Author's note: Here is the next chapter of Naruto of the Noh Masks. The beginning of this chapter needed more details than I had originally intended, so I decided to split this into two chapters. I've been setting up Naruto's training for the next few weeks until we get to the Wave mission, and there is just a little more to do before I can skip ahead a bit.
Again, thank you all for your great reviews and all the feedback and positivity you've shown. I'm really happy that so many people are enjoying this story, and I'm excited to keep it going. Please continue to read and review!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or the related IP. Original characters and story elements are mine.
When Kakashi arrived at the training ground, the three genin were still silent from the recent revelation. Sakura was glancing nervously between her two male teammates. Sasuke was brooding more heavily than usual, staring into the middle distance, his mind walking again through the Uchiha District. Surprisingly, Naruto was participating in the somber silence, though he was staring at the book still held in his lap. The silver-haired jonin had to clear his throat twice before any of them noticed his arrival.
"Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura exclaimed, "I didn't see you there."
No comment on me being late today? "Alright, what happened?" he questioned.
The pink-haired kunoichi looked to Naruto again, "Um..."
"I figured out who my mother was," the blond responded, snapping the book closed. "Her name was Kushina."
Kakashi did not reply immediately. He gazed at Naruto with a strange look in his eye, as if contemplating something. Finally, he sighed, then smiled, closing his eye.
"Alright team, we're going to see the Hokage."
"What?" Sasuke asked, shaken from his reverie, "But we haven't finished the mission yet."
"True, but there is something I need to discuss with Sandaime-sama, and there's no better time than the present!" Kakashi replied, brightly. "And I have an idea for the rest of the mission."
Sakura and Naruto were equally perplexed. Was this brought on by Naruto discovering his mother's identity? If she was just a refugee from Uzushio, then what would be the problem?
Naruto stood, placing the Uzumaki genealogy into his pouch, "Alright, sensei. What's your idea for the mission? Are we gonna come back later?"
"Just make three or four shadow clones, Naruto, and have them finish the catalog. Once they are done, have one of them bring it to the mission office, and we can review it with the Hokage."
Sakura glared at her lazy sensei, "You mean we could have had Naruto's clones doing the mission work this whole time?!"
Kakashi raised his hand, stemming the tide of rage coming from his female student, "No, that would defeat the purpose of the D-rank missions. I am merely making an exception in this case, since we are almost done anyway, and I think the Hokage would be interested to know about Naruto's discovery."
Without another word, Kakashi turned and led the way back to the village proper. Naruto quickly made a single hand sign, conjuring half a dozen clones who immediately darted up the steps and into the shrine. The original Uzumaki noted the clones gave no indication of trouble getting through the barrier. The three genin hurried to catch up to their suddenly energetic sensei. Before long, Team 7 stood in the mission office reception hall, which was thankfully empty. The one-eyed Copy Ninja lead the way up to the assignment desk, instead of trailing behind his students as usual.
Iruka was the first to notice Team 7's arrival, "Kakashi-san? You haven't finished the mission already have you? You gave your interim report to the Hokage last night."
"Hokage-sama, I request a private debrief for the Uzumaki Shrine mission," Kakashi replied, curtly. "Immediately, if at all possible."
This instantly caught the attention of the other chunin at the table. They all ceased shuffling through their paperwork and stared at the Elite Jonin in shock. The Hokage met the single-eyed gaze leveled at him, but betrayed none of his thoughts. At some unseen signal, the aged Sarutobi rose, and gathering up a few papers, began leading the way toward the stairs that would take them to his office above.
"Iruka-kun, please handle the mission assignments while I am gone. If any B-Rank or higher request come in, send for Nara Shikaku."
Iruka paled, "The Jonin Commander? Very well, Hakage-sama."
The three genin looked at each other in confusion. Was all this necessary? They followed the two older ninja from the assignment hall. As they ascended the stairs, Naruto glanced back at his old sensei. Iruka was looking anxiously after him, but otherwise gave no hint that he understood what was happening either.
The Hokage's office was fairly spartan for the Head of the Village. The only furniture was a large curved desk with Konoha's symbol enameled onto the front, and a short couch off to the side. The back wall was dominated by several windows that afforded a spectacular view of the village below. A small bookshelf filled with books, scrolls, and loose paperwork sat to one side, and several stacks of books were place on and around the desk for easy reach. An easel stood in front of the widows to the left of the desk, and held a canvas used for practicing calligraphy, ink and brush on a side table nearby. The only decorations were a large painting depicting the Land of Fire and portraits of the previous Hokage, Senju Hashirama, Senju Tobirama, and Namikaze Minato.
Hiruzen sat behind his desk and leaned back, slightly, lacing his fingers in front of his chin, "Now Kakashi-kun, what did you find between last night and this morning?"
Kakashi said nothing, and went to admire the portraits of the Hokage, his previous intensity seemingly evaporated. Naruto glanced at his teammates, who both shrugged in reply.
After a moment, Kakashi spoke, though he did not turn from his examination of the pictures, "Imagine what they would say to us if they could see and hear what we have made of their dreams in their absence. It would be both amazing and terrifying, I think. Wouldn't you agree, Hokage-sama?"
Hiruzen's eyes widened and his brow crinkled in worry, even as he responded, "It would only be terrifying if we had not done our best to carry on the Will of Fire as they intended," he then made a hand sign, and touched the corner of his desk. "What did you find, Kakashi-san?" Gone was the friendly elder. Before them now sat the Professor, hailed as the God of Shinobi, and strongest of the five Kages.
Kakashi went to stand before the desk, and bowed low. Then he straitened, his eye crinkled in a smile, "It seems Naruto-kun has discovered his mother's name," and subtly slid the little finger on his right hand behind its neighbor.
The sharp-eyed Sarutobi noticed the movement, and the sudden tightness in his shoulders eased, if slightly. The three genin, confused by the bizarre exchange of words, were oblivious to the unspoken signal between the two senior ninjas.
The Hokage leaned forward and met Naruto's gaze, "I am happy you've learned her name, Naruto-kun, though I am sorry you had to find out this way," he could see the rage rapidly rising in the young blond's eyes, and hurried to attempt to cool it before more harm could be done. "Please Naruto-kun, give me a chance to explain before you ask any questions." Unfortunately, he was too late.
"You knew my mother?! You lied to me again! Why should I trust anything you have to say?" Naruto exploded.
Hiruzen winced, both at the volume and the accusations, but this was the price he would have to pay for his decisions. He noticed Kakashi was staring out the window, seemingly ignoring the scene unfolding before him, but the look of self-righteous vindication in his eye was clear. The old Hokage shot his own look of irritation at his subordinate.
"Naruto-kun, I know you are angry, and you have every right to be," Hiruzen began, "but you must understand, I had very good reasons for keeping you mother's identity a secret."
"Good reason?! GOOD REASON?!" Naruto shouted, raising his fists and taking a step forward, a flash of crimson in his eye. A heavy hand on his shoulder stopped him short, and he angrily looked up to his sensei. The remorse he saw in that one visible eye shook him from his rage enough to regain control, and he stepped back with a huff, hands returning to his side. He looked away, unable to stomach seeing one of the few people in the village he thought he could trust. His gaze fell on the canvas, which held a simple seal and several lines of calligraphy. He traced the smooth, graceful brush strokes of the seal with his eyes, and felt his rage subside a little further. As he continued to look at the seal, he thought he heard a whispered word brush across his mind. Barrier.
After a moment, he returned his blue-eyed gaze back to Hiruzen, the fire contained, but not quenched, "Fine. What reason could you have, Hokage-sama, for keeping my mother a secret from me for twelve years?" His sensei's hand squeezed his shoulder, lightly and briefly.
Sakura was trembling slightly from the tension in the room. She nervously looked between her teammate and her Hokage. She had no idea where that sudden flash of malicious intent from the normally happy-go-lucky blond had come from, but she hoped she would never see his face so twisted with rage and hatred again. Even Sasuke looked worried enough to break his stoic facade, and he kept glancing to the door as if wishing he were anywhere else. Neither of them had noticed the Sandaime raise his hand slightly when Naruto started forward, though they did see him return it to his desk when the blond turned back to him.
Hiruzen sighed deeply, rubbing the bridge of his nose, but he looked up, and met Naruto's gaze once more, "Your mother, Uzumaki Kushina, came to Konoha as a child, only nine years old, as part of a small delegation of Uzumaki at the behest of Mito-sama. She was chosen to perform a vital service for the village, one that she was best suited to. This service unfortunately also made her a target for enemies to Konoha. In fact, she was almost kidnapped three years after her arrival by a small band of ninja from Kumogakure, the Village Hidden in the Clouds. Luckily, she was rescued by a Konoha Ninja, who would later become known as the Yellow Flash."
"The Yondaime saved my mother?" Naruto looked to the portrait of his hero, the Fourth Hokage, his admiration for the man increasing.
Hiruzen nodded, "Yes, he did. However, the incident forced us to be even more secretive of your mother's identity and status within the village. It also forced us to keep any knowledge of her son secret as well, since it would have made you a target also, my boy." The old Hokage reached into his desk and withdrew his pipe, quickly stuffing it and lighting it with a small flick of fire chakra. After a few puffs, he continued his explanation, "Kushina was one of the strongest kunoichi Konoha has ever known. When she came to the village, she soon became renowned as the Red Hot-blooded Habanero, due to her fiery hair and matching temper." Hiruzen chuckled, and looked to Naruto, "She also shared a dream with you, my boy. She vowed to one day become Hokage. The first female Hokage of the Leaf Village."
Naruto beamed at the knowledge his mother shared his aspirations, but it was Sasuke who spoke up next.
"What did Naruto's mother do for the village that made her such a target?"
"She was chosen to be Mito-sama's heir to the Uzumaki Legacy in Konoha," Hiruzen replied, "a responsibility that has been passed on to you, Naruto-kun."
Sasuke looked puzzled, "You mean the shrine? But there isn't anything in there that would make anyone a target for enemy ninja, aside from maybe the masks."
"There is more to the Uzumaki Legacy than the shrine, Sasuke-kun. As Hokage, I have decreed it to be an S-Class secret, and it is to remain so until such a time as I or my successor deems Naruto-kun ready to bear it's full weight."
The two genin turned to look at their blond teammate, questioningly. Naruto swallowed hard. As he returned the Hokage's gaze, he saw him look pointedly at Naruto's navel and nod slightly. Naruto's eyes widened in shock as he understood what the Sandaime was referring to, and he was grateful his teammates had missed the gesture.
Seeing the younger ninja beginning to understand, Hiruzen cleared his throat, calling attention back to himself.
"When the Kyubi attacked, Kushina valiantly headed to the battlefield, despite being severely weakened from complications related to your birth, Naruto-kun. Her assistance proved instrumental to the Fourth Hokage's success against the beast."
Sakura gasped, "Naruto's mother helped Yondaime-sama defeat the Nine Tailed Fox?" She looked at her blond teammate in a new light. To think he was the son of such a powerful kunoichi.
"Yes, Sakura-chan," the Sandaime nodded, "she used her Adamantine Sealing Chains to erect a barrier around the fox to prevent any more of its attacks from targeting the village, and she also used her chains to bind the beast in place while the Fourth performed his final jutsu. Without her assistance, though it cost her life, the village would have suffered even greater casualties and destruction." The old Hokage bowed his head, remembering that terrible night, "Before she died, she told me your name, Naruto-kun. I have done what I could to protect you since that day, both as the heir of a great clan and ally to Konoha, and as the son of one of my dearest friends and one of the greatest women I have ever known. I am sorry that meant I had to keep your mother's identity a secret. The village was too weakened to allow the world to know who you were born to."
Silence draped over the room like a heavy blanket at the conclusion of the Hokage's words. Naruto didn't like that the Hokage had kept his mother's identity a secret from him all these years, but what was done, was done, and there was no point in dwelling on it too long. If it had meant the village was a little safer, then so be it. He would be getting more information about his mother's connection to the Kyubi, however. He'd make sure of that. After a few moments, he suddenly twitched and looked up in confusion.
Kakashi turned to him, "Naruto? Is something wrong?"
"No sensei. At least, I don't think so. My clones finished with the mission, and one of them is on the way here with the catalog," Naruto scrunched his face, not understanding where this knowledge had come from, "but how do I know that?"
"Ah," the Hokage began to chuckle, "it seems you have discovered the Shadow Clone technique's main strength," he blew a smoke ring up to the ceiling. "It was created by my sensei, Senju Tobirama-sama, as a method of scouting an area without endangering the user. When the shadow clone is dispelled, it transfers everything it has seen and learned back to the user. It's quite a brilliant technique."
Stars shone in Naruto's eyes at the discovery that he was using a jutsu created by the Second Hokage. It seemed to have more use than he had originally thought, and his prankster brain was beginning to whir with the possibilities.
Hiruzen cleared his throat, and tapped out his pipe, "Perhaps you can give me a summary of what you found while we wait for the full catalog?"
The genin regained their focus, and Sakura began the report, displaying her impressive memory with her account of the contents of the shrine. She gave brief descriptions of the tapestries and portraits within the sanctuary, as well as the stored clothing and other cultural items, before listing off the masks that hung on the wall. The Hokage listened intently, especially to the account of the masks.
"It is good to know Kichijōten-san's work survived the years of abandonment. Those are possibly the last surviving examples of pure Uzumaki jutsu in the Elemental Nations."
"You knew about Kichijōten-oba?" Naruto asked, surprised.
"Yes, mostly by reputation, though I did meet her once or twice in my time."
"What was she like?"
"She was an exceptional woman, a brilliant and talented ninja. She learned fuinjutsu from Uzumaki Ashina himself, but her application of the art in her masks was truly innovative. She was a devout perfectionist, and was constantly seeking to improve her art and discover new ways of adding to her repertoire of masks. She was also quite gregarious, and had a great love for her family and village."
Naruto nodded, recognizing many of the traits the Sandaime described from his reading of Kichijōten's journal. He wished he could have met her. Realizing that she was a contemporary of his own Hokage made him understand just how recently Uzushio had been destroyed.
"The shrine contains a small library, with a collection of journals and biographies of the Uzumaki clan," Sakura continued her recitation, "though there are also several volumes of old mission reports and other village records, a book of basic fuinjutsu by Uzumaki Ashina-sama, a scroll decribing the Uzumaki clan taijutsu style, and a book of genealogy for the Uzumaki clan."
The Third Hokage brightened, "A genealogy? I'd be most inetrested in seeing that."
Naruto pulled the book from his pouch and handed it to the Hokage, who gratefully received it. After a few moments of perusal, he let out an 'Ah' of understanding.
"I didn't realize Kushina-chan was Kichijōten-san's niece. That explains your address of her, Naruto-kun."
"Kichijōten-san is really your aunt?" Sakura questioned, surprised.
Naruto nodded, "Yeah, I noticed it when we were looking for who my parents were. Mom was the daughter of Kichijōten-oba's younger brother."
"Then it is even more fitting that you are beginning to practice with those masks, eh Naruto-kun?" Kakashi spoke up with a ruffle of the blond Uzumaki's spiky hair.
"If you are planning on taking up your aunt's legacy, you will want to begin learning sealing as soon as possible," Hiruzen added. "I don't know how she applied fuinjutsu to her masks, but I do know it was integral to their function."
Naruto rubbed the back of his head, "Yeah, I hope Ashina-jii's book can help me with that." He suddenly brightened, "Kakashi-sensei, can you teach me anything about sealing?"
Kakashi chuckled, sheepishly, "Well, I'm no fuinjutsu master, so I'm afraid I can't teach you much more then the basics."
An idea was beginning to form in the Sandaime's head, a way for him to make up for some of the pain his decisions had caused the young blond. It might also be a way for him to repay his old friend for his sacrifice. He held his peace for the moment, though, needing to work out a few details and not wanting to give the appearance of favoritism. It may be time to put out a message to a certain old toad, as well.
At that moment, Naruto looked up, "My clone just delivered the catalog to Iruka-sensei. He is bringing it up now."
"Excellent," the Sandaime replied, "please continue the summary. What is the physical condition of the shrine?"
Sasuke stepped forward this time, "The ground surrounding are overgrown with grasses and other vegetation, but would take minimal effort to restore. The structure itself is in advanced disrepair. The entrance shows extensive damage, and the walls and roof have numerous holes. Despite this, the interior is surprisingly well-preserved, showing little in the way of weather damage," he finished his portion of the report, and stepped back, coldly professional.
"That is likely due to the protection seals Mito-sama inscribed into the structure," Hiruzen mused, stroking his beard. "Did you happen to notice the condition of the seals?"
Sasuke looked perplexed, but Naruto perked up at the mention of the seals.
"Yeah! After you guys left the first day, Hinata-chan showed up to offer her help. She used this really cool eye jutsu and found the seals around the shrine," Naruto began waving his arms in excitement. "There is one by the door, but there are some scorch marks on it, like it had been burned."
The Sandaime nodded, "That sounds like the protection seals were partially overloaded, probably because of the Kyubi. I recommend that the whole structure be inspected to locate the seals and assess the damage. Were any of them operational?"
"Yeah, they put up this barrier thingy that kept Hinata-chan from getting through, but I couldn't feel it."
"That is to be expected. They are likely keyed to allow only those with Uzumaki chakra signatures through the barrier when it is active. Unfortunately we will have to wait until Konoha's seal master returns to the village to give them a proper inspection, I'm afraid they may prove beyond the capabilities of most of our ninja."
At that moment, a red light began flashing on the Hokage's desk, drawing the attention of everyone present.
"Ah, that must be Iruka-kun," the old Sarutobi reached out and touched the light, which Naruto could now see was emanating from a small seal on the corner of the desk.
A strange feeling swept over the occupants, almost like a bubble popping around them. Then the door opened, admitting the academy teacher turned administrative assistant.
"Hokage-sama, Naruto-kun's clone delivered this and asked me to bring it to you," he held out the scroll Team 7 had used for the catalog.
The Hokage stood and accepted the document, "Thank you, Iruka-kun. I think we are just about finished here. Team 7, I will enter this mission as successfully completed. Based on the description of the damages, the repairs may take longer than anticipated, especially with the other inspections that will need to be made."
The three genin and their sensei stiffened to attention as their commander came around his desk to stand before them, "I will have the catalog compared to the village records, but it seems that everything that should be there still remains. If you have any questions about what you discovered, Naruto-kun, please come and see me."
With that, the old Hokage dismissed them, and they all turned to leave.
"Oh, and Kakashi-kun," Hiruzen called as they reached the door.
The one-eyed jonin turned back.
"You are authorized to begin teaching Naruto-kun the basics of fuinjutsu, provided you do not neglect your other students. I expect a written plan for each of their development, containing individual goals and milestones for their improvement, as well as weekly reports on your progress towards those goals."
Kakashi chuckled nervously, "Yes, Hokage-sama." This is going to seriously cut into my reading time.
The impish smile from the Professor indicated that he was well aware.