~Interlude~ Saiko
Waking up underground is always a little disconcerting. If you don't want light to shine in your eyes during when you sleep you have to completely turn off the lights. Since you obviously can't have windows in a secret underground base you wake up to complete darkness all around you. Closing my eyes I make my way out of bed and flip the switch for the lights making me flinch from the sudden light even with my eyes closed. Cracking my eyes open and letting them get used to the light I finished my morning, well evening nowadays, routine then got dressed and ready for the day.
I have about two hours before I have to meet up with Shiro for his training and I spent most of it training as well as maintaining my current fitness levels. Finishing my wake up workout I hit the showers and I can't help but run my fingers along my restored arm. The memories of the past few days come flooding back.
As soon as I had felt an earth jutsu absolutely crush my leg I had thought my life was over but a lucky shot with a lightning spear had taken my opponent in his chest. An enemy kunoichi had seen my weakened state and had tried to finish me off with a tanto swing to the neck.
She was still young and seeing someone willingly sacrifice their arm had made her hesitate long enough for me to plant a kunai into her brain. I remember being barely coherent enough to stem the bleeding with a medical jutsu before I fainted and someone must have picked me up to bring me back to Konoha.
Waking up again in a hospital bed and realizing that I was maimed nearly broke me. I had dedicated my life to serving Konoha and now I was nothing but a liability that would be quietly shuffled off to the side. I couldn't even dedicate my life to having children and raising the next generation of ninja. An unlucky hit from an enemy water jutsu during my early career had closed that option to me forever. I suppose I could adopt as there was always a constant flow of orphans entering the orphanage I mused.
I was broken from my musing by a familiar voice and a quick glance revealed Shiro running towards me. No, I don't want him to be here. I don't want him to see me so weak. I tried to play it off. Tried to make it seem like it was no big deal but I think some of the bitterness seeped into my voice. I could see the moment when fury broke through his normally calm and collected face and I felt happy that he would feel anger for my behalf.
He seemed to stare blankly at nothing for a bit. He does that sometimes and the best we can come up for it is that his body is adapting in some way when he blanks on us. Him suddenly screaming in agony and clutching his head is new though. As is him doubling his total chakra pool in an instant. I frantically waved off the Root agents that were poised to strike him down and tried calling out to him. Nothing seemed to get through and he continued to scream in agony. Several of the medics cautiously move in to try to examine him but as soon as they started their techniques he stood back up as though nothing had happened.
His next words sent my mind in a whirl. Was he being serious? Could he actually do it? Could I be useful again? All these questions and more flitted through my head before I made my choice. I would rather die than be useless. I had to wave off everyone again when he started to pour a massive amount of chakra into whatever technique he was using. The jutsu hit me and I felt something I hadn't felt in a long time. I felt at peace. It felt like floating in the water on a warm sunny day with not a cloud in the sky and not a worry in the world.
All too soon the feeling ended and I could feel my missing arm and leg again. I moved them cautiously and felt them respond as though they had never been removed in the first place. A swarm of medics flocked to me, all of them with their body language screaming excitement. Shiro was left alone outside of the surrounding medics and I couldn't let that stand. He had made me useful again.
I pushed my way through the medics and pulled him into a hug. He didn't respond and just kind of hung there limply like he had never received a hug before. 'He hadn't' a portion of my mind supplied. He probably doesn't even know what you're doing. The thought made me incredibly sad and I tried to put every ounce of gratitude I had when I thanked him for returning my limbs. Returned my limbs! The thought bullied its way past all my other thoughts. This needs to be reported immediately. I grabbed the medic that was still trying to diagnoses my arm and pulled them all along to Lord Danzo.
We reported everything that had happened and I could see when he realized what a goldmine this ability could be even if it could only be used 3 times a day with Shiro's bloodline. He ordered us all to the Hokage's office where Shiro's miraculous jutsu was explained once more. I actually got to see the jutsu used on someone else and watching legs regrow was an odd experience. The calculative gazes of the two most powerful men in the village were settled on Shiro as he began to use his jutsu for the third time this day.
It was too much for him and the cheeky brat actually apologized before he fainted. I didn't wait for either of their signals and caught him before he could hit the ground. The medic checked him over and pronounced him merely unconscious. My breath caught in the back of my throat when the Hokage declared this an S rank secret. This was not good it was far too soon for Shiro to be facing the type of attention an S rank secret brought.
My mind seemed to be going every which way as I brought Shiro back to base to allow them to fully diagnose both myself and Shiro. I patiently went through every single test they could think of and I knew when Shiro had brought far too much attention to himself when Lady Senju attended my checkup. She was infamous among Konoha ninja for her vow to never step back in the village after her lover's death. To see her drawn back at the mention of Shiro's jutsu set all sorts of alarms going off in my head. Damn it, damn it, damn it. Why couldn't he have done this when he could actually take the heat that this seems to be generating?
My thoughts were so jumbled I almost missed Lady Senju pronounce me in full health. Full health? I inquired more about that statement and found that Shiro's jutsu hadn't just healed my external wounds it had healed my internal ones as well. I could have children again. I wanted to cry at the proclamation. This was too much power for one technique. The other villages wouldn't even bother sending anything less than an S rank team to steal the technique, abduct the creator or kill them.
I wandered around in a daze until I found myself next to the edge of the bed Shiro was sleeping in. Why? Why had you done this Shiro? You could have been safe and hidden away until you could survive. Why Shiro? I wanted to scream at him but I held it in. He wouldn't be able to hear me anyway. He's been asleep for almost two days and nothing that the medics have done has been able to wake him. They did assure us that it he was exhibiting all the normal signs of being asleep but he just wouldn't wake up.
I slumped down in the chair next to his bed and just sat there staring at him sleeping peacefully with no knowledge of just how much his actions have stirred the hornets nest. Time seemed to just flow on by and after sitting there for who knows how long I tentatively reached for him. I felt the surrounding Root agents tense but I payed them little mind. My hand made contact with his head and I ran my hand through his surprisingly smooth hair. It felt natural doing this for some reason and unconsciously I started humming.
I did this for a while until I felt him come awake under my hand. Another thing that he does oddly. He's either fully awake or asleep like the dead there is no in between for him. I continue to stroke his hair until he comes fully awake and then I pull away reluctantly. Asking him questions on autopilot allows me to organize my thoughts more before a burning need to fully thank him comes to the forefront of my mind. I know what I need to do.
I rose from my chair and bowed to him, giving my boon in the process. I could feel the shock from the surrounding Root agents and Shiro's response made me smile. So serious all the time. Hardening myself I explained the danger he now found himself in although not the full magnitude of it and allowed him to learn the chakra emissions dampening technique. Of course he learned it in less than a minute the little genius. One of the Root shinobi signaled me that a showing of Shiro's jutsu was about to start in ANBU base #6. 'Already?' I wanted to scream at them but I simply acknowledged it and led Shiro to the entrance of the base.
I tried to get him to at least put on some type of disguise but it was an utter failure. His entire body language simply screamed male but it was simply better than nothing. Maybe any enemy agent would be so confused by such an obvious sign that they'll think it's a double bluff. Probably not.
As I thought all of the sannin saw through him instantly although I would expect nothing less from S rank ninja. Lord Orochimaru kept giving Shiro these really creepy looks throughout the entire jutsu showoff that set my hackles on edge. I couldn't get him out of there soon enough and one of the surrounding ANBU told me that Shiro was to report to the Hokage's tower. I went with him there and as soon as I was dismissed I set off for Kushina's house.
As soon as I arrived I started pounding on the door. I could feel her hurry from upstairs and the door was wrenched open. "What is so important that you need to pound on the door?" She hissed out. "I just got Mito to go to sleep."
"It's about Shiro."
She paled considerable. "Shiro! What happened to him? Is he injured? Is he.." She trailed off at the end.
"No!" She gave me a glare and motioned me to be quiet. "Could I come in please? I don't want to talk about this in the open." Giving me a once over Kushina made me place my hand of a portion of the wall and inject my chakra into it.
"That will allow you to enter for the rest of day or until I remove you from the approved list. Follow me to the living room. Do you need anything to drink?" I shook my head. I just wanted to get this over with. We sat down on her couches across from each other. "So, what happened to Shiro?"
How to explain this? "You know how Shiro seems to do impossible things sometimes?" She cautiously nods. "Well he did something even more impossible and it has brought him a lot of attention." I could see her stiffen at that.
"How much attention?"
"Too much for him to handle. I'm going to have to step up the amount of training I'm giving him just so he can survive. You need to as well." She was quiet for a moment.
"Is it really that bad?"
"Worse." I said matter of factly. Letting silence settle between us I organized my thoughts on the next topic. "There is something I would ask a favor for in regards to Shiro."
"I'll listen to it first if you don't mind." I didn't and I would have thought less of her if she had instantly agreed.
"I… Shiro did something that allowed me to regain my life. It sent him into an almost coma for two days afterwards. I gave him my boon after he woke up." Kushina started at that, but I pushed onwards. "Right after he did it though I hugged him and…" How to explain it? "He just kind of hung there limply like he didn't even know what to do when someone hugs him."
Another pause. "So the favor I ask of you is to be more physically affectionate with him. Everything from hugs, ruffling his hair or just touching his shoulder so he doesn't become even more removed from everyday lifestyle than he already is."
"That's it?" She sounds incredulous. "That's not a favor if I would have done that anyways. He's the big brother of Mito and that means he's family." Good, that's good. "What I don't understand is why you even needed to ask it as a favor? Wouldn't you have done the same?"
I felt shame at her question. "I have nothing to give him." My hand touches my mask. "This is my life. I have nothing outside of it and Shiro has only seen my face a few times over two years. He needs something to keep him grounded and I cannot give it to him." A passion I didn't know I had burns in my voice. "You have a life outside of being a kunoichi. You can face him every day with your face bare to him and provide him an outlet besides being a shinobi. So please, take care of him." I almost twitched when Kushina's hand landed on mine.
"You love him like a son don't you?" Her voice was so gentle, so understanding.
"Yes." It was a whisper but there was a core of steel behind it.
"I understand." And I saw that she did. "I'll take care of him."
"Thank you." I would have said more but I felt Shiro's chakra coming towards the house. "I have to leave." She felt his chakra as well and she motioned me towards the window. I left as I heard him knocking on door. My chest felt lighter as I left him in capable hands. Now it's time to actually get some sleep.
The short nap revitalized me and I left to bring Shiro back to base for his training. Apparently it was not to be. Kushina really had meant that he was family if she was allowing him to study the Uzumaki clan scroll. I did have to lightly cuff him on the back of the head when he told me he hadn't properly thanked her for that honor. Watching him run off I turned and went back to base for a real sleep.
I snapped out of my thoughts when the water turned cold. How long had I been lost in my thoughts? Stepping out of the shower and quickly drying off then getting dressed I went off to bring Shiro back to base. I couldn't feel his chakra in Kushina's house, Ichiraku's or Mikoto's. The training fields were next and I found him surrounded by swirling craters. What happened here?
I had to ask and his answer gave me a headache. He memorized 10,000 brush strokes in a night and then learned an A rank shaping exercise in a day. How? Apparently when he had been screaming by my bed his brain had literally been reworking itself to be better. It was my duty to ask if any other parts of his body had changed even though I didn't want to know. Nonchalantly he told me his eyes were as good as the sharingan now. I feel like getting piss drunk. Actually that's what I'm going to do. Sending him along to the base I flicker over to the nearest liquor store, open 24 hours a day, and picked up 12 bottles of sake.
My next stop had me knocking on the front door of Kushina's house. A silver haired kid opens the door. Kakashi Hatake, 11 year old jonin, considered to be a young genius by many. He doesn't have anything on Shiro. "Hello, how can I help you?" Wow he made that combination of bored, disinterested and cautiousness tone seem downright easy. I held up a few of the bottles of Sake.
"Tell Kushina and Minato I'm here to start drinking because of Shiro and I need a partner." He blinks at that. Before he could respond Kushina came from the living room and saw me. "Kushina, it's time." I held up the bottles. She gave a long suffering sigh.
"Come on in. What did he do this time?" I picked up the bottles and brushed past Kakashi. When I entered the kitchen I saw Minato moping in a chair. I toss him a bottle and he catches it.
"If you're moping because of Shiro I brought enough Sake to drown it all away." He looked at the brand and grunted at it. The bottles were all higher priced ones. Only the best when you need to drown sorrows away and it's not like I really use my money for much anyways.
I turned to Kushina to answer her. "Apparently his bloodline acted up again and with all the other stuff he's done recently I needed this." I could see the spark of recognition from Minato as he got three glasses for us. He knows what Shiro did. How?
"How did his bloodline act up again?" Minato set out the three glasses and poured an equal amount in each. Kushina is his mentor so she'll know after I make my report and both Minato and Kakashi are jonin and trusted to know A rank secrets. A portion of my mask slid to the side and I downed the glass before answering. "Apparently his eyes have the same enhanced perception of the sharingan now."
Both of them sputtering and coughing as their drinks go down wrong. "He told me everything is as clear as when he's standing still when he uses the body flicker. That's not even the worst part. A few days ago he began screaming in agony while clutching his head. Now he has a perfect memory."
There was silence for a moment and then Kushina began to giggle. It grew and grew until she was laughing uncontrollably. Although she couldn't see it I looked at her oddly. "The little brat pranked us. He got this look of pure innocence and confusion like he couldn't understand. Then he asked us if not everyone had a perfect memory." All of it was said around Kushina laughing. Minato just grumbled something that I couldn't hear. "I'll give him that one for free but the next time he pranks me it's on, dattebane!" She turned red after her outburst.
Minato spoke up next. "I've heard you tell me about all those times where Shiro just seems to instantly pick up techniques but actually seeing it is something else. I taught him the rasengan today. It took me 3 years to complete and even Jiraiya took nearly 6 months to learn it. Today it took him less than 5 minutes to get the technique down. He's insanely talented and smart."
"Almost too smart for his own good if you ask me." I mutter and then take another drink.
"I've got one…" And that was how my night went. We would share stories about the absurd things that Shiro has done and at one point I sent a shadow clone to pick up a lot of leaves and teach him the wind leaf exercise. Eventually they had to beg off for the night because of a funeral that they were attending tomorrow. That was fine with me. I left them a few bottles as a gift and then went back to base to go to sleep.
~Interlude End~
The morning of Obito's funeral came quickly. I went out of the base earlier than I needed to in order to find a clothes shop that would have some appropriate attire for attending a funeral. I found one but the lady that was there kept asking me for an adult to pay for the clothes. While technically I was an adult in the eyes of the village after receiving my head band this lady refused to believe me when I said I was a shinobi.
It took jumping up to her ceiling and sticking there that it finally got through her head that yes I was a shinobi. So yes I could pay for my own damn clothes thank you very much. It took another two hours before I was properly outfitted for a funeral and I only had an hour left before the ceremony started. Shrugging I went to Kushina's house.
She opened the door and after giving me a hug led me into the living room where I saw Minato, Rin and Kakashi sitting on the couches. Everyone had somber clothes appropriate for a funeral but Kakashi seemed to have refused to part with his half face mask. They were conversing quietly when I came in and they all gave me a halfhearted greeting. I sat there as they told stories about Obito's life and twenty minutes before the ceremony would begin we all left the house to go to the Memorial Rock.
The ceremony itself was simple and to the point. We had no body to bury and the preacher himself simply gave a speech about how he had bravely fought and died a hero in the eyes of the village. Then his name was carved into the rock and the small amount of people that gathered for his funeral dispersed. I know this is a far bloodier place than where I came from but the seemingly common acceptance of death threw me a little. It was expected that if you choose to become a ninja you probably wouldn't live to retire.
It made me think of my eventual death. Would I have a small group of people show up and carve my name onto this stone one day? My hand traced one of the names carved into the stone. Would I even get that or would my name be forgotten by history? Just another nameless shinobi that died for the betterment of his village. Kushina's hand on my shoulder broke my train of thought. I looked up to see her smiling sadly down at me.
"Let's go home Shiro." I didn't really train the rest of the day with Kushina. My heart wasn't in it.
The next few weeks flew by and I found that both of my sensei's were pushing me harder than ever. I continued to struggle with fuinjutsu with Kushina while Saiko pushed me to my absolute physical limits then beyond ever night. In addition I now had a 3 hour set of time each day where I would use Angel's Breath on two people and then recover my chakra afterwards.
My new routine was broken by the Hokage calling a village wide assembly. From the top of the Hokage tower he seemed to loom over us all and I could see Minato by his side.
"Today,' his voice seemed to come right next to my ear. Some type of jutsu no doubt. 'I have come to inform you of a joyous piece of news. Several weeks ago this man,' he gestures to Minato, 'Minato Namikaze led his team in the destruction of a vital point in the enemies supply lines. He left his team to pursue their mission and rushed to the defense of another portion of the frontline that was under attack. Once there he personally slaughter 1,000 enemy ninja by himself."
He had to stop briefly as the cheering from the crowd rose up. He let it continue for a few minutes and then gestured for quiet. "After his valiant defense of the frontline he resumed his original mission and completed it. I have since personally received several envoys from Iwa and I am here to tell you that as of today Iwa has officially surrendered to Konoha." If the crowd was loud before it was deafening now.
This time the Hokage let the cheers go until the crowd noticed he had more to say. "It is in light of his efforts and exceptional service to the village that I announce that Minato Namikaze will shadow me for the next few months to learn the ins and outs of being Hokage." The murmuring of the crowd grew. "At the end of that period I will step down from being your Hokage and Minato will become the Yondaime Hokage." The cheers of 'Yondaime' rang out throughout the village as they beheld their new leader. The Hokage stepped back and Minato stepped forward. Motioning for silence the crowd quieted to hear their new leader's words.
"Today is a great day for Konha. Iwa has tested themselves upon our might and have found themselves wanting. Though we now close the western chapter in this war Kiri and Kumo still test themselves against us to our south and north. We will show them just as we have shown Iwa that Konoha is strong where they are weak. Once they are shown the folly of attacking Konoha we will stand tall above them and it shall be possible because the Tree is strong and the Will of Fire burns within us all. Then I shall proudly lead Konoha as we experience peace and prosperity. Thank you everyone." Both Minato and the Hokage stepped back and out of view from the crowd. It didn't stop them from cheering though.
Kushina tugged on my sleeve and we both roof hopped back to her house to get away from the crowd which seemed to be getting into a party mood. Before we could enter the house though 4 ANBU flared their chakra and briefly stepped into view before disappearing. She gave a huff at that and then opened the door to find a clone of hers holding Mito. The clone handed over Mito and then exploded into smoke. What kind of clone was that? I wondered.
I could hear the sounds of cheering even as we sat down on the couch. There was a moment of silence between us before Kushina broke it. "Did you know that I wanted to be Hokage when I was a child?"
"No, I did not. Why did you want to be the Hokage? I've seen how much paperwork he has." She gave a hearty laugh at that.
"Well I didn't know that back then. I had just arrived at the village from my clan's ancestral lands and people were bullying me for having such bright red hair." She absently strokes it for a moment. "I thought that if I could become Hokage then everyone would respect me and no one could bully me." A slight chuckle.
"Probably not the best reason for wanting to be the Hokage but that was what it was. Minato held the same dream as me but for slightly different reasons." She smiled widely. "I told him that such a pretty boy had no chance at becoming Hokage but he stuck with it while my dream changed. Now look at both of us. We both have our dreams." She looked down at Mito.
"Do you hear that Mito." She points outside. "That's people cheering for your daddy. Both of us achieved our dreams so I'm sure you'll achieve yours as well." Mito was brought up and given a kiss on the forehead. Then she looked at me. "I'm sure you'll both achieve your dreams."
What are my dreams? I know I want to survive in this world but that's a goal. What do I dream of doing after that? I thought about it for a while and then came to an answer. I want to travel. Not just across this world but others as well. I want to see things I've never seen before and no one has seen before me. Yes, I thought that is what I want to do.
Ding! Quest Received.
Traveler from Distant Lands
Time limit: No duration
A wanderer, a connoisseur of the new, you dream of seeing distant lands and new experiences. Grow strong enough to bridge the gap between dimensions and universes. See all there is to see in the whole multiverse.
Rewards: ?,?,?
A quest? I haven't had one since I was one. Everything has just been tasks to complete and the question marks for rewards is odd as well. I dismiss the screen but it doesn't stray far from my mind. I have a dream now.
Name: Shiro
Age: 4 year - 0 months
Title: Rookie Root Shinobi
LVL: 14 - 4% to next LVL
HP: 710/710
Chakra: 23,593/23,593
Elemental Affinity: Water
STR: 80(88)
VIT: 71
END: 78
DEX: 94(103.4)
INT: 102(106)
WIS: 80(83.2)
LCK: 15
Points: 8
Money: 73,852
Skills gained or changed.
Wind Manipulation (Passive) LVL 8 –12 %
Allows for easier transitions between neutral chakra and wind chakra as well as the manipulation of wind.
Decreases cost of all wind techniques by 2%
Increases control of wind by 8%
Increases total chakra capacity by 0.8%
*Wind Leaf exercise (Active 30(23.8)/min) LVL 10 MAX
Decreases time spent changing from neutral to wind chakra and back again by 50%.
Chakra Manipulation (Passive) LVL 80 – 15%: Chakra is what you and others will live and die by. By controlling it you stand above others.
Decreases the cost of active techniques by 20%
Increases Chakra control by 80%
Increases Chakra Capacity by 40%
Rasengan (A Rank Active(1000(800))) LVL 5 – 59%
The highest form of shape transformation it requires no hand signs and is extremely quick to form if you master it. The creator considers the technique incomplete without an elemental component to it.
Decreases forming time by 10%
Chakra Emissions Dampening (Active 10(8)/min) LVL 10 MAX
Decreases the amount of chakra that your body naturally emits by 100%.
Fuinjutsu Foundations (Passive) LVL 28 – 8%
Some call fuinjutsu writing in the language of the Gods. Now you begin your journey on the path of a fuinjutsu master.
Increased accuracy when writing seals 28%
Increased speed when writing seals 30%