SageModeSasuke: When coming up with the Hellhounds I honestly did debate bringing Kushina back to life but I decided against it. She'll be seen more of though.

Guest: Raylin was introduced in the first chapter. He's not important though so it's alright.

Guest: It means Kakashi was like only half-training him hahaha.

Dynasty Blade Master: Which OC? Margaret or the Oto kunoichi? The Oto Kunoichi's strength shall be explained in her next fight, which is in like 5(ish) chapters, and Margaret is Kakashi-level. Kakashi level is pretty high level for right now, but as we all know compared to later villains he isn't particular overpowered. The purpose of Gaara losing his arm is revealed next chapter my friend, so just be patient. Now where the hell is my cookie?

xNaruHina: Yeah...Naruto is an asshat.

Wolvmbm: Naruto learns about Kushina like in the next arc. Exactly in about like 3(again ish) chapters. Minato is gonna wait till the timeskip.

War

Hiruzen sat in his chair, looking at his three primary advisers and his two, still loyal, students. The village had just begun recovering from the dual attack of Sunagakure and Otogakure and was currently in a state of martial law. Hiruzen was running everything in the village, from the medical ward to the mobilization of shinobi forces all over the village.

Needless to say he was exhausted, and that was without excluding the taxing battle he had just went through.

"Hiruzen!"

Hiruzen frowned, his thoughts being disrupted by the loud voice of Koharu Utatane. Hiruzen's prevalent frown grew deeper, if that was possible.

"We need to respond Hiruzen," Koharu stated, the rage of the attack practically coming off the elderly woman in visible waves, "Sunagakure betrayed us! We have been wounded and Kumogakure and Iwagakure will be looking to annihilate us if we show any sign of weakness. We must strike back with a show of force!"

Homura Mitokado, one of the many males of the former Team Tobirama, couldn't help but nod in agreement. "Koharu is right Hiruzen. Right now we look like wounded lamb and that will not do to the wolves of those two militant villages. We have supported your decisions to keep the village less militant due to not being in times of war, yet you cannot deny that this is a time of war. We must strike hard and fast to have those who would dare attack us remember our strength."

Tsunade snorted at that. "With what forces? The majority of your shinobi are in the hospital. Note how you have next to no civilian casualties or injuries. Your shinobi sacrificed themselves to protect the civilians. Your forces are at an all time low. At best you have the clan shinobi and extremely skilled shinobi such as Kakashi Hatake. The majority of your Jonin are seriously injured through combat, and many more were specifically targeted or injured in combat with the Ten Desert Shinobi. The highest level shinobi you have running the village right now in terms of sheer number that can be active in the field, are Chunin."

Hiruzen frowned. Jiraiya sighed. However, that unintentionally drew attention to himself. "Speaking of forces, Jiraiya, for being the so-called spymaster you were rather incapable of finding and using this information," Koharu stated, the venom in her words lashing into Jiraiya's skin. Jiraiya frowned, looking down at the ground in shame. "I…I cannot fault these words. I failed to find the information leading up to the attack."

Koharu looked ready to pounce on Jiraiya, yet Hiruzen cut in, his words strong and firm. "Jiraiya was also the reason that I was capable of defeating Orochimaru and the very reason I am still alive."

Koharu wasted no time in responding. "Yet we could have killed Orochimaru and put a stop to him right then and there along with have more soldiers on our hand had he known of these plans beforehand." Hiruzen growled. "Enough Koharu! No spymaster is capable of knowing everything, no matter how skilled they may be. They simply are not all knowing. No one is."

Koharu growled, defiance bleeding off of her eyes before she sat down. Hiruzen nodded his appreciation, however Danzo spoke up soon afterwards. "War is the only available solution here Hiruzen."

Tsunade through her hands up in the air. "It's as if no one here listens to a single damn thing that I say," she muttered, stalking off to the edge of the room. Danzo was calm with her behavior, merely responding professionally. "If you had been here during the invasion maybe your words on our forces would not have been necessary."

Tsunade felt those words, despite hid it. They cut her, they bit into her being. Jiraiya jumped in to defend her before Danzo could continue. "At least she showed up. Where exactly were you during the time of the invasion?"

"Helping the village in ways you could never comprehend."

"Like what? Like using shinobi that-"

Hiruzen interrupted before Jiraiya could say something he would regret unintentionally in his passion, "Enough! The time for bickering internally is not now! It only makes us weaker!"

Everyone was silent and snapped their heads to the direction of Hiruzen, even Danzo, each one looking on in silent respect. Danzo begrudgingly gave the man a nod of approval. If there was one thing he could say, it was that the man had earned his rest and proven himself time and time again. That alone was enough to get Danzo's respect, despite how much he disagreed with the elderly Kage's ideals.

"Now let us focus…" Hiruzen stated, dragging it out. "Here is what we will do. Danzo, Koharu, Homura, you are each correct. For the transgressions Sunagakure and Otogakure made against us and simultaneously to save face we must declare war. It is the only logical decision."

Danzo, for the first time in many years, was truly surprised by Hiruzen's actions. He had not expected the man to so readily agree with him. He knew the man believed him to be a warhawk, something that wasn't untrue, but he was a warhawk for the right reasons and Hiruzen knew it. Yet for Hiruzen to adopt something that was so warhawk-like instead of searching to rebuild the alliance with Sunagakure, as word of the Kazekage's murder had gotten out fairly soon, well it was surprising.

Danzo smirked. It would not be difficult to guess who the next Kazekage would be. Soka Rayuken would be a powerful Kazekage indeed. However, it would probably be best. He was the strongest, and by far the most intelligent shinobi Sunagakure had to offer with the Kazekage's death. Genraika was simply to…impulsive to be a good leader, as powerful as he was.

Tsunade snorted, shaking her head, as Jiraiya looked on in horror.

"Hokage-sama-"

"But," Hiruzen emphasized, getting the attention of his two former students, "we will wait until our forces have started to return to their full strength, and that is final. Understood?"

The advisors and two of the three members of the Sannin nodded, clear focus written across their faces. Hiruzen nodded as they all stood to leave. However, before they could walk out he spoke, "Danzo can you wait outside? I need to have a conversation with Jiraiya and Tsunade briefly."

Danzo nodded, and patiently waited outside. Tsunade and Jiraiya merely turned, eyeing their teacher with confusion. Hiruzen gestured to the two seats in front of him, and they both sat down. Hiruzen sighed, and suddenly his face looked very old. Like the wear and tear from two terms as being Hokage had taken its toll. And that was ignoring his long, outstanding shinobi career.

"First off I would like to thank both of you for coming, especially you Tsunade. You came in a moment of dire need."

Tsunade merely nodded, her face almost devoid of any emotion. Hiruzen was used to the cold look from his student however, and continued on unfazed.

"Anyways, both of you are not going to like this conversation."

Jiraiya and Tsuande raised an eyebrow causing Hiruzen to frown at the thought of what he knew he had to do. He simply couldn't keep doing this anymore.

"I will not beat around the bush. One of you two is to take this hat from me in the next week."

Uproar.

Immediate.

Undisputed.

Uproar.

"WHAT!?" Tsunade roared, her chakra flaring momentarily. If Hiruzen hadn't sent his ANBU out of the room he was sure they would have taken it as a threat. Hell they probably still did if the faint whistling of wind outside was to mean anything.

"You can't be serious! You expect us to just take up yoru hat! No way! I refuse to ever wear that hat!"

Jiraiya nodded, although his reasons were quite different. "While my reasons differ sensei, I could never wear that hat."

Hiruzen sighed, shaking his head. "And that is inherently the problem. Jiraiya with the seal you put on me slowly losing its affect it will not be long until I no longer have access to my chakra. However, more than that I am old. If I had not had that seal the fight with Orochimaru could have gone much, much worse. In time of war, the village needs a new, younger face to rally behind. The current Jonin cannot bear the weight of the task. Maybe Kakashi or Asuma in the future, however neither have the experience nor the sheer power to be capable of this task yet. You two are the only options that the village has."

Before the duo could respond Hiruzen began to methodically shut down any and all responses.

"There shall be no arguing. I do not have a preference to who takes over the bearing of my hat, however one of you will be taking over it. That is not an option. Jiraiya," Hiruzen stated, focusing on him first. "I understand your reasons. You believe that the most useful place for you would be in the spymaster position to keep track of our enemies, and you believe you are undeserving of the Hokage hat. You believe you aren't the right pick for the hat. While some of those beliefs are somewhat valid you are wrong."

Jiraiya opened his mouth.

Hiruzen promptly shut it.

"No! Jiraiya you are wise, powerful, and intelligent. You have the respect of every single shinob in the village, man and women alike, despite your rather…inappropriate habits. As a matter of fact, I know that because of those habits you do not think you are a good candidate. However, every Hokage has their faults. I am by no means the perfect Hokage. And please? You act as if you weren't going to cultivate Naruto into the spymaster to follow in your footsteps until he decided to be Hokage. Don't act so arrogant. Yes, this will likely accelerate your timetable for his training but I'm afraid it is a mandatory action. It would take some time, but it is entirely possible. When I gave you the position of spymaster it was not to use them as a shield to become that which you once dreamed of becoming."

Jiraiya was silent.

"And as for you Tsunade, your ground are even less valid then Jiraiya's."

Tsunade, infuriated by the words, mistaking them as insulting her pain, was about to speak up in vengeful defiance, yet Hiruzen cut her off.

"Make no mistake I do pity your loss. It was a regrettable one. Everyone here knows how much it broke you. That is why I gave you time off. To grieve. If you thought I had given you time off to harbor resentment against the village that Nawaki and Dan loved, than you are sorely mistaken."

"What would you know about them! You have no right to speak about them! You sent them off to their deaths!"

"Yes I did!" Hiruzen roared, his voice filling the room like thunder. Tsunade immediately quieted, remembering that this was not just her sensei and begrudging father-figure when her own died. He was also the God of Shinobi. He was also her Kage. He was not simply the kind old man he tried to be.

"I sent them off to their deaths," Hiruzen muttered, grief and pain flooding his voice. "I sent many shinobi off to their deaths. That is what the Hokage does. You choose the shinobi you think can accomplish the mission, with the least possible number of casualties. Or you put someone in charge who does. Do not simply think that because of that I do not feel their loss! I feel their loss more than anyone! Shinobi are not simply blades of the village! Shinobi are the very soul of the Hokage! They are what wakes him up and lets him go back to sleep. They are his family! I know every shinobi by name. All that serve me. All that served under me. All that served under my predecessors. All those that died under my watch."

Tsunade's eyes were wide.

"I know your pain…I understand your heartbreak. But you must understand that you are needed here! In the village! Inspiring hope! Their deaths once gave you drive. A reason to live that pushed you to make a change in the next generation. How will you make that change without having the Hokage hat? The best way to make a generation of at least one medic on each team, or continued generations, is with this hat. Nawaki and Dan would have been elated, no, loved, to see you carry out their dream when they themselves were incapable of it. They knew what you were capable of. They understood the fact that you would be capable of great things. They knew you. They understood that you would be a great Hokage. And by running away from their village, their dream, you spit on their very memory. And that is unacceptable."

Tsunade sat there in stunned silence, her breath caught in her throat.

Hiruzen calmed himself. "Like I stated I do not care which of you takes up this hat of mine. However, one of you will and will be anointed as the next Hokage in the following week. Talk amongst each other to decide. Now leave."

Jiraiya and Tsunade slowly stood, walking out of the room, their faces in shocked silence. Danzo watched with a slight mixture of amusement and confusion. He had never seen the two so…silent, bar when someone close to them died. It was not something he truly saw often.

He would have to make sure he saw more of it.

Without waiting for his summoning he walked into the room, sitting on the chair in front of his old rival.

"What is it you desire Hiruzen?"

Hiruzen frowned, the words struggling to come out of his very lips. He did not like the option that he was resorting to, but in a war between shinobi, he who struck first usually won. And Konoha was on the backfoot.

That was unacceptable.

Hiruzen licked his lips, steeling himself, clenching his fists as he realized the amount of power this gave the warhawk before him. However, it was necessary. Danzo would have to be taken care of in the future.

"I am in need of ROOT."

Danzo looked surprised for a brief moment before a dark smile grew on his face, his eyes narrowing.

"Keep talking…"

XxX

"You finally woke up eh, Sasuke?"

Sasuke groaned, his vision blurry and swimming as he awoke from a rather long nap. The Uchiha groaned, holding his head as he tried to sit up, only to groan in immense pain. He felt a pair of delicate hands gently push him back into bed.

"You idiot. Trying to move so soon? You were seriously hurt. You had multiple bruises, fractures all over your body, ruptures due to compression and deformation, and internal bleeding. You're lucky to be alive frankly. What the hell did you fight? A building?"

Sasuke knew that voice.

"Sakura…I fought…I don't know exactly what I fought. He was one of Orochimaru's minions sent to fight after me. I was ambushed. He fought kind of like an Akimichi."

"An Akimichi," the Uchiha heard, his vision finally clearing to see Kakashi's mop of hair and mask. "There are no records of a traitorous Akimichi in the entirety of Konoha history. They're debatably the most loyal clan."

Sasuke shrugged. "I dunno. He could enlarge and shrink his body at will though. And he hit harder than you Kakashi-sensei. He could even amplify it with Doton jutsu. And then his friend helped him."

"Friend?"

Sasuke looked at Sakura, nodding. "Yeah, some guy named Kigiri. Oh, and the other guy was named Gozu. Kigiri could use some sort of smoke-based ninjutsu, but he really wasn't much of a threat. It was when that Gozu guy started using Orochimaru's mark…that was when I lost control of the fight."

"Orochimaru's mark," Kakashi said, already worried. Sasuke nodded, a frown on his face. "Yes. The same mark I have, although I think it's a more completed version. The chakra he gained was tainted. My own is simply a sheer outpouring of ferocious chakra."

Kakashi frowned. That was worrisome news. From what he had heard from Sakura's story, at the very least a few of Orochimaru's shinobi had his curse mark on them. If so, then they could prove very dangerous when war finally started. Kakashi looked down at Sasuke, his eyes narrowing on Sasuke's neck. He didn't trust such a mark on Sasuke. Every drop of power you gained came at a price, especially those that seemed to be gifts. Chakra was a reflection of people. Orochimaru probably didn't have as much control over the boy as he would with a complete curse mark, but there definitely had to be some lingering effect of using his chakra.

However, before Kakashi could warn Sasuke about the dangers of using Orochimaru's chakra Sakura spoke up.

"A curse mark? I fought someone like that too. Only the person I fought had a weird liquid-based jutsu that even Hinata's Gentle Fist couldn't break through. The guy, Nurari, also could use some form of markings. He defeated Hinata and I with them. The only reason we're alive is because Hinata distracted him and he had to retreat. Otherwise…Hinata and I would be dead."

Sasuke frowned. This news was not good at all. If this people with these markings were this powerful, to defeat him, and also Hinata and Sakura, both of which he acknowledged as rather powerful kunoichi for their rank, well, it was worrying.

Kakashi thought similarly. "In the upcoming war against them you all need to be very careful," Kakashi said. He looked at all three of his students, even the strangely quiet Naruto. "If you encounter any of these shinobi with these markings find a Jonin or higher immediately. All of you are about low Chunin-level in strength. If you do not have a group, be very wary when fighting these opponents."

Sakura snorted. "Well maybe I do. Sasuke was ambushed. And Naruto beat Gaara! There's no way he'd lose to one of these guys if he defeated a Jinchuriki!"

Sasuke looked wide eyed at Naruto. "You beat Gaara?" He couldn't help but feel a small pang of jealousy in his heart. Naruto had defeated someone he himself knew he couldn't defeat. How had he done it? He had always considered Naruto and he to be fairly equal in strength, even when Naruto lost in the preliminaries. How did he widen the gap so vastly in only one month? It didn't make any sense!

Naruto frowned, a storm of emotions raging in his eyes as he looked at the three people looking at him, waiting for his confirmation. Internally he debated if he should tell them what had really happened. Yes, he had defeated Gaara.

By sacrificing his soul.

Even now Naruto felt the change within him. It was small, but he felt it. Relinquishing his mind to the Kyuubi, it had left a small part of him more animalistic. More demonic. More primal. Something deep inside of him had changed. It was not enough to be a serious issue now, but it was definitely worrisome. He couldn't afford to use the Kyuubi's chakra until he was positive that he had tamed himself.

That was a weird feeling.

"No it's all true. I managed to defeat Gaara. It wasn't easy though. I nearly died."

He ignored the snort of amusement he heard from deep within his mind.

He would deal with that later. Much, much later.

"You don't have a scratch on you Naruto," Sasuke stated. Naruto frowned. "Sasuke, it's been three days since the invasion, that's more than enough time for the Kyuubi to heal me with it's chakra. Remember, I have an accelerated healing process not only because of my clan, but also due to me being a Jinchuriki."

Dead silence.

"Wait what? You have a clan?"

Naruto looked at Sakura nodding. "I'm really surprised we never noticed it. They are mentioned in history, although it's fleeting. The Uzumaki Clan. They helped build Konohagkaure. The spiral symbol on flak jackets and buildings? That was their clan crest."

Sakura's eyes widened. "Wait Uzumaki? Like as in Mito Uzumaki?" Naruto frowned, yet he nodded. "Yes, although I don't know how I'm related to her."

Sakura's eyes sparkled. "No way! That's so cool! You're related to the Shodai! You're practically royalty Naruto! You're kinda like a prince! That must be so cool!"

Naruto frowned, shaking his head. "No…it's not."

Sakura raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"It's simple," Sasuke stated, interrupting. He could read the look on Naruto's face. "While the situations may be different…Naruto has no family in Konoha. Whoever his family was, those Uzumaki died on his birthday, the day the Kyuubi attacked. He is the Last Uzumaki."

Naruto smiled, although it was filled with grief and regret. "It seems we're more alike than we though, huh Sasuke?"

Sasuke frowned, he could see just how deep the new knowledge of his family cut. The emotions on his face didn't even truly acknowledge his pain.

He would talk to his rival, friend, about that later. Sasuke raised an eyebrow at his thoughts.

Rival?

While it was true it was rare when he truly called Naruto that in his head. He knew that he was perhaps the closest friend that he had. Sasuke shook it off. Maybe the new knowledge of Naruto's clan and his power had led him to calling him by the more aggressive title.

Sakura frowned. She wasn't a fan of the morbid humor Naruto was releasing. It was not normal. He was usually a ray of sunshine, a beam of unstoppable happiness and excitement. He was only this serious when the Kyuubi was involved in something. Then again she couldn't blame him, the Kyuubi had likely killed his parents, and he had the beast sealed within him.

Kakashi always knew how to lighten the mood.

"All of you will need to go to the war meeting tonight."

The Genin members of Team 7 looked at Kakashi, confusion written on all of their faces.

"War meeting?" Sasuke asked.

Sakura frowned. "I thought Genin didn't participate in war due to the fact that many did not think they were skilled enough?" Kakashi nodded. "That is true. Hokage-sama made it a law that Genin, unless Konoha is severely outgunned, are not allowed to participate in war. However, with the Chunin Exams having so recently taken place all Genin that showed competent levels of battle efficacy are being called to battle. And you all undoubtedly know that we are still undermanned from the Kyuubi attack. Luckily not every Genin is being called into service, but many may be."

Sakura raised an eyebrow. "So all of us are being enlisted in order to fight?" Kakashi nodded, a solemn look on his face. "I tried to protect you, but I'm afraid no one will be persuaded. Sakura, you showed a lot of skill during the exam."

Sasuke frowned. "You only said Sakura." Kakashi nodded. "Due to the power the Sharingan holds the council is sending you into battle Sasuke. And Naruto is the Kyuubi Jinchuriki. No matter what I said, they responded very simply. Jinchuriki were created for war."

Naruto nodded, thinking back to his fight with Gaara. That was why they needed him. It wasn't solely to tear down the enemy forces, no, many capable Jonin could fight equally with a Jinchuriki for at least a brief amount of time, surely enough to stop them from releasing the beast inside with a simple seal. Especially considering the fact that he was a mere Genin no less. No, they were using him as a deterrent. He would be sent to the front lines. He would be used in stopping any and all advancement of Gaara. If their Jinchuriki moved, Naruto was supposed to be the one to stop him, or worse, kill him.

"I understand," Naruto muttered, his eyes hard. "I have one duty. Stop, or kill Gaara. I am Konoha's weapon. In this war, I am the Queen on the chess board."

The entire room was silent at that.

XxX

Soka frowned as he sat in a dark room, the Kazekage office, looking over everything. Wiping his hand on the desk in front of him he looked at the picture that sat before him. The previous Kazekage, the Sabaku families father, smiling, long before he became the power hungry man he died as. Silently he examined the picture, wondering if he too would become like his predecessors. Every Kazekage seemingly became obsessed with power after they took on the mantle. Whether it was the reputation of Sunagakure being the weakest shinobi village, or simply the never ending desire for control that all shinobi had buried within them he wasn't sure, but he knew that they did not die as the good people they once were.

Soka prayed that he would be different, but he somehow did not feel like he would be. He was powerful yes, physically, but mentally? He was a skilled leader, but leading a battalion and leading an entire village were very different things. He was not sure if he was capable of handling strain of that magnitude. The responsibility that had been thrust upon him was a heavy one, and his once strong shoulders already cowed under the weight.

With war on the horizon, Soka wondered when they just might collapse.

He had tried to grasp at the fickle straws of peace after the invasion, however Konohagakure would have none of it. Soka could not blame them. Accepting peace now would make them look even weaker than they undoubtedly already were. Iwagakure and Kumogakure would have pounced like wolves if they got the scent of a wounded Konohagakure. A tri-pronged war against those two villages and Otogakure was not something Konoha would live through. Sunagakure undoubtedly would have been roped into the battle as well, leading to another Shinobi World War. Kirigakure would be the only one left out of the fighting, even if momentarily. They would be overthrown by the resistance or dominated by a foreign shinobi force before they were truly able to stand once again.

Even now the world was threatened with the possibility of another world war. All it would take would be for Kumogakure to strike at Konoha, and Iwagakure would surely join in out of fear of Kumo becoming to powerful.

That was without even considering the possible threat of Orochimaru and whatever forces caused the disappearance Kazekage. As of now many believed Orochimaru murdered the man, but he would have left the body out to rot in front of Sunagakure as a message to not defy him in the battlefield. They were still allied after all. However, the man did no such thing, and thus Soka was hesitant on declaring war on him. As it was now Suna lacked the capability to defeat Otogakure and a weakened Konoha, no matter how few their forces were on either side. Konoha had more quality than quantity, but Orochimaru countered that with his own forces. If Suna had declared war on the Snake Sannin Otogakure easily would have risen up as a new great shinobi village, with the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind under its grip. That, or Iwa and Kumo would have united to fight against the rising Otogakure, leading to two empires, Kumogakure and Iwagakure. Kirigakure likely would have been dominated by Kumogakure, as it was closer to the them than Iwa.

Faced with these impossible choices Soka did what any leader would have to do.

He fought for his villages right to live.

He could only hope that his efforts would be good enough for it all to matter in the end.

Sighing Soka put on his Kazekage hat, standing up. As his robes fell tightly on his muscular frame he began to walk out of the office, and onto a stage in front of the entire shinobi force of Sunagakure. He could eye civilians watching from their homes, and some even on the streets, each eager to hear the news.

These were his people.

His pride and his joy.

And he would not let them down.

XxX

Another failed experiment. How sick of this disgusting, filthy failures he was. He put his time and effort, his heart and soul into creating the perfect weapon, and people cruelly denied him a masterpiece with their frail, weak bodies. How defiant they were.

He would show them.

They would be another one of his monstrosities to use in combat.

No one could defy the Snake Sannin, not even in death.

He always found uses for the bulging, fearsome creatures he created. He never half-assed anything. They would all be his weapons of war. His foot soldiers that would wreak havoc on the battlefield and strike terror into the hearts of his enemies.

Orochimaru sighed. Even with his power he grew worried. Someone had killed the Kazekage, and that someone had not been him. Someone with the power to kill Kages was running around, and with the lack of a body he couldn't deny the one group that came to mind.

Akatsuki.

The mysterious disappearance of the Kazekage's body fit the bill of one shinobi he knew rather personally, one former Sunagakure shinobi. Yet Orochimaru couldn't believe that they were even ready to mobilize yet. They had been years from it when he had joined, and now, only a few years after he had abandoned them, they were already making such big plays.

They had to have gained some rather powerful members to truly be ready to start acting like this. When he was in the group the most powerful members were he and Itachi. They must have gained monsters that even he could not defeat for them to be so confident in striking so publically. Then again he had to give them credit. They did make it seem like he was the one who killed the Kazekage, something not outside his range of capabilities, even injured as he was now. It was a rather good play on their part.

Orochimaru clenched the ring on his hand, a frown on his face. They must be hunting for him, that much was obvious. They needed their rings for their extractions. That was why he had taken the ring. It allowed him to tamper with a Bijuu's power. One alone couldn't start an extraction process, but it could weaken a Bijuu's power. Two made it possible for even S-class shinobi to face a Bijuu, no matter its strength. All ten were supposed to be able to extract a Bijuu from its host. The slap to the face he gave them as he left, taking their ring with them, must have been something they couldn't accept.

They were obviously trying to get someone to hunt him down. But that didn't make any sense. He could easily hide the ring and no one would be capable of finding it. From what he knew it was not connected to anyone's particular chakra but the bearer. They would have to kill him themselves, and their were so few of them that actually possessed that capability. He could count those in the Akatsuki that could kill him with one hand.

So they had to have gained a truly frightening shinobi to do something like this. Then again this seemed to be the work of Sasori, and Orochimaru never bothered to consider Sasori a threat. Maybe it was Sasori's partner and he just reaped the rewards? No. That didn't make sense either. Sasori was to prideful to let something like that happen. Yet Pain would not allow anyone to risk them being exposed, despite his rather relaxed commanding position. They couldn't be strong enough to take on every single Hidden Village. They had to have some sort of ace in the hole. Even Pain couldn't beat all the five Kage at the same time.

It didn't make any sense. It had to be the personal will of Sasori to go out and do this, without Pain's permission. Pain was not the kind of man to sacrifice his own goals for that of others. The man was pretentious enough to call himself a god after all.

How Orochimaru loathed that man. The power he held surpassed even his own, Orochimaru could not deny him that. It was all in that accursed Rinnegan the man held. Strip that away and he would be nothing, nothing at all. Orochimaru snarled, slight fangs sticking out of his mouth. Slowly creeping towards a room he opened the door slightly to see Guren playing with a young child.

Orochimaru smiled.

He would have to act soon in acquiring the Sharingan. For his true ace in the hole, lay in that boy and Kirigakure. He could only hope that Yagure would die sooner rather than later. If the young Mizukage did not die, Orochimaru did not know how he would acquire the power he held. He needed the Sanbi's power, and a pathetic worm would not deny him the power he so desperately desired.

The immortality he craved.

Orochimaru silently closed the door, returning to his test lab and opening up another victim. He wasn't truly experimenting, only venting his anger out on the insect before him. Orochimaru's thoughts couldn't help but lead back to the Kyuubi Jinchuriki. He was powerful and growing at a truly scary pace. He was already capable of stopping Gaara and the might of Shukaku, and he was only a Genin with the abilities of a Chunin now. He couldn't deny the boy would grow up to be more fearsome than his father. Even more so with the Kyuubi at his beck and call, and the hellhounds.

Orochimaru's eyes widened as he finished off his victim, a slit to the mans throat ending his suffering. The idea that popped into his mind was bloody brilliant.

What was better than having one Jinchuriki and the Sharingan?

Simple.

Having two.

Even Akatsuki couldn't stop that.

XxX

Naruto blinked as he stood in front of a rather plain door. According to the Anbu this man had called him. Naruto found that strange. He had only met the man once, and it was a rather odd meeting Naruto regarded as a surreal experience. Furthermore, he hadn't truly had the time to find him that often. However, despite these questions running through his mind he politely knocked on the door.

The door opened not a second later, revealing the elderly man. "Ah, so you came Naruto-kun."

Naruto nodded, walking in as the man waved him inside, closing the door quietly behind him. Naruto raised an eyebrow, the behavior the man was showing strange. Then again the man he was visiting was quite strange. You didn't last through a shinobi career without being strange. Naruto shuddered at the thought.

If he survived what would he be like?

"Well, you did call me sir, I wanted to know what you wanted."

"Sir is very formal. Simply call me Danzo." Naruto nodded, respectfully waiting for Danzo to answer. "I called you here to ask what your opinion was."

Naruto frowned, following Danzo as he led him to the backyard, sitting down at a tea table. Naruto quickly followed suite, his eyes narrowing as he saw the premade tea sitting before them.

"I hope you do enjoy tea. It was all I could make on such short notice." Naruto smiled, shaking his head. "It's fine. I enjoy tea." Danzo nodded, taking a sip, his lone eye watching Naruto carefully. Naruto wanted to squirm under the intense gaze. Just like the last time they met he felt very…uncomfortable around the man; it was like he was being tested, and his very words decided if he passed or failed. Naruto did not think he wanted to know what would happen to him if he happened to fail one of these so called tests.

"I think that it's disappointing."

"Disappointing?"

Naruto nodded. "Yeah. Don't get me wrong I harbor some sort of resentment to both Otogakure and Sunagakure but…the fact that there is no other solution but violence is sad. Violence never really seems to solve anything. It creates a tentative peace as villages try and lick their wounds before reengaging in the process. It never truly achieves anything. For example, look at Sunagakure. They retreated because of the power vacuum that would be created from Konohagakure being destroyed. But…going to war would only continue to weaken both villages, creating a larger power vacuum, especially if either village is destroyed. More so, if they truly didn't want a power vacuum then they wouldn't have attacked. If they were attempting to show their superiority they should have wiped us out. The knowledge of me defeating their Jinchuriki has spread like wildfire. That fact makes it look like they ran because Konoha's Jinchuriki was stronger than their own. Right now, Konoha still looks stronger. They didn't even kill our Kage, luckily, and they had Orochimaru on their side."

Danzo frowned but nodded nonetheless, seemingly satisfied with the answer that Naruto gave. "I see your viewpoint. You think the villages lack courage." Naruto frowned. "Not courage…I think that violence isn't the answer. Their necessity to solve violence with violence only perpetuates it more. There has been no situation in which two clashing forces have both settled down together to form something lasting."

"The Uchiha and the Senju no?" Danzo countered.

"Madara Uchiha," Naruto rebutted. Danzo gave a half grin, one Naruto took as approval. "What about the alliance between Konoha and Kumo?"

Naruto frowned. "After what Neji proclaimed at the Chunin Exams I hardly find that disastrous failure even worth using as an example." Danzo nodded, giving in to Naruto. "I see…and what does this tell you about our society as shinobi?"

"That it's flawed." Danzo's eyes revealed nothing of his emotions on this answer, whether it be approval or disapproval.

"I see. That is enough games for today. I invited you over here for reasons other than simply seeing if you possessed the capabilities to understand the world around you." Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Than why did you call me here?"

Danzo reached to his side, pulling out a board that he layed on the table, a small smirk dancing across his mouth. "Do you know how to play?" Danzo asked, drawing a shogi piece. Naruto grumbled, an annoyed look on his face. "Yes…but I really hate this game." Danzo nodded. "Well it would be a rather ineffective teaching method if you were on par with Shikamaru or Shikaku Nara. As reluctant as I am to admit it both of them could probably beat me in a match."

Naruto simply snorted. "Teaching method?"

Danzo smiled, setting the board and gesturing to Naruto as he moved immediately, his movements silent. "Yes. You will remain here until you manage to defeat me in a game of shogi."

Naruto groaned, looking up at the ceiling with an annoyed look on his face. "DAMN IT ALL TO HELL!"

XxX

A man in that looked eerily similar to a younger Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in the forest, the canopy providing his body with shade. The man simply frowned as he thought back to what he had heard in the last village he had left.

(-Flashback-)

"Hey did you hear about that blonde-haired kid from Konohagakure?" a man said to a slightly younger woman draped on his arm. The woman glanced at him, confused. "No? What happened?" The man smiled, his eyes sparking up. "I heard that during Konoha's invasion a blonde-haired kid with whisker-like markings on his face defeated that massive sand demon."

"No way," the girl cried out, confusion written all over her face. "A blonde haired brat did that? That doesn't seem possible." The man nodded, going on to tell the story, obviously embellishing many parts to it. Neither noticed another, armored man sitting to the table next to them, an annoyed look on his face.

"A blonde haired whiskered kid," the armored man muttered, a frown on his face. "There's only one person in Konoha with a face like that…"

(-Flashback-)

"Naruto Uzumaki…"

The man snarled, clenching his fist. "The proof that Minato Namikaze someone possessed my angel. The stain on her legacy."

The man snarled, his visage akin to that of an enraged ape that stared down on his enemies. Vile chakra leaked off of him, killing off the flora around him, letting the sun pierce him with its gaze. Suddenly thin streams of red light trailed off of his armored form, slithering in the air. The man snarled, his chakra rushing outwards in a pulse.

"I will snuff it out."

Okay I know you all are mad at me. But you literally cannot blame me for the lack of updates. I live with my entire family, and am sadly a rather broke human being. Who owns two dogs. The youngest one still isn't house trained yet and PISSED ON THE MOTHERFUCKING MODEM. I literally got my internet back today. I could only respond to PMs, sadly, by using my phone. It wouldn't let me write. However, I did have access to some of my stories however, namely being a new Naruto idea I thought of, this story, and LW. So those will all be updated. Bar the new Naruto story. So yes, I suck. But it's not actually my fault. I have an entire summers worth of homework to do in about 2 weeks now, so I'll be off.