Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto and I have nothing else to say on the matter.

Pre-chapter notes / slight rant:

Greetings all,

I know it has been nearly (possibly over) a month since my last update, but I have been rather busy as of late; what with hell week, then finals, then other stuff that had to be done over the break.

Now, as for that rant part…

Looking at the manga (at least as far as I have come to understand it) and comparing it to a good deal of fanfiction I see, I have found a lot of fics that tend to demonize Danzo and Konoha's High Council (or whatever name they may have as the name is sometimes objective).

I mean, are they really so bad in the view of the majority?

Forgive me if I have offended any of you, but I just couldn't help but point it out, and I figured that with the contents of this chapter being close to home, I decided to finally bring it up now.

Yes, Danzo doesn't believe in emotion. Yes, he feels that it is a weakness. Yes, the council seems to act to get in Naruto's way, but they do believe that it's for the best, yes?

Looking at it from that angle, I feel that they seem more like overly-strict parents then evil demon's out to get the main character.

Just curious as to you opinion of this, as it would appease my restlessness greatly to understand better why everyone in this fandom seems to hate them so much.

Review Responses:

NotPaimon - Thank you for the well-wished, and I hope to hear from you again once this story has reached completion.

SomebodyLost – Oh, I don't want to spoil things for you *smirk*, though I'm very glad that you have found my story amusing.

Cenright – I'll have to agree on you there with the comment on Ame, as looking at their history, it is very possible that they have held on to that little bit of pessimism that should have sunk in after all the strife they have experienced. You have an interesting view of Konoha, though, but I'll also have to agree that you make a good point. Throughout the series, it as been clear that Konoha has had one of the highest standards of living among the Shinobi Nations, and it has come to make me wonder how this will affect their ability to deal with deeper parts of war. The third war didn't seem to really reach the village, after all.

warriorx559 – A very likely possibility (referring to Karin)

Rise Against713 – in response to your question, I will not give an exact number, but I will say that the Prince has married no less than four times in the last three years between canon and the story. I'm not going to say anything about the Booty call *laugh*; though I will say that the silver tongue isn't so much a seducing technique as it is simply the ability to smooth talk anyone. This is already a clue as to what role Sasuke may play in the future.

DragonMasterFlex – lol, thank you, and I'm glad that you like it; I shall do my best.

Winnow – As always, Winnow, you provide me with the most interesting of ideas with regard to what signals my clues are sending. (you also - much to my misfortune – do not give me that much room to answer you without giving too much away) Now, with the comment on Shikamaru, a friend of mine had also said something about that, but I will have to point out that in this storyline, Shikamaru and Temari have not had the opportunity to interact all that much after the chuunin exams; considering the fact that both sides remained as either neutral or hostile towards each other did not help this along much, either. Subsequently, this prevented any attachments from forming. You pose a valid point with your arguments about the Prince not being Naruto, and I agree with them. Despite this, I cannot say whether or not you are correct. The Sandaime is one of the most experienced characters in the Naruto universe and has commonly been used as a source of information in a fair number of fics that I have read. You shall have your reply to this statement a little later down the chapter.

Antiholsticate – Interesting, theory with regard to the Prince and the Claw, though you will have to wait for more clues regarding that. And I am glad that you have enjoyed the story so far.

Crypton89 – There is nothing wrong with your opinion. You have your beliefs and I respect that. However, I shall have to say that the workings of the Prince's marriages are far more complex then emotional attachment and affection; you will see a bit of that later in the chapter.

Tenshi Aine – Well, I'll have to admit and agree on your point with the textbook feel, but such is expected if the questions are to serve their purpose. I'm glad that you have enjoyed the story so far, and I like the fact that I have a fellow Monte Cristo fan out there *laughs*.

I am happy that you enjoy reading this fic despite the frustrations it has caused you (this was intended).

Sincerely,

Toph the Trickster

Arc two, Chapter one:

Chapter Twenty-Five:

Looking Back and Looking Forward

"Everything in this village, I know.

"There is no secret that is hidden from me.

"And here I am looking at what may possibly be a coup d'Etat.

"I shall allow no such thing.

"Keep an eye on them, and if you feel that there is nothing that can be done to dissuade their rebellious urges..."

"-then perhaps it was time they learned who the superior one here is."

-Namikaze Minato, Yondaime Hokage

~TtT~

Contemplative silence was probably the best way to describe the atmosphere in Sarutobi Hiruzen's private study; only the howling winds that blew through the large window breaking the solemnity as the old kage's dark eyes flew over the treaty terms that had been set out by the Amekage two evenings ago.

~ "These are our terms, Hokage-san, and they are no longer negotiable. We have consumed hours discussing this, and considering the fact that you drafted this over the last twenty-four hours with the help of my son suggests to me that all parties are content with these and that there shall be no further dispute over them" ~

The Shadow of Fire recalled the raven's words:

~ "Present this document to your high council – in the event that you haven't done so yet – and inform them that what is written on this bundle of paper is final. I apologize for sounding rude, but as this treaty is to be singed in by the shogun we cannot afford to allow this joining to consume any more time than necessary." ~

It was such a strange statement, Hiruzen knew. For what sense would it make for the shogun to be bothered with how long it would take to settle an agreement between two villages?

"Perhaps it is in the fact that this is the first time since the Grand Founding that any samurai had risen to take command of the lands." His right hand felt the upward tug of his skin as a smirk formed while old fingers brushed through white facial hair.

"This does leave all the shinobi villages in uncharted waters." He added in a mumble. "The balance of power is shifting fast…"

He was interrupted form continuing however, as he heard the hinges to the room's sole door wail with movement:

"Even perhaps faster than you can hope to keep up with, Hokage-sama?"

Whatever collective of words Hiruzen had thought to append to his unfinished statement immediately died in his thoughts as he quickly placed the treaty draft face-down on his desk and rested his hands on the silken cloths of his lap; he stared at the intruder.

"Good evening, Shimura-san." The Hokage's voice was almost venomous, with the obvious weariness lacing it so much that the scarred councilman could almost feel it with the latter's missing limbs.

Despite this apparent dislike, Danzo did not falter:

"I bid you a good evening, Hiruzen." The politician made a small grunt as he struggled to lower himself to the cushion across the village leader while leaning upon the cane that supported his damaged legs. "And may I ask how you have been as of late? Your duties have not been so hard on you that you would rafter not have a chat with an old colleague, perhaps?"

Hiruzen found himself smirking ever so slightly: "I have been well, Danzo." He informed the cripple before him. "Though I will admit a chat from you had not been among my expectations for this week." the white-haired old man's lips tugged upward just a little bit more as the annoyance his voice was mixed with was replaced with humor and slight warning:

"Pray tell, what service can the shadow of fire be to you, honored councilman?"

The visitor did not respond right away; though he did not stare blankly at the kage for too long either.

It was a pause, just long enough so that it would not look that he was too eager to ask something of the Hokage, and short enough that he would not look unprepared for what might come of the visit.

Smart move, Danzo.

"A simple 'satisfaction of curiosity' would be the best way to describe my primary reason, and a 'settling of a concern' to be the secondary." Danzo took his cane and laid it beside his right thigh then placed his hands – the palms facing down – on top of the varnished wooden table, making it known to the white-haired man that there was nothing hidden, nothing he was holding that could be used.

He was showing he wasn't here to be hostile with him.

Though Hiruzen was still a little skeptical with regard to that, considering the past they had.

"Concern, Shimura-san?" the Hokage told the councilor with a raised eyebrow. "I would have expected that concern for me is the last thing on your mind, regardless of what time period in our history together you were in."

A scarred chin dipped down before rising up again:

"That is true, Sarutobi-dono," Danzo told the Hokage with a tone that was less than reputable. "Your health is the least of my concerns, and I could care less if you were to die on me right now." The man's tone had changed in that second statement, moving from forced respect to open disdain in the span of one sentence, and Hiruzen once again found himself watching out for attack.

-Just like he used to when both of them were younger.

The councilor, though, was apparently not yet through speaking:

"But I'm sure you know that the state of this village certainly is something I would concern myself with." Still the tone was sharp, the words biting at the kage as Danzo's sole seen eye glared at him. "You have always known that. And despite what you may believe, you are also aware that everything I do is for the good of Konohagakure."

Hiruzen's brows were drawn together at the odd choice of words for they seemed more than a little uncalled for in a surprise visit.

"May I ask, Danzo, where you are leading me in this conversation?"

The cripple's glare seemed to soften a little, the councilor taking a deep breath before replying to the village head:

"You will have to excuse me, Hiruzen," he said, neither male choosing to refer to each other formally any longer. "But I am here to discuss plans for the foreseeable future and whatever additional baggage may come with them."

The statement caused the Hokage's right eyebrow to rise as the confusion at his councilman's outburst turned to curiosity at what the latter might mean.

Danzo recognizing the look, immediately responded:

"This alliance with the Land of Rain, the reemergence of the Shogunate, our 'At War' status with Oto, the fate of the jinchuuriki boy, and your dealings with this Prince Rikudo."

Hiruzen nodded to the person seated in front of him once, not saying a word as Danzo continued.

"Three years ago, you lost Uzumaki Naruto during the attempted invasion of Konoha; that in itself was a grave failure on your part.

"Now, we are presented with this 'Prince' that has an uncanny resemblance to the missing child."

It was then that the Hokage spoke:

"Are you saying they are one person?"

"That is not where I am going, but you are quite close to what I was trying to point out." –was the councilman's immediate response. "Look out the window, Hiruzen," Danzo gestured to the large opening to his left and tilted his head so that Hiruzen might look outside while the former kept his gaze on the latter. "Look at the village and compare the sight through this window to your memory from when we were but genin.

"Look at it and compare everything you see." He stopped speaking then, keeping silent when he saw the familiar clouding of the old leader's eyes; the familiar feeling of nostalgia that the third Hokage seemed to exude as the white-haired man looked into the past.

Though as this happened, Danzo did not follow the gaze, or take that opportunity to reminisce on his own; no, he kept his eyes trained on the kage, silently waiting for the reaction he knew would come soon enough.

It was nearly a minute later that it did, in the form of Hiruzen's eyebrows rising up in surprise.

"Do you see it, Hiruzen?" the councilor asked his superior: "Do you see the difference?"

Their eyes met as the shadow of the Land of Fire turned away from the view and back to his guest.

And then came the nod:

"Yes, I can see it clearly, so clearly that it almost seems worrisome to think about…" He took a deep breath, his expression somber with the thought of what he was about to say:

"Nothing." That was the word he felt could best describe what he saw in his mind's eye. "Other than the addition of a few residences, nothing has changed since I became the third Hokage."

"Hmm." -Hummed the councilman as he nodded to the other man: "The stagnancy of a nation is a failure in itself. You managed to keep the peace, Hiruzen, you managed to keep the people of Konoha alive and happy, but you failed to make it grow, at least in the sense that we seek to achieve.

"It is not in your nature; you are not one to accept change so easily," Danzo understood this aspect of the Hokage and knew of it longer than any other person in Konoha. "All Konoha did during your time was maintain what it had.

"There is no denying that you had implemented things, the medic-nin program, and other policies that are still being used now.

"But all you had done was put into writing what was already practiced in thought, what we did whether it was made a law or not.

"You are a rock, Hiruzen, a stone that stands stable and keeps everything in place through the years.

"But now I sense the winds of change," the speaker's single eye narrowed as he spoke: "The balance of power is shifting around us, more than just successors are joining the game, and problems are arising for those conservatives that deny what's coming.

"Don't tell me that you haven't noticed, for you are standing at the forefront now. You know how things have been run since the time of the village's founding, but it doesn't work like that anymore.

"The kage don't hold all the power now, Hiruzen, the cards are being dealt again.

"Now, how do you plan to deal with your hand?

"You are a rock, but will you hold as the ground bellow you shakes and shudders?

"And that is the future that I can foresee; the questions are right in front of you."

There was another pause then, Danzo remaining silent as the Hokage pondered his two questions with only the wind that blew into he room disturbing the silence it had fallen into. Perhaps it had even grown to such a point that the visiting councilman would no longer bear it, for he took his cane and stood up:

"As you think on this, Hiruzen, perhaps you should look back at what I had told you on that night fifteen years ago." The man pivoted his heal and took a step towards the door. "It may help you get a better grasp of what may come."

The third Hokage, proclaimed by many as the God of Shinobi could only look at his desk in contemplation as he heard the hinges to the door screech before Danzo delivered his final message:

"And accept that – for all that is to befall us – we are both to blame for what happened to Uzumaki Naruto."

And the door was shut.

~TtT~

"I will trust your decision with regard to the child this one time, and simply because it was asked of me by Lord Minato.

"But heed my words, Hokage-sama; you bear the weight of the future on your shoulders now.

"And be prepared to deal with what may come of your choice, for I know well enough to be ready with respect to it.

"I supported you, after all.

"So remember this night, Sandaime Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen, for should you make a mistake in the light of this red moon…

"You're days – as well as those of many – are surely numbered."

-Shimura Danzo to Sarutobi Hiruzen

~TtT~

'The Blackened Hand' – a fairly pricy restaurant in northern Suna – found itself devoid of any life and its coffers filled at seven-fifteen that night as Prince Rikudo deigned to buy out the establishment for the evening, having decided to pay for all expenses in advance, and agreeing to pay additional should the expenses exceed what was predicted.

The owner, a rather plump, short0haired merchant by the name Akiudo Genma found himself dressed formally, waiting right outside the front door for his client to arrive. Normally, he would be here with his daughter – whenever one of House Rikudo were to make a transaction that would result in bulk profit – watching as she would interact with the prince, and sometimes hoping that the young royal might find enough interest in her that he may take her as a candidate for a wife.

If only that she may have a secured future.

The Akiudo were rather well-off, of that there is no doubt, but as a father he really could never help but worry whenever he looked at the way the changing politics were affecting his trade: for with the rising power of the shogunate, the feudal lords were beginning to take a more active role in the governing of the Great Shinobi Nations and even majority of the smaller ninja villages were starting to get affected.

This left people like he – businessmen who had rooted themselves too deeply into the economy of the shinobi villages – in uncharted territory.

And he was nothing if not someone who sought sturdiness and security, for his work and most especially his family.

-Which was why he hoped that Karin and his most frequent patron would find interest in each other.

For without a doubt, Ame - and House Rikudo by extension – will ride this wave without a hitch.

"Good evening, Genma." – called a voice the broke the man from his reverie, having not noticed the approach of the person he had been waiting to arrive.

The short, black hair of the merchant maintained its pulled-back style as he bowed to the Prince of Rain:

"Rikudo-dono," he smiled to his client after restoring his original posture. "It's good to see you again."

Rikudo's response was to place his left hand upon the merchant's shoulder and to extend his right for a handshake which Genma accepted: "You as well, my friend; I trust you have been well in the last few months? Forgive my inability to see you." He asked the older man with a smirk.

"I have been well, sir, and it's no problem that you haven't been able to visit me." The older male replied as he broke the aforementioned handshake. "You are a busy man, after all; what with all traveling I hear you have had to do as of late." He continued before gesturing to the door and taking several steps toward it. "Would you like to see what we have managed to set up, Rikudo-dono?"

There was silence at first, the prince remaining in the shadowed area just beyond what the lights of the building could reach, no movement from the royal as the latter seemed more focused on what was happening around them.

At two seconds, Genma thought he heard giggle; he looked and saw a teenage couple walking together. He could not tell who they were from darkness of the night.

At four seconds, he heard a growl and the noise of cans and crates. He didn't have to look it was the chef's cat and the stray dog roughhousing at the back of the restaurant.

At six seconds, the merchant swore he heard the distant and faded sounds of the southern gate's bells tolling to signal that someone had been found dead. An expected even in light of the recent attack on the Kazekage, one which went ignored by most except those that were in charge of keeping track of numbers.

Four seconds after – at Akiudo Genma's tenth count – he heard the prince's sandals grind against the sand; one step, then another, then another, until the Heir to House Rikudo was fully shown in the yellow light that filtered through the windows of the Blackened Hand.

The teenager's purple eyes stared at the amber one's of the elder man in amusement as the former brought up his arms and tucked his hands into the sleeves of his midnight blue kimono, the position bringing out the shoulders which his black Haori rested atop of.

"That would delightful, Genma."

~TtT~

Darkness and silence, the two best ways to describe the way the shinobi world had been throughout the past three years, for what else could there be? Since the great abomination that was the attempted invasion of Konohagakure, there has been nothing to disturb the appearance of peace since.

Now, if only this applied to the looming darkness and foreboding that seemed to hang over the sights of many of the people in power and any person they may be related to or involved with.

Rikudo Temari, second wife of prince Rikudo found such thought plaguing her as she tossed and turned in the cloth wrapping that was her bed linens.

She wondered why it bothered her, this uncertainty of what was to come, this inability to know what her husband and his family had planned for the coming months, or what role they intend to play in the Shogun's games.

~ You feel affected because you are already a part of it. ~

She could almost see Lady Shoujouhi's red eyes sparkle with humor as she would have said this.

The seventeen-year-old woman – at least the image the blonde kunoichi imagined in her mind – made a valid point, though. Temari could not ignore that fact that despite not being a samurai by profession, not being related by blood to or coming from a samurai family, she was married to one that was by title.

One might she add, that was possibly neck-deep in all of it.

The ninja felt a bit of bitterness creep into her as she thought of her marriage, though; her erratic movements stopping as her consciousness took hold and she felt how soaked her sheets had become since she fell asleep on the chair hours before.

Deep sea-green eyes stared longingly at the full moon that shone through the glass of her window, the woman finding herself desiring the clarity of the white orb, the purity of its soft light.

No secrets, no lies, no more deceptions.

She found herself greatly bemused by her thoughts at the irony of it all: she, a kunoichi - a proud ninja of the Land of Wind – rejecting the existence of falsities?

All things considered, it was part of her work. She couldn't avoid them, could she?

But Temari could not deny that little bit of hurt that she felt whenever she acknowledged her ignorance of her husband's state of health, or that of his family. True, she received news whenever things would happen; she was informed if some significant event or another affected one of the other wives or a blood relative of the prince, but that was standard protocol.

For news of that nature said nothing about the trust placed upon her, nothing of the trust that she felt should have been there after a year-and-a-half of marriage.

So she had asked around, pried, and searched, hoping that she would come to an answer that might send away the darkness that clouded over her future – a darkness her husband had placed before her.

And the answer she received after weeks of looking through Ame's libraries, questioning their one hundred councilors, and perusing the very scrolls held by the Pillars of Rikudo, she was answered by her father-in-law with one statement:

~ We all have roles to play in the coming future, my little one; it is simply that yours has yet to be determined in such an entirety that it is ready to be given to you. ~

Her back arced forward as she sat up and hugged her knees to herself, only noticing then that her husband had taken the liberty of removing her outer garments and letting her hair down before placing her in bed as he left. She took the opportunity to look at the clock and sighed when she found the time at seven-thirty-three.

Without a doubt, I will be late.

Sighing at her predicament, she looked to the armchair that stood to her left and found what she expected: the clothes that she was expected to wear to tonight's event, and a little note on top of the outfit which was most likely left by her husband before he departed.

It's in times like these that I try to remember what sort of expectations I had when I was made to marry the Prince of Rain.

She did; she always found herself asking what she sought in her marriage, what sort of life she expected to lead among the many wives he would soon have.

Rikudo Temari wasted not time with the question, preferring to quickly relieve herself of her wet sheets and rush to the bathroom in order to be at her best for tonight's activity, which she was sure would be spent at her spouse's side.

Until now, she knew, that she might never recall what she wanted out of this life she was now living, or if she will ever achieve what she sought.

~TtT~

Hatake Kakashi found himself more than just a little bit bothered as he continued his walk towards the northern gate of the Village Hidden in the Sand, only paying enough attention to his surroundings that he might not bump into anything or anyone, and that he be able to determine whether he had gone far enough.

Everything else, though - the looks of curiosity he was getting from the people around him for being a shinobi of another village, the strange feel of the sand beneath his sandals, or the chill that caressed his face whenever the desert winds blew at him – went unnoticed, tuned out as he concentrated on other things.

The primary reason for this being the information his female student had decided to present to himself and the last Sannin remaining under direct command of the Hokage.

-Information that may relate to the disappearance – and even possible continued existence – of his other male student that went by the name of Uzumaki Naruto.

He thought back…

~TtT~

"So this is it?" the jounin sensei asked his student as his black eye scrutinized the wooden box on the table before he trained his gaze to Sakura, his revealed eyebrow rising as he added: "He offered it to you, and you just took it?"

No, he was sure that Sakura was more cautious than that; a thought that was confirmed when he saw her swing her head from left to right in disagreement to what he said.

"No, Kakashi-sensei." The younger of the two present kunoichi said from her place on the couch in her hotel room. "I could sense no deception in his words, at least as far as my training should have been able to detect."

It was Tsunade – the only other female in the room – that answered her apprentice's words from the former's own place to Sakura's left:

"That is no excuse, Sakura." The woman scolded, blonde brows furrowed as her lips were pulled down. "For all you know the box could have been rigged and you could die within the next hour or so." Though contradicting her own words, the Sannin moved to pick up the object and let her amber eyes examine the six Magatama placed upon the top cover. "And even if Chiyo-baa-sama had said nothing about your doing so," Tsunade added, still not looking at the teenager. "It is not wise to be so trusting of people here at the moment."

And when the older woman looked up to be met by the confused look on the genin's face, she, in kind, responded to the unsaid question she saw:

"We are allies of the Rain village, or at least we are going to be if all this treaty business goes off without a problem, and Suna is one of its allies." Tsunade placed the box back on the table with a gentleness that she rarely exhibited when dealing with work she didn't particularly enjoy. "But remember that this village was still involved in the attempted invasion three years ago, and we should remain weary of them until they can prove trustworthy enough."

"I don't like it." -Interrupted Kakashi, gaining the attention of the women that sat across him. "Three years of quiet and all of a sudden we're up to our necks in activity." He shook his head. "It's either Konoha has been ignorant of Ame's machinations over the last few years or they're up to something that they think we may not like."

"Wait," Sakura called out with an expression of even deeper confusion then before. "Aren't we talking about this box and Sasori? How did we suddenly arrive to talking about Ame?"

There was silence at first, no words being said by either senior in response, and thus leaving Sakura to contemplate all the information herself.

She thought back, from her first encounter with the prince, to that conversation in the graveyard, the talk with Ino, the mission, up till the last time she saw the prince just that morning.

The prince looked like Naruto, she couldn't deny that. Other than the minor differences, he could probably be Naruto in disguise.

No, it has to be him.

But what else could there be?

She knew that the prince was from Ame, a shinobi village that did not really garner that much attention until recently – and that attention was not always openly expressed if she observed the lack of information moving around Konoha for not even whispers of it were overheard whenever she made her frequent visits to the kage tower.

Kakashi-sensei is right, though. She told herself with a little nod. There's something brewing and Ame's involved.

She looked back to the woman she encountered this morning, the shogun's wife, who – apparently – was involved in the withholding of chuunin exams for the past three years and had been planning on reinstating them this year, albeit under invitation for the participating villages.

What connection was there between the three?

It was certain that Ame had dealings with the shogun and his family, if the interaction between the prince Rikudo and the noble's wife was anything to go by.

But how was Sasori connected to all this? If Naruto was indeed the prince, what involvement did they have that would make this 'temple' something of significance?

For that matter, was Sasori even telling her the truth or was it just something to lead her astray from where she was really supposed to go?

All things considered, she didn't even know where she was supposed to be heading in the first place.

She was prevented from further thought, however, by the words of her mentor:

"Either way, it seems like there is too little information to go by, and I don't think it's wise for us to be discussing things here."

Kakashi nodded solemnly in response: "I agree;" his lone uncovered eye drifted back to the box on the table. "We will have to discuss this with Hokage-sama in greater detail when we get home."

"Yes," Tsunade affirmed, following the jounin's gaze to the object that had come to grip their attention for the better part of the early afternoon.

"Regardless, my instincts are telling me that there has been some foul play involved, and I don't like it."

And so begins the second arc of the Prince of Rain.

Post-Chapter Questions (the homework that many of you seem to like to call :P):

Namikaze Minato has been known and accepted to be kind, but also ruthless to his enemies during the time of the Third Great Shinobi War; looking at his account, I feel that it is obvious as to what he is referring to, but I would like to know who you believe he is speaking to and how the account makes him appear as.

How do you feel about my portrayal of Danzo in this fic based on his only (so far) appearance?

What secrets / regrets do you feel Hiruzen is hiding?

A brief memory of the occurrence on the day of Naruto's birth was shown through the chapter's second account. What are your thoughts on this?

From the second scene (the one with the Prince until the last one), I have tried to add in a bit of my new style into the writing. What do you think of this new thing?

I tried to put a fair amount of angst in Temari's scene, and I am curious as how this turned out for you readers…. Also, how would you describe her feelings toward her marriage?

Twice now, (in this chapter and the once previous) Temari has mentioned the woman named "Lady Shoujouhi" who can be confirmed as the Prince's first wife. Based on her thoughts and what little interactions there are, what image has been painted to you about this enigmatic woman?

In the last scene, it has become clear that the Konoha ninja are starting to suspect something. Do you agree with their speculations?

And that's it for this week. Sorry for the delay, and I hope you enjoyed the read.

Sincerely,

Toph the trickster