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~ I'm planning to increase the number of advanced chapters to +18 this weekend!
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In a swirl of leaves, she, Naruto and the dragon-masked ANBU vanished from the clearing.
With the Hokage
"So then…opinions, gentlemen?" Sarutobi asked as he deactivated the Tōmegane no Jutsu and sat back on his chair.
"Genin Uzumaki is rather skilled with ninjutsu and the Hakage taijutsu style, although his kenjutsu with his tantō leaves something to be desired." Hiashi offered simply.
"He has been unable to access the library to acquire a proper style due to his civilian status. Umino Iruka has been kept busy with reorganising the Academy and Asuma has been busy getting back into the swing of missions." The Hokage said with a frown. "Additionally, the staff members of the library were denying him entry even into the civilian section. I have since fired and replaced them with good, even-minded people, so that should not be an issue from here on out."
"The traitor severely underestimated the kid." Shikaku said bluntly. "He was also slightly more skilled than we gave him credit for, but I do wonder about why he didn't try to use genjutsu on the kid. Says in his Academy files that The Uzumaki has almost no ability to detect or dispel genjutsu."
"Mizuki was of the foolish opinion that Genin Uzumaki was the Kyūbi reborn, Shikaku-san." Shibi pointed out softly. "Do recall that only one individual has ever been known to be able to use genjutsu on a Bijū. Mizuki may have been arrogant and foolish, but even he dared not compare himself to Uchiha Madara."
"Troublesome. Yeah, I can see that." the Jonin Commander nodded.
"It was a pretty good combo that the kid came up with, using the Fūjinheki to power-up his Hotarubi." Asuma opined. "He also seems to have some kind of sensory jutsu for detecting people underground. Pretty useful thing to have."
"That was Doton: Mogura Kanchi." Kakashi put in. "It's not a rare jutsu, but it's more commonly practiced in Iwa than here. Where'd he find it?"
"Training Ground 13." The Hokage said. "It's apparently not been swept through for quite some time, so has accumulated scrolls regarding various techniques. Naruto-kun is in charge of clearing it out, an ongoing D-Rank mission."
"Huh." The silver-haired jonin nodded. "His tactics need some work, but it looks like we've got a diamond in the rough here, Hokage-sama. The sheer number of clones he created at the end there…"
"Agreed." Shibi nodded. "He has also mastered the Kawarimi no Jutsu to the point of not needing handsigns or verbal intonation. Not something that you would expect from a genin…or even most fresh Chūnin. One does not usually reach such a level with it until they are approaching Tokubetsu or even full Jonin level."
"Thank you. As to Toji Mizuki, he is to be interrogated by Ibiki personally. Every scrap of information he has will be extracted and he will be sent to the Konoha Strict Correctional Facility once that is completed. The duration of his sentence will be determined depending on what information Ibiki extracts from him." Sarutobi states firmly, his eyes determined. "Neko-san and Naruto-kun ought to be here shortly, so you five are dismissed. Kindly write up everything you saw and heard on the crystal ball and hand it in before Monday. Asuma, come by tomorrow. I have something I need to inform you about…SS-Rank."
His son's eyebrows shot up in shock, but he pulled himself together and nodded at his father. "Hai, Hokage-sama."
Not long after the five men left, Neko led Ryū and Naruto in. Studying the boy in person made the Hokage feel a bit more at ease. No wounds and only a minor case of chakra depletion that was already rapidly recovering. Sarutobi often found himself somewhat envious of how rapidly the boy's chakra regenerated; it would serve him well as a shinobi.
"Neko-san, Ryū-san, Naruto-kun." He greeted them all. "Neko-san, report."
"Hokage-sama." Neko nodded. "The traitor Toji Mizuki was defeated by Genin Uzumaki seconds before my squad arrived on the scene. Saru and Tori are securing him and taking him to the T&I Department. Ryū has the 'Scroll of Seals' and Genin Uzumaki is completely unharmed."
"Excellent work." Sarutobi nodded. "Kindly go and call off the search for Naruto-kun and give the prepared story to them."
"Hai, Hokage-sama." Neko nodded again. After Ryū handed over the fake scroll, the two ANBU vanished in puffs of smoke.
"So Naruto-kun…how was it, fighting Mizuki?" the Hokage asked his surrogate grandson.
"After all the crap that guy's given me over the last year, it was very…what's the word?" Naruto blinked as he tried to think of the right word. "Starts with a 'c'…means satisfying…"
"Cathartic?" the Sandaime suggested with a knowing smirk.
"Yeah, that's it!" the new genin nodded enthusiastically. "Man, he was a tricky one; much harder than fighting the chakra mutations because he could actually use jutsu. If I hadn't gotten my hands on the Mogura Kanchi no Jutsu, he might've gotten me though."
"Yes. Doton is a very underappreciated element, but as Mizuki demonstrated, it can be used in a variety of ways." The Hokage nodded. "Now, as you successfully captured Mizuki, you have earned his bounty…that would be a C-Rank Nuke-nin's bounty…as well as all of his ninja tools and jutsu scrolls. I am afraid that his fiancée will be upset with you though."
"Tsubaki-san, right?" Naruto asked with a sigh. "Yeah, my power already told me I'd take a hit with her, reputation wise. Can't be helped though. The guy was nuts, thinking I was the Kyūbi reborn and all that…"
"Hatred can destroy people, as I told you a few months ago, Naruto-kun." Sarutobi sighed sadly. "Mizuki-kun was, in all probability, once a loyal member of Konoha, but after witnessing the Kyūbi attack and a certain incident twisting his values; he became the man who attacked you today. A sad happenstance, for the chunin forces are the mainstay of the military power of a Hidden Village. Losing one to his own hatred and greed is not something that is a cause for celebration, but it had to be done."
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