7 Expectations

Inside the Hokage's office was a lot more cluttered than Hatada expected. Papers piled as high as one could comfortably reach and many more had fallen to the wayside. 'Do they have no proper organization system apart from "Just stack it over there"? This can't make things easier.'

"Young Hatada-kun, congratulations on getting into the academy."

Hatada looked towards the desk. Sitting there was a relatively short, unassuming old man. He had quite extreme crow's feet around his eyes, and was generally wrinkled everywhere else, showing his age. Evidently, his physical age hadn't affected his intense stare and powerful feeling Hatada got while looking at him, hidden behind a gentle smile.

'To produce such an aura… he has the power of a 7 ring. Impressive.'

Even though he managed to gain his 7th ring when he was just 17 years old in his last life, reaching that point was no easy feat, or everyone would have. 

Hiruzen looked up at the rafters and waved his hands.

'!!!'

A few ninjas disappeared from the room, startling Hatada. 'I had no idea they were even there! If any one of them wanted me dead…'

*Shiver*

Hiruzen seemed amused at Hatada's surprised expression, but pretended not to notice. "Young Hatada-kun, I have a few things I must discuss apart from congratulating you," he said, looking straight into Hatada's eyes. "First, this:"

He tossed a key, which Hatada snatched out of the air. "The address is on the tag attached to the key. I'd recommend moving in before school starts so you have more time for your studies. Also, you will be given an allowance by the village, same as every other child like you."

He said all this while holding his endearing smile.

'I guess that's as good a reason as any for an orphan here to work hard. Free housing and an allowance for a few days a week of training is worth it no matter how untalented one may be.

'Not to say I did just "a few days a week" of training.'

"Thank you, Lord Hokage," Hatada said, bowing slightly.

Hiruzen waved his hand, "No need to be so formal, just call me grandpa."

'Hmm? That seems like an odd request… oh well, I'll indulge him. Everyone has their eccentricities, especially those in power.'

"Of course… grandpa."

"Good, now, onto the real reason I brought you here,"

This got Hatada's attention quickly. 'What could it be… maybe my performance intrigued him? Or maybe he thinks I'm a spy… even though I try, I can't perfectly act as a kid my age. Being an orphan helps as a cover story to explain why I act the way I do, but I'm sure a man as experienced as this can easily see through my sloppy acting.

'If he really does believe I am one, I'll have to try my hardest to convince him otherwise. I don't want to find out this planet's techniques of interrogation.'

"Are you aware of the term: Kekkei genkai?" Hiruzen asked in a calm tone. His face, however, showed that he was being serious.

Hatada nodded. "I have read about them in the library. They are essentially hereditary abilities or nature transformations that are either impossible, or nearly impossible to recreate without having them in your bloodline."

He nodded. "Very good, young Hatada-kun. Your drive to learn is admirable. I guess I'll have to increase my expectations of you…"

He trailed off, thinking about something for a moment- or at least that is what he wanted Hatada to think. 

"Now, since you know what they are, I'll be frank: You have one, don't you?"

"!!!"

Hatada tensed in response, but quickly returned to his natural state of being after realizing the situation he was in. 'Even if I tried, I wouldn't be able to take one step. As long as I'm in this country, I'm at his mercy, so let's see what he has to say, though I won't tell him the whole truth.'

"...I do…" Hatada lied. He knew his elemental affinity was categorically different from kekkei genkai, as they weren't hereditary, but soul related.

Hiruzen chuckled. "I'm not trying to intimidate you, young Hatada-kun. Instead, I'm trying to help you."

"...I'm listening," Hatada said in a neutral tone.

"Now, even if you know what they are, I'm sure you don't know how much villages want kekkei genkai. Our village has a few high profile ones ourselves; those being the Byakugan and Sharingan, and both are extremely sought after by other villages. 

"In fact, the young princess of the Hyuga clan was kidnapped by another village not long ago. We speculate their main goal was to obtain the secrets of their eyes, though it could have been for other reasons."

Hatada nodded. He had heard whispers of such a thing happening, but he didn't consider that they were doing it to obtain the Byakugan, but instead a hostage. "Does that mean the Byakugan and Sharingan can be removed and surgically implanted in another person? 

"Or were they trying to…"

"-Although we don't know exactly what their plans are, your first idea is probably the most realistic one," Hiruzen said, cutting off Hatada. "While it is technically possible, the Hyuga have a system in place to guarantee that their eyes do not get stolen. The Uchiha are not as careful, but they are conversely far trickier to get stolen from, so neither situation is a big worry."

Hatada wasn't necessarily interested in any systems in place to prevent the doujutsus from being stolen. Instead, he was more interested in their process of surgical implantation. He held his questions for a later date.

"I digress. For you, I believe I am the only one who has figured out you have a kekkei genkai, and I don't intend to allow anyone else to know this information until you are strong enough to handle the consequences," he said in the most serious tone Hatada had heard from him.

"Well, if you know already despite my efforts, how could I hide it while training it?" Hatada asked. "What's the point of having one when I can't get good at using it?"

"Don't worry, I have a few solutions. The first involves the training grounds:

"There are many training grounds close to the academy, as you've no doubt noticed. However, those are not the only ones we have, nor the ones I suggest you use to train your kekkei genkai.

"Throughout our village are many training grounds, some far enough away from any densely populated area to allow for you to practice your kekkei genkai well away from prying eyes, so long as you are careful. In fact, I have already arranged for this to be as convenient for you as possible."

Hatada was again surprised by the old man. Not only had he figured out his light magic despite Hatada believing he had kept it a secret, but he had also thought of, and prepared solutions to the issues Hatada needed fixing. 'I wonder what he did to discover it…'

"How?"

"Simple: I arranged for your apartment to be near training ground 75. It may make your walk to the academy a little bit longer, but I have a feeling a dedicated young man such as yourself won't mind," he said with a smile. "In the future, depending on your results, I may even make arrangements for you to own your own house as close to the training field as possible."

Hatada nodded. Indeed, he didn't mind having to walk a few more minutes to get to school. With how fast he'll become in the coming years, it's a nonissue.

"Next involves this."

Hiruzen handed Hatada a small piece of paper. "Just infuse your chakra into that."

Hatada nodded. He already had read about what this stuff was: Chakra paper. Its main use is to discover what nature transformation one had the best affinity for. The only reason he hadn't used one yet was due to the cost, which he didn't see as a good tradeoff since he had no allowance, and would have to either steal or beg for it.

According to the library, there were five possible results from the paper: 

1, it will catch fire, symbolizing… well… fire.

2, it will split in half, symbolizing wind.

3, it will crumple up, symbolizing lightning

4, it will disintegrate into dust, symbolizing earth

5, it will become soggy, symbolizing water.

Any of these results were acceptable to Hatada. He had fought many individuals whose elemental affinity had these properties, so not only did he have at least a few ideas of how to use them, he had tons of experience fighting with and against people like this.

In fact, his master's elemental affinity was lightning, so he already had experience being trained by someone who was supremely skilled with the element. 

He grabbed the paper from Hiruzen and infused his mana into the paper. This test would give Hatada more knowledge than just what his nature transformation was: it would tell him whether or not the mana his rings generated was compatible with this world's techniques. 

If it wasn't, he'd simply have to shrug it off.

'Come on… come on… come on…'

Finally, the paper reacted. 

"*Crinkle*"

Hiruzen nodded. "Ahh, Lightning. Although we don't have as many lightning jutsus as we do fire, I'm sure you can make due," Hiruzen said, sounding a little disappointed.

'Disappointed?'

"Is that bad?" Hatada said, picking up on his tone.

"No! No, my boy, no nature transformation is bad. They all have their uses. In fact, every type has had, or has, a very powerful ninja who not just uses, but specializes in it.

"Still, this old man couldn't help but hope wind was your affinity."

"Why so?"

Hiruzen smiled, "Because the most common type in this village is fire. Wind jutsus can create extremely potent combinations with fire release jutsus, after all. It also happens that we are in a… tumultuous relationship with the village with the most lightning affinity, which is weakest to wind."

Hatada nodded. 'Makes sense. Wind, no, oxygen is necessary for fire to burn, so naturally the more you give it, the bigger the fire will grow. I once fought a Mage whose elemental affinity was quite unique: explosion. If even a fraction of the chaos can be recreated with just two ninjas, it would be devastating.

Though I don't really understand why lightning is weak to wind. Oh well.'

"I understand," Hatada said. 

"That's good," he smiled. "Now, just because you have an affinity for lighting doesn't mean that is the only nature transformation you can use, or can master. 

"Tell me, young Hatada-kun, do you know what some people call me?"

Hatada shook his head. He genuinely hadn't found much on Hiruzen that wasn't (at least in his opinion) embellished, so he just read about confirmed feats and general history. He didn't see any titles.

"The professor," he said with a hint of pride leaking through. "Save for a few, I am probably the most knowledgeable ninja alive. Naturally, I have mastered all 5 basic nature transformations, in addition to many other techniques," he bragged.

Hatada was surprised, but considering his feats, it really shouldn't be much of a surprise. 'Fitting title, if he isn't lying.'

"While I don't have much time, I can give you a few pointers on your journey to mastering lightning release should you need them. And, so long as you meet my expectations, I might even give you access to some of the restricted sections within our library. In there, you'll find some quite useful and rare jutsus."

His eyes lit up at the prospect. 

'Perfect! If I get access to such a place, I may be able to raise my skill in nature transformation to the extent where it will increase my power level, not just act as a way to hide my Light Magic.'

Hiruzen smiled inwardly at the excitement in Hatada's eyes, not knowing he was already thinking about how he could use this new power in battle. 'It's good that he's excited, but I should make sure this investment works out in Konoha's favor.' 

"I recommend you not take this opportunity lightly, young man," he said sternly. "It won't be easy to meet my expectations of you, and nature transformations are not easy things to master, either."

Hatada nodded. "I understand, grandpa. I'll make sure to meet your expectations of me."

'-and exceed them.'