Naruto: Archer and Loner
Here is another chapter. I am very sorry for the long wait. My muse up and ran away on me and only recently came back. As per usual, neither Naruto nor Bleach belong to me. If it did, I would've fought tooth and nail to continue the Bleach anime! Lol. Anyways, onto the story.
Trials and Tribulations of Life
The morning sun came through the crack in the curtains and onto the face of Hiruzen Sarutobi waking him immediately. He slowly pulled his 68 year old body out of bed thinking, 'I made it through another night. I wonder what problems will pop up today?' He made his way to the bathroom to start the day. Taking a glance in the mirror and grimacing at the face staring back at him, he could only shudder. Memories of his face when he was younger popping up in his mind. Memories of when he was stronger and actually able to make a difference in a situation due to the training he received from his predecessors. 'Oh, how I wish I was 20 years younger,' he thought to himself as he made his way through his morning routine. He made his way slowly down to his kitchen and poured himself a cup of coffee. Tasting the bitter taste that quickly shocked his brain into a more awake state, he felt himself ready to face the day. Making his way out of his home, he pulled on his robes of office. The robes of the Hokage. Wincing at the harshness of the sunlight, he made his way down the path to his front gate. As he stepped out and closed the gate behind him, an Anbu dropped in front of him.
"Report, Dragon," Hiruzen says.
"Nothing of notice occurred during the night, Hokage-sama," the Dragon masked Anbu replied. "A meeting has been called for 10 AM though."
"By who," Hiruzen asks.
"By Danzo, Homura and Koharu, Hokage-sama," he replied.
"They overstep their authority more and more every day," Hiruzen mumbles to himself. "Did they say what the meeting was about?"
"The only thing they told Anbu Geko was that the meeting is supposed to cover Uzumaki's privileges and authority in Konoha," he replied.
"Very well. Please see to it everyone is gathered in time. Including Uzamaki and any other parties this might pertain to," Hiruzen says as he turns and makes his way to the Hokage tower.
Council Meeting Room 10 A.M.
The doors of the room opened allowing the civilian and Clan council members entrance. Upon coming into the room, they noticed the Third Hokage, Naruto Uzumaki, Zabuza Momochi and Kiski Uzumaki already waiting. The council members made their way to their assigned seats and sat down.
"I was told that there was a meeting ordered for 10 A.M in my village," Hiruzen said quietly after everyone sat down. "What I am wondering is, who has the right to order a mandatory meeting of this village's Hokage?"
The eyes of the council members dart back and forth to various members as they feel the air slowly chill at the Hokage's question.
Danzo Shimura stood and bowed to the Hokage. "I am sorry, Hokage-sama. However, me and my fellow council members believe an issue needed to be addressed as quickly as possible. This issue pertains to one of our clans and I felt it important enough to request a meeting."
"However, you did not request a meeting, Simura-san," Hiruzen says coldly. "I was told the moment I had the Anbu deliver the morning report that this meeting was already scheduled and mandatory."
"I apologize, Hokage-sama," Danzo replied. "I overstepped my authority. It won't happen again."
"See that it doesn't, Simura-san. Now, what was so important that it could not wait until I was actually in the office this morning," Hiruzen asks as Danzo retakes his seat.
A fat civilian council member stands up clearing his throat "Excuse me, Sarutobi-san, but I believe I can enlighten you to the issue that brought us here today. We feel that a resource is being wasted on the dem-, I mean, on Uzumaki-san."
Hiruzen takes a few calming breaths after glaring at the man and making him fall into his seat with a thump. Feeling a bit calmer he slowly looks over the other members noticing a few nods of those who agreed with the man.
"First and foremost council members, if you ever refer to me or any other member of this council with such disrespect, you will be visiting the T&I department to learn some manners. Secondly, what resource are you speaking of," Hiruzen asks.
"What we mean is that Kiski Uzumaki and Zabuza Momochi are both being wasted training the Uzumaki," Danzo replied.
Zabuza stands up suddenly and shouts, "I am training Naruto and there is nothing you can do about it. I was requested to train the boy and he has accepted it. I am under the Uzumaki protection and only answer to them."
Kiski places a hand on Zabuza's shoulder to calm him down and says quietly, "I am an Uzumaki. I will only train an Uzumaki. That is all there is. Not even the Hokage can overturn my directive. If he does, then the Uzumaki will leave this village and take everything they own with it."
"Good. The boy doesn't deserve to live in this village," Homura says snidely.
"Do you realize what that actually means, Homura," Hiruzen asks looking at him. Homura shakes his head in the negative. "Well, I'll tell you all. It would mean that this village would no longer exist. What you know is that our village was created by the first Hokage and the Uchiha clan. What you don't know is that because our first Hokage married Mito Uzumaki it allowed us to create this village. If the Uzumaki clan leaves this village, they take with it everything they allowed our village to have to create it. This includes the scroll of seals, the symbol on our Hiate, the swirl pattern on our flak jackets and untold millions in revenue owed to the Uzumaki clan."
Pure chaos erupted at the statement. Many civilian council members were shouting, 'Impossible. There is no way one clan has that much influence over our great village.' Many of the clan heads sitting there grew pale in the face at the revelation that was dropped on them. Many knew since Naruto hadn't been treated all that well, he could very much destroy the village by just leaving it.
Naruto leaned over to Kiski and asked him to try and quiet everyone down. After a few minutes, everyone sat back down from Kiski shouting at them all. Naruto sat up a bit higher in his chair and cleared his throat, "Hokage-sama speaks the truth. However, the Uzumaki Clan made a promise to this village to always support it. Although my life in this village has been hard, I know in my heart I couldn't just abandon it. It would bring disgrace and dishonor onto my clan and I will not do that. I have found through reading my clan archives that an Uzumaki doesn't break a promise easily. It is only in the direst of situations that a promise is broken. This village wears our clan symbol in remembrance of the promise they failed to keep during the Second Ninja War. It is why the spiral symbol on the flak jackets are red instead of white. It signifies the blood of the Uzumaki that was lost. So, Mitokado-san, even if you feel the way you do, I will not leave the village out of spite. As for those who are under my protection as an Uzumaki, they are training me in the ways of being a ninja and an Uzumaki. I am sorry you think it is being wasted on me and I have an idea of where you all want my teachers to go. However, I will not allow the Uchiha to learn my clan secrets or whatever my teachers might teach me. The Uchiha has had many teachers over the years, but the only teachers I've ever had are standing beside me."
"Very true, Uzumaki-san," Hiruzen states. "Once again, the kindness and stubbornness of the Uzumaki is shown in this village. I am glad to hear you won't abandon us out of spite. I am proud to call you a ninja of my village. As for the issue brought up today, I find it is unreasonable. To demand another person's teachers is wrong. More so when those teachers are under the protection of a clan. Now, is there anything else that must be brought to my attention?"
"Nothing that comes to mind," Danzo states. "I believe we can hold anything else for the next council meeting later this week."
"Very well," Hiruzen replies. "I call this meeting to an end. I imagine we all have work to do, so everyone have a good day." He stands up and watches as the council members leave the room. 'Another pointless meeting. When will they grow up,' he thinks to himself. 'Naruto, I hope one day this village sees you for the unique ninja you truly are.'
Another chapter done. Once again, I am very sorry for the long wait for this chapter. Now that my muse has decided to pop up, I am hoping to get the ball rolling on more chapters. Thank you all for sticking around!