Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction based on multiple existing anime/manga series. The characters and settings used in this story belong to their respective owners and creators, and no copyright infringement is intended. This story is purely for entertainment purposes and is not intended to infringe upon any existing intellectual property. I do not own any of the original works that inspired this fanfiction, and I fully support the original creators and their works.
I'm also occasionally chilling in JaxWolf4's (Author of Nah, I'd Adapt and Zenin Days) Discord Server. It's a chaotic lobotomy mess. Not for the faint of heart.
Here's the link:
Disc: HrPrTeam
-Story Start-
-Third Person POV-
Within the chambers of the Nara Council Building lay the Main Auditorium.
Those who enter through the main entrance, are greeted with the striking round table nestled in the epicenter of the room itself, riddled with comfortable chairs.
As to the sight beyond the table itself - three grand seats belonging to the elected Nara Elders.
And beyond that stood the Nara Patriarch's seat, towering over them all.
It was not a sight farfetched in Konoha, or even any other Clan of any Hidden Village.
A tradition unchanged from the Warring Clans Era.
Allegiance to a Kage does not disrupt internal Clan politics - a commonality throughout the Elemental Nations.
It was in Council Meeting Rooms such as these that most Clans conducted their business; be it internal affairs or otherwise.
Some Clans, requiring a sense of self-importance more than others utilized this method quite often.
The Nara Clan was not one of them.
It is an irregular occurrence for the entire Council Room to be filled to the brim with all the higher-ups of the Nara at the same time.
Each usually empty seat on the round table was now replaced by a grumpy and impatient Nara.
That is not even mentioning the Elders and Patriarch present as well.
An unsettling silence enveloped the room, as all eyes gravitated towards one Shinobi. Said Shinobi noting the novelty of such a gathering, as his amused tone sliced through the tense atmosphere.
Akira tilted his head, smirking, "Dramatic much?" His gaze was directed at the Elders in front of him.
"This is where you keep your mouth shut, boy," Eiichi warned with a piercing glare, his wrinkled hand shakingly gripping his head, as to subdue the anger and frustration beneath his tone.
Akira huffed, ignoring the irritated looks the higher-up Naras behind him had directed at him, "I beg to differ. I am confused as to the matter of my presence in this, quite frankly, exaggerated gathering," turning around he gestured at the unamused Nara sitting with clear dismay.
Turning around once more, Akira pointed at Shikaku who donned a rather impressive poker face, "I mean, you even roped my ever-busy Uncle into this... hell, it has only been a day since I passed the Preliminaries of the Chunin Exams, could've given me some time to rest from my tough time, I had to fight Orochimaru, you know? Awful experience."
Makoto snorted in amusement as he tapped at the wooden handle of his seat, "Don't change the subject. Certainly, you are not ignorant as to the gravity of the mess you have caused, Akira?" He inquired.
"Do enlighten me." Akira challenged.
Growls reverberated from the Nara behind Akira, and the glares only grew in intensity.
As promised, Makoto supplied the answer with a cold smile, "In less than a day, you managed to undo years of the collective effort of the Clan and of yourself to polish your image for the betterment of us all."
Yukiko continued with a tired look, "Unnecessarily crippling foreign Shinobi-"
Akira interrupted, "Oh, forgive me for being a little xenophobic. Lord Second set a far higher bar, don't you think?"
His words went ignored, as Yukiko pressed on, "Unnecessary tampering with the Chunin Exam and throwing out fellow Leaf Shinobi, sadistically tormenting and injuring them... need I say more?" She frowned as she looked over at the other present Nara who shook their heads and nodded in agreement respectively.
A thin line settled on Akira's face as he shrugged, "No rules broken, I even made sure not to hurt any Leaf... those that didn't come at me or resist, at least."
One Nara from the table loudly barked, "No rules broken doesn't make this right! The efforts we as well as yourself expended in making sure you are looked upon in a bright light were thrown out like garbage because of your actions!" He repeated the frustration-laced accusation.
Another older woman mentioned, "And the doubtful Clans, Inuzuka prominent of them are now feeling phenomenally about themselves - your actions are a grand embarrassment for usall."
Murmurs grew into a cacophony of words like "reckless" and "disgraceful" slipping through gritted teeth.
A chair creaked as someone leaned forward, his grip on the round table tightening.
Others crossed their arms, jaws set tight, their disapproval thick in the air as they barely held their tongue but their expression stated otherwise.
"Everyone settle down." Shikaku's weary tone quickly put a stop to the noise.
At the Clan Head's demand, all eyes gravitated back to Akira to await his response.
Sighing audibly, Akira's dim emerald lit with subtle fury, "The doubtful Clans?"
"I don't care about them, let them think what they want; the attempt to ease their worries was a cowardly move in the first place." He turned around as he pointed at himself with a resolute declaration, "It's not supposed to be my problem that they are fearful of talented individuals outside their own damn clans." He barked.
"We're all Leaf, if anything, they shouldn't be alienating me - like our wiser allied Clans."
Chuckling lightly, his tone laced with irony he mentioned, "They should be happy I let out my demons this way, now they know how and where I stand. All our previous nutjobs probably snapped because they repressed their shadows."
...
"Is that supposed to fool anyone in this room, Akira?" Makoto frowned in genuine disappointment and slight pity.
Akira mirrored his expression, "What are you implying?"
Eiichi answered the query, "We're not here to simply chastise you for your transgression of spitting on all our collective efforts."
"That's exactly what you just did."
"I'm getting to that. Your recklessness shattered the image we spent years building - for you and the clan alike."
He gestured at the entire room, "So it is our right that you give us an explanation behind your presumably foolish actions."
With narrowed eyes, Eiichi continued, "I say presumably, because all of us, some more than others, know you since you were a blubbering spineless child."
"Some of us are responsible for educating, training, and nurturing you into who you are."
Akira held his tongue as he could only listen intently with narrowed eyes.
Eiichi stated with finality, "And it is this keen, familial familiarity that grants me little doubt that you had good reason as to such drastic measures."
"No Nara, not even you, would do what you did, damaging what you had damaged without good reason."
Makoto nodded in agreement, "I have trained you to know your cards well, I doubt you would have blindly miscalculated due to emotion of all things."
Eiichi enigmatically added, "You have a knack for detaching off those, don't you?"
"However, you have been slipping off lately. If this is another slip-up like your last mission, I fear the worst." Eiichi mentioned with a threatening edge.
"Threatening or insulting me is not helping you get your point across, Clan Elder," Akira mentioned with casual disdain.
Heavy silence took the room once more, as Yukiko rolled her eyes and lightly gestured at Akira.
"Just get to the point, Akira. If you had a reason, we'll hear it. If you didn't… well, you should have known this was coming." She casually mentioned.
Akira's lips curled up into a tiny smirk, as he waved a dismissive hand, "You don't have to worry about a shattered image or reputation."
"After all, you taught me that all which can be broken can also be fixed." He added after a moment's contemplation, "Or at least, superseded."
Furrowed brows crossed those who sat across the round table.
A few exchanged glances, silent questions passing between them.
As one voiced out from among those sitting at the table, "For our betterment?"
"Guess you'll have to find out... I can't be putting up a mask my entire life, eventually, it'll fall." Akira shrugged, his tone dismissive.
"A mask?" Eiichi scoffed.
"You expect us to believe you've been hiding something all along? Is our ignorance to your plo-"
Akira quickly changed the topic as he turned to regard everyone present, "On a more positive note, since you are all here, who out of you available Jonin would like to accompany me on my last Exorcism Ritual?"
"You're taming the Tiger? The Eighth and Last One?" A Nara immediately inquired with a serious tone.
"Yup, I've figured out his weakness and am planning on doing so the second I can get out of here." Akira nodded in agreement, lightly insinuating his impatience as he turned to look at the poker-faced Shikaku.
A loud slam reverberated in the room, as Eiichi's palm hit the wood of his chair, "Not so fast, Akira. We are not done here."
Blinking, Akira turned to look at Shikaku, "Your verdict, Shikaku-sama?" He formally addressed the mostly silent figure of Shikaku.
Letting loose an audible sigh and pinching his brows, Shikaku replied, "Regardless if this was you 'letting loose' your 'demons' or anything else, it is undeniable that your actions will necessitate a lot of damage control." He stated matter of factly, his tone neutral.
"I'll gladly help, but I'm afraid it'll have to be after the Chunin Exam's Finals. I have to train and prepare a few things." Akira nodded in agreement.
Narrowing a contemplative look at Akira, Shikaku pondered silently for a moment.
He seemed to arrive at some sort of conclusion as he nodded, declaring with the full authority of a Clan Head.
"I and the rest of the Nara Clan will place our trust in you. Extreme actions demand extreme expenses, Akira. I won't press the issue further since it seems necessary that not even your own clan is allowed to know of that which you are planning."
He gestured at everyone present in the room, "We pray you mirror this trust upon further contemplation, Akira."
"And that you prove it is not misplaced," Shikaku emphasized with finality.
...
Akira could only nod with a thin line on his face, neither confirming nor denying anything stated.
Nodding, Shikaku turned to the three elders, "I and the Elders will accompany you on the Exorcism Ritual of the Tiger. I have made our verdict."
"The rest of you dismissed and the meeting adjourned." He nodded in gratitude to the other present Nara.
With a bitter taste in their mouths, the sound of moving chairs and the cacophony of an abundance of footsteps resonated in the room with all the other Nara with the exception of Akira, the Elders, and Shikaku leaving the room.
Not without mixed feelings expressed loudly enough for Shikaku himself to hear:
"Pathetic."
"Nepotism at its finest."
"A Clan Head playing favorites - disgraceful."
The Nara Clan had always respected and mostly agreed with the Genius among Nara Shikaku, yet for the first time in a long while - his decision was received with obvious distaste.
Which Shikaku only ignored with a steely yet weary look.
Akira politely bowed as etiquette dictated and expressed his gratitude, "Thank you for trusting me, Shikaku-sama."
Lifting his upper body, he added, "Though you are reading too much into my actio-"
"Can it brat, you aren't fooling anyone here. I have better things to do anyway..." Yukiko snorted and complained as she rose from her seat.
Shrugging helplessly, Akira headed towards the exit like the rest of the Nara, though his destination was much different.
"You mind if we use your place for it?" Akira asked Eiichi matter-of-factly.
"You've practically claimed that place as your own with your perpetual usage of it. It is an unnecessary question."
-------------------------------
The road to the Underground Training spot wasn't a long one - given that both that place and the Nara Council Building were located in the Nara Compound, after all.
Nevertheless, it was enough for a conversation.
Whilst the three Elders struck up a conversation likely relating to Akira's disastrous PR actions, Shikaku walked alongside the aforementioned headache.
The sun gently peeked over the horizon as evening was coming to a close and the Elemental Nations awaited the cyclical greeting of the night, the street light had turned on and the streets of the Compound were not as jam-packed as usual.
"I appreciate your help getting our bored veterans off my case." Akira genuinely thanked Shikaku with a warm smile.
"Helping a son with his troubles is a Father's role."
"...So it was favoritism?"
Huffing with slight amusement, Shikaku retorted, "It is also a Clan Head's role to help the kids of the clan with their own troubles. Forgive them, you know how zealous they can get that they forget that you are still thirteen."
"Oh, I know. Makoto's stunt wasn't that long ago, my memory's not that dull." Akira mentioned with a foul taste in his mouth.
Yet, there was no mention of any forgiveness.
Shikaku let out an awkward yet apologetic chuckle at that, as a more serious countenance took its place a moment later:
"I stand by my words, Akira. But I have to emphasize that you can trust me with what's troubling you." Shikaku stated with full transparency.
Akira smiled, "Thanks, but I'm good. If it's about what I did, you are all reading into it too mu-"
Shaking his head, Shikaku added, "You're stressed." He judged with a discerning eye.
Arching an eyebrow, Akira gave him the truth, "Can you blame me? Orochimaru is planning on striking in this coming Chunin Exams." He dropped a bombshell.
Though, Shikaku's expression held no surprise.
"I take it Lord Third shared with you my 'theory'?"
"He did, but you never said it would happen in the Chunin Exams, now did you?" Shikaku mentioned.
"I insinuated that to be the case to Lord Third, he might not have relayed that part to you, but I'm certain he got my message," Akira mentioned with a nod, "If you want to really help me, take my warning seriously - Orochimaru told me he was going to destroy the Leaf, and I am almost certain he will do so in the tournament."
Shikaku sighed, "And I'll ask you as Lord Third had, on what grounds do you believe it'll occur?"
"Did Orochimaru expressly state that he'll attack during the tournament? He never struck me as someone who'd make such an amateurish blunder as to arrogantly announce his plans, and I knew the man personally for many years."
Akira could only state with all the seriousness he could muster, "It's a gut feeling, a feeling I am trusting and asking you to trust."
"Surely you know much more than me given your position - but I feel like I'm talking to a wall at this point, so just do what you feel is right." He shook his head as he lost all will to continue this conversation.
Shikaku sighed, smiling apologetically "I'm sorry that you had to face that man." He patted Akira's head.
"It's fine, he didn't hurt me nor kill any of my Shikigami." Akira waved him off.
'But he did manage to mark Sasuke.' Akira silently grounded his teeth.
Something he knew would happen, and for the sake of a better future, let it happen.
'...But would that better future even come?'
'Presuming a flawless outcome is... conceit, isn't it?'
The vivid image of a Hare being skinned alive flashed in Akira's mind once more.
Raw, bloodied and its fur separated from its flesh prompting a momentary wince.
Akira shook his head, reminding himself, 'Doubt is the most insidious and subtle poison, once it takes root it slowly spreads until it-'
'Plan everything out, every possibility, every contingency, so far... it's fine don't jinx it.' He exhaled subtly, making sure to relax the muscles on his face.
Frowning, Shikaku nodded in understanding, turning to look around them as they strolled through the streets of the Nara Compound, "You can talk to me if those looks bother you, too." He gave his support as their gentle steps on the cobbled road resonated lightly.
Regarding the odd looks and wary gazes nestling on his figure, Akira could only huff in agreement, "Thanks Dad, but that's the price for showing the real me. Anyway, I've survived Tsume's glare I think random pedestrians and distant family aren't something I should be concerned with." He lightly mentioned with an amused smirk.
It wasn't overwhelming, but once in a while, he got a look or two.
"Though it is surprising how fast the news had spread."
"Some clans aren't your biggest fans, not to mention that recall that you had wreaked havoc nearly a couple of days ago. And this is the Nara Compound we got the news and complaints first." Shikaku provided his explanation.
"Mhm." Akira nodded in understanding.
...
Shikaku inquired sharply, a final question for this lingering conversation, "What are you planning on doing should Orochimaru strike? If you are so certain?"
"As much as someone like me can do," Akira replied enigmatically and left it at that.
-------------------------------
"Toad." The loud declaration rang loudly in the mostly empty underground chamber, as Akira made the shadowgraphic handsign of a toad.
Overloading the Chakra once, then twice.
Liquid shadows convulsed and twisted into the shape of a car-sized Toad.
Though, much to the light surprise of the distant spectators, this wasn't the usual figure of Jeff.
This was Level 3 Jeff.
The liquid darkness that dripped off of his skin colored the ground in an eerie darkness.
His eyes were pure white and on his belly the Treasure he bore.
The Okitsukagami.
Akira's shout resonated from afar, "Remember not to look at the Mirror!" He reminded his distant spectators.
Not awaiting their response, his muscles tensed and bulged.
"Get in position, Jeff," Akira instructed as he kept his eyes off the hazardous toad.
Doing so, the large toad hopped in front of Akira, who lowered his eyes to gaze at the floor, his arms moving in a blur.
Creating the shape of a shadowgraphic tiger head as he murmured, "Tiger Funeral."
With his announcement, a tenseness enveloped the air, as memories of the Tiger's capabilities flashed in Akira's mind whilst the liquid shadows began to form its large figure.
Specifically, the way to beat him.
'Tiger Funeral has two weaknesses... the first being whilst he is in the process of swallowing someone's Soul. If memory serves right, he couldn't move even when noticing me slitting its throat.'
Akira's eyes sharpened as he looked at the ground, and felt the ground crack beside him as Tiger Funeral's heavy figure had formed.
'The most glaring weakness, however... was Genjutsu or more specifically, Jeff's Mirror.' He confirmed in his mind as he recalled the narrow escape from Orochimaru.
Akira kept his muscles tensed as he elongated and sharpened the nails on his hands.
He awaited a signal, his trust in Jeff was without doubt.
...
A moment later, Jeff's voice reverberated in Akira's mind, 'Strike!'
He didn't need any further instructions, as Akira lifted his gaze to notice the hulking figure of Tiger Funeral towering over him.
The Tiger's back facing him as he stood frozen, his front directed at Jeff - his eyes making contact with the Okitsukagami.
With a slight crack sourced from the ground at the speedy movement, Akira climbed onto Tiger Funeral's back and landed on his spacious shoulder with his feet, and with disturbing accuracy...
He sliced the beast's neck with both hands.
A literal fountain of blood began to spray from the creature's neck as he nevertheless stood tall.
The Genjutsu so effective against him that even slitting the Tiger's throat didn't break him out of it.
"Can't decapitate him with how tough and thick his neck is... but this should be enough, it was last time."
'Though last time he was in his lithe form...'
A slight hint of doubt crossed Akira's features as he backed away a considerable distance from the standing yet bleeding Tiger, as the ground was a literal pool of blood.
Akira's hands shot together and assembled a shadowgraphic hand sign of an Ox head.
'For good measure...'
"Piercing Ox." He announced as the figure of Level 1 Beeflejuice began to form from liquid shadows whilst he felt a noticeable and familiar drain on his chakra.
And without any unnecessary prompting, the Ox charged towards the still bleeding, yet alive Tiger.
He charged, and with each additional step the Ox took, the more powerful he got.
The ground quaked with more force, as the Ox accelerated and accelerated.
And just a few seconds later he reached the poor Tiger...
The impact was a disturbing fleshy squelch followed by an explosion of blood, organs, and limbs sent flying.
Beeflejuice easily pierced through the Tiger, making what was left of him...
But a pool of blood and scattered remains of organs and flesh.
Said remnants melted into shadows, as Akira felt a change in his body.
A change made more vivid as he had begun to grow aware of his Inner World.
The keen sense that another door had opened.
Tiger Funeral has been Exorcised and Tamed.
Silence enveloped the rather spacious underground chamber as Akira turned to Jeff caring not to look in the Mirror, "Good work," dismissing the Toad he turned to the stationary Beeflejuice who had stopped his earth-shaking stampede following the successful ritual, "You as well." He nodded at the Ox as well.
A subtle echo of - 'Always a pleasure,' rang in his mind as the mighty Ox melted into liquid shadows.
A cacophony of approaching footsteps caught Akira's attention as he turned to be met with the approaching three elders and Shikaku.
"Anticlimactic and rather underwhelming, to be completely candid." Makoto voiced his opinion on the rather short fight.
Akira arched an eyebrow, "You expected a spectacle? An intense fight? Showmanship on the battlefield is the first thing you never taught me."
Eiichi answered for Makoto with a similar dubious expression on his face, "Of course not, but none of your Taming Rituals had such a... simple solution."
Shaking his head in great disappointment, Makoto gave his unrepentant two cents with a saddened yet mocking tone, "I had hoped for a good show to repay a fraction of the problems you had suddenly brought to our doorstep. An entertaining spectacle could have rejuvenated my motivation to deal with the mishaps of children."
Akira's eyes twitched for but a fraction of a second.
Yukiko approached and inquired rather sharply, "A weakness for Genjutsu? Aren't your Shadows immune to those?"
"As you like to say, until proven otherwise, yes. Tiger Funeral here seems to be the exception to this."
Eiichi voiced matter of factly, "A glaring weakness for it being called the Last of the Creatures from your... Nine Shadows."
Yukiko pressed on, "Have you tried weaving a different Genjutsu and not one as powerful or of a different nature as your Toad's Mirror against it? You need to ascertain whether subtle Genjutsus are also effective against it, or whether it is immune to all but the most powerful of Genjutsu like the deep-dreamlike one the Mirror on your Toad's belly casts."
Akira could only blink at the rapid-fire suggestions, "Yeah, will do." He nodded appreciatively nonetheless.
A clap resonated as Makoto's thoroughly giddy and amused tone reverberated as his lips twisted into his signature creepy smile, "Why the suggestions for future reference, Yukiko-chan?" He turned to Akira with a delighted hand gesture, "Just summon the Tiger now~!"
...
Blinking, Akira turned to look at the stoic figure of Shikaku with a blank look, "Shikaku-sama" he addressed formally with a deep monotone, "I am very very exhausted from recent events. I even got beat up-"
"You can heal yourself, Akira-kun~" Makoto interrupted.
"Creepy. Also, Chakra doesn't grow on trees."
"Then I suggest you do a thorough study session on Ancient Legends."
"Would a simple 'don't wanna', suffice for getting off my case? I'll study this Shikigami's capabilities in the coming week, I've got other stuff to do, like rest."
"After roping us to join you in the Exorcism Ritual this is all you have to offer?" Makoto whined with a saddened frown.
"You were the one who required a few Jonin to be present for this, also I hadn't ordered you to join me, only asked nicely with no strings attached. And you did."
"Isn't free will amazing?"
-------------------------------
-Akira POV-
I have recently come to learn about something I had not accounted for:
A problem, a few of them.
It is a lesson I learned during the tumultuous Forest Of Death aspect of my plans.
Friends and family.
I had firmly believed that they'd stay out of my way, it was to the point I hadn't accounted for any of them to bother me with any of my methods or least of all...
Try to figure out my plans and potentially cause havoc on the board.
I can account for only so many contingencies, I can only try to control so much.
I'll admit, it was an honest miscalculation - their reactions had crossed my mind but a proactive response was never in the cards.
Nor that one slip-up...
In any case, I work with what I have, as always.
So, I'll be going out of my way to at the very least soften the blow on one of the more... glaring new problems.
If he's going to be a problem, might as well make sure he becomes one at the latest point in time as possible so he doesn't disturb nor disrupt my preparation or anything else - the personification of a Wild Card.
It is with this conviction in mind that I casually yet purposefully stroll through the busy daytime streets of Konohagakure just two days after the Preliminaries and with twenty-nine days left before all hell breaks loose.
A cloudless blue horizon over my head as the gentle beams of the sun warm my skin my eyes scan my surroundings as I wave to the not-so-random pedestrians.
A leatherworker from the Akimichi Clan.
A pair of new-wed civilians and a pair of roughly five-year-old twins; a boy and girl respectively holding their parents' hands.
A recently opened takoyaki of a retired clanless Shinobi who lost an eye in the Third Great Ninja War.
Not to mention the loud talks, laughter, and banter that rang aloud in this busy street.
A sense of home.
All those talks of Will Of Fire should be replaced with an image and vivid simulation of this place.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that I'd be pretty fulfilled if I could stroll through these streets every day without a care in the world for the rest of my life.
Not out of lack of ambition, it's just that nice here.
...
Oh, someone's looking at me funny.
Not the usual recognition look I get, guess it still hasn't spread that much - well, I'm accounting for major backlash so that's fine.
Now then, this particular path is one I pass through rather often since it leads to one somewhat famous establishment of which I can proudly state I am a regular and rather veteran customer of-
In front of me, as I turned the corner to a less population-dense street was the cozy and compact Ichiraku Ramen.
Approaching the Ramen Shop that had only recently opened - given that it was still rather early in the morning, I noted a pair of shoes and pants peeking through the obscured entrance.
Judging by the eye-catching disastrous fashion sense... it is my target.
Naruto is unpredictable.
In all things but Ramen that is.
Once he got the S-Rank Mission-sized paycheck and had a glimmer of riches... it's Ichiraku Ramen for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
Maybe even a Kid's Size Miso Ramen for Supper and Dessert.
I'm glad I was right, makes this a lot more simple, more straightforward, and far less suspicious to get him off my case before he even gets on it.
Noc and Mir are currently busy looking for someone else, anyway.
Also, there's a piece of news I gotta relay to Naruto as a side note, in case Sasuke hadn't gotten to him first.
Sasuke actively seeking out Naruto though is rarer than a blue moon.
Especially when the Blonde Menace is innocent of any insolent act upon his royal duckness.
"I can only hope no one spoke with him before I did... but if they did he'd have already been at my doorstep," I mumbled under my breath with a sweatdrop.
Indeed, before a stubborn problem arrives unknowingly, suddenly, aggressively, and obnoxiously at your doorstep.
I believe it wiser to arrive at its doorstep on your own terms.
With a purposeful stride, I entered the establishment, my eyes were immediately greeted with the hard-working figures of Teuchi and his daughter, Ayame.
The lone customer, for now, sat in front with his mouth full and lacking any etiquette as he practically inhaled his Ramen with an expression full of bliss to which Ayame, who instead of being disgusted, was only smiling with familial endearment.
I approached the seat near Naruto whose guard was completely down as I appraised his work.
"Six bowls... you've decided to splurge." I hummed with a sage-like expression.
Teuchi greeted me with his usual warm enthusiasm, "Ah! Akira! It's nice to see you this early! How was the Chunin Exams?"
Was not planning on explaining this to anyone but Naruto as my explanation was tailored for him, but they would have eavesdropped anyway so it's fine.
With his face full of Ramen, Naruto turned to his right, meeting my eyes with pleasant surprise, as if... he found some sort of kinship?
Gulping he whispered with awe, "Akira, have you seen the light as well? Ichiraku Ramen for breakfast, lunch, and dinner? Did the money also make you see the light?!" A disturbing fanaticism crossed his sharp blue eyes, and for a moment, my blood sugar levels had been struck with crippling fear.
"Far from it dude, just a passing craving. The Exams were... a mess and food wasn't very palatable." I waved him off, as I mentioned with a sweatdrop and a troubled look.
Turning my head from the slight worry that crossed Naruto's broth-covered face, I lifted my gaze to Teuchi and ordered, "One Miso Ramen please."
"Coming right up! Ayame bring out the noodles!" He smiled brightly as he went on to work.
"Right!" She replied with cheer, waving at me with a smile to which I reciprocated.
Naruto inquired immediately, genuinely confused, "What, were the Exams tough? Ain't those a bunch of Genin? I thought you'd breeze right through with Sasuke!"
Suspicions confirmed.
Placing a hand on the table and leaning my face on it, I replied evenly, "We more or less breezed through, but there were a few hiccups along the way." I continued, "Like Orochimaru suddenly attacking me."
And marking Sasuke, but that's for Sasuke to tell, not me. Although it'll all be redundant in the end, I'll tell Naruto if Sasuke broods himself out of this one.
Teuchi and Ayame had paused for just a moment at that namedrop, only to continue with an uneasy expression.
I casually mention, "I'm fine."
Scratching his spiky blonde hair, Naruto's facial muscles tensed as he unsurprisingly asked:
"Who?"
I'm not surprised, just disappointed really.
Not masking my disappointment to which his brows twitched, I sighed, "I'll tell you all about the Chunin Exams later, while we're at it, I'll get to the meat of the Exams something that involves you."
Pointing a perplexed thumb at himself he started, "Me? What'd I do this time? I was honestly working on construction! 1,000 Clones and no less! Every! Day!" He pointed at the clock on the wall of the shop, "My shift's in two hours damn it!"
I raised my arms in a placating gesture as I shook my head, "Nothing like that. It's just, in the Chunin Exams, Sasuke and I came across a distant relative of yours, another 'Uzumaki', she's from the Hidden Grass Village, however." I mentioned with a raised finger.
A subtle, yet loud noise reverberated in the compact ramen shop, the sound of Naruto's chopsticks dropping on the floor as his expression froze and his eyes widened in genuine surprise.
It appeared as if a cold chill struck him, as he repeated with a hopeful tone that honestly made me happy being the one to relay this information to him:
His voice cracked with hope, his expression pale, "D-Distant Relative?"
I nod, confirming his suspicions with a small, reassuring smile, "Mhm."
It took him a good minute to digest the information and its implications, as both Teuchi and Ayame froze in their work to regard Naruto with a warm smile.
Jumping off his seat, his hands shot forward suddenly grabbing my shoulders with a tight hold, "Where," he exhaled, "where is she?"
A sweat trickled down my face at the intense almost pleading look in his eyes, "Hold your horses. I'm just the messenger, how you proceed from here is up to you, I haven't even had a single conversation with the girl in a relaxed environment."
What? It was the honest truth.
I continued as he listened intently and weakened his hold on my poor shoulders, "Where she's at isn't something I'm privy to, an educated guess would be the foreign quarters, you worked there so you know where that's at."
I added, "Also, Sasuke, on the other hand, did talk with the girl so if you want more information you're going to have to talk with him."
Good luck Sasuke, sorry Sasuke.
Nodding intently Naruto released his hold and turned sharply to Teuchi roaring loudly, "ALRIGHT! OLD MAN TEUCHI! PUT THE BOWLS ON MY TAB! I'M HEADING OF-"
I cut him off, "Hold up, I need to ask you for a small favor."
Blinking, Naruto turned to me with only negligibly subdued enthusiasm just to hear me out, to which he grinned widely and gave me a reassuring thumbs-up, "YEAH! Anything for a friend, what is it?"
Nodding in gratitude I stated calmly, "In the coming days you may or may not come to hear of some... exaggerated rumors regarding things I've done in the Chunin Exams. Don't believe them."
"What'd ya do?"
I spoke his language, "I beat people up pretty badly."
Narrowing his eyes in confusion, "Umm... what's the problem then? Isn't it a test where Shinobi die or something? Pummeling is obvious!" He nodded with folded arms.
"True enough, but can you do that for me?" I repeated my request.
"Of course! Don't ya worry! Anyone who talks down to my friends will get a piece of my damn mind!" His nodding got even more fervent.
Lifting a finger, he boasted, "If anything, I'm a master at ignoring exaggerated whatchamacallit! All my life I've been called a demon!" He proudly mentioned.
I genuinely thanked Naruto, albeit with a slight deadpan, "Thanks, really appreciate it, dude. Though I think that isn't something you should be boasting about."
"Those bastards can go suck it! I'll prove to them how stupid they are by becoming Hokage! Believe it!"
And it was on that note that he gave me a swift wave and bolted it out of there after destroying six bowls of ramen.
...
"He's always something isn't he?" Teuchi chuckled without a hint of ridicule.
No lies there.
I nodded, "Yeah... can I get my Ramen?"
"Oh, sorry for the wait!" With that said a fancy fragrant bowl of ramen dropped on my table.
First, food. Then, my other potentially groundbreaking experiment.
If this works I can quite literally scrap everything else, minus a few certain details I need to occur.
-------------------------------
A little later, I found myself in the hallway leading to the Hokage's Office.
"Oh... it's you." A pure, unadulterated mixture of contempt and dismay left the lips of the paperwork-bearing man blocking my path to the office.
I retorted with my own unfiltered admission, "I liked Chisato better."
The good ones always get married early, tsk.
Jan snorted, "Too bad for you, then. As long as Lord Third reigns or decides otherwise, I am in this prestigious position for the foreseeable future," he stated with a mixture of pride and mirth.
I nodded absentmindedly with a tiny smirk as I answered his unspoken question, "Is that so? In any case, I am here to see Lord Third."
He arched an eyebrow, "Without an appointment? Surely your insolence has a limit?"
I nodded, "I don't mind waiting an hour or two... or three, just tell him this is about my Deer and he'll agree to give me a moment or two of his time, I'm sure."
I'm in no particular rush whilst Noc and Mir scour this oversized Village for my elusive target.
Speaking of which a voice resonated in my mind, as Mir spoke, 'Shikamaru approaching. Konoha Hospital.'
What's he going to do? Question cripples?
'Thanks for the heads-up, but ignore him, continue your search.' I ordered.
Once again, even if he figures me out. He should know it's best to let me work alone.
A thin, tight line formed on Jan's face as he pondered my words for a moment, answering with a nod and a more professional yet enigmatic tone, "Wait here."
Turning around he headed toward the office, the echo of his steps weakening as he grew more distant with only the barely audible creak of a door opening being the last noise I could grasp.
Huffing out of my nose, I leaned on the wall as I patiently waited for my grand calling from Lord Third.
...
A few people, both familiar and unfamiliar passed by as they headed to the office as well.
I ignored them much the same as the minutes trickled by.
Personally, I would have liked to use this time to meditate, but that would be in rather bad taste here.
Some can do it whilst standing or even in an awkward position on top of being in an ill-fit environment - I am not one of those people, I'm afraid.
The oddest thing is that apparently, the best user of Meditation is Jiraiya; a Sage.
A perverted one, but a Sage all the same.
Foggy term that one is, what makes you a Sage anyway? Is his 'Research' so uniquely perverted and dedicated that he qualifies as one or something?
At the sound of approaching footsteps, I stopped my stray thoughts and directed my attention at Jan who was approaching me from the direction of the Office.
"Follow." He ordered.
"A please would be nice." I mentioned nonchalantly as I followed him nonetheless, "Chisato would have said 'please'," I added with a saddened tone which I was certain had caused his brows to twitch.
-------------------------------
"Did you reconsider my words, Akira?" Hiruzen's stern and unreadable tone reverberated in the 'empty' office as he exhaled a puff of smoke, seated like the ruler he was.
I neither agreed nor disagreed, providing my own option, "I came here to request your assistance in enacting a certain experiment with the restorative properties of my Deer. One, that I believe would be beneficial for the Leaf. It requires your co-operation as well as your wisdom as the 'Professor'."
Pondering my words for but a moment, he kept his even tone, "Your request?"
"It is simple... and requires Jonin Guy's presence, I believe all Jonin except special cases or ANBU are recalled during Chunin Exams and festivities, correct?"
Hiruzen's eyes sharpened as realization crossed his aged features, "You don't mean..."
He caught on fast.
I nodded with a small smile, "Indeed, from my understanding, the only one recorded to have unlocked up to the 7th Gate is Might Guy," I gestured at the room, "More specifically the only one alive in the entire world right now. I do not know if he is capable of opening the Gate Of Death, but... if my Deer can negate the repercussions from the 6th Gate and beyond-"
Hiruzen needed no further convincing, we were both on the same side of this, after all.
He barked an order at one of the hidden ANBU present in the room, "Kuma. Summon Might Guy, urgently."
A bear masked ANBU dropped to the floor at a speed i'd have trouble reacting to, bowing with reverence, "Yes, Lord Hokage!"
And he disappeared as quickly as he had made his appearance.
Wonder when I'll get that good.
To Be Continued!
-Author Note Start-
DON'T LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT!
DON'T!
I KNOW IT'S BEEN THREE MONTHS!
Yeah, well life is just like that, you know?
Life + the fact I ran out of juice for this fic made this excruciatingly hard to write.
I really dread this particular section and the next 2-3 chapters that are to come before everything I have prepared actually culminates (and I won't lie the pressure to deliver a satisfying outcome to the MONTHS of foreshadowing might have been also a cause for the delay but that's just me.)
I am fully confident in the outcome of this arc and what this plan results in for the coming and future arcs and world of Naruto, the dreadful part is executing and writing it properly.
But enough complaining!
Hope that despite the delay the chapter was enjoyable for all of you and up to snuff in quality and all.
When is the next chapter coming?
I have gotten a burst of motivation for this fic so I'd like to say pretty soon, but I wouldn't trust my own words if I were you LMAO.
Also sorry you haven't seen Tiger Funeral truly in action yet as well as the result of the 8 gates test, I'm leaving those two for the next chapter.
A lot of things gotta be done!
On that note!
Love ya and bu bye!
-Down here is the copy paste stuff-
As always people! If you see any inconsistencies, wrong information, Illogical statements, etc... Notify me, please! I'll fix it ASAP! And or explain it later on in case I had planned to make it vague in the first place.
Also, all comments, reviews, constructive criticism and so on Are much appreciated! I especially love Constructive criticism because it allows me to improve the story in real time! I try my best to follow your advice!
I enjoy responding to you all! So do send them comments! Also, ideas are also welcome! I'm not that creative so assistance from you guys is always nice! Yup!
I hope you lovely people have a fantastic rest of the day/week. And I'll see you in a week's time or so :P
Walt Disney was afraid of mice, apparently. And instead of doing some kinda horror thing, he made Mickey Mouse. In a way that is ridiculing your fear isn't it? Here's this week's random fun fact.
-Author's Note End-