Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction, I own none of it.
Summary: A more rational Danzo takes on team 7. The world changes accordingly
Chapter 17 - Believe It
When Naruto woke up in team 7's apartment the first thing she noticed was the abundance of extra chakra signatures. She didn't feel any hostile intent though so she took a chance and had a clone open the window and look up at one. Not immediately seeing anyone at the source of the chakra she got slightly more worried, several clones coming into existence at once waking the other members of her team just in time to watch a Naruto take a running jump out the window, spinning mid flight, a wind coated Kunai flying at the unknown chakra source simultaneously creating a chain latched onto the roof.
She swung into the created arc, increasing her speed with a burst of wind chakra flipping her onto the roof. Two more clones silently scaled the building to meet her there as the unknown shinobi flipped onto the roof to avoid the kunai she'd thrown. Naruto was waiting for her though, even if still in her jammies she had a kunai in either hand, bathed in the eerie green glow of her late sensei's vacuum blade technique. Eyes narrowed as the now visible Anbu agent took a knee, hands in the air. Good timing 'cause she was pretty sure Sasuke was probably already in position to blow the roof out from under the newly identified Anbu.
The two of her clones that had been scaling the walls waited just in case, and the one with Sasuke and Sakura in the apartment below (with a very irate Ebisu also still in his jammies), just in case this was an elaborate ruse. Before anyone could do anything else though the Anbu agent got a chance to speak. "Hokage-sama, please stand down. Kakashi-taicho had Anbu squad Ro stationed to defend you."
Naruto eased up a little bit, unable to sense any deceit. Now that she took a better look she did indeed look like a Konoha Anbu she'd seen before, the purple hair being sort of a give away. Naruto scratched the back of her head as she sent the stand down order out through her network. "Sorry about that Anbu-san. I don't know if you know but I'm an adept sensor, and waking to find hidden shinobi around me wasn't something I could ignore ya know?"
The Anbu agent began to stand. "My apologies Hokage-sama. I hadn't realized Kakashi-taicho hadn't informed you of our presence or I would have made myself known." She bowed apologetically.
Naruto just laughed though. "No need for that Anbu-san. An honest mistake, or a joke on Kakashi's part. No harm done." She took the chance to her eyes and yawn. "Though I should probably send Ebisu a fruit basket or something. Sasuke was waiting down there with one of my clones to incinerate you if you were a threat."
You couldn't see it because of the mask, but Yugao was shocked. Having not taken the chakra presence below their feet as anything more then another resident. Which she supposed wsa true, but how would she not have noticed a hostile chakra source?
"I can tell you're confused. You must be a sensor too then eh? I wonder how similar our senses are. If you're anything like me you'd have a hard time finding Sasuke if you don't know him. He keeps both his emotions and chakra bundled tight, I can only find him because I know him so well." Yugao turns as she hears something behind her only to see two more Naruto's. "Sensei really drove stealth into our heads. Anywho one of you go get Ebisu a fruit basket and the other find someone to replace the window. Shall we go inside Anbu-san? I imagine Sasuke's started breakfast."
Yugao nods, and as she does is shocked when the Naruto she'd been talking to dispelled. "So this is our new Kage." She mused to herself as she started to walk down the side of the building. "She almost had me killed without getting out of her pajamas." A smile began to split her face under her mask. If this was how her new Kage comported herself she thinks they'll get along just fine. And to think, she'd been worried she'd been elected for her name and to be used as a puppet.
When she entered Team 7's apartment she was shocked to find Sasuke had in fact started breakfast, and if the sound of the shower was any indication Sakura had started her day as well. Her new Hokage though? She was currently looking at four of them. Two tending to the myriad of plants in the apartment, watering, pruning, bending so they'd grow the healthiest way. It even looked like she had the start of a bonsai tree, still in its early days of being bent and wired. Then there was another one at the table reading over a dossier labeled "Uchiha Foundation", even as the final one sat on the floor with a small piece of Katsuyu, feeding her bits of mushrooms and berries as they talked about… Chakra theory? No, chakra and its relationship to consciousness. An interesting topic to be sure, but to two beings that could divide seamlessly endlessly and communicate with all the versions of themselves simultaneously they were probably the only ones with grounds to speak on the subject.
Little did she know that Kyuubi was also a part of the conversation, she hadn't considered Bijuu into her equation nor would she be likely too for a while yet, this was already quite a lot to take in. She nodded and stepped towards the small four seat table as Naruto waved her over. "You can take off your mask Anbu-san. Your identity is safe here." The Naruto reading the dossier… Ordered? Maybe? Either way Naruto was Hokage so if she wanted her to take her mask off and join for breakfast she would. Once she was seated and had her mask hung down by her side the Naruto at the table spoke again. "So, you know who my team and I are. But I'm afraid I haven't gone through the Anbu files yet so I don't know you. Could you tell me a bit about yourself?"
She nodded briskly. "Hai, Hokage-sama. My name is Uzuki Yugao, I'm a sensor type that specializes in Kenjutsu and the sealing arts."
Naruto looked up from her paperwork making eye contact with the purple haired woman. "I mean, that's helpful thank you. But I meant more like… How do I say this…" Naruto appeared to think for a moment. "If I ordered you to kill an innocent civilian for no reason, or something petty. Would you do it?"
Yugao's eyes widened at the loaded question, unsure of how to answer. "Hokage-sama… I would hope you would never give such an order. I believe I would try and make you see reason." Her anxiety obvious, that could well be a wrong answer she didn't know enough about her new kage to know-
She didn't have long to stew though as Naruto smiled back at her. "Good, I hope to never make such an order and I hope you would never follow it." She slid the Dossier she was reading over to Yugao. "Take a look and tell me what you think of that, keep in mind it's just a rough draft."
Oh this is an interview, she realized at this point. This whole morning has been an interview. She starts to flip through the dossier, at some point becoming so involved she hadn't realized breakfast had been served and Sakura joined them.
"Hey guys, do you think it would be dumb to use a fire based sealing area on the shower for infinite hot water?" Sakura asked as she plopped down at the table, quickly tearing into an excessively protein rich breakfast of eggs, salmon, and caviar, with what appeared to be some kind of protein shake to wash it down.
In fact it seemed all three members were eating a specially prepared breakfast, Naruto's being an unbelievable amount of carbs, while Sasuke's was more balanced and plant based. He'd never say anything but Sasuke had been leaning more and more towards pescetarianism. Yugao's breakfast was a beautiful rice omelet that she could hardly believe the Uchiha heir knew how to make.
She tried to eat while reading but Sasuke wouldn't have it, flipping the dossier closed on her. "We don't work while we eat." He gave her one warning look before turning back to Sakura. "Do you really need unlimited hot water? We can just go to an onsen if you want to soak."
Sakura just rolled her eyes at him as Naruto giggled. "You're no fun Sasuke-kun. Just think if it worked I could probably make our own onsen, or sauna!"
"Sakura, we're rich and live with a Kage. We can just buy those things. Save sealing hours for things we can't buy with money please." Sakura pouted a little but relented.
"Fine, you're gonna regret that when I upgrade my kit before we spar next."
Her predatory grin sent a shiver up Yugao's spine, but Sasuke just smirked. "You still haven't figured out a way to catch me."
"Sure let's go with that." She smirked right back, before they made eye contact and burst out laughing.
Eventually though breakfast was over, and while a Naruto did the dishes Sasuke got his shower in, giving Yugao a chance to actually read the dossier. It was an interesting idea to be sure. Take a piece of the Uchiha district, and basically combine Root, the Orphanage, and the Police force. It wasn't a bad idea at all really… Just wow talk about taking a lot of things the village doesn't like and putting them together. If this was going to be Naruto's first big proposal she really wasn't afraid of people's preconceptions.
Before long team 7 was ready for their day, the Naruto she'd mostly been talking to reached down to have Katsuyu divide and climb up onto her neck, nestling under a braid Yugao wasn't sure when she had the chance to put in. "Okay so making sure we're on the same track for today. Sasuke what are you doing?"
"Itachi and I were going to spend the day going through the Uchiha district, figuring out which properties would be best to use for the foundation. After lunch I have a meeting with Lord Hiashi." He looked out a window briefly. "Then I think I'll spend the evening on my lightning manipulation, summer storm tonight by the looks of it and I don't want to miss the opportunity to work with real lightning."
Naruto nodded with a smile. "Sounds good to me, I'll send a clone to get the property plans from Itachi around lunch. Sakura what you got?"
Sakura was just finishing up some stretches. "I heard Gai was gonna try and climb the Hokage monument with one hand and no chakra and was accepting all challengers. I don't think I'll win but some friendly competition and spectacle will be good moral for the village I think. Make sure everything seems business as usual ya know?" Naruto nods and gives a smile at that before Sakura continues. "Then I was thinking I'd take a tour of the root facilities. I think once we've got them moved to the Uchiha district we should set up a kind of "Hidden Hokage Tower" down there. Somewhere with room for your clones to really do their thing. So I want to get it all mapped out and figure out what renovations it'll need."
Naruto gave her a thumbs up. "That's an awesome idea Sakura-chan. Do you think you could set aside a sealed chamber in the lower portions where I could learn to work with Kyuubi more? I'm convinced if we can learn to work together there's nothing we can't do but we need some room to work out the kinks. Oh and don't forget to make yourself a research room for sealing stuff."
Sakura gives her a thumbs up right back, brilliant smile. "Oh, and Ino would love me forever if I got her the chance to help design your Hokage outfit." She gestures at the fairly traditional Uzumaki battle garb Naruto's wearing. "Something, I don't know flashier or something."
Naruto looked down at her Uzumaki battle garb with a frown. "Yeah, I guess you're right. I'll work on something." She sighed quickly before putting her fist out towards her team, who matched her action in a quick three way fist bump. "Let's kick this day's ass guys, Team 7 large and in charge now!"
As they went their separate ways, Yugao couldn't help but notice a contractor with a new window making their way heading up to the apartment. She was about to ask if Naruto needed to let them in only to remember there was a… while actually she had no way of knowing if the Naruto at the apartment was a clone or the real one. Truly the more time she spent with her new Kage the more she came to understand the potential the seemingly young girl had. As they made their way to the administrative building occasionally more clones would come into existence, before being handed a piece of Katsuyu and going their separate ways. The morning paper hadn't gone out yet so most people were still unaware of their new Hokage.
"You know Anbu-san." She had her mask back on and Naruto didn't miss a beat switching the name. "I appreciate Kakashi's anxiety when it comes to my safety and all. But it's not really necessary, as I'm sure you can tell there's a few of me running around, and I've yet to find a sensor that can tell the difference. Sharingan, Buyakugan, it doesn't matter." She gives Yugao a side glance, before in her arms a blond rabbit appears. She hands it to Yugao who inspects it all around. "And that's not even as far as the rabbit hole goes as it were." Naruto finished with a wink before the bunny squirmed out of Yugao's grasp and ran off into a bush.
Yugao was frozen in the streets as she realized the implication of what had just happened. That was a bunny, it felt like a bunny. The only reason she would think anything was amiss was that it had too much chakra but it could easily be a summon. But it wasn't. It was Naruto and she knew it.
"Hey, you stuck back there? I'm pretty sure even if I don't feel like I need protection Kakashi would be unhappy if I left you in the middle of the street staring at nothing." Naruto was only a few steps ahead, an impish grin spread across her face as she looked back at Yugao.
"Apologies Hokage-sama, I was merely taken off guard by the scope of your abilities. We can continue." Her longer legs caught up quickly as the two continued their walk. Naruto made small talk about this and that as they went but Yugao didn't participate much. "Does she even understand how impossible the things she does should be? She uses chakra like a normal person breathes air." She tried to really focus her sensory abilities on Naruto as they started up the stairs to her office, now more isolated from other shinobi.
Only she couldn't, Katsuyu on her neck and the traces of Kyuubi's chakra in her system made it impossible to figure out how much chakra she really had, in truth she wasn't even totally sure if this was the same Naruto she'd left with. Naruto had a reputation for seal less replacement, and it would have been easy for her to hide both the smoke and chakra use any time she made a new clone.
As they came into the reception area Ayame was already hard at work, Kakashi having briefed her on her duties the night before. "Ah, good morning Naruto-chan!" She then noticed the Anbu agent. "Oh, sorry. I mean Hokage-sama. I'm just about done getting today's itinerary together and all the paperwork we'll need. Do you need coffee or anything?"
Naruto smiled at her long time friend. "I think a middle ground would be best Ayame-chan, perhaps Naruto-sama instead of Hokage-sama would be alright?"
Ayame smiled back, happy work wasn't going to spoil their relationship. "Sounds wonderful Naruto-sama. About that coffee?"
"Ah, no thanks unless Anbu-san here would like some." She looks to Yugao who shakes her head as well. "Perfect, we'll save the coffee for later. Just bring everything in when you're ready." Naruto heads into her new office with a smile. Stretching a bit while she takes in the morning sun spread across the village below her. She could certainly get used to the view.
As she sat at her desk she smiled up at the picture of her father on the wall. She still couldn't understand why he did the things he did. Maybe Jiraiya was right and this was all part of some genius 1000 step plan or something. She'd ask Shikamaru, he'd be able to figure it out. Oh that reminded her.
"Anbu-san, could you summon Teams 8 and 10? Just the genin is fine, you don't need to bother their Senseis." Yugao nods, vanishing from the room as Ayame enters.
Or, Naruto thinks it's Ayame. She's kind of lost under a stack of paperwork. A clone poofs into existence to help unburden the poor girl, and it seemed that just as they finished getting everything sort of organized on the desk Kakashi arrived.
Convenient.
"Ah Naruto-sama. I see you're getting situated with your duties?" His eye smile was somehow playful. Or maybe it's his tone colouring her perception. Either way he was being a bit of an ass.
"Well, I mean I'd only just sat down, but sure. Say before we get started today can I bother Tenzo for a moment?"
"He's an Anbu and thus at your disposal at all times. Just use the summoning seal while thinking of his name. Oh, and his name isn't Tenzo, that was a codename. You're looking for Yamato."
Naruto nodded along with what Kakashi was saying as she put her hand on the hidden seal, a pulse of chakra later Yamato was kneeling in front of the desk. "Hey Tenzo- I mean Yamato sorry." She stops to think for a moment. "Rather, Anbu-san. I was hoping I could have a bigger desk, and a few more chairs. I'd like to keep this desk though if possible, I'm pretty sure Hashirama made it. Could you just make room for… Say two more chairs if possible?"
If Yamato was surprised to see Naruto behind the desk he didn't show it, or any offence at the name fumbling. "Of course, Hokage-sama." He put a hand on the desk, focusing his chakra slowly as he seemingly coaxed the curved desk into a new shape. Now stretching nearly the length of the large windows, with just a little space to walk around. "I believe it would be better for me to simply purchase new chairs however. Growing them from the floor would leave them imobile." He stood at attention waiting for more orders.
"Um, thanks?" Naruto wasn't really sure what to do as the masked Anbu stood there, stock still. A hand gesture from Kakashi clued her in. "Ah, right. You're dismissed Anbu-san. Thank you for your service."
Yamato bowed before poofing back out of the room. Leaving Naruto looking at Kakashi and Yugao. "So how does that work exactly?"
The two shared a look before Kakashi decided he'd take this one. "Exactly? Not a clue. But Lady Mito and Lord Tobirama created the Anbu, and the Anbu tattoo is absolutely how we get summoned. I just don't have the sealing expertise to explain the specifics. The notes on the technique are probably in the vault."
Naruto nodded at the explanation. "That's good to know." She looks back to Ayame. "So Ayame-chan, what's today looking like so far?"
Ayame looked down at her clipboard. "Well, you'll have teams 8 and 10 here soon, so we can start with some easy stuff." She put a hand on one pile of paperwork. "These are petitions, mostly from civilians for repairs to buildings and roads damaged in the invasion. While casualties were minimal the collateral damage was not insignificant." She pointed to a single paper next to the stack. "This one is from the merchants guild, requesting something be done about the trench that's now blocking a decent amount of roads from entering."
Naruto jumps in before they can continue. "I actually know a bridge builder that we helped out of quite a bind a few months ago. I'm sure he'd help us at a preferred rate."
Ayame smiles at that. "Perfect, so you'll just need to fill out your intended course of action, sign and stamp it and I'll make sure it goes where it's needed! Kakashi-san gave me my own courier ninja so I can send paperwork where it needs to go."
Naruto nods, two more of herself coming into existence and starting in on all the various paperwork. Sorting out what needed to be outsourced to contractors and what could serve as a D-Rank mission. Ayame seeing her hard at work and satisfied made her way back out to the reception desk, just in time to great teams 8 and 10!
"Ayame-chan! You work here now?" Choji's voice could be heard through the door. "But you were the best ramen waitress in town, now where will I get my ramen fix?" He finished with an almost audible pout.
"Oh come on now Choji-kun, Dad's ramen will be just as good with someone else serving. Besides, the pay bump really helps and I'm helping a friend by being here so I couldn't really say no."
Kiba's voice can be heard next. "Wow, friends in high places I guess. I know I won't complain about having you here." The attempted flirt wasn't very graceful though, and a smack could be heard along with Kiba whining.
Naruto smiled a little hearing Shikamaru's quiet sign of "Troublesome" before Ayame giggled. "I don't think I'll mind being here either no," She chose to ignore the flirt. "But Hokage-sama will see you now."
When the door opened it was obvious that some of them were looking for Hiruzen, and it took a moment before they all realized that it was Naruto sitting behind the Hokage's desk. Actually it was three Naruto's, all filling out paperwork simultaneously while they chatted with Kakashi and an Anbu agent in the room.
Now, for someone like Shikamaru who knew Naruto quite well and had figured out a good deal of her abilities, and watched her fight in the exams. This wasn't too hard to take in. He gave her a gentle smile, happy she'd achieved something like this.
Choji would go along with pretty much anything Shikamaru went along with so he didn't react much more than a wave. Likewise Shino and Hinata (Hinata might have known already Naruto realizes) have limited or no reaction beyond a polite greeting.
There are however, two simultaneous bigger reactions. Ino's which was actually cute, consisted of her squealing and jumping up and down. Something about "I taught the Hokage how to do her hair!" could be sort of made out.
But when she was settled, you could almost hear Kiba growling. Yugao started to move to stand between them but a gesture had her stand down.
"I'm sorry but what the fuck kind of load of shit is this? 7 months ago you were the deadlast in the academy and a boy. And don't give me any of that shit about a hidden identity I could smell you. There's no way you're Naruto, your scent is completely different, and I don't just mean shampoo or some shit I mean you are a different person. I don't know about any of this Namikaze stuff but there's no possible way any of this could happen."
Kiba's growling fully now, Hinata moving to cover his mouth, but Shino was a potent sensor as well and felt no hostility from Naruto so he held her back. "Watch" He said simply and quietly.
Naruto simply stood from her seat, hoping over the desk to stand in front of Kiba. "We went to the academy together, and I understand your confusion. I've had a fair bit of it myself. So I'm going to explain this one time, and if you continue to be a problem I will have Uchiha Itachi wrap you in so many layers of genjutsu you'll forget everything about who you are so I can hand you back to your mother and ask her to raise you better this time." Everyone in the room's eyes went wide at the very imaginative threat before Naruto continued. "My scent is completely different because when I became a genin my sensei took control of my diet, providing my body which already possessed incredible regenerative abilities with enough nutrients to withstand his training. My scent is completely different because every inch of my body has at some point or another needed to be completely regrown. I was trained to be a first recon scout which meant high risk of capture, so I needed to be able to withstand torture. But that's not all, you want to know how I could go from deadlast to Kage?" She held up a half ram sign, the Katsuyu portion on her back glowing brightly as she did so before the room was bathed in visible chakra, blue like Naruto's eyes before it retreated back into her. "I had more chakra then Sarutobi Hiruzen when I was eight, and I've used that chakra to accumulate over a decade of training." She turns back towards her desk as the room starts to be able to breath a little. Sitting back in her seat she finishes. "So yes, I smell like a different person because I am a different person. Now will that be all genin or can I commence the meeting I called?"
Kiba was literally shaking in his sandals, as Akamaru whimpered in his coat. He nodded quickly as everyone stared at him.
And as if some kind of switch was hit in Naruto's brain she was back to smiling. "Good then! Sorry about that. So I called you six here for a few reasons. Firstly I was going to tell my classmates I was going to be their new Hokage, but seeing as I'd say we've covered that we'll move on to point two. I plan on abolishing a law set by the Third that made it illegal to speak of a certain thing, even though most people already know about it. You six are the last of any importance that don't know so I'll just tell you now." She pauses as she looks over the assembled genin. "My father, Lord Fourth didn't kill Kyuubi. He sealed it in me at the cost of his own life. It's perfectly safe however I was heavily discriminated against for it as a child so a law was made."
Ino just nodded, they'd had this talk before. Shikamaru smiled at her, glad she could talk so openly about it even if he'd long since figured it out. Kiba probably wouldn't be speaking for a while so… Yeah. Hinata gave her a smile as well, she'd always been able to see the seal with her family's eyes and knew long ago. Choji just patted his belly and gave a thumbs up.
Surprisingly Shino chose to speak. "Hokage-sama. If I may I would like to apologize." He bowed slightly. "We of the Aburame clan have long been discriminated against for our symbiotic insects. I wish I had realized you too shared a similar issue with the village, I hope in the future you will be able to consider the Aburame friends despite my failing."
Naruto smiled at Shino. "No need to apologize, Shino-san, we all make mistakes. The important part is learning from them. Thank you though." More or less done with her talking points she reached over her shoulder to be handed a scroll by another clone. "Team 8, I was hoping you could take a quick mission to wave to collect a bridge builder in wave country. It seems we've acquired a ravine and merchants need away across."
It was Shino that caught the scroll, giving a bow. "Hai, Hokage-sama."
"Perfect, then you're dismissed."
Once the genin were gone Ayame came back into the room. "So, you have a jutsu that makes Inuzuka meek now?" Her lip turned up into the slightest smirk.
The Naruto's didn't even really look up from all their paperwork. "Mhm, it's called "Intimidation no jutsu", learned it from Sasuke."
Ayame had a laugh at that. "Well I think someone should have used it on that one a while ago. Poor Hinata-chan having to put up with that every day." She shook her head a little. "Anyways, a messenger toad from Lord Jiraiya arrived and said he'd be delayed a little bit so carry on without him for now."
Yugao shook her head a little, suspecting the Sannin's usual antics. But Kakashi seemed to be deep in though at that.
"Something wrong Kakashi?" One of the Naruto's asked.
"Probably not, but I don't think he's up to his usual antics. Jiraiya might be eccentric but he knows better than to defy the Daimyo." He taps his chin a couple times. "Oh well, I guess we'll just have to figure everything out for tomorrow's council meetings ourselves. Ayame-chan could you maybe run out and grab some lunch? Don't forget a nice big bowl of veggies for Lady Katsuyu."
Ayame nods and closes the office doors as she heads out. Once the door clicks shut Kakashi takes out a clipboard. "Alright so, for council tomorrow we have a couple of issues to address. First and foremost Sarutobi Hiruzen admitted to some serious crimes. How would you like to address that?"
Naruto thought for a moment. "Alright well… Hmm... " She looked around as if looking for inspiration, before his eyes landed on his framed picture. A solemn look appeared on her face. "Erase him. Take his clan name from him, take down his pictures. And let him live out the rest of his life with his family, old and forgotten."
The room weighed heavy as Naruto's idea settled on the room. Kakashi let out a long sigh before speaking. "Yeah. Yeah I guess that would probably be a good compromise." Even with the information available Kakashi wasn't happy with taking action against the third. "Alright, the next ticket item is the Suna situation. I think you've got that covered though. So we'll pretty much just need to do a battle report, and let everyone see you as operating Hokage." He pauses for a moment before looking up at Naruto. "That is of course unless you want to bring anything else to council?"
Naruto sighed a little. "I mean, I really wanted to go over this with Jirayia too but…. Well it's fine." Naruto tossed Kakashi the dossier on the Uchiha Foundation. "A clone will be here around lunch time with a decision from Sasuke and Itachi for property values. And Sakura's doing a total inventory of Root's facility and drafting documents to re-commision it into a space for my team and I. You know, a larger clone office, sealing library and testing facility, nice deep underground room for me and Kyuubi to learn in. I'm pretty sure Sasuke and I- Okay well mostly me can get the council on board with this."
Kakashi's face was unreadable as he flipped through page after page of the proposal before letting out another sigh. "There's a few to many "or"s in the proposal, you'll need to get it all down to definitive statements before we put it to council. And we'll need those property proposals included in the final version. Not to mention the financial end up this."
Naruto smiled at that. "I'll foot the bill to re-commission the old root base. Unless I'm mistaken I have access to both my father's respectable account, and the vast fortune of the Uzumaki."
"The Uzumaki don't have a vast fortune that I'm aware of Naruto." Kakashi cut in.
Only to be met with a stern look from Naruto. "Actually we do. Some of it in cash and gold in an undisclosed location, and a large amount of it seized by the village when my mother died and Hiruzen erased my clan from Konoha history." Kakashi's visible eye went wide. "Not to worry though, I've had several clones in the records vault and they've managed to track down…" She pauses for a moment, waiting for an updated total from her network. "Somewhere in the neighbourhood of 50 million ryo in seized assets. Some of which I'm sure even my Mother wasn't aware of. That plus the 20 or so million that had been in my father's account before it too was seized."
Kakashi's hands were shaking by the time Naruto finished. Having been unaware of the extent to which she had been robbed. Kakashi himself was no slouch with nearly 8 million in the bank but… wow.
Yugao though, Yugao had a point to make. "Hokage-sama, if I may?" She's waved on. "You can't just take… 70 million Ryo out of Konoha's accounts. It would nearly bankrupt us! Especially now when we're spending so much money on repairs and posturing."
Naruto's eyes turned to ice. "And yet the village did just that to me didn't they? Took my clan, took my parents, and let me live on an orphan stipend in a run down apartment in a city that wouldn't even sell me food for market price." Yugao and Kakashi both visibly flinched. "Which is why-" Naruto's eyes return to normal and her smile returns. "I would never let anyone else live like that Yugao, you're absolutely right." Kakashi and Yugao almost fall over in shock. "Oh Kami, you guys are too easy. Don't you know me even a little bit? I'm gonna send a letter to the Daimyo with a detailed account of what happened and sort it out with him. I'm pretty sure he likes me. In the meantime I've got enough cash to fund this little project." Naruto gives the other two shinobi in the room a chance to recollect themselves. "As for the rest of the money Danzo left us everything, and between him and Root that was a significant amount of assets. We'll use that to refinish the properties Sasuke picks out, and pay for the new police force for the first few months. We've been able to afford police before and we will again, especially when I combine it with our various orphanages. Itachi will take some time to set up, figure out who lives well with who, what kind of kids will fit well in which house all that. But once it's all set up it should be easy to maintain."
Kakashi just nodded, still a little stunned by how easily Naruto could flip the switch and be a surprisingly intimidating twelve year old. Which is good for a Kage he supposed. "Okay well, let's spend the rest of today refining this while you're clones keep up the good work."
Naruto nods, just in time or Ayame to return laden with what smelled like an assortment of onigiri and sashimi. As well as several clones carrying in some boxes of unconstructed furniture, what appeared to be several small plants.
Naruto smiled as they got set up for lunch and her clones started renovating the office. It was a lot of work to do but you know what?
She could handle this.
Deep underground Sakura was finishing her first tour of the root facilities, and wasn't too happy with what she was finding. Dark corridors of a winding labrinth, the rooms mostly bear barracks.
But the most startling thing to her was that everyone there simply didn't seem to know what to do. From talking to them she realized they had been maybe a little… Over conditioned.
She knew their training had been brutal but this was going to take a lot of work. Both to help these people return to normal life, and to make this place into somewhere Naruto would work. She'd had to ask one of the shinobi here for more paper, putting the first stack into a sealing scroll as she finished up.
She was almost thankful that she couldn't find a records room. If Danzo had one it was beyond well hidden, maybe she'd need to get Sasuke to look for one.
Or maybe… Maybe she wouldn't, she mused as she packed up, thanking the shinobi that had been guiding her.
"Oh, and by the way. We're gonna be making some big changes in the next little while, but in the meantime could you be in charge?" She spoke to the orange haired masked shinobi that tilted his head in response. "Nothing major, just make sure everyone here's you know… Eating and stuff. Some of them look like they're having a pretty tough time."
The masked man nodded. "Unsurprising, Sakura-sama. They've had their whole life planned by Danzo-sama, they don't know how to manage themselves without his orders."
Sakura perked up a little, this was the most anyone here had spoken to her all day, beyond answering simple questions. She gave the man a sad smile. "Yeah, it'll take a while. But don't worry, Naruto's getting everything set up for you guys to have work. I think we're hoping to station you all under Uchiha Itachi to reform the police force. Do you think that would be a good fit?"
The man nodded surprisingly eagerly. "I've worked with Itachi-taicho and have great respect for him. He's something of a hero to the shinobi here, making a sacrifice worse than death for his village. I believe that would be a very beneficial arrangement."
Sakura wasn't sure how to react but was happy to get a reaction at all. "That's good. I know Itachi-san is a very talented shinobi and loves the village very much." She holds her free hand out to shake the shinobi's hand, who does after hesitating for a moment. "What was your name by the way? I don't think you mentioned it."
Again he hesitates, but eventually a hand reaches up to remove his mask. "Danzo-sama seldom only used code names. But before I joined Root I was Yamanaka Fu."
Sakura had to use every ounce of training she possessed not to react to that, even still she was sure Fu would have noticed something. That's what Yamanakas do after all, they read people. Just like her best friend. It shook Sakura someone, something about the idea of Ino being trapped down here and trained like this made Sakura's chest tighten and stomach turn. "Oh, well thank you very much for the tour Fu-san, and all the information. Would it be possible for you to drop off a full roster along with notes on the abilities of your various shinobi off to Naruto in the Hokage office?"
Fu inclined his head in agreement. "Of course Sakura-sama. May I ask who the new Hokage is?" Right, they literally lived underground. But Fu had seen the Third retire so that made sense.
This time Sakura's smile grew wide. "That would be Naruto actually. They just put in the papers this morning."
Fu's lips seemed to twitch, as if about to smile before he schooled his features again. "It brings me great satisfaction to know the village is in the hands of one of Danzo-sama's proteges. Thank you for your visit today Sakura-sama." He bowed slightly before they parted ways.
Back in Danzo's house Sakura let out a deep sigh. They sure picked a hell of a think to start with. On her way out she left a small saucer of sake and some incense burning under what she thought was the best picture of her sensei. Smiling next to Hiruzen with Tobirama trying to look uninterested in the background.
The brothers Uchiha were having something of an awkward day. Neither of them really knew how to talk to the other, but both of them were somewhat bullheaded. In other words it took them quite some time to come to an agreement on the property division.
"Okay, so we agree that we'll keep the three main houses surrounding the Naka shrine for the Uchiha clan?" Sasuke was rubbing his temples a little as Itachi nodded at him. "But you don't want to have another wall built to keep the clan separate from the Uchiha Foundation."
"If it were up to me Sasuke I'd take down the wall surrounding the whole compound. So no, I don't want another wall. I think it would send the message that we don't want to be associated with an organization we're calling the "Uchiha Foundation"-" It seemed as though he was going to continue, only for him to start coughing violently. Covering his mouth with the sleeve of the simple black robe he was wearing.
Sasuke's eyes went wide as the coughing fit continued. He'd known his brother was sick but this was his first time really seeing it. The fit got worse, Itachi almost falling to his knees before Sasuke got to his other side to support him. When he did he saw blood on Itachi's sleeve and panicked a little.
For all that things have been weird he just got his brother back, he was just going to be able to start making things right Itachi can not die now. For Itachi's part, if he could speak he might have told Sasuke it was okay and it happened from time to time. But he couldn't, and much to his amazement he watched Sasuke form half of a tiger seal before pointing his face to the sky. A fireball the size of a house launching itself into the air, with Sasuke's voice following it.
"NARUTO!" He shouted seemingly at the heavens, the fire burning away as Itachi continued to cough. And then suddenly his breath came easier.
As he stood, confused at first until his senses returned to him to find Naruto behind him, a golden chain of chakra linking the two of them together as Naruto's regenerative chakra flowed into him. The Katsuya on Naruto's neck glowed bright blue as she divided and crawled along the chain to reach Itachi, even more chakra flowing into him now
Sasuke stepped back from him slowly, as if making sure he wouldn't fall again. Itachi looked at Naruto in wonder. "Hokage-sama, how did you- how are you doing this?"
Naruto just grinned at him. "Ah, Itachi-san. There's always a few of me around the village just in case." She chuckled into her hand. "This one of me was enjoying a day as a rabbit, cheering up children and keeping an eye on things. As for the healing, it's not real medical jutsu. Just the chakra of my clan amped up by having Kyuubi in my gut. Katsuyu though, she can do a little real medical jutsu. Have you figured out the problem yet Katsuyu-sama?" She asked gently, looking at the eyes now next to her, not the one on Itachi.
"Unfortunately I believe so. I heard a tale once, of a young man barely even a ninja saving his mother and little brother from a piece of debris launched at them by one of Kyuubi's tails during the incident all those years ago. Uchiha Itachi who pushed them out of the way and then incinerated the oncoming debris. You breathed that debris in, and unlike any of the other shinobi who performed similar acts you were just a child, and the corrosive chakra set in your lungs. As you grew new tissue was grown around the infected area, making it impossible to treat and unlikely to be found until you began pushing your body further and further, forcing chakra to your respiratory system is common in shinobi, even more so in Shinobi that utilize fire or wind jutsu. Slowly but surely the latent Kyuubi chakra leached the chakra you provided it, infecting more and more tissue." Katusyu inclined her head sadly. "I'm sorry Itachi-san. While Naruto's chakra will help, your lungs developed this way from such a young age I fear even if we removed the chakra it would destroy the pathways there. In this case the cure would kill you." The clone of Katsuyu retreated up the chain, rejoining her counterpart before Naruto withdrew her chain.
Sasuke clenched his fists, shaking at the terminal diagnosis. Itachi saw this and put a hand on his little brother's shoulder. "I already knew this could kill me one day Sasuke. It's okay. Just with what your friend has already done for me I feel years younger. Maybe I can't avoid it, but I'm taking an administrative job, and with Naruto here if she's willing her chakra should slow it down a bit." He looks back at Naruto. "Right?"
Unfortunately this isn't actually Naruto's area of expertise, looking to Katsuyu for an opinion. She seems to ponder for a moment before responding. "If you don't push any chakra to your lungs, and get a little of Naruto's chakra daily I think we could stop it where it is."
The group considers that, Naruto giving a shrug and a smile. "Well, I don't mind the bit of chakra. But it sounds to me like you just got taken off the mission list. Like forever. I can ask Tsunade if she's got any other ideas but otherwise… I'm sorry Itachi. But field work isn't everything, you're a super smart guy from what I hear, and I've got this organization I was hoping you could run. Hell you could probably even still have a family if you wanted."
Itachi nodded at this before turning to Sasuke. "I'm sorry Sasuke, I had hoped to help your training. It seems I'll only be useful for advice."
Sasuke, to everyone's surprise, punches him in the shoulder before pulling Itachi into a hug. "I don't care about that, you idiot. I know it's still weird being around each other again but don't you dare go and push yourself and leave me the last Uchiha again. I just got you back."
Naruto takes that as her que to leave, transforming back into a rabbit with a little slug riding on her head before hopping off into the bushes. Itachi gave a little wave from behind Sasuke's back and mouthed "Thank you" as he hugged Sasuke back.
"I'll never leave again, little brother."
Sakura had a stop to make before she turned into the Hokage office to submit her report. She wasn't supposed to, but she had to. The bell to the Yamanaka Flower Shop door barely having a chance to make a sound before Sakura had cleared the room, flipping over the register before wrapping Ino in a tight hug and spinning her around.
"Sakura!" Ino managed before she started giggling. "What are you doing, put me down silly!"
Sakura paused stopped spinning for a moment to look up at Ino's smiling face, her light blue eyes twinkling in the afternoon light of the shop. But she just started smiling even bigger and started spinning again.
Eventually she let Ino down, the both of them dizzy and laughing. "And what exactly was that supposed to achieve?" Ino got out through her laughter.
That made Sakura take a breath though, steading herself before looking back at the Yamanaka heiress. She opened her mouth to tell her about Yamanaka Fu, but Ino just looked so happy and what came out was something else. "I just met someone today, and they made me realize how lucky I am to have you in my life and how happy I am to be your friend."
Ino's smile only grew as she punched Sakura in the shoulder playfully. "Is that all we are? Friends?" Sakura got that funny feeling in her chest before Ino continued. "Cause last I checked we were best friends, and you should be so lucky to have me." Ino flipped her ponytail over her shoulder and had a teasing smirk on her face.
"Oh whatever Ino-chan," Sakura's shoulder bumped into the other girl. "Which one of us is a chunin and is on a team with the freakin Hokage?"
"Ooh good one." Ino feigned wounded. "At least I didn't need to get a friend to teach said teammate how to look after her hair! And besides that exam was rigged and we both know it."
"Of course it was rigged!" Sakura gestured at herself with both hands. "I'm the one that rigged it."
"Pft. Whatever, Naruto put in all the heavy lifting."
"Oh my kami, you're impossible to please! It was my plan!"
This probably could've gone on forever, if not for the sound of the door opening. Not the front door either, and when Sakura looked over her shoulder to see who'd come downstairs saw Inoichi in the doorway. "What's all the ruckus down here princess? Do we not run a business anymore?"
Ino quickly smoothed her outfit back out and put on her best smile. "Sorry Daddy, Sakura-chan stopped by and there was no one else here so we were just having some fun." She gave Sakura another play hit to illustrate her point.
Inoichi smiled at the girls. "Alright alright, just try not to be so loud you scare people outside. Daddy has a lot of work to do before tomorrow's council meeting." Right, Inoichi ran Torture and Introgation didn't he? So he'd need to give both a clan report and a department report.
"Sorry Inoichi-sama. I had just met with a relative of yours and suddenly needed some Ino in my life." Oh no she just did Naruto's awkward head scratch, it is catching!
Maybe she shouldn't have said that as it piqued Inoichi's interest. "Oh? I mean of course my little princess is the best of us but who'd you bump into?"
Sakura's smile faded a little. "Well, it wasn't so much that I bumped into them as I had a meeting with them for the Hokage." Inoichi's eyes narrowed, the Hokage should know better than to deal with a clan and not go through the clan head, even if she was young. "Um, I was put in charge of decommissioning Danzo's Root facility." Inoichi's eyes began to widen. "The shinobi that gave me the tour and is helping to get all the personnel reports into the Hokage is actually Ino's cousin I think. Yamanaka Fu."
Ino looked between Sakura and her father. "Who's that Daddy? I've never heard of them."
Inoichi's voice was carefully schooled. "That's because he had to leave the clan when you were little honey." He patted her head as his eyes narrowed in on Sakura. "I don't suppose Hokage-sama let you know what she was planning for these Shinobi, do you? I know I won't be the only interested party."
That almost sounded like a threat to Sakura, who stood up a little straighter. "I believe the Lady Hokage was planning to address it at tomorrow's council meeting, Inoichi-sama." She looked back at Ino. "On that note I've got some reports to deliver. I was thinking girls night sometime soon though? You, me, Hinata and Naruto?"
Ino, not at all oblivious to the tension in the room, was looking between her father, still laser focused on her friend, and Sakura. She'd seen Jonin break under his gaze, for Sakura to so easily shrug it off? "Yeah of course, we'll figure out a night soon."
Sakura gave her a smile and nod before schooling her features again, nodding at Inoichi as she left stiffly.
Once the door was closed Ino rounded on her father. "Daddy what the fuck was that? Sakura's my best friend, why are you trying to intimidate her like that?"
Inoichi let out a sigh. "Sorry sweetie, Fu is just an old wound for me. I've got to run out for a bit though can you keep watch of the shop?"
Ino didn't even get a chance to reply as he was already out the door.
"What in the actual fuck is going on" Ino can't help but wonder, as a surpising and fun visit from her bestie turned stand-off with her father.
They were both gonna have some explaining to do to her when she got her hands on them.
"Hey Shika!"
The boy in question just about jumped out of his skin, as suddenly standing at his feet was none other than Uzumaki Naruto. How'd she even find him this was his secret cloud watching spot? "Naruto! What are you doing here? Aren't you busy doing Hokage stuff?"
She shrugged "Clones man. Kami gave me an ocean of chakra for a reason right?"
"Is that reason to bother people trying to do some relaxing cloud watching?" He fell back onto his back as Naruto giggled.
"Probably not, do you mind if we join you though?"
Shikamaru raised a brow at that. "Referring to yourself with the royal "we" now?" That got another giggle much to Shika's secret enjoyment. Naruto has a beautiful laugh.
"No silly, I have my summon with me, Lady Katsuyu."
Shikamaru props himself back up a bit at that, just in time to see a… Slug? Crawl down onto Naruto's hand, before inclining it's head towards him. "It's a pleasure to meet you Nara-san. Naruto-chan thinks highly of you."
Naruto blushed at that. "Katsuyu! Don't tell people stuff like that!"
"My apologies Naruto-chan." She didn't seem all that sorry, and her eyes were on Shikamaru now.
"Troublesome" He muttered to himself, a summon creature needed at least a decent introduction so he rolled forward to kneel at eye level with the slug. He gave a small bow of his head. "The pleasure is mine, Lady Katsuyu. I hadn't realized you'd allowed a new summoner."
"Lady Tsunade needed a way to stay in touch with the new Hokage, and conveniently Naruto is both Hokage and Tsunade's grandniece."
"Well, it's very nice to meet you. I'm going back to cloud watching now, feel free to join." He threw himself back onto his back again, hearing Naruto lay down next to him.
After a while Naruto spoke. "You know she transfers chakra between instances of herself, not just hers either." Naruto wasn't watching the clouds when she said that. She was watching his face. Watching him fit the new piece into Naruto's arsenal and strategies. Strategies he's helped her develop.
He went through several emotions before settling back to serenely calm, looking at the clouds once more. He knew she was looking at him, but he wouldn't be able to stop himself from blushing. "That changes things for you."
A bit of an understatement but true. "It's another step towards being strong enough that's for sure."
This time he can't help but look over out of the corner of an eye. "How strong is strong enough going to be."
Naruto looks up at the clouds with a smile at that. "Strong enough that no one would ever hurt anyone again." Gesturing to the sky as she did so, the sun glinting off her bright blue eyes like still water.
And against all sense, against the idea that it was impossible. Shikamaru found himself believing she could do it. In a bold move once her arms were on the ground again he took one of her hands, propping himself up on his elbow as he did so he could face her. A soft smile on his face as he spoke. "I believe you." Naruto's head cocked quizzically. "I believe you'll do it. I believe that you, Uzumaki-Namikaze Naruto will be strong enough to bring peace." He squeezes her hand with a bigger smile. "And whenever you're not, I'll be here to help too."
Her smile got bigger and bigger as he spoke, until he finished and she all but leapt at him. Tackling him into a hug that caused them to roll a little ways down the hill, Naruto giggling the whole way. When they stopped moving Naruto let herself fall next to him so she wasn't right on top. When she finally got her laughter under control, and still entangled in one of Shikamaru's arms she turned onto her side to face him, face inches away from his cheek.
"Thank you Shika-kun." She spoke softly, almost right into his ear. "It means a lot to me, don't think I'll ever forget it." And then she did something that neither of them could believe, a simple kiss on the cheek. They both turned bright red, but before Shikamaru could say anything he caught sight of one of her signature prankster grins before poofing into smoke.
His hand went up to his cheek where Naruto had kissed him, knowing that he'd never forget this moment either.