Naruto slips into stealth mode, ready to enact Madoka's plan to take down the creepy Grass team. The team is strong, they know that much. The team leader has long hair, and it is hard to tell if that perfectly chiseled face belongs to a man or a woman. Either way, that team of straw-hat wearing freaks is going down.
Sasuke and Madoka signal that they are in position. Naruto grins and erects a barrier around the Grass team. This barrier is one of Iruka nisan's inventions; he specializes in barrier seals. Once the barrier is erected, Naruto sends a shadow clone into the seal to let off an attack seal
"Fuuin," says the clone. "Wrath of Steve." The ground inside the seal erupts in rock-hard earth spikes, which shatter, sending a rain of tiny projectiles spinning around the inside of the barrier. The clone is completely destroyed by the attack, and a moment later, Naruto sees a brief vision of the three Grass ninjas retreating underground to avoid his attack. Did he just get the clone's memories?
Naruto gives his team mates the signal to move in. The three Leaf genins creep into the seal, ready to attack or be attacked.
The long haired grass ninja rises from the ground, a sickly smile on his? her? face. "Well, that was impressive," it says. "But do you really think it would do anything to us?"
"Well, it would be nice, I guess," says Naruto. "We kinda want your scroll."
"It's adorable how you think you can beat me," says the Grass genin, licking its lips in a creepy fashion.
The last thing Fugaku expected to spend the rest of that day doing was discussing a security breach with the Hokage. Normally, Ibiki would just take the security issues to the head of security - one Fugaku Uchiha. Fugaku is not used to having to refer these things on to the Hokage - the reason his job exists is to save the Hokage the headache. And yet, here he is, standing by while Ibiki gives his report to the Hokage.
"Lord Hokage," says Ibiki, bowing slightly. "I finally found a way to convince our prisoner to talk, and what he revealed is most interesting."
"Tell me everything he said," says Lord Third, folding his hands together under his chin.
"Word for word he said: 'I work for Orochimaru! She's planning to invade the Hidden Leaf during the final stage of the Chunin Exams! She has sharingan now, and she wants to test its power! Now please, get this thing off me!'" reports Ibiki.
"What was he talking about at the end?" asks Hiruzen, frowning. "What was on him?"
"THAT is your first question?" demands Fugaku. "There are plenty of other questions to ask before THAT one!"
"It's quite alright, Fugaku," says Lord Third. "I am simply starting with the question that will take the least time to answer. That man was quite hard to crack, so what did you put on him to break him so thoroughly?"
"Well," says Ibiki, eager to share his secrets with his boss. "The prisoner was discovered to possess a crippling fear of babies. This afternoon, before the second round of the chunin exams officially began, a baby appeared amongst the exam entrants, looking for his big sister. Anko asked me to take the child home, but I took a slight detour via the T&I department and asked the baby if he would like to help me convince the prisoner to tell me what I want to know. He was all too eager. So I placed the boy on the prisoner's lap. The prisoner started screaming for me to remove the child, who responded by hugging the prisoner. The prisoner then spilled what I just told you and demanded the child be removed. Surprisingly, the baby climbed off the man himself and seemed quite proud that he made the man talk."
"Um…" Fugaku is not quite sure how he should feel about this. "How in the hell did you know my baby knew what he was doing to that prisoner?"
"If you had seen that grin he gave me when I asked him if he wanted to help me convince the man to talk, you would know that he knew," says Ibiki. "And after the man talked, that little pirate of yours ran right up to me and grinned like a little devil, and said 'talk', in a way that could only mean he KNEW EXACTLY what he just did."
"Does Eizo seriously learn all his words when I'm not around?" Fugaku is not sure whether to be happy or sad. Or depressed. Or angry. Or upset. Or proud. Or…
"Fugaku, what's gotten you so down?" asks Ibiki. "There is a literal black cloud hanging over your head."
"Itachi is pregnant, Sasuke entered the chunin exams against my orders, Eizo is a professional interrogator, and he is learning to walk and talk whenever I am not looking, the people from my clan who deserted the village went to Orochimaru and now he has the sharingan, the village is in danger of being attacked, that bloody kitten still doesn't have a name and I haven't had sex in a month because Eizo keeps interrupting."
"You poor man," says Ibiki. "I would be happy to look after Eizo so you can get it on with your wife."
"Thank you," says Fugaku, feeling much better. "Now, about this invasion: I have an idea. It is a risky idea, but it will stop any panic from spreading."
"You cheered up pretty quickly," remarks the Hokage.
"Let me cope by planning ways to protect the village!"
"Alright, let's hear this idea."
Fugaku takes a calming breath. He is not going to think about anything except the impending invasion. "Orochimaru does not know, at this stage, that we know he is planning to invade us," explains Fugaku. "If we can keep that information from getting out by, for example letting slip that a prisoner killed himself and then actually killing said prisoner, we can allay any suspicion he might have. Then we can carry on as if we do not know of the invasion, but have security on high alert during the exam finals."
"Are you suggesting that I murder one of my prisoners and make it look like a suicide?" asks Ibiki, an expression of interest on his face.
"Yes, murder him."
Ibiki smiles, and it is terrifying. "I will, and with pleasure."
"But how do we beef up security without Orochimaru noticing?" asks the Hokage. "If we increase the number of police and ANBU on patrol too drastically, he will know we know something."
"Simple," says Fugaku. "We have the off-duty ANBU and police on alert as well. If we have the ANBU spread around the village in groups of three, with one in ANBU gear, one in normal shinobi gear and one in civilian clothes, then they will be far less conspicuous. The on-duty police will do their normal thing, but the off-duty police can go to the stadium, which is most likely where Orochimaru will be if his target is you, Lord Hokage. If Sasuke makes it to the final round that will easily explain the Uchiha clan's presence. If she doesn't, well I will think of something. Either way, I would like to be your personal bodyguard that day, Lord Hokage."
"That will hardly be necessary, Fugaku," says Lord Third. "My usual bodyguard will be enough, I am sure."
"Does your usual bodyguard possess the Mangekyou Sharingan?" asks Fugaku. It is about time the Hokage knew, and Ibiki is not likely to tell all and sundry.
"No, he does not. Why do you ask?" Lord Third's tone of voice tells Fugaku he does not believe the Mangekyou sharingan exists.
"If Orochimaru attacks you and he has somehow acquired the sharingan, only another sharingan user will be able to stand up to him," says Fugaku. "And if he took even the weakest of the sharingans belonging to those deserters, you will need the mangekyou."
"I am sure I can handle Orochimaru alone," says Lord Third.
"And I am sure that you are old and out of practice," says Fugaku. "Orochimaru is not old, and he recently acquired a power up of great magnitude. On top of that, we must assume that he knows the secrets in the Sacred Scroll of Sealing. If Orochimaru is planning to attack the Leaf, it is because he is sure he can win, or at least kill you."
Lord Third is about to speak, but Ibiki interrupts. "With all due respect, Lord Hokage, I think what Fugaku is trying to tell you is that the rumors are true and he does, in fact, possess the mangekyou sharingan."
"You will forgive me if I do not immediately believe you," says Lord Third.
Fugaku sighs and closes his eyes. Then he opens them again, showing the Hokage his mangekyou sharingan. "I gained these eyes in the Third Great Ninja War," Fugaku tells him. "I have kept them secret to protect the village and my clan. But the time has come to use them to protect the Hidden Leaf. Shisui also bears the mangekyou sharingan, but that too must be kept secret. Please, Lord Hokage, allow me to guard you during the Chunin Exam Finals." Fugaku deactivates his mangekyou sharingan.
Ibiki says, "Lord Third, I agree with Lord Fugaku. It is too dangerous, both for you and for the village, to allow you to fight Orochimaru alone. For the sake of the Hidden Leaf, let's follow Fugaku's plan."
Lord Third sighs. "Very well. I do not like it, but I will follow Fugaku's plan. I would have preferred to face Orochimaru alone, though. He was my student, and it is my responsibility to deal with him."
"Forgive me for my bluntness, Lord Hokage," says Fugaku. "But that is bull s###. No rogue ninja is that ninja's teacher's fault. It is the whole village's fault. They say it takes a village to raise a child, so if that child falls into darkness, the village is at fault. Many things influenced Orochimaru; no matter what you tell yourself, it is not your fault that he turned out the way he did."
"Fugaku is right," agrees Ibiki. "You should not blame yourself, or take on the responsibility of dealing with Orochimaru alone."
Lord Third sighs. "You are right, of course, but that does not erase my guilt."
"Your guilt is the village's guilt, Lord Third," says Fugaku. "And since Orochimaru's sharingan came from members of my clan, it is only fair that I help you fight him. However, it is not my fault they deserted. It is the village's fault as a whole. So, please, do not feel like it is your fault alone that Orochimaru deserted."
"Now that we have that sorted out," says Ibiki. "We should alert the ANBU and the Police and begin to plan the exact details of our defence against Orochimaru's invasion. But first, I must see how much more I can get out of my prisoner and then kill him and dispose of the body the way we usually dispose of dead prisoners - quietly."
"Very good," says Lord Third. "Fugaku, you are in charge of this operation, I will inform the ANBU to follow your orders for this. Be careful no one finds out what we are planning."
"Yes, Lord Hokage," says Fugaku, and bows.
"Ibiki, report anything else you find out to Fugaku," orders Lord Third. "If there is anything I need to know, I trust Fugaku will report to me. You are dismissed."
"Yes Lord Hokage," says Ibiki and bows.
The two men leave the Hokage's office. Once they are outside, Fugaku decides to return to more important matters. "How soon can you babysit Eizo?"