AN: Enjoy. Leave a review or PM me with any questions or comments.
Nagato went to Hiruzen's office with one thing in mind. He needed to protect his clan while he was gone. Asami would no doubt be able to handle the day to day running of it but he needed protection for his clan from those who would see to use his absence for their own gain. Mainly one Danzo Shimura. The man would take advantage of anything he could and Nagato needed the protection of the one man Danzo seemed to fear retaliation from. The Hokage was his only option to keep his clan safe from Danzo while he was in Kumo and Hiruzen owed him something at least for going in the first place. The Hokage would at least listen to his request.
He was trying to play the two most influential and powerful men in the village against each other for his clan's safety. The thought almost made him laugh. It was definitely crazy. But crazy had a habit of working in the shinobi world.
He waved to the secretary, having already made the necessary preparations to meet the leader, and headed for Hiruzen's office. The walk he had made more and more as the days ticked down towards his visit and the finishing touches had to be put on everything. He noted the palpable relief she felt at not having a ninken so close to her for once when he came to visit.
The Hatake guard silently let him in and the door swiftly shut behind him. His own guards wordlessly assumed a position across the hall from him, remaining outside the Hokage's office. Neither of the figures at the desk looked up at him as he entered.
"Good to see that you have joined us Nagato-kun." Hiruzen spoke, brows furrowed as he was on the last of his paperwork.
"Hokage-sama." Nagato formally addressed him, giving a bow.
"No need for the formality Nagato-kun." Hiruzen looked up to him and gave a smile. "Now what concerns you so much that you wanted a private meeting?"
"I have a request Hokage-sama."
"Always the same with diplomats. Good to see you're taking well to your new post." Hiruzen let out a small chuckle, still focused on the work in front of him. "Now what is it?"
"I need you to keep Danzo Shimura away from my clan in my absence."
Hiruzen's pen paused before he slowly and meticulously placed it in a holder. His full attention on Nagato now. Kakashi had stiffened ever so slightly behind him, Nagato knew he had some dealings with Danzo in the past. Knew some of the man's tactics.
"That's not the usual request Nagato. That is a very different request." Hiruzen leaned back in his chair and let out a long breath. "I need a reason why Nagato? Danzo has allies that can be a nuisance if he wishes for them to do so. Sadly, I need to know if this favor is worth dealing with those nuisances and the problems they can create for me."
"He wants Naruto Hokage-sama." Nagato wasted no time in getting to the heart of the Danzo problem.
"Kakashi." Hiruzen didn't let anything show on his face besides a slight drooping of the corners of his mouth, his chakra told Nagato he was angry but swiftly calmed down to begin planning. The Hokage wouldn't let his emotions guide him and instead would have a clear head as he created a plan to counter his former friend.
"Hokage-sama." Kakashi stepped around to stand before the desk.
"Get me the ANBU commander." Hiruzen ordered. The Hatake shinobi nodded before a Shunshin saw him gone from the room.
Hiruzen's eyes focused on Nagato before he spoke again.
"I can guess that this is another one of Danzo's power plays." Hiruzen let out a breath and hung his head as he spoke both to himself and Nagato. "I expected him to move when Naruto was older, I should've warned you of what he could do. I've truly gone senile if I thought Danzo wouldn't act against me, try to influence you for his own goals. You must tell me everything."
Nagato began without hesitation and Hiruzen cursed his old teammate's desires for the village.
He also wished he had passed the damn hat on his head to one of his students.
Both Jiraiya and Orochimaru were tired, even though they wouldn't admit it to the other. The task of securing the borders wasn't easy, especially with how very few of their forces they had to spread. Their numbers were up from the past few years but they were still a way off from their pre-Kyuubi numbers. The attack was why they were currently exhausted.
The cost of rebuilding had been hard on Konoha's finances and both knew that the Hokage, his advisors, and the council members all went to sleep every night worrying about it. To make up for it the remaining shinobi had been taking on much more missions than usual. Half to show that Konoha could still please its clients and that it was still a force. ANBU had hunted down S-Rank after S-Rank missing-nin and claimed the bounties for the village. Again they had proved why they were valued as the village's elite and most trusted.
Even the Sannin weren't spared the extra duty. Jiraiya And Orochimaru had been forced to give up their semi-retirement and hermit status like their teacher and return to active duty. They only took the highest profile and highest paying missions but it was still tiring on the two. Those produced the most stress in turn and it showed on them. Still they served the village. Seeing that their home was rebuilt more and more as they returned lifted their weary spirits. Hiruzen had also somehow wrestled enough funds to see the orphanage be properly renovated even though it was mostly untouched by the destruction. He justified it with the sad truth that there were now more orphans than the old building could sustain. Pieces of the renovations were small things though. Things they just then remembered telling Hiruzen when they were younger and on his team. The old man had remembered even after all the years that had passed. Their minds snapped back to the present then.
Spending the last week scouring the entirety of the Land of Fire was a tiring task. Their networks had been stressed and nearly every major lead had been followed, many of the favors they had had been called in to follow them. They had been surviving on rations for most of the week and both wanted actual food before they did anything else in the village. Reports still had to be given orally and written down. Follow up missions by other shinobi would also be launched. The entire process would take several hours and the Sanin would be involved for every step of the process.
Having a hand in an operation this large was expected of those that had achieved their rank and status. They'd also personally see to the safety of their home.
"You think the old man's doing alright?" Jiraiya asked, his head falling back on the chair he sat in. "He hasn't sent us a message in a few days."
"Sarutobi-sensei is fine." Orochimaru assured him as he tossed him some of the food he found and took his own seat. "He's simply busy dealing with this mess."
"Yeah." Jiraiya's eyes narrowed as he thought about everything that happened. "This one is pretty stupid."
"It was beyond idiotic Jiraiya. The plan has so many holes that it was obviously created by a first year academy student." Orochimaru held up his hand and a single finger.
"First, he somehow assumes we won't connect him with the missing heiress even if we didn't immediately find him and he acted normal for a few days. Foreign visitors are always the first ones suspected in kidnappings and a high profile visitor is not exempt. He would've been the primary suspect anyway. The assumption would be that he believed himself above the laws of our village and an investigation into him would be highly thorough." A second finger joined the first.
"Second, his escape plan didn't seem to be beyond merely running. There was someone to meet him outside the village but that was more to give him supplies it seemed. They were found with everything they would need for a journey back to Kumo. He didn't drop the heiress with an agent in the village and leave the rest to them or throw her in a leaving trade caravan before the alarm could be raised. They would already have her in their hands by now. A simple relay in a nearby town and they're uncatchable. The rain had already made most means of tracking them useless. He did none of this. His plan was most likely to scale the walls and make a run for the meetup point to resupply." A third finger rose.
"Third, he foolishly thought that we didn't know of Kumo's desire for bloodlines. It would've been wiser to ask for a political marriage between a clan and one of their shinobi. Then we would have had our hands tied. Everyone knows Sarutobi-sensei desires a lasting peace."
"He's seen all three wars. Who wouldn't?"
"Danzo has seen just as many."
"And Danzo's mad half the time and delirious from all the medicine he takes the rest." Jiraiya laughed at his own joke before his face grew serious. "His ROOT stopped being as dangerous when sensei cut his funding and he had to take it completely underground."
"Back to what I was saying. Kumo's want of a bloodline is well known. They would've been better going to Kiri. There's a strong anti-bloodline sentiment rising there now. They could open their gates and have a dozen clans easily enough. But they fixate on Konoha and what we have. The Sharingan, The Byakugan, the Shadow Possession Jutsu, the Inuzuka ninken techniques, and the Uzumaki massive chakra reserves and chakra chains to name a few. The techniques and bloodlines we gained because we didn't allow our eagerness for strength in the beginning to become foolishness. Even then they could've acquired one or even several through marriages. It's happened before in other villages and will happen again. But their foolishness prevented that. They risk a war over something they could've easily gained through these talks." Orochimaru pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "It's infuriating how shortsighted they are."
"Relax a little Orochimaru. What's done is done and we can't go crazy thinking about it."
"For a Head Ninja he was-"
"How's Anko doing." Jiraiya obviously wanted to change the subject.
"She's promised me that she will become a Jonin very soon." Orochimaru smiled at the memory of his students vow. "I have faith that she will be able to keep her promise."
"You sure know how to pick a student. She's turning into one hell of a woman." Jiraiya dodged the kunai aimed at his groin and grabbed the snake sent towards him. Orochimaru's smile had swiftly given way to a glare directed at his teammate. "Easy now." He was grinning despite the attempted attack. "Not my fault that she's-"
"Not. Another. Word." Orochimaru's golden eyes were hard as he spoke.
"Relax. You know I only care about Tsunade-hime anyway." There was sadness in his eyes as he spoke their teammates name. It was quickly pushed back, visible for only half a second but Orochimaru saw it.
"If I hadn't known you for so long I wouldn't believe you." He spoke as if he hadn't, lowering his arm and the snake in Jiraiya's hand dispelling. "Still her and your student,"
"Konan." Jiraiya gave the name he knew Orochimaru didn't know.
",have followed a similar path." Orochimaru continued as if he hadn't been interrupted.
"T&I is something else." Jiraiya leaned back again, trying to put himself at ease. "I'm always ready to question somebody, maybe give them a little encouragement if I have to, but what they do is different."
"It's a unique craft Jiraiya. Not everyone is suited for it."
"And how much have you read about it?" Jiraiya didn't hesitate to ask.
"Enough to know what I said is true." Jiraiya knew he could pry for more but he dropped it. He didn't want to know any more about T&I than he already did.
"Wonder how Nagato's doing?" Jiraiya voiced his thoughts aloud. "Hiruzen's planning to turn him into a diplomat if what we heard was right."
"How unfortunate." Orochimaru spoke with mock sympathy.
"I know you remember those missions. The stuffy dinners, snobby people. Everyone trying to outwit everyone else."
"I remember thinking of them as a challenge before they became boring."
"Of course you do." Jiraiya rolled his eyes. "Still think he'll send us with the kid?"
"At this point he doesn't have very many options. He wants peace and gaining a new diplomat isn't a bad bonus. We'll accomplish the mission like usual."
"You're talking like failure's an option."
"It isn't."
The two were sadly used to these situations. Knowing that one wrong move could lead to a catastrophe. They had been in worse situations before though. They had used both legal and highly illegal ways to accomplish their missions before and had no problem doing such a thing again if it meant keeping the peace their sensei desired in his every waking moment. Each of them had shouldered a bit of the weight their teacher had been bearing for so many years and now they needed to teach someone new. Hiruzen had an eye for talent and they both knew that he saw something in Nagato. They all did actually.
The man was a legend in the making in everyone's' eyes but his own. He had already gathered a clan scattered across the world with little more than rumors and the occasional help from Jiraiya.
This wouldn't be easy but the man was more prepared than he thought. They were simply there to guide him. Each had a talent for teaching and they would be content with their role in teaching the next Shinobi no Kami.
He could hear nothing.
He could see nothing.
He had lost his sense of time.
So much he had was just gone. He had lost so much he had taken for granted. All of it so precious to him. How valuable it was unknown to him until now.
His paper prison open and he took in deep breaths of air and shut his eyes, the small amount of light they had brought with them blinding.
"Are you ready to talk now?" her amber eyes looked at him with nothing and her voice was empty.
It was yet another attempt to get the information out of him. The information he hadn't given after who knows how long. It could've been hours or days since he had been caught by Hatake Kakashi. He didn't know and they wouldn't tell him.
"I'll ask again before I leave." There was still nothing on her face or in her voice. "Are you ready to talk now?"
"Please." He begged. "I don't know what you're talking about."
He prepared himself for his prison to cover him again and the sense of loss it would bring. Prepared himself for everything he would be losing as the paper returned to its previous state. Instead it tightened around his chest and he coughed and sputtered as the air was driven from his lungs and he couldn't bring anymore in. He struggled but it was pointless. He had laughed when he was first put in the prison but he had been proven wrong before and now he was learning something knew about his prison.
"Usually I would leave at this point but that means giving you over to Anko." Her eyes narrowed as his prison tightened. "And that would be annoying." He could breathe again and was brought lower so the interrogator could look into his eyes without having to look up. "So now I need results and don't have the time for the isolation to drive you mad."
"Please…breathe…." He rasped out as his lungs burned for air but refused to expand for the precious gas. He begged them to as he begged her to release her technique.
"Did you say 'Please let me breathe?' Or was it something else." She moved some of the hair that was covering her eye. "I can never understand people when I do this." Her face didn't change as the prison tightened. "As it becomes harder and harder to breathe." her words were true as his chest was constricted. "As you stop being able to talk."
"Pl-" he began but the prison tightened and cut him off.
"Perhaps we'll try again later." her face never changed as he desperately tried to breathe, force more air into his lungs than the paper prison would allow. His struggles gained him nothing. She simply looked on, disinterested in him and his struggles.
She stood and watched as the paper slowly suffocated him. She would loosen the paper before it became fatal though. She had the time down exactly it seemed and she merely watched. She didn't even allow him a chance to speak, only allowing him a few seconds of unrestricted breathing. He prayed it would end soon even as it seemed to continue without end. She left eventually. His body succumbing to exhaustion as she had left his prison open, allowing him fresh air instead of the usual stale air.
Without warning the paper covered his mouth, a muffled scream rose from his throat as his prison wrapped around him again.
He could hear nothing.
He could see nothing.
He had lost his sense of time.
Nagato didn't like to admit that for the second time this week he was surprised in his own compound. It wasn't one of Naruto's childish surprises one could see coming if they knew the boy but something far more nerve wracking.
Asami had gone behind his back it seemed and had scheduled a meeting between himself and the man across from. Even with the presence of the man's wife he was still on edge.
"It's an honor to welcome you into my home Hyuga-dono." Nagato spoke first, suppressing his surprise at seeing the man. "Hopefully you have been treated with all courtesy during your wait. You have my apologies for that. I'm afraid something urgent came up and demanded my attention, it's why I was unable to greet you at the gates."
"No apology is necessary Uzumaki-dono. Asami-san was good company." He nodded towards where the woman sat next to Nagato. "But perhaps we can quickly move on to the purpose of this visit."
"I would appreciate it as well." Hiashi set the cup down and sat up, his back straight and his pale eyes locked with Nagato's own. "I know I was hasty to dismiss your ability when you were first assigned to this duty and for that I extend my apologies."
"I forgive you Hyuga-dono. It was a very trying time for you and still is. I know you meant no disrespect by it."
"But still you are in a very valuable position. You shouldn't be surprised if others come and meet with you. They all have their own ideas of what needs to be done."
"Some have already come forth." Nagato somehow kept his voice leveled and calm as he remembered his meeting with Danzo. Still his hands balled into fists under the table at the thought of the man and Asami noticed. He would be speaking with her later it seemed.
"You will have to remind me of that meeting Nagato-sama. I have been away from the compound for some time." Asami said, taking a sip from the tea she had offered Hiashi.
"Many will all ask something of you. Seeing their way as best." Nagato nodded at the unasked question, he was being forced to take along one of Danzo's men. It was never a question from the Warhawk, only demands. "I am no better than them it seems. I have come to ask something of you Uzumaki-dono."
"You are a better man than you think Hiashi. Not many could handle much of what you have gone through."
"But many would've handled it better." Hiashi closed his eyes and let out a slow breath. "I have come to ask that you seek the resolution I would've been unable to achieve."
"Please explain Hyuga-dono."
"I have come to terms with why I am not being sent along with the reasons Hokage-sama has for not sending the other clan heads. We would be unable to see past what happened. Uzumaki-dono I ask that you follow Hokage-sama's wishes and prevent a war over a single girl."
Hiashi gripped the cup hard enough to shatter and Nagato was sure it would've if it hadn't been reinforced for shinobi. Nagato didn't speak for a moment as he watched Hiashi and his wife. They both sat ramrod straight now, no doubt they had talked about this before but saying it, putting out into the world was something different. They no doubt felt like terrible parents. Nagato tried to ease their worries.
"That single girl is your daughter Hiashi. I understand what one would do for family. I have done much for them." Nagato stopped when Asami grabbed his upper arm.
"Nagato-sama." Nagato turned to look at her. "I believe Hyuga-sama is saying he has put his faith in you. Just like Hokage-sama has."
"Yes." Hiashi nodded. "Thank you Uzumaki-san." Hiashi nodded to Asami.
"I am honored by your faith in me Hyuga-dono." Nagato bowed his head to Hiashi as he spoke. "Truly this was not easy for you to do."
"There is little left but to have faith in your abilities Uzumaki-dono. Hokage-sama trusts you and the least I can do is put my faith in you." Hiashi and his wife rose from their seats with practiced grace. "I wished I could do more but I can promise you the support of the Hyuga Clan upon your return to Konoha. Regardless of the outcome of the negotiations."
"You've done much already Hyuga-dono." Nagato spoke as he did the same, extending a hand that Hiashi quickly grabbed. "I hope we can talk a more in depth upon my return."
"I look forward to hearing of your success." Hiashi spoke as they shook hands. "We shall see what the future holds Uzumaki-dono."
"I'd like a word with Nagato-san alone, Hiashi." Hiashi's wife spoke for the first time in Nagato's presence and the Uzumaki clan head was surprised.
"I'll be outside Hitomi."
"Follow me Hyuga-sama." Asami said as she led the Hyuga clan head out the room.
Nagato wished that she had stayed. He had no idea on how to talk to the woman in front of him. He knew so little about her and wasn't sure how he should start the conversation. Talking to her husband had been hard enough on his nerves and he doubted he could repeat a performance so soon.
"Kushina used to talk about you so much." The first words out of her mouth took him by surprise. People rarely spoke to him about the woman he considered his sister. "Whenever someone would ask why she would just smile and say that she had faith in you." Her eyes looked around the room, seeming to take in the entire compound without the Byakugan activated. "It seems that she was right."
"I didn't do this alone Hyuga-san-"
"Hitomi is fine." The Hyuga matriarch quickly instructed him to do away with the honorific.
"I had a lot of help Hitomi."
"She always said you were too humble." Hitomi shook her head and smiled at Nagato's silence. "Believe in yourself Nagato. Believe in yourself like Kushina believed in you. Like she trusted you."
"That's easier said than done."
"Practice makes it easier Nagato." Hitomi gave him a gentle smile. "Good luck Nagato."
"Thank you Hitomi." Nagato gave a small bow to the woman as she made her way to the door.
"I'll see you again Nagato." Hitomi's words held a promise in them. "I haven't properly thanked you for your help in saving my daughter and I doubt anyone has better stories about Kushina than you. I'd love to compare them."
"I look forward to it."
She left him with a smile before joining her husband and following Asami out of the compound. Nagato followed them with his senses and tracked them as they met their guards and departed the compound. Only then did he allow himself to leave the room and head for his office. Taking deep breaths the entire time. Arashi and Ryu easily fell into step beside him as always. It seemed like his life was simply bound to get more and more complicated.
Taking tea with one Uzumaki Asami was not something Nagato usually did but she had been waiting for him in his office with the tea ready and one look sent his bodyguards away. He again cursed whatever she had done or told them to make them react such a way. It seemed like he was the only one who even dared to cross her paths sometimes. It was getting ridiculous now.
"Asami-chan." Nagato nodded to her as he took the seat across from her. He knew she wouldn't leave until she had said her piece, whether that involved him talking or not depended on her mood. She had at least made tea and already poured both of them cups.
"It's good to see that you've finally stopped living in here." She hadn't touched her own cup and Nagato reached for his. "That's an improvement over the last week or so."
"I had a lot of work to do." He took a sip of it and barely raised an eyebrow at it. It was bitter and outright scorching. "It's good."
"Really?" she raised a single eyebrow. Nagato didn't exactly know what she was commenting on.
"Yes. I need to see to as much as possible before I leave."
"For Kumo?" she asked it as a question but was simply looking for confirmation from Nagato himself.
"Yes. Hokage-sama wants me in the delegation." She mostly likely already knew the details.
"You've known this for a week and you haven't exactly been forthcoming with the information." She definitely knew.
"It's very sensitive information Asami-chan." Nagato idly wondered how far her reach went.
"Is it?" she feigned ignorance and Nagato laughed at how much it didn't suit her. Anyone who knew her knew she had eyes an ears seemingly everywhere. Jiraiya had even used her talents before and mentored her. "Still, locking yourself in your office for a week?" she finally took a sip from her own drink and Nagato noticed how she didn't even wince at it. "Don't tell me you think that was a good idea."
"I didn't lock myself in."
"Living in it is no better Nagato."
"I've realized that."
"I guess that's an improvement then."
"This truly isn't anything you need to worry about Asami-chan."
"I think it is something I should be worried about Nagato-sama. You only started coming out of here a few days ago and it's not the best for the clan."
"All I do is for the good of the clan."
"Yes the clan head locking himself in his office is always for the good of the clan."
"You act like I never would've come out."
"Forgive me then Uzumaki-sama." Her voice dripped with mockery as she spoke the title.
"I do have work to do Asami." Nagato spoke, growing annoyed at the Uzumaki woman and the blatant disrespect. He hadn't fully recovered from Danzo's mocking after all. The man was able to rattle him far beyond whatever he initially thought.
"I know." She waved a hand dismissively and leaned back further in her seat, taking another drink from her cup. "I'll keep you company starting today."
"That's truly not needed."
"Oh I insist."
"Don't you have work to do at the temple?"
"I've looked over it enough for at least some time. The masks and the temple itself are sealed for the time being. I'm sure it'll last for a while at least. And besides," she held out her hand, showing the swirl on the back of it. "If anything happens I'll know immediately."
"Then perhaps you should take this time to look for someone who you can train as your successor."
"Thank you for the concern but I've already seen to several scrolls being delivered to those I have in mind for such a position."
"See to Naruto's lessons then."
"My my Nagato-sama." She held a hand to her heart as if hurt. "By the way you speak it seems as if you don't want me here. Sacrificing Naruto even."
"Your presence can be an annoyance sometimes Asami-chan."
Asami merely laughed.
"And the truth finally comes out."
"You don't seem too hurt by it."
"Never have been and never will be." Asami set her empty cup down. "Now about this meeting you mentioned."
Nagato actually rose an eyebrow at that, Danzo was truly good to avoid both his bodyguards security measures and Asami's own. He felt some relief that the Hokage had promised to stop any further attempts on his clan by the Warhawk.
"Shimura Danzo was here, right after Hiruzen named me the diplomat in front of the others." Nagato pointed to his new desk and the recently repaired wall. "He was sitting there with Naruto in his arms."
All mocking and playfulness was gone as she felt her own rage towards the village elder. She frowned before she spoke again.
"I can't believe I bought the excuse that you had simply underestimated your powers." Asami wanted to slap herself at her foolishness. "How did he get in here? Get Naruto?" her eyes narrowed and her fists clenched. "That man has crossed a line. No one is even allowed to think about touching my family, let alone holding one hostage."
"He had demands Asami." Nagato walked over and leaned against his new desk. "He wants me to take one of his agents along with him to the talks."
"Why?"
"To advise me on what to do."
"I thought he wouldn't trouble us but it seems like I was wrong." She rose from her seat and stood before Nagato. "How do you want to deal with him."
"We can't openly strike him Asami. I've asked Hokage-sama to watch over the clan while I'm gone."
"Will that be enough?" Asami was already going through how to counter Danzo and any way he could use his influence to impact the clan. She'd definitely hand him a scroll in the morning to look over.
"I hope but it's always better to have contingency plans."
"I'll begin planning immediately." she bowed her head as she began her exit.
"Don't exhaust yourself. I have faith in Hokage-sama and I need focused on running the clan in my absence."
Seeing her stop dead in her tracks and the unabashed look of surprise on her face was enough for Nagato to smile. Not many people were able to bring about a look of pure surprise on her face.
"I thought you'd leave the day to day running in the hands of the clan elders." she managed to speak through her shock.
"I would if this was a short trip." Nagato moved behind his desk and pulled out a single scroll. "Since I don't believe it will. I've decided to give you full authority over the clan in my absence." he smiled as he held it out to her. "You're more than qualified for it."
"I honestly thought I'd be accompanying you." Asami's face showed she was trying to see things as Nagato did.
"We want to talk peace with Kumo, not terrify them. We'll save that for if the talks fall through." Nagato said. "Besides, who would else can make sure Naruto keeps up with his lessons, he drives away any other tutor."
She smiled before schooling her features and offering a proper bow to Nagato.
"You honor me with such faith in my abilities Nagato-sama." she rose and took the scroll from his hands before speaking again. "I promise I won't see your faith in me misplaced."