While most ninja within the village knew ninjutsu, practiced it, developed their skills greatly - Akado was different.
The bespectacled moustached Akado was not skilled at ninjutsu or genjutsu particularly. His taijutsu was never great and at his age was only worse. What he DID have was a great skill with paperwork - particularly accounting and similar venues. Which was one reason he'd never made it past genin. He was wasted on missions where one painted a fence or walked dogs. Give him a paper trail to investigate or contracts to go over - and he shone. He normally worked in the lower tower and he had the record for times taking the Chunin Exams as one might expect. When a written test was involved, he'd do fine. It was the other portions of the exam that normally led to his defeat.
Since he was stuck in the genin paygrade, he tried to make chunin so he could be paid better. Since he couldn't...
Except now, having been exposed to the 'magic rocks' that the Entity had provided - there was a chance he'd pass the next test that came his way after all.
"You did what?" asked Koharu, several hours later.
"I took an opportunity, but needed to stress to you what the terms of that contract were," said the Third Hokage.
"Bloodlines?!" asked Homura.
"Yes," said the Hokage. "Each of the seven were specified to be 'loyal to Konoha' and would start new and powerful bloodlines."
"...And you didn't think to consult US?" asked Koharu.
Unexpectedly, it was Homura who replied. "Oh, there's a thought. Excuse me, Omnipotent Creature capable of warping reality on a whim, do you mind waiting a couple of hours while I gather my advisors and a few others who really need to be in on the negotiations?"
"Mitokado," said Koharu Utatane, a warning in her voice.
"I did fairly well, all things considered," said the Hokage. "The bloodlines themselves will be less powerful and more in keeping with existing bloodlines in power level. The rocks themselves have been locked away - as they are now poisonous to those they affected and their bloodlines. Everyone has their own 'kryptonite' that will affect them. And, as long as we remain the 'good guys' - there will be no other incidents such as this to empower others. This 'cosmic prank' will be done and over with."
"Ah," said Homura Mitokado, frowning slightly.
"Oh," said Koharu, looking as if she'd just swallowed something unspeakably bitter. "What constitutes being 'good guys'?"
"We continue to value lives, honor, honesty where feasible, and don't do anything that constitutes criminal activity mainly," said the Hokage, flipping to page 17 in the contract and pointing out the appropriate clause. "If we go and do something not only underhanded but that would be considered villainous, then things would get worse. But I know you two wouldn't be doing ANYTHING like that behind my back."
"Of course not," snapped Koharu, pulling the contract closer to get a better look. "Hmmm. Fomenting a civil war in a foreign land is considered villainous? How absurd. Slavetrading? Assassination for purposes of political gain, business manipulation, or acts of terror? How could that be considered villainous? That's just business."
The Hokage didn't miss a lot when he was focussed. Homura looked slightly nervous, his pupils twitching just a little at the mention of assassination and business manipulation. Koharu, on the other hand, looked four shades paler and quite nervous to his practiced eye.
"Well," said the Hokage aloud. "I just wanted to make sure you cleared your calender of such things. We wouldn't want to lose a clear advantage like this, would we?"
Danzo blinked as he looked over the reports. "Bloodlines. Powerful bloodlines. With. A. Whim."
"The Hokage was watching carefully," said Koharu. "According to him, the creature did it simply with a swish of its tail."
"Exaggeration," said Danzo, though his voice didn't sound completely confident.
"You don't believe that either," said Homura. "I don't know what it was. But Hiruzen Sarutobi is not one for tall tales and what we've seen so far indicates something DID happen."
"And this creature showed itself to him because apparently it found his 'good guy' approach to suit its own agenda," mused Danzo.
"What are you going to do?" asked Koharu.
"What are you suggesting?" replied Danzo.
"If it has the power to do that, and withholds that power from our enemies, then we benefit. If we break the terms that the Hokage signed..." Koharu's glance went to the files on Danzo's desk.
"What do you mean?" asked Danzo.
"I'm aware of some of what you do, and I've turned a blind eye to more of it," said Koharu finally. "But a number of your activities over the years have been the sort the Hokage would not have approved of."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," said Danzo, pondering that a temporary shutdown of such might be feasible. Otherwise he'd have to come up with a 'Plan B' as quickly as he could.
"So Iruka Umino now has an ability that allows him to see completely around him?" asked Hiashi Hyuga.
"Yes, Hiashi-sama," said the branch member. "Though it doesn't seem to be 'sight' so much - he can tell the general shape and density of the object only. He can also breathe water and apparently control fish and other sea creatures through his kekkei genkai."
"Go on," said Hiashi.
"The Seven Ninja Of Victory," said the branch member, "also includes Rock Lee - whose speed and taijutsu skills were sufficient to give Neji a good workout prior to this. Now his speed is such that he can defeat Neji regularly."
"Interesting," said Hiashi. Neji WAS quite talented after all. Therefore the speed of this Rock Lee must be considerable.
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(Posted Mon, 01 Nov 2010 16:34)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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