A/N: hello~~ all remaining mistakes are mine, if you ever see any mistakes please fell free to point them out to me, i have become rusty, i hope you enjoy this chapter as i did writing it, thank you for the kudos and to all those who had left me comments, thank you i love them very much!, they were all very warm, i have read them well and will reply to all of them soon

*drops chapter and runs away*

enjoy~~

Parastin (v.) protect [to keep safe]

"The Council along with the Clan Heads has assembled, Hokage-sama.", Sarutobi Hiruzen released the smoke into the cold morning air. He didn't expect the Council to gather this quickly after what had just occurred a few hours prior. But it seemed that the news travelled fast enough.

He couldn't blame them, not when the matter at stake concerns the Nine-Tailed Beast. He stared outside his window, towards the slowly diminishing darkness and hoped that what he had planned will bear fruit. Leaving his smoke pipe by the window sill he trudged outside of his office towards the Meeting Room.

As soon as he stepped inside of the room, he could feel the sudden tension in the air. He could almost feel their eyes, boring holes in his head, ready to question. His eyes flitted towards the seat where Danzo currently is, his old friend stared at him showing nothing within his eye.

He sighed, he thought what had gone wrong between them that it would result to this. But he shook his head, this was no time to reminiscence about the past. No, this is the time to make sure that Uzumaki Naruto would be saved.

"So, Hokage-sama, would you care to share with us what this meeting is all about?", Danzo questioned as soon as he took his seat. "A few of us heard of what had happened, but we want to make sure that we have the full story."

Sarutobi Hiruzen, stared at the report he has on his hands, he already knew the full gist of it. He knew that even if he were to try to keep some of the details under wraps the Council would still find out about it, if not now then soon. And he knew that the ones who would like Naruto gone would jump at the crumbs to make sure she would be restricted.

His voice rang within the confines of the room as he narrated the events that occurred, he watched as the facial reactions of his Council suddenly changed. Most of them were trained nins whose face remained controlled, but he could spot a few of them whose expressions were turning grim.

"Hokage-sama.", the sharp voice of Kohaku Utatane rang in the silence of the room. "We warned you countlessly of what dangers would occur if she is released into the populace. Are you perhaps waiting for the worst to come before you decide to act?"

Her words were piercing without a doubt, it could even be a question, or a doubt towards how he had led Konoha. He knew it was coming. He knew that they would use every arsenal that they could just to assure that Naruto would be removed, else sealed, or locked away.

"I understand your fear. But that doesn't change the fact the she used the Kyuubi's power to protect instead of destroy.", Homura Mitokado scoffed at this as he shook his head in disapproval. During this time, Danzo remained quiet merely watching, Sarutobi took note of this along with the silence of the other Clan Heads.

"But it also doesn't change the fact that, that power once caused mayhem within these very walls. She is an untrained child! Do you expect us to put faith upon a child who knows even nothing about the power—no the horror she holds to protect us?", the room went silent the truth within her words rang true. Something that not even he could deny, then as if handing a solution to their ever-growing problem, Danzo raised his hand.

"I propose to the early training of the Jinchuuriki. If what we all fear is for her to lose control of the Kyuubi, then is it not only right she be trained to contain and control the power of the beast?", Sarutobi's eyes snapped towards Danzo and he refuted his suggestion.

Homura Mitokado raised his hand in agreement. "I agree with Danzo-sama, this is necessary Hokage-sama. You cannot shield that child from what fate awaits her any longer."

"So do I.", Utatane also raised her hand. Sarutobi looked towards the Clan Heads to notice that a few of them seemed to be in agreement as well. They knew of the danger, head-first for they all have lost someone during that night and stood at the front lines. A few stood by him, but the vote was already against him, thus he decided to reason at them.

"She is still a child!", he voiced out. But Danzo easily replied back at him.

"So are the Jinchuuriki of the other villages, and yet they trained them instead of just letting them roam free. What are you going to do if another village decided to take the Jinchuuriki away?", Danzo's eyes pierced him on the spot. "Are you going to wait until another tragedy occurs before you decide to protect what you need to protect?"

Sarutobi stared at Danzo head on, their gazes never leaving each other's as they challenged one another. Then as if finally making a decision, Sarutobi Hiruzen released a heavy sigh before he spoke.

"No, I will not."

"I knew you would agree. Now that, that's settled.", Danzo began as he took a hold of the meeting, the other Clan Heads are remaining wary at the sudden change. "Shall we discuss the matter of who gets to train her?"

"Before that I wish to discuss something else.", Sarutobi Hiruzen cut him off from further controlling the meeting.

"Danzo Shimura, you are under arrest for sowing seeds of discord within the village and an attempt towards, the Hokage's—my life.", gasps were heard from within the room, their eyes all gravitated towards the two of them.

"You are stripped of your duties as a Council Member and Clan Head until the matters of your crimes are investigated. Until your trial you shall be put into strict supervision within your cell.", Danzo's eyes narrowed, his eyes questioning Hiruzen.

"I have turned a blind eye towards your crimes, but you left me no choice. This madness needs to end, no it has to end. I will not allow you to tear Konoha apart any longer.", Danzo's eyes were sharp but calm, it was unnerving it felt like he knew something that Hiruzen didn't.

"You are making a huge mistake, Hiruzen. You will regret this. What I have done, what I have always been doing was all for the sake of Konoha.", Danzo stood from his seat his hand leaning onto the table as if convincing him that his choice was a mistake. But Hiruzen had never been so sure than he was at that moment in a long time.

"Then why did you send someone to kill me?", Danzo scoffed as if Sarutobi doesn't know the answer to his own question.

"You know why. I had to make the tough decisions for this village, because I had to or no one else will.", Sarutobi Hiruzen closed his eyes before he opened them once again, he asked.

"Even if they were wrong?", Danzo nodded. Sarutobi released a shaky breath, he knew he was partly to blame for this. So, he steeled his eyes and nodded towards the Anbu to take him away. He wondered how their friendship turned out like this. But he couldn't let himself think about those right now.

Right now, he had a Council that needs convincing and a village that needs to be taken care of. He knew this wouldn't be easy. Danzo's people that are after Naruto would not stop until she is taken. And he knew very well that uprooting Danzo from Konoha would take some time. She would not be safe within these walls, not yet.

He needs someone that could protect her for the time being, until he could ensure that she would be safe when she returns here. It seemed like a selfish decision from him, but he has no other choice. There was no other better solution, until Jiraiya would come for her, his Council was right.

He cannot protect her all the time, thus he needs to make sure that she would have the power to choose what she wants and the power to protect herself. Because the path that she is about to take will be harsh and lonely. He needs to prepare her for the future that is to come.

He might be making another mistake by making this choice, but he hoped that he would be forgiven and for Naruto to find happiness in what he would decide for her—for now. Until the day she could decide what she wants for herself.

"Is this really for the best Hokage-sama?", Sarutobi turned his head to regard his strategist. The meeting took longer than he had thought, it drained him physically and mentally. But he had somewhat succeeded in what he had in mind. There were still a lot of things to arrange and a lot of people to brief but right now he had to focus on putting his plans into action. He released a heavy sigh as he nodded stiffly.

"It's the only way I could protect her. There has always been a target on her back, I did what I could to hide it but I never expected things to turn this way.", Shikaku looked down in the ground as if also regretting something.

"We were all wrong to have made and agreed to that decision all those years ago Hokage-sama.", there was something akin to bitter regret in the way Shikaku voiced out his words.

"Yes.", Sarutobi couldn't help the wash of regret and guilt he felt as he agreed. Shikaku pushed himself from the wall he was leaning on as he edged closer towards him to ask.

"Do you trust him to take care of her?", he asked and Sarutobi nodded. He knew just how fond Shikaku is of Naruto, he was pleased that at the least, Naruto has more people that care about her now.

"I do and he will. He had always had a knack for teaching. Naruto will be safe under his care, that I can assure you Shikaku.", Shikaku sighed as he bowed his head in trust to his words.

"Yoshino wouldn't be pleased with this.", Sarutobi smiled ruefully as he nodded his head and gave his new order.

"I expect to hear from her soon then.", Shikaku snorted and the Hokage knew one way or another he would not escape the wrath of Nara Yoshino.

"Summon the team who would be accompanying them. It is time I give them their orders.", he cannot allow any more delays, Danzo's people might still be around he cannot take any chances of having Naruto be taken by his people. He would not allow it.

"What of Naruto?", his thoughts were interrupted by Shikaku's question, he blinked twice before he answered.

"I will be the one to explain and tell her.", Shikaku nodded, Sarutobi turned his head away from the retreating back of Shikaku as he heeded his order.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was not blind to the coldness, the disregard and the pain that his order years ago had brought forth. And right now, he had made another decision for Naruto, but this time he was sure it was right. It has to be right.

He wished he could've turned back time and instead of leaving Naruto at the orphanage he would've taken her as his own. But he feared, oh during those times he had feared—they had just lost the Fourth and he was once again thrust back to make a decision he wasn't only allowed to make. Konoha was in no state to protect itself, not with its heavy casualties and losses that he had forgotten. Yes, it may have benefitted the village but he also forgot that Naruto was also a part of that.

Regret pooled within his gut, heavy. However, he had no time to muse about the past. He needed to look towards the future, he had to make things right. Danzo was right, he had grown weak and old, and so before his time would be up, he needed to make the necessary arrangements for the good of Konoha and for her as well.

As soon as he heard the doors of his office opened, he turned his attention towards the man that entered along with his apprentice. At that moment he knew he did the right choice. He smiled at his former student, who merely raised his eyebrow at his sudden display of emotion.

"What have you decided to rope me into now, Sensei?", the suspicion in his voice was clear and he knew that whatever order Sarutobi would give him now he would protest on. But he couldn't allow that, because right now, he is the best person for the job.

"It seems I would really have to leave her under your care after all, Orochimaru.", the noise of protest that his former student was so reminiscent of his younger years that it made him smile despite the circumstances.

Naruto woke with a start. She sat up in a bed she doesn't recognize as her own, in a room she is dissimilar to. She tried to remember what happened but all that came towards her was a pain at the back of her head and a growling sound that reverberated from inside of her.

"Wha—what happened?", she asked no one in particular but the resounding growl of a reply was all the answer she received. But as she raised her hands, she slowly fisted it once, twice—she realized that she was still her. She was prepared somewhat in losing control over her body towards a long-lived creature, but knowing that she won made her feel something.

'Shikamaru was right after all.', her mind supplied. As soon as she remembered him, she shot out of her bed and was about to run out of the room she was in only to find that the door wouldn't open. She looked around her to realize she was in a room without any windows nor any opening. Worried and not knowing what happened she tried to find any kind of opening within the room to no avail.

Then the feeling sunk in, she swallowed. She felt trapped, constricted and alone. It ate at her. She felt cut off even further, yes, she had always been alone in the crowds of people within Konoha but now, now she truly and utterly felt alone.

"How does it feel to be locked up?", a voice echoed within the back of her head. The instant she heard it she knew just who was it that spoke. The malice in his voice in the irony of her current situation was fully heard loud and clear.

She shivered at the sound that echoed within her, but she could not deny the apprehension she felt at that moment. The Kyuubi was right, she is locked up, for how long, that she has no idea. But the sudden thought that she would be trapped in such a place for a long time scared her.

She nibbled on her lip, trying to think of something positive to ground her. She even thought that maybe, perhaps it was for the best that she would be locked up. Isolated and away from the people she cherishes to protect them from the wrath not her won that is bumbling from deep inside of her body. The Kyuubi's emotions were strong and now overwhelming, unlike before when she never knew of his existence. Now his emotions seem to be fueling up her own, heightening it in a way she had never felt before. Egging her to give in, she wondered if this was going to be her everyday life now. In a continuous tug-of-war with the Kyuubi.

It scared her.

She didn't know how long she was in there, she waited for something anything outside of the room. She had felt the presence of two nins just outside her door, keeping watch and wary of the door separating them.

Instead of thinking about how she could get out she thought of how Shikamaru was faring. Praying, hoping that Shikamaru would be safe she closed her eyes pleading, ignoring the growls in her head.

Time seemed to flow so steadily as she sat by the bed hugging her knees close to her. Her mind continually spiraling, fueled by the Kyuubi's voice along with her questions and doubts and fears. She barely noticed it when something changed just outside of the room.

She blinked when the sealed door opened, she raised her head to see who it was, only to see the Hokage. He smiled tightly at her and carefully she watched his every move. Before he could even utter any words, she beat him to it.

"Is—is Shikamaru, safe?", her throat became dry as the words left her mouth. Observing the Hokage like a hawk to gauge the truth out of his body language was her own way to know if people are lying to her. Because they always lie, especially when it comes to her. The Hokage's tensed shoulders relaxed a bit, before he answered her question.

"He will make a full recovery, all he needs right now is rest.", he gave her a tight smile before he crouched right in from of her. She released a heavy breath she didn't know she was holding. Before she could even ask anything further, she was stopped when the Hokage held her shoulders.

"Naruto, I need you to listen to me very carefully.", Naruto swallowed before she nodded agreeing. She knew that she had to pay for the situation she had caused. Just like how she would cause ruckus for her pranks, there are punishments given out when she gets caught. The Hokage must be about to give her hers.

"The Council gave me an ultimatum. Either you be trained or for you to be locked up.", his voice was sad and his words shook her. The words ringing in her head repeatedly, the sounds of the cruel laughter of the fox was loud. Mocking her, egging her to give up control for the both of them to escape.

The hands that held her slightly tightened and her eyes snapped back towards the Hokage who continued to talk. "I would never allow them to lock you up."

He eyes faltered, stinging with tears that are about to fall. Something warm bloomed within her at the voice that told her that despite the short lease she has right now, she wouldn't be locked up.

"That is why Naruto, you will be going on a trip along with a sensei and a few of his students. Danzo's hold in Konoha is still powerful and I have no idea when he would once again strike to take you away. That is why I have made the decision to have you trained away from the village. It is the only way I can protect you right now.", the Hokage looked down, seemingly disappointed with failing her.

Naruto thought that it was for the best, despite feeling the urge to argue to stay, she knew—no, she feared what would happen if the fox escaped her control and hurt the people she cherishes. So, she stayed silent, unresponsive for fear of her true emotions and thoughts spilling out.

"Just know my child, that you will always have a place here, no matter what anyone dictates. They may not know it right now but one day, they will see you for who you are and not for what they thought you are.", the tears that formed in Naruto's eyes finally fell, a hiccup escaped her lips and soon enough she was crying loudly.

The Hokage's words rang loudly within her that it drowned out the cruel voice that whispered in her head. The warmth that enveloped her was honest, she felt protected. She clung tightly towards the old man she had always called one of her own.

She would not forget this warmth wherever she would be, the wrinkled calloused hand that stroked her hair. The familiar smell of tobacco, ink and books. This strong solid pillar that she had always leaned on. She will follow what he wills, and she just hopes he would be there one day when she returns to welcome her back—with open arms.