During the month-long break, Naruto trained with Jiraiya and Zetsu. Jiraiya continued teaching the boy fuinjutsu and decided to teach him the first step to mastering the Rasengan, one of the Yondaime Hokage's signature techniques. Zetsu trained him in taijutsu and ninjutsu, and taught him a single Kamiton jutsu: Green Dragon's Flight, which allowed Naruto to form wings of chakra on his back and fly. In Konoha, umbrellas became high in demand and quickly sold out.
Kabuto was found dead on the final day of the break. Nobody knows who his murderer was. Whoever they were, they certainly held no love for Kabuto, judging by the fact that he is no more than a pile red mush.
They were only able to identify the body after running some DNA tests. The Hokage himself oversaw the results.
He was worried. Not only because of the still-unknown killer, but because of what Danzo found. It seemed that Kabuto was a fan of snakes, if his letters to and from Orochimaru mean anything. The Hokage was shocked at the information those letters contained.
But he was also shocked at the supposedly second victim of Kabuto's killer...well, more like first victim. While strolling the Forest of Death, the same day Kabuto was discovered, Tokubetsu Jonin Anko Mitarashi discovered the remains of her former sensei's body...parts.
Both died such horrific deaths in the eyes of many. Traitors or not, even executions weren't this gruesome. The strangest part, however, was not the deaths themselves, but the apparent lack of a struggle in both areas the body was found. There were no signs of fighting. Not even any chakra residue was left behind. It was if the killer simply thought them to be dead and their thoughts came true.
The possibilities scared Hiruzen. Even Danzo was worried. So, by vote of the council, a silent manhunt will commence during the FInal Chunin Exam. Silent because it would do no good to have everyone panic.
Onto the matter of Kabuto's letters. It made no sense. Someone who worked under a man as tricky as Orochimaru wouldn't leave such important papers out in the open. Therefore they must have been planted. The only problem was that only Kabuto's and his master's fingerprints were found on the letters.
Aside from that mystery, the information on those letters was, again, shocking. Hiruzen never thought that they would be betrayed by their ally, Suna. And concerning Otogakure? Danzo went straight to work in his and Jiraiya's spy networks.
ROOT and ANBU will have much on their plates during the upcoming exam.
Akatsuki, too, has much to do. Hidan and Kakuzu are out collecting bounties as usual. Itachi is staying at their current base to rest, Kisame at his side. Nagato is out testing his new mobility while his longtime friends, Yahiko and Konan, watch over him for safety. Meanwhile, Deidara and Sasori bicker over whose art is 'true art'.
And Zetsu has news, "The snake and his snakelet have perished."
Tobi tilts his head and inquires, "Oh? How?"
"In the immortal words of our dear bomber: 'Art is an explosion!'"
"*Chuckles* That's one way to make sure they stay dead."
"I also exposed their plans to Konoha."
"Good. We need Konoha intact for our future alliance. One cannot rebuild an entire village alone. Well, most can't, including us."
"Unfortunately."
"But that's why we need alliances with Suna and Konoha. We also need the Jinchuriki for protection and to protect. I know Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko are tired of the pain this world has caused, not only their pain, but the pain of others, and I daresay that Jinchuriki experience the worst pain of all."
"To be abused, starved, ostracized, and even ignored for a destiny initiated by the very leader of their village. I'm surprised Naruto hasn't gone mad. I'm even more surprised that Yagura is the only one who is mad."
Tobi tilted his head downwards slightly, "Have you heard of the Hachibi Jinchuriki?"
Both men shared a laugh.
Hikariyami reads the letters, sitting comfortably in the Hokage's chair. Said leader stood at the door. Finishing his reading, Hikari gets up and leaves the building. As he shuts the door to Ji's and his apartment room, time resumes.
"Find anything?", the deity asks.
Hikari smirks, "Nothing that we don't already know."
"Thankfully." The small salamander begins morphing into a human. The person is old, with wrinkles all over his face. A black robe hides a hunched body. Blue eyes peer at the once-dead immortal, and red hair falls all the way to the old man's back in a long ponytail.
Hikari stares at Ji's disguise, "Talk about subtlety."
"It is necessary. This way if we get caught, people will have a small understanding of the kidnapping."
"I suppose pretending to be an Uzumaki would help our chances."
"They will understand an Uzumaki and Senju more than a Senju and a salamander. Besides, we don't want them to think that you're the next Hanzo."
"I suppose that's good reasoning."
"Deteriorating my mind may be, but an idiot I am not."
A/N: It's short, but it sets up the next chapter /(.^.)\
Also, I'm lazy, so sorry for making you wait :T
