"Are you sure?"
"Yes it's the only way?"
"But—" The protest was broken off as deep obsidian eyes sliced across to the emerald green ones.
"From the reports I have gotten Danzou hasn't stood about twiddling his thumbs. He has been given a powerful weapon and honed it into a very dangerous and very deadly machine."
"But Ts—she doesn't believe that he cou…' again she was silenced with a look.
"Even before the battle Orochimaru fought with the Third, Danzou was carefully infiltrating the ranks of the shinobi and spreading his double agents into the ANBU. I was then given an undercover mission by the Third himself that even if he was killed I would, if given the opportunity, join Orochimaru and find evidence that Danzou was planning on taking over Konoha. You know this already." Frustration edged the voice as he impatiently explained once more what had happened.
"After the battle with the Akatsuki member Negato, Danzou was in a position to fully take over; which he did. He branded the current Hokage a traitor and then gathered up the remaining shinobi. Each and every one of them was given a choice, all except one. They were told that they either joined ROOT or they would be considered traitors."
Around the table, many heads nodded and looked at each other.
"He gave us twenty four hours to decide. It was enough time for us to pack up, warn our families, and run. I wonder if that was his intention?" said a lilac-eyed young man.
"I'm sure it was. Danzou is not known for his stupidity and I am fully aware that he knew he wasn't liked among the shinobi loyal to the Hokage. I am also aware that your departure was used to full advantage with the village, making them think that you had abandoned it when it was announced that the Fifth was dead."
Honey-brown eyes narrowed and long, red fingernails tapped irritably on the smooth surface of the long table. Onyx eyes watched in amusement.
"Now, we know that Orochimaru was in contact with Danzou during the chunin exams when he attacked the first time. We also know that Danzou fully supported the attack because the ANBU stationed at the gates were aware that the Kazikage was really Orochimaru when they arrived for the final matches. We also have evidence that Danzou was siphoning money to Orochimaru in order for the Sound Country to grow at the rate it did. There are even documents stating that some of the ROOT divisions were sent to Orochimaru to join his ranks and help with the invasion. The plan being that once Konoha was destroyed then Danzou would be able to take over as the new Hokage while Orochimaru got what he wanted and every three years a young man or woman with extraordinary abilities would be sent to him as a vessel."
"Yes, yes, I understand all of that but the point I was trying to make was that if, and I do mean if, we succeed, the methods…" the first voice hesitated and then sighed in frustration before continuing, "We don't know what was done to begin with so what if we stumble across a trigger and-"
"I fully believe that won't happen."
"Sasuk-"
"We have everything we need in place to continue with Operation Free the Leaf with only one exception." He paused and looked down at his long fingers fighting to keep the worry and fear off of his face. "Naruto."