Chapter 19: Konoha High Level Meeting
(3rd PoV)
(Hokage Office)
"So, another batch of Academy will be starting tomorrow. This batch is special as it contains major clan heirs or children of the clan heads. Sasuke from Uchiha clan, Hinata from Hyuga clan, Shikamaru from Nara clan, Chouji from Akimichi clan, Ino from Yamanaka clan, Kiba from Inuzuka clan and Shino from Aburame clan. There are also special cases of Naruto and Shiori. So besides them, are there any talented children?"
Iruka spoke, "Hokage-sama, a girl name Haruno Sakura scored the second highest after Shiori in the entrance quiz. Shiori got a 100, and Sakura 99. But she doesn't have much chakra reserves."
Hiruzen smiled at Iruka, "It's alright. Jiraya and Minato also didn't have much chakra in the beginning. Even I had slightly lower chakra than my peers."
"I apologise Hokage-sama. But Hokage-sama, may I ask why I wasn't allowed to check Shiori-chan's chakra?"
"Well, something happened when she was small-"
Hiruzen subtly glanced at Danzo, who was keeping his eyes closed as if he didn't do anything.
"-so her tenkutsu were damaged. But even though she can't use chakra anymore, she has great talent in drawing, as you know, and even fuinjutsu. She might become the main fuinjutsu user of the village in the future. So take good care of her. And Iruka-kun,"
"Yes Hokage-sama."
"Treat Naruto well."
Iruka stiffened. He couldn't forget how his father's back as he headed to battle the Kyuubi. It was the reason he became an orphan-
He calmed down. He was in front of the Hokage and the elders.
"I will, Hokage-sama."
"Good. Then prepare for the classes tomorrow."
"Thank you Hokage-sama!"
And he left the Hokage office.
Homura spoke up, "Hiruzen, have you found out more about Shiori's ability?"
Hiruzen nodded.
"Jiraya was able to talk to Toad Sage, the only one who we know that has seer ability when he dreams-"
"That child of prophecy thing? It's just an excuse for him to fool around."
Danzo scoffed. Peace is never going to be achieved, it is just Absence of War when the resources are low after a war. If there is any way to achieve peace, it is by uniting the Shinobi world, which only he can do.
Hiruzen just sighed at Danzo, and continued, "We know that the Priestess of Land of Demons has a dojutsu which allows her to see someone's death, but having dreams of images, it is very similar to the Toad Sage. But he is very old now and his ability has declined, and he only gave the prophecy with the vague images that appeared in his dreams.
But Shiori, she dreams about the people she wants to create posters of and draws it. They are very vague. The most precise prediction was when she drew for Hinata's 3rd Birthday. The kidnapping event did happen but Hizashi has already told Hiashi about the omnious feeling he got from her poster, so they were prepared.
And the vaguest prediction was Sasuke's cold look, that is completely opposite of his demeanor. And Kakashi's shocked expression, with a war-like background. Then Itachi with a straw-hat and Sharingan ON, Shikamaru with a cigarette, and the Hyuga sisters with moon in the background.
If we are to go by assuming that she did see them, we can assume that a war will happen in the near future, as Kakashi looks not more than 10 years older. And that one where a 16-17 year old Shikamaru is giving strategy to the entire 'alliance'.
And we can't ignore what she drew for Shisui. It was him jumping in the Naka river. And he did jump in the Naka River. But it was a suicide.
And the Uchiha situation is tense, we can't draw out the possibility exactly, but the cold looks of Itachi and Sasuke with their unique clothing styles may mean that Fugaku or Mikoto or both will die in the near future, in which Sasuke also looks about 10 years older than now.
Asuma will most likely be this generation's Ino-Shika-Cho Jonin-sensei, so Shikamaru smoking means either he got into the habit because of Asuma, or he... died as well. Again, he looks about 10 years older than now.
I don't understand about Hyugas, but maybe it is not a prophecy but just an art style?
But one thing is clear. There is going to be a war in about 10 years. And a severe one. One that made Kakashi shocked for some reason, a possible death of a close member or family, maybe,... Naruto.
And we will possibly see more skirmishes with Kiri as we have been seeing right now. Shisui has already defeated Ao's battalion which was infiltrating Land of Fire. I doubt there will be full blown war with Kiri as it has recently entered a civil war.
But if there is the slightest chance that her predictions are true, a war on a bigger scale than the Third Shinobi war may start in around 10 years.
That's why I have been helping Naruto to train through Guy, going against the demilitarization pact-"
Danzo: "Hmph! As if any village will just demilitarize because of a piece of paper. Kumo is even doing it very balantly."
Homura: "Danzo is right, Hiruzen. The academy right now is a joke. You shouldn't have listened to the civilians and decreased the difficulty. The new genins are nothing compared to the genins before the Third Shinobi War."
Hiruzen could only sigh. "I shouldn't have listened to the civilian union. But we can't force our way. That's why, I am thinking of allowing those who have already learnt the academy 3 and have potential in a particular field, to access more resources. Like medical ninjutsu, some more D rank ninjutsu, fuinjutsu and other things."
Danzo: "You shouldn't have allowed those unions to form. If they want, they should form it in the capital. This is Konoha, a ninja village. You are too naive Hiruzen."
Hiruzen sighed. Danzo was right.
But Homura interjected. "It was necessary if we wanted to increase our population and collect taxes ourselves. The Daimyo can't be trusted to not cut the funding on his whim-"
"He is a wimp."
Danzo scoffed at the Daimyo.
"-Anyway, now that Konoha is more self sufficient due to our citizens being able to start their own business aside from the small shops, I would say that allowing a Civilian Council is overall beneficial for us. Regarding the quality of ninjas, the Jonin and Chunin senseis have to pay more attention. Nothing we can do about it. Afterall, just the Daimyo's funding isn't nearly enough to recover from the Second and Third Shinobi Wars, and Kyuubi's attack, all happening back to back with a gap of one year."
Hiruzen sighed as Homura reiterated why he can't just disband the Civilian Council. Shiori has told him that she wants to open a very big store in the middle of Konoha, and he will have to deal with those meatheads who don't want another competitor in the market, be it a six year old kid.
Danzo opened his mouth, and glared at Hiruzen.
"If our financial condition is not that good, why are we purchasing the way overpriced posters from that girl? That money could be better used for-"
"Danzo. We are over this."
"-ROOT"
Danzo grumbled, but stopped bringing up that subject again.
Though, Danzo was also thinking about other things than the funding of ROOT. He was sure that the posters of Itachi and Sasuke meant another thing. Itachi with a straw hat probably meant that he became a missing nin, and Sasuke was hunting him down, but not a missing nin as he had the Uchiha and Konoha emblem in his clothes.
That completely coincided with his strategy. He has already killed Shisui, and the unrest in the clan is strong. This means that he will be able to manipulate Itachi as he wanted. Itachi along with his ROOTs will exterminate the Uchiha, and Sasuke will kill Itachi and start a new Uchiha clan. If he doesn't, he will have his female ROOT members drug him and become pregnant once he becomes the Hokage. He will do the same to Naruto as well.
Then the new Uzumaki and Uchiha clan will be under his control. The fate was favouring him, showing him that he is on the right path.
Homura: "Hiruzen, what if Shiori could use chakra? For reaching the later stages of fuinjutsu masters, blood infused ink will no longer be enough. And what if, using chakra will make her precognition abilities stronger?"
Everyone had that thought, and then they stared at Danzo.
"Why are you looking at me? I don't know medical ninjutsu."