Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Naruto Uzumaki: To be Stronger

Team Seven made camp, they were on their way back from Wave Country. Both Uchiha Sasuke and Haruno Sakura were thrilled about completing an A-rank Mission instead of a C-rank. Uzumaki Naruto, on the other hand, was surprisingly deep in thought.

The rapid change in his cute little Genin did not go unsupervised or unnoticed by their Sensei, Hatake Kakashi. “Sakura, Sasuke…keep setting up camp, I'll be back in a moment.” Putting his book away, Kakashi made his way over to Naruto, who was sitting further away from the rest of the team. “Ohayo, Naruto, what's wrong?”

Kakashi didn't like the look in the eyes of his third subordinates. His eyes weren't glittering with happiness, they were dark and gloomy. “Can we chat privately, Sensei?” Kakashi nodded. Kakashi created a pair of Kage Bunshin, Shadow Clones , to keep an eye on his other two subordinates. 

“What's on your mind, Naruto?” Kakashi asked curiously. Naruto looked at him, or rather through him. “Please, Sensei, answer me honestly.” Kakashi nodded, he had a feeling he knew what was coming.

“You will not like my answers, Genin Uzumaki…but I promise to be honest. Genin Uzumaki, let it be known, I respect you for having the courage to do this.” Kakashi replied.

“Sensei, Jonin-Supervisor, Hatake Kakashi…I want your honest unvarnished opinion about my process and current standing amongst Team Seven. I want to know what I'm horrible at and what I have a talent for. I'm fully aware of my lack in regards to all Shinobi Arts.”

Kakashi nodded “Genin Uzumaki, in regards to the mission overall…you did exceptionally well, the fact that you're a fresh Genin in Konoha's Shinobi Forces is no mean feat. Admittedly, I should have overruled the three of you and returned us Post-Haste to Konoha with the Principle to renegotiate the Contract of the Mission. Upon encountering the Demon Brothers, yes, you froze but you were admirable in protecting Genin Haruno. You should have known that Kirigakure no Sato, Shinobi are known to use poison on their weapons. You performed well against Hyoton no Haku and Momochi Zabuza. Overall, I find it hard to fault you on your code of conduct on the mission as a whole. Yes, this is going onto your file. Now…let us move onto your skills as an individual. Genin Uzumaki, I will not lie…they're not horrible…they're outright appalling. If it wasn't for the fact that you passed my Bell Test, I would have sent you back to the Academy. Your Taijutsu is atrocious, there are several gaping holes in it, you're more of a brawler than anything…your chakra control is even worse but given your parentage and legacy that's going to be a given. Yes, I know who your parents were Genin Uzumaki, honestly the Academy should have given you more training in regards to chakra control. As for your Ninjutsu…your skill with the Kage Bunshin , will help you with that. Furthermore, your penmanship is atrocious and your lack of respect for authority is going to hinder you if you wish to progress further up the ranks. However, Genin Uzumaki, you have potential…potential that I have not been assisting you in reaching.”

Naruto nodded and saluted, “Thank you, Sir. Do you have any advice for anything I can do to improve on our way back?”

Kakashi eye-smiled at him “We're going to take at least another day of travelling back to Konohagakure No Sato, I would suggest that you use our downtime to improve your character control with your Bunshin. I know you can make hundreds if not thousands, I will be happy with your progress if you can make anywhere between 50 and 60 Bunshin to get towards 1 to 9. Not every mission is going to require brute force and overkill. Also, I'll help you in either tuning your Taijutsu style or finding you a new one.” Kakashi instructed.

Naruto nodded, he saluted Kakashi and as the Jonin turned to leave. “Agriato, Inu-niisan.” Kakashi turned to him his eye wide.

“Genin Uzumaki…what did you just call me?” He asked with genuine surprise evident in his voice.

Naruto turned “Inu-niisan. I remember seeing you an awful lot when I was growing up. You, Neko-nee and Hebi-nee were always nearby to get me out of trouble. Once or twice or more, I saw you creeping into my apartment with fresh groceries and supplies.” Kakashi smiled at him “It was a genuine pleasure, no one should go through what you're going through. I'm sorry that, We, I, can't and haven't done more for you.”

“You can sensei…help me become better.” Naruto replied.

“Not stronger? I thought you wanted to be the strongest Hokage ever?” Kakashi replied jovially.

“You or Hokage-Sama-Jiji would probably say something about strength isn't about learning jutsu and techniques but rather maximising what you have. Something, something, thousand techniques learnt once, something, something one technique something thousand times.” Naruto replied “It’s an awesome quote, but, I don’t truly understand it.”

Kakashi chuckled “Uzumaki Naruto, I have three goals for you. One: Improve your chakra control, by running up and down a tree, then use your hands to climb up it, Kage Bunshin can be used. Two: Learn to restrict the amount of Kage Bunshin you can create, with the initial aim of 50-60 and begin to decrease that number. Three: Learn the true meaning of that quote. And finally, find a new taijutsu style and brush up on your current one.”

Naruto nodded, Kakashi made his way back but shouted one last thing “I’ll get you for dinner.” Naruto nodded. He looked at the trees, pulsed his chakra as a 300 Kage Bunshin materialised. Naruto eyed his duplicates “You heard the man…let’s do this.”

“You sure…I thought that you liked being able to create an army of us.” One his clones responded.

“Shut up me. I do…I need to be a stronger shinobi, a better shinobi. Having an army of me…is good, but what good are we if we’ve got nothing to back ourselves up?”

The clone nodded with that they began to run up and down the tree. Naruto knew he wasn’t the sharpest kunai in the holster, but, he was observant. As he rushed up and down the tree, he began to try something new, one of his clones popped as it miscalculated the amount of chakra it needed to perform a handstand on the tree. It was followed by five more pops, he tried it himself and he’d managed to stick for three seconds before he was propelled off.

Unbeknownst to him, Kakashi had left a clone behind under the Toton no Jutsu . The actual Kakashi had crossed to his other two subordinates as his third shadow clone gave him the cliff notes of his, secretly, favourite subordinate. “Sakura-chan, Sasuke-kun…”

“Kakashi-sensei!” Sakura squeaked snapping to attention, Sasuke gave the man a nod.

“Genins Haruno and Uchiha, as your Teacher, and Leader, I feel it is necessary to discuss with you my observations of you throughout this mission. Genin Uzumaki has already had this discussion with me, so his presence is unnecessary. Do you understand Genin Haruno?” The tone in her superior’s voice made it clear, she was not to harangue, that Baka, Naruto for not joining them. Sakura nodded. Kakashi eye-smiled at them “Do you wish to hear your personal shortcomings or my view of the mission?”

Sakura gulped “I’d…I’d…like to hear your views on me, Sensei.” Sasuke nodded in agreement. Kakashi let out a breath “The three of you are quickly earning my respect and my fondness; whereas before it was just my fondness. Genin Haruno, your strengths of perfect chakra control and ability to quickly gain proficiency in advanced chakra exercises does do you credit. Your skills with kunaijutsu, taijutsu and shurikenjutsu are good…for an academy student; you are now a Genin and a Soldier in the service of Konohagakure no Sato and that is something that should be disdained. I don't care for how or why your skills have not progressed but that ends here and now. You're on Team Seven it's time you started acting like it. By the time we get back to Konoha, I expect you to be polite with Genin Uzumaki.” Kakashi thundered.

Sasuke gulped, he knew that this was going to be unpleasant. He stood up, “Genin Uchiha.” Kakashi growled.

“Sensei, Hatake… I know what went well, so, let's skip to the bit…” Sasuke bent double, coughing and wheezing; he looked up at Kakashi with eyes wide.

“You forget yourself, Genin Uchiha. You will work on being able to communicate effectively with your teammates, you will take a much more practical approach to assisting your Teammates are up to par.”

“They're dead weight, Sensei. I've got no need for weaklings, I was informed that you would be teaching me…”

“Genin Uchiha…it appears we are to be having words with the Hokage. The pair of you get the camp ready, be ready at first light.” 

Naruto was roused out of his training and ordered to go to sleep. That night, as his Genin slept soundly…Kakashi sat by the fire. It wasn’t the first time that Kakashi took the first watch, he preferred it; it was when he was at his most analytical. He’d only had his Genin Cell for three months and even Might Gai, one of the less intelligent Jonin could tell that Team Seven wasn’t even a functional team. He had Genin Uzumaki, statistically the weakest member of the Team, weaker than Obito…But, He had a talent for the Kage Bunshin, but had nothing else going for him. However, the boys determination was definitely impressive…reckless and naive he was but also his adaptability. Kakashi snorted, he was maudlin. Of his Cell, the only one worth training was Naruto. Sasuke, he was very concerned about almost as much as Sakura. “I might have to ask Hokage-Sama for THE Test.” Kakashi thought to himself.

The next morning Team Seven broke camp and took to the trees. Naruto moved with more fluidity than he had prior. Kakashi winced, chakra control wasn’t something that he had struggled with, but, he remembered Kushina-neechan had struggled with it especially when she got flustered, excited, annoyed and angry, which was often. They were at war at the time, Uzushiogakure no Sato had been annihilated ten years prior, in the dying embers of the Second Shinobi War.

It had taken Iwa, Kumo, Kiri and Rain combined along with three of the nine-tailed beasts to take out the village. It was Rains’...last big punch for the foreseeable future; the Shinobi of Uzu had annihilated the Rain army, put Kumo to flight at the cost of the four squads of Thundercloud Platoons. Iwa had unleashed their CORE, a mob that consisted of at least 300 Doton-Release who could flatten a small settlement in 30 minutes or less. It was then Team Sarutobi, who would later be dubbed Densetsu no Sanin, who would find the remains of Uzu after fighting against Hanzo, who’d remained in Rain to fight the invaders.

Naruto smiled softly to himself as he found himself moving through the trees. Before he landed, he had swayed like a drunken monkey and had to use that momentum to fuel his next jump causing him to break formation several times. However, he had devoted himself to ensuring he had mastered tree-walking to the very best of his ability. 

Sakura couldn’t help but snarl at Naruto “How the hell, Dobe, did you get so much better than Sasuke-kun?”

“Practice!” Naruto replied before about facing to follow their teacher. “Sensei…shall we…pick up the pace?” Kakashi nodded. Internally he was adjusting his paperwork which would inevitably increase with the revelation of this cockup of a mission.

“We’re moving out, at a faster pace. A much faster one. If you cannot keep up, well… you will have to be carried.” Kakashi ordered and began to move his pace up to a low Chunin one. He didn’t look back, he could hear his Genin Team grunting and groaning to keep up. The sound of a slight crack brought him out of his musings as out of the corner of his eye, he spied Naruto doing a near-pitch-perfect safety vault. “Overcompensate?”

“Hai.” Naruto replied as he regained his footing.

Kakashi said nothing else, and they began to rush back to Konoha. “Baka! How are you not tired?” Sakura ground out as they made camp that evening.

“It's his Kekkei Genkai, Genin Haruno…His Clan Name is Uzumaki for a reason.” Kakashi replied as he kept an eye on Sasuke and Naruto, both boys were practising chakra control by sparring on a tree.

“Winner, Uzumaki.” Kakashi called as Naruto managed to dislodge Sasuke from the tree. The Uchiha snarled and dropped down from the tree and stalked off, Naruto sighed and summoned a clone…that was surprising Kakashi hadn't thought Naruto had that ability as of yet, Kakashi had roughly predicted that by the time they’d returned to Konohagakure no Sato, Naruto would be able to make 9 Shadow Clones as opposed to 90.

“Genin Uzumaki, Genin Uchiha, a word if you please.” Kakashi ordered, pausing the Uchiha in his tracks before the duck-haired teen prepared to walk off.

“Genin Uchiha…” This wasn’t a polite request but a stern order. “...you were not dismissed.”

The Uchiha scowled but heeded his commanders words “I’m impressed, at the pair of you, you’re beginning to take this line of work seriously. I am well aware of the animosity and disdain between the pair of you, why?”

That startled the duo “Why, what, sensei?” Sasuke stated, already not liking where this conversation was going.

“Why do you have such disdain towards Genin Uzumaki, and why you have such an animosity towards Genin Uchiha.”

Naruto went to open his mouth but he shut it again “Permission to use a Kage Bunshin to get my thoughts in order sensei?”

“Denied. Although granted partial dismissal to get your thoughts in order.”

Sasuke watched as Naruto walked off, the way he was walking was no-where near as smooth as it been for that whole days worth of travelling; in fact, aside from the slight overcompensation of chakra that had resulted into a well executed safety-vault there had been a fluidity to the obnoxiously loud blonde. “He’s an absolute dobe, sensei, he can’t even perform the basic three jutsu correctly, although with the kawamari no jutsu he exhausts so much chakra on the smoke that it’s unfeasible, and do not get me started on the henge. Actually, he can only perform two of three accurately; then there’s the absolute travesty that is his taijutsu , which is more of a brawler than anything. The only thing that I’m remarkably amazed at is his tenacity even though his dreams are totally foolish. I’m well aware of the disdain of the Village towards him on both the Civillian and Shinobi sides, plus, I’ve had my own problems to deal with.”

Kakashi snorted “Maybe, Sasuke-kun, maybe. Genin Uzumaki is unorthodox, that does not make him stupid. His inability to use the bunshin is more to deal with genetics and the inability of your tutors to look beyond what’s in front of them. All of the glaring faults that you’ve told me about your disdain for him reflects more on your teachers and yourself than him. The disdain…I cannot say much, I could, would and should but I cannot, I must not and I shall not; that is due to the illustrious wisdom of Hokage-Sama, even though I disagree with him. Your own problems, yes, the Massacre of your Clan; that was horrible, horrendous and atrocious…yet, Sasuke-kun…I do not think you’re passed your troubles and let them wash over you, you have let them consume you. Your own inability to let go of what happened and rather who did it…”

“What do you know! How could you know what it’s like…” Sasuke bit back, his eyes turning red.

“I was, have been and still am in the same room as you.” Kakashi roared, before he blurred, his arm catching the Uchiha in the chest and used the momentum to slam his student into the dirt.

“My mother died when I was born, my father committed suicide when I was 5, after taking me to the academy that day. I passed my graduation exams that same day and went home to find my father hanging from the rafters. I was taken into my sensei’s home as I was unable to live alone because I was a minor, I stayed with them until I was 13. I took the Chunin Exams solo at 6 because the Konoha Council allowed it and my Teacher, the up and coming Yondaime Hokage, reluctantly allowed me to. I was under an apprenticeship with him until my two new Genin Teammates joined me; one of them was Uchiha Obito, he and I were like you and Naruto. I was you and Naruto was Obito…both my team mates ended up dying on a mission I was meant to be leading and then during the Kyuubi attack, I lost not just my Teacher; but my sole remaining family. So, yes, Sasuke I know exactly what it feels like.” Kakashi explained. He climbed off his subordinate and offered him a hand up.

“So, Sasuke, what do you really think about Genin Uzumaki?”

“He’s…got potential, half-trained…does need some major honing on his training.”

Kakashi eye-smiled at him “You’ll find noone as dedicated to training than him…I expect you already know that.”

Sasuke nodded “He’s…relentless, he just keeps going.” He smiled wryly at his Teacher “You want me to help him.”

“I want you to help yourself. Now, if you’ll excuse me I have another student to bring into line.”

Sasuke nodded “Hai, sensei, I’m going to be here for a bit…I…I have a lot to think about.”

“Don’t think too long or too hard.”

Finding Naruto was easy enough, finding him sitting in a tree looking into space was another. Kakashi was tempted to give him a quick lecture about spatial awareness, only to notice a puff of smoke underneath his foot. “Didn’t I tell you…”

“You told me I could not use Kage Bunshin to get my thoughts in order, nothing about using Kage Bunshin as a lookout. Make yourself…” The words trailed off as Kakashi joined his blonde student and subordinate on the tree branch “...comfortable on the tree branch.”

Kakashi chuckled “You remind me of my teacher, you know that?” He took great joy in watching Naruto’s eyes widen at that.

“I can’t talk about him, Hokage-Sama’s, the Third’s, orders. Consequences would mean my life is over, literally. How much did you hear?”

“Erm…a bit. Mainly you ‘being in the same room’ as Genin Uchiha.” The last part was an improvement. “I overheard that and vague bits about Uchiha Obito and you losing your Teacher who was the Yondaime. ”

“The right answer was all of it, Naruto-kun.”

Naruto nodded and looked sheepish “You were…rather loud, sensei.”

“Gomen, Naruto-kun, what your teammate said got the better of me and my response was disproportionate. Now, you can guess what I’m about to ask you?”

Naruto nodded “I guess…my animosity towards him is misplaced. He’s an incredible shinobi, too be wearing his clan symbol on his back when he was six! Then there was the fact he made everything look easy, then the Incident happened and he withdrew himself from everyone in the class and chose not to speak with anyone, I got…I got…frustrated, angry, annoyed, disappointed lots of things really; he had and still has everyone gushing and fawning over him and yet whenever I’m present everyone treats me like shit to be scraped off the bottom of their sandles. So I used Genin Uchiha as a measuring post, maybe, just maybe, if I could beat him in a fight or beat him in anything someone would say ‘well done’, I want to be acknowledged as a person, not as shit. That’s why I prank the village.”

Kakashi giggled “The nature of pranks, at least to me, demonstrates an untapped potential for infiltration. Yes, on the surface, the Shinobi dislike your antics but…”

“Because I was able to prank people, we’ve pointed out…pointed out…weakpoints?” Naruto replied slowly.

“Very good, exactly, now Naruto-kun, imagine what would happen say if you…infiltrated the water silos and filled it with poison instead of food colouring?” Naruto paled, he didn’t know about poisons only that poisons were bad things to use and were to be used to remove solo people or cause mass confusion, at least according to Iruka-Sensei.

“Confusion and death?”

Kakashi snorted “Umino only gave you the basic coverings of poisons it seems but correct. Now, we’ve digressed, back to your dislike of Genin Uchiha; you used him a measuring stick and antagonised him in the attempts to be recognised, anything else?”

“I’m well aware that everyone in the village hates me, so I’m completely alone. Everyone seems to fawn over Genin Uchiha yet he seems so alone. I’ve been challenging him trying to…trying to get him to realise that he’s not alone…I’m antagonistic towards him because I know he’s alone but don’t know any other way to get him to realise that some people like him and want to see if he’s okay. I mean his Clan weren’t exactly good to me nor were they bad; they never actively pursued me or treated me like shit but they never stopped anyone from chasing after or attempting to bully me or kill me, that was more to do with Inu-San, Nek0-san, Hebi-san and Coughing-San, although Weasel helped a fair bit.”

Kakashi paused, Anko, Yugao, Hayate, Itachi and He had been his minders when Naruto had been growing up; too think that Naruto remembered them. Yugao Uzuki and Hayate Gekko were easily explainable, they’d been trained Namikaze Uzumaki Kushina whilst He had been taught Namikaze Minato. Itachi had been assigned to them, no matter how skilled the Nuke-nin had been, Hokage-Sama was extremely reluctant to allow a 7-year-old ANBU Operative to start adding bodies to his tally. There was the Uchiha Shisui murder/suicide that was still unsolved.  Furthermore, talking with his damaged, exceptionally damaged, male genin Kakashi began to realise just how messed up they’d become due to the village and the Haruno family was no exception. Kakashi turned his eye on Naruto “You’ve not been resting have you?”

“No…I’ve never needed to…”

“That won’t do, Naruto-kun, when you train your body destroys itself and repairs itself that is the crudest meaning of strength. When training oneself you must take into account ‘rest days’ too much training, known as overtraining, is dangerous for your health. From tomorrow until we meet for our next team meeting, no training.”

Naruto looked at his teacher like a deer-in-the-headlights “No training…”

“No training, your body needs to adjust to the gruelling punishment you’ve just put it through. It needs time to reset, do you understand me?”

“Not exactly but yes sir.”

Kakashi nodded, he turned and headed towards to the camp. He had one more conversation to have, this one was going to be loud. Sakura was tending to a fire “Genin Haruno.” Sakura snapped to attention, Kakashi dismissed it.

“When in the field, no full salute is required. No point in blowing our cover now is it?” He replied with an eye smile.

“This is the question about why I’m constantly fawning over Genin Uchiha and constantly admonishing Uchiha Uzumaki isn’t it?”

Kakashi chuckled “It is and it isn’t. So to save us a lot of time and potentially our hearing I’m going to guess, if that is alright?”

She nodded, and Kakashi sighed “Your parents, I am guessing told you to get close to Uchiha Sasuke as a means to help him to…recover from the horrible trauma that he’s sustained. Everyone knows about it, but very few of us address it openly and attempt to talk to Uchiha Sasuke as Uchiha Sasuke, everyone seems intent on talking to him as the Lord Apparent of the Uchiha Clan in the hopes of having their children land the assets that Sasuke will inevitably inherit upon his majority. Your fawning over Sasuke whilst meant to be one of camaraderie became one of childish disobelief and awe when you saw him effortlessly display the skills of being a shinobi at such a young age. Sasuke is a prodigy, make no mistake, however what do children know about dealing with this sort of thing delicately. I’m not admonishing you, chastising you about what you did before you were assigned to me as my Genin Squad. What you after being assigned to me is different kunai sharpening technique.”

Sakura blanched “I've been putting in a bare minimum effort, mainly sitting to one side whilst you're training the others.”

Kakashi nodded inward, he knew that his orders were too focus on the Last Uchiha. He could smell the orders coming from the Hokage’s Council of Advisors; their ranks as advisors meant they should only do that, unfortunately they had been exceptional shinobi and their trainings albeit watered down were still very active in the village. “Now, since you’ve come under my command; I have noticed that your actions and mannerisms have not changed. Granted, I have not come across as willing to train you but that is not the case, I am willing to teach all members of my platoon as is my duty as both your senior officer and teacher. From this evening you are to conduct yourself as a Genin Kunoichi as is appropriate of your rank when interacting with your peers, I understand your ‘grievances’ about Genin Uzumaki but how you…”

“He’s a waste of rations and training, he barely passed the academy exam…He only passed due to extenuating circumstances.”

Kakashi’s eye narrowed “I would be very careful about how you address a colleague, Genin Haruno. The Academy Exam is not the only way a Shinobi can be recruited, if Naruto had failed the exam, Hokage-Sama would have found a way to make him a shinobi.”

“For what reasons? Why? Surely the…”

“Uzumaki Naruto began his service to Konohagakure on October 10th, he was born in the worst tragedy to strike Konohagakure no Sato; by the circumstance of his birth, his service began when so many died. By nature, design, and fate, he was going to be a shinobi. Accept that, and move on. I do not expect the three of you to like one another, but, I expect you to be civil with each other otherwise we’re in for a long rough time. I have options, Genin Haruno…Hokage-Sama requires Genin Cells to be three-person cells with a jonin in command, but that does not mean I cannot plead a case to make a two-genin cell with myself as the commander.”

Sakura gulped, nodded and silence fell, Kakashi created a Kage Bunshin to summon his missing Genin. The four of them sat at the campfire, the situation was tense and surprisingly Sasuke broke the ice “I apologise, Do…Naruto…for…treating you like you were not worth my time, same to you Sakura.”

Naruto nodded quietly “Sorry for being such a pain.”

“Don’t, Naruto.” Sasuke countered, he found himself under the scrutiny of his Squad “I should…thank you, I guess for squaring up to me so often; it…made my days bearable. I don’t think I’ve had a punching bag, I’m sorry but Naruto…your taijutsu style makes you more of a punching bag than a sparring partner, that after a beating will get back up and come back for more. If you want, I can have a look in my family archives for a potential style, or we could head to the library.”

Naruto grinned “Unfortunately, the Librarian is an utter hag…wouldn’t let me in as a kid, sure as hell she wouldn’t now.”

Sakura’s eyes widened “She didn’t let you in? I thought that…”

“Don’t think, Sakura, just accept, the village HATES me.” Naruto replied curtly, Sakura whilst academically sharp wasn’t quite so sharp on the finer aspects of human body language and reading it.

Kakashi meanwhile took note “Remind me to accident the Librarian. The fact she’s stunted my little brother, the Junchuriki of Konoha, progress…she’ll be lucky not to lose her head for this. Just her life, I’ll make it quick…she used to be a fine kunoichi.” “Naruto…” Sakura said breaking the tense atmosphere.

“Hai, Sakura-san?”

“If…you want…I could attempt to help you with your shurikenjutsu and chakra control if you wanted?”

The attention of the cell was firmly on him, now Naruto everyone knew that he could be dumb at least intellectually, however, with years of being the pariah of the village allowed him a fair degree of ability to read body language. His instincts were screaming at him ‘no, reject it, she was one of the many abusers in his life’ but he also realised the subtle tics in Kakasha-sensei’s body language about working together. Oddly, Kakashi’s posture reminded him of Inu-nii. “Er…sure, thanks, I guess? Although what’s the catch?”

Sakura’s temper flared “STOP BUNGLING MISSIONS AND MAKING SASUKE DO ALL THE WORK!”

“Enough…” A simple command ended the potential falling out in the team. Kakashi discreetly wiped his eye, it reminded him back when he was a Chunin and had Obito and Rin on his team. He looked at his team and he could see the similarities in the Genin only he didn’t see himself as his teacher. “Oh Minato-sensei, I really could do with your advice.” He thought to himself “No…I’ll not have my Genin repeat my teams mistakes, if need be I’ll ask Hokage-Sama for advice not to have a new Densetsu no Sannin problem. To do this, I need to do this seriously.”

Kakashi woke his team two hours before first light, and by the time the sun had broken onto the horizon, Team Seven arrived back at Konohagakure no Sato. The nightshift quickly let Team Seven in, not one of them gave Naruto a dirty look, Kakashi frogmarched them up to the Administrative Office and occupied the benches as they began to wait.

Chapter Text

Naruto Uzumaki: To be Stronger

Of Congratulations and (mainly) Bollockings

Sarutobi Hiruzen, The Professor, The God of Shinobi, and Twice-Reigning Hokage, Jiji, was old. He could feel it in his bones; he saw it in the eyes of his subordinates. “There was a time, when, these bones of mine weren’t so damn feeble.” He thought to himself as he headed towards his office. Normally, he would get to his office, as the Day Watch ANBU would seamlessly take over from the Night Watch, have time to make six cups of tea. One for himself, and five for his watchers; even now after all this time he did enjoy observing his ANBU work out how to get the tea without A) compromising their positions, B) compromising him and C) as subtly as possible.

He was not anticipating Team Seven to be in the Office before him “Team Seven…how went the mission?”

He had not anticipated the entire squad to jump to attention and salute; especially Naruto. Kakashi was ramrod straight, no book in hand. “This is serious.” Sarutobi thought, he kept his features calm and collected. “Hokage-Sama, the escort mission of Nami no Tazuna was successful, however, things were not all as disclosed.”

Sarutobi’s face hardened “My office and Jonin Kakashi, explain.”

Team Seven followed the Hokage into his office and the door shut, the locks slid across and the room glowed slightly as concealed fuuinjutsu were activated. “Team Seven, Jonin Kakashi, your report.”

“Team Seven, commander Hatake Kakashi and Genin Squad consisting of Haruno Sakura, Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto were assigned a C-Rank Mission, codified as 3.245469; our orders were to escort one Nami no Tazuna back to Nami no Kuni, we succeeded but the Principle left several important criteria out of his initial briefing.” Kakashi began, he trailed off as he waited for the Hokage to speak, but, the Hokage was more transfixed in making a pot of tea. “As we crossed into Nami no Kuni, two Nuke-Nin of Kirigakure no Sato, attacked us. I quickly deduced them to be the Demon Brothers of the Mist, Gozu and Meizu. Between Genin Uzumaki, Uchiha and I, we were able to apprehend them. The Principal then explained that he had used all the money that Nami no Kuni possessed to hire us to protect him whilst he built his bridge. I decided with my Genin Squads insistence to proceed with the mission, despite the upgraded risk of C-Rank to B-rank, which evolved into an A-rank when we encountered the Kirigakue no Kijin, Momochi Zabuza and his apprentice Hyoton no Haku. I managed to defeat Zabuza but Haku intervened posing as a Kirigakure no Sato Hunter-Nin. I succumbed to chakra exhaustion, and I began to instruct my Genin Team the basics of the finer chakra control exercises; five days later Team Seven engaged with Momochi Zabuza and Haku on the bridge and emerged triumphant, however, Zabuza and Haku were betrayed by Gato, the CEO of Gato Enterprises. Gato was killed, and Zabuza succumbed to his injuries and we returned home but before we returned home, I was given this. I present to you, Hokage-Sama, Nami no Tazuna’s formal apologies and reparation terms for the deceit delivered to Konohagakure no Sato.”

Sarutobi had not asked a single question, he was intent on having his tea. Breaking his normal game and tradition with his ANBU, he brought eight cups of tea and placed them on his desk. “ANBU.” The four bodyguards materialised, one out of the chair, two from the walls and one from the ceiling. “You heard Jonin Hatake’s account?”

“Yes, Hokage-Sama.”

“Your opinion?”

“I detected no lie, at least in terms of the mission itself but obfuscation in regards to the training of his Genin Squad; he’s had them for four months and he’s only just started them on chakra control exercises?”

The room was filled with immense pressure, it was not just Killing Intent, KI, but it was a demonstration of authority! Gone was the kindly old man that Naruto knew, here was the Kage that he had read about! He stiffened to attention. “Jonin Hatake, hand over the contract. Let me see what our former client says and how much of your report is accurate.”

Lord Hokage-Sama, Sarutobi Hirzuzen-Sama

I, Nami no Tazuna, do beseech thou ears and eyes for but a moment. Nami no Kuni suffered a treacherous take-over and assassination of the Daimyo and his family at the hands of Gato, CEO of Gato Enterprises. He had strangled Nami no Kuni into poverty. The villagers of Nami were unable to stand up to him and no desire to after he executed my son-in-law by a mixture of whipping, stoning and crucifixion for daring to stand up to him.

In a moment of desperation, I managed to secure the funds for the C-Rank Mission. I did not do diligent research into your Village, Lord Hokage. I am sorry for the deception, I did not know that Konohagakure no Sato would accept a contract of payment to enable Nami no Kuni to get onto her feet again. Currently, we are going through Gato’s accounts both illegal and legal; the money the tyrant possesses is truly considerable. I formerly offer you, 70% of what has been recovered, five years of reduced pay missions between Konohagakure no Sato and Nami no Kuni, I also offer my Grandson Inari, my Heir to become a ward of Konohagakure no Sato until his majority.

Yours hopefully in good faith

Nami no Tazuna,

Master Builder

Elected Daimyo of Nami no Kuni.

Sarutobi snorted softly “He apologises well. He overestimates Konohagakure no Sato’s malevolence and beneficence but that is understandable…I believe congratulations are in order Team Seven, for a completion of an A-rank mission.”

Naruto managed to restrain his emotions from shouting and celebrating, the ANBU noted the megawatt grin emanating from the Jinchuriki. Beneath their masks, they too were grinning. They were not fond of the Jinchuriki, their dislike of him was purely professional, they did not like how the blonde was able to sneak and prank the village with impertuity; it was the internal leaks that he revealed that they were not fond of. They were still trying to figure out a way to improve the water purification security after the ‘red water disaster’.

Sasuke had a grin on his face and Sakura vibrated at the compliments! Sasuke-Kun was going to notice her finally!

“Thankyou, Hokage-Sama…” Kakashi began before the ANBU, swiftly forced the quartet to their knees. Sasuke, began to fight back, only to find himself on his front, tanto at his throat and the air being driven from his lungs. Sakura went to scream but the sight of a blade at her throat, shut her up. Naruto, went rigid as his body locked up; he remembered vividly his childhood, the amount of times his armed and masked protectors grabbing the people threatening him and sending them into similar positions. He remembered a long purple haired ANBU doing it to a drunken chunin; the exact same hair of the person sending him into the floor.

“Neko-nee?” Naruto wheezed.

“It’s me, Uzumaki-san, now all three of you hold still. Karasu, are you trying to kill the Uchiha? Release the pressure on him.”

“He was going to knife me!” 

“If he knifed you, then that says more about your skills than it does him. Now, Kumo, keep that pink haired menace under control, if need be get our friends in Troublesome Idiots to keep her undercontrol.”

Naruto had to snort, Troublesome Idiots, that was one of many phrases and nicknames attached to the Torture and Interrogation Departments. Naruto wanted to check on his sensei, but there was something about the sheer aura that, Jiji, no, the Sandaime was emitting that screamed at him ‘keep your eyes on me’. 

“Team Seven, I should and I could have you locked up for insubordination…under the charges of disobeying Konohagakure no Sato military code of conduct, specifically on the charges of acting outside of mission parameters. Shinobi who go outside such parameters are known as ‘nuke-nin’, which is what the four of you should be marked as. You were meant to escort your Principal back to his home nation and come straight back, not acting like heroes and facing off against nuke-nin who have been shinobi longer than you’ve been alive. Kakashi, you have the charges of neglection to your Genin Squad as well.”

“I’m the…” Sasuke began, activating his sharingan.

“Sasuke! DON’T!” Naruto shouted as Sakura shrieked at the pair of them.

“Shut up, Dobe, I know…”

“If you say you know what you’re doing then I’ll eat my Hitai-ate, Uchiha-san…we fucked up. Admit it.”

The Hokage tapped his walking stick on the ground sharply “Genin Uzumaki, explain.”

“After the Demon Brothers, Hokage-Sama, attacked us; Myself, Genin Haruno and Genin Uchiha persuaded Jonin Hatake Kakashi to allow us to continue the mission. I did so out of complete ignorance and reference to the Konohagakure no Sato’s Military Rulebook, I was kicked out of that lecture…repeatedly.” Naruto reported diligently. “Ignorance is not an excuse, but, it is all that I have.”

Kakashi said, “I should have sent you a missive pertaining to the scenario; I have been on missions like this before, Lord Hokage. I presumed, with the lack of amendments to Shinobi Mission Laws, that I was allowed to proceed with an escalated mission and that we would sort out the legal ramifications of the new Daimyo-Sama of Nami no Kuni with advice from the Fire Daimyo-Sama.”

Sasuke and Sakura wanted to contribute, but the Hokage’s KI pulsed and they remained silent. “You were correct, this time, Jonin Hatake. My Predecessors, my Late Successor and I have always vested an interest above and beyond a mission contract. You were correct, that I would have authorised you to proceed with your escalated ranked mission, however, you did not send a missive; as is my right as Third Hokage, the Current Hokage, of Konohagakure no Sato, Kage of Hi no Kuni and its surrounding environs…I declare Team Seven, Free and Clear of any potential charges that should be allocated to them, congratulations Team Seven your A-rank mission will be cleared and your funds will appear on your next paycheck. However, due to the fractious nature of your Genin Cell and the lack of decorum that I have personally overseen I am suspending Team Seven from C-Rank Missions and above until I see remarkable psych-evaluations from all four of you. Dismissed.”

The ANBU let the Team Up and Kakashi all but dragged his Genin from the Hokage’s Presence “All of you…go home, do not leave under any circumstances. Any Shinobi who stops you, politely tell them you’re under review. I’ll be by with supplies, for you if you need them.”

Naruto and Sasuke saluted before heading their separate ways, Sasuke to the Clan District and Naruto to the Slums.

Up in his Office, Sarutobi began to focus on the left over paperwork from the other day. “Hokage-Sama…?” Neko began.

“Speak freely.”

“Was that necessary, Hokage-Sama, threatening the Genin including the Boy with potential death for insubordination? Kushina-sensei was far more harebrained than Kakashi-senpai when she taught me.”

Sarutobi snorted “Different times, different place and different responsibilities…Your sensei, forgive me Nek0-chan, did not have anyone like The Boy or the Last of a Clan in their squad. Perhaps not, Kakashi-kun has needed a long overdue reminder that whilst his nonchalant nature and tardiness can be excused; it is not ethical or moral to have that appoach when culturing a Genin Team. Especially not a Genin Team whose teachings stem from Shodaime-Sama and Nidaime-Sama and has spawned the Densetsu no Sannin and Yondaime-Sama.”

Beneath her mask, Yugaos’ breathing hitched. She had not known that about the mythical Team Seven. She noted that the Sandaime always paid attention to the squad, and judged them harder than the others but she hadn’t known why. “I…never knew.”

“You did not ask. As for their punishment, I don’t think anything more needs to be added.”

Neko nodded “I would like to offer my services as a kenjutsu user to Uzumaki Naruto, if you would allow me.”

The Hokage hmmed in acknowledgement “And the other two Genin?”

“Of course, Hokage-Sama, I apologise for the insult…” She looked at the Old Man and noted a twinkle in his eye. “You…tricked me.”

“I have to get my laughs somewhere.”

“Surely not at your ANBU’s expense!”

Laughter from the ANBU rippled through the room as Neko resumed her position.

It was not until 08:00 am when the Secretary entered the building did the troubles begin. Sarutobi had managed to clear the first wave of paperwork; mostly demands of the Civilian Council to allocate more shinobi as their bodyguards, more powers over the shinobi and transformation of a few training grounds into prime retail estate or more farmland.

The door swung open, he didn’t look up as Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu strode in. “A pleasant morning to the pair of you, my old, friends.”

“A similar morning to you as well, Hokage-Sama, old friend.” Homura gruffly responded.

“We heard that Team Seven have returned to the village and we are concerned that they have not yet reported back to us.”

“They have. It happened earlier this morning. They arrived just after first light, they were waiting for me before I had even made it into the office.” Sarutobi responded, icily.

“And? How did Uchiha-sama perform?” questioned Koharu.

“Well enough to complete the parameters of their objectives, and has been punished for…” Sarutobi replied, not looking at them as he 

“He’s being punished! What for! Hiruzen!” Snapped Koharu. Again the killing intent spiked, this time their old friend focused his intent on the pair of them.

“Mitokado-san, Utane-san…who am I?” Sarutobi growled, he was sick and tired of these political manoeuvrings; he knew the full extent of his so-called ‘honoured advisors’, as much as he hated to admit it; Shimura Danzo was right…they weren’t especially skilled nor did they have a reputation on the battlefield aside from ‘The Hokage’s Teammates’ or ‘The Honoured Thirds Advisors’. However, they were extremely adept at political manoeuvrings to keep themselves relevant and on the Council.

“You’re the Sandaime Hokage…”

“And…since when has the position of Hokage, been a democracy?”

“Since the…” Blundered Mitokado, Sarutobi moved; despite being in his late 60’s, he could still move like a man two decades younger. Both of his advisors paled as they found two kunai at his throat.

“Konohagakure no Sato, under the leadership of the Hokage, has always been and always will be a dictatorship. My beloved and respected friends and my Shinobi Clan Heads who form the ‘Konoha Shinobi Council’ that has always been and always will be an ‘advisory position’. I listen to advice, but, remember I hold the leash. Our ‘advisory council’ portrays Konohagakure no Sato as a democratic village, that is but one of our many tricks…Hashirama-Sensei and Tobirama-Sensei should have ingrained that into your heads. I am Kage, and, I disagree and reject any of pathetic panderings for Uchiha-kun. He has been pampered enough, to the point he can attempt insubordination of a mission under the control of his Jonin-sensei. If you wish to debate this, then I shall give you the papers to reactivate your shinobi licences.”

“As…as you wish, Hokage-Sama. Our apologies.” Koharu murmured.

Sarutobi snorted “Homura has always been the better apologist than you Koharu-chan.” The other male teammate of Team Tobirama had the decency to blush.

“Hokage-Sama, what happened? Another lesson of Tobirama-Sensei was ‘possession of facts and accurate intelligence are the greatest weapons of a Shinobi’.”

“Team Seven accepted a C-rank escort mission of Nami no Tazuna, a birdge builder, however, what Nami no Tazuna really needed was an A-rank mission. His nation was being sucked dry by Gato Industries…through a mixture of ignorance and desperation he concealed the true reasons why he came to Konohagakure no Sato. Team Seven, Kashashi Variant, led the Uchiha Heir, Haruno Sakura and Uzumaki Naruto to Wave Country where they put down the Demon Brothers of the Mist, Momochi Zabuza, Hyoton no Haku and Gato himself.”

Koharu and Homura inadvertently released their own KI “Did, Jonin Hatake forget protocol! He willingly escalated the mission without informing you! That’s a military tribunal charge on its own.”

“He…didn’t. I never amended the ‘Protocols on Mislabelled Missions’, it mentions that missives to upgrade a mission ‘should be sent at the earliest convenience’, since I have not amended it; I have subsequently punished the Team by confining them to their residences and localised D-rank missions for further notice. I am well aware of the ‘Playful Warfare Scenarios’ are being held by us this entire year.”

Sarutobi looked at his old friends “Your thoughts?”

“A bit light on the punishments Hokage-Sama, but, we accept that it was the right call. What of him and it?”

“Tread carefully, with how you speak.” Sarutobi countered.

“How did the Uzumaki conduct himself on the mission? We have seen the reports and…quite frankly, we question whether he even has the aptitude of being a shinobi.”

Normally, the ANBU kept themselves concealed and remained silent. Neko, had enough “Lord Hokage, Honoured Advisors, I, ANBU-Neko must formally protest that accusation.”

“Shadows do not speak. They listen, observe and obey.” Snapped Homura.

Neko pulled her mask off revealing a beautiful woman “Neko steps into the light, my name is Uzuki Yugao, Tokubestsu Jonin, specialising in Kenjutsu and Assassination, and I formally protest this.”

“Proceed Uzuki-san.” Koharu stated Neko impressed her. 

“Uzumaki Naruto, yes he, is a constant prankster; do you Elders remember the ‘Red Water Instant’ and the ‘Painted Kage Cliff’ instances; perhaps even the time he coated the dango stall in powdered laxatives?”

They nodded, the outraged screams of the civilians and the grumbles of the shinobi who liked to frequent that stall had gone on for days. “They were the only ones, we could catch Uzumaki Naruto on.” Yugao continued. “My point is honoured Elders…what if the laxatives was arsenic, and the red food colouring was cyanide? The paint was replaced with explosives?”

“The damage to the village would have been catastrophic…” Homura blurted out before paling.

“Honoured Elders, Hokage-Sama…I rest my case, imagine what we could have in Uzumaki Naruto if he received some tailored training? I would be willing to teach him, and, I’m pretty sure I can find other like-minded individuals willing to teach him. Genin Uzumaki is an indefatigable prankster and menace to the Konohagakure no Sato Shinobi force but he’s ours; he passed his Genin Test so we’ll lay our lives down for him. My sensei would have my head if I didn’t.”

That shook the old shinobi, Uzuki Yugao and Hayate Gekko were the two apprentices of Uzumaki Kushina; one of the most profound kenjutstu wielders Konoha had before her death. Sarutobi looked at Yugao “Convince me.”

Yugao nodded, she pulsed her chakra, there was a surge of chakra and as a new ANBU appeared, she vanished in a shunshin. “Is this wise, Hokage-Sama?”

“There is no right or wrong way to become a Shinobi, as long as a Shinobi possesses the ‘Will of Fire’ I shall aspire to cultivate all Konoha Shinobi to their fullest and in return they are more than willing to die for Konoha.”

“Better to die for the village then for yourself.” Koharu and Homura choruses.

Sarutobi nodded “Since you are here, my loyal advisors, I need your assistance in dealing with the paperwork.”

That got them out of the office, Sarutobi waited for the door to shut before he allowed himself a chuckle. 

It was eleven in the morning, the Paperwork Demons had been repelled for now. “Hokage-Sama, it's nearly time for the Council Meetings.”

Sarutobi sighed, the meetings he could do without. He had been happy helping Minato with the administration and gradually easing himself into retirement. The first thing he hoisted onto his Successor were the Council Meetings.

The Council was set up in a large circular room. The Hokage and his Two Advisors in the middle, with nine Civilian Council members and nine Shinobi Council members.

“Be seated, let's begin.” The Hokage instructed.

“Are you swapping our company for that of the Paper no Oni? ” Inuzuka Tsume barked.

“Unfortunately, Izuku-Sama, the secret of Paper no Oni Slaying no Jutsu , was lost with the Yondaime; plus with the latest results from Team Seven…I have additional work to do.”

“That is why the meeting has been summoned.” A Civilian Councillor called.

“We all saw and heard that Team Seven got issued a mission. It is important for the good of Konoha that we…”

 Nara Shikaku, Head of the Nara Clan, Jonin Commander and overarching Commander of the Shinobi Forces opened an eye “Troublesome. A mission and its results are solely the debriefing and purview of Hokage-Sama, Myself and the Team in question…unfortunately, it’s troublesome. Still, the Civilian makes a very good point.”

“Team Seven completed an escalated mission from Rank-C to Rank-A. The mission parameters warranted worthy applause for a successful C-rank, however, orders and chain of command were broken in the escalation of C-rank to A-rank; so Team Seven has been officially grounded and barred from missions until further notice.”

“How…”

The Shinobi Council were used to arguments and insults along with KI being thrown at one another. Despite being allies for nearly a century, some feuds were too raw to be shelved; an example the Sarutobi, Yamanaka, Akimichi and Nara Clans had a semi-serious feud with Onikuma, Onineko and the Shimura Clan. Whilst the Inuzuka and the Aburame had an uneasy alliance, some Aburame scouts had abducted a few bastards of the Inuzuka Clan and experimented with their bugs on them; the Inuzuka responded by setting fire to some of the Aburame Bug Cultivation Buildings. These days, those two clans were frosty allies, the Hyuga Clan surprisingly had good alliances with both clans. After Itama Senju, three days before the young Senju had died, managed to bring the three clans into an alliance with the Senju; at the utter fury of the Uchiha. The Uchiha had been trying to cultivate alliances with the Hyuga and the Shimura. Those are but a few of the feuds amongst the shinobi council, the Civilian Council was not so adjusted to the throwing around of KI.

The Civilian Speaker had been part of a block of Civilians whom were adamantly against Naruto, he’d been smart enough to not leave a clear papertrail, however he wasn’t about to chance it. Everyone, fell silent and bowed their heads as the Elderly Kage and his Advisors flared their KI in unison. “Enough.” Homura boomed, his voice loud and reverberating as he attracted everyone's attention.

“Thank you…Honoured Council…This bootlicking and continuous appraisal of Genin Uchiha, ends now. Yes, what happened was atrocious…however this continuous pandering in the attempt to get him to open up, that stops. The Uchiha can only open up if he wants to.”

“What of Uzumaki Naruto, Hokage-Sama?” Nara Shikaku drawled.

“That's interesting to hear him brought up from you, Jonin-Hancho.”

“Mendouske…I'm bringing him up because the Civilians brought up the Uchiha. Just to make it a fair argument.” Shikaku eyed the civilians council “You are…invested in the rest of Team Seven, not just the Last Uchiha?”

“Of…of… c-c-c-c-course.”

“Jonin-Hancho, that is enough…for now…Now, what important notices require my attention.”

With that the session commenced. It wasn’t a tasking council session, only the civilians trying to skim money out of Konoha’s Coffers which were subtly avoided. There was the usual suspects trying to find ways to force Naruto back onto the streets, that was shut down when Tsume spoke up.

“You shits do that, then, any decent shinobi or the Inuzuka Clan will have him in a new place before the report even lands on the Hokage’s desk.”

“However, the Village would be up in arms about the Inuzuka making such an audacious claim.”

“Not if the residence is technically under the domain of the Hokage and just happens to be home to a group of Inuzuka Chunin and Jonin.”

The Hokage paused “The motion is dismissed. Uzumaki Naruto shall remain where he is living. Any other important claims?”

Inoichi raised his hand “I need Team Seven to report for a mindwalk, I know it’s normally unnecessary for C-Ranks, however, the laws are clear…escalated mission laws apply. I hope, my Lord Hokage, that this legislation will be upheld?”

(Umino Iruka)

Iruka was worried, actually, he was terrified. It was three days to Nami no Kuni; Naruto should be back by now. Yet, Iruka had not seen his surrogate little brother. 

He was distracted by a slow moving, bright orange and blonde blur. “Naruto!”

“Hi, sensei.” This wasn’t good, not at all.

“How was it? Your C-rank?”

“It got escalated and I’m to confine myself to my house until further orders…something, something, escalated missions and done without authorisation.”

Iruka’s eyes widened “Right then, head home, that is an order. I’ll be by with groceries…no Ramen.”

Naruto slouched off. Iruka vanished shortly after in a shunshin, his destination was a local supermarket. He grabbed his basket and began moving through the sparsely populated store; he had two hours before he was needed to be at the Academy.

“Morning, Umino-San, that's…a large shop. I could always forward this for a drop off.” 

Iruka smiled fondly at the Civilian Cashier “Unfortunately, not today. This has to go to my brother.”

“I didn't know you had a brother! Is he okay?”

Iruka kept his features schooled “Adopted, broke both his legs on a mission gone wrong.”

“At least it wasn't his hands.” In Shinobi Villages, it was common knowledge that a Shinobi’s hands were the most essential part of their body. Due to the very precise, intricate and delicate chakra coils that no medical jutsu could repair. Shinobi preferred death to living without the full usage of their hands.

Iruka nodded “Thanks.”

“At least someone's doing something about the Uzumaki kid.”

Iruka turned, hand drifting to his kunai pouch. The Civilian held her hands up, her face going grey. “How…”

“Not hard to work out. Umino-san, it wasn’t hard to work out at all. I knew the Yondaime and Uzumaki-san, they used to shop here. Agriato, Umino-San for helping out.”

“Why can’t you? Why don’t you?”

“I work for my parents, they’re part of the anti-Uzumaki group. Don’t be dumb, Chunin-san…you know that they exist. If they found out I’m not gouging anyone…”

Iruka’s eyes flashed “I’m going to need to run this up the food chain, stay where you are, go about your day. Don’t be surprised if the ANBU come for you.”

“That’d be a relief, being able to talk to someone about what really happens in the village concerning Uzumaki Naruto.” As she spoke, she spoke to a pile of leaves, she sighed and began to sweep the store again.

Iruka made good time crossing the village, with the groceries in hand. He arrived at Naruto’s building to find the young Genin pacing on the rooftop of his apartment. “Naruto, I've brought groceries.”

The orange-clad ninja looked up “Hey, sensei.”

Iruka's heart dropped like a stone “Are you going to be okay?”

“I'm fine. Just wondering why Jiji did what he did…”

“Hokage-Sama has his reasons. Listen I have my responsibilities for today. I know you missed the lecture on report etiquette,  I am ordering you to make a note on everything that went down on your mission, leave nothing out and for the Shodaime-Sama's sake DO NOT over-embellish what happened.” Iruka instructed. “Furthermore, do not collaborate or corroborate with your teammates. I'm not so stupid to not realise that you do not get along with your team. Now I've got you groceries for the week, and I've got to run.”

(Sakura)

Sakura found herself at home. She was completely at a loss, she'd been expecting a congratulations but yet she was being punished.

“Write your report. Don't make any contact with your teammates, any evidence suggesting collaboration, corroboration or collusion will not be looked on fondly.” the ANBU had instructed her.

She entered her empty house, of course, her parents were at work. She headed to her room and began to plan her report. If she was going to win Sasukes heart then she'd show that she could at least do an accurate report.

(Sasuke)

Sasuke grunted and stood to one side allowing Kakashi to enter the compound. “My cute little genin, I trust, you know what's going to happen now?”

“I do. When are we going to learn some new jutsu?”

“When I believe you're ready to learn them. Right now, you concentrate on your report.”

Sasuke sighed “No corroboration, collusion or collaboration.”

Kakashi nodded “Don't worry I've got my own to fill in.”

With that, the cyclopean jonin left. 

Chapter Text

Naruto Uzumaki: To be Stronger 3

Trials, Tribulations and Extracurricular Training

Uzuki Yugao, Tokubetsu Jonin, and ANBU-Neko reappeared in her apartment. Her apartment was one of three maisonettes, all occupied by fellow shinobi; a shinobi’s apartment tended to be sparse on furniture or the furniture was multi-purposed. The only luxury that Shinobi tended to indulge in was a top-of-the-range bed and mattress, it was not uncommon for Shinobi after returning from a mission to go straight to sleep for a few hours and then go on a bar crawl.

“Yuago-hime, I thought…you were on shift with the Package?” Came a croaky voice. Yugao smiled softly as her lover, Hayate Gekko moved out of their bedroom.

“You should still be in bed, you took a turn for the worse.”

Hayate raised an eyebrow “Took a turn for the worse?  You know I’ve been ill since I got poisoned in the Third War.”

Yugao nodded, Hayate had been promoted to Chunin just before he’d been poisoned. After his promotion, Kushina had taken him on as one of her apprentices. Yugao had been the only member of her Genin Squad not to make Chunin; she’d been wounded on the first attempt and on the second attempt she’d nearly been assassinated. She had remained under Kushina’s guidance and furthered her swordsmanship with Hayate. “I finished my shift early.”

“That’s most unlike you.”

Yugao sighed “Taicho Inu, fucked up, he took his Genin Squad on a C-rank turned A-rank and now they’re in deep shit. I stood up to the Honoured Advisors and said I’d help turn Naruto-Kun into a formidable ninja.”

Hayate nodded “Do you even have a plan?”

Yugao nodded “A concept…Unfortunately, we have to give the training to the rest of Team Seven.” Hayate nodded.

“How…is that so bad?”

Yugao looked at him “You’ve seen how the Uchiha acts. The Kunoichi on the team is even worse. Hokage-Sama said to ‘surprise him’.”

Hayate nodded “This sounds like a Tea and Snack thing.” Soon enough a pot of tea and snacks were on the table.

“Okay…what do you have?”

Yugao sighed “I…honestly…don’t know. Aside from myself and you…I can’t think of anyone else who’d willingly help me with this.”

“I can think of one or two.” Hayate replied as he ran his hand over her knuckles.

“Who?”

“Miterashi…sick her on the Kunoichi. That’ll light a fire under her, or, release her on the Genin. Furthermore, there’s Genma, Raido, Iwashi, Hari…”

Yugao raised an eyebrow at him “My little brother…my…paroled, blacklisted, reprehensible oh and let us not forget an absolute psycho of little brother.”

Hayate paused “Paroled, yes. Blacklisted, yes. Reprehensible…no. Psychotic? Maybe just a little bit. He’d help us, he’d jump at any chance to get back into his flak jacket.”

“Which I helped get him stripped from.”

“You can’t blame yourself, Hari had no alibi…found at the scene of a crime, his fingerprints all over the crime scene. However, Hokage-Sama didn’t believe that he did it, so your brother escaped execution and got six years in the Hot Box, Maximum Security.”

Yugao sighed, Uzuki Hari…whilst slightly off his rocker WAS an exceptional shinobi, not a swordsman like her but very capable with Doton, Suiton and Katon Ninjutsu. Yugao looked at her lover, sighed but nodded “I’ll speak to him if you speak to him if you get the others.”

“We both speak to Anko…I’m still unsure if she’s still pissed at me for inadvertently peeping on her.”

“You’ve not given me the full story of that incident.”

“As there’s no story to give, she was bathing in our normal training spot. I begin training and the next thing I know I’m dodging summoned snakes, elemental snakes and senbon.”

Yugao snorted “Right then. I’m off to speak with my little brother.” She didn’t have to travel that far, she found herself outside a little cottage on the outskirts of the village, nearer the Inuzuka Clan Compound. The door was ajar, she knocked and entered. It was a single floor cottage, the front door opened into a narrow corridor that led right into the kitchen with a door on the left.

“Little brother?” Silence heralded her call, she headed into the kitchen to find the backdoor open. She headed through and in the backyard was a mannequin being hacked at by her brother.

“Of all the parole officers they could send, they send you. My big sister, the favourite. What do you want?” A deadpan response came from the young man in front of her.

“I didn’t come as your parole officer, I came as your sister.”

“My sister…after not coming to even see me in the Hotbox after four years, so, forgive me sister dearest that I don’t believe you. Where were you? Where were you when they rushed through my court marshal for the murder of my Kunoichi teammate and her family? Why didn’t you think to investigate further…oh wait, I was present…my prints were all over the crime-scene it was an open and shut case. No need to ask your little brother for his side of the events; I had no alibi, nothing concrete so you shipped me off without even an explanation just that porcelain mask you’re married to.” There was a deafening crack as the mannequin fell in twain and Uzuki Hari turned to face his sister.

Where Yugao had long straight mid-back hair, Hari’s was short and messy. They were both tall and lean, where Yugao appeared to be full of life, Hari was gaunt. His eyes sunken into his sockets, his clothes appearing to engulf him. Yugao felt the tears begin to well in her eyes “I’m…”

“Don’t. Save your apologies, save everything you have to say. There’s only one thing I want that you cannot give me.”

“I am your superior, little brother, genin. You still owe me that respect.”

“The rank, not the person. What do you want.”

“Hari…”

“Uzuki, Taicho. We’re no longer on a first name basis.”

Yugao glared at her little brother “Fine then, Genin Uzuki. I am recruiting you to assist me in a venture.”

Hari snorted “Taicho Uzuki, what exactly is this venture?”

“Providing extracurricular training to Team Seven…consisting of…”

“Elite Jonin Hatake Kakakshi-tacho, Haruno Sakura, Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto, the misused and untrained purported Ace in Konoha’s Shinobi forces. Not…interested. Considering I’m guessing you’re wrangling your fiance, Genma, Iwashi, Raido and Anko to assist you…Not interested.”

Yugao tightened her fist “You cannot refuse.”

“I…believe I just did. Not interested.”

“Swallow your fucking pride little brother, you should have been decapitated for what you’ve done!”

“Said to have done. I’m not. I’ve just lost four years of my life, my career, my flak jacket and I now have two more years of being investigated by every free Jonin and interrogated by Morino-san every six weeks. Getting treated like shit by everyone.” Hari growled back, trying to fight back his own tears. 

“Yugao…please, fuck off, I am not interested. I am not doing this.” By now both siblings were less acting like people and were resembling a pair of lions, slowly pacing around each other. Their KI free flowing, the embodiment of hatred, disdain, sadness, disappointment and many other emotions. The Uzuki siblings hand drifted towards their swords, when there was a knock at the door, followed by a stream of slow but steady footsteps.

Coming out of the kitchen and onto the patio was the Third Hokage along with two ANBU. “My apologies, Uzuki Hari-san, I could feel the KI from you up at the Hokage Tower, and I decided that I would come and investigate and if needed judicate this situation for a favourable outcome.”

For all of his anger and hatred, Hari still possessed a lot of respect for the Hokage “Hokage-Sama, be welcome in my home.”

Sarutobi smiled “Now, Uzuki Hari what is going on?”

“Hokage-Sama, Tokubetsu Jonin, Uzuki Yugao, requested me to assist her in extracurricular training of Genin Cell Team Seven also known as Team Kakashi. I refused. Unfortunately, unresolved issues came to the forefront; it went from a professional visit to a family feud.”

Sarutobi nodded “This is to do with what you proclaim to be an ‘unjust court martial’ that concluded with you being locked up in the Konoha Maximum Security Prison, also known as the Hot Box for six years, with parole in four for the apparent murder of your Kunoichi Teammate and her family.”

“Hai, Hokage-Sama.”

Sarutobi sighed “What happened that night?”

“Team 25, myself, Sakine Kibi and Kinusa Hashishi had completed a B-rank mission and we had gone to the Busted Shuriken for celebratory drinks and snacks, it’s roughly 12:20am. Kibi had then asked us if we would be interested in joining her family that evening for dinner. This is some five-six hours before the incident.” Sarutobi nodded.

Hari took a deepbreath “We drank for another 30-45minutes before Kibi left and Kinusa left 5-10minutes afterwards. We’re around 13:15pm at this point I then headed home after finishing two more drinks, so call it 13:45pm. I fell asleep and woke up four hours later.”

“17:45, give or take.” The elderly Hokage concluded “You were discovered at the house at 18:30, with bodies long dead. There’s still 45minutes unaccounted for…”

Hari nodded “I remember going ‘shit I’m late’ and rushed to Konohagakure Green, I was doing a quick booze run. It’s getting on for 17:57…I’m good with the Shunshin no Jutsu. ” 

“I arrived at their house and knocked on the door. It was locked, I went around the back and it too was locked. Then as peered through the letter box, I’d back round to the front I only vaguely remember seeing blood everywhere and then nothing. I woke up to find myself over Kibi-chan, body coated in her blood and then I’m taken off my feet by an Akimichi Police Member and I’m dragged away.”

Sarutobi nodded “The wounds were described as if they had been inflicted by a sword. The wounds matched your sword and sword-style.”

Hari nodded “What is my reason? What is my motive? What was my opportunity? I never had a reason that I’d want her dead, sure, I got pissed off at her from time to time; name me a team that didn’t have internal arguments on occasion? My motive…sure I thought her husband was an utter scumbag, but, she married him… she saw something in him that I didn’t, just because I dislike someone doesn’t mean I’m going to murder the entire family. Himeno…she bloody adored me for some reason…I’d have never killed their daughter, killed for her daughter…yeah. I was going to try and become a Jonin just to teach her. Besides I had no opportunity to do such a thing.”

Sarutobi nodded “You do make a compelling argument.”

“No one wanted to hear what I had to say for my defence. So I said nothing, all they had was I was present amongst the dead bodies, my fingerprints on the bodies and my weapon. So I said nothing. You were adjudicating another problem. I said nothing aside from ‘I protest this court-martial, I want to be tried by the Hokage, not his advisors.”

Sarutobi nodded “You said nothing, and anything you did say was I’m saying nothing. Then my Advisors chucked you away.”

Hari nodded “Apparently, she,” He jabbed sharply at his sister “managed to get me parole and keep my hitai-ate. Then when I got out, I reported for duty and I’ve been saddled with barely enough D-ranks to get food, and pay rent. So I spent six months of my return home, homeless, I’ve just got this place, Inuzuka Tobi found me passed out in the street and he got me this place. It doesn’t help that all of my parole officers are always trying to instigate something so I’m back in the prison. Now, she comes back after six years no fucking contact and demands I help her. I’ve been here for three and a half years.”

Sarutobi nodded “What would you say, if I asked you to do it.”

“I’d love to say no, I’m a genin…not a chunin or even a toku. Noone will want me on a team to compete in the Chunin Exams, the decks already against me. I’d much rather hang myself or go to the Iwa Chunin exams than go through the bullshit and false pretence…”

Hari found himself forced to his knees by the Hokages KI “I should take your life, but you would win. I could throw you back in the hotbox for your disrespect but I suspect that you’d find away to either breakout or commit suicide. You’re perfectly justified in your outrage.”

Hari forced himself to make eye-contact with the Kage “Then what’s your verdict, Hokage-Sama.”

“I cannot absolve you from your supposed crimes. I can however give you a chance, the Hokage’s Chance.”

The Hokage’s Chance was an old law, it was in essence a do-or-die order given to a disgraced shinobi to try and redeem themselves in the eyes of the Kage and the Village. Hari’s eyes widened “You’d…give me the Hokage’s Chance?” 

“I would. Your Hokage’s Chance is to help your sister with all of your being, the grace and duty as is befitting a Konoha Shinobi. Do not argue, disobey or even try and interpret your sisters instructions so you can shirk your duties and make Teams Seven, Eight and Ten to the best of your abilities. Do it right, do it well and I’ll even throw in your flak. You’d be a Chunin, you’d have to earn your Tokubetsu marks again.”

“I’ll do it.”

The Hokage lessened his KI “You don’t have to like it, just do it, Uzuki Hari. Don’t prove it to me, prove it yourself and for Himeno.”

Hari’s eyes narrowed “Everything I do, will do or shall do…will be for her.”

Sarutobi nodded “I do expect you and your sister to try and build some bridges, Yugao…I am disappointed in you for not aiding your brother. Crimes are not uncommon in this village, but, Shinobi committing crimes? You should have endeavoured to cover the basis of your kin.”

Yugao nodded “My apologies Hokage-Sama.” The Hokage left, leaving the Uzuki siblings alone again.

“Hari…I’m sorry.”

“Please, Yugao, don’t. Not yet. Let me get changed and lets kick some doors down.”

“Keep the damages to a minimum.”

“No promi…problem. No problem.” Yugao snorted, “Hari…it’s good to see you again though. Honestly.”

Hari smiled thinly as he pulled on a short-sleeved shirt, and armoured gloves and strapped his katana and tanto to himself “Suppose so. Now…yours?”

“Mine.”

(Hayate)

Hayate had by far the easiest job, he simply dropped down to the maisonette below him and knocked on the door. A sleepy Genma opened it “Thought poker night wasn’t happening.”

“This isn’t about poker night, this is me calling on the three of you’s numerous UOMes from three poker nights ago.”

“You’re calling all of them! Is it that serious? Come in you tough-as-boot-leather! OI Lads, Hayate’s here and he’s calling in the IOUs.” Genma yelled.

Raido stuck his head out of the kitchen “You finally pop the question?”

Hayate snorted at the ineffective match-maker of Konoha “No…I’ve been requisitioned by Yugao, to collect you three, and Anko whilst Yugao goes to wrangle him.”

That caused the three tokubetsus’ to look at him “Him, as in, Uzuki Hari…”

Hayte nodded “Hayate, what’s this thing Yugao wants us to do?” Iwashi asked.

“Team Seven completed C turned A-rank mission, questions were raised about their kid, Yugao interfered. She needs us, her brother and Anko too help prepare Team Seven as a whole, she had directed it as us helping the Kid reach his potential.”

Hayate, Iwashi, Raido and Genma shared looks; they knew Uzumaki Kushina well. Being the Fourth Hokage’s Flying Thundergod Platoon and all. “Hows, Hari-kun?”

Hayate let out a piercing whistle “I…don’t know. I last saw him at the last visiting block, before he got out. I’ve…tried to find him but…”

“Hayate, you’re a Tokubetsu Jonin, you’re fucking his sister and all but two steps from becoming his brother-in-law. If you went to the Ho…” Genma began before he cocked his head as this time, a set of heavy handslaps reverberated across the door.

“Open up!”

Iwashi sighed and headed to the door, as he opened it, the sallow and sunken eyes of Uzuki Hari stared back at him. “Hari, welcome back.”

“Been back a few months. Well if you count my stint on the streets. Thanks, I guess.”

Iwashi's jaw dropped “Why didn't you say!”

“Would you have risked bringing an ex-convict back to your apartment?”

“Yeah, since, we knew you didn't do it. I've worked in the T&I and honestly…you were innocent. I knew it, before you ask, why did no-one visit you? Everyone who did…suddenly got buried in assignments or were denied.”

Hari snorted “My track record…didn’t and doesn’t help. Now…where’s the Snake…” His sentence went unfinished as Miterashi Anko appeared, breaking the window and simultaneously wrapping Hari in a hug that was more of a sleeper hold.

“You're out! And your back! Nice to see the slammer didn't fuck you up too much.”

“I kept in shape…physically…chakra wise I'm probably a Genin with the reserves of a Toku. Right…we're all assembled…what's the situation?” Hari asked as he made himself comfortable, leaning with his back to a wall and pilfering two sticks of Dango.

“Anko! Before you murder my brother for pilfering your dango. Hokage-Sama has instructed me to build a training curriculum for Teams Seven, Eight and Ten.”

“The Hokage wants us to help train a bunch of wet-behind-the-ears Genin.” Anko snapped.

“No. He wants us to train the kid. However, to get it passed the Civilian Howler Monkeys and the Pricklier-Than-Thou Advisors and War-Hawk…we need to throw them a few bones.”

“Ah…the almighty Uchiha.” Genma spat.

“Shame Itachi didn't do a proper job.” Hari replied getting shocked looks. “What! We can all agree that they were prices! Look at your hardwork and take it for themselves…cunty thieves.”

“Our Jutsu Archives are only as big as they are because of them.”

“Doesn't mean we have to like them. Anyway, what are we going to teach them?” Hari asked, he got weird looks from his peers “Aside from some of the blatantly obvious shit, Yugao, Hayate and I…teaching kenjutsu…Anko…being geisha or courtesans? Poison…GAH! DON’T STAB ME!”

“Never CALL MY SKILLSETS GEISHA OR COURTESANS, EX-CON OR NOT I WILL BREAK YOU!” Anko roared.

“That’s what she said, Anko-chan.” Iwashi wheezed.

“Fuck you, Iwashi.” Anko retorted.

“If you’re both willing.” Hari and Yugao retorted, they shared a look, both flushed and Hayate looked like he was about to ascend to the paradise world.

Genma slammed his hand onto the table “Hedonists, Sensationalists and Mavericks…attention please.”

Eventually, the tokubetsu and chunin began to knock out a training schedule. Genma and Iwashi would be doing further chakra-control exercises and taijutsu, Raido refined the ninjutsu, and Anko would have fun brushing up Naruto’s infiltration skills. Hayate, Yugao and Hari would be teaching whoever wanted them kenjutsu. Anko looked at Yugao “This had better work otherwise you’re buying me dango for a long time.”

“I was wondering how much dango I’d have to bribe you with to do this.” Yugao replied.

Raido sighed “I can’t believe we’ve gotta do this. My main question is…how the hell is Hari-kun going to get these genin to fall in line? Considering he is…in fact…a genin right now.”

Hari chuckled “The usual way, beat them into submission.”

“Hari…you’re not to beat them half-to-death submission.” Yugao stated.

“So that’s a yes to three quarters or quarter death?”

Yugao face-palmed “Are you deliberately being this obtuse or…you little fucker.” She finally caught the fact her little brother’s eyes were twinkling. “You’ve been fucking me over, haven’t you.”

“First off…I don’t do the incest-no-jutsu, you’re not my type nee-chan. Did you honestly, think that I’d fuck up my Hokage’s Chance . Plus I’m you’re otouto, being a shit is in the job description. I’ll bring them Genin into line.”

(Hokage Tower)

“Boar, Donkey, Bear…retrieve Genin Teams Seven, Eight and Ten.”

Three ANBU vanished, with three more taking their place. It wasn’t a well known that ANBU actually had four bases dotted around the Village, with one being in the sub-basement of the Hokage-Tower; this one was home to the actual ANBU Command and the ANBU that were designated as ‘Package Home Defence’. The ANBU weren’t picky about their applicants but only the very best were stationed in the Tower.

It didn't take them long to grab Kakashi, Kurenai and Asuma. After the ceremonial kneeling and greetings, Sarutobi bid them to stand. “The three of you are responsible for the most recent Genin graduates. Due to the incident with Team Seven, I have taken it upon myself to amalgamate your three cells, into a Genin Platoon, underneath Jonin Captain Hatake Kakashi. Kurenai and Asuma looked like they wanted to spit venom, Kakashi was one of the best Elite Jonin Konoha had but they were less than impressed with how he’d taken to training his Genin Team. “There’s more to this, is there not, Hokage-Sama?” Kakashi questioned, he wasn’t stupid…this was a briefing with a hidden court martial, if Kakashi displayed anything less than utmost professionalism then the chances were he’d lose his Genin Team and potentially his promotion. 

Sarutobi nodded “I have managed to requisition a small team of additional shinobi to better train your teams, when Team Gai returns from their freshly escalated B-Rank, they shall also be assigned to your Platoon.”

Kakashi’s breathing hitched “As you wish.”

“Summon your teams and rendezvous at Training Ground Seven.”

(Training Ground Seven)

 Uzuki Hari was the first to arrive. He was sore, bruised and achy…Inuzuka Tetsuya had thrown a party for his birthday and Hari had obliged by drinking all of the attendees under the table. The Inuzuka had been some of his staunchest supporters in his innocence. Even though they hadn’t found the culprit, they had without question, hesitation or talk of reparation brought him in off the streets and set him up in one of their village-houses. Of course he was living with some of the clans Chunin as his unofficial parole officers, but, they didn’t treat him like a disease.

“Rought night?” Raido asked, Hari cursed under his breath. Raido chuckled, Uzuki Hari had been rather skilled at detecting people; the fact he didn’t detect the tokubetsu showed the atrophication of his skillset.

“Long nigh. Tetsuya’s birthday was yesterday and I drank him and the attendees under the table. I’m here though.”

“Looking fucking awful.”

“Better than your mother.”

Raido shook his head “Asshole.”

“Flame fucker.”

The bantering name-calling continued until Genma arrived “If you guys are going to catfight, allocate a time and place and give me time to sell tickets.”

Iwashi pouted “Damnit Taicho, you’re no fun. Besides you’re late.”

Genma snorted and rolled his senbon around his mouth “I was getting our orders…in essence you primitive kunai-brains, I rule the roost when Yugao-chan isn’t here. Hari…you follow MY Orders.”

Hari sighed “Remind me why Anko, Hayate and Yugao aren’t here?”

“Anko has a shift…she spent five months wages on a dango and sake binge, she’s still in debt. Yugao’s looking after your brother-in-law.”

“Ah shit. Hayate’s taken a step towards shinigami? He was looking rather healthy before my absence.”

They were brought out of their conversations as the Genin Platoon arrived in a parade-ground formation. Genma turned to Hari “Go do your thing.” Hari grinned, rolled his neck and he chuckled as the cracks and pops caused the assembled genin to jump and reach for their kunai.

“At ease.” Hari growled. The Genin fell to the ease position.

“Platoon Commander.”

Kakashi eye-smiled at him “Specialist."

“These are the Genin that just graduated?”

Kakashi nodded “They are. What're your first impressions?”

Hari took a moment to assess them, the Hyuga girl looked three-shocks from a heart attack and an anxiety induced one. The other two looked less than impressive. “I've seen worse. The duck-butt needs as anal search for the cactus. The Nara and Akimichi seem capable. The eyesore…I take it he's the Package.”

“He is.”

Hari turned to the nine Genin “Fall in. You don't need to know who I am, you don't need to know my colleagues either apart from ‘sensei’ or ‘sir’, Understood?”

“Sir, Yes, Sir.” Came the chorus of replies.

“Any questions?” Hari asked. 

“What are you teaching us? Where's your flak jacket? Who are you?” Snapped the pinkette.

Hari sighed and turned to Kakashi. “My Kunoichi…she's a work in progress.” The Cyclopean Jonin signed. “Teaching you to kill, assassinate, thieve, steal and die. My flak got mauled by my roommate's dog. As I said, you don't need to know.”

“Are you even a shinobi?” Pinkette retorted. Hari moved and he was behind her, a kunai to her throat.

“I am not your friend and I never will be. What you are too me Pinky, is a waste of oxygen and resources. Understood?”

“H-H-HAI.”

“Hai what?”

“Hai s-s-s-sensei.” She stuttered. Hari released her and pulsed his KI and she collapsed on the floor.

“Great…she's passed out. Fucking typical.” Hari murmured as he turned to the eight petrified Genin.

“Any other moronic questions? Or can I…finally get onto what I'm being paid to do?”

Kakashi smirked “You never fail to leave an impression.”

“It's your Platoon. I'm here to beat the skills you and your fellow Jonin have not.”

Kakashi nodded “All of you Genin, Under the Orders of Hokage-Sama have been lumped into a GeninPlatoon. Based on the very nature of who you will become…if you survive that long, the Hokage has decided to…bolster your training. Enter myself and my spectacular Cadre of additional specialists. Not all of us will be available at once.”

Genma, Raido and Iwashi arrived together in a perfect application of the Shunshin no Jutsu . “We've got it from here. Stay nearby…someone wake up the Genin.” Genma instructed. The job fell to Ino, who grudgingly woke her former friend and colleague.

“Welcome, Genin Platoon #1 to…Training Camp. My name is Shiranui Genma, Genma-sensei or taicho…I’m not picky. I will be one of your principle taijutsu teachers, these two are Namiashi Raido a ninjutsu and kenjutsu specialist with a side of assassinations and Tatami Iwashi, a survivalist expert. The three of us are also rank three in Fuuinjutsu. This is Hari, rank tokubetsu, ninjutsu and kenjutsu specialist. His bite is worse than his bark, he’s just got out of a sticky situation.”

Naruto chucked his hand up “Permission to speak sir.”

Genma grinned “Proceed, Genin…?”

“Uzumaki, Taicho, Uzumaki Naruto, datteboyo, when can we get started taicho?” 

Genma snorted “Genin Uzumaki…we’re going to start when the honcho arrives; she’s a stickler for procedure.”

“Indeed, I am, Genin Uzumaki.” Naruto stiffened, he recognised that voice. He wanted to turn around and check but there was something about Genma-taicho that felt familiar, like a half-hidden memory and a fleeting one.

“I am Uzuki Yugao, ANBU Operative, Kenjutsu specialist and yes, Hari-san is my brother. He’s here on a different assignment. Your other two teachers are Gekko Hayate and Miterashi Anko; they shall be here when their schedule allows.” Yugao stated as she fixed all of the shinobi present a hard look.

“This project is my intervention. Hokage-Sama has graciously allowed me to run this programme, this is the trial run and a lot is riding on this.” Yugao stated as she began to generate her KI. “This Genin Platoon under the command of Kakashi-taicho will fall in line, listen and obey. Do you understand. There is more riding on this than you could possibly know or even understand.”

The Genin were rooted to the spot, Asuma and Kurenai were flaring their chakra at their old friend “Uzuki-san, what right…”

“By the will of the Hokage, Sarutobi-san. One Genin team, a freshly graduated one, experienced an escalated mission. The Hokage does not make mistakes, when he does, he preempts them…”

Sarutobi Asuma, second son of the Hokage nodded. He might have his disagreements with his father but in the case of escalated missions and his status as Guardian of the Ino-Shika-Cho Trio as did the Sarutobi before him understood what was at stake.

Yugao looked at the nine genin “I don’t know you by name, I will.” She popped her neck.

“Kakashi-taicho, give Hari, Genma and yourself three Genin…different teams and get them working on their chakra control, tree and water walking. Kurenai-San, Asuma-San…the same with you two. Iwashi, Raido the same. I need to know where they’re at so I can plan for the future.”

Kakashi nodded “Genin Aburame, Yamanaka, Uzumaki.”

“You can’t just…” Kurenai began only for Kakashi to raise an eye at her.

“Do you have a problem with this, Jonin Yuhi?” The playfulness of the question belied a tone of ‘I’m the ranking officer…you follow my orders’. Kurenai nodded. Asuma spoke next “I’ll take Genin Hyuga, Haruno and Akimichi.”

Kurenai turned to Kiba, Sasuke and Shikamaru “You three with me.”

With that the training began.

Chapter Text

Quick Note

Group Kakashi

Jonin and Tokubetsu

Kakashi Hatake 

Genma Shiranui

Hari Uzuki

Genin

Shino Aburame

Naruto Uzumaki

Ino Yamanaka

Group Asuma

Jonin and Tokubetsu

Asuma Sarutobi

Iwashi Tatami

Genin

Choji Akimichi

Hinata Hyuga

Sakura Haruno

Group Kurenai

Jonin and Tokubetsu

Kurenai Yuhi

Raido Namiashi

Yugao Uzuki

Genin

Shikamaru Nara

Kiba Inuzuka

Sasuke Uchiha

(Group Kakashi)

On the furthest eastern side of Training Ground Seven, was a lake. Roughly 37km long and 3km wide with a 56kilometer squared and possessing an average depth of 433ft with its deepest point at 745ft deep, it was the largest expanse of water for Shinobi Training within the confines of the Village itself. Training Grounds 1-47 were the first made training grounds by the Hokage; some such as 45-47 were incomplete due to the premature deaths of the Yondaime.

Kakakshi had to suppress a tear, he fondly remembered many a happy day in the Training Grounds with Sensei, Senseis’ wife, Obito and Rin along with many, many others. He remembered seeing his sensei and his wife having a picnic near the lake and had seen Sensei punted into the lake on more than one occasion.

“Now…I trust the two of you have some proficiency in the Tree Walking Chakra Control Exercise?” Kakashi asked.

The Aburame nodded and the Yamanaka looked like a puppy. Naruto saluted but looked like he wanted to speak “Go, Genin-Uzumaki.” Ordered Kakashi.

Naruto paused “I think I have it completed…although the trees in Nami are a lot smaller than these.””

Genma nodded “Let’s see how far you can get…on your marks, get set, go!” Naruto, Shino and Ino began to circulate their chakra and they rushed towards the trees. Ino made it halfway up the tree as a senbon crashed into it, leaving a precise mark. Shino made it just over halfway before a kunai sailed into the trunk just above his trailing foot. Meanwhile, Naruto had made it three-quarters of the way up the tree before he propelled himself away with excessive chakra pulses.

Kakashi smiled sheepishly, and Genma and Hari groaned. “Well, Taicho, I've certainly seen worse. Alright, you three fall in.” Hari called.

“Hai, specialist.” The Genin responded falling into a rusty parade ground formation.

“I never said attention, or at ease, I just fall in…look you three, I have one question ‘What the fuck has your jonin-sensei been teaching you?’” Hari growled.

Shino stiffened first “Kurenai-sensei, has been teaching us how to dispel genjutsu and further exercises in that art; I would find it preferable Specialist, that you do not besmirch my teacher's training regime otherwise I will ask for a formal apology as you are besmirching the teacher of the Heir of the Aburame Clan.”

Hari nodded “Genin Aburame, I’m impressed. I’m impressed at your clarity and your response, I do not intend to berate your sensei. I do however question her ability to teach you effectively. Being Genin, you should have learned the Tree Walking and Water Walking Exercises by now. I know I did, I know Genma and Kakashi-taichos’ did.”

“We learnt earlier, due to the 3rd Shinobi War.” Genma stated.

Hari turned onto Ino “The famed Heiress of the Yamanaka Clan; consider me immensely disappointed in you.”

Ino turned red with rage “How would…”

“Your father was one of the greatest shinobi I ever served under. He waxed on and on about how great you were at the academy; however, since you leaving the academy you haven't improved one jot. You should be ashamed of yourself, you're weaker than Genin Uzumaki, in fact the only way the pair of you would win against Genin Uzumaki would be if he was blindfolded and had to only use his arms. Likewise, Genin Uzumaki…you're worse than useless in some respects, none of that is your fault mostly. You possess the best training aid known to the Village. Create the smallest amount of clones you can and you keep running until you hit the top of the tree, then decrease your clones by one until you do it solo.”

“Specialist! That is an impossible task! Uzumaki Naruto can't even perform a Bunshin.” Ino yelled.

Genma snorted “He shouldn't have been attempting to learn that jutsu to begin with, less yapping and more running.”

“Kage Bunshin No Jutsu!” Naruto yelled creating 10 Copies of himself and they charged towards the trees. 

“Shadow Clones…the Baka and Dead Last of the Academy knows the Shadow Clones Forbidden Jutsu!” Ino stated.

“That is a rather logical step forward and does further my clan's hypothesis that Naruto-sans surname is actually true.” Shino explained.

“Genin Aburame, get your ass up that tree and give me 50 press ups.” Genma ordered.

Hari had bounced up a tree and landed in the lower branches of one the Naruto’s. “Come on Genin Uzumaki…you've got this. One more fucking step.”

“One more fucking step my orange-clad ass, specialist…you keep dropping branches, lengthening the distance,” Naruto growled, as he pushed onwards. He wobbled, before moving on as he felt one of his clones detonate. Hari grinned as he climbed higher up the tree, Hari himself sat right atop the tree as Naruto finally joined him. “Did…I…just do it?”

Hari chuckled as he took a swig from his canteen before handing it to the blonde “What does your experience tell you?”

“I’ve done it! Although I want to sing and dance about it, I want to try one more time with feeling.”

Shino and Ino looked at their colleague, their eyes widened as they watched him chuck himself from the tree, bounce off a few branches before landing heavily, on his feet. “That requires improvement.” They murmured to themselves as they carried on the exercise, Ino finished the exercise first and decided to help Shino by offering her hand out for a high-five everytime he made it further up. She shuddered at the few bugs as they crawled over her.

“My apologies and gratitude, Ino-san, for my kikaichu crawling over you; I understand that you’re not overly keen on insects and my thanks for assisting me with this exercise.”

“It’s not a problem, Shino-san, I apologise for being squeamish about your kekkei genkai. Your Kikaichu? Aren’t they one of several insects that you have?”

“Correct, they are also the most common. Some of my removed cousins wield some of the more…interesting insects, I shall not say more as clan secrets and traditions are clan secret and traditions.”

Ino giggled at that “Some of my kinsmen can’t use our clan techniques on people but able to use them on constructs. It can be very entertaining especially around clan events.”

Genma and Kakashi grinned “You two have done well. Hari!” Genma shouted.

“Hai!”

“Where’s Uzumaki?”

“Incoming.”

“Incoming?” Naruto came sailing down the tree, rather, propelled down the tree as Hari walked down the trunk, in a loose combat stance.

“Seriously, Hari, sparring?”

Hari shrugged “It helps, just saying. Straight taijutsu whilst practising tree walking. Besides, I need to get back into shape anyway.”

Naruto’s eyes widened and his jaw dropped “Back into shape! What the…”

“I’ve been stuck in the reserves for the past eighteen months, and I’ve not been in Konoha for another four years. So yeah, I’m out of shape. You, Genin Uzumaki fight worse than a drunken civilian…”

Naruto wanted to argue but nodded “That’s fair. No-one wanted to help me at all, I couldn’t go into the library; none of the senseis at the academy were willing to help me telling me ‘everyone else learns this independently’ yet automatically help the rest of the class.”

Genma, Hari and Kakashi exchanged glances with one another “Hari…you, deal with this after we’re finished for the day. I still intend to get the three of them upto at least five minutes walking on water before we take them out for a D-rank.”

(Group Asuma)

“One Akimichi, Two Akimichi, Three Akimichi…” Iwashi called, as he watched his ad-hoc Genin Team alongside Asuma attach themselves to a tree and perform upside-down-situps.

“Iwashi-sensei, can we stop? I can’t do anymore!” Protested Sakura.

“No. You’re not going to stop until you have completed three-repetitions of twenty-five inverted situps. You’re already on your second set, Genin Haruno, which is better than I had anticipated.”

Anything else that Iwashi was about to say faltered as Genin Akimichi groaned before yelping as he began to head towards the ground. Iwashi, grunted as he managed to catch the young heir “You good, Akimichi?”

“Yeah, yeah…I think so, Iwashi-sensei…I don’t think I hit the ground.”

Iwashi placed the kid on his fit “Have you thought about losing a little mass? I’m not insulting your family pudge, I completely understand how important it is for your Clan Techniques. I’ve worked with your father, he saved my ass, so I have immense respect for the Akimichi Clan Pudge.”

Choji grinned “I can’t…well, I could and I should but Tou-sama has said something about initial activation being something awful and too stockpile before I use it. Once used, I can then start formatting what I eat. Also, why are you using my Clan Name for your reps?”

“It’s a long and slow name Akimichi-kun. Long and slow means better control and better circulation, also it’s kind of cool don’t you think, using your feet to suspend yourself whilst improving your chakra control?”

Choji nodded “I need to carry on.” It turned out very early on that Asuma and Iwashi had a team of Genin that possessed nearly pitch perfect chakra control, all they were doing were standard exercises to build up their reserves.

Hinata finished her reps before backflipping onto the floor “Finished!”

“I want five minutes high-knee jogging up and down the tree.” Hinata eeped at that but complied.

Asuma smiled softly to himself “Thanks, Iwashi.”

“No problem Asuma, I do have to ask what would you be doing for your team?”

“Probably slacking off, paying most of my attention with Shikamaru and playing shogi. Choji and Ino probably half-assing their training. They’re good subordinates but they’re extremely lacksidisal.

“They’re lacksidisal or you are?”

“Yes.”

Sakura had by now completed her reps and had enough control to make it down onto the floor before collapsing. “Kakashi-taicho’s really let things slide.”

“Genin Haruno, doing that is going to do more damage to yourself. Do you remember the calinesthetics from the academy?”

“Hai, I…can’t. Like…”

“You can’t or you won’t?” Asuma asked dangerously “One of those means you’re salvageable, the other means your a waste of resources. Which is it?”

“I have no energy, I cannot physically…” Sakura stated as she slowly pushed herself to her feet.

“Warm down, then give me five minutes of the plank.” Iwashi growled, some of these students wanted to cause him to hit his head against a wall.

“Genin Akimichi, Genin Hyuga begin your warm downs.”

The other two nodded “Unfortunately, the Haruno is far too drained so I might suggest we break for lunch, then give them a D-rank.” Iwashi stated.

Asuma nodded “The cat.”

“Why do I always supervise the fucking cat mission?”

“It’s funny and easy money…look you’re going to turn down easy money.”

“No. Not at all…in fact, let’s take a leaf out of Might Guy’s book. Really put some fire into our Genin Platoon.”

Asuma smirked “Go on.”

“We take out two D-rank Missions, both to be completed the same day, with one being the cat.”

“You’re a vindictive bastard ain’t you, Iwashi.”

“Same way I was taught. One of us fucks up, we all fuck up and Genin Haruno has well and truly fucked up. For a Genin, she’s barely any better than a Civilian.”

Hinata finished her warm downs “Akimichi-san…would you…spar with me?”

Choji looked at her “Are you sure? I mean…Iruka-sensei always had the kunoichi fighting each other.”

“Iruka-sensei was following changes to the curriculum, I spied my fathers old teaching journals and he’s recorded whenever he was training, every so often he’d be training with Inuzuka Tsuma and Uzumaki Kushina along with Nara Yoshino and a few others.”

“I know Obaa-Yoshino, if you wish to Hyuga-san.”

“CHOJI! WHAT ARE YOU DOING! SPARRING AGAINSY HINATA LIKE THAT! IT’S AGAINST…” Shrieked Sakura.

“He offered to spar with me, Haruno-san. I would strongly recommend you take him up on that opportunity.” Hinata replied softly but firmly.

“It's not…” Sakura bent double as Hinata slammed a palm into the Pinkette’s Solar Plexus.

“Life as Shinobi is not fair. To be a Shinobi as a male is slightly easier, a Kunoichi has it worse. The lessons we learned in the Academy are a pale mockery and a physical genjutsu to gain more kunoichi hopefuls. The fact that Choji-kun is offering to spar with me is a privilege and an honour, one that should be grasped with both hands. I’ve seen you Haruno-san, admittedly, I’m impressed at your mental acumen but physically I’m disappointed.”

Asuma and Iwashi watched on as the Hyuga Heiress and the Akimichi Heir began to spar. “Are we going to chastise the Hyuga-Genin…for that?” Asuma asked.

Iwashi shrugged “Honestly…not a clue. In your fathers name, Asuma, I don’t even know how we’re going to report this; so I’m going to do what I always do. Record everything, everything of significance, insignificance, interactions, recommendations everything. Although don’t expect the Lord Third to haul you guys into his office until we’ve seen all twelve of the candidates. By the Six Paths…did you teach the Akimichi how to use Judo?”

“No…You’re saying Choji just flipped the Hyuga Heiress onto her back?”

“Well…no…Rather he attempted to but she landed on her feet and just kicked him in the hip and then the balls.”

“Cease!” Asuma shouted “Point to Genin Hyuga. Although if you do that again it will be a disqualification. Also, Genin Hyuga…explain.”

Hinata blushed “Ano…Shinobi are meant to win at all costs. Choji-kun is a male and I'm a female, I know the horrors…”

Asuma paused before exhaling softly “I completely understand, it is a valid tactic. One that I believe Genin Akimichi-kun will take to heart.”

“And to the stomach. That…that…wasn't pleasant at all. I concede.”

Asuma pulled his Genin to his feet before doing the same with Sakura “Right, time for an early lunch and then some D-Ranks.”

(Group Kurenai)

Kurenai felt like she wanted to cry. The ad-hoc genin squad she possessed was about as functional as a badly made exploding tag. Genin Inuzuka and Uchiha were squabbling and Genin Nara was sleeping!

“ENOUGH!” Yugao snapped, flaring her KI and attracting the attention of all three Genin.

“Genin Inuzuka, you should be ashamed of yourself! In your disrespect of the opportunity you have been given, you’re…”

Kiba snarled “He…” The Inuzuka Kid barely finished his sentence as the purple-haired kunoichi placed him on his back with a well-executed front-snap kick to the chest. 

Raido had grabbed the Uchiha, who began to activate his sharingan, and slammed him into the tree “Too slow, brat, way too slow. Genin Nara, get to attention before I have to discipline you as well and I don’t care who your father is.”

Shikamaru groaned and made himself presentable, he stiffened his shoulders and went ramrod straight, only for the Team 8 Primary Jonin to criticise him about ‘slouching when at attention’. “Mendouske.”

“Excuse me, Genin Nara?”

“What a drag, Sensei…I know how to do the Tree Walking exercise, which I guessed would be the fundamental part of finding our weak spots. Then Genin Inuzuka and Genin Uchiha decided to have a testosterone contest and I had been banking on it going for a bit longer before someone focused on me and I’d be able to get away with a bit of cloud watching.”

Kurenai’s eyebrow twitched, the Genin Nara was correct. Unlike some of her colleagues, upon the formation of the Platoon she had managed to acquire the profiles of the other six Genin she’d be overseeing. She rotated her neck allowing it pop and crack “Let’s spar. I know all about your ninjutsu, so your taijutsu should theoretically be lacking. I know that you would normally rely on your Akimichi teammate.”

Shikamaru nodded “As you wish sensei.”

The spar was violent and decisive, the Nara was exceptionally quick and sure footed and the few strikes he managed to deliver mainly from his kicks were irritating; for a fresh Chunin or any other Genin they’d have been exceptionally painful. Although the three Genin under Might Gai would probably have a differing opinion.

“Raido…let the Inuzuka punk up.” Yugao instructed. Raido effortlessly heaved the kid to his feet and surreptitiously and unceremoniously slammer into another tree, whilst placing Akamaru on his head.

“Ninken, I know you don't like what I did to your partner.” Akamaru yipped at that “I believe you're the brains of the duo.” Any desire to piss or shit on his new seat was gone, this guy knew what was up. “I'd appreciate it if you weren't an untrained puppy and used me as your practice bed.”

Yugao shook her head I'm exasperation “How are you so good with the Inuzuka nin-ken?”

“Hana. She helped me out after Yamanaka Shino screwed up his mind transference and stuck me in the body of a mule, by the name of Jack.”

Yugao giggled “I wondered why Jackass was particularly amusing. I caught him trying to break into Genma’s building and why you were in the drunk-tank facing a court martial.”

Raido sighed before levelling his KI at the two Genin “Please, elucidate to me why you decided to have a dick-waving concert right here and now and in front of your Training Director and your, Inuzuka Kiba, direct Jonin Sensei.”

The Uchiha huffed but kept his mouth shut, there was something about the air of superiority on the brat's face that made Raido want to punch him. “You’ve got something to add, Uchiha?”

“You don’t have any authority over me, the only person who does in Kakashi-Sensei.”

“Thats Hatake-sensei, to you.”

“It’s whatever I deem to call him -sensei. Shinobi. There’s nothing you can teach me that I can’t use immediately, or have you forgotten what it means to have a Uchiha around?” Sasuke replied.

“See a Fan, go for the eyes.” Raido replied getting the brats attention. He smirked as the Uchiha snarled at the comment.

“How fucking dare…”

“I speak nothing but the truth…boy. I have respect for your clan, but nowhere does respect mean I have to like you. You’re labelled the so-called ‘prodigy’ but in fact you’re weaker than your brother.”

Sasuke focused his chakra in protestation “You’re twenty yen to short to be thinking your KI will do more to me than simple indigestion. Now, brat, are you going to fall in line and maybe learn something or can I pawn you off onto Specialist Hari for some lessons in respecting the chain of command.”

“What’s that pathetic no-rank specialist got to teach me that I don’t already know?”

Yugao smirked “My little brother, he’s just got out of the Hotbox…” Sasuke gulped.

“What did he do?”

“Supposedly he killed his teammate and her family…whether he did or didn’t, his time in the Hotbox coupled with a few orders means he can do pretty much whatever he wants and get away with it…He hates the Uchiha.”

“But I’m the last loyal Uchiha in Konoha! I’m protected by the Clan Laws and the Treatises that formed Konoha as it is! Hell, we wrote them with the Senju!”

They were momentarily distracted by a shunshin as Hari appeared “Ohayo, Nee-chan, Raido-kun…Uchiha and the Puppy.” Kiba turned red when the newcomer absentmindedly swiped his ninken off his other teacher.

“You leave Akamaru alone! Murderer!”

Hari kept his attention on the ninken “Murderer…that’s what your Sensei is, Nee-chan is, I am and you will be. Try again.”

“Friendkiller!” Sasuke stated.

“Say that again, prick, I fucking dare you to say that again.” Hari growled “Before I rip the eyeballs of this little shit out of his shitty skull, thought I should tell you that Group Kakakshi are going for grub and then doing D-ranks.”

Yugao nodded “Hari…do what needs to be done.”

“To the Uchiha?”

Yugao nodded “Are you absolutely certain that this isn’t in anyway shape or form a trap?”

Raido chuckled “It’s no trap. This Group has made precisely 0% progress in showing what they can do, other than they’re a disgrace to the Hitai-ate; heck even you, with your ‘crimes’ have and had more respect for it than these two Genin.”

Hari looked at the two “Ain’t the Inuzuka…your Hana’s little brother? and he's a second or third cousin to my parole officers?”

Raido paled “Not my Hana, like that, asshole, but yes, my Hana…you heard about Donkey-me and Me-Donkey.”

“That sounds like a Yamanaka caught you double-dipping with someone else and put you in an Ass and the Ass into you.”

Raido didn’t want to tell that story again “Close enough.”

“Your Hana, reversed it.”

“Not my Hana…but yes. She’s a nice lass.”

“Course she is. She’s the veritable flower of the Clan and her brothers all the piss and vinegar and his quite frankly adorable ninken got the brains.”

Raido snorted “I’m curious why Akamaru isn’t trying to turn your hand to jerky.”

“I know the bitch that whelped him. Wasn’t on her squad, but her human was a good friend of mine. She whelped him, two to three days before I went on the mission before everything happened.”

Akamaru was truly enjoying his day, outside of his human being an idiot; he got to hang out with his two other favourite humans! Burn always gave him good treats and scratches and Vanished, oh how Vanished held him it was amazing! Then Vanished, vanished and Burned didn’t come around that often. “Don’t harm him, he’s dumb, but so are all of our humans when we’re newly paired.”

Burned and Vanished snorted and Partner scowled. Ducky meanwhile seemed to be forming handseals! “Look out!” Hari didn’t need Akamaru’s call, he knew a pyromaniac when he saw them. He didn’t think that he’d meet one so eager for a beating!

“Katon: Gokakyuu…”

“Suiton Kenjutsu: Quelling Slash!” The Fireball rushed forwards as Hari unsheathed his sword throwing a blade of water at the fireball. Sasuke’s eyes widened as the thin blade of water collided with his fireball obliterating the water blade but at the cost of his technique! He had no chance to move as the Male Uzuki was in his face and driving his sword towards his eyes, Sasuke moved his hands up only to find he couldn’t move! “BASTARD!”

Hari pirouetted and kicked the Uchiha in the head “Ladies and Gentleman, the Brat has lost consciousness…Now, do we chuck him in the tank? Bury him underground?”

“Must you always be so brutal?” Yugao asked.

“Little shit attacked a superior officer, in front of three others…the fact I’m not salivating over the fact I could demand his life for that…is restraint. I sure ain’t shit rewarding that, I’d much rather make Itachi the ‘Last Uchiha’ than give him praise. As for calling him a ‘battle savant’ he was moving like a drunk skunk, so slow and predictable. Says more about Uzumaki Naruto than it does him.”

“How would you know?” Growled Kiba “You’ve been locked up for who knows how long, and you’ve been living in my property…”

“Your Lady Mothers Property, not yours, boy. My contracts with the Inuzuka Clan are with the Clan Head and the Pack Lead.” The retort shut the young Inzuka up.

Hari turned to the assembled Jonin “If you hurry, you might be able to grab Asuma-san as he heads to the BBQ Place.”

“What about you?”

Hari shrugged “Probably find a kebab. I'm thin on cash, not broke.”

Yugao and Raido slung their arms around Hari “It's on us. Trust you still like BBQ? Especially BBQ Ox Tongue?”

Hari’s stomach gave him away, the merry mob of shinobi left the training ground and headed for the BBQ Eatery, the maitre'd scowled as he saw Naruto and Hari “Taicho, you do know…” 

Kakashi raised an eyebrow at the man, he was a reedy man relatively well-built for a civilian. “Ex-Shinobi?”

“Hai, taicho.”

“Rank?”

“Genin, sir.”

“You have a problem with two of my party?”

“Me, no. I know a holster and sword when I see one. It’s just my boss, he doesn’t like the Uzumaki and as for your Grapehaired, wild-eyed and twitchy companion…I’ve heard through the grapevine.”

“You heard through the grapevine, what?” Hari asked, his hand twitching rhythmically against his leg.

“What happened five and half years ago.”

“Oh when I so effortlessly and ruthlessly killed my teammate and her family. Please let’s have it all out in the open.” Hari growled eyeing the former-genin. 

“I didn’t even do it. All I’m doing is being dragged here to eat, I’m sorry if my punished ass ever crosses this kamiforsaken shithole ever again…Yugao-nee, I’ll meet you at the Hokage’s Office in two and a half hours, I’m off to find a kebab and get something to drink.”

(Main Group)

The nine genin and their cadre of teachers were all crammed into two large booths, these were normally set aside for wedding receptions and business dinners.

“Genin, eat what you want. It’s on us.” Yugao stated, before setting up the grills “Its come to my attention that two of the kunoichi in this platoon are dieting?”

Sakura and Ino nodded “We are…why?”

Yugao exhaled softly as irritation briefly crossed her face, it was only their for a second but long enough for the Genin to see the resemblance between her and Specialist Hari. “If you’re a shinobi, you are doing more training than a normal civilian so you need food, with chakra and jutsu being used, you need to eat more than usual otherwise you’re a liability and liability means dead in our line of work. Before you moan about having ‘an ideal body type’ the real trick isn’t to diet, it’s to eat smart. Those with fire related affinities may prefer to eat hotter meals, earth wielders more carbs and water users tend to consume more fluids than most. All of these little tricks lower the cost of your elemental techniques allowing you to last longer, hit harder and the like. I understand that genetics can make people appear ‘less desirable’ I was one, now look at me.”

Ino and Sakura nodded, it wasn’t hard to see. As Yugao was nearest the path the shinobi could see that men and women were looking over at them. Some with envy, some with sadness and others who just nodded to them. “What’s with the looks? Yugao-taicho? I get the envy and jealousy…but the rest…”

“We’re in a profession where we’re unlikely to reach our 40’s. The envy because we can eat and drink like pigs and be fine the next morning and look good.” Kakashi jovially contributed. Asuma carried on “The sorrow because even though in Konoha, we’re closer linked to the civilians some of us have civilian landlords, they know that we might not be coming back from our jobs to keep them safe. As for the old-timers, they might’ve been our colleagues at one point or another so they know what we’re risking. I’ve been training since I was five, I entered this profession at eight years…I’m 27, 28 in three weeks…I’ll be lucky if I hit 30.” Asuma carried on. That shocked the genin, they knew the lifespan wasn’t long but that…that was horrible.

“Kakashi-sensei, I swear…I’ll become a kickass ninja and ensure you live to a ripe old age.” Naruto declared.

“I’m not that old, Naruto, I’m only 26.” Kakashi retorted.

“But your hair!” Protested Sakura.

“It’s Silver! Not white! What about your own, Sakura-chan? Why’s it pink?”

“Genetics!”

“Precisely.”

Raido cleared his throat “Yugao-taicho…what’s…”

“Going to happen about the field reports? I’m not going to collect anything for a report until all of us have evaluated the Genin Platoon. However, I’m expecting all of the Jonin to make their own notes, records of their experiences with the ad-hoc teams…standard briefing rules.”

(Hari)

Hari moved through the streets of Konoha until he found Tokage’s Tropical Kebabary, it was a pop-up stall turned permanent vendor due to its popularity. There was a whole line of people already forming, most were civilians. He quickly took his place at the back of the forming line “Shinobi-san, you can jump ahead of us.”

“No, I’ll wait.”

The offers carried on up the line but Hari declined each and every time. He wanted to take his time, recollect his thoughts and about fifteen minutes later he’d reached the front “Hari-san, you old goat.”

“Tokage Hiro, still, selling your shinobi style kebabs?”

“Forever and always. They’ve become so popular that Shinobi-small tends to feed normal civilians all day.”

“Three, Shinobi-large, Donners and one of those with Donner and Chicken. All the toppings.”

“All the toppings?”

“All the toppings.”

Hari paid and calmly waited. His stomach was crying for the sweet release of kebabs. He grabbed his mountain of food and headed towards the ‘’.Busted Shuriken’. “This is a bad idea, Hari.” His inner voice screamed out to him.

“Maybe, maybe not, I’m on my lunch break. I’ll order soft drinks and water as opposed to sake and beer. Or maybe, I’ll have one or two.”

As he entered the pub went silent.

Chapter Text

Naruto Uzumaki: To be Stronger 5

A Fucking Record

The Busted Shuriken conversations went silent as Uzuki Hair walked in. The eyes of the shinobi drinking there all fixated on him, Hari paid them no heed as he sat in the corner of the bar. He devoured his first kebab, then the second before slowly pacing through the third. He swallowed before making eye contact with one of the shinobi “Have I admitted to being Orochimaru’s lover, or something?” The innocuous comment caused snorts, chokes and a few yelps from the inquisitive shinobi.

“Just curious as to how and why you’re even allowed to wear that.” Came one shinobi gesturing to him.

“My clothes? Pretty sure public indecency is an offence and I’d rather the innocent didn’t see something that traumatising.”

“No…your forehead protector. You’re no longer a shinobi!”

“No…I’m no longer a convict, Shinobi. Despite my alleged crimes, no evidence was ever submitted to court martial me enough to kick me from the forces. Even if there was, the court martial wasn’t followed to the letter or spirit of the law; something about not allowing either side to use perjury to prove innocence or guilt.” Hari replied getting unamused looks “Tough crowd at lunchtime…Look, I, honestly don’t give a shit what you think about me and what you think of me goes both ways. I’ve got the Hokage’s Chance , does anyone actually think I’m that stupid to piss that away?”

“We don’t want you in here anymore.” Another Shinobi stated.

“That’s not for you to decide, but the barkeep. If you even think about threatening him to back you up I’ll know.”

The Barkeep snorted “I felt you’d been fitted up, couldn’t prove anything. You might not have liked the Husband, but honestly, I didn’t either…you were fucking overjoyed about the daughter if the talk was right you were going to be her sensei?”

“I was, the proudest and happiest moments of my life, I ever had was watching over her. I’d still be happier the moment I got my Jonin Flak and permission to be her sensei, either as her Sifu or Sensei. That will now never happen, holding her that night…none of you shitstains deserve to know how it feels, considering your sheepshit mentality and the fact you think the Konoha no Shiroi Kiba did the wrong thing in choosing his colleagues over the mission.” Hari growled.

“You dare to disrespect a legend.”

“Not disrespecting giving you the context of how you and I view one another. Only…I don’t give a shit about the impact of my actions anymore. None of you are comrades of mine.”

“If that’s the case…then we’ll happily rectify that.”

“Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!” Hari growled and his clone materialised.

“Go tell Nee-chan that I’m in trouble.” Hari ordered. His clone stared at the situation. “We can take them!”

“And break the fucking record of five and a half years of keeping ourselves out of trouble? I’m not going back! I’m not going back unless…” Hari didn’t get the chance to finish his sentence as a kick snapped across his face sending him into his seat. Kunai was launched at the Shadow Clone who easily dodged it.

“Shunshin!” The clone yelled vanishing, his destination the BBQ restaurant.

(BBQ)

The senseis were placing their money on the table to pay when Hari shoved his way in. “Hari! I thought…you’re a Kage Bunshin? ” Yugao stated.

The Clone nodded “Prime’s getting the…shite kicked out of him. He ain’t retaliating, he’s doing his best not to retaliate because ‘I don’t want to break the fucking record’.”

Asuma gulped, the ‘record’ was a little in joke amongst the Shinobi. It meant how long could a shinobi go on missions without stepping on a metaphorical explosive tag mission that escalated well out of control. Hari, since his release from the Hot Box had spent five-and-a-half years keeping out of trouble. “I…” He began only for Yugao to shut him down with a look.

“I’m going to dispel you. I’m coming little brother.” She dispelled the clone with an armbar into a blow to the back of the skull before bounding out of the restaurant via the window with Raido and Genma behind her. 

“Shouldn’t we…” Naruto began.

“No. You don’t want to be anywhere near, when this explosive tag goes off. Konoha’s Military Police Special Weapons and Subjugation Force don’t care whose in the vicinity when they’re taking people into custody. Accidents are known to happen.” Kakashi stated.

“Aburame, Yamanaka, Uzumaki with me.” Kakashi instructed “We’re going to be doing tw0 D-Ranks this afternoon.”

“What missions are they Kakashi-sensei?” Ino chirped. Kakashi eye smiled at his new kunoichi subordinate.

“Now that would be telling but it probably has something to do with what we were doing this morning.”

“Chakra control exercises in D-ranks…that is a logical and rational idea for furthering our training.” Shino commented. With that the four of them headed towards the Mission Office.

(Busted Shuriken)

Hari rolled out of the way of the offending kunai swipe, someone grabbed him from the back with a simple sidestep, sweep Hari had broken hold of the attempted backgrip; he followed through by throwing his attacker into the small group of four that were trying to close in on him. All five shinobi went ass over teakettle, hitting the floor. “Stop resisting and fucking die traitor!”

“Friendkiller!” Hari momentarily froze allowing for the accuser to close the distance. Hari was waiting, blocked the powerful but erratic roundhouse kick, grabbed the offending limb before throwing the kicker back in the same direction of said kick which caused him to spin and land heavily on his back, head bouncing off the table.

“Aw…shit.” Hari murmured as now the Shinobi who were at that point in time merely attempting to bully him were now stepping up their lethality. Hari winced as a kunai sliced his cheek, he retreated backwards towards the door! If he could make it to the door he could get away! Then there was pain! Hari found himself bending double as a menhir of stone forcefully connected with his stomach, followed by the unmistakable sound of bones breaking. Blood, saliva, phlegm and partially digested food welled in his mouth as he was carried out of the door and into the street.

Five shinobi charged out, more kunai on hand as the other ten or so slowly made their way out. Some more tenderly than others “You know this was much more fun than trying to kill the demon brat.” One spat, Hari rolled to his feet. He noted a kunai was bedded in his arm, his hand shook as he wrapped his hand around it. “You do this, the Hokage will have your life.”  The voice wasn’t his subconscious but a more familiar tone. Hari shook his head, he’d take his chances.

“Stop!” A sharp curt voice ordered, the shinobi stopped as Yugao Uzuki landed between them and her brother “All of you stand down, you will no longer lay any weapon or jutsu on my little brother.” She ordered, Hari only vaguely realised she had his sword with her and with fluidity she removed it and chucked it to him.

He only just managed to grab it and with pain on his face shrugged it onto his back. “Thanks. How was lunch?”

“We’d paid before your Bunshin found us.” Genma commented before looking at his friend “You look like shit.”

“Yeah…considering I’m trying to keep my record intact. Hokage-Sama wouldn’t like it if the guy he gave a last chance to actually killed some of his shinobi.”

“So you let them beat on you?”

Hari nodded “More or less. Hobbled a few, self-defence. Mainly via bowling ball no jutsu .” Raido chuckled, the bowling ball no jutsu wasn’t a jutsu per se, but rather a comedic skill that even civilian stuntmen could use. It could be used to throw anything and everything at anyone and with enough force send the receivers off their feet. “I take it you were throwing some of our esteemed colleagues around then.”

“Not my fault they over-extended or didn’t refine their taijutsu. One person inside did hit a table, head first and that’s why they’re now trying to kill me…he did try to kick me in the head.”

The three tokubetsu formed a barrier between the aggressor and their target. “Uzuki Yugao, permission to start removing my excessive metal injections?”

Yugao nodded “I’m surprised you haven’t already.”

“If I did I’d be seeking retribution and I’m either dead or in the Hot Box. As much as the former is appealing, I admittedly don’t fancy it. Neither do I fancy my jail cell.” Hari retorted as he ripped the kunai from his arm, he sighed as he reached behind only to find Genma behind him.

“Clutch your glutes and squat. This is going to suck.” Genma muttered, Hari barely managed to do it as the kunai was removed.

“EVERYONE! HANDS IN THE FUCKING AIR! DON’T MOVE! KONOHA MILITARY POLICE!” An ANBU shouted as eight of them descended into the standoff. Hari, Yugao, Genma, Raido and all of the Shinobi outside the Shuriken and the Barkeep were arrested and through a fuuinjutsu array they were conveyed to the basement of the T&I .

Unfortunately, all twenty odd shinobi were thrown into in an overly large holding pen. Raido, Genma and Yugao sat with Hari on one side whilst the others were on the other side, both sides glared at one another. “Feeling like home yet?” One of the Instigators snarled obviously offended that he’d been dragged down here.

Hari said nothing, he leaned against the wall, placed one foot on it and closed his eyes. “Oi! Traitor! Filth! Answer me!”

Hari said nothing. Yugao looked at her brother, she could read him, this feigned rest was to prepare him for the inevitable bullshit that was too come. There was a tightness in her gut, this could go on her record…whilst nothing serious, Shinobi getting records of being brought into the holding pens wasn’t uncommon…Gai could and would attest to that. “Sister, calm down…you acted in self-defense. At worst you’re going to have to have Ibiki doing his ‘Lord of Terror’ spiel on you and being overly enthusiastic about it.”

Yugao snorted, Morino Ibiki was wonderful guy…yes a little off his rocker, name a Shinobi who wasn’t, had a penchant for psychology fuckery…he’d been trained by Yamanaka Inoichi for fucks sake. He was also one of the only men in the village to openly associate with Anko! Sure he was grim, detached on duty but off duty hardly anyone could sing Puppet Master in a tenor like he could.

Heavy footfalls boomed across the concrete as Morino Ibiki appeared outside of the cage “Uzuki Hari and Uzuki Yugao.” The siblings stood at attention. Ibiki made a note on his pad of paper.

“Had those injuries seen to?”

“No, sir, I have not. Just scratches sir.”

Another nod and another note “Face the wall and place hands squarely against the wall. Uzuki Hari, remain silent.”

Hari nodded, he grunted as a Chunin pushed him into the wall, his natural instinct was to stiffen his arms; but decided against it. “The detainee has not offered resistance at all, Morino-taicho.” Ibiki nodded. “Same with this detainee.”

They weren’t dragged out, but rather firmly escorted out and down the corridor out of sight. They remained in silence before entering a larger interrogation room. Surprisingly the Hokage was present, along with Inoichi Yamanaka “Hokage-Sama.” Ibiki stated.

“Thank you Ibiki-san, you may go. Arrange a special meeting with Chunin Masahiro…the one-way kind. He broke the law.”

Ibiki nodded. The Hokage turned to the siblings who were standing to attention with their arms still manacled “Release them please, and Uzuki Siblings please have a seat.”

Hari assisted his sister into a seat before slumping into his seat. He placed his hands on the table “What happened, specifically, Hari-san.”

“The Platoon broke for lunch. Jonin Sarutobi suggested we all go for BBQ, the maitre'd didn't want me in the establishment so I went a purchased three kebabs and went to the Busted Shuriken to eat in peace, then perhaps have one drink before returning to observe Genin Uzumaki, Aburame and Yamanaka. However, several Chunin were in the Busted Shuriken and they began watching me intently. I made a bad joke, pertaining to Sannin no Orochimaru. Then they began to insult and threaten me, I should have left but I chose not to. I made some references to the Will of Fire and how they're treating me akin to the late White Fang, then one of them hit me. I summoned a Kage Bunshin had ordered it to run to find reinforcements, whilst I began to defend myself against my attackers. When I would have counter-attacked I shoved and pushed although with one person, I flipped him with enough force that he hit a table head first…after that they started trying to kill me…one used some doton jutsu and said ‘this is almost as fun as trying to kill that demon-brat’. Yugao, Raido and Genma arrived before I could take re of him for breaking your law.”actions that would put my chance at risk.”

The Elderly Hokage looked his age “Uzuki Yugao?”

Yugao recounted her view “I saw the maitre’d not want my brother in the restaurant. Not from the maitre’d himself, he was an ex-shinobi, however the owner didn’t want my brother present. My brother acquitted himself commendably and went to find somewhere else to eat, then his Shadow Clone came to me saying that he was in trouble. We arrived to find him getting up from getting hit by a doton ninjutsu and survived being stabbed by a kunai.”

The Third Hokage let out a sigh “I believe you but…I need unmistakable verification. That is why Yamanaka-Sama is here, do you give your permission for him to investigate further?”

Hari and Yugao sighed “Not really comfortable getting my mind read…period. However, I'm nor risking my chance to become a Chunin again.”

Inoichi smiled and chuckled “I get it, I did find it odd that not one of my kin or myself were not called to investigate. It'll be painless, but that's all I can promise.”

Yugao giggled “That's what he always says.” She commented getting blushes and snorts from the three men in the room “Yamanaka-Sama, my brother would normally say buy me dinner before getting hands on with him.”

Inoichi sighed softly “The pair of you hang around with Anko too much.”

“She did offer for me to sleep with her until I got back on my feet…then I kinda got adopted by the Inuzuka.”

“Anko-chan said what? You know what Hari-san, for that this is gonna sting.” Inoichi stated before placing his hand on the male grapettes head.

The mental investigation took five minutes before Yamanaka yanked his hand away. Hari groaned “That's worse than the time I drank magic mushrooms and liquid ravenous raving red peppers back in the Box.”

“Was it that bad?”

“The abuse, treatment, location, cell etc. Wasn't so bad, it was the food that was the killer.” Hari replied as he looked at the Elderly Kage “What happens now?”

“Head home. Return to your duties on the morrow. Oh and Hari-san.”

“Hai?”

“I request that you spend tomorrow with the Uchiha and the Uzumaki.”

Hari stiffened “As you wish. Permission to clatter the Uchiha to why I dislike his bloodline?”

“Don't kill him. Not even partial killing, as that will open up consequences from my Honourable Advisors.”

That'd then give me grounds for justifiable mass homicide. I'll obey. Although that does sound so tempting. Coming neechan?”

Yugao sighed “I have Bureaucracy no Jutsu right now. I'll drop by with supplies.”

“Agriato.”

As Hari left the trio sighed “He's gotten even worse Hokage-Sama.” Inoichi commented.

“Still very good at what he does.”

Inoichi nodded “Is it wise? Putting him with Kushina’s…kid.”

Sarutobi steepled his hands “The very much lesser evil. Considering who Naruto’s father was putting his mothers student with him is the least I can do.” He turned to Yugao.

“What have you got for me?”

Yugao sighed “Nothing as of right now. I have had Raido, Genma, Iwashi and my Brother recording what they've seen…I had been intending to get a full rotation of my Platoon before I reported to you with more than just half-made reports.”

The Hokage nodded “Tell me anyway.”

Yugao sighed “When my brother addressed introduced himself as ‘specialist’, Genin Haruno demanded more of an introduction. My brother caused her to pass-out. I personally observed Genin Inuzuka and Uchiha descend to full on schoolboy fighting whilst Kurenai tore three strips off Genin Nara for body posture, slouching and trying to slacken off during her training sessions. Genma informs me that Genin Yamanaka, Aburame and Uzumaki have begun to work well together. Kakashi-taicho has decided to take them on two D-ranks after lunch.”

Sarutobi sighed as he looked at his Ex-ANBU before nodding “I'm going to need a report of your initial findings to submit to the Council.” Yugao rolled her eyes.

“Since when does the Hokage bow to his subordinates?”

Sarutobi kept his intent leashed “Since when are my Shinobi so…backchatty?”

“When it's apparent that the Advisors to the Kage are intending to defang him.” Yugao countered.

(Team Seven)

“Uzumaki-San, if you change this Boar seal to a Bird seal it changes the jutsu. It turns it from water to fluid that will allow you to coat the building, allowing your kage bunshin and colleagues to paint.” Genma pointed out as he went through the elemental ninjitsu Water Style: Water Control.” It was an E-rank jutsu and was only categorised as an ‘elemental’ technique because of its name. 

It was such a weak technique anyone with awakened chakra coils could use it. It was also an excellent technique to improve chakra control, someone with a mastery of the method and with a sufficient understanding of human anatomy could use it as an extremely potent assassination technique…the human body was mainly water after all. Genma shook himself from those thoughts, he much preferred shunshin, stab, shunshin. “You’ve gotta love the basics.” He told himself. He’d been let go pretty quickly when it came out he’d done nothing aside from appear intimidating.

Naruto nodded and after running through the seals again tried the technique and this time, the paint lifted itself from the cans and this time; instead of it landing in a mess resulting in a streaky finish; the hyperactive blonde was able to release the paint in such a way that there was still some left and the fences painted were an immaculate white.

Ino looked like she’d picked a fight with a paintcan had was subsequently covered in paint. Shino was unscathed and Naruto had managed to avoid getting himself completely covered in paint. He winced suddenly “Uzumaki-san are you alright?”

“One of my clones, just hit another clone with a 2x4. From that construction job we were also doing.”

Shino nodded “Yamanaka-san, would you please go with Uzumaki-san to complete the construction job?” Ino nodded before grabbing Naruto to drag him along.

The construction job wasn’t to build a house, but rather gather all of the pre-paid equipment and take it to the site. Naruto had summoned Kage Bunshin to assist with it and for the most part it had been a success, until the 30 2x4’s started coming loose.

(Team Inuzuka)

Kiba, Shikamaru were not having as great a time. They'd been tasked with babysitting a group of Civilian Council Members children.

Sasuke had taken up just scowling at them and causing them to break down in tears. Shikamaru was using it to catch up on some sleep but whilst he was ‘sleeping’ he was using his shadow techniques to move a seesaw and swings. 

Kiba in the meantime was grumbling. He'd demonstrated one of his Clans techniques to transform into a hound and was now running around on all fours providing piggyback rides! It was exhausting! Whenever he changed back to go to the loo the children were crying, and to make matters worse Kurenai had taken Akamaru from him!

“Nara!”

“Yeah, Inuzuka!”

“Ya mind doing occupying my lot for a few minutes?”

“What's in it for me?”

“I'll cover for you.”

Kurenai snorted it seemed that two of her students were finally learning to work together. She'd let Shikamaru nap under the pretence of her rambunctious and thick headed genius ‘deal’. 

“What are you going to do?”

“Need loo and have a word with the Uchiha.”

Shikamaru sat up “I'll help with that. You realise the hidden part of this mission?”

Kiba stared at him dumbfounded “There's a hidden part?”

Shikamaru sighed “Yeah…what makes Konohagakure no Sato so strong that it has required two of the other hidden villages to try and take us out?”

“Our Kekkei Genkai?”

“Nope?”

Kiba shrugged “No clue. Apart from that we're badass?”

“Our abilities in teamwork. The fact that we work in a team, we look out for one another. We have each other's backs and we prioritise our comrades over the mission when it goes wrong or right.” Shikamaru explained “Yamanaka, Akimichi, Nara and Sarutobi are a block of families that have been allied for a while. We're loosely linked to the Senju.”

“Inuzuka and Hyuuga the same. Although we tolerate the Aburame…I get it. Because we give a damn about each other, we might not like each other inside Konoha but when we're doing our job…we leave our problems at the village.” 

Shikamaru nodded “Now you get it.”

(Team Akimichi)

Akimichi Choji was annoyed. He didn’t display it as he’d been training to be a shinobi since he was four. Furthermore he was annoyed at one of his kunoichi teammates, again that was a no-go. His team had been contracted to walk the Inuzuka dogs and whilst He and Hinata had a firm control over the eight they’d been assigned to Sakura’s were running wild.

It turned out no matter how big or strong an Inuzuka hound was, when an Akimichi chose not to move, nothing was going to move them. Asuma intervened and retrieved the running wild Inuzuka hounds. After the walk, they’d disbanded. Choji walked Hinata back to the Hyuuga district of the Village. “Our thanks Akimichi-san.” Hyuuga Hisashi stated, bowing towards the Heir of the Akimichi; which was reciprocated.

“It was my pleasure, Hyuuga-Sama.” Choji replied “Hyuuga-san, I’ll see you tomorrow?”

Hinata nodded “Agriato, for walking me home, Akimichi-san.”

Choji moved through the streets and found himself moving into the Akimichi part of the Village. “Choji-kun!”

He looked up to see his father and his drinking buddies, his godfathers “Tou-chan, Kyofu Yamanaka, Kyofu Nara.”

“So how was your training today?” Chouza asked. He was slightly unnerved at how despondent his son looked.

“Training was…pretty good, scratch that amazing. It’s just…I was with a Genin who is for the lack of a better phrase ‘useless’.”

Chouza’s eyes widened “Let’s get a drink and you can tell the three of us all about it.” They were joined by Shikamaru and Ino as Chouji was about to talk.

“There is a Genin in the Platoon known as Haruno Sakura.” Chouji began.

(Hari’s Residence)

Inuzuka Tobi nodded to Hari before leaving, as he left Yugao and the other Tutors and the Jonin Sensei entered the Bungalow. Hayate and Yugao laden with bags of shopping “Hari! Your order!”

Hari who’d been curled up in an armchair reading, an old battered book with the name ‘Tale of Utterly Gutsy Ninja’ in his hand. “Hari!” Kurenai yelled.

“Not Icha Icha, as good as that series is…the amount of smut is off-putting.” Hari replied as he furled the corner down and closed the book.

“It’s written by the Toad Sage.” Kurenai protested.

“The first book he ever wrote. It’s honestly a banger.” Hari replied “Now…not that I’m complaining for the company why is everyone…crowding into my place?”

Yugao sighed “I need reports from all of you. Testimonies, everything.”

Hari nodded “In doing so we can further develop those poor saps…I’ve been ordered to beat some sense into the Uchiha and Uzumaki tomorrow by the Hokage. I also suppose this is the part where we go around the ad hoc genin teams and we discuss their strengths and weaknesses.”

Raido nodded “Asuma…how’d it go with your ad hoc team?”

Asuma looked at Hari and slowly pulled out his cigarettes “I’d prefer you smoked those in the garden.” He looked at Kurenai “My place, my rules. I don’t like the smell of cigs in my furniture. Outside not so bad.”

Asuma began “I had Genins Akimichi, Hyuuga and Haruno…of those three…Kakashi what the hell have you been teaching your kunoichi?”

Kakashi sighed “I’ve been trying to ingrain teamwork into their heads. The bloody basics Asuma, I’ve never had a team so dysfunctional. Uzumaki is a fucking diamond in the rough, the Uchiha completely undeserving of the attention I’m required to give him and Haruno…she still hasn’t grown up. I thought she’d have improved after the Wave disaster but apparently not.”

“She went off on Choji for offering to spar with the Hyuuga. I thought the Hyuuga was going to absolutely destroy the Haruno girl.” Asuma stated “Furthermore the Hyuuga and Choji did work rather well together.”

Yugao nodded and made a few notes. “Genins Inuzuka, Uchiha and Nara…” She flushed “They’re probably the most dysfunctional group of young men ever.”

Kurenai nodded “Kiba was despicable. However, they managed to somewhat pull themselves together for their D-rank.”

Kakashi grinned “I suppose my trio actually worked well together. They even started sparring on trees whilst tree walking to improve their competency, then during their D-ranks they showed remarkable teamwork although Yamanaka did end up wearing a full can of paint.”

The meeting carried on before Yugao spoke “Plan for tomorrow?”

“Same senseis of the groups, keep the platoons the same…only I’m going to need to flit between the Uchiha and the Uzumaki.” Hari explained. “Now…are you bums planning to stay over for a while longer and I’ll order in.”

Chapter Text

Naruto: To Be Stronger 6

Nose to the Stone 

Inoichi, Chouza and Shikaku looked at their sons and daughter respectively with nothing less than dumbstruck expressions. “Ino…I for one am glad that you've decided to shift your stance on Uzumaki Naruto.” Inoichi stated.

“May I ask why, Kyofu-Yamanaka?” Shikamaru asked slowly “He's so hyperactive that it's a drag.”

Inoichi snorted “His mothers Clan was much the same. Yes, he's from a Clan and because of his Clans…body based kekkei genkai his service as Shinobi started way before any of yours. Even if the village is too damn ignorant to know any better. Ino, I'm not asking you to seduce him or even become best friends with him…Naruto needs people he can become friends with. His only proper connections to this village are a pair of Civilians and the Hokage. Unfortunately the Hokage isn't getting any younger. All three of you, we expect you to be diligent and dutiful to all of your new trainers; they're not Clan members but they know enough of our clans due to us being Leaf Shinobi that they can assist you in becoming vital assets to our families and clans.”

Family and Clan whilst sounding the same, are slightly different. Family meant immediate blood relatives, Clan meant everyone with insignia of the Clan on their backs and arms. Ino, Shikamaru and Choji were the Heirs of the Main Family and Clan of which they were members. Some Clans lauder their main families over the others and some decided to be just a family or a Pack. The Inuzuka were oddities like that. 

“What of Genin Haruno?” Choji asked.

“Uzuki Hari will either break her out of it or her out of the Corps. Now Uzuki Hari…”

“Wasn't he the one who went to prison? Didn't offer any defence?” Shikamaru asked.

Shikaku nodded “Yes and yes. I'm glad that he's out…he's one of the best at what he does and what he does is bloody nasty. He asked Hokage-Sama to redact his actual sensei, there's not many reasons for doing that. His main record says that Uzumaki Kushina trained him and that's all you need to know.”

Ino smiled at them “Come on you two…we need to meet early tomorrow. I don't care what happens when we're not training together but I refuse to allow us to slacken off.”

Choji nodded, Shikamaru sighed but didn't resist as Choji dragged him away. Inoichi rolled his eyes as Chouza chuckled, “Thats not what we did.” Inoichi said

“No…it was us dragging Chouza.” Shikau replied dryly as another round of drinks was delivered.

(Hari et al)

The food turned out to be sushi and yakitori with copious amounts of sake. The reports were written and compiled…the records were not closely written enough to be accused of collusion but they were close enough in accuracy that it spelled bad news for all three senseis.

Especially when Hari had made an amendment to his reports “Really…you want to give them that?”

“They're not even Genin. They need to do it.” Hari replied not looking at his sister.

Anko had joined them and snagged Hari’s form “These three geniuses haven't even bloodied their Genin yet…sensei had us do that the moment we passed his exam.” Anko exclaimed.

“Same here.” Hari stated. 

“You good Hari-chan?” Anko asked.

“I only have one question. Anko…” The room turned cold, they'd anticipated this question.

“Where's Hashishi Kinusa…” Anko stated.

Hari nodded “Exactly.”

“He's dead or a nuke-nin.”

Hari began to go through his mental notes of his other teammate “He's a nuke-nin. He's no swordsman but he was or is really good at light-bending/refraction jutsu. One of our party tricks…oh that fucker! He learned chakra strings!” The assembled jonin watched in horror as KI and Chakra began to leak and bubble then began to warp itself around the ex-con.

“Hari…are you saying that Kinusa did this?” Yugao murmured.

“It's gotta be…there’s no other possibility…” Hari stated. “That…fucker…I need to find his residence, the fucker was many things and a hoarder and being secretive were two of the most profound qualities.”

Yugao raised an eyebrow “A hoarder?”

“If you need to impersonate another ninja, best look the part. The amount of shit we pilfered from Kumo, Kusa, Kiri and Suna dead in the Genin exams really took the piss.” Yugao looked at her brother, trying to keep the shock from her faces.

When Konoha hosted the Chunin Exams, all of the ANBU were deployed, keeping meticulous notes of the outsiders and making accurate judgements on the equipment said outsiders brought in. For example, Kiri-nin tended to favour a more barbed and serrated kunai and tended to bring tanto and wazikashi all in a barbed and serrated fashion; Kumo favoured a flattened and layered kunai; Suna favoured a more needle-focused delivery for their poisons, Suna had gotten the reputation of ‘being able to kill with a scratch’. Iwa…they’d find more kunai, shuriken and basic supplies than any other nation. Kusa finally favoured a flowering leaf design. The fact someone other than the ANBU had managed to collect a small armoury of outsider gear was no small feat.

“You truly suspect that it's him?”

“I don’t want to. I desperately want it to be untrue, but…nothing is adding up. When I add my errant comrade into the equations things tend to add up more. Now…”

Genma looked at his friend “What are you going to do, if you find out that he’s the reason you lost everything?”

Hari held the senbon-chewers gaze “I’ll make a right on an insult that was thrown in my face; I lost my goddaughter and my best friend. My other friend is the one who chucked me away like a pair of old sandals. If Kinsua did this, I’m going to beat a confession out of him, drag him to the counsel and…publically deal with him. Yes I’m paroled and blacklisted, I never deserved the condemnation…I admit I’m five kunai short of a full set, but…I’m loyal. Kinsua dies…he dies painfully and graphically and at my hands.”

Genma nodded “I wanted to check that you still had it in you…you were the Hellsword no Konoha.” 

“He never left…he’s bent, bowed but not broken. Anyway…Kurenai, Kakashi…I’m going to need the Uchiha and Uzumaki tomorrow; orders came from the top.”

Kakashi eye-smiled “And just what are you going to be teaching my cute little genin?”

“The Uchiha…pecking order. Uzumaki…kenjutsu. He might well be able to modify by fighting style…might throw in elemental manipulation, because I’m nice.”

“Like a catheter.” Hayate interjected.

“Hayate…aren’t you still needing my permission for something?” Hayate turned grey. Everyone at the table knew Hayate and Yuugao would tie the knot, but, Yuugao wanted to do it right and that meant with her brothers permission.

“Otouto…you wouldn’t.”

“I’m just fucking with you both.”

“You’re an asshole.”

“And don’t I know it.” Hari replied. The shinobi stayed until just after midnight before they took their leave.

Hari didn't make it to bed until 01:00am.

(Next morning)

The Village was exposed to a forgotten sight. Uzuki Hari, staggering, tripping over himself as he barrelled through the streets, dressing himself and feeding himself as he rushed for the training grounds.

Hari slid into the training ground as Yugao and Anko seamlessly shunshinned in. Nothing was said “All of you are training…in your allocated teams…go!”

Hari turned to Kakashi “I'm with you today.”

Kakashi grinned, Naruto beamed, Sasuke grunted and Sakura paled. They had the Specialist's undivided attention.

“Right then…Uchiha, Uzumaki come with me.” Hari ordered.

Kakashi turned to Sakura “Welcome to reserve building Kakashi Style.” As Kakashi was about to throw Sakura into his blistering training regime, a loud boisterous voice thundered through the ground. “PERHAPS I CAN BE OF ASSISTANCE MY YOUTHFUL FRIEND!”

Kakashi turned, even though he displayed disinterest he was inwardly glad that his best friend was present. “You can my friend.” Gai paused.

“How?”

Kakashi brought Sakura over “This is Haruno Sakura…she’s more of a…cadet than a Genin…”

“As your hands are tied, you need me to help you by helping her. I will cultivate her flames of youth, however, you will owe me.” Kakashi nodded “I’ll teach your Kunoichi a trick or two of whatever she wants.”

Sasuke glowered at Hari, they’d been training for twenty minutes. Him and Naruto against the Specialist; yet, the specialist was barely even panting “Sloppy…again.”

“Why.” Sasuke demanded.

Hari raised an eyebrow “Are you disobeying orders?”

“Damn…” He didn’t get to finish as the Specialist buried his foot into his gut sending him sprawling across the training ground.

“I have been given orders, Uchiha, to turn you into a proper shinobi benefitting of your hitai-ate and that means obeying orders, and the chain of command.” Hari hissed. Sasuke had been raised on the stories of the titans of his clan, Shunhin no Shisui, Uchiha Madara, Katon no Izuna to just to name a few. Uchiha Izuna had been a Warring Clans Uchiha who’d taken a similar path to Senju Tobirama the Kami no Suijin as the Kami no Hi. He’d read about Chakra being made visible outside of jutsu, he’d never had it focused at him directly, he’d experienced it back at the tower. The Specialists chakra was becoming corporeal the KI was being focused solely on him.

“Uchiha…I want you up that tree. I need to see your chakra control, then whilst on the tree I want you to go through your calisthenics exercises and the Academy warmup routine. Whilst remaining on the tree.”

“And if I don’t…remain on the tree?”

“You get back on and start again. You do this right and well…we’ll start on some of the fun stuff.”

Sasuke nodded, swallowing his pride and he began to warm up. Hari then turned to Naruto “Follow me.”

Naruto nodded and followed obediently, Hari led him away from Sasuke and into the woods before entering a clearing. Naruto watched as Specialist-Sensei pulled out several scrolls and revealed their contents, which were bokken, mannequins, and books. “Now, I can formally introduce myself to you…Uzamaki-san. I’m Uzuki Hari and I trained under your mother…so…wanna learn kenjutsu?”

Naruto grinned “Hell yeah!” He found himself grabbing a book out of the air.

“You need to read that…Seriously, kenjutsu isn’t easy and its not like you can grab a sword and start swinging. You need to learn about the various blades, you can wield, what you want to wield and your style of fighting…”

“Uzuki-sensei…I…prefer to learn my doing.”

“I know. So do I, as did your mother. However we had to learn through study as well, I have created multiple copies of the books.”

“Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!” Naruto called out and fifteen clones appeared. “All of you get to reading the books and scrolls about kenjutsu. I expect you to do it.”

“And you?”

“Warm up.”

Sasuke was sweating and dry-heaving. When had Kakashi-sensei been such a hardass, he’d been doing his drills as he’d been instructed, when Kakashi had swept his leg and slammed him into the tree trunk! “What the…”

“I’m honestly impressed. You listened to Specialists' instructions, however, your spacial awareness sucks. Genma would have kicked you in the head and he’s the least brutal of us. Specialist…” Kakashi chuckled “He really doesn’t like you.”

“Why is that?”

“Because you’re a Uchiha…that’s one reason, don’t be shocked…he doesn’t like anyone. However, he has more than a bit of a grudge against you.”

“One my Clan stole his work?”

Kakashi nodded “Yeah…when he challenged them the Uchiha Military Police burned his house down in retaliation, they claimed an accident…” Sasuke’s eyes widened “Is that…”

Kakashi nodded “I…honestly think you’ve been dragged into a game of politics being the last Uchiha. It has…a gravitas to it and makes you desirable by pretty much anyone.”

“I get that…the Academy Staff weren’t exactly subtle about having me in their class. Why’s Specialist training Naruto and not all of us?”

Kakashi sighed “It’s complicated…like very complicated, Sasuke. Naruto, You, Me and Specialist are all tied together by varying factors most of which are S-ranked to SS-ranked secrets. What I can tell you is, you were shanghaied onto my team because of the Sharingan, Naruto well I can sort that out. Specialist cut his way in because he was trained by Naruto’s Mother and all but threatened the Hokage…”

“Isn’t that punishable by death or imprisonment?”

“Both of those things would serve the Specialists own agenda. Death would be a relief for him, and, with imprisonment…Specialist is certainly mad enough, skilled enough and more than willing to orchestrate a breakdown and I’d give him decent enough odds on it succeeding.”

Sasuke sighed “So what are we going to do? Specialist told me to do my warms on the tree…”

“Then said ‘fun stuff’, fun stuff is sparring on a tree. Let’s go!”

Sakura was in hell. She had hoped for a slightly easier day, but no, that insufferable no-ranked specialist had left her at the hands of her sensei, who then passed her off to another Sensei! One with horrendous fashion sense and an unbelievable task master, it wasn't even him that was revealing her blatant shortcomings as a kunoichi.

That pleasure lay with one, Higurashi Tenten, Gai's kunoichi subordinate. Sakura had been told to run ten laps of the training field and Tenten had lapped her twice! Coming up three times, no words had been said or even shared only the looks of pure disappointment. After Sakura had completed her warm up runs, her heart nearly sank as there was even more warming up to be done in the form of stretches, crunches, pull ups and sit ups.

“Tenten!”

“Sensei!”

“Help Haruno cultivate her flames of youth.”

“Sensei.”

Sakura stifled her whimpers as Tenten made her way over to her “You’re one of the freshly graduated Genin aren’t you?”

Sakura nodded “I…I…I feel weaker than I should be…”

There was a nod, not one of scorn but of vague acknowledgement “You didn’t take it upon yourself to do more than the bare minimum in the Academy or outside of it? You thought that once you were given to your Jonin-sensei that there’d be more ‘spoonfeeding’.”

Sakura nodded, Tenten snorted “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t laugh, I nearly was like you. Although my parents are ex-shinobi, they briefed me on what I’d be required to do. I don’t have the chakra coils of any clan shinobi.”

“My father was shinobi, a chunin.” Sakura admitted.

“Civilian mother? It makes sense, normally children with a shinobi mother are much stronger…” Sakura’s eyes widened and Tenten giggled.

“It’s not that hard to figure out why…we’re the ones who carry the children for nine months. I’m also guessing that you’ve been dieting?”

Sakura also nodded “Yugao-sensei has been informing us that dieting at a young age and being a kunoichi is a bad idea. The Specialist…”

Tenten’s eyes widened “This Specialist? Does he look like a male version of Yugao-san? Purple hair? Thin and lean?”

Sakura nodded “He does…hasn’t got a flak jacket yet our external…”

Gai overheard them “Uzuki Hari, such a youthful man with such flames of youth unfairly doused by the unyouthful power of upon high. Framed for a crime he could never commit…”

Sakura paled “I…heard about that. Kaa-san was furious about ‘that infernal’...” She didn’t finish as she buckled under the Intent of Gai.

“Genin Haruno…Specialist Uzuki, is, has been and will be an asset to your future training. I am not blind, I am Konoha’s Number One Taijutsu expert and you are falling well below expectations of Genin after four months of training. Now…do you want to succeed?”

Sakura nodded “Hai, sensei.” 

Gai grinned “Tenten, let’s find her limits then tomorrow we shall begin the programme to break them. Don’t worry young Sakura, you’ll survive this because I can see the flower you will become.”

(Team 10)

Asuma couldn’t help but grin. Whatever had happened the previous day had lit a fire under his Genin Team. They’d arrived at the training ground before he’d arrived, he’d arrived to find Choji on his back deadlifting Ino and Shikamaru, Ino it turned out was timing Choji’s lifts. Shikamaru was offering advice in regulating of breathing. They swapped and together the scrawnier members of Team 10 used Choji as a lifting apparatus.

“Alright you three, we’re doing D-ranks until lunch then we’re going to be practicing your sparring.” Asuma stated, Raido grinned.

“Asuma…I’ve got a mission…pertaining a cat.” Choji groaned but nodded, Shikamaru didn't say anything and Ino nodded although her face showed slight irritation at having to deal with the cat again.

(Team 8)

Kiba ducked as a senbon narrowly missed his eye. He rolled to the left, he bit his tongue as a senbon caught him in glute.

He turned to try and find Akamaru, only to find a gigantic serpent lazily playing with him. “Aka…” Three senbon caught him in his thigh dropping him to his knees.

He tried to turn to his teammates, only to find them sparring each other under the careful of eye of Uzuki-senpai…the Hot one, not the near total basket case of Specialist Uzuki.

His mother had found out about his attempt to put the Specialist in his place. How, he didn't know but she was not happy. That training session had been especially vigorous. “Anko…enough.” 

“Yuu-chan, Nai-chan, I thought the lessons were finally sticking.” 

“You're moving onto kunai.”

“Fair. Where can I get some more senbon? Or dango?”

Kurenai-Sensei turned to his tormentor “You'll get them…later…today.”

Anko nodded “Is it lunch?”

“No.”

“Can I get some for after lunch?”

“Not for poking my dumb genin but yes.”

Kiba howled in pain as the senbon were yanked out “Puppy…Nai-chain is one of my best friends, the Specialist is also a good friend of mine. This is my comeuppance for you getting too big for your hitai-ate. You, Genin, think it’s a right…you’re wrong, it’s a privilege and an honour to be admitted into the ranks of Konohagakure-no-Sato.” Anko explained, “Oh and the paralysis will wear off in about twenty minutes.”

(After Lunch)

The missions for the day had been concluded, Team Seven had been finishing a Construction Job that Naruto, Shino and Ino had started. Team Eight were doing another babysitting mission, the young children had become miniature Narutos in terms of excitability at the fact ‘Wolf-Man’ was back. Kiba had grinned at his teammates about it, there was something about being recognised that warmed his heart. Team 10 had taken the Tora Mission and had set a brand record for catching the cat…along with an unprecedented amount of collateral damage involving a cabbage cart, a mule, and an interesting yellow mouse with red cheeks.

Asuma had brushed Chouji’s appearance off as ‘normal shinobi done work’ look. The other Jonin were fighting to hide the laughter about what had happened. Hari on the other hand was grinning madly, revealing far too many teeth and was murmuring about ‘If the Akimichi can do that…what could he do with a stick? A club? A tree? Remind me to Akimichi Hida.’

“Specialist-san,” Chouji stated getting the mans attention.

“Hai, Akimichi-heir-san?”

“Hida’s dead…wrong side of an Iwa Explosion tag…five Iwa Shinobi died trying to collect him.”

“Shit…I liked him! He was such a willing guinea pig.”

“Brother! I read about your reports with Akimichi Hida…you were just as often the willing guinea pig as he was.”

“It was awesome! Sister! Akimichi does your Father still have the ‘Oh No Pill recipe?’”

“I don’t know…never heard of it.”

“Tell him Hari asked you to ask him about it and once this current sticky situation of having to be straight and narrow is finished with, I’ll chat with him. Also…ask him about learning bojutsu…hitting things with sticks and clubs.”

“Why’s that?” Choji asked, strangely yet morbidly curious about stickjutsu.

“Nobody ever expects the Akimichi to hit them with a tree.”

“And are we chopped liver Specialist-sensei?” Ino snarked pointing to herself and Shikamaru.

“Blondie learn poisons…Anko’s dying to have a proper pupil, especially her ex-bosses daughter. As for you Nara…learn some fuuinjutsu and I’ll teach you some…”

“Seriously demoralising distance shadow death killing…I know Uzuki Hari…You forget who I am and who I am to be.” Shikamaru replied stunning the Genin.

Hari had the decency to sweat-drop “Of course…you’re the Hancho’s kid. The fact you got my name is enough…”

“I won’t reveal anything else although my father says ‘the Nara have your back’. I’ll make a wager with you.”

Hari raised an eyebrow at the young Nara “Get your father and the Monkey King to be witnesses and we’ll have a deal.”

Hari turned to see Team Nine standing at attention “Gai you insufferably strong bastard, get over here. Team Nine fall in, at ease, rest easy. Welcome to the programme.”

Gai grinned before bounding over to Hari and pulling him into a hug “Hari my youthful friend! It seems your flames of youth haven’t been banked!”

“Touch and go, touch and go. So…who are your senior ankle biters.”

Tenten raised an eyebrow “Ankle biters?”

“No flak, no rank, thus ankle biter.”

“Touche…Hari-san…my parents say high by the way.”

Yugao sighed “Hari…enough. Fall in. In fact Platoon Kakashi fall in, assemble in team numerical order.” She quickly brought the senior Genin Team up to speed, the miniature Gai almost seemed to explode with enthusiasm, the Hyuga did not seem all too impressed at the arrangement.

“Everyone meet back here tomorrow. We’re finishing early. We’ve got a report to submit.”

Hari turned to Team 10 “Right…tomorrow after Gai has given you his warmup routine…Panda…don’t give me that look Tenten-chan, I used to babysit you. In fact your father and I are why you have an interest in all things sharp and pointy.”

“What about solid and sturdy?” Tenten replied, only to receive a thumb towards Choji.

“He’s going to be Sannin of Bludgeoning when we’re done with him.” Choji paled before acknowledging the title.

“Specialist-sensei, if you can make me the Densetsu no Kurabu the Akimichi will have your back…more than we already do.”

Chapter Text

To Be Stronger

Unneeded, Unwanted and Unnecessary Meddlings

Three months had passed since the formation of the Platoon, and unfortunately, the Council had found out. Hari groaned and went to turn over only to realise there was an extra presence in his bed. An eye opened to find a purple-blue-black shoulder-length of hair, its head resting on his chest. “Anko?”

Anko stirred, and a dopey grin crossed her face. “Hari…shut up before I decide to replicate a Praying Mantis.”

“Killing me to stop the snoring.” Anko snorted at the retort but slowly sat up giving Hari an eyeful of her body. 

“I wanted to do this with you before…you went away. You and I had drinks and after you bought us food we returned here and I stayed the night.” Anko stated.

Hari grinned at her “I enjoyed it. Miterashi Anko, you are welcome anytime.” Anko blushed a bright red.

“You…you…you want me to stay?”

“I want you to be mine and no one else, I know how skilled you are at espionage and infiltration missions…I…” Hari began, Anko watched as her best friend and now lover clenched his left hand, and she giggled. Even when they were Genin, Uzuki Hari was useless at conveying when he wanted a serious relationship, he never knew what to say or how to say it even if being straight-forward like a kunai strike would have sufficed.

“I’m yours, always, as long as you’re mine.” He kissed her on the lips before allowing her to push him back onto the bed. As they were about to resume their passionate activities they were interrupted by a barrage of knocks on his door. Hari rolled out of bed, grabbed his sword and stalked towards the door before wrenching it open to find himself looking into the feral eyes of Inuzuka Tsume.

“Uzuki-san.” Tsume stated.

“Inuzuka-Sama…? Have I broken any of our agreements?”

Kuromaru scoffed “Nah punk. Not unless you want to admit something? Get some clothes on…the Council has summoned the Platoon.”

Hari stilled “It’s not even six in the fucking morning.”

“I know. Get some damn clothes on…it’s hard trying to summon you when you’re naked as the day you were born.” Tsume barked. Hari sighed. He turned and headed back into his home giving the Inuzuka Matriarch a view of his ass.

“If I wasn’t old enough to be your mother.”

“If I hadn’t entered a relationship…” Hari barked back causing Tsume to blush. He pulled on a pair of trousers and a ripped undershirt before tying his forehead protector on bandanna style; Anko had swiftly gotten dressed.

“Lady Inuzuka?”

“Yep. The Kuchiyose no Jutsu: Council has been invoked.” Anko cursed.

Tsume waited rather patiently for her tenant and his partner to leave. She was slightly surprised to find that it was Anko, she didn’t mind the Snake Mistress; dealt a bad hand and was still loyal to Konoha. “Anko.”

“Tsu-chan. Tsu-sama…” Tsume snorted at the names. “Right two-legs, lets get going. Sooner this is done, the sooner I can get sleep.” Kuromaru barked. The four left in a flurry of shunshin. 

The four arrived outside the Konoha Council Building, near the Hokage’s Tower. “You’re late.” Yugao stated.

“Is Kakashi here? Oh and hell-of-a-morning to you as well nee-chan.” Hari deadpanned, causing his sister to smirk and pull him into a hug.

“Well…no.”

“Ergo…not late.” Hari replied before greeting the assembled instructors.

“Yugao…The Platoon themselves aren’t here.” Genma stated.

Hari and Yugao turned to Genma “Explain.”

Genma rolled his eyes at Yugao’s brother “It turns out it should have just been us giving an official debriefing to the Shinobi Council and handling the ‘Honourable Advisors’ sacrosanct questions disguised as speeches…Unfortunately, the Civilian Council heard and they demanded more ‘perspective’.”

Hari sighed “I got woken up…to deal with the Civilian Council?”

Iwashi cleared his throat “It’s been three months, and, Hari, we’ve also been keeping tabs on you. You’ve not taken a single liberty or extremity with Yugao-Taicho’s instructions; maybe a little enthusiastic at times…” Hari paused.

“If I’m able to behave and not lose my shit with the Civilian Council…”

“We might be able to launch a case to give you your official Chunin Vest or even potentially your Toku Stripes back.” Hari stared down the youngest member of the Hokage Thundergod Platoon.

“Thank you. Thank you so much.” There conversation was cut off as Teams 7 - 10 arrived.

“Hari.” Yugao said.

“PLA-TOON, ATTEN-TION!” The Platoon snapped crisply into formation “AT…EASE!” 

Hari turned to Kakashi and his Sister “The Platoon is yours, commanders.” Before saluting crisply. Kakashi and Yugao nodded, they swiftly signed to themselves ‘I’ll to the Kage. He deserves it’.

“Right then…we’re going to be debriefing and…demonstrating to the assembled personage of this council whether the formation of this Genin Platoon was a viable success. Should this demonstration pass muster than this will be continued with other Genin Teams once they have graduated.” Kakashi stated jovially trying to put the Genin at ease.

“What happens if we don’t?” Sasuke stated, aside from his compulsory meeting with Yamanaka-Sama, he’d felt that he’d learned the least. None of the supposed sensei’s were giving him any one-to-one training and the training he did receive didn’t seem to do more than improve what he already knew! Where were all the Jutsu he had been told were going to be given to him? Didn’t these pathetic shinobi realise that he was simply better than them by being an Uchiha!

“Nothing…I expect they’ll disband the platoon and send us back to our regularly assigned shinobi tasks…maybe with a hint of suicide.” Genma replied shrugging, his senbon absent. “I don’t know about the Genin, but, for what it’s worth…for what it’s been worth Genin I’ve had a blast at trying my hand at teaching.”

Iwashi, Raido, Anko, Hayate and Yugao nodded in unison, they’d never considered enlisting as Shinobi-Sensei and teaching a dedicated trio of genin of their own. Hari meanwhile was contemplative “I know…I’ve…come across as an abrupt, abrasive, antagonistic and all-around asshole to…oh who am I kidding…all of you, I have got my life riding on this, literally…I would appreciate it, I really would if you did nothing but do the best in there with your abilities. I what we’ve kicked into you doesn’t seem like much, there being a distinctive lack of jutsu being promised and other such things…but…you’re all completely different Genin. Aside from you Team 10, aside from your little hooligans, Gai. Then you were from when we started.”

Sakura raised her hand “Specialist?”

“Hai Haruno-san?”

“Thank you…thank you for the time you spent on me helping to turn me into a better kunoichi.”

Hari grinned “I didn’t fucking expect, quite frankly, that from you.”

Flashback

Hari was standing in a loose combat stance, across from Sakura. Hinata and Naruto were out of the fight, with Yugao and Kurenai watching on from the sidelines. The scenario had been, the three genin had been pursued by an enemy shinobi who’d cornered them and was going to kill them. Hari had ‘killed Hinata’ by catching her by the head and cracked it…in reality all he had were two basic chiropractic techniques that ‘popped the neck’ and when done quickly made it sound like a neck-snap.

Hinata had nearly passed out from the experience, the unknown stress and tension in her neck had melted away. Naruto had ‘died’ great big gouts of red-paint decorated his neck, arms, legs, his midsection and chest. He was leaving Sakura to face him all alone.

Sakura moved forward, Hari moved to intercept and they began to engage in a taijutsu fight. Hari’s eyes widened as Sakura caught him in the shoulder with a high-spinning kick…that had been unorthodox. Then he rotated his shoulder and winced…she’d fucking cracked it!

Sakura grinned! Tenten and Might Gai had cultivated her ‘flames of youth!’ Tenten had managed to get her to change her perspective. Instead of wanting to Sasuke to fall in love with him immediately, it had changed to ‘what sort of person would Sasuke be interested in’...the ‘Flames of Youth’ for Sakura had become a training guide for her eventual goal. Tenten disapproved of the ‘flames of youth’ used as Sakura was using it but she didn’t bring the point up after Sakura had begun to show phenomenal progress…which had led to her cracking Hari’s shoulder.

End Flashback

“I did nothing but tell you the truth. I gave you the tools, you used them…you Genin Haruno…did this.” Hari admitted. He looked at Naruto.

“Genin Uzumaki…I’m impressed. I am. Actually…I’m fucking proud of all of you. Now…show time.”

(Official Meeting Room)

Very little could surprise the wizened and experienced Third Hokage, however, that was not to say that he could not be caught off guard. The surprise was the appearance of the Genin Platoon with their staff and support staff marched in. Stood at perfect disciplined attention and waited.

“At ease.” Elder Homura stated, their was no response. The Civilian Council murmured to themselves about the ‘disrespect’. 

“Genin Platoon…at ease.” The Hokage uttered, the response was immediate the platoon slackened but still remained at attention.

“Genin Platoon Officers at ease and fall out.” The tension lifted, the Genin were still in a tight bunch with Team Seven at the Front and Team Ten at the rear.

“Genin Platoon, fall out. Reform as immediate squads.” The parade drill orders were not executed effectively, but, the attempt was noticeable. Teams Eight and Nine moved around Team Seven to form up on either side of them with Team Ten falling in next to Team Nine. 

What should have happened, Team Eight should have moved to Team Seven’s Left and Nine to the Right with Team Ten on the Left of Team Nine. “Support Staff Captain Uzuki?”

“Hai Hokage-Sama!”

“Were parade drills on the rota?”

“Not a high priority, Hokage-Sama.”

“Why?” Elder Utane snapped. Yugao didn’t respond. 

“Captain Uzuki, Support Staff, Jonin Sensei’s and Genin…I applaud and recommend your steadfast adherence to the Code of Konohagakure no Sato’s Shinobi Forces…to speed up this, review…please answer my Advisors questions if they were my own.”

With that the interrogation began “Specialist-san.”

“Hai?”

“Did you lose a fight with a tiger? As your uniform is not up to code.”

“Respectfully, Honoured Elder…I did lose a fight with a tiger, but in the loss I actually won. My apologies for the state of dress, I am technically by all accounts a Genin but have been a Brevet Chunin or Tokubetsu. So I am unfortunately in a ‘loophole’ of dress my rank but I have the respect of higher rank. However, I wholeheartedly agree that I am not my best dressed.” Homura nodded.

“You presumed this would be a later morning exercise meaning could either acquire or dry your uniform.”

“Hai, Honoured Elder.”

Homura looked down at his sheaf of notes “It states here at the start of Day Two…” He looked at the terrified specialist “...I shall not for the sake of our Civilian Council ver batim what has been recorded down but is full of rather ‘Shinobi Language’. Would you say that you stood by those comments?”

Hari paused “Day Two…Honoured Elder? I’m afraid that I cannot answer that as there has been a dozen day two’s.”

“Of the first week.”

Hari paused “Day two, week one…I was supervising I think Genin Uchiha, Genin Uzumaki and I believe Genin Haruno.”

Homura nodded “Do you have anything to say?”

“I swear on my Hokage’s Chance that I wrote everything in your possession was witnessed by at minimum two other members of staff including one of the Jonin Sensei. I was as unbiased and equitable as I could be although I humbly ask for forgiveness in how it has appeared on paper.”

Homura could not help himself but snort “Specialist Uzuki, despite everything that has happened…the man you were is not the man I see now. Your reports whilst crude and certainly lacking in your usual finesse does match with the other reports, yours were most entertaining to read. However, I do not wish to double-check reports that are brimming with such language in the future.”

“I shall attempt to turn down the blunt honesty and observations to a more reasonable level. As you will see Honoured Elders that in my reports, I believe you will find commendations of improvement when improvement has been witnessed.”

“Specialist-san!” Snapped a Civilian.

Hari turned “Yes?”

“Brother…they’re…”

“I am well aware. I am also well aware of the outcomes if I do or do not respond to this line of questioning.”

Yugao swallowed “They’re going to bait you.”

“Then I shall be a greater shinobi in my words. Sorry, Honoured Civilian Representative…it appears my reputation as infamous as it is has spread. How can I assist?”

“I was told to demand, but, I’d rather you asked us…if possible what happened that day in the drinking establishment?”

Hari sighed “I cannot tell you everything, or even much about what really transpired but I will attest that there was disruption of the peace and myself and several other shinobi were involved. I apologise if that establishment was one of yours, I wanted a drink and a place to eat. However the patrons already there did not want me present and I was remarkably unprofessional in how I responded to them.”

The Civilian chuckled “I’m surprised you didn’t recognise me, Uzuki-san, it’s me the bartender.”

Hari’s eyes widened “I thought your voice was familiar.”

The Bartender grinned “You’re welcome back at anytime, please, leave your Shinobi Instincts at the door.” Hari nodded.

“Sasuke-kun, how has this training programme been benefitting you?” A loud harping voice called from the Civilian Side.

“That’s Uchiha-san, Genin Uchiha, Shinobi Uchiha…Civilian…The training programme has been different.” 

“Anything…”

“No. Civilian-san. No! There is nothing you can do to help make it better for me. I’m still beginning to understand the benefits of the programme; I know what my goals and ambitions are, this programme is preparing me to achieve my goals. Specialist-Uzuki has told me ‘No amount of Jutsu, makes a Shinobi or an Uchiha valuable’, I disagree about the amount of jutsu making someone valuable but he has aptly demonstrated his thought process in action and…the results work.” Sasuke replied coldly.

“I…have more pressing concerns about why you’re, discriminating against one member of my Superiors? One who was selected by the Programme-Taicho. I also want to bring up the descriminaition, prejudicial behaviour towards my own colleague and pathetically protest to the Hokage about one of his Academic Hopefuls getting elite-jonin tuition straight away. I do not need outside help or assistance from you.”

The conference hall descended into a cacophony of arguments. Insults were traded back and forth between both sides of the council hall. “AAATTTTEEEENNNTTTTIIIOOONNN! HHHHHOOOKKKKKKAAAAGGGGEEEE-SAMA OOONNNNN DECK! SAL-UTE!” Hari bellowed, he’d added his chakra to his lungs, and voice box before projecting his voice as loudly as he could. The desks rattled, an invisible wind rose and four of the windows cracked; the civilians shut up and the Shinobi with the Elders included snapped to attention with either right hands to the temple and elbows at 45 degrees, or predominate arm behind their back and other hand infront of their heart.

“Order.” The Hokage uttered and there was silence “Now…from what I have managed to ascertain out of this impressive display of unprofessionalism on both sides of the council chambers, has been so far these Twelve Genin have had a positive impact on their growth. Uzuki Yugao!”

Yugao smoothly went to one knee “Hokage-Sama!”

“I am impressed. Although most of my esteemed younger colleagues in this council are disappointed at the lack of ‘booms’, ‘bangs’, ‘stabs’ and other things that are detrimental to the meaning of stealth, you have managed to balance nine kekkei-genkai, a genin with nothing going for her aside chakra control to rival Senju Tsunade-sama, the toughest kunoichi and genin of the previous class and Konoha’s Trump Card and bring them up to more or less a similar level…what is the plan going forwards?”

Yugao blanched, Uzuki Hari joined her mirroring her position “Specialist Uzuki Hari, permission to speak for my sister Hokage-Sama?”

“You may not speak for her, but, I am all ears to suggestions?”

Hari sighed “They are now at roughly an equal level, after having been with individual senseis for three to fifteen months respectively. Yet…none of them have been administered ‘the test’. They have the skills, and the Team and Senseis have ensured that. However, what has not been done is the hardest part of all being a shinobi.”

“Uzuki Hari, are you suggesting that these Genin are not even bloodied?” Elder Danzo asked.

“No, Elder Danzo. My brother suggests nothing, he states, what is known. It’s in his records. He does not need to cast dispersions, discourse or even insinuate, Elder. I had planned to ‘bleed them’, but as my brother has wonderfully execute Verbaljutsu: Foot in Mouth…I intend to ensure they’re truly ready to become shinobi, other ideas I have are branching them out of the traditional arts. A specialist is dead, a generalist survives…I believe my brother is teaching kenjutsu and something to two genin.”

“Uzumaki in Kenjutsu and trying to teach Akimichi Genin…hit with tree jutsu.” 

“Because who expects to be hit with a fucking tree.” Danzo uttered.

“Who indeed, Elder Danzo. I take it you’re familiar with that art?” Chouza asked.

“Your grandfather.” Danzo stated before looking at the siblings “So spreading out abilities, kenjutsu, bleeding…I do have some suggestions…I’ll forward them to Sarutobi.” The Shinobi-No-Yami finished, but before he left he uttered one more phrase.

“It is time for one’s Yami to become Kami. From the dark and into the light, Hiruzen.”

Hiruzen nodded “Specialist Uzuki. Stand.” Hari rose to his feet.

“Hokage-Sama?”

Sarutobi stood up and casually dropped to the floor beneath to stand in front of his wronged Shinobi “Uzuki Hari, my no-rank specialist, my wronged branch of the tree of Konoha…take the knee.”

Hari knelt, he felt his sword being taken away from him “I gave you a chance, the Hokages Chance, you have gone above and beyond on your chance. I have one question? Do you remember the vows?”

“I remember my vows. I have never forgotten them, to repeat ones vows is a sign of weakness to those vows; but yes I know and remember my vows. My life is my life, my stance in defiance of our foes is my fate. I fear to fail. Konoha standing tomorrow is my reward. My craft is death, stealth, espionage, assassination, seduction, and infiltration…my craft is my skills learned in Konoha. My pledge is my life. For Konohagakure no Sato.”

“For Konohagakure no Sato. Uzuki Hari, Konoha no Hellsword, the Shinigami-no-Uzu, rise now, rise and stand, reclaim your life, fate, fear, reward and craft.” Sarutobi announced, there was a puff of smoke and he felt something on his back, he lifted his left arm, then his right and then he shrugged. He rose to his feet and he looked down…it was his flak vest! With his stripes! The Hokage saluted him and he saluted back.

“At last, I am complete. Genin Platoon!” Hari whispered his voice carrying. The Genin snapped to attention.

“Allow me to formally introduce myself, I am, Uzuki Hari, Konoha no Hellsword, Shinigami no Uzu, Tokubetsu…no…Elite Jonin.”

Naruto grinned and he snapped to attention saluting his second favourite sensei, the others followed. Kakashi really wanted to give a casual nod but taken off guard by his Genin, he followed through.

“Congratulations Jonin Uzuki. You know your orders. Dismissed.”

Hari turned to Yugao who nodded “Platoon…Training Ground…Seven, six minutes.”

“Six minutes?” Anko asked curiously snaking her arms around her lover.

“I…do need to get some proper clothes on.”

Chapter Text

To Be Stronger

Time to do or die

Hari crashed through the door of his residence, tripping over his feet as he pulled his flak jacket off. He quickly removed his pyjamas and dressed himself again. He turned to find Anko just behind him.

He grabbed her by the waist, pushed her against the wall and kissed her deeply. He felt her legs wrap around him and the sexy bitch began to grind against him “Oh oh oh…what are you going too be doing about your new problem?” Anko whispered in his ear, Hari grinned as he squeezed her ass eliciting a moan from his normal psychotic lover.

“You’ll be dealing with it, then we’ll deal with the consequences…later.” Hari growled playfully, he kissed her again before vanishing in a shunshin.  

“Asshole.” She whispered before vanishing after him.

Hari grinned as he arrived at the training ground to find the Genin at work. Surprisingly, he spied Naruto working with Tenten and Lee. Naruto and the Weapons Prodigy, Hari refused to call the girl by her pretentious nickname, ‘Weapons Mistress of Konoha,’ which belonged solely to her parents. Sasuke was sparring was with Yugao, Choji and Kiba. All in all he was impressed by what he was seeing, he heard it…the sound of steel leaving its sheathe.

“Kenjutsu: Oborozukiyo!”

“Kenjutsu: Mikazuki no Mai!”

Kenjutsu: Uzu no Mikazuki no Mai!”  

All three blades collided in a thunderous clash of steel. Hayate and Yugao's swords were crossed and pressed against each other, while Hari's sword was held horizontally in his trademark reverse grip. “Not bad.”

Yugao and Hayate smirked “Try hard.”

Hari’s eyes flashed “Try hard this… Flame Breathing…Unknown Fire!” Flames erupted along Hari’s sword as he kawamaried himself and retaliated with a high-speed neck-height horizontal slash. Hayate and Yugao dived out the way of the strike. Hari was on them again with a murmured “Scorching Sun Riser!” Cleaving the target in half from the hip to the shoulder was a low-to-high strike. Hayate managed to bat the sword away, before bowing to him. Hari paused his third strike when he realised the attention was on them.

“That was awesome datteboyo! How you were creating those flames and all of that!” Naruto exclaimed “How’d I learn to do that? Especially that one!”

Hari grinned at him “Genin Uzumaki…I don’t think you’re suited for the Hono no Kokyu. There is a certain elegance, eloquence, discipline, and passion that is required for someone to posses before they can learn that style. It’s not the only one, there’s Iwa no Kokyu and Kaze no Kokyu .” Hari looked at Konoha’s Trump Card, he couldn’t help but grin at Uzumaki’s face.

“Right…everyone fall in!” Yugao instructed. 

Genma took charge “Right…the meeting was a shitshow. What…did you think that was going to be productive?” He questioned.

Hinata raised her hand, she was still nervous…but not compromisingly so “I…had heard that Civilian and Shinobi Meetings could be fractious; I had never thought I’d be part of one.”

“It’s alright Hinata-san…the fact you didn’t break down, pass out, vomit, or kill anyone shows you did alright.” Hari commented nonchalantly, causing the blue-haired Hyuga’s eyebrow to rise.

“Are you saying you’ve done some of those things? Sensei?”

Hari chuckled “My Genin-sensei is a monster, I can’t say was a monster as the fuckers not dead. I nearly passed out and I threw up when I found out what he’d done. My rotation-sensei, whom I consider my sensei, caused me to have a nervous breakdown in session because we got the wrong intel and an Alpaca supply train got blown up as opposed to a covert Iwa-Strike Squad…they got wiped out, Jiriaya-Sama always made sure his subordinates left the battlefield with depleted resources. As for killing someone…I haven’t, but wouldn’t put it past someone.”

Neji had activated his byakugan “I’m not sure if he’s an excellent liar or being honest, I mean the Alpaca convey seems far too out there to be anything but a lie.”

“No…it’s true, Neji-kun,” Lee stated

“It’s true?”

Lee nodded “Gai-sensei told me the story, he also mentioned that Hari-sensei made an excellent yet… slightly furry Alpaca curry.”

Gai flashed his signature ‘nice-Gai’ pose at Hari “Team Gai…if it wasn’t for the fact your sensei was such a valuable asset to Konohagakure no Sato, I’d be having words with him.”

Genma cleared his throat “Right…the Hokage has asked your Training Staff to implement ‘the Test’ or as you might have learned of it ‘The Test of Bleeding’.”

Sakura paled “You mean he wants us to murder!”

“Kill, Haruno, kill…small difference. Killing is what Shinobi do…murder is what the ‘Specialists’ do.” Iwashi commented.

“If you looked in the dictionary killing is an act of causing death and murder is killing with the intent to kill…who the Hokage is ordering you to kill makes you a killer and the Hokage a murderer. That’s a digression…but from a civillian outlook all murder is killing but all killing isnt murder, whom we’re asking you to take out are people whom have gotten too big for there boots and are upsetting the status quo.” 

That floored the Genin “You mean the bandit missions…” Tenten began and Yugao nodded.

“All of the ‘Bandits’ come from Organised Crime Syndicates that hides amongst the Shinobi Villages and Settlements and especially in the Capitol. The Daimyo has ultimate authority across the land and Hokage-Sama answers to him; however the majority of the time Daimyo-sama leaves Hokage-sama and the Shinobi alone. Daimyo’s are more accustomed to political, social and ‘dignified’ warfare. However the Daimyo answers to the Shogun. Shogun-sama rules the entirety of Hi no Kuni, he has only gotten involved three times so far; in each of the Wars, he has answered the call of battle when the Shinobi Wars have threatened to drag innocents into it. Daimyo’s rule provinces of Hi no Kuni and Shogun rules all of Hi no Kuni. Although when in doubt, salute, kneel and add ‘-sama’ when addressed.” Genma stated.

Shikamaru spoke “Well that’s a drag. So the Shogun, Daimyo’s, Organised Crime and Hokage-Sama are the main brokers of power in the Land of Fire. The Bandits are operatives from the Organised Crime who have decided to ‘fuck around’ and we’re used to kill them as the ‘found out’. In times of war, the Organised Crimes less-than-legal workings deliver the bad news to the Hokage, Daimyo and Shogun. Hokage sends out Genin to deal with them and the Daimyo only sends out his Samurai in times of war although if the Bandits are caught by Samurai, the Samurai deal with them.”

Kakashi nodded “In a convoluted nutshell.”

Sasuke chipped in “Hari-san, you said something about Genin-Sensei and Rotation-Sensei?”

Hari sighed “Right now my adorable, innocent ankle biters and knee-biters…” He scowled at Team Gai “are in there Genin-Sensei phase; you’ve been dumped on these hairbrained idiots to find out where you completely such or suck less at, then after a six-to-eighteen months you get thrown into the Chunin Exams. You pass, cool, you fail, cool all of you go into rotation; where you find your specialisations and gain further training and for the most part you’ll return to your Genin-Sensei until death-do-you-part. Although it’s not unknown for genin to say ‘fuck you’ to your sensei and be attached to another genin-cell to see if you fuck up their dynamic.”

He looked at the Last Uchiha “You’re going to be a ninjutsu specialist…fuck, I have no clue where you’re going to be going. Uzumaki…taijutsu, kenjutsu and a bunch of other things…Haruno, probably a medic-nin. Of you three Haruno’s going to be the scariest of you should she get that far.”

Sakura’s eyes widened “To heal you’ve gotta learn how to break.”

Everyone snorted as Hari looked like he’d been smacked with a stick. “Fucking smart ass.”

“I learned from the worst.”

“...And I have no way to counter that one.”

Choji looked at Hari “You said your Genin-Sensei was a monster…who is it?”

Hari smiled sadly “I’m not gonna tell you, it’ll give you nightmares, you work it out and come see me if you’re not traumatised by the nightmares.” Choji nodded “Your Rotation-Sensei?”

“I can’t say…” The Genin looked at him, Hari held his hands up “I literally can’t. I’d love to…I’d fucking love to holler their name from the rooftops but unfortunately, I’d be dead before I can utter their last name. All I will tell you, she and her legacy are the only ones who could do what they could and can do.”

Naruto’s eyes widened, Hari-sensei had been cagey with details. His mom! He realised Hari had been trained by his mom! Sensei had mentioned it. What his mom and he could do…the Fox!

“So when are we going to be doing the test?” Ino asked.

“As soon as it’s ready.”

With that they broke for training. Sasuke was working with Asuma in using his Great Fireball and Phoenix Flower jutsu. What Asuma was trying to do was get Sasuke comfortable with those two techniques and slowly reduce the seals down to either one or none.

“I thought I was going to be getting more jutsu? Asuma-sensei?” Sasuke asked.

Asuma grinned “You will…when you’re ready. Think about it this way who would you rather have on your side in a fight, a guy who knows all the jutsu in the world or Shunshin no Shisui?”

Sasuke paused “Shunshin no Shisui…he’s an Uchiha…”

Asuma snorted “He has also taken the Shunshin no Jutsu, a simple technique to speed up transporting oneself from A to B, and took into the Third Shinobi War and put Byakugan no Aoi, the only Kiri-nin to not only take a Hyuga alive but also take one of their prized Byakugan and Shisui caused him to flee. That’s why we’re not ramming jutsu down your eyeballs. The last Uchiha we did that too…well…you know the result.”

Sasuke’s eyes burned and Asuma smirked “You get it now?”

“I…I…think so. I thought it was because…”

“Uzuki Hari was being an utter dick towards you and being extraordinarily petty?”

Sasuke nodded “Hari doesn’t do pettiness. He doesn’t fuck people up and or over without a reason. As for being a dick towards you, he doesn’t like many people. In his own way, he’s scared.” Asuma carried on.

Sasuke nodded and looked at the Sarutobi “He’s scared?”

Asuma nodded “Just ask him…don’t go as Uchiha Sasuke, go as Genin Uchiha.”

Kurenai and Raido were teaching Shino and Kiba and a humanoid Akamaru with an Insect Clone. They were trying to settle a bet, could the companions of the Aburame and Inuzuka clans learn jutsu of their own? So far…the research was pending, Akamaru was able to turn into a version of Kiba but when asked to speak he was coming out with yips and yaps.

Shikamaru and Ino were doing a ‘lock-up’ exercise. Lock-up had many versions. This one involved Shikamaru and Ino’s hands being interlocked, and they pushing against one another. Five metres away from each of them were dirt lines. Whoever pushed each other over first the most won.

Choji, Naruto and Hinata were working together…rather, Naruto was using Choji as a deadlift and Hinata was using Naruto’s Kage Bunshin as dummies for her Jyken. Observing them were Hayate and Anko “The Hyuga’s fighting style isn’t working for her…does she know her elemental affinity?” Anko asked.

“Not Earth…that’s for kami's sake. Right…I’m going to get the Uzumaki and the Akimichi going on Kenjutsu and Bojutsu.”

Sakura was sweating, her arms and hands were up in a ‘boxers’ stance as she faced down Hyuga Neji “You do know that this is absolutely pointless…you won’t be able to land a hit on me?”

Sakura smiled “Oh really? Yet here you are helping the ‘pathetic cadet-genin’. Seems a little…” She smirked as the aloof Hyuga lip flared upwards, however, she was unprepared for him to slide into a lower-than-usual stance.

“You’re within the range of my divination Hakke Rokujuyon Sho!” Neji exclaimed and all Sakura could feel was pain. Tenten’s eyes widened as Neji unleashed the most brutal attack he had! He’d landed close to thirty strikes before she realised what was going on, by the time he hit forty strikes she and Lee were intercepting, Neji finished with a brutal glowing hand of chakra towards Sakura’s heart. The sound of cartilage and bones cracking reverberated across the training ground, blood spewed from Sakura’s mouth.

“This is the gap between us.” Neji stated before he stalked off.

“Kagemane no Jutsu!”

“Bubun Baika no Jutsu!” Choji and Shikamaru yelled, Shikamaru’s shadow speed had sped up, it wasn’t amongst the fastest in the clan that title was currently in Nara Daen’s possession. However, amongst the clansmen his age it was one of the quicker ones.

Kurenai, Yugao and Kakashi were the first ones to Sakura's side. “What the…” Kakashi was speechless…one of his Team, his Kunoichi subordinate had just been hit by a potentially fatalatal strike!

Kakashi took command “Gai…you take my Kunoichi to the…” Gai nodded, he rolled up his leg warmers and removed the immense weights fastened to him. Kakashi’s eye widened.

“Yes, my Eternal Rival, I’ve been keeping these on during all of our contests. I'll save her…” With that Gai set off with Sakura held securely in his arms.

“It's do or die…Gai.” Kakashi whispered, before turning on Neji.

“Hatake-san…think this through! He's a Clan Member of the Hyuga and Cousin to the Heiresses and Nephew to the Head.” Hari whispered “Take him apart at a Tribunal.”

“How can I? Haruno does not come from…” Kakashi replied before reeling backwards as Hari headbutted him.

“Haruno Sakura is your Ward! Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke are your Fostees! The moment they put on their hitai-ates they became Wards and Fosters of The Hatake Clan and Family. If that brat did that to the Uchiha or Uzumaki, the Hokage would have his skull! You can demand satisfaction for Sakura.”

The Genin, especially Ino, looked on in horror “Kurenai-sensei what's the difference between a Ward and a Fostee?” Ino asked curiously. Kurenai turned to Asuma.

Asuma cleared his throat “The Ino-Shika-Cho Trio and the Sarutobi have a Fostering System that predates the Leaf. Fostering is the leaving of children with an ally declaring ‘I trust you to raise and train my child to your standards’ it can leave the Fosterer and Fostee having a parent-child relationship. A Ward is a minor placed in the hands of a council trusted representative; Haruno Sakura whilst a member of the Haruno Family, has no Shinobi so as a minor she is the Ward of Hatake Kakashi. In terms of training and missions, Kakashi is her legal guardian. All Jonin-senseis become a Genins guardian for the foreseeable future.”

(Konoha General Hospital)

“HELP! KUNOICHI DOWN!” Gai boomed as he skidded into the hospital, he flared his chakra. Flaring chakra inside a place like the Hospital was guaranteed to get the attention of the medical-nin on shift; they operated similarly to the civilian medics only…they were trained killers.

“What happened?”

“Forty out of sixty-four palms, third of the chakra system blocked…heart haemorrahged and rib cage concave. She’s the daughter of wealthy civilians and Hatake Kakashi is her Sponsor, Legal Representative and Shinobi Liason.”

“Get her on a gurney and lets move people.” The Leader Medic-Nin stated, his eyes sinking into his skull.

“You’ve got her here alive, Gai, that’s the hard part…the inconvenient part is keeping her that way.”

“You’ve got a very morbid way of talking about people, Bones-san.”

Bones snorted at the Elite Jonin “Everyone’s dying the moment you’re born. It’s part of the circle of life my friend. Anyway, this is what happens when your colleagues wake a night-shifter to do a 24-hour shift. Honestly, Gai…I couldn’t give a fuck.”

Gai nodded “I’ll have a pint for you…when you get out, finally.”

(Training Ground)

“Hari…” Yugao growled.

“I’m not going to kill him! I’m going to break his leg and throw him in the hole until we can decide what to do with him.” Hari growled “The little shit actively tried to kill one of his kohai! Now, I’ve got Nine-Half trained Genin looking to square off against three Senior Genin and its only three because of our tenacity and die-hard erection for Team Work.”

“Then there is and are the clan politics. The only thing that can be done is arrest him and lock him up somewhere.” Asuma stated “Never before have I been so ashamed of a Hyuga.”

The Jonin looked at the Smoking Jonin “I’ve worked with Hyuga, Akimichi, Nara, Yamanaka and No-Ones.”

“Whatever we do its do or die.”

Meanwhile with the Genin things were reaching a fever pitch. Neji, Tenten and Lee were stood back to back; inwardly those two were utterly appalled, his grudge against Hinata was understandable, however, this was completely irresponsible, unprofessional and quite frankly more than likely to impact all of Team Gai!

“Neji! That was not youthful! You disobeyed a direct order.” Lee stated.

“It was not her fate to become a Kunoichi, she possessed no requirements or willpower to improve herself. What I did was a courtesy.”

“Fuck that! I'll kick your ass for that!” Naruto roared, his chakra becoming visible! “YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO DECIDE WHO BECOMES A SHINOBI.”

“Uzumaki Naruto, Stand down I've got this.” Kakashi stated as he turned to face the Elder Genin.

“I, Hatake Kakashi, Head of the Hatake Family and Clan demand honour and satisfaction.” Neji’s eyes widened at the claim. “I, Hyuga Neji, claim the defence and rights of the Hyuga Clan, Hatake-Sama.” Neji stated, he’d just done as he’d been instructed to train the Kunoichi 

“As is your right, I trust, as a Hyuga, you know the procedures of how this plays out?” Kakashi intoned, Neji nodded. Hari and Yugao took over, Yugao unsealed two pairs of chakra restraining cuffs and she cuffed Kakashi and Hari cuffed the Genin.

“Kakashi-taicho, who are your designated second, third to fifth?”

“Uzuki Yugao, Uzuki Hari, Sarutobi Asuma then Shiranui Genma.”

Asuma nodded “I’ll take command, Kakashi-taicho.”

(Gai)

Gai had seen Sakura safely transferred to a gurney and rushed into the operation room before heading out of the hospital. Protocol dictated that training accidents went to the Officer of the Day and the Hokage before Parents; however, Haruno Sakura fell between the cracks…she wasn’t a Clan Shinobi, she was a Civilian Shinobi and Civilian protocol meant informing next of kin first.

“Forgive me Hokage-Sama…I am choosing what is right for one of my subordinates.” He was racing against the clock, he needed to inform multiple people immediately. As he was about to go and ask someone about the Haruno family, he spotted a mop of bright pink hair leaving a nearby grocery store; his heart lept! He remembered that pink hair! When he’d taken on Haruno Sakura, he couldn’t place her father and there he was “Haruno Kizashi! my youthful friend!” 

Kizashi turned to the booming yell and a grin crossed his face, before tense feeling began to form in his stomach “Might Guy-san!” Mebuki gulped, she knew of the Might family; loud, proud, dedicated and ridiculously physically powerful, some of the less shinobi-inclined members of the Might Family ran a construction company and had at some point garnered a Royal Warrant of Hi no Kuni Shogun and Daimyo, something they used to win clients and retained clients by showing a due diligence to their craft similar to the shinobi members loyalty to Konoha. “Is something the matter?” Mebuki asked as Gai effortlessly cleared the wandering citizens to get to them.

“Haruno Mebuki-san, Haruno Kizashi-san, I have some…horrible news to inform you.”

Kizashi and Mebuki exchanged looks “Is Sakura alright?” Mebuki asked, nervously.

“Will she survive?” Kizsashi asked.

“She’s in the hospital after a training accident.” Gai spat the word accident venomously.

“I was bringing your daughter up to snuff and…she was flowering beautifully into a kunoichi with some tremendous skill in the taijutsu arts, when I left her training with Hyuga Neji…one of my personal genin. You are…”

“We’re familiar with the training platoon idea, Hellsword no Hari explained it to us.” Kizsashi stated, he chuckled, he liked the man; Kizsashi was one of the few that found it hard to believe Hari could have murdered his teammate and one of fewer still who knew that the Hellsword had trained under Orochimaru. “I do and did have my suspicions but…despite the stormcloud Hari is under he’d protect and train my daughter with his entire being.”

Gai nodded “Neji hospitalised your daughter. I am letting you know officially as you’re technically a Civilian Family. Kakashi is claiming honour and satisfaction for the incident.”

Kizsashi and Mebuki nodded “What can we do?”

Gai grinned at them “Come with me to Hokage-Sama and we’ll see what you can do.”

(Hokage’s Office)

Sarutobi was having a moment of respite, Homura and Koharu were with him reminiscing on the ‘old days’, when the door opened as Uzuki Hari, Hatake Kakashi, Haruno Kizashi and Mebuki, Gai and Hiashi Hyuga and Hyuga Neji barged in. The pressure of KI was flowing off a few members of the party.

“What seems to be the problem?” Mitokado asked, curiously. 

“My Kunoichi was hospitalised deliberately by Hyuga Neji, the Haruno Family and the Hatake Family are claiming honour and satisfaction for the injured party.” Kakashi stated.

Chapter Text

To be Stronger

Progression 

Naruto was studying, rather, he was standing on a tree as he read the scroll about sword types and fighting styles. Specialist-Sensei was incredibly strong, probably as strong if not stronger than Kakashi-sensei. That asshole Neji…He nearly killed Sakura-chan.

“Easy, Naruto, easy.” Naruto looked behind him and sitting on the tree branch was Uzuki Hari.

“Sensei… have you?” Naruto began.

“No. I've heard nothing, as I've heard nothing that means either I'm not meant to know or not yet informed or potentially your kunoichi teammate is still alive.” Hari replied dryly as he barely looked at the Blonde. Naruto nodded slowly.

“Sensei…what happens now?”

Hari sighed “That’s complicated, very, complicated, honestly it’s going to a military tribunal; which is both good and bad. Good because the Hokage will be preceding over the trial; make no mistake Naruto…you’re going to probably be required to testify on behalf of Haruno Sakura. I know how you feel about her but you need to demonstrate that Hyuga Neji tried to MURDER your comrade under the pretence of ‘training’. At best he’ll go to the Hole and at worst he gets off due to clan politics.”

Hari watched as Naruto’s eyes burned red and the whiskers on his face thickened. He sighed before jumping and hitting the young genin on the nose. As quickly as the chakra arrived, it dissipated. “What the…”

“You lost control, you were leaking a rather specific chakra that even with twelve years passed still has the village pissing itself.” Hari replied, “Have you decided on your sword?”

Naruto nodded “I’m planning on either a katana and tanto or a ninjato. I heard you mention something about Fire Breathing not suiting me?”

“Not Fire Breathing, Flame Breathing…do not get them mixed up. Fire and Sun have the same phonetic pronunciations.” Hari replied “Flame breathing is one of my strongest styles, along with Water and Earth. I can use Wind and Thunder if I need to but my affinities are Flame, Water and Earth. Have you heard of elemental affinities?”

Naruto looked at Hari curiously “You mean like spitting fireballs like Genin Uchiha can or even water dragons? That sort of thing?”

“An exceptionally limited overview on elemental chakra but yes, you do know about chakra? Don’t you?” Naruto paused, his face went pale and his eyes widened.

Hari sighed “What’s done is done. I should be asking you what you do know instead of what you don’t, and I have more complaints to run up the food chain. The Academy needs some serious reexamination.”

“Iruka-sensei did just fine!”

“Umino-sensei was too little, too late. You have SEVEN years to learn the FUNDAMENTALS of being a shinobi, anyway. You passed, that’s fine and Konoha’s Ace is a shinobi; with a fighting style that even a civilian could exploit and so dumb that any of our enemies could easily use it as a mine of information. Some of this fuckup is on you, some of it’s on us… most of it’s on us. However, if you’re willing to put the work in you can make yourself into something amazing.”

Naruto nodded “I do.”

Hari smirked “Right then…very simple, Chakra is spiritual and physical energy mixed from your brain and the heart. Handseals or Handsigns are used to manipulate your chakra to walk up trees etc. Are you following?” Naruto nodded. Hari was so good at this! What Iruka had taken to teach them in a year, Hari had condensed into a sentence. “Elemental Chakra is infusing your chakra with the elements, and identified as such; Suiton, Katon, Doton, Futon, Raiton. Everyone has an elemental affinity they are intimately drawn to, it’s part of who they are and as you get older you develop secondary or even tertiary affinities.”

“But you said that you can all five…plus you have the name Hellsword…”

“I can use all five because I worked at it…If I hadn’t chosen to learn all five because I could and just focused on the three I had and widened my existing repertoire, things would have gone differently. The only difference between me and the Hokage…he’s mastered all five elements; I can use all five but mastered three. Many aspire to master all five but all fall short. So, shall we find out what you are?”

Naruto nodded eagerly, Hari reached into his pocket and pulled out a two pieces of chakra paper “I know you’re present, Genin Uchiha.”

Sasuke scowled as he made his way up to them “I overheard part of that, mainly the many aspire to master all five but all fall short. Also, Sensei…I apologise for my actions and my arrogance.”

Hari nodded “Where are the others?”

“Teams Eight, Nine and Ten are doing solo training what with the clusterfuck, most of the Support are monitoring Team Nine.” Sasuke replied dryly. “You were notoriously absent as was Genin Uzumaki.”

Hari smirked “So what does that tell you?”

“It means you’ve got orders to train Genin Uzumaki solo; but in order to achieve the goals and the blatant pampering of myself you’ve had to bullshit to all three councils that this training is for myself as well. Honestly, if you’ll have me, I’d like to learn.”

“Do you know your affinity?”

“Fire release.” Sasuke retorted quickly…far too quickly.

“No that’s called being a Uchiha or Firebug as opinionated by the rest of the village.”

Sasuke paused as memories of the Uchiha Festival came to mind, so many fire-release users releasing high-powered fire-related jutsu in and around the compound “That tracks…so…not really.” He admitted blushing slightly.

“Uchiha Firebug Festival?”

“How did you…” Sasuke began.

“Whilst I am not the biggest fan of your clan, I am first and foremost and consummate professional. Everyone I’ve worked with I’ve told them ‘When we leave those gates, we park our shit and disagreements until we get back.’ I digress; not a fan of your clan as a whole but there were some genuinely decent people amongst them…your mother especially.”

Sasuke’s eyes widened “You served with my mother?”

“Few missions…one infamous one was the Alpaca Curry accident.” Sasuke stared at him in horror.

“How does one confuse an Iwa-Infiltration Team with an Alpaca Herd?”

Hari couldn’t help but snort “No idea, I didn’t know that Namikaze Minato was in the area…he was meant to be dealing with the Alpaca and we were meant to be stalling the Iwa shinobi until Jiraiya-sama could shift his Toads to help…either way, both missions were completed and we were feasting like kings and queens. Hono no Kokyu , the flame-breathing sword style…I was formulating it for her. She was already inheriting the name of Homusubi , Breathing is my personal technique. Sasuke, you know how Clans can go to war over family techniques.” Sasuke shuddered. 

Hari pulled out two sheets of paper and handed them to the Genin. “Place these between two fingers and flare your chakra, " he ordered. Sasuke turned to Naruto and said, “Naruto, hold off for a moment. I’m going to need to see you do yours to assist you…dobe.”

“Ass…fine.” Sasuke smirked, it wasn’t a smirk of superiority but one of quiet confidence, his meetings with Yamanaka Inoichi were going slowly, meeting once a week for two hours. At first, it had been difficult, no, it still was difficult but he was finding training with the Genin Platoon simpler and more enjoyable. Hell even Naruto was becoming his closest confidant and nearly a friend. Sasuke held out his paper and channelled his chakra into it; the paper wrinkled before erupting into flames causing Sasuke to drop the paper; it had turned to ash before it even hit the ground.

“Fire and Lightning, the passionate style and the speed style… Hono no Kokyu and the Kaminari no Kokyu. Yeah, I can see that in you Genin Uchiha. Due to your clans archives I would suggest looking into Iajutsu and any other sword style you may find.”

Sasuke and Hari turned to Naruto, the Blonde Jinchuriki channelled his chakra into the paper for it to shred into confetti, some of the confetti began to become paper mache and the rest crumbled to dust before black flames consumed the fragments. “Wind, Water and Earth. Futon no Kokyu, Mizu no Kokyu and Iwa no Kokyu…and then there’s your Kuro Hono no Kokyu the latter one I’m leaving for someone else to deal with. Wind is known as the War Element, so Futon no Kokyu is all out aggression; Water is the most fluid and flexible and Earth, arguably the most defensive but the offence whilst slow to get going is fucking diabolical; it’s why fighting Iwagakure no Sato is so pants wettingly terrifying.”

“So…how do we start?”

“You start by training your affinities, Naruto…do not use your Kage Bunshin …unless you want to go on trial for killing the Last Uchiha because he decided to copy and use a kinjutsu.”

Hari explained and demonstrated the elemental chakra exercises before spawning two shadow clones, as he trotted off for further instructions.

(Training Staff et al)

The tension was palpable, you could cut it with a blunted kunai. Yugao was pacing and at the same time vibrating with horror! This was fucking disastrous, a Genin under her command had tried to kill another. Now they were down two Jonin-sensei and a Genin Candidate. Yugao looked around trying to track down her brother to find him ambling towards her.

“Well?” She asked, her arms crossing as she stared down her brother.

“Well, what? Taicho?” Hari asked curiously.

“Where are Genin Uchiha and Uzumaki?”

“Under my clone's eye, besides, they’re not at each other's throats…in fact, they’re sleeping when they’re supposed to be meditating.”

“Why’d you have them meditate?” Iwashi asked curiously, Hari had never been one for…meditation.

“Meditation means breathing control, breathing control means they’re beginning to learn the techniques of well…how I got my alias.”

“Which one? Hellsword or Spiral of Death?” Genma asked spitting his senbon out and placing a new one in his mouth.

“Hellsword, oh and Asuma?” 

The scruffy smoking Jonin looked up “Yeah?”

“Your second affinity is Futon right?” Hari asked,

“Yeah?”

“Good. You can have a turn honing the Firebug’s Katon affinity and Uzumaki’s Futon. Then once Kakashi has either buried or tortured the Hyuga punk, he can teach the Uchiha how to electrocute himself.” 

Kurenai’s eyes widened “You’ve taught them about their elemental affinities! They’re…”

“Soldiers, Yuhi. Fucking powerful ones. The Uchiha is dual type and The Uzumaki is Triple unnatural Quad.” Hari bit back, he respected the Genjutsu Mistresses skill with Genjutsu and knew that she was well worth the Jonin Flack Vest but her teaching credentials and expertise he did not. He was right, no sooner had his dispersions been spoken Kurenai’s KI began to spike.

“Kurenai enough.” Yugao stated placing her hand on her friends shoulder “My nii-san for all his faults is correct, remember, he lacks his social graces but he knows what we are.”

“We’re not at war…besides the rulebook…” Kurenai protested only for Anko to speak up and begin to massage the pulsing temples in Hari’s head.

“Nai-chan, the rulebook is more like guidelines than actual rules. Besides, Hi no Kuni and Tsuchi no Kuni are now technically in a dispute, Hokage-Sama hasn’t bidden us to stand down…not since this dispute occurs whilst we’re dealing with Gake no Kuni.” “ Land of Cliffs, Takigakure no Sato.” Kurenai thought, the embargo had been over some specialist herbal tea and honey. Anko grimaced “Yeah, so, these kiddos might be seeing a dust up…and they ain’t been bled.”

Hari cursed “We need to move that up.” He fixed Kurenai a stare “We need to get a move on. Final point, we’re not fucking ready.” The Jonin looked at one another in shock.

Kurenai nodded, “This wasn’t good. This really wasn’t good. She’d been in war and the fact she’d be on the frontlines.” Kurenai forced the thoughts down, she nodded “Then let’s get going.”

(Kakashi and Gai)

The Jonin stood outside the operating room door. Kakashi looked at the floor; he daredn’t look across at Gai. “Kakashi,” Gai said.

“Yeah, Gai?”

“What are you thinking?” Gai asked.

“Has this ever happened before? Has Neji ever done this before? Gai, this is serious.” Kakashi said, This wasn’t good. If this could be proven to be a brutal training accident, Kakashi could be much more flexible with his punishment. Neji’s attack on a comrade had potential fatal ramifications in Konoha. 

“No…” Gai stated somberly “Although, I have had to caution him a few times about being overly ruthless…”

Kakashi looked up “I don’t want this to go to the Clans, otherwise my options are limited. My Cousin has trade deals with the Haruno family.”

“However, the Harunos will want satisfaction…” Gai replied softly.

“I think they'd rather have their daughter hale and hearty.” Kakashi replied as the doors opened. 

Kirigaya Asahi or rather the ‘Warui Shirase’ or Bad News was medic-nin that no shinobi really wanted to see. He was an impressive 6’6, with dark blue eyes that bordered on black and a physical appearance that made Kakashi look healthy. He was also one of Konohagakure no Sato's foremost combat-medics with an emphasis on combat. “Kakashi, Gai.”

“Asahi…do we need to give the Bad News?”

Asahi snorted “She's gonna live. Somehow. Whomever put her in my care is evidently skilled in Baguazhang, no damage or chakra in the tenketsu, just pure calculated near-career ending strikes.”

“Could this…” Kakashi began.

“It's evidence, enough to keep the situation in a Military Tribunal. Listen, the brats gonna live…most likely, however, I can't permit visitors. I'm not Tsunade-Sama.”

“Just an Ex-ANBU Combat Medic now Medic-Nin.”

“Fuck you.” Asahi finished before he vanished back into the Hospital depths.

Chapter Text

To Be Stronger 10

Bleeding pt 1

Kirigaya Asahi shunshinned into the tower towards the end of the day. The receptionist had departed for the day, and the changeover of the guard was in progress, so it was the perfect time to enter. He made his way up to The Office and knocked twice on the door. “Enter.” He entered, shoulders back and straight, yet his gait was slouched and loping. The Hokage was behind his desk, and amusingly enough, the Honoured Advisers and Danzo were present.

“Hokage-Sama, Elders, Danzo-sensei,” Asahi murmured as he saluted the Hokage, gave a shallower one for the Advisors and nodded at the Warhawk, who returned the nod.

“Warui Shirase, this is most unsettling, to see you outside of your demense.” Mitokado acknowledged, taking his time not to aggravate the extremely temperamental Combat-Medic. Asahi nodded and reached into his pants, pulled out a cigarette and a lighter, and took a moment to offer his vice around, all of whom politely rejected it.

“For once, I come with something vaguely regarding good news.”

Danzo snorted, “Considering you’re wearing normal colours as opposed to all-black like an ANBU Operative, I presume you have come to deliberate the fate of the Genin-Cadet Haruno?”

“You can presume, however you like, sensei, she will live. I know that much, I have personally assured that much; however, whether she’ll return as a Kunoichi to the field…that…is on her.”

“Surely you have…” Koharu began.

“I cannot, I will not, I shall not do a damn thing about my patients until I believe them copus mentus and are of sound mind and ready to engage with the facts of what has happened to her. Once the Patient has come to terms with her injuries and understands her physiotherapy to return her to civilian life, I will ask her if she is willing to return to active duty. We are not Kiri, we are certainly not Kumo and Iwa, and I don’t care about Suna’s recruitment strategies because we’ve always dealt with Suna effectively enough that they’re allies…to an extent.” Asahi retaliated as he stared down the Elders, “I remember what you did to Uzuki Hari…would you care to repeat your stupidity with me again?”

The Hokage cleared his throat “Kirigaya Asahi, I thank you for the blunt summary and appraisal of Young Haruno’s medical status, but you have failed to report on the very nature of her wounds and whether this incident is to be dragged in front of the Civilian Court or Military Tribunal.”

Asahi rolled his eyes deliberately in front of the Hokage. “Baguazhang, skilled user. Very minimalistic chakra residue, enough chakra residue to detail that the wounds were caused in a taijutsu match; only one Clan, I know of, uses Baguazhang and them even knowing I’m deliberately calling it that will gain me more unnecessary problems that I do not need. All in all, professional if somewhat biased testimony; someone threw a bitch fit about the lack of skill or more remedial training the patient requires and desired to make a brutal but effective teaching point. Military Tribunal and potentially force reparations in terms of medical expenses to the Haruno Family.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to become one of Konoha’s Legal Team?”

“And have to report to Yamanaka Inoichi and Morino Ibiki? Fuck no. Leave me with my all dead and mostly dead people, and I’m happy…although I’d never decline a chance at a new way to medically murder someone.”

“And this is why we question your license to be a medical-nin.”

Asahi shrugged “I have the chakra control, I have the skill, I have the experience…and I’m one of the few that Tsunade-Sama never put through a wall during training…although the fish used to give me evil looks.” Asahi was allergic to fish; he could touch it, but eating it was another ball game.

“Thank you, Asahi, for your punctual update; although you are the second shinobi in as many days to be… freer than most with how you speak with me.”

Asahi shrugged “My insecenserist serious apologies, I don’t know the pretense of other other; mine, I’m a Medic-Nin; if I have to strap you down to the bed and spoon-feed you pureed spinach then by Shodaime-Sama and Nidaime-Sama, I will do so. I want you miserable old bastards to live, live long enough that you sire more midget bastards and I am quite fine with being a medic-nin with 0 out 5 kunai on ratemykunai for my bedside mannerisms.”

The Warhawk sighed and shook his breath “Sometimes I did wonder if my training on diplomacy and decorum ever stuck in your head?”

“Wash your hands, shake the hands, kiss the ladies, say ‘sir’ at the beginning and ending of every sentence with superior officers and be brutally honest?”

“It stuck more than most it appears.” Danzo replied as he looked at his former genin. “For what it appears and seems I am glad to see you so well.” Asahi bowed to him and he turned to the Elders.

“Anything else?”

“You are dismissed!” Sarutobi declared getting a grin from Asahi.

“YES! Three weeks down time and no disturbances for anything less than ‘the dead are walking’! Or Hokage-Sama is willing to triple my fee for any missions.”

Sarutobi snorted “Not happening, Asahi-kun, standard protocol. You’re good Asahi-kun but you’re not up there with Tsunade-chan.”

“Man needs someone to aim for. Anyway good night, kami bless you all.” With that he walked to a window and casually vanished from view.

(Next Morning)
The Genin Platoon assembled, and the most recent graduates were standing well away from their seniors of the same rank. Yugao and Anko took the initiative to begin the initial training, while Hari did not. Well, Hari was up at the Hokage’s Tower and the subsequent office.

Hari filled in the paperwork before foolishly handing it over to Umino Iruka; a talented Chunin, arguably, one of the best Teachers that Konoha prided itself on having. “Absolutely not, Hari.”

“I believe the granter of my request is behind you, Mission Granter,” Hari replied casually, he really didn’t want or need this right now. The Hokage had expressed concern and admitted his curiosity about the status of the platoon.

“I refuse as I was their teacher not so long ago.”

“The moment they put on their protectors, they were no longer your students. They became our subordinates, do I need to remind you…”

“You don’t need to fucking remind me of who the Genin are. Clan Heirs and Uzumaki Naruto.” Iruka snapped.

“Uzumaki Naruto is also a Clan Heir…probably the Clan Head if I’m honest; of the Uzumaki Clan, from the Hidden Whirlpool Village whom we failed to assist.” Hari cut in “You have forgotten who my Trainer and Sensei were.”

Iruka bristled at the jab. “I protest this.”

“I wouldn't have it any other way.” Hari replied as he walked into the Hokage’s office. Sarutobi looked up to see Hari and Iruka enter his office, Sarutobi chuckled as the duo stood to attention.

“Jonin Uzuki, Chunin Umino what brings you to my office so early?”

Hari turned to Iruka “I’ll let Chunin Umino speak first Hokage-sama.”

“Go ahead Iruka-kun.” 

“I think this is a terrible idea, Hokage-Sama, letting those nine new genin and their seniors undergo the blooding. They are still children. They need more time before they have to deal with the responsibilities of having to be killers.”

The Hokage nodded, “Your counterpoint, Hari-kun?”

“How long until the Land of Cliffs or the Land of Tea starts sending envoys to Konohagakure no Sato or even Takigakure no Sato? Currently, it's a stalemate because Hi no Kuni has trade agreements with both nations. If things go badly, there’s likely to be an uprising; revolts, revolutions, and an increase in bandit and ronin numbers, along with a few nuke-nin, will become an extremely annoying problem for Hi no Kuni. Now, is the time to blood these genin, or must I resort to far pettier reasons such as ‘Clan Heirs’, the ‘Last Uchiha’, and Him.”

Sarutobi stiffened. “Him?”

Hari grinned. “You and I know whom I'm referring to. The Bloodline, the Only One Who Can…It wasn’t hard to deduce.” Sarutobi smirked; it was one of the reasons he trusted Uzuki Hari with the Kage’s Chance. Sarutobi nodded. He knew his decision before the paperwork had even hit his desk; he was going to bleed the new Genin.

“The methodology, logic and reasoning are sound, Chunin Umino. Iruka-kun, it warms my heart that you care immensely for your pupils even though they are no longer under your command. However, this group of Genin represents the future of Konoha, and thus they require training beyond the traditional methods and protocols.” Iruka looked at the Hokage with confusion.

“Hokage-Sama, I have a solution, if I may ask?” Hari said, going to one knee.

“Go on.”

“Chunin Umino Iruka, a dedicated Chunin and one of the best academic teachers Konohagakure no Sato has; he managed to turn a waste of resources of Uzumaki Naruto; into something resembling a genin-cadet. However…he does not fully understand the true value of Uzumaki Naruto; whom I believe his protest is solely about.”

Iruka deflated “It’s true Jonin…”

“It’s Hari, Iruka-san, I’m not…I would never doubt your skills, I do not besmirch your care to Naruto. You merely do not possess all of the facts. I want Chunin Iruka brought into the loop. If he leaks any intelligence its on my life.”

Sarutobi locked eyes with Hari “Iruka is not…”

“He’s not ready because he has not been given the Gokakyu no Jutsu to his ass. We bring him in, hand him to me, Yugao-nee and Anko with a sprinkling of Kakashi, Asuma and Gai you’ll have a Tokubetsu level chunin by the Exams. Full Jonin level within twelve and Jonin by eighteen to twenty-four.”

“Granted.”

Hari turned to Iruka “Look at the paintings of our Kage.”

Iruka turned as his eyes fixated on the fourth and his eyes widened, he paled and his breathing became ragged “Naruto is…”

“Yes.”

“Then his mother was…” Iruka began.

“Correct.” Hari replied.

Iruka snapped to attention “When do I report for duty, Hari-senpai?”

“Report for duty, training ground seven, in four days.”

Sarutobi addressed the purple haired Uzuki “There’s a village, three miles east of Konoha’s Western Facility…the worst of the worst. It’s a C-rank but the pay is B.”

(Sasuke and Naruto)

The boys bokken clashed against one another, broke apart. They grinned at one another as they collided again; Sasuke hissed as he was forced backwards as Naruto capitalised on his over-extended strike.

This sparring match had nothing to do with combat, but rather maintaining breathing control. Yugao was leant against a tree watching as the duo honed their Kokyu Ho , breathing style, before they could try infusing their elements into them.

The bout finished with Naruto having his bokken at Sasuke’s neck and Sasuke’s sword at Naruto’s knee. “Winner Uzumaki, although you’re effectively retired as a shinobi.” Yugao stated “Form the seal of reconciliation!”

“You’re good Naruto. Without my Sharingan…I find myself struggling against you.” Sasuke admitted as they set up to spar again, they’d had two rounds so far, Sasuke had won the first one and now Naruto the second; if they went for the third match Sasuke realised that Naruto was more likely to win. “You’re fucking durable and…you don’t even seem exhausted. How come?”

“Uzumaki Naruto, is a member of the Uzumaki Clan; Sister Clan to the Senju and the Unofficial Third Clan of the Warring Clan Era.”

Sasuke and Naruto stared at their sensei “How do you know this?” Naruto asked curiously, eyes welling slightly.

Yugao sighed, her brother had informed Naruto that he’d trained under his mother “I was your mothers apprentice and later her Genin. My brother joined us just after he refused to go back to his sensei. His Sensei had trained him diligently in kenjutsu and ninjutsu but they weren’t close. My brother suspected his Sensei of being more than he was and he didn’t like the ‘more’.”

Naruto nodded “My mother was an Uzumaki…wasn’t she? She held what I contain.”

Yugao nodded solemnly, “Aye.” She admitted simply.

Naruto’s eyes widened “You’re Neko!” Sasuke’s eyes widened when they realised their teacher was ANBU. He wanted to learn more! He remembered overhearing him talking fondly about Neko, Hibi, and Inu, and that they were brilliant colleagues and trainers.

“You worked with him?”

Yugao nodded “I did. He was an exceptional young shinobi, should have been a Samurai if I’m honest; he had the mind of a scholar and an interest in philosophy and theology. Seemed lonely though, I suppose, being a prodigy and cultivated in the dying days of the Third War left some scars.” Sasuke paused. Things weren’t adding up completely, but he was beginning to understand his infamous brother a little more.

“Sensei…can we start with the elemental aspect of this, training, yet?” Sasuke asked curiously, there was a gleam in his eye.

Yugao paused “I don’t see why not. I will confess I am not familiar with my brothers ‘breathing style’ kenjutsu as…well…there’s a bit…well…a lot of bad blood between us. You need to focus on your breathing and allow the feeling to spread inside you and along your blade, and after that…I have no idea.”

Naruto was already going, he was going to use wind! They were in a forest, and no one was going to mind if a tree or five went down. The ground was still steeped in Hashirama Senju’s chakra after all! He began to breathe, he felt his body surge as his chakra flooded his body, he directed around his blade, and he could feel it begin to shriek and grind “Wind Breathing: Dust Whirlwind Cutter!” Naruto found his body wanting to spin, he charged forwards and as he rushed at the first tree he spun to the left, the blade sliced into the tree and wedged itself. Naruto shuddered to a stop and staggered away his sword buried in a tree.

“Not bad, Dobe, I…think you must move faster and keep that spin more concise; that jutsu isn’t designed to cut in one strike but rather multiple slices and slashes from various directions.” Sasuke observed, feeling an overwhelming urge to imitate the technique, a sensation coursing through his body. He shuddered; he’d never realised it before! 

“Flame Breathing: Unknown Fire!” Sasuke thought as he rushed forward, the tree before him. Sword held high, bright crimson flames erupted into existence as he swung his sword at the tree, above Naruto’s sword and targeting the highest point of Naruto’s initial strike. The sword bit into the tree, and with glacial progress, Naruto and Yugao watched as the Uchiha slowly cut down the tree from the significant mark left by the failed Wind Breathing. “Did what you couldn’t.” 

“It takes a lot to even damage one of the Shodaime-Sama’s trees,” Yugao interjected, preventing the ensuing brawl before it could start. “The fact that the two of you managed to fell a tree is certainly a testament to both your families and clans.” 

Anko joined them. “Nice going, pups, really, nice going. Yugao, Hari’s back.” 

Yugao nodded, “So we’re finally getting to it?” 

“Seems so,” Anko replied. 

“With me,” Yugao instructed, and the quartet made their way back to the Platoon. Sasuke and Naruto were the last to arrive; there were no formalities or greetings. The atmosphere was thick enough to be cut with a kunai, as the Genin stood in a loose semicircle facing the Jonin, who maintained noticeable gaps in their formation. Neji, Sakura, Hari, Kakashi, and Gai were conspicuously absent.

As Naruto and Sasuke fell into formation next to Team Eight. As they did so Hari shunshinned into view, accompanied by the Hokage Himself! Everyone snapped to attention as the Hokage looked upon the Platoon “Good Morning, at ease, today is a monumental day and a sorrowful one. Amongst you, the vast majority of you, the major clans of Konohagakure No Sato are represented. It is why I have decided to issue you with your mission personally.”

The Genin stiffened, the Hokage grinned slightly. He could read them that they knew this was significant and the Hokage seldom briefed Genin of missions. “You’re mission is in the town of Kikotsukawa, it is a hub of bandits that have become a menace, read annoyance , to the Merchant Caravans and the Guilds of Hi no Kuni and thusly, I have been ordered to take action. The Genin Platoon, minus Genin Haruno and Hyuga shall be Konoha’s response to this group. You are to find the village, and deal with the residents. This will be a culture, your Jonin Teachers will be with you to reduce friendly fire.”

Naruto snapped to attention “Hai, Genin Uzumaki?”

“Hokage-Sama, conditions on dealing with these insurgents and ne’redoells?”

“I see Hari has been increasing your vocabulary. No elemental jutsu, this is kunai, shuriken and taijutsu works; messy work. No Kage Bunshin, Genin Uzumaki. All Genin are to be witnessed by someone to authorise their kills.”

“If we refuse, Hokage-sama?” Shino stated as his bugs buzzed irritably; displaying his displeasure.

“Advancement through the ranks will be more difficult, Genin Aburame. I respect anyones reasons about not wanting to kill and wishing they did not have to kill; I am with you and agree with you whole-heartedly that I didn’t have to order my subordinates to dirty their hands so young. What happens if we are to come under attack? A Konoha Shinobi has to be able to kill, for killing, is but another tool in our aresenal! I want you to be masters of the other arts before wetting your hands with death, however, life never goes as we planned. I honestly wish you the best of luck and may Kami forgive you for what I’ve asked you to do, because I cannot forgive myself for asking you to do it, but I must. Such is the responsibility of being Hokage.”

The speech, pep talk, and rant struck hard and close to home for Naruto. There was something about Jiji that unnerved him. He gulped and nodded towards the Hokage. “Hai Hokage-Sama, I’ll not fail you.”

“I never thought you would, Genin Uzumaki. I will now hand over operational command to your Jonin Cadre for the specifics.” Naruto and Sasuke looked at one another and nodded, with Sakura absent, they’d need to pickup the pace.

“Naruto-kun, Sasuke-kun, you’re with me.” Hari stated tapping the duo on their shoulders.

“Go get your stuff, Naruto…you really need to change. No arguments and prepare yourselves.”

Sasuke nodded “This is going to be messy isn’t it? Sensei?”

Hari nodded “It will be. Honestly…better here and now than in the trenches fighting Iwa and or Kumo or even Kiri. Even worse when they’re dedicated to taking me out and I was only a genin then.”

“Your sensei’s were that bad?” Sasuke asked.

Hari smirked “My Sensei of allocation was a member of the Legendary Three, My Teacher of Choice was…close to a Legend, I learned at their feet mainly hers. The Legend was a Legacy of the Legendary Three. I wasn’t the best of students, but, what I had was a tenacity and a willingness to say ‘fuck thee, fuck thou and fuck this shite’. We’re not samurai, we’re never going to stand in line to fight and die. We, sneak away from the battlefield to kill our enemies with a kunai and a frying pan.”

Naruto and Sasuke stared at Hari “You cannot be serious sensei! Killing someone with a frying pan?” Naruto stated, he knew Shinobi were badass but that was ridiculous.

“Anko!” Hari called out.

“What flaky?”

“Frying Pan story.”

Anko materalised behind Hari and draped herself across his back her fishnet body suit barely restraining her tits. Both boys had to fight to keep their noses from exploding “Hari has a broken arm, Senbon has a cracked jaw and a serious case of testes testortion and Smokestack is knocked out. I’m the freshest addition to the frontlines, the four of us have our Chunin Flak, and I’m keeping watch. I’ve just patched them up as best as I could when I decided to take watch, and on my watch, we’re attacked by a pair of Kumo-nin, the location is somewhere on the border of Hi no Kuni. Somehow, this pair of Kumo-nin they’ve snuck up behind me; I’ve kawamaried , yelled ‘We’ve got Kumo!’ and I’ve dived for a weapon, as one of them has headed for the tent; the weapon I grabbed was an Akimichi-grade frying pan; it’s still warm and I’ve brought it down on the back of the guys head as he’s about to kill my man.”

Hari smirked mirthlessly “It is more humiliating for the surviving ninja, his comrade has been killed by a frying pan and by the time he’s realised what’s happening, I have stuffed three ‘enhancement pills’ down the mans throat…” Hari paused “Those pills enhance everything.” Naruto and Sasuke blanched at the thought, “So, this Kumo-nin is trying to kill us with a boner as thick as my arm and as long as my foot. I’m in my underpants, crisp white, and my arm is in a sling. I’ve managed to put my kunai into his neck as Anko-hime stuffed his dick and balls into his mouth.”

“Sensei…”

“We have concerns.” Naruto finished.

“We’re insane, but we’re loyal. Besides, Iwa was getting worse. So yeah, off you go…get your gear and we can get this job over with.”

(That evening)

Hari collected Sasuke and Naruto, the latter was not clad in bright orange but rather jet black with two orange stripes running down the sides. Sasuke was clad in his normal garb only replaced his shorts for trousers. Their swords were on their backs, kunai and shuriken on their mid-leg. “Is that comfortable?” Hari asked.

“Not really but it’s in the book.” Sasuke replied.

“The book is not a book to follow, it’s more or less guidelines for Konohagakure Shinobi to follow. Although there are more than a few that praise it as the ‘manuscript’ to follow to the ‘t’.” Hari replied “The Book is a series of observations, anecdotes and advice written by the Nidaime, now the Nidaime a phenomenal Kage and decent Administrator but Tactical Genius, Strategist and Logician he was not; that man was far too ‘lead from the front’. I respect the Nidaime, but I do not agree with all of his principles, advice and other things. You use the book as a starting point and operate on it to the best of your understanding. I prefer all my pouches to my ass, I like a few kunai in a my pockers or sealed into the seams. Your tactical leg pouches and arm pouches…I don’t like them; they’re unnecessary, they slow you down and make you less aerodynamic. 

None of the Genin Teams saw each other as they headed into the late afternoon light. Their destination was far enough that the Genin were going to have to rest once the job was done.

(Kikotsukawa)

Kikotsukawa looked like any other village, with people passing through, making it a completely unoriginal place, which made it a perfect spot to conceal an ambush. Normally, that would be correct, however, Kikotsukawa these days was a fallback village for bandits; the citizens here were hardy folk more than willing to hide bandits, thieves and the like for coin. Unfortunately for them, that along with everything else that occurred in Kikotsukawa would be coming to an abrupt end.

Naruto sat in the tree, his eyes glazed over. He had been given temporary operational command. He had sent five Kage Bunshins, each under a henge…looking and sounding like innocuous wildlife or even pets; on the outskirts of the village lay a few farms. One of whom had an impressive range of chickens, which was how the first one entered. The second one had become a hawk and was casually doing a flyby over the village, occasionally dipping down and pulling back up. The Third had disguised himself as a bluenette form of Sasuke Uchiha and had promptly walked in. Fourth and Fifth were acting as a pair of bandits; the bandits they had been mimicking were knocked out and stuffed uncomfortably in a pair of bins.

“What have you got?” Sasuke asked as he kept a lookout.

“Lots. I'm counting three hundred people at a minimum, that's civilians and targets. I don't know what's going to happen the moment the tag explodes. However, a Bunshin has found himself at the bar and counts fifteen potential hostels in the vicinity.” Naruto replied as he mentally connected with the bunshin. 

Hari, who was located, above them, listened in on the radios. Each Genin Team had a radio link to their own team, their sensei and one allocated supervisor. The supervisors had a radio to each other. Despite it being a very much individual test, the Genin were moving in unison together. “Naruto, Sasuke…your call…” Hari murmured, he was getting feedback from Kurenai and Yugao along with Asuma and Genma. The other two were babysitting Team Gai. 

“Team Seven, you are cleared for entry.” Hari instructed, he'd been listening to Iwashi and Kurenai Kurenai bicker about who was to be the first team into the village. Hari and Asuma did not care one jot, so whilst the other two teams bickered, Hari sent a message to Asuma “Team Seven to Team Ten.”

“Team Ten receiving, go for transmission, over.”

“Team Seven is ago, Team Ten, over.”

“Copy that, Team Seven, Team Ten en route to back you up.” Hari grinned, it was good to have Asuma backing him up.

“Naruto…our orders?” Sasuke asked as they jumped down to the floor below, heading towards the caravan tracked road that led to their destination. He watched as Naruto, transformed…he didn’t change much other than his hair which became black and he covered up his whiskers. 

“We go in…anyone who stops us, presume is hostile. I have five clones inside ready to start causing mayhem.” Naruto replied.

Sasuke nodded, they walked up the road. The gates were open, no security “This is going to be simple.” He thought as they entered the village. “How do you think Sakura is going to get hers done?”

“We and Kakashi-sensei will sort something out; probably nothing as thought out as this, maybe an execution?” Naruto replied as they came too the village square. Naruto spied his clone who’d been hiding in the bar march out with three bandits. The Clone nodded to Naruto, who nodded, Sasuke watched in amazement although that amazement became horror as the kage bunshin drew a kunai and open the first bandits throat, kicked the second in the balls before stomping on its throat and finally opened the belly of the third.

Then the alarms were sounded.

Chapter Text

To Be Stronger 11

Bleeding Part 2

The screaming and shouting started, civilians began to run and their targets came running towards them. Naruto had dropped three in the streets “We need…” He began only for Sasuke to move akin to a blur as he intercepted another four emerging from a house. The first one died as Sasuke used his neck to swing up above the door; he kicked off the porch to casually drive two kunai into two more, puncturing their throats. “MOVE!” Sasuke hurled himself at Naruto's instruction-regulated breathing, nearly breaking from its newly learned pattern. “Thanks!” He gasped only to see Naruto throw a kunai, to replace himself, with the kunai and finish his attacker with a brutal cross-stab, two kunai into the neck of Sasuke’s closest threat. 

“When did you learn to do that?” Sasuke asked as the duo took to the rooftops. As they took to the rooftops, they watched as a veritable armoury of weapons descended into the streets. “Who the fuck was that?” Naruto smirked, “The first? I learned to do that on the fly, trying to save Iruka-sensei. It’s a Jonin- level Kawamari , and my Henge, also Jonin- ranked. For the second, that's Senior Genin Tenten; the closest thing to a Fuuinjutsu specialist in our Genin Platoon. I’ve been learning a few things of Fuuinjutsu.”

Sasuke shook his head “Kenjutsu, Fuuinjutsu…Here I thought I was going to be the one learning all of that sort of thing.” Naruto snorted, “You, Sasuke, are a much better ninjutsu specialist than I ever will be what with your bullshit Kekkei Genkai. However, I’m the physically stronger one of us thanks to my own Kekkei Genkai. ” Sasuke paused as a memory long repressed, he remembered being carried by his mother in the company of a woman named Uzumaki Kushina.

“Naruto…after we get out of here, I have something to tell you. It’s about your kaa-san.” Naruto nodded, “Thanks…but right now…I’m now more concerned about how…”

“Sakura.” Sasuke chimed in as they ran to back up their other Genin. Hari followed them at a distance. The Last Uchiha and his Sensei’s Son had done their mission. Now they were going above and beyond. 

(Team Asuma)

Ino was trying not to break down in tears; taking a life was hard. It was harder because of the explicit orders forbidding jutsu use for initial kills. However, it had been done; Asuma had intervened to protect his kunoichi student. He was happy; he hadn’t truly signed off on Uzuki Hari’s idea of the Genin Platoon.

Until now, Hari had always been interpretative with orders and missions. Asuma remembered more than a few times Hari had seemingly disobeyed his orders during the war, only to achieve what they had set out to do. Now, Asuma realised the difference between Hari and himself. Understanding dawned on him: he knew that Hari trained under Uzumaki Kushina. He kept his first sensei a secret, but in the way he moved and gripped his blade, yes, he mimicked Uzumaki Kushina — but “He studied under him.” He breathed. Realisation dawned, for the first time, who Hari had initially trained with. Hari had been selected by a member of the Sannin; Jiraiya-Sama hadn't taken him, and Hari hadn't had the control or temperament to learn under Tsunade-Sama then, so it left Orochimaru.

He casually reverse roundhouse-kicked a sneaking bandit, caving in the skull. He turned to find Choji grabbing a bandit and driving his pudgy forearm into him, turning the ribs into fragments before unsheathing his tetsubo. Ino had been developing very well; Shikamaru had improved remarkably. Then there was the fact he twitched a lot when Kurenai-chan was nearby.

It was Choji who had taken Asuma by surprise. The Akimichi heir had needed more focus than Asuma had thought to help him come into his own; however, Hari had begun to work his magic. Whilst not able to use the famed Calorie Control of his family yet, Hari had been teaching him how to wield a tetsubo, which was an amusing visual— the tall, skinny, and wiry elite jonin wielding a club as tall as he was and as thick as his sword arm. 

“Team 10, time to start using jutsu, Hokage-Sama wants this settlement dealt with.”

(Team 8)

Kurenai nodded in approval as her subordinates had done admirably well, they had assassinated their targets. Kiba had managed to insinuate something to her Ward, and student, Hinata, she would probably have to discipline the Inuzuka clan member. However, what had been said had delivered the message as Hinata promptly killed four bandits with practised ease “I had to kill a rabbit, Hyuga tradition.” 

Kiba had been very much animalistic, he’d sent three bandits to flight by snarling and rushing for them using his ‘Beast Mimicry’ technique. They had locked themselves inside a house, and Kiba had promptly carved through the door with Akamaru on his heels. The blood had seeped out onto the dirt path when was done.

Aburame Shino had been pragmatic; he’d crept up on a panicking guard and snapped his neck, indicating a concealed strength. Kurenai nodded, she despised the idea of blooding Genin like this; however, she would obey the orders given. She was, however, begrudgingly impressed at how professional her Genin were and had been as they executed their orders.

(Team Gai)

Tenten and Lee along with Gai, who was filling Neji’s place, resembled less inexperienced Genin but more akin to avatars of shinigami. The bulk of the bandits had found them and charged recklessly towards them. Tenten simply pulled out her two scrolls' worth of weapons onto their attackers.

“DECAPITATION AIRWAVES!” the Explosive jutsu tore down the street, taking out the fronts of buildings, launching the veteran Genin and their Sensei off their feet. Tenten landed like a cat, grabbing a nearby sansetkuton, three section staff, and began to twirl it.

Their attacker revealed himself to be a male, grey eyes, brown eyes, wearing a face mask style protector faintly resembling the style of protector the Nidaime Hokage favoured, grey t-shirt and purple and grey camouflage style fatigues. In the middle of his hands were two holes, the protrusion for that phenomenal attack.

More similarly clad shinobi entered the town, several were evidently genin. Gai grinned as he gleefully intercepted a strike aimed for Lee, the intercept sent the Chunin flying. “Who are you? Where is your commander?” Gai boomed as he grabbed an unlucky Purple-Garbed Chunin by his jacket.

(Across the Village) It turned out that a large force of Otogakure no Sato Shinobi had entered the village. They had been issued similar orders; unfortunately, communications with other villages were tenuous at best. Missives for cross-nation exercises needed to be filed in advance.

Since no one in Konoha had received such paperwork, events unfolded in typical shinobi fashion—tense communications before the deadly dance began. The Konoha Genin readied themselves as they found themselves under attack by Genin.

Among the attacking hostile Otogakure Shinobi was Hashishi Kinusa. He surveyed the scene with a professional eye, glad that he didn’t spot Hatake Kakashi amongst the visible Jonin. He didn’t particularly want to tangle with The Smoking Ape or even Konoha's Genjutsu Mistress if he could avoid it. However, there was one person the Shallow Infiltration Expert did not wish to face, and that was Uzuki Hari, the Blue-Eyed Grey-Haired Nuke-nin sighed. That particular day replayed vivid in his nightmares—the fact that he had to murder Sakine-chan and her family. He shared his opinions and views with Hari after Sakine had left them deep in their glasses and cups. Hari had remarked that ‘Sakine Kibi could’ve done better’ and that he wasn’t setting her wastrel husband up for an ‘irretrievable accident’ out of respect for their kunoichi teammate. He dreaded encountering Hari; he was guilty of many things. Danzo had ordered him to take out Sakine. The Warhawk had found that she’d been planning to defect to Orochimaru on a false pretense; Kinusa knew that Sakine was not planning to defect—she’d entrusted her daughter to Hari’s care and grinned as he remembered Hari’s hangover after that celebration… he had been carried to the hospital by Gai to save his liver. He, however, had been the one tasked with infiltrating Orochimaru’s new facilities, only he recalled his sensei’s promises of becoming more powerful than he could ever be whilst in Konohagakure no Sato. ‘All that it had cost him was his soul and Genin teammates’. He carried out Danzo’s orders, framed Hari, and then fled. 

He knew Hari would be out for his head. Kinusa had buried himself in enhancements to ensure that the next time he encountered his loyal ex-teammate that he would win. Then he noticed them, Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke, where was their third teammate? He landed on the roof in front of them.

“Uchiha-san, Uzumaki-san. My name is Hashashi Kinusa…”

Hari watched as his old friend appeared, he moved behind him. Dropped his camouflage technique and surged forwards “Kenjutsu: Poison Breathing. First Form: Hallucingen Strike.” Kinusa twisted and dives to the side narrowly being caught by the unknown attack. As he tried to recover he found himself open and exposed to a potent Gokkakyu no Jutsu from Sasuke.

Kinusa quickly utilised his kawamari to replace himself with a burning log. “Suiton: Desolation Severing Wave.” Hari yelled exhaling a forming blade of water to conceal a brutal strike to send the head separate from the neck. 

Hashashi was sweating, informants in Konoha had mentioned his friend had weakened considerably since his imprisonment. Yet here he was, nearly as powerful as he had been before. “It's good to see you, Hari. Sensei sends his regards.” Hari snarled as he feinted a left hand, only to feint into a right cross-punch. Hashashi moves to block the second only for his head to whip viciously across to the right side of his body.

Kinusa snarled as he flared his chakra “Now that's not polite or nice, Hari-kun, especially not with what I know. Who knows what the village might hear, fear and misunderstand…I've heard they've…” He had to replace himself again, sending Hari through a collapsing building. Hari groaned as he hit a support beam. Everything suddenly felt dull. He began to return to his senses as he heard the floor above begin to creak and then crack, and burning debris began to descend.

(Anko)

Anko tore across the village, Kakashi, Hayate and Iwashi with her. If it wasn't for the fact that her bound mark wasn't giving her agony, the fuuinjutsu tattoo she had on the inside of her forearm linking her to Hari was flaring. Anko sighed she wasn’t the only one with one of her bastard teachers' juuinjutsu. Hari had one on the inside of his forearm.

Hari had rejected the gift and more, it had siphoned up a considerable portion of his chakra; then from what Anko recalled, his new sensei had helped him ‘rectify’ matters. His Juuinjutsu had been sealed off, and Hari disappeared for ‘intensive’ training. Then he’d been arrested a few years later. Now, here they were…Anko had managed to acquire Hashashi Kinusa’s apartment details and with a mysteriously openly available squad of Jonin all waiting ‘for her to come knocking’. She had picked her team, below them she had snorted, she wasn’t blind.

“Anko-taicho, it appears we’ve got more than enough hands to execute this mission.” Kakashi observed. 

“How many?”

“Officially four. Unofficially four maybe five times that oh and we have incoming.” Anko mistimed her leap and went into a forward roll to correct as ten ANBU along with “Hokage-Sama?” Anko asked going to one knee.

“I’m not Hokage-Sama for this operation, Tokubetsu Jonin Mitarashi, I am Jonin Sarutobi. I must apologise for my unexpected squad.” Anko allowed herself a fanged smile. 

“Squad Mitarashi welcomes the sudden unexpected reinforcements of Battalion Sarutobi.”

“What’s the sit-rep?”

“Hashashi Kinusa’s apartment is on the middle floor of maisonette apartment block four, on the borders of the Hayate Family District along with the Aburame. The district is formally known as the ‘Old Town’ being amongst the first buildings constructed by the Shodai-Sama.” Anko explained, “Two bedrooms, living room, kitchenette, probably modernised for shinobi living, expecting kunai, shuriken traps. Also expecting and anticipating various concealed nooks and crannies where a hoarder might hoard his hoardings. Reconnaissance indicates two-to-six other shinobi in residence. Iwashi and Hayate were to provide a low presence and operate as Shinobi-Provosts to keep the residents inside their building; as I have suddenly acquired a surplus of squads, unofficially and officially a battalion, I am going to be requesting that the battalion divides into two combat teams and to organise any unofficial assistance. The maisonette needs to be cordoned off, and I need operatives to closely monitor the other residents; I do not expect, anticipate or require anything than calm polite suggestions that they remain inside. The other half of the combat team with Lead Jonin Sarutobi to assist Elite Jonin Kakashi to gain access to the apartment. I’ve learned a bit of fuuinjutsu, but not my strong point. I can detect fuuinjutsu and I have a select few barriers but nothing else.”

Sarutobi nodded “I shall gladly assist. For securing the apartment?”

“Efficiently, quickly and investigation plan Magpie level 5. Gloves, Bags, Tags.”

One of the ANBU raised a hand “Matarashi-taicho? Magpie Level 5?”

“Magpies like shiny things. Magpie 5 take everything, including the sink and taps. I have heard lots about the target and suspect he’s a hoarder. He might not have everything here, thus everything here could be a lead to the rest of his hoard. I want irrefutable, undeniable proof of my suspicions.”

“Your suspicions? I thought you were doing this because of your lover.”

“I am and I’m not. This bastard took to my teacher like a duck to water, Hari-kun did as well. Hari had the sense to get out. Now look what’s happened to him. Kinusa is the key, Grab the key we can get the locks. Should things go off like an explosive tag, take them alive. Alive and intact preferred, alive and dismembered, I can work with. We’re wasting moonlight.”

The operation was text book, The Hokage dismantled the protections on the door and the door was taken along with the hinges. The Magpie masked ANBU shrugged “Taicho’s orders. If doors can be added, they can be removed.”

“Remember ANBU-kun, ANBU are the ones going to be doing the analysis.”

Said ANBU shrugged, “Respectfully, Sandaime-Jonin-Sama, I need to demonstrate my fuuinjutsu skills for my examination.”

“Jonin Sarutobi to Command.”

“Command to Jonin Sarutobi, send traffic.”

“Door is removed, barrier seal 2nd grade…more complex than anticipated. We have entry.”

“Proceed with operation.”

Hiruzen grinned, Kakashi opened his sharingan eye and with smooth momentum, they entered the building.

Chapter Text

To Be Stronger 12

Resolutions

The Sharingan, whilst mostly used to copy jutsu, is not entirely accurate. Granted it slowed down the user's perception, allowing for greater accuracy in mimicking the hand seals for jutsu, it could also monitor chakra, not to the detailed extent of the Byakugan (All Seeing White Eye). “Hokage…” Kakashi began as he gestured towards the wall; the Hokage was already moving, a tag in his hands. He slapped it onto the part of the wall that Kakashi had notified. Out of the wall came several notebooks, and older patterns of Konohan Kunai; his eyes widened…this pattern of kunai, whilst definitely not in circulation, Tobirama-sensei had ordered their phasing out during the latter years of his reign; he’d entrusted Hiruzen to enact his last instructions.

“Orochimaru, Danzo, Jiraiya, Tsunade, Homura, Koharu…” He mumbled as he deftly sorted his findings into a sealing scroll. What caught Kakashi’s eye were the gloves the Hokage was wearing. He turned to Kakashi, “This is a criminal investigation. Mitarashi-taicho ordered us not to contaminate the scene further. Is something amiss, Kakashi-san?”

Kakashi sighed, “Erm…standards must have slipped, Hokage-Sama.” He scanned the wall “Hokage-Sama, would a Raiton technique go through a Fuuinjutsu?” 

“It would…however, it does leave the possibility of not getting the information.” Kakashi eyed it, pulling up the little bit of knowledge from his education from Minato-Sensei and Kushina-Sensei. “Fuuinjutsu: Dispel.” He shoved his hand into the seal and some Iwa Kunai and Jutsu Scrolls tumbled out. “Found something!”

“Bag and Tag, Inu-san!” Shouted Magpie as he scrambled across the ceiling, Hiruzen looked up and he chuckled; whilst not a natural sensor, a shinobi doesn’t live as long as he did without picking up some tricks “How are you doing that?”

“Fuuinijutsu: Spider-Web, Battalion-Commander. My own invention, maps out clusters of chakra and chakra-traps. Jiraiya-Sama gave me my Level 3 on the spot for this.” Sarutobi chuckled; he himself was only a level 6 as a Fuuinjutsu Wielder. That was one area of study in which Jiraiya-kun had surpassed him. Memories of his two genin-teams made him smile fondly; the current Ino-Shika-Cho had been well established before he had polished them up as his father had done for their fathers, a tradition that extended well into the warring clans period.

“Magpie-kun, what is your ranking?”

“Level 4 going on 5…hopefully…Oh, and get clear, get clear, get clear! Ceiling surprises! Fuuinjutsu: Spider-Web, Fly Consumption!” The Hokage’s eyes crinkled in admiration as the ceiling spilt its contents. There were notes, weapons, and bundles of yen from Kiri and Suna manufacturing. Kinusa-san was most definitely a hoarder, and it appeared he took on more of Orochimaru’s more ruthless tendencies.

“Hokage-Sama…living room appears to be clear.” Magpie stated “Magpie to Bear.”

“Bear hear, send traffic Magpie.”

“Living room clear. Status on the other rooms?”

“Raven to Bear.”

“Send.”

“Magpie, bathroom clear. Did find a scribbled note stating ‘sorry, I have to do this’.”

“Jackdaw to Bear.”

“Send.”

“I found something…I think…I can confirm it’s plans…plans of Konhagakure no Sato.”

“Location?”

“Bedroom…along with a sword which appears to be a decent forgery of a Uzuki-blade. Stained with blood.”

Hiruzen’s blood ran cold “Jonin-Sarutobi to Mitarashi-taicho.”

“Send traffic, Jonin-Sarutobi.”

“ANBU Jackdaw has found an imitation blade based off an Uzuki blade…with blood stains on it.”

“Hokage-Sama…hypothetically what is the procedure here?”

“Hypothetically, this would be taken to the Medical Department, and Kirigaya Asahi should be kicked awake immediately.”

“Mission Command to ANBU Jackdaw!”

“Send message, Command?”

“Extract immediately, and kick down Kirigaya’s door.”

“Kirigaya is here commander…Why is it that I’m trapped in my apartment?” Anko’s eyes narrowed. This was awfully convenient!

“What are you doing here?”

“I live here…moved in three months back. I’ve been living out of my removal boxes.”

Anko shook her head “Send him up.”

Kirigaya turned up, headband on his head and wearing nothing but a pair of boxers “I’m here.”

Sarutobi turned and shook his head “You certainly could have dressed.”

“When you’re woken up from your first nights sleep at actual night and asked to roll into work? Gotta be prepared right? Hokage-Sama?”

“I'm temporarily a Jonin at this point, Kirigaya-kun; in fact, your rank.”

Kirigaya sighed, “As you say, Jonin-Sarutobi-Sama…now what's the sit-rep?” As he spoke, Jackdaw appeared, carrying an object wrapped in a towel…it was the closest thing on hand…I hope it won't obscure anything?”

Kirigaya looked at Jackdaw, “We're about to find out…with me. Jonin-Sama, I want you with me as secondary witnesses and secondary scribe.” Sarutobi raised an eyebrow, he knew his way around enough medical-nin to know this was not exactly procedure, however this was not exactly an ordinary operation. “Of course, although why do you need two witnesses?”

“Officially I'm off the clock, I shouldn't technically be even doing this. So I need witnesses and testimonies along with potentially official testimonials from two people in case I'm hauled back in front of a medical tribunal.” Kirigaya shrugged “I'm just covering my boxer-clad ass with the two biggest testimonials and testimonies from two unquestionable, unapproachable and uncorruptible fuck off sticks I can. You think Military Tribunals are shit, wait until you've been hauled through a Military Medical one it makes prostate exams and colonoscopies feel like paradise.”

Jackdaw gagged behind his mask “Let’s get this done.”

Kirigaya's apartment was sterile white, boxes littered everywhere but the Medical-Nin cut his way through the controlled clustered chaos too his spare room in which lay a medical bed, chair and desk “I need a place to document my illegal workings.” Jackdaw pulled out the chair, and two work-pads and pens along with a recording device.

Sarutobi waited for Kirigaya to pull on a crisp white jacket and a pair of scrubs along with gloves and a mask. “Que recording and prepare to write.”

Sarutobi and the ANBU nodded “Late Night Log Number 325. Reference previous case number CBH23190, specifically the Case about Uzuki Hari. This is Medical-Nin Kirigaya Asahi commencing diagnostics and forensic analysis as witnessed by ANBU Operative Jackdaw and Sandaime Hokage-Sama operating at the rank of Erito Jonin Shirei-Kan.” Jackdaw and the Hokage watched as the Bad News Medical-Nin began his diagnostic analysis. On the towel, Kirigaya announced there was faint evidence of Hashishi Kinusa's DNA; the towel itself had not been used in a while but it had been used. Kirigaya also noted fingerprints pointing towards ANBU Jackdaw not following proper procedures, ‘for the record, this is a Hokage-Sama issue’. On the blade were three separate blood types. The blood markers are of a similar nature to those of the Kibi family, and we will be requesting access to those files.’ Kirigaya looked at them “It’s confirmed, the fingerprints on the Same, Ito, Menuki sections of the Tsuka…the wrap and decorations on the handle or hilt of the blade are within most likely parameters that this was the murder weapon and the murderer himself. Until cross-referenced and reviewed by another medical-nin of sufficient calibre, I can provisionally confirm that Hashishi Kinusa DID murder the Kibi family and framed Uzuki Hari for the crime. Do I have any questions about what was witnessed?”

“ANBU Jackdaw has none.”

“Erito Jonin Shirei-Kan, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Sandaime-Hokage has none.”

“Then this investigation is concluded.”

(The Bleeding)

Sasuke and Naruto were shocked; they’d seen Hari training with all of their other cadre teachers, and aside from Kakashi, Gai, Kurenai and Asuma-senseis, he could beat them one-on-one and even three-on-one! He was so cool! But this guy had handed Hari’s ass to him without even trying! He even had a Kokyu Ho! “How do you even know that!” Sasuke stated, flaring his sharingan.

Kinsua turned to the Genin “What? My Dokumu no Kokyū? That little parlour trick, my dear framed and exceptionally innocent comrade, your sensei, created? I was on his Genin Team…No he didn’t teach me it as what he was doing is a deviation and/or trial of his clan; it's a hidenjutsu, he did teach his team a unique way to allow us to last longer; Sensei took the basics and after a bit of stealth observation managed to reverse engineer it.” He looked at the two genin “The Loyal Uchiha Brat and the famed ‘Trump Card’ of Konohagakure no Sato…Let’s see how you measure up.” Then he moved! Sasuke’s eyes widened and his breathing hitched, he couldn’t track him then there was pain as the mans knee bedded firmly into his stomach. He heard Naruto roar and rush forwards, blade drawn only for the sound of metal connecting with metal echoed overhead.

Naruto’s eyes widened. He focused their opponent was impossibly strong! Kakashi had barely been able to handle Zabuza! Naruto had a feeling this guy was even stronger! He concentrated; he couldn’t afford to lose control right now. He'd barely started his Kokyu Ho, training but that’s all he could think of doing. He harmonised his breathing, he felt the wind rush through him “First Form: Dust Whirlwind Cutter!” Naruto chanted mentally, and he lashed out with the first strike; it was fast strike not one ideal for the blade he was using but Kinusa-teme’s face widened as he tilted back. Naruto had counted on that and turned, bringing more of the green-covered, moaning blade to bear.

Kinusa jumped backwards, he tried to correct himself as the Jinchuriki spun again with a third strike; this one rending the ground where he’d just been standing! “What did he say! Dust Whirlwind?” That was an Uzuki Hari technique! That bastard…he paused, no that wasn’t exactly fair…He’d been the one to screw over his best friend and kill off their other teammate. He’d had his orders…from Danzo no less, he couldn’t disobey; he wasn’t dumb, he knew that Orochimaru-sensei was viler than he appeared, so he had to do what was necessary for the good of Konoha. Joining Orochimaru-sensei had come with some definitive perks, the Cursed Seal of Heaven for one; he and one other were strong enough to not only survive it but use it in any sort of serious use. He narrowly dodged the fourth strike, this one blurring from the left as opposed to the predicted right!

“Unknowing Fire!” The Uchiha! Kinusa had spent his time focusing on the orange-green whirlwind of Namikaze Uzumaki Naruto; it was far too easy to recognise the Jinchuriki’s parentage. He knew the Orochimaru-sensei suspected; however, he’d left the village way beforehand. The Snake Sage has seen Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina playing house together and would easily make the logical deduction. The brat had forced him to take his eye off the main target, the Uchiha, and he’d struck him! That was one hell of a flame technique!

Kinusa smirked. He’d seen enough “Otogakure-nin! FALL BACK!” His roar reverberated across the village and the skirmishing villages. The Oto-nin hastened to obey. Just then the building that had collapsed on his former friend erupted! The Konoha Teams were converging on him as the wrecked building disappeared from existence, their eyes widened in horror as Hari stalked out. His clothing was torn his left arm was almost black with tribal markings, the markings stretched across the gaunt specialists body, with two bone-like protrusions appearing from his head and what looked like wings stretching out of his back “Hissshasssshi Kinusssa, fleeing sssooo sssooon old friend?”

Kinusa drew a blade “If you think you can handle me, inmate.” This was bad news, He knew Hari loathed that the Juuinjutsu, sensei, had be implanted on him and to make him use it… He thought his enhancements had made him quicker, better at reading the body language of his opponents; but under the power of the ‘Heaven Seal, ’ Hari was nearly undetectable. Kinusa knew hands down that he was going to have his hands full with this.

“Hari…” Asuma growled, the blank eyes now repetillian looked at him “...kick his ass.”

“That appears to be the plan. Now then, Kazan no Kokyo: Firssst Form: Assshen Flame Rupture!” The heat was intense, the ground seemed to melt as Hari vanished with a sharp boom, his sword cocked back, his right arm nearly dislocated as he charged, he crossed the fifteen paces between him and his target before dropping to one knee and thrusting the blade forward. Kinusa had no time to react, the blade pierced and carved through his left arm at the shoulde,r severing it and cauterising it in a singular moment; then came the shoulder barge. Ashen Flame Rupture was a two-impact sword technique. The first part was similar to the Unknown Flame, intending to pierce through the heart with the body check to dislodge the body and send it, hopefully, into any enemy behind the target. Kinusa flew backwards, howling in pain. He got to his feet, he quickly backed away…his chakra was immense! Hari had gotten the name Hellsword for a reason and it definitely felt like he was back!

“Run, Kinusssa-kun, run, run back to dear old ssssenssseii, tell him hisss ssspurned ssstudent ssssaysss high.” Kinusa ran, he grabbed his arm and he ran.

The power of the cursed seal tore through him! He’d been ten when he’d been given it, he had held it back under his own willpower for three years before Kushina-sensei had helped seal it away. Despite being locked away for so long, Hari had always focused a large portion of his chakra into it, slowly eroding his sensei’s own revolting chakra in his body, making it his last-ditch trump card. Even throughout the war, he hadn’t used it! Now it was like heroin after just getting clean! “You know you want to use it my student.” 

“Fuck off, sensei. I have 99 Problems and you’re not just one.” Hari mentally growled as he forced himself to stop using the juujinjutsu. Everyone watched in horror as the lines faded and slowly reformed into a triangle of three curved lines. Hari sank to his knees before he began rifling through anything he might have salvaged “Where are you…I know I’ve packed more…”

Asuma reached into his vest and pulled out a packet of chakra-neutral bandages and expertly wrapped the mark, before forcing Hari’s hand around it “Fuuinjutsu: Eight Trigrams Evil Suppression!” Hari rasped, shaking persisted but Hari appeared to be stable and he couldn’t feel the insidious presence permeating his body, it’d take time to undo the damage. “St…Status Re…Rereport.”

“Hari-sensei, what the fuck was that?” Blurted out Kiba “I’ve never felt chakra that powerful or evil?”

“A gift. A gift from my sensei, Inuzuka-kun.” Hari replied looking down at the melted earthen street, “Not the person I call my sensei, but my allocated sensei.”

“Densetsu no Sannin Orochimaru.” Shino stated, his glasses glinting as his eyes met Hari’s “Tsunade-sama had a team, all kunoichi only one has the skill to give you something like that but she wouldn’t. Jiraiya-sama is the only trained Fuuinjutsu, master; my tou-san has said Jiraiya would never stoop so low…only one’s gone, gone nuke-nin. Your allocated sensei was Orochimaru.”

“I…had hoped and prayed I’d never let any of you see that, I had also hoped that would have remained a secret until I died.”

The Genin looked at him and saluted “We don’t care. Hari-sensei, you’ve been through hell as a shinobi, even if you don’t want to tell us that’s fine but we don’t care that your sensei was Orochimaru.” Ino stated “Although it is terrifying to know that he trained a genin team.”

“He trained four. Kinusa, Myself, Sakine and Anko. The first three were his genin, the latter his apprentice. Kinusa, I believe, killed Sakine, her husband and my goddaughter, Himeno. I was going to become a Jonin-sensei just for her…I entered their house for dinner, Kinusa must have been hiding, and he managed to jump me; knocked me out…killed Sakine and her Husband brutally. I never inquired into Himeno’s death. I woke up to Akimichi Military Police pulling me away; I was put on trial. I had no defence, it was too clean. Yes I was there, the weapon in my hand but I don’t remember doing it; Kinusa and I aren’t Genjutsu Specialists, that was Sakine. Remember MMO; means, motive and opportunity.”

Hinata’s eyes widened “You’re a shinobi so you have means. It sounds like you’re lacking a motive unless you were jealous of Sakine-sans husband, as for opportunity…none.”

Hari smirked “I’ve not had much time to train you Genin Hyuga but you’re right. I loved Sakine…I was her man-of-honour…I think I’ve got the picture.”

Gai chuckled “I certainly have a picture of you in…shall we say…womens undergarments and possibly one of you in the dress; I almost thought you were Yugao.”

“I’ll ensure that’s on your tombstone.” Asuma murmured. 

“Not that this isn’t highly entertaining but shouldn’t we be moving?” Sasuke asked curiously as he pulled Hari to his feet “Also, please tell us more.”

Hinata nodded “So no motive. Opportunity why were you there?”

“Family dinner. Kinusa and I were part of the furniture; I was babysitter and last ditch unaliver and Kinusa was primary unaliver. We… terrified a fair few doorstep delivery nin.”

“The pair of you, mainly you, terrified most people. Old Man Patch still hasn’t forgiven you for blowing up his Cabbage Stall.” Gai boomed. Hari shook his head, “I never blew up his damn stall, destroyed a few cabbages, but never his stall or cart…fucking mouse did that.”

“Mouse?” Asked Kurenai.

“Sentient, Yellow Mouse…speaks, walks and talks and is very zap happy. It’s the A-Rank Tora equivalent, generally done by ANBU to those who’ve pissed them off. I thought he was Kakashi’s.”

“Kaka-sensei has an electric mouse? Not his style.” Naruto blurted out in surprise “I thought he was a dog guy?”

“Kakashi cuts lightning bolts in his spare time. Pretty sure the Mouse taught him and he is.” Asuma replied.

(Anko)

Anko found herself seated inside the Hokage’s Office, a mug and jug of coffee on the hastily created desk. The mountain of paperwork was mind boggling; she thought Mission Reports were bad, but being an Operational Command was worse. It was getting on for nearly 1 am when she finished the general overview of the report “Hokage-Sama…I believe its done.”

The elderly kage strode over to the desk and picked up the initial report, he couldn’t help but chuckle at the hastily stuck notes of ‘testimonies from operatives to be included’. “This is…good work, Tokubetsu Mitarashi, I’m impressed.”

“I had to learn from the best, Hokage-Sama.” The Hokage chuckled, “Anko-chan, please, speak freely granddaughter of mine.” Anko's eyes widened. “Granddaughter, Hokage-Sama?”

“I taught Orochimaru, Jiraiya and Tsunade…with how long Genin and their Sensei lasts you become something akin to family. I know how the village has treated you, and I'm sorry.”

Anko’s eyes watered and slowly ever so slowly the tears began to fall. She'd been loyal, always loyal and it felt unrewarding at times but here was the Hokage helping her. “You've always wanted and needed help but never asked. Take it.” Her inner voice told her. Her heart broke, her arm flared in agony and her voice wavered and she began to talk.

(Uzuki Clan)

The elders of the Uzuki Clan were deep in talks “Yoshimitsu-Dono, what do you recommend?” Uzuki Taiyang asked, kneeling in front of his father; he was the father of Uzuki Yugao and Uzuki Hari. “The man has disgraced everything to do with us; the fact I have not asked him for his life is enough, is it not, sochi?”

Taiyang nodded “Very generous and kind of you, Otou-san-dono, although I am unsure as to why he has been brought up again.” Yoshimitsu eyed his son, despite the proof put to his own grandsons deeds, his own son had been reluctant to fully accept the findings. “What new pertinent information have you found, that might persuade me to change our stance?” There was no tone of mockery, it was one of purest sincerely.

Taiyang sighed “The evidence is in that of the proof; my fellow elders. I have recently been given access to Uzuki Hari's missions and how he has carried them out.”

Uzuki Komori's eyes widened in understanding “Uzuki Hari is and was without a doubt one of our finest, his assassination style does lead to the methods of killing the Kibi family were found, but where are the traces of Katon or even Kono? Hari assassinates and makes it look like a fire was the cause of death; even if that is the case, why wasn't Himeno-chan spared? That girl was going to be Hari's Ward, Foster and Apprentice?”

Yoshimitsu had found himself caught flatfoot “He never said anything at his trial.” He admitted “I thought that was because he was so certain of his guilt he had nothing to say.”

“Or he had been fitted up, judged by the Honoured Advisors and not the Hokage, he chose not to speak.” Komori finished. “We saw the child, we wetted her head, they were the guests of honour to our Clan heir? We all know Hari was bad at interacting with kunoichi when asking them on a date…” that still caused chuckles and fond smiles.

“Yugao reported that there was a major operation that has recently occurred and new evidence has come to light.” Uzuki Kei stated, Kei seldom spoke at the meetings, he kept his own council especially in Clan Matters; he was the Guardian of Seven Juuinkenjutsu Blades of the Uzuki. He had married into the Clan despite naturally being an Uzumaki at birth, the blades had been his bridal gift. When Uzuki Haku died, he took her place on the Council, and as it was never his place to meddle in the Clan he seldom spoke and always abstained. For him to speak made Yoshimitsu listen.

“What new evidence?”

“From what Yuago-chan has reported, a copy of one of our blades had been retrieved. Three blood patterns on the blade and two sets of finger prints and a blunted pommel.”

“You would only blunt a pommel to hit someone over the head. Was Uzuki Hari even checked for injuries when he was arrested?” Questioned Uzuki Arisu “Elders, Patriarch, this is sounding more and more like Uzuki Hari has been fitted up for a crime and we the Uzuki Family have unknowingly gone along with it.”

(The Genin Platoon)

They were tired and they were exhausted but yet they carried pushing on. “What are we going to tell the Hokage?”

“We got attacked, Otogakure attacked us without provocation and we defended ourselves; I have confirmation that Hasashi Kinusa was present and has defected. I have the blood on my blade for proof. Plus our conversation about Sensei, means the Otokage is Orochimaru and the Elder Jonin here knows how angry he was about the elected Yondaime.”

Kurenai shuddered “And too think I dismissed you Hari so out of hand. What is next? We have two to three weeks before the Chunin Exams.”

“A lot can be done in that time, as for admittance that's upto the Four Sensei’s. Hari admitted. He was surprised to find Sasuke beside him “Yeah?”

“What does that mark do? The Juuinjutsu? Aside from freaky transformations and incredible speed increases?” Hari looked, he could see the greed and want for power present but also sharp curiosity.

“It increases the amount of chakra your body outputs, it augments your senses using something known as Sage Chakra, in an impure Form…it can give you all the power you want, provided at the sweet small seductive cost of your soul. You'll become nothing more than a puppet or worse for Orochimaru to play with or worse. Sensei always lasted for power, immortality and jutsu and only one Clan has two of those delicious delicacies.”

Sasuke’s eyes widened “The Sharingan…he wants me?”

“Only one within his abilities to make an attempt at. Heard he tried with your brother, your brother wiped the floor with him. He'll tempt you with power and getting vengeance and it'll be one hell of an argument.” Hari admitted. Jonin and Genin stared at the Specialist. “He would give you everything at a price, alternatively, you could stick around Konohagakure no Sato and who knows maybe, just maybe You'll become the Hashira, I know you could be.”

“A Hashira?”

“A Master of a breathing technique. The breathing styles are of my own development. They're part of my trials to become a member of the Uzuki Clan, if they take…well I could get a shot. Although what with everything…”

Sasuke grunted “Clan thing? I honestly don’t know much about the Uzuki’s.”

“We’re not affiliated with any of the big clans of Konoha, we are or rather were a Clan affiliated with the Uzukmaki Clan from Uzu no Kuni. Some of us settled into Konohagakure no Sato when Senju-nee Uzumaki Mito-Sama married Senju Hashirama-sama. The Uzuki and Uzumaki were known for their kenjutsu, the Uzuki specialised in Fuuinkenjutsu and a few other things. The Uzumaki had Kenjutsu, Fuuinjutsu, Body-Based Kekkei Genkai and One-hand seal Suiton and Futon.”

Naruto looked at Hari with eyes wide “Is that why you’re training me?”

“Your mother trained me, my family taught her when her own Clan couldn’t. I wanted to. Not everything about me is balancing books and ultraviolence.”

“Ultraviolence just seems to come with you.” Kurenai snorted “Let’s not forget the ‘Let’s detonate a forest scheme’.”

"No one of importance died.” Hari retorted.

“Just severe burns and cauterised limbs and a lot of molten Iwa…you’re right…no one of importance. Anyway, your clan.” Kurenai eventually admitted before she wanted to know more; Yugao had spoke a bit about her clan but not in detail and tried to give a public face routine. Hari was more willing to be open about their family.

“Murdering your teammate, betraying the Clan, betraying the Family, betraying Konoha or anything that could be construed as dishonourable or deliberately selfish stains your honour, soul and life so badly that there's only one way to redeem yourself.”

“The taking of your own life,” Hinata murmured. “The fact you've not been asked or suggested to…”

“Indicates they can sweep it under the rug by disowning me, or they're realising that what's happened was a frame-up and a frame-up so perfect that no one could even say that it was a frame-up. Framing and Staging Assassinations is an art form, one of patience and studying. Not just the target, that's the easy bit, framing someone else, especially if they're a shinob, I think that's harder. Stuff, I’ll happily teach you.” Hari carried on with cheerfully. The Forest fell away and the tree thickened to almost planks, as Konoha came into view. Hari smiled, the Genin were tired, still shocked, but were no longer numb; they were engaged in small talk, whilst Hari chattered and bantered with everyone. From the Genin’s point of view, including Team Gai, the more they thought they knew. Everyone realised that whilst Hari was going to be open, but not that much, as they saw he turned the conversation back to shinobi topics. Some daemons hadn’t been confronted with at all, and only some had recently been defeated.

All of them, well, bar Naruto and Tenten had hailed from established Clans all steeped in traditions and had been trained for Bloodletting but the fact that they had taken a sentient life still knocked them through the loop. Tenten fared a little better, she’d been told stories about her adoptive parents and Hari’s exploits during the war. They hadn’t prepped her the same way as raising and killing a pet or hunting for a meal, but they had only made her practise on a life-like gelly substance that looked far too humanoid; it was worse that they mimicked genuine body types. Naruto was far too quiet; he’d only spoken to distract himself from thought. “That was rough, wasn’t it Naruto-Kohai?”

“Uh?” He replied dumbly. Tenten smiled, “Me, kohai. You know, senior Genin, Knee Biters, Bigger Ankle Bighters? I’m asking you if it was rough, dummy.” Naruto chuckled, “Yeah, that was it. I didn’t like doing that, Panda-chan.”

“Call me that again, Whiskers, and I’ll clobber you senseless.” Tenten snapped, Naruto flinched slightly; training as they had, Hari had managed to keep ‘lesson one in a fight, in his head: Watch the eyes.’ She was only slightly joking, “That’s a date then. It felt weird, y’know, the fighting now that easier.”

“You found fighting enemy-nin easier?” Tenten yelped. Naruto nodded. He was going to say something else, but as they reached the gates of Konoha; they were already open. The Hokage was not alone. “Jiji, Otou-san…” Hari breathed, heart hammering heavily in his ribcage.

Chapter Text

To Be Stronger 13

Reconciliations and Revelations

Kirigaya Asahi swore. The words that flowed from his lips turned the air blue around him from his patented Iryonin Hidenjutsu: Extreme Displeasure. He had been called in on a day off to check on Genin Haruno Sakura. She was improving, she had been checked into her physiotherapy routine, and she had taken to it like a duck to water. He had also taken the time to reanalyse the blood on the sword. Himeno’s blood wasn’t on the blade. Whilst not unheard of, it was certainly rare for a child to have a different blood type. The blood types were all A; Himeno was registered as AB-. “Someone’s going to fucking die. Fucking painfully.” 

“Is something wrong, sensei?” Aimiko Yadamine asked nervously, as she followed her sensei’s routine, carefully dictating his processes and the Extreme Displeasure Jutsu. “Very much so, Yadamine-kohai, very much so…Have you learned about breaking news and mistakes yet?” Yadamine rolled her head from side to side. “I mean, in theory, since I’ve been training under you as a generalist, I take it you have a different way?”

“I do. I believe in the Iryonin: Need Not Want Jutsu. What is a Medic?”

“A medic is a professional at diagnosing, treating and assisting others with a variety of ailments ranging from physical, psychological and emotional distress or trauma. We, as medics, give the truth to not harm. Furthermore, any medic should be able to recognise the extent of their abilities and be able to inform those in our care when we reach the extent of our abilities.”

“Full marks on the by-the-book regurgitation, now come and have a look at my findings and tell me what you believe I should do.” Yadamine stood at her teacher's side. “I need to run my own tests, I trust yours but trust and verify.” Kirigaya chuckled, and he patted her on the shoulder. Yadamine felt her stiffen and puff her chest out; she’d completed medical-ninja training alongside her Chunin promotion; she and five others had been selected by Kirigaya Asahi to become generalist Iryonin, and after three years she was the only one left.

“Two A-type blood markers, identical correlation to that of the mother and father. The daughter should also be of A blood type; however, her file states that she has chimerism, meaning the Short Tandem Repeats and Polymerase Chain Reactions would show distinctly different blood groupings and markings. Himeno is registered as B-, and her parents are A+. The blood markings on the sword are all A-type blood.” Yadamine said. “Have we beaten up the Mortuary team yet?”

“Yadamine-chan, that is not nice. We do not beat up the Necrophiliacs because of their predisposition and sexual inclinations. We question, questioning vigorously, intently, and politely. Just because they have ‘standing people problems’ and cannot stand the sight of blood does not mean that they’re a less valuable member of Konoha’s Shinobi Forces and Medical Team. One does not make enemies of Iryonin and Mortuary-nin, if one can help it.” Kirigaya replied, grinning at his pupil.

“They're trained to stop your heart and skilled enough to bring you back. Don't we get paid a salary?”

“We do. Iryonin is a front-facing job. We tend to civilians and shinobi so we get paid for missions and a salary. Our missions are established OT. We have two hours before our break, food is on me.”

(Front Gate)

“Genin are dismissed. Jonin-Cadre please remain, Jonin Uzuki you are exempt from this order.” Sarutobi stated.

“I wish I could.” Hari said before bowing to his estranged family “I shall be with you soon. I have an import report to be given to the Hokage.”

“How important?”

“Hisashi Kinusa,” Hari stated, attracting the attention of everyone. “Is alive, unfortunately well, although he has been disarmed. He is also a Leader of a brand new Shinobi Village by the name of Otogakure no Sato. There were…complications with the mission we were assigned, mainly, Oto-nin. Can confirm that all Genin have now been bled.”

“You used it…didn’t you?”

“Unfortunately. Hokage-Sama, I had no choice; I had no desire to see my students, any of them, die, again. So I used it and the moment I put Hisashi to flight I set it aside.”

The Hokage nodded “I see, your bullheadness saw you through.”

“Yup. Body feels like I’ve been in the loving company of Iwa-Nin Teaching Impliments. I’ll survive.”

“Hokage-Sama, permission to speak.” Sasuke said.

“Acknowledged.”

“I pressed Hari-sensei about it and because I was an eye-witness to what Uzuki-sensei did with it; I inquired about. His Teacher, I want nothing to do with him; I have a feeling he’s going to come and seduce me to joining him. I know that you’ve been observing me, I stand with Uzumaki Naruto and Konoha. I have questions, Hokage-Sama.”

The Hokage nodded “It is wonderful, young Uchiha that the Will of Fire burns so bright in you. You remind me of your relative Uchiha Kagami.” Sasuke’s eyes widened “Uchiha Kagami was of the main house, I believe he was Uchiha Butsuma’s descendant, and Butsuma was the third son of Tajima-sama.”

“And you?” Naruto blurted out.

“I’m certain that my mother was the Clan Head. My father was her mouthpiece for a time.” Sasuke replied, stunning them. Hari’s eyes widened “That…makes so much sense. Your Lady Mother took to flame-breathing like it was made for her. She only created three forms.”

“You taught people our clan's hidenjutsu!” Exclaimed one of the assembled Uzuki Elders.

“They were never clan hidenjutsu, as they were never registered with the clan. They were my techniques, my skills, skills I made. I was going to send them to the clan but hey, wars are wars; Kyuubi attacked, and everything.” Hari sniped back “Sure, I’ve committed many transgressions inadvertently towards the Clan and Family and for that I can only apologise.”

“No need, Uzuki Hari.” Yoshimitsu stated before bowing to him “We wronged you which is why, I formerly ask you if you would return so the Clan and Family and hear what really happened on that night. We also want you to undergo the Selection.”

The Hokage cleared his throat “Uzuki Hari, I'll get your report separately. You need to sort out this internal matter. The Uzuki are an integral part of Konoha, family fights; it is better to mend bridges before feuds consume our home.”

Hari nodded “As you wish Hokage-Sama. Elders, I shall meet you at the gates of the Compound.” With that he vanished in a shunshin. The Uzuki bowed to the Hokage before they vanished as one.

(Uzuki Compound)

It was not an imposing, immense infrastructure that rivalled a small village. No, there were perhaps eight buildings of identical build, scaffolding decorating the buildings. Whenever an Uzuki was born, the house built an additional living room, kitchen, bathroom and rooms for the family. 

The size of the buildings were also deceiving. The buildings weren't just covering the surface, they also went underground. The Uzuki considered all those who had their blood and married into the clan as family.

Uzuki Himeno strode across the ground, heading towards the sparring courtyard when she looked out into Konoha. Standing outside the gates was her son! Her beloved only son! Am amazing shinobi, one of the best with a blade and horrendously disgraced; she could not believe her son would have done what he'd purportedly done. She had tried to visit but her requests were denied. “Hari.”

“Uzuki-Sama.” Hari replied, face blank, body physically still. “Will you come in?”

“I can't. I would love to, but, until the Elders return, I cannot step beyond the gates.”

“Is this your pride talking or because you cannot bear to face your past?” She countered.

“Both. The Elders were waiting for me, and requested I come to the compound…” he was about to continue when the Elders arrived in unison. Yoshimitsu nodded to his grandson “Be welcome back grandson, your time of exile and banishment are over.” Yoshimitsu announced.

Hari stumbled into the compound, his legs giving way. He wrapped his arms around his mother, sobbing. “Shinobi aren't meant to show emotions.”

“Shinobi are humans, and I've missed everyone so much.”

His grandfather hugged him “We were wrong, so wrong. We confused your silence for inadmissible guilt; we never expected or anticipated that your silence was your defence. Then, when you were released, we should have brought you back.”

“I wasn't ready to. I would have refused; I just wanted to be alone. I'd been alone for so long, I got used to the silence. All that's been fuelling me has been justice, revenge, settling scores. Then Yugao-nee walked in and said ‘I need your help’. I refused, Hokage-Sama gave me a chance and he gave me back my flak.”

Hiro grinned, “I heard your remarks when the Hokage asked you to renew your oaths.”

“I thought he was going to take my head for that.”

“He wouldn't, Grandson. I know you have told the story many times, but, for the Clan Records, we need to know.”

Hari shuddered and he began to recite his story. Elder Haku took the notes; he did not embellish, he did not transcribe; he wrote it down. From arriving at the crime scene all the way down to his relatives' release. Hari was sobbing, freely, each recounting brought on fresh waves of sorrow and the Clan knew there was nothing they could do to ease his pain. For they themselves felt sickened and desolate; they seldom fostered or took on Wards, and little Saki Himeno would have been their first. “Grandson, do you remember your cousin Yadamine Inoko?”

Hari nodded “I used to bounce her on my knee when I was a kid. I remember she wanted to be an Iryo; she nearly failed our clan trials. What of her?”

“She’s working under Kirigaya Asahi.”

“The ‘Warui Shirase’, one of the few Genin of Shimura Danzo…well…the only one that didn’t follow his sensei deep into the Root…if it even exists still.” Hari replied blandly “And?”

“Himeno might well be alive.” Yoshimitsu stated bluntly “You said that she was unique…suffers from Chimerism. Her blood type is not like her parents.”

“She’s a B-, her parents were A- and A+.” Hari replied before his blood stilled “That son of a bitch…that fucking son of a bitch.”

“The blood on the sword at my trial said ‘three of the A Category’. I was in shock at the moment; I couldn’t believe that my goddaughter and her parents were dead.”

“Calm yourself, you mentioned that you fought with Hashashi Kinusa?”

“Less fought, more scrapped with him. Fucker’s created his own Kokyo Ho. I never actually taught him how to do it; it’s not a hidenjutsu of the Uzuki clan —at least, not yet. It is, at best, weaponised chakra control exercises taken to the stupidest of degrees.”

That caught the Uzuki Elders by surprise “Would you mind showing us? How much of it have you developed? What can we, the clan, do to improve on them?” Yoshimitsu asked.

Hari groaned “Alright, the absolute fundamental aspect of Kokyo Ho, is called Zen Shuchu no Kokyu. You inhale as much oxygen as possible and force it throughout your body, stimulating the natural activity of your body. You’ll find your body is just better than reinforcing it with Chakra. Once you can do it constantly, you’ll have achieved Zen Shuchu Jochu. Then, as for the Kokyo Ho, I have created- for the most part, five ‘core’ styles Mizu, Hono, no Ki, it is specifically called Hono, as Hi might be referred to as Fire. Kaminari, Iwa and finally Kaze. My strongest elements are Hono, Mizu and Iwa.”

“Much like your elemental affinities. Can they be modified?”

“The way of the blade is one part tradition, one part kata and one part adaptability. Traditions are important, they emphasize why we take up the blade. Kata’s are a training regimen so we do not intentionally injure our fellow learners. Adaptability, noone is identical; I cannot parry a blade the same way you can Oji-sama nor you Tousan; I can perform the kata but I must adapt the kata in a way that it best suits me. None of the five forms are perfect, for we are only human after all. They are going to change, they are going to alter I have intended them to be so. What is important is whoever undertakes this training and walks the Kokyo Ho, knows one core style and can deviate from that.” Hari lectured.

The elders were intrigued “We do have a serious question, Hari-san.”

“Go on?”

“You are at the age or even above the age to be in a betrothal or married.”

“Are there any requirements?”

“They just have to be a Shinobi.”

“Mitarashi Anko.”

Yoshimitsu looked at him “Why?”

“We had mutual reciprocal feelings for one another, we were both screwed over by our Sensei; she is also one of the few, very few, who were in my corner from the get go. She’s experienced the exact same amount of hatred and loathing towards her as I have; I spent a lot of time brawling with my comrades whenever they besmirched her name in my presence. I got locked up, she without fail kept trying to visit me. Even when others stopped, she kept trying. Furthermore, when I got out and I was living in the Inuzuka holdings she was the first one to visit, brought me groceries and copious amounts of Dango. She listened to me, I listened to her. Oji, she is well aware of how things are going to be, if I’m getting a second chance why can’t she?”

“She has a reputation…”

“One that she has cultivated to hide the pain and torment from this fucking village. I’ve not met anyone like Anko. I am more than happy to step down from being Heir if it means I can be with Anko.”

“She’s loyal. Fanatically loyal.” My father stated “I had two missions with her whilst you were away; yes, she’s a little headstrong and more than jutsu happy, but her code of conduct on missions is above and beyond reproach. I’ve seen her break a nuke-nin just by sashaying up to him. I’ve even seen a little behind the mask; my son speaks truly about her. She’s powerful, even with the majority of her chakra sealed away; what she has available she’s honed to an edge that’d make our blademaster proud. She’d be valuable to the clan, just as much as she’d value a Clan to back her up.”

Yoshimitsu nodded as the clan head; he knew that he needed to do what was best for the clan. He’d seen how Mitarashi had led the textbook raid on the Traitor's house; he was waiting to be summoned for the debriefing. He’d seen her file, and he had to admit, none were as worthy of marrying into the family than her. “Bring her to dinner, after the Chunin exams.”

Hari grinned, “I’ll move in at the same time.”

(Anko)

Anko sat apprehensively in Hari’s apartment, her lilac eye bloodshot, around her was her debrief. She had to debrief the entire Shinobi Council! She’d provided her reports and debriefed the Hokage privately, but this! This was high pressured quickly backdated and barely concealed A/S Rank mission full council debrief was killing her. Then there was the fact, Hari wasn't home; she knew he was alive, slightly fucked up, and was either back or in the Office.

She took another swig from the bottle of sake next to her. This was impossible, she roused from her musings when a knock on the door disturbed her. She grabbed a kunai and headed to the door, she peered through the peephole before she hurled the door open. Hari stood their looking sheepish “Hey.” Anko pulled him into her “Hey…where have you been?”

“Uzuki's. The Clans welcomed me back with open arms, for the most part.” Hari admitted. “Mission went well enough, we're going to get a bollocking tomorrow. You?”

“I have a full debrief in front of the Shinobi Council tomorrow. I'm seriously stressed the fuck out…” Anko’s words died in her throat as her lover kissed her on the mouth. They reluctantly broke apart, Hari’s eyes were filled with concern. “Okay, let’s see…you’re familiar with the rules of engagement with the higher-ups?”

“When in doubt, salute, and don’t call them names.” She replied. Hari grinned, “See, that’s the stuff. You don’t need a three-file binder going over the mission-brief; granted, some of the more anal-atentive clans would normally press the issue, but I doubt that’s going to be the case. You’re main job is to recite what happened on your mission in front of the Hokage and the Esteemed Shinobi Council; where the ignoramous will protest and say ‘why didn’t you give command to me’ and such things.”

“Am I likely to get any questions from the Uzuki?”

“My grandfather works as my grandfather works, although I’d like you to come over to the compound and meet my family.”

Anko’s stomach knotted “M…Meet…your family?”

“Yeup, if it makes you better, I can coax Yugao to bring Hayate so the pair of you can sweat together.”

“What’s the attire? What’s the occasion?”

“Attire…call it formal casual. Kimono, Haori etc. Flak jackets are permitted.”

Anko looked at him “Why do I feel like you’re hiding something from me?”

“Because I am. I’ve not only been accepted back, but I’ve been reinstated as the Heir and Anko…I know this is left-field coming from me… Would you consider my hand for marriage?”

Anko’s face went white “Me, You…Married? Are you serious?”

“It’s you or the clan falls to Yugao’s firstborn male. It comes with some perks and some drawbacks, though. I’m being totally serious with you, whenever I’m with you; I am fully committed to you. I need something honest to come back to when I’m required to lie, steal, cheat, deceive, murder and kill on behalf of Konoha. You’ve had my back since before the beginning. You wouldn’t be doing this if it wasn’t for me.”

“I’m…I’m…not sure what I bring to a clan, or even, if I’m going to be acceptable.”

Hari smiled at her “You’ll find something to bring; my mother was in the same boat, now look at her…she’s the consort of the Clan Head.” 

“I thought you were the Clan Heir? What’s Clan Head and What does your Grandfather do?”

“Grandfather is the Clan Lord, he is the ultimate final say in clan decisions; so filled with logical and rational thinking you’d be hard-pressed to find a caring bone in his body. He means well; unfortunately, he needs to do what is best for the Clan as a whole, not the Family. My Father is the Clan Head, in essence, the stop-gap; the ‘most powerful’ member of the Clan, no clan should have members stronger than their Head; they’re also the spokesperson of the Clan. Clan Heir, I’ll be inheriting this bullshit.”

“What’s your bullshit, is my bullshit. I don’t know much about marriage or being a Leader; but what I do know is to watch your glorious ass. You want me to make a stellar impression on your family, then I’ll make the stellar impression.”

(Neji)

Beneath the Hokage Tower, Hyuuga Neji waited; he had been waiting at least a month. He sat, he waited…he mulled over the choices he made to do such a thing. He had never felt that much anger, hatred and fury towards a fellow kunoichi; especially one he’d barely knew; not even Rock Lee was worth this condemnation and Lee was one of his best friends.

“Genin Hyuuga, follow me.”

Chapter Text

To Be Stronger 14

Trials, Testaments, Tribulations 

Hyuga Neji was frogmarched, escorted by six ANBU, to the Hokage's Antechamber. His stomach was a mass of literal and figurative knots, his mind in turmoil. He kept reliving that moment, the moment where he had attempted to kill Genin Haruno. That had never been his intention, yes he did not consider her a worthy Genin. He was also aware that this could end his life, should he speak falsely; he had no idea why he wanted to do such a thing. 

The only thing he could think was he'd been hit with a genjutsu. However with his kekkei genkai, he was certain he'd have noticed being under the influence of a genjutsu. “The Military Tribunal is in session. Everyone rise.” Homura Mitokado boomed. The Hokage strode into the room Intent rolling off him akin to a barely contained forest fire. “Hyuga Neji, you are on trial for the attempted murder, and hospitalisation of Genin Haruno Sakura. Have you met with your council?”

“Hai, Hokage-Sama, Hyuga Junpei; Clan Defender, Rank Tokubetsu Jonin.”

“And his cousin.” The Hokage admitted. Junpei shrugged “Seventh Cousin, add a few removed as well for the record Hokage-Sama.” The Hokage nodded, calmly “Far enough removed to safely represented, very well, Hyuga Neji how do you plead?”

Junpei looked at his cousin, Neji nodded and looked at him "I've told you everything…” Neji croaked. Junpei sighed “My Client pleads not guilty to attempted murder but guilty on the intention to hospitalise Genin Haruno.”

Homura raised an eyebrow “What is your defence Hyuga Neji?”

Junpei looked at Neji curiously “We have several paths we can go down?”

Neji sighed “I have no words, no concrete evidence…Prosecutor Mitokado; I believe I was placed under a genjutsu. My records show that whilst I have a few warnings of conduct unbecoming especially on recon patrols near the border with Kaminari no Kuni…”

Mitokado nodded “He speaks truly, Hokage-Sama. His record is no more or less spotty than an average Hyuga.”

“I would like to differ from Mitokado-sama.” Junpei said standing as he spoke. “Hyuga Neji is not any Genin of the Hyuga Clan; he is the Nephew of Hyuga Hisashi himself…Cousin, this is the truth. You know it, you have been treated far better than most.” Neji looked at his cousin in shock, he'd never known. Sure his quarters were bigger, better decorated but he hadn't anticipated being treated differently because of his family. “But…”

“Hyuga-Sama does not train merely anyone, especially, from the Branch and Lesser Branches of the Hyuga Clan and yet you learned at his feet and ate at his table. Trained as the Ladies Hanabi and Hinata were and yet when you made a mistake as all do you were not punished with the Caged Bird Seal. I am not only a barrister for the Clan, I am…THE Barrister of the Clan Head.”

Neji shook his head “I have no defence, I never wanted to murder or even grievously injure Genin Haruno. I saw her and saw a weak kunoichi; she could be something great in the forces…I acted as I did to demonstrate to her the most likely outcomes if she didn't shape up. I would never intentionally kill or even hospitalise a colleague; I acted impulsively and in a dishonorable way besmirching my own name and the name of the Hyuga Clan and Family. I offer myself as retribution and reparation for my dishonorable and deplorable actions.”

Koharu remained silent, Homura looked at the Hokage. “He has suffered in holding, until now, I would say he has had his punishment.”

Hiruzen looked at the downcast form of Hyuga Neji “You know of the Old Ways?”

“Not as well as I would like, Hokage-Sama. I understand and I know that the you, Hokage-Sama, are the Judge, Jury and Executioner. You are the Hokage, you guide and protect Konohagakure no Sato and Hi no Kuni. You are assisted and guided by the Clans, but you are the sole power of Konoha.”

Hiruzen nodded “Then you should know that as you so stated my powers of ‘Judge, Jury and Executioner’, I can offer you something known as the Hokage's Chance.”

“A stay of execution?”

“A demonstration of ultimate mercy. Your own choices will be the whetstone and your etiquette, performance and abilities on your missions, the holster to the kunai that is your life. Will you rise to the occasion to become a knife in your Kage's arsenal or are you one to end your life?”

“I will become a knife. Hokage-Sama.”

“Then, rise, Hyuga Neji. You shall report to Jonin Hatake and await his judgement.” Neji nodded and knelt to the Hokage “Thank you.” 

“Unshackle the Genin.”

Neji’s chains fell away, he bowed again. “You're still here?” The Hokage noted.

“You are still my commander in chief.”

Hiruzen smiled “Case closed. Genin Hyuga, you shall report to Jonin Hatake for further instructions. As for your Hokage's Chance, I shall summon you once, I have something suitable.”

(Anko)

Anko found herself standing in front of the Hokage and the Ninja Clan Representatives. She wasn't dressed as she normally would be, her miniskirt and mesh had been replaced by tanned jonin pants, her shirt was black with purple mesh aesthetically woven into it. Her flak jacket is clearly present underneath her trench coat.

Her notes were also evident, along with her nerves. She looked across the assembled Shinobi, frantically looking for Hari when her tattoo pulsed, it was a reassuring pulse one that mimicked his heartbeat. He was present and with her, right now, she needed to be composed. “Hokage-Sama, Honoured Advisors and Esteemed Heads and Representatives of Konohagakure no Sato's Clans.” She began.

“Are you prepared for this briefing?” Sarutobi asked.

“I know what I want to say. Just taking in the enormity of the situation. And the first one to say ‘that's what he or she said’, will receive my personal disdain.” Anko replied stifling Tsume. Hisashi chuckled to himself as did Hari and Yoshimitsu.

“She has fire, grandson.” Yoshimitsu commented. Hari nodded “She did this, for me, I never saw it begin. I inadvertently kickedstarted this, Anko…she carried this on, I need to be here to watch her end this. I can do nothing else.” Yoshimitsu nodded, his grandson was right…he had chosen well.

They listened as Anko crisply and succinctly explained the reasons behind her mission and how it went down. “It was deemed to be important to Konoha for it reflected negatively upon one of our own. There was a grievous miscarriage of justice! Wars and Feuds have been started over less, Honoured Council.”

“Miterashi makes several points, all of which are pertinent and accurate, save for delivery of tone.” Sarutobi Ashai said speaking up “Clan Sarutobi holds no rejections or stipulations for this mission.”

“Neither does the Nara Clan…it'll be troublesome but I daresay Clans Yamanaka and Akimichi will walk in step?” Shikaku stated.

“Indeed. We walk alongside the Sarutobi.” Inoichi stated with Chouza nodding his head.

“Clan Shimura has one question, Jonin Mitarashi.” Hanzo Shimura stated. Anko nodded.

“This mission feels rather rushed and part of a cover-up, forgive me, Jonin Mitarashi; but it is well known that you are close to the people at the centre of this case.”

Anko felt her blood rush to her face “I was only briefed on the mission, at the last moment. I'm sure Shimura-san can understand the inconvenience and potential biases that come with last minute missions. I will not lie, My Teacher and his Genin Team are at the centre of this mess and I am as well. I was trained alongside the two Shinobi in this file. I will also admit that I am in a relationship with one of them. Is my report bias, not as far as I know; I am a consummate professional. If I have been biased in my reports then I can only apologise; but I challenge anyone to be impartial when a loved one is at the focus of a mission.”

“Peace, I apologise for my apparent lack of sympathy. I have no intent to offend one of Konoha’s best Kunoichi.” Hanzo replied, holding his hands up “I believe you, you are amongst allies at best and acquaintances at worst. Everyone knows of you and your story.”

Sarutobi nodded, “I must formally congratulate you, Tokubetsu Jonin Mitarashi, for your exemplary work on this mission. I can only say, kneel a Toku and raise as one of my Elite. Your stripes shall be given to you within a week. Dismissed.” Anko grinned. She couldn’t and wouldn’t believe it. She stiffened as she felt two arms rope around her waist; she looked up and purple eyes stared into the dark brown of Hari’s. “You were waiting?”

“I never left. I was as quiet as I could be. This was your moment, you did it.” Hari murmured. Anko relaxed for a brief moment before an older presence appeared before her. She knew instinctively that this was Hari’s grandfather “Uzuki-sama.”

“Please, Mitarashi-chan, call me Uzuki-san or Yoshimitsu-san. I wanted to set eyes on my Heirs Chosen and make my own opinions.”

Anko stared at the man and then at Hari “Translation?”

“I picked you, as opposed to an interclan or interfamilial marriage, and the Clan Head wanted to evaluate you without any bias.”

“I see. I think.”

Yoshimitsu snorted “Grandson! You never said her wit was this sharp! She knows what she knows, and admits to knowing what she does not and possesses the crucial ability to laugh at one's own foibles. Whilst possessing a hard skin to withstand the imbeciles who know not the hilt and point of a kunai.”

“You stick ‘em with the pointy end and use the blunt end to punch.” Anko replied getting a snort of approval from Yoshimitsu. “I will profess my concern about you Miterashi-san, if only concerns about the perversions of…”

“He betrayed me, he left me behind because I was useless to him. I'd rather assassinate the Tsuchikage via Fellatio, than become even a shade of a monster our dear sensei was.” Anko snarled, taking Hari's hand.

“Hari had the courage to say ‘no’ to our Sensei and as a result his life came crashing down. I believed Hari with all of my being; I turned Konoha upside down for him and I firmly believe that my Goddaughter-to-be, is still alive.” Anko snapped “Chimerism…it's a lovely thing.”

Hari and Yoshimitsu stared at her “Chimerism?” The elder Uzuki stated almost in disbelief. Anko nodded “Come, come. The family awaits the Matriarch-in-waiting.”

Hari cackled as Anko blushed. The trio left the emptying Tribunal Chambers. Anko found herself the centre of attention, any sort of resentment towards her, was either well hidden or been replaced by profuse expressions of regret. “Hari, do you think I'd be able to learn your Kokyu no fighting style?”

“I was going to teach you the Kokyu No Mizu. Your elemental affinity might well be fire and Hono, might suit you…I however think you'll be best designing your own form.”

“Why Mizu? What's special about Mizu?”

“Water is freeflowing, unpredictable, it's smooth on the surface but turns on a dime. I can think of a creature with similar capabilities.”

“Snakes? My snakes? You want me to build one around snakes?”

“You could. You really could.” Hari explained as he wrapped his arms around her and escorted her into the streets of Konoha. Yoshimitsu watched his grandson and his intended, she was a good match. Powerful, caring, more than willing to stand up to him. Behind a powerful man was an even more powerful woman. His hand drifted to the sword on his hip, it wasn't his sword it would never be his sword. His sword was on his back, he thought of his wife, an excellent scout and recon specialist who grew up in the dying embers of the Warring Clans Era and 1st Shinobi War. 

Mirai and Yoshimitsu had survived the first two wars and had an active hand in training their grandchildren. Who'd been thrown into the fires of war and had come out the other side. Yoshimitsu sighed, nothing was ever simple anymore; he's sent countless of his kinsmen and immediate family to die. The fact he had to mediate the choices of his family and who they married toiled on him. Hari and Anko, he could see it…separately they were cracked and crumpled shadows of people but together…together they were stronger and more human.

As the trio entered the Uzuki estate, Muichiro Tokito slid to a stop, a bruise around his eye. “Tokito-kun?” Hari said dropping next to his kinsman. “Aniki…I'm sorry.”

“Whatever for?”

“I…I failed the Clan Trials. I…I have no skill with the Dancing Leaf Blade, our signature fighting style.”

Hari snorted “I sucked at it…little one. I nearly beheaded myself on my Trials; it wasn't until I showed them my then unrecorded fighting style did I realise that our Clan and Family to pass the trials we only need to be comfortable with using a blade.”

Tokito looked up at him “You mean that?”

“I do. I'm going to ask you to redo your trial.” Tokito looked up at him, “You think I can pass?”

“I know you can. How are you finding the fighting styles?”

“I've been told that Koky no Kaze is my best form… however it doesn't fit me.” Tokito explained “I'm a reserve Genin, my Jonin-Sensei was injured recently and my two kunoichi teammates are…not exactly of the calibre that could take the Chunin Exams.”

Hari hummed “How much of the Wind Breathing do you know?”

“I know the entire sequence of the dance, that's what got me this. My father cannot believe that I'm so good with the Breathing and yet I can't do the Dancing Leaf Blade.” Yoshimitsu looked on, however it was Anko who chimed in. “So what are you planning to do with your breathing style?”

Tokito shrugged “I had thought I would modify it to fit me.” Anko smirked “Tell you what Tokito-kun, I'll help you if you'll help me?”

“How so, Mitarashi-san?”

Anko smiled, “I need to learn the Mizu No Kokyo and turn it into a Hebi No Kokyo. Think you can help me? I thought Mizu would be more beneficial to Kasumi than Kaze.” Tokito grinned at her “Kasumi is more about the Mist, enveloping and distracting the eyesight, akin to the Kirigakure no Jutsu. Hide and strike from all angles.”

Anko nodded as Tokito spoke, “I know enough of the Mizu no Kokyo, to get you started, Mitarashi-san…although my father is not pleased.”

“You let me worry about your otou-san. Whilst we’re at it, I can put you through your paces to ascertain your skill level, you said that you’re a Genin…how long have you been in service?”

“Coming up two years, Taicho, I’d love the chance to jump to Chunin but I…cannot leave my teammates.”

“Understood, contact your Genin cell and tell them to report to your training area. If they don’t show, I’m sure I can get you onto a team…I know there are two with Genin short.” Hari watched as Anko followed the younger kid off towards the training area “She handled that well.” Yoshimitsu murmured.

“She’s handling it. Anko-hime always manages to surprise me, all I do know is…”

“She’s going to do something completely unexpected, what do you think of Tokito Muichiro?” His grandfather asked. Hari paused “Skilled, very skilled, might very well be one of the best with a blade in hand. He’s what fourteen?”

“That’s right, graduated when he was eleven. We kept him back, to prepare him. Then put him with his peers. If he wasn't so far distantly related from us, he'd would've been Clan Heir. Have you made up your mind yet?”

“The Choosing… I have given it some thought, and I shall take on the Choosing, see if one of the legendary blades will accept me. I don’t know which one I would hope to bond with but…”

“You know the one that you don’t. The Magatsumi…You cannot say that you would not have been tempted.”

“Who wouldn’t Ojiji. To wield that blade, to be even remotely compatible with it; that’s the scariest thought. To be compatible with a sword that has been recorded as being the reason our homeland fell; yes…Kumo, Kiri, Iwa and Kusa all attacked us, but it was our own experiment that turned against us and allowed us to fall. You’re not the only one who remembers Jiji.” Hari replied caustically.

“You remember? But how?”

“Kushina-sensei. I learned Kenjutsu and Fuuinjutsu. Not that much in terms of Ninjutsu, but I learned enough to get that title in the Bingo Book.”

“The Hellsword of Konoha, The Spiral of Death, Impressive titles.”

“Titles given by dead men comrades and scared shitless comrades; I got those epithets whilst many who could, couldn’t, many of those who would, wouldn’t and many of those who should, shouldn’t. I don’t besmirch any of them for not stepping forward with me. We were too damn fucking young; we should never have been thrown into that situation to begin with. Konohagakure no Sato and Hi no Kuni needed us, they sent out the call, and we all fucking answered. We lost friends, enemies, family members…fuck we even lost whole fucking branches. Yet they’re the ones who are remembered, yet, us, those who survived and endured, we got a pat on the back, three days of downtime and back to the line.” Hari spat “I'm sorry.”

“Never apologise, your fears and accusations are warranted.” Yoshimitsu said “I remember the feeling and knowing I was sending my own kin into the meat grinder of war. We're not the most influential of Clans, but, we're of far greater numbers and quality than some of the Clans of our ranking. Who is on your squad?”

“Not part of a squad. Part of a Platoon, Yugao-nee is the Commander. There's myself, Anko, Genma, Iwashi and Hayate as auxiliary teachers. The actual teachers are Yuhi, Sarutobi Asuma, Hatake Kakashi and Might Gai. The genin include the Heirs and Heiresses of the major Clans, Kushina and His son and Haruno Sakura.”

“You're certain?”

“Crystal…I held him just after his duty began. Remember the time you bailed me out of prison for that string of accidents…”

“Which ones? The ones when the Boy was three, five, seven?”

“Yes.”

“What about them?”

“None of them were accidents. All of them were premeditated, calculated, planned…they were all trying to kill Uzumaki Naruto for the only crime of being born when the Fox attacked. The ANBU weren't doing shit, they couldn't protect him from Civilians. The Civilians were aiding and abetting. Someone had to do something…”

“So you did.”

Hari nodded “Hokage found out. You found out. Why the Hokage didn't have me killed I have no idea.”

“I was in the way. I still am. Shimura Danzo has had his eye on you for a while. Whilst you were away for the murder of your goddaughter, he tried to poach a few members of our clan. No one went, thankfully. Shimura wanted to commute your sentence to have you in ROOT.”

Hari sighed “Why is it us?”

“We're loyal to the Uzumaki. The Uzumaki are with Konoha. Grandson, bring Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke here, we, the Clan shall muster one of our own for their squad.”

Hari grinned, he listened intently and heard nothing. Sometimes it was wonderful to have a family at your back.