"As you seem unwilling to hand over your beloved copy ninja, despite his numerous crimes as well as these ones, we demand suitable compensation fog the unwarranted murder of three of our hunter nin at the hands of your ninja!" Well that was the biggest pile of horseshit Naruto had heard in a while, the young ninja sat on the far right hand side of the long negotiating table being used by the Konoha representatives, the middle aged Jounin who was the the Mizu 'envoy' carried on braying his demands.
The negotiations, which had been surprisingly interesting despite the fact there were some words Naruto didn't know, had up until a few minutes been going relatively well. Then the Mizu envoy had asked what had happened on the bridge, and why Naruto's survival had been kept a secret, something that caused the main Konoha envoy had been quick to focus the attention on the events at the bridge and the acquisition of the kubikiribocho. Once it had been revealed there had been Mizu ninja there and that Naruto had killed one of them, the other two being accredited to Zabuza before Kakashi defeated him, the Mizu had pulled a complete 180 in attitude.
"For killing one of our villages valuable ninja without provocation, and in doing so preventing our rightful reclaiming of a historical Mizu artefact, we insist on the following without delay. The ninja licence of Genin Uzumaki as a Ninja of Konoha is to be dishonourably revoked without delay, any and all items or personal wealth are to be signed over to Mizu, along with the custody of the Uzumaki signed over to us whilst we prepare punishment. Only once these actions are completed can we move on to the negotiations about Momochi bounty and Hatake's inaction leading to the death of two more of our faithful ninja." What? Naruto was wondering for a moment if one of the hits he had taken yesterday had gained him a concussion, the fact that the man would demand such a thing seemed entirely implausible.
"Interesting, I wonder Seta-san, were you listening to the report given by our ninja when you make your claim regarding provocation? Your men were involved in kidnapping one of team 7's clients and then accepted bounties on three Genin who are not in the bingo book, which I am sure I don't need to remind you was made illegal at the end of the 3rd Shinobi war. So if you wish to go down this line, perhaps we should instead talk about your villages actions..." Go Jiji, Naruto thought as Danzo Shimura finished speaking, his voice never changing from the level tone that reminded Naruto of Nami when she was 'on the job'.
Naruto had originally been rather cautious of the one eyed veteran, he was the one Yugao had warned him about when she met Nami-chan after all, but the man had yet to put a foot wrong with him.
"What the client asks our men to do on a mission, and any incentives he might offer to see the mission through to completion are at the discretion of the team leader to consider, as is the dealing with any opposition that would prevent the mission's completion. And that is if what you say is true, we only have the accounts of two bloodliners and a civilian girl of no noble heritage to go off..." Naruto's previous confusion rapidly faded in place of the anger that roared inside of him, this man was now trying to claim his word was nothing?
He was about to stand, and let the man know exactly what he could do with his demands as well as his slander, when something slammed into his knee under the table with enough force to make him wince. Danzo didn't seem to have reacted in the slightest, either to the envoys veiled accusation or Naruto's movement, but Naruto knew that it had been him, the tap a poignant reminder that Naruto was to allow the older ninja to run things for the moment.
"So you defend your men by using the client as an excuse, is this your final stance Seta-san? You refuse to pay the bounty for either Zabuza-san or the Kubikiribocho unless we hand over one of our most promising and talented genin? Even though in your own words, our ninja were 'dealing with any opposition that would prevent the team's mission from being completed?'" One of the guards who had accompanied Seta winced at the final comment, recognising where these negotiations were going at the words being thrown back in their faces.
"Yes, and you better not think you can bully us into forgetting this slight, like you do with lesser nations, the Mizukage..." Seta was interrupted from his speech as Danzo flashed his killing intent for a fraction of a second, the man's good arm slamming into the table in front of him with enough force to leave it shaking.
"The Mizukage will regret sending such an incompetent diplomat as his envoy Mizu-san, as you will regret trying to force our hand like Kumo tried to. We are no longer suffering from our losses due to the Kyuubi attack, and you are nowhere near the military might that Kumo can claim. In fact, it sounds as if the Mizukage cannot keep his own koi pond in order, let alone try and invade another over a genin. I assume all of this is recorded?" The last sentence was aimed at the two minor nobles in the corner of the room, one from each Daimyo's court, there to provide an 'unbiased' version of the negotiations.
"Then let it be heralded, Konoha have attempted to claim the bounty on Zabuza Momochi and the legendary blade Kubikiribocho, apprehended over the course of a Konoha mission by Genin team 7. The Water envoy has refused to negotiate for a reasonable solution to the matter and has exhausted his welcome at the negotiations. For this, Konoha will take the bounty's belonging and distribute them amongst the bounty's claimants, the claim by Mizu on the Kubikiribocho now null and void."
"What? Now wait a minute." The shock and confusion on Seta's face as events accelerated around him faster than he could comprehend amused Naruto no end, though he just about managed to maintain a straight face. Seta was still trying to conjure up a full sentence when Danzo waved him off, in a dismissive manner that one would usually use on an irritating drunk or fly.
"We are done Mizu-san, you should have played your cards a lot less freely if this is not the outcome you anticipated. I would say I never wish to see you again, but from what I hear about the Mizukage the chances of us doing so are about as likely as my aunt returning from the great beyond to pester me about marriage." Danzo chuckled at his own joke before gesturing sharply with his hand.
"These ANBU will escort you back to your hotel, and then out of Konoha to the border of Hi no Kuni, consider this our... apology for not being able to acquiesce to your demands." With that the envoy was bodily escorted from the room, still spluttering about 'leaf bullies' and 'bloodline lovers'.
"Let that be a lesson for you Naruto, when you do rise to the position of Hokage that you so often proclaim as your own..." Danzo gestured towards the Mizu envoy.
"The Mizukage has an unrivalled and somewhat startling hatred of bloodline users, waging a war in his own country against Mizu's native bloodline clans for several years. The lesson is as such, do not surround yourself with advisors and people who spout your ideals just because they agree with those ideas for selfish reasons. As you have just seen, personal and ideological alignment bear no relation to actual talent or skill in any field. Seta-san had no real diplomatic talent, and had risen to his position by politicking and informing on his superiors, a position that will soon be free once again I imagine. But I suppose it is a good thing for you, you do owe that man your new sword..."
Given the information drop Danzo started that lesson with, it took Naruto a moment to actually catch up with what the man had finished with, looking up at Danzo with shock that was probably palpable on his face.
"You're kidding right Danzo-Jiji? Sorry, I mean Danzo-sama. I can barely lift the damn thing, let alone actually swing it!" Danzo chuckled once more in his omniscient manner that just made him seem that much more all-knowing, pointing at the report in front of him.
"In the 'official' report, you are the one credited with disarming the man, which is vitally important even if Kakashi is the one who claims the credit for 'defeating' Zabuza. This means that you have the primary claim on the blade whilst Kakashi would get the majority of the bounty, after all the bounty on a Seven Swordsman of the mist is no small sum..." The inflection Danzo used on a couple of the words, along with the way he finished his comment made Naruto realise something.
"You knew the Mizu envoy was going to be a teme about things? Or did you deliberately lead him to that so that we could claim the blade and avoid claiming the bounty..." Naruto knew he could be slow on the uptake sometimes, but obviously he had been quick enough this time, as Danzo quirked his eyebrow in surprise.
"Very good Naruto, with what we know claiming the bounty would have possibly caused us some trouble further down the line, but our claim to the Kubikiri is safe and Mizu can't even try and claim it if events do pan out as it wasn't part of the negotiations about killing Zabuza." Naruto's head hurt slightly now as he realised he wasn't even close to up to speed with what had just happened.
"You know what Danzo-sama? I will just take your word for it, though I don't know what use me having the blade is going to be if I cannot use it..." Looking up, Naruto decided he didn't like the look that appeared on Danzo's face at that comment.
"Don't worry Naruto-san, Hokage-sama has arranged for you to get a couple of training partners that will be able to help you in that regard..." At that moment the doors behind them burst open, two flashes of green heralding the arrival of what Naruto realised with a sinking feeling were his trainers.
"Yosh, the news of your youthful return and acquisition of the Kubikiri..." Naruto managed to zone out Gai and Lee as they continued speaking/shouting at him before dragging him out of the room along with his new weapon, doing his best to look on the bright side of this particular situation. At least he would be able to see Tenten some more now...
*line break*
The last two days had been hell for Naruto, Gai running him through a marathon of strength exercises, preparing him to learn how to use the Kubikiribocho. If that wasn't enough Tenten had spent equal amounts of time fawning over the blade and teaching his clones footwork with a massive bokken, only a few inches smaller than the actual Kubikiribocho. Naruto had been very careful though, Sakura's threat constantly on his mind as he trained, along with the presence of the aforementioned pinkette at the team 9 training grounds.
"So, let's see if we can make this quick, I am sure that you all have other things that need doing today." Sat in the large tribunal hall with Sakura and Sasuke, as they awaited the ruling on both Kakashi-sensei's actions and their own during the Wave mission, Naruto was glad that he had been able to create a sealing matrix for the two handed cleaver so that he didn't have the thing strapped to his back the whole time.
The damn thing would have been very awkward to sit with even if he had taken it off his back, so having it in a scroll case attached to his thigh was a lot more efficient. Looking over to where Kakashi was sitting, in the main defendant's chair in front of the tribunal committee, Naruto couldn't help but envy the man's calm. He had already been told off by Sakura for nervous fidgeting twice, and he wasn't even facing the tribunal today!
"Hatake Kakashi, we have reviewed all the evidence and testimonies related to the mission that shall be referred to as 'the Wave mission' from now on, is there anything you wish to add or bring up before we pass judgement?" Despite the physical similarities between Shikamaru and his dad, Naruto could only hope that Shikamaru hadn't picked up the man's dead eye stare, if he could be that intimidating whilst remaining lazy than he would be... troublesome to deal with.
"No honourable tribune, I have nothing to add to the results of this investigation." Naruto was still grinning at his internal joke when Choza coughed loudly, bringing the attention of the gathered ninja and civilians to him as he stood with scroll in hand.
"Jounin Hatake, given the reports and evidence that have been gathered by this court, you are found innocent of all original charges related to the Wave mission. These were: insubordination and the failure to anticipate the dangers of a mission leading to the death of one of your Genin." Naruto's grin widened as he heard Kakashi-sensei had been found innocent and he was about to stand and do a fist pump when a hand grabbed his wrist firmly, making him look over to Sakura quizzically.
"He said original charges, that means they have some more that they are going to address now..." Sakura's muttered comment made Naruto wince, he had been so focussed on the outcome that he had missed the wording, another thing for him to focus on later.
"However, given the rather... unique conditions of your mission as well as the information in some of the reports, we have reviewed the case as a whole." Damn Naruto thought to himself, as he slumped back into his seat, barely noticing Sakura's apologetic glance as Choza continued.
"You knowingly continued a mission, even with proof that the client had been attacked by missing ninja, breaking standard procedure for such events especially given one of your genin had already been wounded. This would have not merited consideration given that you made it a team decision rather than your own, but it builds to the following points." Choza took a breath before continuing, making Naruto wonder quite how long this list was going to be.
"You broke Konoha codes related to the risk of capture or loss of endangered bloodlines, which supercede the failure of any mission other than protecting the Hokage himself or the village in the case of war time activities. You deliberately withheld information from your superiors, and ordered one of your genin to do the same, potentially risking the success of a follow up mission. And finally, your teaching effectiveness has been called into question, given that before the mission you seemed to have taught your students very little that they would have already known in the academy." The last point made Naruto wince, as he now realised that his words in the Hokage's office probably lead to the inclusion of that last point, but it wasn't as if it wasn't true...
"Whilst the circumstances surrounding your mission and return to the village can be used to explain some of the charges, there remains a definite case for your suspension as a Jounin-sensei whilst these charges are investigated fully." Naruto couldn't believe it, they were going to get rid of Kakashi as his sensei? He had only just started to like the man!
"However, this council has decided that you will instead be put on probation for a period of up to six months, with the assignment of two qualified Shinobi to act as assessors in this time. If you are not found to be teaching your team effectively by that stage, then you will be stripped of your sensei status and team 7 will be reassigned. Do you understand?" Naruto could see that even Kakashi was looking under pressure now, the man nodding slowly before speaking a low and serious tone.
"Hai, understood honourable tribune. Who will be assigned as my assessors?" At this the Hokage spoke for the first time, indicating with a wave of his hand for two familiar faces in the crowd to step forwards.
"You will be assessed by Special Jounin Mitarashi and retired Jounin Yamanaka, who will assess your charges against their academy record and then at the end of each month to measure their progress." Naruto couldn't help but frown as the Hokage dismissed the tribunal a moment later, there was definitely something going on here underneath the punishment, Jiji knew that his academy record was useless. It said he lacked energy and preferred to focus on books for kami's sake.
"Kakashi-sensei! Are you okay?" As he lead the move by the trio to their sensei, Naruto decided that he could figure it out later, he had to focus on keeping Kaka-Baka as a sensei first so he could learn loads more jutsu!
"Mao Mao, showing concern for your unfortunate sensei Naruto-kun, I would almost think you liked having me as your sensei now..." Despite Kakashi's obvious attempt to retain his usual aplomb, the man was obviously surprised and slightly shocked by the results of the trial, though any further discussion was interrupted by the appearance of a now almost familiar figure amongst Naruto's friends and acquaintances.
"Regretting your comments in the ramen stand the other night now gaki? I am going to enjoy running you into the... I mean teaching you for the next 6 months." Anko's rather sudden change in attitude was due to the light cuff to the back of the head she received from the tall blonde stood next to her, her lack of aggressive response surprising Naruto even more than her talk of training.
"Not here Anko-chan, let us adjourn to the meeting chamber and the Hokage can explain." Naruto bowed slightly uneasily at the man he only vaguely remembered from his younger years, the feminine looking man still exuding the kind of confidence and authority that came with running a clan for almost twenty years.
"Ohayo Yamanaka-sama, Mitarashi-dono, what do you mean the Hokage will explain?" Whilst Naruto was comfortable referring to Jiji and several others in his usual abrupt manner, these were two people who could and had previously manipulated him into talking about things he thought he would never voice. And with both of them being T&I members, he was even more concerned about what Jiji needed to tell them in private.
Inoichi merely cast him a long look that made it clear to be patient, the 6 of them quickly making their way to the far end of the room near the tribunal platform, where two ANBU were waiting for them outside a rather ornate and heavily built door that they were obviously guarding. Walking in behind Kakashi and Sasuke, Naruto saw that both the Hokage and Shikaku were there, Shikaku waving to one of the ANBU at the door to close the door behind them.
"Before any of you say anything, I will explain the real reason behind Anko-san and Inoichi's secondment to your genin team. Due to your mission in Wave, it is clear that Uzumaki's bloodline not only needs testing to see if it is an ability that can be trained for use in combat without endangering allies or clients. Given what we know of the ability from Hokage-sama's past experience, Inoichi might be able to take control of your body if you do lose control, though given the inherent risks that will very much be a last resort."
"Heh, risks such as me tearing that blonde mind fucker a more rugged appearance from the bloodied remains of his current girly countenance. This is my container and this place is already too damn crowded as it is..." Naruto did his best to maintain his respectful stoic expression, but he could tell Inoichi caught the slight smile that he failed to repress in time as he heard Kyuubi's disgruntled commentary in his head.
"These tests will occur between team missions, as Inoichi is no longer an active ninja he will not be able to accompany you on missions outside the village..." Anko stepped forwards at this point, puffing her chest out in pride and then winking at Naruto when he forced himself to look away from the two points she just 'emphasised.'
"That is where I come in brats, given the sheer number of near death experiences, kidnappings and host of other psychological buzz-words for mental torment that your team have encountered either separately or as a team since you graduated, Hokage-sama has unofficially assigned me to all the new graduating teams as a sort of mental health counsellor. And don't think I didn't catch that look you threw at Hokage-sama there gaki..." The look she was referring to was the one of disbelief that Naruto had made towards Jiji at the idea Anko was meant to be in charge of their mental health, though he now wished he had been a bit more subtle in his approach given the playful glare she was now casting in his direction.
"Sorry Anko-sensei..." For some reason his apology seemed to work, Anko's glare lightening before she turned her attention to Kakashi.
"Though that is the primary reason for my assignment to the team, the are two other reasons for this endeavour. Firstly it is a warning to the other sensei's, that even an elite Jounin like you Hatake is not above reproach when he does something stupid like nearly getting his entire team killed. And I speak for Hokage-sama when I say that despite, our ulterior motives, the threat of taking you off this team if you do not get up to snuff Kakashi is deadly serious. If it hadn't been for Naruto and Sasuke being far above normal graduate level due to their own training at the start of this mission, chances are we would be holding four funerals now rather than a tribunal."
That hit home harder than Naruto thought it would, even Sasuke's look of smugness at Anko's comment on his strength wiped away at the rather blunt assessment of how their mission could actually have turned out. If he hadn't have learned Kage Bushin, or gained the experience he had finding the caravan, what chance would they have had?
"Despite Anko-chan's rather... blunt assessment I cannot deny she is correct, for too long I have been far too lenient on the training standards of our genin, I cannot permit such an oversight to continue with the losses to our forces caused by Masori's arrest. I will be drafting a list of what I expect from each of our genin within the first 6 months of their training, with the help of several others, and this will be the minimum that each genin should be able to perform except for extreme circumstances." Naruto actually grinned at this, Kakashi would have to teach them loads now in order to catch up!
"Hai Hokage-sama, I will revise the basics with them whilst waiting for your criteria." Kakashi's seriousness was surprising, he hadn't been like this even during his time before the tribunal itself, all usual signs of his aloof and lazy nature gone from his face.
"Good, I am glad to see you are taking this seriously at last. Now, Naruto, step forward..." Naruto knew Sakura and Sasuke were looking at him again now, their heads having swiveled rapidly from the Hokage to him out of the corner of his eye, but he was too nervous to do anything but stay focussed on the Hokage.
"You have been instrumental in this mission's success, as well as helping unearth a major security flaw in our village, so on behalf of Konoha I have a gift for you that you have most definitely earned." The Hokage pulled two scrolls from within his robes, and held out the larger one first, which looked oddly familiar to Naruto.
Grasping it firmly but with a small sense of trepidation that he couldn't quite shake, Naruto broke the seal and began to unroll it, though what it was and why the Hokage had a smile on his face was quite obvious. It was the official missive about his punishment for the prank spree he had gone on to cover Umi's entrance to Konoha, though this time there was a large red stamp with the kanji for 'complete' covering the bulk of the document in three separate locations.
"Ah, thank you Hokage-sama, though I only did what I needed to do after my show of awesomeness." Whilst pleased to be finally free of the burden the missive entailed, it had been expected given they had just gone through a 3 week mission that would have counted as the 15 and a half days that he owed in and about itself and more, it didn't explain why Jiji was making him stand on ceremony for it.
"Very true Naruto-kun, but that is not meant to be your reward..." The Hokage held out the second scroll a moment later, Naruto taking it eagerly and opening it, only for the scroll to drop from his suddenly frozen fingers as he read what was inside.
"Naruto, are you okay? It can't have been that bad..." Sakura's comment interrupted the Hokage's chuckles, which degenerated into side splitting laughter a moment later as she picked up the scroll and read the main part of it herself.
"Nani, how much!?" The bankers draft for over 30,000 yen was more money than Naruto had owned at any one time in his life, and was easily double what the others had been paid for the Wave mission, meaning it wasn't hard to work out that there was something else going on or who was behind it.
"You do realise that pranking me is a bad idea right Jiji? If this is a joke I swear to kami..." Pointing an accusatory finger at the old man, who was still chuckling away to himself, it was only as Jiji straightened up and gave him a jokingly serious look that he remembered they were still technically 'on the clock'.
"I don't think a genin threatening his Kage would go down very well do you? And besides, as an official ninja now, I don't think you want another punishment like this one for anything you do try and pull against me?" Damn it Naruto thought as he knew the Hokage had him there, though a thought appeared in his head that made him smile evilly back at the old man before bowing his head respectfully.
"Very true Hokage-dono, I wouldn't dream of trying something against our awesome leader. However, I seem to have taken on an unofficial student of sorts, perhaps I should spend my time teaching him some of my original techniques instead..." Jiji actually flinched at that one, and Naruto did a little mental victory dance in his head, even as Jiji's hand darted forward like a snake and cuffed him round the head.
"Touche... I'm glad to see all these knocks to the head haven't impeded you wit." The two stayed glaring at each other before a slightly awkward cough made them turn in unison and focus on a now slightly nervous Inoichi, who seemed to be doing his best to ignore a beaming Anko stood next to him.
"Should we leave you two to sort this out then Hokage-sama? I really don't want to have to clean up the blood stains if Uzumaki does carry on trying to out do you..." Whether those blood stains would be from Naruto being battered into the floor or Jiji's nosebleed if he used Sexy no Jutsu went unsaid, though given Anko's rapid covering of her mouth as an actual laugh escaped for a moment it was clear which she thought was more likely.
"Spoilsport." Naruto thought as he turned back to the Hokage, who seemed to have similar thoughts as he gestured back towards the bankers draft Sakura was holding.
"It is not a prank Naruto, merely the money you are owed from after you worked off your hours and the money from your C-rank mission. I thought it would be both a nice little bonus for you to spend after your mission and a nice surprise, though given how the mission turned out there were other things on my mind. And given Inoichi's desire to wrap this up, there is one last thing for you Naruto." Naruto looked expectantly at the Hokage to continue, only for his 6th sense to go off and make him duck and roll to the side as two kunai impaled the ground where his feet had been moments before.
"A good danger sense and impressive reflexes, though his stances still need some work..." The voice came from a masked ANBU who was stood by the door, though Naruto hadn't heard him either open the door or enter the room.
"Not cool Anbu-teme! I have already put 3 of you in the hospital this week, so I am more than happy to make that number 4..." Naruto's anger froze in his veins as the figure in front of him shimmered and a moment later there was the cold steel feeling of a blade at his throat.
"Far too loud... But your point about my men still stands." There was a cough from behind both of them and then Jiji spoke up.
"Tora, if you are done trying to scare poor Naruto-kun, perhaps you could actually introduce yourself request his help properly..." There was something that sounded like a frustrated sigh from the man who was still holding the blade to his neck, before the next instant the blade was gone and the man was stood in front of him once more.
"Hai Hokage-sama. I am ANBU commander Tora Genin Uzumaki, and for the last few months you have made a mockery of most of my division." The cold, clammy feeling of fear that Naruto had felt when the blade was placed against his neck was heightened as he realised quite who it was that he had just threatened.
This was the man second only to the Hokage in terms of authority over the ninja in the village, and from the sounds of it he had something of a grudge against him for who knows what reason...
"You mean apart from when you infiltrated the Hokage tower and 'took out' the Hokage whilst stealing the forbidden scroll, then pranked the entire village without them properly responding and then knocked out three of his men without really trying? And that's ignoring the fact the whole 'Nami-chan is a spy' and 'Masori bribing at least a dozen mid to high level ninja as well as dozens of other Konoha citizens' being added to that tally... No reasons to be annoyed at you for highlighting ANBU deficiencies whatsoever brat..."
"Ah, apologies ANBU-sama..." Doing his best to actually sound apologetic as he bowed to the man, Naruto realised that when put the way the Kyuubi had put it, there was an awful lot that the ANBU needed to work on.
"You misunderstand where I am going with this Genin, and don't bother with half hearted formalities as we both know you don't believe in it. What I want to do instead is hire you and your team to keep embarrassing them..."
Say what now?
A/N: Quite a few different little points covered in that chapter, primarily dealing with the actual tribunal judgement, the Kubikiribocho and some of the aftermath to the mission and Masori being ousted.
I could go into a long A/N to try and explain my reasonings behind it all, but I think people find them quite boring to read, so if you want to know anything or have any questions, Review and let me know!