Chapter 1 Start
The rain will come soon. There's a tinge of humidity. The wind is soft but the sky is a blanket of grey.
There's a peaceful quiet from the villagers themselves, hurriedly scrambling to get their clothes down before they get soaked again.
Or at least, until one grating childish voice enters the senses of an old man.
"Just let me in! It's gonna start raining! I'll just sit down, I swear!"
"Get lost, this is a place of peace, not for people like you!"
"Leave the child alone." The old man's voice commands respect, dignified and stern. "He merely wishes to escape the weather."
The museum caretaker starts, as if she weren't expecting his voice to carry over the room.
But she takes note of who he is. She dips her head in respect, with one weary eye still trained on the garishly-dressed child.
The bright-orange tracksuit is quite distracting.
"I'm certain he will behave himself," The old man continues. "He came here for shelter, did he not?"
He trails his good eye over the boys' face, and the child nods enthusiastically.
The woman nods slowly, but grabs the boy by his shoulder.
"Make sure you behave. This is a museum, not a park. Anything you break, you'll be in debt for the rest of your life."
The boy scoffs at her. Instead of reacting, he chooses to go stand by the old man.
"What's the deal with this place?" He asks, taking in the surroundings.
"It is a place of leisure." The old man replies factually.
"Is staring at paintings supposed to be relaxing?" The obnoxious child asks.
"Perhaps. The paintings represent something different, to me."
"Like what?"
The old man shuffles slightly, getting comfortable in the meticulously cleaned leather chair.
"What do you see when you look at this painting, boy?"
"..."
"Take your time." The old man encourages, but with a stale tone.
"...a picture of the Shodai Hokage."
"Indeed. And as depicted in this art, before his eyes is a vision of Konohagakure. Looks quite different from the village today, does it not?"
"Doesn't look anything like Konoha. No mountain or anything." The child voices his observation.
"Quite. And behind him, darkness. Behind him are broken blades and ninja tools, rusted and not fit to be used by anyone, lest they harm themselves on their rust, painted over a barren valley under a night sky, no trees, no greens. Just lifeless rock and metal. I believe that the artist made the art this way with the intention of conveying a message to its appreciant. My interpretation is that for the Shodai Hokage, he wanted to leave behind the Era of war, and create an ideal paradise in which war is an obsolete life. Not necessary. To my eye, this painting marks the Shodai as 'Future'. Senju Hashirama existed in a time where there was no Konohagakure, so what appeared in his thoughts and his dreams would be bound to not resemble anything that the current Konoha is. But the clarity he had for the life he wanted the Shinobi world to leave behind, is quite clear to anyone who sees behind him."
The old man uses his cane to point toward the next painting.
"Now tell me boy, what do you see? And do not say 'Nidaime Hokage'."
The child miraculously sits down, fidgeting but looking at the painting.
Several minutes pass. The only noise being the pitter-patter of the beginning of rain outside, and the shallow breathing of the young and old.
"The Nidaime is right in the middle of the village and the roofs look almost the same. It's like the village is more like it is now but starting from the top of the buildings. There's the mountain behind him but it's only got the Shodai's head. There are lots of Shinobi in front of him but all of 'em are ANBU and they have newer swords than the last picture."
The old man nods, "Go on. What do you feel this painting represents?"
"...I dunno. Just- getting closer to now. Maybe the Present since he's in the middle of the village." He is more astute than the old man initially realised.
"There are elements of modernization, yes." The old man affirms. "The Nidaime was the younger brother of the Shodai. When he became Hokage, he had a great expectation on his shoulders to protect the dream of the Shodai. But the Nidaime was wise, and understood that the idealism of the Shodai must be protected from the greed of the future. It is said that in times of peace, a culture must prepare for war. The uncertainty of the future depicted in the first painting is replaced here by architecture that is more defined. Here, the subjects of the Nidaime are prepared to fight to protect the village, by being ready in the moment for whatever may come. While fear of an uncertain future is evident by the fact they have been armed, fearing the future does nothing when not prepared in the moment. That is why I believe this painting represents the 'Present'."
The old man points again with his cane. This time towards the third painting.
"Same as before. Tell me about this painting. I will not guide you with my way of thinking, but don't just tell me that it's the Sandaime or that it's the Past."
The old man waits and waits and the growing storm outside intensifies. Wind carries the rain. He observes the droplets being pushed across the windows in streaks. It's really quite beautiful. An appreciation was never welcome in his mind when he was young. The noise is soothing. He pushes aside the memories of being in the rain. Right now, in the moment, the rain and breeze is beautiful.
With slow breaths, the child seems to consider how to present what he thinks of the painting.
"Old-man Hokage is on top of the mountain. With his back to the village. Everything looks like it does now. And it's all bright and colourful. I think he's up there 'cause he's standing on what the other Hokage left him. Now what he does is keep everything as it is. The Past, he wants to keep what they made because it's really good."
"Your concise explanation lacks flair, but indeed, what you say does align with my belief on what this painting represents. Sarutobi Hiruzen represents the Past, unbending and unyielding, all those lessons focused into one leader."
"But what about the last one?" The child asks, pointing towards the last painting.
"I have not been here long enough that I can consider it. Perhaps it is you, who can tell me what this one is really about, if it is not Future, Present or Past."
"Change." The boy answers immediately, with no deep consideration, no pondering.
"Why?"
The boy looks up at him. Bright, blue eyes shining.
"He's dead. He learned all the lessons about the Future and the Present and the Past and he's still dead. Look," The points again. "Konoha is rubble. He tried everything, he did everything he could but what the village was, wasn't enough. No-one was ready, it was something out of the ordinary. Konoha wasn't ready but he was, and he sacrificed himself. He was ready for change, and he didn't have time to teach that lesson before he died so that Konoha could have a new Future, Present and Past. It's a lesson everyone is learning the hard way. Sometimes being prepared... isn't enough?"
The boy finishes his observation with a questioning tone, unsure of himself in spite of his bravado, or perhaps nervous that he may not receive validation from the only person that seems to be treating him with any respect.
"Good." The old man grabs the boys' shoulder with his good arm. "Very good. I think you have learned the lessons of these paintings well."
"Thanks, Ji-san." The boy beams up at him.
"Perhaps, you would like to learn more?"
"I dunno. I should be training."
The old man simply nods.
"Your Sensei provides what you need?"
"...He just tells me I should focus on the basics."
The old man reaches into his robe, taking out a little scroll.
"The basics. Fundamentally important and yet, hardly taught with the individual discretion required."
Curious eyes look at him again.
The old man hands the scroll to the boy.
"It is disappointing when talented youth are withheld the training they require. For when it's not enough... come find me."
The boy blinks, and in that split-second, the old man is gone.
"You're too old to be doing this, Naruto."
Naruto doesn't pay him any mind. Doesn't voice his frustration this time. He just keeps scrubbing away at the graffiti he left.
The paint on his orange jacket isn't too garish but it'll come out eventually.
"You should be taking things a bit more seriously, like your brother."
"Maybe my brother should treat me like a human being." Naruto mumbles under his breath.
"What was that?"
"I said- 'who cares?!', it's not like you really give a shit, you're gonna be as happy as the rest of the teachers when I flunk."
"All we ask is that you put in some effort, Naruto!" Iruka sounds annoyed. "Look, I know that it's not fair to compare you to your brother, and I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. But you won't see any improvement if you don't try."
Naruto slams the paint can against the side of the mountain.
"I'm trying! I'm trying everything I can and it's not working!"
Iruka softens, seeing the unshed tears in the eyes of his student.
He lowers himself into the platform, double-checking to make sure Naruto is secure.
"Why don't you stop for a while. We can catch our breath together, just relax for a minute. Okay?"
He sits down, and Naruto slides into a seated position too, head hidden behind scabby knees. Iruka puts himself cross-legged, and just looks at his student. Really looks, not just assessing whatever prank he might be conjuring.
"What's going on, Naruto? I'm not asking as your teacher. I wanna ask you as just one man to another."
Naruto scrubs hopelessly at his tears with his bare arm. He looks over the village, and Iruka is struck by the bright blue's that look so much like one of his heroes.
"Menma hates me." Naruto explains, lips wobbling. "He looks at me like I'm scum. He's my brother, he's all I have and he'd rather make fun of me with his friends than just hang out with me."
"How does that make you feel, Naruto?"
Naruto's exaggerated frown doesn't help him keep his emotions under wraps.
"The only worth I have to anyone is how good of a Shinobi I am. I don't have anyone now. All I have is this and I'm no good at it. I wanna show 'em all, I wanna be the best and shove it their damn faces and laugh at them like they do at me!"
Iruka listens to the impassioned spiel.
"Do you think that humiliating them once will give you enough satisfaction?" He asks, trying to let Naruto come to the conclusion on his own.
"...No."
"I was the same when I was your age." Iruka reveals, and Naruto looks at him warningly. "No, I mean it. I didn't have any real talent. One could say I still don't. I thought that making people laugh would be enough for them to accept me. All it did was make them laugh at me. Even when I started getting better and better, some people just don't grow up. There's always gonna be a critic, no matter how good and competent you are. Even the Hokage isn't spared from it. Proving people wrong, it's like trying to punch something in a dream. Even when it looks like you've won, something else is gonna pop up."
Iruka takes a breath, not entirely aware that his speech had enthralled Naruto's attention.
"Focusing on myself, what my goals were, what the village means to me, what I really wanted, helped me become more of my own person than years of goofing around did. You don't need to mind a word that they say to you. The conditions that they have for them to start liking you are arbitrary and they don't matter. You matter, so focus on what really makes you happy. Right now, you're fuelling yourself on the doubts of other people. If something negative is what gives you motivation, you'll need to reinvent your goals. You want to be a good Shinobi? Fine, but do it because it's good for you, not because someone else doubts that you can."
Iruka would've said more, but Naruto's bright and inquisitive eyes stop him in his tracks.
"Ne, Iruka-sensei. Has anyone ever told you you're a good person?"
Iruka smiles wistfully. "Not to my recollection, I'm afraid."
Naruto steadies what he's showing on his face.
"I think you're a really good teacher and a cool guy. I just don't think I learn like the others do."
"And I think," Iruka catches on, also overwhelmed at Naruto's short but heartfelt statement. "That you're a lot smarter than you think you are. I know that you're capable of so much, and I wish I could teach you to feel it too. But one day, Naruto, you're going to be an incredible Shinobi. You're not stupid, I don't think anyone that can paint this monument in broad daylight can be dumb and outrun ANBU for an hour."
Naruto smiles so brightly that Iruka feels like he's done a good job at helping his student.
"Say, Naruto. Why don't we clean this up together and get something to eat? I think we're both gonna be tired after playing cat and mouse."
"Really?" Naruto asks, so pathetically hopeful that Iruka feels a pang in his heart.
"I mean it. Come on, pass me a bucket and one of those rags. If we work together, we can get this done twice as fast!"
"Yosh!" Naruto cheers, but he pauses.
Iruka finds the suspicious side-eye amusing.
"How did you even find me if the ANBU guys couldn't?" Naruto's observation on his talent does not go unnoticed it seems.
"Ah!" Iruka rubs the back of his head sheepishly. "I practised really, really hard at making my own Sensory Technique."
"That's cheating!" Naruto exclaims, scandalised.
"All is fair in the life of a Shinobi!" Iruka tuts.
Learning from the Past hasn't helped his Chakra Control. Present teachings are like what that one old man said, 'hardly taught with individual discretion'. And since he can't learn from the Future, he needs to learn from 'Change'. If what he knows is the standard, then how does he separate from it? What the hell isn't 'standard'?
Two answers came to him. One is Art, made by the impressive creative drive of gifted individuals and most of the time, left up to 'individual discretion' to determine what the meaning of that Art is on a personal level. It can be inspiring, or comments on the nature of the people and peoples effect on nature.
The other is Iruka-sensei. He'd created his own Technique from one of many reasons. Could've been survival, like he really needed it. Could've been utility, to make himself critical to the success of any team. Could've been simple but effective creative liberty.
For now, he seeks the only other source of inspiration he could think of that might be able to help him.
Staring at paintings all day is exhausting. Confusing pictures, some just seem like paint splashed on a canvas but there are some really cool ones too, like the paintings of the Hokage, and one titled 'Ghost Song', that he thinks is the artist trying to illustrate what he feels is the cool chill wind of a winter evening into something visible and invisible at the same time.
Right now, he is weak. Weaker than probably all of his peers. His Chakra Control sucks. He doesn't even know how to measure how much Chakra he even has if he sucks at Jutsu anyway. He's slow, so any progress he might make using Taijutsu is rendered useless by the fact that almost everyone in his class is faster. The only thing he really has going for him is that he can run way longer than most of his classmates, bar his brother.
Self-reflection sucks. It makes him realise so many unsatisfactory things 'bout himself.
But stuck with this newfound humility, he has found all the areas that he's weak in. He has identified the problems, and now needs to find solutions.
He needs a way to look at himself from the outside. It's not enough for him to be told 'you need to do this', if he can see what he's doing, especially when it comes to Taijutsu training, he might be able to fix his own mistakes. He needs to get faster, so rather than training for really long and steady periods of time, he needs to train for shorter periods and as quickly as his body will let him.
His Chakra Control is ass. So he needs to find something that helps him figure out what's wrong with that before he can start with getting Bunshin no Jutsu right. The only thing he can do is transform.
And Iruka-sensei has something unique. His very own Sensory Technique.
Naruto thinks he needs something like that. An ace up his sleeve. Something cool.
The 'Present' has given him inspiration and motivation.
Now, he needs to find the 'Past'.
"Hokage-Jiji!"
Hiruzen refrains from sighing. The loud voice carries through the office even through the thick wooden door.
"Let him in, let's see what scheme he's crafted this time." Hiruzen does need a break. Maybe Naruto will serve as an interesting distraction.
Naruto bursts in, and Hiruzen sees flashes of his late successor in the boy.
Minus the orange tracksuit. It honestly escapes him how this boy can give his ANBU such a hard time.
He looks very much like a younger Minato, only much louder and somewhat irritating when most of the time what he hears is 'Naruto is on the loose again'.
From what he understands, Naruto's grades have actually taken a steep upturn. Iruka-kun seems to be getting through to him and getting him to take his theory lessons a bit more seriously. But his practical skill is surprisingly lacking considering the prodigious nature of his parents. Menma doesn't appear to suffer through the same problems.
He knows that Naruto is a bit affection-starved, and it does make him feel guilty. Perhaps he hasn't been attentive enough...
"What is it, Naruto-kun?" Hiruzen asks before taking a light drag from his trusty pipe.
"I wanna know how to look in two directions at once!"
'What are you up to?' The old Hokage exhales smoke.
"Indulge my question, Naruto-kun. Why do you need to know that?"
"So I can look at myself from the outside and see what I'm doing wrong!"
Ah. Naruto has put too much thought into something. Amusing and interesting.
"I am going to presume that you are referring to your grades in Taijutsu." Hiruzen taps the pipe lightly. "I am afraid I cannot be of much use to you when a simpler solution already exists. I appreciate that you are taking your study seriously, but sparring with your peers is an important exercise in diversity of your physical ability. Partake more in your sparring classes, and Taijutsu will come to you in time. You have much to learn from your peers, and they from you as well. Don't shy away from it."
"It's hard to think when you're getting the crap kicked out of you!"
Hiruzen finds his point valid, but ultimately futile.
"I understand that, Naruto-kun. But it is an essential Shinobi skill to be able to focus in the heat of combat. Perhaps what you should direct your attention to is not your lack of Taijutsu prowess, but your ability to think objectively in the moment."
"So... how do I do that?"
Hiruzen would shrug if he felt the crick in his neck go away.
"There are many things that require focused coordination. Dance classes, juggling, playing an instrument, Shurikenjutsu and even calligraphy."
Naruto seems to pause for a moment, thoughts swirling in his head blatantly.
"What good will calligraphy do for me?" He asks, and Hiruzen finds himself a little surprised again.
"Ah-" Hiruzen has a moment of clarity. "-I sometimes forget that Fuinjutsu is not an Academy Elective. Calligraphy is a vital part of learning the Art of Fuinjutsu. Learning to create your own summoning scrolls is, in fact, the very first essential skill."
"Fuinjutsu. Like the Nidaime and Yondaime."
Hiruzen almost reels back. Naruto really has been studying.
"Indeed, well done." He provides some positive reinforcement. "Yes, Nidaime-sama was indeed skilled with Fuinjutsu. But Yondaime-sama was a true master of the Art." Hiruzen educates.
"How can I learn calligraphy so I can do Fuinjutsu?" Naruto almost begs.
Hiruzen leans into his chair.
"I am very impressed with you. And very proud that you are proactive about your study." Naruto beams in return. "I believe that Fuinjutsu may be the foundation that you require to start improving your Chakra Control as well. Why don't you stay a while and help me carry around the paperwork? And once I have the time, I'll find you some learning resources."
"Thanks, Jiji!" Naruto beams, and Hiruzen feels that perhaps he has thought too callously of the effort Naruto has been putting in.
Naruto has the heart of a prankster. It's very telling from the unnerving smile on his face.
It sets off Iruka's fight-or-flight instinct. He cautiously looks around the room, scouting for traps. Naruto has been pretty good lately, but he's getting unusually good at evading him when he does do some prank or another.
"Ninjutsu Practice time!" Iruka beckons everyone to line up at the front of the room.
Iruka's heart hastens its beating.
He goes through his students one-by-one. Some are below average, but others like the predominant clan children are excelling as expected. It's more of a 'refresher' for them than actual practice.
"Naruto!" Iruka beckons. Naruto's smile doesn't vanish, it grows wider and it makes Iruka more and more nervous.
"Ready to flunk again, loser?" Sakura flicks her dramatically, preening at the resulting jeers in Naruto's direction.
"If your looks were half as good as your cruel words, you'd still be an ugly bitch either way."
Sakura goes to lunge at him before Iruka interrupts.
"SHUT-UP, ALL OF YOU!" He howls. "Naruto, Jutsu. Now!"
The blonde gives a mocking salute before quickly and efficiently going through his hand-seals.
"Bunshin no Jutsu." Naruto says, on his last seal.
With two puffs of smoke, Iruka blinks in surprise.
Two Bunshin. No discoloration. Standing upright, moving like a mirror-image of Naruto and his idiosyncrasies.
"Very... good." Iruka is almost unnerved by his frankly rapid progress, but proud just the same. "Now, Henge!"
The Bunshin disperse.
"Yosh!" Naruto runs through his hand-seals again, well-practised and refined.
Iruka had forgotten about Naruto's smile until it was too late.
"Oiroke no Jutsu..."
Iruka huffs in embarrassment at the laughter from his colleague.
"Oi-oiroke! Bwahahaha!" Mizuki can barely sit upright. Daikoku is in a similar state.
He can't bear to look at Suzume right now. He doesn't know if he can cope with a beautiful woman giving him a death-stare right now.
But a giggle slips into his ears. He pries open his fingers to look through his hands.
His stomach drops when he realises she's laughing too.
"What are you doing?"
"Oh! It's 'what are you doing?', not 'how are you Naruto?' or 'I love you, Naruto'?"
"Shutup." Menma rolls his violet eyes. "You've been quiet lately. I wanna know why you're not annoying me."
"Cool, keep wanting to know." Naruto goes back to looking around the street, he keeps walking without a care for the stares at them.
Menma flicks his smooth red hair out of his eyes. Naruto has gotten more confident lately, and doesn't care as much about the taunts. Pretending that what people say doesn't affect him.
"This acting mysterious crap doesn't suit you." He comments, trailing behind him as they walk past a dango shop.
"You're absolutely right. I'll just spill the beans now. I'm actually looking for our dad. I'm getting sick of eating cereal with water and I want him to bring the milk back already."
A man with a cigarette in his mouth at the dango stall coughs out some laughter, almost choking on it, and the woman beside him tries to shush him but can't contain a little snicker.
Menma purses his lips in annoyance.
He'd struggled for so long to get some acceptance from their classmates. Learning to be with them, be one of them, and Naruto had too. Only Naruto just doesn't seem to care about them anymore. It makes him feel invalidated. Like his desire for acceptance has less meaning, when someone who just doesn't give a shit is walking in front of him.
His brother. It's his own fault that Naruto doesn't wanna talk to him, but he fought hard to get everyone to like him. He doesn't want to give that up. It feels good to have friends.
So why is it so hard to ignore the desire for love from his brother?
"There we go..." Naruto mutters to himself.
Menma looks up to see a Shinobi supplies store. Sheathed swords in buckets and a variety of weapons hung up on the walls are evident even from the outside.
Naruto walks in immediately, and Menma can't help but follow.
"Yo, do you have blank scrolls?" Naruto boldly asks the cashier.
Menma doesn't fail to notice a flinch from the shopkeep. He tries ignoring the sensation it causes in him.
"Oi." Naruto asks again, louder and surprisingly stern. "Do you have any blank scrolls?"
"Get out of my shop."
Menma can sense that the guy is angry just from them walking in. He tries tugging on Naruto's shoulder.
Naruto shunts him off.
"Why? You got a problem with us?" Naruto's eyes narrow.
"I just don't want you in my shop. Got a problem with that?" The shopkeep sneers.
"As a matter of fact, I do!" Naruto's voice gets louder and Menma feels his anxiety build.
"Well too bad! Get out!"
"Why the fuck should I?!" Naruto shouts back.
"Naru, please!" Menma tries again in a hurried whisper, breathing quicker.
"What have we done to deserve this? Huh?! Care to explain yourself?!"
The shopkeeper's lips seal up like a slammed door.
"I asked you a fuckin' question!" Naruto screams this time. "Do you get off on bullying us 'cause we got no big bad parents to tell you off for it?! Or you got a better reason?!"
"There a problem here?"
Menma freezes up.
The two shinobi from the dango shop walk in.
"Shinobi! These brats were harassing me!" The shopkeeper states with an ugly look.
"Fuck off! All I wanted was to buy some scrolls!" Naruto yells back.
"Shut-up, kid." The bearded man hushes quickly. "Don't make things worse, you'll get in trouble."
"You're taking his side?!" Naruto asks in utter disbelief.
Menma hangs his head in dejection.
"No, I'm just saying that if you don't keep yer mouth shut, you'll be in real trouble, not just getting kicked out of a shop."
"I'm expected to just stand here then while assholes like this treat us like shit just for breathing in his shop?!"
"No-one expects you to like it." The woman tries to soothe. "But you won't be able to change his mind if you act up like this."
Menma prepares for the inevitable explosion of anger from his brother.
"I shouldn't have to change his mi-" The man slaps a hand over Naruto's mouth.
"I apologise sir, we'll have a word with the kids."
The man drags Naruto out, all the while he has real hate and death in his eyes.
The lady gently pats Menma's back, shuffling him out. Seemingly aware of his frozen state.
"What do I tell them, Naruto?"
"What do you mean? He wants the truth, so just tell 'im the truth. We'll get in trouble otherwise."
Naruto and Menma wait impatiently and anxiously for the Sandaime to see them.
After an agonising hour, he finally deigns to see them.
"According to several eye-witnesses, you stole scrolls from a store in the evening hours last night." Hiruzen starts.
"Steal? I've never stolen anything in my life. I initiated a fair, after-hours transaction."
"You stole, Naruto. You stole those scrolls. And Menma, you knew he was up to something and didn't do anything to stop him."
"You leave him out of this!" Naruto howls at the Sandaime. "He didn't know shit! I went alone and I bought those scrolls alone! You know why? Because you and your Shinobi are happy to ignore all the shit they do to us but the second that they lie, we're treated like we're the scum of this village! You don't stand up for what the Shodai, Nidaime, and Yondaime died for!"
Menma never, ever dreamed that the Sandaime would flinch like that.
He's always so strong, standing so proud.
It looks like Naruto just kicked him in the gut.
"You know why I even stay here?" Naruto continues the blows, unrelenting. "The Shodai dreamed of a place where this shit wouldn't exist. Somewhere fair for all kids like us! The Nidaime made the Academy, so we could all learn to be strong and protect each other! So why does that not apply to us, here and now! I wanna live the dream of the Hokage, and that's impossible because dickheads like that shopkeep can't deal with the fact that it's not the good ol' days before the Kyuubi attacked!"
"Enough." The Sandaime stops him wearily. "Enough... I-"
The old man takes off the pointed hat. His visage is aged and weary and so exhausted.
"I have failed you. Both of you." He mutters emotionally. It makes Menma uncomfortable. "I know that I have not been what you need me to be for you. I do not think that this is something that I can ever make up to you, but I... I do not know how to help you. I had faith in our people, I wanted them to welcome you with open arms and hearts but my trust was not considerate of the suffering they went through, and how it would affect their treatment of you. And now, you both have experienced their hatred in a way I could not have imagined my own people inflicting on you."
A tear slides down his withered cheek.
Naruto and Menma wisely stay silent.
"I am sorry, to you, and your parents who died to protect this place. I have done a great disservice with my innaction. I think... it is now long past the point that I should have started to help you... But I will not continue my mistakes."
The Sandaime walks up to the portrait of the Yondaime.
Menma has always noticed the similarities.
"Your father. As I'm sure you may have suspected."
Naruto scoffs, but eyes are downward. "Yeah, just too good to dream about."
Hiruzen doesn't hide a flinch.
"He wanted better for you than this. I gave him my word. A promise I failed to upkeep, regarding your upbringing. He would be most displeased with me. And your mother... I can expect my soul to be split in two if I even arrive at the same place they did after I die. They would be so proud of your resilience. Even in the face of all of this, you two still persevere."
His eyes glide back to them.
"I'll give you what was once theirs. But I warn you both. If word of this gets out, their enemies would stop at nothing to make sure the pair of you are dead and dusted for how much they fear your parents, even this long after their deaths."
"We get it, old man." Naruto wipes at his eyes, and Menma realises that he has been frozen and crying too. "Don't let 'em know until we're really strong."
"I don't get it..." Menma starts, feeling more nervous than he had in a long time.
Naruto looks over at him.
"If we're his sons, why do they-"
"Treat you this way?" Hiruzen finishes for him. "This is going to be a long, long discussion for all of us. And it's particularly pertinent to you, Menma."
"But Naruto can stay?" He asks, feeling pathetically dependent.
Naruto looks surprised but doesn't shun him for it, to Menma immense gratitude.
"Of course." Hiruzen takes a seat with them.
The sun has already risen before their discussion has ended.
He still feels like he's missing something.
They move into their new apartment, something with enough room that they can have a room each. But the experience... It's brought them a little bit of reconciliation.
As much as he was annoyed by Menma's pandering, he still loves his brother. Always did.
The scrolls from Tou-chan and Kaa-chan, it's so much. Like a piece of himself that had been missing has been found, and Menma is much the same. This wealth of information about the Uzumaki Clan, the Jutsu that their parents used, their quirky writings and entries and random scribbles in their scroll scraps. It's all so useful and gives a sense of closure that Naruto felt like he needed.
Menma is calmer, a bit less caring of the constant speculative glances from their classmates. More willing to just... hang out, sit on the couch with him and read stuff, talk and talk some more. He's still a bit of a nervous wreck. He supposes that years of anxiously trying to gain the approval of everyone through good behaviour had taken its toll, and Naruto ended up finding better ways to cope from Iruka.
But there's still just something missing. The scrolls are all so good, but it's characterless. It's not the same as a dynamic conversation with someone. It's not a pool of wisdom from the past. It's just Jutsu and occasional hints that their parents were interesting and strong people.
As much as he learns from these scrolls, he still can't help but think of one.
The one he'd gotten a year ago, from that old man.
Naruto gives a glance to the sleeping Menma. Such a worrywort, not truly able to keep what's on the inside suppressed for long. He's better with people than Naruto is. By a long, long mile.
Maybe it's best... If he keeps this one to himself.
"You have arrived." The old man with the cane greets like an old friend. "Welcome, to the darkness."
"What is this place?" The boy looks around with wonder.
"You are in the heart of Konoha's shadow. This is where we tested the limits of Shinobi upbringing. The Shinobi that were once here have been integrated into Konoha at any level that would fit them, after as much rehabilitation as possible. Some you would never know, some are already dead, and some it's plainly obvious that they don't fit in with society. Therapy can do marvellous things but it's not yet a perfected craft."
"Rehabilitated?"
"ROOT was an experimental program. We would take children from orphanages throughout Hi no Kuni, or offer a modest sum to neglectful parents to surrender their children. Typically up to about five years old. Over years of testing, we found that any older than that a child would have too significant of an influence from their parental environment and peers and would instincitvely seek to return to it, even if the conditions of those places left something to be desired. Family exerts a powerful influence over the early development of human beings."
"The Sandaime sanctioned this?"
"We wanted to see if we could manufacture 'perfect' Shinobi in numerous classifications. Assassin's, soldiers, seducers. Shinobi that would follow orders without question. Overall, the program was a dramatic failure. Children taught to suppress their emotions were statistically far more likely to show sociopathic and violent tendencies as they got older, particularly in their teenage years. Emotions play a role in critical judgement, so more mistakes were getting made in field testing. ROOT recruits lacked creativity, so they weren't capable of the lateral thinking required to be adaptable, or change their Shinobi repertoire. They were taught and experienced objective truths about the trauma of Shinobi, but lacked social connection in order to cope when something, however minor, did affect them. With the failure of the program, the Sandaime disbanded it. Although mostly for ethical reasons on his part. He and I sought any solutions we could so that Konoha could live in peace, and let the darkness do the dirty work."
"I take it the invitation wasn't to turn me into an emotionless dipstick then?"
"Naturally. But we did learn methods of training elite Shinobi."
"Does this mean I'm too old to be askin' for your help."
"No. But you are too old to not be introducing yourself."
The boy puts a hand out.
"Namikaze Naruto."
The old man takes it.
"Shimura Danzo."
Chapter 1 End
AN:
Neither Naruto nor Menma have whisker-marks. Menma has the full Kyuubi.
The Substitution Jutsu is an advanced Jutsu in this story. Not learned in the Academy.