Scarlet Justice - ep. 108
"Forward Thinking"
Our mission came to a quiet end.
Tsunade was quite happy with her new acquisition, as it will mean much less work at a higher efficiency overall. There will also be many an opportunity to research the mineral and create new things out of it. The three of us get a check-up and are given a clean bill of health.
The Hokage gets our report. There is a great regret in his eyes as he realizes what has happened – we say nothing, knowing that there is a lot of process when it comes to these sorts of things. He thanks us for our service and praises our skilful completion of the primary mission. The Tsuchikage called a few hours earlier and aired his suspicions while bandying about various threats if he found that the Leaf was responsible for what happened. Of course, it will all amount to nothing but bluster since he has no proof. We are dismissed after getting our mission pay directly from the old man, and assurances that what we saw will be investigated as thoroughly as possible. I don't doubt that it will be, but it will certainly take some time to deal with...
As for life in the village, it is becoming...normal again, I would say. The past few months have gone by quickly enough, and though I still vividly remember that terrible experience with my father, it no longer rules me like it used to. I am very much making a way for myself again. I have my family and friends to thank...and of course, my beloved mother who continues to watch over me from the heavens. The weeks pass by, and Fio is getting more and more used to life in the village. She likes to put hair into twin-tails these days, resting on her shoulders. It makes her look cute and youthful, so I more than approve. She's also been eating fairly well, and I can see that her face is getting a bit more plump. This is quite good, since it means that she's holding onto a bit of weight. Tsunade says there's still more work to be done, but progress is a wonderful thing. Fio has yet to meet her new team, but she's as excited as she was the day we walked into the village together. In the meantime, she is doing the same things that Team Eight used to: lower rank missions that allow her to get in touch with the village's people. I hear nothing but good reports.
New adventures will call to me soon enough. For now, I will let the winds take me where they choose.
The world is waking up from its winter slumber. It is finally, truly spring.
With spring comes a great warmth in Fire Country, making it feel closer to summer on some days. People are out and about, the flowers start to bloom, and the once slow moving village is returning to its normal speed. Active shinobi never stop training, but the days of extended indoor sessions are over for most. The training fields are lively again. Soldiers young and old head out to polish their skills, facing down nature and all of its variables.
I am taking the opportunity today to rest, with the people close to me.
"Aw, come on...that was a lucky shot, Yuno."
"Dude, that was super clean. I ran a super good lap, too."
Today is one of my days off, and it's the same for Naruto and Yuno. We're inside the former's home, where the boys play their video games to relax while I cook a healthy lunch. It seems the Senju Estate has been lending out various likenesses for entertainment purposes. Which makes sense, I suppose. Nobody in their right mind would misuse the image of say, Hashirama for profit, lest they have unexpected visitors showing up on their doorsteps. Still. I have to wonder what the Second Hokage would think of being digitized for the purposes of driving a small, motorized vehicle and jostling again other cartoon characters in absurd sorts of races. It's called Tobirama Kart. With a 'k', to be hip and youthful, I suppose.
Fun game, though. Well. It helps that I'm pretty good at it. Winning and being smug are obviously the most fun parts.
"Finish up your match, darlings. Lunch is ready."
"Alright, we're heading into the last lap!" Naruto calls back.
I start plating the food as they finish. Today's meal is pan-seared salmon with some spiced up white rice. The boys finish up and turn off the television before coming to the table. Yuno has been dressing quite confidently lately, with Nami helping to find clothing that emphasizes his figure a bit. A nice and slim red sweater that comes up above the waist, paired with the cute skirt and stockings I remembered. It's lovely to see that he's so comfortable now.
"Tell me what you think. Hopefully it isn't too spicy," I say.
"Mm! Not at all, this is awesome!" Yuno says.
"Yeah, Lili always knocks it out of the park. I was super looking forward to this," Naruto says while chewing.
"You've got two hotties cooking for you. Totally living the dream, right?"
"Heh...something like that, I guess."
"I'm actually gonna head on out once lunch is done with. Did you want to hang onto the game, Naruto?"
"Nah, take it with you. I might get distracted and junk, there's something that Pervy Sage wants me to look into when I have time. Easier to put down the watering can than it is the controller, you know?"
"I hear you."
"Did you have an errand to run?" I ask Yuno, sitting down with my own food.
"Oh, yeah. You remember the stuff I was talking to you about the other day? About chakra research and how it was advancing, all that? Nami got me in on the ground floor of a little program starting up. They're talking about shinobi tools, something that's...ah, ten? Fifteen years out? Something like that. But yeah, we were talking the other day...well, you know what I mean by that."
"Perhaps a word or two in edgewise before she gets herself going again."
"Exactly. But she's fascinating to listen to, honestly. So we were talking about the applications of chakra in traditional building materials, and the proliferation of new building techniques...it really got me thinking about the applications of chakra in support applications and outside of combat. I couldn't stop reading books, I was just...I dunno, it got a hold of me all of a sudden. So I'm still going to work on things like chakra applications in combat and medical aspects, but hopefully with this I can get myself settled into a proper research role. Nami says I have the chops."
"Does she? Well, consider that among the highest praises you'll receive in life. Things like that aren't said lightly, especially by the Hyuuga."
"I figured as much, since she was really intense and all while talking to me. I'm actually so excited to get into it..."
"So you're gonna be a chakra scientist? That sounds super cool," Naruto says. "Maybe you could build a cool robot arm."
Yuno chuckles. "That might be one application. Especially if we're all still out fighting as shinobi. Being able to restore function to a part of your body that was once lost...I'm sure many people will be grateful for it. There are so many possibilities...hey, maybe you could have me do some work for you when you get to be Hokage." He winks at me. "Or you, Lili. Whoever makes it to the big chair first, hehe."
"At this point we're set to make a race out of it," Naruto says, grinning. "Kakashi-sensei will probably get in there before any of us. Or Asuma-sensei, probably. Pervy Sage says he doesn't want any parts of it."
"Too much work?"
Naruto shrugs. "He's always all mysterious about it. I mean he knew the Fourth, so...I dunno, maybe something happened that put him off it."
"Well, not everyone wants to be Hokage, especially once they've been around long enough to know what the job is like. And it's probably an intense selection process."
"Yeah, probably."
"With all that said...I'm done eating. Lili, thanks so much. You're an amazing cook."
"It was nothing, my dear. We'll surely do this again soon," I say with a smile. "I can take care of your plate when I'm done, so leave it where it is."
"Got it. Naruto, I'll see you around."
"Yep." They bump fists before Yuno comes around to hug me.
"I'll be sure to give you a call, Lili."
"I'm looking forward to it. If you don't catch me at a good time, you can leave a message with Fio."
"Right. Take care, you guys."
Yuno packs up the video game console into his small bag, pulls on his sandals, and heads out.
"I was expecting it to be the three of us, but...I suppose this works as well," I say out loud.
"Eh? Something up, Lili?"
"Yes. I have something that I want to go over with you. A little bit of advanced technique. Would you be interested?"
"New tech with a super elite shinobi? Heh, who says no? I'm down if you are," Naruto says.
"Good. It won't be too long, and there won't be much physical exertion if any. There's also something I want to talk to you about before we do any sort of teaching. But finish your food properly first and let it settle. No sense in walking around in discomfort."
"Gotcha."
We finish our meal and chase it with some tea before settling down. After about an hour, the two of us grab our sweaters and head outside, into the warm spring afternoon. It's a very comfortable day, I would say.
"Did, uh...did the thing you needed to talk about...?"
"It's nothing too sensitive," I say to Naruto as we walk. "But...I think it's better if we find somewhere to stop and chat. So we can really listen to each other."
"Ah, okay. Makes sense."
We walk through the village quietly, and I guide us towards a certain spot. The third training ground, where Team Seven goes to regularly hone their skills.
"You chose here?"
"Yes. It...has a meaning right now," I say as we come to a stop. In front of us is the memorial stone, with a flag bearing the village's symbol blowing in the breeze. Many names are inscribed here. Not of every single person who died, no...but those who made the most notable sacrifices for the sake of the village. There's that name here...the one that Kakashi looks at every time he stands in this spot. Obito Uchiha. "Naruto...your dream is to become Hokage, isn't it?"
"Sure is. I'm working my butt off to try and get there, as fast as I can."
"That's good. When I said that I would stand with you, in hopes that you would reach that dream...I meant every word that I said."
"Well, I know that already. Like, duh."
"Yes...it's just that...something inside of me has changed."
"Changed?"
"I kept telling myself that I wasn't the right person. That because I could only sever and destroy, my role was somewhere in the shadows, standing next to the real leader of this village and serving them with all of my strength. I wasn't hoping to become subservient, but I assumed that I had a function, and that I would be best served sticking to it. My view of myself was as a blade of justice, being wielded by those with pure hearts in order to see this world brought into a new age, an age of order and peace, one of beautiful, infinite possibilities for everyone. I still see myself that way, and I'm willing to do whatever my precious people ask whenever they call for me. But...one day, I have to go beyond that. I have to become a living, autonomous weapon that submits to no one in this world. An elegant sword that cuts through the fabric of fate, with heaven's brilliant strength."
"..." Naruto thinks for a moment. "That's...are you saying that you're going for it? Being Hokage?"
"Yes. It's no longer a matter of wishing, or hoping that I fit, or taking the job reluctantly. I will become Hokage, Naruto. And I won't let anyone stop me on the way there. I want to gain experience, and wisdom beyond measure. There will be a time of preparation as I become an adult, one visible to the masses. After that, I will reach out and take hold of what belongs to me. The reason I needed to tell you this is because of what I said all that time ago."
"My dream to be Hokage one day..."
"Yes."
"I totally get what you're thinking." He puts his hands in his pockets. "But it's nothing like that, you know? It doesn't feel like you're betraying me, or taking something away from me. Nothing like that. Probably...it would feel that way because we know each other, and you're really far ahead of me. Right?"
"That's exactly it."
"Yeah, don't worry about that. Healthy competition is always nice," he says with a smile. "And there's more than one way to get to the goal, like I've always said to myself. But I'm not saying this stuff just to be nice, you get me?"
I nod. "Mm-hm."
"There's...something that came back to my thoughts just now, since we've started talking about this. You remember the day we got our team assignments, Lili?"
I nod. "Yes, I do. It was quite a shock seeing you there, and then another to have you paired up with Sasuke and Sakura."
"Yeah, wasn't it? Heck of a day, and one that I won't ever forget. Not for that reason, though."
"Oh?"
"You and I had that talk. About how I was pretty irresponsible, and learning the Shadow Clone Jutsu, and how I had value and all that. And then you said those words...the ones that I've kept in my heart every day since. That I would always be Naruto to you."
"I did say that. I meant it with all of my heart."
"I know, Lili. That's part of why I treasure them so much. My reasons for becoming Hokage were...I guess to get fame and respect. Those things that I never had because people hated me and I wasn't all that good at being a shinobi. I thought that once I got the highest position in the village, all of that would change. The girls would be all over me instead of guys like Sasuke, I'd get to do what I wanted, nobody would get to shoo me or kick me out of any place in the village...I would be on top of the world. That was what kept me going. But, well...since I met you, my thinking's changed a whole lot. I started asking myself why I really wanted to be Hokage, and what that would really mean for me. I started thinking about what I would actually do with that sort of power. And for a while, I had no answers to those questions."
"Have you found them by now?" I ask.
"A few...like protecting the village that I care about so much, and the people in it. Especially the ones I like. I still want to prove everyone wrong about me, of course. So that's another one. But I'm not quite there yet. What about you, Lili? Why do you want to be Hokage?"
"The reason above all else is...to change the state of this world. This fragile balance that we live within is unsustainable. There needs to be a change towards something new, something safer. I believe that I will grow strong enough to alter the path that we are all on. And with a new world, we could have peace. Perhaps...if we dream big enough, it would be the end of great conflict in this world altogether."
"So you want to become Hokage...because from there you can make the world a better place."
"Yes. I know that I can't do it alone, but...it would be a great start."
"Heh. That's way more than what I've got right now."
"You're still young, Naruto. Give yourself time to figure everything out. Your dreams might not change, but the things behind them will. And who knows...while I'm building myself up, you might become Hokage ahead of me. You're still growing, and splendidly at that."
"Aw, shucks. You mean that?" he asks, rubbing the back of his head.
"Yes. You've become much more introspective as of late, and the way you can articulate your thoughts just like you did now...well, I'm quite proud of you. And glad that you understand my goals."
"Yeah. If I had to put it some way...it's like, I really want to become Hokage. Nothing about that is going to change. But because of what I have now, if that dream doesn't come true...I won't be so broken up, not like I would have been before. I have so many people who love and care about me now, and they're the reason I get up in the mornings. That one dream isn't my entire life anymore. So if I ever need to...I can let go."
"..." I have to wonder where this is coming from. It couldn't be me, and I have my doubts about Jiraiya. Naruto has grown so much, more than I could have anticipated. The sort of composure and wisdom that he's displaying right now is making me think...if not Hokage, he could become someone just as vital to changing the world we live in, in another role that I just can't see right now.
"But like I said, I'm not giving up on that dream of mine. Plus, you're gonna need someone like me to keep you honest!"
"Mm? But I'm always honest," I tease.
"Oh, you know what I mean! I'm gonna keep you sharp as your rival and everything. I mean, yeah...I might be a few steps behind...but-but, that's not the important thing."
"I understand. Pushing each other towards the top," I say.
"Yeah, exactly!"
"Well, then. I will be looking forward to your challenges as they come, Naruto." We smile and bump fists.
"Great. I appreciate you telling me all of that, Lili. I really think that if anyone can change the world, it's you. So good luck, you know?"
"Thank you, my love."
"Yep! Oh, so you had something you wanted to show me, right?"
"I did. Let's head over to those logs so that I can do this properly."
We make the short trip over and I stand in front of Naruto.
"Now...we need to establish something here. Something important, and that's the reality of your situation."
"Oh yeah? How's that?"
"Well...let me start off by saying that you're a good child, and that I love you very much..."
He rolls his eyes. "Here we go..."
"Hush and let me finish. I love you very much, but you occasionally have a bag of rocks in place of your brain."
"You got real creative ways of calling people stupid, Lili."
"But of course. A mastery of language is only natural for an elite such as myself."
"Yeah, yeah...so I'm not the brightest guy, I figured that much out." He sighs. "What's that got to do with this? I guess some sort of easy to use jutsu?"
"We are going to refine a technique that you have right now. And your brain is going to be the key. What you lack in intellect, you more than make up for with ingenuity. That, my love, is where your brilliance comes from."
He perks up. "Brilliance? Me?"
"Yes, truly. If we compare you to Shikamaru, he is obviously the more intelligent one. He has an ability to plan several moves ahead, and quickly devise strategies in the heat of battle, given some time and space. His foresight is impeccable. But...if he is faced with an opponent that is far and away superior to him, there is nothing he can do about it. Even he has his limits, and intelligence is not a solution to every problem. You are different, and not just for the obvious reasons. You have energy, tenacity, and creativity – the ability to go outside the boundaries that we can see, and create something where it seems nothing was there in the first place. It is what makes you, you."
"So...a jutsu that I already have, and it makes use of my creativity?"
"You have already been doing that, actually. It's the technique you used to earn your title as a shinobi."
"Ah! You mean the Shadow Clone!"
"Yes, exactly. There is an element to it that I want to show to you, one that I believe you haven't considered before. But once you figure it out, and master it, I think that you will become even more brilliant than you are now."
"That's...whoa." He blinks a few times. "I didn't think that was possible...alright, so what do I have to do?"
"Let's go over the basics first. What do you know about your technique, Naruto?" I ask.
"Hmm...well, the Shadow Clone Jutsu is a clone jutsu, which is like, duh. But it's not like any other clone jutsu. The one we learned in the Academy doesn't make real clones, ones that you can touch. And the others are made up of elements and junk. Like Zabuza's Water Clones, which...what did Sakura say...right, they're about ten percent of the user's power. Shadow Clones, though...they make honest to goodness copies of you. But there's a big risk, 'cause to do that it splits your chakra into equal portions for each clone. So one clone has about half your chakra, and two would have a third, and so on. That's bad because your chakra runs low after a while."
"Good, good. Keep going."
"So because I have a lot of chakra, I can make a whole lot of clones without the risk that other people have. Shadow Clones can do anything that the person who makes them can. They're useful for a lot of things, like big attacks, or distractions, or protecting people. And they've got use in other ways, like how I use one to help me make the Rasengan. They act and think just like I do, so they'll make decisions along the same lines. They can use the jutsu that I use. That's...about it, I think?"
I nod. "Alright. So...what happens when you disperse your clones?"
"Disperse? You mean send them away...nothing really, I guess. Pervy Sage said that the chakra that isn't used up goes back to me. Though sometimes I don't get the chance and they get sorta pop on their own. That happens."
"The Shadow Clone technique was first developed by the Second Hokage."
"Really? Whoa...I guess that's why it was in that forbidden scroll."
"That, and the Mass Shadow Clone Jutsu – the variant that you favour most – uses so much chakra that it is particularly harmful to the user. I'm sure that Jiraiya has mentioned more than once that what you're using is a kinjutsu."
"Really? Nah, he hasn't mentioned it...weird."
I frown. That's...just a bit irresponsible on his part, surely. Perhaps he has his reasons, though. It's a minor thing for now. "Well, we can talk about that some other time. Levelling up your technique means that you have to do something that you haven't considered before. We're going to do a very simple exercise, and I'm going to teach you. Are you ready?"
"Born ready."
"Good. Now, make two clones for me."
Naruto nods and makes the Tiger seal, creating two clones in puffs of smoke.
"I will attach labels to these two fellows. The darling on your left will be called Alpha, and the darling on your right will be called Prime. We will keep to that convention for the duration of this experiment. I would like Alpha to head to the leftmost log and stand behind it. Prime, please do so for the rightmost log. Naruto and I will head back a bit further."
The copies do as I ask, and Naruto walks back a few feet with me.
"Now, we will get ourselves started. I have these blank cards. I am going to write a character on two of them, and we will see what happens. Stay here, and don't move. I will have instructions for you upon my return."
"Alright, got it."
I nod and head back towards Alpha, writing the character for 'four' on a card and handing it to him.
"Hold onto this. Look at it, and memorize it. Simple enough, yes?"
"Uh, yeah. What's going on, exactly?"
"You'll see soon enough."
I head over to Prime and do the same thing, this time using the character for 'eight'.
"Remember the number you have there. It will just be a moment," I say.
"Sure."
I head back to Naruto. "Okay, love. Now...I want you to disperse your clones."
"Eh?"
"Trust me, okay?"
"Okay..." He gives me a skeptical look and makes a seal. I can sense the clones disappearing, and Naruto looks at me before shrugging. "So...what next?"
"What did you find out?"
"What did I..." His eyes widen. "Four and eight. Those were what was on those cards you handed my clones..."
"Well done."
"I didn't know I could do that...I really was just throwing clones around, then. And then the ones I used for stuff, they were close by, so I really wouldn't get new info anyways..."
"One more time. Make another pair of clones, and we'll have them go into the same positions as before. I'll do something a little different."
We repeat the experiment, with things changing for the second run. Alpha and I play three games of janken, with him winning two of them. Prime meanwhile is asked to memorize the position of two objects in my hands, one being a coin in my left hand, and the other a stone in my right. The original Naruto is to identify both objects and locate the coin. I head back to Naruto and have him disperse the clones again.
"How did our game go?" I ask.
"Uh...Alpha there won two outta three. He got you with rock and scissors. You won once with scissors."
"Very good. And now...you will name the objects concealed in my hands, and locate the correct one from my instruction."
"You have a rock and a ten ryo coin. The rock's in your right hand, and the coin is definitely in your left."
I smile and open my hands, revealing both objects.
"Well done, Naruto. I'm very proud of you."
"Thanks, Lili. So...I can use clones to make observations and stuff?"
"I believe that this was one of the primary applications of the technique, seeing as the Second Hokage was such an elite operator. One can send clones into enemy territory, with all of their own abilities, have them locate an object or enemy, and then disperse themselves to send the chakra and information back to the user," I explain. "You can send chakra to them, causing changes of all types. But something like that can be used against you as well – hence the emergency mechanism of dispersing when physically damaged enough. Things like that are not transferred to the user. Concentration is also important."
"Do you think I can have, like, a bunch of different conversations at once? Like being everywhere all the time?"
"Yes. That is possible with enough practice. However...you need to be very careful. Remember what I said about your brain power? I was teasing you a bit, but there really is a danger in it. Processing all of that information can be very tiring and stressful. If your focus is split into too many directions, you can easily become exhausted and lose control, disrupting all of your clones in the process. I imagine you've experienced that more than once, taking a particularly nasty blow and having your clones disappear all at the same time."
"Yeah, that's happened. And I can't use them while I'm asleep either...I tried that on a mission once, and Kakashi-sensei said he figured it would happen. My clone disappeared as soon as I shut my eyes."
"Now that you're aware of this jutsu's extra function...make use of it when you can. Getting a good read on your opponent, figuring out obstacles from a distance, things like that can make a real difference, on and off the battlefield. Perhaps you would have figured it out eventually, but I thought that I could do something to help now instead of later."
"I see..." He looks down at his hands before clenching them into fists. "Yeah. I'll be sure to make use of this."
"You will. I know you will. Let's head home."
"Got it. Oh, wait a minute. You were saying something the other day, weren't you?"
"The other day...I don't recall what you mean. Was it recent?" I ask.
"Sorta. Remember when I showed you the Rasengan, and you said you felt like there was something you were missing?"
"Ah, that. I was just musing to myself, it's nothing you need to worry about. I was comparing it to the Chidori in my head...the properties and such. That's something that we can talk about later, if Jiraiya doesn't teach you first. I suspect he will."
"What is it?"
"I'm not going to say. You know how you get."
"What's that mean?" he asks as we start on our way home.
"It means things like you eating charcoal to gain access to fire jutsu."
"I thought it was real, okay? And it was one time..."
"Once is enough. You get impatient sometimes."
He pouts at me. "Hey, easy for you to say. Which one of us is the genius here?"
"Oh, I almost forgot..."
"Forgot what? In the middle of a conversa-"
I kiss him on the cheek and hug him tightly.
"L-Lili...?"
"You really are special to me, and I'm so very proud of you. I just wanted to remind you of that, Naruto. I love you."
"I...I love you too, Lili. Thanks..."
I remember the moment we met. How we came from opposite sides of the world, but both felt how cold and lonely life could be. And then we started to get closer and closer to each other, until...we became like this. It's something that I am eternally grateful for. A bond that I would do anything to protect.
One of many, many reasons that I want to reach for the stars. I don't want to lose this feeling, or anything else. I'll make sure it doesn't happen.