Chapter 51
Title: No title
...
The gates of Konoha were in sight, a sturdy entrance welcoming the trio of Shun, Mei, and Karin back to Konoha.
As they neared the gate, the air became charged with a sense of excitement, the distant sounds of jubilation reaching their ears.
The air buzzed with anticipation, and the trio soon found themselves immersed in a sea of jubilant faces.
Mei exchanged a glance with Shun, her curiosity evident in the furrow of her brow. "What's happening?" she asked, her voice carrying a hint of confusion.
Shun responded with a nonchalant shrug and a wry smirk. "They're probably extending us a welcome."
Karin couldn't help but snort at Shun's apparent narcissistic tendencies, while Mei, accustomed to his idiocy, merely smiled. Shun's proclivity for making every occurrence about himself had become a familiar quirk.
Despite knowing the reason for the jubilation, in order to maintain pretenses, he approached a random person. "Excuse me," Shun inquired, "What's happening? Why is everyone so joyous?"
A villager, unable to contain their excitement, beamed and responded, "Haven't you heard? Lord Jiraiya and Naruto have returned, and they brought back Lady Tsunade and little Lord Kawaki!"
"What do you mean little Lord? Didn't you see how grown and handsome Lord Kawaki is now?" Another villager rebuked the first one causing him to blush in embarrassment.
"Indeed," added another villager, reminiscing, "It has been some time since we last saw him, and he's already matured remarkably."
"Sigh... how time flies." Another one chimed in.
'Hmm, I wonder who'll become the Kage now... Tsunade or Kawaki. It's always been his dream afterall.' Shun thought as he and the mother-daughter pair continued their trek amidst the jubilant crowd.
"Lady Tsunade and her brother must be really loved, huh?" Mei asked as they walked.
"That's of course. She is the princess of the Leaf Village, a Sanin, The strongest Kunoichi and most accomplished Medical Ninja of this time. As for Kawaki, let's just say he did make a name for himself. Unfortunately, he was born in the wrong era." Shun said casually.
"Born in the Wrong era?" Mei asked and Karin also looked interested.
"Hm. With the Yellow Flash of the Leaf, there was no opening for his achievements to be made known." Shun said succinctly. "This topic is Konoha's village secrets so I won't be saying anything further."
"Oh..."
The trio continued their trek till they reached Shun's hotel located in the center of the village. Upon reaching the area, Shun found that there weren't many guests lodging in.
'Must be due to the earlier Invasion.' He mused as he entered and walked towards a certain direction while greeting the staff that were on duty.
That was where his three students' Chakra signatures were located.
"Hey guys.." Shun said as he entered the lounge and saw the trio relaxing like executive kids. He couldn't help but gawk at them in incredulity.
"Ah! Sensei, when did you get back? You didn't even let us know so we'll come welcome you." Masaru jumped off the comfy couch he was chilling in while expressing his discontent.
'What the...!'
"I need to tell you when I return? Aren't you all supposed to be actively anticipating my arrival?" Shun asked but shook his head. This wasn't time for this.
It was time to fulfill his promise to both Sasuke and Naruto while also creating a good enough reason for Sasuke to leave the village.
"Anyways..." Shun began and ushered in Mei. "... Karin's mother, Mei. She'll be staying with us for a few days before we leave for Hanagakure. Make sure she feels at home."
"Am I understood?"
"Hai! Sensei." They all chorused and Shun nodded.
"That's good. Haruta, continue your lessons in medical Ninjutsu with Karin. Masaru, Takashi, make sure her basics on Taijutsu hasn't deteriorated these past few days. I'll be back as soon as I can." Saying that, Shun made to leave.
"Sensei! You're leaving again?" Haruta asked in annoyance.
"No, I'll still be in the village. I'll just be with some friends. No need to seem frightened. You're all safe here." Shun said and continued to leave.
"Mei-san, I'll let the staff know you're a VIP, anything you need will be provided. However, don't indulge the kids."
And with that, he disappeared.
...
Shun's POV
With this handled I can comfortably spend my next 2-3 years sealed up in the Shadow dimension.
Huh? Karin?
Of course I'll be teaching her, don't I have clones for that? No matter what personality the clone summoned has, my main intent of summoning it will still remain training Karin to her optimum potential.
From what I have gathered from personality and thought process, I already know she isn't the fighting type. Yes, she will learn how to fight, but that isn't where she'll thrive.
When I took a psych evaluation on her, I came to realize that she was so much like Izumi, The long distance attacker.
Alone, she'd be scared to attack, but with a group, she'd be an invaluable Auxiliary.
Normally, when it comes to psychology, when asked: Where on the Human body would you attack first in a battle?
When someone is prone to attacking the Face, you will know that that person is more inclined to dominance and a desire to assert control.
Targeting the face, a highly vulnerable and expressive area, may suggest an intent to subdue the opponent both physically and psychologically. This approach may reflect a person who values a strategic advantage and aims to instill fear or submission in their adversary.
Additionally, it could signify a focus on immediate impact and a willingness to employ aggressive tactics to gain an upper hand in the confrontation.
Attacking other parts of the body in a fight can also reveal insights into a person's psychological approach.
Targeting the torso may indicate a pragmatic and strategic mindset. Striking at the core of the body suggests an understanding of the physiological vulnerabilities, aiming to compromise the opponent's balance, breath, and overall functionality.
Attacking the legs could reflect a calculated approach focused on reducing an opponent's mobility.
This strategy suggests a desire to limit the adversary's ability to move, evade, or counterattack, showcasing a tactical mindset.
This can also suggest a desire to prevent future problems. By incapacitating your opponents, you aim to make sure he doesn't run and come back for revenge on a later day.
Striking at the arms may reveal an intention to disarm the opponent, impairing their ability to defend or counter.
This approach could be indicative of a person who values precision and aims to neutralize potential threats systematically.
This can also suggest that you're scared or having injuries inflicted on your person. By doing this, you'll assure yourself that you have a greater chance of winning.
Targeting the back might signal a preference for surprise and exploiting vulnerabilities. Attacking from behind suggests a willingness to capitalize on the opponent's blind spots and a strategic mindset that values opportunistic maneuvers.
It also suggests that you dislike frontal confrontation and are quick to end all problems that come your way in a swift and efficient manner.
Personally, I fall under the last category, but Karin? She falls under the first category, and it's not for reasons you would expect.
To her, blinding or disorienting her opponent would mean she has a greater chance of running away if things go south.
Well, she hasn't really learnt how to fight to say for sure so I'll leave her foundations to Masaru and Takashi.
Now...To meet Tsuna-chan and Kawaki...
...Ah! Naruto and Sasuke too hehehe.
…
"Yo!" I popped inside the Hokage office only to suddenly feel I had come into the wrong room due to the intense pressure that was being exuded in there.
Looking around, I saw both Jiraiya and Tsunade, Shizune and Kawaki, Kakashi and Shikaku and finally, the reason the room was so tense... Danzo, and his fuck squad.
Unfazed by the tension, I continued. "Looks like I walked in at the wrong time," displaying a nonchalant demeanor as I observed the assembled individuals while making myself comfortable on the window sill.
"Shun-kun..."
"Shun.."
"Little kid."
Shikaku, Kakashi and Jiraiya all said at the same time to which I smiled at them and then turned to Tsunade.
"I haven't had the pleasure of officially meeting you Tsunade-san. Old man Keshiro spoke of you in admiration." I said with a small bow before turning to Kawaki.
"And you too. Minato-nii mentioned you a lot when he was alive."
"Oh?" Kawaki said in a deep voice and I nodded.
"According to him, you were the most likely to become the fourth, but due to certain circumstances he didn't mention, he became the one and you left the village."
"...I see, it's a pleasure to also meet you. We were opportuned to witness your battles in the Jounin Exams hosted by Hanagakure a couple years back, and I must say, you really are something."
"Haha.." chuckling at his praise, I scratched my head and said. "it was nothing."
"Oh, on the contrary, you were something." Tsunade cut it making me turn to her. "I guess that gave you the gall to enter the office of the Hokage so wantonly, eh?"
She said in mild annoyance causing the room to freeze for a couple seconds untill I couldn't hold it anymore.
"Pfft-hahahahahaha. Wow, that was good. Golden in fact. Wow."
...
Normally POV.
Watching Shun laughing so boisterously despite the tense atmosphere, no one knew how to proceed causing them all to look at eachother weirdly.
'Was this kid nuts or something?'
Was what was going through their heads at the moment...all except two people.
Danzo and Kakashi.
"Ah... pardon me. I just didn't know I could talk that way. It took a lot out of me to speak so formally, I mean, can you imagine? Me, talking so formally and respectfully?" Shun asked while looking at Kakashi.
"You brat-!" One of the three elders made to rebuke Shun only for Danzo to raise his hand at her.
"Forgive me for asking Shun, what brings you here?" Jiraiya asked and I turned to him.
"Oh...you're here too." Shun asked the man with a look of ridicule
Jiraiya eye visibly twitched hearing this but didn't act out.
"Anyways, I just felt like popping in and seeing the new leading body of the lead. I didn't expect to see these old coots out and about."
"How dare you talk that way to your elders!?" Homura bellowed in anger.
"Eh? Elders? Where? I don't see any elders around here." Shun comically looked around before shrugging.
"Oh, are you referring to yourselves? Please, old age doesn't mean shit in front of me." Shun sneered before looking at Tsunade.
"But I must say, you really are one decent specimen of a woman. What do you say, wanna become the Hokage, free from the stupidity of these old foggies?" Shun continued with a small whisper.
Tsunade, although taken aback by Shun's audacity, couldn't help but smirk at his boldness. "You certainly have a unique way of expressing yourself. However, despite their crass behaviour at time, they are still useful to the village."
Shun chuckled, "Fair enough, but it would've been nice if they were like the honourable siblings of the sand. But hey, at least you don't have to deal with the political machinations and backstabbing like some people." He shot a pointed glance at Danzo, who maintained his composed demeanor.
Danzo spoke with measured calmness, "Your irreverence is quite remarkable, Shun. However, it would be wise to remember the delicate balance of power in the village."
Shun raised an eyebrow, "Delicate balance, you say? I've always found that term amusing. It implies fragility. As if the village would crumble without the constant maneuvering of politics."
Kakashi, who had been silently observing, finally spoke, "Shun, your arrival is unexpected. What is your purpose here besides entertaining us with your unique charm?"
Shun grinned, "Oh, you know, just checking in on old acquaintances. I heard there's been a bit of a power shuffle, and I couldn't resist witnessing the aftermath. Plus, it's always fun to see how everyone reacts to a bit of chaos."
Jiraiya, still trying to maintain a semblance of order, asked, "Chaos? What do you mean?"
Shun leaned back, crossing his arms, "Well, with new leaders come new challenges. Some might see it as an opportunity, while others might see it as a threat. I'm just here to enjoy the show."
The tension in the room was palpable, and Shun seemed to revel in it. "But don't worry too much; I'm not here to stir up trouble. Just passing through, you know how it is."
Danzo, ever vigilant, spoke again, "Your casual demeanor belies a more intricate motive. What game are you playing, Shun?"
Shun winked, "Oh, Danzo, you always see through people, don't you? No game, I promise. Just a bored wanderer looking for a bit of amusement."
The elders exchanged wary glances, unsure of how to handle Shun's unpredictable presence. The room remained in a tense standoff, awaiting Shun's next move.
"Ah! I did make a promise to two Genins, gotta go fulfill that promise, just hope there wouldn't be a need to make a point like I did a few ago in regards to Naruto."
After saying that, Shun casually strolled out of the Hokage office, leaving behind a bewildered group of leaders and advisors, he couldn't help but relish in the chaos he left in his wake.
...
"A few years ago?" Tsunade asked the occupants of the room. "Any why did that kid act like he owned the place!?"