April 2nd - 11 years after the nine-tails attacked - Tanzaku Town
Nearly three years have passed since Kimimaro joined the gang. A lot of things have changed but just as many remained the same.
Let's start with our newest protagonist shall we. Kimimaro grew as a character. He was still a quiet boy who rarely talked and really polite but he most certainly lost his shyness. Instead he became really blunt, calmly pointing things out.
But he also grew up as Shinobi. With two sannin and another jonin leveled kunoichi, the young Kaguya proved himself to be a talented aspiring shinobi. A true prodigy you might call him. He definitely focused on his bloodline and how to use it in combination with taijutsu and kenjutsu.
Haku also grew by a great amount. Her talent for medical ninjutsu was astonishing, it also helped having the greatest medic to teach you. Despite not being a genin yet, she already was better than most trained medics were. Tsunade was sure that one day the Yuki would become an even greater medic than her.
But if there is one thing where student and teacher differ from one another, then it was at the combat skill. Haku had little talent for taijutsu, her true calling lay with her bloodline. Ice-Release was one of the stronger elemental bloodlines in the nations and the girl had a great amount of talent for it.
Personality wise Haku isn't really different from three years ago. She is still soft spoken, polite and loves teasing her friends. And she is incredibly kind. In fact she is so kind that Jiraiya kinda believes her to be too kind for a kunoichi. Oh and she has a crush on Naruto, who in turn is kinda oblivious to it.
Now onto the young Senju Heir. According to Sarutobi, he was without a doubt the most gifted upcoming shinobi the wise old Hokage ever met. And that comes from a man who saw the likes of Orochimaru, Minato Namikaze, Kakashi Hatake and the now traitor Itachi Uchiha growing up. Naruto was talented in taijutsu. He was a natural in kenjutsu but that was not really surprising considering his Uzumaki blood.
But he excelled in two certain shinobi areas. Ninjutsu and fuinjutsu. It was expected of course. Naruto showed at an early age how gifted he was in ninjutsu. His water-transformation was already second to none in the Land of Fire. Truly impressing considering he wasn't even a true shinobi yet. His Wood-Release was still in its infancy in terms of usability in battle, but he could completely control it.
Now fuinjutsu requires a lot of patience and theory. Now you might wonder how a hyperactive child like Naruto could excel in it. Well he is an Uzumaki and books about sealing where the only one's, Naruto showed interest in. Aside from a certain book his sensei wrote years ago. Simply put Naruto was a natural in seals, just as it was expected from him.
His personality didn't really change. He was still a highly energetic, kind hearted kid. The only difference was that Naruto sometimes would behave and think like a true Hokage would do, especially during sparring sessions. The reason for that was quite simple. The Kyubi.
On his tenth birthday his sensei along with his grandma and grandpa Hokage decided it was time for him to learn about his burden. They told him everything, including his great great grandmother and mother being his predecessors. At first he was shocked and hurt. How could his father sacrifice him? How could he seal something like the Kyubi inside of him?
But after a long talk with the old man Hokage, he could understand why his father did it. His father put the protection and future of the village above everything else, like any other leader would. He didn't need to like it, but he understood his decision. At least he had his family, filling him with love like his grandmother Mito said was needed for someone like him. His friends didn't care either. He was Naruto and no one else.
Currently we find the three children in the town of Tanzaku. They were currently dressed in simple festival kimonos, with Naruto wearing a dark orange one, Haku a pink one and Kimimaro a plain white one. It was the annual celebration of the beginning of the current ruling dynasty in the land.
The children are attending the festival for the second time in a row. They're caretakers where currently in a restaurant, Jiraiya and Tsunade were drinking to the good old times with Shizune scolding her teacher for drinking too much. This left the three to enjoy the festival. It would probably be the last one they would attend as children since they would move to Konoha at the end of August to attend the last year of the academy.
They were currently enjoying themselves with some cotton candy. Additionally Haku also has a medium sized plush fox tucked under her arm. "You know I should have decided for that toad Haku," Naruto said. He won the toy for her at a Kunai throwing stand and nearly had enough points for a big plush toad but Haku insisted on the fox.
"Nah it's okay Naruto. Thank you for winning it for me," Haku happily answered. Naruto won that toy just for her. She could easily have won it for herself, but it was the thought that counted, "besides, the fox reminds me of you," she shyly finished.
Seeing Naruto blushing at her comment, Kimimaro asked himself 'Why are they acting so weirdly around each other?' He couldn't understand why Haku didn't just tell him her feelings, or why Naruto couldn't read her feelings. But there was something catching his attention so he stopped.
"What is it Kimimaro?" Naruto asked his voice and turned his gaze towards the direction Kimimaro looked. He saw a bearded middle aged man with dark red short hair and a ponytail on the top of his head. He wore a magenta kimono shirt with simple shinobi pants in the same color. The man was currently sitting behind a small desk, a shogi board on it and a cup of sake in the other. He was staring at the three with an inviting smile. "Good evening younglings. Care for a match of Shogi?"
The three looked at each other and shrugged. They already visited all the stands, so why shouldn't they kill some time. Besides both Naruto and Kimimaro loved playing Shogi. So they accepted. Naruto sat opposed to the man with his friends flanking him.
As they began the man introduced himself "My name is Roshi, pleasure to meet you."
"I'm Naruto." "Haku, nice to meet you." "Kimimaro," came the reply from the younger ones.
"No surname?" Roshi asked. "You didn't give one either," came the reply from Naruto. Roshi just chuckled at his response. "You're not bad at shogi."
"Thanks," came the reply from Naruto, "you're not bad either." "I hope so. I have played this game for nearly 40 years now. I must say for being so young, you're quite gifted. You must be a talented young shinobi."
"How did you know that he is being trained to be a shinobi?" a surprised Haku asked. Both of her friends wanted to know the answer as well.
"Simple. You just told me," a smiling Roshi answered to the children who just looked at him in shock. "I guessed because of the way he played like one. Your white haired friend being a Kaguya didn't help either."
"You know that I'm from that clan?" the normally stoic boy was surprised.
"Your marks are a dead giveaway to any shinobi." "You're a shinobi too?" a surprised Naruto asked.
"Maybe. Maybe I'm not. Let me give you some advise. A shinobi should never let his guard down, especially around strangers. You never knew who could be your enemy."
Naruto just nodded. It was true after all. His friends and he just completely dropped their guard around him. He had a kind aura around him and they foolishly trusted him.
"But don't worry I have no desire to harm you. It would probably be a bad idea harming the lost son of the Yondaime in this country," Roshi told them.
While Kimimaro and Haku especially let the shook show on their faces, Naruto schooled his emotions. 'He knows who I am. How?'
"While it is an honor to be compared to the yellow flash, I'm nothing more than an orphan," came the calm answer of Naruto. Reading Tobirama's journal really helped him to control his emotions.
"You don't need to lie about this Naruto. You look like a mini version of your father. I should be able to recognize you. After all we fought on different sides of the war."
"You fought the yellow flash? You're not from Konoha?" Naruto asked with worry. This is bad. He might be from Iwa and if the Tsuchikage would get the knowledge of his existence, another war could be started.
"We're not going to let you harm him," Kimimaro forcefully started while standing up, ready to defend his friend. Haku doing the same, ready to summon Katsuya to let Tsunade-Sensei know that they were in trouble.
"Relax children. Like I said I'm not going to hurt him. His secret is safe with me," Roshi calmly replied. "Stand down guys," Naruto told his friends. The two looked at each other and sat down again as Naruto and Roshi continued their game.
"You've got some good friends, kid," the older man told them while staring at the stuffed fox, "people like us need them." "People like us?"
"Yeah we are the same. Just with a little difference. I am an ape," Roshi continued and Naruto looked confused, "and you are a fox."
"I don't know what you are talking about old man," came the hasty reply from the blond. 'How does he know about the fox?'
"Oh. I'm sorry. I guess the Yondaime is truly the strongest shinobi of all time. To defeat a tailed beast and actually kill it. Truly impressive," Roshi knowingly answered, "You know people with that burden are in need to find a way to control it. I left my village over ten years ago to find a way. There are only two ways. One is to fully accept yourself. It's easier than the other option, as you need to become one with the world, foregoing all worldly desires."
"And the other way?" came the curious reply from Naruto.
"It's the harder but better way for sure. It's from the first person who carried our burden Naruto. Do you know about Mito Uzumaki, she was the first Jinchuriki of the nine-tailed fox and wife of Hashirama Senju. After the first Hokage gave the Bijuus away, his wife made sure to tell the other Kage's what a Jinchuriki needed. They have to be filled with…"
"Love. I know that. Don't worry about that Roshi. I have my grandmother, grandfather, sister, brother and sensei who love me," Naruto answered.
"And he has us," Haku chipped him hugging his arm, while Kimimaro just nodded.
"That's very good to know," Roshi replied. "Looks like I won. You play this game very good young Namikaze. Sadly I have to leave now, but I look forward to playing again."
"As do I, old man. But next time I will defeat you," Naruto confidently answered.
"Will you now?" the man answered while standing up, "Say what is your dream young one?"
"I'm going to become Hokage one day. The greatest one of them all. Just believe it," Naruto stated with full conviction while looking towards the sky.
"Big dreams you got there. I will be rooting for you Naruto. But please promise me one thing," after seeing the blonde nod he continued, "once you are Hokage, please create a world of peace. So that people like us aren't needed anymore." With that Roshi bid his farewell and let the children think about his last words.
A few minutes later
We're now with the toad sage Jiraiya, who stood in a park near the bar Tsunade, Shizune and him were visiting. He tried to clear his mind. Even after all those years Tsunade didn't learn when it was enough. He failed to notice a certain stranger approaching him.
"Even after all these years you don't know when to quit. You set a bad example you know."
"Roshi?" the sage asked, "what are you doing here?"
"Traveling throught the world Jiraiya. Always on the move like you," came the reply of the bearded man, "I must say that you are truly a great teacher. Your student is a great shogi player, you must be proud of the young Namikaze."
"You met Naruto?" asked a worried Jiraiya. This was bad. Although Roshi was an old friend of his, they met around ten years ago by accident and bonded over alcohol and women, he was still an Iwa shinobi. Roshi fought Minato and was still somewhat loyal to Iwa.
"Don't worry Jiraiya. Like I said to Naruto, I'm not planning to hurt him. His secret is safe with me. After all we Jinchuriki have to stick together in times like these."
"So you know," it was more of a statement than a question.
"Yeah you confirmed it to me. Now I know why those three were so laid back around me. You always were to carefree," Roshi scolded the sannin, who just sheepishly chuckled. "Fear not. His secret is well guarded. It is believable your former student found a way to kill a tailed beast. If his female friend didn't have her toy, I wouldn't have suspected it."
"That's good. The last thing we need is a war now," answered Jiraiya, now completely calm. He trusted Roshi to keep his word. He was a good man in his books. "Say why don't we go back to the bar and have a drink?"
"Don't you have enough now?" Roshi asked with humor in his voice. "I'm sorry old friend. I need to get on the road and alcohol would just hinder my progress. I've been here for too long already."
"Did you encounter them yet?"
"Not yet. But I heard rumors of people wearing that outfit being in the Land of Grass. Thank you for the warning Jiraiya."
"Of course old friend. Take care of yourself, don't want to hear getting captured."
Roshi didn't answer him. He just nodded goodbye and took his leave. Although he stopped and said over his shoulder "Take care of the boy Jiraiya. Would be a shame if he was captured. Take advantage of the fact that no one knows about him being a container," with that being said, the shinobi from Iwa took his leave, leaving the sannin stunned.
'You truly have a gift with people Naruto. You are the Child of Prophecy, I'm sure of it.'
AN: And that's a wrap for the last chapter of Naruto living outside of Konoha. Next chapter will include the arrival in Konoha.
I wanted Naruto to meet up with Jinchuriki to plant the seed of his greater dream. With everything we know of Roshi, he could have been a friend of Jiraiya. Who knows? When I look at him I see a wise man who accepted his faith and tries to give advice to younger people.
So thank you once again for reading and stay tuned for the next chapter.