Chapter Two
Convince the Fire Shadow
An elderly man sits at his desk, attempting to quell the flood of paperwork that threatens to overwhelm him. To the untrained eye he appears to be nothing but an overworked pencil pusher with a uniquely shaped hat. However with a closer look one is able to identify a toned body beneath the red and white robes, his eyes despite apparently focusing on his paperwork flit around the darkened office as though he is expecting someone to attack at any moment. You can see the relief from the monotony that is his life doing paperwork as his secretary pages him.
"Hokage-sama" the flighty voice of his secretary filters its way through the intercom, "Hyouden-san is here to see you. Are you available or shall I have him come back tomorrow." Now Sarutobi was well known to be welcoming to his ninja should they need to see him but they rarely came so late unless their petition was urgent. It was therefore with slight apprehension that he replied.
"Hai Baika-san, please send him in."
"Right away Hakage-sama."
The elderly Hokage tidies his desk for his visitor and pulled out and lit his pipe in order to relax his nerves. A moment later a rather distinctive white clad shinobi entered and bowed in front of the paperwork-laden desk. Most people would consider his dress to be odd for a leaf shinobi and they would be correct. The loose white pants that flare out until the ankle where they suddenly come in close enveloping a soft white boot within their folds. The shirt a tunic that comes to mid thigh, white again yet divided by a delicately carved silver chain that hung around his hips, it dangling down his left thigh. A hooded white cloak edged in sapphire blue marking illegible to most was thrown over his shoulders and held closed at the neck by a brooch of a snowflake superimposed by a sapphire leaf toped off the outfit. As he rose out of his bow he lifted the hood of the cloak revealing a slender face with piercing sapphire blue eyes and hair that delicately framed his features giving a rather effeminate appearance. His voice however was male despite a rather musical tone. "Hokage-sama, I was wondering if I might have a moment of your time."
"Of course Koori-san, what can I do for you." Sarutobi replied calmly despite his inner misgivings that he would later come to regret this conversation.
"When I arrived in this village as a refugee and was asked to lend my tribes talents as a tokubetsu jounin I was informed that I would be allowed to take on apprentices that I could train in a manner similar to that of my people. Do you still stand by this statement?"
"Hai, I do. May I ask why you are coming to me about this now?"
"I have only recently managed to secure my position within the village as a skilled jounin that would be allowed to take on a genin squad and I could not in good conscience take on apprentices if I was not deemed qualified to take on a genin squad. As for why at this particular moment there are four young men who have just registered to begin their stay in the academy that would be perfect for me to train. They have the proper mindset to begin their training as they are as of yet unspoiled by the views of the academy instructors. They would receive training from their clans and myself while at the same time learning the material that they would in the academy. They could take the genin exam at the minimum age and then be allowed to leave with myself on their training journey as I begin their real training."
"May I ask which young men you are interested in?" Sarutobi asked silently pleading that it wasn't the newest Uchiha, he had enough jounin scrambling for that placement as it was.
"They are: Nara Shikamaru, Aburame Shino, Inuzuka Kiba, and Uzumaki Naruto." Koori replied calmly. "While they would all become fierce protectors of this village on their own I feel that my training would be able to work well for them."
"You are aware of their status within the village."
"If you are referring to Shino-kun, Shikamaru-kun and Kiba-kun's status as clan heirs yes I am aware. I am also aware of Naruto-kun's unique status as a jinchūriki then I am most certainly aware."
"You are not concerned by what the council's reaction will be?"
"I don't believe they would have any input on it. It would be the decision of yourself and the first three boy's clan heads whether they are permitted or not and as for Naruto. Are you not his legal guardian?"
"I am. However I am also accused on a regular basis for showing favouritism towards him. How would assigning him a teacher with skills such as valuable as your own be seen any other way?"
"Hokage-sama, you did not assign him to me. I requested him. That there is your solution, as it would be a ninja taking on an apprentice not a ninja taking a mission."
"I suppose you are correct in that respect. However, I must know what your intentions towards Naruto-kun are, you are not the first to approach me with an offer to care for him only for me to later find that the position was used in order to cause further damage."
"Hokage-sma need I remind you why it was that my tribe was the victim of genocide? Why it was that I was sent away in order to preserve our knowledge?"
"I am sorry Koori-san, I forgot your history for a moment. I hope you can forgive my lapse in judgement. I meant no offence I simply worry for him and could not stand to send more hardship his way. "
"I understand Hakage-sama, and I accept your apology I know what it is like to watch someone that you care for be broken by the world."
"Yes I suppose that you do. Now I assume that you would like to set up a meeting between the two of us and the guardians of the prospective students. I have no problem doing so but I will need to know where, when and other such details?"
"I feel it would be best to meet with the parents tomorrow while the boys are not yet actually enrolled in a class. This way we would not be stepping on anyone's toes. I believe that we could all meet at my compound my gardens would provide a lovely backdrop for the discussions."
"Yes tomorrow would be best. I shall send messages to them immediately. Would you like for the boys to be present as well."
"Yes that probably would be best. I believe they would enjoy exploring what might be their classroom for the next five eight years, if their parents accept."
"I agree, it would be beneficial to do so. Until tomorrow then Koori-san, we will be at your compound at 1100 hours for the meeting."
"I look forward to your company. Until then Hokage-sama." With that Hyouden Koori shunshined away leaving a swirl of ice crystals spinning for a moment until they disappeared on their way to the ground."
Sarutobi puffed on his pipe for a moment before calling in one of his ANBU in order for them to deliver the necessary messages before chuckling at what might come to pass due to taking children with so much potential out of the ninja academy. Only time would show the full results.
Author's Note
I am actually enjoying writing this so it may get to a somewhat decent length soon. My chapters will probably be short as I have no experience with them. My favourite authors do not use them instead relying on page breaks and the intelligence of the reader. Tell me how I did.