VI - Life
The office of Danzo Shimura was an impregnable sanctuary for all matters of illicit black-ops actions. Files detailing the complete operational history of ROOT covered in black bars and 'redacted' signs were scattered across his desk. I sighed as my eyes pierced through the text, searching for any mentions of finances.
Ryo was an essential asset for any major organization, especially ROOT. Much of its funding had been cut by the Sandaime due to an overall restructuring of the village post Kyuubi attack. I groaned slightly- ninja equipment didn't grow on trees, and neither did training supplies. My plans needed more cash, cash I was desperately short of.
To make money, I would need to sell something. I had several ideas, but few of them could be executed in a reasonable timeframe. They would take several years of investment and management, but I was confident in their success.
The Root was patient. It took years to grow, to create a strong foundation.
I could wait.
"Good work, Gai-kun." Today was Gai's day, and he had been demonstrating his taijutsu capacities along with his turtle summons. "You have a strong foundation but can work on more complex maneuvers."
Gai nodded, and I smiled back. His enthusiasm was a breath of fresh air compared to Kakashi's dour attitude. "What should I do then Shimura Sensei?"
In all of Danzo's long years of service he had believed ninjutsu to be the textbook tool of all shinobi. If Gai could incorporate some basic Jutsus with high utility and scaling across power levels, he would become an ever more frightening monster. "Continue practicing your unique form of taijutsu, but learn this ninjutsu technique."
Gai unfurled the scroll and gazed at its contents. "Water Release: Water Armor? This is an A-rank jutsu!"
"I believe you are more than capable of it. The scroll has the relevant details for you to practice water manipulation as well, and I recommend using the river to practice. Cast this Jutsu while first submerged completely in water and then transition to using it on land."
Gai nodded, before giving me his signature thumbs-up. "I won't let you down! Yosh!" I chuckled at his antics and moved towards the clearing where Tenzo and Kakashi were practicing.
"How goes your Fuinjutsu work?" The two boys both responded with a nod of their head before diving back into practice. I sigh tiredly; both of them are very much anti-social.
At least I have Gai to add some liveliness to our sessions. I speak up to catch their attention. "Alright then, today's team lesson is about one of the most essential ninja skills. "
I can see the eagerness in their eyes, and smirk. No wonder Hiruzen liked teaching, it's remarkably easy to troll low-tier shinobi (in my humble opinion).
"...Cooking!"
Kakashi grumbles, and I can see Gai nudging him on the shoulder. It's these little actions that have built up our team spirit ever since our first meeting. I give them an eye-smile before chuckling.
"I'm just kidding. Take the rest of today to practice, and to rest."
"We're done?" asked Kakashi. It appeared he did not completely believe in my words yet.
Tenzo nodded his head. "Very well then, Lord Danzo. Will you stay here to aid us?"
"I shall. Feel free to ask me any questions you may have." With those words, I reclined back under a tree. Under the shadow of a leaf, in fact. I could hear someone sitting down next to me, and I closed my eyes.
"Lord Danzo." Ah, it was Tenzo. "I was wandering if you could help me with my wood style?"
"Mokuton, hmm?" He nodded eagerly. "Mokuton is the combination of water and earth, the act of breathing life into something. Chakra at its core is the energy of life, of mind and body. But at the same time, to create life of strength is to use Yang Chakra." I rise to my feet and raise my free hand.
"Clear your mind of doubts. Clear it of anything, and focus on the earth, the air and water." Tenzo closed his eyes and clapped his hands together. "Reach out with your senses."
Tenzo speaks quietly. "I can feel the chakra of our team, sensei."
"Good. Focus on those feelings of friendship, of bonds and fellowship." My young student's face furrows, and he looks at me with confusion in his eyes. I smirk before commenting. "The first recorded user of the Mokuton was Ashura, son of the Sage of Six Paths. I do believe I told you his story, and his ideal of peace through friendship."
Understanding donned within Tenzo's eyes. "Mokuton isn't a blood limit!?"
My eye morphed into an eye smile. "There was a reason no other Senju was able to possess it, wasn't there boy? You have a share of his cells, and thus a share of his chakra to reproduce the Mokuton. The only reason it is different is due to your own chakra."
"My own chakra..." Tenzo mused as he gazed at his hands. I could see thoughts forming in his head, and inwardly smirked. The Mokuton only happened due to a resonance in shared chakra, or strong enough vitality which was enough for Tenzo to find his own variation.
The ROOT agent's hand flashed through seals, before he declared,"Mokuton: Wood Bindings!" Pillars of symmetrically paneled wood erupted from the ground, wrapping around the center of the clearing and forming a cage. Tenzo appeared drained, but I could sense his satisfaction. "Thank you for the advice, Lord Danzo."
Gai grinned as he sized up the cage. "To make such a Jutsu! The fires of youth must burn deep within you, but I shall not be so easily beat!" The taijutsu expert pumped his fist into air and leveled it towards Tenzo (& Kakashi). "I too shall master a thousand jutsus! If I fail, I will run 300 laps around the village!"
Kakashi sighed. "Gai, you're good at one thing and Tenzo is good at another."
"Such a thing does not matter! Shimura-sensei believes in me to learn this jutsu, and I will not let him down!" Tenzo returned to his meditation, while Gai and Kakashi faced off.
Kakashi looked at Gai's smile, and then spoke. "Show me the scroll..."
"I knew you had it in you Ka-ka-shi!"
"This is an A-rank water jutsu. I can show you some tricks for changing your element, and shape manipulation..." The two boys continued their chatter, while Tenzo resumed his sensory practice.
We had been making good progress, and I had some ideas for their first mission.
Jin grits his teeth as he blocked the next punch thrown his way. It was hard, being beaten from morning to night, to learn some katas. He didn't know why he had to learn them. The masked-man had told him it was to become a shinobi, but Jin didn't know why being a shinobi meant getting hurt.
"I see you have been progressing with your studies, Jin-kun." The boy's eyes widened. He knew that voice! It was Elder!
"Elder! You came back!"
A soft chuckle was his response, and once more the man emerged from the shadows. "I could not leave you here forever, could I?" With a wave of Elder's hand, masked-man left.
"I don't like the training. It hurts."
"I thought you wanted to be a shinobi?" Elder's eyes seemed almost judgmental, and Jin flinched.
"Does being a shinobi mean hurting?"
Jin wasn't sure what to expect from his question, but Elder burst into laughter. "Boy!" Jin winced as he could feel the mocking nature of the laughs. "To be a shinobi is to hurt. For we are those who fight, and you cannot fight without first knowing pain."
"I don't like pain." Jin whined slowly.
"You could always become something else..." Elder mused. "You don't need to become a shinobi." Jin thought it over. He thought of Elder's proud smile when he had proclaimed his interest in becoming a shinobi, and how happy that had made him feel inside. His world was Elder, and if he could make Elder happy, he would be happy.
Maybe it was because the old man had been the only one to treat Jin with kindness. "I'll become a shinobi! I can take the pain!"
"Good, good. I will tell your trainers to be a little gentler." Jin smiled. Elder was the best. "But here's a little gift." Jin grinned as he gazed at the chocolate in his hands.
"Thanks!"
"Think nothing of it. Your progress is amazing." Jin cheeks burned from the offhanded compliment.
"You mean it?"
"You are a fast grower boy. Look at you, already 4 and a half feet." Elder ruffled Jin's long white hair and patted him on the back. "Your skill at learning and memorizing things is incredible as well."
Jin scratched his cheek. "There's not much to here, Elder..." He was a little nervous but continued. "Doing those katas and reading those books is the only way I can feel happy."
"I shall have to give you some new books then."
"You don't have too..." Jin didn't want to be a burden. In all of the books he read, the hero had risen from nothing to win. Jin didn't want to rely on Elder's charity.
"I knew your parents. Consider it repaying a debt."
"Then it's okay I guess..." Jin shrugged. He wasn't sure what his purpose was but becoming a shinobi had given him some happiness. Who knows what lay down the road he was walking.
"That's enough talk about ninja and the lot. Would you like to hear a story?" Elder leaned forward, giving Jin an almost conspiratorial smile. Jin nodded his head; Elder had told him all kinds of cool stories before. These were the boy's only way of learning more about the world.
"Once upon a time, there was a little bear who lived in the forest..."