AN : Sorry for the wait and hope you enjoy it.
Fury? Shock? Confusion? Hate? Madness?
Nagato didn't know what word properly described the emotions in the room after the Hokage had read aloud Kumo's demands. There was no explosion at first as they all processed whet they had heard. Replaying it over and over again in their heads trying to find a hidden meaning. The only truly audible sounds were the buzzing of Shibi's kikachu at his angered state and Choza crumbling the bag of chips in his hands, the usual joyful Akimichi without a smile.
His eyes traveled to where Kakashi stood behind the Hokage and he wondered how he was taking the proclamation. His ANBU mask covered his face and his posture betrayed nothing. He looked like the epitome of calm. Nagato was a sensor though and someone's chakra rarely lied. Chakra was equal parts body and spirit, having either unbalanced caused a change in it. Sensing the change was rather difficult though. Someone having a large sensory range didn't necessarily mean that they would sense someone's emotions. It worked best when one brought down their range and instead focused more on the people around them. Trying to sense from too far away would only lead to problems.
Nagato sensed those around him instead of looking.
There was an obvious feeling of relief as they weren't in danger of an immediate invasion but the idea of a war was still looming about them like a deadly shadow. Hanging over them like an executioner's blade. Not only were their lives on the line but the lives of all those who resided in Hi no Kuni.
Fear and rage were next. The fear quickly gave away though as the list of demands went on and on. Rage replaced even the small relief some of them had.
He should have expected those emotions. It was how they were all reacting to the news. Only Shikaku had managed to suppress his feelings enough to actually think about actions and their consequences. He was always the one who analyzed a situation before jumping to conclusions.
"We can't give him up until we get what we need from him." the Nara clan head spoke as he stepped forward. Every occupant of the room giving him their full attention. "Inoichi and Ibiki need a little more time to get everything they can. This guy could be a gold mine and we might not get a chance like this again. We need more time."
"How much longer?" Hiruzen questioned. His gaze shifting to Inoichi.
"A few more sessions." Inoichi spoke from his place by the door, still in his black T&I uniform. The blood on his sleeves signifying he had come from a recent session with the prisoner. "He has some mental defenses and he throws memories at me all the time. He knows some ways around my clan techniques but he's quickly running out of tricks he can use on me."
"Continue with your efforts then. I want to know who ordered this. It'll help us in our response. Everything else comes secondary."
"We can't simply let these outrageous demands go Hokage-sama."
"I do not intend to. I also do not want to cause another shinobi world war either." Hiruzen stared at Hiashi over his pipe. "If a war broke out between Kumo and Konoha it would quickly spread to the other nations before the world is engulfed in war once again."
"Hand me over Hokage-sama." Kakashi kneeled in front of the Hokage's desk. "I won't let such harm come to the village I have sworn to defend when I could've averted it. My friends won't suffer because I was a coward and couldn't hand myself over. They won't die because of me." Hiruzen saw Kakashi's hand twitch and he knew it would've ran over his scarred eye. The man still carried guilt for what had happened on that mission so many years ago.
"Says the man whose father already did it." Fugaku spoke from his place near Inoichi. Breaking the Hokage out of his thoughts as Kakashi's head snapped to look at him and the Hokage slowly turned his. "You probably already did it yourself for that eye."
Kakashi almost shot forward at Fugaku, the rage at his father being insulted and the insinuation that he killed his own teammate being too much even for the usual levelheaded ANBU to take. Hiruzen was quicker to react though. A blast of killer intent froze everyone where they stood. Any other time this would have no effect on those gathered. But this was the man that had used the rather rudimentary technique to dangerous effect on the battlefield before, freezing entire armies for only seconds but seconds were far more precious in a battle of shinobi than elsewhere. The ones in his office experienced a similar, if weaker, affect from the technique and Kakashi remained kneeling. All of them finding themselves frozen and their eyes focused on their leader and the source of the body freezing technique. To make sure he had their undivided attention a second wave of killer intent washed over the room and they involuntary shivered at it. Their leader finally spoke then.
"Comments like that are undeserved Uchiha-san." Hiruzen leveled a glare at Fugaku and the clan head wisely chose to remain silent. "I know you are frustrated about what has happened but there is no need to take out your frustrations on Kakashi-san here. He's simply being an exceptional shinobi by placing the village before himself."
"Hai Hokage-sama. Please accept my apologies Hatake." Fugaku's apology was insincere with his eyes holding no regret at trying to incite Kakashi, the bad blood between the two clans still very much alive.
"That eye shit's annoying anyway. It's been what, ten, fifteen years since it happened." Tsume stretched her arms out and looked between both the Uchiha and Hatake with slight frown. "Let it go. I'm sure there are plenty of red-eyed bastards running around anyway." She added with a grin. "You Uchiha are just like anyone else."
"Says the woman…" Fugaku began but someone else spoke, cutting him off.
"I believe we need to get back on topic Hokage-sama." Shibi spoke, stopping any fights from happening within the Hokage's office. The village didn't need a clan head thrown in prison on top of everything else going on. "How are we going to respond to this?"
"Kumo shall get no apology. I assure you of that. As for handing over Kakashi among other compensation shall not happen either. The Hatake won't allow one of their own to be given up anyway." Hiruzen spoke with finality. He didn't see his other silver haired bodyguard visibly relax at his words and Kakashi simply bowed his head before returning to his post. "Now what we shall do is keep the peace. Yamanaka-san and Ibiki-san will be able to provide us with all the information on who ordered the attack, as I am sure we all know why. We will proceed from there with our own terms."
"Have you decided who will accompany your students Hokage-sama?" Shikaku asked. The rest of the room's occupants were also curious as they remained quiet and simply waited for the Hokage to speak. Nagato dreaded what was coming next as the others anticipated it. He already knew the answer and could predict how they would take the news.
"Ah yes the rest of the delegation." Hiruzen slowly swept his gaze across the room, looking at each of the clan heads before focusing on where Nagato stood. "Well I have decided that Uzumaki-san is the best fit for this mission."
It took a moment for the words to register among some of the clan heads and while those of the like of Shikaku and Shibi nodded their heads in a limited understanding of the Hokage's choice, and while they didn't know everything they didn't doubt their Hokage and could see at least some of the pros of sending Nagato. Others were quick to voice their displeasure.
"This is a bad idea." Fugaku spoke first. "I mean no offense to you Uzumaki-dono or you Hokage-sama but this plan can easily backfire on us. Kumo has already shown they were more than willing to kidnap little girl to turn into little more than breeding stock. It is simply too risky to send someone with the Uzumaki chakra reserves and chakra chains."
"You fear they'll kidnap Nagato?" Hiruzen questioned with a raised eyebrow and some mirth in his voice.
"I fear that they'll throw their women at his feet and hope for a redhead to catch his eye." Fugaku clarified his point. "He hasn't taken a wife yet and that could prove detrimental to us."
"I'm sure he can control himself, not everyone is as passionate as your clan is." Shikaku rose to Nagato's defense.
"Uchiha-san does have a point. There is a justified fear of Kumo getting their hands on the Uzumaki bloodline. With some of their techniques combined with the Uzumaki chakra reserves." Several clan heads shivered at Shibi's words.
"The bastards almost fried me more than once back in the war." Tsume had spoken nonchalantly but they could all see how her arms were crossed over her chest and the way her clawed fingers looked to be digging into her arms. "Try not to have any one night stands while you're there then." She tried to be joking but the mirth never made it to her voice, leading to a rarely serious Tsume. "It'll be better for us all if you don't."
Hiruzen held up a placating hand to stop anyone else from speaking and decided to try to ease some of their concerns on his choice. Even he had to suppress a shiver at the thought of a Kumo shinobi with the Uzumaki chakra reserves.
"My students shall accompany him so we have nothing to fear." Hiruzen spoke in an attempt to ease the worries of everyone in the room.
"Jiraiya-san has his vices Hokage-sama." Hiashi spoke immediately. The other clan heads, even Nagato, not so subtlety agreeing with him.
"My student can control himself when it is necessary of him Hyuuga-san. They both can keep the other in check so I have little fear of any type of incident."
"And what about Uzumaki-san?"
"Nagato is going because I have deemed him best fit for this task. If any of you have objections than I would gladly point out the reason why I didn't choose you for this task instead."
"Hai Hokage-sama." The clan heads repeated in answer to him as they realized Hiruzen wasn't compromising on this situation.
"Good. Now if you all have any more questions about the delegation than you may direct them towards Nagato. I would do it quickly if I were you because the delegation is leaving when my students return. Now I would like some quiet to do some of the paperwork that comes with running the village." Hiruzen's voice had taken on an edge towards the end, the only thing showing how tired he was of the clan heads bickering and protest.
The clan heads bowed to their Hokage and left the office. They would have tried to speak to Nagato but he was already gone barely stopping to collect Arashi and Ryuu from where he had left them in the reception area. Again Tsume had seen it fit to bring Kuromaru again and again the Hokage's secretary was terrified of him. He had no intention of speaking to any of the clan heads unless they came to the compound or until the next meeting. He would take any peace and quiet he could before then though.
Nagato returned to his study with Arashi and Ryuu taking up their usual places on either side of the door. He was still weary from his meeting with the Hokage and how the clan heads took the news that he would be the leader of the Konoha delegation to Kumo. Eventually they would see Hiruzen's logic, even without the secrets he had told Nagato, and would let the believed affront pass. He couldn't afford the rest of the clan heads hating his guts. He was just barely getting a grip on power now and didn't want it ripped away with only scraps left to cling to.
All of that left his mind when he saw a man sitting behind his desk. The bandaged covered form, loose fitting clothes, and the cane that was no doubt propped against his desk. He lost his control over his eyes and felt them change without any thought put into it. The limits he had forcibly placed on himself quickly unraveling at his emotions. He felt the full extent of his power that he could now unleash flood his system. The otherworldly feeling driving his body now. He could do anything with his power and right now only one thing came to mind. He would completely destroy the man in front of him. Not even Tsunade with a team of the best medics in the world would be able to save him after he was done with him.
He was stretching out a hand when he saw the bundle in his arms. His entire body froze. He arm stilled. His breathing stop. Even his blood seemed to have stopped flowing through his veins. Freezing in them at the fear that gripped him then and there.
"He's such a nice child." His voice even carried a note of affection as he ran a hand through the boys red hair. "So innocent to what goes on within these walls every day." A sad smile appeared on his scarred face as though he actually would feel regret. "I'm sure it won't last for long though. Especially with him under your care." Danzo's single eye narrowed at Nagato.
"Let him go." Nagato wanted to take a step towards him not only at the insinuation that he would do anything other than protect Naruto but also the idea that Danzo would dare try to blame him for Naruto's view of the world being shattered one day. He wanted to rip his arms off and throw them into the Inuzuka kennels. He wanted to crush his last eye in his hands and watch the man stumble around blindly. "Let him go now." He didn't do any of those things. He simply remained where he was, watching the man's every move. Every twitch.
"I will only do so after we have talked." Danzo spoke as he straightened himself in the chair. "And not a moment sooner."
"Talking should be the last thing on your diseased mind." Nagato practically spat the words at the man. "Hokage-sama will have your head for this. I'll have your head for this."
Danzo laughed at that, momentarily stopping rubbing Naruto's head as he brought his one good arm to cover his eyes. Nagato almost moved. He almost released the Shinra Tensei he had been holding since he walked in. That was before he saw how Danzo's eyes had never left him. Watching him through the gaps of his fingers. Daring him to make a move.
"Hiruzen would do no such thing and neither will you."
"What the hell do you want?" Nagato demanded. "Maybe then I'll kill you quickly you old bastard."
"You should watch what you say around the boy Uzumaki."
"I'll hear you out once you let go of Naruto."
"The Jinchuriki," Nagato felt the feelings he had swallowed come rushing back up. They threatened to spill out but he dug his nails into his palms. Replacing his anger with pain. Buying himself some time. "should remain here. An old man like myself appreciates his presence."
"Aren't you worried about him going to Hokage-sama and telling him what happened?" Nagato threatened. Naruto told the old man everything and a visitor like Danzo would not be forgotten by the boy.
"He won't remember any of this. The boy is asleep and will stay that way until I say otherwise." Danzo spoke with an answer to everything. Every counter Nagato had hopd would see him gone was slowly being taken out of play,
"What the hell did you do?!" He demanded. His fury almost making him attack.
"A simple technique. He'll wake in due time." Danzo straightened himself in Nagato's chair. The thought of the bastard being unable to get comfortable would've brought a smile to Nagato's face if the current situation as different. "After we have our chat."
"Just say what you have to say and get out then. I don't have time for you and your insane ramblings."
"Would you be more comfortable sitting Uzumkai?"
"It's Uzumaki-sama Shimura."
"I thought you cared little for formalities in your home." Danzo questioned him.
"I have been known to make exceptions."
"Fine then Uzumaki-sama." Danzo smiled at the title and would've mocked it if he had been younger even. Now he was straight to business though. "I know you have been chosen as the delegation to Kumo. I trust you understand what positions this puts you in."
"Hokage-sama filled me in."
"Good then he told you the state of the village. Not even I want a war with Kumo, now." the word was almost added as an afterthought and not for the first time did Nagato wonder at how such a man could exist. He talked of war like other people talked about normal things. "I believe he would have you bow before their demands though. That simply can't happen."
"We are in no position to make serious demands you old fool. The best we can hope for are compromises."
"This fool has fought in just as many wars as Hiruzen. I know what it does. I also know that simply rolling over will bring it upon us anyway. Looking weak is the worse thing we can do right now though." Danzo's tone was growing less cordial as he spoke to Nagato.
"You'll have thousands die over some stupid pride." Nagato spat at him. Wishing his words were steal weapons that would tear the man apart.
"I like so many others would gladly die for this village." Danzo's tone held anger in it and Nagato pushed more.
"You'd just hide behind the walls like all the other cripples." Nagato spoke knowing it would get under Danzo's skin. "You were pulled from active duty years ago and we aren't that desperate."
"I see you still don't have a good hold over your emotions Nagato." Danzo only tightened his grip on an armrest, not rising to the bait as Nagato had wanted. "A delegate shouldn't be so easily riled."
"You're not even on the list of people I would take advice from at my lowest." Nagato couldn't even picture himself willingly coming to Danzo for anything. He would only willingly approach the man if he was carrying out his execution.
"Then consider this a strong suggestion then." The old warhawk replied without pause. "I would like for one of my agents to accompany you as part of your security."
"The Hokage has already assigned me a Hatake guard." Nagato knew Danzo's initial plan was gone now. The look on his face told him he knew as well.
"Those are exceptional shinobi so I suppose my agent can accompany you as an aid then." He could just as easily change his plans it seemed.
"Fine what else." Nagato simply wanted this over with.
"My agent will advise you on what to do when you speak with Kumo." Danzo spoke and after he had remained silent Nagato learned that was all. He could hardly believe the man had come for such a small thing and expressed his disbelief.
"That's really all you came here for. You broke into my clan compound, hold my heir hostage, and threaten him with bodily harm simply to get me to take one of your agents as an aid."
"Did you expect some grand plot Uzumaki-sama?" Danzo smiled then, something that looked extremely out of place on the man's face. "That will be all. Now I will leave as you have no doubt been hoping I do since you saw me."
Danzo quickly rose from his seat, uncaring for the way Naruto spilled out of his lap with Nagato only being able to stop him from hitting the floor because his powers were unrestricted. He quickly brought the boy over to him and his eyes focused on Danzo.
"I hope the rest of your day is pleasant Uzumaki-sama." Danzo disappeared in a cloud of smoke, leaving Nagato standing with Naruto in his arms shaking in rage.
Nagato let his rage out then. The smoke cloud from the clone dispelling was blown away and his technique shattered the chair the clone had been sitting in with a single glance. The attack also putting a hole in his wall he would have to fix later. Splinters of wood and shards of glass covering the path outside his office and the garden. His bodyguards quickly rushed inside at the noise. Ryuu appearing in front of Nagato with his sword drawn and humming with Raiton chakra and Arashi appearing at his side a moment later. Both ready for a fight with confusion quickly filling their faces when they saw nothing but their leader in the room.
"What's wrong Nagato-sama?" Arashi questioned after seeing no threat. Only surprised Uzumaki from the new opening in the wall.
"Get out." Nagato said through clenched teeth as another look at the desk caused it to be forced back as well. The hole in the wall opening up more around the edges at the renewed attack. Several Uzumaki were forced to brace themselves at their leader's rage. One narrowly avoided the desk colliding with him. A dive being the only thing that saved him. "I'll call for you later." He spoke with dismissal and began walking over to the couch in his office to set the sleeping Naruto on it.
"Nagato-sama…" Ryuu began, turning to face him and sheathing his sword.
"Find me another chair and desk if you wish to be useful." When they didn't respond he looked at them again and they felt the slightest pressure on them. "Now leave me alone."
"Hai." They bowed and left the room quickly. The Uzumaki that had been watching from outside doing the same, fearing their leader's anger.
Nagato ignored them all. A rock wall shot up from the ground to cover the whole in his office until he could get it fixed and he gently lowered Naruto onto the couch, cursing Danzo again for whatever he had done to him. Nagato sat down next to Naruto and started the arduous task of bringing his powers back under control. His emotions had gotten the better of him and he had felt the restraints he had put on himself shatter too easily. There wasn't even a chance of them staying in actual combat then. He needed a stronger seal. He let out a breath as he felt the power returning under his control. Now a glance wouldn't break something and he didn't have to worry about any accidents for the time being. It was a short lived relief as his thoughts turned to the reason for his anger.
"Old bastard." He spoke through tightly clenched teeth as he thought of Danzo and all he had done. The man supposedly did all he did for Konoha but Nagato had a hard time believing the kidnapping and brainwashing of his children was good for anything but one mad man's desire for power.
The thoughts left just as quickly though, giving away to his concern for Naruto. Nagato could sense that his chakra was fine and the only thing keeping him down had to be some type of drug. Danzo must've been lying to him in an effort to keep him from acting against him. Naruto couldn't be in a genjutsu and now with his rage fading he could see how Danzo's claim was false. Naruto was immune to most forms of genjutsu and he doubted anything short of a genjutsu master could put him in the strongest of illusions for even a brief time. That was simply one of the benefits he had been able to trace back to Naurto's Jinchuriki status so far. They mostly applied to shinobi life and Naruto only being in the academy hadn't seen to many of them showing themselves. He was simply basing what he knew off of Kushina.
The negatives though readily made themselves known to everyone. From the whisker marks on his face that many saw as his single defining feature to his poor chakra control. Nagato had no hopes of Naruto ever being someone able to use the weak form of a jutsu. He definitely wasn't suited for espionage either. His chakra, even now when he was so young and unconscious, was still bright beacon Nagato had no trouble finding no matter where he was in the village or Hi no Kuni in general. Any halfway decent sensor would be able to see Naruto approaching from miles away and he had no hope of sneaking up on anyone after that.
Nagato thoughts strayed from Naruto and his future though. Instead they turned to how he was being dragged into all of this. This mess Kumo had started had simply been a catalyst. Hiruzen had always shown an interest in Nagato but he had always thought it was because of his Rinnegan. A man called 'The Professor' would obviously be interested in it and what it could do. Hiruzen's interest went further than that though. The man wanted something else out of sending Nagato to Kumo but he didn't know why yet. There were other skilled diplomats and any clan head could swallow their feelings long enough to handle the fallout of Kumo's actions. It was what they had been trained in doing since birth. It came far easier to them than it did to Nagato. He would never be at their level and Hiruzen had to know that.
"The more I think of it, the more questions I have." Nagato spoke out loud to no one. "This is all so frustrating." A sigh passed from his lips as he turned his attention to his heir. "Kami you would find a way to make this lighter Naruto." Naruto hadn't stirred yet and Nagato placed a chakra enshrouded hand on his forehead. His rather mediocre medical techniques were amplified by the Rinnegan and he began searching for the drug in Naruto's system. Intent to purge it from his system as quickly as he could. Drugs always had side effects and the quicker it was out of his system the quicker they would be over with.
It would take a while but Nagato had the time. He wouldn't leave for Kumo immediately as Hiruzen would have to get everything prepared for him. In the time that he had before leaving for Kumo he would see to some things. The first was undoubtedly the security of the compound and Naruto himself. He knew many would see Danzo as a special case with the resources the old man had available to him but Nagato would see to it that no one else would so easily take his heir and sneak into the compound. Arashi and Ryuu would have to reevaluate the security and maybe even take the duties upon themselves. Nagato didn't truly need guards anyway. No clan head did. They were the strongest shinobi in the clan and had been training since birth. Some had even been in the ANBU.
The guards from a clan head's own clan was a long standing tradition in Konoha. It went back to its first few founding days. The still hostile Uchiha and Senju clans needed to meet but the generations of bad blood between the two clans was still greater than either Hashirama or Madara could manage to smooth over in only a few weeks or months. Fights were prone to break out in the meetings between the two. Finally all weapons had been banned from the meetings and when security was questioned if someone else attacked and the guards came to be. Having shinobi one could trust nearby allowed the initial hostile clans to meet together without any weapons on them knowing that they had trusted people that would protect them if they were threatened.
It didn't stop all of the fights but they did quickly lower in frequency. The other clan heads present swiftly turning on any aggressor as time went on as more and more clans began to call the village home also helped. Most clan heads only took two guards and the only prerequisite being that the clan head trusted you. It wasn't uncommon for a guard to hear classified information. They had to be trusted above all else. Their strength came secondary to the secrets they would keep. The honor of the appointment usually motivated them anyway. There were stories of some shinobi going from a C-Rank to a high A-Rank in less than 2 years after they were chosen as a guard to their clan head.
Nagato brought his thoughts away from history and the past though. He needed to focus on the present and what he would do in the next few days. After that he would most likely be gone for around a month. Kumo would not be the only stop on this voyage. If all else failed then Konoha would need allies to take on Kumo and Iwa, they would no doubt leap at the prospect of getting revenge on Konoha for their losses from the last war. Minato had ended entire bloodlines with his technique and he doubted he even knew the full ramifications of what he did during the war. He surely didn't feel them during his time as Hokgae. Iwa was still dealing with the initial fallout of the war. Any war against Konoha was bound to have Iwa on the side of Konoha's enemies for the foreseeable future.
Nagato would have to push the thoughts of war away from his mind though. Continuing to think about them now would only lead to problems during the actual talks. He knew a small corner of his mind would expect the worse but he needed to prevent that. His eyes strayed to the slowly stirring child next to him and he vowed that he would never see war like he had. Not as long as he was able to do anything about it. Kushina's son would not live in a world filled with war.
AN : So I don't know why I decided to explain the bodyguards but it really just came to me. I'm trying to establish relationships between characters and clans right now and have some stuff planned for the next chapter. Hope everyone enjoyed the chapter. Any reviews are welcomed.
P.S. I make no promises on definite dates for future chapters. Stuff simply happens.