Hiruzen pinched the bridge of his nose and glared at the three culprits in front of him, who 'single-handedly staged a coup in the middle of the classroom by the second week with the help of the ENTIRE CLASS'. They looked as innocent as children could be, though he knew they weren't and then he looked at the single guilt-ridden party in the room.
"Naruto, you have nothing to feel guilty for," he said, rubbing his hand over his face, he was getting a bit too old for this.
"But Jiji, they wouldn't have done any of that stuff if-" Stopping Naruto from speaking any more than necessary, "Regardless of whether they would have done it or not, I want them to explain." Gesturing for any of them to begin, the pink-haired girl in the middle, sighed and stepped forward.
"Since I did the most property damage I'll start with how the first week in the new specialized class began," Sakura said.
The First Offense
"Alright then, who can tell me what this is?" The Chunin Sensei, Hiromi or Hitomi something, neither Sakura, Sasuke or Shikamaru could be bothered to recall her name because of her personality and how unfairly she treated Naruto, no matter what.
Now she was introducing the final specialization of the day, and the only one thing other than Ninjutsu that Naruto had any interest or the vast amount of knowledge in.
(Sakura made a mental note to figure out just how much the class knew regarding Shinobi training, they'd have to become adept in more than just combat and healing to make any world-shaking changes to the timeline.)
Naruto was the only one with his hand up, and she deliberately ignored him, and their classmates grew more and more confused, Naruto had raised his hand for almost every question asked. And yet she hadn't called on him at all, justifiable since they'd also raised their hands just as often, so they got called on instead.
But now. Naruto was the only one with his hand raised and she skipped over him, wondering who to call on. As if it wasn't obvious he was raising his hand, he was in the front row, hard for both the Sensei and the class to miss. Now whispers had erupted amongst them, confusion about not picking Naruto.
"He might not know the answer, but hey at least we'll hear what he said..." A once bully of Sakura's said Ami was her name, whether she'd make the final cut or not remained to be seen. But so far she was doing pretty good.
"No one knows at all, granted this is a rather obscure and difficult art to master, you should at least know what the application is called...no? Well-" Naruto in all his impatience cut her off, tired of not being able to answer about his passion.
"It's called Fuinjutsu and that's a seal!" The Chunin Sensei ignored him with a vicious glare, and Sakura could feel her rage boiling and Kiba growling. Some of the other students began to whisper in a fever, Naruto may have called out the answer, but never did it warrant such anger from their Sensei's, or at least those who'd shared a class with him.
"Detention Uzumaki, now continuing onward-"
"Why?" Sasuke stood up, challenging the Chunin, startled Hibiki or whatever, turned to glare at him as well," Detention for you as well Uchiha-san."
"Why? He gave you an answer, sure he called out but you didn't even acknowledge the fact he got the question right."
"Unless you want to double that detention Uchiha-san I suggest you sit down."
And a tug from Sakura beside him got him to simmer 'd deal with her eventually, Sasuke and Sakura caught the calculating glint in Shikamaru's eyes, revenge would indeed be sweet.
"And that's when you planned a coup that involved all your classmates?" The Sandaime asked he couldn't stop the Chunin Sensei's from doing things like this, at most he could switch them out for someone kinder and more sensible.
Sakura giggled and shook her head,"No silly, that was just the first offense, we still have Wednesday through Friday to get through!" She obviously took great pleasure in beating down those who harmed Naruto, and while he was happy she cared so deeply, he was worried about all the property damage. 200,000 Ryo in Property Damage alone! Not to mention the added medical fees for the three injured Chunin Senseis.
"Wait..." The Sandaime had caught on to her meaning," How many offenses in total?" He had a feeling he wasn't going to like this.
Sakura thought about it for a few moments, the gears turning in her head, " In total three major offenses, 39 misdemeanors, 294 infractions, and they infringed in our basic human rights when we objected to their behavior and treatment a total of 91 times, for a grand total of 427 violations and codes of conduct amongst the Shinobi Senseis regulations, the Kunoichi Sensei regulations and the Shinobi Senseis Association."
His pipe fell out of his mouth, she was either exaggerating or the children had come up with a system to graph this out. He didn't know which was worse.
"We made a system," Shikamaru added from where he napped(or looked it at least).
"And a chart," Sasuke added, he was jotting down the notes for this meet-
They were recording everything.
Moving his pipe back in place, he prayed to Biwako for strength because no amount of prayer to any of his predecessors would grant him the necessary patience to deal with these children.
"Continue," and he picked up his fallen pipe and put it on the desk, no didn't need to drop it a second time.
The Second Offense.
It was the first combat class of the year, and the class was buzzing with excitement. Sasuke was making notations in Naruto's Shuriken theory, not that he really had to, while the Dobe had poor executive skills, his theoretical comprehension and planning was on par with Sakura if he could get Naruto to sit still for long enough that is.
Sighing he finished his corrections and handed it back to Naruto, who grinned his sharp teeth pronounced on his childish face, he looked very much like the fox he housed but...happier. Sasuke was content to smile and relax until lunch was over.
Sakura joined them, and a few moments later with Ino, who dragged Shikamaru and Choji along with her. They were gaining quite a following amongst their peers, and their plan was running along smoothly until combat class began.
From the moment that Hibana or Hifumi opened her mouth for battle's, she chose opponents that Naruto could beat in a flash, and those opponents would always get injured more than usual. And that made Naruto look more like the monster the village thought he was.
"Control yourself Uzumaki, this is a mock battle!" Hi-whatever shouted at him, turning away with a glare, muttering," Not that a monster like you would understand." And Shikamaru had enough and decided to take matters into his own hands.
"This is a combat class if Naruto can't show he's proficient enough, which he did, without being berated and derogated for it like a criminal, what's the point?" Ino tensed behind him, her finger's discreetly signing into her clans' signature Jutsu, only to be stopped by Choji. The plump boy handed her a few chips to draw attention away from her. And she accepted it begrudgingly.
Hi-whatever glared at him menacingly, letting out a wave of killing intent that caused most of the students to fall to their knees, in fear, and some even threw up their lunch. All but Naruto, Shikamaru, Sakura, Hinata(surprisingly), and himself remained upright. The Chunin Sensei made a disgusted sound, and released the KI and returned to class.
Not before giving them even harsher punishments that afternoon.
Sakura was grumbling as she worked in the corner alongside Naruto, he was sulking as he worked, only to be shaken out of his reverie and into a mini-fight with the Kunoichi Sensei who was watching over them.
Sakura was late to Kunoichi practice that day and was reprimanded for standing up for her fellow Shinobi-in-Training that day.
"So much for Konoha being the 'nice village'," she muttered, earning herself another weeks worth of detention...She broke that woman's knee-caps on the day of the coup in retaliation.
Hiruzen stared at the lone Uchiha before him, swinging his feet in boredom, as was Sakura who was playing a game of footsie along with Naruto who looked a bit happier. And he couldn't berate any of them when they honestly only had Naruto's happiness in mind. And he hadn't seen Naruto this happy in years. So he'd let it slide.
This time. Nodding his head in thanks to the Uchiha, he was greeted with a folder that was 100x the smaller than the stack of paperwork on his desk daily, and yet still just as thick. Raising a brow in question, Sasuke explained, "All the notes verbatim of every infraction, misdemeanor, violation, and offense. Courtesy of Sakura...we also have the testimonies of several other students present during every one of these minor events leading up to...the coup?"
Sasuke scrunched up his face at the word as if it had personally offended him somehow.
Hiruzen thanked him, he'd probably have Itachi come in here to go through them with him so he could make swift arrests and detainments. The Military Police deserved a big break that would allow them to expand and gain the approval of the general public.
"Well, then Shikamaru-kun, as smart as Sakura-chan is, and as cunning as Sasuke-kun is, and let's not forget Naruto's elaborate pranks, I don't think they orchestrated the whole thing." Shikamaru got the gist of what he was suggesting.
"It was a group effort, although I did come up with the framework of the plan, Sakura and I were the ones to come up with contingencies and we roped Ino into it, and you know how Yamanaka's can be." Indeed he did, at the rate, these four were going they were going to need graduation within at least another year pushing back Sakumo's suggestion of ten to nine years of age. Luckily if he could manage, he could still hold the traditional teams he usually did.
"Well, then what lead up to that day."
"Nothing did, we didn't need more proof to teach those Chunin a well-deserved lesson."
Third Offense, and Day of the Coup
Shikamaru sat in deep thought behind the future Team Seven alongside his Former and Future Team Mates who weren't the only one's trembling in anticipation. The entire class sans Naruto and Sasuke for Clan and Clan Ward related reasons, arrived at the school early to set their trap.
The door would open and approximately 2 minutes after their Chunin Sensei's greeted them, the Chaos would begin, the class had an advantage two-fold, they outnumbered the three Chunin's 1:9 and they had three ANBU-class students and one Hokage Class Jinchuriki.
He smirked and he heard Ino snicker, Sakura tapped on her desk 3 times. Then once, and thrice more.
They'd arrived.
They walked in through the door, calm yet disturbed as the whole class usually needed to be calmed down before the class could even begin. Standing at the front of the class, Sakura called for the class to stand, and greet their Sensei's. And then roll call began.
And all hell broke loose.
...
Kiba and Akamaru had gotten Fang over Fang down to a certain extent, and used it in tandem with Hinata and Sakura's attacks. Shino stood behind Choji and Shikamaru as he siphoned Chakra from the Chunin's with his Kikaichu.
Ino and Ami were defending Naruto from the gone mad Chunin who relentlessly came after him, just as he was about to say something about the Kyuubi, letting Naruto's secret out for all to know, Sasuke cast a Genjutsu on him, causing him to collapse, convulsing on the floor.
"A bit overkill don't you think?" Shikamaru commented from where he was deflecting one of the Chunin's shuriken. Sasuke huffed a laugh.
"I'm an Uchiha, there's a reason our signature move is called Grand Fireball Jutsu."
He chuckled at that until he felt a chill go up against his spine. Glancing back at Sakura's fight with Hi-what's'erface, the Chunin had managed to knock Kiba out and injure Hinata, not too severely though. Not that the severity of the injury would help that Chunin's case, she'd injured Hinata plain and simple which meant Sakura had only one response to give her.
"T-teme, S-sakura -"Naruto attempted to warn them. But alas, Sakura's strength and quick reaction time were unparalleled currently and would continue to be unparalleled in the far future.
"SHANNARO!"
*BOOM!*
Hiruzen glance back at the embarrassed pinkette, who was kicking he feet absently, looking away from him. He let out a deep sigh, she reminded him of Tsunade in her younger days, when her anger got the better of her.
Picking up the reports Sasuke had handed him, he looked all four of them, the Council would no doubt want them placed in ROOT, and he could push for ANBU...or.
"I will be blunt about this, the level of skill each of you displayed during your week in the Academy will no doubt have serious repercussions. While I don't want you relocated to ANBU or ROOT, it will be your only option..."
The silence hung heavy in his office, Sakura immediately grabbed one of Naruto's clenched hands, squeezing it to reassure him and Sasuke took the other. The look in the young Nara's eye tipped him off that there already counter option being made.
"However, I can offer the solution of having you all graduate a year earlier than planned, and taking your Chunin exam soon after." It wasn't something he wanted to do, but he was backed into a corner, and if he allowed his former teammate to gain any traction with this generation, he shuddered, Hiruzen didn't want to think about what would happen if Danzo's ideal were to come to pass.
"We need to be placed on a fast track," Shikamaru said. As if what he said were the solution to everything, the other three children looked a bit off-put from the idea. Hiruzen was at a loss.
"Yeah, but...wouldn't that put us on the map...I mean the youngest prodigies we've had ever were Kaka-nii and Itachi-san," Naruto replied, and Hiruzen was a bit lost, he understood them not wanting to graduate early but...what were they talking about now.
"We can circumvent that by still attending the academy, we can disguise this by assigning everyone teams early and setting them up with professionals to help boost teamwork and moral," Sasuke added, a notepad and pen appearing from seemingly nowhere.
Sakura nodded, her pink hair bobbing along with her, in excitement," That way any information leaving the village will be delayed enough that they won't suspect anything, we can still try and hold off any unnecessary trouble on all fronts. Not only that, we might be able to take the Chunin exams early by that mark!"
Hiruzen had to hand it to them, he couldn't have come up with such an elaborate plan. But only one problem remained, enacting that plan. Clearing his throat to remind them they were in the Hokage's Office.
"You do realize once you're in a Team, the council will implore you to stay that way," Readjusting himself and grabbing a pen and paper he smiled,"What are you going to do?"
The young Nara heir smirked," Well Hokage-sama, we do have a few Team suggestions to make regarding all this, I'd like to preserve the Ino-Shika-Cho trio as well as the second coming of the Sannin's."
Hiruzen raised a brow at that, the second coming of his students, he'd admit he was curious. Which Jounin-Sensei was capable of raising three students that matched the strength of the Sannin themselves unless!
"So, which of my students trained who, I'd like to put a motion forward for each of you if you don't mind."
They broke into smiles, their grins even wider now.
2 Months Later- May 1st
"Iruka-sensei!" Naruto yelled, latching onto their new Chunin Sensei, the man laughed, patting him on the head. Iruka was a welcome change to the agitated and strained students the last two replacements had to deal with. Iruka couldn't believe a class full of Academy students, no matter how prodigious, could successfully lead a coup that forced the retirement of three Chunins and property damage of about 200,000 Ryo and about another whopping 100,000 Ryo in punitive damages.
He could scarcely believe it until he was given the rough background of the three instigators and the student they and their classmates lead their coup for. And suddenly things made so much more sense, while he did not actively participate in the Third Shinobi War, he was the child of those who had and he knew Naruto's parents, as Kushina Uzumaki was a common sight around Konoha even when she was with child.
So he felt for Naruto, an orphan of circumstance like himself. And silently applauded the student's coup.
"Naruto you need to let go of me, the class is about to begin," and with practiced ease, he plucked Naruto off of him and placed him next to Sakura, who elbowed him good-naturedly as they began.
He was teaching them the History of the Founding Tree, and the symbolism behind it. How the seed was given to the Senju by the Uchiha when they made their alliance and peace treaty and imbibed with seals from the Uzumaki before it was planted to keep it healthy and strong and green during the Fall and Winter. The Hyuuga worked with the Nara in those days to cut off the branches that would harm the tree and the Aburame, Inuzuka, and Akimichi provided the Fertilizer for the soil which allowed it to grow so big. And how the Hatake and Yamanaka often worked with the Nara to heal people in the tree as it was a good focal point of chakra.
It cemented the alliances between the Clans, it tied everyone together despite their obvious differences.
The class was rapt with attention, this was the first time any of them heard of this history, as they usually brushed over it in other years. But this was a class made up of Clan Heirs, Clan children, and children of prominent Merchant Families. Iruka had met with the parents and/or guardians of each of his students before he begun to work here, to ask what would be expected of them.
Imagine his surprise when instead of the parents, the Hatake Clan Leader, the Uchiha Matriarch and Acting Head, and Jounin Commander/Nara Head Nara Shikaku came to him and had a meeting with him instead.
They were in charge of the Class and it's movements and curriculum moving forward. And they made it explicit that he cover not what the standard Academy practices were in this peacetime, but everything, the students in this class were to be made into innovators and leaders in Konoha's future.
Which meant he could actually make the curriculum for himself and actually pass on the Will of Fire as he wanted. This was a lot of free legroom for him to work with, and he would make good use of it, so these kids could be proud of themselves when they became Shinobi.
To remind the students that while they were separate people leading their own lives, and pursuing their own goal, they were part of a greater collective. Konoha, both as it's inhabitants and as it's future protectors.
He hoped that this lesson drove that point home.
...
"Sakura, Sasuke, Shikamaru, and Naruto, stay behind after class," Iruka called out as he began putting away the collected assignment. The students were waiting for the final bell to ring so they could make the trek home. The four in question wondered what was they were being called for.
"You think it's for that thing Jiji mentioned," Naruto whispered to Sakura, the pinkette shrugged, everyone had been sorted into Teams two weeks after the Academy Coup. So they'd all sat amongst their Teammates to help strengthen Team Dynamics. Not that they didn't all socialize outside of their Teams.
So whatever was going on now was unknown and they didn't know if they should proceed with caution or throw it to the wind.
"Might as well see what he wants," Shikamaru drawled, waking up from his nap. Sasuke eyed the Nara strangely, and swung his bag over his shoulder, making his way to Iruka the other three trailing behind him.
"Sensei?" Sakura said, getting his attention. Iruka smiled at them.
"You're not in any trouble...although you might be, Nara-sama is waiting for you four so you can go to the Hokage's Office for one reason or another."
"Above your pay grade," Sasuke snarked.
"Isn't everything," Iruka responded in kind, gesturing for them to leave so he could lock up. The group waved as they made their way out.
...
"Hokage-sama," Shikaku greeted as he made his way into his office, the four Time-Traveler's trailing behind him,"You wished to see us."
The Sandaime smiled cheerfully,"Yes, well good news for all of you. Your apprenticeships have just gone through, though with a time limit I'm afraid."
"Wouldn't be the Konoha Advisory Council without them," Sasuke mumbled, noting that down, as Sakura mumbled a few more things to him. He needed to figure out what kind of logging system Sasuke used, it was very effective. The reports he'd received from the...incident 2 months ago were by far the neatest ones and he had to hold back from framing because it was so...amazing.
"Hmm, true. You have about 5 months to complete these apprenticeships, no more and no less. Whether or not you ultimately complete them to satisfaction is irrelevant to them, you will take the Genin exam thereafter, and then be placed on a fast track for your Chunin exams in January, which will be taking place in Sunagakure no Sato."
"Don't forget though that they may put you on multiple missions between those times and you will have to attend classes with your peers, I intend to see you make Tokujou at the very least by the time the Genin exams for your Classmates comes around, without falling behind," Shikaku added, although he was pointedly referring to Shikamaru. Who sighed and slouched further, only to be scolded by Naruto.
"Don't slouch, it's bad for your posture."
"...mmf."
"Rude," Naruto nagged.
Hiruzen intervened before their conversation devolved into their reported 'petty arguments'," Regarding your apprenticeships," that seemed to catch their attention," Shikamaru will be studying under my son Asuma and Morino Ibiki, as you specified you were interested in information gathering and had several ideas for our Cypher and Messenger Units.
"Sakura and Sasuke will both be studying under my former student Orochimaru, Sakura you will be studying poison techniques and antidotes from him, and Sasuke you will be learning a vast number of ninjutsu to bolster your arsenal, your mother also expressed interest in furthering your Sharingan and Clan training so you will also be expected to do that, but you will not have to complete that training in five months as it is Clan business.
"Naruto, I have called Jiraiya back for temporary Fuinjutsu training, you will have a rough time about it though considering Jiraiya is..."
"A prime example of what not to do as an upstanding Shinobi of Konoha," Naruto muttered, sure he'd learned about the three ninja prohibition, but he(hehe~) had an imagination, he didn't need a goddamn demonstration.
"Yes." Pushing forward papers and excuse notes for when they were going to be called in, the four of them bowed and bid the Hokage goodbye.
They strode out of the office, their footsteps silent as always, and they had a vague aura of power surrounding each of them. Hiruzen and Shikaku both shared a glance, and with a bow, Shikaku followed after them.
...
"Morino Ibiki and Sarutobi Asuma," Shikamaru mumbled, he'd returned home hours ago with his Father, they were in the middle of Go, but his mind was elsewhere. As it often was.
Shikaku sitting across from him eyed him strangely, and something probably clicked in his head, because he sighed, loud enough that it brought Shikamaru out of his reverie.
"What?" Shikamaru asked, finally moving his piece. His Father responded and shook his head," Nothing, just everything makes sense now...Your actions and interests."
Now that had his attention, he was very careful in the information he'd given his Father, disjointed information, repeated again and again so if he was asked a variant of a question he'd have an answer prepared. A story to stick to. Morino's paranoia with Asuma's skill and information Network paid off well, he was all too used to the trickery and deceit.
But he hadn't been too transparent had he?
"Morino and Sarutobi were your teacher's weren't they? In that past life of yours?"
Hiding would only arouse more suspicion, he'd just have to be careful from now on," Yeah...Asuma was our Jounin sensei, during the Chunin Exams, I was the only one ranked up, so they started giving me more responsibilities, and I was set to work under Morino-san about...three or four months before the first sign of conflict surfaced." He moved his piece. A clear feint disguised as something more.
"Hmm," Shikaku countered him, and he was starting to get antsy so he may as well ask.
"Why?"
"Nothing just, T&I business and all..." Shikaku muttered," Your move by the way." Shikamaru couldn't focus on the game after that. He went to bed sitting there silently reviewing the implications of today's interactions.
His dad was upset...that he went into T&I business...because that meant he liked Inoichiji-san more than his own father.
'Better sleep on this, and ask Sakura tomorrow.'
"Naruto remember what we talked about yesterday," Sakumo warned as he handed over Naruto's bento box.
"I know, I know! 'Take everything he says with a grain of salt and a well-timed insult.' I'd say you're going to grow premature white hair with worry but looks like you already got started," Naruto replied, stuffing the bento box in his bookbag. He put on his sandals and saluted to Sakumo.
"I'm off!" He shouted with a toothy grin.
"So you are," Sakumo patted him on the head, he watched his young charge run off into the streets of Konoha. He sighed, Naruto wasn't too impressionable according to Kakashi, and he had a good head on his shoulders but Sakumo worried.
Jiraiya wasn't the best of examples to follow, the Gama-Sennin was powerful in his own right, considering he ran the village spy-network and was the only other Fuinjutsu master Sakumo had known that wasn't of Uzushio descent. And considering who Jiraiya had previously taught, perhaps Jiraiya would be more reluctant than usual.
Sighing he stretched and made his way to the garden, he was due to meet with Shikaku and Mikoto in the afternoon, so he decided to relax a bit before heading out. Grabbing his gloves and a few pruning supplies he set his mind to pruning the flower beds today. Setting the stool by the pots, Sakumo set to work, losing himself in the mindlessness of it all.
...
Naruto had returned home later that night fuming and soaked to the bone, the entire bath he kept going on and on about how all he did today was trail after Jiraiya peeking in the baths, the woman's baths.
How Naruto had learned nothing except where the peeping spots were, and where he'd liked to go to flirt with women.
"The only thing I learned that was remotely useful," Naruto declared at the dinner table that night,"Was that acting like a pervert is a great way to jot down information without being noticed." And then he bit into his vegetables, which he begrudgingly stomached, angrily.
"...I see." Sakumo had replied, thankfully Naruto wouldn't see Jiraiya again until the day after tomorrow, which meant he would have plenty of time to instill some techniques he could manage without succumbing to a panic attack or seizure. And then he could drop Naruto off at Shikaku's and pay his old friend a visit...and then his old students as well so they could chew him out as well.
(Not to mention Orochimaru and Mikoto would hear along the grapevine which would then reach the Hokage, which meant Jiraiya was about to have a fire lit on his Toady Ass.)
Tucking Naruto in that night, he promised to help him train as best as he could come morning. The genuine expression of happiness on Naruto's face made him a little happier than he was in days.
He'd admit the last time he was this happy was when he'd returned from that botched mission, that mission where he had to desert his students, the mission that shamed him every single day of his life. He'd endured a lot of praise during those days, and Kakashi's look of pride every day got him through it, even though all the hate mail and dirty looks he'd received from his students' families.
Just a little bit.
And then Kakashi returned from his first mission as a Jonin. The mission of Kannabi Bridge. When his son returned that night, his precious son, who he'd failed before he'd even realized it, Kakashi snuck into his bed that night and clung to him and cried. And Sakumo was at a loss at what to do, what else could he do but continue to be there as support for Kakashi.
He'd almost taken his own life once, a few months after that, but held back because Kakashi meandered into the Compound long after he should've and his gut as a father, albeit a terrible one, told him to wait for Kakashi. And oh how right he was to worry, Kakashi was covered in blood, his hand twitching erratically and his eyes glazed over. Like he didn't even realize where he was going or what he was doing.
Only when Sakumo had said his name did he realize where he was, and then Kakashi began to hyperventilate, and he started to cry again, Sakumo was able to calm him down, just long enough for him to go to Inochi, the head of the Yamanaka Clan at the time, to get his son looked at.
Kakashi seemed to close in on himself, avoiding people and going outside unless it was a mission. That is until Minato and Kushina started to make daily rounds to the compound to check on them both.
And then they ended up...and their son...
Well, that was that. Those two kids had helped his son when he needed it, taking care of their son in their stead was the least Sakumo could do.
Perhaps he could get Kakashi to teach Naruto in his off time. It's what he owed them.
"Sakura!" Mebuki called, drying her hands, she approached the base of the stairs," Sakura! Aren't you supposed to meet Lord Orochimaru at the hospital?" Her daughter was granted a prestigious opportunity to be placed amongst the Advanced Class of the Academy and her knowledge and talent went recognized even further as she was granted a chance to study under Orochimaru of the Legendary Sannin. A normal civilian mother would be proud of her achievements, a normal civilian-born Career Chunin even more-so. Any Shinobi parent would leap at the chance.
But Haruno Mebuki was sadly not a normal civilian-born Career Chunin. Kizashi and she had grown up near each other in the Uzushio District, and since their birth, they were not shielded from the darker side of their future professions. The Uzushio District was packed to the brim with Refugees from Uzushiogakure no Sato, and thus the people within it were closely knit, tying together and very rarely venturing outside.
That went double for marriage, they preferred Uzu Hitobito over Tanin, but when they did get someone new they gave them a warm welcome to settle them into their daily lives much quicker. Sometimes people had to leave, as they married into Clans and had to move into Clan Compounds as her childhood friend, Nakarai Mako (Yamanaka Mako, her mind corrected).
Uzu Hitobito knew what it meant to have attention on you, knew what it meant to rise up through the ranks so quickly. But there wasn't much she could do, she was once a top ANBU Agent second only to Hound, and yet there was nothing in her repertoire of skills and information she could use to slow down Sakura's acceleration into the life of a Shinobi.
"Coming!" Sakura called, bounding down the stairs not a moment later, her hair tied up in a bun, with that red ribbon Ino had gifted her, her bangs clipped away from her eyes, a sleeveless red qipao shirt, and black cargo pants. She wore the Haruno Symbol with the Uzumaki Clan symbol on the back of her shirt. She was proud of her daughter, handing Sakura her bento as she walked her to the door, opening it to find the Uchiha Matriarch with her second son at the door.
Uchiha Mikoto, Mebuki hadn't seen her in the Uzushio District for some time now, this year would make 10 come October. Mebuki greeted her with a smile, to assure her there was no ill will born by her or any Uzu Hitobito. The loss of their only Uzumaki Clan member during the Kyuubi Attack all those years ago hit everyone in their district hard and only resulted in them in protecting themselves even more fiercely.
"Uchiha-sama, what brings you here?" She smiled sincerely so Mikoto would stop fidgeting, stop flinching and glancing around, so Mikoto understood, that here she was safe, Uzu Hitobito rarely hated without purpose. No one hated her for being too afraid to come back and walk these streets with nothing but grief and despair coating her happy memories of the place. Not when one very important person was missing.
Not when Kushina had died.
"Well," Mikoto began, placing her hand on her son's head fondly," My son and your daughter are both being taught by Lord Orochimaru, though I heard his former student Anko volunteered to help, so I thought that I should-"
"Say no more," Mebuki cut her off, she was familiar with Anko, that girl's favorite Dango shop was right here in the middle of the district, how did she know that because her Cousins ran the damn place. " Please make sure my daughter gets there safely, Uchiha-sama." Mebuki bowed.
"Please, call me Mikoto," she insisted.
"Mebuki then."
"A-alright," Mikoto seemed a bit flustered by Mebuki's rapid acceptance and trust in her, glancing down at her daughter and Mikoto's son, they were showing knowing smirks, patting Sakura's head she waved them off.
...
"Mebuki," Kizashi called, his voice was strained, barely hiding the very blatant and unrestrained anger a Haruno was known for in his voice. That was alarming, the last time he'd sounded like that was when during the aftermath of the Kyuubi Attack, when they were given barely enough funds to repair all the damage done to their District, thankfully no one was in their houses that night, and most of their belongings were automatically placed in emergency storage seals.
But rebuilding houses cost a lot. After all that was lost on that night, Mebuki and a number of other Uzu Hitobito amongst ANBU all dropped out to help out at home and raise enough money made from fieldwork to continue to rebuild and pay back some of the debt to the bank from loans for materials and otherwise.
"What is it?" She asked.
"We need to call a meeting with the other Elders in the District." That wasn't good, they only ever called for one of those when something bad happened, like the epidemic of Flu's that spread through Konoha a few years ago, Mebuki had to be called out in the field a lot during that year. Since she was the only Shinobi in the Household that was currently Active. Come, Summer her and her husband both would be on the Active Duty Roster.
"What for?!" She followed after Kizashi reaching for the phone, to call some of her family to get the word out.
"Kushina had a son." And she asked no more questions.
The Uzushio District was a world all on its own, people went out and came back in, and Mebuki went out a lot. She was an Active Chunin practically year-round, participating in a multitude of missions with a variation of Konoha Shinobi.
And never once did she hear an utterance of the names Kushina and Uzumaki, not once.
"What's his name?" Her older sister demanded, shouting at her younger brother and Sister-in-law, looking at Kizashi, who'd obviously heard her, he gave her that angry look again, and the name that passed his lips had her seeing nothing but red.
"His name is Naruto."
...
"Sakura...you're friends with Naruto right?" Mebuki asked while doing the dishes with her daughter a few nights later, Kizashi was in the back room, folding some of the blankets she'd left out to dry in the afternoon.
"Yes?" Sakura replied, wary of what her reaction would be, and Mebuki's heart sunk a little, how encased in their own world were they that they didn't notice him at all.
"...We're going to be having out Coming of Age Festival for you soon, you should invite him along with some of your friends."
"...Um...about that?" Mebuki panicked internally. Was she mistaken in the fact they were friends, did Sakura not want to invite him?
"Yes?"
"My friends consist of about 13-14 students in our class...can I still invite them all, even though Naruto's the only Uzu Hitobito?"
"YOU CAN!" Her husband shouted from the laundry room. The dance of joy Sakura did after that made cleaning up the dirty suds on the floor less tiresome.
They all owed them.
"Hahaue," Sasuke called to her.
"Yes?"
"Why are you so nervous?" Her son was really quite sharp, he'd adjusted to his father's partial blindness quickly enough, and the lack of many Uchiha Elders, though in her younger sons case this was just more leeway for him to be as 'un-Uchiha-like' as possible. And that left many parents exasperated as many of the children saw fit to follow Sasuke's lead.
"Hahaue!" He demanded.
"Hm?"
"You didn't answer my question."
A simple question with a very complicated answer, the Uzushio District was en route to the Hospital, but she usually avoided it, despite it being the fastest route possible, she had wonderful memories of the place from her youth. The District was always open to any who wanted to go there, but for many of Konoha's citizens, it became a District that was avoided.
A community as tightly knit as a Clan, but as large as an army. The Uzushio District was a place everyone entered and exited freely, but many had taken to avoid. Perhaps in the way, their closeness resembled the Uchiha or the Hyuuga. She'd never know why others avoided it, but Mikoto knew exactly why it always caused her anxiety to enter.
"It's nothing, I just haven't been here so often." Sasuke gave her a scrutinizing look, like the one Itachi often gave her and Fugaku sometime, albeit with fewer micro-expressions, and begrudgingly accepted the answer.
Kushina lived there once. And now she wasn't there anymore.
Kushina had invited many of the Kunoichi of there graduating class to the District for Festivals and Birthdays and other Miscellaneous Parties. While some thought they were intruding, the Uzu Hitobito shrugged it off and went to fetch more Sake. But she hadn't been to the District in nearly a decade. Following her son, she arrived at a door, with a white circle emblazoned on its door, a spiral decorating it's middle like many of the shops and doors did in the District.
She was just about to knock when the door opened, and she was face to face with an old acquaintance.
"Uchiha-sama," she flinched,"What brings you here?"
...
Dropping of both Sakura and Sasuke at the Hospital she made her way to Yakiniku Q, she had a meeting to attend with Hatake-Sama and Shikaku. She had an hour or so to kill before she got there so she made her way to the Senju Park, and began to read her notes for the meeting. Her mind was elsewhere though, walking those streets that she'd become so familiar with all those years ago, she expected them to give her snide looks or for her to sense some malice from their Chakra.
But there was none of that, nothing but kind smiles, and waves from shop owners who acted like she was here just yesterday. She hadn't walked these seal-imbibed streets in nearly a decade. And then she received a genuine smile from someone she barely knew, and she received that person's full trust with their child.
The people of the Uzushio District never failed to surprise her.
She had so many questions. But she focused that drive into her work, the future Shinobi of Konoha couldn't afford to slack off if they were going to stabilize their economy.
...
A few days later Fugaku told her something while they were both working in the study, he needed help signing documents, and one hand and eye were not enough to get a stack done on time.
"Tsuma," Fugaku started, signing off on another request. Handing to her as she passed him another one, which was a very organized system of Important, Inane and Blasphemous. She rolled up the signed Document and set it in a bag for the runners to deliver tomorrow.
"Yes, Otto," she replied. Neatly and quickly folding up the passed document as she handed him the last of the Important Documents. Making a noise at the thought of the Inane Document requests.
"It seems the people of the Uzushio District are having the Haruno girl's Coming of Age Ceremony later this month," He informed her as he signed the last of the documents. The door slid open to reveal Itachi with a new Document in his hands.
"Itachi?" Fugaku questioned. Itachi gave no verbal reply, he merely handed over the document and took a seat in front of the bags for the runners and began to separate them by District and then further by section.
"Sasuke has been invited as a guest, to Haruno Sakura Coming of Age Celebration," Itachi informed her, as she labeled the bags he'd set the papers in later. Mikoto hummed in response making plans for what Sasuke was going to wear and take to the Festival as a gift from the Clan.
"Strange," Fugaku muttered perusing the document several times,"The Uzushio District is requesting extra security detail in exchange for food, and reduced prices for the Uchiha Police Stationed there for the rest of the year." Fugaku obviously had his interest piqued, but there was already enough Uchiha Stationed there, they were running thin as it is, between here and the rest of Konoha with the Military Police down to half it's actual size.
Mikoto smiled, perhaps this was a step in the right direction. "Otto, perhaps it's time we branched out beyond having only Uchiha as Military Police Members, inter-clan relationships could be strengthened and you'd make it easier on Itachi when he takes over." She let the suggestion sit, leaving Fugaku to stew over the idea. Continuing the steady process of signing and organizing the Documents, when lunch came around, Sasuke called for them. Having made everything himself...with Friends.
Fugaku said nothing save greeting them and nodding his head when Sasuke asked him a few question here and there. When dessert was brought out, Fugaku decided to do something he rarely ever did.
"Haruno-san," and the room grew still, the children stopped what they were doing and waited with bated breath as Fugaku deliberated what he was going to say.
"Sasuke will be attending your Coming-of-Age Ceremony, along with extra security detail as per your district councils request, furthermore I would like to thank you for inviting my son, it is an Honor to the Uchiha Clan," Fugaku bowed slightly, which would have caused Mikoto to choke on her food, or drink had she any in her mouth. Yet all she could do is stare in horror.
What kind of sick twisted Genjutsu-induced horror is this?!
"What kind of sick twisted Genjutsu-induced horror is this?!" Sasuke exclaimed, her thoughts voiced, and Fugaku's attention focused on him, sighing Fugaku spoke to Sakura again, "I implore you to work on his manners."
"...Can you request something else." Sakura whispered in response, her husband sighed and thought about it. The children left later that evening, and just before they made their way out the door, Fugaku handed them each a letter and to Naruto a small box.
He nodded his head when they accepted it and made his way back to his study.
It wasn't until later that night when he was undoing his bandages that he enlightened her as to what he'd asked of them.
"Your idea, I am going to start reaching out to other Clans and Districts to begin strengthening our relationships with other Clans. It was something we should have done after the Kyuubi attack but..." He trailed off there, and she gripped his good hand.
"I know...it's okay."
"...It's not."
"...I know." Mikoto couldn't bear to see him in tears, perhaps losing Sasuke was the stick that broke the camels back.
"We owe them."
"This ever happen back in your time?" Shikaku asked reviewing some of the Clan application folders with his son.
"Nope."
Shikamaru had spent his lunch with his classmates at the Uchiha Compound and returned with a letter regarding the steps the Military Police would be taking towards interaction with Konoha's citizens and inclusionary clauses towards allowing and in fact supporting other Shinobi to apply for positions within the Force.
He'd gotten every application from his Clansmen, though they sent each of theirs in with the logic that, 'those who can help the village would be kept on standby with the Force'. And they weren't wrong, he had to be selective, he couldn't send in all his Jounins as they were needed to respond to threats outside the village, lead missions, and take on Genin teams.
He could send a good bulk of the Nara Chunnins but that would take away from medical research if he gave them too many. Granted having a Nara who was well versed in medicine would help if there was an accident and they could wait for any Iryo-nin to get there when they needed immediate medical treatment. Not to mention supplies in the med-pack weren't exactly suitable for every situation.
"Suddenly Lord Orochimaru and Lady Tsunade's idea makes so much more sense. If we had enough Iryo-nin that were decent Field Medics..." Shikaku started.
"We'd have enough Shinobi to practically create an Emergency Medical Response Team." Shikamaru groaned and flopped back on the floor. Shikaku followed his son's example and flopped on the desk, he applauded Fugaku's and Mikoto's idea, he really did.
But there simply wasn't enough entry-level requirements and the Village basically had all the Nara's busy with one thing or another, he couldn't risk sending them into the force without...
"Maybe," Shikamaru started,"Just maybe...we can suggest it as an option for active and incoming Chunin's to go into Emergency Medical Care or the Police force..."
"As a way to allow Chunin's to expand there skill-set, allowing us to expand our repertoire and possibly strengthen the economy by a margin!" Shikaku finished, defying all known laws of physics that dictated the speed of Nara's movements, Shikaku grabbed his son into a tight hug and whooped.
"YOU'RE A GENIUS!" Shikaku cheered, a puzzle solved, that had even him stumped.
"...I'm a Nara."
...
The following few weeks were a hectic back and forth spiral between his house and the Jounin Offices. Gearing up for the Early Genin Exams come October for the Advanced Class, then once more in March. The Jounin Mission were crazy during the summer, between here and Suna, and it would get worse in Winter. Then there were the various meetings between the Clans heads and the Council.
One regarding the current status of the integration of different Clans into the Military Police Force and the other regarding their "special" students progress in their Internships.
Which they had completed... two and a half months ahead of schedule. Which wasn't really surprising to himself, Mikoto, or Hatake-sama. But the Council of Elders had adverse reactions. As did the civilian Council. So then they decided to give them one final Internship to pass.
Mornings they would be learning directly from the current Head of T&I, Morino Ibiki during the morning, and afternoons and evenings would be spent learning from the top dog of ANBU, Hound himself. Shikaku sighed. Yoshino was going to hear about this from Mikoto, discreetly and the Konoha Mothers League would come after the Elders.
Or shame them somehow. Probably through not to think about it, lest he starts feeling guilty.
...
"Dear, did you hear about the incident?" Yoshino asked him as they were preparing for bed. She was talking about the incident regarding the Coming of Age Ceremony for Sakura. Shikamaru had gone with Ino and Choji, and Inoichi as their chaperone. The first half of the Festival was great, it was a shame they missed out, the Uzushio District really knew how to throw a party.
"Yes, I had to handle damage control, and reporting all the felonies that night since a few of the newly minted officers were injured that night."
"Tch, I hope the perps get a hefty sentence," Yoshino muttered from the connecting bathroom.
And the second half of the night was when things got out of hand. People had gotten wind that Naruto was in the District, and somehow a mob had formed at the entrance to the District leading in from the Founding Tree, and another formed where the District lead to the Hospital. Effectively blocking the residents of said District in. And although not all of those Residents were Shinobi, they were Uzu Hitobito, and man did they hit hard.
He recalled getting drawn into a fight when he was there one time. And goodness was he sore, he couldn't recall any citizen of Konoha being able to punch that hard other than his wife.
"They came after Naruto," he said turning off the light. Yoshino went quiet. Resuming her nightly ritual, she sat on the edge of the bed.
"...We don't deserve him," she whispered. Sitting up he put a hand on her shoulder,"Nonetheless it's our job to protect him."
"...Better watch out then." Yoshino warned jokingly.
"What you planning to commit a crime in the name of protecting him?"
"If that's what it takes."
"...Good...we owe them this much."
TERMS
Uzu Hitobito lit. Eddies People or Whirlpool People
Tanin Strangers or Outsiders
