Chapter 2: Nobody Likes Politics
A/N
To start, my responses to reviews:
allykat5: Per what I've seen in canon, the Fuuin Shiki is a contract: You make an agreement with the Shinigami (via casting the jutsu), then he fulfils it along the agreed-upon terms. For example, the Third dies instantly, along with the First and Second, as well as the snake-bastard's arms (If you're wondering how he managed to seal 2+ souls for the cost of 1, my headcanon says that since the First and Second were already dead, it was easier to seal them). Including Kushina's soul in the contract allows Minato to
Notes:
I know Fugaku is probably way OOC right now, but keep in mind that this is before the rumors about the Uchiha really got going. There's no coup planned, at least not yet, and he recognizes the trust the Hokage is showing him.
On that note, read and review as usual. As always, flames will be mailed to the IRS to warm the icy cockles of their atrophied hearts.
Konoha Council Chambers
Hiruzen entered the council chambers to a panicked uproar from the civilian council.
"Lord Third!"
"Where is Lord Fourth?"
"What happened to the demon? Did the Hokage kill it?"
The aged ninja closed his eyes, breathed deeply, and snapped them open again, flaring his chakra. The wave of sheer presence stilled the room as the civilians gasped at the pressure and the shinobi jerked upright. There was silence, for a moment, then Hiashi, head of the Hyuuga, spoke, stilling his reflexively activated Byakugan.
"Judging from the turbulence of your chakra, Lord Third, I take it Lord Fourth is no longer with us."
Hiruzen's eyes fell, his presence receding as he fell back into his chair. "It's with great sorrow, I must admit, that I take up the mantle of Hokage once again. Minato is gone." Best not to tell them of that chakra I sensed in the boy's seal. Perhaps…yes, that should do. "He sacrificed himself to re-seal the beast."
One of the pale-faced, nervous civilians stood, perplexed "Re-seal? Lord Th—Hokage, what do you mean, re-sealed? Was the beast sealed before the attack?"
Perfect. This should unsettle them enough to keep them from asking about the seal. "Yes. In fact, the Nine-Tails has been in Konoha's possession since the days of Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage. The first container was his wife, Mito Uzumaki. The second was one of her clanswomen, Kushina. The one chosen this time is the last of Konoha's Uzumaki lineage, Kushina's son. His name is Naruto, and he continues an honored tradition of Uzumaki who live to serve our village."
The civilian who'd spoken previously grew ever-paler as recognition dawned in his mind. "You mean to say…that monster has been hiding among us all these years?! How could the Hokage allow this to continue? We must kill it!"
"Really? By all means, if you wish to free the beast. Though you may kill its container, the Kyuubi is a force of nature, un-killable by mortal means. Even the Fourth didn't presume to kill the beast, merely to seal it, and even doing that much cost him his life!" replied the elderly Sarutobi. "No, the Kyuubi's container will fight this battle his entire life, matching the beast's will with his own to keep it imprisoned. If he should die, the beast will disperse for a time, and then return as strong as ever"
The civilian council sat, silenced and thoughtful, until one near-hysterical woman shouted. "Even if we can't kill it, you can't let it keep living among us! The demon could break loose at any time and kill us all!"
Like a dam bursting, a torrent of agreement filled the room. The Third again flared his presence, stilling them, then spoke again. "He will require training to combat the beast. Will you risk freeing the beast, merely to prevent him from attending the Academy?"
More calmly than the civilians, Tsume Inuzuka spoke up. "It's not safe. Even if he does have the beast under control, it leaves the boy and the village at too much of a risk. He needs to be trained before he comes anywhere near sparring with another student, not to mention the potential for assassins or kidnappers."
"Very well," Hiruzen acquiesced. "You make excellent points; the same I would make in your position. Instead of enrolling as an Academy first-year, when the time comes Naruto will receive private tutoring in a secure location." He paused. "That solves that problem. Now, let's see about the plans for rebuilding the damaged sections of the village…
-BREAK-
Several hours later…
"…and with that, this meeting is adjourned. Details will be handled by their respective departments, and complications may be addressed via appropriately filing the necessary paperwork with the Hokage's secretary," the Council recorder finished. As people began filing out of the room, the newly reinstated Hokage rubbed his temples and let out a sigh.
So tedious…but at least I managed to secure Naruto a bit of safety. Knowing the Kyuubi was sealed for nearly one-hundred years before breaking free made all the difference.
He broke free from his musings as Kakashi approached. The last scion of the Hatake clan wore a scowl—not that anyone could see it under his mask—and let out a low, frustrated huff. "I know what you're hiding. Naruto is his son, and you're just going to let them banish him? He deserves a normal childhood, we owe him at least that much."
"You know we can't let anyone know who his father was. Even letting out the secret of his mother is dangerous. Uzu still has enemies."
"Don't dodge the question."
"It's not banishment. At least, not permanently. And I had no choice. You haven't seen the seal Minato put on the child…better to let them think he's a normal Jinchuuriki and keep him out of the village for a few years than for them to realize the truth."
"You have to at least let me take care of him. You know Jiraiya can't, even if he is the boy's godfather. He's got to maintain his spy network. Hell, Tsunade would be perfect, but after what happened… I'm the only one left."
"No, I can't let you have him. A blond-haired, blue-eyed child, raised by the sole surviving student of the Fourth Hokage? We might as well put him in the Bingo Book. That's not even considering your own situation. You're what, 14? Furthermore, you're one of the best ANBU Konoha has, and with our ranks so depleted…No, there's no way I can let you keep him."
"Who can?" Kakashi prodded, exasperated. Hiruzen's eyes slid away Kakashi, towards the Uchiha patriarch, Fugaku. Kakashi followed his gaze, and took a sharp breath. "Him!? You can't be serious!"
"And yet, miraculously, I am," the Hokage dryly riposted. "There are rumours going about of an Uchiha being present at the Kyuubi's attack. If they continue, the Uchiha will become outcasts in their own village. It's not a choice I make lightly, but if I send Naruto with the Uchiha, we can kill two birds with one stone. As you know, Madara once controlled the Kyuubi using his Sharingan. If the Uchiha can replicate that ability, Naruto will be able to train safely knowing that if he loses control, someone can stop the beast from escaping. In addition, the village will begin to see the Uchiha as protectors. It's best for everyone."
"I don't like it…but I'll be keeping an eye on him, either way. Do what you want," Kakashi grudgingly caved.
Sarutobi smiled. "I planned to."
-BREAK-
"No."
"No?"
"No, I won't do it. I will not allow you to plant that…loose cannon among my clansmen," Hiashi said obstinately."
"Really? I'd think you, of all people, would see the advantages of keeping him close." Hiruzen hinted.
"…What are you implying?"
"Well…there are the rumors of an Uchiha triggering the Nine-Tail's rampage…and keeping the child with you instead might, perhaps, shift the views of the villagers in your favor."
"Or instead, we could be seen as power-hungry aristocrats conspiring to use the child in a violent, bloody coup," the head of the Hyuuga countered flatly. "No, Sarutobi. Even the Hyuuga are no match for a Tailed Beast."
"Very well, then. You may go, I know you must be busy rebuilding your compound," the Hokage said, sighing in carefully-crafted mock-disappointment.
Hiashi rose smoothly, bowed, and left the room without a word. The Hokage waited until the man was out of earshot, then called to his secretary.
"Please ask Fugaku Uchiha to meet with me in one hour."
Everything is going as planned…
-BREAK-
How did I let myself get roped into this? Fugaku brooded as he roof-jumped towards the Uchiha compound. Oh, right…as usual, Lord Hokage cornered me and gave me no other way out. Offering the child to the Hyuuga first…bah! Of all the infuriating—
His thoughts trailed off as he remembered the child; so quiet, so still. The medics claimed there was nothing wrong; he was merely tired from holding back the immense power of the Kyuubi. Over time, they said, he would grow accustomed to the strain, but he would always feel the weight of his burden.
In any case, it's not like he's my child. Merely a ward of the Uchiha, a symbol of our strength and loyalty for all of Konoha to see and respect. Still…someone must watch over the child, and I will not allow this to be done by half-measures. Perhaps Itachi…no. As my heir, he'll have too many responsibilities to waste time as a babysitter, not to mention his age. Shisui? I could simply pair him with Sasuke's caretaker, at least to start with…Yes, that should do nicely. He'll still need a guard, however. The Hokage said Hatake was interested in the child. Perhaps I can hire him to watch over the child.
So much to do, and yet so little. All I can do is wait and see how the child develops…
To be continued…