The sun had not yet peaked above the treeline line. In this part of the Land of Fire that meant that it was wet and cold. There was a great disparity between this and the temperate dryness of Konoha, but Hiruzen found himself enjoying the brisk weather regardless. They had reached the northern regions of the Land of Fire, where the deciduous forests began transitioning to coniferous.
To get to this point, Team 7 had traveled a great distance yesterday. Hiruzen could see their hesitancy in every step, as if danger lurked around every tree. They were still fledglings and their apprehensiveness would wear off with time. Hiruzen knew that new experiences harbored the potential for expedited growth, which is why he had prioritized a mission so early into their careers. To foster this growth, it was important to refrain from coddling genin. Oftentimes, genin were much more capable then they were assumed to be.
On this mission, he had taken the opportunity to educate them on a myriad of subjects including botany, geography, and more. It would extend their trip, but Hiruzen knew that capitalizing on this learning would be beneficial for their development. This was about learning the knowledge that previous generations of ninja presumed to be fundamental to life in the Land of Fire. Before ninja dwelled in cities and ninja villages, the knowledge of the land was embedded in everyday life. Hiruzen would be remiss to forgo explicitly teaching his students this vital information.
The act of learning, traveling, and keeping night watch had already exhausted them, so Hiruzen had taken the longest shift. He had been up since before dawn to allow his genin time to recuperate their energy.
Now, they were asleep, but would be rising soon. In the meantime, Hiruzen cleaned the camp site. He buried the ash from their fire and erased other traces of their existence. Fortunately, they had not stayed long, so there was not much for him to do. When he was finished, he began his routine of stretches. In his advanced age, he'd discovered that it was necessary for him to stay limber.
His now brittle body had certainly lost some of its capacity to fight as he'd aged. His stamina was not what it used to be, neither was his strength, and his flexibility had diminished considerably. Hiruzen had often fantasized about retiring and letting his body degrade as a body naturally does as one ages. It would be so idyllic to lounge about in the warm sun with a pipe dangling from his lips. But, alas, that had not been his path, especially now when he had genin to account for.
As he stretched, he noticed Ino stirring. She peaked open through scrunched up eyes. As she rose, she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Her hair fell loosely on her shoulders. It was slightly tangled and indented where Ino had worn the hair band for her ponytail. After a day of intense movement and no opportunity to wash themselves, his genin were a far cry from their usual tidy appearance. It would take some time for them to become accustomed to sleeping on the ground.
"Mornin', sensei," Ino said. Her voice sounded raspy from sleep.
"Good morning," he said, "eat these, you'll need the energy for our travels today." He handed her a handful of wild berries and other foraged goods they had gathered yesterday. She thanked him and ate at a sedentary pace.
When she was finished, he said, "Will you join me?"
She nodded and they both began to stretch. He showed her a few stretches that helped for long distance travel and they practiced breathing techniques to awaken them in the early morning. Since Ino was the only student awake, Hiruzen thought it would be a good time for individual training.
"Your hair is longer than I thought," Hiruzen said.
She glared at him, her eyes narrowed and her lips formed a fine line. "You're not going to tell me to cut it, are you? I get enough of that from my parents," Ino said.
"On the contrary," Hiruzen said, "there was a time when the prevailing wisdom said that all ninja, especially genin, should cut their hair so as to not give an advantage to enemy ninja who may try to exploit it in a fight. How much that advice helped is up for interpretation," Hiruzen said. He chuckled.
Then, he added, "No, I would not suggest such a thing."
"Why did they say that?" Ino said. She stopped her stretch and pulled her hand through her hair, tangled as it was now after an uncomfortable night of sleep.
"The idea was that long hair could get you into trouble if an enemy were to grab on to it. It could give them the advantage in a fight. However, a similar effect may be achieved by simply grabbing the collar of a ninja. All things considered, it is easier said than done," he said.
Ino patted and smoothed her hair, then looked at Hiruzen. "What would I do if someone did get a hold of it?"
Hiruzen smiled. "You viciously punish them for the audacity to even attempt it!" He said, "Hair, like any part of your body, can be infused with chakra. My previous genin team all had long hair and I taught this technique to all of them, though Jiraiya made the most use of it. When an enemy attempts to grab your hair, it will be as if they are plunging their hand into a pile of loose senbon."
Hair manipulation had both offensive and defensive capabilities, though Hiruzen preferred to use it in a defensive capacity, to protect the nape of the neck and the sides of one's head. This technique, a B-rank, was a great exercise in chakra manipulation and was difficult to master due to the lack of chakra networks in the hair. It required someone with an attention to detail and a high level of chakra control. Ino had both qualities in spades.
Hiruzen modeled the technique for her and showed her the hand signs required to complete the technique. As she gained proficiency with the hand signs and the feeling of molding chakra to one's extremities, she would be able to mold it to be suitable to her needs. As Ino was wont to do, she dived into her training with a voracious spirit. She strived for mastery and while that could be a good quality in a ninja, Hiruzen did not want her to perseverate over one or even a few skills. There was a need to be well rounded too.
As she worked, her visage was twisted and contorted into a pained expression. Her brow was stitched together in both determination and a deep, unsettling urgency. Hiruzen understood the pressure of being born into a clan, especially as the clan head's child. Ino's expression spoke of the stress of expectation.
Whether she placed it on herself or if the expectation came externally, it was there all the same. He had seen much of the same in Asuma at the same age. He wondered if he was contributing to the worry and expectation that Ino was operating under. Could he avert that same outcome this time around?
Hiruzen observed her work and corrected her when he thought it was appropriate. He was careful to provide positive feedback frequently. As she worked through the intricacies of the technique, the boys began to stir. When they were awake, he assigned them to collect edible berries and other foraged items to supplement the rest of their breakfast while he finished removing traces of their habitation.
They returned shortly with handfuls of berries and seeds. Their teeth were already stained with berry juice and the urge to chide them for eating without the rest of the team was strong, but he withheld his rebuke in order to avoid diminishing their confidence in a new skill. Instead, he gathered them around to go over the next part of the mission.
"Today, we will cross the border of the Land of Fire and the Land of Iron. We are entering neutral territory, which means that we need to be on high alert," he said.
"Is there a chance that we might run into other ninja," Shikamaru said, hesitancy present in his voice.
"While the Land of Iron remains neutral to all nations, many ninja use the Land of Iron as a place of safe travel and to avoid crossing through the northern forests of the Land of Fire," Hiruzen said, "there is a chance we will run into enemy ninja, which is why we will do our best to remain undetected and aware."
They nodded and he continued to outline their path through the remainder of the distance to the Fuma Clan grounds. The sun had just risen and if they left promptly and made haste, they should arrive by dinner. At their current stage of development, traveling for ten hours would be exhausting for them. Though it was not strictly necessary for them to arrive at that time, Hiruzen thought it prudent to practice quick travel should they ever require to move at such a pace for a future mission. It was always beneficial to practice these essential skills when the stakes were low.
They embarked on their journey without much deliberation. As they leapt between branches, they practiced common team formations with the help of clones when the formation necessitated more than four members. To Hiruen's surprise, Naruto was able to produce shadow clones, too. He grinned at Naruto's precocious ability with chakra. This would accelerate his training significantly.
As they continued to pass the time, Hiruzen quizzed them on a variety of topics.
Shikamaru excelled in his geography, strategy, and tactical questions. It was to be expected of a Nara, especially from Shikaku's son. What he wasn't explicitly taught, he had learned indirectly by being in close proximity to his father, the jonin commander.
Ino was able to answer her fair share as well. Similarly to Shikamaru, her upbringing in one of Konoha's great clans had benefited her and prepared her for life as a ninja. In addition, her intrinsic drive propelled her to achieve and learn. Both Ino and Shikamaru benefited from circumstances of birth, though they were obviously talented regardless.
Naruto was capable, though inexperienced. While his tactics and instincts in battle were superb, he would need to gather the experience to truly catch up to his peers' knowledge in other topics. He reminded himself that Naruto did not have the natural built in experiential learning offered by Konoha's clans. In time, he would possess that experience, especially with the shadow clone's ability to aid in his training and assist him in closing the gap that at one time had appeared to be a chasm.
They rested for roughly thirty minutes. Shikamaru sprawled in a field nearby, his chest heaved with exhaustion. Ino's face was flushed red and she too breathed deeply. Naruto was the only genin who appeared to be able to handle the exertion of their trip. Hiruzen mused about the stamina of an Uzumaki. He chuckled at the thought. It was truly unmatched.
Naruto spent their break tending to the needs of the team. He upended water over Shikamaru's head, which was somewhat unwelcome given Shikamaru's yelp, but he helped the other boy rehydrate regardless. He offered Ino some of his rations, meant to replenish chakra, which she eagerly accepted.
Hiruzen was proud to see Naruto assisting his comrades, though his methods could use some refinement. That mindset was at the core of Konoha's philosophy. Those who had the ability to perform were obligated to use their abilities to aid their comrades. This central tenet had been reworded and voiced in a thousand different ways since it was first implemented by the Second Hokage and it remained at the nucleus of ninja development for Konoha to this day.
After their short rest, they resumed their travel. For the remainder of their journey, they continued to practice basic maneuvers as well as chakra exercises. The brisk air was no worry to them given the amount of physical exertion required to make it to the Fuma clan grounds before nightfall. They only stopped to refill their water canisters and as the sun began to set in the distance, they reached the outermost territory of the Fuma clan.
The forest began to thin out in favor of rockier terrain and increasing altitude. Team 7 hiked for roughly thirty minutes. The air around them progressively grew colder and thinner as they ascended the low slope. Finally, after what had proved to be an arduous journey for his small genin, they began to see plumes of smoke in the distance, a result of the smelting process conducted by the Fuma clan.
They reached a small peak and below them, they could see a small collection of gray, stone buildings, each of which was no more than two stories. The structures had been strategically built upwind and in a location where the rocky spires protected their dwellings and gardens from the smoke created by their smelting facilities. Each building was built uniformly, without much deviation. The utilitarian buildings were built from large rectangular stones and topped with thatched roofs that were piled high with dense, dry vegetation.
Team 7 descended the sheer face of the small cliff that overlooked the Fuma clan village in lieu of traveling along the edge that wound down toward the village. The sunken eyes and wobbly legs of his genin told him that they would benefit from taking the shorter route. As they approached the village, Fuma clan members nodded to them as they noticed team 7's forehead protectors that displayed the stylized spiral leaf that was commonly identified as Konoha.
Hiruzen's genin followed with uneasy footsteps. Their eyes were up and moved around quickly as they took in all the new sights and sounds. This was unfamiliar territory for them, even if the Fuma were friendly with Konoha. It behooved them to possess some degree of hesitancy in a new place, so Hiruzen did not dissuade their wide eyed stares.
Before them stood a large building. It was roughly a similar height to those around it, but it stretched the length of the entire row of homes adjacent to its location. Above the door frame hung the infamous Fuma shuriken. In the decades since they had designed this weapon, it had become synonymous with their clan.
Hiruzen pushed open the large oaken door. A blast of heat pushed out from inside the long building. It was a welcome feeling given their outdoor experience and the look of relief on his genin's faces. The din of laughter and raucous enjoyment poured from within. A large man sat in the middle of a long table. His long, orange hair spilled over his shoulders and down his back. It was streaked with gray and when the man turned, he had an equally orange and gray beard that grew down his chest. His eyes were alight with passion.
"Lord Hokage!" The man said, "it is truly an honor to be in your presence. And for such a mundane task, too." He chuckled with mirth.
Hiruzen smiled as well. It had been a long time since he had seen the head of the Fuma clan. At least fifteen years had passed since they had negotiated their exclusivity deal and it had been even longer since they had taken the battlefield together.
"Souta. It has been too long," he said. Hiruzen clasped his hand onto Souta's forearm and the other man did the same, in a greeting typical of the old northern clans of the Land of Fire. Hiruzen exchanged the envelope with payment and Souta instructed his men to prepare the carriage for departure.
With the business quickly concluded, Souta peered over his shoulder, his eyebrows raised in curiosity. "And who are these little ones?" He said.
"Uzumaki Naruto at your service," Naruto said. He had moved around Hiruzen to stand in front of Fuma Souta. He grinned through his exhaustion and extended his arm in a similar manner as Hiruzen had done previously.
Hiruzen winced at Naruto's ignorance to the gesture's meaning. The Radial Handhold was a traditional greeting among the older northern clans of the Land of Fire in which both parties grasped the inner forearm and the radial artery. It was a show of trust and was typically never offered to someone you had just met and never from a younger ninja to an older one. It was always the opposite, if it were even to be done. Based on Shikamaru's similarly pained expression, he understood as well. The Nara and Yamanaka both hailed from the north of the Land of Fire and both of his genin had likely seen the handhold practiced to some degree.
Souta was silent for a moment before he bellowed with laughter. To Hiruzen's surprise, he reached out and grasped Naruto's forearm in the Radial Handhold and locked eyes with Naruto.
"You have the unintended charm of an Uzumaki, that much is clear," Souta said. Then he turned to Hiruzen. "Brash and unfiltered, like they all were," he said.
"Really," Naruto said. His eyes lit up.
Souta nodded and scratched his long beard. "Oh, yes. You have the same brash nature as your clansman, that much is obvious to all who've interacted with your people," he said.
"I'm starting to understand how Naruto got this way," Shikamaru said. His hands were firmly shoved in his pockets and he averted his eyes when he noticed the attention of Souta, whose stature towered over them all.
"And you must be a Nara. You look just like your forebears and the clans of old," Souta said. He turned his attention to Ino. "And if my instincts are still sharp that would mean you are a Yamanaka, then?"
Ino's lips curled into a smile and she raised an eyebrow. "Good guess," she said.
"Hiruzen, you've taken on quite the challenge in your elderly years. I can't say I'd choose to do the same in your position," Souta said. Souta stood a head taller than Hiruzen and weighed at least twice as much.
Hiruzen shook his head in affirmation. "They are the future of our village," he said. Between men like Souta and himself, it was all that needed to be said.
Souta had led the Fuma clan for decades. He understood the essential need for a healthy upbringing for a young ninja, especially as an independent clan. To lose a young ninja either through death or treachery could destroy the clan's standing. Though the Fuma had been shielded partially through geographic location and favorable political standing in the Land of Iron, there were still difficulties for any group of ninja that was unaffiliated within the ninja village system. It could not have been easy, Hiruzen thought.
Souta smiled, but the circles under his eyes looked more pronounced than ever to Hiruzen. "Let me introduce you to our future, then," he said. He beckoned a diminutive figure over to them from the far side of the room. Hiruzen could not quite make out who was approaching, but they clearly commanded respect from the men in the room, as they parted easily to make room.
To Hiruzen's surprise, from the crowd appeared a girl, a few months or perhaps a year older than his own genin. Her straight hair extended nearly to the floor and shone brightly even in the dim light of the longhouse, like a freshly polished weapon.
"Father," she said to Souta. A smile stretched across his face.
"This is my daughter, Akane," he said. Her soft, lidded eyes reminded him of Shikamaru, though he could tell that her expression was guarded. Naturally, around new people, she might be hesitant.
"I hope you all will stay the night and feast with us after your long travel. I'm sure you all could benefit from rest and a warm meal," Souta said.
His genin nodded vigorously at the suggestion. Hiruzen too nodded in assent. Souta clasped his hands together. "Very well! Akane, please show these fine genin from Konoha where they may wash up for the evening meal," he said.
Akane bowed her head and led team 7 away from the longhouse at her father's directive. Hiruzen watched them scuttle away. Souta placed his weathered hand on Hiruzen's shoulder.
"Let us catch up, old friend," he said.
Akane led them through the modest village. The sun had all but set and its dying light cast the sky into vibrant shades of purple and red. The first stars would be coming out soon, but Naruto was more interested in talking with Akane. He jogged to catch up to her quick pace.
"Akane, did you know you're the first person my age that I've met outside of Konoha," he said. He smiled blithely. Ino rolled her eyes.
"You hardly have to announce that, Naruto," Ino said. Shikamaru tittered with amusement at his antics. He was only trying to be friendly!
Akane turned to regard him directly for the first time, her brow raised in question. "I don't even know you," she said.
"Well, we should be friends anyway!" Naruto said. Naturally, she was not forthcoming with her answers, but Naruto could tell that she was a kind individual just by the feel of her chakra. He couldn't explain it, but he knew she could be a friend to them.
He spun around and walked backward as he followed the group. "Are you a ninja, too?" Naruto said.
Akane scrunched her brows together, her lips pursed in a fine line. "We are all ninja here. There is no other way to protect our way of life," she said.
Naruto's shoulders sagged. "Oh, that makes sense," he said. Naruto thought about all the people that lived in Konoha who had nothing to do with being a ninja. Teuchi and Ayame cooked ramen and were damn good at it. What did people like them do outside of a ninja village? He realized that he didn't know.
Akane said nothing in response and instead led them to a large building. Naruto didn't hold it against her. Despite Akane's curt response, Naruto remained undeterred. Naruto knew that he could win any friend over to his side eventually.
"This is the bath house," she said, "you can wash yourselves here before we eat."
The bath house was split into two sides, a men's side and women's side. Shikamaru and Naruto stripped out of their clothes on the men's side and began washing themselves. Naruto peered through the misty room. A decorative tile encased the floor and walls of the bath house. Each tile was imprinted with the shape of the Fuma Shuriken. No one else was currently using the bath house, so Naruto knew they were free to talk.
Shikamaru turned to him. His hair was drenched and fell in strands around his shoulders. "Be cautious with what you reveal to Akane, or any Fuma clan member, for that matter," he said, "they're known to be a contentious bunch."
Naruto washed the suds from his hair. "Akane seemed nice enough," he said.
Shikamaru guffawed at his assertion. "That's only because you haven't met very many people. She wasn't interested in what you had to say," he said.
He paused, then he smiled wryly. "You don't have a crush on her, do you?" He said.
Naruto laughed and lobbed his sponge at Shikamaru, but he dipped his head just enough for the sponge to land with a splash in a nearby bucket. "Oy, asshole," Naruto said, "you know that's not what true."
Shikamaru held up his hands in a placating manner, but the laughter still managed to sneak out in spurts. "Sorry, sorry, you're right," he said.
They fell into a contented silence. The only sound that Naruto could hear was the running water. Then, Naruto remembered what Shikamaru had said before his crude joke. "What did you mean when you said they were 'contentious'," he said.
"Where to start," he said. Shikamaru chuckled and scratched the back of his head as he searched for the words.
"They had an opportunity to join Konoha when the village was forming, but they could never come to an agreement. There's a lot of history behind what I said. The Nara clan grounds used to be in the north of the Land of Fire, so we got a first row seat to all of the conflict that happened in this area between the Fuma and Hyuuga."
When we first became a team, Ino mentioned that our clans actually became friends because we were vassals to the Akimichi, who were dragged into the Hyuuga-Fuma Clan wars. That happened because the Akimichi and Hyuuga had a mutual defense pact. The Fuma clan were the aggressors. When you went for the Radial Handhold, you never know how the Fuma clan might react," he said.
"Oh," Naruto said, "that could have gotten messy." They began to dry themselves off and redress as they prepared for dinner.
"Right," he said. Then Shikamaru pushed his shoulder playfully. "Luckily for us, you're a 'charming Uzumaki'."
They both laughed. Secretly, Naruto felt some relief. It made him sick to think he had almost screwed up their first mission. They rejoined Ino and the old man on their way to the banquet hall.
Dinner was a raucous affair in the Fuma clan. The banquet hall was filled with the din of lively conversation and laughter. Pleasant aromas wafted through the room. Naruto ate and drank to his fill as a guest of the Fuma. He was quite grateful that they had afforded his team so much luxury in their stay. What had they done to deserve such treatment? Was money all it took to be treated so well? Naruto had never eaten better.
However, as dinner progressed and his belly felt full to bursting, he couldn't help but think about Akane's words from earlier. She made it seem like every member of her clan was trained to be a ninja. Just by estimating the fighting age clan members in the room, the Fuma clan possessed a sizable amount of ninja. There were not enough here to challenge a village, but certainly enough to dissuade rogue ninja and small bands of ninja from threatening them.
As he had lived his entire life in the safe walls of Konoha, he realized that despite his tough upbringing, he hadn't needed to worry about his immediate safety in the same way that a child brought up in the Fuma clan might. It made him think about the damn fox. That was the last time that Konoha had faced a real threat at their doorstep. Naruto knew better than anyone the mental anguish that had caused his neighbors and friends.
The gravity of his responsibility had never weighed so heavy on his head before. I have to tell Shikamaru and Ino about this. I can't carry this all by myself, he thought. As the festivities dwindled, he took the first opportunity he could when they were all alone. As it happened, it was when they were all laid out on mats ready for bed. The old man was still with Souta.
Naruto chakra roiled in his chakra coils. If I don't say something now, I never will.
"Ino, Shikamaru," he said into the darkness of the room. "I have something to say."
Ino was the first to sit up. It was clear she hadn't been asleep. Her brows were pinched together in concern. Shikamaru sat up groggily next to her.
"Go ahead, Naruto."
"I've only recently learned this about myself, but as my teammates, I think you have the right to know too. I'm a jinchuuriki and the Nine Tailed Fox is sealed inside me. Before you say anything, I talked with Iruka. He made me realize that this might change things-"
"It doesn't change anything for me," Ino said. She put her hand on his shoulder.
Shikamaru, who was now alert, nodded alongside her. "Me too."
"You're not… worried or anything?" Naruto said. He scratched the back of his head and swiped the hair from his face.
"Nope," Ino said, "the Fourth Hokage made your seal, right? Wasn't he, like, the best seal master Konoha has seen since Uzumaki Mito?"
"That's right," Naruto said.
"Then there's nothing to worry about," she said. Then she elbowed Shikamaru in the ribs.
"Ow, woman!" He rubbed his side with a grimace. As he composed himself, he said, "Of course, I agree. Konoha has a long history of successful jinchuuriki of the Nine Tails, so it makes sense that the village would be well equipped to handle anything. In fact, Uzumaki Mito once said-"
"Nerd," Ino said. She nudged him amiably.
"What? It's true," he said, "history is a great tool to understand the present."
"Like I said. Nerd!"
Naruto smiled. Somehow, hearing his teammates bicker and have fun was a cure to his ailing mood. Where he had felt anxiety and worry, he now felt at peace. They agreed to get rest and wake up early to train together before they left in the morning.
Naruto was half asleep when he felt the familiar chakra signature of the old man come into the room. All together once again, he felt relief and contentedness. Then, he fell into a deep sleep.
Jiraiya stood among the upturned earth. The scene was like the aftermath of the battles of his youth. This was certainly no earthquake, like the locals were calling it. This was undoubtedly the work of Tsunade.
In her older years, she'd found fewer and fewer reasons to fight and even fewer to actually try in one. The mountain of upturned earth before him suggested otherwise. The question that remained scared him.
"Who made you this mad, Tsunade?" Jiraiya said. He surveyed the land and began carefully maneuvering through the mess of earth. Whoever did this surely paid a hefty price. Jiraiya combed through the aftermath in search of some clue about what had happened here.
Behind the mountains of earth, he found the earth splashed with blood. The amount suggested that it was the result of a grievous injury. Perhaps it was a lost limb? Neither Tsunade nor Shizune used blades.
The spray had speckled the rocks with red. The injury had left a pool of dried blood. And then, he raised his head to follow the blood, which led in a path of burnt destruction through the forest. The lack of bodies suggested that either no one had been killed or that whoever had instigated the attack had comrades that were able to clear their presence from this scene.
Had Tsunade made it out alive? His only clue now was to follow the path of destruction through the forest and hope that it was Tsunade who had survived.
His face settled into a grim rigidity as he followed the burnt path.