7: Let the Games Begin

Hiruzen Sarutobi, for the first time in years, since his beloved wife had been killed, felt alive. Not only had he put the fear of Kami into his three badgering advisors, but he had bolstered relations, even though it was inadvertently, between the Uchiha, and the Hyuuga clans, two families that couldn't stand each other.

Yes, thought the old man as he sat be hind his desk, feeling proud of his title once again, life was good.

And then there was the progress with the newest addition to the village. Neko had come back late that evening and reported the old Uzumaki compound livable. Pakura, apparently, was quite popular with the younger generations, particularly the boys. She had, much to Neko's, and by extension, Hiruzen's amusement, had had to put up with the older Jonin flirting with her throughout the whole day.

That is, until the woman had gotten fed up with the unwanted attention and sent them packing with a few well aimed fireballs. Thankfully, she hadn't demonstrated her Shakuton on them.

It was the amusing image of the woman chasing off the amorous Jonin that had the man laughing quietly as Kakashi came into the office. "Ah, Kakashi-kun, just the person I wanted to see."

Kakashi gave a slight bow as he scratched the back of his head bashfully, "Gomen, Hokage-sama, I - "

"Save it," the man chuckled knowingly, "I knew where you were, and I know you knew that I knew, so you don't have to make those silly excuses Obito-kun used to get into."

Kakashi sighed sadly, "I guess I picked up his habit."

Hiruzen chuckled, "He had a habit of getting into absurd situations." He said, having watched said Uchiha through his crystal ball, "Now, as to the reason I wished to see you. How are Pakura and Naruto settling in?"

A large bead of sweat made it's way down the side of the young Jonin's face, "Yeah, about that..."

"Kakashi~."

"The villagers were treating her poorly due to Naruto-chan being around," Kakashi blurted out, "But in her defense, the reports you'll be getting in the morning are completely untrue!"

"Reports?" Hiruzen growled, "Explain."

"I... "

"Now."

"Y-yes, Sir!" Kakashi said, going rigid, "Well, to start off, one of the Jonin leading the Genin teams...well, Naruto-chan didn't like the way he was talking about Pakura-san, and just laying about while everyone else was working, so..." he sighed, "He doodled on his face while he was napping."

Hiruzen sputtered, "Is that all?" Some of his Jonin could use a good blow to the ego.

"Well, no, after he woke up and found out, he tried...well, he tried to discipline the boy...and not in a very nice way." Kakashi said.

"How bad did Pakura-san hurt him?" Hiruzen chuckled.

Kakashi shivered, "Let's just say he won't be walking straight from now on." He said, remembering the man's shrill cry, even though he deserved it for raising a hand to Naruto in such a way. "The real chaos started when Pakura took Naruto shopping for supper."

"Those damned merchants," Hiruzen sighed, "Taka."

"Sir?" Commented the Anbu hiding behind the couch.

"Make a note to remind me to have a word with the merchant's council some time tomorrow." He said, sighing, "Well, go on, Kakashi-kun."

"When they went to the grocer's market, none of the stalls would sell to them," Kakashi said, his lip twitching, "But when Pakura asked why and they said that they never served the likes of Naruto, she flew into a rage - "

"Nothing too severe, I hope?" Hiruzen asked, his own smile twitching.

"We~ll," Kakashi droned, "She...she didn't kill anybody."

Hiruzen outright laughed, "I'll take that over a dead body any day!" He roared, "What then?"

"They tried the restaurants," Kakashi sighe, "That was a big mistake...for them. They outright tried to shoo them out with broomsticks. Pakura set them on fire. Then there was the issue with one of the owners...you'll hear from him about a certain pussy cat's involvement." He said before a book came from the shelf, seemingly by itself, and smacked him in the head.

"He deserved it for calling Pakura a 'demon's whore'!" Neko said from her hiding spot.

Hiruzen chuckled, "Neko-chan, have that particular man brought in first thing in the morning. I'd like a word with him." He said, gaining a satisfied grunt from the bookshelf. "Now, Kakashi-kun, I hope, in the end, they did get a meal?"

"Oh, yes," Kakashi smiled underneath his mask, "For some odd reason, Akamichi Choza was in a very giving mood today, and welcomed them into his family restaurant. He wouldn't accept any form of payment either. He also offered to help Pakura with her food problem as the Akamichi clan is responsible for our food production."

"Very kind of him," Hiruzen smiled, knowing exactly why the man was being so jovial. After the meeting earlier that day, the large bear of a man had given him a bear-sized hug, welcoming him back for some reason.

"We also had the Nara clan offering wood worked furniture for their home, and other homey articles," Kakashi said, smiling again, "I never knew Naruto-chan was so well liked."

Hiruzen sat back and retrieved his pipe, flicking his finger so that a small flame appeared, "Minato-kun was a much beloved Hokage, and Kushina more so as a kunoichi. Both of them were the light of this village for so long. The trouble those two would get into when they were younger!"

Kakashi nodded sadly, "I know...Kushina-san told me."

Taking a long drag from his pipe, and letting out a smoke ring, the wizened Kage sighed, "That is something I wish for you to investigate." He said, looking at the young man, "Strange things went on during the Kyuubi's rampage. Jiraiya-kun was out of the village, the Uchiha clan was no where to be seen during the battle, and no one went to aid Minato-kun, nor were there any guards outside the birthing room." Hiruzen said, having a sinking suspicion on who the blame would fall. "Speak with Fugaku-san about the matter discreetly, let no one know of you questions, and if you feel that you are being followed, detain or kill your follower if necessary."

Kakashi saluted, "For my sensei, I will do that without fail."

"Also, enlist young Itachi-kun. I believe he just completed his Anbu training?" He said.

"He has," Kakashi smiled, "And I believe we will find out more then we ever knew."

"Why do you say that?" Hiruzen asked.

Kakashi shrugged, "Call it a hunch."

=x=

"Thank you so very much," Pakura said, bowing to the Nara clan head as the last of the furniture was placed, "I don't know how I could ever repay such kindness!"

Shikaku shook his head, "It's far too troublesome to ask you for payment when you've done what all of us have wanted to do for so long," he said, watching his young son, Shikamaru, Choji and Naruto playing in the yard. "You know I wanted to adopt him myself after I head...but that damned council - "

"Stop," Pakura said, smiling at the man, "You've done so much for him in such a shot amount of time that I could almost think you were one of the great saints spoken about through history." She turned around, looking into the main house of the Uzumaki compound, "When we arrived this morning, I was a stranger in a strange place, with nothing to my name but a beautiful little boy, and this shabby little compound." She said, smiling at him once more, "But you, and Akamichi-san helped me turn this place into a home."

"You did that the moment you moved in," Shikaku said, "If need anything else, don't hesitate to ask...we owe the boy so much more than this."

Pakura smirked, crossing her arms across her chest, "Him? Or his father?"

Shikaku chuckled, "So you know? Not surprising. The kid's almost a carbon copy of him." He said, nodding, "Yeah, we owe them both a lot...but you should be careful. Hiruzen made a lot of enemies today. And they're gonna be gunning for you." He said, narrowing his eyes, "Apart from the clan heads, and those we put forward, don't trust any of the clans. The roots of darkness run deep in this village."

"I'll keep that in mind," she said, then grinned, "But anyone who's dumb enough to mess with me has one hell of a death wish."

Shikaku chuckled, "I'll bet you and my wife would get along just fine." He said, looking down the walk and spotted a familiar person marching toward them, "Whoops, speak of the devil."

Yoshino Nara, a fair-skinned young woman with dark hair and eyes, and pink blouse, gave them a smile as she came up to the house, "Welcome to Konoha, Pkaura-san."

"Just Pakura is fine," she said, smiling at the other woman, "And thank you. Your husband and other clansmen just finished moving the furniture in."

Yoshino scoffed, "I'm surprised you could get this lazy bum to move at all!" She said, giving her husband a playful slap on the shoulder, "Nara men are notorious for being layabouts."

"Hey, I worked," Shikaku grumbled. "Damned troublesome woman."

"Did you say something, Dear?" Yoshino asked sweetly, threatening violence.

"Not a thing," Shikaku muttered.

Pakura giggled at the pair. "You two sure get along."

"We're married," Shikaku said as it explained everything.

"SHIKAKU!"

"What? Itetetetetetetete~!" She grabbed him by the ear and hauled him down the sidewalk

"It was nice meeting you, Pakura," Yoshino smiled sweetly, "We'll have to get together with Kimi, and Momiji one of these days for a chat!"

Pakura gained a large sweat drop on her head as she watched the Nara patriarch being dragged off with his son trailing behind alongside Choji, "Well, at least she seems friendly...sort of?" She giggled, "Naruto-chan, bed time!"

"Coming, Kaa-chan!" The blond yelled, and came running.

=x=

"I want two squads each policing the clan compounds tonight," Fugaku said to his officers, among them, some were Hyuuga, a fact that did little to please some of the Uchiha clansmen, "After the meeting today, the idea of little Naruto being taken care of will set a few people on edge. Now we all know that more than a few shinobi families don't care for the child, and many more would like to see him dead." He waited a moment to gauge the reactions of some of his newly appointed men. None of them spoke. "Alright, for the next six hours, we will be looking for anyone out on the streets. Shinobi, or civilians, stop them, search for concealed weapons or seals, but do so respectfully, we don't need a riot on our hands. If anyone offers resistance, use only the force needed to restrain them.

"Members of the Hyuuga clan here tonight, I give you full permission to use your clan's Juken, but only to disarm, and stun," Fugaku said, nodding to the few men and women, "And since we've only just gotten a few of your clan on the force, one of you will be paired with each squad until we can equal things out. Now I don't want any trouble from either of our clans." He growled, seeing some of his own clan scowl, "I know our clans have never been the best of friends, but I was the one that suggested this union, and I pray to whatever Kami there are that it works."

The Uchiha clan head straightened up, "We've all been made aware of the attack on Uzumaki Naruto, and of his retalitation against said attackers. And it has been revealed that he has the ability to don his Biju's true form. If someone attacks him again, we could very well see the return of the Kyuubi, and I will not allow this village to be razed to the ground again!" He growled once more, "Our job is simple; protect that boy, and his mother! Is that understood?!"

"Hai!"

"Good," he nodded to his men, "Squads six, and seven are to patrol the Yamanaka compound that is adjacent to the Uzumaki compound, don't get too close, but keep your eyes open, especially you, Hyuuga Ko, I want your eyes on the Uzumaki compound at all time, and alert your partners the moment you see something out of sorts, and radio in the other squads while I alert Anbu."

Naka Uchiha stood up, "Sir, are we expecting anything other than misguided hate from the villagers?"

"That would be the best case scenario," Fugaku said, "A few drunkards are easy to deal with, but after the meeting...we could be facing Anbu-level shinobi."

"Danzo," Izumi Uchiha muttered under her breathe. She was the youngest out of the Uchiha police, twelve, and barely warmed to her rank as Chunin, but she, like every Hyuuga and Uchiha knew of Shimura.

Fugaku nodded to the girl, "That's exactly what I think may be happening." He said with a shake of his head, "Sarutobi-sama may not be able to do anything about him yet, but if he attacks with his men tonight, then we take at least one prisoner if they don't take their own lives first. Makes sure they don't. I want a live one. Are there any questions?" No one spoke, and the man grinned, "Alright, move out!"

=x=

The night was quiet for the two lone occupants of the Uzumaki compound. Naruto, sleeping alongside Pakura, was out like a light, snoring peacefully. Pakura, however, was slightly on edge. The wind moving through the trees outside was a foreign sound to her ears, as she had never had the pleasure of sleeping in a forested area before.

The air was warmer than the cold desert nights, and pleasant. But something else was nagging at her, and it had nothing to do with her new home. Her senses as a shinobi were kicked into overdrive at the moment. Feigning sleep, Pakura kept herself curled protectively around the child in her arms. Something definitely wasn't right.

There was a breeze whispering through the house.

Then there came the sound of the door slowly sliding open so there was barely a sound save for the slight scrape of the wood. She smelled cleaning oil...a blade was drawn.

The air shifted.

Pakura rolled out to the bed and hit the floor on the balls of her feet as the flash of a blade came down, stabbing through her bed. Naruto came awake with a yelp. "Kaa-chan!"

"Run, Naruto-chan!" She yelled, two blazing orbs of Shakuton coming to her palms. Naruto scrambled out of the room and onto the terrace.

Pakura growled as she faced down their attacker. A tall, muscular man wearing a yellow striped tiger mask. "You picked the wrong house to break into!"

The stranger said nothing, only drawing his blade out of the mattress.

=x=

"I've got movement at the Uzumaki compound!" Ko yelled to his comrades, pressing his radio as he moved, "This is Ko, movement at the Uzumaki compound, repeat, movement at the Uzumaki compound!"

"Search and detain, Ko," Fugaku's voice crackled, "Remember, we need this one alive!"

"Understood!" Ko said.

=x=

The Northern wall of the compound exploded with flames as Pakura gave chase to the Anbu that had attacked. "Get back here you bastard!"

The Anbu flitted out of her reach, scanning the area for the blond runaway, spotting him hiding in the treeline. He went after him immediately, ignoring Pakura completely save for avoiding her Scorch attacks.

But Pakura was quicker than he was thanks to her years as an Elite Jonin for Suna, "Don't think you'll gt your hands on him!" Pakura roared, flashing through her hand signs, "Fuuton: Great Breakthrough!"

The Anbu was nearly blasted into the trees from the force of the gale she sent at him, only just avoiding it by hurtling toward the ground. Which was where Pakura wanted him. "Shakuton: Scorch Fist!" Her arm was enveloped in her flames, and aimed directly at the falling shinobi.

But he twisted his body around midair and landed heavily, slashing his sword down at her. Pakura sidestepped the blade and slammed a hard right home on his torso, super heating his lungs to unbearable levels. He staggered back, gasping for breath. It wasn't a fatal blow, not for Pakura's strength, but it was enough to drive a point home; he wasn't leaving here alive!

"Make this easy on yourself," she grit out, "Tell me why you attacked us! Because of the boy?"

Again, the Anbu was silent behind his mask.

Pakura nodded only once, "Guess it's the hard way, then." She said, growling, "I already warned the villagers that if anyone harmed my family, I'd spread your ashes over garden soil!" She formed a single hand sign. "Shakuton: Explosion!" She punched forward, sending her flames at him in massive blasts from her hands.

Seeing no other alternative at completing his task, the Anbu rushed her, his sword held at the ready to strike her down.

"Eight Trigrams Thirty-two Palms!" Roared a new voice, and the shinobi was suddenly struck from behind by stinging blows. His body was beaten and battered as he staggered back under the assault. "Naka-san, now!"

A hard blow to the face knocked the mask away from his face, revealing a man with short, black hair, "Tsukuyomi." Came the voice of Naka Uchiha as his Mangekyou Sharingan flared to life.

The man hit the ground, grinning. And a moment later it was revealed why. His body burst into flames, and was dead before he hit the ground.

"Dammit!" Naka growled, retreating from the flames.

Pakura went to retrieve Naruto from his hiding spot, and held the boy close as she made sure he was unharmed. Naruto hugged her tightly around the neck, sobbing quietly while she hushed him.

Ko and Naka watched the scene for a moment before turning back to the ashes that had been the unknown shinobi. "Did you know him?" Naka asked.

"I think his name was Mizunoe," Ko confirmed with a nod, "But he was loyal to the Hokage, I was sure!"

Naka shook his head, "Apparently not as loyal as we thought...this was a Root mission." He sighed, cursing their luck, "But we don't have any hard proof to accuse Danzo!"

"Danzo is the hard proof!" Ko snapped, "He's had it out for the Hokage since he was elected!"

Naka nodded, sighing as Pakura came over to them with Naruto in her arms, "Be that as it may, Danzo will deny anything we throw at him, at least until he gets fed up with waiting." He said, turning to the woman, "Forgive use for arriving so late, Pakura-san." He said as he and Ko bowed in apology.

"Who was that," Pakura demanded, "And why were we attacked?"

Naka and Ko shared a look before the Uchiha shook his head, "He was an Anbu that held a grudge against the boy...for certain reasons." He sighed, hating the look that crossed the poo child's face upon hearing him; he knew why he was targeted.

Pakura narrowed her eyes at the two men, sensing the lie. "Thank you for helping us...but I think it's best that you leave with this information to let the Hokage know about this attack."

The Hyuuga and Uchiha nodded, sensing her ire, and left the compound, retrieving the Anbu mask as evidence.

=x=

Danzo cursed as he felt the seal on Mizunoe activate. He was his finest, most loyal soldier, and he had been cornered by the foreigner, as he called her, forcing his seal to be activated and kill him in order to keep his secrets.

"Alright," Danzo growled, turning toward his assembled forces, "Let the games begin."

And there goes chapter 7! Danzo is being an incredible asshole at the moment, and will continue to be such...until someone kills the old fart.

Danzo: Why am I always the bad guy?

Shout outs:

Gentle Rage sent this Review last chapter, and I just had to share it: "I like what you've done with the Hokage in this story. He isn't just a part-time grandfatherly figure that drops by when its convenient, he is actually getting crap done. Also, even though you said that the massacre is still going to happen, I appreciate that you had the balls to change how it all leads up to it (and maybe how it goes down, idk). In fact, I think that is what I enjoy the most out of your stories, the fact that you're not afraid to change things (be it big events or short interactions). You aren't one of those writers that sticks to the canon events because its easier. I don't there's been a chapter that you've put out (this story or otherwise) that hasn't surprised me. Lastly, I think my favorite part of this story yet is the relationship between Pakura and Naruto. Nice Job, seriously. Thanks for the great read so far!"

All I can say to this is a heartfelt thank you.

Jose19: You know, I always thought of Danzo as a coward when he first appeared in the anime/manga for all of his support of Sasuke Uchiha, and his concerns over Naruto gaining too much freedom. And it's true, ever since Hiruzen became Hokage, and Minato was chosen over Orochimaru as Yondaime, he's been almost as bad as Obito became.

avidnarutofan: If you like how Hiruzen is now, just wait. He's my favorite out of the Hokage besides Naruto.

Don't forget to review!