Author's note – Kishimoto Masashi owns Naruto while Guyver is written by Yoshiki Takaya.
I make no claim to either, I am merely playing in their sandboxes.
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Chapter Thirty
Letters
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The door closed behind Honoka as Hiruzen opened the scroll that he had been given. The handwriting was instantly identifiable and Hiruzen began to read.
To my old friend and adversary, Sarutobi Hiruzen
Sandaime Hokage of Konohagakure, The Professor, The God of Shinobi.
From Shimura Danzo
Shodai Uzukage of Uzushiogakure, Former Jonin of Konohagakure
Hiruzen.
It is not easy to write this, but I ask you to read it with an open mind.
For many decades, you and I have disagreed over the path that the Leaf should have taken. I saw its combat strength and the powers of its shinobi as its greatest weapons, weapons that should be used to destroy all enemies at any cost.
I now concede that I was, at least in part, mistaken.
When I first fled Konoha, I only abandoned it physically. I remained loyal to it despite my absence. I travelled to Uzushiogakure with those loyal to me and I began to rebuild it, intending to turn it into a tanto for Konoha to wield, an ally more loyal than even Sunagakure.
And in the process, I discovered that in my arrogance, I had overlooked the factors that allowed Konoha to grow to the strength it now possesses.
The discipline that I intended to impose on the inhabitants of the new Uzushiogakure would have ensured that none would wish to join. The philosophies that I followed relied on the foundation of the ninja following them being of the Great Five.
With those foundations removed, I had no choice but to rethink my own actions.
I used the old Histories to re-create Uzushiogakure. Using the philosophies of the Hirashima and Tobirama as the foundation for the village, I discovered that the end result was far different from that which I expected, but as a result, it was far more effective than I had planned for. Uzushiogakure has risen from the ashes of its fall, stronger than before. It contains many bloodline clans, most of whom fled from the Land of Water and the now-ended civil war which ravaged their forces, as well as a startling number of those who once lived in Uzushiogakure before its fall, or who are descended from those who were. As they returned, they brought with them many traditions and fragments of knowledge that have helped to strengthen the village to the point that we can now hold off an attack by any two of the three Great Villages not allied with Konoha. Our walls, once located half a mile inland from the shore, now rise from the ocean itself and surround the entire island, raised with doton and reinforced with fuuinjutsu. Our forces are growing by the day and I have sent the first team of genin to participate in the Chunin Exams. They have been ordered to not harm those of Konoha.
As the new Uzukage, I humbly ask that the alliance between Konohagakure and Uzushiogakure be fully reinstated with Konoha as the senior partner.
Please be aware that I make no claim on Uzumaki Naruto, even though he is the last of the Main Line of Uzumaki. He was born in Konoha to two who were Konoha ninja and thus, Konoha's claim takes precedence. His strength and power are best used directly for Konoha and I now believe that he will prove to be a sword for the leaf, whereas my policies would have kept him as a kunai, if even that.
If you wish to reply, Honoka carries a message tube. Place your reply within the tube and apply chakra to it and the message will be transported to the matching tube in my office.
Honoka has been instructed to give you the plans for the message tubes if you wish, but be aware that they are time-consuming to make and are easily broken, making them far from ideal in the field.
I await your decision.
Yours humbly.
Shimura Danzo.
Written by my own hand.
PS. Genin Team documents are enclosed in this seal – {+O+}
"Danzo…" Hiruzen whispered, "If only you could have changed before you tried to destroy the Uchiha…"
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Naruto stepped into the onsen area and grinned at Hinata's cry of "Naruto-kun!"
An instant later, he caught her out of the air, spinning to absorb the impact, then hugged her tightly.
"Welcome back." Ino said as she joined them and Naruto pulled her into the hug as well, noting how Hinata also hugged Ino, ensuring that she wasn't left out.
"Get a room, guys." Kiba laughed from the warm pool and Hinata blushed as she released her fiancee. Naruto shook his head and walked round to the washing area even as Ino and Hinata returned to the pool. Rinsing himself with water from the trough, he exited the open shed and entered the hot pool.
"Alright, introductions." Ino said with a smile. "You already know most of those here but the ones you probably don't are my other best friend and one-time rival Haruno Sakura…"
A pink-haired girl smiled and gave a small wave.
"Aburame Shino…"
The still-fully-clad spiky-haired teen sitting on a small rug beside the pools, nodded and then adjusted his sunglasses.
"And Sai."
The pale, dark-haired teen gave a smile which somehow seemed fake.
"Together with their sensei, Yuhi Kurenai, they are team eight." Ino finished with a flourish. "Sakura, Shino, Sai, this is my fiancee, Chunin Uzumaki Naruto."
"Honoured to meet you all." Naruto smiled. Sai opened his mouth and Sakura promptly caught him in a headlock with one arm while clapping her other hand over his mouth.
"Sai, I would advise against attempting to use humour at this time." Shino stated. "Naruto-san is the user of the Uzumaki Armour and as such, is capable of throwing you out of Konoha should you annoy him."
"No. Nicknames. Got it?" Sakura hissed and Sai nodded meekly. "Good."
Naruto stared at the scene, then looked round at the uninterested group. "Does that happen often?"
"Every time we work with them." Shikamaru sighed. "It's a real drag at times. He calls me bouncy, if you can believe it."
Naruto nodded, then his smile took on a slightly evil aspect.
"The chunin exams are coming up." He said, catching everyones attention. "I know that it's only been a few months for you since you lot graduated to genin, but I think at least two of the teams here will be entered…"
"We will, which is troublesome." Shikamaru sighed. "Asuma-sensei's been pushing us hard since Wave. I barely have a chance to watch the clouds any more."
"My brother was already a Jonin when he was my age." Sasuke noted. "We've been training hard, so I think that we'll be entered."
"I am uncertain." Shino stated. "I do not know if we will be entered…"
"I've been asked to help on the second stage." Naruto said before he quickly raised his hands. "Nope! Sorry, can't tell you… sorry, Hinata-hime, even your puppy-dog eyes won't budge me on this."
Hinata pouted (as cutely as she could) and Naruto smiled at her.
"Nice try."
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Hiruzen blew on the paper to finish drying the ink, then re-read what he had written.
To my old friend and comrade, Shimura Danzo
Shodai Uzukage of Uzushiogakure, Former Jonin of Konohagakure
From Sarutobi Hiruzen
Sandaime Hokage of Konohagakure, The Professor, The God of Shinobi.
Danzo.
I have received your ambassador and granted her permission to stay. I have also examined the submitted forms for your genin team and have approved their entry into the Chunin Exams. Should they pass the first two stages, we shall correspond regarding whether or not you will return to Konoha to view the third stage.
Regarding Uzushiogakure, I acknowledge and reinstate the old alliance. However, I must ask that you minimise missions within the Land of Fire until at least after the Chunin Exams, whereupon we shall negotiate the exact terms of the new treaty between the villages.
I await your response.
Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Written by my hand.
Carefully rolling up the sheet of paper, Hiruzen tied a small ribbon around it, knowing that Danzo would get the secondary message carried by the colour and the type of knot. Placing it in the drawer of his desk, Hiruzen looked round to confirm that he had dealt with the most important parts of his job, then with barely a twitch of his fingers, he vanished in a shunshin without even bothering to stand up.
The ANBU guard watching felt his eyebrows rise at the casual display of skill, then he followed his leader, leaving the office empty.
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Naruto stood on the edge of the cliff, Hinata and Ino flanking him.
"Alright." He said with a nod. "We'll do a spiralling sweep to check over the village, then meet back here. Armour on!"
Naruto leapt from the cliff edge as the sphere of energy formed around him, then he rose into the air as the other two followed his example.
"Naruto-kun, your forehead metal is glowing." Hinata noted and Naruto spun round.
"So are both of yours…"
"Hey!" Ino interrupted, "My senses are getting better, and I mean way better."
"Mine too!" Hinata agreed and Naruto blinked under his mask.
"While I was carrying Uzumaki Honoka here, she tried to scan me and my forehead metal analyzed the scans…" Naruto mused. "It used that to improve my senses… I think it's upgrading yours as well."
"Cool!" Ino chirped. "Will it boost my normal eyesight?"
Naruto shook his head and Ino sighed. "Oh well, let's go!"
Naruto fought down a chuckle as Ino darted off.
"I wonder…" Hinata mused, "Byakugan!"
Naruto cocked a mental eyebrow at Hinata's action, then she sighed, the sound distorted by the two spheres at her mouth.
"It didn't work…"
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"Lord Hokage." Honoka said with a deep bow as she was led into the office. Hiruzen nodded in reply, then held up a scroll with a ribbon wrapped three times round it in a complex knot.
"Ambassador Uzumaki." He replied. "I wish to send this letter to Shimura Danzo. I believe that you have a special tube that will send it for me?"
Honoka stroked her Obi, activating one of the storage seals woven into it and the fuuinjutsu-inscribed tube appeared in a puff of smoke. Carefully, she placed it on the edge of the desk so that Hiruzen could examine it.
"This tube will take any document and transfer it to the Message Hall in Uzushiogakure." She explined quietly. "Each pair of tubes are linked so that they can send their contents to the other one as long as the one receiving it is empty, but it does require a significant amount of chakra to accomplish, about that required for a kage bunshin."
"Fascinating." Hiruzen noted, then he motioned for Honoka to take the letter. "If you would be so kind…?"
Honoka picked up the tube and the letter. Sliding the letter into the tube, she closed the lid, then placed one hand on either end. The tube briefly glowed, the fuuinjutsu markings standing out, then a small cloud of chakra smoke leaked out.
"It is done, Lord Hokage." Honoka stated and Hiruzen raised an eyebrow.
"Fascinating."
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"Lord Uzukage, a scroll has been sent from Ambassador Honoka's message tube."
Danzo looked at the proffered scroll held in Yamanaka Fuu's hands and his breath caught as he saw the ribbon around it.
"Jonin Fuu, has anyone altered the ribbon in any way since its arrival?"
"No, Uzukage-sama." Fuu replied with a hint of curiosity in his voice. "May I ask why?"
"Because this pattern is very familiar." Danzo commented as he accepted the scroll and held it up. "Three windings… two cross-links and the knot itself… During the early days of the Third Shinobi War, a means of leaving messages on branches by using strips of fabric was developed. This particular knot was only used once that I know of, but… My old friend is giving me one last chance to prove myself. This knot is an indication that I have one more chance before I fail."
Fuu waited while Danzo used a small blade of air to slice off the ribbon before unrolling the scroll.
"Professional as always, Hiruzen-sama." Danzo finally muttered. "I shall abide by your decisions."