Three Heiresses walked through a part if the village away from the Clan district. This by itself would hardly be noteworthy except all three were headed toward the apartment building of the Kyuubi container. That, people paid attention to but none of the three young ladies returned the attention. Hinata, Hanabi, and Ino were headed towards Naruto's rooftop garden, one he'd been cultivating since he started at the Shinobi Academy. His team got a mission of unspecified length and several of his plants were at a delicate stage. He then handed her a seal tag and said it would grant her access to the garden and his apartment, both protected by security seals.
Hinata agreed but knew very little about gardening, even with his detailed directions so she enlisted her teammate. She was somewhat surprised the Yamanaka joined in so readily until she figured it would be a chance to snoop, a little, and collect some gossip. She may have been getting better, or at least more subtle but Ino was Ino. She didn't expect the thing that drove the mind jutsu specialist wild was the presence of high quality volcanic ash, apparently a luxury prized by every horticulturist worth her salt. Hinata suspected it was from his Lava jutsu but she'd never share that little tidbit, not even after he saw fit to reveal it.
It'd be difficult to explain she was observing him for a S-rank traitor because of a deal she'd made when she was four. Besides, it was one of her fondest memories, seeing the presumed impossible and then his reaction, how he lit up so bright he rivaled the very sun. How it was made all the more impressive by how many times he failed to manage it and besides for moments of doubt, he kept going. It was inspiring, enough to allow her not to falter in her own pursuits. If anyone knew, they'd call her a traitor and likely a coward but she didn't care. It was her life and she wouldn't live it how others thought she should.
But that didn't mean she'd forgo all responsibilities. She wanted to make sure her little sister wouldn't be a slave to the outdated clan doctrine of the Hyuuga; that she wouldn't devote herself to the "Hyuuga Way" simply because it was expected. No, Hanabi wouldn't be arrogant and elitist like much of her clan, even many of the branch members looked down on non-Hyuuga residents. They claim it is the traditions of the clan that kept it strong but the clan has flourished under the protection of Konoha. There was a reason while it was significant clan, it was the Senju and the Uchiha that changed the path of shinobi. But the Hyuuga would never admit it, never tell the truth of their history. Their "way" was the same as every other clan during the Warring Era, procreate a lot and hope for the best. Rigid traditions would be exploited and get you killed.
If nothing else, she'd be thankful to Orochimaru for providing her alternative histories; alternatives to a lot of things. Even if she were ordered to throw the fight against Neji it didn't matter, she was secure in her strength and her purpose. She'd only have to lend that strength to Hanabi so she wouldn't be swallowed up in hagiographies and lies or seduced into the cult of the Gentle Fist. If she were lucky, it'd be the lasting legacy of her rebellion and like a true shinobi, no one would ever truly know she'd been the architect.
The three girls jumped to the roof, with Hinata helping Hanabi, and entered the garden. For a restricted space, the vegetation present was breathtaking, various colors strewn throughout. It was peaceful but gave off a feel of being nearly untamed, bordering on chaotic. It fit with the Spiraling Maelstrom that created it. The trio got to work, watering, pruning or even harvesting what needed to be. A crop of heirloom tomatoes, deep purple in color and quite plump, were especially ready.
"I bet Sasuke-kun would really like these, tomatoes are his favorite food." Ino chirped and Hinata responded noncommittally, not wanting to encourage talk of the Uchiha. "So…" and here it came, the fishing expedition.
"There aren't a lot of people that know much about Naruto and I didn't think he was close to any of the rookies outside of Shikamaru and Shino, so why'd he pick you to tend to his secret garden?"
"As I've said before, Ino, he was low on options and knew I liked flower pressing. He figured I could manage it, I knew better and that's why I asked you."
"But he at least trusted you somewhat, you need a seal to even get in here."
"I suppose he does."
"How'd you manage it?"
"We talked, Ino. The story is the same, after our joint exercise we had dinner and just talked."
"Must have been some talk, I've tried talking to Sasuke-kun for years and it's gone nowhere. One night and you're getting keys to the apartment. Maybe I should take lessons." Ino stated with a shit eating grin.
"What's so significant about getting keys, nee-sama?"
"Ino is suggesting Naruto likes me in a romantic sense."
"Does he?"
"No, imouto, he doesn't. Ino just has an overactive imagination."
"That's good, besides Neji-niisan hates him."
"Don't allow Neji's feelings to dictate too much to you, Hanabi-chan. He hates the rain when he gets wet so him hating someone isn't that remarkable."
"Hai."
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In the Shimmering Leaf, one of Konoha's nicest hotels, sat Ichiro Kurosawa. A once handsome, young man chestnut hair and a slim physique. His face was boyish, his eyes a forest green. He was 5'8'', not incredibly tall but not short either. He'd used his looks and his position as leader of Ishval to charm many women over his thirty years of life but that was in the past. Since that demon came to Ishval. The people called him the crimson tiger but Ichiro knew, the boy wasn't a beast but something worst.
He stared into the bathroom mirror, looking at himself cursing how he'd lost it all. His chocolate brown kimono and matching sash, both made of the finest silks of his home. He once prided himself on giving off the impression he was an aristocrat, a noble of one of the major lands. A sophisticate and cunning tactician. Few of his sources of pride remained intact, however, and he couldn't help but curse his fall.
At first, he'd been happy his plan to lure Kushimaru and Raiga into attacking the Leaf ninja had worked. Those two were too busy chasing down the squad, made all the more difficult as the resistance forces were acting in concert with the Konoha ninja. All of his enemies were distracted and thinning themselves out, what could be better?
Except, the demon apparently took the words of the resistance fighters to heart as they, likely, filled his head with tales of their oppression. How they worked for very little and much of the richest were hoarded by their once leader. As if they could understand the responsibilities of leadership. It required much so it deserved equal reward. They all had enough, no one starved. Why wasn't enough satisfactory? Because they were selfish and spiteful. He wasn't soft-hearted like his father, he wasn't going to just give all of his rightful wealth away.
Their selfishness unleashed that thing on him, the boy and one other were smuggled out of Ishval but they found time to plant a trap in his office. It was only the worn floorboards of his second story office that saved his life from the inferno that consumed it. But it wasn't unscathed, he suffered burns over 3/4th of his body. The left side of his face was now disfigured and he needed the help of a cane to walk. That was why it took them so long to arrive in Konoha, he required the aid of a carriage to transport him and his samurai. A loyal fool that took the codes of Iron Country far too seriously; but he'd be useful. Before he left, Ichiro wanted Uzumaki Naruto dead. No punishment the old Hokage could levy would deter the man, he'd already lost his position.
He remembers the old man intimidating him with such ease, as if all before those aged eyes were mere ants for him to crush or spare at his whim. How he said the payments Konoha had been receiving for the last year wasn't enough to forgive what he'd done and how a team of administrators from the Fire Country's Daimyo would be here soon to help with the transfer of power. He'd be one of many voices in a land he was meant to rule. It was insulting. No, it was beyond that. It was profane. Ichiro hated the Hokage, he hated the missing nin but more than anything, he hated the Uzumaki. If he'd only died Ichiro wouldn't have lost everything but his revenge.
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Sarutobi Asuma sat in a training field trying to get lightning to arc in his hand. It'd been about a month since he got a note delivered from a short tempered panther that wasn't inclined to give his name. That he delivered said note in the middle of the night, in Asuma's bedroom with nothing having been disturbed meant the former Guardian Ninja didn't sleep well. The note, from Naruto, stated if he wanted to learn the super sonic chakra flow he'd have to, at the very least, compete the first nature transformation exercise for lightning. Progress had been minimal.
When one is used to using their chakra in specific ways, using them in different ways is akin to trying to write with your non-dominant hand except you have that feeling of wrongness throughout your entire body. Asuma had just managed to give himself several chakra burns.
"Ah, damnit!" he near shouted but the beautiful Genjutsu Mistress only giggled in response. She'd been back for two weeks, as her boys were sent on an additional mission to the Land of Tea. She'd seen Asuma struggle and could sympathize. Getting used to using elemental jutsu was incredibly difficult for her but she pushed through and gotten both of her elements, earth and fire, back under control. It made both Jounin respect the Sandaime for managing to learn and master every element. They were simply left in awe of Naruto, having beat the Sandaime's record by a decade.
"If I didn't know any better I'd sear the kid was trolling me. Just complete the first exercise of the competing chakra nature, that's the easy part he wrote."
"From how he explained it to me, the next step really is some order of magnitude more difficult. He speculated it might be the effects of Yin chakra, that we can limit ourselves by our beliefs and those beliefs get engraved in our bodies. If, on some level, you don't think this is possible then it won't be."
"Ugh, he sounds like how dad was when I was a kid. It's not easy accepting your father is both the God of Shinobi who could kick your ass on his worst day and also a geek."
"Speaking as someone that is heavily involved in the mental arts, I'll try not to take offense." Kurenai huffed, playfully.
"Ah, you know I wasn't talking about you. Genjutsu is cool, hell I'm sure the brat can do some interesting things. It's hearing the thought process behind it that's geeky. Didn't he write something on the battle implications of the shunshin?"
Kurenai laughed, "yes, he did. We all thought he was being a little… much when he gave us a copy."
"See, just like Dad." Asuma said and then frowned as he tried, once again, to generate lightning.
"How are you and your father?"
"Outside of work we haven't spoken. I just can't deal with him."
It was Kurenai's turn to frown as she sat up and looked Asuma in the eyes. "I won't try to justify what he did but it was decades ago and given what's on the horizon you may not have much time to resolve your issues."
Asuma bit down on his unlit cigarette, a silent concession to her argument. "I can't disagree with that. I also can't deal with him. He used to tell all of us about how we had to sacrifice time with him for the village, how it pained him to be away from us. My mom always defended him, to the point she sometimes strained her relationship with us. And for what? So he can do the most cliched thing a person in his position could do?
So much of my life has revolved around choices Hiruzen Sarutobi made, I just had to deal with it. I came to terms with some of it, ignoring he didn't have to stay Hokage as long as he did. But this? To betray my mom when she was his champion, when she was likely missing him just as much as we were? And look at the results? All so he could feel like a big man?"
"Then say that. I'm not saying forgive him, only don't leave things unsaid. I don't want you to regret it and have to carry it. If nothing else, at least you can avoid that."
"I can't make any promises. But let's change the topic, when are your brats due back?"
"Sometime today." Kurenai said, sullenly.
"What's wrong?"
"Sandaime-sama is going to finally inform Naruto of his responsibilities as a Jinchuuriki during Wartime."
"Shit."
"Yea. Also, the leader of Ishval, that mission that went so wrong for Naruto while he was a reservist is still in the village and I'm afraid Naruto may cut him down on sight."
"That would not be good for his profile."
"It wouldn't. Hopefully, after he meets with Sandaime-sama he'll just return to Orochimaru's and avoid any trouble." Kurenai said, having zero faith in her luck.