Naruto: Tales of Ashihara
Kakumei – Arc 3: Naruto Next Generation
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Chapter 62 – The state of peace
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The 4th Tsuchikage Kurotsuchi, with her assistant Akatsuchi and her advisor and father Kitsuchi. The 5th Kazekage Gaara, with his bodyguard and brother Kankuro and his advisor Baki, and joined by his elder sister and ambassador of his land Temari. The 5th Raikage Darui, with his bodyguard Omoi, his assistant Samui. The 6th Mizukage Chojuro, with only his advisor Mizuno. And finally, the 7th Hokage Naruto Uzumaki, with his advisor Shikamaru Nara and his assistant Shizune Hatake.
These are all the people united in the council room of the Hokage's mansion, in Konoha. After they all sat down, they opened the debates and discussions with Naruto and Chojuro's reports of all the matters that have to do with Sasuke Uchiha's constantly on-going mission. Not much was said about it since the wanderer didn't present any investigation result in over 4 years. They cloud only speak of the few things he privately provided as indicative intel to the Minamoto family and his own.
To stay in the topic of threats and major worries after this, they spoke about the growing mercenary orders and illegal networks that are threatening peace and the villages as organizations. While the Mizukage and Kazekage, most knowledgeable on this topic, are bringing up the code names of the most infamous bounty hunters, one name catches the Hokage's attention.
"Wait, so the same Killin' Kiss you were already talking about with Kakashi-sensei 15 years ago is still out there, and recently confirmed to be at most 25 years old?" the Hokage wonders. "How is that possible?"
"Good question. I don't think a 10 years old girl would be given such a name." Kurotsuchi remarks. "Could be some eternal youth, or body switching stuff? You should ask this to Orochimaru."
"I don't think he'd agree to help us on such matters." suggests Gaara.
"It's already nice of us to not have him locked up or executed." argues Darui. "He really wouldn't be allowed to decline a demand. Beside, about Killin' Kiss, it's likely to be a title passed down to different people through time. We have the something similar in the leading hierarchy of Kumo. It's one advantage to using code names."
"Sorry to interrupt, but this Killin' Kiss, even though she has such a reputation, isn't our biggest problem." says Chojuro. "She's actually been less around the last few years. Meanwhile the amount of identified illegal bounty hunters and hit men has still been going up incredibly. Among them, someone nicknamed White Claw is the only one since Crow to have been reportedly in activity across all our nations, and even outside the continent."
"Crow, huh?" asks Kurotsuchi, about the more well-known mentioned name. "He's been around for almost as long as Killin' Kiss. But we do know a lot about him. We even know his skills and typical jobs."
"The fact that we know so much of him, but still can't get him down is the reason why he's been made the number one target of out hunters." Darui interrupts to give details, before getting curious about the other mentioned alias. "And about this new White Claw guy? What do we know of him so far?"
"For now, nothing other than his name." answers Chojuro. "He, or she, even killed some targets in bright day light on guarded or crowded spaces many times, but was never even just seen. We got to know his name and jobs only by finding notes and activity reports from people who apparently employed him. And even in these documents, nothing more than his nickname. Besides that, we don't know anything about his abilities."
Naruto listens to the discussion and chuckles a bit. These mercenaries are sure growing fast, and working against their order and peace, but there does not seem to be anything more to do than what is already in place about it. Special units to hunt these guys down, more or less important depending on the country and the estimated level of the threat, is the only relevant to take action. Instead of staying focused on this, the Hokage's mind is occupied by inner worries, including one tiny problem that he has to face, but shouldn't share at this council.
"So is he/she invisible or too fast for the eye?" asks Kurotsuchi about the newly introduced name. "Or maybe he's doing some sort of time or space bending, like the 4th Hokage or Minamoto Tsubai."
"Oh, I almost forgot about that!" Chojuro exclaims, suddenly remembering a question he had, thanks to Kurotsuchi's mention of the Minamoto. "Hokage did you get any news of the yamabushi that your ninjas met 5 years ago in Ryuka? You know, the one with Akashita's powers?"
"Hum… You mean the kid with the Yamanaka and Nara jutsus?" confusingly says Naruto, pulled off his train of thought. "No. Nothing. We suppose that he's in the lands of Heart, Shin no Kuni, since it is where Sojobo was hiding, but that's all we know. I once sent a team over there, shortly after I fought Sojobo, to investigate the place, but they were very quickly sent home and couldn't even locate the capital."
"Hm… That's bad." the Raikage comments. "At least, finding Hikarigakure's location isn't an issue anymore since Sasuke Uchiha provided it to Kiri 2 years ago… Out of curiosity, what exactly sent your ninjas home?"
"The former rulers. The locals of the land." Naruto answers.
"The locals? Sorry but, who are they?" asks Darui.
"Ketsugakure. The village hidden in blood." The Hokage replies. "It isn't the capital, but the HQ of a ninja clan. Exclusively inhabited by ninja women."
"Come again?" says Kurotsuchi, intrigued by this idea.
"Only women, as reported." adds the Hokage. "They seem to not like men or strangers very much… I guess this was Gozen Tomoe's territory."
"It was. The current leader of the clan and village is her only daughter." explains Gaara. "But I didn't hear of this land for 4 years at least now. The new leader seems even less confident in us than her predecessor. I'm not even sure if her clan still rules the land after Momoshiki Otsutsuki's reign."
"I suppose it is safe to say Shin no Kuni won't be the first new member of the union." says the Raikage.
"It's sad, but true. In nearly 10 years, we still have no additional member to our original 5…" comments Chojuro, sadly.
Behind Kurotsuchi and Naruto, Kitsuchi and Shikamaru both bend over and whisper in their Kage's ear. The other Kage notice it, and expect explanations.
"I hope these murmurs imply that you're close to proving the Mizukage wrong, Tsuchikage and Hokage." says Darui with a tough voice.
The two cited village leaders both get embarrassed, not sure to be able to please the Raikage. Naruto scratches the back of his head, out of embarrassment. Kurotsuchi raises both her arms and joins her hands together, behind her head to rest on them.
"I dunno…" she says. "I've had this dumb head Daisuke in my village for 4 years now. He acts as a correspondent, or more as an ambassador of the samurai land of Iron. So far, together, we've established that his leader, General Okisuke, agrees to become a permanent ally of the Union and could, if necessary, be at our summits once a year. But his sense of honor stops him from implicitly becoming a member, as he refuses to get more involved with ninjas… I don't think this case is gonna evolve any further."
"Sigh… What about you, Hokage?" asks the Raikage. "Your update is probably about Ame, isn't it?"
"Honestly, I didn't hear of it since they declined my invitation." explains Naruto. "But as we were planning an international Chunin selection exam event with my council and Gaara, I thought about Ame, and sent an invitation to take part in it, just in case."
"An international Chunin exam?" asks Chojuro. "You mean, with attendees from all our villages?"
"Yes, exactly!" joyfully adds the Hokage. "So far, it never happened, but I'm sure it will be fun, and helpful. We could even make it a regular thing."
"Naruto and I have been thinking of this for a while now." says the Kazekage. "The Chunin exams originally were a way to make cold wars between nations. By making it a uniting and festive event, we can update its purpose and make it characteristic of our new era. As Naruto proposes, we could even use it to tie new bonds with other nations and enlarge the Shinobi Union."
"Surely sounds sexy as hell!" comments Kurotsuchi, smiling.
"Indeed, it's probably the best project I've heard of since I first became the Mizukage." praises Chojuro. "However, Kiri and Kumo held an exam just a few months ago."
"Don't be so dull, Mizukage." says Darui. "We can't possibly say no to such an event. As the Tsuchikage said, it sounds too good to be declined. Plus preparing all this will probably take long. Until then, our last exam will already be a year ago or so. Besides, some of my best young elements missed their shot last time, so I'm all in to quickly get them another try at it."
"Thank you for your praises and cooperation, everyone." says Naruto. "I suggest we use the two next days of this summit to work on this idea."
"Agreed." says Gaara. "It seems like your main preoccupations as the Hokage are the young ninjas and the next generations."
"Yeah!" adds Kurotsuchi. "First, the new model for the academy, and now this. Your additional year worked pretty well by the way. It's my first year applying it in Iwa."
"Glad to hear it." answers the Hokage. "It really aims to raise the chances of success for every future Genin."
"Well… Sorry but it's not for Kumo then." remarks Darui. "If a student can't reach the level of a genin in 6 years, he doesn't deserve a 7th year to help him."
"Raikage… It's not the point." argues Naruto. "The academy isn't made to identify and select the elite. Its purpose is to accompany every student, give them equal chances, and help everyone to reach their goals and dreams."
"Sorry Hokage, but it is not how Kumo sees it." responds the Raikage. "It's never been about mass workforce production, but always about making proud, powerful and loyal ninjas."
"Except for the last part, I have to agree with the Raikage." says the Tsuchikage. "Being a ninja sure is a career, but it's mostly a commitment to your village and Kage. We're forming soldiers, not dreamers."
Behind Naruto, Shikamaru squints his eyes, and looks meanly at the Raikage and Tsuchikage. Samui, behind Darui, notices the Hokage advisor's gaze and stares back. As the room went silent, Temari remarks the quiet tension between her husband and other advisors. To cool the air down, she nods on her younger brother's shoulder, inciting him to do something.
"Let's just agree to disagree. We can't share the same views on everything, do we?" says the Kazekage, to satisfy his sister. "Or else, what would these meetings even be for?"
Everybody in the room turns their head to Gaara, and keeps it shut, silently agreeing.
"Naruto, I believe you have a new Genin promotion to handle." adds the Kazekage.
"Yeah… About them, I'm trapped in a corner right now." complains Naruto, scratching his head again, bothered that someone brought up the problems that busy his mind. "There's a bunch of kids for which I can't find a sensei."
"I am sorry about this, Lord Hokage." apologizes Shizune.
"Oh don't be! It's not your fault ya know." immediately answers Naruto.
"Is Boruto Uzumaki in the bunch?" asks Chojuro, with a slight smile.
"His name… is Boruto Hyuga, but yes. How do you know?" replies the Hokage.
"Well! Lady Mei, my predecessor, had the same issue with Takeshi Minamoto." explains the Mizukage. "He's scaring the jonins away from duty. Too prodigious for a team, maybe?"
"Nah I don't think that's the case for Boruto." thinks Naruto aloud.
"It must be the responsibility of training the next Hokage." suggests Darui. "I had this issue. But I didn't take long to solve it and find a jonin lead."
"Not like you left me a choice…" quietly whispers Omoi behind Darui, complaining about how he was put in charge of a team containing both the Raikage's daughter and apprentice.
"Boruto isn't really into the Kage dreams." says Naruto about his son, to answer to Darui's suggestion.
"Is that so?" simply says the Raikage, a bit surprised by the path of the Hokage's son.
After this little unfinished discussion, the room goes quiet for a moment again. Kurotsuchi, the Tsuchikage, looks around awkwardly, waiting for someone to close this meeting that, it appears, should come to an end.
"Well, I suggest we leave it there for today…" says Gaara, slowly rising from his seat. "… and let the Hokage work on his matters. Now that I think of it, I also have a new Genin promotion to manage."
"Right!" exclaims Kurotsuchi, who was feeling excluded from the last conversation, not having any kid or prodigy like Boruto in her village. "Let's call it a day and let our assistants and advisors get to work on the reports of this meeting."
She stands up and greets everyone before happily leaving for her hotel. All the other Kages stand up in their turn, salute each other and leave for the day.
Naruto, once everyone is gone, goes to the roof of the mansion to see them leave back to their hotels or hosts. Standing there with his hat and cloak on, he watches over his village and people. Behind him, Shikamaru arrives and gets next to him to watch as the other Kage leave the building.
Naruto looks at his friend and follows his gaze, aiming at Darui.
"So what about the Raikage?" he asks, to Shikamaru's surprise. "I sensed these emotions between you, him, his advisor, the Tsuchikage… What is it?"
Shikamaru stays looking at Darui and Samui leaving for Naruto's house, and at Kurotsuchi going to another end of the village with her father and Akatsuchi, and then speaks.
"They are simply… oddly disrespectful." he explains. "And also ungrateful, in fact. Both of them had their lives between your hands during the war, and many more times. Yet they seem to still keep this unnatural pride and stubbornness, like their village always did through history."
"We can't expect them to give up on traditions, do we?" gently says Naruto.
"That's not it." answers Shikamaru. "It feels like… lacking war, they're trying to replace it with rivalry."
"Hey come on! Don't say things like that!" exclaims Naruto. "We're at peace. A peace that they won't risk for silly stuff like this."
"You're going too soft as the Hokage, Naruto." advises the advisor.
"What you mean?"
"Your power alone should be enough to secure peace." seriously says the Nara leader. "One of your clones alone is enough to overthrow their villages. With your current behavior, you hide this advantage behind gentle speech and manners. You make yourself look weak. No wonder they only see you as an equal or less."
"Stop with this non sense!" complains the Hokage. "Peace isn't just the opposite of war. It's a state of agreement and mutual comprehension. Unless we all sit as equals, there's no way for us to achieve this… Also, what you're describing is ruling by fear. This is the kind of thing that Sasuke would have done, if he won."
At this answer, Shikamaru widely opens his eyes, and stays silent, realizing he was wrong to be so pessimistic. The international relations within the continent are fine as is. He can't let the Kage's personalities get in the way.
"If I really did it Sasuke's way, I would only ensure peace for as long as I live." adds Naruto. "What happens after that?… We have to make it durable. We have to settle the ground for the world that the next generations will see."
"Next generations, uh?" notes Shikamaru, quickly reminding himself of everything that was said about this at the meeting. "So what is it about Boruto and others?"
Naruto stays quiet for a moment, then turns around to leave the roof, and speaks while he walks back to his office with his advisor.
"Nobody wants the son of the Hokage, who also happens to be the best of his class, as a student." he explains. "That's why Boruto is still sensei-less."
"And the others? How many are they?"
"2 others that, you understand, I have no other choice but to put together with Boruto since all other teams are already made."
"And I guess the two others are as problematic as your son. Making it 3 times more complicated to find a volunteer jonin. Who are these two younglings?"
"Inoue Yamanaka could not be put in a Ino-Shika-Cho trio, unlike all her ancestors, because you and Choji don't have kids the same age."
"Am I supposed to be sorry for that?"
"No, not at all. It's just that, therefore, she was kinda left behind during the team makings."
"So she's the second one. And I surely already know who the last one is."
"Likely yes… Who would want to take care of the only Uchiha kid, son of the criminal who once threatened the village and the alliance?"
"Izuna Uchiha, uh?"
"The kids will receive their headbands in 2 days. With the new system I've put in place myself, I'll only have 2 more days after that to get them a teacher, so I hope it doesn't get any more desperate."
"Need some help?"
"No it's okay. Actually, Shikamaru, you got guests at home and you look tired. You should take your day off. Get back home to your wife and son."
Shikamaru just makes a surprised face, and complies. He gently nods and leaves gratefully. In reality, he would prefer staying here to work. At home, there's Temari who's gonna lecture him about what happened with the Raikage. There's his 5 year old son and his sister-in-law, Gaara's wife, who both are annoyingly optimistic. And there's his nephew Shinki, that he simply finds unpleasing to be around. But of course, he keeps all these complaints inside, and accepts the day off. If he had been honest, Naruto wouldn't have given up until he accepts it. And that, in fact, truly would have been a drag.
The Hokage, while his advisor leaves and his assistant works on the meeting report, returns to his office, hopeful that he'll fix Boruto's team issue before the end of the council.
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2 days later, he didn't. In the evening, he still didn't find any volunteer. Hanabi Hyuga, Kiba Inuzuka, Sai Yamanaka,… Everyone he asked to was unavailable or simply refused. After a long third day of discussion with the other Kage, the Hokage gets home to his wife and kids. All the foreign ninjas and guests are getting ready to leave the village and head back to theirs.
Naruto opens the door to his house and takes off his shoes, quietly, not to alert anyone who's home. As soon as he enters the living room, his 6 year-old daughter comes running at him and jumps in his arms. He happily catches her and lifts her up. Spinning her around, he feels at peace, watching her spreading her arms and legs and laughing. When Hinata steps in, he stops dancing around and simply holds Himawari in his arms. He walks up to his wife and joyfully kisses her to say hello.
"How was your day?" Hinata asks her husband, after the kiss.
"Long, I'd say, but full of good news." answers the Hokage. "What about here? What's up with this little girl?"
"Dad! Did you see?" exclaims the young girl in her father's arms. "Boru-bro is a ninja now!"
"Ah! So this happened!" Naruto says. "Of course I know, I was there when he passed the exam, and when we decided the results."
"He got his headband this morning." tells Hinata. "He immediately went to see his friends."
Naruto smiles at the news, before being hit by a sudden realization.
"Wait what? He got the headband already?" he yells. "But I still didn't find a sensei for his team! Where is he? When does he get home?"
"Um… After he met with his friends, he went to Hanabi for training." answers Hinata, unsettled by her husband's sudden panic. "He should get home soon."
Just as she says these words, someone knocks at the front door, and his daughter hurries to go open it. He first sees Hanabi, his sister-in-law, walk in and greet him.
"Good evening, Hokage, how was your day?" says the Hyuga clan leader.
"Um…" Naruto only has the time to say, before he's distracted by something else.
Boruto Hyuga, wearing his Konoha headband, walks in from behind his aunt, and just nods to salute his dad. Naruto nods back.
"Suits you well, doesn't it?" he tells his son about his headband. "It holds your spiky hair bush together."
"Yeah… Izuna, Lee, Rebekka and all got theirs too." answers the boy.
"Told you that bonus year would pay." explains Naruto, convinced of his measure's efficiency.
"Yeah but, come on, Dad!" complain the teenager. "We're all 13 already! Rebekka is even already 16! Takeshi got his when he was only 10."
"Bud, don't compare yourself to this other kid in this other village in this other land, on this other sea, would you?" argues Naruto. "Here, It's our village, and our rules. And I happen to be the one who chooses the rules, not you."
"You dad is right, Boruto." says Hinata. "You're not just complaining to your dad here, but to the Hokage. Behave yourself."
"I have to agree with the kid there." comments Hanabi.
"No. You stay quiet, Hanabi, please!" adds Hinata, preventing her sister from bringing more arguments to her son.
"Hoho! You're speaking to the head of your clan, lady." Hanabi says, to mess around.
"Hana-auntie!" yells Himawari who runs to Hanabi's arms.
Hanabi catches her and stops paying attention to Naruto and Boruto. The young genin, done complaining just sighs, nods to his dad again, as to thank him for his efforts, and goes to the stairs.
"Just hope you get me a good team and teacher." he says, before going up to his room.
"Don't you worry about this!" says Naruto, instinctively. "You're gonna love your team! And I got you the best sensei I could. You'll see!"
"Sure. I'll see." answers the boy while going up the stairs.
Once Boruto's gone, Naruto realizes what he just said, and turns around to look at Hinata. Hanabi lays Himawari down and gets in the living room with her sister.
"So you got him a sensei, finally?" she asks. "And who are his team mates then?"
"No I didn't find anything!" promptly says Naruto to Hinata, seeking for help, and answering Hanabi's question.
Hinata sighs, and holds her husband by the shoulders. While looking at him, she tries to think of a way to solve this issue. Naruto, suddenly, raises his head up, with his eyes wide open.
"I know who!" he says.
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Next morning, Naruto sits at his desk. In front of him, Konohamaru Sarutobi that he convened to his office. The two of them are alone in the room, and Naruto, feeling like he's face to face with the solution to his problems, explains his request.
"I can't." simply says the Sarutobi once the Hokage is done explaining.
"Just like that?" exclaims Naruto, who's mood is instantly crushed by these few words. "Explain yourself!"
… Really?" asks Konohamaru, as if the question was stupid. "Listen, Hokage, I could go on saying I have stuff to do, and I'm busy. Like… I have a pregnant wife at home. I have a clan to lead. Hell, Saori's constant change of interests would be an excuse too… But honestly, it's way simpler than that. Don't you see it?"
Naruto stays silent for a moment, not seeing it. Konohamaru sighs.
"You need a break I think." he says, before finally giving his reason to refuse. "The main reason I can't lead your son's genin team, is because I'm not allowed to lead two teams at once I think."
Naruto slaps his face with the palm of his hand and yells out in embarrassment.
"Of course!" he says. "Denki Tatari, Ao Hyaku, and Mirai Sarutobi."
"My little cousin, yes." says Konohamaru. "The three ninjas, that I've been teaching for 3 years now, and that even have been chunin for a year and half now."
"How could I be so oblivious!" complains the Hokage. "I'm sorry, Konohamaru."
"Nah, it's good… But I think you really need a break." says the Sarutobi.
Konohamaru leaves in an instant and leaves Naruto in his office again. The Hokage just sits, humiliated, and thinks.
"Why didn't you warn me, Kurama? Did you forget too?" he asks to the fox inside him.
"No, I knew." answers the Kyubi. "I just wanted to see if you would realize by yourself… You're really an idiot, you know?"
"Yeah, I know…" quietly, and hopelessly answers the jinchuriki. "There's no one left. What am I gonna do?"
"You know what? Mini Sarutobi is right. Let's go for a break." advises Kurama.
"I can't take a break now. I'm on duty." answers Naruto.
"This afternoon then. Just leave a clone at the office." adds the fox.
"Ok then. What's your plan?" questions the Hokage.
"Let's get some advice from the elders." suggests the Kyubi.
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End of Chapter 62 – Next Chapter: Konoha's next generation