บท 148: Naruto… Your Father…
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***
Fukasaku, still reeling from the unexpected revelation, didn't respond. His throat felt dry and he was unable to find words.
Jutengu continued, "All I can say is, the rich history you are proud of is just a leaf in our books."
The Tengu's words were simple, but the undercurrent of immense arrogance and pride was impossible to ignore. The toads had been around for thousands of years, but their wealth of knowledge paled in comparison to the Tengu clan.
Tsunade, Kakashi, Naruto and the others could only look on, their eyes wide in surprise. The depth of Jutengu's knowledge was staggering.
"Your pride," Jutengu continued, "is not misplaced. But your perspective is."
The room was silent, everyone absorbing the weight of the Tengu's words. The first Uzumaki was the only known contractor of the Tengu Clan before Naruto. Until now, their existence had been shrouded in mystery. It made sense that they would have a vast, untapped wealth of knowledge and history.
Koushin, having remained silent during Jutengu's declaration, finally spoke up. His usual jovial demeanor was absent, replaced by a cool, calculated look. "You ignored the summon ethics, and wanted to poach Naruto. You thought the Tengu Clan wouldn't oppose you, right? You thought you could do whatever you wanted, and the world should accept it because you're one of the three Sage Clans. Hah! How ridiculous."
Fukasaku looked at Koushin, his eyes flaring with hatred. "What are you trying to say, brat?" he hissed. His small frame seemed to shudder with barely restrained anger.
Koushin simply smirked, folding his arms over his chest, not the least bit intimidated. "Oh, I am merely stating the obvious," he retorted, his voice brimming with irony. "No wonder Jiraiya was such a character. As the saying goes: like contractor, like beast, right?"
His statement hung in the air, punctuated by Jutengu's sudden chuckle. The giant Tengu found the remark amusing. Naruto had often spoken about Koushin during his training and Jutengu now understood why the boy held his brother in such high regard.
Jutengu turned his gaze to Koushin, a question brewing in his eyes. "Do you have a summon contract, little lad?"
Koushin's smirk widened into a full-blown grin. "I do, yes," he confirmed, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Although a tad eccentric, they're a perfect match for me. Thank you for your concern, Jutengu-san."
Jutengu gave a nod of approval. "Good. It's important to have allies, especially ones that match your unique personality."
As Koushin's words hung heavy in the air, he turned to Naruto, his countenance still holding the light, jesting quality he was known for, despite the serious undertone to his voice.
"Despite the flawed method employed by our resident amphibian," Koushin began, with a meaningful glance at Fukasaku, "I must concede that he is indeed correct, Naruto. You should consider learning the Sage Arts."
He paused for a moment, letting the words sink in before adding, "And I believe our friends, the Tengu Clan, would be more than happy to assist you in this endeavor."
Upon hearing this, Fukasaku's eyes bulged out, his froggy features contorting into an expression of visible annoyance. A harsh, guttural sound left his throat, an evident manifestation of the restrained anger boiling within him. If glares could kill, Koushin would surely be a dead man.
Jutengu, however, merely chuckled at Koushin's audacity. "Sure," he agreed, nodding in agreement. He playfully slapped Naruto on the back, nearly sending the younger boy stumbling forward. "Our summoner is always welcome in our realm. Konoha-Tengu-sama, the little lads there, miss your pranks."
Naruto laughed at that, the familiarity and shared camaraderie evident in his eyes. Just as everyone began to relax again, Fukasaku spoke up, his voice heavy with something akin to resignation.
"Naruto-kun, did you know that your father was also our contractor?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
A silence so profound followed his statement, it felt as if time itself had stopped. Tsunade, the ever-stoic Hokage, slammed her palm against the table, causing it to shake violently.
"Old toad! How dare you?" she snapped, her eyes blazing with fury. The secret of Naruto's lineage was something they had protected dearly. If this information were to leak out, it could put Naruto's life at a serious risk.
Naruto, however, seemed unphased by this revelation. He looked at Tsunade, his azure eyes sparkling with a calm understanding. "I knew about it for a long time, Grandma Tsunade," he admitted, his voice firm and steady.
The room descended into chaos, Tsunade's voice echoing off the walls. "WHAT? Who told you that?"
Naruto's gaze drifted towards Koushin, who simply offered a sheepish smile in response. "That would be me, Lady Tsunade," he declared, his voice void of any regret. "I simply informed him about his lineage. Yondaime, Kushina, the Kyubi... I told him everything I knew."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees as everyone absorbed Koushin's audacious confession. "You even knew about his mother?" Tsunade managed to ask, her voice barely a whisper.
"Of course," Koushin retorted, a hint of amusement in his voice. "After all, Yondaime and Kushina were hardly subtle about their relationship."
Tsunade seemed to deflate at this, her hand rubbing her temples in a futile attempt to alleviate the sudden headache that had beset her. "Why, Koushin? This could attract unnecessary attention from..."
Koushin swiftly cut her off, "From whom exactly? Iwa? Kumo? Naruto is already targeted by the strongest psychopaths out there. The Akatsuki are relentlessly hunting him down. Would the situation drastically change if some old geezer found out about Naruto's lineage? I think not."
There was a note of finality in his voice as he continued, "Besides, I believe it is high time for Naruto to claim his inheritance. He has already mastered the art of seals, and now he can study the techniques that his father and mother left behind. The Tengu would be more than happy to assist him."
Tsunade nodded at Koushin's assertion, "You are right." She admitted, a somber tone washing over her normally fiery spirit.
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