Two and a half hours after the arrival of the Mizukage, everyone found themselves crowded in the meeting room, Itachi sat in the middle surrounded by the five Kage and Mifune who was the overseer of the meeting.
"Alright Namikaze you have the floor, so start talking, let everyone here know the reason you wish to revoke Uchiha's criminal status" Ay growled in Minato's direction, wanting to get this meeting over with so that he could get back home to his village.
Minato laced his fingers together "Danzo and Lord Third Hokage, Itachi-san was ordered by Lord Third, to kill his clan because the previously respected elder cornered them until they plotted a coup d'etat, and then join Akatsuki to spy on them and leak information to us" Minato explained.
Not leaving out a single detail, Ay shot a glare in the direction he knew Sakura was at because she'd made no mention of Danzo to him "Regardless none of those bastards deserve the least bit of freedom so I demand that bastard be executed right here and now" Ohnoki raised his voice.
Glaring at Itachi who kept his silence, "That's not up to you Tsuchikage, if three ruling Kage give their approval that overrules anything the remaining Kage say" Rasa informed, knowing that's what it would come down to eventually.
But they were a long ways off having only just started the meeting "So that means there are already three Kage who approve of stripping Itachi-san's status to re-integrate him back into the village as a functioning shinobi" Mei commented.
Rasa, Ay and Minato straightened in their respective seats answering her question silently "And you what do you have to say for yourself Uchiha bastard" Ohnoki sneered at Itachi, realizing that he might not get what he wanted after all.
Itachi sighed softly "Originally my plan was to die by my Otouto's hand but I never expected to be tricked, captured and brought back to the village, and I didn't expect to be commended, nor do I think I'm deserving of forgiveness" Itachi admitted quietly.
"However as I've been told repeatedly by a certain someone I do deserve it and she won't let me argue about it, so I'd like to at least live the rest of my life redeeming myself in the eyes of others until I really do deserve to be forgiven for the atrocity I committed" the Uchiha chuckled.
Becoming headstrong in front of the leaders of the five great nations, Minato smiled behind his hand knowing who'd talked Itachi out of his suicidal thoughts "She…your lover perhaps Itachi-san" Mei questioned curious.
The Uchiha shook his head "My daughter actually Mei-san, Sakura well is more than your average girl" Minato said, casting a fond glance in her direction, and he felt lucky that he even had this chance to know both of his children.
Mei's green eyes widened with interest "I have to agree with Namikaze that brat is abnormal in all the ways it counts, knew when Uchiha and his partner was coming to kidnap Leaf's Jinchuuriki and prepared appropriately to thwart them from taking the boy" Ay chimed in.
Causing Itachi to tilt his head to the side in confusion before remembering the seal on the door, he'd just thought it was because she was an extremely cautious person, now he wasn't so sure "Hidan of the Akatsuki leaked the information to her, he also our spy now" Minato announced.
Next to him Rasa frowned "You don't mean that crazy lunatic with the scythe do you….he came after her in the desert when she, her teammates and that Nara boy were escorting me and my shinobi home, but I distinctly recall her not mentioning anything of the sort" Rasa stated.
Trying to figure out what the bloody hell was going on "Probably because Sakura wasn't sure if she could tell you since he wasn't the spy then, but yes that's him" Minato nodded, inwardly amused at his frustration.
"We deserve an explanation so call her down here and have her explain why she kept that from the Kazekage" Ohnoki demanded, angry that this whole meeting wasn't going his way in the least, in fact he was pissed that the Leaf Shinobi and their leader had even made it to the building.
Kakuzu had failed him which was another thing he was furious about, at his demand however KI filled the air from Minato, practically suffocating him and the others, before grudgingly turning, he didn't even have to call out to her.
Sakura merely appeared at his side, bowing obediently before him "Yes Hokage-sama….ah right, I don't really have a reason actually and I sort of forgot since Hidan-san warned us three weeks ahead of time" Sakura admitted not even having to be told to simply knowing since she'd heard.
In fact telling Rasa had never even crossed her mind since she'd been terrified of the man "How do you forget something as important as that" Ohnoki sneered at her, though he saw little point in protecting tailed beast hosts all they were, were cannon fodder after all.
"Well between arguing with the Suna Elders about the reformed treaty, fighting off bandits that came to attack the village, healing Hokage-sama after we rescued him from said bandits, while being worried and passing out of course I would forget" Sakura informed.
Rasa could forgive her for that, plus it hadn't been his business "So if you forgot how did you know to set up a seal, in fact Otouto knew it was me on the other side of the door so when did you remember" Itachi turned.
"That day actually, probably fifteen minutes before you showed up, I already had the seal on the door so I went to find Jiraiya-sama while those two stayed in the room" Sakura explained, she'd felt stupid at the time for forgetting until that moment to be honest.
Ay barked out a laugh "Alright Tsuchikage you got your answer, brat you can go, and thank you for being honest" the Raikage dismissed the brat so that they could get back on with their meeting, Sakura bowed her head at him, bowed low for Minato and was gone back to her seat.
An hour and a half of arguing later found them breaking for lunch seeing as the argument was going in circles at that point "Minato-san how on earth did you ever raise such a polite respectful young lady" Mei gushed.
Positively smitten with Sakura "Eh…oh uh well Sakura pretty much raised herself, seeing as I wasn't around until just recently, you can ask if you'd like" Minato winced, what kind of father was he that he didn't even know how Sakura had turned out the way she had.
Mei didn't wait around for him to take back his offer instead went straight for the pinkette "Sakura-san may I ask you something….great I was wondering who raised you to be so polite and respectful like you are" Mei pounced on Sakura.
Viridian orbs widened before "Myself I suppose…considering most adults, including the orphanage matron avoided me so I was left to my own devices more often than not, I watched how people interacted and learned mannerisms that way" Sakura shrugged lightly.
"How on earth did that woman become a matron in charge of children if she wouldn't even raise you properly" Mei frowned deeply as she sat on the bench next to Sakura, Sasuke being nudged out of the way in order for her to do so.
Sakura grimaced and looked to Naruto who flinched as he realized why "Well the reason she started avoiding me was because I became friends with Naruto around the age of three" Sakura winced, she'd absolutely hated how people treated Naruto back in the orphanage.
"Yeah I know why now to, cause I'm a Jinchuuriki, I was called all sorts of awful names like demon, kicked out of stores and restaurants, people even threw rocks at me" Naruto nodded, giving a little insight to what his life had been like before becoming a ninja.
Horrifying those around him including the Mizukage "Keh don't know what your getting all worked up for Jinchuuriki are beasts in human form and they don't deserve to live so in the end Akatsuki will take that boy and his life will be over" Ohnoki said the worst thing.
Because it wasn't just Minato who's chakra spiked in anger but Sakura's, Kakashi's, Sasuke's and Rasa's "Gramps what the hell" Kurotsuchi turned her ire on her grandfather, nervous about the various people leaking killing intent.
Just as Sakura hopped up and disappeared from the cafeteria "I'll go with her so she doesn't get in trouble" Cee hurried after the rosette who was probably trying to find some way to work of her anger so she didn't do something to ruin the meeting.
It was only thanks to having his chakra inside of her that he was able to find her thirty minutes later punching a rock about three miles away from Samurai HQ, completely without chakra and slowly turning it into rubble despite that fact.
Though he did cringe a little at seeing her knuckles all bloody but Sakura didn't stop simply continued pummeling the rock until she finally ran out of steam the rock nothing but dust at this point "Sorry" Sakura apologized.
He shook his head "Nothing you have to apologize for Sakura-san, the Tsuchikage is wrong and your anger was perfectly natural considering Naruto-san is your little brother, now let me see your hands so I can heal your split knuckles" Cee assured.
Offering to heal her now that she had calmed down "Thanks Cee-san, not just for this but for what you said to" Sakura sniffled, crying when she had never done so in front of him before, there were tears in her eyes he realized.
And his heart squeezed painfully at the sight of them "Please don't cry, I'm not good with tears or cheering up women let alone a young girl such as you" Cee pleaded, panic flashing briefly in his eyes as he watched those tears streak down her face.
Unbidden in spite of his feelings "Can't help it, it's just I watched Naruto suffer for years without ever being able to do anything and now when I can, I still can't because the one making him suffer now is the Tsuchikage" Sakura cried.
Cee grimaced then thought of one thing he could do though it was drastic as he gripped Sakura, pulling her into his lap and hugging her, the affect was immediate as Sakura quieted "Feel better" the blonde smiled down at her.
She nodded sheepishly "Yeah uh anyway we should probably get back before my Dad thinks your doing something to me out here" the pinkette informed, having seen it happen, Minato didn't joke around where she was concerned.
Thankfully Cee understood as he quickly healed her bloody and split knuckles then led the way back to Samurai HQ "What the hell were you doing outside without your cloak" Sasuke met them at the door and he was instantly concerned for her.
"Really Sasuke, you do know that I'm able to manipulate my chakra right, well don't you think I would have figured out a way to wrap a thin layer of chakra around myself to keep me warm" Sakura scoffed.
Sasuke flushed in response and all was right in Sakura's world again, Cee breathed a sigh of relief then went to find his partner "Everything alright with the bra….why is there blood on your flak jacket, nothing happened did it" Ay asked only to grow worried.
His shinobi shook his head "She's fine, calmed down now after reducing a rock to nothing but dust, I must have got her blood on me while I was healing her split knuckles, she wasn't even using chakra" Cee explained.
Ay quirked a brow, knowing that it was very rare for Cee to offer to heal someone that wasn't him or Darui then smirked and started belting out laughter like a crazy person "You said without chakra, imagine what the brat will be like in two years" Ay laughed.
Grinning which made him look insane "Probably worse than Tsunade" Darui shuddered, if the Kid could destroy a rock with nothing but brute strength at her current age, he figured she'd be worse when she got older and was fifteen.
Overhearing this Mifune stepped out from the shadows "Ay-san, you seem to support Sakura-san in way, I was unaware Leaf and Cloud were allies, you gave your approval on Minato-san's venture after all" Mifune commented.
Trying to figure out Sakura for himself "Hehehe our villages are not allies, more like I owed Leaf and this is repaying that debt…..though the idea does hold merit" the Raikage mused, inwardly mulling the idea over.
Darui and Cee shared a smirk with one another "Whatever you decide Boss, we'll support you in your endeavors no matter where they end up leading you and on this blade of mine I vow to protect you through it all" Darui bowed.
"You'll need a medic of course and all of my expertise is solely to use at your discretion Raikage-sama" Cee bowed, both of them deciding in that moment that being allies with the Hidden Leaf Village wouldn't be such a bad thing.
Their mighty and powerful leader smirked "Interesting, it doesn't explain one thing though, Ay-san do you have a soft spot for Sakura-san is what I'm asking basically" Mifune questioned, being more blunt about it since he hadn't gotten an answer.
"A soft spot….could be it, I watched that brat, push herself just in order to protect her idiot teammates, the blonde and Uchiha brat, every day for a month, so perhaps I do" Ay shrugged not to sure why he was the way he was towards the girl.
Mifune hummed, stroking his beard as he turned and walked down the hall away from them, meanwhile up in her chosen guest room was Sakura and Temari, the two kunoichi were practically busting their guts laughing over Naruto.
Who was regaling them with tales of his pranking escapades back during the academy "And Iruka-sensei overheard so he decided to prank me instead" Naruto pouted, telling them of the time he'd asked Shino if he could flick some of his kikaichu at the girls in class to hear them scream.
"Oh kami I remember that, your scream was so shrill that I thought you were a girl for a moment" Sakura gasped out breathlessly, Naruto mock scowling at her before he couldn't stop the grin from overtaking his whiskered face.
On the opposite bed sat Gaara, Sasuke and Kankuro who couldn't quite seem to understand what was so funny "Lets not forget the one time you came up with that jutsu, I think you called it the Sexy Jutsu right, where you transformed into a beautiful naked girl" Sasuke chimed in.
Recalling one of his favorite pranks though he'd never let on back then "No….are you serious, tell me you didn't do that to your academy sensei…oh god you did" Kankuro cracked, finally laughing right alongside his sister when Naruto nodded.
"Yep and old man Hokage to, I got both of them with it, then as Sakura-chan politely told me it wasn't nice to do that sort of thing to guys when I myself am a guy so stopped cause she asked me to" Naruto explained.
It had been the first time she'd ever lectured him "Sakura was right, what would you have done if one of them had been a pervert and he'd found out you were a guy, he could have hurt you Naruto" Temari informed.
Finally calming down "By the way, you were outside awhile, are you alright especially after…." Gaara promptly sucked the amusement out of the air by asking Sakura if she was okay after the Tsuchikage had told them that Jinchuuriki had no right to live basically.
Sakura inhaled sharply to keep her temper under control then nodded "I'm okay Gaara, only pummeled a rock until there was nothing left of it and Cee-san healed my knuckles for me" Sakura admitted.
Sasuke quirked a brow but said nothing just as the door to the guest room was opened "There you Kids are, look at you having fun and what not, pays to be friends right, anyway meetings about to start up again so I volunteered to fetch you all" Genma chuckled.
Pleased to find Sakura in a much better mood and soon after they were in the large meeting room again, Itachi stuck in the middle again but the afternoon discussion was going to be much different apparently.
When Ay looked Minato dead in the eyes "I propose a treaty between Leaf and Cloud" Ay declared, Ohnoki spluttering in outrage at the proposition was heard in the background as the two Kage stared intently at one another.
Tension was steadily rising in the air until Minato looked away satisfied by what he'd seen in Ay's glare "Accepted, we can talk about this at another time Ay-san, for now let us return to our morning discussion" Minato relented.
From where he was sat Mifune listened to the arguments that came mostly from the Tsuchikage until the elder Kage said something that almost got himself killed "A trade, a life for a life, you want that Uchiha bastard free, then that girl gets executed in his place" Ohnoki sneered.
Minato stood with a murderous expression on his face, in fact he already had a kunai in hand "Hokage" Rasa warned as he manipulated his gold dust to block Minato's view of Ohnoki and vice versa until the blonde calmed down.
"It doesn't matter what you want Tsuchikage, three ruling Kage have already approved so therefore your demands are pointless when he'll just revoke Itachi-san's status anyway" Mei frowned deeply at the Tsuchikage.
Who was clearly grasping straws at this point trying to prevent the inevitable by suggesting stupid idiotic things like executing the man's daughter in place of Itachi, Minato had been about to become wrath incarnate if the Kazekage hadn't intervened.
Ohnoki glowered as he realized he was fighting a losing battle "There is no way I'll ever allow that Uchiha bastard to run free after he already committed countless crimes" Ohnoki growled, sneering at Itachi.
Rasa narrowed his eyes, a suspicion coming to mind "You know it seems to me that you hold bias towards the Uchiha…why is that Tsuchikage" Rasa questioned, certain that he was right that Ohnoki hated Uchiha.
And he was especially as Ohnoki violently flinched "None of them can be trusted, their evil right down to their very core and beyond any sort of redemption" the Tsuchikage raved, as they finally got to the root of his problem.
"That's only your opinion but I knew plenty of Uchiha that were kind, Mikoto Uchiha, Itachi-san, Shisui-san and Sasuke-san of course to name a few" Minato cut over the Tsuchikage's ranting about how Uchiha's were evil.
Mei furrowed her brow as she remembered Ao's mutterings awhile back about Shisui of Teleportation "Does that mean that the rumors about Shisui Uchiha being alive are true" Mei inquired curious.
Minato nodded "Yes apparently Shizune, Lady Tsunade's apprentice found him and he went around with them for over five years, Lord Third knew but told no one until Jiraiya went to track Lady Tsunade down" the blonde explained.
"What we should be talking about now since the former discussion has already been settled is how to deal with the rest of the Akatsuki organization, has your informant told you anything about who all is in the organization yet" the Raikage grumbled suddenly.
Deciding now was the best time to talk about that group, Minato paused then shook his head glancing in Sakura's direction "I can ask him the next time I speak with him" Sakura answered promptly feeling his gaze.
He tilted his head dismissing her from the meeting and Sakura vanished to her guest room where she sealed the door shut and placed a soundproofing seal as she prepared to perform one of her rituals "Oh mighty Jashin, god of this world, god of my flesh, god of my mind" Sakura began.
Lightly slashing her wrists over a bowl because she didn't want to get to bloody "God of my innermost will, every part of this world is within your power, you are within every part of this world, every part of me is within your power, you are within every party of me" she continued.
"Of my own free will, I acknowledge your power, of my own free will, I now present myself unto you" Sakura finished chanting as she took the bowl of her blood and sipped it delicately until she'd drank all that had been collected.
A second later her body convulsed and she fell over on the symbol of her god, blacking out and a moment after Sakura awoke to find herself in Jashin's garden "Daughter it is rare for you to visit me during the day" Jashin greeted.
When she entered the clearing where his thorn throne was located "Unless it was important, since I don't dare to un-suppress my secondary chakra, I needed to speak with you in person and ask you to get a message to Hidan for me Jashin-sama" Sakura explained.
Bowing before the God of Slaughter "The message" Jashin inquired and she quickly told him that the other Kage wished to know how many members there were in the Akatsuki Organization "Consider it done" Jashin relented.
"On one condition, Sakura come here" Jashin held up his hand when she turned to leave, she wouldn't dare ignore an order from him so when he beckoned her to come towards him, Sakura smoothly walked over to him.
Hesitantly climbing into his lap when he gestured her to "Bask in it, someday this could be you, when your mortal body dies should you wish to no longer be immortal, you'll rule this garden with me as my Goddess" Jashin murmured.
"That's a long ways off though Jashin-sama and there are many things I want to do when I accomplish my mission for you, such as rebuilding a temple, have Jashinism become widely spread and respected by teaching acolytes the proper way to follow the religion" Sakura giggled.
Jashin smiled down at her with a cruel smile that was also somehow fond at the same time "Quite ambitious are we, fear not you will have plenty of time, for now go back to your world and wreak havoc my precious daughter" Jashin chuckled darkly.
Pressing a kiss to her brow just before shuffling her from his lap and a moment later her presence faded from his garden, Sakura woke up from her self induced death state, cleaned up, healed herself and then dashed back to the meeting room.
"We'll know probably tomorrow" Sakura informed her father before returning to her spot between Naruto and Sasuke behind the large banner bearing their villages symbol, her teammates staring at her in confusion because they thought she was suppressing her secondary chakra.
Seeing as no new information was forthcoming yet though, the Kage's decided to end the meeting for the day "I don't know about you but I feel like a nice long walk after that stuffy meeting" Iwashi groaned.
"Agreed" Raido nodded, keeping the rest of his thoughts to himself as the two of them left, Genma on their heels to take a walk around outside after collecting their cloaks from their room and clipping the cloaks around their shoulders.
Once most had cleared out Naruto snagged Sakura by the wrist and drug her after him "Come on Sasuke stop lazing about" Naruto hollered at their teammate who jogged towards them until all three of them were sequestered away in the boy's room.
"Lucky you getting to do a ritual…it's been probably a month since we got to do one" Sasuke grumbled, as he recreated one of the seals Sakura constantly used on one of the paper tags and placed it over the door.
Indicating he was going to attempt to get a ritual in to satisfy Jashin "Not like I had a choice, since I have my second chakra suppressed I can't hear his voice like normal so I had to enter his garden via a ritual" Sakura huffed at them.
Taking a seat on the bed as they prepared "For all the things you mean to me, I thank you, for all the joy in my heart, the life in my spirit I give you thanks, Jashin, Father, you give me a reason to live, you give my life meaning" Naruto chanted.
Forgoing offering up blood this time, his beaded necklace in hand as he sat in seiza on the symbol of their combined blood "Every day is a treasure in which you encourage me to grow, you nudge me to enjoy every minutes, the signs you give me I treasure" Sasuke prayed.
"The dreams you send me, they guide me, your presence reassures I am not alone, for that there are no words, energy you give when I am weak, strength you pour into me when I must walk the difficult walk, when I am said you comfort me" Naruto and Sasuke intoned together.
Voices blending as one as they began nearing the end of their ritual "When people hurt me, you let me know you are on my side, you are everything I will ever need, your my father who I will go to with everything" Sasuke chanted.
In sync with Naruto "My teacher who guides me in all knowledge, my protector when I am in danger, my creator who made me who I am" Naruto prayed, feeling Jashin's presence washing over him briefly.
"And above all Jashin, you are my god with whom I will spend eternity, thank you with all my heart, thank you from the depths of my spirit, thank you with all that I am" Sasuke and Naruto finished, much calmer and more relaxed now.
Sakura clapped, praising them for a ritual done properly as they quickly cleaned up just as a knock came on the door and Sasuke ripped the tag down and stuffed it in his pouch "Look, I can't apologize for what Tsuchikage-sama said but it wasn't right of him to ask that" Kitsuchi said.
Having spent the last half hour looking for Sakura "No it wasn't nor was it right of him to claim Jinchuuriki are nothing but beasts, however it's not my place to demand an apology from Tsuchikage-sama" Sakura crossed her arms.
Clearly unimpressed, somewhat amusing the man before her "True, thank you for being mature about the whole thing" Kitsuchi waved with a small smile, glad the girl was rational as he wandered off to his room.
Later on after dinner Sakura ensconced herself in her guest room again and performed another ritual to speak with Jashin while she slept then crawled into her bed and drifted off "Hidan truly despises you it seems" Jashin chuckled darkly.
Amused at Hidan's jealously "But that does not mean he will slack in his duty as your informant, according to him there are at least nine members left, Pein the Leader, his partner Konan, then Sasori, Deidara, Kakuzu, Tobi who is new, Kisame, himself and Zetsu" Jashin informed.
Sakura memorized the names as he taught her some new things before sending her off to sleep for the rest of the night so she didn't wake up exhausted from a night spent awake in his garden, that did affect people after all.