Hello Hello everyone, Wulf tuning in! It's here, as I finally promised! Chapter 8, after several rewrites, has finally been finished. I hope you all enjoy this chapter as I did struggle writing it, thanks to my health and other problems. Anyways, leave a review as always!
Chapter 8
Walking through the market, Reizen glances in the stalls with his basket around his arm. Stopping in front of one of the stalls, he notices a set of ink from Iron Country, as well as a brush with it. Looking up to the shopkeeper, he points to the set.
"How much?" The shopkeeper gives him a warm smile, taking the set and handing it to Reizen.
"¥40,000 for the whole set, good sir." Reizen nods, whipping out the correct notes from a storage seal on his wrist. He hands the notes to the shopkeeper, before carefully storing the set back in his wrist.
I haven't used Iron Country ink since before the war started…. The last time I was able to use some, was from the birthday present Ero-Sennin got me… Shaking his head, he moves through the rest of the market, intent on getting the groceries needed for the week.
Leaving the market, the early morning dew seems to cling to his person as Reizen makes his way back to the compound. Upon entering, he drops the groceries off on the counter top. He nods, content before moving back out of the compound. Careful to avoid the few chakra presences he feels watching for him like a hawk, he Shunshin's in front of the Hokage tower.
Walking up to Hiruzen's office, Reizen nods to the few Jonin he passes, most he has met in the past few days. Having gotten closer to the sensei from his generation, as well as his old friends has made him remember why exactly he came back in the past.
I'm here to protect them all, not to start a new life merely for myself. I have to convince the old man to bring Tsunade- opening the office doors, he walks into the one person he had just been thinking about. Literally, he bounces off Tsunade as she stumbles back into the office. He holds back the urge to simply lunge at the Godaime and embrace her. Her wisdom had always been a welcomed thing in his time, as well as the fact she had been a great drinking friend. Her death had hit him hard. He dusts his coat off, before giving a small smile to her.
"Ah, my apologies. I was lost in thought." Reaching a hand down, he helps pull a decidedly irate Tsunade, who calms down enough to take in the appearance of the red head. He had dark bags under his eyes and a ghostly complexion worse than those she sees in Iron country, yet a tranquil aura around him that sets her at ease.
Wait, red hair? Is this the one Sensei just talked to me-
A cough erupts from behind the two, where Hiruzen sits with a smile on his face.
"I was just about to summon you, Reizen-Kun. Tsunade, why don't you come back here for a moment?" While he leaves it as a question, the tone in his voice leaves little room for argument. She sighs, having wished to really not talk to her Sensei more after having been summoned back to the village.
Reizen fully enters the room, finally noticing the last occupant in the office. The white hair is the first thing he sees yet, it's all he can do to keep himself from tackling his godfather to the ground.
"Hokage-Sama….. I know you said you wanted to talk again yesterday, but this…" Hiruzen shakes his head, pointing to the couch in the corner of his office. Reizen begrudgingly sits, his arms crossed in a position resembling a pout.
"Sensei, who is this?" Tsunade gives Hiruzen a pointed look.
I have never seen this person before, so there better be a good explanation.
Hiruzen sighs at his sole female student, pinching the bridge of his nose. He waves for the anbu to leave, before raising a privacy barrier in his office.
"Reizen-Kun, as I am sure you are aware, it is customary for all deep undercover operatives to get a full medical check up upon their return. Since your mission was so long, not to mention dangerous, I have asked Tsuande to examine you and see what needs to be done. She has agreed to at least do a preliminary examination, before deciding on what should be done." Here he nods to Tsuande, who simply looks at Reizen.
He doesn't look like that much, why would Sensei even send this scrawny guy out on a top secret mission. One so secret he won't even tell me or Jiraiya?
Tsunade stands, moving in front of Reizen.
"Alright tough guy, shirt off and lay on the couch over there. Might as well get it over with." Reizen nods, a sombre expression on his face, recalling Tsuande's death at Madara's hands. Jiraiya notices his expression, causing him to raise an eyebrow in suspicion.
Reizen takes off his shirt, the numerous scars and tattoos visible for the world to see. Tsunade activates her Diagnostic Jutsu, her eyes roaming over the various scar tissues along his broad back. She pulls back, a depressive aura starting to set in the room, radiating off of Reizen.
"You have numerous scars and burns that never healed fully or properly, not to mention some minor damage to your spine. It's also….. Obvious you have some sort of mental trauma, which would require therapy with myself, unless Inoichi is up to the task and last I heard he's retired." She glances back at Jiraiya, who is watching Reizen with a suspicious look. She frowns, before turning back to Reizen.
"Come see me tomorrow so we can setup a schedule," She turns to Hiruzen, "I'll see you later Sensei. Also, I'm taking the pervert here with me to the hospital. I'll think about what you asked me earlier." With that, she grabs Jiraiya by the ear, proceeding to drag him out of the office as Reizen puts his shirt back on.
The door slams shut behind them, dust rattling from the hinges. A silence falls onto the room, the only sound coming from Hiruzen as he lights his pipe. Suddenly, Reizen clutches his chest, his breathing ragged and irregular. Panic and hysteria slowly set in, taking control of his body as he free falls to the floor. Hiruzen bolts from behind his deck in alarm, sliding to a kneel next to Reizen, who has proceeded to unvoluntarily give up his breakfast in the morning. His body racks with pain, making him feel as if he was going into cardiac arrest. Unsure of how to help, Hiruzen lays a hand on his back, trying to comfort the broken warrior. The two of them sit there until they lost track of time.
Reizen stands shakily, before he is moved to the chair nearby.
"We never found the pervert's body after he died in Ame, and we couldn't get to Tsunade's before she was reanimated against us. I killed her reanimated corpse as she shed tears on my sword Jiji. I—" Tears start to make their way out of Reizen's eyes, as Hiruzen simply lights his pipe. His hat darkens his face, shading his eyes as the embers from the pipe fly out from the breeze, landing on the desk.
"When Tobirama-Sensei sacrificed himself against the S-rank Kumo death squad, I held back my tears all the way to my small apartment with Biwako at the time. When I had finally gotten back, I collapsed into her arms, wailing my heart out to the only person I could. It was the next day I was sworn in as Sandaime, a hat I have worn for quite some time now. While we always know the ultimate sacrifice is a real thing in war, it's something that we deal with. As someone who has commanded troops in war time, I know the mental toll it takes to send troops out." Reizen nods, his fists balled at his sides.
"How did you deal with it?" The question barely comes out above a whisper, the same kind of whisper one would expect to hear on a silent night of grieving. "No matter how hard I try, every turn I take, I am reminded of everyone I failed to save."
Hiruzen nods, about to speak, before a knock on the door resonates through the room. Hiruzen motions with his head to his private office, where Reizen makes his way, albeit very shaky, before collapsing from exhaustion behind the door. Hiruzen sighs in understanding, having done the same many nights after the third war ended.
The door creaks open, swinging across the oak floor as a wooden cane taps across the threshold. Danzō nods to Hiruzen, before closing the door gently behind him.
"I don't recall giving you access to my office while I was in a meeting, Shimura-San." Danzō goes straight from the reprimand, his lone eye narrowing on his once, long time friend.
"I simply have something I wish to confirm, if you would allow it, Hokage-Sama. Is it true the Uzumaki clan is back in Konoha? As a full clan with potential to come back to full strength?" Hiruzen merely stares at Danzō, which is answer enough for him.
"I see, well I hope you have plans to use them correctly. Putting those young females in the CRA would certainly-" Crack! The desk shatters in half as Hiruzen stands, the pressure in the room increasing over ten fold.
Before Hiruzen can say anything however, the door opens from the side to reveal a very upset, and downright pissed off redhead Uzumaki.
"You fucking touch them and I will rip you to so many shreds, Kami-Sama will have trouble finding your remains to send to hell you fucking pig." Danzō looks up in alarm, before grimacing.
"See what I mean Hiruzen? You need to keep these damn Uzumaki under control. You couldn't even keep Kushina under control, what's to say you can do so with the-" Hiruzen storms up to Danzō, physically grabbing hold of him. He shoves him through the closed door, startling the secretary and anbu standing outside.
"Leave, and never enter this tower without my summoning again. Also, if you touch those children, I will have you drawn and quartered." Hiruzen motions for the anbu to take him away, which they do. Hiruzen turns around, to see Reizen has already vanished.
"Shit…. Things could go badly very quickly."
? ﾝﾌﾀ? ﾝﾌﾀ? ﾝﾌﾀ? ﾝﾌﾀ? ﾝﾌﾀ? ﾝﾌﾀ? ﾝﾌﾀ? ﾝﾌﾀ? ﾝﾌﾀ? ﾝﾌﾀ? ﾝﾌﾀ
Reizen sprints across the rooftops, the wind pushing him along as he unlocks his resistance seals on his body. He comes screaming to a halt however, as silver hair flashes in front of him. A younger Kakashi, who is being followed by Team Seven of all the fucking people, appears in front of him with his book out.
"Maa, Uzumaki-San, I presume? I have heard quite a bit about you from Asuma. May I ask what the rush is?" The glint in his eye however, tells Reizen all he needs to know. Tell Kakashi what is going on, or there will be consequences.
The problem is that the Uzumaki sisters I took in could possibly be kidnapped, or worse and I have to get back there now. I knew I should have fucking tagged the damn compound.
"Hatake-San, as much as I would love to stay around and chat, I do have somewhere to be. So if you could kindly move out of the way…." Reizen allows his hand to drift inside his coat, which Kakashi immediately notices. Before either can do something however, Naruto jumps in front of the two.
"Hey! You can't just go talking to Sensei like that, you big jerk! Even if he only has been our sensei for a short bit, you still can't talk to him like that! Also, how can you have the same last name as me!" Reizen sighs.
This is too fucking troublesome. A certain Nara sneezes on the other side of the village just as Reizen pulls a tri-pronged kunai from inside his coat.
"I'm sorry, all four of you. I will make it up to you later, I promise." His promise gets whispered onto the wind, carrying itself from chakra as Reizen flickers behind them, leaving only a white trail in his wake. Kakashi narrows his eyes, before closing his book shut.
"Come, my little pups. Let's go see our venerable Hokage, maybe we can get another mission from him?" As well as get some answers. Whoever that is, shares a close enough chakra source that I can tell they are relatives of Naruto. Maybe Kushina-Sama had a brother? Regardless, the fact they didn't take care of him… Kakashi's mood darkens, not that team seven notices.
Arriving at his compound, Reizen immediately notices the chakra presence of four shinobi lurking on top of his house. A scowl forms across his face as the wind from the darkening weather sends his haori fluttering. Running through hand signs, he finally lands on the bird sign. With a deep inhale, he jumps as high in the air as he can. Wind Style; Devastating Vacuum. As a torrent of wind suddenly lifts the shinobi high into the air, Reizen springs into action.
Drawing the katana on his side, he goes into sage mode thanks to Kurama. He jumps to the first Root shinobi, immediately blitzing through the pathetic defense he puts up while in the air. The shinobi loses the privilege of having a head the next instant, a red fountain of liquid spluttering over Reizen, darkening his face. He grins the smile of the devil, as he cancels his jutsu.
Going through one handed seals, he coats his katana in water chakra, before freezing it with wind chakra. The icy layer sets the area into a chill the likes that the Root shinobi have never seen. Reizen summons twenty shadow clones, willing them into existence without the use of hand signs.
"Lay down your weapons and I will spare you...that is if I don't feel like gutting you pigs first." Reizen spits the last part out as he finally recognizes one of the Root, a younger version of who he knows to be Shin, Sai's older brother. Shin glances to the two other Root, obviously looking for guidance. Reizen watches them warily.
A flash of red with a strange pattern in the eyes is the only warning Reizen has, before he shuts his eyes closed. Kurama?
Yes kit? Are you not done with those pathetic weaklings who tried to take your family from you?
One of them is an Uchiha.
… They must have died on a mission in our timeline then, because neither you or myself have any recollection of an Uchiha in Root forces, at any point.
I don't sense anything special about the other one, so they can die. As much as I want to keep this timeline clean, I think we are past that point already, eh partner?
Kurama nods his head from inside the seal as Reizen dashes into action. Sweeping his leg out, Reizen sends the unknown Uchiha sprawling to the ground. With a quick paralysis seal, it renders the Uchiha immobile. Side stepping a overhead sword strike from Shin, Reizen glances up at him. Still crouched, he lashes out with his leg, sending Shin some meters back and off the roof of the compound. A loud thud comes from below, bringing a pause to the fighting. Reizen finally stands from his crouch, putting his foot on the paralyzed Uchiha. He glances to the last Root, who Reizen can feel is shaking with fear.
"You think this is bad? You think this is the worst in the world?" The Root drops his sword as it clatters out of his shaking hands, sending him sprawling on his ass from lack of motor control. Reizen doesn't pay him more attention as Anbu slowly converge onto the roof, minutes after the fight has already taken place. Reizen recognizes the purple hair of the lead anbu.
Images of a bloodied sword being wiped clean on the purplette's hair as a sheath flood Reizen's mind, yet he pays them no attention.
"My apologies Anbu-San, but I will not be turning these three over to you as of yet." As one of Reizen's clone comes back onto the roof, with Shin also in a paralysis seal.
"I will be needing them as proof that Root still exists, as well as for when I summon the council to discuss this event." Yuugao takes a step forward, her hand resting on her kunai pouch. She fingers it idly, her mask moving up and down as she no doubt is sizing him up.
"Citizens and Shinobi don't possess the right to hold prisoners, even if they were the ones who were attacked. I'm afraid I will have to ask you to hand them over." Reizen sighs, before shaking his head.
"Look, you owe me, so just drop it. I have an inkling as to their identities and I have a plan on what to do with them. You're more than welcome to accompany me if you wish, but I'm not releasing them." Yuugao sizes Reizen up, seeing the dark look in his eyes. She nods her head in acquiescence, before motioning for the rest of the anbu to leave.
"I am only doing this because I owe you for saving all of our asses on the mission, got it?" She takes her mask off, her clothes vanishing into a normal jounin uniform. Reizen nods, as he stretches his chakra out over the village, searching for Itachi's chakra signature. Once he locates it, along with one Shisui Uchiha, he nods to his clones, picking up the Uchiha underneath him and carrying her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
"My clone is going to take the young one to my compound, there is a chance we can remove his seal since he is young enough. Same with this one, though there is someone we need to talk to first." Sealing the unconscious and bound Uchiha into his shoulder, he nods to himself before making for Itachi.
Some time passes, as both Reizen and Yuugao finally reach the nice restaurant district of Konoha.
Man, I have a feeling she might be on a date, and I am going to feel like a complete asshole, but this takes precedence.
Indeed it does kit. Love and romance will always come second to things related to saving the world, after all you know that lesson the best.
He motions for Yuugao to wait outside, as he opens the glass doors quietly. A young host walks up to him quickly, bowing in front of him.
"Honorable Shinobi-San, it is an honor to serve you at The Leaping Mantis, how many for this evening?" His voice comes out smooth as silk, holding the bow a touch longer than normal.
Reizen smiles quietly at the young civilian.
"I am actually here on shinobi business, my young friend. Would you mind showing me where Uchiha-Sama is? I need to speak with her somewhat urgently." The young host nods, his long brown hair moving from the sudden movement. He leads the way through the maze of fancy tables. Finally, he points to a quiet table in the corner near the window on the second floor.
"That table there sir, anything else?" Reizen waves his hand, calmly approaching the table. The young host makes his way back into the first floor of the noisy restaurant, leaving Reizen alone. Itachi glances behind her, finally acknowledging the presence of the time travelling Uzumaki.
Reaching the table, Reizen nods to Itachi, before taking in the young Shisui Uchiha holding her hand rather tightly, as if afraid he is here to try and steal her from him.
"Itachi-San, pardon my rudeness. I also offer my sincere apologies to your boyfriend, however I do have something I need to speak with yourself and clan leader about. It is somewhat urgent I am afraid." Itachi waves her hand nonchalantly, already standing from the table.
"This is my boyfriend, Shisui Uchiha. Some call him by the moniker, Shisui of the Body Flicker, though I am sure someone as knowledgeable as you is aware of this. Also, no offence taken. We were already done dining, merely discussing life. If it wasn't urgent, I doubt you would have sought myself out. Come, let us head to the compound." Reizen nods, following the young couple's lead out of the restaurant.
Dusk slowly settles upon the village as they exit the restaurant, Yuugao waiting outside for them.
"Itachi-Chan?"
"Yuugao-Chan? What are you doing here?" She merely points to Reizen, shaking her head.
"Better to talk at the compound with Mikoto-Sama. Her and the elders need to speak with Reizen here, that's for sure." With that, the quartet make their way across the village.
The moon slowly rises over the trees, as a soft breeze flows through the quiet village. The group reaches the compound, two guards perk to attention at the gate as they see the heiress and company approach.
"Welcome back Itachi-Sama, I see you have some friends?" The one on the right chuckles lightly, waving to his son Shisui.
"How was the date son? I hope you treated Itachi-Sama well as always." Shisui nods.
"Of course father, I would never treat her any less." A small smile forms on Itachi's lips, slightly gripping her boyfriend's hand harder.
"Come, we should go see my mother before it gets any later. I am sure she is expecting us by now." Reizen nods to the two guards, moving past them and following Itachi. They reach the main family's house. Itachi slowly opens the pane, careful to not rip the paper.
"Mother, I am home with some company who wishes to speak with you." Mikoto raises her head from the scroll she was reading, surprise evident in her eyes. Shisui bows low at the waist.
"It's a pleasure to see you as always, Mikoto-Sama." Mikoto gets up from her chair, before ruffling Shisui's hair playfully.
"It's good to see you as well kiddo, now why don't you introduce me to this young man? I know Yuugao-Chan of course." Yuugao bows, a smile on her face.
"Mother, this is Reizen Uzumaki, new Jonin as well as the current leader of the Uzumaki clan." Mikoto's eyebrows raise at this, a new light in her eyes.
"Uzumaki, you wouldn't happen to have known anyone by the name of Kushina now would you?" Reizen's face turns into a soft smile, sadness etching his face.
"I presume you are asking if I know my niece, and yes I am aware she was here before she died. I am currently trying to help those remaining, though that is not why I am here this evening, Mikoto-Sama. May we speak privately?" Mikoto nods, walking to her office.
"Itachi and Shisui stay, I hope you don't mind?" Reizen shakes his head, following her lead into her office. They enter into a small room, a few candles lighting the room.
The door closes behind the four, as Yuugao simply stays in the shadows of the room.
"What I am about to show you, Mikoto-Sama is something that I ran across today. Tree roots certainly like to spring up into the ground at the worst of times, but this was a surprise to say the least." Mikoto narrows her eyes, obviously catching onto the analogy there.
Reizen unseals the unconscious female Uchiha, laying her gently on the ground. A pin could have dropped in the room and it would have been heard in the silence, as the three Uchiha stare at the masked Root. Reizen removes her mask, revealing an almost identical twin to Shisui, who is standing behind Mikoto. He snarls, his tanto already in his hand as he lunges at the Uzumaki.
"I'll kill you for even touching my younger sister! How dare you take her so young, you mother fucker! I will slaughter you!" He makes it halfway across the room, before he is grabbed out of the air by Mikoto and Itachi, both who are holding back tears. Tears flow freely from Shisui, who struggles in their grasp violently. He kicks and swings his tanto, using every move he knows from anbu to try and escape their grasp, to no avail. Mikoto places a tender hand on Shisui's face, pulling his attention to her.
"Shisui, I understand your feelings, but you must be silent for now. Allow me to figure things out, as clan leader it is my duty to figure this all out. I will take care of you and your family, you have always had this promise from me." Shisui nods, the rage boiling inside him rushing through his body, making his veins pop out visibly under his skin. He slowly calms down, though tears are still flowing freely from his eyes.
"Michiko….. Your alive." He sniffs, before he glares at Reizen.
"Shisui-Kun, I know how you feel. If Sasuke had ever been kidnapped, and I suddenly got him back I would be upset as well. Uzumaki-Sama will explain, just let him." She brushes the top of his hand gently, pulling her closer into his embrace. The two of them sink to the ground as Mikoto slowly lets go of the calm Shisui, who has started sobbing into Itachi's shoulder. Itachi nods to her mom, before exiting the room with her emotional boyfriend.
"My apologies Uzumaki-San, please do not take offense to my clan member's actions. That is his younger sister, who we thought was kidnapped by Kiri and dead for quite some time. To find out she is not only alive but in Root of all places ..." Her voice trails off as she reaches down, placing a gentle hand on the side of her face.
"Oh, you poor angel…." Tears well up in her eyes before she stands up fully.
"I am aware that she is more than likely sealed. Uzumaki-San, if you are anywhere near as skilled as your clan is known for in Fuinjutsu, can you save her? Please, if you can unseal Michiko, the Uchiha clan would be forever in your debt." Reizen moves to a chair nearby, sitting down as the weight of secrets slowly fatigues him more.
"There are many variables to consider, even if Danzo wasn't in the picture, there is no telling that she will be the same person as before. Hell, I don't even know if she would remember who she is at all. There are many risks involved in this, not to mention I don't know how the Sandaime would react for that matter." Reizen places his chin in his hand, resting his elbow on the small table in front of him. Mikoto nods, her hair swaying with the movement.
"I understand what I am asking of you is a large favor, as well as a monumental task. If you have a price, name it and-" Reizen shakes his head, his bangs slowly covering his eyes as Mikoto stops mid sentence.
"I wont accept payment if I am to do it, just the fact that someone isn't under this inhuman seal would be enough for me. I just-"
Kit.
Reizen holds up a hand apologetically, before closing his eyes for a moment.
Kurama?
Save the Uchiha kit. Damn the consequences of the world that may come later, we are here to save as many as we can. Saving this Uchiha now, who has the Mangekyou, could prove beneficial later on. Bring a Yamanaka into this, that could help as well.
Reizen nods to himself, slowly opening his eyes to a patiently waiting Mikoto.
"My apologies, I was thinking of something. I will do my best, though I do have one request if I am to attempt to unseal her." Mikoto smiles, already nodding her head.
"Whatever your request is, I shall grant it if it's within my powers."
"I would like to bring a Yamanaka into this, in case the sealing goes wrong." Mikoto stares at Reizen, before raising an eyebrow at his request.
"Very well, we shall go see a Yamanaka before you perform the sealing."