CHAPTER 6

Chapter Summary: Suzuki Hiroshi confirms his lineage and reconfirms his talents. He explores the Vault of Scrolls. He signs a contract with a summoning clan. His training list becomes longer and harder. He inherits the Vault and he continues on with the mission. He realizes how deep and thorough his enemy works.

I stood up, wide-eyed with my brain and heart ready to leave my body to die.

"I'm a Senju?! How are you sure?! Are you not just deluded or something?!", I exclaimed due to the impossibility.

"As I said, I could feel you! How should I say this… Ah! Have you ever wondered why the Senju could stand against the Uchiha on equal grounds during the Warring States Period?", Tsurutatsu started.

"No.", I firmly said, hoping to make him stop talking. It feels like he's coming to a point. I should just deny it.

Tsurutatsu rolled his eyes and continued explaining. "While the Uchiha had their Sharingan that made them see almost everything during battle, the Senju had strong bodies that allowed them to continue battling for long periods of time. The body of a Senju has high latent yang energy residing within."

My eyes shone with understanding. Shit! So I was right with my theories from back then?!

Unfortunately for me, Tsurutatsu caught the understanding that flashed in my eyes. "Oho?! You know something, huh! If you were like your grandfather, then you must have realized it early."

Grandfather?

I was quick to ask. "You know my grandfather?", I may have asked too eagerly as he huffed out a laugh.

"So now you're recognizing being a Senju?", he asked with smug.

I scoffed. "No… I just asked to measure how delusional you are! For all I know, you might be making up names or something."

"Nah, I wouldn't be making up names. I mean his face is carved on a mountain.", he said nonchalantly.

My mind blanked out upon hearing that. My mind was just filled with two glaringly shining abilities that I had. Abnormally high affinity towards water? Sensor?

Tsurutatsu saw my reaction and laughed again."Surely you must have at least suspected you were related to the Second Hokage, yes? You probably have the same talents judging from what I could feel."

My mind came back to me when I heard his last sentence. "Hold up. You keep saying that 'you feel'. What does that exactly mean?"

Tsurutatsu thought of what to say. "Hmm… You see, the reason why Naomi entrusted me with the Vault was because of my unique sensing skills. I could feel the connections of people through their similarities in chakra. I could dissect the chakra that I feel to get the information I need. I could also feel their emotions and their natural affinities. What I feel from you is very similar to Tobirama-sama. And judging from the given timeframe, I assumed you were his grandson."

"Just like that?!", I asked in a scandalized tone. Isn't it too much of a leap to just depend on the feel of a chakra? I mean as a sensor myself, I nominally trust what I sense but for something big like this?

"Look, I know your apprehension. But trust me, I was with the Senju for years and I experienced all types of chakra. I bet if I go to Konoha right now, I could even point who's who according to their clan. Trust me.", Tsurutatsu seemed very sure with what he said and I felt like trusting him on it.

I was going to just accept being a Senju but I at least wanted to try disproving it just once more. "Give me another reason why I'm the Second Hokage's descendant."

Tsurutatsu rolled his eyes again. "Well, gee, I don't know maybe you have his shaggy hair and dark-red eyes? Those are very big giveaways already."

It seems I can't argue with him on that. "Give me another reason why you think I'm a Senju."

Tsurutatsu thought again. "Hmmm. Ah!", he exclaimed and proceeded to point the end of his wings to me and move them up and down. He seemed like he was presenting him to myself.

I don't get it though.

I gave him a bored look. "What are you trying to say?", he didn't give me a verbal answer and continued gesturing.

"Are you playing with me? Because if you are, I'll have you know, I'm craving for some fried chicken wings right about now.", I threatened him after his gesturing became annoying.

He rolled his eyes again. Is that his thing? "I was trying to say that your presence here in the Vault of Scrolls here is a reason?"

"How so, exactly?"

"The key of the seal outside was meant to only react to Senju or Uzumaki blood. Since the key reacted and sucked you in, it means you are of either and since you feel like a Senju, I say you are most likely a Senju!", Tsurutatsu explained with completely understood frustration.

Being tired of the whole conversation, I slumped down on the sofa and just showed my trepidation on my face.

Tsurutatsu saw this and approached me. "Look, I get that being a Senju is a hard thing to follow through. Not only do you have to live up to the weight of the achievements of your forefathers, you also have a target at your back."

"No, this isn't about that really. The higher-ups in the village were already placing expectations on me ever since they learned of my high affinity to water and I'm pretty sure someone is already targeting me due to my talents if the masked man from before is already enough proof.", I clarified before any misunderstanding would stay with Tsurutatsu.

"Then what is it?"

"It's just I always thought myself as someone who could stand alongside legendary shinobi while having no significant background. I thought I was just someone normal that would shoot up the ranks due to my natural talents. Knowing that my strength was actually thanks to my ancestors just puts me off."

Tsurutatsu understood. "I see. I'm sorry I can't offer you any consolation or advice."

I shook my head at that. "Nahh. That's fine. It's just that I hate clans."

Tsurutatsu brightened a little at that. "Ah! I see. You must have had bad experiences with other clans being an orphan?"

I remembered the faces of the teachers at the Academy and just sighed. "Yeah. I guess you could say that."

Damn it. I'm a Senju.

We were in one of the rooms in the Vault of Scrolls. The room was actually a makeshift laboratory. I wanted to ask why there was a lab in here but knowing how those scientist-types tend to have a loose screw in their heads, I just held my own tongue. Kami knows what happens in labs.

We were looking at the masked man who was now unmasked. His face was normal looking but there was something else in his mouth.

"It's the same seal as the one in the tongue of a man that Naomi subdued a while back.", Tsurutatsu confirmed my suspicions.

"The perpetrator should be someone named Shimura Danzo."

"Yes. According to the plans that Naomi retrieved, that name drafted up the plans. I'm not quite familiar with who he is, though."

"He's an old teammate of Hokage-sama. He sits on the Hokage's Elder Council. As I know, he has considerable influence on the Civilian Council. The Hokage created a secret ANBU Division called Root for him. This Root handles very high-profile and high-risk missions that the normal ANBU can't do. What's most dangerous about it is that the Hokage has no jurisdiction over it. Only Danzo could move its shinobi and know the full extent of its operations."

"So the Hokage may have not even known about what he did to the Senju."

"Yes."

"Will you be okay? If he knows you defeated a shinobi of his, isn't he just going to send a much more powerful one next time?"

"I could just lie or something, don't worry."

"Okay. As long as you're sure of what you're doing."

We went to the shelves on the second floor of the lounge. I was told that it was actually the main library of the Vault of Scrolls and it was where the Summoning Scrolls were kept. It was where I was going to choose my summon.

"Your summons are actually quite special since the summoning clan that will be chosen will, by default, also be the one to protect the Vault of Scrolls.", Tsurutatsu explained.

I walked ahead of him with excitement in my every step. "So, how am I going to choose? Do I have to list down my own criteria or something?"

"You're going to close your eyes and follow what you feel."

I turned back to him with a questioning gaze. Seeing as his expression was still the same, I groaned. The next thing I knew, I was already being blindfolded.

Tsurutatsu further explained about the method of choosing. "The choosing of the Summoning Contract of the Keeper of the Vault was actually very easy before; you just go to the contract you like and then you sign. However, it was changed after the third Keeper thought it was unfair for the other Summoning Clans that were weaker than the others. Thankfully, he was also finding a fun solution as to how to keep track of the material here. He modified the whole Vault and made it so that the current Keeper would find what he needed by just closing his eyes and wishing for it. And that is what you will be doing."

Wish for it? The third Keeper must have been a sentimental sap.

I didn't know how to wish for something so I just thought in my head that I wanted a Summoning Contract that would suit me. Weirdly enough, my body started to move without me doing anything. I walked through the shelves as if I've walked through them a thousand times. After about a minute of walking, I stopped and took it as a cue to remove my blindfold.

As I opened my eyes, a saw a large scroll on a pedestal. It was adorned by maroon, navy blue, and white colors. The scroll was being kept closed by a lace ribbon which was tied together at the ends through a wooden plate. The plate had the kanji of 'Tsuru (鶴)' which translated to 'Crane'.

I turned to Tsurutatsu who was following me all this time. His eyes were smiling with satisfaction. "On behalf of the Crane Summoning Clan, I am honored to receive you as our summoner."

We signed the summoning contract immediately. Tsurutatsu went back to the summoning realm first to inform the rest of the Cranes that I have signed with them.

Tsurutatsu came back with a lot of scrolls on hand. He looked at me hungrily like how predators looked at their prey. I was scared.

"Umh… Is everything alright?", I asked while backing away.

"Oh. Yes yes. Of course.", Tsurutatsu's voice was steadily and slowly rising. "It's just that the Elder Cranes have decided to train you with all we've got. These scrolls are what you'll be working on."

"All of those? Why are there so many?"

"You have a lot to learn.", Tsurutatsu scarily smiled.

"The elders were ecstatic about you accepting being our summoner! They came up with the training regimen almost immediately. From my observations, you are already on the right track with training your body but as our summoner, it's just not enough yet so, a whole new body conditioning plan was made for you. We'll also try on teaching you the basics of the unique kenjutsu style of the Cranes. Are you interested in any other weapons? We could add that to the list later. You must be dabbling with fuinjutsu as well, right? We have cranes that could help you with that.", he listed out as I read out the specific plans on a scroll.

I have to say, the Cranes do not hold back. It really felt like they were putting their all into training me.

"Why are you guys so willing to help me?", I couldn't help but ask.

Upon hearing my question, Tsurutatsu's face darkened and his expression showed sadness. "All our previous summoners were brilliant warriors. We took pride in the fact that they never died while fighting on the battlefield. Even if they were dying due to debilitating wounds and injuries, they were still able go home to their loved ones to say one last goodbye. Our last summoner, Naomi, was one of the best we ever had. And we failed to bring her back home like what we did for her predecessors. So, we vowed that the next summoner would have to die on his home and possibly that of old age. We will provide you with grueling and rigorous training and make sure you die at your home surrounded by your precious people."

I perfectly sympathized with the sentiment and I thought it was an honorable duty that they took upon. I'm a little worried with the 'grueling and rigorous training' bit, though. Can we take things moderately please?

I looked into Tsurutatsu's eyes. They were filled with determination.

Why'd I ever thought of being able to escape?

After the training plans were settled with, we were finally ready to go out of the Vault of Scrolls. There was but one problem.

"How long have I been here?! I hope my team is fine.", I was worried as I remembered how my team was just sprawled on the ground while unconscious.

"Oh, don't worry. It was an accidental feature of the seal while it was designed but if you access the Vault directly through the key of the seal, time difference between the pocket dimension and the real world is stretched to the point that a few hours in the Vault would just be a moment outside."

Isn't that too convenient for me?

"So once I go back into the Vault, I could possibly stay here for a week and go back outside to just have a day pass by?"

"Oh no. Once we're outside, I'm going to put a proper seal for you to use to access the Vault. The proper seal would have no time difference so you would be able to safely go in and out of the Vault."

"Why not just draw the seal here?"

"I need the key to properly put on the seal unto your back so we need to go outside first."

The weird sensation of being sucked in and out of the space-time vortex was jarring.

After coming out, I could see my teammates on the ground. I used my chakra sense and found out that they were still breathing.

Tsurutatsu quickly took out the key of the seal that was embedded on the base of the tree while I took off my jacket. Once we were ready, Tsurutatsu dipped the bottom of the key into some chakra ink that was used for fuinjutsu. He placed the key onto my back and after a moment, I felt a slightly burning sensation spreading all throughout my back from where the key was. I sensed a seal forming with the ink from the key being used to form it. The ink settled down and the seal was complete.

Once that was done, Tsurutatsu reverse summoned himself back to the summoning realm to hide away the key.

I immediately went to my teammates and tried shaking them awake. The first to be woken up was my team leader, Yashiro-taichou.

"Wha- What happened? Where's the enemy?"

"I don't know. After you guys went down, I was able to hit him with a [Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu] and we both went down. When I woke up, he was already gone and I'm here trying to wake you guys up."

Yashiro-taichou looked for the missive we were supposed to deliver and upon realizing he still had it, he gave orders. "Wake Daichi up. I'll get Yosuke. We'll go straight for the outpost. The mission may have been compromised and we need to tell someone of authority immediately. Not to mention we may have enemies lurking inside our borders."

We woke up the rest of the team and checked for injuries. Only Yosuke had a cut on his arm and I closed it up with a [Mystical Palm Jutsu]. The team was quite stunned seeing a nine-year old use something advanced.

We reached the outpost by noon and explained the situation. We were told they were going to temporarily tighten security. We needed to go back to the village as soon as possible to inform them of hostiles within our lands. And so we did.

We were alert of our surroundings and any possible ambushes on our way back to the village. The enemies that we encountered and escaped from weren't sighted and the only trouble we came across were bandits and they weren't even worthy to refer to as trouble.

It shook me up for a while as I had my first kill there. It didn't consume me any further though as I kept chanting in my head that they may have hurt civilians if they weren't put down. 'It was safer for everyone that way.', I thought.

After checking through the gates, we immediately went to the Mission Assignment Desk to report on the mission. I saw the chunin who recommended I take the mission. I approached him.

"Hey! The mission you gave me sucked. You said it was safe but it wasn't!"

The chunin was confused. "Huh? What do you mean, Hiroshi-kun? I was on vacation until yesterday."

I felt a chill run through my spine. "What? Weren't you the one who gave me the mission on the delivery of a missive to an outpost?"

The chunin laughed at my expression. "What're you scared of all of a sudden? I went on a trip last week and just arrived back yesterday. Y'know, the higher-ups really are taking care of us even lowly shinobi. They got me the vacation and I was even paid for it! Man, this village is the best, I tell you.", there was no lie in what he said as I checked for ripples in his chakra through my sensing.

I ignored the horror I was feeling and just played it out smoothly. "Oh, I see. I must have mistaken you for another chunin. Sorry about that. I guess I was just so stressed with the mission I had."

"Nahh. That's alright. It happens especially on a mission that went wrong.", the chunin considerately consoled me for my supposed mistake.

By then, Yashiro-taichou was told to take our report to the Hokage so I got up and waved goodbye to the chunin.

While we were walking to the Hokage's Office, I contemplated back to the conversation that happened a while ago.

He was sent on a paid vacation for a week? This seemed something that couldn't be done. We were at war. What superior gives paid vacations to their subordinates when all heads are needed on standby in case of emergencies?

The higher-ups? The Civilian Council wouldn't bother themselves with no-name shinobi, only in their own interests. The same goes for the Clan Council. My past life's memories confirm that. That leaves us with the Elder Council. That council messes with everything they could.

This all smelled like Shimura Danzo's work; manipulating everything but with him out of sight.

It must have been his Root shinobi that impersonated the chunin to get me to take the mission. And I played around his palm.

I might have to reevaluate how dangerous he is. He actually could do something like this without his name in any of it.

I should say though, if I didn't know how he worked, I wouldn't even know I was already being targeted. It was quite admirable work he did.

If only he didn't try to put me and my clan to death, I'd have worked with him.

A/N: You know the drill.