Chapter 37: Blooming Leaf
Orochimaru, in his serpentine form, bursts out of the ground inside his lair within Otogakure & transforms back into his humanoid form with a scowl on his face.
"That accursed village..." Orochimaru mutters as he walks in the darkness, wondering where the hell everybody was. "...And I was so close too. They knew we were coming & was prepared which means there has to be a traitor in our ranks. But who...?"
"Orochimaru." Danzou's voice came from the darkness. "The invasion failed. You failed."
"Don't get snippy with me you old geezer." Orochimaru growls. "You weren't on the frontlines so you have absolutely no right to criticize my methods. They were obviously well prepared for the invasion & I suspect that we have a leak somewhere. Besides, let's see you try & do better with those kinds of odds working against you."
"Don't worry. I fully intend to do that..." Danzou said as the lights came on. Sitting on Orochimaru's throne was the traitorous ROOT leader. And around the throne room were all the current & active shinobis of Otogakure who were watching the ensuing powerplay between the 2. "...Once I kill you & take my place as the Nidaime Otokage."
"What is the meaning of this?" Orochimaru asks calmly despite what seemed to be an unfavorable situation for him.
"I believe the correct term would be a coup de tat." Danzou answered with a grim smile. "You see, your warriors don't seem to believe in your cause anymore. They have found a new cause to follow & that is MY cause. Your failure to destroy Konoha again was the last straw & they are tired of constantly losing under your rule. They want to join the winning side for once."
"And you honestly believe that your side is the winning side? Kukukuku, How foolish of you." Orochimaru stated with a chuckle as he slowly looks at the shinobis around the throne room before his hard gaze came upon Danzou. "You're delusional if you honestly think for a second that my shinobis will betray me for a pathetic old cripple like yourself."
With an unspoken command, a large zanbatou was suddenly at Danzou's throat. Swiveling his head ever so slightly, Danzou sees the pale features of a youthful shinobi with light blue hair & a mouthful of sharklike teeth grinning at him.
"Suigetsu. What is the meaning of this? I thought you supported my cause? Believed in my ideals." Danzou asks.
"You're kidding right?" the newly identified Suigetsu asks with a chuckle. "All I can see is the cause of a fossil & the ideals of a deadman which is what you became the moment you planned this little insurrection. I may be a little insane but I'm not stupid or suicidal Danzou."
Orochimaru appears next to his throne as Suigetsu leads Danzou to the center & forces him to his knees while Orochimaru takes his seat. "Kukuku... It was a mistake for you to reveal your hand too quickly Danzou. I now understand the invasion's failure. You deliberately leaked the information to Konoha beforehand hoping they'd have the necessary resources to dispose of me & maybe weaken their power enough for you to come in later to pick up the pieces." Orochimaru said as he steepled his fingers in front of him. "Too bad you were too pigheaded to recognize their potential & by leaking vital information about us, you destroyed whatever advantage we had over them."
Orochimaru then gives Danzou a sinister smile. "Yet despite your transgression against me, I won't kill you... Yet. You are much more valuable to me alive then dead & I intend to take every last bit of information from that fossilized brain of yours. But I can assure you that the procedure will NOT be painless. Kukukuku."
And for the next few nights, the screams of Danzou can be heard throughout Otogakure.
(Konoha)
"We are gathered here today to honor the brave shinobis who lost their lives in the defense of Konoha." Tsunade's voice booms out loud & clear. The active & reserve shinobis as well as the council members were assembled in the large court area outside the Hokage Tower for the memorial. Though Tsunade hated this aspect of her job, she knew it was nescessary "It matters not wether they are from our village or from our allies, they died protecting the innocents & for a shinobi, there is no greater cause."
Standing besides Hinata while holding her hand, Naruto tuned out Tsunade's voice & opted to look around. He hated wearing the black mourning suit with a passion & if he had his way, he'd shuck it right out the window & burn it. Being here in this situation painfully reminded him too much of the old man's funeral & he didn't want to relieve that part of his life again if he could help it.
But people die everyday & that was the reality of their lives. It was how you lived your life which really mattered. How much of a difference did you make?
A crying voice gets his attention. Looking around, he notices a young mother consoling her daughter. Probably the child of one of the slain shinobis.
"Mommy! Where what are they going to do with daddy? I wanna see daddy!" The child cried.
"I'm very sorry sweetie but I don't think daddy's coming back home." The young mother answered, trying to hold back her tears.
"But he's right there!!" The litle girl insisted as she pointed at one of the caskets which he presumed the little girl's father lay. Before anybody could stop her, the little girl broke away & made a beeline towards her father's casket. "Daddy!!"
Hinata felt Naruto's hold on her hand loosen & quick as a flash, the blonde jinchuuriki was on his knees in front of the little girl & hugging her. "He's gone kid. Please don't make it any harder then it has to be." He whispered in her ear as the girl cried & cried.
Despite the fact that a number of people present still saw him as some sort of demon, they were genuinely touched at seeing such empathy from Naruto. In a way, they felt ashamed at themselves for treating Naruto so badly when all he wanted was for his village to be safe & his precious people happy.
They watched as Naruto consoled the little girl then led her back to her mother. He then crouches down in front of the little girl & holds out a pinky finger which the girl grasps with her own pinky finger.
"You promise to get the big, bad snake who did this to daddy, niisan?" The little girl sniffled.
"I never go back on my word. You better believe that I'll get that big, bad snake & that's a promise of a lifetime." Naruto answered with one of his signature, foxlike grin.
Sakura & Sasuke shares a knowing smile with each other. When their teammate makes a promise like that, he'd follow through even if it kills him. They've had firsthand experience of that fact.
Kakashi simply gives Naruto one of his eye smiles. "Typical of Naruto." He mused.
Tsunade couldn't be any more prouder of her adopted younger 'brother'. As early as now, he was already demonstrating the necessary traits & skills to be an excellent Hokage which she had no doubt that he'll become.
To Hinata, this was simply how her Naruto Kun is. He would rather take all the pain & grief rather then let somebody else, especially an innocent child, experience it.
As Naruto walked back to Hinata's side, he could feel the eyes of everyone present on him. But instead of looking upon the jinchuuriki with hate & disgust, he was now regarded with growing respect & admiration as one of the trailblazers for the new generation of shinobis who would protect Konoha for many, many years to come.
(One week later, inside the High Council's Room)
"You know why you're here don't you, Uchiha Sasuke?" Tsunade asks formally from her position atop the elevated podium to which the last Uchiha merely nods.
It had already been almost two weeks since Otogakure's invasion failed. After confronting Orochimaru, Sasuke had surrendered & was taken back under house arrest but was allowed to leave under guard to attend the memorial service. After which, the council had summoned Sasuke today to ask him about his leaving his family estates without his guards which was expressly forbidden. Some council members even went as far as wanting him brought here in chains but Tsunade vetoed the idea saying that Sasuke freely turned himself back in after the battle. She also pointed out that this was just an inquiry & not a full blown trial.
Also attending the public inquiry were Kakashi, Sakura & Naruto as well as the rest of the Rookie 9, Team Gai & the Suna contingent.
"So you do realize that you violated the terms of your house arrest by leaving the Uchiha Compound during the invasion." Tsunade stated.
"Yes I realize that & under the same circumstances, I would willingly do it again if it meant saving a lot of lives." Sasuke answered.
"But you know that leaving your compound is tantamount to a death sentence, right?" A fat looking civilian member insisted. "So by leaving your compound alone, your life is forfeit."
"Now hold on here!!" Naruto blurted out from his seat before anyone can stop him. "Sasuke helped drive back the invasion & you thank him by executing him?! That's a load of bull & you guys know it!!"
"Naruto..." Kakashi warned as he moved to stop the enraged jinchuuriki though he couldn't help but agree with him. "It isn't our place to question the council's rulings."
"The hell it isn't!!" Naruto said, glaring at Kakashi. "How could you just stand there & let these guys decide to execute Sasuke for helping defend Konoha from the enemy? Where were THEY..." Naruto gestured at the civilians in the council. "...When Otogakure decided to invade our home?"
"You are out of line Uzumaki San." Another civilian councilman said. "You have no say in this so if we do decide to execute Uchiha Sasuke, it is none of your concern."
But before things can escalate between Naruto & the civilian council, a voice cuts in. "If I may be allowed to speak Hokage Sama." The voice belonged to the stoic Hyuga Hiashi who stood up from his seat & slowly walks down towards the center of the room where Sasuke sat. People can be heard whispering in the room wondering what the stoic Hyuga Clan leader wanted to say.
Hiashi stops in front of Sasuke & studies the last Uchiha before turning to the council. "While I am very much aware of Uchiha Sasuke's crimes against our village which had led to his incarceration in his own home, I also believe it is most unjust of us to execute someone who only wanted to protect his village."
The room erupts in protests, mostly from the civilian members before Hiashi raises a hand to signal for silence. "I believe his actions during the invasion proves without a shadow of a doubt where his loyalties lay & despite what others may think, his is a shinobi matter which the CIVILIAN members of the council has no authority over." Hiashi states, looking dispassionately at the civilian council members.
The elder Koharu took this as a hidden signal to spring their little surprise. "We, of the Shinobi Council, are unanimous in deciding to reinstate Uchiha Sasuke as a provisionary genin shinobi of Konoha whose activities will still be monitored by ANBU & his team until such time that he proves himself worthy of our trust again."
Before anyone can say anything else, Homura continues from where Koharu left off. "Furthermore, Uchiha Sasuke will be reassigned to his old team under Hatake Kakashi. Please step forward Hatake Kakashi & Team 7."
Team 7 shunshins besides the stunned Sasuke with Kakashi giving his reinstated student one of his eye smiles, Sakura giving her crush a tender smile of her own & Naruto clapping a hand on his friend's shoulder with one of his wide grins. Team 7 then faces Tsunade & the elders of the shinobi council.
"Hatake Kakashi, Haruno Sakura, Uzumaki Naruto. We will now leave custody of Konoha genin Uchiha Sasuke with you. You will all take responsibility for his actions from this point on. Is that understood?" Tsunade stated gravely.
"Of course Hokage Sama. We swear on our honors as shinobis to watch over Uchiha Sasuke & take responsibility for all his actions." Kakashi stated seriously.
"That goes without saying Master. We lost him once, we won't lose him again." Sakura said.
"And if he tries to pull that 'Leaving Konoha for more power' crap on us again, I'll just have to beat him up all over again." Naruto declared with a wide grin.
"Tsk... As if you could dope." Sasuke muttered under his breath.
"What was that teme?" Naruto demanded with a vein popping in his forehead as he took on a comical look of anger.
"You heard me idiot." Sasuke retorted, his features taking on a comical look of anger as well. Sparks flew between the 2 rivals as they glared at each other before Tsunade loudly clears her throat, reminding the 2 that they were still in front of her. The two bickering shinobis quieted down, both familiar with Tsunade's infamously short temper.
"Ahemm... Now if there is nothing else..." Tsunade starts but was interrupted by the same fat council member who protested earlier. "Hokage Sama!! This is totally unacceptable. We simply can't..."
"CRASH!!"
Tsunade suddenly appears in front of the said council member and, using one finger, smashes his table to smithereens then glares at him. "As I was saying, if there is nothing else, this meeting is adjourned. If there are ANY complaints regarding this matter, they can take it up with me, PRIVATELY." Tsunade states as she cracked her knuckles while pointedly looking at the offending council member. Even he was smart enough to back off after seeing the raw display of power by the Slug Sanin.
Tsunade then turns her attention towards the reformed Team 7. "Kakashi, you & your team will report to my office tomorow to recieve your new instructions, ok?"
"Understood, Hokage Sama." Kakashi said. But as he & his team started to leave, Hiashi calls out. "Uchiha Sasuke, may I have a few moments of your time?"
Sasuke looks at his teammates who nods at him and walks off he goes up to Hiashi. For a long moment, both men simply stare at each other, neither person saying anything. After a while, Hiashi sighs and speaks.
"With each passing day, I see more & more of your father in you." Hiashi said which piqued Sasuke's interest.
"You knew my father?" Sasuke asks.
"Oh yes. I knew him very well." Hiashi said. "Fuguku was my bitter rival in the council and one the most infuriatingly stubborn man I've ever known. We NEVER agreed on anything and fought over the smallest issues."
After a small pause and what seemed to be a look of nostalgia crossing his stern viasage, Hiashi continues. "But he was one of the most loyal shinobi Konoha ever had and he possessed a will of iron which seemed to have been forged by the same Katon jutsus you Uchihas seem to favor. He was also one of the very few I consider a friend. I can tell you right now that he is missed."
For this statement, Sasuke had no response. But Hiashi had another important thing to say to Sasuke.
"But despite your past transgressions, were Fuguku here right now, he would be very proud of you. He may not have shown it often but he always have been." Hiashi said then unexpectedly, bows to Sasuke. "You have my gratitude for assisting us in our time of need during the invasion."
Sasuke couldn't believe what he's seeing and hearing. Apart from the fact that Hiashi revealed a side of his father which he never knew existed, the Hyuga clan head was bowing to him and thanking him for his assistance. It took all his willpower to keep his emotions in check at the memory of his family and to help mask it, he turns around and starts to walk away. But not before saying his piece to Hiashi.
"You know something Hiashi Dono? We Uchihas were taught from birth that we were the strongest clan in Konoha. But now I see that the reason for this is NOT arrogance but rather pride." Sasuke said. "Pride because our clan has ALWAYS been the protectors of Konoha despite the sins of our ancestor, Uchiha Madara. That's why our clan established the Police Force to help maintain the peace and protect our citizens."
Sasuke thought for a while longer before speaking up again. "Ever since Itachi died, I didn't know what else to do with my life aside from trying to revive my clan. But the invasion helped me put things in perspective. Now, not only will I revive my clan, I'd like to re-establish the Konoha Police force which my family founded to help protect the village if the council will allow me. I appreciate your gratitude but your thanks isn't necessary Hiashi Dono. I was simply doing what was expected of me as a man and as a shinobi of Konoha."
Sasuke then walks towards the door where his teammates were waiting for him as Hiashi looks on in admiration. "Fuguku. Your son has grown up to be a fine young man. Rest easy old friend for the Uchiha Clan is in very good hands." Hiashi thought watching Sasuke interact with his teammates before excusing himself and leaving.
On the other hand, Team 7 was getting back into their normal routine with Sasuke and Naruto glaring at each other with Sakura trying to break up up what was soon to be a fight between the two. They were interrupted by an small chuckle from Kakashi.
"Ahh... This seems familiar." Kakashi said with a smile under his mask. "But this is no time to be resting on our laurels just yet because we still have a lot of things to do. because as of now, Team 7 is back in business."
Author's Notes: Ok. This was definitely NOT one of my better chapters but the fact that you guys are reading it means I must be doing something right somewhere. As usual, R&R