A/N: Ok, here's the revised Chapter 2 (which is actually chapters 3, 4 and 5 from the original incarnation). I have changed a few things and added some more.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, or any other characters created by Kishimoto-san. Titokhan Drumheller is mine, and the owners of any OC's/Jutsu that I use here, but did not create will get credit at the time of use and from then on.
Chapter 2, Rebuilding
The next day shortly after dawn, the hidden leaf village begins to rebuild. The giant hole created by God Realm Pain's massive Shirna Tensei had to be filled in and made sure it was solid before reconstruction could begin. That job was filled mainly by the village's shinobi whose chakra affinity was Earth based. In the meantime, there are roughly 5 to 600 of Naruto's shadow clones assisting in other facets of the rebuilding process, many of them clearing away rubble and seeing what material may be reused. Others were assisting in gathering new building material.
As his clones are running about, Naruto himself is in the Hokage mansion archives, pouring over the scrolls left for him by his father.
"Wow, finding out your dad was one of the greatest shinobi in the village's history is one thing." Naruto says to Shikamaru, who due to his broken leg still healing was assigned to Naruto while he was in the archives, "Taking these notes and producing something useable for me is going to be another matter entirely. Here, take a look at this. It appears to detail how Hirashin no jutsu works in great length. I can see why its other name is the 'flying thunder god' technique"
'I cannot help but be amazed by him, even though I have known him for so long.' Shikamaru thinks to himself as he watches Naruto open up another scroll as he examines the notes on Hirashin no jutsu 'He's matured so much just in these last few days I can hardly see any of the old Naruto. I guess finding true love and finally meeting your father, even if it's only in your own mind can do that to a person. '
He was about to comment on what he saw in the notes regarding some details he spotted that he didn't think his friend would have noticed when Naruto beats him to it. "But the way the seals need to be transcribed to their marked target are so exact, I'm going to need to spend a lot of time with a calligraphy coach to improve my penmanship, as the seal also looks like it needs to be written by the user him/herself to properly mark it."
"Very good observation Naruto." Thinking again to himself as he studies the scroll a little more, finding where Naruto is talking about 'I missed the part about the seal needing to be written by the user. But picking up on minor, yet important details has also been one of his hidden talents. '
"But from what I can see, the notes on most, if not all, of these justu are detailed to the point that someone not particularly strong at jutsu theory could easily understand the basics and start delving into more advanced variations." But in the back of his head, the thought popped up totally unprovoked 'Almost as if Yondaime-san had you in mind as he was transcribing them. Basic theory works great for you, but you occasionally need help understanding advanced concepts like what are being talked about in all of these scrolls. And the details these scrolls go into make them perfect for you to use, even if it might take you time to fully grasp them'
"Almost as if he knew the person he was leaving them behind for might need assistance you think?" Both Shikamaru and Naruto reach for kunai as Titokhan comes into view around the corner, though it seemed more like he performed a double take from the night before, literally walking out of the shadows. "My apologies gentlemen, Tsunade-sama thought I might be able to be of some assistance here." There was a visible twinkle in the older man's eyes that both young ninja recognized as pride in one's work.
"Especially since the person who assisted Minato-san in putting the details about these jutsu from in his head onto paper for you Naruto was me." The twinkle in his eye was joined by what appeared to be a slight illumination of the red lightning bolt tattoo that came down over the older man's left eye.
"Master Drumheller, if I might ask. My clan specializes in shadow manipulation jutsu, and I should have been able to at least feel you coming with all the shadows here. You also had no detectable chakra signature melting in and out of those shadows the way you did. Is there a trick to that that I might be able to learn?"
There might be a manner that I can show you how that trick is done, Shikamaru isn't it? And you are correct, the transcribing of the seals on the marked object needs to be perfect or it will fail and when you attempt to use that particular seal you will get transported heavens only knows where. And much like his work on the Rasengan, it took your father several years to perfect. "
"What do you mean by 'transported heavens only knows' where?"
"What I mean by that is, using a marked target with an incorrectly created seal you can be transported anywhere within a 1000 yard radius of the target. Which spell disaster for a jutsu with the pinpoint accuracy in teleportation Hirashin no jutsu represents."
"The Hirashin is also the pinnacle in fuinjutsu, the art of Sealing. Something I believe Hokage-sama as well as Master Drumheller likely mentioned last night." All 3 turn around to see Kakashi enter the room. "While Minato-sensei was well and truly a prodigy in the sealing arts, he also had quite possibly the best teachers in them you could ever have. Mito Uzumaki-Senju, the wife of the Shodaime Hokage, first jinchuriki of the Kyuubi and your great, great aunt. And your mother, Kushina Uzumaki-Namikaze, who you already know was the second jinchuriki, with you being the third"
"The Kyuubi's been in the village that long Kakashi-sensei?" Shikamaru asked with an uncharacteristic look of complete shock on his face. Kakashi nods
"It wasn't exactly something the elders wanted to get out in the public and all. You've seen firsthand how Naruto was treated when you were younger." Shikamaru nodded "Other than in Kumo, most people who have bijuu sealed within them are spurned shunned and are otherwise mistreated by their villages." Everyone nods in understanding, knowing how obsessed with gaining power the cloud village has tended to be, they would be the exception to the rule.
"Most people assumed I was given team seven because I would eventually need to train Sasuke on the use of his sharingan when it awakened." Kakashi continues. "And that's only partially true. My other task, when I felt the time was right, was to start instructing Naruto in fuinjutsu. That time is now. I can only bring you so far though. While I am skilled in the art, I am far from a seal master. Which considering you are the child of two of the greatest seal masters in the village's history, and related by blood to a third, you have that potential."
"Master Drumheller, you said last night you knew both of my parents. Kakashi-sensei, this question goes to you as well. What else can you tell me about them? The small amount of time I had with my father was great and all, but I was in the fight of my life back there. I would have loved to talk to him more, but we had my 'tenant' to deal with as well."
"So Tsunade-sama showed me from your report you filed quite diligently on your way back from dinner. I'm amazed that with everything you've gone through in the last few days that you can even function at even a fraction of your capabilities. Yet here you are barely a day later, with 500+ shadow clones running around helping the village."
"One thing Naruto has never had a problem with is recovery. As for your parents, I do have stories about them, quite a few in fact. I'll stop over your place sometime and tell you some of them. If anything, so we can convince you to actually take a break." Kakashi replied before Naruto could say anything
Naruto nods and continues. "Thanks in part to the fox, chakra exhaustion is something I only feel every once in a while. And even then, one good night's sleep and I'm ready to take on the world again. I don't seem to ever get sick, other than when I was a kid and shopkeepers would give me nothing but expired food, milk, etc. Injuries that would either cripple or even kill most people have never sidelined me for more than a few days, most of the time." Kakashi and Shikamaru remember some of those times and cringe. Ironically all of the times he spent the most time in the hospital were when drunken villagers would catch him on his birthday.
"But honestly, fuinjutsu training or not, I am no good to anyone if every time my emotions get the better of me I risk letting the fox out. Sage mode offers me some control. But I want, no I NEED more control over him, but I do not know how!"
"You want control? I may be able to help you with that. Bear in mind you what I propose is far from safe. In fact, it might be more dangerous than you fighting Pain. But before you say yes, take advantage Kakashi's fuinjutsu training, as well as what your father has left for you here. I also suspect that sometime in the near future you might get access to the Uzumaki half of your legacy."
"Put it this way, You have access to your father's jutsu archives. You have Sage mode, which even though it is limited for now, what it does provide will help in your learning and mastering quite a few of these " for emphasis, he picks up one of the scrolls and looks at the jutsu name written on it and thinks for a second. " This one in particular, in tandem with sage mode, has quite the potential." With that, he tosses the scroll to Naruto.
"Besides, I will be around for a while assisting you and your friends rebuilding the village. We can get to your training once the village is in a little more order. And for your training to master the Fox's power, we will require the assistance of that lovely young lady. You did well defeating Pain, but I feel something", the older man closes his eyes for a moment, "a taint of darkness on the horizon. This taint feels like a burden you simply cannot burden by yourself."
"Even though I'm sure you would try to, if given the chance." Shikamaru agrees. "You have a stubborn streak a mile wide, but you do know you don't have to do that anymore don't you? We respect you, though you needed to beat said respect into a few of us. Let US help you shoulder that load, as troublesome as it's likely to be." There's a bit of a sarcastic grin on Shikamaru's face as he said those last few words.
"Naruto, Shikamaru. Does your group know how truly special you are?" Titokhan asks as moves over to a map of the world.
"I've wandered the whole of this world as much, if not more than, Master Jiraiya." Looking down at the map, the older man lets the index finger of his left hand trace a path along the map as he contemplates his travels over the years.
"Like Lady Tsunade has said, though I use my talents for the benefit of all the hidden villages, there's a soft spot in my heart of Konoha. Over the years, I've watched and followed the classes of ninja from all the hidden villages after they graduated. No full class stands out in my memory as coming remotely close to the ability of yours, though a few individual teams get close. Gaara, Temari and Kankuro of the Sand for example. But they have more than a casual link to your group don't they?"
Naruto's thoughts drift to his friend and former host of Shukaku, Gaara. Who holds the position with the Sand village that he dreams of holding here.
Shikamaru's wander to the blonde fan master (and Gaara's older sister) Temari, probably one of the few ninja of this (or any) generation that's close to his tactical equal. And one he finds himself impossibly attracted to despite himself.
They both nod.
"A graduating class this close knit, with abilities that are as complimentary as your teams have are even rarer than the once or twice in a generation geniuses like Minato, Kakashi or Itachi." I felt that last night. And based on that, I can honestly say this: I think that together, there may be nothing the group of you cannot do if you put your collective hearts and minds to the task."
Kakashi reaches into his pouch and hands Naruto a book. "Basics of fuinjutsu, by Kakashi Hatake and the Gallant Jiraiya" Naruto reads the title. "We'll arrange a calligraphy tutor come over for you to get your penmanship up to snuff, as precision in writing out seals is critical to their effectiveness. So we'll pull groups of 20 shadow clones off construction duty for that, while you study the first few chapters of this book. This type of training will be perfect for you with the number of clones your capable of producing. I will suggest you have them all learning different things though, as you remember the mental backlash from the training in creating the Rasenshuriken."
Titokhan meanwhile taps the scroll in Naruto's hand with a finger "Meanwhile, work on getting the basics on a few other justu down. Like this one"
"Shikamaru, meet me over by training area 5 about an hour before sunset tomorrow. There should be enough shadow there by then to teach you how to melt into them even in your present condition, and add a new weapon for your keen intellect to exploit. But it might not be as hard as you might think. Between now and then I want you to feel the shadows around you."
The next day, Training ground 5
At about an hour before sunset the next day, Shikamaru, as instructed, arrived at training area 5. And he could see why Titokhan had chosen this particular area. As one of the eastern most training areas of the village, there were plenty of shadows to practice 'melting into'.
"Ah, it appears I have to have piqued your interest after all." He heard from seemingly nowhere in particular, but all around him at the same time. "I've asked around about you. 'The lazy genius' is usually the first words out of many peoples' mouths when your name is mentioned."
"I suppose before Asuma-sensei's death" Shikamaru says, "that would have been the most fitting description for me, yes."
"But you've now witnessed firsthand the boundless enthusiasm Naruto radiates, just by being himself. The drive to honor sensei's will to protect the next generation of Kohona, and simply being around Naruto more in recent days though, that title might not hold as much weight as it once did."
"Before I respond to that, a little test is in order. Let's see if you can find the shadow I'm hiding in. If you've done as I requested when I spoke to you last, and have been feeling the shadows around you, I suspect you should be able to find me in short order."
"I already know where you are. Or should I say have been. I felt you when I entered the training grounds at the edge of the shadows by the training posts about 10 feet in front of me and to my right."
"But you have been moving around through the entire conversation. You were just in the shadow in front of the center training post, but you vanished. Now you're *closing eyes and feeling* just to my left, behind me just enough to not been seen in my peripheral vision if you were to emerge."
"Excellent work son, even quicker than your father by the way. Though not by much." The older man notes appreciatively as he emerges from the shadow exactly where Shikamaru said he was.
"So you taught this trick to my father as well?" a tinge of annoyance entered Shikamaru's tone "Why didn't he show it to me himself? And is it part of the merge with the shadows that makes it impossible to pinpoint you by voice alone when you speak?"
"I ran into him a short while after I left you yesterday afternoon and showed it to him this morning using the dawn shadows"
"Ah, I apologize for the anger I had felt toward you then sir. I was out of place questioning you"
"No apologies needed Shikamaru, and points to you in noticing that speaking from within the shadows is only as hard to pinpoint as there are shadows available. As for my sudden movement in the shadows. That's what I call the shadow step."
"Shadow step? Could that be like a shadow based teleport? Is that even possible?"
"You've got to merge with the shadows first. And its time you learned."
"First: Stand in a shadowed area. Secondly: The seals you will need to perform the jutsu are monkey, tiger, ram, and rat. And the jutsu's name is shadow art: entering shadows jutsu. Give it a try."
Shikamaru steps over into the shadowed area, runs through the signs and says: "Shadow Art: Entering Shadows Jutsu" and promptly dissolves into the shadow he was standing in.
"Wow, this feels different, but my normal perceptions of the world haven't changed."
"Excellent work Shikamaru, now for the shadow step. Now that you've merged with the shadows, here's how the shadow step works. As long as where you are and where you are going are connected by an unbroken shadow, and as long as you have enough chakra, the shadow step will get you from point a to point b almost as fast as the hirashin would. Unlike the hirashin , which is a seal based time/space ninjutsu that requires very little chakra, the amount of chakra the shadow step uses grows exponentially the further you look to travel."
"Understood, so ideally, it's very short range. Seals?"
"About to get to that. Marking your destination is a matter of focusing on the shadow in the area you wish to end up, or in the case of a longer range step, visualizing your endpoint, and use the tiger, serpent, and rat seals and you're there. Exiting the shadows is similar releasing a genjutsu. Tiger seal, say shadow release, and out you go. Eventually, you won't need the seals to enter or exit the shadows. But the shadow step does require the seals to focus the chakra."
"Ok, I get that. Shadow release"
Shikamaru visibly reappears in the shadows at the tree line of the training ground, only to immediately vanish and reappear again right next to Titokhan.
"My my, you do catch on quick."
"I am the 'lazy genius' after all. Thank you for showing this to me Master Drumheller. I am quite sure these new jutsu will come in handy sooner rather than later."
"I'm sure they will Shikamaru, I'm sure they will. By the way, as I was walking about the village today, there was a smaller number of Naruto's shadow clones about with rebuilding. I take it he's hard at work on those scrolls."
"Hit the nail on the proverbial head sir. Considering that he's normally all gung-ho about learning new jutsu, he cut the amount of clones in half, to around two to three hundred, to help rebuild. He has 5 clones in the jutsu archives. Those 5 occasionally walk out and create 20 clones to head to the training grounds Hokage-sama has set aside just for him so they can work on the jutsu they've been studying for an hour before dispelling and starting the process over again. 3 are working with the calligraphy tutor you sent over, and creating 10 clones each you practice what they've learned in an empty classroom at the academy. Same hour of practice before dispelling and startng over. Naruto himself is with Hinata practicing basic fuinjutsu theory. His storage seals are already better than what we can buy from supply stores. And having Hinata there seems to prevent Naruto from overextending himself, which knowing him as long as some of us have is a complete shock. There are two things that really set him apart form all of us. One, the word impossible is not in his vocabulary. And until yesterday, the term restraint was foreign to him as well. He goes all out, all the time. Though she might be upset to learn he keeps about 30 clones whose job is to sleep so he and the other clones can basically stay awake 24 hours a day when they dispel. She stays with him whenever she's not training, and will be with him tomorrow. You did mention that you needed to speak with her eventually didn't you?"
"That I did, I'll go check up on them tomorrow. Thank you. And have a nice night"
"To you as well Master Drumheller"
Over the next few days, Titokhan works with several other members of the Kohona 12 who, after hearing what Shikamaru told them, actively approached him. All were seeking a different point of view in their training methods. Ino, for example, was able to learn how to transform simple flowers into thrown weapons, as well as directed to Anko and Shizune to add basic poisons to her arsenal. Kiba was encouraged to learn his primary elemental affinity (which turned out to be lightning), and incorporate that into his clans collaboration justus with Akamaru. Shino, logically petitioned for ways to either sharpen his taijutsu or find some other alternative to compensate for the fact that his chakra reserves are mainly used by his hive. He was directed to Naruto's rapidly increasing fuinjutsu skills and team Gai. Naruto applied resistance seals on his limbs and Shino participated in Team Gai's morning warm-ups (which would be a whole day of endurance training for 90-95% of the village's ninja), which helped expand his chakra reserves, and he also learned he was an Earth primary, which aids his short range defenses. He then went through a base assessment with Tenten of what melee weapon would work best for him and found it to be a quarterstaff. Upon learning about the resistance seals and their effectiveness from Shino, everyone went to Naruto requesting a set (including Lee, who uses them in addition to his chakra weights). Those of the group who were mainly mid to long range fighters were also directed to Kohona's weapons mistress for a meele weapon and style assessment, while the melee range fighters were assessed as to what mid to longer range weapons would best suit them (if they chose to do so.)
And.. cut
Well, that's it for the chapter merging. And as I suspected, even with the changes and additions, I was able to get chapters 3-5 into one chapter and in my desired 3-5k word range.
