Unsealing Legacy Chapter 15: 15th Legacy, a naruto fanfic

AN: I know it's been a while and my notes give false alarm I am sure disappoint more than just a few people... at any rate thanks to our new beta melodyxxchii
update 4/1/16 Complete grammar fix

15th Legacy: Prelude to Greater Things

"I am, Uzumaki Naruto, and I am not a piece in game of life…
And in the first place, the world we live in can't be represented within a nine by nine board!
I don't move only in specified lines like a piece and as a shinobi, more often than not...
I don't play by the rules.
Uzumaki Naruto to Tokugawa Ieyasu

The Hi no Kuni capital was the jewel of the nation as a product of its unique landscape and architecture. The civilians' area was structured in the same manner as any other town, merely sprawling outwards further with three times the average population density; what made it unique was the presence of the royal palace and the surrounding area for the aristocrats. It was like a fortress with its mountainous landscape, covered in rough terrain littered with stairs cut into the rock leading up to the doorways of exclusive residences perched, terrace-style as the ground rose.

The grounds were inundated by trees, sakura and willow and peach, turning the landscape into a sea of pinks and yellows and greens, which left the air heavy with their sweet fragrance. Not that the nobles would eat the fruit— he had learned from other nobles that they planted peach trees to ward off evil and for its scent and beauty throughout the year. As they approached, the sun was setting, bathing the world in purple and silver, the lines of lanterns failing to provide more than a soft, flickering light that only enhanced the surreal and eerie splendor that had been cultivated.

If Naruto had just been a practical shinobi, he would scoff at the seemingly mystical area that had no practical function whatsoever. However, as an Uzumaki, he knew better; it was all part of a giant seal crafted by his ancestors that had secured the capital, leaving it standing strong and largely untouched by time after more than a century.

This city… it was also a part of his clan's legacy.

"Ah, you're smiling," Shisui pointed out the quirk on his lips. "You look very happy for some reason, Naruto."

Naruto blinked owlishly, touching his lips and found his lips forming a smile. "I am?"

"It's beautiful… the scenery," Itachi reasoned, "Such a simple thing is enough to make people smile."

Naruto laughed at the two Uchiha, they had the wagon all for themselves again after Hidetada decided to go ahead to inform his uncle and father of their arrival. "It's partly that," he allowed, "But looking at this view reminds me: even if we're now apart, my clan's legacy lives on… even in this city." He murmured softly, gazing at the view with longing in his eyes.

Ah… he needed to get stronger as soon as possible such that he would be able to legally claim his seat as Clan Head and restart the effort to search for survivors of Usuzhiogakure's Fall. For his clan… his family.

Then, suddenly, a flash of red appeared on the corner of his eyes, disappearing as quickly as it appeared behind the lush willow trees. "Just now…"

"Naruto?" Itachi called him out.

Shisui looked anxious, "Don't poke your head out so suddenly like that! You startled me!"

The Uzumaki looked like he had just seen a ghost, and it worried his teammates. "Naruto? Did you see something that bothers you?" Itachi guessed.

The query snapped him out of his daze and Naruto quickly returned to his original position, a sheepish expression colored his face. "Ah… no, I thought I saw something but I was probably just imagining it."

It was already pretty dark outside and the red lantern dyed the scenery in red tint so…

It couldn't be… right?

Houou no Shiro

Naruto had, to be honest, expected some pomp and ceremony or something along the line of theatrics nobles tended towards. Tokugawa Iemitsu, however, certainly did not share that common taste for theatrics considering, the moment they stepped inside the palace, Wakaba-dono was escorted to see their official Daimyo, while he and his team was halted by someone who looked disturbingly like a young Sandaime dressed as one of the Twelve Guardians. The younger lookalike didn't bother introducing himself and merely stated his task was to escort them to his lord.

"It's been a while, Asuma-san." Itachi greeted the Sarutobi.

Inwardly, Naruto gave himself a mental slap for forgetting that the Sandaime had a son who was appointed as a Guardian around two years ago. Hakurei had mentioned Sarutobi Asuma in passing as "Sandaime's wayward son, who went off to get a bounty on his head as part of misguided teenage rebellion."

Asuma eyed Naruto skeptically, "It's none of my business," he began slowly even though, Guardian or not, Asuma obviously considered Naruto's presence a concern due to his status, "But since when was Uzumaki given permission to wander this far from Konoha?" He wondered out loud.

He had a carefree air to him even within the halls of his employment but Naruto could tell this man was dangerous.

"As a Chuunin of Konoha and sole heir of Uzumaki clan, Naruto has right to travel as long as he follows the proper procedure," Itachi replied, professionally.

His eyebrow shot up at that. "Chuunin? Already?" He shook his head exasperatedly, "Mah, what's with Hokage lately? Promoting kids so young… we're in peaceful period and yet…"

Itachi exhaled softly. "We work hard to be worthy of our promotion, Asuma-san."

Asuma waved his hand in placating gesture. "I am sure you all do, but be kids when you have the chance— we're not in war now."

On the surface at least…

"Still, for Uzumaki to be escorted to the Capital by the two famous prodigies of the Uchiha clan, no less…" His eyes narrowed at them.

Inwardly, Naruto hoped Sandaime's son was not suspecting Itachi and Shishui had kidnapped him. "Naruto is our friend," Shisui answered, lightheartedly.

"Still… you guys are unusual combination for a team." Right, an Uzumaki slash jinchuuriki plus Uchiha. "What are you guys are up to?" From his tone, it was obvious that he had no expectation of being answered; instead, he was voicing his suspicion of them out loud. It was a warning. "I doubt the Hokage allows this boy to wander as he please."

This time Naruto didn't let Itachi to answer for him. "When it is a product of Clan business, not even Hokage-sama has authority over me so long as said business is not a threat to Konoha…"

Asuma looked shocked, obviously not expecting such eloquent answer from Naruto. "Hoo…" This was not the adorable toddler he saw last time, playing around his father's office. "And what clan business are we talking about here? Especially considering who you want to meet and who got you this appointment."

"Asuma-san, is this an inquiry out of curiosity or an interrogation?" Shisui returned, eyes narrowing at the Sarutobi.

Asuma didn't expect one of the Uchiha to feel offended on Naruto's behalf, let alone both of them. 'Yare, yare, tou-san, how the heck have you gotten these two Uchiha elites to be our jinchuuriki's protective teammates?' They didn't even belong to the same generation.

"Shisui," the youngest shinobi in the group called out, "It's fine."

For a moment, his eyes flashed red but quickly darkened back to their normal, ebony orbs. "Hn."

'So the one who calls the shots in this team is the squirt?!' Asuma thought in bewilderment.

"My business is with Tokugawa-sama… should he allow you to remain, I'm sure you'll know all about it."

In short: quit asking, if your lord thinks you're allowed to know, you will. How old was this brat was again? Around… eight or nine, and he already had silver tongue. Asuma swore, back at the Academy, even Kakashi was not like this brat; mature? Yes, but this brat was like a de-aged adult!

Naruto looked around, eyes flickering but his head was held still. Once upon a time, his grandfather, Muramasa, was walking through this majestic corridor with massive red pillars on both sides, shoji doors covered in a red and gold painting of immortal bird, and lanterns of various sizes hung on the center of corridor ceiling, illuminating the path and painting the scenery in warm tint of orange.

Then, by the end of the corridor, he saw it: a row of massive and elaborate shoji doors guarded by two soldiers dressed in black and red armor. And behind this door… Naruto swallowed, suddenly nervous.

Asuma stepped forward, "Tokugawa-sama is expecting them, the escort team of Wakaba-dono from Na no Kuni."

The guards nodded before bowing in unison as they pulled the doors open for them. Asuma was about to lead the way in but the guards crossed their spears, blocking his path. "Ieyasu-sama ordered you to go back to Takechiyo-sama. Your service is not needed for tonight."

Asuma gritted his teeth around his cigarette, "So who is by Ieyasu-sama's side now?"

"Mahiru-dono and Tatara-dono." A guard answered curtly.

The wind user glanced at the team. "I see…" Mahiru and Tatara were shinobi that were solely loyal to the royal family— Ieyasu himself to be specific— and they had no previous affiliation to Konoha or any other shinobi group as Asuma did. He had heard rumors from back home regarding suspicions of the Uchiha's involvement with Kyuubi's attack, and if that was true… not to mention they had brought Naruto with them.

If they wanted to inflict harm to Ieyasu, Mahiru and Tatara were not going to survive the ordeal.

As if they could hear his line of thought, a young voice assured him from behind. "We're here for diplomatic business. I think you should know that at least." Followed by a groan Asuma deducted as belonging to Uchiha Shisui and a signature Uchiha grunt from Uchiha Itachi.

Then, as if their business with Asuma was over with, the Uzumaki-Uchiha team walked past him without a single glance and disappeared behind the massive shoji doors. Looking at the barrier between them, Asuma could only hope he had not just done a great wrong to his home village.

Tokijikuin (Ieyasu's personal Quarter)

Tokugawa Ieyasu had an intimidating presence— not in the way the Sandaime or Hakurei had with wisdom and aged strength coiled within an old body or any other Shinobi variety kind of intimidating— he was a man in his fifties with long ebony hair that reached his shoulders, with white streaks around his ears. He had sharp eyes that were focused like a hunting eagle's, a high nose and a defined chin. Unlike most nobles that wore brightly-colored clothes showing off their status, he wore a plain outfit of dark red kimono, black haori and dull brown hakama.

Naruto only got a brief glance at his face before he and his team were kneeling, face tilted downwards however he did manage to get a good look at Ieyasu's hands, as, he was sure, Itachi and Shisui had also. Ieyasu had calloused hands, and his skin complexion was far from pale.

Definitely not your everyday noble that spend their days reading poetries and whatever else nobles did in their spare time.

"Thank you for this opportunity to meet you, Ieyasu-sama. It is an honor," Naruto began in even voice. "I am Uzumaki Naruto from Konohagakure…"

Ieyasu's voice sounded amused. "And the two Uchiha over there?"

"My name is Uchiha Itachi," He answered, "Of Konohagakure… also the heir of Uchiha clan."

"I am Uchiha Shisui of Konohagakure."

Ieyasu's eyebrow shot up at their name, "Hoo… heir of Uchiha clan and Uchiha Kagami's son? What a line we have here…" He glanced at Naruto. "You, however, I have never seen an Uzumaki with that hair color. Though I do recall an old acquaintance of mine with that kind of hair…"

He was not going to entertain anything less than blunt regarding Naruto's not-so-secret pedigree, it seemed. "I am indeed my grandfather's grandson." He answered vaguely.

"So, Uzumaki?"

"Yes."

Ieyasu crossed his arms with a cocked brow. His strong hands disappear beneath his wide sleeves. "What are your intentions in revealing yourself here, Uzumaki Naruto? Calling for an old debt of mine to a family whose name you don't even bear?"

Naruto swallowed heavily, that was a sore topic even for him. "No… I am not here to call out an old favor, I don't deserve it."

"So what is it you want from me, boy? His grandson or not, I don't have all day for a shinobi with no interest in serving me."

"Then I shall be direct, Ieyasu-dono," Naruto steeled his resolve. "What I want is political backing from royal family of Hi no Kuni."

A heavy silence fell before it was broken by a low growl from the kunoichi who was standing guard on Ieyasu's left. The shinobi on his right looked amused, while Ieyasu himself merely seemed thoughtful.

Ieyasu narrowed his eyes. "But what can you offer me and my family in return, boy?"

"Everything I can offer as future head of Uzumaki clan," Naruto answered firmly, keeping the possibility wide open. Not the wisest thing to promise to a man like Tokugawa Ieyasu, but Naruto was desperate. "Within reason, of course," Naruto added as an afterthought, his inexperience showing.

He snorted. "Future head of Uzumaki clan, huh?"

"Officially," Naruto elaborated. "But in practice, I already hold the authority as the Clan Head, within the boundaries of the Tower of Sealing." He exhaled softly before adding. "It shouldn't be long before I inherit full authority, officially."

He could, even now, because, as he had told Asuma himself, Hokage-sama had no power over clan business as long as it didn't harm Konoha. The only thing stopping him from doing so was simply because it was more trouble than it was worth at the present time due to his position. However, as long as he had strong backing from an outsider who still had affiliation with Konoha— namely Ieyasu— their path would be smoother.

"My, why is a young shinobi like you playing the game of politics already?" For the first time, the shinobi who was standing in the background spoke out and, much to Naruto's surprise, Ieyasu didn't reprimand him for speaking out of turn. Sensing Naruto's curious look on him he added, "I am Totsuka Tatara. Nice to meet you, Naruto-kun."

He was a slim young man with short, neatly-combed, light brown hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a simple brown kimono top that was slightly open, exposing the black inner shirt and elaborate flame tattoo. A more elaborate looking ANBU tattoo with more tongues of flame.

HOMRA… Ieyasu's very own personal guardians. The shadow Twelve Guardians of Hi no Kuni.

"I am the weakest among my team, though!" It was very clear one thought crossed their mind, 'Who was going to buy that?' Even though Totsuka Tatara, with his gentle smile, handsome face and lithe build, fit the description of 'weak looking' to a T.

"It's true," Ieyasu confirmed with amused look on his face. "Though I believe I don't keep useless people around me."

"I am flattered, milord," Totsuka Tatara chimed in before turning his attention back to Naruto or, to be precise, the Uchiha cousins who were kneeling few steps behind him. "I suppose it has something to do with your Uchiha friends… Their clan has not been in a favorable position for the last few years, after all."

Naruto forced back his bodily reactions to not give away his shock. He should have expected that Ieyasu was not ignorant of Konoha's politics. Itachi and Shisui were in the same condition, and shame crept up in their hearts.

"So, it's for your friend?" Totsuka asked gently, like asking a young child what those cookies they stole from the jar for.

No wonder Ieyasu kept this man around; with just few well-placed words he was making a fool out of them! Naruto looked up, for the first time really looking at Totsuka Tatara. And there were no negative emotions from this man at all...

He could tell that much from Kurama's side effect. Unlike the other bijuu, Kurama didn't grant him some unique elemental power, instead providing something subtler. It was the ability to sense ill intent and it was very useful once he let go of his rose-tinted worldview. Although… back then, it was probably a good thing Naruto was oblivious; he would have been driven insane had he noticed all of the rotten thoughts from the villagers who hated him.

This person however… Naruto looked up at Tatara, his eyes narrowed. This man was really treating Naruto and his teammates as children with no ill intention whatsoever.

Shinobi were used to deceit and lies, so sincerity and open honesty more often than not threw them off of their tune. Naruto knew this very well; after all he was usually the one on the 'giving' end, not receiving. "It's for Konoha." He answered firmly, and his friends were part of Konoha so it was not just about a small part of his beloved village.

Even if the large part of its populace were oblivious and ungrateful fools.

"An idealist, hm?" Ieyasu smirked. "To protect your village in the name of your Will of Fire?"

Naruto stilled, holding his tongue from denying that remark recklessly. He inhaled deeply and said, "I don't see myself as such… as a shinobi of Konoha, I do believe in the Will of Fire, however…" His voice hardened, losing all trace of his childish traits. "I am not so foolish as to think of my village as they might be depicted in the Will of Fire… I am not so blind as to not see how they are rather than how they choose to present themselves."

Ieyasu uncrossed his arms, his pose relaxed. "So? What is Konoha?"

"A shinobi village…" Naruto answered in a matter-of-fact tone. "Konoha was born of Senju Hashirama's and Uchiha Madara's dream… their ideology. But a child never grows to be the perfect image their parents idealized… and neither did Konoha."

"So, unlike most of your fellow Konoha shinobi, you don't place your village on a higher pedestal than other villages." He sounded amused. "Not even in morality?"

Naruto shook his head, "It's a matter of perspective; perhaps we're just better at hiding our skeletons. Regardless of what kind of image we sell to our clients, we still took part in three great wars and we kill our enemies as much if not more so than other village… In the end, we are shinobi."

"You speak as if you have seen war," Ieyasu pointed out in skeptical tone.

He had seen it, through the eyes of his parents at least. "I believe you're aware of what I am, Ieyasu-dono." The lord narrowed his eyes at that statement. "We exist as deterrent of war but at the same time, we're also the greatest weapons available. I have been in this position since I was born. Do I have to see war to fear and hate it?"

"So you will refuse to aim your power to Konoha's foe."

"I am a shinobi of Konoha," Naruto stated with conviction. "I would do what I believe is the best for my village."

Ieyasu let out a booming laugh in respond, surprising them as the sounds escaped the notorious lord's lips, uncensored. "Ha ha ha ha… As expected of Muramasa's grandson! You haven't even ever met him and yet! You have the same resolve as a shinobi!"

In Ieyasu's mind, Muramasa was always… a man with gentle soul, and yet his hands were ever forging steel to protect his country. Once, in his youth, Ieyasu had asked Muramasa why the man became a shinobi and stayed loyal to Hi no Kuni and Konoha even though he had seen the dark side of his homeland. Instead of some complex justification, he had simply replied that it was because Konoha and Hi no Kuni, they were his home. And he loved his home so he would do the best he could do. For them.

No convoluted words, no complicated motives… Muramasa was a simple man.

"However, at the same time, I don't think you're him. You are not the same as Muramasa," Ieyasu drawled after he regained his composure. "So I wonder… What it is that makes you different."

"…"

"I have met your father, too, and I have to say, you are not him either." His eyes narrowed. "If I have to compare Muramasa and Minato, it becomes obvious that they both had a gentle soul as a person while simultaneously possessing the heart of steel as a shinobi…" And the father and son certainly weren't identical in personality, but, at their core, they were the same.

Uzumaki Naruto however was not cut from the same fabric as his father and grandfather.

"So show me," Ieyasu ordered in an authoritative tone that left no room for refusal. "Show me who you are… Uzumaki Naruto."

Naruto looked up and, for the first time since he met Ieyasu, the shinobi met Ieyase's eyes with a firm gaze. "How would you like me to show you?" He asked in an even tone.

In answer, Ieyasu ordered Totsuka to bring an object forward and Naruto cursed inwardly.

Ten Minutes Later...

He sorely regretted leaving the choice to Ieyasu; he expected something along the lines of a mission or a riddle. Boardgames were… a traditional method for nobles to measure someone's skill, and even their personality, so it didn't surprise Naruto that Ieyasu pulled out an elaborate looking shōgi board and asked for a game.

Expecting it or not, however, Naruto didn't like playing strategy games like shōgi. While he played shōgi, Go, riichi and other games just fine, he was not a master for all that he was a good enough player. It was part of his education as heir of Uzumaki clan, after all. Nevertheless, Naruto disliked exercising strategy in the confines of a board; real life battle didn't work like a game.

He didn't feel like he could show Ieyasu who is he through a board game.

Clack!

As of now they were about even, but Naruto had no delusions that it was because he had sufficiently held his own against Ieyasu. The ebony-haired lord was taking this slow, probing his defenses, and waiting for Naruto's respond to his attack. Regardless, Naruto would like to believe he was playing reasonably well for someone with less than one year experience under his belt.

Clack!

That move just now was the equivalent of chopping off one of his limbs in battle by kicking his keima off the board and preventing his gold general from escaping. Naruto fought his hardest against the following onslaught, but in the end, he was just stalling the game to go on as long as possible while looking for a chance for counterattack.

So far, he saw none. Ieyasu definitely didn't care about playing it easy against someone with lesser experience. He didn't hold back at all. At this rate, all Ieyasu could see was what kind of player and how much experience he had. How informative was that?

Some illogical part of him just wanted to win the game just to prove Ieyasu wrong that he could get an easy win from Naruto, while the logical part reminded him that he was not playing to win; he was here to get acknowledgement from this man.

However, when he saw a chance to counterattack, a way to win the game, Naruto's hand moved his piece with resounding clack against the board. He sweated heavily as he read the board, ascertaining for himself that the opening was not a trap.

It wasn't… Then Naruto realized it was only an opening simply because no one but he would be crazy enough to do this kind of maneuver just to get an even ground at the risk of his king piece. He had just sent a message to Ieyasu that he was a risk taker who jumped at the smallest opening even at the cost of the game.

Definitely not what he wanted Ieyasu to think of him. It was not…

"We're even now." Ieyasu stated the matter of factually.

Huh. He didn't even notice they were on stalemate now. A small part of him was delighted with the situation, even though this draw was hardly skill. Instead, it was partially luck, partially the unpredictability of suicidal maneuvers, and stubbornness.

"But now what I wonder…" Ieyasu said and for the first time he sounded unsure to Naruto's ears. "You're not the kind of person who can reflect yourself fully on the board. Apparently, this game is not enough to know you as much as I like."

His heart began to pound, partially relieved that Ieyasu was aware of this and partially dreading what the lord was going to throw him next.

"Well then, let's cut the chase, shall we? Instead of some complicated game of wits and skill, why don't you just tell me, Uzumaki-kun?"

Tell you what? He wanted to say, but he stayed still and waited for Ieyasu to finish.

The ebony-haired man smirked at him and Naruto realized, whatever Ieyasu was going to say next, Hidetada's father was definitely playing another mind game his son hated so much.

His hand swept over the unfinished game and he continued. "Which side are you on upon this board? What are you representing… in this world, Uzumaki-kun?"

'You must be fucking kidding me!' Naruto cried mentally in shock. 'That was too vague!'

"It's a simple question," Ieyasu stated smugly. "Don't you think so?" The sarcasm was so thick and a small part of him was vengeful enough to wish for Ieyasu to choke on it.

He looked at the shōgi pieces and the board laid before him and then to the face of true ruler of Hi no Kuni. He could feel those dark eyes staring into the depth of his soul, daring him to make his move. A move that would decide their future and, if he made a wrong decision, everything he had worked so hard for would crumble beneath his very hand.

"I—" Naruto stammered.

"Now, boy. Choose the piece that represents your standing on this board. Tell me who you are! Are you a keima (knight) or perhaps a mere pawn?"

Naruto didn't answer but he knew he was neither.

"Or perhaps…" The dark eyed ruler flipped the hisha (rook) piece. "You are a daring piece: a sleeping dragon waiting for his chance to ascend to be the ryūō (Dragon King)?"

Shisui and Itachi felt a fear unlike any other they'd experienced before as they knelt behind Naruto who was still contemplating his choice. They didn't know if there was any way out of this as their trained minds told them that the Daimyō's question was one of those trick questions with no correct answer. If Naruto lowered himself, that meant his worth was not enough for Tokugawa Ieyasu to pay any attention to him, but if he dared to choose ambitiously, he would be seen as a would be usurper, a dangerous piece.

There was no correct answer within the board, and Naruto, too, knew that. So he chose to do the craziest and unthinkable thing ever recorded done in the history of Hi no Kuni before the mighty ruler. He flipped the board down and sent all the pieces clattering onto the tatami floor.

Ieyasu smirked. "So that's your choice… Uzumaki Naruto."

"Yes."

Naruto barely acknowledged the sound of restless shifting behind him; no doubt both Itachi and Shisui were doing their best to not jump between him and Ieyasu. All Uchiha had ironclad control of themselves, and that impressive control was on the verge of breaking in fear of his recklessness.

He wanted to assure his friends that he knew what he was doing but that would be a lie because Naruto was operating on 'what felt right', not what he knew was right, now.

"I am, Uzumaki Naruto, and I am not a piece in game of life… And in the first place, the world we live in can't be represented within a nine by nine board! I don't move only in specified lines like a piece and as a shinobi, more often than not, I don't play by the rules." He stated, a matter of factually.

Ieyasu's eyes narrowed, piercing his own. "You are a child, and yet you're saying you're a player, not a piece."

Naruto inhaled deeply and continued. "If I am a player, I should abide by the rules. I am not. I will not. And you should know that you have never talked to a child, but to a shinobi by the name Uzumaki Naruto…" His eyes shifted briefly to the side before it gazed back evenly at Ieyasu. "At least in mind, I have long since ceased to be a child."

He didn't even know when he had stopped being a child. One day, he woke up and he saw children in the tower as 'children'. And he was not one of them.

"So you claim to be a mature adult?" He sounded even more amused now.

"Claiming maturity is self-defeating, I would say…" Naruto cocked his head to the side.

Ieyasu smirked. "You're an interesting person… Naruto-kun."

It didn't escape Naruto that Ieyasu called him by his given name now and not by his surname. "I aim to please," he quipped.

Ieyasu cleared his throat. "So about your proposal…" He trailed off, rubbing his chin. "I approve of you as a person and a shinobi… and an alliance with the head of Uzumaki Clan is rewarding, regardless of your position. However…"

Naruto wondered when 'the but' would stop. "However?"

"What do you want to do with political backing from my family?" Ieyasu asked him bluntly. "Proving your worth as the heir of Uzumaki clan? Revenge against the villagers who wronged you and your friends? Or perhaps you want to conquer Konoha yourself?"

The first was still a reasonable guess but the latters were outrageous. "For the first, it is none of Konoha's business considering I only have to prove my worth to my clan members and our vassal families… Revenge would get me nowhere and go against everything I live for, and I have no interest to rule Konoha."

"So you have no dream to be the Hokage?"

Once, he had such a childish wish, thinking that if he became the Hokage, the villagers would acknowledge him. He knew better now; it was the reverse. Someone became the Hokage after the acknowledgement.

Konoha (Sealing Division Tower)

"An apprentice?" Yuzuriha mouthed out. "Me?!"

Hakurei nodded. "You're already Sixth Dan— by rights, you should have started thinking about taking a disciple when you get your fifth." He cocked his head to the side. "Come to think of it, it's just about time for Naruto-sama, too." He was already the Fifth Dan now, and at the rate he was going, he would take qualification exam for Sixth Dan, soon.

It was almost scary how fast he was storming through their ranks, even for an Uzumaki. Then again, their master abused Kage Bunshin like it was going out of fashion on a daily basis.

Yuzuriha scoffed, "I will take it slow, Shishou. There is no rule saying we have to take a disciple."

"Actually, in Naruto-sama's case, it becomes a must if we want to stop this charade." Namely, Hakurei posing as the one in charge of the tower while, in reality, it was Naruto-sama. "I believe Naruto-sama is more than capable of gaining Ieyasu's trust. His soft spot for Muramasa aside, Naruto-sama has a knack in getting people to side with him… An amazing charisma I have never seen since Mito-sama."

Yuzuriha was sure that if Naruto-sama was here, he would yell at Hakurei for throwing around compliments he didn't deserve— or so their master thought— but everyone knew otherwise. "Well, taking a disciple would be another boost to Naruto-sama's credentials." And as leader of Sealing Tower, it was part of his duty to tutor the next generation.

Tokusa, who was sitting beside Hakurei as filing his paperwork chimed in, "Does Naruto-sama even has time to tutor someone?" Then he added, "And who?"

"…"

"…Who?" Yuzuriha hummed, searching for candidates on his mind. "Mu-kun, perhaps?" Mu, or Murasaki, was the youngest Shiomitsu child, and Shion's son.

Tokusa waved his hand in negative. "Mu-kun is three years old— even if he starts early, Shion-nii, as his father, should be the one who handles the foundation stage of his education. Atla is a better choice." Another cousin of theirs, who was two years younger than their master.

Hakurei shook his head. "Shion just submitted paperwork to take Atla as his disciple yesterday." He sighed, "Besides, do you think Naruto-sama is the type who would take a disciple for formality's sake?"

"Jaa~ Then we can take an outsider, then? Naruto-sama would love to promote our openness to Konoha with taking disciple from outside!" Yuzuriha exclaimed.

Shion, the eldest disciple of Hakurei came in just in time to hear what Yuzuriha said. "And that would be another political nightmare, don't you think?"

"Eh? It's not like our sealing arts gets famous overnight. Requests for tutoring might be trickling in but we're not the most fashionable art after the main nin-tai-gen," Yuzuriha pointed out to her cousin.

Shion sighed at that. "No, we don't get famous overnight but… due to the recent overhaul of all security seal systems in prominent clans of Konoha," Because of Aizen's betrayal, no one wanted to use seal designed under leadership of a traitor, "They seem to finally realize that our seals run almost everything that was automatic…"

There was a good reason why Hashirama married Uzumaki Mito, their eternal alliance aside. A village couldn't work without a working system and, in its baby state, Konoha had to establish a running security, information, communication and whatever else, using seals. Sure, it ceased to be all seal-use as Konoha's manpower increased, but Konoha was still built with fuuinjutsu as its foundation.

So say, if all active shinobi were sent out on missions, all fuuinjutsu-based systems would still be running and Konoha would be relatively safe from invasion. Relative was the keyword but still…

"As I am the one in charge of new applicants, it had surprised me to find that most of them are from prominent clans," Shion added with a sigh. "I mean, how moronic would it be if they just realized how vital our art in this village now, right?"

"…"

Back to Houou Palace

"I plead you to not take this child under your wing, Ieyasu-sama!" The kunoichi, who went by the name Mahiro, said while glaring at Naruto. She was fairly tall for a woman, with a curvaceous body that was wrapped in a short, sleeveless, black kimono with a red obi. Her tattoo of HOMRA was shown proudly on her left breast.

Naruto was very tempted to roll his eyes at Shisui who was trying his best to not look so obvious while ogling the buxom kunoichi.

Ieyasu just raised an eyebrow at his kunoichi, while Totsuka chided Mahiro. "Why not? Naruto-kun is a wonderful shinobi! Our master has just taken a liking of him and you know our master doesn't like just anyone."

"He has nothing to give in return!" She pointed at Naruto with gloved finger. "And you know that getting in Uzumaki-Senju-Uchiha affairs never ends well for anyone!"

Naruto, Itachi, and Shisui inwardly winced in unison at the last remark. They couldn't blame her for thinking that getting involved with them was a bad idea.

"Which is why there is the concept of "investing", Mahiro-chan~ And as for their family history, I believe, in the end, it's their business not ours," Totsuka assured her. "Besides! Our country and kingdom are still standing today even though… we got a new valley."

"There is a good reason why none from the Senju and Uchiha clans managed to attain guardian rank!" Mahiro pointed out with a hiss. "I don't even want to know the next new landmark the so-called Rikudo Sennin's descendants are going to carve upon our nation."

Apparently only Konoha Shinobi saw Valley of The End as a mark of history; everyone else thought it was the result of a family feud gone wrong.

"Totsuka, Mahiro." The two shinobi stilled in instant. "Be quiet."

And just like that, the two arguing shinobi quieted down, becoming very still on their seats to the point Naruto was concerned whether they were breathing or not. Ieyasu seemed to tolerate his shinobi's antics to a degree, but he still had ironclad control over them. The following silence was almost deafening, but Ieyasu looked to be deep in thought and Naruto didn't dare to interrupt.

The silence was blessedly broken five minutes later with a bang, and all heads whipped towards the shōji door that had already been thrown off of its frame. Itachi and Shisui, who had opportunity to meet a certain youthful jōnin, wondered if Tokugawa Hidetada was somehow related to him.

That was one loud dynamic entry.

"Don't you dare to corrupt Naruto-kun, you— tanuki-yarou!"

"Huh?"

The following chaos made Naruto regret hoping for the silence to end. It took fifteen minutes and a chakra chain to get Hidetada to calm down. It didn't escape anyone's notice that Hidetada was drunk.

Apparently Ieyasu was winning the award for the Worst Father of the Year, and Hidetada had an interesting childhood with a father like his. In short, his paranoia and disdain towards his father was all legit and, all things considered, it was a miracle Hidetada had not plotted an assassination instead of running away from home.

Naruto was sure everyone in the room agreed that their prince shouldn't touch alcohol at all if he ended up spilling the entire story of his life just from a few sips.

"Then I found out that I am half Uzumaki and Okaa-sama is not my Kaa-chan!" He babbled on from his chained state.

Naruto's eyes went wide at that as his eyes went to Benitora's shaven head and spotted the signature red hair of the Uzumaki. "What?!"

"I am so glad to see you, little cousin! But you just have to make me to bring you to my tanuki-oyaji…" He cried somberly.

Naruto's brain tried to process the fact that, not only was Benitora distantly related to him, but that Ieyasu had taken an Uzumaki as his consort. There must be some sort of convoluted backstory here and, judging from Ieyasu's bored face, the lord expected this to happen and was not bothered Naruto— the Head of Uzumaki clan— knew about this.

"So, cousin, let's leave this stuffy palace, and bring our clansmen together! We will live happily ever after as one big family! Away from the Tanuki-bastard!" Hidetada babbled on.

Naruto promptly grabbed Hidetada's forehead and said, "Okay, that's enough."

Benitora yelped. "HOT! Gyaaa!"

Channeling Uzumaki chakra mixed with a small dose of Kurama's potent youki, he detoxed Benitora's body from alcohol. It was a nifty trick he had learned when, out of curiosity, he had asked Kurama whether or not it was possible to use a bijuu's chakra to detox toxins and the likes from non-jinchuuriki bodies. According to Kurama, in theory, it was possible but only for humans descended directly from Rikudo Sennin or naturally in possession of a sturdy body that could with stand a bijuu's chakra.

Like Kinkaku and Ginkaku.

Shisui and Itachi had volunteered as test subjects before and it had worked but it was definitely not the most pleasant experience for them. The good news there was that no damage to their body occurred as long as Naruto mixed the chakra with some of his to neutralize the corrosive nature.

"Gah! What the…!"

"Have you come to your senses?" Naruto asked. "You know… Hidetada-ōji, if you want to take part in this discussion, you have to be at least sober."

Benitora blinked. "Call me "Tora", and I didn't mean to get wasted this badly but…" He glanced at his father with eyes narrowed and clouded with anger.

Naruto didn't need to know personally know either father-son to guess; they got into an argument and Benitora got himself wasted, only to crash the meeting just to spit on Ieyasu.

Shisui and Itachi, who had been too quiet even for Naruto's taste, tapped his shoulder. "Oi, Naruto… I think we've stumbled upon something we shouldn't have."

"Are we in trouble?" Itachi wondered from his other side and, for once, Itachi sounded hesitant. Political support was one thing, getting involved in their internal affairs was an entirely different can of worms.

To be honest, Naruto wasn't sure himself. "Eeh… to be honest, things getting complicated now should fit our track record. I'm sure we can get everything to work out… somehow."

"Naruto! I am telling you! There must be something wrong to be relieved in this kind of situation!" Kurama cried from the depths of his mind.

Naruto rolled his eyes mentally, 'Oh you… Kurama, you worrywart.' He cut the connection when Kurama started to rant again. "So, Ieyasu-sama, about our business…"

"Hidetada-sama!" Mahiro began to protest. "Even though this boy is related to you, he—"

"You do realize if your prince is related to Naruto, it means that he is also like us? A descendant of Rikudo Sennin?" Shisui pointed out.

Mahiro growled at him and, for one stupid moment, Shisui thought her growl was hot. He kept his opinions to himself though. "And you know… I don't know how the court shinobi system works but, as far as I know, shinobi shouldn't question orders from their superiors… especially when said superior had already gone through a lot of trouble to decide upon it."

Totsuka smiled at Shisui who beamed back at him. "He is right, you know." Mahiro snarled. "Unless, you can raise a valid concern regarding this alliance… Besides, we have not heard how this would go yet. Ieyasu-sama has not said anything about the details. To disagree with our Lord is simply…"

Ieyasu scoffed. "I am up to giving all the political support Naruto-kun needs including educating him in politics, philosophy, and law."

Naruto narrowed his eyes at that. That was too extensive for a simple alliance. "You're going to make me your ward? But that means me losing my rights as an adult in Konoha law."

"Something that official is beneficial in the long run, but I imagine your council will put up a fight considering your pedigree and status." Naruto sighed in relief. "However, in the end, I have to justify my backing on you if I want to go that far so I will just have you engaged to my daughter."

Silence…

Once again, eerie silence fell over the room as all the occupants, except Ieyasu were shocked out of their wits. Totsuka recovered first, commenting on how a political marriage could work and how this was getting even more interesting. Mahiro and Benitora were next, with one pleading her master to reconsider while Benitora started screaming at his father.

"Milord, this is already too much! Just because he is Muramasa-sama's grandson, it doesn't mean he deserves to be a part of your family!"

Ieyasu rolled his eyes. "I am not looking at second coming of Muramasa, and surely I know better on who deserves that right." Mahiro shrunk in shame at the reprimand.

"He is nine, you sick tanuki! My sister is thirteen!"

"There is no age limit for engagements, my wayward son, and no one said I was marrying them now. As for the age difference… do you have something to say to Lady Gou who is eight years older than you?"

Hidetada flushed red for, while they were engaged for political purposes, he liked his fiancée a lot even though they were eight years apart. He was so not going to bring up the topic, unless he wanted to get kicked six ways to Sunday by his fiancée.

Political marriage… was not a foreign concept to Naruto, but his vassals didn't teach him this. They were afraid that mentioning the unpleasant part of his duty as the clan heir would upset him. It was something he expected to be part of 'being the heir' of a prominent clan.

While his parents married for love, it didn't escape Naruto's notice that his father married his mother after he had gained both his reputation and title. It was not much a stretch of imagination that Hakurei and Sangetsu had set a condition for their marriage. Heirs of prominent clans couldn't marry as they pleased without 'the good of the family' being involved, simply because their marriage was not just between two persons, but also involving the whole clan.

He sighed. "That makes sense."

Benitora suddenly was already in front of him and Naruto absentmindedly noted 'he is fast' and rolled his eyes attune 'are you crazy' look he got.

"My father just told you to get engaged with my little sister as 'payback' for the political backing he promised to you," he said pointedly. "He is putting a leash on you that ties you to our family and your response to that is "that make sense." Are you for real?!"

Naruto shrugged. "It's some sort of insurance," he replied, equally pointed, "This is politics… And it can't be as simple as I scratch your back and you scratch mine." With no guarantees that no backstabbing will occur when one's back was turned.

"You're fine with marrying my sister?! We're related, ya know!"

Naruto rolled his eyes. "Alright… so, is your mother's name Uzumaki Fusou?"

Benitora blinked. "Erm, no?"

Then Naruto began to list ten more names and Benitora answered negative to all of them. "In that case, your mother is most likely very distantly related to me, and we're past second to third cousin for sure."

"Her name is Tsubone," Ieyasu supplied helpfully. "Her family name is Miyanaga though…"

Typically, a lot of Uzumaki hid their surnames by either not using one at all or using fake one. "Tsubone?" Naruto echoed, recalling list of name from family records. "I am not sure her name is on the list… that's not her real name either, ne?"

Hidetada's eyes widened "It's a custom that, when someone becomes a Tokugawa, they receive new name—her birth name is Masako."

That was one name Naruto had mentioned. "Oh… then she is my mother's third cousin, once removed." She was still very distantly related to him.

Shisui hissed. "Oi, Naruto, are you seriously okay getting engaged to a girl you don't even know?" He whispered to him. "I mean, what if she has buck teeth or thick lips?"

Considering Uzumaki features in general plus a Tokugawa's, Naruto was sure that was very unlikely. "This is a political marriage." Looks didn't matter that much.

Hidetada opened his mouth to protest again, but Totsuka beat him to it. "Then… should we solve this shinobi-style?" He suggested with a disarming smile that didn't match his tone.

Ieyasu smirked. "Oh? I thought you weren't against this arrangement, Tatara…"

Totsuka beamed. "I'm not— while it makes sense to tie the knot with the Uzumaki Clan, we have to take it to consideration that if we go this deep," he gestured towards Benitora, "Your heir, Hidetada-sama, has to agree."

"…"

Naruto narrowed his eyes, digesting the implication. This alliance would be a long standing one and Ieyasu was not getting younger. Considering his position, it was not much a stretch to think he could drop dead without warning and leaving Hidetada to rise into power. There was no point in getting the alliance now if Hidetada would dissolve it in later years.

"You mean shinobi way as in…" Naruto trailed off.

"A team battle," Totsuka finished. "You and your team versus Hidetada-sama, me and Mahiro… 3-on-3!" He beamed.

Naruto frowned. "Why a team battle? This alliance-"

"Your clan is affiliated closely with the Uchiha, ne?" Totsuka continued. "Not officially, at least, but still." That was not a wild guess.

Naruto had never felt this naked in front of strangers who had only known him for less than a few hours. "Yes, but—"

"Then it involves them, too. Considering your ancestry, they're not really—"

Itachi interrupted. "We only share Rikudo Sennin as our ancestor…"

Totsuka blinked and shared a look with his master. "Ho… please don't tell me you have no idea who Muramasa was married to?"

"Mayumi-baasama— I do know my grandmother's name." Naruto couldn't help but felt offended of the accusation.

Totsuka shared another look with his master, who looked amused by the whole ordeal. "Alright… That aside, Ieyasu-sama, do you agree with this?"

Ieyasu smirked. "Well… why not? Mahiro, Hidetada, if you disagree with my decision, you better win." He said in saccharine tone. "If you lose this match, I will not hear any objection from you… And, Hidetada, if by some chance I 'croak', as you put it, this agreement is permanent and set."

Hidetada gritted his teeth and turned towards Naruto. "You know, Naruto, you're a good kid… No, you're a good guy," He corrected. "There must be some other way for you to achieve your wish without getting involved with my father. That's why… I will defeat you and your team."

Naruto inhaled softly. In the end, that shōgi match only served for Ieyasu to judge his character and nothing more. He glanced at Totsuka who was smiling innocently; Ieyasu had plotted for this to occur from the beginning. Shōgi could only show a small part of his character and what wits he possessed; it didn't show him power.

This was how this world works: without power, you couldn't change anything.

Underground Training Room

This must be where the shinobi in service for royal family trained. The room, though large, was void of decoration and appeared to be built entirely from concrete. Naruto noted some part of the room had the ceiling height built around the same as other room he saw in the palace, most likely this place was designed with simulating battle inside the palace in mind.

"Hm…" Benitora stretched his legs then craned his neck. "Yosh."

He was very confident, Naruto noted. It didn't seem he was unfamiliar with his father's bodyguards so they must have been working together before if he had faith in their teamwork. This won't be easy for sure.

Not to mention… Naruto glanced at the sword on his waist. It was shuddering, clacking against its sheath. 'Hokuto Shichisei… it's whining.' He turned towards the Uchiha cousins, finding both of them eyeing their respective sword with unease. 'Shibien and Tenrou, too…'

It was no wonder, though. Shiseiten were initially forged to protect Hi no Kuni and the royal family. With Benitora as one of their opponents, the Shiseiten were rejecting taking any part in this fight.

Naruto heaved a sigh before he untied Hokuto from his waist. There was no point keeping Hokuto with him if he ended up drawing the sword reflexively and Hokuto turned on him. Maybe Hokuto wouldn't, considering he was Muramasa's grandson, but it was better to be careful than sorry later.

"Hoo… I am surprised to see the three Shiseiten back." Ieyasu's voice boomed through the room, and Naruto glanced at the viewing booth on their left that was covered with seal-reinforced glass. There must be aa transmitter seal somewhere in this room, Naruto guessed. "Though it seems they're not cooperative due to my son's presence."

Naruto glanced at his teammates, seeing that they had also taken the Shiseiten off of their backs. They had coming to the same conclusion as him. "I am glad," he couldn't help but say. "They're right to choose you two." The Shiseiten were weapons first and foremost, but they were sentient to some degree and thus, had their own will.

Itachi and Shisui respected their swords as a legacy of his grandfather, so they didn't force the sword's will to theirs. "It's just sad," Itachi said, looking over at his sword that, at last, stopped quivering in its sheath. "It would be like turning us against Konoha."

Shisui was rubbing his cheek against Shibien now. "Sorry, Shibien~ I will not force you to do anything you don't want, alright?"

Naruto sweat-dropped. He was happy Shisui loved Shibien that much and' did Shibien just purr back? "Shisui…" It would be a huge handicap, losing their swords.

"So those are the remaining Shiseiten…" Totsuka Tatara's voice cut his thought off. "And all three of them for one team…" Naruto didn't blame Totsuka for shuddering.

Mahiro eyed the three swords with stars in her eyes. "Those are Muramasa-sama's…" Her eyes hardened. "To give out Muramasa-sama's legacy just like that…" She growled.

Naruto scowled. "Shibien and Tenrou chose their owner themselves— they've been given the right to wield the Shiseiten because they're worth it."

"Mahiro." Benitora's voice was hard and the kunoichi shrank. "You're being very rude to them." Then, with a stern voice he ordered, "Apologize."

Mahiro looked like she had been slapped. "But—"

"Now." Hidetada reiterated in a tone that left no room for argument.

Her lips trembled as she forced herself to form the word, but Naruto didn't let her. "Don't," He refused. "There is no point in listening to an apology born of an order We will prove our worth… then she can apologize to my friends."

With their Shiseiten safely stored inside storage scrolls, Naruto, Itachi and Shisui stepped into the arena. Standing in a line across the West side of the room which Benitora's team occupied. All of them formed the seal of confrontation, a seal that looked like half-ram used as universal sign of engagement between shinobi.

"Hajime!"

As soon as the signal was given, Naruto moved first. Speeding using his Hikō no Fūin and passing through between Totsuka and Benitora.

"Heh?" The Uzumaki didn't attack them?

With a poof of smoke two shuriken appeared on his hand, and Naruto threw it in their direction.

Totsuka didn't miss Itachi doing the same from the opposite end. 'Two shuriken from two directions against a three man cell? Something is wrong…'

Mahiro pulled out her own weapon from her waist, a pair of short sword with curved blades that resembled a spider's claw. "Don't under—"

Totsuka didn't let her to finish as he pulled her hand and jumped to the side with Benitora followed closely on his heels. Then a tornado of flame exploded as soon as the two shuriken were within close distance. Benitora and his team had to outright run from the whirlpool of flame before it engulfed them.

It died down after three seconds and as soon as their back was turned, all of them were locking blades with their respective opponent. Tatara with Itachi. Mahiro with Shisui. and Benitora with Naruto.

Mahiro had to withdraw from the close contact; the right decision as, at that moment, Shisui activated his sharingan. Tatara, on the other hand, chose to avoid eye contact by blowing a seal-less Goukakyū at Itachi.

Itachi was shocked to see his clan's signature jutsu used so skillfully by Totsuka— it was only a small fireball around the size of an adult's head but it said a lot regarding Totsuka's chakra control.

"How?"

"Hm?" Totsuka had his eyes closed; the older shinobi apparently was capable to fight blind. "How did I know your shuriken was a bad news?" He quipped. "Simple: it was intuition." Their weapons clashed, sparks of fire erupting from the friction. "Despite his young age, Naruto-kun is no ordinary shinobi— he has the good instincts of a veteran."

This man was seriously basing his actions on mere intuition? The basis of Jūjika no Fūin Shuriken's versatility was neither a product of the lack of handseals nor the speed of, typically slow, nature manipulation that the seal provided; it was simply because the seal was so small and once thrown, unless you had a suitable dōjutsu, there was no way one could notice it. The shuriken would then burst into an elemental conflagration without warning while initially appearing as a normal shuriken attack. It was very obviously an attack of Naruto's design, holding all the the favoured elements of speed, power, and unpredictability.

"You don't believe me, Itachi-kun?"

Itachi frowned, his hands went over a series of seals. "Katon: Hōsenka no Jutsu!"

Totsuka pulled a weapon from a hidden pouch on his sleeve— a kusarigama. He spun his body clockwise and the bladed chain soared to kick the flame-coated shuriken off his tail. "And also, your side is already onlosing side for information; being a part of a prominent shinobi clan means you don't have the luxury of obscurity."

It's common knowledge that an Uchiha is generally an all-rounder shinobi, fire-natured and, last but certainly not the least, possessed the notorious dōjutsu called the Sharingan.

Then he cocked his head towards Naruto who was locked in his own battle with Benitora. "Naruto-kun is a bit tricky though; his mixed ancestry leaves us a broad range of skills he could've inherited, but he is undoubtedly a seal master… and just now, he confirmed our suspicion of his wind affinity."

"…" Considering his father's surname, the wind affinity was most likely hereditary.

"But back to your lack of information on us, it means you will try to get us off guard as soon as possible and now, you go as far as engaging us in one-on-one battles…" Because of Konoha's traditions, a team battle would be far more conventional.

"Correct," Itachi admitted. "You're a very resourceful shinobi, Totsuka-san." As expected of a shinobi, the shadow ruler kept by his side.

"Thank you for the compliment."

Naruto eyed Benitora's weapon, it was a spear and a traditional weapon of choice for Tokugawa clan. It was not Hokurakushimon though, which was a relief. Naruto had attempted to run a number of scenarios in his head on how this battle would go but he'd come up with nothing because they had a grand total of no information on Benitora's team. So they decided to engage in one-on-one to gain some intel.

Not much so far but better than nothing. First was Totsuka Tatara, obviously the most experienced among the three. He was agile, his chakra control was impressive, most likely a sensor considering he could fight blind, was the brains of the team and he had a fire affinity with a skill at manipulating the element that could make most Uchiha jealous.

As for Mahiro…

"Stay still, bastard!" Mahiro roared at Shisui who shunshined away from the barrage of shuriken the kunoichi threw at him.

Shisui was laughing. "No one is going to listen to that kind of order, even from a pretty lady!"

"Die, Uchiha!" Mahiro hissed, biting her thumb to draw blood, forming a series of handseals before slamming her open palm forward. A seal formula sprung and a portal to another dimension opened. "Kuchiyose: Kumo Sousō!"

Shisui stopped laughing but then, anyone would when ten spiders the size of your head were jumping at you. Shisui dodged just in time, before the summons swarmed him, with kawarimi. The spiders swarmed the training log Shisui used as a replacement, their fangs crushing the wood into splinters. There was no doubt if it bit a human, the immediate concern wouldn't be poisoning.

Clearly, she was very skilled with shuriken and she also had a summoning contract.

"Katon: Goukakyū no jutsu!"

It figures that Shisui would resort to the old 'Kill It With Fire' trick, Uchiha were famed for. Unfortunately, it didn't work as well as he thought it would, as the ten spiders stormed through the massive fireball and straight towards him. Now, Shisui had ten flaming spiders on his heels.

"Gah! Insects should die when they're on fire!" Shisui protested as he threw kunai to pin the spiders to the ground.

Note to self: This was Hi no Kuni and the majority of the population had a fire affinity, it was justified to have fire-resistant summons.

"Hey! Spiders are not insects! They're arachnids!" Mahiro protested.

And Shisui needed a remedial lesson in biology, Naruto noted dryly.

Naruto blinked when he saw puzzled look on Hidetada's face, "What's "arachnid"? Spiders aren't insects?!"

"…"

Note to self: Hidetada was undoubtedly as book-dumb as he used to be, and the prince most likely shared the same wavelength as Shisui.

Not willing to answer the dumb question, Naruto threw a spinning kick that Benitora blocked with the staff of his spear. Naruto smirked, pushing his chakra towards the tenketsu on his soles, sticking one foot upon the weapon while the other held fast to the ground.

"What the—" Benitora tried to pull his weapon away but it wouldn't budge. "Are you crazy?! You can't move while I ca—"

His hand blurred to form seals. "Futon." Like any sensible person who was about to receive elemental attack on the face, he shunshined out of the way and gave up his weapon in the process. "Daitoppa!" (Great Wind Breakthrough)

Whoosh!

Unsealing another spear from the storage seal in his pocket, Hidetada stabbed the blade on the ground to keep his footing. 'Gah! As expected of an Uzumaki… the amount of chakra he put in this attack would give any normal shinobi severe chakra exhaustion!'

The attack was mostly harmless given the distance he had put between them but the wind burn alone was enough to disorient him. At least he was not thrown into a wall, he mused before a yellow blur promptly slammed into his abdomen and he was sent crashing into the nearest wall.

"Hidetada-sama!" Mahiro cried.

"Tora-kun!"

Benitora coughed, rubbing his throbbing abdomen. "That feels like a headbutt from an elephant."

Naruto raised an eyebrow at him. "Serves you right— you're still holding back against me." Then he added with a growl, "I am not a child, I am a shinobi."

Benitora smirked, wiping the blood on his lips. "Well, I learned my lesson… so, I will take this seriously now."

That was all warning he got before Naruto ended up cursing as his vision was filled with Benitora coming towards him from all directions. He tried to pick which shadow was the real one but only at the last moment did he sense the real spear coming towards his side. Naruto parried the spear with his kunai, but he was so focused on the spear that he failed to see the kick from his left.

"Gah!" Naruto received the kick square on his face, barely avoiding a broken nose and was thrown off to the side. He jumped away, and barely noticed blade of the spear coming from his blind spot. This time, he used his Hikō no Fūin and jumped up twenty feet into the air, and stuck to the ceiling.

Benitora squinted his eyes at the upsidedown Uzumaki, the pause in their one-on-one had their teammates deciding to do the same, allowing both teams to regroup. Benitora's team stood on the ground while Naruto's caught up with him on the ceiling. It was a silently agreed break time, with both teams gauging the other now.

"That jump just now…" Totsuka narrowed his eyes. "Not even a shinobi could leap that high… and it looks unnatural."

Benitora frowned. "Unnatural, how?"

Totsuka's eyes went towards the spot Naruto had occupied just moments ago. There was no damage even though the chakra enhancement needed to jump that high would usually dent the floor. Well, unless you were Senju Tsunade, but not even the legendary medic-nin would waste that much effort just for one jump.

Not to mention, Naruto was an Uzumaki with a massive chakra capacity thus, no matter how talented, natural chakra control on a medic-nin's caliber was impossible for him. So that left one possibility, "A seal…"

Shisui whistled, his sharingan reading what Totsuka whispered to Benitora. "Naruto… he figured out the Hikō no Fūin already. Well, part of it at least."

Naruto sighed. "If I didn't know any better, I would have thought he was related to the Nara Clan."

"Definitely not," Itachi supplied. "His chakra has a different tint to a Nara's."

Shisui shrugged. "Oh well, at least we have something on them now, so what should we do, Naruto?"

Naruto contemplated their findings, his eyes narrowed thoughtfully. The arsenals of their opponents were impressive: a weapons mistress with a summoning contract— that was resistant to fire to boot— and, while Benitora was the most powerful fighter in the team in stamina, agility and sheer strength, the most troublesome one was Totsuka.

"It's unfortunate for them that we're not stereotypical examples of our clans, don't you think?" His lips pulled to a smirk. "So let's start with a splash, ne~ Itachi." He pulled out a small scroll, untying the rope and revealing a seal with kanji for water on the center.

The Uchiha heir smirked back, "Right."

Naruto exhaled. "Fūsui Hōin: Kai!"

"Suiton!" His hands blurred a series of seals. "Suiryūdan no Jutsu!"

If there was anything they had expected to be coming from Naruto's team, a horde of water dragons followed by a waterfall from the top of their heads was not it. Mahiro's summons shot their threads at one corner of the wall and the kunoichi escaped the flood and water dragon. Benitora and Totsuka hitched a ride each, too, because there was no way they could outrun the torrent pouring from the top of their heads. Mahiro's other summons, except the three they used, dispelled before the water got to them.

They panted lightly, eyeing the flooded training area in shock. "Where did he get all that water?" Benitora couldn't help but wonder. "Did he seriously store a river's worth of water inside a scroll?!" Mahiro added.

They didn't had time to ponder the mystery as another dragon resurfaced from the water surface, and this time, while Mahiro escaped to the ceiling, her summon was not as lucky as the dragon snatched the summon in its jaw.

"Water won't kill my summon!"

Shisui grinned. "But this will! Raiton: Thunderbolt!"

The spiders that had floated on the water puffed into smoke, returning to their realm. It was not hard for Totsuka to figure out what they had done. The water was to ambush Mahiro's summons while giving Shisui a natural lightning conductor at the same time. Not to mention, with the death trap below, their movements were severely restricted.

This move also eliminated his and Mahiro's katon jutsu. Neither of them had a large chakra capacity so they couldn't win in an elemental battle, not with all the water below. Still… Totsuka glanced to the left and grinned. "Tora-kun." Hidetada was his master but calling the prince by the nickname made him more agreeable. "Make a hole on that wall."

"Got it!" Benitora ran on the ceiling towards the mentioned wall.

Naruto frowned, "What is he—"

"Heeeya!" Benitora roared as he rammed his spear into the concrete, creating a large hole, allowing the water to flow out.

The jinchuuriki scowled. "So that wall leads outside." And most likely to nearest waterway, too.

Itachi narrowed his eyes at the older shinobi; they almost forgotten they had one more disadvantage; the opposing team held the advantage of home ground as a guardian, Totsuka knew the layout of this palace better than anyone else.

"Let's just try the good old trick," Shisui suggested, forming a tora seal. Naruto groaned in response. "Oh, come on!"

Naruto cracked one eye open at Itachi who also did the same. "Uchiha." He snorted, "Hai~ hai~" He clasped his hands together. "Futon."

"Katon!"

Then, in unison, they exclaimed, "Nenshō-ha no Jutsu (Blazing Wave)!"

A torrent of flame shot towards them like a tsunami and Mahiro cursed. 'These kids! Are they trying to kill us?!'

Mahiro slammed her hands to the ground, "Doton: Moguragakure no Jutsu!" The ground beneath them turned into fine sand and the trio escaped the wave of flames.

Shisui and Itachi exhaled the last of their fire, surveying the damage. Itachi blinked when he noticed a wire, no… a thread thinner than shinobi wire with chakra running through it coming from underground and connected to… "Shisui! Your hand!"

The shushin expert looked at his hand, his eyes widening at the almost invisible thread coiled around his wrist. "What the—" He was cut off when the thread tugged at his wrist and, as he pulled back, the thread dug into his flesh, drawing blood. "Damn it!" Shisui tried to cut the thread with a kunai but it wouldn't budge.

Mahiro resurfaced, followed by her teammates. "You first, Uchiha!"

"Shisui, stay still!" Naruto channeled his wind chakra through his own kunai, but the thread remained resistant to imperfect wind blade. Naruto narrowed his eyes as he concentrated, the wind blade thinned and sharpened. It was just one second but the thread, at last, broke.

He had no time to relax as hundreds of summoned spiders were thrown at them. Itachi and Shisui grabbed his arms and they jumped back to dodge the assault. To their sharingan, it was like river of spider thread, flowing from Mahiro's body to her summons.

"If we get caught by that, we're doomed!" Shisui hissed as they landed on the ground.

"They're still summon animals, not to mention they're small… it should be easy to force them to dispel." Itachi pointed out.

"In that case." His fingers clasped together, ox-dragon-horse-dog-bird! "Futon: Shōgekiha no Jutsu!"

The shockwave of the wind elemental attack stormed through the hoard of spiders, dispelling their summoning. While a spider could ride wind, air pressure was another matter entirely.

Naruto perked up, "He is coming… " He crossed his hands, "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu." Chakra smoke burst to existence and as it dissipated ten replica of Naruto appeared.

"Roger." Itachi and Shisui darted to opposite direction, away from Naruto.

He raised his blade, and steel met steel. Benitora pushed the blade of his spear forward but Naruto didn't budge. "You're really not holding back, if not for your agreement with my tanuki father I would've thought…"

You're really trying to kill me…

"Hn," His lips tugged upward slightly "Please don't underestimate us, if we wanted you dead, you'd already be so however…" He trailed off. "We despise violence and bloodshed, which is why we go this far…"

'Something is off,' Benitora suspected, he could feel it in his gut. 'Wait… just now he—"

A few seconds later, an explosion startled Totsuka and Mahiro from their stalemate with the Uchiha cousins and another dozen of Naruto's clones. "Tora-kun!" Totsuka cried.

Benitora burst from the cloud of smoke, a little singed but mostly fine. "I'm fine! Naruto, on the other hand, not so much."

"Ugh…" As the smoke dissipated, they could see where the jinchuuriki's prone form was.

"Naruto!" Their shocked voice was dampened by the burst of chakra smoke around them, as Naruto's kagebushin were dispelled after the user was knocked out cold.

Mahiro smirked, "It's our win then! Do—"

"Mahiro, wa—" Totsuka began but he never managed to finish as the world suddenly twisted beneath him and Benitora, who was standing beside him, smirked. There was another burst of chakra, bright and warm like the sun to his senses. It wrapped itself around his torso at an unbelievable speed before he could react and slithered down his body to immobilize his limbs.

Mahiro yelped in shock as their vision twisted into a surreal world of black and red. The two Uchiha before them exploded into a flock of crows.

"Kai!" Totsuka quickly returned himself and his team to reality as he utilised his masterful chakra control to dispel the genjutsu without the assistance of a handseal.

However, both he and Mahiro were still bound in golden chains made of shining chakra, and the Uchiha cousins were each holding a kunai against their neck with sharingan blazing.

"This is it," the young voice of Uzumaki Naruto announced to them from behind, confirming Totsuka's suspicion that the chakra chain was his. "Yield, Totsuka-san, Mahiro-san… please."

He swallowed, "Tora-kun?"

It was Itachi who answered him. "Over there, he is fine… mostly."

Totsuka's eyes turned to where he had thought Naruto was knocked out cold. The genjutsu was dispelled now, though, revealing the squirming Benitora who had the same chakra chains tying his whole body to the ground. The chain wrapped around their prince and went down into small hole on the concrete floor. Totsuka could guess where the chain was connected to.

Mahiro's eyes were closed, biting her lower lip in frustrated gesture. Totsuka could tell the kunoichi was frustrated and ashamed beyond words. "Alright… we yield. It's your win, Naruto-kun, Itachi-kun, Shisui-kun."

They deserved this.

Ten minutes later…

Benitora's team marveled at the fact that, after such an intense fight they had lost, they had ended up only suffering minor injuries which mostly consisted of bruises and shallow cuts.

"I know this will sound dumb," The prince gritted out. "But I still didn't get how we lost." At Naruto's raised eyebrow, he elaborated. "I mean… alright, we lost the fight, but I still don't get how that happened!"

Ieyasu who had been watching the fight with amused look interjected. "Yes, do enlighten my idiotic son."

Benitora opened his mouth to retort, but Mahiro beat him to it. "You win! But I can't accept you coming at our prince with intent to kill!"

Shisui rolled his eyes, "No one wants to kill anybody, we just made you think so-"

"Heh?"

Totsuka, who was sitting on the ground as cleaning the soot on his arm, sighed loudly. "Tora-kun… we have been hoodwinked since the very beginning." He clarified, then waved his hand towards their surroundings. "Tell me, does this place look like it just suffered from a massive fire-wind enhanced jutsu?"

There were a number of scorched spots, but nothing that indicated they had a fire-jutsu festival. The most glaring evidence was… the wall his team had occupied only had six feet wide blackened surface. The fire Naruto's team had used was at least five times of that so…

"So all those massive fireballs…"

"Most of them were fakes." Shisui began to explain, "There was a fireball attack we threw at you." He glanced at the scorched wall. "But even the combined size was not that big— we wrapped it in genjutsu so it appeared bigger."

Totsuka's eyes narrowed. "Shrouding a real attack in genjutsu… that's like doing two things in the same time."

"Which is why…" Itachi trailed off before continuing. "While I supplied the real Goukakyū, Shisui was the one who worked on the illusion while Naruto used a Futon so a fireball of that size could reach all the way to another side of the room." A smaller fireball meant a shorter reach so it needed boost of wind.

Totsuka shook his head mirthfully. "You guys are really a good team."

"Still!" Mahiro had calmed a great deal after explained that Benitora was never in danger of assassination. "I can't believe you fooled Totsuka that easily!"

"Oh, it's very hard even for genjutsu masters like Itachi and me." Shisui admitted with sagely nod. "But, since we're Uchiha, you expected genjutsu through eye contact so you didn't notice genjutsu through skin contact."

Totsuka recalled the time he blocked Shisui's punch; it stung because of Raiton but he didn't realize it was also genjutsu. "Which is why, I didn't notice Itachi-kun switching place with Naruto-kun to fight Tora-kun." The genjutsu had messed up with his senses.

"Actually I realized that Naruto was Itachi at the last moment." Benitora felt the need to defend his intelligence. "He grunted like an Uchiha still."

Itachi blinked and Naruto groaned, "That of all things?"

"Still didn't save me from that sneak attack." The smoke bomb went off and then the chakra chain grabbed his leg.

"Oh, don't think I forgot!" Mahiro apparently was not finished, "You dumped a river worth of water on us!" She pointed accusingly at Naruto. "Who keeps a river inside his storage scroll?!"

"We passed by a flooded village on our way back from a mission, so…" Naruto trailed off. "Unless Itachi is going to turn into the Nidaime's second coming soon, it's handy to keep water source around." He explained his logic on why he had a river on storage scroll. "Besides, while throwing so much destruction around Uzumaki style, no one would look hard for genjutsu."

Totsuka had to admit, after that flood over his head, he let his guard down on genjutsu and watched out for another disaster-esque jutsu the team would throw at them instead. That was masterful deception at its finest, concocted by a group of young shinobi no less.

"Your teamwork is flawless," Totsuka couldn't help but comment.

"No, they're full of flaws," Ieyasu corrected, startling all shinobi around him. He had been pretty quiet as both teams were reviewing their performance. "Your strategy in this fight came with high risks… especially the last move. If Uchiha Itachi failed to keep Hidetada occupied until the right time, if Totsuka noticed Naruto's chakra in spite of all distraction Uchiha Shisui provided…" He listed on. "What would you do if you failed?"

Naruto just smiled at that. "We didn't fail in the end… and while I agree our plan was risky and more likely to fail in your opinion," He tilted his head to the side, "I trust Itachi and Shisui with my life; don't you think trusting them to make my crazy plan work is nothing in comparison?"

He said it as if it was the simplest thing in the world, typical of Naruto. Itachi and Shisui couldn't stop themselves from laughing, though in Itachi's case it was nothing more than a string of chuckles. Shisui outright guffawed until his sides hurt.

"What?! It's a simple logic!" Naruto said, pouting at his teammates and best friends.

"No no…" Shisui coughed, "Only you would answer like that when someone is questioning your sanity." He coughed again, poorly hiding his laughing fit. "It's so you, though."

"What's that su— wha—" Naruto yelped when a calloused hand landed on top of his head. He was still recovering from his use of chakra chains— which he shouldn't use so much— and Kurama was still screaming inside his mind about healing his chakra coils again. So he was in no condition to dodge.

Ieyasu ruffled Naruto's blond locks. "Really… I have asked so many shinobi the same question when I pointed flaws in their teamwork, strategy, and tactics… but—" He exhaled softly. "Only you and your grandfather answered it, not with alogical answer or excuse…"

But with the simple fact that they had absolute trust in their comrades; no other reason was needed.

Then suddenly, Ieyasu turned his attention to his teammates, giving them a look that alarmed Naruto. It was not fear and suspicion like what he saw from villagers of Konoha, but… it was sympathy.

Ieyasu then knelt beside him so he was on the same eye level as Naruto who was sitting on the floor. "Naruto-kun." His hand was still on the top of Naruto's head.

Then Naruto heard it, a whisper that rang through his mind. It was not Kurama's voice, but Ieyasu's.

'We need to talk Naruto-kun. About you,

your family, the Namikaze…

and the Uchiha Clan.'

Those words heralded the second time his world shattered since the day he learned about his jinchuuriki status and its associated, classified information. Apparently he had not discovered enough dark secrets, the legacy of his family.

Authors note :On new character, jutsu and everything else... skip and forever clueless if you feel like it. However that means I WILL NOT answer question on review that already answered here.
TECHNIQUE and TOOLS and PLACES
Kumo Sousou: a variant of Sabaku sousou but with spider summon, in short you get swarmed by spiders (worse kind of attack I ever put in this fanfic in my opinion)

Genjutsu+Ninjutsu: a combo of technique inspired by KHR, 'reality' within 'illusion' by Rokudo Mukuro.

Hokurakushimon: The last Shiseiten under Tokugawa clan's control, and the only one that not a sword.

Juujika Shuriken: As explained in story, some people would wonder what's the point of flaming shuriken when Uchiha have Housenka no Jutsu. You get your answer here… it's more subtle and faster.

Tokijikuin: Timeless Palace in literal translation, name taken from K project simply because it's HARD to come up with japanese name when I don't know Japanese... it's Ieyasu's personal quarter, "HOUOU" or phoenix is the name of the whole palace. So the theme for places in capital is phoenix... immortality. The capital itself... maybe will be mentioned later.

PEOPLE and group
Uzumaki Masako/Miyanaga Tsubone: Basically Saigou no Tsubone, the first consort of historical Tokugawa Ieyasu. Said to be the only 'one' he really loves. Said to be sengoku jidai's Cinderella.

Totsuka Tatara: Taken from K project, skilled Katon user, sensor, and user of Kusarigama. He is also closest aide of Ieyasu who also have Hidetada/Benitora's trust. He is arguably the weakest but the most skilled at flame manipulation.

Mahiro: From Samurai Deeper Kyo, a kunoichi under Ieyasu. Very devoted and idolized her masters. She is summoner of spider and skilled weapon mistress.

HOMRA (based on K's red can) : Shadow Twelve Guardians of Hi no Kuni, unlike twelve guardians bearing cloth with 火 they're tattooed with the more elaborate looking ANBU tattoo. ALL of them descend from original Twelve Guardians with no affiliation to anyone but Tokugawa family. The 'true' shinobi group in service of Tokugawa clan. All of them are katon user.

Let's clarify 'Pairing' in this story, why? It's nonexistent in this fic but this 'serious business' seems like it will set something on fire if I didn't sort it out now.

As you can see, for the first time the topic 'pairing' pop up in relation to Naruto and... as swiftly shoved aside as if it didn't matter at all. In this fic it matters, just not a lot and... not in romantic light.
While non-canon Naruto character will fill up the spot as princess of Hi no Kuni. I decide to import character from somewhere like I did Shiomitsu clan. She will appear one day but well... the 'fiancee' will exist as mere political asset mostly. Naruto being Naruto of course will go out his way to act nice, romantic? ha ha... not sappy type of romantic and as mentioned in this chapter. He is engaged with someone four years older, and mental age aside... I find it unrealistic outside of shoujo manga to have serious romance between preteens.

In this fic even Minato & Kushina's relationship have politic background. And before anyone ask, it doesn't mean the universe of this fic renounce pure love LOL
'Shisui' aside, both Naruto and Itachi are both totally married to their job to notice girls in romantic sense.