Chapter 10 – Negotiation with Kumo

"Talk"

'Think'

Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Kishimoto sensei. So…yeah.

Hokage Office

Sarutobi Hiruzen listened to Shisui's plan and asked "Are you sure with this decision?"

"Yes, Hokage-sama"

"Why you need these three as part of your team?"

"Primarily, they have higher chance to escape in case this turns out to be an ambush"

Hiruzen nodded. Truthfully, he was very pleased with Shisui's decision.

A week later, at the border of Land of Fire

Shisui waited patiently for the representative from Kumogakure along with Shiranui Genma, Namiashi Raidō and Tatami Iwashi, formerly known as the member of Hokage Guard Platoon.

A moment later, a blonde woman with long, straight hair that was tied in low ponytail appeared. She was accompanied by a tall, dark-skinned man with shaggy, white hair who stood a few metres behind her.

Shisui moved forward to talk to the blonde woman and talked "I believe there is no need for pleasantries. I'm going straight to this meeting. A week ago, you sent your head of ninja to our village under pretence of signing a peace agreement when in reality, your aimed is our byakugan. Unfortunately in your case, he failed his mission and Konoha gained interesting intelligent on Kumogakure"

"As a proof" Shisui continued "I know you are Nii Yugito, a jinchūriki to Nibi (Two-tails) and the man behind you is Darui"

If Yugito was surprised at his information, she did not show it, to which Shisui gave a credit to her calmness.

"What do you want?" asked Yugito.

"Information on being a jinchūriki. I understand you and the jinchūriki to Hachibi have a good relationship with your bijū. I want to know how you achieved that"

"If I refused?"

"As a head of ninja, he knows very well the abilities, strengths and weaknesses of his shinobi. This information would serve well to any shinobi village that has bad blood with Kumogakure, for example-"

"I got it. What would happen if I share the information?"

"The secret was known to me, and only me. If you kill me now, those secrets will be delivered to all shinobi villages, big and small, immediately. If you cooperate and your information proved to be truthful, none of that will come out from me"

"Why should I trust you?"

"You know me, and you know my reputation"

"Very well…." Yugito said and proceeded with her information, occasionally was interrupted by Shisui asking for clarification.

Once finished, she asked Shisui "Where's the shinobi that you've captured?"

"He's behind" Shisui said, giving a hand signal. Once he was passed to Yugito, her nails elongated and swiftly, she slashed his throat.

"Why you do that?" asked Shisui indignantly.

"It was an order. He failed his mission and jeopardized village's security" explained Yugito before shooting mouse-shaped fireball onto the dead man which exploded upon contact and burnt.

"You are thorough" said Shisui admiringly.

Yugito gave him an impassive look before turned back to her companion and left the area.

"Are you trying to hit on her?" asked Genma.

"Huh? No. I was being honest" replied Shisui.

"Are we done?" asked Hyūga Hizashi. He, along with Akimichi Chōza, Maito Gai and Hatake Kakashi formed Shisui's back-up team in case the negotiation turned to fight.

"Yes, we are done here"

A distance behind Kohoha Teams

Leader of the two teams from Root observed the exchange between Uchiha Shisui and representative from Kumogakure. Their order was to extract Shisui's eyes.

Shisui's teams might have anticipated attack from Kumogakure but not after the negotiation; that's when Root will attack. For Danzo-sama. For Konoha.

Somewhere between Kohoha and Root Teams

The masked man was watching the negotiation intently. His plan was to attack either member of the delegations to incite war between Kumo and Konoha. However, one member from Kumo was the nibi jinchūriki (not the right time to kill) while the other delegation got Hatake Kakashi-

At that thought, the masked man narrowed his eye, death is a mercy to Kakashi. No, Kakashi will live and he will suffer for the pain he has caused to the point he will beg for death. Every time the masked man closed his eye, the image of a lightning-covered hand piercing through her body, blood came out-

'NO!' The masked man forced himself out from his memory. That's when he noticed the second group from Konoha.

'Hmmm…" the masked man analysed "the first group has two teams, one (Shisui's team) is the front during negotiation while the other (Hizashi's team) provide back-up in case they are attacked. What's the purpose of having second group (Root teams)? One, Konoha really doesn't trust Kumo and provide back-up to a back-up, or two, the second group is planning to attack the first group' his eye scanned the member from second group 'nope, they are nobody. Then, they shall die' he thought happily.

Back at Root Teams

Once she saw the delegation from Kumo began to leave, the leader from the root teams sent out signal to prepare to ambush-

-only to be surprised when a man wearing masked appeared out of nowhere and attacked her with a kunai, she blocked with her sword and was surprised when her sword went through the kunai. She saw the kunai was aimed at jugular and she was uncertain whether the kunai was real or a mirage; unfortunately, her uncertainty caused her life.

Looking down at the dead woman, the masked man said "Well, that was disappointing, who's next?" to the rest of the root teams. Battle ensued.

On the way home, Shisui suddenly gave a signal which halted the movement of his teams.

"Anything wrong?" asked Hizashi.

Shisui pointed towards the ground a few metres in front of them which was red and there's a scent of copper wafting in the air.

Seeing that, the vein near Hizashi's eyes became visible as he scanned their surroundings.

"No sign of enemy" reported Hizashi.

They jumped down to the ground and scanned the area.

"These are Konoha shinobi!" gasped Iwashi looking at the hitai-ate.

"Yes, but I don't recognize them. They are definitely not from ANBU" Kakashi responded.

"They are too young to be our generation" said Chōza.

Shisui observed the scene carefully. These people are clearly from Konoha. Judging from the fresh wounds and damped soil, they were attacked very recently. He kneeled down to touch the body, still warm, so yup, very recently. Yet Hizashi reported no sign of enemy, indicating that the attacker is capable of travelling very fast.

Feeling unsettled, Shisui gave ordered "Seal these bodies and send them to autopsy. As we go back, I want us to be alert for possible ambush"

"Hait!"

Hokage office

Once they have sent the bodies to the morgue and reported to Hokage, they were dismissed with the exception of Shisui.

"Congratulation Shisui. I am very pleased with how you handled the situation. You could have asked for retribution but instead, you asked for information that benefits Konoha immensely.

"I am just doing my duty, Hokage-sama" Shisui replied modestly.

"How would you like to be my successor?" Hiruzen asked with a smile.

End Chapter 10

A/N – So Tobi saves Konoha. Tobi good boy. Yeay!

Hitai-ate – forehead protector