"And I'm back on my grind"
"I wonder", Kanye West, 2007
Naruto was taking deep breaths as he stared at the sun above him. He currently was sprawled out on the soil in a clearing of the forest. He thought that Mace would teach him how to do cool stuff, but all he did was make him run around the forest and lift heavy stuff. Mace's figure appeared in his field of vision, blocking the sun and casting shade on his face.
"I... thought... you... were... going... to... teach... me... cool... Jedi... stuff..." Said Naruto, taking deep breaths in between words, doused in sweat
"I am. During your Jedi training, you must train both the mind and the body. Doing "cool Jedi stuff" as you put it does not mean you do not need to exercise. If your description of a shinobi is correct, then you need lots of it. From what you have told me, one needs to be in peak physical condition to do "cool ninja stuff" again, as you put it."
"Yeah, well, I ain't gotta like it!"
Mace sighed. "But I suppose we should get you started in your force training as soon as possible. From now on, you will be here at sunrise every day. We will be starting on physical conditioning each morning, then move to force training in the afternoon. Now, I believe you said you were skipping school... This time I will overlook it. Next time I will not tolerate it. And I will know if you are skipping. Now, go, the instructors are probably looking for you"
Naruto's back straightened, a look of horror overtaking his face. "I-I'm sorry, Master, i-it won't happen again, promise!" Said Naruto, frightened at what hell his master could make him go through.
Mace nodded. "Good. Now, go"
Naruto started running back to the academy, daring not to defy his master. Mace watched Naruto leave with a sigh. He had only trained one Jedi in his life, and she was already somewhat experienced. He shook his head, sighing to himself. 'This will take longer than I thought' He thought, as he walked back to his ship. He quickly realized that he had, quite literally, all the time in the world. That thought put him at ease, and started creating a training plan for Naruto. He thought back to how the boy had described life on this planet. His life sounded harsh, Mace figured it had to do something with the two force presences inside him... Yet he held such fondness for this place... it was puzzling to him. He also wanted to interact with this Hokage figure, whoever it was. The way Naruto described him, even though it was the musings of a child, it still piqued his interest.
Mace strolled through the bustling streets of Konoha, watching as kids ran along, ninjas hopped from rooftop to rooftop, and civilians went about their day. He also got weird stares from the people, which didn't affect him, but he surely felt them. Naruto wasn't exaggerating about how judging these people could be. He remembered Naruto saying that the Hokage lived in the big red tower in the middle of the village, and once it was in sight, he prepared on how to make himself look not like a total weirdo. As he approached the tower, he saw two guards at the front gate. He focused hard, and swiped his hand in front of their faces. "You will let me pass"
"We will let you pass," The guards said in unison, stepping aside, and letting him walk inside. Mace was genuinely surprised at how easy that was. This was supposed to be the most important person in the village, yet someone as weak as them were guarding his building? Then again, chakra and force, while sharing elements, were not the same. He shook his head and made his way inside, carefully watching where he was going as to not alert anyone. He honestly expected he had to go through more guards, but everyone there paid no heed to him. It made sense, in a way, If the guards let him in, why would they worry about him? He made his way up to the Hokage's office, past the secretary who was easily dealt with using a simple mind trick, and knocked on the door.
Hiruzen regretted taking back his job. he sat at his table, his wrinkled face scrunched in boredom, smoking his pipe. He was dressed in the usual red and white Hokage garments, lazily resting his head on his palm while signing paperwork. Suddenly, he heard a knock at the door. He stood at attention, his posture straightening. 'Hm... I don't have any meetings today...' He thought suspiciously. Regardless, he called out for whoever was behind the door to come in. In walked a dark-skinned man, about 6'3 tall, with a lot of wrinkles on his face and a scruffy-looking beard. Most notably, the man had a missing hand. The man closed the door behind him and walked inside.
"And you may be?" Beckoned Hiruzen, his eyebrows raising. He carefully assessed the man before him. He felt out for his chakra, his eyebrows raising slightly as he felt the large amounts of it inside him
"My name is Mace Windu" He gave a short bow
"Well, Mr. Windu, that's not a common name... anywhere really... Where do you come from?
"That is what I would like to discuss with you, lord Hokage." Responded Mace, remembering his diplomatic training. He had forgotten a lot of things about being a Jedi, on the political aspect at least.
"Oh? Please continue" Responded Hiruzen, still weary of the man
"What I am about to say is for your ears only... So, *Mace looked up* those people need to go"
Hiruzen was impressed. "A sensor? I must say, Mr. Windu, I'm impressed." He signaled his anbu to get out of the room. "Now, what would you like to discuss?"
Mace took a deep breath, preparing himself for a difficult conversation. "Before I start, I can prove everything I'm about to say." He started explaining how he got there, Hiruzen paying wrapped attention to his words. He found what the man before him was saying hard to believe, but he heard him out regardless, only because the man said he had proof. At the end of the explanation, he took a deep breath. "So you're saying you're an alien?" Asked Hiruzen bluntly
"...Something like that... yes."
"Right... You realize that this is very hard to believe for me, right?
"I do. And I can prove it to you." Mace reached out with his only hand, and force-pulled a book from the bookshelf next to them slowly into his hand. Hiruzen reached out to feel it with his chakra. He was yet again surprised by Mace. He felt the chakra in the technique, but it somehow felt... different. "I must say, that is truly fascinating, but how can I be sure you're not just lying to me?" He said, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly.
"Well..." Mace hesitated. This was a technique he had worked on in secret for years, but could never perfect. He knew that the council typically looked down upon creating new force techniques, but the council did not exist anymore. "There is a way." He slowly reached out, putting 2 fingers on Hiruzen's temple. "And you think I'm just going to let you touch me?" Asked Hiruzen, his voice taking a hint of slight distrust. "If you had truly felt threatened by me I would not be here" Stated Mace. Hiruzen nodded. "Very well then, you may continue." Mace took a deep breath, and instead of wielding the force, he drew it in. Very carefully, he thought of a few memories, enough that would prove his words, and with a slight push, sent the force outwards.
Hiruzen clutched his head at the surge of memories filling his head, He took a few moments, trying to make sense of everything. He was now suddenly aware of a whole new world that existed beyond their blue little planet. It was a lot to take in for anyone, let alone an old man. He pinched his temple and sighed. "I see... I believe you, but... Why come to me?"
There was a pregnant pause before Mace spoke. "That young boy... Naruto Uzumaki... The force is calling for me to train him... And since he spoke so highly of you, like his grandparent, I thought it was only right I would ask you..."
Hiruzen contemplated what the man had told him. "I see." This was troubling. He wanted Naruto to have the most normal childhood he could possibly have, then again, he already failed greatly at that. Only a select two people would accept to train him, one is actively trying to kill himself, and the other is, Kami knows where. Going through the few memories that Mace shared, he had a basic understanding of what the force is. It's like chakra, but it was leaning more toward natural energy... Hiruzen figured it was somewhere in the middle. "He would have to continue his shinobi training on top of it."
"I'm aware. In fact, I gave him a pretty good incentive to not skip his classes." Hiruzen smiled, and looked at the man a bit differently. He took a deep breath. He contemplated for a minute, realizing the potential Naruto could have would drastically increase if he accepted "Very well then. Although, something tells me you would do it regardless..." Said Hiruzen, a hint of amusement in his voice. "I neither confirm nor deny that statement." Responded Mace with an equal amount of amusement. This is something that he would never do under any different circumstances. "Thank you for your approval, lord Hokage." He sat up, going to leave.
"Wait." Said the Hokage. "I have a proposition to you." Mace turned around, curiously "And what would that be?" Hiruzen took a deep breath "Would you consider joining our shinobi ranks?" Asked Hiruzen, Looking at mace expectantly. "Lord Hokage, I am a man of peace, I-" "We could give you a new arm"
There was a pause, as Mace was forced to think about it. "I Merely resolve conflicts, not start them. However, in the event of the village's safety being at risk, I would cooperate." Hiruzen nodded, knowing that was the best possible outcome. "Thank you, Master Windu... We could provide you with a medium-sized apartment, to get you settled in." Mace's eyebrows rose slightly. "I would really appreciate that, thank you, lord Hokage." The hokage handed him a key, and instructed an anbu to show him where to go. Mace gave one last bow to the Hokage, and left the office
The next day, Naruto met with Mace at the clearing where they had their first training session. Naruto looked up at mace with disbelief
"W-Wait s-so, you want me to climb this tall tree.."
"Yes." Responded Mace cooly.
"A-And I gotta have this backpack with heavy rocks on me the whole time?"
"Yes."
"And y-you want me to get at least halfway b-before school starts?"
"yes."
Naruto looked at him, horror etched on his face "You're insane" Mace's look hardened. "I-I m-m-mean, yes master." Said Naruto, quickly eating his words and threw himself at the tree, climbing up a few branches, before falling back on the ground. "Man... I hate this... Why does this have to be so hard..." Naruto whined. "So you expect everything to be easy? You expect there to be no challenge? If you think like that, then you are a fool, padawan"
"Pada-wha?- HEY, WHO ARE YOU CALLING A FOOL OLD MAN!? I'll show you how good I'll be, any challenge you throw at me, imma go through it like it's nothin'!" Naruto exclaimed, getting up again and starting to climb the tree again. Mace watched on, the corner of his lips turning upwards ever so slightly.
My writing lowkey got better
PLEASE REVIEW YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH THEY MOTIVATE ME!
