"What happened next?"
It was dark outside, well into the early hours of the morning. In the Hokage's Office, things were not much louder than outside in the village, but it currently had a few people awake and alert despite the late hour. That's not saying much since all were trained as active members of Konoha's Shinobi force.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, the third Hokage, had his fingers steepled and a wry smile on his face as he listened to the report of one ANBU Inu. While no one in the room was particularly in the dark about his identity, it was the procedure, and thus it was followed. Aside from the two, stood three other people.
One was a fuming blonde buxom woman who was apparently barely holding back her temper, as evident by her twitching fingers. This was Senju Tsunade, the last living member of a once great clan, and currently the best medic-ninja the Elemental Nations had to offer. One could tell she had come straight to the office from her workplace, given that she still had her white coat on.
Another was a man garbed in standard Konoha Jonin attire, black version. His hair was strange, put into a tight ponytail that causes its ends to stand, and currently was either fighting back a frown, or a smile, it was hard to decide. This was Nara Shikaku, Jonin Commander and Tactical Advisor of Konoha, having only recently taken the post after the demise of his predecessor in the Kyuubi Attack.
The last was a pale man with long black hair, currently let loose. He was garbed in the standard Konoha Jonin Attire, green edition. His eyes were cat-like, yellow with slit pupils, and a purple discoloration lent to a distinctly serpentine appearance. Currently, the interest the man felt was obviously evident on his face.
"After subtly manipulating the nurse into thinking better of his current subject of interest, the target moved on to sneak into the employees only section. Given that you have barred us from interfering unless the situation is too dire, we let the target proceed." Inu continued, head still tilted to the side as he stood, relaxed. "The moment the target entered the hospital archive, he poked at a blank tile in the center of the room. Something he must have seen made him beam wide, then he swiped his hands in front of himself again, as if dismissing something. He then spent an hour searching for something, which I had Taka confirm to be advanced chakra control techniques, before he escaped again, unnoticed."
"Clearly, he's a criminal mastermind, isn't he, Tsunade?" Hiruzen asked his pupil, eyes almost closed with mirth.
"That was the only copy we had in the archives!" said woman retorted, eyes narrowed. "Do you know how long it took for me to write that up? If I don't see it back within a month, I'm going over to the brat and demanding it myself!"
"I don't think that's necessary." Shikaku spoke up, smiling now. "Something tells me you'll find it back in its place by tomorrow. The only question is whose leg in the orphanage is going to end up 'broken' this time."
"Ruthless, but effective." Orochimaru murmured, eyes tracing the file he's been given. "He knew that he had no valid reason to approach the hospital given that he can't bleed, so he manipulated events so that he could have a plausible cause. He also didn't harm the girl too much, I think."
"Her shinbone cracked in three places!" Tsunade hissed.
"Which you healed without any negative consequence." Orochimaru retorted. "While he was in the hospital, he not only continued his campaign of painting the Jinchuuriki in a good light, he also acquired what we can safely assume was his primary goal all through his little spiel – techniques on chakra control."
"Given that he already has perfect chakra control, I'm not sure what good it will do him." Inu interjected. "Although his intentions seem to be pure, we still have seen no evidence of him being completely loyal to Konoha."
"Not this again." Hiruzen muttered. "Inu, you and I both know that's not the reason you dislike Gundan-kun, so let's not pretend it is. I gave you the order to stay away from Naruto for a reason."
The ANBU remained silent.
"We know practically nothing about his kekkei-genkai." Orochimaru spoke, tone mocking as his eyes continued to can the folder. "His chakra has no elemental alignment. Strange, but at least we can rule out an elemental kekkei-genkai. He can not bleed, as observed by ANBU agent Taka when target was in Yamanaka Flowers. While his chakra has started growing over the past month, it had been stagnant until recently. Yamanaka mind techniques also have no effect on him." His face almost broke into a manic grin. "This mystery… is interesting."
"He's a bit weak for his age." Hiruzen reminded him. "Given his inclination for stealth, he'd make a wondrous assassin… if he remains loyal. Do you think you can mold him?"
"Wait a kami-damned minute!" Tsunade hissed. "That brat has control that rivals my own at such a young age! If anything, he should be my apprentice! Shizune, him, and some brat from the Academy to even things out – this could be an amazing recovery team to bolster our ranks."
"It was what I was thinking, until I realized that he was in the hospital archives and didn't take scrolls for any healing techniques." Hiruzen continued, unbothered by his student's glare. "And, besides, do you really want to take on a stealth-skilled individual as a student? We both know you will attempt to shape him in your image, which would go against something he has raw potential in."
Tsunade remained silent.
"I accept." Orochimaru smirked. "Unravelling the secrets behind his bloodline… will be a good challenge."
"Hm." The Sandaime hummed. "Tsunade, what do you think will happen if he tries more chakra-control exercises even with perfect control?"
The medic gave an angry frown. "I… don't know. Because of my Senju heritage, it took a lot of effort to gain perfect control over my chakra at all, and I still have to maintain it by regular exercise. Given that he reached perfection only with the exercises we have out for shinobi on the field…"
The office degenerated into silence.
"Why would he poke at air?" Shikaku bluntly asked the room. "He is not affected by any genjutsu, he seems to be stable on all accounts, and he's clearly not doing it to rile us up. What is he seeing that we aren't?"
"Whatever it is, it began after the Kyuubi Attack." Inu supplemented. "He never exhibited such behavior before, except that Yamanaka jutsu still did not affect him since he was born."
"His bloodline is an unknown, and thus, we must contribute resources towards understanding it better." Hiruzen concluded. "This is true; but he also seems to have taken to young Naruto, caring for him and fighting for him to be seen as a regular human being. He has already done more than what my dear friend has tried to pull in the opposite direction." The old man smiled. "Maybe Minato will have his last wish, after all."
That statement gave a little nudge to the hearts of all those present, save one.
"Then it is decided." He continued after a pause. "Gundan-kun will be Orochimaru's student when he graduates from the Academy. Considering that the Yamanaka Clan has already petitioned to have a member on the team he's in, however, you will have to take a full Genin team."
"No." the man simply said, eyes narrowed. "I have no time to waste on talentless children."
"That is just the way things must be, I'm afraid." Hiruzen smirked. "You'll have your other team members picked out by the time Gundan-kun graduates, whenever that is. You will take them all under your wing, and you will train them to be shinobi. Unless… you'd rather I give Gundan-kun to Tsunade…?"
Orochimaru had an expression on his face as if he had sucked on a lemon. "But-"
"Or worse… I could give him to Jiraiya when he returns in six months." Hiruzen continued, but mirth danced in his eyes. "I'm sure that he could train the boy well, too."
"That bumbling idiot will have no idea what to do with the boy's potential!" Orochimaru protested. He then took a deep breath to calm himself down, before sighing. "Fine." He spat. "I'll take a team."
Tsunade grumbled. "I still say I should have him."
Shikaku sighed.
The [Konoha Shinobi Academy] was a collection of three buildings centered around a large training ground, shaped like a half of a square. Located close to the [Hokage Tower], it had an otherwise unremarkable appearance about its five-level structure. There were three distinct sections to it.
One, that included the ground, first, and second levels, were classes assigned for the four-year shinobi program. Each year had three classes, as a means of generating positive rivalry to enhance performance, however, the last year had only a single class.
The second, and separating the other two sections, was what was known as the admin level on the third floor. Besides the teacher's and dean's offices, the only thing of note here was the library, which, while not including jutsu, did include a lot of theoretical information that was good for shinobi to know.
The last one, and fuck was this a surprise, the fourth level was dedicated to Genin Enhancement. Apparently, the Genin who fail their teacher's test after passing the Academy are indeed sent back, but not to the classes they've already done. No, they're sent to a special remedial program that hammers basic Konoha ethics into their skull, brings up their skill level, and gives out missions in random team formations until they reach Chunin level or opted to join a non-combat department, usually mentored by the head of. This was why there were more Chunin than Genin and Jonin combined in Konoha – once the ninjas who go through Genin Enhancement reach Chunin, they have little drive to do much else and are content with their lot in life. If only two or three teams passed every year, the Konoha Shinobi force would be a lot smaller, that's for sure – it was something that always irked me.
The basement level was a large gymnasium for members of both programs to use.
As I stood there and listened to the poor Chunin teacher drone on and on about the virtues of becoming a ninja of Konoha, my eyes traced the window that had popped up the moment I entered with the other orphans who wanted to join the program.
[Main Quest Alert!
Open Up Your World
You have decided to join the Konoha Shinobi Academy in order to join the active ninja force and increase your reach over the land. Persevere through four years of lessons and pass the Academy Final Exam.
Objectives :
Pass the Academy Final Exam
Reward :
5000xp]
Five thousand experience points for four years' worth of slaving. Obviously, the bonus objectives weren't highlighted, but I was a hundred percent sure what they were.
Kakashi joined the Academy at age four and graduated at the top of the class a year later, when he was five, during war-time. Currently, since I was already five when I started out my afterlife, that option was out. However, I could one-up him in a way…
I'll graduate in a year with perfect scores.
Even Kakashi didn't have perfect scores, or at least I think so. I just know that he had the best marks when he graduated out of all the others. It's what drew Minato to him, I think. I'm not entirely sure.
Yes. That's what I'm going to do.
I accepted the quest with a smirk which instantly died when I noticed that the Chunin was still talking. God! And it wasn't even a teacher I recognized. I doubted Iruka would teach here so soon, in fact… I think he's just lost his parents. Since he hasn't joined my orphanage, he must have joined the one on the other side of the district.
Was he here?
I nonchalantly looked around, but much to my disappointment, he wasn't. Either he was already a part of the academy, or he will be next year, although I think the former was more on point.
My eyes froze when they landed on a distinctly familiar face dressed in blacks. I tried to remember whether he should be here or not, but I hadn't read or watched his Shinden, so I wasn't sure.
Itachi met my eyes with curiosity shining in them.
Fuck, fuck, fuck! Five-year-old Uchiha Itachi was in my class! I looked off towards where the parents of the non-orphans were standing and spotted Uchiha Mikoto standing off to the side, whispering with clear joy to… Yamanaka Shishito!
My eyes searched the crowd again and landed on a girl standing a few ways away, dressed in a purple kimono tied with a black obi. She looked just as bored as I felt, examining her nails with a disinterested air. Her mother said she was a couple of years older, that made her seven.
Actually, I was pretty sure Itachi and I were the youngest here. Shishito's daughter probably was the second youngest. The rest all looked at least eight or nine.
My 'graduating in one year' plan just got all the more important. Whoever and whatever Itachi became, his experiences as a ninja were directly responsible for it. I don't dare interfere in that, lest it cripples Sasuke's development and makes him weak to stop Kaguya when he's revived.
…
Pfft! Ahahahahahaha! Whoever said I cared?
This is my afterlife. Whatever I want to do here, I will. Itachi graduates when he's… seven, I think. I'm going to pull that closer… make sure he graduates when I do. If we get on the same team, I will be able to be in good relations with the Uchiha clan; and, cue drumroll, Sasuke! If I can create a strong enough bond between Naruto and Sasuke, then it doesn't matter whether I can make Orochimaru stay back in the village or not! Hell, this will also make it easier to influence the Uchiha Clan as a whole not to plan a coup against the village!
Wait… Why didn't I talk up the Uchiha Clan when I did so for Naruto? Well, it's never too late, I guess. The Uchiha felt secluded, alienated, isolated from that which their ancestor gave rise to, right?
I'm going to spin that on its axis. The village felt great sympathy when Sasuke was effectively orphaned, so they can't really be feeling that horrible towards them. Then why-
Oh.
Of course.
Another personal goal? I'm going to kill Danzo before I graduate. He's too detrimental towards the continued survival of the Shinobi World as a whole. Someone else can handle root… maybe Jiraiya once I get him to deal with Nagato? That'd certainly be a sight. Trying to imagine Sai reading Icha-Icha made me shudder in suppressed laughter.
Yep, that's definitely what's going to happen.
I met Itachi's eyes again somehow and smiled. He offered a polite one in return.
All the butterflies in the world ain't gonna stop me from living this story my way.
My attention snapped to the podium when the Hokage took the stage, dressed in formal robes and hat. I didn't think he would be here… ah, wait, this is the first Academy admission after Kurama was forced to attack the village; he must be here to motivate parents so that word will spread and academy admittance will rise again… the few amount of children who stood here now would barely make took classes, let along three, and that was if spread generously.
"It warms my heart to see so many of our number joining the academy this year, even after the disaster from a month ago." He began, and instantly he had everyone's attention. Even nature itself seemed to stand still and pay heed to his words… he must either have a skill to do so, or he's just so powerful that when he wants to command attention, he just will. "The village lost its greatest hero, and not without cost – our lives have been disrupted, many more were lost, and we're still picking up the pieces even now.
"But has that stopped our spirit?" he gestured to the Academy hopefuls, i.e. us, with a proud smile, "These very young leaves prove to us that we have not cut down! Konoha has weathered three wars and emerged victorious in all, borne the hatred of many nations for our strength even though now we enjoy far more positive attention, and now, we have suffered through the attack of a Bijuu and we still remain standing!
"The strength of Konoha comes not from the jutsu we use or the kekkei-genkai we wield, no. It comes from the hearts of those who make it a village! Civilian families and shinobi clans alike – Konoha stands together! It is together that we have survived so long, and together that we will continue to do so in the future!"
A loud cheer sounded from the crowd. Whether ninja or civilian, stoic or rambunctious, loud or soft, all lent their support to the Hokage – it was visible on their faces, in their eyes, and in their actions. The respect they had for this man was frightening, if you thought about it. Hashirama gave birth to Konoha, Tobirama expanded on it, and Minato saved it from a Bijuu, but it was Hiruzen who united it. He was its greatest Hokage, in most senses of the word, only to be surpassed by Naruto, the Nanadaime.
Now that I joined the Academy, my innocent act won't work with a majority of the civilian population, but I did have a hidden ace to make them see what I want them to see. [Wordplay] would see more levelling up, that was for certain.
When all was said and done, Mikoto, Itachi, Shishito, and her daughter were huddled together, talking. I, meanwhile, took the time to bug outta there. I was, indeed, successful in stealing the advanced chakra control exercises scroll from the hospital, but I hadn't a chance to open it yet.
And I needed only two more perk points to purchase [Foreign Influences].
I still thought it was a bad idea, but I could not move on from the current list without buying up all of it at all. It made me wonder for a moment (as I used [Chakra Leap] to jump from roof to roof and then take a breather when I reached my limit, only to jump again) if I actually had any free will here when it came to my perks. Maybe Neji had been right all along, and fate was really an important thing?
Meh. Fuck fate.
I gained a couple of levels in the skill by the time I reached my room in the orphanage, and it was only moments later when I had the scroll open wide and was reading through it with fervent speed. There was a total of six exercises listed, three of which were the combination ones I had used to level up my control skill before it had evolved. I moved on to read the next three… and face-palmed. Hard.
Why in the world had I not remembered about chakra strings before? I even loved the puppeteering characters from the manga enough that it ought to have been right in front of my mind! Goddamn it, Legion, get your head in the game!
That was the first one – lifting a leaf with a string from each of your fingers; one would expect it from Suna, but eh, as long as my control reached max level, I really didn't care. The second was stiffening a precise dimension of an area of cloth – apparently, it taught the body's chakra to remain in strict limits, not over spilling for a second; I was a bit apprehensive, as charging an entire object seemed easy… charging only a portion of an object would be an exercise in restraint. The third seemed incredibly difficult – spinning senbon on the pads of your fingers with chakra without having them break the skin; it taught you to focus the cloth-stiffening exercise on your own body, bringing up control for medical jutsu.
Hm.
I read through the notes and focused… weaving chakra 'filaments' into a thread and slowly pushing it out from the tenketsu on the tip of my index finger…
PING!
[A skill has been updated!
Chakra Cost Mastery (Passive) Lv 52 (7.82%)
Allows extremely strict control over chakra flow, allowing the user to lower the cost for jutsu by a large margin. Finely tuning chakra movement throughout the body is now second nature.
-52% CP cost for chakra-imbued skills.
Exercises Discovered – Leaf Balancing (5 CP/min), Tree Climbing (10 CP/min), Water Walking (15 CP/min), Chakra String (20 CP/min/string).]
Deciding to register all the exercises into my skill first, I snuck down into Mika's office and nicked the needle set in her sewing kit – while not senbon, it would be more than enough, and crept back into my room. I used the bedsheet on my bed for the second exercise.
It turned out, registering them into the skill itself leveled the skill up twice.
[A skill has been updated!
Chakra Cost Mastery (Passive) Lv 54 (0.59%)
Allows extremely strict control over chakra flow, allowing the user to lower the cost for jutsu by a large margin. Finely tuning chakra movement throughout the body is now second nature.
-54% CP cost for chakra-imbued skills.
Exercises Discovered – Leaf Balancing (5 CP/min), Tree Climbing (10 CP/min), Water Walking (15 CP/min), Chakra String (20 CP/min/string), Cloth Stiffening (25 CP/min/m2), Senbon Balancing (30 CP/min/needle).]
I set my training equipment aside for now, and navigated over to the perk menu, selecting [Foreign Influences]. However, this one seemed unique.
[Are you sure you want to purchase the perk: Foreign Influences?
WARNING: Once the perk is purchased, checkpoints are rendered void.]
This sounded bad, it really did. I was also having a creeping feeling of 'hoe don't do it', but if I didn't purchase this perk, I wouldn't be able to finish the tier. And frankly, having another world's creature as a familiar sounded pretty enticing.
I accepted it, and…. Nothing.
Nothing immediately world-shattering happened in that moment. No wormhole opened up and let in an invasion force of para-demons, no Shinigami appeared out of thin air… nothing.
So, I shrugged it off, the foreboding feeling having vanished, and decided to practice chakra control for the rest of the day, absently noting I still had three perk points left in my wallet.
Looking back, I'd regret that decision a thousand times over.