Hello!

Woohoo! I am slightly early this time! Making a comeback baby!

I think I might be able to finish this story before school starts...which makes me sad because that means there are only two more weeks of summer(Nooooo stay with me! I need another week!)

Little rambly but here's chapta 25!

He tilts the red Hokage's hat up a bit, to look me in the face."While you were out on your little, 'side mission' the village was under attack by the Akatsuki. As you saw on your way here, their attack left quite an impact. Naruto Uzumaki managed to push them back, though Lady Tsunade overworked herself to protect the villagers and fell in a comatose state. I have been picked as the Sixth Hokage Candidate in her absence." Though obscure, I could hear a long-awaited triumph lick the end of his explanation. A weird satisfaction. "Now that you are informed, would you explain your unscheduled leave from the village."

I eye the multiple rounds of white bandage, whatever is under there, I have felt it before. So recent and yet so far, my memory is fuzzy. What could he be hiding..."..."

"It was not a question, Mizuki-san." Outside the door, two pairs of feet stand ready for the protection of the man in front of me.

"...As you are aware of, my Cursed Seal of Heaven is a mutation as a result of Orochimaru's testing and was deemed dormant by the hospital. Sometime after receiving news of that, it activated in my hospital room and I could not control myself, so I removed myself from the vicinity for the safety of the village and its citizens. There, I trained conscience to fight the Seal for control. I did not come back until I had total control over myself and would not be a threat to those around me." Of course, I leave out pretty much half of the story. After the last exchange we had, this man has a bad history with the Uchihas.

"Is that all?"

Screw the truth. "Yes, sir."

He steps out of his chair and slowly turns to the window. "This village...I will do anything to protect it. Many ninja have sacrificed themselves for the growth of this grand tree. Sarutobi Asuma. The Toad Sage, Jiraiya." His reflection stares at me, watching me silently react to the death of two of the most respected ninjas in the village. I had not been here to attend their funeral, and very late to weeping. "This village can not afford any threats in its current fragile state, Mizuki-san. As the acting Hokage, I will give you two choices: Cut your ties with Konohagakure, or join my Root division."

Root, the dirty work of Konoha. Already asked once, but this time, it is not an offer. I come back to the village, only to be told I have to either leave again or become a lifeless killing machine. An emotionless puppet. You have to be joking. "Sir, I am not a threat."

"You are with your Curse Seal of Heaven. This village does not need any more destruction. Joining Root would allow you to have specialized training, have control over your weaknesses." As acting Hokage, he could have the authority to officially bring back Root as an official unit, instead of one being constantly in the dark. "For the benefit of the village, this is not up to negotiation."

The corners of my mouth itch to retaliate, "Then maybe you shouldn't govern it." Oh, how much I wish I could say that, to let the feisty side of me rip at the seams. The little monster peaks from its curtain, licking its lips at possible prey. I shoo it away and close the blinds, not yet. The number one rule of being a ninja, keep your cool. "All due respect, sir, I am in control. My perception of control has not wavered since I became a ninja. The thought of harming the innocent has not ever dawned on me, and I do not intend to turn a new leaf now. The rehabilitation training Anbu put me under did not affect me, nor did the consultations with the late Toad Sage. I do not believe whatever regimen you have planned for me would succeed, or even have the slightest effect.. If I was truly a threat, then Lady Tsunade would have expelled me before I had the chance to leave. I have been assigned to my role as an ambassador under the authority of the Third Hokage and work under wishes of Fifth Hokage. By that contract, only she has the authority to remove me from Konoha's services." I turn to leave, but just before touching the door, I make my final remark. "If I find myself as a threat, then I will personally see to it that I am neutralized, be it resigning or execution." When the door swings open, the two guards cross their swords a centimeter away from my neck.

Danzo must have given them the hand to halt because they both cautiously lower their weapons and then stood stiff as boards. Without even batting an eye in their direction, I take my leave. In a quiet echo of the plain hall, the substitute Hokage comments in a warning tone. He mutters something about me and the Uchihas, following it with, "Keep an eye on her."

I wander around the crater, mainly because I got lost. One can't even turn their head without seeing a stack of wooden beams or a tent as a makeshift housing. I swear I have seen the same tent for the past half hour. Asking for directions is not favorable either, everyone is busy with their own agenda. Some said hello and continued on their way, but the rest of the majority make up strangers I don't know or people that have long forgotten that I had even been admitted to the medical ward. Strange, I have been strolling around for some time and yet I haven't seen Naruto and the others, or even Hana yet. I think that, and yet a wild rogue pup comes running at my calf, scraping its baby dull fangs at the fabric of my boot, almost taking me down by surprise. Just turning the corner of a pile of lumber, my best friend rushes over, three identical wolves following in suite. Impeccable timing, as ever Mizuki.

"Come back here!" Hana commands the stray pup. When it denies obedience, her normal trio companions take it by the scruff of the neck and away, presumably for some proper discipline. "Jeez, newborns are always so difficult in the beginning. What a disobedient..." Her chocolate eyes dawn on me, lighting up. "Oh my-Mizuki!" She tackles me in a hug. Well more like a death hug. "Kami, I had no idea what happened to you! With the attack on the village and everything in chaos-I had no idea where you were! None of us did, the village didn't-the Hokage didn't tell us anything." She pushes the stray hairs out of her face and blinked in disbelief. "I am so glad you're safe!"

"Yeah...I was out on a mission, the Hokage sent me on it to test my abilities after some of my rehab training. Luckily it was a success..." Yeah, let's call it that. "Anyways, I'm back to normal, back to the same routine, the same Mizuki." Until I figure out how to play my cards, it's best if only my family knows. And with Danzo in power, now is not the time to take chances.

"Come on! Everyone needs to know you're back!" She takes my hand and guides me through the maze of lumbar and cloth. Her pace picks up and we zoom past crowd, so fast she almost lost me.

I stumble. "Wait up, Hana!" Too early in the morning for this. Obviously not listening to me, we approach an almost arena of lumber. The four piles, conveniently laid out in a square, is in use as a meeting place by some oh-so-familiar faces. Some standing, some sitting, it's been a while since I have seen them all together like this. Even longer since I seen them smiling at once, or at least close to smiling.

Some say nothing. The others chant my name and then go into a barrage of their own individual comments. Most of which being, "Who", "What", "When", and "Where".

Naruto comes down from his spot on a lumber log and hugs me, a just a little less tight than Han had. I crack a smile. Even for the shortest while, things will be back to normal. With some of the most accomplished ninja I have ever known, I take the extra precaution of locking down the monster's den. But then again, they'll know, eventually. "Hey, everyone."

Alright!

SO keeping this part short, this part was a bit non plot progressive, but things will pick up again.

I am still figuring out what to do next, but there are wayyyy too many subjects to choose from and genre

Hopefully I'll figure it out soon and start thinking about its plot.

Anyways, I will see you in the next chapter!

BYEBYE!~ Grai