Back in the office the air was tense.
Danzo had been talking for the last hour straight, Hiruzen had never heard his old teammate speak that much in one sitting, and what he was talking about? All his dirty dealings and everything incriminating he had ever committed. From his involvement with Orochimaru's inhuman experiments, the knowledge he held back that there was an Uchiha controlling the Kyuubi, what he did to himself and what was really in his right eye and his right arm, to confessing that he never dissolved ROOT as ordered!
Mabui and Iruka were no better, some of the man's confessions were just downright sick, Mabui (Who had just come back from dropping off Naruto's things) was especially appalled. He made his ROOT Kunoichi do seduction missions, real seduction like she was trained to do back in Kumo, even though such orders had been forbidden in Konoha for over three decades now. The Leaf just didn't want their Kunoichi to have such a reputation, it ended up being smart because they got a lot of request for body doubles for princesses, debutant nobles, daughters of wealthy merchants, and etc. It had become a very lucrative niche.
Anko was sitting as calmly as she could…restraining from feeding the old buzzard to one of her snake friends, Danzo had mention what he would have done if Naruto was left in his custody, it all hit a little too close to home, most of her memories under Orochimaru were gone but somehow, she still remembered how he pushed her to nearly breaking. It was like a feeling more than memory, but she knew somehow it was true.
The Hokage cleared his throat getting everyone's attention "Mabui. Iruka. Anko. Would you three please step outside? I wish to speak to elder Danzo. Alone." His tone was calm but deadly that brokered no room for argument. Not that the two Jonin and the Chunin teacher would, they didn't want to stay and get caught in the crossfire, although Anko may just send a really big snake if she felt her Hokage needed back up. So, they quietly but quickly made for the exit each giving a bow as they left, Iruka and Anko went to get coffee from the Jonin lounge downstairs while Mabui decided to call her daughter and make sure she was okay.
The door shut…and then all hell broke loose.
The room was filled with an aura of killing intent, so intense it could make the Kyuubi choke under its spiritual pressure, and it all came crashing down on the war hawk in an instant. Hiruzen Sarutobi had only been this furious once, it was the time when Anko told him how she had found a battered and deathly sick little Naruto, he was so mad at his village he almost went on a rampage that would have made his volatile Kunoichi student proud. To hell with his position! It took his aide and all four of his personal guard two hours to calm him down but eventually they did…not before creating training ground 23. A barren desolate waste of land with nothing but giant sharp rocks.
But now, now his old rival, friend, and teammate had just confessed to not only undermining his authority and every move he ever made. But was the cause to nearly every one of his greatest failures. For years he blamed himself for the actions of his treasonous student, and here was Danzo Shimura revealing that HE! Was the one behind it all!
Danzo just stared at his old rival in utter shame. He needed to confess; he couldn't move on with his life carrying these sins in his heart. "Hiruzen, my old friend please, calm down." He tried to say struggling to speak.
"Calm down? CALM DOWN?! What the Fuck Danzo! What, how am I to? Grr, What the HELL is the meaning of this!" the Sandaime was going ape shit (no pun intended). How was he supposed to receive this information? Was the old war hawk lying? Is this a ploy for another one of his schemes? The Hokage just looked at the man across from him with the hard glare of a leader to one of the most powerful military powers in the world, a position not given lightly. Only to a ninja hardened by years of battle can achieve it.
Danzo was sweating and starting to breath heavier, if he was in better health, he could handle this kind of aura easily, but not in his condition. "Hiruzen, I'm begging you, please calm down. I can't take much more of this" he ragged. He then coughed getting blood on his white handkerchief.
The Hokage eyes widened and reigned in the hostile aura and Danzo started hacking and coughing up a storm now that he was free. Never had the man been unable to handle the pressure killing intent, Hiruzen looked closer, and too his shock Danzo looked like he was about to keel over. Hiruzen immediately got up and went to his old friend's side, he took the sake bottle and refilled his masu "Here Danzo, drink this" he said as he handed the bandaged man the square wooden cup. Probably not the best idea, but the alcohol would at least calm down his nerves.
Danzo took the drink carefully with shaking hands "Thank you…my friend" he said gratefully and took a few good gulps.
"Danzo…are you alright?" the Third asked concerned.
Danzo just chuckled mirthlessly "That is a loaded question, but as for this moment I am fine Hiruzen."
The Hokage looked at the man he had known since they were boys. Never in his life, even when Danzo was crippled in the second war, had Hiruzen ever seen his long-time comrade look so…frail. He was pale and for the first time looked his age…older even. The leader of The Leaf made his way back to his chair and picked his pipe up, he started getting it ready again, all the while waiting for his old friend's explanation.
Danzo watched the Hokage and saw the look of expectance in the man's eyes as he smoked his pipe. He waited until the Hokage had gotten settled 'This will be fun' the old war hawk thought and looked at his comrade straight in the eyes.
"I'm dying Hiruzen" was all he said.
The Hokage looked at Danzo for a moment processing what was just said, when it hit the leader of The Hidden Leaf Village, he was stunned…then he started to chuckle, his amusement grew and so did his laughter. Until he was slumped over his desk pounding his fist. Guffawing like a mad man.
The old war hawk was not as amused however "So you think my impending death is funny?" Danzo growled out, clearly trying not to raise his voice less he give the man more reason to mock him. He has made some grievances against his old friend sure…but he didn't think it constituted his demise being something to laugh at. Hiruzen kept laughing and Danzo finally had enough "Knock it OFF! You perverted old Monkey-Baka!" he roared.
Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't know why he found the fact one of his oldest friends dying was funny. Maybe it was just the timing of it all, none the less he tried to control his humor, he calmed down and wiped a tear form his eye "Calm down, grumpy old Buzzard-Teme". Now that Hiruzen had control he smiled at his friend, enjoying the old nicknames "I'm sorry my friend but you have to see it from my view, is that what this is about? Some attempt at saving your soul by confessing your sins?" the old Hokage asked, although he was still chuckling at the thought knowing Danzo was not like that.
Danzo blinked a little thinking about it, that was not his intention, he just wanted to make amends before he died, if not for himself than maybe for the few people who still called him friend after all these years. He didn't really care about things like religion, he thought more on it, and indeed the whole thing was a bit absurd. The elder started chuckling with his Hokage and before either knew it they were both laughing anew.
It had been a long time since they could laugh together like this…far too long.
Danzo was the first to calm down "Yes, I suppose it does seem like that doesn't it?" he said. His smile then became melancholier "But it's still true, I don't have much longer for this world" he said looking down. There was so much he had to make up for.
The Hokage looked at his friend with care, even after all Danzo had done, he couldn't really hate him and it saddened him to see his once confident rival turn into a dying old man, Hiruzen thought back on when he taught young Naruto about forgiveness. 'Danzo is right, I am much too merciful' the Hokage thought. "…How much longer?" the Sandaime finally asked. The elder merely shrugged and reached for the bottle to refill his wooden cup "Not long, a year my medics tell me, maybe less" he said pouring himself a new drink. He was taking a gulp when his compatriot asked "How?" a simple question, that had a complicated answer, but one he was prepared for. Danzo put his masu on the desk and stood up, he then proceeded to take off his bandages, the Sealing Arm Braces, and the upper portion of his robes… revealing all that he had done to himself.
Hiruzen looked on in horror at what Danzo had become 'He wasn't lying, he really did it' he thought in heartache. "Danzo…what have you done to yourself?" he couldn't help but ask, and the war monger chuckled.
"I already told you, I have funded and overseen many things that I thought would benefit the Leaf, regardless of whether it was ethical or not. But really, as I have come to realize, it was all for my own hubris. I just could not let go of the fact that Tobirama-sensei made you Hokage and not me. For that I am truly sorry my friend. But my arrogance has become my downfall in the end, my body is too old and can no longer sustain the modifications I have made to it. The irony made me realize that even if I wasn't dying…I still have simply grown too old to be what this village needs. And all my ideals will go unfilled and die with me" Danzo said, a few tears escaping, he had truly wasted his life.
The Hokage felt for his friend "I may not completely understand what you are going through, but please believe me when I say I empathize with that statement, I was supposed to retire long ago as you already know" he said. "I suppose we both are just getting too old then" Danzo agreed as he redressed himself, Hiruzen nodded feeling the same. "That is why Hashirama-Sensei spoke of the Will of Fire, I taught my son it's like Shogi, the future is the king and we must protect the king, we must keep the fire burning. If we are to fight, we must do it for something more than just attaining more to power to keep fighting."
And to his satisfaction Danzo nodded "I agree, I see that now" he said.
'Danzo, you really are trying to change…' the Hokage thought.
Once done Danzo remained standing looking into his friend's eyes "But that is not why I am here Hokage-Sama" he spoke professionally. The man behind the desk looked at him for a moment and then sighed "So, you are here because of Naruto" he simply said, "Yes, but do not worry my friend, I am not here to try and take him. You were right, he deserved a chance as the Yondaime wished" Danzo admitted. The Hokage snorted unamused, a chance yes, but chances were fleeting and didn't always mean a person had the opportunity to use them.
"Then what is it?" Hiruzen asked, genuinely curious, there was no reason for Danzo to involve himself if he did not have an agenda. This new Danzo will have to take some getting used to. The former Anbu commander and elder to The Leaf held his stare into old friend's eyes "I know what has happened tonight, I know what the young Uzumaki has gone through, I believe it would benefit him of we told him about his parents" Danzo said. Hiruzen nearly jumped out of his seat, the knowledge of Naruto's relation to Minato and Kushina was so secret it didn't even have a rank, the Hokage figured that Danzo already pieced it all together but there was no reasonable explanation as to why he thought it was a good idea to tell the boy his heritage.
Hiruzen huffed out a large cloud of smoke harshly "Danzo we can't, that knowledge is dangerous, if Minato's enemies found out he had a son" but was cut off by the elder "If that were the case then they would have found out by now and made an attempt to kill the boy, for Kami's sake he looks just like his father, and another thing; what were you thinking giving him Kushina's clan name? The Uzumaki were attacked and hunted down for a reason, what would have happened if someone recognized the name. If anything, he is more at risk of being a recognized as an Uzumaki than a Namikaze" Danzo stated.
At that moment, as Danzo's logic registered, the aging Hokage nearly had a stroke. How could he have not realized that? Most folk only knew Minato as just the Yellow Flash, or Yondaime, if Hiruzen had named the child Naruto Namikaze no one would have noticed. Not even in Konoha. Hiruzen had to make a lot of decisions when Naruto was a baby, the best he could do was fallow his late wife's example with their own children and the advice of his most trusted medic, if only Biwako was alive at the time. She would have known what to do.
"But that's beside the point. All of Minato's and Kushina's enemies are either dead or lost interest after they died." Hiruzen thought for moment, he couldn't argue against that, there was hundreds of tales of vengeful ninja but the truth was those were only a few hundred out of a few billion of ninja that lived there lives every day. People just loved a good story more, violence and drama unfortunately made excellent stories. However, there was two that he could think of who still definitely held a grudge even now "I assure you Danzo, Onoki and A would love to get their hands on the son of the Yellow Flash and The Red Death, Onoki will want some kind of petty revenge for the bruises to his ego he still carries. And A will want to take him for whatever power he thinks he can gain from Naruto, if not that, then certainly to take the fox."
Danzo shook his head, he may be trying to turn over a new leaf in the face of his imminent end, but he still mostly kept the same beliefs. The one belief was that a ninja were often too cautious and emotional, they would miss opportunities or allow situations to escalate needlessly. Hiruzen was more of a student to Hashirama then Tobirama, the First Hokage was a man of admirable contentment while the Second tended to be admittedly paranoid, but none the less the Shodai's none-confrontational views blinded him to the threat that was Madara Uchiha.
Danzo sat back down and sighed, he knew Hiruzen was right, but had to convince his friend "I'm well aware of that old dirt flea's belligerence, but he is in no position to risk another war over just one child." Danzo said.
The Hokage stroked his short beard nodding "Yes. As I understand the new Daimyo of The Land of Earth, Lady Tsuchime I believe is her name, is not as approving of his decisions as her father" he said. "Onoki has made it difficult for anyone to travel to the Land of Earth having continually increasing security on their boarder, or so I have heard."
Danzo nodded back and replied "To the point that he has nearly, if it isn't already, crippled the national economy by harassing traders from other countries. Lady Tsuchime has been trying to get him to back down, she wants the past to be forgotten, and to rule in a more diplomatic manner then her predecessors so that her country can thrive with new allies." He add one more thing "And as I hear, she is not happy with how her father's assassination was handled and is aware of the rumors that the Stone council might have actually been responsible, as of yet she has not cut ties with Stone…but she doesn't trust Iwagakure anymore to say the least."
Hiruzen nodded. It was a frightening possibility that a ninja village could fall out of favor with its home country. Not even the five great villages were safe. For example, Grass country had officially denounced their own village after a meager twenty years since its founding.
Kusagakure had been only an attempt to make a name for The Land of Grass and was completely under the Daimyos control with only a Jonin as the figurehead. But the Grass ninja had been getting greedy and excepting missions from the criminal underworld. The Grass Daimyo couldn't allow his country's reputation to be tarnished, and so he cut all ties with The Hidden Grass Village…making them enemy hostiles in their own country. And now they were nothing short of brigands accepting work worthy of a cutthroat mercenary or Yakuza. The only thing that kept them in somewhat legitimate standing was the infamous Blood Prison.
That was why every Hokage since Tobirama had the clan lord council, the elected civilians that represented the general population, the Anbu and Jonin commanders, the department heads, and finally those who had been given the official title of elder by the sitting Kage. All were to act as advisors for the Hokage and help him make decisions. But in recent years the civilians had been getting too much power, now that five clan seats were empty, the Hokage had more or less become their whipping boy. Hopefully with Danzo now more amicable he can get little more of his power back.
"You are thinking about the council, aren't you?" Danzo said. Hiruzen looked up and chuckled "Am I that obvious?" he said and Danzo smiled back "You always let off the smallest amount killing intent when you do, especially when you think about the civilians. I assure you my friend, with the short time I have left I will endeavor to rectify this."
Hiruzen shook his head in amusement "We're getting off topic, while I concede on your point for Iwa, what about Kumo?" the wise man asked. His friend looked at him and simply said "You know exactly why A won't risk going to war and risk harming this village…and those in it." The Hokage looked at the elder somewhat shocked "How much do you know?" he asked seriously.
Danzo looked at Hiruzen with an even stare, not threatening, bit certainly disapproving "I know who she is, how she was able to get here safely, as well as you and A's agreement so that she and her family are left in peace" he saw the panicked look on his friend's face "Don't worry I won't tell Mabui…or the Hyuuga, but you can't hide it forever Hiruzen, that is one sin you did completely on your own without my help. As I have come to believe recently…we all will meet our judgment in the end."
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked down in sadness and shame. After all the tragedy of the Kyuubi getting loose, he had to let in that poor teen girl that had shown up at his gates heavy with child, regardless of the consequences. He just had to do it…
Danzo watched his friend with equal shame, at the time he was still his old self and the fox's rampage had only made it worse, so he was of course against the reinstated Hokage allowing asylum to a rogue Cloud Kunoichi. He didn't care that she was pregnant, he thought he could just hold her captive like so many other women before, threatening her child for cooperation. Once the child was born, he would have had her killed and taken her daughter for his ROOT. He thought of the girl he had been training for the last five years, what he made her do to the only person she saw as family, how he raised a child that so much looked like the wife he had lost…and the daughter he pushed her to marry the man who would be her killer.
Was this punishment from Kami?
'Maybe I am religious, there is so much I have to repent for' the former war hawk thought.
The Hokage looked at his friend calmly, a small amount of grief still in his eyes thinking of his own beloved Biwako and how ashamed she would be of him. It seemed Hiruzen couldn't argue anymore and had to admit the truth…mostly to himself.
"I've wanted to tell Naruto, really I have, for so long. But I just couldn't do it. Every time he asked, excuses would just fly out of my mouth, it's just…every time the subject came up, I became terrified. You know how Naruto is, if he found out he would just brag for attention, and if the villagers heard that the Demon was claiming to be the son of their hero that would only make his situation worse. Not to mention, as I said before, you never know who's listening" Hiruzen said. "But really, what I feared the most is that if he knew who his father was, with how this village treats him, it would only breed resentment. To the people here…and me." The Hokage sighed as the truth finally came out "Yeah, I was scarred he would hate me."
"When did you plan to tell him exactly? About everything" Danzo asked in curiosity. The boy's parent was a bit tricky he had to agree, but he never understood why Naruto was never told of his burden, pretty much all jinchuriki knew from the beginning of what they are and the responsibility they had. It just didn't make sense to give someone a paper bomb and not tell them what it was and why they had it now was it? "I had planned to tell him when he was more grown up like eighteen or if he had gone up in the ranks well enough and made Jonin or maybe Chunin" the Hokage replied. The old war hawk looked at his equally old friend, Danzo had a particular face on, the kind of face that said; "You are a fucking dumbass."
Hiruzen sulked a little under his gaze and asked "What?" in response.
"What he says" Danzo said rolling his visible eye and looked at his old friend in disappointment "Hiruzen I'm trying to change here and give your way of thinking a shot before I die, but that right there has to be the most stupid thing I have ever heard from your mouth to date. You can't be serious? Even I understand the amount of damage waiting that long could do to the young man emotionally. He really should have been told about his burden the day he started the academy, you can't really think you can go that long and not tell him he basically has a ticking time bomb tattooed to his stomach, we both inspected that seal with Jiraiya and we all know it is meant to help him absorb the fox's chakra better then Lady Mito or Kushina ever did. What would happen if he had finally tapped into it without knowing? Oh wait, he already did just few hours ago and killed a man, Mizuki was no loss but we got lucky that he was able to calm down. We both know what happens when a jinchuriki is not in control, that berserk human sandstorm Rasa made himself is a good example, and don't give me that shit you were trying to protect him. The only person you were protecting was yourself, I mean the boy adores you, if you had just explained to him about his parents and the Kyuubi I believe he would not only keep his mouth shut but benefit from the knowledge. And that is why I am here tonight; I have a plan that could not only spare Naruto anymore grief but give him the needed drive to be the Hokage his father was. No! Even more." Danzo ended his rant, he had to catch his breath as his illness showing again.
Hiruzen looked at his old friend like the man had just pissed on his desk. "Geez Danzo, tell me how you really feel" he finally said pouting like a child. "Well, Minato was a fine candidate for successor, I'll admit I was wrong about your former student, but you should've found a replacement a long time ago. Look at you, you're as much on death's door as I am, you shriveled up old monkey" Danzo jabbed one last time, which earned an angry tick mark and twitchy eyebrow from said monkey "Thank you" Hiruzen said dryly and Danzo smirked in victory.
Hiruzen sighed and thought about what his friend said, there was no doubt, the man was right. The thing was, he was always right, he may suggest things that were not the Sarutobi's style, but that didn't mean his opinions and insights were wrong. That's why Hiruzen never locked the man up for ordering Itachi to purge his own clan behind his back. "Fine, you want me to say I fucked up? Well I fucked up! Okay? If you really think that you have a better idea then let's do it" Hiruzen gave in. It felt a little too easily, but Danzo for the first time in his life showed a great amount of trust and honesty, so the Hokage owed his old comrade the benefit of the doubt at the very least.
Danzo curtly nodded satisfied, who knew that being a nice guy got you what you wanted? "Good, but I think we are missing a few people." He got up and walked to the door and opened it quickly, a body fell on the ground "Gah!" the purple haired woman yelped landing flat on her face. It was Anko who had been trying to listen through the door "Ow" she grumbled rubbing her nose. "Sweetheart! Are you alright!?" an overly worried Iruka asked his girlfriend as he helped her up. "She's fine, if it wasn't her face, it would have been her ass" the Hokage's secretary chuckled earning a glare from her best friend. Anko looked to her boyfriend with a loving pretty smile "I'm fine Honey" she said giving him a short kiss making the man blush, Anko than returned her glare to Mabui "No thanks to Some People!"
Mabui decided to play a game, one her husband in particular loved playing with his own best friend, she had made a show of checking her nails (Still flawless) and looked to the other Kunoichi as if she just realized she was there "Hmm? What was that dear?" she innocently asked with a bored look.
Anko gasped dramatically and pointed an accusatory finger to the dark-skinned woman "Oh you did not just try to pull that shit on me!"
There was a bit of chuckling at the door "Now Anko, my lovely wife was only playing, no need to be offended."
Everyone looked to see a tall man, he wore a standard Jonin uniform with armored fingerless gloves, his most striking features was his sliver spiky hair, cloth mask, and most notably how his Hitai-ate was tilted over his left eye. This man was famous, he went by many names. Copy-cat ninja, Hero of the Sharingan, Friend Killer, but to one woman in the office he was the father of her child and her lover. He was Kakashi Hatake.
The former Cloud kunoichi smiled when she saw her husband, she had really missed him during their separation, she then remembered what Danzo said to her. Kakashi came up to his wife, smiling at her with his eye like he always did "Yo! Mabui-Tenshi" he greeted calling her angel like he always had since the night they met. He was acting playful, some would think he was being insincere, but Mabui knew her husband better than anyone and could hear the love in his voice that never died and never will.
Mabui steeled her resolve 'No more of this', she smiled at her husband and went right up to him, Kakashi looked a bit startled wondering if she was gonna hit him, in his mind he was no good and didn't deserve his wife and daughter. To him he believed his angel hated him, every day for the last four years he just sulked waiting for his wife to serve him divorce papers. Their marriage was not awful, they just argued maybe a little too much, he would push her buttons a little too far and she would scream a little too much. No marriage was perfect, and you couldn't fault one built on teen pregnancy for being tense, yet their daughter didn't deserve to be around that. But it came to ahead when he majorly screwed up, which resulted in a particular heated back and forth. When his peaceful child retuned the day of her first graduation…how disappointed he was in her…the things he said to her. His wife didn't like what he said, even though he had been saying it all his life and their marriage, it didn't matter…it all just proved he was the worst.
He was just too broken to be the man his family needed, at least that was what Kakashi thought.
"Mabui…" he started to say depressively but was stopped when his wife shushed him placing a finger on his masked lips.
To his shock and that of all present she pulled down his mask and back up mask and kissed him for all she was worth. Kakashi was helpless as his lips were assaulted by his beautiful wife, her lips glossed with her favorite rose petal lip balm so soft and plush, she held him firm from escaping with her arms wrapped around his neck. There was nothing he could do, and it had been so long since he kissed the love of his life properly, so he closed his eye and wrapped his arms around her surrendering to his angel once again.
When Mabui was done she pulled way to look at his handsome face and almost giggled at how dazed he looked "Kakashi, my love, please come home" she pleaded. The man looked at her and went to that infuriating lazy look he did when he didn't want to deal with something. He sighed and shook "You were right to kick me out, I was-" but his wife stopped him in his tracks when she shouted, "Stop it!" the man winced at her tone and she calmed her anger but kept her gaze on him firm letting Kakashi know that his wife wanted him to be quiet and smartly did just that.
"Kakashi, I know you still hate yourself for what you said to Ayako" Mabui actually sniffed trying not to cry, despite freeing herself from Kumo she still found it hard to cry openly. Kakashi stayed quiet letting her talk, it was all he could do for her, for the strength she's given him. "But she loves you and has never held it against you" she said. The woman's green eyes became somber with guilt, "I'm not one to throw stones either, I didn't want her to go through what I did in Kumo but I'm also scared, scared of what can happen…whom she might run into out there…" Mabui looked down, trying not think about if her daughter ever ran into a Cloud ninja in the field.
Or worse…her grandfather.
Kakashi looked at his wife with a small, crooked smile, "Now who is hating themselves, Tenshi, she loves you more than anything. I know she understands, she's always been so smart and mature for her age, I'm sure she understands. She's her mother's daughter after all."
Mabui smiled and pecked his lips again "And you are her hero and she still only wants nothing more than to be just like you. She doesn't need you to keep your distance; she needs You. She needs her father. Honestly, I'm at my wits end with that girl and I need help. And…I need you too, I'm tired of waking up in the morning and you're not there by my side, I hate coming home and you're not there to hold me and call me angel." She looked discreetly to their audience and got close to his ear and whispered "And I'm just gonna be blunt. I don't know about you but I can't do it alone anymore. It was never good in the first place and it's not going to get any better…not without you."
Kakashi blushed hard at her confession, also looking discreetly, Anko of course had a big Cheshire grin that was a little too knowing. But his wife was right. He Needed to feel his wife's warmth again, even his favorite books was becoming tedious. However something she said caught him "What happened to Ayako-Chan? What's wrong?" he asked with fatherly concern.
Mabui sighed "I'm not entirely sure really, she won't talk to me like she used to, all she does is train. She's so…standoffish, always with a chip on her shoulder. She has no friends, well maybe that girl from the florist and the Hyuuga girl, but she isn't letting anyone near her. I know we taught her to be self-reliant and confidant, be its like she walks around the village with a "Back off" sign around her neck. And she's a very strong Kunoichi…but she has no team, everyone I try to find her just ends in disaster, recently she just refuses to join on principle that she is better off without a squad. Kakashi, she has re-graduated twice! She keeps passing with flying colors at the academy only to end up right back! The last time she actually tried to sacrifice her teammate to win the test, the boys were in the hospital covered in lashes!" the woman sighed.
Kakashi groaned not liking what he was hearing, it was worse than he feared, the girl apparently had no value in comradery and was all about her career. He knew he shouldn't fly off the handle the first time but he just wanted her to value friendship and teamwork, but it appeared that it only had the opposite effect. It reminded him of someone "Gods, she just like me when I was her age by the sound of it" he said pinching the bridge of his nose. "I was by the book and arrogant, some of it was my father, some from being all that prodigy nonsense…" he trailed off. Mabui looked apprehensive and Kakashi noticed "…What?" he ask fearfully. "Ayako-Chan is a prodigy too; she should have graduated early like you but with her antisocial behavior keeping her away from anyone and never joining a team…"
Kakashi sighed his daughter always reminded him of his wife, but she was also really too much like him in some ways.
He was about to pull his mask up but then instead he smiled and kissed his wife again, short and sweet but filled with all his love, and maybe a little tongue. He looked at his wife as she smiled at him a bit dazed herself "Alright, I'll come home, Pakkun and the others are kinda getting sick of being cramped up in that studio anyway" he chuckled. Mabui giggled "Poor babies" she then got a scary sweet smile "But the rule still stands. They do anything to my nice clean house, I swear to the Gods if there so much as a spittle of drool on my good couch, we are building a kennel and they are sleeping outside and you with them! Are we clear?" she said still smiling but also releasing killing intent.
Kakashi gulped "Yes dear, crystal, I'll tell them."
"Good."
Danzo cleared his throat gaining everyone's attention, he was standing in his usual spot next his Hokage acting in his capacity as elder and advisor, not typical was the little upturn of the corner of his mouth "It's good to see that you took my advice Mrs. Hatake, but that is not the reason why I called Kakashi-San, we have matters to discuss concerning young Naruto and what to do from here."
Kakashi, not as aware of the elder's desire to change as the others, he only knew the Danzo that tried to manipulate him using his young family. Extorting him to assassinate the very Hokage the war hawk was standing next to. So, Kakashi was still suspicious of Danzo and was about to start making something of it but his wife whispered into his ear and he relaxed.
The Hokage decided to get the discussion going "Please, everyone have a seat" he spoke with authority. "Anko, I'm sure Iruka-San is still sore from his wounds, why don't you two take the couch so he can lie down" Mabui offered as she was already getting the chairs positioned so her and her husband can discuss comfortably with all present. Anko and Iruka nodded in thanks, Anko sat first and placed Iruka's head in her lap "Babe? You want me to do something about the pain? I can summon Kan'I-Chan for you?" she asked. Iruka nodded and Anko summoned one of her snakes, a beautiful green snake only two feet long appeared and looked to her mistress "How may I help mistress" she hissed. "Iruka-Kun is hurt, he needs some of your venom" she ordered.
"Venom?" Kakashi asked.
"Kan'I is a medic snake, she can manipulate the chemistry of her venom for pharmaceutical purposes, she can make nearly anything and has a mastery of the apothecial arts" Anko informed making green snake's head a touch rosy looking. Mabui spoke up "You've met her dear, she helped Aya-Chan when she broke her arm that time" Mabui reminded her husband. Kakashi nodded remembering the time his daughter tried to tree walk before she was ready; she was imitating him after he got her frisbee out of a tree. Kan'I bit in her painkiller and then wrapped around his little girl's arm, setting the bone back into place and acting as a splint until Aya could get a proper cast, from what Kakashi remembered the snake had very good bed side manner and was amazing with children. "It's good to meet you again Kan'I-Chan" Kakashi said smiling as he does. The green serpent smiled the same as Kakashi as she didn't exactly have lips "It truly was my pleasure" she replied and then got to work.
The green snake bit Iruka and after the initial bite he immediately looked much better his face relaxing "This is a low dose but it will last through the night so you will be able to get some sleep, please be a good patient sir and get some rest" the snake looked at her mistress accusatorially "And that means he does not do anything too Physical for at least a week so he can properly heal, less his wounds open up again, only bed rest…meaning sleep and nothing else" Kan'I informed firmly knowing her mistress well. Anko huffed "Why is everyone looking at me?" she then noticed that everyone was literally looking at her "Sweetheart" Iruka said. Anko threw her hands in the air "Fine! Resting only! Geez, honestly, you make me look like I'm some sex fiend" she defended…yet also thinking 'Damn! A few weeks alone at home and I get twat blocked!'.
Kan'I nodded satisfied and poofed home.
"So, now that everyone is settled" the Hokage said looking around, internally pleased with the sight of young couples so close. Anko was giving Iruka tender affection and Mabui was hugging Kakashi's arm her head his shoulder 'Asuma better get his ass in gear, Kurenai is a good woman' elder father thought, briefly missing his wife Biwako. "We must now discuss what to do about Naruto, me and Iruka agreed that with him learning the Shadow Clone Jutsu that he is more than qualified to graduate retroactively, but that will take some convincing the council as we have already posted this year's graduates" Hiruzen stated.
Danzo shook his head "I'm not saying that I disagree with that sentiment, that technique is a Kinjutsu for a reason, and for him to make so many? Even the civilians are not so stupid to not see that, to put it like this; with that Jutsu Naruto-san is a literal one-man army, from their perspective he would be very lucrative on solo bounty missions." Everyone nodded agreeing, bounty missions could take months but potentially made a lot of money that the village got a hefty cut from, so one ninja going solo was preferred as having a whole team gone that long might be a waste of manpower. Plus, the ninja in question can always request back up if needed. Danzo continued "Either way, I would advise you to come up with a contingency in case that excuse is shot down, which I predict it will be, tonight is more than enough for the civilians to make a move against the boy" everyone nodded agreeing again.
Kakashi spoke up "I'm still in the dark as to what happened tonight." So the full story was told again, everyone add their own piece, even Anko and Mabui, by the end of it Kakashi could only whistle lowly "Damn, well that is a shit show" this earned him a smack on the back of the head from his wife for being so unprofessional, "What I meant to say" he corrected rubbing his head "Is that Naruto is already on their uh…short list, even those who don't hate him were expecting more from the village Jinchuriki. I can't believe I'm saying this but I would have to agree with Danzo, I would go as far as saying that you should just drop the retroactive angle all together."
"Yeah" Anko chimed in "It needs to look like Naruto is not getting special treatment while at the same time giving him what he needs."
Hiruzen thought for moment, puffing on his pipe, he than nodded "Given your arguments I am now thinking I would have to agree, sorry Iruka, it was a good try" and the Chunin teacher nodded also agreeing that his idea may have been too hopeful, as he laid on his girlfriend Iruka asked "Than what do we do then? We've already told Naruto that he is a ninja."
At this Danzo spoke up "I already have an idea, if they can't accept him being expedited because his status as the village's Jinchuriki and its greatest weapon. Then we…" Danzo went into his well-crafted explanation, it was a bit elaborate, much like most if Danzo's schemes indeed. Yet, it was hard to argue against it. "That could work, I'm not thrilled about the angle, but it certainly wouldn't turn any heads" Iruka commented "But it needs to be more than that, we need a solid reason why he has to be in the next set of teams, and even then, he still has to pass the teamwork test."
"Me and Anko have an idea on how we can do that" Mabui said, Anko grinned "That we do" she said. The two women explained their machinations and everyone was surprised, it was genius, it was out of the box, and will turn the whole village on its head. It also helped when Iruka reminded everyone what his role was at the academy, more specifically what his classroom was for. The adults continued talking, when it came to discuss Danzo's plan to tell Naruto his parentage Anko and Iruka were flabbergasted, Anko was of course pissed that she was not let into the loop about Naruto being the son of the only woman who had ever shown her kindness since she was abandoned by Orochimaru. Literally her only ever mother figure. And Kakashi was also not very keen on the idea as Hiruzen was, he didn't think Naruto was ready to know, but like always his wife convinced him that continuing to lie to the blonde would do more harm than good. And so…
Everyone was in agreement.
Whether Naruto was ready or not the boy had to be shown little more trust given all he's been through. "Alright, we have a plan, tomorrow at the council meeting to announce the teams we'll enact it, hopefully come Monday we have a team for Naruto" the Sandaime said satisfied. So with everything said and done they had a plan…now they had to tell Naruto the truth.