"What exactly does that do?" asked Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had objections to basically all of this.
"It just came to me," said Minato. "If I modified one part, I could use the Kyubi's insertion to give Naruto a bloodline ability."
"Really?" asked Hiruzen, blinking. "What does it do?"
"Minor increase of strength and durability, but it's his ability to heal that'll be incredible," said Minato as he finished rolling the scroll up and did a quick summon of the toad who would keep it. "In the case of his kids, if he survives that long, they'll heal as fast as if they were jinchuriki themselves. It'll be even faster for Naruto with the Kyubi's chakra charging it."
"That is a very handy ability for a ninja to have," admitted Hiruzen. "Are you sure about doing this yourself?"
"My apologies, but I don't think you'd be able to do the sealing as it is," said Minato. "The fox will fight every step of the way. I'll have to do it."
"I understand, though I disagree," said Hiruzen. "I'll have to take back the Hokage title - and I've problem enough with THAT load."
"Right," said Minato with a smile. "You're having to take on the Council, I've got the easy job."
"So this will be a full bloodline?" asked Hiruzen as Minato finished his preparations.
"Yes, and because of the healing rate - they'll live longer even if they don't become ninja," said Minato. "Remaining young longer, healing from injuries faster. If I've got the math right, one of Naruto's bloodline will be able to heal from a broken bone in hours. Cuts in minutes. Regenerating a limb might take longer though, maybe months."
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked very thoughtful at that.
"No time for anything more," said Minato, leaping off to go summon Gamabunta.
"It's exactly as he said," said the expert, turning to the clan heads who'd assembled. He wiped sweat from his forehead as the diagnostic jutsu had been quite taxing. "The child is the progenitor of a bloodline ability. Stronger, faster, enhanced senses, and able to heal from injuries that would cripple or kill others."
The various clan heads looked back and forth at each other, each thinking how best to use this.
"This demon is immortal?" asked one of them.
"No, this is NOT a demon, but the demon's prison," said Hiruzen Sarutobi, leaking some Killing Intent out of such intensity that even the Clan Heads and jonin elite in the room felt the need to take a step back. "Nor is this immortality. Longevity, that possibility has been described. This child was chosen for this task to save our village."
The various Clan Heads considered that, most coming to the unspoken conclusion that the child was chosen because of that bloodline.
"This child needs to become a splendid ninja of the Leaf," said the Third Hokage. "What I'm asking for is your help on this if you are willing. If you are not, then I simply ask that you refrain from impeding it."
Hiashi Hyuga considered the hostility still being shown by the Uchiha clan head, interpreting it as mostly the child having such a potentially useful bloodline. Well, his own wife had a child due in two months...
"Excuse me," said Hiashi, stepping forward. "I would like to aid this effort, if in a minor way." After all, tweaking the nose of the Uchiha clan was worth a bit of effort.
Ten years later:
Hiashi Hyuga sat back and smiled, letting the shadows conceal the expression.
There was a certain satisfaction in what had occurred. The results of what had originally been intended as a bit of a slap in face of the Uchiha rivals had borne fruit far beyond the Massacre that occurred a few years ago.
The boy currently sparring in the yard with his eldest daughter showed the Hyuga influences. Slender but muscular, flexible, swift. His long blonde hair fluttered around him as he attempted to strike down his opponent.
Hinata, who had been disappointing in many respects, had become more formidable under Naruto's encouragement. The two were now close in a manner that would have been unthinkable at the start of all this. Now, that was a different story. Any confusion in Hiashi's mind about jailor and jailee had been erased by familiarity.
Naruto could not learn the Jyuuken style, of course. Nor was his own flexibility and precision ever going to be at the level needed to be an expert on that style even if he somehow were able to see chakra.
No, the Jyuuken was like a fencing blade. Naruto's style was more of a no-dachi. Or maybe a tetsubo.
His strength was considerable for his age, his speed even more impressive, and against someone other than a Hyuga - he was quite a formidable warrior.
Against a Hyuga, and particularly against THIS Hyuga, he was less effective. The Jyuuken could redirect that strength, and despite the number of taijutsu styles the boy knew, he fell into patterns. Patterns that his opponent knew and could counter.
The smile fell from his face as he considered the note in his hand.
As pleasant as this was, and no matter his plans for the future, time moved on and events transpired against him.
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(Posted Wed, 26 May 2010 17:18)
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