Finding the Root of it All
Plot: Sakura and Kiba had finally had a lead on their prodigal teammate. The quest to bring back Sasuke get an unexpected complication in the form of Danzo's hand picked team being sent as "back up". Among them was the dead last trouble maker from their academy days, however he's certainly not the person they remember.
Chapter One: Homecoming in a Different World
It was a quintessential late summer day in the Land of Fire; the life giving rays of the sun shined seemingly the whole country unobstructed by a single cloud. For the battered but victorious members of Team Seven and Team Gai it was a fitting enough setting. They had not only managed to save the Fifth Kazekage from the clutches of Akatsuki but even had a possible lead on Sasuke. The slender, fifteen year old crimson clad pinkette leading the way had definite spring in her step that matched the mood.
Despite trying to temper her expectations Haruno Sakura couldn't help but feel enthused despite the fatigue she felt from the journey home. She tried to ignore Gai and Lee raved about what strange and borderline suicidal ways they were going to push themselves. The pinkette also tried to ignore Neji, the cold and distant Hyuga prodigy was a generally unpleasant person to be around. If not for that stick up his ass he might have made jonin but the higher ups felt a self-destructive fatalist would make a poor jonin. She also tuned out Tenten mentioning her wonderful boyfriend. Romance was something the kunoichi put aside after Sasuke had left.
Sakura's jade eyes lit at the sight of the Hokage Monument rising out of the seemingly never ending forests that surround her home village,"It's good to be home." her teammate said voicing what she felt the relief in his voice could be heard despite his best efforts to keep it check. The proud Inuzuka shinobi had been come out of his and Yamoto-sempai's fight considerably worse for wear. Both he and their acting captain had been pushed to their limits when they had used soldier pills to generate enough chakra in order to revive Gaara-saama.
Yamoto-sempai was currently in a comma and being carried by Gai-sensei while Kiba was subtly leaning on Akamaru for support. While her medical jutsu had healed their injuries near total chakra depletion was something that was best left to nature. Considering the dog was roughly the size of small horse and considered Kiba the center of his world Sakura deduced it was the Inuzuka's sense of machismo is why he walking back rather than just letting Akamaru carry him.
From Akamaru's whimper he was clearly worried about Kiba as well, "I promise we can some real food when we're once we're back in town." The Inuzuka said thinking Sakura oblivious to what was really going on. The pinkette though over the years had learned to actually understand the basics of Akamaru's surprisingly complicated vocalizations,"No more rations bars for us!" The dog then gave her a pleading look,
"If that's what he wants I could take care of that for you Kiba, I know a butcher who'll give me a good deal." She offered as she scratched the hound behind the ears,
"That's...really nice of you Sakura." Kiba said sounding surprised, perhaps realizing how poor a deception it was,
"Oh anything for the most intelligent male member of my team." Sakura cooed which she swore elicited an actual grin from the dog.
"Hey!" Kiba shouted, his indignation making him forget to keep his weight on his partner and fell forward face first. Looking up the feral-looking shinobi beheld the concerned face of Akamaru and the smiling yet somehow unsympathetic face of his pink haired teammate.
"Will you let Akamaru carry you now?"
"I can walk!" Sakura folded her arms beneath her chest and fixed with glare as potent as any Uchiha's ocular genjutsu,
"And I can have a talk with Tsume-sama and Hana-sensei about how reckless you were when we get back." Kiba's messy brown hair, tan skin, and more feral features give him a dangerous appearance. The sight of blood draining from his face at the thought of facing his mother and sister's wrath however had quite the disarming effect.
"I can let Akamaru carry me." Kiba said with resignation letting Sakura help him onto the back of his war hound. Not for the first wishing she hadn't gotten along so well with women of his clan. Within moments he had passed out the large dogs back. Akamaru however kept looking up at her, it didn't long to figure out what that was about.
"Yes I do get discounts from the butcher's shop," She said, "my parents have with connections to all civilian businesses in Konoha." Akamaru barked interrogatively, "I'll get you something when we get back." She promised the large white dog as she scratched him behind his ears, "Then we go after Sasuke!"
She knew the realities would be far more complicated, there would be getting the mission approved and assembling a team capable of capturing Sasuke, "At least finding volunteers shouldn't to difficult, everyone wants to see Sasuke brought home."
That Evening...
Tenten took a great deal of pride in the fact that she was an atypical kunoichi. While a female ninja on the whole enjoyed considerable rights compared to civilian women the ninja world had some fairly entrenched ideals about gender roles. Women were strongly encouraged to study genjutsu or medical techniques that relegated them to support roles generally keeping away from direct combat. Tsunade and from she had personally seen Sakura had found ways to get around that but they were rare exceptions.
Young girls were forced to take classes in flower arranging and the other asinine things civilian women enjoyed. Then there were the "un-youthful" (in her sensei's words) things women had to be taught if they were serious about the espionage side of being a shinobi. Tenten though considered herself a fighter through and through. Gai-sensei luckily supported her as strongly as did Lee having as much use for gender roles as he did any other societal norm.
"Gender, clan, class, and bloodline are irrelevant...it is how strong the flames of youth burn within your soul that matters!" Tenten paused and blinked her steel gray eyes in horror. She stood frozen in her kitchen, knife in her right hand.
"Oh Kami I'm hearing his voice in my head again!"
"Are you okay?" Her boyfriend asked with some concern turning around she met his gaze. Despite the dark bags beneath them his cobalt eyes never ceased to dazzle her. That wild golden hair, whiskered cheeks, and lean but muscular build were also quite easy on the eyes. Just on looks alone she didn't understand why Naruto didn't have more admirers besides that Hinata girl.
That wasn't even touching on the fact that he was one of the nicest, most honest (if sometimes overly) person she had ever known. It furthered her belief that most girls her age were idiots. She also knew from their many sparring sessions that Naruto was also formidable fighter which the martial minded brunette found attractive as well.
What her peers had seen in the aloof (and apparently traitorous) Uchiha Sasuke was beyond her...well given her brief infatuation with Neji she did to an extant. Her feelings for him had been rooted in thier friendship with him, she knew him and knew that he had felt something for her. Alas Neji's spiraled further into depression while Naruto grew up. The hard-headed Hyuga would always be her teammate and friend but she didn't want to be the girl who spent years waiting for some guy.
"I heard Gai-sensei's voice in my head again, everytime we go on extended training trips." She explained getting back to the present.
"Do you want me to make that special tea the healer recommended?" He asked being familiar with her eccentric teammates had on her frame mind sometimes. Not that Naruto's team was a picture of perfect mental health.
"That's only if the voices don't stop." Tenten said hoping it wouldn't come to that, the effects of the tea were almost as bad as the voices. Made from the leaves and buds of plant from lands unknown it's "perception altering" properties was effective in undoing the more potent genjutsu when properly treated with chakra. If didn't render the person using it an incoherent moron for several hours it might have been considered a miracle plant.
"Are you sure you don't want some help with dinner?" She put her hands on her hips walked up over to him.
"Naruto, you've been away for months and honestly look like you haven't slept in all that time." Tenten's expression softened as she bent down and kissed him on the forehead. His whiskered cheeks were tinged pink much to her amusement. Their relationship was a rather chaste at the moment partly due to the newness of it and also due to the fact that Naruto was actually about as bashful as Hinata when it to physical affection, "You made me that wonderful ramen when I was sick it's my turn to do something nice for you."
"Aren't you worried cooking dinner for your boyfriend will ruin your feminist image?" Tenten smiled at this unexpected quip. It amazed her how much Naruto had grown up over the years, she'd like to think their friendship had helped but knew just as much credit went to the man who had agreed to be Naruto's mentor when the academy instructors (with the exception of Iruka of course) were proven failures.
"Doing something nice for my man doesn't make less of a feminist anymore than you doing something nice for makes you less of a man. Interrupt one of my training sessions so I can make you a sandwich and we're going to have issues." Tenten told him firmly but with a touch of mirth to her tone. For all her contempt for traditional gender roles the young woman as a caveat did very much enjoyed cooking. For one learning how to prepare the recipes her family had passed down over the years was one of the ways she stayed connected to her Xingese heritage. Cooking was also an interest she shared with Naruto who had been forced to learn to cook for himself due to not having any adults at home.
Of course she also enjoyed having a boyfriend even though their workaholic superiors meant they didn't always get to spend time together. Of course if it hadn't been for Naruto's sensei they wouldn't have met all those years ago. Honestly she didn't understand why some of the older shinobi were so wary of him. By all accounts Danzo-sama was not only a war hero but also had molded Naruto into a mature and skilled shinobi that he was today.
Midnight...
The official office of Shimura Danzo was spartan, in terms of both lighting and decor, nothing that would give the casual visitor any meaningful insights into the man's personality. Most would look at the scarred and wizened man lacking an arm and wrapped in bandages seeing only the man who had fought in countless war in the defense of both the village and nation.
Working by the light of a lantern rather then using the electrical light overhead as tended to paperwork that came with the position of being a member of the village council. His single gray eye scanned proposals making sure nothing that could hurt his or the village's interests. Of course in his mind they were one and the same, Danzo personified the idea that everyone is the hero of his own story.
His was the tale of a man who wouldn't hesitate to cross any lines to defend his people no matter the cost. His opponents saw him as a warmonger who personified the dark side of the shinobi. If you asked him and if felt inclined to explain himself he might tell you that unnecessary conflict was what he sought to avoid. That the true dark side of the shinobi was the unending hatred and plain pettiness that drove so many ninja. Men and women who instead taking loss with the emotional detachment dictated by the shinobi code chose to let those feelings perpetuate the endless cycle of violence. That the ninja lived a world of varying shades of gray, if you wanted infantile dualism become a samurai.
"Of course," Danzo thought as his fell upon a particular folder, "feelings of affectionate attachment just as detrimental." A warm breeze came in from through a window that he had most certainly not opened. If not for the sent of broth and spices filling the room he might have eviscerated the figure standing behind him, "Apprentice." He instead greeted the young man in a colorless tone.
"Danzo-sensei," The student replied in a similar tone then audibly slurped some noodles. After swallowing he added: "I believe someone has already filed a report detailing our mission."
"I've already read the report," Danzo stated and for a brief moment the slurping of noodles ceased,"that you survived, even considering your powers of recovery, is impressive." For all that the last member of the Shimura clan had taught the young man of discipline outright silence was rather unusual. Rather comment on it Danzo chose to finish some more paperwork. Letting him reply without prompting would allow him to gauge how badly a near death experience had effected him.
"I would be dead if not fo-"
"I have read the report Naruto but I do commend you for not taking an undue portion of the credit." He paused to sign a form,"However I wonder how your obvious emotional scars from this ordeal will compromise your effectiveness during future mission."
"I'm not compromised sensei."
"Are you certain? Perhaps the incident has left in you a fear of death, one that will paralyze you at the worst possible moment!?" Danzo tone was as hard as folded steel fully expecting something comparable to the outbursts that the Uzumaki had been prone during the early days of his apprenticeship. Instead there was yet more slurping of noodles then came the young man's response:
"I'm not afraid dying, it happens to everyone," Danzo could almost picture him shrugging as he said those words, "it's dying while I'm still needed. The team needed me to survive and without sounding full of myself so do you and the village." As loathe as he was to admit it Naruto was correct; Danzo had trained the jinchuriki to deal with problems that couldn't be solved with his preferred cloak-and-kunai approach. Most of them would be problems the aforementioned failed cloak-and-kunai operations had created.
This next mission he had in mind for would determine rather or not the years of training had truly born fruit. Naruto was undeniably a powerful shinobi, the rank of jonin would have suited him better than chunnin but it was best to keep this particular pet monster on a short leash. Something he wished he had done with Orochimaru and a few others but Danzo was generally not one to experience regrets or remorse.
"Very well," The elder finally spoke handing him the folder, "the details of your next mission are in here, the rest of the team have already received their copies. I know your feelings about about this but under no circumstances are you to allow them to compromise the mission or Root."
"They never even declared him nukenin?", The young man's killing intent had been palatable for a moment despite his even tone,"I understood that we may get only one shot at this, I won't compromise the mission for the sake of my personal vendettas."Naruto said calmly,
"Good," As much as Danzo disliked his student's inclination to towards honesty it made him one of the few non indoctrinated operatives he could take at his word on matters like this,"you are dismissed."
The Hokage's Office, The Next Morning...
For all Hatake Kakashi had done to honor his departed comrade he never would have wanted to fulfill Obito's dream of becoming Hokage. Only the possibility of Danzo being given the position had prompted Kakashi to accept. It left him wishing that Tsunade had returned to Konoha sooner, granted the woman's presence on the council had been helpful enough. She and that Inuzuka girl had also turned Sakura into a formidable shinobi proving to be far better teachers than he had been to the young woman.
While in terms of power he didn't even come close to his predecessors in terms power he'd like to think he at least was reasonably competent enough to ensure his eventual successor wasn't left a smoldering crater of a village by the time his time in office ended. And for the most part the village elders had generally been more helpful than obstructive contrary to his fears. However on the subject of his former student they seemed to be rather entrenched.
"Hokage-sama it would far more prudent to send an ANBU team rather your chunnin. Even if this information hadn't been the final words Akatsuki member the likely hood of it leading to some manner of trap would be to great to send two people." Kohura said, "Even if it turns out not to be a ruse I highly doubt they would be capable of restraining and returning an Uchiha prodigy who's spent nearly three years under the tutelage of a sannin. Let us not even discuss how their chances for success plummet should they encounter Orochimaru himself."
"I'm afraid I have to agree." Tsunade said looking a little guilty, "I know they're eager to find their," she paused no doubt trying to find a tactful term or considering her bloodshot eyes a term in general. The sannin's alcohol problem was one the woman had never quite been able to overcome but thus far it hadn't affected her duties...yet,"lost teammate but the two of them going alone is out of the question, you're needed here to help prepare for the upcoming Chunnin exams, and I can't think of anyone to fill the team's vacant spots on such short notice.
"Actually I can," Danzo said offhandedly everyone looked to the previously silent councilman, "my team has just returned to Konoha from an extended mission." Tsunade and Kakashi shared a look, "They could supplement the Hokage's team and I do know of a jonin who could act as a team leader in this situation." From anyone else Kakashi might have taken the offer as a show of support. Unfortunately Homura and Kohura's expressions clearly indicated they found the warhawk's proposal acceptable.
"Thank you Danzo-sama," Kakashi said, of all the things he hated about politics to forced politeness stood out the most,
"No need to thank me Hokage-sama," Danzo said in that same colorless tone he always used, "I serve the interests of Konoha."
"Of course, which jonin did you have in mind?" Kakashi asked, it was rhetorical considering the he had a damn good ideal of which jonin he had in mind. If Danzo had a serious interest in this he would send in his right hand man; the jonin who was credited with some Root's greatest successes. Kakashi would need to have a very long and thorough discussion with Sakura and Kiba about Danzo's team. He would also have consider what to tell them and what to omit very carefully. He had often wondered what might have been if Naruto had been placed under his tutelage but that possibility had been taken long before the boy had made genin.
AN: The references to Xing ( a nation from Full Metal Alchemist based on China) was thrown in for fun and the fact that I can't help but see both manga as being set in the same world, this does not mean any characters from FMA will show up. This story is going to stay a non-crossover for the foreseeable future.
More Notes: One thing that I want to make clear is that everything here that differers from will be explained. The format will be a bit like Arrow; there will flashbacks explaining how things got so off kilter, including NaruTen. I had originally planned to go NaruHina (my fave pairing) but the sheer volume of well done fanart devoted to this pairing on DA made me opt to go with this instead. However you should be warned that they may not last as a couple (que evil laughter)
Lastly please review!