I don't own Naruto

I felt like updateing this and its about time I did anyway so here it is.

-Rin

Chapter 10

6 months later

A lot had happened in the past 6 months, tension spread through the village hidden in the leaves as the feud between its council and its Hokage became known to the people. Naruto was beginning to regret his decision to talk to try to talk to the traitors among his 'friends'.

Those who stayed loyal – namely Shikamaru, Choji, Shino, Neji, Lee and Tenten – were expelled from their clans if their clan had chosen treason, it also put considerable strain on team bonds subsequently the famed Ino-Shika-Cho team split after Ino chose the stance of her clan, similarly Hinata, Kiba and Shino split after Shino chose Naruto, all in all things were looking pretty bleak.

Sasuke had made his objections to becoming Hokage known to the village and the council but the council either pretended not to hear him or just didn't care, Sasuke stuck fast to Naruto's side and they remained close friends but it had little effect on the people's conviction to remove Naruto from his position.

Regardless of this, all of the ANBU – clan orientated or not with the acceptation of the Hyuuga - remained loyal to their Hokage and until such times as they decided to mutiny it was quite clear to all that there was no possibility of a revolution.

During the recent months, with Sasuke's help, Naruto had hatched a plan to try to end the resistance and dispose of the dark cloud that currently hung over the village and so he had given the orders for both the Sandaime's old team-mates Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu to be quickly assassinated by the ANBU captains, these orders had been carried out swiftly and efficiently by both Sasuke and Neji but although that eliminated some of the opposition it didn't kill it completely, dispite this Naruto couldn't bring himself to act against any of his old friends and Danzo was too well protected for an outright attack.

Whilst the situation developed, Naruto searched for as much information on the army of soles as he could, he found precious little even in the Hokage vaults which were hidden deep within the Hokage tower, he disclosed the knowledge of his plan to Sasuke, Keiji, Shikamaru and Neji, they helped him as much as they could and although Naruto didn't admit it to the fox, he had a feeling it wasn't telling him something.

By the beginning of spring the following year things were beginning to get out of control with violence breaking out in the streets all over the village, sometimes it was between civilians but it was mostly between loyalist and Revolutionary clans and Konoha seemed to be on the very edge of a civil war, it was the night after a particularly bad riot that Naruto called Neji, Shikamaru, Sasuke and Keiji to him.

"You called?" Neji asked kind of miffed at being woken up so late at night.

"I did" was the reply from the shadowy figure behind the desk "I found something" he mumbled, it was obvious to the gathered ninja that Naruto was tired, they could hear it in his voice and see it in his slumped form which leaned heavily on the desk and had a large dusty tome propped open in front of it. The gathered ninja remained silent.

"A few hours ago I had a little chat with the Kyuubi and finally got him to cough up some information, literally." Naruto said absently while motioning to the monstrous book.

"It seems that there is a draw back to summoning this army that a certain fox 'forgot' to mention. You may recall that I told you about the mutilated body on the stone alter." He stated rather then asked and when he received four nods he continued "Good I will quote this directly from the book then.

"'To summon the army of souls, one must have need of it, it is an alternative ment for the desperate. The army requires a sacrifice that can only be made by the summoner, once the deed is done the summoner must take the place of the previous master upon the alter and submit to everlasting damnation until the army is summoned once again'

"After what I read nearly gave me a heart attack, the overgrown fur ball decided to cough up some more info that is potentially better. There is only one way to avoid the fate described in this" he tapped the tome with two fingers while the faces of his company regained some of the colour they had lost in the last few minutes "it is another deal I must make but this time it's with the Kyuubi himself" He turned to look his comrades dead in the eyes.

"I must take his title and become the nine tailed demon lord." The horrified faces of his friends told Naruto exactly what they thought of that; not a lot, however Keiji showed a different expression all together, in fact he didn't seem surprised at all.

"You can't do that Naruto!" said an outraged Sasuke.

"Yes he can" Keiji calmly cut in, all eyes flew to the blind old fox like metal to a magnet. "It has been foretold among us that an heir of Kyuubi-sama would accomplish such an achievement, however, even for a demon lord there is a price.

"The master, as you will become when the army is summoned, must participate in at least two wars for the duration of the army's stay, this is the blood payment, one war will be against Kinmaru that is inevitable as you will wish to claim back your territory the second war is as of yet unknown for you my lord" Keiji said his voice slow with age.

"Ok let me rephrase that, he must not do it" Sasuke growled through gritted teeth, Keiji scowled.

"I wasn't planning to unless I had no other choice" Naruto said breaking up the tension between his best friend and second advisor "But the judging by the way things are going that time may come sooner then later" Naruto said receiving confused expressions in return.

"Neji, you reported to me earlier about cat and boar and how they are trying to get the rest of the ANBU to mutiny along with them yes?" Naruto asked and a look of comprehension filtered across the ANBU captains face.

"It seems it's only a matter of time until the ANBU also join the council" Naruto sighed, his friends looked grave.

"What will you do if they betray you?" Neji asked.

"My guess is he'll leave the village, defeat Kinmaru with the army of souls and then seek revenge" Shikamaru mused knowing what his answer would be.

"Never revenge Shikamaru, just justice" Naruto said before dismissing them from his office, it was going to be a hell of a long night.