"Tell me, where did you acquire such an arm?" Lisa asked. In her hands was Naruto's prosthetic arm, detached from her shoulder stump. "This prosthetic is unique, I've never seen the design before."
Naruto, instead of being reluctant or embarrassed to show off her own creation, smiled and answered, "I made it myself!"
"And how? I don't see how a child, and no offence, an orphan could obtain the materials and tools required for forging."
Naruto's smile morphed into nervousness, and subconsciously her hand rubbed the back of her neck. She was not going to apologize for what she did to get those materials, but admitting that she stole was going to get her into big trouble. Anyone who has been a little kid would know they don't like getting into trouble.
"Your stole them, didn't you? And you haven't been caught? Don't look surprised, you're just a child, I can read you easily; I have been a ninja for at least a decade you know."
An uncomfortable silence fell over them, threatening to end any relations they might have gained through their short time talking.
Lisa sighed, "Don't worry, I won't turn you in. Shino would never forgive me if I did. But understand, the Hokage will find out when he talks to you- in the hospital tomorrow."
"Now, let's get you dried up."
Naruto sat on the edge of the examination table waiting uncomfortably as the doctor, a woman by the name of Ginouuma Inoue, poked and prodded her right side. The dull white paint and antiseptic did nothing to calm her nerves for her first hospital visit, and therefore her first physical. This physical was different of course, if the doctor checking for infection of a missing arm didn't give it away.
This visit was necessary, Naruto would admit that, but it wasn't entirely voluntary on her part. Lisa and Shibi had to track her down just so they could carry her to her appointment (Shino was at his cousin's house). Then they had to stop her from sneaking out multiple times as they waited for the doctor. Only when Naruto's eyes start getting heavy did they breath a sigh of relief and let their guards down.
That was when the doctor walked in and woke her up. Now that it was happening, it wasn't too bad, her mind had a chance to clear any irrational fears of the doctor she might have had. The young child would never tell anyone that those fears came from a book. A very terrifying book about doctors chopping their patients up.
It was an old book and the title was blotted out, and it was told in a spectacular first person.
"Alright, no infections. You'll have to stay overnight for monitoring of any other problems, but in the morning you'll be released," Dr. Inoue said. She left the room with a clipboard and addressed the two ninja waiting outside. It was of note that she kept a sneer from arranging itself on her face.
Hiruzen, the third Hokage, had a straight and stern face as he walked through the hospital and to the room he knew Naruto was in. This morning, if someone had asked, he would have said it would be a great day. Now, as he checked through the possible injuries that could put the nine tailed jinchuriki in the hospital, he would say it was the opposite of a good day.
As he turned a corner, he saw the Aburame clan patriarch and matriarch talking to Naruto's doctor, a doctor he assigned to her himself. When the three saw his regal form approach they bowed, deeply at the waist, and then righted themselves to wait for him to speak.
The first words out of his mouth were, "What happened to Naruto?"
The doctor straightened, preening in front of the village leader, and spoke, "Well, you'll have to see for yourself, Lord Third. The girl is...physically okay, aside from an arm, and she's fine mentally as far as I can tell. I'm not an expert in psychology, it never interested me. I'm just really good at reading my patient's eyes, and hers told me a lot."
Hiruzen nodded and said, "Thank you Dr. Inoue, get back to your other patients for now and I'll get you if I need anything." Dr. Inoue nodded and left down the hall. Hiruzen turned to the two Aburame, "You two...how did you find out about this?"
Shibi shook his head and answered, "I had nothing to do with it. My wife found out last night while she was helping Naruto clean up for dinner."
Hiruzen rose a brow, "And what was Naruto doing at your house, if you don't mind me asking?"
Lisa's face scrunched up in confusion. Hadn't the Hokage known of her son's friendship with her? He was close with Naruto, last she remembered. Her confusion must have been present in her voice as she asked, "Don't you know? Shino and Naruto have been friends for a while now, and Shino wanted to invite her over."
The hokage let out a resigned sigh, if he was allowed to smoke in a hospital his lungs would be full with smoke and his tobacco addiction placated for the moment. "I'm afraid I've been busy lately, so much that my contact with Naruto is an occasional hello. In the past few months I've seen her...I don't know, maybe as much as I can count on my fingers."
Lisa's confusion went away, and was replaced with a mild sadness, and then understanding. The leader of a village was always busy, and sometimes they had to make sacrifices for their village, be it family or relation/friendships. If someone could not handle this then they simply wouldn't be the leader anymore.
Hiruzen steeled himself and turned to the door. Naruto was tugging her shirt back on as the white clad ninja entered and so didn't notice his presence right away. He strolled right on up to a chair and sat down, drawing the attention of the cheek-scarred girl.
When her mind registered who her guest was, she had already thrown herself forward to give him a hug. She grinned and laughed cheerily for the person she hadn't seen in forever. Her cheer leeched onto Hiruzen as he let spill out grateful chuckles.
The old man peeled the joyful ball of energy off of himself and sat her on his lap, noting that she had her hair in a ponytail. Tentatively, he reached his hand out above Naruto's right shoulder stump, the air suddenly took on a sad undertone as a realization came to light. She had an arm there before, it was her dominant arm, and he cursed himself for not noticing before. That's the burden of being Hokage, though, not having time to spend for those they care about.
Suddenly, Naruto's face fell, her smile that shined light turned into a depressing sadness. "I-I'm not going to be a ninja, am I?"
Hiruzen was expecting that question, but the answer was still being fought over in his head. On one hand Naruto could get seriously hurt, or even worse, die. On the other hand, she had been above plenty of people in rank at the academy with physical exercise. He did not want to break her heart and he feared his decision would do just that.
"Lord Third, if I may," Shibi said. At Hiruzen's nod he continued, "Naruto has talent, as a ninja and… as a blacksmith."
Hiruzen rose a brow, and Naruto's head snapped around to Shibi.
"How so? No offence but I am sure Naruto does not have access to any such thing."
Shibi directed his attention to a prosthetic. Next to him, Lisa said, "Naruto made this arm herself. She learned through observation how to forge and created her own technique. I and Shibi will vouch for Naruto to stay in the ninja academy."
Hiruzen glanced at Shibi, who imperceptibly nodded his way. Closing his eyes, the old ninja made a quick decision. It may be a mistake, it may not, but at least this way no one is unhappy.
"Alright," Hiruzen said. Leaving out the question of where Naruto got the materials on purpose.
Naruto smiled a bright smile and exclaimed, "Thank you old man! I won't make you regret it. I'll make a new arm in no time, so you won't have to worry anymore!"
At her statement, the three adults grew confused. The third Hokage spoke up first to ask what she meant.
"What do you mean 'make a new arm'?"
Naruto blushed and grinned at the same time. She answered the question as if she had rehearsed it. She replied, "I only learned how to forge because I wanted an arm that could strike against a sword! After that, I realized that being able to manipulate metals would be useful, like it is in cameras. So if I can make metal move to what my nerves tell them, then I can make a new arm."
The adults were shocked, but not a hint of this showed in their expressions.
Naruto's grin stayed present as she answered their questions to the best of her ability. Every time they got an answer, they realized their decision to keep her in the academy was getting more and more justified. Naruto's mind would create many useful inventions that would benefit the village as a whole, if she could make them come to life. Therefore keeping her from becoming a ninja at this point would be a bad move.
A while later, somewhere at the edge of the village and near the gates a scream was muffled. A drunken villager's life was snuffed out, not just any villager either. He was a prominent merchant that imported goods from countries like Snow or Iron. He was a good man, he had five kids and a beautiful wife.
The man with pitch black irises above him sneered as he pulled away. The man was an Uchiha of chunin rank, with a particular reputation for jealousy and greed. He was a loyal ninja to the Uchiha clan, and master at seducing.
"You shouldn't go around killing people without reason, our coup might be found out," a young voice said behind him.
"Itachi? Whatever, he was drunk and would've died by the Uchiha's hands anyway," he justified himself.
Itachi narrowed his eyes. He was contemplating doing something about this, but held back and saved it for his report to the Hokage. Instead, he moved on past his fellow Uchiha and slowly turned into a run out of the village. He had a mission to complete.
The man watched after him for a moment before disappearing in a shunshin.
Shisui knelt on one knee in front of the Hokage and his advisers. He hated doing this without Itachi, but this was the only way for things to be settled peacefully.
"Koatsukami? Are you sure Shisui? Placing a genjutsu over your entire clan will be hard," Hiruzen said. He placed his wood pipe in between his lips.
"Yes, this is the only way to get the clan to back out."
"Fine. Think about it, you can back out whenever. If so I can still hopefully come up with negotiations."
"Thank you, Lord Hokage," Shisui bowed, recognising a dismissal. He left the tower and walked the streets, watching kids play and adults laugh. He could only smile as he thought about keeping this peace.
He knew the pain of losing his family, it was how he got the Mangekyo Sharingan after all. He did not want that to fall onto the innocent people of his village. He would make sure they did not know the horrors of a civil war.
When he reached the park he jumped into a tree. In his watch were children playing, occasionally having fits and parents laughing along with their young kids. The sun was lowering on the horizon, creating a mix of shadow and light.
Shisui's eyes suddenly snapped to the direction of a whistle in the air. His eyes glowed red and he was throwing himself backwards to dodge a mix of shuriken and kunai in the blink of an eye. He landed on the ground and looked up to his previous spot. An Anbu member stood on the branch.
The Uchiha glanced at the park and returned his gaze to the man with a glare. Shisui inquired with a growl in his voice, "What is this about?"
The masked man's only reply was to draw more weapons.
Steal being drawn from its scabbard indicated Shisui drawing his ninjato. The master of the Sharingan counted his opponents, four in total. They each were Anbu, so all of them had skills equal to that of an experienced chunin or higher.
Shisui hurled himself upwards, sword swinging in for a feint to the man's side. The mask clad ninja dodged to the side and let himself fall off the branch. Shisui turned his head and grinned mid air, his foot pushed off the branch and he was barreling deeper into the forest. He weaved through higher and lower branches and side to side, the sharp objects flying behind him missing by hair's length.
His goal was to get to a clearing up ahead, one not used hardly ever. To his sides he saw the enemy move to flank him. This is bad, he thought. His next leap pushed him faster forward, trying to keep his lead. It did not help, as the cloaked men sped up as well.
Mid way to his destination, a blur of actions happened that spelled devastation for the 'strongest' Uchiha.
The masked men suddenly changed direction. Shisui, who was mid air, had little time to raise his sword to block a pincer attack. His momentum caused his feet to move forward and his back to level with the ground. His opponents were able to push themselves to two separate branches. While they had the high ground he had to brace himself for a fall that would surely leave a bruise.
As soon as he hit the ground he had no time to recover, he had to flip forward onto his feet and then make several backflips as kunai tried to cut into his body from above. He swerved around to the cover of a tree. He grit his teeth as the pain in his back burned and caused him to lean against the bark of the tree. Taking a breath, Shisui straightened and raised his sword, and suddenly he dove out of cover. Flames burned in an arc, the origin was his sword, and through the air it hurled to the cloaked men.
Their cloaks rustled as they flipped backwards, landing on the ground and letting the fire jutsu pass overhead. When their attention was back on Shisui, they saw him morphing his hands into different symbols: they were tiger, ram, monkey, boar, horse and finally tiger. Once again the two had to get out of dodge as a fireball tore through the ground and exploded against a tree.
The fire did not persist, lucky for the Anbu team because they were told not to leave a trace of their existence.
Shisui drew his sword again and started leaping in another direction. Immediately on his trail were the other two ninja, throwing kunai with explosive notes. The explosions were small but left a lot of damage and Shisui did not want to get hit by one of those. His sharingan helped him maneuver around obstacles and any explosive notes that landed near him.
'I need to end this!' Shisui thought. He leaned on a branch and spun around, catching his pursuers by surprise. He managed to clip one on the shoulder and the other on a leg in quick succession. With his face set he prepare the move that gave him his moniker.
Before the Anbu could blink he had blurred behind them, bringing his ninjato into a cut horizontally across their backs. Blood leaked as they fell silently to the forest floor below. Shisui watched for a moment, catching his breath. In his lapse, he didn't have any time to dodge the single kunai that embedded itself in his shoulder.
"Damn," he said, yanking it out and letting his blood spill.
It was too late that he noticed the purple gas oozing from the handle. A cloud of the gas suddenly exploded, surrounding Shisui for just a moment, long enough for him to breath in a significant amount in his surprise.
The two masked men ignored their incapacitated comrades in favor of watching where their target would appear from. The smell of burning air filled their nostrils and both snapped around to see Shisui with a burning sword arcing to slash open the Anbu members' guts. However, his movements were sluggish and both were able to dodge without even a scratch.
The man on the left, more lean, rushed forward. His fist made contact with the Uchiha's forearm as he blocked it. Without pause the lean Anbu pushed his knee into Shisui's stomach, then got low and swept his knees out from under him. Shisui landed on the ground with a wheeze, the poison in his system kept him in a daze.
As he struggled to get up, the previously incapacitated members Anbu joined in surrounding him.
He looked up as a deep, old voice spoke, "Shisui, do you really think koatsukami would work?"
Shisui spat, a gross mixture of blood and spit. He responded, "I should have known it was you, Danzo. So these are members of the Foundation."
Danzo ignored him and said, "Those eyes are powerful. Their abilities should not be wasted on the Uchiha clan. Now answer my question."
"It would not be a waste! This would bring peace between my clan and the village!"
"That would only be temporary. Your eyes, indeed, can replace and create memories. But what happens when the Uchiha clan notices how they are treated? They would repeat what they are doing now, in an endless cycle. Your clan needs to be eradicated to keep the peace. All of their eyes should belong to me or someone capable of using them. Unlike you."
Shisui growled, "I will not let that happen!"
"I'm afraid you don't have a choice."
Two things happened at once. First, Danzo charged forward with his hand ready to knife Shisui. Next, Shisui, seeing as he was surrounded and poisoned, used his most defensive technique: Susanoo.
Before the green shroud could fully form, Danzo's hand had wrapped itself around Shisui's left eye. With a short tug and a leap backward the bandaged old man escaped in time to not get hit by a large, glowing green spear. Shisui gave a cry of pain and reached at his eye socket, feeling nothing but blood and empty space.
"Get his other eye," Danzo said. The old man turned around and walked away with the eye in hand. "Then kill him."
Shisui growled and prepared to fight.
A week later, the village was in a sort of frenzy. With Shisui being found dead, that made him the twentieth person. The twentieth person that has been murdered. The citizens, ninja and civilian alike were worried, and wondering what was going on. The Police Force had yet to issue a statement and the Hokage wasn't exactly vocal about it either.
Naruto was not aware of any of this though, and for that matter none of the other kids knew. They could feel the adult's tension though and that made them worry even when they didn't know what for.
After her visit to the hospital the old man made her put her prosthetic arm in a cast, to give the appearance of a broken arm. She hated lying to Shino, but the Hokage had told her not to tell anyone. In fact, Iruka was the only other one that knew besides the three in the hospital room that day.
The very first sparring matches were this week, and she was still required to spar or risk getting zeroes and therefore lowering her grade and class ranking. Shino said he would not try to strike her arm, and anyone who did would have to answer to his bugs. He didn't say it quietly though, and the other kids heard him. They did not want an insect crawling over them, so they each decided not to strike her arm.
Naruto was snapped out of her thoughts as Iruka called her name. She went into the ring and briefly wondered who her opponent would be. Her wonder did not last long as Sasuke confidently strode onto the mat. She didn't like the look he gave her, the one all the adults did, with eyes that looked down upon her.
"Alright, now give the sign of friendship," Iruka looked between the two. Naruto nodded and held her hand in half a ram seal. Sasuke, reluctantly, put his hand into the same sign.
Iruka nodded before shouting, "Begin." As he did so he threw his arm down.
The two students engaged in unexperienced taijutsu. Their forms were good, but they hardly knew what to do with them. Iruka could tell that Naruto was going to lose, not because of a broken arm, but because Sasuke was faster to block and did not pull any punches. In other words he was not against hitting others. Naruto on the other hand was not used to hurting others and did not have the right intent in her punches for them to be that effective.
Sasuke threw out his leg, tripping his female opponent. Before she could recover, he was on top of her and holding his fist so close to her nose they brushed against each other.
"Winner, Sasuke!" Iruka called. Behind him cheers were heard from a few girls.
Instead of moving, both of them sat and stared at the other. His eyes, Naruto thought, why are they looking down on me like everyone else?
She does not deserve to be a ninja, Sasuke thought, she is too weak.
Iruka sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose, "You two, make the reconciliation sign and move out of the ring."
"No," Sasuke said.
"Never!" Naruto, red with anger, said.
Sasuke pissed her off, and she wouldn't let him one up her again.
"Knock it off! Both of you make the sign or you fail today's lesson!" Iruka's face was red as he yelled at them. He should have known their personalities would clash that much, if not that then it would be because Sasuke was an Uchiha.
Naruto grumbled angrily and pushed him off. She dusted imaginary dirt away from her clothes and begrudgingly held her hand to Sasuke. Sasuke took the hand, silently but his glare said a thousand things. They shook and turned, not sparing another glance to each other as they left the ring.
Shino placed his hand on Naruto's shoulder, "Relax, he gets everyone mad."
Naruto nodded at the comforting hand, "I know… I just hate the way he looked down upon me like everyone else!"
Sasuke was instantly surrounded by a few girls, all giving him compliments. And while he would deny it all day, his ego was also inflated. Like other members of his clan, he loved the attention from being the best.
Iruka called up the next students, still red and his voice irritated. The rest of the day went on like normal, nothing out of place immediately noticeable. The students studied, outside since it was such a nice day, with Iruka overlooking them and making sure no fights would occur due to grudges of the losers. Which was common among emotional children who were just learning how to fight.
The teachers had no one idea of the two people watching from beyond the fence, spying and collecting information.
Thanks for reading. And for those who have favorited and reviewed, thanks for staying with this story despite the slow updates and admittedly short chapters. This chapter was long, so I had to cut some things out and I am saving that for next chapter. A lot is going to happen next chapter and I am sad that I won't make Naruto overpowered, but I do not want to do that in this story.
Here is a 4,000 word chapter, not including this note.
To the poll, it is extended to end on chapter seven, and here are the current results:
8 Insect
3 for Bird and Made up Creature
And 2 for Bear, Bat, and None