Chapter 23
The Rally
One hour later. 9:00 AM.
The school fills almost immediately with Asamachi citizens. The sea of people flood through the front doors and disperse amongst the halls, and entering the now unlocked classroom doors.
Naruto is awakened by tapping on a window. His vision blurry, his mind not fully awake yet. He hears people talking outside of the car in the distance. The screams of kids already running around the courtyard in front of the school, and the yells from parents telling these kids to stop running away from them.
The rally’s already started? Nauto asks himself.
The tapping continues on the car window. Naruto looks up to see who it is.
It’s Jiraiya.
Naruto opens the door.
“Jiraiya,” he asks. “What are you doing he-.”
“Naruto we need to leave quickly,” Jiraiya says. “No time to explain, we need to go now.”
“What’s going on,” Naruto asks.
Jiraiya grabs the boy’s arm and drags him out the car.
“Let go of me,” the kid shrugs off Jiraiya’s grip.
“I’m sorry kiddo, but we need to go to your father now, he’s waiting for you,” Jiraiya gets on one knee and places his hands on Naruto’s shoulders in an attempt at reassuring the kid. “We’re late okay? Stick by my side no matter what, and then stay by Sarutobi’s side no matter what when we get to him, okay?”
“What’s going on, why doesn’t anyone want to tell me anything!”
“We’ve got to go,” Jiraiya grabs Naruto’s arm, this time more gently, and leads Naruto through the crowd of people.
Stands have been set up all over, and when they enter the school, Naruto notices that the classrooms are now being used as rooms to have activities in, each room hosted by a different club. So many different activities to try, Naruto looked at all of them with curiosity and when one looked interesting, was devastated because Sarutobi once again was making his life miserable.
Him being nice was just a phase, wasn’t it, Naruto thinks.
But as they walked through the halls, the two were approached by Naruto’s savior. Iruka Umino.
“Naruto,” Iruka exclaims, smiling. “The philosophy club is hosting some activities in room 1B, you should come check it out!”
“He’s busy,” Jiraiya answered.
“I’m not!” Naruto whiningly countered. “I want to hang out with my friends today, Sarutobi said I could! I’m supposed to meet people.”
“You’ll always have a chance to meet people later Naruto, now let’s keep moving.”
Iruka stepped closer, hand on Jiraiya’s shoulder. “Hey, let the kid have some fun, wherever you’re taking him, surely it can wait, right?”
“It sure can!” Naruto grimaced, arms crossed now.
“I would love to, but Sarutobi really needs him right now, he can hang out later,” Jiraiya tries to walk away, dragging Naruto with him. Naruto resists, not budging.
“You said I couldn’t hang out with anyone,” Naruto says. “You said I had to stay by Saurtobi’s side at all times.”
“You can hang out later, alright,” Jiraiya responds, sighing.
“Don’t lie to the kid, Jiraiya. Let him at least go to one of the classrooms for an activity before you take him.”
“Like yours, Mr. Umino?”
“No, not like mine. What I am saying is that the boy’s clearly excited about this rally, let him have some fun before it’s ruined for him.”
“What makes you think Sarutobi will ruin the event for Naruto?”
Iruka gives Jiraiya a side-eyed look. The two both know what Iruka meant by that, both were not keen on Saurtobi’s change of heart and knew of the principal’s cold nature and behavior.
“Yeah let me have some fun,” Naruto exclaimed.
“Later, kiddo,” Jiraiya grabbed the kid again now with more strength and dragged him through the halls away from Iruka.
“Let me go,” Naruto tried to wiggle free from Jiraiya’s grip.
“Just work with me here okay,” Jiraiya sighed as he navigated the both of them through the crowded halls, his eyes looking all over for Madara’s bodyguards.
POP.
A clone of Naruto appears before Jiraiya.
“AHHH!” The clone releases a war cry.
“Kid, you’re really going to attack a teacher,” Jiraiya says.
The clone jumps at Jiraiya. He’s quick.
Jiraiya’s white hair grows long and then whips at the clone, catching it midair. The clone pops and disappears. Jiraiya’s quicker.
“I was in the Sanin, boy,” Jiraiya says, still dragging Naruto through the halls. “My hair quirk has defeated more powerful foes than you.”
“That teacher just hit a kid,” a parent cries. She’s a middle-aged woman who has streaks of grey in her hair.
The other parents stop their own activities and look to Jiraiya. Jiraiya stops in his tracks.
“Did you just hit a kid,” another parent asks, hands on their hips.
“Is this the kind of school my child goes too,” another says.
“I didn’t hit a kid,” Jiraiya gives an awkward smile. “It was a cl-.”
“Liar!” the middle-aged woman who brought attention to Jiraiya and Naruto says, pointing an accusatory finger at the teacher. “I witnessed it with my own eyes!”
“Parents please, you’re misunderstanding what’s going on,” Jiraiya begins.
“He’s hurting me!” Naruto cries. “His grip is hurting me!”
Jiraiya immediately lets go. “My grip wasn’t that strong! Everyone please listen, I need to bring this kid to his father-.”
“Leave the kid alone!” The middle-aged woman chants. “Leave the kid alone!”
Naruto backs away into the crowd as the parents surround Jiraiya, chanting. Jiraiya holds up his hands in a surrendering position, but as the parents slowly surround him, he notices the middle-aged woman smiling at him.
Then POP.
She’s gone. She was a clone.
“Dammit,” Jiraiya sighs.
Naruto sneaks away, using the crowd as cover until he exits the crowd and books it down the hallway.
“Room 1B,” he mutters to himself. “Where’s Room 1B?”
“Naruto!” a woman’s voice yells. Naruto turns to hear who it is.
It’s Tsunadae. She’s a couple of feet behind him, down the hall.
“Where you are running too, buddy,” she asks, trying to have a comforting smile. She reeks of cigarettes and booze and the perfume she’s wearing is not masking that smell at all.
“Sarutobi said he needs something from… over there,” Naruto responds, walking away in a not at all suspicious way.
“Let me accompany you, you might need some help,” she says, following him.
“Nooo, he said it’s fine, I don’t need you, thank you,” Naruto smiles, now walking a lot faster.
“You sure, kiddo,” she asks, keeping up with Naruto. “I don’t think he’d say something like that.”
“He did, trust me.”
“I would but I know he didn’t say that” her voice drops, her tone more serious.
“I- Uhm-… Well-.” Naruto makes a left and books it. He dashes down the hall. Tsunadae runs after him. She almost catches him when two of Madara’s drivers stand in her way, blocking her path to Naruto. One guy and one girl, both in suits and wearing sunglasses.
“Move out of the way,” she tries to burst through.
“Assaulting a member of the government, especially those in direct service to the president, is a felony offense ma’am,” one of the drivers say.
She stops and glares at the two. “Then move,” she says.
The two stand their ground.
“I’m not afraid of a felony,” she says. “If you want to do this right now, we can do it right now.”
“Do what, ma’am,” one of the drivers asks.
“Do whatever happened to you. Whoever beat the shit out of you clearly wasn’t afraid of a felony either, and those bruises are nothing compared to what I’ll do to ya.”
The driver grimaced. His bruises still hurt from yesterday.
The other driver’s hand starts to heat up. She’s readying her quirk for a fire attack.
“I apologize ma’am, I’ll move out of your way,” the bruised driver says, letting her through, his voice showing frustration. Tsunadae continues to chase after Naruto.
“What the fuck Shun,” the woman driver says after Tsunadae passes. “Why’d you let her go?”
“Some things are just not worth it,” Shun says.
The woman chuckles. “What, just because you plan on quitting, you don’t want to do your job?”
“What job is that” Shun asks. “Because getting beat up by my boss’ personal bodyguard was not in the job description. Shit, I hope she catches him, and we don’t. Fuck Madara and whatever plan he has, fuck the Konoha, fuck you, I’m done.” Shun storms off to stand guard somewhere else. The woman driver is stunned by his words.
***********
Naruto runs into Room 1B. The room is decorated with various arts and crafts. Thin, paper banners run across the room ceiling. Pictures of random old people are attached to the walls. Construction paper cut outs of differing shapes taped sporadically all over the place. All of the desks are in one corner of the room.
And the room is basically empty, except for Iruka and the members of the philosophy club.
“Naruto, you came,” Iruka says. “Sarutobi didn’t need you for long then?”
“Right,” Naruto responds. “So what’s going on in here?”
“Well, we have a lot of activities in here like guess which famous philosopher said what or listen to some of the philosophy club members tell you their own philosophies that they made up or… well that’s it really.”
“Oh… okay,” Naruto scratches his head. “Uhh, sounds fun.”
“Right! Which one do you want to do, Naruto,” Iruka gives a wide grin.
“Well… I’ll tell you… after I… use… the bathroom?” Naruto backs away slowly and out of the room.
“Okay, well, don’t take too long,” Iruka yells from inside.
Naruto walks down the hall, trying to find something else to do.
I really did all that just for two boring activities, Naruto thinks. Maybe I’ll run into someone like Sasuke or Sakura. Yeah, let’s find those two and see what they’re up to-.
A kid jumps in front of Naruto. One of his arms has bandages on it. His hair is in a bowl cut, and his eyebrows bushy.
“You!” He says to Naruto, angry.
“Me?” Naruto responds.
“You think you can burn me and get away with it?”
“No?”
“Meet me outside, now! I need my revenge,” Rock Lee says.
“Revenge for…?”
“Don’t pretend to act confused,” Rock Lee responds. He enters a karate like stance. “We can either do this outside or right here, right now.”
“How about neither?” Naruto smiles, scratching his head.
“Here it is,” Rock Lee says.
He raises his leg and then whips it at Naruto. It is remarkably fast; Naruto cannot even track it with his eyes. It connects to the body. Air pushed out of Naruto. He wheezes, crouching down, holding his stomach. Rock Lee prepares again for another strike, raising his leg again. But this time he jumps. He spins in the air and drops down for a final blow. Naruto is too busy trying to catch his breath to notice Rock Lee’s second attack.
Rock’s second kick connects but not with Naruto. It’s Jugo, his hand stone. His stone hand catches Rock Lee’s kick. Jugo then pushes Rock Lee away.
“Unfair match up,” Rock Lee says, bouncing up and down on his toes. “Two against me? You’ll need at least three to make it fair, Naruto.”
“How about four then,” Jugo says as Suigetsu and Sakura arrive to the scene.
“What’s going on,” Sakura says, holding a fencing sword. “Why’d you run over here so quick, Jugo?”
“Our friend looked to be in trouble,” Jugo said.
“It’s Naruto!” Suigetsu says. “Sasuke’s been looking for you.”
“This isn’t over,” Rock Lee says backing away. “I swear I’ll get my justice.”
“Yeah yeah,” Naruto says waving goodbye as he gets up. “But I’m sorry for whatever you think I did.”
“I don’t accept it!” Rock Lee exits the hallway, entering a classroom.
“Thank you,” Naruto says.
“No problem,” Jugo says.
“We should get going to the gymnasium,” Suigetsu says. “The president is about to do his speech.”
“Why do you have a fencing sword in your hand,” Naruto asks.
“Don’t…worry about it,” Sakura sighs.
“Don’t understand why you’re still trying with that douche,” Suigetsu says. “He’s not going to notice you, much less fall in love with you.”
“YOU DON’T-…. Know that,” her face began to redden.
“You were wearing fencing gear at the football try outs,” Naruto says. “Why?”
“Ugh! Long. Story. Okay?!” She stormed off, fencing sword still in hand. She stopped. "We going or what?"
The group went to her and soon, they were on their way to the gymnassium.
“Who’s the douche she’s trying to impress,” Naruto asks as they walk down the halls.
“Guess,” Suigetsu said, giddy.
“Fuck you, Suigetsu,” Sakura responds.
“Neji?”
“Yup,” Jugo says.
“Still don’t get why you’re trying so hard to be with him,” Suigetsu says.
“I kinda get it…” Naruto says awkwardly.
The group pause their walking and look at him confused.
“What do you mean,” Sakura says.
“… it’s the hair,” Naruto says hands around his face, fingers having enough space for his eyes to peer through. “And he looks kind of angelic?”
“Fuck off, if the personality is shit, why bother,” Suigetsu says. “Everything I’ve heard about him has just been awful.”
The group continue walking. They walk until Suigetsu stops again.
“That’s part of the charm isn’t it,” he says, his face looking as if he’d made a new scientific discovery. “The fact he doesn’t like you makes you more attracted to him!”
“Shut up!” Sakura rushes off.
“It’s true!” Suigetsu follows. “I’ve figured it out!”
“Lalalalala I can’t hear you, lalalala,” Sakura yells, hands covering her ears.
*********
The gymnasium is packed. Parents are seated on the bleachers that are on the left and right sides of the gym. In the middle are no seats, just desperate parents and supporters looking for a chance to catch a good sight of the president. The gymnasium is so packed that the crowd almost reaches the gym’s entrance. In the front of the gym is a wooden stage, set with a podium and microphones. Behind it is a plain black curtain backdrop.
Sarutobi stands on the right back corner of the stage. His eyes search the crowd for Naruto. He’s almost visibly nervous. He’s been searching for his son for a while now. Tsunadae and Jiraiya both have eyes on them now, same as Sarutobi, after the threat Tsunadae made at one of Madara’s drivers. They can’t move freely throughout the school either.
He’s fine, Sarutobi keeps thinking. He’s fine. He’s okay. Nothing to worry about-.
Naruto enters the gymnasium with Sakura, Jugo, and Suigetsu.
“Wow, it’s packed,” Naruto exclaims. “How will we even see the president from here?”
“We won’t,” Suigetsu says. “But Sasuke’s got us VIP seating.”
“Backstage baby,” Sakura responds.
“Oh wow!” Naruto says. “Backstage! For all of us, including me?”
“Specifically, you,” Suigetsu said. “Sasuke wanted us to come gets you for some reason. I don’t mind, I think you’re cool people, besides the part where you tried to kill us all.”
“When I what?”
“This way,” Suigetsu leads the group through the crowd until they reach the side of the stage. There are a couple of drivers who stand guard there.
“Sorry, trying to get through,” Suigetsu says.
“Hold on now,” a driver pushes him back. “Who are you?”
“I’m with Sasuke, we have backstage passes?”
“I don’t think so, get away from here,” the driver shoos them away.
“Go ask Sasuke,” Suigetsu says.
“I’m not going to bother the president’s nephew over a bunch of kids.”
“But I’m telling the truth-.”
“Get out of here before I have you arrested.”
“Let them through,” Shun says, standing closer to the stage than the other drivers. He approaches the group, having noticed Naruto with them. “It’s fine,” he says, leading the group of kids past the drivers.
“Thank you,” Suigetsu said piously, glaring at the other drivers as he walked past. After they were backstage, he asks “Where’s Sasuke?”
“In the changing room with the president,” Shun says. “But this is as far as you go, except Naruto. You’re to come with me.”
“Where am I going?”
“To the president, now come on-.”
Sarutobi rushes off stage and to the group.
“No no no, he’s with me,” the principal says.
“The president has requested Naruto’s presenc-.”
“He’s with me! Do I have to repeat myself?”
Shun stares at Sarutobi for a moment before he shrugs and hands the kid off to Sarutobi. Shun then heads back to where he was posted.
“You okay,” Sarutobi asks, kneeling in front of the boy.
“Yeah I’m fine… how did he know my name?”
“Who?”
“The bodyguard. How does he know my name?”
“He-… well he…”
“What’s going on, Hiruzen? Why are teachers chasing me, why are people attacking me saying I burned them or tried to kill them? Why does the president’s drivers know my name?”
“It’ll all be explained in due time, okay,” Sarutobi says.
“Will it? I’ve been so confused lately-.”
“Just… stick by my side from now on, please?” Sarutobi’s voice is earnest but not secure. It almost cracks.
“…ok.”
“Thank you, son,” Sarutobi gives Naruto a deep hug. He lets go. “Okay, let’s get on stage.”
“On stage?”
“When I say by my side from now on, I mean it kiddo.”
The two walk on stage and assume Sarutobi’s previous position.
“Am I…” Naruto says.
“Are you what, son?” Sarutobi leans in to hear Naruto better over the loud crowd.
“Am I going to speak…” Naruto’s hands shake a little.
“Oh no, you’re just going to stand here, you don’t have to speak at all.”
The two stand for a while until the crowd becomes quiet. It then erupts with applause. Naruto looks to his left to see Madara Uchiha and Sasuke Uchiha walk on stage. Madara is smiling, his hands waving towards the crowd.
Sasuke is wide-eyed and visibly nervous. He makes no eye contact with the crowd, opting to look down at his feet. When he does look up, he sees Naruto.
Naruto smiles at him, giving him an awkward wave.
Sasuke doesn’t respond, his entire body being overwhelmed with guilt.
“Just stay right here for a second,” Sarutobi says to Naruto. “I don’t want Madara getting to close.”
Before Naruto can ask why, Sarutobi walks to the middle of the stage to meet Madara. He’s grinning wide, looking to be genuinely pleased to see the president. The two shake hands with firm grips.
“Thank you for hosting my rally, Hiruzen,” Madara says, smiling and shaking Sarutobi’s hand.
“It was my pleasure,” Sarutobi responds.
“And for bringing the boy,” Madara lets go of the handshake and assumes his position at the front of the stage, right behind the podium. He adjusts the microphone.
“Thank you,” Madara begins. “Thank you- Now settle down you guys. It’s just me,” he smiles wide, chuckling. The crowd is ecstatic, the cheering ramping up, and laughter being released into the air. “Alright alright, I know I know. Thank you all for coming.”
The crowd finally dies down.
“My first rally, wow! Well not ever,” he and the crowd laughs. “First rally of the election campaign! And what better crowd to start my campaign off than this one. A record-breaking crowd! My managers, bless them, say they’ve never seen a crowd like this one! And gosh, in this wonderful school, can I have a round of applause for the principal of this school, Hiruzen Sarutobi!”
The crowd erupts again in applause. Sarutobi bows up and down and awkwardly puts his hand up, trying to accept all of the praise coming from the crowd.
“Wonderful school, so wonderful,” Madara continues, the crowd immediately dying down. “My son goes to this school, and he tells me so many great things about it. And all thanks to the wonderful leadership, Hiruzen Sarutobi.”
Madara grabs the microphone and removes it from the small stand. He starts walking around the stage.
“Hiruzen Sarutobi served our country for many years, and for nine of them, ran the Sanin, the greatest military covert-ops team since… well ever! In my humble opinion. Absolutely amazing, and during his time, did things unimaginable. No one could’ve done the things he’s done while as Sanin leader. Too bad that the previous administration, run by the great Minato Uzumaki, disbanded your group, Hiruzen. I would’ve never done such a thing. Me and Minato, when he was alive, agreed about many things, but the one thing I always disagreed with was your dishonorable discharge. I think you served this country wonderfully, truly no one else could’ve done the things you’ve done. Could’ve been capable of the actions you did to so many people. So, thank you, on behalf of this country, and my nephew who now attends your school, thank you.”
Naruto gives another quick glance to Sasuke. Sasuke is sweating.
“We face an epidemic everyone. An epidemic. There are forces within this country that are trying to limit our potential! Those who hide in the shadows and manufacture hate in this country. I want togetherness but my- OUR enemies want something else. They want to infect our schools, influence the education of our children- teach them things that are not part of our country’s history. They want to raise armies against us and tear down what makes this country right! This is why my focus for the next presidential term is education. Now, you may say, education? I’ve been president for two terms and somehow, there’s something wrong with education? It seems I have trusted certain folks that I should not have trusted.”
Sarutobi hears footsteps behind him. He turns to his right and notices a group of people walking out the back entrance of the gymnasium. One of them is Menma Uzumaki. He’s shaking his head and visibly angry.
“I’ve let the Uzumaki party run this country’s education as well as other things and that was a huge mistake on my part. It has been revealed to me that the Uzumaki’s are in fact the ones trying to destroy this country! They’ve been working behind the shadows and looking to infect our kids’ minds. They do not hold the same interests as Minato held! The great Minato Uzumaki’s legacy is being tainted by the same people of his party!”
A collective gasp from the crowd until boos erupt.
“But don’t worry, I won’t let them infect our country anymore!”
Cheers from the crowd.
“I will rip out the weeds that harm our soil, flush out all of this country’s waste, and bring justice to all! If you elect me again, I will create a country that will allow us to reach our full potential! Give me the power to do so. I ask you to hand me the keys to the castle just one more time! Give me the sword to strike down our enemies! Give me the vote when the election comes next year!”
The crowd yells and hoots and hollers! They’re riled up by Madara’s words.
“Allow me to save us from-.”
Madara gives a quick glance to Sarutobi before looking back to the crowd. Hiruzen knows what the look was. The president is showing the principal who’s really in control. How much power he really has.
“… The Uzumakis.”