Author's Note: heed the warnings for this chap: explicit jokes, non-graphic but descriptive violence, mentions of blood and death.
Also, I've taken many creative liberties in this one, owing to the fact that I just cannot remember canonical facts properly so don't mind the inaccuracies.
That's it, read on!
"Do not engage," Ibiki Morino's stern command drew every chunin's attention. "Your primary task is to carry out the bodies of the root members once they've been paralysed. Do it quickly and efficiently. We don't want to cause them harm through the collateral damage that is sure to ensue. Understood?"
A sharp round of "yes, sir" went around the open space and Ibiki turned his attention to Inoichi who was standing two steps ahead of him. A few ways behind the leading members of the chunins stood Sasuke and Sakura. The Uchiha knew all about this planned raid, mostly through the vague conversations Naruto and Shikamaru had had whenever he met them. Apparently, the creepy dude who kept eyeing him during the chunin finals had been involved in some rather shady acts, and today they would put an end to them. He wished to know more though, to be on the front lines and get further information about that guy.
Especially because he'd heard something about stolen sharingans.
"This is getting quite boring," Sakura's muttering drew his attention. "If everything's ready, why the fuck can they not kick into action already?"
"Since when did you get so impatient?" Sasuke asked, raising a brow. "Didn't you hear Inoichi? They're waiting for the spy's signal."
Sakura blinked. "As a matter of fact, I didn't hear that part."
Sasuke side-glanced her, noticing the bags under her eyes that had grown more and more prominent as the week went by.
"Another rough week? Tsunade's still not convinced?"
Sakura turned her head away, crossing her arms to show her offence.
"Nope," she said. "I've tried thrice already. She's declined my request every single time. Hinata got the same treatment. Do you think Tsunade-sama really doesn't want to be a teacher to anyone? Shizune-san still remains under her tutelage... I don't get it. What am I doing wrong?"
Sasuke shifted on his feet, unsure of how to tackle this particular issue. Two weeks ago when Sakura had come back with bloodied knuckles, an ugly bruise on her cheek and proceeded to challenge Sasuke to a spar, the boy had been sufficiently baffled. He'd rolled with it though, because that was what Sakura needed then and he wanted to help her in whichever way he could.
They'd fought and fought till Sakura lay on the dirt, another myriad of cuts on her arms and when Sasuke had asked what happened between huffs of breaths, Sakura had glared but refused to give an answer.
The next day, she'd come back again and dragged both Sasuke and Naruto to the grounds. They had sparred but Sakura'd pushed herself too far. Naruto had stopped her by the shoulders then, forced her to a tree and pulled her down. She'd landed on the ground, her mouth opened to shout at Naruto but instead she'd ended up revealing what had been bothering her so much.
"She refused to take me on as her apprentice!" Sakura had said, more distraught than Sasuke had ever seen her before. "I showed her all the healing techniques I already knew. I showed the letter of recommendation Mrs. Misu wrote in my favour. She seemed impressed too, I think. Then she asked me why I was so interested in medical ninjutsu," she had paused, brows furrowing in absolute confusion. "I said... I wanted to heal people. Prevent pain for them. She stared at me and asked if I was sure. If these were my true motivations. I said yes and the next thing I know, I'd been dismissed. Is it because I'm not as good in taijutsu? Tsunade-sama's speciality lies in it too, doesn't it? I... I need to get better guys, or I'll lose this opportunity to be trained by a Sannin."
Naruto had been confused too, this hadn't sounded like anything that had occurred last time around. Granted, Tsunade had been a bit softer on Sakura, considering they'd just lost their teammate who had abandoned the village. But she'd always been interested in passing on her knowledge and even now, Naruto doubted that that aspect about her had changed. So what was this? A test? Some petty dislike towards Sakura and Hinata?
All answers he could come up with had seemed to miss the mark and Naruto had simply lifted Sakura's spirits by agreeing to spar with her till she was certain of her own improvement.
Then and even now, Sasuke found himself with a lack of assuring or soothing words. So he settled for an unbothered shrug (hoping maybe, that Sakura could be just as unbothered vicariously through him).
"I doubt you're doing anything wrong," he said. "This seems to me like it's Tsunade's problem, not yours. Maybe she's just too busy with her new duties to accept the mentorship of someone."
Sakura hummed, "I've thought about it that way. But I've been observing her, you know. She's always complaining about lack of action to Shizune. I'd think she would really like training someone else, if only because she'd get a break from her desk duties. Besides, even Shizune wants her to take on another student."
"Why don't you just train under Shizune?" Sasuke asked. "I thought she was ready to train you."
"She was. Still is," Sakura kicked a small pebble forward in mild agitation. "But she's a poison expert. While that area of attacking and curing is something I want to get good at, chakric healing is more important for me to master."
Sasuke rolled his eyes, he really couldn't empathise much more than this.
"If the Hokage's not ready to train you, just fuck it–"
"It's not that simple," Sakura interrupted, fully aware of what Sasuke was suggesting. "I can't just get all my knowledge from books and as great a teacher that Mrs. Misu is, she herself has admitted that she no longer has anything left to teach me."
Sasuke was about to ask another question when a shout from Ibiki drew their attention.
"We've got the signal!" the man's voice was firm. "Move in with your squads, and try to avoid contact with the enemy."
Sasuke nodded at his squad of seven, and the chunin ran through the grassy field till they were right before a grey metallic door–embedded inside a small hill on the outskirts of Konoha. The security system consisting of various traps had already been dismantled by the jounin who had long since begun the raid. With careful and long strides, the chunin entered the root base. It started with a long corridor, at the end of which was a open hall.
There, lying on most flat surfaces were bodies of cloaked nin–still twitching, pupils visible through the holes in their masks.
Stretchers were brought in for the ones who had been injured before paralysed while the rest were thrown over their shoulders and hurriedly transported to their temporary base a few metres outside the entrance.
Sasuke and Sakura picked up one of them by the arms and legs and got to work. The soft clacking of ninja sandals on smoothe tile went around them as every able bodied ninja helped in the evacuation of the paralysed root members. The cycle carried on for a good few minutes before they all heard a low rumbling originating from the centre of the base. Minute tremors reached them through the ground and they quickened their movements–they all knew the main battle had begun.
"You're not going anywhere," Shikamaru informed pointedly, shoving Naruto into Danzo's private quarters. Three more members from the T and I joined them inside.
"Why not?" Naruto asked, as he carefully pulled a bundle of papers into his backpack. "This collection of important intel shouldn't take too long. Besides, the old man clearly wanted my help, don't you remember?"
Oh, Shikamaru definitely remembered. He still wasn't certain what that request was all about. Lord Third had showed up three days ago, with an appeal to recruit Naruto as his official backup for this mission. Inoichi had ofcourse smiled nicely at the man before telling him, in no uncertain terms, that he was being moronic and that a chunin had no business dealing with people like Danzo.
"He's got the creepy wood dude and Asuma sensei with him. Just stay put, for fuck's sake."
Naruto rolled his eyes, opening up drawers and shoving another set of files in his bag.
"I won't die, oh kami," he said, exasperated by Shikamaru's subtle concern. "And if you're so worried, why don't you come along?"
Shikamaru groaned, lifting the mattress off the bed.
"Fat chance. I'm not moving a single inch once we're done with this shit." He squinted then, "Come look. Another fucking seal–that too, on his bed. It's like the guy's got a fetish for fuinjutsu."
Naruto chuckled, bending low to see the engravings on the wood.
"Looks like a locking seal. Preserving and protecting something. Can't crack it though–it's too advanced for my knowledge."
Shikamaru shrugged, "We'll just report it to Inoichi. He can drag Jiraiya-san here whenever he's back."
"Okay," Naruto nodded, "Now back to the my side mission."
"There's no side mission," Shikamaru turned, signalling to another chunin to help him pick up a desk by the wall. "I refuse to engage in this conversation any longer."
"Suit yourself," Naruto shot back, disappearing in the bathroom for a bit before returning.
"Anything fishy in there?" the Nara asked.
Naruto made a weird face, considering something the rest weren't.
"Yeah," he said. "He's got an insane amount of eye-drops."
Shikamaru stared at him for a second before muttering hope the guy didn't think that stuff was lubricant. Thankfully, none of them heard his musings and continued with their task at hand.
Naruto jogged through the long grey tunnel-like corridors, darting his gaze behind him every so often. He didn't particularly enjoy sneaking out this way, but he had to make sure everyone got out of this in one piece. Besides, he doubted Shikamaru would realise he'd left a shadow clone behind–well, unless his stupid copy popped out before he could return. Then, he'd possibly have to face Shikamaru's wrath that seldom showed.
The sounds of battle intensified till his feet landed in a thin layer of water. He switched to walking on the ceiling. Best to not alert anyone of his presence.
The fight against Danzo was in full swing in the huge battle arena the man had built to train his own root army. Carefully placing a genjutsu on himself and masking all of his chakra, Naruto crawled inside while remaining in the corners of the room.
The first thing that came into his view was Asuma. The man's face was utterly blank, hands outstretched but unmoving. Naruto took a moment to process what this meant but Asuma was in action again. There was intent on his face, clear as day, as he gripped on his chakra knives firmly.
Only, he didn't move towards Danzo.
Asuma made a straight run for Hiruzen, but Tenzo was quicker, more alert and he'd gotten over his shock faster than Hiruzen had. Flexible wooden beams emerged from the ground, coiling around Asuma's body. The man was forced to a halt but he directed his built up force towards the wood, tearing through it with the help of his wind-chakra channeling weapons.
"How dare you," Hiruzen looked sharply at Danzo, aware that his enemy couldn't see him at the moment. Nevertheless, he tried to seep as much disdain as he could into his voice. "You've never been one to shy away from dirty tactics, Danzo. Using my son against me?" he shook his head, building up chakra for an earth based attack.
Danzo was already moving, having sensed the mounting chakra. Temporarily blinded by a seal, his other senses had sharpened over the course of this fight.
Naruto creeped towards the centre of the ceiling, careful to not let even a wisp of chakra astray. Making Danzo aware of his presence now would take away his advantage. He really wanted to do something before Danzo had the chance to use Izanagi even once.
A tide of earth cracked through the cemented floor, right as Danzo's water jets blasted from his mouth. A rather futile attempt at blocking, if one were to ask Naruto. It seemed Danzo's chakra was still replenishing following his use of kotoamatsukami on Asuma.
Speaking of the man, he was once again onto Hiruzen, his signature smoke-fire attack at the ready. The retired Kage turned his attention to his new foe, hesitating to use any kind of hurtful force against his child.
Meanwhile, Tenzo's attacks were blocked by Danzo. The ANBU captain persisted with his attacks, sending blocks of wood and a tangle of twisting trees to counter Danzo's lightweight wood attacks. He had far more control over his inserted bloodline than Danzo did, but the older man had more experience, more cunning, more viciousness to keep their bout in his favour.
Hiruzen had summoned Enma by then, hoping that if he couldn't, his summon could deal some harm to Asuma. The monkey king had no qualms against giving Asuma a hard shove, and a rib-cracking kick. Asuma winced, dodging another one of Enma's punches, performing a clumsy body flicker to get out of Hiruzen's wind blade attack.
What happened the next instant was a rapid blur of motion. It started with a sudden surge of chakra, coming from none of the four currently involved in the battle.
Hiruzen spotted Naruto first, his blond hair illuminated by the almost electric blue sword held in his hand. It was the same one he used against Gaara's sand shield - made purely out of his chakra, just ten times more potent, more condensed, more dangerous.
Danzo moved before he could even register that Naruto was after him. It was pure reflex or, perhaps, fear.
It was too late, though.
Naruto was prepared. More than prepared. He never intended to behead the man. He had something far more important to strike.
With a crackling sizzle of chakra meeting flesh, Danzo's enraged shout was but a whisper in the arena. A wave of vibrations burst forth as Naruto's forceful attack tore through all the protections of Danzo's seal and his right arm fell to the ground, no blood, no bone in sight.
It was all over in five seconds.
Cut off from chakra, the sharingans wrapped under the bandages gave no sign of being present, but by the horrified look on Danzo's face Hiruzen could tell his former friend had just lost much more than a limb.
Momentary shock turned to muted apprehension. Danzo's eye blazed with unfathomable anger and his killing intent was focused solely on Naruto.
Tenzo was already moving, Hiruzen right behind him but Naruto didn't seem to buckle under the pressure.
Danzo knew it already.
He knew there was no winning today.
He knew it the moment his own personal guard had deceived him. He knew it the instant he'd seen the files of jounin marching into his base with narrow minded determination to put an end to root–the organisation he'd given his everything to.
He knew it the moment he'd seen Hiruzen with the same fire in his eyes that had led Tobirama-sensei to choose him as his successor.
And he knew it, even now, when the jinchuuriki who'd just snatched the only trump card he'd had without a second of warning, stood before him with loathing in his eyes.
He knew it, even as he sensed Hiruzen's hurricane of water and Tenzo's volley of wooden spikes aimed for his vitals.
He knew it, he'd known it for quite some time.
But he also knew that if he wasn't going to win, he wasn't about to let them win either.
So he ripped apart his robe, his face adopting a vicious snarl.
The black markings came to life, embedding themselves deeper into his flesh. Naruto halted in his tracks. A memory flashed through his mind, rising his hackles. He recollected Sasuke's mumbled recounting of how Danzo went down. This technique–it sealed people in a certain radius along with Danzo.
"Get away!" Naruto yelled, causing Tenzo to abort his jutsu and Hiruzen to furrow his brows at Danzo's rapidly blackening form.
"I said get away!" Naruto tugged harshly at Hiruzen's arm, his own body glowing a bright yellow–a stark contrast to the darkness Danzo was shrouded under.
The older shinobi shook out of his stupor, only to start running away from his once-teammate. The exit was the only thing on Tenzo's mind as he bolted but Hiruzen... he couldn't move out without his son.
"I'll get him," Naruto whispered fast when he saw the man glancing behind him. He didn't wait for a reply and moved in Asuma's direction whose eyes were still blank, still unseeing of the danger they were in.
A month ago, Hiruzen wouldn't have moved, wouldn't have placed his trust in someone else. He would've tried to save Asuma himself, fighting till his own bitter end.
But today, he knew two things.
One–he couldn't erase his mistakes by dying.
And two–Naruto Uzumaki was the most skilled ninja in the room.
So, he took off with a boost of wind, creating as much distance between himself and Danzo as he possibly could while pulling Tenzo along with him.
The last thing he saw before a huge chunk of the root base imploded into nothingness was a sudden flash of yellow, a streak of bright light and in that moment, Hiruzen knew he'd made the right decision.
Author's Note:
Thanks a lot for reading!! :)