"Report." The simple statement came with a great weight of command, the intent behind it punctuated by the austere bunker it was made in. Jiraiya took a shallow breath as Sarutobi Hiruzen stood before him, once more having donned the ceremonial robes of the Fire Shadow, it nearly overwhelmed the Sannin.
"I have inspected the…" he paused choking back sorrow, "the subject. To the extent of my knowledge there is no interaction whatsoever," Jiraiya stopped, he could not bring himself to touch on the matter more specifically. Taking a deep draw of his customary pipe Sarutobi considered the situation.
"We shall have to proceed differently the mystery will have to be our ally, a sufficient deterrent in our weakened state. We have much to do, you understand your place?" Sarutobi pierced Jiraiya with a commanding look. The Sannin shoulders and heart sunk, he had hoped.
"Yes Sensei, it is what must be. As for the subject?"
"The Will of Fire will triumph, that is why we are all here. We must be circumspect, no one can suspect. We stand on the brink of destruction and our only hope is subterfuge while we recover." With that the Sandaime ascended to once more lead Konohagakure in the midst of chaos.
Chapter One - The Orphan in the LeavesWater tumbled gently over the the rock laden creek, its music accompanied by pregnant silence. No animals remained, the trees stood strong and still, and the open field appeared empty. With a violent speed two forms came together, arms flashing in an organized storm of strike and parry. Feet shifted subtly seeking advantage through the keenest of positioning. As sudden as the start the forms broke apart, standing several yards away, measuring the one opposite with confident grins.
"Have you been out late with Miku again, you seem sluggish today," one cracked.
"I'm not the one who seems a step slow, you drink too much," the other parried, bringing a grin to both faces.
"Of course I do!" The first replied with a grin. Both gathered themselves for another rush when they both took a cursory glance to one side. "He's back."
"So he is, that little guy is getting sneakier by the day, should we chase him off? He really isn't supposed to be in a Jounin training area." The other shrugged.
"He will just come back, he is always trying to pick up something by watching us pros work, you gotta give the little guy credit he is probably going to be bossing us around someday. What's his name again?"
"He is one of the orphans," that sobered them both quick. "His name is Naruto."
"It was so awesome today! You should have seen how fast they were moving, I could barely keep up with my eyes!" Naruto said to his bun haired companion. Naruto and Tenten walked through one of the clan districts together having met up after the blonde had extricated himself from the training ground he had illicitly visited. Tenten smiled back at her friend's exuberance while she idly flipped a kunai between her hands. She had been one of the lucky orphans, having been adopted by a local smith and his wife, Naruto had not been. Tenten smiled at her friend nothing would change between them in spite of her new family.
"I'm glad you had fun but you really need to stop sneaking onto the Jounin training grounds, it's illegal because it is dangerous, you could get hurt Naruto!" Tenten scolded her smile turning to a stern frown. Naruto just scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
"Who cares! I have to become an awesome ninja and I have to watch the strongest ninjas around to learn the right techniques to become awesome!" Tenten sighed no one could reason with Naruto, it was just the way he was. Shrugging hopelessly the two continued walking to the public training ground where they usually played and recently had begun practicing the exercises that Tenten's dad had shown them. As they walked Naruto continued to describe the exploits he had seen while watching various ninja around the village.
"Hey isn't that Hyuuga Hinata?" Tenten asked suddenly after a few minutes of listening to Naruto's exclamations. Just a little ways ahead of them the well known heiress of the infamous Hyuuga clan walked with an older attendant.
"Yeah, I saw her at the academy sign-up last week," Naruto responded as the heiress rounded the corner ahead. "Let's catch up and say hi!" With that the blonde took off, Tenten found herself sighing once more as she moved to match stride with her impulsive friend. As the duo rounded the corner they both stopped in shock. As the heiress and her attendant passed under a tree just up the street a figure dropped out of the tree behind them and jammed a blade into the back of the attendant covering his mouth as the figure did so. Before anyone could so much as react, the figure dressed in dark blue clothing, dropped the attendant as blood splashed from a mortal wound and swept an odd bag over Hinata's head. The whole act took barely a handful of seconds as the figure, a ninja, picked up the sack he turned to see Tenten and Naruto looking on jaws agape.
"Hey you stop!" Naruto yelled all of a sudden. The ninja paused for a moment looking at the duo before shaking his head once.
"No witnesses," he said, voice steely and quiet. With that the ninja loosed two shuriken at the children. With a lurch Naruto leapt into Tenten shoving her out of the way and cried out as a shuriken struck him. Collapsing to the ground lances of agony pulsed through him, Naruto's eyes grew wild, a full half of a shuriken was lodged in his left arm. Through a haze of pain, as blood began to flow in rivulets, Naruto recognized a blur of movement that brought the harrowing visage of the assassin directly before the two children. Death stalked above the youths a kunai poised to snatch life once more from residents of Konoha.
Gore showered the children, frozen in place knowing their lives were forfeit. Beat. Beat. Beat. Naruto was brought partly out of shock by the hammering of his own heart in his chest. 'Alive?' he asked himself. Eyes coming back in focus Naruto caught the dull gleam of a ninjato leaving his would-be killer's throat. The assassin collapsed in a familiar bloody heap, behind him stood a silent figure. Wearing the vaguely familiar body armor and the most disturbing of accessories, a white mask. The silent figure flicked gore off of its blade with a quick twitch before sheathing the tool.
"You seem to be hurt please allow my associates to take you to the hospital," Naruto nodded dumbly as Tenten began to sob softly. A number of other ANBU and ninja appeared as if all of a sudden, the previous silence of violence replaced with a frenetic din of activity as ninja of a host of departmental disciplines descended upon the scene. Naruto hardly recalled the sensation of being delivered to the hospital via shunshin his mind was in a distant place. 'This is what a shinobi can do,'.
"What is the seminar about tonight? There are so many people here!" A dark haired man complained to his companion. The companion smacked him upside the head.
"Of course there are you idiot! The Hokage himself is giving the lecture and demonstration tonight!" The two continued to bicker paying little attention to the blonde directly in front of them that was practically hopping up and down. Standing near one of Konoha's open training areas Naruto stood with a massive crowd of all shapes and sizes waiting eagerly for one of the most powerful ninja in the world to lead the evening's seminar. Naruto was an ardent attendee of the village's Shinobi Seminar Series, several times a week the village hosted lectures and demonstrations on every feasible element of the ninja discipline,"From Flossing to Flames" as the series slogan went. The blonde had wiggled himself to the front of the training area where there was an open clearing that, for the moment, stood empty.
With a swirl of leaves the familiar figure of Sarutobi Hiruzen appeared alongside another unfamiliar character dressed in standard Jonin garb. An excited buzz filled the clearing as the attention of hundreds focused in on a living legend. The Hokage allowed the excitement to percolate for a few moments before raising his hand for quiet.
"Welcome to this evening's portion of the the Shinobi Seminar Series, I am humbled that several of you made time to come to my seminar." The crowd laughed as Hiruzen chuckled, "several" was a severe understatement. "The Seminar Series is an important facet of how Konoha takes care of its own. This village, since its founding, has been dedicated to the development of all its inhabitants. In that effort we make public all manner of material for the betterment of all, because in Konohagakure we say, "In every seed awaits a tree"," to this the crowd cheered again until Sarutobi quieted them once more. "Now for our program this evening Jinn will begin by demonstrating his most potent technique," Sarutobi motioned to the ninja standing next to him.
The ninja, Jinn, immediately turned to one of the nearby training posts and launched into a long series of hand seals. Suddenly the air in the clearing became heavy, as if in anticipation of the fury to come. Jinn, drawing out his chakra visibly, completed his series of hand seals and with quiet confidence spoke.
"Fire Style: Great Dragon Flame Technique!" With a deep breath and the tiger seal held to his lips an inferno in the shape of a dragon burned forth from his mouth and raged into the training post. The entire training area was filled with the sound of the conflagration and heat was felt by all. Naruto, standing near the front, had to squint his eyes due to the brightness of the technique. As quickly as it had begun it ended, the training post was gone and a line of earth before and beyond where it had stood were blackened and smoking. The powerful inferno was followed abruptly by silence, a silence Sarutobi stepped into.
"An impressive technique, one Jinn should be proud of and that I commend him for mastering. Those of you who are familiar with Fire techniques understand how devastating what you just witnessed truly was, to find yourself on the receiving end of something like that your chances of survival are slim." Sarutobi paused for a moment taking in the rapt attention of his villagers, seeing them fully engaged he allowed himself a small satisfied grin and continued. "Again Jinn." The ninja opposite the Hokage turned to face the robed speaker and immediately began to run through hand seals, it took but a moment before the onlookers broke out in excited and nervous whispers. As suddenly as he had begun Jinn arrived at the end of his sequence and announced his technique.
"Fire Style: Great Dragon Flame Technique!" Heat and fury charged forth at the seemingly unprepared Hokage to the growing horror of everyone in the seminar. The fire, having been given the shape of a fierce dragon, bore down and exploded sending dust and flame everywhere. Quiet settled upon the clearing and Naruto craned his neck to see what had become of the living legend. Jinn stood panting in the quiet and as the tension stretched murmurs began to bubble up amongst the attendees. Then, like some terrible zombie, Sarutobi Hiruzen ascended from the ground directly behind Jinn wearing a broad smile while tapping the younger ninja on the shoulder with a bright kunai. Jinn bowed humbly and stepped out of the clearing as the Hokage turned to his audience.
"As I said Jinn is to be commended for the dedication and power that is required to execute such a devastating technique. There are times when such a powerful technique can turn the tide of a fight or even a battle we mustn't understate the value of such a force; however, battle in the real world is never simply decided by who is capable of bringing the most power to bear. Jinn expended a large amount of his chakra in his attack, to counteract it I made use of a simple D-ranked Technique. The Subterranean Voyage was able to neutralize Jinn's application of the Great Dragon Flame, for a fraction of the chakra cost while also providing me an excellent positioning advantage. As my sensei, Senju Tobirama, used to say ,"What is of supreme importance in battle is to attack the enemy's strategy." Jinn effectively exhausted himself for no gain while I was able to place myself in an advantageous position for little investment. We are ninja first and foremost, which means we must not rely on power alone, power must be tempered with intelligence and precision. Thank you for attending my humble seminar on your way out we will be passing out a complimentary copy of the Subterranean Voyage and as always a copy of 1000 Sayings of the Senju by Senju Tobirama."
Naruto rushed to the exit of the seminar and greedily excepted the book and the scroll that the attending Chunin were handing out. The blonde looked adoringly at the scroll in his hands.
"My first technique! I'm going to kick ass with this!"
Naruto tossed his scroll to the ground in frustration. How was he supposed to perfect his first technique if he didn't even know how to use his Chakra?! The blonde had been toying around in an empty training ground for hours reading and rereading his scroll but no matter how many times he did the hand seals and announced the name of his technique the Seven-Year-Old couldn't so much as get his toes to sink into the earth. After hours failure Naruto had come to the realization that the technique was useless to him until he figured out how to use Chakra. The boy slumped to the ground in defeat absently staring into the woods around him.
"How I am supposed to learn to use Chakra?" Predictably there were no answers forthcoming in the empty clearing. Naruto took in his surroundings as he calmed down: the enormous trees, the distant sounds of wildlife, the breeze, and more than anything the feel of the warm earth beneath him still but somehow alive. His eyes landed upon the book he had received with his scroll that he had discarded as he had hurried into the clearing to practice his technique. "1000 Sayings of the Senju" the title read, Naruto got back to his feet and moved to gather it. "If there are really 1000 sayings there must be some about Chakra," he murmured. The would be ninja opened the book and began to read.
"I have undertaken to collect the saying of my clan as both a memoir and as a resource of practical value for the Leaf Village. The Senju clan was once a dominant force in the elemental nations and under the leadership of my brother, Hashirama, we led the elemental nations into the age it currently exists. As such Konoha is the most significant remnant of the Senju Legacy. May the wisdom that has guided the Senju now light the way for the proud Shinobi of Konoha, each of whom is an honorary member of the Senju Clan." Naruto scratched his head, there were a lot of big words in here but if this really was the ninja wisdom of the clan that produced the first two Hokage then he was all in. He found himself daydreaming of what it might be like to have a clan like the Senju to help him become a ninja, reading the passage again Naruto began grinning like a loon 'This book says, I'm already an honorary member of the Senju Clan so I need to learn my clan's teachings!'. Eagerly the boy flipped pages until he found a section about Chakra.
"The use of Chakra is the essential element that differentiates a Shinobi from any other individual capable in the art of war and subterfuge. Thus it is paramount that each ninja be dedicated in the developing their capability in the use of Chakra. Chakra is the mix of Spiritual and Physical energy within the body. By the continual mastery of Spirit and Body and ninja will not only increase their Chakra capacity but also their capability in its usage. Stated simply a ninja must seek to "know" themselves through meditation and similar training to find the spark within them where these energies naturally coalesce. Then through further training and "knowing" the proficient will begin to learn to direct those energies." Naruto dropped the book, meditation?! He sighed in disappointment, he had to meditate and find some "knowing" of himself before he could use his first technique? That sounded lame.
"No time like the present," crossing his legs and resting his hands in his lap Naruto closed his eyes to look for himself. Under him the earth waited.
"Welcome the the Konoha Ninja Academy, each of you have been accepted into this seven year program that serves as entry into the ninja force of Konoha. I'm your Sensei, Iruka, and am pleased to be your home room instructor for the duration of your time in this academy. Please come to me first from here on out with any questions or concerns." The brown haired Chunin smiled to his class as they all stared back eagerly. Naruto sat near the front of the tiered lecture hall, next to several other kids his age. For several months Naruto had been training around Konoha, when his application had been accepted to attend the Academy his Trainee Ninja License had been stamped to allow him to attend the village seminars. Now though the Academy was beginning and Naruto could hardly contain his excitement to begin a more formal training.
"Though 1000 Sayings has already taught me so much that I have barely begun to learn," the blonde thought as he absorbed his new Sensei's greetings.
"As some of you may be aware there are essentially two elements to the Academy curriculum. First are lessons, from 8 am to 3 pm you will be participating in these structured lessons. Lessons include History, Arithmetic, Science, and Reading," these were met with groans that brought a wry grin to the scarred Chunin face. "Along with Academy Taijutsu, Weapons Training, Chakra Training, Fitness and Health, Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, and Medical Training," this was met much more positively by the collected children. These lessons are meant to provide you with a firm foundation from which to embark upon a career as a ninja." Iruka paused a moment to assess the attentiveness of his audience, everyone was keyed in. "It's the first day but that will change with time," he told himself before continuing.
"The second element of the curriculum is different and it is related to your License. Many of you know that upon acceptance into the Academy program you were given a Trainee Ninja License. This license gives you certain privileges, all of you have been granted the right to attend the Shinobi Seminar Series. Something you should take advantage of to further develop skills. The Academy is in charge of granting privileges to Trainee Ninja. Today I will grant each of you access to the Academy Library for personal development. Your Academy manual has a list of privileges you can test into that will give you the opportunity, on your own time, to develop. For example when you can demonstrate a basic ability to access and direct your Chakra you can be given access to the Academy Technique Library. When you demonstrate sufficient ability with thrown weaponry, you can receive privilege to purchase weapons around the village. The list goes on and on but this system of License Privileges is designed to allow you to pursue your own path to growth as a Shinobi."
The day continued as Iruka gave Naruto's class a tour of the Academy grounds, they visited all the different areas they would be learning various skills and information. Finally, after what seemed like an age, Iruka sent the class home for the day. Naruto immediately made his way to the Chunin to accomplish what had him excited throughout the day.
"Sensei! I have a question." The brown haired Chunin turned to him with a curious smile.
"Of course I do, it's Naruto correct?" The blonde smiled nodding his head.
"Yep, that's me Sensei!"
"How can I help you?" With an ever widening smiled Naruto was having trouble containing his excitement.
"I was wondering if I could test for a couple privileges?" Iruka stopped short, that was definitely not something he was prepared for at the end of the first day. Considering the exuberant boy in front of him, Iruka nodded slowly.
"Sure, which privileges?"
"Chakra and Weapons please," Naruto answered succinctly. Iruka blinked.
"Are you aware of the requirements, we haven't covered any of them yet… obviously."
"Yep I read about them in the manual." Shrugging Iruka sighed, might as well see what the kid could do.
"Okay why not, let's go to the Range." Iruka led the blonde across the grounds to the Weapons Range and opened the armory. "Which weapons did you want to test with?"
"Kunai please," Iruka handed him a pouch with five simple Academy issue Kunai and led Naruto to the targets.
"Alright you need hit the target with all five, in at least one of three attempts." Konoha did not need a bunch of kids running around with Kunai missing targets and hitting civilians by accident. Taking the pouch with confidence Naruto attached it to the sash he wore over his simple navy tunic. Iruka looked on as the blonde stepped to the line about 10 meters from the nearest target. Naruto took a deep breath while he drew the first blade, sighting the target Naruto took a small step forward twisting at the hips his arm whipping across his body with the momentum, Thunk. An outer ring but definitely on target, Iruka was surprised more so a moment later. Thunk. Thunk. Thunk. Thunk. Naruto turned grinning at his gaping Sensei. "That was… very well done Naruto," Iruka could hardly believe it. "How did you do that?"
"My friend's dad is a blacksmith and he gave her some Kunai to practice with and she let me practice with her. Plus this weird guy, Genma I think, did a seminar a while ago about Shurikenjutsu… he chewed on senbon!"
"I suppose that makes sense, it's what the seminar series is all about in any case. Good job Naruto, that was a great demonstrated I will add weapon privileges to your license. Now what about Chakra?" Iruka expected the boy to try to manifest some Chakra so he was flabbergasted when the boy began doing three hand seals with surprising proficiency.
"Earth Style: Subterranean Voyage!" Holding the last sign, snake, Naruto slowly sank into the earth until he disappeared completely. Iruka stood alone in utter astonishment for a moment before before him he heard and then saw Naruto rising out of he earth like he was on an elevator.
"How was that Sensei," Naruto said with a shiteating smile plastered on his face. Iruka could barely speak, who was this kid?
"Uhh… yeah approved," with a holler Naruto fist pumped and took off running. Iruka was left in stunned silence, "That is one to watch."
"The work of the ninja is, in many ways, an expert and specific application of similar mundane tasks. There is no better example than that of hunting. To be a proficient hunter one needs skill, stealth, and understanding working together to accomplish the task successfully. From a young age Senju children have been taught and encouraged to hunt. Selecting and Locating prey through understanding creature and environment. Stalking prey through that same understanding of the creature and the environment allows the hunter to move unseen and position for the pivotal strike. The Kill must be precise, locating a point of weakness both in space and time. Yes hunting is an activity every ninja should pursue. To take down prey with a ranged weapon is first. Next to do so without detection. The truly skilled may be able to make a kill in close quarters if a hunter's skill to move silently is sufficient. Finally the greatest hunters can approach prey undetected and touch them without the animal being any wiser. Ninja must be master hunters."
From the moment Naruto had first read that passage from 1000 Sayings, he had been anxious to begin hunting. His first forays had produced little results due to his lack of planning and skill. Now though Naruto waited quietly, still and obscured in brush next to an empty clearing. In his hand he clenched one of his new prized possessions, a sharp Kunai ready to be thrown at the squirrels dashing through the trees above him. His new license privileges had allowed him to purchase a pack of Kunai and a second set of blunted training Kunai. Quietly, ever so quietly, Naruto adjusted his stance as a squirrel near his position paused on a branch. Quick as he was able Naruto whipped his Kunai up toward the squirrel. The small creature darted away his Kunai sailing through the space it had occupied a moment earlier. Naruto tracked the flight of his blade and rushed to retrieve it.
"More practice, I need to be more quiet!" Naruto chastised himself, hunting was going to take some time to master. Naruto was determined though, "Those squirrels looks so tasty, I'm coming for you!"
Later a rather hungry blonde stopped his hunt, yet again unsuccessful, but still determined. The sun was edging toward the horizon but Naruto still wanted to practice the technique he had, only a week previous, first managed to perform. The look on Iruka-sensei's face had been priceless! Naruto "grasped" his Chakra, that was the best way he knew to describe the sensation, and "pushed" into the earth beneath him as he made the familiar hand seals. "How had the Hokage done this without hand seals?" Naruto wondered, but feeling the technique beginning to slip from his control he shook his head and pushed holding the snake sign. As his chakra seeped into the earth beneath him he began to slowly slip down: first his toes disappeared. Next his ankles, knees, and his hips; Naruto could feel his Chakra shifting the dirt around him as he moved underground.
Finally Naruto found himself fully underground, being submerged in the earth was a sensation Naruto was still growing accustomed to. It was dark and quiet, the blonde could feel himself surrounded by Chakra, like a film in the earth surrounding him. Naruto moved his legs in circles under him, and the film of Chakra shifted dirt to accommodate the motion. The technique used Chakra to allow him this motion, almost making the earth a liquid, Naruto's legs moved like it was underwater there was a resistance to his movements. Directing the technique Naruto rose above ground again the sights and sounds of the world above rushing back in. Naruto dropped the snake seal and sat down, around him the clearing in the training ground was churned as if some farmer was preparing to plant all as a result of his practice.
"I can move fine, slowly, but moving is easy." It was true, Naruto couldn't move quickly but moving up, down, forward and so forth was a simple matter of directing the chakra his technique used. "My problem is navigation, I'm blind and can't hear anything. How am I supposed to know where I am going?" Naruto knew from experience that moving blindly he was prone to bumping into roots and rocks. "The Hokage was able to move quickly and get right behind his opponent in that demonstration, how was he able to do that?" After some time thinking the blonde finished his break and got back to it. "I still have a long way to go mastering this technique, like the Senju say, "One technique mastered is worth a thousand simply known,".