Hello all! I came back a lot sooner than planned with this chapter so I hope that pleases you. A couple of reviews I had planned to get back to last time and forgot about.
PutPutJunior: I wanted to do something different from having the Sandaime be that grandfatherly figure, Naruto will have pressure put on him but it will be from less expected characters.
kmackyd: They do wear masks outside of the base but only really in the village as most get sent out to go undercover, I noticed in Canon that Root don't really wear masks or uniform so I wanted to introduce the mask thing in but I clearly need to work on being clear if they're wearing them or not. Most the time they are not though.
Thanks to everyone again, now I should warn you that the story splits into 2 (for me anyway) from here on as I have written bits of future chapters that happen differently depending on the outcomes from several things started in these chapters. So I'm keen to get your thoughts to help me decide which route to take from here on out. Enjoy!
The village was in pandemonium as the news of the Sandaime's demise spread like wildfire across Fire Country. Amidst the panic in the streets with Konohans rushing around preparing for the festival in Sarutobi Hiruzen's honour, Hatake Kakashi's mind was detached from his surroundings as he strolled distractedly down a busy main road with his hands stuffed in his pockets.
He had not gone to sleep after the emergency lock down the previous night, not when he finally felt he had figured out the enigma that was Namikaze Naruto.
Minato-sensei's son was a servant of Shimura Danzō. Kakashi had failed once more.
Small things started to add up if Kakashi imagined Naruto was a secret Root shinobi and the revelation was all the more terrifying if he imagined Naruto was the masked red-head Tatsuru. That would make him more than just a powerful pawn in Danzō's ranks, it would make him a high-ranking officer with a great deal of influence over the operatives in the Foundation and near unrestricted access to sensitive village information.
Dangerous. That's what it would make him.
He was startled out of his thoughts as he walked straight into a woman wearing a long flowing red kimono and carrying a basket filled with flowers. She smiled apologetically at him and was about to apologise profusely before he lifted his hand to silence her.
"Forgive me ma'am, I should have been watching where I was going." Nodding politely to the woman, he continued on his way once more, his mind working at double it's regular speed.
He cast his mind back to a time when Tatsuru had come up in conversation with some of his old Anbu comrades and one thing stuck out in particular; Tatsuru always seemed to know more than he let on and more than they were aware of themselves whenever they had come into contact with him. He was clearly in Danzō's particularly small trust circle and had been granted a great deal of freedom.
Trust circle.. trust.. The silver-haired man spun round to see the woman he had bumped into a moment ago just as she disappeared down another street but it was the red of her skirt that had jolted his memory. He remembered his own short time in the Foundation and the near omnipresence of a red-headed woman by the name of "Houou" that was Danzō's second-in-command.
He had never seen her face before as she always oversaw his training from the shadows of the dojo or had on her mask but he would always remember her blood-red hair as it swayed behind her, reminding him greatly of his sensei's wife Kushina.
The woman was nothing like Kushina-nee though, where sensei's wife had been fiery and full of cheerfulness, this Houou had been more like a dormant volcano- cold and imposing but ready to explode at any moment. Tenzō had mentioned not long after switching sides that she was a valuable pawn to Danzō and oversaw the development of the War Hawk's favourite recruits.
Had she trained Naruto then? Danzō would have covered his association with the village Jinchūriki very carefully but if he could link Naruto to Houou somehow then he would have his proof of the boy's true allegiance.
Information. Hatake Kakashi was no fool so he knew not to approach the boy directly, it was all about asking the right questions to the right people and he knew just where to start.
He was done with constantly failing. It was high time he got his head back in the game.
"Many in the village suspect foul play and I doubt the suspicious whispers will die down any time soon."
Hashimoto Noriyuki was an old war veteran that sat on the General Council, he was one of few that still believed in the old ways of running a village and would often side with Shimura Danzō on village matters, despite the fact that he was a good friend of the Sandaime's.
His mind had always worked a lot faster than his body though, so when Shimura Danzō had visited him some 7 years ago with a new favourite he had surmised very quickly that it was the Kyūbi Jinchūriki in disguise. As these things go, he had warmed up to the boy very quickly and they often held long political discussions when the young agent visited him for tea and Shōgi every now and then.
Today, however, he sipped his tea silently and stared on dispassionately as the Namikaze heir stretched out on the futon opposite him and stared up at the ceiling. Naruto had greeted the man politely upon his arrival and then gone on to spend the next half an hour staring at the artwork on the ceiling, which detailed the great conflict between the Hashimoto and Senju clans that ended in a truce being made as they cast aside their bad blood and united for a better cause.
"Am I to assume that the Sandaime's untimely death is the result of internal conflict?" The astute old man tried, not reacting as the ice cold gaze of Namikaze Naruto turned slowly to meet his own.
"Assume as you will old man, for all the difference it will make." The blonde drawled out disinterestedly before turning his attention back to the ceiling.
Noriyuki's weathered features lit up at the response and his low chuckle brought a slight warmth to the room as he stood up and begun clearing away the empty teacups on the coffee table.
"Oh how you would have flourished back during the golden years. Why have you come here today, my child, if not to bring company to a lonely old man?" He enquired whilst heading towards the kitchen at a sprightly pace for a man his age.
Naruto did not turn to face him this time as he gave a short response.
"Peace." He whispered quietly, although Noriyuki caught the answer nonetheless.
"Ah, peace. I remember a time during the First Shinobi World War when we all believed that peace was our one true goal, but as time went on those of us that had seen the worst of the war realised that peace could not satisfy our deep-rooted lust for conflict. And so the Second Shinobi World War came about. What strange beings we are, shinobi. "
He was met with silence from the tea room.
"Over time we realise that we must adapt to change and so our traditions evolve, new laws are made and new breeds of shinobi are born and amongst them a new leader. The time has come in Konoha once more for a leader to arise from the army of followers. How then will things change for the next generation?"
Silence.
"Rumour amongst the higher echelons is that Senju Tsunade is the top candidate for the position of Godaime Hokage."
"WHAT!?" The entire house shook as the blonde leapt up from his seat and burst into the kitchen in an impressively short amount of time, causing Noriyuki to drop a teacup into the sink that thankfully did not smash.
"Tell me that is some sort of joke." His eyes were a hard blue as he stared into the startled old man's deep green eyes.
Noriyuki turned away from the riled up blonde to dry a saucer as he responded calmly, a wide smirk adorning his face.
"Why are you so surprised? She's one of the Sannin and does not have the same outside duties that Jiraiya has to the village. You know that well Naruto."
"What I know is that she is a pathetic drunk that was wrongly permitted to abandon her village in order to spend her nights gambling away the Senju fortune and crying herself to sleep."
The war veteran nodded along in agreement to the boy's words but was still quick to jump to Senju Tsunade's defence.
"Indeed, but she is an accomplished medic nin-"
"-With a phobia of blood."
He tried to ignore the boy's thoroughly unimpressed look.
"Plus she has a great deal of familiarity with war-
"-With an ongoing recovery period that started before I was born!"
"She has an inhumane strength-"
"-That has been wasted on gambling house drunks for the past 2 decades!"
Noriyuki made his way back to the tea room and settled into the futon as he beckoned for Naruto to join him, sighing when the boy shook his head and opted to lean against the frame of the door and stare impassively at him instead.
"Frankly, there aren't that many options available to us Naruto and the Sandaime did not choose a second successor. It boils down to her or Jiraiya and Jiraiya has a spy network to run."
He turned around to see Naruto with his head in his hands and his blonde locks being grasped tightly in his fingers. It shook him slightly when the Root agents' face shot up suddenly to pin him with a sharp and calculative look.
"What about the Jounin vote? The Jounin all have to agree on a candidate to back amongst themselves, they can't have chosen Tsunade!?" His voice held a disgusted tone to it as the kunoichi's name rolled off of his tongue.
Naruto watched impatiently as Noriyuki stroked his chin in thought.
"Last I heard the votes were still coming in and were not showing an immediately obvious winner."
As he blinked he missed the blonde vanishing from the room via the Hiraishin.
"Hehehe I do enjoy our talks Namikaze Naruto, what a fascinating Hokage you will become one day. I can only hope I live to see the day you sit the seat of power."
Tenzō was impassive as he listened to his senpai explain his suspicions about the Yondaime's son, his curiosity growing as the man went on to mention a connection to the Foundation and by the time Kakashi reached the part where he suspected Naruto of being Tatsuru, Tenzō had leapt to his feet in shock and grabbed the man's Jounin vest to pull him in closer and stare intently into his eyes.
"We have to do something! Yondaime-sama's son has been corrupted by that vile Danzō!"
Kakashi sighed as he wrenched the man's fist from his clothes and took a step back, not comfortable with having anyone get so close to him, though he did not berate Tenzō as the man had always stuck close to him in Anbu.
"Yes but we have to be careful Tenzō! We do not know how far Danzō has infiltrated the Anbu forces and with the Sandaime gone the list of people we can completely trust is disturbingly short. At the moment I think the only other person we should clue in is Jiraiya-sama. I trust Gai but he isn't exactly discreet and doesn't have any connection to Anbu anyway so would be of little to no use to us. No, the less people that know the better."
Tenzō nodded along in agreement with the plan but his tone seemed hopeless as he whispered to his senpai.
"Is there no one else in Anbu that we can trust? Truly senpai?"
Kakashi put a hand on the man's shoulder as he looked him dead in the eye and uttered the truth they had all been trying to ignore for a long time.
"No. Anyone could be Root at this point, you're the only Anbu I would gamble my life on not being one of them."
Tenzō's features went from deflated to determined in an instant.
"You can count on me Kakashi-senpai, we will rescue Yondaime-sama's son from that rat's clutches or die trying."
Kakashi nodded seriously and turned to look out the window.
"Right, we start straight away. There's someone I need to question and here's what I want you to do.."
The Sarutobi clan, the entire order of War Veterans, most of the General Council, a sizeable number of Anbu, Jiraiya & Tsunade, Naruto and his team and several other people of less note. The Sandaime's funeral was a private affair and the young shinobi felt as though he was being suffocated by the sentiment of love and longing that hung in the air amidst those gathered to bid farewell to their beloved Hokage.
He did not listen to the speeches as he glanced around discreetly to observe the attendees, he had thought he would feel something when he laid eyes on the Sandaime's immediate family but he felt nothing as he watched the tears roll down young Konohamaru's face, as he could see regret spread across Asuma's features and he listened to the pained crying of the Sandaime's civilian daughter Hanae.
He noted that his master was not present with the rest of the council and had to fight off a smirk from reaching his lips, that man was cold to the bitter end. He wouldn't even stand by the Sandaime when the man was 6 feet under, busying himself with village affairs as usual.
"You've gotta give him points for consistency at least."
"Ah, for all my master's flaws I can't help but respect him in that he knows who he is and what he stands for, he will hold onto his beliefs til his dying breath and beyond."
"I can believe that. Moving on, yet again you have failed to consider all the repercussions of your actions and could end up with a drunk running your precious Konoha within the next couple days. What's your next move kid?"
Naruto shot the Kyūbi a dirty look as he stepped into his mindscape and settled into a meditative position in front of the nine-tailed fox demon.
"I'm hardly in a position to influence the choice of the next Hokage, unless you are suggesting I try and kill Senju Tsunade and further hamper Konoha's strength? Not that she's bloody contributing to our military anyway." The last part was grit out in an annoyed tone as he snapped open his eyes to stare into Kurama's red pair, they both knew it was not a viable option.
"That would be suicide. Still, she couldn't be any worse than the Jounin vote." At this point the fox started to snigger amusedly to the point that Naruto gave him one last look of loathing before fading out of the mindscape.
Returning to his outer senses, he looked up with narrowed eyes at the "Jounin Preference" for Hokage, Hatake Kakashi,
It was ludicrous. Who in their right mind would want a man that would probably be late to his own funeral running a military village!? On top of that, he had been slacking off in his training for several years, was not very popular amongst the villagers and spent all his spare time (and most of his on duty time) reading porn. Naruto would not acknowledge him as a leader, they would have to kill him for treason.
"How are you holding up Naruto? I know Sandaime-sama was the only real guiding figure you had in your life for many years, you must be feeling quite lost without him?"
The subtle stress on the word 'only' was not missed on the blonde but he did not react to it, he was not in the mood for Kakashi's annoying tendency to try and catch him out and prove whatever stupid theory it was that he currently had.
"It is a shock to the system but everything happens for a reason and I believe that it was simply his time to be free of his duties and move on to a better place. With that in mind, it would feel wrong for me to be angry or sad." He uttered quietly, not looking up to meet Kakashi's penetrating stare and thus missing the brief look of suspicion that crossed the man's features.
"I see." Oh Kakashi saw all right, he saw that Naruto probably shared Danzō's beliefs about the Sandaime's capability of running the village and probably saw the man's death as a victory for Root.
"You can't fool me any longer Naruto, I will get you away from the dark side. No matter the cost."
After the thunderstorm the previous night, the day was clear as ever and Naruto briefly mused that it was Konoha's way of acknowledging that it was time she had a new leader. His face held no emotion as he watched the Sandaime's coffin being lowered into the ground but in his head flashed images of the Sandaime thrashing about in his final moments. His muscles were still as they begun to throw dirt over the coffin but in his mind he was trembling slightly at the thought that he might have made the wrong decision and that they were as good as burying Konoha with the old man.
By the time the ceremony was over his resolve had returned to him. Change, that's what old man Noriyuki had said was eventually always needed and the Sandaime's time had been up the day Namikaze Minato had inherited the hat from him. He should never have taken it back. The village needed a new leader to survive.
The village had to survive.
Sasuke was enjoying the rare opportunity to stroll through the village uninterrupted as everyone was busy preparing for the night time festival in the Sandaime's honour. Sarutobi Hiruzen had been kind and compassionate towards him when he lost his clan but he simply did not have the capacity to mourn the man's passing. He had greater things occupying his mind.
He had spent everyday since the Massacre reaffirming to himself that he had to be alone to grow strong enough to avenge his clan but he had never felt more powerful than when he had joined those unusual Anbu. After waking up in his bed when the last thing he remembered was standing on a path in the North West sector, arguing with that red-headed kunoichi, he had been angry and had lashed out at his surroundings but then the realisation hit him that he could get back to that place of power.
He just had to get into the Anbu.
So he had rushed out immediately to confront the Sandaime and make his demands, only to find out that the man had died in the night. It was a minor setback but he would wait until a new Hokage was elected and then he would get what he wanted.
He had already proved that he could work with those Anbu so surely he would rise through the Anbu ranks quickly?
The thing that bothered him at the moment was Naruto, Sasuke's core beliefs had been shaken the previous night and he had started to consider that having Naruto on his team was actually a blessing in disguise. Power. It had reverberated in those group of Anbu and they had been content to feed and thrive off of one another's power, that's what he needed. So if he joined Naruto and that Neji guys's little friendship group, surely he could recreate the way in which those Anbu operated and use their power to make himself stronger?
Problem was he had no idea where Naruto was! He had spent the previous day searching high and low for his blonde-haired team-mate but had not been able to pick up his trail anywhere. How was the dead last so good at hiding and, more importantly, why was it that every time that he thought of Naruto as the dead last he heard this irritating voice in the back of his mind telling him he was very wrong about that title and that there was more to the orphan kid than meets the eye?
He thought about the fact that Naruto barely spoke during team meetings and seemed to put in a minimal amount of effort during the spars, which annoyed Sasuke to no end because the boy always won without displaying any of his real skill. He just reacted to Sasuke's every movement like he knew what the Uchiha would do before he did it and took advantage of an opening just as he was ready to end the fight.
It was frustrating because he was an Uchiha and that should have been how he won fights against the dead last! He had taken on the belief early on that Naruto had received some sort of secret training during the academy that he had not shared with his teachers and classmates because the boy had changed completely the day they had graduated. What was worse was that their sensei had not seemed surprised that Naruto was more talented than the records let on so Sasuke knew that others like the Hokage had to be in on the source of Naruto's strength.
Perhaps he could get Naruto to lead him to this source? All in due time though,first he had to befriend the boy and then-
"-Uchiha! I need to talk to you."
Sasuke paused to see Hyūga Neji approaching him from his left with an annoyed frown on his face.
"What do you want now?" He inquired disinterestedly before continuing on his way.
Neji sighed and fell into step with the self-proclaimed avenger.
"Whatever plans you have concerning those Anbu you should let go immediately, they are dangerous and I don't believe we were ever supposed to know about them let alone meet them. They are clearly not standard Anbu agents."
Sasuke rolled his eyes and breathed out a short laugh as they landed on Neji's serious expression.
"So what? They are still Konoha shinobi and I like the way they work. My career decisions are none of your business but, admittedly, I was wrong to storm out of Naruto's place the other night. After last night, I see that it's good to have people you can count on even when things get dark. I've been looking for Naruto this morning because I wanted to ask if I was welcome in your.. friendship circle. Though I suppose you have to want to cooperate with me as well?"
The Hyūga were good at concealing their emotions but he could see the cogs turning in the slightly older boy's mind and continued walking in silence as he waited for a response.
"Yes."
"Good."
"Okay."
"Okay."
Sasuke raised his hand lazily to give a small parting wave before turning his back on the boy and heading back to the Uchiha compound to get some training in, keeping his head low as a dark grin spread out across his features.
"Stage one: complete."
Neji sighed as he watched Sasuke disappear into the crowd and stood still for a few minutes trying to make sense of everything that happened last night in relation to the conversation he had just held with Sasuke. His mind drew up blanks.
"If you think any harder, that Caged-Bird Seal might just burst off your forehead."
The Hyūga boy spun round to see Naruto sitting in a crouch on the wall behind him and giving him a two fingered wave.
"Naruto!?" He hadn't expected to see the boy any time soon for some reason and so was stunned to see him there.
"Yo. What's up? You look like you've barely slept."
Naruto raised an eyebrow at the brief flicker of relief that flashed across his new best friend's face.
"I have a great deal to tell you and I don't think you are going to like it. Last night was quite the night for Sasuke & I."
The blonde dropped down off the wall and strode over to Neji's side, beckoning for them to walk and talk.
"Hmm, well you've caught my interest so go for it." He tried with an encouraging smile.
An encouraging smile that didn't last long once Neji started his story.
"Well I chased Sasuke out of the village last night towards the North West and we ran into some very strange Anbu. Things went quickly downhill from there."
Naruto's face was stony and unreadable as he listened to Neji's tale.
"There will be blood tonight. Hehehehehe."
Hatake Kakashi was not a man known for his social presence so it was no wonder that silence fell over the Jounin Lounge as he walked in nonchalantly, not having been there in over 12 years. All eyes were on him as he approached a table of off-duty Anbu who looked around in confusion as he reached their table, still not certain that it was them he had meant to come to.
"Yūgao-san, Hayate-san, Mai-san, I hope you are all well?" He spoke in a conversational tone, startling the 3 shinobi.
"Hai, Kakashi-senpai." They chorused as one.
"Maa, you make me feel old with that honorific. Anyway, I'm looking for Genma-san and I heard that he spent a great deal of time here with you three?"
They nodded as one but none were sure how to respond beyond that. It was then that Genma returned from the bathroom and was stunned to find Kakashi no Sharingan giving him a one eyed smile and beckoning for him to step outside with him.
As the cool breeze hit him once he stepped outside, Genma turned to face the Scarecrow of Konoha and found himself unsettled by the way the man leant non-threateningly against the outside wall of the Jounin Lounge.
"Is there something you need from me Kakashi-senpai?" He tried not to sound impolite as he spoke and was relieved to see a small smile beneath the other man's mask.
"Oh nothing of great importance, I just wanted to ask you a few questions about Naruto."
"Naruto?" Kakashi had spoken as though he expected Genma to know a great deal about the boy, which made him all the more wary of the man's intentions.
"Yes, Naruto. You were often on his Anbu guard when he was younger so I figured you would know a great deal about what he used to get up to?"
Genma narrowed his eyes slightly at his superior but thought about his response carefully before responding.
"Yes and no. That's classified information anyway and all reports on Uzumaki Naruto's activity are in reports submitted to the Sandaime. You would need to gain clearance to access them, either way I am not permitted to speak about anything I may have seen or heard whilst I was on Uzumaki-san's guard. I'm sure that you, as a former Anbu, can understand why."
Genma nodded politely to his senpai, who was giving him a knowing smirk, before turning to head back into the lounge.
"That's a shame. I had just wondered if he had met with another sensei at all. I suppose I will have to wait until a new Hokage is chosen before I can access those records- considering I am his sensei and all. Nevermind, thank you for your help Genma-san." Kakashi called over his shoulder to the shinobi, who froze for a split second in the doorway of the Lounge, considering the Hatake man's words.
It was a very brief pause but Kakashi had been looking for it and it was enough to confirm that he had made the right move.
Jiraiya leapt up just in time to avoid the punch Tsunade threw his way and his eyes widened slightly at the large crack that spread out across the ground where he had been standing, he had to twist in mid air to parry as the Slug Sannin launched herself at him once more.
Even her glancing blows dealt serious damage though and he had to fight back a wince as he struggled to dodge each hit in time to spare himself any more injury. He would not strike her back though, so continued to try and rationalize with his old team-mate.
"Tsunade-hime, please listen to reason! I can't take the seat, you are the only other suitable candidate! This is our home, won't you stand up for it?"
The blonde-haired woman landed a few feet away and fixed her goofy team-mate with an angry stare.
"How can you ask me that? This wretched village has taken everything from me and now you want to confine me here for the rest of my days, constantly reminded of all that I have lost? Never."
Jiraiya sighed and limped forward slightly before dropping to his knees in defeat.
"When did you become this way Tsunade-hime? So blinded by your own emotions that you can no longer see the bigger picture. Go if you must, I am done chasing after you. They will have to choose someone else."
He didn't look up to meet Tsunade's startled gaze as tears began to brim around her eyes.
"Thank you Jiraiya. I do not deserve the kindness you have shown me all these years."
With that she turned and beckoned for Shizune and TonTon to follow her back to the hotel so that they could get out of the village as quickly as possible.
"No you do not." Was the last thing she heard Jiraiya whisper into the air.
As she raced out of the clearing, Tsunade did not see the masked Anbu that had observed the entire event from the shadows of the trees.
Racing across the rooftops, her thoughts drifted to Naruto and she felt guilt bubbling inside her, she had hoped to be able to do some good by her godson but with the death of her mentor her priorities had there was time to find the boy before she left though?
She suddenly veered off route, surprising Shizune, and raced off towards the direction of the Hatake compound. Kakashi would have been keeping an eye on Minato and Kushina's son and was her best bet at finding the boy quickly before she escaped the prison that was Konoha.
As they approached the Hyūga compound, Naruto found he was having trouble keeping his emotions in check. He was not angry that Sasuke had become infatuated with Sixth Company- because what other 'strange Anbu' could fit the description Neji had given him- nor was he angry that his new best friend had been kidnapped by Sixth Company. What had Namikaze Naruto about ready to rip a man's lungs out was that Sixth Company had the audacity to do something like that without his clearance despite the fact that he had specifically told them they would operate under his direct command.
They were going to learn tonight what happened when you disobeyed Namikaze Naruto and he knew just who he was going to use as an example.
Naruto was jolted out of his murderous thoughts as Hyūga Hiashi greeted him at the main gate.
"Trust my luck to show up when the man is speaking with his Gate Keepers."
"When have you ever had it easy kid?"
"I ask myself that question a lot."
"Uzumaki-san, I am pleased to catch you here. Would you care to join me in my study for a small chat?" Despite the politeness in the man's tone, Naruto knew there was no room for argument and nodded to the Clan Head before following the man into the grounds, glancing back briefly to pull a face at an astonished Neji, who was still stood by the gate with the equally astonished Gate Keepers. It didn't seem as though many people were invited to the man's study.
Naruto mentally counted down from 3 as the door slid shut behind him and, sure enough, the façade had slipped once he reached 0.
"Well? What are your plans boy!? I need to keep the-"
-The blonde raised a hand to silence the Clan Head before lifting a finger to his lips and pointing toward a seemingly innocent vase on a table in the far right corner of the room.
Moving over to it, he pulled a flower out seemingly at random and crushed the top of it in his hand, Hiashi was about to question his actions but froze when he saw that a small audio device crumbled out of the boy's hand when he reopened it. He remained silent as he watched the Namikaze heir move delicately around his office in search of more bugs and heaved a sigh when the boy finally nodded that he had found them all.
"Is everything okay?" He asked cautiously but was displeased to receive a negative shake of the head. He watched on in relief as the boy ran his hands through several seals before slamming his palm down on the ground, like he had done on his previous visit, causing seals to spread out across the walls and lock the room in a privacy barrier.
"Why did you invite me in here?" The boy's voice was cold and quite clearly irritated.
Hiashi strode around to his side of the desk and tried to remain calm as he lowered into his seat, beckoning for the boy to do the same.
The blonde did not move and instead crossed his arms in expectation.
"I need to know your intentions, I need to know how you plan to-"
"-No you do not. Listen to me Hiashi, I gave you my word that I would rectify this.. issue.. and I do not go back on my word. All I need is time, what I don't need is you on my case looking for quick results."
Hiashi's tone was barely controlled as he locked eyes with the Namikaze heir.
"We don't have much time boy!" he gestured wildly at the first vase Naruto had gone to, "do you not see what is happening here? Have I not been clear enough about the death sentence that hangs over our heads!?"
Naruto brushed a bang out of his eye and pinned the Clan Head with a sharp glare.
"What would you have me do?" He whispered quietly, keeping his body language calm despite the anger rising up inside of him.
He had foreseen the response he would receive though and kept his face unreadable as he heard the words leave Hyūga Hiashi's lips.
"What I hear you do best, Root shinobi."
He held the man's gaze for a few moments longer before he lifted his hand into a seal that would release the privacy barrier. He turned to slide the door open and paused, looking once more over his shoulder at the serious visage of the Hyūga leader.
"As you wish."
And with that he disappeared from the man's office, leaving a thoroughly regretful Clan Head alone in the now debugged room.
Kyoko watched on in mild interest from the balcony above the cage as the two fighters fought wildly down below, she had placed a sizeable bet on the underground fighter Ganryu and was so far pleased with his performance, considering most the blood on the ground was that of his opponent.
Beside her stood agent Doho who was watching the fight with a small smirk on his face, the two of them had been attending these cage matches for years and she could always tell that he enjoyed getting away from the base to do something extra-curricular.
She lowered her gaze to her left as Doho moved slightly to make room for a newcomer between them, it was agent Gyousei. She did not turn to face him as she refocused her gaze on the fight down below, her eyes lighting up as Ganryu prepared to finish off his opponent.
"Report." Doho spoke in her place.
"Hai. Kyoko-sama, Agent 214 has reported that the Scarecrow is asking questions about the Jinchūriki being trained by someone else during his academy years. We have reason to believe he suspects Root of involvement."
There was no immediate response and both Doho & Gyousei were surprised to hear Kyoko sigh at the report.
"I know." She drawled out, leaning up off the railing.
Both men were stunned and briefly shared a look.
"You do, ma'am? I-how-?" The agent had been about to question the woman when she raised an eyebrow at the unintentional display of disrespect before sighing once more.
She gestured down into the crowd with a frown on her face.
"Because you have led him straight to me." They all turned at once to see Hatake Kakashi standing amidst the crowd of spectators, looking very much out of place, staring in apparent shock up at them. Well, at Kyoko in particular. The Uzumaki woman spared the nosy Jounin a hard glance before turning and vanishing into the crowd upstairs.
Kakashi' did not know how to react when he entered the establishment that he and Tenzō had followed the Root agent who met with Genma to. This was because he wasn't sure if he had just seen a ghost or if Uzumaki Kushina, very much living, had just locked eyes with him only a second ago.
The woman looked startling like his sensei's wife but.. but it could not be? She was clearly the red-head that had worked for Danzō for many years but this woman had existed in the village at the same time as his sensei's wife and he had met her when Kushina was alive. They could not possibly be the same woman, could they?
What was going on?
"Kushina-nee?" He whispered aloud, barely able to choke it out as a whisper.
No one dared to cross his path as Namikaze Naruto stormed through the Root base with a heavy killing intent surrounding him. As he descended the out of use staircase that led to Sixth Company's lair, Naruto did not react as he felt his squad following and slowly catching up to him. Soon he reached Level -10 and placed his palm on the heavy set door, focusing his chakra as he pumped it out in a large shockwave that caused the door to burst completely off of its hinges revealing the dark and dimly lit labyrinthine dwelling within.
The door opened out into what was clearly some sort of gathering spot for Sixth Company as they were all lounging about engaging in various activities such as playing marbles with human teeth, pin the tail on the live human and a high-staking poker game.
All activity ceased when he stepped into the room and Naruto didn't miss the excited look on Taisei's face from the far corner upon seeing him.
"I have received some interesting reports about your conduct last night and it has become apparent to me that you have no respect for my authority. I gave you one chance and you blew it, so clearly I need to demonstrate to you that I am not someone you want to play around with."
They all stared on in interest as the boy walked towards the centre of the room and settled into his tajutsu stance.
"Come Taisei, I know that you played a big part in disobeying me last night. Let me show you the power that you so crave. Come, let me make an example of you." He beckoned the man forward with one hand and used his other to instruct his team, who had just reached the doorway, not to interfere.
Sixth Company wanted to see his dark side? Oh they would see his dark side all right, and they would spend the rest of their days living in fear of it. Not Taisei though, he had reached the end of the short line that was Namikaze Naruto's patience.
Danzō was silent as he stood before the entire council in one of the underground meeting chambers of the Hokage Tower. He had not expected this outcome at all.
"Shimura Danzo, you have been elected as the Godaime Hokage of Konohagakure no Sato. Will you defend Konoha with all that you have and serve her until your dying day?"
The Shinobi of Darkness lifted his head to meet the Council's blank stares with a victorious one of his own.
"Until my dying day."
Across Konoha, dark clouds began to spread out unexpectedly whilst a simultaneous cold shiver ran down the spine of every man, woman and child in the village.
Dark times lay ahead.
Sorry! Had to cut this one short as I went over my intended word limit, the fight between Naruto and Taisei will be moved to beginning of the next chapter! But what did you think of that? I look forward to reading your thoughts soon.
Until next time,
Winnieflutters