REBIRTH OF THE LEAF – AN AMULET FOR AN APOLOGY
The Circle, One Week Later
It has been one long week since Shinki first attended the summit now known as The Circle. During the first meeting and following it, he instigated a heated debate about the proposed future of Clyde and his followers. Since then he has not attended another of meeting. This is not because of his argument though, instead it is because he has had other priorities. During this week, before becoming a permanent fixture of The Circle, his focus has been on seeing to the health and wellbeing of his fellow villagers. Even more so than the Leaf, the Sand has suffered a torturous fate at the hands of the enemy.
Shinki has also had other matters that have drawn his attention.
Shikadai takes his position at the centre of the table. Looking around, he is pleased to see that Shinki has returned, clearly the immediate needs of the villagers have been seen to. Even with an unoccupied seat, the gathering is impressive. Debatably the greatest gathering of warriors this world has ever seen. The one absence brings Shikadai to the opening of the meeting.
"OK, first thing on the agenda, I have to remind you that Lord 5th cannot attend the meeting today" he declares as he looks towards the empty seat marked with the number 5. "She has gone to the Shikkotsu forest for training".
Shikadai ponders the reason behind Tsunade's choice. She had never, to him, revealed any displeasure at her own level of strength. Thinking about it though, it would be understandable. During the contest, she, the 5th Hokage was completely healthy and was at the peak of her powers. Despite all of that, she performed an operation on Naruto and that was the sum of her contribution.
Shikadai knows the difference between his and Tsunade's situations. He is the Hokage's assistant, the Leaf's strategist and while his strategies had not worked, he had not been expected to contribute anything in raw power. No matter how much he wanted to contribute, it wasn't to be expected of him. Tsunade though, she is at her peak strength and is the 5th Hokage. She is in a position where it is expected of her to defend the village using her raw power and she had been unable to do so.
"Grandma Tsunade must be taking her training seriously if she is still gone" Naruto notes.
"She always has had a strong will, let's embrace it, it's good that she wants to get stronger" Kakashi offers.
This is high praise coming from Hatake Kakashi, the leader of team 7. A group containing Naruto, someone so determined he trained using a thousand clones, someone so determined that while everyone else did, he never gave up on Sasuke. A group containing Sasuke who stormed into the 5 Kage summit in pursuit of revenge, who was prepared to kill Naruto to take, what he assumed to be, the perfect Hokage role. A group containing Sakura, who for years watched as the Leaf's most promising two shinobi pulled further and further away from her, who chased them no matter how hard it was.
Shikadai looks to his list, on it now are questions and subjects put forward by the villagers, as had been agreed some time ago. He reads the first of these out. "We have had a request for an update on the construction works, Lord 7th, would you oblige us".
Of course, Naruto has been doing the bulk of the work in constructing a new village. It has been a quick learning curve for the young shinobi as his knowledge of housebuilding has increased. "I have finished building permanent homes for the people of the Hidden Sand" he explains, "So, my clones have left the village and begun to search for the portal".
"Thank you, Lord 7th" Shikadai begins before being interrupted.
He is interrupted by Shinki. The Kazekage leaps to his feet as he asks Shikadai a question. "Would it be OK if I said a few words".
Shikadai wavers for a moment as he considers what Shinki said last time he was here. If he said that again and another argument arose it would be a problem. In the end, he concludes that no matter what, he has no right to silence Shinki. He assents to the speech, "Go ahead".
"I would like to apologise for my behaviour last week" Shinki declares much to the surprised of his cousin. "You have been nothing but welcoming to the Hidden Sand since we got here. For that you have my sincere gratitude".
Shinki bows politely to the other members of The Circle. In this moment, it seems he truly understands how much he should be thankful to them for.
"It's alright Shinki" Sarada smiles to her old acquaintance. "We're allies, right?".
Events of the past run through the minds of those from the present. The friendship of Uzumaki Naruto and the Kazekage Clan's Gaara was the dawn of a new era in relations between the Leaf and the Sand. Since then the two villages have been the closest of allies, sticking together even when the other villages have disagreed with them. First it was Naruto and Gaara. Then it was Konohamaru and Gaara. Next came Konohamaru and Shinki. Finally, it moved onto the present combination, Sarada and Shinki. Throughout the tenure of each pair's rule, the two villages have been the closest of allies.
Shinki smiles as he returns to his chair, "Indeed, you have my thanks, Lord 9th".
"I think it's important that we respect our differing opinions on this subject" Hiruzen says, referring to the fate of Clyde and his followers that caused the initial argument. "After all, there will be many differing opinions amongst the citizens that we each represent".
Minato nods, agreeing with his predecessor's assertion. "There is something to that, I've spoken to quite a few people who feel that we should have killed the General". What Minato is highlighting is not just the differing opinions of the shinobi present in The Circle but also the opinions of the villagers. The villagers have mostly avoided fighting for their entire lives, it is the shinobi who have suffered on their behalf. That is not to say that their opinion doesn't count, it's simply that it must be appreciated, a shinobi's viewpoint can differ a lot from everyone else.
"I understand" that Naruto reluctantly admits. "But, if I had killed Sasuke, none of us would be here today".
A silence descends as everyone contemplates Naruto's point. This is especially true for those from the present. Shikadai had far more access to information than most, as the Hokage's assistant, he understands just how much Sasuke has done to defend the hidden leaf. Boruto understands this even better. He, more than anyone else, has seen Sasuke do great deeds as the shadow Hokage, as his predecessor. As for Sarada, if Sasuke had died, naturally, she would have never been born.
"This issue has been voted on, shall we proceed to the next topic?" Shikadai asks in the hope of ending this awkward silence.
"Please do" Tobirama nods.
Shikadai looks to his list of topics before moving on to the next point. "The next subject is the creation of a new academy".
"This is an important issue" Kakashi notes as he springs to attention. The academy is important to him, three young shinobi from the Hidden Leaf's academy changed his life. "If we are to fight any more invaders we will need to train younger shinobi and we will need to train them harder than ever before".
"Lord Kazekage, what are your thoughts on this". Shikadai redirects the conversation.
"It would be good if we could open a joint academy" Shinki notes. Of course, everyone understands that the Leaf and the Sand are not strong enough to separate from each other now and will likely be merged for the foreseeable future. "However, I feel that our former teachings will not be enough".
Shinki turns his head towards Naruto and smiles. "I think we need to better understand the invaders' power".
"Lord 7th" Shikadai also looks to Naruto, him being the foremost expert on this subject, "Would you agree with this?".
"This power, it's incredible, it's unlike chakra or anything else we have ever felt. I truly feel that by combining our traditional teachings together with this power, we will be able to fight off all comers" he says before sighing. "I don't really know much about it other than what I have already told you, however, something interesting has happened".
This piques Hashirama's interest. "You have understood something else?".
"No" Naruto shakes his head, "I felt it again. Somebody else understood their power, right here in the Hidden Leaf".
"Who" Boruto asks.
"I don't know" Naruto admits. "But, if they understood an element simpler than life, they may be more suited to teaching than I am. I think we should try to find this person".
Shikadai checks with the members of the Circle. This is something that everyone agrees to. Further to that, the members all agree that they should set about finding this individual, to see if they would be interested in helping with teaching at a new academy.
What none of them realise at this point, is that this man is Kato Dan. Right now, Dan isn't in the village, he is in Shikkotsu Forest, alongside Lady Tsunade.
Shikkotsu Forest
While these debates are taking place in the Circle. Tsunade is training, working her hardest to achieve what very few people have done before. Each person who has undergone this training has become a legendary figure in this world. Of course, Tsunade has already become a legendary figure in this world, however, she takes no pride in it, for her most famous accomplishments are things that she has never accomplished at this stage of her life.
Tsunade sits down with her eyes closed and her legs crossed. She remains perfectly still as dictated to her in her training regime. Despite knowing that she could feel an enormous amount of pain at any second, her concentration does not waver.
Stood behind Tsunade is Mitsuki, watching her like a hawk. He is not alone, resting on his shoulder is a small incarnation of Lady Katsuyu. Together, the two of them are also unwaveringly focused, Mitsuki on Katsuyu's orders and Katsuyu on the chakra surrounding and flowing through Tsunade.
"Now!" Katsuyu shouts in Mitsuki's ear.
Mitsuki doesn't hesitate. He raises a stick above his head before slamming it down into Tsunade's head.
Wincing in pain, Tsunade rubs her head as she shoots daggers back at Mitsuki. She had asked him to train her following the end of the Captained Six contest but she had never imagined that it would be so painful as this. Mitsuki is strong enough without any weapons, for him to hit her like this is obviously very painful.
"Are you alright?" Mitsuki asks, unperturbed by Tsunade's intimidating gaze.
"I keep getting hit in the head with a big stick" she growls, "How am I supposed to feel?".
"It's part of your sage mode training" he reminds her with a smile fixed on his face. It is very unusual for Mitsuki not to smile, if he stops you know the situation has taken a turn for the worst.
Tsunade sits in a comfortable position and sighs. "My Grandfather and Naruto can do this as easily as breathing. Just what sort of monsters are they".
In her heart, Tsunade knows that this complaint isn't fair. Naruto had worked harder than anyone else to prepare for the invasion of Pain. Hashirama also had to work hard to use sage mode. Only recently, he pioneered a new way of absorbing nature chakra, a technique that put him close to, if not at, Naruto's level. Hashirama had tried to use that technique during the contest, only to collapse as it put too much strain on him. To say that it has been easy for these two is untrue.
"They are the two strongest Kage in history. They are two legendary figures who changed what it means to be a shinobi" Mitsuki endeavours to remind Tsunade. Hashirama and Naruto are both Asura's transmigrants. "They didn't get where they are today overnight, they put a lot of work in".
"I know" Tsunade nods. "But I don't have time to wait around. They could come back and attack at any time".
Nearby fists fly through the air. Fists coated in flame. These are the fists of Tsunade's partner, Kato Dan. From the tips of his fingers down his arm all the way to his elbow, a blazing fire burns. Shadow boxing. He is fighting against an imaginary opponent using his fists.
Tsunade takes a pause from her own training to watch this. Her eyes fix on his flying fists before resting on his face. Much like her a moment ago, he is a picture of perfect focus. His attention does not waver as he thinks of only one thing. Improvement.
"Is something wrong?" Mitsuki asks.
"It seems unjustifiable" the 5th Hokage replies. "He is so incredible. He is so determined and he has so much talent. Yet I became Hokage and he died. Where is the justice in that? I feel like he should have become the 5th Hokage, not me".
"The 4th great shinobi war. It was the most difficult war in the history of our village. It was a threat on a level we have never seen before. Looking back on it, it was almost certain the village would be wiped out" Mitsuki recalls the information he read and heard about the 4th great war. The war that made their parents generation into legends. "Despite everything, the village survived, the village lived on".
"The Hokage who took us through the most difficult period in history was not Lord 1st nor was it Lord 7th" Mitsuki continues, "It was you".
With a sigh, Tsunade nods. "I guess so".
"You were a great Hokage. You are a great Hokage and you will continue to be a great Hokage". Orochimaru's son encourages one of his father's teammates. "But, you can't give up here if you want that to be true".
Tsunade smiles. Hearing the influence of her Grandfather and Naruto once again. "Never give up, right?".
"Never give up" Mitsuki nods.
Tsunade returns to her training position and closes her eyes. "Once more" she demands as they continue her training. To become a sage is a long and arduous path but she has no intention of giving up at the first hurdle.
Shinki's House
In the Hidden Leaf Village Shinki has set up a gathering with his two closest friends from the Leaf. Naturally, this is the duo who he has worked with the most, with the exception of his cousin, Boruto and Sarada. Sarada is the Hokage and was always Shinki's closest ally during times of crisis for either the Leaf or the Sand. The crisis that would eventually envelop both villages though, no matter how much they worked together, there is no way they could have averted that disaster. As for Boruto, he often had contact with the other Kage. Boruto, as the shadow Hokage, roamed the world searching for threats to peace and stability, often finding threats to other villages. Due to his time roaming the world, Boruto is a hero to the other villages, he saved them from disaster many times and established a good relationship with their leaders in doing so.
Shinki cuts up the last of the vegetables he has gathered and places them into a pot before re-joining Sarada and Boruto in the other room. "I'm sorry for my absence" he says as he joins them in sitting at the table.
"No, that's fine" Sarada says as she dismisses his apology.
"I never knew you cooked Shinki" Boruto says with a smile.
"Entertaining people with food is important for the Kazekage. Here in the Leaf you have such beautiful scenery" he says as he gestures out of the window at the luscious green landscape, "While in the Sand we lived in the bleakest region of all the hidden villages. We had to find other ways to impress people".
"I remember eating at the last five Kage summit you hosted" Sarada smiles as she reminisces about easier times, "The food was just as good as you say".
"Thank you" Shinki nods.
Sarada sweatdrops as old memories continue to return. "Especially when you compare it to Yurui's attempt".
'I remember that' Boruto thinks back to a call he received from Shikadai, requesting his immediate return to the village, 'I had to come back and help run the village until Sarada got better again'.
"He never was a good cook" Shinki notes. He was also ill after eating the Raikage's food. He had to ask his father to take over his duties while he was unwell.
"Yeah, telling him that you cooked the food yourself was probably a mistake" the 9th Hokage notes while chuckling.
"Yurui never liked being shown up. It's hard to believe he is gone".
In the distant past, Boruto competed in a Chunnin exam against Yurui, that is when he first met him as a young shinobi from the Cloud. Yurui had been a promising shinobi, an admirer of Killer Bee and the focal point for the Hidden Cloud's academy. He eventually lived up to the expectations placed on him, he succeeded Darui to become the 6th Raikage. As Boruto says, he never liked being shown up. When the shadow Hokage beat him in the Chunnin exams it had not been the most endearing move, especially considering the circumstances in which the match took place. Nobody else made Boruto feel so guilty about cheating through his life. Not even his own father.
Suddenly, Boruto starts clutching at his chest as a familiar feeling returns. "Sarada I… it's coming back…".
Realising what is happening, Sarada wastes no time. She grabs Shinki by the back of the neck and leaps into the kitchen with him. She cares not about her destination but she understands how dangerous Boruto is when he is like this.
Just as Sarada and Shinki get out of range, it returns. A grey wispy substance pours from Boruto's very skin and leaks into the air.
A few moments pass before he is certain that he is safe. "You can… come back… now" he says as he gasps for air and returns to his seat.
Sarada and Shinki return and the Kazekage is very inquisitive about what he just saw. "What was that stuff?" he asks.
"I don't know" Boruto admits as he clutches at his chest, "It's been happening for a while now but I have no idea why".
Having said that, Boruto recalls a recent experience. How a crazed captain approached him and his new master and raved about their past together. That captain claimed that he killed Boruto himself, that he is certain that Boruto died that day. Boruto is also the only one to have passed through the portal. There have been a lot of unique experiences for the shadow Hokage, it is hard to explain just why this affliction has struck him.
"We think it has something to do with the invaders" Sarada says as she looks at her friend's pained expression, "But that's all we know".
Shinki frowns internally at this development. 'I don't know what that stuff was but it was deadly'. Although he doesn't realise it, this is an understatement. When she was hit by the substance during the contest, only Naruto was capable of saving Sarada from the substance that intimidated even Clyde with its potency.
"I've been hit by that stuff before and I almost died" Sarada explains as a pang of guilt hits Boruto. Back then he had truly dropped all his defences, he was going to relax and leave the rest to his father, his master and to Mirai. "It's best to keep away from it".
Shinki nods his agreement, lost in thought for a few minutes before he startles. "AH" he yells before running into the kitchen to confirm his suspicions, "I've burnt the food". In a moment, his reputation for being a good cook dissipates before his eyes.
"Sorry" Boruto offers, "This is my fault".
"It's fine" Shinki waves off Boruto's apology, a gesture of their friendship. "We can always go and get ramen instead".
'There wasn't supposed to be a ramen shop yet' Sarada notes as Boruto and Shinki discuss their favourite food types. 'It's a good thing that Naruto insisted it would be essential to morale'.
Many took Naruto's insistence to be a joke. To some degree it was but who was going to argue with him. The 7th Hokage had, together with his team, defeated Clyde and his subordinates. When you combine this with the fact that he has done most of the construction required for the new village, it is difficult to turn down a request from him.
"Before that, I have something to show you" Shinki declares.
He reaches into his pocket and hands a pair of amulets to Sarada and Boruto.
Sarada looks over the amulet. It is well crafted but is made from cheap wooden materials. The string that it hangs from is clearly second hand and is frayed at several points along its length. It is decorated with little but a simplistic symbol. Each amulet is painted a slightly different colour, something Boruto assumes is done so they can be distinguished from one another.
"This is?" Sarada asks questioningly.
"Well, it looks like an amulet but I crafted it using the same methods my uncle used to make puppets" Shinki reveals. While in hiding, he went about creating these devices using Konkuro's teachings as his basis. "If you put your chakra into this amulet, I will be able to use it to tell if you are alive or dead".
"Amazing" Sarada re-examines the amulet with wide eyes, "If we ever go missing, you will know if we are alive or dead".
Shinki nods. "That's right".
In their current predicament where a fight may break out at any moment, this is a huge advantage to the Leaf and Sand. Scouts are often sent into dangerous zones and if that scout does not return it provides no information. It does not speak to whether they are alive or dead, however, Shinki's method is perfect for scouting in dangerous situations. It is also useful for foreseeing surprise attacks.
Both Boruto and Sarada place their chakra into the amulets Shinki has given to them before handing them back to the Kazekage.
Shinki smiles as he tucks the amulets away. "Now, shall we go".