Naruto cyoa - Preparations for departure

Preparations for departure

	The splendour of Senju residence enveloped Ken. Even being a temporary structure, as the noble clan often moved its seat of power, their craftsmanship enhanced by a myriad of techniques from their famed repertoire resulted in a manor that projected an image of power and influence while still seeming welcoming and sophisticated. It invoked a sense of reverence one would feel in the presence of something momentous, the same emotion that young Sarutobi would experience right now even if they were in a middle of a rice field, for the man who was standing in front of him to greet him was none other than the man whose exploits he idolised - the renowned Harema Senju.
	-"L-lord Senju, as per your invitation, I come in the name of the clan Sarutobi."
	Ken was bowing deeply. He stammered a bit in the beginning, but he thought the rest of the traditional greeting went smoothly. At least the shortest acceptable version of it. It was the one he opted for as he was afraid of messing up the longer variations. From the corner of his eye, he noticed Harema returning his bow, although due to the difference in ranks it was much shallower.
	-"I welcome you in our home, Young Sarutobi and thank you for honouring us with your presence. I hope your time as our guest will one day turn into fond memories and that this occasion will let our clans' bond grow ever stronger."
	Through servants, obligatory gifts were exchanged. After that was done, they both straightened up and Ken could see the Senju leader in his entirety. Outwardly he seemed like many other shinobi Ken has met during his lifetime, but there was an underlying sense of power and confidence in his presence that awed Ken. As if seeing through him and trying to calm him down, a warm smile appeared on Senju's face.
	-"Well, Young Sarutobi, now that the formal part is out of the way, surely you would like freshen up and rest a bit after your journey. Now is your occasion to do so. In the evening we will hold a banquet in your honour, so we will have more time to talk then, for now you'll have to excuse me, but I have to return to my duties. The servants will show you to the rooms you will stay at."
	-"Y-yes, Lord Senju!"
	Harema nodded to young Sarutobi and walked away as a squad of servants swallowed Ken and almost carried him off, ready to do everything in their power to make the guest's stay one to remember, beginning with his preparations for the evening.
	***
	The opulence of the feast contrasted greatly with the war-ravaged lands Ken has crossed on his way here. It made him feel even more out of place. Did the Senju feast like that every day while others starved or did, they prepare all of this just for him? In his mind he was still young and of little import, yet he was sitting near the head of the table next to the leader of the noble Senju clan.
	Noticing the hesitation in his guest, Harema looked him in the eye and spoke.
	-"Eat up, Young Sarutobi. Don't be shy. Remember that this feast isn't just to honour you, but through you being the representative of your clan, we are trying to express our respect for Sarutobi as a whole and cherish the bond between our clans. And if you're worried that this food will go to waste, don't be. Most of it will be distributed among those in need as a sign that they too will share in the blessings that our alliance will bring."
	Ken was a bit shocked at how correctly the Senju Leader read his thoughts. He nodded and started to partake in the lavish foods in front of him as Harema continued to speak.
	-"I assume you do know that the bigger goal of you visit isn't just ensuring that the bond between the Sarutobi and Senju remains true, we also want to strengthen our ties with Uzumaki."
	Ken quickly swallowed what he was eating and nodding responded.
	-"Mhm, I was told as much. That's why I was also given gifts to pass on to Lord Uzumaki."
	-"Good. We will leave to the Land of Whirlpools the day after tomorrow. I still need to oversee some preparations."
	-"Understood. Is it true what I've heard about it on my way here?"
	-"About them being attacked recently? I'm afraid so. It seems the enemy didn't make it far, reaching no deeper into the island than the beaches. Still, Uzumaki did take same losses and such a brazen attack on our cousins should not remain unanswered. You and I will go there first and clear a path for the relief organized by our clans' joint effort. That should help them rebuild their strengths."
	-"Thank you for your answer. If I may, Lord Senju, why was it me who was chosen to represent Sarutobi? I was told it was at your behest."
	-"I did indeed ask for you by name. I've heard a lot about you from the Old Sarutobi. He brags about how talented you are every time we meet, so I wanted to see you in person."
	-"T-thank you! I didn't expect such words of praise from you!"
	-"So far, they are words of praise from the Old Sarutobi not me, but if you live up to his opinion of you, then I will gladly second them. And it was not the only reason. If it was just me and him that went there, it would just seem like old men politicking as usual. With you around, we can show what this alliance is really for: the brighter future. Only right to have one of the more promising members of the next generation take part in this visit."
	Harema's eyes analysed the boy before him. Ken reminded him of himself from years ago. Is the Old Sarutobi grooming him as his successor? It's possible. Building his reputation among other clans and giving him occasions to see the world of bigger politics would fit that idea. If that was the case that's just another reason to keep the boy close to him. The spies he had inside Sarutobi did tell him that Ken was fascinated with his exploits. If only he knew the truth about them.
	On the outside Harema kept a polite expression, but his mind began to drift to that day…
	***
	Harema was sliding and stumbling unable to get proper footing. A ball of fire tore the skies, its shine revealing the battlefield covered in countless bodies of Uchiha. The ground soaked with blood turned into slippery mud. Every step he took carried a risk of tripping on one of the corpses below his feet.
	This gruelling battle started over forty hours ago and despite his attempts to pace himself, Harema's unusually vast reserves of chakra were nearing depletion. Even Danrakuma himself was breathing heavily, visibly weakened from the fighting. Both Senju were covered in shallow wounds, not big enough to stop them, but the accumulation of them steadily drained their strength.
	And yet, despite how many of their brethren have fallen, still the forces before them were numerous and fuelled by their pride refuse to back down, ready to sacrifice their brethren for a chance to take the head of the clan they so despised.
	Danrakuma was truly a great shinobi, maybe the greatest of this era. If not for his presence, Harema would have long ago joined the Uchiha on the ground. The Senju leader protected Harema through the whole battle while simultaneously felling many enemies. All Harema was able to do was stand in the shadow of the man before him, dealing with stragglers that managed to slip past the Sage. But even senjutsu of the Senju leader was not enough to break the seemingly endless sea of Sharingan users before them. A more desperate measure had to be undertaken.
	-"Boy! I need you to listen to me! I have a plan! I need you to buy me some time!"
	Voice of Danrakuma reached Harema over the sound of battle. Young Senju did as he was told. One last spurt of effort. His exhausted mind quickly selected a tactic that would maximize his chances. It began with a quick jutsu Harema learned to activate with a single hand seal.
	-"Earth Release: Stone Shelter Technique!"
	For a moment earth around Harema exploded, hiding him from the sight of the Uchiha. It was one of the techniques he often deployed with a sole purpose of concealing from the Sharingan his more advanced ninjutsu. When the earth around him fell down, he already completed the hand seals needed for the next step of his plan.
	"-Water Release: Waterfall Dome Technique!"
	From Harema's mouth a stream of water shot out and circled around Danrakuma, locking him inside a deafening whirlpool, completely sealing him away from the outside world. This technique was able to block most attacks they faced today, for Water naturally countered the Uchiha specialty of Fire. Most, however, isn't all of them. Harema couldn't just seal himself inside it too and try to wait them out. He had to stay on the outside, vigilant in his attempts to prevent casting of any jutsu that could pierce through it. Long enough for his master to gather the chakra he required for whatever plan he had.
	And fighting them now would be even more difficult than before. The Dome was constantly draining his chakra and required one hand to hold the seal to keep it in effect. Harema wouldn't be able to use any major ninjutsu like this so he had to rely on his other skills. He flickered in and out of the fight, leaping from one Uchiha to another, using quick, precise strikes to dispatch them through force alone or using the contact to lock them in genjutsu. It wasn't a permanent solution, Sharingan users were naturally more resistant to illusory techniques, but they focused on the visual aspects of them, one of the reasons why he chose to specialize in the touch based ones. And anyway, he didn't require it to be permanent.
	Harema was fighting valiantly, but each strike the Dome had to endure drained his chakra and Uchiha were starting to lock down on him. Accumulated wounds were wearing him down and his movements were turning sluggish, sending him into a vicious cycle where he was caught more and more often. Finally, his chakra control started to crumble. The dome flickered and started to fall, creating an opening that one of the Uchiha instantly leapt to exploit. But he was stopped mid run and so was every other enemy of Senju on the battlefield.
	Danrakuma was standing surrounded by the water from the dispersing Dome cascading around him. The expression on his face was filled with pain and the Sage marks were fading. He was emitting an ominous aura with his hands forming a seal that Harema has never seen before. Suddenly Danrakuma's voice resounded in unison with the choir of the enemies of Senju.
	-"Now, Boy! They are bound to me! Strike me down!"
	Harema was shocked by the preposterous idea. But deep inside his mind, a cold, calculating part of him was telling him that this was the plan. That there was no other way for the Senju to win this day. That whatever this forbidden jutsu of Danrakuma was, it was the only way forward that didn't end with the Uchiha finally grinding them down. That this way, the last man standing on the battlefield would be a Senju.
	But why did it have to be Harema?! He would have given everything to trade places with his leader! He's the one the Senju need! He's the force that other clans recognise! The one that can make the dream of a better future come true! Not a pup who couldn't even protect those close to him! What worth is there in him surviving when his mentor doesn't?!
	Once again, the analysis returned a harsh result. He may not be worth as much as Danrakuma, but the leader is already lost, maybe if Harema was stronger it wouldn't have come to this, but now there are only two paths ahead of him: only he survives or only the Uchiha do. With tears running down his face, he used his remaining chakra to form one last jutsu.
	-"Lightning Release: Lightning Cutter."
	A hand sheathed in crackling energy pierced Danrakuma's chest. Death was nearly instantaneous. As the mentor who he looked up to for his whole life slumped on Harema's arm and the Uchiha around them were falling down around them like puppets with cut strings, the young Senju was able to read the last word his leader's voiceless lips formed.
	「Omedetō」
	***
	-"L-lord Senju?"
	Ken's voice shook Harema out of his memories. Even with his mind clouded with the past, he managed to keep a mask of smile. With how far his mind wandered however, he did miss a question from his guest.
	-"I'm sorry, my mind is a bit preoccupied these days. What is it you need?"
	-"Um… If it's not too much… Could I ask you to train with me?"
	-"Not at all. I already reserved a time for us tomorrow morning. I did say I want to see if Old Sarutobi's braggadocio is warranted."
	-"Really?! I look forward to it!"
	***
	-"Your task for today is simple. You have to make me take a step from where I'm standing before the sands run out."
	Ken and Harema were standing in an open field that was part of residence's gardens. Next to the Senju leader on a small stone, an hourglass about the length of a hand was standing.
	-"That's it?"
	Ken had mixed feelings about it. It seemed a bit like he was being underestimated. But then again, he would expect a lot from his idol. Maybe it's just a test to see where he's at before a more advanced training is introduced? Regardless, all he had to do was show himself from his best side.
	-"Yes, that's it. Are you ready?"
	Ken grabbed his staff with both hands, took his stance and nodded. Harema turned the hourglass over. Sarutobi immediately leapt forward swinging the staff from the side in a wide arc.
	-"Tenfold Hammer Swings!"
	Without moving his legs, the Senju leader made a seal with one hand and with the other reached towards Ken. Before the Sarutobi could react, he felt a push on his back moving him right into the outstretched palm that grabbed him by the collar and with a quick tug pulled him close, too close for his attack to be effective. Once he finished his rotation, all he hit was Harema's shoulder and even that wasn't with his staff but with his forearm.
	-"Focus."
	Harema gave Ken a small flick on the forehead and threw him back into the starting position.
	-"That was just a warmup, Lord Senju! I can do more!"
	Letting his chakra flow through his staff, Ken began his onslaught. The names of his techniques reverberated in the crowns of trees as he employed attacks from various angles, unusual timing and mixed in feints.
	Yet, the Senju leader still stood where he began. Using the smallest, subtlest movements and techniques to off-balance Ken and deflect his strikes.
	-"Don't just use your staff. I've heard your Elemental Release is something Old Sarutobi is proud of."
	Following the advice, Ken started to interwind more ninjutsu into his tactics. But it still wasn't enough. The experience of the older man was able to see through the boy's attempts. Years spent on the field of battle at the highest level also resulted in there being a vast difference in the speed at which they formed their jutsu. Even the secret plan of Ken about going a step beyond the advice and mixing in the sealing arts didn't work out, the seals were simply returned to him carried by a stone column. His frustration was growing. It was time for his trump card.
	-"I'm gonna show you the ultimate move I've been working on lately! Enma, go!"
	Ken threw his staff upwards so that Enma could transform back into his animal form and keep the opponent busy, while he gathers the chakra needed for activation of the sage mode.
	But he was unable to pull the Natural Chakra to himself. It somehow didn't respond to him. And a moment later with a clank, his staff hit the ground.
	-"What?! Did you block it?! How did you do that?!"
	-"I may not be a sage myself, but in my time, I've become acquainted with some, so I know a thing or two about senjutsu. For example. I know how dangerous that technique is to use it if you don't fully control it, especially if you don't have someone nearby who could help you with that. I somehow doubt you've had enough practice to avoid that risk, and I'm not Old Sarutobi so I'm not sure if I could help you if something went wrong."
	-"But then how did you block it?! And nothing else was working, so I thought this might… I had to try since I was running out of time."
	Ken pointed at the hourglass, but when he looked at it, he noticed that it was practically full. The very first drops of sand were hanging mid-air before any had a chance to hit the bottom half. He quickly connected the missing parts of the puzzle.
	-"This is genjutsu, isn't it? Eh… I guess I screwed up, huh. Since when?"
	-"Since your first attack. And don't worry, more experienced men fell to it before. Want to have another go?"
	-"Sure, if I can!"
	-"Just keep in mind what I said about senjutsu."
	Harema released the illusion, and the sand began to fall again. As if teleported mid blink, Ken was still being held up in one hand by Harema. Right at the moment when the Senju's finger was flicking his forehead. Once again, he was thrown back at the starting position.
	-"Now try again. We still have plenty of time, Young Sarutobi."
	***
	The dawn was breaking. Harema and Ken were standing near one of the secret exits from the Senju residence. Their clothes were simple, unadorned with any clan symbols. All that could be used to identify them was hidden deep inside their luggage in compartments that only they knew how to access.
	-"Well then Young Sarutobi. I hope you enjoyed your stay here and one day you will visit our home again, though then it might already be situated somewhere else."
	-"I did, Lord Senju! I certainly would like to train with you again!"
	-"I suspect we shouldn't display too many of our abilities on the way to the Uzumaki. We are after all trying to stay incognito. But one day, when I visit your clan, maybe we'll find some time for it. I suspect the Old Sarutobi would not be against it."
	-"I look forward to that then! And maybe on our way to the Uzumaki we'll find someone to fight for real! That's an even better form of training, isn't it?"
	Harema was still smiling, but for a split second a sad glint run through his eyes.
	-"Experience in real battle is indeed valuable, but I hope it won't come to that. Are you ready to depart?"
	-"I sure am!"
	The boy and the man went on their way. One with head filled with dreams about the possibility of fighting alongside his idol, the other with plans that could change the world as they knew it.
	***
	Smoke from Arisu's pipe dispersed over the teahouse. As the cloud slowly drifted towards the entrance, she sensed two powerful sources of chakra walk into the building. One was bright and filled with the excitement of youth. The other was a bit more mature and despite still holding a gleam that one naturally loses with age, it already seemed weary with experience far beyond the one typical of his age.
	As the cloud was nearing them, the older figure waved a simple fan and with the slightest addition of wind chakra, forced the smoke to escape through the open doors before it could fully envelop them.
	-"The smell of tobacco kills my appetite, but you can have something if you want."
	He directed those words to his younger companion, but the message to Arisu was clear. It was a warning. He wanted to keep their anonymity intact, and the way they caught her attention by walking in, so did she catch theirs with her smoke.