[Kukui Tanku]
"What do you see when you look at Konoha, Kukui-kun?" Hiruzen asked as we finished talking about the tests. The sun was rising and the village looked great. It hid the snakes that lied in the grass but it also protected the innocent.
'This is a test.' I wanted to answer "A place full of people that like many other places is just that." But I knew it wasn't what would work if I didn't want to be on his watchlist so I had to think about an answer... 'Okay appeal to his love of the first two Hokage.' I sighed. "I see the end of an era of war and the beginning of what is peace that can be improved on."
"Oh?" Hiruzen raised an eyebrow up. "Could you please explain to me what you mean by that?" I sensed two other chakra signatures here as well. Both seemed curious. Okay I had to not die here. Simple as that.
I looked at the sky. 'Why am I in this position?' Hiruzen didn't need to do this. "The warring states era is something that always interested me. I know at least partially what it was like. War everyday and children fighting on the battlefield. One day when Hashirama and Madara ended their conflict it brought the end of the warring states era and began an era of new peace. Even if Temporary. Konoha is meant to represent a place where children won't have to fight. Not just them but so people who didn't want to fight wouldn't have too. It's the entire reason Konoha was created after all. "
God I hope that worked. That isn't my best impression of Hashirama's ideals and I know it. The man was good at what he did. Which was inspire hope and not put Children into battle. That ended around the time of the second shinobi war unfortunately.
Hiruzen nodded. "Konoha was indeed founded so fighting wouldn't be needed anymore. Lord-Hashirama and Madara's original dream was to bring peace to the Senju and Uchiha clans and through that unity other clans joined. Then other clans followed suit and created their own village. Unfortunately you are also correct that the peace lord first brought was temporary. War seems to break out every ten years or so."
I wish I could see what he is thinking. Or his opinion of me right now. Those would be swell. 'Damn you system for being nerfed.' I looked down at Konoha. "It's been longer than Ten years since the third war... People are preparing aren't they?" Akatsuki, Orochimaru, Obito... I only had like a year and a half to worry about the snake. I didn't even know about the other nations. Suna was preparing with Orochimaru and Kiri is stuck in a civil war. That's all I know though.
"Unfortunately you are right. People are always preparing for war. And we must be ready. I wished I could put an end to it in my time but it seems I unfortunately won't be able to." If only he knew. He was correct... at least about canon. Dude could be the Child of Prophecy in this timeline.
I didn't want to fight a war. But I had people to protect and a world to help save. I needed to eventually fight one. But maybe the war could be stopped before it happened. It was inevitable. "For that to happen very specific circumstances need to happen. People need to put away their pride or a greater threat needs to rise to stop." Pain wasn't necessarily wrong with his ideals. I didn't agree but he wasn't wrong.
"That Peace is only temporary. We would need another Madara Uchiha for it to even happen." Again if only he knew. "But you are correct in that people need to put their pride away. Not only that but people need to have a reason to put away their pride. There also needs to be balance."
'Pretty much impossible.' I nodded at the wise man's words though. "So circumstances that are pretty much impossible... For that to happen then there needs to be no current conflict and everyone needs to have a reason to actually be peaceful."
Hiruzen chuckled before turning to me. "That peace can be achieved. That I am sure of. Do you want there to be Peace in the world Kukui-kun?" What was his game? I didn't know what he was trying to get out of me. But I know he wants something from me.
'Of course, I want Peace.' I looked back into the sky. The sun had fully risen. "Of course. I wanna see a world where nobody dies for a pointless conflict caused by something that most of the time is trivial," I then looked at a cloud. It looked like a leaf. "A world where everybody is happy is impossible but a world where we can do our best to not kill each other is something I want to strive for."
"I see that you aren't optimistic about Peace," Hiruzen commented. "A mature world view though. Do your best to find your own path to peace Kukui. I do believe every shinobi should try so," Was he trying to tell me I graduated? I didn't get anything from my system... "Do your best to strive for your goals of peace."
With that Hiruzen was gone.
'Well I might as well get down from here.'
[Shisui Uchiha]
Many of the people he used to know would credit Shisui as many things. Intelligent. Strong. Patient. But one thing not a lot of people gave him credit for was his ability to read people. Yes, every shinobi could do so. But most of his other skills he worked hard on were much greater than those of his observation skills. And they weren't lackluster. They weren't impressive but they weren't bad either.
So Shisui wondered what was up with the kid in front of him. He noticed he was tense with the rigidity of his movements. They were playing a game the boy had made up called Monopoly. And it was very fun too. Especially since he was winning. But Shisui noticed the boy was tense about something. His new visitor wasn't scared of him wasn't he? He was just a crippled guy! Not the legend people made him out to be.
It likely wasn't him being scared of him. He also had an air of trust on him. Like he felt he was safe. But he still felt scared. "So what's wrong?" Shisui watched as the boy put down his cards which were very crudely drawn. "You look tenser than one of my teammates did when we took him to a dance off with another team."
The boy sat for a minute in silence. That was fine. Shisui wouldn't push it if he didn't want to talk. Yes, he didn't want Kukui to stop visiting. He loved his sister and the Hokage but man it was nice to have other visitors. The boy then sighed. "I guess I'm a bit stressed."
Shisui tilted his head to the side as he rolled the die and got a 7 which landed his piece just in front of one of Kukui's properties. "Why is that?" Okay so it wasn't fear. Just stress. Although fear might play a factor into said stress.
"I know I'm about to graduate early." Shisui heard about that from the Hokage. He was one of the five who'd be graduating early. The boy must have guessed it somehow. "I'm gonna be a ninja soon and I'm scared." He was shaking now. Likely thinking about something. Was it the idea of killing someone? Shisui knew that he didn't want to kill anyone.
Shisui put down his cards. "Are you scared of the idea of killing people?" The boy looked up and half nodded. "So that and something else?" The boy nodded again. This time much more slowly. "The best I can offer is that you don't need to kill everyone. Some people don't need to die as long as the mission allows it. You can always just use Genjutsu to scare them away." Shisui remembered his time fighting in the Kiri civil war. He sent an entire platoon of hunter-nin to their deaths whilst making the Genin run. He hoped the kid he taught was putting his teachings to good use. "Anything else plaguing your mind?"
Kukui nodded and rolled a six. Great, he now had no money left and no properties! He was too broke now to win. "A bit. The idea of killing people is something I'm fine with. As long as they're bad people I can do it... The idea of killing innocents hurts though." Ah. Shisui understood that pain deeply. He had to kill the land of stone Daimyo's son. He didn't deserve to die. He was only five. "But another thing that's got me nervous is the idea of war."
Oh. Shisui knew how bad war could get. He fought in what was arguably the worst one since the first shinobi war before. War was something Shisui didn't exactly want. "You think one's gonna start soon?" Going off the track record of the world the chances of one not starting were small.
"Yeah." The boy sighed. "I want to protect my friends and help keep them safe. I know that I'm not strong enough to do so though. I'm weak." Shisui saw the boy glance down at his gloved hands. "A world where the people I love most can be safe and innocents don't need to die is a world I wish I could see. But the chances of that are unlikely."
"I felt that way too once." Shisui watched the brown haired boy look up at him. "The world we live in is a scary bad place. Even with the things the previous generations have done to keep us safe. I couldn't protect most of the people I loved most, Kukui. The chances of us losing people important to us is great and it hurts a lot." Shisui knew he missed his mom and dad. His aunt and uncle. That one kid he used to play shinobi with when he wasn't on a mission. "War may start and some of your friends may die. You may not be able to protect them. What matters most is that you try your hardest to claw through everything in your path to protect them." Shisui knew he could have done so much more. Maybe use Kotoamatsukami on Danzo. But he failed because he was weak.
Kukui sat cross legged on the bed for another minute. "It still doesn't get rid of the worry and pain though, doesn't it?"
Shisui nodded. It didn't... "But it helps. At least it helps me. It might not help you much but at the very least you have options." He then sighed. "Don't be like me. I hesitated once." He wouldn't tell him about the Uchiha massacre. But he could share this. "And it led me to everyone I loved dying and me confined to a bed at best. I didn't do everything in my power to save the people I care about and I regret it. I'm a terrible person to be taking advice from so if you need help I'm probably not your guy. I probably should have mentioned that sooner." The brown haired brat laughed.
"You know that helped me a bit..." Kukui then sat for a second and grabbed the die. "For what it's worth, I think you gave great advice. It at least helped me calm down a bit." Shisui then watched the boy roll again. "Also I declare bankruptcy."
Shisui pumped his hands into the air. "Another win for me!"
"That makes 50. This was the only game that lasted an hour."
"I know!"
[Hiruzen Sarutobi]
As it turns out. Finding placements for his future Shinobi was tough. He had 35 people to sort out. So he'd need to find a replacement for one of the teams. Or rather he needed too like an hour ago. He had the teams all settled on. But there were four that had the most potential to actually graduate and be Ninja. 'Still happy about that transfer program.' Konoha's under the table partnership with Kirigakure after they stepped into civil war to help the rebellion had been wonderful.
To strengthen the bond between them Mei-dono had given him a Yuki clansmen and a Hozuki. Of course they would come back to Kirigakure but this was to show that they were trusted by Kirigakure. And without Danzo doing Danzo things they were trusted.
So Hiruzen had his four teams.
The first one was one with Rock Lee, Neji Hyuuga, and Higuchi Eri under Maito Gai. This team worked wonders as a close ranged team with Lee and Neji being two very promising users of Taijutsu with Lee having the potential to use the Gates. And Higuchi was proficient with Earth Ninjutsu... Well proficient for her age. She was the second best Kunoichi of the year if Mika Uchiha wasn't being taken into account. Gai wanted to teach Lee personally as well and he loved the idea of a team so he was the perfect teacher. It also helped a lot that he was Konoha's best Taijutsu user.
The next team was Hinata Hyuuga, Katsu Yuki, and Shino Aburame who were being led by Kurenai. Kurenai wanted to form a tracking team. This team was perfect for that. With Hinata covering Taijutsu and long range tracking, Shino for when they wanted to try to go for stealthy assassinations, and Katsu for his ability to create Ice Mirrors he could place around and look through. Along with his Ice Mirror Genjutsu. Kurenai was going to have a wonderful time with these three.
The next team was a team Hiruzen wasn't the most sure about. Not only because Kakashi was the leader of it but because of the people in the team. Naruto-kun, Sasuke Uchiha, and Mangetsu Hozuki's little brother, Suigetsu. Mangetsu's loss made the younger boy very sad and Mei- figured a change of scenery would be helpful for his mental recovery. But him being on a team under Kakashi wasn't the best of ideas.
Kakashi wanted a team that resembled his. But it was never going to work. Naruto was supposed to be like Obito but Naruto uses traps and is far more... brash. Sasuke is supposed to be like Kakashi but Sasuke is more brooding. Suigetsu was... well Suigetsu. Someone like Tenten Higurashi would have been Rin's replacement. But that leads Hiruzen to a team he's actually sure of.
The fourth and final team had been the easiest to place the genin in but a pain in the ass to find a jonin for. There was Tenten Higurashi for her impressive aim and mastery of weapons, Mika Uchiha for her Taijutsu and pure speed along with fire jutsu, and Kukui Tanku for his sheer potential with seals and the fact he had one that if given to someone who had a vast reserve of chakra would probably be able to level a village if given time.
Finding a Jonin to teach them all was... tough. Hiruzen could have simply put them in different teams but that would disrupt the flow of others or give Kakashi too much of a mental strain. Remembering his team wasn't good for him.
So Hiruzen looked to four people for their potential. These four people were Minato's old bodyGuards. The Jonin who are among the best in Konoha. Well one was unfortunately "were" She died protecting Minato from the Nine Tails. Or tried.
Two of the other three were either in anbu or not wanting to be a teacher. So that left him with Hayate. Hayate was perfect for the job. He had fire, earth, and a few wind ninjutsu, was good with a weapon, and he had Fuinjutsu knowledge. Enough to pull off the Flying Thunder Formation with two other people.
The day that Kukui learned the Flying Thunder God would be amazing if it happened. Konoha was missing a lot of what used to make it so powerful. Only Maito Gai was an S-rank with Kakashi being too depressed to realize his potential and everyone else either missing, dead, or crippled. So someone who knew the technique of the fourth Hokage would be incredible.
So Hayate was a perfect choice for the team's sensei.
Meanwhile the other teams were probably going to fail and be put into reserve where they'd be trained into worthwhile Chuunin. Hiruzen hated to say it but he saw how some of those kids performed. They shouldn't even have passed the third year with how some of them threw their Kunai and Shuriken.
But before he could actually approve of these teams he needed to meet with their Sensei. Or whom he hoped to be their sensei. Meeting Kakashi and telling him about this would be tough. He really wanted a Team Seven like his. Likely to make him feel less guilty.
It wouldn't ha-
"Called for me, Hokage-sama?"
Ah yes the man was here.
Hiruzen nodded. "You're early."
"The road of life led me here. I assume this is about team formations?" The cyclops was watching Hiruzen whom nodded.
Now this conversation wasn't going to be fun.
[Kukui Tanku]
I looked at the Headband in my hand with a smile. Me and the other five who graduated were in a different row behind everyone else whilst Iruka and another chuunin were going on about Konoha and the Will of Fire. Neji was very obviously glaring at me as well.
'Still can't believe it.' I was in an AU. That was certain by now. I had graduated and now I was about to become a shinobi. I thought I'd have more time to prepare but alas. Naruto wanted to do something so I had to do it. I would have to be sure he didn't die.
Hiruzen would likely put us on the same team. Maybe with Sasuke? I didn't know how everything played out in this timeline so I needed to be careful and I couldn't be sure about anything at all. But I needed to be there to protect Naruto. That or hope whomever was unfortunate enough to be Naruto's sensei was competent enough to not die to Zabuza or something.
I noticed Neji and Lee disappeared too. Huh. Must have gotten a team already. Tenten was still here so someone replaced her here.
"Team Eight; Hinata Hyuuga, Shino Aburame-" I stopped paying attention then it was going to be a rehash of canon minus Kiba. No surprises there. I saw Kurenai walk into the room and Hinata, Shino, and a boy I didn't recognize left. "Alright that leaves seven left."
'Team Seven is gonna be Naruto, Sasuke, and Either Mika or Tenten.' I was calling it. No way Kakashi didn't want either of those two on his team here. Mika was an Uchiha and probably could remind him of Obito somehow. And Tenten was Naruto's friend and someone who could get along with both Naruto and Sasuke. She was normal.
"Team Seven is Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Suigetsu-" I noticed a white haired boy stand up as Naruto and Sasuke did. Odd. Could just be a coincidence. Iruka didn't seem to elaborate on his last name. "You're under Kakashi Hatake."
"Alright!" Both Naruto and Suigetsu said at once. If this Suigetsu was like the one from Kiri then I pitied the Uchiha. I saw a man tap on the window and it was Kakashi who simply gestured for them to come outside... This timeline was weird.
'It looks Like I was wrong about this. Okay then. What's the next team gonna be?" I heard Iruka begin to say the name of someone I didn't know and I knew I was going to be in for a boring time. 'Reverse order... I'm going to guess I'm in like, Team One.'
That would suck majorly.
Soon after Teams Six through Four were called out. 'Fuck man... This is boring. I wonder who's gonna be my sensei." Probably someone not really expanded on in canon. I wasn't gonna get someone like Kakashi or Gai and I was happy about that. Our skill sets weren't compatible.
If someone was gonna be my Sensei then they better have something to teach me... Okay that sounded rude. But still. 'It looks like Iruka is about to announce Team Three. I wonder if Mika or Tenten will get a team."
"Alright Team Three is-" Iruka's eyes landed on Mika, Tenten, and then Me. "Mika Uchiha, Kukui Tanku, and Tenten Higurashi under Hayate Gekko." Well that was unexpected.
'Not bad but it would have made more sense if me and Mika were on a team with a tracker and Tenten with Naruto and Sasuke.' It was Hiruzen's choice ultimately. I hoped Kakashi wasn't as depressed in this timeline but the look in his lone eye is telling. He was really good at hiding it though.
A sickly looking man suddenly walked through the door. 'Hayate.'
"Alright, Team Three. Meet me at Training ground Three within the hour." He coughed and then walked out.
"That was anticlimactic." I felt a hand on my shoulder and braced myself.
God bless Mika's speed.
This was the shortest chapter I've had in a while. Close to 4k but not quite. That's fine with me. I think I let the other version of Kukui I write(One in the Land of Water) seep into this version a bit too much here. Also fine with me. It gave me a chance to write Shisui in a way better way than planned(Shisui is awesome).
So we've reached the end of arc one.
The Academy arc was long and likely boring to some. Well here's some news for you. It'll continue to be boring for just a tad bit longer. Gotta get meeting Hayate and hopefully passing his test over with before we move on to other things. I can say safely that Kukui is gonna have his work cut out for him this time around. Well he did last time. But things are going to play out differently than last time in the Yugakure arc which might or might not happen.
Since this time I actually know what I'm doing(I don't but I know what to do to know what I'll be doing) Things are gonna play out differently. There might be a Yugakure arc. There might not be. I don't know yet.
Also again, we're scratching the Kusagakure Arc. None of that around here with me and my Muse. So one or two new arcs to replace the one(s) in NS sounds good. Feel free to comment on what you think the next arc might be.
So I ask this every five chapters. A random question: What do you think about Kukui's skillset?
- Tobi
