Chapter Five: Recovery

Note: Orochimaru defects sometime in this chapter too, but I'm not going to write about it. And also, even though Tenzo survived the mokuton experiment, he isn't able to use mokuton (right now, Tenzo is a Root member.)

Warning: AU Universe. Some OOC. Good-ish Danzo.

Shizuka, Yoshino, and Shikaku make their way to the shelter with haste, despite all three of them being exhausted. Today was definitely not their day, the three of them thought. Shizuka was tired from healing patients, and then suddenly she was being pushed and directed into the evacuation centre by other people; Yoshino was managing the cashier at Rose Blossom Bakery, before the village alarm sounded out and somehow she found herself fighting against the kyuubi; Shikaku was at the Jonin office writing up reports, when suddenly he was placed in charge of finding a way to push the kyuubi out of the village.

They dash into the shelter, six eyes roaming the crowd, before they finally find their children. Both Zero and Kaname were trying to calm Ichiru and Shikamaru down, the latter two crying up a storm like all the other young ones in the shelter. None of what Zero and Kaname are doing seems to help though, when both of them seem to register their presences and looks up. Once their eyes meet, Shikaku can't help but feel like something collapses inside him, and he can't manage a word.

They are okay. They are not dead.

Yoshino and Shizuka have both given up on speaking, and instead embrace both Kaname and Zero, respectively.

Shikaku and Yoshino head home with Kaname and Shikamaru, while Shizuka does the same for Zero and Ichiru. Once they get to the compound, Shikaku glances at Yoshino, Kaname, and Shikamaru, checks to make sure that all three of them are alive, before heading out again. With the mess that the kyuubi has left Konoha in, there are millions of things that need to be done as soon as possible, and as Jonin Commander, he has to be the one to lead and manage them. How troublesome, Shikaku thinks; he would rather be at home taking a nap or playing shogi with Kaname.

One hour later finds Shikaku sitting in the emergency village clan meeting, along with the Sandaime and the three Elders. The Yondaime had passed away sealing the kyuubi, and now Konoha was in a state of turmoil and lacking a Hokage. Others in the room debate and murmur among themselves about who the next hokage should be and Shikaku can't help but sigh, how troublesome. When will this be over? The Sandaime stands up, breaking up the discussion and announces that he would be taking up the seat of Hokage once again, until someone suitable replaces him. Shikaku spares a quick observation of Danzo, who looks like he would want to disagree but stays silent. Good, the longer he stays silent, the less troublesome this meeting will go, he thinks.

They move on to talk about the reconstruction, as the kyuubi basically decimated over one third of the village in just one night. Shikaku listens with only one ear open, desperately wishing that he could just go home and take a nap. The Elders list the location of each clan, and Shikaku is glad that his clan will not lose any land to the reconstruction effort. They continue on, no clan having much protest because they all are tired; first dealing with the kyuubi and then this. All of them just want to go home, until –

"Danzo-sama!" Uchiha Fugaku exclaims, practically leaping up from his seat. "The Uchiha clan makes up the Konoha Military Force, which protects the order of Konoha from within. That location is too far from the village centre, we won't be able to act swiftly in times of emergency."

Shikaku startles up and takes a look at the map of the village laid out on the table. Fugaku's right, any further and they would be outside of the village, he realizes. Chouza nods his head, agreeing with Fugaku's statement beside him, and the other clan heads sit up and start paying more attention. What was supposed to be a reconstruction meeting turned out to be some kind of massive political play. How troublesome.

Danzo's curt reply is outright scathing in any kind of sense, "We will have the ANBU black ops dispatched in emergencies."

"That's stupid." Shikaku cuts in before someone else can say something even more troublesome. He sighs, he really wants to not interfere, but if he allowed Danzo to carry on, then it would no doubt cause trouble for the village in the future. "ANBU are the elite force of Konoha. They take on the most dangerous missions and guard the Hokage. They do not have the time nor capability to take over the Konoha Military Force's job. As someone who is in charge of ANBU, you should be aware of this right, Danzo-sama?"

"Shikaku is right, Danzo. The Uchiha will be rebuilt in the original position; there is no need for them to relocate. Is that understood?" Hiruzen speaks up, before the meeting can get even worse.

"Ah…yes…of course Hokage-sama." Fugaku answers, clearly in shock from the turn of events.

Danzo says nothing in reply, disapproval clear in his eyes, but he allows the meeting to resume. Shikaku looks at him, and thinks that he might need to be more careful the following months; Danzo was a dangerous man and not someone to underestimate at all.

Luckily, no one uses the meeting as another chance for some political power play, and Shikaku can at last head home in the afternoon. He could feel Fugaku's eyes on his body when he left the room, but Shikaku was in no state to care about such things. The political mess could be dealt with later.

XXXXXX

Sarutobi Hiruzen found himself the Sandaime Hokage once again, after he thought he had finally gotten rid of the hat by giving it to Minato. Looking at the condition that Konoha was in, Hiruzen couldn't help but think that things would be much simpler if Kushina never got pregnant. He hated himself for feeling so, but it really was the truth. Hiruzen was old; he was ready to retire during the Third Great Shinobi War, and he was well past his prime when he gave Minato the Hokage seat. Now, he found himself in the Hokage position once again, almost ancient in age. Hiruzen sighed, not to mention the piles of paperwork that came with the responsibility of the hat.

"Are you done reflecting on your age? Because we have millions of things to do." Koharu says sharply, her words like blades as usual.

"Ah, yes. Let's move on to the first topic – the Academy." Hiruzen replies. Who knows what Koharu would do to him if he didn't get a move on, he thinks. He looks at Danzo and Homura, who don't meet his eyes, it was better to not get involved with women.

"The Ninja Academy will be closed off to new students for around a year, if not more. During this time, the ninja curriculum will undergo amendment; most of it will stay the same though. Students will still be in the academy for a period of six years, but in their fourth year, they will do an internship. It's a great time for them to learn what it actually is like, being a shinobi." Koharu speaks up, not giving any of them time to argue. "Also, graduate students will be placed on teams based on their personality, interactions with their classmates, and their skills – not their grades. No team will be made up of the rookie of the year, a smart kunoichi, and the dead last, unless all three of them get along well with each other and have superb teamwork."

"But the team with the rookie of the year, a smart kunoichi, and the dead last is tradition. It's a good – "

"It is not a good tradition." Koharu rudely cuts him off. "All such teams have been failures, or have you forgotten the Sannin, and the team Hatake Kakashi was in?"

Hiruzen flinches and bows his head; the legendary Sannin, the three students he used to be so proud of. One was declared a missing-nin after experimenting on orphans, the other was off perverting on hot springs while avoiding Konoha as much as possible, and the last one had sworn to not return to Konoha and was gambling and drinking her sorrows away. And Hatake Kakashi, he was the only survivor of his team and was currently drowning himself in ANBU missions. He sighs, "I understand, reform the academy how you wish to, Koharu."

"Of course." Koharu nods her acceptance.

"Moving on, once the academy re-starts next year, Kiryuu Zero should be enrolled then." Danzo gives his opinion brusquely, with Homura nodding his agreement.

"What!? Zero is only four years old, he's too young!" Hiruzen protests angrily. "I allowed Yukine to bring Zero to the frontlines with him, because you three were adamant about it. But this is different; there is no need for Zero to enter the academy early."

"The mokuton that Kiryuu Zero holds will be imperative unless we want a repeat of the tragedy that occurred on October 10th. There is no guarantee that the seal on the jinchuuruki will not break and release the kyuubi again." Danzo responds harshly. "Also, Kiryuu Zero will be five years old by the time the academy starts up again."

"I hear that Kiryuu Zero is friends with Nara Kaname, who will most likely entering the academy then. If he enters early, then he won't need to be separated from his friend." Koharu backs up Danzo.

Hiruzen sighs, as always the three of his advisors give reasonable arguments. "Very well, Kiryuu Zero will be allowed early admission into the ninja academy. I will inform him and his family later on."

"What are we going to do about the Yondaime's legacy?" Homura enquires.

And this was another of Hiruzen's troubles; if other nations found out that the Yellow Flash had a son, there was no doubt that assassin after assassin would be sent. "Naruto will take his mother's last name – Uzumaki Naruto, and he will live in an orphanage." HIruzen answers. "There is no other way." He had wanted either Kakashi or Jiraiya to take Naruto in, but both of them had immediately refused; both were carrying too much emotional baggage, and Naruto reminded them too much about Minato.

"An orphanage? Is that really the best choice?" Koharu questions. "Should he not be trained? He is after all, a jinchuuruki."

"No. Naruto will grow up as a normal kid and he will not be adopted or taken in by anyone; as Minato's son, it wouldn't be right for him to take on a last name other than Namikaze or Uzumaki. Furthermore, allowing a clan to take in Naruto would tip the political balance." Hiruzen says.

Homura, Koharu and Danzo look dissatisfied, but they do not protest to Hiruzen's decisions.

XXXXXX

The first four to five months after the kyuubi attack, passed extremely quickly for Zero. There was too much Zero had to do; brewing potions all day long because more than half of the population of Konoha were injured in the kyuubi attack, taking care of Ichiru, who to be honest, was a really quiet baby and wasn't much of a bother, and working at Rose Blossom Bakery in place of his mother, who spent basically all her days in the hospital, healing patients after patients. There was no time for Zero to meet up with Kaname at all, with his days all occupied with other priorities.

In January, Zero had been called by the Hokage and the three Elders for a short meeting. His mother was supposed to be attending too, but she was helping out in the Konoha Hospital and could not afford to leave.

Zero entered the room and kneeled, "you called for me, Hokage-sama and honourable Elders?"

"Ah, yes, thank you for coming, Zero." Hiruzen replied, puffing away on his pipe. "But first, how have you and your family been? Are you all recovering well from the kyuubi attack three months ago?"

"Yes, thank you for your consideration, Hokage-sama." Zero answered politely. "The requests for our potions have slowed down to a normal rate, and my mother and I are no longer so tired out. My younger brother, Ichiru, is also growing well."

"I see, that's good to hear. Now, moving on, as you know the Ninja Academy is currently closed, but if everything goes according to the schedule, then by September, it will be opened up and running as usual. Zero, we would like you to enter the academy then; an early academy enrolment." Hiruzen said, paying close attention to Zero's face to see how he would react. To his surprise, no astonishment or disapproval showed on Zero's face; he remained neutral and only bowed his head, giving his acceptance.

"I understand, Hokage-sama. If that is what Hokage-sama and the Honourable Elders wish for me to do, then I have no reason to decline."

Hiruzen gave a soft sigh, while looking at Zero. He really was too mature for his age; there was no doubt that Zero would do well in the academy, especially from the reports Yukine and Shikaku had given him about Zero's prodigious progress in the shinobi arts. "That'll be all then, Zero. Thank you for your time."

"Not at all, Hokage-sama." Zero responded, giving a bow to the Hokage and the three Elders before leaving the room.

By the time February ended, Konoha, as a whole, had about all recovered from the kyuubi attack. Zero also, was no longer buried with lists of potions he had to brew, so it was at the start of March that Zero saw Kaname for the first time since the night of the kyuubi attack. The two of them had quickly caught each other up about what had happened since October 10th, and Kaname had been happy to hear the Zero would be attending the academy with him in September. Zero and Kaname quickly got into training again, both not having much time in the previous months to do so. Since the two of them would soon be turning five and six, respectively, and entering the academy, Zero and Kaname started to teach themselves jutsus.

More months passed, and Kaname had turned six. It was a small affair, as many of the older shinobi were still quite busy with taking missions, in order to make Konoha seem unaffected by the kyuubi attack. Spring ended, and then summer came and went; both Zero and Ichiru had celebrated their fifth and first birthdays, respectively.

Before long, September had started, and by then, both Zero and Kaname had already mastered the three academy jutsus – kawarimi, henge, and bunshin. The two of them were both capable of doing the kawarimi and bunshin without any hand seals, but they still needed to form one seal for the henge. Zero and Kaname had also started learning the shunshin, although they were still in the progress of perfecting it.

One jutsu that helped Zero and Kaname a lot was the kage-bunshin no jutsu; Zero had found a scroll about the shadow clone in his father's library, and immediately taught himself and Kaname how to do it. As usual, it only took the both of them one try to learn the kage bunshin, and after that, they often used a shadow clone to take care of their younger brothers while the real bodies trained.

Also, the two of them had started to gain their own unique and distinctive fighting style. Zero focused more on using his speed, exceptional genjutsu skills, and small stature to take down an enemy; it was obvious that he was developing into a short-distance fighter. On the other hand, Kaname was more of a long-distance fighter; he stayed back and utilized his extraordinary strategic skills, yin-release to control the shadows, and devastating precision with shurikenjutsu and senbon to back up Zero.

XXXXXX

It was exactly one day before Zero and Kaname would enter the academy, on the 25th of September, that the two of them would meet Uchiha Shisui.

Zero and Kaname were practicing their shurikenjutsu and taijutsu together, as they had already trained individually in their kekkei genkais and clan abilities in the morning, when a young, excited voice stopped them.

"Eeeh, I'm surprised. I didn't think I would find another two Itachis in this training ground!" Uchiha Shisui announced. The two young boys in front of him looked at each other, then glanced back at him again, not saying anything. Shisui sweat-dropped at the silence, where they socially stunted like all Uchihas or something?

"Is there something you needed from us, Uchiha-san?" Zero asked after a few moments of awkward silence, recognizing the distinct Uchiha features of the teenager in front of them.

"You can call me Shisui. I'm Uchiha Shisui!" Shisui introduced himself eagerly, hoping to receive a reaction, but only got two blank stares. "How about you two, how old are you guys? Are you two entering the academy this year too?"

"Uchiha-san." Zero continued, ignoring the 'call me Shisui!' that he heard. "I am Kiryuu Zero, five years old. I will be starting the academy tomorrow. It's a pleasure to meet your acquaintance, Uchiha-san." And Zero gave a deep, polite bow. Beside him, Kaname did the same –

"I am Nara Kaname, six years old. I, too, will be entering the academy with Zero. It is also a pleasure to meet your acquaintance, Uchiha-san."

'What was with these two kids. Not only were they tiny Itachis, they even talked like Itachi.' Shisui moaned.

"Can I watch you two train? I'll also give you some tips if you need them." Shisui asked, he was curious to see how good they were, compared to Itachi. Considering the fact that one of them was the Jonin Commander's nephew, and the other was allowed early entrance to the academy, they both must have some skill.

Zero and Kaname glanced at each other, before Zero replied, "We don't really mind, as long as you don't disturb us."

Watching the two of them, Shisui realized with a start, that no, they weren't as good as Itachi. They were better, way better than Itachi. Shisui had trained with Itachi multiple times in the past, and he could say for sure that Itachi was a genius within a genius. It only took him one or two tries before he could do all the jutsus and skills Shisui showed him. Itachi was extremely skilled, but Zero and Kaname were far more skilled – with the way the two threw their kunais, dodged and kicked at each other, and flung genjutsu and clan jutsu around.

They were probably on par with himself, if not better, Shisui thought. It was sort of unbelievable, Itachi was already miles ahead of other children his age, but these two were worlds ahead of Itachi.

"Amazing! It's the first time I saw two children so skilled for their age." Shisui congratulated them enthusiastically, it seemed like Itachi would have some serious competition in the academy. He was glad that Zero and Kaname would be entering the academy in the same year as Itachi; meeting the two of them, and being forced to learn that there's always someone better than you, would be good for Itachi in the future. Shisui was brought out of his thoughts by Zero's question –

"Uchiha-san, why are you a shinobi? For what reason do you fight?" Zero asked Shisui seriously, his lilac eyes piercing deeply into Shisui's soul.

Although Shisui was surprised by the heavy question Zero asked, he answered, "For the sake of peace, in order to protect my clan and the village."

"If that's the case, then Uchiha-san will become stronger." Zero smiled softly.

"A person can only truly become strong if they have something to protect." Kaname said solemnly.

Shisui knew then, that the two of them would be great. That Zero and Kaname were geniuses whose talents were beyond comparison with Itachi's; they both would become exceptional shinobis.

Please give me reviews! - Your thoughts on what I should do about Itachi.

I'm still considering whether I should make Zero and Kaname friends with Itachi or not. A lot of fanfics end up having OC characters befriend Itachi, but I want to take a different approach.