Chapter 14: Fears
Ryu made his way towards the ninja academy as the building accommodated the Hokage's office. On his way, passed the shops that cooked breakfast for merchants and other civilians who came to assign their missions to the village.
Looking at such a prosperous environment, Ryu couldn't help but sigh. Besides the obvious defects, the fourth hokage had managed to change the village in a few years and made Konohagakure economically stable, something that other villages still are not able to accomplish.
The Village Council not only held the representatives of ancestral clans, but the hokage also included the say of guilds formed by various merchants to create a scenario where the power of shinobis will have to co-operate with the weak, yet, smart traders that may change the situation of the village by simply adding more products that may not be available in other villages.
While gratified at the progress of the development of his newfound home, the shinobi capable of handling multiple S-Rank Shinobis felt troubled by the obvious problems he had found out.
"I am Ryu Hozai. I wish to report to the Yondaime."
The chuunin guards at the entrance of the office visibly frowned as one of them asked the nature of the information. Of course, Ry simply shook his head and replied with a hand sign that meant confidentiality. Even though the Chuunin guards were suspicious, they couldn't say much. One of them went up to the office area and reported back to Yondaime before getting his approval, leading Ryu to the office.
Walking inside, Ryu performed a simple ceremony of respecting the Hokage as Minato looked at Ryu impassively, waiting for him to open up.
Standing, the black-haired shinobi's pupils moved around the office as he smiled respectfully and mouthed.
'Alone.'
Now, if it would have been somebody else, Minato would simply direct the ANBU members hidden in the room to attack Ryu before interrogating his intentions. But Minato was also aware that he needed to have this conversation.
It was a long overdue.
Nodding, Yondaime stood up as his white uniform became apparent. Even though Minato did not like wearing this uniform all the time, he did respect his position enough to slide into the oversized robes once or twice a month.
"Hina, Kita, Baku. Leave this area for a few minutes."
The distinct sound of the Body Flicker Jutsu was heard as Ryu silently observed the room before taking a seat and finally breathing out loud. His exasperated sigh made Minato understand that this matter would not be as formal... and difficult as imagined. Taking his own seat, he removed the top hat threaded from white and red fabric as his spiky blonde hair finally saw the light of the day.
"It might sound brash... considering that Yondaime himself saved me and my pregnant wife. But can you please reassign the five ANBU members observing our house?", He asked with a visible annoyance flashing past his face while Minato nodded thoughtfully.
Not speaking of any sensitive information, Minato continued with a smooth expression that was betrayed by the sudden tap of his finger on her desk. A habit he needed to take caution of.
"Ryu-san, how long have you known? About my knowledge of certain things."
"From the moment I was allowed to provide service for Konohagakure." Ryu spoke before pausing for a bit, wanting to measure Minato's expression, "I am sure that a skilled hokage such as Yondaime would definitely check if my clan is exterminated before actually allowing me to provide service. After all, a shinobi with a big... foreign clan might be considered a spy. Even if he is an exiled one."
"That is correct." Minato noted before sighing and taking a deep look at the image of his family set on the table. At this moment, hs had a choice. A choice that will turn Konohagakure no different from the likes of Iwagakure or finally set Minato free from his moral complications and fully invest into the village that he desperately wanted to grow. Taking a deep breath and calming his rising anxiousness, credit to the newly formed Kyubi, Minato exhaled, completing the most basic exercise of calming a body and then smiled.
"Ryu-san. As a... Being used to the political and diplomatical matters that people of our status have to deal with, I am sure that you understand that removing the ANBU from your family completely may not be possible.
And I am sure that you understand... at least, more than anybody how the ANBU have become a protective shield towards your family. There are people out there who already have formed their opinions about you."
Minato's words didn't serve any sort of reminder as these circumstances pushed Ryu to finally reveal his hand. Unlike Asuka, who simply happened to be a loving mother and training maniac, Ryu has already dipped his hand into the dirty pool named politics. Nodding, Ryu took a moment before reorganizing Minato's words in his mind before speaking out.
"Loyalty can always be questioned, especially at the times of... let's say, covert operations. I understand your concerns and also understand the measures needed to be taken to achieve a good... clean result. But those actions need a way out. The world needs to know of a way to vent their losses on.
Disregarding that topic, I am not here as the S-Rank Bingo marked shinobi, but I come forward as a friend who wishes to clear his debt."
Minato's eyebrows contracted ever so lightly, but his expression couldn't help but turn brighter at Ryu's words.
"I propose a gift... a trade that my ancestor presented to your ancestor in exchange for a guarantee that my offsprings shall be kept safe... at least in the borders of the village. I understand that my clan failed to keep up its end of the bargain, but this trade will be different." Ryu took a deep breath before finally making his mind.
"This benefit will extend only to you, not your successors. And for that, you will keep an eye out for my family for their best interest. At least, you will have to keep them away from the dark side of the village. You keep my family safe, I assist you and help you acquire that particular technique which helped the Shodai defeat the Uchiha Head.
But I need to make myself clear that I prefer to keep my hands... my image clean whenever I act. Failing to comply with such a regulation would immediately end our cooperation."
Though understandable, Minato couldn't help but look slightly grim at the sudden reversal of attitude. He saved Ryu and Asuka. It was a hard fact that isn't capable of being altered. In that manner, Ryu definitely owes him a favour, which is also a hard fact incapable of being altered. But some behaviour... and attitude can be altered, if applied enough pressure... literal pressure.
A sliver of Kyubi's aura was masterfully expelled out of his body as the whole office was immediately covered in a pressure belonging to a feral beast that wanted to break free from its cage and rampage wildly. Considering Minato's calm visage when giving off such a bloodthirsty aura would shake anyone, including Sandaime, Danzo and other prominent figures of the war.
It was almost a pity that Ryu wasn't one of the beings Minato thought he would be. Although Ryu's countenance turned grim as if he had realised something, Minato was sure he saw a new emotion in Ryu's eyes... prestige and dignity. What almost felt like a guttural roar, Ryu barked at Minato. But when he heard his words, he understood that Ryu did not direct his words towards him, but the entity residing within him. The Kyubi.
"Next time you bark... I'll skin you, mutt."
No matter how patient Minato was, he would immediately jump up and slice the throat of the speaker before he could even complete his sentence. Given his own speed, Minato was also quite sure in his success even when he was facing one of the vilest, yet, most respected shinobi hidden from the annals of history. But his words remained stuck in his throat, akin to a lump while his whole body shuddered in fear. Fear of facing a higher entity... more dignified entity.
A savage aura far greater and wilder than Kyubi's erupted from Ryu's body as his eyes flashed violet. Feeling the aura, Minato could feel Kyubi's fear as the demonic entity residing within him retreated on its own accord, scampering with its nine-tails covering its crimson butt.
"I... didn't know that you were a jinchuriki... Ryu-san."
Minato spoke, albeit milder. Strength received respect. While Minato feared the implications he may face if Ryu happens to covet his own village, Minato also understood that his fear was completely baseless, simply stemming from the fear of unknown. After all, just a minute ago, Minato considered his future partner in crime as Ryu— The Savage Seer, but now, he was forced to revaluate his assessment on Ryu.
Maybe, there are things that he didn't understand, even after memorising all the records stashed in the hidden library of the Hokage office. But while Minato considered the possibility of Ryu being a threat, he also considered him as an asset that may very well assist in his endeavours and bring the most favourable result.
But of course, there was one thing that needed to be cleared out before it stunk the whole room.
"Why don't you kill me then? You may not have the ambition, but you certainly know that I see you as a threat effectively from this point forward."
Ryu did not need much explanation to understand Minato's point of view before he stopped and finally decided to open up.
"Just like you have your fears, it is unfortunate that I am riddled with my own fears, too, Hokage-dono. If you need my assistance, I am always here to complete some B-Rank missions to earn my pay.
Of course, an informative document regarding the past actions of all the clans would be appreciated before a good layout and plan could be constructed as we consider and extrapolate the future actions of the clans that may undermine the whole village."
Ryu stood and made the same respective bow before speaking something that eased Minato's heart.
"From now on, the Hozai Clan will have Konohagakure's best interest in its mind."
***
"Another failure..."
Orochimaru had to accept that he had crossed the line the moment he even thought of using the kids orphaned in the war as the materially for the experiments and progress his own obsession and obvious pervertedness towards the concept of immortality.
At one point, he even admitted in front of a mirror that he himself was a deeply flawed person... creature. No immortal can be bound by the morals of the mortal society and the most surprising part that shook his heart was that how easily his previous self accepted all those restrictions unconsciously placed on his mind, continuously draining his creativity.
With a scalpel tearing open a chest of malnourished boy broke those very restrictions and made him free of the burden he despised by the name of morality. Even now, he was fairly aware that many characters of the village have already become aware of his... tendencies and they are definitely aware of his actions. They only thing that bound them is their morality.
Although, he did find Danzo Shimura quite interesting as a specimen. Of course, Orochimaru was merely curious towards his psychology and not his old and rotting body that already required his maintenance to keep up with the current generation. A knock on his door broke him out of his reverie as he stared at the rotting body impassively, without turning back, he calmly asked out.
"What is it, Danzo-sama?"
His tone holding a sarcasm that was directed at the syllables of Danzo's name while the middle-aged man behind Orochimaru scowled visibly.
"Is there any result?"
It was Orochimaru's turn to scowl as he replied the answer with a cold silence while Danzo snorted derisively.
"You'll be doing your experiments with the materials you possess. Yondaime has unexpectedly turned the guard around the village tighter, which is a concerning matter of its own. Even though he may suspect... you, there is no reason to believe that he will act solely on his emotions."
Danzo spoke coldly before walking away, but this time, he didn't hide his footsteps and walked away grandly... with the support of a cane. As Danzo's presence couldn't be sensed anymore, Orochimaru's eyes widened with pure rage as he immediately poured a vial of liquid on the already rotting body of the boy while the boy, who was already numbed to the extreme torture inflicted, shouted out loud until his tongue and throat melted away, killing him effectively.
"This is not over...."
His pupils comparable to a snake glowed brightly as he looked borderline maniacal.
***
A/N: The next few chapters won't be all about Eio and other future characters. There will be many events before Eio's story begins as these, altered background will become the factors of the change in personality of the future naruto characters.
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