Flashback: Immediately after the end of the Fifth Event of the Chūnin Exams
"Sir," Hazō murmured as soon as they were into the city and surrounded by the hustle and bustle of nighttime shoppers, drinkers, and partiers. "I've had an idea. It probably won't work but if it does then it would be extremely important. It relates to that meeting the night the clan was formed."
Jiraiya looked down at his adoptive son, one eyebrow upraised. "Seriously?" he said, his voice pitched low so as not to carry. Keiko and Noburi had, by sheerest happenstance, bracketed around their clan brother and clan head. The other six genin were limping along beside them, quietly fenced off so that they hopefully couldn't overhear too easily.
"Yes, sir. Again, probably won't work, but if it does it would be
extremely helpful."
"Right. Wait two minutes, then meet in that alley." He smiled and looked around before drawing to a halt. "Okay, kids, listen up!" He waited until he had nine attentive genin facing him like children at story hour, then waved around at the night market they were passing through. "The club's about five minutes that way, but I need me some dango and funnel cake! Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to take this money and use it to buy yourselves any delicious, fattening, bad-for-you foods and drinks that you want, then meet back here in fifteen minutes. Who's in?" He held out a heaping double-handful of ryō that he'd conjured from somewhere.
The genin were trained soldiers and, under the right circumstances, brutal killers. They were also teenagers with the sweet teeth to prove it. The money vanished from Jiraiya's hands and the children scattered like pigeons, descending on the purveyors of treats and beverages like the heralds of the apocalypse. Keiko and Noburi paused, waiting for a discreet head-tilt from Jiraiya before following the others. Hazō was last off the mark, taking his share of the money and heading for a stall that sold candied nuts, a favorite childhood treat. He bargained with the vendor for the sake of appearances, but his heart wasn't in it and he ended up paying half again what he could have gotten the man down to. The nuts were just as good as he remembered, though.
Jiraia was waiting for him in the alley, two Tunneler's Friend seals in hand. Wordlessly, he passed Hazō one of the seals, then flicked out a Hiding Like a Mole jutsu and vanished into the earth.
Hazō hurriedly made the signs for the jutsu himself, pressed the air-giving seal to his face, and went after the older ninja. He was barely below the surface when a hand gripped the fabric of his uniform's shoulder and tugged him along.
They went down to what Hazō considered a secure depth and then continued going down, Jiraiya's hand on his shoulder guiding him along. There were occasional pauses, presumably to allow Jiraiya to breathe from his seal, but the Toad Sage was clearly taking no chances, because they continued descending through the blackness of earth and stone until Hazō could feel the weight of a mountain pressing down on him. He knew that the temperature wasn't actually rising but he couldn't help but imagine that it was.
Finally, Jiraiya let go and Hazō came to a halt. A moment later the earth pulled back, leaving a spherical hollow around them. Light blossomed from a seal in Jiraiya's hand.
"Hold onto the roof."
Hazō reached up and chakra-adhered himself to the top of the hollow so that his feet were hanging free. He took mental notes as Jiraiya suspended a pair of upside-down Air Dome seals from wires sticking into the walls, then activated them to line the bottom half of the hollow with a bowl of frozen (and, more importantly, soundproof) air. He gestured Hazō down into the bowl, then set up another Air Dome on top of the first, enclosing them in a completely spherical soundproof barrier.
"Not yet," Jiraiya said, cutting off what Hazō had been about to say. He set up another series of seals around the inside perimeter of the Air Domes; these were familiar, being the anti-Hyūga seals that Jiraiya had installed in the Gōketsu clan compound. This was followed by more seals and a trio of jutsu—one Earth, one Air, and one Lightning, all said quietly enough that Hazō didn't catch the names. By the end of it, Hazō was caught somewhere between bemusement and appreciation for the lengths to which OPSEC could be taken.
"Talk to me," Jiraiya said at last.
"I was thinking about summoning contracts," Hazō said. "When Keiko signed the Pangolin contract, Pandā appeared without her explicitly summoning him, and he was able to boost her back to the Seventh Path. Does it work that way with all summons?"
"As far as I know," Jiraiya said. "It's how it went with the Toads, anyway."
"Is it possible to sign for someone else? If so, and if we could somehow find a sample of Naruto's blood and chakra, then maybe we could sign the Toad contract with his name, making him temporarily the Toad Summoner? A toad would appear wherever he is and could take him back to the Seventh Path. Keiko could meet up with him, find out where he came from on the Human Path and who was guarding him. Then you sign the Toad contract again, replacing him as summoner, and we go mount a rescue effort while he stays safe on the Seventh Path."
Jiraiya looked thoughtful. "Huh. Interesting idea." He pondered it for a minute. "So far as I know, no one has ever tried that. I can't say for sure what would happen, but I'm reasonably sure it wouldn't work. Summoning contracts are essentially very elaborate, very powerful seals. Intent and identity matter when you're doing sealing, so I'd be very surprised if you could sign for someone else. Aside from that, I don't know where we'd get a sample of his blood and chakra. Still, good thought. And good job on the OPSEC."
Hazō straightened a little, pleased at the praise. He was learning!
Jiraiya took note and snorted in amusement. "Speaking of good jobs, great job with the Exams. You guys crushed it like a bug. The other Kage were sure you couldn't make it, so I bet some trade contracts with Rasa and Ōnoki; you making the tournament means that Leaf gets some
very favorable terms on the lumber trade. I'm going to make political hay on this back home." He shook his head, ruefulness offset by the grin that split his face. "Although I really shouldn't have made fun of the other Kage. It's never a good idea to taunt people that you need to get along with." He paused, memory clearly sparked. "Well, almost never. Anyway, I shouldn't have done it, but I just couldn't help myself. They were all being so snotty about how there was no way that you kids would make the tournament."
"Frankly, we weren't sure we would either," Hazō admitted. "They really tanked us in the fourth event, and the crew we were put with in the fifth was no great shakes."
"Eh." Jiraiya waved dismissively. "I never had any doubts, and neither did Mari. For your age, you guys are insanely powerful. We'll get you some tricks during the break so you can absolutely blow out the tournament. If you all make it to the semis then...well, I won't say that my grip on the hat is assured, but it'll be a lot more solid. No pressure, though."
Hazō looked at him in dismay. "But...I mean, we already crushed it in the third and fifth events. And like you said, the tournament brackets are pretty much just us and the people who worked with us."
Jiraiya shrugged. "You know it and I know it. Hyūga is going to argue that you only did so well because of my Goo Bomb seals and because Nara carried you. It's horseshit, but he'll convince some people. On the other hand, if you completely rock the tournament then there won't be any doubt. It'll prove that I showed good judgement by taking you in, and if you add that to the good trade deals, and some other things I've already done, then it'll be obvious that I'm a good choice to lead Leaf." He saw Hazō's appalled face and hurried to add, "Don't worry about it, though. It would be nice if you could pull it off, but it's only one of multiple ways that I can win."
"Yessir." Hazō paused. "Speaking of winning, is there any chance that we could turn some of the basement space into a sealing lab? There's a lot of things I'd like to work on, but it's not the kind of stuff we want anyone else knowing about."
"And doesn't it just fill me with dread that there are things
you consider too risky to share," Jiraiya replied, amused. "It's something we can look into when we get home. I'm not thrilled at the idea of working underground—it restricts escape routes and raises the possibility of being trapped or having the roof come down on you—but we can talk about it. For now, we need to get aboveground and rejoin the others before they notice we're gone."
A quick swipe of the hand removed the various seals that were ensuring their privacy; he tucked them into a pocket, recast Hiding Like a Mole, and swam upwards with Hazō following.
o-o-o-o
Mid-morning the next day, after sleeping off a night of Toad-Sage-led debauchery...
The knocking on his door was probably actually more along the lines of pounding, but that would be necessary until his ears healed. Ryōichi pushed himself up with a sigh and slouched over to the door; all he wanted was a chance to lie down and nap in this absolutely enormous dorm room that he was sharing with no one, instead of his much smaller room at home that he shared with five brothers (four of them older than him and all of them resentful that he was a ninja and they weren't) and three baby sisters who had far too much fun climbing on him while shrieking in joy. He loved the little nibblets, but it was nice to have some space and some quiet for a change.
He opened the door to find the Gōketsu kids standing outside.
"We owe you an apology," Hazō said seriously. "Could we talk for a minute?"
Ryōichi sighed internally but opened the door. There went his nap. Still, you didn't say no if a clan kid wanted to talk. Especially when they were the Hokage's clan. Hopefully it wouldn't take them long to make their pro-forma apology and go off feeling good about themselves again so that he could get back to the important business of snoozing.
The other three filed in and settled; Hazō and Noburi sat on the bunk opposite Ryōichi's and Keiko leaned on the wall, arms crossed.
"We hurt you, and we're sorry," Hazō said. "There was a lot of politics going on and you got unfairly caught in the crossfire. I don't know how you're feeling about this—probably not too charitable, I'd imagine—and I don't know if it's something we can make right, but we'd like to try. At the same time, I know that there's a lot of power imbalance and justified resentment between the clans and the clanless, and I don't want to give offense by coming off as...." He hesitated, looking for the word. "Patronizing? Condescending? I'm sorry, I don't know exactly how to say it. How can I approach this so that I don't stick my foot in my mouth?"
Ryōichi blinked. He had literally never once heard a clan kid make a sincere apology to a clanless for anything at all, let alone something as important as the Chūnin Exams. He thought about that for a moment, then focused in on the important part.
"You're saying that the Hokage knows about me?" It was the only reason they would be making the effort.
Noburi nodded. "Of course; you're in the Chūnin Exams. He didn't give us any operational details because we aren't need-to-know, but he said that you've got a very high mission-success rate and excellent reviews from everyone you've worked with."
Ryōichi thought about that.
"Huh."
"You didn't know?" Hazō asked, seeming amused.
Ryōichi shrugged. "I try to get along, but there's always something, right?"
All three of them nodded in complete understanding; it was a little creepy.
"Look, we can't promise you promotion," Hazō said. "That's up to Jiraiya, the jōnin commander, and whoever else they rope in. I think it's likely that you'll get it—anyone who made it to the fifth event certainly earned it—but that's not under our control. If you would like us to put in a good word for you then we'd be happy to, but I don't think you need it. If there's something else you'd like, tell us and we'll see what we can do. Aside from that, I'd like to invite you to the next Gōketsu-family games night."
"...Games night?"
"Yeah," Noburi said. "Board games, role-playing games, that kind of thing. It's usually a lot of fun"—he glared daggers at his brother—"except when
someone gets hold of the expansion rules and makes a totally OP character."
This conversation was getting more and more surreal. "Role-playing games?" he asked hesitantly. "Like...sex stuff?" Visions of compelled depravity loomed up behind his eyes. The Hokage had always been known as a pervert, but he wouldn't really force Leaf ninja to do...that. Right?
"No!" Keiko said, voice dripping with appalled revulsion. "Never!"
"It's like shared storytelling," Noburi said. "Everyone imagines themself as a character in the story and we go on adventures as a group. There's dice and a few things, but mostly it all happens in your head. Absolutely no sex stuff."
Ryōichi digested that. "Oh."
"Your attendance is not compulsory, if that is your concern," Keiko said carefully. "Although I believe we would all enjoy it if you came."
"Huh." Ryōichi considered that, and then mentally grabbed himself by the scruff of the neck and gave himself a good shake. He was being offered the chance to rub elbows with the Hokage and his family! How stupid would he have to be to refuse?
"I mean, yes, thank you," he said quickly. "It sounds like a lot of fun. I appreciate the offer. Just tell me when to be there." He hesistated. "Um...is there a dress code? Oh, and what should I bring?" He would need to start saving for the hostess gift. The clans usually grabbed the bulk of the C-ranks and above, but there were always plenty of D-ranks; the clans considered themselves above such things. If he was promoted then he'd probably be the only chūnin doing them, and it would earn him some ribbing, but it would be worth it.
The other three genin exchanged looks. "We don't actually know the protocol around bringing stuff," Hazō admitted. "I'll ask, but I bet that Mari-sensei will say you don't need to bring anything. She's not very formal. As to a dress code...yes, clothes are mandatory." He grinned.
Ryōichi laughed. They really were trying, clearly. It was even possible that they meant it when they said the event was casual, since they certainly didn't dress like clan kids. Their uniforms were standard issue, not tailored, and there was no extra decoration. Keiko's weapon holsters were ordinary and thoroughly broken-in leather, frayed around the edges and with no tooling. Hazō's gauntlets were unusual and obviously expensive, suggesting that he was a little more pretentious than the other two, but the rest of his clothes didn't match that image. The hem of his right pant leg was fraying apart, and the dye on his shirt was the normal slightly blotchy job that a clanless ninja might wear, instead of the perfectly even (and therefore very expensive) version that your average clan kid wore.
Still, there was no way in all the worlds ever dreamed of by the Sage that Ryōichi would show up at the Hokage's house in anything other than a brand new and spotlessly clean outfit. He'd have to see if he could sweet-talk the quartermaster out of giving him a fresh issue. If not, the family would undoubtedly be willing to pool their money so that he could buy some cloth that Mom could tailor up. Getting the attention of the Hokage could easily lead to more and better missions, meaning more and better food and clothes for the family. Sage's grace, maybe even some better medicine for Wakana's damp-lung. The honey tisane that the apothecary had been selling them barely helped at all.
"Thank you," he said, surprised at how easily the sincerity came. "I would enjoy coming to games night."
XP AWARD: 4
FP AWARD: 0
The Exams are now completely over until the tournament a month from now. You have been dispatched back to Leaf with Kakashi, Gai, and a flock of ANBU and jōnin to watch over you. Jiraiya will be following later, and Hana is expected to join you in the not too distant future.
Note: There was discussion in the thread of swinging by Isan on the way home. You can pitch this idea to Jiraiya if you want, although he may or may not go for it. It's a safe bet that Kakashi et al are not going to want to take any side trips, and Jiraiya is not going to want you wandering off into possible harm's way, so you're not going to be able to do random side things on the way home unless you can convince Jiraiya that there is significant value to be had. Isan might qualify, depending on how you pitch it.
Unless you come up with something that convinces Jiraiya to let you go off on a side quest, the next update will start with you in Leaf.
Time for a vote! What do you do next?
Voting ends on Wednesday, September 5, 2018, at 12pm London time.
EDIT:
Point of information: The 'absolutely enormous' dorm rooms in the Mist Academy are about 12' x 12'.
SECOND EDIT:
Some stuff got done offscreen. Specifically:
- Suggest everyone spend some time with families if they wish to.
- Don't press if they do not wish to.
- Hazō treats this with the sensitivity it deserves.
- They are as sensitive to this as he is to people insulting his mother.
- Be extra sensitive to Keiko.
- Hazō spends time with Hana
- Catch up: Talk about anything!
- Talks about and asks for honest advice on Akane thing
Keiko had no interest and thus did not.
Noburi considered it and then decided he didn't want to deal with Kiri so he stayed away.
Hazō had breakfast with Hana. They carefully talked about light and fluffy stuff, nothing even slightly OPSEC related. He chickened out on asking about Akane.
- Start to assemble Kagome's birthday gift
- A book of all the things he's taught us.
- Suggest to Jiraiya: Maybe turn some of the basement space into a fancy sealing lab too?
- Bring back Mist cuisine (as much as we can) + cookbooks?
- Some nice and exotic wood for carving?
You got the Mist cuisine, the cookbooks, and the wood. The chocolate was too expensive for the money you had on hand.