As Tenzou disappeared into the darkness, a grinning Haruto collapsed onto the ground. Even as his body lay exhausted on the grassy ground, his mind pulled together plans and training schemes that would best use his newest skill.
There were some complex techniques that could be divided up and partitioned so that each of Haruto's clones would only have to master a small part of the whole. Haruto suspected he would have an easy time with those techniques. On the other hand, there were also techniques that required stepwise mastery which meant Haruto would need to carefully supervise his army of clones with frequent summoning and de-summoning. Those were sure to be a pain in the ass.
I'll also need to work on my stealth. But how to test them was the key question. How could he see that his clones were working or that he was successful at evading experienced ninjas?
The answer was so obvious that Haruto laughed. If he could not find volunteers to help, then he was just going to have to draft people. After all, it has been a while since he decorated the Hokage monument. He bet those stony old guys were beginning to feel rather lonely after being neglected for so long.
"Hokage-sama. I'm prepared to report my progress with the subject."
"A bit harsh on the boy, weren't you?" The elderly man noted when the ANBU was outlining the taijutsu spar.
"I would be very surprised if any genin could have lasted as long against me using only taijutsu, but I thought it prudent not to overindulge the boy."
The Hokage nodded.
"And taijutsu is supposedly his weakest area?" The words carried an almost indistinguishable note of disbelief. Haruto was clearly gifted with ninjutsu. Until today, Tenzou would not have believed anyone could have mastered the Tajuu Kage Bunshin in one sitting, much less in one hour.
The Hokage nodded.
"Though, he will need to be trained in kenjutsu of course." Weapons training was not one of Konoha's strong points and many ANBU only knew the basics. But the ANBU captain suspected that Haruto would take to it like a fish to water.
"What sort of genjutsu can he do?" Tenzou asked, half expectantly, half in anxiety.
"I don't know. I have never seen him practice it, but he has been combing through all the scrolls he could find on demonic illusions." Sarutobi chuckled.
"Maybe he simply lacks the aptitude for it. After all, genjutsu requires extraordinary chakra control and mental concentration. Given his talents in ninjutsu, this should be expected."
Normally, the ANBU officer's assessment would be correct. Gifted ninjutsu specialists were rarely spectacular at genjutsu and likewise vise-versa, but Haruto was hardly normal.
"Under any other circumstances, I would agree with you, but Haruto has surprised us too many times already. Do you think he would conform to reality this time?" Sarutobi asked. Neither person could answer that question. On one hand, Haruto was rapidly becoming Konoha's top ninja (in more ways than one). On the other hand, these were Iwa's demonic illusions! The very idea of such a young boy studying such techniques was mind-boggling.
"While I have every expectation that he'll do well, I'll give him a few months. Afterwards, once he is ready for missions, I'll bring in Yuugao. I believe she will be of valuable assistance." The Hokage nodded in agreement, though he did have one concern.
"You think she will be ready?"
"Both Kakashi and I believe she has mostly recovered from Itachi's betrayal. Training Haruto will be an excellent exercise for her." Yuugao was once Itachi's biggest supporter inside ANBU and saw herself as something of a surrogate sister. Itachi's ultimate treachery was nothing short of earth shattering for the elite kunoichi.
When the ANBU finished his briefing and was prepared to leave, the Hokage called out again.
"Vice Captain, one last thing."
"Yes, Hokage-sama?"
"Thank you, Tenzou. If it wasn't for you, I would be at a loss. The current council is still adamantly against giving the boy any formal ninja training. The heads of a few sympathetic clans tried their best but they estimate that it will be a few years before rotations within the council leadership give them the power to allow Haruto entrance into the academy." Just as Tenzou was reluctant to take on such a young student, Sarutobi was equally reluctant to make the suggestion. The act of forcing the young boy to mature so quickly was sure to have grave consequences. Yet, he had no other choice given the council's intransigence. He knew better than anyone that Haruto was not fated to live a civilian life.
"It'll probably help him in the end. We have to get our recruits to unlearn ninety percent of the Academy stuff they learned."
Sarutobi recognized Tenzou's response for what it was; a "You're welcome" given by a man not prone to be outwardly sentimental.
The Hokage smiled as he dismissed his loyal subordinate.
The next few years passed in a whirlwind as Haruto trained, learned and grew under the aegis of his ANBU instructors. The Sandaime watched all this happen from his Hokage tower with a sense of bittersweet fondness.
Has it really been that long? Sarutobi eyed the young ninja and then the authorization paper before him. In many ways, Haruto had changed a great deal, which was to be expected given his extensive training under the two ANBU officers. And yet in some other ways, he remained the same. He was still the hyperactive prankster kid he was years ago. Even with his busy schedule, he determinedly held himself to the one-prank-a-month minimum.
"The reviews of your performance have all been excellent, but do you honestly feel you are ready to join ANBU, even on a provisional basis?"
"For the last time, old man, YES! If you try to deny me this one more time, I promise to test my improved Oiroke no Jutsu on you… in public." Haruto glared at the elderly ninja, watching with some satisfaction as he winced. According to Tenzou, he was long past ready. Wasn't there something said about a sword being honed too finely?
"Very well." With a mix of enormous pride and understandable reluctance, he signed on the dotted line.
"Congratulations, Haruto. You are now a special liaison to ANBU and are eligible to participate in ANBU missions subject to the discretion of your commander. However, there is still one more condition to your unofficial promotion."
Haruto scowled, glaring at the smug looking elderly Hokage.
"You'll need to join the academy starting today."
"Isn't it a bit too late for that?" Haruto questioned with a frown.
Sarutobi did not know how to explain it was only days ago that his side mustered the support to lift the injunction against Haruto so he didn't. "The academy has been notified of your special circumstances. You will be placed with those in your age group who will be eligible to graduate at the end of this year should they pass the final exam."
"Would this final exam happen to involve creating a particular E-rank ninjutsu that no shinobi would ever use in combat?"
The Hokage gave a wary smile. It would appear that Tenzou was successful in dispensing his opinions about certain ninja elements in Konoha to his young student. "You might be right, but I'm afraid you don't have much of a choice. Members of ANBU are responsible for some of the most dangerous and trying missions. Your instructors believe that being in an environment with peers your age will be vital to maintaining your mental and physical health. I happen to agree."
Haruto could not argue with that. He had seen what ninja in ANBU were like and had no intention of ending up like that. Still, there was an even bigger reason for enrolling him into the academy, one which the old man was clearly unwilling to elaborate. Haruto had every confidence that he would become a powerful force inside of ANBU, but if the general public ever learned that "the container of the fox demon" had received ANBU training, there would surely be hell to pay. Enrolling Haruto into the academy would all but secure his secret ANBU identity. After all, who would ever suspect that an Academy student was also a part-time member of the most elite ninja unit in the country?
Still, the blond was displeased that the old would not tell him this. Despite knowing how smart he was, the old man had thus far refused to utter a peep about the Kyuubi.
"Fine, I'll do it." Haruto acquiesced, feigning a mournful sigh.
"Excellent, you'll start today. After class, you will meet with Captain Tenzou, who will brief you on the cover name and profile you shall take."
Haruto nodded. As he walked towards the door, he turned back towards the Hokage, who was busy scurrying over his many piles of documents.
"Old man, thanks for all the help. Don't worry, I won't let you down." The blond reassured as he smiled at his patron of many years. He would succeed.