A/N Well...this is pretty late...
I'd like to apologize for anyone that's been awaiting chapters...but it probably won't change for the next few months. I'm actually tempted be on hiatus for the rest of the year but decided I probably shouldn't (I could squeeze out a couple of chapters here and there...)
Yeah, I'm busy due to school...I should probably study more but I can't bring myself to do so...
Anyway, you might as well get reading since you've waited a while anyway... (By the way, am i the only one who thinks recent followers have it lucky since they get a new chapter almost right away?)
~Chapter 10 - SEAL MASTERS
"So how was it?" Sarutobi asked as this year's jounin senseis lines up before him. Honestly he expected most if not all of them would fail, but lowering the graduation level gave each student more chances and those that were good enough to pass wouldn't be held back.
"Team 1, failed." Shikaku announced.
"Same here." echoed all the other jounins except for one. They all had matching, bored expressions and wanted to be back on the field fighting for their village as soon as possible. So they chose to stare at their comrade who had yet to voice his opinions.
"Team 7, passed." Hizashi spoke with a smile in his voice.
"You didn't go easy on them, right?" the Nara asked with a hint of disbelief.
"I didn't." They could tell he wasn't going to elaborate unless they continued to ask.
"Who did you have?" Chouza asked.
"Umino Iruka and Uchiha Miyu." Hizashi answered.
"Don't forget Uzumaki!" Kushina called, "Or Namikaze." She added as an afterthought.
"I know Iruka's from an average ninja family but that Miyu kid…" Shikaku thought back, "She's the one Minato discovered right? The amnesiac that became Rookie of the Year."
"They must be fairly skilled." A nameless jounin wondered.
"I think so at least." Hizashi confirmed. "They managed to past my test after all."
"And what was your test?" Inoichi inquired curiously.
"A simple spar."
"Then they must have showed enough team work to pass." Someone added.
"Oh, and then some," Hizashi clarified, "They managed to get a couple of good hits in after all." He lifted up part of his clothing to show the bruise on the side of his abdomen."
"One of the managed to hit you?" Chouza voiced with slight disbelief.
"They both did." He wasn't ashamed at all. In fact he was proud they manage to get him, even if he hadn't been fighting at his best.
"Of course they would!" Kushina shouted proudly, "Miyu's already got the basics down pat and I'm guessing Iruka has as well."
"Hm." The Hokage sat back thoughtfully, listening to the discussion in front of him. "Well, it seems that despite what we thought we have a couple of newbie genin." His words ended whatever the others wished to say, "That's all there is to it. Feel free to leave, you're dismissed, you probably want to get back to your families." The Hokage allowed them to return while Hizashi stayed in his office. "Is there something else you wanted to talk about, Hizashi-san?"
"Hai, Hokage-sama," The Hyuga confirmed, "Today I spared with my genin and noticed, with the Byakugan, that Miyu seems to have some unnatural chakra. Though both she and Iruka have high levels for academy graduates her chakra coils seems reinforced in preparation for something I can only guess about and for some reason their seems to be a foreign chakra source around her stomach. To make it more confusing her partner, that fox, also has quite a developed chakra system and its chakra is similar to the foreign one within her." Sarutobi took a moment to think. Konoha's newest resident was still a mystery even after 2 months.
"I've had reports from her time at the hospital and it seems she has some sort of seal on her stomach." The Hokage informed, "We don't know anything about the ninja that brought her up other than their assumed efficiency, and what you've told me is interesting and unusual. I've already called Jiraiya back to look at the seal, which might the reason for her altered coils."
"Seals really can do about anything." Hizashi added wryly. Sarutobi gave him a rather sad smile.
"I'll relay the information you've given to Jiraiya and once he figures out the seal I'll tell you the result. But for now I assume what you saw wasn't bad?"
"It's more of an advantage," Hizashi explained, "like having a spare store of chakra for Miyu. And if that fox could learn to perform jutsu… they would become very powerful."
"I agree." Sarutobi said, "But until Jiraiya comes we can't be sure of what has caused the anomaly in her chakra system."
"Could Minato possible check the seal?" The Hyuga suggested. Sarutobi seemed to be struck with a realization.
"I had completely forgotten about his skills," The old man berated himself, "I vaguely remember asking him but it seems like we both forgot with everything happening. Bear!" An Anbu popped into the room right beside Hizashi.
"Hai, Hokage-sama?" The rather bulky ninja asked.
"Get Minato Namikaze for me." With a single nod the ninja disappeared. "I'll get him to do it right now, and then Jiraiya can give his opinion after."
"So what did you need me for?" Miyu questioned, tilting her head to the side.
"Ah, Minato-sensei said to go buy you a graduation gift." A monotonous voice responded, "Rin was supposed to come as well but she's needed at the hospital.
"Aren't these things meant to be a surprise?" The blonde chirped, skipping around the silver haired boy.
"I have no idea what you'd want so I'll just pay for anything you decide to buy." Kakashi responded with a shrug. He was honestly surprised that she and her teammate had passed the actual exam. He eyed the girl curiously, not noticing the pair of red eyes that in turn, watched him.
"…Anything?" The girl said quietly. The prodigy jounin nodded, albeit warily as he observed her mood change. "Then…"
"Wah~!" Miyu looked around the store in wonder, "Isn't this awesome Kurama?" The orange fox nodded in agreement. The shop was one of Konoha's main arms supplies, run by Tenten's family if she remembered correctly. It was fairly large with weapons lining the walls along with armour and other ninja tools lying on tables and shelves.
Be careful Miyu. Kurama warned as he saw the girl bounce around the store filled with pointy objects. Kakashi absentmindedly browsed the selection of shuriken nearby while also keeping an eye out for any dangers.
"Hrm? Customers?" A very tall and muscled man asked. He had to duck slightly as he came into the main part of the shop from a small doorway behind the desk.
"Ah, Higurashi-san, good afternoon." Kakashi greeted politely.
"So, what brings you here today Kakashi?" The man asked, "And who's the girl you brought with you?" He pointed to the girl who was examining the smaller blades quietly. Every now and then she would turn to the fox by her side, as if asking for advice.
"I'm just here to pay for anything she selects." He shrugged, "A graduation gift."
"Graduation?" She looked a little young, after all he heard most of the academy students were pretty much set to fail.
"She looks familiar... is this Minato's niece?" The store owner asked, thinking back to one of his particularly chatty customers.
"Yes." Meanwhile Miyu had taken to examining blades and swords, trying to find one to her liking.
"What are you looking for?" Kakashi asked walking over to her with Higurashi in tow.
"I thought a katana would be nice but I'm a little too short right now," She commented with a wry smile, "So I decided to take a look at the tantos."
"Is there anything specific you want?" Higurashi asked curiously.
"Maybe a Kanmuri-otoshi." Miyu replied, completely focused on the different weapons. Kakashi blinked at the uncommon word, especially for one not in the blacksmith industry. He turned to Higurashi for an explanation.
"It's a type of tanto, medium sized with a single edge and flat back." Higurashi replied thoughtfully, "The girl knows her stuff. Tell me a bit more of what you're looking for." He encouraged with an interested look.
"For now I just wanted something to practice with. Otherwise I'd probably be asking for chakra conductive metal." She answered simply. Beyond the shelves of weapons she could see a back room with a semi-refined strip of metal sitting on it. She would recognize it anywhere, even if it had not yet become a blade. She sighed and vaguely detailed her wants. Kakashi hadn't missed the longing in her eyes and turned to look at what had caught her attention. Surprisingly enough to him, it was one of Higurashi's current projects.
"Then this should do for now." The gruff man dropped a handful of tantos into her arms and the silver-haired boy briefly wondered what he had missed, and more importantly, how many she had ordered.
"Arigatou!" Miyu chirped with a bright smile.
"You're welcome." The owner smiled back, hoping he would soon be getting another faithful and interesting customer, "Now go find someone to teach you and make my store famous!" He laughed heartily at her determined salute before watching the girl dash out of the store. "Now," He turned to Kakashi who had stood by watching, "You said you would be paying?"
"H-hai." He pulled out the money, thankful Minato seemed fond of doting on his niece, and payed the high expenses. "If you don't mind me asking, what are you making at the moment?" He asked, indicating to the work bench.
"Oh, a tanto." Higurashi answered, "A Kanmuri-otoshi just like the ones the girl had asked for. Chakra conducting metal and all."
"Really?" He wouldn't dwell on the thought too much but wondered if the girl's stare was something more…
"Hm, it's more of a trail than anything else. I've decided on trying something a bit new but at the rate I'm going it won't be done anytime soon."
"Ah." He stored the information away for whenever he might need it.
"What's with the sudden interest?" The man asked, "You finally feel like getting another weapon? I mean shuriken and kunai are nice an all but it's always nice to have something to fall back on."
"No, I was just curious." He stated monotonously.
"If this is about your father's tanto I won't be able to fix it. Not unless I can fine the same material." His tone was sombre, a broken weapon, more accurately one he had forged, hit him hard.
"I expected as much." Kakashi sighed.
"Welcome home…" Itachi curiously eyed the four tantos his sister had strapped to her waist, three on the left and one slightly longer one on the right side.
"Sorry if I made you wait," She said ruffling his hair, "I got a little caught up."
"It's fine." He stated stoically, "Uzumaki-san and Namikaze-san are present and waiting for you in the kitchen." The boy informed.
"Ah, really? I wonder why?" Kurama, too lazy too even walk, had already jumped into Itachi's small arms, "It seems that training session we were going to have will have to wait." Walking into the house she was greeted by Kushina's fierce hug and Minato's sheepish expression
"It's been too long!" Kushina whined.
"I saw you this afternoon, Kushina-nee." Miyu responded in a muffled voice.
"Don't suffocate my only daughter." Mikoto called with a light chuckle. Reluctantly, Kushina obliged and detached herself.
"Are you here for a specific reason?" Miyu wondered.
"Ah, yeah." Minato was the one to reply, "The Hokage reminded me that I have yet to look at your seal and said it would be in my best interest to check it before I forgot again."
"Seal?" Heads turned to see Fugaku standing at the doorway, "What do you mean?"
"In the hospital report there was a mention of seal on her abdomen." The blond jounin replied informatively.
"And? What does it do?" The Uchiha head pressed.
"That's what I'm supposed to find out." The blond gave him a small glare. He turned back to the girl, "I hope you don't mind."
"…not at all." She resigned herself to her approaching fate.
It seems something like this was unavoidable. Kurama commented calmly, obviously having thought about the situation before. You can't actually stop him. But the seal doesn't exist right now since it was created by him. The arrangement will undoubtedly confuse him, though he isn't a seal master for nothing so he'll eventually figure it out… Then what?! He gave the animal equivalent of a shrug, not reassuring her in the least. Meanwhile, Minato took her stiff form as fear.
"I promise it won't hurt." He said softly, "I just need to look at the pattern." She shifted nervously on the spot. It wasn't like she could hide it since the nurse and thus the hospital knew about it. In the end the blue eyed girl nodded reluctantly, lifting her shirt up just enough for him to see the seal. In an instant he had brush in hand as he quickly copied down the pattern. His calligraphy was flawless and each of his strokes were done elegantly. "And that's it." He finished with a final flick of his brush. Miyu let her shirt fall back down as the blond began to analyse the seal. "It looks familiar, but I'm certain I've never seen anything as complex as this." He muttered under his breath. The others in the room peered closer but had little chance of recognising the patterns of ink. It was only Kushina's widening eyes that caught her attention.
"This…!" Her voice was low and almost inaudible.
You know, apparently Minato based the Hakke no Fuin off the seal Kushina had. The fox explained, if that is so, then it wouldn't be strange for her to recognize it… Miyu couldn't do anything else than sit back and watch. It seemed that they were destined to decipher the seal, and if that was the case, she was fairly sure she could come up with a lie more believable than time travelling and a second Kyuubi. Then again she could always plead ignorance.
"Do you recognize it?" Minato looked back eagerly.
"But it can't be…"
"Can't be what?" Mikoto asked, she hadn't been worried initially, but her friend's reaction told her something was wrong.
"That's a classic Uzumaki sealing technique. It looks like it was modified to strengthen and fortify it, I'm not sure what else but…" Kushina trailed off again.
"But?" The Namikaze pressed. She sighed and spoke quietly, only meant for his ears.
"Sealing a demon…You must remember the Shisho Fuin." Kurama picked up her words and relayed it back to his partner.
They know. He added, not much, but enough. Miyu seemed to notice the worried glances Minato seemed to be shooting her while Kushina tried to unravel the mystery of the seal.
"So why did you call me here again?" A kimono clad man with long, spiky, white hair tapped his foot impatiently waiting for a reply. "I have my networks to maintain, y'know?"
"My apologies, Jiraiya," Sarutobi apologized, "It was a moment of senility on my part. I still can't believe I forgot about Minato… but still, it would probably be best for you to hear about the findings." The Hokage advised.
"What exactly was it?" He asked curiously as he was handed a parchment with the neatly copied seal on it. His brow furrowed as he tried to analyse the deceptively simple looking design.
"I received that from Minato not long ago. He rushed it to me as soon as he could along with some concerning information." The elderly man sighed tiredly. "You've heard about the young girl we found a not long ago who turned out to be his niece correct?"
"Yeah, found with impossible injuries, heals without a scar, has a pet fox and is apparently of Uchiha and Uzumaki blood." Jiraiya listed off. He had yet to meet her and would have to make time to do so.
"The very same one," Sarutobi confirmed, "That seal was found on her abdomen."
"It looks familiar…kind of like the Uzumaki seals." The sage commented, "What exactly does it do?"
"You're right when you say it's similar to an Uzumaki seal, more specifically the Shisho Fuin Kushina has." He paused letting his last sentence sink in.
"The seal used for the nine tailed fox?" he kept his tone serious and narrowed his eyes. Looking closely he could pick out different elements here and there. It seemed to be a double of the preceding seal with the purpose at being twice as efficient at sealing something away and allowing access to it. Sarutobi nodded grimly in response. "And what exactly does it do? Has Konoha somehow managed to get its hands on another Jinchuriki?" It was unlikely since his spies had accounted for all the existing tailed beasts, but nothing was ever impossible.
"It's a strange thing," His old teacher began, "As far as I know she doesn't have a tailed beast sealed in her. Instead the seal seems to house a large amount of foreign chakra. That is, a very large amount," He stressed, "It also links her to her fox possibly giving the animal the ability to perform jutsu but we have yet to test that particular theory out." Jiraiya noted down the facts, making the girl more and more fascinating to him.
"Can I meet her?" He asked, "Or do you need me back out on the field?"
"I think the meeting can wait," Sarutobi decided, "Right now I have an important scroll I need delivered to Amegakure."
"I'll finally be able to see those three again then, huh?" Jiraiya smiled lightly, "The alliance will definitely help us out, though I wonder what's in it for them?"
"We can only wonder, but during this war I'll take any help that's offered." The Hokage handed over the precious document which the sage accepted with a brief nod before jumping out of the window and disappearing from sight.
1 month later – Dark alleyway within Konoha
"Iruka!" Miyu collapsed on the floor holding a red stain on her side. Kurama lay unmoving beside her. "Go on without me, you must finish the mission!" She coughed and the boy's eyes widened at the red that also appeared on her hand.
"But-" He stuttered clutching the important scroll to his chest.
"Sensei, stayed behind to hold them back and in this state I will only slow you down," She gritted out, "I will stay here…with Kurama." She pulled out an ominous tag. "If I see any of the enemies come pass I'll just have to take them out with me!" Iruka felt a few foolish tears slide down his face.
"I will make you both proud so please, live!" He dashed off, hearing a sudden explosion and the warmth of fire behind him. The target wasn't that far off and all he had to do was hand them the scroll. He dodged to the left, seeing a dozed shuriken strike his previous position. Pushing his legs to their limit he dashed into a small alley way as a shortcut and finally came up to the large red doors of the Hokage tower. It would be too slow to enter via the reception and he could be putting other in risk so the boy scaled the walls and jumped through the window, tumbling as he fell. Behind him came a couple of kunai, one nicking his arm and the other clattering on the floor.
"What is the meaning of this?!" The elderly leader shouted in alarm.
"Hokage-sama," Iruka panted, "I've brought the scroll." He quickly passed it to Sarutobi who opened it warily.
"Team 7, has successfully completed their mission," He read aloud with growing irritation, "Signed Mr Fujimoto. If I remember correctly you were just weeding his garden… how did this happen." He gestured to the messy state Iruka was in, cut up in a couple of places and wearing torn and singed clothes.
"W-well…" The boy fidgeted under his unwavering gaze.
"I can explain that, Hokage-sama," Hizashi appeared in perfect condition, a smoky and red-stained Miyu at his side. That was quite fun. The fox yipped in her mind while climbing up to her shoulders.
"Good job Iruka!" She praised.
"Back to the point," Hizashi cleared his throat, "We've already had a month of missions and they were getting a little bored, so why not turn these D-ranks into harder missions with different scenarios? I wasn't really sure what we could do with weeding a garden so I made the trip back here a mission for Iruka. The scenario was that I stayed back to hold off the enemy, who were after the scroll, whole Miyu and Iruka escaped. From there I played the enemy and sent projectiles at them from a range of different directions. Miyu then played the comrade who falls in the line of duty and chooses to die taking as many down as she can with her. Then Iruka, distraught with the loss of his team must strive to reach his objective, you Hokage-sama."
"You're a really good actor, Iruka," Miyu complimented, "For a moment when we were talking you almost convinced me that I was actually dying."
"Ah it's nothing," The boy accepted modestly.
"Will it be like this every time?" The Hokage sighed, looking at the mess in his office. The three nodded seriously in reply, "You've worked hard and turned in 46 D-ranks during this month I think I can let you off with a couple of C-ranks now and then, so please don't panic the citizens with your antics."
"Hai Hokage-sama." Hizashi replied.
"And that," their sensei said proudly as they entered training ground 7, "Is how you get higher ranked missions."
"By threatening to throw civilians into panic?" Iruka wondered, "Why couldn't we just ask?"
"Where would the fun be in that?" Miyu answered, "Plus Jiji must have been getting bored with all the paperwork. We were a good break." Her team had already come to understand that her nicknames where some sort of sign of respect, though watching a young girl disrespect the most powerful ninja in the village, right to his face was still nerve-wracking.
"It looks like we might be getting higher ranked missions from tomorrow onwards but for now let's train." Hizashi walked the two to a small river that cut through the grounds. "Iruka, you'll be continuing where we left of yesterday, and Miyu, you'll be sparing with me." The brunette muttered unhappily and stripped to his boxers revealing a fit young body. He had been working on trying to gain muscle mass but as a child it was a slow process. He had already gotten rid of any embarrassment he felt between his team and took an unsteady step on top of the water. Once he got to the middle Kurama jumped and landed neatly on his head, before pawing and trying to distract the poor boy. Meanwhile his owner had already begun exchanging strikes with her teacher. It was probably for the best that her teacher specialised in taijutsu seeing as it was one of the things she struggled the most in.
"Hah!" She executed a revamped version of the Konoha Senpuu, launching a high kick then a low spinning kick and then following through with a round house kick. Her teacher fended them all off and returned with a couple well aimed strikes she barely dodged. The sparring you do with the Hyuga has helped regained sense of your body, the fox said while sitting on Iruka's head. His tail swished back and forth before the boy's nose, so now you should endeavour to push yourself further. Taijutsu was never one of your strong points.
"Ah-AHCHOO!" Iruka's sneeze was followed by a loud splash as he fell in. Kurama yipped his laughter out, staying on the surface by his own skill.
"Pay attention Miyu," Hizashi caught her in a moment of distraction and sent her sprawling onto the ground. "If you weren't a kunoichi I'd have qualms about injuring such a cute girl, but…" He sighed dramatically. She had never known him in her time but here Miyu knew Hizashi to be somewhat out of the norm for a Hyuga.
"It's fine, as a ninja I'm expecting to get a few battle scars anyway," She smiled almost in longing. Back in her old time no matter how many battles she had gone through her body was never marred, a fact which left her surprisingly saddened. Though they were her enemies, she had faced off against good ninja, and she thought it was an insult towards them if her body didn't show the damage done. She placed her hand over her heart, remembering the only scar she received.
"Has anyone told you that you're a strange girl?" Her sensei rubbed the back of his head and helped her up before going to check on his other student. Iruka had his face scrunched up in concentration as he jumped up and down, staying above the water this time.
"Yeah, a couple." Kurama snickered in her mind while walking up to meet them.
"Right," Hizashi clapped his hands for their attention, "Iruka, take a small break. You'll be sparing with Miyu next." The boy looked torn between cheering and groaning. He could finally get off the early winter-chilled water, but at the sake of some bad bruising from a younger girl. He stayed indecisive as he walked off the river and redressed himself watching Miyu in the middle of some stretches before deciding to do some as well. Hizashi couldn't have been happier as he watched his two students. They learned fast, didn't act like brats and respected him. Even if the Hokage had forced him to take on students at least he could say teaching them was a joy. "Alright then," He had their attention almost immediately and smiled lightly at the kids, "Let's hurry and start sparring. Then we'll work on more chakra control and finally jutsus to finish up. The Hyuga indicated at a sturdy tree and both students gathered chakra in their feet before walking up. Facing each other on the vertical surface they were given the signal to begin.
A/N Thanks for reading :)
So, not sure if I've mentioned anything like this yet but, Naru, having grown till nineteen in the times of war, was very proficient at using weapons. So much so she could be counted as a weapons mistress (But specialises in a certain few and is still below Tenten's level of mastery).
In general she stays away from heavy weapons such as axes, clubs and finicky types like bows and whips. She is proficient in most forms of Bojutsu (in memory of Sarutobi Hiruzen), including three-sectioned staffs and spears. Her taijutsu is usually accompanied by a pair of jutte or tonfa and to some extent tessen.
While apprenticed under Kakashi she became skilled at the use of a Tanto and at some point in time after Shikamaru's death (...yeah, I'm gonna need a flashback of intense sadness for that...) she picked up Asuma's chakra blades and was practically a natural. After Sasuke's death she also acquired his chokuto and for a point in time it was her primary weapon after her original one (I wonder what it could be :D?) was destroyed.
She always had a fondness for swords. (Also, proficiency means she is around average with a weapon. definitely not comparable to a learned master)
Most of this won't even be relevant beside the fact she 'can' use weapons (most of the time not nearly well enough to make them available choice in a tough battle) but throughout the story she'll be picking up kenjutsu (if the four tantos weren't already an indication.)
Anyway, part of the seal has been revealed and Jiraiya's made a small appearance.
It's now around late January-early Februrary and a lot of Konoha wives are now pregnant...
Well, I'll see you readers next time...whenever that may be...