Chapter 5

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Comments

Something that has always interested me in the Naruto world is the complex political relationships between the villages, but also between the different parties of a village. This was definitely not something I focused on too much when I was watching Naruto, but I definitely have a newfound appreciation for the Kage who have to balance being a political figure, but also the head of the military/armed forces of their nation.

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"Moonlight drowns out all but the brightest stars."

~ J.R.R. Tolkien ~

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"She's what!?"

Hiruzen sighed, as he could foresee the long and difficult discussion that he was about to have with the other members of the Konoha Council.

"The student currently under Kushina's care and tutelage is Tsubaki Senju. The daughter of Suna's late Third Kazekage and Hinami Senju, Lord Second's daughter." He repeated.

"Yes, we heard you the first time Hiruzen," Homura snapped, "What we're having trouble grasping is why you would keep this hidden from us!"

Danzo frowned, "You understand that our relationship with Suna has always been precarious, and yet you knowingly housed a member of their Kazekage Clan within our borders."

"It is because of these tensions that I welcomed Tsubaki into the village," Hiruzen replied, "Hinami could sense that the villagers in Suna did not trust her. Kazekage's wife or not, she was a member of Konoha, and the last official member of the Senju Clan. She did not want her daughter to live being scrutinised and doubted, and I'll be damned before I let that happen here."

"We might have been quick to judge," Koharu thought aloud, "but housing the daughter of the Third Kazekage will be a risk. If the villagers, or even other shinobi discover her true identity, then the dangers will not be restricted to public outcry."

'Tsubaki could be kidnapped and held for ransom.' Hiruzen thought.

"There is no doubt that she would be targeted. From the latest… incident, we know that she has inherited the late Akashi's Magnet Release, should she somehow also possess Wood Release then-"

"She does not have Wood Release." Hiruzen spoke up, cutting off Koharu. "But Hinami suspects her sister does."

"And this is the second daughter that Hinami wants Konoha to care for?" Danzo asked, as his finger started tapping his knee absent-mindedly. "And what of Hinami herself?"

"The death of the Third Kazekage is the official announcement. However, Hinami doesn't believe the Third Kazekage has passed." The Hokage sighed. "She'll set out herself to look for him."

"That will be another challenge in itself!" Homura yelled. "There is great tension between the other nations and it only grows stronger by the day. The Kazekage was the only one able to keep that political powder keg in-check; now that he has passed-"

"It is likely that we will be dragged into another war," Danzo concluded.

The Council sat in silence as they contemplated the gravity of the situation. The Third Kazekage, contrary to his stoic and aggressive appearance, was the only one amongst the Five Kage able to prevent the shinobi world from falling into another all out war. In his absence, there was now a vacuum; where there once was a voice of reason, there was now a political bomb waiting to go off.

The silence was broken by Danzo. "She should remain in Konoha."

"And risk incurring the outrage of Konoha and Suna?" Homura scoffed, turning to Danzo, "I understand your history with Hinami, but I caution you to keep that in check when considering the best course of action for the village Danzo."

"We can keep her identity hidden," Danzo pressed, "Without Wood Release, no one would even suspect that she has any connection to the Senju Clan, to be perfectly frank if we based it off her looks she would be more likely to be mistaken as an Uchiha. And if the jinchuuriki can seal her Iron Sand technique, she's no different from any other shinobi."

Homura looked at Danzo with disbelief. "So let me get this straight, you're proposing that we conceal the identity of the Third Kazekage's daughter, and our own Second Hokage's grandchild, to keep her within our borders? That has got to be the weakest plan I've heard."

"I agree with Homura," Koharu said, "from a military perspective, Tsubaki could definitely be an asset to Konoha. However, this is all based on the presumption that her identity remains hidden. Assuming that Suna is aware and agreed to allow Hinami to send their princess to Konoha, this would have been a highly classified secret. When her identity is discovered, they would immediately demand her back, irrespective of what was agreed to in the past."

The Third Hokage sighed, 'This is why I hate politics,' he thought. But even so, he owed it to his predecessors to at least try and keep Tsubaki here, politics be damned, the child would not thrive in a village that did not welcome her into their arms.

"We owe Hinami to try," Hiruzen spoke, drawing the attention of the Council onto him once more, "Yes the dangers are great, the consequences even more so. But we owe it to Hinami, to the Senju Clan, and the founders of this village we now call our home to raise their family to the best of our ability."

Pensive looks we exchanged, as Hiruzen could see that he was slowly making the others understand his side.

"And when her identity is revealed? What happens if Suna accuses us of kidnapping their beloved Kazekage's daughter?" Homura asked.

"We will cross that bridge when we come to it."

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-Dream-

Blinking, my eyes opened up to drink in the image of the clear desert night. Standing at the top of the Kazekage's tower, I could drink in the image of the gentle light radiating from the moon and painting the scene in an ethereal glow, the grains of sand turning into droplets of silver. As my eyes darted around, they quickly landed on a man standing with his back towards me, overlooking the balcony of the Kazekage tower to view the beauty of Suna and the desert protecting it.

"Papa?" I asked, tears in my eyes.

Turning, I saw my dad give me a small smile as he gestured me towards him. Not needing to be told twice, I ran and jumped into his arms, immediately locking myself to him as he picked me up.

"Why are you sad little one?" He asked, noticing the small tears that were pooling in my eyes. "Did you have a bad dream? Or is it because you slept without your night light."

I nodded yes, "Both."

"Open your eyes Tsubaki."

Slowly, I opened them, and stared straight up at his gentle smile, the stern expression he usually reserved for the day disappeared. That's how I knew I wasn't looking at the Kazekage, I was looking at my father.

"Look out Tsubaki," he turned so that I was now overlooking the same view that captured his attention, "Look to the stars. What do you see?"

"Umm," my lips quivered, "it's really dark papa."

"Calm down," he breathed, pointing out a group of stars, "Concentrate on those stars. Do you see anything?"

Biting my lip, I tried. Squinting I tried to think about what the answer he wanted from me, but I came up blank.

"Stars papa, what's so interesting about them?" I asked.

"Really?" He hummed, "I see Tepi."

"Te-pi." I tried the name.

"That's right, Tepi. A fierce guardian that has protected our family since before we were ninjas." He smiled, at my amazed look, "One day you'll see Tepi, and when you do, you will never be afraid of the dark again."

"You promise?"

"I promise."