At the Yamanaka Flower shop...
Kakashi had just walked into the shop after hearing that Inoichi was there that day. He had finished talking with his peers about their students and giving input on what they should do to improve their students. Everything about Naruto's bloodline came back to the fact that only people able to train him with his overshadowing ability were this clan. He was wary about trying to get their help as he was not sure their opinions on Naruto, with all of the people harmed by the Kyuubi they could be bitter against the boy. It could range from seeing Naruto as a hero for imprisoning the beast to seeing him as the demon reborn. So he was on full alert as he saw the older man working at the counter with his young daughter.
"Kakashi, it's great to see you again. I hear that you're teaching a genin team this year, and the rumours say that you pass them. So they figured out the secret behind your test." The older blond moved from behind the counter, so that he could shake the hand of the one eyed ninja. They greeted each other with the traditional greeting, before the visiting ninja expressed what he needed.
"Inoichi, I need a word with you. In private." Kakashi said, hinting in his voice that this was a secret related to the business that they were both in.
"Alright, follow me." The boar named man moved to take his fellow ninja to a private office that was used for business involving using flowers for official duties. Shutting the door so that they could not be heard, the flower shop owner asked, "What is it that you need me for, Kakashi? I can't figure out why you would need me if you're just teaching genin."
"The Hokage and I want to keep this secret for now, but I figure if I am going to get your full help that you have to be filled in. Naruto Uzumaki has awakened a kekkei genkai called the Reichi, it has the effect of duplicating the abilities of ghosts and spirits. That is on the lower end of secrets, the higher level secret is that it was created by Orochimaru. We have started a cover story that it is a lost bloodline that has been rediscovered. It has had no negative effect on Naruto, other than scaring him for a few minutes. We have not told him about Orochimaru." The grey haired man debriefed the story to his peer as he awaited an answer.
The Yamanaka nodded his head asking, "Wait, don't tell me. He has developed something close to the mind transfer jutsu that is my clan's trademark. Or at least some variant of that, and now you need my help in training the boy in the art of possession." The master of possession looked thoughtful as if trying to figure out something. There was a lot that the other man had to understand.
"You don't think that Naruto is the..." The Sharingan started making sure that the word unspoken was heard clearly.
"No, not really. I saw him with Chouza and Shikaku's sons with him, he didn't seem like a bad boy. It's just with my daughter chasing the Uchiha, I didn't have the much contact with him. However, there is a part of me that is envious of his bloodline. It was said that my clan gained it's jutsu from watching spirits, so to have those powers in the blood... It would certainly give a boost to my family's fortunes." There was a little smile on his face as he said this as he ended with a laugh.
"Look at it like this, if you train with the boy you might be able to find a way to improve those jutsu. With the ability to battle spectrally, it should increase skills in battling those that have more powerful defences. It can allow you to find out ways to use the experiences that you have with the spiritual aspects of chakra to increase your abilities. Even develop new family jutsu to pass down to Ino's children." The instructor asked his ally, hoping to entice him into teaching his student.
"I can teach him, but he'll also need a sparring partner to practise his skills with someone that same power level as he is. But I expect that you figured that out already and have talked with Asuma about getting time for my daughter to practise with him." Kakashi could only look a little shame faced as he made a motion in agreement. Inoichi continued, "I will take the boy under my wing if he promises to keep my family's secrets like their his own. Just like Chouza and Shikaku's kin, we keep each other's secrets like an extended clan. He would just have to be introduced into that brotherhood, do you think that he could handle it?"
"As long as you treated him honestly and with respect, I believe that he could do that. From what the Hokage has told me about the boy's relationship with Iruka, once he gained the trust of the boy Naruto was a loyal friend to the teacher. Even defending his sensei from the traitor Mizuki, who was on paper much more powerful than Naruto. I still have to see that and take some time to earn his trust, so I am just giving a second hand account. But I trust in the Hokage's judgement, he didn't get to be Hokage from being a fool." They looked at each other for a long time before Inoichi moved to a cabinet and took out a bottle of sake and a couple of glasses.
"Let's seal the deal with a glass of the good stuff. I'll give lessons to Naruto and treat him like he was one of my own, and you'll get him to help me to improve my family's range of jutsu in exchange. After a few sips, we'll work out what does of the week that he'll show up here for the training. I would also like a show of his skills with his bloodline with a little hand to hand combat with the kid. I'm just curious about the different abilities that this ghost blood of his can do." The rice alcohol was poured into the dishes and passed to the two men in the room, in preparation of the barter that they had made. The hope of improving both clan and ninja was on their minds as they did so, in alignment of the Will of Fire that held them together.
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(Posted Tue, 17 Apr 2007 17:37)
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