The water bullet jutsu had 5 basic seals; Tatsu→Mi→Saru→U→Tora. Kudo stood infusing chakra as he slowly performed the seals, 'Tatsu…' with the last seal he cupped a mouthful of air and exhaled heavily but no water bullet was released.
Puzzled he went over the jutsu description, 'Oh, I must breathe in before doing hand seals not after.' He tried again yet still no water bullet, furrowing his brows he repeated the Jutsu again.
After several failed attempts he stopped, 'Why won't it work?' Frustrated he left towards his room.
Over dinner, "What's wrong with you seem a little down today?" Murata asked placing his chopsticks down. "It's nothing dad." 'He probably won't understand.'
"Just tell me what it is and I'll see if I can help." Murata urged him, "I was trying to do a jutsu but I can't seem to get it right."
"Knowing you it's not a problem of fundamentals. Then, what's your vision? Your selfish ideology." Kudo trying to furrow his brows was stopped by Ina." You will get wrinkles if you keep doing that." Ina spoke softly. Her black hair cascading to her shoulders, her brown eyes paying close attention to Kudo.
"My own selfish goal? Aren't goals meant to be noble? Like saving the world or becoming Hokage?"
" Do you think the first Hokage was noble?" Murata asked, his words serious and his gaze locked onto Ina. They had talked about it once as Murata went deeper into shinobi ideologies.
"Yes, he founded the village and stopped war, didn't he?" Kudo answered unsure.
"Then why does war still exist? There have been two great wars since Lord first's death." Murata's clean-shaven face looking younger but his brown eyes held visages of time. At 41 years old he no longer had the innocence of youth.
"Despite how uncertain his ideology was, Lord first Hokage still pushed through. To unite the clans and eventually stop all wars so that kids like yourself don't die in the flames of war." Kudo remained silent, the words resonating while he came off as mature some topics were still above him.
"Then does that mean he was wrong?" Kudo asked, "He was both wrong and right." At Murata's cryptic answers he almost lashed out.
"He was right in the village united the clans and kept peace but, in that peace, there is still internal division of interests and ambitions. Human nature is not so easily tied down by notions such as peace and love.
He was wrong in that the conflicts merely escalated in scale to between villages. Instead of gradual loss of life now there was massive loss of life in wars. His might of course kept insurgents at bay but he is dead and his might no longer here to pressure anyone.
My point is do you have a selfish vison? A vison that drives you forward despite our desire to see you become a capable shinobi. Kudo, this life is yours to live. Yours." Murata said his finger pointing at Kudo's heart. His heart beating almost leaping out of his chest, Kudo sat frozen thinking. He could grasp some of the implications of his father's words.
Chakra is infused from the spiritual force and physical force but if the spiritual force, the mind is not firmly in line with your desires, then you cannot perform ninjutsu for the very existence of ninjutsu is to manipulate chakra according to your will. The mind's focus must be absolute.
"Tell me Kudo, what is your ideology?" Murata asked then he burst out laughing, "Don't worry you're too young to worry about ideologies but you must have a firm direction in mind. No more wondering and playing around Kudo."
Kudo nodded and went back to eating, his father had hinted at something he had been neglecting, his vision for his future. 'I don't know about ideologies but I want make mom and dad proud. I want to be the strongest in my class and protect those close to me.' He swore to himself.
This evening set the 2nd monumental step in shaping Kudo's future.
Silently 5 months passed, the academic year had come to an end and no one had lost their spot in the elite class. A major change was that Kudo placed 3rd in the 3rd test and 2nd in the 4th test tying for first place with Sasuke.
In the dark however, root's shadow lingered to the Tanehiko household.
Root headquarters,
"Lord Danzo, here is the report on children age 4 to 5 years that show promise." A root ninja with a turtle mask kneeled besides a man with a bandage over his right eye.
Looking at the dossier his yes drifted to number one, "Kudo Tanehiko, age 5 years. What do you know?"
"He lives in a family of three, he is the son of Murata Tanehiko and Ina Tanehiko. His father is a merchant of the Blue dragon group, he holds an executive position. His wife is a normal civilian.
He started in the academy this, his placements in the quarterly test system implemented was 4th for the first two tests then 3rd and 2nd tied with Uchiha Sasuke. He demonstrates intelligence beyond his age perhaps curtesy of his father, rumors suggest that he is a skilled merchant."
"Put him on the list, send Hawk to make sure the family is on board and I will talk to Hiruzen." Danzo went back to other dossiers. Countless children were indoctrinated into root but only the worthy survived. Talent without the grit to back it up was useless in Danzo's eyes, 'What a waste of talents Hiruzen. 4 decades of being the Hokage yet this is merely what you have accomplished. Lord second's trust is wasted on you, it's my time to take that seat, its rightful owner.'
His hesitation that day still haunted him, the moment that he had lacked courage and lost the seat of Hokage.
Time passed and it was the end of year academy ninja exams, the gateway into 2nd year.