How's the academy?
Same thing different day, we just train all day.
I see.
Then how's your new house?
It was still broke since last I saw, I'm hoping Tyr can get it fixed today.
You know, I can have something arranged for you.
Ok, how about you give me some missions.
Dante knew that's not what he meant, but he had to try to get some type of mission from Hiruzen, after all if the hokage said it was a mission, surely the system will recognize it.
Hiruzens serious face faltered a bit.
I'm referring to your living area. I can have a house for you in the Sarutobi district.
That's alright, I just got to my new environment. It wouldn't feel right if I left without experiencing the Senju compound for a while.
So then.... Why do you want missions? Do you need money? I can give you an allowance if so.
An allowance? While I do need money, I'm not looking for a hand out. I'll graduate soon anyway.
How about early graduation? I can have that arranged.
Hiruzen was trying everything to pull Dante to his side. He could only hold the clans back for so long, so he had to win Dante over now.
Dante's bloodline was too good and he wasn't from a clan. On top of that he witnessed Dante absorb natural energy, something only those who go through some sort of sage training can do.
Hiruzen has seen Jiraiya's imperfect sage transformation. When Jiraiya first showed him he was very surprised, if he was that strong with the imperfect sage mode, then how strong would a perfect sage mode be.
Jiraiya had also mentioned the difficulty and the consequences if one failed in the training.
Yet he had seen Dante absorb natural energy.....well naturally, like it was a normal thing for him.
Hmm... Early graduation... What would happen to the squad I would be placed on?
If I graduate early they would be left without a member, and besides I don't think it's a good idea to spend all my days doing D-Rank missions.
I'll be up front with you from now on, I can see you don't care about the squad you would be placed on. No need to hide it, I've been a ninja a long time. I can read someone as green as you easily.
So, let's drop the "formalities".
Alright, you started it so I was just playing along.
What's the offer? Not that I really have a choice....
It's simple, you tell me what you need to join my clan and we'll go from there.
Nothing is ever so simple.
As I do not seek to join any clan, I will in the future create my own clan.
Well....like you said, you don't really have a choice.....
You're right.
You can make me join your clan, and I would be powerless to do anything, you could kill me right now and I would be powerless, but if you do make me join your clan, what will happen when you die?
Do you think I'll stay in a clan I was forced into?
On the other hand, if you kill me now you get nothing.
Besides, you only want me to join your clan for future generations of your clan. You already know it's too late for you to develop a bloodline.
Your clan doesn't have a bloodline, it thrives in the current time because of your strength and position, but you didn't get your strength and position by being peaceful....
Alright enough, what's your counter offer?
It's simple, you help me and I'll help you.
I won't promise anything, especially not a bloodline. You and I both know it's near impossible to develop one.
What I can offer is protection, not right now but in the future.
I will protect your clan when you die.
In return, you'll allow me to graduate early and allow me to take on missions up to C-Rank or B-Rank with an existing squad.
That's interesting.... Why are you obsessed with missions?
Is it for the hokage position? You want a head start on your mission completion record?
No, that's not it. It's something more important than that and you don't strike me as the kind of guy who wants political power.
So what is it?
Missions are the measure of a ninjas power.
You're right, I have no interest in politics. Someone else can sit at this desk all day.
I'm interested in real power, the kind the first hokage had and even beyond that and the best way to grow is to experience combat.
Pain and struggle.
A ninja who spars everyday won't be as strong as a ninja who fights for his life everyday. That's what I think.
So you want me to bend the rules for you and in return you're giving me a promise?
You're the hokage, the rules don't apply to you. The rules are only for the weak to follow.
As far as the exchange goes..... You're right.
There would be no way for you to know if I'll keep the promise.
So what do you want? Besides joining your clan...
The healing jutsu you use. Give it to me.
That's tough, I don't exactly know how to use it. I mean obviously I can use it, but I don't know how to teach it.
As you've seen before, I don't need to use hand seals and if your wondering why, I don't know either, maybe it has to do with my body or bloodline. The healing jutsu I call it Regen.
It just came to me one day, and I just instinctively knew how to use it. I wouldn't even know where to begin on making hand seals for it.
The best I can do Is use it while you observe.
This won't do, all you can offer is promises.
You'll have to offer me something real, otherwise.... I'll get nothing....
That's difficult... I might have other things to offer.
How about we change the nature of this arrangement. Instead of a deal.
We start with favors, if you do me this "favor" I'll return it within the month. If I don't I'll join your clan willingly.
This way I get what I want without you taking a loss.
I see....that's not bad thinking, but I won't spare any ninja to assist you on missions.
You'll have to complete them yourself or with a volunteer squad, and they won't be paid by the village.
That's fine with me.
Let's talk about fairness.
For example, if I go out on a mission and I kill some ninja with a jutsu scroll that's not available in the village. Would you say that's repaying the favor?
That depends, if you're giving it to me as the hokage or to the Sarutobi clan as a gift.
It also depends on the nature of the jutsu and what it does.
How about we simplify things a bit, we'll say this favor is a D-Rank favor, so if I bring you a new D-Rank jutsu, the favor will be paid off.
Essentially we'll just base favors on the same system as missions.
Now, why would I do you this small favor for something of equal value?
If this is what we're going by, I should get more out of it since I'm the one "loaning".
I take all the fire from the clans and the civilians. I allow you early graduation, something only done during war times or on very special occasions. The blow back from that, while small will go against my public image.
So, what are you saying?
I'm saying this favor isn't a "D-Rank" favor.
It's more like B-Rank. Considering the clans want you and I'll have to protect you until I get my return. Either you bring me something of B-Rank or higher, or you fail and join my clan willingly.
As far as the blow back is concerned, how about you implement a new experimental system?
Instead of having me graduate early, you can allow students in their last month of academy to take on missions. On the premise they go out with ninja with the appropriate power to protect them and everyone who applies has to pass a different graduation test, one with a genin, a chunin and a jonin as judges, and lastly the ninja all have to be volunteers. As far as their pay goes that's up to you.
My recommendation is you pay the volunteers a little more as an incentive to take a graduating student with them. That will ensure fairness for civilian kids. Otherwise clan kids will be the only ones who are able to take advantage of this experiment.
To add on to the new test, the kids who apply for the new system will have to demonstrate what they learned on the missions. Whether it's combat, scouting or whatever it may be. You can even add rewards that can be collected at graduation.
Something like that ought to reduce the blow back on all sides, while concealing our backdoor dealings.
That's not a bad idea, but the rank for the favor will stay at B.
Alright, fine with me.
Good, anything else? If not I'll have someone implement your experiment with in three days.
Obviously, I'll have to change a few things and you won't receive any credit if it succeeds.
That's all, for now.
Do you have anything else hokage?
No, your are dismissed. I see you at the end of the month.
Dante turned around and started walking away.
Before he could step out, Hiruzen spoke.
Actually, one more thing. I need you to go to the hospital and use your healing jutsu on some severely injured ninja.
You will be paid.....
I understand hokage, I'll go there right now.
Dante walked out and Kakashi appeared.
I'll escort you to the hospital.
As Dante and Kakashi walked out of the hokage building, someone spoke up behind him.
Dante? Is that you?
Dante turned around, he saw a fair skinned girl with blonde hair and green eyes.
Remi! What's up, it's been a while.
It is you Dante, you got taller. A lot taller, and you don't look like skin and bones anymore, that's good.
She stepped towards Dante and hugged him.
Dante was surprised, they weren't that familiar with each other, but he hugged her anyway.
Yeah, I had a little growth spurt.
Little? You're massive!!
Dante just smirked.
Remi looked at his smirk and blushed a little.
Anyways what brings you here Dante? You aren't even a ninja yet.
The hokage summoned me, he said something about being too loud and wants me to try to look less awkward.
I don't really know what he said, I zoned out.
He must have been yapping for an hour, I think he's going senile...
Dante you shouldn't speak like that about the hokage, next time listen to what he has to say. He looks out for everyone in konoha.
Dante knew most people in the village respect the hokage. He spends a lot of his time with public appearances. Speeches about the "will of fire" everywhere he goes.
So why are you here Remi? You here to accept a mission? Or are you applying to be a teacher?
I'm not applying to be a teacher yet. I already informed my squad that I'll be retiring from ninja work to be a teacher.
We all agreed to do a couple more missions before I do, that way they won't be limited to lower rank missions, until they get a replacement for me.
A mission?....
How about you do me a favor?
A favor? What kind? What is it you need?
Wait a day or two before you get a mission.
I'll come see you then.
What kind of favor is that? What's the point of me waiting for a day or two?
That's not the favor, I can't really say what the favor is right now, but trust me.
Ok, say I do wait. What will I get in return?
Hmm....
Nothing.
Well, not yet.
Nothing? You expect me to do you a favor and you won't give me anything in return?
What kind of backwards thinking is that?
You see Remi, I think you'll wait. Even if I don't give you anything.
And tell me Dante, why would I wait?
You will, I can see the future.
Dante was smiling the whole time, he suspected she had clan orders.
Dante looked over to where Kakashi was at.
He saw him at the end of the street, Kakashi never stopped to wait for Dante.
Remi I'll come see you, until then don't take any missions. I have to go.
Remi was a bit annoyed, she still wanted to know where Dante got the confidence to say she wouldn't get a mission until he went to see her.
As Dante walked quickly, trying to catch up to Kakashi, he heard Remi yelling.
Dante! I'm going on a mission, I'm not waiting for you!!
Dante yelled back.
Yeah! Ok, whatever you say!! He laughed out loud for her to hear.
Remi then spoke to herself.
Hmph, so arrogant. I'll go get a mission right now, if he thinks I'll wait for him, he's got another thing coming.
Remi stepped inside the hokage tower and went up to a receptionist.
Hello, I'm Remi Yamanaka.
My squad and I would like C-Rank mission.
Before the receptionist could show her the available C-Rank missions someone spoke behind Remi.
Remi, Clan head Inoichi has summoned you.
Remi turned around, she recognized him immediately. Rory Yamanaka, a jonin from her clan, specialized in reconnaissance.
Ok, let me pick a mission first.
No Remi, the clan head told me to escort you to him immediately.
What's going on Rory?
The clan head will explain...
Remi was confused, the clan had never called for her.
She had only interacted with Inoichi a hand full of times, once when she graduated the academy, on her chunin promotion and when her parents died.
I understand Rory, escort me there please.
She bowed slightly.
It was common etiquette to bow to jonin, even if he was ordered to escort her, she would be respectful.
Rory walked out and flickered away.
Remi was surprised, if they were flickering in the village, it must be something serious.
No one was allowed to flicker within the village. Unless it was an emergency, or you were an anbu. Flickering within the city carried a fine, and not a small one.
It was enough to buy a moderate house.
If Rory was flickering that meant it was serious enough for Inoichi to not care about the fine.
Remi flickered after him, he was too fast for her to keep up but she knew where he was going.
A moment later, she arrived at Inoichi's clan house.
Rory was at the gate waiting for her.
He motioned her to follow.
Remi stepped forward, she looked around.
No guards stopped her, usually anyone who approaches the clan head house gets stopped.
Rory stopped at the front door.
Go ahead.
Remi nodded, she knocked on the door.
She heard someone say come in.
She opened the door and walked inside.
Remi, welcome to my home.
It was Inoichi speaking.
Remi bowed on one knee.
Clan head, I'm here as you summoned.
Come, follow me.
He led her to his office. Inside she saw someone else.
As she got closer she recognized him instantly. It was Agui.
Clan head! Whatever my brother has done, I'll take full responsibility... She said as she bowed.
Agui stayed silent.
Relax Remi, no one is in any trouble.
Actually it's the opposite.
Remi was confused, if no one was in trouble. Why where they here?
Clan head...
You can call me Inoichi.
Clan head, I couldn't possibly be so disrespectful...
Remi, I said it's fine.
Ok, yes clan hea.... Inoichi sir.
Just Inoichi is fine.
Remi have a seat, and I'll inform you what this is about.
She sat down on the chair next to Agui. Inoichi then sat down across from them behind his desk.
How close are you with Dante?
We met once before today, he helped me with a decision.
Is this about Dante? Is he in any trouble?
Tell me Remi, what do you think of him?
He, is a smart kid. I think he'll be a great ninja.
What about his character? You didn't say anything about that.
I'm not sure, I've only interacted with him two times.
Inoichi, why are you so interested in Dante?
It's not just me. Every clan is interested in him.
You see Dante has a special bloodline.
According to Agui here, it's called Light Release.
I haven't seen what it can do personally, but I was told he killed two chunin at the senju compound.
On top of that, he went through a major transformation on the same day.
The hokage made the details of his transformation a village secret. He ordered all ninja that were present to stay silent.
Anyways Remi, at the hokages tower, what were you two speaking about?
He asked me to wait a day or two before I take a mission, as a favor.
What for?
I don't know, he said he can't explain. That I'll have to trust him.
He also said he already knew I would wait. That he can see the future.
Remi, don't take a mission until he comes to see you. I want to see what he asks for. I know you're retiring as an active ninja and you want to help your squad by taking a couple more missions, but this is important for the clan.
I understand clan head Inoichi.
Great, you two can go now. Agui you did well, coming to me with that info.
Remi, come see me whenever Dante tell you what he wants.
Yes sir!
Remi and Agui left together.
Rory then stepped inside and spoke.
Clan head, an anbu came by. He said the hokage is summoning you.
Alright Rory.
Inoichi then flickered towards the hokage tower.
Once he was there, he noticed other clan heads had also been summoned, and there was some civilian jonin as well.
Inside Inoichi sat next to Shikaku and Choza.
Shikaku, what's going on? Why are we all being summoned?
The hokage has an announcement, he said he's implementing a new experimental system.