Hokage Shikamaru’s Ledger.

First Day of the Year.

Uzumaki crest is displayed, Jozero and Sisda are the two remaining clan members. Apparently, Sisda was the one to inherit the jinchuriki Kurama and Jozero allowed the Nine Tailed fox to be passed down to the youngest of the clan without any reluctance. What happened then...?

…Sisda goes on an unwitting killing spree, slaughtering all of his clan except for the one Uzumaki Jozero, the boy’s uncle who is single and unconnected to the rest. How did he survive? Questions were pressed and no answers were given. No evidence to put together, not a time frame nor an incident report to look up in the book. It’s all been wiped clean.

Sisda’s energy is surprisingly low these days. His chakra remains dormant. The kid is full of spunk, can answer any question with a wise-crack-ninja-philosophy answer. That remains unchanged. Maybe he is innocent in all of this. He’s only seventeen years old after all. Maybe he just so happened to be the inheritor of something way beyond his own comprehension? If that’s the case, I pity the poor fool. So much conspiracy surrounding him, and he has no clue.

Jozero is who we need to worry about. I don’t trust him at all. He has that smug grin on his face all the time, but his eyes say that he is just messing with you and wants to see you die. He’s in the prime of his life, and of his career. I can’t say I’m not envious of him to some extent. He must know he’s in the running for my position. Maybe he’s overconfident. That I do not like.

On the other side of the fence, you have Nonza Katsyuki. She is bad news and anyone who is even slightly aware of the current events here in the Leaf knows it. If she’s on your case, you’re bound to have the stench of death on you which can be sensed from a mile away. With the momentum she has going, she can’t be touched—it’s unfortunate someone like her can go about her business and no one is capable of stopping her.

Her son, who is only called Katsyuki (in her likeness), looks like he’s ready to do something dangerous at any given time. The 17-year-old kid is suited up from head to toe with the finest assassin gear money can buy. His mother has invested in him, that much is clear and obviously intentional on her part at the very least.

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This gives me an idea. Perhaps I can manage Nonza and Jozero’s affairs if I put together a squad with their kids following under the direction of someone I trust. Then, add to that squad the third Hokage candidate, 19-year-old Shetyoko Kodi, and you have a four-person shinobi squad which I can monitor and pull data from.

It’s decided, then. Shetyoko, Sisda, and the young Katsyuki will be put together as the new Team 10. They just need a leader. That someone who I can trust. Pabuko, I suppose that falls upon you… I know you’re not going to like it, but it’s what we need right now and there’s no helping any of it.

Nonza Clan Territory.

Second Day of the Year.

“Mmm, Katsyuki-kun! Heard the good news? You are going to have some new friends to play with, my little kitty boy.” Nonza Katsyuki teased her son with these words.

The boy groaned. “I do not wish to be grouped with those degenerates.”

“Hehe… I feel like such a proud mother now. You are useful to me for once, Katsyuki-kun. No more playing with ninja toys or drawing pretend war manga for you. You’re out into the real world where blood is spilled on the floor every day. Other mothers will have their sons sent home in caskets and urns, but not my boy. You spend every second clinging to your life on the battlefield.” The mother Nonza played with her son’s hair. “You look forward to it, don’t you?”

“It’s abhorrent.” The boy scowled.

“Abhorrence, degenerates, oh Katsyuki-kun, keep it up with that attitude and your teammates will likely execute you for the good of the mission!”

“I will not be executed, nor sacrificed for the Hokage’s meaningless traditions,” young Katsyuki retorted, not giving his mother any satisfaction. Ignoring her taunts and obscene personality made his mother all the more irate. “It’s not a game to me. These barbaric savages will know I am above them, and they will not mock me as you do.”

Mother Nonza laughed. “Come, Katsyuki-kun. You should not be so anti-social. I am a candidate for Hokage. I will not have you spoil this opportunity. We have standards here.”

“Clearly,” young Katsyuki said. “The bar is set high. I will not perform graciously nor will I fail.”

“Yes, keep acting neutral toward these political standards and see where it gets you, son.” Nonza Katsyuki smirked.