Broken Youth
(Life of Konoha Academy Teens)
CH2.3: Distance I
A while earlier up at the main office...
The main office was in the building facing the main gates. It had huge windows that over looked the courtyard for it was on the top floor. The main office consisted of three smaller offices; Security (to the left), Attendance and Counseling (to the right), and the Principal's (in the center). At that moment four people were in the principal's office: Madara Uchiha who was gazing out the window, Tsunade who was behind her desk filling out paperwork, Shizune who was standing next to Tsunade holding Tonton, and last but not least a boy in an orange mask over his face who was sitting in the far corner of the room playing a hand-held game.
"School's off to a great start, wouldn't you say so Tsunade-sama?" Madara said still gazing out the window.
"Ah, yes indeed. I was a bit worried about the incoming freshmen but not anymore thanks to you," replied Tsunade.
"Yes, Madara-san I don't think we could have manged without you and the Akatsuki. They sure put the freshmen in to place in a flash," said Shizune.
"My young Akatsuki have sure grown haven't they? I remember when they first started out, no one took them seriously but by the end of the year even the senior students respected them,"said Madara.
"You mean feared them, right?" responded Tsunade.
"You would know the difference wouldn't you Tsunade-sama,"he said teasing her with a chuckle. Tsunade's face turned slightly red.
"Sticking to the subject of the Akatsuki. I hate to break it to you this early in the year, but you do know most of your current members are gonna graduate at the end of the year. You should start recruiting new member soon or else you won't have a team for next year," Tsunade said.
Madara was quiet for a moment, he looked out at his Akatsuki members then said: "Hm. The years just flew by me, for some reason I keep thinking of my Akatsuki as kids and not as the young adults they are becoming...About the matter of recruiting, I don't think I'm going to do that til later in the year when I have a better perspective of the possible candidates to fill in the vacant spots."
"Do you already have some people in mind?" asked Tsunade.
"Are the new members going to start out as incoming freshmen like most of your current members did?" asked Shizune.
"I don't think so, you saw out of control this years freshmen were and I really doubt next year's are going to be any better. My best bet is to go with this years sophomores, I already have some of them under consideration," said Madara.
"Who," said both Tsunade and Shizune.
He chuckled at seeing them react like a couple of school girls. "Well, to start out with, I was thinking of recruiting your apprentice, Miss Sakura Haruno. She is a sweet, strong, smart young girl, that can maintain a cool head when needed. She would fit perfectly as an Akatsuki and besides she's like a mini-you, Tsunade-sama,"stated Madara.
"Sakura would make a good Akatsuki member for I taught her well. Who else do you have in mind?" asked Tsunade.
"Another good addition would be my nephew Sasuke. Being in Akatsuki definitely would be a good experience for him, especially if he wants to achieve his goal of becoming chief of the police force after his father. Sasuke is a guy that would have great influence over the other students. The girls already idolize him and for the most part guys want to be just like him..."said Madara. He paused when he saw that Tsunade was giving him a strange look.
'Ha! Now that I think about it, did he pick some of his former members just because of their way with the ladies?' Tsunade asked herself.
"Um...uh...Tsunade why are you looking at me like that? Was it something I said? You are making me a bit nervous now," he said a bit hesitantly.
"Oh, sorry it's nothing Madara. Go ahead and carry on." Tsunade said with a nod of her head.
"Well, there's only one more person I have in mind that I'm partly sure about, and that is the Uzumaki kid, Naruto..."Madara said. He took a brief pause and thought for a second.
"I know Naruto isn't the best student there is. He's always getting lectured and sometimes he doesn't take things as seriously as he should. He's also not the brightest kid but he's a good kid at heart,"continued Madara.
Tsunade sighed in agreement.
"He reminds me a lot of his parents when they were his age. He looks almost exactly like Minato and his high hopes of becoming the next Hokage are just like those of Kushina," said Madara.
"You are right he does resemble them a lot."agreed Tsunade.
"What I find interesting is that Kushina was the one who dreamed of becoming Hokage and Minato was the one who ended up become Hokage. It's funny how life works."stated Madara.
"Yes it is. I remember when Kushina first moved here from the whirlpool nation. All the boys would tease her about her dream. They would also tease her about her flaming red hair and short temper that they nicknamed her the Red-Hot Habanero. Minato was one of the guys that teased her the most and look how they ended up." said Tsunade.
"Yes, life is ironic. The will of fire is strong in there boy and that's why I want him on my team. He also has this special...power which allows his to easily make friends with almost anyone, and along with that he has a strong understanding of people and that's what makes them comply with him. He also has a strong impression that make people change there minds on how they perceive things," said Madara.
_
Tsunade said after a moment of silence: "That Naruto surely is a special kid. Even though he's secretly one of my favorite students now, it didn't always use to be that way,"started Tsunade. "I use to dislike and underestimate him because I thought he was nothing but a foolish little punk that liked to play pranks on people. One day all that changed." Tsunade took a deep breath. "A couple years ago I decided to have a little wager with him. He was sent to my office for the hundredth time that week so I wanted to have a little fun with it that time around. I challenge him to master a technique in only a week. If I won he would serve a months detention but if he won he would get away Scot-free." Tsunade paused. "I really thought the challenge I had given him was an impossible one especially for him. I was expecting him to quit but he never did. I saw him work his hardest just to prove me wrong. His persistence was admirable, he would not stop trying to master it even after he reached his limit. Something inside me sometimes wanted to stop him from killing himself, but my stubbornness wouldn't let me. The week past fast and the day he would prove himself finally arrived. I was thinking about going easy on him during our match but his cockiness soon changed my mind." Tsunade paused again. "I'm dragging this on to long, aren't I?" asked Tsunade.
"Oh, not at all please continue,"said Madara.
"Okay, I'll sum it up and get to the point. It took every last bit of Naruto energy but he managed to do it, he manged to beat me. Naruto collapsed in my arms and as I held and mended his exhausted body, I suddenly got this overwhelming feeling that made me believe in myself, it was something I had lost and had regained just by looking at that boy give his all and prove that the impossible was possible. For that reason I gave him an extra reward, my grandfather's necklace which will do him good in reaching his goal," said Tsunade.
"So what you're trying to say is that he doesn't only make you believe in him but also in yourself?" asked Madara.
"Basically, yes,"said Tsunade.
"If you don't mind my asking. What exactly was your wager with the boy?" asked Madara.
"Oh, I didn't tell you did I? Let's just leave that story for some other time, it's to long and complicated to explain now. Besides shouldn't you be starting you patrol soon?" suggested Tsunade.
Madara looked at his watch. "I've still got a while but that boy doesn't," he said looking at the boy who was virtually unnoticed the entire discussion.
"Tobi...Tobi...TOBI!"yelled Madara to gain his attention.
Tobi quickly got up and dashed to Madara. Tobi his game in one hand and his other was on his forehead in salute form. "Sorry, Boss it's just that Tobi was having so much fun with the game that you gave him that he didn't hear you," said Tobi. Madara sighed at his remark.
"Isn't time for you to go with the others?"asked Madara.
"Does Tobi have to?" returned Tobi.
"Well, you don't have to, but-"said Madara.
"But what Boss?" asked Tobi.
"Oh, nothing I just thought you maybe wanted to see your Senpai, but I guess not," said Madara.
"Wait, Tobi does want to see Deidara-senpai. I will go now," he said turning around and running to the door.
"Stop!Tobi before you go could you remind the others that there won't be a meeting today," announced Madara making Tobi stop.
Tobi turned around and once put his hand in saluting form again and said: "Sure thing, Boss!" He then walked out the door and closed the door behind him. The door accidentally slammed shut and it followed by a loud "Oops!"
To be continued...