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THIS IS KINGNIKEN WITH CHAPTER 2 OF TUTELAGE!
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After a filling but not so nutritious breakfast, Naruto once again found himself eyeing the neat pile of textbooks that his new tutor had so helpfully stacked on top of his dining room table.
Naruto grimaced as he managed to read the title of the one closest to his field of vision.
'The Determined Sapling, A Brief History of Konohakagure.'
"You know Hayate-sensei, I read this book last year for class, I'm pretty sure I've read all of them."
Hayate titled his head to the left. The small smile on his face held just a tiny amount of visible smugness.
"I highly doubt that...from the grades and book reports...I was able to get my hands on, you've probably read a few...pages or the summaries on the back...but I'm quite confident you haven't read these books."
The infamous prankster scratched the back of his head, a rosy tint painted on to the canvas of his cheeks.
"Well isn't that what the summaries on the back are for? To tell you what the book is about?"
Hayate responded.
"It's supposed to pique your interest...not satisfy your hunger for knowledge."
Naruto folded his arms defiantly.
"Well I only get hungry for Ichiraku Ramen! Besides I didn't fail the graduation test because of my bookwork, it was because of that stupid clone jutsu! Shouldn't we be focusing on that?"
Hayate sighed at Naruto completely misunderstanding his point. The Tokubetsu Jonin wouldn't give up so easily though.
"You may have failed the graduation exam because of the clone jutsu but the rest of your grades may very well be the reason why you were the 'dead last'."
Naruto grit his teeth. He wasn't particularly fond of the nickname.
"So?!"
"A tutor's role includes helping you address your 'areas of opportunity'. This is one of them. It's something you should readily address, especially for one who wishes to be Hokage."
Naruto leaned forward.
"What does studying have to do with being Hokage?"
Hayate responded with a question of his own.
"Who do you think the Hokage is, Uzumaki-san?"
Naruto smirked.
"That's easy! The Hokage is the strongest and most respected ninja in the village."
Hayate nodded.
"That's true but he's much more than that."
"Huh? Really?"
"The Hokage is one of the...village's main administrators. They are responsible for most of...our day-to-day activities which includes handing out missions, securing funding...and ensuring the proper allocation of resources. I'm sure you've... often seen the mountains...of paperwork on the Sandaime's desk."
Naruto nodded, silently reflecting on Hayate's words before responding.
"Well couldn't I hire people to help me with that kind of stuff?"
"The Sandaime already has several... advisors and assistants but there are some...decisions that are only his to make and there will...be times where he has to rely on his own knowledge."
"I guess that makes sense."
Hayate continued.
"You shouldn't only consider...your ultimate goal of being Hokage, every shinobi worth... their salt understands the value of information. It is many times our most dangerous weapon."
"What about our jutsu and ninja tools?"
Hayate shook his head.
"The history of shinobi is filled with...stories of mighty ninja who were defeated...by smarter or well-prepared opponents. Information can tilt the scales... heavily if you know how to use it correctly."
"Whoa...you really think so?"
Hayate nodded.
"Why are you so surprised though, Uzumaki-san? You've also made use...of the information you've gathered. Was I not hired...because you overheard a classmate's conversation?"
Naruto nodded.
"Yeah. I see what you're getting at. So the more information we have, the better we can prepare ourselves?"
"Exactly but we should also spend time...training our bodies and chakra as well. There may come a day where...the mission or fight requires you to have something powerful...in your arsenal. A shinobi has to keep a balanced...skill set so they can be ready for anything."
Naruto nodded once more. Things were becoming just a bit clearer. He exhaled softly as he took hold of the book he had observed earlier.
"I really have to read these, huh?"
"Yes, but we can start off slow so you...don't get overwhelmed. You can even switch books between...chapters to maintain your focus. Feel free to ask me anything if you...want further understanding, Uzumaki-san."
Naruto responded as he began to read the first page of Konohakagure's decorated history.
"It feels kinda weird when ya call me 'Uzumaki-san'. Just 'Naruto' is fine."
Hayate smiled.
"Of course, Naruto."
Iruka Umino was a bastion and true champion for the virtue of patience.
Year upon year of instructing the children and young teenagers that would serve as proud members of Konoha's military was a key testament to the fact.
Not to mention a certain blond haired prankster that he personally felt responsible for.
Yes, patience was something that Iruka often found himself with a healthy supply of...except in this situation.
The twelve...no fourteen minutes he had waited seemed to go on forever.
It was his natural brotherly concern that drove him to this feeling but even the experienced Chuunin would admit that he was uncomfortable with how... guilty he felt.
A young woman approached him.
"Thanks for waiting Umino-san. The Hokage will see you now."
The Academy teacher quickly got of his chair and made his way into the Sandaime's office.
The wise elderly Hokage greeted the Chuunin with a small nod and a question.
"Hello, Iruka. Please have a seat. How are you doing?"
Iruka responded.
"Hello Hokage-sama, I'm doing fine. You?"
The Hokage chuckled.
"These old bones haven't given up on me yet. How goes the preparations for the next school year?"
"It's going well Hokage-sama...I want to thank you for taking the time out to see me."
The Sandaime chuckled.
" 'No matter how swamped you are with work, A Kage must always make time for the men and women who follow you loyally.' Those are words I heard from the Nidaime. I try to live by them as best as possible."
"I see. Thank you."
The Hokage waves his arm dismissively.
"No need for that. What can I help you with?"
"It's...about Naruto. I had decided to give him a few days to cool off after failing the graduation exam. He seemed rather upset about it all."
The shinobi hailed as 'The Professor' nodded.
"...And then he goes and does the unexpected in hiring a tutor. Do you feel responsible for this?"
Iruka frowned.
"Somewhat. Perhaps if I was a better teacher-"
The Hokage raised his hand as a signal for Iruka to conclude his current train of thought.
"Stop right there Iruka. Naruto hired a tutor because he identified that he was the one lacking, at no point has he ever blamed you or the Academy. He's just trying to do things differently."
"I see...I should probably go see him soon."
Hiruzen nodded.
"Yes. I'm sure he'd be happy to see you."
Iruka scratched his cheek.
"Uh, Hokage-sama...may I ask who took the job? As Naruto's tutor I mean."
The Hokage smirked.
"Ordinarily such information would be kept somewhat confidential...but in this case I'll make an exception. I assigned the mission to Hayate Gekko."
Iruka exhaled audibly.
"Oh, Thank Kami! I was partially worried that someone crazy like Anko would have taken the job!"
The Sandaime shivered.
"I may be getting old but I'm certainly not senile, Iruka! I'd be crazy to have those two troublemakers together. Only Kami knows the type of things someone like Anko would seek to impart to Naruto."
Iruka chuckled.
"I'm sorry, you're right. I'm sure Hayate is far more responsible than that."
Naruto's eyes widened as he examined the diagram before him. He had switched to a book about ninja tools.
"Wait..so with the right materials you can create your own explosive tags?!"
Hayate nodded as he gulped down a glass of lemonade that his student had offered.
"Yes but most shinobi don't have the time or energy to learn the basics of fuinjutsu required to create them. They just purchase them at the weapons shop."
"What's Fuinjutsu?"
"Sealing techniques."
"Do we have a book on that?"
"One of your textbooks covers the raw basics..."
Naruto grinned.
"I'm reading that next."
Iruka sighed happily as he left the Hokage's office.
Naruto was in good and capable hands with Hayate. Hopefully the aspiring ninja would learn as much as possible for the coming school year.
Iruka spoke out loud to himself as he headed back to the teachers' office at the Academy.
"I still have some work to complete today. Maybe I'll go see him tomorrow."
Training grounds twenty-five was a balanced mixture of heavily forested pathways and clearings populated by moderately damaged training dummies.
A small pond sat pefectly in its direct center. Naruto admired the water's crystal clearness before noticing his own reflection.
In his imagination, the whisker-faced boy saw a shiny new headband tied to his forehead.
A small grin formed on his face as the headband transformed into the Hokage's infamous white and pink hat.
"One day...One day."
Hayate's voice broke Naurto from his self induced trance.
"Are you ready for today's practical lesson, Naruto?"
Naruto turned to his new tutor before responding with a confident thumbs up.
Hayate rolled his shoulders as he spoke.
"To start things off I'd like...for us to spar first. I want to have a decent understanding...of what level your Taijutsu is at. Don't hold anything back."
Naruto grinned.
"You asked for it, Hayate-sensei! Get ready to be amazed by my skills! RAAGHHH!"
The Tokubetsu Jonin narrowed his eyes as his student charged straight at him with a fist raised high.
"So this is what my teachers felt like when I used to spar with them. How amusing..."
A small smile crept on to his face from the precious memories.
That same small smile filled with happy thoughts remained etched on Hayate's face...even as he roundhouse kicked Naruto into a nearby bush several feet away.
Ah.
Precious indeed.
A thoroughly beaten Naruto groaned in exhaustion as he collapsed on to one of the training ground's softer grass-beds.
"Just so you know...Iruka-sensei doesn't hit us nowhere as hard as that in Taijutsu practice."
Hayate shrugged.
"I'm not Iruka."
Naruto rolled his eyes. It was one of the few things he could physically do without feeling even more pain.
"Clearly."
Hayate sat cross-legged beside his student.
"Your reflexes, agility and endurance are pretty good...for someone at your level. You could work on...everything else though."
"Oh please Hayate-sensei, I would have defeated you with my special punching combo!"
Hayate flicked Naruto's nose.
"Ow!"
"Well we'll never know since...you can't even manage to hit me."
"You're so mean."
"What kind of Taijutsu style are you using?"
"Huh?"
Hayate perched an eyebrow.
"Most Academy students...are taught the basic moves until their final year in the Academy. Students who aren't...from a shinobi clan normally find a style they like in the Academy section of the library...you've done that...right?"
Naruto frowned.
"Ugh...why are you and Iruka-sensei always trying to get me to read?"
Hayate flicked his student's nose once more.
"Ow!"
"Because we want you to...develop into a good shinobi. Remember what we said this morning...about 'more information'?"
"Yeah, You're right."
"We'll go the library tomorrow."
"Yes, sensei."
"Good...now get up. We're gonna run through...your physical exercise regiment."
Naruto groaned once more.
"I've hired an evil ninja to tutor me."
When Iruka Umino had decided to drop by his 'little brother's' apartment, he did not expect to find a sign of the apocalypse.
Fire falling from the skies?
No.
Tsunamis swallowing entire islands?
Nope.
Kakashi Hatake deciding that he would no longer read Make-Out Paradise ?
Fat chance!
What Iruka found was not quite the same but just as frightening.
The Chuunin stood slack-jawed at the open door of Naruto's apartment.
"Naruto's...reading something...educational?"
The owner of the apartment frowned.
"You don't have to sound so surprised."
Iruka turned his gaze to Naruto's tutor.
"You're a miracle worker, Hayate."
Hayate shook his head.
"Nah, he's just a mouthy brat...with big dreams. You just have to point him...in the right direction. I don't know if I could handle a whole...class of them like you guys do."
Iruka scratched the back of his head with a chuckle.
"I get what you mean."
Naruto rolled his eyes.
"Can you two stop talking about me like I'm not here? You're distracting me and I have more reading to do!"
Iruka smiled.
"You're really changing Naruto. I'm so proud."
Naruto's blush was deep and the truest reflection of his feelings, there weren't many people in his life that had would so openly praise him.
"Thanks, Iruka-sensei."
"How about I take you out for ramen later?"
Naruto jumped out out of his seat with a laugh.
"Ramen?! Alright!"
The joyous blond paused his celebration before posing a question to his Academy sensei.
"Can we go out tonight around eight-ish? I should be done with my training then."
"Yes, of course."
"Alright! I'm gonna get back to it!"
Naruto went back to his books, reading aloud as he tried to gather a full understanding of the subject matter.
Both Chuunin and Tokubetsu Jonin shared a nod of respect and understanding before Iruka departed.
It was later in the day that we would find Naruto in the Academy section of Konoha's library.
The blond stood silently before a large bookcase, rubbing his chin as if observed in silent contemplation.
Hayate whispered softly as he walked over to his student.
"Any chance of you picking...something this year?"
Naruto responded with a whisper of his own.
"I wanna pick something awesome! The future Hokage should have a worthy technique."
"This section doesn't have anything awesome...these are just the basic moves for the different styles...once you become a Genin and then Chuunin...you can learn much more."
Naruto nodded, his eyes did one final sweep before they landed on a small tangerine colored notebook tucked away in the lower right corner of the bookcase. He pulled it out carefully, read the cover before handing it to Hayate.
"This one."
Hayate perched an eyebrow.
"Did you pick this because it was orange?"
"Maybe? What's wrong with liking orange?"
Hayate decided not to comment any further. There were a lot of powerful ninja out there that had far worse inclinations than liking ramen and the color orange. The katana wielder narrowed his eyes at the book title.
"Fire Dragon. Lightning God. Volume 1"
Hayate quietly scanned a few of the pages, it was an amalgamation of a few other styles, focusing on powerful punches and rapid kicks.
He had never heard of it before but if it was in the Academy section then Naruto could learn it.
The Tokubetsu jonin nodded as the pair left to check the book out of the library.
Naruto was once again flat on his back, groaning in pain at the end of another training session.
The unknowing son of the Yondaime called out to the source of his torment.
"Was it really necessary to 'kill' me so many times with all of those kunai?"
Hayate took a sip from his canteen.
"Be grateful that they...were blunted. I might be using...the real thing by the time we get to week seven."
"I can always cancel the contract, ya now."
"You are many things but a quitter...doesn't seem to be one of them."
"Hmmm. Good point, the man who is going to be greatest Hokage of all time can't be stopped by something like this."
A few minutes of comfortable silence passed before Naruto made his way back to his feet.
A curious Hayate watched as the orange-clad boy retrieved his Taijutsu manual and started practicing.
"Naruto, our time for today is up."
"I know...but that doesn't mean that I have to stop training."
"You know there is such a thing as 'over-training' that can lead to injury?"
"I'm not overdoing it. I just need to train more if I'm going to improve."
The brown haired shinobi didn't seem to have anything that he could say to deter Naruto from continuing. The boy did seem to still have lots of energy left.
"Make sure you go home soon, eat something...nutritious for dinner and get some sleep. I don't want you all...tired and cranky tomorrow."
Naruto chuckled as he continued to practice his punches against a nearby post.
"Yessir! See ya later,sensei."
Hayate departed with a
"Goodbye, Naruto."
It should be noted that Hayate did actually stay around for another hour or so unbeknownst to his young ward, just to make sure that Naruto wasn't burning himself out...but let us not dwell too long on this fact.
"Eat up, eat up. It's not everyday I get the chance to do this so make sure you get your fill."
A waddling of ducks munched happily at the grains of sweet corn that the kind stranger continuously dropped at his feet.
Konoha's national park had long served as a safe and comfortable habitat for the aquatic animals, despite the large number of civilians and shinobi that accessed the area on a daily basis.
The evening was getting late, the once blue sky was now being shaded with a perfect mixture of orange, red and purple.
The park had emptied considerably, leaving just a handful of patrons to enjoy it's peaceful environs.
The 'kind stranger' continued to observe everything around him.
This was the motivation behind his actions.
To protect what his forefathers had fought so hard to create.
A voice called out to him.
"Mind if I sit down?"
Danzo looked to his right, the Sandaime Hokage stood beside the bench wearing a small smile.
"The park was designated as a place for all of Konoha's citizens to enjoy. Our sensei had declared it so."
Hiruzen took a seat, removing his hat.
"Such a nice cool evening, isn't it?"
"Yes."
A few of the ducks seemed to quack in gratitude as Danzo continued to drop grains of corn.
"Taking a break, Danzo?"
"Even I like to relax once in a while, Hiruzen."
"That's good, I should really seek to emulate you in this regard."
"Hmmmm."
A few moments later the Sandaime continued.
"Hayate Gekko will not be coming here today."
"Hmm?"
"Isn't that the reason for you being here? Hayate's known for jogging around this park in the evenings."
"Is that so?"
"Indeed."
Danzo narrowed his visible eye.
"You're keeping such a close eye on me. I've underestimated you once again, Hiruzen."
The old warhawk decided to put an end to his charade.
"I wished to speak with him about his current mission, to get an update on the Uzumaki boy."
"If that's the case, you're free to come to me. No need for one of the Elders of the village to bother a Tokubetsu Jonin when he can speak to the Hokage."
"Yes, you do have a point...I want to protect this village, Hiruzen."
"So do I."
"I know...I suppose we just see things differently. I hope you understand that Naruto Uzumaki is the key to our future."
The Hokage smiled.
"Yes. I do believe that we agree on that point."
Danzo paused, for a moment he sensed something different about the Sandaime's tone.
Or had he been imagining things?
The councilman eyed his former teammate for a few silent moments before nodding.
"I'll leave things in your hands then but rest assured I will keep watch on things...from a distance, Hokage-sama."
The Sandaime nodded.
The two men watched as a civilian couple laughed happily as they left the park together.
The Hokage spoke.
"Can I have some of the corn? I wish to feed the ducks."
Danzo smiled.
"No. Get your own."
Three weeks had passed since Naruto had taken on Hayate as his tutor.
Progress was slow yet steady.
Naruto still preferred practical training over everything else but he was now readily acknowledging the benefits of reading and studying.
There were a lot of interesting things in books! Things that made him even more...curious.
He was beginning to get a handle on the basic moves of the 'Fire Dragon. Lightning God' Taijutsu style too.
It didn't prevent Hayate from beating him to a pulp but even the Tobetsku Jonin had mentioned that Naruto's movements were becoming more 'fluid'.
Hayate was also going to begin more advanced lessons on chakra this week and Naruto was more than excited for it.
Naruto blinked.
Speaking of Hayate...
Why wasn't he here?
The blond perched an eyebrow as he looked over at his empty dining table.
For the last three weeks, he had woken up each morning to Hayate sitting there with a set of books to read.
"He must be running late today..."
Naruto said out loud to himself but despite the self-made reassurance, he couldn't help feel like something was off.
The aspiring shinobi decided to take his mind off things and prepare his breakfast. It would be best for him to be ready and waiting for Hayate's arrival.
It was by pure coincidence that the Tokubetsu Jonin jumped through Naruto's open window as the young blond was finishing breakfast.
Naruto greeted the man with a small nod as he scarfed down another piece of toast.
"Hey sensei. Woke up late?"
Hayate bowed his head.
"I'm sorry Naruto, I won't be able to have any sessions with you today. I'll return the monetary cost for today's classes."
"Huh? What gives?! I was finally improving and you're dropping our class!"
Hayate provided the reason.
"I'm sorry...my girlfriend, Yugao returned from her mission last night...she was severely injured...they have her under watch in the ICU as they prepare her for surgery."
The fire in Naruto's gut was instantly extinguished.
"Oh geez Hayate-sensei, I'm sorry to hear that. Take all the time you need...wait a minute..."
Naruto's brows furrowed at Hayate angrily.
"WHY ARE YOU HERE WITH ME? YOU COULD HAVE JUST SENT A MESSENGER OR SOMETHING! GO BACK TO THE HOSPITAL!"
Hayate shook his head.
"It's fine, the original Hayate is still with Yugao. I'm just a Shadow Clone."
Naruto blinked.
"A Shadow what?"
"Thanks again, Naruto."
POOF!
Naruto's eyes widened as he watched the 'Hayate' in front of him disappear in a cloud of smoke.
"What the hell was that?"
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BOOM!
THAT WAS CHAPTER 2 OF TUTELAGE.
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KINGNIKEN