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  Daichi was in Kensei's library going over various books on the Nara . The veteran ninja had collected and recorded information on various s from all over the world. Their jutsu and fighting styles.

  Daichi looked over some of the information and he was impressed. 'There is no way the old man could have gotten these kinds of info without fighting most of them. The information here. It's like a treasure trove.'

  The young Genin was looking through two books in particur. One was on the Nara d the other on the Yuki d Ice Style users.

  'The Nara uses Yin chakra in a special ratio to create their hidden teiques. Over time their bodies acclimated and they gained a geic advao using their style. But it be taught to someoside their . In the beginning the Nara developed teiques to hunt animals but over time they realized the battlefield applications and thus several variations of the Shadow jutsu were born. They formed an alliah the Yamanaka d Akimichi d helped them with le support.'

  Daichi closed the book and thought about the situation. 'I know how to use the Shadow Imitation Jutsu but if I use it in public, there will be a lot of problems ing my way. Some might even accuse me of stealing secrets… Looks like I only use this jutsu in the dungeons.'

  Daichi leaned ba his chair and thought about the enemies he would fa the future.

  'In about two weeks Naruto's birthday is ing up. I 't believe it's almost October. And soon March will e by with Naruto's graduation and the start of . And whatever problems that es Naruto and Sasuke's way would sooner or ter bey problem as well. Because why wouldn't it… I'll have to fight guys who regee from near death, immortal zombies, someoh godly eyes and the assholes who put them all in our path. I'm definitely going to kill Obito and Madara. That's a given. But that's easier said than done. How do I get around their Ninjutsu ion plot armor?'

  Daichi sighed and looked at the sed book oable. 'I o find a way to get around their abilities. Sage jutsu is a good way but I need something much more… But that's a few years into the future. I should focus on the here and now.'

  Daichi opehe book on the Yuki d went through the information writteed that a few people outside the living iskirts of the Mist vilge and a few living in the Snow try were capable of using Ice Style teiques. He read the hat his grandfather made about those that use this Kekkei Genkai and those that mimic it.

  'Keheorized that some people manipute existing Id use Iinjutsu but they would definitely be weaker versions of the real ohe hand seals are pretty much the standard ones. I'll have to start on this soon. I'm looking forward to my visit to that Academy.'

  As Daichi was training, making pns and preparation, others were as well.

  A couple days passed by and Daichi headed to the Hokage's office to get a new D Rank mission. As he opehe door he saw Kakashi standing in front of the Hokage. The Jonin turo look at the boy and waved his hand.

  "Yo. How's my favorite Genin?"

  "Sensei?! You're back?"

  "Yup. Did you miss me?"

  Daichi smirked and replied. "You know, oddly enough, yes."

  Daichi kept a smiling face but he was inside, he was surprised. 'Kakashi's chakra… It's definitely gotten stronger. Even though he's suppressing his energy, I tell that he's learo refi even more… He must have done some serious training these st few weeks.'

  The Genin turo the Hokage and greeted the old ninja. The two got their D Rank mission a on their way.

  —-

  The Rookie 9 minus, Sasuke, Naruto and Sakura were together at their favorite spot in the back hills.

  "So Naruto's birthday is ing up in a week. Any ideas?" Kiba asked as he sat on top of the tree house.

  "We o formute a pn fast. Naruto will be ing soon." Shino said as he examined some bugs crawling oree near him.

  "Don't worry. Sakura is keeping that knucklehead busy. He won't be here for a while. But still, we o prepare." Ino spoke as she looked at her friends.

  "I have an idea." Daichi's voice drew everyone's attention. "First, we o keep him out of his apartment and busy for the whole day and then surprise him when he es home in the evening."

  Shikamaru sat up from uhe tree and looked at the Genin in the group. "Yeah but that's not gonna be easy. Have you fotten? That day is October 10th. Last year when he and I went out on that day, he got a lot of nasty looks from almost everyone oreets. He retty depressed for the whole day. So I don't think that'll work."

  "Yeah, I've been meaning to ask. Why does everyoe him so much? It's been really bugging me." "Arf arf." Kiba looked to Shikamaru and saw the Nara g Daichi. "Do you know something about it, Daichi?" He turowards the Genin and asked.

  The boy sighed and replied. "I do. I figured it out a few years ago. But I 't say."

  Kiba and the others frow that reply. "Why not?" "Yeah, what's the big deal?"

  Daichi was silent for a few moments and then looked at everyone. He had a serious gaze that the Rookies rarely saw. "It's not my pce to say. And if I do, there will be serious repercussions."

  Shikamaru's eyes slightly narrowed as he looked at his friend. "Does whatever secret you're keeping have to do with his birthday?"

  "Shikamaru! That's enough. You've said more than enough." Daichi looked at the boy and inwardly sighed. 'Of course this has to be the topic that gets your zy butt up and about.'

  Everyone saw the tension risiweewo.

  "Um.. Guy… Please… Stop. Whatever it is, I'm sure Naruto will tell us." Hinata said, trying to calm the situation down.

  Hearing that, Daichi sighed and spoke. "The thing is, I don't think even Naruto knows the reason. He's in the dark about the whole situation just as you all… Look. Just fet about the whole thing, okay? And don't ask him about it and bum him out. Let it go, Shikamaru."

  Daichi sighed as he heard the murmured agreement. He tinued. "As I was saying, we'll have to keep him out of the apartment. And before you guys say anything, I'll take him here and keep him busy. Nobody es here that much so that's one problem down."

  "Oh! We o set up decorations in his apartment."

  Daiodded. "Yeah. But it's a mess. Once I get him out of the apartment, I'll make a few es to the whole pce."

  "You don't have to do it alone. We'll help you." Kiba said as he pced his hand on Shino's shoulder.

  "And why would I do that?" The young Aburame student raised an eyebrow at his friend's decision.

  "e on. I don't like it either, but it's for Naruto. And besides, with how all the junk is piled up in his apartment, you might even discover a new species of bugs…" The young Inuzuka chuckled and said to his friend.

  "I know you're making a joke, Kiba. But the way the trash is accumuted at his pce, you might be right. Fine. I'll help you." A small bug flew away from the top of Shino's finger as he turo look at Daichi.

  "Excellent. Thanks Kiba, Shino." Daichi smiled at the two. He then turo Ino and Hinata. "Ok. You two are in charge of decorations. Unless it's not already well established, Naruto likes e. But you add a lil yellow and red ioo. Go nuts…"

  Ino's eyes sparkled iement while Hinata smiled. "Ohh I have so many ideas."

  "Choji, you'll be in charge of the cake. I trust you with that?"

  "Yup. I got it."

  "Oh, and I've already talked to Sakura about this. She'll help you with the other foods and snacks."

  The Akimiodded and Daichi then turo Shikamaru. "You're in charge of ihere aren't many people that like him so your list is short."

  Shikamaru sighed and spoke. "Let me guess. Iruka sehe Ramen guy and his daughter."

  "And the Third Hokage." Daichi said in a nont tone.

  The Nara's eyes widened when he heard that. "You wao go to the Hokage tower and ihe Hokage of the Leaf vilge to a birthday party? You realize he'll be busy with plenty of other important stuff that day, right."

  The young Genin smiled seeing the tired expression on his friend's face. "Its not just any birthday party. Its Naruto's birthday party. And it'll mean a lot to him. You know how he talks about the Hokage."

  The Nara looked at the boy and gave a long, tired sigh. "Argh. Fine. Whatever."

  "That's the spirit. And besides, I have a feeling Lord Hokage will show up."

  The group of seven made their pns and soon everyoheir separate way.

  Shikamaru and Choji were going in the same dire and halfway home Choji asked his friend something that's on his mind. "What did you mean when you asked Daichi if Naruto's birthday had something to do with the people not liking him?"

  "I'm not sure 100%. But I have some ideas. Unfortunately I'm not gonna say anything more till I'm certain. If Daichi is right and there really is some big spiracy, then I don't want you to get into trouble." Shikamaru replied.

  "But yonna keep looking into this aren't you?" Choji looked at his thin friend with a serious gaze.

  "I would love to say no… but yeah… Such a drag… " The Nara kicked a pebble a out a sigh.

  "Good luck."

  Choji reached his pound and soon Shikamaru was home as well. His mind was on the versation he had with Daichi and the way the vilgers look at his friend. He remembered the words people spoke about Naruto behind his back.

  Shikamaru was eating dinner lost in his thoughts and his father and mother noticed it.

  "Everything alright Shikamaru?" Shikaku asked his son.

  Shikamaru looked at his parents for a few moments and keeping an eye on them both he asked his question. "What e does Naruto have to the ailed Beast?"

  The startled rea of his mother and the stoic face of his father told Shikamaru what he o know. 'So they know the secret. And it seems I'm right on the money. Naruto does have some e with the ailed fox.'

  "Shikamaru! Who told-"

  "Yoshino! Stop!" Shikaku's firm voice stopped his wife from saying anything else.

  He looked at his son and with slightly narrowed eyes spoke. "Shikamaru. I know you care about your friend a great deal. But you o stop. Just let it go."

  The young Nara gave an irritated sigh hearing that. "You sound just like Daichi."

  The Jonin ander's eyes slightly widened hearing that. 'So that boy knows.'

  He let out a small sigh and spoke in a somewhat kione. "Shikamaru, right now all you o know is this. Naruto is a good friend. You said so yourself. Nothing more. Nothing less. And his secret... It's a matter of vilge security. Whatever you think you know, you o keep it to yourself. And you o stop looking into it. It's a whole of worms you do not want to open right now. Do you uand?"

  Shikamaru looked at his dad and nodded. "Yes father… May I be excused?"

  Shikaku nodded and his so without another word. The Jonin ander and his wife sat there in silence for a few moments before the man sighed and spoke.

  "He's not gonhis go, is he?"

  Yoshino's lips slightly curled as she looked at her husband. "What do you think?"

  Shikaku pihe bridge of his nose and sighed. "I think this is going to be such a headache."

  Yoshino looked back to Shikamaru's seat. "Well, he is our son... You know, I 't help but pohe frightful headway he'd make if he put this kind of energy into his studies."

  The Jonin ander smirked at that statement. The smile slowly wore off as he thought about his move. 'I o inform the Hokage about this. So troublesome.'

  —-

  Daichi was at home in his backyard meditating. He had several es around him gathering and st chakra into their seal. Several hours went by and Daichi opened his eyes to the sound of a system message.

  [Tier 01 - 25000000/25000000.]

  'Fug finally. About time.'

  A grin formed on the boy's face as he looked at the chakra stored. '25 million chakra points. I'll make sure the one is pleted even faster.'

  Several other notifications appeared and Daichi began going over them. 'The sed Tier huh. Alright. Let's see what it is…'