XIII: New Allies

"You called for us?" Itachi asked the Hokage. He and Shisui were standing in his office to receive the latest briefing on their mission to investigated the Masked Madara.

"Yes," the village leader responded. "I sent out Kakashi and Guy to summon those allies I mentioned. I recently received word of their success, we should expect their arrival in any moment."

"May we ask who they are?" Shisui questioned.

"You'll see soon enough," the Hokage replied.

There was a knock on the door. "Enter," Sarutobi called out.

In the room stepped Danzo. Itachi and Shisui both glanced at the Hokage, finding the idea that this was their ally questionable.

The village leader frowned. "What are you doing Danzo? You have no business here so far as I'm aware of."

"It has been brought to my attention that the Nine-Tails jinchuriki was in the Uchiha Compound recently," the spymaster said. "Given the recent incident involving him, I find this concerning."

The Hokage turned his gaze to the Uchiha Clan Head. "What's the story?"

"It was my younger brother," Itachi answered. "He is friends with Naruto and brought him to visit one of our local shops."

Sarutobi let out a chuckle. "Hear that, Danzo? Just an innocent playdate between children. You are being too paranoid on this issue."

Danzo frowned. "Members of the Uchiha have already acted on their own to try and take control of the Nine-Tails. We cannot risk the tailed beast being taken from the village."

"Naruto is a child, Danzo," the Hokage replied. "Not a weapon. Treat him as such."

"Normal children do not carry demons capable of destroying the village within them," Danzo retorted. "There should be a measure of caution here."

Shisui stepped forward, holding up his hand to catch the two elder statesmen's attention. "My lords, I will personally see to Naruto's safety. If anything happens to him, please hold me responsible."

Danzo glared at the Uchiha. "I don't find much solace in your promises."

"I disagree, Danzo," the Hokage interjected. "Shisui is trustworthy and one of the village's finest jonin. If he wishes to take protecting Naruto as his duty, then I think we should allow him."

Shisui bowed to the village leader. "Thank you, Lord Hokage."

Danzo sighed. "I accept this under protest, Hiruzen."

"The decision has already been made, Danzo," the Hokage replied. "There is nothing for you to accept or protest."

"Hmph," Danzo voiced, turning on his heels and exiting the office.

Itachi waited until the spymaster closed the door behind him before speaking. "Are you sure about this, Shisui?"

"It's fine," the other Uchiha replied. "I've taken a liking to the kid, so it's no burden to me."

"Then I consider the matter settled," the Hokage said. "In so far as I think there is any matter at all, at least. In any case, that was not who I was referring to."

"I would hope so," Itachi replied.

The Hokage nodded in response before a look suddenly crossed his face, like something had just tripped his senses. The village leader turned in his seat to face the window. "Jiraiya, why can't you come in the normal way?"

Itachi looked past the window to see a large man, wearing red clothes with a mane of white hair on his head, sitting on top of a giant toad. The Uchiha was shocked to see that such a figure could have escaped his senses up to this point.

The Hokage reached out and unlocked the window, lifting it open. The man got off the toad and climbed into the office.

"Sorry, Sarutobi-sensei," he said. "I just couldn't resist."

"Sensei?" Shisui asked. "So then, are you Master Jiraiya of the Legendary Sannin, the Third Hokage's students?"

Jiraiya smiled a big toothy grin, adopting an over the top stance, standing on one foot with an open hand extended out to Shisui. "Yes, you have guessed correctly, young shinobi! My name is known far and wide, for the ladies scream it wherever I go! I am the great Toad Sage of the Hidden Leaf Village, the one, the only, Master Jiraiya!"

Itachi stood still, eyebrow raised in surprise. Whoever this man was, he seemed more a fool and a street performer than a shinobi.

"Stop it with the theatrics, Jiraiya," the Hokage said. "Where is Tsunade?"

"She should be coming...right about now," Jiraiya replied, pointing at the door. Almost on queue a series of loud knocks shook it, but before anyone had a chance to respond it burst open.

In walked a woman with blonde hair and a chest so huge that even Itachi, who normally did not take notice of such things, could not help but have his eyes be drawn in by it. The young Uchiha quickly reasserted his self discipline, turning his attention to the young dark haired woman who followed in on the heels of the first. She appeared to be somewhere around Kakashi's age.

"Enter the second Sannin!" Jiraiya said melodramatically. "The slug princess herself, the world's greatest medical ninja and most beautiful woman, Lady Tsunade!"

Tsunade sighed at Jiraiya's introduction. "What's this about, Sarutobi-sensei?" she asked, clearly intending to ignore her fellow Sannin. "Why did you send those two kids to find me?"

"There was an incident recently," the Hokage answered. "Involving the Nine-Tails jinchuriki and a pair of Uchiha clan members who had gone rogue."

Jiraiya's demeanor changed in an instant. "Was it resolved?" he asked, his tone more serious.

"Hold on," Itachi interjected, pointing at the young woman who had come in with Tsunade. "Should she be present for this?"

Tsunade glared at the young Uchiha. "Shizune is my trusted assistant, if I can hear this, so can she."

"Very well," Itachi replied, lowering his hand.

The Hokage turned to the Toad Sage. "To answer your question, yes it was. But new information came to light during the investigation, which is the reason why I have called the two of you here." He turned to Itachi, gesturing for him continue with the explanation.

"Yes," the Uchiha Clan Head began. "Shisui and I, along with my father, who was killed during the mission, tracked the rogue members of our clan. When we found them they revealed that they had been inspired by Madara Uchiha to try and take control of the Nine-Tailed Fox. Not by old stories of Madara either, but by a real, living person claiming to be him. We have taken to referring to this person as the Masked Madara, as it is not confirmed that they were in fact Madara and the two rogue ninja said that that he wore a mask that covered his entire face save for a Sharingan in his right eye. After further questioning I discovered that this person had also claimed to have used the Nine-Tails to attack the village several years ago, only to be defeated by the Fourth Hokage."

"And so you called us here to help find if there is any truth to this story," Jiraiya concluded. "Needless to say I'm interested in learning more about the fate of my prized student." He looked over at his old teammate. "Tsunade, do you have an opinion on this?"

Tsunade took a deep breath as she considered the matter. "Frankly, the only reason I've come back to the village at all is because you asked me to, Sarutobi-sensei. Otherwise I would rather be on my way. I'm not too keen on taking on any missions after all this time either. Still, I realize how important this could be. If you have some specific tasks that I can do that others can't, I'll do them. Otherwise I plan on leaving."

"I do have couple of matters that I had in mind for you," the Hokage said. "First, there are a couple of civilians who were collateral damage during the kidnapping incident. Both were placed under a powerful genjutsu and have been in comas since. I would like you to see what you can do for them."

"I won't promise anything, but I'll take a look," Tsunade replied. "Shizune, why don't you go ahead to the hospital and do some preliminary work?"

"Right away, Lady Tsunade," the dark haired woman responded before leaving the office.

"There was a second matter?" Tsunade asked.

"Yes," the Hokage answered. "I would like you to research possible methods that Madara could have used to survive to the present day."

The world's leading medical ninja nodded as she considered the line of thought. "I have heard of some forbidden techniques for extending one's lifespan. Most of them are carefully guarded secrets, naturally, but I'll see what I can dig up."

"Please do," the Hokage said. "In the meantime I would like for Jiraiya, Itachi, and Shisui to begin searching for the Fourth Hokage's hidden safe houses tomorrow."

"You think that something might have happened at one of them?" Jiraiya asked.

Itachi nodded. "That's our leading theory at the moment. You were the Fourth Hokage's teacher, correct? Do you have any insight that might help us locate them?"

Jiraiya brought a hand to his chin. "Hm. With his teleportation technique Minato could afford to put his safe houses as far from the beaten path as he liked. Therefore we can assume that they are likely to be in remote locations away from any well known routes. Furthermore, he was a meticulous planner who prepared for as many eventualities as he could think of. He would have locations that were meant for storing weapons and supplies, others where persons who needed to be taken into protective custody could be kept long-term, and likely some to which he could redirect large scale attacks that could damage the village. He probably had some set aside for scenarios I'm not even thinking of at the moment."

"That's a good starting point," Shisui commented. "We can use factors conducive to those needs to triangulate likely locations."

"Yes," Jiraiya responded. "I think I will look over a map of the surrounding areas tonight to see if I can intuit anything."

"Good," the Hokage responded. "Just don't get caught up in your normal...research."

Jiraiya recoiled at the comment. "Oh, come on, Sarutobi-sensei, I wasn't even thinking about that! I'm taking this mission more seriously than any I've had in years, I'll have you know!"

"I haven't given you a mission in years," the Hokage retorted.

Tsunade sighed before turning to exit the office. "Since there doesn't seem to be any further need of me here, I'll go ahead to the hospital." She left without waiting on the Hokage's word.

"Very well then," Sarutobi said after his old pupil slammed the door shut behind her. "I suppose we can adjourn for now. I will leave it to you to coordinate this investigation. Inform me once you find anything of substance."

"One last thing," Itachi interjected. "Master Jiraiya, you were the Fourth Hokage's teacher. Were you aware of his wife's...status?"

The Toad Sage glanced over his shoulder at his old teacher. "So you told them, huh?" The Hokage nodded in response.

"To answer your question, and what I assume your first follow-up would be, yes," Jiraiya continued. "More than that, Minato and Kushina named me the boy's godfather."

"If I may ask," Shisui spoke up, "why haven't you had a greater role in Naruto's life?"

Jiraiya sighed. "Look at me, do I really look like someone who should be raising a kid? I'm a free spirit, I need to have the chance to travel, do my research, and write my books. Maybe if someday he becomes a shinobi of some interesting talent, I'll take the chance to bring him under my wing. But until then there's no place for a kid in my life."

Itachi studied the Sannin for a moment. While there might have been an element of truth in Jiraiya's explanation, he got the sense that there was something more. That he was using that story to cover up some deeper pain. Perhaps the death of his prized student had affected him that much.

"Who all knows?" Itachi asked.

"Us four here," Jiraiya answered. "Tsunade knows as well, along with a trio of elders who advise Sarutobi-sensei. Beyond that, I think one of Minato's old students is the only other person. What was his name again?"

"Kakashi?" Itachi questioned, bringing up the only student of the Fourth Hokage he could think of.

"That is correct," the Hokage answered for his old student. "In fact, Minato had assigned Kakashi as Kushina's bodyguard during her pregnancy. Beyond those already mentioned, I cannot think of anyone. I suppose Kushina could have told one of her old friends. We tried to caution her against such behavior but she was never one to meekly do as she was told."

"Yes, that Kushina was a real firecracker," Jiraiya said with a smile. "Minato sure knew how to pick them, just like his teacher."

"Old friends," Itachi said to himself, thinking back to his mother.

"Is that Danzo character one of the elders who knows?" Shisui asked.

"Yes, why do you ask?" the Hokage said.

Shisui took a deep breath as he thought through his response. "Not sure. There's just something I didn't like about him."

"Danzo can be harsh, and I've had to reign him in at times," the Hokage replied. "But he does what he believes is best for the village."

"Hm," Shishi voiced. "Still don't like it. I'll keep my eyes open."

Itachi eyed his friend, wondering what was going through the older Uchiha's mind.


"Hey, Naruto," Sasuke heard a female voice say as he walked back into the classroom. It was their lunch break, and he had stepped out to make a trip to the bathroom.

"Um, hi," Naruto replied, grinning and waving awkwardly. He clearly had no idea how to deal with the attention from the two smiling girls in front of him. Sakura and Ino, Sasuke could tell from their hair, even with their backs turned to him.

"So, do you have a favorite place you like to go Naruto?" Ino asked, leaning on the desk so that her face was uncomfortably close to Naruto's.

"Well, um," the Uzamaki began. "There is this ramen place that I really love, but it's closed right now."

Sakura leaned in, mimicking Ino's body language. "Do you think you could take us there when it reopens? Maybe bring Sasuke along?"

"Um, maybe," Naruto answered, nervously twiddling his fingers.

"What's going on here?" Sasuke asked, walking in on the scene.

Ino and Sakura both completely shifted gears, turning all of their attention to the Uchiha boy. "Hey, Sasuke," the former said. "How are you doing?"

"Fine," Sasuke answered, looking past the girls as Naruto laid his head on his desk and wrapped his arms around his face to hide his blushing cheeks. "But what are you doing?"

"We're just trying to know Naruto better," Ino said in an over the top affected voice. "Is that so bad?"

"Just leave," Sasuke said in response. "You're both annoying."

"Hmph," Ino replied, flipping her hair dramatically before walking away. Sakura hesitated, eyes flitting back and worth between Naruto and Sasuke before she left too.

Sasuke sighed. "I don't get them."

"You don't?" another student questioned. Sasuke looked over to see Shikamaru, sitting in the row in front of Naruto.

"What do you mean?" Sasuke asked.

Shikamaru shook his head before motioning for Sasuke to come closer. The young Uchiha approached and knelt next to the other boy.

"Do you not realize how many of the girls in this class are obsessed with you?" Shikamaru asked in a low tone.

"Can't say I've really thought about it," Sasuke answered.

"Well, now that you've got an obvious friend in Naruto, they think they can use him to get to you," Shikamaru explained.

Sasuke sighed. "I don't like the idea of them using Naruto."

Shikamaru chuckled. "It's not like you can stop them. Girls, man, they're a real drag."

"Uh-huh," Sasuke responded. "Hey, can I talk to you out in the hall?"

Shikamaru made a face like he was going to tell the Uchiha to pack up and leave, but he relented. "Fine, just make it quick."

Sasuke stood and walked out of the classroom. Shikamaru performed a few neck rolls before doing the same.

"So, what do you want?" Shikamaru asked once they were out in the hall.

Sasuke looked down the hall both ways to make sure they were alone. "You're smart, Shikamaru. You like to act like you're a lazy good for nothing, but you picked up on the fact that's something up with the way the adults are treating Naruto just like I did. Only I think you had less information to work with than I did."

"If you mean the kidnapping, I just noticed that there didn't seem to be a motive, nothing big," Shikamaru replied. "But like you already said, I don't have a lot of information. For all I know there's a perfectly good explanation and I just don't know about it."

"We didn't tell you that the people who took him were from my clan," Sasuke said.

Shikamaru opened his mouth to say something back, but paused. "OK, that is weird," he admitted. "Great, now you've got my brain working on a problem, this is such a drag. Go ahead, you said you had more information."

"Have your parents ever talked to you about Naruto?" Sasuke asked.

"What does that have to do with it?" Shikamaru returned.

"Just answer," Sasuke insisted.

Shikamaru sighed. "Fine." He brought a hand to his chin as he thought back. "I remember, sometime around when we first started at the Academy, I asked my dad why other people seemed to be avoiding Naruto. He told me to spend some time with him and decide for myself."

"What did you decide?" Sasuke asked.

"That he's a pretty normal kid," Shikamaru said. "Kind of a troublemaker, sometimes fun to hang out with, other times a drag. Nothing unusual."

"Then your parents were more lenient than others," Sasuke commented. "Some of the class bullies recently started calling Naruto a weird nickname: fox-boy."

"Fox boy?" Shikamaru questioned.

Sasuke nodded. "I asked them where they got the name from and they said their parents."

"Why would parents come up with such a childish nickname?" Shikamaru asked.

Sasuke shrugged. "I don't know, maybe they heard a part of something and then turned it into a nickname. But I'm convinced that there's something going on with Naruto that's causing most of the adults to treat him differently. Just look at how the teachers didn't even acknowledge his absence."

"That was odd," Shikamaru admitted. "OK, you've convinced me. But what do you want to do about it?"

Sasuke checked the halls again for eavesdroppers. "I think my brother knows something. I've asked him about it multiple times, but he keeps lying to me. We should find a time to tail him and figure out what's going on."

"That sounds like a total drag," Shikamaru complained. "But," he continued, "Naruto's a friend, or at least kind of one. And you have gotten me all curious. When do you want to do this?"

"My brother works for the ANBU," Sasuke explained. "I'll tell you when I figured out more details so we can follow him."

"You want us to follow an ANBU member?" Shkiamaru asked. "That isn't exactly easy."

"Just think of it as training," Sasuke retorted.

Shikamaru sighed. "Fine. But if we get caught I'm saying it was your idea. Ah, this is going to be such a drag, I can feel it."

"That's all fine by me," Sasuke replied.