The aftermath of the battle was anticlimactic. After assessing the situation and finding all the Konoha participants alive, the bulk of the relief force left in pursuit of the aggressors. The medic-nin present bundled up Hinata, who was in the worst shape by far and had suffered significant blood loss, and Hana, who had several broken bones, and had them spirited to Konoha by two chuunin. A couple of other ninja remained behind to collect the bodies of the dead, but the rest were ordered home. This group headed towards Konoha at a sedate pace, what with the rest of Team 8 being out like the light.
"Say, Asuma, your student sure is useful to have around." The senbon-chewing shinobi nodded to the dozen blonds, who were transporting the still unconscious ninja. "Though I don't recall you saying anything about him knowing a jounin level technique."
"I only found out recently myself. My dad didn't exactly tell me the specifics, just mentioned that Haruto was special." Asuma eyed the blond, the real one, with interest and concern.
"You do have to be pretty special to use the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu. You sure he created that many copies of himself?" Genma was naturally reluctant to believe that such a mediocre and unexceptional genin could have pulled it off. Had it been the Uchiha or the Hyuuga branch member on Gai's team, then maybe, since both did graduate top of their class. But this orange wearing spastic buffoon? Nah.
"I'm just telling you what I saw. It's your choice whether you want to believe it or not. But I suggest you look around, Genma. Other than me, he's just about the only person walking on his own." That was true. Both Shikamaru and Chouji were walking with the assistance of a blond clone each.
The jounin of Team 10 wasn't exactly a fan of the demon container and had probably said his share of unkind words—who in Konoha had not?—but that was before Haruto became his student and before they had fought side by side. Asuma had seen the wall of clones block the redheaded kunoichi from executing Shikamaru. Genma must have detected the trace of annoyance in the jounin's words as he quickly backtracked.
"Ok, well, if you can convince him to take up kenjutsu, then you can make Hayate really jealous. He is still having trouble making more clones with that fancy sword technique of his."
Hayate Gekkou was a mutual acquaintance-slash-friend of theirs and a renowned swordmaster. The eternally coughing shinobi had attracted some recent attention due to his use of the Mikazuki no Mai, a sword dance technique that was labeled "overly flashy and impractical" by some. Was such assessment professional honesty or just professional jealousy? Asuma personally thought the latter as he considered the technique to have some potential.
"You really think Hayate created that technique?" the wind specializing jounin asked. Hayate was a capable swordmaster and more than worthy of being a special jounin of Konoha, but the man was never known for his creativity. Some had mockingly noted that Hayate was to kenjutsu what Kakashi was to ninjutsu, but that was a grossly unfair analogy. Hayate did not have the Sharingan, and Kakashi did not lack creativity so much as he was just lazy. After all, the copycat nin did create the powerful S-rank technique, Raikiri.
Haruto inwardly smiled as parts of the adults' conversation filtered to him via his clones. His teacher was quite right to doubt Hayate as being the creator of the Crescent Moon Dance attack. That honor belonged to one of his secret ANBU trainers. The blond wasn't absolutely positive, but he was reasonably sure that the technique originally came from Yuugao Uzuki. Why did she let someone else take the credit? Haruto could think of three reasons: one, this other person happened to be Hayate, a name he had heard Yuugao utter more than a few times; two, the purple-haired young woman preferred to keep a low profile—he himself hadn't given the capable kunoichi the credit she deserved until recently; and three, there was the institutional bias. There were reasons, both good and bad, for why kunoichi like Kurenai Yuuhi felt the need to prove themselves as equals to their male counterparts.
"Eh, Haruto?"
"Hmm, yeah, Shikamaru?"
"You haven't been as loud as usual."
"I thought that's what you always wanted? Peace and quiet so you can sleep," Haruto answered back with a smile. The blond's response drew a small laugh from Chouji.
"Tsk, troublesome." But it was clear that Shikamaru was also reassured. "Haruto…"
"Eh, yeah?"
"Thank you for saving me." It was an honest and sincere statement of gratitude, but something in the way his teammate said it made the undercover ANBU nervous.
"It was nothing, Shika. I'm sure you or Chouji would have done the same." The normally lazy genin shot the blond a look that clearly indicated his disbelief. Perhaps understanding how close he was to arousing suspicions (if he hadn't already), Haruto decided to analyze the situation later, away from prying eyes. For the rest of the trip back home, the solemn party was somewhat cheered by the antics of Konoha's number one surprising ninja.
Haruto thanked his lucky stars that old man Sarutobi was the Hokage of Konoha. For one thing, if it were not for the old fossil, the blond and most likely his team would not have survived the encounter in the forest. Some might argue that being an expert assassin at the ripe age of twelve was not a good thing, but Haruto knew it could have been a lot worse. His residence was located in the bad part of town, after all.
Plus, there were also fringe benefits to having an intimate relationship with the leader of a ninja village. Haruto was all but immune to certain procedural quagmires and bureaucratic difficulties. Ordinarily, after a sensitive diplomatic mission, especially one in which the foreign diplomatic party was murdered, the ninja personnel involved could expect a slew of long and tedious inquiries. As it happened, the Hokage personally cleared Team 10 after only a semi-detailed debriefing.
Of course, Haruto said little in that particular meeting. He made his real report at the secret meeting with just the Hokage. He also handed over the strange flute, hoping it could help shed light on who the attackers were. The blond had his suspicions, but it didn't hurt to be sure. Sarutobi spoke little, listened attentively as if he was a seasoned jounin commander as opposed to a twelve-year-old genin, and promised to have the music instrument analyzed as soon as possible. It was a refreshing change from the thinly veiled mockery he experienced earlier in the day from his allies whenever he said or did something halfway intelligent. It also provided a nice reprieve from his frustration at being underappreciated and being unable to do more during the battle.
So when Sarutobi thanked him for saving the lives of his peers, Haruto gave a genuine smile. However kindhearted and personable he was, the Hokage did not give praise to just anyone. The blond knew he should be grateful to the elderly Hokage for a lot of things. Maybe he could get him something extra special for his next birthday.
As far as Haruto was concerned, so long as Sarutobi was around and wearing the top hat, all was right in the world, but god help everyone in Konoha should anything happen to him.
That is so sweet! I think I'm going to need a toothbrush. The hairs on Haruto's back stood up straight. And he had been so hoping that he wouldn't have to deal with the damn fox for a while longer.
What do YOU want?
Someone is in a bad mood. What's the matter, mortal? Was the Kyuubi cooing to him? Haruto shook his head, a fierce scowl gracing his face. Yeah, how about screwing with his mind the last couple of times that it was around.
Ah, is the mortal still angry about my outburst last time? Will an apology help?'
Not when you don't mean it, Haruto thought viciously. The Kyuubi's attitude towards him had become steadily more hostile and sadistic as time passed. The change was subtle but distinctive. Haruto suspected that it had something to do with his maturing body and mind as well as his increasing streak of independence. No longer could the fox demon so easily dominate his psyche or manipulate him into doing everything it wanted. In a way, it was natural for the demon to express displeasure at its loss of control from time to time. Haruto just wished it was not so psychologically painful for him.
"You can stuff your apology, you bastard fox!" Haruto yelled out in real anger. If he was not already so desensitized to the demon, the ghastly images that had assaulted his mind weeks ago would have rendered him catatonic. "I don't want to talk to you!"
Too bad the Kyuubi was in a bad mood as well and didn't enjoy being talked down to in such a manner. Something happened recently to jolt the beast to the surface of its host's consciousness. It was a feeling, a sense of something or someone that the demon fox had not felt in a long, long time. Unfortunately for the young blond, it was an unpleasant feeling and made his tenant riled up as hell. A wave of excruciating pain washed over Haruto, sending the young blond to his knees and gasping for breath.
Watch that tone of yours, brat! I tried to be reasonable and understanding, but you have crossed the line. Remember that you are but an insect compared to me! Don't think for a moment that I couldn't have crushed your mind, stripped your sanity and ravaged your soul all those years ago. I could have, but I didn't.
Shit. Haruto knew he fucked up, having allowed his emotions to get the better of him. He was becoming much better at reading and handling his parasitic demon, but there were still times when he slipped up. And when he did, well… let's just say that Haruto learned early just how vicious the Kyuubi could really be. Luckily for him, the demon quickly eased off. It only wanted to remind its host about certain realities, not to cripple him beyond all repair. When the fox communicated again, its voice softened considerably. Even so, Haruto detected a steely edge in its words, like the edge of a well whetted kunai.
Instead, I granted you salvation from the abyss of destitution. You think anyone would care about you if it wasn't for your massive chakra capacity or your so-called brilliance, pathetic as it may be? I gave you those assets. I didn't do it for you and I didn't do it for free.
Given that the Kyuubi was a crafty schemer and a chronic liar, Haruto did not exactly accept its words at face value. He highly doubted that the fox demon would have willingly "given" him anything if it could help it. Most likely, the Fourth Hokage's imprisonment seal caused components of the demon's essence to leak into his body.
Yet… Through the haze of dulled numbness, the young ninja recognized the partial truths hidden within his tenant's words. Had the Kyuubi actively worked against him, Haruto most certainly would not have turned out the same. Would old man Sarutobi be nearly as attentive if he was a hollow shell of a boy, dumb, deaf and unresponsive? No, surely not. As grateful as he was earlier for everything the village leader did, Haruto was neither foolishly idealistic nor stupidly naïve. How many times did the old man cut a briefing short because his grandson chose to drop by? How many times did he cancel a meeting so he could visit his son? True, these were not exactly common occurrences, but they happened often enough for Haruto to get the message. The Hokage's compassion, patience and even love, like his time, were not unlimited. Blood was thicker than water; and he, unlike Konohamaru or Asuma, was not family.
Haruto took in a deep gulp of fresh air as the painful tremors subsided. The Kyuubi might not have actively helped him but neither did it actively hinder him… at least he did not think so. So, for now, Haruto was very much indebted to the demon. It was an unpleasant thought with unpleasant implications.
I didn't do it for free. The Kyuubi's reminder rang loudly and clearly in the blond's mind. Legends held that when a mortal made a deal with the devil, that mortal paid with his soul. Had he made a deal with a demon? If so, what was the price he must pay?
I'll leave you alone for now. I sensed something out there, but it's clear that you aren't in any condition to talk. We can discuss it when you are more prepared. Just don't ever forget who you are and to whom you belong!
Apparently satisfied with itself, the Kyuubi retreated back into the abyss. Even though he felt its polluted presence disappear, Haruto cautiously waited five minutes before pushing himself into an upright position. This was another trick the fox loved to pull: viciously assault his mind one moment like a deranged mind rapist and then talk to him the next like a bosom buddy. It was enough to drive a lesser man insane. And the ease with which the silver-tongued demon shifted between contradicting personas still shook Haruto more often than not.
The blond boy slowly limped towards his residence. When the Kyuubi was like this, Haruto found that he always needed at least a day to recover. The one saving grace was that he most likely would not have to worry about the damn psychotic fox for the next couple of weeks or maybe even months. Not a great bargain, but the young ninja learned long ago to take what he could get in life.