Behind Closed Doors

Not long after, Suzuki Yamaha returned to the Konoha Ninja Academy and met up with Minato to explain what happened and the reasons things turned out as they did. He did not want one of the strongest in the village to paint a target on his back.

"So, Malaria was trying to push all the blame for his outrageous actions onto you, and the reason behind it is because of the insect the Aburame clan infested him with, while he regains his slumped reputation?" Minato scratched his chin.

Suzuki Yamaha responded helplessly, "He supposedly gave me all the 'credit' for all the deeds with a weak explanation to the students, but he is the ultimate beneficiary. Not only did he manage to save his reputation, but he also blamed all the bad things on me. I don't know whether if I should laugh or cry."

"Hahaha…" Minato couldn't help but chuckle. "Don't be upset. As a little reward on the side, you could recommend three students to me, and I'll take them under my wing as their jonin-sensei. What you did helped a child in dire need of a way out."

"Three children to follow Minato-sama during these times of war? I couldn't be more relieved." Yamaha-sensei couldn't help but feel overjoyed. Minato truly is a man made from good deeds and sunshine.

Minato said with a smile, "Don't be too excited. You will have to work hard on Malaria's education, as you might become his teacher in the field."

"Work in the field? I'm getting promoted?" After a brief shock, Yamaha asked tentatively, "Malaria is not going to study under a more experienced Jonin? I'm just barely reaching elite-chunin after all."

Minato nodded with a smile. He couldn't for the life of him figure out what sort of mettle a teacher needs to stay sane with Malaria in the vicinity. This Yamaha-sensei in front of himself was a good match, and asking Hokage-sama to promote someone isn't an issue.

Instantly, Suzuki Yamaha felt like he was struck by the Raikage's Double Lariat and that his life was completely dark like an abyss. Every day he lived with Malaria he felt as if his lifespan had been shortened by almost a year.

If he became the Jonin-instructor for Malaria, would he possibly survive with his sanity intact until the brat graduated to chunin? It's incredibly unlikely. 'This is terrible, I must teach that devil chakra moulding right this instant to lower our time of contact.' Yamaha thought.

"I'm somewhat confused, Minato-san. Why don't you bring him under your wing? Malaria is a genius student with potential as high as the sky. I'm certain you would do a fine job teaching such a model student, one genius to another." Yamaha couldn't help but say.

'I could use one of the three-quotas Minato just gave me to give that devil back to him. Hoho, you didn't see that coming, did you?' Yamaha snickered in his heart.

Those who studied under the pillars of Konoha were all either super geniuses or extremely mediocre students that were only there to motivate the aforementioned genius not to slack off.

Although Malaria didn't even know how to use chakra yet, nobody would bat an eyebrow if he was placed straight under the Hokage himself. Minato is a top-of-the-line elite-Jonin, he would be a much better instructor candidate then the simple Suzuki Yamaha.

Minato feigned a sigh. "I would love to bring Malaria to the battlefield with me in person, but do you think I will have the time? Since I know the Flying Thunder God technique, I'm bound to be going to every battlefield simultaneously."

Yamaha-sensei thought it through for a moment and shivered. 'Indeed, Minato will be teleporting from one fight to the next constantly for years to come. He will not have the time to teach any students in the upcoming war.'

Feeling his mind about to black out from just thinking about spending years together with Malaria, he contemplated cutting off his own leg and honestly stay inside the Ninja Academy teaching new little brats. Anything is better than sticking with Malaria.

"I'll leave Malaria with you in the future. Take care of the little things yourself and contact me if any big issues were ever to happen." Minato pat Suzuki Yamaha's shoulder in encouragement and left the academy.

Yamaha started washing his face in tears. He wondered what crimes he possibly could've committed in his last life that punished him to be the instructor of Malaria in this one…

--

The Akimichi family is a warrior-shinobi family with a history that stretches back several hundred years. They, together with Nara- and Yamanaka clans, fought side by side during the warring states period until Senju Hashirama appeared and united every clan in the Land of Fire under Konoha.

One of their greatest ancestors was a pure-yang manifestation that led their family to rise during those trying times. Figuring out the many 'body-size-multiplying'-techniques he invented and taught to his clansmen, he led them to glory and wealth.

However, as peace started taking its toll after the several wars they've experienced, the family has started declining. Not a single Kage-level combatant had showed up in their ranks ever since the warring states period ended.

When night was about to fall, the CEO of the Food Court Akimichi Narute, was sitting in his living room side-by-side with Suzuki Yamaha, who was smiling happily.

"Old Narute, as a childhood friend, I'm truly sorry about what happened to Boruto." Yamaha said in embarrassment. That 'the-plan' was entirely his idea had somehow managed to reach the ears of his old friend.

Akimichi Narute angrily replied, "Old Yama, it was our friendship that made me aid you in getting your teaching position. A random little devil ambushed my grand-nephew, and to make me even angrier, you ruled the demon to be the winner. You… You…"

The more Narute talked, the angrier he became. He wouldn't had complained at all if Akimichi Boruto had lost in a spar during the assessment. However, his jewels were kicked before the match could even start, and his enemy was announced the winner. Who could possibly swallow such indignation?

Suzuki Yamaha quickly appeased him, "Don't get too agitated, Old Narute. I'm here to explain what happened in detail. Everything isn't what it seems."

Akimichi Narute took several deep breaths to calm himself down. He almost started transforming into a giant out of pure anger.

Yamaha-sensei opened his mouth again, "Your grand-nephew's opponent was not some random guy. He's the Mosquito Hazard, someone greatly favoured by Shimura Danzo himself."

"What!?"

Akimichi Narute stood up in shock. "Why is a member of the Root taking part in Ninja Academy assessments? Shouldn't he already be counted as one of the Anbu at this point?"

"It's too complicated for me to explain in short order. All you need to know is that Danzo-sama is Malaria's backer, he decides in the dark how things are going to operate."

Akimichi Narute turned deep into thought. He had read about Malaria's abilities in his files before. Malaria's mosquito swarm and crocked mind was indeed attractive for someone of Danzo's calibre.

Also, considering how many antics and incidents the brat had caused, Malaria might even be considered a candidate to inherit the mantle of 'the Darkness of the Shinobi World'.

"Do you understand my ruling during that spar now? All those rewards promised in Hokage-sama's name in fact were argued for by Danzo-sama." Yamaha continued, spitting half-truths like a machine-gun.

Akimichi Narute sighed. The Akimichi family shouldn't have messed with these muddied waters. Let alone Danzo being part of it, even the Hokage had taken notice of that brat. What else could he do except hold back his anger and indignation?

"Old Narute, Danzo-sama is not as petty as you think. As compensation to the injured, I received the opportunity to recommend three students to Namikaze Minato who will overlook- and teach them during the war." Yamaha chuckled.

"Are you saying my grand-nephew can learn from Namikaze Minato, perhaps even be taught the Flying Thunder God technique if he's able?" Akimichi Narute almost jumped in excitement. This was what their clan was missing!

Suzuki Yamaha nodded and said carefully, "Yes, but you have to answer my next question frankly, it's of dire importance."

Somewhat intimidated by the solemnity on Yamaha's face, Narute asked, "What is it?"

"Someone attempted to kill Malaria last night, an assassin from the Uchiha clan police station. Did you send the assassin as revenge for your grandnephew?" Suzuki Yamaha stared Akimichi Narute dead in the eye.

"No, absolutely not!" Akimichi Narute shook his head like a rattle drum. "You know that I never intervene in the matters of juniors, even if there are despicable methods involved. Also, I've been waiting to hear your explanation of the matter."

Observing Old Narute closely for a while, Yamaha nodded. "Got it. Ask your grandnephew to take care of himself and prepare for the war to come. His strength will surely grow by a large margin."

Then, Suzuki Yamaha rose to his feet and bid Akimichi Narute farewell.

"Old Yama, I can't thank you enough!" Akimichi Narute quickly embraced his old friend and patted him on the back.

Suzuki Yamaha shook his head vehemently. "You can thank me when your grandnephew comes back from the war, stronger than ever."

Akimichi Narute watched Suzuki Yamaha disappear into the evening sun, closing the doors to his mansion. "That old-timer is truly lucky, getting on the good side of both Hokage-sama and Danzo-sama."

--

Not many hours later, Uchiha Fugaku came to visit and was having tea with Akimichi Narute, Himawari's father. Soon their families would be joined through the bond of marriage, although there's some estrangement between both sides.

Narute asked the Uchiha Patriarch softly, "Old Fu, was it you who sent an assassin to kill Malaria-kun?" Feeling somewhat stiff at that nickname, Fugaku looked at Narute's chubby but completely emotionless face.

He did not know how Akimichi Narute learned that he was the one who did it, but he knew that he couldn't fool anyone anymore. Especially these in-laws, it's a new experience for the entirety of the Uchiha clan and must be handled with care.

"Yes, I did it." Uchiha Fugaku nodded and acknowledged the deed.

After a short silence, Akimichi Narute said, "It's good that you could come clean about this. I'll handle this matter for you, but take heed, you cannot touch Malaria-kun or you will have endless troubles."

Fugaku couldn't help but narrow his eyes. For some reason, he felt he might be under a sound-based genjutsu - he simply can't believe what he just heard.

Akimichi Narute was someone in charge of the Food Court, his dealings with both the Daimyo and Hokage were too numerous to count. Did he have some sort of inside information on the matters regarding that devil Malaria?

Even though Narute was a member of the somewhat distant branch-family in the Akimichi clan, his business sense and information network were immense. Otherwise, if he was part of the main family and had a name starting with 'Cho', he could've run for clan head many years ago.

But why would Akimichi Narute say that he couldn't touch the abandoned Malaria?

"And why is that? That brat might've brought our families together, but both of us know the 'intimate' details and feelings of one of the parties involved." Fugaku asked curiously. "A punishment should be scheduled for him, even though I admit attempting his life might've been too much."

Akimichi Narute answered with a low voice, almost a whisper, "Because a certain darkness has got Malaria's back, someone that even my family and everyone in the Food Court don't want to piss off."

Uchiha Fugaku's pupils constricted violently. He was shocked by this revelation, that brat actually managed to get Danzo of all people to appreciate him. Was this some sort of joke?

Narute took a sip of his tea to moisten his throat, "There are plenty of higherups in Konoha that have opened their eyes to Malaria's potential. They first noticed, and took the matter seriously after your man's failed assassination."

Fugaku ventured out a question, "What sort of power did Malaria showcase at that time? I never got any news from my man, and there has been a sort of blockade on my routes to find out the details." Pondering the matter, Fugaku continues, "I thought his protective Anbu was the one who struck."

Akimichi Narute felt bittersweet and forced a smile. The Root Anbu are of course horrifying since they completely disregard their own safety in combat. But this matter was entirely handled by Malaria himself, in one move no less.

Picking up some documents from under the table and pushing them over for Fugaku to peruse, he waited for his reaction. Fugaku swallowed and started sweating. A child without any chakra killed a chunin-combatant in one move? How ridiculous is this!?

No wonder Danzo is interested in that little demon.