The anteroom was packed. They hadn't opened the doors to the garden so everyone stayed in the stuffy room eating and chatting. Sasuke hated it.
Naruto charged in with a few words to anyone else, Shikamaru at his heels. He had caught sight of the Tsuchikage and moved as if to confront him immediately. Shikamaru muttered his name quietly, while from another corner of the room Ino sailed in, having read Naruto's facing and immediately sensing imminent disaster. Sasuke stood back, staring coldly at the Tsuchikage who put on a show of ignoring the Konoha contingent.
Ino was quickly informed of the situation. For a moment a look like cold steel passed over her face. Then she turned away and walked to another diplomat's side and forced him to speak with her.
At a few words from Shikamaru, Shino and Sai pegged close to Sasuke. Their neutral faces would keep strangers from noting how they corralled his movement so he wouldn't approach any diplomats. It would have angered Sasuke if he had the least desire to speak. He had none.
Sasuke picked up a few items of food to quell the rumbling in his belly. Bread and some fruits and a mug of tea. He avoided the end of the table with all the sweets.
They cleared a path to a low table in a corner and Sasuke settled into it. From time to time people in the crowd would glance their way with looks that varied from curious to hostile, but on seeing three dark-haired men they had trouble quickly identifying the subject of the previous night's disturbance.
The drowsy milling of the diplomats would end when the Fire daimyo appeared and the garden was opened for the meeting. In the meantime the table with Shino, Sai and Sasuke bore an icy silence. At the least, the three were not alone together for long.
"A visitor," muttered Shino. "She looks determined to talk with Sasuke. Is that because she has already met you?"
Sasuke grunted an affirmative. Hikaru from Shiokawa was resplendent in rich kimonos of spring flowers.
"With permission from you gentlemen, I would appreciate the opportunity to sit with you." Her tone was even and pleasant.
Shino and Sai said nothing so Sasuke spoke, "Do what you want."
Hikaru set down a tea cup in a dish and took a seat on an unused cushion, daintily sitting on her ankles. She angled herself so she leaned slightly in Sasuke's direction and gave him a beautiful smile.
Sasuke took a moment to be glad that his tablemates were the stand-offish and quiet sorts. A loudmouth like Naruto or Kiba would be more than he could take right now.
"Did you rest well, Uchiha-sama?" Hikaru began with her eyes lowered. When he didn't respond immediately she continued, "You have an air of finality about you, sir. Perhaps today will go as you said last night and negotiations will conclude very soon." She paused. "Or perhaps they will not."
Sasuke grunted. As long as Hikaru was there he didn't eat or drink. What did she want?
"It is a very fine day, is it not? I'm so very glad they chose to hold this meeting in the gardens. It has been a delight to walk the halls of this palace and enjoy the grounds. If I must be away from my home I could hope for no better sights every day." Her tone was sweet, and she sipped her tea as if this were no more than a vacation for her.
Sasuke frowned. Shino and Sai were utterly calm, they ate mechanically and without a word. But Sasuke was sure they were listening carefully, also wondering what Hikaru's motive was.
"But now I sound as if I do not wish to leave this place. On the contrary, I share Uchiha-sama's desire for a swift end to negotiations, and furthermore I seek a favorable outcome for the Land of Fire."
Finally Shino spoke, "You are Hikaru, from Shiokawa, correct? You preside over a border region in the north. The extant treaty will parcel off some of your land to Earth Country."
For just a moment Hikaru's mask of perfect pleasantness slipped as her lips wavered. It could have been at Shino's words or it could have been an insect that crawled out from his sleeve.
"That is correct, shinobi-san. I am from Shiokawa." She turned back to Sasuke, an edge of determination now marking her blue eyes. "I may have said before that men of iron will and great strength are respected in my homeland. It is for that reason I wanted to commend your actions last night, Uchiha-sama. Many here consider nearly coming to blows in the daimyo's palace to be utter barbarism, but I understand your pride. And I respect it."
Sasuke rapidly forced up a facade of calm non-response. A cold wind went through him at her words. Because of his so-called pride he had very nearly thrown away countless lives and she respected that? He let his gaze hang unfocused and kept his mouth shut.
In that instant Hikaru seemed to read the coldness radiating from the table. But with perfect lady-like cordiality Hikaru continued, "I wished to take the opportunity to tell you it has been a pleasure to meet you, Uchiha-sama, and that I pray you will achieve what you desire. If I may, I would also like to add that I hope this is not the last time I speak with you. You would be welcome in Shiokawa, should you ever wish to travel there."
In one, smooth, graceful move Hikaru stood. "Please excuse me," and with that she stepped away from the table, tea cup and saucer in hand. She gave a final bow and slipped into the crowd.
"Strange." Sai said. "She didn't ask for anything."
"She made no formal request, however she did indicate a desired course of action." Shino clarified. "That is because she has very little to offer Sasuke except the respect of her people."
"There's nothing to respect." Sasuke muttered. He tore off a piece of bread and chewed it without tasting it.
Shino started and stared at him, mouth hanging slightly open.
Sai looked between Shino and Sasuke, confusion reading plainly on his face. "I do not understand."
Shino grunted and closed his mouth as if putting away the sensation of being startled. Then he spoke. "Lady Hikaru is very young and very new to the diplomatic circles here in the daimyo's palace. Shiokawa has been represented by a regent from the time of Lady Hikaru's father's death over a dozen years ago until she came of age two months ago. Most of the diplomats feel safe ignoring her since the regent had little power and because Lady Hikaru is so young. Because of this Shiokawa has lost considerable influence." Shino glanced at Sasuke and then continued. "That is why Lady Hikaru seems to act as if she does not like this treaty at the same time that extending the negotiations would be a problem. That is because if there were to be a war Shiokawa would almost certainly turn into a battleground. However..."
Sasuke tuned out Shino's droning explanation. He had worked out most of it from the time that Shikamaru said that some of the northern regions would have to cede territory to the Land of Earth. Sasuke didn't see a way to help Shiokawa, nor was it any of his concern.
Sai's voice brought Sasuke's attention back to the table. "And what does Lady Hikaru respect about Sasuke-kun?"
Shino hitched and then spoke. "Perhaps it was the stand off that he and the Hokage had with the Tsuchikage. When I was guarding the diplomats last night they spoke extensively about-"
Shino was interrupted by another visitor. In fact it was a pair of visitors. The stooped, old man with beady eyes who had stared at Sasuke with open, almost voracious, curiosity shuffled to the table, leaning on two canes with great difficulty. The same young woman who attended him the night before clutched his arm, likely in an effort to help him move.
The old man gave a craggy smile when he came to a stop at the table. Sasuke felt compelled to stand, though he got up more slowly than Shino or Sai.
"Grandfather?" Said the girl. "Shouldn't we sit?"
"Oh, no, no, Tsugumi-chan. That would take far too long. First I would have to get down, and then I would have to get back up and that would take all morning."
"Of course, grandfather."
"Why don't you go get some sweets, Tsugumi-chan?"
The girl blinked at him and then looked at the three shinobi with great displeasure. Then she bowed. "Yes, grandfather."
To the trio the old man said, "I'm sorry for making you youngsters stand. When you get to be my age you learn your priorities in order of how much it impacts your knees."
"My lord..." began Sai.
The old man cut him off with a small wave of one hand. "I came to speak with Sasuke Uchiha, not you. You'll have to forgive me for being so blunt. I don't have time for niceties."
Moving to look at Sasuke meant the old man had to reposition his body. This made the long strands of gray hair shake around his wrinkled head. "My name is Shojiro Omatsu from Genshichi and I owe the Uchiha clan a debt of blood."
Sasuke stared hard at the man and willed his heart rate to go down. "What do you mean?"
The old man grunted in a way that was more of a gargle. "As I said I haven't much time. I must be in the garden alongside the daimyo, whenever he should get here. But here is the long and short: I owe my life to an Uchiha, and my son's as well. In separate incidents we each would have died, but for a quick thinking member of the Uchiha clan who happened to be nearby." Shojiro peered up at Sasuke, wrinkled face taking on even more lines as he seemed to be recalling something.
"At any rate, Uchiha-dono. I very much want to repay this debt. What would you take as settlement? A boon from Genshichi? Money? Arms? We even have some old scrolls that supposedly only talented shinobi can decipher."
Sasuke continued to stare at him. This was a feint. The man was speaking just enough truth to engage him, but his words sought something else. What was it? Taking a moment Sasuke looked to where Naruto stood. He was in the midst of a large group that included the Tsuchikage, and he was clearly tense, with fists at his sides. Shikamaru and Ino at either side made sure he didn't lose control. Out in the garden servants put the finishing touches on tables and chairs and posted banners around the periphery.
The man wanted to know what made Sasuke tick. And Sasuke wanted to know the same about him. "I have nothing to do with your debts," he said.
The man frowned slightly. "You do not think you can shoulder their graces as well as their sins, Uchiha-dono?"
Sasuke blinked in surprise and focused back on the Shojiro. He was reaching out a hand, mottled with liver spots, a shaky finger moving toward his chest. The finger landed on an Uchiha crest to one side of Sasuke's heart.
"This." Wheezed the old man. "Do you know what this stands for?"
Sasuke gave himself an extra second to make sure his voice wouldn't shake. "It is the Uchiha fan. My family's crest."
"Indeed. It is the symbol of Uchiha. And do you know what 'Uchiha' means?" The man pulled back his hand and stared directly into Sasuke's eyes.
Sasuke felt uncertain in a way none of the events of the past few days had quite achieved. For the first time in a very long time he felt the weight of being the only living Uchiha. He forced his shoulders to drop and breathed through the tension that had gathered in his arms. "It is my family. What does it mean to you?"
"Ah." The man's face lit up. "Of course it would be different for you. To me 'Uchiha' means heart. Uchiha-dono, I wonder if you have the same heart as your ancestors to whom I am so indebted."
For a man who had no time for good manners he certainly enjoyed talking obliquely. "What do you want?"
The man's craggy smile returned. "I told you, I want to repay my debt."
Sasuke expelled an impatient breath. "You were there last night. You know exactly what I want."
"The treaty, finalized, eh? Oh, and your female teammate's immediate freedom, naturally."
Sasuke grunted. He could feel his patience draining.
The old man chuckled. "Well that's simple enough. Are you certain you want nothing more?"
Sasuke growled, "If it's so simple then why isn't it done? I don't give a damn about what other Uchiha have done for you. Do your work for your country. Stop playing your games and get the damned treaty."
His voice had raised a bit and drawn attention. Several heads had turned their way while Shino looked a bit perturbed. Sai carried the same blank look.
Tsugumi stepped up out of no where and took her grandfather's arm, with a dirty look for Sasuke.
Shojiro calmed her with a touch. "The 'damned' treaty will be done within the hour. I just wanted to see your pride, Uchiha-dono. I realize I am testing your patience but allow an old man the privilege of giving advice: You are free. You may think you know what that means, but let me explain one thing.
"You are utterly free and that means you may fly and you may fall. You can kill or you can save a life. I did watch you and the Hokage last night, and you can't tell me that it was only those moving shadows controlled by the Nara boy that stopped you. If you wanted to fight you could destroy this entire palace. But you don't, do you? You want something even greater.
"And so I say you can fly or fall, run or lie down. You can destroy or you can create. You are not bound, and you are full of every possibility. Uchiha means whatever you could possibly want."
Shojiro paused to catch his breath. He seemed to study Sasuke's face and then a corner of his mouth tugged into a warm smile. "To me, it means the greatest heart. I will honor that." Shojiro bobbed his head in a slight bow and let Tsugumi guide him away.
Sasuke watched the old man leave and gave a rebellious look at the people still staring at him. Whatever minimal calm he had managed to cultivate was completely shattered.
"Sasuke-kun, your hand is shaking." Sai observed.
"Tch." He all but threw himself onto the cushion where he had been seated to breakfast. Restlessness flowed over him in massive waves. He was surrounded by idiots who just wanted to talk and say meaningless things while people in villages and roads suffered. And Sakura.
When they had quarreled she said something and Sasuke had ignored it then, considering it a ploy. But her shouting now rang again in his mind. "You'll never be able to throw away your shinobi heart and that's why you run away!"
Sasuke pressed his hands into his lap and dragged in a long breath. He forced himself to calm down. Sakura was unconscious for a few more hours, at least. The Iwa could do nothing to her in the meantime. He would stand alongside the Konoha ninja and help them see their plan through. He simply had to be patient.
Sasuke stomach rumbled again. Just as he reached for an orange the buzzing in the room reached a fever pitch. The daimyo had arrived. In short order the sliding glass doors were opened and most of the people milling and chatting in the room filed into the garden.
Sasuke caught Naruto's glance. He wanted to make absolutely sure that Naruto was clear on the plan. The look on his face made it clear that he was. They silently nodded to each other and Naruto exited with Ino pegged to his side.
Sai rose from the table. "Please excuse me." He walked out to join Naruto.
Shino's attention was out in the garden. Even though his sunglasses covered his eyes, he was clearly exhausted. A tiny handful of insects flew out of his sleeve and into the garden.
He's here as a guard, thought Sasuke.
Shikamaru walked up to them and dropped onto one of the cushions. "Well I've got a couple minutes, I may as well sit." His mood was inexplicably light as he helped himself to a seat.
"You're on the diplomatic mission," said Sasuke.
"Well, yeah, more or less. I'll get out there in a little bit. Sai will write down all the details. I'm sure you noticed Shino is on patrol detail, just to make sure nothing unpleasant surprises us."
"Aa."
"Ino and Naruto are explaining a couple of things to the daimyo. Well, Ino is, and Naruto is out there looking pissed as hell so everyone is going to just stay out of his way. I noticed old man Omatsu came over to talk to you." A curve in his mouth showed Shikamaru just couldn't keep from smiling as his fingers danced over the table.
Sasuke looked at Shikamaru. Just what had gotten into him to act so casually?
Shikamaru smirked, to Sasuke's great surprise. "He's helping us, you know. The old man was nominally for peace, but his territory was going to be fine no matter what happened. I think he was here initially just to teach his granddaughter, Tsugumi, the basics of court politics. But that changed in the last ten minutes. Actually, that probably changed last night. Right now just he suddenly switched over to getting everyone else on board with the treaty."
"Hn." Sasuke knew he was frowning but he couldn't help it. That bizarre old man was making Shikamaru act bizarrely. He had no idea what to say to the shadow user. They had never been close and now he was acting practically giddy.
Shikamaru's smirk turned into a little grin as he looked out into the garden. "Hey man, I shouldn't go celebrating too soon. And Naruto hasn't realized what's going on yet so he could still lose it and destroy the treaty. But we finally got a real break!"
"Why is an old man so much help?"
"Huh? Oh well, you know, I didn't realize he was thinking he owed you anything, but his stories about Uchiha saving him and his son are legit. I thought he wanted to talk to you to reminisce. When Omatsu was young his family was traveling, trying to get away from the battles of the Second Great Shinobi war, when they were ambushed. A squad of Uchiha happened to be nearby and fought off the enemy. He should have died from his wounds but they got him medical care just in time. I don't know the names of these people, but it's a story he likes to tell about the old days."
Sasuke looked back out into the garden. "It's ancient history."
"Well, his son's rescue isn't too ancient, but still from before we were born. Anyway, he doesn't talk about that too much." Shikamaru closed his mouth and a line appeared between his brows. "I think that's why he decided to help us. Genshichi is not a big territory. They breed horses and make leather goods there. His son, Katsujuro, has made sure their business is solid no matter which way the wind blows."
"Aa. Naruto said he doesn't like meat in his ramen."
"So that's what that means, huh? Well anyway, the old guy has been around for a really long time. The business savvy in his family is kind of breathtaking. And he knows all the players, he knows the history of their domains, he knows what everyone is going to get out of these negotiations. He pretty much knows where all the bodies are buried. Old man Omatsu is gonna help us out." Shikamaru sucked in a breath and got hold of his mood, forcing a sober look onto his face. "All because of ancient history."
Sasuke made no response. He breathed carefully and deeply against the powerful wish to be alone.
As if Shikamaru sensed this he said, "I gotta get out there. Being up here, away from Konoha, has been such a pain, the sooner it ends, the better."
He stood up and stretched. "Give it a couple minutes and then you're on." Then he turned and strode into the garden.
"Hn."
The ante-room was much quieter with considerably smaller clumps of people murmuring at a few tables scattered around. Three servants quickly cleaned up the breakfast.
Sasuke's attention went back to Shino when his hands twitched through a pair of hand signs. Instructions to his insects, no doubt.
"You have changed considerably," Shino said without preamble. His continued to look toward the garden, but divided some of his attention for Sasuke.
That seemed to be the favorite remark of every Konoha shinobi he encountered lately. "Hn."
"Perhaps it was a necessary change." Shino continued. "But I am still surprised. That is because you used to demand respect. But now you do not seem to want it. Your temper used to be quick, and perhaps it still is, but it is no longer lost by the same matters. I heard that you grew angry with the Tsuchikage because he insulted Sakura. Back in the days when you lived in Konoha you did not care about your teammates, but became furious at any perceived insult to the Uchiha. I would surmise that..."
"Just leave it alone," growled Sasuke. He decided he had waited long enough and got to his feet.
He walked to the sliding glass doors, but behind him he heard Shino complete his thought. "You still have a deep attachment to your clan but your understanding of family has changed somewhat. And there is no way you believe that there is nothing to respect."
"Tch." Sasuke tried to shut Shino and everyone else in the room out and concentrated on the garden.
Naruto and the Tsuchikage sat at a table opposite each other with the daimyo to their respective countries at each side. Behind Naruto sat Sai with a scroll on a writing tablet, and behind the Tsuchikage was Iwa's own secretary. Ino stood close by along with Shikibu, the courtesan, and the old man Shojiro as well. The diplomats gathered nearby without crowding them.
Sasuke scanned the diplomats and was fairly certain two of them were shinobi from how they held themselves. Given he didn't know who they were he wondered if they might be undercover Iwa. He squinted and watched closely.
The Earth daimyo began reading aloud the first stipulation of the treaty. At the end the audience applauded and no one offered an amendment. Then the Fire daimyo read the second stipulation in a wavering voice. Again applause and no amendments were recommended.
At the fourth stipulation there was some rustling in the audience. An amendment was offered but it was voted down. On the fifth amendment it seemed like a pair of people thought to offer but on making eye contact with Shojiro Omatsu each man thought better of it.
Sasuke's mouth twitched. The old man might actually help them in the end. As the stipulations went on Sasuke looked around at the audience, the layout of the garden. The Iwa had three identifiable shinobi of their own in the garden, one near the Tsuchikage and two at the perimeter looking terribly bored. The two he suspected of being undercover hadn't moved and still looked like interested diplomats.
The daimyo's own honor guard held positions around the edges of the garden, standing stock still. They were trained well enough at least to not appear intimidated either by the emissaries or the shinobi. If a fight were to erupt...
And then Sasuke attention was dragged back to the table where Naruto was standing with both hands flat on the table and yelling at the Tsuchikage who was also yelling. With his Sharingan Sasuke could read their lips, but he hardly needed to as their voices carried back to the anteroom.
"We will get her back!" Naruto screamed. "If she is inside Earth Country we'll tear it apart to find her!"
"You wouldn't dare invade," shouted the Tsuchikage. "All you Konoha shinobi are addicted to peace! It's made you weak and scared of a showdown!"
"Shut up! If crushing you is what it takes to get our friend back, we'll do it!"
Predictably, the Fire daimyo sat back in his side, fan extended and hiding his face. His female companion had stepped back into the crowd. Here and there, in twos and threes, groups would break off and start to head back toward the anteroom. But in between the shouts that Naruto and Hidesaburo traded, Shojiro could be heard clearing his throat. Either the loud "ahem!" of the old man slowed them down, or someone in the party would inevitably look up and see Sasuke watching them carefully with his blood red eyes and stop dead in their tracks. Within a few minutes the shouting became simple growling between the Kage and everyone seemed to hold their breath.
Off to one side Sasuke saw Seicho, the hopeful war profiteer, headed off from his escape by Shikibu.
"Gentlemen," Shojiro's voice was suddenly loud and strong. "You've both made your points. Let us continue." He nodded to the audience who fell back into position, almost no one willing to make a break for the anteroom.
"Get out of my way!" cried Seicho. "If they start fighting we're all dead."
"Did you know," said Shikibu, "That if you're found in collusion with Earth country to influence negotiations in a direction that hurts the Land of Fire, you're dead anyway?"
Seicho was brought up short and all of the color drained from his face.
"But of course, there is no reason to investigate any diplomat's room and personal effects if he stays to see the negotiations all the way through, is there? So, I suppose you could leave anyway, if you have absolutely nothing to hide. Or you could stay and it won't matter. However you wish, Seicho-sama." And she gave him a winning smile.
Seicho walked stiffly to rejoin the group, looking neither to the left nor to the right, but sweating profusely.
The amendment in contention was put to a vote and soundly defeated. An offer to take a break was put to vote but after a few pointed looks from Shojiro it was defeated as well.
Sasuke looked for the two undercover agents. It took him a moment to find them again as people moved and shuffled uncomfortably. The mood in the garden was building in nervousness but it was the kind of nervousness of people who want to get a job done and leave as quickly as possible. One of the undercover agents, a woman with black hair was subtly moving closer to the table where Fire daimyo sat but was frequently jostled back. The other, a tall man with red hair stood much closer to Naruto.
As the anticipation of finishing ratcheted up in the garden audience, the Tsuchikage looked more and more panicked.
He might not get his war after all, Sasuke sneered.
The Earth daimyo read out the penultimate stipulation. An Iwa diplomat shook as he tried to raise an amendment but the hostility of the audience eager to get away convinced him quickly to retract the offer.
Just as the Fire daimyo was about to read the final stipulation, Hidesaburo stood up suddenly.
"Hokage-dono," he called. "I have a proposition. Let's adjourn for the day. The diplomats are near faint with fear. As a gesture of good faith, I offer this: this afternoon you and I will travel into Earth Country to retrieve your teammate and then return to the negotiations. If we move swiftly we'll only be gone a day and a half. Our diplomats can use the time to rest. You see everything can be resolved quickly."
Sasuke ground his teeth. NOW he wanted to speak of good faith?! But Naruto appeared to nod slightly. In fact, he had remained seated and calm as Hidesaburo spoke. That was impossible... Sasuke began to walk to the open doors when he felt Shino's hand on his arm.
"Wait. It is being taken care of. That is because my insects recognized the shinobi preparing this jutsu and informed Shikamaru who set in motion the right response."
As Sasuke studied the scene more carefully he realized that during the commotion the tall, red-haired undercover shinobi had moved close to Naruto and when the Tsuchikage had called for a break, the back of his hand rested lightly against Naruto's arm. He was now standing next to Naruto but he had a glassy look in his eye. His hand fell to his side and he stepped back quietly.
A few feet away, somewhat hidden by a bush, out of sight of civilians paying careful attention to the daimyo, Shikamaru cradled an unconscious Ino.
"I see," said Sasuke. "A jutsu was forcing Naruto to agree with Hidesaburo."
"Yes, that is correct. And Ino interrupted it without Lord Tsuchikage noticing."
Out in the garden Hidesaburo was growing frantic as Naruto said nothing. "Well, Lord Hokage?"
Then Naruto's head snapped up. "What? What the hell are you standing for? We're almost finished with this damned thing!"
The Fire daimyo gave him a confused look which just made Naruto even more impatient. "Come on, ya geezer! Read the last bit so we can get out of here!"
With a squeal of fear the Fire daimyo read the last stipulation. There was no amendment. Finally, the audience cheered.
"Wait! But..." Hidesaburo tried.
"Stop that!" ordered the Earth daimyo. Sasuke couldn't hear over the cheers but he could read Ushitora's lips. "We're done here. You've embarrassed Earth Country enough, Hidesaburo. You're too new at this level of leadership, I can see that now. My secretary will sign the finalized treaty. I'm going to go see that the convoy is ready to leave within the hour. The second the treaty is signed I want to leave this place."
With his secretary and a handful of diplomats, the Earth daimyo strode from the garden and swept by Sasuke without looking at him. Hidesaburo remained in the garden staring at nothing, oblivious to the happy people crowding around him, bowing to him and shaking his numb hand.
Naruto walked back to the anteroom with that irrepressible grin of his. Sasuke couldn't help but smirk even though he had told himself he would not relax until Sakura stood free once again.
"How do you like that, bastard! I totally knew bringing you here was the right call!"
"Hn." Sasuke couldn't quite extinguish the smirk on his face but he imagined he didn't look nearly as much like an idiot as Naruto did.
"I gotta tell ya, I'm still pretty pissed at Sakura for being so reckless an' all. But damn, she sure made us get this job done, ya know!"
"Aa."
"Lord Hokage, language please." Ino moved into the anteroom, leaning against Shikamaru. "We're no longer on a battlefield."
"I know, I know. We're so close, though! They just gotta set up the signing ceremony and then we're out of here."
"Tch. And how long will that take."
"No more than a half hour," answered Shikamaru. "Normally an hour so they can get a copy to each diplomat, but that's one of the little benefits of having Sai around. We only need one text and his beasts can copy it any number of times."
"Lord Hokage?" Shino spoke.
"Oh right, Shino. Uh, I guess get everyone ready to go home. And get some sleep if you can!"
Shino nodded and turned away silently.
"I must admit, Lord Hokage, your irrational actions played out in your favor." The elder Koharu had approached them, stiffly holding on to her walking stick.
"Luck was certainly on your side." Homura trailed behind.
Ino stood up straight and put on a polite smile. "Certainly, but sir, it's like the old saying 'a great shinobi makes his own luck.'"
Naruto grinned and scratched the back of his neck. "Hehe... Yeah I guess. But I gotta say I got some good people to help me out. Shikamaru's plan worked out like they always do, ya know! And Ino's just awesome!"
Naruto turned to throw a glance at Sasuke. He would have appreciated it if everyone just ignored him, but Sasuke knew he wasn't going to get his way. So he tried to bear the attention stoically. "And that fucker kept everyone in line just like I knew he would!" Naruto practically shouted with joy.
Ino squeaked at Naruto's language and Shikamaru just chuckled. Naruto's elation was infectious and Sasuke felt just a little lighter than he had when he first entered the room. To one side, more or less ignored, the elders watched the scene, aged faces defaulting to frowns. But for a split second Koharu spared him a look. She appeared to take in his measure as a man and seemed perhaps not dissatisfied with what she found.
Then she turned to Homura when he touched her elbow. He nodded to Shojiro Omatsu who was slowly making his way to the exit, leaning heavily on his granddaughter. Without another word they moved after him.
Individuals and small groups of diplomats came by and offered congratulations to the Hokage, although some seemed more stiff than they wanted to be. Sasuke guessed it was because he stood at Naruto's side.
"Naruto." Sasuke said. He turned so he could face the garden, the opposite direction from Naruto, keeping their words somewhat private and intimate.
"Yeah?"
"We will have to travel from here to the cottage on the river and from there track the Iwa's movements into Earth Country, right?"
"Yeah, I told Kakashi-sensei to call my clone by sunset if he didn't hear from me again."
"But on the ground it would take six hours to get to the cottage and then another day to find Sakura."
Naruto nodded and looked a little confused. "It would take the same time if we waited for Kakashi-sensei to use my hiraishin and then I summoned you again."
"I know how we can get there faster. If we do that, though, I have two requests."
Woo-hoo! This is what it looks like when I do a huge chunk of writing in advance, I can upload new chapters on a steady basis! Yay!
Thanks for your reviews, folks, it really means a lot. And The-Rosette-Wolf hopped in yesterday and gave a little review to almost every chapter! Holy...! Thank you!