Naruto: Archer and Loner
Here is another chapter for you all. I hope to keep the pace going forward until I get writers block again. These next few chapters will be focusing on other things than just Naruto. As per usual, neither Naruto nor Bleach belongs to me.
Movement in the Shadows and Dark Thoughts
A hooded figure darted down a dark alley, constantly glancing around for any presence. The figure came to a blank wall and knocked four times on the brick. The brick wall was pushed open by another hooded figure.
"You're late," the second figure growled out and stepped out of the way.
"I got delayed," the first figure stated and stepped in through the doorway. The door closed behind him. "It is a good thing though. I got more information for our group."
"Follow me. The rest are waiting for us," the second figure said. The figure then turned and led the way down a dimly lit hallway. The two figures walked for a good ten minutes before coming to a door. The second figure pulled out a key and opened the door with it. The two stepped into a room just as dimly lit as the hallway they had just left. A table stood in the middle of the room, seated at the table was 15 other hooded figures.
"You're both late, J and I," a figure said as they stood. "We were beginning to worry weather you'd make it or not."
"Don't worry, K. I got delayed. It was a good delay too. I got more information for us all," J replied and took their seat at the table.
"Let this meeting commence," K stated. "We are gathered here for the prosperity of Kohona and the destruction of anything that threatens the greatness we hope to achieve. J, what news do you have for us tonight?"
"The Hyuga clan is reeling from a recent shock to the whole clan. It appears they have dishonored themselves with a contract written back during the clan war era. The Hyuga clan approached the Uzumaki clan to create a seal to protect their bloodline. The contract was based on honor. The Hyuga agreed to never alter the seal. They altered it and created the Caged-bird seal," J stated. "Because the boy found the contract in his clan archives, he was able to stop Hiashi from trying to gain control over the Uzumaki clan. We all know about the betrothal contract the boy's mother created with the Hyuga clan. He knew Hiashi meant to use it to gain control over him and his clan assets. So, he brought proof of the Hyuga clan's dishonor. He proved it to the Hyuga council. They were forced to admit their dishonor and allow the betrothal to move forward with no interference from the Hyuga clan council."
"Does this mean Hiashi is now powerless to gain control over the Uzumaki clan," K asked.
"For now, yes," J replied. "However, I think this is just a temporary setback. I think Hiashi will try to gain power another way. We all know Hiashi is as sneaky as a snake. He will step back and plan. The boy hit the Hyuga clan where it hurts. He hit their pride and honor. Now they are beholden to the boy unless something happens in the future."
"What about Hinata Hyuga? Is there any chance of gaining control over her," K asked.
"No. And that would be suicide at this moment in time. Not only is she being protected by the seals on the Uzumaki Clan grounds, but she is being trained by her grandfather and others who live there," J replied. "Our best way forward is to gain a wait and see approach. Focus on gathering information and only once victory is assured, we will move. If we move too early, we risk exposing ourselves to our enemies."
"Anyone else have anything to add," K asked, looking around. After a few minutes of silence, K continued. "Then I call this meeting to a close. I, stay behind. I have a few things to talk to you about before you leave."
Everyone stood and made their way out of the room leaving I and K behind. I stood before K and kneeled.
"Remove your hood, Kakashi," K said firmly. I removed his hood revealing the face of Kakashi Hatake. He looked up at K expectantly.
"What do you need to speak to me about, Danzo-sama," Kakashi asked.
"What have you learned about the boy so far," Danzo asked.
"Very little, Danzo-sama. He doesn't trust me," Kakashi replied. "At the meeting yesterday, he told his teammates about the Kyuubi."
"Did he now? How odd," Danzo replied. "Did he also tell them of the Third's law?"
"Yes. Sasuke wanted to try and discredit the boy by telling anyone and everyone," Kakashi replied. "I came down hard on him. It wouldn't do for Sasuke to be killed or imprisoned at this time."
"You did well, Kakashi," Danzo said with a small smile on his face. "What are your plans with the team moving forward?"
"I will have to focus on actually training them," Kakashi replied. "The Hokage is keeping an annoyingly close eye on my interactions with team seven. If I don't train them properly, I will lose the team to someone else."
"I will see what I can do to distract the Hokage. Focus on training them and try to find out how strong the boy actually is," Danzo replied. "We won't meet for a month, so keep your eyes and ears open. We can't risk being seen together."
"Hai, Danzo-sama," Kakashi replied and vanished in a shunshin.
"We will have to step carefully now," Danzo mumbled to himself as he walked out of the room via a hidden door. "Hiruzen is worried about what others might be doing. It is best to be silent for now."
Uchiha Clan main compound
Sasuke sat in his father's old office tearing through every scrap of paper. Desperately looking for proof Naruto lied to him. Yanking open the last drawer in the desk, he saw a small book fall from the bottom of the drawer. Picking it up and opening it, Sasuke saw the familiar handwriting of his father.
'Finally I found father's diary. There should be proof the dobe lied in here,' Sasuke thought to himself. He sat down and opened the diary to the first page.
I, Fugaku Uchiha, decided to write an accounting of my actions concerning my clan, the Uchiha clan. When I first became clan head after the 'death' of my father, I removed any mention of his name from clan records. My father dishonored the Uchiha clan in the worst possible way. If the truth got out, it would see to the demise of the Uchiha clan down to the last child. You may ask yourself, 'What did this person do to cause such an action? Something even Madara Uchiha's actions never warranted?' My father betrayed both our village and the cousin clan to the Senju, the Uzumaki Clan. My father's Sharingan eyes were unique. They allowed him to see weaknesses in seals. He used his eyes powers to find a hole in the protective barrier around Uzushiogakure. Once he found the hole, he gave the information to Kumo. It allowed the combined might of Kumo, Iwa and Kiri to attack the Uzumaki clan and wipe them out. When I learned the truth, I acted. Because of my father's actions, Kohona lost a very powerful ally. Because my father decided to dishonor the clan, I had no choice. I acted in anger and the hope of regaining my clan's honor someday.
However, I am afraid that day may never come. I never told Kushina Uzumaki the truth and I never showed her son an ounce of remorse. For that, I am afraid our clan will never regain our honor. I feel my age as I write this. I feel the Uchiha clan is in its last days. And yet, we have no one to blame but ourselves. The Uchiha clan has been in a steady decline since Madara left. Even though I have hope for the future seeing how fast my son, Sasuke, mastered the Great Fireball jutsu, I fear our clan is doomed. Even though Sasuke is only 4, it is a great feat he accomplished. I am guilty of pushing Sasuke away more and more. I think it is so he doesn't pick up my guilt. I have a child's blood on my hands. May Kami forgive me someday for what I did to Naruto. If a future Uchiha is reading this and Naruto still lives, allow him to read this and maybe he will understand and forgive an old man's mistake. I attacked Naruto two days ago. He was being beaten by Uchiha clan members and civilians. My wife and I came across the group on our way home from seeing Itachi. Instead of attacking the people hurting a child, I burned the Uchiha clan emblem into Naruto's back. I didn't do it because I hate the boy. I did it to protect him. A weak excuse, I know. But, it is the truth. It stopped the attack from continuing and it protected my 'image' as a clan head. If I have to suffer for eternity, so be it. If Naruto never forgives me, I can live with that.
If it is you, Itachi, reading this, you know what the clan is planning. I hope the plan didn't work. It was the decision of the clan to go forward. I as clan head had my hands tied. Itachi, I never wanted it this way. However, if it is you, Sasuke, who is reading this, this will be all you'll be able to read. I've sealed my words so even a seal master won't be able to read the truth. I'm sorry, son. I want you to be innocent. I want you to become the future of the Uchiha. This means it will fall to you to regain our honor with the Uzumaki clan. Naruto is a true Uzumaki. If you allow him, he will be your greatest friend and ally. However, if you choose not to be friends with him, heed this warning. You do NOT want an Uzumaki as an enemy. They are relentless when it comes to pursuing their enemies.
Fugaku Uchiha 147th clan head of the Uchiha clan
Sasuke sat in silence as the words his father wrote swam in his thoughts. He picked up the diary and slowly walked outside towards one of the training grounds. Throwing the diary up in the air, Sasuke quickly flew through the hand signs for the Uchiha's most famous jutsu. With a cry of 'Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu (Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu),' a fireball flew at the diary and incinerated it.
'He will never learn of the truth,' Sasuke thought to himself. 'He doesn't deserve it. He deserves to be below me. I will be above everyone! The Uchiha clan will rise again once I kill Itachi. And if the dobe gets in my way, then the Uzumaki clan will be no more.'
Whew! Another chapter done. This one is a bit darker and shows things going on no one really knows about… yet. Hope you all enjoyed it and as always, constructive criticism is welcome.