Naruto: A Lazy Life

Pov: Shikaku Nara.

...

I flip through the book, and re-examine it to be sure of myself.

"This is... interesting" I note.

"How so?" Fugaku asks.

"This technique requires advanced knowledge on chakra control and the ability to find your own Chakra points... How did he create it while being so lazy? If he had the Byakugan or perhaps talent with medical jutsu..." I reply.

"His grandfather was a medical ninja- we assume he looked through his scrolls to find the necessary information while using his talent to make up for the rest" Fugaku tells me.

"Talent... he can control chakra better than trained medical professionals and you call that talent?" I close the book and place it back on the shelf.

"What is it that you needed from this library Shikaku? I thought this was important business, not personal interest" Fugaku crosses his arms and raises his chin.

"It's just... what a drag, don't you think this is suspicious?" I pinch the bridge of my nose in frustration.

"Suspicious of what?" Fugaku narrows his gaze on me.

... Of something completely insane and hard to tell others about.

"Haaa- Never mind. I think Saburo's style is all I needed, thank you for allowing me into the Uchiha library" I bow slightly.

When the Hokage ordered me to obtain this secretly... I took the chance to poke through Takumi's other creations and cannot seem to wrap my head around how he created some of this stuff.

"It is fine- you did not request much of us in the end, it is only natural that our clans stick together in these trying times" Fugaku escorts me out of the newly built building.

"Yes... quite" I nod as I leave, walking away from the Uchiha clan head.

Takumi Uchiha was making techniques beyond just talent... that was skill, knowledge and ability he should not have obtained.

Refining the Academy style to be both a foundation and a way to engage an enemy all in one... improving genin survival rates by 7% with just that alone- Unique styles that turn ordinary talents into heroes and a technique that allows one to ignore any damage taken.

...

If this was not benefiting Konoha then I am certain others than just me would be looking deeper into who Takumi actually is.

And the more I look into him the more my theory seems relevant... Especially after I overheard that secret 'code' him and Saburo talk to each other in. A code that does not exist in any library nor scroll within Konoha, a code that has no roots tied to our languages nor any language within the elemental nations.

It is almost an entirely separate language from an alien place yet uncovered...

...

And this visit cost me some small debt to the Uchiha clan, the Nara elders won't be happy with that considering the heat that the Uchiha name brings now- I need to stay low before I cause anymore trouble for myself and the clan... what a drag.

---

Pov: Takumi Uchiha.

*Yawn~!*

"Why are you so tired all the time, you sleep so often" Jun complains.

"Hn. I don't know, nor care to find out- perhaps my special body has extra needs to satisfy the strength without proper training?" I offer a half-hearted answer.

"Uhuh..." Jun rolls his eyes at me.

"Is Uncle Saburo out still?" Naoki asks me.

"A mission as usual" I nod.

"Can we take a break?" Kana pleads.

...

"How long have you been holding that stance for again?" I ponder aloud.

"W-ha- I don't know!" Jun stutters and exclaims.

"Three whole minutes of the horse stance... at their age it is incredible" Itachi comments.

"Yeah, sure- I guess that means you can hold out for much longer" Naoki gives up and falls to the floor, breathing heavily.

"Of course- but that is using chakra" Itachi notes.

Naoki waves his hand and Jun topples over to join him.

"Kana, you can rest now" I raise my hand.

"Haaaaa-" She breathes out dramatically as she falls to the floor too.

"I need a full week of rest..." Naoki exclaims.

"Make it a year..." Jun adds.

"I'm ready to go again..!" Kana states... while her face rests in the dirt.

"We will continue stamina training in 15 minutes, enjoy the break" I command.

Naoki gives a half hearted thumbs up and the other two seem to somehow fall even further into the dirt, as if melting.

..!

Itachi turns around and gazes at a small bird on the roof of my house.

"For you?" I yawn.

"No- I think it is for you" Itachi replies.

Hn?

"I will watch over these three... if you wish to go meet the Hokage" Itachi tells me.

Ah. The bird signifies meeting the Hokage, I see.

I stand up and dust off my pyjamas before slowly stretching and walking all the way to the Hokage building, I see him on the roof and take the stairs.

...

After a few moments I arrive to meet face to face with the Hokage who gazes off into the distance... watching over the village.

"Hello Takumi" He greets calmly, nursing a pipe between his lips.

"Lord Hokage" I nod and stand just behind him.

"I am glad you received my summons, I was unsure if you knew of that particular method" He chuckles as he plucks the pipe from his mouth.

"The bird? Itachi told me about it, clever kid" I note.

"That he is- how are you enjoying the new house and students? I heard you still haven't taught them chakra" The Hokage asks me.

"The house is great. I made the mistake of removing the Dining room however and everyone keeps reminding me. The students are children, mostly playing but building themselves up for a bright future" I tell him in return.

"... That is good to hear" He uses the pipe slowly, taking in the scenery.

"May I know why you summoned me?" I question.

"Kumo- the village hidden in the clouds is coming for a peace treaty of sorts at the end of this year, I wish to assign you a mission" The Hokage turns his head to me.

"Hn- go on" I raise my head to look at the clouds.

"I need you to investigate and remove a certain thorn in my side, recently a Shinobi have made themselves known to the higher ups of the village- making certain demands and blackmailing an Elder. We have been calling this shinobi 'Shadow' as we have no real identity nor traits we can tie them too... As no one was able to spot them in their confrontations. Only recalling a shadow looming over their backs" The Hokage summarises.

"What of the Blackmailed Elder, they had not seen this Shadow?" I raise an eyebrow and look back at him.

"No, he has not..." The Hokage's eye twitches.

"What does this Shadow have to do with the Kumo treaty?" I ask another question.

"We have reason to believe that Shadow wishes to hijack this treaty, as they asked multiple questions about the Raikage and if he was coming down to Konohagakure for the treaty... the Shadow seemed interested in learning more about the other villages but seemed intent on knowing more classified information on the Raikage" The Hokage replies with a sigh.

"A grudge perhaps?" I note.

"Probably, though the Elder described the voice as calm and rational- in control over his own emotions" The Hokage meets my gaze again.

"Certain that the Ninja is a Shinobi? Could they be a Kunoichi?" I look back over to the village.

"The voice was masculine... but also altered using Chakra, nothing too fancy- just basic Genjutsu. But that in itself might be a trick, it is up to you to figure out the truth" The Hokage tips his hat.

"Can I speak to this Elder?" I yawn.

"No, they are of a prominent clan and wish to be hidden for now... if it was revealed they were being blackmailed for information, their reputation could plummet considerably. If you have any additional questions you may ask me to talk to them" The Hokage responds.

"Hn. Foolish pride... Fine, I will begin searching in my spare time- any locations of interest or leads to follow?" I ask with a frown.

"I have an apartment where the Blackmailing took place- used by the Elder to talk to Shinobi in secret, the Anbu could not find anything but you are free to investigate" He hands over a small note with an address written on it.

"Hn" I nod and pocket the note.

"We have no other leads- but you have a year to find them... keep me updated and request help when needed" The Hokage turns to the village once more and smokes from his pipe.

Shadow... sounds like he will be a thorn in my side as well, I would prefer a shorter mission over this one.

But it is also a slow paced mission with just one target, I will do what I can and report what I am able to find.

"I will do it- but promise nothing" I turn and walk back to the stairs.

...

"Oh... One more thing" The Hokage calls out as I reach the stairs.

I turn and meet his gaze... we do not blink for thirteen seconds as we both try and get a read on each other from this distance.

"They used Saburo's technique. Proficiently" The Hokage states and I raise my eyebrow.

"How Proficiently?" I reply, curious.

"If Saburo wasn't constantly on missions with multiple Anbu teams... we would think it was him. Apart from the Uchiha clan... who have you given that technique to?" The Hokage smokes his pipe, inquisitively.

"Only Saburo and the Uchiha clan would know" I squint- scanning the old man.

... An Uchiha also meddled with the Nine tails event too- does he assume a connection? If so... why go through me to get them?

"Why assign me this mission?" I ask.

"You are a chaos agent- one I cannot seem to predict, 'If I was making a power play I would have killed a few people in this crowd by now-'. That is what you told the most powerful people in Konoha to their face... and you have yet to apologise for it" The Hokage tells me.

"Makes me more suspicious than anything" I note for him.

"Everyone needs another to die in order to make a proper 'power play' within Konoha, because the only way someone can vouch for more power is when weakness is revealed- blood is spilled, a seat is left empty... I trust you because while the clans hide their motives behind kinder words and careful choices, you choose to tell me straight to my face... You don't care for blackmail, you are Takumi Uchiha and that is beneath you" The Hokage replies with a good answer.

Hn.

"Every time I used to talk to you, I got the feeling you were sizing me up- trying to figure me out or negotiate compromises... You have changed for the better, capable of seeing me for who I am now and are interacting with me appropriately" I smile, genuinely.

"I hope so, it took a while to figure you out" The Hokage laughs to himself.

"Hn- I have one last question before I leave" I change the conversation.

"Go ahead" The Hokage tips his hat.

"How do you know the proficiency of the Saburo style being used if no one has seen this Shadow?" I question.

...

"... An Anbu member chased after the Shadow and described the movement techniques unique long lasting speed, that increased in swiftness as the chase continued" The Hokage replies carefully.

"I am to guess that the Anbu has witnessed Saburo doing exactly this manoeuvre on missions?" I tilt my head upwards.

"Precisely" The Hokage smirks.

"I am truly interested in which Uchiha member decided to learn my techniques to such a high level... I will investigate the apartment and come back to discuss this some more. Will you be available?" I inquire.

"You can come bother me during my evening meal- I will await with curiosity Lazy Uchiha, for you are quite the hard worker when intrigued" The Hokage chuckles to himself.

Has he changed the way he speaks, just to cater towards me? And the way he chose to discuss this mission was designed to illicit the most curiosity from me... while also respecting my boundaries. How strange, I am beginning to like this cunning individual- and truly understanding why everyone loves his work as the Hokage.

"Very well, I will catch them before December" I nod and descend down the stairs.

...

... Now, which little Uchiha decided to use my work? And why have they decided to feel shame for their progress, hiding in the shadows and causing me to wake up in order to find the annoyance?

I will start with the apartment, check the public records for any tragedies regarding the Uchiha clan and Raikage... while also stopping by my house to ensure my trainees are actually training.

A very busy day indeed, no sleep for me.