Henrietta nodded. Having the young sir develop strong ties to the Hyuga Clan was part of a three step plan. First, having the boy associated with that clan's heirs positively meant that within the ninja hiearchy, they would have a voice to object to anything negative being aimed politically at the boy. Second, there were threats that the boy couldn't be protected against as a result of his being a ninja. An established powerful ninja clan, particularly one gifted at information-gathering, could further his career immensely. Third, connecting the family she served with the Hyuga meant a little mutual backscratching would not be out of question in the future.
To that end, getting the young sir resources to make him a more valuable ninja could increase his worth to that clan and his own family while increasing his chances of survival.
"The single Shadow Clone is a spy technique that allows you to make a solid copy of yourself, then go off and spy on things. When the clone is dispelled - unused chakra returns to the person who made the clone," lectured Lan Fu. "So if the clone is killed - you usually at least learn where the security is. Because your control is basically crap, and you have the typical Uzumaki stamina, you get to learn the version that makes multiple clones."
"Okay!" said Naruto. After studying the scroll, he nodded and made a handsign. "Multiple Shadow Clones!"
Lan Fu nodded as he walked around the four Naruto. "Fair. For a first time. Now, is a ninja supposed to be obvious?"
"No, sensei!"
"So why have three copies of you standing around? Oh, if only you had a technique to make them look different."
"Henge!"
"Better," indicated Lan Fu. "If only marginally. We'll send one of your clones that looks like you to your Academy. In the meantime, we'll have the rest work on other things."
"Fuuinjutsu again?" asked Naruto.
"At least one, it's your heritage, brat - be more respectful of it."
Iruka Umino stared. He'd expected the piece of chalk to bounce off Naruto's forehead.
"Did Iruka-sensei just disintegrate Naruto for sleeping in class?!" asked Sakura Haruno.
"Whoa, I didn't know he was THAT strict," noted Kiba.
"But he keeps dispelling my clones!"
"Why does he keep dispelling your clones?" asked Lan Fu.
"Because he keeps throwing chalk at me!" complained Naruto.
"And you don't dodge it - why?"
Naruto gaped at his sensei.
"I'm adding thrown weapon avoidance training to the schedule. Clearly it needs an emphasis beyond what we have done so far."
"Naruto is failing?" asked Henrietta. "How can that be?"
"He's not attending class," said Iruka.
"He leaves every day," noted Henrietta.
"He's sending a shadow clone," said Iruka.
"That's a problem?" asked Henrietta. "I thought in a ninja school you'd give points for being sneaky."
"I would agree with you, but this is a rule from the Second Hokage," said Iruka. "Apparently his brother used wood clones to skip meetings among other things."
"Ah. And he figured that someone else might do the same thing in classes," said Henrietta, adjusting her glasses. "I admit, I do not understand such things completely. My understanding was that this 'shadow clone' thing allows the copies to learn things and pass them on to the original."
Iruka sighed. "Okay. The rule was made by the Second Hokage and was set up when the Academy system was first created. I can give him a pass on it if he's getting private instruction, but he still has to pass the tests and take those in person."
Henrietta was a businesswoman. She knew a workable compromise when she heard it. "Deal."
"He made every test except the final exam," said Iruka. "What happened?"
"Experimenting with fuuinjutsu," said Henrietta. "He refuses to come out of his room."
"Was he hurt badly by it?" asked Iruka. There were so many ways for an explosive tag to go wrong.
"Only to his pride," said Henrietta. "You are familiar with his 'Centerfold Jutsu'?"
"That thing," said Iruka, losing a bit of concern.
"An attempt to 'weaponize' that," said Henrietta, leading Iruka into the complex. "Using a fuuinjutsu trigger."
Iruka saw the sullen blond girl at the table and was entirely unsure of what to say. "Is it permanent?"
"No, as soon as he runs out of chakra it should dissipate," said Henrietta.
"EEP!" went the girl, noticing the teacher and hiding behind a chair.
"Physical transformation?" asked Iruka.
"Yes, fascinating isn't it?" asked Henrietta, adjusting her glasses and managing a Scary Shiny Glasses jutsu.
"I really hate that," grumbled the hiding girl.
"There's no way you could do the test here?" asked Henrietta.
"No. I'll ask though. There might be a precendent for a make-up test." Iruka sighed at the end of that. Sounded like another late night.
Things had changed. Ripples going back and forth. Plus there had been changes because Toltiir had gotten bored at a moment - noted some similarities between Person A (who had died without intervention) and some other individual elsewhere in the multiverse (Person B). Person A made a miraculous recovery and was now much more similar to that Person B.
Understanding human morality was something the Elder didn't quite get, but he was trying to color inside those seemingly arbitrary lines and he was bored.
Hence the existence of Riza Hawkeye, tokubetsu jonin of Konohagakure, who had been a raw genin at the time of the Kyubi. Excellent taijutsu (Goju Ryu) skills, expert with the repeating crossbow and various ranged weapons, excellent stealth and good strategist. After years of service among the general ninja, she became ANBU Hawk.
"Why?" asked Hawk.
"Last psych eval," said the Hokage. "Also - there are a fair number of genin showing high potential this year."
"My last psych eval?" asked Hawk, removing her mask and staring at it.
"Specifically the mission in the Nomad Territories," said the Hokage. "No dishonor in that. It was a bad situation all around and you DID manage to get the client to safety."
"Yeah, that was bad," admitted Riza Hawkeye. "What about the commander?"
"Horse is also going to test a genin team and determine if they are suitable," said the Hokage.
Riza was silent for a brief moment. "Any file on my team?"
Riza observed, planning. Information was the focus of her kind of ninja. Others, including her commander, were fond of flashy jutsu and striking with overwhelming force. That wasn't her role - she had a few flashy jutsu but was mainly a ranged weapon and stealth specialist.
Riza looked over the files - Naruto had graduated one year earlier than the rest of his class. Fuuinjutsu, decent overall skills, had the Multiple Shadow Clone, Shadow Clone, Uzumaki bloodline, and a stubborn streak a klick wide. Extremely wealthy by association with the Daitoku Conglomerate. Traps - good with traps. Had no talent for genjutsu but an appreciation for its use.
Tenten. Decent with traps, some talents with stealth. Good match up for her to take as a kohai/apprentice relationship. Phenomenal aim and ability to track multiple targets. Was said to be able to leap and throw ten kunai - and hit ten targets dead center. Not a power type, more precision. Might have to teach her a taijutsu style that relied on such if she passed the second test.
Kasumi Akino. Middle of the road all around. Nothing she was particularly good in her scores, nothing particularly bad. It was investigating her file that Riza had found the young girl had secrets. Kasumi had been born of a young woman who had been experimented on by Orochimaru. Her real name was Martel, Kasumi Akino (Autumn Mist?) was a name she'd come up with after seeing a can of tea with the same name.
Well, that'd have to change. Real names were used in the registry. Despite being ninja. Though maybe 'Martel' could be used as a nickname.
She'd have to see.
(Posted Sat, 09 May 2015 15:32)
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