouth forms a giant 'o' in realization.
"Though I will admit, from what Sasuke told me, you were basically forced to order it by your advisors and Danzō. In my timeline, you didn't really….. You had enough going on at the time after coming back out of retirement. It would have been a difficult choice for anyone…"
Hiruzen merely nods, seeing how the cold composure of Reizen's mask had cracked somewhat. He sees the dark storm of emotions rumble within the young man's eyes and it unsettles him.
"Perhaps, Reizen-Kun you should go spend some time with some of the other Jounin? I'm sure you would know a decent number of them more than likely. You need to take a breather, especially after everything you have done right after coming here." Reizen simply gazes past Hiruzen, watching the early morning sunrise through the sky. A brilliant orange starts to fill the office as Reizin simply nods. Taking a small band from a storage seal on his wrist, Reizen pulls his hair back from his face, forming a small ponytail with some strands sticking free.
"Honestly Jiji, I'm more worried about my reaction at seeing some of the others. Or anyone for that matter anymore. You saw how I acted when I saw Hana-Koi damnit! I almost broke down at that table!" Hiruzen merely glances at Reizen, before offering his pipe to the redhead. Reizen eyes it, before accepting the calm offering. Taking two quick puffs, Reizen hands the pipe back to Hiruzen.
"I understand your emotions Reizen-Kun. Truly, I do. If I was in your position and thrust back in time to see Biwako-chan… well and alive, but not my Biwako… I...… I'm not sure I would fare any better than you are right now. The mere fact that you are here and trying is a sign though. I think Kami-Sama has big plans for you. Now go. This is an order if you need it to be. Go to the Jounin Lounge, you might even see a friendly face or two. Also, Naruto's Genin exam will be tomorrow with Kakashi and his team. I mentioned to Kakashi I might have someone monitor his test, would you be interested?"
Reizen pauses as he taps his chin, some sweat rolling down from his brow from his mini-episode previously.
"I suppose I could try. It would help me build a rapport with my…. younger counterpart." Hiruzen nods, before shooing the young, yet mature man out of his office, deactivating the privacy seals as he exits. His anbu return to their places as he glances down back at his paperwork.
Jiraiya and Tsunade might be able to help him. Maybe Inoichi as well, considering the bags under his eyes. Oh well, I will tell him later. For now, to recall my wayward students. As Hiruzen begins to write on paper, his office door opens again, with someone entering he wasn't expecting.
"Ah Anko-Chan, how can this old man help you today?" Seeing the young purplette always brought both smiles and sadness to his heart, mainly due to his grievance over his traitorous student.
"Hokage-Sama, Inoichi has been…. Kind of weird lately. He keeps rubbing his temples in pain. I've asked him if he is sick but he keeps shaking his head, saying something about a high-level secret messing with him. Figured I would come ask you if there is a way to help him that you might be aware of?" Hiruzen frowns, recalling the scenes they had both witnessed in the time traveler's mind.
"That is something that, unfortunately, Inoichi will have to face on his own. It's a…. Odd circumstances that have many different things going on at the moment. Honestly, I wouldn't be sure how to help him myself otherwise I would have. I do, however, have something that you could do for me."
Now it's Anko's turn to raise an eyebrow, chewing on a dango stick as she does so.
"What do you need, Hokage-Sama?" Hiruzen smirks, a beautiful plan forming in his mind.
"There is a new Jounin in the lounge. A redhead by the name of Reizen. He has been quite lonely lately and having trouble adjusting as well. Perhaps befriend him?" Anko simply looks at her leader with a quizzical eyebrow raised, before shrugging.
"Sure!" She chirps, before whirling out of the office, her answer left completely unsatisfied.
As Reizen walks into the lounge, most of the Jounin in there he doesn't recognize, though some he does. He waves at the young Hayate sitting with a young Raido, Genma as well as Kakashi, Izumo and Kotetsu. On the other side of the room sits a young kurenai, speaking with what seemed to be an off duty Yugao, as well as some older female Jounin. Reizen smiles softly as Hayate immediately stands up, rushing over to him. He notices the dark lines under Reizen's eyes, as well as how gaunt and pale he looks.
"Reizen! Have you even gotten checked out recently! Man if my fiancée saw how awful you look, you would be lectured into next week!" With near frantic worry, Hayate, who most would consider the least healthy amongst the room, was being a mother hen over someone. It sent a wave of shock through the room to say the least. Speaking of fiancée's, Yugao chooses this exact moment to turn and see the gaunt and sickly Reizen being fawned over by a frantic Hayate. Rushing over, she shoves Hayate out of the way, proceeding to take his place.
"What in the ever-living fuck is wrong with you! You look like you should have tubes hooked up to you in an anbu facility, not walking around normally!" As Yugao proceeds to fuss over him, Kurenai makes her way over as well, walking towards Genma.
"Why are Yugao and Hayate fussing over him so much?" he asks. "I've never even seen the dude before?" Kurenai just looks at Genma.
"You haven't heard then, have you?" Genma merely raises an eyebrow as he twirls the senbon in his mouth.
"That's Uzumaki Reizen-San. He's the one who saved the squad in Uzushio." Genma's senbon falls out of his open mouth as he stares at the now rapidly becoming famous shinobi.
"He's the one who took on the bijū and lived?" A nod. "That must make him an S-Rank shinobi then, right? He has to be either the strongest or second strongest then in the village! Only behind maybe Jiraiya himself." The harsh whisper isn't heard by anyone but Reizen across the room, who at the moment must ignore the comment of possible fame as Yugao continues to berate him.
"On another note, why have you not been to a hospital? Especially after that clusterfuck mission! There is no fucking way I believe you didn't come out of that with no injuries!" Reizen sweat drops as Yugao continues to go off, slightly tuning her out as he takes in the factor that everyone in the lounge is now staring at them, more specifically Yugao.
Though if I think about it, they might be staring at me due to the fact that none of them have seen me before. Besides Kurenai who I met briefly the other day.
Suddenly, a wave of nausea rushes over Reizen as Anko finally walks into the lounge. She takes in the scene of Yugao's mother henning the ever-living hell out of her current target before Yugao spots her. She fiercely grabs his arm, whirling him around and dragging him to Anko.
"Anko, doesn't he look like he's about to keel over?! He looks like he needs to go to the hospital, correct?" The daggers coming off of Yugao make Anko seriously take a look at the redhead.
"Hey, aren't you that dude I saw earlier! The one who got summoned to the Hokage like right away?" Reizen nods as Anko fully takes him in. Gaunt face with dark circles under his eyes, skin paler than a blanket of snow and bones visible at the skin. Dark red hair that seems to have some dead strands falling from it.
"I agree with Yugao-Chan here, you need to go to the hospital. Like now."
Though I see what Hokage-Sama was saying about him. He doesn't just look unhealthy, I can see some mental issues going on as well. Not to mention the loneliness and desperation coming off of him in waves that- Anko gets pulled from her thoughts as Reizen wriggles free from Yugao's grasp. From his storage seal on his leg, he pulls a sealing tag from it.
It's a good thing I pre-prepared this back in the war in case we came against the curse mark again. Handing the tag to Anko, who has now grabbed the tag and one of his arms while Yugao grabs the other.
"That tag will get rid of your cursed seal by the way." The room freezes. Anko whirls from dragging him to the door, every intention on forcing him to the hospital. Yugao's grip loosens as her eyes bug out at him.
"You're serious." The pure cold in her voice froze the room even colder. Reizen just nods.
Just like back in my timeline, same old Anko. Same defensive mask.
"Lord Hokage asked me to break the seal for you once I got back from my mission. Took me all night to do it, but I got it down once I was able to see some of the notes Orochimaru had on the seal. Once I had those, it was fairly easy. Oh, and Yugao thanks for worrying, but I will be fine. Don't worry." With that, Reizen Shunshin's out of the lounge, leaving everyone present standing there speechless as a small breeze picks up in the lounge.
"I like him." Everyone glances at Kakashi, who has his infamous orange book in hand.
"Of course you fucking would, Lazyashi. He's just like you in his hatred for hospitals." With that, Anko and Yugao storm out of the office, presumably to go hunt for the redhead. Hayate smiles at Kakashi apologetically, before taking off after the pair.
"Hana-Chan!" Hana turns to see Hayate, Yugao, and Anko rushing to her. She chuckles as they pull up short, slightly out of breath. The triplets rush to the trio, each one rubbing against their legs. They smile and pet the triplets, before standing upright.
"We need your help Hana-Chan." Hana glances at Yugao with a raised eyebrow. She crosses her arms with a small smirk on her face.
"Oh? The mighty anbu operative needs a lowly medic-nins help?" A light laugh escapes Hana as Yugao glowers at her.
"This is serious Hana-Chan. Our friend needs to go to the hospital but won't." Now Hana's face turns serious.
"Who," I swear if it's Kakashi again, I am going to wring that fucker's god damn ne-
"It's Uzumaki Reizen." Hana blinks.
"The redhead I introduced to you briefly the other day." Ah. The one who kept setting my senses off and smelled so familiar, yet I had never seen him before…
"What's wrong with him exactly?"
"He looks sick, too sick. Also, he didn't even check into the hospital after the mission with myself, Hayate, and Asuma." Hana narrows her eyes as her more primal instincts flare-up, nearly sending her careening into the dirt as they scream to run to him as if he was…. Hana shakes her head.
No, he can't be my mate. I haven't spent more than five minutes with him. Finding a mate requires you to spend significant time with the person, not to mention I have to talk to them without them nearly running scared at the sight of me. There's nothing- A loud snapping of fingers in her face brings her out of her inner dialogue, forcing her to focus on the world once more.
"Earth to Hana-Chan?" She shakes her head again, before nodding.
"Sure, I think I vaguely remember what he smells like, I might be able to help you sniff him out." With the strange emotions running through her, the group takes to the roofs in search of the missing redhead.
Hours later, the group eventually winds up at the Uzumaki residence as the color in the sky turns orange. Reizen sits on the archway of the compound, having expected them to come find him eventually. A frown mars his features as he recalls just how nosy some of them can be. He shakes his head, his red mane flowing in the small evening breeze. The quartet looks up to see him sitting on the archway, staring at the sunset.
"I assume the four of you are here to inquire after my health?" While not present, the four of them swear they can hear a faint sense of sass in his tone. Nonetheless, they nod as he jumps down from the archway, landing in front of them. Reizen proceeds to walk inside, the trio of sisters running outside.
"Onii-Chan!" Reizen braces himself as three mops of red hair throw themselves at him, tackling him to the ground. He chuckles lightly as the three sisters peek out from on top of him, taking in the new people. Upon seeing Yuugao's purple hair, a cry of "Onee-Chan!" echoes through the courtyard as they throw themselves at the purplette, who falls to the ground in a large dust cloud.
She smiles at the trio of red hair, ruffling the hair of Tayuya who pouts up at her. They drag her up to the ground, before whisking her away into the compound.
Reizen smiles, before turning to the remaining three people there. Hayate storms up to him, a frown marring his face.
"You need to go to the hospital." Reizen lifts an eyebrow.
"It's obvious you are sick, that much is apparent. Have you seen yourself in the mirror lately?" Yuugao calls from within the compound somewhere.
Most likely the kitchen helping those three make food.
Reizen sweat drops at the sudden mothering coming form Yūgao, yet swivels his gaze back to the three in front of him.
"Listen, I am perfectly fine. I'm just a little exhausted from all of the missions I have been on lately. If you really need to know, I must direct you to Lord Hokage, since most of my missions prior to working with Asuma-San are S-Rank and classified." The trio merely nods, yet Anko's stare seemingly peers into Reizen's soul.
Reizen beckons them inside, to where the sweet smell of Steak and stir-fry flows on the breeze outside. Reizen looks back to see the trio drooling at the smell.
Heh, teaching the kits some of my more famous recipes from my time working with Chōji in the kitchen has paid off. Those three will make great cooks one day. With that thought, Reizen marches inside up the mahogany stairs, the trio of food-entranced ninja behind him following.
War Diaries
Numerous white Zetsu flood the trenches as Sasuke parries a sword from a Rain shinobi.
"Gah. These mother fuckers don't know when to quit when they are beaten, do they?" Naruto pants from beside him as he cuts down three white Zetsu with kunai.
"They are mindless drones, dobe. They don't know any better just like how you don't know any better when it comes to cooking anything different from ramen."
Naruto glares at Sasuke, who merely smirks back at him.
Insufferable bastard.
Naruto conjures a Lava RasenShuriken from his chakra, hurling it downrange. The loud Wrrrr zooms through the battlefield, effectively taking out thirty percent of the enemy. They fall back, fleeing from their trenches in droves. After a few minutes, the small clearing inside of the large forest deep in Earth Country comes to a quiet as allied forces walkabout. Numerous medics drop into the trenches, carrying many injured shinobi out.
Kakashi drops next to the two main figures of the war, putting a hand on both of their shoulders. Whipping out an Icha Icha; Through the Forest, Kakashi moves in front of them.
"You two did a good job holding the frost front and pushing them out of here. Now that Konoha is linked to Kumo we can get supplies through more easily. You two have done well." Naruto and Sasuke both nod to their old sensei, when a messenger comes running up to them.
"Taicho's, a message from the swamp front. They pushed back the enemy there as well, but at a large cost. We lost Lord Han as well as Lord Onoki fighting Tobi and Madara…" A heavy silence fills the field once more at the thought that another Jinchuriki is lost to the enemies.
"Fuck…"