Splitting Up For A While

Nintai was sitting in the konoha library studying the material the medical instructors had assigned on this early morning around seven o'clock. Between his dragging expression and slouching body, it was obvious he was bored. With that being said Nintai decided that he would do something more practical to avoid falling asleep in the library. He moved outside looking up to see how bright it was and quickly turned away because of the sun's brightness. His skin got small goosebumps from the chilling morning wind hitting it violently.

As he turned from the sun to walk away he ran into the Eight Hokage Boruto, now elderly. Boruto didn't budge upon impact but Nintai stumbled back, the old man was like a wall. Nintai could feel an aura of power pour from Boruto, the funny thing was he wasn't moulding chakra. Nintai had much respect for the village leader and always felt that aura of power from Boruto. What really stumped him the most was how Boruto is still active despite his elderly state.

Some want to say it's because the village is in a time of peace but Nintai has heard the jounins speak about their military leader. Some say he is still active because no shinobi has been born strong enough to equal him in strength. Others believe it's because candidates are few and the konoha council wouldn't make up their mind including the Daimyo. Only Boruto knew the answer while he grimly stared at Nintai, making the boy sweat as he thought he might be in trouble. Boruto then outright surprised the young man as he gave a large smile of warmth and acceptance.

Boruto: "Hello young man, I've been looking for you. I have someone I want you to meet and some things I want you to do." Nintai's eyes went wide, while this wasn't the first encounter with an hokage it was odd for the active one to need him for anything. "I am at your service Lord Eighth" Nintai said trying not to show his nervousness. Boruto put his hand on his shoulder and told the boy to relax which Nintai did to the best of his ability.

Nintai and Boruto together moved to a small opening behind the academy building. Boruto opened it up with a tiger hand seal and revealed a tunnel leading under the village. It was emblazoned with the anbu symbol all across the tunnel which Nintai noticed while the two walked down. Once at the bottom, it was a large cave with the statues of all the previous Hokage and the Anbu banners coming down the walls. The four of statues were placed on a mound in the center of the room facing each other while they performed the seal of reconciliation.

The other four were Hashirama, Tobirama, Hiruzen, and Minato respectively. The other three Hokage were placed in gaps between the positions of the Anbu banners on the wall. A good Hundred Anbu mask wearing shinobi sat around the open area but made it a priority to give the statues space. "Wha..what, What, is this place Lord Eighth" Nintai said amazed at the rural looking area. It was nothing like the city, it seemed like ruminates of the old village moved to a reclusive location.

Boruto:" This is the new burial grounds of my predecessors and the Anbu head quarters. Your improvements have not gone unnoticed, Draux gives me regular updates on the village's greatest assists. It was not a mistake we placed you three together, each of you have a purpose in the village far beyond what you understand. " Nintai scratched his head but was somewhat expecting it when the clans involved were of high caliber. "Ok so what is this purpose each of us will serve."

Boruto: "specifically you, you will be placed in the Anbu and be trained from this end. Your kekkei genkai is serious assist to the village and from this point on you will be focused on harnessing the power you was blessed with. Your venture for be an medical ninja is admiral but I need you in the secret forces right now. " Nintai noded and wondered if Draux was in on Boruto's plots. His teammates would most likely wonder why he disappeared but it was village first before feelings.
Nintai was left with three Anbu captains while Boruto to the village to seek out the uchiha Jin. Nintai would further his training under the guidance of the captains while adapting to their lifestyle. Boruto walked out the tunnel and reclosed the opening and pulled out his notes on the boys. The Hokage checked off Nintai's name on his little sticky with a list of names of all the shinobi he was going to visit today. It was hard work individually placing shinobi in spots that would best contribute to the village, even more so because he had to have far insight on the development of the younger shinobi like Nintai.

Nintai first lesson taught was their interrogation methods, demonstrated first by the captains then explained for Nintai to understand what was being told. Thanks to the previous teaching from Draux and his fast understanding, it stuck easily. The anbu captains then went on to show him how to hone his sensory ability that until training with Draux had been dormant and how to break genjutsu with genjutsu release. Nintai wasn't surprised by the fact they knew what he did and didn't know without asking him. Between being continually vigilance, Boruto would have most likely informed them on the extent of Nintai's skill.

Because it was a natural ability honing the sensory was also fairly easy, he was taught using a medium also helps. Nintai would decide the flora would be the best medium for him with the wood release in his arsenal. The genjutsu release was a academy technique that was merely improved upon through being put in genjutsu and Nintai using it to break out multiple times. Apparently the captains just wanted to make sure he had his essential abilities to a reasonable level, the job was rather easy for them on wood release end. Mainly because the training he received before being placed in the Anbu and the basic shinobi skills he knew before that.

Once Nintai's known abilities were noted by the Captains and the important information was taught to him they took him to another back room. Apparently carved out holes in the underground headquarters served as their rooms. When Nintai looked around he noticed it was a storage area and it was from here the Captains handed him his uniform and mask. They didn't have respect for privacy and forced Nintai to change right there so they could move on with today's agenda. These guys were even more strict than Draux, making sure they did everything on time even if it meant the boy would have to train naked.

Nintai learned that the hard way when they rushed him out the room not allowing him to put on his shinobi sandals and shirt. He literally had to run down the large hall way with them with the rest of the outfit in his hands. This fast paced lifestyle was something he was going to have to get used to but he expected as much from the village's most effective military force. They stopped at the largest door in the headquarters which was also at the very back of the headquarters. The captains used an snake hand seal to open the area only to find a large room that was majority empty and a single bed.

Captain Yamato came out of the shadows of the room. He didn't look like he had aged much but was hooked to thousands of cords that clearly yelled life support. Nintai assumed the captain would have been dead by now but was not surprised because of how powerful Tsunade made the First's cells sound. Yamato: " So your finally of age...i hear you have already become proficient with some of the wood secret arts. I hope I can assist before I die." "Ok that's it what exactly is going on and won't anyone explain to me why I'm being thrown around the village."

Captain Yamato chuckled which was soon followed by a cough showing he was getting sick. Nintai got a distorted, disgusted look on his face trying to figure out what was so funny about what he asked. Yamato:" I'm sorry we have been so secretive but that's how Sasuke and Lord Seventh wanted it. It was no consequence that you ended up with the wood release, Tsunade didn't create the artificial senju to counter Sasuke's creation of the Uchiha, she did it to help his major goal. Sasuke after his run in with the four past Hokages at the time, then the short shin problem, then his daughter's maturity. Well let's just say he felt there was power in the founding clans and he didn't want to see the village lose that natural advantage over the other villages. "

Yamato:" Naruto at first didn't agree with the ideal but his peace was starting to unravel anyway with him losing power with age. Naruto had Tsunade use her superior medical knowledge and Orochimaru's talent with artificial development to recreate members of the clan much like myself and the shins. The Uchiha with Sasuke's help and shins as a base managed to manifest the Sharingan and the clan became thousands of normal human shinobi in no time. Unfortunately the senju weren't as easy, the First's cells just wouldn't bond even with me as a reference. Tsunade eventually did make about six people with the DNA but was more like zetsu's without the power and normal human flesh.

Yamato:" A shameful attempt to recreate a living weapon, that we gave up on. All we could do is sit back and watch, hoping someone would naturally develop the power. You were that one that took two generations to produce, once we got that missing piece we decided to put the Hyuga, Uchiha, and Senju together. You three would grow up with the will of fire in your hearts, our reasoning for putting Draux over the team. You three were to be tools for the village and your children were to produce an army of efficient tools after you."

" Is that why Lady Fifth stayed so close to me" Nintai said astonished at how big this puzzle was. Yamato:" Unfortunately she stayed close to you too protect you from the village. According to the Konoha council you weren't suppose to have free will at all and be nothing more than effective killing machines. They feared if you gained power like the First or his allies the village wouldn't be able to control you. Me, Tsunade, and Boruto saw it to be wrong, that it was that jinchuriki mentality that Naruto fought. "

Yamato: " You don't deserve to be treated like tools because your people, living people with your own thoughts and dreams. Tsunade was assassinated for protecting you and they covered it up to make it seem like a death of natural cause. With me and Boruto being as old as we are couldn't do much about it, our only form of control we have is the anbu. Sasuke saw to that before his death when he realized how corrupted the politics of the country was becoming. Things are rapidly changing, there are shinobi who embrace this new world of technology and war while others are trying to hold on to what made this village prosperous for so long."

" This doesn't make sense what are you trying to say. How could they control the village like that" Nintai said as he was trying to wrap his head around what he had been told. Yamato: " Boruto and myself suspect that there will be a civil war that will erupt in the near future especially after we pass. So we are preparing your sensei and you three for that time, where there will be instability in the village. " all Nintai could do was nod, he was torn inside, he didn't understand how the village was being lead to this chaos.

Yamato: " So far you've mastered some of the First's basic techniques. I'm going to teach you the more advanced destructive techniques that can only be done safely down here. " Nintai was still a bit shaken up by everything but nodes again. Nintai decided to get as strong as he could and tell his teammates about everything as soon as he could. If everything was true, the main forces would most likely move against the kage being supported by the konoha council and the jounin commander who sat on said council.

Nintai and Draux would be in danger because of what Nintai possessed and Draux being the best candidate for the kage position. Jin and Jinatsu would be in danger by association or would be turned against them for their clans. Like Yamato said the only support they would have is the anbu because of their detachment. Honestly now it all made sense why he was moved, to get him out of the council's grasp for now. Nintai felt it was now his job to make sure that Draux didn't become a casualty or his friends.

" So what's the Daimyo's standing in all of this, he holds almost the same influence as the kage." Yamato moved to the bed slowly and sat down at the foot of it before answering. Yamato: " While the Daimyo has much influence his actual power has never been that high in the shinobi village and he is quickly losing it in the country as a whole because the Shinobi hold all the military might. He will most likely avoid taking sides and wait till the dust clears to make a move." Nintai gritted his teeth at how their hands were tied, it was like a giant chest game and the council had all the pieces.

" Ok then what's the best move from this angle, what's the point of all this training if I can't use the power to contribute. " Yamato directed the anbu captains that were there to leave. Yamato then did the snake hand seal that made the walls move out opening up the area like a giant arena. Yamato: " Well Boruto wants to seal the nine tails in a jinchuriki but the demon is at it's full power and will be to difficult for any normal shinobi squad to subdue. Naruto made a mistake when he allowed the tailed beast free, none of the villages have been able to tame him again."

Yamato: " well anyway once I train you how, you can assist him in that manner. With the nine tails in our possession the other villages won't be prone to attack while in this state of instability. " Nintai sighed looking at the giant room then to the Captain, things couldn't get any worse so he thought. Nintai threw his shirt and shoes to the ground and opted to just train without them as his expression exclaimed determination and readiness. "Alright Yamato-sensei let's go!"

Jin stood on top a tree not sure of what to do. "So the team is disbanded now what?" He was lost in thought while looking down at the bodies of the Uchiha kids that used to pick on him. Unconscious not dead, made him feel rather good. "So now you all will know I'm not the same Dog," his teachings with Sensei made his taijutsu stronger and made him his jutsu more refined.

Boruto walked up saw Jin on the tree, obviously looking a bit depressed about the news of their team. He then noticed the other kids who laid out on the ground, most likely the result of a heated confrontation. Boruto: " Hey what are you doing out here!?" Boruto's wrinkled face was stern and his body tensed up. He didn't need Jin running around fighting the other Uchiha when the village was in this time of crisis. Boruto:" You know what, don't answer that, come here" the Hokage said relaxing and letting the brief anger go.

Meanwhile Nintai had begun his training, Yamato first explained that through wood release the shinobi can absorb chakra. Nintai was familiar with this fact because of his usage of the wood dragon. This tied with Yamato teaching Nintai the Chakra Absorption Technique and Hokage-Style Sixty-Year-Old Technique — Kakuan Entering Society with Bliss-Bringing Hands. Yamato noticed his quick understanding of the techniques and decided he was ready for the large scale techniques that could help him combat the nine tails when the time came. The first of these techniques was Wood Release: Advent of a World of Flowering Trees.

Nintai first started with just using the Wood Release Secret Technique: Nativity of a World of Trees then through Yamato's instructions made giant pollen flowers form on the branches. The entirety of the forest covered the room and the pollen acted as a fog around it with Yamato and Nintai being immune to it's effects. Yamato mentality checked that off his list of things that needed to be taught. Yamato:"Alright come sit on the bed and rest up for a little while, you've progression is rapid. " Nintai listened and sat on the bed, he was rather proud of himself, at least to have impressed the Captain.
Yamato: " few shinobi progress as fast as you do, but don't let it go to your head. Arrogance is always a great way to get killed. "Nintai noded and hoped back up after a few minutes had past. "Alright Sensei I'm rested enough, can we move on?" Yamato noded and cleared the area again for more practice.

The next technique was Wood Release: Hobi Technique, which was a dome-like defensive structure that completely surrounds the user and takes the form of a dragon's face. Nintai had to repeatedly create the structure while Yamato destroyed them with various methods. This went for about an hour until Yamato was sure the dome could withstand a tailed beast ball and he could no longer danger it. Nintai showed slight signs of fatigue but he was taking note of the chakra he was using to train and used his perfected chakra control to make sure he didn't tire out before they completed the tailed beast combative training. Yamato got up from the bed and demonstrated the the next technique Wood Release: Hotei for Nintai.

The technique was the creation six gigantic wooden hands that erupt upward from beneath the ground, which encircled Nintai but Yamato didn't attempt to restrain the boy. After Yamato cleared the area upon finishing his demonstration, Nintai performed the technique but with greater size that almost reached the ceiling. It was only because he was younger and was naturally born with the power rather than implanted with it. Yamato: "alright for the last technique use snake hand seal and add a body to one of the hands you created, or if your familiar with what I'm talking about the wood human technique." Nintai was familiar with the technique from the scroll Tsunade gave him and her reference to its appearance during the fourth shinobi world war.

It took seven tries to actually perform the technique, then six more to get it to the First's size which by then tuckered him out. In fact he was so tired he just laid out on the top of it's head once forming the wooden battle avatar. He laid in a puddle of sweat and his hair was ragged from not grooming and the stress from the earlier techniques. Yamato was satisfied with the results and didn't bother the boy allowing him to stay there to rest. When Nintai noticed that Yamato wasn't going to bother him he only sat up to pull off his pants and laid back down.

The wooden battle avatar had to be controlled but since Nintai was going to sleep, it stayed in the middle of the room on standby. Yamato pulled out a scroll and wrote on it the last of the First's great techniques that would take the boy until adulthood to master. The captain placed the scroll at the feet of the wooden avatar and went to lay on the bed where he closed his eyes. Once he was completely relaxed the captain drew his last breath.

Jin walked to the Kage, all the mean while kicking the leader of his torture squad in the face. "Oops sorry I didn't see your face there" He grinned softly before stopping at the kages shadow. "Yes lord kage?"

An hour had passed and the young senju awoke to look at the captain and the battle avatar he created himself. " Teacher you ready to continue, Teacher", Nintai yelled but got no response from Yamato. Nintai ran down because the structure was to high to just jump off of, he stopped at the bed only to realize his wood release mentor was no longer breathing. Nintai noticed and picked up the scroll once he looked back at the wooden battle avatar, reading it made him realize it was time to move on again unfortunately. He yelled for the Anbu captains to awake and as they entered he hid the scroll in his back pocket, "The old man finally passed, what's next."

Nintai sounded pretty sad when he said Yamato died, another kind soul leaving the young senju's side. Nintai felt like him and the old man could have got to be good friends despite only knowing him for a day. The anbu captains burned the Captain's body to prevent others from trying to get the old man's DNA, one of them instructed Nintai to his own sleeping quarters next to the rest. However Nintai wasn't tired mainly because after training he had slept all day, he waited until the captains went back to sleep to explore the underground headquarters. Some of the lower ranked anbu noticed but didn't have the desire or authority to stop the young senju, he was never a prisoner.

Nintai covered most of the base until a older middle aged man dressed in the traditional jonin attire and an a woman covered up in a robe and anbu mask were talking in an closed off wooden room. Nintai merged with the wood on the wall nearest to the door to hear the conversation better, neither the man or woman sensed him as it was not one of their abilities luckily. They spoke of the mission Draux went on and noted  his abrupt disappearance like the rest of the shinobi, Nintai was shocked and feared the worst had come to his sensei. He immediately traveled through the walls till outside of the headquarters and begun to run to find his genin team mates. Boruto in the past hour was merely just explaining what was going on between the clans and mess of the village, he had to make sure Jin understood why he couldn't go around fighting.

Their conversation was cut short when the heavy breathing Nintai showed up, this made him realize he wasn't entirely rested up after training. Boruto:" What are you doing here boy, go return to Yamato", " the captain is dead Lord Eighth, why didn't you tell me our sensei went missing." Boruto froze in shock and wondered how the young senju found out in which Nintai explained, Boruto with a sigh explained how he sent Draux on a mission and now that their trying to recover him. "Let me go find him please, I will be able to locate my master based on his chakra signature" Nintai said sweating with a nervous plea to assist his sensei. Boruto: " No I'm not sending a bunch of genin on an S rank mission, it will be your blood on my hands and I could not live with that."

" Remember I'm no longer a genin, you put me in one of the villages strongest military forces, also Jin and Jinatsu will be chunins soon. We are all strong enough to handle ourselves, please let us prove this to you." Boruto got silent and thought about the circumstances, Nintai was right they had all rapidly grown and Nintai's rank now allowed him to take on missions of this nature despite his age. Boruto:" Alright fine, I will just put it down as your instructing the genin in this mission, with your position in the Anbu the council won't question my decision to badly." Nintai jumped up and down with joy as team Draux was going to finally prove to the village that their one of best by saving their sensei.

Not fully understanding what was going on he stood next to the Kage and his team ate that seemed to appear out of thin air.

Boruto was hoping that he didn't regret his decision but in that same breath had faith his village's selected prodigy children. Nintai eventually stopped jumping and looked over at Jin who hadn't caught on yet to the situation.Hey Jin, looks like we will be going on a mission to save DrauxNintai said as he felt the need to explain at least that much. Boruto:” don't take jinatsu I am personally training right now and I don't want him in the field just yet. If you two are successful this issue will allow me to focus on the village politics more and regain some control. That being said watch out for mercenary shinobi hired by the village council.” Nintai and looked back to jin to see if he had some input on the matter.

Shrugging he just looked at the two, "so mind telling me why he gained a promotion and the rest of us got cramped on?" He was letting his anger get to him, a common trait amount the Uchiha. He then turned and looked around wondering who else was going to surprise him "any more hidden ninjas with a Bullshit promotions out there?" He said rather loudly

Boruto didn't answer Jin’s questions and moved away from the two in such a speed it seemed like he vanished as he returned to the village. Nintai lost his good mood with Jin's attitude and took Boruto leaving meant he would have to explain. ”Apparently I was put in the anbu so they to hone my wood release through another user of the nature while keeping an close eye on me. Despite him saying he cares about my free will, Boruto only sees me as a source of power like the council. Your the lucky one in my opinion.”

Nintai created a smaller version of the wood dragon just big enough for Jin and himself to ride on. ” Get on we have to investigate the area and it will be easier from the air.” Nintai jumped on the head of the wood dragon and looked over his shoulder expecting Jin to do the same.