Chapter 33 - Interlude 01 - Kensei, Hiruzen, Sasuke

Kensei Yasaji.

Kensei was eating his morning breakfast when he noticed Daichi coming down. "Good morning Gramps." Daichi greeted him. As he looked at Daichi, Kensei noticed something strange.

'His chakra reserve has increased and he seems to be on alert.'

Even though it wouldn't be obvious to someone normal, Kensei saw the signs. He watched Daichi take a look at the exits and take in every object in the room quickly and subtly. He sat down without saying anything and ate his breakfast.

Kensei quickly sensed Daichi's chakra signature to verify it's his grandson. 'It's Daichi alright.! So then what's up with him?'

"Did something happen last night?"

The question startled the boy. He put a wide smile on his face and replied. "Nothing happened… Why do you ask?"

"You seem to be on guard. More vigilant and wary of your surroundings." Kensei replied in a confused tone.

"Oh? I'm trying to be more vigilant of my surroundings. I read in a book about taking in every detail when in enemy territory. Trying to make this a habit…" Daichi said with a straight face. He did read something similar in a book so he wasn't lying.

Hearing Daichi's answer satisfied Kensei.

"Anyway...Umm...Something else did happen last night." Daichi had a sheepish smile on his face as he said this.

Seeing Daichi's jovial expression, Kensei let go of his worries. "What is it?" He was curious as to what brought the change.

"I learned two jutus. One for water and one for wind."

"Have you tried them?" Kensei asked.

"No." Daichi replied with a straight face. "I was thinking we could go over them after we had some breakfast."

Kensei nodded in approval. They quickly finished their food and went outside. They reach the training area in their backyard. Kensei motioned for Daichi to begin.

Daichi quickly went through the hand seals for the water style jutsu. A fast spiraling blast of water shot from his mouth and destroyed the small stone he aimed at. Kensei was examining Daichi as he used the Jutsu. He noticed his grandson's chakra reserves had increased by a wide margin. Noting that he had enough chakra to perform another jutsu, Kensei motioned Daichi to perform the next one. The wind style wind bullet jutsu was quickly demonstrated as well. Daichi turned around to look at his grandpa.

"So what do you think?"

Kensei examined the aftermath of the two Ninjutsus. He was more than impressed that a first year academy student had the reserves and control to pull off two techniques that looked like they were C Rank level.

"Your chakra volume has grown far more than someone your age. And your chakra control is exceptional. To successfully use two chakra nature jutsus that are not of your natural affinity… That's impressive." Kensei was impressed by Daichi's improvement and dismissed Daichi's strange behavior in the morning. "I take it you have something in mind for telling me this."

Daichi nodded. "Can you give me 3 simple easy jutsus for the remaining chakra natures."

"So you want a fire, lightning and earth nature jutsus. Why do you need them?" Kensei's curiosity peaked.

"I want to feel what it's like to use all 5 elements. Understand the way my chakra changes to each element. Improve my control. All that stuff." Daichi gave his answer. He was hoping his grandfather would approve.

After listening to Daichi's reasons and thinking about it for some time he agreed. He took his grandson to his library and gave him 3 scrolls detailing C Rank jutsus for fire, earth and lightning nature. After informing his grandson that he was going out, Kensei left.

He was walking down the road thinking about Daichi's progress. It really baffled him. 'The speed of his growth is truly abnormal. And his chakra reserves had increased quite a bit since the last time I sensed them. And his talent… He makes me look like chopped liver. His talent is far beyond what I initially thought… '

'Maybe… Just maybe… He can do it… Stand at the top of this era… Wouldn't that be something? But this will also bring him attention. Sooner or later the eyes of everyone important is going to fall on him. He'll need to prepare for that…'

Kensei thought about Daichi and his enormous talents and his thoughts drifted to his late son. He shook his head and sighed after a few moments clearing his thoughts. He looked up in front of him. He had reached his destination. The orphanage where he met Daichi.

He went inside and met with Aiko.

"Hello Aiko. It's been a while." Kensei sat and smiled.

"Yes it has. How have you been? Not bored I imagine." Aiko smiled at her old friend.

"No. Not with Daichi around."

"How is he by the way?" Aiko asked.

"Good. Great actually. He got first place in the academy this semester. A natural born genius. It's interesting to have him around to say the least." Kensei smiled as he recalled his experiences with Daichi. They talked about the past for a while. While talking about Daichi's training Aiko suddenly remembered something. The visit from the Special Jonin Genma.

"Kensei. There's something I think you should know. The Hokage enquired about Daichi." Aiko said in a somewhat serious tone.

"What! When?" Kensei exclaimed.

"A few days after you adopted him."

"Did he come here personally?"

"No. He sent one of his guards…" Aiko was silent for a second before asking "What are you going to do? I know you and lord third have a history… Is that going to affect Daichi?"

Kensei sighed and replied. "No. What happened between me and Hiruzen won't affect Daichi. He's not that kind of a man… But someone like Danzo on the other hand… Has he come here recently?"

Aiko shook her head. "No. He hasn't, not since that day."

"Probably due to Hiruzen. He always had a soft spot for you. Especially after all the things you did for the village… I am curious though… Have you found out the source of the funds you received?" Kensei wanted to know if Aiko found her mysterious benefactor.

The orphanage and Aiko received a very large sum of money shortly after the nine tails attack. When she received the money Aiko believed it was someone who wanted to help the orphans at such a terrible time. But with that money came 1 important instruction.

Never let Danzo Shimura take any of the children at the orphanage.

Aiko knew the kind of man Danzo was. She made sure to screen every person she hired at the orphanage. 2 years after the attack, Danzo came trying to recruit a couple of children for his organization but Aiko refused. When he started to make trouble for her, the Hokage intervened. Danzo never bothered her again.

She would protect all the children under her care. But she was curious as to why that money came with that particular condition.

Kensei and Aiko spent a couple of hours reminiscing about the past and talked about various topics. After some time Kensei left the place.

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Hokage's Office.

The Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi was looking over the mission reports of the Anbu Team Ro. He paid attention to the Rank and number of missions completed by the team. Team Ro under Anbu captain Kakashi Hatake was a formidable squad.

'With Itachi's addition to the team, their mission completion rate has increased twofold. Today is the last day of their one week break.'

The Hokage took another folder and reviewed it's contents. After going through it he came to a decision. 'I'll assign Kakashi's team to this. They're the most suitable.'

Once he stamped the last of the top secret and critical documents with his official seal he took a break from his work. He went near the window and looked out.

'Things are getting progressively worse with the Uchiha clan. Itachi and Shisui were the only ones who stood on our side from the clan. But now that Shisui is dead things have gotten much worse. The Police force is investigating the matter. Even though it appears as a suicide to the world, the Uchiha won't buy into that. Now Itachi is the only informant I have in the clan. If something happens to him as well…'

Hiruzen sighed as he thought about the burdens he carried on his shoulders and the burdens he placed on the 11 year old genius of the Uchiha clan.

'I'll have to trust Itachi on this matter. I hope he'll be able to convince Fugaku and the other Uchiha clan members. Negotiation is the only way to solve this problem. And the sooner the better.'

Soon he went back to work. He looked over the important reports first and after some time came to the documents regarding the academy tests. He looked over the results of the first year semester and what he saw was what he thought but it still somewhat surprised him.

'Just as I expected. Daichi took first place in almost all the tests. He was even able to beat Sasuke Uchiha and score higher marks. It seems my intuition was right.'

'During the entrance ceremony I noticed his chakra volume. It had grown several times from when I first met and sensed him. And it felt like he had precise control over it as well. He had grown a lot stronger in just one year. And based on the reports Daikoku made from his observations, it seems Daichi is still holding back. Daikoku notes that Daichi is eligible for skipping a grade.'

'Should I do it?... No! It's still too soon. Let him develop a healthy and strong mind first. I'll have him graduate with his class or if he's really impressive then maybe a year early. That should be enough.'

The Hokage went over the results of the whole class and made mental notes of all the students who showed some talent. He paused when his eyes reached a certain name.

Naruto Uzumaki.

'It would seem he has your looks, Minato. But he's inherited his attitude from Kushina.'

'A troublemaker. Recently he started pulling pranks on teachers. Bad in studies but has a positive attitude… I suppose that's a fair assessment from the teacher… But I know you'll do great things one day, Naruto. You're the one Minato entrusted with the Nine-tails after all.'

He looked over the academy files and continued on with his works.

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Uchiha Clan. - Sasuke's Home.

Sasuke was sitting in front of his father Fugaku Uchiha. Sasuke had a downcast expression as his father went through every line in his report card. Once he was done, he placed the card down and looked at his youngest son. His face showed no emotion. After staring at his son for over a minute he broke the silence.

"This was unexpected, Sasuke. You got second place… I thought you'd be like your brother but it seems I'm wrong."

Sasuke clenched his fists around his knees. He didn't even have the strength to look at his father. He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth. He stayed like that, never speaking a word.

"What do you have to say for yourself?" Fugaku asked in a stern voice.

"I'm sorry father. I'll do better next time." The young Uchiha replied.

"Don't forget. Your brother took first place in the academy and graduated in less than six months. He is a genius like no other. Now that you've joined the academy you have to hold yourself up to his standards. You need to work harder. Much harder. Do you understand?" Fugaku asked.

"Yes father. I'll train more." It was the only reply the young Uchiha gave.

Fugaku got up and was about to leave but abruptly stopped. "The child who defeated you. What is his name?" He enquired.

Sasuke was quiet for a few seconds and then answered in a small voice. "Daichi… Daichi Hekima."

Fugaku nodded and left the room. He always held Sasuke to the same standards he did Itachi. But seeing his son not take the first spot in his class disappointed him. But at the same time Fugaku became a bit interested in the boy that defeated his child.

Sasuke was in a turmoil. Tears started rolling down his face. He stayed seated on the ground even after his father had left and cried, but he never made a single sound.

'Itachi… Daichi… I… I hate you both.' It was the only thought that went through his head as he silently shed tears in misery.

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Author's Note:

Hit me up with some power stone guys. Let's get this story up the rankings.