I, Your Father, Carry a Big Stick

With the supplemental lessons ending after a week, those that had been forcing themselves to attend returned to their usual afterschool activities. Naruto stuck around a few days longer, largely to spend time with Sakura, but he eventually got bored and started hanging out with Kiba, Choji, and Shikamaru. After Naruto left the group, Wu expected Hinata to follow suit, but she ended up sticking around. She could justify spending time with him while they were in the Academy, but if she were caught following Naruto around outside, someone from the Hyuga Clan would quickly show up to retrieve her. Instead of Hinata, the last to leave the study group was Ino. She had fun at the beginning, but spending 3-4 hours a day learning things that would be taught to her in class quickly lost its appeal. Following the departure of Ino, Wu began looking for reasons to justify his own. Unfortunately, his excuse of wanting to train just led to Kaia asking if she could come over to play. Hinata and Sakura also had good reasons for becoming more powerful, so it wasn't long before Wu found himself in the awkward position of having to explain to Hiruzen his reasons for bringing over the three girls. Though he listened attentively and nodded his head in response to Wu's well-crafted 'excuse,' Hiruzen had a mischievous twinkle in his eyes as he inhaled from his ornate wooden pipe. After inhaling a mixture of tobacco and a few minor narcotics, Hiruzen exhaled several rings of smoke before adopting a 'knowing' smile as he mused, "Ah, to be young..." Before Wu could ask if the old man had finally gone senile, Hiruzen stared directly at him and added, "So long as their parents permit it, you have my permission to bring them over. However, as all three are girls, you must treat them delicately and with due consideration. Boys have a much easier time building muscle than girls, so you shouldn't hold them to your standard. If you injure them, even accidentally, it could become a serious incident..." Revealing his thoughts on the matter, Wu's usual smile was nowhere to be seen as he groaned, "You could just say no...spare me the hassle..." Exhaling an amused chuckle, the twinkle in Hiruzen's eyes became more prominent as he said, "Trust me, Wu. You may not understand it right now, but there will eventually come a time when you look back on this day with fondness. You can thank me then." Finding Hiruzen's words difficult to believe, Wu shook his head in mock exasperation, muttering, "Whatever you say, old man..." He couldn't see how he could ever be 'thankful' to Hiruzen for allowing him to spend his precious training time looking after a bunch of frail and feeble girls... ... .. . Staring up at the gate bearing the Kanji for Monkey on it, Sakura couldn't help feeling nervous as she weakly inquired, "Can an ordinary civilian like me really enter the Hokage's mansion?" Stopping just over the threshold, Wu looked back to the trio of girls that had followed him home, saying, "If you want to turn around and leave, I won't stop you. Just don't complain to me if you find your strength lacking in the future..." Furrowing her brows, Sakura said, "You don't have to be rude, Wu-kun. I came all this way; I'm not turning back now." As if to prove her point, Sakura stomped toward the estate's entrance but stopped just short of the threshold. However, instead of hesitating at the last moment, she turned around to ask, "Are the two of you coming, Kaia-chan, Hinata-chan...?" "Mraow...?" Tilting her head to the side, Kaia replied, "I'm waiting for Aniki. Kaa-san said I shouldn't enter someone's home without their permission." Playing off of Kaia's words, Wu said, "Feel free to make yourselves at home. The only off-limits places are the Hokage's quarters and private library. I'll show you where they're at so you don't accidentally wander inside." Without needing to be told twice, Kaia ran across the threshold with her arms spread like the wings of an airplane. Wu didn't know what an airplane was, but it was the 'impression' he got when seeing the petite Inuzuka's antics. Following shortly after, Hinata gave a slight bow and said, "Pardon me..." before stepping across the interior. This left Sakura as the only one still 'outside,' so Wu raised his brows at her and asked, "What are you waiting for?" Furrowing her brows a second time, Sakura looked like she wanted to say something but decided against it. Instead, she followed after Kaia, doing her best not to look around like an idiot as she made her way inside... ... .. . After a quick tour of the Sarutobi Estate, including his room, Wu showed the trio to the clearing where he usually conducted his training. Hiruzen had purchased him all kinds of equipment during his training with Kurenai. This included a number of straw mannequins, a massive log that had been treated with some kind of liquid to make it tougher than iron, and a dozen weighted staffs ranging from 50kgs to 600kgs. Interrupting the trio's silent gawking, Wu explained, "I've never trained another person, and Lord Hokage told me to avoid pushing you too hard. So what I'll do for now is show you how I usually train. After that, I'll have you demonstrate the training methods you've been using until now." Without waiting for the girls' response, Wu crossed his arms and grabbed the base of his t-shirt before removing it in a single smooth motion. At the exact same moment, Sakura stepped forward to punch him in the back of the head, exclaiming, "What do you think you're doing, Wu!? You can't just take off your shirt in front of a bunch of girls...!" Instead of answering Sakura's question, Wu stared at her with curiosity, asking, "Is your hand okay...?" Confused by Wu's words, Sakura looked down at her right hand to find it was already beginning to swell. Wu hadn't used his Adamantine Body, but his toughness drastically exceeded that of an average human. Seeing the pinkette begin to tear up, the words of Hiruzen appeared in Wu's mind. Thus, even though he felt like she deserved to experience a bit of pain after carelessly attacking him, he grabbed her hand and said, "Hold still..." in a firm tone. Though she was initially going to pull her hand from Wu's, Sakura stopped herself when the former's palm began emitting a pale green light. Most of the pain in her hand immediately faded, replaced by a gentle warmth that caused the tips of her fingers to tingle. Releasing the befuddled girl's hand, Wu preempted her query by holding up his own and explaining, "It's the Monkey Clan's version of the Mystical Palm. It didn't have a proper name, so I've taken to calling it the Monkey's Palm Technique. Creative, I know." Lowering his hand, Wu turned to Kaia and Hinata, asking, "Do either of you care if I remove my shirt? I tend to sweat a lot during my exercises, so I'd rather not have to wear it." Without any hesitation whatsoever, Kaia raised her hands and shook her head vigorously, insisting, "No, no, no! Shirtless is good!" with a little too much excitement coloring her face. Wu might not have been a paragon in terms of physique, primarily due to his age, but he was moving in the right direction. Ignoring the red-faced Inuzuka, Wu shifted his attention to the equally crimson Hyuga, patiently awaiting her answer. She had covered her face with her hands, but the sizeable gaps between her fingers allowed her pearl-like eyes to peer through. Realizing that Wu was expecting her to say something, Hinata hesitated for a moment before muttering, "I...I think I should go home..." Instead of insisting she stay, Wu gave an understanding nod and said, "Then I guess we'll see you at school tomorrow. Take care on your way home." "..." With Wu turning away almost as soon as he was finished speaking, Hinata found herself at a loss. Just as she was about to turn around and leave, however, Kaia tugged her sleeve, asking, "Are you really leaving, Hina-chi? Didn't you want to get stronger to impress that boy...?" Blushing even fiercer than when she had been staring at Wu, Hinata averted her eyes and began nervously pressing the tips of her index fingers together. While it was true she wanted to impress Naruto, the real reason she had come to the Sarutobi Estate was because she had been invited and didn't know how to refuse. She expected her father to forbid it, but he immediately gave his permission when she told him she would be training to get stronger... Realizing that her father would likely be disappointed in her if she just turned around and left, Hinata buried her face into her hands, gradually gathering her conviction. This went on for so long that Kaia abandoned her to get a closer look at Wu's training, but she eventually mustered up enough courage to raise her face, revealing veins bulging at the corners of her eyes... Feeling a sudden sense of discomfort, Wu ceased swinging his bo staff and immediately looked toward Hinata. He immediately noticed the veins around her eyes, but while they were kind of creepy, the look on his face was one of intrigue as he asked, "Is that the active form of the Byakugan? Mind if I get a closer look...?" "Eh...?" Having just formed the courage to raise her face, Hinata was unprepared to hear Wu ask if he could stare into her eyes. She knew he was probably just curious, but the thought of him leaning toward her like the day he had cornered her in the hallway caused her brain to short-circuit. Seeing Hinata suddenly collapse, Wu clicked his tongue, surprising Kaia and Sakura as his figure seemed to blur for a moment. In the next, he was guiding Hinata to the ground, muttering something neither of them could hear. "Damn you, Hiruzen...grateful my ass...!" Resisting the urge to smack Hinata awake, Wu looked to Kaia and said, "Run inside and ask one of the servants for a cold compress and some towels. Our little princess here seems to have fainted..." Straightening her body, Kaia gave a salute and replied, "Roger that, Aniki!" before zooming back to the manor as fast as her feet could carry her. The Inuzukas were fairly famous for their speed, so even though her form was horrendous, she was suitable for fetching things. Trusting that Kaia would carry out his order, Wu picked up Hinata's almost weightless body, prompting Sakura to narrow her eyes and ask, "What are you doing?" Deadpanning in the pinkette's direction, Wu flatly retorted, "Aren't you supposed to be the smart one? If a patient faints and doesn't wake up within a few seconds, you should treat them as if they have heat stroke. What I'm doing is carrying her to the shade. Any other stupid questions?" Though she frowned deeply, Sakura didn't say anything and just watched as Wu carried Hinata to the shade. She hated being called stupid, but, at the same time, she couldn't fault Wu for being quick to act in a situation where most children wouldn't know what to do. He was only eight years old, but he always seemed to have everything under control... ... .. . (A/N: Kaia be like, "I am speed...!")

Awakening shortly after the compress was applied to her head, Hinata weakly muttered, "Where am I...?" Catching Hinata by surprise, a slightly husky voice replied, "You're at the Hokage's house. We're supposed to be training with Wu, remember...?" Looking toward the source of the sound, Hinata found Kaia sitting in seiza, using her thighs to prop up her feet. The young Inuzuka adopted a catty smile in response, explaining, "Wu told me to elevate your feet. He said it helps get blood flowing to the brain and heart." "Wu-kun...?" Recalling what had transpired before her collapse, a faint red hue colored Hinata's cheeks. This was one of the things she hated most about herself, a timidity that bordered on uselessness. Her father once believed she had chronic anemia, but that was ultimately disproven after months of medical screening. Reaching up, Hinata moved the cold compress from her forehead to her eyes and cheeks, concealing the rest of her face with her hands. The chill had a sobering effect on her mind, but she still couldn't believe she had fainted over something as simple as a boy asking to look at her eyes. Just as Hinata was beginning to hope she was in a dream, reality set in as Wu came over, now wearing a sleeveless top, asking, "You awake? You've been out for a few minutes. A while longer, and I would have had to carry you to the hospital." Removing the compress just enough to see Wu, Hinata exhaled an internal sigh of relief when she saw he was no longer shirtless. She then tried to sit up, but Wu's expression and tone became firm as he said, "Stay down. If you try to sit up so soon after recovering, you could pass out from the blood vacating your brain. Give it a few minutes, and then you can sit up." As Wu's tone reminded her a lot of her father, Hinata responded with a meek nod and stayed down. Seeing this, Wu nodded his head in approval before turning to Kaia and adding, "Look after her for me." Smiling broad, Kaia replied, "You got it, Aniki~!" in a spirited tone. She was a little annoyed that she had to watch him train from far away, but looking after members of the same 'pack' was important. Hinata might not see it the same way, but Kaia regarded everyone in Wu's group as a member of his pack. Nodding a second time, Wu gave one last look at Hinata before making his way over to the reinforced wooden post. Sakura was there waiting for him, so he offered her a curt, "Sorry for the wait..." before picking up his staff and preparing to continue his practice. Before Wu could begin, Sakura gave him the urge to change the recipient of his attacks, asking, "Do you like Hinata...?" "???" Looking at the green-eyed pinkette as if she had lost her mind, Wu asked, "What kind of question is that? How many people do you know that would invite over someone they didn't like?" Believing Wu was being intentionally daft, Sakura's face morphed into a half-lidded expression as she asserted, "You know what I mean. Do you like her in the way Ino and I like Sasuke?" "..." Closing his eyes, Wu took a moment to consider his response before opening them, adopting a serious expression, and declaring, "We're eight years old, Sakura. All I care about, at least for the time being, is enjoying myself and being the best 'me' I can be. Things like romance? That can wait. Besides, we both know who Hinata fancies. I hate drama, so why the hell would I target a girl who already has a crush on someone else?" Feeling chastised, Sakura averted her eyes and lowered her head slightly, her hands linking behind her back. She had always thought it, but Wu's response made him sound so 'mature.' It almost made her feel like there was something wrong with her, pining after Sasuke when she should be training. Breaking Sakura from her thoughts, Wu smacked the oversized log with enough force to leave a visible indentation on its surface. The loud sound caused Sakura to startle, but she only pouted for a few moments before losing herself in the rhythmic intensity of Wu's training... ... .. . By the time Wu had completed one set of his usual routine, Hinata had recovered enough to rejoin Sakura alongside Kaia. Noticing this, Wu set aside his bo staff and approached the girls, pausing to accept the water and towel proferred to him by Kaia before saying, "Now that you've seen what my training looks like, I want each of you to demonstrate your usual routine. Kaia, you can start." Thumping her chest, Kaia exclaimed, "Leave it to me~!" before taking off at a full sprint. Then, after a few seconds, she dropped onto all fours and began going even faster, circling the clearing several times before coming to a stop in front of Wu, her breath ragged and an expectant look on her face Realizing what the sweaty girl was after, Wu eventually extended his hand to ruffle the girl's hair as he asked, "That's how you normally train?" Nodding her head enthusiastically, Kaia explained, "The foundation of the Inuzuka Clan...is the Four-Footed Technique...Kaa-san-" Before Kaia could finish her panting explanation, Wu returned the water bottle she had given him previously, saying, "Go rest in the shade. We'll talk more once everyone has completed their warm-up." Grabbing the half-emptied bottle with stars in her eyes, Kaia downed the entire thing with a single mighty suck, crushing the plastic in the process. Then, as if the ruined bottle was some kind of treasure, she held it close to her chest with both hands and scampered over to the nearest tree. "..." Ignoring the poorly domesticated girl's antics, Wu shifted his attention to Sakura, saying, "You're up." Though she knew her turn would come eventually, Sakura's expression morphed into an awkward smile as she took a few tentative steps forward and demonstrated the basic forms of the Academy's Taijutsu. When she was finished, she looked toward Wu and Hinata with a nervous smile and said, "That's all I know..." Tilting his head to the side, Wu questioned, "You don't do any other forms of training? Like push-ups, sit-ups, and crunches...?" With her smile becoming even wrier, Sakura nervously scratched her cheek and revealed, "I do calisthenics and stretching exercises in my room, but I don't want to demonstrate those in front of a boy..." Instead of asking Sakura to explain her reasoning, Wu just shook his head, saying, "Take a break..." before looking to Hinata, silently urging her to begin her demonstration. Returning a slight nod, Hinata emulated Sakura's actions by taking a few tentative steps forward. However, instead of demonstrating the piss poor techniques taught by the Academy, she lowered her body into a reactive posture, palms facing outward with her left hand extended and her right closer to her body. Then, she began performing unexpectedly swift and precise strikes, her index and middle fingers emulating tiny daggers. Though Wu couldn't imagine the strike packing any power, he knew that the Hyuga Clan specialized in a Taijutsu known as the Gentle Fist. He had yet to experience it directly, but they could use apparently their Byakugan to see through objects and target the invisible Tenketsu(Chakra Points) in a person's body. Doing so crippled their opponent and made it impossible for them to mold Chakra, so it was widely regarded as the most powerful and efficient Taijutsu style. With nothing to compare Hinata's techniques to, Wu just nodded his head and said, "Pretty interesting technique. Good job." once she was finished. His words elicited a faint smile from the purple-haired heiress, but before she could be too happy, Wu asked, "Is that all you do...?" Pressing the tips of her index and middle fingers together, Hinata averted her eyes and replied, "Tou-sama says the Hyuga have no need for things like physical conditioning and weight training. We polish our skills through active sparring..." Tilting his head to the side, Wu asked the first question that popped into his head, "Then why are you so bad at it? You clearly have the form down, so why not use it during our spars at the Academy?" Shrinking into herself, Hinata's voice became so faint Wu had to strain his ears to hear her reveal, "I...I don't like hurting people..." "..." Resisting the urge to retort with a, "Yeah, and...?" Wu remained silent for several seconds before responding with an equally faint, "I see..." while really thinking, ("This brat shouldn't be a Kunoichi...") Shaking such thoughts from his mind, Wu surprised Hinata by saying, "If anything, that's even more of a reason to become strong. Your position as the heiress of a founding clan doesn't give you many options, so the best way to avoid a life of harming others is by being so powerful that nobody can force your hand. Now, hit me." "...?" Just as she was beginning to consider Wu's words, Hinata was left feeling confused by his subsequent command. She just revealed that she didn't like harming others, so why would she attack him? Adopting a serious expression, Wu explained, "I want to experience the effects of your Gentle Fist Technique. With a better understanding of it, I might be able to help you develop a technique that can disable someone without harming them. Now, hit me. Right here. Come on...!" With Wu patting his chest, seemingly suggesting she hit him in one of his central Tenketsu points, the expression on Hinata's face went from worry to reflective as she asked herself, ("Can he really help me develop such a technique...?") Growing annoyed with the Hyuga's inaction, Wu issued a disdainful snort before looking off into the distance and muttering, "This village is doomed if the wife of the future Hokage can't even attack a willing opponent..." Though she blushed crimson at the insinuation that she would become Naruto's wife, an uncharacteristically severe expression adorned Hinata's face as she asked, "Can you really help me become so powerful...enough to decide my own fate?" Without needing to consider his answer, Wu shook his head and admitted, "That depends entirely on you. I can help, but the truly powerful get there by merit of their conviction. Nobody can make you powerful unless you're willing to exert yourself and put in the effort." Furrowing her brows into an even more severe expression, Hinata found herself seriously considering Wu's words. They were similar to Naruto's Nindo, the personal creed by which all Shinobi lived, but they were also different. Wu wasn't speaking of believing in oneself, but believing in the effort one makes to attain their goals. If she wasn't willing to seize what she wanted, how could she ever expect to obtain it? Forming her conviction, the veins around Hinata's eyes began to bulge as she 'glared' back at Wu. The latter felt his skin crawl, but he still managed a cocky smile and asked, "Do you need another invitation?" Shaking her head, Hinata's voice was soft and serious as she lowered into her stance and replied, "No..." Then, without the need for additional dialogue, she lunged forward, her feet sliding across the ground as she landed a swift, precise strike on Wu's diaphragm. ("Oh, fuck...") Overestimating his pain tolerance and durability, Wu's eyes became round as saucers as he dropped to his knees, clutching his abdomen. It felt like every muscle in his torso was seizing, forcing him to take rapid, shallow, and painful breaths. Seeing the state Wu was in, regret and worry replaced Hinata's transient conviction. However, before she could even think to offer her assistance, Wu made a stopping gesture with his right hand, glaring back at her as he growled, "I'm...fine...this...is...nothing...!" Using his Mystical Monkey's Palm, Wu began trying to forcibly unseal his Tenketsu point. He couldn't see it, but he could sure as hell feel where the pain was radiating. It was like a tiny, red-hot needle had been jabbed into his diaphragm, so he utilized the Monkey's Palm technique with the image of removing it. The effectiveness of Iryojutsu was heavily affected by the user's knowledge and intent, so a proper 'image' went a long way toward guaranteeing the desired outcome... Seeing what Wu was doing, aided by her Byakugan, Hinata couldn't help thinking back on his previous words. She still had numerous doubts, but seeing a boy her age do something that should have been impossible, at least according to her father, she couldn't help thinking there was some merit to his words...at the very least, Wu appeared to practice what he preached... ... .. . (A/N: Oof...)

Though there was no Naruto present, Hiruzen was once again waiting for Wu upon the latter's return. He knew the boy would have questions, and he felt obligated to thank him for bringing Naruto's circumstances to light. "Welcome back, my boy. Did you enjoy your leisure time at the Academy?" Returning a smile, Wu retorted, "Have you ever known me to laze about? I chatted with a few of my classmates during lunch, but I spent most of the day studying the third and fourth-year curriculums." Unsurprised by Wu's words, Hiruzen just exhaled a soft chuckle before adopting a marginally more serious expression and asking, "Did any of your fellow students or instructors have anything to say about Naruto's absence?" Shaking his head, Wu revealed, "Daikoku-sensei just told us the school was undergoing an audit. As for my classmates, most of them care little for Naruto. Once they learned we had been assigned self-study, most of them just split off into their usual groups to play." "Hmm...I see..." Stroking his beard, Hiruzen briefly considered how much he should reveal to Wu. If not for the boy's honesty, Naruto's situation may not have come to light for the remainder of his stay in the Academy. Shaking his head, Hiruzen reminded himself that Wu was only eight years old. More importantly, it had barely been a month since he came to reside in Konoha. While the boy possessed a certain 'wisdom,' well beyond what a child his age should possess, it was a little too soon to involve him in the village's internal affairs. It wasn't, however, too soon to begin preparing him... Having made his decision, Hirzuen's silvery-grey eyes twinkled as he met Wu's gaze and questioned, "What would you say to me hiring you another instructor? I know you probably feel stifled at the Academy, so this could be an opportunity for you to grow outside the classroom." Catching Hiruzen off guard, Wu didn't hesitate to answer, "Not right now. I have only been attending the Academy for two days, so I'd like some time to acclimate. I wouldn't mind if it were Kurenai-sensei, but I presume you had someone else in mind." Recovering by the time Wu had finished speaking, Hiruzen gave a curt nod, admitting, "I was thinking of introducing you to Nara Shikaku, the father of one of your classmates. Shikaku-san is currently the highest-ranking Jonin in the village and someone whose advice I value over most others. I believe you could learn much from him." Hearing Hiruzen's admission, Wu would be lying if he said he wasn't 'very' interested in meeting Shikaku. What he didn't want was to meet the man without any time to prepare. It was easy to imagine that Shikaku was incredibly intelligent to receive the praise of Hiruzen, so Wu needed time to establish a 'baseline' before their first encounter. Meeting Hiruzen's gaze, Wu firmly replied, "My answer remains the same. I'm still getting to know the people in my class. While I'm certain Shikaku-san could teach me many things, wasn't I brought here to adapt to living among other humans? As eager as I am to improve, focusing on too many things at once will just stress me out." Instead of forcing the matter, Hiruzen gave Wu an approving nod, saying, "There is truth to what you say." Then, with a grandfatherly smile on his face, he mused, "Very well, Wu. For now, you will concentrate on making the most of your time at the Academy. Once you are prepared, I will invite Shikaku-san over for tea and a few rounds of Shogi. He will likely want to challenge you, so be sure to acquaint yourself with the rules before then." Realizing that Hiruzen had seen through his intentions, Wu's eyes briefly widened before a wry smile developed across his face. He had never once doubted the man's intellect, but it appeared Hiruzen was slier than he anticipated. In hindsight, he should have realized that the leader of an organization that delved into subterfuge and assassination would be able to see through his facade... Amused by Wu's brief panic, Hiruzen narrowed his eyes and exhaled a hearty chuckle. Then, with a toothy grin, he mused, "You still have a ways to go if you want to pull the wool over this old man's eyes..." Returning a smile of his own, Wu did not attempt to excuse himself or his action. Instead, he narrowed his eyes and mused, "So it would seem..." in a sing-song tone. Afterward, both he and Hiruzen exhaled audibly similar chuckles... ... .. . After being absent for four days, excluding the weekend, Naruto surprised nearly everyone by showing up to class in comparably normal clothes. He still resembled a traffic cone, but there was a marked improvement in the quality and fit of his clothing. His toeless sandals, in particular, were from a famous brand that caused even Ino to do a double-take. Noticing everyone's eyes on him, Naruto couldn't keep an enormous grin from his face as he rubbed the underside of his nose and said, "Hey, guys. Long time no see." Recovering from their stupor, the children that had always looked down on Naruto adopted various expressions of displeasure. Fortunately, while they made up the majority, their opinion didn't matter. The founding clans were the ones with real power in Konoha, and, unlike the civilians, most of the heirs had never actually hated Naruto. After all, unlike the parents of the civilian children, theirs knew the truth. Unable to contain her curiosity, Ino ignored the warning look from their Sensei as she openly inquired, "Since when were you able to afford such high-quality clothing?" Though it seemed impossible, Naruto managed to smile even wider as he responded with a cheeky, "It's a secret." As no one, not even Ino, expected Naruto to respond in such a way, the entire class was left at a momentary loss for words. Some people were visibly annoyed, but they weren't given the opportunity to express it as Daikoku asserted, "That's enough chit-chat. Everyone to your seats. The bell has already rung." Though he wanted to continue being the center of attention, Naruto made his way over to his seat, located to the right of Sakura. The latter was one of the most surprised by his changes, but before Naruto could personally ask what she thought, his world abruptly came crashing down as Daikoku coldly declared, "I hope you all took advantage of last week's self-study because the first thing on today's agenda is a Quiz. Anyone who scores lower than fifty percent will need to attend remedial classes after school." Hearing their Sensei's proclamation, it wasn't just Naruto whose spirit had left their body. Kaia looked like she was experiencing an existential crisis, while Kiba just straight up groaned, "There goes my free time..." Hearing the young heir's grumble, Wu would be lying if he said he wasn't reveling in Kiba's misfortune. He knew everyone had their own strengths and weaknesses, but knowledge was something anyone could obtain. He might help the duo cheat if it benefitted him somehow, but they only had themselves to blame for their lack of preparedness. Heck, Kaia had spent the last week studying alongside him. She should have at least picked up on the basics. Interrupting Wu's reverie, Kaia uttered a faint, "Aniki..." while pressing the tips of her index fingers together. When he looked directly at her, a ruddy hue colored her cheeks as she lowered her head and softly inquired, "Do you mind if I copy your paper...?" Resisting the urge to refuse immediately, Wu eyed the uncharacteristically bashful Inuzuka for several seconds before answering, "No. I'm curious to see how well you can perform on your own." Reacting like a kicked puppy, Kaia shrank into herself and responded with a soft whimper. She had anticipated that Wu might refuse, but it still made her sad. Seeing the usually energetic girl's dispirited reaction, Wu surprised both her and Kiba by extending his hand to pat Kaia's head. Many of the hags back at Jigokudani would pat his head whenever he was feeling angry or frustrated. More importantly, Kaia was a member of the Inuzuka Clan, so Wu presumed she would react to act in a positive light. As expected, Kaia immediately perked up, doubly so when Wu added, "Don't worry. If you fail the exam, I'll attend remedial lessons alongside you. In exchange, I expect you to pay closer attention during our private study sessions. Understood?" Nodding her head enthusiastically, causing Wu to ruffle her hair even further, Kaia practically shouted, "You got it, Aniki!" in a spirited tone. This earned them a warning look from Daikoku, but, as he had been advised by the Hokage to let Wu do as he pleased, the portly Chunin quickly returned to passing out test papers... ... .. . As it took time to grade papers, it wasn't until the final period that Class 3-A received their results. Wu, Sakura, Sasuke, and a bespectacled girl named Shiho were the only ones to obtain perfect scores. Everyone else scored around 60-70%, the only exceptions being Naruto's 42%, Kiba's 48%, and Kaia's 0%. Seeing the puppy-like girl holding up a paper with intentionally incorrect answers, Wu realized he had played himself. The outcome didn't change, as he had always expected Kaia to fail, but her doing so intentionally was a metaphorical slap in the face. If he didn't know she was a genuine idiot, he would probably resent her. Instead, he was a little impressed...at least she knew how to get what she wanted... True to his word, Wu attended the remedial lessons alongside the bubbly Inuzuka. However, while Naruto, Kiba, and Kaia were the only ones to fail, there were actually nine people present for the remedial lessons. Wu was obviously among them, but there was also Hinata, Sakura, Ino, Choji, and Shikamaru. The presence of so many heirs placed a considerable amount of pressure on the instructor, so, while the lessons were supposed to be a form of punishment, they ultimately became a fairly pleasant group study session... ... .. . After remaining fairly tight-lipped for several days, Naruto eventually gave in and revealed the secret of his newfound wealth. More specifically, Wu's frequent yet careful probes had ultimately worn him down, compelling him to reveal, "Get this. It turns out my Kaa-san was a big shot who helped to defeat the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox. Jii-san said he can't reveal the details until I became a Chunin, but she left me an inheritance. I don't know the exact amount, but Jii-san said it's enough to support me for my entire life if I wanted to give up becoming Hokage." Raising his brows, Wu willfully swallowed the bait dangling in front of him, asking, "And what did you say in return...?" Adopting one of his characteristically toothy smiles, Naruto exclaimed, "I told him there's no way I'm giving up becoming the Hokage! In fact, now I have even more of a reason to become strong and protect the village, just like my Kaa-san...!" Unsurprised by Naruto's outburst, Wu gave a curt nod, stating, "I have no doubt you'll become an exceShinobi in the future. After all, you still owe me one for that Bento." Remembering Wu's act of kindness, Naruto was tempted to say he could repay him right then and there but stopped himself. The compassion Wu had shown that day was something he would never forget, so, instead of trying to 'weasel' his way out of the debt, Naruto adopted a toothy grin and said, "Leave it to me, Wu! Once I become Hokage, I'll purchase you an entire Bento shop! Hahahaha~!" Exhaling a soft chuckle of his own, Wu left even the ever boisterous Naruto feeling a little speechless as he mused, "I'll hold you to it~" in a sing-song tone. He had no interest in running a Bento Shop, but it was better to have and not need, than to need and not have... ... .. .

Chapter 11: Damn you, Hiruzen...