Jiraiya grunted, making several more notes, then spoke again. "Now try to pull on just your chakra."
"Just my," Kuushou started to ask, then cut himself off. Not his youki, the body's chakra. It had been years since he had attempted to do so, not since his Ino had first given him the idea of blending his youki with the body's chakra to overcome his control issues.
The energy gradually shifted hues, the purple fading as he pulled more and more of his youki out of the mixture. He soon approached the lower limit of his effective control… and passed it. The color continued to shift towards blue, the sphere beginning to warp and destabilize as he did so. Finally, he pulled the last of his youki back into his body.
And stared at the nearly shapeless blob of blue chakra wobbling in the air above his hand.
Kuushou waited for the ball of chakra to fall apart, to fade away, to do anything but what it was currently doing: hovering a few inches above his palm, following his will.
He could feel ideas and possible explanations whirling in his head, but each died before it could take shape. He could not control the body's chakra without utilizing his youki - it just wasn't possible. He had years and years of proof for this; he'd had to create a way of merging the body's chakra and his own youki in order to develop any control over it at all, and even then he had wasted literally years trying to make it work before Ino had given him the idea for that.
He blinked and found Jiraiya standing in front of him, his fingers snapping directly in front of his face.
"You awake now?" Jiraiya asked, amused.
Kuushou scowled at him for a moment before nodding, his eyes already drifting back to the ball of chakra that was still there, wobbling uncertainly above his hand.
"Alright, I think it's pretty obvious that something big has changed," Jiraiya said. "Am I right in thinking that you've never been able to use just your chakra like this before?"
"Never," Kuushou replied, finally drawing the chakra back into his body. He waited a moment, then pushed out more of the body's chakra, trying to form the ball again. The chakra poured off of his hand, spilling into the air in random spurts and splutters, but after a few seconds it attained a shape that was vaguely round in some places.
Jiraiya nodded thoughtfully as he observed, rubbing his chin. "Change of plans," he said finally. "I need to tell the Hokage about this, and we need to determine just how bad your chakra control really is when using only your chakra. From what I'm seeing here, you might as well be a first year in the Academy." He pondered for a moment, then nodded sharply. "I don't have time to walk you through getting your control up to snuff, so you'll have to take care of that on your own.
"Start working on that now while I go talk to the old man. I'll be back before too long, and I'll let you know about any other change in plans then."
Jiraiya barely waited for him to acknowledge his words before vanishing, leaving him alone in the clearing with Danzo, Sai, and the ANBU team. Danzo was already hobbling over, moving carefully across the uneven ground.
"Your chakra and the Kyuubi's chakra have separated, have they?" Danzo said without preamble, his visible eye contemplative.
"Looks that way," Kuushou answered, calling up the ball of pure chakra again.
"Did this change occur following your incident at the finals?"
"I think so, yes," he admitted, his eyes focused on the blue shape hovering over his hand.
"You didn't have trouble performing the other tasks Jiraiya set you to, or working on the Haruno girl... has this had a negative impact on your capabilities?"
Kuushou glanced over at Danzo. "I could tell something was different, but there was no actual effect that I could find."
Danzo grunted in acknowledgment, tapping his cane on the ground. "Try sending that chakra out as far as you can," he said after a moment, pointing his cane down the trench he had created earlier.
Kuushou nodded and focused, pushing the chakra away from his hand. It barely made it a foot before the entire mass fell apart, fading into the air.
Danzo thumped his cane on the ground again. "Useless for now," he declared. "You have a handle on calling it up, though, so why don't you try the focusing exercise?"
Kuushou eyed him curiously for a moment, then shrugged. He hadn't had to do this since the first year in the Academy, as it was often the very first exercise taught to new students - as soon as they proved they could call up their chakra intentionally, the teachers moved on to the basic three.
He formed the ram seal with his hands and concentrated. The difficult part would be not pulling out any of his youki along with the body's own chakra.
His body began to glow blue around his stomach, which quickly spread to the rest of his torso, then his entire body. It formed an aura around him, clinging closely to his skin at first before surging. It swiftly grew larger, wrapping around his form like a living flame of a deep, pure blue.
"That's all you've got?" Danzo muttered, somehow conveying his disappointment despite his monotone voice.
Kuushou narrowed his eyes at Danzo, then pushed. The aura flared even higher, completely obscuring his form for a moment before settling down. He could feel the ANBU squad stirring, spreading out slightly almost on instinct, while Sai had actually stepped in front of Danzo. Danzo himself had not so much as twitched, instead regarding him with the same cold, detached gaze as always.
"Better," he said after a moment. "You have the reserves. Now you must learn to do something with them."
Kuushou allowed the aura to recede, noting the surprising effort it took to force that much chakra out while fighting his own instincts that would utilize his youki.
"This time, try to push chakra out of just your right hand," Danzo directed.
This continued for some time, with the elderly ninja monotonously walking him through what seemed like an improvised chakra control test. Kuushou wasn't sure what conclusions Danzo drew from the results, but he noticed a few things of his own. He could generally limit chakra to one limb, or even his hands and feet, but there was always a little spill-over that he couldn't prevent. Similarly, his efforts to push chakra out of a single finger were a complete failure, and the eventual goal of utilizing a single tenketsu for the task was a distant dream.
It took him time to realize that he was still cheating, in a way. He eventually realized that he was still using his youki, just in a smaller role and purely internally. He would literally push the chakra out of his body, only attempting to control the chakra directly once that was done. Even attempting to block off all other tenketsu in an area with youki to force the chakra out of a single one failed, and he ended up damaging his chakra network in the effort, though that at least he could fix easily enough.
After that realization, he made a conscious effort to let his youki lie as dormant as possible while focusing solely on chakra. This actually made his control - if his method of flinging chakra around like water in a leaky bucket could even be called that - worse. Attempting to emit chakra from his hand might release a barely visible spark of it, or a flood of it, or end up emitting it from his forearm instead. And after so many years of using chakra and youki together, not merging them together actually took deliberate focus all of its own, which made the task more difficult and annoying still.
His lack of success or even progress, coupled with Danzo's droning voice and dry, biting comments had his temper fraying by the time Jiraiya returned.
"Good to see you kept working!" Jiraiya called out cheerfully. "The Hokage was quite happy to hear that we may have finally found a way to alleviate your range problem, or even remove it entirely in time. In light of that, he also changed our goal; we're now aiming to get your control over your own chakra, without mixing it with the Kyuubi's, up to C-rank."
"That will be an interesting task, Jiraiya," Danzo said, speaking directly to the man for the first time since they entered the clearing. "By my measure, he has the control of a first year student... a civilian one."
Jiraiya just grinned at him. "You're talking to the man who taught the Fourth Hokage! I'll have him up to B-rank before you know it!"
Danzo stared at him for a moment before grunting and inclining his head slightly. "See that you do. It's a shame to let an asset like Yamanaka-chuunin sit idle."
With that, he turned and began hobbling out of the training ground, Sai trailing after him silently.
"Alright, Naruto," Jiraiya called out, drawing Kuushou's attention back, "here's what we're going to do..."
~ Scene Break ~
Kuushou looked over the massive crowd gathered around the base of the Hokage Tower. He couldn't remember ever seeing so many people gathered in one place before; they were packed shoulder to shoulder, filling the courtyard, the streets feeding into it, the storefronts and windows of the buildings, ever the roofs and balconies. The sound was incredibly loud, thousands of voices blending together to fill the air with idle talk while they waited for the event they had gathered to witness to begin.
Despite the many people gathered and the cacophonous sound of their mingled voices, it rose even higher into raucous cheers as the Hokage stepped out onto a high balcony overlooking them. The stories of his victory over Orochimaru had spread far and wide and, coupled with the massive maelstrom of fire and wind that had been visible from Konoha and marked the traitorous ninja's demise, had reminded everyone just who it was that led their village.
This continued for nearly a minute before those same cheers immediately quieted when the Hokage raised his hand and gestured for silence.
"Citizens of Konoha," the Hokage called out, his voice washing over the attentive masses and carrying far across the village, "I am here today to reveal a truth that has been hidden for some time, held deep in the hearts of a few to keep one of Konoha's greatest heroes safe. This truth concerns the day the Nine-Tailed Fox attacked our village and the ninja who sacrificed their lives to stop it - and one ninja who continues to sacrifice to this very day."
Anko leaned back against the side of the building and whistled lowly, shaking her head. "Hokage-sama is good," she muttered as she continued to listen to the Hokage's speech.
"It's the truth, isn't it?" Kuushou commented idly, half his attention focused on the mass of chakra hovering above his hand. He thought it looked like a little more round than it had the day before, or the day before that, but it was hard to tell after staring at it for so long. He wasn't about to stop working on it, though.
Anko shrugged, glancing over at him. "In a way, I guess," she agreed.
"... was not killed, but was instead trapped inside a human child, there to lie bound and powerless for the rest of its days..."
Kuushou looked towards the Hokage, his eyes narrowed for a moment before he returned to his practice.
"How long have you been working on that, anyway?" Anko asked idly.
"I haven't stopped. I've got a lot of ground to make up if I'm going to ever get anywhere with my chakra control."
"... this ninja protects Konoha and its people with every breath he draws, with every beat of his heart..."
Anko lapsed into silence, drawn into the Hokage's speech as he continued to praise the yet to be named container of the Nine-Tailed Fox. After a while, she cleared her throat.
"I'm getting promoted to jounin." The words were almost rushed, and she stared steadily towards the Hokage as she said them.
"... jinchuuriki, as they are known, are not viewed by other villages as the heroes they are, but instead are..."
Kuushou looked up. "About time," he said, smirking.
Anko finally looked over at him, a grin blooming on her face. "I know! It's like, how much ass do I have to kick before you give me a fucking promotion?"
Kuushou nodded. "I was surprised to find that you were only a tokubetsu jounin after seeing you in action. Still, this just proves that all your hard work is paying off. You got to proctor the second phase, Orochimaru is finally dead, and now, at long last, you get your long overdue bump to jounin."
Anko nodded rapidly before her expression froze. Shock filtered over her face for a moment before it twisted into something dark, then cleared.
"Yeah," she said, a dark undercurrent filling her previously light-hearted tone, "funny how that worked out."
Kuushou pretended he hadn't noticed anything. "So what does making jounin change? Better pay?"
Anko took a moment to respond, her eyes fixed on some distant point before she shook herself. "That's the thing," she said, scratching at her neck. "They want me to take a team."
"... so they not only protect their own village, but the whole world from the ravages of these monsters known as the Bijuu..."
"A team? As in a genin team?"
"Yep," Anko replied. "Well, maybe. I can wait for the next graduating class or I can try to pull my own team together from any loose genin and chuunin who would be willing. And I don't have to, but Hokage-sama really thought I'd be good at it."
"Anyone would be lucky to have you as a jounin instructor," he commented.
"Thing is," she continued after flashing him a wide grin, "it would be a full-time deal. I'd be in charge of overseeing their training and development, and I'd need to take them on a certain number of missions to keep them productive for Konoha..."
"Which wouldn't leave a lot of time for personal missions," Kuushou finished for her, a slight frown on his face. "I see."
"... did not wish to be known for his status as a jinchuuriki, but revealed himself to protect this village and its people when..."
"This seems like good timing, really," he continued after a moment. He nodded to the ball of chakra in his hand with a wry smirk. "I'm not going to be taking any missions for a while anyway, and this way you aren't left hanging because of my problems."
"Don't think you're off the hook that easy," she replied, relaxing a little. "You've done some good work with the genin you taught, and I could always use some pointers, maybe even some help every now and then."
"... and so, I, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Third Hokage of Konoha, today do something that I should have done a long time ago. I hereby publicly acknowledge one of Konoha's greatest ninja, a hero in whom the Will of Fire burns strong and fiercely, the jinchuuriki of the Nine-Tailed Fox: Naruto Uzumaki."
The Hokage bowed deeply, an action mimicked a moment later his teammates who stood beside him. The other ninja gathered around the Tower, on the streets and the rooftops, standing on top of poles and the sides of the buildings, all turned to face the same direction as the Hokage and bowed as well, the movement spreading through the crowd like a wave. Many of the civilians followed suit, and those who had seen him beforehand or knew where he was standing turned to face him directly as they did so.
Kuushou was taken aback at the unexpected ending of the Hokage's speech, and stared blankly out at the bowed heads turned in his direction. He heard a rustle of cloth and glanced over at Anko, to find that she had crossed her arms and was grinning in smug satisfaction as she took in the crowd.
"Thank you, all of you," the Hokage resumed, prompting the crowd to begin straightening and turning their attention back to him. "Naruto does not wish to be treated any differently even though this knowledge is now public, so I urge all of you to simply continue treating him with the same courtesy and respect that is due any ninja of Konoha; no more and no less. Thank you all for your time, and I bid you a good day."
The Hokage turned and disappeared back inside the Tower, his teammates following close on his heels, and the crowd began breaking up.
A few people approached him to offer words of thanks, but Kuushou waved them off quickly, saying that it wasn't something he wanted to dwell on. Finally the street resumed its everyday ebb and flow, though gazes lingered on him and the snatches of conversation he overheard all revolved around him.
He looked over at Anko, adopting a wounded expression. "No bow?"
Her grin faded as she met his gaze. "I have other ways of showing my respect," she told him solemnly, holding the stare for several seconds before adding with a smirk, "which is why I'll let you buy me dango."
~ Scene Break ~
... abilities: water techniques, with an emphasis on-
"No."
... Bounty: 425,000 ryo. Known abilities: possesses one of the Seven Swords, Same-
"No."
... reputed to have mastered the water dragon technique, she also-
"No."
... B-rank, chuunin prior to his desertion of Iwagakure. Bounty: 13,000 ryo. Known abilit-
"No."
... before his desertion of Yuugakure (defunct). Openly announcing his association with the Cult of Jashin, Hidan claims to be immortal. He wields a large scy-
Kuushou paused, then slowly reread the previous sentence.
"Immortal..." he said slowly, tasting the word. "How much would immortality piss of the God of Death, I wonder?"
A smile slowly grew on his face as he encountered the first potential lead he'd had since this world's Shinigami had changed the rules surrounding his seal. And if he was truly immortal, perhaps that was enough to hide him from the Death God's sight?
He wields a large scythe, though shows little apparent skill with it. Known abilities: none. Known associates: none.
Kuushou's smile rapidly soured as he read the rest of the entry. It seemed like everything about this Hidan was an unproven rumor; the only thing the Bingo Book listed as fact was his physical description, his name, and his former village. Even worse, the last known sighting was three years old at this point.
Despite that, it was still the best - the only - lead he had gotten as to who the so-called trespasser might possibly be. He ripped the page out and set it aside before continuing his scan of the Bingo Book.
In his right hand, the ball of chakra continued to hover, slowly shifting in shape.
~ Scene Break ~
"I hear congratulations are in order," Kuushou commented idly, still focusing on his ramen as another person approached. His left hand was occupied with the chopsticks that were rapidly shifting the food from the bowl to his own mouth, while his left hand was turned palm up, a spiky, wobbling ball of chakra floating uncertainly above it.
"Thank you," Hinata said, a strong undercurrent of satisfaction in her voice. He glanced over as she stepped into the Ichiraku's Ramen Stand and settled onto the stool on his left.
Unsurprisingly given how fresh her promotion was, she was wearing her chuunin vest. It was currently mostly unzipped, only the bottom connected to keep it from hanging completely open. Underneath she wore a short-sleeved light purple shirt and black pants. Her forehead protector hung around her neck and she had two kunai pouches, one strapped to each leg.
"Welcome back, Hinata-chan!" Ayame called out as she approached. "And congratulations on your promotion! That's amazing!"
"Thank you, Ayame-san," she replied, inclining her head slightly. "I could not have done it without Naruto's assistance, however."
"Given that only two of my students were promoted," Kuushou countered, "it was your own talent that made up the difference."
Hinata blushed, ducking her head slightly as she struggled to find a reply.
Ayame just giggled to herself for a moment before saying, "Watching you two is too much fun. So while you sort out all of that, what would you like to have, Hinata-chan?"
After Hinata had ordered and Ayame had moved away to focus on preparing her meal, Kuushou turned to Hinata once again.
"How did the ceremony go?"
She had regained her composure by this point and replied calmly. "Father wasted no time in capitalizing on the fact that both Neji and I were promoted at the same time. The fact that half of the genin from Konoha who earned a promotion were from the Hyuuga family is already making its way through the village.
"Kurenai-sensei was very happy for me, of course, as were both Kiba and Shino. Our team is going out later to celebrate."
She paused for a moment, politely thanking Ayame when she delivered her bowl of miso ramen. She picked up her chopsticks and lightly stirred the ramen as she continued.
"Gai-sensei and Kakashi-sensei were also in attendance. Gai-sensei was thrilled that both Neji and Tenten were promoted, and Lee, even though he didn't make it, was still jumping all over the place and cheering them on. Gai-sensei even declared that this meant he had won his bet with Kakashi-sensei.
"Kakashi-sensei, on the other hand, claimed that even though only Sakura was promoted from his team, her showing in the Exams was both more impressive from an objective standpoint and even more so considering that she had less experience."
Kuushou kept one eye on Hinata even as Ayame delivered his next bowl of ramen. There was something in Hinata's tone when she mentioned Sakura - nothing overt that he could place as a distinct emotion, but her voice was a little colder, her speech more clipped.
"Gai-sensei had moved on to proposing even more bets and contests to settle the question once and for all when my team left."
He nodded as she finished her report and fell silent. The most surprising promotion for him had been Sakura - he would have thought that the events surrounding her match would have eliminated her from consideration, even if it was a fluke that their plan to defeat Gaara had backfired in such a spectacular fashion.
"So what are your plans now that you are a Chuunin?" he asked.
Hinata carefully set her chopsticks down and turned to face him fully.
"I still have a great deal to learn from you, about many things," she declared, her pale eyes boring into his own. "Even though I have been promoted, I hope that our training sessions will continue without interruption."
"Of course," Kuushou agreed. "I'm not about to stop now."
Ayame let out another small giggle as she placed another bowl of ramen in front of him.
"Oh, don't mind me," she said, amusement clear in her voice.
Hinata glanced at Ayame for a moment, then turned back to her ramen and resumed eating, a faint blush staining her cheeks. Kuushou turned back to his own bowl, already thinking about what the next step of her training should be.
"I understand now," Hinata said quietly, interrupting his thoughts. "What you meant about the wall that stood in your way, the one that's been there since the day you were born."
Kuushou smirked to himself, but continued to eat his ramen and didn't offer any response.
"I understand what it is I see when I look at you with my Byakugan, and why you can do some of the things you can do." She paused for a moment. "It doesn't change anything, though. You are who you are. I just wanted you to know that I understood, that's all.
"And... and I wanted to ask how the climbing was going."
Kuushou paused, surprised at the question. He seriously considered it for several seconds, turning to look at the ball of chakra hovering over his hand. In some ways his situation was much worse: his seal had changed radically, to the point where he could no longer slowly wear away at it to increase the youki he had available; even worse, he no longer had the option of simply breaking free and was now, for the first time he could remember, well and truly trapped in this form.
Even so, the deal that the Death God had forced upon him opened up new opportunities. He could eventually find his way free of this form without the accompanying banishment from the human realm, which would leave him unhindered in his future attempts to find the other Bijuu - the real Bijuu, at least. His newfound control over the body's chakra also removed some of the problems he had with range, though "control" was perhaps still too optimistic a word.
And once he had found this trespasser and fed their soul to the Death God, there was a good chance he could even acquire a way to prevent himself from ever being sealed again. The Death God had made it clear that it was possible, though the price remained unknown.
That alone made the many problems of his current state worth the trouble.
Hinata remained silent as he thought, waiting patiently and attentively for his answer. She met his eyes when he turned to look directly at her, her expression attentive, almost eager
A grin grew on his face.
"One day soon, I'm going to reach the top," he told her, his voice growing more harsh and eager as he spoke, "and then I'm going to tear it apart brick. By. Brick."
~ Scene Break ~
Several weeks later, Kuushou sat in the middle of his living room floor, all of his attention focused on one thing and one thing only.
A perfectly spherical ball of chakra hung suspended before him, fed by two streams of human chakra so thin they could not be seen by the naked eye. Methodically, he moved the ball forward and back, left and right, up and down. It remained perfectly spherical, not wavering from his will in the least.
He began to move faster, bouncing the ball from hand to hand then sending it out further to bounce off of the walls of the room.
A second ball of chakra appeared, starting the same sequence as the first, and soon both were flashing throughout the room, moving almost too quickly to track.
Kuushou's brow furrowed as a third orb of chakra began to take shape. It wavered back and forth, its shape warping and flattening before reforming into a ball once more. The strands supporting it grew thicker, becoming blue streams of chakra that poured from his hands into the construct hanging in the air before him.
The first ball slowed its progress through the room, moving in a lazy circle rather than the hectic path it had taken before. Kuushou's attention drifted as he corrected that problem, and the third ball began to fall apart entirely.
His attention snapped back and the ball firmed once more, now completely still and perfectly spherical - and with a light purple hue.
"Only two," Kuushou muttered to himself. "That will have to do."
He stood smoothly, the other orbs vanishing, and made his way out of the apartment and towards the nearest training ground.
As he prowled down the road, he quickly drew attention as people pointed out the newly-revealed jinchuuriki. There were surprisingly few who were afraid of him or angry at him following the Hokage's revelation, but the pointing and whispered conversations had persisted for weeks now with no sign of fading yet.
He also drew attention from the ninja he passed by, as they quickly noted that for the first time in nearly two months he did not have a ball of chakra hovering above his hand. A few even began to discretely follow him, sensing that something had changed and curious about what he was going to do.
He noted all of it, but remained focused as he reached his destination.
He strode into the training ground without pausing, making his way to an area filled with logs of various shapes and sizes. It was meant mainly for Academy students practicing their fundamentals or for genin and chuunin trying to refine their kawarimi technique - which was precisely why he was here.
He stopped well outside the range to which his seal previously limited him, then turned and stared at the logs. He clamped down tightly on his youki and slowly and methodically formed the handsigns required, feeling the body's chakra respond and the technique taking shape.
With a small twist of effort, the technique completed and he found himself nearly thirty meters away from his previous location, exactly where the log had been a moment before. The log landed in the grass at his previous spot with a small thud, then tilted over and landed on its side with an ever smaller thump.
It was hardly a feat of note even for an Academy student, but he found laughter bubbling out of his throat as a wide grin split his face.
It was only with the body's own chakra, and he was still far less skilled with it than with his own youki, but for the first time since he had been sealed he was no longer confined to a criminally small space.
He spread his arms wide and titled his head back, howling with laughter.
~ Scene Break ~
"You're kidding."
"Not at all, Naruto-kun. I am very happy that you are once again cleared for missions," the Hokage declared, acting as if he wasn't the very reason he had been pulled from active duty in the first place, "but that doesn't change the fact that you need a team."
"What about Anko? Shouldn't she be back by now?"
"Anko-chan is still, how did she put it... ah yes, breaking in her new team. Her last report indicated that the genin she had selected are not working together as effectively as she requires, so she is putting them through some more rigorous trials."
"What about solo missions, then?"
"Those will of course be available in the future, but I want you to work more closely with other ninja in the village, and they with you. As a chuunin you have the option of creating your own team of other chuunin and genin as long as they agree to follow your command in the field. You will need a minimum of two permanent members as well as at least one other willing to work with you on a mission by mission basis."
"That could take days, even weeks," Kuushou protested. He really did not want to waste any more time twiddling his thumbs in the village. He had found no leads whatsoever within the village, but the Bingo Book had yielded several possible candidates for the trespasser. If he was going to find one of them, he needed to be out in the field.
"I would expect so, especially if you strive to find people whose skills and temperaments complement your own. You can always try to find another observer like Anko, but I'm gathering you would much prefer to have the leadership role."
Kuushou nodded at that, then sat back in his seat. Anko, now that she had her own team, was obviously not an option. Even with her, he wouldn't have the freedom to take the random detours and side trips that tracking down some of his targets would require.
If he couldn't simply take missions solo, then he would need someone who would be willing to follow his lead without a lot of argument and questioning and who would be willing to stay on his team permanently.
"Very well, then," Kuushou said, standing. "I will come back when I have my team assembled. Thank you for your time, Hokage-jii-san."
"I look forward to seeing who you select, Naruto-kun. And anytime; my door is always open for you."
~ Scene Break ~
When Kuushou thought of who would fit the requirements for his team, one name immediately popped to mind. Though he was sure it would surprise some of the other ninja, that name wasn't Anko.
Even aside from the fact that she was already busy with her own team, Anko had shown a pattern of clear observation and the willingness to call him on anything that didn't seem to fit. She had inadvertently forced his hand in regards to his sensor abilities, for one, and didn't hesitate to challenge his plans or make him back up his claims.
No, he needed someone much more... pliable.
Unfortunately, there were also some obstacles he needed to overcome first.
The door slid open and a servant dressed in immaculate white robes stepped softly into the room, her covered forehead bowed.
"Hiashi-sama will see you now, Uzumaki-san," she announced, motioning out into the hallway.
"I prefer Yamanaka," Kuushou said as he stood, straightening his kimono and making sure that both crests - the swirl of the Uzumaki clan and the stylized flower of the Yamanaka clan - were clearly displayed. He knew all too well how much Hiashi Hyuuga prized formality and observing the traditions of the village, and as the one asking the favor in this instance it would not do to arrive in anything less than formal clothing.
The dual crests were not chosen specifically for this meeting, but were instead aimed at both Inoichi and the Hokage. The Uzumaki crest kept the old man content that he was not forgetting his "birth parents," and the Yamanaka crest kept Inoichi happy that his counterpart had done well in raising him. The fact that this was only the second time he'd ever had reason to wear the thing didn't seem to matter to them.
"My apologies, Yamanaka-san," the servant said, bowing again. "If you will follow me, I will lead you to Hiashi-sama."
Kuushou nodded and followed her down the hallway, arriving at the larger doors that bore the crest of the Hyuuga clan.
"Naruto Yamanaka is here, Hiashi-sama," the servant called out after knocking softly on the door.
"Send him in," came Hiashi's reply.
Kuushou stepped into the room, quickly noting the carefully cultivated layout of the place where Hiashi Hyuuga held court.
The large, ornate, carefully polished desk dominated the room, situated directly across from the sliding doors. The dark wood possessed a fine sheen that spoke of age and careful care. The surface of the desk was meticulously organized, two small stacks of scrolls sitting to Hiashi's left and a larger stack to his right.
In front of the desk, two cushions were placed upon the floor, both looking as fresh and clean as if they had been made that very day. The walls to the left and right were sparsely decorated, a small bonsai tree here and a wall scroll depicting a scene from the clan's past there.
The wall directly in front of him held a large scroll, hung horizontally, with the phrase "Work Diligently Enduring Hardships" painted in clean, sharp lines upon the paper. It was placed high on the wall, looming above and behind Hiashi like a silent sentinel.
Hiashi himself knelt behind the desk, his spine perfectly straight. He held a brush in his right hand, his left holding his sleeve away from the scroll upon which he was currently writing. His hand moved with smooth, sure strokes, and after a moment he carefully placed the brush down in a tray to his right, waved his hand over the scroll with a small surge of chakra, then swiftly rolled it into a perfect cylinder, slid a ribbon over it to hold it closed, and placed it on the pile to his right.
Finally, the man looked up, his expression carefully polite and neutral. His eyes scanned Kuushou's form, lingering on the crests for a moment before returning to his face.
"Welcome to my home, Yamanaka-san. I hope the wait was not too arduous for you."
"Not at all, Hyuuga-san."
"That is good," Hiashi said, nodding once. He paused as if gathering his thoughts, then leaned forward slightly. "I find myself curious as to what business you have with me, Yamanaka-san."
"I have a request concerning your eldest daughter, Hyuuga-san," Kuushou replied.
Hiashi's eyebrows twitched slightly, betraying his surprise at the topic.
"Hinata, is it?" he mused, leaning back slightly. "I was quite impressed at how well my daughter performed in the Chuunin Exams; even more so that she actually earned a promotion. Her growth these last few months has been unexpected, to say the least. I am well aware that I have you to thank for this."
He paused, tapping his finger softly on the desk for a moment.
"I have heard some of your comments regarding the place from which you came, Yamanaka-san," Hiashi continued. "Am I mistaken in thinking that you have met me before?"
"You are not, Hyuuga-san. I met yourself and your wife on many occasions, though never in a setting such as this."
Hiashi's demeanor was naturally inclined to calm and stillness, but the way he stopped breathing for a moment revealed how unexpected the mention of his deceased wife was.
"You met Hisana?" he asked, his voice carefully controlled.
"I did. She was still alive last I knew. She was beautiful and kind, though there was no mistaking her strength either. Hinata took after her in many ways. My condolences for your loss, Hyuuga-san."
"Thank you," Hiashi said distractedly. He was silent for several seconds, his eyes distant. Then he asked, "Are the skills you are teaching Hinata the same as she learned before?"
"They are not. Though I often sparred with and observed Hinata, the style she used was quite different from the traditional Hyuuga style and is not something I believe I could teach her myself."
"Hisana taught her." It was a statement, not a question.
"She did, yes."
Hiashi nodded absently, then shook his head slightly and focused more firmly on Kuushou.
"What of the skills you have been teaching my daughter, then? I believe she has spent a great deal of time practicing with chakra strings. Though they do provide a useful exercise for chakra control, surely she is ready for the actual technique by now."
Kuushou stared at Hiashi blankly for a moment. "The chakra strings are the technique," he corrected.
Hiashi frowned slightly. "And what purpose would such a weak, easily countered technique serve? Though she applied it well in her battle with the Uchiha, her victory was born of deception and endurance rather than the strength of the technique itself."
"You are familiar with the typical applications of chakra strings, I assume?" Kuushou asked.
"The puppeteers of Suna are the only ones who use them extensively," Hiashi noted. "Otherwise the technique is simply a means to further increase control, nothing more."
"I can provide a demonstration, if you will permit me," Kuushou replied, motioning with one hand towards the desk.
Hiashi nodded his assent after a moment, then silently activated his Byakugan.
Kuushou extended a single string of chakra from his hand and sent it down through the floor. He pushed it through the tatami mats, under Hiashi's desk, and then up where he attached it to the brush Hiashi had been using and lifted it into the air. Flipping the brush handle first and then pointing the end towards the Hyuuga as if it were a kunai, he made a short jabbing motion with it.
Hiashi's hand flashed out, swiping through the string and breaking it before deftly catching the brush and placing it back on the desk.
"And what was the purpose of that, Yamanaka-san? As I showed, such a technique can be countered with little effort. Indeed, it is entirely possible for the weakest genin to counter such a technique entirely by accident. Surely there are more effective techniques in your arsenal."
"Not all ninja are blessed with the Byakugan, Hyuuga-san, but your words are true. However, one more demonstration, if I may?"
Hiashi studied him for a moment, then nodded silently.
As before, Kuushou extended a single string down through the floor and up through the desk. Three more strings joined it, attaching at different places along the handle and at different angles. Nearly a dozen more strings appeared, some spreading out around the room and waiting while he created illusions of kunai to which he "attached" the others.
As before, he lifted the brush and mimed stabbing Hiashi with it. As before, Hiashi swept his hand through the chakra strings controlling it. This time, however, the strings bent out of the way of his hand, preventing him from breaking a single one.
He attempted another swipe, much faster this time, which caught two of the strings. The pieces of the broken stings still connected to Kuushou quickly reclaimed their hold on the brush, which had managed to close half the distance to Hiashi.
Hiashi's hand blurred, seizing the brush directly. "Enough," he said firmly, placing the brush back on the table. He deactivated his Byakugan before fixing his gaze on Kuushou once more.
Kuushou nodded and released the other chakra strings and the illusions of the kunai he had created. Hiashi remained silent, clearly thinking about what he had just seen. After nearly a minute, he finally spoke.
"That is certainly a more effective use for the chakra strings than I have seen outside of Suna's puppet masters. You believe Hinata will be capable of this?"
Kuushou immediately shook his head. "Hyuuga-san, by the time I am done, Hinata will be able to accomplish that from the other side of the compound. Combined with her Byakugan, she should be able to combat multiple foes without even revealing her location at all."
Hiashi nodded thoughtfully. "I will reserve judgment for now. The chakra strings aside, what of her progress in other areas?"
"After the initial situation, she has proven to be an ideal student. Hard-working, dedicated, and constantly pushing herself to the next level. She has improved her physical strength and speed, her chakra control and capacity, and has gained considerable experience sparring with myself and her team. Her promotion to Chuunin is no mistake."
He nodded again, his eyes distant. "That is welcome praise. There was a time," Hiashi admitted quietly, "when I thought she would not advance beyond genin at all, much less so soon."
Sensing that Hiashi was speaking half to himself, Kuushou decided to remain silent. After a few moments, Hiashi shook off his thoughts.
"Thank you for answering my questions, Yamanaka-san; it seems my curiosity has lead us somewhat astray of the original topic. You had a request concerning Hinata, did you not?"
"I did, Hyuuga-san. As you may be aware, I have been cleared for active duty once more and have decided to lead a team of my own. I believe that Hinata and I would complement each other's skills and temperaments, and wish to have her transferred to my team on a permanent basis."
"I have heard something to that effect, yes," Hiashi noted. "Congratulations on your return," he added, inclining his head slightly. "It is good to once more have a ninja of your abilities working for the benefit of the village.
"As for Hinata... she is a chuunin now. Why would you come to me with such a request?'
Kuushou nodded in agreement, catching the emphasis Hiashi had placed on the question. This was a test, one that would go a long way to determining just what the head of the Hyuuga clan thought of him. Answer incorrectly and he would be labeled a fool to be manipulated; answer correctly and he would be an ally to cultivate.
"As a chuunin, Hinata certainly has the right to make such decisions for herself. As a Hyuuga, however, she is still subject to the authority of her Clan Head, namely yourself. Should you decide to invoke that authority, she must either submit or challenge your authority in a trial by combat. It goes without saying that she lacks the strength to succeed in such a challenge.
"Even without going to such an extreme, the Hyuuga Clan in general and yourself in particular wield immense influence in the village. You could do many things, directly and indirectly, great and small, to make your displeasure with some decision known. Conversely, you could do many things to support decisions you agreed with and smooth the way for their continued success. As such, garnering your support is doubly valuable.
"Further, the skills of the Hyuuga clan are highly sought after both within and without the village. As the Clan Head, you are responsible for ensuring that the clan as a whole meets its obligations to the village, to allies and friends, and to any businesses or other entities which are bound by contract or tradition. This requires careful monitoring of the disposition of your clan members, including those who are permanently assigned to other duties."
Hiashi's eyebrows had risen slightly as he continued his explanation. Kuushou wasn't done yet, however.
"Should I make my request to Hinata directly, she would have to come to you for approval. If you were not satisfied with her explanation or wished to gather additional information, you might decide to summon me for a meeting such as this where I could then state my case. In such a situation I would already be at a disadvantage, however, as I would have taken up more of your time than necessary and put you through the trouble of setting up a meeting even though I am the one making a request of you. This assumes, of course, that you are inclined to pursue the matter at all.
"By coming to you first, I have taken as little of your time as possible and have the opportunity to immediately clarify my intentions and answer any questions you may have. It is an approach that demonstrates respect for your position and status and offers myself the greatest chance of success."
Hiashi's lips twitched slightly, but Kuushou continued before he could reply.
"And, above all, directly approaching the eldest daughter of a great and noble clan such as the Hyuuga with a proposal such as mine could be considered... presumptuous," Kuushou added, pitching his voice and shifting his accent to match the speech of Hiashi himself.
A short bark of laughter escaped Hiashi's lips as Kuushou finished speaking. "A Yamanaka indeed," Hiashi said, amusement clear in his voice. His demeanor relaxed slightly, losing some of the harsh formality though it was no less dignified or disciplined. "That last could have come from Inoichi's own lips.
"You are indeed correct, Yamanaka-san, on all counts," he continued. "There is one matter you did not address, however; that of Hinata's safety while on your team. Though she is not the heiress, she is still a member of the Main House and as such will be highly sought after by many for their own gain. What guarantees do you offer that such a fate will not befall her?"
"Guarantees?" Kuushou asked, shaking his head. "We both know those are rare in the ninja world. I assure you, however, that Hinata will continue to grow stronger and more powerful in her own right as she continues her training with me. I am also an accomplished medic, so she will survive and recover from nearly anything short of outright death if I am nearby. I am a sensor as well, so the possibility of someone seeking to capture her actually escaping is remote.
"And," he continued, his expression darkening as he began to push out a bit of killing intent, "should the worst befall her and she perishes... I guarantee those responsible will not survive for long."
Hiashi did not react to the killing intent, instead studying him closely as he spoke, his expression still neutral.
Kuushou fell silent, making a restrained show of gaining control of himself before he returned Hiashi's calm, scrutinizing gaze.
"When I asked the same question of Kurenai Yuuhi," Hiashi said eventually, "she assured me that she would take great care to limit the danger Hinata was exposed to, and that she would never let her far out of her sight. At the time, I felt it was the best I could expect given Hinata's... performance. Indeed, there were times when I thought it best for Hinata and the village both if she were to cease her efforts to become a ninja entirely.
"As the Head of the Hyuuga, I am reluctant to expose Hinata to such risk. All other concerns aside, I do believe that she would be safer in Yuuhi-san's care than in your own. As a ninja, I believe it is to the detriment of the village as a whole for one of its own to be coddled as Hinata was, even more so now that she is a Chuunin.
"And then... as a father, I have never been more proud of Hinata than when I saw her standing over the Uchiha. She was beaten, bloody, and worn down, but she was also triumphant." He had a small smile on his lips as he spoke, no doubt picturing the scene in his head once more. "She could not have done this under Yuuhi-san's care, nor could she have done it hidden away within this compound.
"And that is why I will agree to you request, Yamanaka-san. Somehow, you have found a way to bring out the strength that had been hidden deep within Hinata where all others, including myself, have failed. Whatever else may come, I believe that this is the path that will lead Hinata to becoming a ninja of which both Konoha and the Hyuuga Clan can be proud."
Hiashi finally broke their long stare, picking up the next scroll from the small pile on his left and spreading it out before him, gracefully placing the small stones on the corners that would hold it flat.
"I will leave it to you to inform Hinata and Yuuhi-san of this new arrangement. If Yuuhi-san protests too strongly, remind her of the conversation she and I held when Hinata was first placed under her guidance."
There was a small surge of chakra from under the desk, which traveled swiftly along a straight path under the floor mats and outside of the room. A few seconds later, one of the servants slid the door open, kneeling just outside and waiting as still and silent as a statue.
"Hitomi will show you out, Yamanaka-san."
Kuushou bowed deeply before responding. "Thank you, Hyuuga-san, for agreeing to my request. I am sure you will not be disappointed."
Hiashi nodded absently, seeming to have already dismissed him from his thoughts. Kuushou had not expected any different, however, and stood smoothly and backed away several steps before turning to leave the room.
"Yamanaka-san," Hiashi called out, stopping him just before he stepped through the door. Kuushou turned to find Hiashi staring directly at him, an intense glare on his face. "I am leaving my daughter in your care. Do not make me regret it."
~ Scene Break ~
Kuushou decided not to waste any time once he had convinced Hiashi. Team Kurenai was currently inside the village, practicing together in one of the training grounds and it took only a few minutes once he left the grounds of the Hyuuga estate to shunshin across Konoha.
Hinata was sparring against Shino and Kiba when he arrived, and he was pleased to see that she was at putting her chakra strings to good use during the battle. She was managing to hold her own against them, utilizing her agility and speed to avoid the three-pronged attacks they sent her way. She had kunai scattered across the ground all around her, and as he watched she quickly attached a string to one and flicked it towards Shino from behind.
It did not pose a serious threat to him, but he was forced to dodge out of the way, easing some of the pressure from Hinata and allowing her to focus on Kiba and Akamaru for a moment.
It was obvious when Hinata noticed his arrival, as her head whipped around and she stumbled, almost falling completely before she recovered. Both Kiba and Shino paused at the unexpected action, Akamaru following his partner's lead a moment later.
"Can I help you, Yamanaka-san?" Kurenai asked coolly as she strolled up to him, studying his formal attire.
"Geez, Naruto, what are you all dressed up for?" Kiba called out. He was wandering over, followed by Shino and Hinata a few steps behind.
"Some matters call for a little more formality," Kuushou said, replying to Kiba first before turning back to Kurenai. "Yuuhi-san, I would like to speak with yourself and Hinata."
Kurenai raised an eyebrow at that before she glanced down at his kimono once again. Understanding dawned, followed swiftly by a flash of anger.
"Kiba, Shino, we're done for the day. You two can go home," Kurenai said sharply, probably more sharply than she had intended.
Shino spoke quickly before Kiba could even say a word. "Understood, Kurenai-sensei. We will see you tomorrow. Good evening, Hinata-san."
That said, he took hold of Kiba's arm and pulled the Inuzuka along with him.
"Wha- hey!" Kiba called out as he was half-dragged away, Akamaru yipping at his heels. "What's up with that, huh? And quit pullin' me, dammit, Shino!"
Kiba's complaints faded into the distance, leaving just the three of them alone in the training ground.
Hinata was very tense, almost jittery, but her gaze was solidly focused on him. Kurenai was also staring at him as she crossed her arms and cocked her hip to one side.
"And what did you need to talk with us about, Yamanaka-san?" Kurenai asked, her voice distinctly cold now.
"I have just come from a meeting with the Head of the Hyuuga clan. I requested that Hinata be assigned to my newly formed team, and after some discussion my request was granted."
Hinata's eyes widened for a moment before a wide grin bloomed on her face. Kurenai took one look at her reaction before swallowing her own, her body shaking with suppressed emotion.
"That is, of course, assuming you wish to be a part of my team," Kuushou continued, turning to Hinata. "I wouldn't want to-"
"Yes!" Hinata burst out. "Yes, I will join your team."
"Excellent," Kuushou replied, smiling at her. "I look forward to working with you more closely," he added, bowing slightly.
"Yes!" Hinata said again, a blush spreading across her face as she bowed in return. "I look forward to working with you as well!"
"Who else is on your team?" Kurenai asked stiffly, her anger slowly fading into resignation.
"For the moment, only myself and Hinata. I have some other candidates in mind, but I wanted to secure Hinata for my own team before anything else."
"I see," Kurenai said slowly while Hinata's blush deepened further. "And when will you begin actively taking missions?"
"As soon as I have a full team," Kuushou said, turning to Hinata. "I'd like to start working on teamwork exercises while I look for the other two members, but that won't be full time. I have no problem with you continuing to work with Team Kurenai for the time being, if you wish."
Hinata nodded silently, her face stuck in a permanent grin.
"We still have our regular training session tomorrow, so we can talk more then. In the meantime, I need to attend to other business, possibly even acquiring our third teammate." She nodded again, and Kuushou turned to Kurenai.
"Unless there's anything else you would like to discuss, I'll be on my way."
Kurenai shook her head, her jaw clenched as she bit back whatever she wanted to say.
"Then I bid you both a good day, and I will see you tomorrow, Hinata," Kuushou concluded before turning to leave.
"Right!" Hinata half-shouted, her manic grin not faded in the least.
~ Scene Break ~
Kuushou returned to his apartment to change out of his kimono; the more formal clothing would not suit his needs for his next visit.
Once he was back in his regular ninja attire - his new chuunin vest over a plain black shirt and dark green pants with several large pockets, along with his various scrolls and pouches - he set out towards the Hokage's Tower. His next target was there, partially hidden behind a thick veil of chakra.
The guards at the front of the tower nodded to him as he entered, a gesture which he returned despite his brisk pace. He turned to the right immediately, taking the stairs and going up two flights before weaving his way through several hallways and coming to a stop outside a nondescript meeting room. To the naked eye there was little that set it apart from any of the dozens of other such rooms throughout the building. To a sensor, however, the walls practically thrummed with the amount of chakra flowing through numerous seals covering the walls, floor, and ceiling.
He considered simply barging into the room - Danzo had certainly made a habit of turning up inside his apartment unannounced and uninvited, after all - but that proved unnecessary as the meeting was apparently at an end.
Koharu and Homura exited first, pausing momentarily in surprise as they noticed him waiting before giving him a terse nod and continuing on their way without a word. Danzo hobbled out of the room at a slower pace, leaning heavily on his cane and moving carefully as he pulled the door shut and resealed the room.
"Yamanaka-chuunin," he said flatly once he was done.
"Shimura-san," Kuushou said, "would you care to walk with me for a while?"
Danzo inclined his head after a moment, motioning with his cane for Kuushou to lead the way. Kuushou began ambling back along the hallway, taking a path that would lead them back out of the tower.
"No doubt you have heard that I am once more on the active roster," Kuushou began.
"It has been mentioned, along with your desire to form your own team," Danzo acknowledged. "Congratulations on securing Hinata Hyuuga."
Kuushou stopped walking, sending a sharp look at Danzo as he absorbed the implied message; he'd approached Hiashi less than two hours ago - Hinata herself less than one - and already Danzo knew about it. Knew about it, and was making it a point to demonstrate that he knew about it.
"Thank you," he replied, turning to resume his slow walk. "I have some very strict standards for the people I want for my team," he continued. "I need ninja who are willing to follow my orders, of course, but also ninja who are skilled enough to not slow me down. And I think you know someone who fits those criteria very well."
Danzo kept walking, making a short grunt of acknowledgment but not replying immediately. They made their way down the stairs and out of the tower before he finally spoke.
"I'm not going to object to placing Sai on your team, of course, but there are conditions."
"Such as?"
"As one of the ninja I have groomed, he has been trusted with information and contacts that are not known to the general forces. Placing him on your team will give you limited access to those resources, but will also require him to make some detours in order to maintain that network of contacts. You will need to allow him to do so - within reason, of course."
"I can handle that," Kuushou said, nodding.
"Sai also has some unique techniques that make him well-suited to certain types of missions. In order for him to carry out those missions, he will either need to take a temporary leave from your team, or you will need to find an excuse to have the team in the area where he is needed."
Kuushou didn't reply immediately, considering that one. Losing Sai temporarily would mean that he would be limited in the types of missions he could take for the duration, possibly even to the point where he would be stuck inside the village. On the other hand, accompanying Sai to his destination would likely mean traveling to a large portion of the Elemental Nations, something that meshed with his own goals nicely.
He absently turned the corner onto the road leading to his apartment, still keeping pace with Danzo. Several ninja sent glances their way as they passed, their curiosity at the unusual duo plain to see.
"I intend to have my team specializing at least partly as hunter-nin, so it should be a simple matter to find a reason to travel wherever he needs to go," he said finally.
"Very well," Danzo said, nodding. "The last condition is that you find your third member before the 19th. There is a mission coming up that would suit both of our purposes very well, but I can only delay the assignment for so long."
"What mission is that?" Kuushou pressed.
"It's a high profile escort mission. I can persuade Sarutobi to send it your way without much trouble, since it is ideal for getting your name into circulation, but that only applies if you have a team ready."
"Six days?" Kuushou asked rhetorically. In truth he still didn't have a firm candidate in mind, and had planned to take his time working his way through the chuunin within Konoha to find someone who met his needs. Six days would not give him time to do that, but he could probably find a temporary team member in that time frame. "I'll make it work."
"Good. I'll begin pushing the mission your way, then. Was there anything else?"
"Not at this time, no."
"Then I shall leave you to your recruiting. I will inform Sai of his new assignment, and he will report to you tomorrow morning."
"Thank you for accepting my request, Shimura-san," Kuushou said politely, inclining his head to the old ninja.
"I consider it an investment, Yamanaka-chuunin," Danzo replied flatly. "Good day," he concluded before turning and heading off.
"Two down, one to go," Kuushou muttered to himself, continuing towards his apartment.
~ End Chapter ~
A/N: As always, thanks for reading and thanks for all the reviews! Thanks again to the people at the SB forums for providing feedback and criticism for this chapter.
The next chapter posted will actually be STC again, as I want to get this to the end of Part 1 and put it on hiatus before shifting my focus fully to TEC.