So was being difficult over the past week and wouldn't let me to respond to some reviews until Thursday. I think I replied to them all but my apologies if I missed you. if you send me a PM I'll go find your review and give you a response.
ncpfan is the reason I've gotten so far with this story, so thanks goes to him for his help.
I had a lot more scenes planned for this chapter because it's ten thousand words long but, like most of my plans, things didn't quite work out. I blame this mainly on the fact that the last scene in this chapter was supposed to be 1500 words but ended up being over 5000, which is an entire standard chapter. Luckily, I can recycle my planned scenes for next chapter which means I don't have to plan them out for next week.
Also, because my cliffhanger wasn't evil enough, the starting scene in this chapter doesn't continue it.
Kukukukukuku
On with the show!
It wasn't long after she had finished cooking that the smell of food had managed to drag Anko from her slumber. The purple haired Tokubetsu Jounin was half asleep as she shuffled into the kitchen with a yawn wearing no more than she had worn to bed the previous night.
Kurenai had seen the clothes at the end of the bed but seeing her best friend dressed in nothing but undergarments and a fishnet top drove it home and brought a frown to her face. Naruto had only recently turned twelve, sharing a bed with him half-dressed was inappropriate for the twenty two year old and Anko should have known that.
Admittedly, Kurenai was slightly jealous of her friend. Not because she had shared Naruto's bed, but because the woman was seemed so close and comfortable around the young man. She had gotten better ever since she and Naruto started over but she still had a long way to go before she felt she'd be able to do something so simple as giving him a hug.
'I'll just have to ask that Anko make up for my lack of hugs with some of her own.'
As it was, she still had some difficulty being alone in a room with him. Luckily, the presence of others, such as Anko, made it possible for her to interact with him. She scowled slightly at the thought. It had taken her a long time to be able to deal with the presence of men and then Naruto had to show up and turn everything upside down.
Well, that wasn't true. His father had done it before him and she both loved and hated the man for the way his presence always kept her on edge. Of course, he had been Namikaze Minato and more that capable of taking care of himself when he pushed her instincts too far. His son, on the other hand, had always seemed so vulnerable and it was a constant battle between wanting to be the one who protected him when he was younger and the knowledge that she was just as much a threat to him so long as her instincts believed him to be one to her.
It was a ridiculous notion, she was well aware, that he might be a threat to her, but her body didn't care about rational thought. The boy put her on edge, just like his father before him, and her body fought to react each time. It was a miracle that she had always done so well to restrain herself after not having to worry about it with Minato.
Miracle or not, it was becoming easier each day. It may have been because she was getting used to having her nerves so tightly wound when around him or because he seemed more and more capable of defending himself should she slip or even a combination of both, but the important thing was that she was getting better.
Who knows? Maybe she'd have a chance to be the sister she had always wanted to be for him before he finished growing into a man. The thought of him becoming a man lead to her picturing what he might look light in a few years and, if he became anything like she was imagining, she really couldn't blame Anko if she was trying to stake a claim early.
She could, however, be disappointed in her friend's decision to start this early. Surely she could have waited until at least Chuunin. No one would have batted an eye, regardless of age. One might be accepted as an adult legally upon graduation but no one considered you one until you hit Chuunin. After all, anyone who can earn the rank of Chuunin has lost the right to call themselves a child. It was simply impossible to mix the two.
"Smells good." The voice of her friend broke her out of her thoughts.
"I would hope so, I'd feel bad using up Naruto's food just to be forced to throw it away."
Anko waved her off and took a seat.
"Don't worry about it, he would have expected me to help myself. Whether or not the food actually ended up being eaten is irrelevant when he knows it will be gone." Kurenai frowned at that, she hated wasting food, but it showed just how comfortable the two of them seemed to be around each other.
"So, other than cooking breakfast for me, was there any reason you came over?"
"You make it sound like this is your house, Anko." The Tokubetsu Jounin just gave a shrug as she filled her plate and took a bite.
"It could be. I spend enough time here already and it's not like it would be hard for me to convince him to let me move in and live rent free."
"And how do you plan on convincing him, showing a bit more skin?" She looked pointedly at Anko's attire and the woman quickly caught on.
"Ah, yeah, forgot about that." She had, at least, the decency to blush. "I should probably consider keeping a few changes of clothes here or at least something to sleep in."
"I'll say. You realize you were in bed with a twelve year old in that, right?" Anko raised a brow.
"What of it?"
Kurenai had to shake her head. It was easy to forget that Anko had been trained- and practically raised- by Orochimaru of the Sannin. Her sense of morals tended to be slightly askew of the boundaries generally accepted.
"I think you have enough trouble with the Konoha populace, do you really need to give them a valid reason to be against you?"
"A valid reason? Like what?"
"Like being a pedophile." Anko blanched.
"Is that how you're seeing this?" She asked, tilting her head. "I thought I was crashing at a friend's."
"Your 'friend' is twelve years old, you're in your twenties. It might have seemed better if you spent the night on the couch, but those outside the apartment would have known the difference."
"Pfft, like I give a shit about what they think. Naruto knows what's going on, I know what's going on, and you know what's going on. Beyond that, why should I be worried?"
At Kurenai's uncomfortable look Anko frowned, crossing her arms over her mesh top.
"You do know that nothing like that has happened, don't you?"
"Well-"
"Well nothing, Kurenai!" Came Anko's indignant shout. "I thought you knew me better than that! You really think I'm about to put the moves on a twelve year old boy?!"
"What am I supposed to think?! Not only did you spend the night here but you slept in his bed, quite likely with him, wearing almost nothing! Even if you aren't a pedophile you're going to look like a sex offender!"
Anko scowled.
"By you, apparently, you're the only one to know."
"You know people will find out soon enough if you keep it up, you aren't exactly trying to be secretive about the fact that this is practically your second home."
"So what? I'll consider him a close friend regardless of the acceptance of anyone else."
"That's not the point-"
"No," Interrupted Anko. "The point is that you can't accept the fact that I slept in the same bed as someone else and are jumping to conclusions."
"And what conclusions am I jumping to? Everything seems pretty clear to me."
"And that's your problem, it seems clear but you don't really have any idea what's happening."
Silence settled over the house as minutes ticked by. It was Kurenai who broke it.
"Tell me then, what happened?" She asked softly.
"We went out to dinner," Before Kurenai could make any sort of comment she continued. "The three of us. Naruto treated. It was late by the time we got back and I didn't feel like going back home. Naruto offered to let us stay the night and we took him up on it.
"He had intended to take the couch at first but Mai wouldn't have it. I don't know what their relationship is, but she treats him as if he's her superior and refused to kick him out of his own bed. Naturally, that would have led to the two of them sharing a bed, but I didn't want to sleep on the couch.
"Mai was only concerned about Naruto getting to sleep in his own bed so when I said I'd be joining him she decided to take the couch. I would like it noted that I invited her into the bed. It would have been a little crowded but I'm sure he wouldn't have minded."
"I see." Kurenai remained silent for a few moments after speaking before resuming.
"So it was originally going to be you and Mai who I found in his room then. I'm sorry, but knowing you had been sharing a bed with him wearing so little…"
Anko gave a sigh.
"You've mentioned wanting to be a sister to him before, so I guess I can understand where you're coming from, but even if we were doing something like that what would it matter? He's an adult, I'm an adult, we can make our own decisions. You might see him as the young boy born to your mother, but I see him as the young man who set me free of Orochimaru's Ten no Juin."
"Hell," Anko shot her friend a giant grin. "If he was a few years older you know I probably would have dropped my panties right there in the training ground in thanks."
"Anko!"
"Kidding, kidding." Anko waved her off. "But, seriously, if he asks something of me, anything, I'm likely to do it. I can't begin to describe how wonderful it is to be free from that seal and I owe it to him. I'm not about to go and make the first move, but I certainly wouldn't turn him away if he made advances."
"He's twelve!"
Anko shrugged.
"I guess that just means it might be a while before he tries anything. Though, as a young teenage boy, he might ask to see my boobs." She thought for a moment. "That would be a normal thing for them, wouldn't it?"
"Erm, I guess..?"
"No," Anko shook her head with a frown. "If it's a normal thing to do he isn't likely to do it. What are they unlikely to do?"
"Have meaningful conversation? Where are you going with this Anko?"
"Nowhere, just trying to predict what he might ask of me."
"The chances of him asking seem pretty slim, he's never relied too much on others and I hear that declined further after Kushina's departure."
"Doesn't mean he won't want something. As it is I've offered to take him on some missions in my free time, but he hasn't asked for training or anything. Hell, do you know the information I could probably get to him?"
"Anko, that's treason!"
"It's not like it's happened. Well, yet. I won't make any promises."
Shaking her head, Kurenai sighed before freezing.
"What do you mean take him on missions? Gennin can't go on missions above D-rank without their team."
"Naruto doesn't have a team, he's on the reserves. They didn't have enough graduates this year."
"But why him?"
"Probably something to do with the fact that he's not part of a clan anymore." She shrugged again. "I doubt they were going to try to stop one of the clan heirs from being placed in a team. It would have been a nightmare. Then again, it could have nothing to do with that, maybe the old man has something else in mind for Naruto."
"I suppose that could be the case but speaking of teams, there was a reason I was looking for you."
"Oh?"
"I wanted to see if you'd be willing to help me with training mine. If they were clanless it would be a bit easier but as it is they have all trained to use only clan techniques and it's going to take a while to round them out more."
"I suppose so, but why would you find me to ask? We were going to meet with the other Jounin in a few days anyway."
"I'd like to start today, if that isn't too much trouble, and I didn't want the others to know I had help. I'm the rookie, after all, so I could expect a ribbing for not being able to handle it."
Anko gave a snort of amusement.
"Just think of it this way, one rookie Jounin plus one Tokubetsu Jounin equal one regular Jounin."
"I don't think they'd buy that, Anko."
"No, but they'd look stupid trying to argue against it."
Kurenai had to admit she was right about that.
"Likely. Anko, there was one more thing."
"Yeah?"
"I just wanted to thank you."
"Eh? I know I'm awesome, but you don't have to thank me for being your friend." She was promptly smacked playfully by Kurenai.
"No, I wanted to thank you for giving me the chance to enter Naruto's life. He reached out to help you and I can't help but think of you as the bridge that allowed me to try again."
"I'd love to take credit for it, but it had never been my intention to play therapist for you and the boy."
"You know you could just say 'you're welcome', right?"
"I could, but I won't. Then again, you're welcome to take me back to bed and thank me properly."
"Anko!"
The shout and the laughter that followed were loud enough to be heard by the Wolves guarding the apartment, many of which shook their heads.
Naruto-Sama certainly kept rather odd company.
Not a word was uttered as he strode into the room, his eyes fixed firmly upon his Kage. He paid no mind to the smiling woman save his initial notice of her presence. Moving into the standard Konoha salute he held it in silence as he waited to be addressed by Sarutobi Hiruzen, Sandaime Hokage of Konohagakure no Sato.
Hope shone in the eyes of Uzumaki Kushina but her voice was not heard as the Sandaime continued to gaze at the young man before him. After a moment the old Sarutobi broke the silence.
"Gennin Naruto, thank you for coming on such short notice." Kushina gave her Kage an odd look when he referred to her son by given name despite the oddly formal setting but neither of the others seemed to take notice.
"You summoned me, Hokage-Sama." It was not a question but the simple truth. His Kage called and he answered solely out of duty. The message was not lost on the man.
"I did, and I'm sorry it's so early, but I'd like to get this taken care of as quickly as possible, preferably before team meetings start." Naruto raised a brow at that but otherwise remained still.
"And might I ask how the other teams are involved in this?" Hiruzen nodded.
"Yes, of course. I've called you to my office to discuss your future as a Shinobi. Seeing as you are not currently on a team, it is likely that your career will be quite different from those of your peers."
"Understood, Hokage-Sama. What about my career would you like to discuss?"
"The beginning, mostly. You are aware of your current situation and the difficulties that may arise from it?"
"I am. As a reserve I must rely on higher ranking Shinobi to obtain missions and the experience necessary to be promoted. However, if I was able to prove myself capable quickly enough amongst them it could lead to my career advancing rapidly."
"Quite right." Agreed the Hokage. "Do you know anyone willing to aid you in this or would you need to find recently promoted Chuunin?"
"Tokubetsu Jounin Mitarashi Anko has offered to take me on missions when she has time off work. As I understand it the T&I department has been rather slow as of late and she has a surplus of free time."
"Anko? Hmm." Hiruzen stroked his chin in thought. "She could be a pretty good match for you. She's not as serious as you are, but she knows how to get the job done and doesn't worry about anything other than the end results. You might not be able to advance quickly working under her, but you should gain valuable experience."
"I believe much the same, Hokage-Sama. Mitarashi-San and I have relations outside of work and I feel comfortable enough letting her take the lead during missions."
"Ah, so the two of you are friends then? I'm glad to see she has more people than just Kurenai-San. Now, back to why I called you here this morning." Motioning to Kushina, she stepped closer to the desk.
"This is Uzumaki Kushina, one of my most skilled Jounin." He introduced. Both Naruto and Hiruzen noticed her flinch when she was introduced to her child but made no mention of it. Naruto's salute dropped as he turned to face her and was back in place just as quickly.
"Jounin Uzumaki." He greeted with a nod. She flinched again at the formal address but managed to bring herself to do the same.
"Gennin Uzumaki." She returned, taking note of the darkening of his eyes and the stillness that had fallen over her Kage.
Coughing to break the uncomfortable silence that had begun its decent, Hiruzen called Naruto's attention back to him.
"Gennin Naruto," He stressed, shooting a quick glance to Kushina. "While your plans with Tokubetsu Jounin Mitarashi were an unexpected surprise that I am quite pleased to learn of, I originally called you here today to present another option."
Hiruzen gestured to Kushina who was looking at him quizzically. It was obvious that she suspected something was going on that she hadn't been informed about, now it was only a question of how long it might take for her to figure it out.
"Jounin Uzumaki has expressed a desire to apprentice you. Normally it would be difficult to arrange an apprenticeship so soon after graduation, but your status as a reserve member makes it far easier."
"Is that so? I hope that you will excuse me, Hokage-Sama, but this seems rather strange to me."
"Please, speak your mind Gennin Naruto. We are here to discuss your career."
"That would be the first thing. You are a busy man, Hokage-Sama, one with far more important things to do than advise me about my future. I do believe the registration offices provide such services for the Shinobi of Konoha no Sato and Hi no Kuni."
"You are correct, but as Jounin Uzumaki has been having trouble locating you over the past week I thought it easier to simply have you both here. There's no point in wasting valuable time when you could be getting the training you need."
Naruto was silent for a moment.
"Well spoken, Hokage-Sama. It is quite evident as to why you are our leader here in the Leaf. Now, the second matter would have to be why it is that Jounin Uzumaki desires to take me as an apprentice."
Kushina answered this one herself.
"I know you have a lot of potential and would like to help you reach it."
He looked briefly to the Hokage with a raised brow before responding to her.
"It was my understanding that you have been absent from Konohagakure no Sato for the past four years, exactly what do you know of any potential I might have? Thus far the entirety of my training has taken place while you were away and you have yet to witness skill I might have in any area of Shinobi arts."
"Well, yes, I suppose that's true." She admitted. "But I have heard a lot about you and would like to work with you."
"And why would I accept an apprenticeship from you, how will I benefit?"
"She is highly skilled, Naruto, one of the best Jounin I have. She could teach you a lot."
"With all due respect to the both of you, what is it she could teach me? I know nothing of her skillset and she knows nothing of mine."
"Well," Started Kushina as she spotted his blade. "I could teach you to use that blade of yours."
He snorted in response.
"I've been getting lessons, thank you." This peaked Hiruzen's interest.
"With who?"
"Uzuki Yugao, Hokage-Sama."
"Ah, yes, she is quite skilled. Jounin Uzumaki here was actually her Sensei back when she was team eight." Kushina gave a nod in confirmation.
"Then anything I could have learned from Jounin Uzumaki I can learn from her."
"And if Jounin Uzumaki didn't teach her everything she knows?" Questioned the Kage.
"In that case, I would have no reason to believe she would teach it all to me and there would be no point to changing teachers."
"A fair point Gennin Naruto." Hiruzen turned to Kushina. "Anything else you might like to add to show your ability to help him?"
'Showing ability' gave her an idea and brought a smile to her face.
"I believe I do. I have spent the last four years teaching Uzumaki Naruko, perhaps a spar between the two of them would show him exactly what I have to offer in an apprenticeship."
He thought about it for a minute but couldn't find any reason not to allow it. The spar would be a nice, controlled environment and would give him an opportunity to witness Naruto's skill first hand. If his sister beat him he'd learn from his mother, if he managed to completely outclass her Kushina wouldn't have any way to convince him of the apprenticeship and the matter would be dropped.
Naruto had remained completely professional during this encounter, too. Hiruzen was fairly certain he could maintain his professionalism while sparing against his sister so there was no real concern with the spar itself.
Then again, being beaten by his sister after she had taken his spot in a team would probably drive the family further apart, but such was out of his hands. What mattered now was ensuring the future Shinobi of Konoha were started on the right path.
"I can see no reason to be against this. Gennin Naruto, what are your thoughts?"
"A better method of learning her teaching abilities escapes me, this should prove sufficient."
"Then it's decided. Kushina, gather your…student…and meet us at training ground one, I believe they are currently on a mission so it should be free. I'll give you a half hour starting now, make sure she's ready."
"Yes, Hokage-Sama." Kushina wasted no time in leaving the office to find her daughter. He chances of teacher her soon seemed to rely on the outcome of this spar, she had to make sure Naruko understood how important this was.
"Naruto, are you ready to go?" The young man gave a quick look at himself before nodding, which Hiruzen found suspicious considering his usual kunai holsters were absent. He knew Naruto was a proud person and tended to be fairly confident, but going into a fight without all your equipment?
That was far too foolish for the boy.
"I am, Hokage-Sama."
"Very well, let's be off. Cat, Monkey, you're with me." The two ANBU were immediately flanking him and it was quite obvious that both were pleased to be able to witness this.
Naruto followed the other three out of the office at respectable distance and unknowingly had the same thought as the Sandaime;
'Well, that wasn't so bad.'
It took less than five minutes for her to rush home but that was far more than she would have liked. She unlocked the compound and wadded through the yet to be cut grass before bursting into the house and hurrying to the kitchen.
"Naruko!" Luckily, Naruko was where she expected, finishing her breakfast in the kitchen in preparation for her team meeting.
"Yes, Kaa-san?"
"Are you ready to go?"
"Uh, yeah, but I don't need to leave for a while." She was understandably confused.
"Good, finish up your food, we have to go."
"Go where?"
"I talked to Naruto about becoming my apprentice this morning-"
"What?! Really?! What did he say?!"
"He doesn't think he'd gain anything from it."
"That doesn't make any sense, you trained me." Kushina gave her daughter a smirk.
"Exactly, and that's why we have to go. You're going to prove to him just how much I can teach him."
"I have to fight Nii-Kun?" Naruko was conflicted about that. On one hand, she wanted to show him everything she had learned while they were away, on the other, she didn't want to hurt him. She had been trained by a Jounin for four years and had a giant mass of chakra within her while he had just been going to the academy. It wouldn't be fair, but if it could convince him to accept an apprenticeship it could be worth it.
"Don't think of it as fighting, Little Sunflower, it's a spar. You're going to show him your skill and he's going to show you his. I heard one of my old students, Uzuki Yugao, has been teaching him to use a blade so you may want to grab that Tanto I gave you."
"Oh, so he has has some training beyond the academy?" Naruko perked up instantly. Even if he didn't receive as extensive training as she had at least she wouldn't be fighting a basic academy student. Of course, she also knew it was probably a bad idea to underestimate her brother.
"That's right, so don't worry about him. It's better for us, too."
"Why's that?"
"Because now we can show him that not only am I a good teacher, but I'm a better teacher than my old student."
"And then we can spend time with him, right?"
"You bet, I'll make sure to bring him back here for dinner whenever I can."
"Just dinner?"
"Well, I'll invite him to live in the compound again but you know he's renting an apartment right now. If he's happy supporting himself then we should let him. However, that won't mean we aren't going to visit him whenever we get a chance." Naruko shot her mother a bright grin that quickly faltered.
"Did you figure out why he seems so angry? I knew he'd be upset with us leaving, but I thought he'd be happy to have us back." A frown found its way onto Kushina's face. There was obviously something going on, the way the Sandaime addressed her son said as much, but she didn't know what it was yet. Kurenai hadn't said anything, she hadn't seen Tsunade, Hiruzen didn't volunteer any information and the only thing she knew about Kakashi at the moment was that he was still reading that smut and being lazy according to her daughter. She couldn't be certain that they all knew what was wrong, but she had a good feeling that Hiruzen knew the most. And if he didn't want to just tell her? Fine. She'd just have to find out from her son.
Or, she would as soon as she had him apprenticed under her. Seeing as that should be taken care of this morning, they could talk about it over lunch so she'd know what she missed while she was away. Of course, then she'd have to drag him back here to talk with his sister and give him the gifts they had gathered over the trip.
"I don't know, but I'm going to find out and make it all better." Her thoughts immediately drifted to the detached, professional manner in which he had spoken to her earlier. She knew it was a formal setting, but to act like he had no idea who she was hurt more than she could describe, especially because she knew he remembered her. Their encounter the previous day had proven that well enough. The difference here though was that he had shown anger there, as remarkably restrained as it had been, but there was no sign of anything in the Hokage's office earlier.
Anger she could handle, she could deal with that, but for him to show nothing, towards her as if she had no part in his life?
What had happened to her baby?
He was aware of Kushina's arrival with her daughter but he continued to watch curiously as Naruto strapped the Kunai holsters to his legs. He hadn't had them in his office, he was sure of that, and yet here he was with two very good ones. He couldn't have snatched them off of a fellow Shinobi, the quality of them was far too high to have been owned by anyone without the skill to notice the boy, but where else might he have obtained them.
He had followed behind the Kage and his guards, so someone could have slipped them to him, but then they would have needed to know that Naruto was about to require them. It made his suspicions that Naruto was involved in the mysterious Wolves that much more solid but it also brought a great amount of concern. People had all moved out of the way for him and Naruto wasn't that much behind so how did they manage to get close enough to hand him the gear?
It was certainly not a pleasant thought though it was quite likely he was overthinking things. Of course, as a Shinobi, overthinking things was part of the job. If you missed even one outcome that outcome was bound to happen.
Him sending Naruto to T&I, for example.
He hadn't thought about non-Uchiha learning about what had happened from escaped clanmembers and it had happened.
He hadn't predicted losing all of Naruto's trust when he was concerned with retrieving information and it happened.
He hadn't expected Naruto to be on good terms with an unknown group or declare war on the Yamanaka and yet both happened.
Actually, now that he thought about it all, most of his recent oversights belonged exclusively to Naruto.
Perhaps he was losing his touch.
He really should be retired already.
A quick look over to Kushina showed her speaking quietly to her daughter, no doubt giving her some last words of encouragement before the spar. Admittedly, quite a lot rested upon this for the Uzumaki family. Naruto, on the other hand, had no concerns about this spar. If he won he won, if he lost he lost. Regardless, his decision to become apprenticed to Kushina would depend on how well Naruko was able to impress him with what her mother had taught.
Just like the last test of the Chuunin exams, the goal wasn't to win.
Pulling back from her daughter, she handed her a Tanto which earned a raised brow from the Hokage. Naruto had been training with Yugao in use of his blade but he didn't know how much training Naruko had received during the trip. As he understood it, their focus was on basic Shinobi skills and the harnessing of the Kyuubi's chakra.
Though he probably should have expected her to have been taught to use some sort of weapon considering how much Kushina loved her sword.
He moved his gaze from the two women and back over to Naruto who stood firm, his arms crossed over his chest as he waited. A tap to his shoulder caught his attention and when Cat looked from him to Naruto he gave her a nod.
With quick strides she approached him before removing her armguards and handing them to her student. Without a word he strapped them to his arms. She looked at his chest before taking a glance at the flexible standard issue ANBU armor she wore, no doubt contemplating lending him that too, before shaking her head and holding out her hand.
Hiruzen and the others were rather surprised and quite confused when Naruto drew his blade and surrendered it to her. At first glance it was beyond obvious that this wasn't some run of the mill blade. No, this was something far beyond what most Shinobi would ever wield and he had doubts that it would be common to come across a Samurai with such a blade.
As soon as the blade was in her grasp she reached for her own Tanto and handed it to him. Hiruzen understood that she simply didn't want him using such a magnificent blade during a spar and Kushina was probably thinking along the same line, but Naruko didn't seem to get it.
"Is there something wrong with his blade?"
"No." Responded Cat flatly. "He just shouldn't be using it against a fellow Shinobi of the leaf."
"Why?" Naruko tilted her head. "I'm sure my Tanto can handle it; it's Uzumaki forged, after all."
"It's not a matter of how well the blades are made; it's a matter of the blade itself. He should not be using Mōryō's Tooth against a comrade."
Naruko was completely lost but Hiruzen could understand well enough that this blade had history. It may not be one of the legendary weapons that most older warriors knew by heart, but judging from Kushina's shocked gasp, it was well enough known amongst users of the blade.
Well, that or it was a named blade of Uzumaki make, both were just as likely.
"Mōryō's Tooth? Where on earth did he get that blade?" Asked Kushina, her eyes never leaving the pitch black blade as the silver edge gleamed in the sunlight. Cat just shrugged.
"I don't know and he won't say." Naruto nodded in agreement.
"What's the big deal with this tooth? Why can't he use it against me?"
"It's not so much the blade as it is the history behind it. The stories say it was born of a demon to combat him should he escape his prison but the first blood it tasted was that of the priestesses that blessed it."
"So it's a blessed blade then?"
"No, not in the slightest. It's considered quite cursed and leaves trails of bodies in the wake of its wielder."
"Then what's the big deal about using it in a spar?"
"The blade is not meant for safe fighting, it exists solely to spill the blood of those it goes against. To fight with it would declare your intentions to kill your opponent and for them to spare you would mean your life wasn't worth ending. There may be some willing to spar with legendary blades, but one does not fight using a blade as accursed as Mōryō's Tooth."
"But he was going to use it until she stopped him." That stopped Kushina cold. After a moment she managed to respond.
"I suppose that means he was taking you seriously. Remember to be careful, we don't know how he fights and it would be rather embarrassing for you to lose because of a single mistake you made."
"Don't worry, Kaa-san. I'll make you proud."
Hiruzen looked between the two groups and decided they were as ready as they were going to get.
"Kushina, Cat, step away please." Both women moved over to him, watching the two young Shinobi intently.
"Are you both ready?"
"You bet, Jiji!"
"I am, Hokage-Sama."
"Then begin." Even before he had finished his words, Naruko was racing forward to show what she could do. Naruto, on the other hand, remained stationary, casting quick glances around the training ground and the surrounding forest.
Her first strike lashed out just as she was in range only to be blocked by his Tanto. Oddly, he made no move to knock the blade out of the way or make a retaliatory strike of his own. Holding his blade in her intended path, he stopped the blade and allowed her to try again. Two strikes, five strikes, seven strikes, all blocked almost like he couldn't be bothered to participate in the spar.
With each block, however, he was taking steps backwards, giving her the space to recover and try again. Kushina was puzzled by this strange behavior but Cat, who had worked with him for many, many hours, seemed to understand what he was trying to do.
Hiruzen seemed to be of the same mind as Kushina, having expected a proper Kenjutsu match. That's what Naruto had wanted, right? So, what was he up to?
"I'm afraid, ladies, that I'm not all that familiar with swordfighting. This, however, seems quite odd. Is he trying to wear her out or get a feel for her technique?"
Cat gave a quick snort.
"I know you can see how plainly she telegraphs her moves, Hokage-Sama. Some might think it chaotic, but she's just following the flow of previous movements. I'm certain Naruto can see it just as easily."
Kushina rubbed the back of her head in slight embarrassment.
"I've managed to teach her a decent amount and she's gotten pretty good, but I'm still trying to teach her to disguise her movements. It seems that she's not even trying to hide them this match, either too confident or too excited to realize she's not doing it."
"Looks pretty excited to me." Commented Hiruzen. "But does that mean he's just trying to tire her out? I know you Uzumaki have a lot of stamina so it would take a while, but she seems more than willing to keep swinging her blade until she drops."
"Sounds like something she'd do." Admitted Kushina.
"That's not his plan, it would draw out the fight far too long. It could take hours against a decent swordfighter, but with an Uzumaki we could be here all day."
"Then what might he be up to?" Questioned the Kage. "Of all of us, you probably know him best." Kushina flinched at that. "Why won't he attack?"
"Like Uzumak-san said, her daughter is decent with a blade, even if she is telegraphing a lot of moves. He knows he can block them, but if he were to try attacking she may be able to get a hit in herself, he isn't willing to risk it."
"Wouldn't that draw out the fight more?"
"It would, Hokage-Sama, if he was planning to continue all day."
"Well he better hurry." Commented Kushina. "That treeline is fast approaching.
Hidden behind her mask, Cat smiled.
"Oh, I think he's well aware."
Before they could ask, Naruto sprang into motion. As Naruko's upward slash was backstepped and she brought it back down he flipped his Tanto into a reversed grip and moved into her strike. His blade met hers but, unlike the last few dozen times, this time he kept moving. His right arm continued to cross his body bringing with it Naruko's Tanto and his entire body flowed with it.
With a twist his left leg arced around from behind to collect solidly to her head. Temporarily disengaged from the slightly dazed Naruko he didn't hesitate for a second-
He fled into the surrounding forest.
"W-what?" Kushina couldn't understand in the slightest. He had such an opportune opening, why hadn't he taken it?
Hiruzen was likewise confused however he could practically feel the smugness rolling of Cat.
"Care to explain?" He asked.
"You both made a single disastrous error while watching the fight." She started. Both knew she was smirking behind her mask. "You assumed this was a Kenjutsu match."
"I was under the impression that a Kenjutsu match was what Naruto wanted."
"No, Hokage-Sama, he wanted to see how well Naruko's been taught and how well it would match with his own style."
"Style? All we saw was him blocking, there was no style." Interjected Kushina who watched as Naruko recovered and ran in after her brother.
"And that's the mistake; you expect a certain fighting style because he's a Kenjutsu user when he is, in fact, not a Kenjutsu user."
"Then what is he?" He asked, but he already had a good idea what the answer was going to be. The second he stopped thinking of this being a Kenjutsu match everything seemed to make sense.
"He's a Shinobi."
"He baited her into his element." Noted Hiruzen. "He knows he doesn't have a chance in a straight fight so he changes the rules and gives himself the advantage."
"That's right, Hokage-Sama. He does his best to never attack in the open, that's why he defended until the last second. We both know his skill in stealth, though; he's going to tear her apart now."
Hiruzen gave a quiet curse.
"Monkey, retrieve my crystal ball- we must see what's going on."
"Yes, Hokage-Sama." He was gone with a whisper.
"Cat, what are the chances of him playing with his food?"
"High, Hokage-Sama. The spar was to see her skills, he's likely to take it slow in order to give her the chance to prove herself."
"Good, I'd rather not have to call any medics."
"You might want to call one anyway, Hokage-Sama. All it takes is one bad strike."
"I suppose you're right." He mused, ignoring Kushina's concerned look.
"Naruko's going to be okay, won't she?"
"Should be." Answered Cat with a shrug. "Though there's no doubt that she's going to be really roughed up by the time he's done with her. I'd be willing to bet he stayed near the edge of the forest and followed her deeper."
"Like a predator." Came Kushina's comment.
"Like a wolf." There were just too many coincidences and too many similarities for it to not be true. Hiruzen couldn't decide, however, if that was necessarily a bad thing.
It was a few tense minutes later that Monkey returned with the crystal ball in one hand and a small table under his arm. Setting both down he stepped back and let the three take their seats around the ball. No one questioned Cat joining them despite her having been brought as a guard.
The images shown were just about what Cat and the Hokage had expected but Kushina gave a startled gasp.
Having chosen to focus the crystal ball on Naruko the group was treated to the confused girl as Naruto dashed from between trees and cut at her with his Tanto. To her credit, a fourth of the strikes were deflected, but Naruto never slowed with his assault. Much to Kushina's relief, there was no blood.
Yet.
Not a single one of his cuts had drawn blood and all watching were confident that it was by choice rather than a lack of ability. Her clothes, on the other hand, had certainly seen better days. While he avoided striking at her skirt –most likely for her own benefit- he didn't hesitate to tear her top to shreds. With each strike it became more and more unsalvageable until, with a final cut, it could no longer maintain its place on her body, scraps of fabric lightly fluttering to the dirt.
In a very Kunoichi manner, Naruko ignored her lack of top and made no move to cover her bound chest, instead choosing to stay on guard for further attacks. Somewhat surprised by the way in which she reacted to her toplessness, Naruto had stopped moving to observe her curiously. Eventually settling on acknowledgement, he gave her a brief nod before vanishing into the forest again.
While Kushina was busy being proud of her daughter for keeping focused on the fight, Cat and Hiruzen were both finding themselves impressed by the fact that the bindings were in perfect condition despite the fact that he had cut away the cloth that had covered them.
It was a testament to his speed and accuracy and the Sandaime Hokage found himself rather impressed. Naruto hadn't been working with his blade for that long, as far as he knew, and Yugao worked a lot being his guard, so for the young Shinobi to demonstrate such skill was incredible. As if she knew exactly what he was thinking, Cat spoke up.
"He doesn't spend his time on learning to combat others with blades so all his time is used to become more fast and accurate. Precise movements ensure he can block attacks with minimal effort and speed makes it possible for him to intercept any blades coming at him. His attack ability is rather shoddy in the open, so he doesn't waste time trying. As you can see, he can attack quite well if he gets a chance to hide."
"Yes." Agreed Hiruzen. "How very Shinobi-like. It's not often you see a Gennin unconcerned with flashy Jutsu and powerful techniques."
"It's just not his style, Hokage-Sama." She turned her attention to Kushina. "It does, however, seem to be Naruko's style. Why hasn't she used any Jutsu?"
"I'd like to say it's because it can be dangerous using them in such a confined space as those dence woods, but it's likely because he hasn't used any yet. He's using a blade so she'll use a blade, I think she believes it to be honorable." Admitted the woman.
"It is." Said the Sandaime. "But honorable isn't going to help you outside Konoha. As much as I hate to admit it, even with flashy Jutsu most of the Shinobi from other villages are far closer to real Shinobi than our own."
"I know, and I hope she knows. Luckily, this is Konoha." Cat gave a snort at that.
"Something funny?"
"Yeah, this may be Konoha, but I stand by what I said earlier. Naruto is a Shinobi. He has no care for honor, only victory."
"I know you're probably closer to him than the two of us," Kushina flinched again at the jab, though she couldn't decide if it had been intended or not. "But I find that hard to believe. He is normally very polite and respectful. Even if it's not in the way we might think of it, he seems to have his own code of honor."
"Not honor, Hokage-Sama, just conduct. His manner is reminiscent of the clans, but one can't forget that the clans weren't always Shinobi. So while he may seem honorable because of the way he acts, he is anything but."
"Hmm, yes, I can see that. In which ways is he dishonorable? I've yet to see anything from him that makes me think he's playing dirty."
"In this match? Nothing yet. It would probably end it. In my own matched with him, however, he tends to cheat quite frequently."
"Care to share any examples?"
"As you can see in this match, sometimes he'll go for clothing, either with his hands or his blade, to serve as a distraction. Sometimes he'll have someone else nearby to help him or he'll slip explosive notes onto you before the match. There have been a few times he's buried those tags on the training field the day before so he could activate them during matches. He just doesn't play fair, he finds the chances of losing to be too high for his liking."
"He's a Gennin sparing against a superior opponent, why is losing such an issue?" Questioned Kushina.
"Because losing in the field means death." Cat's grim answer was direct and to the point.
"He takes this very seriously and one would do well to remember that. Kids these days don't understand what they're getting into when they join the academy but he does and I think he longs for it."
"What?" While Kushina was the one to voice it, the thought was shared by Hiruzen.
"Can you imagine him doing anything else? He was born to be part of the Shinobi world. He knows what it's like, he knows the things he'll see and have to do, but he accepts it. Even if he never went to the academy, he would be a Shinobi."
"Unfortunate but, from what I've seen, true. But I can say he'll make a fine Shinobi with some experience under his belt." Agreed Hiruzen before turning to Kushina. "And your daughter seems to be coming along well too. Not many young Kunoichi could continue without their top."
"Thank you, Hokage-Sama. I've done what I can to ensure she's ready for this lifestyle."
Cat shook her head sadly. "She might have the skill, and she might have the ability, but she'll never be ready for this lifestyle. It clashes against her personality."
Hiruzen spoke before an argument had a chance to break out.
"Then it's a good thing the Shinobi world had changed so much over the years, I think she'll fit in perfectly with the new generation."
The last comment of the matter was stolen by a rather grim Cat.
"It's not this generation we should be worried about."
With that said the three returned their attention back to the crystal ball in time to see Naruto's last attack remove Naruko's bindings. The result was expected.
"Kyaaa!" Even from where they were seated they could hear her.
It was one thing for her to be able to stay on task with her top gone, it was quite another to keep focused with her chest completely exposed. Immediately her hands went to cover herself, dropping her Tanto to the dirt.
"I suppose that's the end of this." Mused Hiruzen. Next to him, Cat gave a nod.
"Maybe." Mumbled a worried Kushina. "It might end up being the beginning."
The explanation happened before they could ask. Naruto, who had stopped after removing her bindings, leapt back as fast as he could as four gold chains materialized on Naruko's back and lashed out. In an instant Naruto's advantage had been turned against him.
Without enough room to maneuver and his inability to keep track of all four chains as they snaked around trees he had no choice but to abandon the forest. Using trees to launch himself away from the new threat. And while he may have been able to avoid the chains in this manner, the trees he used weren't so lucky and stood no chance against the solidified chakra.
Raising his arms to shield him from the shower of wooden splinters that came his way he found himself quite fortunate to be wearing Cat's armguards. The rest of his body, unlike the face he had been able to protect, had not been quite so lucky. With one final tree, he cleared the surrounding forests and made it back into the grassy field that made up training ground one.
Even as blood trickled down from the countless splinters that had pierced his flesh like wooden Senbon he kept moving, putting distance between himself and his sister. It wasn't long before a thoroughly embarrassed and infuriated blonde appeared at the end of the treeline but she made no move to leave it.
Only her left hand covered her chest now, her dropped Tanto hanging loosely from the fingers of her right hand, but she didn't look to be in the mood to continue with Kenjutsu. All four of her chains wrapped around a nearby tree and with a mighty pull it was uprooted.
Before his treatment for Chakra Withdrawal he had torn up training grounds well enough to know exactly what was coming next.
He wasn't disappointed.
With a great heft the tree went sailing towards him like a missile and crashed into the ground with enough force to completely destroy it. Naruto had managed to roll away from the intended impact point but he was far too close to avoid the shower of wood that followed.
The pieces of wood lodged into his flesh were significantly bigger this time.
With a grimace, he spared a second to examine his wounds.
It didn't look good.
If he was lucky, he might be able to take two more volleys of those splinters before he was finished. He had no intention of letting trees get the best of him. Bleeding steadily, he pushed himself backwards and further into the training ground in hopes that she would be forced to abandon the treeline. It was still likely that she could launch her chosen projectiles to the other end of the field but it increased his ability to dodge them.
Realizing this, or perhaps simply acting in anger, she advanced on him. Slowly, at first, she was soon sprinting towards her brother with her right hand grasping her Tanto tightly in a reverse grip and four golden chains whipping around her. Still a good distance away, she sent the chakra constructs ahead of her only for Naruto to deftly dodge them. With a swipe of his Tanto they were cut and began to dematerialize.
Both Kushina and Naruko were slightly surprised that he had managed to cut the chains but the slightly glowing Tanto in his hand told them all they needed to know. It wasn't chakra metal, but even normal weapons could be coated in chakra. It was, however, quite difficult and not what people usually used when faced with the swift attacks of chakra chains.
He seemed unsurprised by the result, too, as if he knew exactly how to deal with chains before he had even seen them.
However, while Kushina was still surprised and Naruto was unphased, his sister's surprise quickly turned to anger at having her chains cut. Forcing more chakra though existing chains she stopped them from collapsing and brought them back to defend her.
Shooting her brother a glare, she drained her reserves. A tidal wave of chains burst from her back, easily numbering in the hundreds, and quickly rose like the fist of an angered god ready to crash down and smite its foes.
Naruto snarled at the sight. He had gone to great lengths to ensure she'd remain completely unscathed from this spar so she could attend her team meeting and she responded first by drawing blood and now by using an Uzumaki technique against him like this. As far as she or her mother were aware he didn't know how to use the chakra chains which meant this was done with the intention of crushing him and ending the match.
Fine.
If she wanted to play that way he'd show her the proper way to use the technique.
Throwing his Tanto to the side the spectators thought for a brief second that he might be surrendering. They were quickly proven wrong.
Placing one open hand over the other he swiftly crouched low and slammed his hands against the ground, almost as if summoning. Looking up, he met the eyes of his sister, purple eyes burning with fury, and with one last snarl his own chains made themselves known. In an explosion of soil they erupted from beneath her and swiftly wove themselves through her own chains.
These chains looked nothing like hers.
Black as the night, they swallowed the light of the morning sun and each length of links was so compact that it looked more like tendrils of ink than anything else. The maneuverability of his chains was unmatched by the golden chains that she sent forward only to halt halfway through no will of her own.
Gritting her teeth, she tried to send them forward only for them to fail to do so much as budge. A quick look showed the black tendrils completely interwoven with her links of her chains. At the command of her brother his chains constricted with enough force to completely shatter her own.
She had no choice but to look up in disbelief as her chains dissipated into nothingness, taking with them her remaining chakra. His chains numbered no more than a dozen and yet her hundreds had been crushed. Her wide eyes turned to look at the one who had destroyed one of her best techniques and it was then she noticed the blood.
The first thing she felt was worry followed quickly by guilt. She hadn't actually intended to hut him though a part of her argued that he deserved it for removing her top and her chest bindings.
There was one more part, however, a little black seed that realized he had stopped her while injured with what looked to be very little effort. The more she thought about it, the more that seed began to grow until rage started to strangle her heart and clouded her senses.
She had trained with her mother, the last known user of those chains, for four years and yet he was able to stop her without that training. During this match she wanted to show him all that she had learned, she had wanted to impress him and make her mother proud and yet he couldn't give her that.
His black chains retreated as he stood from his crouch, wrapping themselves tightly around him in a protective coating that prevented the shards of wood embedded into his flesh from moving. Her mother had never even talked about that being a possibility and so when a quick look at her mother –held back by both the Hokage and Cat- showed that she was just as shocked Naruko knew without a doubt that her brother possessed skill with the technique far surpassing her own.
And that only infuriated her more.
Gritting her teeth, she knew she was out of chakra. That didn't mean she didn't have other ways to get it, though.
Digging deep into herself, she found it, a burning pulse like the heartbeat of the sun. Without hesitation she grabbed hold and dragged it out. Instantly her system was flooded with molten chakra that empowered her more than anything else possibly could. Red wisps of Chakra escaped her body, raising through the air like tongues of flame.
No one could mistake what it was she was doing.
As her eyes turned red and her canines seemed to lengthen she gave a feral growl. No longer concerned with things like modesty her arm fell to her side, nails sharpening like claws.
It was not to last.
With a scream of pain it was gone just as quickly as it had come, leaving her to writhe on the ground in agony. Skin seemed to steam and blood leaked from her mouth as twisted and contorted under assault from some invisible adversary.
Naruto made to step towards her to see what was wrong only to notice her wild movements and pained screams increasing with every step he took. Backing up, they died down slightly and he was left to ponder it as Kushina ran to her daughter's side.
It took him a second to piece it together.
Giving his sister a cautious glance, he realized that Mito was currently there, not twenty yards from him, and was reacting to his presence. Unbidden, her words echoed in his head and forced him to turn away. He should have known better to think she would be gone for good. She was here now and it was quite obvious she wasn't too pleased by it.
Retrieving his Tanto he met the approaching figures as they moved to aid Naruko. He handed over the blade and surrendered the armguards without a word, taking Mōryō's Tooth with a nod of thanks. Turning to the Hokage he snapped into the Konoha salute despite his steadily bleeding injuries.
"Hokage-Sama."
"At ease, Naruto. Have you made your decision?"
"Yes, Hokage-Sama. While Kushina seems to be a good teacher, I do not feel what she might teach me will be compatible with my style."
"I understand, I'll let her know."
"Thank you, Hokage-Sama. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to find a medic." The Hokage held up a hand in response.
"Cat, you're dismissed, please aid Naruto for the remainder of the day."
She gave a quick salute before she made her way to Naruto's side.
"Come on," She urged. "I can take care of your wounds. Is your apartment alright? It's closer than mine."
"Should be." He gave a pained shrug as they walked off. "I'm pretty sure Anko sleeps in longer than Mai but even she should be up by now."
Naruto completely missed the surprised looks shot at him by Hiruzen and Monkey.
Shaking his head, Hiruzen turned back to watch Kushina help Naruko, who's thrashing about had stopped. Moving his eyes up to the sky and noting the position of the sun he gave a snort and shook his head again.
"Is something the matter, Hokage-Sama?" Asked Monkey.
Hiruzen's comment had him shaking his head too.
"It's not even lunch yet."
And that's XX, see you all next week.