Chapter 98: Aftermath Pt.VI (Epilogue)
Slowly and one after the others, the guests arrived at Senju Manor. Most didn’t come empty handed. A bottle of alcohol, a pack of beers, some desert. It was mostly food. Tsunade, as the head of the clan and host, thanked each one when she welcomed them into her home.
It had been quite a surprise to be led into the courtyard instead of the living room or the dining room. When they saw the arrangement, with one big circular table right in the middle, with a spinning center with many different dishes on it, they understood for good it wasn’t a formal dinner. There was also, to the side, a long table with hors d’oeuvres with free plates and bowls. One look and any one could see it was quite the buffet.
“I don’t remember you being on the guest list.”
Tsunade was giving a look at Jiraiya who was all smiles. It was true, Riku hadn’t invited the man officially but he knew he would be there regardless as a family friend and Naruto’s master. It was just a small jab to the man.
The toad sage simply pulled out a small bottle from inside his kimono, grinning like he had won his ticket inside. Tsunade’s iris dilated when she recognized it.
“Is that?-”
“Yes. I got Minato and Naruto to make Bunta give us one for the night.”
Stashing the very reputed, expensive and rare alcohol bottle from Mt. Myoboku inside her own Kimono, she stepped aside and let her old teammate in. He was the last one to arrive.
“Just to warn you, turn down your… pervertness tonight.”
“Hime, you know-”
“I’m serious, Jiraiya.” She gave him a look that made him reconsider any joke he was about to say.
“Why?”
“You know the sage of the Six Paths?”
He shook his head in incredulity. “If I know… Hime!”
“Well, his mother is here.”
Jiraiya opened his mouth to reply something dismissive but Tsunade’s facial expression didn’t change. “Shit. You’re really serious, serious.”
“Yes. And she’s a goddess. So, you know… be merry but not lecherous.”
“I’ll make an effort.” He nodded while following her inside. “How did that happen?”
“I’m surprised Naruto didn’t tell you anything. You should ask him to tell you through ninshu.”
“Ninshu?” Now the toad sage was utterly confused, never having heard of it.
Tsunade repeated her words. “Ask Naruto. Or Riku. He’s not as good as Naruto at it but good enough.”
“Eh. My student finally proved he’s the better one.” He smirked without meaning the words. He was just having her.
“It wasn’t your student that defeated Madara with a poke to the ass.” She smirked back.
“Shut up!” Jiraiya could believe it. “There is no way that’s true!” If it was, he would eternally respect her son for having balls of steel.
The blonde simply shrugged with a knowing smile.
“How will I be able to recognize her? You know… So I won’t make a blunder.” That was a very valid question with lots of importance for his survival.
“She looks a lot like Hinata and she’s staying close to my grandmother. They struck some kind of friendship.”
Nodding the toad sage arrived at the courtyard and he saw the sight he didn’t think he would see again. Shinobi and kunoichi from different villages, talking familiarly with each other and having fun. He liked it. He liked even more that it wasn’t just a boring dinner like he thought when he heard Naruto tell his parents. It was a buffet with people buzzing about like working bees. That kind of thing? His thing.
While he went to greet his sensei, who was speaking with Mito and Kaguya, the latter having Kamiko in her arms, the former and current kage were having a small conversation in front of the shrimps.
“You really intend to raise the graduation of your genin to sixteen?” Mei asked both in disbelief and curiosity.
Minato was the first to answer. “Konoha was created so children wouldn’t die in battle and be able to grow into adulthood. I was thinking of raising the age to fourteen during my reign.”
“It’s not just a decision based on ideology.” Kushina nuanced her husband’s words. “The latest they become shinobis, the more time they have to develop as people. Of course, it doesn’t mean they’re not getting training.”
Riku had his two cents. “Violence and death at an early age is detrimental to the proper development of children. Their view of the world becomes twisted, beginning a cycle of twisted shinobi each generation.”
“But won’t that be counter productive to the propaganda?” Gaara inquired, very interested in the subject.
“Yes and no.” Riku answered. “We will have to be more… cunning regarding that. With more years to train it allows the division of the students into two categories. Those that are really patriotic toward the village and the Shinobi alliance and those that aren’t.”
Kushina chimed in again. “Instead of graduating at twelve, we make a distinction between those that have enough talent or determination to become shinobi and those who don’t. The former would have a more rigorous training and be better cared for, the latter will be redirected to a more civilian job or to a non-combattant career but still in the corps.”
“In the end you’re thinning your numbers but increasing the quality of your shinobi.” Mei bobbed her head in understanding and reflection. There was no talk about the discarded being used as canon fodder.
“Not just that.” Minato cut in. “The ones who don’t end up in the corps will find civilian jobs giving them the opportunity to use what they have learned regarding chakra.”
“What do you mean by that?” Gaara was curious. It sounded interesting to him. Suna was in a very poor land and ninja work was really the only source of income that was very profitable. If there was a way to boost the economy thanks to civilian jobs using ninja skills, he wanted to learn of it.
“So far Ninjutsu has only been used for war but if you think about it, you can do pretty much everything with chakra. Build a house, agriculture, and travel. Depending on the jutsus you use, you can make some things easier. Mei with her Lava release could create a spot underground and make some hotsprings, for example. With wind you could create gliders on the desert making traveling safer and faster or on seas if the boat is using sails. It’s all about how you decide to use chakra for anything that is not related to killing or spying.” Kushina started to explain.
Then came Riku’s turn. “Let’s say you have a student with small chakra reserves and not really much talent. If he’s not working really hard to become a shinobi then making him one would be a waste of resources when the bit of training he has, like wall walking, would be better used in construction. Not just young students. Many veteran suffering disabilities were seen using their chakra in completely new ways to help the reconstruction of the village after its destruction.”
“So you’re not discarding the weak elements but repurposing them efficiently.” Gaara was now deep in thought.
“And in the meantime, the resources that could have been attributed to them are diverted to the students that go on to become shinobi. You don’t lose more but in the end you win on the economy side. No, more than that.” Mei finally realized the depth of the idea. “You make sure the bit of training they had doesn’t feel worthless. They may feel bad about failing to become shinobis but not so down that they don’t have an outlet that would benefit their morale and the village, reinforcing the propaganda and patriotism.”
“That’s brilliant.” Gaara commented.
“Riku’s idea.” Kushina said with a hint of pride to Riku’s surprise.
He simply shrugged his shoulders. “Not really. I just took bits and pieces of my predecessors and tried to come up with something that could help the village long term.”
Mei had another question on her mind. “What of the students that don’t get a jonin-sensei when they don’t graduate?
“I… haven’t thought that far.” Kushina said and looked at her husband who was as lost as she was. They all turned to Riku to see if he had an idea.
“I was thinking of two things. First was to spread awareness that the library exists and is available to the genins. Everyone has given up on telling young children to go there because they don’t like to read but desperate ones wouldn’t care.”
“That’s surprisingly insightful.” Mei noticed.
“I was one of them.” Riku remarked non-chalantly.
“You?” Gaara was as shocked as Mei at the revelation. Riku had defeated him during their chunin exam and had no teacher to speak of. That was mind boggling.
“It’s a long story.” Riku sighed. “I’m sure Hiruzen would tell it to you gladly, he absolutely loved seeing me struggle back then.” This time he chuckled then went back to the topic at hand. “Second… I’m not quite sure yet. As I’m stepping down I was thinking of making an announcement that I would visit a public training ground three times a week to train those that want or need help to further their skills. I was also thinking of proposing a voluntary system where chunin or above would be… ‘hired’ from an hour to help.”
“Who would shoulder the cost?” Minato wondered. The idea had merit but everything went down to money. If the veteran shinobi were not paid for their work they wouldn’t be interested. A few would, out of principle of training fellow shinobi but that would be rare. Furthermore, genin in the genin pool were not very rich. Not many would care for the money they have to offer if they had any to spare to begin with.
“I was thinking of paying them with discounts.” Riku replied with a knowing smile. Seeing the confused face of his fellow Kages he explained himself. “I’m limited in my career choices now. Can’t be a teacher, can’t be in the corps and can’t be an active medic so I thought… Why not make a fuinjutsu store? So far, stores only sell storage seals, explosive tags and tools for the art. I would offer much more than that. As a bonus I would still be serving the village.”
“And since fuinjutsu is very complex, seals are expensive.” Minato understood his son’s idea. “A discount would maybe be better than actual ryo.”
“Not just that.” Kushina interjected. “Since training the genin pool is beneficial for the village as a whole as they get stronger, and more likely to be promoted and earn more money and contracts, the village can make deals with some establishments to offer some discounts too.”
“Something that any village wouldn’t be able to implement as I’m sorry to say we don’t all have fuinjutsu genius in our midst, pun intended,” Mei said with an amused smile.
“I don’t know. As it is, Gai will mayhaps become a master one day.” Riku teased the auburn Mizukage.
She shook her head. “He loves Konoha too much I’m afraid. If anything I would be the one coming to live here. It’s not home but I won’t deny that Konoha has some charm.”
Gaara nodded in agreement. “That is true.”
“Riku!”
Tsunade came barrelling from the side to hug her son lovingly. “Baa-chan said she’s waiting for the ramen you promised her.”
Immediately, Kushina perked up and the conversation was forgotten. “Ramen?”
“Here we go.” Minato muttered under his breath.
“Since this little party is to celebrate you getting the hat and Naruto being a candidate for it, I thought we couldn’t do this without any ramen. I ordered a hundred bowls from Ichiraku.” Riku explained and offered a page from his book of Seals to his mother. It was snatched by Kushina who ran to the dining table with it.
“Naruto! Karin! RAMEN!”
““WHERE?!”” Came the voice of the two Uzumaki.
“Never get yourself between an Uzumaki and ramen.” Tsunade advised Mei and Gaara who were dumbfounded.
Father and son answered in unison. ““Nope.””
Minato was shaking like a leaf, having a serious bout of PTSD. Riku on the other hand had a vacant look full of fear. His lips moved on their own. “If you’re lucky… you just die.”
“But you never are.” Minato added.
“Well, you chose to marry one, so that’s on you both.” Tsunade rolled her eyes skyward at their stupidity and dragged her son away.
Mei and Gaara exchanged a look and decided they didn’t want to know if those two were that terrified by the prospect. They just knew they would follow Tsunade’s advice.
As everyone took a seat, Riku said he was very happy to see everyone present for the celebration. He then revealed what the revelation was about: him stepping down and Kushina then almost assuredly Naruto replacing him. Ino and Karin were more than shocked by the news, knowing how much the job meant for Riku, while everyone congratulated mother and son.
As dinner went on some of the guests chose to eat while standing away from the table in small groups. Riku approached Kakashi, Sasuke, Minato and Yugao. The young Uchiha wanted to know more about the Military Police.
“So you’re settling on this?” Riku asked, a beer in hand.
“Hn.” Was sasuke answer but as if he caught himself in a bad habit, corrected it. “I’m not interested in civilian life and I’m not suited to teach genins. I don’t think I have the patience for it. The Military Police on the other hand… is my clan’s legacy.”
“What about your brother?” Yugao inquired.
“Itachi-nii… is still undecided. I know he wants a civilian life.”
Kakashi nodded. “He never liked violence. Always dutyful but if he had not been the heir I think he would have done something more peaceful.”
“I think… He’s going to become a therapist. To help other shinobis deal with that kind of life.” Sasuke pondered.
“That is a noble pursuit. In a way he still serves the village. Many ninjas need help in that regard.” Minato gave his two Ryo while looking at his student who began to sweat a little. It was well known that Kakashi had one of the worst PTSD and survivor’s guilt syndrome.
Riku changed the topic. “Did you receive…”
“We did in the afternoon. Karin gave them back to us. Itachi-nii says you can visit us tomorrow for Mother’s mementos.”
“What is it about?” Kakashi asked. In normal time, he wouldn’t have pried but this was his student and his former subordinate who were involved.
“A debt the Senju clan owes to the Uchiha. Nothing really important.” Riku quickly dismissed.
To make sure the conversation stopped there, he left the group alone after kissing Yugao on the cheek. After going from group to group and answering the questions from his wives about his stepping down as Hokage, Riku made himself scarce. Or he tried when his mother said something outrageous.
“I’M PREGNANT!”
Everything and everyone stopped on the spot. Hiruzen choked on the smoke from the pipe in his mouth and Jiraiya from the drink he was having.
“Mom?!” Riku said in absolute disbelief.
Tsunade, who appeared to be a bit drunk, turned to her old teammate. “So you better take responsibility, Jiraiya.”
The Konoha crowd’s reaction was immediate. The Toad Sage included. “WHAT?!”
“Raaaaaah!”
Jiraiya’s own body reacted on its own, dodging by a hair’s breadth an explosive punch from Riku.
“The hell you did to my mother?!”
“NOTHING! I SWEAR!”
“What?! She’s not good enough for you? Is that what you’re saying?!” This time Riku attacked with a roundhouse kick.
The toad sage was in survival mode right now. “Shit! Hime! Calm your son down! Tell him I did nothing!”
“Noooooooope~” Tsunade popped the ‘p’, totally unconcerned by Jiraiya fighting for his life.
With no other choice, the Toad sage ran away, jumping over the tall wall of the compound with Riku in hot pursuit.
“Why do you have a rusty Kunai?!” They all heard the Sannin yell. It was then followed by a very girly scream. “You nearly took my jewels off!”
“Come back here and take your punishment like a man!”
“Like hell! I did noth- Aaah! You crazy momma’s boy!”
They may not have been able to see them but they sure heard them and Tsunade began to laugh heartily.
“Tsuna-chan, that was mean of you.” Mito would have been taken seriously if not for the amusement on her face.
“Wait! You’re not pregnant, Tsunade-sama?” Shizune asked in shock, making her mother figure snort.
“Of course not. But I always find Riku playing cat and mouse with Jiraiya amusing.”
“Except this time, Jiraiya may really have a sex change.” Hiruzen said.
““So?”” All the women who knew of the pervert asked at the same time with a disinterested tone.
All the men felt sorry for the man and wished him luck and well. The conversation changed to Ino sharing that she was, in fact, pregnant for real. Tsunade took her in a loving hug as everyone congratulated the Yamanaka heiress.
Kushina, feeling playful herself, teased Kakashi. “What about you and Shizune, hm?”
“Hm? You said some-” Naruto and Minato, behind Kushina, shook their heads vehemently in warning and Kakashi, remembering to whom he was speaking to, smoothly changed the rest of his sentence. “-Something really interesting, Kushina-nee. I guess, when Shizune and I are ready.”
“I’d have to be Lady Hatake first.” The woman said.
Nearly having whiplash, his head turned at his girlfriend, Kakashi looked at her for a moment. Making a decision, he grabbed her and shushined away.
“Oh, I guess Taicho is proposing tonight, then.” Yugao commented.
“WHAT?!” Naruto was dumbfounded.
“Kakashi-sensei is?” Sakura asked in shock. The man has been as secretive as ever and never shared his private life. She had known he was dating Shizune but wasn’t aware it was that serious.
The conversation continued in this good mood. Talks about Ino’s pregnancy, children or romantic interest fused back and forth everywhere. Not for the first time that night, Mei and Gaara exchanged a look. It was clear that allying themselves with Konoha wasn’t just a political or military thing. They had spent the day in good company and found the people of the village hidden in the leaf, quite eccentric in a good way. It reaffirmed that their dream of peace was possible.
While everyone was talking, one person discreetly left the gathering. Making sure to be stealthy, they made their way to the Hokage Monument where Riku was sitting on his mother’s head. Pursuing the toad sage was over it seems. He was looking at the horizon, enjoying the glow of the village’s light but also the stars and the moon in the sky. It was quite a beautiful sight.
“What are you thinking of?”
Tsunade sat behind her son, embracing him and crushing her breast on his back. He took a moment to give her an answer. Right until, she let her chin rest on his shoulder.
“My life.”
“What about it?” She got even more curious.
“My life dreams.”
Tsunade knew what they were. “Becoming the best medic in the world and Hokage.”
“Hm.” He nodded. “I failed miserably on both accounts.”
“Riku!” She began to protest but he raised his hand to stop her.
“Karin and Sakura, especially Sakura, will be better than I am. Sure I am the best healer because of my Six Paths mode but that’s cheating. Then Hokage? Couldn’t last a week.”
Tsunade tried again but softly this time. “Riku…”
“I’m not even mad, you know? Well… maybe about the Hokage thing but only because I won’t have my face carved next to yours.” He chuckled. “But honestly? I don’t care. I… have fulfilled the most important of my dreams and that’s enough. More than enough.”
Tsunade was confused. Riku knew. For the simple reason he never shared this dream with anyone. Not even Katsuyu. Moving a bit he extracted himself from his mother’s embrace and sat next to her instead.
“Friends. A family. I always wanted that. Under all the rage, all the spite. I dreamed of having a family one day. And now…” For the first time since she arrived, Riku looked away from the village and the stars, to smile like a goof at her. “I achieved it. All thanks to you, mom.”
Tsunade’s heart melted. From his handsome face, from the tone in his voice and the words themselves. She remembered the letter he left her when he departed for the front against Iwa. She also remembered their promise.
Grabbing her grandfather’s necklace, she removed it and put it on Riku. With one hand she gently cupped his chin and looked at him with nothing but love and adoration.
“You would have achieved it without me. You’re that amazing. I’m very happy and proud that you are my child, Riku. I love you.”
She kissed his forehead then without hesitation, on the lips. She then brought him down to smother him in her cleavage. He didn’t resist and enjoyed the feeling of the best breasts in the world for a moment. When he had enough, he pulled back and changed position again. This time he laid down his head in her lap. Without a word, they held each other’s hands conveying everything they felt for the other.
My lord, isn’t it a bit abrupt for an ending? There are plenty of unresolved issues.
[It matters not. They’re not important. His life is only uninteresting from now on. Even his return from the war was more for some kind of closure for the readers than anything. As far I’m concerned it ends when he goes to sleep after defeating Madara and Tsunade chooses to resurrect.]
If you say so my lord. The narrator was unconvinced.
[Careful, narrator. I created you with a single thought and I can end you the same way].
My apologies, my lord.
The god didn’t seem to care. [Send him wherever, I care not as long as it’s entertaining to me].
Yes, my lord.
As usual, the god disappeared as soon as he was done speaking, not bothering to listen to the narrator’s answer. Looking at the portal forming not far away and signaling the return of Rick Wald, the narrator experienced a bout of sadness and pity for the first time for the Gods’ plaything.
FIN
