KONOHAGAKURE- LAST YEAR- TWO WEEKS AFTER THE SPRING FESTIVAL
"Ne, Sakura-chan, do I have to do this?"
Naruto squirmed away from Sakura's cold hands as she pried his eyes open and shined her small flashlight into them. He was sitting on the exam table in his ramen patterned underwear, feet swinging idly as they dangled off the edge. Sakura flickered the light on and off, left to right, before finally setting it down.
"Yes, Naruto. All shinobi on active roster duty need their medical assessments done. Even with the kyuubi you're not immune to anything,"
Naruto scrunched his nose in distaste as he watched her lift a long, sharp needle from the small tray beside her. The small swab in her hand tingled on his upper arm and she frowned off into the distance.
"What's that?"
Naruto turned to see what she was looking at and felt a swift jab at his arm, the prick of the needle making him whine.
"Sakura-chan, that was mean,"
Sakura smiled and pressed a cotton ball to the pinprick of blood that was forming, "Half the shinobi in this village would rather take a kunai to the face than get a vaccination. Absolutely ridiculous,"
Naruto watched Sakura consult his chart, scratching absently at the back of her neck with the pen in her hand. He shivered in the cool air of the exam room and kicked his feet a few more times. Sakura scrawled on the paper and let the folder in her hand snap shut.
"Your chakra levels are normal for you, so no concerns there. Vitals normal across the board; good pupil reaction and reflexes. You might feel a little nauseous from the vaccine but there's been reports of sickness just south of Konoha, so any shinobi heading out in that direction needed it. I promise you that a little poke and prod is much better than five days of vomiting, diarrhea, fever dreams and cold sweats,"
He was going to speak, but a sharp staccato knock on the door interrupted him. Sakura's easy, relaxed position changed; her back now straight and her shoulders squared.
"This room is occupied for a medical exam, come back later,"
Naruto knew his medical exams were handled differently to most other shinobi. With the kyuubi inside him, he was taken to a different wing of the hospital and Baa-chan usually handled the medical treatment. This year, however, she had sent word that Sakura was going to do it. He didn't mind- Tsunade poked and prodded harder than Sakura-chan, and she wasn't as nice. But since his medical assessments were different, Sakura had mentioned that nobody should know he was here. It was a protocol for safety, should anything go wrong, but nobody had ever come knocking before. He could see Sakura clenching her fist, the gentle glow of her chakra gathering in her fingertips. Naruto tugged his shirt haphazardly over his head.
"Haruno-san, I have been sent on orders from the Hokage to bring you and Uzumaki-san to her."
Sakura didn't relax, only handed Naruto his pants and slipped a thin kunai from the pocket of her white coat.
"And her message?"
"Mikkaminumanosakura,"
Sakura relaxed and headed to the door, letting it crack open to reveal a porcelain mask staring back. Naruto tied his hitai-ate and stepped up behind Sakura, staring into the blank eye holes of the ANBU mask.
"What does Baa-chan want with us?"
Naruto had barely seen her since the day before the Spring festival. He had wanted permission to leave Konoha to take Konohamaru out beyond the border to help him with his stealth and tracking skills, but he had found her office empty except for Shizune, who had told him Tsunade-sama was too busy for visitors and all requests were to be directed to her.
The ANBU operative didn't answer, only disappeared down the hall and clearly expected them to follow without complaint. Sakura, surprisingly, didn't attempt to put up a fight, only tangled her fingers in Naruto's and headed after the shinobi. The leapt from rooftop to rooftop, leaving the heart of the village and heading further North, into the civilian district. Their final destination was a small house, one level and painted beige. The garden was well kept, and soft blue curtains fluttered against the open windows. To a civilian, it would look like any other house in the area; but Naruto could see the ripple of chakra surrounding the building, forced into a curcle in the dirt and glowing as they stepped over it. The ANBU member knocked hard on the door; two knocks- a pause-three knocks- a pause-two knocks. It swung open and Tsunade appeared, looking more like a grandmother than Naruto had ever seen her.
"I'll take it from here. Leave."
The shinobi was gone with a flicker of the air and Sakura bowed her head politely.
"Shishou... you requested us?"
Tsunade cleared her throat and help out her hand, palm up and glowing with chakra.
"I will need the two of you to submit a chakra sample before I can allow you to enter. From this moment on, any time either of you enter the chakra circle around this building, myself and several ANBU will be notified. If either of you enter this building without expressed permission from me, you will be removed from the mission roster indefinitely."
Naruto balked at her brusque behaviour and the looming threat. What could possibly be in here that would be so important? Sakura offered out her hand first, the smell of hot flesh making Naruto's nose crinkle as she gave her chakra sample. Naruto followed suit, feeling the heat rushing through his veins until Tsunade pulled away. They followed her inside and Naruto looked around the simply furnished home. A small table inside a small kitchen, a single couch sitting atop a light blue rug. One door was open and Naruto could see a tiny bathroom wedged into the corner. The second door was closed, only the quiet murmurs from inside telling him that someone was beyond the door. He was bursting with curiosity, but forced himself to be calm. Sakura was holding his hand, rubbing the flat of her thumb against his fingernails in circles. She only did that when she was nervous, so he offered her what he hoped was a reassuring squeeze.
"The official announcement will be made by me tomorrow morning, but I felt it would be best if the two of you were informed by me personally. I need to make it perfectly clear that regardless of what I am to the two of you personally- I took an oath to protect this village and its citizens with my life, and I will do whatever is necessary to ensure I keep that promise. There will be no favouritism here. But I understand that this situation will be... delicate. While things are being handled, the two of you will be allowed to visit under strict supervision. But I need to make myself very clear here," Tsunade looked at Naruto with hardened eyes, "People have been sentenced to death for less in this village, and if that is what comes to be decided... I will have no choice,"
The closed door creaked open and Naruto felt his world shift on an angle. Sakura's hand suddenly gripped his like a vice, the crack of his fingers loud in the unnaturally silent room, but he didn't register the pain. Sasuke was framed in the doorway. Two blue bands encircled each wrist like a bracelet, glowing as he stepped out into the living room. Chakra bands; a constant beacon of his whereabouts that would make him unable to use his chakra. He looked terrible; eyes rimmed with dark circles that clashed with his paper white skin, his lips cracked and his cheeks hollow.
Kakashi was behind Sasuke, not making eye contact with either of his former students. He placed his hand on Sasuke's shoulder and murmured something Naruto didn't catch, but Sasuke's lips twitched at the corner.
"You both look well,"
Sakura's hand was gone from his and he saw a flash of pink, a blur of blonde, and heard Kakashi make an aborted cry of Sakura's name. The slap across Sasuke's face left a red welt and the echoing smack made Naruto flinch. Tsunade sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose as Sakura stepped back. Sasuke brought his hand up to graze the welt.
"I deserve that..."
Naruto could have laughed. He wanted to. Wanted to let the bubbling emotions in his chest burst out to stop from choking together in his throat. The last time he had seen Sasuke, the man had tried to kill him. Had thrown a kunai with perfect accuracy and had only failed because Kakashi threw himself in front of Naruto at the last moment.
"Sasuke... why? How?"
Sasuke was looking at Tsunade, the pair sharing a conversation in silence that Naruto couldn't breach. Sakura, for her sudden burst of anger, seemed calm again. She pushed her hair back and reached for Naruto's hand, the tingle of chakra working into the bones of his fingers. He tried to catch her eyes, but she kept her gaze down. He could feel the tremble in her fingertips, and he didn't need to see her face to know she was likely as conflicted as he was. Angry, hurt and confused. Sasuke was watching them with sharp eyes.
"I am the last surviving Uchiha. I completed my goal of avenging my family... it was time to return home."
Home. The word made Naruto's heart sing. His friend was back. Tsunade's words of warning were pushing at the back of his mind but he ignored them, letting the warmth and comfort of the reunited Team 7 to flow through him. He would fight for Sasuke to be pardoned, and then they could return to being a team. They could fix the past mistakes and everything could be okay.
It was going to be okay.
He wouldn't let anything separate his family again.
"I would like to discuss the suspicious death of Uchiha Sasuke,"
Naruto jerked his head up, eyes looking to Gaara, who subtly raised his hand off the table in a gesture of calming. The Kages had all gathered in the meeting room of the Kazekage Tower; the lofty ceilings and floor to ceiling windows allowing for a soft breeze to swirl around them. Naruto could see guards posted at every possible entrance, stoic, but coiled like a cat ready to pounce. Each Kage had come with no less than six bodyguards, and Naruto wondered if maybe he should have accepted Tsunade's suggestion of bringing one for himself. Gaara turned his head to the Tsuchikage and pursed his lips.
"Tsuchikage-sama, I understand that you brought with you some concerns regarding Konohagakure, but as we discussed when you arrived, without the Hokage-sama present, I would prefer you not discuss them,"
"The Hokage did not see fit to grace us with her presence, Kazekage-sama, instead she sent us the jinchuuriki she plans to allow control the village,"
An obvious ripple of unease worked through the table and Naruto grit his teeth. When he had been introduced to the group as the Konoha representative, he had seen the looks in their eyes. Only Mei, the Mizukage, had smiled warmly at him. They had met before, though only briefly. He knew she held no grudge against him as a jinchuuriki. Gaara seemed unfazed by the insult.
"I would like to remind yo, Tsuchikage-sama, that you are currently being welcomed with open arms into the home of a former junchuuriki. Uzumaki-san has proven himself more than capable of handling the kyuubi, and I personally believe he will make an excellent Hokage after the Godaime steps down from her position. If you find it necessary we speak about the Hokage and Konohagakure, however, I suggest we do so politely. What are your concerns?"
The Tsuchikage narrowed his eyes at Naruto, who straightened in his chair and met the sharp gaze without fear.
"I want to know how the last of the Uchiha clan died,"
Naruto bowed his head slightly, "As reported to all shinobi villages shortly after his death, Uchiha Sasuke died as a result of a rare genetic condition within his bloodline. His illness was discovered weeks after he was pardoned by the court of Konohagakure, and he was... unable to be healed,"
The memory of Tsunade, blank faced and wearing only her pajamas, rose in his mind. He had known as soon as he sensed her chakra what she had been going to say that early morning. He remembered seeing Sasuke's body, almost nothing but skin and bone, covered in a white sheet and shut away in a cell. There had been so much anger, so much rage when he had been pardoned. The hospital hadn't been able to take him for fear that when the news got out, people would have flooded the area to try and prevent him from being buried within the borders of the village.
"The great medic nin couldn't save him?" the Tsuchikage scoffed, "How convenient,"
"The mutation within the Uchiha clan genes was documented as far back as the creation of the village. The chakra of the host begins to mutate and attack itself... as though eating the body inside out. It is, unfortunately, an incurable disease. Adding more chakra to the system only serves to cause further mutation and replication of the disease. Our Hokage worked tirelessly in the weeks she was given to try and find a way to slow down the disease's process, but it wasn't possible."
"How convenient."
"Would you like to elaborate?"
He knew he couldn't rise to the bait. Tsunade had warned him that events like these were, on the surface, about peace and fairness, but underneath it all lingered the selfish desire for anything to hold a grudge against. The Tsuchikage, steepled his fingers and looked around the table at the other Kage.
"The reason none of us were able to seek justice for the acts of Uchiha Sasuke on our villages was because the Hokage took him into the village under an ancient rule written at one of the first Kage Summits. In the event of prominent clan extinction, or the loss of a kekkei-genkai that is vital to the village; the shinobi in question will be cleared of all pending charges outside of their own village- with the proviso that they are to be stripped of all ninja duties, and used only for repopulation of the clan,"
Naruto's heart leapt into his throat but he tried to keep his face blank. He had known Tsunade was forced to find an old rule to make sure no villages could get their hands on Sasuke, but he had no idea the rule suggested it was to use him solely for his bloodline. The Tsuchikage continued, unhindered.
"The Hokage was well aware that should an Uchiha be forced to face his crimes outside of Konohagakure, that village would have access to one of the last Sharingan in all of the shinobi villages. Had Sasuke Uchiha used it to bargain... I'm sure I speak for everyone at this table when I say we would have been more than happy to accommodate him. So, instead of doing the right thing and turning him in to the villages he had ruined in his pursuit of revenge; she claimed to wish to repopulate the Uchiha clan... and then Uchiha Sasuke just so happens to die. Now she doesn't have to worry about the Sharingan falling into any other hands; I'm sure in exchange for his freedom he bargained several of the Uchiha clan documents; and a pesky fly in the eyes of Konoha is quietly taken care of. You are undoubtedly too young to remember, child... but the Uchiha clan has always been nothing but trouble."
"That is enough."
Naruto saw Mei rise from her chair, hands planted firmly on the desk as she stared down at the Tsuchikage.
"Tsunade Senju has proven time and again that she is dedicated to protecting not just her village, but the lives of anyone who asks for her help. Your accusations are unfounded, and clearly rooted in your anger of not being able to secure the Sharingan for your village. Uchiha Sasuke was pardoned by an impartial court of Konoha- the village of his clan for many years- and therefore where he belonged. If you would like to seek reparations from every shinobi who has ever caused harm to your village, I would suggest you start now, it might take you quite a few years. Uzumaki-san has been sent as a representative of the Hokage, and should be treated with the same respect you would show her. I have had many dealings with Tsunade-sama and the shinobi of Konohagakure, and I have seen nothing to suggest that she would stoop as low as to murder one of her own villagers for such ridiculous reasons. Uchiha Sasuke's death was, as Uzumaki-san stated, a terrible and unfortunate situation. I suggest we finish speaking ill of the dead. And if you were hoping to discuss your thoughts surrounding the supposed war, I will happily set your mind at ease. Tsunade is a medic, and I know it runs through her blood in a way her position as Hokage will never be able to match. She wishes for no war; and nor do I. Too many of us have become adults with our hands drenched in blood; only an absolute fool would try to bring it about on purpose," she said pointedly, raising one perfectly arched eyebrow in the direction of the Tsuchikage.
She sat back down and brushed her hair away from her face, a picture of poise and elegance, but with a quiet ferocity Naruto had seen in the eyes of Tsunade and Sakura on many occasions. The Tsuchikage had red spreading across his cheeks and down his neck, but he said nothing more. The hint of a smirk on Gaara's upturned lip caught Naruto's attention, and the other male Kage were shifting awkwardly in their seats.
"Let's take a break."
All but Gaara, Naruto and Mei left the room, their body guards following close behind. Naruto turned to Mei, ready to thank her, but she reached out and grabbed his upper arm.
"Naruto... you are going to be an excellent Hokage one day. Don't ever take anything those men say to heart; they never approved of Tsunade-sama becoming Hokage, and they have never respected me since the day I was given the title of Mizukage. Old men are scared of two things- women who know what they're doing, and young men who know better than they do,"
She nodded to Gaara, whose mouth curled into a soft smile. Naruto wanted to grab Mei in a tight hug, but he didn't want to risk taking a kunai to the face from one of her body guards, so he settled for reaching out and taking her hand.
"Tsunade-sama is a good woman. She would never-"
"I know. And if anyone from today decides to try and take their accusations further, Konoha will have nothing but the support of Kirigakure. The word is changing, Naruto. We don't start wars out of anger and boredom. We don't risk lives of hundreds of good men and women because we cannot satiate our appetite for power."
The knot that had been forming in Naruto's gut since Gaara had warned him about the rumours uncoiled slightly. Things were going to be okay.
Maybe this time they really would be.
"Let us toast to the brilliance of our own youth, and to the youth of those around us!"
Gai was particularly perky this evening. Kakashi looked over the top of his glass of umeshu at Genma, who was nursing his beer with one hand and had his other tangled with Shizune's. Anko was drinking something that smelled like acetone, her face unchanging with every sip. Gai offered them his trademark smile and toasted his beer into the air.
"I don't feel particularly youthful these days; but sure, why not" Genma said, half heartedly raising his glass and draining half of it. Shizune nudged him in the ribs and smiled.
"That was a lovely toast, Gai-san,"
Anko knocked back the rest of her glass and smacked her lips, "Who else is tired of not being allowed out on missions, raise your hand?"
Genma and Kakashi both raised their arms and Shizune clicked her tongue as she sipped her tonic water, "Rules are rules; just be thankful Tsunade-sama can't afford to keep you both in the village for longer. With Kakashi-san out of the mission roster; Naruo-san in Suna, and a bunch of a jounin out on missions, we need all hands on deck,"
Gai perked up at the mention of Kakashi's name and pointed a finger at him, levelled between his eyes. Kakashi sipped his drink.
"Kakashi, it is my pleasure to inform you that you have gained yourself another lifetime rival!"
...oh no. Genma was smirked, and Anko looked like a cat who had eaten a particularly delicious canary. Gai punched the air.
"Lee informed me that you are now a rival in his quest for love!"
Genma choked on his beer, spraying it across the table while Shizune blushed and began trying to clean it, holding up an apologetic hand to the bartender. Anko was as close to purring as a human could get.
"Oh really, Gai? And who are Kakashi and Lee fighting over?"
"His former student, the beautiful spring flower!"
It was Kakashi's turn to choke. The taste of sour plums shooting into the back of his throat and burning his nostrils. Anko was outright cackling now, clutching her sides and wheezing for breath. Shizune was surveying Kakashi with a look he didn't like. When he finally managed to draw breath, he cleared his throat and wiped the droplets of umeshu from his chin.
"Ahh, Gai, you are definitely mistaken. Sakura and I are friends, there is definitely no... love rivalry. Required."
"On the contrary, Kakashi! Lee informs me that he has seen you and Sakura together on many occasions; and that last night the two of you were together on the training ground, holding one another in the twilight. Though I support him in his quest, I have to say, what a romantic gesture,"
No no no. No. Is word about this got back to Tsunade he would end up hung by his toes from the Hokage Monument. Genma was trying to hide his smile behind his drink, but was failing miserably.
"Sakura and I were sparring last night, there was no... holding of any kind. She has been taking care of my ninken for a while, and since I'm stuck in the village w have been seeing more of each other. There is no love rivalry."
There was no denying that Sakura had become a beautiful young woman. Even more than her looks, she was kind, intelligent, and loved with her whole heart. If things had been different; if there hadn't been years between them like a canyon-
He wasn't going to go there. She had been his student, for god's sake.
Gai deflated slightly, but fixed his shoulders and clapped Kakashi on the shoulder, "Well I will assure Lee that he has no reason to view you as a rival. He will be glad to hear it; there are already so many in the village who crave her affection,"
Shizune had relaxed, much to Kakashi's relief. He didn't need anyone thinking he was trying to court his student, least of all the two women who had spent the last several years mentoring her. Anko's cackling had subsided into a soft wheeze and she flicked a tear away from the corner of her eye.
"Speaking of, Hatake, how long has it been?"
She grinned, showing far too much teeth as she did so. The innuendo had been enough for him to know what she meant, but she made a gesture with her fingers just in case he had missed it. Genma snorted into his mug.
"Anko- let's try and keep things clean tonight,"
"I second that," Shizune spoke up, rising from the table and seizing Anko under the arm, "Anko and I are going to get another round. On her."
Gai gave them a thumbs up, accompanied by his trademark smile. Kakashi sank lower into his chair. Coming out tonight had been a bad idea. Genma seemed to sense his thinking and chuckled.
"Ah, we all know it's not a thing. Lee just needs to burn off all that excess energy he's got, he wants a rival like nobody's business,"
"My student has exceptional amounts of energy! He once ran eight hundred laps around the village!"
Don't ask why- don't ask why
"Why?"
Dammit, Genma. Never ask why.
"To prove the never ending strength of a youthful hearth! Would you like to try it, Genma?"
"...I'll pass. Thanks,"
Shizune and Anko returned with several various glasses between them, and Kakashi was relieved at the distraction. He didn't need to be challenged to any rivalries tonight. The easy conversation between the group continued, shifting from mission rosters to the intended home renovations Genma and Shizune were planning.
"I'm busy that day," Kakashi said, "My apologies,"
Shizune giggled, "Kakashi-san we haven't even told you when we will be going it,"
"I will absolutely be busy though, Shizune. My deepest and most sincere apologies. Though Yamato is an excellent hand with renovation, I'm sure he would love to help you,"
"Yamato took my mission to the south village," Genma grouched, "The one time I was going to get a chance to sleep in a nice bed on a mission and not the wet floor of a forest and I didn't even get to go,"
The bitching continued into the night; the crowd of the bar dwindling lower until they were one of the few people left. Anko had worked her way through an entire bottle of the suspicious liquid, and her words were only just beginning to slur together. As was gripping Gai's bicep appreciatively, muttering something about 'endurance' that Kakashi absolutely did not want to hear the rest of. Shizune was gently rubbing the back of a somewhat tipsy Genma's hand, gently reminding him that she refused to heal anything related to hangovers. Gai offered to walk Anko home, shouting about honour and appropriately courting when she leered suggestively at him and he declined her advances. Shizune had Genma by the arm as they left, though he was more than capable of keeping himself upright.
"Ugh, I forgot how much Gai can drink. Where does he keep it all?" Genma mumbled, keeping his head down, his senbon falling from his lips and onto the ground.
"Tsunade-sama wondered the same thing, but I wouldn't let her bring Gai in for any tests. I don't need her figuring out a way to drink more sake,"
Kakashi was only half listening to their discussion. He was still thinking about the earlier conversation, and how Lee had misinterpreted the time he had been spending with Sakura. Admittedly, they were certainly spending much more time together now than they ever had; but there was absolutely not anything between them. She did bring him comfort, however, and it was something he found he had craved. There were few people besides Gai and Genma he felt he could be so open with, and relax so comfortably around. The fact the ninken liked her was only a bonus; there had been many women in his life who had disliked the ninken, and they had hated them in return.
But Sakura wasn't a woman in his life. She was a friend.
"Kakashi? Are you coming up?"
Shizune was holding the door with one hand, Genma trying and failing to look casual as he propped himself up beside the door. Kakashi followed them in and helped Shizune get Genma up the several flights of stairs to their apartment, hearing his friend grunt and grumble as the door swung shut behind him he he promptly landed face first on the couch. Kakashi's own apartment was quiet. He made his way to the bathroom and cupped his hands under the faucet, drinking deeply. He really needed to fix his broken kitchen sink. He would get around to it. He pulled down his mask and scratched absently at the scattered grey stubble starting to grow. Something pink on his balcony caught his eye and he froze, not daring to consider why Sakura would be on his balcony at this hour of the night. Upon closer inspection, however, the pink was a garish ribbon wrapped around a small pink pot no larger than his hand. A spiky cactus with pink flowers was nestled into the dirt, a note tucked under the pot.
Mr. Ukki needed a friend. This is Ms. Shia. Take good care of her. -S
Kakashi looked at the note, and then again at the cactus. He smiled as he set her down beside Mr. Ukki, shaking his head. Sakura would always have her quirks, he assumed. That was what made her so fascinating.
Jiraya cleared the rooftops of Konoha with practiced ease. The gate guards had told him about the attack when he arrived, and he had forced the last of his energy into getting to Tsunade. The Hokage residence was tucked close to the tower, a thin ring of chakra glowing on the ground as he crossed. He smiled at the knowledge that Tsunade hadn't made his chakra signature trigger any kind of alarm, especially after he leaned her out of sake the last time he was here. Her home was dark, and he crept through it, keeping light on his feet. He had expected the guards to alert Tsunade that he had arrived, but maybe he had been faster than their messenger.
"You better have sake,"
A light from the kitchen glared into his eyes and he found Tsunade sitting at the table; her hair unbound and wearing her mint green and baby blue pajamas; looking wholly unthreatening. Her feet were bare, and she hadn't bothered to try and tame the tangled blonde strands of hair that fell into her face.
"Beautiful as ever, my dear,"
Tsunade barely cracked a tired smile as he slid into the chair across from her and performed a release seal on several random items from his pocket. Sake bottles appeared on the table in multitudes, and Tsunade sighed.
"I assume this means I'm not going to like what it is you have to tell me,"
Jiraiya reached for one of the bottles and poured a generous amount into a faded coral sake cup.
"There is definitely a spy in Konoha. I eavesdropped on some Iwa shinobi and they know far too much about the goings on within the village. But interestingly enough, they also know a lot of lies. Its hard enough for me to sort out whats true from what isn't, so no wonder there are rumors flying left and right. What do you know about the gate attack?"
She told him her suspicions; a planned attack to test Sakura's skills, Kakashi's missing file, the dead villager. Jiraiya saw her shoulders get heavier with each block of information and he refilled her cup before she had even drained it.
"Well, your theory works with my theory. Rumors in Earth Country tell me Kakashi is losing his vision, which we know isn't true, but they have no way of knowing. If someone was going to make a move for the Sharingan, they don't know if it's even worth trying to take. But if they managed to get hold of his medical file, even though there is minimal information about the Sharingan, it will tell them when he last had a checkup, and whether or not anything was done to the eye. I think the kidnapping was a set up. They roughed up his eye to make sure you took a good look at it and gave it the all clear, and then they took his medical records to make sure they weren't going to end up with a defective eye,"
"But why kidnap him? Why not just get the jump on him and damage the eye?"
"Too obvious. Stage it well enough to make it seem like a failed operation, then swoop in later to get their information. By attacking him inside the treaty zone, they made people anxious. Half of the civilian villages along the border are terrified, and terrified people will be easy to manipulate. That's another part of what you need to know. Seems as though most of Earth is under the impression you're going to attack at any moment and try and overthrow the Tsuchikage,"
Tsunade's eyes widened, "What? Why would I?"
"Nobody seemed to know the answer to that, but it seems like we are just wrapped up in one section of a much larger web. Someone is planting seeds in people's mind; trying to set you, and by extension, Konoha, up. Someone wants to get their hands on Kakashi's Sharingan eye. I'd bet a lot on that being the same person,"
Tsunade rested her head in her hands and sighed heavily.
"I'm not drunk enough for this, Jiraiya,"
He held out another bottle and smiled sadly.
"We have all night, my dear,"