He dodged Roshi's punch but found little satisfaction in doing so. The ground under his feet was increasing in temperature and he could feel the lava roiling below him. Naruto tried to ignore the sweat as Roshi pressed his assault.
The Four-Tail Jinchuriki was in a cloak of the Yonbi's chakra- to engage in melee against him was out of the question. He'd have to resort to ninjutsu. Or, he would if he had any ninjutsu that would have been a threat to his opponent. Naruto knew around two dozen elemental or otherwise offensive ninjutsus- but none of them were strong enough to contend with Roshi. He had spent most of his time building his foundation and mastering simpler ninjutsus. Against a normal shinobi, Naruto would have had hundreds of options at his fingertips. In the face of this threat, a raging jinchuriki with command over such an offensive weapon as magma itself, there was only one option open to him.
'How many tails can you force me into, Kurama?'
'At once… three. But, it will be incredibly painful. And dangerous. Neither of us will be in control, Naruto. Slowly more tails will appear until Roshi is dead- and then who knows how long it will take for your rage to disperse.'
'I don't see how we have any such choice in the matter. I can't touch him- and he doesn't seem like he's going to be stopping anytime soon.'
'If you were to start with two, there is a chance you will retain control into a third tail. It will be a gamble that you may lose, Naruto.'
'Do it.'
Naruto's palm whipped up to catch Roshi's punch. A light red film of chakra bubbled down from his hand and encompassed his body. Two tails sprouted up from behind him and he could feel his bloodlust spike. The power of the Kyuubi no Kitsune flooded him and it was hard not to smile.
Roshi didn't hide his own animalistic grin and he chuckled, "The Monkey says that it's glad you actually decided to show your power. We were getting bored just making you dodge, kid."
"This isn't my power, Roshi-san. But, I thank you for giving me and Kurama the chance to show you our might!" Naruto tightened his grip as he twisted and spun, slamming Roshi into the ground behind him. His foot lashed out towards the neck of his foe, but only met dirt upon its descent. Roshi was fast and as the two clashed together the wind tore into the obsidian beneath their feet. Cracks began to form and the air heated up as the magma below was slowly revealed.
Naruto paid it no mind as burning tears made their way down his cheeks. His empathy was heightened whenever he used Kurama's chakra and as he fought he bonded with Roshi in a way that he had only done so with a few others. Hiruzen, Kakashi, Kabuto, Anko- Itachi. Roshi was the next person Naruto felt that he understood.
Roshi was proud. Cynical. Wary. Tired of the Shinobi System. He respected strength and also had a strong sense of fairness. The veteran from the Rock village held no hate in his heart for Konoha- for him. He was testing him.
That being said, if Naruto didn't meet his expectations then the jinchuriki had no fear about killing him. Naruto wasn't safe, but neither was his situation hopeless. It was a battle of expectations. Two Jinchuriki hadn't clashed like this since the last Great Shinobi war.
Naruto struggled to maintain his taijutsu style amidst the swirling desire to slug it out. It was a constant war between his instincts and Roshi- a battle on two fronts. Roshi seemed to have an easier time of it. Roshi wasn't giving him room to back up, to breathe. Naruto was struggling. The power was amazing but uncontrolled. He could feel more of it leaking through his seal, a burning sensation emanating from his navel that was quickly becoming a dangerous distraction, his senses warring for his attention. Sounds started to dim. His attention narrowed down onto the fight and his vision began to tunnel. It was getting harder to pay attention to his surroundings. His sight was beginning to blur...
Red. Red was consuming his sight. It was hot. So hot. Hot all over. Hot inside him. Burning. Blood. Blood and iron he tasted blood and iron. Screaming, he heard screaming- screaming outside and screaming inside. He was screaming. And roaring.
He saw his foe. The Monkey-and-Man in front of him. He heard a voice yelling inside his head, two voices, his voices, but he didn't care. He fought harder then he was, he didn't care if the red-hot-rock touched him, it would just wash off of his chakra. His power. Stone melted from the heat, and their battle raged over liquid stone.
He was hurting too. His foe was strong and quick, but the more angry he himself got then the stronger he himself became. The monkey-and-man was starting to defend. To back away. To run. He couldn't escape. No one could escape him.
Two more foes appeared. Silly, they didn't even have second halves. They didn't have a partner that would strengthen them. No-animals-just-men with shiny metal headbands. They waved their arms and as he roared and swung to destroy them he heard a third voice- one he had almost forgotten from his memories.
'What does a shinobi fight for, Naruto?'
'The Village, Itachi-sensei.'
Konohagakure. The Village Hidden in the Leaves. The Leaf Symbol. The symbol on their heads. They were Konoha-nin. He was Konoha-nin. His claws stopped gripping their throats and released them. They didn't flinch, though he could smell their fear. His hands had branded their necks from his corrosive chakra. Not foes.
Friends.
And just like that, he started to remember. Who he was. Agent Konoha. The Kyuubi Jinchuriki. Naruto Uzumaki. Shinobi of the Leaf.
He roared and felt the wind send a gale into the clouds above. He could feel the cloak around him as he wrestled for control.
'Very good, kid! Keep it up! I thought we almost lost you there!'
It was the hardest thing he had ever done. Even now the impulse to lose himself to that much power and have it flow throughout him was ringing throughout him. Just let loose, it seemed to whisper. Just let go.
He willed himself still and eventually felt the cloak dissipate. He panted for a little bit and looked up at Torune and Fu. They stood at attention, motionless. Still loyal, it seemed.
"How are you two?"
"Fine, sir. We apologize- we thought we could assist you." He was surprised to realize they thought that they'd be punished more for stepping in. They didn't realize that they were the only reason he hadn't lost himself. Lost himself to hate- the very thing he was trying to fight.
"At ease… I'll find some way to reward you both when we return. Excellent job."
He saw the surprise on both of their faces and would have smiled if he didn't feel so guilty. As it was, he turned so that he could face Roshi. The older man was standing there sans chakra cloak, with his arms crossed.
"Did I pass your test, Roshi-san?"
"The first one, kid. Speak."
Naruto almost groaned. After that he was exhausted and just wished that he could lay down, and sleep, and cry. It seemed the Iwa-nin wanted him to be drained when he gave his spiel so as to have the upper-hand. Fine. Naruto would give him that comfort.
"Fine, but I'm sitting." And sit he did. He squatted on the hard stone beneath him and grimaced as it nearly burned him. Their fight from a few yards off had heated the stone up for dozens of feet beyond it seemed. His throat was strained, along with everything else, and burned from over-exposure to Kurama's chakra. It seemed that the short-and-sweet would have to suffice. He bet that was what Roshi wanted anyways.
"I want you to defect from Iwa. You can come to Konoha, but if you are hesitant about that, just going off on your own will suffice. I can offer you protection one way or the other, if you want. I want to gather all the bijuu and their jinchurikis together. The world has used them as pawns for too long- I would see us all united together as a family…. And maybe reform the Shinobi system."
"That's fuckin' crazy kid. It's impossible."
"No. No it's not. Well- not impossible. Think about it, before Mito Uzumaki there had never been any jinchurikis. Before Konoha there hadn't been any Villages. It's entirely possible to effect change...it'd just be hard Roshi-san. But, if you fight for us, I'll fight for you. I give you my word- and I can't go back on my word. That's my nindo."
Roshi looked him over, and Naruto gave him the courtesy of not calling out all of his feelings. Kabuto insisted that Naruto not do so when he had a chance of convincing people without making them think he could read minds. Apparently, he had somewhat unnerved Kabuto back when they had first met.
"Why now?"
"Iwa and Kumo are going to ally to fight against Konoha."
"So you want me to fight against my own village to protect your own?"
"No- you don't have to join Konoha. And, I wouldn't ask you to fight your own village… But, if the others join us, they might fight Iwa. Just as I hope you'd never ask me to fight Konoha… You aren't a weapon. Neither am I. We're people- and the beings we carry deserve to be treated as people too. Don't you think?"
"I'll be hunted down. Onoki won't be so keen as to let me escape like this."
"I can protect you."
Naruto silently held his eye contact. Roshi was a better fighter, by far- far more intune with Goku then Naruto's seal allowed him to be with Kurama. This was the hardest sell, by far of this… arrangement.
"I'll prove it. I have some business to take care of here and then you can come back with me- and I'll show you some hiding spots where they'll never find you. Where you don't have to be apart of either village. I'll take care of you until a safe-place for us exists where we don't have to fight. Please, Roshi-san." Roshi laughed but he maintained his seriousness. He didn't falter in the face of Roshi's skepticism. It wouldn't do well to be shaken so easily. Not when everything depended on convincing Roshi that leaving was the best choice to make right now.
"I'm serious, Roshi-san. Do you know what'll happen if you stay here? If you assist in this campaign against Konoha? Open war. The Sandaime, the God of Shinobi, knows about the talks between Iwa and Kumo. Suna is our ally- do you really want to be used as a weapon again? To put your life on the line just to kill shinobi for the sole fact they are from another village? To fight until you are killed- and then have Son Goku just sealed away in someone else? Someone who may not be as respectful or caring as you are to him?"
"...What business do you have here?"
He met Roshi's eyes head on. Only brutal honesty would work to secure his friendship.
"I'm going to decimate Iwa's invasion force." Roshi raised an eyebrow and smirked.
"You're going to die, you do that. And what happened to not 'killing shinobi for the sole fact they're from another village, eh? Was that just a line?"
"I won't die. I promise. I'm not as trained as a Jinchuriki as I am a shinobi… And I don't want to. But, if I can end the fighting with one assault then… Then that has to count for something."
"It's hypocritical, kid."
"I don't really see any other way, Roshi-san. I don't like it- and hopefully by doing this I can stop more fighting. I have to hope that I will, at any rate.."
"Why are you trying so hard? What do you gain out of this?"
"I get to make my friend happy." Roshi laughed and then sighed deeply. Naruto could tell that he was deeply conflicted. The Jinchuriki of the Yonbi was a veteran of the last Shinobi War. He had faced against Konoha- killed Konohan Shinobi. And if he had any friends in Iwa… some of them probably died against Konoha. But, Roshi was disillusioned with the village life. Onoki saw him and his fellow jinchuriki, Han, as weapons only. Assets. He was tired of it.
Naruto understood how he felt. He also felt guilty that he was using his feelings to manipulate him like this. But, he was given his gifts for a reason. To use them for this end- to stop the wars and protect the bijuu.
"What would you do if a Jinchuriki denied you- if they stood against your goal?"
Naruto frowned. He could sense what Roshi wanted to know. It wouldn't do well to be optimistic. There was a fair chance that any number of Jinchuriki would feel more loyalty to their village than to each other- or to the bijuu. Bee was like that- Naruto could sense that he'd never willingly 'betray' the Raikage. He'd have to be honest.
"Then I would have to free the Bijuu of them. If they are determined to keep the bijuu subjugated and imprisoned- I'll kill them." He wasn't proud of it, and yet he could see Roshi's approval all the same. For the first time since they had started talking. It seemed that Roshi held some affection for Goku- more then he had guessed.
"Show me what you can do, kid."
Torune and Fu wordlessly stepped up on either side of him, ready to depart.
"Very well. Follow me."
The four of them vanished from the rocky field.
"...and that is how the socio-economic layout of the end-era Warring Clans lead to the formation of the Shinobi Villages and inspired the First Shinobi War, and how Tobirama Senju's insight into Jutsu and Seal creation spear-headed Konoha's first victory on a world-wide scale."
The class was silent and even the instructure, Iruka Umino, was giving him a weird look. This usually happened whenever Sai answered a question or give a verbal report and he could never understand why. He always answered the question as completely as possible.
"Well-yes- but, we won't be talking about Court-village politics for a few months, Sai. You could have just stuck on basics of the Nidaime's background, but still, good job."
A few students giggled and Sai wondered what Sensei had said that was so humerous.
"Thank you, Iruka-Sensei. That concludes my report on, 'My Shinobi Hero: Tobirama Senju'."
Said went to his seat. No one clapped. They were quietly whispering about the 'pale weirdo' and talking about how 'annoying and desperate he was to be a teacher's pet' and the like. Sai had deduced a while ago that most of the students were unsettled by him, and instead of trying to emulate him were content to perform at their mediocre level. Little did they know his report was styled on a deep-cover briefing. Iruka gave him another cursory glance before looking out to the whispering and jittery class. It seemed no one wanted to compete with his report- as 'boring' as they were whispering it was.
"How about you, Hinata?" The girl squeaked and Sai was proud at how he witheld the urge to scoff. The Hyuga Heir was the meekest person he had ever met. The exact opposite of his target. Sai slowly side-eyed Sasuke Uchiha- he seemed to be reading his text book. He was a model student, and a promising shinobi. It seemed that Konoha-sama had as good instincts as Danzo-sama when it came to selecting future recruits. Why else would he have placed Sai in such a deep cover, with the sole objective of observing and protecting the Uchiha heir? If he wasn't the future Clan Head, then he'd have been a perfect candidate to abduct and initiate within Root-
"-M-my shinobi hero is N-Naruto Uzu-Uzumaki."
The class gasped and Sai felt his focus shatter. The words that left her mouth were so unexpected that he had to listen to the frenzied whispers around him to confirm that she had said 'Naruto Uzumaki'. Hinata Hyuga knew Naruto Uzumaki- and idolized him? How?
Not that it was any surprise that Konoha-Sama was worthy of such praise, but no one should have known about him. At least, not an Academy Student.
"He s-saved me! Fr-from, uhm, a….a K-kumo-nin-ninja…" Everyone was whispering frantically- except for the Uchiha and the Nara heir. All the students knew of Naruto Uzumaki. The Sarutobi Ward. The weirdo. The one their parents warned them to avoid. Some even knew his forbidden nickname- The Demon Brat. None of the students knew what he had done to be so reviled, but they assumed it was justified. It seemed that none of them were keen to question their parent's opinions.
The Hyuga struggled to go on, and Sai felt himself become torn. Hinata carried on her report, tearing up in shame and frustration as her stutter became worse, as her classmates snickered and mocked her. Eventually, Iruka was forced to let her sit back down half-way through her report as she couldn't even get a word out. She quietly sat in her seat and hunched over as she quietly sobbed. Sai saw her attitude and timidness as an enourmous weakness, but…
But she was loyal to Konoha-Sama. She adored him. Enough to brave the ridicule from her peers. If this had been a report on the origin of hand-sealing and she had messed up a sentence she would have shut-down after the first comment. But she had stood up there for more then twenty minutes and only sat down when instructed to. To most, that wouldn't mean much.
But from Hinata Hyuga, that had been a declaration. A line in the sand. No one else had witnessed or understood what had passed in that class today, but Sai was there. He saw an opportunity. A potential asset. Even if she didn't become a powerful shinobi… She was the Heir to the Hyuga Clan. That made her a powerful player- and potentially one that Konoha-Sama could easily control and manipulate.
He sat through a few more juvenile reports of famous shinobi and how cool their jutsus were before class was dismissed. Hinata remained in her seat as the others left. Sai stood up and walked up to her.
"Hyuga-san." She flinched as if struck and looked up at him, her lavender eyes red and her face blotchy. He saw fear and apprehension in her face, and he knew that his next sentence would matter for the rest of their interaction. He had to prove himself as different from the rest of the class- had to make it clear to her that he wasn't like the others. That she could trust him. He had to foster a rapport…
"He's my hero too."
At first she didn't seem to react, just stared at him. He didn't know what had prompted him to engage with her- this was entirely outside of his mission objectives. Perhaps it was her potential usefulness. Sai didn't dare think it was because with a singular shared interest- she now had more in common with him then anyone else in the class. That fact had somehow overwritten his disdain of her temperament. She continued to stare at him and he tried to smile- it felt a little forced. Uncomfortable.
But then she softly smiled as she sniffled. She began to tear up again and he had almost feared he had made a mistake.
"Th-thank you, Sai-san."
But then her smile grew, the first time he had ever seen her actually smile at someone else.
"Would you like to tell me more about how Uzumaki-san saved you?"
Kakashi spent most of his time either training or going over missions for the Anbu. In another life he would have muched prefered to have stayed an Anbu captain and just run missions with Team Ro. He probably would have been forced to step down to be a sensei for Naruto- and if Itachi had completed his genocide, probably sensei for Sasuke as well.
In all honesty, he was happy things had gone the way they had. Being here for Naruto- it had made him feel normal. As normal as any high-tier shinobi could be. It was grounding to be a role-model for a child. To watch them grow. To love them and have that love returned ten-fold.
Kakashi hadn't thought about ever having children of his own- but, now, if he met the right person… He wouldn't mind retiring and starting a family. If he survived of course. If he didn't, then all the Hatake clan secrets and techniques would be passed on to Naruto. That wouldn't even really be that bad, either. His father would have liked Naruto. They had a lot in common.
No he didn't regret all the times he had taken Naruto out to the park. The times they had eaten together in Ichiraku. Teaching him, training him, sparring with him. Talking about his parents. When Naruto was quite a bit younger, and his empathy manifested as nightmares in his sleep, he would calm the upset youth with tales of his father's intellect and his mother's power. Of their love for each other, the village, and of him. He eventually had gotten their old copy of The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi, and Naruto had fallen in love.
Kakashi knew that Jiraiya was going to be so pleased when he learned that fact in the future.
That being said, Naruto had started to become more independent. Taking the Jounin Exams made that impossible to ignore. He had done better than Kakashi had- and Kakashi had been a few years older when he had made jounin himself. He was proud of Naruto. Every positive influence in his life came from his decision to be involved in taking care of and guiding the boy.
That was the exact reason why he had diligently combed the village for three months to find the Root Headquarters. It had become a training of sorts. Danzo was smart, and the last base Kakashi had saved Tenzo from had been dismantled and relocated. It hadn't been easy to find the new headquarters. It had been even harder to hide his search from anyone else. Kakashi had wanted to find out where Naruto had been running off to as Agent Konoha- and Team Ro had been wondering where their old senpai was disappearing off to whenever he was off duty.
Of course, spending his time locating his younger brother's hangout spot was a rather normal and understandable thing to do. Finding the base far underneath the Hyuga compound was rather ingenious. As long as no stray jutsus or flares of chakra went off, then Root was literally hidden right under the nose- or, well, eyes - of the village.
The new base was upgraded. Security was rather strict and well controlled. Well-manned as well. It took a few hours to make any progress into the base at all. Yet, Kakashi was rather confident that he now knew what Naruto had been up to recently.
Sitting behind a desk that had pictures of the boy with those closest to him was all the proof Kakashi needed. Hiruzen had found a replacement for Danzo in Root, it seemed. The Old Man had gone behind his back and allowed Naruto to not only further entrench himself in the politics of the village, but become the leader of it's most dangerous organization.
This is what Naruto couldn't tell him. What Hiruzen had been comfortable enough to leave him in the dark about.
The Sandaime seemed to think that he could choose when and what he told Kakashi about Naruto. Perhaps the Hokage had forgotten who Kakashi was. He was the Anbu Commander of the village. This sort of confidentiality was unprecedented. He was supposed to be the second most informed shinobi aside from the advisors… The way things seemed to be going, it seemed that Naruto had taken that spot.
He'd gladly remind Hiruzen of his position. He couldn't do anything less when it was Naruto's safety at stake.
He finished surveying the room, and left a small scroll on the desk. It'd be good to let Naruto know his security wasn't as air-tight as it should be, and he'd also appreciate the ramen when he had vetted the safety of the scroll.
Itachi stared down Yagura Karatachi, the Yondaime Mizukage. He was short- very short. Gray hair that swept down one half of his face. He wielded a large spear with two hooks on the end, and a large flower attached to the larger hook. He had a pinkish scar underneath his left eye. He regarded the two of them with the air of a Kage- with a confidence that he could defeat them both and make it out alive. Their only advantage is that perhaps he wasn't aware of just who Itachi was. Biwa was now aware of how reckless he had been earlier and was seeming to regret it.
"I never thought you'd dare show your face back in the village, Juzo."
"I didn't want to- necessarily. I had a mission, Yagura." The Mizukage looked at the two lifeless bodies of his Hunter-nin and scoffed.
"Your actions betray your death wish, Juzo. I am ready and prepared to take you and Itachi Uchiha on at once. Ready yourselves."
Biwa gulped next to Itachi, "Well- there goes surprising him with your genjutsu I guess-"
The next moment passed quickly as suddenly the trees around them were flooded with a mist that carried the foreboding power of a bijuu behind it. It was only thanks to his Sharingan that Itachi was able to see the red claws swiping for his face. He leapt back, noticing that Biwa had blocked with his sword- the Executioner's Blade now sporting a large gash that almost disconnected the top third of the blade from the rest of its body. The swordsman swore and dove behind a rock as a blast of chakra nearly tore his head from his body.
Itachi was hard pressed to assist as the jinchuriki appeared in front of him. Three red tails sprung from a tortoise-like form and he realized how in tune Yagura was with his bijuu. They were working in perfect tandem.
"I'm one of the first Jinchuriki to have perfect control of my demon- do you realize your folly now, Uchiha?" Itachi didn't deign to respond as he dodged a rapid onslaught of attacks from the Yondaime Mizukage's arms, legs, and tails. Even his elongated jaws would seek to snap Itachi's limbs in half when they got to close.
Itachi frowned and quickly summoned a shadow clone. The instant it appeared a large bout of fire burst from it's lips as the original Itachi was forced to block a punch from the berserking Kage.
As Yagura was sent flying back, a film of coral began to grow and spread over his body. He could feel it growing out from the clothes and his skin where Yagura had landed his blow- and it was quickly overcoming his whole body. Before he had the chance to think of some way to escape the living prison, Biwa reached him and cut it's growth off with his massive sword.
"That's Yagura's Coral Fist technique- it's important to not let him hit you. Really important."
"Biwa!" Biwa's head turned and Itachi saw him see what had made Itachi panic. Yagura was on all fours, balls of black and white chakra manifesting in front of his mouth. They condensed into a single orb- and then Yagura's maw encompassed the mass of chakra.
"We have to move-"
"Hold on!-"
Yagura let the projectile fly and with an inhuman cry Biwa drew his sword in its path. The legendary blade met the chakra missile and a mighty explosion rang out. Itachi was able to see how the projectile had been sent up into the air- but as the smoke cleared he saw Biwa speared to a tree by his own blade. The hilt laying disconnected in his hand. Blood flowed from both his stomach and his mouth, and Itachi knew in that moment that his partner was dead. His brain just hadn't accepted it yet.
Itachi took a step forward and then Yagura landed before the both of them. Itachi panicked for a second. The thought of hurting Naruto and failing Sasuke breaking through his conditioning and making him lose control for the slightest of moments.
It was enough for his mangekyou to activate- and the black flames of Amatseru to unleash upon his enemy. Yagura collapsed to the ground, the fire burning through his chakra cloak and Itachi felt an intense pity for him. An intense pain radiated from his eye, and he felt blood seep down his face like tears. The chakra drain from that technique was quite considerable… He needed to work on it more. Master it.
"Itachi… It seems you were more of a match then I...was.." Biwa coughed up blood and grinned. In that moment he resembled a true shinobi of the Bloody Mist.
"I want… to die here. In this land that I've been from for too long.."
"Be at peace." Itachi knelt down and place the handle of Biwa's blade into his hand. The swordsman smiled as his hand gripped the hilt. His eyes closed and he passed on.
Itachi waited for a moment longer before he silently rose up from his position and proceeded to leave. Leader wouldn't be too happy. He also wasn't excited about losing Biwa. He had been quite tolerable as a partner. Perhaps Madara would find some way to convince another Seven Swordsmen of the Mist to join- as long as he wasn't paired with someone annoying.
Or overtly blood thirsty.
Mei Terumi entered the room quickly. She checked to make sure that she hadn't been followed and tapped her foot three times when she confirmed that she hadn't. Growing up in the Village of the Bloody Mist hadn't been easy- especially for anyone with a kekkei genkai. Having two didn't help at all. She could have fled when the Bloodline Purges had begone, but this was her home. This was the home of all Kiri shinobi, regardless of what caste they belonged to.
Running wasn't an option. So, she instead formed an insurrectionist-cell. Gathered a group of other like-minded traitors. She was in the midst of planning a coup. It was slow going, because if she included the wrong person they'd all die- and any hope Kiri had of changing from its current course would die with them. She had gathered her trusted. Those which would become the lieutenants and generals of her rebellion. Organized a safe-house to meet in any emergency.
Losing a member of their group was one such emergency. She had just gotten the message from Ao when she had sensed Hunter-nin outside her house. It hadn't been easy, but she had managed to lose them. Her tension had only increased on her journey and she was one wrong sign away from burning down the building with her Lava release.
"Terumi-sama?"
She twirled around, kunai aiming straight for the jugular before she registered Ao's voice. Her right hand stood stone-still, faithfully submissive, sure that the one he had sworn allegiance to wouldn't mistakenly strike him down.
She wondered how calm he'd have been if he realized how close she was to killing him in that moment. Oh well, it didn't matter.
"The village was infiltrated earlier today- and one of our men didn't survive. He was one of the Hunter-nin Yagura sent off after the infiltrators- Juzo Biwa and Itachi Uchiha."
"Uchiha? Is that the one that defected from Konoha? Was the Kubikiribocho recovered?"
"Indeed ma'am- to both. It seems that Yagura has decided the next wielder should be Zabuza Momochi… I'm sure he'll report that to you later himself. But, there is more. Due to the nature of the infiltrators… Yagura himself came out of his tower."
She couldn't help but gasp in shock. Yagura hadn't been sighted within the village for over three months- his paranoia making him believe a group of traitors were out to kill him.
It hadn't been the most convenient. If Yagura had left the Kage tower, and Ao had seen him-
"So? Were you right? Did you see him?"
"I did- and...yes. Yagura Karatachi is under a powerful genjutsu- he is under someone else's control."
Mei almost felt her legs fall out from below her. The ramifications of this were unbelievable. It was one thing for a jinchuriki to become a tyrant and go on a bloody rampage but this…
Someone out there was destroying her country. And they would pay.
"It's time to up our game, Ao. Summon the others- we need to make a plan of how to proceed."
"Of course, my lady… Did you have something in mind?"
"A few ideas."
Kurenai laughed as Asuma grinned at her impishly. They were in a veranda in one of the few gardens within the Sarutobi Compound. She loved spending time with him, but he was always a bit more expressive and open when they were within the clan compound. She didn't mind too often- it just gave her another reason to come and stay within the gardens.
Asuma's nephew, Konohamaru, was laughing and playing with some monkey summons in a nearby field. They spent quite a few of their dates looking over the child. It seemed that his usual playmate, Naruto, wasn't quite as available as he was before.
It didn't surprise her. The boy deserved to be made jounin- and once again her thoughts had wandered to the blonde jinchuriki. She could see Asuma looking at her with a knowing glint in his eye and she sighed exaggeratedly.
"Really, Asuma? You can't tell me anything about him?"
"Oh, interesting, you've given up trying to trick me into spilling his secrets."
"Yes, I have. You're far too clever and you are quite obnoxious whenever I try." She smirked as he chuckled sheepishly.
"Why do you want to know so much about him, Nai?" Her mind flashed back to the jounin exam. What Naruto had said to her in the moments leading up to her defeat. Her fears of getting too close to Asuma…
"He… said something to me. During the Jounin Exam." She was surprised to see that her words seemed to resonate within him deeply. He sat up and looked at her with a very serious expression.
"Whatever he told you… It's real. You don't-" He held up a hand as she opened her mouth,"-have to tell me what it was. It's obviously very personal… But… Did I ever tell you what made me quit being one of the Twelve Guardians for the Daimyo?"
She shook her head. That story had been her most sought after one after Naruto- it would make sense that they would be connected with how stubbornly he danced around the topic.
"I had come back after the destruction of the group, when only me and Chiriku had survived Kazuma's coup. I was going to lead it's reformation, because I couldn't deal with my dad. I was messed up in a lot of ways… And the day I was to return to the Capital… Naruto showed up. He was only like… two and a half years old. This was right after dad adopted him- made him his ward. Of course, I hadn't actually met him at that point… But.. He looked up at me, and he told me he knew why I was so angry. That I was… scared. Scared that I'd… That I wouldn't make dad proud, that I wouldn't be able to forgive myself." Asuma stopped to wipe a few tears and Kurenai silently took his hand.
"The kid- he just knew. He could just tell- every piece of darkness floating around in my head. Hearing it all...I couldn't- I broke. Dad found me sobbing on my knees, Naruto trying to hug my side and crying with me.. It was the first time in a long time I remember him hugging me. The three of us just sat there for what felt like the longest time...and when I started to calm down, Naruto asked me to come read to him. I was supposed to leave for the capital, we all knew that, but… He asked me to come with him. So I went with him. And I stuck around… And I don't regret it."
He looked up at her and she was touched by the warmth in his eyes as he looked at her, "Whatever the kid told you… You can tell me when you're ready. And whatever it is… I know that you're strong enough to handle it, Kurenai. I can't wait to see you when you do."
She felt tears gather in her own eyes and she leant forwards into his embrace. She desperately wanted to tell him the truth, but her voice just wouldn't come. So she hugged him tightly and held on. Soon. She would tell him soon… That was a promise, one she made to herself.
Working papers was an acquired skill of Kabuto's, and one he was quite proud of. He had perfected writing simultaneously with both hands. But, his speciality was in his memory. Eidetic. He had performed the necessary operations to make it so. Kabuto never forgot something he read, ever. So spending a day doing all of Orochimaru's paperwork was one of the greatest intellectual heists in living history.
Of course, the information by itself was harmless. You'd have to have a truly in-depth knowledge of the Snake Sannin's protocols and code-words to read between the lines.
Kabuto had been there upon their creation. He had pioneered the bureaucracy of the Village Hidden in the Sound. He was Orochimaru's Right-Hand. Head Scientist.
He was the Snake Sannin's one weakness…
One day he'd act on Naruto-sama's orders and bring Orochimaru down to his grave. Someday, but not today.
Today, he was gathering possible recruits for Naruto's Root. At least, the information of shinobi of interest. What he wouldn't do to burn this place to the ground. But, he was loyal.
And loyal shinobi only burnt down enemy bases when ordered to. Or forced to.
He had been worried that Orochimaru would have sniffed him out. Would have seen the shift within him. Would have known that the Will of Fire had been reignited. Kabuto had made his peace that should he be found out, he'd take out the Sannin or die trying.
That was when the man had smiled and asked what he knew of the Akatsuki. Admittedly, that wasn't much. Sasori had recently joined in the past few months- along the same time that Itachi had. Naruto hadn't been happy to be informed that Itachi was now a part of an S-Ranked Terrorist Sect. Still, there wasn't any way to learn more about the organization yet.
That was, until Orochimaru had disclosed that he had been invited to join and was planning on using this opportunity to obtain the Sharingan. He had left soon after, but had tasked Kabuto with reorganizing their scheduled research, and to prepare an appropriate vessel should he not be able to acquire the body of Itachi Uchiha.
Kabuto had gotten to work- for both Masters. Moving Orochimaru's plans forwards moved forwards Naruto's at this point. Both would learn invaluable data from the research of this base… The study of the Curse Seals would surely interest Naruto-sama at the very least. It would do good to keep an eye on the Snake's plans, so as to not be caught unawares. There'd come a point when Orochimaru finally realized he had defected.
It was his duty to do as much damage as he could while getting away with it until that point. For Konoha. For Naruto-sama.
"Iwa and Kumo have decided to invade us, Kakashi." His Anbu Commander stood at attention before him across from his desk.
"So we are not adhering to formality at this time, Hokage-sama?" He sighed at the edge in Kakashi's voice. He knew exactly where this conversation would lead and he dearly wished that he didn't have to go through this again. Kakashi Hatake was a perfect shinobi- except when it had to do with Naruto.
He had vehemently protested Naruto's promotion to full jounin. Hiruzen himself hadn't wanted to proceed, but his hand had been forced. Naruto had done exemplary. There was no way he could hold the boy back after that public of a showing of skill. It would have only made things more suspect. So far the boy's abilities had been sufficiently kept secret, but Hiruzen felt strongly that it was coming closer to the day where the world would know- Naruto Uzumaki wasn't going to let things be. He was going to shake up the standings and fight for what he believed in.
His will was as infectious of that of the Shodaime.
"Kakashi, I am sure that you have a very important reason for this talk, but I am in the middle of managing some important papers concerning the trade routes with Suna-"
"Naruto is the new leader of Root, isn't he?"
Hiruzen regretted giving up smoking, as he was sure the smell of his favorite tobacco would have done something to cull the migraine that was building in his forehead.
"Yes, though how you are aware of this I am sure I will not be happy with-"
"He's just a boy, Hokage-sama. He's only seven- Minato would be-"
"It is due to Minato's actions that things have come to where they are today." He watched Kakashi tense at his words. The Hatake was almost too loyal to those who had passed sometimes… It was his greatest flaw.
"Naruto Uzumaki is not a normal child. I thought you would have made your peace with that by now. Sheltering him too much will not aid in his growth. It will not help him. The boy has the skill and knowledge of one many years older than his age. The only thing holding him back at this point is his body, and that is not something we can fix. So yes. He is somebody I can intrinsically trust to keep Root on the right path. Someone who is nearly impossible to interrogate. Someone who is as close to the living Will of Fire as I have ever found. I have taught him to be a good and honorable man… I have taught him everything I wish my sons had wanted to learn. He is my legacy- and someday? He will be the Hokage. You know that to be true. He wasn't just trained for the position- he was born for it. The only uncertainty is if he lives to see that day come. Do I wish to have him lead Root? Be a jounin? No, I do not. But, if having him lead Root means that he has to spend more time within the village- while placating his need to defend his home, then I will water that seed. I will walk with the boy so that he will come to me when he needs to. Trust the boy, Kakashi. Trust him to use what we and Itachi have taught him to keep him safe."
Kakashi just stared at him before he stiffly nodded and leapt out the window. Hiruzen groaned and re-summoned his Anbu guard back to their positions into his office.
"Send for Danzo. I need to speak with him."
Naruto stood with Roshi on top of a cliff overlooking the first wave of the Iwa army. The moutains of Iwa were rocky and barren; much like the ones in Kumo. The camp was based in a valley sheltered by the foothills of the mountains. The might that was assembled seemed to have been numbered in the nine hundreds- with more trickling in every hour. Nine hundred shinobi. At least the numbers were in his favor.
"I have a plan, Roshi-san. One that will largely only work once. After this, my strategy will likely not be able to be used to this effect."
"Kid, I have no earthly idea of what you're talking about." Naruto nodded and looked back to the assembling army of the Iwa shinobi.
"My Father once tore apart an Iwa Battallion. It was at the Battle of Kannabi bridge." He felt Roshi stiffen and look at him. He sensed the dread and realization- a flash of hatred- before it seemed to disappear as the man exhaled.
"...Of fucking course you'd be his son… I'm guessing that's supposed to be a secret, eh?"
"I'd appreciate it, Roshi-san… Let's see if I can live up to his legacy." With that, Naruto began to run up the mountain behind them, swiftly climbing towards it's peak. He could sense Roshi resigned and guilty for what was about to happen… In all honesty, Naruto was dreading what was coming. The large force of people below in the valley were radiating a larger pool of negative emotions- but to Naruto, that was their lives. Their daily troubles. Their grief. Their fears.
By the dawn, most of it all would be gone.
'For the village, kid.'
'For the future…'
