Hello to you all and welcome back. Let me state that this story is not Naruto-centric, while he is the main character, the story will not always focus on just him. I have an entire village of people that live in the same community as Naruto. Also, this will not always be a happy story where Naruto and friends succeed in the end and go on to live amazing lives. In fact, this story will often become quite dark at times. I plan to demonstrate such a thing with soon to come chapters. So I leave you all to chapter three of my story.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed while looking at his disheveled desk littered with several files and folders. He slowly rubbed the bridge of his nose in hopes to relieve the encroaching headache that he had be battling all day. Today had been absolutely horrible as far as he was concerned. His eyes finally settled on one file buried under all the other folders and papers scattered about. The file was easily recognized as the folder it came from and all of its contents were marked with a colored rim that instantly signified it as one thing: an S-rank mission form. This one paper is what started it all, a small pebble that led to a landslide of problems.
'Why? Why did all these events have to occur in succession of each other? Some of these events wouldn't have been such a big deal, but since they all happened in a single day, its become a disaster. The day only seemed to get worse every time my door opened to another person.'
The Third Hokage sighed as the days events rushed through his head once more.
~*Flashback to that Morning*~
Itachi smiled as he gathered everything he would need for the day, he finally had all the required information and files on the ones he had chosen to replace the Konoha Police Force. Finally sealing the last of the folders into a scroll, he quickly pocketed the scroll and headed for the entrance to the Uchiha Compound. Smirking slightly as he was greeted there by his brothers. It had become a tradition for them to do this, every morning, they would all walk as a family down the streets of Konoha. Whenever they would reach the Academy Itachi would leave his brothers and head down the streets to complete his own duties for the day. Today was no different, the three brothers walked down the quiet street. Itachi, Sasuke, and Naruto were all enjoying the perfect morning it was turning out to be. The sun was rising behind a light curtain of clouds, yet it was still bright enough outside to see everything clearly. There was a light mist from the dense fog of last night, it cooled the air and brought the smell of rain to mix with the scent of spring flowers and fresh grass. As they reached the academy Itachi turned to Naruto and Sasuke.
"Now you two behave yourselves. You can't afford to be skipping classes or messing around since graduation exams are two days away, thanks to your previous endeavors neither of you are at the top of your class anymore, but you're not at the bottom either. Also, since I'm finishing my mission today, I will most likely be sent away on another mission. So you two will have to look out for one another during that time."
"Don't worry Nii-san, we won't skip class or do anything foolish." Sasuke replied.
"Yeah, we're not gonna do anything to jeopardize our ninja careers, or our lives." Naruto said with the foxy grin he often gave.
Itachi only gave a simple 'hmm' in return to their statements as he turned and headed for the Hokage tower. He knew they were more than capable of staying out of trouble for two days, and could easily care for themselves in his absence. Itachi broke from his musings as he entered the Hokage's office and bowed while moving to one knee, waiting for the Hokage to address him.
"You can rise and speak freely Itachi, its just us here."
"Thank you Sarutobi-sama. As you have requested, I have finished the files of information on those I have personally selected to replace the Konoha Police Force. I would like for you to review it if you have the time. I believe you will find them to be very thorough and as informative as possible."
Itachi wasn't too worried about the choices he had made, he was pretty sure the Hokage would have some questions for him, but he was more prepared now than he would ever be. Itachi handed the Hokage his scroll, watching as he unsealed its contents, having four folders fall out onto the currently well organized and paper work free table. The Hokage slowly looked at each file, it seemed three of them had people's names on them while one was Itachi's personal evaluation and recommendation which he would read over later. Sarutobi decided he'd rather go over the information with Itachi right now instead of reading his notes that may or may not answer the coming questions. With this in mind, Hiruzen opened the first folder and read a few of its contents aloud as he looked through the five page report.
"Sumiyaka Ryuujin. Current ANBU level taijutsu trainer and instructor at Kokuei Dojo Center. Said to have once been challenged by recently promoted jounin Might Guy, in order to determine who was the best taijutsu fighter in Konoha. After a short 8 minute battle the winner was decided due to Might Guy being rendered unconscious. Guy has yet to re-challenge Sumiyaka, but has vowed that he will one day face him again when he believes he has become the man's superior."
The aged village leader looked through the pages a few more times to make sure that the answer to his current question wasn't in the files, finding he was correct in believing he'd have to ask Itachi directly to get the answer he sought. Looking up to Itachi, Sarutobi could tell the he was somewhat anticipating the question.
"It appears that there is no statement or notation of where this man learned his skills as a taijutsu user. Am I correct in presuming that this man has never studied at an official institution which would keep all of its students on record?"
"Yes, Hokage-sama, that is correct."
"Then where, may I ask, did he become so proficient in taijutsu?"
"I asked that question myself, Hokage-sama. It seems that the man in question has spent almost his entire teenage years in life traveling abroad and learning anything someone would teach him or absorbing any information he could gain from the local library on taijutsu skills."
The Hokage nodded his head as that was very close to what he believed Itachi would tell him. Still it was hard to believe that someone could become such a master at something by simply learning from anyone who was willing to teach or reading when there wasn't someone willing to teach. The Third Hokage shook his head and moved on to the next file in line, once again doing as before and reading some of its contents aloud as he looked through the pages.
"Senbotsu Kokuei. Current ANBU level kenjutsu teacher, and owner of Kokuei Dojo Center. Once complimented by Gekko Hayate, when he said 'My knowledge of the sword is but a plateau compared to the gigantic mountain of knowledge that Senbotsu has.' He also has the fierce loyalty of all the employees at his Dojo."
The Hokage once again looked to Itachi as he had to ask questions that were failed to be revealed in the report itself.
"So, I believe I can safely say that this man has also remained completely off the record of official tutoring institutes as there are none listed."
"Yes and no, Hokage-sama. While it is off the record, I have a very good source that has told me that he was once General over the Samurai forces of the Land of Iron before coming to Konoha."
At this statement the Hokage's eyes widened slightly. If this man was strong enough to be put in charge over the entire Samurai forces in the Land of Iron then he was certainly someone worth having on your side if things should go bad. Sarutobi set the folder aside and opened the last one, noticing it was a little heavier than the previous two, opening the folder expecting much of the same, he only got two pages into the folder before looking to Itachi.
"This man has a very large criminal background Itachi, are you sure you still want to recommend him as one of Konoha's Police Force."
"Yes Hokage-sama, please read the entire report, I will do what I can to help settle your mind if you wish me to."
The Third Hokage nodded a bit as he began to read aloud as he did with the previous two folders.
"Waikyoku Muzan. Current ANBU level seal maker and last employee at Kokuei Dojo Center. Under house arrest to not leave the Dojo after his most recent offense of attacking and hospitalizing three jounin level shinobi while in the red light district. Stating that they attacked him first when he bought out their 'entertainment' for the evening, but due to the three opposing statements from the jounin, was found guilty of assaulting fellow citizens of Konoha. Also, he carries eternal unquestioning loyalty to Senbotsu Kokuei."
The Hokage didn't even bother to ask where the man had learned to use his skills, due to the man's violent nature he was often detained all over the shinobi nations since the young age of twelve. Sarutobi knew that if he was instructed by Senbotsu, then the man would behave himself.
"Very well Itachi, I approve of these candidates. You are to bring them here to me so I may brief them, afterward I will consider your mission a complete success."
Itachi smiled at this and was well prepared, opening the door and simply shouting down the hall for someone to come up, three men went up the stairs and entered the Hokage's office. The first man stood only about 5'10" with a lean and athletic body obviously built for speed and not power. His hair was platinum blond much like the Yamanaka clan but seemed to defy gravity and it had a bright sheen to it. He didn't appear to much older than his early twenties. He wore a short sleeved jacket that had red flames coming from the bottom and the sleeves the rest of the jacket was sea blue in color. Underneath that he wore a mesh shinobi shirt but nothing else, exposing his chest and abdomen as he left the jacket open. It was obvious the man must have spent years perfecting his body as he was skinny yet covered in lean muscles at the same time. Not bulky muscles, but ones that showed well cause of his small frame. He wore cargo pants that had black flames around the legs that went up along the side of his pants. He also had a pair of black gloves with studded knuckles and a dragon symbol in the center. Sarutobi recognized this one as Sumiyaka Ryuujin from his picture in the file. He smiled at the Hokage with a toothy grin that showed all of his teeth, much like one that Naruto would give but a little different. The man's bright blue eyes locked with the Hokage's for a moment before looking around the room.
The man after him stood a little shorter being about 5'9" in height, his body was much different from the previous as he was bulging with muscles over every inch of him. To the untrained eye he wouldn't look all too different from your average work out crazed person, but Sarutobi knew different, he could tell that the man's muscles were best used in close range and over powering fighting method. His hair was dark brown with blood red highlights throughout, it was slightly unkempt and had a wild look to it. The man looked to be about in his late twenties but no older. He was wearing a deep red, form-fitting, long sleeved shirt with a picture of a laughing, blood-coated clown on it. He wore simple black cargo pants, and a belt with multiple kunai holsters along it. The man's face was slightly pale but there was an obvious tan that used to be there, probably lost from lack of exposure to light. The man's eyes were hazel with speckles of red in them. Hiruzen deemed that this man was Waikyoku Muzan.
The last man was obviously Senbotsu Kokuei. He stood the tallest of the three at 6 foot even. His build was different from the other two as he obviously had strong muscles but not like Waikyoku's. His muscle build seem to be somewhere between the previous two, meant for speed and strength instead of one over the other. Wearing a large black overcoat much like the one Ibiki wears. A plain black t-shirt underneath. Over his right shoulder Sarutobi could tell the man had a katana sword strapped diagonally across his back, he noticed an identical sword strapped to the mans left hip. He wore simple black cargo pants, and customized black combat boots. He looked to the man's face and saw he was slightly tanned, short cut black hair, and finally his eyes which had two rings of color instead of the usual one: the inner ring was red that slowly faded into an outer ring of deep purple.
"Alright, you three have been called here to reform the Konoha Police Force. Any objections to this?"
They remained silent and unmoving.
"Good. Now, it says in your files that you each have a custom made mask like our own ANBU masks. Put them on please."
They each nodded and slipped on their masks. Sumiyaka's mask was that of a dragon's, with smoke coming from its nostrils and burning red eyes. Waikyoku's mask looked more like a demon than anything. It had horns designed on the top of it and black eye slits along with a huge sharp toothed smile that took up most of the mask. Senbotsu's mask was a little different in that instead of an animal's face it had a kanji written on it that read 'Shadow'. The Hokage nodded happily in acceptance of their masks, they would help identify them and keep their identities secret from the public.
"Good. From now on you are the Konoha Police Force. You start immediately. Do what you need with your Dojo, then go to the address on this folder. When you reach your destination you may open the folder and read the details that will detail your jobs. Your incomes will be equal to an ongoing A-rank mission. You'll be payed once a month. You're dismissed."
Hiruzen handed them a folder with the address to the Police Compound on it and waited for them to leave. Smiling, he signed a form that said Itachi had completed the S-rank mission.
"Well done Itachi, sadly I'm sure you know that by now I have another mission that requires your attention."
"Yes, I suspected as much, Hokage-sama."
The Third Hokage nodded before reaching into a file and handed it to Itachi for him to look over.
"It's an A ranked mission and will require several months of spy work and eventual tactful assassination. I expect nothing but the best of you. Dismissed."
With that Itachi left for home to gather what he needed as Sarutobi looked out his window onto the village below.
'I've just sent my best shinobi out on a highly dangerous mission, with no possible contact until the job is done. Leaving two boys alone for at least half a year. I also just gave three highly recommended strangers access to hundreds of classified files. Ugh, I think I have a headache coming on.'
Little did Sarutobi know, this was only the beginning of his day's problems.
Hooray, chap done! Let me know what you think. First cliffhanger of the series. XD
