I, Your Father, Carry a Big Stick

After being reverse summoned into a spacious courtyard filled with sand gardens, medium-sized Bonzai, and a small koi pond, Wu gave himself a quick once-over as he muttered, "That...felt weird..." Hearing Wu's remark, Hiruzen's brows raised ever so slightly as he mused, "Ho~? Most people aren't able to 'feel' anything when being summoned or transported. We'll have to look into that during your training. For now, let's get you settled into the manor." Placing his hand on Wu's back, Hiruzen ushered him into a large manor comprised primarily of dark wood. It had bamboo partitions and tatami floors, but the thing that stood out the most, at least to Wu, was its sheer size. Compared to the manor owned by King Enma, it was at least three times as large. Having spent the last few weeks preparing for Wu's arrival, Hiruzen led the curious eight-year-old into a relatively empty but spacious room. The only furnishings within were a large bed, a mat for meditation, and a small wardrobe. This was intentional, not because Hiruzen didn't want to make Wu feel welcome, but because he didn't want to overwhelm the young boy with items and furniture he wasn't familiar with. Instead, he would let Wu decorate and fill the room with things he had personally purchased or acquired, similar to the 'hideout' he knew the young boy possessed. Matching Hiruzen's expectations, a smile developed across Wu's face as he remarked, "This is perfect. I have plenty of space to store my stuff and perform basic exercises. You have my gratitude, Grandfather." Though it was a little strange to hear an eight-year-old speak in such a formal manner, especially considering Wu's upbringing, Hiruzen returned a smile and replied, "You're very welcome, Wu. From this day forward, this room is yours to do as you please. You are also free to wander around the manor, though my bedroom and study are off-limits. Any questions?" Shaking his head, Wu was about to respond that he was good, but the truth was that he had 'many' questions. Most of them could wait, but the one thing he 'had' to know was, "When will I be attending this Academy you mentioned previously? If possible, I'd like to recommence my training as soon as feasible." As Enma had already informed him of how 'spirited' Wu was about his training, Hiruzen exhaled a light chuckle before explaining, "We have set things up so that you have a month before classes begin. Since you will be two years behind the rest of your peers, I have made arrangements to have a Chuunin instruct you until then." Flaring his chakra, Hiruzen managed to startle Wu with the appearance of a young woman with unkempt, raven-black hair and peculiar red eyes. Her body was garbed in a red kimono, and she wore the identifying headband of a Leaf Shinobi. However, the thing that stood out the most was the fact she was female, the first human woman Wu had ever encountered. Adopting a 'knowing' smile, Hiruzen gestured toward the kneeling woman and explained, "This is Yuuhi Kurenai, one of our most talented, up-and-coming Kunoichi. She can only instruct you for an hour a day, but she has memorized the Academy Curriculum. She is qualified to answer any and all questions you may have about the village, its history, and the duty of a Shinobi." Rising to her feet, Kurenai gave Wu a quick once over before adopting a smile of her own and repeating, "I'm Kurenai. You can address me as both Kurenai-sensei or simply Kurenai. It's a pleasure to meet you, Wu." Though Wu was a little shorter than other boys his age, standing just under 120cm, he exuded a sense of 'awareness' that could generally only be found in members of the Nara Clan or seasoned Shinobi. He didn't give off the impression of an ordinary human child, an impression cemented by his wild brown hair, yellow eyes, and prominent canines. Recovering from his brief stupor, Wu adopted a smile of his own as he said, "The pleasure's mine." Then, exhibiting a complete lack of shame, he asked, "Do all human women look like you? You're a lot less...hairy than I expected." Taken aback by Wu's question, Kurenai opened her mouth but couldn't find the words to respond. As for Hirzuen, he simply exhaled a chuckle at the side, his silvery-grey eyes glimmering in amusement as he stroked his pointed goatee. Recalling that Wu had minimal interaction with other humans, Kurenai did her best not to take offense to his words, an almost indistinguishable red hue coloring her cheeks as she cleared her throat and revealed, "Classes related to the differences between men and women will take place during your fourth year at the Academy. The focus of third years is mathematics, the basics of chakra control, Shurikenjutsu, and sparring. Boys also focus on physical conditioning, while girls study the basics of herb classification and court etiquette." Hearing the words Shurikenjutsu, Wu's face scrunched up as he said, "I'm not fond of ranged attacks. I prefer Taijutsu and Bojutsu." Unsurprised by Wu's retort, Kurenai nodded her head in understanding but insisted, "The Academy is the ideal place to improve upon the skills you lack or struggle with. You might not depend upon Shurikenjutsu in the future, but not knowing how to use them puts you at a disadvantage if you ever need to." Instead of arguing with his newly acquired tutor, Wu returned a nod of his own, admitting, "There is truth to what you say..." before adopting a broad smile and asking, "When do we start?" "Uh..." Looking to Hiruzen and seeing him nod his head, Kurenai forced a smile as she answered, "I wasn't expecting to instruct you this afternoon, so let's limit things to a simple skill assessment. Drop off your stuff and meet me in the courtyard." Before Kurenai could turn around to leave, Wu, with a smile as radiant as the Sun, asserted, "I prefer to keep my things stored away, so I'm ready to begin immediately. Please, lead the way." Feeling a little exasperated, Kurenai looked to Hiruzen a second time, only to find the elderly man suppressing a laugh. This gave her a sudden and intense urge to smack him on the back of the head, but doing such a thing to the Hokage would be a faux pas of epic proportions. Hiruzen presented himself as a kind, grandfatherly figure, but he was still the most influential man in the village, commanding the respect of more than twelve thousand Shinobi. Turning back to Wu, Kurenai forced a smile back to her face as she said, "Very well." before turning around and adding, "Follow me..." in an audibly exasperated tone... ... .. . Though he expected Wu to be 'above average' after training alongside members of the Monkey Clan for four years, Hiruzen's silvery-grey eyes glistened with the 'Will of Fire' as he observed the incredibly agile youth putting legitimate pressure on Kurenai, a season Kunoichi. Since the best way to ascertain someone's skill was via a spar, Kurenai made the mistake of challenging Wu to a Taijutsu match. Her specialties were Genjutsu and Ninjutsu, but that didn't mean she was inept in hand-to-hand combat. She was even expected to be promoted to Jonin in the next 2-3 years, so it hurt her pride to be driven back every time Wu's fists or feet impacted her guard. ("This brat is starting to remind me of Kakashi...") Feeling a little indignant, Kurenai opened her guard, allowing an excited Wu to close the ten meters between them in an instant, his tiny fist nearly disappearing into her gut. Such an impact would have caused an ordinary person to vomit blood, but Kurenai's body burst into a cloud of faint pink smoke, a heavy aroma of perfume filling the area as a medium-sized log was sent crashing into the estate's wall. Blinking in surprise, Wu exhaled a confused, "Huh...?" before leaping away from the cloud of smoke in search of his quarry. He immediately glimpsed Kurenai sneaking around in his blind spot, so he disregarded the smoke and leaped toward her, somersaulting to land a heavy kick on her crossed arms. Exhibiting a mixture of disbelief and slight panic, Kurenai could only stare in stupefaction as Wu's follow-up kick barreled toward her face. She had used a C-Rank Genjutsu to try and buy herself some time to recover, but Wu hadn't been affected at all. She would have noticed if he had resisted or broken out of it. Instead, he acted as if it simply never happened... Catching Wu's ankle, Hiruzen's eyes briefly widened before immediately returning to normal as he said, "That's enough, Wu. You have more than illustrated your talent in Taijutsu. Well done." Flipping away from Hiruzen the moment the old man released him, Wu adopted a cheeky smile as he asserted, "It's easy when your opponent looks down on you. That technique that allowed you to swap places with a log was pretty neat. What I don't understand is, why did you drop your guard?" Recovering from her momentary stupor, or at least pretending to, Kurenai forced a smile and replied, "You're right, Wu; I did underestimate you. For that, you have my sincerest apologies. As for why I dropped my guard at that time...the more pertinent question is, why were you unaffected by my Genjutsu? You should have been trapped in an illusion..." As he had never encountered Genjutsu, Wu shrugged his shoulders and responded, "How am I supposed to know? From my perspective, you just swapped places with a log and moved into my blind spot. I didn't see any illusions or whatever." Blinking several times, Kurenai tried yet couldn't quite believe what she was hearing. She was certain she had performed her Genjutsu correctly, yet, according to Wu, it never went off? She had flubbed Genjutsu in the past, but not since her fifteenth birthday, more than eight years prior... Curious about Wu's claim, Hiruzen decided to lend a hand to Kurenai, stroking his beard as he proposed, "There's a simple method we can use to clear this matter. Wu, please allow Kurenai to place you in a Genjutsu. I assure you that you will not be harmed even if she's successful..." After seeing Hiruzen block his full-powered kick with his bare hand, Wu had gained a hint of respect for his elderly mentor. Thus, without thinking too deeply into things, he nodded his head and answered, "Sure. I'm also curious about what it's like to be in a Genjutsu. Lord Enma taught me that Genjutsu and Sealing Techniques are to be feared and respected." Nodding his head in approval, Hiruzen muttered, "Well said..." before turning his attention to Kurenai and ordering, "Chunin Kurenai, please proceed to try and place Wu in a Genjutsu." Swallowing her nervousness, Kurenai returned a nod of her own before forming a series of hand seals as she stared into Wu's eyes. When she was finished, her chakra reserves depleted noticeably, but Wu just kept staring back at her, unblinking as he eagerly looked forward to the effects of her Genjutsu. Before Kurenai could admit her failure, Hiruzen garnered the attention of both her and Wu as he mused, "I see..." while stroking his beard. Kurenai might not have noticed it, but he was able to glimpse Wu's eyes gaining a faint, fiery-red hue the moment the former activated her Genjutsu. Seeing the almost desperate look on Kurenai's face, Hiruzen exhaled a light chuckle as he revealed, "Our young friend here appears to possess a Dojutsu that filters out the effects of vision-based Genjutsu. Be sure you both keep this a secret, understood?" Though she wanted to protest that no such Dojutsu existed, Kurenai's father had once told her stories about the Chinoike Clan. The effects varied from person to person, but their Ketsuryugan was said to make the user impervious to Genjutsu while allowing them to confer it unto others with a simple touch. Wu's eyes were clearly different, but she would be foolish to refute something she had experienced first-hand... Accepting that her specialty would be useless against Wu, at least until she figured out how his Dojutsu functioned, Kurenai exhaled a sigh before bending the knee and responding, "Understood, Lord Hokage. This secret shall not escape my lips..." Seeing Kurenai's display, Wu would about to emulate her when Hiruzen shook his head, a faint smile adorning his wrinkled face as he said, "That's enough for today. I intend to take Wu on a brief tour of the village, so you can return and fulfill your other duties. Good work today." Despite feeling she had performed terribly, Kurenai lowered her head as a sign of respect before using Shunshin, a Jutsu that permitted the user to move at blinding speeds, to make her exit. Wu's yellow eyes flickered with intrigue as she departed, but he was unable to ask Hiruzen for the name of the technique before the old man squeezed his shoulder and asserted, "You have a promising future as a Shinobi..." ... .. .

Though there were significantly fewer trees than he was used to, Wu's first impression of Konoha was that it was peaceful and incredibly lively. According to Hiruzen, there were more than 80,000 people residing within the village, encircled by a perimeter wall more than 45km in diameter. Situated at the northernmost point of the village was a series of small mountains that had been leveled out over time, resembling cliffs with flat tops. The most prominent of these rock structures had four faces carved into it, each depicting one of the 'Hokage' that had ruled the village since its inception, approximately 52 years prior. After learning what the 'Hokage Monument' represented, Wu asked the most obvious question, "What happened to the man on the far right? Did he die...?" Though there was a flicker of melancholy in Hiruzen's eyes, the elderly man managed to maintain his smile as he replied, "Indeed. Minato gave his life to protect the village from a dangerous beast known as the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox. Since then, I have safeguarded the village in his stead, patiently awaiting the day a suitable replacement can be found." With Hiruzen directing a 'hopeful' look his way, Wu couldn't help raising his brows and asking, "What? You want me to become the next Hokage?" Exhaling a chuckle, Hiruzen replied, "That depends on you. The person who wears this hat isn't just the strongest in the village, they also carry the burden of the people's beliefs. You have a promising future ahead of you, Wu, but you'll need to work tirelessly if you wish to gain the trust of others." Furrowing his brows, Wu appeared to be in deep thought, eliciting another soft chuckle from Hirzuen. He, at least for the time being, had no intention of pressuring Wu into becoming the next Hokage. His primary goal was to ensure Wu felt at home within the village. So long as he could accomplish that, he could guide Wu onto one of many paths... Catching Hiruzen a little off guard, Wu raised his head and asked, "What are the benefits of becoming Hokage? If it takes power and influence to be qualified for the position, does it really matter if you accept the hat? I doubt your influence would just dry up if you refused..." Surprised by Wu's words, Hiruzen found himself at a momentary loss. He was initially intending to say that the Hokage had the final say in matters concerning the village, but that wasn't entirely true. If he didn't adhere to the recommendations of the Civilian and Shinobi Councils, the stability of the village and his position as Hokage would both be jeopardized. Interpreting Hiruzen's reaction through his subjective lens, Wu snorted through his nose and asserted, "Sounds like a thankless role that forces everyone's burdens onto a single person. I prefer freedom and peace of mind, so you can keep that hat or find someone else to wear it." Exhaling an embarrassed chuckle, Hiruzen decided to swiftly change the topic, asking, "Are you hungry?" with a bit of a twinkle in his eye. Nodding his head in affirmation, Wu admitted, "I'm pretty much always hungry. Nuts aren't very satisfying, and eating too many fruits gives me diarrhea." Adopting a somewhat mischievous smile, Hiruzen replied, "I see..." before gesturing to a food stall a few meters away. He had noticed Wu staring at the kebabs on display when they initially passed it, and he had heard from Enma about the youth's inordinate 'obsession' with trying meat. Realizing Hiruzen's intentions, Wu's eyes widened as his salivary glands kicked into overdrive. He had hoped he would be able to eat meat upon leaving the valley, but he dared not assume. Expectations were the pitfall of satisfaction. The fewer you had, the less you were disappointed. Placing his hand on Wu's shoulder, Hiruzen mused, "Fret not, my boy. So long as you remain in this village, you are free to eat as much meat as you can afford. Now, come along. I'll explain the significance of currency while you fill your belly. Afterward, I'll show you to the Academy, and then we'll walk the route you'll be taking to travel to and from it." No longer listening after Hiruzen said he could eat meat, Wu was nodding his head to imply understanding. Hiruzen noticed this, an amused chuckle emanating from his throat as he gave Wu a light push, gently shepherding him in the direction of the stall... ... .. . With significantly more pep in his step, Wu was all smiles as he followed Hiruzen to the location of the Academy. He couldn't even remember the last time he had felt such satisfaction, so even though he still had a few misgivings about the move to Konoha, he already regarded it as his new home. Breaking Wu from his reverie, Hiruzen gestured toward a large, multi-story building with white walls accented with red timber, revealing, "This is the Konoha Primary Ninja Academy. Once classes begin, you'll be spending much of your weekdays within. However, before that, there is something I want you to keep in mind..." Placing his hand on Wu's shoulder, Hiruzen's expression softened despite the severity in his eyes as he stated, "You are much stronger than most other children your age, Wu. When you're attending the Academy, you'll need to be careful not to injure your fellow students. The Academy isn't just a place to rear future Shinobi; it's a place where children are allowed to socialize and form friendships that last a lifetime. In many ways, that is the most important function of the Academy. Your 'real' training will begin once you graduate..." Furrowing his brows, Wu asked, "Didn't you say graduation takes place at twelve? You can't seriously expect me to slack off for four years..." Shaking his head, Hiruzen asserted, "I'm not asking you to slack off. I'm asking you to focus on making friends and forming close bonds with your classmates. You might not understand the importance of such acts, but I can assure you that everything will make sense once you mature. Please, trust me on this matter..." As he didn't really have any other options, Wu didn't hesitate to nod his head and state, "I understand." in a firm tone. He didn't, not really, but he would at least try and adhere to Hiruzen's request. The elderly man was his caretaker and, more importantly, the person who would be paying for all his food, clothing, and anything else he might need during his stay in the village. So long as that dynamic remained, Wu would at least consider what the man had to say. Nodding his head in approval, Hiruzen gave Wu a firm pat on the shoulder before saying, "We should return to the estate. Truth be told, I don't have a lot of free time. As you have suspected, the obligations of those who bear the title of Hokage are endless. However, for the sake of the village and its people, we do our best to carry their burdens with a smile." Resisting the urge to furrow his brows and snort, Wu returned a smile of his own and said, "How commendable." in the most sincere tone he could manage. He personally believed it was ridiculous for those with power to submit themselves to the wills of others, but he wasn't going to condemn Hiruzen's actions. After all, that 'kindness' is what would allow Wu to live in the Sarutobi/Hokage Estate and spend the man's money, tiny pieces of metal that were apparently integral to human society. Unaware of Wu's thoughts, Hiruzen gave the remarkably 'pragmatic' youth another pat on the shoulder before leading him along the route to his new home... ... .. . After experiencing what could best be described as a crushing defeat at the hands of a literal child, Kurenai learned the important lesson of never underestimating Wu. During the weeks leading up to his attendance at the Academy, she defaulted to the mentality she had during the Third Shinobi World War. She even started reaching out to some of her friends who had become Jonin, asking them to spar with her so that she wouldn't lose her 'edge' when sparring against Wu. To her credit, Kurenai's efforts allowed her to avoid a second defeat at Wu's hands. There were times when the inordinately agile youth would pressure her, but his distinct lack of Jutsu gave Kurenai a near-absolute advantage. She could never lower her guard, but once she became used to his fighting style, their spars became a game of cat and mouse where Wu had to go all out just to graze her. If there was one thing Kurenai could complain about, it was the fact that Wu never seemed to tire. This was a good thing, objectively speaking, but it meant Kurenai was the one breathing heavily after their spars. If not for the time limit she set in advance, Wu's stamina would outlast hers, and he would eventually be able to turn things around. Thus, no matter how often she 'won' against him, Kurenai never took satisfaction in her victory... With the 15-minute timer sounding nearby, Wu immediately ceased his tireless pursuit of Kurenai, smiling broadly as he shouldered his bo staff and playfully remarked, "I failed to strike you yet again. It appears your rank of Chunin isn't just for show." Resisting the urge to exhale in relief, Kurenai removed her headband to wipe away the sweat from her brow as she replied, "That smart mouth of yours is going to get you in a lot of trouble one of these days..." Undaunted by Kurenai's words, Wu snickered mischievously and said, "That's why I carry around this stick. Even if I invite trouble onto myself, I can just smack it away~!" Rolling her eyes, Kurenai decided to let 'life' teach Wu the true meaning behind her words. Some girls preferred brash and wild men, but 'women' chose men who were dependable and understanding. The red markings around Wu's golden eyes and the confidence he portrayed were likely to make him 'very' popular at the Academy, but it wouldn't be long before his brash nature deterred even his more 'adventurous' admirers. Resetting her headband, Kurenai's expression became serious as she met Wu's gaze and declared, "This marks the end of our training, Wu. Though it was only for a short while, it was a privilege to be able to help with your training. Your...tenacity has reminded me of the conviction and mentality necessary to excel as a Shinobi. I look forward to seeing what you're able to accomplish once you graduate." Feeling uncomfortable in the face of Kurenai's sincerity, Wu scratched the back of his head and asked, "Is there any need to be so sentimental? It's not like this is the last time we'll be seeing each other. As members of the same village, we're basically family. I won't complain if you decide to stop by every once and a while." Restraining a chuckle, Kurenai's eyes narrowed into an amused smile as she replied, "I'll consider it." in a teasing tone. Then, as she really wanted to take a nice long bath, she used Shunshin to make her exit, leaving Wu to fill the many potholes he had created on his own. With his left brow twitching ever so slightly, Wu returned his staff to his Storage Pouch before pulling out a shovel. He knew the holes could be repaired with a simple Earth Jutsu, but, as he had yet to be taught any, he was forced to fill each of the holes manually... ... .. . (A/N: Since a few people have been asking, no, this story does not follow the canon of Naruto. I believe that actions should have consequences, so everything from the characters to the plot is bound to change.)

"Wake up, child. The day is upon us." Disturbed by the sound of the deep, gravelly voice, a young boy with wild brown reluctantly opened his peculiar yellow eyes and groaned, "Can you keep your voice down? I'm trying to sleep..." In response to the youth's words, a brown-skinned man with prominent, monkey-like features narrowed his equally yellow eyes. He had a mane of spikey white hair that extended to his lower back, fur framing the sides of his face, a prominent goatee, and, most notably, a tail protruding from his lower back. Above his brows, protecting his forehead, was an elastic band bearing a metallic plate and swirling symbol depicting a leaf. Crossing his arms, the distinctly haplorrhine man adopted an expression of discontent as he muttered, "This is the child that bears the fate of our world on his shoulders? We're doomed..." Though he could not make out what the man said, the youth could hear him muttering something under his brown. However, when he looked up to ask what the man was saying, he immediately paused, his expression morphing into one of abject confusion as he asked, "Are you a monkey...?" Furrowing his brows even further than they already were, the white-haired 'man' responded, "Indeed. Not just any monkey, mind you, but the King of all Monkeys. From now on, you shall refer to me as Monkey King Enma, Lord Enma, or Master Enma. Now, hurry up and get changed. Your training begins immediately." With an incredulous look, the youth retorted, "Training? What the hell are you on about, old man...?" Instead of answering the youth's questions, Enma picked him up by his collar and carried him out the door. The youth was about to protest this, but another wave of confusion silenced him as he compared himself to the size of Enma and gawked at his hands. He couldn't explain it, but he felt as though he should be a lot bigger... "Ah! My head...!" Feeling a sudden and intense pain, the youth grabbed the sides of his head, prompting Enma to set him down and get a better look at him. This involved placing his hand on the youth's head, a faint green light emitting from his palm as he asked, "Where does it hurt? Is it just your head, or do you feel pain elsewhere...?" Hearing Enma's questions, the youth was about to scream his response, but when he raised his head, the entire world around him appeared to be frozen in time. Everything was a series of greys, blacks, and whites, and, as far as he could tell, not even a single hair was moving on Enma's body. As the youth observed his surroundings in confusion, no longer feeling any pain from his head, a thumb-sized piece of jade fell from his clothing, followed by a voice echoing within his head, stating, ("Listen, brat. I don't have a lot of time. All you need to know right now is that this is a path you decided for yourself. I did what I could to make things easier for you, but it's up to you to take hold of your destiny. If you mess up, don't blame this Grandpa for laughing at your expense! Kishishishishishi~!") "Ugh..." With the mysterious voice sounding like claps of thunder within his mind, the youth doubled over in pain. Blood began to trickle from his eyes, ears, and nose, so the voice wrapped things up by saying, ("Oh, yeah&mdash;one last thing before I go. Your name is Wu. No surname and whatnot. Feel free to give yourself one or seek out an existing family and take theirs. It doesn't matter to me. Good luck.") Seemingly finished with what it had to say, the voice disappeared from Wu's head, followed by color returning to the world. When Enma saw the state he was in, he quickly snatched up the barely conscious boy in his arms, shouting, "Summon the medics!" in a commanding voice... ... .. . &lt;Four Years Later&gt; After living amongst the Monkey Clan of Jigokudani for four years, Wu was now a spry, incredibly agile eight-year-old. He still wondered about his origin, but after integrating with the Monkey Clan and training every single day, he stopped fretting over the unknown and started enjoying his strange yet incredibly stimulating life. Though he was initially physically weaker than the average member of the Monkey Clan, Wu's strength and speed began increasing explosively once Enma started instructing him on the basics of Chakra. Just channeling the mysterious energy through his body caused Wu to feel ecstatic, so he had taken to the training like a fish in the water or, as they said in Jigokudani, a monkey in the trees. If there was one thing Wu was dissatisfied about with life in Jigokudani, it was their 'vegan,' primarily fruit and nut-based diet. He had never tasted it before, but Wu had an almost insatiable desire to eat meat. Unfortunately, no matter how often he entreated Enma or the other Elders to let him eat some, they vehemently refused, stating, "So long as you reside within the valley, you will adhere to our customs." After a brief period where he seriously considered fleeing the valley, Wu more or less gave up his dreams of eating meat. He still longed for it, but he wasn't willing to sacrifice his place among the Monkeys of Jigokudani, colloquially known as Hell Valley. They had embraced them as one of their own, and while his training had been fierce, Wu understood it was to instill discipline into him and help him grow stronger. With such thoughts guiding him in his day-to-day life, Wu leaped through the branches of his forest home with the familiarity of someone that had spent the majority of their life amid the canopies. Lord Enma had sent one of his servants to summon him, so Wu was hurrying back, curious to hear what his surrogate father and mentor had to say. Upon reaching the biggest tree in the village, large enough to support a small mansion, Wu exchanged greetings with the guards before making his way into the interior as if he owned it. He had spent much of the last four years as a resident, so, with the exception of his 'secret' hideout, it was the closest thing he had to a home. Without bothering to knock, Wu made his way into Enma's study, tensing when he discovered an elderly human male seated alongside his mentor, both nursing cups of tea. The man had spikey grey hair that had receded away from his forehead, several liver spots along the left side of his face, and a pointed goatee that made him seem incredibly ancient. Despite this, he gave off an aura that compelled Wu's body to tense like a small animal cornered by its natural predator... Raising his gaze, the elderly man adopted a disarming smile and said, "Good afternoon, Wu. My name is Sarutobi Hiruzen. I believe Enma has told you about me? Either way, I'm pleased to meet you." With Wu just standing in the doorway like an idiot, Enma exhaled a tired sigh before adopting a stern expression and ordering, "Come and take a seat, Wu. We have important matters to discuss." Though he obeyed Enma's command, the expression on Wu's face made it clear he didn't want to be there. Enma had, in fact, mentioned Sarutobi Hiruzen to him. He was apparently some big shot in the Land of Fire and the sole individual permitted to summon Enma and the other Elders of the Monkey Clan. Under normal circumstances, Wu would be eager to meet and learn from such a man, but he understood why Enma had summoned him here today... Without beating around the bush, Enma stated, "Starting from today, you shall refer to yourself as Sarutobi Wu. The Elders and I have discussed the matter and decided it would be best for you to live among your fellow humans. Jigokudani will always welcome you, but the remainder of your training will be left in the hands of Hiruzen. Understood?" Lowering his head, Wu reluctantly replied, "Understood..." in a faint, barely audible tone. He didn't feel angry or sad, but the notion that he was about to be leaving his home filled him with reluctance. Misinterpreting Wu's reaction, Hiruzen's wrinkled face softened into a grandfatherly smile as he said, "Worry not, young Wu. We understand this is a lot to ask of you, so you will be allowed to return to Jigokudani on the weekends. Our hope is that, with time, you will come to view both Konoha and Jigokudani as your homes." Since the elderly duo had expressed their willingness to 'compromise,' Wu understood he didn't have room to speak on the matter. Instead, he kept his head down for several seconds before replying, "I understand..." in an even quieter tone. His voice made him sound pitiable, but the truth of the matter was that Wu was already thinking about how he would fit in at his new home, Konohagakure, the Village Hidden in the Leaves... ... .. . After making the rounds to say goodbye to all his friends and several of the Elders, Wu returned to Hiruzen, now sporting a red, diamond-shaped hat with the symbol for 'Fire' blazoned on the front. The hat gave the man a somewhat sagely appearance, so Wu politely cupped his hands and was prepared to bow before Hirzuen stopped him with a gesture, stating, "You are a member of the Sarutobi Clan from this day onward. There is no need for formalities among family." As he had never enjoyed lowering his head to others, Wu didn't hesitate to rise, surprising Hiruzen as he asked, "What should I call you? Grandpa? Father...?" Taken aback by Wu's frankness, Hiruzen coughed to clear his throat, a soft chuckle following as he answered, "Grandpa or Grandfather will do nicely. Now, do you have all your things...?" Nodding his head, Wu showed off the tiny pouch that had been with him since his awakening four years prior. The interior was inscribed with seals that made it several times larger on the inside while reducing the mass of any object placed within to zero. It was only around three cubic meters in size, but that was more than enough to store Wu's few possessions. Though his eyes briefly shimmered when Wu produced his storage pouch, Hiruzen didn't remark on it. Instead, he extended his left hand toward the mysterious and fateful boy and asked, "Shall we depart?" while giving his best, most endearing smile... ... .. .

Chapter 3: Flexing, Just a Bit