AN: It's been... ugh.
Anyway, story time!
Chapter Seven: Kiri
"Hello, Akiko-san." Yumi greeted with a bow.
"Good morning, Yumi-kun, Shisui-san is already inside, so go on in." The woman said with a kind smile. Nodding, Yumi knocked on the double doors and entered.
"–ait, we have an alliance with Kumo? I thought that ambassador was a fake?" Shisui asked as Yumi entered.
"Thank you for coming, Yumi-san." Fugaku nodded before turning to face Shisui. "And to answer your question, yes, we have an economic peacetime alliance with Kumo. The ambassador was indeed a fake, but the Raikage accepted my offer of an actual alliance, so long as they could take the fake ambassador." The man explained.
"Now then, unto business." He started again. "I began correspondence with the Godaime Mizukage over the return of the Mist Sword you obtained from Kisame Hoshigaki, as well as a possible alliance. She expressed interest in who was able to kill the man, as such, you two will be going to Kiri to return the sword, and begin peace talks." He explained.
"They are in a precarious position after ending their civil war, and while they can pay the bounty the Yondaime Mizukage placed on Hoshigaki, it would set them back by a large margin. That is why, in exchange for accepting the alliance, we will wave the bounty. If they do not wish to enter the alliance, they will have to pay the bounty- though we will freely return their sword as a show of good faith." Fugaku stated as he handed Shisui two scrolls.
"The storage scroll contains their sword, the other details the alliance I wish to have, read through it before you go. You will be accompanied by Inu and Tenzo for this mission, meet them at the East Gate in an hour. Any questions? Dismissed." Bowing, they left the office to prepare.
. . .
"What rank do you think I am, Shisui-sensei?" Yumi asked as they tree hopped in a diamond formation with Inu and Tenzo.
"I'd say you're high A rank to low S rank now with your skill. Your archery and taijutsu easily put you up there, pair it with your fuinjutsu knowledge and it isn't even a question. I've told you before that you could be Jonin if you asked Fugaku-sama, I'd vouch for you." His sensei answered from his spot to the left of the formation.
"I know, but I need and want more experience before I become Jonin, or even Chunin for that matter. Besides, being Genin gives me a lot of free time that I can use for training." Yumi explained.
"Wise choice." Inu began from his position at the point. "I was unprepared for the responsibility of being Jonin, and my team paid the price. Taking your time is a good decision." He continued.
"You also may want to expose him to more team-heavy missions, Shisui-san." Tenzo spoke up from the back. "I was trained away from others, and did solo missions for many years. When I finally joined a team, I was unprepared for what it entailed, and it took me a long time to trust in other people's abilities." The bear masked ANBU said.
"Thank you for your advice, Tenzo-san. I will speak to the Godaime and see when I can get a full Genin team, though it will likely be a while. Until then, I'll have to set up training sessions with Itachi and Anko." Shisui said.
"Not a bad plan, though getting Anko away from the TI building for anything besides dango will be a miracle in itself." Inu said wryly.
. . .
Hopping off the boat, the four Konoha nin were met by a middle aged man with an eyepatch and blueish hair.
"I am Ao, I was sent by the Mizukage to escort you to Kiri. Please follow me." The rather stern man said simply before turning and hopping away, leaving them to follow.
"Ao-san." Yumi began calmly, earning a slightly wary glance from the man at the head of their formation. "How did you acquire your byakugan?" He asked, eliciting a sigh from their guide.
"The second war. Hanta Hyuga gifted it to me after defeating him in battle. I hope you don't expect me to return it." Ao answered, a bit defensive.
"Not at all, I was simply curious. You are the only person I've heard of with an implanted byakugan. Although, I must insist that you allow me to place a seal on you that would prevent others from stealing your eyes, as well as destroy your eyes when you pass." Yumi said, earning a curious glance from the Kiri-nin, the veins around his eyepatch indicating the use of his byakugan.
"I assume that is the seal you and Shisui-san have above your brow?" He asked, receiving a nod.
"Yes, I created the seal myself." Yumi answered.
"Impressive. I'll have to ask Mizukage-sama, but I have no problem with it." The man replied as they approached a massive moss covered stone wall, a large blue kanji for water hanging above a set of grand doors.
Yumi didn't know how people lived with this mist, without his byakugan he could only see for about two meters. Only with his dojutsu activated could he fully appreciate the cylindrical stonework of the mist village. Everything was covered in moss and vine, and the surrounding mountains truly gave the village a scenic feel.
Soon, they were climbing the stairs within the tallest tower at the center of the village. Knocking on a set of large double doors before he entered, Ao led the four Konoha-nin into a large office with a view overlooking the village.
Sitting behind the desk in the center of the room was the first woman Kage, Mei Terumi. Leaning against the wall to her left was a bandaged man with a large cleaver on his back.
"Thank you, Ao." The Godaime Mizukage began silkily as she eyed the four young men standing before her. "My, my, Hokage-sama sent quite the team." She said with a smirk.
"First we have the Kopi Ninja Kakashi." She said, Inu bowing in greeting.
"Then Mokuton no Tenzo." She continued, the ANBU bowing in turn.
"Shunshin no Shisui. You gave us quite a bit of trouble during the last war…" She said with a smirk toward the mildly blushing Uchiha as he bowed. Next her eyes landed on Yumi, scrutinizing him as one would a puzzle. For his part, Yumi handled it well and simply bowed.
"Yumi Hyuga, pleased to meet you, Mizukage-ue." He greeted, making the woman smile with humor dancing in her lone visible eye.
"Oh, I know who you are, Ryoshi-Yurei. I'm just trying to figure out how one so young was able to kill one of the Seven Swordsmen." She said.
"Especially Kisame Hoshigaki." The man to the side said with a piercing gaze.
"I was unaware I had an alias… as for how I did it, I caught him by surprise. Had it been a fair fight, I doubt I would have been able to do much harm." Yumi said with a slight dusting of pink on his cheeks. Kage knew he existed?!
"Don't sell yourself short, Yumi-chan, you are powerful in your own right." Shisui said as he patted the Hyuga's head with a smirk before his hand was swatted away by a beat red Yumi.
"Stop calling me that!" He glared. Hearing a giggle, he turned to see the Mizukage hiding a smile behind her hand and blushed even harder before bowing. "Gomen, Mizukage-ue." He mumbled.
"It's alright, Yumi-kun. Now then, let's get this over with." She said. Shisui nodded and stepped forward with the storage scroll containing Samehada, and sat it on the woman's desk. She simply tossed it to the man with the cleaver, and he pocketed it.
"As you know, we are rebuilding. For the proposed alliance, monetary aid and lower taxes on trade routes would help us greatly. In return, we can export our Kamikoseki, the strongest chakra-metal in the Elemental Nations, something we've never done in the past- and will be willing to give one of our blacksmiths to forge Konoha shinobi tools." The woman offered, Shisui glanced at Kakashi before stepping forward.
"Mizukage-sama." Shisui began. "Are you familiar with the relationship Konoha had with Uzushiogakure?" He asked, the woman giving a faint sad smile.
"I am, my father was an Uzumaki." She revealed.
"That is the type of relationship Konoha wishes to have with Kiri." Shisui said simply, shocking the three Kiri-nin.
"No taxes, aid when needed, open borders- we wish to have a strong relationship with Kiri. We want one with all of the village's, truthfully. We don't want war, we want peace- or as close to it as we can get. We have an alliance with Suna, which we are planning on strengthening very soon, and we just created an economic alliance with Kumo. We are well on our way to uniting the Elemental Nations, and we would love for Kiri to be by our side for the journey." He finished with a smile.
"So you wish to create an alliance through a political marriage like you did with Uzu?" The woman asked, her voice far too kind for the sudden danger she exuded. Shisui shot a confused glance at Ao as the man pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head tiredly.
"No, Mizukage-sama, I never even mentioned a political marriage. The marriage between the Shodai and Mito Uzumaki was out of love. It did bring Konoha and Uzu closer together, but we already had strong ties at the time as the Uzumaki are cousins of the Senju. A political marriage would bring our villages closer, yes, but we are not expecting one now, nor any time in the future." Shisui finished.
"I see. Is Konoha… opposed to a political marriage?" She asked, staring at Shisui as a predator would its prey. Shisui blinked at the question and turned to look at Inu, who sighed and stepped forward.
"This is Shisui's first time, so you'll have to forgive his inexperience." He began, humor evident in his tone as Mei giggled and the bandaged man snorted at the innuendo. His words earned him a blushing glare from Shisui as betrayal burned in his eyes.
"If you wish to enter this form of alliance, a political marriage is not off the table- so long as both parties are willing, close to each other in age, and are of close to equal value." Inu said, Mei nodding simply as he stepped back to stand beside Yumi.
"After the Yondaime's reign, Kiri earned a very nasty reputation that I wish to reverse." The Mizukage began. "My first step was entering an alliance with Konoha, the most peaceful of the Great Five, in hopes of showing that we are not what we were under Yagura. To become Konoha's sister village would do wonders in restoring our image." She continued.
"I am more than willing to enter this form of alliance, Shisui-san, and would like to strengthen it immediately by proposing a political marriage." She smiled.
"Wonderful!" Shisui began happily. "Hokage-sama is planning on calling a Kage Summit in the coming months, so it can be made official then! In the meantime, we can draft up the official agreement and decide on potential candidates for the marriage. Out of curiosity, did you have anyone in mind, both for Kiri and Konoha?" He asked, making the woman smirk.
"For Kiri, I can think of Mangetsu Hozuki, the great grandson of the Nidaime Mizukage, and Junjun Akebino, granddaughter of the legendary swordsman, Jinjin Akebino." Mei began, sending a smirk toward Yumi at the mention of Junjun. "From Konoha, if Mangetsu is willing, the Konoha no Benzaiten, Anko Mitarashi, could work. She is growing in strength, and was the apprentice of Orochimaru- even though he defected. There are no Konoha kunoichi outside of Tsunade Senju even close to Mangetsu's level, so I can settle for second best." She shrugged.
"As for Junjun, she is around Yumi-kun's age…" She smiled, Yumi's eyes widening at the insinuation. "However, she- like Yumi-kun, is still very young. So if she is chosen, I would like for her to at least be fifteen before anything is made official." She finished firmly.
"Sadly, Anko-chan would never be willing to enter a political marriage… or any marriage at all, really. I honestly think the only things she loves are blood and dango." Shisui laughed awkwardly, as Mei simply smiled. "I'm sure Hokage-sama will be willing to have an Uchiha be a part of the marriage, so don't think you can't choose one of us." He continued, staring confusedly at the Mizukage as she let out a string of giggles.
"My, my, Shisui-kun, antsy aren't we? If you are interested, just volunteer, no need to beat around the bush." She smirked as Shisui's eyes widened in realization.
"That's not what I meant! I meant Obito Uchiha, the Clan Head! N-not to say I'm opposed, but it was not my intention-" He halted his sentence at the sudden hand on his shoulder, turning his head, he found Inu shaking with suppressed laughter.
"Shisui, you're digging yourself a hole." He said, causing the Uchiha to immediately snap his jaw shut with an audible click.
"If you do volunteer, Shisui-kun, I may as well." Mei said with a smirk, making the already blushing boy's eyes widen as his mouth opened slightly.
"A-are you serious?" He stuttered.
"Of course, you're quite handsome, Shisui-kun. And though this is our first time meeting, you seem like a very kind and genuine person. I like that." The woman said with a smile toward the shocked teen.
"I volunteer." He squeaked, before clearing his throat and standing up straight. "I-I mean, I find you to be very beautiful, with the parts of your personality that I have seen to be very endearing. I would be honored to accept the marriage proposal and get to know you better, if you are willing, Mizukage-sama." He said with a bow as the woman giggled behind her hand.
"Thank you, Shisui-kun. I accept." She said, shocking everyone in the room. They thought she was merely toying with the younger Uchiha.
"Mei-sama, how would that work with you being the Mizukage?" Ao asked, making the woman shrug.
"I only became the Godaime because I'm the strongest in the village- though Mangetsu may have surpassed me by now." She said blandly before glancing at the bandaged man to her side. "Zabuza, on the other hand, tried to assassinate Yagura himself and usurp him. If he starts putting effort into his training, and gets stronger. Much stronger. I'll gladly name him Rokudaime Mizukage." She said with a smile toward the wide eyed swordsman.
"I will put in the work, Mei-sama." Zabuza said seriously after coming out of his stupor.
"Good, do it fast, being Mizukage is tiring." She huffed.
"Well let's start drafting up the document, then. Zabuza, show Yumi-kun and Tenzo-san where they'll be staying tonight. The rest of us will be here doing paperwork." She finished with a grimace. "When you're done with that, give Mangetsu Samehada, and tell him to start teaching his brother how to use Shibuki. Speaking of which, find someone to give Nuibari to. I have Hiramekarei covered, and Kabutowari is going to Junjun, so that's the only sword not being used. Get going."
Nodding to the woman, Zabuza gestured for Yumi and Tenzo to follow him out of the office.
"You're staying in the hotel next door." He began as he led them down the winding staircase. "Tell me, kid, how'd you catch Kisame off guard? I've fought that bastard and he was ready for everything." He asked with a glance toward Yumi.
"I shot him with an arrow from over two kilometers away. At the last second, he turned to look at the arrow. Had he been slightly faster, he would have been able to dodge it." He answered easily.
"Damn, that's clever." Zabuza sighed as they left the tower and joined the bustling people walking around the village.
After a short walk next door, Zabuza showed Yumi and Tenzo their rather spacious room and told them that they were allowed to explore the village, but advised keeping to the main shopping street. After that he left them to their own devices.
"I was not expecting her to actually mean what she said." Tenzo stated as he searched the room.
"Neither did I. Shisui-sensei's reaction was priceless, I've never seen him like that before. The room is clear, Tenzo-san." He said after scanning the room, the bear masked ANBU relaxing slightly.
"I'm more surprised that she doesn't want to be Mizukage." Yumi admitted.
"I understand it." Tenzo shrugged. "People seem to think that I'm the second coming of the Shodai because I can use Mokuton, and automatically assume I will, or want, to be Hokage. I just want to protect Konoha, not lead it." The ANBU said as he sat on one of the two beds.
"I suppose I agree, I'm thankful I have no such pressure on my mind. There has never been a Hyuga Hokage, and we've admittedly never produced any Kage level shinobi." Yumi shrugged as he untied his braid to tighten it- the humidity making it frizz up and loosen.
"I think you'd make a great Hokage." Tenzo said, shocking Yumi to the core. "As Shisui-san said earlier, you're basically an S rank shinobi, and you're only seven. There are things you need to work on, but you'll get even stronger as you grow, and the experience you gain will further your ability. You could become Hokage if you wished." Tenzo finished, leaving Yumi contemplative.
Did he want to become Hokage?
. . .
After around five hours of talking, playing shogi, and generally wasting time, a frazzled Shisui and snickering Inu entered the room.
"Yumi-kun." His sensei began calmly. "Please silence the room." Watching in confusion as the teen moved to the bed, Yumi listened and pressed his palm to the floor, lines of kanji spiraling out of the point of contact to cover every wall before fading.
"It's done, Shisui-sensei, what's wrong?"
In response, Shisui flopped face first onto one of the pillows, and screamed.
"Before we left, the Mizukage kissed him." Inu laughed, shocking Yumi.
"On the cheek!" Shisui exclaimed defensively.
"It was the corner of your lips and you know it. Tell me, Shisui, was that your first kiss?" Inu teased, the Uchiha's face erupting into a red brighter than his sharingan.
"Awe~ he's growing up!" Inu cooed, easily sidestepping a thrown pillow.
"Even I've kissed someone before." Yumi giggled, Shisui sending him a look of utter betrayal.
"Who?! Who has taken my student's innocence?!" He exclaimed, making everyone snort at the sheer over performance.
"Anko-chan." He said, the color draining from Shisui's face as the two masked ANBU radiated shock. "It was when I became a level sixteen Seal Master and removed her cursed seal. She just got caught up in the moment, you know how she is." He explained with a shrug.
"Anko Mitarashi, the resident crazy lady of Konoha, kissed you?!" Shisui exclaimed, making Yumi huff.
"What's so hard to believe?"
"Nothing, I just didn't realize you were into older women, Yumi-chan." The Uchiha smirked.
"Don't call me that!" He exclaimed.
"So you don't deny that you're into older women~" Shisui said triumphantly, making the two ANBU snort as Yumi glanced at them in confusion.
"Everyone my age is still at the Academy playing ninja, so I guess so." Yumi shrugged. "Anko, Yugao, and Izumi are the only girls I know, and they're all nice." He said, silence meeting his statement.
"My god, he's so innocent…" Shisui breathed.
"For being so smart, he is very dense." Tenzo commented.
"Here you go, Yumi, consider it a gift." Inu said as he procured a small orange book from his kunai pouch and reverently handed it to the confused Hyuga.
"Icha Icha… what's it about?" He asked, receiving three perverse giggles in return.
. . .
"I can't believe you fainted!" Shisui exclaimed as they hopped onto the road leading to Konoha's East Gate.
"Yeah? Well I can't believe you fainted when your fiancé gave you a hug!" Yumi countered with a blush.
"I can't believe you two are still going at it…" Tenzo sighed.
"Why would you give me that book?!" Yumi demanded indignantly from a laughing Inu.
"Because, you should learn the ways of women so that you can avoid being seduced by enemy kunoichi?" The teen offered weakly, making Yumi huff.
"And what do you think Mikoto-sama will think of all of this?" He asked, making the two sharingan wielders freeze as Tenzo sneakily sidestepped away.
"You wouldn't." Inu said, sounding completely shaken while Shisui was near catatonic.
"On one condition. One for each of you." Yumi smirked as he glanced at Tenzo.
"Anything!" Shisui exclaimed, breaking from his stupor.
"I want you to stop calling me Yumi-chan, Shisui-sensei." He began.
"Done, you have my word, just don't tell Mikoto-chan!"
"Inu, I want you to show me your sensei's jutsu, the Rasengan. My father mentioned it in his journal, and I want to learn it. Chakra manipulation is my specialty." He instructed, and for a moment, Inu looked as though he was going to refuse, before he sighed in defeat.
"Deal."
"And Tenzo… can you make me a bow using your mokuton? I have a bow design that can't be made out of normal wood." The ANBU shrugged.
"I wouldn't really lose anything if you told Mikoto-sama, but I can do that." He said.
"Great! I'm glad we could come to an understanding." Yumi said happily, before setting off towards the gate.
"We just got owned by a seven year old…"
. . .
"So let me get this straight…" Fugaku began after they gave their report. "You are going to marry the Godaime Mizukage?" The man asked, receiving a bright smile from Shisui.
"Yup! It'll help bring our villages closer together and she's very nice!" He said happily, making the man sigh.
"Alright, but once she steps down as Mizukage, she will be living here in Konoha as Kiri's ambassador." He stated, receiving a nod from the teen, he and Mei figured that would happen.
"You have a week leave, after that, you and Yumi-san are to locate your next target. Inu, Tenzo, you also have a week, but you will report back to me when it's over. Dismissed."
. . .
"Yumi, meet me at training ground seven tomorrow around eleven. I'll show you the Rasengan." Inu said as they left the tower.
"I shall accompany you, we can make your bow then." Tenzo said as Shisui sighed dramatically.
"You're my student, so I suppose I'll have to come too." Shisui waxed.
"Thank you, I'll see you all tomorrow then. I'm going to go train." Yumi bowed before disappearing without a trace, making Shisui pout.
When they had tested and trained Yumi's speed with his Raijin no Kei, they discovered that it was indeed faster than Shisui's shunshin- if barely.
It had lit a fire under the Uchiha, and he was determined to get faster.
He would not let his student surpass him yet.
. . .
Yumi entered training ground seven with an excited bounce to his step. He was going to learn the Yondaime's signature jutsu and get his own bow! The one he was using was one of the bows from the Warring States Period, and it worked great, but he had some ideas for a better design.
Seeing the three ANBU already there made him pout, he was five minutes early, how'd they get there before him…
"Good, you're here. Let's get this over with." Inu started immediately.
Lifting his arm, he gripped his wrist with his free hand and after a few seconds, a decently sized sphere of chakra appeared in his hand. Walking over to one of the training posts, he pressed the jutsu into it, leaving a spiraling crater in the wood.
"There, I showed you the Rasengan. Have fun!" Before Yumi could say anything, the dog masked ANBU disappeared with a swirl of leaves.
"…I really should have phrased my request better." Yumi sighed before lifting his hand. Thankfully he had his byakugan activated during Inu's demonstration so he could see how the chakra moved.
It was nearly exactly like his Tsukisasuken strikes, but formed into a sphere with a lot more chakra and compression.
After a few seconds, a small whistling sphere appeared in his hand, and it was absolutely tiny. Maybe the size of an eyeball. He had used the same amount of chakra Inu had, but he must have condensed it much more.
It was a bright, nearly white lavender, with a hint of purple in the center, much like his Tsukisasuken strikes.
He didn't know why his chakra was purple when nearly everyone else's was blue. Only select Uchiha had a faint discoloration- Fugaku-ue, Shisui-sensei, and Obito-san. Naruto-kun did as well, but that was due to the Kyubi.
Pushing that out of his mind, he sent more chakra into the technique, and watched as the purple center grew brighter. Slowly the sphere expanded to the size of a fist and the air began swirling around the glowing orb, causing a harsh wind to emanate from the whistling sphere.
With a smile, he shot toward the training post and thrust his Rasengan into the wood.
Everything was silent for about a second, then an ear-splitting torrent of wind exploded out of the cascading jutsu.
With wide eyes, Yumi let out a pained yell as he was suddenly launched backward as the chakra in his Rasengan collapsed and rapidly expanded in a deafening explosion.
Faintly registering the feeling of strong arms catching him around the torso, Yumi looked to find Shisui holding him against his chest. Glancing around, he found them cocooned protectively within a large ribcage made out of bright green chakra.
Landing lightly beside a cracked dome of wood covered in deep gashes, Yumi examined what was left of the training ground.
Where the wooden posts had rested, was a three meter wide crater with a swirling pattern gouged into the ground, while the trees framing the training ground had been completely flattened.
It was no surprise that the clearing was immediately surrounded by three teams of ANBU, with the Hokage himself appearing at the other end of the clearing. His blazing sharingan scanned the entire training ground before he signaled for the ANBU to return to their posts as he approached the three at the edge of the meter deep crater as Tenzo deconstructed his wooden dome.
. . .
He had caught the green ribcage Shisui had sported just before it faded when he and the ANBU arrived. He wasn't aware Shisui had unlocked the Mangekyo, and judging by the damage around them, his use of susanoo was warranted.
Observing the three young shinobi, he found only Yumi to have been injured. His cradled arm had severe chakra burns and was covered by deep bruising- certainly broken.
"Explain." He ordered simply.
"Yumi asked Inu to show him the Rasengan. Yumi succeeded in performing the jutsu- albeit overpowered, after seeing only one demonstration. He used it on a training post, and this was the result." Shisui said succinctly.
"Impressive." Fugaku stated with a glance around the clearing.
"Yumi-san, the cost of repairing the training ground will come out of your next payment- as is standard for destruction of training grounds. Lastly, please continue mastering the Rasengan. I am curious to see what it could become in your hands… now get to the hospital." The man ordered.
. . .
AN: First, sorry for how late it is. Like bruh, I've been stupid busy. Secondly, happy new year!
Anyway... chapter breakdown!
Mizu alliance! Mei/Shisui! And Yumi learned-ish the rasengan!
Hmmm Fugaku wants the great five in an alliance? but why?????? hmmmmmmmmm...
Mei/Shisui, honestly, I was more surprised about this than y'all. Gotta love plot bunnies!
Junjun Akebino? Who?? Another OC??? One more and we've got a sqaud...
Yumi's alias, Ryoshi-Yurei~ spookey. Means ghost hunter or something, idk, google translate ftw!
Lastly, Rasengan. Chakra manipulation is Yumi's bread and butter. He's been doing it for years, so doing a technique that is close to one he does daily first try isn't a stretch imo. Dumby still got hurt though. He's smart but gets excited, ie- needs experience. He's still a kid.
Anyway, I think thats it? The big stuff anyway- oh! Anko and the curse mark. How could Yumi remove it when Jiraya or even Hiruzen couldn't?
It has to do with the Sealing Style. It's like comparing a botanist to an entomologist. Both are scientists, but focus on different things.
Jiraya and Hiruzen's style is more barrier, containment stuff. Yumi's is purification, absorption, enhancement, and space/time stuff.
Moving on, thank you all for the support. It's making me actually put effort into trying to post lol
No joke, it means so much to me...
Until next time!
le fin~!