The Nine Tail Conspiracy
Forward:
The aftermath of the Nine-Tail attack leaves tension in the Konohagakure. The elders are suspicious of the Uchiha believing they plot to overthrow the village, and with news that Madara is alive and well this fear only grows stronger. Minato having survive the battle with both the Nine-Tail and Madara is adamant about keeping the village together and not letting it be torn apart by in fighting. His hopes seem to be futile as Danzo openly break ties with the Fourth.
Chapter 2: Passing
Just outside the village in an underground medical facility Danzo lays upon a stone table he is calm as Orchimaru stands over him. The room is line with members of Root leaving no question that Danzo trusts Orchimaru not at all, "Hurry and get this over with," Danzo says.
"For one of my old sensei's I will be glad to," Orchimaru leans over Danzo raising a scalpel to Danzo's right eye. "Fill free to scream," Orchimaru says smiling at Danzo.
Danzo merely looks at Orchimaru before saying, "Hiruzen could never see the coldness in you, but I could that is why I took the time to cultivate you and make you into what the leaf needed. Yet in the end you were passed over for Hokage for Jiraiya's pupil."
"Hokage is just another title in the path to complete understanding," Orchimaru says calmly though his eyes show agitation. "We faced Hanzo and became the Sannin, while you allied with him and nearly were destroyed."
"You know much you shouldn't," Danzo says in disapproval.
"That is what it means to be a shinobi," Orchimaru counters. "I also know that you don't have the military strength you once had."
"I'm the foundation of Konohagakure, the head may change, but I will remain," Danzo says. "Now proceed."
"This is risky Danzo, implanting the first's Hokage cells into you," Orchimaru says looking over Danzo's body. "Though it would do to replace this arm, what happened. Did you run into a shinobi strong enough to defeat you?" Orchimaru asks his face splitting into a grin as he begins making hand seals around Danzo's arm in a four point compass. "Healing Resuscitation Regeneration Technique," Orchimaru says performing the hand signs over a vat of blood. Next he removes Danzo's crippled arm attaching the arm of Kagami Uchiha sewing it on in with blurring motion, he implants the cells of the First Hokage at the point where Kagami arm meet Danzo's shoulder. He watches as the cells of the First Hokage compete with Kagami and Danzo's cells the two cells are overridden by the power of the First Hokage cells.
Danzo face is strain as he fights the overriding influence of the cells, "This is dangerous of the sixty children I have used to date fifty eight are dead. I have little hope for the remaining two."
"Implant the Sharingan into the arm," Danzo commands in between hacking coughs that pill out blood on his expose chest. Orchimaru smiles moving towards the Danzo members of ANBU Root appear bringing cases of the Sharingan toward Orchimaru.
"As per our deal I will allow you to have one Orchimaru," Danzo says seeing the light of greed in Orchimaru's eyes.
Orchimaru lets his eyes linger on the Sharingan shaking his head sadly, "What good can such an eye do me. If I have learned nothing it is these eyes will weaken me draining me of chakra, but I will keep one as keepsake."
The captain of ANBU distinguished by the cat mask and white cloak he wears appears over the trees having tracked a member of Root to lair of Orchimaru. As he touches down he sees members of the organization scattered about using the flicker technique he silently takes out three guards before gaining the entrance. His presence does not go unnoticed as four members of Root close on him.
He closes with them drawing his tonto meeting the four combine attack. Orchimaru looks up at the ANBU captains shaking his head as two of them close on him. They strike in tandem
Slashing through him they pause in confusion as he fades away turning into a bluish blaze of lighting engulfing the two Root members.
The remaining two Root members deviate there course away from the lighting shadow clone. The Captain uses the flickers technique stabbing one of the black clad figures from behind his sword taking the root member through the throat before flickering again leaving a trial of lighting in his wake taking down the last one AMBU root member with a single stroke cleaving the shinobi in half.
"Well Otomatsu, your skills certainly live up to your position in ANBU," Orchimaru says smiling cruelly. His lower body stretches out twisting around as the ANBU captain unleashes a barrage of kunai knives. Opening his mouth Orchimaru produces a snake. The snake slithers out its mouth opens producing the Kusanagi Sword blasts out striking Otomatsu slicing through his side causing him to fall back.
The blade levitates in midair at Orchimaru's command. Otomatsu steps back through the entrance forming a hand seal four shadow clones appear one disappears fleeing the scene as the other two along with Otomatsu closes upon Orchimaru.
Orchimaru whips Kusanagi through the air piercing through the first shadow clone causing it to disperse into a cloud of smoke the second clone closes in aiming his sword for Orchimaru's heart. Orchimaru body contorts at odd angles easily dodging the assault striking the clone down with a single blow from his hand crushing the shadow clone. Orchimaru is temporarily stunned as lighting races up his body.
"Lighting Releases: Four Pillar Bind," Otomatsu makes the hand signs causing pillars of rock to surround Orchimaru in the brief instant he is caught off guard bolts of lightning cracks into existence from each pillar striking Orchimaru forcing him to the ground.
Otomatsu pants blood leaking down his white cloak as he begins forming another seal. He stops in mid motion as the Kusanagi whips through the Lightning Release: Four Pillar Bind. He drops to his knees blood spilling down his chest. He coughs behind the mask as he clutches at the sword embedded in his chest. Blood leaks down his neck mixing with that already pouring from his chest wound.
Sarutobi glances up from Iruka who performs the summoning that allows him to call forth Enma.
The money glares down at the boy looking at Hiruzen, "Another pupil, aren't you ever satisfied."
"He is talented young shinobi just graduated from the academy, and learns quickly."
"So long as he's not like that Orchimaru," Enma says. "Well sign the contract with you blood and let's see what you can do," Enma says.
Iruka smiles his face ecstatic as he looks at the monkey who looms over him covered in white fur with long white hair flowing behind him.
As he signs the contract he looks up to see the captain of ANBU standing over him, "Lord Hokage…couldn't find Yondaime Hokage… Orchimaru he's—" The Captain vanishes in puff of smoke.
Hiruzen stands his face creased, "Enma can you track Orchimaru?" he asks throwing off his Hokage robes revealing his armor beneath he takes up his helmet.
"Of course I can, let's go Sarutobi," Enma says leaping out of the window.
"What should I do Sarutobi Sensei," Iruka asks."
"Find the Fourth," Hiruzen says, "Tell him to follow I will take one of his Kunai with me."
Iruka nods watching as the Third Hokage leaps after Enma. Alone in the office Iruka stands still concentrating as he focuses his earing the world around him turns gray as he uses the wind release, "Passive Sonar," all the sounds in the village are amplified and narrowed to focus beam allowing Iruka to shift through them to find his target he passes over the ramen shop his favorite earing spot then over a group of young shinobi only a few years old than him.
"Kakashi I challenge you," says an upbeat voice.
"Not again Guy," a female voice says sighing.
"He only does it because Kakashi walks around in his ANBU uniform Kurenai."
"You're one to talk Asuma doesn't that sash around your waist mean you have officially join the Twelve Guardian Ninja," Kakashi says in a lazy voice.
"Shouldn't you be with Hokage," Asuma asks.
"He's meeting with Fugaku Uchiha."
"As a sign of good faith Yondaime went alone."
Iruka smiles, "Active Sonar," sending out waves of charka that sends back echo images this technique is a more narrow focus as to not be overwhelming, he focuses his attention towards the Uchiha Clan compound catching up with the Fourth Hokage an echo image being projected back towards him as the conversation between him and Fugaku Uchiha takes place. Once locked onto the target an echo traces back leaving a distinct trial back to the Hokage office where Iruka stands.
Sensing the Fourth Hokage Iruka smiles leaping out of the window of the Hokage speeding across the roof tops in the direction of the Fourth Hokage.
Hiruzen appears at the entrance of the hidden facility in time to see the Four Pillar Bind wear off as the Kusanagi is extracted from Otomatsu. The ANBU captain lays where he has fallen his face till covered by the cat mask.
"What have you done," Hiruzen asks his pupil in disbelief staring at the room with its medical tools and other arcane devices.
"Taking another step on the way to immortality," Orchimaru says his body seeming to move in a hypnotic dance.
"You were my greatest student," Hiruzen says sadly. "I saw the darkness in you, but we were at war, and you were needed your ruthlessness were an asset to the village, but I had hope that Tsunade and Jiraiya would have tempered your hard edges," Hiruzen says sadly.
"Tempered me you say, I watched as Tsunade's spirit was broken, when she lost her lover and her brother, she broke. Imagine the granddaughter of Hashirama Senju, left a mere shell of her former self. Where is Jiraiya now wandering the world lost with no purpose," Orchimaru says his smile sinister. "I have a purpose though; I will learn all ninjutsu and become the ultimate being."
"That is madness it is impossible to learn all ninjutsu in a single life," Enma says speaking for the first time since entering the hidden facility.
"Yes, yet I won't become like you Hiruzen, losing my vigor, you are the professor and know all the jutsu in Konohagakure, and yet what good does that do you at the end of your life."
"Tell me Orchimaru; were you responsible for the helping Madara?" Hiruzen asks sadly already suspecting the truth.
"A mere go between," Orchimaru says. "Are you going to kill me Hiruzen?" he asks spreading his arms out wide. "Do it, if not for you then for your wife."
Hiruzen hesitates, his eyes lingering on the face so familiar, "l've lost my wife, and now you would have me kill my greatest student, fate is cruel."
"No crueler then this," says a new voice. Hiruzen tries to turn around, his eyes widening as a sharpen wood stake pierces him from behind through his back out through the chest lifting him off the ground he tries to form a hand seal but the stake pushes through him further causing him to slide down it length.
"No!" Enma roars as he leaps towards the shadow only to be stabbed through the back by Kusanagi. He spit out blood looking at Hiruzen whose eyes close tears falling from his age eyes the image of Orchimaru shock face as he is flung through the air crashing through the wall to land in the open.
He blinks staring at the sky through the dense green curtain leaves rain begins to fall and Hiruzen smiles as he remembers the glimmer of concern in his prize pupil face it had only been there for a moment, but it gave him hope as darkness closed in around him.