Hana and Akira escorted Team Kurenai back to Konoha. Thankfully they didn't run into any other teams, either coming or leaving, when they entered through the gates. They slowly made their way to the Hokage Tower, compensating for Chōji and Hinata, both of whom had yet to go through the tree climbing training. When they finally reached the tower, they made their way through the floors to Minato's office and had to wait until he was done with a meeting. They heard, "I am NOT going to let some of your drones compete, Danzō!" come through the door.

Inside the room, in a far calmer tone, Danzō said, "Minato, you cannot stop this."

Minato stated, "Watch me."

"They are all shinobi of Konoha and, as their sensei, I am nominating them for the exam." Danzō sighed and said, "Besides, they aren't officially part of my organization."

"Explain."

"Even if he doesn't have the name, Kotarō is my grandson and his mother was quite resolute that he not be a part of my ROOT division when she asked me to train him. I have arranged a team for him including a member that has only just recently registered from outside of both of our organizations too, so there should be no problems."

"And the third?"

"A young kunoichi from the Nara clan."

Minato thought, 'The Nara? He's even managed to drag them into his arrogant desire for power? I'll need to speak to Shikaku about this. In any case…' Minato sighed. He said, "Alright Danzō, I'll allow it, on the sole condition that they refrain from lethal attacks unless it's unavoidable, their lives are in danger of ending or their opponents are also using them."

"What about by accident?"

"If they're that incompetent then you wouldn't be recommending them for this exam."

Danzō grunted, not wanting to admit that he was right. He said, "Will you be putting a similar condition upon your own children?"

"What do you mean?"

"According to what I've been able to find out, your son taught your youngest daughter how to use one of his swords during the debacle in Wave, and your other daughter has been shown to not possess even a skerrick of restraint when it comes to combatting her opponents."

Minato sighed and said, "I'll admit that she's even worse than Naruto was, but look at what he's become. That's why I put Isamu on their team, to rein in her excesses. Was that it?"

"I have one more question."

"What's that?"

"Is your son teaching his sister one of those jutsu?"

"No. He was quite emphatic about me not teaching Miwa either of them, so I don't see why he would be. Although, to be fair, I wouldn't be surprised at all if Mizuko came up with something similar. She has always taken after Naruto in his more aggravating habits."

"I see," Danzō said, thinking, 'I'll need to teach Kotarō and his teammates some of 'those' techniques.' He then left without another word.

As Danzō was reaching for the doorknob, Minato said, "Oh! Danzō, one more thing."

Danzō turned around and said, "What is it?"

"You're dismissed."

Danzō grunted, annoyed at Minato's lack of subtlety, but left without a word. When he saw who was waiting to see Minato he nodded and said, "Hana, Akira."

The two shinobi simultaneously said, "Danzō," in a dispassionate tone, shocking the shinobi with them, as they had been nothing but congenial, sometimes to excesses, on their way back from the Land of Vegetable.

When Danzō was gone, Sakura asked, "Who was that?"

"He's one of the Hokage's advisors. We've had…disagreements…with him in the past."

"I see."

Hana thought, 'You have no idea, Sakura.' Hana said, "In any case, we're up," as she pushed herself up, out of her seat and followed the genin team into Minato's office, followed by Akira."

When they were all in, Minato blinked and said, "Hana! I wasn't expecting you back so soon."

"Yes, well, when we got there, it had been all settled by Naruto and Mizuko."

Minato blinked and said, "I get Naruto, though I'm not sure why he'd be there in the first place, but what about Mizuko? Is she alright? Was she hurt? She's not…"

"No. She's completely fine. And, apparently, their being there was sheer coincidence."

"I see. Mind telling me exactly how they managed this? Kurenai?"

"I'm not sure about Ruiga, but, Jiga, was defeated by the combined efforts of Hinata and Sakura."

Minato blinked at the two young kunoichi and said, "You should both be proud of yourselves. According to the latest bingo book that we received from Kirigakure, The Janin were ranked as A class shinobi."

Sakura said, "Then…does that mean that Mizuko is a…"

Kurenai said, "Not necessarily, Sakura. 'Ranks' are awarded based on the jutsu that they know, as well as their ability with them. when it comes to battle as shinobi, there are factors like what elemental natured chakra you can use, contrasted to your opponent, strength and speed, along with a number of other factors. In this case, it is probably just that Mizuko's ability with applying shape manipulation to natured chakra far exceeded Renga's."

"I see," Sakura said, thinking, 'I really need to talk to Kakashi-sensei about some one-on-one training.'

"So, the peddlers that you talked about in that message?"

"As it turns out, some shinobi from the Land of Vegetable concocted a plan to use them to smuggle the heir apparent out of the country so that they could raise an army of allied nations with her as a figurehead, though I am unsure if she was aware of that part of the plan."

"I see."

"When it became apparent that we were being followed, she concocted a plan to use the older and younger peddlers as bait while she and her remaining retainer continued on running from them."

"How'd that go?"

"Naruto and I saw right through it. I think that Mizuko might have had an inkling that something was up, when Naruto went along with it before he brought up that she had portrayed herself as weak and sickly the entire trip. Of course, the fact that Gisei found a dead Hana-ninpō user while she was out looking for food the previous night probably helped. After Naruto brought that up they came clean and he gave deciding the plan over to the genin."

Sakura piped up, saying, "About that…"

Minato looked at her and asked, "What is it, Sakura?"

"Well…I'm sorry…" Sakura said, bowing at her waist.

"What is it?"

"I think…that you need to recall them."

'Why's that?"

"It's just…well…her brother is insane, and he's pushing it onto Mizuko! She was coming up with all sorts of ways to get Haruna-sama killed!"

Minato smiled and said, "They've both always had rather overactive imaginations, and little patience for those that are trying to mess with them, their friends, or those that they've been hired to protect."

"But…that's no excuse! She's a daimyo, so…"

Minato sighed and said, "Sakura. You need to understand something about my children, well, excluding Miwa."

"I need to…understand?"

"My son, regularly defaced the entire Hokage Mountain, in the middle of the day, without getting caught once. Quite frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if he wasn't behind that incident with the Hyūga too." Hana scratched the back of her neck as she looked at the ground silently, having taken part in that particular extravagance herself. "Mizuko targeted the ANBU barracks almost as regularly as Naruto did the faces. I'm just thankful that it was Miwa that was born first."

"Why is that?"

"I can only imagine the state that the village would be in if the Itazura no Nijū no Kami were actually carrying out their attacks at the same time."

"Even so…"

Minato sighed and said, "Was that all? Because if it is…"

"Hai!" Sakura squeaked.

Minato said, "Kurenai, continue."

"I didn't see much of Mizuko's fight, but from what I did see, she has somehow managed to develop a suiton jutsu that lets her fly about in the air, and something approximating the Suiton: Rasengan, though Naruto claimed that it was achieved through a different method."

"How so?"

"I am unsure how the Rasengan works, so I can't tell you the difference between them, but he said that it forced the water to swirl around in a self-perpetuating loop."

"I see. Then it does function differently. Any guess as to what rank it would be?"

"I'm not entirely sure, but, at a guess, C-rank, maybe B?" Kurenai looked at Hana and asked, "Where would you put it?"

"Definitely B-Rank if it could take down Jenga."

"Alright. You're all free to do whatever you like for the next…say…three days."

The gathered shinobi all started to leave, except Hinata who quietly said, "Anoo…"

"Yes, Hinata?" Minato asked in a kindly voice.

"Naruto-sensei gave me a message…to give to you."

"Really?"

"Yes. He said that… he'll be staying at Gisei's holiday house, and that…the river delta tendered an…arrangement of flowers…in a vase at dawn. If that…means anything to you."

"Yes. It does," Minato said before looking to Hana. He said, "Hana, get Anko, Maruboshi Kosuke and Satō Asami."

Hana nodded and said, "Hai," before moving back through his office and leapt through the open window, having understood the message clearly, being one of the four that Naruto had mentioned.

XXXXX

About an hour later, the shinobi that Hana had been sent to gather were all standing in front of Minato's desk. Anko said, "Alright, what's the big idea? We've never worked together before, and all our skills are next to useless when it comes to working with each other."

Minato said, "Yes, Anko, I am well aware," tired of Anko's constant reminders that he didn't need. "However, Naruto recently sent a message asking for a contract for Mizuko to summon, and permission to teach Konoha-ryū: Yanagi, to her."

"Okay, so what's Satō here for?"

"She's here for a different reason. She just happened to get here at the same time is all."

"Alright, so…what, you want me to give her access to the Snake contract?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Miwa, has signed the Toad Contract. I feel that Mizuko should have access to a contract with a creature that is just as powerful."

"I see. I suppose that that's fair enough, but…"

"Where are they?"

"Yeah. 'Cause, even if I would sign off on that, if I don't know where they are, then…"

"They're at Naruto's hideout in the Land of Demons."

"Ah. Alright, I'll head there tomorr-!"

They all heard, "Dainamikku Entorī," less than a second before the door caved in and burst into splinters, revealing a man clad in green spandex wearing orange leg warmers with a terrible haircut that had horrendously large eyebrows.

Every shinobi, other than Rock Lee, who had stars in his eyes, sighed in disbelief. When they were done, Minato said, "Gai, that door's coming out of your paycheck."

Gai exclaimed, "Urk! Uhh…apologies, Hokage-sama. I was unaware that you were in a meeting."

Minato sighed, used to Gai's antics. He said, "It doesn't matter. We were just wrapping up."

Gai, seeing who was there, said, "This is an…unusual lineup. Is the mission particularly dangerous? If so, I, Maito Gai, will gladly offer my service-"

"That won't be necessary," Anko said. "Hokage-sama is just having me play delivery girl to his son in the Land of Demons."

"Then…you mean that Naruto is…" Anko nodded. Gai said, "Hmm," in a more thoughtful tone than any of the shinobi in the room had thought possible. Eventually he said, "Hokage-sama, could I make a request?"

"It depends," Minato said, dreading that Gai would ask him to name a holiday where everyone in the village had to wear green spandex.

"Would you allow Tenten to accompany Anko on her mission?"

"Oh?" Minato said, blinking in surprise. Minato closed his eyes after sighing in relief. He rested his elbows on his desk and pressed his fingers together. He said, "Hmmm…alright." He turned to Anko and said, "Anko, you heard him."

Anko sighed. She turned to Tenten and said, "Alright. But you'd better not slow me down," before turning to Kosuke and asking, "So, can he?"

Kosuke smiled and said, "Yes," glad that his only original technique would be passed on to the next generation.

Tenten looked amongst the adults and, shaking, nervously asked, "Uhh…Gai-sensei…"

"What is it, Tenten?"

"Why? Am I not good enough to be on your team? Or…is it because I'm not good at taijutsu? Because if that's it, then I'll double my training. If that's not enough, I'll triple it!"

"Eh?"

"What do you mean, 'eh'? You're trying to pass me off to someone else since I'm not good enough in taijutsu, right?"

Minato smiled and said, "That's not it at all Tenten."

Tenten looked at Minato and asked, "It isn't? what do you mean? How can this be taken any other way?"

Minato sighed and said, "You don't need to worry about that. You'll find out soon enough. Get ready to leave with Anko in…say…two hours? Anko?"

"No. If I'm going to the Land of Demons, I need to get to Wave to take a boat. It's going to take until about sunset to get there if we leave now."

"Alright. Sorry Tenten, but you heard her."

Tenten sighed regretfully and said, "Haaii, Hokage-sama," and trudged after Anko as she left, heading back through the Hokage Tower.

XXXXX

As Anko and Tenten made their way through the Hokage Tower, Hana found Miwa at their training ground and frowned. She said, "Now, where did you get the idea to do that, Miwa?"

"Eh? You mean add my raiton chakra to my Body Flicker jutsu?"

"Yeah."

"Well, my Raiton: Raiu Bunshin is just a shadow clone created using raiton chakra instead of normal chakra, so, when I mastered the base jutsu, I added my raiton chakra to it and, well…" Miwa paused to let it sink in before saying, "I'm calling it the Raiton: Senkōdo no jutsu."

Hana sighed and said, "Figures you'd fit that in there."

"What do you mean?"

Hana sighed and said, "Never mind about that."

"So, why're you here?"

"I was wondering if you'd finished that training that I gave you yet."

"That…uhh…ahh…hehe…uh, well, you see I…" Miwa sighed and dropped her head as she said, "No sensei."

Hana sighed and said, "Miwa, why haven't you…"

"Look, I get that I need to do something to get my summoning jutsu up to snuff, but, I figured, that even if I postponed it to work on something else, I could still do it later."

Hana sighed and said, "Miwa, I just met up with your brother and sister."

"Seriously?!" Miwa exclaimed, her expression broadcasting that she was beyond annoyed that the mission that she'd been on with Kakashi had taken her away from the village when Hana's mission had been assigned.

Hana sighed. She said, "You know, Miwa, a shinobi shouldn't broadcast their emotions quite so freely."

"Ah, shove it. I'm still human. That aside, how are they?"

"From what I can tell, more they are both more than well."

"What do you mean?"

"Apparently, your brother has been putting Mizuko through some much tougher shape manipulation training than I had thought. And, according to what was being said, she's not done yet."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm not entirely sure how they work in their entirety, but I know that the swords that they use make use of shape manipulation in some form or another, and you know how powerful those jutsu are."

"So…you're saying that if I master this shape manipulation thing, then I could make my own 'sword'?"

Hana said, "Who knows? It's a possibility anyway."

"Then…in that case, could you teach me how to use a sword?"

"I suppose," Hana shrugged. "But, only after you finish that shape manipulation training. Got it?"

Miwa's shoulders slumped and she said, "Hai, Hana-sensei."

"There's one other thing that I'd like you to consider."

"What's that?"

"The justu that you are working on now. It leaves an afterimage after you leave the spot that you were before, right?"

"That's right. Why?"

"There's a jutsu that can be used by people that can use the Body Flicker no jutsu to do that, where they move so fast, repeatedly, that they can create multiple images and use those images to hide within to let them confuse the enemy and launch an attack from their blind spot."

"Really?"

"Yeah. It's called the Zanzō Bunshin no Jutsu."

"Can you use it?"

"No. I can't."

"Then how do you know about it?"

In a sad tone, Hana said, "A…friend…could use it. He was actually quite well known for his ability to use that specific jutsu."

"Really? You can get known for using one jutsu? I thought that being able to use multiple jutsu was better for shinobi, to increase their versatility in combat?"

"That is true," Hana said, annoyed that Miwa was throwing her words back at her. "But that can depend on the jutsu itself, and the one using it."

"I see," Miwa said as she thought, 'Damn! I almost got her to say that she was wrong!'

Hana said, "You're going to have to work a lot harder than that to get me to go back on that."

Miwa sighed and said, "Well, it was worth a shot."

"No, it wasn't."

"Yeah, maybe."

"What's Isamu doing?"

"He's working with his uncle on some Hiden jutsu that they have in their clan."

"How was your mission with Kakashi?"

"It was fine, for what it was."

"What was it, exactly?"

"We had to go off and escort this fat old lady that wanted to go to the next town for some festival, which ended up being to buy a bunch of useless junk!"

"I…see," Hana said, thinking, 'I thought that Minato assigned them a C-Rank, not a D-Rank. I'll ask Kakashi when I see him next. In the meantime…' She asked, "Would you like to start with tantōjutsu, or straight up kenjutsu?"

"What are they?"

"Two different branches of techniques to use a blade other than a kunai. In this case, with a tantō, or a katana or chokutō. With the latter two, the techniques involved are largely interchangeable."

"Hmm…well, what would you recommend?"

Hana said, "It's up to you," drawing two scrolls from her flak vest. She laid them on the ground and formed a hand seal and said, "Release!" causing two clouds of smoke to appear over the scrolls. When the smoke cleared, Hana said, "The shorter ones are tantō, and the larger ones are, technically chokutō, thought the blade shape does kind of partially disqualify it from the title."

Miwa said, "Could you teach me how to use two of those ones?" pointing at the tantō.

Hana blinked and said, "You want to use two? Why? This isn't about your brother and sister again, is it?"

"No! Nothing like that!"

"Well, alright, but, for now, we'll go with one, alright?"

"Sure, I guess, why?"

"Because I've actually only got two of them. I'll need to contact the guy that made them for me to get some more for you."

Miwa said, "Ah. I see. Thanks, Hana-sensei." Hana resealed the two longer swords and picked up the two tantō and held the hilt of one of them out to Miwa, who took it, making sure to not cut Hana's hand as she did. Miwa looked at the blade and said, "It looks…kinda weird."

"I know, right? I took some swords from a kumo-nin that I fought against once and handed them over to one of the smiths from our village and he created them for me."

"So then…these are Kumo weapons?"

"No. Crafted in Konoha, owned by Konoha. Besides, I kind of get the feeling that they used a different technique to achieve the required result."

"Why's that?"

"I can't explain it very well, but these ones feel different to the ones that I used to use."

"I see," Miwa said, thinking, 'I get what she means. This thing feels a lot different to that.'

XXXXXXX

A/N

Terms

Itazura no Nijū no Kami: Dual Gods of Mischief