Four days later, 1247Hrs, Ino's Funeral:
Sasuke hated funerals. Before this one he had only been to his clan's mass service but he hated that one too. He didn't believe in gods or the existence of an afterlife like the fire temple monk that he was currently having a hard time listening to. Once you were gone, you were gone, body reclaimed by the earth and your soul wiped from existence. All that was left was your friends and family, your legacy.
That's why he was here instead of at the memorial stone mourning in private. All these people: Ino's clan head father who was trying to look strong, her mother, who was way past that and was bawling hysterically. Her childhood friends, Sakura who was looking at Naruto like Ino's death was his fault, a silently crying Shikamaru and a depressed looking Choji who looked like he had lost some weight, Sasuke had let them all down. His arrogance let something precious slip away from their lives and at the very least he owed it to them to show his face.
Tears fell from his eyes, turned bloody by the subconscious activation of his Mangekyō that seemed to be not only feeding on his chakra but on his guilt as well. Kakashi, who was ambushed by a group of Taki-nin on his way back to Konoha and forced to miss the previous days wake, put a hand on his shoulder at an attempt at reassurance. He had shared how he lost his teammates with the young Uchiha as soon as he got to the village. Sasuke knew that his sensei had already been where he was but that knowledge didn't make his gesture any more effective.
Sasuke was brought out of his thoughts by the mourners standing up and realized that it was time for everyone to say there final goodbyes so after deactivating his dojutsu he stood up as well. The Yamanaka clan went first. Walking by Ino's open casket and saying things like "I'll miss you" and "See you again someday" with the occasional member bending down to kiss her on the cheek.
The remainder of team 7 was the next to approach the coffin with Naruto, who had been sitting on the other side of Sasuke, being the first of them to reach her. As he looked at her lifeless body it was as if something inside him broke and although he didn't whimper, he shed tears for the first time that day. "I'm sorry" he managed to choke out as he lightly touched her cool hand with his and walked outside the clan's temple.
"This is it, the last time I'll see her" Sasuke thought as he looked down. She looked pale and a little stiff but beautiful in her light make-up, white kimono and crown of flowers. Sasuke gave a sad smile at this; she had always talked of becoming a ninja princess during their early academy days. He had always tried to tune her out back then but he did remember that. As he took in her appearance as a whole he felt that something was off.
This wasn't what his friend was. She wasn't some delicate princess. She was a skilled and proud kunoichi and if he had been a better teammate she would have achieved her dream of reaching S-class. Hell, she probably would have worn down the dobe and married him or something. Reaching inside his coat pocket he pulled out the only one of Ino's hatchets that had been recovered and placed it under her hands making her look more like the kunoichi he had known.
Despite not believing she could still hear him he took a steadying breath and spoke to her one last time. "I'm sorry I was too caught up in my own crap to help you do it but I promise…I promise that one day I'll train one of your clanswomen and help her achieve your dream"
Not able to take being there anymore Sasuke left the temple and looked up at the stormy sky right as the day's first few drops of rain started to fall. "Why does it always rain at these things?" he asked himself before leaving in a shunshin.
Konoha Hospital, 1633Hrs:
Naruto sat in Kichida's office waiting to hear the results of the doctor's tests. Danzo had forbade him from doing any serious training and had assigned two Root-nin to monitor him for any 'suspicious' activity. Without training or missions to get his mind off of things Naruto had spent the last four days thinking of how he could have saved Ino. Sasuke seemed determined to take all the blame for himself but Naruto knew that he had a hand (probably the larger one) in her death as well.
Through Danzo's connections Naruto was able to obtain battle reports from most of the team and squad leaders who fought at the 'Battle for FOB Tobirama'. It turned out that Rotsuchi hadn't been seen anywhere else on the battle field which meant that instead of acting as a general combatant he was still trying to assassinate Naruto and Ino died because of it.
It was for this reason that Naruto marched into Kichida's office and demanded that his final examinations be done immediately. Someone in Konoha with the right connections was trying to get him killed and he planned on finding out who. Naruto was pulled from his thoughts as Kichida walked into his office and handed him a folder. Closing the door the doctor/scientist/seal master went through 14 hand signs and placed a hand on the right side of the door frame. A glowing, green seal array made of characters that Naruto had never seen before spread over the walls, windows, ceiling and floor before dimming into a dark green color.
"Now we can speak openly" Kichida said before walking across the room and sitting down. "I've run just about every test I can think of. While there is evidence that Kabuto took some genetic samples and two of your anti-genjutsu seals I don't believe he actually did anything else to you. That folder is for Danzo-sama, it contains my findings, details of yesterday's procedure to successfully replace your AG seals and my recommendation for your RTD (return to duty)"
"Do you think that Kabuto and Orochimaru will be able to reverse engineer the seals?" Naruto asked.
"I doubt it. There are a number of fail safes incorporated into the seals, some of which I helped design. Danzo-sama made sure that no one person on the team that designed them would know how to disable all the fail safes minimizing the chance of a security breach"
"Good, good. I've been using shadow clones to study Fuinjutsu in my spare time for the last month or so and I've never seen any of these characters in any of the books or scrolls that I've read" Naruto said while looking around the room.
"That's because they were created by my grandmother so that her seals would be harder for enemy nin to decipher" Kichida stated.
"So sealing has been in your family for generations?" Naruto asked.
"Hai, my grandmother was actually from Uzushiogakure"
"Was she an Uzumaki?" Naruto asked wondering if he was somehow related to the impressive man before him.
"According to my father she was an orphan but I do remember him saying that she had red hair…" Kichida started before being interrupted by his watch alarm going off.
"Ah, I'm sorry but I have to start making my rounds" Kichida said before standing up to leave.
"Before you go, I was wondering if you would maybe take me on as an apprentice or maybe suggest someone who can. Even with the use of shadow clones trying to learn on my own has been…difficult"
Kichida stopped and thought to himself for a moment before speaking. "With the war going I can't think of anyone who'll be able to teach you full time. But you have a summoning contract from the Land of Whirlpools right?" Kichida asked, continuing at Naruto's nod. "Well there you go, if I were you I'd ask one of your older summons for help" Kichida recommended making Naruto feel stupid for not thinking of that himself.
War council chamber, 1723Hrs:
Despite entering the chamber 7 minutes before the war council meeting was scheduled to begin Danzo was one of the last to arrive. Taking a seat beside Homura he only had to wait two more minutes for the Hokage and Shikaku Nara to walk in together and Hiruzen's call to order. "There's no way to soften the blow so I'll just say it, 40 minutes ago I received a message from Jiraiya saying that the Wind Daimyo has been assassinated" Hiruzen stated his voice grave. Several of the clan heads/ representatives gasped at this, the Wind Daimyo was a friend of Konoha and was the glue that held their alliance to Sunagakure together.
"How could this happen? Didn't we send a team of our Anbu to guard the Wind Daimyo after he dismissed his regular gaurds?" Hiashi Hyuga asked worried about his late wife's nephew who was assigned to the mission.
"According Jiraiya-sama's report he went to the Daimyo's safe house to ask for his help in convincing the Kazekage to aid us in the war. When he arrived he saw the safe house had been destroyed in an explosion and Deidara of the Explosion release and Sasori of the Red Sand were advancing on the only surviving Anbu. Jiraiya-sama attacked the two shinobi who, after recognizing him, managed to escape on a giant clay bird." Shikaku explained.
"Deidara of the Explosion release and Sasori of the Red Sand, aren't they the members of Akatsuki that were hired by Iwa to attack FOB Tobirama? Bo Akimichi (who was filling in for his clan head nephew who was currently in the field) asked. "Hai" Shikaku answered. "Why would Iwa kill the Wind Daimyo? Won't the Kazekage have to declare war on them now?" Hiroto Haruno, who was the only civilian on the council and the new economic adviser to the Hokage after his predecessor's recent death asked.
"The Kazekage is a ruthless man who resented the late Wind Daimyo for outsourcing mission requests from the Land of Wind to us. He also harbors a deep hatred for the leaf due to his older brother being killed by the White Fang. It's possible that had a hand in this." Koharu theorized.
Nodding Hiruzen spoke again "I thought that something like this could happen which is why the Fire Daimyo and I began having talks with the Lightning Daimyo and the Raikage as soon as we discovered Iwa was considering a treaty with Takigakure".
"You can't seriously be considering drafting a treaty with Kumo! Every time Konoha has tried in the past we've been met with nothing but treachery" Hiashi reminded, his hands clinched into fists and trembling with suppressed anger.
"I understand your reservations about Kumo Haishi but consider our position. With Taki's unsuspected level of ninja and resources, the Cerberus drug and Iwa's use of Ame's rebel group Akatsuki, which has managed to recruit at least 3 S-class shinobi and now Suna's questionable motives we don't have many other options left. We need help or we won't survive" The Hokage reminded everyone.
"It's a good move" Shikaku said drawing everyone's attention. "We know that the Cerberus drug is being made in the Land of the Sea, transported across the ocean and smuggled through the Land of Hot Water and the Land of Rice Fields to Taki. The spec-ops FOB we placed in Rice Field country has only had… mixed results at stopping the drug from getting to the mercs and missing-nin. If Lightning Country were to use their naval force, a resource that we lack, to stop the shipments from ever reaching the mainland then our chances of surviving this war go up by 33%"
"Kumo has been allies with Iwa for the last, what…15 years? Why break that alliance now and join up with us when we're the underdog in this conflict?" Tsume Inuzaka (who had just returned from the field and was sporting some nasty looking burn marks on the left side of her neck and jaw) asked.
"According to the new Raikage, in the last few years Iwa has been caught trying to increase the number of its intelligence personnel in the Land of Lightning. In addition he confirmed what we already knew about the Earth Daimyo increasing taxes on goods heading to Lightning country. As for our current disadvantage in the war, the Raikage spoke of our villages tendency to produce what he called 'super ninja' when our backs were up against the wall. He also spoke of wanting to meet Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha" Hiruzen answered.
"Why so he can kidnap them?" Hiashi spat.
"No, he's heard of their power and teamwork and would like to meet them himself. He acknowledged that, due to his predecessors actions, we have a right to mistrust him so instead of sending a spokesman he said that he'd come to discuss the terms of the treaty himself. He's even agreed to leave the bulk of his escorts outside of the village and enter with just two gaurds" Hiruzen informed gaining looks of disbelief from most of the council.
"He'd risk that?" Bo asked incredulously.
"With Suna's apparent intent to align its self with Iwa and Taki, and Kiri's weakened state after years of civil war he doesn't have a choice. If we fall, Iwa will most likely turn its attention to its next biggest threat, Kumo" Danzo said speaking up for the first time.
"Because of this matter's sensitive nature I'd like to put it up for vote. All for inviting the Raikage to discuss a treaty raise your right hand" Hiruzen instructed surprised that everyone even Hiashi raised his hand. "Then it's decided, now does anyone else wish to bring up any pressing issues before we get into our regular topics?" Hiruzen asked, acknowledging Koharu after she raised her hand. "I believe we should reevaluate the skill levels of the remaining members of team 7 and endeavor increase young Uzumaki's control of the Kyuubi's chakra."
"You want to make it…I mean him even stronger?" 60 year old Inoma Yamanaka who was filling in for her son asked.
"Of course, it's confirmed that Taki's Jinchūriki has control of five tails worth of her bijuu's chakra, meaning that she can utilize 71% of its total power with losing control of herself. The most Uzumaki-san has so far been seen using is two, add that to Suna's Jinchūriki and the fact that Iwa possesses two Jinchūriki of their own and it is imperative that we make sure that ours is ready to face them. We should also make sure to aid Uchiha-san in his mastery of the Sharingan since we know that Sharingan based Genjutsu can affect the various kinds of bijuu" Homura elaborated.
"The boy is skilled but still young, is he ready to start training with the Kyuubi's power? Can his still developing body handle the strain?" Shikuro Aburame, another elderly clan head fill-in asked.
"While its unknown if Uzumaki-san can handle the strain now, maybe after six months of mental conditioning and Anbu level training at the pit Uzumaki-san might be able to start training with his burdens power. We should have Kakashi evaluate both of his remaining students, one on one and see if they are ready to enter Anbu. We're not getting as much out of them now as we could if we sharpened their skills just a little bit more" Danzo suggested.
"I agree, plus it might be better to take the Uzumaki piece off the board for a while since he just killed the Tsuchikage's son and Akatsuki seems interested in capturing him" Shikaku stated getting nods of agreement from all of the council members but one. Something that Danzo noticed instantly.
"In that case I'll give Kakashi the order first thing tomorrow morning. Now let's move on to this week's financial report…
2103Hrs Uchiha compound:
Sasuke sat on the roof his grandfather's house thinking about Orochimaru's offer with the snake's scroll set to explode in 26 hours. He had finally made up his mind and decided that he didn't want anything to do with the snake sannin. Anything that man brought back would be some dark, twisted version of his friend and he couldn't dishonor her memory by helping to bring it into the world.
As for Itachi, while Sasuke knew that he still had a long way to go before he could challenge his brother he knew that he was on the right track. Naruto was the key. He was only as strong as he was because of his friendship/rivalry with Naruto. Plus Itachi seemed to be a part of this group that wanted to capture the blond so if he stuck around him he would eventually run into Itachi anyway.
He was about to burn the scroll when he felt four bursts of unfamiliar chakra surround him on the corners of the roof. Pocketing the scroll and activating his Sharingan Sasuke stood up and calmly brushed off his shorts before speaking. "Who are you guys supposed to be?" Sasuke asked the odd looking shinobi. "We're the Sound Four you piece of garbage" the grey haired one in make-up answered.
"What do you want?" Sasuke asked having already decided on 'flight' if something jumped off.
"Our orders were to watch you and if you made the foolish decision to reject our lord's offer we were to 'persuade' you to reconsider" Sakon stated nodding to Kidōmaru who slid into a fighting stance and Tayuya who took out a flute and started playing an entrancing melody. It was only when she tried ensnaring the young Uchiha that the sound four's Genjutsu mistress noticed that something was wrong.
"The little shithead's already put us in a Genjutsu! Release!" She shouted causing the Sasuke in front of them to shimmer into nothingness revealing a large, out of place, roof tile. "Damn it spread out and find him" Sakon yelled angrily.
Sasuke was running as fast as he could for the police station which was just a block outside of his clan's compound. As he approached the compounds northern gate he was able to see a wall of chakra in front of it. Channeling more chakra to his doujutsu he saw that a barrier had been put up and he couldn't leave this way.
As he turned around he came face to face with the red head Genjutsu user. Or at least that's what she wanted him to believe. "Release!" Sasuke yelled out, the Tayuya in front of him vanishing. Sasuke saw slight movement with his peripheral vision and chucked a kunai at the blurry image causing the real Tayuya to deflect the kunai with her battle flute.
"You fucktard! You chipped it!" Tayuya yelled furiously.
Since escape seemed to no longer be an option Sasuke charged the red haired kunoichi, closing the distance between them in seconds. Tayuya tried to back up but the Uchiha's speed was too much and she realized that she would have to step things up if she wanted to complete her mission so after taking a deep breath, Tayuya activated the first level of her curse mark.
Sasuke aimed for the red heads jaw and threw one of the strongest right crosses he had ever executed only for it to be stopped by an x-block. Spinning on the ball of his left foot the young Uchiha tried to sweep his opponents legs but she had already channeled chakra to her feet, using it to stick to the ground. Tayuya attempted to hit Sasuke with a right cross of her own but instead of blocking he leaned forward, down and to the right, moving his head just enough to avoid Tayuya's punch while simultaneously firing a lightning fast left jab.
The jab apparently shook the kunoichi's concentration because she lost her chakra enhanced grip on the ground and took a couple steps back. It was on her second step that she was rocked by a roundhouse kick that knocked her down and nearly rendered her unconscious. "No wonder lord Orochimaru wants this kid. His speed and strength are equal to mine even with the first level of the curse seal activated" Tayuya thought to herself as Sasuke's heel come plummeting at her head. Forming the half ram seal Tayuya performed a substitution with an old, mildewing lawn chair right before her face was turned into paste. However Sasuke's Sharingan had predicted her escape and as soon as she landed in her new position her opponent exited a shunshin with his right arm cocked back ready to deliver what was sure to be a devastating attack.
As he moved to unleash the same chakra enhanced haymaker that dropped his last female opponent he felt his forearm wrapped up in some kind of sticky webbing and jerked back, the motion painfully dislocating his arm. Turning to his right he saw the four armed boy who now had markings similar to the kunoichi's holding the webbing in his hands. "Tayuya! Do it now!" Kidōmaru yelled knowing that they didn't have long before someone sensed their chakra output and came running.
He was proven right when his webbing was cut by a wind chakra enhanced short sword. "Looks like I'm finally saving you for a change teme" Naruto said after freeing his teammate, prompting Tayuya to jump back at his sudden appearance.
"There are two more in the compound" Sasuke warned through gritted teeth.
"In that case we should hurry and kill these two" Naruto said preparing to attack Kidōmaru.
"To late dipshit!" Tayuya yelled right before Sakon and Jirōbō appeared behind Sasuke and Naruto via shunshins of their own.
"How did you get past that barrier!?" Sakon demanded.
"Cut my way through" Naruto answered.
"No wind blade could've cut though one of my…"
"I used a torch" Naruto said planting his sword in the ground.
"A what? You.."
"Multi-Shadow clone Jutsu!" Naruto yelled spawning 50 clones, half of which were henged to look like Sasuke. "I sent… a couple…shadow clones…for help…before I…carved my…way in here. You guys…think you…can find…the real…us before…the Anbu…show up?" The 'Narutos' asked, a different clone saying every couple of words.
"You mother…" Tayuya started but was cut off by Kidōmaru. "Sakon we're out of time, if we don't leave now we won't leave at all!"
"Aahggr, fine! Let's go" Sakon ordered before addressing Naruto with an expression of pure hatred on his face. "Next time we meet I'll be sure to take my time killing you" and with that the Sound Four vanished in four puffs of smoke.
"You four stick around. The rest of you spread out and make sure they really left the area" the real Naruto ordered his clones as he popped Sasuke's arm back into its socket. "So what was that about?" Naruto asked. As Sasuke was about to explain what happened the barrier faded out of existence and two squads of Anbu who were clad in black cloaks with four buttons on the front as opposed to the normal, button less beige color cloaks arrived.
"Where are they Naruto?" Mantis asked making Sasuke raise an eyebrow at the familiar way the Anbu spoke to his friend.
"They ran away. There are four of them, these four shadow clones will lead you in the direction they left in as well as henge into them so you know who to look for" Naruto said as his clones transformed. "Alright, 1 squad stay here and form a defensive perimeter. 2nd squad with me!" Mantis said before nodding to and following the fake sound four who left in shunshins.
"Uchiha-san, Uzumaki-san it would be best if you went inside and stayed in the same building for the night." A young sounding male Anbu in a spider mask suggested. Sasuke nodded and lead the Anbu squad to his house. The Anbu took positions outside and atop of his home while Naruto and an Anbu in an elephant mask went inside with him. The Anbu left to make sure the house was secure while Naruto and Sasuke sat down. "So you probably want me to tell you what that was all about huh?" Sasuke asked only to be answered by the elephant masked Anbu who had returned.
"Hai Uchiha-san, we do" the man said removing his mask and revealing his elderly, bandaged face.
A/N: I'd like to thank SalemTheSpeakerOfTruth for the advice. Old habits die hard but I promise to work on the jumbled paragraph thing. I'm thinking about renaming this story, don't have a clue what its gonna be though. Next update Mar-27... guaranteed.