"General Sarutobi!"
"General Sarutobi, please look over here!"
"My son was deployed with your army! Please, how is Shiro doing?!"
"Everyone, please, move aside. General Sarutobi has just gotten back from the front and will be making a speech later. If you have any questions, save them until- Hey, no shoving!"
Asuma sighed and lit another cigarette, already regretting his decision to come back home just ten seconds after walking through the gates.
'Maybe I'll just come up with an excuse to bail like Kakashi at the officer meetings...' He thought while looking around for an opportunity to escape the ravenous crowd.
"This is a crucial speech, Asuma-sama." One of his deputies said from behind him. "And you've already skipped the past three. It'll be bad form if you don't show up, and the Hokage will surely be displeased."
"Skipping it?" He asked, turning back to face the man.
He wasn't even tall enough to reach Asuma's chest, had slicked-back black hair, and barely showed any scars.
Far from what one would consider being the archetypical soldier, he had never the less proved himself by Asuma's side time and time again.
"That didn't even pass through my mind, Yoshimitsu-kun."
Yoshimitsu stared at him without saying anything for a few seconds before sighing in resolution. "But if you do decide to wander around, I've heard some fascinating stories about a place around here recently."
A grin spread across Asuma's face. "And that right there's why you're my favorite deputy, Yoshi."
"I'm sure Keiko-chan wouldn't be pleased to hear that."
"Keiko-chan isn't here, and you are. The lucky bastard."
"Most people would consider coming back home as a hero to give out a victory speech luckier than sleeping in the mud back in the front, sir."
"Most people are morons. An unearned victory's sourer than a hard-fought defeat. Don't bother playing devil's advocate; I know you agree."
"Regardless, a statement like that won't boost the citizen's morale."
"Citizen's morale." Asuma scoffed. "As if that was worth anything. The hell do I care for the morale of someone who never picked up a kunai?"
"You're just grumpy because we haven't eaten anything since leaving."
"Damn straight." Asuma finished his cigarette and threw it aside. "So, did that place you mention have some good food?"
"The best in Konoha. Although I suspect that you'll be too amazed by other things to bother with the food."
"Oh, really? We shouldn't keep them waiting then. I'll be right behind you."
"You'll be the one to smooth things out with the Hokage this time, not me," Yoshimitsu said before vanishing with a gust of wind, much to the crowd's shock.
Asuma grinned before moving to follow him. "Show off."
The general could only stop and turn to Yoshimitsu in disbelief once they stopped moving and he finally recognized where they were.
"The red-light district? Really? I didn't think you were that type of guy."
"I've heard the place we're going to is a perfectly respectable restaurant."
"Sure, a perfectly respectable restaurant surrounded by brothels and loan sharks." Asuma shook his head. "Where did you hear about this place anyway? Some kid in our barracks?"
"A friend from ANBU, actually," Yoshimitsu said while continuing to walk. Asuma blinked twice before scratching his chin with a grin.
"ANBU, huh? Well, this just keeps getting better and better. And I don't suppose you'll tell me just how your ANBU friend learned about this place until we get there, am I right?"
"I guarantee you'll understand once we get there, sir."
His curiosity only continued to rise as they walked through the tightly-packed streets.
Most of the buildings were closed, not to be opened until the sunset. Despite that, Asuma could tell they were being watched from almost every angle, catching sight of shadows trying to hide among the rooftops more than once.
"The residents, huh?" He wondered out loud. Yoshimitsu nodded. "It's only natural they'll be suspicious about someone from your rank coming here, sir. They're probably going to be doing some 'cleaning' soon."
"Morons. As if the village could afford the men to clean up a place like this." Asuma muttered, waving at one of the 'empty' windows and laughing as one of the makeshift spies scurried away from sight.
The rest of their journey didn't have any more interruptions, and Asuma was left totally bewildered once they finally came to a stop.
Ichiraku's Ramen was almost the complete opposite of every other establishment around it.
The two-story building's windows were recently replaced. The sidewalk was brushed clean. The doors were newly coated with fresh paint, and its entrance sign was replaced to celebrate their newest 'victory.'
Essentially, it looked just like something Asuma would expect to find on Konoha's food district, if not better.
That could mean one of two things.
Either the owners were legitimately trying to run a business in the sketchiest part of town...
...Or they were hiding something that would be too dangerous, even for the red-light district.
The latter would explain Yoshimitsu's interest in the establishment. But his subordinate wouldn't bring him to something that risky without adequately warning him first, and his 'friends at ANBU' would probably already have shut it down.
That was all Asuma could gather at first glance.
"Alright, Yoshi. I've played along with you until now, but I need to know what's going on. Why did we come here?"
"As I said, I heard the food was excellent."
"Don't try to bullshit the bullshitter now. I want to know why here specifically and not some five-star restaurant. And how did you actually learn about it?"
Yoshimitsu shrugged. "I can't come clean just yet, sir. I think it'll be best for you to see it for yourself. But I'll tell you this; remember that conversation we had under the bridge a year ago?"
Asuma held back a wince. He did. Battles were never easy, but there were few feelings in life worse than just barely managing to escape from an ambush. They were forced to take refuge next to the enemy headquarters while waiting for reinforcements and had taken the opportunity to discuss their feelings regarding the war and how it'd end.
"I think this place holds the 'solution' to that."
Asuma's eyes widened.
"Hoh...I see. Lead the way then."
And with that, they walked in.
Asuma's eyes immediately scanned the restaurant's insides, identifying and analyzing every face and object he saw.
Within a second, Yoshimitsu's intentions became clear to him.
It was the waiter.
The boy was taller than most men Asuma had ever met, almost taller than him, even. And muscular too, showing years of work that could even be seen through his clothing.
But his face betrayed his age. No older than twenty, around seventeen if Asuma had to guess.
His hands held no weapons, naturally, but told a story of their own as well. The scarring around his knuckles had formed a layer of dead skin and callouses big enough to be confused for bottle caps.
The types of which he had only seen grace the hands of Taijutsu masters in the past. Certainly not what he expected out of someone from his station.
Still, the youth's most distinctive features were, without a doubt, the dark-red mane of hair that stretched down his back and the vibrant green eyes that pierced through whatever he looked at.
Said eyes turned to them as the doorbell signaled their entry.
Just as Asuma had done to him, the boy clearly arrived at several conclusions after staring the two of them down. Not that it was hard to identify him, considering the Sarutobi pin on his vest and the white cape draped around his shoulders.
"Welcome," The boy said without missing a beat before nudging his head toward one of the tables. "Please, take a seat. I'll be there to take your orders soon."
Asuma wordlessly nodded while following his directions.
His earlier thoughts crept back into the forefront of his mind.
'Could be hiding something extremely dangerous, huh? I suppose the description fits you well, Uzumaki.'
"You're one slippery bastard, Yoshi."
"I'll take that as a compliment, sir."
Naruto waited by the counter while Ayame put on her finishing touches on their last batch of orders.
They had matching aprons with the store's logo, a red spiral, imprinted on it, and both were equally tired after working a nine-hour long shift.
Still, even in that fatigued state, when she put the plates down in front of him with her typical warm smile, he managed to forget all about his own problems.
"I heard the bell ring earlier. New or old?"
He discretely nudged his thumb toward the newcomers' table. "Take a look for yourself and tell me what you think."
"Naruto! Don't just point... at... them." Her mouth fell open. "Hey, am I seeing this right, or did these fumes finally drive me insane?"
"If you're seeing General Asuma Sarutobi sitting at our shop with what's probably an army captain or something, then don't worry, you're still sane."
"Oh my god." She whispered, putting both hands in her face. "Naruto, what the hell have you done this time?!"
"I didn't do anything!" He protested before looking back at the seemingly unaware general with squinted eyes. "I don't think they came here for me, but that's definitely why they're hanging around. You could see it in his eyes, clear as day."
"Why would someone like him even come here? Any restaurant in Konoha would give him a king class meal free of charge!"
"Probably something to do with that ANBU squad that came here last month."
"The... the what?"
"Oh, I didn't tell you about that?" He asked with a grin. "My bad. Don't worry about it though, I'll take care of it."
"Naruto, wait!"
But he was already walking toward the general's table, using the
opportunity to take a closer look as he did.
The general himself was, of course, already a familiar figure to Naruto. Although they had never met in person before, his image was spread all over the village in numerous propaganda posters and recruitment ads.
It was harder to not know who he was or what he looked like, really.
The man sitting by his side, though, was another story.
He was smaller and more slender than Asuma, with cautious black eyes that scanned around the shop every couple of seconds. Naruto also noticed he was always hiding his hands under their table as if preparing for a sneak attack. The sight of it alone was making him paranoid.
"And what can I get you two?" He finally asked after getting close enough to speak.
The black-eyed man was the first to speak. "A large miso, if you would."
"Make that two larges," Asuma interrupted. "And maybe just a little bit of your time, if you have any to spare."
"It's not that I don't," Naruto said while scratching his head with pretend nervousness. "But I'm the only one on shift right now, and we still have a whole bunch of clients to serve. You could wait until we're finished to talk, but I don't know if you'll have the time for it with that big speech you're supposed to give and everything."
"Wow," Asuma said, sounding genuinely surprised. "You're more up-to-date with that sort of stuff than I expected."
"Hey now, the red-light district's still in Konoha, ain't it? Just because we don't get the big crowds doesn't mean we don't hear about the war."
"Yeah? And what do you know about the war right now?" Asuma asked, leaning back into his chair with a grin.
Naruto huffed. He had already spent more time than he could afford talking to Asuma, but chatting with such a high-ranking member of the military was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
'Maybe I could even ask him to... No, that's not gonna happen. Just answer his question.'
"We're at a stalemate with Suna and Iwa. Kumo refuses to let us know if we're still allies or not. Kiri's in the middle of a civil war. The Samurai are too busy doing their own thing to the north to bother anyone. That's about it."
Asuma whistled. "Speaking frankly is one hell of a talent, kid. If every report I got in the field was that concise, my life would be one hell of a lot easier. So, what do you think about all of that?"
Naruto shrugged. "I try not to. What the hell do I care if you guys lose or win a thousand miles away from here? I'm gonna wake up the next morning and work on the shop until it closes either way. Sorry, but I'm not really the patriotic type."
"Yeah? Those don't seem like the words of someone who applied to enlist over twenty times in the past five years, Naruto-kun."
Naruto's eyes narrowed. "Maybe that's because they're coming from someone who was rejected over twenty times in the past five years, Asuma-san."
"Yeah, well, father has a bad habit of wanting to protect everyone in this place," Asuma went on, seemingly unfazed by Naruto's more-than-casual honorific. "Even those who don't really need or want it."
"It is what it is," Naruto said with a shrug. "It's not like any of us can do shit about it anyway. I'm gonna go get your orders."
"Isn't there?"
Naruto suddenly stopped in his tracks, turning to the two men so quickly his neck almost snapped off. Asuma and his subordinate were both looking up at him with the most severe expressions he had seen so far.
He clenched his fists.
"I don't want to cause any trouble, but if you two only came here to make fun of me, you might as well leave right now."
"I assure you, Naruto-kun, we're one-hundred percent serious."
"The old man has the final say on this, and he's going to say no. Trust me, I tried, remember? For years. If there was a way, I'd be in."
"And just how committed are you to getting in?" Asuma asked, leaning in so that they were closer to each other. For the first time since seeing the man, Naruto realized just who he was talking to. A general. The general. Someone who had led thousands of men into battle and killed twice as many. "What would you do to join the army, and why?"
"...There's a room out in the back. Only my sister and I can get in. If you're really serious about this, we can talk over there. But I'm letting you know right now," His fists tightened until nails began to pierce his flesh. "If you're fucking with me about this, I don't care who you are; I'm not going to let it fly."
"Well, let's get to it then," Asuma said, standing from where he was seated. "We have a lot to talk about."
Naruto shifted on his seat. He had tried to hide how anxious he was about Asuma's proposal, as fake as it sounded, but he knew it was of no use. He had nearly tumbled into the room, half-assedly assuring his sister everything would be fine while Asuma and the other man got seated.
"What do you have in mind?" Naruto asked as soon as everyone got settled. "I asked all of the recruiters. Read up all about the recruitment process in the library. Everyone told me there was no way-!"
"I can't answer that just yet," Asuma said, putting his elbows on the table. "I already told you - I need to know why you want in so badly in the first place."
"This is a gamble, Naruto-kun." The man's companion said, turning his attention to him. "I'm Yoshimitsu, by the way. But the point is Asuma-sama and I will be in a lot of trouble if this doesn't go perfectly. We need to know if this investment would be worth taking in the first place."
"...To get stronger, you need to fight strong people," Naruto said after a small moment of silence. "And there's only so much you can do in a village like Konoha. If I was fighting in the war, though..."
"Simple." Asuma acknowledged with a nod. "But getting stronger is a means to an end, isn't it? It's not what you're really after."
"You're really going to make me say it?"
"I need to hear it."
Naruto slammed his fist down at the table, creating a small dent in the area of impact. "Fine! I want to fight her! And there's no goddamned way I'm going to be strong enough to do that by sitting on my ass back home while she's out there kicking your fucking ass!"
He and Asuma stared into each other's eyes after his outburst for what seemed like a solid minute. Naruto was fully prepared for the man to unveil his real intentions after that, but he simply laughed and leaned back into his chair.
"Good enough. That's all I need to hear."
The boy blinked.
"Wait, so does that mean I pass or what?"
"With flying colors," Asuma said as he lit a cigarette Yoshimitsu handed to him. Naruto tried to protest it, but the man was already moving on.
"You see, Naruto-kun, people need a goal when it comes to war. It's easy to get lost if you're just going there for money, glory, or even some noble sense of patriotism. A lack of conviction's the easiest way to get killed."
"And... you're not worried I'll do the same thing she did?"
"Kid, you really need to work on selling yourself if you want to get higher up in the ladder," Asuma said with a chuckle while shaking his head. "But to answer your question, no, I'm not. More like the opposite of that, really. Kushina's never going to come back to the leaf. I think you know that more than anyone. As long as she continues to be our enemy, you'll continue being on our side. Ain't that right?"
"I... sure, but you still haven't told me just how exactly you're going to get me into the army in the first place."
"It's simple, really. Some could even say too simple, but good plans usually are." Asuma offered Naruto his cigarette, which the boy promptly refused.
"Do you know how a law is passed, Naruto-kun?" Yoshimitsu asked.
"Yeah, the council proposes it, votes on it, and then the Hokage decides if it passes or not, right?"
"You're mostly correct. But there's an exception. One that has never actually been put into practice, but no one can actually ignore."
Asuma pointed his cigarette at him.
"If every single member in the council agrees on the same motion, it will pass. Doesn't matter what my old man thinks about it. He can't overrule it. That's just how it works."
"You... you've got to be kidding me," Naruto said, slumping on his seat. "You made me say all that shit for this? Newsflash, that won't ever fucking happen! Half the time we get clients that come up here just to start shit up with me! And I have a hard time thinking the clan heads will want her son in the army any more than they would!"
"Yeah, you're probably right," Asuma said with a nod. "There's no way they'd let you in. But what if it wasn't you?"
"...Huh?"
"Yamashita Nazuo," Yoshimitsu began to say. "Seventeen years old. Born and raised in Konoha to a poor family living in the red-light district. Tried to apply for recruitment in the past but was rejected due to his economic station. During our victory tour, Asuma-sama and I just so happen to stumble upon him. It also just so happens that he has the perfect bloodline limit to help us in the war. We'll take him under our wing on the Sarutobi army and train him on the front. No one should have an issue with something as simple as that, don't you think?"
"Wait, isn't that basically lying to the council? And isn't that basically treason?!" Naruto exclaimed, standing from his seat in shock. "How the hell would that work anyway?! It wouldn't even take a week for the old man to notice I was gone! And then I'm right back at where I started!"
"Doesn't matter, kid," Asuma said, crossing his arms. "Konoha's still supposed to be a meritocracy. If someone scores a big achievement in the war, they get a big reward. Stand out enough during that week, and there's no way they'll pull you out. It'd be bad for morale, even if it's you."
Naruto felt as if his legs were about to give out from underneath him. Objectively speaking, this was everything he ever wanted in life. Finally, an opportunity to continue with his path after being denied for so long. But he still couldn't bring himself to believe it was actually happening.
"I still don't understand why you're doing this in the first place," Naruto said, letting himself fall back into suspicion. "If it goes wrong, you could lose your rank. Hell, you could be court-martialed! And if it goes right, all you get is me. What's your end-game here?"
"You summarized it perfectly when we were talking earlier," Asuma explained. "The war's at a stand-still. Has been ever since you were born. And we both know you're special for more reasons than just Kushina."
The general pointed to Naruto's stomach.
"The Kyuubi..."
"That's right. None of the major villages have used their Jinchuuriki in the front-lines for over a decade now. Do you know why?"
"Because if they die, their beast could get out and kill everyone?"
"That as well. But it's because of vulnerability. A Jinchuuriki will always be more powerful than their regular comrades, especially if they're in-tune with their beasts. However, at the end of the day, they're still only human. If one dies, not only could their beasts wreak havoc, their home village will be losing a powerful weapon."
"They... we're a deterrent." Naruto summarized. "The last line of defense if everything else goes to shit."
"Exactly. But you could also be a sword. And one hell of a good one at that. If we're the first to use one, and if we use you well, the sheer momentum could lead us straight to victory. Like Yoshi said earlier, it's a gamble. But I've already lost more companions than I can count in the past few years, and from the way things are looking right now, the future's not going to be any better. If we do this well, at least your kids won't have to worry about dying for nothing."
"...So you'll be using me to do that, and I'll be using you to fight my mother."
"Yep. A contract made out of mutual benefit from both parties. The best type there is."
Asuma finally extended an open hand to him.
"What do you say, Naruto-kun? Ready to put all of that training into practice?"
Ayame tapped her foot impatiently while staring at the back room's door.
It had been long enough since they went in for the shop's doors to close, and barring Naruto's eventual outburst, she didn't hear anything coming from inside.
Her brother hadn't offered a proper explanation for what they were doing either, although she could take a guess. If the general was there to start up some trouble, Naruto would have taken him and his man outside. If they were sitting down for a conversation...
She glanced at the kitchen knife hidden underneath her table. It wasn't as if there was a lot she could do if Asuma and Naruto had gotten into a fight, but it was better than standing aside and letting him be killed.
Just as she was about to barge into the room to see if everything was fine, the general and his underling walked out with Naruto in their stead.
The three men stared at each other before nodding in unison and shaking hands. The next thing she knew, Ayame and Naruto were the only ones left in the shop.
Naruto sighed in relief before unceremoniously dropping to a seat next to her. "We're going to need to ventilate the shit out of that place, by the way. Dude smokes like a chimney."
"That's what you have to say?!" She demanded, slapping him on the shoulder. "What the hell happened in there?! You were inside for hours!"
"A whole lot." He said, kicking his feet up. "But... I think this might be it."
"You don't mean..." She gasped. "You're in?"
"I don't know just yet," Naruto said, massaging his face. "I'll have to pull my own weight before anything goes through, but... I think so, yeah."
"That's wonderful!" She shouted, pulling him into a hug even while her brother protested and tried to free himself.
"Well, yeah, but..."
"But?" Ayame narrowed her eyes at him. "But what?"
"If I go, you'll have to tend for the shop by yourself..."
"Bro, please." She rested both hands on his shoulders. "You've been killing yourself for years for a chance like this, haven't you? If you tried to throw it all away because of me, I'd kick your ass myself."
His eyes softened, but Ayame could still see some hesitation.
"How about this. You make it big out there and send some of it back home. I'll use it to hire some staff around here like you're always telling me to do. Hell, I might even move into the main street. Now how does that sound?"
"...Pretty good." He finally admitted with a smile.
"That's what I thought. Now come on, help me make dinner."
"I can't." He said while standing from her side. "Have to go back to 'that place' tonight. It's part of the deal."
She felt her eyes widen. "You told that guy about that?"
"That's the thing that's been bothering me," Naruto said, shaking his head. "This is the first time we met, but... I feel like he knew all along."
Asuma skipped through the formalities of meeting his peers at the Hokage's tower as quickly as possible, letting the entourage he had abandoned earlier to do most of the social work.
"You're quite late, General Sarutobi."
'Just the man I was looking for.' Asuma thought as he was stopped in the middle of an empty hallway by an old 'friend' of his family.
Old, seemingly fragile, and extremely dangerous. Those were the three words that one could use to describe Danzo Shimura, Konoha's most powerful and influential councilman.
"Councilman Danzo." He said with a polite bow of his head. "Konoha's people were just too generous. I couldn't just abandon them without a second word, could I?"
"And yet my troops report you disappeared in the middle of your homecoming parade."
"Completely unfounded rumors, I'd say. Just ask Yoshimitsu later; he'll tell you all about it."
"Hmm, I'm sure," Danzo said, tapping his cane to the floor. Asuma could tell he didn't believe his excuses in the slightest, but contesting them wouldn't be worth his time. "Let's hurry, then. Your father is awaiting you. As is the rest of the council. And I'd say they're less than pleased about it."
"And we'd just hate for them to lose any more of their precious time, isn't that right?" He said with a grin. Danzo's usually stone-cold face opened up with the smallest of smiles. "Could we talk for a second before that, councilman? There's something I think you need to know."
"Oh? Consider me intrigued." Danzo said, pretending to stop to think for a second. "You're already late enough... but it's a rare occasion when you want to speak to me. In fact, I don't think it has ever happened before. Besides, I've had some delicious tea sent to my office earlier today. Would you care to try it out with this old man?"
'Old man my ass, you sly old bastard.' Asuma thought while maintaining his smile. "I'd love to."
"So, what do you want?" Danzo asked as soon as they sat down, waving a hand to dismiss the numerous ROOT operatives hiding around the room.
Asuma gave them a sidelong glance before refocusing on the man. A mere councilman having an entire ANBU sub-division for himself, no matter how influential, would be unthinkable in any other village.
It just went to show the caliber of the man he was dealing with.
"There's a law saying that any member of Konoha's armed forces has the right to sponsor a recruit's application, isn't that right?" Asuma asked while taking a sip from his cup of tea. "I'd like to put mine forth."
Danzo raised both eyebrows. "You are sponsoring someone?"
"Is it that surprising?"
"I expected to see Kakashi applying as an academy instructor before this," Danzo admitted. "Who is it, then?"
"Naruto Uzumaki."
Much to his disappointment, the old man didn't spit out his tea. Instead, his eyes glared into Asuma's while he slowly and carefully put the cup down. "Is this your attempt at a joke? Your father would never approve."
"Does that mean you would?"
"Of course." He leaned back into his chair. "I've been advocating for it ever since the brat was born. We both know what he'd be capable of, given enough training and experience."
"I thought you'd have doubts regarding his allegiances."
"Which is why I said we should have begun his training as soon as possible," Danzo said sourly. "Given the right conditioning, a man would rather stab himself in the throat before badmouthing his village."
Asuma decided to ignore the fact that Danzo had just proposed essentially brainwashing a child to join their army. Dealing with him was always unpleasant. Almost as unpleasant as talking to Orochimaru.
"I'll be frank. We both know there's a way to make this happen regardless of what my father says. But I'd never be able to get it off of the ground. Not without your help."
Danzo hummed. "Your father's wrath isn't a light burden, Asuma. Even for a man of your standing."
"That's a blow I'm willing to take. Besides, father won't strip my rank away so soon. Not as things stand right now."
"And how's that?"
"Because he isn't the one who's been with them for the past six months as we held the gates. I am. An army is built around their general, isn't that what you used to tell me back in the day?"
"You... you're saying that the entire Sarutobi army would rise up against Konoha if you were deposed?"
Asuma's grin widened. "It doesn't matter if they would. What matters is that they could. And we both know that isn't a risk my old man's willing to take. Not while he still has Kumo to worry about."
Danzo was silent for a moment.
"You're far more cunning than I had given you credit for."
"Thank you-"
"Or maybe you're just reckless." The old man continued while glaring at him. "This is a gamble. You're well aware of that. Even if it works and you aren't deposed, this will drive a permanent wedge between yourself and your father. Are you really willing to do that for Kushina's son?"
"Yeah," Asuma said, not dodging his eyes from Danzo's. "I am."
Another moment of silence was shared between the two.
"The next deployment for the front is tomorrow. That's when he'd need to go. If we waited any longer, your father would intervene. The brat can't have received any formal training, or else I'd have heard about it by now. The only way for this to work is if he distinguishes himself enough in the war before Hiruzen has an opportunity to recall him. You've met him before, or else you wouldn't have come up with this scheme. Tell me, do you think Naruto Uzumaki's ready for something like this?"
"No one's ever ready for it. You know that just as well as I do, councilman." Asuma replied, unusually somber. "But if you're asking me if he can fight, you should know better than anyone else."
"I should know-?!" Danzo's eyes widened. "You can't mean?!"
"I think you need to have a look for yourself," Asuma said, looking at the office's open window. "Our meeting can still be delayed for another hour or two, can't it? So, what do you say, councilman? Shall we go decide Konoha's future together?"
"How did you learn about this?" Danzo asked as they jumped from rooftop to rooftop, faster than any commoner's eye could follow.
"Did you think I'd be too busy with the front to pay attention back home?" Asuma asked. "I have my sources too, you know? Ah, here we are."
The Triple Hollyhock was a bar situated on the village's outskirts, right next to its gargantuan wall.
It seemed abandoned to the unaware observer. There was a massive gathering of dust, and most of the billboard's signs had fallen off. The only thing that remained was its titular symbol, and even then, it was almost entirely faded out.
The door opened before Asuma could knock. A tall and heavily scarred man stood by the entrance for half a second before bowing to them. "Danzo-sama, Asuma-sama. Tokugawa-sama will see you two whenever you're ready."
They were led inside after nodding.
Asuma had heard about the arena from his informants in the past. Supposedly a project initially funded by Danzo to select the best warriors for his personal army, it took a life of its own after the councilman deemed it a failure and handed it off to a different owner.
He was surprised to learn that Naruto had actually participated in its fights before. The boy spoke to him about it at length during their earlier meeting, but nothing he had heard prepared Asuma for the sheer scale of it all.
A trapdoor hidden in the bar's entrance led into a tunnel that went further and further into the earth.
Once they reached the bottom floor, the scarred man took them to a long set of corridors that were just barely illuminated by candlelight. After navigating through the extensive maze, Asuma came face-to-face with a flawless wooden door. The type would cost half of his salary to buy.
"Please, feel free to call me if you need anything." Their guide said while bowing by the door's side.
"We won't," Asuma assured while Danzo went ahead and pushed it open.
The sight that greeted him was a very short man sitting behind a desk that was at least twice his size. He jumped to his feet while spreading his arms as soon as they walked into the room.
"Danzo-dono! Asuma-dono! What do I owe you this visit for?"
"Tokugawa-dono," Danzo responded with a nod. "I've heard some rumors recently. About things that have been occurring here ever since I left you in charge."
"Rumors?" Tokugawa asked, blinking in confusion. A moment of revelation seemed to strike him, though, and Asuma was soon greeted to another one of the diminutive man's big smiles. "Ah, you must be talking about Uzumaki-kun."
Now it was Asuma's turn to be confused. "You'll really admit to it so easily?"
"Why wouldn't I?" Tokugawa asked with a shrug. "It was never meant to be a secret in the first place. It just so happened that Danzo-dono became too busy with the war to check in on us recently. What was I supposed to do, turn down one of our most promising fighters?"
"And why, exactly," Danzo asked sourly. "Was I not notified of such a promising fighter in the first place, Tokugawa-dono?"
"Well, I never thought you'd accept Naruto-kun's application in the first place! Why, I believed he had given up on joining the army entirely until he showed up today!"
"He's here?" Danzo asked with widened eyes before slowly turning to face Asuma. "Another part of your scheme, I assume?"
"Pot meet kettle." The general said with a smirk. "Besides, this is the perfect opportunity for you to see some return on investment, right? What would you prefer, hearing about how Naruto fights or seeing it in person?"
"I would prefer to not have my identity known by him," Danzo replied with narrowed eyes. "If you would do me the courtesy."
"Oh, of course, there won't be any need for that, Danzo-dono," Tokugawa said while pressing his finger down on a piece of paper.
The wall behind him became transparent, and soon all three men had a perfect view of what was going on further down below.
"This only goes one way, of course..." Tokugawa assured them.
Asuma couldn't help it. He whistled in surprise.
Just as Naruto had said, it was an arena. Big enough to be confused by the one they used to hold the chunnin exams at. The floor was made of sand. Even from their position in Tokugawa's office, Asuma could still see many teeth and nails poking out into the surface.
Big highlights shone down from every angle, not letting any shadows form and giving all three men a perfect picture of what was happening.
Naruto was standing in the middle of it all, wearing a white gi with a matching belt. The new choice of attire finally allowed Asuma to see just how scarred the boy's body really was.
His arms were covered in cuts originating from many different bladed weapons. The front of his chest was marred with burn scars, probably from a jutsu, and a small white line that went right underneath his neck told a story of its own.
"He got all of that here?" Asuma asked, nudging at his body with his head.
"Of course he did," Tokugawa said with a smile before reaching out to grab some drinks from underneath his desk. "You're a man of war yourself, Asuma-dono. Surely you know how merciless conflict can be."
"And who is he fighting against?" Danzo interrupted before Asuma could ask anything else.
"Here they come now."
Four men stepped out of the shadows as one, shortly surrounding the younger boy. Asuma's eyes narrowed after seeing them.
"Those men are..."
"Not every one of our fighters is as inexperienced as Naruto-kun, of course," Tokugawa explained. "Some can't go back to the front for several reasons. Those who are still hungry for battle come here."
All four had weapons. Among them, Asuma saw a spear, short-sword, and two Kunai. Naruto was the only man standing who didn't have a blade in his hands.
Tokugawa laughed after he pointed that fact out. "Of course, everyone can pick and choose their own weapons for these fights. I assure you, Naruto-Kun's 'handicap' is based on his own choices, no one else's."
"Does he think he can fight in a war without any weapons?" Danzo huffed. "Foolish. Do you still think he's worth hedging your bet on, Asuma?"
"They haven't started fighting yet, Danzo," Asuma said, focusing on the match. "We'll see about that once they're finished."
"If you gentlemen are all set..."
Tokugawa gestured for the scarred man that had been waiting outside once Danzo and Asuma nodded. A few seconds later, the sound of a drum being hit traveled across the arena.
Naruto's assailants wasted no time in moving.
They jumped across the arena and came at him in pairs. The redhead simply took his fighting stance and waited for them to approach, not making a single move to dodge or defend himself while doing so.
His very first movement came once one of the men launched themselves at him with his spear from behind. Naruto turned around moments before the steel could pierce his flesh, flicking his wrist at the same time.
Much to Asuma's surprise, the boy's fingers were enough to cut through the spear's wood, splitting it in two and letting the tip fall to the ground harmlessly.
His attacker let out a shocked gasp, but Naruto didn't give him any time to recover. All it took was a side-kick to his liver to send the ex-soldier tumbling to the ground, neutralized for the moment.
The man's partner - one of the Kunai users - didn't let himself be phased by Naruto's attack. Instead, he jumped back to create some distance between the two while throwing his knife. Another one of the soldiers, seeing an opportunity, threw his own Kunai as well in the hopes of taking the boy down with a simultaneous strike.
There was no attempt of a counter on Naruto's part that time. After taking a quick glance to confirm his opponents' positions, the boy dropped to the ground, letting both knives fly past him before impacting against the arena's walls.
The last man with a weapon on his hands was the one wielding the short-sword. The most experienced among his peers, he was utterly confident while attacking the boy who was several years his junior, using a multitude of compact stabs and slashes.
But once again, the Uzumaki didn't panic, deflecting and stepping away from every strike.
Asuma was convinced that Naruto used a very traditional but functional style of Taijutsu that prioritized defense and stability over offense and agility. Danzo's words confirmed his theory.
"The stone style, founded by Konoha's own masters a few dozen years ago." The man said while watching the fight. "I'm surprised he has such a good grasp on it. Who taught him?"
Tokugawa laughed. "Himself, of course."
Both of the other men turned to him, startled. "What?!"
"You both are aware that several Taijutsu scrolls are available at our public library, are you not? All Naruto-kun needed was a sponsor kind enough to request them for him," The short man grinned. "But of course, he didn't have any masters there to teach him. All you're seeing are the fruits of his hard work and tenacity. Even if he earned a few scars in the process."
"Wait..." Asuma's eyes widened in realization. "You said scrolls, right? Does that mean that he learned more than one?!"
Tokugawa hummed. "Keep your eyes on the fight, Asuma-dono."
And it was a good thing he did. The swordsman had pushed Naruto into one of the arena's corners while the disarmed opponents watched. Naruto didn't sprout any severe wounds, although his arms had dozens of light cuts spread across them.
Then, just as the man stepped in to attack him for a final time, Naruto turned to stare at where they were standing with a grin.
"What?!-"
"Naruto-kun seemed to know you two were coming here," Tokugawa commented with an alarming level of tranquility. "Unfortunately, it seems he has a bit of a bad habit when it comes to showing off."
Naruto stepped forward to meet the swordsman...
And just like that, Asuma was forced to re-evaluate all of his previous assessments about the boy's fighting style.
His footwork was rapid, almost like a dancer's. In the blink of an eye, not only had he dashed underneath one of the man's swings, but he quickly weaved his way to face his back.
A jab had been thrown before the man could turn to face him, and it impacted his chin with a loud crunch. Even though he had already dropped his weapon, Naruto didn't stop his assault, following it up with a left-leaning roundhouse kick that hit the same spot.
But he didn't finish him off. Instead, Naruto stepped away from the man as he recovered his consciousness, making his way back to the center of the arena. The ones he had previously disarmed quickly followed in his stead.
"What are they doing?" Asked an incredulous Danzo.
"Naruto-kun has been fighting here longer than most of the others," Tokugawa explained. "And he has been the champion for almost as long. While all of their matches are still real, as you've seen, an 'honor code' has been established between them."
The short man raised two fingers. "First comes weapons and Taijutsu, then Ninjutsu. Simple, isn't it?"
"But..." Asuma scratched his beard while all of the fighters got in position. "Why, though? Wasn't this place's purpose to prepare these guys for war?"
Danzo hummed in agreement. Tokugawa simply laughed.
"Tell me, what is the best way to learn a new skill? Separating the process into parts, right? If you can lay down a brick per day, your house will never crumble, isn't that what they say?"
All of the fighters got into position. Naruto placed his hands closer to each other.
"The original goal of this arena was to prepare a wide array of warriors, that's correct, Asuma-dono. But halfway through, it changed."
Tokugawa's smirk widened.
"We decided to spend all of our time and resources to prepare a single, perfect candidate instead."
Things exploded on the ground floor.
All three of Naruto's enemies went through their hand-signs at once. Instead of returning the favor in kind, the redhead turned around and jumped as high as his chakra-enhanced legs would let him.
Which led him to the 'window' Asuma and the others were using to spectate their fight. Naruto stuck to it with his chakra before finally beginning the motions for his own attack.
"Katon: Daiendan!"
"Suiton: Mizo no Muchi!"
"Fuuton: Daitoppa!"
Naruto's eyes whipped between the attacks. Two large blasts of fire and air heading straight toward him combined with a long whip made out of water that reached for his ankle.
His hand-seals were finished before his analysis.
"Fuuton: Bouseki Tate no Kaze!"He yelled out, causing the wind directly in front of him to quickly start spinning in the shape of a rapidly growing fan.
The elements crashed almost instantly. Naruto's jutsu, which had more chakra poured into it, managed to overpower the others in the end.
Still, even then, he couldn't stop the explosion of mist that resulted from the mixture.
Thankfully, Naruto's eyes managed to catch the silhouettes coming straight toward him from behind the curtain.
He immediately disconnected the chakra holding him to the wall, letting his body fall a couple of feet before launching himself away from it. While still in mid-air, Naruto turned back to where he saw his enemies just as he finished another sequence of hand seals.
"Fuuton: Yadama Henshin Bakuha!"
He spat out another gust of air, one not strong enough to push back a human body but still more than capable of dispelling the mist around him.
All three of his opponents were heading straight toward where he had been a mere moment ago.
Asuma, who had been wholly absorbed into the fight up to that point, widened his eyes. 'Three?!'
"Doton: Ressho Piasu Kiba!"
The fourth opponent burst out of the ground and reached to grab Naruto by his legs. Asuma and the other spectators saw a panicked smile appear on his face.
Naruto flipped his body backward by using the momentum from his earlier wind technique, grabbing the hand that had reached out to him as he did.
Using his body's weight as a lever, Naruto threw the man toward his pursuers while landing on the ground.
One of his opponents grabbed the man's body while the other two continued to advance. Once again, Naruto was already preparing his next step, finishing the last hand seal right as they stepped into his range.
"Suiton: Mizuame Nabara!"
Surprising those watching yet again, Naruto spat water at the men approaching him with his first Suiton technique. As the name suggested, the current's force wasn't strong enough to cause any damage, but their bodies were stuck in place.
By that point, the man he had thrown earlier and the one that received him were already recovering.
Naruto, of course, wasn't going to let the opportunity pass.
Speeding past the recently neutralized enemies, he once again took to the sky, flipping over them while going through the same sequence of seals.
"Suiton: Mizuame Nabara!" He repeated, spitting out the same water-like substance.
But the old saying about using the same technique on a skilled fighter more than once proved itself accurate. Naruto's enemies jumped out of the way before the water could reach them, both having already prepared their counter-attacks.
"Suiton: Suiryuuben!"
"Katon: Hibashiri!"
Simultaneously two new attacks flew toward the boy. One was a stream of fire that quickly took the shape of a ring, while the other was another whip, bigger and fiercer than the last.
For a moment, it seemed as if Naruto couldn't react to their attacks, succumbing to having his body torn apart by the deadly mix...
...But he quickly reappeared behind his opponents with a puff of smoke, a gathering of sand with the same weight as his body appearing where he had just been.
By the time the two had fully turned to face him, Naruto rested two closed fists less than an inch away from their chins.
"You guys want to keep going?" He asked with the same cocky smirk as before.
His victory was conceded with a quick nod followed by another strike directed at the massive drums.
From when Naruto was facing the bladed weapons to the very last exchange, the entire fight had lasted a total of five minutes.
Asuma clapped even though he knew the boy wouldn't hear it.
"Impressive, right, Danzo?" He asked, turning to look at the councilman's reaction.
Said councilman hummed while handling his cane. "His skills will be serviceable for the village, at least. Although you and I know that there are certain risks in employing the boy as well."
Danzo's eyes narrowed. "If the Kyuubi escapes in the middle of combat, our casualties would be in the thousands. That isn't even to mention what would happen if the fox still thirsts for revenge against us as a whole. Are you willing to take responsibility if that happens, general?"
"We've never had any issues with that while he was in the arena-" Tokugawa was quick to comment, but Danzo waved him aside with his hand.
"A battlefield is too different from this, Tokugawa. All three of us are already well aware of that. The boy has his share of injuries, but how many bodies has he taken? Has he lost any comrades? Burned down cities, stomped down a rebellion? Jinchuuriki tend to react to emotional situations more than most. Now, are you willing to do what would need to be done, General Sarutobi?"
Asuma clenched his fists. "Are you asking me if I would kill a child, councilman?"
"You're asking me to unleash a rabid dog onto the world," Danzo replied, not a single trace of emotion in his voice. "I'm asking if you have what it takes to put it down."
Asuma looked down at the young man he had talked into his schemes just earlier that day, the same young man who was now talking with his opponents as if nothing had happened.
For a split second, Naruto looked up to where they were. Asuma didn't know much about seals, but he knew enough to realize there was no way for the boy to know they were there. But even still, their eyes met through the transparent veil.
Asuma saw what had drawn him to the kid earlier in the restaurant. The same eyes he had seen a decade before that point when his life had nearly come to an end. The same hunger and fire that had led to the complete destruction of the Uzumaki clan.
"Yes." He finally answered Danzo's question. "I do."
It took all of Hiruzen Sarutobi's willpower to resist tapping his finger on the tabletop as he and the rest of the council waited for Danzo and his son's arrivals.
He could tell the clan heads were less than pleased by their tardiness as well. Some kept their composure better than others. Hisashi Hyuuga and Fugaku Uchiha seemed to have been carved out of marble, not moving a single muscle while sitting in perfect posture for hours on end.
Others, however, weren't nearly as graceful.
Tsume Inuzuka had foregone sitting for lying down on her side, supporting her head with one hand while scratching her back with the other. By his count, the matriarch was already on her fifteenth bottle of sake and still didn't show a single sign of being drunk.
The Akimichi, Nara, and Inoichi heads talked to each other in a corner while pretending that no one else was around them. Hiruzen had heard Shikaku mention leaving to bring back a shogi board and suspected the dark-haired man really would have done it if not for his presence.
Shibi Aburame sat away from the others, hiding his face behind his sunglasses and coat as usual. Sometimes the buzzing of insects could be heard by the others, and Hiruzen had even seen a beetle resting on top of his finger a couple of times, although the others pretended not to notice.
The civilian members sitting across from the clan heads were equally agitated, if not more. Hiruzen took special note of a young, pink-haired woman sitting behind councilwoman Haruno. Her daughter, most likely, a promising young merchant from what he had heard.
Contrary to what he expected, she didn't show any signs of insecurity in front of Konoha's most influential individuals, holding her head high and meeting anyone's gaze, including his.
He resisted the urge to chuckle. It was always good to see some fierceness from their younger generations, especially from those who wouldn't waste it away with warfare.
The room's door was pushed open without fanfare. Two men walked in from the outside, immediately drawing everyone's attention.
Asuma and Danzo were appropriately dressed for the event. Long, lustrous robes were decorated with various gems associated with their respective houses, whose symbols rested on their backs.
"Finally decided to show up, huh?" Tsume said, baring her teeth. "Maybe we can actually finish this before dawn. What a surprise!"
"I'm sure the general and councilman had a good reason for their lateness," Shikaku said, immediately ending his previous conversation. "The question is, what could that be?"
The same thing was going through Hiruzen's mind. He and his son hadn't seen eye-to-eye for a long time, but to meet with Danzo in secret before the meeting began?
"Honorable heads," Asuma said, bowing toward the right side of the table. "Gracious patrons," He continued, twisting to the left. "And father." He finished, bowing to him. "I apologize. As Shikaku-Han said, the councilman and I had plenty to discuss."
"It is quite alright," Hiruzen assured without a smile. "Your subordinate assured us of your arrival."
"Yoshimitsu can always be relied on," Asuma said while taking his seat at the otherwise vacant Sarutobi chair. "But we have plenty to discuss, his diligence aside. Why don't we get started?"
"We aren't starting with whatever you and Danzo cooked up?" Tsume asked with her usual lack of manners.
"It'll be a long meeting," Asuma said, crossing his arms with a smirk. "We'll save the best for last."
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed for a split second. His son's eyes caught sight of it, and his smirk widened in response.
"Very well, then. Regarding the front to the south..."
Sakura stifled her yawn as the meeting went on for two hours. All of the clan heads talked about the front while the civilians would tune in every now and then with some mundane proposal to cut down on costs.
She hadn't expected anything exhilarating when her mother finally decided to allow her to accompany her to the event. However, it was still a vital part of networking for any aspiring merchant, and general Asuma was rumored to be a larger-than-life figure, not to mention a troublemaker.
Yet the man hadn't spoken a single word besides answering the occasional question ever since he walked into the room. There were times when she came up with a better solution to their problems than her civilian peers, but she was only there to observe.
Not that the council would have listened to anything a seventeen-year-old would have to say anyway.
"Any objections to the motion to send reinforcements from the officer's school and infantry reserves to general Asuma's army?" Hiruzen Sarutobi, their Hokage, said. The older man nodded once no one spoke up. "In that case, the motion is passed. I'll see you all in the next-"
"One second, Hokage-sama." Danzo Shimura said, raising a hand. "I have a proposal to make before the meeting ends."
Sakura sat up straighter as the Hokage turned to look at his old teammate. She had almost forgotten about that. From the looks of it, the general was tensing up as well.
"Very well, Shimura-Han." The Hokage said. "The floor is yours."
"Oh boy," Tsume Inuzuka said. "This ought to be good."
"General Asuma and I have stumbled across a promising recruit to Konoha's forces today." Danzo began. "And I believe that we should add him to the next rotation to avoid wasting his talent."
"That's it? This is a matter for the recruitment board, not the council." Shikaku Nara said, summarizing Sakura's thoughts.
"This particular individual elevates the issue to the council," Danzo said, not turning to look at the man.
Now Sakura was starting to become really interested. General Asuma's face was as stone, but his hands were balled into fists, and she could even see a slight build-up of sweat on his forehead.
"Who would that be, then?" Shibi Aburame asked, raising an eyebrow from behind his glasses. Danzo looked around the room for a moment, letting them all bask in the suspense before simply stating;
"Naruto Uzumaki, son of Kushina Uzumaki."
A second passed. No one spoke a word.
Five seconds.
Ten.
Finally, the room exploded in motion.
Tsume laughed so hard she had to lie down on her back. Shibi's sunglasses fell from his face. Fugaku Uchiha and Hisashi Hyuuga moved for the first time since the meeting began, both to turn and look at the councilman. Shikaku Nara, Chouza Akimichi, and Inoichi Yamanaka talked over each other, all asking different questions about the situation.
Things weren't any better on their side of the table. Sakura's mother was livid, and all of the other merchants joined her in her outrage.
But the most interesting reactions came from the members of the Sarutobi Clan.
Asuma stared at Danzo, his partner in crime, with utter disbelief. His mouth hung open, eyebrows were raised, and his eyes had been widened. Whatever they had been planning, Danzo clearly stepped over his toes.
The Hokage didn't say a single word. He barely moved either. But his reaction drew Sakura's eyes the most.
The man's eyebrows were furrowed into a furious glare, the most heated she had ever seen the man, and his pipe was broken into splinters. It was almost enough to make her want to flee the room.
And of course, throughout it all, Danzo's expression and body-language remained unchanged. The councilman simply stood still in his seat, sipping from a cup of tea as if nothing was happening.
"Your motion is rejected." The Hokage finally spat out. "And I'll ask you two to see me afterward if you don't mind."
"Alas," Danzo rebutted. "I'm afraid that the decision isn't up to you."
That shut everyone up.
Every eye was on him as Danzo turned to meet the Hokage's furious glare. Sakura thought she had a good grasp of hiding her emotions during crucial negotiations, but the Shimura put her to shame.
"Excuse me?"
"Every motion needs to be voted by the council before being dismissed." Danzo explained as if talking to a child. "And it can not be rejected by the Hokage if all of us agree on it. Isn't that right, Komura?"
Komura, one of Hiruzen's advisors who stood behind the Hokage's back during the meeting, hesitantly nodded. "T-that's right. B-but th-the consensus must b-be-"
"Universal." Hiruzen finished the man's sentence before he could. Sakura's heart almost skipped a beat once his glare intensified even further. "I'm well aware."
"Well then!" Danzo exclaimed, looking around the room with his arms spread. "Let's vote."
Tsume's hand immediately shot up. "I say go for it."
"For no reason other than it amuses you." Shikaku deadpanned. The Inuzuka matriarch shrugged.
"No one said we needed to have a good reason to vote, Shika. The final word's the only thing that matters. Besides, you can't tell me it wouldn't be amusing. This is the most fun these meetings have been in years."
"Fun or not, we need to think a decision like this through. Naruto Uzumaki is our Jinchuuriki. And I don't think I need to remind any of you that one hasn't been sent to the front in decades, and for a good reason. Konoha would be in grave danger if the beast was unleashed after his death, and even if it wasn't, it would still tip the balance of power against our favor."
"...You say that as if killing a Jinchuuriki was easy." Shibi countered while scratching his chin. "His loyalties are the real issue here. We can't afford to have a second Kushina."
"But if he was like Kushina, wouldn't he have left the village already?" Choza countered, surprising everyone in the room, but no one more than Shikaku himself. For a member of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio to go against the other in a council meeting was unprecedented.
"I'm just saying," The large man said, raising his arms in a placating gesture. "It's not like being in the front or not made any difference to her."
"And what about you, Fugaku?"
Silence enveloped the room for a second time as everyone's gazes were turned toward the Uchiha patriarch. Said patriarch was sitting in silence, cupping his chin with a hand.
He opened his eyes to stare into Danzo's for what seemed to be a full minute before speaking.
"...I vote in favor of the motion as well."
The outburst that followed was even louder than the first. Sakura actually had to cover her ears to protect herself from the screaming.
The civilians gathered in hushed whispers while the clan heads continued to debate their decision. Sakura's mother was the first to speak among them.
"We're all rejecting it." She decided with a familiar, stubborn tone of voice. "I don't know what type of gamble councilman Shimura is trying to pull here, but there's no way this will end well for the village."
"It's insane." Takamura from the financial district said, shaking his head. "They're speaking as if one man would make any difference to begin with. Why would we risk our security with him while we could send another thousand foot-troops a month from now instead?"
"Didn't general Itachi score a victory by himself last year?"
They turned to Sakura in disbelief, who quickly shrugged in response. "I'm just saying. I mean, don't you all tell your kids stories about it? How one ninja in the right place turned the tide of battle at the last second? I obviously have never been to the front before, but it's not like it'll be unprecedented."
"You just don't understand, Sakura." Her mother said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "The risk this would put us in... You don't know what it was like when Kushina was still around..."
"But I do," Sakura countered. "She was the strongest one around, right? So, what do you think would happen if her son was allowed into the army? No treason, nothing like that. Just serving for a couple of years?"
"He'd probably be promoted to general..." One of the council members said, scratching his chin. Sakura's mother turned to glare at him, but she wasn't done just yet.
"Exactly. And the only way he can be allowed into the army in the first place is if we all agree to it. Think about general Asuma's influence," She said, nudging at the man with her head. "And think about what it'd be like to have someone like him owe us a favor."
The merchants broke out into murmurs.
"That's true..."
"Very perceptive..."
"Think of the profits if he gave us a sponsorship..."
"But we'd still be supporting her son!" Her mother protested. "Konoha's biggest traitor!"
"Mom, you told me once that your feelings toward someone should never stop a profitable deal," Sakura said, going in for the kill. "And you can't tell me this won't be profitable for us."
"...That's true..."
And just like that, a seventeen-year-old girl had managed to convince Konoha's most powerful merchants into their decision. Sakura allowed herself a smile while turning to look back at the clan side of the table. 'It's all up to them now...'
But things weren't looking too good on that end.
The biggest detractors to Danzo's proposal were Hisashi Hyuuga, Shikaku Nara, and Inoichi Yamanaka. Tsume, Shibi, Fugaku, and Choza had all already vocalized their support.
"Think about the effect this would have on our alliances!" The Nara protested. "If Kumo and Kiri think of us deploying our Jinchuuriki as an aggressive move, they'll-!"
"Kumo and Kiri don't do shit to help us anyway!" Tsume interrupted him, slamming her fist on the ground. "They'll either send out their own or finally break away! Either way, we'll know what they really feel!"
"You're implying we can afford another front?! When we can barely hold the ones we already have?!"
"That wouldn't be an issue if you strategists weren't too busy scratching your asses instead of attacking them!"
"How dare you-!"
"Enough!" The Hokage yelled, silencing both of them at once. Hiruzen took a slow look around the gathered members before settling on the civilian side. "And what do you have to say?"
Sakura's mother looked to the other members before speaking. "We're all in agreement to support Shimura-sama's decision, Hokage-sama."
"...And you, Asuma?"
The other Sarutobi straightened.
"...Obviously, I vote we do it. I've seen what the kid's capable of first-hand. A few years of experience, and I guarantee he'll reach - no, surpass Kushina herself."
"Shikaku, Inoichi, Hisashi?"
"I've made my position clear," Shikaku said, crossing his arms. "This gamble is far too risky. If so much as one thing goes wrong, Konoha will be destroyed."
"I'm in agreement," Inoichi said with a nod.
They turned to Hisashi, who still hadn't spoken his mind about the matter.
The Hyuuga crossed his arms and closed his eyes as if meditating on the topic. Sakura could feel her heart hammering against her chest as he did.
Finally, he nodded to himself. "I'm in agreement with the proposal."
'So both of the big ones agree, but Shikaku-sama won't budge, huh?' Sakura thought, shaking her head. 'That's too bad.'
"...In that case, the motion is passed." Hiruzen announced.
"WHAT?!" Shikaku yelled out, standing from his seat. "Hokage-sama, what do you-!?"
"Danzo, let the clan division know about their new recruit." The Hokage said while preparing to leave the room. "He'll be deployed to your army, Asuma. Take care of him."
"Y-yes, father," Asuma said with a nod, looking just as bewildered as everyone else in the room.
'No,' Sakura corrected herself. 'Everyone else but Danzo.'
The old man simply sat there, looking at them through his half-closed eyes with a satisfied grin.
"Hokage-sama!" Shikaku continued to protest until Hiruzen turned to him with his fiercest glare yet.
"I have made my decision, and it is final, Shikaku. Unless you can have a unanimous decision to revoke it."
He looked around the room, feigning uncertainty. Once no one dared to speak up against him, Hiruzen nodded to himself again before walking out.
Sakura let out a long, shaky breath once the room started to be emptied.
'All of that because of one man, huh?' She thought while staring at the ceiling. 'You've got to be one hell of a guy, Naruto Uzumaki.'
Hiruzen pulled a new pipe from his desk's drawer while pulling the blinders to his window open, taking a deep breath at the village's nightlife.
He didn't even turn when the door opened. Danzo let himself in without much fanfare, setting his cane aside before taking a seat behind him.
"You knew that would happen." He said without turning to face his former teammate. "Denying a motion like that when both of the major clans backed it would have been impossible."
"Even the Hokage needs to keep up appearances," Danzo said. "If things had happened as Asuma planned them, you could have easily overturned it on the side. But not when you approved it in front of the entire council."
"And how did you get Fugaku on your side?" Hiruzen asked, taking a puff from it. "That's the one thing I can't understand."
"You certainly don't expect a politician to reveal all of his secrets, old friend."
"...Seventeen years." He sighed. "For seventeen years, I have protected that child. Tricked myself into thinking he could live a peaceful life. To never come into contact with our world. And in one night, my own son undoes it all. Must the war really take everything, Danzo?"
"He'd be safer as a civilian, that's true." His former teammate agreed. "But we both know he wouldn't be happy."
"He's young." Hiruzen countered. "Barely knows the world. Given enough time, he would have..."
"Let us not lie to ourselves, Hiruzen. Someone with their blood could never be satisfied with a life like that. Even if Kushina hadn't done what she did, he would still be the perfect picture of a soldier."
"And that's why you've condemned him to war?" The third Hokage had never been so tired. "Because of 'fate'?"
His office door was slammed open. Hiruzen and Danzo both turned to look at an alarmed officer, who quickly went down on one knee.
"My lords! Forgive the intrusion, but we've just received urgent news from the front!"
"Speak." Danzo ordered, standing from his seat. The officer looked between the two in panic before gasping out;
"Suna... sir... they've crossed the border!"
A few hours earlier, in a settlement between Suna and Konoha...
"Fall back! Retreat!"
"Where the hell are the explosive tags?!"
"ISHIN SQUAD, WITH ME! WE'LL COVER THE FLANKS!"
The Konoha forces were experiencing unprecedented chaos. Men ran away by the hundreds, only to be corralled and sent back to the slaughter midway through their escape.
As was usually the case, a few individuals stood out in the middle of it all. Among them was Keiko, one of Asuma's personal deputies and closest subordinates. Blood coated one of her arms, which was barely usable, and she had lost an eye to a Kunai once the battle began.
"KATON SQUAD, SWITCH TO SWEEPING ATTACKS!" She ordered, waving an arm while her weight was supported by an ally. "SUITON SQUAD, COVER THEIR BACKS! AND GET ME THE FUCKING EXPLOSIVE TAGS!"
As long as one of their superiors continued to give out orders, their soldiers would continue to fight. That was why Keiko decided to stay behind to cover their retreat as one of the strongest and most experienced officers the Sarutobi army had to offer.
But it was precisely because of her experience and strength that she realized the situation was already utterly hopeless.
Because no matter how many men they sent to the slaughter, how many foot-soldiers raised their weapons in a proud last stand, how many jutsu they threw out, or how many different combinations they tried...
The gargantuan wave of sand wouldn't stop advancing from the treeline, crushing flesh and bone underneath its relentless weight.
And the very last thing Keiko saw as her headquarters were swarmed with Suna ninja, and her lungs were filled with sand...
Was the Kanji character for 'Love' inscribed on the forehead of a monster.
A monster that had finally turned its fangs to Konoha.
AN:
Thank you very much for reading the first chapter of 'Pure White Ash!'
There's a lot I want to address here, most of it directed toward readers of this fic's previous iteration, 'To Be Strong.'
First of all, sorry for the huge gap between that fic's latest update and this chapter. A lot of things factored into it, mostly real-life complications, but also because of some slumps on the writing process which thankfully have been solved. Although, I'd like to point out that the chapters for this story will have bigger gaps than the last one. For now I'll try to stick to one chapter per month, but don't be surprised if that doesn't work pan out exactly as planned (although each chapter will roughly be as large as this one, barring any changes.)
So, to address the elephant in the room. How different this story's setting is from its previous iteration.
In summary, this is what I always wanted to do with 'TBS'. The second-half of that story, after the chunnin exam, would essentially take shape into what this has become. As I neared that point, though, I realized that the tone and themes I wanted to approach simply wouldn't mesh well with what I had already written. It'd be too jarring and poorly set-up, mostly because I was trapped in trying to stay (somewhat) loyal to canon. As you can see, I more or less threw that out of the window with this one, and a lot of setting changes will be explored in future chapters.
Now, I understand this may be jarring to a lot of people. There are obviously a lot of plot-points, character traits, and themes that have been maintained in both stories, as you may have already seen, but they'll all be approached in a different way. But please understand that this was the story I wanted to tell from the beginning, and I couldn't force myself to continue working on something I didn't love anymore. I understand if you don't want to keep accompanying Pure White Ash after these changes, and I'm still very grateful for all of the love and support you guys have given me so far.
Again, thank you very much for reading, and I hope you guys will continue to enjoy this story. See you later!
Jutsu Translation List:
"Katon: Daiendan! (Fire Release: Big Flame Bullet!)"
"Suiton: Mizo no Muchi! (Water Release: Water Whip!)"
"Fuuton: Daitoppa! (Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!)"
"Fuuton: Bouseki Tate no Kaze! (Spinning Shield of Winds!)"
"Fuuton: Yadama Henshin Bakuha! (Projectile Deflection Blast!)"
"Doton: Ressho Piasu Kiba! (Earth Release: Hiding Like A Mole Technique!)"
"Suiton: Mizuame Nabara! (Starch Syrup Capturing Field!)"
"Suiton: Suiryuuben! (Water Release: Water Dragon's Whip!)"
"Katon: Hibashiri! (Fire Release: Running Fire!)"