---Konoha - The New Kenway Compound---
"I'm here... damn."
Haku stood before the massive gates of the former Uchiha District. He knew some of his Sensei's powers, but the magnitude of the new compound before him was something else entirely.
The walls were high, made of polished stone and reinforced wood that smelled of deep earth. Cherry blossom trees peeked over the top, dropping pink petals onto the street outside. It didn't look like a fortress; it looked like a sanctuary.
'Let's see if I can crash here for a bit...' Haku thought, adjusting the strap of his travel bag.
He reached out to knock on the heavy timber gates. Before his knuckles could make contact, the wood shimmered with a faint, golden light.
Pulse.
The gates registered his chakra signature instantly.
CREAAAAK.
They swung open silently, revealing a sprawling courtyard of manicured gardens, koi ponds, and stone pathways leading to a magnificent main house that blended traditional Japanese architecture with something... foreign. Something grander.
Haku raised a brow for a second, impressed. "Automatic entry. Sensei thinks of everything."
He shrugged off his curiosity and entered.
No one greeted him. The grounds were empty of servants or guards. It was just peaceful silence, broken only by the sound of water trickling into the ponds.
Haku walked toward the biggest house. It was the only logical destination.
'Alaric-sensei has a peculiar way of designing his house,' Haku thought, admiring the wrap-around porch and the large glass windows… glass of a quality he had never seen before. 'Although I can't argue it does look breathtaking.'
He stepped onto the porch and slid the main door open.
"Hello...?" Haku called out tentatively.
He walked into the main hall. The interior was spacious, filled with plush furniture, expensive rugs, and the scent of cigar smoke mixed with old paper.
Sitting in the sunken living area were three people.
Alaric sat in a large leather armchair, legs crossed, looking like a king holding court.
Jiraiya, the Toad Sage, was pacing back and forth, waving his arms dramatically.
And sitting on the floor, looking bored and slightly annoyed, was Naruto Uzumaki.
"So you want me to fix his seal?" Alaric asked, cupping his chin and looking at Naruto's stomach as if inspecting a faulty engine. "I could do it. But... for a price."
"For a price?" Jiraiya's eyes bugged out comically. He gestured wildly at the opulent surroundings. "Come on! Look at this place! You're swimming in money! It's a quick fix! I heard you modified the Uchiha brat's curse mark for the Old Man!"
Alaric calmly grabbed a cigar from his pocket. He snapped his fingers, lighting it with a spark of chakra, and took a quick drag.
"The old man paid me for it," Alaric exhaled smoke. "My services aren't always free, Jraiya-san. I'm not a philanthropist."
Jiraiya looked at Alaric, then at Naruto, then back at Alaric. He grumbled, crossing his arms. "~Haaa... fine. How much do you want?."
"Pervy-sage, why do you even need his help?" Naruto shouted, jumping up. He pointed an accusing finger at Alaric. "What's this giant blonde guy even about? Didn't you fix my seal already in the hot springs?"
Alaric chuckled at the remark, shaking his head. "Giant blonde guy? I prefer 'eccentric billionaire', kid."
"Shut up!" Jiraiya bonked Naruto on the head, earning a yelp of pain. "I only removed the Five Elements Seal that Orochimaru planted on top of yours! I can't do anything about the structural damage it left to the original Eight Trigrams Seal! It's delicate work! Stop shouting, the adults are talking!"
"Sensei?"
Haku finally decided to announce his presence fully.
Naruto rubbed his head, looking over. "Huh?"
Jiraiya turned his head, but his reaction was different. He didn't just look; he tensed.
'Damn...' Jiraiya thought, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the boy standing in the entryway. 'Ain't that Alaric's student? I didn't even hear the door open. He masked his presence completely until he spoke. That kid's a genius.'
"Ahh... Haku," Alaric smiled, not surprised in the slightest. "Welcome, welcome. You're just in time. Jiraiya-san over here wants my premium services for free. Ain't that too much?"
Haku saw the fake-hurt expression on Alaric's face… the hand over the heart, the tragic sigh. He shook his head slightly, hiding a smile.
"I am sure you can work something out, Sensei."
"Hey!" Naruto squinted, walking closer to Haku. "Aren't you... aren't you that guy who defeated Gaara!?"
Alaric watched the interaction with a proud gleam in his eye.
Haku was strong. In terms of pure, lethal efficiency, he was miles ahead of his peers. Reuben and Thulani, his other disciples from the Assassin's Creed world, were powerful warriors, but they were bound by human limits even if they had chakra. If they fought Haku all out, they'd be dead before they could draw their swords.
'Haku vs. Kassandra, however...' Alaric mused. 'I'd pay to see that. Kassandra's immortal regeneration, Isu strength, and endurance against Haku's speed and Ice Release. Unstoppable force meets elusive object.'
He looked at Naruto.
'Sasuke didn't flee the village... but he still has his desire for revenge. And Naruto... he has the Fox. Jiraiya will train him. They will get strong.'
Alaric smirked around his cigar.
'But no matter how strong they get... my student will still be on top. WHAHAHAHAHAHA.'
He caught himself. 'Okay... I need to stop thinking like a villain.'
"Good morning, Naruto-san," Haku smiled politely, offering a hand. "My name is Haku Yuki... a Genin of Konoha, just like you."
Naruto gave him a doubtful look for a second. This guy took down a Tailed Beast. He didn't feel like a 'Genin'.
But Naruto grinned, grabbing Haku's hand and shaking it vigorously. "So you already know me! HAHA! Good! You've shaken hands with the future Hokage!"
Haku kept his composed smile. Alaric chuckled. Jiraiya sweatdropped and sighed, rubbing his temples.
"Okay, okay, enough introductions," Jiraiya waved his hand, getting back to business. "Alaric. Naruto and I will be going to Tanzaku Gai for a mission to find... someone. I need him at full capacity. Just check his seal."
Jiraiya reached into his vest and pulled out three orange books. They glowed with a menacing aura.
"I'll hand you three volumes of the unreleased version of Icha Icha Paradise," Jiraiya whispered reverently. "It's the next edition! Signed! The plot twist in volume 2 will change your life!"
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
The room went dead silent. Haku looked away, embarrassed. Naruto looked confused.
"Hahahahaha!" Alaric burst out laughing. It was a genuine, heartfelt sound that shook the room.
He wiped a tear from his eye. "No. I don't read your porn, Jiraiya."
"It's literature!" Jiraiya shouted, offended. "Tch, uncultured swine."
He put the books away. "Fine. Cash. How much?"
Alaric stopped laughing. His expression shifted. He looked at Jiraiya, then at Haku, then at Naruto. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
"No," Alaric said softly. "What I want isn't money. I have plenty of that."
He looked Jiraiya in the eye.
"I'll help you first. Fix the seal. Optimize it. But after that... let's talk. Just the two of us."
Jiraiya stared at Alaric. The playfulness vanished from the Sannin's face. He saw the seriousness in Alaric's blue eyes… the knowledge that went deeper than it should.
"Fine..." Jiraiya nodded slowly. "As long as you fix the kid up... it's a deal."
"Heh, a deal it is," Alaric stood up.
He turned to Haku.
"Welcome to the family estate, Haku," Alaric gestured to the hallway. "Check out any room in the West Wing and pick one to unload your things. Get settled."
Alaric grinned.
"You'll be coming with us too. It's about time I teach you Fuinjutsu."
.
Consider buying me a coffee!
patreon.com/kulark
I'm uploading dozens of chapters ahead there!