The Council Chambers, a place where the most powerful amongst the Village Hidden in the Leaves gathered to try and lead the village to a better more prosperous life. Normally these regal chairs are home to some of the most important and composed people you may ever meet in your entire lifetime. The large round table that sat between them had been there since the building itself had been built, some stories even claimed that the First Hokage had grown it specifically there so it may never be moved. These majestic chambers were the homes to such important business that it normally pressed upon those who sat at the table so heavily it was hard to even speak sometimes. That is what makes the current scene of absolute chaos, of yelling voices and hands beating on that magnificent table such a startling site.
It was this sight that Hiruzen Sarutobi walked into, he was once again wearing the white and red robes of his previous career. It had been years since he retook his job six long years back under the hat. The occupants of the room didn't even notice his entrance he noted, to enthralled in their argument. He quirked an eyebrow in amusement it was not often that "The Professor" was completely ignored. He dined to, instead of making a show of his entrance, wait and listen to see what the argument was about.
" The boy is a weapon, Jinchuriki are meant to be used to become powerful tools for the ninja forces." A gruff voice belonging to one Shimura Danzo announced. The announcement was met with looks of disdain, fury, and an ever increasing pressure in the room that it was beggining to become difficult to ignore.
" The boy is a child he should not be forced to become one of your mindless drones." A smooth voice was heard arguing his point. Hiashi Hyuuga, the leader of the Hyuuga clan and a master of their fighting style, The Gentle Fist. The man's stubbornness was legendary and one of the only tings that could sway it were the quiet words of his wife who sat behind him.
" Naruto doesn't deserve any of this. Minato would be turning in his grave if he heard you people." A particularly loud female voice cut across the din of the argument. The voice was attached to the feral looking Tsume Inuzuka, the current clan head of the Inuzuka clan. Fiercely loyal was an understatement when referring to that clan, they had been the personal guard of the Yondaime Hokage so it was really no strange occurrence that Tsume felt so protective of young Naruto who was in fact his son.
" It is most strange how you would attempt to claim young Naruto this early on, if your plans were… wholesome Danzo-sama. Perhaps we would be more likely to agree if you were to explain to us exactly what it was you wanted to do with him." The cold calculating voice of Shibi Aburame said gaining him a few looks of surprise. The Aburame clan head was normally a stoic, always there but rarely speaking up.
" The obvious reason he wont tell us what he wants to do is because we would object to whatever it is. *Yawn* He hopes to as the phrase goes, slid it under the rug, but what he fails to realize is that attempting to spirit away young Naruto-kun would never work." The voice was relaxed, but if you looked underneath the underneath you could hear the note of steel delivered on a cloud of velvet. The voice belonged to Shikaku Nara, the current clan head of the Nara clan and the Jonin Commander. This was a man who prided himself on getting his work done efficiently so he could go back to sleep.
" As if we would allow such a thing." There was open contempt in that voice that shocked many in the room. This voice belonged to Inoichi Yamanka, Clan head of the Yamanka and Head of the T&I Department of Konoha.
" Truly he must think us fools if he expects this thinly veiled attempt to pass by without notice." This voice was deep in baritone and seemed to hang in the air for a few moments after the words had been uttered. The person it belonged to was none other than Choza Akimichi, the clan head of the Akimichi clan and a large part of the RnD department for Konoha's food output. This man hand single handedly produced the current version of soldier pills that were 11% more effective than the ones used by other countries.
What was even more interesting were those who rose no voice to the current argument. The black hair, blank face, and blood red eyes of Fugaku Uchiha were hard to miss. He cut quite an imposing figure sitting there back straightened and eyes wide as he observed the proceedings with a calm air of disapproval. Who that disapproval was aimed at was hard to distinguish, but it was definitely there. Next up was the blank white porcelain mask of the Anbu Commander. They sat in a chair slightly separated from the others observing. If they chose to speak the voice would come out modulated and distorted one of the many tools used to keep their identity a secret. They turned their head whenever someone spoke a constant reminder that their reaction time was not something to be questioned as they were always the first to recognize a new speaker. When Hiruzen had walked in they had looked straight at him and dipped their head before returning their attention to the room in general.
Finally, Hiruzen made his presence known with a calm cough as he took his seat. Instantly the room quieted as all attention was turned to him.
" I call this emergency meeting of the ninja clans of Konoha to begin officially. What is the purpose we were summoned here?" His voice was smooth and powerful for his advanced age.
" I am petitioning for the Kyuubi Jinchuriki to be placed in my care so that I may begin training him as to what a true ninja should be." Danzo's voice announced as he stood by his chair. Hiruzen had to try hard not to roll his eyes at the man. He knew that this day would be coming, but he never expected Danzo to be so straightforward about this.
" Well as I have been listening to the room already well in discussion before I brought this meeting to order I am aware that the Clan Heads do not agree to this request, but there are others who must be asked first." Hiruzen's voice was perfectly even a true professional he gave away nothing of his own thoughts on the subject.
" Firstly will be the boy's current guardian who is, I'm assuming, on his way here right now?" As he finished the sentence there was a knock on the door and in walked a young man with spiked vertical silver-gray hair. He bowed to those assembled as was his duty and then stood at attention. This young man stood taller than most, but still not at his full adult height. His arms were muscled and well-toned showing a certain strength to him. The way he moved his eye over the room quickly scanning spoke positively of his ninja sense even with one eye covered. Overall a very skilled and powerful young man. This was Kakashi Hatake twenty years old and a powerful ninja in his own right.
" Ah the man of the hour indeed. Kakashi-san the matter has been raised of Danzo taking Naruto under his care what are your thoughts on this?" Hiruzen held back the smirk when Kakashi's jaw tightened.
" I would firmly argue against such a thing, as I am well able to take care of a young child, and am a more than suitable candidate to have him in my home as I was the student of his father and can provide him with an important connection to his family as he grows older." His voice was not as even as he had hoped and shook with some anger at the accusation that Naruto would be taken away from him.
" Ahh Kakashi-san I just worried for your career and what would happen to young Naruto if something happened while you were out on a mission, I understand that you are an Anbu on leave for right now. I assure you that I'm more than well aware of what kind of missions you may be given. I am aware that you have been taking reduced rank missions and as such have not been able to completely fulfill your duties as an Anbu agent. It has been years since you have taken a proper S or even High A rank mission." Danzo's voice was like honey all smooth, sweet, and disarming.
"…" the silence was deafening in Kakashi's ears as he tried to come up with something to say, the silence droned on as he saw Danzo's smile get larger and larger as he could not think of a possible reason why he should turn down such a supposedly good natured offer.
" I perhaps have an alternate plan if Kakashi-san does not mind it. I'm sure he was just trying to figure out how to word his worry that giving Naruto to one person may unduly affect the boy negatively. My solution to such a problem is that all those Clan Heads that are willing may rotate Naruto-kun's care so that he is rather well rounded." The room was shocked into silence at the speaker. It was unheard of what he was suggesting and especially for he himself to probably volunteer made many among the crowd confused, after all who had ever heard of a Nara willing to do extra work.
Kakashi never one to be slow on the uptake quickly nodded " Nara-san is correct, I was attempting to find a wording that was not insulting to you Danzo-sama, while still voicing my concern." The lie was well told, but it was still a lie told to a room of senior ninja. As such it was seen through almost immediately but calling him out on it would be incredibly rude and such it flew even though it had no right to.
Suddenly a new voice let out a chuckle from the shadows as a large man with flowing white hair appeared. This was Jiraiya of the Sannin a legendary shinobi in his own right and probably among the most powerful ninja in the room. "Ahh Jiraiya-kun good of you to join us, as Naruto's official godparent your input is off course highly sought after in this matter." Hiruzen said airily.
Danzo's mouth clenched in barely suppressed fury, he was to be countered at every turn and his every move checked. Clearly he had underestimated the council on this matter and he would pay for it by losing access to a powerful weapon he could use to keep Konoha safe his way. There was little he could do now but attempt to save face and so that was what he did.
"Ahh perfect timing Jiraiya-san, I merely worry for the boy's growth. In my care he would grow to be a truly outstanding ninja such as yourself and that was truly my goal." It was not quite the most dignified thing, but he was a skilled liar and even if everyone in the room knew he had ulterior motives none of them could prove it. The air of hospitality in the room worked both ways just as no one could call out Kakashi on his lie neither could they call out Danzo on his.
"Well as the boy's official godparent I give my full go ahead to the clans rotating taking care of him, it will do Naruto some good to be with other children his age. Being cooped up much isn't good for such a young child." Jiraiya answered jubilantly his voice booming through the Council Chamber.
" Well then I would say that the matter is settled, let us take a note now on who would be willing to volunteer their time to take care of young Naruto." Hiruzen said once again taking control of the flow of conversation. His surprise was palpable when ever person in the room raised their hand, excluding Danzo. The most surprising of which being the Anbu Commander. When Hiruzen gave them a questioning look they answered back in that strange static modulated voice
" It is not outside of my range of power to watch the boy in dire situations, and there are many Anbu who are kept on standby in the village for security reasons. It will be good practice for them, as Namikazi-san has already proven quite adept at evading even some of the seasoned Jounin. If Naruto is ever full of energy and wishes to burn it up, I would consider it a training exercise for the Anbu to catch him." They stated while simply placing one hand outside their cloak and rotating it at the wrist in a sort of movement meaning whatever.
" Well then all the names have been noted, if and when Kakashi-kun has need of you we will have an informal gathering to determine who will care for young Naruto." Hiruzen said in a clear dismissal. The room cleared quickly after that leaving on Jiraiya, Hiruzen, and Kakashi.
" Thank you so much both of you. I would have rather taken Naruto from the village then let him be taken in by Danzo." Kakashi's voice was full of relief and both of them smiled at him.
" We care just as much for him as you do Kakashi, how is he anyway?" Jiraiya answered him back.
"Currently he is playing with some of my Nin-ken and being watched over by Yuhi-San. The little tyke will be a heart breaker when he grows up, I can tell already. All the women that I have any kind of contact with love him to death." Kakashi's voice was full of mirth at the revelation and he shared a quick laugh with the other men in the room before excusing himself to go back to Naruto.
When he arrived back at his estate he walked into to see Naruto riding one of his larger Nin-ken with Kurenai chasing after him playfully. After watching them for a few minutes he whistled and his Nin-ken ran over to him letting Naruto climb down and cling to his leg.
" Tou-san, you're back! What happened at the meeting?" Naruto's cheery voice filled the air.
"Well Naruto, your going to be making some new friends soon. From now on, you are going to be spending some time with some of the clan head's family's while I go back to work."
" Oh… Okay!" Naruto replied full of excitement for the coming time spent with some of the people he knew.
" Does that mean you'll be leaving for a long time?" The whisper that came out didn't seem to fit on his face it seemed out of place.
" I hope not, but even if I am you will have plenty of friends to talk to and hang out with. Including Yuhi-san and Mitarashi-san. I promise I will always try to hurry home to see you Ototo."
The evening wound down from there with Kurenai talking with Kakashi for a short period before giving Naruto a big hug and making her own way home.
"Things will surely be different from here out." Kakashi muttered to himself as he tucked a completely wiped Naruto into bed.