XVI: Calm Before
Sasuke, Shikamaru, Choji, and Hinata followed on Choza's heels as they climbed up the stairs of one of the taller buildings near the Military Police Headquarters. As they went they saw several Leaf shinobi going to and fro, carrying supplies, setting up equipment, and the like. It looked like they were preparing for a significant operation. At the top of the stairs Choza opened a door, leading into a large room whose windows looked out over the headquarters.
"Have you been able to get in contact with the Hokage?" Sasuke heard someone ask. He looked over to see a dark haired man who looked like an older and more rugged version of Shikamaru along with another, a blonde who was like an adult, male version of Ino Yamanaka.
The latter of the two shook his head. "I've tried, but there is someone jamming my jutsu. No one in the area will be able to communicate telepathically. If I had to guess it's a member of my clan. There are few over the years who joined the ANBU at a young age and then never returned home."
"Hm, that does pose a problem then," the one who looked like Shikamaru commented before noticing Choza and the children in his peripheral vision. "What's this about?"
Choza stepped aside and gestured to the students. "I thinks it's best if you hear it from them, Shikaku."
The four children exchanged glances with each other, uncertain of how to start.
"Dad, what's a Jinchuriki?" Shikamaru spoke up.
"Huh?" Shikaku voiced before kneeling down before his son. "Where did you hear that word?"
"We overheard the Hokage talking with someone," Sasuke answered for all of them. "They called Naruto a Jinchuriki."
The elder Nara sighed and scratched the back of his head. "I see. Then there's no use keeping it quiet anymore, at least where you four are concerned."
"Keeping what quiet?" Hinata asked, hand raised to mouth in nervousness.
"The day that Naruto Uzamaki was born, the Third Hokage issued a decree," Shikaku explained. "One that made discussing the circumstances of his birth forbidden."
"Why would he do that?" Shikamaru asked. "Was there something unusual about his birth?"
"You could say that," Shikaku replied. "You see, Naruto was born the day that the Nine-Tailed Fox attacked the village."
The four children fell silent as they tried to understand what this meant.
"That sounds...really unlucky," Choji finally managed to say.
"But what does that have to do with anything?" Sasuke asked. "I'm sure there were any number of kids who were born that same day."
"That's true," Shikaku stated. "However, something happened to Naruto that made him unique. You may have heard that the Fourth Hokage sacrificed himself in order to defeat the Nine-Tails. However, it wasn't that straightforward. A Tailed Beast is not something that is simply beaten, it has to be sealed into something or, more typically, someone. On that day, the someone was Naruto."
Sasuke stood silent, wide eyed at the revelation. He wasn't entirely certain what having a tailed beast sealed inside of someone meant, but even in his childish ignorance it sounded important. It must be if the adults had been hiding it from them.
"So a Jinchuriki is someone who has a tailed beast sealed inside of them," Shikamaru concluded.
"That is correct," Shikaku confirmed. "And because of that people are often suspicious or distrustful of them, and many ignorant people will see them and the beast as one and the same. For that reason Jinchuriki often end up as social outcasts. Lord Hokage wanted to save him from that through his decree, in the hopes that other children would be able to approach him without fear."
"Well, that didn't really work," Sasuke commented. "All the kids just end up copying their parents and treat him just like they do."
"You're not wrong," Shikaku admitted. "I always thought that communication was a more effective way of resolving those kinds of issues, but in fairness to Lord Hokage, there was never going to be an easy fix. I suppose there might also have been other factors the rest of us weren't aware of that were complicating matters. Regardless, things are the way they are now. The question is, what does it mean for you four?"
"It changes nothing," Sasuke answered for all of them.
Itachi stood at the entrance to what was once his father's and now his mother's, the office of the Chief of the Military Police. The Hokage was inside, talking with Naruto. Itachi watched them, questions rolling around his head. Why had his mother gone so far to protect the boy? Where was Sasuke in all this? And what was Danzo willing to do in order to get his hands on the Nine-Tails?
Out of the corner of his eye he saw Mikoto approaching. "What's the latest, Mother?"
"There's a mob gathering outside," the new Police Chief answered. "Judging from their signs and yelling, they seem to under the impression that we're holding the Hokage hostage."
"That's Danzo's game then," Itachi replied. "He's hoping to turn public opinion against the Uchiha by spreading lies about us taking Lord Hokage hostage. Eventually someone's hand will be forced and in the chaos that follows Danzo can swoop in and take Naruto for himself."
Mikoto nodded in agreement. "And who knows what other opportunities might arise that he could take advantage of? The question now is how we respond."
"We can't act on our own," Itachi said. "Whatever we do, we need to make it clear to everyone that we follow Lord Hokage's lead."
"We'll have to be patient then," Mikoto commented before leaning over to get better look at the Hokage and Naruto through her office door. "I hope he'll be alright."
"Mother, can I ask you something privately?" Itachi questioned.
Mikoto held her silence for a moment, studying her son. "Sure," she finally said, leading Itachi to an out of the way stairwell.
"What's on your mind?" Mikoto began once they were alone.
"Why are you so intent on protecting Naruto?" Itachi asked.
"What do you mean, Itachi?" Mikoto returned. "A single, lone boy, my son's friend no less, shows up on my doorstep asking me for help. What was I supposed to do?"
"That's not what I meant," Itachi said. "It's just...you have been so adamant about it."
Mikoto sighed in exasperation. "What's your point, Itachi?"
"Do you know about Naruto's...history?" he asked.
"You mean that he's Kushina and Minato's son," Mikoto said.
Itachi nodded. "She told you then. Lord Hokage thought she might have told a friend or two, even though her pregnancy was supposed to be secret."
"It wasn't planned or anything, we just happened to run into each other by chance," Mikoto replied. "I was running some errands with Sasuke, who was only a few months old by that point. I hadn't seen her in years, didn't even know she was pregnant. We exchanged some pleasantries, she said she wanted for Sasuke and her son to be friends, and I walked away thinking about how nice that would be, and that it would give us a chance to reconnect. I didn't realize that would be the last time I saw her, or that she would die that very night."
"I see," Itachi commented. "That must have been very hard on you."
Mikoto didn't respond for a moment, looking down at the floor. At last she looked up at Itachi, who witnessed the silent pain within her eyes. "I visited him in the hospital after. Naruto, I mean. He had Minato written all over him. The eyes, the hair. But I saw Kushina as well, in the shape of his face and way he'd pine for the nurse's attention. It broke my heart."
"But then you never let yourself be a part of his life," Itachi said.
"I told myself that I needed to focus on raising you and Sasuke, and supporting your father's work," Mikoto replied. "But looking back, I think I was also trying to shield myself from the pain, from being reminded of Kushina." She bite her lip and took a deep breath before continuing. "But then Sasuke befriended him, just like she had hoped. And when Sasuke brought him over to our house, Naruto reminded me so much of his mother. The way he carried himself, the way he talked, it was all Kushina. I started thinking that maybe I was wrong to stay out of his life. And today happens. He shows up at our house, pursued by some mysterious enemy. I realized that if our roles had been reversed, if your father and I had been the ones to die that terrible day, that Kushina would have done everything in her power to make sure that you and Sasuke were taken care of."
The Uchiha matriarch clenched her fist, a look of determination bubbling up in her eyes. "I will protect that boy, like I would you or your brother. I owe that much to Kushina, at least."
"Then..." Itachi began before hesitating. "Listen, Mother. What I'm about to tell you...it's sensitive information. Don't share it with anyone."
"What is it, Itachi?" Mikoto asked, suddenly putting on her concerned mother face.
"Shisui and I, we were supposed to be going on a mission before this mess started," Itachi said. "It...let's just that it has a chance to bring more information to light about the Nine-Tails' attack. We could learn more about the Fourth Hokage and Kushina Uzamaki's deaths."
"Why are you telling me this?" Mikoto questioned.
"Would you like to join us, Mother?" Itachi asked. "Lord Hokage would have to approve, of course, but...maybe it will be a chance for you to get some closure."
Mikoto thought for moment, taking several slow, deep breaths. "I think I would like to do that."
Sasuke stood at the window, looking out at the crowd surrounding the Military Police Headquarters. It had growing steadily throughout the day, more people, more signs, more torches and pitchforks. He was pulled from the sight by the door to the room opening behind him.
"You called for me, Sir?" Jun Uchiha asked as she entered, turning to the table where Shikaku, Inoichi, and Choza sat.
"Yeah," the Nara Clan Head answered. "I'm pulling you off the front lines. With this growing anti-Uchiha sentiment, I don't need you being victimized by a mob."
"Oh, um, thank you, Sir," Jun replied. "What will I be doing instead?"
Shikaku pointed first at Sasuke, then at Shikamaru, Choji, and Hinata, who were sitting in a corner. "Look after them. Stupid kids got themselves caught up in this and I can't send them home with things heating up like they are out there."
Jun nodded in response. "As you say, Sir." She glanced over first at the trio in the corner, then at the Uchiha boy by the window. "What? Sasuke, what are you doing here?"
"It's a long story," Choza spoke up. "Suffice to say, for the same reasons that we don't want you out there, it goes double for him."
"Thank you, Lord Shikaku," Jun said with a bow. "You're a good man."
"I told you, I'm not a lord," Shikaku replied.
"Right," Jun said with a grimace. She hesitated for a moment before going to sit with the trio of children in the corner, quietly making small talk with them.
Sasuke turned back to the window and resumed watching the crowd below. He was surprised to see that it no longer just growing, it was acting. People were beginning to slip through the line of ANBU seperating them from the headquarters, running to the front doors and banging on them. The ANBU seemed entirely unconcerned with this occurrence.
"Um, something's happening out there," Sasuke managed to say as he got over his surprise.
"Hm?" Shikaku grunted as he got up from his seat and walked over to the window. "Damn that Danzo, what is he playing at? Choza, we need to get out there and do some crowd control. If that mob gets in there there'll be a massacre."
"Right," Choza replied as he reached for his staff, which he had left leaning against the wall.
"Let's not be too hasty," Sasuke heard someone say. He looked over at the doorway to see someone standing in it. He was leaning against the doorframe, a headful of spiky white-silver hair, a mask over his lower face, and a Leaf headband that was pulled down over his left eye.
"Kakashi," Shikaku greeted the man. "Lord Hokage said you might be coming. I assume that whatever you've been doing, it has to do with what been going on here."
The other shinobi nodded before reaching behind him, to something hidden behind the doorframe. He dragged out a man, pulling him out into the middle of the room before pushing him down to his knees. He was wearing ANBU cloak, though his mask had been removed, and the way he was carrying himself was not normal. It was almost as if he were in some kind of stupor.
"I've been investigating Danzo on Lord Hokage's orders," Kakashi explained. "And, well, I suggest you listen to what he has to say."
Shikaku studied the man on the floor in front of him. "Is he under a genjutsu?"
Kakashi nodded in response. "Danzo's men have a cursed mark on their tongues, one that paralyzes them if they try to reveal their master's secrets." He pulled his headband from over his eye, revealing a Sharingan to Sasuke's shock and surprise. "Hopefully the genjutsu I used can circumnavigate the curse mark."
Shikaku kneeled in front of the captured ANBU. "What is Danzo's aim?"
"To protect...village," the reply came.
"There's nothing wrong with that," Shikaku said. "But how does he intend on doing that?"
"Whatever...takes," the captured ANBU mumbled out.
Kakashi knelt down next to Shikaku. "Does Danzo intend to capture Naruto Uzamaki?"
"Ye..." the ANBU managed to get out before he began convulsing. A series of black lines spread over his body, emanating from his mouth. He collapsed to floor, shaking periodically.
"Well, your genjutsu theory was a bust," Shikaku commented as he stood up. "But that was enough for me, the curse mark wouldn't have activated if Danzo was being a perfect little angel." He turned around to look out the window at the crowd around the Military Police Headquarters. "We need to find a way to get in contact with Lord Hokage and stop Danzo."
"How?" Inoichi asked. "As long my telepathy is being jammed there's no way we can contact anyone inside the headquarters without tipping off Danzo."
Shikaku turned back to face the room. "Don't worry, I've got a plan."
