DODGES TOMATOES, BREAD, SOCKS, ROCKS, TRASH THROWN AT ME. *sweatdrop*
A/N: Hi everyone. First of all, I want to thank all the people who followed and favorited this fic in the months that I'd been on HIATUS. I don't want to make any more excuses and only wanted to apologize for taking forever to update this fic. Actually, uploading Chapter 7 now before we finished editing chapter 8 is not part of the plan. I wanted to publish two chapters at the same time as compensation for my long absence but it didn't work out so I decided to upload chapters 8 and 9 later on.
IMPORTANT NOTE: I know this chapter is unsatisfactory for a lot of my readers who were patiently waiting for Minato and Naruto's meet-up, however, I cannot leave questions unanswered so chapters 7 and 8 are flashbacks of important events that lead to the tragedy of the present. I hope none of you skip those two chapters because there will be a lot of unanswered questions and confusion if you do. After those two chapters are uploaded, then we will be facing the climax. I hope you guys stay in tune and be patient with me.
Thanks to all my wonderful beta readers, Nedoko-maki, Vynush, to2llyuntraceable, Regalithy, Mistress Peverell, ProngsIsABadger
Chapter Seven
Rivals
Danzo Shimura, age 12.
"Your mission is to protect the minister of finance, make sure he arrives safely in the next town."
This was the mission given to them by the First Hokage, and it was Danzo and Hiruzen's first C-rank mission.
Everything started rather uneventfully, if a bit tense, given that it was their team's first 'big mission'. Since they set out from the village gate early in the morning none of them expected to encounter any hostiles. However, Danzo should've known that being teammates with an idiot would result in a lot of bad luck.
He and Hiruzen were supposed to take point and guard the front, but the halfwit he was paired up with probably thought he was on some sort of vacation. Danzo sent disapproving looks at Hiruzen, which were promptly ignored. Not too long after, he made the decision to leave him be, conserving his mental energy for when would most need it.
Danzo scrupulously eyed the trees, grass, and the road they were walking on while Hiruzen continued ahead from the rest of the team as if he were leisurely strolling the streets of Konoha.
Koharu was conversing animatedly with their client as Tobirama-sensei walked behind them.
It was then that Danzo noticed something odd and tried to warn Hiruzen.
"You idiot! Look at where you're step–"
Too late, the idiot stepped on the puddle, flashing Danzo an innocent, ignorant expression the instant before the trap sprung.
As soon as Hiruzen looked down at his feet, the puddle disappeared with a poof of smoke and a rogue ninja materialized out of thin air, dropping a tied-up Sarutobi aside.
Danzo suppressed the urge to facepalm, instead, he quickly threw a volley of shuriken at the enemy as Koharu stood in front of the client as a shield.
Another three shinobi appeared from the trees and Tobirama-sensei engaged them as Danzo battled the enemy in front of him.
"Oi! Hurry up and release me here Danzo!"
Danzo sent a chakra enhanced kick at his opponent and quickly flicked two kunai to cut through the ropes binding Hiruzen.
"Look out!" Hiruzen exclaimed.
Danzo leaped back, but the fire jutsu was a meter away from him and if he evaded, the attack would hit Koharu and their client. There was no way around it.
"Earth Style: Mud Wall!"
Before the fire engulfed Danzo, a wall of Earth rose in front of him, protecting him from the attack. Danzo immediately backed away to regroup with Hiruzen.
'I still haven't mastered that water jutsu, damn it!'
"Heh, you would've got burned into a crisp if it weren't for me saving your ass," Sarutobi smugly said as he flicked a kunai in his hand.
"Hn. You're one to talk. I wouldn't have been distracted if you just stopped being a deadweight," Danzo retorted.
"What did you just–"
Kunai rained down on them, forcing them to jump in the opposite direction of each other to evade.
"Stop being such a hindrance!" Danzo yelled as he deflected a shuriken.
"Stop acting all high and mighty!" Hiruzen yelled back as he started a series of hand signs.
Danzo, recognizing the familiar hand signs of Sarutobi's fire jutsu, readied his own wind jutsu.
"Fire Style: Fire Dragon Bullet!"
"Wind Style: Wind Slash!"
Both fire and wind release fused with each other, forming a devastating tornado of flames that devoured the enemy without mercy. The rogue ninja dropped to the ground, charred and unrecognizable.
Danzo and Hiruzen glared at each other and were about to indulge in another of their usual verbal arguments when they were promptly interrupted by the sharp pain and throbbing on the tops of their heads.
"You two killed the assailant again. I told you to always leave them alive for interrogation," Tobirama-sensei interjected, his face stern and arms crossed. Danzo hadn't even seen his sensei's hands move.
"It's Danzo's fault for showing off. I could've handled that myself just fine," Hiruzen retorted, crossing his arms with a huff.
Danzo snorted. "Don't make me laugh. You were taken hostage at the very start."
Tobirama sighed. "I more or less anticipated this. Danzo, Hiruzen, you did well with working together this time. However, cease your petty squabbles in the middle of a battle. It will cost your life, if not your comrades."
"Understood, we're sorry sensei," they both answered before, more discreetly, glaring at one another again.
The Hokage
Danzo's eyes trailed over one of the legendary Senju brothers, Tobirama Senju. He was touching the ground with two fingers, eyes closed in concentration as the rest of them waited in trepidation, breaths abated.
"It's a Red Snake scenario. We're surrounded." Tobirama stated quietly.
Danzo made a horrible grating noise, hands clenched so tightly red crescent-shaped indents appeared on his palms.
Around him, his current teammates weren't faring well; each was as white as paper. The trees that loomed over them felt suffocating, and the darkness of the night did not help the atmosphere at all. It was as if they were slowly being swallowed by the inevitability of the situation.
"There's… " Tobirama's fingers shifted, "Twenty of them. Judging from their skill of pursuit, I'd say they're from Kumogakure. Most likely from the highly skilled Kinkaku unit."
Danzo could hear the sound of crickets harmonizing with Tobirama's baritone voice. His eyes darted from tree to tree, bone-chilling paranoia settling into his bones.
"We don't have any other choice but to have someone act as a decoy to draw their attention," Kagami Uchiha whispered.
"A decoy? That's suicide," Torifu Akimichi said, his face grim.
Danzo curled his fist tighter, so much so he'd broken skin. He knew what was supposed to be done, yet he...
"Who's it gonna be?" Torifu's voice was surprisingly solemn for his jovial disposition.
No one spoke. All were lost in their own thoughts.
Danzo's eyes drifted towards his rival. Hiruzen Sarutobi was looking down, eyes obscured by the shadows.
'Sarutobi, what are you thinking right now? Do you have that kind of resolve?' His lungs tightened. The oxygen in the clearing seemed to dissipate as terror suffocated him. Yet...he still had to do it.
'I have to say it!' He leaned forward, his body tensed like a bow, threatening to snap loose in an instant. He desperately wanted to offer his own life, but his body was shaking, unable to break through his paralysis and do so. 'Why can't I just get it out? I want to do it, so why!?'
"I'll do it."
Danzo's head snapped up. "What?" he blurted out along with the choking sounds of his startled comrades.
Hiruzen's face was solemn, and his eyes were filled with fiery determination. A look of a warrior ready to fight his final battle.
Danzo's body finally stopped shaking as he sat there, utterly stupefied and... relieved. Then came the anger. It bubbled up in his chest as displeasure replaced his earlier fear.
'How can that puny Hiruzen decide just like that without an ounce of fear on his face? While I…'
Suddenly, a hand landed on his shoulder and Danzo's eyes jerked to the offending person.
"I'm leaving everyone to you now, Danzo."
He gaze up at his rival. Hiruzen was smiling at him.
'This fucking moron has the gall to smile at me!?'
Danzo was overcome with sheer rage.
"I'm sure you can–"
"Shut up!" he growled, slapping Hiruzen's hand off his shoulder.
"I wanted to raise my hand, stop acting so brave all by yourself!" he twisted his body to fully face the man, "I'll be the decoy!" Danzo yelled at Hiruzen.
Hiruzen looked at him in surprise as Danzo continued to glare at him.
"Danzo…"
He and Hiruzen jolted and simultaneously gazed at Tobirama. The Senju's stern expression was positively chilling, making Danzo freeze in his place.
"You're always competing with Saru about something, aren't you?" The tone of disappointment rang clear, and Danzo looked down with a scowl, fingers tightening on his pants.
"However, what we need right now is to unite as Leaf shinobi in order to work together. Do not mix personal affairs into this," Tobirama lectured.
'Being scolded at a time like this?' The embarrassment of losing his composure was too much to bear.
"The truth is that your decision was too slow. You must first look within yourself to find out who you really are. Right now, you'll just put everyone at risk."
Danzo didn't respond, and neither did Hiruzen. Tobirama Senju gave them a heavy stare.
"I am going to be the decoy, obviously. You are the young flames that will continue to protect the village with your Will of Fire," said Tobirama.
"You can't, you're the Hokage! There's no greater shinobi in the village than you!" Danzo protested.
Tobirama simply closed his eyes and stood up.
"Saru, protect those who love the village, and those who believe in you. Take care of those whom you will entrust the next generation to." Tobirama's eyes hardened. His gaze did not waver from Hiruzen's expectant visage.
"Starting tomorrow, you are the Third Hokage."
The Birth of ROOT
Hiruzen scrutinized Danzo with dagger-like eyes, trying to gauge the reason behind his sudden request.
"Is this really necessary?" Sarutobi asked, puffing out smoke from his pipe.
"If you refuse to face the dark side of shinobi, then I will step forward to do it in your stead," Danzo replied, stalwart.
There was a pregnant pause.
Silence lingered inside the Hokage's office for seconds, seconds that seemed to stretch into minutes – before Hiruzen exhaled, smoke gently billowing out of his mouth.
"As long as you stick to the legal way of acquiring recruits, I'll give you permission to form this sub-division of ANBU. What are you naming this…organization?" asked Hiruzen.
Danzo contemplated this before answering, "ROOT."
Hiruzen raised an eyebrow at him, earning a scowl from Danzo.
"The Village Hidden in the Leaves needs its roots to support its foundation. My agents will be the hidden strength beneath the leaves."
Hiruzen nodded in approval. "Well then, Danzo. I'm counting on you."
Danzo inclined his head and silently left the office, plans upon plans swirling in his mind.
A month passed, but he was now standing on the newly built underground hideout for his new army with new seeds to cultivate.
Danzo dipped the brush in his hand in black ink. With refined strokes, he drew the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal on the first person in the row.
He looked about the age of eight. The rest were around the same age, though Danzo was not fazed. Only a lifetime of service would be sufficient.
The ROOT ANBU Division was a subdivision of ANBU tasked with ruthlessly dealing with the other villages to prevent their rise in power and answering to the Daimyo's illegal requests. Rendering transactions invalid, killing of Feudal Lords, various forms of blackmailing, causing poverty, and many more blacklisted jobs that unbeknownst to the general populace of shinobi, were under their jurisdiction.
Having the authority to command such a promising army made everything in Danzo's plan possible. These petty dealings were nothing compared to their actual goals and he couldn't have been more grateful for Hiruzen's blind trust.
Danzo continued applying the seal until he made it to the last person, maneuvering the sealing brush with practiced ease.
He stared expressionlessly at the newly established agents as they knelt in front of him.
"Be the shadows that protect the village. Soon, ROOT will become the village's strength and foundation. We'.re not allowed to waver from anything. Heed my command, my shinobi," Danzo solemnly said, his voice echoing around the place.
"Yes, Danzo-sama!"
Illegal
Legal way, Hiruzen had said to him. Danzo wanted to laugh at his old friend's naivety.
He was governing a military village; the livelihood of its people couldn't be sacrificed for something as flimsy as ideals.
"Danzo-sama, two of the orphans showed potential. They show above average intelligence in their age group." Rat, a 13-year-old newly minted recruit, informed him.
Danzo had assigned him to spy for potential candidates at the orphanage, being a relatively easy mission for the greenhorn agent.
"Observe them more. If they show any potential to be a great shinobi, bring them to Delta," he ordered.
Just then, another one of his agents flickered beside the still kneeling one.
"Danzo-sama," he bowed down, "...by your orders, we managed to sneak a spy in each of the prominent clans," the agent with the Dolphin mask reported.
Danzo leaned on his throne, pleased at their progress.
"Good, I expect talented new recruits soon," he murmured, lacing his fingers in front of him.
"Understood, Danzo-sama." The two agents bowed and flickered out of sight.
Danzo glanced at the pile of folders on his desk, roaming his eyes on the names and photos of the possible candidates for ROOT. The corner of his lips tugged up.
'Everything is going according to plan.'
Uzushiogakure's Fall
Danzo believed that all his decisions were for Konoha's benefit. When he started ROOT, he knew he would be privy to a lot of information all around the Elemental Nations. However, the piles of seals his new agents managed to collect from Uzushiogakure had far exceeded his expectations.
Addressing this matter to Hiruzen would solve nothing, because he would see this village as a powerful ally to the Leaf, rather than what it was: a potential threat.
His eyes raked over the strips of paper and scrolls strewn across his desk. Selecting one at random,
Danzo could only wrinkle his nose in distaste at the absurd information written.
'A communication scroll?'
'Used to exchange messages from a distance without being detected.'
'Detection Seal. Able to detect ill intent with a lot of varieties too.'
'High caliber explosive tags, can be activated at any distance with 1 to 3 kilometers radius.'
Danzo almost dropped the scroll entirely as he warily eyed the explosive tags. He was almost afraid to look through all the other scrolls on his desk.
"All of these can only be activated with the Uzumaki's chakra and blood," he muttered.
These simple-looking seals could wipe out a village in an instant. They could become the most powerful Shinobi Village to ever exist. It was clear as day to Danzo. The Uzumaki Clan was a threat to Konoha and the Shinobi World.
"These aren't even scratching the surface of their potential. Who knows what kind of seals they're hiding in that small village of theirs?"
Tobirama-sensei always said Danzo was a talented schemer and had requested him to use his talent for the good of Konoha. He had never gone back on that request.
He knew Hiruzen would not approve of what he was thinking of, but it had to be done.
As Danzo contemplated his next course of action, Dolphin suddenly flickered into existence in front of him.
The agent knelt and bowed. "Iwa and Kumo are both preparing for a joint attack on Uzushio, Danzo-sama."
Danzo paused before a sinister smirk appeared on his lips.
'It looks like I don't need to arrange anything after all.'
"Excellent, I have a new mission for you, then. Gather ten more operatives and make sure that not a single message will reach Konoha."
'I can't just let that village continue to gain more power.'
"Uzushio is growing too strong for Konoha. Now might be my only chance to prevent them from rising above us," Danzo mumbled to himself.
A few weeks later, the news of Uzu's fall spread all around the Elemental Nation with a single account of a survivor who was currently staying as a refugee in Konoha. The council was in a state of shock to not receive a single request of reinforcement from Uzu. Danzo remained silent, pretending to be in a solemn mood because of what happened.
He gave the only survivor, a little girl, a once-over and dismissed her as harmless. She could have her pitiful life. For now, Danzo could rest, assured that Konoha was still superior.
The Third Shinobi War
The Second Shinobi War had ended, but Danzo knew that the third was just on the horizon. The skirmish between Iwa and Ame was getting more heated each passing moment. Soon, Konoha would be dragged into it, then the official declaration of the Third War would be announced.
He wanted to take advantage of this situation to achieve his goals, and it appeared he wasn't the only one who had similar sentiments.
Danzo reread the scroll that Hiruzen had given to him for the second time and flicked his eyes up towards his former rival. The man looked like he had aged ten years; his wrinkled forehead was becoming more and more creased every time Danzo visited, and his hair was gradually filling with white strands.
Danzo passed the scroll to Koharu and Homura. He and his fellow advisors were currently in a private meeting inside the Hokage's office.
It was already 7 pm, and they were called half an hour ago to this impromptu meeting. He hadn't expected this kind of situation to greet them; however, it only meant one thing: they didn't have a choice but to start a Third Shinobi War.
"This is obviously a suicide mission," Homura said in mild disbelief, putting the scroll on Hiruzen's table.
Hiruzen puffed out smoke from his pipe, nodding solemnly. "He wanted us to step out of the border. It's as if we'd declared war if we do this."
"Iwa's hatred for Konoha shinobi will definitely trigger an attack, and our shinobi will be forced to defend. Then the Third War will officially commence," Koharu concluded.
"We've been avoiding involvement with these aggressions for quite some time now, and only sent rations and supplies to Ame, but it won't be long before we are forced to join the conflict," Homura said with an air of finality.
"It's still too early to start the Third war now, we've just gotten out of Second war; to enter another would make the populace severely discontent, not to mention the morale," Koharu retorted, frowning.
"Ame is our ally. Even if we avoid sending our shinobi to help them fend off the Iwa shinobi loitering around their border, once Iwa officially invades Ame, we will be forced to join anyway," Homura pointed out.
"That's the ideal course of action here. To wait until Iwa starts the attack first, then we can safely say that we're fighting in self-defense," Hiruzen stated.
"However, this mission. We don't have a choice but to comply since this was issued by the Fire Daimyo himself," Koharu pointed out.
"I agree. Doing this mission now is very risky." Hiruzen massaged his head.
Danzo scoffed, "We just need to deliver the scroll. If Iwa kills them, then we can safely proclaim that we are fighting in self-defense."
Hiruzen exhaled. "I don't plan on sacrificing any of my shinobi by issuing a mission with a criminally low success rate."
"The Fire Daimyo wanted us to send a diplomat in the middle of the skirmish to try and defuse the situation early. I could see the merits of this mission if it succeeded," said Koharu.
Homura nodded. "If we can manage to peacefully send a peace talk to the Tsuchikage, then we can avoid any conflicts for the next decade or so."
"It's quite suspicious though, for the Fire Daimyo to readily agree to trade with the Earth country and the sharing of territory," Hiruzen pointed out.
The other two nodded and Danzo scoffed. "This mission has a bigger impact if done successfully, than waiting for the war to officially start. I can see why the Daimyo issued this mission. Sacrificing a few things is nothing compared to a decade of peace."
Hiruzen sent a pointed look at Danzo. "We haven't sent a diplomat to Iwagakure since Hashirama was Hokage, and now we do so to discuss a treaty for a war we aren't involved in? Even if Onoki will consider our proposal, at this point even crossing the border could lead to violence."
"What are you afraid of? At this point in time, taking the risk to try and prevent an all-out war is a wise choice," Danzo argued.
"Our forces are still recuperating from the second war, Danzo," Hiruzen heatedly reminded him, "lest I need to mention the disaster of Jizō Pass."
"Don't underestimate our shinobi, Hiruzen. You're being too cautious," Danzo argued back.
Hiruzen clenched his jaw and threw his hand out, gesturing to his window overlooking the subdued streets of Konoha. "You can't just throw our shinobi in the middle of a heated conflict!"
Danzo slammed his cane hard on the floor. "Don't be foolish Hiruzen! The Daimyo's commands are absolute, and there is no need to complicate a simple solution. If there's a problem, get rid of it."
"Hiruzen, this is a heavy burden to take, but as the Hokage. You have to harden your heart," Koharu said.
Hiruzen's shoulder slumped. He massaged his forehead once more, the office becoming quiet.
"Let's continue this meeting tomorrow. I need some time alone," Sarutobi stated, standing in front of the window with his back to them.
Danzo gazed blankly at his old rival's back, the other two leaving silently before he followed suit.
The next day, Hiruzen finally acquiesced and gave the mission to Sakumo and his team.
All according to Danzo's plan: Hatake was Hiruzen's number one candidate as his successor. This mission would eliminate him from interfering with his goal, and the Hokage seat would be his.
The Mission
Sakumo Hatake knew their mission was risky. The flames of the Second Shinobi War had yet to die out from the minds of the people, and this mission could either fuel that fire or permanently extinguish it.
"Sakumo-san, do you think it's possible to accomplish this mission without any conflict?"
Sakumo shook his head at his teammate, Koishi Uchiha, as they hopped from tree branch to tree branch.
"I myself have doubts, but we can't do anything but follow our orders," Sakumo answered after a moment of thought.
"It's quite strange for the Hokage to be the first one to extend a treaty with the Tsuchikage," Hitoshi Akama commented.
"The trade routes presented are quite appealing. It makes you wonder if the Fire Daimyo has finally swallowed his pride, considering the obvious rivalry between him and the Earth Daimyo," Toora Akimichi added.
"I doubt that's the case," Hitoshi said with a grim look.
"Whatever it is, we just need to do our part correctly. Give the treaty scroll to the Iwa border shinobi, avoid conflict and head back to Konoha," Sakumo said, his teammates nodding in agreement.
As they were nearing the border, three Iwa shinobi flanked them out of nowhere and began to rain volleys of shuriken upon the voyage of Konoha shinobi.
"Wait! We're not here to fight!" Koishi yelled as he deflected the weapons aimed at him with a kunai.
"We're only here to send a letter to the Tsuchikage–"
The three Iwa-nins didn't let Sakumo finish what he was saying. One threw an explosive tag at them which forced them apart. An explosion rang out, and the whole place was quickly doused with smoke.
When everything became clear again, only Sakumo and Koishi remained standing. There was no sign of the three Iwa shinobi and their other teammates.
"Damn it!" Koishi cursed, frantically surveying their surroundings, "What are we going to do now?"
"Don't panic, let's track them." Sakumo bit his thumb and slammed his hand on the ground. There was a poof of smoke, revealing five dogs of different sizes.
"Boss, you called?" Shiba addressed him.
"Find Toora and Hitoshi," he ordered briskly.
The dogs barked in acknowledgment, proceeding to search for his teammates' scent trail. Working with his team for many years made his summons familiar with their smell so he needn't give them anything to look for their scent.
When the dogs started moving forward, he and Koishi followed suit.
The dogs stopped where the forest ended, and an endless view of mountain rocks greeted them. They were at the border of the Earth country already. He and Koishi exchanged glances before they were moving again.
A few dozen paces ahead, they spotted five Iwa shinobi guarding their first post and Sakumo could see that his summons was not stopping anytime soon. He and Koishi stopped for a moment, hiding behind the trees.
"What are we going to do now, Sakumo-san? We aren't allowed to engage in battle," Koishi worriedly asked.
Sakumo was quiet for a moment. He knew for himself what his answer was. Shinobi was always taught to follow the rules and always accomplish the mission objective first, however, Sakumo's belief was different.
"In the ninja world, those who break the rules are scum, that's true, but those who abandon their friends and comrades are worse than scum."
Koishi looked sharply at Sakumo as he declared this damning statement. The Uchiha pursed his lips and looked down, contemplating his words, before pulling his head up and nodding to Sakumo.
"Then, I shall follow your lead, Sakumo-san. Whatever happens, happens," Koishi gravely said as he pulled out two kunai, one in each hand.
Sakumo nodded, his jaw set, and steeled himself for what they were about to do. It was up to his command: whatever happened, Sakumo would take full responsibility. Koishi was only following his order, and so the two of them took off towards Iwa's border camp.
When their figures became visible to the enemies, Sakumo braced himself for the inevitable. He pulled out his tanto from its sheath and leaped for the first enemy.
"Konoha shinobi!" The Iwa-nin managed to scream before his throat was slit.
"Koishi, follow my summons and release Hitoshi and Toora," Sakumo instructed. Koishi nodded and activated his Sharingan. With a single glance, his enemies fell into the Uchiha's mind-bending genjutsu.
The battle didn't last long, rife with explosions and streaks of white lights before Sakumo entered the enemy's hideout only to find his, fortunately, very alive teammates arguing.
"What's going on?" Sakumo asked with a disturbed frown.
"What were you both thinking?! Our mission emphasized the 'No fighting involved'. An all-out war will officially break out because of this, Iwa will not stand idly now!" Hitoshi hissed at them, outraged.
Sakumo's frown deepened. "They assaulted us first."
"Nonetheless, the two of you should've just continued with the mission and left us–"
Before Hitoshi could continue what he was saying, five more Iwa shinobi suddenly entered and another battle broke out.
The Third War was really inevitable...
The interior of ROOT's underground hideout was dark, a few torches sprouting from the walls were the only source of light. Danzo sat especially comfortably as he received the latest mission report.
"Danzo-sama, as per your order, we disguised ourselves as Iwa shinobi and ambushed Sakumo Hatake's team. Following that, we successfully kidnapped his two teammates and delivered them to the Iwa border camp as spies sent by the Hokage," Dolphin reported.
"Iwa patrols didn't suspect a thing?" Danzo inquired.
"They were quite distracted by the fact that we've managed to catch two Konoha shinobi at once, both alive. Iwa is probably looking forward to all the information they can get out of them too much to conduct a thorough inspection on us," Dolphin answered.
"They're a tad bit careless, but that's good for us. Continue."
The agent nodded. "As expected, Hatake-san abandoned the mission and went to save his teammates inside the enemy camp with the assistance of Koishi Uchiha," Dolphin stated.
"Hn. This will put more animosity on the Uchiha clan, and soon they will snap and make a move. Just as planned," Danzo muttered before he gestured for Dolphin to continue his report.
"They managed to defeat all twenty-three Iwa shinobi stationed there and engaged in another battle when reinforcements arrived before escaping," Dolphin finished.
"Iwa should officially declare war on Konoha any day now. Sakumo and his team won't be able to take any mission for a while, and Hiruzen will be forced to step down after this war because of this humiliation," Danzo concluded with a satisfied smile.
The aging man leaned back and quietly contemplated the next course of action. He had to do something with the Hatake. The man needed to disappear completely because even if the Hatake's name was tarnished now, Sakumo could eventually clean it if he were to be allowed to go out and fight in the Third War.
'I managed to get rid of Dan Kato from Hiruzen's list of successors, this one should be no different.' Danzo tightened his hold on his cane as he thought of a way to remove the Hatake from Hiruzen's options without directly involving himself.
'It would be better if he just kills himself,' he carelessly thought before something clicked in his mind and a vicious grin formed on his lips.
"Dolphin," he addressed the young man, still kneeling in front of him.
"Danzo-sama," the agent acknowledged.
"If Sakumo Hatake returns to Konoha alive, I want you to start leaking a few specific rumors to the civilians. Take liberty in mixing up the context to hide any evidence that could lead to us."
Dolphin looked up from the ground, waiting expectantly for his next words.
"Sakumo Hatake is a disgrace, he is the reason why the Third Shinobi War broke out."
Danzo watched as Hiruzen closed his eyes in resignation after he read the scroll that was sent to them early in the morning.
The scroll had the Tsuchikage's stamp, and without reading it, Danzo already knew the letter's content.
"Hokage-sama?" Koharu asked and Hiruzen sighed.
"It's a declaration of war," Sarutobi emotionlessly replied, and Danzo could almost see the crushing weight of this revelation piling up on the weary shoulders of his rival. There was a moment of pity, and then it was gone.
"What are we going to do now?" Homura asked as Danzo stayed silent.
"There's nothing I can do but to step down from the Hokage's seat and appoint a new one after this war." Hiruzen massaged his head.
"But Hokage-sama, are there any capable shinobi in this era that could inherit the seat?" Koharu asked uncertainly, "especially with Sakumo Hatake's untimely passing?"
Hiruzen coughed awkwardly, delighting Danzo. Sakumo hadn't gone three weeks before rumors that he was solely responsible for the impending violence had taken their toll on him.
Danzo waited patiently, he had confidence that he was the only option now.
"I have my eyes on someone, but I can't confirm just yet. Let's see first how well he will perform in this upcoming war." Danzo's brow shot up to his hairline.
'He's already eyeing someone? Who? Did I miss someone?'
"...and who is this fine shinobi?" Danzo tried his best not to show the aggravation in his voice and posture.
"I won't be saying anyone's name yet." The stubborn glint in the Third's eyes told Danzo that this discussion was closed. He gritted his teeth, irritation tingeing his thoughts. The old fool was playing safe.
'That's fine, I'll know about him sooner or later.'
Dolphin couldn't remember his real name or his actual age. All he knew as of now was his importance as one of Danzo-sama's underlings.
For the sake of Konoha. That was what they kept in mind in every mission, and his current mission was not different from all his previous ones.
Deep in the trees, Dolphin followed two men wearing the Konoha head protector whose names he had already forgotten. It didn't really matter; they would be dead anyway.
Concealing his presence with practiced ease, Dolphin flicked five explosive tags at the shinobi holding the scroll. Immediately forming a circle around him.
The Leaf shinobi was caught off guard but to Dolphin's surprise, the man still reacted quickly. Konoha's shinobi were a cut over the rest, he supposed as he dropped down from the canopy.
"Satoshi!"
The shinobi managed to throw the scroll to his companion and the man named Satoshi didn't waste a moment. He shunshinned out of the clearing before the explosion rocked the whole place.
Dolphin clicked his tongue as he noticed the crisp log on the ground and immediately began to pursue the two leaf shinobi.
Two of his fellow ROOT agents flickered beside him to run after the target. After an extended period of a brutal game of cat and mice, they were finally able to corner the duo.
"Give us the scroll," Dolphin calmly intoned.
The man named Satoshi sneered at them with bravado that he clearly did not have. "You have to kill us first."
"Gladly," Dolphin answered before he lunged forward, his Katana firm in his hand. The other two followed his example and attacked Satoshi's partner.
Satoshi was a decent enough shinobi, even managing to block Dolphin's strikes with his kunai. But he was still weak.
Dolphin pulled out a kunai with his other hand to block his opponent's strike and thrust his katana right into Satoshi's stomach without pause while the man was distracted with Dolphin's blocked attack.
As blood gurgled out of the target's mouth, Dolphin pulled out the blade and remorselessly removed his head from his body. A second later his partner joined him in death. Spider and Snake had been relentless.
The battle was over in less than two minutes.
Dolphin rummaged through Satoshi's pouch and found the scroll. He didn't know what was inside it, and he wasn't curious enough to look. Danzo-sama emphasized that delivering it to the Hokage could end the war early. That was enough.
"I have the scroll," Dolphin announced to the other two. Spider went to burn the two bodies to remove all evidence of their mission.
"Mn. Let's report back to Danzo-sama," Snake responded.
All of them nodded and flickered out of the forest, running at top speed back towards their maze of a headquarter.
They flickered into existence in the familiar dark room of Danzo Shimura's office. Kneeling in front of their superior, Dolphin presented the scroll to Danzo.
"The mission is a success, Danzo-sama," Dolphin muttered as he felt the weight of the scroll in his hand disappear.
Danzo quietly read the information in the scroll. He closed his eyes after reading, contemplating what action to take before he issued a command.
"Dolphin, Snake. Gather ten more shinobi and go to the west side of the front battle. Disguise yourself as Iwa shinobi and kill as many Leaf shinobi as you can," Danzo ordered.
"As you command, Danzo-sama," Dolphin and Snake chorused with a deep bow.
"Spider, gather ten agents and kill as many Iwa shinobi as you can. This will cripple both main sides of the battle to prolong the war."
Spider bowed his head. "Yes, Danzo-sama."
"It won't be long. Hiruzen will become too wary to hold onto his position and will be forced to pass down the hat. I'm his best choice in order to win this war and lift up Konoha's decreasing reputation," Danzo-sama muttered as he sat down in his chair, face pensive.
"Take your leave."
The three of them bowed their heads once again and disappeared as quietly as they had arrived.
Danzo let himself relax in his chair, free of remorse. It was all for the good of Konoha.
Minato Namikaze
Everything was supposed to be perfect. The Hokage's hat was already at the tips of his fingers. Hiruzen shouldn't have any more options as a successor. Danzo was the perfect candidate, no one else.
And then Hiruzen had to go and appoint the Namikaze brat as his successor.
"This is foolish Hiruzen. Minato Namikaze is still young and inexperienced!" Danzo argued vehemently, loudly stamping his cane to emphasize his words.
He was standing in front of the Hokage's desk, attempting to refrain from wringing his old rival's neck.
'That boy is too childish for the Hokage's seat!' Danzo angrily raged inside as he remembered him waltzing around with the Uzumaki wench, playing pranks left and right.
"Minato can learn. He's a very intelligent shinobi, one of the best geniuses that Konoha has ever had. His indomitable reputation all over the Elemental Nation as The Yellow Flash of Konoha is what the village needs right now." Hiruzen laced his fingers in front of him, gazing straight into Danzo's eyes.
"A strong feared Hero. He's the best candidate for the position." Sarutobi firmly said, and Danzo gritted his teeth.
'How did this boy escape my notice?' Danzo thought, seething inside.
"If the worst befalls Konoha, it is your doing," Danzo said before he turned around and walked out of the Hokage's office.
'This isn't over! I'm snatching that seat, come hell or high water.'
Minato Namikaze was still experiencing a roaring rush of adrenaline after he had barely arrived in the nick of time to save all three of his students from a botched mission; thus, he was surprised to be immediately summoned by the Third Hokage to his office.
Of course, because he was Minato, he just told the ANBU that he would be there and immediately went to fetch Kushina to inspect Rin's seal and tended to all the things his students needed.
Giving one final instruction to the nurses assigned to his students, Minato returned to the private room where he left Kushina with Rin.
He let out a tired sigh. He had been running in circles for a while now, personally taking care of his student's accommodations.
Rin's deathlike form was draped by a simple white blanket as Kushina inspected the seal that Minato had hastily drawn to confine the Sanbi on top of the mess of a seal that had been placed on his medic-nin student.
Kushina was now removing the original seal and replacing it with a stable one after inspecting every single aspect of the defective seal.
Minato clenched his fists. 'Rin's okay now, she's in good hands,' he reminded himself, trying to calm his raging fury and worry.
"It's a good thing you made it in time Minato. If you were even a few seconds late, this seal might have exploded due to its instability right then and there. Rin wouldn't be alive now if that happened." Minato looked up to stare into his wife's eyes. Kushina looked relieved as she wiped the sweat on her forehead.
"Done already?" he asked as he approached her.
"Mm. Rin needs to train much harder now to not lose control of her chakra, especially since she's a medic. She'll have to start from zero again." Kushina worriedly chewed her bottom lip and glanced at him, her expression distraught.
Minato wrapped his arms around her. "It will be alright, we're here to help her every step of the way," he said, resting his chin on top of her head.
"Of course. Have you checked Kakashi?"
Minato moved away to gaze directly at Kushina's face. He shook his head. "Not yet. Is there something wrong with him?"
"It's just chakra exhaustion. He'll be fine after he's had enough rest." Kushina replied, returning his embrace.
"What really happened Minato?" Kushina asked, looking up at him with a serious look in her eyes.
Minato sighed tiredly. "I... had this bad feeling while I was on my mission. Something in me was urging to check in on my students so I unconsciously felt for the Hiraishin kunai I gave Kakashi." He paused and unconsciously tightened his arms around Kushina.
"Imagine my surprise when I felt it miles away from Konoha! It made me so restless that before I knew it, I was flashing to Kakashi's Hiraishin kunai," he recounted.
"...and then?" Kushina urged him on, her fingers running down his back in an attempt to comfort him. It actually helped him a lot.
Minato took a deep breath before he continued.
"I appeared in the middle of Rin and Kakashi, and good thing too, because I was able to grab Rin from the waist and counter Kakashi's Chidori with a Rasengan. If I wasn't fast enough to react to that…" he trailed off, his wandering mind giving him an awful image of all the possibilities that could have happened.
He rested his forehead on Kushina and felt her fingers combing through his hair. He inhaled her familiar scent of jasmine to calm himself before he continued.
"I angled the Rasengan so that the explosion was directed upward instead of its original course. If I hadn't arrived in time, Kakashi would've pierced Rin's heart with his original jutsu." Silence enveloped them as Minato couldn't help but remember the scene that he witnessed.
"That would've been far too tragic," Kushina quietly affirmed, and Minato nodded.
Rin looked so peaceful asleep like the incident didn't happen at all.
"It was chaos after that. The Sanbi was trying to break free from Rin," Minato began again. "It's a good thing I was able to put a containment seal on her stomach. Though I had to knock her unconscious to prevent her from doing anything unexpected while I was inking the seal."
Kushina absentmindedly nodded at his retelling, before she frowned. "I found a cursed seal on her heart. That's probably the reason behind her dire actions."
Minato recoiled, and looked back at her, his ill-hidden shock clear. "Cursed seal?"
Kushina nodded. "It's messing with her feelings and decisions. Someone's trying to make Rin commit suicide."
Minato's frown deepened. "Why?" he whispered, his fist trembling with barely restrained anger.
Kushina shook her head. "I don't know, but we might find out once the three of them are awake."
Minato audibly exhaled as Kushina put a hand on his chest. She knew that her husband was the most imperturbable person she had ever met; for him to react this much outwardly was a testament to how much he cared for his pupils.
"I'm worried about Obito-kun though," Kushina softly said.
Minato shifted his eyes away from her to stare at another door.
"Let's put her back to her bed. She still went through a lot, and her IV is still full," he said instead, practically avoiding the topic.
Kushina wordlessly nodded and Minato turned his back as he let his wife redress his female student. After a few minutes of rustling clothes, Kushina called out to him.
"Minato, you can carry her now." He turned around and proceeded to gently lift Rin's unconscious body as Kushina went to open the other door for them.
Inside the next room were his other two unconscious students both hooked with multiple IVs. He gently laid Rin in the bed between the two boys, knowing that she would be the first person they would look for after regaining consciousness.
Minato covered Rin with the hospital's blanket and rearranged the bangs on her forehead.
"Wake up soon, Rin-chan," Kushina murmured as she kissed the girl's forehead.
Minato then finally shifted his attention to his third student. His supposedly, dead student.
Obito was lying unconscious in the bed, pale but breathing steadily. Half of his face was charred, a reminder of when they left him to die under fallen rocks.
Obito had been alive there and they left him to suffer alone. What had Obito gone through all these months? How much had he endured that he ended up with that thing attached to his body in order to survive?
"How did Obito show up? We all thought he was dead." Minato was pulled away from his depressing thoughts by Kushina's voice and he blinked at her.
"When I arrived, I heard him call out to me in relief, but I was too busy with Rin's situation to notice him immediately. I thought I was hallucinating from the sheer danger of the situation." He ran a hand over his sweaty blond hair, feeling his hands turning clammy.
"After everything settled down with Rin and Kakashi, I noticed Obito hurrying towards us and cheerfully calling me with tears in his eyes and I was too shocked to really react after all the things that transpired. Just then, a dark figure from within his clothes started causing havoc."
"A dark figure?" Kushina asked in surprise.
Nodding, Minato held on to her hand to seek comfort, she squeezed his hand in return. "It didn't look human at all."
"What is it?" Kushina asked gently.
Minato's face clouded before his eyes drifted to the right side of Obito's body. "The creature's body was a tar-black, blacker than any night I've seen. It encroached on Obito's body, taking on his silhouette and right side," he answered as he vaguely gestured his hand at Obito's half body.
"Before I knew it, my body was moving to aid Obito. I placed a paralysis seal on his body and the creature leaped out from him in a desperate attempt to escape, and of course, I did not allow it to." Minato clenched his jaw.
"I don't know if that creature is still alive after being directly hit with two Rasengan, but to make sure, I put plenty of restricting seals around it. Ibiki and Inoichi are probably having fun with that thing's body now," Minato darkly stated.
"Hmm, I assumed we'll get the news in a few days?"
He nodded at her question. "Inoichi still needs to record his memories. The new seal you gave them has helped them a lot in that regard."
Kushina smirked, "I know, I'm a genius."
Minato chuckled. "Of course. I'll try getting the information from them before the Hokage does, but if it's not possible, then I'll just have to be in the Hokage's office when he's reading the report," he said with a cunning smile.
"Your mischievous side is showing, dear." Kushina giggled and Minato wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
"Hn. It's my students we're talking about here. No one can stop me from knowing everything about this case," he replied smugly. He would get his hands on anything they needed.
It was easier to fly under the radar of his superiors before the Third World War, but feats of strength had a way of speaking on their own. Minato suppressed a sigh and almost jolted in surprise when Kushina suddenly spoke beside him.
"That part of Obito will undergo a few tests from Tsunade-sama," Kushina said while nodding her head as if deep in her own thoughts.
Minato's brow shot up in surprise. "Tsunade-sama? Isn't she in hiding?" he curiously asked.
Kushina cackled evilly. "Who do you take me for? While you were having an adventure of your own, I too have had mine!" she boasted, looking immensely proud of herself.
Minato shook his head in amusement. "Of course, I should have expected at least this much. So, what did you do?"
"Heh, I just needed to track down the seal that I secretly placed on her clothes and undergarments." Kushina cackled, "I dragged Mikoto-chan with me."
Minato shuddered, "Ah…poor Tsunade-sama. She likely did not stand a chance, knowing what you two are like," he said, shaking his head in exasperation at his wife's antics.
She snorted, "She lost a bet with me and Mikoto-chan! But of course that wasn't enough!" she happily clapped her hands in front of her, "We spiked her drink with a powerful sleeping pill. She'll wake up any day now."
"Hmm, what if she sneaks out then?" Minato asked with an arched brow.
"As if! The instant she wakes up, my seal will notify me, and if she walks out of the village's gate without permission, she'll find herself back in her room," she offhandedly replied, before leaning forward with a positively foxy grin on her face, "...covered head to toe in the pinkest, shiniest glitter I could find."
Minato sweatdropped. "'She won't be happy once she wakes up', would be a vast understatement," he gingerly pointed out.
"Don't worry, it's me she'll be angry at, and I know she can't stay angry at me," Kushina said, waving her hand in a dismissive manner. "Probably. Besides, this is for her own good. We're helping her face her problems. Even if she doesn't want to yet."
"O-kay, I'll leave you two to that. Besides, I'll be much more relieved if Tsunade-sama is the one who'll do the examination on Obito," Minato said as his eyes drifted to each of his students.
"I'll take care of it," Kushina assured him before she blinked at him, looking as if she just remembered something important.
"By the way, weren't you called to the Hokage's office about an hour ago?" she asked.
Minato blinked, "You're right," he slowly replied, finally remembering the ANBU who called him when he dropped his students to this private room. "...and that's actually two hours ago."
The two of them looked at each other in silence before they started laughing.
"Seriously? Only you, Minato, could make the Third Hokage wait for two hours," Kushina said in between laughter, her hands on her stomach, "because you just forgot about it!"
Minato rolled his eyes. "You're one to talk," he huffed, "I'll go now then."
"Right, right." Kushina dismissively waved her hand and he left a smack on her lips before he flashed away and appeared inside the Hokage's office.
The Fourth Hokage
A flash of yellow light, followed by a blond man appearing out of thin air.
Two hours.
Hiruzen had been waiting for this man for the past two hours.
"Yo! I'm sorry I'm late," the man greeted as soon as he arrived. He sheepishly rubbed the back of his head as Hiruzen gave him the blankest stare he could muster.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the esteemed Third Hokage of Konoha, who was made to wait for a whole two hours by the blond man, suppressed the urge to throttle the figure who stood before him.
He puffed out smoke from his pipe. "I called you in, ASAP, two hours ago," Hiruzen said.
The blond man only chuckled in a sheepish manner and scratched his cheek.
"I'm sorry, Hokage-sama. The matter regarding my students was urgent." The smile from Minato's face disappeared, replaced by a serious expression. "I hope you can understand, Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen exhaled the smoke in his mouth. He looked at Minato, exasperated, and wondered if he was, once again, doing the right thing. Unfortunately for him, Hiruzen didn't have enough time to second guess his decision.
"I called you in for a very important matter."
Minato straightened up, posture becoming formal, "Hokage-sama?"
"I'm old, Minato. The past two wars were too much for me to handle, and my mistakes are piling up like mountains. Sakumo Hatake's death is still heavy on my conscience. I no longer have the right nor the energy to continue leading Konoha," Hiruzen said, his voice full of regret.
Minato gaped at him with wide eyes. "But you're the Professor, The God of Shinobi," he protested weakly.
Hiruzen chuckled, "Even the Professor or the so-called God of Shinobi ages." He stared directly into Minato's eyes. "It's time for me to retire and pass on the hat to the next generation."
Stiffening, Minato went down onto one knee in front of Hiruzen as the implication of his words finally dawned on him.
"Minato Namikaze, the hero of the Third Shinobi World War, and Konoha's Yellow Flash. I entrust you with the future of the Hidden Leaf, and the shinobi world," Sarutobi Hiruzen said.
He stared at the unwavering cerulean eyes of Minato Namikaze. The person that Hiruzen chose to lead Konoha to the pinnacle of prosperity.
'I know you can do better than me, Minato.'
"I shall do my best to deserve your trust, Hokage-sama," Minato said, determination reflected in his eyes.
"What lies ahead is not peaceful," the Third solemnly said.
"I am prepared for it," the blond man returned, a hardness hidden in his expression that spoke volumes to the wizened man.
"Good. I know you can do it, " Hiruzen smiled fondly at him before they exchanged understanding nods.
"Hokage-sama…" He, the former Third Hokage of Konohagakure no Sato, bowed down his head low in front of the 23-year-old man, and the bow was returned to him in the same manner.
On that day, Minato Namikaze was appointed as the Fourth Hokage of Konohagakure no Sato.
All of Danzo's plans had been a success ever since he started operating ROOT. He wasn't worried that he wouldn't be the next Hokage after Sarutobi since all the possible competitors had already been eliminated, by himself of course.
He had taken note of every possible name that Hiruzen noticed and considered potential successors. However, Danzo still failed to notice a single stray variable.
A clanless child, average in the academy and beyond.
No talent visible to the naked eye. Namikaze's way of fighting was mediocre at best, and immature when it came to personality. He and that Uzumaki wench were much more famous for their pranks than their acts of valor.
So how did Minato Namikaze make his meteoric rise out of nowhere and kill thousands of Iwa Shinobi, even managing to hold off A and Killer Bee of Kumo all on his own?
The Yellow Flash of Konoha.
The little clanless orphan who had been an average student in his graduating class was now standing on top of the Hokage tower as the newly crowned Fourth Hokage of Konohagakure no Sato.
The people of Konoha cheered and celebrated the inauguration of the new Hokage while beneath the crowded streets, Danzo seethed.
All the years of planning and plotting had resulted in... nothing! Because of this… this pitiful little mouse who was playing the role of a lion!
'How could this little mongrel slip past my radar?!'
"This is far from over."
*End of Chapter Seven*
REVIEW RESPONSE:
gabekaykwok: Hi, thank you for reviewing. We'll find out if Kushina lives in chapter 9, so I hope you'll be patient with me.
Mr. Haziq: Hi! Thanks for the review. Yeah, I agree. Uchiha or not, Itachi is still a human being and this Itachi is different from canon Itachi. Plus, he's still a teenager.
Efrm202: Hi, I'm glad you like the previous chapter. I hope you stay in tune!
Bananarock509: Thank you for the support!
dcfangirl4632: Hahah! I kind of made it obvious from the start, so I'm not surprised that people figure it out immediately.
Subzerodx: Thanks for replying to my last question. And about your concern, I don't usually censor curse words when writing. However, at the last editing, I didn't re-read my last beta's edits so I didn't notice her censoring the curse word. Don't worry, I already made it clear to her. Thank you for your concern!
Guest (the first one who commented since there are three Guests here): My story is still at chapter 7, for now, compare to other Naruto fics who had hundreds of chapters so I don't see why you're complaining.
AugustRrush: I'm happy you're liking this so far. There are more chapters to come and I hope you'll be patient with me.
777torn777: Right, thanks for answering my last question. So I'm writing my response after the chapters from now on.
Guest (the second comment): Hi! Thanks for waiting patiently for my updates. More chapters will come soon and we're already nearing the climax so I hope you stay tuned. I'm so sorry if I was gone for so long.
Fictionlover87: I always adore Kushina so I just gotta do this for my inner peace XD
Sakatoura: Thank you so much for your powerful support. I always enjoy your reviews and laugh at how enthusiastic you are. You're one of my readers who inspire me to continue since you'd been there from the start. I'm so happy you're being patient with me. The next chapter won't take as long as this one since it's already finished and under beta editing. I'm so sorry for the long wait.
xxAre-chanxx: I'm so happy you love it! I'm sorry for the delay and I promise the next one won't take months to finish this time.
Twigofspite: I'm so glad you're enjoying this. It's one of the writer's joys and inspiration to know that their readers love what they write and I'm no different. I'm sorry for my late updates. I hope you'll continue to be patient with me for the next chapters to come.
AvatarUzumaki: Thank you so much! Your review is awesome. We'll see those reactions in chapter 9 so I hope you stay with me, and I'll try my best to make it satisfactory for my readers.
BlackandWhiteGirl: Hey! I'm happy to have you as one of my readers! I'm so glad you like my fic and yeah, I plan it that way to always leave my chapters in cliffhangers. Hahaha sorry for being a bit of a sadist. About your question, I mentioned there that they will be back in a couple of days but they arrived just in time just for this mission to be assigned to them. You'll see their POV in chapter 9. And yeah, Jiraiya is on his spying endeavors, Hiruzen on a long overdue vacation with his wife, Tsunade busy in an emergency at the hospital, but Minato will soon call for them because things will be hectic for them in the future chapters. Oops, a big spoiler for you. HAHAHA!
Guest (the third comment): I'm happy this one pick your curiosity. And I promise I'll do my best to continue this fic as much as I can even though there's a lot of delayed updates on my end.
ThatGuyinYourBasement: Hello. I'm happy you like my writing style although I'm still just a new chapter and my beta told me that what I'm doing is actually wrong. So as the chapters go by, my writing style started to change to much more proper use of third person's POV. I hope it's won't be a problem.
RadiantInferno: Hi, ah, yeah. Sorry for my long absence. Here's the update. Although I can't say you'll enjoy it. Hehe.
SyrinxSilenus