To Be Rokudaime
Chapter 7
Preparations Are Completed Prologue: What if Danzo or Kakashi weren't chosen as Rokudaime? What if Naruto was? With that decision, time itself twists and shapes into a new path, a path that can be forged. For better or worst. Disclaimer: Nothing in this fic is mine. And yeah, there's graphic violence in this story.
The next day…
"Kakashi, my eternal rival! How are you on this fine and youthful day!"
"Hm? Did you say something?" Kakashi asked, cleaning out his ear with a pinky.
Gai's lower lip trembled. "Gah! Why must you be so hip? It ruins me!"
Kakashi blinked. "Um, okay then, Gai. Anyways, I have somewhere important to be right now. Ja ne!"
Gai looked around but his rival was gone. He brought his hands over his head in exasperation. "If it's important you should have been there three hours ago! How unyouthful of you, Kakashi!"
Kakashi chuckled as he leaped towards the Hokage Tower. Naruto would inevitably be there, eating a bowl of ramen as he sorted through all of the documents he needed to catch up on. He jumped through the window and slouched against the wall, giving a lazy salute. "Yo."
Naruto was doing just as he predicted -with the added factor of glaring at his sensei through mid bite- but the elders were there too, matching bemused expressions on their faces. Naruto swallowed the mouthful of noodles and leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Kaka-sensei, thank you for joining us."
The copy-nin gave a sheepish chuckle. "Why of course, Rokudaime-sama. But hey, it seems that the dictionary Tsunade-sama made your clones read is doing good!"
The elders exchanged glances. "So that is why your wording has been more advanced, Naruto-sama."
The blonde Hokage pouted. "Everyone is so mean to me… and how did you even know about that?!"
Neko, who was sitting on a chair, dead bored, grinned beneath her mask. "Uh, that was me, Naruto. Kakashi-sempai was my mentor."
Kakashi eye-smiled. "I taught Neko-chan here how to be an ANBU."
"Excuse me," Homura interrupted, "but let's get to business here."
Everyone sobered and Naruto nodded. "The clans have been sending me routine reports on the preparations, but it has only been a day since they started. We don't have much. You know the plans already, so I won't need to repeat them. I have clones back at my house working on various seals that could aid us on the battlefield, along with simpler ones that help with surviving in the wilderness."
Koharu gave the blonde an admiring glance. "Those should help us in the long run."
"What are you going to do about ROOT, Hokage-sama?" Kakashi asked.
Naruto facepalmed. "Oops, I totally forgot about them." He looked at Neko. "Neko-chan, can you get Sai in here?"
"Hai." Neko replied, vanishing in a swirl of leaves. She returned a couple moments later and took her spot again with Sai in tow.
Sai grinned at the Hokage. "What's up, dickless-sama?"
Naruto nodded in acknowledgement, smirking. "Ass. I'd like you to report what's been happening with ROOT since they found out Danzo died."
Sai frowned, and the others in the room all knew something bad was coming. "They went off to help Akatsuki. Apparently they found a scroll that Danzo-sama left that contained secrets on Konoha, and wanted to give it to Madara. It was Danzo-sama's final wish i guess."
"That means that ROOT is now going to join forces with Akatsuki. Damn!" Kakashi cursed.
Naruto grimaced as he looked at the elders. "Looks like the ANBU didn't get them rounded up like I ordered. Shit. Have you heard about the minor countries?"
Koharu nodded. "Yes, Naruto-sama. Aside from the Five Great Nations and Tetsu no Kuni, we have Amegakure, Spring Country, and Nami no Kuni as allies."
Homura frowned. "It is reported that the other minor countries have allied themselves with Akatsuki, figuring that if they join that side no harm will come to them."
Sai didn't like the sound of that. "That means that En no Kuni, Fumou no Kuni, Izumi no Kuni, Kawa no Kuni, Kouba no Kuni, Shimo no Kuni, and Ta no Kuni are all enemies to us."
Neko hissed. "This is getting out of control."
Homura scowled. "Even more so than the past ninja wars."
"Madara wants peace. Then why is he starting a war and throwing us into chaos?" Naruto began muttering to himself, questioning the old Uchiha's motives.
"As Hashirama-sensei once said, 'Whenever you live, there will always be war'." Koharu murmured regretfully. "Both Hiruzen, Hashirama-sensei, and Tobirama-sensei all believed that this generation would generate peace. It's horrible to see their visions washed away."
Naruto only scowled at his desk. "You guys can go, I have a lot to do."
"Hai, Hokage-sama."
When everyone had left Neko turned to Naruto, propping her chin up on one hand. "Naruto?"
The blonde looked at her, only half paying attention. "Hm?"
"Just keep working like you are, you're doing great." Neko said with a visible wink.
Naruto allowed a smile to show. "Thanks, Neko-chan."
Karin walked out of a store with bags in hands, only to be -literally- plowed over by none other than Hyuuga Hinata. Immediately the Hyuuga began to help pick up the redhead's scattered supplies while blushing and stammering out apologies. Karin waved it off. "Don't worry, Hinata-san."
Hinata shook her head, handing the Uzumaki her last bag. "N-no, really, I'm sorry."
Annoyed, Karin shifted her bags to be more comfortable. "I said it's fine, you don't have to apologize."
"G-gomen, ah, gomen." Hinata blushed as she realized she had just apologized for apologizing.
Karin ignored the Hyuuga princess's embarrassment and began to walk. "Let's go."
Hinata hurried to catch up. "Where are we going?" She had the right to ask, as the two didn't know each other more than acquaintance status as they'd met just yesterday.
The redhead gave Hinata a weird look. "To my apartment, duh."
Hinata twiddled her fingers. "O-oh." They walked in silence until they got to the apartment. Karin unlocked the door and allowed Hinata to sit at the table and look around at the sparse furnishings while she put away her clothes and food, along with kitchen supplies. When she was done she sat across from Hinata and stared at her, long and hard. Feeling self-conscious, Hinata crossed her arms in obvious embarassment. "What."
Karin smirked, adjusting her glasses. "Oh, nothing. Just wondering when you'll figure out that the Inuzuka boy likes you."
Hinata's eyes widened in shock. "K-Kiba-kun l-likes me?!" So Naruto-kun was talking about him that day, that Kiba loves me like I did Naruto.
"Of course he does! You'd have to be blind not to see it!" Karin said matter-of-factly. "I know rejection because Sasuke-ku…. Sasuke always ignored my advances."
Hinata nodded in understanding. "So you want me to show Kiba what I think of him instead of leading him on. I don't want it to end up badly…. since you and Sakura-chan always went after Sasuke, Naruto-kun always went after Sakura-chan, and I went after Naruto-kun. As you can see, none of that exactly worked out for the better."
Surprised by the new information, Karin nodded. "Yeah. So, what's it gonna be? Will you show him that you see him as just a teammate and brother or as something more?"
The Hyuuga heiress narrowed her eyes in thought. Kiba-kun always is nice to me, and he cheers me on just like Naruto-kun. He risked his life for me many times when we had hard missions… and he his pretty cute. She blushed. "I'll get him to admit that he likes me, and I guess I'll go from there."
Karin nodded and grinned. "Great! Well, thanks for coming with me here even if I don't really know you, Hinata-san."
Hinata stood and was about to leave before pausing. "Ano, Karin-chan?"
"Yeah?"
"I… I'll be your friend, if you want me to!" Hinata rushed the words.
So now I'll have Naruto and Hinata as friends! Karin nodded with a smile. "I'd… I'd like that, Hinata-chan."
One day later
"Tenten! Oi, Tenteeeeeeeeeeeeen!"
Tenten allowed her eyebrows to twitch in annoyance before turning around and greeting the person with a smile. "Oh, hi Ino-chan!"
Ino caught up to her, practically bouncing with pent up energy. "Oh. My. Kami. You will never believe what I just heard!"
The brunette looked mildly interested at this, but in all honesty Tenten knew that with Ino having the reputation as 'Konoha's Gossip Queen' it could just be rumour. "Yeah? What is it?"
"Kiba asked out Hinata and they're together now!" Ino squealed. "They're sooo adorable together too!"
Tenten's chocolate brown eyes popped. Her younger sister figure was with a boy again! And yeah you just heard her right, Hinata has dated before, over the three years Naruto was gone. "Ooooooh, I'm so going to give dogboy a talk!"
The Yamanaka nodded seriously, hands on her hips. "You got it girl, dog breath better not hurt our Hina!"
"What about Sakura?" Tenten asked.
Ino shrugged. "She's working at the hospital right now, but her shift is over in fifteen minutes. We can meet up with her before we find Kiba."
Tenten nodded. "Sounds good to me."
"Sakura, can you bring me those papers over there?" Shizune called.
Sakura nodded, grabbing the huge and heavy stack with ease. "Sure, Shizune-sensei. Here you go." She said as she placed it on the mahogany desk.
Shizune smiled at the pinkette and grabbed the file on top. "I just need to get to the bottom one and then I can go. You get off in about five minutes now, right?"
"Yeah." Sakura nodded, pulling off the medic coat and standard latex gloves. "Is it alright if I go early?"
"Five minutes early isn't too much to ask for." Shizune snorted in laughter as she set down the file -it was around one page long- and grabbed a thicker one. "But, yeah. You can go now."
Sakura smiled. "Arigato!" As she turned around she paused as she saw Tenten and Ino enter with grins. "Um… what're you all smiling about?"
"Kiba finally asked out Hinata-chan!" Tenten supplied.
Sakura smirked as realization dawned. "We're going to go talk to dog boy, aren't we."
"Yup!"
"Have fun! And don't kill him!" Shizune grinned as they turned. "Oh, and Ino and Hinata, you guys have shifts tomorrow starting at 10 a.m."
Both girls smiled at her. "Don't worry, we'll be here Shizune-sempai."
Satisfied, the brunette set to reading the files once more. Twenty minutes later she was halfway through it. Another five minutes and she dropped it in shock, eyes wider than ever before. "I have to tell Lady Tsunade about this!"
"Hey, Shikamaru, want a chip?"
Shikamaru glanced over at Chouji, nodding. Thoughtfully he grabbed the chip and as he drowned out the crunching, his thoughts drifted. Everything had been happening so fast lately, and it was a bit difficult to adjust to. After all, the Rookies were all only fifteen, and Team Gai were sixteen, and already they were thrown into a war, and Naruto had achieved his dream. Almost automatically the Nara's eyes flicked up to the slowly drifting clouds, frowning.
No one but his father Shikaku knew, but as a genius with an IQ of over 200 by the time he was twelve, Shikamaru's mind was always working, always putting puzzle pieces together in his mind, always thinking of different scenarios and ways to react to them. That was why he was so lazy, his body couldn't exactly keep up with his mind. The mental exhaustion would take a toll on him, and the only way to calm his thoughts were either to meditate or cloud watch.
Noticing just how distracted his friend was Chouji smiled. "So, what are you thinking about?"
Shikamaru shrugged -which was hard to do because of the fact that he was laying on his back with his arms cushioning his head- and sighed. "The war."
Immediately the Akimichi's smile melted into a frown. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure that its what everyone is thinking about. I'm just glad that Naruto ordered all of us shinobi to keep it quiet from the civilians or there'd be too much panic."
"I understand why Naruto's doing that, and I'd do the same." Shikamaru admitted.
Chouji rose a brow. "I don't think I know the reason."
Shikamaru smirked. "Even if that troublesome guy is the embodiment of chaos, he wants to keep things normal for as long as he can, because once everything picks up, nothing will ever be the same again."
Chouji munched on his last chip. "Ain't that the truth."
Reluctantly Shikamaru stood, Chouji following suit. Their feet led them to a house that was a bit different from the rest, as the outside walls had roses and vines carved in, looking like they wrapped all around the house. Shikamaru knocked on the door and was greeted with the smiling face of a six month pregnant and beaming Yuuhi Kurenai. "Shikamaru! Chouji! Come on in!" She ushered in the two boys and sat them at the table, handing them each a cup of tea made just prior to their arrival while they stared blankly over at Kiba and Hinata who sat holding hands and chatting.
As Kurenai sat down, Chouji asked the question both he and his friend were thinking. "Kurenai-sensei, are they dating?"
Kiba looked up and flashed the two a wolfish grin while Hinata blushed. "You betcha!" The Inuzuka exclaimed proudly.
Shikamaru gave a nod of acknowledgement. "Troublesome."
Kiba's eyebrow twitched. "'Troublesome'?! We'll see who's troublesome when I kick your ass!"
The Nara yawned. "Yeah, yeah. Can we do it later? I'm tired."
Kurenai and Hinata giggled at the typical interaction before they heard a knock on the door and Kurenai got up again, holding her back. She opened the door to see three unexpected guests. "Ino-chan? Sakura? Tenten? What are you doing here? I mean, I understand why Ino-chan would be, but… " She let it trail off.
Tenten grinned. "Don't worry Kurenai-sensei, we just want to have a talk with Kiba about dating Hinata-chan."
Ino nodded, smirking. "Would you mind distracting Hinata while we get Shika and Chouji help us get Kiba to a training ground?"
Sakura cracked her knuckles, a dangerous glint in her green eyes. "We won't hurt him too bad, I promise."
A grin stretched Kurenai's beautiful face. "Oh, I was wondering who could give him a talk since I'm too pregnant to do that! Well girls, come on in, he's all yours!"
The door opened all the way and Kurenai stepped aside, letting the three in.
"Oh, Kiba-kuuuuuuuuuuuun!"
Shizune and Tsunade burst into the Hokage's office, panting. Naruto's eyes widened as they appeared right in his face, scrutinizing him, taking in every little detail, before backing up and nodding, satisfied. Shocked, he blinked. "Um, would you mind telling me what that was all about?"
Tsunade looked like she was going to laugh. "What what was about?"
Naruto crossed his arms after setting down his ink brush. "You two climbing up into my face."
Shizune blinked innocently. "Why, we did no such thing!"
The Senju nodded sagely. "I think you just imagined it, gaki."
The Rokudaime waved his hands in the air. "JUST TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON!"
The females calmed down and took seats in front of the Hokage's desk. Shizune put her hand on it right before Naruto could open it. "First, you have to get Uzumaki Karin here."
Realization dawned on Naruto and he nodded to a corner, where Neko vanished in a shunshin. Karin and the ANBU reappeared moments later, Neko going back to the corner while Karin stood in between Tsunade and Shizune's seats with her hands on her hips and a frown on her face. "What did you want me for, Naruto. I was busy setting up my apartment."
Naruto pointed at the file and Karin's face lit up as she took the third seat. Tsunade pulled out a video recorder while Shizune took out a camera as the two leaned in and opened up the file. Every page they read their faces got whiter and whiter, but on the final page they stood in unison and threw their hands in the air, sending papers scattering while they began shouting things. None of it made sense, and they looked like they were in between crying in dibelief and screaming in bewilderment.
"This is so-"
"What the fu-"
"I never would have thought-"
"I always wanted-"
"Oh my god, oh my god-"
"Wow, just wow-"
While Shizune snapped pictures, Tsunade adjusted her video recorder to the perfect angle and picked up the final page of the file and held it in front of the recorder.
Right there, typed in printer ink, were the results of the blood test administered two days ago.
Uzumaki Karin and Uzumaki Naruto
Blood types: O
Matching Relation Blood Test: Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina as parents is matched
Patient Relations: Uzumaki Naruto and Uzumaki Karin as fraternal twins is matched
Snapping the recorder closed, Tsunade came around and slapped both of their backs. "Oh man, you guys should have seen the looks on your faces!"
Shizune giggled, putting away her camera. "Blackmail baby!"
"Is it-Is it true?" Karin stammered.
"Are we really twins?" Naruto whispered.
Hazel eyes softening, Tsunade gave a nod. Tears filled Naruto's eyes as he faced Karin and slowly they enveloped each other in a hug. After a few minutes Naruto pulled back, looking confused. "But how is this possible? Tou-san and kaa-san never mentioned me having a sister or a twin for that matter!"
Karin looked a bit put out. "You met our parents? And they apparently don't even know I exist… "
Shizune crossed her arms, frowning. "Actually, Inoichi-san talked to me today and told me something about both of you missing memories, and I told him about the blood test. He thinks that these may be connected somehow."
Karin looked excited. "So we'll have to find out about our pasts, right Naruto?"
Naruto frowned. "However much I want to, a war is coming. I have a village to protect and take care of."
"I... guess that I can understand that." Karin scowled. "It'll have to wait then."
"Who knows, maybe something happening during the war will trigger your memories?" Shizune suggested, trying to cheer them up.
"Yeah…." Naruto murmured. "Maybe."
Aburame Shino was a very logical -if not quiet- person who always thought before he acted. He chose his words and answers carefully so that no one would be misinformed. He used his kikaichu as his first line of offense and used his -by now- high skill level in taijutsu and interrogation as a last resort. He was never surprised by anything, as he was an Aburame, and Aburame did not get surprised. But there were two exceptions to this rule.
Uzumaki Naruto and Inuzuka Kiba.
Truthfully, Naruto was naturally one always connected to surprises and even to his friends was known as quite an enigma, but Kiba was quite like Naruto, although on a lesser scale.
"Kiba, what are you doing looking like you just got run over by a group of Naruto's toad summons?"
But that scale wasn't exactly that small either.
"Ugh, Shino, help me up man!"
Rolling his eyes unnoticed, the hooded brunette pulled his teammate to his feet. "Where is Akamaru?"
Kiba brushed off his torn and dirty clothes, scowling at the ground. "Hana wanted him to help her do some chores today. I don't know why she would need Akamaru too when she already has the Haimaru Triplets!"
Shino sighed. "Who beat you up?"
Embarrassed, Kiba scratched one of his cheeks. "Um, about that, did you know me and Hinata-chan are dating now?"
Genuinely surprised, Shino shook his head. "I was not aware."
Kiba flushed. "Um, yeah. So Ino, Sakura, and Tenten gave me a… talk."
"Ah, I see. That was a very logical decision on their part." Shino nodded.
"Y-You agree with their idea of a talk?!" Kiba shrieked, pointing angrily. "Traitor!"
Shino crossed his arms, leaning against a tree. "Traitor is a very high insult to someone who has saved you countless times from your own illogical actions on missions."
Kiba's blush crept down his neck, and he crossed his arms too in a pout. "Sh-shut up!"
"Ah, but shutting up would only make you talk more." Shino retorted.
"You...you… you... ARGH!" Kiba sank down to the ground and sat cross legged, his back facing the Aburame, while said Aburame stood and turned to leave.
Pausing right before he could leave Kiba's high range of hearing, Shino spoke. "Even if you are my teammate, if you hurt Hinata I will help the girls give you another 'talk'."
Once it registered to the Inuzuka just what Shino had said, he raised his hands in anger. "Even Shino is threatening me! Who's next, Naruto?"
Night
"So, do you mind telling me just why you wanted to meet here on a Thursday night? You know that Thursday nights are when I go and have my fun in the Forest of Death, Yugao!" Anko whined.
Yugao rose a brow, taking a sip from her sake dish. "I thought that you would be perfectly fine with me dragging you away from your 'fun time' if I offered to pay for all of the dango you eat and alcohol you drink tonight, Ko-chan."
Anko latched onto her purple haired friend in a bear hug. "Oh kami in heaven have I ever told you how much I love you?"
Sighing, and trying to pry the snake mistress off of her, Yugao couldn't help but let amusement colour her tone. "Yeah, yeah, love you too."
Anko let go and stood up straight, suddenly looking lost in thought. "Actually, Yugao, I have a meeting with Rokudaime-sama now that I totally forgot about. Oh, wait a minute, aren't you his bodyguard? Why aren't you there?"
Yugao suddenly felt cold, and she gripped her saucer tighter as she turned to her friend with a false smile pasted on. "You're right, Naruto gave me a break, but I should probably get back." She snapped her fingers and was surrounded in smoke. By the time it cleared she was fully dressed as her ANBU persona, Neko. Anko disappeared in a smoke shunshin, and Neko in a swirl of leaves.
Neko and Anko appeared in front of Naruto's desk, bowing. Neko nodded. "Naruto, my break is over, I will now return to active duty."
Naruto nodded, glancing at Anko warily. "Why is ANko-chan here, Neko-chan?"
Neko stood from her bow and put her hands on her hips curiously. "Anko-chan said you had a meeting with her."
The blonde shook his head, a frown pulling at his lips. He blinked, but when he opened his eyes they were in sage mode. "I don't have any meetings planned this late." I thought Sai reported that Anko-chan is MIA, and I know that asshole wouldn't lie to me. With my sensing abilities I could tell that her chakra didn't feel exactly like Anko's, and something is missing. The nature chakra around her is being... absorbed? What could that possibly mean? "You're not Anko."
Neko looked from her Hokage to long time friend in shock. "W-what?! What's going on!"
Anko finally stood from her bow, but each movement was twitchy. Her face was twisted in an evil smirk, and her pupil-less brown eyes flashed. "It seems that you've figured me out, Hokage-sama." The title was hissed out in disgust. "I now understand that you're no pushover and are quite the leader." Steam seemed to be seeping out of her.
Neko took off her mask to reveal her horrified face. "W-what happened to the real Anko?! What happened to Ko-chan!"
Naruto stood, tensed as he brandished his trench knives, grimacing. "I received a report when I was at the Summit saying that Miterashi Anko went MIA on a mission to destroy ROOT. It is possible that Yakushi Kabuto was involved."
Yugao shook her head, causing her long violet hair to swish with the movement, pulling out her sword while tears ran down her face. "I-I can't do this! I can't lose another friend!"
The not-Anko gave an overly large grin that they supposed was supposed to be disarming. "Don't worry Konoha ninja, I am only here as a messenger. Kabuto ordered me to tell you that things will get even worse than they are now, and this is only the beginning." The grin stretched and the not-Anko seemed to melt starting from the evil grin down. When they looked at the ground in disgust all that they saw was a liquefied body lying there. Naruto and Yugao paled. It was an exact copy of Anko, and that meant one thing.
Miterashi Anko was the very first casualty of the Fourth Great Ninja War.
Done! I'm sorry that I'm skipping scenes so much, but I'm pretty sure I've said that I want emotional attachments to each of the characters, so there you have it. Fish On Stick, the story will pick up and if you meant entertaining in a good way, thank you! To mfmxxx, I know that the long training trip I put in wouldn't work with canon like I made it, but eh, I need it to, so I'm sorry if it's unrealistic. Oh, and I'm sorry this one took a really long time to update! I kinda lost my muse for this storyline, so I'll call a temporary hiatus considering my updating will slow down. Even more so since school starts again tomorrow because Christmas break is over... bummer.
En no Kuni- Dam Country Village: Takigakure
Fumou no Kuni- Barren Country
Izumi no Kuni- Land of Fountains Village: Yugakure
Kawa no Kuni- River Country
Kouba no Kuni- Plant Country Village: Kusagakure
Shimo no Kuni- Frost Country Village: Hyougagakure
Ta no Kuni- Rice Field Country Village: Otogakure
