Chapter 9 "Dealing with Problems"
Somewhere outside the Uchiha District
"You got any plan?" Shisui asked.
"Yes, we will inform father about the meeting first. Then I will deal with the Yashiro, Tekka and Inabi." Itachi said.
"Well then, let's go." Shisui said as both of them shunshined towards Itachi's house.
Itachi's House/Uchiha clan head's residence
Itachi and Fugaku were sitting in a room while Shisui decided to wait outside the house.
"Father, Hokage-Sama wants to talk to you tomorrow and he told me to inform you about this." Itachi said.
"Huh? Did he tell you what this is about?" Fugaku asked.
"No." Itachi said.
"Any guesses?" Fugaku asked.
"No, not at all. He just summoned me and asked me to inform you." Itachi asked.
"Okay then. I was planning to talk to him anyway." Fugaku said.
"Dinner is ready." Mikoto said from the kitchen.
"I am sorry, but I will have leave immediately. I have got another mission to do." Itachi said.
"Oh, so that is why Shisui is waiting outside." Fugaku said.
"Ahhh… Yes." Itachi nodded.
"What about the dinner?" Mikoto asked.
"I'll return around midnight; I'll have it then." Itachi said before he shunshined away.
"He is always busy. I don't think it was a good idea to let him join the ANBU." Mikoto said.
"Oh well, we can't change things now." Fugaku said.
"Yes. And why are you not on the table yet and what about you Sasuke, do you need an invitation?" Mikoto said.
"Coming." Both the father and son said in unison.
With Itachi and Shisui
Both of them were sitting on the roof of a building that was situated in the red-light area of the village. Itachi unsealed a few bottles of different colours of liquid. He then mixed them in certain proportions.
"What are we doing here of all places? Want me to remind you that you are too young for this stuff?" Shisui said before dodging a punch from Itachi.
"Shut up. We are not here for what you are thinking, you perverted bastard. Look closely to the white house on your left." Itachi said as he took out three shenbons and dipped them into the solution he just made.
"I see. They are full of energy. Only if I had a byakugan." Shisui said heavily bleeding from the nose.
"I said, look on your left, not right. And why haven't they closed the windows." Itachi said punching Shisui in the face.
"Sorry, left you say…" Shisui said wiping the blood. "Wait a minute, what are they doing here?" Shisui said looking at Yashiro, Tekka and Inabi who were just coming out from a brothel.
"Why else do you think genius?" Itachi said. "Everyone has a bad habit; all you need is to find and exploit it."
"I see. So, what are we going to do now?" Shisui asked.
"Let's follow them." Itachi said.
Soon all three of them ended up in an empty dark street, followed by Itachi and Shisui.
"Man, she was great." Yashiro said stumbling.
"I told you, didn't I?" Inabi said.
"This is our chance; you take out Yashiro and I will take the other two." Itachi said giving Shisui one of the shenbons. Both of them shot the shenbons at the same time.
"I am feeling dizzy." Tekka said before falling on the street.
"Me too." Yashiro and Inabi said in unison before they fell too.
"This is fastest drug I have." Itachi said.
"Are they dead?" Shisui asked.
"No, they are just unconscious. No lethal drug works this fast." Itachi said before unsheathing his Ninjato.
"We are doing it here?" Shisui asked.
"Not completely, I will just kill them and decapitate them small enough to be stored in a sealing scroll." Itachi said.
"Okay, you do the bloody work. I'll make sure that no one comes here, and I'll also cast a genjutsu just for safety." Shisui said before disappearing.
"Okay." Itachi said. He then stabbed them in the back of their head, killing them instantly, and then proceeded to decapitate them. After a little effort and spilling a lot of blood, he finally managed to seal them in the sealing scroll. But he also plucked out their sharingans, put them in a glass container and sealed them in a different scroll.
"What was that for?" Shisui asked.
"Just for insurance, if in a worse case, I lose my eye in a battle then I would be able to replace them." Itachi said.
"I see. And what about the blood that you have just spilled?" Shisui asked.
"You have the earth release, don't you?" Itachi asked.
"Yes." Shisui replied.
"Well then, clean it up." Itachi said picking up the scrolls.
"And what about these scrolls?" Shisui asked flipping the land where the blood was. After he was finished, the place was as good as new, and he also made sure to erase the footprints.
"We'll burn them in the forest." Itachi said.
He then took the scrolls and went to the forest where he used a fire style jutsu to burn them to ashes.
Next Day, Hokage Tower
"Did you wanted to talk to me?" Fugaku asked standing in front Hiruzen.
"Yes, have a seat." Hiruzen said.
"May I ask what is it about?" Fugaku asked.
"I have done many mistakes in my life but it's time to correct a few of them. I know that things won't be like before but still, better late than never." Hiruzen said.
"I am sorry, but I don't understand what you are saying." Fugaku said.
"I will get to business. It is about your clan, the Uchiha Clan." Hiruzen said.
"What about my clan?" Fugaku asked.
"I am going to recruit the Uchihas into the village ranks. Also, as you would have noticed earlier, and I apologize for it, I am going to call of the shinobi who are monitoring the Uchiha clan." Hiruzen said.
"That's will be very good, lord hokage. The resentment towards the village was increasing among the Uchihas but this will not only end the bitterness, but will also be a now start for all of us." Fugaku said.
"I also want your opinion on the Uchiha district. Should I dismantle it and allow the Uchihas to live freely where ever they want or shall I rebuild it somewhere between the center and the middle of the village." Hiruzen asked.
"I believe rebuilding will be a better option." Fugaku said grinning from ear to ear.
"Very well then, also from now on the Police force will not only be limited to the Uchihas." Hiruzen said.
"But why?" Fugaku asked.
"Because those who fight evil, become hated easily." Hiruzen said.
"Words aren't enough to express my gratefulness to you. Thank you very much." Fugaku said.
"There is no need to thank me, I just did what I had to." Hiruzen said. "Now, I believe you should inform your clan about the changes, while I do the necessary paperwork."
"As you say, Lord Hokage." Fugaku said before leaving.
"Aren't you getting late for the academy?" Hiruzen asked.
"I was just concerned about this matter, but I will be going now." Naruto said from behind the window. The next second, a lightning fell and he was gone.
Academy
All the students were sitting in their class waiting for their results. Iruka then entered the class carrying a bunch of checked papers.
"Alright Class, your papers have been checked and here are your results. Now-" Iruka was stopped in middle when the door opened and Naruto was standing outside.
"May I come in, sensei?" Naruto asked.
"Yes, come in. This isn't like you to come late. Something happened?" Iruka asked as Naruto took his seat beside Sasuke.
"I had some business to attend to. Sorry for interrupting you." Naruto said.
"Alright. Now the student with the highest score is Uchiha Sasuke. Please come and take your report card." Iruka said.
The whole class burst into chatter. They weren't talking about how Sasuke came first but how Naruto isn't first. By now, it was clear to the whole class that Naruto is leagues ahead them in every aspect, so they couldn't figure out how Sasuke was first. Sasuke went and took the report card with a grin on his face.
"I'm confused. How-" Sasuke said.
"Have patience. You will get your answers soon." Naruto said.
Iruka then called out the names of the rest of the students with the exception of Naruto. As the names passed, the other students started becoming desperate about Naruto's result. Finally, Iruka called out all the students, but Naruto.
"Naruto Uzumaki, you have been promoted to Gennin rank. And you have also been awarded with the title of 'Rookie of the Year'. Also, your record has surpassed Lord Fourth's, which was the highest until now. Congratulations! You can collect you award and certificate form the principal's office." Iruka said. There was pin drop silence in the class. None of the students could digest what they had just heard. It took a few minutes for the news to settle, until one of the civilian girls stood up.
"How could he become a gennin and not us?" She asked.
"It's simple, he gave the test and passed it, while you along with most of the class couldn't even perform the clone jutsu." Iruka said.
"So, you got your answers?" Naruto asked.
"Yeah. Well, congratulations on your promotion." Sasuke said.
"Thanks." Naruto said.
"Now then Naruto, go to the room 6A. Your gennin team and your Jonin sensei are waiting for you." Iruka said.
"On my way." Naruto said.
"Later then." Naruto waved at Sasuke, Ino and Sakura, and all three of them waved back at him.
Hokage Tower
Danzo barged into Hiruzen's office along with Koharu and Homura. He was visibly boiling with anger.
"What do you think you are doing Hiruzen?" Danzo shouted.
"My job, what else?" Hiruzen said.
"Why are you allowing the Uchihas into the village ranks and you are also rebuilding their district in the center of the village. You are putting the whole village in danger. Why can't you understand a simple thing and let things be as they were?" Danzo asked.
"And why haven't you discussed it with the council before taking any major decision." Homura asked.
"The council exists to advise me, not to decide my decisions. I did what I needed to do in order to maintain the peace of the village." Hiruzen said.
"And as for your answer, Danzo. If had let things loose then the village would have weakened drastically, and you know what I mean. I had let you handle the things and you created such a mess, and God knows what else have you done while I had my eyes closed. But not anymore, I am the Hokage, and I will handle both the bright and dark matters from now on. Be grateful that I am not taking over Root." Hiruzen said.
"I see. Then don't come crying to me if something bad happens." Danzo said.
"Don't worry, nothing bad will happen." Hiruzen said.
Class 6A / Academy
Two kids and a jonin were standing in the class. All other students were gone with their respective teams, but they were waiting for their third teammate to come. They saw him during the Taijutsu test, and suddenly he was declared the coolest and cutest student of this year by all the final year girls, but the boys were not too happy with this.
"Come on, how long is he gonna take?" Toji said. He had shoulder length jet black hair, and was wearing an asparagus green blouse with long sleeves, over a mesh armour and long black pants. He had tied his hie-ate on his left arm.
"Be patient, it's been just five minutes since the bell rang." Mei said. Mei Yamanaka was a member of the Yamanaka clan. She had fair skin, blue eyes, and blonde hair that reached her mid-back. She was wearing a light brown top, regular armbands, beige shorts and burgundy sandals. She had tied her hie-ate on her forehead.
"I don't get it, why is he in our team? I mean I know that he got an early promotion, but why our team?" Toji asked.
"Are you really that dense? The teams are made in such a way that the members balance each other out. Naruto-kun has passed the academy as the rookie of the year and on the other hand, you were the dead last, so you two balance each other out. And I was neither too good or too bad, so we are a balanced team." Mei said.
Suddenly, a lightning fell in the middle of the class and after the light faded out, the white-haired member of this newly formed team 7 was standing there. He was wearing the normal clothes, a full sleeve white T shirt and grey pants. He had tied his hie-ate on his forehead, but instead of the default blue colour, the cloth of his hie-ate was black.
"I am sorry for making you people wait." Naruto said.
"It's okay." Toji said.
"Alright, now that everyone is here, why don't we introduce ourselves first?" Ebisu said. He was the jonin leader of this team. But before coming here, he met Hiruzen and he somehow convinced Ebisu to give Naruto a chance to prove himself, so for now he was treating Naruto like a normal kid, ignoring his jinchuriki status.
"It's too packed here, let's take this conversation outside." Naruto said.
"Sure, let's go." Ebisu said as both him and Naruto shunshined towards to Academy training ground.
"Let's go, you don't wanna fall behind on your first day, do you?" Mei said.
"Coming." Toji said before both of them ran off too.
Academy Training Ground
"Now then, how about we start you first, Naruto?" Ebisu said.
"Sure. My name is Naruto Uzumaki, and so far, I am the last member of my clan. I like training and spending time with people I care about, and I don't know what I dislike. I have two goals in my life, one, to become the strongest being to ever exist and two, to kill a certain someone." Naruto said.
"My name is Mei Yamanaka. I like flowers and being with my friends and family, and I dislike rude and arrogant people. I want to become a good ninja like my father." Mai said.
"My name is Toji, and since I am an orphan, I don't have a last name. I like being with my friends and I also like ramen. I don't like studying. And I want to be strong enough to protect everyone I care about." Toji said.
"Alright, my name is Ebisu. I like eating Kamaboko and teaching students. I don't like cooking that involves carrots. My goal is to raise as much elite ninjas as possible." Ebisu said pushing up his sunglasses.
"There is one more thing I want to say. Since we are a team, I want to make something clear. I am the jinchuriki of Kur- I mean Kyuubi. Now then, if any of you have a problem with it, you are free to change your team." Naruto said expecting his teammates to freak out but it never happened.
"So what? I don't have a problem with it. The kyuubi is sealed inside you, but you are just a vessel. There is no point in hating you because of that." Mei said.
"I am fine with it too." Toji said.
"Well then, we will begin taking missions from tomorrow. You can go now." Ebisu said before he shunshined away.
"It was nice to meet you. I believe we will get along well." Naruto said.
"We sure will." Toji said giving a thumbs up to Naruto.
"How about we get something to eat?" Mai asked.
"Sorry, but I will be going now. I have to go somewhere else. See ya later." Naruto said before a lightning fell on him and when the light faded away, he was gone.
"That's cool. I'll make sure to ask him how to do that." Toji said.
"Yeah, I can't believe he is almost five years younger than us." Mei said.
Konoha Graveyard
This was the first time; Naruto had ever visited this place. He quickly found out his father's grave and his mother's grave was just beside it.
"Hey there, it's been about seven years since we last saw each other, though you people are six feet underground." Naruto said as he started replacing the old flowers.
"I am sorry, I never visited you in all these years. Ya know, I have become a gennin now, and I also got an early promotion and passed the academy as the rookie of the year. My first few years weren't too great, but now, it's all fine. I also made a few friends last year, and Gai sensei, Sarutobi-sensei and Kakashi-nii san have been training me since I was five. I also became friends with Kurama too, and he isn't anything like everyone thinks. He is really nice, and he also helped me very much. And it is because of him, that I am still alive." Naruto said as a drop of tear fell from his eyes.
"And today I met my team, they seemed really nice people. Also, I have killed some enemy ninjas too, and that was even before I graduated, but I did that because it was needed to be done. I haven't met Jiraiya-Sama yet, as he is out of the village ever since I heard about him. Well, that's pretty much all that happened till now." Naruto said.
"I promise that I will make you feel proud of me, mom… dad." Naruto said as he turned and started leaving. After he covered some distance, he heard a someone crying. He turned to see that a boy of around his age was crying in front of a grave. He had long hair and was wearing a full-length blue kimono.
"Was he your father?" Naruto asked as he read the name, Hizashi Hyuga, written on the grave.
"That's none of your business." The boy said as he glared at Naruto, revealing his cursed seal on his forehead.
"You must be Neji Hyuga." Naruto said.
"How do you know my name?" Neji asked.
"Bright Student's names are easily spread, and they call you the Hyuga Prodigy." Naruto said.
"And who are you?" Neji asked as he activated his byakugan.
"Naruto Uzumaki." Naruto said as Neji's heart almost skipped a beat. He had heard about Naruto and how he managed to kill a Jonin and a Chunnin, but he had never met him. But what surprised him was the name on the grave before which Naruto was praying. He had clearly heard him saying 'Dad' before the grave.
"I see. This is why I had never visited them in so many years, as this was supposed to be a secret." Naruto said.
"Is it true?" Neji asked.
"Yes. And I would appreciate it if you keep it a secret." Naruto said.
"Don't worry, I will." Neji said.
"I have heard you always spout nonsense regarding Fate this, fate that. What do you think about me now?" Naruto asked.
"It was fated for you to become powerful and strong." Neji said.
"No, I overcame my limits many times over to get here. For my age, it was impossible for me to achieve physical strength, but I did. You are holding yourself back by believing that it is your fate." Naruto said.
"No one can change one's destiny. It is sealed the moment they were born." Naruto said.
"Well, I don't completely disagree with you but if you work hard, you can alter your fate. But it is also true that those who are chosen by fate cannot be stopped." Naruto said.
"I don't believe it. It is good for philosophy, but it holds no truth. Me, my father and the whole branch family were fated to serve the main house." Neji said.
"The problem is with the system, not fate. Being a ninja clan, it would have been better to decide who will get the curse seal by a Taijutsu match, rather than deciding by birth." Naruto said.
"Yeah, but they won't do it." Neji said.
"They won't but you can. After you pass the academy, tell the Clan head about this idea, and then prove yourself. That is, if you don't keep yourself holding back because of your 'fate'." Naruto said.
"I see." Neji said.
"Well then, I shall leave now." Naruto said he used his lightning shunshin to go away.
Hokage Tower
Hiruzen was standing on the roof of the hokage tower, gazing at the village. That was until Itachi came there.
"Yashiro, Tekka and Inabi were executed last night and sealed in scroll and then burned down to ashes." Itachi said.
"Good. You & Shisui can take this week off. Both of you need some rest." Hiruzen said.
"Thank You, Hokage-Sama." Itachi said. "Can I ask something?"
"Go on." Hiruzen said.
"Why did you decided to look into the Uchiha matter? I mean you hadn't paid any attention to it until now, so why now?" Itachi asked.
"My pupil told me not to ignore it, and I realized that I was wrong all the time. That's why." Hiruzen said looking at Itachi.
"Jiraiya-Sama?" Itachi asked.
"No, my fourth pupil, Naruto Uzumaki." Hiruzen said.
"He is your pupil?! I didn't know about that, and he never told anyone about it either." Itachi said in a surprised manner.
"That's how, he is. His thought process rivals yours, Itachi." Hiruzen said.
Uzumaki Estate / Midnight
Naruto was sitting on the slope of the roof and was reading a scroll under the bright moonlight. His sharingan was glowing crimson red, but as soon as he sensed a familiar chakra, he turned them off and his blue eyes started shining again. After a few seconds, a crow flew past him followed by a dozen of more crows. All the crows then met before Naruto, and the next instant Itachi was standing before him.
"That's cool." Naruto said looking directly into the eyes of Itachi.
"Thank You, you have earned my respect, Naruto-kun. And Shisui's too." Itachi said.
"And how did I pull that off?" Naruto asked.
"You convinced Hokage-Sama to look into the Uchiha matter, and virtually saved the village form a great calamity. And you saved me from a dilemma too." Itachi said.
"So, the Uchihas were really plotting something? Lemme guess… a Coup D'état?" Naruto asked but it sounded more like a statement.
"I am amazed by your genius, Naruto-kun. My clan was plotting a Coup D'état, but Hokage-Sama acted just in time." Itachi said.
"But you don't need to thank me. I just told him what could happen if he didn't act quick." Naruto said.
"Let's leave it at that. So, are you learning a new jutsu?" Itachi asked looking at the scroll in Naruto's hand.
"No, I am working on a jutsu. An elemental jutsu. I was working on it since last year and I think it's almost done. The only thing left is to finally create it in real life, but it will about six months for me to completely master it. But when it's done, it will be a S rank Jutsu." Naruto said.
"A S Rank Jutsu?! You have to be kidding me!" Itachi asked.
"Yes. You have seen Kakashi-Nii san's Raikiri, right?" Naruto asked.
"Yeah." Itachi nodded.
"It is an S rank Jutsu itself, isn't it? Now think of a jutsu which is equally as powerful as Raikiri, but is all range & omnidirectional. That's the type of jutsu it will be." Naruto said.
"If it is possible, then it could be one of the top jutsu of Konoha. I will be waiting for you to complete it."
"I will make it possible." Naruto said.
Author's Note
This chapter really dealt with problems, first the Uchiha Clan and then Neji. And this chapter marks the end of the Academy arc, and the next two-three chapters will be about a C rank mission. And both of Naruto's teammates are OCs, because there was no one I could think of. The assassination scene was supposed to be omake, but I changed it later. Now then, don't forget to leave a review, that really motivates me.
