Chapter Two: Senju Kiryuu Zero
Note: The Zero here is the Zero before Shizuka killed his family. The one who thought that vampires weren't all bad and just wanted to protect Ichiru the whole time.
Warnings: AU Universe. Some OOC. Good-ish Danzo.
Sandaime – Sarutobi Hiruzen, along with his three advisors, Shimura Danzo, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura, stood waiting in his office with the privacy seals all up for Senju Yukine along with his wife and son to show up. Hiruzen had already informed Koharu and Homura about the meeting he and Danzo had with Yukine two weeks ago, and what transpired then was still surprising.
Twenty-three year old Senju Yukine kneeled in front of the Sandaime and his advisor, Shimura Danzo, with his head bowed down. "Hokage-sama, I wish to take a two week leave in order to travel to Naka Village."
"A two week leave? We are at war now, do you think such selfish actions would really be allowed?" Danzo responded harshly.
"Calm down, Danzo. First, let Yukine explain himself." Hiruzen sighed, looking exhausted and weighed down with the Third Great Shinobi War still continuing strong, and there being no signs of it ending any time soon. Yukine was a beast of a shinobi, with his devastating hyoton that he had inherited from his mother of the Yuki clan, and his deep sealing knowledge. Both he and Namikaze Minato were deemed as 'flee on sight' by the other ninja villages, and were indispensable shinobis to Konoha. "Since it's you asking, you must have a reason for wanting to go to Naka Village right?"
"Hai, Hokage-sama." Yukine answered solemnly. "Actually, there is something that I have been hiding from everyone – I have a wife and a son living in Naka Village right now."
"A wife and a son? Is this wife by any chance that herbalist woman you mentioned before to me?" Hiruzen questioned.
"Hai, I planned to have them move to Konoha after the war ends, because now is a dangerous time to travel. But unfortunately, it seems that the Senju blood runs a bit too strongly in my son." Yukine responded. "My son – Zero has inherited both the Mokuton and the Hyoton."
"Mokuton?" Hiruzen echoed in surprise.
"No one other than the Shodai, Hashirama-sama was able to use the Mokuton. Are you sure it really was the Mokuton?" Danzo asked.
"Yes, I have no doubt that it is so, according to the characteristics my wife – she currently runs an herbalist shop in Naka Village, wrote to me about in her letter. Three days ago, a couple of Iwa Shinobi injured my wife in a fit of anger, and while trying to protect her, Zero awakened both kekkei genkais. It is only a matter of time before others find out that there is someone able to use both the mokuton and the hyoton, especially since we are at war right now, and Naka Village is a remote village where it is pretty uncommon to see shinobi."
"I see, if that's the case then you are allowed to go and bring your family to Konoha." Hiruzen said gravely. "It would be a disaster if someone who is able to use both the mokuton and hyoton, falls into the wrong hands".
"Hai, arigatou gozaimasu, Hokage-sama." Yukine responded gratefully.
It wasn't surprising to Hiruzen that Zero could use hyoton, since he was Yukine's son, but to think that Zero would also be able to awaken the legendary mokuton, the ability that everyone thought was unique to only Hashirama-sama.
XXXXXX
"Hokage-sama, I have brought my wife and son." A voice greeted him, and Hiruzen turned to see Yukine, along with a silver-haired woman and young child behind him.
"Yukine, so you are back." Hiruzen responded. "Is that your wife and son behind you?"
"Hai, this is my wife – Kiryuu Shizuka, and my son – Kiryuu Zero." Yukine introduced, with Shizuka and Zero bowing to Hiruzen and the three elders respectively.
"Hokage-sama, thank you very much for allowing Zero and I into Konoha, especially during such a dangerous time." Shizuka spoke up politely. Her long, silver-white hair and eyes being an unusual shade of pink and lilac, along with her well-mannered way of speaking, gave a striking image of a beautiful and attractive noble woman. "In exchange for accepting us as citizens of Konoha, I will gladly offer any services I can provide as an herbalist and a descendant of the Giou Clan."
"Giou, the legendary healer clan?" Danzo questioned. "You are a descendant of that clan?"
"Hai, Zero and I are most likely the last descendants remaining of the Giou Clan. The rest have all perished and disappeared over the recurring past wars that have plagued The Elemental Nations. I have written a list of the possible potions I can brew for Konoha." Shizuka answered, while offering up a scroll to the Hokage.
Hiruzen took the scroll and opened it up. "If you can really make these, it will definitely help Konoha and its people. How is it possible that a combination of these normal, everyday plants, can regrow someone's bones?"
"I do not really know how to explain it, but I will try my best." Shizuka replied. "The trick to our healing potions and remedies, lies in our chakra. We of the Giou clan possess chakra that has a special attribute, so when we embed our chakra into the plants, they inhibit properties that they originally do not have."
"I see, sort of like a kekkei genkai then." Hiruzen murmured. "I'll gladly take up your offer, Shizuka."
"I understand, Hokage-sama. I will start as soon I get settled down," nodded Shizuka.
"So you are Zero-kun." Hiruzen turned to look at Kiryuu Zero, who had the same silver hair as his father and unusual lilac-coloured eyes, both which gave him quite a feminine look. "How old are you now? Would you be willing to show me an example of your kekkei genkais?"
"Hai, Hokage-sama. I will be two and a half years old next month in February." Zero answered. He brought his two hands up into the snake seal, causing a tree to start growing up from the wooden floor, skyrocketing up near to the ceiling, when suddenly the tree sprouted pale blue branches and flower buds, made out of ice, instead of wood. "I apologize, Hokage-sama. It is still a bit hard to keep the two separate." Zero looked down nervously.
"No fear, Zero-kun. It was a very good demonstration for one your age." Hiruzen reassured him calmly. Zero was the perfect image of a quiet and insightful child, and despite being only two years old, Hiruzen could tell that Zero already had experienced the hardship of the Shinobi world first-hand. "I hope you enjoy your life in Konoha."
Yukine, Shizuka, and Zero bowed in unison, before exiting the room, taking the Hokage's clear dismissal.
XXXXXX
A few months had passed since Kiryuu Zero and his mother, Shizuka moved to Konoha, and winter had soon turned to spring, and then the start of summer. It was now the beginning of June, and both Zero and Shizuka had gotten used to life in Konoha. The Third Great Shinobi War was still continuing, although there were signs of it dwindling down, so Zero and his mother didn't get to see his father much, because he was often out of the village, contributing to the war effort.
The only ones that knew that the two Kiryuus were actually Senju Yukine's wife and son were the Hokage, the Elders, and Yukine's closest friends. Yukine wanted to protect Shizuka and Zero from the dangers of being related to a Senju, and the two of them had both agreed to his wishes.
Just like Kiryuu Shizuka had promised the Hokage and the Elders, she and Zero had established Rose Blossom Bakery about three months ago. Rose Blossom Bakery was the first of its kind to be opened in Konoha – a combination between a patisserie, and an apothecary shop. In the beginning, it didn't receive many customers as with the Third Great Shinobi War, most shinobi were either resting at home or out on missions, while the civilians stayed indoors as much as they could. But as time passed, the potions that the Rose Blossom Bakery sold became more famous and were now being called 'miracle elixirs' and used often among the shinobis. The desserts that the bakery provided was also extremely delicious and totally to die for, so every day, many shinobi flocked to the Rose Blossom Cafeteria to stock up on their supply of potions, often ordering one or two cakes or pastries to take home and enjoy.
Most of the potions were handled by his mother, as Shizuka had deemed it too early for him to brew the potions while imbuing them with the special chakra that only the Giou clan was blessed with. Instead, Zero focused his time on learning the theoretical part of potions making, and chopping, squashing, or grinding the potion ingredients for his mother to use. Zero also spent a lot of his time in the early morning or late night, making batches and batches of desserts one after another, since he was the main one who baked the desserts that the Rose Blossom Bakery sold. In the afternoon or during his free times, Zero spent it training out in the forest of the Senju land, practicing his shurikenjutsu, taijutsu, and chakra control, or reading books, especially history books that he borrowed from the Konoha Library.
By the time July rolled by, Zero was a bit more than a month away from turning three, and had already perfected his kunai and shuriken throwing. He could throw multiple kunais or shuriken simultaneously, and they always hit the bullseye. Now, he was starting to practice the technique of using a kunai to direct or change the trajectory path of another kunai, while ensuring that both hit dead centre of the targets. Zero had precise chakra control and had long completed the tree walking and water walking techniques, not to mention being fluent in his taijutsu style. A speed-flexibility-based style that targeted the body's weak spots and vulnerable areas; it was one that Zero had created himself, which he was quite proud of, and his father had helped him hone and perfect it.
But because Zero was a humble child, who never saw himself as being strong enough, he continued to strive and aim higher. At the present, Zero was in the progress of practicing his taijutsu style on water, which utilized both taijutsu and chakra control skill at the same time. The rare times that Zero's father was in the village, he would watch and teach Zero. Although as a father, Yukine wanted Zero to remain innocent, he knew that Zero needed to be able to protect himself and Shizuka, especially because there was always the possibility that he wouldn't be able to survive the Third Great Shinobi War.
It was around mid-July, when Zero was introduced to Nara Kaname.
Zero was helping out at the front of the Rose Blossom Bakery, with his mother beside him, handling the cashier. Since it was afternoon, there weren't many customers, so Zero bided the time by reading the book he borrowed from the library a few days ago; a small book titled 'Konoha and her Relations', and was the last readable copy available in the library that he so luckily managed to find and borrow. Hearing a chime from the bell above the door, signalling that someone had entered the bakery, Zero looked up from his book.
"Shikaku-san, it's been a while. I'm glad you are doing well." Zero's mother greeted politely, followed by Zero giving a bow. He recognized one of the two that entered the shop – Nara Shikaku, the current Jonin Commander, as Shikaku-san was one of his father's close friends. The other one looked to be about his age and had features similar to Shikaku-san, except Zero felt as if the brown hair and red-brown eyes were somewhat nostalgic, maybe he had seen him in the village before?
"Shizuka, Zero." Shikaku nodded his head at the two of them. "This is my nephew, Nara Kaname. He turned four in May, so he's one year older than you, Zero." Shikaku introduced, seeing both Zero and his mother giving a curious glance at the figure beside him. The two of them followed suit, introducing themselves to Kaname. "it's nice to meet you, Kaname-kun." Shizuka said, bending down to reach Kaname's height, while Zero gave a polite bow, "It's a pleasure to meet your acquaintance, Kaname-san."
Shikaku sighed; as usual, it was very obvious that Zero was extremely mature for his age, not to mention his formal way of speaking. Seriously, hearing a not yet three year old kid use the phrase 'a pleasure to meet your acquaintance' was a bit creepy to be honest. But then again, his nephew – Kaname was the exact same, if not worse. A couple of months ago, his younger brother and his wife were killed in one of the frequent skirmishes against Iwa shinobi in the Land of Grass, leaving their son, a barely four year old Kaname, an orphan. Shikaku and his wife – Yoshino, had then taken in Kaname, and both of them thought of Kaname as their own child. But there was still a distance between them, because Kaname was too smart; he was smarter than Shikaku was at his age, and Shikaku had been hailed as one having the highest intellect out of the Nara clan.
That's why Shikaku decided to introduce Zero to Kaname, because both of them were miles ahead of everyone else their age. Both were more calm, more collected, and more focused than any other child he knew. If there was anyone who could connect with Kaname, it would be Zero. Looking over at Zero and Kaname, it looked like he had been right, as the two were getting along like fish to water. Both were talking quietly, yet excitedly with each other; it was the first time Shikaku saw the reserved Kaname talk so much to someone before. Shikaku was glad, even if Kaname wasn't able to relate or make friends with other children, at least he could associate and connect with Zero, who was undoubtedly in the same position as him. Glancing at Shizuka, it seemed like she had the same opinion as him, as she was smiling softly at the two.
Describing the first meeting between Zero and Kaname was harder than I thought. Not to mention, war time Shikaku is a hard character to write out XP