usagi-no-usotsuki:

the hair-cutting moment was the best, lol! I had so much fun imagining Orochimaru short-haired xD and the beaver part was also funny. I was trying to decide which summon animal rio would have and beavers just... seemed perfect. Espcecially with people's reactions to 'large water rats'.

Guest who said: "The chapters are very good, but the flow does get thrown off a bit because of so many p.o.v switches."

Does anyone else think this as well? The reason for my pov switches is generally that some people want to read more about sakura, others care more about kakashi's story, others etc. so i usually just try to include a bit of everything in each chapter. If you'd rather i update one chapter for only sakura, one for only kakashi, etc, you can tell me and I will take it into consideration.

guest who said:

"Yatta! I'm so proud of hinata and ofcourse our saku hime...man this is the development i was expecting in the canon show, like hinata had so much potential but her character got wasted on fanservice...for sakura, i can say atleast she got better in the end of the show...but i didn't like how they made here a single mother in boruto...i have nothing against sasusaku, heck some of their fanfictions are good af...they needed more development in canon, or kishi san could have not put them together in the first place...anyways kudos to you author san, for making this amazing story"

This review was heartwarming! Tysm! Also I completely agree. Hinata definitely got her character ruined on fan service. I also agree that Sakura got more than a few cool moments by the end, but by then most of the fandom was so set on her being useless that nobody cared. Also no matter what anyone tells me I am not going to support sasuke's leaving her alone to be a single mother.

AelloNikaia23:

Hey there! Thank you so much for your comment! I took a look at your story looking for the OC you mentioned, but I don't really like the gamer trope so I left it when your OC reincarnated, however I thought it was extremely well writen until that point. The whole scene where you described the coma was heartwrenching. I'm glad i have you as my reader, to be honest! AS for shipping kisame with tsume? LOOOOL i haven't laughed so much in a while. thank you for that... we'll see if it can be done hahah

what happened to tora? that's... actually a good question. She's probably off somewhere enjoying her new life as a thin cat (tm)

NotaSheep, who commented: "Hey! Just wanted to say I love the story and am blown away with the fact that English isn't you first language! Also Rio is a great character and I totally agree she makes the story richer, particularly in regards to Kakashi who we get to see a whole new aspect of. Can't wait for the next chapter!

Ps. When you do publish an original work let us know! I would love to follow your work!"

This review literally makes me want to print it out and hang it on my wall to look at during rainy days. Your words mean a lot, they really do. I hope I get to publish an original work some day... after reading reviews like this, it makes me think that I really might just make it.

CeridwenAeradwe, who wrote: "Oh wow. Actual death of big main/secondary characters. Was not expecting that, and am now terrified for some of my favourites."

Well get ready because more deaths are in the works! ;)

Note: I didn't answer to every comment, since as I stated before, comments pointing out typos or those short 'update i command you's are not really my thing. That said, let's move on to the chapter!

More Than Enemies

Quite close by, Sakura had just finished detouring around a block of buildings in order to make it safely to the Academy. She'd been forced to hide more than once in order to avoid enemy nin and, on one memorable occasion, had done so within an odd hole in the ground that one of the many bombs had blown open. Closer inspection of the previously unassuming hiding place had revealed what looked to be an entire underground facility of some sort in there, and, following a hunch, Sakura had used it to traverse below the streets undetected, making it safely to an area close to the Academy, where the careful application of an explosive tag had opened up a convenient exit. She'd felt truly like a pro, having made it to the Academy without a scratch. What she found once she got there, however, left her cold.

Iruka-sensei was bleeding out in the school yard.

Sakura's eyes widened as she ran dazedly up to her former teacher.

"Iruka-sensei!" She fell to her knees by his side, gripping onto his blood-stained vest. "Sensei!"

This man had put band aids over her knees when she'd scraped them as a child. This was the only teacher who'd believed in her from the very start back at the Academy, the one to encouragingly call on her back when she'd been too shy to raise her hand in class, the one to always smile at her. He had been a fair teacher, with an endless supply of patience and a just temperament. Umino Iruka was a good man no matter how you looked at it. He had been her promotion's adored Iruka-sensei and now he was dying.

"Sensei!" Sakura cried again. Half a year ago, this man had still been lecturing her about types of clouds and how to recognize them, about chakra control and natures, about tracking techniques… scolding the pranksters like Naruto and praising the better students like her and Sasuke for their performance.

Now he was bleeding out right before her. "P-please, please get up, sensei.

Iruka shook his head minutely and coughed wetly. His spittle was red. "Na-Naruto," he gasped out. "Is he… alright?"

Sakura barely felt tears stream down her cheeks. "I…" Naruto? Why was he asking about Naruto? But more importantly, what should she even tell him? She didn't know whether Naruto was alright! That in itself worried her sick, but could she tell that to a dying man? "I… he's fine, sensei," she lied shakily.

Relieved, Iruka closed his eyes and coughed again, grasping her hand feebly. "Sakura. The children… you must… go…" He passed out.

Scared beyond belief, Sakura shakily got up and stared at the building that loomed before her. Even though he hadn't finished his sentence, the message had been received loud and clear. The children were still in danger and from the looks of it, she was the only person around who could do something about it. If she focused, she could feel chakra signatures within the building. They were still in there alright… but why was it so quiet? Scared beyond measure, Sakura stood back up and faced her former school. It was up to her to go in and find out.

Never had the Academy seemed so ominous before.

Trying not to be heard or seen, Sakura hesitantly approached the once welcoming red building. Deciding that the door was an obvious no-go, she clambered up the wall and to the rooftop. Using one of her hairpins to unlock a window like Tetsuya had taught her was second nature by now, and soon she was inside. What now?

Sakura felt a genjutsu slowly… but surely… begin to seep into her pores… settling over her skin… She started feeling woozy… and wasn't the floor so cozy…? She was tired and wanted to stop… worrying…

"Kai!" Just in time, she managed to dispel it.

Phew, that was a close call. It did explain, at least, why everything was so quiet. All of the children were caught in it no doubt. Would they be killed as they slept? Horrified at the prospect, Sakura hastened down the hallway.

She found two foreign-looking nin in the teacher's lounge. One was standing over the corpse of a cleaning lady Sakura didn't know, the other holding a kunai to Kaori-sensei's neck. Kaori-sensei had once upon a time taught Sakura all about flower and fan languages and how to dance like a geisha… and now Kaori-sensei was about to be murdered! There was really no time to think, to strategize, to wonder whether revealing herself now was the best choice… Sakura knew that if she didn't act right then, Kaori-sensei would be dead. In that split second, she had to make a decision.

Fear weighing heavily on her mind, she reached into her weapons pouch. Her hand closed around a shuriken. She knew that as soon as she moved into the room, she'd be seen. Sakura quickly retrieved another two kunai. She launched into the lounge and threw her weapons at once.

Thank the kami, her aim was true and the man holding Kaori-sensei got hit in one eye by the shuriken and on his neck and arm by the kunai. It was all so sudden that he let go of her to clutch at his wounds. The other man dropped the cleaning lady's corpse, stood up and turned around, toward Sakura. At that point, however, she'd already jumped on him and started stabbing him desperately. He was strong, but somehow Sakura managed to keep him from overpowering her and he… ended up limp on the ground. Sakura turned and saw that Kaori-sensei was alright and had finished off the first assailant, though she was choking a little and holding her windpipe.

"Kaori-sensei?" she asked urgently. "Are you alright?"

The woman nodded, though her eyes were wide and her usual over-complicated coif was in complete disarray.

"Can you talk, Kaori-sensei?"

She shook her head, gesturing toward her windpipe again.

"Oh… alright. You…" Sakura hesitated. "You know some healing, don't you?"

Kaori nodded.

"Can you heal Iruka-sensei then? He's in the yard. He'll – die soon if no one does anything."

Kaori stood up hesitantly. She glanced down the corridor as if to say 'will you be alright?'. Sakura nodded shakily. Without another backward glance, the woman practically ran the other way.

Hiashi's first born child was a failure… or so the Hyuga elders said. As her father, he could never think of Hinata in such terms, however, it was true that Hanabi, his youngest, had never had any issue with speaking her mind or using violence the way her sister did, had in fact soaked up the gentle fist technique like a sponge – but Hiashi felt that Hinata's failings were not her own. Eearly on into her life, teachers and elders alike had stressed endlessly how polite Hinata must always be, how she must always strive to achieve diplomacy, to never offend anyone if possible… and the poor girl had been intimidated to death by these statements. Of course, they weren't even strictly correct. At all. As clan head, Hiashi had to live with the reality that other important figures wouldn't always agree with him and that giving into their views would have been akin to political suicide. To gain other's respect, one must stand up for one's beliefs, this he believed to his very core. However, as a young clan heiress with so much political power in her hands, the elders had insisted that they'd first need to ensure the girl would make no blunders. Hinata's teachers had sought to instill politeness and diplomacy into the very marrow of her bones. Unfortunately, these lessons had proved a double edged sword, putting a great amount of pressure upon her young shoulders, pressure that had been too much for such a syoung, sensitive girl. The elders had made sure to let his daughter know just how negative any sort of wrongly-worded statement from her could be, and as such Hinata had developed a chronic fear of speaking out of turn or even defending her own views – with a stutter to match. Not even Hiashi could get her to speak to him besides for mumbled replies on most days.

In short, it was true that his daughter may have been naturally shy, but he was certain that most of her social issues were the clan's fault …his fault. He should have noticed what was happening, should have put a stop to the elders and their insidious teachings, but he hadn't wanted to see what unraveled before him. He'd simply thought his daughter's timidness a product of her age, something that would wear off with time. And the elders had been so convincing, telling him that any young clan heiress (especially a woman!) would need to have impeccable manners even from a young age, that this was for Hinata's own good… he had failed her.

Now his daughter's confidence had been shot and that was the worst problem a clan heir could have.

This initial lack of confidence had only made things worse, as it had kept Hinata from making any friends or daring to excel in front of her classmates, causing to be even less confident in her own skills; a vicious cycle. Hiashi was certain that this lack of confidence was impairing her education in the shinobi arts to bat. Taijutsu, for instance, demanded it in spades. Not only was it heart-breaking to see his daughter struggling so – to see Hanabi begin to look down upon her older sister for it – but it was also dangerous for Hinata's future. Without confidence, a ninja would falter in midst of a fight and nothing was a better path to a quick death than that.

At this point, Hiashi would have given anything, anything at all – all the money in the Hyuga coffers, his right hand – to restore his girl's confidence, to be able to sit with her in the porch during the evenings and just talk, like father and daughter, without reservations, without the ever-present tenseness in his daughter's shoulders... without the stutter. It was, he could admit, if only to himself, his greatest desire. Something so simple, and yet so unattainable.

He had tried pushing Hinata harder during training in an attempt to see a marked improvement in her skill, which would make things easier on her. He had tried emphasizing the importance of poise and posture to the girl, lecturing her seriously on how crucial confidence was to a shinobi, and gotten increasingly frustrated when Hinata only faltered further, retreating deeper and deeper into her shell with each of his words, with ever attempt. He could no longer deny it: all of his efforts had backfired. He was a terrible father, one that didn't know how to help his daughter, for all the prestige and nobleness of their blood. It had gotten to a point where he almost felt like she feared him.

But then that had happened. The second stage of the chunin exams.

Only a scant few weeks ago, Hiashi had seen from Hatake's memory how Hinata had bloomed during the man's exam, how she had managed to defeat Neji, his brother's prodigal son. It wouldn't have been possible in a one-on-one match setting, of that Hiashi was sure. The fact that teamwork had been the key to the test was not lost on him. If you asked Hiashi, teamwork had clearly been the key to Hinata's increased confidence as well. Being one in many, a part of something larger than herself must have given her strength which she alone did not feel. He had to admit that he was thankful to Hatake for coming up with that kind of test. He'd always thought of the grey-haired man as a gopher – but that had changed now. Watching his test had been the highlight of Hiashi's month, he'd been so happy. For so long he had thought that he'd ruined Hinata's future irredeemably, and yet the girl had thrived that day on the hospital rooftop. He remembered her pleased little smile when she'd returned to the compound… oh, Hinata. How could it be that she didn't feel the same pride, the same sense of belonging within her very clan, the one she was heiress to, as that day on a rooftop with children she barely knew?

But this was a good start. Now that he knew how to help her he would. More than ever he wanted to see his daughter become the clan head he knew she could be, he wanted to be there to see it.

Inoichi's daughter's role in the whole affair had not escaped him either, nor that of the girl named 'Sakura'. He had found out from some lucky eavesdropping (not that he'd ever admit to stooping so low) on Yoshino Nara, that the Sakura girl had been invited to Ino's birthday party as a guest of honor. In that moment Hiashi had known that this was his daughter's chance to finally make some friends. The Yamanaka and Hyuga clans had especially bad relations, but he had for once cast his pride aside and networked as much as he could to get an invite for himself and Hinata. He had known that Inoichi's girl would likely be busy with suitors for most of the night, but that left the civilian Sakura. This wasn't the first he heard of that girl either – she was the one who had managed to win the 'kunoichi of the year' spot of Hinata's graduating class thanks to off the charts test-taking skills and a determination to compensate for lacking combat ability – managing to beat every girl in her year, besides for Ino, through sheer stubbornness and cunning, or at least that was what Hinata had mumbled to him back then.

He remembered how angry he'd been when he'd found out that some civilian-born girl had stolen the top spot from his daughter, beating her in a spar by throwing sand at her eyes. Hinata was clearly the superior fighter, better even than Ino, and Hiashi had hoped that by winning the little tournament among the girls at the Academy she'd finally gain some confidence. He had drilled her in the counters of the Yamanaka forms to the point where he'd been confident she could take Inoichi's girl in her sleep – though his calculations had always banked on the fact that she wouldn't have any issues with any other fight, as the rest of her female classmates were civilians. Not so.

Turns out he'd put the poor girl through all of that hard work – only for some civilian nobody to come along and use cheap tricks to win, not even giving his daughter the chance to fight Ino. And Hiashi couldn't even fault the other girl for it because throwing sand to level the playing field was a smart thing to do, they were ninja, resourcefulness meant survival; he could only wish his own daughter had that kind of nerve. He didn't forget her name either – the girl who had given him so much grief: Haruno Sakura.

What he had not known was that Haruno Sakura had apparently left a strong impression on his daughter as well. This Sakura was clearly not the average civilian, that much was for sure, and Hiashi had resolved to make an exception to his usual rules and let the girl become Hinata's friend if that's what it took. So, after much work and politicking, he'd weaseled his way into an invite for the Yamanka's party and once there had set things up in such a way that the Sakura girl (and why had nobody told him that she had pink hair?) would run into Hinata. To Hiashi's utmost delight, things had done better than he could have dreamed. He watched with bated breath (whilst pretending to engage in polite talk with other clan heads) as Haruno Sakura spotted and merrily greeted his unsurely-feet-shuffling daughter. In fact, Haruno seemed to be interested in humoring Hinata's shyness and had done a much better job of coaxing his daughter out of her shell than Hiashi or the elders had ever managed in all of twelve years.

He'd been ready to cry tears of joy for the happy smile on his daughter's face when he'd gotten the message for the emergency council meeting. He was sorry to cease his observations and had left reluctantly, if in high spirits. Perhaps placid talks on the porch with his two daughters weren't so unattainable after all.

Now, barely two hours later, here he was, wishing with all his heart he had thrown his duty to the wayside if only just this once and stayed with his daughter. Hinata would need him now, her and Hanabi too – who had been gone on a camping exercise. They would both need him. His clan needed him – and yet here he was, trapped like a cornered rat.

"Well, well, well. Looks like elder Shimura still has some fight left in him," Orochimaru drawled. "Unfortunately, he seems to be missing an arm and an eye. Not very good odds, hmm?"

"We'll see about that," Danzo growled threateningly, twirling his cane-turned-sword menacingly.

However, the one speaking was a shadow clone, whilst the real Danzo hid under his strongest genjutsu. The councilman wasn't an idiot. It was already a small miracle he'd managed to survive this long. The shadow clone's trash talk had bought him enough time to start cauterizing the stump which had used to be his arm – otherwise he'd have already bled out by then. Perhaps this is why Orochimaru had indulged in trash talk in the first place; he must have figured that if he kept Danzo talking long enough, he'd simply die in a pool of his own blood. Unfortunately for him, there was little Danzo wouldn't do to stay alive. In his desperation, he had spewed a fire jutsu over his katana cane, then began to press it firmly right over the gushing stump, all whilst biting into his robe so as not to scream and reveal himself. He faintly heard Orochimaru continue taunting the clone and concentrated as hard as he could on keeping up the clone jutsu. Genjutsu needed little more maintenance than a continuous chakra output, but in the case of shadow clones if the caster lost focus, copies were known to burst… Danzo couldn't afford for that to happen.

Cauterizing his arm was perhaps the single most painful experience he'd ever undergone, maybe barring the time he'd had his right eye ripped off. Yet in a way, this blow had hurt much more, as he had lost both of his ultimate lines of defense in one go – the arm and the eye. Without them, he was dead meat. How long had it been since he had fought using his inborn skills? After what had happened the last time he'd nearly died, Danzo had insisted in keeping up a training regime… but with the preparations for the invasion, he had largely pushed it to the wayside, and even then, the last time he'd practiced fighting with only one arm was when Tobirama had still been alive. His body's entire weight distribution was off. He couldn't take on a sannin as he was.

In other words: Danzo was crippled, out of shape, almost catatonic with pain and completely alone. There was no other way around it: he would die. His only saving grace was Tobirama's past insistence at drilling one-handed seals into all of his students, which would at least give him a chance to die a fighter and not a pathetic cripple, but even so… he didn't want to die period .

He cursed Orochimaru's thoroughness in immediately taking out his Root guard. Now he was surrounded and alone, which meant that all the attention would be on him, which would make escaping almost impossible. If Orochimaru noticed he was talking to a shadow clone… he was done for. At this point, the only strategy left to him was attempting to have the clone fake his death whilst the real Danzo hid. Of course, Orochimaru wasn't an idiot so that plan was very unlikely to work. Truthfully, his best chance was that some of his agents came looking for him, but he couldn't rely on that. He had told Río previously that she would be in charge of the on-field directives during the invasion whilst he planned to retreat…

In other words: no one would look for him. They'd just assume he'd hidden. All he could do now was pray that Río would notice something amiss, but even with her abnormally insightful gut feelings, that she would realize something was amiss when he had told her he would be gone was a stretch. No, he couldn't count on anyone to come for him.

Danzo breathed out the way he had long ago learned, a sense of battle calm seeping through his pores as he prepared himself for what would perhaps be the hardest trial of his life. Sooner or later, his genjutsu and clone would be discovered; he needed to strike before that time. He only had one chance. The chances of success were slim to none. He prepared himself to do what he hadn't been able to before – to face death and not flinch back.

He could still see those moments in his inner eye, the worst mistake of his life. Tobirama crouching there, in front of him, still alive but serious, the sounds of explosions in the distance as the nidaime's index and middle fingers pressed to the floor, face drawn in deep concentration. Danzo could still remember his stern voice giving them the worst possible news as if it was yesterday.

"We're surrounded. There's…" An intake of breath. "Twenty of them." The nidaime hokage's burgundy eyes were closed, face calm even as he delivered the worst possible news. "Judging from their skill in pursuit, I'd say they're from Kumogakure… most likely from the Kinkaku Unit."

The Kinkaku Unit was the deadliest threat Konoha had faced. They'd single-handedly managed to turn the tables on the war more than once, were responsible for many of the deaths of Konoha's best.

Danzo could remember many afternoons looking at the shogi board in Tobirama's office, the words 'Kinkaku' scribbled upon the opponent's deadliest piece. They needed to be taken out, no matter the cost, but the Kinkaku squad was nearly impossible to track down – rarely did any Konoha teams that encountered the Kinkaku Unit come back. This would've been the chance to get rid of them if it weren't because of team Tobirama's injuries and the hokage's own chakra exhaustion. No, Danzo thought. They couldn't risk it, couldn't let them catch up. Tobirama was too important. They couldn't let them get to him while he had chakra exhaustion.

But there was only one idea, for all his knowledge of tactics, that occurred to him in order to avoid that outcome.

It was Kagami who voiced it a moment later, the bastard's words cutting through the dreadful silence.

"So… a decoy, huh?" He was staring straight at Tobirama, a solemn expression on his face. Danzo noticed that Tobirama was returning Kagami's look, some sort of conversation only they were privy to occurring.

Torifu's next words made Danzo look away from them.

"A decoy?" the Akimichi asked seriously. "That's suicide."

Danzo glanced at Tobirama again, hoping he would smirk confidently as he was wont to do when they were being 'blind fools' and come up with some brilliant plan to get them out of this, to negate Kagami's statement.

He did not. The hokage's usually sharp gaze was hazy and withdrawn. It wasn't his 'thinking furiously' look. It was the look of a man who has long since decided on a complicated choice and has made his peace with it. Danzo's stomach sank with dread. They were all looking at Tobirama, all of them slowly realizing what it meant that the man hadn't denied Kagami's statement.

"Who's it gonna be?" Torifu asked gravely, breaking the silence. He was always one to ask the hard questions.

Danzo glanced at Kagami and then at Hiruzen – his two rivals. Kagami's hands were shaking, he noticed, and his sharingan had activated on reflex. Hiruzen by contrast looked calm, like a monk in the midst of a deep meditation.

Sarutobi… What are you thinking right now? Danzo wondered. Do you have that kind of resolve? To sacrifice yourself to die? I do. I have to. His jaw clenched. I'm saying it! I'm volunteering!

And yet the seconds ticked by and his mouth remained shut. Danzo noticed he was shaking, his stomach roiling unpleasantly. Say it! he shouted to himself. Say it! You have to! Why? I want to do it! So why can't I bring my mouth to open?

He knew what that look on Tobirama's face had meant. He knew why Kagami's eyes were watery and his breathing hitched. If he didn't speak up now… Tobirama would… he would…

Danzo had to volunteer before Tobirama could get any stupid ideas!

It was then that Sarutobi raised his chin. "I'll do it." The words were spoken defiantly, like he expected someone to contradict him.

As one, the group turned as one to stare at Hiruzen, all except for Danzo, who lowered his face and clenched his jaw with shame.

Damn it! I'm a coward!

He hated with all his being the feeling of relief coursing through his veins. He wouldn't have to sacrifice himself for Tobirama, Sarutobi would. And he hated that he couldn't do this himself, but was simultaneouslyso glad to be spared the dubious honor. He noticed his hand shaking and forcibly clenched his thigh to stop the embarrassing action.

A weight on his shoulder snapped him out of it. He raised his head and found himself looking straight into Hiruzen's face. His smiling face. He was smiling. The idiotic moron! Didn't he realize what he'd signed up for?!

"I'm leaving everyone to you now, Danzo," Hiruzen said, still smiling that fucking smile. "I'm sure you'll–"

It was then that Danzo snapped, his anger at himself bursting forth. "Shut up! I'll do it! Stop trying to act cool in this situation, Hiruzen!" Damn him, damn him, damn him.

It was Tobirama's voice which cut off his spiral of hateful thoughts. Calm, serious, as always.

"Danzo…" he said slowly, "you're always competing with Hiruzen about something, aren't you?" No, no he didn't. He wanted to deny it but couldn't seem to find his voice. "What we need right now is to unite as comrades," Tobirama continued sternly. "We must work together. Don't mix personal affairs into this!"

He would've done it! If Hiruzen hadn't, Danzo would've volunteered! He would have! Couldn't he see? Danzo opened his mouth, but Tobirama raised a hand, as if to stop him from speaking. "The truth is, Danzo, your decision was too slow. You must first take a calm look within yourself to understand who you truly are. Right now, you'll just put everyone at risk."

His gaze was solemn, pinning Danzo to the spot. It wasn't true! He knew who he was! He wasn't slow! He wanted to shout all of this and more but Tobirama had already turned away from him, solemn eyes stopping to rest upon Hiruzen.

"I'm going to be the decoy, obviously." His voice was tired, almost bored, like he'd just spent a long day in the office, and yet still commanding. His tone brooked no argument. "You are the young flames that will continue to protect the village with your Will of Fire–"

No, he couldn't be–

Tobirama had never been one for speeches. Never. This, this sounded like– it could only mean–

"You can't!" Danzo heard himself exclaiming, interrupting the man even though he knew he hated it.

The nidaime's brow rose, as if asking 'I can't?' and how could he? How could he just sit there and calmly return his look? Like he hadn't just...! Like he hadn't just flipped his entire reality on its head. Like he hadn't just made the most illogical decission of his career.

Danzo flailed for something, some excuse, some argument, anything , to stop him from doing this. "You're – you're the hokage!" You're my most important person. "There's no greater shinobi in the village than you!" You mean everything to me. "You – you can't do this!"

But Tobirama was no longer looking at him. Danzo stilled, eyes wide with horror. He watched as the nidaime got up, now examining them all from above with his penetrating stare, every bit the proud warrior, every bit their beloved mentor, their respected hokage, the man who had managed to keep the village thriving even after Hashirama's passing… and yet his form spoke of exhaustion. Tobirama looked at all of them, his eyes pausing upon each person in the group. Kagami was the only one he deliberately avoided looking at, the damn Uchiha already crying. Finally, Tobirama's gaze rested upon Hiruzen.

"Saru…"

Hiruzen straightened. "Sensei?"

Tobirama's voice was fully commanding. "Protect those who love the village and those who believe in you. Take care of the next generation, of the children, as it is for their future that we fight this war." The nidaime's jaw set. "Starting tomorrow, you will be the Hokage." Danzo's eye widened. Tobirama… Tobirama had stepped down?! He thought he would die?! "Saru," the former hokage finished seriously, "I'm leaving Konoha to you."

And then he was gone.

Danzo still remembered Kagami's choked gasp, remembered turning in time to see his sharingan warp, a strange, jagged pattern appearing to replace the three tomoe. He remembered Hiruzen's stony face, remembered how none of them had moved to stop Tobirama as he slowly turned and, without looking back, disappeared into the darkness. No matter his words nor his belief that this was his duty, Danzo should have gone after him. Incapacitated the man, if necessary. Fought by his side if all else failed. Maybe then Tobirama would have made it. He always fought harder when there was someone to protect.

But Dabzo hadn't. He'd stayed put despite all his talk and big words; paralyzed by shock and fear and helplessness; frozen in place for all his ninja training, a horrible feeling of dread pooling in his gut. At the time, he had still thought Tobirama would return, every bit the hero Danzo had always seen him as.

He knew that his greatest flaw was his cowardice. He feared death too much. Even now, as he was trapped by Orochimaru in the hokage tower, all he'd thought about was how to escape, how to survive. Maybe… just maybe it was time for him to fight like a true warrior, fearlessly, as Tobirama had done. He readied himself…

It was then that there was a crash and an explosion, sounds of a skirmish… and Hiruzen Sarutobi appeared next to his clone, surrounded by his ANBU guard. He was staring Orochimaru down.

"Oh? Look who joined the fight," the Sannin said with a smirk. "Hello there, sensei."

Hiruzen's lips pursed. "Orochimaru." That one word was enough. Around them, Danzo watched as the Suna and Oto jonin who had been surrounding the room fidgeted nervously, every eye in the room trained upon Hiruzen. Once more, the bastard had stolen his thunder.

It was reminiscent of their youth. Danzo would accomplish something and Hiruzen would top that the next day, always overshadowing him. It was like Danzo was doomed to stay in the shadows, in his shadow, and he had hated it. But he was no longer as idiotic as his younger self anymore and could admit to himself that he felt rather relieved for the assist. If all eyes were on Hiruzen, they wouldn't be on him. He glanced at his clone, calculating how long it would last. He'd done the shadow clone jutsu one-handed and whilst in the throes of pain, so needless to say, the resulting clone had been rather subpar… but, provided it wasn't hit and didn't use much chakra, it could probably hold out for a while… good.

The hokage's ANBU had begun fighting the sand and sound jonin stationed around the area. There were too few of them… but they would keep the others busy and if they were lucky, make a ruckus that might attract help, and in any case, keep the other jonin distracted enough to miss his genjutsu. Danzo turned toward Orochimaru again, who was still locked in a stare-down with Hiruzen. Clearly, the sannin had dismissed him as a threat. That would be his downfall. Now, if only Hiruzen could distract the snake long enough… Danzo had made his decision. Even though escape might be in the cards now, even though every instinct was telling him to get out , he did not move. Danzo intended to make good on his promise. Orochimaru's head would be next.

He had won, it began to sink in. Kakashi heard his own ragged breaths mixing with Río's in the sudden stillness and, feeling empty, he approached the dome and crouched in front of her. She was silent, her head bowed. Kakashi didn't know what to do with himself. Then, because he was clearly a masochist, he took her mask off her face, revealing her features. They were closed-off. Cold.

"You, ah, you are a great opponent," he offered at last, wishing her expression would change. And surprisingly, it did, slackening slightly, as though in defeat.

"The old monkey put you up to this, didn't he?"

Kakashi blinked, surprised at her quick guess. "Yes," he replied. He wasn't supposed to tell her that, but then, he figured it wouldn't matter once he dealt the finishing blow.

"It's a bad judgment call," she muttered spitefully. "As usual."

"I…" Kakashi sighed. "I don't necessarily agree with his decision," he admitted.

Rio's eyebrows shot up and she gave him a surprised, slightly hopeful look.

Kakashi hated it. It was wrong to kill her. He shouldn't. He was expecting her to try and convince him now. She'd been good at acting nice and likable the first time they met – certainly she'd try it again. Any sane person would. Right?

She didn't. She had lowered her head again, eyes closed. Kakashi wondered at that expression. Was this her way of waiting for death? He didn't want to know.

"Won't you try to butter me up?" Kakashi found himself stalling. More like: why wouldn't she? Why wouldn't she say something convincing to defend herself!? From what Tenzo had told him, he knew that she was a decent person, she didn't deserve this… c'mon, convince me, he thought angrily.

At his words, her expression changed and now she appeared offended. "Butter you up? What are you talking about?"

So much for that.

"You know," Kakashi hedged. "What you were doing last time? Turning up the charm?"

She gave him a dark look, which was at least better than the blank one from before. "I what ?" she sounded both nonplussed and offended. "Whatever you're talking about, I certainly wasn't 'buttering you up'. Who do you take me for?"

"…I do admire your pride," Kakashi said faintly. "Though there's no way anybody from Root would act that nice without a motive." Where were this woman's preservation instincts? Wasn't that supposed to be her strong point?

"It's not pride and it's not a trick either!"

"Sure."

"I really wasn't buttering you up or whatever."

He really wanted to sigh at her.

They were silent. "You know," Kakashi said after a beat. "You're a little odd for a Root agent. I thought you guys were all about being emotionless and uptight."

"I suppose many would say that, yes."

Kakashi gave her a funny look. "But not you?"

"I've tried to change that in those closest to me," she said after a beat. "To make it less like…" Her gaze turned vacant again. "Never mind." A minute passed, then two. She still hadn't said anything.

Meanwhile, Kakashi was getting increasingly frustrated. "Are you seriously not going to say anything else?" How could she keep ignoring him like this? He was about to kill her, damn it!

"What else do you want me to say?" she snapped, her eyes boring into his angrily. "No, I don't want to get killed! But so what?! It's not like you'll freaking care! What else do you want from me? To beg on my knees?" A sly expression crossed her eyes. "Because if that's the case, then maybe it could be arranged if you release me from the jutsu."

"That's not what I was going for."

"Then why wait?" she said cuttingly, her voice cracking briefly. "Bravo, you've captured me. Take a picture! You are talented alright, but I don't remember you being cruel, you bastard! "

Kakashi stared at her for a few seconds, completely floored.

"Remember me?" he repeated slowly. What? She felt it too? That familiarity?

Once again, he discovered that Río was looking at the floor, eyes closed. Why wouldn't she meet his eyes, damn it?

"What do you mean 'remember me'?" he repeated again. She still didn't answer.

"Wait…" Kakashi suddenly had an idea to make her talk. "Have you been… spying on me?"

That made her react. " What ? No!"

"Convincing."

Rio's mouth opened and closed as she stared at him, face flushed with outrage. "Do you truly think I don't have better things to do with my time than hide behind bushes and follow you around?"

"Hmm."

"Well I don't!" she snapped loudly. "I don't care if the thought appeals to your male ego or whatever or if you're somehow that self-absolved now–"

"Then how do you 'remember me'?" Kakashi cut her off.

Río glared at him so hard that he was certain if looks could kill he'd be in trouble. Now he was really curious.

"You know, my spying theory seems more likely by the second." He added cajolingly.

"Your spying theory can go to hell."

"Well, look at it this way," Kakashi said. "You act all nice to me, which would make sense if you were trying to butter me up–"

"I don't do that!"

"Yet then you claim that that's not what you were doing. However, you also mysteriously 'remember me', but you refuse to say from what. Well," he concluded, tapping his chin. "Either you're spying on me for some nefarious purpose I cannot as of yet discern, or…"

"Or what," she practically snarled.

"Hm. Or you're my fangirl."

There was a second where Rio stared at him with a completely gobsmacked expression.

"Ex… excuse me?!"

If the situation hadn't been what it was, Kakashi would've patted her head and shushed her.

"Your fangirl? What the hell is your problem!" she exclaimed hotly. "Are you a narcissist? Are you on drugs? Why the hell are you just standing there chattering at me about being your fangirl?"

"Then tell me how you know me," Kakashi proposed agreeably, though inwardly getting more and more pissed. "Ne?"

Taking in a deep breath, Río stared at him fixedly for a long period of time, nostrils flaring. Kakashi was almost starting to wonder if she'd somehow managed to make a substitution of herself and he hadn't noticed when she spoke again.

"Fine."

Fine? She'd actually tell him?

"Ma, thought you'd never agree." He leaned in with interest.

She shot him an exasperated look. And then, completely out of nowhere, her earthen prison cracked open, like a perfectly cut avocado splitting at the middle. And she was free. Kakashi jumped back wide-eyed, but it was too late, as Río had already drawn a kunai and in one swift leap pinned him to the floor.

He could feel its hilt brushing his jugular.

Though outwardly calm, Kakashi almost froze when, upon looking around, he noticed that the tags around the area… the tags keeping her abilities at bay were completely soggy and ruined . With water. But how? When?

"Eyes on me, Kakashi," Río said, grinning like a Cheshire Cat, clearly enjoying their reversed positions.

Kakashi was meanwhile cursing his own distraction. What now? Would she kill him? Oh, why on Earth had he told Gai to leave? Shit, this was bad. Idiot Kakashi! Idiot!

"So, care to tell me how you managed to break out?" he asked, stalling for time.

Río was still looking at him like the cat that caught the canary. "Well, I suppose you could say it was largely because my summons aren't as useless as Pakkun seems to think. Nor are they water rats ."

"Er…sorry?"

"You're forgiven. They are a rare species of mole-beavers," she continued smugly, "characterized for being able to cut not only through wood, but also earth. Meaning: after I finished moisturizing the hell out of those tags, I mentally reached out to Ritsu and guided him underground 'til he was below me, perfectly positioned to dig me free of your jutsu." At Kakashi's gobsmacked expression, she added cheekily: "Did you really think I'd lay down to die without a fight?"

Kakashi frowned. She had been planning that the entire time ? It made sense now, in hindsight. Her distraction, the way she'd closed her eyes and stared at the ground… damn. He'd been had. How much had she lied about? Did she really think he was familiar or had she just made that part up? Had it all just been in his head after all?

"No, it wasn't." He jerked, realizing that she could now read his thoughts again. Río leveled him with a serious look. "I wasn't just stalling for time, Kakashi. I genuinely thought you would kill me, even as I formulated my plan. I thought that was it." She paused, her gaze becoming reserved. "And I know it wasn't intentional… but your hesitancy to kill me was what saved me, in the end. Even if you didn't plan for my escape, you gave me the time to carry it out. So thank you."

"But who are you, Río?" Kakashi pressed. "How do you know me? How do you know Pakkun? How –?"

Her lips quirked. "You really don't know, do you?"

"Would I be asking if I did?!"

"I guess even geniuses have their off days, huh?" She poked him in the ribs. "I was Yugao, you moron."

And with that, Río removed the kunai from his throat, gave him a wave, and puffed away. Yugao puffed away. What the bloody fuck.

"Wait!" Kakashi exclaimed, but she was already gone. He stood up shakily, still completely gobsmacked, mind blanker than an empty notepad. Her body-warmth was slowly fading, his mind reeling. She was Yugao? Río was Yugao? She'd been Yugao all along…? Holly shit. Holly shit. Holly fucking shit.

To put it plainly, Kakashi was completely and utterly floored.

Also – he pinched his nose and breathed in deeply, her smell still lingering. His genin were right. Something had to be wrong with him if he could get turned on in that situation.

Yugao, you little shit!

Notes:

well... here we are! Río turns out to be Yugao the Impostor, kakashi's boner has terrible timing (I mean lets be honest, when does Kakashi ever have good timing?), sakura gets to be a bamf, iruka's life is in danger... and... tobirama appears yet again!
I think my obsession with this character is pretty apparent by now lol
Anyway, I hope you guys liked the tobirama-danzo-hiruzen scene (and kagami's first appearance (yes, he will be mentioned more later on)). It's actually somewhat taken from the original scene in the anime, but I added my own twist to it. Like Hiruzen's reflection about tobirama's funeral, this wasn't a pre-planned thing, but I'm really happy with how it came out! :)
Oh, also...! Hiashi gets character development! Bet you hadn't seen that one coming, huh? But he is one of the characters whose past will be delved into in this arc. To see the master list i made of all the characters getting development, feel free to check out my tumblr where i posted it.