AN: Sorry for the long delay with this chapter. I really struggled with deciding what to do with it. I hope you all like the direction it goes. All the set-up for Naruto's training is done, so the after this there will be a timeskip to the beginning of the Wave arc. I really appreciate your patience and all the reviews I've gotten. They have really helped keep me motivated to write this story. Without further ado, here is the next chapter of Naruto of the Noh Masks.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or the related IP. Original characters and story elements are mine.
Naruto made his way back to the Uzumaki shrine, his thoughts dwelling on what he had learned about his mother, particularly that she had some connection to the Kyubi. What that connection was, though, he wasn't sure. He had approached the Hokage before leaving the mission office about getting the rest of his questions answered, and had agreed to meet with him later that night. Naruto had considered telling the Sandaime about the hidden basement beneath the shrine, but since he didn't seem to know about it already, it was likely that the other Konoha Uzumaki had kept it a secret. After learning how much had been kept from him for all these years, Naruto was hesitant to fully trust the Hokage with his clan's legacy.
His team had all gone their separate ways after they left the mission office. Kakashi had dismissed them, claiming he needed to work on the new training plans. Sasuke had gone back to the Uchiha district to practice his own techniques, with Sakura chasing after him trying to entice him to go on a date with her. Naruto had briefly thought to offer to go out with her himself, but his heart just hadn't been in it for the past few days. He wanted some time to process all that had been revealed since he had found the shrine. For over twelve years, he had believed he was a nobody. An orphan who had to fight tooth and nail for nearly everything he had, even the right to exist. Now, within the span of four days he had learned he came from a clan that predated the ninja villages themselves. He was distantly related to two hokages, and his mother had been chosen to inherit the Uzumaki Legacy in Konoha, which had something to do with the Kyubi that he now held sealed within him. His aunt was a powerful kunoichi who had earned the respect of the God of Shinobi himself, and her techniques had been preserved for over two decades and where now within his possession.
He wanted to make his family proud, even if he would never know them. Ever since he had discovered the shrine, he had felt a connection to his ancestors stronger than almost anything else he had ever experienced. He would be the best shinobi he could be, and he would be Hokage, to show the world that the Uzumaki would not fade into history so easily.
He soon arrived back at the shrine, the heat of the afternoon tempered by the cool breeze that danced among the grass. The old structure still sagged in the center of the clearing, though the evidence of the frequent visitations over the last few days lent it a small vestige of life. As he crossed the threshold, he paused to focus on the feeling still present from his first discovery of the place. The wave of warmth, of welcome, of home once again washed over him, and he basked in its comforting embrace. Instead of heading down to the basement, he stopped in front of the mask display.
They appeared to stare down at him expectantly. The light cast from the work lights lent each mask a unique expression, seemingly ranging from gentle benediction and curiosity, to arrogant appraisal. They gave the impression of bated breath, as if waiting for some signal. The air in the shrine shared the tension, and all was still, waiting to see which way the dice would fall.
Naruto's face hardened with resolve. This shrine was the last legacy of his clan. Their final bastion against extinction. And until he found other survivors, it fell to him to keep as much of his heritage alive as he could. The masks before him and the secret techniques held securely below were the links to an identity he had craved for as long as he could remember. He would master every jutsu in the shrine, even if it took the rest of his life. The Hokage wanted him to 'be ready to shoulder the burden' of his heritage? He would surpass all expectations, for his clan and for himself. A mischievous smile slowly spread across his face. And he had the perfect jutsu to help him accomplish his goal.
Naruto quickly made the cross-shaped hand sign of his favorite jutsu. A spike of chakra, and fifty shadow clones sprang into being. The original blond strode in front of them like a general commanding his troops.
"Alright guys, we have a lot to master if we are going to live up to the Uzumaki name!" He reached into his pouch and pulled out the taijutsu scroll, handing it to one of the front most clones, "I want ten of you to go through these kata like Bushier-Brows-sensei showed us this morning."
The clone with the scroll saluted, "Hai, Boss!" and lead the requested clones outside to begin.
Naruto turned to the remaining bunshin, "Ten of you each pick a mask and see what it does. Spar with each other, get a feel for the masks' abilities. Twenty of you head downstairs. Half start going through the basic jutsu scrolls while the others work on the hijutsu. The rest of you start cleaning this place up. We can't do much to repair it yet, but we can at least get the dirt and dust out. I'm going to start going through Ashina-jiji's sealing books."
A chorus of agreement answered the original's orders and the clones dispersed to their assigned tasks. Naruto followed the largest group downstairs, but instead of heading to the library, he went to the study. He sat himself at the workbench, pulled out The Ancient Art of Sealing and began to read.
Fuinjutsu is the oldest art of ninshu. It was first practiced by Otsutsuki Hagoromo, the Sage of the Six Paths. In the beginning, it was used to help shape and direct the flow of chakra to produce the effects of jutsu. Each brush stroke, each line and symbol, combine to create the instructions that exert the user's will on their own chakra, and the chakra of the world around them.
Consider the farmer's field. In order to flourish, the crops must be watered and tended. A nearby river provides the water, and the farmer removes pests and weeds, ensuring the crops grow and yield their fruit. The farmer irrigates his land through use of a system of canals, directing the water to where it is most needed in his field. A jutsu is like the crops, the water is the chakra reserves of the ninja performing the jutsu. Pests and weeds are the lack of control and discipline the ninja must overcome to perform the jutsu correctly.
From the beginning, The Sage taught symbols to use in focusing the mind and sharpening the will. These symbols direct the flow of chakra to where it is needed to produce the jutsu effects, just as canals direct the flow of water to thirsty plants. If the crops receive too much water, they drown and rot in the field. Likewise, if a ninja pours too much chakra into a technique, the jutsu fails, and chakra is wasted. If pests and weeds are allowed to overrun the field, the crops choke and wither. Thus it is with jutsu when a ninja is distracted or lacks the necessary will and control over his chakra to shape it properly.
Naruto paused. He'd never heard ninjutsu and chakra described in such a way. But the metaphor made sense, especially when he thought about all he had to do to take care of his plant, Ukki-san. He had always been told that chakra was a ninja's power, so it followed that if he wanted his jutsu to be more powerful, he needed to pour as much chakra as he could into each technique. Even when he'd tried to hold back, though, his chakra was just too wild. It often felt like he was trying to fill a spoon with a geyser. Naruto grimaced. It seemed Iruka-sensei was right, he did need to improve his control.
Fuinjutsu represents all of these qualities in their most pure form. Control and practice are required to make the kanji and other symbols that make up a seal accurately enough to produce the desired effect. Once one is able to accurately produce the symbols, however, very little is outside the realm of possibility. Fuinjutsu, being the precursor to ninjutsu, can produce any effect created by modern hand signs. Furthermore, much of what makes Fuinjutsu so powerful, and its masters so feared, are the effects that have not yet been replicated using the limited hand signs available. Sealing and summoning items, energy, chakra, even the Great Beasts is only accomplished through the use of Fuinjutsu. To the creative mind, Fuinjutsu opens the door to near-unlimited possibilities.
Naruto continued to read, losing track of the time, until he felt a memory from one of his clones outside. He smiled, and left the study, taking the book with him. He bounded up the stairs and emerged into the library just as a small figure was entering from the main shrine.
"Hinata-chan!"
The young Hyuga jumped at his sudden appearance, and a blush quickly bloomed on her cheeks.
"H-hello... Naruto-kun," she nearly whispered. "Have you...finished the...the catalog?"
Naruto nodded rapidly, making Hinata's neck twinge in sympathy, "Yeah, we finished it this morning, but guess what! I found out who my mother is!"
Hinata gasped, her hand flying to her mouth, "Naruto-kun, that's wonderful!"
"Yeah, her name was Kushina, and she was super strong! She even helped the Yondaime defeat the Kyubi by using the Adamantine Chains we read about last night!"
Hinata looked puzzled, cocking her head the same way that had caught the blond's attention two nights ago, "Why wasn't she mentioned in our history class? Someone who helped the Fourth Hokage in such an important battle should be well-known to everyone."
Too late, Naruto recognized his slip. He couldn't tell her that his mother's name was hidden because of her connection to the Kyubi without revealing his own burden. He knew his friend was smart enough to start asking some questions that he wasn't ready to answer yet. What was it the Sandaime had said?
The orange-clad ninja chuckled, nervously, "Uh, the Hokage mentioned something about the 'Uzumaki Legacy in Konoha' making her a target, so they had to keep her name secret. Old Man Hokage even said that some enemy ninja had tried to kidnap her when she was our age, but that the Fourth rescued her."
Something about this situation seemed odd to Hinata, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. After a moment, she returned her attention to the young blond before her.
"What about your father? Did you find out who he was?"
Naruto shook his head, "No, he probably wasn't an Uzumaki, so his name isn't in the genealogy book. The Hokage didn't mention him, either."
Hinata's brow furrowed. There were too many missing pieces to see the whole picture, but there was definitely something still being hidden from Naruto. At that moment, three of Naruto's clones entered the library carrying some old clothes and began picking up the debris and cleaning as much of the dust and dirt as they could, reminding Hinata of her original question.
"Naruto-kun...when did you learn to make solid clones? And why are some sparring outside?"
The blond beamed, "That's my Shadow Clone Jutsu! I learned it the night I graduated. The Hokage said the Nidaime created it for scouting, and anything the clones learn gets transferred back to me when they disappear. I thought if I had a bunch of them practicing jutsu, it would be like I was training too. I've got more downstairs."
Naruto led them to the basement training area where Hinata saw the rest of the clones hard at work practicing jutsu. Most of them appeared to be having little success, and there were several curses and shouts of frustration. Curious, Hinata activated her Byakugan and watched. One clone poured far too much chakra into the technique and the jutsu backfired in an explosion large enough to dispel the clone and knock the two nearest to the ground, disrupting their own attempts.
"U-um, Naruto-kun...it looks like your clones are...are using too much chakra. They are overloading the jutsu."
"Huh, you can tell that with your Byakugan? It sounds like what Ashina-jiji was talking about in his book."
Naruto showed her the passage he had been reading from the basic sealing book, "The problem I have though is how do I improve my control? I'm no good at the academy exercises."
Naruto watched his friend think for a moment, "Oh! I saw a chakra control technique on one of the scrolls in the library!"
"You did? That's great! Maybe it will have something that will help."
The pair headed to the library, where Hinata scanned the racks for the correct scroll. After a few moments, she pulled one from the shelf, and handed it to her blond companion. Naruto unrolled the scroll and spread it out on the table, and the two looked over the explanations it held.
Many of the exercises were similar to what they'd been taught in the academy. It described sticking flower petals to various parts of the body using only chakra, balancing razor sharp kunai on the fingertips coated in chakra to prevent injury, but one stood out as unique.
"This one says to...visualize moving chakra throughout your...body like a current of water," Hinata noted, "I haven't heard of that...before."
Naruto nodded, then pointed at the diagram next to the description, "What is this about? Some kind of dance?"
Hinata shook her head, though the figures depicted did appear to be dancing, but the description clarified what they were supposed to be, "N-no, I think... I think it is an exercise...to help visualize your chakra moving. It also has breathing exercises and...meditation. There is an advanced version...as well. You have to spin chakra a-around different...tenketsu on your body." Hinata was surprised by the advanced stages of the exercise. Gathering and shaping that much chakra to one spot was no easy feat.
"How are we supposed to know if our chakra is moving right?" Naruto asked.
Hinata shrugged, "Perhaps...perhaps you are supposed to feel it..."
Naruto thought for a moment, brow furrowed. His eyes brightened as he got an idea.
"Hey! Could you use your Byakigan to see if our chakra is moving?"
The shy Hyuga hesitated, but nodded.
"Would you be able to train with me, then? I can show you the taijutsu I'm learning with Bushier Brows-sensei too!"
Hinata's heart skipped a beat. Naruto asked to train with her. It was more than she could have ever hoped for. She grew dizzy at the thought of spending so much time with Naruto, and her vision began to go black at the edges. She managed a faint whisper, however, "Hai, I'd... I'd like that."
Naruto jumped forward, wrapping his friend in a tight embrace, lifting her from her feet in his excitement, "That's great, HInata-chan! Thank you so much! We are going to be the strongest ninja in the village! Hinata-chan? What happened, are you ok? Hinata!"
Several hours later, Naruto was making his way through the darkened village towards the Hokage Tower for his meeting with the Sandaime. The rest of the afternoon had been spent training with Hinata, once the girl had awoken from her fainting spell. Naruto had been worried that she was sick, and had almost taken her to the hospital, but she regained consciousness in time to assure him that she was fine. Still, he had insisted that she rest for a little while to recover, and he used the opportunity to show her the kata and the taijutsu scroll he'd been working on with Guy that morning. She looked thoughtful at his explanation of circular footwork, and had watched him closely as he perform the kata.
When they decided to call it a day, it was Naruto's turn to lose consciousness as he dispelled all of his remaining clones at once. The sudden backlash of information had been overwhelming, but he had quickly awoken with many hours of accumulated memory and a massive headache to accompany it. Hinata had seemed genuinely concerned for him, which had again surprised him, but after his own assurances, she had left to return home while he headed back toward the center of the village.
All these thoughts occupied his attention durring the trek back to meet with the Hokage, and before he realized it, Naruto found himself once again standing in front of the Professor in his office.
Hiruzen carefully filled and lit his pipe, taking a few slow puffs as he prepared himself for what lay ahead. He reactivated the seal on his desk, and once again the feeling of pressure settled over the room. A pair of smoke rings danced toward the ceiling, then he lowered his gaze to the impatient blond, "Very well, Naruto-kun. I believe you have more questions for me. I will try to answer them the best that I may."
Naruto suppressed a flash if irritation at the suggestion that he still may not get all the information he wanted, but pressed on regardless, "You mentioned the 'Uzumaki Legacy in Konoha' earlier today, and indicated it had something to do with the furball. What is that, and what does it have to do with my mother?"
The Third Hokage sighed, "Yes, I figured you'd want to know that. Since it is just the two of us, I can be a little more clear with my explanation."
He set his pipe down for a moment, and leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk, "The fox demon sealed within you, Naruto-kun, makes you what is called a jinchuriki, one who holds one of the Tailed Beasts within them. Your mother was the previous jinchuriki to the Nine-Tailed Fox."
Hiruzen braced himself for the inevitable explosion from the blond, so he was not prepared for the silence that met his revelation. Naruto merely looked down, shock evident on his face, and placed his palm over his navel, where the seal was inscribed on his skin.
"Mom was...like me?" he whispered.
Hiruzen nodded, "Yes. She was chosen specifically by Mito-sama for her especially potent chakra, which was uniquely suited to containing the Nine-Tails. When Mito-sama passed, Kushina became the second jinchuriki of Konoha."
"Wait a minute," Naruto looked up, "the second?"
"Yes, Mito-sama became the first jinchuriki of the Fox demon when she sealed it within herself after it was subdued by Hashirama-sama during his fight with Uchiha Madara. It seems the Uzumaki clan, with their strong life-force and special chakra, are best suited for containing the beast, hence the term 'Uzumaki Legacy in Konoha.'"
"Is that why Mom was almost kidnapped?"
"It is. We are still not sure how those Kumo ninja discovered her identity, but because of the actions of the Fourth, that secret was not taken back to the Land of Lightning, and we were much more careful in the following years. That is why I couldn't tell you who your parents were, my boy. If word were to get out, expecially after we had lost so many shinobi when the Fox attacked, I was not sure we would be able to protect you."
"But if my mom had the Fox sealed in her, how did it get out and attack the village?"
"The seal holding a tailed beast weakens during childbirth. We had taken every precaution possible, but somehow the seal was broken, and the Fox escaped. Unfortunately, everyone who was with your mother during your birth was killed, so I'm not sure what happened. The Nine-Tails appeared in the center of the village and started wreaking havoc. Our ninja forces held off the demon until the Fourth was able to transport the beast to the outskirts of the village. Your mother arrived, severely weakened by both the birth and the failure of the seal, yet was still able to restrain the Fox long enough to allow the Yondaime to seal it within you, who was the closest suitable host."
"Where was my father? Wasn't he with my mother when I was born?"
Hiruzen sighed, "He died saving your life from the Kyubi. When I arrived after your mother's barrier fell, you were crying in her arms. She told me your name before she passed, holding your father's hand."
A heavy silence descended on the pair. Naruto fought back against the waves of emotion that threatened to drown him. His eyes burned, then his vision blurred. Hot, molten tears dripped down his face, despite all his efforts to restrain them. He sniffed loudly, breath coming in shaky gasps, and he squeezed his eyes shut in an attempt to stem the flood. He wished he could picture his mother and father, even in such a terrible image as their death, but he had no face, barely even a name if that. The sudden feeling of arms encircling him snapped his eyes open. The Hokage knelt before him, and despite his anger at him, Naruto threw his own arms around the old man and sobbed.
After a few moments, Naruto pulled away, wiping the tears from his cheeks. Hiruzen remained kneeling for a moment, a sad but warm smile on his face. Then he stood and returned to his chair. Naruto sniffed once more, then looked up.
"What was my father's name?"
The Sandaime considered the young ninja. Already he seemed so different from the trouble-making academy student he had been such a short time ago. The discovery of his family, his heritage, and his mother's name had aged him far too much for one so young. Hiruzen debated within himself. He could tell the boy that he was not ready to learn his father's identity. He could tell Naruto about his father's enemies, and that he would be in even greater danger if the other villages learned who he was, especially as he undertakes missions outside of the village.
He stood again from his desk, turning towards the window. The village below was settling in for the night. Even at this late hour, lights still burned brightly. The Will of Fire was much like those lights. Burning defiantly against the dark. Pushing back fear and danger while offering warmth and protection for those within its glow. What he decided to do here could have a drastic effect on one of those lights. It could cause it to dim, threatening to be extinguished. It could cause it to grow brighter, to a roaring flame. But like any flame, it would draw the eye of all around, and sometimes it is best to hide a candle under a busshel. But would that smother the flame?
Hiruzen turned to face the blond. Blue eyes stared into his soul, waiting for an answer. This boy should have been the hero of the village. But cruel fate and frail humanity had instead turned him into a pariah and robbed him of all kith and kin. Despite his title of the Professor, the God of Shinobi, Hiruzen felt none of the wisdom of those titles now. What should he do? What would be best to preserve his village and honor his friends wishes?
Hiruzen looked up, and the same blue eyes stared into his soul from the portrait on the wall. His resolve firmed, and he knew what he would do.
"Naruto-kun, your father was Namikaze Minato, the Fourth Hokage."