I, Your Father, Carry a Big Stick

Though Hiruzen periodically checked in on Wu using his Crystal Ball, an Artifact that allowed him to view anything within the confines of Konoha's barrier, most of the information he had on the boy came from the team of Anbu he had assigned to observe him. There were still a lot of unknowns surrounding Wu's origin, capabilities, and, most importantly, his bloodline, so Hiruzen had teams monitoring the boy 24/7. Reading the report detailing Wu's interaction with Tenten and the fact Ino had also approached him for training, a thoughtful glimmer flashed across Hiruzen's eyes. Wu was an exceptionally astute boy, and though he made an effort to befriend each of his classmates, it was evident he recognized whose friendship mattered the most. "What do you think, Shikaku? I know I've asked you many times before, but I'm interested to hear your opinion about these recent developments." Sitting across from Hiruzen, silently observing the Shogi board between them, was a scar-faced man with sharp, intelligent eyes, black hair, and a neatly manicured goatee. He looked a bit like a rogue, but his unwavering gaze alluded to his fierce intellect. Without removing his eyes from the board, Shikaku replied, "He has the potential, that's for sure. His intellect is unmistakable, and he's exhibited an almost intrinsic ability to influence others. With careful grooming, he could easily be a candidate for the position and title of Hokage. The only problem is..." Completing Shikaku's sentence, Hiruzen mused, "He lacks ambition...most of his efforts are to ensure he won't have responsibility thrust upon him..." Nodding his head, Shikaku mused, "He reminds me of my son. Both have incredible potential, but they would rather do their own thing. Wu-kun is a bit better, as he at least attempts to fit in, but I can see him just 'giving up' if things become too stressful. Right now, he's just being prudent because he feels he hasn't fully integrated into our society." Returning a nod of his own, Hiruzen took a moment to move one of his pieces before replying, "Then it appears we're in agreement...in order to tie Wu to the village, we need to give him a 'reason' to stay, something to motivate him. Any thoughts...?" Moving one of his pieces, Shikaku's expression became serious as he suggested, "I would recommend the girl from the Inuzuka Clan, but she doesn't appear to have a lot of 'value' in Wu-kun's mind. The heiress of the Hyuga Clan would have been a good option, but her infatuation with Naruto-kun complicates things. She 'does' have a younger sister, but the Elders and Lord Hiashi are currently evaluating her as a substitute for her sister..." Continuing the line of discussion, Hiruzen added, "There is also the matter of her age...four years isn't a considerable gap, but Wu-kun's growth has been exponential thus far. By the time young Hanabi comes of age, it may be too late. If Wu-kun believes he can excel outside of the village, he will venture beyond. I'm certain of it." Nodding his head, Shikaku appended, "I get the same impression." before asking, "The problem is, even Ino-chan&mdash;I mean, even the heiress of the Yamanaka Clan has someone she likes. Inoichi-san also dotes on her, so I can't imagine him agreeing to an arranged marriage..." Exhaling a sigh, Hiruzen muttered, "Then it really does just come down to those two, doesn't it? The Hyuga Clan is the only Clan whose values have yet to catch up with the times. If it's to strengthen themselves financially or politically, they will readily approve of such an arrangement..." Asking the obvious question, Shikaku inquired, "And what of the girl from the Inuzuka Clan? I'm not sure she comprehends her own emotions, but she is clearly attached to Wu-kun. If we're aiming to tie him to the village, it might be good to cover every base..." Though he agreed with what Shikaku was suggesting, Hiruzen shook his head, stating, "While that is certainly an option, there is a chance it would have the opposite of the intended effect. Wu-kun exudes a strong, underlying desire for autonomy. If we force him into a corner, he might run away." Exhaling a sigh of his own, Shikaku muttered, "How troublesome...and to think we're discussing an eight-year-old kid..." Adopting a faint smile, Hiruzen mused, "Wu isn't just any child. According to the Grand Elder of the Monkey Clan, Venerable Yama, his fate is tied to the Shinobi World as a whole. Seeing his progress thus far, there is a very real possibility that Wu will become the next God of Shinobi." Exhaling a markedly more exasperated sigh, Shikaku remained silent for several seconds before meeting Hiruzen's gaze and saying, "If he really is going to be the next God of Shinobi, we should slowly begin preparations for war. The other villages will not be able to remain silent once his power begins to blossom..." As much as he hated to admit it, Hiruzen knew Shikaku was correct. The Land of Fire had been at peace for too long, and the surrounding nations had taken notice. The Land of Wind had even started sending requests to Konoha for aid, so tensions with Suuna were on the rise. The only reason a conflict hadn't already started was because their Jinchuriki should only be around 6-10 years old. Reaching up to massage his forehead, Hiruzen groaned, "I'm getting too old for this..." Adding insult to injury, Shikaku unabashedly placed Hiruzen into Tsumi, the Shogi version of checkmate. Then, even though he doubted things would go smoothly, he rose to his feet and said, "I'll talk to Inoichi and see if he can't talk some sense into his daughter. As for the matter of your age...well, there's always Lady Tsunade and Jiraiya-san. I can't imagine either volunteering for the position, but it's worth reaching out to them to touch base. And, who knows? Maybe our little monkey friend has a thing for older women. The Senju Clan could certainly use a successor..." Recovering from his loss, Hiruzen gained a sly smile as he replied, "I'll reach out to them and see what I can do. Just don't let Tsunade catch you making suggestions like that. I know you want to retire, but I'd rather not have to find a replacement for my Jonin Commander during the build-up to a war..." Returning a smile of his own, Shikaku replied, "Obviously...I don't have a death wish." Then, as he was technically off the clock, he gave a parting wave to Hiruzen before leaving the elderly man to ruminate over the Shogi board... ... .. . With Ino's father refusing to let her spend the afternoon at a boy's house, even if said boy lived with the Hokage, Wu's week passed largely without incident. Hinata and Sakura were making steady progress in their training, and while Kaia had yet to master sticking to the log, she had some minor success emulating Wu's weight training. He had her start off with a mere 10kg on each limb, and after discussing it with Hiruzen, he had a weighted vest made to order for her tiny frame. Though it was strictly to help with her training, Kaia treated the 40kg vest as if it were a treasure Wu had fought through hell to acquire, specifically for her. She wore it everywhere she went, and while Wu considered this a good thing, it became an issue when Kaia collapsed from heat stroke. She had a habit of wearing baggy clothes, so the additional weight pushed the 21kg girl over the edge. Fortunately, while his name came up in the conversation, Wu wasn't held accountable for Kaia's collapse. She had willfully worn the vest and even received permission from her parents to do so. As a result, Wu managed to evade responsibility while Kaia was forced to choose between her vest and her baggy clothes. She unhesitantly chose the former, so while she still had a boyish appearance, Kaia began showing up to class in lighter, marginally more feminine clothes. Irrespective of the incident's outcome, Wu was just happy to reach the weekend. Having his afternoons occupied by a group of girls was a lot more stressful than he expected, so, while he wasn't particularly looking forward to meeting up with Tenten, he was eager to see if her father was even half the Blacksmith she purported him to be... Upon reaching his destination, a decently sized shop near the outskirts of the village, Wu's first impression was that Tenten's story had, at the very least, some merit to it. Land within Konoha was costly, so unless you were a member of the founding clans or possessed outstanding skills, leasing a large plot was impossible. Interrupting Wu's thoughts, Tenten emerged from the interior of the shop wearing a red, sleeveless qipao, maroon pants, and boots that appeared to have a metal cap covering the toe. There were smudges of black soot on her face and clothes, but she had a vibrant smile as she shouted, "Wu-kun, you actually came! Come on in! My parents can't wait to meet you~!" Adopting an amiable but significantly less enthusiastic smile, Wu replied, "I'm also looking forward to meeting them." before allowing himself to be dragged into the storefront. Unlike Sakura, Tenten was more than happy to bring a boy into her home, exclaiming, "Kaa-chan! Tou-san! Wu-kun's here~!" the moment they entered the shop. Exhibiting a remarkable resemblance to her daughter, Tenten's mom was a fairly attractive woman with almond-shaped eyes, delicate brows, and brown hair fastened into a neat bun. She wore a salmon-pink qipao that gave her an air of elegance, and, despite her thin arms and gentle smile, Wu felt the hair on his neck stand on end when their eyes met. Noticing Wu's body tense, Tenten's mother covered her mouth, stifling an amused chuckle before narrowing her eyes and saying, "It's nice to meet you, Wu-chan. As you no doubt have guessed, I'm Tenten's mother, Liling. I appreciate your coming by to visit our shop. I almost couldn't believe my ears when Tenten informed us she had invited a boy over." While still holding onto Wu's hand, Tenten puffed out her chest, saying, "I told you he was real. Now you owe us both an ice cream, Kaa-chan." Cupping her cheek, Liling smiled affectionately at her daughter's antics. However, before she could head off to the kitchen to get the two children some ice cream, her husband entered from the back room with a 'fierce' look on his rugged, fire-hardened face. Standing at 190cm tall and possessing a physique sculpted over two decades of forging, Tenten's father was a mountain of a man compared to the average person. His wild brown hair and piercing brown eyes gave him the same kind of untamed aura that Wu possessed. Despite this, the latter was certain he could take the man in a fight. After all, his Chakra reserves were even weaker than most Academy students. Fortunately for Tenten's father, his comparably dainty-looking wife was more than intimidating enough for the both of them. The notion that she could maintain her smile even while covered in the blood of her enemies was firmly imprinted into Wu's mind. Backed by his wife's aura, Tenten's father crossed his muscular arms, his voice deep and gruff as he narrowed his eyes and remarked, "So you're the boy my daughter's been chattering about all week..." Exhibiting none of the fear he was secretly enduring, Wu adopted a smile and replied, "If I had to guess, there's a fair chance that's the case. It's nice to meet you, Sir." Expecting the man to continue trying to intimidate him, Wu was surprised when Tenten's father suddenly beamed, a hearty chuckle emanating from his throat. Then, as if the atmosphere had suddenly changed, he wiped a tear from his eye and whispered, "My little girl is growing up..." Before Wu could recover from his shock, the atmosphere within the shop changed a third time, a massive grin developing across the man's face as he shouted, "Welcome to the Higurashi Weapon Shop! As Tenten's first male friend, you can rely on me, Higurashi Saizo, for all your weapon and maintenance needs...!" ... .. .

With the initial introductions out of the way, Wu was given the unique opportunity to witness Saizo's forging process. Customers were typically forbidden from entering his smithy, but Saizo had been in the process of instructing Tenten on the basics of Blacksmithing. She had a passion for the art, so while he hadn't planned for her to follow in his footsteps, Saizo couldn't refuse his daughter's desire to learn. Compared to her father, Tenten's craftmanship could only be described as terrible. However, considering she was only nine years old, turning ten in a few months, that wasn't particularly surprising. Saizo had developed his craft over twenty-seven years, so the dango-haired girl still had a ways to go and much to learn. Fortunately, her ability to use Chakra gave her quite the advantage as, despite her young age, she had no problems handling a hammer or working the forge's bellows. She even considered them a form of training, the 'correct' mentality, from Wu's perspective. The only problem with Tenten's passion for forging, weapons, and Shinobi tool production, at least according to her parents, was that she prioritized it over things like making friends. She had brought over others before Wu, but they couldn't appreciate Tenten's passions nor her desires to become as powerful as her two role models, Senju Tsunade and her mother, Liling. Most children were content with playing around and enjoying their youths, so outliers like Tenten ultimately found themselves ostracized or forced to compromise just to fit in. Instead of giving in to peer pressure, Tenten chose the 'correct' path by focusing even more on her passions. She did start to look down on some of the other children, especially girls her age, but, unlike Tenten's parents, Wu didn't see any issues with this. In his mind, the exceptionally should not be shackled by the mediocre, so if Tenten's classmates weren't willing to make an effort, they 'deserved' her derision. While Wu didn't express his opinions aloud, it was clear to both Liling and Saizo that there was a bit of chemistry between him and their daughter. Perhaps it was not in the romantic sense, but it was apparent to them that Wu appreciated their daughter's efforts. Thus, when it came time for Wu's scheduled departure, the duo insisted he stay for lunch, accompanied by the promised ice cream. As fate would have it, Wu really liked ice cream. ... .. . With nothing else planned for the day, Wu meandered through the streets of Konoha, memorizing the layout of the buildings and taking note of their inhabitants as he made his way back to the Sarutobi Estate. Though it had been a few months since his arrival in Konoha, Wu still didn't understand the purpose of gathering together so many people in one place. The average person was weak and lacked the will to improve themselves, so it seemed like a tremendous waste of resources to gather them together in the name of 'prosperity.' How could a society be viewed as 'prosperous' if the majority of its members leeched off the efforts of a few, extraordinary people? What was the point of anything if the mundane continued to propagate in peace while the competent succumbed to the burden of their 'expectations' and 'responsibilities?' Recalling the nightmare he had a few days prior, Wu wondered if he, too, would one day find himself shackled by mediocrity. The girls around him were trying to improve, but Wu could easily imagine them squandering it all the moment they achieved their initial goal. The truly exceptional did not need a penultimate goal to aspire toward. They improved themselves because self-mastery was the most worthwhile of all pursuits, vesting the pursuant with infinite opportunities for further growth... Interrupting Wu's contemplative reverie, the former noticed an elderly woman carrying a wicker basket filled with fruits and vegetables, a kind smile on her face. Wu generally wouldn't bat an eye at someone clearly in the twilight years of their life, but this granny stood out like a sore thumb due to the form of another person overlapping her. To the people around her, she appeared like any other old lady, but in the eyes of Wu, she was a young woman doing her best to blend in. Having witnessed an identical phenomenon when Kurenai attempted to surprise him with the Transformation Jutsu, a technique that allowed the user to transform into people, animals, and even inanimate objects, Wu immediately narrowed his eyes in suspicion. He was fairly used to seeing older women pretending to be young, but this was the first time he was witnessing a young woman pretending to be decrepitly old... Though a Shinobi in his position might have tried to detain the woman for questioning, Wu simply observed her for a few seconds before returning to his musings. He was technically a resident of Konoha, but ousting spies was the duty of Konoha's Detection Division and Barrier Team. There was a good chance both groups were monitoring the woman, so apprehending her risked jeopardizing an ongoing investigation... ... .. . Seeing Wu briefly observing their target before going about his business, a man wearing a cat-like mask and a beige cloak muttered, "He really is a perceptive boy, isn't he?" Responding to the man's words, another, wearing a dog mask, nodded his head and mused, "It's almost uncanny. The real question is, why didn't he make a scene? He clearly noticed our target..." Shaking his head, the man wearing a cat mask replied, "Who knows? Just include it in the report to Lord Hokage. If he deems it worth looking into, the teams observing that boy will take action." Offering a curt nod, the man wearing a dog mask abruptly vanished from his position. He hadn't explicitly been given an order, but matters related to the security of Konoha were to be reported upon as soon as possible... ... .. . As Wu neared his destination, the region of Konoha where most of the wealthier clans were located, he was stopped by the appearance of a familiar girl with short, platinum blonde hair, teal eyes, and a naturally haughty expression. He immediately recognized the girl as Ino. What surprised him was the fact she was wearing a muted green tank top that exposed her abdomen, form-fitting white shorts, leggings, and a pair of high-quality Shinobi sandals. A stark contrast to her usual, excessively girly attire. Failing to notice Wu's presence, as she had grown complacent after several hours of waiting, Ino was equally oblivious to the fact that her quarry had immediately turned around and made a detour. Wu could guess what she wanted based on her outfit, and he had absolutely no intention of wasting the remainder of his weekend pandering to some wannabe princess. After entering the Sarutobi Estate from the back entrance, typically reserved for servants and branch members of the Sarutobi Clan, Wu immediately made his way over to his usual training area. Because of his arrangements with Naruto, Kiba, Choji, and even Shikamaru, this was the last weekend he had to himself for the foreseeable future. Thus, even if it was for a day and a half, Wu intended to make the most of his remaining time alone... ... .. . With the weekend passing in the blink of an eye, Wu found his path to school blocked by the same blonde he had avoided two days prior. Wu had actually anticipated this, but Ino's outfit, once again, caught him off guard, as she was now wearing a red t-shirt under a white tank top, dark blue shorts, purple leggings, and a completely different pair of expensive sandals. It gave her a somewhat boyish appearance, but it also exhibited at least a budding desire to 'get serious.' Without beating around the bush, Ino, standing with her arms crossed and a clearly annoyed expression on her face, asked, "Where were you on Saturday? I waited for six hours outside the Hokage's mansion, and you never showed up. Didn't you say you were free in the afternoon?" Instead of refuting Ino's words or making excuses, Wu nodded his head, admitting, "I was. However, I don't recall making arrangements with you, so why did you wait for six hours?" "You...!" Raising her right fist, Ino 'really' wanted to punch Wu but ultimately reined in her anger. It was easier for her Ego to assume Wu simply hadn't known she was waiting than to accept that he might have avoided her, so, after a moment of silence, she revealed, "My Tou-san finally gave his permission. I wanted to surprise you last Saturday, but I guess you'll have to wait until this afternoon to see what I'm capable of." Adopting a faint smile, Wu replied, "So it would appear..." before quickly adding, "Nice outfit, by the way. It's a marked improvement over those dresses and skirts you wore previously." Though she had secretly been expecting one, Ino was slightly surprised by Wu's abrupt compliment. If she was being completely honest, she felt a little insecure wearing such 'casual' clothing, but, after a lot of thinking, she realized that the opinion of her 'friends' didn't matter nearly as much as she pretended they did. Only nine graduates per year were permitted to become fully-fledged Genin out of the gate, so, with several other heirs and heiresses in her class, it wasn't difficult to guess which nine would be chosen. If not for her inordinate effort, even Sakura would be passed over for someone like Kaia... Upon realizing that her 'friends' would no longer remain as such once she graduated, Ino began looking even further into her future. The traditions of their Clans dictated that she would inevitably be teamed up with Choji and Shikamaru, forming the infamous Ino-Shika-Cho Formation. Hinata, Shino, and Kiba were virtually guaranteed to form another team, so, by process of elimination, the final squad would consist of Wu, Sasuke, and Sakura. Kaia might replace the latter, but Ino doubted it as Kaia was the next in line to oversee the Inuzuka Clan's kennels. Not wanting to lose out to Sakura, of all people, Ino's teal eyes exuded an intensity that hadn't been present previously as she smiled in response to Wu's compliment. The latter immediately noticed this, his smile becoming marginally more sincere as he mused, "It appears your outfit isn't the only thing that's changed..." Though she felt gratified by Wu's remark, Ino snorted in response, retorting, "Why do you know?" before turning around as if she was going to walk away. Instead, she waited for a few moments before looking back and asking, "Why are you just standing there? We're going to be late if you don't get your act together." Resisting the urge to take off running, leaving the temperamental blonde in his dust, Wu just smiled before falling into step with the beaming brat. She seemed pleased by the fact he was listening to her, but the truth of the matter was that Wu simply couldn't be bothered to antagonize her... ... .. . (A/N: Since a lot of people have been asking, I've decided to explain my thoughts on the matter. You see, not even I know who will be in the harem, as I never limit my stories to what I 'want' or 'expect' to happen. Most of my stories focus on the characters, the world around them, and how their actions shape the plot. In other words, Wu could end up with just about any heroine, as, if you haven't noticed, he doesn't really care about any of them. He isn't aiming for anyone, so the only way someone can end up in his harem is if they actively pursue him or if they are placed there due to developments within the plot. It's that simple.)

While 'escorting' Wu to the temporary clinic, Tenten couldn't contain her curiosity, asking, "Is it true you're the grandson of Lord Hokage? And can you really deflect kunai with your face!?" Maintaining a half-lidded expression, Wu lazily replied, "Technically, and yes..." "Huh...?" Tilting her head to the side, Tenten was curious what Wu meant when he said 'technically,' but decided to focus on the far more interesting matter, remarking, "Your skin must be pretty durable. Or is it just your face...?" Shaking his head, Wu answered, "Nope. With the exception of my eyes, I can harden my entire body. The only downside is that I can't move freely while using the technique." Though her eyes sparkled with curiosity, Tenten forcibly calmed herself, asking, "Is it okay for you to be telling me that? Such a big weakness, you should probably keep it a secret." Snorting through his nose, Wu retorted, "If I couldn't work around such a 'simple' weakness, I wouldn't be much of a warrior, much less a Shinobi..." Spurred by Wu's confidence, Tenten regained her smile, remarking, "Well, you should be careful. Your face might hold up against ordinary weapons, but the tools forged by my Tou-san will cut through you like butter...!" "Hmmm...?" Hearing Tenten indicate that her father was a Blacksmith, Wu's impression of the dango-haired girl improved, albeit marginally. He had come to learn that tools and weaponry were incredibly expensive, not just to acquire but to maintain. By that logic, Tenten's family should be fairly wealthy, even if her distinct lack of a surname implied otherwise. Catching the slightly taller girl by surprise, Wu gave her a quick once over, evaluating the condition and quality of her clothes. She didn't blush, but her expression became somewhat bashful as she half-turned away from him and asked, "What is it? Why are you staring at me like that?" Instead of making excuses, Wu openly admitted, "I thought you might be wealthy if your father was a famous Blacksmith, but your clothes are fairly modest." Furrowing her brows, Tenten puffed out her cheeks as she asked, "What are you trying to imply? That my Tou-san 'isn't' a great Blacksmith? I'll have you know that our shop serves several famous Jonin and has even been visited by Lord Hokage himself! What do you think of that, huh!?" Resisting the urge to point out that Hiruzen visited most of the civilian-owned businesses, presumably to make them feel valued, Wu pacified the moderately incensed brat by raising his brows and remarking, "Wow. Even the Hokage visits your shop? I'll need to check it the next time I'm looking to purchase tools or equipment." Grinning wide enough to reveal a few missing teeth, Tenten puffed out her chest with pride, stating, "It's good that you've realized just how amazing my Tou-san is! After all, he was able to my Kaa-san, and she used to be a Jonin!" Adding an imaginary +1 to Tenten's value, Wu was almost genuine as he remarked, "Wow, you have a pretty amazing background, don't you? You must be at the top of your year." Puffing out her chest even further, Tenten was all smiles as she replied, "That's right~! I might not be as Neji-san when it comes to Taijutsu, but I'm the best when it comes to academics, Shurikenjutsu, and Bukijutsu. After all, I'm the Kunoichi that will one day surpass Tsunade-sama, one of the Legendary Sannin...!" "Hooo...?" As most of the girls in his grade were pretty much useless, Wu was fairly impressed by Tenten's ambition. She kind of reminded him of Naruto, but she clearly had a much better head on her shoulders. Catching the slightly older girl by surprise, Wu adopted his most sincere and charismatic smile as he asserted, "Keep that attitude, and it's only a matter of time until you succeed. It's a shame we're not in the same year. We would have gotten along." Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Tenten averted her eyes from Wu's, a faint blush coloring her cheeks as she said, "We're only a year apart...if you really want to, we can still be friends. I can't give you any discounts on ninja tools, but my Tou-san might help you with maintenance..." As it was actually Tenten's parents that Wu was interested in, the latter was pleased by the 'sensibility' of the young girl's proposal. He was also curious to see if her claims had merit, so his expression softened slightly as he replied, "I'd like that..." Faced with Wu's charismatic smile and 'sincere' expression, Tenten found herself swallowing a knot that had formed in her throat. She wasn't really interested in things like love and romance, but Wu was giving her second thoughts on the matter. At the very least, Wu gave her the impression that spending time with him wouldn't be a waste... ... .. . After promising to stop by Tenten's family-owned shop that weekend, Wu parted ways with the dango-haired dame and spent the remainder of the morning napping in the infirmary. Afterward, he met up with Naruto, Kaia, and Hinata at their usual table. This time, however, Ino and Sakura were also present. With her patented pouty expression on her face, Ino 'glared' at Wu as she asked, "Why didn't you tell me you were leading private training sessions at the Hokage's estate, Wu-kun? Don't tell me you're trying to give Sakura an advantage over the rest of us?" Furrowing his brows, Wu retorted, "Are you listening to yourself? I'm not 'giving' Sakura an advantage. She's making an earnest effort to improve herself. No one is stopping you from doing the same." Interrupting before Ino could blow a gasket, Naruto inserted himself into the conversation, questioning, "Huh? Since when are Wu and Sakura-chan training together?" As it wasn't really a secret, Wu revealed, "When everyone started leaving our study group, I decided to return to my usual training. Sakura, Hinata, and Kaia all asked if they could join in, so, after receiving permission from their parents, they all came over to my&mdash;I mean, the Hokage's place." Appearing visibly relieved, Naruto exhaled a faint sigh before regaining his usual smile and asking, "Can the rest of us come over? I don't know about Shikamaru, but Kiba and Choji might want to join in." Shrugging his shoulders, Wu was about to say he didn't really care, but his response was interrupted by Sakura asserting, "No. If the three of you were to come over, you'd only get in the way. We're not going over to Lord Hokage's house to play around, Naruto-kun." Though Sakura's words were unnecessarily abrasive, they hit fairly close to home. Naruto's presence would undermine Hinata's progress, and the inclusion of several boys would inevitably shift the training's focus away from them. She also knew that Naruto would badger her incessantly if he were to join them, so she 'had' to put her foot down. Feeling cowed by Sakura's intensity, the smile on Naruto's face became visibly strained. He would be lying if he said he hadn't wanted to go over and have some fun, so he ultimately remained silent and just endured his crush's ire. Hinata attempted to speak up for him, but then it was her turn to endure as Naruto promptly assured her everything was okay and that he was actually pretty busy in the afternoons. With Naruto unwilling to stand up for himself, Wu saw no reason to speak out in his defense. He did, however, suggest, "I'm busy this Saturday, but if you want, we can start meeting up on the weekends. Just us guys." Though he would have preferred to have Sakura tag along, Naruto's smile regained its vigor as he replied, "Sounds good, Wu! I'll let the guys know, and we can meet over at Choji's place! The food his family makes isn't as great as Teuchi-Ojiisan's, but it's still super delicious...!" Nodding his head in approval, Wu was about to say, "Sounds good." when Ino reintroduced herself to the exchange, asking, "Hey, Wu-kun. Is it okay for me and the other girls to come over after school? If Sakura-chan believes she can sneak an advantage behind our backs, she has another thing coming!" Earning a disproving stare from a certain pinkette, Wu responded with a noncommital shrug, answering, "If your parents are fine with it. Sure, why not? Just make sure you show up with the intent to train seriously. Anyone who gets in the way of the group's progress will be disbarred from future training sessions. Adopting a triumphant grin, Ino pumped her fists and said, "No worries! If it's a contest to determine who's the best suited for Sasuke-kun, I'll prove to everyone that I'm the number one candidate! Just you wait and see! I'll knock your socks off...!" Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Wu repeated the same words he had said to Sasuke weeks prior, "Seeing is believing. Last more than a month, and I'll remove them myself." Believing Wu was underestimating her, Ino's expression became serious as she asked, "What, you think I'll give up? Sakura may be better than me when it comes to studies, but I'm the best in our grade when it comes to our skills as a Kunoichi. I just don't like getting my clothes dirty." Instead of denying Ino's claim, Wu suggested, "Then make sure not to show up for our training in brand-name clothing. Lord Hokage may have told me to take it easy on you, but you're guaranteed to get sweaty and covered in dirt. That's what happens when you genuinely exert yourself." With her frown deepening, Ino seriously reconsidered her decision to attend Wu's training. However, as if Sasuke seemed to go to him to trade information, she believed his training had to be effective. It wasn't for no reason that people speculated that Wu was the best student in the entire Academy. Many believed he was receiving specialized training from Lord Hokage himself, so, if nothing else, Ino wanted to confirm it for herself... Forming her resolve, Ino's expression and tone were serious as she said, "I won't quit...that is, assuming your training isn't just a complete waste of my time..." Adopting a snarky smile, Wu countered, asserting, "There's no such thing as wasted time, just wasted 'potential.' Even without my help, you, Sakura, and everyone else could become strong. You just lack the willpower to do it without someone lighting a fire under your ass." Blushing slightly due to Wu's uncouth words, Ino wanted to retort but was interrupted by Naruto laughing loudly and repeating, "Hahahaha, Wu said ass! That's hilarious...!" Though Wu had said it first, Ino and Sakura gave Naruto a withering stare. When Wu used such language, it almost sounded natural. When someone like Naruto used the exact same language, it came across as childish and annoying. His incessant giggling didn't help... ... .. . With Ino needing her parents' permission before she could join them, Wu returned to the Sarutobi Estate with Kaia, Sakura, and Hinata in tow. The latter was in low spirits after Sakura declined to let Naruto join them, but she showed up regardless. When she returned home the previous day, her Tou-san asked her to demonstrate what she had learned before informing her that she would continue attending Wu's lessons. In other words, she no longer had a choice in the matter... Though Wu noticed the state Hinata was in, he didn't force her to disclose the reason. Instead, he allowed Sakura to believe she was at fault, hoping it would form a rift in the group that eventually led to its dissolution. Until then, he would continue training the girls seriously. After all, there were 'a lot' of eyes on him... ... .. .

Chapter 16: Internal Affairs