Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
"DEMON TALKING"
"Character Talking"
'Character Thoughts and Inner Self'
Hello Again Readers; I'm back. I'm sorry the chapter was so short last time, and I will try to make it longer. The said, I do have a few things I have to clear up. The Shinobi and Civilian Council will exist in this story, and like all other fanfics, most of the Shinobi Council, the Hokage, and Homura will be sympathetic or indifferent to Naruto, while the Civilian Council, and Koharu, will hate him. Danzo, like always, will try to make him a secret weapon. I would really love your feedback, and/or suggestions. Enjoy the Story!
Chapter 2: The Growing Hate
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the retired Sandaime Hokage, looked down sadly at his wife's grave. He looked around and he was not surprised to see many others doing the same. So many had died last night; over one third of the Village's forces. The Sandaime sighed, letting his thoughts wander. 'Biwako's death was strange,' he mused. It did not look like the work of a monster. It almost looked a kunai stab.' The Sandaime shook his head ruefully. The only one could could've told him how his beloved wife died, had left the world of the living. Another death that was painful to bear; Mianto and Kushina, after the sealing, had seemingly disappeared.
The Sandaime already guessed that they had sealed their remaining chakra in Naruto, in order to speak with him someday. He groaned inwardly. Naruto; the poor boy. If the Fourth was alive, he could've revealed that Naruto was his son and protected him from outside dangers, but now, revealing that fact would create the Hidden Stone or Hidden Cloud to try and kill the boy, thus releasing the Kyuubi once more. Sarutobi was not by any means in his prime, and feared he would not have the power to protect the boy like Minato could.
The only way to ensure the boy's safety from outside forces, was to change his surname to Uzumaki, and not reveal his parentage until the time was right. Sarutobi gritted his teeth. He knew that it wasn't enough to keep Naruto safe completely. He had no doubt that the wealthy Civilian Council members would hire people to harm the boy, and he also knew that some Shinobi wouldn't shed a tear to see a young boy in such a predicament.
"Sir?"
The Sandaime turned around to see and ANBU with a Dog mask kneeling on the ground.
"Yes, what is it Dog?"
"The Elders have called an Emergency Council Meeting, and they need you there, sir."
Sarutobi slammed a palm again his forehead. Dog (Kakashi) fought back a laugh. "Don't they only need Asuma for this sort of thing?" he grumbled.
"The Fire Daimyo calls for you too."
The Sandaime bit back a curse. "All right, tell them I will be along in about ten minutes," he said bitterly. Dog nodded and Body Flickered away.
"I already know what they are going to ask me," Sarutobi mumbled. "And I will have to say yes."
In The Council Meeting Room...
The esteemed Council of Konoha was in pandemonium when Sarutobi arrived. The Sandaime groaned in annoyance. The Council had not changed since he left. Only one thing had changed. The volume of the bickering from the Civilian Council was even more high pitched and annoying than before. The cause was one certain pink haired woman. The Sandaime gritted his teeth. Saki Haruno, The Pink Banshee of Konoha. He had heard stories about her from Asuma, but he had to say, he never expected her voice to make his ears bleed.
Suddenly, Homura slammed his can on the ground. The Council's squabbled slowly decreased, until Sarutobi was met with complete silence. Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded at Homura, whom he had regarded as a friend for many years, then seated himself next to Fugaku and Asuma, who looked like he wanted nothing more than to wring the Pink Banshee's neck.
Hiruzen looked around at the Shinobi Council, each a leader of their own clan. Fugaku Uchiha, Hiashi Hyuuga, Tsume Inuzuka, Chouza Akimichi, Shikaku Nara, Inoichi Yamanaka, Asuma Sarutobi, Shibi Aburame, Agari Kedouin, and Haru Kurama (Last two OC).
He then glanced at the Civilian Council with mild disgust, not recalling all of their names. There was Saki Haruno, and a fat, bald, rich Civilian named Goro, but he couldn't recall the rest, or rather he didn't WANT to recall anymore idiots like that.
"Order!" Homura yelled as a few Civilians began bickering again. They instantly shut up. The Sandaime grinned. Homura would have made a good Hokage, but unfortunately, he wasn't powerful, or influential enough.
The large screen at the top, behind the Hokage's empty seat flickered to life, revealing the smiling, skinny, Fire Daimyo leisurely waving his fan on his face.
"Hello honorable Council Members," he said silkily. "We are gathered to announce the coming of the next Hokage."
The Council Members murmured and muttered excitedly amongst themselves as the Fire Daimyo continued. "Now, are there any suggestions?" The Fire Daimyo, suddenly promptly waved a hand at Homura lazily, ordering him to continue for him.
"I nominate Orochimaru of the Sannin," Koharu said smugly, subtly nodding at Danzo.
The Fire Daimyo made a face. "Orochimaru? Never liked him. Too much of a meanie. I'm sure he doesn't take a bath either." The Council Members sweat-dropped as the Fire Daimyo yawned again. The Sandaime frowned. Orochimaru was becoming more distant and mad than ever before. It worried him.
"I nominate Jiraiya of the Sannin," Chouza declared, sneakily munching on potato chips under the table. Tsume growled at the name.
The Fire Daimyo's eyes widened in interest. "Oh? Excellent choice. I always like that Jiraiya. But, I don't think that Jiraiya would want to be Hokage. Sarutobi, what do you think?" Hiruzen had been giggling, thinking of the orange books that Jiraiya wrote. He placed a finger on his chin thoughtfully.
"I think you are right Daimyo-sama. Jiraiya would never take the job. Besides, it is crucial for him to maintain his spy network in these dark times. We don't know who has heard of the Fox's attack, nor do we know who will attack us in our unstable condition."
The Fire Daimyo nodded.
"Any other nominations?" Homura asked.
"I nominate myself to be Hokage in this desperate time. Though I know it will be a burden, I must do my duty as-"
"No Danzo," the Sandaime spoke. Danzo's face darkened as he gritted his teeth in rage.
"I NOMINATE MYSELF AS HOKAGE SINCE I AM THE WEALTHIEST LADY OF THE LEAF!" Saki Haruno screeched, making everyone wince any rub their ears.
"Shut Up Haruno," Tsume growled.
"Troublesome," Shikaku yawned. "I nominate Hiruzen Sarutobi."
The entire room went silent, but the Fire Daimyo clapped his hands joyously.
"Excellent choice Shikaku-sama. Well Sarutobi-sama. Will you resume your duties as Hokage once more?" Hiruzen sighed wearily. The room became still as the Council felt the clock ticking away. Danzo silently gnashed his teeth impatiently.
"Very well," Hiruzen said. "I will become Hokage once more."
Homura nodded. "Does anyone second the motion to place Hiruzen Sarutobi as the Hokage of Konoha."
In an instant, almost all the Shinobi Councilors raised their hands and called out "Me."
Homura nodded. "Very good. Hiruzen Sarutobi, you may take you seat. Hiruzen groaned and walked up to the front and seated himself in the Hokage chair.
"Am I done now? YES FINALLY!" the Daimyo screamed as the screen blinked out. Hiruzen leaned on his hands, putting his elbows on the desk. "Very well. On to our first order of business," he began. "The new jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi no Kitsune..."
If the council was nervous and chaotic before, than it was nothing compared to right now. Complete chaos issued through the room in a volume that even Saki Haruno couldn't match easily. The Sandaime grumbled in annoyance as he rubbed his forehead, trying to rid himself of his glaring headache. 'Curse you Tobirama-sensei for creating this Council,' he thought ruefully. 'I thought the job of the Council was to advise and support the Hokage in these matters. Instead I get theses idiots who are making my job ten times more difficult than before.'
"Silence!" the Sandaime shouted. At once, the Council Room grew quiet. The Sandaime sighed with relief, and nodded at them gratefully.
"That's much better," he said. "Now, one at a time as not to-"
"I'LL GO FIRST THEN!" Saki Haruno screeched. "SINCE I AM OBVIOUSLY THE MOST-"
"Just get to the point, Haruno," Tsume snarled. The entire Shinobi Council sighed with relief as Saki stopped talking about how great she was.
"THE DEMON SHOULD BE EXECUTED," Saki screamed at the top of her lungs. The Sandaime felt his blood boil in anger. 'Oh Minato. I hope you know what you have gotten your son into.
"YES, KILL THE DEMON," the fat council member, Goro, bellowed, sweat dripping from his large mustache. His face was red from the exertion of opening his mouth.
All the Civilian Council members began screaming at once for the 'Demons' death.
Suddenly, they abruptly stopped and began to shiver and wheeze as if a huge weight was crushing them on their backs. The Shinobi began to sweat as the Hokages powerful killer intent laced through every one of them like a spear. The Hokage stood up, a fierce glare adorned his face, and his mouth twisted into a frown. Honestly, he was disappointed in his Village. He had even seen some of the Shinobi Clan Leaders joining in the call for Naruto's death.
"You have no idea what you are saying, do you?"
"WE ARE SAYING-"
"Silence yourself Saki," the Sandaime whispered darkly. Saki's face went white with fear. "This boy is our savior. Do you not realize it?"
Most of the Council members, even the Shinobi Council members looked at each other in disbelief, wondering if their Hokage had finally lost it.
"What do you mean Hokage-sama?" Inoichi asked curiously.
"I mean, that the boy's death would only release the Kyuubi once again. Do you really have so little faith in the Yondaime's sealing ability?"
The Shinobi Council glanced at one another guiltily, but a majority of the Civilian Council looked rather indifferent.
"It's not that we do not trust the Yondaime's sealing ability, Sarutobi," Danzo began. Hiruzen and Homura looked at each other with knowing glances, expecting Danzo to begin something like this. "But," Danzo continued. "I, for one do not trust this boy to be able to hold the chakra of the strongest of the Tailed Beasts." Hiruzen's eyes narrowed as the Councilors murmured in agreement. Danzo smiled serenely, happy that his plan was going well so far.
"How about you let me train the boy, Sarutobi" Danzo remarked. I can teach him to keep that foul dirty beast inside him leashed and chained." Hiruzen shook his head immediately.
"Kill Him!" One Councilor called.
"Banish Him"
"Imprison Him"
"TORTURE THE DEMON FOR THE REST OF HIS MISERABLE LIFE," Saki Haruno finally screamed in outrage. "I LOST MY FOURTH COUSIN'S WIFE'S FRIEND IN THAT DEMON'S RAMPAGE."
Several of the Shinobi Council members sweat-dropped at this, while some; namely Fugaku Uchiha, looked furious. He was one of the few who knew about Naruto's parentage. He didn't like the Yondaime very much, but he respected the man's strength, and owed him his life. He found it insulting for a man who was so great to be mocked in death. The Civilians however, looked horror struck and very sympathetic to Saki.
'The Fools,' the Sandaime snorted.
He was only in office for a few minutes and already he was beginning to regret his decision. 'No,' he told himself firmly. 'I must do this for Naruto, and for Konoha. I must keep them both safe and alive.
"Silence!" Hiruzen bellowed angrily. The other looked at him expectantly. Hiruzen took a deep breath to calm his nerves. It had been too long since he had been Hokage. He had grown soft in those years he wasn't in a position of power. Minato had an uncanny gift for leading the Council he his side of the argument while simultaneously keeping Saki's rants to a minimum, and foiling Danzo's plans. Hiruzen once had that kind of strength, to some degree, but he was old now. Old and tired.
"You will all listen to me right now, and listen well for I will not repeat myself." Hiruzen began stiffly. "Naruto Uzumaki's jinchuuriki status will not be mentioned at all from this day. This will be an S-class secret effective immediately. Anyone who talks of this outside of this room will be put to death instantly. Do I make myself clear?"
The Council nodded, some grave, and some fearful, but others smiling wickedly.
Tsume Inuzuka and Fugaku Uchiha each spoke at the same time. "Hokage-sama/ Sarutobi; Permission to speak." Hiruzen nodded at them wearily. "Uchiha-sama, you have permission to speak first." Fugaku nodded and stood up.
"Sarutobi," he began sternly, "I would like to adopt Naruto Uzumaki into my clan." Surprised whispers flew through the room. The Civilians were seething in anger. Why would the Noble Uchiha clan want to adopt the Demon Brat. Most of them cursed under their breaths. If Naruto was under the protection of the mighty Uchiha clan, then there was no way they could torture him to their heart's desire.
Hiruzen shot Fugaku a warning look. These people didn't know that Naruto was Minato's son, and if other discovered that the Noble mighty Uchiha clan had adopted a nobody, they would get suspicious and begin to make a connection.
"I am sorry, Uchiha-sama, but I am afraid that is impossible," he said sadly. Fugaku nodded understandingly, a dissapointed look on his face as well as Hiruzen, and Tsume's. 'I am sorry Minato/ Namikaze.'
"Tsume," Hiruzen began. "What is it you wished to ask me?"
"Never mind, Hokage-sama," she said sorrowfully. She knew that if the Sandaime refused Naruto to be allowed ti be adopted into the Uchiha clan, there was no way he would allow Naruto to be adopted into her own clan.
"Let me make this clear," the Sandaime growled. "If any one of you lays a finger on Naruto, you will answer to me, personally. Is that understood?" The Civilians went white, but one Shinobi grinned, as if amused by the display of power.
"Furthermore, Naruto will be sent to the local orphanage until I deem him ready to leave. He will always be watched, so don't even consider attacking him. Do you UNDERSTAND," he roared.
"Yes, Hokage-sama," they chorused nervously. Hiruzen nodded slowly, feeling he had made his point clear. He did not realize at all how wrong he was.
"Very well," he said slowly. "This Council meeting is over. We must meet again to discuss the Village's condition. I advise that you-"
"WE CANT MEET AGAIN TOMORROW. I HAVE TO GO TO THE HAIR SALON TOMORROW TO MAKE MY HAIR EVEN MORE-"
"As I was saying before I was interrupted," the Sandaime continued, his aura leaking out killer intent. "I advise you to heed my words on the matter of Naruto." Instantly he felt anger rise in the room, though no one spoke. "I believe that we're done for today, he said placing his Kage hat on his head. "You are all dismissed."
At the Kurama Clan Compound...
"That Saki Haruno," grumbled Haru Kurama. "Everything about her annoys me. From her Hokage, monument sized forehead, to her pink hair, to her Banshee voice-"
"Sir, you should not be so ill-spoken about a fellow member of the Council, especially one who happens to be the richest woman in Konoha. It's unbecoming of a Kurama clan leader."
"- and I swear, the day she has a daughter will be the day I finally lose it," Haru Kurama finished, not even listening to his adviser.
"Um, she already had a daughter sir. The girl's name is Sakura, and she is about 6 months old."
Haru groaned in disbelief. "Great," he muttered. "She even has an S at the beginning of her name just like her mother. Oh man, I pity the poor idiot who has to deal with BOTH screaming Banshee's in ten years."
"But sir-" the adviser protested.
"Oh, but there is one thing we have in common, Lee," Haru remarked sinisterly, his mouth cracking into an insane grin. This mouth stretched wider and wider, until his adviser thought it would split. His eyes shone with insanity and madness as his face darkened in rage. It was like he was displaying several emotions at the same time. The adviser looked impassive as though he had seen this many times before.
"We both despise the Demon that the fool, Sarutobi is trying so hard to protect," he finished menacingly.
With Kakashi...
"Rin, are... are you okay," he asked hesitantly. She wiped a few tears away from her eyes as they both stood at the spot where their sensei had vanished. "
"First Obito, now Minato-sensei, I don't know.." she sobbed helplessly. Kakashi put a hand on her shoulder, trying to be emotionless. He looked up at the sky, wondering what exactly had happened. He knew that the Kyuubi was the strongest of the Tailed Beasts, but he had always pictured his sensei as invincible. Never once did he recall his sensei losing a battle. He also had no idea how to make Rin feel better.
"Even in death," she sobbed angrily. "Even in death.. the Kyuubi will pay!"
'First Obito, now Minato-sensei,' Kakashi mused. 'How many more will fall in the years to come?'
With Itachi Uchiha...
"It's alright Sasuke, the threat has passed," Itachi said gently, wiping away his younger brother's tears. He looked off into the horizon. He felt the sense of doom, but it was gone now. Everything seemed like it would be alright. Sasuke abruptly began to wail again. Itachi looked off towards the Hokage tower, far in the distance, wondering when his parents would return. He then looked back at Sasuke.
Itachi smiled. "Now now, brother don't cry, it is your first birthday after all," he said softly putting his younger brother down into his crib. "Don't worry. I'll always be here to protect you," he declared, watching, as the red dawn erupted into sunlight.
At the Hyuuga Compound...
Hiashi Hyuuga, head of the Noble Hyuuga Clan, stared hopefully at his twin brother Hizashi. "Did you do as I asked Hizashi?"
Hizashi nodded. Hiashi sighed wearily. "What were the results?" he asked, trying to remain emotionless.
"I am sorry, brother," Hizashi said sadly. "But it seems to be as we feared."
Hiashi's pale purple eyes began to shine as he fought not to lose his composure. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. His wife, mother of his firstborn daughter, was dying.
"How long brother," he asked. "How long does she have left to live?"
"Perhaps an hour, perhaps a year." Hizashi replied, his face pointing at the floor.
"It could be anytime, couldn't it?" Hiashi gasped in horror, as he rushed to his wife's room, hoping for the best.. but fearing the worst.
In the Hokage's Office...
Hiruzen Sarutobi slammed his forehead on his desk in frustration as his assistant continued to bring in piled of paperwork. There were many important things to be signed, such as permission for certain Village repairs, permission to investigate various suspicions, permission to execute the demon... 'Whoops, better, reject that one,' he mused angrily. 'Honestly, do these idiot Civilians have anything better to do?' he wondered. 'Or the Shinobi for that matter,' he added, realizing that a few of his Shinobi had requested for the 'demon's' execution.
He was about to reach for his next stack of paperwork, but just then, the assistant entered. "Lord Hokage," she began, bowing. "Elders Homura, Koharu, and Danzo request to speak with you immediately."
'Demand, more like,' he thought.
"Send them in," he said, hastily clearing his desk of paperwork, and stashing the orange book he was about to read under the table.
The assistant bowed again and exited the room, only to return with the three elders. Homura, a old gently, looking man, with thick glasses, and gray hair. Danzo, a dark haired man, with shut eyes, a half mummified body, and a x shaped scar on his chin. And lastly, Koharu, a plump, toad-like woman, with unintelligent beady eyes and sagging cheeks that seemed to reach to her shoulders.
"Lord Hokage," Homura said. "The Villagers are waiting below the podium for you to speak as our new Hokage." Koharu and Danzo made bitter faces as this, but inclined their heads ruefully.
Hiruzen inclined his head and put on his Kage hat, and garb. He then proceeded to fall into step between his two former team mates and old friend as he walked to address the Citizen's of Konoha.
He stood in the shadows behind the curtain as the three elders proceeded to the top of the podium, far above the Leaf Village's heads. Homura took a deep breath, ready to relay the bad news to those who had not heard it.
"People of Konoha," Homura began, his voice booming and echoing across the Village. "On this tragic day, we have lost our most powerful friend."
Rin began to sob, as Kakashi stared sorrowfully in the distance. 'He really is dead then,' he thought.
"Minato Namikaze, our Fourth Hokage. Our most loyal protector. Our most talented Shinobi. You were our key to victory in the 3rd Great Shinobi war. You were our most trusted friend, our most loyal comrade. No one gave up more for this Village than you."
Hiruzen nodded, thinking of Naruto.
"We lay you to rest," Homura finished. Sobs and Cries were sounding throughout the entire crowd. Sarutobi smiled sadly. Even Tobirama Senju could not match Minato's legacy.
He knew that the Fourth Hokage would be remembered forever as the Hero who slayed the Nine-Tailed Fox, the strongest of the Tailed Beasts. The Yellow Flash of Konoha would live on forever, in their hearts.