Chapter 6: Days Pass and Nights Come
Konoha Academy
"Class is dismissed. Remember to read up on the First Great Shinobi War." Iruka watched as the class filed out of the room. He sat back in his chair, letting out a tired sigh. It had been almost three months since the academy had started, and Iruka had learned that teaching was more tiring than he had anticipated. Though that could be because his class was rowdier than the others, given that it had several heirs from prominent clans were in attendance. There was certainly a wide range of personalities in that group, from the quiet and shy Hinata to the loud, boisterous Kiba. The latter causing no shortage of trouble for Iruka alongside a certain blonde-haired boy.
Credit, where it was due, at least Naruto had the decency to be subtle about his pranks and to cover his tracks. Did everyone know it was him? Yes, but could they prove it? No. Good thing Hinata was around that girl had a strange talent for keeping the boy out of trouble.
The work was tiring, but at the same time, he found it to be gratifying. Teaching and molding the next generation was an oddly rewarding experience being able to see firsthand their growth as both people and as Shinobi. In the short time he had spent with this class, he came to genuinely believe that they held immense potential. Potential that would turn most of his class into some of the finest Shinobi the village had to offer if handled correctly. He would be laying down that foundation, a task he intended to take seriously.
A stack of papers was flopped down on his desk, breaking him out of his thoughts. He looked to see Mizuki looking at him. "The papers for today." He said with a distant tone. Iruka felt a small frown coming onto his lips. He and Mizuki had grown distant recently. It was hard to say if they were still friends or not. He had to wonder where they had started to drift apart" The first day at the Academy three months ago. No, looking back at it now, Iruka realized they had started to drift away from being friends long before that. That day just made the gape openly apparent to him.
Flashback Three Months ago:
Both boys were stunned for a moment, and so was Iruka. He looks to his partner and childhood friend. It couldn't have been five minutes, and how was Sasuke the winner when in his eyes, both were evenly matched. Naruto and Sasuke turned to face Mizuki, giving him a questioning look. Around them, the class was murmuring, disappointed that the match had ended so abruptly.
"Mizuki-San," Iruka spoke to his friend. "If you mind me asking, how is the match over? And how is Uchiha the winner?" He questioned, even though he had a sneaking suspicion on what the answer was. Like most of the older generation, Iruka and Mizuki knew of Naruto's "condition." Iruka wouldn't admit it; when he heard the blonde's name called out and saw him walked out to the front of the class, he felt afraid of the boy and perhaps even a bit of hate. He had seen the Kyūbi attack and knew his parents had fought and been killed by the monster. He had seen the devastation left behind by the strongest of the Nine Biju, all the lives that had been lost. The number of orphans it left behind. He had been one of those orphans. It was understandable that he felt a certain dislike towards the boy, however irrational it might be to hold a child who held no control over the events responsible. "It seemed to me that both he and Uzumaki-San were evenly matched." But he was an instructor at the academy now, and he took that responsibility seriously. Even if he had to work with students that he didn't feel comfortable around. At least Naruto was proving to be a good kid, so perhaps there was a chance that discomfort would fade away.
Mizuki glanced at him, giving a surprised look. "Uchiha-San was the winner by the fact that he managed to push Uzumaki-San out of the arena." Mizuki said, pointing to Naruto.
Iruka looked at where his partner was pointing and raised an eyebrow. Naruto's foot was just outside of the arena. That couldn't be enough for him to be disqualified. He did say they had to be pushed outside of the arena and not only a part of them. Iruka saw that both Naruto and Sasuke were frowning, they felt cheated. Iruka could not blame he felt a little cheated too. Their spare had been the best one so far.
"Mizuki-San, surely that isn't enough to disqualify Uzumaki-San? After I did say, they had to push their opponent out of the arena, not a part of them." Iruka reasoned.
"Iruka-San, I'm surprised that you didn't know this. According to the Academy rule book, in any sanctioned Taijutsu Spare, if any part of a participant leaves the arena, it is grounds for disqualification and the victory handed to their opponent. Here let me show you." Mizuki pulled out the rule book from one of his pouches. Opening it up, he handed it to Iruka.
Iruka took the book and scanned through it. Iruka's eyes narrowed. It was just as Mizuki had said. If any part of a participant's body left the arena during a sanctioned spare, they were to be disqualified, and the victory was to be handed to their opponent. Like it or not, as an instructor, he had sanctioned the spares. Granted, he could try to overrule Mizuki's decision saying that a little levity in the rules wouldn't hurt anyone, but he had a feeling that Mizuki would argue against it.
He handed the book back to his partner. "I don't like the way you interpreted the rules." He said, deciding that the argument wasn't worth it. What was done was done. Nothing he could do about it. "But I will be holding all proceeding spares in the same standard. Understood?"
Mizuki took the book back, giving a coy expression. "Very well. But I don't see what there is to interpret. The rules are clear as day." He said.
The two turned back to face their students. Naruto and Sasuke had grown more upset. "Sorry guys, but it looks like I'll have to concede this to my partner. Uchiha Sasuke is the winner by pushing his opponent outside of the arena."
Sasuke looked like he was ready to argue against them. Naruto stopped him, a sad but understanding expression on his face. Was it a trick of the light, or did the eyes that float around him also display the same emotion? Some even look like they were glaring at Mizuki. "It's okay, Uchiha-San. We can always have a rematch, but this time we'll have a full understanding of the rules."
The Uchiha boy gave a questioning look to the blonde. "Hn." He grunted after a moment and walked away.
Naruto looked back at Iruka smiling, and for a moment, he felt a twinge in his heart. "Thinks Iruka-Sensei, I know you tried. But as Mizuki said, rules are rules." For a moment, Iruka saw a mischievous glint in his eyes. Again, how was he seeing emotion being displayed in what are floating eyeballs? It was a look he was familiar with back in his youth. The look of a trickster having found his next target. He decided to keep his distance from his friend to avoid the splash zone.
Naruto returned to the group of students. The rest of the spars went on, most when compared to the Naruto's and Sasuke's were unexciting to watch. There were some goods, ones mostly involving the clan heirs and the few others from Shinobi families. Overall, Iruka felt this class had a lot of potentials and was proud to know he would have a hand in forming the next generation of Konoha Shinobi.
"I'm impressed with all of you." He said to his class. "I might be biased here, but I believe all of you have the potential to become some of the greatest Shinobi that this village has ever seen. I look forward to teaching all of you and seeing you grow as Shinobi." Several students were beaming with pride at Iruka's praise. "Class is dismissed. I hope you all have a good day, and I look forward to seeing you tomorrow."
The class dispersed, most returning to the main building where their parents/guardians were waiting. Some stayed outside and grouped up with their friends. Iruka turned his head to see Naruto chatting with the clan heirs. They looked like they were trying to comfort him. Iruka raised an eyebrow. He knew the boy was a ward of the Hyūga Clan, so it made sense he would be friends with Hinata. But he didn't know that the boy would be friends with the other clan heirs. Those were some powerful connections to have in the future.
Iruka suspected that Naruto would need them, especially if he wanted to fulfill his ambition of becoming Hokage. Naruto's goal had made Iruka feel odd. On one hand, it was nice to know that one of his students was aiming so high; looking back at it now, a lot of his class had goals worth striving for. On the other hand, he felt uncomfortable that the container of the Kyūbi was gunning for a position of power. If did become the Hokage, there was no telling what th-.
Iruka stopped that train of thought and mentally chastised himself. What was he doing thinking like that? He had to remind himself there was a difference between the "scroll" and the "Kunai," as the blonde-haired boy put it in his introduction. His rational side told him that he was just a normal boy, mostly, and thus far, he hadn't acted like what the villagers made him out to be. He would listen to that side of himself, the other one well that was just a bad idea.
He walked up to the group. It did not take long for the children to notice him approaching. To his surprise, the group shifted slightly to a defensive around Naruto. The Inuzuka heir, in particular, stepped in front of the boy. "What do you want?" The wild-looking boy said, hostile.
Iruka stopped and raised his hands in a placating manner. He noticed that the Nara boy was giving a scrutinizing look. "I just came to check up on you guys." He said.
Kiba, for a moment, looked like he didn't believe him, but Naruto put a hand on his shoulder. Kiba gave the boy a questioning look. "It's alright, Kiba. I think he's okay." He said. Kiba looked back and forth between them before giving a wary nod.
Naruto stepped out to Iruka. "So, what is it you want, Iruka-Sensei?" He asked with a smile.
"Just wanted to check up on you guys." Iruka said, kneeling coming face to face with the boy. He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling a bit of guilt coming over him. 'Also, I want to apologize for what happened earlier. Mizuki-San may have been a bit zealous about it, but the rule book did say that." Honestly, there was more than enough room for bending the rules, in his opinion. Iruka suspected that Mizuki's called had less to do with wanting to abide by the rules and more to do with something else. He would have to talk with his childhood friend in private. "For what it is worth, your spar with Uchiha-San was one of the best I've seen all day. It was disappointing not being able to see its conclusion."
"You got that right." Kiba huffed, receiving a thump on the head from Ino.
"Don't be rude, dog-boy." She said, getting a grow and a glare. Iruka restrained a laugh at the two's antics.
"Glad to hear you say that, Iruka-Sensei." Naruto said, his smile becoming more genuine. "But as I said, it's okay. I'll just have to be more careful next time. Besides, may and Sasuke can always have a rematch to decide who is the winner." Iruka nodded, feeling a bit of relief that the boy was feeling too down about it. He was obviously bothered by it, but not in a major way. "That said, who do you think would have won?"
Iruka smiled at the boy. "I can't say both of you looked evenly matched. It could have gone either way." He said truthfully. Honestly, it could have gone either way, making Mizuki's call all the more disappointing.
"Ahh, but Iruka-Sensei." Naruto began to put getting some laughs from his friends. "Surely you must have some idea.'
Iruka rolled his eyes at the boy's playfulness. "Tell you what," He said, getting up. "sometime this week, say when classes are dismissed for the weekend, we eat at this Ramen place I know of and discuss it. My treat." Why did he feel a sudden sense of impending doom?
Naruto's smile went from ear to ear. "Are you sure about the Iruka-Sensei?
"
"I'd think about this carefully if I were you, Iruka-Sensei." The Nara boy lazily spoke up. "It will be more troublesome than you think."
Iruka held a nervous smile and sweat rolling down his neck. "Y-yes, I'm sure." He said, well, too late to back out now.
"You're on Iruka-Sensei!" Naruto exclaimed. He grabbed Hinata by the hand, getting a surprised yelp from the blushing girl. "Come on, Hinata-Chan, let's go tell Sara-San and Kurenai-San about the good news." Then the boy sped off, dragging the Hyūga girl with him.
Iruka didn't know how to process that. "You're a good guy Iruka-Sensei." Kiba said, walking past him with the others in tow. "But your wallet is going to hate for that."
Iruka wondered what kind of trouble he had gotten himself into. He shook his head, an amused smile still present on his lips. He had a sneaking suspicion that the next few years would be very interesting. He returned to the main building to finish the day's work and to plan the next day's curriculum, and have a talk with Mizuki.
Flashback end, Present day
Following that first class, he had a talk with Mizuki about his prejudice. To cut things short, they had a heated argument and had not talked to each other beyond what was required since then. A part of him wished to reconcile with his childhood friend. But whenever he tried to reach out, Mizuki would rebuff him.
Iruka opened his mouth to try and say something, but Mizuki talked first. "There is some paperwork I need to get down. Can you look over papers by yourself tonight?"
Iruka nodded, deciding now was not the time. He would have to wait until Mizuki was ready to get their friendship back on track. "I believe so. Thank you for gathering the student's papers and bring them to me." He responded. "Being seeing you, tomorrow Mizuki-San?"
"Yes, I will, Umino-San." Iruka felt a tug at his heart. When had Mizuki stopped calling him by his first name? He watched his old friend leave the classroom.
When the door had slid shut, Iruka looked at the ceiling. "Kami, where did it all go wrong?" He asked no one in particular. He starting to grade the students' papers, he noted that Naruto's had disappeared.
Hokage's Tower:
"Are you sure about this?" Hiruzen asked.
"I'm afraid so, Hokage-Sama." Weasel reported. "It was as we feared the Uchiha clan is plotting a coup against Konoha. They wish to kill you and several other high-ranking officials in Konoha."
"And put the village under their rule." The old Hokage finished weasel's report. He closed his eyes, feeling the weight of the years more than ever now. How could they have let things get so bad that the Uchiha clan who helped to found this village was now plotting treason against it. "How far along are their plans?"
"From what I could gather from my clanmates, the plan is in its beginning stages. There are still several who remain uncertain and wish to remain loyal to Konoha, Hokage-Sama." Weasel said. "But if things continue as they are, then I fear more of my clansmen will side with the coup."
"Does it matter?" Danzo said. "It is clear your clan is filled with traitors if they are planning to turn against the village. Hokage-Sama, I urge you we must strike now before it is too late."
Hiruzen whirled around, shocked that his old friend would suggest such a thing. "Danzo, surely you don't mean resort to such a drastic measure if there is still a chance settle things peacefully? If we struck now, that would only push those on the fences firmly into supporting the coup. Not to mention how would the other clans view it? No, we will try to settle the problem with Uchiha peacefully if we can. We will not resort to violence until it is absolutely necessary."
"Hiruzen, listen to me. We must ensure the safety of the village by whatever means necessary." Danzo argued back. "The Uchiha have already proven that a peaceful solution is out of the question if they are plotting a coup against us. By delaying now, we only give them more time to plan and prepare. We can end their rebellion before it has a chance to start. Hiruzen, I know you're a soft-hearted fool, but even you must see the clear and present danger that the Uchiha clan is to Konoha."
"No, I will not be the one to start a Civil War within our own walls. The Uchiha help to found this village alongside the Senju. I refuse to believe that they will so easily turn against it without at least trying to resolve the matter peacefully. Weasel-San, you said that they were only just beginning to plan out the coup and that several of your clansmen are unsure if they should support it, correct?"
"Yes, Hokage-Sama." Weasel reported. "The decision only passed by a thin margin."
'What of your father? Does he support this coup?" Hiruzen asked.
Weasel remained silent, making the old Shinobi nervous. "I am unsure Hokage-Sama, my father is a hard man to read at times. But I believe that he is reluctant about the coup."
"Then there is still a chance at peace." Hiruzen said. "If we can convince your father that this coup is wrong. We start to mend the gap that has formed between the Uchiha and the village."
"That may not be easy, Hokage-Sama. Tensions between my clan and the villagers have been festering for a long time. Madara's betrayal planted a seed, the policies instituted by Nidaime allowed for the roots to spread, and the aftermath of the Kyūbi attack gave it room to grow. Even if we do prevent the coup, the underlining cause will remain." Weasel finished his explanation.
"The Hokage smiled to himself. "Weasel if you would remove your mask." He saw a small jolt of surprise in the young man kneeling in front of him.
"Hokage-Sama?" Hiruzen raised his hand to stop the man from talking.
"Please just do it." He asked.
After a moment, the ANBU gave a hesitant nod. Weasel removed his mask, and Itachi looked up at Hiruzen. "Is there anything else, Hokage-Sama?" He asked.
"Tell me, Itachi-Kun, what do you think I see?" Hiruzen asked the young Uchiha.
"I do not understand Hokage-Sama." Itachi responded.
Hiruzen's smile broadens. Of course, he didn't understand. As wise as he was, the young man still had much to learn and to grow. "What I see is a young man who risking everything by bringing me this information." He raised his hand to stop the objection that was no doubt forming in Itachi's throat. "At any time, you could have chosen to disobey my orders and conceal the truth of your clan's plan to rebel. I may be your Hokage, but I am still a man, and my power over people is only as strong as they let it be. By reporting this information and by bringing up your concerns about the future relations between the Uchiha clan and Konoha, I can see that you truly want what is best for your clan and your village. I have seen such loyalty and conviction before in your clan. In my old friend Kagami, his descendent and your friend Shisui, and in your father." Itachi's eyes widen a fraction of a second. "Like you, I believe your wishes to remain loyal to Konoha and wants a peaceful end to our problems. If we can find a way to reach out to him, to that part of him that believes in Konoha and its will of fire, then these tragic events can be put to rest. Yes, I know it will not be easy, and resolving the underlining issues will not be either. But history has shown us time and again that the things that are worth doing are rarely easy. But that should not stop us. If it had before then, we would not have this village today. We would still be in the Warring States Period, our clans roaming the Elemental Nations and pledging allegiance to the highest bidder. Itachi, there is good in your clan. The curse of hatred may be a real thing within your clan. But they have proven to be able to overcome it many times throughout their history and to be able to work with their former enemies. Good relations with them can happen. It has happened before. First when they aided the Senju in making this village and sided against Madara when he turned against us. Before he died, the Yondaime worked tirelessly to mend the gap that had formed between Konoha and the Uchiha."
Itachi nodded. "My mother recently told me my father had been the Yondaime's team and a close friend."
Fond memories began to drift into Hiruzen's mind. Memories of Minato, Fugaku, and Hiashi spending time together as friends and teammates, their times of joy and grief. Memories he was starting to see repeated in their children. "Indeed, they were and was because of that friendship that the gap was so close to being mended. If only he had not died that day." If only that was a statement, he had been saying a lot to himself over the years. He was certain everyone had said it to themselves once or twice in their life. If only I had known this or that. If only I had made this choice and not that one. If only so and so were still around. If only, indeed, life was full of if onlys and what-ifs. But there was no changing what had been done (and to be truthful, he did not think there should be), one could only move forward and hope that they learned from their past mistakes and achievements to best prepare them for the future. "It is because of that I believe that we can reason with your clan and work with to undo the mistrust that as formed. I know that it never be fully forgotten, and it should never be, but I believe it can happen. We need only to have the strength, the will, and the willingness to do it. To say enough is enough."
"I see," Itachi said after a moment. "I think I understand Hokage-Sama." There was a quiver to his voice.
Hiruzen smoked his pipe and puffed out a cloud of smoke. "You will one day."
Before they could talk more, a slow clapping noise brought their attention to Danzo. "Bravo, my old friend truly well said." He said while he continued to mockingly clap. "While you and weasel are picking flowers with your heads in clouds, the Uchiha clan is still plotting to overthrow Konoha."
Hiruzen shook his head, not at all surprised that his old friend had been unfazed by his speech. "Danzo, you never change. You see enemies everywhere in the shadows and wars to be fought. You have inherited Tobirama's paranoia but none of his wisdom."
"Because there are." Danzo responded. "You refuse to see it. Your hesitation and cowardice will doom this village. I ask you again, my old friend, please see reason and do what needs to be done. Eliminate the traitors and let me ensure that the remaining Uchiha remain loyal to this village."
So, in other words, kill every Uchiha except for the children and turn them into mindless weapons. "Danzo, could you have fallen so far? Tobirama, I know you must be spinning in your grave knowing what Danzo has become." Hiruzen thought. "Danzo, I will not let turn the Uchiha children into mindless drones and to your secret little army."
The crippled old man showed no visible reaction. "Hokage-Sama, you must be mistaken. I disbanded Ne as you ordered years ago."
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes at the bald-faced lie. He knew for a fact that Danzo never disbanded Ne and was actively adding to its ranks through means that would have him executed several times if they were ever proven to be true. Which was the problem Danzo was frighteningly good at covering his tracks to the point they were non-existent. Even if Hiruzen and a few others did know what was happening, it was next to impossible to prove. "Regardless, we will not take action against the Uchiha clan." Hiruzen said, dropping the matter.
"But Hokage-Sama,"
Hiruzen cut him off. "That is final, Danzo. Unless you have forgotten, I am still Hokage, and my word is the law. If you disobey, I will have you punished regardless of our old friendship. Now am I understood?" He punctuated his point by briefly flaring his chakra, reminding Danzo of who he was dealing with.
…
"Danzo, I said. Am. I. Understood?"
Another moment of silence from the councilman before he gave a slow nod. "Yes, Hokage-Sama. I understand. We will take no action against the Uchiha clan at this time."
"Good, then you may leave now, tell no one of what you heard here tonight." Hiruzen ordered, he knew Danzo would not drop the matter so easily, but for now, the discussion was over. Danzo bowed and left the room Hiruzen turned to face Itachi.
"Danzo-San will not give up so easily, Hokage-Sama." Itachi getting a nod from Hiruzen. "The more that time without you taking action, the more likely he is to act on his own."
"Do not concern yourself with Danzo, Itachi-Kun. I know how to handle my old friend. This is not the first time I've had to deal with his insubordination, and I fear it will not be the last." Hiruzen closed his eyes, briefly meditating on what he would do to keep Danzo from doing anything drastic. "For now, we must focus on your clan."
'What your orders, Hokage-Sama." Itachi asked.
"For now, you and Shisui are to continue monitoring the Uchiha clan and report any finds to me. Furthermore, if you can find out what your father thinks of the coup and ss if you can push him towards opposing it. Understood?"
"Yes, Hokage-Sama. I shall inform Shisui as soon as possible." Itachi said, putting his mask back on.
"Then you are dismissed."
"Hai." The young man disappeared from sight.
Once the old Hokage could no longer feel the presence of the Uchiha, he walked out to the window, gazing out at nighttime Konoha. It looked so peaceful now, a far cry from how it looked more than seven years ago, and even now, he knew that its peaceful appearance was an illusion. So many problems plagued his village within and without. The growing discontent of the Uchiha clan. Danzo's continued insubordination. Just to name a few. Then there are the problems from outside their walls. Iwa had long since nursed its grudge following its defeat during the Third Great Ninja War, and relations with Kumo were slowly deteriorating, especially now they had a new Raikage who seemed to hold a deep amnesty towards Konoha. From what Jiraiya's spy network could gather, both Villages had started to pass secret messages to each other. Hiruzen feared the two villages were in the process of forming an alliance. Despite his best hopes, Hiruzen knew that war was coming. Once again, the Elemental Nations would be plunged into that would devastate the land. It would not happen tomorrow and even the next day. It would likely be years before the conflict would start. Like Konoha, both Iwa and Kumo were still recovering from the previous war and from their own disasters.
That gave Konoha more time to prepare. Hiruzen had already started to move the academy curriculum towards pushing out battle-ready Shinobi. Naruto's class would see a slow shift from their current peacetime-oriented course to one that would prepare them for war. By the time they graduated, the first year's class would be training for the war from the beginning.
Hiruzen prayed that he would be wrong, that there was, however slim, a chance at averting war. He had already lived through three Shinobi World Wars. He did not wish to see a fourth. He took another smoke from his pipe. Perhaps it was time to retire for the night. His gaze fell where the Hyūga compound would be. "Naruto, you may not realize it now. But I believe you and your friends will be the light that guides this village through its darkest time." Hiruzen left his office.
Konoha training grounds
"Come on, Uzumaki, I know you can do better than that."
"Bring it ducktail."
Ino rolled her eyes as she and her friends Hinata and Sakura watched the boys spar against each other. Class had been dismissed some time ago, and as it was always the case, Naruto challenged Sasuke to a match (sometimes it was the other way around). Boys, why did they always have to think that everything could be settled by fists? Couldn't they find a way that seemed less physical? Though she shouldn't be the one to talk, since she challenged Hinata and Sakura to more than a few spars, and she to admit Naruto and Sasuke were not the worst offenders. Kiba was the top contender for that honor.
Honestly, she didn't know if his loud and obnoxious behavior with due to him being a boy or an Inuzuka, likely it was both. Naruto was a distant second. At least with him, he knew when to behave. She imagined having Hinata around to keep him on a leash helped. "Note to self ask Hinata for tips on how to keep my man in line." Though she did admit, that were a couple of boys how could stand to benefit with they were a little more bold like Naruto and Sasuke were. "Choji, you're too nice for your own good, and Shikamaru, you're too lazy even for a Nara." She saw Sasuke flip over Naruto, landing behind him and delivered a palm strike to his back. Naruto twisted around in time to block it.
Ino, Sakura, and Hinata had sparred as well before growing tired, sitting to the side to watch the boys. They mostly spared against each other and sometimes had a match with Naruto or Sasuke.
"Who do you think is going to win this time?" Ino said to her friends, one eye on the fight. She was impressed that boys were still at it even hours after the girls had stopped.
"I think Sasuke-Kun is going to win." Sakura said with a blush.
"N-Naruto-Kun will win." Hinata said, her blush more noticeable.
A devilish smile crept onto Ino's face. She knew her friends had crushes on their respective boys. Both boys were very good looking and no doubt they would be very handsome men when they grew up and had their own charm. Though if she had to pick one, she would go with Sasuke. What can she say? Uchiha men had an appealing nature that just begged to be noticed. Plus, everyone knew that Naruto was spoken for, even if the couple didn't realize it yet. "Oh? What makes you say that?" Ino said, seeing if she could get something out of the girl.
Hinata started to poke her fingers together, now being put on the spot. "W-well Naruto-Kun is a sk-skilled fighter, and he doesn't give up." Hinata explained.
"True but so is Sasuke-Kun." Ino replied. "You've seen him fight before."
"Yea Ino-San is right Sasuke-Kun is a good fighter." Sakura joined in. "He's beaten Naruto-kun before, and he can do it again."
Ino wanted to point out that the same thing could be said about Naruto. But remained silent. She knew her friend could be stubborn at times, especially when it came to Sasuke. "Is there anything else that makes you think that?" Ino asked Hinata.
"Well, he can see everything with his eyes, so he always knows where Sasuke-San is and knows what he is doing. But Sasuke-San doesn't and can only see Naruto whenever he faces him. Naruto-Kun can more easily surprise him if he wanted to."
That was a valid point, Ino gave the Hyūga girl that. The Yamanaka girl looked around and up, looking for the floating eyeballs that Naruto controlled. She spotted a few, and she knew that there were more hidden somewhere and that some of them were "under cloak," as Naruto once put it. To be honest, she thought the Futogan was creepy and scary. Who wouldn't? Seeing disembodied eyeballs float around was unsettling to see at times. She had grown used to them like the others and even found it funny seeing others react to them. She also found them to be cute in a sort of creepy way. Weird, yes, but she learned that weird didn't necessarily have to be a bad thing, nor did the creepy. But never in her life would she ever find Shino's Kinkuku to be cute. They were just straight-up creepy to her.
Hinata's point was seemingly proven right when Ino turned her attention back to the spar. She shall Naruto pinning Sasuke to the ground, a look of surprise on the latter's face. "Well, it looks like Hinata was right." She commented.
"Sasuke will win the next one." Sakura said. They saw both boys get up and took positions facing each other. A couple of seconds later, they launched themselves at each other.
"Now that we're on the subject of boys." In said, stirring the conversation away from the spar. "Hinata, who do you think is cuter?" Getting an epp from the shy girl. "Sasuke? Or Na-ru-to?" The blush that covered Hinata's face was all the answer Ino needed.
"W-w-well I-I-I th-th-ink t-th-that." Hinata stuttered all over herself as she tried to come to answer. Ino swore she saw steam coming off the girl. Next to her, Sakura was holding back a smile. Hinata's crush on the blindfolded blond was something that everyone could see, everyone except for said crush. Too bad she couldn't see that Naruto felt the same way. Irritating at times, but it makes for good teasing material.
"Come on, girl, spit it out." Ino pressed.
"W-wheel I th-think aahh. She trailed off before whispering something that Ino could not catch.
'Could you say that again? I didn't hear you." Ino said
Again, another whisper.
Ino brought her hand to her ear. 'Say that again."
Another whisper though this time, Ino could hear more of what Hinata was saying.
"One more time, please?" Ino asked.
"Ino-San, I'm not sure if this is a good idea." Sakura tried to reason, sounding worried. Ino ignored her.
"I think Naruto-kun is cuter." Hinata said, a surprising amount of frustration seeping into her voice.
Ino wondered how far she could take this. "I'm sorry, could you say that one more time."
"Ino-San." Sakura said.
A determined glint appeared in Hinata's eyes. "I SAID THAT I THINK THAT NARUTO-KUN IS CUTER THAN SASUKE-KUN." The girl shouted.
Ino was surprised that Hinata was even capable of shouting, but none the less she smiled to herself. Mission accomplished. "Alright, Hinata, you didn't have to shout. I could hear you loud and clear." Her smile grew. "And so did everyone else."
Hinata's eyes widened as the realization hit her, and she turned her head to where the boys were. Sure enough, Sasuke and, most importantly, Naruto both stared at the girls, specifically at Hinata. "Well, now that's a rare sight." Ino thought to herself, seeing a blushing Naruto, not quite as red as Hinata. From the corner of her eye, Ino saw Hinata duck her head into her knees. Sasuke recovered from his initial surprise and took advantage of Naruto's dumbfounded state by ducking down and sweeping out his leg. Naruto fell and was quickly pinned to the ground.
"Opps," Ino said. "Does that count as interference from us?" She asked, looking at her friends. Sakura was glaring at her, and Hinata still had her head buried in her lap. Ino smiled nervously. Maybe she did take that a little too far.
"Ino, that was mean." Sakura said.
"But I was just teasing her." Ino tried to defend herself halfheartedly.
"I was still mean." The pink-haired girl reiterated. "Look what you did you embarrassed Hinata in front of Naruto-Kun."
"But," Ino sighed and conceded. "Alright, fine, I took that one too far. Hinata-San, I'm sorry I didn't mean to be mean about it. I was trying to have some fun. Can you forgive me?"
For a moment, she did not get any response from the Hyūga girl. Ino was about to give another apology when Hinata looked checks still red as a tomato. She gave a slight nod. "It's alright, Ino-San. I forgive you. I know you didn't mean anything by it." Hinata said softly.
Ino sighed in relief. "That's good to hear. But I am really sorry. I just wanted to have some fun teasing." She explained. "Tell you what. You can tease me about anything to get even." She said. "Anything in the world."
Hinata gave a slight shake of her head. "No, it's alright, Ino." She could her lips were trying to twitch into a smile.
"Come on, Hinata-San." Ino pressed. "Surely, there must be something that even a nice girl like you wants to tease me about. Like how my name can be short for boar."
Sakura scoffed. "I do that all time, though I prefer pig, their cuter." She said.
"Can it forehead." Ino shot back. "You're a regular customer. This a special offer for Hinata."
'Whatever you say, Ino-Pig." They heard Hinata giggle a little.
"See, even Hinata has a mean bone in there." Ino said with a laugh. "Come on, Hinata, just one Ino-Pig, and we're even. You can even take a shot had Sakura's forehead if you want."
"Hey!" Sakura responded, 'I wasn't the one that made her shout that her crush was cute to the high heavens."
This time Hinata's laugh was more audible. "It's alright, Ino-San. I don't have to tease you. I forgive you."
"Alright, if you insist." Ino said, leaning back on the ground using her hands for support. The boys were sparing again. It was clear that they were getting tired now, meaning that the group would be leaving the training grounds soon. "Honestly, Hinata, you're too nice sometimes. You could use a mean streak every now and then. Who knows, maybe a certain somebody might like it." She said with a sly smile.
Hinata blushed grew and was about to put her head into her knees again.
Ino stopped her. "It's alright, Hinata. I was just kidding again." She said. "I'm pretty sure he would like you regardless if you had one or not."
Hinata nodded again. "Naruto-Kun is a very nice person." Said just above a whisper. She hesitated for a moment like she was thinking something over. "I meant what I said."
"Hmm?"
"Naruto-Kun is cuter than Sasuke-Kun." She said without stuttering or her face getting redder.
Ino decided not to say anything about that and just smiled. In some ways, she was jealous of the girl as shy she was. Hinata had managed to get a hold of a good boy to be with. Someone who cares for her in the same way she did. She wished she had a relation that good and sweet. Ino knew that most kids around her age did not tend to think the same she did and seemed to be stuck in the mindset that the other gender was yucky. To be fair, a lot of the boys she's met were on the disgusting side. But she was Yamanaka Ino, and she wasn't like most kids, and she often thought about the prospect of having a boyfriend one day. Unfortunately for Ino, her prospects were not good. As mentioned before, most boys she met were not to her liking. There were a few candidates that could work if she was willing to invest in them. But they had their own problems that made the possibility unappealing to her for different reasons. Two, she felt they were more like brothers to her. One was already spoken for, the other. Ino looks back to the spar, gazing at a certain boy with black hair. The other had a lot of competition for him. Ino internally groaned, wondering if there was someone out there for her. She decided it was best to shelve that line of thinking before it got too depressing.
"It looks like the show is over." Sakura said, pointing in the direction of the boys. Both boys were lying on the ground, flat on their backs.
"Indeed, I say it is." A voice answered.
Ino wasn't sure whose scream was louder, hers or Sakura's. Either way, she was certain Hinata and whoever was behind them were going to be deaf for the next few seconds. Ino shot upturned, seeing Hinata and Sakura doing the same. Instinctively Ino assumed a fighting stance but faltered when she saw who it was.
Uchiha Itachi smiled down at them. "Apologizes. I did not mean to scare you." He said. "Though it is good that you are quick to react, it may save your life and the lives of others one day."
Ino and the others relaxed, seeing that they were in no danger. Ino got a better look had the eldest Uchiha brother. While she did have something that could be called a friendship with Sasuke, acquaintance might be the better description. Naruto and Hinata were the only ones that spent any significant time with the boy, but she had never met his brother in person. Heard a lot about him from Sasuke and seen him from afar yes, better never directly met. Ino felt her cheeks warming. If Sasuke turned even half as good-looking as his brother when he grew up, then he was only going to get more admirers.
"Hello, Itachi-Kun." Hinata said. "How long have you been here?"
"When you got out of the academy," Itachi answered. "I was coming to pick up Sasuke when I saw you heading for the training fields. So, I thought I would watch your training."
He had been watching them this whole time? "That's kind of creepy." Ino said before she could stop herself.
Itachi tilted his slightly towards her. "Again, I apologize. I did not intend to come off as being creepy. I just wished to observe how skilled you are." He looked over to where Sasuke and Naruto were lying. "Sasuke has been improving by a lot of late. Perhaps the academy has improved its methods since I left." Ino somehow doubted it. Itachi seemed to have caught onto her thoughts. "Or maybe it is something else that is the cause." He didn't turn away from watching the boys. He remained silent as though he were considering something. Ino tried to get a closer look at the older Uchiha, trying to discern his thoughts. "It's good that my little brother is making friends. I believe you will be good for him. Having friends can be a good thing, especially during rough times." There was something off about the way he said that. Something that raised a red flag for her. She didn't why it was just the way she felt.
Could it have something to do with whatever was happening with the Uchiha Clan? Her dad wouldn't say anything when she brought it. He said it was nothing. She knew when someone was lying. Whatever was going on, it was something that worried her father, and that scared her.
Whatever Itachi thought, it was gone. He looked back at the girls. "I have had the pleasure of meeting Hinata-San here. But I believe I do not know who you two are." He said, gesturing to her and Sakura.
For now, Ino thought it best to keep her thoughts to herself. "I am Yamanaka Ino." She said.
"The heir to the Yamanaka Clan?" Itachi asked. Ino nodded.
He looked to Sakura. "I'm Haruno Sakura." She said shyly, looking away.
"Sakura?" Itachi questioned, looking at the girl, before a small smile formed on his lips. "A fitting name. It is a pleasure meeting both of you. My little brother speaks well of his classmates." Sasuke spoke about them to his brother? "From what I saw, he was not far from the truth."
"No, it's an honor to meet you." Sakura said, echoing Ino's thoughts. "Sasuke-Kun speaks a lot of you. He admires you a lot."
"Yea, he does." Ino agreed. "He often tells us he wants to be like you."
"It almost reminds me of the way Naruto-Kun looks up the Hokage." Hinata chimed in.
Itachi's smile grew at their statements. "As his brother, I'm happy to hear that." Itachi said. "At first, I was worried my little brother wouldn't be able to open up to anyone and make friends. I am happy to say my fears were unfounded." He walked out from the girls and towards where the boys were. "Come, let's collect the boys, and Sara-San and I shall escort you home.
"Sara-San, when did she get here?" Ino asks, looking over to the boys seeing the Hyūga woman standing over Naruto with a fond smile. The two were chatting while Sasuke was looking at his approaching brother.
"Since we got here," Hinata said. "She's supposed to watch Naruto and me today." She explained before walking away to join the others.
Ino groaned, making a mental note to work on her sensory skills. "Come on, Sakura, let's go."
Konoha Bar
Hiashi walked into the bar feeling tired. A rarity for him, but today had been a long one between dealing with the clan elders and the Konoha Civilian Council, he was in the mood for a strong drink or two. The "leaf's Spring" was his favorite for several reasons. Firstly, it was a Shinobi only establishment and solely by former Shinobi, so he did not have to worry about any civilian, namely members of the Civilian Council. Secondly, it some drinks that were almost impossible to get anywhere else. He had yet to figure out where its owner got them. As for the last, this place held some good memories, and Hiashi, for whatever reason, found himself to be in a nostalgic mood.
He walked past the tables scattered around the bar, mostly being ignored by the patrons, either too drunk to notice someone else coming or not caring. A few did give him welcoming nods as he passed.
He came to the bar and almost froze up when he saw a familiar face sitting at a stool, or more accurately, a familiar back and shoulder-length brown hair. The figure was slumped over the bar and did not seem to notice the presence of another person. Hiashi recovered quickly and took a seat next to his old friend and teammate Fugaku Uchiha.
"A bottle of Snowy Sunset, please." He said to the bartender, getting a nod from the man. With the bartender gone for the moment, Hiashi turned his attention to the Uchiha clan head. The man was nursing his drink and had a longing expression on his face. "I didn't expect to see you here, my old friend.
Fugaku looked up from his drink, confused that someone would talk to him. He turned his head, opening his mouth. "Who are?" His question stopped short as recognition shot through his eyes. "Hiashi-San? Is that you, or have I gotten drunk?" He asked, inspecting his drink closely.
Hiashi shook his head, smiling. "Yes, Fugaku-San it me, your old friend Hiashi. As for if you're drunk or not, that I can't say. If you are then, you're not deep into that hole enough to start imagining things." Hiashi explained. "Though if you are imagining me, it proves your lack of imagination."
Fugaku rolled his eyes at the jab. "It's you alright. What brings you here? I don't see you here often." He asked, taking a sip from his drink finishing it.
"I could say the same thing about you." Hiashi replied. "But to answer your question, I had a long day today. A really long day."
Fugaku gave him a sympathetic tilt of his head. "Clan elders or the Council bothering you?" He asked, signaling another bartender to get him another drink.
"Both," Hiashi answered. "Normally, I'm able to handle them, but today both were particularly grating. A good drink seemed like a good idea to relieve some stress. I assume you've had a long day as well?"
Fugaku remained silent. He turned his attention to his drink, giving it an uncertain look. "You could say that." He said after a moment. "You could even say I've had several long days." Hiashi raised an eyebrow. It may have been a long time since the two had any meaningful interaction, not since Minato died, but he could still recognize when his former teammate was troubled by something. "Things have been busy in my clan of late. I haven't had a chance to myself for a while."
An understatement if there ever was one. Tensions were rising with the Uchiha clan. Rumors were running around that the Uchiha were somehow responsible for the Kyūbi attack seven years ago. Every day more people were starting to distrust the Uchiha clan, and the Uchiha were becoming more isolationist, starting a cycle that fed into itself.
The bartender returned, placing a blue bottle and a small drinking glass on the counter in front of Hiashi. He thanked the man, opening the bottle and pouring its contains into the glass, stopping just short of its rim. Hiashi placed the bottle down and picked up the glass. Holding to his nose, he took in its aroma and downed it in one gulp. It was a sweet drink and had a powerful kick to it.
"A Snowy Sunset?" Fugaku questions with a small hint of humor in his voice. "Now I know you've had a long day."
Hiashi placed the glass down and examined the bottle. Its simple appearance was deceptive. This bottle was more expensive than most people could afford in a year and was difficult at best to get a hold of. How the owner came to get a stash of the stuff was a mystery, the same going for the dozens of other rare and hard-to-find vintages he kept. Most accepted that the man just had good connections in the industry. "It's good stuff." He said, pouring himself another drink and downing it. "I'm glad that." Hiashi paused as a memory resurfaced. His first time entering this bar, being dragged in by Minato with Fugaku close behind, it had been after the completion of their first A-rank mission. "I'm glad the Minato introduced me to it. He always did seem to know where to find the good stuff." He said with a sad smile.
He heard a huff escape the Uchiha's mouth. "We can blame Jiraiya-Sensei for that one. That perverted sage corrupted our blond friend. You remember how pure and sweat he used to be. Kushina did not help, though I suppose she did keep him from being a pervert." There was a fond smile on his lips
Hiashi shook his head, a small snort coming from his nose. Memories good and bad were flooding in. Their first meeting was in the academy. When they became a team, the image of Fugaku being tied to a stump still brought a laugh to Hiashi. Their C-Rank, their first kills, becoming Chunin. Attending each other's weddings, being there for the birth of Fugaku's first son. Seeing Minato and Kushina being buried together. Hiashi's smile faltered. That had been a bad day for him. Seeing them buried had a driven home that he had lost two good friends. "I miss him." He said without realizing.
When he did, he turned his head, seeing that Fugaku still was still smiling. But it wasn't a happy one. It was sadder. "I do too." He said, breaking an awkward silence. "Hiashi," He paused like he was considering something. "Where did it all go wrong?" He asked.
Somehow Hiashi suspects the question was for some else as well. "Pardon me?" He inquired.
"Where did it all go wrong?" The man repeated himself. "We used to be so close. We were friends, teammates. No, we were more than that. We were brothers. Only our wives were as close to us as were to each other. Even then, there were things we didn't tell them. Things we only told each other. Our fears, insecurities, our dream, and everything else in-between, there was nothing we couldn't talk about. We helped each other whenever we needed it. Grant it, we didn't get along all the time. We had some legendary fights."
Hiashi nodded. "Yea, that we did. We both know how much of an ass you can be."
"I won't argue that," Fugaku responded, putting his glass down. "I can be a tough man to get along with. Too often, I have to wonder why Mikoto hasn't left me."
'That is because she loves you as Hitomi does with me." Hiashi answered. "I will admit that I had my share of being a Jackass, Kushina would put it."
Fugaku nodded. "Back then, we had Minato to keep the peace between us. Then we," He paused again. "Then we," It was like the words didn't won't be spoken.
"Then we didn't." Hiashi finished for him. Their drinks had long been forgotten.
Fugaku remained silent. "Tell me, Hiashi was our friendship so fragile that all it took was the death of one of us? Or, more accurately, it took Minato dying. I have to wonder if one of us took his place, would the two that remain still be close today?"
Hiashi had thought about it more than once. What if Fugaku had died? Would he and Minato have remained close? Or if he had died, would Fugaku and Minato have remained closed? It was a thought he didn't like to think about and often was quick to shelve it whenever it crept up in his mind. Now though, he couldn't so easily put it aside.
How could they have drifted so far apart when they had been so close before? Surely, they would notice and would have tried to mend it earlier, right? But that didn't happen. Minato had been the heart and soul of their group. Without it, the center couldn't hold. At first, after his death, they had remained close. But slowly, like a rock being eroded by the wind, they had grown apart until they had stopped interacting with each other altogether, except for when it was needed. The last time they had a meaningful interaction was…
Fugaku caught onto his thoughts. "Two years ago." He said. "More than a few times, I was tempted to take him in. Hokage and the village be damned. That boy deserved better than the isolation he received, and we both know for a fact that Orphanage was abusing him. But I could never go through with it. Something always seemed to hold me back." There was an unspoken statement that hung in the air. "But I guess I don't have to worry about that anymore. You were a better friend to Minato than I was."
Hiashi shook his head. "No, I wasn't. I'm just as a bad of friend as you were. It took him saving my daughter and getting his eyes torn out for me to finally take action. Even show how bad of a father I have been. But I suppose, in the end, we did make the right choice when it counted."
"We?" Fugaku questioned.
"You support me when I announced that I was taking the boy in as a ward of the Hyūga. You even want as far as to threaten the Civilian Council when they got into an uproar." Hiashi explained the memory of the councilmen cowering in fear bringing a genuine smile.
"How is he doing?" Fugaku asked.
"He's doing good. He's got a lot of his parents in him." The Hyūga clan head began to chuckle. "He especially got his mother's deviousness."
Fugaku's smile was a strange mixture between horror and amusement. "Remind me never to get on that boy's bad side. I don't think my pride and ego can handle whatever his mind could cook up."
"He even has her density. My daughter has been crushing on him from day one, and he has yet to notice."
Fugaku rolled his eyes, snorting. "Let me guess he's also heads over heel for the girl. Uzumakis, it's a wonder that they ever had any kind of family, let alone a clan."
"One of the great mysteries of the world." Hiashi commented.
"You may alrighty know this, but my youngest son Sasuke is attending the academy." Fugaku said after a moment of silence. "It seems he's made friends with your daughter and the boy."
"I do. Naruto tells me a lot about him." Hiashi said, nodding his head. He found it funny how his daughter, Minato's son, and now Fugaku's son were growing close as friends. Fate sure seemed to love her rhymes. "It reminds me how we used to be."
"Yes, it does. My son talks a lot about Naruto and Hinata too. It's nostalgic in a way. Maybe that's why I'm here today, and perhaps even you too." Fugaku said, getting a raised eyebrow from Hiashi. "Maybe we're here not just because we had a long day. But perhaps both of us had hoped to see the other here today."
A frown formed on Hiashi's lips. Now seemed like a good time to ask. "Fugaku, what is happening? What is going on with your clan?"
Fugaku remained silent a moment that seemed to stretch out into eternity. "I can't say Hiashi. But what I can tell you is that things have been moving forward fast. Faster than I can keep up with." He gulped down another glass. "I know we just had a conversation about us trusting one another and being able to talk about things. But I feel like I need to sort this out for myself before I can talk to you."
Hiashi nodded. It wasn't the answer he wanted to hear. "I understand, Fugaku. But feel free to talk to me about it if you change your mind. Remember, it may have been a long time, but we are still friends." Hiashi poured himself another drink.
"I probably won't." Fugaku said. "But if it is all the same to you, I don't mind talking to you so more. It's been far too long, so maybe it's time we mended that bridge."
"You won't get an argument from me." Hiashi agreed.
They both raised their glass, clinging them together. Fugaku took a gulp from his glass before placing it down. Then his face scrunched up as he considered something. "Hiashi, I do have one request to ask of you. As a friend and as a fellow father."
Hiashi raised an eyebrow at Fugaku's statement. "Yes, anything."
The Uchiha clan head turned around in his stool, giving Hiashi the most serious expression he had ever seen on the man's face. "In the coming weeks or even months, if anything happens to me and/or Mikoto. Anything at all, I need you to do one thing."
"What is it"
"Look after my sons."
We start to see more of what's happening with the Uchiha. They are still planning a coup but without Obito's pushing more of them including Fugaku are on the fence about it. In the next chapter I'm hoping to show Fugaku's struggle with if he should fully commit to the coup or if he should take as step back, cool off and come to the negotiation table. I would also like to show Itachi's thoughts on the matter and him thinking on what he would do if the worst comes, we'll see about that.
Well 2020 is finally over and I think I speak for all of us when I say good riddance and hope never to see you again. Here's praying 2021 is at the very least a uneventful year, though considering what happened in Washington a few weeks ago that maybe wistful thinking.
After this I'm think go back to dividing my attention between this story and my Mass Effect/Tokyo Ghoul story. With the latter I got more of it planned out enough that I can see the road to ending it and beginning on the next story where Shepard will take center stage, mostly. Until than have a good day, and happy belated News years.