Breaking the Seal

Breaking the Seal
Plans and Plots
By Pat Squared
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Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage, was overwhelmed with the minutia of running Konohagakure.

The academy had turned out a seven new genin.

Hyuga Haishi was upset that some gutter girl beat out his own main-house relative for top honors and wanted an investigation for possible cheating in the written examinations.

There were not enough medic-nins in training to replace the medic-nins that would soon be too old to accompany teams out in the field. Also with the death of the overbearing Nara Meiko, the old medic-nin that once instructed Tsunade, herself, Tsunade had to select a medic-nin to take over running the clinic’s medic-nin training program.

Throw in the disputes over farmland and a fight between two families because one son eloped with the other’s daughter and associated properly claims. It was enough to make the Fifth Hokage want to return back to the field were a ninja’s only concern was living long enough to accomplish the mission. Even an S-ranked mission to storm hell itself, would much easier than guiding this village.

Tsunade wanted to snap when her predecessor entered the room with two cups of tea in his hands. Something was wrong. Something was always wrong when someone came bearing gifts.

“Sarutobi-sensei, you did me no favors when you semi-retired from running the village to run the academy. I beginning to think that you faked that heart-attack just to get out of all this paperwork. Maybe, I should fake a stroke. I hate to be rude, but notice this tsunami of scrolls.”

Her former master smiles and made a shooing motions as if the mountain of scrolls would scurry away.

“Prioritize and delegate. There is no way even a god can run a village by herself, let alone a mortal.”

“Then how...” snapped the current Hokage.

“Let the Hyuga clan steam for a while. If they ask, just tell them that you notified me of their concerns. Keiko just worked harder than anyone we will ever meet again in this life. As I am the head of the academy, all you have to do is just turn over any academy problems to me. I will have our instructors incorporate more basic medic-nin training into the academy curriculum and start with the first years. That way, you can find those with potential much earlier and mold them. Also, that will reduce the workload of your medic-nin.”

“But, I need a medic-nin to head our medic-nin training program now, sensei. I can’t wait for a dozen years for you to mold one.” she muttered.

“Haruno Sakura has all the great markings great medic-nin and raising Keiko only helped Sakura get over her legendary temper. She more than met the minimum requirements for practical experience. It’s a shame that Keiko did not follow her mother’s footsteps, but I understand Keiko's current unwillingness to take an oath to help those who hurt her in the past. However, if I know Sakura, she probably taught Keiko something about the medical arts.”

Tsunade pondered her mentor’s words.

“But she did not graduate…Sure she is talented but if she didn’t pass the final exam the others won’t…”

“I will speak to Sakura and act like it is my idea to get her back to finish the last of her training. You will act like I talked you into it. I will hand her off you in a few days. You will play hard to please, violently disagree with the crazy old coot, but in the end you will then break down and let Sakura have one last chance to take the examination. Within two or three weeks, Sakura can easily pass the final qualification boards.

"As for Meiko-san position - Don’t rush to fill it immediately. Sakura will simply take on more and more responsibility to get her mind off her daughter being out in the field and soon will be the de facto head of the program. In due time, you will just make it official. You get a good medic-nin with the patience to teach and recruit others.”

“Now what about the rest of this…obscenity?”

“As for the land issue – Simply pick an old, retired, half-deaf jonin who mindlessly rambles on for hours on end about irrelevant topics to mediate the land disputes. After a couple days, the landowners will work something out on their own so they don’t have to sit in a stuffy room and listen to the thousandth retelling of the same old war story.

“Also the families with the eloping kids will stop fighting once the first grandkid is born. No one yells and screams in front of a sleeping baby and expect to survive the wraith of its mother. The matrons will instead race out to see which side of the family can spoil the baby more. That should take about six or seven months."

Tsunade was startled.

How did the old man know so fast?

"My tomegane no jitsu, (telescoping technique) showed me that those two kids been practicing enthusiastically before the wedding and that the girl is now at this moment throwing up her breakfast. Now that leaves the planting and farmers have been doing this for generations, they don’t need you to tell them how and when to plant, grow, and harvest.”

Tsunade shook her head. Despite being a pervert at some times, the Third Hokage was her sensei and even now he could make her seem like an erring school-girl. In a few short minutes, he arrived at the solution to all the issues that have been plaguing her this month.

“You always make me feel inadequate, sensei.”

The old man shook his head.

“Experience, Tsunade. You are doing a much better job than I did when I started. When I was younger, I took went nuts trying to solve each and every issue myself – Especially when dealing with Naruto and his chronic pranks. I had to learn to let things go and leave it up to people to solve most of their own problems. You have to save yourself for the major problems. Let others handle the minor issues. Fate has a way of resolving most of your minor problems, use it.”

“Then why are you here.”

“Simple, I merely wanted to share a cup of tea with my favorite student.”

Tsunade shook her head. Even when he appeared lazy, her former sensei was always having four or five irons in the fire. Tsunade thanked her former teacher for the tea all the while wondering which iron was going to burn her today.

“Now, what do you need?”

“It’s the fourth’s granddaughter.”

Tsunade knew the old man was crafting some grand scheme and neatly pinned her down. By solving all her small problems, he placed her in a position were she could not say no when the old man dropped the big problems in her lap.

“Our village cannot afford to lose Keiko. Her only real connection to this village is her mother and a few of her parents’ old friends and mentors. Otherwise, Keiko hates, not dislikes, not could care less...she justifiably hates just about everyone else in the village.”

“Keiko won’t...”

Tsunade thought of the young girl as her niece.

Naruto became like her troublesome younger brother and Sakura was like a younger sister. Naruto’s death and Sakura’s abandoning her quest to become a medic-nin to raise Keiko personally hurt Tsunade.

“Remember how Orochimaru claim so close to building up a ninja army. He sought out the forgotten by-blows of ninja who seduced someone’s great grandmother four generations ago. He found people who unknowingly carried powerful bloodlines and planned on starting a breeding campaign to create the ultimate host for his twisted soul. He plays on the discontent and hate inside each and everyone of his recruits.

"Orochimaru and his apprentice would love to have access to the fox chakra that Naruto had...the very same chakra that Keiko and all her children and grandchildren will have.”

“How, sensei? Kyuubi died with Naruto.”

“Yes, the nine-tailed fox that attacked our village died with Naruto."

The Third Hokage held up his had to forestall Tsunade's next comment.

"However, its kit resides in Keiko and the descendants of that kit will reside in each and every one of Keiko’s descendants. Unlike those who have the beast often unwillingly seal inside of them, the descendant hosts and the beasts grow up together like close siblings. They become partners rather than cage animals and whip cracking animal trainer. Their charka is more compatible.

"Keiko in her own way is already more powerful than her father for the kit inside of Keiko is her ally instead of a cage creature seeking to escape. That is the weakness inherent with the seal the Fourth used. I have set things in motion that hopefully will change Keiko’s outlook on life. Otherwise, one day we will end up facing Orochimaru or one like him with an army of demon-foxes and their host, each with good reason to see that this village is no more. With the talents and work ethic, Keiko can either be the best thing that happen to this village or a vengeful yuurei (ghost) that will return and doom us all.”

“What do I do?”

“Let nature take its course.”

“What? You warn me and then you tell me not to worry? Letting nature take its course was the same line you feed me when I got the reports of Naruto and Sakura noctural activities and…bam, Sakura is a single mother and I lose what could have been the best medic-nin. God’s I don’t know why or how I let you talk me into this manure pile.”

“Tsunade, Keiko has to find something that will open her eyes to the good in others. Otherwise, I fear that anger will cloud her soul and she will go further than Orochimaru can even contemplate in perusing her just vengeance. The only way to counteract hate is with love or friendship. Keiko is young and I already placed her with a more seasoned trio that won't automatically destroy her fragile spirit. I just need you to accept the fact that Keiko will be performing more advanced missions than the average genin. You agree that someone of her talents is wasted finding lost pets.

Beware of sensei when he comes bearing tea. Be even more aware when he is doing his inscrutable master act.

Tsunade learned that lesson as a genin with Team Sarutobi. Now she silently cursed herself for forgetting that hard won lesson.
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Haruno Sakura held back the tear as her daughter loaded her gear into the pack she created for her daughter. She was proud that her daughter showed up the other children from the better families. However, Keiko was growing up and going out to the world. Sakura remember the close calls that she had as a genin and later as a chunin in Team Seven. Even a C or D-ranked mission can suddenly spiral out into an A-ranked mission as the mission escorting the bridge builder in her youth.

Keiko was the only thing that Sakura had left.

Sakura had burned her bridges with the rest of the village by having Naruto’s daughter. She had turned her back on her childhood dream of being one of the top medic-nins in the world to raise Keiko. She had no other family to turn to for they cast her out and told her that she was dead to them. Keiko was her life for the past thirteen years. Now Keiko was almost grown up, and did not need her mother as she once did.

Sakura wanted to hold Keiko like she was a baby again. She did not want to see her child go out and risk injury and death and like Sakura once did herself.

Naruto, I wish you were here. I am so proud of her for reaching this moment and yet I can’t stand to let her go.

Keiko spotted her mother's weeping eyes.

“Don’t worry mom. Kakashi-sensei won’t let me get in over my head. Besides, now you don’t have to work two jobs anymore to feed a growing girl. I promise to write and drop by every time I can. Besides, Teuchi-san and Ayame-san both said that from now on, my money is no good at Ichiraku Ramen Bar and that they would be insulted if I did not show up as often as possible and at least help them with the lunch rush.”

Sakura shook her head.

“Don’t make any promise you won’t keep, Keiko. I promised to write my parents. Yet, I did not write a single letter home until I had to tell them that I was pregnant with you. Just promise me that you won’t start kissing strange boys. I am still a little young to be a grandmother.”

Keiko turned red in the face.

“Yuck, why would I. Boys my age don’t wash their face, brush their teeth, or even bathe. They spend too much time flexing their imaginary muscles and cultivating their one whisker. Besides, I’m not yet thirteen or even close to taking my chunin examinations. I got too much to do now to worry about boys.”

Love will hit you hard, Keiko. I cannot wait and see in about five years or so.

It was the serious ones that love seem to aim for whenever the gods desired chaos. It happened to Sakura thirteen years ago and she hoped that it would not happen too soon for her daughter's sake.
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Umiono Iruka walked up to an empty seat as the young girl sitting at the end of the bar was attacking the shoyu with a gusto that not even he could generate for his favorite food, ramen. He knew Keiko was as much a ramen addict as her father was, but in the past, she ate in the kitchen like the rest of the staff.

“Big day, Keiko. Don’t worry, I will be around to make sure Ichiraku remains in business so there will be plenty of ramen when you return.”

The young girl looked up. Her face lit up to see a familiar face.

“Oji-chan (Dear Uncle) Iruka, when did you return from your trip to Aoikamakure (Red Mountain Village)?”

“Just this morning. I heard about your triumph. Congratulations.”

“It was not me, Oji-chan. The secret is in the ramen."

"How so?"

"Only those who can appreciate the intricacies of each and every variety of Ichiraku ramen can appreciate the subtleties of a good jitsu. Thank to your cultivation of my father's insatiable ramen addiction in me, I had the opportunity to score so well.”

“Flattering an old man like me, you ought to be ashamed of yourself. If I were not already happily married, I would be asking your mother for your hand in marriage. Teuchi-san tells me that you are one of his best cooks and he was sad to see you go. I enjoyed your chicken curry ramen. When you are back in town, let me know so I can drop by and enjoy some. Who is your sensei?”

“Kakashi-san. I would have chosen you, but you were teaching at the academy next term and were not availiable to guide me in the field. Don’t worry, I’ve to drop by for advance training before my chunin examinations.”

“Don’t tell me that you are going to finish your father’s goal of becoming the most powerful of hokage. Knowing you, you probably will just so you can rub their noises in the fields. Did you meet your team members yet?”

“No, oji-chan. I got here early to beat the lunch rush. Portions are always bigger before the rushes. I have to meet my team-mates here at noon. Besides, I have to get back into the kitchen and cook you some curry ramen. I will miss this place. I mean I grew up in the kitchen watching mom and oba-chan Ayume make diet ramen for all our figure-conscious, lady-clients.”

Keiko finished her breakfast and motioned for Iruka to stay put. Just as she walked into the kitchen, three faces sat in the empty stools.

“I wonder what this Keiko is like.”

“All I heard is that she is some bookworm – First to get a perfect on her written examination. Probably will be reading a scroll and lectuing us on the optimum jitsu to use in a given situation while we are having the fight of our lives, instead of fighter herself. Why is Kakashi-sensei taking a genin along when he is already training three chunin?”

The third one was uncharacteristically quiet.

“Hotaka, you are the old man’s grandson, what have you heard about our new genin?”

“Nothing from his lips...I have yet to see my sofu (grandfather) or my haha (mother) since we arrived. Let me get some rest, please...You two stuck me with middle watch last night and I couldn’t get any real rest.”

The young man closed his eyes muttering, “Jiust order me some shoyu ramen and tea, first round on me. Just wake me up when the food is here.”

However the old ninja spotted the lie in the young man’s eyes. The jonin rapidly scrolled his memory and finally linked the name to the face.

Yuhi Hotaka, illegitimate son of Sarutobi Asuma and Yuhi Kurenal, cousin to Sarutobi Konohamaru, grandson of the Third Hokage. Talented in genjustu like his mother, he also had the abilities of the Sarutobi bloodline.

However what perked Ikura’s curiosity most was the fact that Keiko was not paired up with any of her classmates. Ikura knew that Keiko did not interact with any of her age-mates. Instead, they put her with an already established team of chunin.

Only one man could authorize risking a genin on the type of missions that chunin would encounter. Especially the type that would be soon seeking the rank of jonin

Ikura was going to have a talk with the Third Hokage. No one risks his niece.
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Keiko brought out the promised bowl of curry ramen to Ikura. Noting the three chunin sit at the bar, Keiko gathered their orders and relayed them to the cook in the kitchen. Then she just walked out.

“Excuse me, miss. What about our tea?”

Keiko merely shrugged her shoulders, “I don’t work here anymore. Just quit last night. The cook already got your orders and Ayume will be here to serve you fresh tea soon. Hope you enjoyed your meal at Ichiraku Ramen Bar.”

The young lady was white in the face and the young man, at least the one that wasn’t dozing off, was not happy.

“Who are you to tell us that you don’t work here anymore?” the young lady objected.

Keiko had her fist clenched at her sides. Something about these two expecting her to serve them got her ire up. She had a temper, a nasty temper, and a lifetime of being treated like a second class groveling slug/punching bag had only fueled the temper. She knew that if she stayed here too long with these three she would soon erupt into visible anger and shame her sensei into thinking that he was working with a spoiled, little girl.

“The kitchen staff will have your ramen and tea at your seat the second they’re done. Good day and thank you for patronizing Ichiraku Ramen Bar. Remember there are no bad people among ramen lovers. Ja mata, sayonara.”

“Oji-san Ikura, please inform Kakashi-sensei that I am waiting for him outside. Thank you, and I promise to make you some more curry ramen when I am back in town.”

“It nothing, Keiko-chan. I wish you well.”

Before the stunned chunin could recall that their new partner was named Keiko, she grabbed her pack and with the ease of years of practice dodging bullies, vanished out of sight.