I, Your Father, Carry a Big Stick

Following Wu's 'pep talk,' Sakura and Ino began putting much more effort into their training. Their effort couldn't compare to Hinata's, who managed to get on speaking terms with Naruto after around seven months, but Wu wasn't complaining. The trio had become more open and honest with both themselves and Wu, so his job as their instructor and apparent 'confidant' had become significantly easier. They would sometimes come to him with problems they were facing at home or with other people, but, as children, most of their issues could be resolved with simple compliments or words of support. On a markedly more positive note, Tenten's father, Saizo, had relented to permitting Wu to learn the basics of forging. However, instead of teaching him directly, the muscular man left the explanations and demonstrations to his daughter. This allowed him to confirm that his daughter had taken his lessons to heart but, more importantly, ensured that the two spent a fair amount of time together. While Wu could see through the intentions of Tenten's parents, especially after the stunt pulled by Hiruzen, he didn't particularly mind. Teten was a decent option if he ever actually cared about acquiring a spouse. She was smart, high-spirited, fairly attractive, and, most importantly, earnest when it came to improving herself. She was also proficient in bojutsu and a host of other weapon arts, so Wu could actually learn from her while helping to actualize her dream of being a capable Kunoichi. If there was one thing that annoyed Wu about Tenten's character, it was her penchant for 'doting' on him. He had proven himself superior to her in almost every way, but because she was a little over a year older than him, she acted like he was a little brother that needed her care. She frequently fretted over his appearance, making regular remarks about the clothes he wore, how he should style his hair, and how he should act if he wanted to impress the 'ladies.' Simply put, she was an idiot. Clever, but irredeemably dense... ... .. . With the Academy going on break for two months, permitting students a much-needed vacation, Wu was looking forward to making up for the ten months he had 'squandered' playing a student. He had used the fact they were going on vacation as an excuse to give the girls a chance to improve on their own, and, as an extra precaution, he planned to spend the entire break at Jigokudani. He hadn't returned a single weekend since his arrival in Konoha, so while Hiruzen had attempted to convince him to spend the vacation playing with his 'friends' and visiting their families, Wu forced the man to send him back. Needless to say, Wu's seven weeks in Jigokudani were more productive than the forty-six he spent in Konoha. Old man Enma and the remaining Monkey Clan Elders viewed Wu as one of their own, so when he appealed to them for assistance, Enma agreed to oversee his training personally. In exchange, Wu had to pledge he would remain an ally to the Sarutobi Clan, not because they were worried he would betray Hiruzen, but because the Monkey Clan had forged an ancient pact to that effect. In other words, if he wanted to inherit their techniques and receive their aid as an extended member of the Monkey Clan, he had to abide by their traditions. Since it wasn't like he had any intention of betraying Hiruzen, someone who would die of his own accord in a decade or two, Wu had no problem agreeing to Enma's terms. He had a fair amount of respect for the elderly monkey, and, as annoying as Hiruzen was, Wu didn't hate him. He might not be willing to fight and die to preserve the Clan's honor, but the name 'Sarutobi Wu' had grown on him... ... .. . &lt;Three Years Later&gt; From his seat at the back of the classroom, allowing him to observe the entire class, Wu couldn't help admiring his handiwork, a triumphant grin adorning his ruggedly handsome but still youthful face. Sakura and Ino flanked Sasuke at the same table, Hinata and Naruto chatted happily in one of the aisles, and Kaia slumbered peacefully at his side. The latter somehow appeared even more boyish than she did as a prepubescent brat, but Wu didn't care in the slightest as her appearance didn't detract from her usefulness as a subordinate. As if she could sense Wu's thoughts, Kaia stirred awake, shamelessly wiping away the drool from her mouth before asking, "Did you need me for something, Aniki?" Shaking his head, Wu maintained his smile as he replied, "I was marveling at how much everyone has changed since my first day at the Academy. If I didn't know we could meet whenever we pleased, I would grieve at the notion our days at the Academy have reached their end..." Adopting a toothy grin, Kaia reached up to thumb the headband that now protected her forehead. A similar headband rested on the heads of nearly everyone present, the only exceptions being people like Ino and Sakura, who, like many of the girls, elected to wear the band like a belt. Before the conversation between Wu and Kaia could continue, the entire class fell silent as their scar-faced instructor, Umino Iruka, entered the classroom and made his way to the central podium. The clipboard in his hands drew the gazes of nearly everyone present as, now that they had all graduated, they would soon be learning which 'team' they belonged to. Though virtually everyone would have preferred if he got straight to the point, Iruka was famous for being the most earnest yet overly sentimental instructor at the Academy. When he reached his position at the podium, a proud smile adorned his face as he said, "First of all, let me congratulate each of you for a job well done. While there may have been differences in the way each of you performed, it doesn't change the fact that, from this moment onward, you are all fully-fledged Shinobi of Konoha. Take pride in that fact, no matter what your future holds." Finished with his speech, Iruka stared down at the clipboard in his hands and began announcing the team distribution. To the surprise of absolutely no one, Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji each ended up on one team. What 'did' surprise the class was that Naruto had been placed on the same team as Sasuke and Sakura. The blonde-haired youth had the third-highest scores in the class when it came to physicality, but his lazy demeanor and lack of focus in every other class had him ranked 26 out of 27 students. He was also dating one of the Academy's 'Three Goddesses,' so nearly every male in the class resented him. Earning even more ire for himself, Naruto loudly groaned, "Aww, man. And I really wanted to be on the same Team as Hinata-chan..." Disproving of Naruto's outburst, Iruka's expression hardened as he said, "These Teams were carefully decided during a conference with Lord Third himself. No complaining." Rolling his eyes, Naruto turned his attention to Hinata, whispering, "We can still meet between missions. Do you think your father will let me come over to your place...?" Seeing Naruto brazenly carrying on a discussion in the middle of class, even if they were no longer students, Iruka's left eye twitched. He was half tempted to grab the boy by the ear and take him outside, but, as that wouldn't be fair to the other students waiting to hear the teams they were assigned to, he begrudgingly returned to reading the list. Following the pairing of Hinata, Shino, and Kiba, several other teams were called until the only people remaining were Wu, Kaia, and the only person ranked lower than Naruto, an overweight boy with messy brown hair and a pig-like face named Kazuo. His mother was one of the Chairwomen of the Civilian Council, so even though he underperformed in every subject, he had a chip on his shoulder. At the very least, there were a ton of crumbs... Hearing that he was on the same team as the Academy's 'Little Professor,' Kazuo's expression became gloomy as he bellowed, "Why did I get put on the same team as that monster and his pet!? This is discrimination against the students from civilian households...!" Narrowing his eyes, Iruka explained, "You are no longer a civilian, nor are you a student, Genin Kazuo. These Teams were decided and approved by the Third Hokage, our Commander-in-Chief, and the leader of our village, Konohagakure. From the moment you were given that forehead protector, you became a 'soldier' of the village. If you deliberately disobey orders, it isn't just you who will be held accountable..." Though he was ordinarily a very kind and cordial person, Iruka wanted to make it clear to everyone present that they were no longer children. Being a Shinobi meant following orders and risking your life to ensure the peace and stability of the village. If a low-ranking Genin could speak out of turn or refuse assignments given to them by their 'most-superior' officer, the system supporting their village would collapse, and their enemies would show them no mercy. Cowed by the intensity of Iruka's words and gaze, Kazuo shrunk into his seat and swallowed his argument. He planned to complain to his mother the first chance he got, but that would have to wait until he got home. For now, he was stuck in the same group as the 'brat' he resented more than any other... ... .. . While Kazuo dripped with more sweat than a leaky radiator, Wu and Kaia were comparably calm and relaxed as they sat in front of the elderly man that had been assigned as their Jonin Sensei. After all, the former lived in the same house with the man, and the latter had encountered him dozens of times over the past four years. Noticing Kazuo's nervousness, Hiruzen exhaled an amused chuckle and asked, "What's the matter, my boy? I may be old, but you look like you've just seen a ghost." Feeling even more nervous, Kazuo was wholly incapable of responding to Hiruzen's words. He had never once imagined, not even in his wildest and most delusional fantasies, that he would end up on the Team of the Third Hokage. The man was a living legend in the Shinobi World, and one of the only two people Kazuo's Kaa-chan feared to ridicule, even behind closed doors... Exhaling through his nose, Hiruzen decided to allow Kazuo to collect himself, turning to Wu as he said, "For now, let's have everyone introduce themselves, their dreams, and their hobbies. I'll start off..." Clearing his throat, a mischievous smile developed across Hirzuen's face as he appended, "My name is Sarutobi Hiruzen. You may refer to me as Sarutobi-sensei from this moment onward. My dream is to ensure Konoha remains a fixture of the Shinobi World into the far future, a haven for those who carry the 'Will of Fire.' My hobbies are...let's just say I enjoy reading a particular series written by one of my students. Hohohoho~" Since Hiruzen was staring at him as he spoke, Wu understood it was his turn to go next, stating, "The name's Wu, Sarutobi Wu. My dream is to be the strongest in the world. My hobbies are training, beating sense into my so-called peers, and opening up tabs in Jiji's name." Wincing at Wu's final remark, Hiruzen resisted the urge to ask where his adoptive grandson had opened a tab 'this' time. He didn't regret giving Wu permission to do so, but some of the items the boy ordered were... Shaking his head, Hiruzen directed his attention to Kaia, prompting her to shout, "My name is Kaia! I'm a member of the Inzuka Clan, and my dream is to be the greatest Kennel Master in the village! My hobbies are training, eating, sleeping, and spending time with my Aniki!" Nodding his head in approval, Hiruzen remarked, "You're certainly not lacking in spirit." before shifting his attention to Kazuo. In response, the boy swallowed audibly before meekly stammering, "M-m-m-my name is Kazuo. I...my dream is to create a Clan of my own someday. My hobbies are..." As his only real hobbies were eating and cooking, in that order, Kazuo couldn't bring himself to continue. He knew he was the odd one out in the group, so the confidence he usually presented in front of others was now nowhere to be seen. If not for the fact his cheeks pushed up, somewhat obscuring his brown eyes, everyone present would have been able to see tears forming at the edges... ... .. .

Following the introductions, Hiruzen's expression became marginally more serious as he said, "Now, as for your duties as Genin of the Leaf. It should be quite obvious, but I'm long past my prime as the God of Shinobi. There is also the matter of my responsibilities as Hokage, so I don't have time to accompany you for training or oversee your missions outside the village..." Though Wu and Kaia listened patiently, Kazuo couldn't help asking, "Then how will we improve? H-How will we advance to Jonin...?" Unbothered by the interruption, Hiruzen waited for Kazuo to finish before explaining, "The three of you have been given a rather unique opportunity. Instead of requiring you to undergo various evaluations to determine your capabilities, I am allowing you to pick and choose which organizational branch of the Shinobi Forces you would like to become a member of. Be it the Medical Squadron, the Aviculture Department, the Survey Corps, the Cryptoanalysis Team, or even the ANBU Black Ops. If you think you have what it takes, I will arrange for you to receive specialized training in your chosen field..." Shifting his gaze to Kaia, Hiruzen added, "Or, if you would prefer, you can focus on the duties assigned to you by your Clan. Just keep in mind that our Team will meet at the end of each month so that I may evaluate your progress. If your results are satisfactory, I will teach you any Jutsu in my repertoire, starting from the lower ranks and working your way up." Hearing that she would be able to remain in your Clan and focus on her studies as a Kennel Master, Kaia's smile threatened to tear the muscles of her face. She had improved considerably over the past four years, but she knew better than anyone that she would only get in Wu's way. His senses were better than hers, and everything from his speed, power, and intellect were in a league of their own. Thus, even though she really liked spending time with him, Kaia was relieved to hear she wouldn't be holding Wu back. If he came to hate or resent her because of her ineptitude, she wouldn't know what to do... Contrasting Kaia's glee, Kazuo's expression was one of shock, confusion, and a trace of fear. The part about being able to join any department he wanted was incredible news. However, if they were to be evaluated at the end of each month, he knew he wouldn't be able to compare to a monster like Wu. Even if he lost 60kgs and tried his absolute best, he would always be in the shadow of his two 'team' members... As if seeing through Kazuo's thoughts, Hiruzen's expression softened as he said, "Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. Being the best at something isn't as important as 'doing' your best. So long as they make an effort, anyone can become a great Shinobi. To that end, the three of you have my full support." Feeling marginally less anxious, Kazuo nodded his head and replied, "I'll do my best..." in an uncharacteristically meek tone. He had no idea which department he wanted to enter, but having the Hokage's backing would make it much easier to achieve his dream. If he could accomplish that, he wouldn't care even if Wu became the next Hokage... ... .. . With Hiruzen giving them a week to make their decisions, Kaia and Kazuo returned to their homes while Wu joined the elderly man in his study. The moment they entered, Hiruzen immediately removed his hat, an indicator that everything they discussed would be kept between them. As Wu sat across from him, Hiruzen's silvery-grey eyes glimmered with a hint of expectation. It was a little vain of him, but he saw much of himself and a hint of the Second Hokage within his grandson. He still wasn't sure what the future held, but he believed Wu would be the Keeper of the Will of Fire moving forward... After making himself comfortable, Wu initiated the conversation, stating, "I've graduated. According to you, this was when my 'official' training was supposed to begin. So tell me, Jiji, what 'mischief' have you prepared for me this time?" Exhaling a light chuckle, Hiruzen took a moment to caress his thinning but still-pointy beard before revealing, "The next Chunin Exams are scheduled to take place in Konoha, officially beginning on June 6th. I intended you to make your debut there, but there have been stirrings along the borders as of late. Your...abilities make you especially suited to slipping in and out of places undetected. As such, I intend to employ you to Kumo and possibly Suuna on a special, off-the-books assignment..." As his interest in the other villages had increased considerably over the past few years, Wu's usually golden eyes gained a fiery hue as he said, "Now you're speaking my language. Let me guess, you want me to gather information on the teams participating in the Chunin Exams? Maybe mess up a few of their missions to undermine the trust between the villages and their respective Daimyo...?" Unable to contain himself, Hiruzen burst out laughing. He could easily imagine Wu running rampant in other countries, and because he didn't care about money, the village wouldn't have to fork over a small fortune to incentivize him. Hiruzen just needed to give Wu a bit of freedom, and the Kage of enemy villages were bound to shed tears or cough blood. After regaining his composure, Hiruzen met Wu's gaze, a sly smile on his face as he said, "So long as you don't violate the tenets of any treaties, I'll leave it to you to decide how to operate. After all, this is an off-the-books mission. Unless you uncover something that jeopardizes the village and its people, you don't need to send back a report. Just be sure to return at the end of each month for a debriefing. Understood...?" Punching his right fist into his left palm, a massive grin developed across Wu's face as he said, "Leave it to me, Jiji. I'll cause so much havoc those alphabetical apes won't even be able to imagine plotting against us. Just one last thing before I go..." Though he didn't plan to let Wu leave immediately, Hiruzen nodded his head, prompting the boy to ask, "Since it's off-the-books, I won't be able to collect bounties using the Bingo Book, right? So my question to you is: if I encounter an enemy Shinobi, should I beat them half to death or fully to death...?" Adopting a markedly wrier smile, Hiruzen paused to consider his response before eventually answering, "I'll leave it to your discretion. Just don't get carried away or go on a killing spree. If a village feels as though it's being backed into a corner, it may start a war out of desperation. I'll issue you a Bingo Book, but feel free to spare anyone that isn't listed as 'Kill on Sight.' If they have a designation like that, it means they have committed a grave sin against the village and its people. If the opportunity presents itself, do not hesitate to kill them..." Nodding his head in understanding, Wu's expression emulated Hiruzen's severity as he asked, "The First Hokage's dream, right? Don't worry, even I would feel guilty about killing children. Unless my hand is forced, I'll just break their arms and legs before healing them just enough to hobble their way home. As for those KOS assholes? Unless I shout out the name of my techniques, those bastards won't even know what hit them." Having witnessed Wu's capabilities firsthand, Hiruzen had no doubt the boy could pull what he described off. Wu had, for reasons they still didn't fully understand, struggled with conventional Ninjutsu. He was able to do all the things an ordinary Shinobi could do, but the methods he employed were unique to Wu. He had also developed techniques that defied reason, so Hiruzen had great expectations for the boy's future. As that thought crossed his mind, Hiruzen briefly lamented that things hadn't worked out between Wu and Hinata. They had yet to annul the marriage contract formally, but neither had they signed the certificate. Fortunately, while Wu didn't seem to have an interest in Hinata, there was still hope in the form of Kaia and the girl from Team 9, Tenten. And, who knows? Maybe Wu will have a fateful encounter during his journey to the West... ... .. . With Hiruzen asking him to delay his departure for a few days, Wu decided to meet up with Tenten. The latter had promised to treat him to a meal once he had graduated, so he hopped, skipped, and jumped over to the Higurashi Tool Shop. The roofs of buildings had been off-limits to him as a student, but now that he had graduated, it was like the whole world had opened up to him. Landing in Tenten's backyard, an area with stacks upon stacks of kindling and several mineral storages, Wu briefly looked around before walking up and knocking on the back door. The sounds of movement on the opposite side of the door indicated that it wasn't Tenten's mother coming to check things out, so Wu formed a Half-Ram Seal and 'disappeared.' At least, that was how things appeared. In reality, he had shrunk down to the size of an ant, slipping into the house the moment Tenten opened the door. Seeing the empty backyard, Tenten immediately became alert, pressing her back to the nearest wall as she threatened, "I swear, Wu-kun. If you jump out and try to startle me, I'm eating all of Kaa-chan's homemade ice cream..." With a 'defeated' expression on his face, Wu slowly increased to his full size, remarking, "You used to be funner...what happened?" Blushing fiercely, Tenten exclaimed, "You know darn well what happened, you perverted monkey! I let you into my room, and you went through my drawers while I was taking a bath...!" Hardening his expression, Wu defended himself by saying, "You called my name and told me to bring you some clothes. You should have been more specific. Besides, what's the big deal? Bears are-" Before Wu could finish speaking, Tenten hammered him in the face with a punch. She told him never to speak of the 'secrets' he had uncovered that day, so even though she understood it was pointless, she at least tried to punish him. As his Size Alteration Jutsu was still active, Wu shrunk down, evading Tenten's punch and adding insult to injury by slipping between her legs. He didn't touch anything, but the ruddy expression on her face became even more prominent as she covered her front and back, shouting, "You little rascal...!" Growing tall enough that he had to hunch over to avoid hitting his head against the ceiling, Wu stared down at Tenten, teasing, "Now I'm a big rascal..." With a hand that was nearly the size of Tenten's torso, Wu made as if to grab her before stopping as the dango-haired girl stood her ground and stared back at him with a defiant expression, hands on her hips. Clicking his tongue, Wu returned to his normal size, surprising the petite and athletic girl by scratching the back of his head and revealing, "I'm going to be away from the village for a while. If I took things a little too far, it's your fault for threatening my ice cream..." Ignoring the part about the ice cream, Tenten's expression softened into one of concern as she asked, "Are you returning to Jigokudani? It can't be a mission, can it? I know you're capable, but newly-promoted Genin must complete D and C-Rank Missions around the village before receiving any long-term assignments..." Adopting one of his characteristically toothy smiles, Wu remarked, "I told you before, didn't I? I'm just built differently. Besides, instead of a normal Jonin Sensei, I got saddled with the old man. This was his idea, so I'll be away for a while, undergoing training." Though she was a little surprised to hear that Wu's Jonin Sensei was the Hokage, Tenten set aside her other questions and asked, "How soon will you be leaving?" Making a so-so gesture with his left hand, Wu replied, "Three to five days, depending on how long the preparations take." As another question popped into her mind, Tenten blinked a few times before asking, "And you decided to come here first...?" Shifting his gaze from Tenten to the fridge, Wu's expression appeared to express longing as he responded, "I had to..." Completely misinterpreting Wu's words, a ruddy hue returned to Tenten's face as she lowered her head and linked her hands behind her back. A lot had changed since her initial encounter with Wu, and while it had taken her a while to figure it out, she eventually realized that her parents were attempting to set them up. She still believed it was a little early, but now that Wu had graduated from the Academy...it wouldn't be too weird if they started dating, right? ... .. .

With the weekend coming to an end, Wu awoke the following day, finished his regular routine, and headed for the Academy. He found Ino waiting for him a few blocks away from where her family's flower shop was located, so the two of them walked together as the ever-pepper blonde recounted the events of her weekend. Upon reaching the Academy, Wu parted ways with the bubbly Yamanaka, greeted a few of his classmates, and then sat at his desk. They were even earlier than usual, but instead of making the usual rounds, Wu crossed his arms atop his desk before setting his head down and pretending to sleep. Unfortunately, while others doing the same would have been ignored, Wu's 'dispirited' state was noticed by several people. He had intended to be left alone for a bit, but it didn't even take a full minute before someone came over to check on him. What surprised him was the fact that it was Sasuke, asking, "What's your deal? Aren't you usually full of energy in the mornings...?" Feigning a tired smile, aided by the fact he was mentally exhausted, Wu lazily replied, "I had an eventful weekend..." before asking, "Did you need something?" Instead of answering Wu's question, Sasuke snorted through his nose and returned to his desk. The former followed his departure for a few seconds before attempting to put his head down a second time. It was marginally more effective than before, as the next person to disturb Wu's rest was Kaia, shouting, "Good morning, Aniki~!" in her usual, high-spirited tone. Raising his head, Wu feigned a sincere smile as he asked, "How was your weekend, Kaia? Did you get any training in back at the compound...?" Thumping her chest, eliciting a sound similar to a bag of sand being hit, Kaia replied, "Of course~! Kaa-chan said it's great that I'm trying to get stronger, so I train a lot!" Nodding his head in approval, Wu reiterated, "It is a good thing." before giving the excitable Inuzuka a fleeting pat on the head. Her expression melted into a somewhat stupid-looking smile, but Wu didn't particularly mind it. Kaia was the hardest working of all his 'students,' so, even if she was an idiot, she was more tolerable than most... ... .. . After a fairly uneventful morning, Wu sat at his usual table with Naruto, Kaia, Sakura, Ino, and Hinata. The latter was her usual demure self, but after receiving several 'warning' looks from Wu, she surprised everyone else at the table by sitting straighter and smiling. As Hinata was sitting across from him, Naruto's eyes widened slightly as he confusedly remarked, "Huh? Hinata-chan...?" Though her cheeks became noticeably ruddy, Hinata narrowed her eyes slightly and replied, "Yes? Did you need something, Naruto-kun...?" With Hinata's smile dealing mental and physical damage, an embarrassed smile adorned Naruto's face as he looked away, scratched the back of his head, and exhaled a nervous laugh. He couldn't recall the last time Hinata had looked directly at him, but instead of feeling creeped out by it, he felt a strange, fluttery feeling and a hint of...pressure? Seeing Naruto's reaction, the smile on Hinata's face became even more prominent before she covered her mouth and giggled softly. This caused Naruto's face to immediately turn beet-red as he rose from the table and stammered, "I...I'm gonna go see what Kiba and the others are up to..." Without waiting for anyone's response, Naruto turned around and ran off as if his life depended on it. Hinata's behavior was so drastically different from what he was used to that he couldn't process the change in front of his crush and other girls. Misinterpreting Naruto's reaction, Hinata was about to hang her head and shoulders when Wu gave her a thumbs up, saying, "Good job." in a sincere yet no-nonsense tone. Before Hinata could refute and say she did a terrible job, Ino looked at her as if she was witnessing some alien creature, questioning, "What the hell? Since when did you grow a backbone, Hinata-chan...?" Interrupting Hinata's bashful response, Sakura furrowed her brows and said, "Don't be so rude, Ino-chan." Then, while directing her gaze to Wu, she added, "Besides, it's pretty clear it has something to do with Wu-kun. I mean, who else could convince someone to change so drastically in a short period?" Looking at Wu, Ino retorted, "Seriously?" before realizing the implication of Sakura's words, furrowing her brows, and asking, "Does that mean you and Hinata hung out this weekend? Weren't you supposed to be spending time training with the boys?" Though Hinata started to panic slightly, thinking she may have exposed her and Wu's secret, the latter was comparably relaxed as he replied, "It just kind of happened. Hinata's path crossed with mine, so I offered her some advice on how she could get closer to Naruto. It's not like I haven't done the same for you and Sakura. Isn't that the reason you're pestering me to train you?" Furrowing her brows, Ino ignored everything else Wu had said, asking, "What do you mean, 'pestering?' I know it's an inconvenience for you, but you should be grateful to have a bunch of cute girls relying on you. I know you've noticed all the envious looks other boys give you when we come to school together." Shrugging his shoulders, Wu retorted, "With the exception of Kaia here, the rest of you girls have someone you like. I don't exactly view you as 'eye candy,' or whatever, so why should I be grateful? None of you have done anything for me besides consuming my free time. If anything, you've made it harder for me to interact with other boys in the class." "..." x3 Flabbergasted by Wu's remarks, Ino, Sakura, and Hinata were left utterly speechless. Kaia, contrastingly, was all smiles as she refuted Wu's earlier words, excitedly claiming, "That's wrong, Aniki! I have lots of people I like! I like my Kaa-chan, my Tou-san, all of my friends...!" Feigning a wry smile, Wu silenced the puppy-like girl with a head pat. He half-expected her to say she liked him, so he was relieved to hear such an 'innocent' response. He had no doubts that Kaia 'did' like him, but she had associated that affection with kinship. More specifically, she regarded him as her 'ever-reliable' big brother, her Aniki. Recovering from her shock, Sakura's expression became awkward as she asked, "Do you not want us to come over anymore? If I had known it was such an inconvenience for you..." Shaking his head, Wu lied through his teeth, stating, "I was the one who initially proposed training at the Sarutobi Estate. I also had you ask your parents for permission, so it would be irresponsible of me to assign blame to others. The point I was trying to make is that there's no reason for me to be 'grateful.' You aren't doing me any favors by simply stopping by, so if you expect me to be 'enthused' about receiving the envy of others, you're just wrong." "..." x3 Hearing Wu speak and trying to view things from his perspective, the trio of eight-year-olds was seized by the notion that they may, just possibly, be taking advantage of his friendship. Ino, in particular, had weaseled her way into the group for selfish reasons, so she became uncharacteristically meek as she hung her head and lowered her gaze. As his intent was simply to get the girls to work harder, Wu interrupted the trio's pity party, stating, "No need to beat yourselves up. It's not as though I hate spending time with you. If I did, I wouldn't have invited you over in the first place. Just don't mistake my kindness for infatuation. I'm trying to help you reach your goals, not ingratiate myself to you in pursuit of some kind of reward. If you try to take advantage of me like that, then we're not friends." "..." x3 Though they only understood about half the things Wu said at times, the trio of girls could understand that Wu was being 'genuine.' He really had been doing his best to help them improve, and, thus far, he hadn't asked for a single thing in return. He just expected them to 'make an effort.' Realizing she might have wronged Wu quite a bit in the past week or so, Ino combed back her bangs, her expression lacking her usual confidence as she attempted to apologize, saying, "I'm-" before being interrupted by Wu stating, "You don't need to apologize or change who you are. So long as you do your best and continue striving toward your goal, that's enough. Leave the sentimental crap for when you and Sakura invariably reach the conclusion you can 'both' have your beloved Sasuke-kun..." "Eh...?" Inserting herself back into the discussion, Sakura asked, "What do you mean?" despite being fully aware of Sasuke's 'unique' status. After all, it was literally the only reason she and the other girls had been able to get along despite pining after the same guy. Realizing what Wu was referring to, Ino's expression became somewhat neutral as she flatly replied, "He's talking about the Clan Restoration Act. It gives people with unique bloodlines a protected status, allowing them to forgo the usual responsibilities of a Shinobi and prioritize replenishing their numbers. Sasuke-kun is the last remaining member of the Uchiha, so he can apply for the status whenever he wants." Though he nodded in affirmation, Wu added, "The only reason he hasn't is because he has yet to fulfill his purpose. He seeks power with the obvious intention of avenging his Clan. Until he can achieve that, there is no future for the Uchiha Clan. At least in Sasuke's mind. Things like love? Romance? They are just distractions." Furrowing their brows, Ino and Sakura lowered their heads and fell into a deep, contemplative silence. They were well aware of the destruction of the Uchiha, but neither had considered the possibility of Sasuke seeking revenge. In hindsight, it was 'very' obvious he would want to, so the real question was, how could they help him? Realizing the answer at nearly the same time, Ino and Sakura looked at one another with increasingly resolute expressions on their faces. They now fully comprehended why Sasuke was so seeking strength, so if they truly wanted to be with him, they would first need to help him achieve his dream of vengeance... Recognizing the conviction in the duo's eyes, Wu gave an approving nod and said, "Now you're starting to see why I keep telling you that building a foundation is essential. The greater your capabilities, the easier it is to fulfill your goals. If the two of you are around the same level or 'stronger' than him, Sasuke will have no choice but to acknowledge you. Just steel your hearts, as the moment he views you as a rival, he will do everything in his power to surpass you..." Imagining Sasuke being the one to pursue them, Ino's and Sakura's eyes widened before becoming starry. If they worked hard, there was a good chance that Sasuke would willfully approach them. He may even join in on their training sessions, allowing them to spend more time together as they worked toward a mutual goal. Then, when they finally avenged the Uchiha Clan, they would be the obvious choices to help him restore it... As a blush gradually crept up the necks and into the faces of the two girls, a smile not all that dissimilar to Hiruzen's developed across Wu's face. He initially didn't care if Ino or Sakura achieved their goals, but after the fiasco with Hinata, he wasn't taking any chances. If the duo changed the target of their affection to him, he might just smash his head against a wall until he was a vegetable... ... .. .

Chapter 23: Secret Technique: Monkey Transcends Time