Chapter 11: Deals and Issues

The meetings with the Daimyo of Fire grew more and more intense as the days went on, Kaza in meetings basically all day every day as the deals were made. Not always the most friendly or good deal, but what had to happen for there to be a compromise between the young lord of a considerable amount of territory in the land of fire and one of his bosses, the Daimyo of Fire. All of the meetings were held behind closed doors between the 13-year-old ninja and the Daimyo.

The Daimyo of the Land of Fire had expected to be able to use his wisdom and experience to pull advantages against the teenager. Yet, it was far from the truth, as the kid was a challenging and tough person, his stubbornness obvious as he didn't give up on any point or place of contention. He was not one to give in ever, as his self-reliant manner of life had made him into a hard-dealing young man.

The week was mostly filled with these meetings, the day before the last day, the negotiations were finished as Kaza and the Daimyo completed the dealing between the two of them. Neither Kaza nor the Daimyo were completely happy with the deal, but it was the best they could make without forcing the other side to give up everything they would want. Kaza let out a deep sigh as he walked out and sat down, feeling the weight of the agreement.

Sitting down, he looked at the ground with a serious look on his face. He put his face in his hands as he thought about the deal he had just made. He was getting a lot from this deal, and it was the best he felt he could do. Yet, at the same time, he knew he was giving up something rather important that was affecting his future a great deal at that moment in time. He thought about how he was going to explain this to his team. He wasn't sure at all what their reaction was going to be.

"So, made a deal," Kakashi said as he looked at Kaza, curious about the deal and why Kaza seemed so down about it. "Care to share the information with me?"

"Sure," Kaza said, looking up, "I will get all the funding possible for the building of the temple complex, and I will get support from the Land of Fire for starting the work for 10 years, then it will have to be self-funding. Then I will have to find people to run it then."

"That isn't bad at all," Kakashi commented as it seemed like a good deal to him. 10 years of support was more than he would have expected. "So why the long face?"

"One year, I have one year to remain a Konoha ninja as part of the deal. Then I will have to join the reformed Fire Guardians as a member for the next 4 years, This is my part of the deal," Kaza replied, "It is fair, and even a good deal for me, just, well, it is going to be a pain in some ways, sir."

Kakashi nodded as he could tell that this was a big deal for him. "It is fine, Asuma did that, went and became a ninja guardian when he was young, it made him into the man he is today. I am sure that you will be fine, just because you're going doesn't mean that you're going to lose your friends, they will grow too, and I am sure you can visit from time to time to see them."

As the pair sat there, they were watched, by Ino, who had come to greet Kaza and check in on her crush. However, hearing that her crush would only be in Konoha for a year before having to leave for four years was not the easiest thing for her to deal with at that moment. She blinked and slipped back into the shadows that moment.

Kaza didn't see Ino as he talked to Kakashi, but Kakashi did. He knew that they would figure things out in time. Plus they were both young, and as time went on, feelings often changed and went in other directions. He figured that there was no reason for drama or stress, as the two were going to have to work through many things as they got older.

"True, I am sure it will be fine," Kaza nodded as he wanted to see the temple grounds rebuilt so much and he wanted to give his lands the recognition they deserved as well. He wanted his clan to be taken seriously too, and thus would help with that a lot. There were so many pluses in his book that he had to do this.

"Tomorrow is a celebration day, I am sure that if something happens it will be then," Kakashi commented as he wanted to make sure Kaza was on guard for any problems. Kaza nodded his head as he headed to his room to think

mostly. Kakashi looked at the youngster, he was way too old for his age. He had been forced to be an adult far before he should, then again that was life as a ninja.

Kaza walked into the room and sat down thinking about the future. He didn't do so for too long; a year was a long time to think about this. He didn't have to put too much thought into it yet. Plus, it was four years; it wasn't like he was going away for life. That was a large part of the agreement that was argued back and forth between the parties for four years, trying to get the number as low as possible.

As Kaza was getting ready to sleep, Sakura was helping her depressed friend as best as she could. "Ino," Sakura commented, knowing the truth from Ino's feelings towards Kaza, to the details of the deal. Sakura patted Ino's back, "Don't feel down Ino, you have a year to spend together right, best make this year filled with so many memories that no girl can steal him away from you, not even some princess."

Ino looked up at Sakura, her eyes filled with a mix of sadness and determination. She appreciated Sakura's support and encouragement. "You're right, Sakura," she said with a determined nod. "I won't let anyone steal him away, not without a fight. This year will be unforgettable, and I'll make sure he knows how much he means to me."

Sakura smiled at her friend's newfound resolve. "That's the spirit, Ino! And who knows, maybe by the end of that year, he'll realize how important you are to him too."

Ino couldn't help but smile back. "Thanks, Sakura. I'm lucky to have a friend like you by my side."

The next morning began with a list of activities scheduled for the afternoon and early evening, with the young ninja planning to return to Konoha the following day. During that morning, Kaza found himself under the scrutinizing gaze of Sasuke Uchiha. The Uchiha clan member approached Kaza with a proposition.

"Let's spar, Kaza. I want to see where I stand against someone like you," Sasuke declared. He was not only interested in testing his abilities but also in having a conversation with the Togusa clan member.

Without hesitation, the two of them made their way to the training grounds, both preparing for the impending battle. Sasuke took the fight seriously, as did Kaza. They were about to engage in combat, Sasuke activating his Sharingan as they squared off. Kaza swiftly sidestepped Sasuke's initial attack, following up with a counter-kick that was skillfully blocked by Sasuke.

Sasuke's curiosity got the better of him as the two exchanged blows and continued their sparring session. "How and why did you get stronger?" Sasuke inquired directly, wanting to learn more about Kaza's growth and the source of his strength.

"I wanted to become stronger to prove that my clan wasn't worthless, to establish my identity, and forge my own path as a ninja. I aimed to surpass my predecessors and prove myself," Kaza responded, his words laden with sincerity as he continued his sparring with Sasuke, their swift movements and strikes maintaining a relentless pace.

Sasuke probed further, questioning Kaza's motivation. "So, you're saying you're doing it for the sake of those who are no longer here? To earn their respect when they can't even see it?"

Kaza reflected on Sasuke's words for a moment before responding, "Perhaps. I want others to honor their names, to acknowledge the worth of my clan's legacy. And couldn't a similar argument be made for you, Sasuke? Aren't you seeking strength to honor your own fallen clan? In that respect, we do share a common goal, if nothing else." The two determined individuals found a point of commonality amid their differences.

"I have other more recent reasons too," Kaza said as he looked at Sasuke both using fireball jutsu at the same time canceling each other out. "Someone I must protect and help as much as I can."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Kaza's statement. He nodded, acknowledging the unspoken complexity behind those words.

"Sometimes, that can be the most powerful motivator," Sasuke replied cryptically, his dark eyes locking onto Kaza's. Their training session continued, but their exchange had added a layer of mutual respect and understanding between the two young ninja.

"So, does Ino know this fact?" Sasuke asked, he knew Ino wasn't fangirling over him, which was more than nice. Yet, he was curious as to while and to figure out that it had taken a few seconds during the trip. At this moment Sasuke actually hit Kaza with a strike as Kaza was thrown off guard by the mention of the blonde.

Kaza stumbled back a few steps, caught off guard by Sasuke's strike as his thoughts momentarily shifted to Ino. He quickly regained his composure and readied himself for another exchange with Sasuke.

"Ino knows, but she doesn't know the full extent," Kaza replied as they resumed their spar. "I haven't told her everything."

Sasuke continued to press the attack, his sharingan activated as he carefully observed Kaza's movements. "Why not?" he asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. "If she's important to you, shouldn't you trust her enough to tell her everything?"

Kaza blocked another of Sasuke's strikes and paused for a moment, thinking about Sasuke's question. "It's not about trust," he replied. "It's about not wanting to burden her with my problems and worries. Ino's been through a lot, and I don't want to add to her troubles. Besides, I'm not even sure how she feels about all of this."

Sasuke nodded, understanding Kaza's perspective. "Fair enough," he said, then launched into another series of attacks. The two continued to spar, their movements fluid and precise, their thoughts on their respective paths and the people they cared about.

"I get it," Sasuke said between strikes. "We all have our reasons for becoming stronger. But sometimes, it's okay to lean on others. You don't have to carry everything on your own."

Kaza parried one of Sasuke's attacks and replied, "Yeah, I guess you're right. Maybe it's time I talk to Ino about this. She's been a great friend, and she deserves to know."

Sasuke nodded, showing approval of Kaza's decision. Their spar continued, each strike and dodge reinforcing the respect between them as they shared their thoughts and concerns. The fact that most of what Kaza said could be turned on him, wasn't lost on Sasuke either.

As the match came to an end. The two went their separate ways, the genius of the genius clan, and the failure of the failure clan. Two men from such different backgrounds, had more in common than either would have ever guessed on the surface.