A/N: Well the mission prep took less time than I thought. The troops are ready to move out to Wave already! They'll start traveling either next chapter or the one after.

In the meantime, sorry about the week's wait, but I've changed my creed a little. Now I've sworn to update SOMETHING each week. This is fun, but I've been neglecting everything else. So I'll still be updating it, but not ONLY it, and I really can't manage more than weekly updates. Sorry.

Anyway, enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 25: Reorganization

"You heard me," Shikamaru hissed, real fury in his eyes. "I just got back from the Sandaime' office. The Wave mission has been raised to B-Rank, because of the presence of an S-Rank missing-nin active in that area. He's already killed a Suna ANBU squad off. And he's wearing armor that perfectly matched what I saw in Madara's lair. I want an explanation. Now."

"I don't know, I swear!" Sasuke said in what the small part of his mind that was thinking rationally realized was an almost childlike display of shocked horror. But the greater part of his mind was busy getting weak at the knees with the weight of that very emotion. "They didn't have him! You know they didn't have him! It makes no sense!"

"You didn't have him!" Shikamaru snarled in his face viciously, and Sasuke felt as though his heart was tearing at the confirmation of his guilt. "You're one of them! You were one of them from the moment you abandoned Konoha for Orochimaru!"

And then the Nara had been launched sideways by kick, courtesy of Naruto, who now stood between them, glaring at Shikamaru's prone form. "I'll say this once, Captain Hawk," said Naruto, quietly and forcefully. "You will not consider Sasuke to be one of our enemies again, verbally or otherwise, until he gives evidence that he is so. Is that clear?"

Shikamaru looked usp at him with hooded eyes for a moment and then sighed ruefully. "Sometimes I forget why you are our Hokage, Naruto," he murmured. "My apologies. It won't happen again."

"See that it doesn't," Naruto grunted. "Now, I'd really like to know what's going on."

"The armor Sasuke helped Madara make is in the Land of Waves on a missing-nin," Shikamaru explained. "Whoever it is has killed four Suna ANBU who came across it. The mission to Wave is set at B-Rank as a result – it'd be higher if this missing-nin was seeking confrontation."

Whoever it is… Sasuke shuddered slightly. After a moment, however, he recollected himself. That doesn't make sense, he told himself. There must be another explanation.

"But he's not seeking confrontation?" Naruto asked Shikamaru.

"No," Shikamaru said simply. "But his very presence is extremely unsettling. How did he get here? Or, more importantly, how did the armor get here?"

Naruto shook his head. Turning to Sasuke, he asked, "Did Madara ever show any artistic tendencies?"

Sasuke blinked. "No. Why?"

"Then he couldn't have designed the armor himself," Naruto concluded. "We have no proof the missing-nin wasn't present last time, and the armor design must have come from somewhere. Since the chances were all re-rolled, he must have just decided to go to Wave this time when he didn't last time."

Shikamaru blinked. "That… actually makes good sense, or something like it. When did you get inclined to figure out how the theory behind all of this worked?"

Naruto shrugged. "Around when it started having anything to do with me. Now, can you get us the mission?"

Shikmaru seemed to think for a minute, and then a wicked smile crossed his features. "The Sandaime won't allow one team of Genin to take this – even yours," he said quietly. "His decision would be too questioned and at best it'd make people suspicious. But perhaps he'd allow two teams."

Naruto grinned. "So you're coming with us?"

"Oh, no," Shikamaru started laughing. "I'm need in Konoha. No, I was thinking Team Eight."

And then he was gone.

Sasuke saw Naruto's face slacken. He heard the blond whisper, "Hinata-chan…" thickly to himself.

Sasuke didn't mind the moment's respite for introspection. He couldn't help but continue to feel worried. It was true, after all, that Madara had no creative talent.

But Deidara and Sasori did. Konan, too. Even Pein and Zetsu had some.

So it couldn't be said that Akatsuki, at its height, had had a shortage of creativity.

But Madara had meant that armor for one man in particular. He'd never let anyone else wear it.

…Would he?

"After considering, we've thought up a valid explanation for the missing-nin's presence," said Shikamaru. The Sandaime motioned for him to continue, leaning back at his desk. "We believe that he was, in fact, present last time – that because of the re-rolled chances, he has surfaced in the Land of Waves rather than elsewhere this time."

Hiruzen nodded. "Very well, Shikamaru," he nodded. "What do you suggest I do?"

"I recommend two Genin teams be sent on the mission to Wave," Shikamaru said. "For multiple reasons. First, sending a squad of Jounin on a B-Ranked mission is nonsensical and would be questioned. Second, we do want to apprehend this missing-nin – he has destroyed members of Suna ANBU and if we can take him down and perhaps give them a portion of the reward as consolation for their losses it would strengthen our ever-frailer bonds."

"We went to war with them in the near future last time, didn't we?" Hiruzen interrupted grimly.

"A very brief and nearly harmless war, but yes," nodded Shikamaru. "In any case, a squad of Chuunin with no Jounin backup is not advisable for that aim. The logical conclusion would be to send squads of weaker Ninja – Genin, the obvious choice – to complete the core mission with stronger Ninja – their Jounin sensei – to take out the missing-nin, should he appear. But one squad of Genin to take a B-Rank mission is nonsensical. And one Jounin might prove insufficient in any case."

HIruzen was smiling now. "You make a shrewd politician, Shikamaru-san."

I know, Shikamaru thought, not missing the new honorific. I needed it all to pass off the engagement of Konoha's and Suna's main ambassadors to one another as a politically advantageous move. But all he said aloud was, "Thank you, Sandaime-san."

"But wait," said the old Sarutobi. "Why would two of our Jounin be able to take out a missing-nin that has defeated a squad of Suna ANBU?"

Shikamaru smirked. "I advise you to play up the Sharingan politically, but you know as well as I do what the real power behind the team is."

"So, for this mission, I'll be assigning Teams Seven and Ten, correct?" Hruzen asked, beginning to write on the mission scroll.

"No," said Shikamaru quickly. "I need to be here in the village, Sandaime-san. I'm our group's tactician. Send Team Eight instead."

Hiruzen nodded slowly but didn't continue writing. "I just realized you haven't yet addressed the problem of payment," he said. "Is Tazuna going to be able to pay for a B-Rank mission in any case?"

"No," Shikamaru shrugged. "But how much will it cost to increase the mission's rank?"

Hiruzen looked down at his paperwork to check. "Two hundred ryo."

Shikamaru opened his wallet, counted its contents, sighed, and poured it out onto Hiruzen's desk. "That should foot it," he said. "I'll get Naruto o pay me back for part of it."

"We thank you for your business, Tazuna-san," the Hokage said.

Tazuna nodded, squinting at him. If he had known he'd be called back to the man's office again today, he'd have refrained from drinking any sake until the meeting was over. Unfortunately, they'd surprised him with this, and so he was already drunk to the point where he was absolutely certain he was embarrassing his homeland with his slurred speech. "'S no problem," he mumbled. "Need your help."

Hiruzen nodded. "Unfortunately, the mission you requested has been raised in rank to B-grade on the grounds of a missing-nin's known presence near Wave."

"Missing-nin?" Takuna blurted without thinking, then clamped his mouth shut hard. B-Rank was for the presence of a missing-nin. If they knew that Tazuna himself was being gunned for, it'd be even higher. B-Rank, he might just be able to manage, given a little time.

"Yes," said the Hokage. "Fortunately, a benefactor who opted to remain anonymous has paid the increased cost."

Tazuna grinned. "Oh, good!" then he frowned. "Wait… what if 's someone trying to lure me t' the missing-nin?"

The Hokage smiled. "Don't worry," he assured Tazuna. "I know the source personally. I have complete faith in his loyalty."

"'Kay." Tazuna muttered. "So when d' we leave?"

"In a few days," the Hokage said. "I will be sure to notify you in advance, so that you can sober up."

Tazuna flushed. "Sorry. 'S hard."

"To be away from home for so long?" the Hokage asked softly.

Tazuna nodded woefully. "'Specially when they need me."

"This is most unwise, Hiruzen," Mitokado Homura said quietly.

The village elders were having tea with the Hokage to discuss various village affairs – including, in this case, Tazuna's mission to the Land of Waves. He and Koharu were in perfect agreement on this point – sending two Genin squads on a B-Rank mission paid partly by a benefactor who Hiruzen still refused to name made absolutely no sense.

Hiruzen leaned back in his chair. "Allow me to explain my reasoning, then," he said quietly without looking at either of them.

Homura frowned at this show of disassociation. For nearly two months, Hiruzen had become startlingly distant from his two former teammates. It was as though they'd done something to alienate him. But he simply nodded to the Hokage and waited for his explanation.

"Suna has recently lost multiple ANBU agents to the mysterious missing-nin near Wave Country," Hiruzen said. "They would be grateful were we to give them his or her head. Do you agree?"

Homura nodded, waiting for the other man to get to the point. Beside him, Koharu sighed in impatience.

"So the Chuunin squad expected for a B-Rank mission makes no sense if that is our unspoken aim," said Hiruzen. "We need Jounin. But we cannot send a squad of Jounin on a B-Rank mission – it looks illogical and other villages would think us frightened."

"But Genin?" Koharu asked, exasperated. "Hiruzen, you're the one who is so ridiculously overprotective of the children. What are you thinking?"

"The Genin will finish the core objective of the mission, which is little more than a C-Rank escort," Hiruzen spoke quietly, but his authority topped the woman's words. "Meanwhile, the Jounin will be on hand to capture or kill the missing-nin , should he or she appear."

"This missing-nin has destroyed a full squad of Suna ANBU," Homura said softly. "Yuuhi Kurenai only recently made Jounin."

"Kakashi Hatake has the precious Sharingan," Hiruzen countered. "You and Danzo were so afraid of it that we destroyed all but three of its known bearers – and though I still think that was an erroneous decision, you were right to fear. The Sharingan is dangerous. Hatake's Ninjutsu is nigh on unrivalled, and Yuuhi has similar standing in Genjutsu. There is, after all a reason she was able to become one of the five youngest Jounin-sensei in Konoha history despite the widespread prejudice against Kunoichi. They are capable."

"What I fail to understand," said a new voice behind Homura as the door opened, "is why we should be expending our resources to destroy an enemy of Suna."

"Danzo," said Hiruzen without inflection. "This is a meeting between the two village elders and myself. I count three people who should be in this room now – you are not one of them."

Homura's eyes widened slightly. Hiruzen had never dismissed Danzo so offhandedly before. What was happening to him?

Koharu was clearly extremely surprised as well. "How dare you dismiss Danzo-san so quickly?" she said loudly. "He has ever given us valuable counsel!"

"Counsel to war, yes," Hiruzen said, and though his voice never rose, and he didn't release even an ounce of Killer Intent, the room seemed to grow colder. The Hokage stood, and Homura had not seen so much power into the Hokage's aged form since they were young and fought side by side in battle. "How dare I?" he asked softly. "How dare you, Danzo." Hiruzen gestured to Homura and Koharu. "They were my teammates," he said softly. We fought and bled together. We fought and bled with you, too, but if your blood is not black by now I am most surprised."

Hiruzen turned away, looking out the window. "They were my friends," he said, and Homura felt an odd chill go down his spine. "But your eye has seen into their minds and now those minds see out of that very eye."

Homura distinctly saw Danzo stiffen ever so slightly. "What are you suggesting?" the old warmonger asked softly.

"Exactly what you know to be true," said Hiruzen, still quietly but now with a concentrated force. "You cannot turn its gaze on me – I will find it. But they are open. Well, no more. I cannot prove anything yet, but I have the means to find that evidence. The only reason I have not yet utilized them is because your blood belongs to another, and I will not steal what is his. Go. Do not deceive yourself into thinking my threats are empty. Do not come before me as an advisor again, and do not manipulate my teammates – I will know if you do."

Danzo stood still for a moment, and then turned, making to leave the room without a word.

"And one more thing," said Hiruzen quietly. "Don't turn your little band of human kunai against any of us either. I assure you, I will know."

Danzo didn't even turn around as he left.

Hiruzen fell back into his chair tiredly. "My apologies," he said to them both. "Please, don't ask me what I was talking about."

Homura frowned. "Why, might I ask? I think if Danzo is as much a threat as you seem to believe, we should know."

Hiruzen shook his head. "If he is a threat to the village, then it is because I have just made him so. He is a psychopath, perhaps, but until now he was one not turned against the village. And if he is now I am confident in my ability to contain him."

"But why do you suddenly hate him so?" Koharu asked.

Hiruzen sighed. "That is not my secret to divulge." He looked at each of them in turn. "In the event of my death, I want you to promise me never to elect Danzo as the Hokage."

They both nodded slowly. "I hope you'll explain this one day," Koharu said softly.

Hiruzen smiled ruefully at her. "I sincerely hope I never have to. Now, the mission to Wave will be as I have said. If I have not yet convinced you, I never will, and I am quite certain on this point. I am too tired to argue further now, in any case. Is there more to discuss?"

"Yes," said Homura, standing. "But it can wait for tomorrow." He put a hand on Hiruzen's shoulder. "Whatever this secret is, you don't have to bear it alone, old friend."

Hiruzen smiled weakly at him, and all of the authoritative power that had been in him was gone; Homura was struck by just how old his teammate was. None of us have much longer to live, perhaps, he thought. But dying of old age is the death of a very powerful Shinobi, after all.

"I'm not the one bearing it, Homura," he said softly. "I'm just helping them out."

A/N: And there you have it. I doubt anyone expected me to alter the elders like that, and honestly nor did I – it just happened. Hope you like it.

Please, do me a favor and review! Thanks!