Chapter 17: Accelerant


"Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit."

-Napoleon Hill


/Konoha General Hospital

/Konohagakure

/Land of Fire

Satsuki

Neither she nor Shikamaru saw any reason to be gentle as they practically tossed the boy slung between the two of them onto the paper-clad table. They could feel the eyes of the nurse who had escorted them into the examination room on their backs; judging or curious, regardless Satsuki ignored it all, including the continually-bitching Nara squawking in her ear.

What a huge pain in my ass.

If she hadn't been too-curious-for-her-own-good or a stand-up person, none of this would've happened.

Satsuki blamed Itachi, as she definitely didn't get it from anyone else.

"How did this happen?"

Shikamaru turned to leave, attempting to sneak out of the room. Unsuccessfully as it turned out as the nurse snapped at him with her fingers and pointed without looking up from her chart. The nurse repeated her question then saw him trying to leave.

"Nuh-uh. Sit."

"But-"

"No."

Satsuki couldn't say she was exactly pleased to be in this particular room, missing class, but being here for a Nara getting a scolding was a rare treat. The nurse cleared her throat, smoothing back escaping hair as she pinned Satsuki with her clear gaze.

"Well?"

"...training."

Expectant, the nurse continued to stare. Trying not to be annoyed, Satsuki flapped a hand.

"Do you need more than that? He was in class. Professor Nakata gave us an assignment. Now he's here."

The sigh that came out of the nurse was one for the record books. Probably. Mutters about that particular Professor seemed targeted and oddly specific as the nurse spoke under her breath.

"Fine. Name?"

"Naruto… Uzumaki?"

"Emergency contact?"

The thought hadn't even crossed her mind that she'd have to answer these private questions about him. Satsuki didn't really know… anything about any of her classmates really, let alone this one. Sure, she shared a room with ...Ino? Yuna? But did that mean she had to study them like a homework assignment?

No, no it didn't.

"Uh, no idea. Can we go? We don't know anything really."

The nurse, looking over-worked and frankly harassed, gave them a level look and nodded. Satsuki hesitated as Shikamaru gave her an assessing look and left without a backward glance when she shook her head slightly.

The nurse eyed her as the Uchiha sat in the visitor's chair next to the exam table, idly starting to pick at the sanitary sheet spread for each new patient.

While she waited for the nurse to finish her once-over, Satsuki contemplated her mother's move. There was no mistaking it-there was a purpose to this action by Nakata. Yes, Saito was the Headmaster and this domain was his and his alone, but Mikoto Uchiha was the Hokage.

This strangeness started around the time that her mother left, mysteriously, for Fire Country…

Was it possible this centered around this boy here?

The pieces certainly added up; their conversation slash punishment from the Headmaster, the looks that her mother had been careful not to reveal as too pointed as she considered Naruto during their meeting, and now this…

Most probably wouldn't put two-and-two together, but Satsuki knew her mother. Naruto was important to her plans somehow and this bizarre deviation from policy-an important family heir was potentially critically injured, of all things-meant that this mystery became too big to ignore.

Yes, that was the reason she was here. A mystery.

"That's strange…"

The nurses' mutter was audible as if she didn't realize she'd spoken out loud. Satsuki turned, finger freezing from where it had been tearing holes in the paper.

"What is?"

"Oh, nothing. I'll be right back. Can you make sure he stays put if he wakes up?"

The nurse quickly left her rolling chair and hurried away.

"Wakes...up?"

What the hell does she mean wake up? He was put under pretty hard.

Satsuki took a closer look at him and realized he already looked much better. The bruises a yellowish color, moving through the dark spectrum already. What in the world…?

Eyes the color of light streaming through blackberry wine, her mother's favorite, opened and stared at her; alert yet exhausted. Something glimmered in their depths that had Satsuki worried. Then it was gone and Naruto was sitting up, hisses escaping between his teeth as he jostled his no-doubt broken ribs. Nakata hit him as hard as Satsuki had ever seen someone hit and here he was sitting up like it was just a minor problem.

"I don't think you should be moving just yet, idiot. You got thrashed and beaten within an inch of your life by a Jonin. Frankly, I'm surprised a stick like you isn't dead."

"I don't remember asking you for medical advice, Uchiha. Or anything at all for that matter. Fuck off."

Silence fell between them and Satsuki struggled for something to say. The conversation was hard when she really didn't care all that much about him as a person, yet there was something compelling here, a mystery that she wanted to unravel centered entirely on this boy.

"Why does my mother care so much about you?"

Satsuki stared as she felt the words exit her mouth. Why did I say that?

The boy shifted gingerly, staring at her from under his brightly-colored fringe of hair. She'd never seen hair so golden. The Yamanaka had more tannish hair that, while sometimes lustrous, never quite reached that level of brightness. What the hell was she saying? Why did she care what color hair he had?

Naruto was silent, though there was a slightly confused air about his subtle side glances.

The steady hum of a bustling hospital was a strange counterpoint to the aggressive and pregnant nothing that fell after the question. She didn't know why she'd asked, nor why she might've cared, nor really why it was any of her business except…

Her mother had shown no interest whatsoever in training her or providing her with anything resembling a headstart as Itachi had. From what her brother had told her, most of the clan children started training at an extremely early age.

Itachi being no exception.

So why, when Satsuki wanted nothing more than the attention of her mother, did she break with that tradition? Just to fuck with her? To show her she needed to be more independent? What? Then this kid came and now she's showing more interest in a stranger than her own daughter.

"Why don't you ask her? She's your mother."

Satsuki looked away from violet eyes; weighing, judging, dismissing.

"Nobody tells me shit. Least of all my own mother. I'm an Uchiha, remember?"

The sound of his snort was an almost involuntary one, full of scorn and incredulity. At least, that's how she took it. Instantly, she felt her figurative hackles raise. Who the hell does he think he is?

"At least you have family left."

Anger unfolded like a flower reacting to sunlight.

"What the fuck do you know about it? Most of my family are murderous traitors and best of all everybody thinks I'm one of them! But I'm still here! You want to switch places, though, dipshit? See how you like having a family all of a sudden? It's better being alone with that kind of anchor dragging you down!"

Itachi's smile flashed through her head as she shouted at this injured, captive audience and her stomach started to hurt. The only daughter of the Uchiha clan still loyal to Konoha winced and reigned herself in; why the hell was she even still here, talking to this asshole who clearly gave not one shit about Konohagakure anyway?

He wouldn't understand loyalty.

Part of her felt guilty for saying how she felt. It was a disloyal emotion, that sharp edge of loneliness. Itachi wasn't always there… but when he was, he was there. He didn't feel so much like her brother at those times, but more of a father-figure she never had. Teaching her, laughing with her, being silly, guiding her through moral dilemmas and friendship drama, before she cut her friends loose. Itachi had always just been there when she needed him.

Did she even have a right to feel the way she did? One thing she did know was that this kid didn't have a clue.

"You know what? Forget it. You're welcome for carrying your stupid ass in here."

Satsuki turned to leave and a member of the legendary three cracked the door open and moved in, blocking her exit. She remembered her mother talking to someone about all the modernization efforts at Konoha General Hospital and judging by the uniform look of the scrubs Tsunade was wearing, that extended to the wardrobe as well.

Looking all of a piece, the dark blue sterile outfit emphasized the youthful figure of a shinobi Satsuki very much looked up to as Tsunade Senju not only was mythical simply because of her last name, a sentiment Satsuki herself being of a family with a famous clan didn't' put much stock in, but was also beautiful, feminine, outspoken, brooked no bullshit, and was a highly-skilled S-Class powerhouse that had an international reputation for grace and savagery on the battlefield. Satsuki knew that was the kind of ninja she could one day be if she put her mind to it.

So, needless to say, she was a little star-struck and couldn't help herself when she moved back to sit next to the irritating pissant named Naruto.

"Here you are again, I see."

Tsunade looked up from her electronic board, presumably checking reports, and her eyebrows almost climbed into her hair when her eyes fell on the other visitor in the room.

"With an Uchiha daughter to boot? My, my, what a suave player we have here, brat. Nice going."

Looking confused, thankfully, Satsuki cleared her throat and ignored how hot the room felt all of a sudden. Maybe it was better she not be here for this?

"Lady Tsunade, it's an honor. I was just making sure my teammate got the help he needs and since it's you… I think I'll be off."

Tsunade waves her hand, visibly steeling herself not to roll her eyes.

"Stick around outside, he's pretty fucked up so I'd rather have you escort him back to his apartment after I'm finished."

Naruto opened his mouth, but both Satsuki and Tsunade looked at him simultaneously, boring into his head. He decided discretion was the better part of valor and clicked his mouth shut.

Reluctantly, Satsuki eyed the blonde who cradled his arm where the white bone was clearly sticking out. Maybe she was imagining things, but the injuries all looked worlds better than even ten minutes ago. His white hoodie with the green stripe looked torn to shreds, covered in blood, and caked with dirt. There was a smudge on one sharp-edged cheekbone under his right eye.

It was possible she had met the one person more grumpy than she was and Itachi would say that was impossible.

Satsuki nodded once, slowly. "I'll be outside."

Tsunade was already examining him, curiously focused. The two of them were glaring at each other as if they'd met before and it wasn't particularly favorable. So Satsuki slowed down and tried to make herself invisible in the corner. Not literally invisible, though that would've been something she'd lose an arm for.

Satsuki couldn't decipher Tsunade's tone.

"Your body absorbs medical chakra like a goddamn sponge kid. Baffling, but lucky for you."

"Just shut up and do your job."

"Brat, keep your yap shut or I'll pitch you out the window. How'd you piss off Nakata?"

"We're three stories up!"

"So?"

Naruto was quietly seething, Satsuki could see it in his face. Bright blotches of color suffused his pale skin. Easy to read.

"Nakata had us do some stupid ass test. Had to fight each other or he'd supposedly murder two of us. How fucked is that?"

Tsunade laughed in his face. "And you fell for it?"

"No. Which is why I called him out. But then I remembered what Headmaster Saito said… and my… issue. So…"

What issue was he talking about? What deal did he make with the Headmaster?

Did her mother know about this?

Tsunade grunted. Was she surprised by something?

"I heal quickly."

"Very quickly, brat. This is…"

"Yeah, yeah."

"...so you made a deal? What, that he wouldn't blab to the Headmaster about you being a hemorrhoid?"

"...yes."

"Oh ho, and then you took him on one on one like in the stories of ancient samurai like an absolute idiot? You're not even a genin yet. That man has decades of experience on you! Play stupid games, win stupid prizes brat."

A mulish expression crossed Naruto's face and he seemed genuinely upset.

"Well, you know a little bit of who I've faced. I don't exactly pick 'em very well do I? When someone tries to smash my head in, I don't like to roll over for them!"

Tsunade was quiet at that.

"Yes, I know some of who you've faced before. Long odds. You did well."

Clearly, Uzumaki wasn't expecting the praise and it seemed to startle him into silence.

"How's your work with Shizune coming?"

"What, gonna tell me how useless I am, how stupid and worthless it is to try and to give up?"

The boy took on a painfully bad falsetto. "Oh, I'm the great Tsunade, queen of the medical realm, fuck all who try to join me here… for I'm the best, nyeh!"

Tsunade simply stared at him with one eyebrow cocked.

"You're really the worst. I can see why Shizune likes you so much."

"Whatever. Are you done? It still hurts like a bitch."

The dead air continued as Tsunade seemed to look through him, rather than at him. Finally, she opened her mouth and unexpectedly, something other than what he'd thought came out.

"Medical ninjutsu and, corresponding prowess with it, cannot be granted like your seal - it is painstakingly carved out with hard work, Naruto; blood, sweat, and tears. If you want it, you'll have to earn it. Shizune sees potential in you, so don't let her down okay?"

Naruto gaped at her. Closing his mouth, slowly, struggling to process this turnabout. First she's a dick, disparaging him, now she sees… potential? Was this a pep-talk? Her blessing to attempt to learn what he needed to achieve something that was uniquely hers?

"I...understand."

The blonde Senju nodded decisively. "I'm glad to hear it. I'll be back shortly with the paperwork." She pointed her chin at his rapidly-healing arm.

"I think that will be fine if I wrap it. I'll come back with the paperwork and then we'll finish up here."

Naruto opened his mouth as she closed the file, marked something on her computer, and turned around, about to leave.

"L-Lady Tsunade?"

She turned, no expression on her face. "Yes?"

"I've been assigned detention for fighting… I'd like to serve my penance here, helping at the hospital."

Tsunade cocked her head. Naruto couldn't tell what she was thinking.

There was a beat, then two.

"Clear it with Shizune. She runs most of the medical training here but outsources our interns. We'll figure something out."

The Head of the hospital swept out like a retreating hurricane, scattering surprised doctors and nurses in her wake.

#

Satsuki watched warily and with increasing incredulity as thick hematomas, colored in shades of deep black and purple lightened, in less than an hour, into the putrid greens and yellows of the almost gone. Where a bone had been sticking out, no bone could be seen after Tsunade realigned it and, disgustingly, practically shoved it back in, taping the thing with thick adhesive medical bandages. The arm was in a sling, yes, but you'd never guess the boy had just been beaten within an inch of his life.

Naruto looked like someone who'd suffered a mild injury and needed a few days, rather than what felt to Satsuki like he should've been weeks in rehabilitation for the use of his arm- let alone for the six or seven broken ribs that easily could've punctured his lung. Not to mention the almost-certain concussion, lacerations, blood loss… was no one noticing this?

How could they be this blind- but no, this was something they had to know about, right?

Something wasn't entirely right with Naruto Uzumaki; he was a riddle, wrapped in a conundrum, coated in puzzling information, surrounded by a labyrinth, stocked by guardians of his secret. Her mother, for one.

Tsunade didn't seem all that surprised after the initial assessment.

So that made two...

What was he?

Tsunade re-entered, all business with her face closed off from whatever emotion she may have had flitting across her face. One benefit of even an inactive Sharingan was the above-average dissection of micro-expressions. Tsunade had remembered some trauma, clearly, from her interactions with Naruto. What that was Satsuki had no clue, but clearly Naruto triggered her in a way she couldn't quite piece together yet.

"Okay brat, you're cleared." She handed over what Satsuki assumed was pain medication, marked by the faded orange bottle with a white label.

"Take one to help you sleep if the pain is too much. I doubt you'll need them, but it's a just-in-case. I don't want to see you back here unless you're working. I'm not your sensei and I ain't helping you with your fool's quest, got it?"

Satsuki glanced sideways to see how Naruto was taking it and it was how she was starting to realize was his default expression; stoic without much emotion other than irritation.

What a grump this kid is, sheesh.

"Whatever grandma, you're old news anyway. Kami, Konoha sucks. So much for the Will of Fire, eh?"

The Uchiha was aware of the irony inherent in the flash of indignant and, in her mind, righteous anger that resulted from hearing anyone disparage Konoha. A small, traitorous part of her mind faintly agreed with his assessment. Everyone, it seemed, was bigoted, ignorant, and unwilling to open their minds or hearts to extend an ounce of empathy. Naruto was still ranting.

"I've been on my own this long, why would anyone want to help me now, right!?"

If you didn't conform, you were outcast. Mistakes were never forgiven.

Was that really something to be proud of?

Tsunade looked faintly troubled, but Naruto got up and rushed out of the room so fast, with Satsuki hot on his heels, that as she opened her mouth, the door shut behind him. She pulled him to a stop as a nurse came up to them holding a sheet of paper.

"Lady Uchiha, this came for you from your mother. She requests your presence at the Hokage Residence."

"If you could've just told me, why the hell would I need to read the paper?"

The nurse gaped at her.

A flash of shame burned through her. The person was just doing her job. Satsuki muttered a few sorries and pulled Naruto along with her as she scanned a few lines of the paper.

Satsuki thrust the paper at him.

"What?"

"Just look at it, idiot. You can read, can't you?"

A very mature response, in the form of a tongue sticking out, was her answer.

The blonde's eyes rapidly flitted back and forth. Clearly, he could read and very well at that.

"Why does she- oh."

"What?"

"Look, about earlier… she only cares because our parents were best friends and she needs something from me."

Best friends? Their parents? What?

Uzumaki took one look at her face, all scrunched up as it was, and barked out a laugh.

"Who knows, Uchiha, don't give me that look. But your mom promised to show me photos and said she had a few things for me. So I guess this is that invitation."

Naruto strode forward, pushing the double doors to the entrance of the hospital open, letting in a stream of sunshine. Patients and nurses and doctors streamed around the lobby. Satsuki was conscious of him staring at her and people giving them both a wide berth like they had an infectious disease. As always, there were eyes on her.

Now, she realized, there were eyes on him too.

She'd been deep in thought as they moved down the two flights as she'd tried to process the idea that her mom had ever had a friend; let alone that her only friend's son was this guy.

"Well? I don't know where your super-secret palace is, so lead the way."

Sighing, as this would be such an awkward walk home, she told him to shut up as she took the lead, trying to ignore his laughing at her expense.

"That makes two of us, Uchiha."

This would be the worst afternoon of her life… and she was missing class for it too!


/Hokage Mansion

/Konohagakure

/Land of Fire

Naruto

The two of them made their way through crowded streets, steadily heading north towards their destination. As they did, slowly the tall, commercial buildings shrank away into residential ones and as they did so, the crowds thinned as well. More parks sprang up; mossy glens built as kind of grottos, small pools, and metal play-areas for the kids. Swings, slides, and a kind of foam-covered playground structure.

There was nothing like this in Iron Naruto knew, at least, nothing dedicated solely for the enjoyment of children. Training, training, training. Or a job, like the one Naruto had as a kid. That was fairly common.

Naruto glanced, for what seemed like the thousandth time, at the Uchiha. Her dark hair was in a, what seemed like, a complicated girl-thing where her hair was up, somehow, defying gravity. Twisted and pulled, it stuck out off the back of her head like a spiky plant of some kind. She looked like a negative, a black and white imprint of a girl from one of those magazines. The fancy kind.

The silence remained awkward for all of ten minutes and then they'd lapsed into what felt, at least to him, like a companionable kind of absence of talking. Naruto was… content...with that for now. He'd never just hung out with someone without doing something, or having to speak.

This was… nice. It reminded him of why he liked Kazan so much.

"I never got the chance to say thanks, Uzumaki."

And there it went. Damn it.

But his brain caught up with what she was saying and he turned his head, confused.

"Thanks for what?"

"For Neji, obviously. I could've handled it, but… thanks."

Naruto flapped a hand dismissively. "To be honest, I wish I'd just beat the shit out of him for you instead of getting Raido. Made everything so much worse."

Satsuki held up her hand, confused. "Wait, wait, wait. First off, how the hell do you know Professor Namiashi on a first name basis? And second of all, you couldn't have beaten the top-ranked student in the Academy, especially since I can't even do that and there is no way in Yomi's great balls that you're better than me, Uzumaki."

Naruto skipped up to a wall and flipped off it and landed on her other side in a crouch, grinning. He had a sly look on his face, not unlike what she imagined the three-tailed trickster fox god looked like when he stole fire from the gods, that is, when her mom used to actually read her the stories.

"Could you have beaten...Nakata?"

"No, but neither did you."

"Ah, but could you have lasted as long as I did?"

Satsuki just stared at him, frustrated, then looked away.

"Dick."

"Ouch. She bites." The 'but' after his fake-outrage was long and drawn out.

"But, Neji couldn't have been worse than Nakata, right? So…"

"So, what Uzumaki?"

Naruto fairly sang the words. "I guess that means I'm better than you!"

Satsuki snorted. "I'm sorry, I can't hear you over the fact that you got your ass kicked by Sakura Haruno and had to be slapped awake. Or did you forget that I won my fight and you lost yours?"

The supreme satisfaction of having clearly known she won made her smile.

Naruto forgot he was supposed to be upset at that as he watched her smile. To cover his staring, he cleared his throat and acted unaffected.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever floats your boat. I wasn't trying to win and besides, I had two opponents. You had one that tripped. Real stellar job there ace-shinobi Satsuki Uchiha."

Naruto gave her a thumbs up and her smile fell away.

The two of them just eyed each other.

"Whatever We're here anyway."

"Before we go in, you owe me Neji's story. I want to know what you said to him to piss him off so good."

"Later."

Naruto couldn't help but notice how tense she was; her hands opened and were white-knuckled when they closed. Complicated relationship with the Hokage, huh? Must be tough having her as a mom. Sheesh.

"It'll be fine. We can't stay long anyway. In and out, yeah?"

"You don't know what you're talking about, idiot. Conversations with my mom are like battles; if you ain't skilled, you aren't walking away without a few scars."

The Uzumaki noticed, despite her words, that she had let go of her death grip.

"Come on."

Three stories tall and looking more like a gothic cathedral than a home, the stone building where almost five generations of the strongest ninja in history called their home had a gravity all its own. Wrought-iron gates that wouldn't stop determined well-wishers, let alone ninja, were simply decorative, yet he couldn't help but notice a tingle wash across his skin as they stepped onto the path that led through a well-manicured garden and up to what had to be the front-entrance of the building.

Squinting, Naruto noticed tiny sigils-fuinjutsu-etched into the brick layer of the fence. Defensive and warning in nature, they didn't block anything-merely alerted, via some means Naruto couldn't discern with so few of the symbologies to examine, whoever was inside that they had guests approaching the perimeter.

Huh. Useful as hell I would imagine. What the hell powers them?

The inside was just as grand as the outside was imposing. Naruto was no expert, nor had he been terribly well-traveled, but the vases and artwork looked tasteful and expensive. So too did the massive crystalline chandelier dangling over their heads.

"Rich, much? Jeez, Uchiha."

"It's not mine, and I don't live here anymore, so I don't know what the hell you're talking about."

Naruto eyed her gritted teeth, the muscles in her jaw working, and slowly nodded.

"Fair enough."

The dark-haired runt of the Uchiha family led her through a warren of hallways and rooms, ending up in a particularly well-appointed office-space, not too dissimilar from the Headmaster's. Behind the colossal desk was the person they were here to see.

Mikoto Uchiha, as always, was Satsuki turned up to ten and all grown up; elegance personified and graceful in the same way that a Sandlion was graceful.

Yes, it was a savage cat that killed anyone and anything that got in its way-but there was a certain elegance to that dance of death. Naruto felt that was all he could think about when he thought of the Hokage.

No overwhelming feelings of trust, though he did appreciate her candor regarding his parents, but there was just something holding him back from fully trusting her… or anyone really, though he did feel that Shizune and Tsunade maybe were the only people being straight with him; one because she genuinely did care about him… and the other because she didn't beat around the bush with her apparent disdain.

Agendas seemed to shift and change like the tide in a shinobi village.

"Satsuki, please wait outside while I have a short conversation with Mr. Uzumaki, will you? Then I have some free time and we can grab dango together."

Naruto saw Satsuki retreat with a huge amount of reluctance in her face, only showing her displeasure by not bothering to slow the door down as the heavy wooden slab slammed behind her.

"Forgive her, she has all of my passion and none of my restraint. Please, sit Naruto."

Unsure, he froze halfway to sitting and realized where the hell he was and who he was talking to- he wasn't some wilting flower to be coddled or pushed around. Fuck that.

"No thanks, I'll stand." Naruto straightened back up and stood ramrod straight staring straight into the Hokage's eyes.

"She seems like she is a straightforward person. My favorite kind of person. There's no bullshit or smoke and mirrors like some people."

Naruto meant it as a stab and it was hard to tell whether it hit home or not, but…

"Ah, I see. You are upset with me, are you?"

"Yes, yes I am. You see, Nakata clearly had it out for me, for whatever reason, and the whole deal with Saito… I mean, this is a fucking set up and you knew that. You knew!"

Mikoto Uchiha pulled her robes up a few inches and stood from her chair, coming around to the front of it and leaning against the sturdy table, settling her robes back around her. Her hands were folded in front of her. The two were silent a time until Naruto opened his mouth and, predictably, she cut him off.

"The question is not; whether it happened or not, the real question is what will you do now that this avenue, slim as it was to start with, is cut off from you. What will you do Naruto?"

Thoughts bounced in his head like those bouncing shrapnel grenades he'd heard some shinobi talking about; an explosive tag that shredded everything around it in a twenty foot radius with little metal bits. It felt entirely like one of those little metal bits were slamming around in his brain, poking holes in his train of thought.

"The Headmaster was informed immediately; a report came back from the Hospital, sent directly to him by Tsunade of all people who interfered on your behalf, claiming some barbaric and draconian damage had been dealt to you by a Professor of all people. Quite the defender you have in her, how'd you manage it?"

There was a smile on her face. A fucking smile. The Hokage waved a hand. Naruto was boiling and HER was echoing in his head. It felt like he was three people; cold, aloof warrior ready to kill, this psychopathic goddess in his head, and then him… struggling to juggle his humanity against the weight of what he was constantly being asked to do. Naruto put his head in his hands and tried to remember to breathe, just like Yojimbra and Taza showed him.

"Ah well. Headmaster Saito couldn't very well allow any incident of this magnitude to pass without judgment… and you and he had a deal, after all. So, you are henceforth not a member of the KSMA. Free as a bird, as it were."

He barely knew it was his voice, as quiet as he'd ever been.

"What the hell am I supposed to do now, then?"

"Well that is the ten billion-ryo question, now isn't it? What did the Headmaster say to you exactly?"

"What?"

"Keep up Naruto. A shinobi must be able to set aside their trauma and endure. What did the Headmaster say to you?"

That shrapnel kept bouncing, only this time, he forcibly ground his brain to a halt and started really thinking, processing, reacting. The Hokage had some reason for bringing him here, some reason that she didn't intercede on his behalf with the Headmaster- what was it?

What was the end goal?

He couldn't mould chakra as he was and only competed because of his Lightning Mark and prodigious healing ability. So… the Headmaster had given him this shit deal in the hopes that he'd be able to… what? Clasping his hands to his arms, Naruto realized his body was hot all over.

Think, Naruto. Think!

What did the Headmaster say to him? Just answer the question.

They said they couldn't have someone in the program who couldn't mould chakra. So… he was...back to square one?

Naruto looked up at the Hokage, who looked expectantly back at him.

"So the whole issue is that I can't mould chakra? That's it-I fix that, I can be a shinobi?"

"There is a strong case that you are far ahead of your peers, despite your handicap. If you fix that… then yes. If the Headmaster puts up a fuss… I'll teach you myself, if it comes to that."

Naruto was reeling. This was too much all at once. His feelings were like a ball of yarn; anger knotted up with outrage, knotted up with shame and regret.

"Deal?"

So he just nodded.

The Uzumaki felt himself moving and talking. Sometime later, he was outside in the sunshine, feeling the warmth on his face and he had no idea how he got there or what had been said in the intervening space and time. Naruto did remember, slightly, saying goodbye to Satsuki who looked at him funny. But all he wanted to do was leave and speak with Shizune.

Once again, in a place that he thought would have all the answers, there were none.

Just more questions.

Not concerned about where he was going just yet, Naruto wandered out into Konoha as he wanted to get his head on straight before meeting with Shizune and she wasn't off her shift yet.

Unbeknownst to him, Satsuki stared after him. If he'd been watching, he would've said it looked like concern.


/Hokage Mansion

/Konohagakure

/Land of Fire

Satsuki

He can't mould chakra?

She'll teach him if it came to it?

What the hell is this bullshit?

Backing away from the door quickly, almost jumping, Satsuki couldn't help the upwelling of ungenerous jealousy hearing her mother speaking so passionately about someone not in their family and she was afraid it was all over her face as she stared at the stricken Uzumaki.

He looked like a man possessed, a zombie. Moving by what seemed like rote, he mumbled something and took off.

Then the realization hit.

"Oh hell, I'm an asshole aren't I?"

Naruto was just kicked out of the Academy and it sounded to her like he knew that it was a possibility when he stepped up to Nakata. Reluctantly, very reluctantly, she was impressed with his courage. Then she felt like shit all over again because of her childish jealousy. Yet no matter how she told herself she still wasn't jealous, the little bit of her that was honest knew that her mother never showed her the slightest percentage of giving-a-shit that Naruto just received. That hurt.

"Were our families really friends, mom?"

She knew her mother was standing next to her. That always had a weirdly oppressive feeling to it, like standing next to a transformer.

Her mother was staring at her, considering. Like a bug on a board.

"Yes, Satsuki. I assume you heard everything?"

She didn't deign to answer that and instead said, "You really expect him to believe that you couldn't have just told Saito to let him in?"

"Not that it's any of your business, but no. I couldn't tell him. The two made a deal and I can't interfere except where appropriate. I'm not a tyrant, Satsuki."

Her daughter snorted. "Yeah, okay. Pull the other one, mom."

There was only a long-suffering sigh as answer.

Silence. Then: "Naruto's mom was the very best friend I've ever had, you know. She understood me in a way the Uchiha never really did. Tradition was always big in the Uchiha and Kushina never gave two shits about anything that, 'had been done for a thousand years!"

Her mom actually giggled. She sounded, for only a second, like a normal person!

"Oh don't look at me like that, Satsuki. I'm a person too, you know. Come."

She led her still shell-shocked daughter into her office and closed the door.

"I'm going to tell you a secret, Satsuki, okay? Something I have told few others. That boy, out there?" She pointed behind her, at the door as she leaned against it. Satsuki threw herself on the couch against the far wall.

"If this isn't something juicy, I'm going to be extremely upset with you."

Mikoto considered her daughter for a second, cocking her head.

"His father is the Yondaime Hokage."

The horse laugh that exited her mouth was the most embarrassing thing she'd ever done and the most embarrassing laugh she'd ever made. Luckily, it was only her criminal mastermind mother who heard her. There was no thought given whatsoever to this being a valid claim.

"That was a good one and I'm… terribly sorry you had to hear that. Now, what's the real secret?"

Mikoto simply held her gaze and waited.

Slowly, ever so slowly, Satsuki wavered. Her mouth opened. Then shut.

"No way. That shrimp? Wasn't the Yondaime like six foot one?"

"Five-eight. But that's irrelevant. Naruto is Minato's son. And Kushina's for that matter. They have the same eyes...and the same temper."

"You told him?"

"Of course."

"This is a joke. A terrible one."

"It's not. I assure you."

"...you and Saito just kicked the son of the Fourth Hokage out of the Academy? Are you two idiots?"

Mikoto stared at her disapprovingly, which was just a little bit different than her normal Hokage-face. Satsuki saw that face more often than anyone else did. Something occurred to her.

"No, wait- you've got some plan in place don't you? This is another one of your stupid-ass schemes isn't it?"

Mikoto walked over to a dusty, iron-bound wooden trunk sitting in the corner. It definitely couldn't fit a body. Probably. On top of it was a photo album and a leather-bound journal of some kind. Mikoto fitted a key into a lock, put both of them in the trunk, and closed it with a snap, relocking the whole thing.

Thoughts jangled around in her head like coins in her pocket. The Yondaime Hokage was her favorite Hokage and it was freaking her out to realize the son of her idol was Naruto of all people.

Why the hell didn't he grow up here?

Where had he been all this time?

Why did he have so many scars?

"What aren't you telling me about all this mother? I know we're shinobi, but cut the cloak and dagger bullshit and just be straight!"

Satsuki watched carefully as her mother sealed the trunk and its contents into a scroll and handed the scroll to her.

"Find your own answers. I'm not in the habit of telling my secrets-especially when they aren't mine. Be a dear and deliver this to Naruto, will you?"

Gaping at her mother, she huffed.

"Are you serious? How the hell am I supposed to know where he's wandered off to?"

"Just drop it at his dormitory. He isn't back yet."

"How do you- oh, your pals. Tch. I can't stand you."

"No back talk. Do what you're told. And Satsuki?"

Satsuki had the door to the office half-open in an effort to escape her mother.

"Help him… will you? I had you a year before Kushina had Naruto and we wanted you two to be best friends. He'll need friends now, more than ever and he has none. Will you do this for me?"

Satsuki stared at her mother. Why the hell does she care this much? Why doesn't she care about…

Shaking her head, clearing herself of those thoughts, Satsuki instead pictured his face as he left the office. Lost. Alone. Angry. Against her better judgment, her heart went out to him. As she stared at him in her mind's eye; an image of the Yondaime overlaid itself over him and her flesh got goose pimples.

"Please?"

A smile stole across her face now, not from hearing her mom begging, which was always good, but because she'd despaired of ever finding a proper measuring stick of her progress.

"Okay, mother. Yes, I'll be his friend. Or try anyway, the kid is socially retarded."

"We don't use the R-word, you know better. And thank you."

Satsuki pointed a finger at her mother.

"You owe me now, you know that right?"

"Goodbye Satsuki."

It didn't even occur to her to be mad that the 'time' her mother promised her never happened.

Satsuki Uchiha walked out cradling the scroll.

Finally. A challenge worthy of her time. Just gotta find out where he is...


/Garasujo Apartments

/The Village Hidden in the Leaves

/Fire Country

Naruto

Dazed by the news that his dream was dead in the water, Naruto wandered for almost an hour and a half, briefly stopping to sit on the swings of the playground near the Hokage residence before continuing on an aimless walkabout.

One thing kept coming back to him, over and over again.

This felt like a test.

The words from Headmaster Saito's speech came flooding back to him. Each and every potential shinobi here tonight needs to decide that they chose this life; that they'll do it again and again, when things get tough. Wasn't that what this was? A test?

Naruto knew that the Hokage wouldn't necessarily do him any direct harm, he believed that she cared about him because of his mother; that much he didn't doubt, but he did believe that the Headmaster and her were not above pulling strings and pushing people-maybe past what was considered healthy.

Without a doubt, Naruto knew he wouldn't survive as he was now. Despite Kaguya's assistance with the Tool Creation… he just didn't have the control to properly use any of the things he had in his arsenal, nor did he have the mental fortitude to keep pushing like he had been during combat. His mind would snap under the unbelievable agony of the Lightning Mark as it currently was… nor could he add anything even if he found someone to ink him properly.

So, the question now was not, 'would he keep pushing to become a shinobi,' but more of, 'how do I proceed?'

As he became more aware and centered, he realized this was the perfect opportunity to focus up-he knew Shizune was willing to teach him and he may have an avenue into getting more information out of Tsunade through working at the Hospital-which meant he could throw away all this useless shit and focus on what really mattered.

Getting his chakra back.

His feet had taken him unknowingly to the foot of Shizune's door. Apartment 24C.

Naruto knocked. Shizune opened it and he found himself engulfed in the largest hug he'd ever experienced in his young life. So what felt like ten minutes of hugging later, she invited him in and he explained what happened, everything; Nakata, being blind-sided by Sakura-who he frankly couldn't blame for doing exactly what he did-his appointment with Tsunade and her words, his sling which he now felt was completely useless yet Shizune wouldn't let him take it off, and everything that happened afterwards with Satsuki and Mikoto.

"Phew."

"Yep."

"You ever heard the ancient curse, 'may you live in interesting times?'"

"No."

"Well, now you have. And it definitely applies to your life. It could stand to be a lot less interesting."

Naruto flopped his face down on her couch as she considered things next to him.

"Have you decided what you'll do now?"

Naruto lifted his head up off the cushion.

"Yes, I'm going to study my ass off, heal some fish," he said this with a significant look at her and she smirked. "Then I'm going to march into Tsunade's office, round house her in the face, then she's going to teach me the damn Yin Seal!"

"Uh-huh. That's how that's going to go is it? You'll roundhouse her and she'll teach you?"

"I can't wait to see this."

"Yeah? Well, believe it, because it's gonna happen. I'm gonna smoke that old-ass has-been and become the next legendary ninja. Just you wait."

"That's what I'm afraid of, waiting so long I die."

Naruto sat up gaping. Shizune collapsed in stitches looking at his face.

"Shizune, so cold!"

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding!"

"Yeah, yeah." Naruto yawned, realizing how long he'd been wandering and how late it actually was.

"You're crashing here tonight. No buts. You don't have class anymore so we'll study first thing. Tomorrow is my day off so I can go grab some fish and see what the hell we can do with you. I want your best, you hear me?"

Naruto laughed helplessly and held up his hands.

"Deal!"

There was a short knock at the door. Shizune answered it and found herself staring at the youngest Uchiha. Naruto behind her looked confusedly at her and then at Satsuki. Shizune answered for both of them, bemused.

"Satsuki? What a surprise. What, uh, brings you here?"

The girl waved a scroll. "My mom sent me with this scroll. Apparently it's stuff from your parents?"

In a second, he was off the couch and at the door. "Stuff from my parents? Gimme!"

Shizune slapped the back of his head. Hard.

"Manners. Thank you Satsuki. Would you like to come in?"

"No, thank you. I have to be getting back to the Academy… I just wanted to tell Naruto I'm sorry. I heard about them kicking you out. If you… uh… need anything, or wanna spar or something, let me know, yeah? I still owe you for Neji."

Distractedly, Naruto stared at the scroll sitting in his hands-until Shizune smacked him again.

"Will you quit it?"

"Will you be polite and respectful when nice people do things for you?"

"Fine. Thank you Satsuki. I really appreciate it. And-wait, how did you hear?"

And Satsuki Uchiha went red. "I overheard you and my mom talking. S-sorry."

Goggling at her, he just brushed it off. "No worries… and thanks."

Then she was gone, back into the night. Was it my imagination or had she looked at me a bit differently?

Shizune looked at him expectantly. "Well? Open it up!"

But Naruto just stared at her increasingly annoyed. Then she realized.

"Oh damn, sorry Naruto." Quickly, she fed some chakra into the scroll and it opened in a rather bigger puff of smoke than she imagined.

In the center of the living room was a medium-size iron-strapped wooden trunk; old-school, these trunks were sturdy as hell and typically not lugged around. There was a key already in the lock.

Naruto turned the key and pushed the heavy lid open with a creak.

The trunk was full of the normal detritus of life; clothes, a few books, what looked like a matching pair of beautiful weapons, but what caught his eye was both the photo album and a journal with a nameplate emblazoned on the front.

Minato Namikaze.

The journal, in his quick perusal, was absolutely filled with esoteric notes regarding what looked to him like fuinjutsu-specific spatial dimensions, references to extra-planar realms, extensive notes on space-time ninjutsu. Best of all, in his mind at least, were incredibly complicated fuinjutsu, reams of it, all related to one hybrid ninjutsu/fuinjutsu. These…

These notes were that of a genius.

But it was unfinished. He could see enough of the whole to realize there were parts missing. Part of it, unfinished.

The back half of the journal is completely empty. There are words, though, written in a neat scrawl.


To my son,

Even now, as I write this (and will update this as our lives intertwine or diverge, gods be good), I need not know you to know that you are mine and Kushina's son-a force that will someday shake the world and the heavens above. I place the burden on you selfishly, as I wanted to give you a fighting chance in this world full of monsters. It is not a curse, but a boon. Please see it thus and know I'm sorry. My love for you is as resplendent as a new dawn and stronger than skysteel for I never imagined, as someone who grew up without a family, that love could enter your life and so thoroughly rearrange everything you thought you knew about what a good life, one well lived, truly meant. Nor have I understood the Will of Fire so thoroughly as the day I first met you. The world we leave behind is our legacy and you are the greatest thing I've done to date. Please- take these, the scribblings of a humble father, and know I've left space for you to finish what I've started. The Hiraishin is powerful, yes, but unfinished, as even a broken blade may slice a vein.

The Hiraishin, in its final version, was meant to help create a world of peace; of a united continent. I dreamed, not of war, but of a world where chakra connected us, not divided us-as the Sage spoke of in his writings. I leave it to you, my son, to finish the Hiraishin, uphold my legacy, and push towards a world like the one I wanted for you.

You'll understand it even more when you have kids of your own.

I write this as I watch you sleep and I just have this feeling someday the world will know your name. Only you can decide if it is for good or for ill… but you are mine, just as much as you are Kushina's…

...and I know already the path you'll tread.

So be steadfast.

To care is not a weakness, but an immense strength. When times are dark, drink deep of compassion- and strength will find you.

And one last piece of advice: permit me a father's weakness… remember: whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy. Live, Naruto.

I know I leave you with a crown of black blades on your soft head, a burden heavier than a mountain… but know that my faith in you is unwavering.

I love you.

Your loving father,

Minato Namikaze


A/N: As always, appreciate the reviews-positive or negative! Though if you'd like an actual response, I highly recommend sending it as a private message as I check those more regularly than I do reviews!

Thanks folks.

PS. This is wayyy longer a first book than I thought it would be... do you guys and gals think I should've split it in two? Just idle shower thoughts!