Naruko had done the right thing, even if Sakura had been upset. Maybe she could've dragged him to Konoha, kicking and screaming, but Sasuke never would've truly been back. The only one who could bring Sasuke back was Sasuke. As long as he saw Konoha as an evil place, he'd never come back. And maybe that was for the best.

Someday, Naruko was gonna be the strongest shinobi in the world, and she was gonna make the world a better place. And that started with Sensei. She had to get him back. She'd kept on waiting and waiting for him to act like a proper Sensei, but what did that even mean? What did Kakashi think it meant?

She had to save him!

"Let me in," Naruko growled at the two anbu guards. They were standing watch by Danzou's room in Hokage Tower. "Let me see The Hokage. We need to talk."

Naruko wasn't gonna be the type to dominate others, to force others to do as she wanted. And she wasn't gonna let anyone else do it either. Danzou had taken Sensei hostage to try to control her. He'd tried to force her to take Sasuke's eyes so she could control The Fox like a puppet. She wouldn't allow people to be like that. Not in her Konoha.

"The Hokage is an important meeting," said one of the guards, a tall man with a sword. "He cannot be interrupted."

So it was gonna be like that? Fine. Naruko clenched her fists. She didn't know what the other shinobi were doing, why they'd all just let Danzou become hokage, but if he didn't agree to free Sensei immediately, if he didn't let her see what was under the bandages covering his right arm, she was gonna use force. Because when Sasuke had said he'd seen a shinobi with an armful of sharingans, she'd known exactly who he'd met. And she knew that a guy like Danzou wouldn't listen to words.

"I was just tryn' to be nice," Naruko snarled. "You really can't stop me."

The guards shared a look, their faces hidden by wolf masks, and unsheathed their swords.

Naruko crossed her fingers. "Shadow Clone Jutsu. Shadow Clone Jutsu. Shadow Clone Jutsu." The anbu had been quick to action. The moment she'd started her jutsu they'd started mowing her clones down like they were overgrown grass in a clan kid's fancy lawn.

She smashed one of 'em, the blue-haired woman who had her sword stuck in a clone, right in the face with a Dragon Ball Jutsu. Knocked her ass halfway through a wall. Naruko let a few of her shadow clones finish the job.

The tall anbu slammed his sword against a clone's kunai. Ripped it right out of her hands and put his sword through her neck. He leapt backwards, before he could be overwhelmed by shadow clones. But he couldn't get his sword up in time to block a Power Pole Jutsu that smashed the top of his head. He was stunned for a moment, and that was all the time her clones needed to have him surrounded. To have him disappear under a swarm of angry Narukos. The fight was over.

The anbu had been more skilled shinobi than her, more graceful, more athletic, more experienced.

But they didn't have chakra for shit, they flinched from every punch, they had no creativity. They'd trained hard, but they hadn't been born to be shinobi. Not like she was.

"Help!" The tall anbu screamed, breaking free from her clones for a moment. "The Nine-Tails has lost it! It's attacking The Hokage!"

Naruko's clones had him under control a moment later. She stared at Danzou's door. She could go in, but she hesitated. When killing a weed, it was important to uncover its roots so it didn't survive. Who would provide aid to her enemy? Which shinobi in Konoha were bad guys?

"Dynamic Entry!" A row of shadow clones burst, as a green flash flew through a wall. Guy-sensei helped up the blue-haired anbu.

Naruko had thought he'd been pretty cool, helping Lee, she'd thought he was the perfect sensei. But not if he supported Danzou! Naruko crossed her fingers. "Shad-"

She was blown off her feet by a gust of wind. Asuma emerged from the hole Guy-sensei created, and held up his chakra blades grimly.

Him too? Naruko grimaced... But… She'd save Sensei no matter what! She'd root out Konoha's evil, she'd make it a place Sasuke wanted to be a part of, she'd make it a home she could be proud of again! Naruko charged.

She was slammed in the gut by another gust of wind. The clones surrounding the tall man burst.

Naruko spat blood and scowled. Why were they making this so hard? Naruko crossed her fing-

"Naruko?" Kurenai-sensei asked sadly, the third through the wall. "Why are you doing this?"

Even… Even Kurenai-sensei? Even Kurenai-sensei was against her?

What if- No!

No! If these jounin supported Danzou, they weren't worth respecting!

"Because someone has to!" Naruko screamed. If one of them had the guts to do something about Danzou, maybe Sasuke would have never left, maybe… Maybe even… The Uchiha Clan would still be around! Naruko's lips twitched. These shinobi were disgusting. Worse than Danzou! Danzou may have been a power-hungry jerk, but at least he was doing what he thought was right! But the others? Might Guy, Asuma Sarutobi… Kurenai Yuhi… They knew what Danzou was about, they knew he was messed up, what had any of 'em done to stop him? "How can you guys just sit around and let Danzou be in charge?"

"It's not our decision to make," they responded in unison.

What kind of a stupid idiot would think that? What kind of coward? No wonder Sasuke had left!

"Of course it is!" Naruko pounded her chest. "Just what do you think Konoha is? The land? The ideas? No! It's the people! Konoha is you and it's me! We are Konoha! We're responsible for its decisions! I love Konoha! I won't let it become a monster!"

She crossed her fin- Ack! A green blur sent her flying. She wanted to curl, instead she forced her fingers into a cross. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" She and her clones somersaulted in midair, and slammed feet first into the wall at the end of the hall.

Naruko dropped to a knee, as her clones stepped in front of her and created more of themselves. Guy punched hard.

She winced as her clones, powerpoles, dragon balls were sliced apart by razor sharp bursts of wind. She crossed her fingers, but found that she couldn't move them.

The hallway faded away, the floor gave fading to murky darkness, and Naruko sunk and sunk. She couldn't see. She couldn't hear.

Until the world reappeared, and she found herself pinned against a mat. Powerless. She'd have pounded the floor in frustration, but she couldn't even do that. It wasn't fair! She was in the right, and it wasn't fair! How come she had to lose now? To them?

Why were they doing this to her? They were supposed to be the good guys!

"He's taken Kakashi hostage!" Naruko sobbed. "You're supposed to be on my side!"

"Hmm," said a cool, bored voice. "I think you may be a little confused." Kakashi bent down and smiled. "I'm right here. I'm fine."

Guy let her go, and Naruko inspected Kakashi thoroughly. Same vest. Same blank expression. Same dumb mask. "Is it really you?" Naruko asked, pinching his cheeks. She swiped his book from him.

Kakashi just stared at her dully. He made no move to get it back.

Okay… That was Kakashi alright. An impersonator would have tried to get the book back. Everyone knew it was the only thing he cared about. But last night, something inside Kakashi had broken. No… That wasn't right… But last night something had changed in him.

"Sasuke left Sensei," Naruko said. "It was like you said. No matter what I tried I couldn't get him back."

"That must have been frustrating." Kakashi said dully, like he thought the conversation was a waste of time. "Disappointing…" Kakashi sighed, and walked away. "But I'm just glad you're safe."

"I haven't given up!" Naruko called after him. "I'm gonna bring him back someday."

"It's impossible." Kakashi said carelessly, not even turning back.

"You said he'd been placed under a curse that couldn't be broken," Naruko said desperately. "But I'm gonna… He's gonna break it! Believe it!"

Kakashi just shook his head, and left. He'd always been broken, but now he felt… Defeated…

"So, you wanted to see me," Tsunade said, an eyebrow raised. She glanced around the hall, the hole Guy had made, the anbu Naruko had beaten up, and let out an exasperated sigh. Jiraiya right beside her, giggled like a schoolgirl. "We could all hear you throwing a tantrum like a spoiled brat. Didn't you hear Hinoe? I was in an important meeting."

But Naruko had stopped paying attention. Danzou was glaring down at her, and Naruko stomped right up to him, so close she could sniff the blood on his bandages. She knew what was underneath, she knew his evil, and she wasn't gonna look the other way! "Let me see your right arm!"

"This is foolishness. The Fox has taken control of the body," Danzou said confidently. He smirked and whispered into her ear. "Remember… You're an Uchiha now. Your words mean nothing."

Naruko erupted. "Sasuke told me it was covered in sharingans! A man like you can never be Hokage! I won't let it happen."

Danzou tilted his head and chuckled. "And if I refuse to give up the position? What would you do then?"

She'd wipe the smirk right off his face! "Then I'll do what Old Man Hokage should've done a long time ago!" Naruko's fingers tightened around her kunai, and she spoke through clenched teeth. "I'll take you out. I won't allow you to do any more harm."

Danzou narrowed his eyes. "Are you saying you'd kill me?"

"Yes." Naruko showed the room her kunai. For Konoha, she'd gut Danzou like a fish.

Tsunade groaned.

"What are you saying Naruko?" Jiraiya asked. "You can't kill to have your way! Force and violence does not lead to peace. It isn't-"

"I'm doing this for Konoha!" Naruko said. She didn't get it. Jiraiya wasn't some powerless civilian. Tsunade, Kakashi, Kurenai, Guy, Asuma, didn't they understand that they were part of the village? Didn't they understand the cost of doing nothing? Didn't they understand what it was like to be powerless, and have nobody willing to help?

Whatever… Naruko would fight for what she believed was right. Guy got into a fighting stance, Asuma readied his chakra blades, Kurenai-

"Please, let's be civilized," Danzou said, and let the bandages covering his right arm and eye fall to the ground. There was blood, there were scars, there was gross old person skin. But no sharingans. Danzou reached out, took her hand, and let the blood from his arm drip on it. He gave her a slight nod, of what almost seemed like approval.

"Tonight I was attacked," Danzou announced. "That is why I'm so bloodied. That is why I met with Jiraiya, with Tsunade. Sasuke Uchiha left Konoha early this morning. I thought to stop him, to talk some sense into the boy, to… To remind him of the legacy the Uchiha have in Konoha, to keep him home. But my team and I were ambushed. By shinobi from Kumo, from Oto, from Iwa. We were easily defeated… Our opponents had sharingan you see. How did they get them? The answer is obvious. Sasuke Uchiha. Only he, as the head of his clan, had access to so many sharingan. He betrayed us long ago, to secure a position with our enemies."

Wh-what? But that was impossible! Sasuke would never do something like that! Naruko didn't know where Danzou's sharingans had gone, but she knew he was lying!

"Naturally I had to question Kakashi. I found him innocent," Danzou smiled at her grimly. "Our enemies are numerous, they are strong. While we trained clanless children like civilians, they were preparing for war. I warned Hiruzen that our enemies would not forget their losses, but he did not listen. He was always soft. But now we must correct his mistakes. We cannot win this war without the Nine-Tails. However…" Danzou pointed down at her. "I suspect she is an accomplice of Sasuke Uchiha's. We must remove the Nine-Tails from her immediately, and secure it in a more worthy, more loyal container. So Naruko… Can you swear that you didn't just… Let him go? Let him join our enemies? Swear it. Or reveal yourself to be a traitor."

Oh…

So…

This was politics…

This was what it meant to make an enemy of Danzou Shimura…

This was what it meant to be viewed with suspicion…

This was what it meant to be an Uchiha...

Naruko opened her mouth… But no words came out.

"Enough Danzou," Tsunade said, adjusting her square hat… Square hat? "She was practically in love with the Uchiha boy. She would never just let him leave. Besides, your... Tale is ridiculous."

"Very well." Danzou bowed his head. "I have done all I can to prove it to you Tsunade Senju. That war is coming. That Kumo, Oto, and Iwa will attack us. That they will have sharingans implanted in their most powerful shinobi. But whether we are prepared, or whether we allow ourselves to be slaughtered, that is your decision. You are Hokage."

Danzou's eye bored into Naruko, and she shivered with dread. He'd been lying before, but he wasn't now. He truly believed that war was coming.

"I resigned from my position as Hokage," Danzou announced stiffly. "Sasuke Uchiha may have been the traitor, he may be the reason our enemies have the sharingan, but it was my responsibility. I failed to do what needed to be done. I tried to kill him before it was too late, but I failed. When the situation called on me to rise, I found myself wanting. I have failed Konoha. So I have entrusted Konoha to a Senju." Danzou nodded at the new hokage. "I suppose you will not believe me until it is too late. Your trust in the girl is your greatest weakness Tsunade Senju. But I understand. I am unlikable. I am old. Scarred. I offer you unpleasant truths. She is young. Idealistic. She gives you hope. She offers wonderful lies. I do not offer excuses for my failures, for my inability to do more. But when Konoha is overrun by shinobi with sharingans, when your comrades are slaughtered like animals, when Madara Uchiha burns Konoha to the ground, remember who warned you, and remember who lied to you."

"That again," Tsunade scoffed. "My grandfather killed Madara after he went insane. Even if Madara somehow survived being, you know, dead, he'd still be in his eighties now."

And suddenly Danzou was just another senile old man. The tension had broken. Jiraiya and Kurenai smirked, Asuma was laughing heartily.

Danzou's nose flared, he shook, and he left the room without saying another word. His hurt, his humiliation was clear in each of his pained steps. And in that moment, Naruko could only see him as another clanless orphan, who loved his home more than anyone, who had never been accepted by the rich clan kids, no matter how hard he tried... He could have been a hero… But instead...

Naruko shivered. She believed him. Afterall, she'd met- not Madara, Danzou was mistaken about that- but she'd met the person Danzou was warning them about. Last evening at Ramen Ichiraku.

Kumo, Iwa, Oto, they'd attack Konoha soon, they'd have sharingans, and they'd be under the control of the strongest shinobi in the world. Naruko was sure of it.

But for now, Naruko followed Tsunade into her office.

"I think you should take Danzou's warnings seriously," Naruko said.

Jiraiya snorted. "Danzou is a warhawk. He thinks the whole world is plotting our destruction. He was always warning Minato about this war or that, but nothing ever happened."

"No, you don't understand. I've met-" Naruko stopped suddenly. What the heck? Why couldn't she talk abou-

"Besides," Tsunade said. "Danzou was accusing you of being a traitor. You! He even said you just let the little Uchiha boy go!"

"See, the thing is-" Naruko cut herself off. Jiraiya was shaking his head violently behind Tsunade's back. Yeah, maybe she'd be better off keeping the fact that she'd let Sasuke leave to herself.

"Yeah, yeah, you pissed off ole' Danzou," Tsunade said, leaning back in her chair and sighing. "Listen… Danzou may not be Hokage, but he's still dangerous. You're being hunted by the Akatsuki. You're gonna be a target for every other Hidden Village. Right now, you need to focus on yourself. Staying safe, getting stronger, grow into the shinobi I know you can be. Train with Jiraiya, become strong enough that nobody can threaten Konoha again. Once that happens, I'll name you Hokage myself."

Awesome! Sounded like a sweet training ar- Why did Jiraiya look like he'd drunk a bottle of rancid wine? She remembered what he'd said about heroes when they'd been looking for Tsunade. "If I train with you, can I really become Hokage?"

"I'll show you how to survive," Jiraiya said flatly. "But Brat, you shouldn't worry about the world. It's not your responsibility to change it, it's nobody's responsibility. People are people. They're going to believe what they believe, act the way they act. The world is the world. It will do what it does. It doesn't matter how strong you get, it doesn't matter how selfless, this isn't something you can change. Believe that, no matter what anyone else tells you."

"No," Naruko said, touching the slash across her headband. "I won't."

Jiraiya softened and smiled in a way that was… The way that ole man Shikaku smiled when he watched Shikamaru play shougi, the way that big man Chouzo smiled when Chouji had won a ramen eating contest, it was that kind of smile. "I don't want to train you because of your potential as a shinobi. Whether you become the next Hashirama Senju or the next Ikkaku Umino, it really doesn't matter to me. I'm your godfather Naruko. I want to spend time with you. That's why I want to train you."

Naruko wiped her eyes. She shook her head, because she didn't trust herself to speak yet. Not when every part of her wanted to say yes. But if Jiraiya wasn't going to train her seriously… Madara was coming… She'd told Naruko that it was her responsibility to protect everyone, to save Konoha. And she'd… She'd made The Promise of a Lifetime.

"Tsunade," Naruko said, without looking at Jiraiya. "I'd like to be your apprentice. Everyone thinks I'm an idiot. I'm gonna master medical ninjutsu and show 'em all that they're wrong."

Tsunade nodded. "That's fine with me. But Naruko, you won't be able to take missions outside the village. It's too risky."

Author's Note: Thanks for reading! Next chapter should be out next week.