The gallant Jiraiya waited patiently for Koharu and Homura to tell him the news. The two elders stood on either side of what had once been Hiruzen-sensei's chair… What had once been Minato's chair… He knew why he'd been called. He'd served Konoha for all his life, never wavering like Tsunade, never falling to treachery like Orochimaru. And now his sensei, a man he regarded as a father, was dead.

Jiraiya knew he'd played just as much a part in the old man's death as Orochimaru. He should have taken up the position years ago, but he'd been too busy chasing ghosts, chasing the man who'd killed Minato. But looking back, had he been chasing vengeance or running from responsibility? It was still unclear, but he felt like a coward all the same.

Minata and Kushina had named him Naruko's godfather. He should have stayed in the village and… But how could he have done that, knowing that Minato's killer was still-

"You're thinking of Minato again," said Homura fondly, putting a hand on Jiraiya's shoulder. "I can tell, whenever you get that faraway look in your eyes. You need not worry. I can assure you he was avenged."

"There is no evidence the Uchiha were responsible for the attack," Jiraiya said harshly. They'd been the first group he'd investigated. He was no fool, only the sharingan could control the Kyubi. And Fugaku had been open and compliant in every step of the investigation. Jiraiya had searched for years and found nothing. And when the Uchiha had been placed in Konoha's outskirts, Jiraiya hadn't blamed them for being angry. "Besides, I would hardly call what Itachi Uchiha did vengeance. Minato would never have approved of such a massacre. It goes against every ideal that Konoha stands for."

Homura and Koharu snorted, exchanging knowing glances. "That is certainly true," Homaru said smoothly. "He was a weak hokage. We should never have given a clanless war orphan the title, and in truth we only did it as a slight to the Uchiha. But we have learned from past mistakes."

Jiraiya tightened his fists. The first thing he would do would be to disassemble this old council with their old ideas. The only good thing about Koharu and Homura were that they weren't Danzou Shimura. The old war hawk was noticeably absent, probably throwing a tantrum over being passed over for hokage yet again. Jiraiya wasn't sure why Hiruzen-sensei had put up with the man, but he wouldn't. He would be announcing Danzou's retirement to a cottage in the country right after his inauguration.

"Enough," Koharu said firmly. "We called you in Jiraiya, for one reason. As you know the position of hokage is now vacant, and Konoha is in the weakest position it has been in for years. We need a strong hokage. We need one of the sannin.

"We need Tsunade Senju."

"I accept," Jiraiya said… Wait a second… But his name wasn't Tsunade…

"Very good," Koharu said, pleased. "And to think, Danzou had feared that you would expect the position. As if we would just hand Konoha over to some clanless pervert."

"But why Tsunade?" Jiraiya asked. Honestly, given their reasoning, even Danzou would make for a better hokage. Why in the world would they give the position to a missing nin who hadn't seen combat in over twenty years?

"She is a Senju," Koharu said, as if that explained everything. And in a way it did. In Konoha, the clan mattered more than the individual. At least to some. Most probably. But not to Jiraiya. When a little blonde boy had started following him around on one of his missions, he'd learned from his experience with Nagato. He'd brought the boy back, and had discovered a shinobi of unmatched skill. He'd taught the boy like he was his own son. Truthfully, Minato had been the closest thing to a son he'd ever get. Which meant that Jiraiya had abandoned his granddaughter. "We tried a non-clan shinobi, and the Uchiha rightfully sensed our weakness, choosing the moment to finally attack. We need a Senju back as hokage. We need a Senju to Make Konoha Great Again."

XOXOXOX

Sasuke woke, but his vision remained dark. His entire body felt numb. He couldn't move. He couldn't see. He heard the steady beeps of a medical ventilator, and he heard voices beside him. Old. Raspy. And cruel.

"It is their fate to turn against us," said the female voice. "We always knew this day would come. He is after all an Uchiha. They are of Indra. We are of Asura. Oil and water. Destined for conflict. There will never be peace so long as both lines live. I say we let him die."

Indra? Asura? Were they talking about him? Were they talking about killing him? It should have concerned him more. But he was broken. If he could not avenge his family, he would appreciate joining them.

"Fool," said another voice. "We must at least harvest his eyes. Let him partially recover. Perhaps kill the pink-haired one in front of him. He seems attached to her. The sharingan grows in power the more misery it sees. He can still be of use to the village."

As if Naruko would let them do such a thing to Sakura. But the harvesting of his eyes was intriguing. If he could not kill Itachi himself, he would gladly give his eyes for the cause.

"It is too dangerous Danzou, you have always been too obsessed with those eyes! If he heals, he will surely run to Orochimaru and be used against us!"

His consciousness faded. He wasn't sure how much time had passed before he became aware again. He heard nothing, saw nothing, felt nothing, but he sensed an old familiar presence beside him. It was a mirage, but he sensed that he was loved, he sensed that his family was with him. It was comforting.

Time passed before he became aware again.

"He looks like a gross monster now, I can't believe I used to have a crush on him," Ino said. Sasuke's mood darkened further. He had never liked having girls squeal over him constantly, had always found it nauseating, but to have that taken away… To be thrown away like garbage…

Such was the life of a shinobi he supposed.

"My father told me that he did it to pursue power," Shikamaru said. "He's beyond us now."

More time passed. He overheard several conversations like that. But he grew aware of another feeling. Someone clutching his hand softly.

When his eyes finally opened, when light finally returned, the first thing he saw was Sakura, beside him, holding his hand. He had never understood before, why so many boys had crushes on her, but for the first time he realized that his teammate was beautiful.

"Where's Naruko?" He asked softly.

"Kakashi and Naruko are on missions." Sakura gave him a sad smile. "They have to take them. Konoha won't pay for your hospitalization. So those two are doing-"

"Sakura," Sasuke said quietly. "Thanks."

"You saved me Sasuke! You gave up everything to-"

Sasuke frowned. She was being annoying again. "It was Naruko who saved you. I was just another victim. I did nothing."

"No," Sakura said, her fingers wrapping around his. She leaned forward, and pressed her soft lips against his. "You saved me."

Sasuke allowed her to hold him. And he realized that for the first time since his parents had been killed, since he had lost his clan, he was crying.

XOXOXOX

"Naruko Uzumaki, at last we meet," said an old man with a scarred chin. Naruko had just met the guy, so she wasn't going to judge him. Anbu had pulled her from the arena, and taken her to what they'd said was a secure location. He leaned back in a chair that looked like the hokage's, in a desk that looked like the hokage's, flanked by guards who looked like the hokage's. "I've been watching over you for a long, long time."

"Because I'm the kyubi's host?" Naruko asked. Once she would have imagined that the man was actually her father, protecting her from afar. Or perhaps that she was the long lost daughter of someone important. She was done with that, looking for some unknown relatives, imagining parents. She'd formed real bonds, all she ever needed, all she ever wanted, was here in Konoha.

"Precisely," the old man said with a smile. "My name is Danzou Shimura. Konoha is in a state of vulnerability after The Third's passing. I have taken it upon myself to protect the village until a new hoka-"

"Old Man Hokage is dead?" Naruko asked. She bowed her head. She hadn't seen him much, but she'd always appreciated that the old man had taken time for her, a nameless orphan. She'd never thought of him as a parent, but the trips to Ichiraku she'd had with him… It had meant so much. Her first dream had been to become hokage. It had been because she'd wanted to be someone as cool as him.

"Orochimaru assassinated him," Danzou said, leaning over his desk, peering at Naruko curiously, like Iruka when he was trying to solve a crossword. "And unfortunately, he was able to escape before my men could capture and kill him. There is no one in Konoha capable of avenging Hiruzen Sarutobi."

Naruko tightened her fists. She knew who Orochimaru was. The Grass Shinobi. She'd had a shot at him, but she'd let him run.

Danzou slouched into the back of his chair with a smirk. "Naruko, I have heard about your battle with Gaara of the Sand. You truly acted like a hero… But do you know what that means? To be a hero?"

"I'm no hero," Naruko said, shaking her head. "I can't be when I couldn't even save my best friend!"

Danzou slid out of his chair, walked around his desk, and put a hand on her shoulder. "Being a hero is about sacrificing yourself for the good of the village. You allowed Gaara to leave without killing him. To have done so would have unleashed the One-Tailed Beast upon Konoha… But… Perhaps then we could have kept your status a secret. That red chakra you used… Sunagakure is now aware of your status as the host of the Nine-Tailed Beast."

Danzou knelt, so he and Naruko were eye level. "You will be targeted and attacked should you ever leave the Leaf Village. As such, I cannot allow you to take missions outside Konoha. Additionally, our enemies could sneak into Konoha, and unleash the Fox upon us, destroying our vulnerable village once and for all. It has been done before. I will be forced to inform all Konoha citizens of your jinchuuriki status. It is unfortunate. Konoha will react poorly. You will be hated Naruko."

"You're wrong," Naruko said. Konoha was a wonderful place. If she gave them enough time, if she did her best for the village, they would accept her.

"Perhaps you are right. It is admirable that you have such faith in our village." Danzou said. "The Yamanaka Clan specializes in a Mind Transfer Jutsu. As such, they had to be informed of your status. The next heir is your age… Ino I believe… I have heard that she is a kind young girl, that she hates bullies… How does she treat you Naruko? Perhaps she can be used to gauge the village's reaction to you."

Ino had been… She'd been… Of all the genin, of all the rookies… Her gaze was always so cold… If… Would all the villagers look at her like that? Would she become like Gaara?

Danzou gave her a sad, understanding smile. He patted her head. "I have a solution. How would you like to become a chunin Naruko?"

Naruko nodded. She was ready. She was done running from her power. She'd take on more dangerous missions, she'd-

"There is a condition unfortunately," Danzou said sadly. "One of the members of Team Seven was working for Orochimaru. That is how he was able to-"

"No!" Naruko said, slashing her hand for emphasis. "You're wrong!"

Danzou frowned. His grip on her head tightened. "I have made no mistakes. Your teammate, Sasuke Uchiha was found with Orochimaru's chakra, with his seal-"

"That was placed on him against his will!" Naruko shouted. "The Pervy-"

Danzou slapped her across the cheek. Naruko blinked, his grip on her head now hurt. "Sasuke Uchiha is a traitor to the Leaf! He is an Uchiha, it is his destiny to chase power! If you had shown even a morsel of talent, if you had displayed the Uzumaki bloodline limit, I would not be forced to take such a measure. This is your fault! Without the sharingan to control the mindless beast you are a wasted asset!"

"What the hell is wrong with you old man?" Naruko asked. She fought to break free from his grip. He just forced her to her knees. "It sounds like you want me to steal Sasuke's eyes!"

"Don't be a fool Naruko," Danzou whispered into her ear. "With the sharingan you could be Konoha's greatest tool! The villagers would adore you, the shinobi would respect you, I could even create a seal which could force Sasuke to love you."

"Never!" Naruko shouted. "Love that isn't given freely is worthless! Sasuke is my friend, he's a hero, he gave up everything for Konoha, I would never do that to him!"

"Hnn," said a calm, cool voice that seemed so familiar. One of the anbu guards, he moved so gracefully it was as if he was floating. "But what if it were for Sasuke's dream? What if he wished for you to have them? His only purpose is to avenge his family. His body is broken. He can no longer serve his purpose. He would want you to have them."

"Well I ain't taking them," Naruko shouted. "And I'll find a way to bring him back. I'll find a way to heal him, if it takes me twenty years! It's a promise! Believe it!"

"Very well," Danzou said, and he shoved Naruko's nose into the mildew covered masonry. "Your compliance would have made this so much easier. But I will make you a valuable asset to Konoha."

Naruko fought and struggled and clawed and bit, but nothing could break Danzou's grip, as he forced her face in the mud, as he kept her in darkness."

"Let the girl go," said a gravelly voice. Naruko grinned, it was the Wise Sage. Danzou released her, and Naruko ran to Jiraiya and gave him a hug. He rubbed her hair affectionately, and Naruko could tell it was genuine. "Come on Naruko, we're going to get someone who can fix all this. We've got to hurry, before Danzou convinces the rest of the council."

Naruko wanted to protest, she wanted to visit Sasuke at the hospital, make sure he was alright, but Jiraiya was right. She followed after him, his long strides forcing her into a jog to keep up.

"Hnn." The graceful anbu from before caught her sleeve. "You made the correct decision. If you had agreed to take Sasuke's eyes, I would have killed you where you stood. I am glad that Sasuke has found friends like you." And Naruko could hear the love in the man's voice. "Now go, go find Tsunade Senju. Danzou and I have much to discuss. I must remind him of… Promises that have been made."

Author's Note: And that concludes the arc! Thanks for reading! And now, onto the reviews:

Amaterasu53 - Thanks for the encouragement!

Kinakuzi - Wow, thank you so much for the kind words! This chapter does highlight many of the reasons Sasuke might leave Konoha, but he was always aware, on some level, of the anti-Uchiha sentiment that was rampant in Konoha. There need to be a couple more things to push him to actually leave.

TheBeauty - Tsunade will be able to heal him, but getting Tsunade's help will be a problem. Pay attention to Orochimaru in the next arc, he's after his arms, but also something else...