The bustling streets of Konoha were slowly coming back to life, two weeks after the devastating Kyuubi attack. The sun shone brightly, its warm rays blessing the village with a renewed sense of hope. Villagers and shinobi alike worked tirelessly to rebuild their beloved home, the sound of hammering and sawing filling the air.
Among the reconstruction efforts, Team Shisui was diligently assisting. Naoki approached a boy who appeared to be around 14 years old. The boy, Kinoe, was clad in ANBU attire but wore a similar happuri to Naoki's.
"Kinoe-san," Naoki called out, his voice tinged with respect. "Could you make something for me with these measurements?" He extended a meticulously drawn blueprint towards Kinoe.
Kinoe's eyes scanned the document, a look of appreciation crossing his face. "This blueprint is well drawn and has precise measurements," he remarked, his voice calm and professional. "This won't take long."
Moving to a clear area, Kinoe's hands flew through a series of seals. With practised ease, he extended his right palm, his left hand gripping his right wrist for support. In a display of his unique ability, wood began to sprout from his palm, growing and shaping itself according to the blueprint's specifications. Within moments, an exact replica of the design stood before them.
Kinoe turned to Naoki, a hint of pride in his usually stoic expression. "So, does this match the blueprint?" he inquired.
Naoki's face lit up with a smile. "Yes, it does. Thanks, Kinoe-san!"
Suddenly, a hand clasped Naoki's shoulder, and a lazy drawl cut through the air. "Why call him Kinoe, when his name is Tenzo?"
Naoki glanced up to see a familiar face – a boy of about 14, with gravity-defying silver hair and a mask covering the lower half of his face. His visible eye curved in what appeared to be a smile.
"Kakashi!" Naoki exclaimed, his enthusiasm evident.
Kakashi's eye crinkled further as he ruffled Naoki's hair affectionately. "How've you been? Haven't seen you in a while."
As Naoki began to respond, Kinoe's irritated voice cut in. "Don't ignore me, Kakashi. How many times have I told you to call me Kinoe, not Tenzo?"
Kakashi's visible eye gleamed with mischief. "I don't know what you mean, Tenzo," he replied, his tone deliberately nonchalant.
Kinoe's frustration was palpable. "Why you..."
Sensing the brewing tension, Naoki quickly interjected, "Anyways, I need to get going now and deliver this." He gestured to Kinoe's creation. "See you, Kakashi." Then, turning to Kinoe with a mischievous smirk, he added, "And you too... Tenzo." Before either could react, Naoki darted away, leaving a trail of laughter in his wake.
Kinoe's eyes widened in disbelief. He turned to Kakashi, exasperation clear in his voice. "See what you've done?"
Kakashi's laughter rang out, clear and unrestrained. When he finally composed himself, he pulled out another blueprint. "Anyways, I'm here for this," he said, his tone still laced with amusement.
As they continued their work, the atmosphere around them reflected the village's resilience. Despite the recent tragedy, there was an undercurrent of determination and hope. Children's laughter could be heard in the distance, mingling with the sounds of reconstruction. Villagers exchanged warm greetings as they passed each other, their shared experience of loss and survival creating a stronger sense of community.
The playful banter between Kakashi and Kinoe, and Naoki's cheerful demeanour, were small but significant signs that life in Konoha was slowly returning to normal. As the day wore on, the village continued its path to recovery, its people working together to rebuild not just their homes, but their spirits as well.
——
In a fortress-like building perched high in the cloud-shrouded mountains, an air of tension permeated the room where the Hidden Cloud Village's most influential figures had gathered. The Fourth Raikage, A, a man of imposing stature with rippling muscles and a stern countenance, sat at the head of the table. His piercing gaze swept across the assembled officials, his presence alone commanding respect and attention.
Beside him stood Mabui, his young assistant, her silver hair neatly styled and her demeanour professional despite the gravity of the meeting. Her sharp eyes scanned the room, ready to provide any information the Raikage might need.
A's deep, resonant voice cut through the silence. "As you're all aware," he began, his tone serious, "Konoha has been dealt a severe blow by the Nine-Tailed Fox." The assembled members nodded gravely, the news of the attack having spread like wildfire across the shinobi world.
"Our intelligence network has provided crucial information," A continued, his muscles tensing as he leaned forward. "Konoha's military force has been decimated – we're looking at a 20% loss, primarily Chunin and Jonin ranks. Genin casualties were minimal due to their evacuation alongside civilians." A collective gasp rippled through the room, the officials exchanging worried glances. Such a loss would cripple any village, even one as powerful as Konoha.
A's voice grew even more serious as he continued, "There are four key points our spies emphasised: Kushina Uzumaki's fate is unknown. She and the Yellow Flash have a child. And two names kept cropping up – Shisui Uchiha and Naoki Senju."
The last name sent a shockwave through the room. Eyes widened, and a palpable tension filled the air. The Senju name, once synonymous with unparalleled power, hadn't been heard in decades.
One official, unable to contain his shock, abruptly stood. "Senju?!" he exclaimed, his voice trembling. "I thought..."
A nodded, his expression grim. "I was equally surprised. But knowing his father's identity, it makes sense."
Another member, his voice barely above a whisper, ventured, "Father? You don't mean..."
A's response was delivered in a low, almost reverent tone. "Indeed. His father was Mizuchi Senju, the God of the Sea."
The reaction was immediate and intense. Gasps of disbelief echoed through the room, and some officials visibly paled. The name Mizuchi Senju evoked memories of a shinobi so formidable that even the mere mention of his name could strike fear into the hearts of enemies.
"The God of the Sea's son?" someone managed to ask, their voice thick with apprehension. "Why weren't we informed earlier? How old is he?"
A glanced at Mabui, giving her a subtle nod. She stepped forward, her voice calm and clear despite the tension in the room.
"His name is Naoki Senju," Mabui began, her tone professional yet tinged with respect. "Son of Mizuchi Senju and Akiko Uzumaki. Our intelligence suggests that Akiko passed during childbirth, and Tsunade Senju became the child's guardian. Tsunade took him around the world, never staying in one place for long, likely to prevent anyone from discovering and tracking Mizuchi's child."
An elder nodded, understanding dawning on his face. "That explains why we had no record of him until now."
"What other information do you have on him?" another official inquired.
Mabui continued, her voice steady, "Tsunade returned to Konoha when she deemed Naoki ready for the Genin exam. He became the youngest Genin in Konoha's history, possibly ever, surpassing even Kakashi Hatake at 5 and a half years old."
Murmurs of disbelief rippled through the room. "He surpassed Kakashi Hatake? The once-in-a-generation prodigy?"
Mabui nodded, "Indeed. Reports indicate Naoki is at Chunin level, specialising in Water Release but also exceptionally talented in Fuinjutsu, Kenjutsu, Taijutsu, and Medical Ninjutsu. He played a crucial role in defeating the Nine-Tailed Fox alongside Shisui Uchiha, his Jonin instructor. Additionally, Naoki has a slightly older teammate who is equally talented and is the son of Wicked Eye Fugaku."
An elder spoke up, his voice grave, "First, news of Mizuchi Senju's prodigious child, and now another equally talented child on his team, the son of Wicked Eye Fugaku no less. We also have Shisui of the Body Flicker, the Hyuga brothers, Kakashi the Copy Ninja, and Minato, just to name a few. Konoha's clans, especially those with Kekkei Genkai, are producing generational talents at an alarming rate."
A's voice, when he spoke again, was filled with a mix of concern and determination. "And that brings us to the true purpose of this meeting," he declared, his muscular frame tensing as he stood.
A council member looked confused. "What do you mean? Wasn't it to inform us about Mizuchi and Fugaku's children?"
A's response was swift and forceful. "That's part of it, but the main reason is to make you understand the danger Konoha will pose in less than a decade due to their mass production of clan geniuses, especially from Kekkei Genkai clans like the Uchiha and Hyuga."
The room fell silent as the implications sank in. A continued, his voice resonating with authority, "I have a plan to address this threat and bolster our own village's power. We will kidnap a member of a Konoha kekkei genkai clan."
The audacity of the plan stunned the room into silence. Then, slowly, nods of understanding and murmurs of approval began to spread.
"That would certainly help us," one official ventured. "We could have powerful kekkei genkai shinobi within our ranks. However, we must ensure the plan is flawless."
A nodded, his expression grave. "The plan is simple in nature but complex in execution. I'll need everyone's cooperation to ensure its success."
As the meeting progressed, the officials delved into the intricacies of A's plan, each contributing ideas and addressing potential pitfalls. The atmosphere remained tense, the weight of their decision hanging heavily in the air. They all understood that the plan might take weeks, months, or even years to execute, but the potential long-term benefits made it worth the wait and risk.
As the sun began to set behind the cloud-shrouded mountains, casting long shadows across the room, the Hidden Cloud's leadership had set in motion a plan that would alter the balance of power in the shinobi world. The stakes were high, the dangers numerous, but in their minds, the future security of their village was worth any risk.
Throughout the discussion, the legacy of Mizuchi Senju loomed large. The officials couldn't help but recall the legendary battle between Mizuchi and the Third Raikage – a fight to the death that had claimed both their lives, with Mizuchi succumbing to his injuries after emerging victorious. The prospect of his son potentially surpassing even that level of power was a sobering thought that underscored the urgency of their plans.