This is it I think, as I head to the Hokage's office. The beginning of it all. I'm already working out arguments in my head as I arrive before the old man.
" My my I seem to be very popular with you lately Hikaru, how may I assist you? " I wanna say he's being sarcastic but I'm not completely sure...
" It's more along the lines of how I can help you Lord Hokage. I wish to be a Jounin sensei. I'm sure you've heard by now of my association with the Kurama clan. "
" I wish to have Yakumo in my team. My brother as well naturally and Neji Hyuuga..." I fall silent as he frowns. I've got a pretty good idea of what it's about.
" While I'm pleased that atleast one of my shinobi is taking the initiative, I'm unsure as to the wisdom of you and your brother being on the same team. "
" I'm not the only one that will think so. Having both jinchuuriki on a team is dangerous. Doubly so because of your age. " I make a show of nodding along. It's not as if these thoughts never crossed my own mind.
" I'm well aware of the risks Lord Hokage but I believe the benefits outweigh the negatives. There are very few shinobi who you'd be willing to not only trust with training Naruto, but who also has the strength to protect him. "
" As a matter of fact, only two active shinobi come to mind. Guy sensei and Kakashi Hatake. Unfortunately both are a bad fit for my brother. Kakashi's personality and general attitude will only create conflict when you take into account Naruto's own personality. "
" What's more, for my brother to achieve his full potential he needs someone to focus on him specifically. With my massive chakra reserves and the useful utility of the shadow clones, giving him attention won't be an issue. "
" With regards to Guy sensei, Naruto is more geared towards ninjutsu than taijutsu. He prefers freestyling rather than using a specific taijutsu style. What's more, unlike me he learns better if he's shown how to perform jutsu. "
" That's something Guy sensei won't really be able to help him with. As to your concerns about safety, how about a compromise? In that we restrict all missions while Naruto is a Genin, to inside the Land of Fire where he will be safe? "
He looks contemplative. I wait silently. After the minutes drag on, he clears his throat and speaks. " Alright, I can understand why you'd want to take your brother, even Yakumo, but why Neji? "
" Plus in taking them both, you'd be unbalancing all the other teams in their year group. " I'd been waiting for this question so I reply.
" Lord Hokage the issue of balance will be a moot point when this team's eventual strength will counterbalance the weakness of the others. "
" Neji Hyuuga carries a lot of resentment inside of him for his clan, but from what I heard, that doesn't carry on as resentment towards the village. I intend to kindle those embers that are flickering inside of him. "
" In the entire time this village has existed, there has never been an S ranked Hyuuga. That is because of their clan's rigid adherence towards only using taijutsu. The worst part in this instance is that Neji is from the branch family. Despite his innate talent, he will never learn the entirety of the Gentle Fist. "
" I believe I can enable him to bloom into the shinobi he would never have been able to otherwise. I can turn this team into something great Lord Hokage, all I need is the chance. "
" All three man Genin teams have one weakness. That generally, the sensei can't afford to give individual attention to a single student without the other two suffering for it. I am unencumbered by such an issue. "
" Give them to me Lord Hokage and you have my word, at the Chunin Exams they will all earn promotions. They will be the standard with which all the current generation will be held to. It will inspire the other Genin and Academy students to strive to reach the same heights. "
This time the silence in the office lasts longer. I wait patiently. I've laid my case out about as well as could be expected. Now I just have to wait and see what he says.
I can sort of understand the reluctance to place Naruto and I on the same team. It's a security risk. No doubt they worry about what would happen if our team ran into an Elite Jounin. Not that they're aware I have summons that could easily protect us.
That's a card I'm still keeping to myself. That and one other thing of course. I'm talking about my chakra chains. Manifesting themselves at will is a lot harder than I thought it would be. At this point I can only make two chains.
That being said, they are pretty much indestructible. As long as my will is resolute and the chakra flow is constant that is. I've been toying around with the idea of attempting to channel elemental chakra through them, but it hardly seems worth it.
My mother's chains on her deathbed, were strong enough to hold down Kurama. There are no shinobi with comparable strength or power to a tailed beast so I'm not particularly worried.
The only possible weakness to the chains that I can think of is the Preta Path of the Rinnegan and its ability to absorb chakra. I'm not completely sure though. I remember during the fight between the reanimated Hashirama and Madara, that the latter was caught in a jutsu of the 1st Hokage that also absorbed chakra.
So by that logic a powerful jutsu that suppresses chakra can cancel out the Preta Path. The chains from my understanding, has multiple uses. But anyway, while all this is going through my mind, it appears the Hokage has come to a decision.
" I won't deny that you make some valid points, I'll also admit that your proposal of a compromise does deal with many of the issues this team will pose. Very well then, I'll grant your request. "
" You will head Team 7, consisting of Yakumo Kurama, Neji Hyuuga and Naruto Uzumaki. The team announcements will come next week. Prepare yourself. I have high hopes that you'll reach your lofty goals. Dismissed. "
I bow my head. Instead of leaving through the door though I focus my chakra. In a burst, I dissapear in a body flicker, leaving behind a flash of fire. I smile as the villagers gasp as I appear in the market place.
Behind me I can hear excited murmuring. Remember me well people. You haven't seen anything yet. I leisurely make my way to a shinobi outfitters shop. Time to update my look slightly, as well as my brother's.
As promised, I have my haori altered and get a sleeveless version. Not unlike the captain's haori of Kensei Muguruma from Bleach. Except mine is all black with red flames on the hem. Underneath I wear a sleeveless black bodysuit. Again, not unlike that worn by Sui Feng in Bleach.
Naruto thankfully doesn't wear orange. I can't risk him getting a stupid outfit to wear though. Luckily I know what he thinks is cool. I get him a dark blue haori. But not ankle length like mine.
Rather it fits just like the one Jiraiya wears. Except my brother's is pure blue. I get him a form fitting black t shirt with mesh armour underneath. Black shinobi pants and sandals. White tape naturally for his legs to finish off the look.
Before I head home though I head towards a weapons shop to fetch Naruto's graduation present. Claws like Sora had but for both hands instead of just one.
I'm planning to draw the seals onto his hands. That way he can summon his weapons to his hands whenever he needs it. Wearing it all the time would be too inconvenient.
Over the period of the next week, I train Naruto to channel his wind natured chakra through the claws. Thanks to his shadow clones he learns it in a single day.
The rest of the time is spent with his clones fighting mine. It's to get him used to his new weapons. It would be bad after all if he miscalculated and hurt himself or an ally because he couldn't control his technique.
POV Change
I'm so excited. Today's the day I finally become a Genin in full. They gonna make the team announcements today. Big sis knows who my sensei is gonna be but she won't tell me.
I've been bugging her the whole week we've been training with my wind element, but she doesn't wanna tell me anything.
Doesn't matter though. Nothing can spoil my good mood. Not even Sasuke. We used to be friends. Good friends even. But he's become cold.
Ever since he realised I'm gonna graduate a year earlier than him, he's been giving me the cold shoulder. Big sis says I should have patience with him and I've tried, but he's such a bastard!
I've tried talking to him about his issues but he just blows me off saying he's better than me and he'll prove it. Big words I think. I haven't told him this, but I know I'm stronger than him. Big sis told me so and she knows everything.
I wanna be just as strong as she is. She's so cool. We're twins but she's so much stronger than me it's ridiculous. She's only 11 but she's already stronger than many of the other Jounin in the village.
I've noticed over time that the looks the villagers give us have changed. Sure there's still some who glare, but I can see the surprise and sometimes admiration when they look at her.
I guess it's a knock on effect. They realise how amazing she is and that they were wrong about us both. I still don't get why we were treated like that, but sis says she'll tell me tonight.
I'm really nervous. Nervous about what she's going to say, and excited because I'm going to become part of a Genin team soon. Both these feelings are making me jittery, so I'm fidgeting a lot in class.
Luckily, nobody really notices because most of my classmates are fidgeting. There's a sense of excitement and expectation choking all of us.
We don't have to wait long though. Soon our teacher arrives. He's giving some speech but I tune him out. I'm too excited to listen to him drone on.
I do keep half an ear open though. I don't wanna miss my team assignment afterall. That's why I perk up when sensei says " and Team 7 consists of, Naruto Uzumaki, Neji Hyuuga, Yakumo Kurama and your Jounin sensei is Hikaru Uzumaki. "
Wait. Hold on a minute. What!? Big sis never told me this! Now I get why she just smirked whenever I asked her. She knew !
Normal POV
As I entered the class I saw my brother's stunned appearance. My lips twitched. I really love messing with him. It's basically an older sibling's duty.
" Team 7, follow me. " I don't look to see if they're following. I can feel their chakra's moving. Neji's felt just as surprised as Naruto's. Yakumo's felt excited and happy though. Obviously she's glad she's on my team.
I'd given it a lot of thought and decided I wouldn't give my team a test. It would be a complete waste of time. If I wanted them to become Chunin, they had to hit the ground running.
All 3 of them already know the tree walking exercise. I taught it before to Naruto and Yakumo. The Hyuuga teach it to their clan children once they reach a certain age. Chakra control is after all needed to perform the Gentle Fist.
I know that Neji will be the biggest problem on this team. His attitude is bound to rub Naruto the wrong way. Fortunately I believe I've found a solution.
Neji died tragically young in canon. I want to change that. I also want to wean my brother off of Sasuke. To do that, Neji needs to become his rival. Easier said than done.
But anyway, back to the Neji issue. I'd researched the Village Charter, clan laws, village laws and the various treaties, to find a way to help Neji. I believe I found a solution. It's very convoluted though.
Firstly, you can apparently disavow your clan and name and choose a new one. Not just anybody can do that though. You have to be a Jounin for starters. That's however the easy part.
Clans that have kekkei genkai or special techniques have a more complicated system of requirements to cast off their name. The fact of the matter is, by treaty, the Byakugan belongs to the Hyuuga and the Sharingan belongs to the Uchiha.
After Obito gave his eye to Kakashi, the rules were changed again. There was a loophole that allows that, you see. That the individual clan member can give away their eyes to a comrade willingly if they so choose.
Naturally, the powers that be couldn't allow this. By that, I mean the clan elders. They are/were very possessive of their kekkei genkai. This basically is the crux of the issue. Genetics.
Any child conceived by a Hyuuga male will invariably be born with the Byakugan. The Byakugan belongs to the Hyuuga clan. See the problem?
As I said before, the solution isn't an easy one. Neji will basically have to guarantee that he won't have kids, or that the kids don't possess the Byakugan. Impossible right?
Not quite. I've had a crazy idea. It's theoretically possible. A seal to make the father's genetic traits passive and the mother's dominant.
What it will basically boil down to is the fact that any children he has, not only won't have any of the Hyuuga physical traits, but won't have their kekkei genkai either.
Unfortunately I'm not quite at an adequate level to create such a seal just yet. I know I'm on a deadline though. Neji is 12 now. He's supposed to die in 5 years time.
That being said, there's also the issue of the Caged Bird Seal. I actually do have the skill to remove it, but I can't do so while Neji is still a member of the Hyuuga clan. I also can't afford to make enemies of that clan. Not at this point in any case.
It's for that reason I've decided to see if Neji has any skill at sealing. Yes. I'm going to try to give him the tools to undo the seal himself. I'm not worried about him blowing my cover though as it were.
It will take years before he reaches the necessary proficiency. Sigh. While I've been lost in my thoughts, I've arrived at the training ground. My team isn't far behind. They look uncertain though. Well. Time to get this show on the road.
" All right, so incase you missed it, I'm Hikaru Uzumaki. Jounin of the Leaf. Yes. I know I'm young. Eleven years old in fact.
" My rank and age are a testament to my skill. I believe you all have similar potential. Now usually the Jounin sensei administers a test of some sort to the newly graduated Genin. "
" I will not. I think it's a waste of time. You three graduated with the highest rankings in your class. That means there are many people with high expectations of you. We will start with training immediately. Have you three mastered the tree walking exercise yet? "
As they all nod, I smile slightly. The training ground we're on is bordered by a stream. With them watching, I walk onto the surface of the water.
" This will be your next chakra control exercise. Water walking. Unlike tree walking where you maintain a constant stream of chakra, you must bear in mind that water unlike a tree is not solid. "
" Therefore, you must constantly fluctuate your chakra to maintain stability on the surface of the water. You will have one week to complete this exercise. "
" I expect you to help each other, because I won't move your training forward till you've all mastered it. That being said, you'll only have 3 hours a day to do this. The rest of the time will be spent working on your physical condition. Now begin the exercise. "
As they make their way towards the water, I leap up into one of the trees to watch. Watching them fumbling along brings a smile to my face.
At this point, they are all above average Genin. I intend to change that though. They have so much potential. I vow to myself that I'll train them up to be so strong, nothing can stand before them.
They'll need the strength. Monsters have their eyes set on our village and indeed the entire world...