Chapter 26
KAKASHI HATAKE
Kakashi sat under a tree, as he watched one of his most troublesome and knuckle-headed students practicing his taijutsu against a tree bark, and for hours now, Naruto had been doing nothing but simply attacking that tree bark mindlessly as he tried to cope with the death of his former classmates.
The death of Sakura Haruno had lit a fire under each and every genin of this generation, and while initially they had been a bit non-serious, as they failed to understand the dangers of this world. That naivety had been pushed out of them in one single stroke, and now each of them was working hard as they tried to come to terms with the reality of this world.
Naruto had a crush on the girl, and her death had just solidified his resolve to never let any of his friends die. So, the blonde had been hard at work ever since, as he burned the midnight oil, working beyond their usual lessons for hours and hours until midnight or even later.
So, for days, Kakashi would sit here in the tree, book in hand, as he saw the blonde train until he fell down. Then he would pick him up and take him to his apartment, lest he find himself killed or maimed by the traitors and enemies that lingered in the shadows.
And it was not just Naruto who had changed. Sasuke may pretend to be unaffected, but the girl's death had shaken him as well, and it made him realise the futility of theoretical marks and knowledge, as he realized that he may be the top genin, but that mattered very little in the real world.
Hinata had her own set of challenges that she faced as her clan plotted against her to substitute her as heir and put the caged bird seal on her sister. Times may have changed, yet the new generation faced their own set of problems, and as their mentor, Kakashi, could only aid them from the sidelines as they struggled to find their footing amidst them all.
Often, he wondered if this was how Minato-sensei had felt, or if this was how every other sensei felt as they saw their students stumble along the way. He could go down and assure them that Sakura Haruno's death was a rare event, perpetuated by a series of failures unlikely to repeat themselves. He could assure them that the Hokage had overhauled the entire Intelligence division, and yet he knew that none of it would change their resolve.
He felt no chakra and no movement, yet suddenly a new voice interrupted his thinking.
"He is quite a hard worker," and his head snapped to the side as he recognized the familiar voice of the great Sanin, and there he stood with his white hair and red jacket. A man feared by nations and shinobi all over the world. One of Konoha's legendary sanin, and the mentor of the Yondaime Hokage himself.
"Jiraiya-sama," he gasped in shock, as the man smiled wildly.
"It's been a long time, kid," and few could ever call Kakashi Hatake a kid without any fear of retribution, and he was amongst those very few. He stood there, beside him, yet even now Kakashi failed to sense him, as the man's eyes narrowed.
"You have grown lazy," and maybe he had. Or the difference between them had simply grown over the years.
"You are here," he asked, as those eyes turned towards Naruto.
"Sensei called me back. He said that the village needed me," and in those eyes he saw sorrow and pain, as they gazed at Naruto, and of course they would, for the blonde was the spitting image of his father, the Sanin's former student.
"So, you are staying," he asked, for that would be quite something. He couldn't quite remember the last time the man had stayed in the village for more than a few days.
"Yes. At least until the exams are done," he answered, the gaze not shifting away from the blonde.
"How long has he been at it?" he asked, and Kakashi took a second to answer.
"Seven hours," he answered, as those eyes narrowed.
"Has he been using chakra for all that time," and Kakashi nodded, and the boy had begged Hinata to teach him how to push chakra into the tenketsu of his hands as he found himself inspired by her gentle fist, and though he was no Hyuga, the sheer amount of chakra in him allowed him to achieve a similar effect in his strikes.
"He is running on fumes now," he added, and the man sighed.
"Sensei was right to fear then," and he knew of those fears as well, and they were another reason why he was sitting here supervising the boy.
"At this rate, it won't be long until the boy comes in contact with the Kyuubi," and that would not be very good. Not good at all.
"What should we do then?" he asked, and the man shrugged.
"Now that I am here, I will take him off your hands for some time. It's time that the boy comes to know about some of the secrets about him," and that was a bit of a let down, but one could have no better teacher than the Sanin himself, and who was he to deny Naruto the opportunity to work with one.
Especially Jiraiya-sama.
"There is a storm brewing, Kakashi," he added, in a grave tone.
"So, you should use the time to get back on time, because if we are to come through it, we are going to need the infamous Copy Ninja," and that was a polite way of saying that Kakashi had become lazy, and no man besides him could say that to him.
What storm?" he asked, and the man plopped down on the tree as well.
"Too much is happening at once. I know for certain that my old teammate is planning something, but there are other forces at work as well. Other, more sinister forces that are far more powerful than any of us can comprehend," and he had an inkling that this was related to his continued absence from the village.
"I will be ready," Kakashi assured him, and that was all he needed to hear. He had made a vow that he would protect his team, and he intended to keep it.
No matter what.
"Still, this new generation is quite something," the Sanin whispered as he smirked.
"Why do you say that?"
"Because I just met with a kid who asked me if he could use one of Minato's jutsus," and of all the things he had expected to hear.
"One of sensei's jutsus?" he confirmed, and the man nodded.
"Apparently, he figured it out on his own, but wanted to know if he had permission," and as Kakashi raked his mind, he could think of but one genin with that kind of potential.
"You talk of Hikari Hizashi?" and the man nodded.
"So, you know the kid," and Kakashi nodded.
"I do," and to think that he would be able to replicate one of Sensei's techniques had grave implications.
"What did you say?" he asked.
"Minato was not the kind to hoard secrets. Plus, with him using that, it might just make things a little easier for Naruto here," and at that, he glanced at the blonde once more, who was now huffing as he ran out of chakra.
"After all, that blue orb of chakra of his was quite iconic…."
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HIKARI HYUGA
Hikari did not have to seek permission from the Sanin for using the Yondaime's technique. But it was better if he were to have it. Some shinobi could be rather territorial when it came to their techniques, and the Yondaime's technique held an even more special meaning, for it was yet to be inherited by his son.
In the end, the Toad Sage had given him permission, though not without a little condition of his own, though it was mostly harmless. Hikari had yet to secure both the funds and the smith who could help him craft the blade that could withstand the power of his kinjutsu.
So, he had no choice but to cycle through blade after blade, and that meant constant and repeated visits to the village's smith, and by now, he had become a repeat customer of a particular shop located at the edge of the Market.
"Again," the aged shopkeeper sighed as he saw him enter through the door, and Hikari had no choice but to shrug.
"What can I say? I find myself in need of a blade," and the aged man shook his head.
"You really know how to wound a blacksmith's pride, don't you, kid?" he clicked his tongue as Hikari dropped the bag of ryo on the counter, where a dozen kunai, shuriken, and a dozen other weapons were displayed.
"No need to take it personally. I doubt there is any smith here in the village whose blade could survive longer than yours," and he looked him in the eye.
"That does not make me feel better," and with that, he opened the pouch and counted the ryo and shrugged.
"If you could bring back the broken pieces, I might be able to give you a discount," and if only he could, for this whole endeavor was taking quite a toll on his pocket as well.
"I am afraid that isn't quite possible," and the old man gave him a look before he began shaking his head.
"You are even worse than my daughter," he muttered as he placed a katana on the counter, and Hikari grabbed the hilt and took out the blade.
"One day, I am going to have you show me this technique of yours that has devoured so many of my swords," he added, as Hikari swung the blade a few times, before he placed a finger on its hilt and held it in the air to check its balance.
"This will do," he answered, as he sheathed it and tied the hilt to his belt again, as the smith nodded.
"I would show it to you, but you would have to provide the blade," and the man clicked his tongue.
"You have those exams coming up, don't you. I will wait until then, so you better show me this technique then," and he was a merchant after all, as Hikari nodded.
"Sure," and with that, just as he turned, the door to the shop opened before he could reach for it, as a girlish voice tore through the silence.
"I am home, and I have brought over a friend…" but the girl stopped at once, as they came face to face, clearly taken aback by his rather familiar face.
"Nej…" she whispered, before her head snapped to the side, and there stood a boy with a face nearly identical to his own.
"How many times have I told you to watch your manners, girl? We have customers," the old man chided from behind, oblivious to the tension in the air as he and his brother stared one another in the eye.
Both TenTen and Lee seemed to be aware of him, and their past with how they backed away, and secretly prepared themselves for a fight.
"It has been some time, brother," Hikari cut through the silence.
"Indeed," Neji answered dryly.
"Remember sensei's words," Tenten warned him.
"We are all comrades, and comrades don't fight," Lee added, but the boy smirked.
"Indeed," he answered, as he moved past him, stopping for a second as he left behind the whisper of a promise.
"Don't die too early. I will be waiting for you in the finals…."
.
.
.
Miles away, hidden in the underground, another Sanin read the reports about his old friend and comrade with piqued interest.
"So, Jiraiya's back," he whispered, as he burned the latest report from his informant, and licked his lips in interest, for a part of him was excited at the prospect of a chance to meet him once again. However, the pragmatic part of his mind was not blind to the fact that his old friend's presence meant that he would have to change his plans.
"Well, it seems like I will have to make a few adjustments…"
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