Fuinjutsu Chapter 8 part 2/3
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Village of Stone; Shopping district; The Incredible and Amazing Inu’s Seal-shop; Two months after infiltrating Iwa; 22:07 GMT.
“So, how are you holding up?”
Naruto looked up from the seal he was designing to meet the dark eyes of his future mentor.
He wasn’t too surprised at the sudden intrusion in his workroom this time - a month had gone by since the last time after all, but he was still grateful that he hadn’t been doing anything more volatile than essentially doodling some weird characters on a piece of paper.
Straightening from his position, Naruto cracked his neck to get some of the built up tension in his muscles to disperse. After that he eyed the white-haired sannin with calculating eyes. He was relatively sure that the person in front of him was Jiraiya, but in times like these you could never be too sure.
“How’s my pet doing?” he asked instead of answering the question.
Jiraiya smirked, “The Daimyo’s wife kidnapped it and is now keeping it at ransom.”
Naruto smiled an easy greeting as the identity of his visitor was confirmed. They had agreed to change the pass-phrase for each visit.
“I’ve been better,” he said in answer to the original question. “…But then again, I’ve been worse too so I can’t really complain.”
Jiraiya chuckled as he took a seat on the table, “Yeah, I know the feeling. Count your blessings, right?”
“Right.” Naruto confirmed as he rolled up the piece of paper he’d been doodling on. “I think the worst is over for now seeing as I’ve been here two months now. I’ve kind of gotten used to the situation and the new environment.”
The toad summoner nodded, “Yes, the first two months have always been reported to be the worst by the people that have been assigned undercover missions. It’s a transition…” he trailed off.
“Yeah,” Naruto sighed noncommittally as he rubbed the back of his neck. “How are things back home?”
“Bad, but not as bad as it will develop to become if this conflict isn’t cleared up soon,” Jiraiya said as he picked up the nearly full bottle of liquor that Naruto had left out on the table from what was now a well ingrained habit. “Do you mind?” he asked as he waved the bottle around a bit.
“No, go ahead,” Naruto answered immediately, too surprised by the fact that Jiraiya actually asked permission for once to drink anybody’s booze.
Jiraiya smiled crookedly in thanks as he pulled the cork free with his teeth. After taking a quick swig he continued, “The unrest is escalating by the borders of the lesser countries. They’re basically being forced into the war on account of being caught between the proverbial rock and anvil. As I said last time most of them are predisposed to siding with Iwa and Kumo seeing as the countries have traded together for years now.
“Konoha only has a trade-agreement with Suna though, seeing as we pretty much produce what we need ourselves. What we don’t produce - weapons and minerals and stuff like that - we get from Suna.”
“I thought Suna were still bitter at Konoha from the last war?” Naruto broke into the conversation.
Jiraiya stopped as he rubbed his head in thought. “Well…yeah, I guess. Still, they won’t break their alliance with Konoha now. They need the trade and the man-power we can contribute with in the war. Suna gets nearly all its food from Konoha and they’ve been rivals with Iwa since the village was founded.
“Iwa and Suna produce the same materials for sale and trade you see. They’re economic rivals of the worst sort.” Jiraiya explained for Naruto’s benefit.
Naruto nodded in contemplation as he stared vacantly at a point beyond the closed door. “Anything else?” he finally asked.
Jiraiya rubbed his yaw in thought. “Well, it doesn’t really pertain to your situation or anything, but since it’s good news I think you deserve to know.”
Naruto turned his full attention on Jiraiya. He’d do anything for some good news in all the bad that was happening now.
“You may not know this-,” Jiraiya started as he took another swig of alcohol, “-but Namikaze Minato’s fiancé is originally from the Land of Whirlpool. She was sent to Konoha a couple of years ago in an attempt to strengthen the bonds between Uzu and Ho. Originally she was sent to live with the Daimyo of Fire Country, but she was as stubborn as they come and she insisted on joining the shinobi forces in Konoha.
“If I remember correctly it caused something of a scandal. She’s related to the Daimyo in Whirlpool you see - however distant - and the plan was to marry her off to some random noble’s son in Fire Country.” Jiraiya started to laugh loudly, “She didn’t like that at all.
“Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that the effort of tying the two lands closer together seems to have worked in the end. Uzu are willing to side with Ho in the war and they will be providing us with the money for food and other wares if we run out during the war. In return, Konoha will return the favour by sending shinobi off to help in defending the country if Mizu ever decides to join the war-effort on Iwa’s and Kumo’s side.”
Naruto nodded in thought once again as he took in everything he’d heard. He was somewhat surprised to learn of a country named Whirlpool seeing as he’d never heard of it before, but then he shrugged it off. He hadn’t known about the Land of the Waves before his first C-rank mission either. Maybe Uzu was just really small.
He decided to ask just to be on the safe side.
“Uzu’s not a big country is it?” He prodded the white-haired sannin.
Jiraiya blinked in bewilderment before he finally answered. “Oh, Heavens no,” he said, “it’s really small, but it produces a lot of pearls so it’s really wealthy …which is why it’s dependent on help in defending itself. It doesn’t have the manpower or the expertise to fight in a war, but it does have a natural resource that other countries would be willing to kill for.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if Iwa and Kumo decide to attack the country even without the alliance of Mizu. During a war, the countries need as much money as they can get their hands on and Uzu would really help in filling up the coffers of the attacking countries.”
Naruto sighed heavily, his thoughts spinning.
From what he knew of the future, there was a really big chance that Uzu would be destroyed in the war. At the thought of Kushina’s fiery spirit and unexpected friendship, he really didn’t want her to suffer through the loss of her country.
On the other hand, there wasn’t a lot he could do about it, stuck as he was in hostile territory. Still, though…
“The Hokage hasn’t dispatched shinobi to the Land of Whirlpool yet?” he enquired.
Jiraiya shook his head. “No, he’s aware of the risks in letting the country sit undefended, but at the moment his hands are tied in the matter. The majority of the Council is holding him back. Uzu is located in the direction of Mizu, you see. They’re afraid that sending forces to the country now will result in Mizu interpreting it as a hostile action against them. In the end it would only serve to seal the alliance between Iwa, Kumo and Mizu.
“As long as Mizu stays neutral, Konoha can’t afford to send any forces in their direction in the event that it may be interpreted as hostile.”
Naruto nodded again as he saw the logic and the helplessness of the situation. He pitied Uzu then…it seemed the country was a lost cause no matter what happened.
“Here, you look like you could use a little pick-me-up,” Jiraiya said as he waved the bottle underneath Naruto’s nose. “Jeeze, and I was trying to give you some good news…seems like nothing’s good about a war once you get down to it.”
Naruto let a small smile cross his face as he accepted the bottle, “Thanks,” he said silently before he took a sip.
Jiraiya watched him pensively for a moment before he decided to get back to the reason he was there, “So, anything to report on your front?”
Swallowing quickly, Naruto shook his head, “No, not much. I’ve managed to establish somewhat regular contact with the daughter of the Tsuchikage. She’s ordered a personalized summoning and has been spending time here in order for me to get to know her.”
Jiraiya gave Naruto a scrutinizing look, “And how is that working out?”
Laughing somewhat nervously, Naruto shrugged as he rubbed his neck sheepishly. “Well… as well as can be expected considering it’s my first attempt at grafting a summoning contract.”
Jiraiya’s eyebrow rose, “You’ve never done it before?”
Shaking his head, Naruto answered, “No, but my old teacher went over the theory with me and I was reading up on it before I left for my mission.”
Sighing in exasperation, Jiraiya snatched back the bottle and took a swig. “Just be careful when you venture into the astral-realm…” he muttered as a warning.
Chuckling nervously again, Naruto only nodded, “Hai hai, I’ll be careful.”
It was part of the first task in developing the contract. When he’d gotten to know Hari as much as possible he’d have to venture into the astral-realm - the space separating and connecting all of the existing dimensions - where he’d search for the summoning Naruto believed to fit the girl best. The summons would then - hopefully - agree to a contract with the girl.
Fixing Naruto with a sudden scrutinizing look, Jiraiya finally asked, “You do know how to enter into the astral-realm, right?”
Naruto nodded, “Yeah, because of certain circumstances in my childhood I had to learn deep meditation early on,” he answered as he thought of being a jinchuuriki.
In addition to learning how to check up on Yondaime’s seal, it had been imperative for him to learn how to meditate when they’d realized how quickly he could loose control while using the Kyubi’s tails. Meditation had been an attempt to gain better control of his own emotions while in a battle. It had worked to an extent. He’d become more level-headed when he fought without using the Kyubi’s chakra, but it hadn’t done anything for those instances when he did - which was why he’d ultimately decided to graft the secondary seal to instantly stabilize and convert any of the demon’s excess chakra.
“As I understand it,” Naruto continued, “It’s only a matter of breaking through the barriers of the mindscape and then enter into the astral-plane.”
Jiraiya scoffed. “That’s a gross simplification of the process. You’ll also have to keep yourself linked to this realm and your own dreamscape at the same time while you’re wandering the astral-realm. In addition to that, you may very well need some sort of spiritual protection while traversing the astral-plane. There may be dangers there greater than what you can find in your worst nightmares.”
Naruto had to force himself not to scoff or laugh out loud at that as he thought of the great demon fox sealed in his abdomen. “You know… I very much doubt that.” He settled for saying.
Sensing that Yuurei had some bad memories connected to the topic of the conversation, Jiraiya decided to let the matter rest for now. If the - seemingly - young spy was so certain about his own capabilities, Jiraiya really didn’t wish to dispel any of his illusions. He’d warned him. As a ninja, that should be enough.
“I am a bit wary though of how you plan to use the Tsuchikage’s daughter.” Jiraiya confessed as he changed the subject.
“Oh?”
“Don’t get me wrong Yuurei-san,” he quickly rushed to explain. “It’s a brilliant plan. I’ll give you that. It’s just…” he trailed off as he tried to find the correct words to explain his wariness of Naruto’s plan.
“It’s just?” Naruto prodded.
“You realize the great risk you are taking?” the white-haired sannin finally asked. “I’m not talking about the risk of being found out either,” he quickly clarified. “It’s just… when you are as isolated as you are on this mission; it’s easy for a guy to…”
Naruto frowned lightly as he began to catch on to what his future mentor was trying to warn him about. “You are afraid that I’ll grow attached to the girl?” Naruto asked.
Jiraiya nodded. “I’ve seen it happen a dozen times with shinobi on long-term infiltration and spying missions. Cut off from all that they find familiar and safe, it’s easy to form new bonds with the people that are conveniently around. After some time, they even seem to forget that they’re essentially consorting with the enemy. Some have ended up deserters because they couldn’t bear to betray the new life they’d made.”
Naruto’s frown deepened, “We are shinobi and we have been trained for situations and missions such as these.”
Jiraiya nodded again, “Oh, I know that. It’s just that training and the real-life experience are quite different.”
Seeing that he wouldn’t be able to reassure his future mentor on this subject, Naruto sighed quietly in resignation. “I’ll keep your warning in mind.” It was the only concession he could allow himself to give considering the fact that he knew that Jiraiya had a very valid point.
He was perfectly aware of his own tendency to grow attached to everything and everyone that were willing to give him the time of the day. He’d gotten better over the years in seeing underneath the underneath in situations and he’d lost some of his naivety after his dealings with Orochimaru, Sasuke and the Akatsuki, but he was still desperate for some form of kind and positive acknowledgement.
Jiraiya’s eyes sharpened as they figuratively pierced through him, “You have to do more than keep it in mind. If necessary, start and end your day by warning yourself of the danger you’re in. In your situation, people wanting to kill you are a less valid concern than those that shower you with kindness and compliments. The fact that you’re actually trying to get to know this girl only makes it worse. Quite frankly it would have been better for yourself if you hadn’t met her at all, but I can see how getting close to her will be helpful to your mission, so I can’t order you to do otherwise. Just… just be careful.”
Naruto nodded seriously, “I promise.”
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