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Decisions

Ryuu stepped into Tsunade's office, stopping as he found all of the proctors for the Chunin Exams present, along with Yugao and Shizune, were all present, standing along the wall behind Tsunade's desk. Tsunade herself was seated at the desk, smiling, and Shikamaru was standing in front of the desk. Ryuu stepped up beside Shikamaru, hoping that this was exactly what it looked like.

"Welcome," Tsunade said. "As I'm sure you've guessed, it was the view of many that because the Chunin Exams were interrupted, none of the students should pass this time around. However, I hear that the Third Hokage had nothing but the highest praise for your matches. It seems that he intended to recommend you both for Chunin. In fact, all those who observed the fight, and your proctors, felt the same. So in this case, my opinion doesn't really matter. From this day forth, I hope that you will strive to achieve a level of excellence worthy of that headband. Congratulations. As of this moment, you stand as Chunin."

Shikamaru sighed, and Ryuu smiled, bowing.

"What a drag," Shikamaru muttered as he bowed.

Tsunade pulled a pair of Konoha flak jackets from under her desk and handed them to them, both accepting them with a thank you. Then, the proctors and Shikamaru all left, leaving Shizune, Yugao, and Ryuu. Tsunade motioned for Shizune to leave and she did, Ryuu closing the door and placing a seal on it that spread over the walls, floor, and ceiling, trapping all sounds inside of the room.

"What's going on?" Tsunade asked.

"Have you been informed about Kabuto Yakushi yet?" Ryuu asked.

"What about that brat?" Tsunade asked. "He gave us a hell of a time when we were fighting Orochimaru. He was using a Chakra Scalpel to disable my arms and legs, same with Naruto."

"Did he fatally wound anyone?" Ryuu asked.

"No, why?" Tsunade asked.

"Good," Ryuu sighed. "There's something...well, quite a bit, we need to discuss."

"Like what?" Tsunade asked.

"He's on our side," Ryuu said, Tsunade scoffing instantly.

"Could have fooled me," Tsunade said. "He was attacking us."

"No, he was disabling you," Ryuu said. "You're the best Medical Ninja in the world. You can heal a few severed muscles no problem. The fact of the matter is, I figured out that Kabuto was a spy for Orochimaru during the Chunin exams, and he explained to me that he had been a spy for Danzo Shimura before that, fact check with Danzo if you like but he'll probably deny it. Kabuto was recruited into Root out of the Konoha Orphanage that used to be here and used to be run by Mother Nono, another of Danzo's spies who he later sent to kill Kabuto. He also had Orochimaru on standby to kill the survivor, but Orochimaru took a liking to Kabuto due to his skill with Medical Ninjutsu. So, Orochimaru took advantage of Kabuto being vulnerable emotionally and mentally after being forced to kill his adoptive mother, and turned him against the leaf, making him his own right hand. Kabuto then spied for Orochimaru until the final round of the Chunin Exams."

"What happened then?" Tsunade asked.

"I reminded him who he really is, and brought him back to himself," Ryuu said. "However, he couldn't leave Orochimaru just yet without Orochimaru killing him, and because there were a number of tests he had to sabotage and some of Orochimaru's experiment subjects to protect. So he continued to play along with Orochimaru. That's why he had to fight you but didn't try to kill you."

"And I'm supposed to just take the word of some child?" Tsunade asked. "I'm supposed to trust a confessed traitor and spy?"

"Yes," Ryuu said.

"Lady Tsunade, if I may, Ryuu is much more attentive and intelligent than his pears, Shikamaru being the only one smarter than him," Yugao interjected. "I believe that if Ryuu says Kabuto is on our side, then he may be right."

"Well did Kabuto say he would help us in anyway?" Tsunade asked.

"He told me a few things that we might be able to use to find Orochimaru," Ryuu said. "For one thing, he mentioned a village in the Land of Rice Paddies. Oh, and he said that Orochimaru plans to try and take control of Sasuke's body using the Curse Mark."

"I see," Tsunade nodded. "We had suspicions that that was his plan. Have you told Sasuke?"

"Not yet," Ryuu said. "Lady Tsunade, we may never have an opportunity like this again."

"What do you mean?" Tsunade asked.

"Well, according to Kabuto, there's only a small window during which Orochimaru can actually possess Sasuke," Ryuu said. "If he misses that window, he'll have to wait three years."

"Okay," Tsunade nodded. "I'm not seeing how this is an opportunity."

"Allow me to explain," Ryuu said. "I'm sure Orochimaru will be sending some of his top servants to collect Sasuke. If we can delay them long enough for Orochimaru to miss that window, Sasuke will have three years during which he can train under Orochimaru, becoming ten times stronger than he could here. Then, when he's strong enough, and when Orochimaru is weak from needing to change bodies, he can capture Orochimaru. Or, if you would prefer, he can send us his location in secret, and we can track down Orochimaru and attempt to capture him. However, as I'm sure you are aware, capturing Orochimaru wouldn't be easy, and he'd also know that Sasuke was a traitor, and likely kill him."

"He has a point, Lady Tsunade," Yugao said. "While I know that capturing Orochimaru may allow us to extract more information, there's no guarantee that we could capture him. But if Sasuke were to train under him for three years, and then kill him, it may actually be the better of the two options."

"There's also the problem of the Akatsuki," Ryuu said.

"How do you know about the Akatsuki?" Tsunade asked.

"I don't know much about them," Ryuu said. "I more only know of them. I'm dating a Jinchuriki, so Shibuki, the leader of the Village Hidden in the Waterfall, who agreed to transfer Fu to our village, thought I should be aware of the biggest threat to Fu, so he told me that the Akatsuki is a mercenary group with plans to collect the Tailed Beasts, though as of yet, it's only a rumor to him and the Akatsuki hasn't made any serious moves."

Tsunade nodded. "And what happens if we can't delay for that long and Sasuke gets possessed?"

"Then that's on me," Ryuu said. "It would be my fault, and one more sin for me to atone for."

Tsunade watched him for a moment before nodding. "Okay. When Orochimaru's henchmen arrive, Sasuke will play along like he wants to go, but will actually be stalling for as much time as he can get. You will hand-pick a team now to help you defeat whoever Orochimaru sends. Then, you will make sure that Sasuke understands the risks and what he has to do."

"Understood," Ryuu nodded.

"One more thing," Tsunade said. "Itachi Uchiha is a part of the Akatsuki. They've been reported to wear black cloaks with red clouds and they had scratched out headbands from their former village."

Ryuu nodded and Tsunade dismissed him. Ryuu left the Hokage's office and headed to the Third Training Ground, where Fu was training Naruto, Hinata, Sakura, Sasuke, and Lee. Ryuu arrived at the training ground and watched them train for a couple of minutes, walking over and stopping them.

"Sasuke, we need to talk," Ryuu said.

Sasuke nodded and they walked a distance away from the others. Once they were out of hearing range and the others had returned to training, Ryuu turned to Sasuke. "You need to go to Orochimaru."

"Why?" Sasuke asked.

"Itachi is a member of the Akatsuki, a group of terrifyingly powerful mercenaries," Ryuu said. "They're also a group who have their sights set on collecting all of the Tailed Beasts."

"But extracting a Tailed Beast would-"

"Kill the Jinchuriki, yes," Ryuu nodded. I'm going to continue training with Fu, but we won't be strong enough. If you go to Orochimaru, he can make you strong enough."

"So I should go now?" Sasuke asked.

"No," Ryuu said. "He doesn't mean to train you. That curse mark on your neck, it's a way for him to take over your body. He intends to possess you. However, Kabuto Yakushi, our man on the inside in Orochimaru's organization, says that there's only a short amount of time where he can possess you before he has to get someone else first. When that time comes, he'll send his best to collect you. Tsunade's orders are for you to act as though you're going willingly, but to stall for time, as much as you can. Your goal is to make sure you miss that window. If you can do that, it'll be three years before Orochimaru can possess you again. Three years to train."

"And when it comes time for me to be possessed again?" Sasuke asked.

"Capture him if you can," Ryuu said. "Kill him if you can't."

Sasuke nodded. "And then we go after Itachi."

"Do you still intend to kill him?" Ryuu asked.

"I don't want revenge," Sasuke said. "After seeing what wanting revenge on Ishidate for almost killing Fu did to you, I don't want to be like that. I want Itachi to explain his actions."

"Good," Ryuu nodded. "But we'll have to fight our way past the Akatsuki, I'm willing to bet."

"I agree," Sasuke nodded. "So you'd better not slack off."

"I have no intention of slacking off," Ryuu said. "One more thing. This entire mission, you going to Orochimaru, any knowledge about the Akatsuki, our plan to track down Itachi, it's all classified as Top Secret. No one can know. Your defection has to look real to everyone but me."

"Who do I have to hospitalize?" Sasuke asked.

"Naruto will chase you down to the ends of the Earth," Ryuu said. "You'll have to fight him. Beat him. Just make sure you miss your window."

Sasuke nodded. "What about you? Fu said you met that guy with the sword again, and that Kabuto had had orders to capture you for Orochimaru during the Hidden Sand's attack on the Leaf."

"Both true," Ryuu said. "But as long as I have Fu protecting me, no one will be able to get to me."

Sasuke chuckled. "Isn't the boyfriend supposed to protect the girlfriend?"

"Let's be honest here, there's no way in Hell Fu would need me to protect her," Ryuu said. "She's stronger than the two of us combined."

Sasuke nodded, smiling. "Alright. When do we start?"

"Soon, I'd bet," Ryuu said.

Just then, a crow above them cawed and Ryuu held his hand out, the crow landing with a note on it leg. He took the note, seeing a storage seal, and released the seal, catching a letter.

"Ryuu, it's time. Orochimaru just sent the Sound Four, an elite group of the Hidden Sound Village, to collect Sasuke and bring him back. The Sound Four all possess Curse Marks with Level One and Level Two completely under their control. They're DANGEROUS. Their names are Kidomaru, Jirobo, Tayuya, Sakon and his conjoined twin Ukon, and the leader is Kimimaro. Yes, I know that's five. Kidomaru has six arms and summons spiders. He can create webbing that is incredibly hard and nearly impossible to get unstuck from. Chakra can cut through it, such as the Chakra Scalpel. Jirobo is a physical powerhouse who combines his strength with Earth Style Ninjutsu. Tayuya is an expert in sound-based Genjutsu who uses a flute to control three massive dolls called Doki to fight for her. She is also an excellent strategist. Sakon and Ukon have a Kekkei Genkai that allows Ukon to reside in Sakon's body and to separate from him at will, as well as generate his body parts to guard Sakon's blind spots and to enhance Sakon's strikes by adding his own. They are second in command of the Sound Four. They are incredibly fast and strong, excellent strategists, though less-so than Tayuya, and can summon a Rashomon, a demon gate that can withstand incredible amounts of damage. They have some skill in Fuinjutsu, though I don't know how much. Kimimaro is the leader of the Sound Four, though he has not been sent yet. He will likely be sent soon if Sasuke's delivery takes too long. He is deadly. He excels at combat. His Taijutsu alone is enough for him to easily defeat all four of the other members alone. He possesses the Kekkei Genkai Shikotsumyaku, which allows one to control their bones as weapons. However, he is terminally ill. Even so, even as close to death as he is, he could still defeat all of the Sound Four if necessary. You personally would have to fight him to defeat him, and even that is questionable. You have maybe a day before they arrive at the Hidden Leaf. If Sasuke cannot be returned within three days, the window will be missed. Also, it's a day-and-a-half journey to our hideout. Good luck."

Ryuu stared at the letter, rereading it again before showing Sasuke. Sasuke activated his Sharingan and read it before handing it back, going over it in his head, nodding. Ryuu formed a clone who took off instantly, taking the letter to Tsunade.

"Okay," Sasuke said. "Three days. That's going to be a very long fight."

"Wrong," Ryuu said. "We just need the fighting to last two days. Not a hard call since there are actually five of them."

"Good point," Sasuke nodded. "We can do this. We need to pick a team, though."

"Already done," Ryuu said. "My clone will be telling Tsunade the teams now. As well as asking permission."

"Permission for what?" Sasuke asked, looking to Ryuu before sighing and pinching the bridge of his nose. "You're joking, right? You want to try to save some of them? Isn't that Naruto's thing?"

"I saved Kabuto, and he was practically worse than Orochimaru," Ryuu said. "You never know. It could happen."

Sasuke was silent for a time before sighing and nodding. "Okay. Okay. You do whatever you want. Anyway, I have to get back to training."

"Right," Ryuu nodded. "Shall we?"

Sasuke snorted and nodded, the two of them walking over to the others, Ryuu stepping up beside Fu and smiling before turning to the others, face serious as he scanned them. He had chosen his team correctly, he felt. He hoped.

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