Naruko: The Story Redone

By: dbrame91


Chapter 2: Kushina

Sighing as she walked towards the Hokage tower, Kushina was dressed in her normal clothes; a sleeveless blouse and calf length loose dress. Today the coloring was baby blue for the shirt, and a purple dress that matched her eyes. Since she was going to the council meeting as part of the clan representatives she was also wearing her hitai-ate on her forehead. 'Why do I have to be here? They never ask for me to come to these meetings.' Walking through the front door of the tower Kushina approached the reception desk and checked in before heading to the Council room. No one was in the room when Kushina opened the door. The Uzumaki head waited in the hall, where she was joined by Inuzuka Tsume, the head of Konoha's nin-ken clan, about two minutes later.

"Hello Tsume-san." Kushina greeted the brown haired woman with a slight wave. Tsume had been a close friend of Kushina's before she had left and over the past 7 years that friendship had been rebuilt. To Kushina, it was refreshing to see someone who was a clan head but not too formal. Honestly the Inuzuka woman was probably the furthest person from formal in the entire village, not counting Mitarashi Anko.

Tsume smiled and waved back. "Morning Kushina. Have you put any more thought into setting our kids up for an arrangement?" The wild haired woman laughed after her question. This had been a bit of a joke between the two single mothers for about four years now. Every time the brown haired mother brought up the topic she would receive the same answer as the first time.

"No, Naruko was a very wild and loud girl, and it has only gotten worse as she has grown up. She is a lot like you actually." Kushina smiled and laughed along with Tsume about it. "And she has no skills when it comes to cooking. She can only make cup ramen." Kushina walked over next to Tsume who was nodding her head.

"Yeah, my son is too much like his father. He would run away as fast as he could after a year." Tsume laughed and nodded a bit more. "He can't cook either so they would starve in no time."

The two mothers continued to chat until the rest of the council arrived. After about five minutes all of the elders and civilian members were present. Most of the clan heads were as well, the only missing one being Nara Shikaku. Shortly after all parties present took their seats the Sandaime Hokage stepped in, trailed by the tardy Nara head. Both men took their seats before Sarutobi began the meeting.

"Who called for this meeting?" The older man asked calmly watching the room, especially the other three elders. His hat was on his head, forcing him to sit forward more than his tired bones would like. "As I am sure you all remember the one who is allowed to call for meetings is myself." With his eyes still surveying the other members he stopped on Mitokado Homura, one of his old teammates, as the man spoke.

"The elder members called for this meeting. It is within our power to do so if we feel it is a matter concerning the future of the village." Sarutobi had obviously known it was the elders who called for the meeting, it was an allowance he gave to his former teammates. What the Hokage really wanted to know was whose idea it was, and he got his answer as Homura continued on, his eyes drifting to their other former teammate Shimura Danzo. "We of the elder council feel that Uzumaki Kushina must remarry as to continue on the Uzumaki bloodline and provide the village with future hosts for the Kyuubi."

With this proclamation Kushina was on her feet with anger in her voice and eyes. Looking over at the red haired woman Homura kept going. "We also believe that any children from said union should be put under the tutelage of Danzo. This way the next host can properly use the powers of the Kyuubi, like the jinchuuriki of the eight-tails from Kumogakure." This was the pushing factor for Kushina, her hair began to lift from her back and split into 9 tail-like forms as malice flooded the air.

This outburst stopped Homura from continuing, but allowed the female member of the elder council, Utatane Koharu, to pick it up. "It has been 15 years since the passing of the Yondaime. That means that the daughter you had together is already too old for her to be the host, her chakra coils are too developed now." Kushina looked over at the older woman now, cutting Koharu off before she continued.

"I have every right to refuse this idiotic belief of your war hawk puppet-master's!" Kushina had picked up on the drifting gazes to the heavily bandaged man a few times. "It doesn't matter if you or even Lord Hokage wants me to remarry, I have my own rights! And who would you even propose I marry? One of these civilian council members, who will use it as a chance to take my late husband's and my own wealth as their own and keep it from my daughter? Or maybe you want me to marry Danzo instead, that way he can train any children whether I want it or not." Kushina clenched her hands into fists, ready to slam them down on the table.

"Your options for a husband would be any man in the village, so yes one of the civilian council members or Danzo could end up as your spouse." Koharu looked at the angry mother. "If you are still unwilling to comply to this request then the council can request that your daughter be the one married, and we will. As she is a citizen of Konoha who is enlisted in the village's shinobi forces, we have every right to do it too. Is that a lie Hiruzen?"

With this new threat against her daughter Kushina finally slammed her fist into the table, ruining the worn but well kept wood and leaving a small crater in it. Before she could continue her refusals though Sarutobi spoke up. "We could. However we will do no such thing. All decisions such as this are up to the Hokage and I will not force either Uzumaki woman into that kind of life." Bringing his fingers together under his chin Sarutobi looked at all those present. "This is not up for discussion, and if it finds its way back into this meeting room then I will refuse it before the table takes any more damage." Standing from his seat the Hokage moved to the double doors before looking back into the room. "All clan heads, please come to my office. We have matters to discuss pertaining to your children."

All members of the ninja half of the council looked among themselves, giving the aged Hokage a minute before following after him. Once all the clan heads were in the room Sarutobi closed the blinds in his office and gave a command to his hidden ANBU guards for them to leave. When it was just the Hokage and the clan heads the old man lit his pipe and took a slow drag on it. "To start off, you are all here so we can watch your children during the teamwork tests with their Jonin sensei. Before we do though, I have to slightly agree with my old teammates on one thing. You should remarry Kushina. Of course it is your choice on who and when, but it would be good for you. As well as keep them from trying to do this again." As he talked, the oldest ninja present released the smoke.

Sighing Kushina nodded a bit. "I really do agree, but I'm not willing to move on with anyone from Konoha." Kushina looked at the other present clan heads, she had not told any one other than Jiraiya about her relationship with Zabuza. "There is someone that I am waiting for. I met him while Naruko and I were living in Koriyo Village." Gently clutching the locket she always wore around her neck, Kushina slowly opened it and read her lover's last words to her.

Sarutobi looked at the Uzumaki head expectantly, but he was not going to push for details. Jiraiya had told him some things after he brought the mother and child back to Konoha. The Hokage had also watched the first day of Naruko's first year through his crystal ball and remembered the blonde saying that there had been a man who she saw as a second father. After his years of experience Sarutobi guessed that the young Uzumaki's first teacher was probably the same person Kushina was waiting for.

Taking a deep breath Kushina looked around the room at the other adults. "I want this to stay secret, between everyone here." Taking out a sheet of paper from her pocket Kushina wrote her secret down. When she was done, she let the Hokage read it first and then turned it around for the other clan heads to read. It read: "During my almost 5 years away, I developed a relationship with a nuke-nin from Kirigakure. He was a former member of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist. His name is Momochi Zabuza, he also was Naruko's first teacher."

Once everyone had read the note Sarutobi took it and burned it with the lit tobacco in his pipe, and made sure that there was no way to recover the lost message. "That is a significant detail Kushina, and I am glad you shared it with us." Taking another drag from his pipe the aged man took out the crystal ball and brought it to life. "We will start with the new Team 7." Focusing on the strongest chakra network in the direction of Training Field 7, bringing an image of a sitting Naruko playing her instrument, the gathered clan heads watched. "Well I guess Kakashi has yet to arrive so we will move on, it will be another hour or so before he gets there."

Focusing on another chakra signature on the opposite side of the village Sarutobi was able to find Team 8's Genin. They were all in their own section of the training field while their teacher, Yuhi Kurenai, was setting genjutsu and explosive traps in a wooded area. "Kurenai seems to be testing them using a minefield. It also looks like she is using traps they won't notice in their own area. Kiba will face genjutsu traps, while Hinata will be crossing through a section of paper bombs, and Shino's field is probably something that only Kiba will notice." Looking back at the crystal ball all of the present clan heads saw as the three students reached the same area from different sides of their teacher.

With Team 8

Kiba was the first to try making his way to his team's teacher and was instantly caught in a low level genjutsu, causing him to wonder into the next more powerful illusion. The combination of the two genjutsu leaves Kiba stuck in place, rambling about enemies everywhere in the trees. Worried for her teammate Hinata stepped forward, igniting one of the hidden exploding tags. Jumping back the Hyuuga heiress was able to escape the small blast radius. Shino stood back, watching the scene unfold, before sending out a small swarm of his kikaichu. As the bugs approached the area they began to split up, out of his control, and would just circle around in the air.

Activating her Byakugan, Hinata looked towards the ground but was unable to see any of the exploding tags. Looking up at her teammates she could see the chakra used to make the genjutsu, but could not find the reason for Shino's bugs to act like they were. "Sh-Shino-san can you use your b-bugs to free Kiba? I thi-ink he is u-under at least two o-of Kurenhai-se-sensei's genjutsu." The sunglasses wearing teen nodded his head silently before doing as the Hyuuga heiress asked. The effect was instant, Kiba regained the spark of conscience in his eyes and looked at the rest of his team. After coming back to the world of reality Kiba could smell some strong incense or bug repellent from the direction of Shino. None of the present genin knew that the unseen substance had actually been sealed into the same paper as the exploding tags, and had been released when Hinata had set the first one off.

"What the hell happened to me?" Kiba asked his teammates as he continued to take in the scene around him. The smell seemed to be thinning, but the kikaichu were still acting with no control. "Hinata, I got caught in a genjutsu right?" At the nod from the female genin he asked his next question. "Can you guide me to where Shino is? I don't want to get trapped again." He watched as Hinata looked around him, her Byakugan active, and shook her head.

"Th-there are t-too many ar-around you for you to w-w-walk out." She deactivated her 'all seeing eyes' and looked at her other teammates. "I'm s-sorry I c-can't h-help." Sighing before looking over his head Kiba tried to get another whiff of whatever was messing with the kikaichu before an idea struck him.

"Do the triggers need me to step on them?" The brown haired Inuzuka asked as he called to Akamaru, who had been hiding in the bushes nearby. Reactivating her Byakugan Hinata could clearly see the shaped chakra. She could also see that the traps had no presence after about his waist.

"The tr-riggers o-only go to about y-your waist. A-after that th-there is n-nothing to w-orry a-about," answered the stuttering kunoichi. Hinata scanned the rest of the area again before releasing her Byakugan. "Th-there are n-no tr-traps ou-outside of a 120 d-degree cone st-starting at K-kurenai-sensei."

"Shino, get ready. I'll be over there in a second to clear out whatever is messing with your bug collection." With a large grin on his face Kiba jumped into the air with Akamaru following his lead, and both began to spin. "Gatsuga!" With the call of his technique both ninja and animal began to spin quickly, pulling air into the two twisters. The suction created by the spinning also drew in the last of whatever was keeping the kikaichu from Shino's control, as the two partners cut through the area.

As soon as the near scentless substance was gone from the air Shino was able to recall his bugs. "Hinata, can you see where the exploding tags are hidden?" The quiet Aburame asked his female teammate and was answered with a shake of the blue haired girl's head. "Then let's see if my kikaichu can help. Holding his arms out in front of him Shino urged the insects out from his sleeves into a large writhing black cloud. After the swarm was the size of two fully grown men it began to descend to the ground where it broke up as the bugs burrowed under the ground. After about 3 minutes the swarm began to resurface, some of the kikaichu were carrying bits of the exploding tags that left the remains still buried unarmed.

The three genin grouped up in front of their teacher and got ready to attack. Kiba and Akamaru were ready to go with another Gatsuga at the first sign of a charge. Hinata was in the traditional Hyuuga juken stance with her pale eyes already trained on the first tenketsu she would strike. Shino had his arms down at his sides with all of his bugs pouring out of his oversized jacket.

Kurenai watched them before smiling and clapping her hands slowly. "Good job everyone. You have all passed." At her students' confused faces, or expressionless in Shino's case, the Genjutsu Mistress continued. "This wasn't a test of your independent abilities but rather a test of your ability to work together as a team. Now that you have passed you are officially true genin of Team 8. And together you will become a tracking team with no equal." Kurenai finished with a pleased tone of voice as she looked at her new team.

Back with the clan heads in the Hokage tower

"Ah good, Team 8 has passed, and it seems with flying colors at that." The aged Hokage sat back from the crystal ball sighing contently. "Good indeed." The clan heads were all impressed with Team 8's genin, in very little time and with almost no communication they were able to help each other. "Let us take a look at Team 7 again." Sarutobi leaned back in towards the crystal ball and focused on the blonde Namikaze girl's chakra again. This time every member, minus the Jonin sensei, were relaxing within the image. Sasuke was napping in the branches of a tree while Sakura sat on the edge of the small stream in the training grounds. Naruko was under a different tree from Sasuke, facing the entrance their teacher would use to get in if he came on foot, and was restringing her shamisen. "I guess Kakashi is still absent. We will check in on team 10 for now." Changing his focus, the Hokage was easily able to find the chakra signature of his son Sarutobi Asuma. "It appears that we are just in time to see how the new Ino-Shika-Cho do on their test."

The image in the crystal ball cleared up and showed the three genin all facing their new sensei. All three of them looked exhausted and about to fall over. Choji was only standing thanks to the tree he was leaning on to his right, he was panting heavily and his eyes were closed. Shikamaru was hunched over with his hands on his knees, sweating and panting but watching the smoking Jonin-sensei in front of him. Ino was the most upright of the three, though her knees looked ready to give out any minute and her hair was plastered to her face with sweat.

With Team 10

"Oh come on you three, you must be able to do better than that. I thought you said this test would be easy Ino." Asuma was standing about ten feet away from them, with a lit cigarette in his mouth. He had his arms to his sides but bent at the elbows with his hands out in the air, each hand holding one of his trench knives. "If you guys don't step up your game you won't pass." Asuma's tone was indifferent as he looked at his students, boredom plain on his face. "All you have to do is capture me, it isn't that tough."

Gulping in air as he spoke, Shikamaru chose to answer his teacher's prods. "This...coming from... the guy... who...is a Jonin... ranked ninja and former member... of the Twelve Guardian Ninja." Looking at his teammates the Nara heir stood up as straight as he could. "This is too troublesome. Choji, how are you doing on chakra? Ino, get ready to step back and provide cover." Ino nodded her head as she got ready to jump back, a kunai in her hand. Choji gave his friend a thumbs up as he pushed himself off the tree. "Okay, let's go. Choji grab Asuma-sensei. Ino, keep him focused on blocking. Go now!"

After a quick scan of the area Shikamaru charged in towards a defending Asuma only to be kicked to the side, out of site. The other two clan heirs of Team 10 kept up their assault. Choji was trying to conserve chakra so he was focusing more on grabbing a single arm or leg, but every time he tried Asuma would jump away just in time. Ino threw every kunai and shuriken she had on her any time Choji was about to get hit, however she never hit the Jonin she was aiming for. Every time one of her projectiles got close Asuma would bat it out of the air into the ground at his feet.

"Come on you guys, this is getting old now. I haven't even used ninjutsu yet." Asuma taunted as he blocked another kunai towards his right. Choji rushed the older man again, this time using his family's Bubun Baika Jutsu to increase the size of his right leg and using it to launch himself at Asuma before changing the augmented body part to his fist. Taken back by the sudden use of the technique and the method it was used in Asuma tried to jump over the Akimichi's attack, only to find he couldn't move at all. Looking through the space Asuma eventually found what had him trapped, it was the Nara clan's infamous shadow technique. The shadow had been stretched thin and traveled from the shadows of each of Ino's thrown weapons.

Choji opened his hand to grab his new teacher instead of hit him, giving Shikamaru the chance to recall his shadow. Once his shadow was called back the unmotivated Nara stepped out from the brush and stood next to his long time Akimichi friend. They were joined by Ino a second later, who looked a little better than before since she had been able to hang back a bit while Shikamaru's plan played out. Keeping Asuma captured in Choji's enlarged arm and hand the genin looked at their teacher. "So, do we pass now Asuma-sensei?" Ino had been the one to ask the question that all three wanted answered.

"Yes. You all pass." Once released Asuma took out a cigarette and lit it before he spoke again. "The three of you were put together in order to become the next Ino-Shika-Cho team. A team like yours can fill a lot of roles on missions. Especially infiltration, intelligence gathering, assassination, capture missions, and assaults. However you need to be able to work together as a team and trust in each other. Like when you trusted in Shikamaru to have a plan when he took charge of the situation, without explaining anything more than what you needed to do." During his entire speech Asuma had been taking small puffs of his cigarette and letting the smoke out as he spoke, but now he took a longer drag of it before his next statement. "We are all now officially Team 10. Take tomorrow to rest up and meet me here for training the following day.

Back in the Hokage's office

"Team 10 has passed as well. And they are a very promising team too." The Hokage relaxed a bit, stretching out his aching arms and back before looking at the clan heads in his office. "They will need to learn more of the clan techniques, but they already have a strong sense of teamwork." Looking at the now clear crystal ball the Sarutobi elder took a look at the clock before going on. "It is now 8 o'clock. Kakashi should be arriving shortly, so let's check in on Team 7 one more time." Feeding chakra to the ball on his desk the Hokage exhaled as he found four chakra signatures in the training field in question. Once the image was clear enough all present watched as the white haired Jonin crossed the bridge into the field and began his explanation of Team 7's test.


Thank you for reading everybody. Next chapter will be the test from the view of Naruko and her team with a quick trip back to the Hokage's office afterwards.

Till next time, have fun.