Chapter 27
Kakashi ran between targets, striking each as he streaked by. Splinters exploded around him as his Chidori made short work of the wooden posts. The lightning chakra surrounding his hand faded as he completed his circuit. He reflexively closed his left eye as he came to a halt. He had finally begun honing his control over the Sharingan that Obito had bequeathed him but it would continuously drain his chakra unless the eye was closed or covered. He was already feeling the effects of combining the Sharingan with Chidori. He flexed the fingers of his right hand absently as he surveyed the damage to the training ground with satisfaction.
You helped me complete and perfect this jutsu, Obito, he thought. A jutsu that will allow me to protect those precious to me so I won't fail any more of my friends the way I failed you!
Sensing someone nearby, he turned in the direction of the chakra signature. "Who's there?" he demanded. The ANBU his father had assigned to guard him had been reassigned a week ago. Sakumo had finally agreed to dismiss the guard when after nearly three months there had been no signs of retaliation from Danzo over the disbanding of his organization. He struggled to hide his surprise as a figure detached itself from the trees, leaning on a cane that Kakashi was certain he didn't need. "Lord Danzo."
The Village Elder smiled, putting Kakashi instantly on his guard. He'd never had any direct dealings with Danzo though he knew who he was. He suddenly wished he hadn't been so insistent to his father that he no longer needed an ANBU guard. There was something dangerous about that seemingly pleasant expression. Since he had first begun his ninja training, Sakumo had told Kakashi to always trust his gut and listen to his instincts. Right now they were saying he was in danger.
"So, you're Kakashi Hatake, the son of the White Fang, our new Hokage." Kakashi swore he heard a slight sneer at the title. "I have heard of that new jutsu you created – Chidori, was it? Very impressive." He glanced around at the splintered targets.
Kakashi waited quietly for Danzo to tell him what he was doing all the way out here. The training field was remote so it was doubtful that the Elder was simply passing by. His father had cautioned him to be careful if he ever had dealings with the man; Danzo was not someone to trust or to take lightly.
"Tell me, Kakashi, how old are you?"
"Thirteen, sir," Kakashi answered though was certain Danzo already knew the answer. Even he knew that Danzo had eyes and ears everywhere in the Hidden Leaf.
"Thirteen," Danzo repeated slowly, his gaze sharpening. "Already quite the accomplished shinobi - a jonin no less - at the age many students are just graduating from the Academy. It is a pity that your father ordered my Foundation disbanded. You would have excelled there, I think."
"Me?" Kakashi didn't know much about Danzo's Foundation beyond some vague rumors. Information about the tasks the Foundation carried out were classified at the highest level, even most jonin weren't privy to such intel. While Sakumo hadn't said anything about it directly, after witnessing the foul mood his father had been in a few months prior, Kakashi was certain that he didn't want to become embroiled with it in any way.
"Indeed. I carried out tasks of vital importance to the security and stability of the Hidden Leaf. I required extraordinary people to do so. You, my boy, are extraordinary."
Kakashi felt his unease growing. Danzo wanted something, of that he was certain. Whatever it was, he suspected it would be in direct conflict with his father. "I'm just a shinobi, sir," Kakashi said.
Danzo snorted. "There is no need for false humility here, boy. You have the potential to become one of the greatest shinobi this village has ever seen. I dare say even surpassing your father. It is unfortunate that the current Hokage is unable to see the value my Foundation brought to the Hidden Leaf. Our way of life – our very existence – depends on it."
"What do you want with me?" Kakashi couldn't keep himself from asking any longer.
"Not a thing. At least, not right now. I simply wish to extend you an offer. When your father realizes that my Foundation is necessary – and he will - I would like you to come work for me. As I said, you are an exceptional shinobi, Kakashi but you are currently walking in your father's shadow. I can pull you from it and allow your full potential to bloom. You need not give me an answer now," Danzo continued, seeing the boy about to protest. "Indeed, it would be premature seeing as I currently do not have an organization in which to offer you a place. It is just something to consider for the future."
Danzo turned and walked away, feeling rather smug as he sensed Kakashi's bewildered gaze following him. Sakumo was not someone he could easily depose. He had been popular and well-liked throughout the village even before his rise to the Hokage's seat. His actions in the months since claiming the hat had made him even more so. Danzo snorted to himself. Sakumo Hatake's sense of honor and fairness may have endeared him to many but Danzo knew that darkness and a willingness to do dark deeds was needed to keep the Hidden Leaf safe. As a shinobi Sakumo had killed many opponents on the battlefield but he lacked that darkness of heart necessary in Danzo's line of work. That lack would render him unable to go to the extreme lengths necessary to keep the village safe.
If Danzo couldn't take on Sakumo directly, he'd employ more subtle means. Kakashi was very much like his father in his intelligence and skill. But he was very unlike him in personality. Sakumo was outgoing, friendly, and surrounded himself with his friends while Kakashi was quiet and often blunt, bordering on rude, and was preferred to be alone. Danzo had kept a loose eye on the younger Hatake since he had graduated the Academy in a single year at only five years old. He kept tabs on anyone who could possibly be of use to him. Danzo saw the potential for the darkness that Sakumo lacked in his son. It simply needed to be nurtured in order to take root and grow.
He could plant the seeds now. He had seen shinobi like Kakashi before, talented and who felt they were being held back by others. Sakumo was a hero of the Hidden Leaf, his name was known and renowned throughout the ninja world. No matter how much Kakashi may idolize and love his father, there had to be a part of him that chaffed at knowing many saw him as the White Fang's son first and as Kakashi second. Danzo could use that. He would offer Kakashi the chance to be seen for his own skill, not his father's name. He would subtly and insidiously drive a wedge between father and son until the boy's loyalty was his.
"You know he'll most likely go to the Hokage," the masked figure who materialized at Danzo's side said.
"I'm counting on it," Danzo replied. He knew Sakumo would be displeased upon hearing he had spoken with Kakashi. He would warn his son away from Danzo. Kakashi would obey but balk at being treated like a child. He'd remember what Danzo had said and the seeds he'd so carefully laid would begin to take root. It was laughably predictable. That suited Danzo just fine.
Sakumo gazed around the conference room he'd had converted to a permanent meeting space for his proposed council. It was a plain, boring room but it was spacious and currently not being used for much. A large oblong table stood in the center of the room, surrounded by unadorned chairs. Sakumo had refused to allow Clan symbols or other markers to adorn the chairs or walls. In this room, everyone would be on equal footing, regardless of station.
The first meeting had gone even better than he had expected. Sakumo had reiterated his purpose and vision for this committee before leaving to allow free discussion. There was some expected resistance to the idea of change, especially from those for whom the current system favored. Though most everyone present had seemed willing to at least listen. Sakumo knew that real change would take time. He was a patient man. The first steps had been taken and with luck would continue.
He had been pleased when Fugaku Uchiha had agreed to be the representative for this new committee to the Village Council. The Uchiha had declined relocating away from their current district but they had agreed to open the enrollment to the Leaf Police Force to include others outside their Clan. There would only be a few spots to start, though that number would increase as new recruits were trained up to the current standards. There was still much work to be done but change was already coming to the Hidden Leaf. Sakumo was optimistic that it would be for the betterment of everyone in the village.
"What do you think you're doing?" came a cross voice from behind him in the doorway.
Sakumo rolled his eyes then carefully schooled his features into a neutral expression before turning around. He'd been expecting this. "Taking a break from the mountain of paperwork on my desk," he replied. It wasn't untrue.
Koharu's expression darkened. "Don't play games with me, Sakumo! The Hidden Leaf already has a Council. Why are you creating another?"
"To make certain I am made aware of the concerns of all of our citizens. The civilian population especially has been underrepresented within the village since its founding."
"The Hidden Leaf is a shinobi village."
"I'm well aware of that. Yet the village could not survive without the civilian population bringing goods and services. Even among the shinobi the largest and most powerful clans have always held the most sway in the running of the village and shaping our policies. Policies that affect everyone living here. It's high time for those who did not have the good fortune of being born into one of the ruling clans have a voice as well."
The Elder looked scandalized. "You cannot simply replace – "
"Why not?" Sakumo countered. "There is no law that states the configuration of the Village Council. Its purpose is to help the Hokage make decisions that are in the best interest of the village. The entire village. Lord Hiruzen wanted change to come to the Hidden Leaf. That is why he stepped down."
"Change, yes. But not – "
"Not what? Not disrupting the status quo? Not addressing the concerns of all of our citizens? Not allowing most of the power in this village to remain in the hands of the same few for decades?" Sakumo challenged.
"You cannot possibly comprehend -!"
"I comprehend better than you think!" Sakumo snapped, his patience rapidly dwindling. He may respect her but as Hokage he did not answer to the Elder. "I have spent my entire life as a shinobi in service to the Hidden Leaf. I fought in two wars between the Great Shinobi Nations. Shinobi lives are cheap to those who rule, valued only for the number of enemy we can take down with us. That is not what Hashirama Senju or even Madara Uchiha envisioned when they founded the Hidden Leaf. This village was created to protect our children, to allow them to grow up without knowing the horrors of war. We have certainly been falling far short of that goal."
"For all your skill, you are woefully naïve, Sakumo."
"Am I? My son has seen war; has been maimed in that war and lost friends in it. Before he was a teenager, before he was even old enough to drink alcohol or kiss a girl. Look me in the eye and tell me that is what the Leaf Village stands for!" He continued, "You need not fret about your position. I am not dissolving the Council as it currently stands. I am merely adding a representative from this group to it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have matters that require my attention."
Koharu glared at Sakumo's retreating back. The White Fang may be a genius shinobi but he clearly had no idea how things worked in the running of the village. Hiruzen had been too soft. He didn't have the stomach for the dark and dirty side of things. That had been the reason he had stepped down. He had wanted a strong leader to replace him. Sakumo may be strong but he was running roughshod over decades of tradition with his sweeping changes. She shook her head in disgust as she left the room for which Sakumo had such grand plans. This latest development needed to be discussed among the Elders. They needed to find a way to reign Sakumo in before he undid everything.
Sakumo was uneasy.
There was no logical reason for the feeling. The evening had been quiet thus far. The weather was cool and pleasant with no storms threatening. Things were quiet in the Village. There were no major threats at their borders and the other lands were quiet at the moment as well. He was even mostly caught up on the never-ending pile of paperwork that plagued his every waking moment. Yet he couldn't shake the feeling of foreboding that hung over him.
Kakashi had come to him nearly two weeks ago, telling him about what Danzo had said to him out at the training field. Sakumo hadn't been happy to learn that Danzo had clearly sought Kakashi out when he was alone and someplace remote. Danzo hadn't threatened Kakashi or even said anything particularly out of line. The only conclusion Sakumo could draw was that it was a feeble attempt to stir up some sort of trouble. That seemed out of character for Danzo. Sakumo would have expected him to make a bold move or act so subtly that they wouldn't know what he was up to until it was too late. Minato hadn't had any more insight into the matter either when he'd run it by him.
As far as the Foundation was concerned, Shikaku Nara had reported no significant issues with integrating Danzo's shinobi back into the regular forces. The process was still ongoing as properly vetting each former Foundation member took time and the lack of extra personnel to devote full time to the task slowed it down considerably. Danzo had grumbled and spouted some dire warnings about his being necessary to the security of the village but nothing more. Sakumo had even dropped the ANBU guard from Kakashi and Minato seeing as Danzo appeared to be bitterly abiding by his ruling.
Resigning himself to not getting anything more accomplished that evening, Sakumo decided to call it a day. He finished reading the report he had been in the middle of, closed the file, and stood. He stretched the kinks out of his back and headed for the door. Perhaps a good workout would clear his head.
Sakumo was awakened by the sound of someone bursting in his front door. He had rolled out of bed and was reaching for his chakra saber before consciously registering what the sound was. A masked ANBU appeared in his bedroom doorway. He recognized the mask in the dim moonlight as that of one of his guards.
"Lord Hokage! There's trouble in the Uchiha District! There are reports of skirmishes turned much more serious. Several people have already been killed."
"What?!" Sakumo was already in motion. "What's going on?"
"I don't know any more than that. I thought it more important to report to you -"
"You made the right decision," Sakumo said. He hurriedly began pulling on his clothes as he issued orders. "Gather the ANBU and get them over there. The medical corps as well. Alert the barrier teams and gate guards - make certain our perimeter is secure and locked down. No one gets in or out of the village until we know what's happening. Send someone to wake Shikaku Nara and have him get the jonin of the village mobilized. He is to use his best judgement on their deployment unless I issue specific orders otherwise. I'm going to the Uchiha District."
"Understood, Lord Hokage!"
"What's going on, Dad?" Kakashi had appeared in the doorway, his hair and clothes tousled as the ANBU messenger disappeared.
"Trouble in the Uchiha District," Sakumo replied as he fastened his flak jacket and secured his tanto to his back. "Get dressed and head over to the Jonin Standby Station and wait for orders. Several jonin live between here and there, wake them on your way."
As Sakumo headed for the front door, Kakashi went back to his bedroom without argument. At this moment Sakumo was not his father but the Hokage giving him an order.
Sakumo tugged on his sandals and headed out the front door at a near run, pulling his hair back into a pony-tail as he moved. He swore as the hair tie snapped, stinging his finger. It was a tiny, inconsequential thing, yet his unease intensified as if it had been an ill-omen. He increased his pace.