Naruto darted to the Naka Shrine, her usual meeting with Fugaku-sama.

Mama growled. Hide, she ordered Naruto, sensing something the young girl didn't.

Naruto hid, and Mama filtered sounds out, so that she could only hear one voice.

"-take the jinchuuriki and use her as our weapon," a nasal voice said.

"That is suicide," Fugaku's voice snapped. "Even with my Mangekyou, we could not suppress the nature within the girl -"

"Have you lost your way? Madara-sama entrusted the future to the Uchiha. It is up to the Uchiha to take Konoha by force! Use your Mangekyou on the girl when she comes to you tonight."

"Elder Koyuhime, forgive me for being outspoken," Itachi-san's soft voice met her ears. "The Hokage has agreed to hear us out."

"We are not satisfied with the treatment this clan has been getting! None of the Uchiha will ever be Hokage - why let them walk over us? We end this by next month, or else."

Naruto scrambled away as her ears rung, getting up on a tree branch and keeping her pale face from being seen.

Her mind raced as Mama spoke, her voice stunned.

A coup. They're aiming for a coup!

Mama, I have no idea what a coup is... But if they're gonna use me, it can't be good, can it? 'Specially since I think they're talking about using you.

Don't worry, dear... The Hokage - Kushina seemed to jolt. Oh gods, Hiruzen! He wants to retire... Naruto, I'm going to do something. It's risky, but it might work.

I trust you, Mama.

~:~

"Well, that didn't work." Naruto scowled at the Hokage. "What do you suggest next, Naruto-kun?"

"I suggest you quit," Naruto said bluntly. "It's clear you're getting old." The Hokage sweatdropped, something he constantly did when around the childish boy/girl when he/she was supremely blunt like that. "Quit while you're ahead." He pointed at the massive amount of paperwork. "I bet you, the next person who walks into this office has the disposition for Hokage candidacy."

The door opened, and Itachi entered with his mask on.

"Hokage-sama. I have come to report my failure in capturing Uzumaki Naruto."

The Hokage coughed on his pipe at Itachi's entrance.

"It's okay, Crow-san!"

Itachi whirled to stare at the boy on the couch. He smiled at the Uchiha.

"Did you like the dango I left for you and your family?"

Itachi blinked behind the mask. "Yes, Naruto-kun."

The door opened again, and Sarutobi's son entered the room.

"I got the reports you wanted." He paused, sensing a charged moment in the room.

"Well, I'll leave you to your businesses! Please remember what I bet, old man!" the enigma known as Uzumaki Naruto said, running towards the closed window and breaking through it.

All three raced to the window as a crunch was heard, but they sweatdropped as one as they saw the boy get up and start running with a pronounced limp.

~:~

Umino Iruka glanced down at the test in front of him, then frowned, glancing at another class' test.

His eyes widened, knowing exactly why Naruto was failing now.

He frowned as he looked up at the clock. It was late, and Naruto wasn't going to come by, not after he'd (surprisingly honestly) told Iruka he was planning on vandalizing the Hyuuga compound after visiting the Hokage.

Just as he nodded to himself, planning on telling the Hokage about this, Naruto jumped in and hid behind his desk.

"Hey, Naruto, what's up?"

"Just hiding from Crow-san, he seems abnormally angry with me," the girl replied.

Iruka really did find the boy's shapeshifting ability intriguing, but never commented on it because it was the kid's secret.

"Okay, well... I need to ask you something." He became serious and took out a blank test from the upper class. "Is this the test you received?"

Naruto frowned. "No, I mean it is but the test kept changing, so I just did what I could and answered what questions were clear."

Iruka scowled. "Okay, well... Take this test here. If Crow-san comes in here, I'll tell him you're retaking it."

"Aw, but Iruka-sensei, if I don't vandalize the Hyuuga compound -"

"I will literally pay you to shut up and do schoolwork," Iruka groaned, "outside of school hours if I have something extra for you to do. In Ichiraku Ramen."

Stars lit the girl's eyes.

"Restricted to five bowls," he added. "Because unless I get a raise I'm not going to be able to afford your ramen habits."