Welcome back for another chapter.

I'll just dive into the responses.

Amouren: I actually really hate sand. I have a legitimate and utter loathing for it. Like, it gets everywhere and even after you take a shower you'll find it in your ear or ass crack weeks later and be like: "How did that even get there!" Lmao, that Star Wars reference tho. *Shakes head in disappointed amusement*

Drakon45: A story takes time and patience to develop. I just can't have Sakura and Naruto meet up for no reason. I also can't realistically have Naruto know instinctively that she's under Danzo's control without having him strip her and see the seal...which he will do later, but not for that reason, hehe! The mind control is a major and important part of Sakura's story right now, and it will have consequences in the future. So, yeah, i'm going to talk about it and have it mentioned and puzzled over whenever Sakura comes up or when the story is in her perspective. Patience, man, patience. It'll all come together in the end, I promise.

Celestia's Paladin: I'm happy you decided to give the story a try! I tried not to dwell in Naruto's grief and angst for long because I know it's annoying to have a character be broody all the time. He's still full of sadness and grief, but that doesn't mean it defines his motivation and character. He has to push forward and save everyone, no matter how much he doesn't want to. I find canon Naruto's loyalty and dream to be his best qualities, so I kept them. I've never actually found the Toads to be all that...cool. And the problem now is the fact that Naruto has nullified his contract, but that might be fixable. I am the writer, and I don't think they ever mentioned someone ever doing what I had this Naruto do in canon, so I don't think there's anything stopping me from doing either; un-signing it and re-signing it. Anyway, thanks for the review and giving the story a shot.

Zyngar: I've never been considered the 'funny guy' so I was a little nervous writing in banter and jokes. I guess I can breathe easy after knowing that at least two people found some of it funny(Amouren did, too). Btw, I love making people laugh, so your review put a smile on my face. Thanks for the grin and the support!

Now, enjoy! This chapter creates a lot of hype!


Ghosts of the Past

Chapter 10: A New Uchiha


In a subtle and devious way, Danzo held everyone I loved captive. Not in chains or behind bars, but with the ever looming threat of being killed just because I opposed him. He no doubt knew that they all held my will to fight, and he had no problem using them to attack me.


— Naruto —

— Rebel Base —

Naruto turned and angled his body in the mirror mounted to the stone wall. He was busy running his fingers over thin white scars that stood out against his tan complexion. The motions of his searching pulled his muscles, making them bulge from his lean build as he twisted his torso. He traced a scar that he had gotten fighting Haku on the bridge, and he traced another from the Chunin Exams. It all felt so long ago. Moving the pads of his fingers against his chest, he eventually touched the place where the cursed seal had been; right in the juncture of shoulder and neck. The nasty black ink was gone, and its effects on his body had shown themselves over his recovery. He felt healthier, more in control of his chakra, and the looming feeling of a monster waiting to pounce on him in a moment of weakness was gone.

He was glad he had refused to advance the seal to the second stage, having seen what it did to Sasuke. He couldn't even begin to guess what kind of effects it would've had on him.

A knock on the door startled him. He paused his search and went to his door, not caring to pull on a shirt. It was Itachi. "Sleep well, Naruto?" He asked, and Naruto stepped aside to let him slip in, nodding his head as he moved. "Yeah, the beds are actually kinda comfy." He shut the door as Itachi went to the center of the room. It was simply furnished, with a single bed in the corner, a night stand with a lantern on it, a small wooden chest at the foot of the bed for storage, and the mirror on the wall.

"What do you need?" Naruto asked as he moved to his bed, picking up the shirt that had been loaned to him. "I came to talk about something important..." Itachi paused a moment as he put on his shirt, making sure to meet his eye after to show that this was important. Naruto sighed and sat on the bed, the wooden frame creaking with his weight. "No need to be so dramatic about it, Itachi..." He murmured, leaning forward to prop his forearms on his knees. "Danzo knows what's important to you, Naruto, so you have to be careful with your identity." Itachi's voice was austere, and Naruto felt the weight of his words. "He doesn't know where you are—he just knows you're out there, and he knows exactly how to hit you where it hurts." All of his past precious people came to mind, and a sense of urgency to protect them vined through his chest.

Itachi was right. Danzo could easily take and kill everyone who had ever had any place in his heart just to attack him. No physical wound would hurt worse.

"Are you saying I shouldn't fight?" He queried, obviously thinking it a ridiculous thought even for Itachi. "No, I just want you to hide your identity." Itachi crossed his arms, his face serene as ever. "But since you have the Sharingan, it will be hard not to draw attention to yourself. It isn't a problem with me because i'm already known, but the fact that there's another shinobi besides Sasuke and me with the Sharingan is bound to draw some questions. Most people don't know that Sasuke's dead, and only Orochimaru and the Akatsuki know that you have the eyes now, so we have to be careful not to show your face."

Naruto sighed, running a hand through his unkempt hair. "You're right. So, what do I do?"

"First, you dye your hair black. Second, you never take off your half-mask around anyone that doesn't know it's you. The fewer people who know, the better. Thirdly, you go by the name Naro Uchiha; a bastard born Uchiha who's never met his father and was conceived outside of the village. Got it?"

"Also, don't go throwing Hiraishin kunai around carelessly. That's asking for attention like kindle in a fire."

Naruto sniffed, his face souring. "I guess I don't have a choice." He said, his tone close to a whine. "It's the only option. Besides, if Danzo knows there's another Uchiha besides me he won't have time to focus on anyone else." Naruto's eyebrows lifted in confusion. "Why would he worry about another Uchiha?"

"Because Danzo knows that the only thing that can nullify his control on people is another Sharingan user. He controls people, Naruto. He took Shisui's eye and used it to get the seat of the Hokage, probably. That's the only conclusion that I can come up with. The Fire Daimyo agreed with Sandaime-sama on Danzo being too much of a fanatic for the position. He also agreed that Tsunade or Jiraiya would be the best choice."

"How do you know that?"

"I was Anbu, and the subject of Sandaime-sama's successor came up many times in his meetings with the Daimyo. Danzo is a master manipulator, controlling people with seals and Genjutsu, changing and altering their minds and views to fit his own. Just look at how many Root members he has. It wouldn't surprise me if he was slowly changing the people of Konoha to loyal drones right now. He has Kotomatsukami from Shisui's eye, so there's no telling who he used it on, or how many times he's used it. He might have used it on the Daimyo. "

Naruto took it all in, his hatred of the Hokage becoming even blacker. The seed buried in his heart was a permanent wound, gaping and raw and full of hateful emotion. He stood from his bed. "Let's hope the name Naro gets attached to my legend, eh?" He joked, grinning.


— Sakura —

— Western Border of the Land of Fire —

It turned out that Platoons 7 and 9 were made entirely of Root Anbu, numbering around seventy men. There was also twenty samurai from the Land of Rivers, sent by their new feudal lord. They were camped out in some trees, the heat of the desert over them despite it being several miles away still. They lounged underneath trees and close to their tents. Some gathered in groups to talk in low murmurs, ignoring them.

Their squad captain, whose name she didn't know or care to know, had gone off to report to the lieutenant. Shino and Kiba had wondered off somewhere, Kiba saying "We want to check out who will have our backs." and waving.

She felt a strong grip of anxiety twist her stomach into knots. She had never been to a battlefield where more than just a few ninja were fighting. Her battles had been confined to small numbers and the advantage of not having to look out around you at all times. She had mostly trained with Tsunade in the past three years, so her last real battle had been a while ago.

"Nervous, Sakura-san?" Hinata's quiet voice asked. Sakura looked up at the Hyuuga heiress, who stared down at her with concern in her porcelain white eyes. "A little," she admitted as Hinata sat down on the log with her. Sakura watched her carefully. She laid her hands primly in her lap, her lavender eyes looking around the encampment. Her shiny, pretty, black hair fell down her back and pooled on the log. She wrung her hands anxiously, obviously avoiding the jade of Sakura's eyes.

"I am, too." Hinata finally said, turning her head to meet Sakura's eyes, the white color doing nothing to hide her nerves. Sakura smiled, hoping it was encouraging and warm; the exact opposite of what she felt. "We'll be fine. I know it." A silence took the place of the conversation, their eyes watching a passing group of samurai. "Do you ever miss them, Sakura-san?" Hinata asked quietly, blushing and looking at her fidgeting hands. Sakura frowned, understanding her question. Sweet, innocent Hinata doesn't want to cut open any old wounds by saying names.

"Everyday..." Hinata's mouth thinned into a line, and Sakura could see the understanding shine in Hinata's eyes when she leaned to peer at the corner of her white pupils. Sighing, Sakura took out Naruto's headband, the scarred metal plate reflecting sunlight off a corner as she unwrapped it from a blue cloth. Hinata turned her head and stared at it. She ran a thumb over the jagged and rough cut across the leaf symbol. "I wonder where he—they—are, sometimes..." She gave a glance at Hinata, hoping she didn't note her mess up. Hinata only swallowed a lump in her throat and stuttered. "I-is that N-naruto-k-kun's?"

Sakura handed it to the Hyuuga heiress, watching her as she ran the pads of her fingers against the metal, holding it like it was some precious artifact and not a cheap headband. Hinata's eyes looked at it but did not see it. Instead, she was far off somewhere else, re-living memories. Sakura could tell; she had made that face many times over the past three years. She leaned closer, looking at Hinata's face. "Do you want it?" She asked quietly, smoothing the lines of her face. Hinata looked at her in shock, unshed tears in the corners of her eyes. "I...I..." She fumbled for the words, looking back and forth between her and the headband. "Keep it. You were the one who loved him, anyway." Sakura said, forcing a smile. A sharp, tearing pain suffocated her chest, making breathing harder and her eyes bleary. She looked away. She controlled her breathing, forcing back the need to cry.

"I can't take this, Sakura-san!" Hinata said quickly, her hand coming to lay on Sakura's arm as tears fell from her lavender eyes. Sakura shook her head, her side bangs lightly slapping her cheeks. "Take it. I don't need it." The hurt wrapped around her throat, making the words hard to say. The pain tightened her chest like a hand over her heart squeezed out every last drop of blood. Hinata leaned back, her expression a mixture of pity and understanding. She glanced at the headband again, her white eyes guilty.

Hinata suddenly took her wrist and turned her hand over, placing the headband in her palm. "It's not mine to keep...You're his teammate, so you should be the one to give it back to him." Sakura met Hinata's eyes in shock, her eyes wide and glittering emerald with unshed tears. She searched Hinata's eyes but found nothing but encouragement. Hinata was smiling warmly, tears falling. Sakura smiled, nodded, and closed her hand, her fingers gripping into the metal strip. "Thank you, Hinata." She said gratefully, folding it back up in the blue cloth.

The two cleaned up their tears, hugged, and then found their teammates.

"Hinata! Sakura!" Kiba waved them over from atop Akamaru, the ninken barking enthusiastically at them. Shino nodded when they got closer, and their Anbu Captain turned around, his arms crossed. "Good, you're here, that means I don't have to track you down." He jaded, turning around to gesture at the gaunt and unkempt man behind him. Sakura eyed the man warily, watching as his eyes darted around in nervousness. "This is our informant, Moshni." Her captain informed. The ratty man paused, gave her and Hinata a nodded with his narrow head bobbing on his thin, stick-like neck and then returned to look around with wide, brown eyes.

"Tell them what you told me." Her captain ordered, his tone holding no patience—or any emotion—at all. "Yesh, yesh." He tittered, eyes looking back at them, staring through them at something unseeable to the sane. "Shaw a tall pretty man ashkin' after a bashe in the wesht. My mate Hepy told him all about it. Yesh, yesh. Hepy dishappeared later and I had the shmart to shnatch a piece of hish cloth from hish houshe cuz' I knew you'd needsh it." He provided the piece of clothing to Sakura, then rambled on after in insensible words, wringing his hands and pacing, eyes darting. Sakura passed an uneasy glance with Hinata. "Thank you, Moshni." Moshni froze in his pacing, looking at the Anbu like he just noticed him. "Ish I free?" He asked, eyes wide and bright with insanity. The Anbu nodded, and Moshni cackled, shuffling away.

Kiba shivered, "Creepy..." He muttered, and Sakura had the inclination to agree. The captain turned back to them. "Moshni found one of our agent's immediately after, knowing that we would be looking for the base and what we would need to find it. Despite how he looks, he's insanely smart. I would withhold judgement on everyone, jonin. That could get you killed." The captain glared. "Any questions?" He said after, sounding like he didn't really want them to ask questions. "Will we be fighting the rebels? It seem's highly unlikely by my count of our numbers." Shino adjusted his sunglasses, looking more interested in a bug native to the desert than the group. "We're only scouting. The Anbu and samurai are just in case we run into any patrols or other problems."

"That all?" He asked, and everyone nodded.

"Good, we move out now."


— Kakashi —

— North-eastern Border of the Land of Fire —

The squad of Root Anbu sat crouched in the trees, hidden expertly behind branches and foliage. Another squad of regular Anbu were with them, and several jonin had been assigned to assist as well. Regular Anbu were becoming a rarity these days, with Danzo favoring to use his personal Anbu over the Konoha program trained ones. What confused him was how, somehow, Danzo had kept almost a thousand five hundred highly trained shinobi hidden away. That just went to show how meticulous and conniving Danzo had been.

They had been assigned to converge on a small platoon of Kumogakure shinobi, and they had been waiting here for several days already.

Kakashi sat crouched lazily with one arm draped over his knee and his Icha Icha in front of his masked face. Glancing up, Kakashi pulled up his headband, doing his ritual scan of the area with his Sharingan. He was too far behind the front to actually see anything, but he did it to keep his boredom in check and senses alert. "Do you see anything, senpai?" A newly promoted jonin on a branch behind him asked in a whisper. Kakashi quelled his annoyance, turning around to stare at the jonin blankly. "You'd be the first to know, Yamni-kun..." That was the third time he had told him, but the fresh jonin would still nod and frown in anxiety, his head shooting around to let his eyes peer into the woods.

Suddenly, a sharp bird call whistled through the trees up ahead. Kakashi could hear the leaves around Yamni shake from his body tensing. Kakashi slipped a kunai from the pouch on his thigh, simultaneously slipping away his book into his ninja pouch. "The sentry spotted someone, I guess..." Moving into action, he and every other shinobi dropped from the trees, quickly sprinting across the ground toward the treeline, blurs in the shadows of the leaves.

He could hear the fighting getting closer. The sound of metal clanking against metal, the sound of screaming, Jutsu, and explosions dominate in his ear. The ground shook, and at the same time, he pushed out of the treeline, completely aware of his fellow shinobi behind him as his eyes took in the battlefield. It was a small field, where they had decided to have the battle, with a small gully that ran along one side of the treeline and a small, fire-lit copse at the center. Shinobi battled on its low hills, and they fought in blurs as Jutsu and kunai were thrown around with precision and killing intent.

A lightning bolt shot above his head, frying the shinobi behind him, charring the man to a crisp as he screamed shrilly. He swiftly threw his kunai at the Kumo shinobi who shot the lighting and procured another at the back of a shinobi with his back turned. He heard the two satisfying grunts of pain as he leaped over a body and got face to face with a shinobi who had just killed an Anbu. He quickly swiped another kunai into his palm, sweeping it in an arc.

Their kunai smashed together, and Kakashi swiped away a punched, taking several steps back, holding his kunai low and in front of his body. The Kumo shinobi advanced with a yell, his kunai aimed for Kakashi's throat. He parried, the blade sliding away, and a riposte fell him with a cut to the throat. The shinobi fell clutching at his spewing neck, gargling to his knees. The corpse slumped, face smashing into the ground. The hairs on the back of his neck stood as a roar of fire yelled in his ears and heat warmed his back. He rolled out of the way of the Katon attack on his shoulder, the flames crashing into the earth and lighting the grass on fire, spreading and blackening the small hill they were on. At the same time as the fire pounded to the ground, Kakashi came from his roll, his hands weaving through signs.

"Suiton: Mizubōsō(Water Style: Rampaging Water)!"

He spun around on a knee, a stream of water spouting from his mouth, sending a twirling shot across the side of the hill and at his enemy. Water droplets flew off the water stream and hit the fire, creating hissing steam. The Kumo shinobi jumped over the water, flipping and landing on his feet in the burnt grass. Kakashi snipped off the flow of water and quickly charged, holding out a flat hand. Lightning started at the tips of his fingers as Raikiri formed over the skin of his hand. He dipped low underneath a hasty punch, shoving the lighting cutter into the shinobi's chest and out his back. He could see the reflection of his Sharingan in the man eyes before the light faded. Kakashi pulled his hand from the shinobi's chest with a sloppy, wet sound, letting the body fall to the ground.

"Senpai!" Yamni jumped next to him, panting, bloody and sweaty. "They're retreating!" He pointed a finger in the direction of the far treeline, where Kumo shinobi disappeared into the brush. "Let's go!" The two ran toward the tree's, dodging projectiles and returning their own. Some shinobi paused at the edge of the trees, turning to meet him and Yamni. Two took him on, and he moved through their punches and kicks with ease, slapping away knee kicks and kunai stabs as he got between them. He slipped low, crouching, slipping a kunai into the ribs of one then jabbing an elbow into the hip of the other, movements a blur. They both fell, and Kakashi pounced on the one he had jabbed, slitting his throat with the tip of a shuriken and then spinning the star at the other, piercing his head.

"Gahhhh!" He whirled around, watching with wide eyes as Yamni fell, blood splashing into the air from the long diagonal slash on his chest. Kakashi pushed off his knees and rolled to the Kumo shinobi, another Raikiri chirping to life. The shinobi's eyes widened as he turned his body, his mouth opening in a scream. He pierced through the arm—cutting it clean off—and then through the armpit, going until his hand was buried deep in the man's lung and through his spine.

The corpse fell and Kakashi walked to Yamni, completely dull to the Konoha shinobi sprinting past him and into the trees. He stood over the young jonin, looking at the dim and hollow color of his eyes. Wide and shocked, Yamni's eyes looked at the sky, unseeing in death. Kakashi crouched to his haunches and closed the boy's eyes with his fore and middle fingers. Kakashi took in his face, memorizing it...

Another war, another innocent life. He thought sadly, standing and running to catch up to the pursuit.

You've thrown the world into chaos, Danzo.


— Naruto —

He played with a tuft of hair in front of his eyes, the black color of it foreign to him. He already missed his bright, golden locks. His hair color screamed his name louder than his whiskers, and now he was forced to dye it and cover his marks. He grumbled about it the whole way down the hall, glaring at Itachi's back. "Quit pouting," Itachi said, not even turning to look. Naruto huffed an "I'm not" and pulled his lip in, stomping childishly down the hall.

The two eventually came to a door, and Itachi opened it without pausing his stride. Naruto followed after, straightening his back and making sure his face was serious. Now wasn't the time to look childish. Gathered around the large table at the center of the room was Gaara with his sister and brother standing behind him, two old geezers that he didn't know, a Suna-nin that he vaguely remembered was Gaara's sensei, and two representatives from the Land of Hot Water and Rivers. Lined around the room were several other's, all most likely high ranking shinobi and samurai.

Gaara stood, nodding to the two of them, only giving a passing glance to Naruto's new hair color. The samurai from the Land of Hot Water and the shinobi from the Land of Rivers stood, too.

"Henzo-dono, Gesho-dono, these are our new allies, Itachi Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki." The two bowed to them, and the samurai—who Naruto guessed was Henzo— said, "Uzumaki-san looks more like an Uchiha than any red blooded Uzumaki i've seen..." He was a gruff old man with a long face characterized by wrinkles and narrow brown eyes. He had a long, wispy grey beard that hung to the middle of his chest, and his hair was pulled up into a bun on top his head. He wore a blue yukata with a grey obi, and his katana and wakizashi were leaned up against his chair. The other man, Gesho, was younger with cropped brown hair and black eyes. He had a strong jaw and a long thin scar that traveled up his temple and into his hair, which caused the hairs there not to grow. He wore a sand-colored flak jacket with wide shoulder guards and underneath a black shirt and pants.

"That's was our plan, Henzo-sama," Itachi said with a bow to each of the men, Naruto only bowing his head. "Any man in the right mind would fear an Uzumaki more than an Uchiha." A gruff, aged voice said. Naruto turned to the small, liver-spotted woman sitting hunched in her chair, her white hair in a bun and hair band as she peered at him with black irises. Next to her grunted a man as old and wrinkled as her with very pronounced eyebrows and a turban wrap on his head. "The Uzumaki would've been a great ally in our time of need. I have no doubt they would vehemently oppose the rule of the Hokage." He said, his thin lips a composed line. The old woman huffed, "And what about you, boy? Are you truly on our side and not some pawn of Danzo's?"

Naruto's fists clenched at his side, and he took a step closer to the table, his eyes never leaving the old woman's. "As a Uzumaki and man truly loyal to Konohagakure, I will do all in my power to usurp Danzo and help rebuild Sunagakure, and if you doubt me for a second, then don't hesitate to end me." He said, his eyes full of conviction. He looked at Gaara too, that pledge for him just as much as it was for the elders. The old woman stared, searching with a critical eye that stood the hair on the back of his neck on end. Gaara nodded in gratitude, and something seemed to satisfy the old woman by the way she looked away, her face still in a sullen frown, but her eyes glowing with mirth.

"Chiyo-sama, Ebizo-sama, I have confidence in his ability to aid us. So please, leave any grievances behind. We all are looking out for the good of everyone." Naruto was proud of the diplomacy in Gaara's voice. He really sounded like a Kage. The Suna elders accepted his plead with curt nods. Henzo and Gesho took back their seats. Naruto and Itachi sat down in the remaining ones. Gaara remained standing, looking at all of them.

"I think we all understand what common enemy we have," he said, leaning forward to place his hands flat on the table. They all nodded, and he gestured to Itachi and Naruto on his right.

"Itachi-san and Naruto have informed me that they will be able to get more allies on our side. I'll let them explain." He sat, and at the same moment, Itachi stood. Naruto remained seated, looking at everyone's faces. He could see the weariness they regarded Itachi with, no doubt thinking of the slaughter that he had done in his past. Naruto had no clue how Gaara convinced them even to be in the same room as the Uchiha killer, but he would be forever in his red-headed friend's debt for giving Itachi a chance.

"There are several powerful figures in Konoha who oppose Danzo's power. Naruto is sure he can convince them to coup d'etat and take back Konoha, but they can't do it by themselves, especially with Danzo having the Fire Daimyo's support, and most of the armies from the Land of Hot Water and Rivers—which have come under the control of appointed men. I also have no doubt he's bought out mercenaries and rogue nin to fight for him. That's why we need to gain the aid of Kumo and any other major power in the continent. Kumo is our most sure fire way right now since they have an actual reason to want to get rid of Danzo, and i'm sure that the rest of the Elemental Nations will see the urgency to fight back against the Hokage."

The small council took the simple plan in, Henzo and Gesho nodding in agreement, obviously seeing the plan as sound by the way their faces brightened with anticipation and hope. "The Samurai who were loyal to Uhi-sama will no doubt come to our side after we show that we fight to get rid of that vile Daimyo Danzo put in his place." Henzo pointed out proudly, talking about the Land of Hot Water's new feudal lord. Gesho said the same for his land, too. Itachi nodded, "True. I also have a sneaking suspicion that will help us cut the Fire Daimyo's aid, but I have to see if it really is true first to give any assurances."

A silence filled with contemplation filled after, and it stayed until Chiyo lifted her eyes to meet Itachi's. "And tell me, what makes you so sure that you understand the nature of the Raikage and any other world leader?" There was a fierceness to her tone, and her eyes glared at him, demanding. "I don't, but I do understand the Raikage enough to know he is hot-blooded and stubborn, but not without some clarity. He will listen to reason, and I will jump the hurdle when it comes to the other leaders when I get there." He met her glare with calm words and a look of apathy, never breaking eye contact.

She snorted. "There's too many open threads that rely on men that we don't know. I can't support this plan without any assurance that it will work. Besides, I refuse to have Suna be indebted to other nations and risk everything we have on the plan of a clan killer." She glared, her mouth a shrewd sneer. Naruto could see the dishearten looks on everyone's faces, and it seemed even Gaara couldn't disagree with her logic.

Naruto shot from his seat, the legs screeching against the ground as he met Chiyo's eyes with a fierce fire in his black orbs. "Would you believe in me?" He asked, his tone low and passionate. Chiyo said nothing, only glaring criticism with a measuring tilt of her head. Naruto smashed his fists on the table, growling. "Well?" Chiyo leaned forward, unfolding her arms and placing her hands flat on the table. Her chair screeched as she stood, and she didn't gain much height standing, especially compared to the tall height of Naruto. "No, I wouldn't." She said evenly, her black eyes slits in the creases of her wrinkles. Naruto growled again, unclenching and clenching his fists against the wood of the table. "What do I have to do to get you to agree?" He asked, grinding his teeth together. Why did she have to be so stubborn!

Instead of remaining serious, she laughed, leaning back to put her hands on her stomach. Naruto's face falted in its intensity, and he scowled in annoyance at being caught off guard. Chiyo's laughed fell into chuckles, and she said. "You can't do anything. I refuse to get help from a Konoha ninja." Her amused smile turned into a stern line. "I'm done here. We have nothing left to talk about." She turned away and Ebizo stood, following her as she walked away from the table and around to the door. "You don't have any decision in this, Chiyo-sama." Gaara said as she walked around his seat at the head of the table, his tone still composed and diplomatic. Naruto seethed, stepping away from his chair to glare at the old woman's back as she walked to the door. She waved a dismissive hand, not even turning around or stopping her shuffling feet. "The people will listen to my reason's, and they will agree." She assured, and just then the door shot open when she was a few steps away, and standing in the doorway was a Suna shinobi dressed in the sand colored uniform of a guard.

He was panting, and his hood and wrap were removed from his face, revealing a sun burnt and dirty face covered in sweat. "Gaara-sama...Konoha Anbu...in the desert...headed here." He bent over to his knees and gasped for breath, and the whole room shifted into an uproar when it was clear he was finished. "It was him! He led them to us!" One Tani shinobi exclaimed, pointing at Naruto. "Kill him!" Everyone started shouting, and some even drew weapons. "He said we could end him if we doubted him!" A Suna shinobi shouted.

"SILENCE!" Gaara roared, and the whole room froze in quiet. Gaara glared at them all, and Naruto stood rigid in his place, narrowing his eyes at all the glowering face. "Naruto..." Gaara said, and Naruto turned to him, his face calm. "I didn't, Gaara. You know I wouldn't." He pleaded, meeting black with teal. Gaara searched his eyes for a few moments, then he sighed, waving in the shinobi in the doorway.

"How many?" He asked.

"I'd say more than a hundred, Kazekage-sama."

"Were they regular Anbu or Root?" Naruto asked, walking to them.

"Root, uh, sir. A few dozen samurai that look to be from Daimyo Gema, too."

Henzo stood from his chair growling, taking up his katana and wakizashi and putting them in the fold of his obi. "I will rally men to fight and kill those traitors!" Gesho stood too. Gaara held up a hand, "What we need to do now is secure an escape route. If there's a hundred then there's more." He turned back to the messenger. "Are you sure they were headed here?"

"Sure as the sun rising in the morning, my lord."

Gaara nodded, "Then I need everyone to issue commands of evacuation. Got it?" Naruto placed a hand on his shoulder, smirking. "Hold on, I have a plan..." Gaara eyed him, unsure. "What do you plan to do?" Chiyo asked from her position at the door, her eyes narrow. Naruto grinned.

"Anyone have a sword I could borrow?"


Thoughts and questions would be appreciated in a quick review. Don't be shy, now. I love reading and responding to reviews. So sate my review addiction, pwease? Just one more fix, man, that's all I need! It'll be the last time, I promise!

Yeah right, you're a liar! Now get outta 'ere you druggy!

*Coughs awkwardly to clear throat*

Uh, I also start college this week, so chapters might or might not be slower. Updates are slow now, so I have no clue how they will be once I start school. College on top of my job means free times gonna be tight, so...eh? I won't know how it'll go till it goes, I guess. *Shrugs cluelessly*

I think that's gonna be my new life motto. "I won't know how it'll go till it goes." Lmao

Anyway, have a good morning/day/night.

Peace!